Kimkim Trip Reviews

Hotel was centrally located and close to major areas. However the room we were given was the top most floor with slanted ceilings and so we get hitting our heads on the ceiling. Otherwise it was a nice room - quite spacious and clean.

The area was great and walkable. The staff was friendly and the breakfast was delicious.

The rooms were nothing special, just a regular room. Our girls did love that they each got their own twin bed. The location was amazing with the pubs and restaurants right around the corner. Very easy to walk. The staff was nice and the breakfast was decent.

Absolutely loved this hotel! The rooms were gorgeous and the staff was beyond amazing and they were so friendly to our girls. The breakfast was delicious and we loved that we got to order something hot to go along with the yogurt and baked goods. Our girls loved running around on the grounds and seeing the deer that were just hanging around right by. It was an easy 20 minute walk into town.

This hotel was simply amazing. The location is gorgeous and the staff is very welcoming and helpful. We stayed in a Junior suit that was two stories and it was the best for a family. The breakfast was one of the best we had while on our vacation in Ireland. I wish we would have known more about the hotel before our trip and would have booked an extra day just to enjoy all the the hotel has to offer.

It was a good hotel and a great place for a night. It was nice that the local transit had a stop right behind it which made it easy to get to and from without having to move our car. The parking for the car was a bit out of the way and took a while to get too and from. The elevators were not so convenient. You needed your room key to activate it each and every time and if you got in without using it, there were not buttons to get you to the floor you needed to go. The staff was friendly and helpful.

I can't remember his name, but the owner of the farm was so welcoming and informative. He was so great with our girls as well. They loved getting to bottle feed the baby sheep and had so much fun walking around with them in the little area we were in. The setting is absolutely beautiful as well.

Not sure how we got so lucky, but we were seated right up front against the stage. We were a little worried that it was going to be too late or too long for our girls, but they wanted to stay the whole time and loved watching the dancers. It was a great way to end our trip.

Awesome hotel, even better location, walking distance to everywhere you want to be. Service is out of this world, custom omelet for breakfast. On the negative side, the bar is very expensive and not consistent. The same drink was 15 and next time 19 euro, where in restaurant 50 meters away was 7 euro. Also the hotel in in pedestrian only zone, so required 50-100 meters walk for a taxi pick up, drugging your luggage. Still, I would not hesitate to stay there again.

This ultra modern hotel is gorgeous, has beautiful river views, pool and spa. It is perfect if you need rest and relaxation. But if you are a tourist visiting Porto for the first time, it is outside of city center, 20 min cab or uber ride and has nothing around it. You are contained to eat and drink there.

Fantastic trip, great guide. The restaurant of the main road that the guide had suggested as authentic was the most expensive meal we had in Portugal.

Ana was incredible, made this experience to remember.

Cesar was excellent, punctual, on time, helpful, wearing a suit and a tie. His car was clean, had water and luxurious. Only one misstep, he talked too much about his family values, making it difficult to concentrate on something else. Otherwise, flawless.

I can't tell much about it as my wife was robbed at the start of this tour. Our guide Ana was amazing though, went with us to police station and otherwise gave us comfort.

Located within the medina was a great way to start the vacation. As a riad there are no outside windows but a great internal courtyard with fountain and garden

Great views over the blue city. Ideal watching the sun go down. This hotel is a top 168 step climb. Donot worry the porters are great

An amazing hotel just outside the media.

Surprisingly not my favourite

A typical city hotel, nothing special

Just an outstanding riad

Great introduction to Morocco

An interesting tour

A great introduction to the way of life in Marrackesh

The tour guide made the experience

This tour was OK

Miriam at Cafe Clock made this experience for us as we celebrated a landmark wedding anniversary

Always fun riding a camel in the sahara

The fishing port was great to see up close

The driver took the inland route

A fascinating drive

An incredible place

A great way to get out and experience totally different scenery. A great family host for lunch

A pleasant drive and stopping at the womens cooperative that explained how argan oil was interesting

Great experience the scrub certain loosens some dead skin.

A great way to finish the vacation

Great location! The family room gave everyone some space and the view of the Eiffel Tower from the bathroom was a surprising bonus!

A perfect location in Annecy. The pool and the restaurant were a great addition.

Great location and beautiful views

We all agree that this was our most favorite tour that we took. Emmanella was absolutely fantastic and kept our kids engaged for the whole tour. She gave us all the details we needed without spending too much time in each room. We all learned so much and still talk about her often. Could not recommend her more!

This was another favorite of ours. The location was absolutely gorgeous and learning about the cheese process was so fun. Getting to taste the cheese and drink the local wine at the end of the tour was an added bonus.

We loved this day and loved being out on the water. It was the perfect way to spend the afternoon. We brought a bottle of wine as we cruised around the gorgeous lake and even jumped in.

This was another great day. The train was fun and offered amazing views in the mountains without having to climb them. Our guide was wonderful and went above and beyond to make sure we were happy. The glacier was closed for the month of May, but still so happy that we went up and got into the mountains. Our lunch in town was one of our favorites of the whole trip.

Wonderful in-town setting that was clean, cozy and comfortable. We arrived to late too sample dinner but the breakfast buffet the next day was excellent, and the staff were very friendly and accommodating. We only stayed one night. We felt this was one of the better hotels on our 10-day trip, and would stay here again.

A great, secluded location near the coast and right off the Ring Road that provided contemporary charm and elegance. While we were unable to take advantage of internal services such as hot tub, pool, and sauna due to our time constraints, it was clear guests were enjoying all of them. Dinners were elegantly prepared and catered to a broad set of tastes and preferences. We were able to save time by having a breakfast to go option that allowed us to select various food items and take in the car. Views of the glacier outside our hotel room were fantastic. Hotel exuded more upscale in terms of services and furnishings. Would definitely revisit again.

Arrived late, missed dinner and nothing was available in town. That situation was on us, but points out there are, at times, few options to eat when travelling the Ring Road. We intentionally prioritized seeing the country and taking advantage of extended daylight. Seemed a little harder to move our luggage in and out of the hotel. Room was warm, but it did have a mobile fan. Windows could open but there were no screens and some flies were beginning to hatch outside so we just used the fan. Not crazy about the overall location, however we did find a wonderful homemade, farm fresh, ice-cream parlor in the area and "Daddy's Pizza" was great for a lunch.

We loved the town of Husavik and the Fosshotel Husavik was well situated to enable exploration of the harbor, surrounding restaurants and shopping. Staff were helpful and accommodating.

Stayed two nights, incredible location with views of the surrounding mountains and ocean lagoon. Staff were very friendly and helpful. Service was excellent.

Our last night in Iceland we stayed at this hotel and didn't have a lot of exposure to internal services. First impressions ... the reception area is cramped (right next to dining), the access to elevators was somewhat impeded with construction / barrier. We did not eat dinner or breakfast here.

We loved the team of guides at the Black Sand Beach. The horse ride was a good way to see the beach and surrounding area. Everything was executed well. Icelandic horses have a charm all their own.

Overall an entertaining and informative tour into an ice cave contained in the 2nd largest glacier in Iceland, something we had never done before. The previous year we visited glaciers in Canada, but this was a more hands-on exposure through both lava fields and glacial structures. Had hoped for more individual cave rooms than what we saw, but that is a function of mother nature versus the outfitter.

There are so many waterfalls in Iceland that you lose count. You will see high volume, forceful displays of hydraulics that will amaze anyone, as well as small, poetic wisps of water cascading down a huge cliff. That being said, Godafoss was our favorite as a beautiful, quintessential waterfall that could easily be our trip icon.

Great kayaking is all about what you are doing and where you are doing it. It doesn't get any better than kayaking a glacial, iceberg-laded lagoon. Equipment was superb.

Just amazing!

Another one of those "we've never done this before" experiences that Iceland seems to deliver all over the island. Can't say enough about how much we anticipated this particular activity. My daughter just graduated in zoology and wishes to become a marine biologist. This was partly her idea and I have to say it exceeded everyone's expectations. You can't make whales magically appear, but we saw plenty of humpbacks.

I'm personally not a big fan of spas or bathing with strangers but my wife and daughter enjoyed it. As far as Icelandic spas go I think this one is a little more scenic (oceanic views) and private (fewer people) versus the gigantic Blue Lagoon.

We opted for more time touring of the country versus seeing Reykyavik. I personaly would have like to have taken more time to see the city. The day we were visiting Reykavik was quite cold and windy as a gale had swept into the area. We walked to the old town section from our hotel and it was a lot of fun. There is really no crime to speak of so we felt completely safe. We walked to Hallgrimskirkja and enjoyed the Loki Cafe (lamb soup was fantastic), which was right next door. The girls wanted to see the Rainbow street and did some shopping. This is a nice, historic section of town. Had dinner in a ramen restaurant and were not overjoyed.

I can't say enough about this activity as well. It was the perfect length of time (~ 3 hours) and the rivers cuts through wonderful canyon-like landscape. Mostly class 2 and class 3 rapids. Plan on getting wet, but not getting dunked. Gear was fantastic and the guides are great ... very safety conscious.

Not bad but the hike was a little more demanding than what you would expect in a shoreline hike.

This was a must see and the photo you see in brochures is the real deal.

Perfect location, loved the rooftop bar. Good room size.

Loved this hotel, the ambiance was amazing.

Loved this hotel, I wish we had an extra night stay here.

Hotel looks tired and need of renovation. Rooms were spacious. The view from the room is awesome.

Amazing, amazing, amazing. Loved every bit of our stay here. Unique and adventurous experience. The pods were clean and not as cold as I thought they would be. The hot tubs had the best views and were very clean. The climb to the pods was exhilarating thrilling and the views were spectacular. Best breakfast and dinner made by the friendly staff. The Zip line experience was out of this world, the best ever. Everything about Starlodge was awesome can’t fault anything. All the staff were amazing.

We loved the hotel from the first step we took inside. Unfortunately, we arrived very late and left very early so did not get to experience the hotel, which was a big shame.

Beautiful riverside hotel.

Sue the guide was amazing, very knowledgeable. Highly recommend this food tour, good quality of food including Pisco sours, Ceviche and other Peruvian food.

Compared to our Lima food tour, this was an okay experience. I didn't feel like the food tour quite lived up to my expectations.

Beautiful experience, stunning landscape. Saw loads of Alpaca and Llamas, very scenic route.

Unique cultural and natural experience. Enjoyed our hike and lunch. Uros the floating island was amazing, very interesting to know how the Uros people live.

Loved it! Very scenic breathtaking views. Comfortable and luxurious experience. The entertainment was awesome, we danced to live music and had loads of fun. Food was also good.

Sacred Valley had stunning scenery. Picturesque valley.

Stayed at Star Lodge not Skylodge. Unique experience, highly recommend.

Nice to watch te Pachamanca cooking, the food was delicious. Very interesting to see how they separated the vegetarian food. Beautiful place.

We did the 2 day trek, 7hr hike. It was challenging but definitely achievable. Our tour guide claudio was amazing, very helpful and supportive. Once you reached the sun gate you get this feeling of accomplishment and the view is just out of this world. Truly a magical experience.

We arrived Machu Pichu at sunrise, magical experience. We had to wait 45 minutes for the sunrise but it was definitely worth the wait. Being at Machu Pichu was an awe feeling. Such a calm place, one of the best new wonders of the world.

Watching the Condors fly was amazing, the whole experience was incredible. Very scenic route. Had a fantastic day.

Scared valley via Ferrata, best experience ever. The hike was amazing, the breathtaking views and it felt safe with the guides.

Staying at the Montebelo Mosteiro de Alcobaça Historic Hotel was such a unique experience. Everyone loved the charm of the old monastery, and it definitely stood out as a highlight. It exceeded our expectations in every way. The other accommodations were also more than adequate, clean, and friendly, meeting the diverse needs and financial abilities of our group perfectly.

Attempting an eight-hour guided walking tour in Lisbon's Historic Center can sound daunting, but our guide made it incredibly engaging. He was flexible with the group's needs, allowing for breaks and personal exploration, like when one of our members wanted to venture up a tower. It truly felt tailored to us, enriching our experience immensely.

Our trip through the Douro Valley with a private driver was an unforgettable experience. The vineyard lunch was beyond spectacular, and even though we fell behind schedule, the accommodating staff and our gracious driver ensured it was stress-free. Missing the wine tasting would have been a shame, but everything worked out beautifully.

Great trip. Pierre was an awesome guide. Enjoyed so many aspects of Paris.

OK tour learning about Marseille history

Great trip. Julien was an awesome guide.

This was not a private tour. It was a group tour. We were delayed by 10-15 mins due to a bus route issue. Tried calling agency but they did not pick up the call. The lady at the agency was very rude. She refused to accommodate us in any way. Refused to give guides number. Also said ticket may not work but thankfully it worked. This was a big disappointment.

Final tour was different from St Germain due to food allergy related. Nice tour but details in the tour were not as interesting. Guide was very passionate and very nice.

Top highlights. Amazing experience. Clemence was the best guide of our trip

Wonderful experience

One of the best highlights of trip. Amazing guide and amazing experience.

Great experience visiting 3 villages

Another top highlight of our trip

Gourdon and St Paul Du Vence are awesome.

This was a lovely hotel located in a small village, a bit remote from the hubbub of Cappedocia. It had lovely grounds and the rooms were clean, spacious. However, my one complaint is that having arrived in the dark there was no light on in the room nor was I escorted into my room nor advised there was a platform once you step into the room. Thus, I fell into the room while trying to find a light switch. Having just had hip replacement surgery several months prior, this could have ended badly. Luckily, only my ego got bruised.

Incredibly fascinating the engineering involved to create this water system. Beautiful art installed as well which creates a juxtaposition between history and modern times.

It was a very nice resort up in the mountains of Costa Rica. The food at the restaurants there was amazing. All of the staff were very friendly and helpful. There are plenty of activities to do at the resort. We would definitely come back again.

The hotel was very nice. Rooms were clean, new and modern. The food was good, but there is only one restaurant for lunch, and only two for dinner (one is a tapas bar with mostly just snacks and drinks). It is a nice smaller hotel. It was not busy when we were there, but if it was busy, the pool and lounge area could definitely begin to feel crowded quickly. It had amazing views of the sunset over the pacific.

Great location to the tram and within walking distance to key points of interest. Quiet retreat at night. Very good breakfast. Staff was pleasant and helpful. Room was clean and offered everything we needed for our stay.

We enjoyed the rustic character of this hotel. Located perfectly to the train station and walkable to restaurants/shopping. Breakfast was very good, staff was courteous. Buffet had a nice variety for starting our day.

This hotel came along in our itinerary right when we needed the extra pampering Our room was spacious and comfortable. The welcome gifts were unexpected and extra special. The tea cakes at check in were a delicious treat and introduced us to this Scottish treat.

This was our favorite accommodation of the entire trip. The cabins were so cozy and the remote area added to the unique experience The sauna and plunge pool were a great way to end a long day of hikes.

Wonderful family room with plenty of room for us. The staff that checked us in were so welcoming and helpful. The breakfast each morning was delicious and our service was great.

Such a fun experience to stay in a castle like accommodation. We enjoyed the golf, spa, onsite bars and restaurants. It was located so close to the airport yet you felt remote in a beautiful country setting.

Very fun and unique experience. Beautiful area and lovely views. Walk to and from the reindeer was more uphill than I expected but the guides were great in not making you feel rushed.

I would say this event on our Costa Rica trip stood out as one of the best adventures. We loved meeting with Huber and his family. The extent of knowledge Huber had of the vegetation, the wildlife and the growing patterns of the produce was impressive. We loved going through and tasting the different leaves and bark and guessing what each one was. It was also really fun to actually pick the produce that we would be using later for the cooking portion of the class. The cooking process was truly authentic being in Huber's family kitchen. It was such an amazing experience! The three of us (me, my husband and our 19yo daughter) prepped the food and I helped Huber's mom (Haidy?) with cooking the arroz con pollo and while husband and daughter put together the salad with fresh pickings from the yard. We also learned how to make fresh tortillas (I've already bought the ingredients back here at home!) and made those straight on the cooktop. I got to learn to make my favorite Central American side of fried Plantains and am so excited with that knowledge. The family was more than generous with sharing their knowledge, time and space with us. These kind of authentic experiences are what I enjoy best about visiting other cultures. Highly recommended!

I've been snorkeling before, but this was such a great experience. Jeffery was our guide and Nico, el jefe, picked us up and helped along the way. We felt accomplished taking the kayaks to the island. Then Jeffery spent the time walking us along the island teaching us about the wildlife. I find Costa Ricans just love their planet and everything that provides for them! We snorkeled in shallow water and while the sea life wasn't as bright or colorful as some places, I've been, it was still magnificent to see. When we got back we enjoyed a treat of fresh pineapple and mamon verde. I loved being introduced to a new food while on a snorkeling adventure! Jefferey and Nico were fabulous guides and we hope to run into them again on our next visit to Costa Rica!

We very much enjoyed our private excursion with Mariano! We live in Arizona and love to hike and were enthralled with the chance to hike in a very different atmosphere with very different plants and critters. My head was on swivel as I was searching high in the trees for monkeys and sloths and low on the ground for frogs and snakes. Our group consisted of me, my husband and our 19yo daughter. The trails were great to follow and the end of May was a great time because there weren't too many others on the path. Now I'm scared of walking on things where I can see the ground, but the hanging bridges were fine as long as I didn't look down! What a great experience! Now our guide, Mariano, was so very knowledgeable and just as excited as us with each find. If there is a way to ask for a guide on this adventure, Mariano is your guy!

A lovely quiet riad not too far from the car dropoff point. Had the best viennoiseries for breakfast - really fresh and fluffy! Comfortable room and great bathroom. Enjoyed the rooftop and the lounging chair and table outside our room. Beautiful courtyard, airy and light. A great experience.

True glamping in the desert. Did not expect a real shower, bathtub and toilet. All with running hot and cold water. Very comfortable. Impressed with the food - catering out in the desert cant be easy and to provide such a variety of dishes for breakfast and dinner is a real feat. Food was delicious and fresh. Nice area after dinner to listen to music and look up at the desert sky. Would recommend at least two nights there. During the second day, we were booked for quad biking in the dunes and we were given the courtesy of a day room at the Nasser Palace (same ownership?), which had a lovely refreshing pool to dip and sit in till the afternoon expedition. This was a real treat. To just relax by a pool and have lunch to avoid the heat.

Did not expect such a lovely riad in the middle of nowhere! It was a welcome break from the long car drive to Marrakesh from Merzouga. Great hotel. Fabulous and extensive dinner buffet - to cater for all tastes. Huge variety of entrees and desserts. Staff very courteous. Rooms roomy and well appointed. Very quiet and peaceful.

Conveniently located, not far from the car drop off point. We had a lovely top floor room with a private outdoor balcony/rooftop space. Very comfortable and clean and cool. Thank goodness for AC!!! (it hit 40 degrees plus while were were there!) Staff were friendly and helpful. Easy to find and go to and from. Nice to sit on the ground floor in the courtyard and just chill out. Quiet and relaxing.

Enjoyed our tour immensely with local guide. The medina is such a labaryinth - you really need a local to take you through. Such a special medina. All those different sections, spices, butchers, herbalists, tanneries! Not to mention the madrassas, mosques and other historic places.

Highly recommend at least two nights in the desert. So special. Nothing like it. Had beautiful weather day of arrival and a leisurely camel walk into the sunset. The second day we experienced a sand storm - so really appreciate the landscape and the way it can change so suddenly.

With this tour you really appreciate the landscape and the difficulty of travelling over it. It's a bit awkward or strange to visit a Berber village - yes, a little touristy, but you do get an appreciation of the hardships of living in this harsh environment, and understand why some have chosen to live in a village instead of continuing life as a nomad.

Son and hubby loved the experience of zooming up and down the dunes on the quad bikes. They are heavy and quite stable. I'm a total wuss. So relieved when the tour guide took over for me. Got to appreciate the vastness of the desert. Goes on till through to the horizon. Quite amazing.

This was our first introduction to Morocco. A lot to learn and absorb - especially when one doesnt have any background in Moroccan history. The Hassan II Mosque is a must see. The scale and the workmanship is outstanding. Intricate and stunningly beautiful. And one of the very few mosques in the world where non-Moslems may visit. There is a museum in the medina on the history of Casablanca - worth stopping and spending more time here.

Great massage. Feel super clean and refreshed afterwards.

Fascinating roman ruins. Our guide was a little rushed. But you can wander and go at your own pace. It is a big site. Who knew that the largest Roman ruins in North Africa are here! Some well preserved mosaic floors. You're in the sun, with no shade. So wear a hat!

Really enjoyed our local guide Hanyn. This was a "must do" tour - got to eat some real local foods and was able to recreate our steps and go back the next day to some of our favorite stalls. Loved the fresh mesmen pancakes, yoghurt drink and traditional harira soup. Lots to eat and taste. Be adventurous - snails, stews and stuffed pitas. Go with an appetite. Guide was very attentive to allergies. Lots of fun and an opportunity to try some real local food. Not just for tourists!

Lovely former royal city. Enjoyed our walk around and exploration of the medina. Our tour was on a Friday - so many shops closed - keep in mind that on Fridays one may have to adjust one's schedule to take into account noon prayers, etc. Our guide was really interesting and knowledgeable. Nice smaller city to roam around. Not so crowded!

A great introduction to Marrakesh and its medina. Hanyn was very informative and gave us a lot of history and cultural perspective. There's lots to see - only a question of how much stamina one has to see it all! All the palaces and madrassas were so beautiful - easy to get overwhelmed by the tilework and painted ceilings. Quite spectacular.

First class facility and equipment. Teachers and commentary were excellent. All instructions were very clear and concise. Well thought out and presented class. Easy to follow - even for non-cooks. And of course the test is in the eating! Ha ha, you get to eat what you cook - lots of food. Beautifully arranged and a smooth operation. I cant wait to try cooking with a tagine at home!

A truly luxurious experience in a lovely hammam and spa. A real exfoliation scrub - you feel so much cleaner afterwards. A great way to end our trip in Morocco. This is a 5 star treatment. The staff are wonderful and you really feel pampered and taken care of. Even my hubby and son enjoyed it!!

What a fun "ice hike"! Walking around the glacier and eventually on the glacier was fantastic. The guides were all very knowledgable and eager to share. The glass of whisky with glacial ice at the end was a nice touch!

It's impossible to describe the beauty of the falls. Pictures can not capture even part of the experience. Every angle you see something new and different. Truly amazing!

Unfortunately we had a lot of rain the day before the bike tour and the roads were too muddy to navigate. Our guide still took us on a nice ride near the hotel and pointed out lots of fun facts about the trees and the jungle. The Kayak trip up the river was "ok". Don't get me wrong, standing in Argentina, being able to see Paraguay and Brazil and then kayak for a couple of hours on a beautiful day is hard to beat. But, at the end of the day, it wasn't terrible adventurous or exciting.

Words can not describe the sheer beauty! Every trail leads to a more unique and breathtaking view.

The boat ride up the river and into the Devil's Throat is a must do. After seeing the falls from above and from the sides, riding right up to the base is amazing. So much fun!

The hotel was really nice, clean, close to everything, room was spacious, aesthetically pleasing and has an amazing rooftop.

Cute hotel close to everything, Clean and nice rooftop. The food in the restaurant was good. Family suite should however have an option of a two full size beds instead of a queens with a pull out sofa.

We had a family room with a loft. We had twin beds downstairs with a full bathroom. Loft upstairs with a queens size bed had bathroom with a small shower. It was four adults we should have had the option of a queen size bed on the bottom floor.

Cute hotel, aesthetically pleasing,clean and has a beautiful rooftop. The beds however were hard

We loved the location of Hotel Ruzzini Palace; staff were exceptional and very friendly. The hotel has a cozy bar offering great cocktails -- the perfect place to enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail and unwind at the end of each day. Great breakfast with plenty of selections.

We loved this hotel because the views were unmatched! From our seaside room, we could see Napoli, Mount Vesuvius, the Sorrentine Peninsula and the Bay of Sorrento. That itself was an experience we will never forget. The rooms were spacious as were the bathrooms (ample vanity top). Loved that the beds were situated in the center of the room to take advantage of the unbelievable view. Plenty of storage space and plenty of space to move around within the room. (Note that we would not want a room that was NOT seaside as those overlook the parking lot and have no view.) Although the hotel feels a bit dated stylistically, it is clean and again, the views -- day and night -- more than make up for it. The Bar and Restaurant areas are large with floor to ceiling windows as well as outdoor seating. The pool and garden areas are beautiful. We enjoyed soaking in the Sorrento sun while enjoying the view. The only downside to the hotel is that it is not easily accessible to town. The hotel does run an hourly shuttle service that often does not have enough seating for those who wish to use it during peak hours...in those cases, the shuttle runs a loop to ensure that all guests are accommodated. We always took a cab back from town rather than waiting for the shuttle. We would definitely return to this hotel!

Very spacious rooms; ours had a terrace. Kind, friendly staff. The Kraft hotel has breathtaking 360 degree view of Florence and its surrounding areas from the top floor terrace that feels like a garden. Such a great place to enjoy a meal and/or drinks. The espresso martinis were exceptional! Located near the US Embassy, we appreciated that this was a quieter neighborhood...an approximate 15 minute (easy) walk to the Duomo area.

This was an interesting hotel that felt more like an Airbnb. This was our least favorite hotel, but I suspect this was based on our own personal taste and preferences. We had 2 rooms -- ours had the large terrace which was nice, but the room felt cramped with minimal storage space (hard with 2 suitcases and carryons) and a bathroom with no counter space at all. The breakfast area was undergoing construction so all breakfasts were delivered to the rooms. Ours was delivered 20 minutes late -- ordinarily not a big deal except that we were being picked up for a tour. The main desk closes at 8pm which means that the front doors are locked as well. Also, there were no stairs to the 2nd floor; only a small elevator that accommodates no more than one person/one suitcase or 2 people. There was a staircase next to our room but it was locked. From a potential fire perspective, this made me nervous.

Love this! Giovanni was a great guide who led us on a walking tour of the popular sights and quiet neighborhoods. We especially liked walking through the market. He was so knowledgeable and friendly. Pace of the tour was not rushed; it was low key and very personalized. We enjoyed cichetti sandwiches and my husband's first Aperol spritz in a quieter neighborhood square...enjoyed the accordion player which was a bonus! Giovanni then took us to an authentic Venetian restaurant...both he and the owner offered up lots of meal suggestions before we were free to order as we liked. Ended our tour with tasty gelato!

Mario Messineo was our tour guide. He met us at the hotel and from there, we proceeded to the Accademia. There seemed to be some confusion about our tickets as he did not have them with him when he picked us up; we had to stop to get them. No big deal. We were able to skip-the-line. The tour was good though it was at times difficult to hear Mario given his soft spokenness and the noise of others. Headphones might have been helpful.

This was one of the highlights of our trip. We started with a tour of San Gimignano. Hilaria was our guide and she was so informative about the village. She worked to tailor our time around what we wanted, so we began with a stop for coffee, toured the village and came across one of her friends, a musician who played a hammered dolcima...magical! Wish we'd had more time here. We then ventured to Terra Di Sovernaja, a family owned winery led by so Federico Montagnani. We tasted 3 whites and 3 reds as well as 7 different olive oils from the winery. As proof that we enjoyed this tour, we ordered several cases of wine and olive oil to enjoy at home. This experience was made complete with a traditional Italian meal created by his mom, Nonna Silvama! Our final stop was to Il Colombaio where we enjoyed wine tastings with a focus on chianti Classico...again ordering several cases to enjoy at home. This was a stress-free trip with a private driver safely transporting us throughout the day.

Personally, we felt a visit to each of these towns was too much for one day. At our request, we spent about an hour at a ceramics factory to purchase items to ship, so that admittedly cut into our time, but even so, we didn't have enough time to really experience and appreciate each of these towns. The time spent in each of these 3 villages was no sufficient for anything more than shopping and/or eating. If we were doing this again, we would opt for 2 days.

Such a fun experience! We started with a tour of the lemon grove -- didn't previously realize how much there was to know about growing lemons! Enjoyed a leisurely "lemon tasting" that included limoncello, lemon sorbet, lemon marmalade and assorted appetizers. This lemon tasting was an unexpected surprise. From there, we enjoyed a private cooking class with Rosaria. There was a lovely outdoor kitchen with our own private dining area. We made ravioli and gnocchi, eggplant parmesan and tiramisu for dessert. While the menu was "standard" and nothing out of the ordinary, per se, the overall experience exceeded our expectations. A special thanks to Chef Rosaria and to Francesca, our lemon grove guide. We left with small gifts, including a bottle of limoncello, assorted marmalades, and cooking aprons.

We enjoyed the golf cart tour, although it broke down 5 times in the middle of busy traffic! Not our driver's fault, but it was a little scary. Great way to see all the sights, stopping just a few times for pictures.

We toured the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, and Basilica with Barbara, our private guide whose knowledge of all things Vatican and enthusiasm for same was astounding! Although ours was a private tour, Barbara used headphones with us so that we could clearly hear her among the crowds.