Kimkim Trip Reviews

We had often talked about taking a trip to the France’s wine country but never acted on it. The whole idea of planning a self guided 10-day excursion was overwhelming. That’s when we looked into KimKim. It was an excellent choice for us. From the day we first interacted with Caroline and Diliana to dropping off our rental car, both were very attentive to our needs and our interests. Our 6 night stay at Grand Hotel Francais in Bordeaux and 4 nights in Bayeux gave us the opportunity to learn, taste and experience the Bordeaux region as well as the Normandie region.

Myriam was always prompt and pleasant. Stephen/Hans (guide) and Ichung (driver) were also always prompt and pleasant. Unfortunately there seemed to be a real disconnect between the itinerary and guiding arranged with Myrium compared with what actually happened on the trip. Certain activities never happened (e.g. cooking class, becak ride, silk weaving demonstration/discussion, others) even after bringing them to Myriam's attention (e.g Fort museum tour). It's understandable that the itinerary would fluctuate for when things would organically happen (e.g funeral) but communication was really poor from the guide, even after I asked for more details each day so I would know what to prepare, what to wear, etc.

I would have rather had no meals included and paid for myself as the guide left me at the hotel each night and I would have preferred not to eat there for the 4 nights. I understand lunch stops need to be timed and placed strategically but that flexibility would have been nice. As it was, I didn't have three dinners because of some issues and timing.

I have never arranged a private tour previously and expected basics of 1)driving/navigating logistics, 2) hotel arrangements, and 3) proficient English and interactive dialogue about the sites visited. Only the first happened (no driving or navigation issues). There were consistent confusions at one of the hotels, which thankfully were eventually sorted. The biggest disappointment was my guide, who was a very nice man, but spoke limited English and rarely interacted with me. At one point we were lost in a forested area and he had us walk in circles three different times, trying to find a trail. Randomly walking through rice fields is one thing, and through villages, so we can interact with local people, but this seems to be walking just use time? And there was limited to no talking or explanation from the guide so it wasn't really informative or held interest to walk up a busy road with motorbikes flying by.

When we went to the first restaurant, I was handed an Indonesian menu and thought the guide would help me understand what the options were. He did not so I had to use Google translate for the rest of the trip and figure it out myself. I pretty much Googled each point we stopped at so I would know what I was looking at or what to look for at the site when it became quickly clear Steven/Hans would not be giving detail.. Long car rides were spent in silence or with driver & guide chatting. It's not that I expected to be entertained as a solo raveler, but I expected some interaction beyond 'Stop now. Lunch'.

I gave this experience 3 stars because, in the end, I did see the main highlights I wanted to see; however, I'm saddened this trip I entrusted to kimkim was so poorly fulfilled.

First trip with kimkim and we were very impressed. Our trip to Indonesia was very well planned and our Specialist Myriam took great care to make sure that we all of our needs were considered. All of the drivers and local guides kept a consistent level of quality throughout the whole trip, and we able to connect with Myriam and get messages back at all times. Looking forward to the next one.

Bella created a wonderful travel itinerary for us for our August 2026 visit to Tokyo and Kyoto. Before the trip, we provided a list to Bella of our interests and she designed a perfect agenda for us.
Also, the two tour guides Mr. Ryuji Kanie (Toyko) and Mr. Hiroshi Hanada (Kyoto) were terrific guides and made our trip run smoothly for us.
Additionally, the drivers who picked us up at various times at the airport, hotel, and train stations were always on time and very polite.
Overall, Bella and her team made this trip to Japan one full of wonderful memories.
Lastly, Bella created a video for us using photos that our guides took. Almost made me cry seeing the wonderful adventures that we had.
John & Laura Killmer

Hotel Reviews

Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Shijo

Decor of lobby was very colorful and felt like an art gallery. Room was very clean and comfortable. Breakfast buffet was fabulous.

Authenticity & Character

Decor of hotel was very colorful and felt like an Asian art gallery. Hotel also had a public bath that we hadn't experienced before and added to charm of the hotel.

Location

Close to train station and restaurants.

Staff

Staff was very friendly and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Breakfast buffet in the morning was layed out very well and started the day on a good note.

Shibuya Excel Hotel Tokyu

Tokyo

Modern hotel located in the heart of Tokyo. Great location, nice room and good breakfast buffet.

Authenticity & Character

Clientele was a mixture of various nationalities which made the stay very interesting.

Location

Close to train station and restaurants

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel and restaurant were very clean.

Activity Reviews

Welcome to Kyoto!

Kyoto

We loved the city of Kyoto.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Driver was waiting for us at appointed time and transported us comfortably.

Transport

Arashiyama Hidden Paths & Tea Traditions Experience (Private Guide & Public Transportation)

Kyoto

The Arashiyama Hidden Paths and Tea Experiences also exceeded our expectations. In addition, we toured the private gardens of one of Japan's famous silent film era actor. Walk through the gardens was a special treat.

Quality of Experience

Walk through the silent film star gardens was an unexpected treat. Also, tea ceremony was an enjoyable experience.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Mr. Hiroshi Hanada made everything run smoothly.

Transport

Kyoto Culinary & Cultural Discovery: Fushimi Inari Walk, Sake Tasting, Nishiki Market & Ramen Making

Kyoto

We found Kyoto to be a city that exceeded our expectations. The activities that we had for this day made for a delightful day in Kyoto.

Quality of Experience

The variety of experiences highlighted the beauty and diversity of Kyoto,

Food

We really enjoyed our hands on Ramen Making Experience and our dinner afterwards.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Mr. Hiroshi Hanada did a terrific job of leading us to all of our activities.

Transport

Guided Scenic Journey from Tokyo to Mt. Fuji & Lake Yamanaka Cycling Experience, Ending at Mishima Station

Japan

Lake Yamanaka cycling experience was one of our favorite activities., It was so much fun bike riding around Lake Yamanaka and seeing Mt.Fuji.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide, Mr. Ryuji Kanie did a great job of leading us on the bike ride. Additionally, our guide found a small family owned restaurant where we had lunch. We were able to meet the owners and enjoyed an authenic Japanese meal.

Transport

Driver did an outstanding job of transporting us to our various designations.

Tokyo Flavors & Traditions: Sushi Crafting, Old Tokyo & Culinary Treasures（Private Guide & Public Transportation）

Tokyo

Sushi making experience was a highlight.We also enjoyed touring the Asakusa District, particularly entering through the vibrant Kaminarimon Gate.

Quality of Experience

Food

We really enjoyed eated the sushi that we prepared during our sushi making class. Great instructors.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our tour guide Mr. Ryuji Kanie did an excellent job of describing the sights and allowed us to enjoy the attractions at our pace.

Transport

All points of transporation were on time.

We had a great experience on our trip to Italy organized by KimKim. Alex create an awesome itinerary, allowing our family with two kids to find a bit of a balance that allowed the kids to have fun on a scavenger hunt, and making (and of course, eating) gelato, while allowing the parents an opportunity to soak in the history and culture (museum/churches/etc.). Giovanni, our guide for the Colosseum and Roman Forum, was a stand out - he was personable and highly engaging, with lots of funny and exciting stories, providing lots of historical, cultural and personal snippets that were delightful, making the tour continuously interesting. I thought the choice of the time of the tours were mostly right (early morning), although we had to make a request to shift one tour to an earlier time to avoid the hot afternoon. We had a great transfer to the airport in Florence, but wished that the one from the airport in Rome was a bit more personable (and on-time).

Everything went smoothly - all organized accommodation, transfers, and activities happened on time without a hitch. Overall, a wonderful adventure that hit the right spot for the family.

Aleksandra plotted out a wonderful collection of experiences for me. I finally got to the castle in Edinburgh and saw the Kelpis in Falkirk. I took delightful tours of the Scottish countryside and even got up to the Isle of Skye. I now also have a totally different and positive view of Glasgow, thanks to my informative and friendly guide. The main purpose of the trip was to see my "pen-pal" Ray, since she has not been in the best of health, but I am glad to say that she and her husband were able to spend the day with me. It is hard to believe that we have been in contact for over 60 years!

We had a very good trip! Thanks, Julia and team for putting it together and making sure it all ran smoothly. When we needed to change rooms to ensure we had two beds, the team was very responsive. Appreciate it!

Maryem was amazing!
We booked with only 10 days lead time and her responsiveness to us to get the perfect itinerary in 2 days was exceptional!

Hotel Reviews

Casablanca Marriott Hotel

Casablanca

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dar Lys - Luxury Riad & Spa

Fes

Great location Wish it was more unique of a stay not so like a hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Luxury Oasis Camp Merzouga

Taouz

Food was not good Staff were nice but accommodations were just okay not really luxury at all

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Eden Boutique Hotel

Boumalne Dades

Too pick!!!!! Would travel back just to stay here!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Maison Arabe Hotel

Marrakech

Amazing accommodations! Great food and fantastic staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Fes walking guided tour : No drive

Fes

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Marrakech – Telouet – Ait Benhaddou – Skoura/ Dades Gorge ( 5/6 Hour Drive)

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walking tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

Fantastic!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We loved our Icelandic tour that Adam from KimKim designed. Everything worked well and Adam worked hard to create a schedule to our tastes. We liked that he included several routes off the Route One Ring Road. Each day there were many suggested stops that we would pick from. All the hotels worked perfectly and were very nice.

Adam was always available to answer our questions throughout the planning process and a bit through the beginning of the tour as we had a delay with our travel plans. We thought KimKim delivered high end service and was perfect for us.

In numerous ways, the logistics and planning for this trip were poor. From considering travel times for our family with young children, to fiascos with booking almost causing us to miss our flight, it did not feel like a smooth trip.

The day trips planned for us were excellent though. The hotels were great too.

The trip planned with KimKim was exactly as I had hoped. The events and tours you recommended were great. the food was very good. The hotels were very good with one exception. The Hyde Hotel in Galway presented a challenge. It was rectified by the hotel staff. I want to explain it to you for future reference.

The 1xTwin Bed Room was less than adequate. There were no windows in the room. There was only a skylight. There was no escape route from this room if a fire occurred near or outside our door. The hotel management explained that fire laws were not the same as they are in the US. After a bit of a discussion, they did change our room to one with windows. If KimKim uses this hotel in the future I would make certain that your clients are not assigned this room.

Overall, I will certainly give KimKim 5 stars and recommend you to others.

Hotel Reviews

The Central House Hotel

Clifden

Self-check-in was easy. The owner's daughter was there to greet us.

Authenticity & Character

Only complaint was no air conditioning. Fans were provided but our room did not have one. I went to the local hardware store and bought one. The room size for two was pretty small.

Location

Right in the center of Clifton.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Hyde Hotel

Galway

Authenticity & Character

See notes at bringing of survey.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Randles Hotel Killarney

Co. Kerry

Authenticity & Character

Food was great

Location

Within walking distance to downtown

Staff

Very accommodating

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Old Bank Townhouse (Blue Haven Hotel Kinsale)

Kinsale

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ashling Hotel Dublin

Dublin

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Rock of Cashel

Ireland

Had to miss this event.

Cliffs of Moher Visitor Center tickets

Ireland

WOW! This place is amazing. It was more beautiful than expected.

Quality of Experience

Weather was perfect. The hike can be a challenge for some but rides were offered.

Transport

Easy parking. Not too far from the Cliffs. Only concern would be for people who need assistance or may not be able to walk disctances.

Kylemore Abbey

Ireland

Beautiful grounds and castle.

Quality of Experience

Connemara Sheepdog Demonstration

Ireland

Loved it.

Quality of Experience

We caught this tour about a week before the end of the tour season. Very lucky for us.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walked to the field where the dog herded the sheep. Great time

Kinsale Private Walking Food Tour

Ireland

This was a highlight of the trip. Our tour guide Adrian was great.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Vetry knowledgeable and fun.

Transport

Walking tour through streets of Kinsale.

Entry into the Emigration Museum EPIC

Dublin

We had to miss it.

Hilda did a wonderful job with planning our trip to Peru. Our experience was seamless and safe, we had a guide and a driver with us along with us to every attraction. I would highly recommend

Our trip was amazing. Switzerland was beautiful. I'm so happy that all of the travel connections went so smoothly. The bike trip around Lake Constance was perfect. It was hot but we got to cooldown with dips in the Lake. Joel was always very responsive with answering questions. He gets 5 stars.
Nathalie was inconsiderate of our needs and was condescending. There were a couple of glitches in scheduling. I realize that we started with another specialist and then Nathalie took over but apparently she didn't read the previous emails. We had requested a massage after the bike ride. A spa package was booked but it didn't include a massage. They didn't have anyone available to even add it on. This was a specific request that was ignored. It was disappointing to get to this beautiful spa expecting a service that we didn't get. Next was the issue with the farm tour in Interlaken. A cheese tour was included. Nathalie came back and said it was unavailable after the trip was booked. She said she would substitute the farm tour at no additional charge. I had told her to go ahead with it. She was on vacation and Joel or someone else, not sure, responded and said they could book it for additional charge. I went ahead and paid because I forgot that Nathalie said it would be upgraded at no additional charge. I asked Nathalie about the refund but got no where with her. In addition, the farm tour wasn't what was advertised. There was no woodscraftman or chocolate sampling.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Adler Zürich

Zürich

Easy walk from train station

Alpenblick hotel

Zermatt

Hotel Beausite

Interlaken

Too far from train station with luggage

Hotel Ambassador - De la Paix

Luzern

Easy wak from train station and good location

Ibis Konstanz

Konstanz

It was too far from the train station to walk with luggage but neighbors was good and close to a nice restaurant .

Sorell Hotel Rütli

Zürich

Convenient to train station

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Chocolate workshop in Interlaken!

Switzerland

Fun experience

The only reason I'm giving this two stars is because our pickup and transfers were without issue and the hotel properties were fine. The trip was amazing, but no thanks to Kim Kim or the local provider. It was amazing because we spent every evening researching and figuring out what we were going to do the next day. The provider knew we had a rental car but made no provisions to check with every one of our hotels to make sure that they had parking. When we asked them to do that, they checked the hotel for the following evening, and we never heard about that again. We had one day in Zaragoza, which was actually the day most of the locations we wanted to visit were closed, so it would have been nice to have a heads up on that. We landed in Bilbao during a national holiday. Also would have been nice to know about that. We also arrived in San Sebastian during the City Festival. Didn't know about that either.
On one of our wine tasting trips, we were supposed to get transfers to and from. Two days before, the wine trip the company informed us that we were too far away and they couldn't pick us up.
We eventually reached out to Kimkim itself to report some of the issues. We didn't get back anything that was helpful at all and never heard from them again.
Kim Kim has booked a number of trips for us that have all been essentially flawless. This was not one of those trips.

Activity Review

A Basque Country Excursion: Jaizkibel Hike, Txakoli Winery & Hondarribia

San Sebastián

Jaime was amazing sharing with us the local culture and the amazing Basque region.

Quality of Experience

Jaime

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Jaime

Transport

Jaime

My overall experience with Kimkim was very good. My specialist was Emilie and she made all my wishes to happen within my budget. All the services that she booked for my family and I worked out smoothly, and the communication was good. The only problem was one of the hotels that she booked, it was a bad one called Kaliope in Lavandou. It was clear to me that she didn’t have any better understanding of that place than I had looking at their website. They should have a better way to get someone local to visit the places before booking it to their clients. Luckily it was just a brief part of a much bigger trip.

I thought hector did a great job setting up stuff. But when I got there I was really disappointed. I expected him to have thought through all the transitions. But when we got there we found that he didn’t consider whether we should book the night before in order to have a place to sleep when we arrived. Clearly we had a misunderstanding about the role of a travel agent. Very disappointing.

That said, the locations he chose were great. The hotel where we stayed for the eclipse had a perfect view of the eclipse from the parking lot. The hotel in Valencia was lovely. The hotel in Madrid was really great and very comfortable. We liked all the tour guides except the racist one (reported already), particularly the one in Burgos. She was amazing.

All the guides were awesome. Very knowledgeable on the history and food. Really enjoyed the conversations.

Activity Review

Flavors of La Rioja: Hands-On Cooking Experience

Spain

Really enjoyed the chef and his cooking techniques.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The trip went very smoothly and was very enjoyable. I particularly appreciated the drivers in Paris having car seats and the smooth transition from place to place. The hotel in Paris was great with the little kitchenette. They brought in a high chair, plates and utensils, and little soaps. Hotel Benvengudo is perhaps best suited for couples looking for a romantic getaway and I would consider going back for that purpose. The grounds and pool were great to run the toddler, but the serene atmosphere did not fit her rambunctious nature. Hotel de La Plage's parking situation is odd. Their private parking was fully booked when we were there. We ended up parking in the public lot next door, but we waited in line for 15 minutes to wait for somebody to exit so we could enter. The lot was typically full by 9 am. It didn't turn out to be too big of an issue, it was unexpected.

An Amazing Thailand Family Trip

Thank you, Minah, for organizing such an amazing family trip to Thailand! We truly had a wonderful time and created so many unforgettable memories.

Everyone we encountered was friendly, welcoming, and incredibly hospitable. From the airport pickups and hotel arrangements to all the transfers between destinations, everything went smoothly and was very well organized.

Our Bangkok tour guide, Gifty, and our driver, Sunshine, were both knowledgeable and wonderful. We learned so much about Thailand’s history and culture from them. One thing we especially appreciated was their punctuality—they always showed up on time for our excursions.

Our Chiang Mai tour guide, Joe, was fantastic! He was funny, personable, and shared even more fascinating history and culture with us. His food recommendations were phenomenal and definitely added to our experience.

Our Phuket excursions were wonderful, relaxing, and enjoyable. The only excursion that felt a little overwhelming was our Phi Phi Island trip. The itinerary described it as a “small group,” but there were approximately 80 passengers on one speed catamaran. It felt very crowded, and at times we felt rushed compared with what was outlined in the program. If we were to do it again, we would definitely choose a smaller group or a private tour for a more relaxed experience.

As for the hotels, the only disappointment was our final accommodation at Thavorn Resort and Spa. We had discussed and confirmed two beachfront cottages next to each other, but unfortunately, that arrangement did not happen. Instead, our cottage was one cottage away from the rest of our family.

Overall, our experience with Kim Kim and with you, Minah, as our travel agent, was great. You did an excellent job organizing and coordinating our family vacation.

As they say, there is always room for improvement, but these few concerns did not take away from the wonderful memories we made.

Thank you again for organizing such a memorable family trip to Thailand. It was definitely one for the books! 🇹🇭❤️

We truly appreciate all your hard work and look forward to traveling with you again in the future!

Hotel Reviews

Thavorn Beach Village Resort & Spa

Phuket

We stayed in the beachfront cottages. As requested and confirmed 2 beachfront cottages “next door” with my family, instead we were given a cottage away.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sabai Sabai Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mandarin Hotel Bangkok, managed by Centre Point

Great hotel!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Northern Thai Dining & Cultural Show at Khum Khantoke

Chiang Mai

Didn’t read about this excursion, so I was not prepared with what food and program to expect! Turned out good!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our driver was late from the pick time provided from our hotel. Lol

White temple, Blue Temple, Black Museum

Thailand

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Phuket: Hong by Starlight Kayaking

Phuket

Uncle Jo was an amazing tour guide! Everyone in the boat were amazing! They fed us so much food and all delicious! Great company and well organized excursion.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Phi Phi, Khai Island by Speed Catamaran

Phuket

Too many tourists in one boat! We felt rush as well with their lay out program!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hiking Doi Inthanon National Park

Chiang Mai

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Living Green Elephant Sanctuary Experience - Full Day

Chiang Mai

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Crowded in one van.

Exploring the Ancient Ayutthaya

Thailand

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bangkok Spiritual Encounter

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

No

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We cannot say enough wonderful things about Melanie R. and the incredible job she did planning our family’s summer vacation to Italy. From our very first conversations, Melanie took the time to truly understand our family, our travel preferences, and what we wanted from this vacation. Because we were traveling with young children, it was especially important to us to experience the history, culture, and amazing food of Italy while also making the trip fun and memorable for our kids. Melanie absolutely delivered.

Throughout the planning process, Melanie communicated with me regularly to make sure every detail was right. She took care of virtually everything—hotels, private drivers, exceptional tour guides, activities, restaurant recommendations, transportation, and all the logistics in between. What really stood out was how thoughtfully everything was selected. This never felt like a generic itinerary; it felt like a trip designed specifically for our family.

Our vacation began in Venice, where Melanie arranged a wonderful walking tour followed by a gondola ride through the canals. Our guide, Giovanni, was amazing. Both of our children absolutely adored him, and he became one of the most memorable parts of the entire vacation for them. We explored this beautiful city, experienced Venice from the canals, and enjoyed some incredible local food. It was a fantastic start to our trip.

From Venice, we traveled to Naples, which had been on my bucket list for a long time. Some of our favorite experiences of the entire vacation happened during this part of the trip.

One of the highlights was visiting a local farm near Sorrento, where our family participated in a mozzarella-making class. The owners of the farm then prepared an incredible farm-to-table lunch for us using local ingredients. Sitting together as a family, enjoying an amazing homemade meal while overlooking the farm, was one of those special experiences that we will remember for years.

We also did a local pizza and gelato-making class, which was another huge hit with the entire family. Not only was it a lot of fun, but we ended up having the best pizza of our entire trip—and the gelato was amazing too! We also visited Mount Vesuvius and the ruins of Pompeii, giving our children the opportunity to experience history firsthand in a way that was exciting and memorable.

We finished our vacation in Rome, where Melanie continued to strike the perfect balance between history and experiences that our children would enjoy. We had a private tour of the Colosseum, followed by a gladiator school experience that the kids absolutely loved. We also visited the Vatican and Sistine Chapel with another excellent private guide who made the experience both interesting and enjoyable for our family.

I wish I had the names of every guide and driver we had along the way so I could recognize each of them personally. Without exception, our guides and drivers were amazing. They were professional, knowledgeable, personable, and wonderful with our children. That consistency throughout a multi-city trip says a lot about Melanie and the quality of the people and vendors she works with. She made sure we were in excellent hands everywhere we went.

Just as importantly, Melanie’s service didn’t stop once our vacation began. She stayed in touch with us throughout the trip to make sure everything was going smoothly and that we were being well taken care of. Traveling internationally with children can be stressful, and having Melanie checking in and knowing she was there if we needed anything gave us tremendous peace of mind.

Looking back, what made this vacation so special was the combination of incredible destinations and experiences with how smoothly everything came together. Melanie handled the details and logistics so that we could simply enjoy Italy, spend time together, and make memories as a family.

I highly recommend Melanie R., especially to families traveling with children. She understands that a great family vacation needs to be enjoyable for the adults while also keeping the children engaged and excited, and she did an exceptional job creating that balance for us.

This was truly an amazing family vacation, and Melanie deserves so much of the credit for making it happen. We are already looking forward to working with her again to plan our next vacation to this region.

Thank you, Melanie, for taking such wonderful care of our family and for giving us a vacation we will remember for a lifetime!

Hotel Review

Palazzo Nainer

Roma

Wonderful Stay at Palazzo Nainer – Excellent Service and Location We had a wonderful stay at Palazzo Nainer during our family vacation in Italy and would highly recommend this hotel. The service was excellent throughout our stay. The staff was friendly, welcoming, attentive, and made us feel very well taken care of. The hotel itself was extremely clean and well maintained, which made our stay very comfortable. One of the highlights was the breakfast. The quality and taste of the food were excellent, with a great selection each morning, and the service was equally impressive. It was a wonderful way to start each day before heading out to explore Rome. The location was also ideal. We found it very convenient for sightseeing, dining, and experiencing the city, while still providing a comfortable place to return to after a full day of activities. Overall, we had an excellent experience at Palazzo Nainer. Between the outstanding service, cleanliness, delicious breakfast, and fantastic location, it was a great choice for our family’s stay in Rome. We would absolutely stay here again and highly recommend Palazzo Nainer to anyone visiting Rome.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Colosseum tour and Gladiator experience

Rome

The Perfect Rome Experience for a Family with Kids! Our private Colosseum tour followed by Gladiator School was one of the most fun and memorable experiences of our family vacation in Italy. If you are visiting Rome with children, we highly recommend combining these two activities! Our Colosseum tour was excellent. Having a knowledgeable private guide made a huge difference, especially while traveling with kids. Our guide brought the history of the Colosseum and ancient Rome to life and helped us understand what it would have been like during the time of the gladiators. Seeing such an iconic historical site in person was incredible for our entire family. Following the Colosseum with Gladiator School was the perfect choice. After learning about gladiators and seeing where they actually fought, our kids had the opportunity to experience a little of that history themselves. They had an absolute blast! It was fun, interactive, and a great change of pace after sightseeing. What we loved most was how well the two experiences complemented each other. The Colosseum tour gave our children the history and context, while Gladiator School turned what they had just learned into a hands-on experience they could participate in and enjoy. For families traveling to Rome with children, this is a fantastic combination. It was educational without feeling like a history lesson, active and entertaining for the kids, and equally enjoyable for the adults. One of our favorite family experiences in Rome and a wonderful way to make ancient Roman history come alive for our children!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Family Vatican & Sistine Chapel Visit

Rome

An Amazing Vatican and Sistine Chapel Experience with an Excellent Guide Our visit to the Vatican and Sistine Chapel was one of the highlights of our time in Rome and a truly memorable experience for our entire family. Our private guide was excellent—extremely knowledgeable, professional, personable, and engaging. There is so much history, art, and significance throughout the Vatican that it could easily feel overwhelming, but our guide did a wonderful job explaining everything in a way that was interesting and easy to understand. We were traveling with children, and we especially appreciated the guide's ability to keep the experience enjoyable and engaging for the whole family. Seeing the Vatican's incredible art, architecture, and history in person was remarkable, and entering the Sistine Chapel was an unforgettable experience. Having such a knowledgeable guide added so much context to what we were seeing and allowed us to appreciate the experience on a much deeper level. We highly recommend this tour, particularly for families visiting Rome. Having an excellent private guide made a tremendous difference and turned what could have simply been a sightseeing visit into a meaningful and memorable experience. A must-do while in Rome and an experience our family will remember for years to come!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mozzarella tour and tasting

Italy

An Unforgettable Farm Experience in Sorrento This was easily one of the most memorable days of our entire family vacation in Italy. Combining a visit to the incredible ruins of Pompeii with an authentic farm experience near Sorrento was the perfect combination of history, culture, food, and family fun. We visited a beautiful local farm near Sorrento, and this ended up being one of our family's favorite experiences of the entire trip. We participated in a hands-on mozzarella-making class, which was both fun and educational. Our children especially enjoyed being involved in the process, and it gave all of us a much greater appreciation for how fresh mozzarella is traditionally made. The highlight, however, may have been the incredible farm-to-table lunch. The owners prepared a wonderful meal for us using fresh, local ingredients, and everything was absolutely delicious. Sitting together as a family, enjoying an authentic homemade Italian meal while overlooking the beautiful farm was one of those experiences that you simply don't forget. What made the visit especially memorable was how genuine and personal the entire experience felt. Rather than simply visiting another tourist attraction, we had an opportunity to experience a little piece of local Italian life, meet the people behind the food, learn something new together, and enjoy an amazing meal in a beautiful setting. For families traveling with children, we highly recommend this experience. The combination of exploring Pompeii, making fresh mozzarella, visiting the farm, and enjoying a delicious farm-to-table meal made for an exceptional day. One of the absolute highlights of our trip to Italy and a wonderful family memory that we will cherish for years to come!

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The Ruins of Pompeii & stop for lunch

Italy

An Incredible Day at Pompeii and an Unforgettable Farm Experience in Sorrento This was easily one of the most memorable days of our entire family vacation in Italy. Combining a visit to the incredible ruins of Pompeii with an authentic farm experience near Sorrento was the perfect combination of history, culture, food, and family fun. Our visit to Pompeii was fascinating. Walking through the ancient ruins and seeing firsthand how people lived nearly 2,000 years ago was an incredible experience for both the adults and our children. It brought history to life in a way that simply cannot be experienced through books or pictures. After Pompeii, we visited a beautiful local farm near Sorrento, and this ended up being one of our family's favorite experiences of the entire trip. We participated in a hands-on mozzarella-making class, which was both fun and educational. Our children especially enjoyed being involved in the process, and it gave all of us a much greater appreciation for how fresh mozzarella is traditionally made. The highlight, however, may have been the incredible farm-to-table lunch. The owners prepared a wonderful meal for us using fresh, local ingredients, and everything was absolutely delicious. Sitting together as a family, enjoying an authentic homemade Italian meal while overlooking the beautiful farm was one of those experiences that you simply don't forget. What made the visit especially memorable was how genuine and personal the entire experience felt. Rather than simply visiting another tourist attraction, we had an opportunity to experience a little piece of local Italian life, meet the people behind the food, learn something new together, and enjoy an amazing meal in a beautiful setting. For families traveling with children, we highly recommend this experience. The combination of exploring Pompeii, making fresh mozzarella, visiting the farm, and enjoying a delicious farm-to-table meal made for an exceptional day. One of the absolute highlights of our trip to Italy and a wonderful family memory that we will cherish for years to come!

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Neapolitan Pizza Making Experience

Naples

One of Our Favorite Experiences in Naples — And the Best Pizza of Our Trip! Our pizza and gelato-making experience in Naples was one of the highlights of our entire family vacation in Italy. We were traveling with our children, and this was the perfect activity for the whole family—fun, interactive, educational, and, most importantly, absolutely delicious! The pizza-making experience was fantastic. We learned how to prepare authentic Neapolitan pizza and had a great time making our own pizzas from scratch. The experience was very hands-on, and the instructors made it enjoyable and engaging for both the adults and the kids. And the finished product was incredible! We ate a lot of pizza during our trip through Italy, but the pizza we made here was our favorite pizza of the entire vacation. There is something especially memorable about sitting down together and enjoying a delicious Neapolitan pizza that you just made yourself. The gelato-making experience was just as much fun. The kids especially enjoyed learning how gelato is made, and of course, getting to enjoy the finished product afterward was even better. The gelato was absolutely delicious! What we loved most was that this wasn't simply a meal—it was an experience our family could enjoy together. Our children were actively involved, everyone had fun, and we came away with a wonderful memory of our time in Naples. If you're visiting Naples, especially with children, we highly recommend this pizza and gelato-making experience. It was fun for the entire family, the food was amazing, and it gave us a chance to experience an important part of Neapolitan culture in a hands-on and memorable way. Definitely one of our favorite activities of the entire trip—and we are still talking about that pizza!

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Private Venice Walking and Gondola Tour

Venice

An Unforgettable Introduction to Venice with Giovanni! Our private walking tour and gondola ride with Giovanni was one of the highlights of our family vacation in Italy and the perfect way to experience Venice for the first time. Giovanni was absolutely fantastic. He was extremely knowledgeable about Venice, its history, culture, and local life, but what made the experience truly special was his personality and the way he connected with our entire family. We were traveling with two children, and both of our kids absolutely adored him. He kept them interested and entertained throughout the tour, and they were still talking about Giovanni afterward. He became one of the most memorable people they met during our entire trip to Italy! The walking portion of the tour gave us a wonderful introduction to Venice and helped us appreciate the city beyond simply seeing the major sights. Having a private guide made the experience much more personal and enjoyable, especially as a family with children. Following the walking tour with a gondola ride through the canals was the perfect way to finish the experience. Seeing Venice from the water after exploring it on foot gave us two completely different perspectives of this beautiful and unique city. Giovanni helped make our first experience in Venice truly special. He was knowledgeable, personable, engaging, and wonderful with our children—the kind of guide who can turn a great tour into a lasting family memory.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Giovanni is the best. Highly recommend him. Our kids loved him! We all did.

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