A great success
Italy
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Oct 19 - Oct 28, 2023
Planning and arrangements were very easy and flexible. Giulia our specialist was fantastic and very helpful. We could not have done this trip as well without her.
Our trip was a great success for the most part. Rainy weather is never great but we have enjoyed ourselves none the less.
We experienced significant travel delays on the high speed train from Florence to Naples (3 hour delay which nearly caused us to miss Pompei entirely). Thanks to Kimkim, this did not happen. In fact, we never felt alone or abandoned. They were always just a What'sAp message away and they responded quickly to whatever we had going on. Really top notch.
We had a nearly two hour delay traveling from Naples to Florence, which caused us to make our prescheduled Vatican tour within about ten minutes of the start time. Kudos to our drive and Kimkim for working with us as the delays mounted and for providing great assistance. We did not miss anything because of their attention to detail and staying in touch. Remember to download What'sAp--this was critical during challenging events.
I was, however, deeply disappointed with our tour guide on the day trip to San Gimignano and Volterra . Her driving was very fast and uneven, At least two or three of us were "car sick" from the style and type of driving--one of the more unpleasant car trips I have had in a long time. She was very efficient and we arrived and ended on time, but she was also very impatient, handled questions badly and was much too bossy. Not rude exactly, but not the temperament I would expect from someone running a tour.
Our hotel in Sorrento, Grand Hotel Aminata, was also a bit musty and probably the worst of the places we stayed. It had an excellent view of the harbor though which we loved. We are not fussy people, but our room had a slight, but distinct, smell that we did not like. Otherwise, the accommodations were excellent and well placed. The La Maison du Sage in Florence was particularly excellent and deserves special mention. Our stay at The Regency in Rome was also excellent (though we booked this directly).
Antonio, our driver (and guide) for the Sorrento and Amalfi Coast portion of our trip was excellent. He could not have been more courteous and friendly. He helped us deal with the delayed train and abbreviated Pompeii tour, and he drove us around the Amalfi Coast in style and comfort. P.S. Our guide Rafael at Pompeii was also excellent and we enjoyed his tour very much-if only it could have been longer but that was unavoidable.
We also highly recommend the EBIKE tour we took in Rome. Our guide Irina was excellent. Do this early in your stay if you can as it was a great way to survey the city and find points of interest.
Hotel Reviews
This place was absolutely fantastic. The ambiance was so enchanting that we even bought a diffuser that smelled like the hotel. They brought us breakfast in our room, and everything was just perfect.
This hotel was a bit of a letdown. The room had a musty odor, and it was lackluster. However, the food was fantastic, and the shuttle service was convenient.
Activity Reviews
This trip was a bit of a letdown. Our tour guide was a bit rude and drove crazy. It was so bad that we had to stop to let people out because they were feeling sick. The guide wasn't very pleasant, and it felt like she didn't let the whole experience breathe.
This tour was fantastic! Our guide was great and managed to get us through as much as possible despite our delayed train.
The bike tour was one of the best things we did. Although we wished we had done it sooner in Rome to get a good feel for the city and then backfill the rest.
Dear Anthony,
thank you so much for this wonderful review!
It was my pleasure to work with you on the crafting planning of your perfect trip!
I am thrilled to know that your trip was amazing and that even if something didn't go exactly as planned because of the train delays, you were able to find the necessary support with our experienced team.
I love also the wonderul pictures that you shared, thanks so much!!
I will be looking forward to welcome you back in beautiful Italy,
until then, I wish you all the best!
Giulia