Kimkim Trip Reviews for Greece

Our trip to Greece was perfect in every way. From the first email correspondence with Eleni, it was clear she was in tune to what my family of 5 wanted to experience on this trip. She helped create an itinerary that included the perfect staying accommodations for my husband and 3 kids, excursions, activities and culture. Each stop was exciting and different and memorable.

In Santorini, we stayed at the Tsitouras Collection which was so luxurious and breathtaking, with our own pool and terrace overlooking the Caldera. The service and hospitality at the hotel was incredible. Eleni arranged a driving/walking tour that was led by Jacob, a Santorini native, who taught us a great deal about the island’s rich history, and showed us all the necessary sites, including many off the beaten path. He then returned to our hotel the next day with cucumbers and figs from his garden and an eggplant dish made by his mother. He was wonderful. Our remaining time in Santorini was spent walking through the towns, enjoying our Villa, and eating at great places that were recommended by Eleni.

Then back in Athens, we stayed at Amalia Athens Hotel which was ideally located in central Athens and, while a bit cramped, included two adjoining rooms which worked out perfectly. Eleni arranged for us to have a great meal at Dionysos Zonar the night we arrived which had amazing views of the Acropolis and the food, wine, and service were excellent. The next day in Athens, we met our guide, Dorina, who took us to the Acropolis and Agora, among other ancient sites. She was an incredible enthusiast about Mythology and Greek history and made what would otherwise have been a very difficult, crowded and windy trek up to see the Parthenon into an unforgettable experience. She left us with recommendations to shop and eat for the raminder of the afternoon. We really enjoyed her company and expertise.

We then made our way to the Marina where we met our crew and boarded our catamaran, all arranged by Eleni, as my one specials request for the trip was to spend a week on the sea. She recommended we tour the Saronic Gulf and arranged for two tours during the week, one on Aegina and the other in Epidauras. Our day on Aegina was the only time we felt we could have had a better organized experience, particularly with the Pistachio farm tour (we essentially just looked at a couple of trees) and the beach where our guide/driver dropped us off (way too touristy). Ultimately our requests to buy pistachios and eat ice cream and shop a little allowed our driver to open up a bit more and show us some great spots. He was very kind and even located a spearmint plant (which he bought himself) for us to take back to our catamaran. Our Epidauras tour of the Asclepius Healing Center by Katarina was amazing. A bit off path to get there by catamaran, but well worth the trip. The city of Nafplio was very cute and quaint and we had a very nice time there.

Lastly, our catamaran experience through Vernicos Yachts was arranged by Eleni, and we scored the most amazing crew consisting of James (captain), Anastasia (chef), and Danai (hostess). These three made sure we were immersed in the Greek culture as much as possible. We found the best swimming spots, snorkeled, ate at great Tavernas, went to fish markets when able, and explored the island towns together. Anastasia made the best meals and we felt very safe at sea with James. Danai was the kindest person. always making sure we were comfortable and well fed with snacks and drinks. We will always remember them and hope to return one day for another sailing adventure through Vernicos.

Overall, our experience with kimkim was amazing. Communication with the travel team via WhatsApp once we arrived in Athens was seamless. Any questions we had were answered right away. Any last minute requests by us were addressed with enthusiasm (yoga mats and fishing poles for the boat, for example). Our local transportation arrangements, domestic flight bookings, and tours were perfectly executed. Special touches included a Happy Birthday text on my 50th birthday by the team, and a bag of small gifts from Eleni (which included two yoga mats!) when we arrived at our Athens hotel.

Kimkim’s guidance, personalized planning, professionalism, expertise, and responsiveness went beyond our expectations. I would definitely recommend them to others who have a specific travel itinerary in mind but are chartering unknown territories, or even those who just want help planning the perfect vacation. We definitely look forward to working with them again to plan future trips. Thank you, Eleni and team!!

We planned a family trip. Mom's 80th. Post COVID revenge travel. To Greece. About which we knew next to nothing. For a big group (6 adults) with complicated logistics.

We found KimKim on-line. Used their tool to assess our needs. And Irene put together a trip that matched our interests and met our needs.

We chose Thessaloniki for its importance in Jewish history. The tour was quite good. Though note to tour guide Dina, less emphasis on Jews' perceived wealth would have been okay. The one remaining synagogue is poignant. And the museum is well done. The waterfront and neighborhood around the hotel is beautiful. At the last minute we added a side trip to Pella. Kimkim made it happen promptly and smoothly. (That's the theme: Kimkim handled all of our requests and all of our needs smoothly, promptly and effectively.) The museum at Pella is fabulous. And empty. The actual dig site is not really developed to be tourist friendly. Perhaps if we had a do-over, we'd skip Thessaloniki and spend time at the Athens Jewish museum.

Athens is beautiful. Like the postcards. And mom climbed the acropolis. Don't miss the acropolis museum. Don't miss the archeology museum.

And when mom needed hearing aid repair, Kimkim found us a great audiologist.

Chania was our favorite. Less over-run by tourists. Lots of history. Don't miss the archeology museum (which we discovered on our own but which Kimkim should encourage). The wine tasting and olive oil tour was a fun day. But there was also a wine tasting on Santorini with better wine. (Sorry, Crete) We arranged a visit to Friday night services at Etz Chaim. Wonderful, warm and inclusive service. Glad it is an active synagogue rather than a museum to a lost community.

The beach day on Crete was beautiful. But mom and I missed it. Mom tested positive for COVID and we spent the day at the hospital trying unsuccessfully to obtain Paxlovid. Apparently, it is reserved for EU citizens and no mechanism to get it for Americans. They offered to admit mom for remdesivir, which she did not need. The rest of the family said George, their guide, showed them a great day.

Fortunately, mom never had more than a sore throat which passed quickly. Unfortunately, she spent the rest of the trip in quarantine. Kimkim nimbly made alternate travel and hotel arrangements to accommodate our new needs. And got her VIP handling at the airport for her trip to Athens then home.

Kimkim set us up with cars to travel from Chania to Heraklion. The trip was beautiful. Spectacular vistas. But if we went to the lake, we should have swam. Or not gone. And we didn't find the recommended waterfall though we did find picturesque restaurants in the vicinity

Impossible to overstate Knossos. Don't miss it. Better than acropolis. Our guide was unhappy that the museum was not on our itinerary. (And maybe I'd have preferred that to the wine tasting day. But our large group has other interests than just mine.)

Do not drive in Heraklion.

Car drop-off, ferry to Santorini went smoothly. When pick up at ferry was not smooth, a call to Kimkim fixed it.

Santorini is gorgeous. Magnificent. And so packed with tourists that it's unpleasant. I have no need to go back. The wine is better. Akrotiri is very impressive. And possibly important (But the remains of the third Minoan settlement appeal more to me than to others in the group.) The private catamaran trip around Santorini was a lovely way to end a hectic trip. The Galaxy S9 phone says waterproof. But died after the water.

We had too many travel days. And too many flights but much of this was of our own devising since we wanted to make the trip all encompassing. But Kimkim made the entire experience smooth and handled every situation that came up. They did an excellent job!

Hotel Reviews

Sweet Home Hotel

Athens

Lovely rooms with tall ceilings. Inn keeper and staff could not be nicer.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful. Felt very European.

Location

Was a short walk to the places we wanted to go.

Staff

At breakfast offered to fill out water bottles with ice water!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kriti Hotel Chania

Chania, Crete

Nice hotel. Located across the street from a venue that had late evening shows and concerts. Glass doors and windows kept much of the sound out but was still audible in the rooms. Apparently one show did not end until midnight. Luckily we were so tired that it did not keep us awake.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Several of the rooms contained two twin beds. We were a large enough group that we were able to trade with one of our sons who had a king all to himself. My other son and his girlfriend called the front desk an they handled it by moving furniture and pushing the beds together.

Olive Green

Heraklion

Really nice room. Shower, toilet and sink were each located in a different part of the room so more than one person could be doing their thing without preventing a roommate to access the other things.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Abelonas Retreat

Santorini

Santorini is gorgeous in large part due to the challenging terrain. Many of the roads are windy and single lane though allow for two way traffic. Had a short but challenging walk from where we were dropped off by our driver to the hotel. Took us a while to locate the hotel office. Once there, while i was signing the group in, the inn keeper made a nasty comment about my unseen but heard (grown) "children"who were trying to get all of our luggage down the steep ramp onto the hotel property. There were some laughs but nothing disruptive. Bathroom was nothing special (it was impossible to shower without flooding the bathroom, the tile in the entire bathroom/shower was slippery when wet). Though reported by the innkeeper that the breakfasts were "award winning," we found them to be nothing special. In fact, of all the places we stayed, it was the worst. Breakfast is delivered to your room in 15 minute increments. The innkeeper also complained that our 9:30 AM tour was messing up the breakfast schedule since they don't start delivering breakfast until 8:30 AM, can only delivery to one room every 15 minutes and the earliest times were already booked. As a concession, he agreed to serve us cold options at 8 AM.

Authenticity & Character

Very pretty.

Location

Busses are within walking distance and got us where we wanted to go more reliably than a taxi.

Staff

Paul was very uptight but warmed a bit with time.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was clean and bed comfortable. The bathroom left much to be desired. Innkeeper (Paul) could be friendlier and more welcoming to guests arriving tired and weary, even if it is 12:30 PM.

City Hotel Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki

Nice room, nice location, nice breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Santorini Caldera Cruise

Santorini

Excellent way to end a tiring but amazing vacation.

Quality of Experience

Food

The two person crew prepared a delicious Greek meal for us with pasta, grilled fish and yummy sides.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Christopher and Anastasia were warm, friendly and eager to make us comfortable.

Transport

The young driver who picked us up at our hotel drove the van backwards down a narrow windy road like a pro. Very impressive (this was done since there is little room to turn around at the drop off, near the water). ie We were ery mna aiwentptOur

Salonica Jewish Heritage Tour

Thessaloniki

Our guide was knowledgeable and informative. A little too much about Jewish wealth. (That stereotype breeds resentment and ultimately causes anti Semitic violence.) And so sad that the synagogue is a monument to people who are gone rather than a functioning congregation. The museum is excellent.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pella & Vergina Guided Tour

Thessaloniki

Museum is outstanding. And the guide who met us at Pella was extraordinarily knowledgeable. The actual site is not well developed for tourists. A few mosaics in a field.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Acropolis Hill & Museum Tour

Athens

Fabulous. And fabulous museum. Time for the Brits to return the Elgin marbles

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Local Transfer in Athens

Greece

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Old Town of Chania guided walk

Chania

Great knowledgeable friendly. Could have taken us to the excavations just a block or two away. But we made it back there on our own.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Olive Routes and Villages Around Chania

Chania

Pleasant and fun day. Three wine tastings and an olive oil factory.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Balos & Falassarna Beach Tour with Lunch

Chania

Gorgeous

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Loved George

Transport

Palace of Knossos Private Tour

Greece

Fabulous guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Not applicable we drove ourselves. An adventure for a different section.

Private Santorini Driving Panorama

Santorini

We saw much of the island. Oia is so overcrowded that an hour there seemed like forever. And yet we went back for dinner. Akrotiri is spectacular. But I am in danger of making this an archeology tour. Wine tasting was nice. And better wines than Crete. A little uncomfortable with the lack of choice in restaurant.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Useful Information

Greece

There was no time to experience Heraklion.

Quality of Experience

Transport

From start to finish, Amalia was a superb guide to plan our 2 week tour of the Greek islands. We worked with her on relatively short notice and she delivered. The communication and problem solving was point-of-care, seamless. Our transportation for the entire trip was flawless, mindless, and luxurious, as we hoped it'd be. One minor hiccup with an accommodation that was not as planned - Magic Village on Naxos - we recommend staying away until changes are made there. However, Amalia and her team were receptive and helpful in issuing a full refund for that hotel stay in a prompt manner. We would certainly use Amalia's services and knowledge again to explore Greece next time!

Ionnis was great assistance with booking our trip and during our trip!
Trip to Greece was planned just perfectly. All arrangements were booked for us from the moment we arrived in athens greece, travelling to both islands of paros and milos and then back for our international flight from athens.
So appreciative of Ionnis as there was miscommunication with one of the hotels who charged me, i was able to msg ionnis right away, and he sorted it out and had ir refunded for me. Our next trip to Europe we will for sure be booking through kimkim, no questions asked!
So convenient and well priced.

Thanks again, Ionnis for arranging such an amazing trip from my husband and i!

Hotel Review

Lithos Luxury Rooms Milos

Milos

What a cute little boutique hotel run by a sweet family! We arrived to the hotel at 1030pm and the hotel owner gave us a ride into town so my husband and i can have dinner. In the morning they homecooked breakfast for their guests, which was delicious. I also forgot my adapter for plugging in my phone, the owner of the hotel was sweet enough to give me one to borrow. Such a cute, clean and hospitality was amazing . Definitely will come back again!

Authenticity & Character

Location

On the top of the mountain hill so nothing is at walking distance . Have to take taxi.

Staff

Run by a very sweet family!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Sail the Aegean & Explore Hidden Beaches in Small Cyclades

Paros

Great vibe and nice people that we met on the sail boat. The trip was nice a getaway around the island of paros

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Angela was wonderful. She always responded quickly and coordinated an incredible trip around our desires

Our tour guide, Jason, was fabulous. His knowledge and interaction with us was great. He worked to explain so many details about the places we visited and their historical significance

The transportation was comfortable and the drivers worked to serve us Wow!!

Hotel Review

Sweet Home Hotel

Athens

We had a great experience there. We would go back in a minute

Authenticity & Character

Location

In the middle of the Plaka with great shops and sites.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Athens of the Classical Era (Acropolis & Acropolis Museum)

Athens

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Greek Cooking Classes in Athens

Athens

This was an important part of our Greek experience. The director of this class was great and the food we made was delicious. We cannot wait to share this with our friends at home.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Argolis with licensed Guide (Epidaurus – Mycenae – Nafplion)

Athens

Again, Jason was great.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Everyone did a fantastic job, both in developing our ideal itinerary and responding to unexpected changes once we weren't in Greece.

Our planner, Rebecca at GrecianLux, was fantastic from my first outreach nearly 18 months prior to our trip until the very last day of our travel home. As first-time travelers to Greece and planning for a family of 8, I needed a lot of guidance. She provided advice and options that were based on her actual experiences and she was patient as we went through multiple trip plans. Once we were in Greece, the detailed planning paid off. Our transfers between islands (SeaJet Ferry is unlike any ferry in the US!) and while on island (clean Mercedes vans) were seamless. Each of our tours were top notch with the best guides (George - Athens Food Tour, Giannis Antetokounmpo Sepolia Tour, Athens Riviera Day; Nicolas - Acropolis at Sunset; Theo - Athens Twilight Tour; Catamaran Trip in Naxos; Kostis - Santorini Agronomy and Wine Tour; Vassilis and Katarina - Santorini E-Bike Tour), food (Greek Salads, Souvlaki, Moussaka, Gyros, everything is fresh and delicious) and hidden gems (rooftop bars, special mini-markets, an underground wine cellar in Santorini). Our hotels were beautiful (Elia Armou in Athens, Liana Beach Hotel (with service on the beach!) in Naxos, and Hotel Agali Houses (these views, the butler service - all amazing) in Santorini and perfectly tailored for the needs of our family and preferences. We were so glad that Rebecca had strongly recommended the Fira to Oia self-guided hike. It was windy, hilly, long and moderately more than we expected...but it was so worth it! Rebecca provided 24-hour concierge service helping with dinner reservations to a last-minute outing for us after a sunset sail was canceled due to high winds. That outing ended up being a trip highlight for our family. All in all, the trip was a 10 out of 10 and it is highly attributable to the efforts of Rebecca!

Hotel Reviews

Liana Beach Hotel & Spa

Naxos

Liana Beach Hotel is a beautiful boutique beach hotel located across the street from a gorgeous beach. The rooms are spacious and clean - each of our 3 rooms had small hot tubs on the balconies overlooking the courtyard and beach. Staff is very friendly and accommodating. Breakfast is fresh and delicious. We especially loved the beach chairs and private service reserved only for hotel guests on the beach. Tony (Tonino) was our excellent and kind beach server each day. He anticipated what we wanted and was always nearby. The pool area is also fantastic and typically where we would find ourselves after coming back over from the beach. The hotel is a very short walk either direction to restaurants, bars, mini-markets, laundry, etc. Well-appointed and located place we hope to return to someday!

Authenticity & Character

The hotel is small so there is an incredible attention to detail. The outdoor courtyard and bar is beautiful and inviting

Location

We could walk either direction from the hotel to find bars, restaurants, mini-markets and laundry

Staff

The staff was so accomodating and friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cleaning staff provided extensive daily cleaning service far beyond the call of duty even picking up after my teenage sons!

Agali Houses Santorini

Firostefani, Santorini

Agali Houses is SO PRETTY! It is located on the beautiful Santorin cliffside overlooking the Caldera. Upon arrival, we were amazed by the tenacity of the butlers who met us at our van and toted our nearly 50 lb suitcases, 2-3 at a time, down the stairs to the hotel. We had many experiences in Santorini where we felt in lesser shape than our Greek friends but that fantastic service in particular we have discussed many times. Upon check-in, we were shown our rooms (3 rooms for 8 travelers). Beautifully decorated, very clean and all with private patios/balconies. The pool with the bar area was a hot spot but because Agali Houses is a boutique hotel, it was never too busy and we got to see some of the same people both there an at breakfast, which deserves its own review! Breakfast is served daily, included in the room rate and you can sit inside a beautiful and quaint dining area or outside overlooking the Caldera. Everything was very fresh and the staff kept it stocked and super clean. Fresh Greek yogurt with local honey alongside fresh melon was my daily favorite. Concierge was happy to help with any request and had great ideas for dinner. A walk up the hill and you have access to bars, restaurants ranging from street food to fine dining and mini-markets. Location was excellent and enabled us to go to Oia or to Fira and the southern part of the island with relative ease (it is a busy island!).

Authenticity & Character

Decor looks like it is out of a magazine!

Location

Staff

Breakfast staff! Best Freddo espressos

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Santorini - E-bike Adventure Tour

Santorini

Vassilis and Katarina were such great guides, helpers, trainers and supporters! The E-Bikes are AWESOME. We did 13+ miles and got to tour, learn about and see so many beautiful areas...not to mention we stopped for wine and snacks midway through! Vassilis also took photos along the way and created a video of our family of 8, which he air-dropped to me within 10 minutes of our return. He must moonlight as a photographer, because the photos and video are quality work. We finished off our time chilling out at the black sand beach in front of the bike shop. They have a very cool location and set up. This is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Athens - Visit to Sports Center of Sepolia - The Giannis Antetokoumbo Court

Athens

George outdid himself. Since this was a specially requested tour by us, George spent a week prior to our arrival doing research on Giannis's time in Sepolia. He showed us Giannis's court, but then took us on a walk to go by Giannis's childhood home, to the cafe that Giannis used to visit coming to or from the court and introducing us to the owner, Katie, who had lots of regalia in the cafe showcasing the success of a young man she knew long before he was famous. Then we saw some of the local schools that Giannis attended. My sons were over the moon and couldn't believe that they got to learn so much about their very talented and endearing sports hero! George really put in the work on this one and we sure appreciate it!!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Naxos Island Catamaran Cruise-Small group cruise

Naxos

Rina Cave has the prettiest water we have ever seen and we are well traveled! The trip was great overall including the food - fresh Moussaka for lunch! Staff was very adept and they played the coolest music that we heard on the trip.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Amazing!
We used kimkim to book a family vacation (2 small kids, 5 and 8 years old) to Athens, Naxos, and Crete.

Thanos planned an amazing trip full of family fun excursions. We have always wanted to go to Greece, but with 2 small kids were concerned that the trip would not be as fun for the little ones. However, Thanos organized experiences that were super interesting and fun for the whole family. Additionally, he included some very touching surprises along the way that made you feel taken care of. He was available throughout the trip by whatsapp and helped when we had an issue with the ferry (The company changed the boat last minute without letting anyone know until it was time to board) and timing of an excursion and a last minute car rental.

Regarding the hotels, They were all good quality, comfortable, clean, and close to the city. The only one we did not love was the one in Athens as my husband is a light sleeper, we were on the 2nd floor, and there was a lot of noise from the city. However, it was a beautiful and super convenient, my kids and myself slept well, and other rooms may not have the same issue. Sweet Home Naxos was super cute. Hope, the lady running the hotel was so kind and generous. It was an apartment style and they brought a delicious breakfast to the suite every day. Aquila Atlantis was beautiful and the breakfast was great. We saw the pool and wished we had time to spend there. Civitel Akali was also beautiful and super clean and modern with a great breakfast. The pool was great after our daily excursions with a cocktail bar. It was a5 minute walk from the old town which was perfect so as not to be in the center of the madness. We had adjoining rooms linked by a door, which worked perfect for us.

Regarding the excursions, the guide for the Acropolis catered the site for the kids, while still explaining all the history and having graphics for the kids. Elizabeth, our guide in Naxos was super kind and thoughtful with the kids. The kids absolutely LOVED George and the donkey and archery farm. The kids thought this was the highlight of the trip. I think if anything, we would have liked more time at Knossos and the museum as it is so interesting. Yanis, the guide in Southern Crete and Paleochora, was great. He was full of facts and true love and pride for his country and makes you excited to see everything. The excursions with traditional lunches were amongst the best and coziest food we had on our trip.

The transfers were super convenient, and really took the stress out of the planning, knowing there was going to be someone there that would pick you up and drop you off at each location.

All in all, I highly recommend. we loved our trip and out amazing experience in Greece.

Our trip included 2 days in Athens area, 3 days on Paros and 4 days on Santorini. It was a wonderful trip with timely transfers and very high quality hotels. Cici, our Athens food and Acropolis guide, was superb! She has a PhD in Archeology and studies Mythology for fun. We hit a number of small local specialty food spots, and then walked up to see the Acropolis. It was a perfect taste of Athens. On to Paros, which is beautiful and has many great restaurants on the water front and top notch water sports (windsurfing, wing foiling, speed boat tours) which we enjoyed thoroughly. If anything, we just wish we had more days on Paros - it was our favorite - and the Summer Senses hotel was very relaxing with great views. Santorini was classic Greek islands with lots of great food, shopping and a truly beautiful and luxurious sunset catamaran ride with grilled seafood for dinner. We also had some fun adventure on a Kayak tour of the southern coast of Santorini, and did some more windsurfing and Wing Foiling at the Namely beach. We were two families with 5 teenage kids and everyone loved it!

First and foremost, Angela was fantastic. She listened to what we were interested in and did not just do the standard greek itinerary. She was very responsive to our questions and always very professional even when we asked the same question twice. She also was super responsive during the trip when we had questions the day of - - she typically responded within minutes. As someone who travels quite a bit, I appreciated her approach and attention to detail.

In terms of the trip, we are not big fans of looking at historical stuff. We are more nature, wildlife and beach people. Having said that:

- we flew into Athens and landed around noon local time. We checked into our hotel and walked around to Zeus' temple and the parliment for the changing of the guard. We then did an organized tour of the Parthenon, which was great. We liked the tour guide and he was very informative. There is also a large museum at the base that I am sure would of been interesting to visit, but we skipped it in favor of island time.

- we loved milos.. Angela recommended it after listening to what we were interested in. It is not as touristy or crowded as the other islands but has a ton of picture perfect beaches. we rented a car (note the streets are very narrow, so be forewarned) and had a great time. We did the catamaran cruise which we loved - fantastic. we also did a 3 hour see kayak tour - we liked it as well, but it is not for everyone as it can be moderately strenuous.

- we enjoyed santorini. the buildings built into the cliffs are something to see and the views are fantastic. The shops and restaurants are nice, but duplicative. We are not big dress up for pictures people or bigger shoppers so although beautiful, Santorini is probably a once in a lifetime visit for us. We did a hummer tour which was nice - drive to various picture spots and then a nice lunch. We also did a catamaran. Other than the beautiful sunset at the end, it was good but not great compared to the milos one.

None of these critiques are about Angela or even Greece, but just observations to help you plan the trip.

Hotel Reviews

Niche Hotel Athens

Athens

We enjoyed our stay at the Niche Hotel in Athens. It was clean, nice, and had a lovely restaurant on top where we had breakfast. Its central location was also a plus.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Vira Vivere Houses

Plakes

We stayed in an apartment-style housing at Vira Vivere Houses. Initially, we weren't impressed by its location as it wasn't by the water. However, as we explored the island, we realized that most accommodations were similar. The unit was nice, and the owner was accommodating!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Art Maisons Oia Castle Luxury Suites

Santorini

We enjoyed our stay at Oia. The hotel was beautiful, like a cave built into the hill. However, we would have preferred a pool that was more in the sun.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Acropolis Afternoon Tour

Greece

The Acropolis tour was a great experience. Our guide was very informative, respectful, and overall a nice guy. While we are not that into history, the tour was enjoyable. However, unless you are really into Greek history, I wouldn't recommend it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Sailing Tour Around Milos (Catamaran from Adamas)

Greece

Our all-day catamaran cruise in Milos was fantastic. The crew was great, and the snorkeling spots were good. We were with multiple other people, but it didn't detract from the experience. We loved this tour more than the one in Santorini.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sea Kayak in Milos

Greece

We also did a sea kayaking activity in Milos. The guide was friendly, knowledgeable, and we had no complaints. The experience was enjoyable!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

HS 2024 Catamaran Sunset Cruise

Santorini

The Santorini catamaran cruise was good but not as enjoyable as the Milos catamaran cruise. The crew was nice, the food was good, and it ended on a beautiful sunset. However, we felt the sights were not as pretty as in Milos.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hummer Ride Safari without meal

Santorini

Our Hummer tour was okay. We drove up to the top of the mountain, to the monastery, and a few other places. The guide was nice and did a good job. However, the excursion starts on the other side of the island, about a 45-minute drive.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Amazing trip.
Athens: our tour guide CC (spelling?) was fantastic. Super knowledgeable and fun. Took us to great spots. And found coffee right away! She was true pleasure. Five stars.

Paros:
The hotel, Summer Senses, was terrific. Beautiful and clean. Best pool set up anywhere. Gorgeous rooms.

The private boat tour, Seacrest, with our guide Thanos, was a highlight. Thanos was the best. Beautiful swimming and cliff jumping.

We found great windsurfing at Golden Beach.

All dinners transport and ferry were easy and very well planned.

Santorini:

The private sunset oía catamarán outing was fantastic. The guides were fine and prepared a lovely dinner on the boat. But they were a bit unfriendly with us and each other. And they vaped which was a bummer. But overall, a wonderful experience.

The hotel, Nikki Beach, was beautiful but the vibe was poor for us. Maybe we just didn’t understand the platform the hotel presents at the outset so we were a bit disappointed by the loud house music all day long at the pool. But we just stayed away during the music hours. Won’t go back, but it was comfortable and clean and very nice.

The sea kayak tour was great. Joe and Adonis were wonderful and welcoming and knowledgeable. We would recommend that highly.

Seetha: she was wonderful. Very responsible and planned a great trip for us. We could not have had a better trip thanks to her!

Short review: KimKim and our specialist Harris are the best!! I was referred to KimKim by a friend, and now I will refer KimKim to everyone I know.
Longer review: 18-day trip through 4 cities in Italy and 2 in Greece went so smoothly that it helped us all to relax and actually enjoy our vacation! Harris had fine-tuned our hotel rooms (2 in each city, as we were traveling with our 2 teenagers) and the hotels were all great. One big curveball that Harris and his team took in stride was that a few weeks before departure, I ruptured my Achilles tendon... meaning I was going to have to use a knee-scooter the entire trip. When I informed Harris, he quickly reconfigured some of our 'small group' tours into 'private' tours so we could move at our own (slower!) pace. The guides that he connected us with were all so great, so knowledgeable, and so passionate about their cities that I can't imagine just walking by all the architectural and cultural places that we saw without the guide's knowledge and stories... my whole family learned so much!
All the transfers and logistics went very smoothly... it was comforting knowing that we had transport waiting at train stations or airports, especially when seeing other passengers coming off our same flights and having to wait or even fight for random cabs. Our drivers were great stewards of their cities, some sharing with us the history of the view we were experiencing on the way from the airports to our hotels! So great to know that everyone truly cared that we were having a great trip.
Conclusion: I typically am the 'planner' of all our family trips, and it was a bit of a stretch to turn those duties over to a travel company like KimKim, but... I am so glad I did! Worth every penny. Harris did a tremendous job throughout, great communication with me as to how I wanted our trip to look (more history and beachy, less foodie, etc) and he configured great tours and put us right in the middle of the action with his hotel recommendations. It seems trivial to say, but the logistics (drivers, pick-up and drop-off times, and the amazing quality of the vehicles themselves) are sometimes the things that derail trips... but we didn't even have to think about that because, after the first pick-up from the airport, I knew Harris had set us up with first-class people on his team for the entire trip.
The app/website provided by KimKim was super helpful. All of my family had it on their phones, so if they had a question about "What are we doing today?" it was all right in the app! So helpful to be able to relax and just let the schedule happen, rather than trying to scramble every day to try and book tours, wait in lines, or miss out on things.
During the trip, the KimKim team had a direct WhatsApp chat with me, checking in on me every day or so. It helped to know that if I did have any questions, delays, or issues somebody was readily available to help out. We used it a few times to notify drivers that our plane was late, and once to find our guide who was meeting us at the (very crowded!) Colleseum. It was great to use the WhatsApp chat with the KimKim team to coordinate, rather than somehow having to keep track of every guide and driver's number for the entire trip. Very smooth.
Conclusion: Just do it. Use KimKim to plan your vacation so you can actually enjoy your vacation!! 5-stars!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Olimpia

Venice

This hotel was great with a lovely breakfast area out back. It was very nice and made for a comfortable stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Capo d'Africa—Colosseo

Rome

The hotel was generally good, but there was a slight hiccup with the front desk staff. Being on a knee scooter due to a ruptured Achilles tendon, I had some specific needs, which weren't always handled in the most accommodating way.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Makris Beach Hotel Santorini

Kamari

This hotel was amazing. They even went out of their way to juggle rooms around to accommodate me on the first floor due to my mobility issues. It made my stay really comfortable and enjoyable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Colosseum & Roman Forum Tour

Rome

This tour was great. Being able to go at our own pace due to my mobility issues was a big plus. The tour guides were very understanding and accommodating.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Morning Florence Highlights Walking Tour

Florence

This tour was good. Florence is a pretty flat city, so it was manageable even on my knee scooter. The guide was knowledgeable and friendly.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Acropolis Guided Tour

Athens

The guide was super into it and explained a ton of stuff about the Acropolis. He even positioned us right in front of the Acropolis for a great view.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Great experience! Planning the trip to Greece was a breeze. Had some back and forth online tweaking the details of the itinerary with our agent Rebecca Skevaki but once the trip was locked in we were essentially on autopilot. She contacted us as on WhatsApp when we landed, our airport transfer went over without a hitch, she sent a representative to greet us at the hotel with a welcome gift. All the guides and drivers were wonderful and helpful. Rebecca was available for questions or concerns throughout the trip but everything went according to the itinerary without issue. She even alerted us of flight delays and automatically checked us in on our local flights and emailed boarding passes. Would definitely use kimkim again!

Hara planned the most amazing Greek honeymoon for us. It was the perfect mix of amazing scheduled tours, cruises, and events, as well as free days and afternoons to explore on our own. Transportation at every stop went off without a hitch and all of the people we interacted with were phenomenal. We will 100% be utilizing kimkim again and if we ever go back to Greece, Hara will be our first call. We cannot recommend them enough

Hotel Reviews

Harmony Hotel Mykonos

Mýkonos City

My wife and I spent 8 days in 3 different Greek locations, and this hotel was far and away the best. The staff was incredible, location was superb, and the food and drinks were great as well. We will definitely be staying if we ever visit Mykonos again (Shout out to the pool bar for being one of the best hangouts on the island)

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to transportation and things to do

Staff

Everyone was welcoming, Nick the pool bartender was one of the closest friends we made on the trip

Cleanliness & Comfort

Athenian Callirhoe Hotel

Athens

Well located, great staff, phenomenal breakfast, and unbeatable view from the rooftop bar

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kasimatis by La Perla

Santorini

Amazing views, great breakfast, good location

Authenticity & Character

Location

Decent, wouldve been nice to be closer to Fira or Oia, but all was walkable

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Unique rooms, great bed (round!) best airflow of any Greek hotel

Activity Reviews

Panoramic Sightseeing of Athens

Athens

Amazing sights, great tour guide, very unique

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sailing Yacht Cruise to Rhenia Island & Delos

Mykonos

Amazing sights, phenomenal tour guide -best of the trip- and great sailing staff. Some choppy waters but made the ride all the more fun. Would definitely recommend

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Van wasnt the most comfortable, a few minutes late, but otherwise good

Catamaran Sunset Cruise

Santorini

Unbelievable sights, fantastic staff, great swimming, awesome food, and second to none view of the sunset

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Long bus ride, not super comfortable, but worth it

From our first communication to the flight home, and every step in between, our 10-day trip to Greece was perfectly planned. Amalia was fantastic to work with every step of the way. She made outstanding recommendations to create a nice itinerary filled with fun and interesting activities. The apartments and lodging she chose for our family of five were unique and fit our needs beautifully. This was an unforgettable trip we will treasure forever. Thank you!

Activity Reviews

Santorini Cooking Class

Santorini

Our cooking class was a true highlight of our trip. It was fun, interesting and a great way to explore the Greek culture and cuisine.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to the island of Naxos

Naxos

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day cruise to Delos & Mykonos

Naxos

Delos was an interesting and educational experience. Paired with a few hours in Mykonos the day was filled with diverse activities. It was a true highlight of our trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Athens Food Walking Tour

Athens

We love food walking tours because the guides take you to off the beaten path locations and share lots of interesting history. It's a fun way to explore the culture and try new things.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Thanks Dimos ! We had a great time in Greece
The Acropolis walking tour was very informative and our guide was great - Thanks for the restaurant recommendations we loved Barolo!! Wine tour was nice and the small private sail with lunch was our favorite thing !! Thank you for arranging everything for us- you made our adventure seamless !!

Hotel Reviews

Wyndham Grand Athens

Athens

Nice hotel! staff and great service! Clean and all amenities - It’s easy to get to and easy walk to city center- only down side is a few sketchy streets to walk by

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Mer Deluxe Hotel

Kamari

This hotel is a 3.5 - except the outside pools- bar and grounds are a 5! Great service from bar tender pools clean and beautiful !!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Santorini Sunset and Wine Tasting

Santorini

We loved the experience of tasting the different wines between 2 wineries - guide loved the products and conveyed the backgrounds of each winery and vintage well - best part was watching the sunset in the rooftop bar area sipping wine and snacks!! A perfect way to end your day

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Catamaran Cruise and BBQ on Board

Santorini

Mythology Walk of Acropolis and Temple of Zeus

Athens

The great part of this experience was our guide very informative and genuinely committed to current as well as past history of greece also ideal small group

Cruise Experience Athenian Riviera!

Athens

we loved this best activity it was private food delish! swimming at leisure in the Agean just relaxing and way to connect with Greece

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

My husband and I took a trip to Greece, and though our coordinator was given a limited amount of time to plan the trip, Thanos did an incredible job! Not only was he knowledgeable and accommodating, he created a trip that was exceptionally well balanced between our interests.

Thanos met us when we arrived in Athens, taking us to a small local café in Plaka where we were able to watch the sunset over the temple of Hephaestus. We were able to discuss the finer points of our trip over coffee and he was able to give us good guidance on each of the steps in our journey. He even walked us to the Thesi on theater that evening.

We spent time in Athens, Paris, Naxos, and Santorini. Each of the guides that he had chosen for individual experiences were passionate about sharing the history, culture, or food of the region. We had an excellent time on each of the excursions

Adventures included;
- An evening at Thission Cinema, open since 1933, an outdoor theater with a beautiful view of the acropolis in the background
– acropolis and food tour in Athens. Our guide Rhea, was kind, and passionate about the history of Athens and the Acropolis.
- several self-guided days, where we took tours out to Delphi , or sought out our own adventures with guidance from Thanos
– Scuba diving in Paros, with ample time to explore beaches, small towns, historical sites,
- Catamaran tour and water sports
- Santorini: exploring local festivals, the prehistoric archeological site at Akrotiri, winery tour, and hiking the Caldera

We couldn’t have imagined a better adventure. Thanos was sure to check in on us at each stop, and had organized beautiful accommodations and low stress transitions from each location to the next. we were truly thankful for the balance between time to relax, and a wide variety of new experiences.

Activity Review

Scuba diving in Paros

Paros

X-ta-sea diving was absolutely amazing to dive with. Everyone in the group was professional and helpful when we had our dives. Vagilis and Yani did an excellent job keeping us comfortable and ensuring we were safe while having a fantastic experience. Additionally Arete helped Laila navigate her first time in the water and ensured she felt comfortable navigating her diving equipment and taking her first few breaths. Laila loved the dive, and is very interested in certifying now because of our experience!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

From beginning to end our trip to Greece was perfect. Tasos, KimKim, Travel 12, were all so helpful.

Tasos, from day one was extremely easy to work with and responsive . The itinerary he created for a family of five (2 adults, 18, 14 and 7 year old) was PERFECT!!! Hotels, restaurants, excursions, all the people we interacted with.

Athens, hustle, bustle and history.
Naxos, relaxing, beautiful beaches and memorable cooking class.
Santorini, views, water, boat, volcano and sunsets.

We could not ask for anything more.
We can’t wait to go back.

Thank you Tasos and KimKim!

Hotel Reviews

NLH Monastiraki

Athens

Great location, near everything; sites and restaurants, subway. Rooftop bar was fantastic. Service and rooms great. Wonderful breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Near everything.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Galaxy Hotel Naxos

Naxos

Hotel staff was perfect. Friendly, helpful and extremely caring. Enjoyed the views from our deck. Breakfast had tons to offer. Pool was relaxing. The hotel was so pretty and peaceful and a 30 second walk to the beach. Couldn’t ask for anything more. The 5 of us would go back (2 adults, 3 kids)

Authenticity & Character

Pretty grounds and. Holdings.

Location

Right near the beach and restaurants.

Staff

Extremely helpful front desk and bartenders at the pool.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Afroditi Venus Beach Hotel & Spa Santorini

Santorini

Great location!

Authenticity & Character

Lobby should be updated.

Location

Staff

Front desk could be more welcoming. Staff could improve their attire, matching outfits.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Acropolis Afternoon Tour

Athens

Our tour guide was so friendly and knowledgeable. If we didn’t have her we would be lost. The pace and information was spot on.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was perfect!

Explore the Smart Home of Ancient Greeks

Athens

Fantastic museum. The 5 of us loved the experience and private tour (2 adults, 3kids).

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Local Dinner in Naxos

Naxos

Delicious dinner and experience. Location was perfect.

Quality of Experience

Food

Chef is a genius.

Cooking Class in Naxos Villages

Naxos

This was the highlight of our family trip. You could not ask for anything more from the mom and daughter team. The were so welcoming into their beautiful home. A traditional home in a quaint village. The class was so enjoyable, fun, memorable, perfect! While the food was cooking we were able to walk around the village and enjoy the views and olive oil tasting. What we cooked was soooooo good. When we go back to Naxos we will go again!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Caldera Cruise & Volcano Visit

Santorini

Great fun. The boat, the hike up the volcano, the views, swimming in the beautiful sea to cool off. The amazing dinner and drinks, all capped off with an amazing sunset!

Quality of Experience

Sites, boat, staff

Food

Delicious!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

All so friendly!

Transport

Private Oia Walking Tour

Santorini

This is the only way to see Oia and you must do it with Vasila. He was so knowledgeable and knew exactly where to bring us. The quiet alleys to the best spots for views and pictures. He shared so much about history of Greece and Santorini. It was a perfect experience!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Just returned from an amazing trip to Greece, organized through Kimkim with assistance from Eleni and Afroditi. The team put together a wonderful itinerary customized to our interests. Everything on our itinerary was wonderful, and all of the logistics were smooth, making the trip so much easier and less stressful than if we arranged everything ourselves. The accomodations were beautiful, too..., like the hotel in Santorini with the infiniti pool looking out into the Aegean, or the boutique hotel in Chania in a historical old buiding... every accommodation was exceptional.

In particular, the service from Afroditi was beyond amazing. We ended up experiencing some bad luck on our trip, with a heat wave so intense that major tourist attractions were closed mid-day due to safety concerns, along with our daughter getting sick. Afroditi was so responsive in real time providing us with alternatives (like extra beach days to get out of the heat). Additionally, at one point we boarded the WRONG FERRY which took us to the wrong island. This was completely our fault by the way, the logistics and instructions from the team at Kimkim were spot on... While we were stuck on the wrong ferry, Afroditi made alternate arrangements so we had transportation and accommodations when we arrived, along with transportation back to the correct island so we could resume our itinerary. Since we had no wifi on the ferry, I don't know what we would have done without Afroditi's help in that situation. It was so incredibly reassuring to know that when something went wrong, that we had an expert and an advocate there ready to help us out!

I absolutely would not hesitate to use Kimkim again for any and all future trips. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Hotel Reviews

Domus Renier Boutique Hotel

Chania, Crete

I cannot say enough great things about this hotel. Beautiful rooms, amazing location, incredible breakfasts, and wonderful service!!

Holiday Inn Athens

Athens

NLH Monastiraki

Athens

Cresanto Luxury Suites

Santorini

Quiet location on the "other" side of the island, with lovely views of the ocean, a great pool area, and amazing breakfasts, but just a 5 minute walk to jaw dropping views. Great service too!

Metropole Urban Hotel Heraklion

Iraklio

Activity Reviews

Acropolis, Private Guided Tour

Athens

Wonderful tour guide that helped us navigate the crowds, and provided a much more meaningful experience with so much history!

Sunset Hiking at the Edge of Caldera

Santorini

Beautiful views along a 7 mile hike.

⛵ Sunset Sailing Tour & BBQ on a luxury catamaran

Santorini

One of the highlights of our trip!

Knossos Palace, Private Guided Tour

Heraklion

Fascinating history, wonderful tour guide!!

Our trip to Athens, Naxos, and Santorini was incredible! Angela and her team were prompt and any hiccup was handled immediately. Angela was available any time day or night for questions. The hotels are tours she picked were perfect for our family and the schedule was adventurous and so fun!

Hotel Reviews

V36 Suites Athens

Athens

Fantastic location, good service. A bit small and the bathroom was tiny. Nice large patio.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Location was perfect - lots of good restaurants close by.

Staff

Prompt and responsive.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was clean!

Castle Mansions

Naxos

Incredible location and adorable apartment. Separate rooms for families. Great service and just perfect!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Horizon Aeifos Suites Oia

Santorini

Absolutely amazing location and views but the cave room was dark and hot. Also the stairs are…pretty deadly. Not good for anyone old or even slightly disabled or injured.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Young Heroes: a Family Mythology Tour

Athens

My teen boys who usually loathe tours LOVED this one. It was informative and fun and super interesting!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Boat Tour Unique Sailing Experience to Agistri Moni Aegina with round transfers

Greece

It was fun and a nice way to See more of Greece.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

HS Catamaran Sunset Cruise MD

Santorini

Super cool experience with awesome staff!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cooking, Hiking, Snorkeling in Santorini! 2023

Santorini

So cool to Learn about Santorini and then cook local food with an actual Greek grandma!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport