Sonia Vanzin

We had a wonderful trip to Milan. We decided fairly last minute to take a trip and Sonia was able to arrange a great itinerary for us. We were only in Italy a few days, but were able to do and see a lot. Our flight was delayed arriving, but Barbara Fussotto met us at the airport and ensure our transport was waiting. She was there to answer questions throughout the trip and was a great help. Our tour of the city center with Ester Ghezzi was a highlight. It was informative and enjoyable... read more

We had a wonderful trip to Milan. We decided fairly last minute to take a trip and Sonia was able to arrange a great itinerary for us. We were only in Italy a few days, but were able to do and see a lot. Our flight was delayed arriving, but Barbara Fussotto met us at the airport and ensure our transport was waiting. She was there to answer questions throughout the trip and was a great help. Our tour of the city center with Ester Ghezzi was a highlight. It was informative and enjoyable and Ester was a delight. Our side trips to Langhe and Como were great and the transport arranged made it so easy for us. Sonia's planning made it easy for us to just enjoy our time in Italy!

Hotel Reviews

Uptown Palace

Milan

Rooms are small, but generally nice. There is currently construction outside the hotel making it harder to access, but will be in an even more prime location once the Metro expansion is complete. The breakfasts were good and staff friendly.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Walking distance from lots of things and easy access to the Metro

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Albergo Terminus

Como

We only stayed here one night, but the room was very comfortable. The building was beautiful and right on the lake.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private tour of Milan Highlights (4 hours)

Milan

Ester Ghezzi was an incredible guide. Truly enjoyed our tour and the sights we were able to see. She had all the tickets we needed which made things easy. She was very knowledgable

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private wine tour: Barbera and Nebbiolo

Italy

Enjoyed the tour and tasting.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sonia was really great!

She was warm, friendly and responded very quickly to all of our concerns. She also addressed all our inquiries very quickly and thoroughly. We were very happy to be matched with Sonia and had a great trip. I would hope everyone could be so lucky :)

Our request was for the chance to see as much of Sicily as possible within a 10 day period. Sonia came through with a plan that we loved. We began in Palermo, traveled to Agrigento and Romana del Casales and then on... read more

Sonia was really great!

She was warm, friendly and responded very quickly to all of our concerns. She also addressed all our inquiries very quickly and thoroughly. We were very happy to be matched with Sonia and had a great trip. I would hope everyone could be so lucky :)

Our request was for the chance to see as much of Sicily as possible within a 10 day period. Sonia came through with a plan that we loved. We began in Palermo, traveled to Agrigento and Romana del Casales and then on to the east coast via Siracusa, Taormina and Mt Etna. In all we feel we have had a great overview of the Island and would love to return someday. The hotels were fine, our car rental went off without a hitch and the connections all worked well. We were met by Tony in Palermo who was there to provide assistance if we needed it [we didn't]. I don't think we would have had such a well organized trip without the input from Sonia.

In general we have had a wonderful trip. We have lots of great memories to think about. Sicily is amazing. Would we go with Kim Kim again? I am not sure because of one reason. I would like to know that line costs for our travels. There is no accounting for what is charged that can be easily seen. I get that it is not always possible to create an exact budget, however, as a consumer, it is common practice to tell people exactly what they are paying for and how much. This is nothing to do with the great efforts of Sonia and co. It is all to do with the business model of kim kim. We might use it again, we might not because I cannot tell if we have paid a reasonable amount, underpaid or overpaid. Had I a clear accounting then I would know and feel more confident that my dollars have been spent wisely. I stress that this is not anything to do with the wonderful trip we have had, but a suggestion for future travels. Perhaps KimKim should figure this part out a little better. Would I recommend KimKim? I honestly don't know, because of the above reason. Travel is costly. We feel we have had value for what we paid. I just cant really tell.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Principe di Villafranca

Palermo

This was fine. We really liked the staff. The breakfast was good. The location was great as we could walk everywhere. It was clean but not fancy.

Authenticity & Character

The amenities were not 4 star or was it 3? Not sure. It was adequate.

Location

You could easily walk anywhere.

Staff

Really liked the front desk staff- they were super

Cleanliness & Comfort

clean but not fancy

Doric Bed Boutique Hotel - Resort

Agrigento

This was the best place we stayed on this trip. The welcoming staff were wonderful. The hotel is lovely. Can't recommend it enough!

Authenticity & Character

The people, the farm which produces the food that you eat here, the very thoughtful approach to sustainability that one does not see often enough! You feel welcomed and appreciated as a guest.

Location

Beautiful, peaceful country location with a stellar view of the Temple of Juno. Only a five minute drive to the Valley of the Temples

Staff

This hotel has an excellently trained staff who are very attentive and nice people.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very high calibre. We loved the pool in our room!

Algilà Ortigia Charme Hotel

Siracusa

Lovely hotel in a super good location as well.

Authenticity & Character

I liked the old building in the middle of all sorts of old buildings in various states of repair. This hotel is meticulously kept up and I felt very at home here

Location

You are in Ortigia and can walk everywhere throughout the historic city. WE were delighted with this- It is also on the water's edge which is very special.

Staff

The staff was very pleasant and professional

Cleanliness & Comfort

Also very high caliber in this area.

Zash country boutique hotel & SPA

Riposto CT

I liked the location in an orange grove. It looks out to Mt Etna which is nice. However it was not my favourite hotel on this trip. The countryside is lovely but the entrance to this hotel is THE most awkward I have seen in my travels to many countries. It is not welcoming. There is a very narrow gate between concrete posts and you must speak into an intercom to get the gate opened. It is on a back country road and I thought our GPS was off. The road from the gate [about a kilometer long?] is in very poor condition. There is no signage to indicate the entry to the front desk. On arrival we were told there was no room at dinner [out in the country after a long day travelling]. Then they changed their minds and we had the Michelin starred tasting menu at vast expense [ it was good enough but... there was really no other choice]. The breakfast was good. The second night we declined to eat in the restaurant as there is so little choice... . So- in my opinion, this hotel has some confusion as to what their core business actually is-- Is it a hotel? A Michelin starred restaurant? A citrus farm? A spa? I remain puzzled by this place. Maybe I am missing something...... but I wouldn't return. I also did not like that we were asked to state our arrival time and food preferences/ allergies 3 or 4 days in advance.... travel for us is spontaneous.

Authenticity & Character

Lovely old winery- beautiful grape press in the restaurant. In desperate need of a welcoming and easy entrance with good road and signage.

Location

Yes and no- very pretty but far from town/ really awkward to get in and out. No choice therefore , for dining options for us. [We were offered a list of restaurants in the area on arrival and declined it. If you know that you will have guests for weeks in advance wouldn't you try to accomodate them? Just a very strange place]

Staff

Nice people and quite charming- but off putting at the start as they did not want to feed us. Then we had to pay a fortune for a meal we would not likely have chosen. One is pretty much captive to whatever is on offer here as a hotel guest. We did find the waiters to be very charming and friendly- in fact they saved the whole experience for us.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean enough for our standards. Bed was comfortable.

Activity Reviews

Private driver to Monreale (self-guided tour)

Italy

Emmanuel was terrific! We really liked him and the afternoon was a lot of fun. Thank you!

Quality of Experience

Loved Sicily for its diverse geography , vegetation and fantastic history

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sonia steered us on a very good path. We are grateful. We liked all the people we met, everywhere.

Transport

We rented a car- it is not an easy place to drive but we managed and saw things that we would never have seen had we been on a tour. We are very happy for that as well

Afternoon private guided Tour of Valley of the Temples

Agrigento

Enza was the Best Tour Guide Ever. If you get Enza you are really really lucky. She was v knowlegeable and made the entire Valley of the Temples come to life for us. We were not familiar with this incredible site and yet felt that we had had a crash course in the history of many cultures that have come together in this part of the world. We will never forget our afternoon with Enza. We highly recommend her! Thank you Enza!

Quality of Experience

This is a truly awe inspiring place- like no other in the world that I know of.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Enza was the best

Transport

This doesnt really apply as we drove ourselves.... but it was easy to access.

Sonia was very helpful in booking the trip and balancing everything we did so we didn't feel rushed. It was the trip of a lifetime for me!!
Daniella was our local concierge and made sure our trip went smoothly from day to day. She made a last minute change for us on a travel day so we could be in Florence an hour earlier! She was very friendly and helpful.
The drivers that picked us up for our transfers and tours were very nice for the most part. Rosanna especially was really wonderful!... read more

Sonia was very helpful in booking the trip and balancing everything we did so we didn't feel rushed. It was the trip of a lifetime for me!!
Daniella was our local concierge and made sure our trip went smoothly from day to day. She made a last minute change for us on a travel day so we could be in Florence an hour earlier! She was very friendly and helpful.
The drivers that picked us up for our transfers and tours were very nice for the most part. Rosanna especially was really wonderful! She was personable and picked us up on time from the airport and took us to Sorrento. The drivers like Luigi and Carmino were very knowledgeable and kind and spoke English really well!!
The tour guides were also very knowledgeable and had a sense of humor which I really loved. The Tuscany wine tour with Antonella and the Cooking class in Florence with Caterina stand out the most for me! However, all the tour guides were knowledgeable and helpful and again, spoke and understood English very well!
The accommodations for the most part were really great. Hotel Corallo in Sorrento and Hotel Concigliere in Rome were the best! The staff was friendly, professional and helpful.
Overall, it was a trip of lifetime and I was extremely happy with all of the services!!
Thank you so very much!!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Corallo

Sorrento

Stunning views. Shuttle to the city center. WONDERFUL STAFF!! Everyone was so friendly and very professional. Nice restaurants in the immediate surrounding area as well as the restaurant at the hotel itself.

Authenticity & Character

People and general geographic area.

Location

Staff

So friendly and also professional. Very helpful with requests.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean rooms,nice bathrooms, very comfortable beds!

Hotel Delle Nazioni

Florence

Across from the train station and very loud. Scary elevator. Very loud argument between front desk and guest. Did not really feel especially safe in this location. Beds not comfortable. Front desk did not answer phone for information. Room was dingy and shower posed a big fall risk. The plumbing was loud and did not work at times. The breakfast was good. The person at the front desk when we first checked in was very helpful. The terrace from the room had space and the morning and evening views were pretty. Florence was my favorite city.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Different location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds were not comfortable.

Hotel Della Conciliazione

Rome

Excellent location, the street was filled with very nice restaurants. The staff was wonderful! Especially Chiara at the front desk! We loved her! Very professional and personable. A very impressive young lady and an asset to the hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Everything

Location

Right near Vatican on a nice street with great restaurants.

Staff

Staff was very friendly, professional and helpful with information in navigating throughout Rome!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Overall loved the room, but beds could have been more comfortable

Activity Reviews

Visit of The Amalfi coast Villages Full Day

Italy

Luigi the driver picked us up on time. His English was very good and he knew the area well. The Amalfi coast speaks for itself and is really breathtaking. We had ample time to explore and shop!! It was great!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Small group Tour of Tuscany & Wine and Olive oil tasting

Florence

Antonella was extremely knowledgeable about the region and the wines and even how the environment effects the grapes!! Definitely try to ask for her, she was fantastic!! The lunch at the winery at the end was amazing.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ask for Antonella! She was wonderful!!

Transport

Wanna be Italiano - Florence cooking class and market tour

Italy

FUN!! Very educational experience! Caterina was knowledgeable and really had us all laughing! She was very patient and kind. She was very knowledgeable about the ingredients and the marketplace.

Quality of Experience

Food

Delicious!!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ask for Caterina! She showed us so much and was really funny! Loved her!!

Transport

Walked to site.

Small group tour of Vatican City , Sistine Chapel & saint Peter's Basilica

Rome

Very knowledgeable guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Small Group tour of Colosseum underground, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum ( max 6 people)

Rome

Gio was a very knowledgeable and friendly guide! It was an amazing experience!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ask for Gio!! She was extremely knowledgeable and friendly and made sure we really enjoyed the tour.

Transport

Sonia was wonderful! She listened to what we wanted, foresaw what we would need, and made sure all our wants and needs were met. She was personable and fun to work with. Everything went smoothly and while everyone we dealt with was helpful and informative, Filippo, our guide while biking certainly stood out. We spent the most time with him so got to know him best, but he added a lot to our trip. The other standouts would have to be the other guides we spent the most time with, Frank and Sandy who were both incredibly knowledgeable and interesting. We had a great time!

Sonia helped us plan a wonderful, personalized trip to Italy. Our itinerary was full, but everything went smoothly. From driver’s meeting us at the airport, to train stations etc - everything was wonderful. She also provided us with a concierge who took care of us during our trip when we had any questions or concerns. All the hotels and excursions booked were great! I would highly recommend booking your dream vacation through KimKim and using Sonia’s services. She was terrific.

From the first greeting at the airport in Venice to the last goodbye at the airport in Rome our mother/daughter trip to Italy was expertly planned and perfectly executed. The entire team of KimKim staff, local guides and drivers were absolutely exceptional. Alessia Carraro, our personal concierge, was a great guide in Venice for our bacari tour and kept us organized and updated each of the 10 days of our trip. Her communication and timeliness was unprecedented. Mrs. Lucia Monetti helped us... read more

From the first greeting at the airport in Venice to the last goodbye at the airport in Rome our mother/daughter trip to Italy was expertly planned and perfectly executed. The entire team of KimKim staff, local guides and drivers were absolutely exceptional. Alessia Carraro, our personal concierge, was a great guide in Venice for our bacari tour and kept us organized and updated each of the 10 days of our trip. Her communication and timeliness was unprecedented. Mrs. Lucia Monetti helped us navigate Florence and get to our train on time even in challenging traffic conditions. Valeria Arcangeli was a fantastic guide for the aperitivo tour in Rome and took us to special local places while also sharing details about the rich history of Rome. The pizza making class at Pizzeria al Grottino was fun, education and fantastic. Thank you for creating an unforgettably special trip for us. We are singing KimKim's praises!

Hotel Reviews

Bonvecchiati Palace

Venice

Great and conveniently located hotel in the heart of Venice. The backdoor pick up/drop offs at the canal are great fun.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grand Hotel Cavour Florence

Florence

Great location. Beautiful hotel property with a beautifully presented breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Corallo

Sorrento

Exceptional views. Great location. Attentive staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

47 Boutique Hotel

Rome

Great property with a nice location near the river.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

"Bacari" local street food tour

Italy

Alessia was an exceptional guide. She made it fun and conversational.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the Chianti Wine region

Florence

Our driver was incredible and took us a more scenic route with a stop in Greve in another village. Such a fun and special day.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sorrento coast and Capri boat tour - max 12-14 people-free time in Capri

Italy

Unforgettable day on the water and in Capri.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Evening Aperitivo Tour

Rome

A fun taste of Rome with history and culture added in.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Pizza-making class

Rome

This was an incredible experience. We learned a lot and the pizza was delicious.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We could not have asked for a better trip. Kimkim organized the perfect accommodations, sight visits and it was a breeze getting between each location. Our concierge, Alessia, was beyond amazing and helpful. We all got spoiled by the check ins, the reminders of our next steps, and the organized drivers. We will certainly be booking with KimKim again. read more

We could not have asked for a better trip. Kimkim organized the perfect accommodations, sight visits and it was a breeze getting between each location. Our concierge, Alessia, was beyond amazing and helpful. We all got spoiled by the check ins, the reminders of our next steps, and the organized drivers. We will certainly be booking with KimKim again.

Hotel Reviews

Bonvecchiati Palace

Venice

Very nice and clean!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grand Hotel Cavour Florence

Florence

This was a beautiful property and the location was perfect!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Corallo

Sorrento

What a view we had! We felt like we were in a movie with the views and accommodations. The staff was very kind and helpful every day.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

47 Boutique Hotel

Rome

Perfect location for sight seeing all over Rome! Room was very nice and clean.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Explore the Chianti Wine region

Florence

This was a picture perfect day. Michaela took us the back way through the region and we got to see the most beautiful sights. The wineries she selected were perfect and we enjoyed our day to the fullest.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We wanted to take Michaela with us every where else we went! She was amazing!

Transport

Sorrento coast and Capri boat tour - max 12-14 people-free time in Capri

Italy

It was beyond magical to swim in the sea not once but twice. Transportation on the island was a bit annoying at the end of the day, but this excursion will live in my memory forever.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Pizza-making class

Rome

Wow! What else can I say! We learned so much from Tony and Julia. They were so welcoming, kind, and fun to work with. We learned that we make pizza all wrong in America. Everyone who goes to Rome, should experience this fun class.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Monica helped me begin planning the trip over a year ago. Sonia helped with last part. So organized and outstanding communication. I had never used a company like this. I was so pleased with how everything worked. Alessia was our Concierge assistant that met us at airport in Venice and escorted us to beautiful hotel. She also took us out for food tour on the evening. She checked in with us daily .
around 5 by Whats App to assure we had plan for the next day. Communication was... read more

Monica helped me begin planning the trip over a year ago. Sonia helped with last part. So organized and outstanding communication. I had never used a company like this. I was so pleased with how everything worked. Alessia was our Concierge assistant that met us at airport in Venice and escorted us to beautiful hotel. She also took us out for food tour on the evening. She checked in with us daily .
around 5 by Whats App to assure we had plan for the next day. Communication was outstanding. It was such a stress reliever. Our drivers were great. Michela came to hotel in Florence to pick us up and also our guide for Tuscany. So fun having lady private driver. Boat ride to Capri was beautiful . Peppe and Luca did a wonderful job explaining sites. Serving drinks, and snacks. It was such a great day.
We enjoyed each city. Venice, Florence, Sorrento, Rome. All so different. In Rome we had Apertivo tour with Valeria to Jewish Ghetto area and Pizza making class arranged by Kim Kim at Grotinno's. In business 35 years.Both so fun and educational. Train transfers went smoothly with help of drivers and Lucia. Marino, Deborah and Daniela to meet us and or get on. Next train. I can not imagine planning a trip like this without Kim Kim. It allowed three women to feel safe and have less stress. A mothers dream come true and Kim Kim and others above helped make it happen. We will be using Kim Kim again to plan a trip. Thank you.

Hotel Reviews

Bonvecchiati Palace

Venice

Authenticity & Character

Vaporetto pulled up to door of our hotel to take us to train station

Location

Easy walk to all sites. Central location

Staff

Polite

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grand Hotel Cavour Florence

Florence

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful entry and restaurant breakfast area.

Location

Loved the view from roof bar. Also central location for enter city

Staff

Answered many questions. Patient and kind

Cleanliness & Comfort

We had extra Bed in room. Some of slats fell out when I turned overr in the night.

Hotel Corallo

Sorrento

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful views

Location

Had shuttle since not in easy walking gdistance of town

Staff

Spoke English well bit did not understand and try to meet me on concern I had on bill. Marianna very helpful to get shuttle to lemon farm for us.

Cleanliness & Comfort

47 Boutique Hotel

Rome

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to Jewish Ghetto, Collesium

Staff

Kind of stuffy. Didn't go the extra mile to help with questions re walk and restaurants. Good view from roof top bar. Service and bill very slow

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

"Bacari" local street food tour

Italy

Quality of Experience

Alessia was fun, shared good info.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walking

Explore the Chianti Wine region

Florence

Quality of Experience

Food

Wine tasting and food at each location

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Michala was excellent. Took us back wY into Tuscany. Beautiful scenery. Fun to be with. Dropped us for walk through of small village about e Greve .

Transport

Mercedes van very comfortable. Easy to see out

Sorrento coast and Capri boat tour - max 12-14 people-free time in Capri

Italy

Beautiful boat ride with Peppi and Luca and app 10 others to Capri. Tour of shoreline and explanations of sites. Swam in water before and after Capri. Was not aware of15$ bus to Anicapri. Very organized. It was not part of KimKim. Drinks and snacks and sandwich provided along the boat ride. Day was a dream.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Evening Aperitivo Tour

Rome

Valeria was our tour guide. Very informative. Since I follow WW II history, I liked the tour of Jewish Ghetto.

Quality of Experience

Valeria was very knowlegabke

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Pizza-making class

Rome

Tony made our experience so authentic. He had owned business 35 years. He and sister are partners. His business is in a Residential area with large market outside door. He was so patient with us. Explained details of Ingredients and temp, time and chemistry. We made 10 pizza between my two daughters and I. His assistant was so nice to make the experience move along by assuring supplies available . She took pics for us. His wife daughter and grandbaby dropped by.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

KimKim organized an amazing trip for our family of four to Italy. Sonia, our travel agent, attended to our every request, and Daniela, our personal concierge, made sure that all of our transfers went seamlessly. The tours arranged (mainly LivTours) in Rome were outstanding. Our family was often alone or with one other couple so our tours were private and efficient. The tour guides, Jonathan, Elena and Gio, were knowledgeable and friendly. Our transfer from Rome to Sorrento was smooth and... read more

KimKim organized an amazing trip for our family of four to Italy. Sonia, our travel agent, attended to our every request, and Daniela, our personal concierge, made sure that all of our transfers went seamlessly. The tours arranged (mainly LivTours) in Rome were outstanding. Our family was often alone or with one other couple so our tours were private and efficient. The tour guides, Jonathan, Elena and Gio, were knowledgeable and friendly. Our transfer from Rome to Sorrento was smooth and quick. We had a wonderful tour with Jean Luc in Pompei and very intimate local tours throughout Sorrento and the Amalfi coast of a winery, lemon grove, cheese farm and pizzeria. Every outing felt intimate and authentic. Overall, I would give KimKim 5 stars for exceeding our expectations. I will, without question, use their services for future travel.

Hotel Reviews

47 Boutique Hotel

Rome

Clean, attention to detail, every amenity available

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Corallo

Sorrento

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private golf cart tour

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Small group tour of Vatican City , Sistine Chapel & saint Peter's Basilica

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Small Group tour of Colosseum underground, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum ( max 6 people)

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sorrento coast and Capri boat tour - max 12-14 people-free time in Capri

Italy

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit of the Amalfi Coast villages with wine tasting and lunch at Tenuta di San Francesco

Italy

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sorrento food tour

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to Italy was a bucket list trip for us without the kids to celebrate an anniversary milestone. Sonia, our trip planner, was diligent in putting together an itinerary that suited what we were looking for and diligently tweaked the plan until it was perfect. She found a real balance of city/lake/mountain that we wanted.

We thoroughly enjoyed our private organic Prosecco tasting overlooking the hilly countryside, private pasta making class taught by the most personable chefs, and... read more

Our trip to Italy was a bucket list trip for us without the kids to celebrate an anniversary milestone. Sonia, our trip planner, was diligent in putting together an itinerary that suited what we were looking for and diligently tweaked the plan until it was perfect. She found a real balance of city/lake/mountain that we wanted.

We thoroughly enjoyed our private organic Prosecco tasting overlooking the hilly countryside, private pasta making class taught by the most personable chefs, and hiking in the Dolomites with tour guide.

We usually plan trips ourselves, but in addition to putting together the trip plan, an unexpected benefit arose when our flight from the US was delayed by a day and Sonia’s team scrambled to adjust all of our arrangements without us having to do the extra work.

We highly recommend KimKim and Sonia in particular!

Sonia and Barbera were amazing and made my trip with my wife for our anniversary wonderful. Very responsive and always willing to help. We are so thankful for them and their services for us.

Wow, wow, wow!! Sonia planned an incredible 17 day trip for me and my family. We wanted a mix of athletic adventures, cultural highlights, and exploring off the beaten path - and boy did she deliver. We started at a spa in Lake Garda, hiked in the Dolomites, biked through Tuscany, had amazing local guides in Verona, Venice and Rome, and the hotels we stayed in were superb. The vineyards and small towns in Chianti we visited were spectacular, our drivers were informative and the food... read more

Wow, wow, wow!! Sonia planned an incredible 17 day trip for me and my family. We wanted a mix of athletic adventures, cultural highlights, and exploring off the beaten path - and boy did she deliver. We started at a spa in Lake Garda, hiked in the Dolomites, biked through Tuscany, had amazing local guides in Verona, Venice and Rome, and the hotels we stayed in were superb. The vineyards and small towns in Chianti we visited were spectacular, our drivers were informative and the food everywhere was divine.
I would absolutely recommend Sonia and kimkimtravel.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Caesius Thermae & Spa Resort

Bardolino

This was the best hotel of the trip. The location was fantastic because it is relatively quiet but an easy walk or bike ride to several nearby towns. The food at the hotel’s restaurant was superb. The spa had a variety of pools, saunas and steam rooms to choose from, all included in with your stay. I would love to visit again.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Everyone was genuinely friendly and accommodating

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Carnival Palace

Venice

This hotel was very nice and all the restaurants nearby were great. It is off the beaten path a bit, so you get to mingle more with the locals, which I prefer.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private excursion to the Dolomites (Madonna di Campiglio) from Lake Garda

Italy

Our local guide, Giorgio, was fantastic. He took us on an8 mile hike with several gorgeous waterfalls along the way. Our lunch at the mountain top hut was very tasty and impressive. We definitely left this hike wanting to return and doing a several day backpacking adventure in the Dolomites.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private guided boat tour on Lake Garda

Italy

Our guide, Sara, had an extensive understanding of history and did such a fantastic job explaining the local stories.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Orienteering tour in Venice (for families and teenagers)

Italy

Silvia was a gem. She took us through the winding streets of Venice and offered the best bits of information to our teenagers about the dark and mysterious sides to Venice.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to Sicily that Sonia set up for us was first class all the way. From the drivers who picked us up at the airport in Palermo to every hotel Sonia booked for us. Our itinerary was the perfect balance of scheduled events and free time. Our hotels were perfect, and included boutique hotels in interesting locations. Also included were interesting attractions we may want to see on our own.

It is comforting to get off the plane and see your concierge holding a card with your name... read more

Our trip to Sicily that Sonia set up for us was first class all the way. From the drivers who picked us up at the airport in Palermo to every hotel Sonia booked for us. Our itinerary was the perfect balance of scheduled events and free time. Our hotels were perfect, and included boutique hotels in interesting locations. Also included were interesting attractions we may want to see on our own.

It is comforting to get off the plane and see your concierge holding a card with your name on it, and meet your driver to be whisked off to your hotel. Every meeting point in every town went off without a hitch. We loved Marco who drove us for 3 days. He was like family by the end.

One of the highlights from our trip was a cooking class in Palermo. It was a fantastic experience with hand on shopping in the market and cooking with Chef Michael of The Sicilian Pantry.

I would not hesitate to use KimKim for any trip in the future!

Hotel Reviews

Algilà Ortigia Charme Hotel

Siracusa

Great location, great food and very kind staff. Staff went the extra mile to be sure you had everything you needed. And the breakfast Buffett was delicious.

Authenticity & Character

Simple decor with several spots for you to meet up within the hotel to share a bottle of wine that you ay have purchased.

Location

Close to the water and walking distance to the shops.

Staff

Printed our boarding passes and offered suggestions for restaurants.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds were very comfortable.

Hotel baglio della Luna

Valle dei Templi, Agrigento

I didn’t want to leave this hotel as the grounds were so beautiful. They may have served the best espresso on this trip! Rooms were clean, and cute.

Tips for future travelers

If you are sharing a room with someone, make sure you get two sets of keys. Once you lock it from the outside, the person inside the room needs a key to get out.

Authenticity & Character

Hotel grounds amazing.

Location

Close to ruins.

Staff

They were quick to help.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds comfortable, bathrooms adequate. Need to fix locks on doors. Could be a danger.

Grand Hotel et Des Palmes

Palermo

Great hotel in a great locations, Room were cleaned and freshen every day, replacing towels and amenities. This hotel uses Aqua Di Parma products and they are wonderful. Breakfast Buffett was great and opened early. Location was within walking distance to most places and plenty of fantastic places to eat. The hotel itself smelled wonderful!

Tips for future travelers

I think you will enjoy this hotel!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Hotel Amenities.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Cooking Class in Palermo (private experience with lunch and market tour)

Italy

Who knew pasta could be this easy?! Chef made accommodations for a member of our group who was vegetarian. He was a good instructor and we came away with recipes to duplicate at home. It was a wonderful way to spend an afternoon cooking, and then enjoying our meal with wine pairings.

Quality of Experience

Authentic and caring, He let you know if you had a bad technique in a very nice way.

Guided tour of Valley of the Temples

Agrigento

Our guide made this a wonderful experience with enough historical information and pointing out small details.

Quality of Experience

The guide was like being with a friend.,

Private excursion to Mt Etna, Taormina and Mascalese wine tasting

Italy

Our guide spoke to us on the way up the mountain, but was difficult to hear from the back seats. She was knowledgeable and was interesting to listen to on the mountain,

Quality of Experience

When we got to Taormina, we would have rather explored on our own. She was not happy when we walked off on our own and did not listen to every detail about the town, She was a little unprofessional when she complained that some of us were not listening to her.

My husband and I had a wonderful 8 day tour of Italy. We had excellent communication with our local specialists Barbara during the entire length of the trip. Sonia was extremely helpful in providing various trip options and helping us customize the trip to our liking.

Thank you for making each day a highlight and memorable part of our trip. We especially loved hiking up to Lagazuoi, Col de Bos and Tofana di Rozes in Cortina d’Ampezzo . Our local guide
Chiara was exceptional and we now... read more

My husband and I had a wonderful 8 day tour of Italy. We had excellent communication with our local specialists Barbara during the entire length of the trip. Sonia was extremely helpful in providing various trip options and helping us customize the trip to our liking.

Thank you for making each day a highlight and memorable part of our trip. We especially loved hiking up to Lagazuoi, Col de Bos and Tofana di Rozes in Cortina d’Ampezzo . Our local guide
Chiara was exceptional and we now have a great understanding of the history behind the Dolomites that we hiked to.

We had high expectations for Chianti - the Tuscany trip, but the actual sights and experience exceeded them! Local expert Jessica was extremely helpful and friendly to have shown us the best of the countryside. We can’t wait to try what we learned in the cooking class!

The Kimkim specialists Sonia and Barbara helped us through some last minute changes in our plans and quickly changed our train reservations, pick up options and guided us on obtaining a covid test prior to leaving.

Overall, we would highly recommend both Italy and the Kimkim team. We are definitely planning to come back!

Hotel Review

HOTEL de LEN

Cortina d'Ampezzo BL

Fantastic service, picturesque location, and comfortable stay with the latest in Scandinavian design! We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at this hotel, especially the luxurious spa experience with Dolomites in the foreground! The staff was especially courteous and ensured our stay was taken care of in every way.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Private guided hiking: the stunning Tre Cime di Lavaredo loop in the Dolomites

Italy

Our family of 5 adults had a terrific trip to Italy with the help of Kimkim and our travel planners Sonia and Barbara. Our trip was very customized to fit everyone's interests. The first part of our trip was hut-to-hut hiking in the Dolomites. We had assistance planning our hiking route, and Sonia arranged for all the lodging and transfer details. After the 4 days of hiking, we spend 4 days in Lake Garda area for wine tasting, cooking class, city tours, and relaxation. It was a perfect trip... read more

Our family of 5 adults had a terrific trip to Italy with the help of Kimkim and our travel planners Sonia and Barbara. Our trip was very customized to fit everyone's interests. The first part of our trip was hut-to-hut hiking in the Dolomites. We had assistance planning our hiking route, and Sonia arranged for all the lodging and transfer details. After the 4 days of hiking, we spend 4 days in Lake Garda area for wine tasting, cooking class, city tours, and relaxation. It was a perfect trip for our family - a mix of adventure and culture. We had a couple of small glitches and Sonia/Barbara were a phone call away with quick fixes. We are so impressed with Kimkim and plan to use their travel services again.

Sonia put together a fabulous trip for us. We were particularly interested in Italian wine, and she was able to secure personal tastings at local wineries specializing in Barolo, Barbaresco, Brunello, and Nero d’Avola. The wine is Sicily was a particular treat, as we were not as familiar with it prior to the trip. The Gambino winery on Mt Etna was the biggest surprise. I even joined the wine club.

Our trip covered the north (Piedmont) to the south (Sicily and Sorrento) over 18... read more

Sonia put together a fabulous trip for us. We were particularly interested in Italian wine, and she was able to secure personal tastings at local wineries specializing in Barolo, Barbaresco, Brunello, and Nero d’Avola. The wine is Sicily was a particular treat, as we were not as familiar with it prior to the trip. The Gambino winery on Mt Etna was the biggest surprise. I even joined the wine club.

Our trip covered the north (Piedmont) to the south (Sicily and Sorrento) over 18 well-spaced days. Accommodations were interesting and excellent. No chain hotels. Drivers were always on time, spoke good English, and often provided helpful local knowledge. Our virtual concierge Mara was always available by phone when we wanted to reschedule an activity on our itinerary.