Jessica Proietti

Jessica was always ready to answer questions and work with us as we changed our original plan to the final one. The private tour guides arranged for us for each area were excellent. Especially notable for mosaics and artwork were;
1. The Duomo in Monreale
2. the Villa Romana Casale

My husband and I enjoyed a very relaxing and wonderful 15 days trip in the Amalfi Coast and Sicily in early October.  We contacted Jessica, a travel specialist for Italy through kimkim.com.  Within a week of speaking to Jessica, she arranged a private tour for us and we were on a flight to Rome.  

Jessica was very efficient responding to our requests or updating changes before and during our trip to Italy. From the airport pickup to each destination, our trip was seamless and relaxing.  We... read more

My husband and I enjoyed a very relaxing and wonderful 15 days trip in the Amalfi Coast and Sicily in early October.  We contacted Jessica, a travel specialist for Italy through kimkim.com.  Within a week of speaking to Jessica, she arranged a private tour for us and we were on a flight to Rome.  

Jessica was very efficient responding to our requests or updating changes before and during our trip to Italy. From the airport pickup to each destination, our trip was seamless and relaxing.  We enjoyed the central location of all our hotels and B&Bs which allowed us to walk everywhere and enjoy excellent meals with locals.  All the tours arranged by Jessica were very enjoyable and interesting.  We learned so much about Italian and Sicilian history, culture and art through our excellent tour guides.  In particular, Tony gave us a wonderful tour of the Cathedral of Monreale and Marta gave an excellent tour of the Ancient Villa Romana del Casale.  Our drivers, Ciro, Stefano and Fabio are great drivers and are very friendly.  We also enjoy lots of free time exploring on our own, visiting small old fishing villages and swimming in the crystalline waters of the Tyrhennian and Ioninan Seas.  We have so many beautiful memories.

We can’t thank Jessica enough for this very enjoyable last minute trip and for frequently checking in with us to make sure our time in Italy was going smoothly and according to plan.  We would highly recommend her to anyone thinking about traveling to Italy.  

Hotel Review

Grand Hotel Royal

Sorrento

Grand Hotel Royal, Sorrento is the best hotel from our Southern Italy trip. It is centrally located in Sorrento with many nice restaurants near by. This elegant 5 star hotel is located at the top of a cliff with an elevator to the beach. The view from the beautiful garden and our balcony were magnificent . The staff was great and breakfast was delicious! It's so enjoyable and relaxing staying at the Grand Hotel Royal.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Exclusive Capri Boat Tour and Blue Grotto by Sorrento (up to 8 participants)

Italy

Limoncello Tour & Tasting

Amalfi Coast

The Limoncello Tour with Chef Fiore was lot of fun. The wonderful meal from his restaurant was so delicious and I learned many different ways using lemon in my cooking from this tour. Thank you Chef!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ciro is an excellent and friendly driver. We enjoyed his service to the Amalfi Coast and Limoncello tour.

Transport

Monreale, Cefalù & Castelbuono Tour from Palermo

Italy

It's amazing seeing the beautiful mosaic Bible stories all around the Cathedral of Monreale. Thanks to our terrific tour guide Antonio who made this tour very interesting and enjoyable! We had a wonderful time walking through the lovely town of Cefalu with many interesting shops and we tasted the best warm meat and sausage rice ball there. It's so wonderful cooling off and swimming at the beautiful Cefalu sandy beach.

Quality of Experience

Guided Tour of Villa Romana del Casale

Italy

Seeing the incredible story telling mosaics in the Villa Romana del Casale was very impressive. Our excellent tour guide, Marta made this tour very interesting and lively. The vivid depiction of the captured animals and ostrich being loaded into a boat was awesome.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Catania: Food & Folklore

Catania

Enjoyed the sounds, taste and color of this delicious fish market tasting tour. Giusi our tour guide is excellent and we enjoyed the delicious green drink and fried seafood from her restaurant. The tasting menu from other restaurant and cheese sampling were great too.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

w

We are so glad that we found Jessica on kimkim to help us plan our 30th Anniversary trip to Italy and Greece. She worked with us to create the perfect itinerary and made herself available to us in case we needed anything whatsoever while we were traveling. Knowing we were in such good hands made our minds at ease, which is so important when you're on the go for two weeks! It was a truly magical trip. read more

We are so glad that we found Jessica on kimkim to help us plan our 30th Anniversary trip to Italy and Greece. She worked with us to create the perfect itinerary and made herself available to us in case we needed anything whatsoever while we were traveling. Knowing we were in such good hands made our minds at ease, which is so important when you're on the go for two weeks! It was a truly magical trip.

Jessica provided incredible guidance and support to make sure our group of 12 had both detailed transfer, tickets and guides for the things we wanted to do and also plenty of free time to explore on our own. Yulia's walking tour of Pompeii was so well informed and detailed, I loved every bit of it!
thank you
read more

Jessica provided incredible guidance and support to make sure our group of 12 had both detailed transfer, tickets and guides for the things we wanted to do and also plenty of free time to explore on our own. Yulia's walking tour of Pompeii was so well informed and detailed, I loved every bit of it!
thank you

Jessica was incredibly responsive and helpful.

Daniella was a great tour guide. I would recommend that she let folks know upfront how much food will be provided on the walk and tasting tour. We were all very full after eating our homemade pizza that it was difficult to try the other items.

Yulia was amazing! Mount Vesuvius, the wine tasting, and Pompeii were a highlight of my trip.

The boat tour was also a blast. No complaints. read more

Jessica was incredibly responsive and helpful.

Daniella was a great tour guide. I would recommend that she let folks know upfront how much food will be provided on the walk and tasting tour. We were all very full after eating our homemade pizza that it was difficult to try the other items.

Yulia was amazing! Mount Vesuvius, the wine tasting, and Pompeii were a highlight of my trip.

The boat tour was also a blast. No complaints.

Jessica did an excellent job booking this trip! She was attentive and there for us whenever we had questions or concerns. She booked all of our drivers and experiences. We started in Rome with a 8 hour tour with Paola. She was so good and very knowledgeable. Hotel was cute. We then took a train, which she also booked for us down to Salerno where we had a driver, Chico drive us down the Amalfi coast, stopping in Ravello, which was our favorite, then Amalfi, and ending in Positano. Most... read more

Jessica did an excellent job booking this trip! She was attentive and there for us whenever we had questions or concerns. She booked all of our drivers and experiences. We started in Rome with a 8 hour tour with Paola. She was so good and very knowledgeable. Hotel was cute. We then took a train, which she also booked for us down to Salerno where we had a driver, Chico drive us down the Amalfi coast, stopping in Ravello, which was our favorite, then Amalfi, and ending in Positano. Most beautiful place I’ve ever been. Our guide was great! We then stayed in Sorrento. Such a cute town! We also enjoyed the hotel here too. Next day we went to Capri Island and Andrea was our guide for the day. He was excellent! So personal and also very knowledgeable about the area. We had a fantastic time and also did the blue grotto. Next day we went to Pompeii. I don’t remember our tour guides name but this was also a very good experience. We enjoyed this service very much and would recommend it to anyone who is traveling. Loved the private tours and guides and individual attention. My only suggestion is that we didn’t know about needing money for the bathrooms and it would have been nice on our car drives, we took a lot of them, to be offered water.

Hotel Reviews

La Casa dell'Orologio

Sorrento

So cute in the middle of Sorrento Square. Walking distance to the pier, 15 minutes. Room had a cute balcony and nice decor.

Authenticity & Character

Decor was cute

Location

Near the square

Staff

Answered any questions we had

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean

Hotel Capo d'Africa - Colosseo

Rome

Nice hotel right next to the coliseum. Roof top restaurant with views of the coliseum.

Authenticity & Character

Rooftop restaurant

Location

Walking distance to all major monuments and museums.

Staff

Attentive

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean

Casa Montani

Rome

Concierge was great! So concerned about our luggage not making it. Call the airport and just truly wanted to make the situation not stressful. He very helpful with providing a map of where to go and places to eat.

Authenticity & Character

Cute little apartments.

Location

Centrally located

Staff

So caring

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean

Activity Reviews

Explore Rome in a Day

Rome

Paola was our guide and she did great! Wish I had a little more time at some of the areas, like the Vatican.

Quality of Experience

Small group. There was 4 of us.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Friendly and knowledgeable

Transport

N/A

Half Day Tour from Salerno to Sorrento (Transfer) and Sorrento to Salerno

Italy

Chico was a great tour guide. We learned so much about this region of Italy. Ravello was our favorite and would have liked to spend more time there.

Quality of Experience

Great!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

So friendly and knowledgeable

Transport

I felt very safe

Private Deluxe Capri Island Trip

Italy

Andrea was our guide. He was friendly and knowledgeable, spoke good English. Capri was amazing and the views are breathtaking. We also did blue grotto which is definitely an experience. He even provided money for us when we didn’t have any to us the bathroom.

Pompeii Private Morning Tour from Sorrento

Italy

Mario was a great tour guide! My only complaint is that I didn’t have enough time there

Dine. Taste. Learn - Dinner

Rome

Fun to learn about the wine and cheese from the region.

We had used Kim Kim in the past for a trip to Costa Rica. Everything from the activities to the accommodations, guides and support were exemplary. Unfortunately, our experience with our recent trip to Italy was not as great and I do not think I will be using Kim Kim or recommending Kim Kim in the future, which is sad given our first experience was so positive.

For starters the price was absurd. We paid $20,000 for a 2-week trip for 5 (3 children and my husband and I)-over $1,400 per day. ... read more

We had used Kim Kim in the past for a trip to Costa Rica. Everything from the activities to the accommodations, guides and support were exemplary. Unfortunately, our experience with our recent trip to Italy was not as great and I do not think I will be using Kim Kim or recommending Kim Kim in the future, which is sad given our first experience was so positive.

For starters the price was absurd. We paid $20,000 for a 2-week trip for 5 (3 children and my husband and I)-over $1,400 per day. This did not include food or flights and did not include most of our entertainment/activities. We stayed in 4-star hotels and had several activities and several train rides as well as multiple private transfers included. I understand this is expensive and I had thought the price may be reasonable at the time until I started asking our guides, transfers, and hotels for the amount they had been paid and compiling a spreadsheet of this. I understand there will be a premium going through a travel agency, but this was borderline fraudulent and not at all congruent with our prior Kim Kim experience. My family is from Sardinia and so we began planning our own activities using them as well as a family friend who is a local travel specialist in Italy who reviewed our prices and itinerary and basically concluded we were conned.

Second the planning was extremely sloppy. We did not receive the actual schedule with times in PDF format as we had before with costa Rica. Everything was through the app. Multiple links did not work so I had to frantically call Jessica from the train station in Venice when the train tickets Kim KIm had uploaded to the app had the wrong link and were not there (we almost missed our train). Jessica had EXCELLENT communication as was available 24/7, however I feel if that if the trip was planned better, I would not have to had to be contacting her so frequently. It was annoying and stressful to constantly be on What’s Ap instead of enjoying our vacation. Our schedule told us that in Venice our transfer back to the train station would meet us at the hotel this was not the case and we waited in the hotel until the driver called the hotel and told us to walk the quarter mile to the canal for the transfer. I would have been happy to do this if it had been communicated. Our driver in Florence was late to pick us up to the train station for the transfer. Our driver in Sorrento could not find our hotel, and again for our transfers given the hotel location it was not possible to be picked up at the hotel as the itinerary said, but we had to walk to a street corner, Jessica communicated this the day before, (again not a big deal, but helpful to know all of this ahead of time and put in the itinerary before we left so we knew what to expect and were not constantly having to check whats app, bother Jessica and clarify all the transfers) Our driver to drive us to the airport on departure to Rome was also 30 min late bc he had a 6:30 pick up despite the 6am pick up listed on our itinerary.

The planning was also not well thought out. We had 2 full days in Florence, one free day to visit Uffizi and dell’Academia etc and one day of a private bike tour. Kim Kim planned Monday for our free day to visit the major attractions including the Uffizi (listed in our itinerary) however did not take into consideration that these major museums and galleries are CLOSED on Mondays!!!! This made no sense and despite traveling all the way to Italy/Florence, we were unable to see the Uffizi. Seemed like a major oversight and not something I would expect using an Italian travel agency for a $20,000 trip. Sardinia was similar. A free day on Pelosa beach, however there was no mention that we needed to buy tickets to go to the beach, so again on our planned beach day we were unable to go bc there were no tickets!!!! It seems like this would have been important info to put in the itinerary, let us know about.

I have nothing but positive things to say about Jessica. She went above and beyond and was readily available and an excellent communicator. However, as wonderful as she was, I would’ve preferred to just enjoy our trip and not have to be in constant communication with her about details that were not well spelled out/thought out in the itinerary. Jessica was not assigned to us until after the trip was built, so I’m guessing most of this was all out of her control.

We enjoyed the chosen hotels/accommodations except for Florence (location of this one was too close to large amount of vagrants/beggars, and the kids were scared walking back to the hotel, the staff were also not friendly, and the room was stuffy and hot and did not have enough beds so 2 of our children had to share a twin bed). We enjoyed the planned activities (mask painting, scavenger hunt in Dodge’s palace were both excellent, gelato making excellent, bike tour in Florence excellent).

At the end of the day our trip was still amazing, and these were minor inconveniences, however the whole point of using a travel agency is to not have to worry about the minor details/logistics. And again, after a perfectly executed trip in Costa Rica (a much less developed country than Italy too!), the planning on this trip was extremely disappointing, between this and the price gauging, this will be our last Kim Kim trip. I hope a large portion of the $20,000 we paid goes to Jessica, because she is worth her weight in gold!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Giorgione

Venice

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Albani Firenze

Florence

not good for families

Authenticity & Character

Location

near area where vagrants hang out, kids were scared walking back to hotel, would NOT stay here again

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Alghero Resort Country Hotel

Alghero

loved it

Authenticity & Character

Location

not walking distance to anything, worked well for us bc we had a car

Staff

staff make this place. they go above and beyond. cannot say enough great things about the staff here

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cuore di Sorrento Suites

Sorrento

Authenticity & Character

Location

hard to find, otherwise great location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Monti Palace Hotel

Rome

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Venetian Mask Painting & Family Scavenger Hunt in the Doge’s Palace

Venice

Rosana did excellent job engaging the kids and also teaching them about the history of Doge's palace. LOVED the mask painting.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Gelato Making Florence Class

Florence

not what we were expecting but still a good experience, we were in small room in back of gelato shop, very authentic experience and Tulio was great with the children. wasn't quite as hands on as we were expecting though.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Downhill bike tour in the hills around Florence (San Gimignano) #2

Italy

Piero was excellent, we really enjoyed our time with him. I had done bike tours in Tuscany in the past and only critique of this trip/route was there were some roads with cars and some street crossings which weren't ideal with the kids. Piero was extremely conscious of this and safety centered, the prior tours I'd done were all in the countryside. the lunch was the best meal we had in florence/tuscany. SO GOOD!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide 10/10

Transport

van was very comfortable and roomy.

Private Snorkeling excursion in Bosa coast

Italy

rained out/cold, didn't go

Full Day Tour Amalfi Coast: Positano, Amalfi and Ravello

Amalfi Coast

Really liked our driver Rosario, however would probably not do this tour again. Was SOOOO crowded and most of our day was spent sitting in the van in traffic (likely the same of any of these tours).

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a wonderful trip traveling through Venice, South Tyrol, and the northern lakes region of Italy. Jessica helped us book a sensible itinerary, with stays at boutique hotels (often recently renovated) that we would not have easily found ourselves. She set us up with several terrific local tour guides, including a family-owned restaurant where we made pasta in a private class and enjoyed a fabulous meal overlooking the countryside. Post-pandemic, the tour guide industry has shrunk as... read more

We had a wonderful trip traveling through Venice, South Tyrol, and the northern lakes region of Italy. Jessica helped us book a sensible itinerary, with stays at boutique hotels (often recently renovated) that we would not have easily found ourselves. She set us up with several terrific local tour guides, including a family-owned restaurant where we made pasta in a private class and enjoyed a fabulous meal overlooking the countryside. Post-pandemic, the tour guide industry has shrunk as people have changed careers, so it is definitely worth going through a knowledgeable and connected travel agent.
Jessica was also extremely responsive and sensitive to our budget objectives. We also through her a last-minute curveball in adding a friend's child to our reservation the week before we left, and she was able to maneuver quickly to arrange this for us, saving us time and stress. I highly recommend her and the kimkim platform for a well-planned vacation.

Hotel Reviews

Ca' dei Proverbi Suites

Venice

great location, newly renovated

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Goldenstern Townhouse

Bolzano

gorgeous, artful decor, newly renovated. We had a spacious suite. We loved this place. They had a great interior designer. Wonderful continental breakfast included.

Authenticity & Character

Location

central

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Borgo Stazione Bike Inn

Valeggio sul Mincio

We loved this place, also recently renovated. Nice continental breakfast. Staff were so friendly. The only issue with the kids' room with the hammock was that the shower is open to the room - just glass - so there isn't privacy on that front. Our treehouse suite also had a lovely soaking tub next to the shower. You can rent your Lake Garda bikes directly at this hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel San Giuseppe

Cernobbio

Rooms are clean and comfortable enough, with air conditioning. We only give it 4 stars because it wasn't as nice as the other hotels where we stayed. However, we loved the very personalized service by Maurizio and his family who own the hotel. Great restaurant - we had dinner there one night. A little gem.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Loved Maurizio!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Venice In a Day Tour - VIP

Venice

Our tour guide lives in Venice and was so knowledgeable and personable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The historic centre of Bolzano

Italy

Highly recommend - Bolzano is such an interesting town.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cooking Class - How to prepare the famous Valeggio Tortellini (Wednesday and Thursday morning)

Italy

don't leave Italy without doing a cooking class! We were all inspired to go home and make our own pasta! Kids especially loved it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jessica created an incredibly memorable trip to Italy. Her attention to detail was impeccable, and her recommendations were very thoughtful. We didn’t have to worry about a single thing, Jessica took care of everything. The communication was exceptional, Jessica has earned my trust and we will use her services again.

read more

Jessica created an incredibly memorable trip to Italy. Her attention to detail was impeccable, and her recommendations were very thoughtful. We didn’t have to worry about a single thing, Jessica took care of everything. The communication was exceptional, Jessica has earned my trust and we will use her services again.

Hotel Reviews

Boutique Hotel Galatea

Rome

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tasso Suites & Spa

Sorrento

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Piazza Bellini & Apartments

Naples

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Yes Hotel

Rome

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Rome in a Day: Skip the Line Vatican Tour & Colosseum

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exclusive Capri Boat Tour and Blue Grotto by Sorrento (up to 8 participants)

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Positano, Amalfi and Ravello in a Shared Day Tour from Sorrento

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full immersion of cooking class and wine tasting

Italy

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a wonderful and dream trip to Italy. This was our first time using kimkim and Jessica from Storywalking. Jessica could not have have been more helpful with her suggestions. She was spot on with our itinerary. We visited Venice, Florence, Rome and Amalfi. We also did day trips to Cinque Terre, Sienna, Pisa, Lucca and San Gimignano. We thoroughly enjoyed all the activities that Jessica had booked for us. We would rate Jessica 10/10 for last minute flexibility, given we had an 11 and a... read more

We had a wonderful and dream trip to Italy. This was our first time using kimkim and Jessica from Storywalking. Jessica could not have have been more helpful with her suggestions. She was spot on with our itinerary. We visited Venice, Florence, Rome and Amalfi. We also did day trips to Cinque Terre, Sienna, Pisa, Lucca and San Gimignano. We thoroughly enjoyed all the activities that Jessica had booked for us. We would rate Jessica 10/10 for last minute flexibility, given we had an 11 and a 14 year old with us. Not only was Jessica understanding and accommodating, she provided on the spot alternatives based on the changing weather and moods 😀Thank you so much Jessica!!! We can't wait to come back to Italy!!

Activity Reviews

Cinque Terre Private Day Tour from Florence with Lunch

Italy

Beautiful place. Loved it.

Quality of Experience

Everything

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Awakening the Duomo: exclusive early entrance to cathedral, baptistery and Brunelleschi's Dome

Florence

Such an wonderful experience

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Lucca and Pisa Tour from Florence

Italy

Loved Lucca. Awesome place and food.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private sunset Boat tour - Positano

Amalfi Coast

Vatican & Sistine Chapel Tour and Saint Peter's Basilica

Rome

Loved the tour and the guide

Words can't describe just how excellent Jessica and the kimkim team were in making our trip to Italy unforgettable. We had never used a travel agent before, and were visiting Italy for the first time. We are so glad we chose kimkim and Jessica for planning the trip. Our family went back and forth about which cities to visit, what to do, and how long to stay. With each change in our plans Jessica came up with great ideas and a new plan. Jessica arranged our tours and transportation,... read more

Words can't describe just how excellent Jessica and the kimkim team were in making our trip to Italy unforgettable. We had never used a travel agent before, and were visiting Italy for the first time. We are so glad we chose kimkim and Jessica for planning the trip. Our family went back and forth about which cities to visit, what to do, and how long to stay. With each change in our plans Jessica came up with great ideas and a new plan. Jessica arranged our tours and transportation, leaving ample room for free day at the beach or to explore on our own. Private car drivers were prompt and personable and the tour companies for Rome (Lorenzo, walking tour guide extraordinaire!), Pompei (Mena!), Capri (grazie, Francesa and Gabriele!), Lake Como (Renzo, who made us feel so welcome we felt we'd known each other or years) and the Vatican were top-notch, helping us navigate Il bel paese through crowds and summer heat! When a slight hiccup found us off the Pompei tour list, Jessica spoke personally to the tour company! Amazing. A special mention to the Hotel Mignon in Sorrento -- a very special place!

Hotel Reviews

Bettoja Hotel Massimo D'Azeglio

Rome

Gilded, Old world feel -- like a movie set! -- with lots of modern touches. You really feel like you're somewhere special at this hotel. The staff is incredible. We arrived mid-morning and got to check in early instead of leaving our bags in storage. The room had high ceilings, great air and a large bathroom, and an actual writing desk! Breakfast was really spectacular (the "homemade cake" was different each day but always a special treat.) Great restaurant and lots of other food choices, including a Coop market, nearby. The hotel is a block from the terminale (transit hub) -- buses, trolley and trains -- but the area never seemed crowded and there was no noise. SS. Maria Maggiore, Colosseum, Minerva Temple ruin, and several archeological and historical sites and museums are within walking distance (all within about a mile, although it felt like more in the summer heat). And just a few blocks from some cool residential neighborhoods, shopping and theatres. Highly recommended.

Authenticity & Character

"Authentic" and "character" are exactly how I would describe this hotel. It's a work of art in itself. I found myself saying "this is what I always thought I European hotel should be like."

Location

the hotel is close to rains and other transit but it's like a quiet oasis. I loved that I could go out for morning run each day of my stay and could see something really interesting in every direction.

Staff

Staff always say hello and ask how you're doing. Professional but never standoffish.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The hotel is pristine.

Hotel Mignon

Sorrento

This hotel is amazing! Combine a resort-spa with boutique hotel: tile everywhere, Mediterrenean-themed rooms, with great closet space and big shower. Incredibly helpful and friendly staff (you'll know all their names and the kitchen staff will seem like family by the time you leave.) Sunshine, lemon and orange trees are literally within your grasp from the room's balcony, and you're steps away from the best shopping, dining and some incredible sights, like local churches, woodworking, ceramic and photo galleries and a medieval fort is right next door! The hotel is a little way from the beach (and uphill from it, like just about everything in Sorrento) but the path is easy to find and there are cool things to see every step of the way. We were truly sad to leave Hotel Mignon. We would stay there again without hesitation.

Authenticity & Character

Feels like a spa: it's exactly like a Sorrento vacation should feel like. Peaceful.

Location

It's a quiet place steps away from everything -- sightseeing, tour pickup location, restaurants, churches and museums.

Staff

Incredibly knowlegeable and friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

It's beautiul.

Uptown Palace

Milan

The Uptown Palace was very nice -- Of the three hotels we stayed at on vacation this one was the most urban and modern-- and the one that felt most like a New York business hotel. Ironically, it was also the one at which we saw the most families. There was a conference taking place during our stay but this was not at all a distraction. There are quite likely "rooms with a view of the Duomo" as per the adverts but ours overlooked U Milan and the ancient church of S. Gregory Nazianzus. It was a nice view, but both of spaces were sadly unavailable for us to visit. Fortunately there is a nice 18th-century park around the block with fountains and a fish pool-- a real find for us. Room was well appointed but on the small side for three adults: we had originally scheduled a delux double but were put in a standard room, and we believe this was an oversight by the staff as they were just finishing up accommodating the guest in line ahead of us who booked online but then wanted adjoining rooms for family members! Staff was otherwise very attentive and there was turn down service. Breakfast was a bit crowded but there was lots of room and the meal was great. It is indeed walkable to the Duomo (we did the whole Duomo package, including the museum and outdoor film screening so we spent a lot of time there), the Sforza castle, the da Vinci Museum AND the da Vinci exhibition (one's near the Duomo and the other isn't), and La Scala, as well as several area churches and an architectural self-tour. There is great food on the Sforza, the De Amicis, and around the Duomo but it was harder to find closer to the hotel, especially on weeknights after eight. This was made a little more problematic as it was very hot during our stay, there was a taxi strike and there were several construction detours in the area for pedestrians and vehicles alike. The airport was a short ride away which was also a plus, but overall, we would prefer to stay closer to a transit hub as the city can be challenging to navigate.

Authenticity & Character

Location

I think it would be great if there were recommendations for area restaurants, shuttle servces and other transportation more readily available. We loved the bathroom design but were a little concerned the height of the tub might be challenging for shorter guests (like one of us).

Staff

Staff were very available. We checked out very early in the morning and were given options to make it as smooth as possible the night before.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The place is spotless and very modern.

Activity Reviews

Exclusive Private Walking Tour of Rome

Rome

We love tours where you can see the sights AND at the same time learn what it's like to live in a city - what is Roma like to Romans? How do they live, travel, etc.? Lorenzo was perfect for the job! We saw areas of Roma that were famous, and gorgeous, but we might not be able to get to during a short stay, even with help from the tour bus -- Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navonna. I'll never forget Lorenzo showing us the "how to turn the downspout water fountain into a drinking fountain" trick! We talked history, architecture, politics, economics, and, yes, how to find out if the gelato is well made just by looking at it! In the end we walked for two hours and hardly noticed the distance or the time. Lorenzo was also very mindful of when we needed a brief break. This was excellent.

Quality of Experience

It's like walking with a friend or colleague. This was an awesome way to learn the city and a lot about the people who live and visit there. I've rarely taken a walking tour but as a result of this one, I'm sold on the idea.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Lorenzo is a great conversationalist, who walks my pace but readily adjusts to the group as a whole.

Exclusive Capri Boat Tour and Blue Grotto by Sorrento (up to 8 participants)

Italy

This was a highlight of our trip! Very easy transportation from the hotel to the marina. Francesca and Gabriele were incredibly friendly and thoughtful. Francesca easily addressed a child's case of Male di mare, while Gabriele sang and talked with me about the sea. The ride was smooth and the water and sky were brilliant blue. Even the wait for the blue grotto rowboat was enjoyable (tip: bring a couple extra euros to tip the rower, ours did an expert Dean Martin impression.) Food and drink aboard ship was plentiful, including a caprese sandwich for our time ashore. I cannot say enough about how wonderful Capri and Anacapri were (Take the skyride! Visit San Michele Chiesa! Stop for coffee at the caffe in between!) We will remember forever swimming in the golfo and making a circuit of the island. We were a family of three with another family of three aboard: I think this was ideal. Such attention to detail, such personable tour guides. Bravi!

Quality of Experience

Everything!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Francesca and Gabriele were excellent. I really liked talking with them and learned a lot. They really care about what they do.

Transport

Very comfortable ride to and from the marina. The Capri harbor can be seem deceptively large and crowded, but if you look for where you got off the boat, it will be easy to know where you should re-board in the afternoon.

Lake Como and Bellagio– Full Day Trip from Milan - Shared

Milan

A true vacation highlight! Meeting Renzo and the train station in Milano was like meeting an old friend or family member. He put us all at ease, and was very easy to talk. The train to the Lake and then the ferry was so seamless. Renzo knew the region intimately, and wove the story of the villas, the flora, the local fishing and silk economy, Lake Como celebrities past and present and so much more into wonderful stories. The Lake, and Bellagio itself, are beautiful and fun, but we would not have had had half as great a time if it weren't for Renzo's fabulous tour. The shopping and restaurant recommendations were spot-on, too, and learning from Renzo about all there is to do in the area (touring the villas, cycling and mountaineering) will make the Lake our destination for our next vacation rather than a day outing.

Quality of Experience

There was so much to see and Renzo guided us in a very relaxed, easy manner.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Renzo made the lake feel like home.

Transport

Ferries were easy to find and easy to purchase tickets. (We know this only from observation, as we had them in advance)

Just got back from our 12-day trip to Italy, and we could not be more pleased with all that Jessica arranged. I have to say, I was a bit nervous planning and paying someone online having never spoken to them on the phone, but everything was exactly like she stated it would be. Jessica did a fantastic job on many levels. To begin with, she really listened to what we wanted and the rhythm in which we wanted the trip to take. The places in which she chose for us and our accommodations were... read more

Just got back from our 12-day trip to Italy, and we could not be more pleased with all that Jessica arranged. I have to say, I was a bit nervous planning and paying someone online having never spoken to them on the phone, but everything was exactly like she stated it would be. Jessica did a fantastic job on many levels. To begin with, she really listened to what we wanted and the rhythm in which we wanted the trip to take. The places in which she chose for us and our accommodations were incredible, and what I found to be one of the most impressive parts of the vacation. The accommodations added and helped make the experience, as opposed to just being a place to stay. She also checked in with us daily to make sure we were enjoying our time or had made it okay to our destination. Twice, we had a last-minute change of plans and needs, and Jessica was on it, and made sure we had the needed transportation and ability to get where we needed to go.

Hotel Reviews

Al Palazzo del Marchese di Camugliano

Florence

Out of our 12 days in Italy, Florence was my family's favorite place to visit and a lot of it had t do with staying at the Al Palazzo del Marchese di Camugliano. The staff and setting were incredible. Having breakfast in the garden and the late-night glass of wine over cards made it one of our favorites.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Torretta

Riomaggiore

The view from our balcony made this one of our favorites of our 12-days in Italy. Most nights we opted to have dinner on the balcony. The staff was always eager to please and accommodating. The breakfast was delicious, complete with the freshest of fruits. Easy to access the train station and absolutely beautiful setting of vineyards and town if you choose to rest and enjoy.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Always there to meet your needs.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Private Day Tour by car and driver from Florence to Jewels of Tuscany

Italy

What can I say? The car was immaculate. Massimo was incredible. Very accommodating and full of information regarding the region and towns, with plenty of suggestions of what to do. He even had printed maps--two for each family highlighting the areas we should check out, complete with bathrooms marked for convenience. His communication regarding pick up and checking on us regularly to make sure we didn't have any questions.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

As a whole, what you all planned was good. I am not pleased that you all forgot to pick us up at a train station. It was hot and we paid too much for this level of unprofessionalism. This issue is compounded by the steep pricing. read more

As a whole, what you all planned was good. I am not pleased that you all forgot to pick us up at a train station. It was hot and we paid too much for this level of unprofessionalism. This issue is compounded by the steep pricing.

My family and I just completed a three week tour of Italy , with stays in Lake Como, Milan, Florence, Rome, Amalfi Coast, and Taormina Sicily.
Jessica Proietti , at Story Walking Tours, worked closely with me to make sure the hotels, tours, activities restaurants met and exceeded our expectations.
While we were Italy she was in contact with us each step of the way making certain that each event went off as planned and she accommodated slight changes we made o the fly.
I am a seasoned... read more

My family and I just completed a three week tour of Italy , with stays in Lake Como, Milan, Florence, Rome, Amalfi Coast, and Taormina Sicily.
Jessica Proietti , at Story Walking Tours, worked closely with me to make sure the hotels, tours, activities restaurants met and exceeded our expectations.
While we were Italy she was in contact with us each step of the way making certain that each event went off as planned and she accommodated slight changes we made o the fly.
I am a seasoned traveler, and I would rate the activities she planned for us, the hotels and restaurants she selected and the services provide by Jessica a 10 on a scale of 10.
I am very pleased that we used Story Walking Tors and will recommend Jessica and her agency to all my friends who intend to travel to Italy in the future.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Lorelei Londres

Sorrento

Very pleasant hotel in good location

VOI Grand Hotel Mazzarò Sea Palace

Taormina

This hotel was a big surprise- It was perfect

Authenticity & Character

Wonderful Veranda - Great dinners with a piano player - Magical!

Location

Has it's own private beach and located new the gondola make going to town very convenient

Staff

Couldn't be friendlier or more attentive.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were perfect!!

Villa d'Este

Como

My favorite Hotel - Its Magical

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grand Hotel et de Milan

Milan

Hotel is old and tired.

Authenticity & Character

Hotel is old and tired - needs to be torn down and rebuilt

Location

Staff

Staff very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grand Hotel Bristol Resort & Spa, by R Collection Hotels

Rapallo

Loved the hotel - sorry we didn't stay longer

J.K. Place Firenze

Florence

Very pleasant small hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel de Russie

Rome

My favorite hotel in Rome

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

The Grandeur Of Como: Villa Olmo and Brunate Funicular

Italy

Enjoyed the tour

Milan In A Nutshell

Milan

Very enjoyable and informative tour

Full Day Tour Amalfi Coast: Positano, Amalfi and Ravello

Amalfi Coast

Private boat tour: Pearls of Lake Como

Italy

Had a great time

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Genoa Old Shops Food Tour

Genoa

Pleasant guide - but nothing special about the food.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pisa: full ticket entrance and private guided tour

Pisa

Loved the tour and vising the surround structures near the tower

Quality of Experience

Great tour but day was very hot

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boat Trip along the Taormina Coast

Taormina

Lot's of fun - Swimming off of the Boat was great- Ending up ma t a restaurant a real treat Great Day

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cannolo Cooking Class

Taormina

Making Cannoli- lots of fun

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Como Food Tour

Italy

Great time

Florence Art Tour: Uffizi & Accademia

Florence

A wonderful tour of the exceptional art

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cooking Lesson with a Farm Chef (4 hours)

Italy

A truly outstanding experience that my entire family will always remember. The best cooking class we have ever taken.

Quality of Experience

Food

Unbelievable experience

Transport

Rome walking tour by night

Rome

Good tour of some of the highlights. Guide was terrific

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

NA

Limoncello Tour & Tasting

Amalfi Coast

Great fun - Chef was terrific

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Visit to the Gentile Company Factory

Italy

An interesting tour of the silk factory

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sicilian Street Food

Palermo

Guide was very good - tried hard- but touring in Palermo is not very interesting

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jessica is a wonderful specialist with whom to work. She was flexible, adaptable, knowledgeable, and planned a great trip. We had a whirlwind time in Italy--visiting 5 cities in 8 days--so a lot of the exhausting parts were based on our own desired itinerary, not something Jessica suggested. We lost a half-day in Venezia due to a late train out of Verona, so please be mindful of tight connections (we had a 22-minute window, but the train was 15 minutes late, meaning 7 minutes to de-train and... read more

Jessica is a wonderful specialist with whom to work. She was flexible, adaptable, knowledgeable, and planned a great trip. We had a whirlwind time in Italy--visiting 5 cities in 8 days--so a lot of the exhausting parts were based on our own desired itinerary, not something Jessica suggested. We lost a half-day in Venezia due to a late train out of Verona, so please be mindful of tight connections (we had a 22-minute window, but the train was 15 minutes late, meaning 7 minutes to de-train and run through throngs of people, literally to the furthest possible platform away...train pulling away as we arrived). Cost an extra $250 to rebook a later train. Had a less than ideal tour guide for the Colosseum and Forum in Roma (hard to hear, very difficult to follow), but that is the fault of the tour company, not KimKim or Jessica. On our food tour of Napoli, we were asked to purchase food and drinks, which we did not even want. When doing KimKim tours previously in Greece and Croatia, the guides covered all expenses, including tips, so we hadn't planned for that in Napoli. The guide was good, and we had been delayed to meet her, so we didn't complain about paying for the food.

Best parts of Italia adventure were: (1) in Napoli, the Hop On Hop Off Bus is a great resource; the panoramic line is beautiful and takes you to a lot right next to the Nuevo Castle. Highly recommend taking a tour of the castle. We ate at Antonio y Antonio in Napoli and hadca fantastic experience. (2) Roma--the private tour of the Vatican was incredible, but be absolutely certain you report to the Museum area! We were responsible for finding transportation to the tour that started at 830AM that morning. We couldn't get a cab for almost 25 minutes and then were dropped off a full mile from where we were supposed to be...we were a full hour late to the tour, and thought we'd missed the opportunity, but fortunately, another guide was available. Our 87 year-old father is very mobility challenged, but the Vatican gave him a wheelchair and wonderful treatment, so he could experience his lifelong dream. Also, highly recommend a golfcart tour of Rome! We left at sunset, and saw the majestic city with a fantastic guide in the cool evening air, with the lights illuminating the hostoric sights. (3) Elba's Hotel Fabricia. Take a boat tour with Claudio and relax inside a secluded, lushly tropical, historic resort. Paradise once you arrive. But, please note that ferries are not ADA accessible and all luggage must be carried by passengers up and down multiple flights of stairs. This part of the trip was harrowing for the mobility-challenged member of our party and I ended up very injured by a terrible fall, trying to manage both the bags and my father-in-law. (4) Verona. Everything about Verona is magical. We managed our own tours while there and recommend the cathedral package which allows you access to several stunning historic buildings, including the Duomo. Dining at Osterio il Bertoldo with Italian family was the highlight of our stay. Also, the room at Hotel Mastino wss a superb choice for anyone traveling with a child(ren); they get their own room and TV in the suite. (5) Venezia- We were again responsible for making our own way to the Hotel Carnival Palace, which quite a way from the train station. A porter transited over bridges and cobblestone streets with our bags ($30), but for the mobility-challenged, water movement is easiest. We used water taxis and a gondola (both very costly ($70-180), but necessary) to do most sightseeing and to get to the airport.

All-in-all, a trip of a lifetime. Although sometimes harrowing, over-budget, exhausting, and while still sporting some serious bruises from my fall on the ferry, I would do it all again in a minute.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Piazza Bellini & Apartments

Naples

Absolutely perfect for families. Our teen son had a loft with his own bathroom, table, fridge and AC. Our room had a large bed, bathroom and balcony. Breakfast was excellent. Location is not great. Would rather have been near the water, but overall lovely experience.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Windrose

Rome

Very average. Located right near the train station, the room was very small, bathroom was inadequate for three people's belongings, and AC leaked excessively. Breakfast was okay. Best part was the staff.

Tips for future travelers

If you are a couple or solo traveler, this might better suit your needs

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Fabricia

Portoferraio

If you don't have a car, plan to be here 24/7.

Tips for future travelers

You will have to eat all meals at the hotel. Budget accordingly. They have an exceptional laundry service.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Mastino

Verona

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Carnival Palace

Venice

Tips for future travelers

Not great for mobility-challenged unless water transport is booked

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

City Sightseeing in Naples

Naples

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Naples Food Tour

Naples

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Family Friendly Rome By Golf Cart

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vatican & Sistine Chapel Tour - Visit itinerary without barriers

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rome in a Day: Skip the Line Vatican Tour & Colosseum

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private excursion by boat

Elba island

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Claudio was superb

Transport

Everything

We had the best trip with the perfect mix of tours, activities and free time to explore with our teenage girls on their first trip to Europe. Our tour guide Sara in Venice, Giulia in Rome and Luiciano for the Capri tour were exceptional!
We LOVED the Limoncello day in Amalfi. The food tour and hotel roof top were definitely highlights in Naples, but if doing it over again we probably would skip Naples and stop in Florence instead.
Overall, great planning and we were so appreciative of... read more

We had the best trip with the perfect mix of tours, activities and free time to explore with our teenage girls on their first trip to Europe. Our tour guide Sara in Venice, Giulia in Rome and Luiciano for the Capri tour were exceptional!
We LOVED the Limoncello day in Amalfi. The food tour and hotel roof top were definitely highlights in Naples, but if doing it over again we probably would skip Naples and stop in Florence instead.
Overall, great planning and we were so appreciative of Jessica being available quickly whenever we had questions.
Thank you for an amazing trip and a lifetime of memories!

Activity Review

Limoncello Tour & Tasting

Amalfi Coast

Our favorite activity of the trip! So fun, interactive and amazing food!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A great trip perfectly planned for our budget and preferences! Jessica was also readily available via WhatsApp whenever we needed her while in Italy. Definitely recommend! read more

A great trip perfectly planned for our budget and preferences! Jessica was also readily available via WhatsApp whenever we needed her while in Italy. Definitely recommend!

Hotel Reviews

Boutique Hotel Galatea

Rome

Extremely friendly staff and perfectly situated to see all that Rome has to offer tourists.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Naplesuite

Naples

Great B&B next to all the best sites and restaurants in Napoli! The breakfast was also amazing and the staff was super helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Caruso Sea View

Sorrento

Can't beat the view and location!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Piazza del Gesù Luxury Suites

Rome

Great location, but that's about the best it offers. Room wasn't particularly clean, things like the hair dryer didn't work and the room was a weird layout that made getting your things awkward.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Rome in a Day: Skip the Line Vatican Tour & Colosseum

Rome

Absolutely fantastic tour, seeing everything we "needed" to see in a single day. Our tour guides (Maria-Teresa and Jan) were great and very informed.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our vacation in Italy was well beyond our expectations. All of our requests were met and the guides were very knowledgeable, friendly and professional. Everyone was on time and all drivers and vehicles were top notch. Guides were Suzanne in Rome, Sara in Venice, Cecelia in Cinque Terra, Barbara in Florence. We had private tours on land always in a Mercedes, private cabins on high speed trains, a small group boat trip to Capri, wine tasting, limoncello making, fabulous restaurants,... read more

Our vacation in Italy was well beyond our expectations. All of our requests were met and the guides were very knowledgeable, friendly and professional. Everyone was on time and all drivers and vehicles were top notch. Guides were Suzanne in Rome, Sara in Venice, Cecelia in Cinque Terra, Barbara in Florence. We had private tours on land always in a Mercedes, private cabins on high speed trains, a small group boat trip to Capri, wine tasting, limoncello making, fabulous restaurants, beautiful 4 star hotels that supplied breakfasts, views of Mt Vesuvius and a 2 hr private tour of Pompeii, a private tour of the Amalfi coast and Tuscany in private cars and so much more. Our planner, Jessica, was constantly checking in with us to ensure everything was perfect. We wish we had experienced this memorable vacation in our youth rather than in or 60s. We gained so much knowledge about engineering, architecture, culture and ancient history that we will be sharing with our family and friends. We will certainly recommend Kimkim to everyone! We enjoyed every moment and will treasure all of our memories we made on this trip.

From the moment we filled out KimKim’s questionnaire to the moment we stepped off the plane to return home, every detail of our 14-day vacation to Italy was outstanding! Our local specialist, Jessica, did a fantastic job of organizing and selecting exactly what my husband and I needed to have an exceptional trip from start to finish. Our vacation included many of the more familiar "touristy" stops - Florence, Pisa, Naples, the Amalfi Coast, Palermo, Rome - as well as a singular off-the-beaten... read more

From the moment we filled out KimKim’s questionnaire to the moment we stepped off the plane to return home, every detail of our 14-day vacation to Italy was outstanding! Our local specialist, Jessica, did a fantastic job of organizing and selecting exactly what my husband and I needed to have an exceptional trip from start to finish. Our vacation included many of the more familiar "touristy" stops - Florence, Pisa, Naples, the Amalfi Coast, Palermo, Rome - as well as a singular off-the-beaten path excursion to my family's small ancestral village in the heart of Sicily!

We were a bit nervous about the fact that we didn’t speak Italian, but Jessica made everything so seamless and organized that it never posed a problem for us. She even gave us her contact number to be available to us 24/7 in case we had any questions or issues along the way. She always answered our questions immediately and was able to resolve any miscues on the spot!

Each of the guides Jessica selected for us was knowledgeable and personable, we especially enjoyed the walking tour of Palermo with Marilù, the tour of Pompeii with Ella, the boat trip to Capri with Francesca and Nello, and the wonderful tour of the Vatican (the day before Easter!) with Laura. Also, a special shoutout to ALL our drivers (too many to name) who were all so professional, always on time, and each one so willing to share their own expertise of the area and Italian culture.

We also thoroughly enjoyed the unique hotels and B&Bs that Jessica chose for us: the Hotel Conca Park in Sorrento with the breathtaking view of Vesuvius and Donna Camilla Savelli (a former 17-century monastery) in Rome were personal favorites with their local charm, fantastic locations and wonderful breakfasts!

On a side note, we travelled to Italy in April, which can normally be a rainy time of year, but we were fortunate that it only rained the first day and after that the weather was beautiful. Temps felt perfect in the 60-70s (Fahrenheit) most days, so we highly recommend this as a travel time over the summer months if possible. We hope to come back to Italy very soon to visit new places and return to some of our favorites, especially Sorrento (dinner at la Lanterna is a must!) and spend more time exploring the streets and museums of Florence and Rome.

Jessica definitely went above and beyond with her expert knowledge and detailed planning to make this a memorable once-in-a-lifetime experience. We sincerely appreciated how she was able to personalize the vacation to our specific needs every step of the way.

Grazie mille!

Hotel Review

VOI Donna Camilla Savelli

Rome

Loved the unique charm and luxury of this former monastery! Service was outstanding, and all the staff we encountered were very welcoming. The only drawback for us was the temperature of the room. We were there in April, which is a fairly cool time of year in Rome, but the room still felt a bit too warm for comfort. We're from Texas btw, so we're definitely accustomed to heat! We were told by the management that the hotel doesn't turn on the a/c until summer, so we slept with the window open to try to get it cooler. The staff graciously brought us an oscillating fan that helped tremendously! We enjoyed the hotel's beautiful garden courtyard for drinks, and the hotel is just steps away from a hotspot of streets in Rome with numerous places to eat!

Authenticity & Character

This hotel as an historical location is unique.

Location

Close to multiple places to eat

Staff

They were very accommodating and worked hard to see to our comfort!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was very clean

Activity Review

Guided Tour of Palermo

Palermo

My husband and I enjoyed a walking tour of Palermo with our guide, Marilù. Her knowledge of the city and history of Palermo and Sicily was extensive. We learned so much! She kept a perfect pace for us, keeping in mind my husband's mobility issues throughout. She even took us to visit one of the food markets in the city where were able to stop and sample some delicious local favorites for lunch!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Marilù's expertise of the area, and all things Sicilian, was so impressive!

Jessica made our experience the most memorable one yet! We wanted to go to Italy for our Honeymoon and it was difficult finding a tour that suited our timing, until we found KimKim. Jessica helped customize our trip to our specific needs and she was always very easy to talk to. She made us feel reassured and was very solid with communication! She went above and beyond by contacting us through WhatsApp for whatever we needed. We will be using Kimkim in the future and if we can have Jessica... read more

Jessica made our experience the most memorable one yet! We wanted to go to Italy for our Honeymoon and it was difficult finding a tour that suited our timing, until we found KimKim. Jessica helped customize our trip to our specific needs and she was always very easy to talk to. She made us feel reassured and was very solid with communication! She went above and beyond by contacting us through WhatsApp for whatever we needed. We will be using Kimkim in the future and if we can have Jessica again that would be amazing! Thank you Jessica for making our trip to Italy unforgettable <3

Hotel Review

Hotel Sanpi

Milano

We love the hotel for it's Boutique look and vintage vibes. The room was very nice, comfortable and does a great job transporting you into the setting. I will say some minor inconvenience will be the light switches which are very unconventional, the switch for the bathroom is outside of the room lol you can't control the AC either. The breakfast is amazing, buffet style, gym is cool and everyone is very nice. I would stay there again.

Tips for future travelers

If you don't like sparkling water, bring water with you, they charge for every bottle they give

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The hotel felt like a vintage 5 Star

Activity Review

Evening Aperitivo - Navigli Street Food Tour

Milan

Francesca was our Tour guide and she was very chill, relaxed and made the food tour very fun! She is very relatable good at what she does. We were with another couple on the tour who were the same age as us.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We new the company through our search in the internet, and started planning with Jesseca

Our planning although took a long time and emails back and forth, Jessicca provided us with a very detailed plan that reflected what we wanted and more. Her suggestions were really what we wanted and we enjoyed all the activities with no exception.

From day one in all the activities, the services were as she said they would be, all the drivers were on time, professional and extremely nice and helpful.... read more

We new the company through our search in the internet, and started planning with Jesseca

Our planning although took a long time and emails back and forth, Jessicca provided us with a very detailed plan that reflected what we wanted and more. Her suggestions were really what we wanted and we enjoyed all the activities with no exception.

From day one in all the activities, the services were as she said they would be, all the drivers were on time, professional and extremely nice and helpful. Everything was planned to its every detail except for the meal time, because Italy closes at 2 for the lunch we faced some difficulty planning our lunch in time of the activity and I think this should be taken into consideration when planing the activities.

All the activities were amazing and they provided us with the best services and treatment. The people that we met became our friends from the drivers to the tour guides.

I felt safe with all the tour guides and drivers and they all provided us with information on the places and the history of it.

I did find the prices for the tours higher than the tour’s prices normally when I asked and compared with the local prices around in the country.

Many thanks to Kimkim the company that turn our dreams to reality.

Best wishes

Activity Review

Explore Pompeii Walking Tour

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We cannot say enough about Jessica, our local specialist for Italy with Kimkim, and Storywalking. We are seasoned travellers but with this being our first international trip since the pandemic, we decided to use KimKim for the first time. It was wonderful!

With a short interactive questionnaire to start the process, we were able to dialogue back and forth with Jessica including a zoom call, to exchange ideas and options to make our trip perfect. Jessica found the perfect matches for us... read more

We cannot say enough about Jessica, our local specialist for Italy with Kimkim, and Storywalking. We are seasoned travellers but with this being our first international trip since the pandemic, we decided to use KimKim for the first time. It was wonderful!

With a short interactive questionnaire to start the process, we were able to dialogue back and forth with Jessica including a zoom call, to exchange ideas and options to make our trip perfect. Jessica found the perfect matches for us including private airport transportation, hotel, city tours, excursions outside the city, a trip to a local farmer and formaggio maker, an olive oil tasting, and fine dining.

We hit the streets with a night walking tour with Susanna, a private cooking glass in the Ghetto, and walk with Sarah around Trastervere.

Not only where things organized well, on time and secure, Jessica kept in touch with us throughout the week to see if we wanted any modifications, any additions, etc. She was truly someone we felt we could reach out to in a minute if necessary. We even asked for what seemed like the impossible, a reservation at a fine restaurant that we had not booked in advance and was booked up. Jessica must have good connections because we were in (we were also flexible which is important) and had a wonderful afternoon on an otherwise wet afternoon.

Thank you so much Jessica! We had a wonderful trip thanks to you.

Hotel Review

47 Boutique Hotel

Rome

Great location, staff and hotel rooms!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Michelin restaurant: a day trip from Rome

Italy

This was an amazing day! The visit with local cheese maker and sheep farmer was quite interesting and the couple (3rd generation family owners) were the sweetest! The olive oil tasting was new to us and certainly opened our eyes to another tasting besides food and wine. The restaurant, La Trota, was amazing: we completed a wine pairing of local wines with each course. The staff were great, the atmosphere lovely and we had a wonderful experience. And our driver was very professional and courteous.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I highly recommend Kim Kim and specifically Jessica with “Storywalking”. We are a well traveled couple and will definitely use this agency again. Jessica helped us navigate the COVID requirements and kept in touch with us the whole time. She even filled out a form for us that we couldn’t figure out.
All hotel and car rental arrangements went smoothly and we were very pleased with everything. She made great suggestions as we went along our journey. She was not intrusive (which we liked)... read more

I highly recommend Kim Kim and specifically Jessica with “Storywalking”. We are a well traveled couple and will definitely use this agency again. Jessica helped us navigate the COVID requirements and kept in touch with us the whole time. She even filled out a form for us that we couldn’t figure out.
All hotel and car rental arrangements went smoothly and we were very pleased with everything. She made great suggestions as we went along our journey. She was not intrusive (which we liked) but offered just enough help at make everything very nice.

Hotel Review

Hotel Centro Florence

Florence

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Big Bus Rome: Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus - Ticket 48h

Rome

Quality of Experience

Hard to findb