Service that's miles above!
Italy
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Apr 5 - Apr 18, 2022
From the moment we filled out KimKim’s questionnaire to the moment we stepped off the plane to return home, every detail of our 14-day vacation to Italy was outstanding! Our local specialist, Jessica, did a fantastic job of organizing and selecting exactly what my husband and I needed to have an exceptional trip from start to finish. Our vacation included many of the more familiar "touristy" stops - Florence, Pisa, Naples, the Amalfi Coast, Palermo, Rome - as well as a singular off-the-beaten path excursion to my family's small ancestral village in the heart of Sicily!
We were a bit nervous about the fact that we didn’t speak Italian, but Jessica made everything so seamless and organized that it never posed a problem for us. She even gave us her contact number to be available to us 24/7 in case we had any questions or issues along the way. She always answered our questions immediately and was able to resolve any miscues on the spot!
Each of the guides Jessica selected for us was knowledgeable and personable, we especially enjoyed the walking tour of Palermo with Marilù, the tour of Pompeii with Ella, the boat trip to Capri with Francesca and Nello, and the wonderful tour of the Vatican (the day before Easter!) with Laura. Also, a special shoutout to ALL our drivers (too many to name) who were all so professional, always on time, and each one so willing to share their own expertise of the area and Italian culture.
We also thoroughly enjoyed the unique hotels and B&Bs that Jessica chose for us: the Hotel Conca Park in Sorrento with the breathtaking view of Vesuvius and Donna Camilla Savelli (a former 17-century monastery) in Rome were personal favorites with their local charm, fantastic locations and wonderful breakfasts!
On a side note, we travelled to Italy in April, which can normally be a rainy time of year, but we were fortunate that it only rained the first day and after that the weather was beautiful. Temps felt perfect in the 60-70s (Fahrenheit) most days, so we highly recommend this as a travel time over the summer months if possible. We hope to come back to Italy very soon to visit new places and return to some of our favorites, especially Sorrento (dinner at la Lanterna is a must!) and spend more time exploring the streets and museums of Florence and Rome.
Jessica definitely went above and beyond with her expert knowledge and detailed planning to make this a memorable once-in-a-lifetime experience. We sincerely appreciated how she was able to personalize the vacation to our specific needs every step of the way.
Grazie mille!
Hotel Review
Loved the unique charm and luxury of this former monastery! Service was outstanding, and all the staff we encountered were very welcoming. The only drawback for us was the temperature of the room. We were there in April, which is a fairly cool time of year in Rome, but the room still felt a bit too warm for comfort. We're from Texas btw, so we're definitely accustomed to heat! We were told by the management that the hotel doesn't turn on the a/c until summer, so we slept with the window open to try to get it cooler. The staff graciously brought us an oscillating fan that helped tremendously! We enjoyed the hotel's beautiful garden courtyard for drinks, and the hotel is just steps away from a hotspot of streets in Rome with numerous places to eat!
Activity Review
My husband and I enjoyed a walking tour of Palermo with our guide, Marilù. Her knowledge of the city and history of Palermo and Sicily was extensive. We learned so much! She kept a perfect pace for us, keeping in mind my husband's mobility issues throughout. She even took us to visit one of the food markets in the city where were able to stop and sample some delicious local favorites for lunch!
Dear Cicely, thank you very much for your kind words!
It was a pleasure and I'm glad to know you enjoyed your trip, especially in Sicily where you discovered your roots. We will be waiting for you in Italy to share other beautiful corners of our beloved country.
Arrivederci! :)