Amazing southern Italy experience
Italy
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Jun 1 - Jun 21, 2024
![KLAUS](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/users/profile_photos/1e94103e8f22371a4c16d9e2270df9564683149d/original-1ae63d311401d03ffb63e98ac1a0e1a4.jpg)
Vincenzo provided outstanding travel service, creating an amazing experience for our highly customized southern Italy journey (Sicily, Amalfi Coast, Puglia). He was very attentive to our desires and crafted a perfect itinerary to fulfill all our trip goals. We were extremely happy with the choice of destinations, the activities and the accommodations. He was very responsive to our inquiries before and during the trip, providing answers and solutions within a very short time, so we always felt well supported during the planning process and during the development of our journey. Vincenzo did an excellent job coordinating the local guides and hotels, and documented all local contact information for all activities providers. This was important for small adjustments during the itinerary, i.e. due to weather related changes. We are very thankful to Vincenzo and the local guides and activities providers and hotel staff that we encountered during our trip. Everything went as planned with zero issues. The kimkim travel service model is excellent and the app is very competent. We will be back with other trips for sure.
Hotel Reviews
A fantastic boutique hotel in the historical island of Ortigia, walking distance to waterfront and Duomo piazza. Great breakfast in the apartment or in the adjacent cafe. Valet parking
Very tasteful boutique hotel, a huge apartment with sea view and private terrace. Swimming pool overlooking the sea. Walking possible to town and marina (1.2 miles). Good breakfast. Parking available on premises.
A family and quaint hotel overlooking the sea. Room with enormous terrace with fantastic sea view. Walking to Amalfi center (1 mile). Very good breakfast. Parking on premises.
The hotel is very professional, in a perfect location next to the pedestrian zone and close to the main Palermo attractions (Norman palace, Duomo, Opera, Quatri-Canti). The breakfast is excellent, one of the best we experienced. Rooftop bar and restaurant overlooking the Politeama. Valet parking.
Great Sea view room, walking distance to the pedestrian historical town full of restaurants. Rooms slightly dated, but not a detractor. Personalized very good breakfast service and happy hour. Coordinated parking nearby.
In the historical center, a beautiful renovation that brings you to the diverse past of Matera. Our apartment room was likely an old round ceiling grotto. Very good breakfast. Only parking garage outside the old city (walk to hotel 1 mile)
A beautiful boutique hotel in the center of the pedestrian historical center and near restaurants. Excellent breakfast. Tight free parking in front of the hotel.
Amazing boutique hotel with very personalized treatment. In the Lecce historical town, this renovation yielded a great comfortable room and facilities. Art and designer objects. Minibar with water, soda and juice complimentary. Excellent breakfast with very fresh local food and juice. Rooftop bar with sun/shade lounge and mini pool. Valet parking.
Professional and modern - young and fresh, no frills. Walking to the pedestrian historical zone and pizza places. Good breakfast in the open courtyard. I wish our balcony was renovated like others we saw, so was not really usable. Staff said no other was available. No parking and restricted driving zone.
Activity Reviews
![Welcome to Sicily!](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/bf73a3f919cc988997c574ce908d41cf04cf003e/medium-4a95e9606901f9654f98ebfa43b6d1f0.jpg)
Sicily was a Beautiful place. From Palermo be sure to visit CEFALU (incredible historical town, water and hike to the Castelo)
![Guided Walking Tour of Palermo](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/73d3a184edc3ab63828698e715a43a9a34772193/medium-d465e6574bce55c190b5f6828195596e.jpg)
Martina is a local and she provided an amazing experience. She is very knowledgeable and was able to connect the diverse cultural history of Palermo (Phoenician, Roman, Arab, Norman, Modern) in a very thoughtful and witty manner. We visited all the historical highlights and market, and felt we got to know well this beautiful and interesting city.
![Day Trip to the Valle dei Templi](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/00b25d04295bd9f39c14f9d028f77ea7e231dab5/original-0a4cca0945600bf65204b8c9211633e7.jpg)
You get to walk around the awesome monuments
![Guided tour of Valle dei Templi](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/eb58bc6b4036281e2fe84b21e8ed8f47f3982480/medium-ef31b1f98456dda63f67aa117051abf6.jpg)
Enza was an incredible guide and provided a lot of the history and context for the greek culture in Agrigento and all around Sicily.
![Guided Tour of Syracuse](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/a2b8e2b9f74010b7e9f38ce0a5f313c9fcfd76c9/medium-4cae8e2bb00e7e4a9a7298548f4ab353.jpg)
Thanks Giuzy for being flexible as we had to move the tour. Professional and efficient tour. Unfortunately we did not get to go inside many of the sites with her.
![Mount Etna Tour](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/16f2f57eb87cf856f4186fe7eb0b064189fa2630/medium-78406c3cbe0f1d928fe21526f4a6315e.jpg)
We had a great hike and lunch with Emiliano and learned all about this active volcano. He is a local and a geologist and displayed his great knowledge and passion. They had a car trouble and much delay before we could start, but in the end all was well
![Capri Boat Tour](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/cbf8637d2be3da0dcb15a65da5c6d72c6a8e41d4/medium-8231b20d8d2c2e3d8450df46c70ff05a.jpg)
Our captain Pepe was excellent - we visited all highlights around the island and got to sail through the Faraglione di Mezzo: The middle rock, which has an arch. Beautiful trip
![Boat Tour around Ortigia](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/3d973af65d215dccb0c45e52e9bc4b44ae8833cb/medium-cd7fd214367f777ece0ffe6505dd6fe0.jpg)
Francesco and Gianni provided a wonderful experience. Due to weather we had to move the trip, which was accomplished flawless. An amazing way to see Ortigia and swim on the sea next to the Byzantine castle. Excellent boat and service!
![Guided tour of Modica - the Baroque town of chocolate](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/34a3fc705a8fd1a39a9705e3bb5bc851ec29aef5/original-0c4d08c3eca2391632024396920646fd.jpg)
Graziella was incredible. She is also a restaurant and Olive plantation owner and we learned so much not only about the town and churches history, but much about the wonderful Italian food (olives, pasta, capers, etc). What a creative way to show the local culture and history.
![Welcome to Sorrento!](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/3f4323c3b6f0da883b997377787b258d12bc18dc/original-c5a7db2eb2e0e5429a81ab41305f1184.jpg)
Very interesting town, larger than the others in the coast, but less expensive, with an extensive street market (buy here rather than other places like Capri or Positano) and a nice beach and Marina area with great restaurants. Our hotel with sea view was excellent
![Half day group boat tour of the Amalfi Coast](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/f8694bc58ee156d2397f3ade39986b8df5ab340c/medium-4c4f1669cb56915ccee7bf0d2d7da174.jpg)
Beautiful boat trip, we hugged the coast all the way to Positano and learned about all the most significant places of this amazing coast. We go to take incredible pictures, especially from the sloped hill of Positano and its quaint houses.
![Matera guided tour](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/c777aad7eaaea53fa853c9fbf88e34c6bd8c2300/medium-675feb4402800bbae52ebe22458ddd79.jpg)
This ancient grotto and white stone town is incredible and is perched on the hill overlooking the beautiful valley. It is a very unique destination with a history that dates back 8,000 years. Renato is a local and shared his family history, and made it interesting (though at times a little repetitive). It was interesting to say the least.
![Welcome to Puglia!](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/cf911f755819dd0b714111de5c2d268d667424b2/medium-25259160d4fd6ec60cc45b73a91dc8c1.jpg)
An incredible beautiful and interesting region, with still relatively low key tourism and without the crowds. Great service everywhere and high quality of boutique hotels and restaurants
![Welcome to Lecce!](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/433f11e0b43ad8b27521cf9e09ebffe0dd0194a3/original-ff4a163c55c45e19c53af1579356e1fe.jpg)
Amazing historical town - it is called, deservedly, the Florence of the South. Towns to visit from this base include: Alberobello - home the Trulli Ostuni - the Citta Bianca Otranto - beautiful seaside Polignamo-al-Mare - another beautiful historical coast town. And drive the Adriatic blue sea view road from Santa Maria di Leuca to Otranto - beautiful!
![Vincenzo](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/users/profile_photos/f6843810389826475adf8ec3317354e27012bef1/original-e8ba6bdcfd7ac66c11da68e7b51d4f59.jpg)
Hi Klaus,
Thank you so much for your kind words. It was truly a pleasure to organize this wonderful trip for you. I'm very happy to hear that you enjoyed it so much and I hope you will travel with us again soon. I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to our membership program, details of which you can find here: https://authenticusitaly.it/authenticus-club/
As a member, if you decide in the future to travel again with us, you will enjoy various benefits on your next trip.
Best regards from Italy, and I wish you all the best for the future.
Vincenzo