Rita Pagano

We had a very good experience with Rita from initial contact to planning and booking the various aspects of our trip. There were some aspects that did not meet our expectations. For the most part, guides contacted us through What's App to confirm and clarify. This was greatly appreciated as we had some communication failures on a number of occasions. There were also times with accommodations that may have been a great property but the room location and/or size/quality missed the mark. For example...
Accomodations
For the most part about half of the hotels met our expectations or more.
Accomodations that met or exceeded our expectations
- El Faro, Alghero
- Baunei, La Bitta (Room overlooked the parking lot a highway but everything else was awesome.
Fantastic location, hotel but maybe not the view we would have desired
- Balocco, Porto Cervo - Beautiful Resort but Garden view.
- Quarry Resort, Matera - Awesome but no view at all. Room was great
- Hilton DoubleTree, Amsterdam - great location from train, nice room (upgraded)
Accomodations that were far below expectations
T Hotel, Cagliari - We realize the hotel Rita wanted to book was unavailable. G7 Finance Ministers were also in town but the room wasn't great, aweful view and even the hotel staff told us there wasn't much around us. It was a good 30 to 40 minute hike to get toward the marina and places we wanted to go. We feel this choice was well below expectations even knowing the circumstances
- Masseria Francescani, Lecce
This was the first major let down. We had a tough time pulling it together to enjoy the rest of the trip. The property was interesting but we ended up in a horrible room. It was likely a servant quarters recently as it is location on it's own at the very back of the building next to the kitchen and delivery trucks. The room was very dated and cobbled together. The shower curtain rod was rusty and the room was renovation years ago to provide wheelchair access. Even the Masseria staff apologized for the room and let us know it wasn't great but they had nice rooms if we wanted to come back.
Dimore di Brando, Polignano a Mare
This was expected to be the highlight of or trip. We had 4 nights to explore the region and enjoy this area of Puglia. Major disappointment in many aspects.
Very difficult to find. Davida is a very nice man. Jodie was roaming the area trying to find the room. She called the hotel to find out where to park. Davida asked if it was Jodie as he was anxious to get in touch with us. He explained he never received contact info to guide us through the check in process. We eventually connected and they sent a staff member to the parking area to help us. Parking was about 5 blocks away which we were expecting.
When we hauled our luggage to the room it was a ground level room in one of the busiest parts filled with street merchants and tour groups passing our door. The room was a complete miss from all aspects. It literally had no windows. The door was glass and it had a port hole but if the door was blocked for any reason we would have been trapped. The bed size was not what we requested, the room was incredibly small. We smashed our heads on overhanging rock several times. It was brutal. We came close to abandoning that room for one with a terrace and view but decided to stick it out. It was tough to get past.
Tours and Activities
All booked tours and activities were excellent, we had a number of activities booked and all were very informative and enjoyable. All guides were in touch in advance for the most part which really helped with the overall experience.
There was a tapas tour in Olbia where we arrived well in advance to the meeting point but were unable to locate tour guide. After contacting you via the chat feature, we decided to get back on the road to our hotel as a major rain storm was starting. Once on our way back your team responded as to where the guide was and we realized we were right there, in the square in front of that restaurant before we decided to leave. By this time we were on our way back to hotel, 40 minute drive, and caught in a rain storm like we have never experienced. All the guide had to do was to look out into the square and see two people looking around, we were virtually the only two people looking like we were looking for something, Outside of this issue, two of our sailing adventures were cancelled due to high winds, which is beyond anyone's control.
We do want to add that the app with links for driving and sights to see was really appreciated, helped us in getting around and seeing things we probably wouldn't have seen. All contact when needed was responded to within a timely manner.
You should know we have referred two different groups to KimKim and expect another 3 or 4 friends to move forward with KimKim in the near future.

Activity Reviews

Farm Visit in Puglia: Cheese-Making Laboratory and Local Product Tasting

Italy

Great experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bari Behind Doors: Guided Visit with a Local

Italy

Great guide, great day!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Family-Owned Winery Visit: Vineyard Tour and Wine Tasting in the Itria Valley

Italy

Great experience!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Walking Experience in Otranto & Trekking at the Bauxite Caves

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lecce’s Gastronomic Experience

Italy

Great day and guide

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ape Calessino Tour in Matera & Aperitivo on Panoramic Terrace

Italy

Great day and great guide!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Dinghy Trip Excursion to Sant'Antioco or Carloforte

Cagliari

This was cancelled by tour group due to high winds

Full Day Excursion on a Sailboat to Asinara from Stintino

Italy

This was cancelled by tour group due to high winds

Guided Visit of Alghero & Wine Tasting

Alghero

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sardinian Tapas Tasting in Olbia

Olbia

This is covered off in our comments

Boat Excursion of La Maddalena Archipel from Palau

Italy

Quality of Experience

Food

Everything was excellent!!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Planning was very smooth - Rita was very helpful and insightful. Support during trip was timely and professional. Kim Kim support was aware of our train cancellation before we were and proactively rebooked and notified us. We’ve had just as good of service from Kim Kim on previous trip. Would highly recommend and will definitely use again!

Our trip to Spain, Portugal and Morocco was exceptionally well planned and executed thanks to Rita and the KimKim team. We were blown away by the level of support she provided both before and during the trip. She created a really amazing itinerary and then patiently made changes and improvements to it a number of times before we locked on a plan and booked the trip! She really listened to our requests and suggestions and went the extra mile for us to fit in the things that mattered most. The local guides she connected us with were so great and the drivers made us feel safe and supported on the ground. Every single details was attended to with care and we loved having the app and chat access to Rita throughout our travels. Cannot recommend highly enough!

Hotel Reviews

Riad Le Pèlerin

Marrakech

We absolutely loved the design and decor of this riad and the staff was so attentive! The traditional breakfast was delicious and our every need was attended to. We were grateful that they met us at the street and helped get our baggage to the property since it was not accessible by car. During a trip that took us to three countries and 5 cities this was our favorite hotel experience of all.

Authenticity & Character

Instagram-ready!

Location

Really central - just be aware you need help getting luggage as a car cannot get you all the way to the door.

Staff

We adored Mustapha who was the consummate host!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Belmar Spa & Beach Resort

Lagos

This is more of a condo-style hotel with plenty of space including a living room, dining table, kitchen, washing machine and drying rack. One of our rooms had a lovely view of the pool and the other had walkout access directly to the pool. It was an easy walk to the public beach. The onsite restaurant had a great breakfast buffet and the hotel fitness center was well equipped. We were a bit removed from other activities at this location so be prepared to drive or call an Uber.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pestana Lisboa Vintage

Lisboa

The location just off Avenida da Liberdade is great. Rooms were nice but not exceptional. Instant coffee in the rooms was disappointing but the hotel breakfast more than makes up for it! The elevators are small and slow - good chance to take the stairs and get some extra steps :)

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

PortoBay Hotel Teatro

Porto

Beautiful hotel in a terrific location! Great front desk staff and concierge. The hotel breakfast is just LOVELY. Nice extra touches in the rooms - our suite even had an incredible balcony with lounge chairs! The fitness center is a partner property a 5 minute walk away and was very minimal.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Eric Vökel Boutique Apartments - Madrid Suites

Madrid

Spacious accommodations and good location - be aware there are no amenities onsite since it's an apartment vs hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The front desk went the extra mile to help us arrange airport transportation.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Tuk-Tuk Tour

Portugal

The tuk tuk tour was amazing! We enjoyed hopping on and off our tuk tuk through the city's streets. This activity offered a unique and enjoyable way to explore the city, making it a memorable part of our trip.

Fado Dinner Experience

Lisbon

The Fado experience in Lisbon was a bit of a letdown for me. While the food was fine, the overall atmosphere felt overly touristy and lacked the authenticity I had hoped for.

Algarve Kayaking Trip to Benagil Caves

Portugal

The kayaking experience was exceptional! We enjoyed paddling through scenic waters, which offered both adventure and tranquility. This activity provided a perfect blend of excitement and relaxation, making it a highlight of the trip.

Tapas Culinary Experience

Madrid

We loved our guide and getting to share this experience with another family - the places we visited were good but I wouldn't say great in terms of the tapas served.

Quality of Experience

Food

the specific restaurants visited - the food was ok but not great

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I really appreciate Rita's help and patience while working with us. She gave us accurate information and made great suggestions for the types of activities that would make our trip to Italy a great success. Rita helped us stay within our budget while still giving us memorable private tours and much-needed transportation. If I am planning another trip to Italy, or to another country, I will definitely use KimKim to help create the best itinerary for us.

We recently returned from a fantastic family trip to Italy, all thanks to the incredible planning by our travel agent, Rita Pagano. Our trip was to visit our ancestral home with 3 generations and 12 family members ages 17 to 84. We started in Milan and ended in Florence, with several stops along the way. Rita efficiently planned everything from booking our hotels, renting cars, and making transfers to organizing tours in Parma and Tuscany. The tours in Parma With Ricardo and wine tasting in Tuscany with Andrea were informative, fun, and delicious, adding a great touch to our Italian adventure.
The hotels we stayed in were not only comfortable but also conveniently located, making it easy for us to explore the cities. Rita was always available when we needed to make additions to our itinerary and handled our needs in a timely fashion, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable trip.
Our family had a fantastic time, and the entire experience exceeded our expectations.
We are deeply grateful for the beautiful memories we made during this trip, and they're all thanks to our travel agent's meticulous and thoughtful planning. We couldn't have asked for a better experience and highly recommend their services to anyone planning a trip.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Il Guelfo Bianco

Florence

Hotel Il Guelfo Bianco was an excellent place to rest our heads when we visited Florence. The hotel is within walking distance to the Piazza Del Duomo, Pitti Place, and the Ponte Vecchio. The hotel had lovely rooms decorated with style and comfort in mind. The daily breakfast included fresh fruits, meats, cheeses, and bread. The staff was eager to make our stay enjoyable and recommended a great restaurant. We will definitely stay again.

Authenticity & Character

Lots of art and antiques!

Location

Close to the center of Florence

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Maranello Palace

Maranello

The Maranello Palace in Modena was the perfect stop on our way to Florence. The hotel accommodated our large family traveling together. The rooms were clean and comfortable. The buffet breakfast was a great start to the day. The hotel was conveniently located near the Ferrari Museum and the Pagani factory. I highly recommend a visit.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It is a great place to stay to visit the local car museums!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Excursion to Tuscany: Chianti Winery Visit & San Gimignano

Florence

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Foodie Excursion to Parma

Italy

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Planning this trip was made easy with Rita's help and kimkim! This is my second time using kimkim and confident to say it never disappoints. Rita was so patient with our requests and making changes till we were satisfied. Rita suggested Porto, Lisbon and Algarve for our 10 days trip.

We started off in Porto with an amazing food tour guided by Marina and had the chance of trying Portuguese wine🍷(it was divine!!! had to bring a few bottles back home). We had time to walk around on our own as well and observe the beautiful architectures and streets, the Portuguese were so warm and welcoming. Not to mention their famous canned sardines, which my mum carried a whole box back! Everything was so beautiful. Lisbon was more on the crowded side but still beautiful nonetheless.

Rita arranged many tours to the beautiful parts of Portugal, my dad's favorite was Cascais because of the nature. The tour guides were amazing too, friendly, knowledgable and patient! Our last destination was Algarve, beautiful beaches🏝️, had the chance to set out to the Benagil Caves. Rita's recommendation was to rent a car to drive around but we opted out of that. But I could understand why having a car would have been more convenient.

I could rave on and on about this trip, will definitely go back again when I have the chance to! I'd say the most memorable things about Portugal are their intricate handmade products, delicious cuisine, hospitable people and beautiful Cork trees.

Activity Reviews

Guided Tuk-Tuk Tour

Portugal

This tuk-tuk tour brought us to the main attractions of Lisbon, would be even better if the tour was longer!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Day Excursion: Sintra, Cascais & Estoril

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Excursion to Douro Valley, Wine Tasting & River Cruise

Porto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vintage Car Tour of Porto

Porto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Very detailed, tons of auxiliary restaurants, attractions, and points of interest suggested. Constant communication and help during the trip.

I was a bit Leary at first as it was out of my hands . I usually have control to do all my trips. But I was greatly surprised!!! The hotels the times of train and planes were all wonderful. They did a great wonderful job. The excursions etc etc were all detailed to the very best. It’s nice to know that I found a great company to take over on the bigger trips and I know and will be at peace that they will get it done to the very best of my dream trips. They were always there on contact when needed. So happy to have found such a detailed company. Thanks again and I look forward to having you do my next trip again.