Wonderful Italian family vacation
Italy | May 10 - May 17, 2026

K
Kristine H.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on May 21, 2026

We had a wonderful family vacation to Sestri Levante (Cinque Terre)and Rome. We were very thankful to have had a local specialist plan this trip with knowledge about which activities would work best for all members of our family. We enjoyed our stay in Sestri Levante, away from crowds, yet still on Ligurian sea and an easy trip to explore the 5 towns of Cinque Terre. We loved the restaurants there and we even ended up adding a local cooking experience to our stay in Sestri Levante at Trattoria da Turin. We would highly recommend the pasta experience to others. Family friendly, wonderful staff, and getting to eat our completed pastas at the end. We had to cancel our boat tour due to the changes in location (weather was windy and sea was choppy) but we very much appreciated Leslie’s help in making this happen. Sometimes we realize that things won’t work out as well on a trip and it was nice to have a knowledgeable person helping along the way. Ending our stay in Rome felt like it would be rushed, but we enjoyed all of the tours and recommendations that Leslie coordinated. The Coleseum/Roman forum tour was excellent and even our youngest was entertained by the information shared by our tour guide, Gigi. He was personable, knowledgeable, and comedic. The Vatican/Sistine chapel tour was an experience we were glad to have done but we did find that we were more tired during this time and the tour was probably a little long for the 10 year old. Our tour guide, Patricia, did her best to share info on the highlights and was helpful at end of tour in sharing recommendations. My family would probably say the bike tour to Apian
Way was the highlight of the trip. I also enjoyed the bike tour but I was slightly nervous about using e bikes in the city. Our tour guide, Alessandro was conscientious of this and helped us feel safe. He also shared interesting facts along the way. We enjoyed our stays in both hotels and how each one had a very different feel. It was great to have transportation to various locations figured out for us so we did not have to spend too much time figuring out tickets and transfers. Overall a great and memorable trip and we are happy we went with booking through KimKim.

Hotel Review
Hotel Due Mari
Sestri Levante

Enjoyed the character of the hotel.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Appian Way & Catacombs By E-Bike
Appian Way & Catacombs By E-Bike
Rome
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Colosseum & Ancient Rome Tour with Roman Forum
Colosseum & Ancient Rome Tour with Roman Forum
Rome

Excellent tour guide, Gigi!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Gigi was knowledgeable, personable and fun. He made the experience relatable for all in our group, even the 10 year old.
Transport
Local specialist: Leslie Tranchina
Leslie
Leslie Tranchina
Local specialist in Bologna | Replied on Jun 01, 2026
Thank you so much, Kristine and Scott, Reading your feedback truly made us happy. It means so much to know that your family had such a memorable experience together in both Sestri Levante and Rome. We’re especially happy that choosing Sestri Levante turned out to be such a positive part of the journey — having the beauty of the Ligurian coast while avoiding some of the heavier Cinque Terre crowds is exactly why we love recommending it for families. And we absolutely loved hearing that you... Read more

Thank you so much, Kristine and Scott,

Reading your feedback truly made us happy. It means so much to know that your family had such a memorable experience together in both Sestri Levante and Rome.

We’re especially happy that choosing Sestri Levante turned out to be such a positive part of the journey — having the beauty of the Ligurian coast while avoiding some of the heavier Cinque Terre crowds is exactly why we love recommending it for families. And we absolutely loved hearing that you added the pasta-making experience at Trattoria da Turin! Those authentic, hands-on moments shared together around food often become the memories people carry home the longest.

Thank you as well for your understanding regarding the boat tour cancellation. Unfortunately, the sea conditions along the Ligurian coast can sometimes change quickly, and safety always comes first. We’re are all ready to adjust things smoothly along the way.

It’s wonderful to hear that the guides made such a positive impact on your experience. Gigi, Patricia, and Alessandro will all be so happy to hear your kind words. Reading that even your youngest enjoyed the Colosseum tour — that is always the best compliment for a guide.

And it does not surprise us at all that the Appian Way bike tour became the highlight of the trip. It’s such a special way to experience Rome beyond the classic monuments.

Most of all, thank you for trusting us with your family vacation. Creating journeys that feel smooth, personal, authentic, and enjoyable for different ages and travel styles is exactly what we hope to achieve.

We truly hope to welcome your family back to Italy someday for another adventure together!

Warm regards,
Leslie & the Storywalking Team