Coraima Yañez

At some point several months ago, I searched the Internet for help planning a Spain vacation. This was to be an important event as I had planned to propose to my girlfriend in one of the most romantic places I had come across years ago - the gardens behind the Alcazar in Seville, Spain. The important note here is that I didn’t have a lot of time to do my own planning … so the objective was just some lodging and logistics… What I ended up with was way more and way better than I could have imagined. I’m so incredibly grateful that one of the links that came up was kimkim, and that I reached out to them just to see what was possible Importantly, my first experience and conversation with kimkim built trust that they could help me because of the professionalism and credibility they conveyed. The plan was thoughtful. There were check ins to make sure they were on track, but the actual vacation, the hotels that they booked, the experts they aligned with us to show us around like the Prado museum in Madrid, or the expert that showed us around the Alhambra in Granada, was simply amazing…. We remarked to one another throughout our vacation, how great the experience was … we were able to see other groups in some of the same venues and that experience compared to ours seem dreadful - it’s so superior to have a personalized experience versus being part of a large group… kimkim set up with us a personalized experience and that made all the difference …the hotels were perfect for us as well as all transportation, resources, and transfers. We’re all set up and all things arranged and effortless for us. I cannot recommend them enough - if you want something special and personalized and memorable and comfortable, I recommend you take advantage of the resources and services from kimkim. Here’s something that blew us away. Unbeknownst to me, one of the experts kimkim set up, Cristina in Seville, set up a professional photographer to take pictures of my proposal in the garden. They led us to a perfect spot and without us knowing, took pictures when I popped the question. Oh and she did say yes! One important addition ….we had time to do our own thing intermixed with a lot of experiences that they organized. Overall, I would give them a score of 15 out of 10. We are very grateful to Coraima and Summer from kimkim. And we are very grateful to all the people that helped us in this vacation, the drivers, the experts, all of the hotels’ staff, the restaurants, the events… It was all perfect. Perfect.

Hotel Reviews

Áurea Catedral Hotel

Granada

This is right across the street from the cathedral, perfectly located for everything, the staff was amazing, the buffet was amazing. I’m still pinching myself that every hotel that Kim Kim booked was perfect.

Authenticity & Character

There’s literally ruins underneath this hotel that you can see

Location

I would not stay anywhere else

Staff

I don’t know how to put it in the other way, but when the staff learned that we were newly engaged, they made it their mission to make us feel special.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Gravina 51

Sevilla

This was also a perfect hotel, the breakfast buffet was amazing. The staff was incredible, our room was amazing, we were so happy with this hotel!

Authenticity & Character

Super comfortable, luxurious.

Location

We could walk everywhere,

Staff

One of the night staff, David, was especially helpful to us. I don’t remember the name of the person who helped us when we checked in, but she recommended a restaurant that turned out to be amazing in Seville Spain.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room Mate Alba

Madrid

Can these people be anymore kind helpful, friendly? We don’t think so. The breakfast buffet was delicious, the room was perfect. The location was perfect.

Authenticity & Character

Right in the middle of the writers district, this place had so much charm.

Location

Close to everything important, you can walk to everything, the palace, the museums the park the Playa Mayor, the shopping.

Staff

I would give the staff seven stars. If I was given that option, they were terrific.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Visit to Seville’s Cathedral & Alcázar

Seville

Cristina was amazing. Took us to both the Alcazar and Cathedral. Super intelligent. Knew so much about the history of both. But what stood out was her kindness …. she went to the trouble of getting a photographer for us to photograph my proposal. She went above and beyond and we couldn’t be more appreciative of and touched by her help in making our day special.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cristina was perfect and so very kind.

Transport

Private Day Trip to Ávila & Segovia

Madrid

We were picked up by Martin, who knew a lot about the area and of our two destinations, Avila and Segovia! Martin was awesome! We toured both cities and spent time in the Segovia Cathedral and Castle. I was blown away by the Aquaduct in Segovia.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ask for Martin!

Transport

Self-Guided Retiro Park Walk

Madrid

Quality of Experience

It was a hot day, so after we walked the park, we went to La Castela, the greatest bar in all of Madrid.

Private Prado Museum Visit with an Art Historian

Madrid

Eva was our guide and she called the Prado her second home and that was an understatement! We received an insider’s view on all the great pieces. Fabulous tour and experience!!! You can’t take pictures inside the Prado, but I have included some snaps of the must sees.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private City Walk & Royal Palace Experience

Madrid

Eva was our amazing guide! Knew so much!!!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Eva knows her stuff!!!!

Transport

The trip was well organized. Due to weather, our balloon ride was cancelled, but we Coraima reorganized our schedule and communicated the change to us timely. The instructions for catching the train from Barcelona to Girona could have been more detailed. When we walked into the train station, it was a wide open area with at least two possible places to checkin for our train. We needed to ask two different people which area was the correct place to catch our train. A simple diagram would have saved some time/uncertainty.

Anna MB, our guide in Girona, was exceptional. Very knowledgeable and a pleasure to spend time with. When our return train to Barcelona was cancelled she took extra time to ensure we were rescheduled and had tickets for the train. She made our day!

Hotel Review

H10 Madison Hotel

Barcelona

Great experience; staff was knowledgeable and helpful making reservations.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

friendly, knowledgeable, helpful with dinner suggestions, other places to go

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Extended Visit to Sagrada Família

Barcelona

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Gothic Quarter Walk

Barcelona

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Day Trip to Girona & Dalí Museum in Figueres

Barcelona

Anna MB was a superb guide. Very knowledgeable about the area and art. She grew up in the area.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had a wonderful and insightful walking tour with a very enthousiastic female guide(I think her name was Dani?) in Lisbon. Everyone was so friendly, from the hotel employees, the chauffeurs , shops, etc.
Our day trip to Sintra was nice, but cut short because of some health issues. Fortunately our guide was very helpful finding a solution.
Cascais I must admit was a little disappointing. I thougt it would be a lovely beach city but it looked like Miami beach.
The roadtrip to Porto was nice with stops in Nazare and the gorgeous little medieval town of Obidos.
Porto can’t be missed on a trip to Portugal. What a wonderful city where I wished to have stayed longer then 2 nights.
The highlight of our trip was definitely on the vineyard with a fantastic boutique hotel!! The sights were absolutely beautiful and we did not want to go anywhere else, just sitting there and enjoying a glass of wine and the beautiful sight!
The staff were more than friendly and very helpful. The chef’s dinner was the cherry on the pie!
The 6 hour drive to Evora was too long and although a nice village, not really worth the long drive.
Overall Portugal was really worth the visit and the people were very friendly and everyone spoke English.
Thank you Coraima for your help in organizing this trip.

Activity Reviews

Private Day Trip to Monsaraz and Monoliths

Évora

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Gaia Port Tasting Walk

Portugal

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Portugal

Private City Highlights Walk

Porto

Private Sintra Day Trip with Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira & Cascais

Lisbon

Traditional Portuguese Food Walk

Lisbon

This was one of the best walking tours ever, and we had many! Dani was very enthusiastic , entertaining and knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The chauffeurs were always on time. They were polite, friendly. The cars were clean and very comfortable

Private Tuk-Tuk Experience Along the 28 Tram Route

Lisbon

Our guide was friendly but not very knowledgeable. And he arrived half an hour too late. We were getting nervous and thought that the trip wasn’t going to happen

Quality of Experience

The hotel staff, the chauffeurs guides and people in general .

Guides, Drivers and Staff

They were all very attentive and polite, entertaining. We were surprised that everyone spoke English!

Transport

The chauffeurs were very friendly and polite. the cars were clean with water bottles provided

Our trip to Portugal was amazing. Everything worked as a charm, except one thing, otherwise Coraima would get a 5 star review for sure. In Lisbon, the hotel was great, in the city center and close walking distance to everything. All trips booked in Lisbon were excellent. A transfer from Lisbon to Porto was very professional, Cesar contacted us ahead of time, pinpointed a pick up spot and was waiting for us there 10 min before. He stopped in Obidos and Nazare and arrived in Porto to our hotel. Now the hotel chosen by Coraima in Porto was gorgeous, but outside of city center and required 20 min ride by Uber or Taxi to any meeting point we had. Everything else that Coraima did was excellent, the location of this hotel in Porto is the only reason why she did not get the 5 star. However, she did prepare a video of how to use kimkim app, very helpful. All other tours and transfers worked perfectly. Our previous Italy trip through kimkim was better than amazing due to concierge services of Italian kimkim rep. This time we did not have this, Coraima was the point of contact and she was in kimkim office in USA (different time zone). I think the hotel issue would not be there if local Portuguese agent booked it, not USA agent from kimkim office in Colorado. I am a Canadian, booking in high US dollars only because of kimkim local contacts. I would come back to kimkim only if next time I have a local agent doing all the bookings and have a local concierge for the quick resolution in local time zone, should the issue come up.

Hotel Reviews

Pestana Douro Riverside

Porto

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

Authenticity & Character

Ultra modern

Location

It is outside of city center.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lisbon Wine Hotel

Lisbon

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

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private City Highlights Walk

Porto

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

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Food Walk

Porto

Ana was incredible, made this experience to remember.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private transfer from {{start_location}} to {{end_location}} with stops in Óbidos and Nazaré

Portugal

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Tuk-Tuk Experience Along the 28 Tram Route

Lisbon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Pena Palace & Sintra Village Half Day Trip

Lisbon

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a great time thanks largely to all of your work. All of the hotels were really nice and we particularly liked the one in Seville (our fave) and the one in Barcelona (our 2d fave). The locations were great and the staff at each one was very helpful.
The tour guides were all at least very good and some were excellent! The drivers showed up on time and often gave us their own version of the city tour! I would say that the pick up at the train stations were not as smooth as some of the others, but our last driver called and told us exactly where he was going to be, and we met him there. If the other drivers could be asked to do that, I think future travelers would find things that much easier.
Truly, we talked often about what a great job you and your team had done for us and except for those few “ hiccups,“ it is hard to imagine how things could have gone any better. Thank you for making our first trip to Spain so much fun!

This was our second trip to Spain, and we wished to visit several regions that we had not previously visited, including Madrid, La Rioja, the Basque region and Valencia. This required a bit a logistical planning. The planning process with Coraima was a pleasure, as she arranged multiple separate travel arrangements and connections for us. Coraima found lodging for us in wonderdful, walkable neighborhoods as we requested. She also arranged several private and small group tours for us. The highlights were the wine tours in Rioja, and the walking tours in Bilbao. We had the pleasure of meeting with Beatriz twice in Bilbao, once for a walking tour of the Old Town, and a second time for an eating tour. She was a delightful guide who had a wealth of information that she related in a relaxed and enjoyable manner. Our driver/guide in Rioja was also personable, relating lots of information as he drove us to the wineries. The two wineries we visited were a terrific choice, with one demonstrating more classic caves, and the other a more modern process. All in all, I highly recommend KimKim for planning your next trip.