Kimkim Trip Reviews for Portugal

Marisa & KimKim team were in constant communication with us throughout our trip. The hotels selected were amazing. All plans went off without a hitch. Great vacation!

Marisa was great to work with during the planning process. The hotels she chose were perfect! Both the Cascais Miragem (in Cascais) and Cascade Wellness (in Lagos) were perfectly located and offered everything we could have asked for. The Cascade Wellness hotel is a ocean front resort and offers direct access to the walking trails along the cliffs and to the beaches. We found the Cascais Miragem to be a perfect mix of walking distance to the town (10 mins) and luxury amenities that we needed at the end of our trip. Day trip to Sintra and stops along the Cascias coast were worth the time for a day trip. Marisa was was always responsive to our questions and made really great suggestions to fill out the trip for us. We didn't end up eating at any of her restaurant suggestions as we prefer to find them ourselves but they all looked to be excellent choices if you don't want to research those yourself. Having a driver available for airport transport and the Sintra trip made things very convenient. Rental car process was seamless and easy. Don't be intimidated with tackling the drive from Lisbon to Lagos yourself. It was easier than expected. We only had to to spend 15 minutes driving in Lisbon then it was out into the countryside on the open road highway. Our 16 year old son said this was a Great trip form him as well. Other observations: don't worry about the language as everyone there speaks english and the Metros in Lisbon were safe, efficient, clean and easy to navigate. Thanks Marisa and the KimKim team!

Our guide for the Sintra hike was spectacular! He went above and beyond to educate us on the history, to customize the day to what we wanted, and took pictures for us.
Anytime we needed to contact our support team, we revived timely responses that solved the issue. Having the app with the itinerary was also very handy. We had the best week :)

Activity Review

Sintra Heritage Hike: Hidden Secrets

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide went above and beyond to ensure we enjoyed the day!

Transport

João and Pablo did a great job keeping us on track with their daily updates. The suggestions they made were greatly appreciated.
Our drivers Carlos and Fabio were the best.. always on time,, providing some history lessons, and going a little out of their way to assure that we got to see some extras.

Hotel Review

Estoril Vintage Hotel

Estoril

A very special experience. Walk into the beautiful lobby and take in the charm of this “once home”, now hotel. Have your welcome drink on the terrace overlooking the ocean . Use your Portuguese to chat with friendly staff. Enjoy the view from your spacious room. Take a short walk through the lovely streets of Estoril before heading down to the water. The food here is excellent, so be sure to have a special dinner there.

Authenticity & Character

Stunning building, beautiful decor and very professional and friendly staff

Location

Very short walk to coastline.

Staff

Very attentive, welcoming, and helpful. You can tell they enjoy their work.

Cleanliness & Comfort

All downstairs sitting rooms, bar area, restaurant and certainly rooms were very clean and comfortable.

Activity Reviews

Lisbon's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour & Tastings

Lisbon

Our guide was a young woman named Anna. Her passion for history was evident through her knowledge and enthusiasm. She guided us through different areas of Lisbon and took us to historical places as well as the best views via elevators. The tour ended with a delightful wine tasting and sampling of cheeses and hams. This was only for us. The wine expert talked about some different wines from Portugal, especially its vinho verde. Of course we bought one.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Immerse Yourself in the Portuguese Culture by Experiencing a Fado Dinner

Lisbon

Our driver took us up narrow, winding roads to a restaurant that is famous for Fados. We enjoyed a very nice meal, good wines, and were treated to a performance of guitar and singing. The songs were often about the sea and of course love. I especially loved the guitars.

Quality of Experience

We were treated so well and the people were so warm and friendly.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Profesional, passionate about their work, and a desire to see that guests were getting the best experience.

Transport

Great drivers, excellent public transportation such as metros, short train rides, long train rides in first class car, and Ubers.

Exclusive Panoramic Boat Tour to the Ponta da Piedade Caves

Portugal

A great way to see the stunning rock formations. Your motorboat takes you through the arches of the walls. The guides are knowledgeable and great at handling the boats.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Embark on a Flavorful Cooking Class with a Meal at the Farm

Portugal

We had a lovely evening visiting the farm of Mariana and Inez. Their family has had this farm for many years and all work to keep it going. Our cooking class with Inez was a real highlight of the trip. With her guidance, we four prepared a 3 course meal. We all took part in the creation of a meal fit for a king. After the meal was ready, Inez and Mariana set the dining room table and served us the meal we had prepared. It was a wonderful experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Fresh seafood, wines, couvert, cheeses, and desserts.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Their warmth and kindness. I had started taking Portuguese classes a few weeks before the trip. I was anxious to see what I could do. The people with whom I interacted were patient and helpful.

Transport

João from Across Portugal did a fantastic job helping us plan our 12-day vacation in Portugal. In the planning stage he offered suggestions after listening to our needs and preferences. We emailed back and forth until we had the perfect trip for us. Then Across Portugal did all the booking and sent a detailed itinerary to review.
Once we were in Portugal, everything went like clockwork. We had a walking tour of Lisbon with Anna, who had lots of history and contemporary information to share with us. Our driver, Carlos, was with us several times during the trip and we had lots of opportunities to learn about his country from him. We felt safe in his hands and enjoyed his company. He also gave us good suggestions for places to eat.
Another highlight of the trip was our cooking lesson in Tavira with Inez and Mariana. We loved visiting their farm and learning to cook cataplana and other delicious traditional Portuguese dishes. We wished we had more time to explore Tavira. It is a much smaller town than the other places we stayed.
João checked in with us each day to tell us what to expect and make sure all was going well. He rebooked a cancelled boat excursion before we even knew it happened! The joys of having an in-country travel agent!
In sum, I highly recommend Across Portugal, João in particular, to help you plan and execute a magnificent vacation in beautiful Portugal!!!

Hotel Reviews

Heritage Avenida Liberdade

Lisboa

Lovely boutique hotel located perfectly in historic Lisbon. Great staff, delicious breakfasts, beautiful decor. Everyone was friendly and helpful

Authenticity & Character

Warm and friendly

Location

Walk to shops, restaurants, historic sections of town and the metro.

Staff

Greeted us every time we came in the door with smiles and words expressing interest in us.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was clean and comfortable

Casa Mãe Lagos

Lagos

This hotel is unusual for us. We stayed in the minimalist rooms and enjoyed the care with which they were furnished and decorated. The balcony was an enjoyable place to relax. We loved the restaurant and the wellness drinks on offer! Dinner was excellent as were the breakfasts. The beauty of Casa Mae is also outside of their buildings. The garden is a centerpiece, even in February and the pools look enchanting, although it wasn’t warm enough for us to be tempted.

Authenticity & Character

Quite unusual compound of buildings and gardens. All renovated with care and creativity.

Location

The hotel has a great location inside the historic wall on a hill above the center of town. It was an easy walk to the water, shops, and restaurants and it was very quiet at night.

Staff

Everyone was very friendly and helpful. Solange, Barbara and Candela stand out.

Cleanliness & Comfort

In a minimalist room a traveler must work a bit to keep things tidy. Each day the housekeeper would have everything in order for us!

Pousada Convento de Tavira - Historic Hotel

Tavira

We were only here one night and wished it could have been longer.

Authenticity & Character

It survived the earthquake of 1755 and is a gorgeous building. Lots of space.

Location

Tavira seems like a cozy small town. The pousada is at the top of a hill next to a beautiful garden.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Estoril Vintage Hotel

Estoril

This gorgeous small hotel was the best of the best. The staff makes every effort to help you feel at home and every detail was considered in planning and decorating. Every where you look you find something beautiful. The restaurant was excellent and the location was convenient to everything we wanted. The terrace overlooking the water was unforgettable. Nothing better than sitting there, sipping a drink and watching the waves.

Authenticity & Character

Feels like a gorgeous, stately old home, which is what it was.

Location

We didn’t have a car and loved the short walk to the beach promenade which seemed to go for miles. Stunning neighborhood also.

Staff

Attentive and warm and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Perfectly maintained

Activity Reviews

To Eat Suggestion: Cervejaria Trindade

Lisbon

Lisbon's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour & Tastings

Lisbon

Anna was full of information. She tailored the walking experience to our needs. Answered all our questions and was fun to be with.

Unveil the Fairytale Villa of Sintra with a Private Driver Service

Portugal

This is a crowded tourist spot even in February. The drive up the mountain is interesting!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Carlos knew some tricks to avoid the crowds and make the best of the day’s experiences. We were glad we listened to him

Transport

When we weren’t walking or on a train, we were driven by Carlos in his immaculate Mercedes van. Smooth and quiet on the highway.

Immerse Yourself in the Portuguese Culture by Experiencing a Fado Dinner

Lisbon

If you haven’t seen and heard fado, you must. The guitar playing is amazing but I can’t quite relate to the singing style.

Quality of Experience

Food

The food was really pretty good for a dinner theatre experience.

Exclusive Panoramic Boat Tour to the Ponta da Piedade Caves

Portugal

We do a lot of personal boating, so we weren’t sure how much we would enjoy this. However, it was a lot of fun and really special to see the rocks and cliffs from the water side. The guides on the boat were safe and entertaining.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Embark on a Flavorful Cooking Class with a Meal at the Farm

Portugal

This was our favorite experience of the whole trip. These families are working hard to create a sustainable organic farm, raise their children and earn a living. They are so proud of their home, their property and products. It was an inspiring evening. We had a great time cooking and chatting and eating.

Quality of Experience

Amazing farm and home.

Food

Traditional cataplana main course with fried goat cheese starter and light dessert I can’t remember the name of.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great chef Inez! She explained the chemistry of our cooking method.

Working with Diana to plan our Portugal trip was such a pleasure!! She and her awesome team have made our 30th anniversary celebration a memorable one.
I really don't know how we could have managed such a wonderful vacation so easily if I hadn't contacted her via KimKim. She and her colleagues took care of every single, minute detail during our 5 day trip. Right from the very first call to the time we boarded our flights out of Lisbon, she was w/ us via What'sApp, checking-in at regular intervals, giving a heads-up regarding the next day expectations.
I also have to give special thanks to our drivers and guides Rafael and Ricardo. They have made our day trips to Sintra, drive around Lisbon, drive to Porto a breeze and such an informative trip - stopping at all the right places and being the best local guides :)
Overall, I would highly recommend Diana and her team to anyone who is planning a trip to Portugal. You will be doing yourselves a favor :)

Activity Reviews

Unveil the Fairytale Villa of Sintra with a Private Driver Service

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver plus guide for the day , Rafhael, was very friendly, punctual and ensured we did not miss any important/interesting spot.

Transport

Very punctual pickup/drop; clean vehicle

Porto's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour

Porto

Ana was our walking tour guide for the day. She was very pleasant, friendly and easy to talk to, has a good understanding of local history. 3.5 hrs just flew by going around this historic town w/ Ana. I would recommend this walking tour to folks who are able to comfortably walk around - esp hilly ups/downs.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This was my first experience using kimkim and their local agent, Diana, in Portugal, and I will not travel again without contacting them! It was the most seamless, wonderful trip I have experienced. Every detail of the trip was arranged prior to our departure, all with our feedback and suggestions, as needed. Having never been to Portugal, we were grateful for Diana's suggestions on locations to visit and the amount of time allotted for each. I am a female who was traveling with my sister-in-law and 27 year old daughter, and we all agreed it was the most amazing experience.

The private driver service was a game changer! Prior to our travel, we had suggested to Diana that we may not need a private driver; however, she responded that this was the best way to travel without stress and enjoy local knowledge as we traveled. Our main driver, Costa, was beyond amazing. He was professional, polite, kind, attentive, and always receptive to our requests to stay longer in a location or move on. It was like traveling in a high-end van with a tour guide and secret service (no safety concerns, but Costa watched our every move)! Costa helped arrange for restaurants during several stops, and we were treated like royalty by the staff. We had our most amazing meal overlooking the ocean in a restaurant in Cascais on Costa's recommendation.

The hotels arranged by Diana were amazing. We were pleasantly surprised at each of our three accommodations, but especially overwhelmed in Lisbon and Cascais. The staff at the hotels were professional and kind, and the breakfast options that were included were excellent.

We also took advantage of a few walking tours and excursions recommended by Diana. Each of the tour guides seemed very concerned at our satisfaction level, and we enjoyed the private aspect of the tours in giving us a chance to ask questions and take detours at our discretion.

In every piece of our travel, we felt that we were offered higher levels of accommodations and service based on the service providers' desire to keep good standing with Diana and Across Portugal. Diana was quick to respond when we had questions, and there were no unpleasant surprises along the way. Many thanks to kimkim and Diana at Across Portugal for the trip of a lifetime!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Britania Art Deco

Lisboa

The hotel location, decor, rooms, and service were exceptional. We were on a quiet street, yet only blocks from the high end district. The rooms were beautiful and well-appointed.

Authenticity & Character

Amazing that they were able to bring an historic building up to current and exceptional comforts.

Location

The hotel is on a quiet street, yet only a block or two from city center.

Staff

All of the front desk staff were amazing. The bartender was exceptional, as well.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The beds were amazing, as well as the bathroom.

Condes de Azevedo Palace

Porto

The hotel was beautiful and nice that the apartment offered separate bedrooms and a common area, dining table, and kitchen. It was on a very busy and noisy street, and the bedrooms were up a flight of narrow stairs with a tight turn, making luggage a bit of a challenge.

Authenticity & Character

Location

The hotel provided easy access to the river as well as central Porto.

Staff

At check-in, we were offered a quick tour of the apartment, but no assistance with getting our luggage up the stairs to the bedroom. We also asked for a recommendation for wine and pizza and were directed to a hotel that did not serve pizza (which seems trivial, but we were very specific in our request).

Cleanliness & Comfort

The apartment was very clean, but there were no extra amenities such as extra towels or pillows.

Hotel Cascais Miragem

Cascais

Every aspect of this hotel was amazing. It was one of the nicest hotels experienced by anyone in our group. We did not want to leave!

Authenticity & Character

The hotel is spacious and well designed. The fresh floral arrangements and design were impeccable.

Location

The oceanfront location cannot be beat. The restaurant, bar, pool, and balconies all have amazing views of the ocean.

Staff

The cleaning staff offered turndown service, fresh towels throughout the day, pillow options, etc. and were so kind and professional.

Cleanliness & Comfort

This hotel offers every amenity. It is exceptional.

Activity Reviews

Lisbon's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour & Tastings

Lisbon

The private tour of Lisbon offered just the right level of detail on the history and current state of Lisbon. Our tour guide was kind, fun, knowledgeable and professional.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We felt that we would have liked to have our guide as a friend. She was kind and fun.

Transport

This was a walking tour that was just the right level of challenge and comfort.

Unveil the Fairytale Villa of Sintra with a Private Driver Service

Portugal

Our driver was beyond amazing in his professionalism and knowledge of the area. We enjoyed Pena Palace but especially enjoyed Sintra and the brief tour of Cascais.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We cannot say enough good things about our driver. He was extremely professional, kind, attentive, and helpful. We loved Costa!

Transport

The high end van and private driver offered a wonderful way to see the area.

Immerse Yourself in the Portuguese Culture by Experiencing a Fado Dinner

Lisbon

The atmosphere and music offered great insight into the Portuguese culture. We appreciated how much all native Portuguese love the Fado music. It is beautiful.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Porto's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour

Porto

Porto is beautiful and we walked through some amazing locations. Our guide offered an extensive history of Porto and Portugal as a country - perhaps a little too extensive, at times. We would have preferred to cover a little more ground and see more sights.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was very kind and knowledgeable. He could benefit from being a little more aware of the attention level of his visitors. To his credit, he is very passionate about the history of Portugal and the style of buildings, etc.

Transport

We would have preferred more walking and less standing and talking.

The Flavors of Port Wine - Sip & Discover

Porto

Beautiful location and interesting tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Seamless Discovery - The Ultimate Douro Valley Experience with Private Driver Service

Portugal

The Douro Valley is amazing and beautiful. We enjoyed the views and the winery tour; however, the time spent in the car seemed a bit excessive.

Quality of Experience

Having been on vineyard tours in other countries, we would have foregone this experience due to the travel time to and from the area.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Douro River Escape: 1-Hour Exclusive Cruise

Portugal

The guides on the boat were wonderful; however, the boat tour was a bit underwhelming. We traveled a short distance down the river and back and really did not see anything overwhelming - perhaps because we live in a part of the world that also has beautiful rivers and hills :)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Indulge in Elegance on a Guided Winery Tour Infused with Tastings and a Delicious Lunch

Portugal

The lunch was wonderful. We did enjoy the tour of the vineyards, but having been to other vineyards, we would have opted not to do this experience.

Quality of Experience

Lunch was exceptional!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cascais-Sintra Exclusive E-Bike Adventure

Portugal

The weather was not conducive to a bike tour that day, yet the guide suggested we continue. We thought we would be transported to the park by car, but we left the hotel on bike after only a brief introduction to the e-bikes and traveled on side walks and through the narrow city streets. Due to the wet tiles on the street, one member of our party wrecked their bike after two previous near falls. Thankfully, she wasn't seriously hurt, but had a large bruise on her cheek and a sizeable scrape on her knee. We returned to the hotel without seeing the park. Our travel agent, Diana, was exceptionally concerned about the injury and make sure our injured traveler did not need additional care. Diana also immediately refunded our fees for the tour.

Quality of Experience

I am an experienced biker; however, I was very uncomfortable following our guide through city streets with pedestrians. The workings of the e-bike deserve more than a brief introduction.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This was our third trip with KimKim, and we cannot say enough positive things about our previous experiences in Costa Rica and Peru. Unfortunately, our trip to Portugal and Spain did not meet the same standard of quality. Given the total cost of $7,885, we expected a much higher level of service and organization.

Coraima was easy to communicate with and thoroughly reviewed our itinerary. However, as she is based in California rather than Spain or Portugal, she was unable to assist effectively when issues arose. We were also informed that we would have a local contact, Summer, to address any on-the-ground questions. However, we later discovered that Summer resides in Amsterdam and not in Portugal or Spain. One of the core selling points of KimKim is the promise of working with local experts who have in-depth knowledge of the destination, and this discrepancy was deeply disappointing.

Lisbon:
Hotel AlmaLusa was in a convenient location with a wonderful staff. We especially appreciated the thoughtful parting gifts of locally made soaps.

The food tour was satisfactory but did not meet the standard of previous food tours we have taken in other cities. For instance, in Lima, we were given demonstrations on how the dishes were prepared at three different locations, which added depth and engagement that this tour lacked.

The half-day trip to Sintra was another point of contention. The itinerary suggested a comprehensive exploration of key sites, including Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, and the historical center. The listing, combined with an image captioned "Private Half Day Trip to Sintra," implied that we would visit all these locations. However, our guide informed us that he could not take us to both the Palace and Quinta da Regaleira due to a prior commitment at 2:00 PM. If we wanted to visit Quinta da Regaleira, we would need to find our own way back via Uber after he dropped us off at the gate. We had to personally cover the entrance fee and the cost of the Uber, which should be reimbursed as these expenses were not communicated in advance. The itinerary was misleading and did not accurately reflect the services provided.

The transfer from Lisbon to Lagos proceeded without any issues.

Lagos: While we appreciated Bluefeet Rib boat company contacting us to adjust our tour time due to weather, it was frustrating that I had to personally attempt to contact the driver to arrange an earlier pick-up. Despite messaging via WhatsApp, I received no response. For the price of this trip, we expected better coordination without having to manage logistics ourselves.

The Lagos Avenida Hotel posed significant issues. The bathroom design was particularly problematic—when entering the room, you were immediately in the bathroom area. The sink was located approximately three feet from the bed, making it disruptive to use during the night. The toilet was enclosed in glass with a swinging door, offering little privacy and amplifying sound. Additionally, the room was uncomfortably hot at night.

Seville:
The transfer from Lagos to Seville was smooth, and we enjoyed the company of our driver. Las Casas de la Juderia was a pleasant hotel in a convenient location. However, on our second night, the guests in the room above us engaged in a loud and prolonged argument. After enduring the noise for an hour, we had to contact the front desk to intervene.

Our history and culture walk with Rosa was a highlight. She had an engaging personality, spoke excellent English, and provided an insightful tour. In contrast, our Cathedral and Alcazar tour with Cristina was underwhelming, as we found her presentation style difficult to follow and not engaging.

The Flamenco show was a delightful experience. The six performers exhibited wonderful chemistry, and we thoroughly enjoyed their performance.

Return to Lisbon:
Our flight from Seville to Lisbon was stressful due to unclear documentation. Unlike our experience in Peru, where the driver escorted us into the airport and guided us through the check-in process, we were simply dropped off and left to navigate on our own. This lack of support was confusing and added unnecessary anxiety.

The final and most frustrating issue occurred when our driver failed to pick us up for our transfer to the airport. Despite multiple calls and messages, there was no response, forcing us to book an Uber at our own expense. Given the stress and inconvenience this caused, we believe we should be reimbursed for this transfer.

In summary, this trip fell far short of the exceptional experiences we previously had with KimKim. The lack of local expertise, poor communication, and several logistical failures made this the most disappointing vacation we have ever taken. For a trip costing nearly $8,000, we expected far better service and support throughout the journey.

Hotel Reviews

Lagos Avenida Hotel

Lagos

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Put in a proper bathroom

Las Casas de la Judería

Seville

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel AlmaLusa Baixa/Chiado

Lisbon

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Private Portuguese Food Walk

Lisbon

The food tour was satisfactory but did not meet the standard of previous food tours we have taken in other cities. For instance, in Lima, we were given demonstrations on how the dishes were prepared at three different locations, which added depth and engagement that this tour lacked.

Amazing 3 days in Porto, Lisbon. Our trip was short but everything was arranged properly and on time right from pickup at airport as well as the tours. The tour of Duoro valley wineries with Migel was great and highly recommended. The hotels in Porto and Lisboa were very comfortable and conveniently located in city center, close walk to to major attractions. The Fado dinner at Lisboa is a must do!

Hotel Reviews

Pousada Porto - Rua das Flores

Porto

The rooms are cozy and modern. The breakfast is great and it's very close to major attractions. Porto has a lot of steep streets, so if walking is a challenge, plenty of taxis are available (5-7 euro max). Did not need Uber.

Authenticity & Character

Location

private street with restricted entry for vehicles makes it easy to walk around

Staff

Amazing and very helpful. Everyone can speak English and that's a plus

Cleanliness & Comfort

wonderful clean rooms. Appeared a little small once you get it it's perfect

H10 Duque de Loule

Lisboa

This hotel is located centrally and it's definitely premium. Every corner is well appointed, clean and fresh. Plenty of staff, great bar and breakfast. I would rate this 4-5 stars easy

Authenticity & Character

Has a unique decor with blue tiles theme

Location

Just off main shopping streets. Easy access by cabs if needed

Staff

Plenty of staff to help with luggage, answer questions etc.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Superb rooms. Awesome shower and great views!!

Activity Reviews

Day Excursion to Douro Valley: Wine Tasting & River Cruise

Porto

This was an awesome tour! I have been to NAPA valley but Duoro is just amazing. Breathtaking views as you drive up and down the valley. The guide Migel was fantastic and we had wine tastings at a small family owned winery and also one owned by a major corporation. This gave us both perspectives. We also had a cruise on the river which was amazing. Higky recommend a tour of Duoro valley with a guide

Quality of Experience

Totally worth your time

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Migel was amazing driver and guide

Transport

Fado Dinner Experience

Lisbon

This is a must do to appreciate the culture and music of Portugal. The dinner was amazing and so was the music.

Quality of Experience

Food

It's a full course meal with starters, entree and dessert plus Wine!

With our significant input, Coraima and Kim Kim came through on their promise of a great 6 vacation in Portugal
Here are pics of some of our great guides and experiences

The whole trip was great! Every hotel was beautiful and welcoming. Our guide Joao was knowledgeable and fun to be with. He adjusted our excursions as needed for weather and went out of his way to show us around and accommodate our interests. He made Portugal special for us.

Tiago was a great specialist. He set up the Azores trip perfectly. Although the weather (January is an iffy proposition) was not cooperating for some of the days, Tiago continued to check in with suggestions. Most importantly when the car rental agency was having system issues, Tiago was available immediately by phone and follow-up to provide additional support and help take corrective actions. As we consider additional trips to Portugal I would absolutely engage Tiago again.

This was our first visit to Portugal so we decided to work with a professional travel company. We are glad we did.

Kim Kim exceeded our expectations! From the first contact with our representative (Helena Fernadez) until we were dropped at the Lisbon airport for our flight home, everything went exactly as planned.

Over a one week trip with visits to Lisbon, Porto, Evora, Obidos, the Douro Valley and numerous other villages and towns, there was lots to do. What stood out for us was the quality of the Portuguese food, the wine and the hospitality of the people. All came together for an enjoyable seven days.

We interacted with guides, drivers, restaurant staff, hotel representatives and other individuals along our trip. All afforded a warm level of service and care. But certain individuals went above and beyond.

Our driver from Lisbon to Porto and back Mr. Nuno Neves was exceptional. He shared his love of Portugal with us, facilitated our visits to small interesting villages and seemed always to be looking out for us. Well done Nuno. Much appreciated.

When we were in the Douro Vally, it was my wife’s birthday. Our guide/driver Bruno took that as his challenge to ensure we had a special visit. From tasting wine on the river cruise, to having the owner and guests of a small family restaurant high above the valley sing Happy Birthday in Portuguese. Very special.

It was a wonderful week. Thank-you to all the kim kim staff for making it happen for us.

Raquel was the best! She worked with us to tailor the trip exactly to our description. We were able to work with Raquel on how we wanted each day to be - activity, free time, transportation - so we could enjoy the location without hassle of trying to figure things out in a new environment. The airport and train station pickups and drop offs were really nice. The little things mattered a lot to us during the trip. Even when things did not go smoothly, we were able to get a hold of the support folks to smooth out and solve the situation. It was comforting to know we could lean on them during all of the trip.

The tour guides were very professional and accommodating to our needs. There was an instance when the hike we were looking forward to turned out to a more of a leisurely walk. The guide took it upon himself to show us a different spot which was more of the hike we had intended to do. Then when the weather turned ugly, we were taken to an alternate location which was a surprise and extremely enjoyable. In the end it turned out to be a great day even though it was not something we were looking forward to at the beginning of the tour. Kudos to the travel agents on picking people who are knowledgeable as well as empathetic.

This is the third time we have used the kimkim service to book trips and each one has been excellent! On this trip, Raquel was a true star, making sure everything worked out great. We are recommending kimkim to everyone we know as well as using the service for future trips.

Thank you Raquel and Kimkim for the wonderful memories.

This trip was a much needed trip for us and Tiago really listened to us and made it truly memorable.
We got a very deep understanding of Portuguese history and Tiago made it come alive for us. Other than the usual sights we saw, he also took us to the Benfica and sporting stadiums that made the trip more personal for us. And last but not least …. He took us to the best places to eat and we had the most amazing variety of Portuguese food. We enjoyed it so much, one of the fist things we did when we got back was google, “best Portuguese food near us”
Loved every moment of our time in Lisbon and Porto and all the places we saw in between.

Hotel Reviews

Empire Marquês Hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Walking distance to a lot of places.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Jardim da Batalha Boutique Hotel by Shiadu

Porto

Authenticity & Character

Had a garden and you got home made cookies in the front desk

Location

Close to everything in town.

Staff

So helpful and extremely nice.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Large rooms and everything was clean.

Activity Reviews

Cascais & Sintra Guided Visit

Portugal

We started by meeting Tiago and got going! It was so fun and beautiful and enjoyable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Óbidos visit

Portugal

I loved óbidos. Such a cute little town. It was like being in a fairy tale. The cherry wine in chocolate cups…. So fun.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunset Cruise of Lisbon

Lisbon

Was the first thing we did in Lisbon… and it was a great way to get to know the city and enjoy the easy going trip

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour of Lisbon

Lisbon

We saw everything in one day…. And more!! Tiago is an amazing guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Porto (Half-Day Guided Walking Tour)

Porto

Porto is such a vibrant city… was really nice to see it on foot. We crossed bridges, went in boats and even took the cable car! Was a great experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Port Wine Tasting Tour

Porto

The guide was very knowledgeable… but spoke too fast to understand her.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

After weeks of planning with Hector, our first trip to Portugal during Christmas was fantastic! Hector was patient, flexible, responsive and very helpful, including Marta and the Espiritu Team too.
Highlights:
-Bessa Hotel Liberdade was top-notch!

Tuk-tuk tour of Lisbon was a fun and unique way to see the city. They had one blanket that was great

Marta was very knowledgeable about the different sights we saw on our tour of Cascais and Sintra, from local artists to the history of different famous buildings. She also brought us to an authentic Portuguese lunch spot where we enjoyed a variety of good foods. She was very flexible and accomodating when we expressed an interest in seeing Pena Palace rather than another place. Pena Palace is worth it for the first time visitor, especially during off-season winter holidays. Lines were manageable. Waiting for the shuttle took the longest, but if you're fit, take the 10min walk up the hill. Excellent views and many interesting details inside the palace itself.

Our driver for Obidos, Fatima and Porto was friendly and very helpful.

Braga and Guimaraes were lovely day trips and our guide was excellent! He reserved a fantastic restaurant for lunch in a historic building and gave us a superb tour of the places.

Enjoyed climbing the Clerigos tower on Christmas and going to a Portuguese mass.

The bike tour in Porto with Biclas and Triclas was also great and the company did a good job helping us get to our train on time while still seeing all of the beautiful viewpoints in Lisbon. Piedro, our guide was excellent in navigating us through the city safely and shared his wealth of knowledge about the city sights. Our first time on E-bikes, it was perfect for the hilly terrain.

Our train back to Lisbon was a little delayed and we didn't realize that there were 2 stops in Lisbon and got off early at Oriente instead of the other one!

Things that could be improved:
- Mercure Hotel Santa Catarina in Porto was not 4 star worthy! Staff were pleasant, buffet breakfast was good, but compared to Bessa Hotel, it really was more 3-star caliber. Our first room had a strong moldy smell and they moved us without hassle, but having that experience in the first place was unpleasant. Floor was linoleum out of the 1970s, with no robes or slippers and no view. The room our kids and grandmother were in had a great city view.

Definitely recommend Portugal for the winter holidays.

Hotel Reviews

Mercure Porto Centro Santa Catarina

PORTO

Very surprised this is considered a 4-star hotel. Staff were pleasant, buffet breakfast was good with panoramic city views, but compared to Bessa Hotel, it really was more 3-star caliber. Our first room had a strong moldy smell and they moved us without hassle, but having that experience in the first place was unpleasant. Floor was an odd linoleum with no robes, slippers or body lotion,no view and room was small with a double bed. Surprisingly, practical dental kits were bathroom amenities. Our children’s triple room had a great city view.

Location

Close to the main shopping districts

Staff

Pleasant and professional. Moved us right away when we called about the moldy smell.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Moldy smell, possibly from the bathroom bidet in our first room.

BessaHotel Liberdade

Lisboa

Authenticity & Character

Location

Walkable to shops and Rossi, but for some reason, carshare had difficulty finding the place

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Get to know Porto by E-bike

Porto

Piedro, our guide was excellent! Skilled at navigating us safely through the city and sharing his wealth of knowledge about everything Porto. Our first time on E-bikes, it was perfect for the hilly terrain and we covered a lot of ground! Sara was also great helping us get the bikes together and our carshare back to our hotel.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

E-Bikes were in excellent condition, easy to ride and maneuver

Pedro was extremely responsive to us while planning the trip, and we were so impressed by the reminders he sent while we were on the trip. Everything was flawless. One of my sons got sick while on the trip and Pedro as well as our driver showed great concern for his well-being, offering to help in any way needed. Everything for the trip was put togehter so thoughtfully. We loved every aspect of it. We are recommending Kim Kim and Across Portugal to friends who want to vacation in Portugal. They could not do better!

Hotel Reviews

Condes de Azevedo Palace

Porto

We shared a fabulous duplex with our two young-adult sons. It was perfect for us, with 2 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and kitchen/living room. All the furniture was modern but mixed with original granite - very beautiful! The breakfast was also excellent.

Authenticity & Character

Location

We walked everywhere we wanted to go; it was near everything, including the bridge to Gaia.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pousada Convento De Belmonte

Belmonte

We stayed in the suite, which has so much beauty and character. The view is stunning. We highly recommend the restaurant which made the whole experience truly special.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Beautiful view of the mountains and Belmonte is a charming medieval town.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

PortoBay Liberdade

Lisbon

Our rooms were extremely comfortable; the sheets were the softest I have ever felt. The lobby is very tasteful and modern. The restaurant was excellent. We really enjoyed th indoor pool.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Porto's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour

Porto

Bernardo was an excellent guide, very knowledgeable and well spoken. He knew we were interested in Jewish history so he made it a point to show us some of that particular history. For us, the trip could have focused less on shopping, but still an amazing experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

About: Belmonte

Belmonte

This is a particularly wonderful place for those interested in the history of Jews in Portugal, but it's wonderful for everyone. The town is beautiful. We ate a great restaurant full of locals right in the center of town.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

It's a scenic drive from Belmonte to Lisbon.

Immerse Yourself in the Portuguese Culture by Experiencing a Fado Dinner

Lisbon

This is a small space so everyone has an intimate experience with the performers, who were excellent. We did not expect much from the food, but it was very good. This is the best way to experience fado.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Unveil the Fairytale Villa of Sintra with a Private Driver Service

Portugal

The palace is very well maintained with original furnishings. The views are pretty. It was very crowded, however, which detracted from the experience. The better part of this day trip for us was visiting Cabo da Roca and the seaside town of Cascais, where we ate at an excellent seafood restaurant. This part of the trip had amazing views of the ocean and cliffs - very impressive natural beauty.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Carlos is local to the area and he took us to the most beautiful spots. He was extremely attentive to us. Just perfect!

Transport

Beautiful drive along the ocean on the way back to Lisbon.

Marina was very responsive and had an amazing itinerary for us. We had young kids and this was very kid friendly. Our guides were great with kids. Our accommodations were very comfortable and nice, and close to all the destinations. We walked to most places. Highly recommend Marina and kimkim.

Raquel was excellent! We loved our trip, she did such a fantastic job. The tours she selected for us were perfect. The catamaran was a highlight for sure!

Activity Reviews

Douro Valley Excursion with Wine & Olive Oil Tastings & River Cruise

Porto

This was a perfect day! The guide was excellent and we the scenery was stunning.

Catamaran Cruise to Benagil & Carvoeiro w/Snorkeling & SUP

Portugal

This could not have been more perfect! The group was small and the guides were fun. We loved this experience.

Coraima was knowledgeable, patient and kind. I would easily recommend her to friends. Great activities, hotel and restaurant suggestions. We saw and did everything we wanted to do and the logistics were seamless.. Excellent communication by her and Lea- prompt and specific. This was our second KimKim vacation and we look forward to planning our third!