Custom Hiking Trips in Dolomites

My wife, Lindsay, and I had a fantastic 30th anniversary trip -- BIG THANKS to KimKim as well as our travel planner Melanie Rapuano! We also had nice help from Giovanna, with Italy Charme (partnered with KimKim). This was a special vacation not just because of our anniversary, but also because I wanted to go to the town where my Italian side of my family is from. The challenge? It's a VERY small town in a relatively remote area of the Basilicata region.

Melanie and the KimKim team made everything easy. Yes, I could have booked most of the trip on my own. But it would have been SO much more time consuming...which company should I rent a car from? Which hotels are the best for our needs? Where should we go first, second, etc...? All of these kinds of questions are where Melanie was a tremendous help. She was ALWAYS available...before and during the trip. She listened to what we wanted, asked a number of questions at the beginning of the process, and then NAILED IT with every aspect of the trip -- from the hotels she chose for us, to the fast answers to every question, every detail was taken care of.

Here's where we went:
* Flew into Naples from Atlanta (USA)
* Spent two nights in Salerno, with a day-trip to Positano / Amalfi coast.
* Picked up a rental car and drove to the Basilicata region...stayed two nights at Aura Glamping (HIGHLY recommend!) and visited my family's hometown of Accettura, as well as two incredibly beautiful nearby towns (Pietrapertosa and Castlemezzano)...did the zipline between both towns, billed as one of the longest and highest in Europe.
* Drove to Matera and stayed one night (incredible town!)
* Drove to Tropea, in Calabria, and stayed 5 nights. Melanie helped arrange for a private snorkling trip as well as a cooking class in the countryside -- both were PERFECT and very memorable.
* Drove back up to Naples and spent two nights there, including a walking food tour of the town, before flying back home.

I would highly recommend KimKim. And if you're traveling to Italy, request to work with Melanie -- she's the BEST!

Glenn

Hotel Reviews

Napoli Tree - Lungomare

Naples

Fantastic B&B very close to the waterfront.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rocca della Sena

Tropea

We will be back. That should say enough! It's a great hotel, with friendly staff and a to-die-for view, perched right above the beach.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Excellent location with easy access to the beach and many lidos (we enjoyed Lido Charley for food, and Lido Costa Degli Dei for it's great position on a sandy part of the beach).

Staff

Big thanks to Georgia at the front desk (such a nice person!) and to Francesco, behind the bar (appreciate the grappa and also the fact that he knew how to make a great Old Fashioned!).

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and super comfortable!

Aura Glamping Experience

Accettura

This is owned by my 3rd cousin, Giuliano. So, yes, I'm a little biased. But I would say this even if he wasn't my cousin -- Aura Glamping is AMAZING! If you want a relaxed place to stay, off the beaten track, and have plans to be in the Basilicata region...you need to consider Aura Glamping!

Authenticity & Character

Location

The views of Accettura and the surrounding countryside are amazing!

Staff

Giuliano is a gracious host, and he brings a morning breakfast in a beautiful picnic basket...complete with everything you could want!

Cleanliness & Comfort

The "yurt" was spotlessly clean, and has a very nice bathroom with toilet, sink, shower, bidet -- a true luxury in a camp setting (the reason for calling this "Glamping!"

Hotel Montestella

Salerno

A very nice hotel, close to the waterfront and ferries that take you to the Amalfi coast. Great shopping and restaurants within walking distance from the hotel. They have an awesome breakfast as well! The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is that we arrived a little early and our room wasn't ready. We waited for nearly two hours in the lobby...the person at the front desk never told us when our room was ready (despite walking by us several times, and seeing my wife asleep in the lobby). Checkin was supposed to be 2:00. We still hadn't been told the room was ready, and had to go to the front desk and ask if it was ready yet. The response? "Your papers?" AGAIN -- this was annoying but we were early, so I kind of understand. Otherwise, the hotel was fantastic!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The lobby, breakfast area, and rooms were spotless. The only downside was that the paint was peeling from above our terrace and dropping in large pieces onto the table outside of our room.

Activity Reviews

Naples walking food and historical tour

Italy

Very nice walking tour of Naples. I wish there was more food involved, but we learned a lot!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Cooking Class in the Tropea Countryside

Tropea

Excellent class -- highly recommend!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Costa degli Dei - Tropea Capo Vaticano in a Dinghy!

Tropea

Melanie made this extra special by booking a private snorkling tour, rather than this larger group that we had initially planned to be with. So, I can't really provide a review of this trip "by dinghy." Instead, we were on a bow-rider outboard engine boat, skippered by a guy named Lorenzo. He was an incredible host and knew all the best spots to snorkel. Lorenzo also has a vast knowledge of the local history -- we not only had a great time snorkling, but also learned a ton!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our experience with KimKim, Elisa and Lorenzo was fantastic. The hotels in Rome and Florence were in the perfect location and so unique and wonderful. Our drivers were all wonderful and communicative. The tour guides took us on the most unique adventures and took the time to show us special, authentic local eateries, artisans and cultural areas. The hotels, tours and transportation were all flawless. Everything was timed perfectly I can't say enough about the wonderful experience we had on our trip. I highly recommend and will absolutely use them again!

We have used Kim Kim for our trips to Spain, Scotland and Italy. Love the personalized service and small group tours. They are always helpful when we have questions and like how you send messages dsily on our trip.

Hotel Reviews

La Maison du Sage

Florence

Wow!!! Such a great B&B/hotel. Loved the atmosphere and the rooms. Felt like i was at home. All the staff was great. The breakfast and service was wonderful.

Authenticity & Character

Such a unique B&B with a front desk.

Location

Across the street from Basilica of Santa Croce and short walk to everything

Staff

Amazing staff. Daniel is the bomb. Got us reservations where we wanted you go and suggested great restaurants.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Great/clean/love the patio

Hotel Ca' d'Oro

Venice

This was a nice hotel. Pleasant and helpful. Not a fdn of their breakfast. The view out our window was beautiful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Masterpieces of the Renaissance: Uffizi Gallery Tour

Florence

Great to have an expert walk you around to see the important art work. Our your guide was wonderful. She pointed out things you might walk by.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Best of Florence Walking Tour with David & the Duomo

Florence

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Murano Excursion with boat

Venice

Great idea. Not a fan of this tour. Too expensive and rushed us off the island to Burano. Wanted to walk around. They only catered to people spending thousands of dollars. Did not like the jewelry. Wish we could of gone yo another site.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit to a Peggy Guggenheim Museum and Palace

Venice

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome Walking Tour to Venice: The comprehensive view of the Floating City

Venice

Great walk around Venice with a very knowledgeable local.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ok