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active 3 hours ago

Fabio Ilardi

Originally from Italy, I lived and worked in 6 different countries and traveled across about 40 more around the globe.
During my travels, I love to interact with local people, visit monuments and art galleries, taste local food, spend time connecting with nature, and get to know as much as I can of the local culture. I truly believe that traveling provides us unique chances of growth, at any stage of our lives.
I really love, as a local agent, to expose foreign travelers to my country’s beautiful history, culture, nature, and all the great experiences that it has to offer.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"Our expertise spans both Italy's famous landmarks and its lesser-known, hidden gems. We regularly explore Italy to discover new travel opportunities, unveiling unique experiences for our clients along the way.

We create itineraries that embrace a wide array of activities, including hiking expeditions, guided explorations of historical sites, city strolls or cycling tours, boat adventures, delightful culinary and wine experiences, and immersive visits to local wineries. Our seasoned guides enhance your journey, ensuring it becomes an unforgettable experience."

How did you get involved in travel?

"I have always been fascinated by our world’s different cultures, customs, and history since I was a little kid. My first experience living abroad - in Norway - back in 2013, working in the tourism industry as a travel advisor and private guide at close contact with people from all-over the world, made me realize how important of a chance that would have been for my personal growth.
I still remember how it filled me with joy, hearing positive comments from my guests while admiring the views over the Norwegian fjords and the surrounding mountains – and it still definitely does, when I see tourists strolling around Italy’s ancient streets with an amazed look on their faces.

From that year after, I haven’t stopped moving around to explore the wonders of this planet. Even if only for a few days trip, I try to do that as much as I can.

I now happily live in Italy, Lake Como area, where I love to spend time riding my motorcycle, take amazing photos over the lake and the majestic alps in the background, or go for hiking excursions with friends.
From time to time, I like to treat myself at nice restaurants or take an Italian "aperitivo" with views over beautiful Lake Como. "

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"I carry with love the memories of my solo trip through Morocco in 2016. I covered around 2000 Km in a week, met people from different areas and backgrounds, while the main highlight was spending a night in the Sahara looking at the stars.

I flew to Marrakech with only one night booked at a local hostel, and nothing planned at all for the rest of the trip. I didn’t do much research either, as it was a very last-minute arrangement, plus, I was working so much the days prior to the departure.

The very first day I casually met the hostel manager who was born and raised in Italy from a Moroccan family and recently moved to Marrakech to start a new life. She advised me to take a 3-day tour through ancient Casbahs, Atlas Mountains, and Merzouga Desert. Here we go, I know what to visit for the next 3 days.

The morning after I jumped on a minibus and slowly started to collect all the other participants form their accommodations. We were a mix of people from Argentina, Australia, China, Mexico, and of course myself from Italy. The second day we even picked up a random Japanese guy on the way, who was literally boiling while walking under 45 degrees burning sun - God knows where he was trying to go, so he joined.

As we approached the Sahara, dunes were getting taller and taller and amazingly beautiful with their unique golden shades. We left the minibus after having taken a good amount of water for the afternoon and the night - which we obviously all forgot in the trunk and realized it only later in the afternoon – and took a camel to reach the tents camp.
The sunset was unreal, and even more unreal the night sky. I hadn’t seen anything like that before, and still now, many years after, I haven’t experienced such a clear vision of the night sky. We could literally see the universe. We eventually all fell asleep on the carpets out in the dunes close to the camp.

Fun fact - in the morning we were all set to leave the camp on our camels, when the first one in the line started to groan, all of a sudden it went crazy and ran away from the group. Consequently, all the others followed the first, I remember I struggled so much trying to stay on the running camel, but others in the group fell down. Nothing serious happened luckily.

After these 3-day tour I spent the remaining time with some people from the group and we ended the trip together. We are still in touch and this trip I believe is one that I will never forget.
"

Top itineraries and travel advice
Family itineraries
Luxury itineraries
Road trip itineraries

Recent trip reviews for Fabio

Magical Honeymoon 3 years in the Making
Italy | Oct 2 - Oct 12, 2023

Leslie
Leslie L.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Dec 24, 2023
After being married during the pandemic, I was not eager to plan a honeymoon trip after re-planning our wedding 3 times. This led to us procrastinating this trip until I worked with Fabio. From beginning to end, Fabio was incredible and I say this as a very Type A planner who would typically take on all the research and planning on my own. He was in tune to our requests, budget, and feedback and promptly put together itineraries that checked every box. This led to a trip that was... Read more

After being married during the pandemic, I was not eager to plan a honeymoon trip after re-planning our wedding 3 times. This led to us procrastinating this trip until I worked with Fabio. From beginning to end, Fabio was incredible and I say this as a very Type A planner who would typically take on all the research and planning on my own. He was in tune to our requests, budget, and feedback and promptly put together itineraries that checked every box. This led to a trip that was perfectly curated to us and beyond my expectations. Thank you Fabio!

In Venice, I loved the Ca'Nigra Lagoon Resort. It was quaint and perfectly located for our excursions. We were fond of Venice but Florence quickly stole the show. I highly recommend the day trip to Sienna that Fabio booked for us. Our private driver, Michele, was so knowledgeable and made conversation easy. He was also the best photographer for all the scenic stops along our drive. The Florence Cooking Class and Lunch at a farmhouse with the local market tour was a blast! If you're thinking a taking any cooking class while in Italy, this is the one. We probably laughed more than we cooked.

As history nerds, the tours in Rome were some of our favorites but surprisingly second to the Rome Food Tour. Our stay at Hotel Centrale was fantastic. The concierge gave us recommendations for restaurants and hidden gems in the city, which was greatly appreciated. Our last leg of the trip in Naples included a private tour of Pompeii and our guide was yet again a perfect fit for us and catered the tour to our interests.

Overall, there was not a single part of our itinerary that we would have changed. The experience was everything we dreamed about and I would trust my trip planning to kimkim again in a heartbeat.

Hotel Reviews
Ca' Nigra Lagoon Resort
Venice

The rooms are stunning, the terrace was the perfect place to relax in the evening, and the location was perfect for all our excursions. We appreciated being able to quickly catch a water taxi while also feeling like we had a quiet corner of Venice to ourselves.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Firenze Capitale
Florence

Cute place that was away from the noise of the touristy center, but still walkable to everything you could want to see.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Centrale
Rome
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hart Boutique Hotel
Naples
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Tuscany Day Trip to Siena & San Gimignano  | Winery Included
Tuscany Day Trip to Siena & San Gimignano | Winery Included
Florence
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Michele was an incredible driver! We loved getting to spend our day with him. He took time to stop for my scenic photo request and also made a great photographer. Furthermore, he made suggestions at each stop, easy conversation for the longer portions of the driver, and overall was knowledgeable about each location.
Transport
Florence Cooking Class and Lunch at a Farmhouse in Tuscany with Local Market Tour
Florence Cooking Class and Lunch at a Farmhouse in Tuscany with Local Market Tour
Florence

This class is all fun with a bonus of great food!

Quality of Experience
Food
Everything made was incredible!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Bruno should have a comedy show! We laughed more than we cooked.
Transport
Rome Food Tour
Rome Food Tour
Rome

This tour was foodie heaven! Make sure you show up hungry and ready to eat a variety of dishes.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
The walk from place to place was nice as our guide made sure to point out other hidden gems and we walked through backstreets like a true local.
Full-day Private Tour of Pompeii, Mt. Vesuvius and a Local Winery
Full-day Private Tour of Pompeii, Mt. Vesuvius and a Local Winery
Naples
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Fabio Ilardi
Fabio
Fabio Ilardi
Local specialist in Como, Italy | Replied on Dec 27, 2023
Buongiorno Leslie! Thank you so much for taking the time to share your incredible experience. It was an absolute pleasure to be a part of planning your post-wedding trip, especially considering the challenges of the pandemic and the multiple adjustments to your wedding plans. I'm thrilled to hear that the travel plans we arranged together not only met your expectations but exceeded them. Venice, Florence, and Rome hold their own special magic, and I'm delighted to know that the Ca'Nigra... Read more

Buongiorno Leslie!

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your incredible experience. It was an absolute pleasure to be a part of planning your post-wedding trip, especially considering the challenges of the pandemic and the multiple adjustments to your wedding plans.

I'm thrilled to hear that the travel plans we arranged together not only met your expectations but exceeded them. Venice, Florence, and Rome hold their own special magic, and I'm delighted to know that the Ca'Nigra Lagoon Resort in Venice, the day trip to Siena with Michele, the Food Tour in Rome, and the Florence Cooking Class were among the highlights.

I am looking forward to working with you on your next Italian adventure! Wishing you all the best and a wonderful Holiday Season!

Arrivedercii!! 🙂
Fabio

The best vacation ever!
Italy | Nov 25 - Nov 30, 2023

S
Shelly B.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Dec 05, 2023
We planned a shorter trip to Italy in October for a November departure and were expertly handled by our specialist, Fabio. Or should I call him Fabulouso? :) Our trip was effortless, fun, interesting, and so full of some of the best of Italy in 5 short days! We had great accommodations in three wonderful hotels, transportation, tickets, and two awesome experiences - a food tasting tour in Rome and a cooking class in Sorrento. Fabio was available all the time via text or whatsapp, and... Read more

We planned a shorter trip to Italy in October for a November departure and were expertly handled by our specialist, Fabio. Or should I call him Fabulouso? :) Our trip was effortless, fun, interesting, and so full of some of the best of Italy in 5 short days! We had great accommodations in three wonderful hotels, transportation, tickets, and two awesome experiences - a food tasting tour in Rome and a cooking class in Sorrento. Fabio was available all the time via text or whatsapp, and was super responsive throughout this whole process. It was a little nerve wracking book all of this online, but the experience was top notch. If you want to go explore the world and looking for something other than a tour bus or cruise ship, I would highly recommend KimKim. It was conceirge level service and made the vacation just a breeze.

Thank you, Fabio!! Shelly & Chris

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Nazionale
Rome

Great hotel. Central location and QUIET for Rome. Not on a busy street at night. Loved it. Staff was awesome. Room was nice and bed comfy.

Authenticity & Character
Location
close to everything
Staff
very helpful as we arrived early in the morning from our overnight flight
Cleanliness & Comfort
everything perfect
Palazzo Marziale Boutique Hotel Sorrento
Sorrento

Beautiful small hotel. We were in the Youth Room. Big comfy bed and nice bath. Sorrento is walkable and we loved this location.

Authenticity & Character
super neat place !
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Barberini Roma
Rome

Nice hotel, the room was smaller and it was noisy at night with traffic

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Rome Food Tour
Rome Food Tour
Rome

We learned about Rome, Italy and FOOD! Armando was an awesome guide and we visited some fun locations!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
All of the transport staff were really nice. Prompt, Clean vehicles. Awesome
Pizza & Pasta Masterclass in Sorrento
Pizza & Pasta Masterclass in Sorrento
Sorrento

Fun time in Sorrento at the most beautiful location! We made pasta, pizza and tiramisu. Great time!!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Self Guided Visit to the Colosseum & Roman Forum | Skip-the-Line Tickets
Self Guided Visit to the Colosseum & Roman Forum | Skip-the-Line Tickets
Rome
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Fabio Ilardi
Fabio
Fabio Ilardi
Local specialist in Como, Italy | Replied on Dec 06, 2023

Buongiorno Shelly, thank you so much for your heartwarming review! It was an absolute pleasure assisting you and Chris in planning your Italian adventure. I'm thrilled to hear that your trip was effortless and fun. I'm also delighted that you enjoyed the accommodations, transportation, and the special experiences like the food tasting tour in Rome and the cooking class in Sorrento. Looking forward to assisting you again on your future travel plans through Italy, and wishing you and Chris a wonderful Holiday Season! 🙂🙂
A presto,
Fabio

Fabio and his Team made our trip so easy!
Italy | Nov 25 - Nov 30, 2023

C
Christopher K.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Dec 03, 2023
We could not have asked for a better trip planner. All of our transfer guides and our food tour guides were all very timely and professional. I would highly recommend Fabio for your next trip to Italy. Read more

We could not have asked for a better trip planner. All of our transfer guides and our food tour guides were all very timely and professional. I would highly recommend Fabio for your next trip to Italy.

Activity Review
Pizza & Pasta Masterclass in Sorrento
Pizza & Pasta Masterclass in Sorrento
Sorrento

So fun and what a beautiful view!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Fabio Ilardi
Fabio
Fabio Ilardi
Local specialist in Como, Italy | Replied on Dec 03, 2023

Hello Christopher, Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm delighted to hear that you had such a positive experience. It was truly a pleasure assisting you and Shelly with your journey, and I'm thrilled that the activities we planned together and our partners lived up to your expectations. I look forward to helping you on your next Italian adventure. Wishing you and Shelly all the best! 🙂
Greetings from beautiful Italy,
Fabio

Thank you Fabio!!!
Italy | Jun 25 - Jul 3, 2023

L
Laurianna C.
Springfield, PA | Reviewed on Nov 08, 2023

Fabio did an amazing job with planning our trip to Rome, Florence, and Naples. He made everything seamless, and was available to help very quickly via chat/email. We had the most time as a family of 6, and we are forever grateful to Fabio for helping us make the best memories.

Local specialist: Fabio Ilardi
Fabio
Fabio Ilardi
Local specialist in Como, Italy | Replied on Nov 08, 2023

Buongiorno Laurianna,
Thank you so much for taking the time to write this wonderful review. I’m thrilled to hear about your fantastic experience during your trip to Rome, Florence, and Naples. It was a pleasure planning your family's journey, and I'm delighted that everything went smoothly, allowing you to create cherished memories together. I am looking forward to assisting you on your next Italian adventure. Wish you and your family all the best! :)
Arrivederci,
Fabio

zurich to taormina oct3’23 to oct 20’23
Italy | Oct 3 - Oct 20, 2023

celi
celi d.
Costa Mesa, CA | Reviewed on Oct 28, 2023

zurich, lucerne, interlaken, zermatt, saint moritz,, bellagio, milan, palermo, taormina and catania!!!!! 18 days of unforgettable experience thanks to fabio who arranged it all! excellent service and assistance of all the tour guides and drivers as well! i highly recommend kimkim specifically fabio💕
i’m looking forward to my next trip with you😁

Local specialist: Fabio Ilardi
Fabio
Fabio Ilardi
Local specialist in Como, Italy | Replied on Oct 28, 2023

Buongiorno Celi,
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! It's been an absolute pleasure arranging your 18-day adventure through beautiful Switzerland and Italy. I'm thrilled to hear that you had an unforgettable experience! Wishing you all the best, and many more exciting adventures in the future! 🙂
Arrivederci,
Fabio

Switzerland and Italy: A Journey of Unforgettable Adventures and Enchanting Experiences"
Italy | Oct 3 - Oct 20, 2023

elaine
elaine a.
Australia | Reviewed on Oct 25, 2023
We had the greatest pleasure of embarking on a once-in-a-lifetime journey through Switzerland and Italy with Kimkim Travel, and it wouldn't have been the extraordinary adventure it was without the exceptional guidance of our tour guide, Fabio. From the moment we touched down in Zurich to the very last day in Taormina, Fabio's expertise and passion for what he does shone brightly. Fabio's expert assistance in planning our IT from the get-go and all throughout the entire trip, his... Read more

We had the greatest pleasure of embarking on a once-in-a-lifetime journey through Switzerland and Italy with Kimkim Travel, and it wouldn't have been the extraordinary adventure it was without the exceptional guidance of our tour guide, Fabio. From the moment we touched down in Zurich to the very last day in Taormina, Fabio's expertise and passion for what he does shone brightly.

Fabio's expert assistance in planning our IT from the get-go and all throughout the entire trip, his attention to detail, as well as his in-depth knowledge of the regions we visited were nothing short of remarkable. His insights into the history, culture, and popular sites to visit made the planning process easy and and added a layer of richness to every place we explored. From the picturesque cities of Zurich and Lucerne to the breathtaking landscapes of Interlaken, Zermatt, and the majestic Mt. Pilatus & Mt Gornegrat, Fabio made sure we not only saw these wonders but truly experienced them. When we needed help at a very short notice to secure a booking for paragliding in Zermatt, Fabio delivered outstandingly! He phoned the hotel in Zermatt and looked for the paragliding company. His careful planning and coordination ensured it went off without a hitch, giving us an adrenaline rush like no other. His attention to detail and safety gave us the confidence to enjoy every second of it. The paragliding experience was one of the unforgettable highlights in our trip - -and Fabio helped make it possible!!

Crossing over to Italy, we marveled at Milan's fashion and culture, the serene & enchanting beauty of Bellagio & Varenna in Como, and the stunning journey aboard the Bernina Express to the magical St. Moritz. Fabio's choice of stops, restaurants, and experiences reflected a deep understanding of what travelers like us truly appreciate.
One commendable thing that Fabio did for us was planning the trip to Lake Como. There were transpo-related changes due to an event that was happening at that time in Lake Como. Fabio informed us straight away and organized alternative ways to get to to Bellagio and Varenna, and even purchased for us the train and ferry tickets in advance, and recommended the restaurant along the way, & the sites that we should visit. Our van driver and tour guide - Paolo - was excellent.
Fabio made sure that nothing would get in the way of our plans to visit the enchanting Lake Como - and he really delivered!

The culmination of our journey was the enchanting island of Sicily. Fabio's expertise in Sicilian culture and history turned our time in Palermo, Taormina, and Catania into an authentic Sicilian experience. His recommendations for local delicacies and hidden gems enriched our adventure even further.

Throughout the trip, Fabio's professionalism, warmth, and enthusiasm made us feel like more than just tourists; we felt like friends exploring the world together.
His commitment to ensuring our journey was not just memorable but extraordinary was evident in every aspect of our trip - - from the train tickets, hotel & airport transfers to the hotels and restaurants.

All in all - Fabio's dedication, knowledge, flexibility and charismatic personality made this holiday in Switzerland and Italy an unforgettable and fabulous experience. We can't thank him enough for the cherished memories that we have built and bottled up in these incredible destinations.

On another note, we would like to give our feedback as well on a few things that can be done differently next time.
1. All the hotels that we stayed in were excellent. However, the choice of hotels in Zurich in Milan can be improved, in terms of quality and location. The hotel in Zurich did not have A/C, so it was not very comfortable at night due to the warm temperature. The hotel in Milan was not really centrally located so it was not that easy to go to the Milan center. We would always prefer a location close to the main public transpo.
2. In terms of planning the train schedules - it would be better next time if the gap between the time - especially for connecting train trips - should be sufficient enough to avoid undue stress. For example - the train schedule from Zermatt to Milan was too tight in terms of the lead time in between each transfer. Specifically the time gap between the train from Brig to Milan was just 7 minutes!! And the platforms were quite far from each other. We had to literally run - with all our heavy luggage - from Platform 4 to Platform 11 (if I remember correctly). That was very stressful & exhausting.
It would be better to plan the train trips in such way that there is enough time in between to get to the next platform without rushing too much, and to give allowance to delays (e.g: if the 1st train is delayed, then it will affect the subsequent trips).

Those are just the 2 things that we thought we would mention to further improve the planning process in the future.

In sum - if you're planning a trip with Kimkim Travel, make sure you request Fabio as your guide - he truly goes above and beyond to make your adventure extraordinary. Grazie mille, Fabio! Ti apprezziamo molto :)!

Local specialist: Fabio Ilardi
Fabio
Fabio Ilardi
Local specialist in Como, Italy | Replied on Oct 25, 2023
Ciao Elaine! Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a fantastic review. It's so wonderful to hear about the incredible journey you had through Switzerland and Italy. Your kind words and appreciation mean a lot to me, and I'm thrilled that I could assist you in planning your unforgettable journey through Switzerland and Italy. Your detailed feedback about the trip and your constructive suggestions are invaluable. We take every comment seriously and will use it to enhance our... Read more

Ciao Elaine!

Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a fantastic review. It's so wonderful to hear about the incredible journey you had through Switzerland and Italy. Your kind words and appreciation mean a lot to me, and I'm thrilled that I could assist you in planning your unforgettable journey through Switzerland and Italy.

Your detailed feedback about the trip and your constructive suggestions are invaluable. We take every comment seriously and will use it to enhance our future planning processes.

Once again, thanks so much and I am looking forward to assisting you on your next travel adventures!

A presto! 🙂🙂

The train system in Italy was very punctual a...
Italy | Sep 16 - Sep 24, 2023

O
Oliver C.
Princeton, NJ | Reviewed on Sep 26, 2023
The train system in Italy was very punctual and efficient. Lake Como, the Belvedere Hotel, and boat ride on Lake Como were amazing. The food tour in Florence with Aldo was mediocre, as was the Frame Hotel in Florence. Fabio, our travel agent, was extremely helpful and responded quickly to any issues we had. Read more

The train system in Italy was very punctual and efficient. Lake Como, the Belvedere Hotel, and boat ride on Lake Como were amazing. The food tour in Florence with Aldo was mediocre, as was the Frame Hotel in Florence. Fabio, our travel agent, was extremely helpful and responded quickly to any issues we had.

Hotel Reviews
Nolinski Venezia
Venice
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Belvedere
Bellagio
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Frame Hotel Florence
Florence
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hassler Roma
Rome
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
2-hour Boat Tour | Cruise Around Lake Como
2-hour Boat Tour | Cruise Around Lake Como
Italy
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Florence Food Tour
Florence Food Tour
Florence
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Private Colosseum & Roman Forum Tour
Private Colosseum & Roman Forum Tour
Rome
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Fabio Ilardi
Fabio
Fabio Ilardi
Local specialist in Como, Italy | Replied on Sep 27, 2023
Ciao Oliver,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback about your recent trip to Italy. I greatly appreciate your insights and am thrilled to hear that you had such positive experiences with the train system, Lake Como, and the interaction with me. I am sorry to hear that the food tour in Florence with Aldo didn't meet your expectations and that you found the Frame Hotel in Florence to be mediocre. Your feedback is extremely important to us, and we'll certainly take this into...
Read more

Ciao Oliver,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback about your recent trip to Italy. I greatly appreciate your insights and am thrilled to hear that you had such positive experiences with the train system, Lake Como, and the interaction with me. I am sorry to hear that the food tour in Florence with Aldo didn't meet your expectations and that you found the Frame Hotel in Florence to be mediocre. Your feedback is extremely important to us, and we'll certainly take this into consideration to improve our offerings. Once again, thank you and I hope to have the opportunity to assist you with your future travel plans. All the best!
Arrivederci,
Fabio

Best Luxury Italy Tour
Italy | Sep 16 - Sep 24, 2023

April
April K.
Vienna, VA | Reviewed on Sep 26, 2023
If you’re shopping and comparing agencies, look no further - KimKim/Fabio will customize an itinerary and accommodate your every need to make your trip memorable. Hotels and private tour options Fabio offered were superior compared to other competitively priced proposals I’ve reviewed. Fabio is superb and you’re in good hands if you’re working with him. I have traveled both on my own and through agencies enough (over four continents and 30+ countries) to opine KimKim provides one of... Read more

If you’re shopping and comparing agencies, look no further - KimKim/Fabio will customize an itinerary and accommodate your every need to make your trip memorable. Hotels and private tour options Fabio offered were superior compared to other competitively priced proposals I’ve reviewed.

Fabio is superb and you’re in good hands if you’re working with him. I have traveled both on my own and through agencies enough (over four continents and 30+ countries) to opine KimKim provides one of the best services and experiences. I would go through KimKim again for my future trips.

I can be meticulous and demanding at times when planning for trips, but Fabio took his time to answer every questions I had, and deliver any requests I made leading up to and throughout my trip to Italy. Fabio responds promptly, works efficiently, and will go out of his way to ensure you are able to relax and enjoy your trip. He is extremely knowledgeable (from Michelin restaurants to best local restaurants, and best choices for your site tours) so he will be able to provide you with insightful recommendations. Fabio is extremely professional and I would highly recommend him. Do yourself a favor and plan your Italy trip with Fabio - you will be glad that you did! :)

Local specialist: Fabio Ilardi
Fabio
Fabio Ilardi
Local specialist in Como, Italy | Replied on Sep 27, 2023

Ciao April, thank you so much for taking the time to write this wonderful review. Your kind words are immensely valuable to us, as we constantly strive to provide the best possible service to our travelers. I am so glad that overall the trip went great, and it was a real pleasure assisting you before and during your trip to beautiful Italy. I look forward to working with you again on your next Italian adventure! I wish you all the best! 🙂
A presto,
Fabio

Italy Summer 2023 Trip
Italy | Aug 19 - Aug 27, 2023

Irini
Irini P.
Poughkeepsie, NY | Reviewed on Aug 29, 2023
First time planning a trip with Kim Kim and it was above all my expectations, very easy and friendly service that eased all my trip planning worries. Fabio was great from the start and very responsive during our trip for any questions. From the start with the airport pickup to the airport dropoff our trip went off without any issues. The three days in Rome were the perfect amount of time to see all the sites and Fabio booked us great skip the line tours.
Our Sorrento portion of the trip was...
Read more

First time planning a trip with Kim Kim and it was above all my expectations, very easy and friendly service that eased all my trip planning worries. Fabio was great from the start and very responsive during our trip for any questions. From the start with the airport pickup to the airport dropoff our trip went off without any issues. The three days in Rome were the perfect amount of time to see all the sites and Fabio booked us great skip the line tours.
Our Sorrento portion of the trip was great! I appreciate Fabio for suggesting Sorrento over Positano for our trip it was the perfect size town for us to stay in and explore in the middle of everything we wanted to see, between Pompeii, Mt Vesuvius, winery tour, and a trip down the Amalfi Coast. All while having a fantastic car service booked for each excursion booked and private tour guides to really explain to us the history.
Two downsides were our hotel in Sorrento Hotel del Corso was not really up to our standards a bit dated, the AC didn't work and the hotel staff wasn't very helpful and our room was on the main street which was very noisy.
The second downside was our Cooking class at Villa Ida was not up to our expectations it wasn't really a cooking class more so we helped them prep the food while they did the cooking behind the scenes. We were expecting to make either homemade pizza or pasta but instead we made cold salads and filled already cooked pastas. Also Charlie at the cooking class was very pushy for us to buy his wine, ceramics, and music boxes and when we declined buying anything the vibe in the room changed. It left a bad taste in our mouth.
Overall the trip was fantastic and I will definitely be recommending Fabio and Kim Kim to anyone planning a trip to Italy and will also be using them in the future.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Scalinata di Spagna
Rome

Great hotel in a fantastic location, staff was friendly and helpful the rooms were on the small side but very clean and tastefully decorated.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Del Corso
Sorrento

This hotel is extremely dated, other then the location I would not recommend this hotel to anyone. The rooms are extremely dated with uncomfortable old beds, our AC did not work and when we let the staff know they told us it was our fault for having it on to high. Our room was facing the main street and was extremely noisy so between the AC not working and the noise levels we didn't sleep very well. The bathroom amenities are minimal with cheap towels, and the breakfast left much to desire. We only ended up having breakfast one day out of the five.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Great location right on corso de italia close to the square.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Rome Food Tour
Rome Food Tour
Rome

Loved this tour so much! Simone was the best tour guide, very personable, knowledgeable and easy to talk too. He took us to great food spots including trying things we never would of tried and giving us a real roman food experience while also explaining to us roman history.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Full-day Private Tour of Pompeii, Mt. Vesuvius and a Local Winery
Full-day Private Tour of Pompeii, Mt. Vesuvius and a Local Winery
Italy

Loved all three aspects of this tour. Only negative is that doing all three activities in the August heat was very exhausting. We especially loved the Cantina winery tour and lunch, such a beautiful winery and unique experience that we got to check off our bucket list. The private tour of Pompeii was great, our tour guide was engaging and made the tour interesting and fun while learning aspects of Pompeii I never heard of before. Toninio our car driver was fantastic the whole day had the car cool and ready for us at all times.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Amalfi Coast Road Trip | Private Tour
Amalfi Coast Road Trip | Private Tour
Sorrento

The best way to see the Amalfi coast! Tonino our driver was great with explaining the area to us and what to see all while being very comfortable on the beautiful ride through the Amalfi coast highway.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Cooking Experience with Donna Rita
Cooking Experience with Donna Rita
Italy

Villa Ida cooking class was not up to our expectations, we were disappointed that there was not much cooking done on our side instead we actually prepped cold salads, filled already cooked pasta, and put together the layers of eggplant parmigiana. We were hoping that we would learn how to make either homemade pasta or pizza and sauce. The class was just extremely elementary level. In addition Charlie gives you a tour of his "wine cellar" where they make you watch a video on his homemade wine making process and history of the family. The whole time it is a pitch for you to buy his wine. While we were eating our dinner he constantly came our to walk more about the wine and let us know we can ship it to the US. At the end of the dinner they have us go back inside and see his ceramics, and music boxes he makes again trying to sell them to us. We sit down and he hands us a form and goes so how many bottle do you want to buy. When we informed him we wouldn't be buying any bottles he was clearly upset and shutdown ruining the vibe of the evening. We did not appreciate how pushy he was on selling his products. We were expecting a cooking class, not a wine tour and salesman pitch for 3 hours.

Quality of Experience
Food
Not the cooking class we expected and also had food pensioning afterwards.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Guided Tour of the Colosseum & Roman Forum
Guided Tour of the Colosseum & Roman Forum
Rome

Loved this tour, the guides knew what they were doing and talking about. It was a skip-the-line tour, so there was no waiting around. Definitely recommended.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Tour
Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Tour
Rome

Another great guided tour, very informative and well-organized. It was a small group, so it felt personal.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Self-Guided Day in Capri Island | Ferry Tickets Included
Self-Guided Day in Capri Island | Ferry Tickets Included
Italy

We enjoyed this self-guided tour. It was a nice break from the guided tours and allowed us to explore at our own pace. Would highly recommend it for a relaxing day.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Fabio Ilardi
Fabio
Fabio Ilardi
Local specialist in Como, Italy | Replied on Aug 30, 2023
Buongiorno Irini,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts on your recent journey through Italy. I am so glad that overall you had a great experience in this beautiful country. Your feedback is invaluable to us, and I truly appreciate you taking the time to provide such detailed insights into your stay.
I am genuinely sorry to learn that your experience with the hotel in Sorrento and the cooking class did not align with your expectations. Your experiences matter to us...
Read more

Buongiorno Irini,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts on your recent journey through Italy. I am so glad that overall you had a great experience in this beautiful country. Your feedback is invaluable to us, and I truly appreciate you taking the time to provide such detailed insights into your stay.
I am genuinely sorry to learn that your experience with the hotel in Sorrento and the cooking class did not align with your expectations. Your experiences matter to us deeply, and I apologize for any inconvenience you faced. Villa Ida, a cherished partner of ours in Sorrento, usually provides exceptional service, and I regret any shortcomings you encountered. Please know that your comments will be shared with our partner as we continuously strive to improve and enhance our services.
It was a pleasure working with you and I am looking forward to helping you again on your next Italian adventure. Thank you once again! I wish you and John all the best!

A presto,
Fabio

Trip to Italy
Italy | Aug 16 - Aug 25, 2023

Robin
Robin C.
New Britain, CT | Reviewed on Aug 26, 2023
Working with Fabio was very easy. He was always quick to respond and helped us plan a great trip to Italy that we will always remember. The private tours with Daniela and Elenora were particular highlights. They were so friendly and knowledgeable and felt like friends by the time the tour was over. Our tour guide for the Vatican (Guida? whose name I am not sure of ) was also friendly helpful and knowledgeable. Our guide Jessica in Florence was great as well. We will always remember the... Read more

Working with Fabio was very easy. He was always quick to respond and helped us plan a great trip to Italy that we will always remember. The private tours with Daniela and Elenora were particular highlights. They were so friendly and knowledgeable and felt like friends by the time the tour was over. Our tour guide for the Vatican (Guida? whose name I am not sure of ) was also friendly helpful and knowledgeable. Our guide Jessica in Florence was great as well. We will always remember the cooking class at Villa Ida with Roberta and her dad Carlo (Charlie). This was the best time we had on the trip. What a wonderful family!! I can’t say enough about this perfect experience. The boat ride to the blue grotto was also a highlight. We met such nice people on our tour and the young guide on the boat was fantastic. The hotel transferred worked out perfect. Everyone was friendly and always early which we liked because we are early people too! We would 100% use Kim Kim to book another trip in the future!

Hotel Reviews
HT6 Hotel Roma
Rome

This hotel was located within easy access to everything in Rome. It was well equipped and the staff was friendly.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Antiche Mura
Sorrento

We enjoyed that this hotel had a pool. Our room was located in a quiet space behind the main hotel. This made it feel like we were living within the city! It was quiet and well equipped.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Close to everything
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Renaissance
Florence

This hotel was close to everything. Upon arrival with your luggage you need to climb up a set of cement stairs with no access to an elevator until you get there. We are able bodied people but certainly would be a huge issue if you had any trouble navigating stairs and also the fact that you required to get your luggage up on your own. It was over 100 degrees in Florence when we were there and the Air conditioner did nothing to cool the room and was also restricted to a certain temperature. We were told breakfast was included and it was not. We also were told there was a view and there certainly was not. There weren’t even any windows looking out side. The staff however was nice.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Friendly
Cleanliness & Comfort
It was clean but we were. It comfortable due to the fact that the AC was restricted and it was never cool.
Activity Reviews
Best of Florence and David by Michelangelo | Small Group
Best of Florence and David by Michelangelo | Small Group
Florence
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Highlights & Hidden Gems of Rome | Walking Tour
Highlights & Hidden Gems of Rome | Walking Tour
Rome

We learned so many things on this private tour that we would never have learned or explored on our own. The tour guide was fantastic and felt like a friend when the tour was over.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Daniela was friendly and knowledgeable
Transport
N/A
Rome Food Tour
Rome Food Tour
Rome

Elenora was so fun and friendly. We were completely full after this tour! We enjoyed it immensely and she felt like our friend by the end!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Private Tour of the Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
Private Tour of the Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
Rome
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guida was knowledgeable and friendly
Transport
Sorrento Coast, Capri & Blue Grotto Boat Tour | From Sorrento
Sorrento Coast, Capri & Blue Grotto Boat Tour | From Sorrento
Italy

This tour was great fun! We met such nice people on the boat and enjoyed talking with them! The blue Groto was beautiful if a bit of a tourist trap.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The young tour guide was friendly and knowledgeable.
Transport
Cooking Experience with Donna Rita
Cooking Experience with Donna Rita
Italy

This was the highlight of the trip. The family was so friendly and we can’t say enough about our time there!

Quality of Experience
I
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Guided Tour of the Colosseum & Roman Forum
Guided Tour of the Colosseum & Roman Forum
Rome

The tour guide was friendly but we found it difficult to learn and pay attention with so many people in the group

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Fabio Ilardi
Fabio
Fabio Ilardi
Local specialist in Como, Italy | Replied on Aug 27, 2023

Hello Robin,
Thank you so much for taking the time to write a review on your trip to beautiful Italy. It was a pleasure to work with you before and during the trip, and I am so happy that everything went great overall. I am looking forward to working with you and Timothy on your next Italian adventure. I wish you all the best! 🙂
Arrivederci,
Fabio