Kimkim Trip Reviews

The trip was amazing. Our drivers, Daniel, Hugo, and Greddy, were all excellent and ensured we were comfortable as we made our way to our destinations. The itinerary created by Kim Kim was perfect and ensured that we were able to experience the beautiful countryside of Costa Rica.

From our first inquiry to KImkim about a private tour in Morocco, to when we said Good Bye to our incredible driver, Samir, at the airport in Casablanca, our experience couldn’t have been better.
Mohammed worked on the planning with us to make sure our itinerary was exactly as we wanted it. He was very responsive to all of our questions and concerns, answering emails day and night. Thank You Mohammed!
We were greeted at the airport in Casablanca by Samir, who we would be spending the next 16 days with. From our first handshake to our last hug we became family.
Aside from being our driver Samir was a fountain of information about all things Morocco, including information on every site we passed on a daily basis. He got to know our interests quickly and went out of his way to find things we were looking for. I unfortunately got sick on the 2nd to last day and was hotel bound for 2 days. Samir stepped up and brought us food and medication to ease my symptoms-
Thank You Samir!! Couldn’t have done it without you!
And lastly a shout out to Said who was the “ local contact” who helped us with a minor glitch at one of our hotels and got the problem fixed- Thank You Said.
I wouldn’t hesitate to travel with Kimkim again and would encourage anyone to give them a try.
Happy Travelers
Joan and Hugh

How to begin this review—there are so many things to say, but probably should start with what every traveler wants to know—How safe is it? Without a doubt Samir Gummaoui is the safest driver I have ever ridden with anywhere, anytime in my life.
Whether on the mountain roads or in the crazy, frenetic chaotic Medinas’ one lane streets barely wide enough for one car let alone pull carts, pedestrians galore, bikes and motorcycles all vying for the same space—he was calm, pleasant, patient and managed it all with only centimeters of space to spare much of the time.
And another aspect of safety was his subtle, unobtrusive, backstage way of keeping an eye on us to make sure we managed the culture and environment safely and got to see all the wonderful things Morocco has to offer.

After safety, as a traveler, it’s the people you meet. And the first Moroccan we met was Samir who greeted us at the airport with a smile and genuine genial demeanor that never changed in three weeks. His opening comment was that he and his car were ‘ours’ and we were now ‘family’. And it seemed that we truly were.
Although there are apparently restrictions on what he can or can’t do as a ‘driver’ (he’s not a ‘guide’) in terms of where he could accompany us, we wished that he could have and would have loved to share dinners with him from time to time to just continue our discussions about so many things relating to Morocco and the world in general.
He is quite knowledgeable and a great conversationalist and along the way pointed out so many things that we would not have been aware of. He was wealth of knowledge about everything Moroccan—people, culture, customs and history. He made a ten hour trip from Fez to Merzouga seem like nothing. And importantly, he knew when to stop for breaks to walk around to enjoy the scenery and move our legs.

Samir went out of his way many times to make sure that we were cared for. When my wife became ill the last two days of our trip, he brought her meals and some medications I’d asked for to our room as she was not able to go to a restaurant. Again, to him, we were ‘family’ and he was looking out for us in every aspect.

I also want to give a lot of credit to Said who worked very hard behind the scene to correct some last minute hotel issues not of KimKim’s making. It being high season, there were very few hotel/Riad options, but they made it work for us in a very suitable way.

KimKim has been, from the start, a very easy company to work with. We planned a ‘non-standard’, longer than usual itinerary and Mohammed patiently worked with us to make it all happen to our liking. Also, would compliment their staff on being very quick to respond to any message we sent to them any time in the planning process.

I would highly recommend KimKim and all their staff and – to be sure, and if there is any way you can arrange for Samir to be your driver (and new family member) do not miss the opportunity!!

Happy Travelers
Hugh and Joan

Hotel Review

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

This was a most unique experience. We rode camels for 2 hours to reach the camp, stopping to watch the sunset in the Sahara along the way. An experience of a lifetime. The camp was luxurious, the food amazing and the staff were there to please, pamper and have fun

Authenticity & Character

the uniqueness

Location

the Sahara desert

Staff

everyone

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Fez to Merzouga Desert - The Road to Serenity

Morocco

It was a long road trip that didn't seem that long due to the scenery along the way.Then to end up gazing at the Sahara desert was truly amazing

Quality of Experience

Food

moroccan salads

Guides, Drivers and Staff

everyone was friendly and helpful

Transport

in a word Samir

Wolfgang, our KimKim guide planner did an excellent job planning our trip to Dublin and Galway, Ireland. Then on to Edinburgh, Iverness, Isle of Syke, Ft Williams, and Stirling Scotland. He listened to our wish list and provided activities accordingly. In Ireland we enjoyed the ferry ride to Inis Mor and met our guide Thomas for a horse drawn carriage tour of the island. Back to Galway for an entertaining Celtic dinner show. Next up, Scotland whose beauty was remarkable (we said "wow" a lot). In Edinburg we toured the city and the castle with our private tour guide Kieran of Local Eyes Tour. All of the accommodations planned were spot on. A little less driving time would have been appreciated, but we were able to see so much of the country, I shouldn't complain. Kudos to Wolfgang

Hotel Reviews

Sheraton Athlone Hotel

Athlone

Parking close, rooms clean, and staff was great. Restaurant was good.

Authenticity & Character

Location

In middle of town.

Staff

The staff was outstanding took very good care of us.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Western Hotel

galway

Parking provided a big plus. Staff was very helpful, room was clean and the breakfast was very good. In the heart of the city easy walk to city square, with pubs, shops, and restaurants.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Iveagh Gardens Hotel

Dublin

No where to check in to start, city tram tracks in front could not stop to unload luggage. parked a block away had to unload on curb wait for wife to take half our luggage to Hotel where someone was suppose to meet her and take in while she returned to get the rest. No one helped. I had to park the car 7 or 8 blocks away in a massive parking garage. then walk to hotel. Staff not concerned at all with all this. Hotel was fine accommodations were clean and room was spacious enough. Will not stay again.

Authenticity & Character

Location

no parking close, no where to unload luggage.

Staff

Attentive to guest needs.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Residence Inn by Marriott

EDINBURGH

Parking next door, rooms were clean and efficient. Breakfast was good. Staff was friendly.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Good for business trip, ok for family on those on vacation.

Staff

Could have been a little more helpful with parking arrangements and information.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Skeabost House Hotel

Portree

One our favorite places we stayed. Plenty of parking, great restaurant and great staff. The grounds are breath taking. Do not pass up a stay here. It's away from everything which after staying in the cities we were visiting the country was a nice break. Loved it, would stay again.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Surroundings were amazing

Staff

Great staff, felt like we were in Downtown Abbey, they really make you feel special.

Cleanliness & Comfort

River Ness Hotel, a member of Radisson Individuals

Inverness

Amazing staff, the concierge was so helpful and accommodating can not say enough nice things about him. Rooms were clean. we lucked up being able to park on the street in front of hotel, as it was Saturday afternoon only had to pay a couple hours then rest of week end was free. Close to shops and restaurants. Would stay again.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Downtown, close to everything.

Staff

Great staff, we really liked everyone.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Garrison

Fort William

parking was a plus, but room was too small. It was clean and staff was nice, good for one night and move on.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Inglewood House & Spa

Alloa

What an amazing hotel. Room was very spacious and clean. Loved staying here , close to the city with ample parking. Very beautiful grounds. Great restaurant. Great staff. Would stay again. This was our last night and it was a welcomed stay at this hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Shared Horse & Carriage Trip

Galway

You will fall in love with Thomas. I could listen to him talk all day. Being borne and raised on Inis Mor he is so knowledgeable of it's history and shares his history. Can't say enough nice things about him. I would go back to Inis more just to do a tour with him.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Claudia, Lucia and Carla were terrific! They each brought their knowledge and passion to our tours. We enjoyed all our time with them and would highly recommend them for other travelers. The transportation arrangements were excellent. The drivers were punctual, friendly and helpful. The vehicles were spotless and comfortable.

Two recommendations if I may: 1) Depending on where the pickup spot is for the walking tour of Lisbon, I would offer transportation back from the farthest point. The last 20 minutes or so of walking back was a lot for us older travelers. 😀. 2) If a train is available with good seating, it might be more time effective from Porto to Faro. At least offer the option.

Patricia was fantastic, responsive and attentive!

Hotel Review

Cascade Wellness

Lagos

The location was lovely, the spa was terrific. Our experience at the Bistropub was mixed since no reservations are available. The wait was long and the service was very slow.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to the boardwalk/ cliffs. Quiet, natural surroundings and beauty.

Staff

Extremely attentive to all our concerns. Special kudos to the spa therapists who were excellent.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The apartments are very clean, however the appliances including the wash machine/dryer and iron did not work properly. Only one hair dryer was provided for two rooms/bathrooms.

Activity Reviews

Private Sailing Experience in the Algarve Coast

Portugal

The sailing was fantastic- the boat was terrific with a very friendly and capable crew. I would highly recommend this experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Douro Valley Tour

Portugal

Our guide Lucia made the trip even more special by sharing her family winery estate with us. We were thrilled to see the entire Douro valley from the top point of the mountain. We also loved having a family style lunch at the other local winery.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Lucia was excellent. We also loved Alda and Lionel, our drivers.

Transport

Moonika is a wonderful organizer and very responsive. I changed my mind about a few things and she did her absolute best to make it work for me.

My favorite part was being met and escorted to my next location by very reliable drivers in very comfortable cars. It took all of the worry away to know I would be met on time.

Moonika was always available when I needed her and she was totally involved in every bit of my trip.

In addition, she is kind, sweet and competent! She will care for you like family.

Well organized and very professional,
Patricia was very responsive.
transportation vehicles were first class as were the drivers.. Claudia was a great guide in Lisbon. Lucia in Porto and Carla in Lagos also, we’re fantastic.
1st class trip

Nadine was a dream to work with - responsive, helpful, and kind. She designed an amazing trip for us to experience as much as we could during our first (but definitely not last) trip to the Netherlands. Due to severe weather in the States, we were unable to make our flight to Amsterdam. I emailed Nadine and before waking the next day, she had rearranged our schedule so we could salvage as much of our original plans as possible, including reissuing train tickets. The planned activities hit all the highlights so we got a great introduction to Dutch lifestyle, culture and history. The hotels she selected were exceptional and all conveniently located for rail travel between the cities and towns. For us, our favorite experiences included the restored village of Zaanse Schans. The windmill museum there was exceptionally done. Haarlem was delightful in every way and riding e-bikes through the National Park to the North Sea was a fun adventure. The gardens of Keukenhof should not be missed. I could have stayed there all day because it was so beautiful! Gouda was another place that we loved and could have spent more time there too. Of course, the cheese is legendary and well worth every bite! Riding bikes through the polder landscape was beautiful and fascinating. Thank you Nadine for helping us put together a fantastic trip!

Hotel Reviews

Boutiquehotel Staats

Haarlem

Exceptionally cool vibe. Delicious breakfast. Conveniently located. Helpful, friendly staff. Exceeded our expectations!

Authenticity & Character

Lots of character. Exceptionally designed and appointed.

Location

Close to the train station and to the central market area.

Staff

Very helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Relais & Chateaux Weeshuis Gouda

Gouda

Unique hotel conveniently located to the market square. Lovely room!

Authenticity & Character

Old building with a ton of history. Totally modernized.

Location

Very convenient to the market square. Easy 16 minute walk to the train station.

Staff

Very helpful and friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel des Arts

Amsterdam-Centrum

Centrally located hotel. Friendly staff. No elevator in building from 1733. Smaller but nicely decorated room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Royal Bridges

Delft

Conveniently located to train station and market square in Delft.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Flower bulb, auction & Keukenhof excursion

The Netherlands

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Gouda - cycle tour in polder landscape

The Netherlands

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Public Transport Pass Amsterdam

The Netherlands

This card became my security blanket! I knew I could get anywhere. The public transportation in the Netherlands is AMAZING to begin with and this system is so easy and convenient.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Amsterdam - Canal cruise (join in)

The Netherlands

Excellent tour, just in the hard rain. Of course, no one can control that. Canal boat guide was very funny and very knowledgeable and gave us an informative overview of the city as seen from the water. He even provided blankets and hot water bottles to keep us warm during the tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our family trip to Costa Rica was an incredible experience. We originally planned it for March of 2020. The world shut down a day before we were scheduled to leave. Our travel experiences did not disappoint and more than made up for the fact that we had to put our trip on hold. We are appreciative for Kimkim for honoring our plans and letting us postpone our trip. The itinerary for our replanned 2024 adventure was adapted to the fact that our kids are older and we had many adventures.
The first lodging we stayed at was Las Brisas de Arenal, a family owned hotel that consists of separate lodging buildings. Carlos and his family are kind and we still exchange what’s app messages with him. Our daughter (8 years old) fell in love with their dogs and we all loved the parrot Matilda. The picturesque surroundings are amazing and relaxing. Lounging in the hammock on the patio outside our room overlooking the Arenal volcano puff stream into the air was a wonderful way to siesta in the afternoons. The breakfasts of fresh fruit, coffee with warm milk, eggs and toast sustained us before our adventures daily.
Out first experience was a river float tour on las Peña Blancas. We saw so many animals including sloths, iguanas, toucans, monkeys, piranas, and other beautiful birds.
Other favorites was zip lining above the canopy and soaking in the hot springs. The volcano hike was a bit much in the heat of the afternoon for our kids.

After La Fortuna, we traveled south to Manuel Antonio. La Mariposa hotel was accommodating and we all love the breakfasts and swimming in the infinity pool each day. The view of the ocean, seeing the parrots and monkeys in the trees was like a dream. The surrounding beaches are beautiful. Restaurants are within walking distance. We went in a waterfall daylong adventure that was a family favorite, exploring 5 different waterfalls that included a natural waterslide, and a delicious lunch.
We learned so much information and history about Costa Rica on all of our planned trips. Everyone we met was kind. The culture and people are welcoming and shared so much of their beloved country.

We highly recommend traveling to Costa Rica, planning a trip with KimKim and learning about our world. Our trip expanded our horizons and we will look to take another family adventure in the near future.

Hotel Reviews

Brisas Arenal

Alajuela Province, La Fortuna

Las Brisas de Arenal feels like our home away from home. A family owned and operated hotel that is surrounded by the beauty of Costa Rica! We would stay there again! Carlos and his family (including dogs) are friendly and made us feel welcome. We were able to relax there in between daily adventure around La Fortuna. We highly recommend Las Brisas.

Authenticity & Character

Family owned and operated. Genuine people centered. Beautiful!

Location

We traveled through the cloud forest to get to Las Brisas. All of our trip was planned with transportation arranged for day trips and the hotel wasn’t too far.

Staff

We really enjoyed getting to know the staff. We formed a connection that we keep to this day through what’s app messages.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our room was cleaned daily. It was comfortable and relaxing. We kept the AC on due to the heat and had no issues.

La Mariposa Hotel

Manuel Antonio

La Mariposa is within walking distance to many restaurants. We were comfortable in our room and loved the beautiful view of our room overlooking the ocean. The breakfasts were delicious . The staff were kind and accommodating.

Authenticity & Character

La Mariposa has character and charm.

Location

The location is a good spot. There is a shuttle to and from the beach multiple times per day. We had transportation arranged for our day trips which was a good plan.

Staff

The staff were all friendly and accommodating

Cleanliness & Comfort

The grounds and rooms were very clean.

Park Inn San Jose by Radisson

San José

The Park inn was a good stop overnight in San Jose before going out the next day back to the US.

Authenticity & Character

The hotel seemed a lot like those in the States and met our needs.

Location

An ideal location with a quick van ride to the airport.

Staff

The staff were kind and accommodating

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms and common sizes are clean and comfortable

Activity Reviews

Self-Guided Manuel Antonio Beaches

Manuel Antonio

We ended up relaxing at the hotel, opting for the pool over more adventures to the beaches.

Safari Float on the Peñas Blancas River

Arenal/La Fortuna

We loved the river float. We saw so many animals, sloths, monkeys, iguanas, lizards, fish, and birds. Our kids loved paddling the rafts and even had a chance to take a cold dip in the river. The river float was a perfect first adventure in Costa Rica. It was fun, relaxing, and we learned so much.

Quality of Experience

The experience really was wonderful! Seeing animals in their natural habitat that we would only otherwise see in a zoo was a really great experience.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guides and driver were friendly and knowledgeable. And they truly love what they do!

Transport

The transport was great. The air conditioned van was really nice.

Arenal Volcano Hike & Paradise Hot Springs & Meal

Arenal/La Fortuna

The volcano hike was in the heat of the afternoon and was a bit much for our 8 year old. We learned a lot! Would probably spilt this up as an excursion separate from others if doing it again.

Food

The food at the hot spring was buffet style and we all were very hungry. It was decent.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was knowledgeable

Transport

The van ride was smooth and quick

Arenal Hanging Bridges & La Fortuna Waterfall Guided Hikes

Arenal/La Fortuna

The rainforest hanging bridges tour was a chance to see poison dart frogs in their natural habitat. We learned about the primitive and secondary forests and the importance of tourism in Costa Rica.

Quality of Experience

A great experience. So much fun and informative

Food

The food provided was delicious

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We learned so much about the history of Costa Rica!

Transport

Smooth and quick

Sky Adventures Zip Lines

Arenal/La Fortuna

This was a family favorite! What an exhilarating experience! The whole excursion was fun and we highly recommended it.

Quality of Experience

We had never been ziplining before. Whizzing above the canopy was so fun.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Everything was fully explained.

Transport

The transport was easy and our ride back was timely.

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike

Manuel Antonio

The park was crowded given it was Easter week. We had already seen so many animals on our trip. The guided tour was worth it as we met people who visited the park without a guide and had trouble seeing animals.if we were to go again we would go for the beach alone. It was beautiful!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Catamaran Adventure with Meal

Manuel Antonio

The catamaran trip was a chance to be out in the ocean. We didn’t see any dolphins. The crew was friendly. The snorkeling portion was fast and we would have liked more time in the water. The slide in the boat was fun for the kids.

Quality of Experience

More time snorkeling

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Friendly and knowledgeable crew

Transport

Transport via van was efficient, close to our hotel.

Really phenomenal experience with BTD travel… Nadine was amazing at setting up an itinerary based on our interests. It was highly customized and flexible, and her communication throughout our trip was invaluable. Would absolutely use this company!!!

The KimKim team was helpful throughout the planning stages as well as while we were on vacation. While in Colombia, Michael had our back. We called on him many times to ask questions, get advice, and to add/make changes to our plans. Michael and his team were super responsive.
The tours he set up were spectacular, guides were friendly, comfortable to be with and very knowledgeable. The vans were clean and in good condition and the drivers were courteous and obliging to all our needs.
Joey, our guide to Minca, stood out as he had so much information to share about the country, the culture, people and the birds. He picked out a great lunch spot with the locals that we enjoyed very much.
My only concern was the boat ride home from Baru. The tour guide should have insisted that we return to the mainland at 2:00 instead of letting us stay and enjoy the beautiful area. The seas were extremely rough in the late afternoon and the boat ride was difficult with little kids aboard.

Daniela and Robi created an unforgettable experience.

We lost our passport. Daniela and Robi immediately jumped, contacted everyone and had the hotel staff look for it, and got the driver to bring the passport to the airport!! From the time we alerted Daniela on the What's App within 10 minutes the superior staff at Hotel Marul (Maia) and our driver (Simon) found the passport and had Simon back on the road driving the passport to us. Unbelievable assist and save.

The What's App group chat between us and Daniela and Robi was fantastic. I can't express how awesome this communication tool was for our trip but I will try. I downloaded our entire group chat of 1 week's time into Microsoft Word (without photos or links) it became a 34 page document. 34 pages !! (9,000 words, for context this review is 823) That's 5 pages of fully written out directions, recommendations, questions, answers per DAY. And it doesn't include all the photos or links, the links were so easy. BAM I have the address and the walking/riding/biking/driving directions instantly.

As I try to describe this level of service, all I've come up with is highest end / white glove / concierge service. Daniela and Robi had our every concern and acted more like family or friends. We cannot thank them enough.

Daniela crafted a perfect trip. That isn't fair. Daniela crafted a dozen perfect trips for us as we kept changing our minds until we settled on an itinerary. Even then small additions were added and dropped day by day depending on our energy level. Daniela took the time to get to know what we wanted and the trip really proved how much effort she put in.

Robi was our tour guide on several occasions and translator on several occasions. I'm semi-famous for asking hundreds of questions (note the 34 page What's App group) and Robi handled each historical fact, each TV reference and more over and over. He also gave me some great video links to watch for more info. My personal highlight was learning about Ston, walking the walls of Ston and the fresh out of the sea oysters at the oyster farm. Incredible. Our day at Plitvice Lakes was my second favorite, a 37,102 step day for us on our Fitbits. BTW I tried to talk my wife out of doing Plitvice but she begged and Daniela urged we go, so glad we did.

Gordon, dropped our car off and picked it up from us. Made life very easy. Company was Lutar I think and they gave us a wonderful car.

Steve, apartment rental via Marul Hotel. Poor guy, I needed help at midnight and he drove over to help.
Simon, security and driver at Marul Hotel. Drove us to the airport and then drove back and forth again to drop our missing passport.
Maia at Hotel Marul, found the passport within 9 minutes of Daniela calling her. Thank you !!

Other notables. Šibenik, we walked the 3 fortresses. Western history would have been very different if this battle went another way. Dubrovnik what can we say, it's a must see for a reason. Split and Diocletians Palace was my wife's favorite, I loved it as well. If we go back we would like more time in Split.

Hard to explain. We had the country to ourselves. Roads were sparsely used, getting meals was easy, the worst crowds were very modest and often we felt we purchased some exclusive package. For example, our cooking class is normally 20. In April, it was just the 2 of us. Another example, I drove into the automated toll booth lane which I could not use and spent 2 minutes figuring out the problem. (btw, Daniela had warned me about this as I reviewed my notes) Normally by now there would be 10 cars behind me trying to get thru the toll. Nope, I merely went 50 meters in reverse and went into the next toll lane. The highway was empty, go ahead and drive it.

Language: Everything, and I mean everything was available in both Croatian and English, every sign, every menu, everything. We only met 1 person who spoke limited English the entire trip and he ran the Oyster Farm and we had Robi with us to translate. Although, honestly even here we could have gotten by.

Hotels. Location, location, location. Perfect, everything was within walking distance. The Hotel Marul and the Hotel Degenija and its nearby restaurant (Plivitice) both stood out as high end experiences. Hotel Skradinski buk was cute and we loved the staff and the perfect walking distance to the boat to Krka. Probably our favorite breakfast as we got to interact with other guests if we wanted to and we did.

Airports Split and Dubrovnik so easy, so empty, and everyone speaks English.

Could I say more, yes, will you read it, no. So that's it....

Our trip was memorable thanks to our guide William Chang. His services and behavior were very nice and professional.
I understand Shirley Fang from KimKim was the one who made the choice of our guide. Apart from this excellent move I appreciated her quick, knowledgeable and pleasant communication. Everything she arranged for worked perfectly well and according to our wishes.
We enjoyed very much the south of Taiwan (like Kenting) and the city of Tainan.
The best about Taiwan - people (everywhere) and food (everywhere).

Margil was our guide for 9 days during our trip to Albania. He was an absolutely amazing!. He was patient, kind, funny, responsible, and trustworthy. He explained each day with detailed plans and carried through with these plans. We were impressed with Margil's knowledge; not just with the understanding of specifics of the tour but with world wide comprehension. The four of us felt very safe with Margil, especially when driving the coast in Albania. Margil was open to ideas from us and didn't' get offended when we wanted a change in the itinerary. We would recommend Margil to anyone wanting a great vacation to Albania.

Ed, was very valuable when planning our whole trip. He was patient to work with us and plan a beautiful, memorable trip to Albania. From the restaurants to the lovely hotels to the continuous communication , we would recommend Ed (KimKim) to our friends and family. It was also a nice touch, that Ed showed up throughout travels in Albania.

Thank you so much for organising everything, we had a fantastic time and everything was made to done so easily.
Albert was an absolute star⭐️!! He had loads of inside knowledge and was an absolute joy to be with. Thank him again for the sweet treats.

Our guide Christina was amazing! She made sure we knew what to do every step of the way and answered all of our questions in a timely fashion. We loved our hotels that were chosen, and all of our modes of travel. This was definitely a trip we will talk about for the rest of our lives. We have recommended KimKim to our friends and family, and shared which hotels we stayed in. We are looking into planning another trip in 2025 with KimKim.

Hotel Reviews

Amerikalinjen

Oslo

What an amazing hotel that is historically significant yet very refined. Its location is convenient to the train station, mall, and basically anything else in Oslo. We literally only walked around Oslo and the Amerikalinjen was the perfect base camp.

Authenticity & Character

One of the oldest in the city, yet perfectly restored and updated.

Location

Centrally located

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The showers were amazing

Flåmsbrygga Hotel

Flåm

It's a very cute lodge-style hotel. Right on the edge of the fjord, a quick walk to the tourist shopping area and the boat in the morning. The Viking brewery that is owned by the same as the hotel was quite the experience and felt authentic

Authenticity & Character

Old world lodge style, but updated; looks like a Viking lodge on the outside

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bergen Børs Hotel

Bergen

The Bergen Bors Hotel was the old Bergen Stock Exchange. It has been tastefully updated, and the restaurant has kept some of the exchange's charm. The hotel also has beautiful murals depicting the way of life in Bergen.

Authenticity & Character

It was the old stock exchange and lots of history

Location

Right off the main port, quick walking access to everything

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Viking Dinner at Ægir BryggeriPub

Norway

We did the Viking tasting dinner, and brews. It was very interesting food and it tasted good. However, our favorite was the focaccia bread and the mashed potatoes; we liked them so much that we got a larger portion for dessert than we had on our tasting meal. Would definitely eat here again and order off the full menu.

Quality of Experience

Food

The hot dogs in Bergen were my favorite!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our contact and specialist on the team was Catarina Cotrim.
From the initial contact our trip was designed with our personal preferences and specific choices in mind. We gave Catarina our absolute must see list and she offered other possibilities as well. She put together a trip that had the perfect balance of "tour time" and "our free time."
All our hotels were wonderful and perfectly located for our visits.
Our drivers and tour guides were exceptional, their knowledge of the history of the area was so very much appreciated, not to mention the amazing restaurants they recommended.
The communication with Catarina before and during our trip was one of the aspects of this trip that made it stress free, affording us the maximum amount of enjoyment during our visit to Portugal.
If we were asked to pick a favorite place during our journey, well, we can't. Each city, town, and site we visited had its own charm and beauty. We can easily recommend The Host Portugal to create an amazing trip.

Activity Reviews

Dinner & Fado Show in Lisbon

Portugal

The music was wonderful, the food was not as good as other restaurants we ate at in Lisbon.

Quality of Experience

Food

Difficult to say, we were very tired and I don't remember any of it, apologies.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver was the one who made our first few days in Portugal stress free. Leonardo was easy to talk to and ask questions. He was confident, yet soft spoken. He made us feel safe and at ease in a new city and country

Transport

The vehicles from this company were exceptional comfortable, pristine clean and the bottle of water in the vehicles was very much appreciated.

Best of Lisbon on foot

Lisbon

Our guide, Guilherme was marvelous, he took us through Lisbon and showed us short cuts for getting up to either side of the city, ie Chiado. As we walked he gave us the history of Lisbon, pointing out events that left its mark on the city, for example the earthquake and subsequent tsunami, which destroyed the city and who was responsible for it being rebuilt. We stopped along the way to sample cod cakes and beer, he showed us where to get the best bifana as we walked over to the Alfama section with its quiet narrow streets. We ended our tour in commerce square and under the archway to the city. By taking us up one side of the city and then across to the other side we enjoyed amazing vistas of the city. I was a bit sad when our tour was done, it was an amazing morning.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guilherme was not just knowledgeable in the history of Lisbon. His guided walk was like being shown the city by a friend, he was so natural and friendly, he didn't just dole out facts, he told a story and we listened wanting to hear it all.

Delicious TukTuk Tour

Portugal

There was some overlap between food we tasted in the morning on our walking tour and the Delicious TukTuk tour. We did visit a small restaurant that was thru a very Moorish patio garden which was very beautiful, there we sample three different dishes all of which were tasty. The best thing about the tour was the little restaurant and sitting still for a bit. I am glad we took the TukTuk tour because it was a memorable experience bouncing along the tram tracks , an unusual way to see the city.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our TukTuk driver was very friendly and his choice of the little restaurant was excellent

Transport

I don't think there is any improvement to a TukTuk, it is what it is, a TukTuk.

FD Tour to Batalha, Nazaré & Óbidos

Portugal

This was a marvelous day. We visited Fatima and Batalha in the morning, had lunch in Nazare and drove up above to some amazing vistas, wandering through fun street vendors (The ladies with all the skirts!). On our way back to Lisbon we stopped for a brief stroll through Obidos. The religious art and architecture of both Fatima and Batalha were stunning. Fatima was populated by the faithful, as a mass was about to start in the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity and we watched the procession bringing a statue of Mary from her chapel to the modern cathedral. In contrast was Batalha, which was quiet and frozen in time, home to the faithful of Monarchs of the past, the architecture was impressive even with the unfinished section being weathered by time and the elements. Nazare is not a large beach community and the day we were there the surf was very calm, but the restaurant we ate at played the surfing competitions on large screens showing a very different surf at Nazare. I can honestly say I ate the best seared tuna there I have ever eaten in my life. It was served with sautéed turnip greens and new potatoes. Absolutely delicious! After lunch we drove up to the part of the beach community on the top of the cliffs, the view was spectacular as it was a perfectly clear day. Our guide led us thru the street vendors to a small chapel that was completely done in tile and told us the story of how this chapel came to be on the cliff. Finally on our way back we stopped in the little historic town of Obidos and slowly wandered as our guide told of the history.

Quality of Experience

Firstly the areas themselves, secondly Sandra our tour guide added to each location with history and local stories.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sandra our guide was exceptional in how and when she gave information always leaving us with time to just absorb our surroundings in silence. She was also quite brilliant in having bathroom breaks and coffee breaks, both essential for us. Lunch was our drivers recommendation so Leonardo gets all the credit there and Sandra did say she believed the drivers new all the best places to eat. Leonardo was an amazing driver, very competent and knowledge in all the areas he drove us to.

Transport

The vehicles used by this company, clean and comfortable.

Transfer from Lisbon to Sintra

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had the same driver, Leonardo and guide Sandra. We knew we were in good hands!

Transport

FD Tour of Sintra

Portugal

This day we explored Pena Palace and Regaleira. Both of these places are not like anything I have ever seen before, both uniquely stunning and beautiful, rich in history. We both appreciated having sufficient time to take everything in. The tour of Pena had time slots, which was a brilliant way to ensure that the palace was not just swamped with visitors. The palace is meticulously maintained and just a marvel to see as well as the vistas it affords. Regaleira is an architectural masterpiece in both the structures and gardens and while there were plenty of visitors, the grounds have a quality of peaceful solitude.

Quality of Experience

It was all stunning

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sandra was our guide and Leonardo our driver. I don't know if having the same driver and guide is the norm, but we felt very lucky.

Transport

HD Tour in Sintra - Moorish Castle & Monserrate Palace

Sintra

Walking up to and through the Moorish Castle there was fog rolling up the mountain, which just cleared as we hit the highest parts. It was very breezy making the flags on the battlements flutter. Mother nature was helping us appreciate the ruins with dramatic mystery! From the top you can see Pena Palace which is a stark contrast in time and history. Afterwards we explored Monserrate Palace whose gardens were a tremendous achievement, aside from being beautiful. There was the fern forest, the desert garden filled with cactus, a small lake right in front of the house and a few perfect specimens of immense trees from different continents. Out through the back of the palace were patio areas with pergolas dripping with wisterias all in bloom. The palace itself has no more furnishings, but the architecture is uniquely awe inspiring.

Quality of Experience

Mother nature helped make the day magical, but even without it both places are Portuguese treasures.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had Sandra only for half a day, but when we said goodbye she left us with two other palace/villas to visit if we chose. We did visit one Biester palace which was from more recent history and had been kept in private hands until recently, the majority of the furnishings are still there and wonderfully maintained.

Transport

Our travel specialist, Claire, planned an absolutely amazing trip for us! We decided to try kimkim based on a friend’s recommendation and I’m so glad we did. Having never been to Ireland before, we were unsure of the best way to maximize our time and choose places to stay. Claire provided an itinerary that checked all our boxes and took the stress of trip planning out of our hands. Even the locals we spoke to told us we were seeing the best parts of Ireland within our allotted time. There’s no better feedback than that!

We plan to use kimkim again on future trips and I highly recommend them for anyone who wants to make the most of their time in an unfamiliar place.

Thank you, Claire, for an unforgettable experience!

Hotel Reviews

Harbour Hotel

Galway

Wonderful location in Galway, walking distance to everything. Delicious breakfast also!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Foley's Townhouse Killarney

Killarney

This was a unique hotel with a lot of charm. The front desk staff was wonderful and gave us excellent recommendations of places to eat during our stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clayton Hotel Cork City

cork

Huge room with an amazing view! Very modern and easily walkable to lots of places in the city. Excellent breakfast as well. We loved our stay here.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Brooks Hotel

Dublin city

Fantastic location just outside the Temple Bar District. Close enough to walk to everything, but not right in the middle of the touristy bar scene. A ton of restaurants nearby. The staff and accommodations were top notch.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Cork Foodie Tour

Cork

This was our favorite walking tour of the whole trip. We were the only ones who booked, so we got an amazing private tour around the city with a local, Carrie (sp?) We got to taste so much amazing food at the English Market and a hearty lunch afterwards at a local pub. Some of the best, freshest food I’ve tasted!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Traditional working sheep farm and Sheepdog demonstration

Ireland

I’m so glad Claire booked this tour for us. It was a highlight of the trip! We got to feed baby lambs and watch an unbelievable sheepdog demonstration. The guide (PJ) was so friendly and he taught us so much bout the experiences of working on a sheep farm and training the dogs.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Dublin Highlights and Hidden Gems Walking Tour

Dublin

Our guide, Alan, was fantastic. He was overflowing with knowledge about the city, as well as the history of the Irish language, which was fascinating. Dublin wasn’t my favorite place on our trip, but the tour was excellent thanks to Alan.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Doolin Cliff Walk experience

Doolin

The only reason I’m not giving 5 stars is because I feel the description of the tour is not representative of the experience. It was advertised as a 3-4 hour walk on a gravel path, when in reality there is quite a bit of strenuous, off-path hiking in potentially challenging conditions for someone not in good shape and/or not an experienced hiker. There were some pretty steep climbs and a lot of the path is rocky and slippery, requiring very sure footing, balance, and stamina. Also, if you’re afraid of heights at all, be aware that you will be walking a foot or two from the edge of the cliffs at times. With the gusty wind, it can be a bit unsettling. Having said that, it was definitely an unforgettable memory and we got amazing photos. I didn’t enjoy all of the hike while I was doing it, but I’m glad I had the experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Celtic Night Show & Dinner

Dublin

I thought this was going to be super cheesy, but it was actually really fun. The musicians and dancers were superb, and the food was better than expected. Great service and a fun experience!

Quality of Experience

Tickets for St Patrick Cathedral, Dublin

Dublin

This was our least favorite “tour” of the trip. St. Patrick’s is undeniably beautiful, but it’s so touristy and commercialized, we didn’t really enjoy it. The gift shop selling cheap souvenirs right in the main room of the cathedral was off-putting.

Welcome to Doolin

Doolin

Doolin is a charming little town. We were only there for a little while after the cliff walk, but we had lunch at O’Connors on the recommendation of a local and it was excellent.

Jameson Distillery Tour and Premium Whiskey Tasting in Midleton ( Cork Co.)

Ireland

Great tour! Our guide (Bert?) was very knowledgeable and answered all our questions. The additional premium whiskey tasting experience after the main tour was well worth the extra ticket! Plan to buy a bottle or two in the well-stocked gift shop when you leave!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Self-Guided Guinness Storehouse Experience

Dublin

This experience was less personal than I’d hoped. I understand that it’s a huge tourist stop and the exhibits are clearly thoughtful and well-designed, it was just very commercialized. We did enjoy watching reels of old Guinness commercials through the years, and the video showing a master cooper making a barrel from start to finish was pretty impressive. The Gravity bar upstairs was packed. I would recommend paying the additional 4 euros to have your picture imprinted on a Guinness! It’s definitely a unique experience!

Our travel agent Rita did a fabulous job helping us plan our trip with a good balance of culture, history and experiences.
We arrived in Lisbon in the morning and had an afternoon Walking food tour with our guide Daniel. What a great way to get familiar with the city, the foods from the area and to quickly get set to local time. We spent a full day tour traveling to Sintra and surrounding areas. Our guide Paulo was fabulous! The history as well as his personal experiences growing up in Portugal was great. We also got the opportunity to eat at his wife's restaurant in Sintra. The food was really great. Loved the cod dish! In the Algarve, our guide Roy took us up the mountain to experience the rural area. You could tell Roy really loved sharing his stories about growing up in the area. The accommodations were perfect! I highly recommend working with Rita and team!

I had a fantastic trip to Thailand, which mostly was focused on beaches and relaxation. Thailand is just a perfect destination for it. At the same time, it was cool to be on a traveler's side, since I am a kimkim staff, and manage the Asian region. So my feedback is based not just on the impressions and experiences, but also on the knowledge about how tours should be conducted. We had just one private sightseeing tour in Bangkok included in the itinerary and our tour guide Lina was awesome! She is so passionate about what she does, she is knowledgeable and attentive to details.
We also had all transfers included, and the minivans provided for transfers were spacious, comfortable and had great air conditioning ( which is super important in Thailand), drivers provided us with cold water all the time. We had another speedboat "join-in" tour included in our itinerary, which I highly recommend. There were options and we were recommended a sunrise tour. It was fantastic to see the famous beach from Leo DiCaprio's movie "The Beach" without people since attending a sunrise tour allows you to enter the Island before all the crowds.
Also, I'd like to highlight the hotel we stayed at at PhiPhi Island - Phi Phi Co Co resort. I think this one was the best on the Island.
To sum it up - great tour, Tina is a great specialist and I am grateful for such a wonderful vacation.

We had an amazing trip with short stays in Zurich, Lucerne, Grindewald, Lugano, Stressa, Chamonix, Montreux and Zurich. Each city had its own character and April was a great time to visit with the spring blossoms! Our activities ranged from city tours, bike tour, hiking, mountain and glacier tours, relaxing spas, vineyards with wine tasting to free time where we explored on our own.