Kimkim Trip Reviews for Italy

The only real bummer was the hotel in Cortina d'Ampezzo, it was not a friendly or helpful personnel, the hotel is dark and depressing, the "free" breakfast" was especially underwhelming. Also the prices in the available restaurants were very high for the most part, we should have been warned. We really got ripped off in one meal experience. Milan too was too busy and not comfortable though the hotel was high end, we were only there 18 hours and needed the airport to begin our travel home. We would have much preferred to return to Verona from Lake Como as it is where we began and did not have enough time there.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Indigo Verona - Grand Hotel Des Arts

Verona

I especially loved the outside seating in our room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

A bit of a walk to the shopping area though we liked that and walking was essential

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Royal

Cortina d'Ampezzo

I mentioned this in previous question. I did not enjoy this home or hospitality. The breakfast was very weak and the gathering room to eat was dark and soulless.

Authenticity & Character

Dark, reception was poor...dining area...unimaginable

Location

Very central

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cannot understand how dining area was chosen, not comparable on any level to other hotels

Olivi Thermae & Natural Spa

Sirmione

Bright, clean, excellent service, grounds were beautiful, This is a well run family owned hotel with much pride.

Authenticity & Character

elaborate, spared not expense, pride is plentiful

Location

Its a bit of a walk though we loved that

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Albergo Terminus

Como

It seems like the hotel was doing small renovations while we were there. Very dated though lovely. The dining room was divine and easily my favorite of all hotels

Authenticity & Character

Location

central to where we were

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel The Square Milano Duomo

Milan

Beautiful property. Rich and elegant. Rooms were by far the most plush, rooftop bar was a pleasure and bonus

Authenticity & Character

High end, elegant,

Location

Central in a very bustling city

Staff

could have been warmer

Cleanliness & Comfort

High standards, excellence

Activity Reviews

1-Day Experience – Easy Hike Around Lago di Braies

Italy

Very laid back, educational and fun, good exercise

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

relatable and friendly

Transport

upbeat, positive and patient with us

E-Bike Adventure in the Ampezzo Dolomites (2–4 hours)

Italy

Rain and cold and we went anyway. It was uncomfortable to be sure though no regrets. I would do it all again and imagine with dry, even sunny weather this would have been more of a highlight.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was under the weather so a bit limiting, I am sure he did not want to go given the weather, though he was a trooper

Transport

actually just walked from hotel to get bikes, the rest was just the ev bikes

The Valpollicella wine region

Italy

Another not pretty day so a bit cool and overcast, the guide did well with 2 different groups at once. It was interesting and I think guide did well to keep it on track

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

She did great and handled it professionally

Transport

Long drive to and from

Private boat tour of Lake Como - Explore Bellagio

Italy

Guide was great and knowledgeable, beautiful day helped immensely and many photo's taken, Bellagio was touristy so not a big fan though still lovely, this was a wonderful experience

Quality of Experience

Guide and driver were wonderful

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private transfer from Illasi to Verona city center

Verona

Guide was wonderful, flexible, amazing energy, a friend, loved her

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Jewish tour in Milan

Italy

Not too exciting for me and of course the subject is already sad and devastating...

Quality of Experience

The facility was fit for the subject matter

Guides, Drivers and Staff

He was very good

Transport

My wife and I had our first trip to Italy this fall and decided to use KimKim as our trip organizer. We could not have been more satisfied with the service provided and how smooth the process was. Andrea who was in charge of organizing the trip was always in communication, professional and on top of every detail. The hotel selections where perfect and in the right location, the reserved transportation always on time, the restaurant recommendation on point; and every single guide we interacted with was very knowledgeable, passionate about their city and very pleasant. Honorable mention to Mariapaola and Arianna in Rome and the Vatican. Even when one of the guides could not make it at the last minute while in Florence, Andrea was able to get a substitute guide that was amazing (Ruta). One of the highlights of our trip was visiting the beautiful city of Assisi. You can breathe "peace" as soon as you step into the city. There we met with Maura as our guide and she was a delight. She was in constant communication with us even before we arrived. We also loved the wine tour in the Chianti region, but what made it really special was our tour guide, Quentin. He was so charming, full of life, passionate about wine and a wealth of knowledge.
I will be using Kimkim travel for our next trip to any part of the world.

We loved that Caterina really listened to us as to what we were looking for in this trip, including nature and culture. We loved Verona and Cecilia our guide. (We wished we could have stayed there longer because the museums were not open when we were there.) We loved the garden she took us to, the amphitheater and the synagogue. She also followed up with us after the tour and was available for questions, directions, and recommendations. The next stop was Cortina and we also loved our guide there, Simone, who took us to Lake Braies-loved the hike around the lake and the e-bike ride through the forest. (By the way, all the drivers were prompt and courteous, and great drivers.) Then we went to Sirmione, and Lake Garda, where we toured a winery (Alleghrini) with a great tour guide and lovely vegan cheeses to sample while drinking their wines. Then we went to Lake Como where we loved our guide (can't recall her name) who took us on the boat tour to Bellagio. She spent all day with us and was full of information and advice. Every guide and driver was on time. We never had to ask where they were. We were also very happy with all the hotels you chose for us. We ended in Milan where we had an informative Jewish tour of the city and our tour guide (Pierre?) was very informative and flexible to our interests. We really appreciated getting daily updates and check-ins from Anna to make sure we knew who our guides were and how we were doing. That made us feel very comfortable. All in all, no complaints whatsoever. We loved the services you provide and plan to use you again for future trips elsewhere, and would happily recommend your company to friends and family.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel The Square Milano Duomo

Milan

REALLY LARGE ROOM,NICE STAFF, BEST BREAKFAST! GREAT LOCATION. BEAUTIFUL.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Indigo Verona - Grand Hotel Des Arts

Verona

LOVED THE BALCONY. A RATHER SMALL ROOM.

Authenticity & Character

Location

CLOSE TO A GREAT VEGAN BURGER RESTAURANT AND CITY CENTER

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Royal

Cortina d'Ampezzo

BED BLANKET WAS DIRTY. NO AC OR HEAT-THEY DID GIVE US AN ELECTRIC HEATER. GREAT LOCATION. ROOM WAS A BIT SMALL.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Olivi Thermae & Natural Spa

Sirmione

BEAUTIFUL SPA. WISH THE ROOM HAD A BALCONY. GREAT LOCATION.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Albergo Terminus

Como

NICE ROOM AND LOCATION AND BEAUTIFUL HOTEL WITH A GREAT STAFF. BUT THE ROOM FACED AN ALLEY AND TRASH CANS AND EVERY NIGHT WE WERE AWAKENED BY TRASH PICKUPS AT 4 AM. NOT FUN. WISH WE COULD HAVE FACED THE LAKE.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private excursion to Borghetto sul Mincio

Italy

STARTED WITH THE GARDEN TOUR OF PARCO SIGURTA WHICH WAS THE BEST PART OF THE DAY-SIMPLY GORGEOUS. VILLAGE WAS SMALL AND IT RAINED SO WE DID NOT END UP EATING THERE.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

1-Day Experience – Easy Hike Around Lago di Braies

Italy

LOVED THIS. ONE OF OUR FAVORITE PARTS OF THE ENTIRE TRIP. LOVED THE VIEWS, THE HIKE, THE GUIDE.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

E-Bike Adventure in the Ampezzo Dolomites (2–4 hours)

Italy

IT WAS RAINING THE WHOLE TIME BUT WE STILL WENT AND ENJOYED IT VERY MUCH. A MAGICAL EXPERIENCE. GREAT GUIDE, GREAT VIEWS.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Valpollicella wine region

Italy

TERRIFIC WINERY AND WINERY TOUR GUIDE. TOOK US TO VINEYARDS AND GAVE US HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF VINEYARD AND REGION. VERY GENEROUS WINE SAMPLES PLUS VEGAN CHEESE BOARD WHICH WAS A LOVELY SURPRISE. WINE TASTING ROOM WAS GORGEOUS.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private boat tour of Lake Como - Explore Bellagio

Italy

TERRIFIC TOUR GUIDE, GREAT BOAT DRIVER, WONDERFUL HISTORY OF REGION, ANSWERD ALL OUR QUESTIONS, AND BELLAGIO WAS CHARMING IF A BIT TOO TOURISTY.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private transfer from Illasi to Verona city center

Verona

THIS WAS JUST TRANSPORTATION BUT HE WAS ON TIME AND COURTEOUS AND A FINE DRIVER.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private guided tour of Verona highlights

Italy

WE LOVED CECILIA. SHE WAS A WEALTH OF INFORMATION AND A GREAT PERSONALITY. ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY. OUR FAVORITE TOUR GUIDE! SHE TOOK US EVERYWHERE!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Jewish tour in Milan

Italy

VERY FLEXIBLE TO OUR JEWISH INTERESTS. PLUS HE SHOWED US THE BIG TRAIN STATIOIN WHICH WAS OF INTEREST TO ALL OF US.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Concierge remote assistance during the trip

Italy

REALLY HELPFUL AND GRACIOUS AND WONDERFUL. EASY TO REACH. ALWAYS ACCESSIBLE. VERY IMPRESSED.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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 Reviews

Eat Like a Local: Florence Street Food & Market Experience

Italy

The food tour was exactly what we were looking for. We enjoyed the market and information on all the vendors and different foods related to the Florence and Tuscany area. We also experienced some street food and were given a definite option not to like, for example, tripe sandwich. Overall, this was a very worthwhile food tour.

The Best of Milan Guided Walk

Italy

Our guide Beatriz, provided an informative and interesting city tour, Instead of the usual city highlights, ventured into some of the lesser known areas and churches that provided a more meaningful tour.

Farm to Table Dinner with Wine at a Family-Run Winery

Cinque Terre

The scenery for this was beautiful. After a bus ride and short hike, you come to the winery. We sampled several wines with a light snack with each wine. This was not a dinner and was there was no explanation about the winery. We were there about 1/2 hour

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The Milan Aperitivo on Navigli Canals: A Taste of Milanese Life

Milan

Thiis was one of the best excursions of our trip. Our guide Marco did an awesome job of informing and entertaining us regarding the history of the Navigli Canals and the Aperitivo. The food and drinks were all perfectly matched. Marco also was very personable sharing insights not only to our tour, but also life in Italy and his family. We would highly recommend this tour.

Quality of Experience

Marco

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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.