Kimkim Trip Reviews for Italy

From the start of my perfect itinerary to Northern Italy, the KimKim’s specialists Elisa and later on, Leslie were incredible at taking notes on all my suggestions and accommodating my wishes for every part of the trip. They planned carefully the itinerary and we enjoyed every parto of our visit to: Milan, Verona, Lake Garda, Bolzano and Venice; the highlight and most difficult part was our visit to the Dolomites, but they found the most wonderful Guide, Alessandro, who took us up and down those gorgeous mountains, valleys, lakes and little towns! It was above all my expectations and the best experience of my life! Thank you all!

Activity Reviews

Venice at Sunset: Cicchetti, Food & Wine Tour

Venice

Our guide Anna was really the perfect guide for this activity, we had so much fun wondering the bars and food locations all around the San Polo neighborhood. The last restaurant where the served us pasta was not a good choice, not a typical place and the food choices we had were not good at all. The rest was perfect!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day trip to Lake Garda: Sirmione, Malcesine, Cable Car to Monte Baldo

Italy

Our driver and Elena, our guide in Sirmione were great, friendly and very professional.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

"The Great Dolomites Road" (Western Dolomites)

Italy

The most beautiful rides through mountains, lakes, valleys and towns ever! Alessandro is very knowledgeable, lives in the area and takes you to where you get to see the very best of the Dolomites! Driving the Great Road of the Dolomites was an unbelievable experience. The only cable car open after closure of winter season was the highlight with the most amazing view!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Heart of the Dolomites " (Eastern Dolomites)

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Excellent

We very much enjoyed our trip to Cinque Terre and Rome. Leslie took the time we had available and our particular desires and made a truly memorable experience. The choice of Sestri Levante in particular was great as a base for going to Cinque Terre. The Colosseum and Roman forum tour with Gigi was phenomenal as was the Appian Way ebike tour with Alessandro from Bikeology. Kimkim provided stellar customer service and handled the details making this an easy trip. It was especially helpful to have they there to help when a 3hr customs line caused us to miss our train and they seamlessly obtained new tickets. They also were able to get a refund from a tour that was moved to a location and time that didn’t suit due to weather. Truly great customer service and I would highly recommend them to anyone visiting Italy.

The WhatsApp support group during the trip was amazing! Prompt, helpful, and proactive to make sure we were setup with everything we needed on our trip.

Hotel Reviews

Alfieri9 Boutique Hotel

Florence

Adorable setup, extremely clean, wonderful staff. Was a little bit of a walk to main attractions, but not bad. Would recommend and stay again.

Authenticity & Character

Unique, cozy, great decor

Location

Little closer to main attractions.

Staff

Friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

No issues in room or lobby.

Villa Accini

Great location, kind staff, great outdoor relaxation space.

Authenticity & Character

Some components were a little dated, but it gave it charm.

Location

Close to town.

Staff

Super kind and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Spacious room and clean!

Palazzo Tritone

Sorrento

Fabulous location for exploring Sorrento! Clean and spacious

Authenticity & Character

Unique setup, with some modern touches

Location

Short walk to dining and shopping and main Sorrento attractions

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Modigliani

Roma

Charming spot, super nice and helpful staff, safe location.

Authenticity & Character

Upgraded but still had older charm elements

Location

A bit of a walk to main attractions, but nice neighborhood and fun to walk around to things nearby.

Staff

Very willing to help with luggage, bar, breakfast, etc.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Chianti Wine & Olive Oil Tour from Florence

Florence

The guide was funny, insightful, and made the experience really great.

Quality of Experience

The wineries and staff at the wineries.

Food

Lunch at the winery was authentic and paired well with the wine.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

shared lots of great history and info to make the drive and in-between time go by quickly

Transport

Bus was great

Hiking the Path of Gods

Sorrento

The most incredible views! Great to experience the landscape and learn about the communities in the area.

Quality of Experience

The views and the guide sharing info along the way made it more memorable.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Wonderful - outgoing, kind, and knowledgeable!

Transport

the drive to the starting point is a bit curvy and slow, so plan time accordingly.

Vatican Guided Tour

Rome

We were happily surprised how great the tour went. The right amount of time and highlighting of key points of interest. Especially cool to learn things you wouldnt know if you didnt go with a guide.

Quality of Experience

So much history and info shared that only a guide would know.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

David was incredible - helpful with questions, balance of time to absorb and experience, but got through a lot of things to see!

Transport

Meeting spot was easy and the line didnt take long to get through.

Private Colosseum Tour with Underground Access

Rome

The guide was so sweet and knowledgeable. Was able to share info that made what you were looking at and walking through so much more meaningful.

Quality of Experience

Learning while seeing ruins was a great experience.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sweet and smart guide. She enriched the experience and made it worthwhile.

Transport

Meeting point was easy to navigate.

Private Pompeii Tour

Pompeii

More to see than expected and pleasantly surprised at the different bits of history to take in.

Quality of Experience

The 2 hours was plenty to take in the history and have time in the day for other things.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide shared lots of facts we wouldn't have known otherwise. We were able to see highlights and most important things in a timely manner. Very nice and thoughtful with answers and conversations.

Transport

Loved Tuscany, Amalfi coast, Pompeii and Mount Etna!

Hotel Reviews

Agriturismo La Pievina

Montepulciano

Great host great location!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Tirrenia

Sorrento

Lovely hotel with great views

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Cooking Class in a Real Tuscan Farmhouse

Italy

Great experience

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sailing the Amalfi Coast: From Sorrento to Amalfi & Positano

Italy

One of the highlights of the trip!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Francesca was great as a local contact and kept us well informed every day of the tour. Our local guides were also very good - Carol in Turin and Margherita in Cinque Terre. We would have liked more time to get to all 5 towns or were better informed on how much could be accomplished in an 8 hr day from Genoa.

Activity Reviews

Private Guided Walking Tour of Turin

Italy

Carol was an excellent guide and we really got a feel for Turin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Visit to a chocolate store with tasting

Italy

A great way to round out our walking tour of Turin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cinque Terre Trekking Adventure

Italy

Margherita was an excellent guide

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We

Day-trip to discover Portofino

Italy

What a beautiful way to spend the day when staying in Genoa!

Quality of Experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver was very accommodating

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver was very accommodating

Transport

Private Transfer from Genoa to Cinque Terre

Italy

Giulia was wonderful to work with!! She helped really make the trip what we wanted it to be. We especially enjoyed our time in Bologna. The cooking class with Veronica and the tours with Riccardo were highlights!

Hotel Reviews

Carlo Felice Boutique Hotel

Torino

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

R&B Santo Stefano

Bologna

We enjoyed the apartment-style accommodation and the access to a washing machine mid-trip. The place was clean and comfortable. Our only complaint was the shower; it has very low water pressure, which makes rinsing shampoo and conditioner out of hair more difficult.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable. The only challenge is the low water pressure in the shower.

Locanda Alberti

Mandello del Lario

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Antica Locanda Leonardo

Milan

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full day in The Langhe with driver assistance (from Turin)

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The car smelled strongly of cigarette smoke, which irritates my allergies a bit.

Turin guided walk (private guide)

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The Langhe hills wine tasting (1 winery)

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bologna private guided walk and Food Tastings (3h)

Italy

We love Riccardo!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cooking Class *****

Italy

We often take cooking classes in different countries/cities when we travel. This one has been the best so far. Veronica made us feel very welcome; it felt like learning an old family recipe and sharing a delicious meal with a good friend.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Food day (half-day) including Parmigiano Reggiano and Balsamic Vinegar - from Bologna

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided visit of Bellagio and Villa Melzi Gardens

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our Kim Kim Team did a terrific job in working with us prior to the trip to drill down and figure out fun activities that my wife and I would enjoy during a 12 day trip to Florence, Rome and the Amalfi coast in Italy and then stayed in constant contact throughout the trip to respond to questions and handle unexpected issues. They had great recommendations for dining and also for "fill the gap" activities during our free time. Right off the bat, they were helpful as our departing flight was delayed which necessitated rebooking tickets for the connecting train from Rome to Florence. Using their very convenient app, i messaged Kim Kim about the delay before we left the US. When we arrived in Rome, the rebooking had already occurred and the pdf tickets were attached in the app. They also reached out just to touch base through the trip and the time difference was not an issue. When we had a miscommunication on a 9:00 meeting in Rome, i got a immediate response in my app within five minutes of sending a text. Very impressive monitoring of messages from their clients and really convenient app with a detailed itinerary that i referred to often throughout the trip. . And while i am comfortable finding my own transportation overseas i have to admit, having a driver arranged for transportation from the train station in Naples to our Sorrento hotel was well worth the cost. Kim Kim was also very helpful in canceling a few of our activities we had previously signed up for when we encountered an unexpected issue (broken toe!) and were great about recommending suitable alternative activities Both my wife and i appreciated the "hands-on" approach from the entire Kim Kim team and we both felt they were invested in making my wife's 70th birthday trip a memorable one.

After using Anita to help us book our Portugal/Spain trip last year, I knew we had to use her again for our Italy trip this year. I told her the different cities that we wanted to visit and she made a customized itinerary to fit our trip. This was especially difficult since we had four families and one infant. After a few iterations, she was able to put the perfect trip together. The app was extremely helpful because it told us where we needed to be, at what time, and who was going to pick us up. I don’t think we will be booking another trip without KimKim and Anita.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Canada Urban & Chic

Cozy and close to the airport which is what we needed for our quick stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Horto Convento Florence

Firenze

This was a great location. We could get to every place within 15-20 minutes of walking.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Away from the crowded parts but close enough that we could walk to wherever we needed to go

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Be Mate Colosseo

Rome

Really beautiful apartment with plenty of amenities. The only thing that took away from this place was that they are building a metro station right outside and they were doing construction around 6 am every morning besides the weekend.

Authenticity & Character

Location

A lot of construction happening across the street. Woke us up at 6 am every morning.

Staff

Very responsive host

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

The Best of Milan Guided Walk

Italy

This was perfect for us since we only had an an afternoon in Milan.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Florence on Foot: Michelangelo’s David & Duomo

Italy

The best tour you can do in Florence!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Ligurian Excursion: A Full-Day Escape to Cinque Terre

Florence

It was worth the trip but it is about two hours away. We felt a little pressed for time in each town. I think it would be better if we only visited two places instead of three

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Excursion to Tuscany: Chianti Winery Visit & San Gimignano

Florence

Such a fun trip. One of my family’s favorites. We had two stops which was plenty. We learned a lot about the vineyards and sampled so many types of wines.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Masters of the Renaissance: A Journey Through the Uffizi

Florence

I wish we had more time on this tour. It was so good and there are so many things to see.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover the Vatican: From the Museums to the Sistine Chapel

Italy

This was another tour that could have easily been a whole day. There were so many pieces to see and there were rooms upon rooms of amazing artwork.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rome Unearthed: Guided Walk of Colosseum & Ancient City

Rome

One of the most impressive tours we did in all of Italy. It is truly incredible how big the colosseum is. The ancient city was also a great addition to this tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Beneath the Eternal City: A Journey Through Rome’s Catacombs & San Clemente

Rome

The most surprising tour for me. I didn’t know about the catacombs and it was such an interesting tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hands-On Roman Pasta Cooking Class in the Historic Jewish Quarter

Rome

This was such a fun class! Our instructor was amazing and we loved all of the food we made. I would highly recommend this tour.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Overall, we had a very good experience with Kimkim and enjoyed our two-week trip to Europe. Our travel specialist, Leslie, was knowledgeable about the destinations and provided excellent suggestions for hotels and activities. Many of the recommendations contributed positively to our trip and helped us discover experiences we may not have found on our own. We especially liked Patrizia who escorted us through Bellagio. Also, our driver, Rolant spoke excellent English and was fun, which made traveling enjoyable.

However, there were several areas where the planning process could have been improved. One of the biggest issues was that the final itinerary was not provided in a timely manner. While we had shared the cities we wanted to visit, flights, and some hotels and activities we were interested in, we were not really asked which activities we specifically wanted included or excluded from the schedule. Much of the itinerary was created without our direct input, and we did not receive the finalized schedule until shortly before departure.

As a result, we ended up requesting multiple changes while we were already traveling. Although adjustments were eventually made, handling itinerary changes during the trip itself was stressful and time-consuming. In several cases, activities had already been booked and charged to us even though they were not things we were particularly interested in doing, which unfortunately resulted in lost money.

Another frustration was the lack of pricing transparency. When we requested a detailed cost breakdown for hotels, transfers, and excursions, we were told that this was not possible and that only percentage allocations could be provided. A more itemized breakdown would have helped us better understand the value of the services and make more informed decisions during the planning process.

In summary, the trip itself was very enjoyable. The destination expertise was strong, but better communication, earlier itinerary finalization, more collaboration on activity selection, and greater pricing transparency would have significantly improved our experience.

We were unsure as to whether or not use a travel agent for our trip, after this trip…we will probably ALWAYS use one! We had the best experience with KimKim and Irene. Scheduling was prompt, detailed, and everything we wanted. No detail left undone. Irene was always very fast to respond to our inquiries, and always open to a call or Teams meeting. When we would suggest an idea, she always gave her honest option and recommendations which were very much appreciated based on her experiences. Irene was unavailable after we had booked our trip and we were passed to another local agent. This made us a little nervous because Irene had been with us all along, however we had the best experiences with the new agent yet again! Absolute perfection! While on our trip to Italy we had a couple of questions or concerns along the way. We were able to message KimKim and we had a response each time almost immediately! One of the issues was with our first hotel checkin, and they even called and spoke to the hotel directly to clear the miscommunication up. Our travel guides on our actual trip were incredible! All English speaking, kind, funny, knowledgeable, and had our best interest along the way. We are grateful for all of them and the experiences they gave us. Kimkim did a great job of rearranging our travel plans one of the days unexpectedly. The Pope was in town and they adjusted our drivers/tours/times to make sure that we were able to enjoy our vacation to the fullest, rather than being stuck in traffic not able to access the city that was blocked off. Overall 10 out of 10 for the KimKim team that carried us through this amazing adventure! Thank You!

Leslie did a great job cultivating a trip for the books for us! The only miss was our hotel in Rome, which we did not like unfortunately.

Hotel Review

Eitch Borromini Palazzo Pamphilj

Rome

In short, this hotel had us wanting to go home. We had requested a LUXURY trip, and as part of this, we expected an excellent and comfortable hotel in Rome. We wanted to be well taken care of, and were paying for this experience. Our agent picked Eitch Borromini. When looking at the photos, we were pleasantly surprised. However, the reality did not match what we saw online. The one and possibly the only thing we appreciated was the location. The hotel was in Piazza Navona, and walkable to many of Rome’s fantastic attractions. We did not get to have the breakfast, but the boxed breakfast provided to us could have been a lot better. We were given crackers, jam, Nutella, and a packaged croissant. I’ve had the privilege of being at several high end hotels and asking for boxed breakfasts in various countries (including our phenomenal accommodation in Tuscany), and they were all far more nutritious, fresh, and enjoyable. However, I cannot speak to what breakfast at the hotel would have been like. Our biggest gripe was the room. The room was not very clean, it appeared dated, and unkempt. There was a lot of dirt and dust on the floor, and there was a bug problem. We killed some in the shower room, and there were flies around the room as well. The room with the toilet smelled badly as well. We were supposed to be in a luxury suite, and there was really nothing luxury regarding it. We didn’t even have any proper windows to look out of, and the iron didn’t work. Perhaps we were supremely unlucky with the room. While I understand Eitch Borromini is an old palace and has character and charm, the issues we encountered were not secondary to it being an old palace. Also, an odd thing, but in the room with the shower (the toilet/sink and shower were in different rooms), there was a locked glass door and a dark staircase that could be seen. It was quite disconcerting and as a trio of three women, we didn’t feel very comfortable. I know I would not want to stay in that room alone. Finally, the hospitality wasn’t great either. We requested some water in the evening, as they provide a complementary bottle, which we finished after a long day walking around Rome, and were told to drink the ones in the mini fridge…which they would then charge us for. We had to call twice and explain that we would not be paying for the mini fridge water, and finally about 30 minutes later, someone came with the provided complementary water. When we asked for help with luggage in the morning of our departure, they told us to bring it to the elevator first (which wasn’t that close to our room). I’ve had less “luxurious” hotels send people to help with luggage’s, or deliver a luggage cart. We were shocked that there would be no help. For a hotel that claims it’s a 5-star luxury hotel, there was nothing 5-star or luxury about it, and we should not have paid the price for staying here (assuming they were luxury prices as we did not see the breakdown when we paid kimkim). I will be coming back to Rome, and I will not be picking this hotel again.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Great central location

Staff

Needs more attentive staff, and maybe some women. No women were seen employed outside of the housekeeper.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was dirty and had bugs.

Activity Reviews

Exclusive Chianti Wine Tour with a Driver at your disposal - Half-Day Tour

Italy

Great experience, we just wish we had an English speaking group. Our tour guide spent a lot of her time speaking to the Italian group before us, and we felt we were losing a lot of information when she translated.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cooking class and wine tasting at Castle

Italy

Phenomenal private tour and cooking experience. What a unique tour! We loved it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

E-Biking through the scenic cypress trees of Val d'Orcia with Wine Tasting

Italy

Amazing views of Val D’Orcia and a wonderful guide. Would absolutely do this tour again! It was our favorite experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Truffle Tour and Homemade Lunch

Italy

Incredible incredible incredible experience! We learned so much, and Massimo and his family were extremely welcoming. The meal with this tour was the best we had in Italy’

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Early Morning Vatican Tour

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Colosseum & Ancient Rome Tour with Roman Forum

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The trip was extremely well laid out - from the north - lake como - to the south - Sorrento - we saw the highlights of Italy in two weeks. The guides and activities scheduled were great. Each guide was terrific. KimKim did a great job again - this is our second kim kim trip.

However, the hotel in Rome was terrible and the one in Florence was marginal. The hotels in Belligao and Sorrento were great. But after our experience in Rome we asked to be upgraded in Sorrento.

The bike tour in Bellagio was a bit aggressive for our age - and we're in really good shape., I fell as our guide took us through a very narrow path - that was unnecessary. Otherwise the bids tour was fun.
'
Good idea to stop at Pompei on our way to Sorrento - that was well worth seeing. And both boat trips in Sorrento were terrific.

Great trip! We will use KimKim again - soon I hope. But we will request higher level hotels next time.

From the time we stepped off the plane in Rome until we re-boarded for home 12 days later, we were well cared for by KimKim for a trip that was to celebrate my 70th birthday. Kimkim was our guardian angel to provide quick remedies to on-the-spot queries that often will occur, like, "We're here but where's our guide?"

Speaking of guides; Francisco, who called himself "The Mayor" of the food market, provided a very entertaining and tasteful tour with the food vendors that allowed an inside peek of what grocery shopping was like for the Florentines: Pastries, Schiacciata (bread), Bolita di manzo (boiled beef), wine, olive oil that ended with gelato, of course. He was knowledgeable about the history and of each establishment and was delightfully engaging.

Special thanks to Sylvia, who guided us through Florence to the "Academy" where opulent art awaited. Michelangelo's David cannot be described in words alone.

We have travelled enough to know that problems often occur (i.e., with communication and location drop-off points, but KimKim was diligent to check and double-check details. Julio was a young, skilled chef providing nstruction for preparing a dinner of pasta (made from scratch), saltimbocca and tiramisu. Moreover, his gracious demeanor after he learned we were misdirected by a miscue, was impressive. Afterward, the KimKim team was gracious to compensate us for the miscommunication.

The hotels were unique with expansive views yet cozy and comfortable, both in Florence and Sorrento. Day 5, I fell on the steps of our hotel room and luckily, only broke the fifth digit on my right foot. Instead of cancelling the rest of the trip, I was determined to tape the toe and go. KimKim provided alternate activities to minimize the last three days in Rome, such as a Vespa tour to replace the heavy walking requirements originally scheduled. Can't say enough about Grant and his cohort, Chinh who helped facilitate our schedule after the mishap.

If there is anything that could be improved, it was our accommodation in Rome. The beds were not comfortable, the elevators were ancient (small and slow) and the breakfast vibe felt more like a budget hotel than a celebration of sorts.

Thank you Kimkim for a memorable time and the work it took to put this trip together!

Guilia was very helpful in planning the trip to meet our needs. She was always responsive despite the time difference, She worked with our budget and gave us great restaurant tips, and made it easy for us to enjoy our vacation. She also advised us well on the balance between seeing sites and having time to explore the cities. She picked great hotels in excellent locations for us and picked amazing tour guides. We highly recommend Giulia if anyone is planning a trip to Italy.

Thank you, Rita, for the trip you set up for my Granddaughter Maddie, Grandson Nate, and me. Everything worked as it should. All the accommodations were great, especially Matera. You had very nice drivers for us and wonderful guides here and there. Roberta at Pompeii was so informative and that was a great experience for Nate and me. Maddie and I enjoyed the experience cooking with Madia done through Loliv.com and Claudio, and the golf cart experience at Alberobella. i have already recommended both to friends who are traveling to Puglia in May and in October. The October couple has used KimKim in the past -- in fact, they were the couple who recommended the agency to me years ago. It was great fun to explore --an amazing experience to be with Nate driving the Amafi coast (!) -- so wonderful to be in Puglia with Italians, rather than tourists from all over the world. And I learned that I can, indeed, get myself through airports, trains and cities by myself when I have to . Altogether a satisfying trip for me, one I hope the grandkids will remember fondly, and one that has taught me that I will be able to travel without my late husband. Thank you for all your input, planning and execution!

Hotel Reviews

Unico Relais

Napoli

Very nice once inside. the street entrance was not well labeled and took some scrutiny

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Boston Hotel

Bari

Well located business-type hotel right next to the old part of Bari. Comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dimora Storica Muratore

Lecce

Fascinating to be here. Location was right next to the old city and had a peaceful garden surrounding the villa. Hostess was wonderful, especially when she saved a little breakfast for my sleepy granddaughter!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Miramare Sorrento

Sorrento

Very pleasant place away from the crowds but within walking distance of all the shops, restaurants and activity

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Aquatio Cave Luxury Hotel and Spa

Matera

Wow! great place with fabulous ambiance! Loved seeing the construction of a modern hotel in old caves right in the middle of old Matera.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hilton Rome Airport Hotel

Fiumicino

It was a Hilton Garden Inn. Good for the night before travel. shuttle every 15 minutes to the airport. Not much airport traffic noise

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Discover Naples: Guided Walk & the Veiled Christ

Naples

Excellent guide, great fun to walk around Naples

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Pompeii with an Archaeologist

Italy

Excellent Guide named Roberta. Very informative, very impressive to see the engineering of the place, so much more that I expected.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover Authentic Apulian Cooking with a Local

Italy

Restaurant had exceptional character, and a wonderful, charismatic owner who taught us to make some Puglian dishes. Very patient with me -- I had a hard time mirroring her quick hands making orecchiette. The story of her place and strategy in having a vegan restaurant was so interesting. Having someone there to translate made a huge difference to what turned out to be a very genuine experience. Loved it!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Great conversation on the way

Guided Experience in Alberobello: Trulli, Countryside & Picnic

Italy

Great fun to move around with the golf cart. The guide was on a Segway, and had grown up in the town. He had wonderful stories and experiences to share. Have the transportation made is possible to see just about the whole area in the 3 hours, as well as stops for a little shopping and lunch. Lunch was at a local's home, with a cooking demonstration and stories about the couple who lived there shared by the guide. We were also able to see the inside of a house that had been brought up to date and was currently a residence on the Unesco side of the town, as well as a house recreating what the former residents had for living space.

Quality of Experience

Food

Transport

I think my review would be more succinct using bullets:
*Overall: Fabio Ilardi did many things that preceded the final plan and were crucial to its success. He was knowledgeable, patient, he LISTENED to all my suggestions and concerns, he conveyed an enthusiasm for the task following through at every juncture resulting in a near flawless itinerary that was easy to navigate and access.

*Transportation: From planes to trains to vans, all went so smooth. Even though he had nothing to do with the airline reservations, he knew the details and incorporated into the itinerary. Vans were there without fail and drivers clearly communicated pick-up locations when access to certain areas was restricted or inconvenient. Trains were great. Having been to Italy 9 times (most of those trips doing my own driving), I was really pleased with the convenience of train travel.

*Accommodations:
Venice, Ca Negra Lagoon Resort. convenient location although the difficulties in trying to convert a 400 year old villa to a modern hotel were evident. No air conditioning as we were told the city did not allow it until May. That made for a stuffy room so we opened windows where possible. Shower plumbing was difficult to figure out (I wish hotels everywhere would opt for the simplest plumbing fixtures instead of fancy and complex.)
Florence: Frame Hotel. Great place. Great location. Loved the provenance associated with the Mona Lisa, discovered there after its theft in 1911.
Naples. Eurostars Hotel Excelsior. What a jewel! Way past expectations. Beautiful rooms. Elegant throughout. While all the included breakfasts were very good to great, here it was over the top...... buffet was 75 long! Waterfront construction made it a little tricky to negotiate but when completed, this will be quite a gem on the waterfront in the shadow of Vesuvius .
Rome. Terrace Pantheon Relais. Again, great location. Convenient to many of the common sites. Rooftop lounge.

*Activities:
Mask painting in Venice. We all had a ball and the kids loved it. Nice people.
Gondola Ride: Wonderful guide (Giada, as I recall) who commented that the traffic on the Grand Canal was unusually light making for a very relaxing excursion. Lots of fun facts.
Murano: all enjoyed the tour and demonstration. Very pleased that a family run business continues to thrive.
Burano: an unexpected treat. Had never been there. Lonardo(?) was fun to be with and seemed to know everyone. The only disappointment was that we had no real time to spend in the beautiful and unusual shops. We did visit a lace making shop and were amazed at the short demonstration and the intracacies of the goods on display.
Truffle hunt in Florence: Probably the highlight of the trip especially for the kids. Out for close to two hours and back with 3-4 lbs of truffles. Guide was a lot of fun and informative. Roberto and his dog, Dora, stole the show and everyone got a shot with the shovel. The luncheon at La Cantina dei Tartufi was, hands down, the best meal we had on the trip. Beautifully presented with wine pairings and exquisite food. Paola and his wife were the kind of people you'd want to be friends with. It was clearly evident they love what they do. I would go back there in a heartbeat.
Leonardo Da Vinci Interactive Museum. This was described as an "interactive" exhibit and it was. Not as impressive as the one we visited in the town of Vinci but fascinating none the less.
Herculaneum: Having been to Pompei on two other occasions, this was the more perfect initial introduction to the tragedy of Vesuvius. It was much more manageable and not at all crowded. Our guide, Veronica, was terrific, a wellspring of information and great at fielding questions from the kids.
Galleria Spada in Rome: My wife and I had been here twice before. Even though this is not a typical stop on most itineraries, everyone found it fascinating.
Pizza and Tiramisu making in the "In Rome Cooking School" . Gianlucca was a talented, captivating host. Everyone's creation passed the test for deliciousness especially the Tiramisu. Would not have missed this for sure. Tricky to find. No signage, only a discreet number and an unmarked door. Walked right passed it twice.
Rome Tour: Definitely a marathon but worth the craziness. Did not expect the crowds. Giorgio, our guide, had his challenges. The Vatican was a zoo and they wouldn't accept the bar code for the group tour. We had to email all our individual tickets to each other's phones before they would allow entry. Different lines for different groups and we weren't the only ones caught in the confusion. Giorgio, an excellent guide, did his best despite the lack of accommodation on the part of the Vatican personnel. Can't imagine that place in the summer during high season. The first time I was in the Sistine, 56 years ago, I was able to lay down on the floor and photograph the ceiling. This time, I would have been crushed under foot. They wouldn't have found me until closing! Our other stops (Coliseum, etc.) were much less difficult.

All in all, a great trip enjoyed in different ways by a diverse family group. I don't believe any one of us will be forgetting this one any time soon. Thank you to Fabio for his patience, resourcefulness and for delivering the goods. I am blessed that I had the luxury of not having to be overly conscious of the total cost (including airfare, three times that of my first home). And you know the old saying, "You can't take it with you!"

Hotel Reviews

Ca' Nigra Lagoon Resort

Venice

Authenticity & Character

As I recall, this place was over 400 years old.

Location

Convenient to the arrival area. 20 minute walk, or less, to just about everything

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Terrace Pantheon Relais

Rome

This was a good fit. Close to a lot realizing Rome is a difficult city to navigate. The transportation people made that easy despite oppressive traffic everywhere.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Frame Hotel Florence

Florence

The building was formerly an apartment hotel where Vincenzo Perugia (the Louvre employee who stole the Mona Lisa in 1911) hid the painting under his bed until 1917. The Mona Lisa was a repeated presence throughout the hotel. Great job converting this structure to a comfy modern hotel. Great location in the antique section of Florence, a stone's throw from the Duomo.

Authenticity & Character

Location

In the old section of Florence, a short walk to most of the high points.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Eurostars Hotel Excelsior

Napoli NA

I asked for clean, comfortable, well located hotels in safe locations. This place was over the top. Luxury and provenance evident everywhere despite its age (108 years). Exquisite rooms and location, right on the water. Rooftop restaurant and bar with breathtaking views. Breakfast buffet was 75 feet long and delicious served in an elegant ballroom.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Learn How To Decorate Venetian Masks - Families And Small Groups

Venice

Lots of fun. Helpful instruction. Many choices and the freedom to be creative. The introduction into the history of the Venetian mask was new to all of us and very interesting.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Murano and Burano Tour: Discover the Magic of Venice's Islands

Venice

Great to see a very old family business thriving. Beautiful factory and showrooms. Excellent explanations. Fascinating demonstration. Burano was an unexpected gem. Wish we had more time to explore the beautiful shops.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vaporetto ride was reasonably comfortable. Someone prone to seasickness might want to prepare.

Evening Gondola Ride with Guided Tour

Venice

Our guide, Giada, was great, although while tooling down the Grand Canal with motor craft around, hearing her was a challenge.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Truffle Hunting Experience With Lunch and Wine Tasting

Italy

Start to finish, this was great. It was good to be out in the country wandering between vineyards and olive groves. Our guide was informative and amusing with a great sense of humor. Roberto and his dog, Dora were the stars. 3-4 lbs of black truffles in and hour and a half. Kids loved it. The Luncheon at La Cantina dei Tartufi was the best food we had on the trip and that's saying a lot as we had some fabulous meals. The owner/host, Paolo and his wife, were perfect hosts.

Quality of Experience

The outdoors, exquisite countryside, a fun activity and a fabulous luncheon

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Fun and educational at the same time

Transport

Afternoon Visit to Herculaneum Archaeological Site

Naples

A much smaller version of Pompei but much more easy to negotiate and not as overwhelming. Veronica was a great guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Galleria Spada Timed Entry (self-guided), Including Borromini’s Perspective

Rome

This is an "off the beaten path" site which is not on any standard list but is fascinating none the less. The Boromini perspective is amazing and a shock to the viewer. You have to see it to appreciate it

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

No real staff or guide. Pretty much self guided.

Transport

They were always on time!

Roman-Style Pizza Making Masterclas with Tiramisù

Rome

Making your own pizza and tiramisu with the guidance of a trained chef. Then, to dine on the results of your labors. What's not to love. Appetizers, wine, pizza and tiramisu.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Luxury Tour: Explore Rome’s Wonders in a Day

Rome

full day, whirlwind tour but a must if you only have the one day like we had. Crowds were unexpected for this time of year (April). Lines everywhere but this is Rome so you have to deal with it or stay home.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rita is the absolute best! She thought of everything to make our trip so special abroad. The first trip we took in 20 something years and everything was thought of on her end. From train tickets to the best hotels to private drivers and extraordinary tours. I would never hesitate to recommend Rita or this group to anyone traveling abroad. I can’t say enough about the service we received and the ability to reach out with any questions no matter how big or small and receive an immediate response. If I could give more than five stars I would. We definitely plan on using this group again.

Hotel Reviews

Eitch Borromini Palazzo Pamphilj

Rome

Truly, one of the most beautiful hotels we have ever stayed at. The hotel staff was exceptionally kind and helpful. The location was terrific and the hotel itself simply beautiful. We will definitely stay here again when in Rome.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Domus Volumnia Country House

Perugia

This is a very small place, but the staff is so kind and helpful. It is very peaceful, although a bit out of the way from the center of Perugia. If you are looking for a peaceful, quiet, clean place to say I would recommend this holiday house for sure.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Rivage

Sorrento

I’m not certain that I would stay here again and that it is truly a three star hotel. The lobby area and the dining area were exceptional. The pool was beautiful. The rooms however, are very very poor in their furnishings. One of our rooms, even smelt very musty. But the location was wonderful. Again, the exterior of the hotel was really pretty and the staff was so kind and nice in the restaurant area. One night we even ate at the hotel and the food was so delicious. For us it was just the rooms that were terribly lacking in comfort and decor.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Orto de' Medici

Florence

This is a definite five star hotel not a four star. It is beautiful inside and the staff is so very helpful. The location is perfect as well. We will definitely stay at this hotel again in the future. Very luxurious very beautiful. And we enjoyed our aperitifs before we headed out for dinner. The person in charge of the bar area was so kind and gave us beautiful history of the resort in the area. A definite asset to the hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Rome on Foot: Spanish Steps, Pantheon & Trevi Fountain

Rome

This was an amazing tour by a Liv tour guide. We were able to learn a lot about Rome and experience the Trevi fountain away from the crowds. Our tour guide was so knowledgeable and kind. I would definitely do this private tour again.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Florence on Foot: Michelangelo’s David & Duomo

Italy

Another wonderful tour with Liv tours! Our tour guide was exceptionally knowledgeable, showed us the off, beaten places. We learned so much through her about the city of Florence. Would definitely recommend!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover the Vatican: From the Museums to the Sistine Chapel

Italy

Our Liv tour guide was exceptional in her knowledge! We learned so much that otherwise I don’t think would ever be possible if you went on your own or with a group. This was a wonderful private tour and we definitely recommend this tour group.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sailing the Amalfi Coast: From Sorrento to Amalfi & Positano

Italy

If I could get this experience more than five stars I would. It was just the best day that we’ve ever had in a long time. The boat crew showed us so much and also made us laugh. It was just a really happy fun easy day. The stops were great in Amalfi, Positano, and another area which name escapes me that is where we stopped for a very authentic delicious lunch. If you’re looking for a wonderful day on the Mediterranean please look no further than this boat trip. I cannot recommend it enough!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wonderful itenerary to get a taste of all the cities we visited in our very first trip to Italy. Hotels were excellent with only one small issue in Rome, but Anita got that taken care of. Our tour guides were all extraordinary and we liked them all. For 70+ year olds perhaps no more 7 hour tours with a lot of walking. Three to four hours seemed to be the best. I think our favorite cities were Florence, Sorrento, and Palermo. Our wine tastings and pairings were superb! And our cooking class in Palermo with Chef Marco was a special delight.
All in all an incredible once in a lifetime experience. Grazie mille, Alan y John

This was our first international trip and it was wonderful! Clemens, Andrea, and Kamila organized everything beautifully. We appreciated the use of the app and the team was always available for questions and recommendations.
The planned tours had personable, knowledgeable guides who made you feel like a friend. We especially loved our Vespa tour with Federico, Your Buddy on the Coast! We will definitely work with KimKim for our next trip!

Had a wonderful 2 weeks in and around Tuscany. Martina listened to our wants and needs and planned a fabulous trip - perfect accommodation, great tours, seamless travel and a great mix of cities and small villages. Lorenzo stepped in and provided awesome support throughout the actual trip - always accessible for whatever we needed. I cannot recommend them enough!

Hotel Review

Palazzo Petrus

Orvieto

Amazing service and such a beautiful room - cannot fault!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Central to everything

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Discover Orvieto Underground

Orvieto

Very knowledgeable guide and really interesting to learn all the history. Was well worth the visit!!

Rialto Market and "Cicchetti" food tour

Venice

Georgia was great - took us to some hidden gems and historical places to sample traditional Venetian food and culture. Highly recommend - such good fun!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff