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Melanie Rapuano

My name is Melanie and I'm a Travel Specialist based here in Italy! I'm half Italian and half British and I come from a city just off the Amalfi Coast!
I've always loved creating travel plans for myself and for family and friends, even for places I'd never been to.
When arranging a trip I love mixing sightseeing with local experiences, experiences which really talk about the country, the people, the tastes, the smells and which you can take back home with you not only in a photo, but as a feeling too!

As a mum of 2 small children I also try my best to help with family trips, because we all know the saying happy children, happy parents, especially on holiday!!

I like to think of myself as your friend in Italy, the one who helps you plan your trips from a local point of view, just as if you were asking a friend about her beautiful country!

I've traveled ever since I can remember and I've always loved calling a place a ''home'' even if just for a few days and this is what I hope I can share with you about my part of the world!

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"I specialize in the whole of Italy, there isn't a corner we haven't discovered!
Our experiences vary from sightseeing private and group tours to limoncello making in a local lemon grove, to a cooking class in a Tuscan farm to private boat trips on the Amalfi Coast!Truffle hunting in Piemonte or a jeep experience on Mt Etna? We have it all covered with English speaking, professionals who can't wait to share their unique stories with you!
And if you are travelling with children, we make sure it's completely child friendly with a glass of wine for the grown ups!"

How did you get involved in travel?

"I guess I've always been involved in travel! Being half British I've always helped friends and family come to Italy and enjoy our everyday life! By the time I was 12 I think I'd been to Pompeii 15 times already not to mention the fact the Amalfi Coast is on my doorstep which made everyone want to come and visit me even more!
It's in my DNA!"

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"When travelling around Norway I stopped off to take some pictures in what seemed the middle of nowhere and I naturally took out my bottle of water and a snack. I was stopped by a Norwegian lady on a bike, she asked me why I was drinking bottled water. She told me Norwegians don't believe in buying water and went on about giving me some ''storytelling'' about how Norwegians lived. It was a random moment but it was so special, she took her time to talk to me about her beautiful country and share with me parts of everyday life which I would have never known!"

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

Favorite experiences

Pizza Cooking Class in Naples

Learn what makes authentic Neapolitan pizza the best pizza in the world with a family-friendly cooking class. Uncover all the secrets of this great Italian wonder in the exclusive company of a pizza chef. To start, your guide will lead you to the restaurant of one of the oldest families of...

Toddler-Friendly Family Walking Tour in Venice

Get your bearings and enjoy a fun, family-friendly orientation walking tour of beautiful Venice. Designed specifically for younger kids (toddlers and preschoolers), you’ll enjoy an exciting scavenger hunt filled with games and coloring.Oh no, kids! Poor Marco, the lion, is so worried—his friends...

Family Food Tour & Cooking in Rome

In this family-friendly tour of Rome’s food culture, you’ll first enjoy the city’s markets and then learn how to make traditional pizza on your own. Kids and families love this experience, as it offers lifetime memories and teaches new skills. You’ll visit Rome's most beautiful and ancient...

Chianti Wine Tasting & Farm Lunch

Absorb Chianti’s scenic countryside with a driving and winetasting tour. You’ll twist and turn along panoramic roads, tour wine cellars, learn about the history of growing Chianti grapes, and savor a traditional lunch of local products on a family farm. As you set off for Chianti, enjoy the...

Cinque Terre Sea Kayaking Tour

Enjoy Cinque Terre from a different perspective with a morning or sunset sea kayak tour. You’ll paddle from Monterosso al Mare to Vernazza, discovering cliffs and caves and swimming in the crystalline water. Kayaking allows you to explore otherwise inaccessible coastlines. Enjoy this special...

Sunset e-Bike Wine Tour in Cinque Terre

Discover the picturesque vineyards of Ca’du Ferrà on an exciting e-bike tour. Starting in Levanto, you’ll pedal up into the hill and reach the scenic vineyards, which stand at over 1,000 feet (350 m) above sea level. Stop here to visit a vineyard and enjoy a wine tasting in the cellar with some...

Recent trip reviews for Melanie

An Unforgettable Family Vacation to Italy — Thanks to Melanie R.!
Italy | Jun 16 - Jun 24, 2026

Stan
Stan Y.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Aug 21, 2026
We cannot say enough wonderful things about Melanie R. and the incredible job she did planning our family’s summer vacation to Italy. From our very first conversations, Melanie took the time to truly understand our family, our travel preferences, and what we wanted from this vacation. Because we were traveling with young children, it was especially important to us to experience the history, culture, and amazing food of Italy while also making the trip fun and memorable for our kids. Melanie... Read more

We cannot say enough wonderful things about Melanie R. and the incredible job she did planning our family’s summer vacation to Italy. From our very first conversations, Melanie took the time to truly understand our family, our travel preferences, and what we wanted from this vacation. Because we were traveling with young children, it was especially important to us to experience the history, culture, and amazing food of Italy while also making the trip fun and memorable for our kids. Melanie absolutely delivered.

Throughout the planning process, Melanie communicated with me regularly to make sure every detail was right. She took care of virtually everything—hotels, private drivers, exceptional tour guides, activities, restaurant recommendations, transportation, and all the logistics in between. What really stood out was how thoughtfully everything was selected. This never felt like a generic itinerary; it felt like a trip designed specifically for our family.

Our vacation began in Venice, where Melanie arranged a wonderful walking tour followed by a gondola ride through the canals. Our guide, Giovanni, was amazing. Both of our children absolutely adored him, and he became one of the most memorable parts of the entire vacation for them. We explored this beautiful city, experienced Venice from the canals, and enjoyed some incredible local food. It was a fantastic start to our trip.

From Venice, we traveled to Naples, which had been on my bucket list for a long time. Some of our favorite experiences of the entire vacation happened during this part of the trip.

One of the highlights was visiting a local farm near Sorrento, where our family participated in a mozzarella-making class. The owners of the farm then prepared an incredible farm-to-table lunch for us using local ingredients. Sitting together as a family, enjoying an amazing homemade meal while overlooking the farm, was one of those special experiences that we will remember for years.

We also did a local pizza and gelato-making class, which was another huge hit with the entire family. Not only was it a lot of fun, but we ended up having the best pizza of our entire trip—and the gelato was amazing too! We also visited Mount Vesuvius and the ruins of Pompeii, giving our children the opportunity to experience history firsthand in a way that was exciting and memorable.

We finished our vacation in Rome, where Melanie continued to strike the perfect balance between history and experiences that our children would enjoy. We had a private tour of the Colosseum, followed by a gladiator school experience that the kids absolutely loved. We also visited the Vatican and Sistine Chapel with another excellent private guide who made the experience both interesting and enjoyable for our family.

I wish I had the names of every guide and driver we had along the way so I could recognize each of them personally. Without exception, our guides and drivers were amazing. They were professional, knowledgeable, personable, and wonderful with our children. That consistency throughout a multi-city trip says a lot about Melanie and the quality of the people and vendors she works with. She made sure we were in excellent hands everywhere we went.

Just as importantly, Melanie’s service didn’t stop once our vacation began. She stayed in touch with us throughout the trip to make sure everything was going smoothly and that we were being well taken care of. Traveling internationally with children can be stressful, and having Melanie checking in and knowing she was there if we needed anything gave us tremendous peace of mind.

Looking back, what made this vacation so special was the combination of incredible destinations and experiences with how smoothly everything came together. Melanie handled the details and logistics so that we could simply enjoy Italy, spend time together, and make memories as a family.

I highly recommend Melanie R., especially to families traveling with children. She understands that a great family vacation needs to be enjoyable for the adults while also keeping the children engaged and excited, and she did an exceptional job creating that balance for us.

This was truly an amazing family vacation, and Melanie deserves so much of the credit for making it happen. We are already looking forward to working with her again to plan our next vacation to this region.

Thank you, Melanie, for taking such wonderful care of our family and for giving us a vacation we will remember for a lifetime!

Hotel Review
Palazzo Nainer
Roma

Wonderful Stay at Palazzo Nainer – Excellent Service and Location We had a wonderful stay at Palazzo Nainer during our family vacation in Italy and would highly recommend this hotel. The service was excellent throughout our stay. The staff was friendly, welcoming, attentive, and made us feel very well taken care of. The hotel itself was extremely clean and well maintained, which made our stay very comfortable. One of the highlights was the breakfast. The quality and taste of the food were excellent, with a great selection each morning, and the service was equally impressive. It was a wonderful way to start each day before heading out to explore Rome. The location was also ideal. We found it very convenient for sightseeing, dining, and experiencing the city, while still providing a comfortable place to return to after a full day of activities. Overall, we had an excellent experience at Palazzo Nainer. Between the outstanding service, cleanliness, delicious breakfast, and fantastic location, it was a great choice for our family’s stay in Rome. We would absolutely stay here again and highly recommend Palazzo Nainer to anyone visiting Rome.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Private Venice Walking and Gondola Tour
Private Venice Walking and Gondola Tour
Venice

An Unforgettable Introduction to Venice with Giovanni! Our private walking tour and gondola ride with Giovanni was one of the highlights of our family vacation in Italy and the perfect way to experience Venice for the first time. Giovanni was absolutely fantastic. He was extremely knowledgeable about Venice, its history, culture, and local life, but what made the experience truly special was his personality and the way he connected with our entire family. We were traveling with two children, and both of our kids absolutely adored him. He kept them interested and entertained throughout the tour, and they were still talking about Giovanni afterward. He became one of the most memorable people they met during our entire trip to Italy! The walking portion of the tour gave us a wonderful introduction to Venice and helped us appreciate the city beyond simply seeing the major sights. Having a private guide made the experience much more personal and enjoyable, especially as a family with children. Following the walking tour with a gondola ride through the canals was the perfect way to finish the experience. Seeing Venice from the water after exploring it on foot gave us two completely different perspectives of this beautiful and unique city. Giovanni helped make our first experience in Venice truly special. He was knowledgeable, personable, engaging, and wonderful with our children—the kind of guide who can turn a great tour into a lasting family memory.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Giovanni is the best. Highly recommend him. Our kids loved him! We all did.
Transport
Neapolitan Pizza Making Experience
Neapolitan Pizza Making Experience
Naples

One of Our Favorite Experiences in Naples — And the Best Pizza of Our Trip! Our pizza and gelato-making experience in Naples was one of the highlights of our entire family vacation in Italy. We were traveling with our children, and this was the perfect activity for the whole family—fun, interactive, educational, and, most importantly, absolutely delicious! The pizza-making experience was fantastic. We learned how to prepare authentic Neapolitan pizza and had a great time making our own pizzas from scratch. The experience was very hands-on, and the instructors made it enjoyable and engaging for both the adults and the kids. And the finished product was incredible! We ate a lot of pizza during our trip through Italy, but the pizza we made here was our favorite pizza of the entire vacation. There is something especially memorable about sitting down together and enjoying a delicious Neapolitan pizza that you just made yourself. The gelato-making experience was just as much fun. The kids especially enjoyed learning how gelato is made, and of course, getting to enjoy the finished product afterward was even better. The gelato was absolutely delicious! What we loved most was that this wasn't simply a meal—it was an experience our family could enjoy together. Our children were actively involved, everyone had fun, and we came away with a wonderful memory of our time in Naples. If you're visiting Naples, especially with children, we highly recommend this pizza and gelato-making experience. It was fun for the entire family, the food was amazing, and it gave us a chance to experience an important part of Neapolitan culture in a hands-on and memorable way. Definitely one of our favorite activities of the entire trip—and we are still talking about that pizza!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
The Ruins of Pompeii & stop for lunch
The Ruins of Pompeii & stop for lunch
Italy

An Incredible Day at Pompeii and an Unforgettable Farm Experience in Sorrento This was easily one of the most memorable days of our entire family vacation in Italy. Combining a visit to the incredible ruins of Pompeii with an authentic farm experience near Sorrento was the perfect combination of history, culture, food, and family fun. Our visit to Pompeii was fascinating. Walking through the ancient ruins and seeing firsthand how people lived nearly 2,000 years ago was an incredible experience for both the adults and our children. It brought history to life in a way that simply cannot be experienced through books or pictures. After Pompeii, we visited a beautiful local farm near Sorrento, and this ended up being one of our family's favorite experiences of the entire trip. We participated in a hands-on mozzarella-making class, which was both fun and educational. Our children especially enjoyed being involved in the process, and it gave all of us a much greater appreciation for how fresh mozzarella is traditionally made. The highlight, however, may have been the incredible farm-to-table lunch. The owners prepared a wonderful meal for us using fresh, local ingredients, and everything was absolutely delicious. Sitting together as a family, enjoying an authentic homemade Italian meal while overlooking the beautiful farm was one of those experiences that you simply don't forget. What made the visit especially memorable was how genuine and personal the entire experience felt. Rather than simply visiting another tourist attraction, we had an opportunity to experience a little piece of local Italian life, meet the people behind the food, learn something new together, and enjoy an amazing meal in a beautiful setting. For families traveling with children, we highly recommend this experience. The combination of exploring Pompeii, making fresh mozzarella, visiting the farm, and enjoying a delicious farm-to-table meal made for an exceptional day. One of the absolute highlights of our trip to Italy and a wonderful family memory that we will cherish for years to come!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Mozzarella tour and tasting
Mozzarella tour and tasting
Italy

An Unforgettable Farm Experience in Sorrento This was easily one of the most memorable days of our entire family vacation in Italy. Combining a visit to the incredible ruins of Pompeii with an authentic farm experience near Sorrento was the perfect combination of history, culture, food, and family fun. We visited a beautiful local farm near Sorrento, and this ended up being one of our family's favorite experiences of the entire trip. We participated in a hands-on mozzarella-making class, which was both fun and educational. Our children especially enjoyed being involved in the process, and it gave all of us a much greater appreciation for how fresh mozzarella is traditionally made. The highlight, however, may have been the incredible farm-to-table lunch. The owners prepared a wonderful meal for us using fresh, local ingredients, and everything was absolutely delicious. Sitting together as a family, enjoying an authentic homemade Italian meal while overlooking the beautiful farm was one of those experiences that you simply don't forget. What made the visit especially memorable was how genuine and personal the entire experience felt. Rather than simply visiting another tourist attraction, we had an opportunity to experience a little piece of local Italian life, meet the people behind the food, learn something new together, and enjoy an amazing meal in a beautiful setting. For families traveling with children, we highly recommend this experience. The combination of exploring Pompeii, making fresh mozzarella, visiting the farm, and enjoying a delicious farm-to-table meal made for an exceptional day. One of the absolute highlights of our trip to Italy and a wonderful family memory that we will cherish for years to come!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Family Vatican & Sistine Chapel Visit
Private Family Vatican & Sistine Chapel Visit
Rome

An Amazing Vatican and Sistine Chapel Experience with an Excellent Guide Our visit to the Vatican and Sistine Chapel was one of the highlights of our time in Rome and a truly memorable experience for our entire family. Our private guide was excellent—extremely knowledgeable, professional, personable, and engaging. There is so much history, art, and significance throughout the Vatican that it could easily feel overwhelming, but our guide did a wonderful job explaining everything in a way that was interesting and easy to understand. We were traveling with children, and we especially appreciated the guide's ability to keep the experience enjoyable and engaging for the whole family. Seeing the Vatican's incredible art, architecture, and history in person was remarkable, and entering the Sistine Chapel was an unforgettable experience. Having such a knowledgeable guide added so much context to what we were seeing and allowed us to appreciate the experience on a much deeper level. We highly recommend this tour, particularly for families visiting Rome. Having an excellent private guide made a tremendous difference and turned what could have simply been a sightseeing visit into a meaningful and memorable experience. A must-do while in Rome and an experience our family will remember for years to come!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Colosseum tour and Gladiator experience
Private Colosseum tour and Gladiator experience
Rome

The Perfect Rome Experience for a Family with Kids! Our private Colosseum tour followed by Gladiator School was one of the most fun and memorable experiences of our family vacation in Italy. If you are visiting Rome with children, we highly recommend combining these two activities! Our Colosseum tour was excellent. Having a knowledgeable private guide made a huge difference, especially while traveling with kids. Our guide brought the history of the Colosseum and ancient Rome to life and helped us understand what it would have been like during the time of the gladiators. Seeing such an iconic historical site in person was incredible for our entire family. Following the Colosseum with Gladiator School was the perfect choice. After learning about gladiators and seeing where they actually fought, our kids had the opportunity to experience a little of that history themselves. They had an absolute blast! It was fun, interactive, and a great change of pace after sightseeing. What we loved most was how well the two experiences complemented each other. The Colosseum tour gave our children the history and context, while Gladiator School turned what they had just learned into a hands-on experience they could participate in and enjoy. For families traveling to Rome with children, this is a fantastic combination. It was educational without feeling like a history lesson, active and entertaining for the kids, and equally enjoyable for the adults. One of our favorite family experiences in Rome and a wonderful way to make ancient Roman history come alive for our children!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Melanie Rapuano
Melanie
Melanie Rapuano
Local specialist in Italy | Replied on Aug 25, 2026
Hi Stan,
I have finally read your full review and with a few happy tears in my eyes I felt every word. Thank you so so much. When you contacted me because you'd read a review about a past guest with kids, you said the words that stood out where ''the kids were not bored once'' and having kids myself as you know, I know how important that sentence is. Every trip is so different to the next so understanding exactly what you wanted from the trip (and what you didn't want) was the most important...
Read more

Hi Stan,
I have finally read your full review and with a few happy tears in my eyes I felt every word. Thank you so so much. When you contacted me because you'd read a review about a past guest with kids, you said the words that stood out where ''the kids were not bored once'' and having kids myself as you know, I know how important that sentence is. Every trip is so different to the next so understanding exactly what you wanted from the trip (and what you didn't want) was the most important factor to consider. Well from your lovely review and from the photos and our messages during your trip I can say mission accomplished ''the kids were not bored on this trip!''!!

Thanks again Stan and family, I can't wait for your next trip to Italy!

Melanie

Perfect planning and execution, Italy with our teenage grandson!
Italy | Jul 21 - Jul 30, 2026

Ronald
Ronald F.
Jeffersonville, IN | Reviewed on Aug 04, 2026
Perfect planning and execution! Melanie helped us plan, organize and set up a perfect tour of Rome, Naples and Venice with our 16 yr old grandson. She took over with a short timeframe because I started with a trip planner that was not getting the job done. We needed to insure our teenage grandson had a memorable experience. Melanie took charge and the service we received was exceptional. Once on the ground, Giovanni joined our group to insure each day was perfectly executed. We... Read more

Perfect planning and execution! Melanie helped us plan, organize and set up a perfect tour of Rome, Naples and Venice with our 16 yr old grandson. She took over with a short timeframe because I started with a trip planner that was not getting the job done. We needed to insure our teenage grandson had a memorable experience. Melanie took charge and the service we received was exceptional. Once on the ground, Giovanni joined our group to insure each day was perfectly executed. We communicated frequently. I cannot say enough about KimKim, Italy Charm, Melanie and Giovanni. We will definitely use again and we highly recommend their services. Thanks for giving us an awesome trip! Ron, Hulyn and Tanner Farr

Local specialist: Melanie Rapuano
Melanie
Melanie Rapuano
Local specialist in Italy | Replied on Sep 23, 2026
Hi Ron, Hulyn and Tanner,
thank you so much for trusting me with your speciall holiday. In your initial email I could tell you weren't happy with the planner you were dealing with, so it was even more of an honour for me when you decided to leave them and book with me. I always say I'm not a seller, my job is not to sell. you the most expensive trip, my job is to listen and create the tripe exactly how you would want it, and we did just that!
Thanks again for booking with us, you were... Read more

Hi Ron, Hulyn and Tanner,
thank you so much for trusting me with your speciall holiday. In your initial email I could tell you weren't happy with the planner you were dealing with, so it was even more of an honour for me when you decided to leave them and book with me. I always say I'm not a seller, my job is not to sell. you the most expensive trip, my job is to listen and create the tripe exactly how you would want it, and we did just that!

Thanks again for booking with us, you were definitely one of our top 10 guests so far this year, it was really a pleasure and I speak for Giovanna and the rest of the team at ItalyCharme too who helped make it all happen.

Grazie,
Melanie

Handcrafted Journey Perfectly Matched our Italian Bucket List!
Italy | Jun 7 - Jul 2, 2026

Leslie
Leslie T.
Bellevue, WA, USA | Reviewed on Jul 20, 2026
We could not have been more pleased by the handcrafted Italian journey Melanie put together for our family! From a short list of destination choices around the country and our travel dates, she created a trip that included our entire wish list, including a town of our family's heritage, along with local excursions that showcased all the beauty and history Italy has to offer! The support provided by Melanie and Giovanna throughout the trip made each day's adventures flow with ease, allowing... Read more

We could not have been more pleased by the handcrafted Italian journey Melanie put together for our family! From a short list of destination choices around the country and our travel dates, she created a trip that included our entire wish list, including a town of our family's heritage, along with local excursions that showcased all the beauty and history Italy has to offer! The support provided by Melanie and Giovanna throughout the trip made each day's adventures flow with ease, allowing us to truly enjoy each experience rather than worry about constantly navigating logistics. Their hard work has left us memories for a lifetime!

Local specialist: Melanie Rapuano
Melanie
Melanie Rapuano
Local specialist in Italy | Replied on Jul 20, 2026

Hi Leslie,
thank you so much for your review and your kind words. Thank you for trusting me with all my ideas, all my changes, all my suggestions, I wasn't going to stop until it was eactly how it should be for you all to enjoy this special Italian trip and experience some family history too.

I'm so pleased everything went perfectly, you'll have to come back as you still need to visit Siena!!

Have a wonderful summer and I look forward to your next trip!

Melanie and Giovanna!

Melanie at KimKim was amazing!
Italy | Apr 20 - Apr 29, 2026

A
Anand R.
Dallas, TX | Reviewed on Jun 28, 2026
Working with Melanie was fantastic and everything I wanted and more! She worked with me months in advance to plan the ideal surprise anniversary trip for my wife in Italy. She communicated immediately and thoughtfully, did her research to find options and made great suggestions. I especially appreciated her guidance is not overscheduling! The free days were some of the best days of the trip! We loved learning about historical places, buildings, art, etc. Florence cathedral, Uffizzi and... Read more

Working with Melanie was fantastic and everything I wanted and more! She worked with me months in advance to plan the ideal surprise anniversary trip for my wife in Italy. She communicated immediately and thoughtfully, did her research to find options and made great suggestions. I especially appreciated her guidance is not overscheduling! The free days were some of the best days of the trip!

We loved learning about historical places, buildings, art, etc. Florence cathedral, Uffizzi and walking the district across the bridge were fantastic. Our days in Sorrento and Amalfi coast were heavenly and loved the day trips to Path of God's and the coastal towns. Ravello was a neat gem. I wish we had more free time there to explore the towns and places like Ravello. Pompeii was the real highlight for us and wish we had dedicated a while half day there instead of 2 hour tour. We ended in Rome only 1.5 days so of course would love to go back and spend more days in Rome and Florence. The walking tour the last night in Travestere was absolute highlight! Will plan to do that in every city next time.

The hotels were fantastic, arranged transportation from hotel were great, and bullet trains a nice splurge.

The only less than ideal experiences were the Murano tour - it was short and a sales pitch to buy instead of showing us the area.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Kraft
Florence
Authenticity & Character
Location
It was 20 minutes walk from center so nice and quiet for us and gave us some more walking. A little closer would have been nice.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Central Wellness Hotel Sorrento
Sorrento

Pleasant hotel.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
No nonsense but not overly service oriented. One front desk person did not help too much with suggestions.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Barocco
Rome

Amazing ambiance! Breakfast was out of this world!!!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Ruzzini Palace
Venice

Beautiful romantic room, breakfast was like in a high end palace room, amazing! Staff were excellent.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Vatican & Sistine Chapel Tour + Basilica
Vatican & Sistine Chapel Tour + Basilica
Rome

The Vatican and Basilica are world wonders. Our personal tour was 3 hours but still rushing literally. Our guide was nice buy talked too fast and felt like he needed to rush. It was nice to get past long lines but I think I would have preferred going myself and using audio guide but then would need whole day there.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
He talked too fast and felt rushed us.
Transport
Ravello, Amalfi & Positano
Ravello, Amalfi & Positano
Sorrento

Absolutely amazing. Coast drive and visiting towns were great but wish we could had a few more hours to really explore each town, get lunch, etc. Path of God's hike tour was amazing.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Panoramic trail nicknamed The Path of the Gods + Transfer from Sorrento
Panoramic trail nicknamed The Path of the Gods + Transfer from Sorrento
Italy

Amazing! Loved the guide and the lunch on mountain side! Wish we had thought of breaking off at end to walk to Positano.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Trip to Murano and glass making workshop
Trip to Murano and glass making workshop
Italy

We thought we would get a tour and learn about glass making. Instead they did 10 minute demonstration of glass blowing and then spent rest of time showing us their store. The pieces were amazing but we had wanted to really learn and see glass blowing and what is done on the island. I dont k ow if they didn't have people to take us around that day or this is the tour. We were disappointed with this.

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

This is 10 stars!!! Wow a magical evening! The guide Toni was spectacular! About 10 in our group, great food and wine, great explanations. We went to 3 restaurants then Gelato. Too much food in the end! I wish we had planned this in every city!!!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Venice Gondola Ride at sunset
Venice Gondola Ride at sunset
Venice

Its Venice and a gondola, so amazing. But not too exciting in our opinion. The guide didn't do much and Venice is sort of dirty. The sunset part was nice.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Melanie Rapuano
Melanie
Melanie Rapuano
Local specialist in Italy | Replied on Jun 28, 2026
Hi Anand,
thank you so much for your lovely review. I'm so please we were able to plan the perfect surprise trip and it all worked perfectly!
As I mentioned in my email, I do apologise that the Murano experience was not what you expected, we have already emailed the supplier to check why it was more about selling and less about the actual glass making.
I agree, the gondola is one of those must do's but it's also just that. We extended the time as a little Easter egg surprise for you, it's... Read more

Hi Anand,
thank you so much for your lovely review. I'm so please we were able to plan the perfect surprise trip and it all worked perfectly!
As I mentioned in my email, I do apologise that the Murano experience was not what you expected, we have already emailed the supplier to check why it was more about selling and less about the actual glass making.

I agree, the gondola is one of those must do's but it's also just that. We extended the time as a little Easter egg surprise for you, it's usually 30 minutes so maybe an hour was just too much.

Sometimes when you head back home and wish you had longer in that place, it means you have to return, this is to say, Ravello is waiting for you :)

Thank you for also pointing out about the hotels and guides, we will of course check everything to make sure everything runs smoothly.

Thanks again for trusting me with your special surprise, and I look forward to the next adventure!

Ciao :)

I had an outstanding experience with Kim Kim ...
Italy | May 31 - Jun 11, 2026

Patricia
Patricia D.
Miami, FL | Reviewed on Jun 17, 2026
I had an outstanding experience with Kim Kim Travel consultant Melanie. From the very beginning she was professional knowledgeable and attentive to every detail of our trip she took the time to understand my preferences and created a travel plan that exceeded my expectations. Her recommendations for accommodations transportation and activities were excellent and she was always available to answer questions provided assistance. Example we were 10 minutes late to our boat in Capri I called... Read more

I had an outstanding experience with Kim Kim Travel consultant Melanie. From the very beginning she was professional knowledgeable and attentive to every detail of our trip she took the time to understand my preferences and created a travel plan that exceeded my expectations.

Her recommendations for accommodations transportation and activities were excellent and she was always available to answer questions provided assistance. Example we were 10 minutes late to our boat in Capri I called her she said wait a minute then she called the captain and they came back and got us. Second example we were at the Vatican we had a private tour with a gentleman named Rich and he asked how good we were with stairs, my husband said fine I said I don’t know. Without saying a word he tested us out and knew I wasn’t good at stairs without saying a word he took the no. stairs route Rich called Melanie and told her that I was not good at stairs. Melanie immediately canceled the group tour in Pompeii and treated us to a private tour so that I would be safe then we had lunch at a local winery which was wonderful thank you Melanie and thank you Rich and Kim Kim group our honeymoon was stress-free and enjoyable Pat and Jack Drewiega from Clearwater Florida

Hotel Reviews
Aquae Romanae Bed and Breakfast Sorrento
Sorrento

It was absolutely spotless they were helpful the room was really nice and it was centrally located which was wonderful the coffee was wonderful the little store downstairs was great it was great great great

Authenticity & Character
Everything
Location
I already told you.
Staff
Everything
Cleanliness & Comfort
Everything
Hotel Barberini Roma
Rome

The bathroom was strange the location was great,

Authenticity & Character
Location
Close to the fountain
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
No
Activity Reviews
Lemon tour and lunch (or dinner) in Sorrento
Lemon tour and lunch (or dinner) in Sorrento
Sorrento

We could walk to it from our hotel or B&B and it was very interesting and learning how to make lemon cello will be lots of fun at home.

Quality of Experience
Ravello, Amalfi & Positano
Ravello, Amalfi & Positano
Sorrento

Beautiful experience gorgeous the driver was perfect stopped at a beautiful restaurant loved all of it

Quality of Experience
Melanie, and the driver was excellent
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
The Ruins of Pompeii & Winery on the Vesuvius
The Ruins of Pompeii & Winery on the Vesuvius
Italy

Very knowledgeable. Very careful because of my walking. I have her any day of the week

Quality of Experience
Food
I am
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Small group boat excursion to Capri from Sorrento
Small group boat excursion to Capri from Sorrento
Italy

The girl was great at explaining things the captain was good because he came back and got us when we were late.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
They were all great.
Vatican & Sistine Chapel Highlights with St. Peter's Basilica
Vatican & Sistine Chapel Highlights with St. Peter's Basilica
Rome

Rich made it special he was going to be a priest but then met somebody and has three children he was very good and knowledgeable took pictures to show us certain things to look for superb and understanding that I needed to not walk upstairs

Quality of Experience
Rich
Guides, Drivers and Staff
All were helpful and knowledgeable
Transport
Local specialist: Melanie Rapuano
Melanie
Melanie Rapuano
Local specialist in Italy | Replied on Jun 17, 2026
Hi Patricia,
what can I say. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Your trip wasn't just a trip, from our first call I knew this trip was special and my mission became to make it the best holiday ever for you both and I'm so pleased that's exactly how it was.
Trips like this reminds me why I do my job, it's not all about the holidays and the work, it's about the memories myself and the team can help make, memories that you take home and smile back at when you think of those special moments...
Read more

Hi Patricia,
what can I say. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Your trip wasn't just a trip, from our first call I knew this trip was special and my mission became to make it the best holiday ever for you both and I'm so pleased that's exactly how it was.
Trips like this reminds me why I do my job, it's not all about the holidays and the work, it's about the memories myself and the team can help make, memories that you take home and smile back at when you think of those special moments during every day life.

Thank you so much for trusting me with your trip, maybe one day I'll take you up on visiting you in the US.

Grazie from us all at ItalyCharme and kimkim! Take care and stay in touch!

Highly recommend!
Italy | May 1 - May 9, 2026

Aileen
Aileen N.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Jun 17, 2026

Highly recommend! My friend and I planned a multi city trip through Italy in 9 days and Melanie and her team were amazing! She was very accommodating and responded quickly to any questions and requests we had. She set up an amazing trip for us. She and her team were very responsive and had great communication throughout our trip. I would absolutely have her plan my next trip!

Local specialist: Melanie Rapuano
Melanie
Melanie Rapuano
Local specialist in Italy | Replied on Jun 17, 2026

Hi Aileen,
thank you so much for such a lovely review, it always means a lot.
I'm so pleased we were able to create this trip for you both exactly how you wanted and everything went smoothly.
I look forward to planning your next trip to Italy!!!

A presto,
Melanie

Multigenerational Family Travel in Amalfi Coast and Tuscany-- I trust Italy Charme!
Italy | Mar 27 - Apr 8, 2026

Pam
Pam W.
Alexandria, VA, USA | Reviewed on Jun 14, 2026
If you're a travel advisor collaborating with a multi-generational family on a stay in Tuscany and/or the Amalfi Coast, you owe it to yourself to reach out to Italy Charme (Melanie is my go-to there) to have as your in-country partner. They go above and beyond to make sure clients experience Italy like a local! No question I (or any of my clients' 1000s ;)) had was too difficult (or dumb) for them to assist me -- making me look like the expert in the US with my expert partners in-country in... Read more

If you're a travel advisor collaborating with a multi-generational family on a stay in Tuscany and/or the Amalfi Coast, you owe it to yourself to reach out to Italy Charme (Melanie is my go-to there) to have as your in-country partner. They go above and beyond to make sure clients experience Italy like a local! No question I (or any of my clients' 1000s ;)) had was too difficult (or dumb) for them to assist me -- making me look like the expert in the US with my expert partners in-country in Italy. We had worked on this itinerary for over 6 months, and Melanie (and the rest of the team at Italy Charme) allowed me to breathe a sigh of relief, even while my clients (family of 10, ages 3 to 85) were going from one villa to the next . . . and all the little towns worth seeing in between. I wouldn't hesitate to collaborate with Melanie and her team at Italy Charme with future client requests in Italy!

Local specialist: Melanie Rapuano
Melanie
Melanie Rapuano
Local specialist in Italy | Replied on Jun 15, 2026

Hi Pam,
thank you so much for such a lovely review.
I must admit the harder the booking the more challanging and rewarding it is, we were a great team and we got evey single thing right and exactly how they wanted it.

I must say behind it all, we have a fantastic booking and concierge team, they make all the magic happen from behind the scenes.

I look forward to heping you with your next trip to Italy!

Melanie

Southern Italy in Lesser Known Areas-- My Go To Partner!
Italy | Apr 30 - May 12, 2026

Pam
Pam W.
Alexandria, VA, USA | Reviewed on Jun 14, 2026
This was my second client trip in Italy, where I was able to collaborate with Melanie and her team at Italy Charme. Her (and their) assistance in helping me understand the intricacies of the two destinations that I wasn't that familiar with (Palermo/Sicily, and Puglia) was how it started, and their care for my clients during their entire time in Southern Italy-- even changing tours at the last minute-- was the icing on the cake for how they made us look like Rock Stars to our shared clients.... Read more

This was my second client trip in Italy, where I was able to collaborate with Melanie and her team at Italy Charme. Her (and their) assistance in helping me understand the intricacies of the two destinations that I wasn't that familiar with (Palermo/Sicily, and Puglia) was how it started, and their care for my clients during their entire time in Southern Italy-- even changing tours at the last minute-- was the icing on the cake for how they made us look like Rock Stars to our shared clients. They even assisted me with snags that neither of us could have planned for (caused by the clients) without creating more chaos or issues. I highly encourage other Travel Advisors and agencies to collaborate with Italy Charme for your client needs in all of Italy-- you won't regret it!

Local specialist: Melanie Rapuano
Melanie
Melanie Rapuano
Local specialist in Italy | Replied on Jun 15, 2026

Hi Pam,
thanks for this review too!
This was a tricky one and kept us on our toes until the end, but everything wend perfectly fine and even on the last day, we sorted it with no problems!

Thanks again for working with me on this trip, and I look forward to helping you plan more in the future!

Melanie

Perfect for us
Italy | Apr 3 - Apr 13, 2026

L
Lisa V.
San Jose, CA | Reviewed on Apr 14, 2026
Melanie did a great job of listening to what we wanted and providing it. It was our first time to Italy so wanted a mix of "the things you have to see" and time to really appreciate the country and culture. It was perfect for our needs. We ended up really appreciating the slower pace of Salerno. Still beautiful with lots of amenities, but not as touristy as other things. Our guides were all great. We learned a lot in every place we went - history, architecture, cultural significance.... Read more

Melanie did a great job of listening to what we wanted and providing it. It was our first time to Italy so wanted a mix of "the things you have to see" and time to really appreciate the country and culture. It was perfect for our needs.

We ended up really appreciating the slower pace of Salerno. Still beautiful with lots of amenities, but not as touristy as other things.

Our guides were all great. We learned a lot in every place we went - history, architecture, cultural significance. All amazing.

Agota was incredible in keeping us informed and shifting things as needed. I'm pretty sure this is a 24 hour job.

Thank you!

Activity Reviews
Colosseo and Roman forums adventure
Colosseo and Roman forums adventure
Rome

Sara was an excellent guide and was really good at ensuring we were at the Forum early (which wasn't quite as busy) and the Colisseum afterward. She was also really good at checking in with us regarding taking photos, resting, getting drinks, and keeping us on time. It's all amazing but more than you can see in the tour. We are putting the Forum back on our list for the next visit.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Very short walk from the hotel.
Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica Visit
Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica Visit
Rome

Due to some changes, we did the Basilica on our own and then the Vatican and Sistine Chapel with a guide. Roberta was knowledgable and really enthusiastic about everything. She was really good at explaining what we were going to see before we saw it and helping us understand historical themes. Basilica was amazing. We went to a small mass during our visit. The art is incredible. Just an amazing building.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
We had a driver over and uber on the way back.
Food & Wine Sunset Walk in Trastevere
Food & Wine Sunset Walk in Trastevere
Rome

I loved that we ate things that were not the normal things you have everywhere. My favorite was the cheese, meat, bruschetta at the first restaurant. All of the food was excellent and Marta was great at explaining everything and ensuring we were all organized and enjoying ourselves.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Marta's explanations and keeping us together.
Transport
Walked over. Easy taxi back.
Florence cooking class and market tour
Florence cooking class and market tour
Florence

Giulia was our instructor and was so good at giving us information about buying the ingredients, the cooking techniques, etc. We also loved the family we shared the experience with. So much fun. One of my favorite things.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Easy walk from the hotel
Semi private Chianti and San Gimignano tour
Semi private Chianti and San Gimignano tour
Florence

Claudius was our driver and was so fun and engaging. I loved that he pointed out things on the drive. The tour guides at each location were informative and we appreciated learning more about Chianti Classico wine. San Gimignano was incredible and we liked the loose schedule - we could walk around at our leisure.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Explore Pompeii Walking Tour
Explore Pompeii Walking Tour
Italy

Our guide was educated in historical architecture and gave us such a good understanding of the place and importance of the different areas.

Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Easy train trip
Local specialist: Melanie Rapuano
Melanie
Melanie Rapuano
Local specialist in Italy | Replied on Apr 17, 2026

Hi Lisa,
thank you so so much for such a lovely review. I'm so pleased you both had such a wonderful trip for your first time in Italy and I'm so happy you enjoyed the local feel of Salerno over Easter!

I promise to have food and wine for you until you return :)

I look forward to planning your next trip to Italy.

Take care,
Melanie

Thanks so much, Melania! Super trip indeed!!
Italy | Nov 17 - Nov 20, 2025

A
Angela L.
Germany | Reviewed on Jan 29, 2026
Thanks so much, Melania! The trip to Rome was amazing and really well organized. Thanks also for all your support during our stay.
Next time we’re in Italy, we’ll definitely get in touch.
Take care! 😊
Read more

Thanks so much, Melania! The trip to Rome was amazing and really well organized. Thanks also for all your support during our stay.
Next time we’re in Italy, we’ll definitely get in touch.
Take care! 😊

Hotel Review
Condominio Monti Boutique Hotel
Rome
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Colosseo and Roman forums adventure
Colosseo and Roman forums adventure
Rome

A real dive into the past, something I’ll remember for many years.

Rome food tour: A deliciously cultural tour for foodies
Rome food tour: A deliciously cultural tour for foodies
Rome

I can’t wait to come back to Italy just to do a tour like this again!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Melanie Rapuano
Melanie
Melanie Rapuano
Local specialist in Italy | Replied on Jan 29, 2026

Hi Angela,
thank you so much for your review! Your guests were simply lovely people and I'm so pleased I was able to help.

Say ho to them from me. Needless to say if you have clients interested in visiting, I'll be happy to help!

A presto,
Melanie