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Irene Lappa

Growing up as an only child, my main concern was to socialize, find the best way to communicate with other kids and thus never feel the lack of sibling(s). Luckily, my parents loved traveling and they chose road trips to introduce the world to me. Most of my childhood memories are related to meeting new friends in the most unexpected locations, playing around in every opportunity, visiting archaeological sites and museums, hiking on untrodden trails and swimming in beaches of stunning beauty.

Needless to say, the way life started for me, led me to have a great appreciation of the knowledge of different cultures and mentalities and to realize early the value of the experiences gathered on each travel.

Now, after many more travels, I consider myself a very lucky person to have the chance sharing these experiences with new friends by designing their travels.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"Crete, Peloponnese, and the wine routes of Greece and Italy; elegant, cultural travels and road trips with a touch of wine and food as I think they are the basis of a place's culture."

How did you get involved in travel?

"I have always been involved in travel, one way or another, but to be more specific, I believe it all begun when I dared to leave behind my career as an assistant director in the Greek film industry and to allow myself a re-approach.

At that point, I started from scratch. I needed to reply to myself, some critical questions with sincerity. What do I want to do? What will make me happy doing it every day? What do I know and love? Well, I answered the following: "I love traveling and I love wine. I know some things about traveling and I can certainly enjoy tasting wine." So, that was it. Next step was easy. I started my studies in both tourism and wine and while studying, I was hired from a travel agency to organize trips for independent travelers. What a revelation! I adored it!

Some years after that beginning, continuing to study wine -it's a never ending process- I feel at home. I am happy to work with the Travel 12 group, where we share the same passion for traveling and we love offering unique and lifechanging experiences."

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"It was on 2010 when I decided to travel on my own for the first time. After a demanding 120-day film project, where I worked hard at a crazy pace, I realized that I wanted quality time with myself to pamper me and offer me the space to listen to my needs and wants.

With that in mind, I took the ferry and drove myself to one of my favorite places in Greece, the island of Crete. The concept was, a road trip in a large island with long driving distances, without company. The act was, a two-month road trip where some wonderful things happened! I met interesting people, I discovered unique, off-the-beaten-path locations (even though I'd been in Crete many-many times) and most important, I realized two things: 1st I didn’t want to work in films any more, and 2nd I didn’t feel lonely at any time on a trip that I was traveling alone!

One year after that travel experience, I found myself in a new orbital of studies, everyday life and to conclude, in a happy place. "

Top itineraries and travel advice
Family itineraries
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Recent trip reviews for Irene

Kimkim ensures every detail is cared for!
Greece | May 28 - Jun 9, 2025

Robin
Robin S.
Denver, CO | Reviewed on Jun 14, 2025
Irene and the entire team planned and executed a prefect trip! The mix of ancient sites, guide selection, restaurants and and beach outings were perfect! Read more

Irene and the entire team planned and executed a prefect trip! The mix of ancient sites, guide selection, restaurants and and beach outings were perfect!

Hotel Reviews
Athens Manor Houses
Athens
Authenticity & Character
Location
No
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Olive Green Hotel
Heraklion
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Kouros Hotel Mykonos
Mikonos
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Antony Suites
Naxos
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Malmo Historic Hotel
Chania
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Naxos E-Bike Tour with Farm visit and Olive Oil Tasting
Naxos E-Bike Tour with Farm visit and Olive Oil Tasting
Naxos
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
The Vineyard Picnic Experience
The Vineyard Picnic Experience
Greece
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local Transfer in Chania
Greece
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local Transfer in Athens
Greece
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Mythical Argolis Day trip
Mythical Argolis Day trip
Athens
Quality of Experience
Lo
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Acropolis Hill & Museum Tour
Private Acropolis Hill & Museum Tour
Athens
Quality of Experience
Lo
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local Transfer in Mykonos
Mykonos
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Knossos & Museum Tour
Private Knossos & Museum Tour
Greece
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Delos & Rhenia Day Cruise
Delos & Rhenia Day Cruise
Mykonos
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Snorkeling Boat trip in Chania
Snorkeling Boat trip in Chania
Chania
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Balos & Falassarna Beach Tour with Lunch
Balos & Falassarna Beach Tour with Lunch
Chania
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
I
Transport
Local specialist: Irene Lappa

Everything was so well organized and flawless...
Italy | May 8 - May 17, 2025

B
Benjamin S.
Canada | Reviewed on May 21, 2025
Everything was so well organized and flawless. The tripp went as smooth as it could of possibly gone. Read more

Everything was so well organized and flawless. The tripp went as smooth as it could of possibly gone.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Certosa Di Maggiano Siena
Siena

The staff and place was just amazing! I highly recommend for a getaway close to Siena.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
25hours Hotel Florence Piazza San Paolino
Florence

Well situated and staff was very helpful! lots of amenities and cool design.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Sentho Rome
Rome

Well located and very helpful staff. The rooms are modern and clean. Rooftop and garden in the middle of Rome

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Villa Poggiano 
Montepulciano
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Car Rental Pick-up
Italy
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Car Rental Drop-off
Italy

Dropping off the car in Rome was a bit complicated because we had not been warned there is a dedicated parking for rental cars and we kep trying to go to the rental office. If you know about the dedicated parking, it is no issue, but if you don't, you might turn in circles a bit.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Vatican Semi Private Tour
Vatican Semi Private Tour
Rome

Tour guide was very knowledgeable and helped us move through the crowds.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Colosseum & Roman Forum Tour
Colosseum & Roman Forum Tour
Rome

We loved our tour guide. Was friendly and knew a lot about the Forum and Art.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Irene Lappa

Gentleman's Trip to Italy
Italy | Apr 17 - Apr 26, 2025

S
STEVE T.
Canada | Reviewed on May 13, 2025
My brothers and I had a amazing trip to Italy, beautiful Italy with its historical sites, amazing food, and incredible coastal and mountain views. The tour guides were very knowlegeable and were very interesting. The drivers and boat captain were very professional and always on time. The hotels that were selected met our needs and were clean and were located strategically so our tours were close by. Irene (KimKim) did an amazing job of planning our trip, tickets were purchased ahead of... Read more

My brothers and I had a amazing trip to Italy, beautiful Italy with its historical sites, amazing food, and incredible coastal and mountain views. The tour guides were very knowlegeable and were very interesting. The drivers and boat captain were very professional and always on time. The hotels that were selected met our needs and were clean and were located strategically so our tours were close by.

Irene (KimKim) did an amazing job of planning our trip, tickets were purchased ahead of time so we could skip the line. Tour guides and drivers were all on time and pleasant to deal with. The hotels chosen were perfect for our needs. Overall I would give it a 9.5 out of 10.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Modigliani
Roma
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Pupetto Positano
Positano SA

Great location on the water but a lot of stairs if you want to go up to the road. However, nice easy path to get to Positano.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Palazzo Guardati Hotel Sorrento
Sorrento

great location right in the middle of Sorreto

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hilton Rome Airport Hotel
Fiumicino

Nice hotel but they were supposed to just hold our credit card but they actually charged it and we had to wait 2 weeks to see it get off our pending charge.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
staff charged our credit card but was just supposed to hold it.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Aperitivo & Stroll around Sorrento
Aperitivo & Stroll around Sorrento
Sorrento

This was probably our best memory of our trip. Sorrento is such a beautiful small town on the coast. The shopping was really nice cheap and good stuff. The tour guide was very knowlegeable and interesting.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
professional, knowlegable, spoke very good english
Transport
Local transfer in Amalfi Coast
Italy
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Useful Information
Italy
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Express Colosseum Tour
Express Colosseum Tour
Rome
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Trastevere Afternoon Food Tour & Wine Experience
Trastevere Afternoon Food Tour & Wine Experience
Rome

Food and drinks were amazing. Tour guide too.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Vatican Guided Tour
Vatican Guided Tour
Rome

Tour guide very knowlegeable and spoke very good English

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Evening Drinks & Golf Cart Tour
Evening Drinks & Golf Cart Tour
Rome

This was our first day/night in Italy and it gave us a good sample of Rome has to offer. Tour guide gave us some good restaurant recommendations. He was amazing.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Amalfi Coast Boat Tour From Sorrento
Amalfi Coast Boat Tour From Sorrento
Sorrento

Beautiful boat tour along the coast. It was a beautiful day weather wise. The captain was professional and knowledeable.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Pompeii Tour
Private Pompeii Tour
Pompeii

Tour guide was very interesting telling us all about Pompeii and the history. One of our favorite stops.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Irene Lappa

Excellent experience in Greece - would definitely recommend kimkim!
Greece | Oct 20 - Nov 2, 2024

A
Agnes H.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Nov 03, 2024
We used kimkim to help us organize a 2-week trip for 4 (2 couples) to Greece, and we had a fabulous time! Irene was the specialist we worked with and she put together a full plan in a very short time that included hotels, tour guides, entry tickets to museums and sites, ferry tickets, private ground transportation and driver, and experiences such as sailing, a cooking class, wine tasting, and more. We were primarily in Athens, Delphi, Galaxidi, Nafplio, and the island of Hydra, but saw many... Read more

We used kimkim to help us organize a 2-week trip for 4 (2 couples) to Greece, and we had a fabulous time! Irene was the specialist we worked with and she put together a full plan in a very short time that included hotels, tour guides, entry tickets to museums and sites, ferry tickets, private ground transportation and driver, and experiences such as sailing, a cooking class, wine tasting, and more. We were primarily in Athens, Delphi, Galaxidi, Nafplio, and the island of Hydra, but saw many historical sites and other points of interest along the way, such as Mycenae, Epidavros, the temple of Poseidon, and the Corinth Canal.

Everything went smoothly at every step in the planning and during the trip. We were interviewed early on to establish a price range for the trip and Irene stayed within the agreed-upon range delivering on everything we requested. Communication was very good as we worked out the plans, with daily communication by email as well as phone. Once the trip was underway, kimkim provided both a WeChat group and a support number where we could quickly reach them in the event of any issues.

One of us is gluten intolerant and Irene took care to ensure that every hotel we stayed at provided gluten-free alternatives for breakfasts, the chef for the private cooking class adjusted the menu accordingly, and that the restaurants she reserved for us (which were excellent) had gluten-free options.

It cost a bit more to have someone make the plans for us, but we felt the quality of the service and the trip were well worth the additional cost, not to mention the ease of having someone who knows the country help line up all of the plans and make sure they worked together seamlessly.

We will definitely use them again!

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Miramare
Galaxidi

We stayed at this hotel for 2 nights and loved it. It is a small hotel in Galaxidi, a block from the harbor and restaurants. The staff are friendly and they serve a wonderful breakfast in the courtyard of the hotel.

Authenticity & Character
Charming, great staff, wonderful breakfast in the courtyard.
Location
Central location a block from the harbor and restaurants.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Herodion Hotel
Acropolis, Athens

Very nice hotel in a great location at the foot of the Acropolis on a quiet street. There is a rooftop restaurant and bar with a great view of the Parthenon. The Acropolis museum is a block away as is the Plaka neighborhood. Would definitely recommend it and stay there again. Delicious and extensive breakfast buffet.

Authenticity & Character
Nicely updated. In addition to the rooftop view of the Parthenon, it has a beautiful bar and restaurant area in an atrium on the ground floor.
Location
At the foot of the Acropolis with an amazing view of the Parthenon from the rooftop restaurant and bar. One block to the Acropolis museum and the Plaka neighborhood. On a quiet street, so not a lot of noise.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hydroussa Hotel Hydra
Hydra

Beautiful old (but updated) hotel in a central but quiet location. Friendly and helpful staff. Extensive breakfast buffet with indoor and outdoor eating areas. The queen bed was 2 single beds pushed together.

Authenticity & Character
Beautiful old hotel, nicely updated.
Location
Centrally located and short walk to the port and restaurant area but also away from the noise of the nightlife so it was quiet at night.
Staff
Staff was very pleasant and went out of their way to offer help.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean and comfortable.
Leto Nuevo Hotel
Nafplio

Very nice, clean, and updated hotel in the old town. The old town is on a hill and the hotel is up the hill, so there are many steps to climb to get to it when on foot, but there is an area where cars are allowed a block away which makes it easier to move luggage to/from a car or taxi. Furthermore, as it is on the hill it is much quieter than other hotels in the area would be. The steps lead down to the historical area and waterfront, where there are many good restaurants. The hotel provides a very nice breakfast buffet. It also offers same-day laundry service at a reasonable price, which is very helpful.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Very good location for exploring Nafplio, but steep staircases to get into the central area and back.
Staff
Very friendly and helpful.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Avra Hotel
Rafina, Attica

The main attraction of this hotel is that it is located by the port where the ferries come through and near to the airport (to which it offers a shuttle service) o it is good for people in transit. Rooms are small, but clean and comfortable, and there is a nice breakfast buffet. Wifi was poor and intermittent, so we constantly lost connection and had to reconnect.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Location supports people in transit to/from ferries or the airport, it is not a destination hotel.
Staff
Front desk staff were perfunctory. Staff in the restaurant were warm and welcoming.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Lunch with Olive Grove View
Lunch with Olive Grove View
Greece

We did not know what to expect from this activity and were pleasantly surprised. One of the owners sat with us to talk us through the history of the family olive farm. He explained to us differences in olives based on when and how they are harvested and talked about differences in olive oils. He provided samples of olives and of the oil to taste so we could appreciate the differences, along with a nice lunch that included olive preparations and wine. The lunch was in a beautiful location overlooking a valley of olive trees and, out over the water to Galaxidi. We were on a shaded veranda, which provided a nice break from the sun.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Acropolis Hill & Museum Tour
Private Acropolis Hill & Museum Tour
Athens

Our tour guide Tina met us at our hotel and walked with us the short distance to the Acropolis. We were scheduled to be with her for 4 hours to tour the Acropolis hill and the museum, but she stayed with us for over 5 hours. Tina is very knowledgeable and gave us a detailed explanation of everything we were seeing, putting it all in a historical context. She pointed out places of interest in the city that could be seen from the Acropolis Hill and patiently fielded many questions from our group of 4. She was the best of the 4 tour guides we had during our trip.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide Tina was excellent.
Half-Day Nafplio Sailing Tour
Half-Day Nafplio Sailing Tour
Nafplio

This was a semi-private outing for 5 hours. The 4 of us were joined by 3 others. They picked us up at the port very near by our hotel. There was ample room on the boat. We sailed out from Nafplio around the coast to Tolo and back, stopping in several places to allow for swimming, though it was too cold for most to get in. Teodoro and Mario were wonderful crew and made us all at home. They served fruit, snacks, and lunch with wine or beer. It was a beautiful day to be out on the water. We motored for 3/4 of the trip and went on sail power for the balance. Overall it was a great way to spend a day in Nafplio. Highly recommend.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Private Cooking Class in Nafplio
Private Cooking Class in Nafplio
Nafplio

This private class was one of the highlights of our trip! Costas and his wife were welcoming and warm. We prepared 4 dishes with everyone participating and Costas provided pointers on food prep that we will continue to benefit from. One of our party is gluten-free and Costas had adjusted the menu accordingly and also provided them with gluten-free bread. Two of our party never cook or do food prep, but he made them comfortable with slicing and dicing as well as braising and making a delicate lemon sauce. They discovered how enjoyable cooking can be. The food was absolutely delicious, and possibly the best meal we had in Greece. We made stuffed zucchini with lemon sauce as an appetizer, a lamb dish (with the lamb falling-off-the-bone tender), a Greek salad, and a frozen yoghurt desert. My husband does not like lamb but loved this dish, making him re-think his approach to lamb. Costas had us prepare a special take on a Greek salad that included a cool cucumber and basil soup, and it was fabulous. We had 4 Greek wines paired with each of the four dishes, and Costas explained to us how and why each wine was appropriate for that dish.

Quality of Experience
A fabulous experience with the best meal we had in Greece!
Food
Fabulous food with a great wine pairing.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Costas and his wife are warm and great teachers. He is a professional chef so he really knows what he is doing and shares tricks of the trade.
Local specialist: Irene Lappa
Irene
Irene Lappa
Local specialist in Athens, Greece | Replied on Nov 13, 2024

Dearest Agnes,
I am so happy you had a fabulous time on your trip to Greece!!
Thank you so much for your warm message and detailed feedback! It was a pleasure e-meeting you and working with you to create a plan based on your interests, and I appreciate your kindness throughout the process.
I will be happy to connect again soon and work on a trip to another part of Greece or to Italy!
I wish you all the best and safe travels!
Irene

A wonderful plan, well executed!
Italy | Oct 3 - Oct 12, 2024

A
Alice W.
Denver, CO | Reviewed on Oct 23, 2024
The three of us couldn't have been more pleased with the experience of working with kimkim! From the beginning, our agent, Irene, crafted a trip that encompassed our wildest dreams. Her quick, knowledgeable answers to our questions, and her expertise in kimkim's services, as well as travel in general, were endlessly helpful and reassuring. The plan she created was excellent in every respect–from transports, ticketing and trains, to hotel locations and staff, tours and guides, restaurants and... Read more

The three of us couldn't have been more pleased with the experience of working with kimkim! From the beginning, our agent, Irene, crafted a trip that encompassed our wildest dreams. Her quick, knowledgeable answers to our questions, and her expertise in kimkim's services, as well as travel in general, were endlessly helpful and reassuring. The plan she created was excellent in every respect–from transports, ticketing and trains, to hotel locations and staff, tours and guides, restaurants and suggested activities. Our trip would have been far more limited and less successful on our own. We will definitely be using kimkim again in the future!

Local specialist: Irene Lappa

Lovely trip
Italy | Oct 3 - Oct 12, 2024

Melissa
Melissa U.
Denver, CO | Reviewed on Oct 20, 2024
Everything was well planned and seamlessly easy. We came across many people who were lost and couldn’t find their tour groups, but Irene’s detailed instructions got us where we needed to be on time. The hotels, drivers, tours, and tour guides were all phenomenal. The only misinformation we received was regarding the Florence highlights tour, where we saw the Duomo and the Galleria dell’Accademia. We were told we’d end the tour in the gallery and be able to spend additional time there after... Read more

Everything was well planned and seamlessly easy. We came across many people who were lost and couldn’t find their tour groups, but Irene’s detailed instructions got us where we needed to be on time. The hotels, drivers, tours, and tour guides were all phenomenal. The only misinformation we received was regarding the Florence highlights tour, where we saw the Duomo and the Galleria dell’Accademia. We were told we’d end the tour in the gallery and be able to spend additional time there after the tour, but we actually toured the gallery first, then the duomo, and ended by the Vecchio bridge. However, we had more than enough time in the gallery. We would definitely book with Irene and KimKim again.

Hotel Reviews
La Fenice et des Artistes
Venice

Very helpful staff and lovely rooms. We did run into a hot water issue when trying to shower in the morning, but overall a fantastic experience.

Authenticity & Character
Adorable rooms really make you feel like you’re in Italy
Location
Very centrally located and fun the hear opera music nearby
Staff
Helpful in every capacity. Helped us game plan finding a pharmacy on a Sunday, helpful coordinating with the water taxi picking us up for the train. Quick to give additional blankets.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean and organized
Hotel della Signoria
Florence

Very centrally located and very helpful staff. Beautiful panoramic view at breakfast.

Authenticity & Character
Location
5 minute walk from most attractions
Staff
Always greeted us with a smile when coming and going
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean and organized
Abruzzi Hotel Rome
Rome

Pantheon view was amazing! Shower was sizable and lovely.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Lived being right next to the pantheon
Staff
Happy to help get bags up and down stairs, direct to requested locations using maps or gps, happy to take us to the cafe serving breakfast, happy to help game plan and address scheduling concerns. We needed breakfast before the cafe opened one morning and they arranged to get us bagged breakfasts the night before.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Venice Highlights Walking Tour
Venice Highlights Walking Tour
Venice

Lovely guide and personalized tour. Very helpful and happy to answer any questions and customize tour.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Doge's Palace & St. Mark's Basilica Tour
Doge's Palace & St. Mark's Basilica Tour
Venice

Lovely personable guide. Entertaining and great information.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Market & Cicchetti Food Tour
Market & Cicchetti Food Tour
Venice

Lots of yummy food and fun to see more of the city. Very helpful and personable guide. My mom was knocked into and dropped her gelato, and Carlotta went back and got her more. It would have been nice to have time to purchase food from the outdoor markets.

Quality of Experience
Food
They offered alcohol free options and tried to accommodate food sensitivities
Guides, Drivers and Staff
My mom was knocked into and dropped her gelato, and Carlotta went back and got her more.
Tuscany Day Trip from Florence with Chianti, Siena & San Gimignano
Tuscany Day Trip from Florence with Chianti, Siena & San Gimignano
Florence

Well organized and highly informative. Good balance of walking and riding in a car.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Morning Florence Highlights Walking Tour
Morning Florence Highlights Walking Tour
Florence

Beautiful and informative. It would have been nice to have fewer people. We had a group of about 10 and then 4 more were added because they messed up with their meeting place/time and missed their originally scheduled tour.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Colosseum & Roman Forum Tour
Colosseum & Roman Forum Tour
Rome

So much fun to be some of the first people in the colosseum for the day. Beautiful to be there around sunrise.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Fresh Pasta Making & Tiramisu Cooking Class
Fresh Pasta Making & Tiramisu Cooking Class
Rome

The chef was so personable and helpful and fun

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Vatican Guided Tour
Vatican Guided Tour
Rome

Very thorough and informative

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Irene Lappa

Perfect trip in every way
Italy | Oct 6 - Oct 19, 2024

Dana
Dana W.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Oct 20, 2024
I expect something to go wrong on any overseas trip; it seems impossible that with so much ground to cover that something would fall through or go sideways. Amazingly, nothing went wrong on this trip. Every detail was covered and Irene answered every possible question before it came up. We met every driver at the exact time they were scheduled to be there and every guide was excellent. The only thing we would have changed is having a driver meet us in Florence and drive us to the hotel, since... Read more

I expect something to go wrong on any overseas trip; it seems impossible that with so much ground to cover that something would fall through or go sideways. Amazingly, nothing went wrong on this trip. Every detail was covered and Irene answered every possible question before it came up. We met every driver at the exact time they were scheduled to be there and every guide was excellent. The only thing we would have changed is having a driver meet us in Florence and drive us to the hotel, since the hotel was literally across the street from the station. It would have been easier to walk to the hotel; there was no need for a driver. We loved the itinerary in every city. Our cooking class in Florence was one of the highlights of our trip. The instructor provided excellent directions and advice on how to make and cook the dishes and she was quite funny as well, which added to the fun. The sights, smells, and tastes of each destination made for an unforgettable experience. I would recommend kimkim to anyone--especially our planner, Irene. Thank you!!!

Hotel Reviews
Oasi Boutique Hotel Cinque Terre by Best Western
Levanto

This is a quirky, fun, and very comfortable hotel in Levanto. They provide a whole panoply of extras that add to the appeal: a delicious and unique breakfast bar, an assortment of bikes to borrow for free, Netflix (in case of a rainy evening that you want to spend in rather than going out), a few jars of cookies available at any time, a piano and guitar in the reception area for anyone to play, and very friendly and helpful staff. A great place to hang out!

Authenticity & Character
Lovely, comfortable rooms with balconies.
Location
Quiet neighborhood
Staff
Helpful and friendly
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Modigliani
Roma

This hotel is quiet, centrally located, and comfortable. The rooms are small but adequate, and the breakfast buffet had a lot of variety and many delicious options.

Hotel Palazzo Vecchio
Firenze

This hotel is directly across from the train station, which is nice. However, it was quite dark and cramped, and the shower had barely any water or water pressure, so it was not our favorite hotel by any means. One of the lights in the room was out, and it took over a day to get it replaced, so the room was even darker than normal. The breakfast buffet, however, was delicious.

Tritone Best Western Hotel Mestre
Mestre

This was the largest hotel we stayed in while we were in Italy, and it is lovely. The rooms are comfortable, and there is a little more room to move around than in some other hotels. The train station is across the street, making it very convenient to travel to Venice. As with our other hotels, the breakfast buffet was remarkable--many delicious options to get the day started.

Activity Reviews
Local transfer in Amalfi Coast
Italy

The Amalfi Coast, due to its popularity, is now bumper to bumper traffic, so the best way (in my opinion) to see it is on foot, hiking the Path of the Gods. It is utterly gorgeous scenery the whole way, and the trip is accompanied musically by grazing brown goats adorned with bells that echo throughout the mountains. The path is not difficult, although it is often rocky and alternates from climbing to descents the whole way. At the end, there are somewhere between 1500 to 1700 steps to get down to the road that leads to the incredible town of Positano. Once you get to Positano, the climbing is not done--you have to go down to get to the beach, and up to get anywhere else. I'm convinced that anyone who lives in Positano has remarkable glutes and quads.

Private Pompeii Tour & Mount Vesuvius visit with light lunch
Private Pompeii Tour & Mount Vesuvius visit with light lunch
Pompeii

Mount Vesuvius provides some incredible views of Napoli and the surrounding countryside. Pompeii is much bigger than I could imagine and our guide was so knowledgable about the history of the place and people who once inhabited the city. It's a stunning site that should not be missed, but the one thing that made it such a fantastic adventure was our guide. He added so much value to our experience.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
We had a private guide that was an expert in the history of the people who had lived in Pompeii, and he really made it all some to life for us.
Venice Highlights Walking Tour
Venice Highlights Walking Tour
Venice

Venice is an incredible place, but if you stick to St Mark's square, you have no idea of what Venice is all about. We had a guide who was from Venice and knew her way around the tiny streets and quiet piazzas, as well as informing us about the history of Venice and how it came to be built (on a swamp!) and what is happening now with the city and its inhabitants. The real Venice is outside of the heavily-trafficked tourist areas, and it is beautiful and quiet and utterly amazing.

Pasta and Gelato Making Class in Florence
Pasta and Gelato Making Class in Florence
Florence

Super fun! Our instructor was excellent! We got to eat the food we made, and it was one of the best meals we had during out whole trip.

Colosseum & Roman Forum Tour
Colosseum & Roman Forum Tour
Rome

As with any of the large tourist attractions in Italy, the guide is the key to full enjoyment. All of our guides were exceptional, and Matteo was no different. He was knowledgeable, friendly, and obviously knew all the ins and outs of the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and the Roman Forum. Rome is a large, modern city, so it's a bit shocking to have the Colosseum and other Roman ruins pop up in the middle of all the accoutrements of modern life. The ruins are very crowded, so we had to adjust our expectations a bit, but although we were shoulder to shoulder with several thousand other tourists, it was fascinating to learn the history of ancient Rome.

Early Morning Vatican Tour
Early Morning Vatican Tour
Rome

As with our other tours, we had a fabulous guide to the Vatican. It was stunning to see the many treasures that the Vatican museums hold--statues, paintings, and of course, the majesty of the Sistine Chapel. Given the massive collection of masterpieces that the Vatican Museums hold, it would take months to fully explore the galleries, so we only saw a tiny fraction. The only downside was that there was no place to rest after hours on our feet, and the huge numbers of other tourists sharing the experience with us. Our guide, Alex, explained everything beautifully and was a great photographer to boot--offering to take our picture with impressive backgrounds around every corner. St Peter's Basilica is enormous, vast, immense--it's hard to process how big the space is; the piazza outside the cathedral is also gigantic. What an amazing place!

Morning Florence Highlights Walking Tour
Morning Florence Highlights Walking Tour
Florence

One of the best tours we took! The tourists hung out at the Duomo, which was spectacular, but our guide took us to the less-crowded, but historically significant places in Florence, including smaller churches, streets full of the most fashionable brands, and palaces that were not full of tourists.

Local specialist: Irene Lappa

We had a fantastic time. The choices made by ...
Italy | Oct 7 - Oct 19, 2024

T
Toby F.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Oct 20, 2024
We had a fantastic time. The choices made by Irene our agent were well matched to what we wanted. The tours were also excellent. The transfers were on time and friendly. We were very very pleased. Traveling by train was fine though one was cancelled last minute while the last one was quite late getting in. Nonetheless it was a good way to get to a lot of locations. I would say if I had to be critical that 1) City tours in both Rome and Sorrento would have given us a "grand view" we... Read more

We had a fantastic time. The choices made by Irene our agent were well matched to what we wanted. The tours were also excellent. The transfers were on time and friendly. We were very very pleased. Traveling by train was fine though one was cancelled last minute while the last one was quite late getting in. Nonetheless it was a good way to get to a lot of locations. I would say if I had to be critical that 1) City tours in both Rome and Sorrento would have given us a "grand view" we would have appreciated to have then struck off to the areas we liked the most. However, I know time was short. 2) The hotel in Venice while clean and comfortable, was overlooking the bus depot which was a bit of a buzz kill. 3) Because both trains were later heading to Rome and Venice, we had more free time in the previous cities which we thoroughly enjoyed. Felt like a bonus. The crowds were the worst part of this trip ( yes I know.. we added 2 more tourists to the mix ) and had I known it was going to be that crowded, I might have opted to move this trip to a later time, i.e., early Nov or late Nov. weather permitting.

Hotel Reviews
Palazzo Guardati Hotel Sorrento
Sorrento

The room was clean and comfortable. The breakfast was good. The desk staff was business only, not particularly friendly. The location was great!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Able to walk everywhere easily.
Staff
Friendlier and more engaging with guests.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Le Clarisse al Pantheon
Rome

Very very clean. Room was strange in that it was L shaped and the a/c was in the furthest location from the bedroom so it took a long time to cool down. It was clean, however, and the staff were all friendly and helpful. Breakfast was good, too. Location was great!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
A/C unit far from bed area so took a long time to cool off room.
Hotel della Signoria
Florence

Loved the chic and boutiquey feel of this hotel. It was super clean and very convenient for walking the city. The breakfast was great and staff were all friendly. The elevator was not always convenient to use (often busy) but we didn't mind walking the stairs.

Authenticity & Character
character was boutiquey, authentic to area. probably not so much. We didn't mind for all the other amenities.
Location
Perfectly located.
Staff
all good
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean and room was comfortable albeit small.
Hotel Olimpia
Venice

Our hotel room had the view of the bus depot so it was a little less charming than otherwise had expected. Room was very clean and staff was friendly. Breakfast was not great compared to the other 3 hotels and it was very crowded always. It was a 27 minute walk to the main square which was a bit long after an entire day of walking. We had gone back and forth on where to stay in Venice. Staying on the Grand Canal would have been too expensive I believe?

Authenticity & Character
The room was nicely decorated and looked very Venetian.
Location
A bit far from the main square and our room overlooked the bus depot.
Staff
They were friendly just busy a lot.
Cleanliness & Comfort
The room was very clean and neat.
Activity Reviews
Amalfi Coast Boat Tour From Sorrento
Amalfi Coast Boat Tour From Sorrento
Sorrento

This was cancelled so we had a private driver. It was expensive but excellent.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our driver was excellent.
Transport
Vatican Guided Tour
Vatican Guided Tour
Rome

Our guide was great. The crowds were horrific though.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Colosseum & Roman Forum Tour
Colosseum & Roman Forum Tour
Rome

Again huge crowds at this time of year but our guide helped steer us away from them. He was excellent.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Trastevere Afternoon Food Tour & Wine Experience
Trastevere Afternoon Food Tour & Wine Experience
Rome

This tour was excellent. We had a fabulous guide and the locations she took us to were fabulous.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Tuscany Day Trip from Florence with Chianti, Siena & San Gimignano
Tuscany Day Trip from Florence with Chianti, Siena & San Gimignano
Florence

This tour was also excellent. Our guide was fabulous and the areas she took us to were well worth it. Sienna was a disappointment as I had been there 26 years ago.. no real crowds then.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Morning Florence Highlights Walking Tour
Morning Florence Highlights Walking Tour
Florence

The guide was wonderful. We were only 2 couples which was fantastic.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Prosecco Wine Tour from Venice
Private Prosecco Wine Tour from Venice
Venice

LOVED LOVED our guide Sebastian. He was fabulous and even took us on the less traveled path to our locations where the scenery and the lack of crowds was greatly appreciated. The wineries were wonderful too.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Venice Highlights Walking Tour
Venice Highlights Walking Tour
Venice

We had a wonderful guide. There was only ONE other couple of this tour ( possibly due to weather ) which made it more personal.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local transfer in Rome
Rome
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Irene Lappa

Dont Hesitate, just DO IT.
Italy | Sep 24 - Oct 3, 2024

Kayla
Kayla C.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Oct 11, 2024
I have to say i was skeptical about using a travel agency since i have not had good experiences in the past. But Kimkim/Travel 12 has changed my mind forever. We booked our honeymoon through KimKim and everything was taken care of which was such a relief of stress during wedding planning. I loved all of the hotels that were picked out for us. The locations were perfect as well as the staff and breakfasts. All of our private drivers were so friendly and even gave us facts about the places we... Read more

I have to say i was skeptical about using a travel agency since i have not had good experiences in the past. But Kimkim/Travel 12 has changed my mind forever. We booked our honeymoon through KimKim and everything was taken care of which was such a relief of stress during wedding planning. I loved all of the hotels that were picked out for us. The locations were perfect as well as the staff and breakfasts. All of our private drivers were so friendly and even gave us facts about the places we were driving past. Every tour guide (which was all very small or private tours) was exceptional. We learned a lot and had so much fun while doing it. The food/restaurant recommendations were amazing. I loved that they booked all of our train tickets, tours, excursions, sent us PDF's of anything we needed. It seriously was the most stress free trip i have ever taken. I loved that there was 24/7 service line if we needed anything.

Irene, she is AMAZING. She picked out the best spots, the best hotels. Listened to what we wanted to do with our trip, and RAN WITH IT. She even was sweet enough to leave us a small surprise in our hotel in Athens. I would love to work with her again.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Olimpia
Venice

The staff are so friendly and the breakfast is amazing. We also have to say that the beds are so comfortable. If we ever go back to Venice we would love to stay here again.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Vasilicos Hotel Santorini
Santorini
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Modigliani
Roma
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Zillers Boutique Hotel
Athens
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Santorini Farm Tour: Food & Wine
Santorini Farm Tour: Food & Wine
Santorini
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Venice Highlights Walking Tour
Venice Highlights Walking Tour
Venice
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Express Colosseum Tour
Express Colosseum Tour
Rome
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Pompeii & Mount Vesuvius Day Trip from Rome
Pompeii & Mount Vesuvius Day Trip from Rome
Rome
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Acropolis Afternoon Tour
Acropolis Afternoon Tour
Athens
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Irene Lappa

Athens was amazing and we had a very knowledg...
Greece | Sep 21 - Sep 29, 2024

O
Oliver C.
Princeton, NJ | Reviewed on Sep 30, 2024

Athens was amazing and we had a very knowledgeable tour guide. Mykonos was actually less “party atmosphere” than I expected. I don’t know if it was because it was during the week or because it was after the summer. Paros was a little disappointing as there was not much to see or do there. Santorini was great, especially the Sunset Oia cruise. The dinner they cooked was delicious. And Natasha was an excellent photographer as well!

Local specialist: Irene Lappa