Kimkim Trip Reviews

4.8
Based on 14,305 ratings
Read 14,305 verified reviews by travelers who booked their trip on kimkim. You can also read reviews about kimkim on 3rd party sites including Google, TrustPilot and Yelp.

Ireland: A mixed bag
Ireland | Oct 9 - Oct 20, 2024

Paula
Paula N.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Oct 29, 2024
NOTE: Our rating is a 3-1/2 for the KimKim experience and working with Joe. A beautiful island with amazing sights including verdant vistas, rolling gradation of greens, rugged and wild coastline a surprising amount of archeological history. So happy we toured around almost the whole island, starting in Dublin then south to Kilkenny and Kinsale, west to Dingle (our favorite) and up to Galway. Many great experiences including the Ashling Hotel in Dublin (great location, helpful front desk... Read more

NOTE: Our rating is a 3-1/2 for the KimKim experience and working with Joe.

A beautiful island with amazing sights including verdant vistas, rolling gradation of greens, rugged and wild coastline a surprising amount of archeological history. So happy we toured around almost the whole island, starting in Dublin then south to Kilkenny and Kinsale, west to Dingle (our favorite) and up to Galway.

Many great experiences including the Ashling Hotel in Dublin (great location, helpful front desk folks and good breakfast selections), drinking Guinness and Jameson and hearing traditional music, quaint and colorful villages (Kilkenny, Cobh, Kinsale, Ennis, Dingle). Glad we made the stop at the Rock of Cashel, the Jameson Distillery tour in Midleton, the Titanic museum in Cobh and the Cliffs of Moher. Dingle Peninsula is a must-see and thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Emlagh House with delightful and helpful staff, delicious breakfasts and great location. Doyle's restaurant in Dingle is a MUST.

The most challenging part for us was notably the driving, which can only be described as harrowing and stressful. We did not get much chance to enjoy scenery enroute to the locales as one was driving and one was navigating - very narrow roads, a lot of traffic circles and plenty of traffic. We missed stopping off at many sights just because it was too
tense getting back on the road and pressure to get to the next overnight. Also we were very disappointed outside Dublin that pretty much every pub we went in in Kinsale and Galway were not what we expected in terms of warm welcomes and jovial conversations. In some we were virtually ignored while locals chatted with the bartenders and made merry. We were also disappointed with our hotel in Galway - located on the ocean, which was beautiful, but waaaaaaayyyy out at the end of town with a commercial district that was overrun with casino-type buildings, fast food restaurants and convenience stores.

Hotel Reviews
Ashling Hotel Dublin
Dublin

Great location, great (friendly and helpful) front desk staff, great breakfast selection and wonderfully big, fluffy towels in the bath. There is a huge and beautiful park nearby, a free museum, a light rail that will take you directly to the Temple Bar area.

Authenticity & Character
Location
see above
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Greenmount House Luxury B&B

We did not stay at the Greenmount House - We stayed at the Emlagh House which was five stars all around! Lovely, helpful staff, wonderful breakfasts, cozy accommodations, wonderful location to walk to beach or to town.

Authenticity & Character
Note this rating is for Emlagh House
Location
Note this rating is for Emlagh House
Staff
Note this rating is for Emlagh House
Cleanliness & Comfort
Note this rating is for Emlagh House
Actons Hotel
Cork

Beautiful hotel, spacious and comfy rooms, great location.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Beautiful views, easy walking to all parts of town.
Staff
Ian (front desk manager) When we arrived, after a long day of driving on the LEFT side of the road on narrow streets and much traffic, there was NO parking. The person who greeted us at the hotel basically said "too bad." Ian was extremely helpful and found a way to keep my car safe until a spot opened up, so I could get settled in. If Ian wasn't working at the front desk that day, my rating would've been poor. The person who greeted us didn't even offer to help us find parking.
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Galmont Hotel & Spa
Galway

We did not stay at the Galmont House - we stayed at Salt Hill Hotel. Overall rating - 3 stars

Authenticity & Character
Location
situated in very commercial district, too far from town
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
worst bathroom ever
Activity Review
Jameson Distillery and Blarney Castle
Jameson Distillery and Blarney Castle
Cork
Local specialist: Joe Cotter

Our trip to France to celebrate our 10th wedd...
France | Oct 16 - Oct 21, 2024

Megan
Megan S.
Amherst, MA | Reviewed on Oct 29, 2024
Our trip to France to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary was nothing short of magical. Our expert trip planner, Josée, helped to fill each day with special experiences that created memories we will cherish forever, and we had enough free time to make discoveries and plans of our own. In every step of the planning process, Josée was responsive, resourceful, professional, and unfailingly helpful. We have recommended KimKim, and Josée in particular, to several people already and will... Read more

Our trip to France to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary was nothing short of magical. Our expert trip planner, Josée, helped to fill each day with special experiences that created memories we will cherish forever, and we had enough free time to make discoveries and plans of our own. In every step of the planning process, Josée was responsive, resourceful, professional, and unfailingly helpful. We have recommended KimKim, and Josée in particular, to several people already and will continue to do so for years to come. We are certain to return to the company ourselves when planning future trips abroad.

Hotel Review
Hôtel A la Villa des Artistes
Paris

Josée secured us accommodations in a boutique hotel where I’d stayed before, Villa des Artistes in the 6th arrondissement. She had offered other, fancier places since this was an anniversary trip, but we opted for this 3-star hotel since we planned to have many outings throughout our stay and wanted to save some money for special dinners and other activities. The hotel was just as I remembered: charming, clean, and comfortable, with a supremely helpful front-desk staff, generous continental breakfast. When we arrived in France, our friendly driver, Michael, met us at the airport and brought us to the hotel, where we were delighted to be able to check in early after our red-eye flight. We immediately went out to eat delicious crêpes at La Crêperie de Josselin on a nearby side street of Rue Montparnasse, which I believe is part of what is known as “Le Petit Bréton” of Paris.

Authenticity & Character
Clean, charming, with artistic touches and a nice outdoor courtyard. While a dresser to store clothes, and robes, a tub, and washcloths in the bathrooms would have been nice, we were not disappointed since we knew this was a 3-star hotel.
Location
An ideal location for accessing public transportation and taking walks to places such as Le Jardin du Luxemburg, with many wonderful restaurants nearby,
Staff
So kind and helpful, particularly with arranging cabs for us. The kitchen staff and housekeepers were also very helpful.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Eiffel Tower Summit Ticket
Eiffel Tower Summit Ticket
Paris

We took a cab to the meeting site to go to La Tour Eiffel. Our guide met the small group scheduled to visit the tower, and after making our way through two rounds of security checks, we went all the way to the top! The views were spectacular, and the audio guide (while a bit hokey!) helped us orient ourselves to the city. We are grateful that Josée scheduled this as our first formal experience of the trip—it was the perfect start! We decided to walk back to our hotel so that we could explore the city on foot. This was a choice we made several times throughout our stay in Paris, carrying umbrellas with us in case of rain. On this first night, we did get caught in a cloudburst just before reaching our hotel, but we scurried into a lovely restaurant, Le Dôme, where we enjoyed a beautiful seafood platter paired with excellent wine. (As an aside, although the forecast was gloomy for the 6 days we were in France, we felt very lucky that this was the only time we got caught in the rain. Quelle bonne chance!)

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Very clear in her instructions and guidance through security.
Back to Medieval Paris with Notre Dame, St Chapelle & Conciergerie
Back to Medieval Paris with Notre Dame, St Chapelle & Conciergerie
Paris

The next morning after a lovely breakfast in the small outside courtyard of the hotel, our guide, Agathe, met us at our hotel to take us by metro for a visit to Sainte Chapelle, La Conciergerie, and the surrounding area. She was warm, knowledgeable, and sensitive, teaching us a great deal about the sites we visited. Sainte Chapelle was breathtakingly beautiful, and we were impressed by the multimedia guides that let us see how Paris (and Île de la Cité, in particular) changed and grew over time. Agathe was careful to point out key features of the architecture, and she sought out more information when we posed questions, seeking specific bible stories in the stained-glass windows. As an aside, Agathe was also able to provide some more recent Parisian history when we encountered police blockades in several areas. She explained that this day of our visit, October 17, was the anniversary of the terrible Paris Massacre of 1961, and she provided context for us, also pointing out street art depicting the late Tunisian-French attorney and feminist heroine Gisèle Halimi, and then connecting her legacy to the bravery of Gisèle Pelicot, the survivor at the heart of the current devastating rape trial. As we walked to La Conciergerie, we stopped to buy cappuccinos at Les Deux Palais, and as we enjoyed them, Agathe oriented us to the sites we’d seen on the video in Sainte Chapelle, pointing out places on the Seine and drawing our attention to various statues. I was very glad we got to go into La Conciergerie, which had been unexpectedly closed the last time I was in Paris. Once again, we were impressed by the multimedia tools at this historic site, which let us see what the interior of the building (including the great hall and the kitchens, in addition to the holding cells) looked like centuries ago. We were also glad to see a beautiful exhibit of artwork from Benin, where we lingered a bit before heading out. Since we’d stayed a bit longer than expected at La Conciergerie, we said goodbye to Agathe and headed out on our own to the marché aux fleurs, where we made a few purchases before going to the viewing stand outside Notre Dame. It’s a shame we couldn’t go inside since construction is still underway, but we decided that’s just another reason to return to Paris again someday! Then, we made our way to Shakespeare & Co., where we happily browsed the shelves, bought a small fraction of the many books we wanted to buy due to luggage space. We walked along the Seine, stopping at a street vendor to buy an antique print, and then had an excellent lunch on the terrace of Les Antiquaires.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Agathe was a gem!
Transport
Agathe showed us the ropes of using the metro, and we ended up using it more on our own later in our trip.
Orsay Museum with audioguide  (tickets only)
Orsay Museum with audioguide (tickets only)
Paris

We walked to Musée d’Orsay. Neither of us had ever been there, and it is now one of our favorite places on Earth! The collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist work is just astounding, and the audio guide was user-friendly and very enjoyable. We learned so much about familiar art and were thrilled to discover new artists. We could’ve spent many days there, happily exploring the galleries and marveling at the architecture itself. We will certainly return! And next time we will certainly add Musée de l'Orangerie to our agenda.

Quality of Experience
Nighttime Seine River Cruise with Dining Experience
Nighttime Seine River Cruise with Dining Experience
Paris

We walked to the launching site for our dinner cruise on the Seine. This was a beautiful, romantic night, and the food and wine were delicious. We loved taking in the sites of the city all lit up, and the servers were gracious and eager to make sure we had fun.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
This was not KimKim's fault, but advice on finding our way back without getting overcharged would be a good idea for future travellers.
Gourmet Food Tour in Central Paris - Les Halles/Montorgueil
Gourmet Food Tour in Central Paris - Les Halles/Montorgueil
Paris

On Saturday we started with a gourmet food tour of Paris. We skipped breakfast and met our guide at the meeting site. Carole was a delight! Passionate about slow food, cooking, and food history, she shared a tremendous amount of knowledge and the many images she had collected on her iPad enhanced the history she shared. She showed us around various kitchenware shops, specialty food stores, and brasseries as we wended our way to Rue de Nil, where she planned to make food purchases. We worked up an appetite and were fairly desperate for coffee, having misunderstood that we would not be eating throughout the tour, but purchasing items to eat all together at lunchtime. About an hour into our tour, Carole did lead us to a good coffee shop where we bought cappuccinos, and we had the best croissants we’d ever had before going to other shops, where she bought a baguette, cheeses, butter, and meats to enjoy as a lunch paired with wine. In retrospect, we wished we’d personally bought fresh fruits, mustards, cornichons/gherkins, and olives to add to the meal, but we weren’t sure if that would have been OK. Also, my husband doesn’t drink alcohol, and his drink options were limited at the restaurant where we had our meal, but these issues were only minor detractions from an otherwise wonderful experience with an expert guide.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Carole was the epitome of Parisian style, grace, and passion for good food. We loved learning from her and just being in her presence.
1 Hour Photo Shoot
1 Hour Photo Shoot
Paris

I wish I could give a whole constellations of stars to this experience, never mind 5. Before our photographer, Sabine, met us at the hotel, we stopped at a florist across the street, Bouquets Montparnasse. The shopkeeper made up a bouquet for me and a boutonniere for my husband on the spot! Then, we got dressed and our driver, Michael, picked us up with Sabine and we went off to Île de la Cité for our photo shoot and picnic. I hardly know how to express my gratitude to Sabine for her beautiful work. She was professional, patient, accommodating, generous, and above all, an artist in all she did for us that afternoon. The nearly 300 photos she took have given us a priceless record of our milestone anniversary, and they will be precious heirlooms for our family. After taking photos on two bridges, and then photographing our vow renewal, including a handfasting ritual, she took care to photograph various special details—the headpiece my late-mother-in-law made that I wore in her honor, our rings, the handfasting cord, etc.—and I think she stayed much longer than she’d planned. She left us to enjoy our picnic and then returned to bring us to our driver and to pick up the picnic items for the company that set up the meal. We are so very, very appreciative of her time and talents and hope you will convey our thanks to her. She truly went above and beyond, and we could not be happier with the photographs. And, I must also say that the picnic was a delight! In some ways it was an encore of the meal we had with Carole, but it also included a beautiful bouquet, fresh fruit, a lovely Normandy cider for my husband, and tasty desserts. As we enjoyed our meal and reflected on the vows we’d shared, we took time to call our family, and the entire experience left us feeling profoundly happy and grateful. Additional: After our driver brought us back to our hotel, we packed everything so that we would be ready to leave Paris the next day, and then we decided to take the advice of a cab driver we’d met earlier in the week and make our way to the Latin Quarter for some jazz music. I’d mentioned to him that I wanted to find a jazz club for our last night in Paris, and he immediately recommended Le Caveau de la Huchette. So, we walked there from our hotel, stood in a line that wrapped round the corner to enter, and ended up having one of the most fun nights out of our lives! The music was amazing, the energy of the crowd joyful and exuberant, and we even managed to score some seats in the packed room. We wished we could’ve stayed longer until the place shut down at 2 a.m., but we decided to head back to our hotel at midnight since we had to be up and ready to leave for the airport the next morning. Day 6 As it turned out, we had one more delight in store. We got up early enough to take our coffee and breakfast from the hotel to go, and we walked to Le Jardin du Luxembourg for a sunrise breakfast just as the park opened at 8 a.m.. We pretty much had the place to ourselves. I’d been sad at the prospect of throwing away the flowers from our vow renewal, and then I was inspired to bring them to our little breakfast picnic. As we left the park, we passed by a statue of George Sand, and we decided to leave toss the bouquets at the base, recalling her famous words, “Il n’y a qu’un bonheur dans la vie, c’est d’aimer et d’être aimé,” (“There is only one happiness in this life, to love and be loved.”)

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Sabine! She is amazing. Full stop.
Transport
We were so grateful that our driver made this beautiful day so easy for us.
Montmartre & Sacré-Coeur Walking Tour
Montmartre & Sacré-Coeur Walking Tour
Paris

On our last full day in Paris, we went to Montmartre, a part of the city we’d never visited. (We ended up regretting taking a cab since several Seine River crossings were closed due to a road race, but we made it just in time after a half-hour drive that should’ve taken much less time.) We are so grateful that Josée scheduled this for our final morning—the juxtaposition of this part of the city with the other areas we’d been in was just incredible. Our tour guide, Florencia, was a last-minute substitute since the person who was supposed to be our guide had to cancel due to a family emergency. Florencia was nervous since this was the first-ever tour she’d led independently, but she did a wonderful job! She was knowledgeable, passionate about history, and very warm and friendly. We had just rewatched the film Amelie on the big screen a month or so ago in our hometown, so it was a special treat to see sites from that movie, and we were delighted to be introduced to the singer Dalida and her story—we’ve been listening to her music ever since! We made all sorts of connections between the art we’d seen at Musée d’Orsay and the sites we saw in Monmartre, and it was quite special to walk up to Sacré Cœur and take in the view of the city from the hill. After climbing down the long steps from Sacré Cœur, Florencia led us to a metro stop, and we went back to our hotel to get ready for our vow renewal/photo shoot, the raison d’être of our anniversary trip.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Skip the line visit of the Louvre with audioguide (tickets only)
Skip the line visit of the Louvre with audioguide (tickets only)
Paris

After our tour, we went window shopping at the Palais Royale before making our way to the Louvre. We asked security where to go with our “skip the line” passes and were unfortunately told that there is no such thing as “skip the line,” and that this is a marketing label with no practical impact. So, we waited in line for nearly an hour including security checks, and then found our way to the audio-guide pickup site. Unlike the audio-guide devices at Musee d’Orsay, we found the ones at the Louvre to be very difficult to use, and we ended up returning them early and just fending for ourselves. This was a fine choice! Everywhere we looked there was something wonderful to see, and we devised a thematic approach to our wanderings, deciding to look for depictions of Mary Magdalene throughout the museum since we had plans to visit La Madeleine that evening. We stayed until the museum closed, and then went back to our hotel to quickly dress up for our nighttime plans. (As an aside, we had no KimKim items on our agenda for that evening, so I had looked for events ahead of time and bought tickets to a classical music concert at La Madeleine. We took a cab to the venue, where we were astounded by the beauty of the church and excited to see more artwork, not to mention relics, of Mary Magdalene. The concert was wonderful! Les Violons de France played Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, Pachelbel’s Canon in D Major, and Schubert’s Ave Maria, accompanied by a soprano. The combination of the gorgeous music and the exquisite setting made for a night we will never forget. We walked back to our hotel even though it was a bit chilly and drizzly, stopping for a warming meal of boeuf bourguignon at a small bistro to end a long, jam-packed, beautiful day.)

Quality of Experience
Local specialist: Josee Legrand
Josee
Josee Legrand
Local specialist in Lacenas | Replied on Nov 09, 2024
Bonjour Megan! I really appreciate you sending such a detailed review. Your kind words and positive feedback are really appreciated! All your comments are very important to us as they help to control, maintain, and improve the quality of our services and those of our local partners.
Also, a big thank you for sending your pictures! You two looked amazing and I am so happy I was able to bring some joy to your milestone anniversary <3 It was a delight for me to organize your itinerary and...
Read more

Bonjour Megan!

I really appreciate you sending such a detailed review. Your kind words and positive feedback are really appreciated! All your comments are very important to us as they help to control, maintain, and improve the quality of our services and those of our local partners.
Also, a big thank you for sending your pictures! You two looked amazing and I am so happy I was able to bring some joy to your milestone anniversary <3 It was a delight for me to organize your itinerary and I hope you will come back to see us again. You still have the Beaujolais region to see :-)

Thank you again for your trust in our team!
Take care of yourselves,
Josée

Beautiful Italy!
Italy | Sep 26 - Oct 9, 2024

L
Laurayne B.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Oct 28, 2024
My sister and I had a wonderful trip to Italy! Every arrival/departure was met on time and with very attentive drivers, the cars were all beautiful and clean, and we were also treated to bottles of water and even candies with each trip.
The trains ran beautifully - on time every time!
All of our guides were knowledgeable and very professional. They were well versed in the locations and engaging in their presentations, providing much historical information and details that we would...
Read more

My sister and I had a wonderful trip to Italy! Every arrival/departure was met on time and with very attentive drivers, the cars were all beautiful and clean, and we were also treated to bottles of water and even candies with each trip.
The trains ran beautifully - on time every time!
All of our guides were knowledgeable and very professional. They were well versed in the locations and engaging in their presentations, providing much historical information and details that we would otherwise have missed. They clearly demonstrated a love of their work and their country.
All of the accommodations were lovely and the staffs were very friendly and helpful. My only suggestion would be for the Venice location - we were on the ground floor and although we were quite comfortable, there was a musty odor due to the proximity to water levels. In the future, I would request an upper floor room, even if there is a higher room rate. Venice was beautiful and we also visited Murano & Burano. Lots of walking and LOTS of steps! What a workout :)
Bologna was definitely the highlight for food! Best lasagna in the world! It was nice to be in a city that didn't feel so crowded. We even got to see the President of Italy who visited and gave a talk the day we were there.
Florence was the jewel city that I'd heard so much about - it certainly did not disappoint! So much to see and experience in such a short time! The silk factory tour was fascinating and our guide was great! We enjoyed our visit to the vineyard/farm but it would have been better had we been able to arrive earlier in the day so that we could really appreciate it. We arrived after dark so there was no opportunity to see the actual vineyards. Perhaps taking into account the season with earlier sunset times would help. I'm happy to say that the wine I ordered from them arrived yesterday, YUM!!
Milan was also a fascinating city. We attended the opera and La Scala was very beautiful. We wished that our seats had either been on the main floor or in the front row of our box. We didn't have chairs, but rather stools, and it was difficult to view the stage.
We fell in love with Stresa! The hotel and staff were wonderful! The town was everything we had hoped for in our visit to Italy. The driving experience was
Overall, our trip was wonderful and I thank Eirini for all of the planning and arrangements. She was wonderful to work with! I have already recommended kimkim to several friends and those who have asked how we were able to arrange such a great experience. I will certainly use your company for future travels. Thank you so much!!

Hotel Reviews
Ca' San Giorgio
Venice

The stay at Ca' San Giorgio in Venice was charming overall. Our room was on a lower floor, and it had a musty smell due to its proximity to the water, which was understandable given Venice's nature. Had we known, we would have requested a higher floor. Other than that, the room itself was great.

Art Hotel Commercianti
Bologna

Our stay at Art Hotel Commercianti in Bologna was delightful. The room was beautiful, and the staff were very friendly. Bologna offered some of the best food I've ever had. Despite being a city, it felt less crowded than others, which made the stay more enjoyable.

Activity Reviews
Visit a Silk Factory in Florence
Visit a Silk Factory in Florence
Florence

Visiting a silk factory in Florence was an incredibly fascinating and unique experience. It felt off the beaten path, and with just my sister and I, it provided us a personal and memorable tour.

Best of Milan City Tour with Last Supper Tour & Duomo
Best of Milan City Tour with Last Supper Tour & Duomo
Milan

Seeing the Last Supper in Milan was simply breathtaking. It was one of the highlights of the trip, an unforgettable experience.

Half day tour: Isola Bella and Fishermen's Island with a tour guide
Half day tour: Isola Bella and Fishermen's Island with a tour guide
Italy

The half-day tour of Isola Bella and Fishermen's Island was lovely. The guide we had made the experience rich with history and personal interaction, making it stand out as a memorable part of the trip.

Local specialist: Eirini Daouka
Eirini
Eirini Daouka
Local specialist in Greece | Replied on Oct 29, 2024
Deat Laurayne,
Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m thrilled to hear that we were able to create a smooth and memorable experience for you in Italy. We take great care in selecting our collaborators, and it truly means a lot to know that our drivers, guides, and hotel staff made a positive impression with their kindness and passion. We’re proud of our team, and I’ll be sure to pass along your message to them.
It was a pleasure planning this trip with you, and I look forward to... Read more

Deat Laurayne,
Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m thrilled to hear that we were able to create a smooth and memorable experience for you in Italy. We take great care in selecting our collaborators, and it truly means a lot to know that our drivers, guides, and hotel staff made a positive impression with their kindness and passion. We’re proud of our team, and I’ll be sure to pass along your message to them.

It was a pleasure planning this trip with you, and I look forward to welcoming you back to Italy in the future—whenever you’re ready to discover more!

Arrivederci, on behalf of the whole Storywalking team!

Great vacation and Marina did a great job pla...
Portugal | Oct 16 - Oct 27, 2024

Laura
Laura R.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Oct 28, 2024

Great vacation and Marina did a great job planning it for us. She was very receptive to requested changes and was always available to answer any questions I had. Our tour covered Lisbon, Evora, Coimbra & Porto. She gave us ideas of things to see, places to eat and general information of each city. Loved it all.

Local specialist: Marina Courtaut
Marina
Marina Courtaut
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Nov 04, 2024

Hi Laura, thank you for submitting your feedback! It was a pleasure to help you plan a trip to Portugal. I am happy to hear you enjoyed your trip and I hope you created life-long memories 🤗 Hope to hear from you soon for another adventure! Best, Marina

We had several stand out guides and experiences!
Mexico | Oct 7 - Oct 27, 2024

S
Sara P.
Windsor, CA | Reviewed on Oct 28, 2024
We had several stand out guides and experiences.
San Miguel de Allende
. Alberto in San Miguel de Allende made us feel very welcome and gave us a great overview of the town.
. Tour with Aldo and driver Raul of Guanajuato was also excellent.
as you know Hotel Petra has seen better days and was not comfortable. We cannot recommend it. We stayed a bit above town at Casa de Liza. It is delightful and the restaurant below has a good breakfast.
Bus was really comfortable getting us to...
Read more

We had several stand out guides and experiences.
San Miguel de Allende
. Alberto in San Miguel de Allende made us feel very welcome and gave us a great overview of the town.
. Tour with Aldo and driver Raul of Guanajuato was also excellent.
as you know Hotel Petra has seen better days and was not comfortable. We cannot recommend it. We stayed a bit above town at Casa de Liza. It is delightful and the restaurant below has a good breakfast.
Bus was really comfortable getting us to MXC.
Mexico City
. Dani was a good start for exploring the centro.
. the bike and explore Techtihuacan tour was just ok. Felt like the guide was disinterested and the lunch spot was very touristic.
. Emiliano was a terrific guide on the mural tour.
the AU bus was pretty basic We would have preferred the upgraded version in the same company which has a bathroom for the 2 1/2 hour ride..
Puebla
. we loved Puebla and thank Rene for including it in our itinerary... super clean and pleasant city all around.
. Aleyn was a great guide in Chalupa where we learned about all things corn and tried to make tortillas from scratch. Would like to have added a visit to the archeology site at the base of the buried pyramid.
. Guadalupe took us back into the country of Atlizto where flowers abound and started out search for all the Catrinas. So fun! The town is charming and full of history and pretty zocalo.
Oaxaca
. the long drive was broken up with a trip to the onyx factory (not much happening), the gorgeous cactus forest reserve in Tehuacan, and an interesting stop at the salt ponds. Our driver Ernesto was charming and super patient and our guide Alex was very kind.
. The stop at the tule tree was worthwhile and Alex our guide and driver is very knowledgeable. The ride to Hierve el Agua was long and we wish we had know to bring swimsuits. Stopping at the traditional mescal distillery on the roadside was a great addition.
We decided to forgo any more tours on the road and had a blast wandering in Oaxaca for our last two days.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Boutique Parador San Miguel
Oaxaca

the nicest place we stayed. very pretty hotel with an interior courtyard. We would stay here again.

Authenticity & Character
really pretty courtyard and the room had Oaxacan character
Location
close to the action adn on a busy street, but once inside the rooms are quiet.
Staff
super nice and helpful. they went out of their way.
Cleanliness & Comfort
comfortable bed, clean room and nicely sized shower.
Hotel Petra
San Miguel de Allende

lumpy beds and pillows. The place is rundown adn must have been charming at one time.

Authenticity & Character
Location
there are better places close to downtown.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Casa Rosa Gran Hotel Boutique
Puebla

We enjoyed the location and rooftop restaurant. Our room had an amazing view of the cathedral and while there was a lot of street music outside, the room was quiet. The room was clean although a bit small for two people with luggage for a three week trip, but it is workable.

Authenticity & Character
the rooftop restaurant is great - has a lovely view. the room has a window that opens up to the street below. so you can see the action.
Location
right on the Cathedral Square and catty corner to the Zocalo
Staff
staff was nice, but not friendly. Our needs were met when we mentioned the smell of sewer gas in the sink.
Cleanliness & Comfort
the bed was comfortable , but the room is small and bathroom is small and there is a smell of sewer gas if the sink stopper is left open.
Activity Reviews
Monte Albán and the alebrijes workshop: an unforgettable experience
Monte Albán and the alebrijes workshop: an unforgettable experience
Oaxaca

we did not take this tour and we were tired of driving and wanted more time in Oaxaca.

Shared biking experience through Teotihuacan "The City of the Gods"
Shared biking experience through Teotihuacan "The City of the Gods"
Mexico City

so so. guide seemed to be "dialing it in", although the city of the Gods is awesome. Glad we saw it.

A Walk among Murals: Exploring the History and Legacy of Mexican Muralists
A Walk among Murals: Exploring the History and Legacy of Mexican Muralists
Mexico City

excellent guide...

Between markets and corn in the magical town of Cholula
Between markets and corn in the magical town of Cholula
Mexico

really fun tour, great time making tortillas. Would add a visit to the archeology center at teh base of the pyramid next time.

Exploring Atlixco: Puebla's Garden
Exploring Atlixco: Puebla's Garden
Puebla

Great guide through the backroad gardens and farms and looking for Catrinas all over the town. the guide was from a traditional village and had lots to share about traditions

Walk in a Cactus Forest: Tehuacán-Cuicuitlan Biosphere Reserve
Walk in a Cactus Forest: Tehuacán-Cuicuitlan Biosphere Reserve
Mexico

we are landscape architects so seeing this place like none other was fabulous.

Visit Mitla, the Tule Tree, a Mezcal Distillery & Teotitlán del Valle
Visit Mitla, the Tule Tree, a Mezcal Distillery & Teotitlán del Valle
Oaxaca

the tule tree, distillery were highlights. The drive to the boiling waters was long and we did not bring swimsuits - please remind anyone that takes this tour. We opted out of the weaving and Mitla visit due to time constraints.

City Tour of the historical center of Guanajuato
City Tour of the historical center of Guanajuato
Mexico

we really enjoyed this tour and going to off the beaten track sights. Our guide even added a trip up teh funicular which was not planned. we had a really great lunch where he suggested adn great coffee to start,

Local specialist: Rene Rodarte

We had an incredible 3 days tour with “Hassan...
Morocco | Oct 23 - Oct 25, 2024

Karen
Karen M.
Canada | Reviewed on Oct 28, 2024

We had an incredible 3 days tour with “Hassan Amraoui” to the beautiful Sahara Desert, Hassan was very accommodating to everyone in our group..We highly recommend Hassan for your next tour to the sahara

Local specialist: Megan Lower
Megan
Megan Lower
Local specialist in Massachusetts | Replied on Nov 02, 2024

Hi Karen,
Glad to hear you had a great tour with Hassan! We always love sharing reviews with our drivers and tour guides; we'll be sure that Hassan hears you had a good time!

Cheers!

I have nothing but FANTSTIC things to say abo...
Chile | Aug 12 - Sep 9, 2024

Susan
Susan M.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Oct 28, 2024
I have nothing but FANTSTIC things to say about KimKim, Responsible Travel, and the entire team that helped us plan and bring to life an amazing trip to Chile. The KimKim platform is excellent for communicating and planning travel; Both Tamir and Cami were super responsive during the planning process, filled with suggestions and advice about what to see and do during our time in Chile. Once we arrived in Santiago, we were met by our extraordinary guide, Angel, our on-the-ground local expert... Read more

I have nothing but FANTSTIC things to say about KimKim, Responsible Travel, and the entire team that helped us plan and bring to life an amazing trip to Chile. The KimKim platform is excellent for communicating and planning travel; Both Tamir and Cami were super responsive during the planning process, filled with suggestions and advice about what to see and do during our time in Chile. Once we arrived in Santiago, we were met by our extraordinary guide, Angel, our on-the-ground local expert resource and friend. Angel was incredibly welcoming, knowledgable, flexible and creative in his approach to sharing his country and culture with us. He was very responsive to our needs, and totally game for unusual requests (like a mid-winter swim in the ocean!). We had four weeks of travel in Chile, and things went very, very smoothly; KimKim dealt with all the bookings (lodging, transport, tours), and Angel and the KimKim team were always there for us to answer questions or provide us with additional information. Santiago was the base out of which we traveled, so we were able to connect with Angel throughout our time in Chile. Angel is, quite simply, a fantastic guide, and he’s now a good friend. We look forward to returning to Chile and reconnecting with him!

Many thanks to the KimKim team for all their help in making our Chile adventure so epic!

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Diego de Velazquez
Santiago

Super friendly and helpful staff. Great location.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Ultramar
Valparaíso

wonderfully welcoming place, quiet location.

Hotel Gomero
Hanga Roa

Beautiful place, run by two wonderful sisters. Lush landscapes, large and comfortable room. Super helpful folks.

Hotel Lady Florence Dixie
Puerto Natales

great location, basic comfortable room, a bit noisy

Hotel La Casa de Don Tomás
San Pedro de Atacama

So beautiful, an oasis in San Pedro de Atacama. The grounds are peaceful, especially loved the platform beneath the trees, for lounging / meditating.

Activity Reviews
Chilean Food Tour & Picnic with a View of Santiago
Chilean Food Tour & Picnic with a View of Santiago
Santiago

Fantastic! Touring the markets with Angel was the perfect introduction to Chile. Gastronomic bliss! Really really enjoyed the beautiful sunset picnic above the city. Hospitality from the heart!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Valparaiso and Viña del Mar- Shared Tour
Valparaiso and Viña del Mar- Shared Tour
Chile

Large bus group tour to Valparaiso was good. Street art was great.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Astronomical Tour -  Atacama Desert
Astronomical Tour - Atacama Desert
San Pedro de Atacama

Communication breakdown led to us not being informed about tour cancellation because of sky cover. Tour went the following day. Beautiful time in the desert, moon was bright so star-gazing was just OK.

Local specialist: Tamer B. Obeid
Tamer B.
Tamer B. Obeid
Local specialist in Quito & Santiago | Replied on Oct 29, 2024

Dear Susan,
We are really glad that you made us part of your adventure to Chile, and that you enjoyed such a memorable and great experience in this beautiful country. Your words mean the world to us and are the best reminder of why we love creating unique experiences for our beloved travelers.
We will be waiting for you with open arms to see you again in Chile and South America.
Best regards,
Tamer

Mixed
Portugal | Sep 22 - Oct 5, 2024

L
Lois F.
San Jose, CA | Reviewed on Oct 28, 2024

Helpful service. Personally I found it a bit frustrating, though, as preferences on rooms and payment terms were not set clearly upfront.

Local specialist: Tiernan O'Rourke Araujo

Our trip was everything we hoped it would be!..
Italy | Oct 16 - Oct 25, 2024

Kelly
Kelly O.
Atlanta, GA | Reviewed on Oct 28, 2024
Our trip was everything we hoped it would be! The logistics were perfectly coordinated, train times, drivers, etc.. it was a lot of moving around but you made it as easy as possible. Every tour guide was amazing, so attentive and friendly. We especially loved the olive oil tasting and the cooking class. Both far exceeded our expectations. The optional stops while driving were also super helpful, we loved Alberobello!
The Masseria Santo Scalone was by far our favorite hotel and all of the...
Read more

Our trip was everything we hoped it would be! The logistics were perfectly coordinated, train times, drivers, etc.. it was a lot of moving around but you made it as easy as possible. Every tour guide was amazing, so attentive and friendly. We especially loved the olive oil tasting and the cooking class. Both far exceeded our expectations. The optional stops while driving were also super helpful, we loved Alberobello!
The Masseria Santo Scalone was by far our favorite hotel and all of the staff at every location was helpful.
The only hotel that we didn't love was the Palazzo Calo in Bari.

Thank you so much for all of the patience and help planning!

Activity Reviews
Olive Oil Tasting in a Local Masseria
Olive Oil Tasting in a Local Masseria
Italy
Guided Visit of Florence Including David and Duomo
Guided Visit of Florence Including David and Duomo
Florence
Local Market Visit & Private Cooking Class in Lecce
Local Market Visit & Private Cooking Class in Lecce
Italy
Private Walking Experience in Otranto & Trekking at the Bauxite Caves
Private Walking Experience in Otranto & Trekking at the Bauxite Caves
Italy
Local specialist: Giorgia Torre

Spain was magical thanks to Helena
Spain | Oct 6 - Oct 20, 2023

Nicholas
Nicholas B.
Noblesville, IN | Reviewed on Oct 28, 2024

We took a 2 week south Spain trip with Helena. It was an absolute perfect experience. She had wonderful ideas. She planned all travel. There was basically no problems. It was so nice to enjoy our time there without stressing about logistics. She made herself available for questions. She was very patient with us and took our requests into consideration. We would work with Helena again in a heartbeat!

Local specialist: Helena Fernández
Helena
Helena Fernández
Local specialist in Madrid, Spain | Replied on Oct 31, 2024

Hi Nick,

Thank you so much for your kind words!
I’m thrilled to hear that you enjoyed a stress-free and memorable trip through southern Spain.
It was a pleasure planning this journey with you and tailoring everything to your needs.

I would love to help with your next adventure anytime—just say the word!

Warmest regards,
Helena

So much less stress than planning the trip ourselves.
Italy | Oct 16 - Oct 25, 2024

Pam
Pam L.
Atlanta, GA | Reviewed on Oct 28, 2024
Giorgia set up an amazing trip for my daughter and me. We flew into Rome and immediately headed to Florence. It was a long travel day but everything was timed well. Our hotel in Florence was centrally located so we had access to all shopping and museums nearby. Our tour guide Amelia was truly impressive. Very knowledgeable and personable. I only wish we had made plans to see the beautiful wine country there in Tuscany. After Florence we went to southern Italy… Bari, Otranto, Ostuni,... Read more

Giorgia set up an amazing trip for my daughter and me. We flew into Rome and immediately headed to Florence. It was a long travel day but everything was timed well. Our hotel in Florence was centrally located so we had access to all shopping and museums nearby. Our tour guide Amelia was truly impressive. Very knowledgeable and personable. I only wish we had made plans to see the beautiful wine country there in Tuscany. After Florence we went to southern Italy… Bari, Otranto, Ostuni, Monopoli and Lecce! It was quite a trip! All the tour guides were amazing and knowledgeable. Maurizio took us for a trek along the coast of Sorento. He was a wealth of knowledge and information. Some of the hotels were hard to find and we reached out to Giorgia a few times for numerous questions. She always replied expediently. Thank you Giorgia for planning an amazing trip.

Hotel Reviews
Masseria Santo Scalone
Ostuni

Our room was beautiful and the view off the balcony was amazing! Nice pool area and grounds.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Palazzo de Noha
Lecce

The room kind of felt like a basement. It did have a window and a very nice bathroom. Very modern but figuring out how the light switches worked was puzzling. Tried to charge my phone while at breakfast but the electricity turned off when we left the room. Room was very clean but really didn’t like the smell of the sheets. Location was excellent!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Dimora San Giuseppe
Otranto

Cute hotel with a lovely staff. Nice location, even though the car parking was a bit far. Breakfast was fresh and breakfast patio was a nice area.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Palazzo Caló
Bari

Small room with stairs up to a loft where the bed was. Clean room and nice enough staff.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Walkable to so many places.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hilton Rome Airport Hotel
Fiumicino

Clean room and comfy bed. Nothing fancy but a large breakfast spread.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Palazzo Benci
Florence

Very small room with small shower but located central to all interests. The room and hotel were very clean and desk reception friendly.

Authenticity & Character
There was a well in the floor covered with plexiglass so you could see it. It went down so far you couldn’t see the bottom. The hotel clerk said it was used by the Benci family many centuries ago when that space was a palace occupied by the Benci family.
Location
Central location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Guided Visit of Florence Including David and Duomo
Guided Visit of Florence Including David and Duomo
Florence

The tour was wonderful, even though it was raining. Amelia was knowledgeable and fun.

Quality of Experience
A wealth of info and fun people in our group
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local Market Visit & Private Cooking Class in Lecce
Local Market Visit & Private Cooking Class in Lecce
Italy

Livio and Guillia brought us to the market to pick up the ingredients for our seafood dish. During the cooking class, Livio explained everything so we could understand the importance of just the smallest detail when cooking. Very informative! They were fun to be with and we felt like family sitting around the table together to enjoy our creation.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Walking Experience in Otranto & Trekking at the Bauxite Caves
Private Walking Experience in Otranto & Trekking at the Bauxite Caves
Italy

Maurizio was so full of knowledge about the area. Our walk on the coast of Otranto was spectacular. He was so nice and happy to answer all our questions.

Quality of Experience
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Transport
Olive Oil Tasting in a Local Masseria
Olive Oil Tasting in a Local Masseria
Italy

We learned a lot of things about olive oil and olives that we never knew. The property was breathtaking and Filipino was very nice.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Giorgia Torre

A fantastic trip
Japan | Oct 16 - Oct 27, 2024

L
Larry E.
Nicetown-Tioga, PA | Reviewed on Oct 28, 2024
Overall, the trip was fantastic. The itinerary worked verywell for us, and the guidance was almost always right on the mark. We had two small quibbles:
1. While the hotels were great, the location of the Kimpton Shinjuku in Tokyo was less than optimal from our perspective, primarily because it was not that close to a train/subway stop. And it was hard to figure out to walk to get to and from the hotel to the Shinjuku Station, which is one of those huge, sprawling stations with several...
Read more

Overall, the trip was fantastic. The itinerary worked verywell for us, and the guidance was almost always right on the mark. We had two small quibbles:
1. While the hotels were great, the location of the Kimpton Shinjuku in Tokyo was less than optimal from our perspective, primarily because it was not that close to a train/subway stop. And it was hard to figure out to walk to get to and from the hotel to the Shinjuku Station, which is one of those huge, sprawling stations with several different entrances and exits. The hotel also bungled our luggage transfer, although they were very apologetic about it and did refund the fee.
2. The guides we had, while very nice and very helpful, were not the greatest. Their English was limited, and they often tell us much that we couldn't have figured out for ourselves. We did want to single out one guide, Alex, who took us our food tour in Tokyo. He was exceptional in every way.

Hotel Reviews
The Tokyo Station Hotel
Tokyo

What a gem

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Kimpton Shinjuku Tokyo, an IHG Hotel

The Kimpton Shinjuku Tokyo Hotel was nice in itself, but its location posed some challenges. It wasn't really close to any major attractions or convenient train stations. The hotel itself was great, just the location left something to be desired.

Activity Review
Private Evening Food Tour in Tokyo
Private Evening Food Tour in Tokyo
Tokyo

The Private Evening Food Tour in Tokyo with Alex was fantastic. He was very conversational and took us to amazing places with great food that we wouldn't have found on our own. His guidance throughout the tour was top-notch, and he even helped us get a taxi at the end. The timing of the tour was perfect for visiting various spots easily. Overall, it was an excellent experience.

Local specialist: Adeline Kuroki

Wonderfully Planned and Executed Central Europe Trip
Italy | Oct 13 - Oct 27, 2024

Jeremy
Jeremy P.
Canada | Reviewed on Oct 28, 2024
I would highly recommend KimKim for planning any sort of vacation where you want a more 'local' experience! From the beginning stages of planning my trip and explaining to Marianna what I wanted to do and see, I was impressed with the level of care and attention she gave to helping create the greatest experience. She helped tailor it to myself and what I wanted to see and do and within the budget I had allocated. Not only that, she had great suggestions for excursions and touring central... Read more

I would highly recommend KimKim for planning any sort of vacation where you want a more 'local' experience!

From the beginning stages of planning my trip and explaining to Marianna what I wanted to do and see, I was impressed with the level of care and attention she gave to helping create the greatest experience. She helped tailor it to myself and what I wanted to see and do and within the budget I had allocated. Not only that, she had great suggestions for excursions and touring central Europe and Italy like a local - suggestions I would have never found and made my experience so much more rich and robust then simply staying on the tourist track.

I was very impressed with my itinerary, the quality and location of the hotels of which I stayed, and the range of excursions and items that were planned for me on this trip - it was a lot! The service from Marianna and the KimKim team before my trip was excellent and they were available and outstanding for a couple minor items that came up during the trip as well.

They were courteous, professional and did everything to help make this dream trip outstanding and exceptional. I will definitely be using them again for my next travel adventure. Thank you!!

Hotel Reviews
Al Manthia Hotel
Rome

Great location for being close to all the action in Rome. Walk-able and easy to find. Clean, quiet and friendly hotel staff and a great breakfast made this an ideal location for a trip into Rome. Restaurants and cafes close by. Would definitely stay here again.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Centrally located and close to all of the main attractions in Rome.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Davanzati Hotel Florence
Florence

Amazing location for being close to all the action in Florence. Located right by the main Piazza and market so all of the main attractions are minutes away. Hotel staff was exceptional - friendly, hospitable and made for such an enjoyable stay. Walk-able and easy to find. Clean, quiet and friendly hotel staff and a great breakfast made this an ideal location for a trip into Florence. Breakfast was also exceptional with lots of good options and phenomenal service.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Staff were all amazing!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Gran Duca Di York Milan
Milan

Fantastic location for being close to all the action in Milan. Located close to the main Square for shopping and of course the impressive Duomo! The Hotel staff were exceptional - friendly, attentive and the room was beautiful, spacious and clean. Walk-able and easy to find. Ideally located and close to many of the main attractions and had a great breakfast selection and impeccable service.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Staff were so friendly and great to deal with.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Clean, spacious and comfortable bed. Bathroom was spacious as well.
Le Phénix Hôtel
Lyon

Fantastic location in the old city in Lyon. Hotel is quiet, clean and charming and the hotel staff were exceptional! The room was spacious and clean and easy to find. Breakfast was also very good with a good variety while also staying very French, including a variety of delicious pastries and bread. Staff were excellent on check-in and check-out.

Authenticity & Character
Very charming and unique.
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Resident Kensington
London

Service here was excellent! From check-in to check-out the staff were attentive, knowledgeable and went above and beyond to serve including providing a snack and coffee while waiting to check-in. Room was charming, clean and very quiet. Halloween decorations were also a nice touch! Hotel is very close to the metro line making going to and from the hotel very easy. Plenty of great pubs and coffee shops in the area and a few blocks from the hotel as well. Would definitely recommend and will definitely stay here again.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Outstanding - professional and courteous
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Jeanne D'Arc Le Marais
Paris

Loved this hotel - the location was great and very close to the metro. Plenty of shops, fine dining and cafes in the area close to the hotel. The staff were excellent, friendly and more than willing to help offer suggestions for food choices in the area. The room was clean, quiet and easy to find. Was very charming.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Rome: Catacombs and Capuchin Crypt Guided Tour with Transfer
Rome: Catacombs and Capuchin Crypt Guided Tour with Transfer
Rome

Was a very interesting tour and certainly not something on the normal tourist track. Had some beautiful paintings and an excellent overview of the Capuchin Monks and why they created the crypts. Very informative and a good start to seeing the city of Rome.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Staff were knowledgeable and provided additional insight to the location and history.
Transport
Colosseum Underground Tour with Arena, Palatine Hill & Roman Forum
Colosseum Underground Tour with Arena, Palatine Hill & Roman Forum
Rome

What an experience and the guide was incredible. Was a nice small group (5 person) tour that gave us plenty of time in the Colosseum; plenty of history and understanding of what it was, what it wasn't and lots of interesting information along the way. The Forum was incredible as well and again, lots of great historic information one might not get if not using a guide. This was a definite highlight of Rome and it is a busy site with lots of people taking it in, but totally worth it to have a guided tour with a knowledgeable guide. Gives a very authentic and informative experience.

Quality of Experience
Quality of tour and the information - ease of access as well.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guide was excellent - so good.
Transport
TOUR OF ESOTERIC ROME
TOUR OF ESOTERIC ROME
Rome

This was a one-on-one tour of Rome for 3 hours and it was fantastic. Marco was incredibly knowledgeable of the area (having grown up in Rome) and took me to places I never knew existed and provided a great history experience. This tour provided new insights and history of Rome that I was not aware of in addition to showcasing other gems of Rome that most tourists might miss. Another great thing about this tour was having someone local who also knew of the best place for pizza, the best place for espresso and of course, a hidden away bakery well away from the tourist areas - all of which were a nice added bonus as we walked the city and covered off Esoteric Rome. Very interesting and would highly recommend.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
From Rome: Full-Day Pompeii and its Ruins
From Rome: Full-Day Pompeii and its Ruins
Rome

Pompeii was excellent. A bit of a long day as it is quite a ways from Rome but so worth it. It was a much bigger area than I had anticipated and could have easily spent an extra day there exploring the ruins and how vast they really are. Local guide was very knowledgeable and provided a lot of color and historical depth on the tour. We did move fairly quickly through the some of the areas but we had ample free time at the end to explore further. An afternoon is not nearly enough but an incredible place nonetheless. Tour through Naples was also very nice and had some stops along the way for photos and enjoying a bit of Naples.

Quality of Experience
Food
Food was authentic and was delicious with great service.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Air conditioned bus and it was needed as it was quite warm in that area.
Transport
Welcome to Rome
Welcome to Rome
Rome

This activity turned out to be a simple transfer from the airport directly to the hotel. Driver drove but did not say much and there wasn't really any sort of introductory tour or welcome to Rome.

Quality of Experience
Driver could have talked a bit and explained about the city but it was simply a transfer.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Driver not talkative or all that friendly actually.
Transport
Quality of transport good, clean, quick and air conditioned.
Private Renaissance Walking Tour of Florence
Private Renaissance Walking Tour of Florence
Florence

Such an informative tour! Having a private walking tour around a city like Florence gives so much history, backstory, tales and stories that one likely won't get just walking around on their own. I learned stories about some of the artwork, the sculptors and the painters one would not receive just walking into a church to view the art and sculptures. It was a great way to get familiar with the city and the main sites and to learn about lesser known ones. My guide, Janella was informative, very knowledgeable and she provided me a lot of information about the works in the Academia and of course, the David, which was as phenomenal and breath-taking as she said it would be. Was a very good tour and an excellent way to explore the city and of course with a local who knows the ins and outs and some great places to eat like a true Florentine.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Tuscany Day Trip: Siena, San Gimignano, Monteriggioni, & Chianti
Tuscany Day Trip: Siena, San Gimignano, Monteriggioni, & Chianti
Florence

Going to these 3 places has been a dream of mine for years so to see them all in one day was absolutely incredible. And to end it off with a wine tour was perfect. The drive was beautiful and scenic on an air conditioned tour bus. We first stopped in Monteriggioni and it was magnificent to explore the town as it only takes 20 minutes as it is quite small and lovely. Walking along the wall was a definite highlight and I'd recommend that. Siena was a gem and absolutely stunning. A beautiful and walk-able city with plenty to see and do and quite an amazing step back in time. Easily could spend a whole day there as it is quite large and there are some great places to eat, drink coffee and of course find gelato. Worth taking time to walk and find yourself in some interesting places like the Porta Romana, which was fascinating and equally beautiful. San Gimignano was also incredible and I enjoyed the time we had there to walk the streets and check out the stunning views of Tuscany from the many, many vantage points that over look the area. Feels magical and historic but also quaint and quite a friendly city. The winery was also amazing and had some of the best wine I have had as well as really good Balsamic Vinegar they make as well. It was a wonderful way to cap off the day and was a definite highlight of the day.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Staff and driver were excellent and plenty of time given at each stop along the way.
Transport
Tuscany Day Trip to Lucca and Pisa
Tuscany Day Trip to Lucca and Pisa
Florence

This was an incredible day as I had a private car take me to Pisa and then onto Lucca and the day was perfect. Was a lovely beautiful drive and my driver was incredibly knowledgeable as she was local to Florence. She gave me some suggestions for walking Lucca; like an amazing local place to eat and provided me with some additional information on Pisa that was very helpful. Was a great solo day out and allowed me to venture out at my own pace and was very impressed with both cities and the overall tour.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Friendly and hotel pick up and drop off service. Was excellent and very knowledgeable.
Transport
Private car - nice way to travel.
DOME - GUIDED TOUR
DOME - GUIDED TOUR
Florence

This was a highlight of the trip as it has been something I have always wanted to do and it did not disappoint. They were right on time with letting us in and up and away we went. View was incredibly worth it - the top of the dome looking at the city and the inside of the dome on the way up as you stop to look at the massive paintings within the dome - incredible works of art and architecture. I personally did not find the climb hard but there were certainly some in my group who struggled through it as there are quite a few steps and some steep sections. Not for those who are claustrophobic for sure. Was a great way to see the city and you get about 15 minutes up there to take in the views and your photos - which is a healthy amount of time considering all the people at the top.

Quality of Experience
Evening Wine Tasting and Dinner
Evening Wine Tasting and Dinner
Florence

This was a fantastic evening! The food was delicious and really showcased Tuscan cuisine. The winery (Diadema) was lovely as well, including all of the staff we encountered. The event was a small group event and we were first given a tasting of their wine and locally produced olive oil. We're also fortunate enough to watch the olive oil press process as they had recently harvested and were making a fresh batch and that was a fun process to watch and enjoy the wonderful smell and sights of that. At one point we went into our own little part of the cellar to do a bit of a blind tasting and were given a complimentary bottle of wine to commemorate the evening. It was a mix we each got to create, so that was a really nice takeaway from the winery. Would highly recommend this tour as it was small and intimate and our local guide was really great. Loved this small wine tour.

Quality of Experience
Food
Food was outstanding as was the service.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Evening Aperitivo Street Food Tour
Evening Aperitivo Street Food Tour
Milan

This was another great local experience as I had one-on-one time with my two guides - Franceso and Alessandro as we walked the streets of Milan and ate some delicious food. They had arranged some great places to eat and drink to showcase the local cuisine in Milan. They also provided a lot of history about local food culture and how Milan differs from the other food culture of Italy and it was really informative. We stopped at some great little places along the way and it was fun enjoying the local history tour, additional aspects about Milan and Italian culture in general. Milan is a very walk-able city and again, walking around with locals and hearing some stories while stopping to eat some great food is such an enjoyable way to see the city more like a local. Would highly recommend this!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The guys were amazing and great guides!
Transport
Moulin Rouge - Big Night Out - Tickets only
Moulin Rouge - Big Night Out - Tickets only
Paris

This was a great event and a lot of fun. The show itself was very well done and the champagne was a nice touch as well. Was a great evening and I chose to walk from my hotel to the Moulin Rouge (took about 45 minutes) so I could experience more of Paris and see what a typical Thursday evening looks like in that area. This was a classy act and a great way to experience some authentic cabaret culture in Paris. Would recommend this as an activity if you are visiting Paris!

Quality of Experience
Lake Como Day Trip to Como, Bellagio & Varenna
Lake Como Day Trip to Como, Bellagio & Varenna
Milan

Lake Como is stunning and did not disappoint. Our guide was amazing from start to finish and we had such beautiful weather. The area is breathtaking and taking the ferry up the lake allows for so many stunning photos and is a great way to see a large portion of the lake. Bellagio was a lovely town, but Varenna was definitely a highlight. It has a lot of beautiful flowers and fun walkways and stairs to explore and some great places to eat. Neither of these places felt 'touristy' or as busy as other major cities. Train on the way back was a great way to end the day and relax as well.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guide was fantastic. Very informative especially on the ferry. Great food recommendations as well.
Transport
Private transfer in town
Private transfer in town
France

This was a great adventure. I did not realize that I would have a private car take me to Pisa and then Lucca so it was a wonderful way to see some of the country well also visit with my lovely driver and learn more about the culture and people in Florence and the Tuscan region. She dropped me very close to the tower of Pisa and I had ample time to explore that area, climb the tower and even get a bit of local food from a street vendor. Then off to Lucca, which was a very under-rated and beautiful city. I loved it there. She also provided me with a few places to see while roaming Lucca and made an excellent restaurant recommendation, which I took her up on and it did not disappoint. This was a great excursion and I loved the one-to-one aspect of having a private car and driver who were friendly and knowledgeable about the area. This was one of my favorite events.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Driver was excellent. Friendly, attentive, knowledgeable and her English was very good!
Transport
Private car - clean, quiet and a great way to see more of the country side with no stress of driving myself.
Timed tickets to Le Louvre
Timed tickets to Le Louvre
Paris

Let me say this - a few hours is not enough time to fully explore everything this museum has to offer. I was very happy to have a ticket for the opening time as it allowed me to get in right away and beat the crowd to see the Mona Lisa. There were maybe 20 people in total there when it first opened and by the time I left, the line to see it was very large. Aside from that there is the Crown Jewels, many paintings, statues and other wonderful works to see - could easily spend a day or two there because there is so much to see. Navigation of the museum is easy and I would highly recommend adding the audio tour to your musuem tour as it does help navigate and provides a nice way to walk through and see everything. Also was impressive to see what the Royal Palace looked like and it is impressive for sure!.

Quality of Experience
Small group discovery of the Catacombs
Small group discovery of the Catacombs
Paris

This was simply the highlight of Paris for me. Seeing the catacombs, understanding why they were built is a very humbling experience and very spiritual. You are looking and walking among the dead - bones of real people and even though it is an attraction, the tour is carried out with dignity and respect for those whose bones lay there. It is an incredible place full of mystery and wonder and our guide was really great. He was knowledgeable and was very passionate about the history. I learned things I didn't know about Paris, the cemeteries and the catacombs. Would definitely recommend doing this especially in a tour group as we got access to 'Group' only areas that normal single tickets don't. Worth it!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Historical Pub Walking Tour of London
Historical Pub Walking Tour of London
London

This was a great way to finish off my full itinerary by walking through the streets of London with Adam, our guide, and getting some fun stories and then having a pint in each of the places we visited. It was a fun tour, light hearted but full of interesting facts and history and some embellished stories along the way. The pubs were very English and obviously have been there quite a while and was also fun to mingle with the locals in those pubs. Guide was great, fun, funny and had some great recommendations for choice of beverage at each place we stopped.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Adam was a great guide and clearly loves what he does.
Local specialist: Marianna Leccese
Marianna
Marianna Leccese
Local specialist in Nice | Replied on Oct 28, 2024

Ciao Jeremy!

Grazie mille for your detailed feedback! I’m thrilled that you enjoyed your journey and returned home with unforgettable memories from three incredible countries. It was such a pleasure to introduce you to my home country, and the countries I've lived in! Thank you for your feedback, it heps us to always improve! I hope you tasted all the amazing food we have to offer I look forward to working with you again on more adventures!

Melanie was absolutely amazing. She was grea...
Italy | Oct 18 - Oct 26, 2024

A
Abdul A.
Flagami, FL | Reviewed on Oct 28, 2024
Melanie was absolutely amazing. She was great to work with, very attentive, and responded very quickly. She was available to us throughout the whole trip and made the trip seamless. Would highly recommend without any hesitation. Read more

Melanie was absolutely amazing. She was great to work with, very attentive, and responded very quickly. She was available to us throughout the whole trip and made the trip seamless. Would highly recommend without any hesitation.

Hotel Reviews
Vanity Hotel Navona
Rome

Great location. Very nice and friendly staff. The room and some of the amenities could use a little updating, but overall a great place to stay.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Olimpia
Venice

Great hotel. The location, staff, and amenities were all outstanding.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Ambrosio Relais
Sorrento

This is not a hotel, but more of a bed and breakfast. The location is very far from the city center. It is located on a main road which is very loud throughout the night and the owner's dog barked all night on one of the nights. Although everything was clean, the towels were very old and rough and the bed not very comfortable.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Venice Walking and Gondola Tour
Venice Walking and Gondola Tour
Venice
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Vatican & Sistine Chapel Tour
Vatican & Sistine Chapel Tour
Rome
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Boat tour along the Amalfi Coast
Boat tour along the Amalfi Coast
Sorrento
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Colosseo and Roman forums adventure
Colosseo and Roman forums adventure
Rome
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Explore St. Mark's Basilica and The Doge's Palace
Explore St. Mark's Basilica and The Doge's Palace
Venice
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Melanie Rapuano
Melanie
Melanie Rapuano
Local specialist in Italy | Replied on Oct 28, 2024

Thank you so much for letting me be part of your surprise trip to your wife, I'm so pleased you both had a lovely holiday and made many Italian memories to take home.
I'm really sorry about the Ambrosio Relais, as I explained the area might feel completely different during peak season when it's extra busy, but thank you so much for commenting on the accommodation itself so we can look into it for the future.

Again, thank you for booking and I look forward to your next trip to Italy!

A presto,
Melanie

I

Rita was very thorough and informative. She w...
Italy | Oct 13 - Oct 21, 2024

A
Angela P.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Oct 28, 2024
Rita was very thorough and informative. She was very prompt in getting back to us with answers to our questions and concerns. The drivers and guides she chose were exceptional. Read more

Rita was very thorough and informative. She was very prompt in getting back to us with answers to our questions and concerns. The drivers and guides she chose were exceptional.

Hotel Review
Hotel Lorelei Londres
Sorrento

The rooms were very nice. Staff was informative and pleasant. Restaurant was fabulous and the location was perfect

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Rooms were spotless and had a beautiful view of the sea
Local specialist: Rita Pagano
Rita
Rita Pagano
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Oct 28, 2024

Dear Angela, thank you so much for your kind words! I’m so glad to hear that everything went smoothly and that you felt well-supported throughout your trip. Thank you for letting me be a part of your journey, I hope you created lovely memories around Italy. My best regards, Rita 🥰

Great trip, helpful site. Newbies- don't assume anything.... at all.
Italy | Oct 19 - Oct 26, 2024

Ryan
Ryan D.
Armenia | Reviewed on Oct 28, 2024
Overall I was decently happy with the KimKim experience. I think that the platform and agents as a whole are not really geared towards someone who is a first time user. There were many many things that I either missed or was not informed about that seemed to be "common sense" for the platform/agent, but were just never communicated. These are things that I will know for next time, but would have appreciated being informed about this time.
One example is the installments. I asked for 3 (maybe...
Read more

Overall I was decently happy with the KimKim experience. I think that the platform and agents as a whole are not really geared towards someone who is a first time user. There were many many things that I either missed or was not informed about that seemed to be "common sense" for the platform/agent, but were just never communicated. These are things that I will know for next time, but would have appreciated being informed about this time.
One example is the installments. I asked for 3 (maybe 4, can't remember.. not important) installments for the payment. When I was told yes and that this was no problem, I took this at face-value and with the standard accepted definition of an installment. The payment is divided up and due at interval due dates. This is how a car payment works, how a credit card payment works, how literally every industry in the world defines an "installment payment". I checked the site, and the next due date was XX/XX/XXXX. Great. I would have my next installment to pay on that date. Given that I have the ability to make random partial payments at anytime through the site on my own (without it being "called" an installment), it makes absolutely no sense that "offering installments" wasn't actually offering to let me pay in installments, it was just the agent doing the math to calculate the total cost divided by 4. I could have done that myself and made partial payments.... that was not helpful. What was also not helpful, was being told that I had to come up with $13k in four days because "oh your installments aren't actually installments and you have to pay everything by the first installment date". What I expected was divided payments due at staggered due dates. What I got was the agent telling me that I had to figure out how to get $13k in four days... and only because I asked, not because I was informed.
I get that this is a budget platform and that it is my responsibility to read/study everything, but a little communication would have been helpful.
Another example.... we had private transfers for nearly everything. I asked about the car for the lemon tour about an hour before, and was told "ohh we think it's a nice walk so I planned for you guys to walk to that". Yes, I should have read the plan a little more carefully and realized that. But if you are "planning on us having a nice little walk"... maybe tell us?
There was some kind of taxi strike issue so it took us 45 minutes of trying to get a cab before we gave up and walked, and missed the tour entirely.
Not the agents fault we missed the tour, that was our fault for not reading and studying the plan more carefully, it just would have been nice to be informed that this particular outing had a different game plan when every outing so far had a driver.

All this to say- Melanie was nice, the trip was awesome, and the vendors she set us up with were lovely. I wish a bit more focus was put on communicating the little things that were "assumed" we would know, but again I just didn't realize I needed to be that vigilant in combing through all the fine print.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Conca Park 4* Sorrento
Sorrento

Incredible hotel, loved it. By far the most uncomfortable beds I've ever slept on in a hotel, BUT the room-service food was awesome.

Authenticity & Character
awesome art, cool entryway
Location
very walkable
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
very clean but the beds were wildly uncomfortable. I think we all need a massage after those beds
Hotel Le Meridien Visconti - Marriott
Rome

Clean, nice staff, helpful, awesome family room (s)

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Renaissance Naples Hotel Mediterraneo - Marriott Naples
Naples

Stunning views while eating breakfast. Loved this hotel. Kinda felt like the toilet was going to fall out of the wall every time we sat on it, but might just be old

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
little rickety, but nice overall and awesome views
Activity Reviews
City Tour of Naples
City Tour of Naples
Italy

It was fine. Exactly what it says it is, nothing negative to say but also nothing crazy outstanding. It was a good way to see the city.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
N/A
Full day excursion along the Amalfi coast with private driver
Full day excursion along the Amalfi coast with private driver
Italy

Good excursion

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Lemon tour and lunch in Sorrento
Lemon tour and lunch in Sorrento
Sorrento

Didn't make the tour but my husband said it was fine. Not super interesting for the kids, but short enough that it didn't matter too much. Broke my molar on the ravioli, but that could have happened in any restaurant. human error.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Melanie Rapuano
Melanie
Melanie Rapuano
Local specialist in Italy | Replied on Oct 28, 2024
Hi Ryan,
thank you so much for your review.
So sorry if you found it a little confusing, what happened was, as you confirmed the booking in July, there were only 3 months before your actual arrival. You asked to split into 4 instalments but this is usually in order to use different cards so everyone can pay for themselves. Had we had more time we would of course been able to spread the amount over time, but because all trips must be paid in full 2 months before arrival, in order to pay...
Read more

Hi Ryan,
thank you so much for your review.
So sorry if you found it a little confusing, what happened was, as you confirmed the booking in July, there were only 3 months before your actual arrival. You asked to split into 4 instalments but this is usually in order to use different cards so everyone can pay for themselves. Had we had more time we would of course been able to spread the amount over time, but because all trips must be paid in full 2 months before arrival, in order to pay suppliers and confirm services, it didn't leave you a lot of time between payments. Again I'm sorry for the inconvenience this caused.

I'm pleased you all had a lovely trip even if you left a tooth behind and I look forward to seeing you in Italy again!
Melanie

An Unforgettable Dolce Vita Adventure in Italy
Italy | Sep 29 - Oct 15, 2024

Helen
Helen M.
Salt Lake City, UT | Reviewed on Oct 28, 2024
This is our second trip using KimKim and highly recommend using them. From the start of our planning to occasional check ins while we were on the trip, our overall experience with our Madrid-based travel consultant, Bea De Pablo, has been excellent. She carefully explored our desired destinations, experiences, travel preferences, and activities and crafted the ideal itinerary for our planned 17-day, bucket-list adventure in Italy to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary. She was extremely... Read more

This is our second trip using KimKim and highly recommend using them. From the start of our planning to occasional check ins while we were on the trip, our overall experience with our Madrid-based travel consultant, Bea De Pablo, has been excellent. She carefully explored our desired destinations, experiences, travel preferences, and activities and crafted the ideal itinerary for our planned 17-day, bucket-list adventure in Italy to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary. She was extremely flexible in accommodating requested changes and altering the itinerary to ensure it better aligned with our needs. Both Bea and other travel consultants whom we contacted via phone and chat were quick to respond to any urgent questions we had while on the trip.

Memorable guided experiences included the following:
• Two days of hiking through the Alpe di Suisi and Seceda Spires in the Dolomites. Our guide, Emanuela, ensured we were able to take in the most stunning vistas as she shared historical and cultural information about this unique region. Felt like taking a hike with a good friend through breathtaking scenery.
• Tour of the Uffizi Gallery followed by a private discovery walk of Florence at Night. Our guide, Paola Angelini (LivTours) skillfully negotiated the crowds with our group of four to ensure we were able to see the Renaissance masterpieces of Botticelli, DaVinci, Raphael and Titan, offering expert insights into each. This was followed by a private walk from the Piazza della Signoria to the Ponte Vecchio. Very impressed with her knowledge.
• Artisan tour of the mosaic laboratory and paper workshop. Our guide from LivTours enabled us to see artisans working behind the scenes. Remarkable to see the processes still employed since the days of Medici.
• Cooking class at the Podere Il Casale in Pienza. Our delightful host showed us the farm and process for making cheese, and then put us to work chopping/preparing and then enjoying the most amazing Italian feast with six new friends. Unique, fun way to wrap up our Tuscan experience.
• Day with Donatella and Marco Vangi of Talixo Tuscany touring the Tuscan countryside with a stop in Civita di Bagnoregio. We were fortunate to have Marco not only drive us from Florence to Montepulciano with stops in Siena and San Gimignano but also from Montepulciano to Rome. Marco provided us very insightful commentary as we took in the sights of historical walled cities and vineyards. Donatella accompanied us to the fragile hilltop settlement and treated us to a lovely lunch.
• Guided tour of the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. Rita’s deep knowledge, combined with her ability to help our small group navigate the crowds was well appreciated.
• Private guided tour of Pompeii. Luigi’s expertise and knowledge as an archaeologist brought to life what was the thriving city of Pompeii and its ancient port, the massive destruction caused by Vesuvius and the history of excavations.

What elevated our travel experience:
• Use of drivers vs. handling our own transportation. Would highly recommend leaving the transportation up to the skilled drivers who were carefully selected by Bea to transport us throughout the Dolomites, to Venice, from Florence through Tuscany to Rome. They were very skilled in navigating the challenging Italian roads, while entertaining us with historical insights and overviews of each area, stories of the regional wines and much more as we passed through the countryside. Kudos to Andrea Alessandrini, Cristiano, and Marco Vangi for allowing us to really relax and take in the sights. Additionally, the drivers were always very punctual and never let us wait.
• Use of LivTours – Organization employs top notch guides who possess great knowledge and brought to life for us the rich history, architecture, life and artistry. They really helped to create a deeper cultural connection for us.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Lamm Castelrotto
Castelrotto

Incredible spa hotel in the lovely town of Castelrotto. Rooms were exquisite and spa well appointed. The extraordinary gourmet meals were really the highlight of the stay however. Would highly recommend taking advantage of the half board option which gave us access to a 5-course tasting menu each night for 25Euros each.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Heart of Castelrotto
Staff
Excellent
Cleanliness & Comfort
Everything
Hotel Carnival Palace
Venice
Authenticity & Character
Location
Though there were good restaurants close by, it was a long walk to all of the museums, churches and activities.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Solo Experience Hotel
Florence

Terrific location close to il Duomo with a comfortable room with a lovely view of the Piazza San Lorenzo.

Authenticity & Character
Small boutique hotel that fit in with the neighborhood
Location
Terrific location close to il Duomo. Nice public space to relax off the main lobby
Staff
Very friendly staff attending to guests each breakfast.
Cleanliness & Comfort
La Locanda di San Francesco
Montepulciano

Having been dropped off at the gated entrance to the village of Montepulciano by our driver, our quest to reach the hotel walking up cobbled streets with luggage in tow made it a challenging location. That said the views from our room at sunrise of the Valdichiana and from the patio of the adjacent restaurant/wine bar of the Val d'Orcia at sunset were quite beautiful.

Authenticity & Character
Situated in a palazzo that dates from the 14th century adjacent to the Piazza San Francesco.
Location
If being driven, have the driver report plate # to the hotel to be allowed into the city. With a private car, one can drive directly to the hotel and park. Good location though otherwise from which to tour Montepulciano. Wood recommend dining at the adjacent wine bar offers great wine and authentic Tuscan food.
Staff
The hotel staff were operating the adjacent wine bar, so the check in process/communication was a challenge. There were however very attentive at breakfast.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Clean, but furnishings could be updated.
Hotel Monte Cenci
Rome

Location is great, with nice public space, lovely roof-top breakfast area and professional staff. The Classic room, though more economical, was really quite small.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Great location within walking distance to the Pantheon, Colosseum and Roman Forum and excellent restaurants in Travastere and the Jewish Quarter
Staff
When we checked in our initial room had an issue with the air conditioner making a high pitch sound. Unfortunately they were sold out can could not change our room. Unable to fix it, the desk clerk was very good at notifying the manager and making arrangements to change our room the next day. Staff was very professional and attentive to our needs.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Classic rooms are very small, particularly for a 5-night stay. Would suggest requesting a Superior room to get adequate closet/storage space.
Activity Reviews
Alpe di Siuisi Panorama Trail Day Hike
Alpe di Siuisi Panorama Trail Day Hike
Dolomites

Our guide, Emanuela, on the hikes to the Alpe di Suisi and Seceda Spires ensured we were able to take in the most stunning vistas as she shared historical and cultural information about this unique region. She checked in to make sure the pace aligned with needs. Felt like we were taking a hike with a good friend through breathtaking scenery.

Quality of Experience
Touring the breathtaking scenery with someone as friendly and knowledgeable as Emanuela
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Emanuela was delightful and very knowledgeable about the history and culture of the area. Her English was excellent which led to great rapport throughout the hike.
Transport
Very punctual in the morning to pick us up and accommodated our extension of the hike.
Seceda Spires Day Hike
Seceda Spires Day Hike
Dolomites

See Alpe di Siuisi review

Quality of Experience
See Alpe di Siuisi review
Guides, Drivers and Staff
See Alpe di Siuisi review
Transport
See Alpe di Siuisi review
Day Excursion to Cortina d’Ampezzo & the Dolomites
Day Excursion to Cortina d’Ampezzo & the Dolomites
Italy

Cristiano was terrific! He provided great details on the history, culture, preparation for the 2026 Olympic games and insights into the industry of each community we passed as he carefully navigated the winding roads of the Dolomites as we made our way from Castelrotto to Cortina and ultimately to Venice. Cristiana made sure to stop and allow us to take photos at some of the most scenic locations and waited patiently as we strolled around Cortina and had lunch. He carefully coordinated our time of arrival in Venice with the water taxi and helped us carry our luggage from the car to the taxi.

Quality of Experience
Excellent way to take in the sights of the Dolomites without having to worry about driving.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Cristiano's professionalism and effort to make our drive very memorable.
Transport
Clean, comfortable vehicle
Scenic Navigation through the Grand Canal
Scenic Navigation through the Grand Canal
Venice

We were delayed arriving at the meeting place given the rain, significant distance of our hotel from San Marco Square, and faulty GPS directions. Our guide was very accommodating however waiting for us. Though her narration of the buildings we were passing was good, the significant rainfall and our inability to see the sights through the condensation forming on the windows made it one of the least enjoyable of our activities.

Quality of Experience
Only undertake if weather is overcast or clear.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide seemed very knowledgeable of the history of Venice and significance of each key building along the Gran Canal.
Transport
Water taxi had to wait ~ 15 minutes due to our delay. Providing towels to wipe the condensation, versus our hands would have made it better. Time was also cut short to 45 mins.
Guided Visit of St. Mark's Basilica & Doge's Palace
Guided Visit of St. Mark's Basilica & Doge's Palace
Venice

Although our guide was very knowledgeable, given the poor quality of the headsets our small group was issued, it was very difficult to hear her.

Quality of Experience
Better headsets for those of us on the tour and microphone for the guide
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide seemed very knowledgeable of the history of the Republic of Venice, the selection process for the Doges, and the stories of those imprisoned in the Palace.
Guided Visit of Florence Including David and Duomo
Guided Visit of Florence Including David and Duomo
Florence

Was changed to be Tour of the Uffizi Gallery followed by a private discovery walk of Florence at Night. Our guide, Paola, skillfully negotiated the crowds with our group of four to ensure we were able to see the Renaissance masterpieces of Botticelli, DaVinci, Raphael and Titan, offering expert insights into each. This was followed by a private walk from the Piazza della Signoria to the Ponte Vecchio.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Very impressed with Paola's knowledge of Renaissance masterpieces of Botticelli, DaVinci, Raphael and Titan. Although we were not able to take in the breadth of the museum, the 2-hour guide was highly informative. Really enjoyed our stroll through the streets of Florence that followed and the insights Paola shared with us about the history of Florence and its key architectural sites, the influence of the Medici dynasty and the artists that flocked to the city during the Renaissance.
Traditional Local Artisan Experience
Traditional Local Artisan Experience
Florence

Artisan tour of the mosaic laboratory and paper workshop were particularly interesting. Our guide from LivTours enabled us to see artisans working behind the scenes. Remarkable to see the processes still employed since the days of the Medici.

Quality of Experience
Guide had strong connections with the artisans in each location.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Tuscan Day Trip to Siena and San Gimignano with  Lunch & Wine Tasting
Tuscan Day Trip to Siena and San Gimignano with Lunch & Wine Tasting
Florence

We were fortunate to have Marco Vangi drive us from Florence to Montepulciano with stops in Siena and San Gimignano with a winery lunch and tasting at Tenuta Tociano in between. Despite the occasional downpour, the drive through the Tuscan countryside was lovely. Wine tasting experience was also enjoyable.

Quality of Experience
Having a driver made our excursion through the Tuscan countryside much more enjoyable.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Marco shared great insights about the history and cultural significance of Siena and San Gimignano as well as the many vineyards we passed and which were the best of the regional wines. Marco is extremely knowledgeable about the region. Rapport came easy given his fluency in English, and he welcomed our many questions.
Transport
Very clean and comfortable van.
Private Cooking Class in a Real Tuscan Farmhouse
Private Cooking Class in a Real Tuscan Farmhouse
Italy

Cooking class at the Podere Il Casale in Pienza was wonderful. Our delightful host showed us the farm and process for making cheese, and then put us to work chopping/preparing and then enjoying the most amazing Italian feast and wines with six new friends. What a unique, fun way to wrap up our Tuscan experience.

Quality of Experience
The food was exceptional, and we had such great fun preparing it. Best of all we walked away with recipes that we ill treasure as we try and replicate at home.
Food
Loved the simplicity of each recipe. The pici was fun to make and pork loin roast with fresh herbs exceptionally delicious!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our host at our cooking class at Podere Il Casale was a great instructor and had a super sense of humor.
Transport
La Dolce Vita: Private Golf Cart in Rome
La Dolce Vita: Private Golf Cart in Rome
Rome

Enjoyed the ease of taking a golf cart to quickly take in vistas of the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, Spanish Steps and some of the current excavations taking place. However felt a little exposed at times.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our driver offered some commentary at each location and did ensure we had ample time to take pictures. He also dropped us off at a wonderful lunch stop at the conclusion.
Transport
Local specialist: Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Beatriz
Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Oct 28, 2024

Hi Helen! Thank you so, SO much for your super detailed feedback and you kind words! I feel so grateful to be a little part of this special 40th Anniversary trip! It was super easy to work with you during the entire process along with your suggestions and desired places to visit, and I hope you created lovely memories around Italy with the help of our entire team. It's been truly a pleasure :)! Sending you my best regards! Bea

Samir was a fantastic driver
Morocco | Oct 9 - Oct 18, 2024

W
William B.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Oct 28, 2024

Samir was a fantastic driver. We could not have asked for anything more. He was accommodating and professional at every turn. He provided great insight about his beautiful country and answered all of our questions. He definitely elevated our trip and our experience.

Local specialist: Mohamed El Asely
Mohamed
Mohamed El Asely
Local specialist in Atlas Mountains | Replied on Oct 29, 2024

Hi William,

Thank you so much for your kind words! We're glad to hear that Samir made such a positive impact on your trip. His professionalism and knowledge truly enhance the experience for our guests. We appreciate your feedback and look forward to welcoming you back for more adventures in the future!

Best Wishes,
Mohamed

Bologna & Verona Italy Trip
Italy | Oct 8 - Oct 16, 2024

Julie
Julie W.
Pequot Lakes, MN | Reviewed on Oct 28, 2024
Overall happy with our Travel Agency experience. Average rating.
Agent: Some confusion over transfers (was a transfer arranged or not). Initial documents stated transfers included between hotels and airport/train station when changing locations. The train between Bologna and Verona we expected a high speed train with assigned seats, unfortunately our outbound trip was on a local/regional, not high speed.
Our agent, Francesco, did a good job in recommending Verona as a second city to visit....
Read more

Overall happy with our Travel Agency experience. Average rating.
Agent: Some confusion over transfers (was a transfer arranged or not). Initial documents stated transfers included between hotels and airport/train station when changing locations. The train between Bologna and Verona we expected a high speed train with assigned seats, unfortunately our outbound trip was on a local/regional, not high speed.
Our agent, Francesco, did a good job in recommending Verona as a second city to visit. Unexpectedly, he was unavailable just before we left. Luckily a co-worker, Luca stepped in to figure out the last minute details. The recommended hotel in Verona was nice, however our room overlooked an alley with garbage bins just below our window. We heard people getting rid of trash and garbage trucks all night, especially Saturday, which made it a bit hard to get a good sleep. It would have been nice for our agent to ensure we had a room with less noise. The last time we used KimKim (Slovenia 2019) our hotels and room views were amazing, so we were a bit disappointed. The restaurant recommendations were very generic. We had better luck asking in the hotels.
We had several tours arranged. Private 2 hour tour Bologna highlights and tastes. - disappointing overall. Didn’t get a true feel for the city and got a couple nibbles of cheese, balsamic, etc. and inferior pasta from a fast food type restaurant. Guide nice, but not highly knowledgeable. Very generic, same tour as a group of 10-20 no doubt. Day trip to Parma for cheese and ham - Excellent tour, although I would not term it small group as we had 15-20 of us. Ravenna day trip - not small group, but good tour, was the official tourist office tour.
Verona 2-3 hour overview private tour - excellent guide (Priscilla) with a background in art history and music. She was truly awesome. the tour was well organized in the route and information. She even had charts and maps to help us understand the different periods of history. She was a gifted teacher and a very lovely person. Our private wine tour was different than other tours we have been on in that we had a driver to 2 wineries at which we had tours with winery staff. We enjoyed both stops very much and had a very enjoyable afternoon. Our driver was very kind and professional.
We ended up back in Bologna for a day before flying out. Good suggestion from Francisco to take the trolley to San Luca.
The morning of our flight the transfer was set up an hour too early (at 6am). We were not allowed to check in to our flight until 7:20 so had an hour to kill with all our luggage.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Colomba D'Oro
Verona

Nice, small hotel in an excellent location. Just a couple blocks from the main Piazza, which is lovely. Unfortunately our room looked out on an alley with big garbage bins under our window. It was very noisy all night with trash being thrown and garbage trucks stopping (especially Sat night). Made a bit hard to get a good sleep. Hotel breakfast ok, nothing special. The breakfast staff and coffee at the table were very nice. Front desk staff were friendly and professional. The room was spacious and clean.

Authenticity & Character
Quaint, old building, lots of character
Location
Near Piazza Bra
Staff
Professional and kind
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean. Our particular room heard noise from garbage bins below window all night.
Royal Hotel Carlton
Bologna

Nice, medium large hotel. Spacious, comfortable rooms. Breakfast large but quality only medium for price of hotel rooms. Nice common spaces to relax. Friendly, professional staff. Loved the courtyard to get fresh air and enjoy a drink before supper. Meeting rooms well appointed.

Authenticity & Character
Rooms clean, furnishings a bit worn, but comfortable. Common areas very comfortable for lounging, lovely outdoor courtyard.
Location
Close to train station. Not too far to walk to center, restaurants, attractions.
Staff
All kind, helpful and professional.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Clean. Furnishings and carpet could use an update soon, but still very comfortable.
Activity Reviews
Private Verona Highlights Walking Tour an Arena Skip-The-line
Private Verona Highlights Walking Tour an Arena Skip-The-line
Verona

Excellent tour. Our guide, Priscilla, made all the difference. She has a background in art history and music and is able to bring the beauty and history of Verona alive. The tour was well planned out, Priscilla even had maps and charts to help us understand Verona through the centuries. A++

Quality of Experience
A highlight of our time in Verona.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Excellent guide. Knowledgeable, personable, kind, interesting and educational content.
Parma Cheese & Ham Factory tour
Parma Cheese & Ham Factory tour
Italy

Very interesting and tasty day trip.

Quality of Experience
Very interesting and unique to the Parma area.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Knowledgeable, professional, courteous.
Transport
Large van from Parma to factories.
PRIVATE AMARONE WINE & FOOD ROUTE IN A SMALL GROUP
PRIVATE AMARONE WINE & FOOD ROUTE IN A SMALL GROUP
Verona

Private transport to 2 wineries. Private tour with winery staff at each location, plus wine tastings. Went to very small and a medium-sized winery. Both have a very interesting history and excellent wines. Enjoyed seeing differences.

Quality of Experience
Both very special wineries. Love the family connection/history and the staff’s love of the area and it’s wines.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Winery staff well versed in both wine knowledge plus the history and workings of the winery.
Transport
Comfy.
Local specialist: Francesco Ferraiuolo

The trip to Portugal was extremely well plann...
Portugal | Oct 15 - Oct 25, 2024

M
Mark B.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Oct 27, 2024
The trip to Portugal was extremely well planned and coordinated by Raquel…. The hotels were terrific and the guides were nothing less than excellent. Totally enjoyed the trip Read more

The trip to Portugal was extremely well planned and coordinated by Raquel…. The hotels were terrific and the guides were nothing less than excellent. Totally enjoyed the trip

Hotel Reviews
H10 Duque de Loule
Lisboa

Beautiful hotel…excellent location and great breakfast

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Cascade Wellness
Lagos

Cascade Wellness in Algarve was truly a special place. It stood out among the accommodations for its exceptional atmosphere and amenities.

Pestana Porto - A Brasileira
Porto

Pestana Porto - A Brasileira had a fantastic location, allowing easy exploration of Porto. The rooms were a bit small, but overall it was a nice and convenient place to stay.

Activity Reviews
Private Day Excursion: Sintra, Cascais & Estoril
Private Day Excursion: Sintra, Cascais & Estoril
Portugal

The Private Day Excursion to Sintra, Cascais, and Estoril was absolutely fantastic. Our guide, Paulo, was outstanding - one of the best I've ever had. He was knowledgeable, fun, and made the long day an enjoyable experience. I highly recommend this tour and Paulo as a guide!

Private Transfer {{start_location}} to {{end_location}} via Coimbra
Private Transfer {{start_location}} to {{end_location}} via Coimbra
Portugal

The drive from Lisbon to Porto via Coimbra was a bit disappointing. We arrived and found that we couldn't enter the famous library as all tickets were sold out for the day due to other tour groups. It would've been helpful to know in advance or have prebooked tickets. Nonetheless, we enjoyed visiting the castle in the area.

Local specialist: Raquel Aceituno
Raquel
Raquel Aceituno
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Nov 04, 2024

Hello Mark! Thank you so much for taking the time to share the feedback of your trip to Portugal, much appreciated!
I am glad to hear you and Katherine had a wonderful time exploring the country and that you liked the accomodation offered. Sad to hear that you were not able to visit the library, it is a very popular attraction and always has long lines.
I hope we will work together in the future to plan your next adventure😊 All the best , Raquel