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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
Luxury itineraries
Road trip itineraries

Recent trip reviews for Irene

I can't remember all their names. Big momma ...
Italy | Sep 2 - Sep 11, 2023

M
Mary SUe J.
New Castle, PA | Reviewed on Sep 18, 2023

I can't remember all their names. Big momma was amazing. Fabio was great as well. Actually, everyone we encountered from our trip was fantastic and very accommodating. Irenes was so kind and helpful. Smoothest trip ever. Thank you for everything. We will definitely be using you again in the future read more

I can't remember all their names. Big momma was amazing. Fabio was great as well. Actually, everyone we encountered from our trip was fantastic and very accommodating. Irenes was so kind and helpful. Smoothest trip ever. Thank you for everything. We will definitely be using you again in the future

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Ottantotto
Florence

Owners very accommodating

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Relais Le Clarisse
Rome

Bed was a little uncomfortable however everything else was perfect.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Palazzo Tritone e Abigale
Sorrento

Very nice.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Sweet Home Boutique Hotel
Athens

They were so kind and accommodating. Beautiful.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Chianti Wine & Olive Oil Tour from Florence
Florence

wonderful experience.

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

Awesome. Big mamma was fantastic.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Aperitivo & Stroll around Sorrento
Sorrento

beautiful. So nice to have a guide show us around.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Private Amalfi Coast Driving Tour
Italy

Our driver was truly amazing. He went above and beyond to make our trip exciting.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Pompeii Tour & Mount Vesuvius visit with lunch and wine tasting
Pompeii

I think this was Fabio. He was fantastic. So helpful in explaining everything.

Food
Loved the entire wine experience and food.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Irene Lappa

Kim Kim makes Dream Trips seamless so you can enjoy without stress
Greece | Aug 6 - Aug 16, 2023

Lindsay
Lindsay C.
Twin Falls, ID | Reviewed on Sep 04, 2023

I don’t have words for how phenomenal this trip was.
I was beyond impressed by the communication by our travel specialists. The hotel choices? The airport and travel transports? Could not have been better communicated, kind and more professional. The guides personable, funny and endearing. If you are wondering if Kim Kim is a good bet?
The answer is DO IT.
I am recommending to family and friends and will use them over and over again for trip planning. They took the stress out of the... read more

I don’t have words for how phenomenal this trip was.
I was beyond impressed by the communication by our travel specialists. The hotel choices? The airport and travel transports? Could not have been better communicated, kind and more professional. The guides personable, funny and endearing. If you are wondering if Kim Kim is a good bet?
The answer is DO IT.
I am recommending to family and friends and will use them over and over again for trip planning. They took the stress out of the detailed planning of drivers and transportation and gave incredible local knowledge and recommendations that made our trip 1000% better than it could have been. Incredibly impressed and grateful for their help, planning and kindnesses such as having a bottle of wine sitting in the refrigerator in our villa on my birthday!
Thank you to Irene and her team.
I will come back to Kim Kim over and over again.

Hotel Review
Hotel Doupiani House
Kalampaka

Kind. Very Sweet front desk girl with great recommendations… and an incredible complimentary breakfast. Very unique and personal hotel with incredible views!!!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Private Acropolis Guided Tour
Athens

Doria our guide was kind, sweet, so knowledgeable and we truly appreciated her time and extra efforts.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local dinner in Meteora
Meteora

Monica the granddaughter of the Family run business was sweet and welcoming and an incredible hostess. We all loved her! The food was the BEST MEAL of our entire trip. Would 100% recommend!

Quality of Experience
Food
Local incredible cuisine
Santorini Highlights Tour & Wine Tasting
Greece

Harry our guide was adorable and Takis our driver an incredible driver. We had a time confusion and they were very calm and flexible. Beautiful views and a fun experience!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Give Harry and Takis our love!
Transport
Local specialist: Irene Lappa

A hectic trip with some complications, but Kimkim handled every detail perfectly.
Greece | Aug 6 - Aug 17, 2023

Eric
Eric L.
Cortlandt Manor, NY | Reviewed on Aug 20, 2023

We planned a family trip. Mom's 80th. Post COVID revenge travel. To Greece. About which we knew next to nothing. For a big group (6 adults) with complicated logistics.

We found KimKim on-line. Used their tool to assess our needs. And Irene put together a trip that matched our interests and met our needs.

We chose Thessaloniki for its importance in Jewish history. The tour was quite good. Though note to tour guide Dina, less emphasis on Jews' perceived wealth would have been okay. The... read more

We planned a family trip. Mom's 80th. Post COVID revenge travel. To Greece. About which we knew next to nothing. For a big group (6 adults) with complicated logistics.

We found KimKim on-line. Used their tool to assess our needs. And Irene put together a trip that matched our interests and met our needs.

We chose Thessaloniki for its importance in Jewish history. The tour was quite good. Though note to tour guide Dina, less emphasis on Jews' perceived wealth would have been okay. The one remaining synagogue is poignant. And the museum is well done. The waterfront and neighborhood around the hotel is beautiful. At the last minute we added a side trip to Pella. Kimkim made it happen promptly and smoothly. (That's the theme: Kimkim handled all of our requests and all of our needs smoothly, promptly and effectively.) The museum at Pella is fabulous. And empty. The actual dig site is not really developed to be tourist friendly. Perhaps if we had a do-over, we'd skip Thessaloniki and spend time at the Athens Jewish museum.

Athens is beautiful. Like the postcards. And mom climbed the acropolis. Don't miss the acropolis museum. Don't miss the archeology museum.

And when mom needed hearing aid repair, Kimkim found us a great audiologist.

Chania was our favorite. Less over-run by tourists. Lots of history. Don't miss the archeology museum (which we discovered on our own but which Kimkim should encourage). The wine tasting and olive oil tour was a fun day. But there was also a wine tasting on Santorini with better wine. (Sorry, Crete) We arranged a visit to Friday night services at Etz Chaim. Wonderful, warm and inclusive service. Glad it is an active synagogue rather than a museum to a lost community.

The beach day on Crete was beautiful. But mom and I missed it. Mom tested positive for COVID and we spent the day at the hospital trying unsuccessfully to obtain Paxlovid. Apparently, it is reserved for EU citizens and no mechanism to get it for Americans. They offered to admit mom for remdesivir, which she did not need. The rest of the family said George, their guide, showed them a great day.

Fortunately, mom never had more than a sore throat which passed quickly. Unfortunately, she spent the rest of the trip in quarantine. Kimkim nimbly made alternate travel and hotel arrangements to accommodate our new needs. And got her VIP handling at the airport for her trip to Athens then home.

Kimkim set us up with cars to travel from Chania to Heraklion. The trip was beautiful. Spectacular vistas. But if we went to the lake, we should have swam. Or not gone. And we didn't find the recommended waterfall though we did find picturesque restaurants in the vicinity

Impossible to overstate Knossos. Don't miss it. Better than acropolis. Our guide was unhappy that the museum was not on our itinerary. (And maybe I'd have preferred that to the wine tasting day. But our large group has other interests than just mine.)

Do not drive in Heraklion.

Car drop-off, ferry to Santorini went smoothly. When pick up at ferry was not smooth, a call to Kimkim fixed it.

Santorini is gorgeous. Magnificent. And so packed with tourists that it's unpleasant. I have no need to go back. The wine is better. Akrotiri is very impressive. And possibly important (But the remains of the third Minoan settlement appeal more to me than to others in the group.) The private catamaran trip around Santorini was a lovely way to end a hectic trip. The Galaxy S9 phone says waterproof. But died after the water.

We had too many travel days. And too many flights but much of this was of our own devising since we wanted to make the trip all encompassing. But Kimkim made the entire experience smooth and handled every situation that came up. They did an excellent job!

Hotel Reviews
Sweet Home Boutique Hotel
Athens

Lovely rooms with tall ceilings. Inn keeper and staff could not be nicer.

Authenticity & Character
Beautiful. Felt very European.
Location
Was a short walk to the places we wanted to go.
Staff
At breakfast offered to fill out water bottles with ice water!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Kriti Hotel
Chania, Crete

Nice hotel. Located across the street from a venue that had late evening shows and concerts. Glass doors and windows kept much of the sound out but was still audible in the rooms. Apparently one show did not end until midnight. Luckily we were so tired that it did not keep us awake.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Several of the rooms contained two twin beds. We were a large enough group that we were able to trade with one of our sons who had a king all to himself. My other son and his girlfriend called the front desk an they handled it by moving furniture and pushing the beds together.
Olive Green
Heraklion

Really nice room. Shower, toilet and sink were each located in a different part of the room so more than one person could be doing their thing without preventing a roommate to access the other things.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Abelonas Retreat
Santorini

Santorini is gorgeous in large part due to the challenging terrain. Many of the roads are windy and single lane though allow for two way traffic. Had a short but challenging walk from where we were dropped off by our driver to the hotel. Took us a while to locate the hotel office. Once there, while i was signing the group in, the inn keeper made a nasty comment about my unseen but heard (grown) "children"who were trying to get all of our luggage down the steep ramp onto the hotel property. There were some laughs but nothing disruptive. Bathroom was nothing special (it was impossible to shower without flooding the bathroom, the tile in the entire bathroom/shower was slippery when wet). Though reported by the innkeeper that the breakfasts were "award winning," we found them to be nothing special. In fact, of all the places we stayed, it was the worst. Breakfast is delivered to your room in 15 minute increments. The innkeeper also complained that our 9:30 AM tour was messing up the breakfast schedule since they don't start delivering breakfast until 8:30 AM, can only delivery to one room every 15 minutes and the earliest times were already booked. As a concession, he agreed to serve us cold options at 8 AM.

Authenticity & Character
Very pretty.
Location
Busses are within walking distance and got us where we wanted to go more reliably than a taxi.
Staff
Paul was very uptight but warmed a bit with time.
Cleanliness & Comfort
The room was clean and bed comfortable. The bathroom left much to be desired. Innkeeper (Paul) could be friendlier and more welcoming to guests arriving tired and weary, even if it is 12:30 PM.
City Hotel Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki

Nice room, nice location, nice breakfast.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Private Santorini Caldera Cruise
Santorini

Excellent way to end a tiring but amazing vacation.

Quality of Experience
Food
The two person crew prepared a delicious Greek meal for us with pasta, grilled fish and yummy sides.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Christopher and Anastasia were warm, friendly and eager to make us comfortable.
Transport
The young driver who picked us up at our hotel drove the van backwards down a narrow windy road like a pro. Very impressive (this was done since there is little room to turn around at the drop off, near the water). ie We were ery mna aiwentptOur
Jewish Monuments of Thessaloniki Walking Tour
Thessaloniki

Our guide was knowledgeable and informative. A little too much about Jewish wealth. (That stereotype breeds resentment and ultimately causes anti Semitic violence.) And so sad that the synagogue is a monument to people who are gone rather than a functioning congregation. The museum is excellent.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Ancient Macedonia Monuments: Pella & Vergina
Thessaloniki

Museum is outstanding. And the guide who met us at Pella was extraordinarily knowledgeable. The actual site is not well developed for tourists. A few mosaics in a field.

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

Fabulous. And fabulous museum. Time for the Brits to return the Elgin marbles

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local Transfer in Athens
Greece
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Old Town of Chania guided walk
Chania

Great knowledgeable friendly. Could have taken us to the excavations just a block or two away. But we made it back there on our own.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Olive Routes and Villages Around Chania
Chania

Pleasant and fun day. Three wine tastings and an olive oil factory.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Balos & Falassarna Beach Tour with Lunch
Chania

Gorgeous

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Loved George
Transport
Palace of Knossos Private Tour
Greece

Fabulous guide.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Not applicable we drove ourselves. An adventure for a different section.
Private Santorini Driving Panorama
Santorini

We saw much of the island. Oia is so overcrowded that an hour there seemed like forever. And yet we went back for dinner. Akrotiri is spectacular. But I am in danger of making this an archeology tour. Wine tasting was nice. And better wines than Crete. A little uncomfortable with the lack of choice in restaurant.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Useful Information
Greece

There was no time to experience Heraklion.

Quality of Experience
Transport
Local specialist: Irene Lappa

Claudia's tours of Cinque Terre and Portfolio...
Italy | Jul 24 - Jul 29, 2023

J
Jennifer W.
Waikoloa Village, HI | Reviewed on Jul 30, 2023

Claudia's tours of Cinque Terre and Portfolio were fantastic; she was knowledgable and flexible with our needs.

Local specialist: Irene Lappa

Almost perfect trip to Italy......
Italy | Jul 13 - Jul 22, 2023

T
Tina A.
Kansas City, MO | Reviewed on Jul 29, 2023

The trip turned out almost perfect if not for the heat wave we experienced during our trip. The Traveler Care team was amazing and responded to all my requests while traveling in a very timely manner making additions and modifications to the trip to account for situations like the weather.

This is our second trip planned using KimKim and would definitely consider using them again for another trip. You definitely pay a premium but its nice to have someone plan everything for you when... read more

The trip turned out almost perfect if not for the heat wave we experienced during our trip. The Traveler Care team was amazing and responded to all my requests while traveling in a very timely manner making additions and modifications to the trip to account for situations like the weather.

This is our second trip planned using KimKim and would definitely consider using them again for another trip. You definitely pay a premium but its nice to have someone plan everything for you when visiting a foreign country for the first time.

Hotel Reviews
Yes Hotel
Rome

Cute little boutique hotel situated super close to the train station and some amazing restaurants. Nice breakfast in the morning with clean and comfortable rooms.

Authenticity & Character
Location
2 minute walk to the train station
Staff
Great restaurant recommendations.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Clean rooms and comfy beds.
Palazzo Alabardieri
Naples

Love love loved this hotel. The charm of it was one of our favorite places we stayed during our trip. Great breakfast. Rooms were super comfy and spacious.

Authenticity & Character
beautiful architecture and Italy charm
Location
great distance to all kinds of shopping and restaurants
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Rooms were spacious. Breakfast area was very nice.
Hotel Villa di Sorrento
Sorrento

The location of this hotel was perfect . It was within a 2 minute walking distance to the central area where all the taxis converge, and restaurants and shopping within a few minutes walking distance.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
It was a little run down. They could use a little sprucing up but then again I think it was a 3 star hotel so maybe it was on par for the price.
Activity Reviews
Vatican Guided Tour
Rome

Our guide was very knowledgeable. It was a great tour however if I were to do it all over again I would try to find a shorter tour. 3 hours in the Vatican area is a lot. The amount of people being hoarded through is crazy. After a few hours its just a lot.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Comfy, on time
Local transfer in Rome
Rome

iCareLimo services were amazing. We used them almost daily throughout our trip. They were always on time, communicated with me timely and at my disposal. The car was always nice and cool which was appreciated during the heat wave. Sometimes cold water was provided. I would say that should be a must for every time we used the service just as a suggestion.

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

Great tour, great stories but it was just hot hot hot!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
tour guide knew his stuff and made it very interesting.
Transport
Pizza Cooking Class in Napoli
Naples

Fun class and great tasting pizza but the restaurant didn't have AC and it was around lunchtime. Having to stand and cook near a hot pizza oven in a restaurant with no AC was brutal.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Private Pompeii Tour & Mount Vesuvius visit with lunch and wine tasting
Pompeii

This was one of our favorite tours however we did have to scrap the Mt Vesuvius hike as the temperatures were in the triple digits. I would say just do a longer Private Pompeii tour and skip the Mt Vesuvius hike or the lunch/wine tasting.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Loved her stories and the things she showed us in Pompeii
Transport
Pasta & Gelato Or Tiramisu Making Class
Rome

Loved this class! The food was amazing. The instructors were terrific. I loved the experience of it all. The restaurant was very nice and cool (which was important with the heat wave we were experiencing). It was a bit far from our hotel but once we got there we loved the experience.

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

It was a great experience. Long day on a boat so definitely take your Bonine if you tend to get boat sick. The seas get pretty rough with all the boats in the area. I loved that our stops were short (1.5 hours in Amalfi and 1.5 hours in Positano) and then we had 2 swimming stops. We really got a great tour of the entire Amalfi coast. I do wish the boat was a little more comfortable. For 12 people I felt like a few of us didn't have seats for the entire trip covered as most of us didn't want to be in the full sun for 8 hours.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Naples Street Food Tour
Naples

This was the one tour we could have done without. While the Naples food scene is interesting and different from other parts of Rome we felt like we walked for miles with no real destination in mind. 3 hours is WAY too long. And after the first few tastings you're so full you can't really eat anything more.

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

The most amazing trip to Italy
Italy | Jul 14 - Jul 23, 2023

Susie
Susie S.
Cypress, TX | Reviewed on Jul 26, 2023

We usually plan our own travels and this is the first time getting help . And using Kimkim was the best decision we ever made. Irene our local specialist was phenomenal! She was really a pleasure to work with. She is patient, very responsive and was honest in her opinion. Together we discussed what I wanted in the trip and she helped us craft a perfect itinerary.
We had both guided and self guided tours. She gave great insights into the places we visited, where to go, what to look out for... read more

We usually plan our own travels and this is the first time getting help . And using Kimkim was the best decision we ever made. Irene our local specialist was phenomenal! She was really a pleasure to work with. She is patient, very responsive and was honest in her opinion. Together we discussed what I wanted in the trip and she helped us craft a perfect itinerary.
We had both guided and self guided tours. She gave great insights into the places we visited, where to go, what to look out for and even restaurant recomendations.

We packed a lot into our trip. We visited 4 cities and Irene helped plan the visits to each city/area. I can't decide which is the best because they are all different with different things to offer. Irene's plan was well thought out.

Throughout our trip, we felt truly cared for. The Travelcare team which is like a "virtual concierge" is really god-sent. They were available to answer any questions, help you if you have problems or encounter any problems. We truly felt that everyone on the team is there to make sure your trip runs smoothly and that we have the best travel experience.

I posted my travels on social media and had lots of my friends asking who helped me plan this amazing trip. I told them about Kimkim. I will definitely use Kimkim in my future travels!

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Modigliani
Roma

Hotel was conveniently located near the Spanish Steps. Don’t let the entrance fool you. The rooms are very clean, updated and we had a really good rest there.

Authenticity & Character
It’s a cute and quaint hotel
Location
5 mins fr Spanish Steps and the shopping area
Staff
Very friendly and efficient
Cleanliness & Comfort
Beds were comfy and rooms felt updated and clean. AC was cool. Bathroom was a little tight but we didn’t mind
Hotel Antigo Trovatore
Venice

Location was fantastic. Very near the water taxi station and San Marco Basilica. Rooms were clean. Bfast was adequate. Only reason I gave it a 4 star is bcos the air conditioner’s location was not ideal. It had cool air blown on my face the whole night which made it difficult to sleep . Otherwise the hotel is great!

Authenticity & Character
Location
3 mins walk fr San Marco square
Staff
Friendly and helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
Rooms were clean
Hotel L'Orologio

This is a 5 star hotel! It felt very luxurious. From the moment you walk into the lobby till the room. Everything was exquisite! It’s just a 6 min walk from the Santa Maria Novella train station and a 4 min walk to the Duomo. Super convenient!

Authenticity & Character
Very classy hotel
Location
Near Duomo and train station
Staff
Friendly
Cleanliness & Comfort
Luxurious hotel
Activity Review
Amalfi Coast Boat Tour From Sorrento
Sorrento

This was the most relaxing tour we had for our trip. We were glad we chose the boat tour rather than going buy car/bus as we were able to enjoy the scenic coastline up close!You wouldn’t hv had that experience if we traveled on the road. The captain of the boat was good. He made sure we were safe. The highlight was that we were able to swim in the sea. It was just breathtaking!

Quality of Experience
Very well planned tour. We got to visit Positano and Amalfi town n also get to enjoy the ride on the boat
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Captain of boat made sure safety comes first. He also told us what to look out for, places to see etc
Transport
Enjoy the sea rather than stuck in a car or bus going thru windy roads
Local specialist: Irene Lappa

Irene and the team from travel 12 were amazin...
Greece | Jul 8 - Jul 14, 2023

Maria
Maria W.
Shelby, MI | Reviewed on Jul 21, 2023

Irene and the team from travel 12 were amazing. Irene planned the most amazing family trip. Her knowledge of Greece in planning our trip is what made our trip so memorable. Her recommendations were top notch. We wouldn’t have been able to plan the trip we took on our own. I highly recommend kimkim to plan any vacation you are thinking about. 5stars, A+++++!!! read more

Irene and the team from travel 12 were amazing. Irene planned the most amazing family trip. Her knowledge of Greece in planning our trip is what made our trip so memorable. Her recommendations were top notch. We wouldn’t have been able to plan the trip we took on our own. I highly recommend kimkim to plan any vacation you are thinking about. 5stars, A+++++!!!

Hotel Reviews
Sweet Home Boutique Hotel
Athens

Beautiful boutique hotel with friendly staff. Breakfast buffet was outstanding. Definitely not what you get at other hotels. Delicious greek specialties. I would definitely stay here again and recommend to others.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Poseidon Hotel & Spa Paros
Paros Island

This hotel was beautiful and bery clean and private. The rooms are beautiful and relaxing. The staff was so accommodating and professional. I cant say enough great things about the staff and their constant attention to our needs!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Over and above our expectations!!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Family photo-shooting
Athens

This was a great adventure with the photographers. They were very professional and made sure to get all the shots we wanted. Great family pictures that will forever remind us of our Greek holiday.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Wine Tasting in the Heart of Athens
Athens

OMG Eleni was so sweet, kind and knowledgeable. We had so much fun learning about and tasting wonderful Greek wine. We even came away with an autographed book by Eleni! Loved this adventure. Highly recommend.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
I’m
Antiparos Day-Trip
Paros

Again, this experience was much better than out expectations. I have been on other boat cruises in beautiful places. Compared to this cruise those were terrible this cruise was a small super friendly group of travelers. The staff was so nice and very attentive to all of our needs. The water was beautiful clear blue. We had a great time swimming and floating on the water. The kids had a great time jumping off of tall rocks. The meal and wine was gourmet quality and crazily prepared on the boat. WOW! Highly recommend!!!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Farm Tour & Private Farm-to-Table Lunch
Paros

This was a wonderful private tour of this family run farm. Beautiful view of the harbor below. Enjoyed learning about farming techniques used on an island with minimal water/rain. The lunch on the terrace of this beautiful home on the hills. The authentic food was outstanding. Much do activity.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local Transfer in Paros
Paros
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Irene Lappa

4 cities, 11 days in Italy
Italy | Jun 29 - Jul 10, 2023

David
David M.
Scotch Plains, NJ | Reviewed on Jul 11, 2023

The booking process was easy w the help of Irene. We loved the guide Giorgia in Siena. We didn’t know the back story of the horse race and it was fascinating. She also got us right into the thick of the parade. All of the drivers were excellent. We really liked Guillermo who drove us to Siena from Terre di Baccio. We loved all the hotels. The service, breakfasts and locations were all great. Our favorite experience was the private boat ride in Sorrento. I think the skipper’s name was Luigi... read more

The booking process was easy w the help of Irene. We loved the guide Giorgia in Siena. We didn’t know the back story of the horse race and it was fascinating. She also got us right into the thick of the parade. All of the drivers were excellent. We really liked Guillermo who drove us to Siena from Terre di Baccio. We loved all the hotels. The service, breakfasts and locations were all great. Our favorite experience was the private boat ride in Sorrento. I think the skipper’s name was Luigi and he was perfect. I highly recommend using Irene and the kimkim team for a vacation.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Splendid Venice - Starhotel
Venice
Authenticity & Character
Location
It was an easy walk to shops and the pier. A water taxi pulls up to the hotel
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Terre di Baccio
Greve in Chianti

Great staff. Amazing food. Gorgeous views. There are alpacas and dogs to pet at breakfast. Are you kidding me?!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
VOI Donna Camilla Savelli
Rome

Great location for Rome. Excellent staff. Great breakfast.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Grand Hotel De La Ville
Sorrento

Great location near center of Sorrento. Great staff. Loved the pools. Rooftop bar and a rooftop pool w great views.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Siena Walking Tour
Italy

Giorgia was an excellent guide. She’s lived in Siena for 25 years and gave us lots of great insight into the town, culture and horse race, which we were lucky enough to catch as it is only twice a year.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guillermo the driver has a wonderful personality. He was a pleasure.
Transport
Tuscany Tour & Lunch
Siena

This tour was a favorite, especially for Christina. We visited a winery where we had the pleasure of interacting with an older gentleman who was a painter. The winery visit was followed by a delicious lunch. Our driver was knowledgeable about wines. The lunch wasn't a full meal but it was enough to eat, and we enjoyed wine throughout.

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

Our tour guide, Matteo, was exceptional. He was very good at navigating us through the Vatican, even skipping the line of the skip line people. He was quite knowledgeable about the history and explained things very well about the Sistine Chapel and the shrines. His expertise ensured we had a thorough tour without it taking too long.

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

The family absolutely loved this tour. Our boat driver was great and the stops at two towns were enjoyable. The highlight was when he stopped and threw some fish food into the water, attracting beautiful blue fish. The kids were thrilled to snorkel among the fish. The views were breathtaking and the overall experience was unforgettable.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Sorrento Sea Kayak Tour
Italy

This was quite an adventure, especially for my 13-year-old who found the waves challenging. The guide helped by tying his kayak to hers and we managed to reach a small cave area where we took a break. We took some beautiful pictures there. The experience was a bit challenging but still enjoyable.

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

Irene was phenomenal on planning our trip to Greece!
Greece | Jun 15 - Jul 1, 2023

Lidia
Lidia D.
White Settlement, TX | Reviewed on Jul 08, 2023

Irene was phenomenal. From the start she helped us through planning the best week trip to Greece and was always available for us when we needed it. She planned a great itinerary for us with great hotels, guided and self-guided tours, restaurants and more. Irene is very friendly, sweet and knowledgable about the area. Very much recommend Irene for your next travel to Greece!

Local specialist: Irene Lappa

The best way to see Italy!
Italy | Jun 25 - Jul 4, 2023

L
Linda C.
Canada | Reviewed on Jul 08, 2023

We had the most spectacular Italy trip, all due to the excellent and detailed planning by Irene Lappa, and then aided by the Travel 12 Team.
Everything was perfect, from the transportation to the hotels to the tours and activities.
We were so impressed with the quick responses to our questions, right from the planning of the trip to the final day, when some changes had to be made, with no problem at all.
The specific tours set up by Irene were very educational and fun - truly enjoyable. We... read more

We had the most spectacular Italy trip, all due to the excellent and detailed planning by Irene Lappa, and then aided by the Travel 12 Team.
Everything was perfect, from the transportation to the hotels to the tours and activities.
We were so impressed with the quick responses to our questions, right from the planning of the trip to the final day, when some changes had to be made, with no problem at all.
The specific tours set up by Irene were very educational and fun - truly enjoyable. We now have wonderful memories of Rome, Florence, Siena, Venice and Milan. We have learned about Italy as the locals live and work, which is exactly what we wanted. We also now know how to make authentic Italian pizza and gelato!
We would absolutely recommend Kimkim, and particularly Irene Lappa, to anyone wanting to travel to Italy.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Alexandra
Rome

This hotel is in a perfect location for walking around the neighborhood, with many cafes and restaurants. The beds were very comfortable and the buffet breakfast was excellent. We would definitely stay here again.

Authenticity & Character
It was not a standard hotel room, had lots of character.
Location
Walking to many restaurants, ambience of neighborhood
Staff
Very helpful in suggesting places to eat and how to get around
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very comfortable beds, very clean
Hotel Ottantotto
Florence

One of our favourite! The history of the “hotel” was amazing- being a bakery and the a nobleman’s home -made us feel like we were living in the past with them. The breakfasts were delicious!

Authenticity & Character
As stated, the incredible history of the building was truly appealing. It was delightful having breakfast in the garden, or to just sit there.
Location
Easy walking to many places.
Staff
They were very helpful -explaining the entry system, getting us taxis and serving the breakfast.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Beds were very comfortable and the room was really clean.
Hotel Antigo Trovatore
Venice

The location was terrific - easy walk to numerous restaurants and cafes, water taxis and water bus, and of course St.Mark’s Square.

Authenticity & Character
Being in a neighborhood setting made us feel like we were local! Our room had a balcony overlooking regular Venitian homes. The one drawback was the size of the room, as it was rather small and compact, but the wooden ceiling beams and decorative walls gave a lot of ambiance.
Location
Easy walking distance to many places.
Staff
Very helpful front desk - professional and friendly.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Only reason for 4 stars is the small size of the bedroom and bathroom.
Residenza delle Città
Milan

This is a self-catering hotel, meaning that it is an efficiency hotel. It has a fully equipped kitchen, a separate bedroom and a very spacious bathroom and living area.

Authenticity & Character
The spaciousness of the rooms was a very pleasant surprise. We didn’t use the kitchen at all, as we wanted to sample authentic Italian food in the local restaurants. There is an on site laundry, which came in very handy.
Location
This was exactly as we wanted - not in the main tourist areas with a regular type of hotel. We could walk to the train station and metro.
Staff
Very helpful front desk- explained how the entry system worked (if we came in after regular hours), helped us in figuring out the Metro system to get to the city centre - just very friendly and welcoming.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Beds were very comfortable. Everything was perfectly clean. We really liked the spaciousness.
Activity Reviews
Colosseum & Roman Forum Tour
Rome

Highly recommend this tour - we didn’t have to line up for hours to get in, and we went to the underground part where the gladiators and anime were kept. The history behind the Colosseum was absolutely fascinating and the tour guide’s explanation was exceptional. Our second tour guide was amazing as well, explaining so much of Roman history during the walking tour around the Forum.

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

This tour explained about the eating and wine pairing traditions of Italy. Absolutely delicious, informative and fun, throughout all the stops.

Quality of Experience
The tour guide was very knowledgeable, and made us truly enjoy the 4 hours. The owners of the different restaurants greeted us vey warmly and were delighted that we asked questions and enjoyed everything.
Food
Every stop had a different appetizer along with the Prosecco or specific wine. All delicious!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Very friendly, knowledgeable and made everything fun!
Transport
Our driver was very friendly, answered all our questions. The car was very luxurious!
Pizza and Gelato Making Class in Florence
Florence

Definitely something not to miss! Learning how to make authentic pizza and gelato was super fun. Eating our finished products was a great way to end this tour, especially as everything turned out well.

Food
Well, after learning to make our pizza step by step, it turned out perfectly & we were happy to eat our creations.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The head of the cooking class taught us so much, not only how to make the pizza and gelato, step by step, but all the history that went along with it. She was very passionate about teaching us, and her humorous comments just added to the fun. We are now experts at pizza making & knowing the difference in how to choose authentic gelato!
Transport
Very professional! Very friendly & again, very comfortable car.
Afternoon Florence Highlights Walking Tour (Semi-private)
Florence

Very informative and interesting walking tour. The highlight was definitely the Statue of David - something not to miss. Really enjoyed learning about the history of Florence.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
As with the other tours, the service, knowledge & friendliness of the people who we were assigned to were all excellent.
Tuscany Day Trip from Florence with Chianti, Siena & San Gimignano
Florence

An awesome tour that touched on so many different aspects of life in Florence and the Tuscany area.

Quality of Experience
Siena was especially impressive, as we were there the day before their annual horse race. Parades start up at any place - we got behind one & had to follow it to be able to leave the town. The history of the 17 different groups in one small town - incredible! San Gimignano was an interesting place - a walled village with lots of history. The weather was very hot, and that’s the only reason we felt drained at the end and were happy to get back into our air conditioned van.
Food
The food served on the wine tour was delicious. We learned about how different wines are served with different courses and definitely did not need to have dinner on our return to Florence. Learning how this organic winery operates and how different wines are made was extremely interesting.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our group was split into 2 vans, with the tour guide being in the other van. So our driver answered all our questions - he was very proud of his country and gave us much background on everyday life. Plus he had a terrific voice - I asked him to sing & he played his recorded CD - such a talent in many areas!
Transport
Again, perfect.
Half-Day Murano & Burano Islands
Venice

Travelling to the islands by water taxi was a real treat! And refreshing! Watching how glass is made in 2 different ways was very interesting. It is a true art, with very specialized artists.

Guides, Drivers and Staff
It was always interesting talking to our guides and drivers, to learn about their everyday lives.
Transport
Water taxis through the canals - best way to go! The gondolas were interesting to watch - the skill of the rowers - but they were rather packed in along the canals, so we were glad that we had our own private transport already arranged.
Useful Information
Italy

It was very useful to have the suggestions, as we followed all of them.

Evening Aperitivo in Navigli
Milan

A very interesting walking, wine tasting and aperitif tour. The area was where the locals “hang out”, so perfect for what we wanted to do.

Quality of Experience
Our tour guide knew all the local places to take us and have a history of everywhere we went. The food and drinks were delicious. Our group also got along famously! We were from 3 different continents.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our tour guide gave us a very welcoming - we were late because the directions were a bit confusing, as 2 areas were pretty much the same. We were in the wrong area! The group had to wait for us, but our guide was awesome about keeping us all relaxed & happy!
Transport
Milan Highlights With Duomo
Milan

The Duomo and Castle were obviously spectacular, but the first hour of the walking tour was exactly the same area we had covered in the wine and food tour the evening before.

Quality of Experience
Not repeating the same walking tour part as the wine and food tour.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Irene Lappa

Itlay and Greece coastline
Italy | Jun 16 - Jul 1, 2023

S
Stephen W.
Canada | Reviewed on Jul 05, 2023

Just finished our 2nd trip with kimkim.
Irene was our planner and she exceeded in all aspects. Revised the intierary perfectly to accommodate our needs was always accommodating. All hotels choosen for us were in comfortable and in amazing locations, walking distance to anything we wanted too see or do.
Activities throughout the trip provided knowledge, amazing sites and all food tours had excellent selections.
Overall a great vaction with amazing tour sites, delicous food/drinks, ... read more

Just finished our 2nd trip with kimkim.
Irene was our planner and she exceeded in all aspects. Revised the intierary perfectly to accommodate our needs was always accommodating. All hotels choosen for us were in comfortable and in amazing locations, walking distance to anything we wanted too see or do.
Activities throughout the trip provided knowledge, amazing sites and all food tours had excellent selections.
Overall a great vaction with amazing tour sites, delicous food/drinks, picture perfect beachs. Memories for a lifetime. Thanks again kimkim and to Irene!

Hotel Reviews
SanSal Boutique Hotel
Chania

Great location with awesome rooftop bar and infinite pool.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Heliotopos Hotel
Santorini

Amazing balcony view, could of stayed on it all day.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Residenza Il Campanile
Sorrento

In a amazing location, right across the street from the best Gelato to finished every night

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Very nice lady
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Sorrento Sunset Sea Kayak Tour
Sorrento

Was a cool experience, that ended with a amazing sunset. Definitely happy I was familiar with a kayak. The ocean is a little rough and I could see how some would of been anxious paddling through the rockinlet to the swim area.

Amalfi Coast Boat Tour From Sorrento
Sorrento

Provide plenty of drinks, picture perfect swimming spots. Even served us raw sea orcants.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Pizza Cooking Class in Napoli
Naples

Was cool but maybe I had my hopes up a little for a pizza class in Naples. don't really due much to making the pizza besides the dough that you don't use "dough has to rise"

Trastevere Afternoon Food Tour & Wine Experience
Rome

Food selections and wines were great

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Very friendly
Driving Tour & View Spots Around Chania
Chania

Was nice to see the moutinan side of chania, the highlight of the trip is the local resturant they brought us to that was run by a family with no electricity and only used firebeds to cook. The owner was amazing and made sure we're having a good time. He served us a overwhelming amounts of diffent meats. Best goat I ever had.

Quality of Experience
Food
Very good meats
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Driver very friendly and resturants owner was awesome,
Transport
Balos & Falassarna Beach Tour with Lunch
Chania

View point of balos is very cool, this day was one of our favorites. Falassarma beach was super chill with the right amount of wave action to have some fun in the water. Very nice day that ended with delicious food

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Olive Farm Visit and Traditional Greek Lunch at Archanes
Heraklion

Nice to learn a little bit about the process and how to read olive oil labels. Owenr is very passionate

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Santorini Highlights Tour & Wine Tasting
Greece

The tour guide made this enjoyable. Would of been nicer to maybe visit more vineyards. Sight seeing spots are nice though.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Caldera Cruise & Volcano Visit
Santorini

Very cool day, nice swimming spots on a nice boat with delicious food.

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

Amazing Week in Greece!!!
Greece | Jun 15 - Jul 1, 2023

E
E P.
North Bethesda, MD | Reviewed on Jul 04, 2023

Hello Irene and Team!
We are very grateful to all of you for your support and careful planning while we were in your beautiful country. We have fallen in love with the islands and all the places we visited.
We felt supported and cared for every step of the way. A special thanks to all our guides and drivers. You all did an exceptional, professional and beautiful job. Thank you, thank you!!!
Irene, thank you so very much for meeting with us in Athens and for putting together this exceptional trip. May we be in touch again for another adventure!

Local specialist: Irene Lappa

Irene worked with me to create a personal Gre...
Greece | Jun 18 - Jul 2, 2023

V
virginia s.
Howell, AR | Reviewed on Jul 03, 2023

Irene worked with me to create a personal Greek vacation that fit my requirements of visiting a few islands during my time. Everything was laid out in easy to follow detailed instructions, I didn't have to worry about a thing. Our tours were all small and personal. We had a great time and would definitely use them again. read more

Irene worked with me to create a personal Greek vacation that fit my requirements of visiting a few islands during my time. Everything was laid out in easy to follow detailed instructions, I didn't have to worry about a thing. Our tours were all small and personal. We had a great time and would definitely use them again.

Hotel Reviews
Athens Cypria Hotel
Athens
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Iris Boutique Hotel
Naousa

Beautiful views and the nicest staff!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Afroditi Venus Beach Hotel & Spa
Santorini
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Aera Milos
Milos

It was interesting and different but also odd.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Avra Hotel Rafina
Rafina, Athens
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Milos Sea Kayak Tour
Milos
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Riviera & Cape Sounion Sunset Tour
Athens

Our guide didn't tell us anything. It was a long silent drive.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Irene Lappa
Irene
Irene Lappa
Local specialist in Athens, Greece | Replied on Jul 09, 2023

Dear Virginia,
I am so glad to hear that you had a great time in your trip to Greece!!!
Thank you so much for your kind words and I really appreciate your feedback!
I hope I will have the pleasure to welcome you again in Greece or Italy next time, in the future!
Wishing you safe travels!
Irene

Mother/daughter trip we cherish forever!
Italy | Jun 8 - Jun 21, 2023

Erin
Erin J.
Okolona, KY | Reviewed on Jun 23, 2023

From the beginning of our planning all the way until the very end of our trip, Irene and the whole kimkim team, including Travel12 in Greece, were absolutely wonderful. Irene took care and was very responsive during the planning process to make sure our trip was exactly what we wanted... and it was! She thought of everything and covered every little detail to ensure our holiday was safe and stress free. My daughter and I packed a lot into our 2 week trip in Italy and Greece. Irene made sure... read more

From the beginning of our planning all the way until the very end of our trip, Irene and the whole kimkim team, including Travel12 in Greece, were absolutely wonderful. Irene took care and was very responsive during the planning process to make sure our trip was exactly what we wanted... and it was! She thought of everything and covered every little detail to ensure our holiday was safe and stress free. My daughter and I packed a lot into our 2 week trip in Italy and Greece. Irene made sure we saw and did everything we could without being overwhelmed or exhausted. Our itinerary was the perfect balance of planned/scheduled tours and time to explore on our own. I appreciated how the team would check in with us from time to time. The couple of times I had questions, they responded within minutes and made certain my question was answered fully. We had an especially incredible day in Naples - exploring Pompeii and Vesuvius - thanks to our very fun driver, Mauro, and the absolute best guide to walk through Pompeii, Fabio!

Hotel Reviews
Ippokampos Beachfront Hotel
Naxos

Beautiful view, crisp and clean room and bed, wonderful service and food! Reception was very friendly and helpful.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Gorgeous view of the beach and sea.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Sweet Home Boutique Hotel
Athens

Very sweet boutique hotel a short walk away from the busy, louder center of Athens. This was a perfect location for what my daughter and I were looking for... close to all the action, but not too close. Staff was very friendly and accommodating.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Abelonas Retreat
Santorini

Gorgeous view - clean and spacious room - responsive, cheerful staff.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Irene Lappa
Irene
Irene Lappa
Local specialist in Athens, Greece | Replied on Jul 09, 2023

My dear Erin!
I am so happy to hear that you had a trip you will cherish for ever!!!
Thank you so much for your warm words for our team and me and I appreciate your detailed feedback that I will convey to everyone!!!
I am grateful to have worked for your trip and have had the opportunity to share with you some of our beloved locations and experiences in Italy and Greece and I really hope that I will have the pleasure to introduce you to more of them in the future!!
Wishing you all the best and safe travels!
Irene

EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS!! YOU WWILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!!
Greece | Jun 13 - Jun 19, 2023

M
Mary Jean B.
Cornelius, NC | Reviewed on Jun 23, 2023

I started working with Irene in November planning a trip to Greece with our 12 year old granddaughter! She is a fountain of knowledge! She provided us with a plan which I would never have been able to do by myself.
About 2 weeks before our trip I notified her that I have been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. I would be limited to shorter walks. Without asking she started searching for a scooter and transportation to haul it. She advised against certain venues for safety issues. ... read more

I started working with Irene in November planning a trip to Greece with our 12 year old granddaughter! She is a fountain of knowledge! She provided us with a plan which I would never have been able to do by myself.
About 2 weeks before our trip I notified her that I have been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. I would be limited to shorter walks. Without asking she started searching for a scooter and transportation to haul it. She advised against certain venues for safety issues. Every driver was more than helpful! Irene arranged for cooking lessons with a Chef who delighted us for 3 hours. Our tour guides were outstanding.
I asked Irene if there was a chance that we could meet her in Athens and she even made that happen. We have always traveled with a tour company on buses. The experience of KimKim exceeded all expectations. The bar has been raised and we highly recommend this company!! Thanks to the team who provided us with a vacation that will never be forgotten.
Travel dates were June 15 to 19, 2023.

Hotel Reviews
Athens Cypria Hotel
Athens
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
mattresses weren't comfortable
Ippoliti
Nafplio
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
matresses could be better
Avra Hotel Rafina
Rafina, Athens
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Wish we had more time there. Less than 10 hours. Breakfast location was marvelous.
Activity Reviews
Private Acropolis Hill & Museum Tour
Athens
Quality of Experience
Tour guide was outstanding.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Very helpful
Transport
Exceptionally clean. Very helpful with scooter.
Mythology, Wine and Farm Tour of Nemea
Greece
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Epidaurus Theater and Sanctuary Guided Tour
Greece

Unexpected

Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Cooking Class in Nafplio
Nafplio

ONE of the highlights

Quality of Experience
Food
Included all of us in prep.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Riviera & Cape Sounion Sunset Tour
Athens

Restaurant was closed. Driver adapted to another restautrant

Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Irene Lappa
Irene
Irene Lappa
Local specialist in Athens, Greece | Replied on Jul 09, 2023

My dear Mary Jean, Denzil and Micah,
Thank you so much for your amazing review, I am deeply touched!
I am grateful that I had the opportunity to work on your trip and having the pleasure of meeting you in Athens!
I hope I will have the pleasure to welcome you in Greece or Italy sometime in the future, and meet you once again, perhaps with the rest of your amazing grandchildren!!!
Wishing you safe travels!
Irene

Trip was wonderful! Catered to our preference...
Greece | Jun 2 - Jun 16, 2023

C
Cathy M.
Kissimmee, FL | Reviewed on Jun 20, 2023

Trip was wonderful! Catered to our preferences! Transfers were on time. Everyone we dealt with was personal and professional. Will definitely look at KimKim for future adventures.
Irene was wonderful. Clearly communicated and offered suggestions as needed.
Thank you Irene as well as the rest of the team for making this bucket list adventure a memory for the ages! read more

Trip was wonderful! Catered to our preferences! Transfers were on time. Everyone we dealt with was personal and professional. Will definitely look at KimKim for future adventures.
Irene was wonderful. Clearly communicated and offered suggestions as needed.
Thank you Irene as well as the rest of the team for making this bucket list adventure a memory for the ages!

Hotel Review
Home and Poetry
Athens

Wonderful location!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Perfect location excellent views
Staff
Polite and helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
Large and quaint decor
Local specialist: Irene Lappa
Irene
Irene Lappa
Local specialist in Athens, Greece | Replied on Jun 23, 2023

Dear Cathy and Chrystal!
I am so happy that you had a wonderful trip and thank you so much for your kind words!
It was a pleasure working with you and I wish that I will have the opportunity to introduce you to more amazing locations in the future! In Greece or perhaps next time in Italy where our local team also specialize in!
All my best and safe travels!
Irene

Greece Honeymoon
Greece | May 29 - Jun 8, 2023

Nadia
Nadia J.
Charlotte, NC | Reviewed on Jun 11, 2023

Irene did an AMAZING job planning our honeymoon in Greece. We had so much fun experiencing Greece with the numerous 10/10 tours Irene set us up with. Irene did a spectacular job creating a honeymoon for in the go people who wanted to see as much of Greece as possible, but also wanted a little relaxation. We were so impressed! Irene had private drivers ready for us before every transfer, and everyone she chose was timely and efficient. All of our tours were fun but our favorite was the Wine... read more

Irene did an AMAZING job planning our honeymoon in Greece. We had so much fun experiencing Greece with the numerous 10/10 tours Irene set us up with. Irene did a spectacular job creating a honeymoon for in the go people who wanted to see as much of Greece as possible, but also wanted a little relaxation. We were so impressed! Irene had private drivers ready for us before every transfer, and everyone she chose was timely and efficient. All of our tours were fun but our favorite was the Wine Tour in Santorini with our tour guide Harry! We would recommend kimkim, especially Irene, for your travel to Greece!

Hotel Reviews
Athens Cypria Hotel
Athens
Authenticity & Character
Location
Cypria hotel is right in the middle of the plaza district, and a close walk to so many hotspots in Athens!
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Adonis Hotel
Mykonos

They were so kind and easy to work with even when we arrived earlier than planned! They let us keep our bags in the baggage room and gave us a ton of recommendations for things to explore in Mykonos before our room was ready. Once we were able to check in we were surprised to hear they upgraded our room! It was so good to stay there!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Afroditi Venus Beach Hotel & Spa
Santorini

We had an amazing time at the Afroditi Venus Beach Hotel & Spa during our honeymoon! They left us a note and a bottle of wine for our honeymoon, and it was so good! Honestly the whole time we stayed in Santorini we only ate somewhere that wasn’t the hotel one time, the hotel food was so good and so accessible! The beaches were so beautiful and well maintained, and all the workers were so kind!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Avra Hotel Rafina
Rafina, Athens
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Acropolis & Ancient Athens Mythology Tour
Athens

Our tour guide was so knowledgeable and so fun to be around and learn from!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Athens Food Tour
Athens

Our food tour was a very intimate group of people (4) and our tour guide. She was so fun and knowledgeable about all the foods and about Greece! She was able to give us so much information as we walked around the neighborhoods of Athens.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Delos & Rhenia Day Cruise
Mykonos

Our day cruise in Greece was so much fun! The staff cooked us a great lunch, and they also created a really fun and relaxing environment while on the cruise. We will always remember this cruise!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Santorini Highlights Tour & Wine Tasting
Greece

We had so much fun on our wine tour with Harry!! Harry did an amazing job showing us Santorini, and the wine part was so fun too!! Harry was very professional but also really fun and showed us so many things around the island. The tour was a good mix of fun and learning!!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Santorini Sea Kayak tour
Santorini
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Irene Lappa
Irene
Irene Lappa
Local specialist in Athens, Greece | Replied on Jun 15, 2023

My dear Nadia and Joel,
Thank you so much for your amazing review!
I am so happy that you had an amazing honeymoon trip and thank you for your detailed, valuable feedback and for trusting me and our team to plan and organize a unique trip experience for you such as your honeymoon!
I wish you come back one day to see more of our beautiful country!
All my best for a happily ever after!
Irene

Wonderful Mother Daughter trip to Greece
Greece | May 9 - May 17, 2023

Olivia
Olivia S.
Durham, NC | Reviewed on May 25, 2023

The planning in advance of this trip was great. Irene answered all of my questions and made me feel super comfortable with the plans that we made. My suggestions and whims were taken into account which made me feel heard. My mom had never gotten a passport or traveled out of the country and was nervous but are itinerary and detailed schedule made her feel a lot more comfortable. Our tour guide of Acropolis, Michael, was so knowledgeable and friendly. A great person to me at the start of our... read more

The planning in advance of this trip was great. Irene answered all of my questions and made me feel super comfortable with the plans that we made. My suggestions and whims were taken into account which made me feel heard. My mom had never gotten a passport or traveled out of the country and was nervous but are itinerary and detailed schedule made her feel a lot more comfortable. Our tour guide of Acropolis, Michael, was so knowledgeable and friendly. A great person to me at the start of our trip. He took photos for us and taught us so much about Greek history. The first hotel that we went to was also lovely. I really appreciate that they held my mom's passport when she forgot it. Another great reason to use a travel agent - communicating and resolving the issue with our travel team made it an easy fix. I'm so grateful for the expertise of our travel team. Renting a car was so scary but so worth it for the day trips we got to have and landscape we got to see. The suggestion to stop at the Corinth Canal on our way to Nafplio was so great! A sight I definitely would have missed on my own. Our time in Nafplio was lovely. Our hotel was immaculate. The town is so beautiful and peaceful. I was glad for recommendations by the concierge at the hotel. I was able to make a last minute appointment for a manicure and my mom got a massage. The private chef was amazing! Costas and his wife were so friendly and the food was absolutely delicious. It was a treat to learn about Greek food and wine. I also really enjoyed our cooking class. It was so intimate to go into Katarina and her mother's home to make recipes that are so close to their heart. An experience I won't forget. We also go to sample olive oil nearby which was a treat. Our flight to Naxos was so seamless. I was also so pleased to find that we had lounge access before our flight. Every person who picked us up from an airport was also so kind and helpful. Yanis at our hotel in Naxos was amazing!! He helped us in so many ways and I really appreciated his service. Ippokampos is such a lovely hotel. All the amenities were perfect for our time there. Sitting under those umbrellas is a great way to spend the day. Sailing was also so fun and breathtaking. A beautiful way to see the sea and landscape of Greece. The snacks and food on the trip were lovely. The other guests with us were all so lovely. We were even able to make some friends. My only small improvement would be around the ferry ride back. Our tickets wouldn't download on my phone so I had to go to the ticket office on the island and it was somewhat unclear where/ how to get on. Once we were on the ferry was no problem. The hotel near the port was a great choice. Very convenient for our day of traveling and to have a shuttle to the airport the next day. Overall this was one of the best vacations my mom has ever taken in her life. It was such a blessing to be able to spend time with her and get to see and learn about Greece. I'm so grateful for the support of Irene and our travel team to create this magical experience for her. Can't recommend y'all's service highly enough!

Hotel Reviews
Athens Cypria Hotel
Athens

This hotel is super clean and the staff are all very friendly and helpful. I loved the view from our balcony of the city. The rooftop bar was amazing for a great view of the Parthenon at night. They also were so accommodating when my mom accidentally left her passport in our room.

Authenticity & Character
Location
This hotel is right in the center of everything a brief walk to acropolis. Near to a lot of shopping and great food.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
I bet here was super uncomfortable. Everything else was very clean and modern and comfortable
Impero Nafplio Hotel & Suites
Nafplio

This hotel is so lovely. It is clean. It has charm. It's close to the center of town. The view from the balcony is beautiful. The staff are so helpful and willing to give suggestions or help make a reservation. The breakfast is delicious and has so many options. Our room was very comfortable and spacious. There is a lot of space for parking close by.

Authenticity & Character
This hotel is a very charming. It's modern but still has rustic touches that make it feel warm and welcoming. There's also a pleasant scent that lingers in my memory.
Location
Very close to the center of town + lots of restaurants and shops
Staff
One of the concierges helped us make a reservation for a manicure at the last minute. I was so grateful for the recommendation and the manicure was lovely.
Cleanliness & Comfort
This bad was extremely comfortable. The bathroom has a very fancy shower with lots of options. I really enjoyed how spacious our room was and the access to outdoor space to see the view or sit and have privacy.
Ippokampos Beachfront Hotel
Naxos

This hotel was amazing. Similar to many beachfront resorts in the best ways. Our room had a fabulous view of the sea. This hotel is located just on the edge of the center of town which makes it quiet and pleasant but also easy to navigate from. You get a discount on the chairs with umbrellas as a guest. They have complimentary beach towels for you. They clean your room every day so no need to worry about sand everywhere. This room was not super spacious but it didn't need to be as we were out exploring the island at all times.

Authenticity & Character
Very charming hotel with modern touches. The breakfast everyday is amazing.
Location
Close to shops and restaurants. Amazing view of the sea.
Staff
Yanis is amazing and goes above and beyond to support your request. He helps schedule a taxi for us helped us drop off our laundry helped us rent an umbrella. All the staff was kind and accommodating.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Avra Hotel Rafina
Rafina, Athens

Very close to the port and very convenient for a one-night stay before our flight in the morning. The breakfast here was not as great or impressive. The staff were very direct and kind but not warm.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Just a 5 to 10 minute walk from the port. Was a bit of a challenge with our luggage but nothing we couldn't handle.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
DeSoto was clean. The room is very small. The bed was somewhat comfy. There were some bugs in our shower.
Activity Reviews
Acropolis Afternoon Tour
Athens

Michael was amazing! Can't recommend him highly enough. Having grown up in Athens and having a master's in history made him an amazing tour guide. He answered all of our questions and some. He took photos of us. He was extremely friendly and would highly recommend a tour with him. It was also easy to find our meeting point.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Walked and found the meeting point easily.
Private Chef experience in Nafplio
Nafplio

Costas is amazing! It was so great to learn about Greek food from such a masterchef. Both he and his wife were so friendly. I loved the wine tastings with dinner. I love talking to them about Greek food and history. I had a really lovely time. It's also so impressive that he cooked nearly all the food in front of us. Everything was so delicious.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Sailing Trip around Naxos & Small Cyclades islands
Naxos

Very fun adventure! This was a lovely excursion. It was fun too swim to lounge to eat the snacks food and wine that they brought. To chat with other travelers.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Cooking Class in a Traditional Village
Naxos

We really enjoyed getting to know Katarina and her mom. It was such a treat to be learning in their home which felt intimate. The food was amazing obviously. It was great learning about their lives and customs around food.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Irene Lappa
Irene
Irene Lappa
Local specialist in Athens, Greece | Replied on Jun 10, 2023

My dear Olivia,
I cannot describe how happy I am to hear that you had such a lovely time on your trip to Greece with your mom! I am deeply touched by your kind words and grateful that I had the opportunity to work with you!
Thank you so much for your trust to kimkim, our local team in Greece Travel 12 and me personally and I wish this was just a great start for your mom traveling abroad and for you many more great travels to follow that will fill your heart with fascinating images and happiness!!
With all my best for a wonderful summer season,
Irene

Prefect trip for my daughter and I
Greece | Apr 11 - Apr 19, 2023

Meerabella
Meerabella S.
Kenya | Reviewed on Apr 25, 2023

My daughter and I have had the most amazing trip to Greece. We are in love and will be back. It was great having Irene of Kimkim help plan our trip of 9 days as we wanted culture, art and history at a relaxed pace.

We visited Athens, Naxos and Santorini and it was fantastic. Irene organized a cooking class, a trip to Delphi with olive tasting and in Naxos convinced me the best way was to drive to see the beautiful landscape! She was right.

In Santorini, we had a pottery class with a... read more

My daughter and I have had the most amazing trip to Greece. We are in love and will be back. It was great having Irene of Kimkim help plan our trip of 9 days as we wanted culture, art and history at a relaxed pace.

We visited Athens, Naxos and Santorini and it was fantastic. Irene organized a cooking class, a trip to Delphi with olive tasting and in Naxos convinced me the best way was to drive to see the beautiful landscape! She was right.

In Santorini, we had a pottery class with a local famous Greek artist which was fun for the both of us and walking around and seeing the sunset was out of this world.

We loved our accommodations too and Irene chose well and to add that the entire team from KimKim were always available in case of anything and made me feel safe should something go wrong.

Everything was taken care of and on time and grateful for our tour guide in Athens, Magda who was entertaining and knowledgeable.

We had a very relaxed holiday and I was glad I had some assistance thanks to Kimkim to navigate around!

All in all, we will back to Greece and would recommend anyone short on time and energy to let Kimkim sort you out. They really know some hidden gems and where to go and are quick to respond so it lets you breathe and be free.

Hotel Reviews
Ippokampos Beachfront Hotel
Naxos

Beautiful location, clean and amazing food! Staff was helpful and we loved how relaxing it was.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Right close to the beach
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Abelonas Retreat
Santorini

Stunning views, breakfast in your room. Management was great and we had amazing views where we were. Also for those who like some peace and quiet it’s perfect as it’s not super big and has a certain charm to it.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Views are stunning. Breakfast is delicious and can walk to many places.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Athens Cypria Hotel
Athens

Right in the heart ofnthe city. Can really hear the hustle and bustle and great restaurants including vegetarian ones. The buffet breakfast was amazing from Greek yogurts to a full English breakfast, Pastries and coffee, tea and juices.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Walking distance to most things like Acropolis
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Acropolis & Ancient Athens Mythology Tour
Athens

Learnt so much on this tour and Magda was highly knowledgeable and engaging. My daughter loved her. She has a way with kids. Carry some snacks and water as it’s quite long.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Cooking Class in Athens
Athens

The restaurant was amazing and the food too. We really enjoyed it but wished we had the chance to make a couple of dishes as I was with my 9 year old. A menu to cater that would have been great. Still we enjoyed it.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Delphi Day-trip
Athens
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local Dinner in Naxos
Naxos
Quality of Experience
Food
Definitely the cheese platter with the local Naxian cheese … we didn’t finish it but it was yum!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
We walked and found beautiful spots to eat
Local specialist: Irene Lappa
Irene
Irene Lappa
Local specialist in Athens, Greece | Replied on May 02, 2023

Dear Meerabella,
Thank you so much for your marvelous review and useful feedback!!
I am happy that you had an amazing trip to Greece!!!
It was really important for my team & I and our goal was for you to savor this trip with your little one, have a smooth, worry-free travel experience and create memories of a lifetime!! So glad to hear that we did good and I will convey your kind words to the team!!
I would love to assist you organize your next trip to Greece or/and perhaps a trip to Italy?!!
Wishing you an amazing summer season & all the best!
Irene

Everything about our trip was "Perfecto!"
Italy | Mar 19 - Mar 26, 2023

Stephanie
Stephanie H.
Wauwatosa, WI | Reviewed on Apr 19, 2023

Everything about our trip was truly "Perfecto!" Irene was very responsive throughout the entire planning process and created exactly the itinerary that we wanted. We spent 2 nights in Venice, 3 in Florence and 2 in Rome. I was so impressed with every tour guide. Each and every one was so professional and so knowledgeable. I loved the personal nature of our tours being just for our group of 3 or a very small group. The personal and friendly nature of these tours made each day a joy! I can see... read more

Everything about our trip was truly "Perfecto!" Irene was very responsive throughout the entire planning process and created exactly the itinerary that we wanted. We spent 2 nights in Venice, 3 in Florence and 2 in Rome. I was so impressed with every tour guide. Each and every one was so professional and so knowledgeable. I loved the personal nature of our tours being just for our group of 3 or a very small group. The personal and friendly nature of these tours made each day a joy! I can see how having a good guide to show the highlights of Florence and the Uffizi galleries is extremely important. The Tuscany wine trip was also very enjoyable as we toured with three other couples. It was wonderful to get to know people from all over the world. We were also extremely pleased with our hotels in each city. The location of each one was close enough to the action to make it easy to walk to many places, but quiet enough to feel relaxed. Each hotel had a local feeling and also with all the amenities you would expect in a 4 star hotel. And the breakfasts...fantastic! All of our transportation went off without a hitch thanks to all of the arrangements by Irene. We are so thankful for Irene and the beautiful trip that she arranged for us. We would definitely use KimKim again in the future!

Hotel Review
Hotel Santa Maria Novella
Florence

Extremely beautiful, artistic decor. Old world feeling with all the modern conveniences. Probably my favorite hotel of my trip. Front desk very helpful. Location is perfect on Santa Maria Piazza.

Authenticity & Character
The decor is beautiful and very historic feeling.
Location
Love being able to see the Santa Maria Novella church from our window. Wonderful piazza area - not too busy - just right!
Staff
Very helpful front desk - excellent help with restaurants.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Beds very comfortable.
Activity Reviews
Venice Private Evening Stroll with Gondola
Venice
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Vatican Guided Tour
Rome

Thank goodness this tour was a skip the line tour. You should try to do the tour that is in the morning before it opens. Our tour guide, Barbara, was very good, but the whole experience would have been even better in the morning. It just didn't work out for our timeline. Do the morning tour if you can get it!

Guides, Drivers and Staff
So knowledgeable!
Trastevere Afternoon Aperitivo & Food Tour
Rome

This evening was super fun! Our guide, Ali, was so knowledgeable and fun - we enjoyed each stop. Great food and nice to be in this old part of Rome. Definitely recommend!

Local specialist: Irene Lappa
Irene
Irene Lappa
Local specialist in Athens, Greece | Replied on Apr 22, 2023

Dear Stephanie,
Thank you so much for your rave review!!!
I am so grateful that I had the good pleasure working with you and I will be happy to organize your next "PERFECTO" or "TELIO" (Greek word for perfect) trip!!
Wishing you safe travels and an amazing summer season!!!
All the best,
Irene