Authenticus Italy

My husband and I began planning a three-stop trip to Italy about a year ago with KimKim. (We are from the U.S. - Texas) We worked with two travel specialists, Elisa and Sabina who conducted a deep dive into what our goals were and our preferences. We wanted to experience Florence, Rome and the Amalfi Coast. They coordinated our hotels, private drivers (always in a mercedes), private tours, high-speed train tickets, ferries, tickets for excursions and more. Prior to departure, we were provided an App on our phone to download that made navigating the entire experience incredibly easy. Additionally, all of the tickets to anything were downloadable from the app. (so, no need to print out prior to departure, unless you really wanted a paper copy).

In Florence, we were met with a private walking tour of the city by Alicia, a local to Florence. We experienced local cafe food, a local jewelry artisan and a beautiful perfume store. Alicia shared information on Florence and was very lovely. The next day, we toured two wineries with a tour (Fun in Tuscany) with a great guide, Daniel. We were in a nice van with two other couples. We drove to San Gimignano and we would have to say that this was the highlight of our trip and our favorite excursion.

We took a high-speed train to Rome. When we checked in, we had a lovely note from Sabina and Elisa with a bottle of Prosecco in our room wishing me a happy birthday! (so sweet). Thereafter, we met with an art historian, AnnaMaria and took a 3.5 hour foot tour of Rome. The next day, we had a semi-private tour of Palatine Hill and the Colosseum. That evening, and for my birthday, they arranged for us to see an incredible opera performance on a Roof Top complete with wine and meats and cheeses. (it was spectacular)! The next day, we met with Pamela another art historian and was taken on a one-on-one tour of the Vatican and St.Peter's Basilica. (wow!)

The next day, we took a high-speed train to the Amalfi Coast. We were picked up and immediately shuttled to Pompeii where we met Eduardo and Professor and art historian and experienced Pompeii one-on-one with him. It was spectacular. Our driver waited for us while we toured and when finished, we drove up the absolutely stunning Amalfi Coast. We took a ferry the next day to Positano and KimKim had arranged for us to meet with a local artisan, Valentino and his wife Lalla and we made homemade Limoncello. The experience was a highlight and Valentino was so fun and engaging! (highly recommend). The next day, we took a ferry to Capri and then took a taxi to AnaCapri and took the chair lift to the top. The scenery from the top is one of the most beautiful sites I've ever seen, in my life!

Should you take a similar tour, I would recommend exchanging money prior to leaving and plan for tipping each tour guide and each driver. (this was about 20 Euros for each).

I can't recommend these folks enough! Our experience was top notch and very orchestrated and organized!

Kimmie Delaney and Dan Scheffler

Activity Reviews

Food & artisans tour of Florence

Italy

We loved our tour with Alicia! She was fun and engaging. We walked the streets of Florence, experienced local cafe food, toured a local jewelry artisan and a gorgeous perfumery. So fun and highly recommend!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Limoncello Experience & Tasting

Italy

This is a must-DO in Positano! This was a highlight of our trip to Italy. We met Valentino and his wife Lalla who are local artisans who make food items and have an adorable little shop. We made homemade limoncello and tasted chocolates. Valentino is a character - so so fun! He also walked us across the street and took our picture. This was so much fun!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Rooftop bar Opera show

Rome

This experience was a highlight for us in Rome! This was such a classy event and an incredible treat. The two opera singers were so entertaining. We were not sure what we were going to experience with this and it was such an unexpected 10 out of 10! Highly recommend!

Quality of Experience

We had a great trip to Italy and enjoyed the schedule. However, I was first disappointed when I did not hear from KimKim days before my departure and upon my arrival. Even when our driver was not waiting for us at the airport and I reached out. We did finally connect with our driver after about 15 minutes and was taken to our hotel but then he complained that he was not satisfied with the 30 euro tip. I was also disappointed that we were not able to enjoy any time at the beach, which I specifically stated in our planning was important to me. This was because it conflicted with our Lemoncello and hiking schedule. I also had given our ages (I am 67 and my husband is 72) and although we are in good shape, the hiking and stairs in Amalfi were a little much. Added to all the stairs in Positana, we were exhausted after just two days into our trip. The other issue was the accommodations in Tuscany, it was very rustic, more stairs, no coffee pot, no tissues (had to use toilet paper on my face) and the shower went from warm to cold in a short time. KimKim helped us rebook and we moved to Florence. The other part I did not understand is why we flew into Rome and immediately went to Amalfi and back to Positano and then back to Rome, why wouldn't we stay in Rome and then travel to a Positano. The same thing happened when we were in Tuscany, they had planned for us to travel to Florence for tours but then back to Tuscany. Why wouldn't we just stay in Florence for a couple of days. It seems we spent a lot of unnecessary time traveling back and forth which I believe could have been avoided with better planning. As far as the Aristocrat Palazzo with a secret garden, this was a joke and basically a rundown portion of someone's residence. Our guide was over 30 minutes late and once I got a hold of her via phone, said she couldn't lock her door. In the future, I would leave this tour off your itineraries.
I am hesitant to use KimKim and will be looking for other agents as we plan our trip to Greece.

My wife booked this and let them know we are in our 70s.
They booked us to tight too much in almost every day resulting us to miss or not able to enjoy.
Two of the events in Tuscany region were booked to the same winery.
One of the winery places was so un friendly and room was bad and they did nothing to help get any thing for the remaining 2 days.They did help us find one at the next stop at our expense outside of what we’ve paid.
On the last day they booked a 3:00 walking tour in Venice the guide was 45minutes late and it was really bad we stopped early.
This was our first trip of many we will be taking abroad we relied and paid handsomely for the experience We Did Not GET!
Unless they refund some of our bad booking I will be contacting people NOT TO USE THIS COMPANY. KIM KIM
Italy is wonderful Kim Kim booked us in a manner it seemed like a money grab Not thorough experience.
Anyone is welcome to contact me [email protected]
Stay away from Kim Kim.

Hotel Reviews

Castello di Fonterutoli

Fonterutoli

Unfriendly staff! Bad rooms a couch that was unusable . Never found the pool. It’s like no one wanted to be bothered. The wine bar up front wasn’t worth the time terribly service inconsistent hours. No coffee in room.

Authenticity & Character

Staff

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

New couch friendly service

Hotel Splendid Venice - Starhotel

Venice

Great people and rooms

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Villa Gabrisa

Positano

Wonderful

Authenticity & Character

C

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palazzo Scanderbeg

Rome

Great

Authenticity & Character

N

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Beach Club day in Amalfi Coast

Italy

A joke Kim Kim had booked us with so much that day by time we walked there at 5:00 They were closed. Nothing from Kim Kim

Quality of Experience

G

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Most of our drivers were really good the first one was 30 minutes late disoriented. Eve after I gave him a good tip he txt back and wanted more.

Transport

All good but the first one uncomfortable ride and driver

Visit an aristocratic Palazzo and its secret garden

Venice

An unkept joke

Quality of Experience

Worthless

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was 45 minutes late and shitty

Transport

With the exception of the 2nd boat excursion, everything was seamless! All drivers and tour guides were very good, and knowledgeable in their areas! Our driver, Francesco Scervino, however, was absolutely outstanding!! He went over and beyond, and always made sure we were comfortable, answered questions, and even helped connect us with a relative in a small town in Italy!! All tours were perfect! Thank you! We thoroughly enjoyed Italy!!

I was a little bit hesitant on using a travel planner as I normally do this all on my own. However, being from the United States and not being familiar with Italy at all, it was a little intimidating to plan. I found Kimkim with an online search and amazing reviews and never looked back. From the start of the planning process to the entire trip, I was extremely impressed. Our itinerary was perfect and so were all of our tours, transfers and hotels. Rome, Tuscany and Sorrento gave our family a wonderful taste of Italy. The app was very easy to use with all of our train tickets and excursions listed right on it. The private excursions she booked were perfect and geared towards the ages of my teenage children. This memories we created on this trip were priceless! I’m already booking another trip through KimKim!

Activity Reviews

Guided Walking Tour of Florence

Florence

Our tour guide was amazing!!! We loved her and learned so much about Florence on this tour! Would highly recommend.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exclusive Colosseum Tour for Kids

Rome

Our tour guide was amazing!!! She was so good with our kids ages 11 and 13 and made this tour one of our favorites!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Capri & Costiera Sorrentina Boat Tour

Italy

The boat tour was amazing but I could have completely skipping visiting the island of Capri. Very crowded and difficult to get around.

After Closure Tour of the Vatican Museum & Sistine Chapel

Rome

Good tour overall but boring if you aren’t into art and statues. We were expecting more of a tour of the Vatican grounds and less of the museum. My teenage kids definitely were not fans of this one.

Had a wonderful 2 weeks in and around Tuscany. Martina listened to our wants and needs and planned a fabulous trip - perfect accommodation, great tours, seamless travel and a great mix of cities and small villages. Lorenzo stepped in and provided awesome support throughout the actual trip - always accessible for whatever we needed. I cannot recommend them enough!

Hotel Review

Palazzo Petrus

Orvieto

Amazing service and such a beautiful room - cannot fault!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Central to everything

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Discover Orvieto Underground

Orvieto

Very knowledgeable guide and really interesting to learn all the history. Was well worth the visit!!

Rialto Market and "Cicchetti" food tour

Venice

Georgia was great - took us to some hidden gems and historical places to sample traditional Venetian food and culture. Highly recommend - such good fun!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had the trip of a lifetime and Elenora made sure every detail was perfect! The travel between Milan to Lake Como to Venice was seamless. We will definitely be using KimKim to plan future vacations!

We had an amazing 17 days traveling the island of Sicily!! Eleonora was great and worked with us to get everything exactly how we wanted it. They checked in almost daily to make sure everything was in order for the day. Would highly recommend!!

Activity Review

Palermo and its street food walking tour

Palermo

So fun, would highly recommend!!