Karen's Travel LLC
Karen's Travel LLC
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About
I'm Karen, avid traveler, fluent Italian language speaker and award-winning author of Calabria: The Other Italy, a nonfiction book that explores daily life, culture, history, the arts, food, society and tourism in the toe of the Italian boot. Share my passion for a land where the flavors burst in your mouth, the landscape astonishes the senses and the people will capture your heart.
Reggio Calabria, Calabria, Italy
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
Why book with Karen's Travel LLC
- Writer, blogger and fluent Italian-language speaker with a special interest in Southern Italy
- Meticulous attention to detail, high level of personal service, vast knowledge of Italian culture, over 20 years experience with educational travel, consistently provides an enjoyable guest experience
- Italian • English
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
34 reviews
Excellent
34
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0
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mhtraveler
6 contributions
Oct 2022
I highly recommend the Cultural Tour of Calabria offered by Karen Haid, author of the book Calabria, the Other Italy and owner of Karen’s Travel LLC. There were 14 people on our tour. Karen and Gianluca De Francesco, her Calabrian counterpart, took care of us from the moment they picked us up until the end of the tour. Transportation and hotels were comfortable, most meals were included along with local wine. Both Karen and Gianluca were knowledgeable of the history, art and culture of the region and we learned a lot about the wealth that the region had to offer. Our experiences varied from walking in the Sila Mountains, seeing the cows grazing in the area, experiencing a concert of traditional Calabrian music to visiting Roman and Greek excavations, nearly abandoned mountain towns, a Bergamot orchard, a licorice factory, museums with 17th Century art, Baroque churches, Norman castles, the beaches of Tropea and Scilla and beautiful sunsets of the Aeolian Islands. The meals were an experience as well introducing us to the cuisine of the difference places we visited. We had great camaraderie in our group. I couldn’t have asked for anything more in my visit to Calabria. If you want to really see Calabria, sign up for this tour.
Written October 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your outstanding recommendation! I strive to give the best possible experience and I am so pleased to know that you enjoyed not only the historical, artistic, cultural, panoramic and culinary aspects of the tour but the congenial company of your fellow travelers, as well. Thank you for being a part of the camaraderie!
Written November 28, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
jeannie c
Boulder, CO2 contributions
Jun 2022
I just returned from Karen's tour: Traditions and Food of Calabria. What a fabulous experience it was for me!! Over the years, I've been to Italy many times (and Calabria once before), but there are always new things to learn! Many who were on this trip were couples, families and friends, but as a single traveller, I was made to feel very welcomed! And Karen is terrific. She is extremely knowledgable, warm, funny and speaks Italian fluently. Every detail was was taken care of for us. Gianluca is an invaluable Italian guide who was with us the entire time and provided a unique and particularly informative prospective on all we saw and did. I would HIGHLY recommend this tour to anyone who wishes to see a more authentic part of Italy, enjoy lots of excellent food and wine and have a wonderful time experiencing it all.
Written June 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful perspective on my tour! My goal is for all my guests to have a great experience, both in terms of exploring the local culture and flavors as well as a comfortable, rewarding atmosphere amongst the participants, and I'm very happy you felt so welcomed as a single traveler!
Written July 3, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Barbara and Roger W
Charlottesville, VA10 contributions
Sep 2022 • Couples
I read Karen’s book before she had tours and it was such a wonderful book about the region that I hoped she would one day do tours. My mothers family is from southern Calabria so I have always wanted to learn about the region and hoped to visit one day. When younger, my husband and I did many bicycle tours in northern Italy but knew we could never handle bicycling the mountains in the south so I was always on the lookout for a tour of Calabria that would be more than just a couple quick stops (which I did do on my own as extensions to other visits to Italy). To my joy, Karen started tours and we just returned from the Calabrian Cultural tour, it was everything I hoped for! A small group tour focused on Calabria, it was absolutely fabulous and recommend it even if you do not have Calabrian roots - and her book about the region is an absolute joy to read.
Written October 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I'm always happy to meet a fan of "Calabria: The Other Italy" in person, Barbara, and it was great to have you and Roger on my tour! As you had visited Calabria on your own in the past, you certainly had higher expectations than the first-time visitor and I'm thrilled that my tour fabulously delivered!
Written November 28, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Cruiser686382
Ashburn, VA1 contribution
Sep 2022
I have been traveling to Europe since the 1970's. I usually travel independently because I really do no enjoy tours with 45 other people. When I read the itinerary for Karen's Tour of Calabria, and learned that there were a limited number of guests, I thought I would give it a try. I am so glad that I did! We visited so many different and unique towns, villages and small cities. It was a wonderful experience. The food was delicious, plentiful and accompanied by local wines . Karen was a gracious hostess and our guide Gianfranco was very knowledgeable and really made our trip an extra special experience.
Written October 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for sharing your perspective as an experienced European traveler. I'm delighted that the itinerary enticed your participation and that you found my small-group tour to be a wonderful experience. Glad you were a part of it!
Written November 28, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Peggy
Las Vegas, Nevada1 contribution
Jun 2024 • Family
My husband and I visited Calabria on Karen’s very first Castles and Wines itinerary, and I can’t recommend the tour highly enough. Because Karen heads off the beaten path to the southernmost tip of Italy, you won’t waste a minute of her tour waiting in entrance lines. Nor will you spend more time listening to English than Italian (though you may hear some Greek because she takes you to a Greek village in Italy). Instead, you will view treasured artifacts, tour ancient ruins, and explore castles galore, all while enjoying the most amazing food and wine in the company of a group small enough to call everyone by name. And if you’re anything like me, you will also come home with photos and memories to last a lifetime. Thanks for an amazing trip, Karen!
Written August 6, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thrilled to read that my tour has produced lifetime memories – thank you for your great review!
Written August 9, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
maria
Redlands, CA16 contributions
Oct 2021 • Couples
This tour of Calabria with Karen Haid and Gianluca de Francesco exceeded my expectations! My husband and I have traveled quite a bit and have seen wondrous things, however, this particular tour went beyond that! We were treated to beautiful villages, forests , a licorice factory, marvelous museums.delicious meals. Karen has a wonderful sense of humor and knows her Italian history. Gianluca is a walking library of world history and is a marvelous story teller. We learned so much on this trip to Calabria! I would encourage others to go and highly recommend this particular tour
Written October 12, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your wonderful review of our recent Calabria tour. I am so happy to hear that both this lesser-known Italian region and the experience offered by Karen's Travel exceeded expectations even for seasoned travelers.
Written November 21, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Bernadette T
15 contributions
Oct 2021 • Couples
My husband and I had never been to Italy but all he wanted to see was his grandparents' homeland of Calabria. After reading the book, "Calabria, The Other Italy", I knew we couldn't do it alone. We've never toured with a group before so we were a bit hesitant on what to expect. Between the small group of people and Karen & Gianluca's hospitality, we were never disappointed with their tour! And according to more seasoned travelers in the group, it was one of the best tours they'd been on. I think Karen and Gianluca spoiled us! We absolutely loved the history, beauty and the friendly region of Calabria - that isn't touristy or busy. Which is a shame. I would trade it for Rome any day and we are considering doing the next tour in the Basilicata,region of Italy.
Written November 20, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I couldn't be more delighted that you chose one of my tours for your first trip to Italy and that we were able to introduce you to your husband's ancestral homeland on our small-group cultural tour. A comfortable, congenial atmosphere really makes the difference and it put a smile on my face to read it felt like family! I look forward to welcoming you on a future tour to Basilicata, another worthy, off-the-beaten-path region of Southern Italy!
Written November 21, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Carole D
Harrisburg, PA62 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
I recently returned from Karen’s Basilicata tour. As a solo woman traveler, I love the safety and camaraderie of a small group tour (there were ten travelers in our group). Basilicata’s a beautiful and historic region without the crazy crowds of more popular destinations. Traveling with Karen was a pleasure, thanks to the lovely accommodations, the delicious and bountiful food and wine, the astounding churches and historical sites, and the great local guides. Karen’s very knowledgeable of the area (read her Basilicata book before you go) and has a great sense of humor as well! By my last count I’ve now taken 14 small group tours; in my opinion Karen’s tour provided great value for the cost, and I’d gladly travel with her again!
Written November 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wow, you’ve traveled with a lot of small-groups – so glad you joined my Basilicata tour, you enjoyed yourself and appreciated the value. Looking forward to seeing you again!
Written November 10, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Don M
1 contribution
May 2024 • Solo
Travel with Karen is like an excursion with your best friend discovering incredible local restaurants to remote mountain top villages, castles and museums—I would not be able to find on my own. Every day was a feast and a trip of a lifetime with always time to stop for an espresso break! Thank you to the wonderful local guides, the bus driver Pasquale, and to you, Karen for teaching even a seasoned traveler like me so much more. I intend to go again to practice my Italian!
Written June 19, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
So happy to count tour guests like yourself amongst my friends and super happy you enjoyed the trip of a lifetime! Hopefully, we can repeat the experience on one of my other itineraries.
Written June 19, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
neenee561
Charlotte, NC70 contributions
Sep 2023 • Friends
Our group of six seniors enjoyed exploring the heritage of one of our friends on Karen's amazing cultural tour of Calabria. Karen's love of the region is evident as she enthusiastically guides you through areas of southern Italy that we would never have planned on our own. The tour is rich in history and architecture as you ride and walk through some of the most beautiful scenery you will ever experience. We enjoyed amazing lunches and many dinners in several very unique locations. Everyone agrees we will be talking about this trip for a long time to come.
Written November 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I'm so pleased that your lovely group enthusiastically joined in and embraced Calabria with your friend and the other guests of the tour. Thank you for your wonderful review!
Written November 12, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hi Karen, the link on your page for the Calabrian tours isn’t working. How can I contact you. Louise Nowotarski
Written November 29, 2019
Thanks so much for your quick response. Will read over the info and get back to you. Kind regards Louise N
Written November 30, 2019
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