Kimkim Trip Reviews for Italy

We worked with Beatriz on our travel to Italy, with 5 different locations in mind. 3 of these locations were new to us (Perugia, Cinque Terre and Milan). Our trip began in Rome. We chose to explore the city on our own, but were still provided suggestions for an itinerary, which we greatly appreciated. From there we went to Perugia, where Bea identified stops in Spoleto, a winery for tasting and Spello. At each location we were provided specific recommendations for walking throughout the small villages. Next was Florence. Bea arranged a food tour, which was enjoyed by us both. We had not been to Cinque Terre. The 5 cities were fabulous! We loved our stay in Monterosso. It is the only relatively flat city, the only one with a beach and many restaurant and lodging choices. It was easy to use the trains to travel from city to city. In Milan, we had an aperitivo tour upon arrival. That was one of the highlights due to our guide Marco! He made the trip fun due to his lively personality and considerations for our personal tastes. We also took a city walking tour with Beatrice as our guide. She was very knowledgeable and personalized the locations we visited according to what she thought our interests might be.
Beatriz was easy to work with and flexible in changing itinerary and arranging transportation. We would highly recommend her services as a travel consultant on Italy!

Activity Review

Eat Like a Local: Florence Street Food & Market Experience

Italy

My husband and I began planning a three-stop trip to Italy about a year ago with KimKim. (We are from the U.S. - Texas) We worked with two travel specialists, Elisa and Sabina who conducted a deep dive into what our goals were and our preferences. We wanted to experience Florence, Rome and the Amalfi Coast. They coordinated our hotels, private drivers (always in a mercedes), private tours, high-speed train tickets, ferries, tickets for excursions and more. Prior to departure, we were provided an App on our phone to download that made navigating the entire experience incredibly easy. Additionally, all of the tickets to anything were downloadable from the app. (so, no need to print out prior to departure, unless you really wanted a paper copy).

In Florence, we were met with a private walking tour of the city by Alicia, a local to Florence. We experienced local cafe food, a local jewelry artisan and a beautiful perfume store. Alicia shared information on Florence and was very lovely. The next day, we toured two wineries with a tour (Fun in Tuscany) with a great guide, Daniel. We were in a nice van with two other couples. We drove to San Gimignano and we would have to say that this was the highlight of our trip and our favorite excursion.

We took a high-speed train to Rome. When we checked in, we had a lovely note from Sabina and Elisa with a bottle of Prosecco in our room wishing me a happy birthday! (so sweet). Thereafter, we met with an art historian, AnnaMaria and took a 3.5 hour foot tour of Rome. The next day, we had a semi-private tour of Palatine Hill and the Colosseum. That evening, and for my birthday, they arranged for us to see an incredible opera performance on a Roof Top complete with wine and meats and cheeses. (it was spectacular)! The next day, we met with Pamela another art historian and was taken on a one-on-one tour of the Vatican and St.Peter's Basilica. (wow!)

The next day, we took a high-speed train to the Amalfi Coast. We were picked up and immediately shuttled to Pompeii where we met Eduardo and Professor and art historian and experienced Pompeii one-on-one with him. It was spectacular. Our driver waited for us while we toured and when finished, we drove up the absolutely stunning Amalfi Coast. We took a ferry the next day to Positano and KimKim had arranged for us to meet with a local artisan, Valentino and his wife Lalla and we made homemade Limoncello. The experience was a highlight and Valentino was so fun and engaging! (highly recommend). The next day, we took a ferry to Capri and then took a taxi to AnaCapri and took the chair lift to the top. The scenery from the top is one of the most beautiful sites I've ever seen, in my life!

Should you take a similar tour, I would recommend exchanging money prior to leaving and plan for tipping each tour guide and each driver. (this was about 20 Euros for each).

I can't recommend these folks enough! Our experience was top notch and very orchestrated and organized!

Kimmie Delaney and Dan Scheffler

Activity Reviews

Food & artisans tour of Florence

Italy

We loved our tour with Alicia! She was fun and engaging. We walked the streets of Florence, experienced local cafe food, toured a local jewelry artisan and a gorgeous perfumery. So fun and highly recommend!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Limoncello Experience & Tasting

Italy

This is a must-DO in Positano! This was a highlight of our trip to Italy. We met Valentino and his wife Lalla who are local artisans who make food items and have an adorable little shop. We made homemade limoncello and tasted chocolates. Valentino is a character - so so fun! He also walked us across the street and took our picture. This was so much fun!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Rooftop bar Opera show

Rome

This experience was a highlight for us in Rome! This was such a classy event and an incredible treat. The two opera singers were so entertaining. We were not sure what we were going to experience with this and it was such an unexpected 10 out of 10! Highly recommend!

Quality of Experience

Marianna went above and beyond in every way! From planning more than a year in advance and answering our countless questions to crafting the perfect Italian adventure filled with nonstop sightseeing, incredible food, and unforgettable experiences, every detail was thoughtfully planned. The pacing was perfect, our transfers were seamless, and every driver was kind, helpful, and welcoming. The entire journey was nothing short of amazing!

Marianna and her team paid exceptional attention to detail, truly listened to what we wanted, and brought the trip of our dreams to life. We couldn’t have asked for a better experience and would absolutely work with Marianna, her team, and kimkim again in a heartbeat.

Our trip to Italy was absolutely incredible. Everything place we visited seemed more amazing than the last, and the tours and guides were wonderful. The hotels were in excellent locations, and every pickup was right on time. We didn’t have a single glitch or negative moment throughout the trip.
The itinerary had a perfect blend of nature and cities, and we loved every minute of it. Everything was thoughtfully arranged, and the whole experience felt perfect from beginning to end. We’re so grateful to the team who planned it! They were fantastic at communicating throughout the entire trip! We highly recommend them!! Caterina and Anna were the best!

My wife and I completed an awesome trip to Amsterdam, Florence, Tuscany and Venice. Marianna at KimKim was outstanding, helping me plan the trip, setting it up and being available before and during the trip to deal with any questions I had (and I had plenty). Marianna among other things helped me incorporate some aspects that I used airline miles to book outside KimKim, saving me significant money. Some highlights on the trip included: an informative and romantic private Amsterdam canal cruise on a wonderful boat hosted by a delightful captain Sebi of Sebi Tours; an informative Florence Golf Cart Tour through Florence hosted by Echo Florence Tour; incredible hotels, including Castel Monastero in Tuscany; and a wonderful private tour of St Mark's Basilica in Venice.

I highly recommend KimKim. This was our second trip using KimKim (the other to Portugal 1.5 years ago). I will use KimKi again for our next trip

My wife and I had a spectacular Italy trip and much thanks is due to Caterina and her team at YCJ. She was super helpful in planning a trip that met the dream we had and gave great advice along the way. The trip itself went off without a hitch, the drivers and guides were all first class and it really let us focus on just enjoying our time in Italy. There was one particular winery I very much wanted to visit and she was able to contact them and arrange it for us and the experience there was incredible. Overall, I can’t say enough good things. I highly recommend them and will use them again.

Sonia and the Kimkim team curated a perfect Italian vacation for me and my sister. Our trip included a cooking class, wine tasting in Chianti, museums, and guided tours of several cities. All of the tour guides, (Paola in Bologna, Alessadro in Pisa, Belinda in Lucca) were very knowledgeable and delightful. They made our visit to these cities so much more enjoyable. Our prearranged transfers to each city made for a carefree trip. Despite Sonia's very clear instructions, we got a little turned around in Florence on our first day in the city. As a result, we missed our first walking tour but Sonia was able to reschedule the tour on another day, which we really appreciated. She was also able to schedule a last minute tour with Valter to Pietrasanta, Viareggio, and Forte dei Marmi. This was an unexpected and really fun outing for us. Valter provided insights into these cities along with information about the town near Lucca where our grandfather was from.

We could not have planned such a wonderful trip ourselves. Thank you Kimkim for a trip we will never forget.

This was our first experience working with Kimkim’ and everything went excellently! Maria Grazia did an amazing job with our arrangements from our initial consultation to arranging the final details of our trip.
She provided us with options at each stage of the planning and put together an itinerary that was perfect for us. I loved the sweet hotel she booked for us (great location within walking distance of many sites/sights) and our private tour guides (Stephani, Martta, Elena) were exceptional!! We appreciated the self-guided options and restaurants she recommended. We will definitely reach out to Kimkim again. Thank you!

Hotel Review

La Maison du Sage

Florence

Sweet little hotel, wonderful breakfast service, helpful staff

Authenticity & Character

Small, nice furnished

Location

Easy to walk to many places

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Uffizi and Vasari Corridor Guided Tour: a Journey Through Florence Artistic Masterpieces

Florence

Stephani was amazing! Congenial, engaging, and incredibly knowledgeable with a wealth of experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tour guides breadth and depth of knowledge

Transport

Private Siena Guided Walking Tour with Duomo

Italy

Love leaning abt seina…the distinct districts, the horse races

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

A Guided Hiking Adventure in the Heart of Chianti

Italy

Was interesting but was a hot day and walking is gravel roads got a bit tedious.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Walking Tour of Florence with Accademia Gallery & Duomo Visits

Italy

Very long lines a duomo so did not get in..enjoyed the babtistry

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

A Guided Tour and Tasting at a Tuscan Olive Oil Mill

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Caterina & Anna, We had the most amazing trip. Every step was seamless! Hotels and tours were perfect. Thank you for making our trip to Italy & Sicily memorable.

Everything was well planned no issues with transportation. We were a group of 4 and enjoyed our visit in Italy. We visited Venice, Florence, Rome and Sorrento and all of our arrangements went smoothly thanks to Kimkim.

We recently returned from a trip to Paris and Southern Italy, and we truly couldn’t have done it without Giorgia from the KimKim team! From start to finish, her planning made our vacation smooth, stress-free, and unforgettable.

Every single accommodation Giorgia chose was unique to the city we were in, and having delicious breakfast included every day made our mornings so convenient and enjoyable.

A few highlights from our itinerary:

Paris (2 Nights): We kicked off our trip in a wonderful boutique hotel that had so much local charm and character. Our first day in Paris we took it upon our selves to use the train system and get to Montmartre Historic district. The trains were very easy to navigate. Our hotel was located in the heart of Paris. The next day we spent a few hours at the Eiffel Tower and the surrounding area. Would love to go back and see more.

Amalfi Coast / Sorrento (3 Nights): Our boat tours exploring the dramatic cliffs and sea caves were incredible. The Amalfi coast was a dream come true and Capri was just as stunning! Every boat tour company Giorgia booked was remarkably well-organized, and the guides were super knowledgeable, professional, and fun.

Puglia Highlights: Hotel Tirrenia had stunning views, nice rooms the service was tremendous. Staying at Aquamarea in Polignano a Mare (1 night) was gorgeous, and our 3-night stay at Masseria Cappuccini in Ostuni provided an authentic, unforgettable countryside experience.

Beyond these, we enjoyed so many other amazing adventures along the way. Giorgia's attention to detail, thoughtful recommendations, and seamless organization made this a trip of a lifetime. If you’re planning a trip to Europe, ask for Giorgia!

Absolutely AMAZING! Never ever doing a big trip without kimkim. Trip: 17 days - Palermo, Amalfi Coast, Rome, Florence, Cortona.

Caterina was so kind, helpful, and just overall very knowledgable and professional while plannning. She helped create the most perfect vacation to suit our needs with every detail covered. Caterina went above and beyond picking locations, tours, hotels, and having daily concierge service with airport/rental car shuttle services was the cherry on top! All of the drivers and guides were outstanding (especially Alberto in Amalfi!). Every one of the concierges we had at the varying locataions were in constant communication. They were always immediately available with a text/phone call. Seriously TOP NOTCH SERVICE. Truly cannot express how much we loved every single moment and how STRESS FREE Caterina and all of the guides and daily check-ins by the concierge made this trip. It definitely would not have been this low stress without all of the WONDERFUL people involved with our trip. We were able to just relax and enjoy and not worry about anything at all - we knew we were in great hands! Giant thank you to Martina, Chiara, Renata, Alberto, Sylvia, Daniela, Maria Patricia...I am sure I am missing some - there are so many to name! We truly had an amazing trip of a lifetime!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Capri Sorrento - Adults Only

Sorrento

Very clean, wonderful staff. Great locaion!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Orazio Palace Hotel

Rome

Wonderful location and very clean. Great staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

We loved that it was more with local people but still walkable to great restaurants.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grand Hotel Cavour

Florence

Very nice hotel. Great staff and location! Very clean.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Perfect spot!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel San Michele

Cortona

Fantastic staff! Room was nice and very clean!

Authenticity & Character

Location

We loved the location - how could you not? You are in Cortona!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Principe di Villafranca

Palermo

Great rooms and wonderful and accomadating! Our guide (not sure how to spell), Chiara was so great! Loved her energy and her knowledge. She was so fun!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Located on the outskirts of center of town but very walkable!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine chapel and Saint Peter's Basilica

Rome

Maria Patricia was wonderful! We learned so much and everything was so amazing. She was outstanding!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Colosseum, Forum Tour & Palatine hill

Rome

Great experience! So much to learn!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Maria Theresa was a little spicy and it was fun!

Transport

Full Day Guided Tour of Palermo - Visit Monreale

Italy

The guide was absolutely amazing. We had so much fun! Such a beautiful place!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit of The Amalfi coast Villages Full Day

Italy

This was OUSTANDING and our guide could not have been perfect! Alberto was so wonderful!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

LOVED Alberto!!

Transport

Private Golf Cart Tour of Rome by Night with Drinks

Rome

Carlo was a wonderful guide! We had so much fun and learned so much with him!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cinque terre from Florence (SEMI-PRIVATE)

Italy

This was fun! What a beautiful tour!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private cooking class at Podere il Casale in Pienza (self-drive)

Italy

This was phenomenal! What a first class experience!

Quality of Experience

Food

SPECTACULAR

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Florence and Accademia City Tour

Italy

Such a wonderful city!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transportation was perfect, easy, convenient and relaxing.
All our experiences, tours and travel were perfect - wouldn't change a thing
The guides were all wonderful on all trips but we had the best one in Modena - Caterina. They were all so informative, excited, helpful, friendly and amazing.
The hotels were great - we usually stay at Hilton hotels but we are so glad we did the smaller more intimate hotels. My comments about the hotels would be for future guests
Antica Locanda Leonardo - no elevator. Cute courtyard and wonderful staff.
Hotel Cavour - geat hotel - best location-lovely outdoor courtyard- best staff - amazing.
Corte Dei Sogni Boutique Hotel and Spa - the worlds smallest shower - I am 5' 2" and I couldn't extend my arms - my husband is larger and was not comfortable shower. There is no bar - there is no where to get something to drink after breakfast time - they do have small selection of beverages in the room. The outdoor area was nice but small.
The cooking class in Florence was one of the best things ever!!!!!!!!!!!! Cecilia was amazing, wonderful, friendly, the view from her home is unbelievable. Just know that there is no elevator to her home and it was a few flights up.
Navona Theatre Hotel- this was in a great location - no elevator, friendly staff, no car can pull up to the hotel so you do have to take your luggage down the street a bit. No bar - small selection of drinks in fridge in room- no outdoor space.
Hotel La Bussola- another GREAT hotel - best rooftop bar! Great location!
Pizza making class was great fun - only issue is schedule said it was 2 hours and over at 230 but it was more like 3 hours and we had scheduled a car to pick us up at 230 and this caused issue with the transportation company and going to Ravello.

Our holiday consisted of four weeks travelling around Italy and Sardinia during September 2026 and the places we loved most on our trip were Porto Venere, Sorrento, Pompeii, Amalfi Coast, Ravello, Atrani and Cala Gonone.

I had various places that I had wanted to see, along with a few hotels and Airbnb's that I wished to stay in along the way, and Rita managed to put together an incredible itinerary which joined all dots. She also organized private transfers where necessary, which made things so much easier. They were a godsend! If the budget allows, I highly recommend looking into booking a few. Every driver without exception, was friendly, helpful and professional.

Hotel Reviews

Hilton Rome Airport Hotel

Fiumicino

We booked this hotel so we could stay one night after a long flight from Melbourne, Australia to Rome. It was clean, and the beds were comfortable. It also has an undercover travellator leading directly from the airport itself to the hotel which is a great idea. We also did this on the way home from Naples to Australia. There is a large restaurant on the premises with friendly, efficient staff and delicious food. It really is a great place to stay.

Authenticity & Character

Great staff, comfortable beds and a very nice restaurant with a wide choice of food.

Location

The hotel is reached directly from Rome airport by an undercover travellator.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palazzo Alabardieri

Naples

This hotel was absolutely beautiful. Our room was so lovely and pretty, very clean, and the beds were very comfortable. Unfortunately, there was no restaurant but there were many places nearby that you could eat at.

Authenticity & Character

It is an exceptionally beautiful hotel.

Location

It is not far from Naples Airport.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

A Day Along the Amalfi Coast

Italy

We had a private chauffeur for the drive along the Amalfi coast, and she was amazing. It is not recommended to drive yourself as the traffic is horrendous and the road winds up and around the mountain. Our driver stopped at Positano where we had an hour or two to walk around and shop and then she found a lovely restaurant with a beautiful view where we had lunch. After lunch we continued along the Amalfi coast to Ravello.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Italy -Important Trip Information: Please Review Before Departure

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Beginning to the end , our trip exceeded our expectations.
The golf cart tour of Rome was perfect. Our Guide John Luca was interesting, knowledgeable and fun.!
Each wine tour experience was different and a great experience. We especially liked the small family owned winery in Tuscany. Luci .
Thoughtful detail was evident in the planning by Erica, that made this a trip of a lifetime!

I went to Florence and Rome with my adult son in October 2026 in a trip planned by Erica and KimKim. We had previously used KimKIm for a trip to Iceland in April 2025. Once again, the experience was fabulous. The booked tours were fun and sparked curiosity. The interactions with everyone, including the cab drivers was terrific. It was a completely worry free experience. My son and I both remarked that the pacing of the trip was excellent, with a good mix of scheduled activities and free time to explore on our own.

Want to specifically call out Manuel who was our guide on our hike in Fiesole. He was incredibly knowledgeable about flora and fauna, passionate about nature and just completely delightful. We like to hike and found this hike pleasant, moderately challenging and a nice break from being in cities.

I want to give a shoutout to Mattei who was the cab driver who rescued us when we got off the train in Rome at the wrong station. I texted him, said what happened and his reply was "be there in 10 mins." Amazing.

Our sunset food tour with John Paul was fabulous on multiple levels (suppli ... yum!) but he encouraged interaction among those on the tour and that proved delightful. He also recommended a hike up to Janinculum Hill for views of the city, which we did the next day.

Our tour of Florence with Erica, the Vatican with Gaia (who coped with bad weather and long lines with grace), and the Colisseum with Julia were also terrific.

We stayed at Antica Torre in Florence, which was ideally situated, historic and beautiful. Our room was on the small side but beautifully appointed with a view of the Duomo, so hard to complain. Also, the breakfast was outstanding and afforded a beautiful view of the city. In Rome we stayed at Hotel Colors Navona, which was more modern, featured a bigger room. It was well located, had less charm and the breakfast was a fairly typical hotel breakfast. But none of that should be construed as a complaint. It was more than fine.

Hotel Reviews

Antica Torre di Via Tornabuoni

Florence

Hotel was charming, as is Florence in general. It featured a perfect location, staff was helpful. Room was a little on the small side but beautifully appointed. Breakfast was first rate, from the food, the service and the setting.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Navona Colors

Rome

A very nice more modern hotel well situated in Rome. Walkable to Pantheon (10 minutes); Trevi fountain (15 minutes), Vatican (30 minutes); Colosseum (30 minutes). Room was spacious, well appointed. We booked a cab through the front desk the day before to take us to the Vatican because we were worried about rain. But the morning of, the cab didn't show up and the clerk said there was nothing she could do. We wound up walking and that was fine but added stress to the morning. The breakfast was a typical hotel breakfast. Fine but nothing memorable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private City Walk with Michelangelo's David

Florence

Erica, the guide, was lovely and engaging. The way she navigated the Accademie was exceptional and in addition to getting us into see the David without a line, she showed us some other exceptional highlights, including the Stratovarius collection.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Fiesole Hike with Wine & Lunch

Florence

Manuel was a wonderful guide, incredibly knowledgeable about flora and fauna and great about sharing his experiences with olive harvesting in his family. The hike was moderately challenging which was great for us (a 62-year-old woman and my 30-year-old son), the views breathtaking -- the secret bench is just beyond words. Lunch at Fattoria Di Maiano was one of our best meals, the setting was divine. This felt like a bit of an "off the beaten path" excursion and is highly recommended.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vatican & Sistine Chapel Highlights with St. Peter's Basilica

Rome

Gaia the tour guide was very good in dealing with long lines and bad weather. The only downside of this tour was that Pope Leo was using St. Peter's so we did not get to go inside the basilica, but that is not an issue with the tour or the guide. Gaia's explanation of the amazing works of art in the Vatican museum was exceptional.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Colosseum & Roman Forum Visit with Arena Floor Access

Rome

This is was great. Julia was a knowledgeable and funny guide. I didn't realize that this tour would take us to Palatine Hill so that was an added bonus.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Food & Wine Sunset Walk in Trastevere

Rome

John Paul was our guide for this tour which was a surprising highlight of the trip. He was incredibly knowledgeable about Rome, history, and food. He encouraged participants to interact with each other which added intimacy to the experience. He introduced us to suppli, which was incredible both in taste and in its story. He told us what to look for between authentic and "tourist trap" eateries. And he recommended the view from Janiculum Hill, which we did the next day during a free afternoon.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

All of our drivers and guides were excellent: Marco, Bruno, Giuseppe, Fredricko, Steve, our driver in Malta that took us to Gozo. All get exceptional reviews.

There is so much history to learn in Italy. The arts, the beauty of the countryside, the food and the wine are all exceptional. Our tripped was well planned by KimKim! Every day I would receive a message on Whatsapp about the next day's activities. We were kept up to date and didn't have to panic. Each tour was very good. I particularly love the street food tours- they really had some good tasting bites of food. Coming from USA, I was shcoked at the amount of traffic in many places, but I always felt safe with the guides and private transfers- and even on the fast speed train. We would not have been able to manuever the roads and destination without them. I wish I could remember all the names of the people involved

Hotel Reviews

La Maison du Sage

Florence

It is close to a piazza that has a lot going on, but the rooms are still quiet when you're inside. Everything was comfortable and clean. One guy seemed new and not helpful, but everyone else was good. I loved the nice big shower!

Authenticity & Character

The buildings have history and character

Location

Somewhat close to a lot of things we wanted to do, but not too close. Uffizi gallery is about 20 minute walk.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The bed was comfortable and the room was clean

Hotel Florida

Sorrento

The room was very nice and clean. It was roomier than others we had in Italy, so that was nice. It is right across from a school, so trying to drive around in the morning was almost impossible. It is close enough walk to lots of things, but far enough that you don't feel in the mix. The pool was nice. The breakfasts were good.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It's on the hill, so you can walk downhill to the center of town. It's a safe area and relatively quiet at tnight.

Staff

The staff were very kind.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ca' Pozzo Inn

Venice

The staff were very nice and accomadating. I like the area, but it would've been hard to find, if we didn't have a guide. The front is tucked away in an alley- but most of Venice is going through alleyways. Once you walk out of the alley, you are at the waterfront. Venice is all walk or boat- no cars or bikes. I really liked this hotel. The breakfast was very good and I liked that we could get cappuccino with breakfast. The only slight downfall would be that you shouldn't take a bath. I was sore from so much walking and the bath was perfect, but in Venice it doesn't drain well, so the water rose up from the drain in the floor of the bathroom. The staff took care of cleaning my clothes that got wet, and I'm sure they fixed the problem after we left, but because Venice is in water, I don't think it can handle tub drains.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to everything, but tucked out of the way.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Relais Le Clarisse Rome

Rome

The room was clean and the bed comfortable. It is very small, though- we both stubbed toes trying to get around the bed, but we got used to it. The shower was also very small. They have a nice garden area and you can eat your breakfast there or inside. They don't have room keys, you have to use their website to unlock the doors. (that was difficult for me, since my phone was being used for directions etc during the day and the battery was almost dead each evening). There's plenty of nice places to walk around in the area, but the collosseum is about 45 minute walk.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Shared Murano and Burano Excursion

Italy

I cannot rate this activity because the arrangements were made for the wrong date, so we didn't get to go.

Chianti Full Immersive Wine & Olive Oil Experience

Florence

The drive to each place was very scenic. We got good descriptions of the areas and the wines etc. We even had some time for shopping. I think the wines were good, and the olive oils were very nice. Lots of people there purchased bottles to take home. We tasted Chianti, Chianti Classico, and Super Tuscan wines- and learned the difference between them. Fattoria di Bagnolo was the 1st stop. It is a family owned winery. We tasted their olive oil, Rose` and 2 Chiantis. It was such a beautiful place! Then we stopped to shop and walk around Greve In Chianti. We walked up a hill for a panoramic view, and it was awesome! Next stop was Luiano Winery. I like their wine the best! This is where we enjoyed a very nice lunch. Everything here was wonderful. 3rd winery was Diadema. we toured their olive oil making process and tasted their wines.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Uffizi Gallery Visit

Florence

Daniela was our guide. She was enthusiastic about showing us the progession of art from medieval times to Baroque and further. Another couple had cancelled , so we were her only people on the tour, and it was fantastic. The gallery is a very busy place, but I felt like we were able to appreciate so much from this tour. It was definitely interesting and I would not have gotten much out of it, if I were to walk around on my own.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Exclusive Capri Boat Tour from Sorrento

Italy

Rafaelo was our guide. This was a wonderful tour on the boat, and we got to go on land for a few hours. We visited the blue grotto first (before it got extremely busy). It was very busy, but they move people fairly quick for a 5 minute tour into the grotto on a small boat. The water just glows a beautiful blue. Then we went on land. We decided to go to the top panoramic view. You take a bus to the area where you can wait in a long line to go on the Seggiovia Monte Solaro chairlift. It was quite a wait, but worth it. The scenery is fantastic. But, we couldn't stay there too long, becuase we had to use the chairlift to go back and the bus, etc. The bus is not labeled for where it goes, and often the people there will tell you the wrong bus to get on (we heard from many people complaining). But, we made it back and ate a sandwich and drank a beer on the boat. We got to see the natural arches and green grotto and more. It was really very nice!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Amalfi Coast Towns: Positano, Amalfi and Ravello

Italy

Just gorgeous. I really can't say enough good things about this tour. The guide was great, the places we stopped were beautiful and serene and the people were lovely. Although every place is filled with shops and souveniers- which is overwhelming. We ate lunch in Ravello. A rule of thumb for Italy is: if it has a beautiful scenic view, then they don't worry as much about the food quality. That was true everywhere we went. We opted for the scenic view, because it is spectacular. (the food was not). It was a lot of walking for the day -especially Positano, which has thousands of steps. At the end of the day we were very tired and it was nice to relax in the guide's vehicle on the way "home". I would do this tour again and again.

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Legendary Venice: St. Mark’s Basilica with Terraces & Doge’s Palace

Venice

There's so much to take in. There's a lot of history in this building- so many rulers have been through here and many years of change. It was a very good experience. The guide was very knowledgable

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Venetian Rowing Lesson

Venice

This is a great way to experience Venice. I really enjoyed the guide and a enjoyed the rowing. It is at times peaceful and at times busy. We did this on our first day in Italy and I think it set the pace for us and allowed us to appreciate Venice even more.

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Venice at Sunset: Cicchetti, Food & Wine Tour

Venice

We had a lot of tours in Italy and this was one of my very favorites! The guide was awesome. I think we had about 8 people total, so it was intimate and easy to walk around with such a small group. I appreciated all the food s we tasted and the drinks we had. Everyone loved the Spritz drinks- the Select Spritz is the local favorite, and it was my favorite also. It was a good amount of walking/exploring without being too much. Ending it with a gelatto, was the perfect touch! I would do this again!

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Ancient Appian Way E-Bike Excursion with Catacombs

Rome

Our guide was very helpful and knowledgable. I thought I would be uneasy riding among traffic, but it is easier than it looks. Once you're out of the busy traffic, it opens up to some nice scenery. We saw the giant walls taht created the aquaducts and got lessons on how the water made it to the city from the mountains. It is just astounding the architectural geniuses that the Romans were. The guide in the catacombs was interesting, too. I had no idea this area existed. Our excursion was supposed to be in the morning, but we had thunderstorms roll through, so it was rescheduled for the afternoon- and I'm glad. It was a great afternoon. I think we did 12 miles.

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Half Day Tour from Florence to Pisa - including the Leaning Tower

Florence

It was a very nice half day. Our guide on the bus was good and told us a lot of things. Bags/purses are not allowed in the tower of Pisa, so if you want to climb it, leave your purse on the bus and take your wallet with you. One lady didn't understand that , even though the guide told us on the bus, so she complained afterwards -but she was the only one who didn't get the instructions, and I felt sorry for our guide. Anyways, we decided not to go inside the tower. The outside and the buildings were enough to please us. We had a spritz at the little restaurant there and enjoyed the views. Just remember that toilets in Italy cost money, so bring coins with you at all times.

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Rome Street Food Tour

Rome

Yum! Just yum! It was a very nice walk through town to small venues with good food. I absolutely loved the Pinca Pizza . It is made with 3 different flours: wheat, soy and rice, and it is scrumptious! We went to another place for Suppli. That is very filling and delicious (so good, we went back the next day for more!!). Unfortunately, the 3rd place we went for pasta was not so good. Some people liked it, though. I didn't eat more than 2 bites. The place had no other customers, so that should tell you something. The pasta Carbonara was salty, the sauce was too thick, and the noodles were way too al dente for me (kinda crunchy). But, I was full enough from the other stuff. Then, we topped off the night with gelato, which was very good. Luca was our guide and he was fantastic.

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Our guided tours were wonderful and personal. Our train transfers were seamless. We enjoyed the suggestions put forth by Rita in each location. We opted for private transfers which I highly recommend! They were prompt and professional.
Loved loved our trip to Italy! Weather was perfect! Our hotels were all different, lovely, and in great locations.
Thank you for everything! Marsha

We got everything we asked for from KimKim on our recent Italy trip where we visited Rome, Venice, and Florence. Anita responded quickly to my questions as we began to build our itinerary and accommodated final changes when we wanted to build in more free days to slow down the pace. Anita was also very responsive to my questions ranging from tipping recommendations to how to use city buses and the metro in Rome to recommending restaurants and describing the differences between each type (trattoria, osteria, pizzaria, etc.). Nadia represented us once we landed in country and very quickly responded to questions we asked while we were in Italy, including a last minute hotel change that was offered to us. I knew we were well covered should we run into any difficulties.
Anita set us up for tours with Liv Tours for the Colosseum (forum and Palatine Hill included), the Vatican in Rome and St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace in Venice. The Liv Tours guides were excellent, providing just enough context and detail to what we were seeing to keep the tour moving at a good pace while not getting bogged down behind much larger tour groups. Our guides included Leonardo (Colosseum) and Sabrina (Vatican) who were both exceptional. We also did a half day tour of Pompeii with Natalia (don't know the company) that included a private transfer from Naples to Pompeii and back. Finally, we did an all day tour of Cinque Terre from Florence with Giovanni from Avventure Bellissime who arranged boat and train transportation between villages and let us enjoy each town at our pace.
Each hotel Anita reserved for us was excellent. Quiet, clean, very friendly and accommodating staff, and within walking distance of good restaurants and attractions.
We've very happy with the quality of service KimKim, Anita, and Nadia provided us. From start to finish they took care of our every need and gave us the opportunity to enjoy a stress-free once-in-a-lifetime Italy vacation.

Hotel Reviews

Glance in Rome

Rome

Well located for the Colosseum and Spanish Steps/Trevi Fountain. Excellent restaurant right outside the hotel entrance. Very friendly staff. Good breakfast but we needed to reserve a time block each day as the staff wanted to ensure that the dining room didn't become too crowded. We had a spacious room that allowed us to keep our luggage out of the way.

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Ca' Pozzo Inn

Venice

We had a very nice room that had adequate space to get our luggage out of the way. Very good breakfast and it's location at the back of an alley meant it was very, very quiet. This hotel had 3-prong plug outlets (a Type L?) which we weren't prepared for but the front desk was able to provide us an adapter that worked. Excellent location away from the main tourist areas around the Basilica and Palace. Water buses were available right outside the hotel and a number of restaurants were a very short walk away.

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Passpartout Boutique Palace

Rome

This was a very nice hotel just down the road from the Vatican. It had an excellent breakfast and a number of very good restaurants right outside the hotel entrance. There was plenty of room to keep our luggage out of the way and it was quiet. The only criticism is of the bathroom. There was a frosted floor to ceiling window directly in front of the toilet. It's a bit awkward. The shower stall also lacked anywhere to put razors, soap, etc. forcing us to put everything on the floor.

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Activity Reviews

Get Inside the Colosseum with Arena Access

Italy

We really enjoyed this tour which started with the forum, went to Palatine Hill, and ended at the Colosseum. It also included entrance into the Emperor's palace. Leonardo, our guide, provided a lot of detailed insight while keeping the tour moving, something we really appreciated since a tour like this should let the history speak for itself as much as possible. This was a small group tour that we shared with another couple and their son, giving us plenty of opportunity to stop and take pictures, ask questions, and make unplanned diversions to things that caught our interest.

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A Guided Visit Inside Pompeii’s Ancient Walls

Italy

This tour was just for us that involved a train from Rome to Naples, where a driver waited to take us to Pompeii where we met our guide, Natalia. Natalia provided very informative insight into what life in Pompeii was like before it was buried. We visited the forum with its temples, Roman bathhouses, bakeries, and several homes with wall murals and tiling preserved and gardens recreated. This was a fascinating tour.

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Discover Venice: From St. Mark's Basilica to the Doge’s Palace with Terrace Access

Italy

Great tour that started with the Doge's Palace and ended in the Basilica. The Palace included incredible ceiling frescoes, plenty of art work, and the tour of the jails. Our guide was very well informed who ensured we had plenty of time in each segment of the tour to take pictures and focus on whatever caught our attention. This was a small group tour that we shared with another couple that gave us plenty of opportunities to ask questions of our guide. St. Mark's takes your breath away from the moment you walk in.

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The Ligurian Excursion: A Full-Day Escape to Cinque Terre

Florence

This was the highlight of our trip. The transportation from Florence to Manarola brought some of the Italian alps into view. Manarola itself was everything we hoped to see on a Cinque Terre tour. Small town surrounded on 3 sides by steep hills covered in vineyards with the sea on the 4th side. Tightly packed, colorful homes and businesses in the town itself and the beginning of walking trails that provided panoramic views. The boat ride (ferry) to Monterosso provided stunning views of the coast, more villages, watch towers and church steeples. We took the train to Vernazza where we had lunch and some time to see the sights including the trail that connects the Cinque Terre towns. At this point our guide, Giovanni, left us to return to Manarola so he could get the van to meet us in La Spezia. Giovanni was awesome...more like a new found friend but he ensured we knew where we needed to be and when we needed to be there. Most importantly, once he got us to a town he let us go to experience it the way we wanted to. More a facilitator than a guide.

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Discover the City by Gondola

Venice

This is well worth the time just to say you experienced an iconic part of what it means to be in Venice. The tour took us from the busy waterside down much quieter and very narrow canals. But don't expect to be alone on the canal. The gondola tour companies, at least ours, follow the same route and there will be gondolas in front and behind you. Still, it's a quiet, captivating experience that makes great memories.

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Discover the Vatican: From the Museums to the Sistine Chapel

Italy

This was a small group tour that we shared with 2 other couples. Sabrina, our guide, did a great job trying to keep us separated from the numerous large tour groups that you simply can't escape from on the Vatican tours. She provided great insight into the history of the museum, some of the Popes, and prepared us very well for our Sistine Chapel experience...which you have to experience in order to appreciate what Michelangelo accomplished. There is so much meaning to each of the ceiling's components that I would have never understood without Sabrina's help. We ended at St. Peter's where Sabrina cut us loose to experience on our own after giving us the history and recommendations for what to see inside the Basilica. A great tour.

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