Kimkim Trip Reviews for Greece

When a group of six of us decided we needed a trip to Greece, we were overwhelmed by all the details, places and logistics associated with planning the trip. I stumbled upon the kimkim site, answered a few questions about how we like to travel and a couple of days later, Angela provided us with a comprehensive plan that included three different locations and everything we needed to travel seamlessly (tours, suggestions for downtime, transfers from every airport and advice on booking our flights). We commented on what we liked, what we wanted more or less of and asked questions in a social media-like feed. We iterated with Angela until the trip was just what we wanted and it was SO MUCH EASIER than doing it ourselves.
Fast forward to the trip and everything went perfectly. When we had a question for Angela, she was very quick to respond. Every tour guide she booked us with was knowledgeable and a delight. All of our transfers were there when they were supposed to be. It would be hard to pick a favorite thing we did in a country filled with so much beauty and history, it's truly an incredible place to visit.
We walked over 50 miles in 7 days, met some really welcoming Greek locals and saw the most awe-inspiring vistas. Even in the off season, Greece surpassed all our expectations.
Heartfelt thanks to Angela and the team she brought together to make this vacation the trip of a lifetime!

Awesome trip. We worked with Gustavo at first, then with Ioannis.
Guides were fantastic! Hotels were very nice and located near the local attractions. All drivers were on time, accommodating and courteous.
Very minor bumps in the itinerary were addressed quickly by the kimkim team.

Hotel Reviews

Arion Athens Hotel

Athens

Clean. The maids were great! Very nice breakfast. Surprisingly quiet for being so near the Parthenon and touristy area of Athens.

Authenticity & Character

The rooms are not big, but I think that is the norm for Athens. Again very clean and quiet.

Location

Walking distance (about 20 minutes) to the Parthenon. Many local cafes nearby. Neighborhood looks sketchy at first but I felt very safe once I settled in.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Maids were thorough.

The Bold Type Hotel

Patra, Greece

Probably the nicest hotel that I have stayed at.

Authenticity & Character

Location

There is not a lot to do in Patras, but this hotel is within walking distance to some of the sites that are available

Staff

One of our crew was not feeling well, and the staff made sure they did what they could to help. For instance, the cook made some broth/soup for her for breakfast and they delayed cleaning the room until she felt good enough to get up an move.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Carpe Diem Boutique Hotel

Nafplio

Quiet and comfortable and near anything you would want to be near. Breakfast was good.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Near anything that you want to be near in Nafplion.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean and quiet. We did have 4 adults staying in a "suite." My son's bed/cot was not the most comfortable place to sleep (would work well for pre-teen, but not as well for an adult.)

Activity Reviews

Explore Acropolis & Acropolis Museum

Athens

Quality of Experience

Since our guide had our tickets for the museum, after we parted ways we were unable to access the archaeologic did under the museum.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide, Poppy, was fantastic

Transport

We had to get ourselves to the spot. We just Ubered a taxi.

Private Historic Walk & Visit to Palamidi Fortress

Nafplio

Combined this with the food tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Visit to Ancient Olympia

Greece

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide, Helena, was excellent and very knowledgable

Transport

Our driver was very nice and was able to pull over when we needed.

Private Culinary & History Walk

Nafplio

We combined this with the walking tour. Spent about 6 hours with our local expert and about an hour with a guide for the castle. All interesting.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our local expert provided a very nice summary of Greek history covering a couple of thousand years in a broad outline for those of us who don't have great background in history.

Transport

On time, clean vehicle.

Day Trip to Mycenae & Epidaurus

Nafplio

Fascinating! Maybe could have used a little more time at Mycenae.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Delphi

Athens

We had a local specialist (not a guide), Marcos, drive us to Delphi. Marcos was great! It was a self-guided tour at Delphi and the tickets to enter Delphi were also not included. It was not clear if lunch was included in the price of this part of the trip (it was not)--but we worked this out with kimkim later.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an amazing experience for our Greece trip. Ina did a great job of arranging our trip that meet our goals. The kimkim team was approachable and responsive all the time. Local agents and service outstanding. Thank you Ina and KimKim team!

Activity Reviews

Acropolis & Flavors of Athens

Athens

We enjoyed this tour very much. We had a. Amazing tour guide who was extremely knowledgeable and professional. Love the experience!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Delphi Day-trip

Athens

The driver came early to ensure we are on time for the tour. Very good communication.

Quality of Experience

Food

We love the olive tasting and lunch. Best meal we had during this trip

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Meteora by bus

Athens

It was an amazing trip that got us very excited

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

There unfortunately was a family with one year old baby sitting behind us on the bus who kept crying and kicking out seats. The parents didn’t do anything.

Private Acropolis Museum Visit

Athens

We love our tour guide. She is super knowledgeable and helpful. We learned a lot during the tour. Very impressed!

Quality of Experience

Amazing

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We love our guide!

Local transfer in Nafplio

Nafplio

The drivers were very friendly and on time.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Local Meal in Nafplio

Greece

Good food.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Acropolis of Mycenae Guided Tour 

Greece

The tour guide was knowledgeable

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Cooking Class in Nafplio

Nafplio

This was one of the best experience during the Greece trip. We had an amazing incredible time with the chef and his wife. Enjoyed the cooking class, dinner, and wine. We kept sharing this experience with our friends. Couldn’t be better.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Epidaurus Guided Tour

Greece

Good trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Cape Sounio Sunset tour

Greece

Overall a nice tour. Very good highlights. The itinerary was great!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Irene Lappa and her team at Travel 12 were absolutely phenomenal. We don't generally use travel agents, generally choosing to plan trips ourselves, but I couldn't be happier with our decision to work with Tavel 12. They put together an amazing itinerary. Wee did things, and stayed at hotels we never would have found on our own. They were there to support us during the entirety of the trip, including helping us reschedule and navigate changes to the wether. Thier on the trip support was at the same high, I would say unexpectedly high, level as their help planning the trip. Aside from the amazing locations and activities they meticulously found for us based on our preferences, one of our favorite parts of using this travel agency was never having to find a way to get to our destinations. No matter where we were, there was always a vehicle waiting to take us where we needed to go. We saw many another traveler spending lots of time trying to coordinate travel arrangements and we were so incredibly thankful we didn't have to worry about that at all. If you are going to Greece, I couldn't recommend more highly that you choose to work with Travel 12.

Activity Reviews

Rethymno Food Tour

Rethymno

Outstanding tour guide, this was our favorite tour of our two week trip to Greece!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Vineyard Picnic Experience

Greece

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I just wanted to say thank you to Angela for making indeed my birthday a memorable one for sure. Since the beginning looking up to see what to do in Greece and letting Angela know what I would like and to finally being there to experienced it. It definitely exceeded my expectations. Angela made sure and checked up on us the whole time we’re there making sure everything was okay; for that I really appreciate her for checking up on us. I was hesitant at 1st to book it to kimkim since I’ve never heard of it and now all my travel booking will be with Kimkim and I highly recommend Angela💙
Thank you again Angela😀

The trip was extraordinary thanks to Tasos and his team really listening to what we wanted (and making recommendations for things we wouldn't even know about). We ticked off all the touristy spots my kids insisted on - but with Tasos' help did them at times and with tour guides that limited crowds and other headaches - and then we enjoyed really unique experiences I never would have found on my own. When we had hiccups (which is to be expected on a 16 day excursion across multiple locations with a family of five) Tasos and team were immediately responsive and helped to resolve the issue. They were available 24x7 and extremely responsive the entire time. I have referred KimKim and Tasos specifically to several friends who want to go to Greece or Italy (and he was referred to me by a happy customer). That says it all.

Wonderful trip to Greece in November. We were initially concerned about visiting Greece outside of the main tourist season, but November is the only month our schedules permit visiting. Our Kim Kim local specialist Angela immediately put our concerns to rest and crafted the perfect trip. The weather cooperated with sunny and warm days and temperate evenings. Our itinerary included Athens, Crete, and Santorini.

Athens was alive with people, but not overcrowded. Angela picked great accommodations that were clean, comfortable, and perfectly situated. We did the Mythology tour including the Acropolis, with Alternative Athens that was astonishing. The Plaka Sunset tour with Greek Cocktails was a particularly interesting as not only was our guide Vanessa charming and informative, she took us to areas with fascinating history and breathtaking views at sunset. Not to mention the cocktails she selected were unique and delicious!

If we had to pick a highlight of the trip it was Crete. We stayed in Rethymno which is a near perfectly preserved medieval town with an abundance of history and ancient alleyways lined with restaurants and shops. Angela arranged two tours highlighting the history of the island and civilization, combined with local experiences to gain an understanding of the historical significance of the island we barely knew existed. Our tour guides Joanna and Ioanna in company with Nikos our driver, are wonderful people who provided an abundance of fascinating history. We visited small villages, traveled winding roadways with panoramic vistas, and ate fabulous meals of local delicacies all at the recommendation of our incredible guides. We made memories that will last our lifetimes.

Our final stop was Santorini, which was the only destination where it was noticeable that it was not high season. However quiet, it did not detract from the natural beauty of the island. Our stay at Blue Dolphins was as comfortable as every other accommodation Angela booked us into. It was an absolute pleasure to take the All Time Classic Santorini tour with Elena without having to contend with summertime crowds. We visited the Akrotiri archeological site, red beach, black beach where we had a seaside lunch, wine tasting, then ending the day viewing a stunning sunset.

We travel frequently, and this is the first time we used a travel agency faced with the complexity of a visit to Greece. It was a great value and all we had to do was relax and enjoy not having been belabored with planning. We are tremendously satisfied customers and it will certainly not be our last experience with Kim Kim!

Hotel Reviews

Blend Hotel Athens

Athens

Now Bob W, the hotel was clean, roomy, and comfortable hotel in a terrific location. Unique in that there is no on site reception, the process worked flawlessly and the virtual staff was always available to help. Breakfast in the cafe was wonderful!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Restaurants and Cafe's just outside on a largely pedestrian only street leading to Monastiraki square

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cressa Suites - Adults Only Rethymno

Rethymno

Beautifully restored hotel in the medieval neighborhood of Rethymno. Just be forewarned that the rooms are up a spiral staircase and there is no staff to offer assistance with luggage. We found this aspect quite challenging.

Authenticity & Character

Location

A short walk from the main roadway nestled in the midst of the historic city.

Staff

The staff was kind, friendly and delivered a scrumptious breakfast to enjoy privately on out terrace.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our room featured a hot tub that was basically just an outdoor bathtub which was kind of gross and unusable. As I mentioned above getting luggage up a winding staircase is difficult.

Niche Hotel Athens

Athens

Everything was in line with a top quality hotel. Perfect location, large well appointed rooms, amazing breakfast in the restaurant with amazing views of the Acropolis.

Authenticity & Character

I would describe it as a luxury property.

Location

A block from the Plaka neighborhood in the shadow of the Acropolis.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bedding was very comfortable and they even offered a pillow selection!

Blue Dolphins Apartments & Suites

Firostefani, Santorini

Nicely maintained, clans and roomy hotel with absolutely astonishing views! The breakfast was incredible and delivered directly to your room each morning by a friendly staff member.

Authenticity & Character

Postcard hotel nestled in the hillside of iconic Santorini.

Location

Not only is the view amazing, it's situated just a short walk to Fira along charming walkways.

Staff

John was great and went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The entire property was spotlessly clean and the bed comfortable.

Activity Reviews

Plaka Sunset Tour with Greek Cocktails

Athens

The Plaka Sunset tour with Greek Cocktails was a particularly interesting as not only was our guide Vanessa charming and informative, she took us to areas with fascinating history and breathtaking views at sunset. Not to mention the cocktails she selected were unique and delicious!

Quality of Experience

Visiting "hidden" areas of Plaka with fascinating origins.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Vanessa was a great guide and lovely person.

Transport

It was a walking tour, but we were met at our hotel right on time.

Knossos Palace & Authentic Crete with Local Experiences from East P9

Greece

We learned so much about the history of Crete, the Minoan civilization, the Venetian and subsequent Ottoman occupations that were richly informative. We visited a small village occupied by generations of locals. We had a sumptuous lunch topped off with a wine tasting that all together made for a perfect day.

Quality of Experience

Every stop and every minute in between was filled with interesting detail.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Joanna our guide and Nikos our driver were passionate about Crete and genuinely interested in spending the day with us.

Transport

Nikos was like a guide himself and made the time spent richly rewarding. Plus he makes the best Raki on the island!

Luxuries of Mirabello with Spinalonga and Agios Nikolaos from East P7

Greece

Ioanna our tour guide is a true historian and kept us fully engaged with fascinating historical details as well as present day facts about Crete and its culture. We deviated a bit from the scheduled itinerary based upon her recommendation which turned into a truly memorable day. We learned about the history of Rethymno (where we were staying) which is a near perfectly preserved medieval town. Ioana brought the history of Crete and its civilizations to life with her extensive knowledge as we visited a bustling local village and traveled winding roadways with panoramic vistas. We toured a olive oil factory and enjoyed fabulous meals of local delicacies all at the recommendation of our incredible guide. Nikos was our driver again and brought even more charm (and Raki) to the experience than he did the day before.

Quality of Experience

The passion about the history of Crete combined with the knowledge of our guide made this a truly special day.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Ioanna and driver Nikos are genuinely caring and thoughtful people that were a pleasure to know.

Transport

Nikos was knowledgeable, funny, and an overall engaging individual.

Athens Highlights Mythology Tour

Greece

The tour was astonishing. We gently ascended the Acropolis until we reached the Parthenon while being entertained by stories of Greek gods and ancient history.

Quality of Experience

It was the Acropolis! What more needs to be said?

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was wonderful and caring.

All time classic Santorini 2023

Greece

Amazing day. We visited the Akrotiri archeological site, red beach, black beach where we had a seaside lunch, wine tasting, then ending the day viewing a stunning sunset.

Quality of Experience

Every aspect was great.

Food

Lunch was included and it was amazing!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Elena was great. She was passionate about us having a great experience.

Transport

Punctual and enjoyable ride in a luxury van.

Ina helped me plan a 3 week Greece trip Oct 2023. While I was in Crete (one week into my trip) the Israel war broke out. I was headed there with friends after my Greece trip. In the end my friends never left California and I texted Ina and she extended my Greece trip for another 3 weeks. It was fabulous. Greece was clean, it was gorgeous, my hiking and sunset cruise captains and chefs were top notch and knowledgeable and friendly. I felt as I’d made true friends. Those guides I would never have found without Ina and it made the day trips very special. Greece is safe and I was impressed with the safety as I am a solo traveler. I chose an excursion every 3 days or so, most of them I was picked up and they were half day hikes or all day cruises. I rented cars on 4 islands and Ina had the rental agency deliver the car to my hotel and 3-4 days later they arrived for me to return it. I had 4 flights and ?? FastJets maybe 5? And each time there was the driver waiting to take me to the hotel and take me to the port or airport. I have never used a travel agency before but I wanted to move around Greece for 6 weeks and a lot of flights or boats I read about in the Lonely Planet were no longer available or had changed. Plus I traveled in the shoulder season and early winter season some tours stop due to change of currents or winds. Ina knew this and everything went so very smooth for me. Yes, now that I’ve been there for 6 weeks I learned how things work but for my first trip and moving around as I did (to 8-9 islands and mainland) I would have been frustrated and lost a lot of time. Plus as we all know there is nothing worse than showing up somewhere and being disappointed. My weather was outstanding. High 70s to high 80s in Oct!! I would not have been happy with hotter summer weather and more cruise boats and crowds. It was simply wonderful. My favorite islands were Tinos for the village hike, Naxos for the beaches and Naplios 2 hours south of Athens for the high climbs and 5-10 mile ocean walkways. Next time I would skip Mykonos. I could have stayed another month easy as there is so much to see. I recommend using Kim Kim without hesitation especially if you want to see more than one or two places. Thanks also for their 24/7 text line as my very first plane from Seattle to Athens changed the day I left and I was going to arrive 3 hours earlier. I texted that line from the airplane on WhatsApp and The driver was right there waiting for me. I was thrilled as it was a 20 .5 hour flight and the ease of it all was non stressful. Thanks KimKim for a wonderful peek into Greece.

Activity Reviews

Saronic Islands Day Cruise

Athens

Kim Kim put me in VIP and as this was a 12 hour 3 island trip it was much more comfortable than the chairs up front with the crowds. I probably wouldn’t have known this signing up on my own.

Quality of Experience

VIP and having several hours to see these gorgeous islands.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Balos & Falassarna Beach Tour with Lunch

Chania

This is an all day trip from Chiana. My guide/driver Antonio was on time and very easy to talk to. We had 5 in our car plus the driver. We were all fast friends within an hour. Balos beach was a bumpy pot hole drive. We got out, fed the goats and took pics of the beach. It’s a very long steep climb down there which we did not do. We drove on to Falassarna where we had (included) comfortable lounge chairs and the swimming was divine. Shallow with sand bars and gorgeous clean ocean. Our guide ordered us a ridiculous large Greek lunch with varieties of Greek specialties which we all shared at a table under umbrella. We were from 3 different countries and we had a roaring chat which I adored as I was the only single. Then we all got dropped off at our hotels and I was last. Within minutes I realized I left my cell phone in the car and I was desperate but I knew Antonio knew it was mine. I couldn’t call anyone because all the information was in my phone. Within 30 min he made the extra trip back and delivered my phone to the hotel desk. That’s Greek hospitality!!

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Santorini Sunset Group Catamaran Cruise

Santorini

Ok. I went on this Santorini Sunset cruise mid October 2023. My boat was a catamaran with 6 passengers and captain and one crew. The captain was also a certified chef. The boat he had was HORIZON. HE SAID WE HAD 50 sunset cruises on our night. In the summer there are 150 boats. KimKim set this trip up for me and I loved it so much. I saw other boats that reminded me of Mexican booze cruises. Some had 100 drunks and barking dogs. Anyway we went swimming in 2 areas even though it was cold water. The boat was clean and we all became friends easily. The food he prepared fresh was one of my best meals in Greece. Of course Santorini was in the back ground and it was a gorgeous day. As we were returning to port I realized we were in one of the best boats. If you want alcohol and chips take a cheap boat. We had plenty of alcohol with a fabulous fresh prepared meal with bbq meat goat and chicken kabobs , mussels, 3 salads, shrimps, Greek goat cheeses, rice and I can’t remember the rest. We all felt fortunate we got our boat and our captain. I would not have known the difference if I was booking on my own. Thank you KimKim.

Quality of Experience

Food

See above

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chris (Greece) was terrific! Listened to our preferences, crafted a terrific plan and patiently worked with us to include amazing places we found in our own. Available and responsive from planning to stages to support while on the trip. When we realized staircases in different villages were a challenge for one of us, Chris preemptively located a different (and perfect) hotel for us in Santorini. Chris organized wonderful tours with extremely knowledgeable guides and drivers for every leg of the trip. All just fabulous, recommend without hesitation! This was my 3rd trip with Kimkim & continue to be very pleased with the service and quality throughout.

Thank you Chris!

From Athens to Santorini, to Crete, we saw many beautiful, historical, and cultural sites, making it tough to pick one memorable moment. Honestly, a positive tone was set from the very beginning with the pickup up at the airport in Athens. Our first guide in Athens was Michael, and he was followed by Haris. Both very outgoing, and very knowledgeable. The Monasteries at Meteora were simply breathtaking, although the bus ride, at least the return, was a bit much. I wish I could remember the guide’s name (he was Canadian I believe), but he too was knowledgeable and personable. On to the views and Blue Domes of Santorini, where after much discussion, my wife and I decided our most memorable experience was the Catamaran trip, and a day on the Sea. We both love the water, whether it be a Lake, a Sea, or an Ocean. A great time for sure. Our other day-trip on Santorini was also worthy of a thumbs up. On to Crete, and what can you say about Crete? The Catamaran excursion aside, my wife and I were both an awe of Crete. From the blue seas, to the majestic mountains, to the charming villages, to the rich history and culture, Crete had it all. We were blessed to have an extremely knowledgeable and likable guide in Alexander all three days. So while the Catamaran was indeed our #1 memorable experience, Crete simply “rocked” from the very beginning. It has to be mentioned how the entire experienced was well choreographed. By that I mean every person involved doing their part by simply being at the right place at the right time. Our departure from Crete started with a 4:45 am pickup, and that kind gentleman was actually early!

Hotel Reviews

11 Enteka Acropolis Suites

Athens – Acropoli

The 11 Enteka Acropolis gets high marks for location, cleanliness. It was also quiet. The room was basic, but modern and clean. Their website advertised breakfast which was not accurate. Although it appears they did update their site, there remained an entry near the bottom that said, “Breakfast 8-11”

Authenticity & Character

The authenticity is in the name. We also like to stay in locally owned and operated accommodations.

Location

All the meeting places were within an easy walk. We took the Metro to catch the bus to Meteora, and the Metro Station was literally around the corner.

Staff

Our interaction was ilimited, but both individuals we interacted with were kind and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

It helps this was a new property because it easily displays this. But the staff also appears to work hard to keep both the rooms and the common areas clean.

Blue Dolphins Apartments & Suites

Firostefani, Santorini

This was a tough one to review. The views were absolutely amazing, as was the morning breakfast served right outside your door. Our room (101), was loated next to a room with a common wall that was “paper-thin.” On the night of a major storm, they appeared to use this room as a secondary office to allow people whose flight was severely delayed to check-in. This went on to 23:00 hours, and we know this could you could literally hear every word. My wife had an unfortunate fall on the wet stairs leading away from the common area in front of our room. Fortunately she only sustained a very nasty bruise. But I have to acknowledge the staff being very courteous and approachable. Very helpful. We did not tell the staff about the fall however.

Authenticity & Character

The character was in the decor.

Location

If you want views, this is the place.

Staff

Very kind, polite and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Insulate the was between 101 and 102! Cleanliness was not an issue.

City Lion

Heraklion Crete

If you desire a stay in Heraklion, this is a good option. It’s with walking distance of dozens of restaurants and bars, and dozens of dessert and coffee options. Also an easy walk to the waterfront.

Staff

Very helpful. Although the quote, “office hours” were limited, the staff was always available either by phone or WhatsApp.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean!

Activity Reviews

Athens Highlights Mythology Tour

Greece

A beautiful day dawned on us as we walked amongst the birthplace of democracy. To walk among ruins thousands of years old, and with a knowledgeable guide, makes the day worth waking up to.

The Delicious Athens Food Tour

Greece

Wow! So many wonderful dishes, locations, and people. It’s always great to meet and interact with locals. Haris seemed to have a magical touch of picking all the right locations.

Quality of Experience

A great way to get to know and understand local dishes.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Haris was outgoing and knowledgeable

Athens to Meteora day trip by scenic train ride!

Athens

The Monasteries were truly amazing, breathtaking and memorable. The drivers and guides was knowledgeable and engaging. The “downer” on this trip involved Mother Nature intervening, causing a change in plans from a train ride to a bus ride. For us, the return bus ride was not something to behold, and probably something we won’t likely forget. We had to ladies in front of us. As we began to pull out and head “home”, one rudely reclined her seat all the way back into my wife’s lap, and when asked politely to consider moving it back up halfway, rudely declined. On top of that, my wife woke up the next morning with some rash on the back of her left leg, that we can only assume was picked up on the ride home.

Transport

LS Catamaran Cruise MDL

Santorini

It always helps when the weather is good for a trip like this, and it was. Add in a beautiful setting, a glass of wine, the wind in your face, friendly, outgoing crew members, and you have the ingredients for a memorable experience. And that it was.

Quality of Experience

Being out on the water in great weather!

Food

Outstanding!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

All very polite, and helpful.

Transport

On-time. Our driver was as polite and helpful as the boat crew.

Winter Panoramic Tour 23-24

Santorini

Again, it helps that this experiences was not during the high season, Anytime you can walk the street in a small, local village, and see little to no people, is huge. I think we saw my Cats that people! Our guide was very outgoing and knowledgeable.

Luxuries of Mirabello with Spinalonga and Agios Nikolaos from East P7

Greece

My only complaint on this trip was the closure of the Monastery and the inability to actually take a boat ride out to Spinalonga Island. There appeared to be no real reason why. But overall, the trip was a wonderful experience. I’m a history nut, so walking among the ruins of the ancient Minoan civilization, was an experience worth remembering. Our guide, Alexander, knows all the “nooks and crannies” of Crete, so we knew we were in good hands. Oh, and also, it was very cool to see a 4000 year old Olive tree.

Quality of Experience

Anytime you get the opportunity to see ancient history, you’ve reached the pinnacle of any experience.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Alexander knows his tuff!

Transport

A well stocked mobile refrigerator!

Cave of Zeus & Knossos Palace with Lassithi Plateau from East P1

Greece

So not only did we get the experience of a very knowledgeable local guide, but we also got the experience of a local expert regarding Knossos Palace. And how amazing it was to descend into the Cave of Zeus. As with the day before, having someone like Alexander at our disposal makes all the difference. I also can’t complete this review without adding the lunch at Taverna Kourites. A small village, a great restaurant, an extraordinary host, added to the grand experience.

Quality of Experience

Seeing so much history, culture and authenticity.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Alexander’s knowledge beyond what you normally see.

Transport

Again, a nicely stocked mobile refrigerator!

Crete Sightseeing: Rethymno - Argiroupolis - Kournas Lake - Chania from West & Her P10

Greece

With the completion of this experience, we had been from one side of Crete, to the other. We went from the Minoans to the Venetians in the history books. As with other excursions, small towns, very few people, and with a knowledgeable guide, simply makes for a better experience.

Quality of Experience

History! Culture! Scenery! No people! A great guide!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The fast knowledge, and “inside” information.

Transport

Did I mention a well stocked refrigerator?

Our trip had its ups and downs, but overall we enjoyed it very much. The mythology walk of the Acropolis was great; the guide was very knowledgeable and the sights were amazing. We did get off to a rough start though because our Uber dropped us off at the wrong place, so we were late in joining the rest of the group, but the guide was very accommodating and let us join the tour. The tickets to the Acropolis, Temple of Zeus, and Ancient Agora were supposed to be included in the tour, but we had to purchase our own, which wasn't a big deal. The Athens food tour was definitely our favorite. The food we tried was incredible. The guide, Dorella, was very laid back and friendly, and the other people on the tour were nice to talk to. Our cooking class in Naxos was held in a farm and we got to see some of the animals and even feed them. That was a highlight for us. The instructor was very friendly. I do wish the meal we had cooked was a bit more complex though. I felt the one we made - stuffed vegetables - was too easy and basic considering the price of the class. The sailing tour in Milos was absolutely beautiful. The water was gorgeous and we got to see caves once used by pirates, which was really fun. The 2 people running the tour were super nice and knowledgeable about the history of Milos. The ferry to get from Naxos to Milos was a terrible experience though. I wish we would've been told that the ferry to Milos tends to be late. Had we known this, we might've opted for a domestic flight. All of the drivers scheduled by kimkim were great - always on time and considerate. Despite some hiccups, we had a wonderful time and look forward to returning to Greece sometime in the future.

Hotel Reviews

Anatoli

Naxos

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Be my Guest Hotel Athens

Athens

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ippocampos Hotel Milos

Milos, Cyclades

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Attalos Hotel

Athens

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Mythology Walk of Acropolis and Temple of Zeus

Athens

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Gourmet Walk in Athens

Athens

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Day Trip to Small Cyclades

Naxos

Traditional Cooking at a Naxian Village Home

Naxos

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Ultimate Sailing Experience of Milos

Milos

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rebecca did a fabulous job planning our holiday. So many highlights ... Having our transportation all pre-arranged was heaven. The drivers were all very professional, cars were spotless and driving was excellent. A highlight day was in Santorini with Lazarus. We had such a fun day seeing the island from his eyes....

Dimos at Kimkim put together a wonderful trip for us and when we had one glitch, he solved it promptly. Athens was fascinating especially the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum. Our excursion to Sunio brought us along beautiful coastline to the Temple of Poseidon; our guide and our driver made the trip pleasant and our guide gave us an understanding of the significance of this temple. Meteora was fascinating and our guide brought it to life. Crete was the jewel of the trip. Beautiful countryside, beautiful beaches, and the Temple of Knossos should not be missed. Again our guide made the visit wonderful. KimKim and Dimos put together an excellent itinerary and provided great guides. Very happy we used them.

I hope I do this justice with my lack of written skills. We loved our trip. I have always planned my own travels, even international. This was my first time using any kind of travel service including kimkim.com. All I can say is that it was fabulous. The planning was an easy interactive process between us and our specialist Rebecca Skevakis.

Deposits and final payment was handled online and very easy. We received a very comprehensive trip app that had all our information to include city guides, tickets for planes, trains and activities. All of the transfers were by private car and everyone was on time, and we had several.

We started by arriving in Athens Greece, we were met by a representative who gave us an overview of how things worked, along with a nice gift of goodies. After this we left on our flight to Santorini. There our driver met us and drove us to out hotel. We had several wonderful events; half day on a catamaran sailboat visiting sites around the caldera with wonderful service and food. We did a Sights and Wine tour and Lazarus was a fantastic and intensely knowledgeable guide. He has a very genuine love of Thira and its history. The food and wine on this trip was more than we had expected, very top notch. There was also included a detailed hike guide to go along the cliff side trail between Fira and Oia, we had this planned in our travels but decided to use the time to see more of Oia.

Our trip took us to Athens next where we had a great guided tour of the Acropolis, our Guide Nicholas was not only knowlable but has spent most of his career involved in the restorations. The Acropolis is a sight as the sun sets.

A highlight was a trip out to Delphi, it is a long trip there and back but our guide and driver was very knowalgable. The ruins were breathtaking and we had a nice meal afterwards before the return trip.

After our speedy Athen nights it was off to Italy for a week. Again the transfers to the airport and hotels were flawless. The trip app updates automatically with flight information and gate updates. We arrive and Naples and our driver Pasquale was there to meet us. We drove to Pompeii for another guided tour, our guide was a wealth of knowledge and very entertaining. Pasqual drove us on to our hotel in Sorrento pointing out history and sights along the way.

Our Sorrento leg as was dampened a bit by some rain and wind which canceled our ferry to Capri but the next day it was perfect. Ferry company did not make the change very easy, this is the one and only negative of the trip, a small one in the bid scheme of things.

Off to Revello for a couple of nights, our driver once again was Pasquale. We made the drive along the Amalfi coast road with a short unplanned stop to see some of Positano. This was unplanned but Pasquale was nice enough to make it work out. We did not have any pre planned activities in Ravello but used the city guide provided in the trip App to find places to eat and see. The Villa Rufolo and Cimbrone are the must see sights. One day we also walked down to Amalfi from Ravello, about and hour and a half with our stops to take pictures. We opted to take a taxi back, wimps I know!

Finally it was time to start our journey home. The drive from Ravello to the Naples train station was by our favorite, Pasquale. It was nice having the same drive for all these transfers. It was the same in Santorini and Athens, the drivers were the same for arrival and departure.

The high speed train between Naples and Rome was nice and out transfer to our hotel by the Rome airport was uneventful. We had seen Rome on other trips so as we like to do we stay at a hotel at the airport to allow for a less hectic departure day.

I highly recommend kimkim for your travels. I was apprehensive because I thought I was always saving lots of money doing it all on my own. Well I am here to tell you the extra paid for the services is not terrible and worth every penny for two reasons. One, the headache of getting from airport or train station to hotels or between cites is a time saver because it is all taken care of. There is know searching for a taxi or bus, waiting in long lines, guessing if the taxi is charging too much. Second the communication between us and Rebecca our travel specialist was so nice, its concierge service for the entire trip.

We are independent travelers who like to rent a car and explore on our own, as well as stay in a variety of hotels (on beaches, in towns, etc.). Amalia was superb! She gave us just what we wanted, and was especially knowledgeable about what was closing down at the time we traveled (late October/November), which was instrumental as we planned our adventures. The lists of activity and sightseeing options Kim Kim and Amalia gave us were wonderful, as were the recommended restaurants in each place we stayed! Will definitely use Kim Kim again, and highly recommend Amalia! (She was also a lot of fun to correspond with during planning—and is from exquisite Crete herself!)

We had a great time in Greece, a mother/daughter trip. Highly recommend kimkim. They were very responsive, helpful and a wealth of information!! Amalia, our local specialist, lined up all our transfers and accommodations. All transfers were spot on, no waiting or wondering. Accommodations were all unique, clean, with friendly staff. Will definitely be using them in the future. Thank you!!

We (two couples) had a great time in Greece. Spending time in five different hotels during our two week stay was a little hectic at times but it did give us a wonderful overview of Greece. Dimos worked with us to customize our trip , four versions, adding excursions, upgrading hotels and revising schedules as we looked at options and the best times to travel. He coordinated all our lodging, in country transportation and guides. It was a seamless experience. Every pickup was right on time and all our guides were knowledgable, friendly and spoke excellent English. The one time we were dropped off in the wrong location, a quick call to Dimos and the problem was resolved in less than fifteen minutes. A clear case of why having a local contact is so vital. Also, in general we chose to use private guides as opposed to group tours. It helped make the experiences seem more personal and allowed some flexibility on each days excursion.

Our travel at the end of October turned out to be the perfect time to be in Greece this year. The weather was warm and dry and the crowds had begun to thin out. Another comment on timing - in Crete, some restaurants had already begun to close for the season which seems to end on November 1. Still plenty of choices but fewer than during the main season.

Our travels took us to the Athens (Parthenon, Acropolis Museum and city tour), Temple of Poseidon and Olympia while we were in Athens. Some longer day trips but worth it to see the Greek countryside. Alway has a nice van or minibus for travel. The on to Meteora for an overnight. While it is accessible by train, I would recommend a private transfer. It offered better scheduling and allowed us almost two full days there. Our guide the first day offered us some suggestions for activities on the second day. Then on to Santorini for two nights and finally to Crete for four nights. Might have opted for another night in Santorini but the four nights in Crete was perfect. The nights before we had early morning flights in Athens, we opted to stat at an airport hotel instead of an early morning shuttle from Athens. The hotel was very nice. I would recommend this as a possibility.

Overall, our time in Greece was one we will always remember and we all look forward to our next travel experience.

Hotel Reviews

COCO-MAT Athens BC

Athens

Great location, walking distance to Parthenon, Acropolis Museum, and other historical sites. Lovely rooftop restaurant with to die for views of the Acropolis.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sofitel Athens Airport

Athens

For any hotel is was excellent, for an airport hotel it was outstanding. Walk to terminal, good food, helpful staff.

Cresanto Luxury Suites

Santorini

Small botique hotel with great service and privacy. Food was OK but not as exciting as we would have expected given the rest of the facility. Most rooms have a private pool/hot tub. It is not that close to tourist activities so need a car or transportation. About ten minute walk to closest off site restaurant.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

I Resort Beach Hotel & Spa

Stalis

This is a large beach resort hotel geared to an all inclusive clientele. It was very nice and as we were there at the end of the season, not too crowded. Most meals are buffet style, lots of choices, but not personalized. Hotel was right on the beach, had a beautiful pool, beach lounges, a spa and was within easy walking distance of many restaurants. Generally our preference is for smaller scale facilities but if you are looking for an easy one stop hotel, it was very nice

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Explore Acropolis & Acropolis Museum

Athens

A must do experience on Athens. We were on a large bus tour, that started with a city driver through and a stop at the Acropolis Museum before going to the Parthenon. We prefer smaller groups but given the crowds at the Parthenon, even a private tour would seem to just be part of the masses. A wonderful experience, but be prepared for crowds. If possible go the the museum first.

Private Daily Tour to Olympia archaeological site

Athens

A long day trip from Athens, but well worth it. Beautiful country side en route. There is a museum adjacent to the archeological site. Go to the museum first if you can. We had expected to have a private guide at the site, but after we got there our driver told us there was no guide available due to the large number of cruise ship passengers needing guides. We would still have gone, but wish we had known about the guide problem before we arrived. Our driver, while not a licensed guide was very informative as were drove from Athens to Olympia and back.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Drive was fine, but no guide available.

Transport

Private Half-Day Exploration

Meteora

An incredible experience. The views and history make this unforgettable. Our guide was knowledgeable and very helpful. We visited two monasteries in the afternoon. Be prepared for a fair amount of walking, in some cases uphill to get to each monastery . There are enough other activities in Meteora to fill about half a day of independent sight seeing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Both guide and driver were local so had great knowledge of both the historical and current aspects of the area.

Transport

Local transport was a regular taxi. Perfectly fine, but a little crowded for four adults.

Private Panoramic Views Experience

Santorini

A good way to see Santorini in a short period of time. Even at end of season, Santorini was very busy. There were two cruise ships in port. It would be most unpleasant if there were four or five, a common occurrence during the peak season. We did not know before we got to Santorini that there is an archeological site on Santorini that we would probably have preferred to the Panoramic views tour but it was not offered as an option and we did not have time to add it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cooking like a Cretan on the Lassithi Mountains!

Heraklion

Birthplace of Zeus was amazing as was authentic lunch in a Greek Taverna

Explore the Palace of Knossos and Heraklion City

Heraklion

Palace of Knossos was most unexpected. The extent of the archeological site and the history that goes with it were a great surprise to us all. Definitely a must see if you are on Crete. If you don't have a guide, go to the museum first. Lunch on the waterfront was with lots of locals was fun!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We just got back from our dream trip to Greece. Working with Rebecca at KimKim was a pleasure and all her suggestions and bookings were fabulous. We loved the places she picked for us to stay. We started our trip in Athens after getting off a 10 day cruise. We spent 2 nights in Athens then our rental car was delivered to the hotel and we started our next adventure. While in Athens we did two wonderful tours. First was going to Private Cape Sounion & the Temple of Poseidon Sunset Tour. This was a great chance to get out of the city with our guide and to see a beautiful sunset at a magical historic site. The second day we did Athens - Myths & Tales and Acropolis Walking Tour (Private Tour). Having an Archaeologist walk you through the Acropolis is a bonus. He realized I was having walking issues with my knee and was able to have me take an elevator to the top of the Acropolis! I would never have thought that was an option but it was and it was a glass elevator that faced the entire city. Once we left Athens, the plan was exactly what we wanted and having everything set up and prepared for us worked exactly as planned. Our favorite place to stay was Mazaraki Guesthouse. It was an unexpected gem that we loved! Also on our last night, I requested staying in a place with an Acropolis view from our room and we were not disappointed staying at Herodion Hotel. We were able to sit in the hot tub on the roof and enjoy looking at the Acropolis above. It was amazing. The only thing I regretted, and this was my decision, was to not have a guide at each historic site. We only used the Archaeologist on some of the sites and skipped others to save some money. That was a big mistake. I highly recommend having a guide at each site so you learn the rich culture and insight rather than feeling like this is just another castle or ruins. I highly recommend using the experience and knowledge KimKim offers. We did rent a car and drove ourselves around. It was easy to drive and follow our maps app. Drivers in Greece are a little risk takers when passing on the highways but nothing that we couldn't handle. There were a few times going up to the different sites was a bit scary as there was no shoulder or barrier on the cliff side but all in all I would recommend driving yourself to have the added freedom to stop along the way.

My husband and I spent our 14-day honeymoon traveling to Mykonos, Santorini, Crete, and Athens. Effie (our Kimkim local specialist) helped us organize an absolutely incredible and seamless trip. From transportation within each place, accommodations, and travel tickets to excursions and restaurant recommendations, we got to experience the best of what Greece has to offer with absolutely zero stress. We also appreciated that the travel agency staff at Be a Greek had their hand in every step of our trip. They reached out to us via WhatsApp every day with the schedule and all the important information we needed to know for the next day, being available via WhatsApp to answer any questions we had and even meeting us at the airport when we first got to Athens to help us navigate getting to our next destination. We would highly recommend Be a Greek if you are looking to experience Greece in the best way possible. We also will definitely be utilizing Kimkim for any future international travel!

Hotel Reviews

Anax Resort & Spa

Anax was a breathtaking 5-star resort with phenomenal accommodations, staff, and great food. Located close to everything on the island. We felt extremely relaxed and taken care of during our stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Akra Suites

Santorini - Greece

Clean hotel, located in a great spot on the island with unbelievable sunset views! Not a large hotel with a lot of accommodations but great if you are planning to be on the go during your stay in Santorini.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Domes Noruz Chania

Agioi Apostoloi Chania-Crete

The most beautiful hotel that is the epitome of luxury with unmatched customer service. This was by far our favorite hotel. The food was incredible, and the staff was friendly and helpful. Our travel agency forgot to mention that it was our honeymoon, so when it was mentioned when we first got to the hotel, the next day, they surprised us with the whole room decorated with rose petals, wine, and desserts.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Altar Suites Athens

Athens

Nice, new boutique hotel with phenomenal views of the Acropolis.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Santorini Wine Roads Small-group Sunset Tour

Santorini

Savas, our guide, was great and so knowledgeable! We loved each of the wineries we visited and would highly recommend this company to anyone who wants to do a winery tour!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Santorini Caldera Small-group Sunset Cruise with BBQ on board and Open Bar

Santorini

Such a relaxing day on the water with great food and views!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Authentic Cretan Cooking Small Group Experience

Greece

This was one of the best activities we did on our Greece trip by far. Not only we’re the views spectacular and the food delicious and easy to make, but the guides and hosts were so knowledgeable, friendly, and fun. It was such a special way to experience Crete, and it’s history.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chania Old Town Private Walking Tour with Food & Wines Tastings

Greece

It's an awesome way to experience Cretan culture through the old city! Our guide, Dina, was so knowledgeable and compelling!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Acropolis & Acropolis Museum Private Guided Tour

Athens

Such a cool way to experience the Acropolis and the history of Athens/Greece. Our guide, Dimitris, was awesome! Super knowledgeable and knew all the great spots to take pictures. He even recommended a great spot for us to go to lunch after the tour!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We spend 12 days in Athens, Naxos, Santorini, and Crete. Amalia (our kimkim local expert) was phenomenal and organized transportation (taxis to/from the hotel), accommodations, and ferry tickets. We were nervous about doing so much traveling within the country, but it was stress-free as all of those things were pre-booked. Everyone we interacted with was organized and friendly. We also appreciated the activity recommendations. Traveling this way allowed us to see many areas in Greece- historical sites, hiking/biking, beaches, and lots of great food! We would highly recommend Kimkim and look forward to using their services for future international trips.