Giorgia Torre

Overall the trip was fabulous. For the most part all the places we got to experience were great. Of particular note was the back up support we got from Giorgia and her team. Anytime we had a question, concern, or just plain help, they were always there for us. We could not have done this trip the way we did with so much complexity and details on our own. We have been to Europe on our own before, but not for this long (45 days) and to so many locations ( I counted 31). Our tours were great with private tours more personal. We did enjoy all of the tours, of special mention these are the tour guides that made a lasting impression of the places they took us through. In Cinque Terre- Marta, Perugia -Michael, Pompeii-Alfonso, Matera-Vito, Valley of the Temples-Lorenzo. In looking back on accommodations, the stays we really enjoyed: Giardastelle Agriturismo- and Vinyard (Perseo Cottage), Park Hotel Argento Levanto, Hotel Ristorante Locanda Stella, Re-Federico Boutique Hotel. The one miss I should mention is B&B Il Leone Blu in Catania. This B&B was advertised as a 5 star, no way was barely comfortable, no lift leaving 3 flights of stairs to carry luggage. Breakfast was hardly passable and the location while close to central was gritty with lots of trash and graffiti. Catania itself is on the gritty side, however we really liked the city. Also worth while mentioning is estimation of driving time. Given unfamiliarity of the roads and frequent construction delays, you may need to add 30 to 60 minutes to drive times, depending on distance, in order to arrive on time. We didn’t rate the planning and booking a “5” due to the short time, approximately 5 days given to us to review the final plan prior to leaving. Again do to the complexity of this trip Giorgia did a great job, in addition she suggested places to go that turned out to be highlights of our trip, such as Matera.

I have used Kim Kim twice for planning trips. My experience could not have been more different for each trip.

The reason is that Kim Kim simply assigns your trip to a local travel agent for each trip. They do little quality control or monitoring or supervising to see if planning or execution of the trip is proceeding well. So it’s the luck of the draw as to whether or not things work out.

My first trip to Portugal was spectacular. Our trip was assigned to an agency who carefully listened to what we wanted to do, found the perfect guide, transportation and accommodations based on what we said we wanted and stayed in touch with us throughout the planning process and the actual trip.

Our second trip to Portugal was assigned by Kim Kim to a different travel agent, located in another country. That trip turned out to be a miserable experience. Among the problems:

1. The transfers provided by that agency were hit and miss. One transfer did not have a child seat as we requested. One transfer didn’t show up at the airport when it was supposed to. One transfer dropped our party off at the wrong hotel, leaving the party to walk in the pouring rain to the correct hotel in the middle of the night. Another transfer was given the wrong address by the travel agent, miles away from the right villa in the Algarve.

2. This travel agent demanded full payment early on in the process but would not turn over travel documents until a few days before the trip. When I finally received the documents (accommodations and transfer details), the booked tours and transfers were still incomplete.

I asked for a preliminary itinerary with details a month before the trip (three months after I had paid for the trip) so that our three families could get together to discuss them. Not only was it not provided, but no one even replied to me from the assigned travel agency. The agent simply ignored me.

3. The travel details provided days before
the trip included very problematic issues. For instance, the details said that often flights that time of year were full and it took longer than an hour to go through customs and immigration. It ALSO said that your transfer companies would not wait longer than an hour and, if that happened, you were on your own. Had I known this way back before I was made to pay the bill in full, I would have foregone the transfers and just gotten Ubers at the airport. What a racket. They make you pay for the transfers then, right before the trip, tell you that you will probably be too late to get the transfers and have to get an Uber anyway.

4. When we experienced the many issues with this trip, often the travel agency was closed and you had to solve the problem yourself.

5. Early in the planning process, I asked for private tours. I got drivers with varying degrees of knowledge. Only one of several was a tour guide with substantial knowledge and information.

I loved Kim Kim after my first trip to Portugal but I will not use them again. Kim Kim’s success is only as good as the random agency they assign you to.

Hotel Review

Vincci Baixa

Lisbon

The hotel was okay but the location in Lisbon was different from the area I initially requested.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Finding us a hotel where I requested the location,

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Privately Guided Visit of Belem

Lisbon

This guide was excellent along with the provided coach.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Day Excursion to Óbidos, Nazaré & Fátima

Portugal

The driver/guide knew little about the destinations and left us to ferret out information in each location.

Fantastic tours and guides. Enrico, Pauola, Vincenzo were absolutely amazing.

Our transfers were on-time and great drivers.

Activity Reviews

Day Trip to Capri Island and Anacapri

Italy

What a day. Boat rides, chair lift, trolly car and amazing views and shopping. Our tour guide Vincenzo “Vinnie” was fantastic and so helpful. He made our day special.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Full Day Amalfi Experience

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Sorrento

Italy

Quality of Experience

K

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pasta Making Class with Gelato

Italy

The chef and event was a night to remember.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Visit of Florence Including David and Duomo

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Murano Glass Blowing Tour with Water Taxi

Italy

The day was amazing. Great tour, great boat ride and spectacular event.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Venice Gondola Ride

Venice

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport