Kimkim Trip Reviews for Norway

Mar wonderfully balanced convenience, comfort, and leisure. We had a nice mix of practical and comfortable hotels when appropriate (e.g., had early travel the next day) and unique memorable places in between - just as we requested. Some of the days’ agendas were a little ambitious (also as requested) but the recommendations and planned events really allowed for a full and fulfilling trip! Would definitely recommend Mar and the Kimkim team in the future.

Thanks to Mathia's help we enjoyed a little bit of everything that Norway has to offer. From Bergen to Oslo we saw an abundance of majestic scenery, experienced small village life, and loved the energy in Oslo and the people we met. Our trip began with two nights in Bergen at the Bergen Bors Hotel. The hotel was steps away from the harbor, restaurants, and quaint neighborhoods. The rooms were very clean and comfortable. The breakfast at the hotel was very good and the restaurant has a classic feel (it was an old stock exchange building from the 1800's). While in Bergen we did a private historical walking tour with John. The tour was supposed to be 3 hours, but John spent 4 lovely hours with him. If we were willing to walk (in the rain), he was willing to keep showing us around and sharing stories. Later that same day we took the Mostraumen Fjord Cruise (3 hours). We were lucky that the rain stopped! When in Norway, a fjord cruise is a must! Our last day in Bergen, we explored on our own. We took the Floibanen funicular to the Floyen (top of the mountain) for a great panoramic view of the city, mountains and fjords. If you like to walk, I recommend buying a one way ticket and walking back on the very well marked trail back to the city center. It's a very active area with lots of families and people enjoying the outdoors. Our next stop was Balestrand, a tiny town population 1,200 located in a beautiful fjord. We stayed in the Kvikness Hotel which takes you back in time. It reminded me a lot of The Balsams Wilderness in Dixville Notch, New Hampshire. We took a private scenic fjord boat trip with Captain Tor. We had a unique trip weather wise which made even better in my eyes. Captain Tor was in his element (rain or shine) and took good care of us. Seeing the area through the eyes of a true local was unique. The hotel had a very nice buffet style breakfast. We chose to eat dinner at Peter's Plass a quaint tiny Ukrainian restaurant. Note: Aside from the hotel this was the only restaurant open as everything was "closed for the season". On our way to Aurland by ferry we got to see more of the beauty of the fjords. In Aurland, we stayed three nights at 29/2 Aurland an organic farm "off the beaten path". Our accommodations were in a rustic old fisherman's cabin but very comfortable and unique. There was main (modern rustic) building that all of the guests had their meals and afternoon coffee/tea & homemade baked goods. The breakfast was buffet style. The dinner was a three course meal (with a wine pairing option). Dinner was the chefs choice, all organic, and local ingredients. Small "masterpieces" were served each night. We are willing to try new foods, but we are not true "foodies". Note: The food was wonderful, but there are not "options"/the menu is set. While there we rode (the free) bikes down to the village (population 800) and around the fjord. The next two days rained a lot...a lovely employee Madara at 29/2 found my husband a pair of waterproof hiking boots and a rain coat that saved the day! We were able to hike the nearby waterfall (Turlidfossen) despite the extremely muddy trail. It was an adventure and beautiful! We lucked out and had clear skies and a little sun for our excursion to the Stegastein Viewpoint. The "road" to the viewpoint was very narrow and curvy. I'm glad we left the driving to the professionals! While I truly loved our experience at 29/2, for this trip, I would have opted for 2 nights (instead 3) and added an extra night to our next stop in Geilo. On our way to Geilo, we went through Flam. The fjords heading from Aurland to Flam were our favorite - majestic overload! In Flam we took the scenic railway to Geilo for one night. Geilo is a small ski town. We stayed at the Vestilia Resort. The accommodations were modern and very spacious. This is a family friendly resort with options for adult only areas. The breakfast spread was amazing and the dinner we had in the restaurant was top notch. All of the employees were super friendly and helpful. We entertained ourselves with a 6-7 mile walk around the lake and explored the base area ski shops. If you are a skier, you'll appreciate this little ski village. Final stop: Oslo! The night we arrived we saw Luke Combs in concert at the Spektrum Center. It was an awesome experience. The venue was the perfect size, the acoustics were great, and the crowd was full of energy! Singing "Sweet Caroline" before the concert started with a bunch of Norwegians was so much fun! I was surprised how much I liked Oslo. I didn't expect it to be as warm and friendly as it was. On the last day of our trip we walked 12 miles on a all around Oslo. It was the nicest day (weather wise) that we had in Norway. Highlights of our walk: city center, residential areas on our way to the Royal Palace, Vigeland Sculpure Park (so unique), the waterfront activity (coffee shops, ice cream, floating saunas, the Salt salsa dancing, the Opera House, and Olivia's Italian restaurant. We stayed at the Thon Opera Hotel. This is a very modern hotel located right next to the train station and in walking distance to the Spektrum Center. The room was comfortable and clean. The breakfast was also good. It was a much busier environment than our other accommodations. Getting a taxi from our hotel to the airport at 4am was super easy. Overall our trip was a success!
We saw a lot and we felt like we got a great feel for the people and the culture of this beautiful county. I would highly recommend working with Mathia. He took our input and planned a seamless trip for us.

Hotel Reviews

Bergen Børs Hotel

Bergen

Authenticity & Character

An old stock exchange building....with an old world feel.

Location

In the heart of the city center.

Staff

Very nice and professional

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kviknes Hotel

Balestrand

The setting is beautiful. It takes you back in time....

Authenticity & Character

Location

The view from our room was lovely. You can walk from the ferry to the hotel. You are in walking distance to the center of this tiny village.

Staff

The receptionist (a 25-30 year old female) was very short with us. Not helpful with our basic questions. She appeared to be annoyed that we didn't know we were visiting "off season". She informed us that there were NO restaurants (other than the hotel) open in the off season. However, we did find Peter's Plass a Ukrainian restaurant and we had a great meal. We were surprised by her attitude, because everyone we had encountered thus far was very friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

29|2 Aurland

Aurland

This is a unique place. It is remote and a bit rustic with partially shared accommodations. The "fisherman" house we stayed in had very tiny bedrooms (each with a small private bathroom) with small common areas (sitting room and kitchen). There were working wood stoves.

Authenticity & Character

I loved the history....a farm that has been passed down many generations.

Location

Being remote is what makes this place unique. The village is a 2 mile walk. There are free bikes for guests to use. If you are unable to walk, they will drive you to town for 500 krone (roughly $46 dollars one way). We like to walk and bike and we got lucky that it wasn't pouring when we needed to walk into the village.

Staff

The hiking guides (we didn't use them, but picked their brains) were super friendly and clearly enjoy showing people around. They were very helpful. The staff overall was warm and very gracious. Madara went above and beyond and helped us with some rain gear.

Cleanliness & Comfort

I loved the quaint rustic cozy quarters.

Vestlia Resort

Geilo

A great ski lodge rustic spa feeling

Authenticity & Character

We are skiers so I loved the lodge feeling - the Norwegian touches was awesome

Location

In walking distance of the trails around the lake

Staff

Everyone was very helpful. We especially had great service at dinner.

Cleanliness & Comfort

We had a one bedroom apartment. Plenty of space and modern decor.

Thon Hotel Opera

Oslo

Modern hotel with all of the amenities.

Authenticity & Character

Clean, typical modern hotel in a city

Location

Walking distance to the train station, city center, Spektrum center, and waterfront

Staff

The receptionist were great.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Viking Heritage & Historical Walk with a Local

Bergen

John our guide was great. He spent 4 hours with us (tour was supposed to be 3). He was not in a rush. He wanted to show us as much as possible while making sure we were ok with all of the walking (and rain).

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mostraumen Fjord Cruise from Bergen

Bergen

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Scenic Boat Trip to Fjærland

Norway

A unique private tour with a true local - Captain Tor.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Stegastein Viewpoint

Norway

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fjordcruise on UNESCO Nærøyfjord

Norway

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We travelled to beautiful Norway in September for a special 50th birthday trip. Our destinations were to Oslo, Åndalsnes, Geiranger & Ålesund. After several changes by me, Mathia created an amazing, memorable trip! He was very patient and never made me feel like an inconvenience.
Initially, I was concerned that we would have too much down time, but it ended up being the perfect mix of both activities and self-exploration. We were able to see 4 completely different areas of Norway and stayed in 4 completely different hotels, so we got a little bit of everything, which was awesome. I loved that we were primarily in local hotels rather than big chain hotels. It is so much better to experience the local culture.
As with all vacations there was a small snafu, but Mathia had it corrected and we were on our way within the hour. It is hardly a thought in my mind when remembering the trip.
I was also extremely impressed that there was someone on call over the weekend. Our initial connecting flight was delayed multiple times and finally cancelled because of weather. I notified the on-call person, who was ready to take appropriate action as needed on their end. Luckily, we were able to get a connecting flight out of another city, so were only a day late, so very few changes had to be made.
We missed most of our time in Oslo but were able to make the cruise touring the area and learning about local culture. Our guide, Suzy, was hilarious and made the trip extra enjoyable.
In Åndalsnes, we road the gondola to the top of the mountain, did some hiking and ate at Eggen with beautiful views as the sun went down. We also explored the beach and took some great pictures.
In Geiranger, we got to take a boat ride in the fjords and did the via ferrata & zip line adventure. I was not sure what to expect, but it ended up being one of the best activities of the trip. The staff at the hotel were amazing and the food was spectacular!
Ålesund was my absolute favorite city. It was so beautiful and the trip to the other islands with a hike was amazing! Our guide was great and the lunch provided was wonderful. I would say the Hotel Brosundet in Ålesund was my favorite hotel of all times and would recommend it to anyone!
I highly recommend Kimkim and would definitely use them again for another exploration. I hope to travel to Norway again and see the other parts of this amazing country. This was an incredible trip and will be hard to beat for future travels.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Brosundet

Ålesund

This was my favorite hotel. Beautiful décor and the huge fireplace in the lobby was wonderful to sit around and chat. Staff was great and very accommodating.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grande Fjordhotel

Geiranger

Fabulous staff, great view and wonderful food!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Silent Oslo Fjord Cruise

Oslo

The tour guide, Suzy, was entertaining and so full of knowledge. Wonderful activity!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exploration of Ålesund's Surrounding Islands

Ålesund

Island were beautiful and the hike was a little tough for a beginning, but wonderful to see. Guide was very knowledgeable and very patient.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zip Line & Via Ferrata Hiking Experience

Geiranger

I was a little nervous initially because it was a new experience, but definitely one of my favorite adventures.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our guide, John was very knowledgeable and pleasant. He recommended a restaurant where we had an excellent dinner.
The weather changed a few times, from sunny to rain but he was equipped with umbrellas 🙂
Stig, our guide in Oslo was the best, very knowledgeable about the history of the city and country and also very fun!

We deeply appreciate the plans that you made for us.
The Kviknes motel was a high point of our experience. We stayed for the evening seafood buffet that ranks #1 in my mind so far of any place that I have been in the last 15 years, and I told the maitre'd this.
The opposite end of the luxury spectrum was at the Eidegard in Sjkolden. What a wonderful place, staying in a very old house. The kitchen was wonderful for the 4 meals we made there.
Our trip to Fortun to visit my grandmothers birthplace was breath taking both in scenery and physical exertion to go up 300 meters on foot.
Our stay at the Laerdal Motel was also very good. We got in before the 3 tour buses both days. Food was very good.
Going to the Bogrund stave church was amazing. Going to the Hauge church and finding 6 tombstones with my last name was bitter sweet. Good to find my roots. Visiting the city hall and library was very informative. Folks knew my family name and the farm they came from.
Tunnels-did I mention tunnels and ferries? Those people knew what they were doing.
The Voss Gondola ride was so much better than we anticipated. The weather really did cooperate at the top for us to wander around for an hour. We should have stayed in Voss.
Returning Bergen, the Food and Culture tour by Mateus was very good. It again exceeded our expectations.
We then went to the Cornelius. Another amazing place with amazing food, wine, ambience and just fun.
Our stay at the Augustin worked out. The original address was closed for cleanout and renovation. The "new" place was half a block away and that worked out very well. Luckily they had a single parking spot for our rental car. We did not know that breakfast was included. Very good! We were 5 minutes from the city center mall and the harbor and fish market.
We spent a day exploring west of Bergen, before returning our rental car.
We give Kimkim a rating of 10 out of 10 and highly recommend using them. A little investigation would have prepared us for the wonderful side trips.

We had an amazing adventure in Norway. Mar and Fenne were both fantastic. They responded to all our questions and concerns almost immediately. The accommodations and guided tours were perfect for how we wanted to spend our time. We did almost everything on the itinerary they suggested. Each guide, Maximo in Stavenger, Connor in Flam and our guide for the glacier hike was extremely knowledgeable, easy to communicate with and really, just a lot of fun. The cider tasting was very interesting and the food and cider was delicious.

Thanks you for putting together a memorable and exciting trip. We will definitely use KimKim for our next adventure.

Karen and Dave

We deeply appreciate the plans that you made for us.
The Kviknes motel was a high point of our experience. We stayed for the evening seafood buffet that ranks #1 in my mind so far of any place that I have been in the last 15 years, and I told the maitre'd this.
The opposite end of the luxury spectrum was at the Eidegard in Sjkolden. What a wonderful place, staying in a very old house. The kitchen was wonderful for the 4 meals we made there.
Our trip to Fortun to visit my grandmothers birthplace was breath taking both in scenery and physical exertion to go up 300 meters on foot.
Our stay at the Laerdal Motel was also very good. We got in before the 3 tour buses both days. Food was very good.
Going to the Bogrund stave church was amazing. Going to the Hauge church and finding 6 tombstones with my last name was bitter sweet. Good to find my roots. Visiting the city hall and library was very informative. Folks knew my family name and the farm they came from.
Tunnels-did I mention tunnels and ferries? Those people knew what they were doing.
The Voss Gondola ride was so much better than we anticipated. The weather really did cooperate at the top for us to wander around for an hour. We should have stayed in Voss.
Returning Bergen, the Food and Culture tour by Mateus was very good. It again exceeded our expectations.
We then went to the Cornelius. Another amazing place with amazing food, wine, ambience and just fun.
Our stay at the Augustin worked out. The original address was closed for cleanout and renovation. The "new" place was half a block away and that worked out very well. Luckily they had a single parking spot for our rental car. We did not know that breakfast was included. Very good! We were 5 minutes from the city center mall and the harbor and fish market.
We spent a day exploring west of Bergen, before returning our rental car.
We give Kimkim a rating of 10 out of 10 and highly recommend using them. A little investigation would have prepared us for the wonderful side trip

I went from being stressed about planning my first trip to Norway with my wife, to finding KimKim who made it very easy and enjoyable. Everything was well planned and easy to follow, and they made very nice choices for us. I would strongly recommend using KimKim to anyone!

Hotel Reviews

Fretheim Hotel

Flåm

Very nice hotel and convenient.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Thon Hotel Jølster

Jølster

Room was stale and the dinner was not good at all. Breakfast was fine.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Union Geiranger Bad & Spa

Geiranger

Really enjoyed staying here. The view from the hotel is amazing, and the room, food and staff were really great.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Everyone was very friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Quality Hotel Ålesund

Ålesund

Location was fine and the breakfast was very good. The room was average, and you could hear the music from the lobby until about 11PM.

Authenticity & Character

Room was noisy from music downstairs

Location

Staff

Not very friendly. Hotel was mostly empty, and they could have put us in a room that was higher up, away from the noise. Also, no view at all from the room other than the rooms directly across from us.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Brekkestranda Fjordhotel

Brekke

We really loved this place, but we also like to stay in cabins which this reminded us of. The bed was very comfortable, and the staff were great. We could not stay for breakfast so they made us something to go. The food a night was one of the best meals we had on the trip. Great place to stay!

Authenticity & Character

Grass roof, cabin like rooms. It's what you want in Norway.

Location

Not sure this is the perfect spot for everyone, but if you want a nice, quiet place to stay, it's perfect. We loved it!

Staff

Very friendly and nice to work with.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Best bed during our week in Norway (and none were bad).

Activity Reviews

Summer and Autumn Fjord Safari on a RIB boat

Flåm

Loved this trip and the beautiful views. The ride was a lot of fun. Do not be intimidated by what they ask you to wear - you will be dry and warm!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kayak tour to the "Seven sisters" in Geiranger

Geiranger

It rained the entire time, and we still really enjoyed this trip. Ott was our guide and did a very nice job explaining things and making it enjoyable. It's a great way to see a fjord!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ott was a very good guide!

Transport

Norway is amazing!! Mathias did a great job with every place we visited. We started in Oslo, saw the Opera house and the Munch museum. Took an electric boat on Fjords and Susie made waffles with the brunost cheese, delicious! We also went rock climbing and zip lining in Andalsnes across waterfalls and beautiful trees. Enjoyed dinner at EGGEN restaurant at the top of a mountain by way of a gondola and watched a perfect sunset. Wow! We then traveled to Geiranger,a quaint little fishing village with the most beautiful Fjords. Peter was our three hour tour bus guide. He knows a thing or two since he has been doing this for 30 years. We stopped at waterfalls and zipped through the valleys in the mountains. Time really does fly when you are having fun, didn't feel like three hours. He told us about trolls and other legends. Our final destination was Alesund a fairy tale looking island. The architecture was incredible with their cobblestone streets and lighthouses. Antenot was the perfect guide as we hiked eight miles, up a picturesque hillside along with sheep grazing below. Great food and great times with great friends. We had the time of our lives. Thanks Mathias and KIMKIM.

Activity Reviews

Silent Oslo Fjord Cruise

Oslo

Great way to see the saunas on the Fjords and get a closer look at the summer houses. Susie was great!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exploration of Ålesund's Surrounding Islands

Ålesund

Antenot was amazing!! Great guide! He was patient and friendly and a real expert at climbing and hiking.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zip Line & Via Ferrata Hiking Experience

Geiranger

Never done anything like this, pleasantly surprised how much fun it was.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

most memorable was Breton and the FJords

Hotel Reviews

Hotell Bondeheimen

Oslo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fretheim Hotel

Flåm

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dragsvik Fjordhotel

Balestrand

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Torget

Bergen

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fleischer's Hotel

Voss

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

A Norwegian evening on the fjord

Oslo

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Summer RIB boat Safari Local Taste of Undredal

Flåm

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day trip to Fjærland

Norway

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ride the Ulriken Cable Car

Bergen

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fjordcruise to Hardanger

Bergen

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Gondola Ride in Voss

Voss

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Both Julia and Fenne were super helpful during planning and in particular while we were traveling. Several unexpected changes occurred to our itinerary and both Julia and Fenne were immediately available to provide advice and expertise - including on the weekend.

Hotel Reviews

Bergen Børs Hotel

Bergen

Excellent hotel! Rooms were a little dark and would like to see wash cloths in each bathroom.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nordis Apartments

Svolvær

A very nice hotel, but not well managed. Difficulty contacting our host to resolve simple issues like access to garage, etc. Once we were able to contact them they were helpful. Also, would have liked to see wash cloths, bath mat, cooking utensils, and more lighting in the room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Havila Voyages

Fosnavåg

Wonderful experience. No issues.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clarion Hotel the Edge

Tromsø

Excellent hotel and room!! Great view. Would have appreciated access to coffee in lobby all day.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very attentive!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Cultural Walk with a Local in Bergen

Bergen

Guide was no-show.

Guided tour and fjord cruise to Nærøyfjorden, Flåm and Stegastein viewpoint

Bergen

Excellent trip. No issues.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trollfjord and The White-Tailed Sea Eagles

Svolvær

Excellent trip!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wildlife Cruise

Tromsø

Excellent trip!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very informative!

Transport

Julia did an amazing job helping me plan my Norway trip from Oslo to Narvis and then to Stockholm. The transportation (train, bus, and air) and lodging arrangements were all taken care of by Julia. She made the trip easy and instruction/directions were easy to follow. She also recommended tours which helped a lot. I would use Julia/KimKim again for my next trip!!

Hotel Reviews

Scandic Nidelven

Trondheim

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Svinøya Rorbuer

Svolvær

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Thon hotel Narvik

Narvik

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Flåmsbrygga Hotel

Flåm

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

A Norwegian evening on the fjord

Oslo

There was no Tour Guide on places we were seeing. And the Shrimp Buffet was crawfish (not shrimp) with only white Bread and Lettuce served. There should be a side-dish or REAL SHRIMP. I was expecting more food items.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ride the Ulriken Cable Car

Bergen

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sightseeing Tour of the Lofoten Islands

Svolvær

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Working with KimKim was a wonderful experience. From the start, it felt very natural to describe what we were after, and then offer comments (thumbs up/thumbs down) on the suggestions offered us. In a short amount of time we had an itinerary that was just what we were after.

Our guide, Tricia, was excellent. She was very responsive, and completely understood our feedback. As our trip to Norway approached, she took some time off, and Tom filled in. There was no interruption of service, and Tom was as efficient and helpful as Tricia.

All of the places we visited were wonderful. Our focus was on small, fiord towns and hiking nearby. Everything exceeded expectations. During the trip, the encountered the usual array of small issues, but KimKim was right there when we needed them, responding to our questions and resolving issues very, very quickly. I don’t think we’ve ever had an a travel agent as efficient and helpful.

We will absolutely use KimKim again for other trips in the future.

Anna has done a fabulous job organizing this trip for us.
She offered us great hotels and restaurants choices, scheduled our trip with manageable distance between travel points .
Anna also asked good questions to find out what kind of travelers we are, we felt we were planning this trip together with her all along.
Her response time is prompt, and always informative.
When we came to Norway, there were road closures due to floods water from heavy rains , and Anna immediately reached out to us with a warning and two alternate routes to reach our destination.
Furthermore, there were colleagues to cover when she was not available herself and we felt that 24 /7we would be able to reach KimKim if we had any difficulties.
We could not recommend Anna, and our experience with KimKim more enthusiastically.
PS: not to be missed: Bergenfor its and history and architecture, Flam, Undredal, the Glacier museum, Fjaerland, and Ålesund, and the long, slow but stunning detour we took from Bergen to Aurland via Myrdal.

I am not going to write much here as I have kept you updated via daily emails.

Hotel Reviews

Thon Hotel Rosenkrantz

Bergen

Room much too small for two people. Lack of storage space; one chair. Other than that, it was centrally located. Breakfasts outstanding. Helpful staff.

Authenticity & Character

It is what it is -

Location

Staff

Always helpful and attentive.

Cleanliness & Comfort

See comments

Kviknes Hotel

Balestrand

One of the best hotels we stayed in -

Authenticity & Character

Location

Short walk to everywhere -

Staff

Helpful, attentive, friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Only problem, since we were in the "old" section was the lack of electric outlets. Staff loaned us an extension cord -

Hotel Aurlandsfjord

Aurland

Central location. Most helpful and responsive staff we encountered which is saying a great deal and all staff at all hotels would qualify.

Authenticity & Character

Don't know what to add, here. Sorry

Location

As older clients we appreciated being in a central location and near transportation. This qualifies

Staff

Hotel Bristol

Oslo

We would give this hotel mixed reviews only because it was so luxurious and we are not that kind of people. I, Maury, was uncomfortable in the dining room as I did not have a sport coat with me and certainly not a suit! The rooms were as one would expect in such an hotel though we had to navigate stairs which was impossible for me to carry with heavy luggage. As the hotel was booked full, the receptionist took it upon herself to carry our two large cases down the stairs. She also arranged to have them carried up when we departed. We returned a couple of days later and had been given a room minus the stairs. Hotel staff seemed a bit aloof but when personally engaged, were full of smiles, stories and helpful directions. Stairs into hotel and a ramp would have been appreciated. We left before breakfast one morning and were told a box breakfast would be waiting; it was not and we had to leave before it could be put together as the taxi was waiting. Central location was great.

Authenticity & Character

Regal.

Location

What can I add? Easy to get to all sights and transportation as well as additional trips we took -

Staff

Once they "unbent" a bit, all were blessedly human

Cleanliness & Comfort

Plenty of towels, WARM bathroom floor! Large desk for our daily blogs to write and send. Comfortable chairs. Lots of storage space. Coffee and tea in the room. Great breakfasts with a regal setting - almost discomforting to us "simple" folk.

Thon Hotel Høyers

Skien

By the time we arrived at our final hotel, we were acclimated to a great breakfast, lift for luggage, helpful staff, central location. Once again, though, we were faced with stairs into the hotel and this continued to be a problem for those, like us, who are 80+ and burdened with luggage and legs no longer spry.

Authenticity & Character

OK - did not explore much. I only rated them as 3 stars because of the lack of interaction with staff and time in Skien. We had no complaints or suggestions and would probably rate them higher if we had more time there.

Location

Can't write much here as we did not take in any sights the short time we were there. We asked this trip to be included in our itinerary because I wanted to meet with paternal cousins whom I'd never met in the past.

Staff

Receptionists; staff in dining room

Cleanliness & Comfort

No. I think previous reviewers were turned off by roadside noise and maybe that could be a problem. We were absent most of the time and there was also some raining which no doubt decreased loud noise outdoors!

Activity Reviews

Bergen Walking Tour With a Local Guide

Bergen

Personable. Adjusted the program for our age , walking speed and distance. It was raining and he did the very best he could and, in fact, based on his suggestions, we went back over the same area when the sun did come out.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Far too many to write about here. Once again, I refer you to our daily updates and give you permission to use the non-personal parts of them for your future clients -

Transport

They were there as arranged which lessened our anxiety as the trip went on.

Mostraumen Fjord Cruise from Bergen

Bergen

At the time, it was amazing but, thanks to your planning, we had even better parts of the fjord tours later!

Quality of Experience

Please refer to our daily write-up

Guides, Drivers and Staff

On time. Helpful. Not pushing and not intrusive, either.

Transport

No

Lifestyle: Balestrand Fjord Angling & Trolling Excursion

Balestrand

The guide made it everything! And we both caught fish! Small but still Norwegian fishes!

Quality of Experience

His knowledge, humor. On the negative side, part of the trip over water was in heavy fog which he sped over at high speed. However, he made sure we understood he grew up there and knew the area very well. Still, we came upon an electric ferry in the mist which he easily avoided but was still a surprise to him! I was a bit anxious because of his speed and the worry about there might be another equally knowledgeable boatman out there also traveling fast.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide provided ware gear, arranged for great photo opportunities, encouraged my wife to pose and fish, told us stories, etc.

Transport

Well, we just walked from hotel to his business -

Explore Oslo's Hidden Gems with a Local Expert

Oslo

Stieg made it all so very good. Like the other guide in Bergen, he adapted his idea of a walking tour to our age and walking abilities.

Quality of Experience

Read and look at our daily texts and pictures

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Knowledge. Humor. Insights. Adaptable.

Transport

Just walking -

Nærøyfjord Cruise & Viking Valley Tour

Norway

In the all day rain, darn it. What we could see and enjoy, it was amazing!

Quality of Experience

Again, probably nothing and the people did the very best they could considering they were also in the rain and doing everything they could with a wet group of tourists!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

They did not allow the rain to "dampen" our spirits -

Transport

Again, we just walked from hotel to ferry.

Oslo Dinner Cruise

Oslo

Really did not find this of interest and, given the opportuntity, would not have gone on it.

Quality of Experience

Nothing. It is what it was.

Food

Well, at our ages, not all that tasty. We have traveled a bit and are open to new food experiences but, still . . .

Guides, Drivers and Staff

They were very good at what they did.

Transport

As I wrote, a slow cruise around a harbor was not something we enjoyed. The 5-course meal was unique but not terribly tasty to us - maybe to others. This experience seemed to be more of a romantic and relaxing excursion than anything at all related to sight-seeing.

Mar created a fabulous trip for us. We were interested in the Fjords and the Lofotons. Mar reserved excellent hotels and excursions. We had a fabulous time. There were several glitches that we created and team member Fenne answered middle of the night calls to fix everything. What could go wrong you ask? Well, I got to the airport with the passport that outdated 6 weeks later, not the new one. We were refused admittance on the international flight from the US. So I frantically worked with the airlines to get tickets for the next day and Fenne managed the hotel and excursions that were missed. What about checking out of a hotel whose computer was down and we couldn't verify whether I had charged dinner to the room or to my credit card. Called Fenne and she managed the problem so I could go on without worry about that detail. What about cancelled flight to Oslo and delayed arrival? Called Fenne while riding in taxi to another airport and she notified the hotel. Life happens while traveling especially at night and on weekends and having a responsive understanding agent was a huge contributor to my wonderful trip. Thank you Mar, thank you Fenne!!!!

We have just completed our 15-day Scandinavia adventure! We found the trip planning and excursions that were suggested by Julia to fit our tastes and also provide enough time for wandering around on our own. In Copenhagen we especially appreciated the personal tours of Kronoberg and Christiansborg castles. In Norway the wonderful stop in Balestrand with the rib boat tour and fjord tours were amazing, along with the accommodations. Having all the trains and boats planned for us was great to allow us to focus more on the locations and less on planning that aspect of travel which was welcomed. The information provided to us prior to the trip was accurate and we only had a few times where things were not as clear but this was likely not KimKim but the specific train company itself. We greatly enjoyed our time and felt we were able to see and do the things we wanted with some guidance but also allowing time for us to discover on our own. I would certainly use KimKim in the future to assist in planning!

Unfortunately Kristina and I never got on the same page. Her idea of a good day was to start early and be busy all day seeing the sights, we are a bit more relaxed in our travel ventures.

Hotel Reviews

Flåmsbrygga Hotel

Flåm

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, Bergen

Bergen

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotell Bondeheimen

Oslo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Britannia

Trondheim

We did not go to Trondheim

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Scandic Göteborg Central

Göteborg

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Dinner Cruise in the Oslofjord

Oslo

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Summer Adventure day in Flåm with Zipline and Bicycle trip

Flåm

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very kind and helpful

Transport

Fjordcruise to Hardanger

Bergen

To spend all day on this trip was a total waste of our time

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Great trip all around. Our guide (Louis) was knowledgable and calm. He showed us some great views, taught us some history of Norwegian farming etc. We did a hike with him in Aurland.
The rib boat excursion was the most memorable with a guide named Theo (Australian)? The trip to the fjords and the waterfalls were fantastic and intimate. Loved the entire experience.
Our own planned hike up a mountain in Bergen was, breathtaking. It took some time but worth every step.
Oslo is vibrant and full of art. It was our port of entry and well worth the few days spent there.
Norway is truly a beautiful country, full of polite and somewhat reserved people until they get to know you.
I would come back and rent a camper van to experience more of the country side

Hotel Reviews

Thon Hotel Astoria

Oslo

Sorry, too jet lagged to recall much of it.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to everything.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Vangsgaarden Gjestgiveri

Aurland

Wonderful little surprise in this little town. Helpful staff, nice beds and peaceful.

Authenticity & Character

It has Norwegian charm and character with friendly staff and good food. Breakfast was beyond good!

Location

If you like the countryside and quiet it is a perfect spot. Good hiking close by. Floating sauna on the docks.

Staff

The staff went out of their way to make everyone comfortable.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was clean and comfortable.

Kviknes Hotel

Balestrand

Located conveniently by the water and docks to catch the ferries. Nice views. A tad pricey.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bergen Børs Hotel

Bergen

Close proximity to city centre and fish market. The main restaurant is a piece of art in itself.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Extremely helpful and knowledgeable front desk staff.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Waterfall Hike Overlooking Aurland

Aurland

The hike was good. Our guide was calm, kind, knowledgeable and fun to walk with. Had some issues with ticks. My husband ended up with 3 on him which we quickly removed. The path got slippery and muddy by the falls but the scenery was outstanding and it was a good way to learn about the agriculture and history of Norway and the region.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We walked to meet him. There was no transport.

Fjord Safari Taste

Norway

Exciting and intimate with a great guide. Saw lots of nooks and crevices most big boats can’t get to. Loved our guide.( Theo) He’s a story teller with interesting details on the fjords and area. I was warm and comfortable in our suits. Loved the wind in my face.

Quality of Experience

Well educated on the area

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Everything

Transport

Fast and efficient

Guided Fjord and Glacier Tour

Norway

Unfortunately our trip was on a cloudy,wet day so the views of the glacier was limited. However…..the museum was superb with a panoramic movie which I loved and the building itself.

Quality of Experience

KIM KIM was on top of it all and very supportive during some minor hiccups.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Norwegian train system is efficient, on time and clean.

Mar and her team made things so easy! I’m usually one who plans her own trips, but between work and managing a home renovation, it was just too much. Mar was so great to work with and so responsive. Our Norway trip was a dream.