Kimkim Trip Reviews for Italy

The trip was amazing! Except for a few hiccups along the way, things ran pretty smoothly. Our favorite part was the food tour in Palermo with our tour guide Angelo. He was great! The next favorite was the boat ride along the Amalfi Coast. Third favorite was the gelato making experience. The weather was great and the local people so friendly and helpful!

Hotel Review

Hotel Plaza Sorrento

Sorrento

Beautiful accommodations, view and staff! Great location as well!

Authenticity & Character

Felt like Italy!

Location

Centrally located with a great view.

Staff

Carlo was exceptional.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bed was very comfy and room very clean!

Activity Review

Palermo by Night: A Local Street Food Experience

Italy

Angelo our guide was born and raised in the area of Palermo where the food tour was conducted. He did an incredible job describing not only the history of the area, but also of the different food and wine we sampled.

Quality of Experience

Food was outstanding!

Food

All of it!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Angelo our guide was the best!

I would not hesitate to use Kimkim again for travel planning. From beginning to end of planning, Leslie from Storywalking was a great help and advisor and tailored everything to our needs, from train tickets to cooking classes. Once in Italy, Francesca was our devoted and helpful contact. All our tours and guides were excellent. Our 50th anniversary trip to Italy (with our whole family in Apulia) was a great success and will be a cherished memory.

Danielle was a great guide for our tour of Tuscan hill towns and a delightful lunch at a local farm. Danielle was outgoing, humorous and very knowledgeable.

We had a wonderful family vacation to Sestri Levante (Cinque Terre)and Rome. We were very thankful to have had a local specialist plan this trip with knowledge about which activities would work best for all members of our family. We enjoyed our stay in Sestri Levante, away from crowds, yet still on Ligurian sea and an easy trip to explore the 5 towns of Cinque Terre. We loved the restaurants there and we even ended up adding a local cooking experience to our stay in Sestri Levante at Trattoria da Turin. We would highly recommend the pasta experience to others. Family friendly, wonderful staff, and getting to eat our completed pastas at the end. We had to cancel our boat tour due to the changes in location (weather was windy and sea was choppy) but we very much appreciated Leslie’s help in making this happen. Sometimes we realize that things won’t work out as well on a trip and it was nice to have a knowledgeable person helping along the way. Ending our stay in Rome felt like it would be rushed, but we enjoyed all of the tours and recommendations that Leslie coordinated. The Coleseum/Roman forum tour was excellent and even our youngest was entertained by the information shared by our tour guide, Gigi. He was personable, knowledgeable, and comedic. The Vatican/Sistine chapel tour was an experience we were glad to have done but we did find that we were more tired during this time and the tour was probably a little long for the 10 year old. Our tour guide, Patricia, did her best to share info on the highlights and was helpful at end of tour in sharing recommendations. My family would probably say the bike tour to Apian
Way was the highlight of the trip. I also enjoyed the bike tour but I was slightly nervous about using e bikes in the city. Our tour guide, Alessandro was conscientious of this and helped us feel safe. He also shared interesting facts along the way. We enjoyed our stays in both hotels and how each one had a very different feel. It was great to have transportation to various locations figured out for us so we did not have to spend too much time figuring out tickets and transfers. Overall a great and memorable trip and we are happy we went with booking through KimKim.

Hotel Review

Hotel Due Mari

Sestri Levante

Enjoyed the character of the hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Colosseum & Ancient Rome Tour with Roman Forum

Rome

Excellent tour guide, Gigi!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Gigi was knowledgeable, personable and fun. He made the experience relatable for all in our group, even the 10 year old.

Transport

Appian Way & Catacombs By E-Bike

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an incredible trip to Italy!!! Every guide we had- Giarda in Venice, Ezgi in Florence, Jessica in Florence, Francisco at Pompei- were all fantastic. They were knowledgeable and engaging and so much fun!! All of our drivers were prompt and courteous and the Tuscany wine tour with Andrea was absolutely breathtaking and delicious!!! Fabio, our trip planner, was perfect. He was thorough and so responsive when we had any questions. He was always helpful and our trip was flawlessly planned and exactly what we wanted. I would recommend his services to anyone traveling to Italy 1000%!!!!

Activity Reviews

Sorrento Coast and Capri Boat Tour from Positano

Italy

Antonio and Giovanni were absolutely the best first mate and captain!! We had so much fun and learned a lot while touring on the boat to Capri! Interesting and very entertaining!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-Day Private Tour of Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius, with Lunch at a Winery at the Foot of the Volcano

Italy

Excellent day trip! Francisco was a great guide at Pompei and so knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience

Food

The lunch at the winery was exceptional as were the wines!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Val D’Orcia & Brunello Wine Tour with Lunch and Two Wine Tastings

Italy

The entire day was absolutely beautiful and the wineries were spectacular. Andrea was charming and so very knowledgeable. Highly recommend this adventure- magnifico!!

Quality of Experience

The tastings and knowledge of the winery staff were exceptional.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Andrea was so knowledgeable and interesting- perfect driver and guide

Transport

Renaissance Walking Tour of Florence with David

Florence

Jessica was very knowledgeable about the city history and art. Very good walking tour and very informative.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Florence Food Tour

Florence

Ezgi was very fun and the food was delicious!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Venice Gondola Ride

Venice

My only complaint is it was too short!! Had a great time!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Venice Food Tour

Venice

Giada was so much fun and the tour was interesting and very tasty!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rome in a Day Tour with Colosseum and Vatican Museums

Rome

We had an amazing tour and learned so much!! Carolina was so knowledgeable and so interesting!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Everyone we had was great..Bogdan in Rome was so passionate and informative about the art and history, Hilaria introduced us to great Rome food, Valentina gave us a excellent intro to Florence art, Ezgi's private food, Gelato and wine windows tour really highlighted the Best of Florence, Marco showed us Venice with great tips, Guida shared so many hidden gems during our private tour and took time to map out out places for us to go, and Carlos' food tour of Venice was some of the best food of our trip! In addition, the two standouts for us were Luca and Erika's Tuscan cooking class and our private days with Andrea. He took so much time to explain everything to us and his personal connections to the area and wineries made it truly special.

Fabio's attention to detail made us feel so cared for and we loved that so many of our guides and pick up/transfers knew Fabio personally.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Sant'Antonin

Venice

Right on little waterway, beautiful garden meal area, close to St. Marco square in the Castello neighborhood with lots of restaurants. Front desk helpful with concert tickets.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Issue with bath toilet and shower but staff quickly fixed it

Corte dei Sogni Boutique Hotel & Spa

Lots of USB charging ports, modern feel but in quaint older location, close to train station, near Mercado and restaurants

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Fresh made scrambled eggs to order

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Cellini

Rome

Great hotel in good location, nice buffet breakfast

Authenticity & Character

Location

Quieter street, close to train area and central to most sites

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Venice Food & Wine Tasting Tour

Venice

Carlos was great! You could tell he loved his city and the food. Best food of our tours.

Quality of Experience

Food

Everything and best Gelato of our whole trip!!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Venice in a Day Combo Tour with Gondola Ride

Venice

It was an informative tour of Venice. Some of our group got lost so you have to keep up. Marco was great about taking photos of us during the tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Jewish Heritage Walking Tour: Cannaregio and Venice’s Historic Ghetto

Venice

We weren't able to take this exact tour as it wasn't available but our private time with Guida was so informative and we felt like we were in on the secreta of Venice.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tuscany Day Trip to Siena & San Gimignano | Lunch & Wine Tasting Included

Florence

Andrea again showed us amazing Tuscany. He gave us tips for our self guided walks through Siena and San Gimignano. The winery lunch was out of a fairy tale.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Florence Food Tour

Florence

Ezgi was great. She took the time to make the perfect tour combining our love of Gelato and wine! It would be great to get a written list of places we visited or are suggested at end of tour as it is hard to write as we go.

Quality of Experience

Personal

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Skip-The-Line Uffizi Gallery Ticket

Florence

It was hard to figure out at first as there is no longer a door 3 and no need to find it. We just needed to get in line

Florence Cooking Class and Lunch at a Farmhouse in Tuscany with Local Market Tour

Florence

Luca was so animated and really brought the Mercado to life. We learned so much during the class and the food was great!

Quality of Experience

Food

All of it! Bruschetta was so fresh and we still talk about it. We plan to make several dishes now at home!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Val D’Orcia & Brunello Wine Tour with Lunch and Two Wine Tastings

Italy

Andrea was great, so knowledgeable and personable. We loved Pienza. The winery tours were great. Well organized and professional and was good for someone from the wine industry as well as for someone who doesn't drink.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Andrea was superb. He was a highlight of our trip!

Transport

I am a nervous passenger and always felt safe.

Best of Florence and David by Michelangelo | Small Group

Florence

Valentina was very personable and made the art and artists come alive

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Rome in a Day Tour with Colosseum and Vatican Museums

Rome

This was a great intro to Roman art and history but was exhausting! Bogdan was very passionate and informative

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

One of the drivers was stuck in traffic and late

Trastevere Local Food Tour

Rome

It would be great to get a written list of places we visited or are suggested at end of tour as it is hard to write as we go

Quality of Experience

Food

The Gelato was a bit icey for us

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Elena put together a smooth, effortless experience for us. She was available for the entire trip on WhatsApp if we had any questions (of which we had a few!!). Can't wait for our next trip to Italy :)

From the start of my perfect itinerary to Northern Italy, the KimKim’s specialists Elisa and later on, Leslie were incredible at taking notes on all my suggestions and accommodating my wishes for every part of the trip. They planned carefully the itinerary and we enjoyed every parto of our visit to: Milan, Verona, Lake Garda, Bolzano and Venice; the highlight and most difficult part was our visit to the Dolomites, but they found the most wonderful Guide, Alessandro, who took us up and down those gorgeous mountains, valleys, lakes and little towns! It was above all my expectations and the best experience of my life! Thank you all!

Activity Reviews

Venice at Sunset: Cicchetti, Food & Wine Tour

Venice

Our guide Anna was really the perfect guide for this activity, we had so much fun wondering the bars and food locations all around the San Polo neighborhood. The last restaurant where the served us pasta was not a good choice, not a typical place and the food choices we had were not good at all. The rest was perfect!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Heart of the Dolomites " (Eastern Dolomites)

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Excellent

"The Great Dolomites Road" (Western Dolomites)

Italy

The most beautiful rides through mountains, lakes, valleys and towns ever! Alessandro is very knowledgeable, lives in the area and takes you to where you get to see the very best of the Dolomites! Driving the Great Road of the Dolomites was an unbelievable experience. The only cable car open after closure of winter season was the highlight with the most amazing view!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day trip to Lake Garda: Sirmione, Malcesine, Cable Car to Monte Baldo

Italy

Our driver and Elena, our guide in Sirmione were great, friendly and very professional.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We very much enjoyed our trip to Cinque Terre and Rome. Leslie took the time we had available and our particular desires and made a truly memorable experience. The choice of Sestri Levante in particular was great as a base for going to Cinque Terre. The Colosseum and Roman forum tour with Gigi was phenomenal as was the Appian Way ebike tour with Alessandro from Bikeology. Kimkim provided stellar customer service and handled the details making this an easy trip. It was especially helpful to have they there to help when a 3hr customs line caused us to miss our train and they seamlessly obtained new tickets. They also were able to get a refund from a tour that was moved to a location and time that didn’t suit due to weather. Truly great customer service and I would highly recommend them to anyone visiting Italy.

The WhatsApp support group during the trip was amazing! Prompt, helpful, and proactive to make sure we were setup with everything we needed on our trip.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Modigliani

Roma

Charming spot, super nice and helpful staff, safe location.

Authenticity & Character

Upgraded but still had older charm elements

Location

A bit of a walk to main attractions, but nice neighborhood and fun to walk around to things nearby.

Staff

Very willing to help with luggage, bar, breakfast, etc.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palazzo Tritone

Sorrento

Fabulous location for exploring Sorrento! Clean and spacious

Authenticity & Character

Unique setup, with some modern touches

Location

Short walk to dining and shopping and main Sorrento attractions

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Villa Accini

Great location, kind staff, great outdoor relaxation space.

Authenticity & Character

Some components were a little dated, but it gave it charm.

Location

Close to town.

Staff

Super kind and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Spacious room and clean!

Alfieri9 Boutique Hotel

Florence

Adorable setup, extremely clean, wonderful staff. Was a little bit of a walk to main attractions, but not bad. Would recommend and stay again.

Authenticity & Character

Unique, cozy, great decor

Location

Little closer to main attractions.

Staff

Friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

No issues in room or lobby.

Activity Reviews

Private Pompeii Tour

Pompeii

More to see than expected and pleasantly surprised at the different bits of history to take in.

Quality of Experience

The 2 hours was plenty to take in the history and have time in the day for other things.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide shared lots of facts we wouldn't have known otherwise. We were able to see highlights and most important things in a timely manner. Very nice and thoughtful with answers and conversations.

Transport

Hiking the Path of Gods

Sorrento

The most incredible views! Great to experience the landscape and learn about the communities in the area.

Quality of Experience

The views and the guide sharing info along the way made it more memorable.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Wonderful - outgoing, kind, and knowledgeable!

Transport

the drive to the starting point is a bit curvy and slow, so plan time accordingly.

Private Colosseum Tour with Underground Access

Rome

The guide was so sweet and knowledgeable. Was able to share info that made what you were looking at and walking through so much more meaningful.

Quality of Experience

Learning while seeing ruins was a great experience.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sweet and smart guide. She enriched the experience and made it worthwhile.

Transport

Meeting point was easy to navigate.

Vatican Guided Tour

Rome

We were happily surprised how great the tour went. The right amount of time and highlighting of key points of interest. Especially cool to learn things you wouldnt know if you didnt go with a guide.

Quality of Experience

So much history and info shared that only a guide would know.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

David was incredible - helpful with questions, balance of time to absorb and experience, but got through a lot of things to see!

Transport

Meeting spot was easy and the line didnt take long to get through.

Chianti Wine & Olive Oil Tour from Florence

Florence

The guide was funny, insightful, and made the experience really great.

Quality of Experience

The wineries and staff at the wineries.

Food

Lunch at the winery was authentic and paired well with the wine.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

shared lots of great history and info to make the drive and in-between time go by quickly

Transport

Bus was great

Loved Tuscany, Amalfi coast, Pompeii and Mount Etna!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Tirrenia

Sorrento

Lovely hotel with great views

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Agriturismo La Pievina

Montepulciano

Great host great location!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Sailing the Amalfi Coast: From Sorrento to Amalfi & Positano

Italy

One of the highlights of the trip!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cooking Class in a Real Tuscan Farmhouse

Italy

Great experience

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Francesca was great as a local contact and kept us well informed every day of the tour. Our local guides were also very good - Carol in Turin and Margherita in Cinque Terre. We would have liked more time to get to all 5 towns or were better informed on how much could be accomplished in an 8 hr day from Genoa.

Activity Reviews

Private Transfer from Genoa to Cinque Terre

Italy

Day-trip to discover Portofino

Italy

What a beautiful way to spend the day when staying in Genoa!

Quality of Experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver was very accommodating

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver was very accommodating

Transport

Cinque Terre Trekking Adventure

Italy

Margherita was an excellent guide

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We

Visit to a chocolate store with tasting

Italy

A great way to round out our walking tour of Turin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Guided Walking Tour of Turin

Italy

Carol was an excellent guide and we really got a feel for Turin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Giulia was wonderful to work with!! She helped really make the trip what we wanted it to be. We especially enjoyed our time in Bologna. The cooking class with Veronica and the tours with Riccardo were highlights!

Hotel Reviews

Antica Locanda Leonardo

Milan

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Locanda Alberti

Mandello del Lario

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

R&B Santo Stefano

Bologna

We enjoyed the apartment-style accommodation and the access to a washing machine mid-trip. The place was clean and comfortable. Our only complaint was the shower; it has very low water pressure, which makes rinsing shampoo and conditioner out of hair more difficult.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable. The only challenge is the low water pressure in the shower.

Carlo Felice Boutique Hotel

Torino

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided visit of Bellagio and Villa Melzi Gardens

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cooking Class *****

Italy

We often take cooking classes in different countries/cities when we travel. This one has been the best so far. Veronica made us feel very welcome; it felt like learning an old family recipe and sharing a delicious meal with a good friend.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Food day (half-day) including Parmigiano Reggiano and Balsamic Vinegar - from Bologna

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bologna private guided walk and Food Tastings (3h)

Italy

We love Riccardo!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Turin guided walk (private guide)

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The Langhe hills wine tasting (1 winery)

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full day in The Langhe with driver assistance (from Turin)

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The car smelled strongly of cigarette smoke, which irritates my allergies a bit.

Our Kim Kim Team did a terrific job in working with us prior to the trip to drill down and figure out fun activities that my wife and I would enjoy during a 12 day trip to Florence, Rome and the Amalfi coast in Italy and then stayed in constant contact throughout the trip to respond to questions and handle unexpected issues. They had great recommendations for dining and also for "fill the gap" activities during our free time. Right off the bat, they were helpful as our departing flight was delayed which necessitated rebooking tickets for the connecting train from Rome to Florence. Using their very convenient app, i messaged Kim Kim about the delay before we left the US. When we arrived in Rome, the rebooking had already occurred and the pdf tickets were attached in the app. They also reached out just to touch base through the trip and the time difference was not an issue. When we had a miscommunication on a 9:00 meeting in Rome, i got a immediate response in my app within five minutes of sending a text. Very impressive monitoring of messages from their clients and really convenient app with a detailed itinerary that i referred to often throughout the trip. . And while i am comfortable finding my own transportation overseas i have to admit, having a driver arranged for transportation from the train station in Naples to our Sorrento hotel was well worth the cost. Kim Kim was also very helpful in canceling a few of our activities we had previously signed up for when we encountered an unexpected issue (broken toe!) and were great about recommending suitable alternative activities Both my wife and i appreciated the "hands-on" approach from the entire Kim Kim team and we both felt they were invested in making my wife's 70th birthday trip a memorable one.

After using Anita to help us book our Portugal/Spain trip last year, I knew we had to use her again for our Italy trip this year. I told her the different cities that we wanted to visit and she made a customized itinerary to fit our trip. This was especially difficult since we had four families and one infant. After a few iterations, she was able to put the perfect trip together. The app was extremely helpful because it told us where we needed to be, at what time, and who was going to pick us up. I don’t think we will be booking another trip without KimKim and Anita.

Hotel Reviews

Be Mate Apartments

Rome

Really beautiful apartment with plenty of amenities. The only thing that took away from this place was that they are building a metro station right outside and they were doing construction around 6 am every morning besides the weekend.

Authenticity & Character

Location

A lot of construction happening across the street. Woke us up at 6 am every morning.

Staff

Very responsive host

Cleanliness & Comfort

Horto Convento Florence

Firenze

This was a great location. We could get to every place within 15-20 minutes of walking.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Away from the crowded parts but close enough that we could walk to wherever we needed to go

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Canada Urban & Chic

Cozy and close to the airport which is what we needed for our quick stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hands-On Roman Pasta Cooking Class in the Historic Jewish Quarter

Rome

This was such a fun class! Our instructor was amazing and we loved all of the food we made. I would highly recommend this tour.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Beneath the Eternal City: A Journey Through Rome’s Catacombs & San Clemente

Rome

The most surprising tour for me. I didn’t know about the catacombs and it was such an interesting tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rome Unearthed: Guided Walk of Colosseum & Ancient City

Rome

One of the most impressive tours we did in all of Italy. It is truly incredible how big the colosseum is. The ancient city was also a great addition to this tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover the Vatican: From the Museums to the Sistine Chapel

Italy

This was another tour that could have easily been a whole day. There were so many pieces to see and there were rooms upon rooms of amazing artwork.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Masters of the Renaissance: A Journey Through the Uffizi

Florence

I wish we had more time on this tour. It was so good and there are so many things to see.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Excursion to Tuscany: Chianti Winery Visit & San Gimignano

Florence

Such a fun trip. One of my family’s favorites. We had two stops which was plenty. We learned a lot about the vineyards and sampled so many types of wines.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Florence

It was worth the trip but it is about two hours away. We felt a little pressed for time in each town. I think it would be better if we only visited two places instead of three

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Florence on Foot: Michelangelo’s David & Duomo

Italy

The best tour you can do in Florence!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Best of Milan Guided Walk

Italy

This was perfect for us since we only had an an afternoon in Milan.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Overall, we had a very good experience with Kimkim and enjoyed our two-week trip to Europe. Our travel specialist, Leslie, was knowledgeable about the destinations and provided excellent suggestions for hotels and activities. Many of the recommendations contributed positively to our trip and helped us discover experiences we may not have found on our own. We especially liked Patrizia who escorted us through Bellagio. Also, our driver, Rolant spoke excellent English and was fun, which made traveling enjoyable.

However, there were several areas where the planning process could have been improved. One of the biggest issues was that the final itinerary was not provided in a timely manner. While we had shared the cities we wanted to visit, flights, and some hotels and activities we were interested in, we were not really asked which activities we specifically wanted included or excluded from the schedule. Much of the itinerary was created without our direct input, and we did not receive the finalized schedule until shortly before departure.

As a result, we ended up requesting multiple changes while we were already traveling. Although adjustments were eventually made, handling itinerary changes during the trip itself was stressful and time-consuming. In several cases, activities had already been booked and charged to us even though they were not things we were particularly interested in doing, which unfortunately resulted in lost money.

Another frustration was the lack of pricing transparency. When we requested a detailed cost breakdown for hotels, transfers, and excursions, we were told that this was not possible and that only percentage allocations could be provided. A more itemized breakdown would have helped us better understand the value of the services and make more informed decisions during the planning process.

In summary, the trip itself was very enjoyable. The destination expertise was strong, but better communication, earlier itinerary finalization, more collaboration on activity selection, and greater pricing transparency would have significantly improved our experience.

We were unsure as to whether or not use a travel agent for our trip, after this trip…we will probably ALWAYS use one! We had the best experience with KimKim and Irene. Scheduling was prompt, detailed, and everything we wanted. No detail left undone. Irene was always very fast to respond to our inquiries, and always open to a call or Teams meeting. When we would suggest an idea, she always gave her honest option and recommendations which were very much appreciated based on her experiences. Irene was unavailable after we had booked our trip and we were passed to another local agent. This made us a little nervous because Irene had been with us all along, however we had the best experiences with the new agent yet again! Absolute perfection! While on our trip to Italy we had a couple of questions or concerns along the way. We were able to message KimKim and we had a response each time almost immediately! One of the issues was with our first hotel checkin, and they even called and spoke to the hotel directly to clear the miscommunication up. Our travel guides on our actual trip were incredible! All English speaking, kind, funny, knowledgeable, and had our best interest along the way. We are grateful for all of them and the experiences they gave us. Kimkim did a great job of rearranging our travel plans one of the days unexpectedly. The Pope was in town and they adjusted our drivers/tours/times to make sure that we were able to enjoy our vacation to the fullest, rather than being stuck in traffic not able to access the city that was blocked off. Overall 10 out of 10 for the KimKim team that carried us through this amazing adventure! Thank You!

Leslie did a great job cultivating a trip for the books for us! The only miss was our hotel in Rome, which we did not like unfortunately.

Hotel Review

Eitch Borromini Palazzo Pamphilj

Rome

In short, this hotel had us wanting to go home. We had requested a LUXURY trip, and as part of this, we expected an excellent and comfortable hotel in Rome. We wanted to be well taken care of, and were paying for this experience. Our agent picked Eitch Borromini. When looking at the photos, we were pleasantly surprised. However, the reality did not match what we saw online. The one and possibly the only thing we appreciated was the location. The hotel was in Piazza Navona, and walkable to many of Rome’s fantastic attractions. We did not get to have the breakfast, but the boxed breakfast provided to us could have been a lot better. We were given crackers, jam, Nutella, and a packaged croissant. I’ve had the privilege of being at several high end hotels and asking for boxed breakfasts in various countries (including our phenomenal accommodation in Tuscany), and they were all far more nutritious, fresh, and enjoyable. However, I cannot speak to what breakfast at the hotel would have been like. Our biggest gripe was the room. The room was not very clean, it appeared dated, and unkempt. There was a lot of dirt and dust on the floor, and there was a bug problem. We killed some in the shower room, and there were flies around the room as well. The room with the toilet smelled badly as well. We were supposed to be in a luxury suite, and there was really nothing luxury regarding it. We didn’t even have any proper windows to look out of, and the iron didn’t work. Perhaps we were supremely unlucky with the room. While I understand Eitch Borromini is an old palace and has character and charm, the issues we encountered were not secondary to it being an old palace. Also, an odd thing, but in the room with the shower (the toilet/sink and shower were in different rooms), there was a locked glass door and a dark staircase that could be seen. It was quite disconcerting and as a trio of three women, we didn’t feel very comfortable. I know I would not want to stay in that room alone. Finally, the hospitality wasn’t great either. We requested some water in the evening, as they provide a complementary bottle, which we finished after a long day walking around Rome, and were told to drink the ones in the mini fridge…which they would then charge us for. We had to call twice and explain that we would not be paying for the mini fridge water, and finally about 30 minutes later, someone came with the provided complementary water. When we asked for help with luggage in the morning of our departure, they told us to bring it to the elevator first (which wasn’t that close to our room). I’ve had less “luxurious” hotels send people to help with luggage’s, or deliver a luggage cart. We were shocked that there would be no help. For a hotel that claims it’s a 5-star luxury hotel, there was nothing 5-star or luxury about it, and we should not have paid the price for staying here (assuming they were luxury prices as we did not see the breakdown when we paid kimkim). I will be coming back to Rome, and I will not be picking this hotel again.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Great central location

Staff

Needs more attentive staff, and maybe some women. No women were seen employed outside of the housekeeper.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was dirty and had bugs.

Activity Reviews

Colosseum & Ancient Rome Tour with Roman Forum

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Early Morning Vatican Tour

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Truffle Tour and Homemade Lunch

Italy

Incredible incredible incredible experience! We learned so much, and Massimo and his family were extremely welcoming. The meal with this tour was the best we had in Italy’

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

E-Biking through the scenic cypress trees of Val d'Orcia with Wine Tasting

Italy

Amazing views of Val D’Orcia and a wonderful guide. Would absolutely do this tour again! It was our favorite experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cooking class and wine tasting at Castle

Italy

Phenomenal private tour and cooking experience. What a unique tour! We loved it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exclusive Chianti Wine Tour with a Driver at your disposal - Half-Day Tour

Italy

Great experience, we just wish we had an English speaking group. Our tour guide spent a lot of her time speaking to the Italian group before us, and we felt we were losing a lot of information when she translated.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The trip was extremely well laid out - from the north - lake como - to the south - Sorrento - we saw the highlights of Italy in two weeks. The guides and activities scheduled were great. Each guide was terrific. KimKim did a great job again - this is our second kim kim trip.

However, the hotel in Rome was terrible and the one in Florence was marginal. The hotels in Belligao and Sorrento were great. But after our experience in Rome we asked to be upgraded in Sorrento.

The bike tour in Bellagio was a bit aggressive for our age - and we're in really good shape., I fell as our guide took us through a very narrow path - that was unnecessary. Otherwise the bids tour was fun.
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Good idea to stop at Pompei on our way to Sorrento - that was well worth seeing. And both boat trips in Sorrento were terrific.

Great trip! We will use KimKim again - soon I hope. But we will request higher level hotels next time.

From the time we stepped off the plane in Rome until we re-boarded for home 12 days later, we were well cared for by KimKim for a trip that was to celebrate my 70th birthday. Kimkim was our guardian angel to provide quick remedies to on-the-spot queries that often will occur, like, "We're here but where's our guide?"

Speaking of guides; Francisco, who called himself "The Mayor" of the food market, provided a very entertaining and tasteful tour with the food vendors that allowed an inside peek of what grocery shopping was like for the Florentines: Pastries, Schiacciata (bread), Bolita di manzo (boiled beef), wine, olive oil that ended with gelato, of course. He was knowledgeable about the history and of each establishment and was delightfully engaging.

Special thanks to Sylvia, who guided us through Florence to the "Academy" where opulent art awaited. Michelangelo's David cannot be described in words alone.

We have travelled enough to know that problems often occur (i.e., with communication and location drop-off points, but KimKim was diligent to check and double-check details. Julio was a young, skilled chef providing nstruction for preparing a dinner of pasta (made from scratch), saltimbocca and tiramisu. Moreover, his gracious demeanor after he learned we were misdirected by a miscue, was impressive. Afterward, the KimKim team was gracious to compensate us for the miscommunication.

The hotels were unique with expansive views yet cozy and comfortable, both in Florence and Sorrento. Day 5, I fell on the steps of our hotel room and luckily, only broke the fifth digit on my right foot. Instead of cancelling the rest of the trip, I was determined to tape the toe and go. KimKim provided alternate activities to minimize the last three days in Rome, such as a Vespa tour to replace the heavy walking requirements originally scheduled. Can't say enough about Grant and his cohort, Chinh who helped facilitate our schedule after the mishap.

If there is anything that could be improved, it was our accommodation in Rome. The beds were not comfortable, the elevators were ancient (small and slow) and the breakfast vibe felt more like a budget hotel than a celebration of sorts.

Thank you Kimkim for a memorable time and the work it took to put this trip together!