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!
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 travelled 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 beautiful country!
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 food and wine tour on the Roman hills! 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!"
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!
Then one day when in Capri with an English friend I get a call from a friend of a friend and was asked to join their team as a Travel Specialist, it didn't take me long to say YES PLEASE!"
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!"
Melanie's favorite itineraries and travel advice
Top itineraries and travel advice
This 12-day trip perfectly combines the cultural and historic aspects of Italy's most notable cities with laidback relaxation on the Mediterranean sea. Admire the stunning Duomo...
This tour starts along the Amalfi Coast, exploring picturesque hillside villages, the famous Path of the Gods hiking trail, the lively city of Naples, and the islands of Ischia...
Active travelers will get a full dose of sea and countryside views as they bike their way through southern Italy. Begin in the prehistoric town of Matera, then pick up your...
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
Melanie was great to work with and she was ve...
Italy
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Apr 7 - Apr 19, 2024
Melanie was great to work with and she was very responsive and pleasant. She was always checking in, without being pushy. We especially appreciated all of the drivers that got us safely to our destinations and they were always waiting and very helpful. The hotels were centrally located and even though we did have one issue, Melanie was responsive and is working with us for that to be resolved.
I would highly recommend her to book any of your travel needs in Italy!
Hi Christine,
thank you so much for your review, it really means a lot.
I'm so pleased you got your dream trip and I helped put it all together, it was lovely working with you on this from start to finish!
Thank you for mentioning the guides and drivers, I will let them know :)
Thanks again for booking with me and I look forward to your next trip to Italy!
Family trip to Rome and Sorrento/Amalfi Coast/Naples
Italy
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Mar 23 - Mar 31, 2024
Hi Tom,
thank you so much for leaving such a lovely review! Helping you and your family plan this trip was a pleasure. I'm so pleased you had a lovely time and the weather was nice for you too (apart from the odd sand storm!!!).
I'm really happy you enjoyed the guides and the drivers, they all spoke very fondly of you all too.
If you come to Italy again, you know where I am!
Thanks again, it really does mean a lot!
Ciao!
Melanie was simply outstanding, I will refer ...
Italy
|
Mar 1 - Mar 9, 2024
Hi Barry,
thank you so much for booking with us, it was a pleasure, and thank you for your review.
Again apologies for the hotel in Naples, we will never again use this hotel.
I look forward to helping you on your next trip to Italy!
Ciao!
Our Italy trip
Italy
|
Oct 12 - Oct 28, 2023
We enjoyed and appreciated the KimKim business model as a whole. It was nice to have local specialist help you plan the itinerary and I liked that you could book some things on your own such as hotels etc. Pricing for their service seemed a bit high but we did enjoy saving some personal planning and booking time. We covered Rome, Puglia, back up to Florence and Cinque Terre for 17 days so lots of miles. The trip went well as planned. Melanie was very responsive and a true pleasure to work with and a great attitude.
Hi Shane,
thank you so much for your review. It was a pleasure for me to help during your trip and I'm pleased you had a lovely time. I'm sure it'll take a few weeks to recover.
Again thank you for booking with us and we look forward to your next trip to Italy!
Melanie