Kimkim Trip Reviews for Indonesia

4.8
Based on 118 ratings
Read 118 verified reviews by travelers who booked their trip to Indonesia on kimkim. You can also read reviews about kimkim on 3rd party sites including Google, TrustPilot and Yelp.

Our trip with Kim Kim was very well organised...
Indonesia | Sep 16 - Oct 6, 2023

Sue
Sue B.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Oct 07, 2023
Our trip with Kim Kim was very well organised - first Borneo with our lovely boat crew and great guide Johanes. We have no bad comments here we loved every minute but it may be worth mentioning to other western travellers how basic the facilities in the boat are as some may find this off putting.
Next to Tanah Lot - after the mix up with hotels, we were very happy. Then Ubud - what a great hotel - a real hidden gem and so central for the town.
The Komodo cruise was great also but again...
Read more

Our trip with Kim Kim was very well organised - first Borneo with our lovely boat crew and great guide Johanes. We have no bad comments here we loved every minute but it may be worth mentioning to other western travellers how basic the facilities in the boat are as some may find this off putting.
Next to Tanah Lot - after the mix up with hotels, we were very happy. Then Ubud - what a great hotel - a real hidden gem and so central for the town.
The Komodo cruise was great also but again facilities are basic and I think, if you want to avoid complaints, this should be stressed. The crew and guide here were fine but not as friendly as in Borneo
Jimbaran was our next stop and again, after changing rooms twice - the first time the shower didn’t work, the second room, workmen were working in our wall with kango hammers. We were then upgraded and very happy with the Villa 😊
Ana has been available to us throughout the trip for any problems - even when she was on leave so again, we can’t praise her enough.
Most of all, we wound like to state how absolutely Amazing our Bali driver was. He has always been on time and reliable, listened and changed itineraries at the last minute when we have wanted to, kept our luggage for us while we have gone on 4 day trips, queued for hours for tickets while we enjoy looking at something else and taken us to specialist shops at our request. He knows the island ( and roads/shortcuts) so well and is great at recommending what to do If anyone is thinking of a trip to bali, I can highly recommend him. Thank you Subrata Yasa for making our trip so fantastic 🥰

Hotel Reviews
FM7 Resort Hotel Jakarta
Tangerang, Banten

Great for an easy one night stop over and

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
A little noisey
Bali Agung Village - CHSE Certified
Seminyak

Good bar and restaurant here and a pool big enough to swim in

Authenticity & Character
Location
Right near beach
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Artini 2 cottage

A hidden gem !

Authenticity & Character
Amazing character place
Location
Right in the Center but quiet and peaceful
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Artotel Sanur
Sanur

Great location for airport

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Private cruise trip in Komodo National Park
Labuan Bajo, Indonesia

We expected very basic facilities but the doors to cabin and bathroom did not shut and there was no comfortable seats. Borneo did it much better

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Puri Pandawa Resort

Needed 2 room changes for simple problems the hotel would have been aware of

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Experience Borneo Cruise Day 1
Experience Borneo Cruise Day 1
Indonesia
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Experience Borneo Cruise Day 2
Experience Borneo Cruise Day 2
Indonesia
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Experience Borneo Cruise Day 3
Experience Borneo Cruise Day 3
Indonesia
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Experience Borneo Cruise Day 4
Experience Borneo Cruise Day 4
Indonesia
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Experience  the Tanah Lot trek
Experience the Tanah Lot trek
Tanah Lot
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Experience Ubud VW Safari Car Tour
Experience Ubud VW Safari Car Tour
Ubud, Bali
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Experience Rafting in Ayung River
Experience Rafting in Ayung River
Ubud, Bali

Only downside is the 600steps down to the river and 300 back up !!! Some people may not make this and spoil the whole experience

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Sunrise trek to Mount Batur
Sunrise trek to Mount Batur
Indonesia

Definitely not for the faint hearted !! This is a very callanging walk/climb

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Komodo Cruise Day 1
Komodo Cruise Day 1
Indonesia
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Komodo Cruise Day 2
Komodo Cruise Day 2
Indonesia
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Komodo Cruise Day 3
Komodo Cruise Day 3
Indonesia
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Taman Ayun Temple
Visit Taman Ayun Temple
Indonesia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Goa Gajah Cave
Visit Goa Gajah Cave
Indonesia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Komodo Cruise Day 4
Komodo Cruise Day 4
Komodo Island
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Experience Nusa Penida snorkeling- Manta Point + Mangrove tour
Experience Nusa Penida snorkeling- Manta Point + Mangrove tour
Indonesia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Bali's Most Beautiful Beaches & Explore Uluwatu Temple
Visit Bali's Most Beautiful Beaches & Explore Uluwatu Temple
Jimbaran, Bali
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Experience Sunset Cruise and BBQ
Experience Sunset Cruise and BBQ
Indonesia
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Ana Bicanic
Ana
Ana Bicanic
Local specialist in Bali | Replied on Oct 16, 2023

Hello dear Sue,

Thank you so much for your review!

I am glad to hear that you had amazing time!

I hope to welcome you again in Indonesia, Malaysia or Singapore!

All the best!
Ana

Fabulous time in indonesia
Indonesia | Sep 22 - Sep 30, 2023

Isabelle
Isabelle M.
Canada | Reviewed on Oct 06, 2023
Jessica, was always available throughout the planing and execution of the trip .She made sure she understood my needs and expectations and crafted an itinerary that meet them all. once arrived at destination my local specialist was making sure all war as expected , the drivers and guides were professional and reliable. all my guides were very knowledgeable and shared a lot of details about the places we visited , the culture, history etc. it goes without saying that I had a... Read more

Jessica, was always available throughout the planing and execution of the trip .She made sure she understood my needs and expectations and crafted an itinerary that meet them all.

once arrived at destination my local specialist was making sure all war as expected , the drivers and guides were professional and reliable. all my guides were very knowledgeable and shared a lot of details about the places we visited , the culture, history etc.

it goes without saying that I had a lovely time and as a solo traveler always felt safe . Traveling solo allows for beautiful encounters and flexibility

Hotel Reviews
Adiwana Svarga Loka
Ubud

beautiful hotel ideally located close to everything yet far from the noise . all the staff was helpful and nice room was clean . I loved that there was a temple on site .

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Tropical Beach House
Seminyak
Authenticity & Character
Location
right by the ocean and action yet calm and quiet place
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Phoenix Hotel Yogyakarta - MGallery Collection
Yogyakarta
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) Domestic Arrival Airport Meet and Greet
I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) Domestic Arrival Airport Meet and Greet
Indonesia

amazing was right there to welcome and assisted me . very professional

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Cycling in Kintamani
Cycling in Kintamani
Indonesia

This activity was lots of fun and allows to interract with real people

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Tegallalang Rice Terrace
Visit Tegallalang Rice Terrace
Indonesia

nice rice field and fun to be able to walk all over

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Alas Harum
Visit Alas Harum
Indonesia

the place is beautiful it is just not my thing highly touristy and all man made infrastructure

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
guide was super
Transport
Visit Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary
Visit Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary
Indonesia

beautiful place can walk lots of shade

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Lempuyang Temple
Visit Lempuyang Temple
Indonesia

Even though this is highly touristic I think a trip to Bali is not complete without a stop here

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Tirta Gangga Water Palace
Visit Tirta Gangga Water Palace
Indonesia

beautiful set up !

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Ubud Art Market
Visit Ubud Art Market
Indonesia

nice market just way to much tourist trap for me

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Ulun Danu Beratan Temple
Visit Ulun Danu Beratan Temple
Indonesia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Uluwatu Temple
Visit Uluwatu Temple
Indonesia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Watch Kecak Dance Performance
Watch Kecak Dance Performance
Indonesia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Rock Bar
Rock Bar
Indonesia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Angel Billabong
Visit Angel Billabong
Indonesia

nice place just a lot of traffic to see a beach just for the photo

Local specialist: Jessica Soenandar
Jessica
Jessica Soenandar
Local specialist in Jakarta | Replied on Oct 06, 2023

Hi Isabelle,

Thank you so much for your thorough feedback on the activities, hotels, and surely your experience throughout! This is a very valuable insight for my team and I :)

You have been awesome to work with and I would like to thank you once again for choosing us to be your local specialist and operator! We look forward to welcoming you again in Indonesia in another opportunity and wishing you and your family all the best!

Warm regards,

Jessica

My trip to Indonesia was absolutely amazing. ...
Indonesia | Sep 12 - Sep 20, 2023

Biagio
Biagio R.
Norwood, MA | Reviewed on Sep 27, 2023
My trip to Indonesia was absolutely amazing. Incredibly well organized and extremely versatile. Every day drivers and guides were punctual. Everything was smooth, and I was also able to change or revise plans in real time by interacting with my local guide based on the weather or my personal interests. Guides were knowledgeable and very professional. Everyone made this trip a memorable experience. 100% recommended!! Read more

My trip to Indonesia was absolutely amazing. Incredibly well organized and extremely versatile. Every day drivers and guides were punctual. Everything was smooth, and I was also able to change or revise plans in real time by interacting with my local guide based on the weather or my personal interests. Guides were knowledgeable and very professional. Everyone made this trip a memorable experience. 100% recommended!!

Hotel Reviews
Villa Nini
Bali
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Bintang Flores Hotel
Labuan Bajo
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Greenhost Boutique Hotel
Kota Yogyakarta
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Visit Banyu Wana Amertha Waterfall
Visit Banyu Wana Amertha Waterfall
Indonesia
Visit Tanah Lot
Visit Tanah Lot
Indonesia
Island Hopping in Komodo Island
Island Hopping in Komodo Island
Indonesia
Snorkeling and Trekking in Komodo Island
Snorkeling and Trekking in Komodo Island
Indonesia
Visit Borobudur Temple
Visit Borobudur Temple
Indonesia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Keraton Yogyakarta (Yogyakarta's Palace)
Visit Keraton Yogyakarta (Yogyakarta's Palace)
Indonesia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Batik Workshop
Batik Workshop
Indonesia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Free Time in Yogyakarta
Free Time in Yogyakarta
Yogyakarta
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Pottery Village Tour
Pottery Village Tour
Indonesia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Prambanan Temple
Visit Prambanan Temple
Indonesia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Jatiluwih Rice Terrace
Visit Jatiluwih Rice Terrace
Indonesia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Ulun Danu Beratan Temple
Visit Ulun Danu Beratan Temple
Indonesia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Jessica Soenandar
Jessica
Jessica Soenandar
Local specialist in Jakarta | Replied on Sep 27, 2023

Hi Biagio,

I sincerely appreciate the time you took to share your travel experience to Indonesia with us :) Thank you for letting us to be a part of this trip and you have been a pleasure to work with!

We are very happy and grateful that you had a great trip throughout and your positive feedback truly motivates my team and I to further maintain and improve our services!

We look forward to another opportunity to show you the rest of the country and wishing you all the best!

Warm regards,

Jessica

Terrible and a total rip off. No more Kim Kim.
Indonesia | Sep 6 - Sep 15, 2023

Kishore
Kishore M.
Manhattan, NY | Reviewed on Sep 23, 2023
However I do not believe that this trip was value for money. I believe I was cheated and the trip was overpriced. I only realized this after being there that the quality of service was sub par for the money I paid. The hotel in Jakarta was terrible, small room and poor quality. My primary reason for the trip was for scuba diving, I was made to believe that there was no availablity except the 2 dives which were booked . This was not true, once there I made arrangements on my own to add further... Read more

However I do not believe that this trip was value for money. I believe I was cheated and the trip was overpriced. I only realized this after being there that the quality of service was sub par for the money I paid. The hotel in Jakarta was terrible, small room and poor quality. My primary reason for the trip was for scuba diving, I was made to believe that there was no availablity except the 2 dives which were booked . This was not true, once there I made arrangements on my own to add further dives. I was misinformed.
Very disappointed with Kim Kim. This is going to be my last trip with Kim Kim. Prices are over inflated with the trip not curated to meet my needs.
I expect Kim Kim to refund part of the cost of the trip as based on my calculations of the cost of the trip I was upcharged a 100%.

Hotel Review
Pullman Jakarta Thamrin CBD
Jakarta

Terrible rooms, small and dingy. Thanks to Kim Kim for booking this for me and charging an arm and a leg. Big no no Never coming back or booking with Kim Kim ever again.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Jessica Soenandar
Jessica
Jessica Soenandar
Local specialist in Jakarta | Replied on Sep 26, 2023
Hi Kishore, Thank you for your honest feedback as we continuously strive to improve our services. I truly understand the bitterness that tainted the whole experience. As we talked about during our meeting at the end of your trip, organizing diving trips in Komodo can be a bit challenging. Due to the minimum number of participants required, it would incur an even higher cost if we pursued this option as you would have to pay for the rest of the cover (if the boat only has 1 participant).... Read more

Hi Kishore,

Thank you for your honest feedback as we continuously strive to improve our services. I truly understand the bitterness that tainted the whole experience.

As we talked about during our meeting at the end of your trip, organizing diving trips in Komodo can be a bit challenging. Due to the minimum number of participants required, it would incur an even higher cost if we pursued this option as you would have to pay for the rest of the cover (if the boat only has 1 participant). This is where the learning curve came in for me as apparently the dive centre at the resort could find a 3rd party boat that has a minimum participants covered on that day. I will make sure that our dive centre partner could provide the same standard of service.

As for the Pullman Thamrin Jakarta, thank you for showing me how cramped the room was; I will make sure to provide more options during the discussion and presenting the pros and cons.

I hope that you got some great pictures as it was one of your trip objectives and we genuinely appreciate your decision to travel with us and highly value the input and suggestions you’ve shared.

Warm regards,

Jessica

Amazing Trip thanks to Jessica and her Team
Indonesia | Sep 3 - Sep 5, 2023

F
F M.
Switzerland | Reviewed on Sep 22, 2023

My husband and I would like to heartfully thank you for your assistance that helped us to organise our trip on such a short notice.
We appreciated your ability to adapt to the circumstances and our requests.
We are satisfied with your all your drivers and guides. They were very professional, respectful, and courteous.
Your service is of high quality.
We had a great time in Indonesia. We will recommend Kimkim and Jessica to any of our acquaintances that is interested in visiting Indonesia. Thank you so much for everything.

Local specialist: Jessica Soenandar
Jessica
Jessica Soenandar
Local specialist in Jakarta | Replied on Sep 25, 2023

Dear Fatoumata and Mahamadou,

Thank you so much for your kind words and I'm beyond grateful that you had a wonderful time in Indonesia :) It was great working with you two and I hope that we meet again some time in the future!

Wishing you all the best from sunny Indonesia!

Warm regards,

Jessica

Amazing trip to Bali with a perfect balance o...
Indonesia | Feb 16 - Feb 27, 2023

M
Megan D.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Sep 16, 2023

Amazing trip to Bali with a perfect balance of cultural sites, activities, and pleasure time. I really loved this tour and would definitely use this tour company again.

Local specialist: Ana Bicanic
Ana
Ana Bicanic
Local specialist in Bali | Replied on Sep 18, 2023

Hello dear Megan,

Thank you so much for your review!!

We hope to welcome you back in Indonesia, Malaysia or Singapore!

All the best!
Ana

Shanti Travel Driver and Guide Nengah Suarma is a Gem!
Indonesia | Jul 23 - Aug 7, 2023

Andrea
Andrea P.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Sep 04, 2023
Ana connected us with Shanti Travel driver Nengah Suarma, and he was amazing. If not for Nengah, the trip would have been very different. Nengah was a safe driver, who was also knowledgable, smart, and possessing of amazing English language skills. Nengah was enthusiastic every day about seeing us and taking us to places we guessed he had been to 1,000 times before. He was also very flexible about any day's planned itinerary and was able to help us shape our travels in the moment to get the... Read more

Ana connected us with Shanti Travel driver Nengah Suarma, and he was amazing. If not for Nengah, the trip would have been very different. Nengah was a safe driver, who was also knowledgable, smart, and possessing of amazing English language skills. Nengah was enthusiastic every day about seeing us and taking us to places we guessed he had been to 1,000 times before. He was also very flexible about any day's planned itinerary and was able to help us shape our travels in the moment to get the most out of our visit to Bali. I highly recommend Nengah Suarma as a driver and local guide.

Hotel Reviews
Korurua Dijiwa Ubud
Ubud
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Sudamala Resort, Komodo, Labuan Bajo
Labuan Bajo
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Artotel Sanur
Sanur
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Natya Hotel Tanah Lot
Tanah Lot
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Elevate by Hanging Gardens Munduk
Munduk
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
PinkCoco Uluwatu

This was my favorite hotel of the trip when all things are considered! The staff were extremely nice and fun with a persistent attention to detail. The room was also lovely with so much pink. I had a great time at the pool and was surprised each time free hors d'euvres were brought to me. The honor bar at the pool was a genius idea, too.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Ana Bicanic
Ana
Ana Bicanic
Local specialist in Bali | Replied on Sep 06, 2023

Hello dear Andrea,

I am happy to get you feedback! I will pass your review to Nengah Suarma!

Hope to welcome you in Indonesia, Malaysia or Singapore again!

All the best,
Ana

Excellent Two Weeks in Indonesia!
Indonesia | Aug 5 - Aug 18, 2023

Jason
Jason S.
Manhattan, NY | Reviewed on Aug 21, 2023
Indonesia is a beautiful and incredible country. Myriam was quick, knowledgeable, responsive, and kind at every portion of this experience. She made it simple to plan a long and distant vacation for six people and was incredibly helpful throughout the trip as well. The trip itinerary was excellent overall and the drivers were all willing to adapt and change minor details to adjust for how we were feeling in the moment. There were some minor hiccups along the way, but none of them were... Read more

Indonesia is a beautiful and incredible country. Myriam was quick, knowledgeable, responsive, and kind at every portion of this experience. She made it simple to plan a long and distant vacation for six people and was incredibly helpful throughout the trip as well. The trip itinerary was excellent overall and the drivers were all willing to adapt and change minor details to adjust for how we were feeling in the moment. There were some minor hiccups along the way, but none of them were Myriam’s fault nor the fault of her travel agency. In fact, Myriam was instrumental in helping us through these hiccups as they came about. If I was traveling to Indonesia again, I would be sure to reach out to her to plan another itinerary.

Hotel Reviews
FM7 Resort Hotel Jakarta
Tangerang, Banten

The hotel itself was exactly what we needed after 36 hours of traveling. The rooms were solid (nothing special), but the facilities (spa, steam room, sauna, etc.) were perfect for us to reset our batteries. The one major red flag with the hotel was their ability to help us with transportation. The airport pickup was not smooth, the hotel struggled to find us adequate transportation to our dinner for the one night we were there, and they struggled to get us to the airport in the proper shuttle for our flight out the following morning. Next time, I would try as hard as possible to avoid spending a night in Jakarta at all because the air quality is so poor. However, if I had to spend a night in Jakarta, it is worth it to stay near the airport at the FM7 and I would recommend figuring out some form of alternative transportation (not through the hotel) if you want to go to dinner or do some sort of activity.

Authenticity & Character
Nothing special
Location
Right near the airport
Staff
Some staff was good, but there were some language barriers (more so than in other places) and the transportation situation was quite challenging
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Phoenix Hotel Yogyakarta - MGallery Collection
Yogyakarta

Hotel was perfect. Staff was lovely, location was lovely, rooms were perfect, and the breakfast buffet was excellent.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Jiwa Jawa Bromo

This hotel is gorgeous. Our only regret is not staying here longer. The staff was beautiful and the view was beautiful. It was a short trip to the peak of the volcano which makes the location ideal, although difficult to get to.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Sumberkima Hill Private Villa Retreat
Pemuteran

Like paradise on earth. This resort was maybe the nicest place I have stayed in my entire life. We had three three-story villas for six people that overlooked all of northeast Bali. We could watch both sunrise and sunset from our roof and we could text a WhatsApp chat with all the staff from the hotel in it if we needed anything at all. This place was unbelievable and I could stay for weeks at a time.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Margo Utomo

The hotel was not as nice or upscale as the other accommodations. The rooms were basic and small and the resort was nothing special. However, the staff was incredibly nice and the rooms were satisfactory. Additionally, the hotel runs the tours to the plantation and that tour was spectacular. I would not stay here unless I am going on those hotel tours, but I am glad we had this experience.

Authenticity & Character
The hotel was very authentic and Indonesian.
Location
Location was perfect for the coffee and agricultural tour we were doing the next day.
Staff
The staff was very nice and accommodating.
Cleanliness & Comfort
It was very very basic. Some of the showers weren’t working great, the beds were small, and the hotel was akin to a resort-style hostel. I would not stay here for more than one night but it is worth the stop for the agriculture tour if you are in East Java heading to Bali.
Kaamala Resort
Ubud

After waiting a week to write this review to reflect on my experience, my opinion of the Kaamala Resort is unchanged. If I could give this place 0 stars I would. Day 1/Night 1: We arrived at around 6:30 PM after a long day of driving. We were then escorted to our three hotel rooms, which smelled so bad that a pile full of dead animals would have helped mask the foul stench. We kindly asked the hotel to investigate the smell, as we had to make a 7:30 dinner reservation. The receptionist assured us that it would be fixed and that we would have rooms to stay in. Nearly four hours later, we got back from dinner and the receptionist escorted us back to our three rooms. Not only was the smell not gone, but it had gotten even worse. At this point, we asked to be moved to alternative rooms for the evening so that we could get sleep, as it was clear that the smell in the other room was not going to go away. The next three hours could not have been more stressful and frustrating. At various points, the hotel told us that they had no rooms, that they had one room, that they had no cots, that they had two cots, and everything in between. Ultimately, we settled down for the night at 2 AM. After we carried our luggage back and forth between the rooms several times (the staff did not help), we dragged two cots and piles of linens across the hotel premises. At the end of the night, we squeezed four people and three beds into one room, and two of us were forced to sleep in the spa on massage tables. We understand that hotels sometimes make mistakes and have slip ups. What made this hotel despicable, however, was not the smell or the difficulty getting situated; it was the staff’s subsequent response. Day 2/Night 2 The next morning, we went to speak with the manager about what had happened and we kindly requested that our three rooms be refunded for the previous night (because all three were uninhabitable). After informing us that the rooms that we were supposed to stay in smelled because the sewage system leaked into them, the manager told us that they have a strict no refund policy. Even after explaining the situation to him and the staff’s assistance—or lack thereof—he still would not budge. The manager said point blank that, even though we did not get any of the rooms that we paid for and even though there was sewage in those rooms, a refund was not an option. We continued to share our experiences and frustrations, and the manager assured us that he would figure out an alternative way to compensate us to our satisfaction. What followed could only be described as a game of “deal or no deal.” Frustrated because of the situation, the lack of sleep, and the fact that we had missed several morning activities due to the problems, we told the hotel that if they were not going to refund us for the rooms, we wanted a dinner comped by the hotel and spa appointments for the four of us who wanted them. All of these things together would still not even reach the price of the three rooms that we did not get, not to mention the time we lost and the stress that the hotel cost us. Over the next hour, the receptionist continually called my room and offered new “deals” that the manager was proposing. After each, she tried to convince us that it was enough to make us happy. First, she offered a free breakfast. This offer meant nothing to us since we had already paid in advance for included breakfast at the resort. Over several other phone calls, the receptionist, acting as a middle man between us and the manager, offered us spa appointments and 15% off one dinner, then spa appointments and one main course each, and then spa appointments, one main course and one non-alcoholic beverage each. After being bothered so many times with counteroffers and justifications of why we should not be frustrated, I told the hotel to please leave us alone. We constantly reiterated that all we wanted was a meal where we could relax and forget about all the inconveniences that the Kaamala Resort had caused us. All we wanted was to forget what happened and enjoy our limited time in Ubud. Despite this, the receptionist continued to call with new deals. It got to the point where I had to tell them to please stop calling and offering us new things because the constant pestering was ruining our vacation. At the outset, all we wanted was a place to sleep that was habitable. While on the second night they finally provided that to us, the discomfort that the hotel continued to impose on us for the remainder of our stay continued to be quite absurd. First, we felt like we were being watched, as every staff member asked us for our room numbers everywhere we went. By way of example, one of us went to use the bathroom at breakfast and the hostess stopped him to ask him his room number. Second, the hotel continued to tell us how we were allowed to enjoy our stay. When I told the hotel that we were leaving at 8 am and that we did not have time for breakfast one morning, they told me that they want us to get to breakfast at 7 so that they could compensate us with a free breakfast (which, by the way, we had already paid for). Further, when we sat down to dinner on our second evening, the waitress began by giving us a limited pre-set menu and insisting that we could not order off the complete menu. Then, after we asked several times for the full menu, she told us that we were each only allowed to order one main course. When we told them we planned to order whatever we wanted and not worry about anything, they continued to give us pushback. Additionally, the hotel continued to slip up and respond poorly for the remainder of our stay. For example, at this same dinner, after agreeing that we could order what we wanted to, the restaurant then forgot to serve us four of the dishes we ordered. The waitress insisted that we had not ordered those things and then told us that the kitchen was closed. Despite us reminding them that we were missing plates and despite two of us not eating enough, the dishes were never brought out and the restaurant closed. Although some of us were still hungry, we went to bed to try and rest up for the day ahead. Day 3/Night 3: The next day, we left first thing in the morning to avoid any more complications with the hotel. After spending the entire day away from the hotel, we began to prepare for our departure the following morning. On the eve of our last night in Ubud, we looked forward to leaving the Kaamala resort and to doing so, hopefully, on a high note. We got back to the hotel after a terrific dinner elsewhere and told the hotel that we were being picked up by our driver at 5:30 AM to go to the airport. We met the gentleman who would be responsible for bringing our bags to the front of the resort the following morning via golf cart and confirmed no less than four times that he would be at our rooms at 5:15 AM ready to take us to the front. We went to bed with assurances that the hotel would help keep our check out smooth. Day 4: The next morning, we had a storybook ending to our stay at the Kaamala resort. For the first time in our nearly two week trip, it was pouring rain. Sure enough, nobody was at our room to pick up our luggage. We dragged our bags through the rain for the 10 minute trek to the front of the resort only to be greeted by the gentleman who promised us that he would be at our rooms in the morning. When we asked him where he was, he said that we should have called him this morning to tell him to pick us up. I have been to over 20 countries and to hundreds of different hotels, resorts, hostels, inns, motels, etc. in my life. Never have I stayed at a place where the customer was this wrong. To say I do not recommend this hotel is an understatement. The way they treated us provides a new meaning to the word inhospitable. Further, the fact that we were not refunded for even one room on one night for our experience is nothing short of robbery. Please ensure that NOBODY comes here again.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Only good thing about this hotel.
Staff
Could not have been less hospitable.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Private cruise trip in Komodo National Park
Labuan Bajo, Indonesia

Best part of the trip hands-down. Amazing activities, amazing food, amazing crew, and an overall unbelievable time. If you get seasick bring Dramamine but otherwise this will be the most relaxing and adventurous part of your trip at the same time.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Sudamala Resort, Komodo, Labuan Bajo
Labuan Bajo

Not a unique hotel in any respect, but exactly what we needed before our flight to relax, repack, and collect ourselves before we left Indonesia. Staff is excellent and the hotel was clean and comfortable.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Visit Borobudur Temple
Visit Borobudur Temple
Yogyakarta
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Candi Rejo - local experience
Candi Rejo - local experience
Yogyakarta

Easily one of the best activities we did. Our village guide Robi was fantastic.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Prambanan Temple Complex
Visit Prambanan Temple Complex
Yogyakarta
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Explore Mount Bromo
Explore Mount Bromo
Mount Bromo, East Java

Unbelievable day, but plan on being up at 2:30 AM and hiking a lot before getting back to the hotel at 9 AM. Worth every second of it though.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Kalibaru Plantations
Kalibaru Plantations
Indonesia

Such a great experience. The raw sugar cane tasted unbelievable. The coffee part came at the end not the start so don’t come in expecting to get many different cups of coffee. Also bring cash to buy the coffee, chocolate, etc. to take home.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Snorkeling around Menjangan Island
Snorkeling around Menjangan Island
Indonesia

Very cool experience!

Quality of Experience
Food
Food was very basic but got the job done.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Jatiluwih rice paddy fields by ebike
Jatiluwih rice paddy fields by ebike
Indonesia

The biking was too difficult for me and I could not do it. More like mountain biking. The paths are very steep and narrow so come prepared. You also have to bike on the main road for a portion and that part is easier than the part through the rice fields. The rice fields themselves were beautiful.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit a local market & enjoy a cooking class
Visit a local market & enjoy a cooking class
Ubud, Bali

One of the best things we did the whole trip! Great cooking class and great group of travelers that we cooked with. The chef sends you home with a recipe book as well!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Liveaboard Cruise: Discover Flores & Komodo
Liveaboard Cruise: Discover Flores & Komodo
Komodo Island

Best part of the trip. My only regret is that we did not have another day on the boat.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Liveaboard Cruise: Komodo dragons, beaches, snorkelling and manta rays
Liveaboard Cruise: Komodo dragons, beaches, snorkelling and manta rays
Komodo Island

Same as above! Unbelievable three days.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Liveaboard Cruise - Departure Day
Liveaboard Cruise - Departure Day
Indonesia

Same as above.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Myriam Benmhaya
Myriam
Myriam Benmhaya
Local specialist in Bali, Indonesia | Replied on Aug 21, 2023

Thank you very much to all of you!
It will be a pleasure to organize another trip to discover some other parts of Indonesia! So many more places to discover :)
I wish you all a nice end of summer.

Best,
Myriam

Marc was great to work with and did a great j...
Indonesia | Aug 4 - Aug 9, 2023

Kathleen
Kathleen E.
Raleigh, NC | Reviewed on Aug 16, 2023
Marc was great to work with and did a great job trip planning for us. Our driver on Lombok, Karna, was also great. Our favorite outing was snorkeling around Gili Layar and Gili Renggit - truly magical. Be prepared for lots of traffic when visiting the temples. Read more

Marc was great to work with and did a great job trip planning for us. Our driver on Lombok, Karna, was also great. Our favorite outing was snorkeling around Gili Layar and Gili Renggit - truly magical. Be prepared for lots of traffic when visiting the temples.

Hotel Reviews
Prime Plaza Hotel Jogjakarta
Jogjakarta

The one night stay at this hotel was fine. It was neither fabulous nor bad, just fine.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Living Asia Resort

The resort was really nice. The rooms were spacious and comfortable. The overall facility was also really good. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay here.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Boat trip and snorkeling around Gili Layar & Gili Renggit
Boat trip and snorkeling around Gili Layar & Gili Renggit
Indonesia

Beautiful fish and coral and hardly any other people!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Prambanan Temple Complex
Visit Prambanan Temple Complex
Yogyakarta

Having someone at the temple to guide us around and talk about the history of the ruins was really beneficial. The place is filled with interesting stories and the guidance made the visit more meaningful.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Cultural family day - Visit Borobudur Temple
Cultural family day - Visit Borobudur Temple
Yogyakarta

Just like the Prambanan Temple, having someone to explain the history and significance of the ruins was really helpful. It made the visit much more enjoyable and informative.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Boat trip and snorkeling around the Gilis island (Trawangan, Meno, Air)
Boat trip and snorkeling around the Gilis island (Trawangan, Meno, Air)
Indonesia

This first snorkeling day was a bit crowded which wasn't really to my liking. But we did see a sea turtle which was amazing!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Family trek Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep Waterfalls
Family trek Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep Waterfalls
Indonesia

The hike was wonderful. It was a great way to explore the nature and the guide was very helpful. He even gave us an option to go for an additional portion of the hike which was more rigorous. My daughter and I opted for it and it was a great experience.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Marc Urban
Marc
Marc Urban
Local specialist in Bali | Replied on Aug 16, 2023

Hi Kathleen,

It was a pleasure to prepare the trip with you and your family! We hope to see you again in Indonesia and discover some more places.

Best wishes,
Marc

Refreshing Time in Bali
Indonesia | Jul 25 - Jul 31, 2023

Kurt
Kurt T.
San Rafael, CA | Reviewed on Aug 16, 2023
Planning our Bali trip with KimKim was super easy and Ana was super present with us as we had questions/changes. This was our first time in Bali so we relied on Ana's expertise in planning. The lodging was excellent. We were pampered for sure. Highlights were massages and an Indonesian cooking class. the VW tour we took was great. Wayan was a great guide and we had a great day. Highlights were a coffee tour and the rice terraces. All the drivers were prompt and knew where to go. At... Read more

Planning our Bali trip with KimKim was super easy and Ana was super present with us as we had questions/changes. This was our first time in Bali so we relied on Ana's expertise in planning. The lodging was excellent. We were pampered for sure. Highlights were massages and an Indonesian cooking class. the VW tour we took was great. Wayan was a great guide and we had a great day. Highlights were a coffee tour and the rice terraces. All the drivers were prompt and knew where to go. At times, we needed to advocate for what we wanted/didn't want to do, but they were flexible. I am not sure we would climb Mt Batur again (at 3am), though it was beautiful to watch the sunrise (bring 2 jackets!). Nusa Penida was also spectacular for snorkeling.

Hotel Reviews
Korurua Dijiwa Ubud
Ubud

First class experience. Wonderful accommodations and the food was amazing. We took the cooking class and that was a highlight of our whole trip. Highly recommend!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Le Yanandra Resort Bali

Nicely decorated and comfortable. Walking to the nearby beach was great.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Ana Bicanic
Ana
Ana Bicanic
Local specialist in Bali | Replied on Aug 16, 2023

Hello dear Kurt,

Thank you so much for your review! It really helps me improve!

I wish you all the best and hope to welcome you again in Indonesia, Malaysia or Singapore!

Best,
Ana

7 Days in Bali - Days from Ubud and relaxing time in Sanur.
Indonesia | Jul 31 - Aug 7, 2023

Laurence
Laurence S.
Thailand | Reviewed on Aug 08, 2023
The trip was very well organised overall. There was good communication and documentation collection before I left for Bali, (such as pre arranging the visa on arrival ), good. My driver (from the airport up and to Ubud and Sanur ) was Supartha who was friendly, helpful, knowledgeable and reliable. He always made sure I was clear about everything and double checked arrangements through Whatsapp . The VW 'Safari Tour' driver was Agul. He was great and nothing was too much trouble for him in... Read more

The trip was very well organised overall. There was good communication and documentation collection before I left for Bali, (such as pre arranging the visa on arrival ), good. My driver (from the airport up and to Ubud and Sanur ) was Supartha who was friendly, helpful, knowledgeable and reliable. He always made sure I was clear about everything and double checked arrangements through Whatsapp . The VW 'Safari Tour' driver was Agul. He was great and nothing was too much trouble for him in terms of me wanting to stop for taking photos wherever and whenever I wanted.

My main concern is the Mount Batur trip that was planned for me. I had already made it clear that I need to knopw the level of difficulty for this trek and was told that it was doable, even for my age. In reality, in my opinion, it was not. There were hords of people, which already made the pathway clogged and put pressure on me to keep moving, (so that those behind me to make progress /pass by) The climb, after around 2.5 km, left the road and became very steep and rocky, a scramble up loose rocks. This was not easy and I felt there was a real risk of tripping and causing injury;-many walkers were falling and grazing themselves in front of my eyes. I decided not to continue, although my guide tried to encourage me to continue, but kindly without forcing the issue. So, in the end, I sat on a rock for almost two hours, halfway up with the guide and several others who also could n't make it.
There are not guide ropes or warnings about saftey on this path. In future I recommend you clearly state that this walk is for fairly experenced trekkers and will be challenging. (I have trekked a lot in the UK in rencent years, and I would say this is far harder than described in by Kimkim).
If I knew about the climb before hand, I would have cancelled this part and looked for an alternative activity-This part of my trip was a waste of money and time.

The trip to Nusa Penida was enjoyable and to snorkelling with manta rays was truly memorable and amazing.
However, this trip was not exactly as stipulated in my itinerary as it was a group tour and not private as I had thought. There was no mangrove trip either, as outlined originally. I let this be known to Ana who was apologetic and arranged a free compensatory dinner in my hotel in Sanur, which I kindly accepted. I later enquired to do the mangrove tour myself from my Sanur hotel, but I was told this trip is not running now, since Covid - I would have thought KimKim tours would have known this, if this is in fact true.
Thank you for the trip and I hope the feedback is useful.

Hotel Review
Artini 2 cottage

The place is very nice and extremely relaxed. I found the rooms more basic than I had hoped, but comfortable. The noise from others in adjecent rooms is an issue, one can hear every word spoken by the occupants in the rooms next to and below. I would tell your guests that this could be anissue. The pool was very nice and so was the gorgeous setting for the cottages. Breakfast was poor in my opinion as the taste was not good, the sausages were disgusting and the curry I ordered was tasteless. I did nt tell them this as I did want to upset the staff. A nice place overall, but not as good as it looks on the internet!~

Authenticity & Character
stated above, although I will add the staff were VERY helpful and friendly.
Location
The breakfast -taste/ food quality and choice. The Balinese styled cottages are a bit run down and basic. The furniture is old, although I guess it is part of the style and authenticity of being in Bali.
Staff
Just their seemingly genuine willingness to please. Such that it would be difficult to complain to them face to face.
Cleanliness & Comfort
The breakfasts need some improvement. Some upgrading of the rooms.
Activity Reviews
Experience Ubud VW Safari Car Tour
Experience Ubud VW Safari Car Tour
Ubud, Bali

Please see previous comments.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Sunrise trek to Mount Batur
Sunrise trek to Mount Batur
Indonesia

I have already posted in my general comments

Quality of Experience
Pre advise your guests on how hard this is.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
organised and reliable, plus friendly.
Transport
Experience Nusa Penida snorkeling- Manta Point + Mangrove tour
Experience Nusa Penida snorkeling- Manta Point + Mangrove tour
Indonesia

I already made my comments in the generla comment section.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Ana Bicanic
Ana
Ana Bicanic
Local specialist in Bali | Replied on Aug 09, 2023

Hello dear Laurence,

Thank you for your review. I really appreciate it, every guest is different and has different expectations, so having a wide spectrum of reviews helps me improve a lot.

I hope to welcome you in Indonesia again!

All the best,
Ana

Nathan Salenna - the Best Guide Ever!
Indonesia | Jul 24 - Jul 31, 2023

E
Elizabeth C.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Aug 07, 2023

Nathan Salenna - the Best Guide Ever!

We had a wonderful amazing eye-opening tour of South Sulawesi, with a guide who really took the time to explain the culture & the things we were seeing in rich & sensitive detail. We saw so much & ate so well, and we loved our Driver - Opa - we couldn't have asked for more from our relatively short time on the island. We are already talking about going back in two years to see more of Sulawesi!

Local specialist: Ana Bicanic
Ana
Ana Bicanic
Local specialist in Bali | Replied on Aug 09, 2023

Hello dear Elizabeth,

I am very happy to hear this! We would love to welcome you to Indonesia and Sulawesi again in future!

I am passing your reviews of guide and driver.

Thank you for your review and thank you for trusting us in organising this amazing experience for you.

All the best,
Ana

My experience with Alisha was top notch. She...
Indonesia | Jul 12 - Jul 25, 2023

Renee
Renee Z.
Fitchburg, WI | Reviewed on Aug 01, 2023

My experience with Alisha was top notch. She provided constant communication with ideas and input for months prior to booking my trip. She helped with so many questions and adjustments, it was so appreciated. Then prior to the trip she provided great information wth contacts, itinerary, phone numbers, etc to ensure I had a smooth trip. After arrival, she kept in continuous contact and made sure our driver was working out and the plans. I had to cancel a couple items and it was a breeze. Cant say enough how helpful she was - Highly recommend using Kim Kim for trip planning.

Local specialist: Alisha Estevez
Alisha
Alisha Estevez
Local specialist in Bali | Replied on Aug 03, 2023

Der Renee,

Thank you for the detailed and good feedback on your trip :-)

I am very happy that you and your family had a great time in Bali and Gili Trawangan.

I was very happy to support you during the journey.

Great times in Bali/Lombok with the local dri...
Indonesia | Jun 18 - Jul 1, 2023

Andrew
Andrew K.
Meridian, ID | Reviewed on Jul 10, 2023
Great times in Bali/Lombok with the local driver and guide services helping us make the most of it. Read more

Great times in Bali/Lombok with the local driver and guide services helping us make the most of it.

Hotel Reviews
The Kayana Beach Lombok
Lombok
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Kayumanis Jimbaran
Jimbaran
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Ana Bicanic
Ana
Ana Bicanic
Local specialist in Bali | Replied on Jul 11, 2023

Hello dear Andrew,

I am happy to hear that you had good time in Indonesia!

We hope to welcome you again on some of the other islands!

All the best,
Ana

Both Specialist and Driver Just Aaaamazing!
Indonesia | May 3 - May 9, 2023

Henry
Henry H.
San Jose, CA | Reviewed on May 19, 2023
Our Specialist: Theresa
Theresa was so awesome from the beginning! As someone who lives in Bali herself, she was able to give us honest opinion on what the places are about and how long the wait time would be for pictures, and from there we were able to easily determine if it's worth our time. She created a perfect itinerary exactly what we wanted and covers all the things we wanted to see, even planned a small secret birthday celebration and massage for my gf and her best friend. Throughout...
Read more

Our Specialist: Theresa
Theresa was so awesome from the beginning! As someone who lives in Bali herself, she was able to give us honest opinion on what the places are about and how long the wait time would be for pictures, and from there we were able to easily determine if it's worth our time. She created a perfect itinerary exactly what we wanted and covers all the things we wanted to see, even planned a small secret birthday celebration and massage for my gf and her best friend. Throughout the trip she always check up on us to make sure the trip is going as planned and that we're satisfied with everything! She is definitely the best specialist we could ask for on this Bali trip!

Our Driver: Agung
Agung from the very first time we met him, he's always with a smile. Despite driving us all day he never says no to any of our request if we all of a sudden need to go somewhere. No matter how early how late, he's always at the spot way early ready to take us on our everyday journey. He used to be a tour guide, so that's a huge bonus! He was able to suggest us different hidden spots and other things to explore on the go, but at the same time totally respect what we want. And that really made our already perfect trip even more perfect!! Not only that, he genuinely cares about us. In the middle one of us not feeling well he would go out of his way to find medicine for us, with his own money! Or provide whatever he had on him, like vitamins or cough drops. He was like a Bali dad to us taking care of us for 7 day straight which made this trip that much more special! We would always ask him to eat lunch and dinner with us, he didn't even try to take advantage, hed always say he's full or that's too expensive he doesn't want us to treat. We always have to force him haha. When we arrive at airport on departure day, we all even teared up a little that our journey with Agung came to an end. He is such a special driver that I'll never forget!

Theresa and Agung are both amazing that made our trip so wonderful!! I would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for an unforgettable Bali trip!!!

Hotel Reviews
Arkamara Dijiwa Ubud
Bali

You would not believe where this hotel is, the road leading to it is so tiny and hidden, but that makes it so surprising when you get to the hotel! So pretty and relaxing! Living in the jungle with beautiful infinity pool in the middle! Never stayed at any hotel like this! The breakfast so special and pretty we look forward to it every morning! Staff are all so great and friendly. Always doing their best to accommodate whatever you request! Wonderful hotel!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Maya Sanur Resort & Spa
Sanur, Bali

Only bummer was we only stayed one night. Beautiful hotel with amazing buffet breakfast right next to the beach. Room was so spacious and pretty. The infinity pool was so beautiful that faces the beach and ocean. Definitely wanna come back to this hotel to stay a bit more next time. They also have bikes for you to ride around and just a little walk or ride you get to this street with lots of little shops to buy souvenirs and money exchange, it was nice!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Theresa Unterluggauer

Theresa was fantastic! We only started planni...
Indonesia | Apr 16 - Apr 29, 2023

Megan
Megan C.
North Tustin, CA | Reviewed on May 07, 2023
Theresa was fantastic! We only started planning this trip about 3 weeks before we planned to go, and she made it happen. She gave us a great first draft of our itinerary based on the online survey we took, and then helped us to fine tune it until our trip was exactly what we wanted. She understood the vibe we were going for, the mix of activities, and then when we were in Bali, she checked on us almost every day. We loved the cultural experience in Sideman, the sunrise hike up Mount Batur, ... Read more

Theresa was fantastic! We only started planning this trip about 3 weeks before we planned to go, and she made it happen. She gave us a great first draft of our itinerary based on the online survey we took, and then helped us to fine tune it until our trip was exactly what we wanted. She understood the vibe we were going for, the mix of activities, and then when we were in Bali, she checked on us almost every day. We loved the cultural experience in Sideman, the sunrise hike up Mount Batur, the scuba diving in Gili Air, and the beach hopping around Bukit Peninsula. She also surprised us with massages at two of our hotels! Also, a big shout out to our driver Bagus - he was always on time and very fun to get to know! He answered all our questions about Bali and Indonesia and even taught us some phrases in both languages. After this trip, we want to go back! And would definitely want to work with Theresa and Bagus again if we could :)

Hotel Reviews
Arkamara Dijiwa Ubud
Bali

Beautiful property with fantastic staff! About 20 minutes from Ubud centre, but the hotel offers a free shuttle to/from throughout the day.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Atoll Haven Gili Air

Beautiful, peaceful, private property. Perfect for a honeymoon. Owner and staff were friendly and helpful. Room came with bikes, which was nice since the property is about 15 minutes from the town center.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Le Yanandra Resort Bali

We loved our 2-bedroom villa! Beautiful indoor and outdoor living spaces. The hotel offered breakfast served in the room so we did that every morning. Our only critiques are the bugs - lots of ants and spiders, particularly in our bathroom. And also, the neighborhood dogs and roosters were loud throughout the day. The latter didn’t bother us too much, but that could bother other guests. Also, the location is a bit far from shops and restaurants. You’ll either need to rent a motorbike (we did this) or the hotel can also arrange taxi rides for you, but that can get pricey.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Theresa Unterluggauer
Theresa
Theresa Unterluggauer
Local specialist in Bali | Replied on May 08, 2023

Hello Megan,
thank you so much for your cute words. It was my pleasure to plan your honeymoon together with you :) Feel free to reach out to me any time. I wish you the best for the your future together!

Sunny greetings from Bali,
Theresa

Perfect trip customized to our interests
Indonesia | Apr 13 - Apr 23, 2023

Rebekah
Rebekah U.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on May 02, 2023
Ana and the team at Shanti helped us plan and book a phenomenal trip through Bali! She had all the local knowledge needed to help us customize our itinerary to our interests and prioritize activities that worked for us. She set us up with amazing local guides, including our driver for the week (Rusna!), a trail guide on Mt. Batur, and a guide through the highlights of Ubud. Most importantly, she was an on the ground, local contact available throughout our trip to answer questions and help us... Read more

Ana and the team at Shanti helped us plan and book a phenomenal trip through Bali! She had all the local knowledge needed to help us customize our itinerary to our interests and prioritize activities that worked for us. She set us up with amazing local guides, including our driver for the week (Rusna!), a trail guide on Mt. Batur, and a guide through the highlights of Ubud. Most importantly, she was an on the ground, local contact available throughout our trip to answer questions and help us with any changes. Highly recommend the KimKim custom planning experience broadly and Ana and her Shanti team specifically!

Hotel Reviews
De Moksha Eco Friendly Boutique Resort
Tabanan

Gorgeous grounds, great food, and exceptional staff. Loved it!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Beautiful, scenic grounds but not located near other amenities. Felt isolated.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Arkamara Dijiwa Ubud
Bali

Beautiful grounds, super helpful staff, and comfortable room. They provided a shuttle to central Ubud during regular hours and had special agreements with approved taxis that they could book on our behalf in off hours. The front desk was always accessible via WhatsApp.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
La Joya Biu Biu Resort
Jimbaran

Gorgeous, cliff side location. Drinks and extra amenities were a bit expensive compared to other places, but overall experience was positive.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
A/C in our room was hit and miss and the room was definitely "rustic."
Activity Reviews
Experience Ubud VW Safari Car Tour
Experience Ubud VW Safari Car Tour
Ubud, Bali

Superb driver who customized the day trip to our interests...and also took fantastic photos (an unexpected bonus!)!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Sunrise trek to Mount Batur
Sunrise trek to Mount Batur
Indonesia

Tough climb with gorgeous views!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Goa Gajah Cave
Visit Goa Gajah Cave
Indonesia

This was a super super touristy place. As one of our first popular temple visits we did, we weren't aware and equipped to stop a guy from coercing us into a tour and insisting on payment at the end. We felt trapped in a guided tour we didn't actually ask for and in a show of performative religion that didn't feel respectful to the actual roots of the place.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Visit the UNESCO Jatiluwih Ricefield
Visit the UNESCO Jatiluwih Ricefield
Indonesia

One of our favorite stops on the trip! An absolutely gorgeous walk through rice terraces with scenic mountain views beyond. We would have loved to spend more time enjoying this place!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Ana Bicanic
Ana
Ana Bicanic
Local specialist in Bali | Replied on May 03, 2023

Hello dear Rebekah!

Thank You so much for the kind words! They mean a lot!
I am also very grateful for having you and Amy as guests, because you were so easy going, you knew exactly what you wanted since you've done your research and you trusted me! Thank You!

I will pass the note to Rusna and we hope to see you in Indonesia again!

I love the pictures!!!

All the best,
Ana

Thank you KimKim
Indonesia | Apr 2 - Apr 23, 2023

S
Spencer S.
North Adams, MA | Reviewed on May 01, 2023
Our trip to Indonesia was a true reprieve from the stresses of regular life, a perfect vacation. Our KimKim specialist Ana organized several lovely events for us but also maintained a comfortable flexibility, listening well and helping us refund things when our energy wasn't up to the big tasks. In particular, our driver throughout the trip, Parma, was one of the kindest, most splendid humans we have ever met and want him to get as much praise possible for hosting us so well. The Komodo... Read more

Our trip to Indonesia was a true reprieve from the stresses of regular life, a perfect vacation. Our KimKim specialist Ana organized several lovely events for us but also maintained a comfortable flexibility, listening well and helping us refund things when our energy wasn't up to the big tasks. In particular, our driver throughout the trip, Parma, was one of the kindest, most splendid humans we have ever met and want him to get as much praise possible for hosting us so well. The Komodo Island boat cruise stood out as a spectacular highlight of the trip (we saw Komodo dragons, Mantas, turtles, soft coral, and unreal sunsets). Our guide Tony also stood out as a spectacular and knowledgable friend.

Local specialist: Ana Bicanic
Ana
Ana Bicanic
Local specialist in Bali | Replied on May 26, 2023

Hello dear Spencer!

Thank you so much for your kind words!
You and Nicole were really great guests and everyone in the team can confirm! It was very pleasant working with you and we hope to see you again on one of our destinations!
I will pass the comments to Parma and Tony as well!

Best Regards,
Ana

Great holiday!
Indonesia | Apr 12 - Apr 27, 2023

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Neville B.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Apr 28, 2023

Our driver Komang was always very helpful and professional

Local specialist: Marc Urban
Marc
Marc Urban
Local specialist in Bali | Replied on May 01, 2023

Hi Neville and Sue,

Thank you for your feedback; we hope to see you again in Indonesia.

Best wishes,
Marc

Ana was outstanding.
Indonesia | Apr 13 - Apr 23, 2023

Amy
Amy M.
SeaTac, WA | Reviewed on Apr 26, 2023

Ana was outstanding. While planning, she listened to us and what we had research and helped us with local knowledge. Despite the 15 hour time difference, she was quick to respond.
Once we arrived, she met us at our hotel to welcome us and confirm our schedule. She was available during our whole trip for random questions, even as small as bug spray brand.
She was kind and communicative. Our trip was much richer because of her help.

Local specialist: Ana Bicanic
Ana
Ana Bicanic
Local specialist in Bali | Replied on May 03, 2023

Dear Amy,

Thank you for such a wonderful review!
I loved meeting you and you girls were the perfect guests!

I hope we will have an opportunity to plan together again in future!

I wish you all the best in your exploring myself era!

Warmest Regards,
Ana