Kimkim Trip Reviews for Ireland

Our curated trip of Ireland was fantastic.
Cathy did a great job capturing all of the important details that we were interested in - traditional Irish music, food, culture and countryside.

We did not rent a car on this trip. Instead, we took trains and had wonderful, informative and friendly drivers that showed us great and unknown (to us) parts of Northern Ireland.

The music and food tours were worth every penny, taste and steps.

Hotel Reviews

The Fleet

Dublin

Great accommodations and location in the Temple Bar district. Would love to have stayed longer.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hampton By Hilton Belfast City Centre

Belfast

We had stayed at this hotel during a previous trip to Ireland. Location was good, accommodations were fine. Popular for large bus tours.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Ebrington

DERRY/LONDONDERRY

What a fantastic, new and classy hotel. Staff was friendly and helpful. Rooms were great. Location was ideal for neighborhood and tourist activities.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Abbey Hotel Donegal

Donegal

Traditional Irish hotel. Nothing fancy but great Irish feeling. Love the location at Donegal's triangle. Enjoyed the restaurants and pubs within walking distance.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Galmont Hotel & Spa

Galway

We have stayed here before. Hotel was clean and accommodating. Even though it was off season, the tour bus volume was big.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Alex Hotel

Dublin

Probably our favorite hotel out of the bunch but unfortunately, our shortest stay. Location was good and accommodations were fantastic.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Belfast Music Walking Tour

Belfast

Probably the highlight of our trip. We had a personal walking tour with Dolores, a local musician and music aficionado. The walking tour took us throughout Belfast and music along the way. I would love to come back for her punk rock tour! Our day ended with a traditional Irish music session and a great restaurant recommendation.

Quality of Experience

very personal and solid

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The best.

Guided Bogside History Walking Tour

Londonderry (Derry)

Jimmy Toye was a fantastic guide. Having lived through the uprising, Jimmy provided a great account during the tour. A don't miss tour in Derry.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Jimmy's the best.

Private transfer from Donegal town to Galway with stops

Ireland

A rainy and cold day. Our driver, Mercin, was a great guide. A countryside your of the Great Atlantic Way ... just beautiful. One of our tours was cancelled due to weather. Mercin made the best of it with a stop at Ballynahinch Castle for an Irish coffee!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Belfast Food Tour

Belfast

We were fortunate enough to have good weather and very, very small group. Our "local" guide was great and we experienced tasty local food.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Free time in Dublin

Dublin

Dublin is a great town. We were able to sneak in lunch at Gallagher's Boxty House.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Musical Pub Crawl in Dublin

Dublin

The sessions were good and musicians were very entertaining. We enjoyed the two venues that had music.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private transfer

Dublin

Our driver was very friendly and helpful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Donegal!

Ireland

Donegal is a cute and quiet town. Being off season, we had the town to ourselves. Our Derry to Donegal driver (Michael Gallagher) was super. He recommended lunch (Olde Castle Bar) and dinner (Quay West) spots which were great. We did catch a seisun later that night at the Reel Inn! Also bought hats at Hanna Hat Company, a wonderful experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Entry into the Emigration Museum EPIC

Dublin

The museum was okay. Worth the tour if time permits.

Quality of Experience

Belfast Pub Crawl

Belfast

Our guide, Mark, was super. He took our large group to four different type venues ending up at old pub for traditional Irish music. Mark was able to address us a number of times and provide us suggestions for our remaining night. The bars might have been to crowded and loud for seniors like ourselves.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Titanic experience

Belfast

A worthwhile museum stop while in Belfast. We learned alot about Belfast and the Titanic.

Quality of Experience

Private Tour Giant's Causeway and Antrim Coast

Belfast

Wonderful tour of the Giants Causeway and Atlantic seascape. Our driver was so nice and attentive to both my wife and I. We learned alot bout Northern Ireland and the landcape.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Afternoon tea at The City Hotel Derry

Londonderry (Derry)

A bit disappointing outing. The hotel was under construction and the eating area was bleak. The food was marginal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Browns Bonds Hill : Michelin Recommended dining

Londonderry (Derry)

Great recommendation by Kimkim. A great quite location, we felt like the meal was curated just for us. My wife and I experienced the tasting menu and wine pairing. A fantastic meal.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Traditional boat trips at Ashford Castle

Ireland

This session was cancelled due to poor weather.

Galway Food Tour

Galway

On again, off again weather did not stop our guides from providing us a wonderful experience. While the tour did not encompass a large area, we had a great taste of Galway's offerings. We worth the time spend and tasty.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Irish Rock'n'Roll Museum Experience

Dublin

One of the best sessions on the tour. Being big music fans, our curator was nothing but insanely entertaining and informative. Great location and history of Irish rock museum. A must when visiting Dublin.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We recently returned from an incredible 8-day family trip to Ireland, and we cannot thank your team enough for the care, detail, and thoughtful planning that went into our itinerary. From the very beginning, everything was smooth, organized, and clearly designed with our family’s interests in mind.

From start to finish, we felt fully supported. Even through our arrival delay, Claire and her team were available and made the needed adjustments seemlessly. The personalized itinerary balanced scenic drives, cultural highlights, and hands-on adventures perfectly — something that kept all four of us engaged, including two teens! The mix of guided experiences and flexible time allowed us to explore at our own pace without feeling rushed.

Highlights of our trip included:
The Falconry Adventure in Killarney was a family favorite and something we’ll be talking about for years.

Kayaking on the Lakes of Killarney was both peaceful and thrilling (when the wind picked up on our return paddle).

The Cliffs of Moher, especially seeing them from the water, was absolutely breathtaking.

And of course, the warm welcomes and live traditional music in local pubs made the evenings feel like a celebration.

We also appreciated the well-chosen accommodations — each hotel was comfortable, family-friendly, and conveniently located. The included breakfasts were excellent and helped us fuel up before big days of exploring.

Your team's attention to detail, from Google Maps links and local tips to activity vouchers and backup contacts, made this trip feel easy and stress-free. We especially appreciated the thoughtful touches for navigating car rentals and parking.

This was our first trip to Ireland, and because of your team, it definitely won’t be our last. We’d recommend your services without hesitation to anyone looking for a well-curated, immersive, and family-friendly travel experience.

Thank you again for helping us create memories that will last a lifetime.

Hotel Reviews

Randles Hotel Killarney

Co. Kerry

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Maryborough Hotel and Spa

Cork

Authenticity & Character

Wish we had more time here to explore the hotel and grounds!

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Dublin Private Walking Tour

Dublin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cliffs of Moher Cruise from Doolin ( 50 min)

Doolin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Falconry Adventures

Killarney

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Killarney Lakes Discovery by Kayak

Killarney

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The experience with Kimkim tours and Ireland Walk Hike Bike was amazing. It was the best vacation I've ever experienced. Since we were driving around the country, we were provided a diverse and varied itinerary that allowed us to choose where we wanted to go and how much time we wanted to spend at the different sites. My daughter and I were traveling together on this vacation and the routes, accommodations and intermittent contact with Ireland Walk Hike Bike left us feeling safe and secure during our travels. Not only do I plan to use Kimkim for future travel plans abroad, returning to Ireland with Ireland Walk Hike Bike is now back on our bucket list.

Hotel Reviews

The Malone Hotel

Belfast

Lovely hotel and within walking distance of Queen's Quarter.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Galmont Hotel & Spa

Galway

Wonderful hotel within walking distance of High Street.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lough Eske Castle Hotel

Beautiful setting and attentive staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Wyatt Hotel Westport

Westport

A great location and easy access to a variety of restaurants.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Killarney Lodge

Killarney

A wonderful bed and breakfast and our favorite stay from our vacation. Friendly staff and wonderful eateries and pubs within walking distance.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lyrath Estate

Kilkenny

Lovely setting and very relaxing.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Connemara National Park and Kylemore Abbey

Ireland

Both Kylemore Abbey and Connemara National Park were breathtakingly beautiful. The abbey was an interesting part of history and the hiking in the park was one of our tour highlights. I highly recommend both sites for any visitor.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Black Cab Tour

Belfast

Our driver was very knowledgeable and provided great insight into the culture of Northern Ireland. The tour took us through some areas we would not have normally visited and I very much enjoyed the experience. I would highly recommend the tour for anyone visiting, especially if you want the chance to get know the culture by talking with a local.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Joe and the rest of the Ireland Walk Hike Bike team were great and ready to help rejigger things where needed.

Activity Review

Belfast & Giants Causeway Day tour from Dublin

Dublin

Really enjoyed the tour guide’s stories and personal experiences related to the history of N. Ireland. The Black Taxi Tour of Belfast was throughly enjoyable and worth the day trip!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Surprisingly comfortable bus ride. Black Taxis were unique and fun.

Cathy did an amazing job delivering a wonderful international trip to Ireland. She was very responsive and chose wonderful activities the whole family could enjoy. We especially love the Falconry visit with Mark.

Hotel Reviews

Ashling Hotel Dublin

Dublin

They would not let us check in a minute before 3PM. The train was steps out front of the door, it was a bit unnerving with kids. Would not recommend with children. It was clean, and well kept otherwise not a lot of amenities.

Authenticity & Character

Clean

Location

It was tricky for taxi drivers, as it was on train track

Staff

Not friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

comfortable Beds & Bedding

Mount Juliet Estate

Thomastown

Beautiful property, clean and well appointed. Swimming facility was very nice, and room was comfortable. Lots of activities to spend time on. We wish we had booked more days here!

Authenticity & Character

Well decorated, and curated spaces that were inspiring

Location

Beautiful grounds, and golf course

Staff

All lovely

Cleanliness & Comfort

Great bedding!

The Kingsley Hotel

Cork

This hotel smelled of B.O upon entering. The staff seemed overwhelmed, it was extremley busy. I would not return to this property.

Authenticity & Character

Worn out

Location

Did not enjoy this location

Staff

Staff was courteous, overwhelmed by crowds

Cleanliness & Comfort

Property was worn, and not as clean as I would like

Gleneagles Hotel

Great location, this hotel was hard as a family. Had to get 2 rooms, and we had to wait until 3pm until check in. It was very busy with a conference.

Authenticity & Character

Standard Hotel- Great soup!

Location

Location was great, outside of town, but close enough.

Staff

Nothing to note.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel was clean enough, not a lot of food options. Reservations required for dinner.

The Galmont Hotel & Spa

Galway

This hotel was mediocre, the staff was nice and the room was clean.

Authenticity & Character

Nice entry and glass elevator was impressive

Location

Hard to understand layout with the location of the pool. The family exited the hotel to get to the pool, although there was access down an out of the way hallway

Staff

Staff was friendly, could use a location map upon entry.

Cleanliness & Comfort

It was clean

Clontarf Castle Hotel

Dublin

This is a special property, we enjoyed getting to stay here

Authenticity & Character

Amazing story and Castle integration was lovely

Location

convenient to Dublin city and airport

Staff

Friendly and welcoming

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nice bedding, and clean room

Activity Reviews

House of Waterford

Ireland

Did not keep the kids interest. The factory tour was interesting, just not for children.

Falconry Adventures

Killarney

Wonderful excursion! Mark was fantastic with kids, highly recommend

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hard to find, although a sign was posted, the Google map took us to a house 2 houses away.

Kilkenny Castle

Kilkenny

Best castle tour in Ireland. Self guided, but you really get to see the scope and scale of castle life. Would recommend.

The Leprechaun museum

Dublin

It was freezing, and a story telling museum. Would not recommend

Self-Guided Guinness Storehouse Experience

Dublin

Great tour! No room at the top. After 7 stories you want to take a seat, it is not possible. The cool view made up for it, but wish there was more seating at the top.

Celtic Night Show & Dinner

Dublin

Dinner was at 7pm with show 8-10pm. I saw people coming in later than 7PM, I wish we would've eaten during the performance. Kids were tired by 9:30 and we left early. Also our seat was poor, with a pole in the middle of the view. I can't tell how to get a better seat. It looked like tables of 4 got terrible views. Great music, and show, would recommend.

Irish National Stud Tickets & Irish Racehorse Experience

Ireland

This is 1 activity that I would have skipped. The ipad tour was frustrating for my 8 yr old. The horse race ending was cool, but not worth the time or cost. It was freezing and raining, so we did not get to enjoy the grounds.

Visit Blarney castle and kiss the stone

Ireland

Great experience for the family. Great gift shop

Killarney National Park Jaunt - From Park to Castle

Ireland

Wonderful experience. It was cold, but blankets were provided.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to Dublin and Northern Ireland
was a trip of a lifetime. This was our first time using a travel agency and we loved it. The trip was more than we could have planned for ourselves. Castle Eske has beautiful accommodations, amazing staff, calming location in the countryside, and delicious food. We just wish we made more time for their relaxing spa. The historic Bushmills Inn had a perfect location on the coast. The food and service were top notch. Our guides Barry and Paula showed us the Causeway Coast and Belfast. They were personable, flexible, and very knowledgeable. We would recommend them to anyone planning a trip to the North of Ireland.
In Dublin, Diane was our guide for a walking tour of the city. She was so knowledgeable! Her historic anecdote were entertaining and informative. The Irish people, food and culture were so warm and inviting, Even our teenage children can’t wait to revisit.

Cathy did an incredible thoughtful trip itinerary for our family of 3. The entire trip was flawless, and we really appreciated not having to worry about a thing! Will definitely use your services again!
Thank you!
Rachel Keyser

Dean and the team were amazing. They were super helpful in planning and during our trip with local recommendations. The itinerary suggestions help guide our stops along the way in combination with our own research. The hotel accommodations were fantastic. Looking forward to coming back soon.

Amazing trip. Alejandra was wonderful. Reminded us of things as we went along so we would be in the right place. Worked with us on the itinerary which was great

Hotel Review

Lansdowne Hotel

Ballsbridge, Dublin 4

Not great. Very Quirky. But the show in the basement was fantastic and the restaurant food good

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms too hot or cold. Our room was not good, had an additional space that was useless and the main area too small particularly the bathroom

Activity Review

Introducing Joyce’s Dublin Walking Tour

Dublin

Fantastic. Our guide was great, knew James Joyce well.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

NOTE: Our rating is a 3-1/2 for the KimKim experience and working with Joe.

A beautiful island with amazing sights including verdant vistas, rolling gradation of greens, rugged and wild coastline a surprising amount of archeological history. So happy we toured around almost the whole island, starting in Dublin then south to Kilkenny and Kinsale, west to Dingle (our favorite) and up to Galway.

Many great experiences including the Ashling Hotel in Dublin (great location, helpful front desk folks and good breakfast selections), drinking Guinness and Jameson and hearing traditional music, quaint and colorful villages (Kilkenny, Cobh, Kinsale, Ennis, Dingle). Glad we made the stop at the Rock of Cashel, the Jameson Distillery tour in Midleton, the Titanic museum in Cobh and the Cliffs of Moher. Dingle Peninsula is a must-see and thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Emlagh House with delightful and helpful staff, delicious breakfasts and great location. Doyle's restaurant in Dingle is a MUST.

The most challenging part for us was notably the driving, which can only be described as harrowing and stressful. We did not get much chance to enjoy scenery enroute to the locales as one was driving and one was navigating - very narrow roads, a lot of traffic circles and plenty of traffic. We missed stopping off at many sights just because it was too
tense getting back on the road and pressure to get to the next overnight. Also we were very disappointed outside Dublin that pretty much every pub we went in in Kinsale and Galway were not what we expected in terms of warm welcomes and jovial conversations. In some we were virtually ignored while locals chatted with the bartenders and made merry. We were also disappointed with our hotel in Galway - located on the ocean, which was beautiful, but waaaaaaayyyy out at the end of town with a commercial district that was overrun with casino-type buildings, fast food restaurants and convenience stores.

Hotel Reviews

Ashling Hotel Dublin

Dublin

Great location, great (friendly and helpful) front desk staff, great breakfast selection and wonderfully big, fluffy towels in the bath. There is a huge and beautiful park nearby, a free museum, a light rail that will take you directly to the Temple Bar area.

Authenticity & Character

Location

see above

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Greenmount House Luxury B&B

We did not stay at the Greenmount House - We stayed at the Emlagh House which was five stars all around! Lovely, helpful staff, wonderful breakfasts, cozy accommodations, wonderful location to walk to beach or to town.

Authenticity & Character

Note this rating is for Emlagh House

Location

Note this rating is for Emlagh House

Staff

Note this rating is for Emlagh House

Cleanliness & Comfort

Note this rating is for Emlagh House

Actons Hotel

Cork

Beautiful hotel, spacious and comfy rooms, great location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Beautiful views, easy walking to all parts of town.

Staff

Ian (front desk manager) When we arrived, after a long day of driving on the LEFT side of the road on narrow streets and much traffic, there was NO parking. The person who greeted us at the hotel basically said "too bad." Ian was extremely helpful and found a way to keep my car safe until a spot opened up, so I could get settled in. If Ian wasn't working at the front desk that day, my rating would've been poor. The person who greeted us didn't even offer to help us find parking.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Galmont Hotel & Spa

Galway

We did not stay at the Galmont House - we stayed at Salt Hill Hotel. Overall rating - 3 stars

Authenticity & Character

Location

situated in very commercial district, too far from town

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

worst bathroom ever

Activity Review

Jameson Distillery and Blarney Castle

Cork

Overall this trip was most enjoyable and well planned. The few glitches were taken care of in a timely manner. Our accommodations were all excellent. Our guided trips were also well planned and our guides were very knowledgeable and flexible. In particular our guide in Killarney and Cork, Joe O'Donnell, was a pleasure to travel with. He was well prepared, kind, and highly professional. We appreciated how Kim Kim was able to help us plan such a personalized trip with all the sights we wanted to visit and activities we wanted to participate in. Our thanks to all the individuals who communicated with us and helped make our time in Ireland so memorable.

Hotel Reviews

Lighthouse Bed & Breakfast

Great location in Dingle. The hosts were most kind and accommodating. The B & B was very clean, rooms were very comfortable and the breakfast was simple, but tasty. We felt very welcome and had a pleasant stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to town. Beautiful view.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Doolin Inn

Doolin, Co. Clare

Great accommodations. The rooms was spacious, quiet and comfortable. Anthony's Restaurant was a true gem. Wonderful breakfasts and the dinner was 5 star!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Old Weir Lodge

Killarney

Great location. Easy walk into Killarney town. Accommodations were excellent. Staff was very kind and rooms were spotless. Breakfast was delicious with many choices.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The River Lee Hotel

Cork

The hotel was a short walk to the main part of Cork. Our room was clean, comfortable and quiet. We enjoyed the meals we had - breakfast, dinners and cocktails in the lounge. The staff was very kind and helpful. My husband was ill while there and they put us in touch with medical assistance within minutes! I am so appreciative of their help.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Explore the Beara Peninsula

Ireland

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide and driver, Joe, was very knowledgeable and shared much information about the area's history and culture. Made our day unforgettable

Transport

I will start by saying our time in and around Westport with our guide Jim Henry was one of the best parts of our trip. He’s friendly, knowledgeable, extremely accommodating, empathetic and an overall pleasure to spend time with. We learned a great deal from him.
We really enjoyed having multiple choices of places to stop along our routes. Most routes we accomplished 1-3 stops. On the causeway coast we did 6 of 7. We were exhausted after but it was worth every step. If we get the opportunity we will be in touch for another trip in the south of the island.
Thank you to all who were involved!!

We loved all the accomodations that Joe found for us. He reserved the perfect car for us and made several reservations for outings that was so helpful. The links to maps was so helpful, and the suggested activities and restaurants were very useful.

Claire did an amazing job of helping us plan our trip. Every reservation was exactly as she said it would be. Not only did she do a great job with the itinerary before we left, she also touched base with us on the trip to make sure all was going well. Having spent 40 years in the travel business, I was extremely pleased with her attention to details.

Dublin transfer to the airport to pick up the car - driver right on time
Car Rental - Europcar was good
Titanic Experience in Belfast - interesting
Taxi Tour in Belfast - Paul was very informative
Ferry to Rathlin Island - perfect and they allowed us to return early
Bogside History Tour in Derry - very interesting and informative. Sorry, but I cannot remember his name.
Hotels: Excellent other than the Warren in Belfast. The Warren was quirky but not my favorite. Loved the Ghan House
Dinners: Land to Sea in Dingle - wonderful

Hotel Reviews

Heatons Guesthouse

Dingle

The hotel is on the edge of town, but an easy walk into town to the restaurants. The room was large and comfortable with a sea view. I appreciated the hot tea and chocolate cake when we checked in!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ghan House Hotel

The Ghan House is lovely as is the staff. The dinner was very good. We needed an earlier breakfast than what is normally served, and it was no problem. This was definitely one of our favorite hotels during a 23 night trip!

Authenticity & Character

Felt like stepping back in time.

Location

Five minute walk from the town.

Staff

Everyone was very friendly and accommodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The warren Belfast

BELFAST

The Warren Belfast was not very clean, especially the bathroom where both the soap dispenser and shower were very dirty. There was no closet, just a couple of pegs for clothes, which was manageable, but the hygiene was a concern. Breakfast was self-service with no utensils provided to pick up the bread, making it seem a bit unsanitary

Elephant Rock Hotel

Portrush

The Elephant Rock Hotel in Portrush was a nice stay. Although nothing particularly stood out, the location was fine, and overall, it served its purpose well. We had a comfortable stay.

Ship Quay Hotel

Londonderry

The Ship Quay Hotel in Derry was fine, not deluxe, but clean. The staff was really nice, especially in both the bar and dining areas. We appreciated the wonderful location and friendly service.

Activity Reviews

Land to Sea : Michelin Recommended dining

Dingle Town

Absolutely exquisite!

Quality of Experience

Belfast Political Taxi Tour

Belfast

Very interesting. It was interesting to see the Irish side of the "Troubles". It was not always the same as what we were seeing in the U.S.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Great London Taxi

Guided Bogside History Walking Tour

Londonderry (Derry)

We spent two days in Derry. Did this tour on the first day. It was an eye opener for an American.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walking tour

After an amazingly well-organized and experienced trip to the Azores and Portugal two years ago with KimKim, my expectations were high for KimKim. Unfortunately, the organizational piece was uneven and lacked details until the trip was underway.

After fine-tuning our plans for SW Ireland by Zoom with Dean on Monday, the 23rd of October, two day before we were to leave for Ireland, it was my understanding an updated/detailed itinerary with important phone contacts was to reach me before flying to Shannon. Dean assured me that a driver would be at the airport to transport me upon my early morning arrival at 5:35AM to my hotel, the Doolin Inn. This did not happen as I had to wait three hours for someone to pick me up. I attempted many frustrating calls and emails to KimKim and Dean directly. Throughout our trip, Dean never responded to me regarding the driver not showing up.

I still am unsure as to whom Dean works for: KimKim, an intermediary or Walk, Hike Bike which provided our guide, Joe, who was amazing with every detail of our time with him. He made sure he was clear about each days expectations and execution of each hike, activity and/or drive. Joe was knowledgeable, curious and a treat to experience my first trip to Ireland with him.

Méadhbh was our travel specialist and she was fantastic. Despite the time change prior to our trip she was quick to respond to all of our questions. Especially after a last minute change in our travel dates. She was very thorough and provided us with so much information. This was only our second time using a tour company to plan our entire trip and we were very pleased with everything she booked. From Trevor who took us on a food tour in Belfast to Johnny who was our Black Cab tour driver and onto the Gobbins Cliff walk with a lovely young lady whose name I forget. We saw a lot in our 8 days in Northern Ireland and Méadhbh was always available to answer questions and help us out.
We really enjoyed Ballycastle and all to do in that area. We only had 1 day in Londonderry but had some great food. And Carlingford is worth the visit. Great pubs and awesome restaurants. Of course Belfast is so full of history, beautiful architecture, and wonderful pubs. An afternoon at Tollymore National Park is highly recommended. Just beautiful.
I would absolutely use Kimkim again for future travels.

Every aspect of our trip to Ireland that Kim Kim helped us plan was absolutely wonderful!
We loved our two day stay in Dublin. The Dublin Food and Drink tour was a blast and a great way to see some of the city and learn about and taste traditional Irish food. I can’t remember the tour guide’s name but he had a great personality and really made the tour even more enjoyable. We also loved the Historical walking tour. We learned so much about the history of Ireland and Dublin in particular.
We loved Donegal town and Harvey’s Point hotel. Our day tour with Henry was fantastic and we especially loved the Slieve League Cliffs. Henry was so knowledgeable and loved spending the day with him. He recommended great restaurants and pubs for music.
We loved the drive to Galway by way of Achill Island. This was a great recommendation to take the long way and fit in the island.
On our way to Doolin, we stopped at the Cliffs of Moher visitors center and walked out to the cliffs. The views were spectacular but this area was very touristy and crowded with huge tour buses.
We loved our afternoon ferry out to Inisheer island and the bike ride all around the island. One of our favorite tours for sure!
I think perhaps Dingle Town was our favorite…. staying at the Pax House was unlike any place I’ve ever stayed. The rooms, the scenery from the common rooms and our bedrooms, and the beautiful breakfast prepared by the owner was simply amazing. An experience never to be forgotten! The Archaeological Tour of the peninsula was great. So beautiful!
Really enjoyed Killarney and the Cahernane House Manor. The National Park Walking Tour was nice and the Ring of Kerry Day Tour was great. Aiden, our tour guide was very knowledgeable and had so much good information about Ireland’s history and that area in particular. He was so enjoyable to spend the day with.
The last night of our trip at the Cashel Palace Hotel was beautiful with a wonderful breakfast the next day.

Hotel Reviews

Pax Guest House

Dingle

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pembroke Townhouse Dublin

Dublin

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Shamrock Inn

Doolin

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cahernane House Manor Hotel

Killarney

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Harvey's Point Hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cashel Palace Hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Dublin Food and Drink tour

Dublin

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Welcome to Donegal!

Ireland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trinity Trails & Book of Kells Guided Tour

Dublin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Historical Walking Tour of Dublin

Dublin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

DAY TOUR: Highlights Of South Donegal

Ireland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Archaeological Tour of the Dingle Peninsula

Ireland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ring of Kerry Private Day Tour

Kenmare

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Killarney National Park Walking Tour

Killarney

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Aran Island Tour - Day Trip to Inisheer from Doolin

Ireland

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Everything was carefully planned and coordinated by Claire and her teammates. Our fairly robust itinerary went smoothly and included walking food tours, e-bike tours, guided hikes, a visit to an island, a boat tour of a lake, and an hidden gems tour and more. The guides on the tours were informative and entertaining. The 3 private drivers were friendly and competent and made our 4 + hours of travel time pass quickly with their stories, etc.

Hotel Reviews

Skeffington Arms Hotel

Galway

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Randles Hotel Killarney

Co. Kerry

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Fleet

Dublin

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Killarney National Park Walking Tour

Killarney

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Galway Food Tour

Galway

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Killarney boat tour

Ireland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dublin Highlights and Hidden Gems Walking Tour

Dublin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided E-bike Tour Of Galway City

Galway

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cliffs of Moher Visitor Center tickets

Ireland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

All hotels and hotels staff were amazing. We loved all os the tour guides. Our favorite ones were:
1. Donegal Tour Guide - Henry
2. Ollie Tours - Eleanor (Aran Island bike tour)
3. Mossies Tour- Helen (archaeological tour of Dingle Pen)
4. Killarney Guided Walks - John O’Connor (Killarney National Park)
5. Killarney Touring Co - Aiden O ‘Donaghue ? (Ring of Kerry)

Hotel Review

Pax Guest House

Dingle

We are 65 years old and have traveled quite a bit. This is our favorite hotel we have ever visited. The setting was so quiet and peaceful. The view was gorgeous. The hospitality and breakfast was the best we have ever experienced. I could go on and on. It was perfect in EVERY way.

Authenticity & Character

It is small enough to make each customer feel cherished.

Location

Beautiful views. Easy walk to the village.

Staff

Waitresses and housekeepers were so friendly. The owner introduced himself personally to all guests and asked if he could be of help.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Welcome to Donegal!

Ireland

The tour guide was very personal and shared so much history

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our tour guide was amazing - so knowledgeable in the history of the area, so friendly

Transport

DAY TOUR: Highlights Of South Donegal

Ireland

Whoops - see above post

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Aran Island Tour - Day Trip to Inisheer from Doolin

Ireland

We over the bike tour. Such a magical island. Wonderful scones.

Quality of Experience

The remoteness of the island and seclusion of the inhabitants made us feel as if their lives haven’t changed much in the last few years.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Eleanor was very friendly and knowledgeable. Great sense of humor.

Transport

Bikes were the way to go!,,

Guided Killarney National Park Walking Tour

Killarney

The park was beautiful - not crowded - many deer. It felt like a magical place.

Quality of Experience

The park is beautiful and not crowded.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

John was so much fun! Burst out in Irish songs sporadically. He loves hiking like we do.

Transport

Archaeological Tour of the Dingle Peninsula

Ireland

Wonderful history shared with us.

Quality of Experience

The sunny weather allowed us to see amazing views. What a special place!! Not as crowded as the Ring of Kerry.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Helen was a great tour guide. Very knowledgeable about the local history and very friendly.

Transport

Ring of Kerry Private Day Tour

Kenmare

Very beautiful tour even in bad weather.

Quality of Experience

The views were gorgeous. The bog village village and the sheepdog demonstration were amazing!,,

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Aiden was great,,,

Transport

The most important thing to say is that from KimKim's initial intake representative to our local specialist Dean who handled our planning and trip, they listened to what WE said we liked, did not like, and wanted. We have never used a travel agent or planner before, because we had never found that before. I kept waiting for the shoe to drop, as they say. Probably had a bit of an edge in the beginning because I was just 'Waiting for it'. We knew Ireland would be wonderful; we didn't know we would meet a travel planner that was great as well.

Will mention one more thing. We tested the offer of 'Call or chat me any time' a few times during the trip, often from the middle of nowhere (our favorite places). Dean knocked it out of the park each time. Whether it was helping us find an obscure place, sleuthing some history for us, or locating where we could purchase a hard to find electronic device.