Your Custom Journey

We had the most amazing trip to Italy! Sonia was such a gift in the planning process. She tailored the trip to our preferences and we felt like we experienced so much of the wonderful Italian culture and sites in 12 days!

Sonia was very responsive and set us up with amazing tour guides (Samantha at the Vatican, Ricardo on the golf cart tour and Gabriel in Tuscany) who brought the regions to life for us. Whenever we had questions, before or during the trip, Sonia and her team were quick to respond and problem-solve. We plan to use Kim Kim again in the future for our travel plans!

The city tour of Genoa with our guide Laura gave us so much insight to the history and age of the city! We’re glad we did not miss out of that!

Our Guide, Falu, drove us to Pontinvrea and provided us with all the translations with the local municipality to discover the address where my grandfather was born!!
It was so exciting and delightful to see the engagement of everyone helping us find my familial roots!! A true highlight.

Next, Gabby took us on the wonderful and exhilarating hike to Vernazza! She was a complete pleasure to spend the day with.

All the drivers were professional and punctual. We appreciate all of them as well!

Lastly, we’d like to express our appreciation for Catrina. She made the process of creating our trip to Italy seamless. Thank you for pulling this wonderful trip together for us. We enjoyed every bit of it.

Grazie,
Tom and Linda

I had a hard time deciding on how many stars to rate the service we received through Valeria (per Kimkim). On one hand, Valeria was at all times professional, responsive, friendly and thorough. She helped us plan a trip to Rome and Tuscany. And, for the most part she delivered on what we asked for. However she made one very big mistake - our rental in Tuscany. We asked for a house that was walking distance to town, as we would not have a rental car. We like to bike and said we’d be happy biking into town as well. Valeria booked us into the Villa Monica which is only 2K from Greve (the nearest town). She said it was walkable and we could ride the bikes at the villa. However, the road to town is a main highway with cars going very fast and no sidewalk or walking path. No one walks on it as it is too dangerous. She also assured us there was taxi service in Greve but that is not true. There was no taxi service and no Uber, Lyft or other rideshare. This made going into town almost an impossibility. There is a bus but the schedule is unreliable. For example, one evening my daughters took the bus to pick up food only to find there was no return bus so they had to walk along the dangerous road carrying all the food. My husband tried riding one of the bikes into town but, again, the roads were very dangerous with blind turns and the bike was in terrible condition with the brakes barely working. So, with a dangerous road, no rental car and a town without taxis we were unable to go into town to have dinner or coffee etc. and grocery shopping was a huge challenge. The other problem with Villa Monica is that the photos Valeria sent did not match the reality of the home. The main floor rooms are dark with old, shabby, uncomfortable furniture and the house has a very moldy, musty smell. Luckily it was sunny enough to keep the doors open so we could air out the top two floors but the lower floors were impossible to be in due to the awful smell. The best rooms were the kitchen and sunroom. As to the bedrooms, the photos showed a room with bunk beds which we were expecting but there were only single beds so our guests had to share, 2 to a bed. Another disappointment was that the house was not well supplied so we had to buy toilet paper, paper towels, tissues, dishwashing soap and detergent for the dishwasher. That is not something I expect in a luxury rental. The gardens outside were beautiful and we enjoyed being outside. The pool was nice but the photo of the tennis court does not match the reality. It looks new in the photo but in fact it is quite old with big cracks in the concrete and clearly has not been maintained well. In sum, Villa Monica was not the luxury Tuscan villa we had expected, very inconvenient for vacationers without a rental car.

Valeria is based in Rome and it was clear she knows the accommodations there. She booked us in the Fortyseven Hotel which is centrally located, very comfortable with excellent service. We enjoyed our time there very much. Also, all the tours she arranged were excellent and we loved our guides: Marco on the golf cart, Claudia at the Vatican and Alicia on the bike trip. We learned so much and had a great time. The tours in Tuscany were fabulous. Leonardo led us on an amazing bike tour, we loved having lunch at La Piaggia as well as the farm tour and cheese tasting at Il Podele. Eleanora was our guide for truffle hunting and the cooking class and it was so interesting to talk with her about Tuscany and her love of languages. Guissepe was an amazing truffle hunter with his dog Bibi who we all loved. And the cooking class with Andrea and Eliza was incredible as well as the tour of Sandro’s vineyards and wine making operation.

Also all our transfers worked out perfectly. All drivers were punctual, professional and friendly and we are grateful for their service. We especially loved Manuel who drove us 3 times and helped us immensely.

So, Valeria did many things wonderfully well however it was offset by the poor advice on Tuscan lodging. We use travel agents specifically to avoid situations like that so it was quite a disappointment when we realized she was not familiar with Greve transportation, with the state of the villa or with anticipating how difficult it would be for - 7 people with no reliable transportation to buy food or go to restaurants, sight see in town, etc.

Hotel Reviews

Hilton Rome Airport Hotel

Fiumicino

Great hotel services: pool, gym, restaurant - comfortable, clean rooms - good vibes

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easy walk to airport terminal

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

47 Boutique Hotel

Rome

Excellent location near the Forum, very comfortable with top rate service

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Villa Monica

Greve in Chianti

Do not rent this unless you have a rental car! We asked for a house that was walking distance to town, as we would not have a rental car. We like to bike and said we’d be happy biking into town as well. Villa Monica is only 2K from Greve however, the road to town is a main highway with cars going very fast and no sidewalk or walking path. No one walks on it as it is too dangerous. Also there is no taxi service in Greve and no Uber, Lyft or other rideshare. This made going into town almost an impossibility. There is a bus but the schedule is unreliable. For example, one evening my daughters took the bus to pick up food only to find there was no return bus so they had to walk along the dangerous road carrying all the food. My husband tried riding one of the bikes into town but, again, the roads were very dangerous with blind turns and the bike was in terrible condition with the brakes barely working. So, with a dangerous road, no rental car and a town without taxis we were unable to go into town to have dinner or coffee etc. and grocery shopping was a huge challenge. The other problem with Villa Monica is that the photos do not match the reality of the home. The main floor rooms are dark with old, shabby, uncomfortable furniture and the house has a very moldy, musty smell. Luckily it was sunny enough to keep the doors open so we could air out the top two floors but the lower floors were impossible to be in due to the awful smell. The best rooms were the kitchen and sunroom. As to the bedrooms, the photos showed a room with bunk beds which we were expecting but there were only single beds so our guests had to share, 2 to a bed. Another disappointment was that the house was not well supplied so we had to buy toilet paper, paper towels, tissues, dishwashing soap and detergent for the dishwasher. That is not something I expect in a luxury rental. The gardens outside were beautiful and we enjoyed being outside. The pool was nice but the photo of the tennis court does not match the reality. It looks new in the photo but in fact it is quite old with big cracks in the concrete and clearly has not been maintained well. In sum, Villa Monica was not the luxury Tuscan villa we had expected, very inconvenient for vacationers without a rental car.

Authenticity & Character

Purchase newer more comfortable furniture in the common rooms

Location

Need a car to get into town

Cleanliness & Comfort

Get rid of the moldy smell

Activity Review

Day visit to Siena and San Gimignano - guide in Siena included

Italy

The day visit to Siena and San Gimignano was just okay. Our guide in Siena, unfortunately, spent too much time inside a church despite the tour being advertised as mostly outdoors. We were eager to explore on our own, and this slowed the experience down.

Caterina worked very closely with us to plan the perfect trip. She listened to our suggestions and accommodated our changes and requests. The trip and plans were smoothly executed seamlessly.

Hotel Reviews

Grand Universe Lucca

Lucca

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

47 Boutique Hotel

Rome

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Venice Gondola Ride

Venice

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cinque terre Card

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private full-day tour to discover the Cinque Terre

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour of Pisa

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private guided tour of Lucca with bike tour

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Airport Transfer

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Evening Aperitivo Tour

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Colosseum, Forum Tour & Palatine hill

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our recent trip to Italy, under Caterina at KimKim, was one of the best travel experiences we have ever had. Caterina was very flexible in helping us to tailor the trip to our specific needs and wants. As we know Rome quite well, we chose to start our trip with a self-planned stay in Rome. Day 2 is where the team at KimKim took over and it was seamless from start to finish. Everyone who met us along the way to take us to a station/hotel/restaurants/private tour/airport etc over the remaining 9 days of our trip, were all very professional, friendly and helpful. Because KimKim use local people, it was also wonderful to get a truly local tour with deep local knowledge of the area, even when we were just transferring from one hotel to another. In addition 2 of our guides were able to make great restaurants suggestions that meant we ended up lunching in very special places, that we would never have known about.

Italy is without doubt one of the world's most beautiful countries and Sorrento and the Amalfi coast did not disappoint - however it was the people that we met along the way that elevated the experience even further; So, a big thank you to Beatrice (Rome), Francesca (Naples), Pepe (driver Naples - Sorrento), Gianni (private tour of Pompeii), Manfredi (private speed boat for the day around Capri and islands), Massimmo (tour of local towns) and Carmine (driver to Naples airport).

The hotels that Catrina chose for us were also incredible: The 2nd leg of our trip was at the Grand Hotel Royal, Sorrento. It is the epitome of classic 'Italian Rivera' elegance, with amazing views from our room and all the terraces across the ocean to Mount Vesuvius, with the occasional cruise liner on view. The staff were very professional and courteous. The hotel is dressed beautifully, with classic Italian decor throughout, good food and great bar service. The hotel had a kind of magical quality with it's unique outdoor lift that descends through the rock to a private beach/pontoon area right on the water's edge. Whilst very quiet and you feel you are away from it all, it is also a short walk into Sorrento old town, where there are many shops, and great restaurants and bars.

The 3rd leg of our trip was at Fuore Grand Hotel, Amalfi Coast. WOW. A contemporary and exceptional hotel that made us feel that we were in a dream. All I can say is if you are looking for a base to explore the Amalfi coast and to feel that you have escaped the 'ordinary world', then stay here - you will not be disappointed! We didn't want to leave! Thank you to the team at FGH. We miss you!

Hotel Reviews

Furore Grand Hotel

Furore

Fuore Grand Hotel, Amalfi Coast. WOW. A contemporary and exceptional hotel that made us feel that we were in a dream. All I can say is if you are looking for a base to explore the Amalfi coast and to feel that you have escaped the 'ordinary world', then stay here - you will not be disappointed! We didn't want to leave! Thank you to the team at FGH. We miss you! The hotel is contemporary and chic, understated enough to allow the stunning valley, views and natural surroundings to sing. The decor throughout is simple and elegant with great attention to detail using local materials and patterns, bringing warmth to the experience. The food at FGH is also exceptional; the breakfast alone is a wonder but the jewel in the crown, is the fine-dining experience. It is not hard to understand why the hotel/chef was awarded a Michelin star within 3 months of the hotel opening.

Authenticity & Character

The hotel is contemporary and chic, understated enough to allow the stunning valley, views and natural surroundings to sing. The decor throughout is simple and elegant with great attention to detail using local materials and patterns, bringing warmth to the experience. The food and wine is authentic and local, but delivered with contemporary flair.

Location

The hotel is fairly remote which means you need to hire a private driver and / or take the hotel shuttle service - however this is one of the best bits about this hotel, as when you are there you feel that you have escaped it all, yet it is accessible to explore all the best towns and villages in the area.

Staff

The staff at FHG could not do enough for us!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Spotless, and well maintained throughout our stay.

Grand Hotel Royal Sorrento

Sorrento

The epitome of classic Italian Rivera elegance. The hotel, garden terraces and restaurants have amazing views across the ocean to Mount Vesuvius, with the occasional cruise ship on view in the bay. The hotel is beautifully dressed throughout in classic Italian decor. The rooms are classic, super comfy beds, very clean and well appointed with lots of storage and superb views. The hotel offers a good range of food, although somewhat limited but the food, especially breakfast and service was excellent and the bar staff very attentive. Overall the hotel has a magical/nostalgic quality, especially with it's outdoor lift that descends from the upper terraces down through the rock to a private beach/pontoon, right on the water's edge. Whilst the hotel is located on a road, it is quiet and you feel away 'from it all'. Yet the hotel is a short walk into Sorrento old town and so shopping and dining out for lunch and dinner is an easy option, with an abundance of local restaurants and bars offering authentic local cuisine. We loved staying here!

Authenticity & Character

The epitome of classic Italian Rivera elegance. The hotel is beautifully dressed throughout in classic Italian decor.

Location

Whilst the hotel is located centrally, it is quiet and you feel away 'from it all'. The hotel is a short walk into Sorrento old town and so shopping and dining out for lunch and dinner is an easy option, with an abundance of local restaurants and bars offering authentic local cuisine.

Staff

The bar staff (a young lady) was particularly good - however everyone at the hotel was professional and courteous.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms are classic, super comfy beds, very clean and well appointed with lots of storage and superb views.

Activity Reviews

Visit of The Amalfi coast Villages Full Day

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private boat tour to Capri

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Train transfer Rome/Sorrento with 2h guided tour in Pompeii

Italy

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kim Kim was such a perfect way to plan our trip! Catarina was awesome! Marta was great! It made everything so stress free. I would highly recommend to anyone. Even if we changed things they were more than happy to help. Thank you Kim Kim team!