Kimkim Trip Reviews for Portugal

KimKim made planning our trip to Portugal fun, personal, and customizable. Our local specialist, Karin, was incredibly thoughtful and attentive a long the way - including through the planning process and logistics on the ground. We cannot sing her praises enough!

We really enjoyed our time in Portugal! The guides were great! Paola was wonderful on the Lisbon Culinary Experience tour. She shared lots of local info and had a great sense of humor. Alex was an excellent guide for our guided tour of the city. He made a wonderful adjustment to the tour based on the starting point at our hotel and took good care of us in the heat. It’s so nice to see a city through the eyes of a local. We thoroughly enjoyed our time with Paolo on our day-long excursion to Sintra, Cascais, and Estoril. Such an amazing area! The delicious food! The sights! The history! He also took good care of us in the unusual heat. Our water expeditions in Lagos didn’t work as expected, but the wind does not respect schedules. We enjoyed the one we were able go on, even with the change of itinerary. Martin had so much to share about Evora and the Alentejo region! He had to adjust his tour plan because we had already visited one of the places, but he did that quite smoothly. Somehow, the wine-tasting portion of the Jeep tour was left off the schedule, but learning about cork was fascinating. We loved the visit to olive oil farm and lunch with the owners! In Coimbra, Gil was a delightful guide. I will repeat how nice it is to hear about an area through from a local.
Our lodgings were entirely sufficient. They were clean, comfortable, safe, and centrally located. We were able to walk to restaurants and sights. The people at the front desks were very friendly and extremely helpful. They always offered restaurant suggestions and directions. The man at the Casual Belle Epoque in Lisbon gave us advice that saved us many, many steps up and down hills! The beach below the Carvi Beach Hotel in Lagos is a wonderful place to explore at low tide. The Noble House in Evora is in an amazing medieval house. The Oslo Hotel in Coimbra has a wonderful rooftop terrace that has a wonderful view of the University of Coimbra. It was lovely at sunset.
The private transfers made travel between cities so easy! It was a wonderful splurge. The only place we had any issue was finding our driver at the Lisbon airport the first morning. But we did finally find him.
When we had questions, the kimkim staff was very responsive. We only started planning the trip about 5 weeks before our departure date. Marina was easy to work with and very responsive to our interests and our budget. We would definitely recommend her and kimkim to other travelers.

Activity Reviews

Lisbon Foodie Experience

Lisbon

I loved hearing the stories behind the local dishes.

Get to Know Lisbon with a Local

Lisbon

Private Day Excursion: Sintra, Cascais & Estoril

Portugal

Catamaran Cruise to Benagil & Carvoeiro w/Snorkeling & SUP

Portugal

Due to the wind and rough water, we didn’t get to Benagil. But the captain kept us safe and comfortable and took us to an alternate site to play in the water.

Privately Guided Visit of Évora

Portugal

Excursion to Alentejo - Jeep Safari Through a Cork Fork & Visit to an Olive Oil Estate

Lisbon

The cork part was fascinating and the trip to the small olive oil farm was wonderful!

Guided Visit of Historic Coimbra

Portugal

Tiago was absolutely perfect. He built us a journey that will last a lifetime. Portugal is beautiful all over, the destinations, food, shopping, people especially… with his road book and suggestions we saw some amazing spots we would have never seen if planning ourselves so it was all that much better. The hotels he set us up with too were so stylish and fun as well, and were carefully positioned to take advantage of our surroundings on any given day…he really does have such a wealth of knowledge…and for that we are so grateful for him sharing it and pointing us in the right direction, that and picking us up at the airport! Can’t recommend him enough!

Our local specialist was amazing and accommodated all our requests. He was very helpful and made sure that we felt safe and comfortable throughout our trip
Our local guides Joao in Lisbon and Fernanda in Porto were very knowledgeable and made our tours thoroughly enjoyable. The attention to our personal preferences were self evident.
The cooking classes in Lisbon and Porto were absolutely great and we enjoyed them very much-one featuring a typical Portuguese dinner and the other learning to make Portuguese tarts.
I would highly recommend this trip and Tiago and the local guides

Marina was absolutely fantastic to work with. The planning before the trip was great; she was very attentive of what we were looking for and the changes we made to the itinerary and hotel accommodations. She was very helpful and even during our trip when we had questions or needed something she was available and willing to assist. I cannot recommend Marina enough.

Hotel Reviews

Dear Hotel Madrid

Madrid

The hotel was fine - nothing special but in a good location and the room was clean. For a hotel in the center of Madrid, it was good. I would’ve given it 5 stars if the room had a balcony or a sitting area in the room - we were forced to sit on the bed. But other than that it was great.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Front desk staff was nice but not overly helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Palacio de Villapanés

Sevilla

Best hotel of the trip. Staff was amazing, room was amazing, and location was great.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Porto A.S. 1829

Porto

Really nice hotel in the perfect location. Only downside was the shower in the room (not in the bathroom), but that was fine and we were aware of this before we booked.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Visit of Madrid: History, Culture & Architecture of the Capital of Spain

Madrid

Linda was great.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Visit of Toledo

Portugal

Carlos was fantastic as a guide. And Toledo was an incredible city - highly recommend as a day trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Visit of Seville

Seville

Our guide, Raul, was good but not great. Spent too much time in museum’s/palaces that we weren’t interested in. Also he talked nonstop the entire time.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Train Seville to Córdoba, Guided Visit of Córdoba, Train Córdoba to Seville

Seville

Best tour guides and city of the trip. We loved Cordoba and everything about our guises.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Privately Guided Visit of Porto

Porto

Sara was a great guide and we loved Porto.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hiking & Cultural Excursion in Peneda-Gerês National Park

Porto

Fun day but our guide wasn’t the best. He was fairly lackadaisical and because the vehicle had issues we arrived back to Porto an hour late. It was a fun day, but could’ve been better. Also, the weather was extremely hot on this day so we think that may be why we didn’t do any real hiking, which is what we were expecting, and instead spent the day in the river. (Which was fun, we were just hoping for more hiking)

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We loved this trip. Our favorite stop was Douro Valley and Porto. The Quinta in Douro was amazing so beautiful and homey. Only issue was our map tried to take us up the backroad into the vineyard which was very scary on the small single lane, rocky road. The suggestions in the guidebook were great and made it very easy to check off the main tourist attractions in all of the smaller towns where we only had a night to visit.

Tiago was also great and answered all my questions and handled my covid anxiety before the trip very well! When the airline lost our baggage he even tried to help track it down for us and checked in with us multiple times during our trip. Overall a great experience.

Everything was planned well and met our expectations. Great support while we were in Portugal. Would highly recommend.

Hotel Reviews

Be Poet Baixa Hotel

Lisbon

Wonderful staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Noble House

Evora

Beautiful hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Porto Charming Hotel

Porto

Wonderful staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Carvi Beach Hotel

Lagos

Amazing restaurant.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Day Excursion to Douro Valley, Wine Tasting & River Cruise

Porto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Privately Guided Visit of Porto

Porto

It was fine.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Foodie Experience in Porto

Porto

Good time. Knowledgeable tour guide.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Day Excursion to Viana do Castelo

Porto

Awesome time.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Transfer {{start_location}} to {{end_location}} via Coimbra

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Visit of Historic Coimbra

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Get to Know Lisbon with a Local

Lisbon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Fado Dinner Experience

Lisbon

Quality of Experience

Food

Private Day Excursion: Sintra, Cascais & Estoril

Portugal

Amazing day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Privately Guided Visit of Évora

Portugal

Not a great time.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Catamaran Trip to Benagil Caves

Portugal

So beautiful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Marina was extremely helpful throughout the entire process of booking the trip, to answering questions during our trip and ensuring that any problems were promptly addressed. She helped me plan an unforgettable trip for my children and I. Some of the highlights were the culinary experiences in Barcelona and Lisbon , Montserrat, day trip to Fatima, Nazare & Obidos, olive oil estate, & trip to Douro Valley. We had amazing guides at each stop. If you’re planning a trip to Spain or Portugal, you must give Marina a call. Thank you, Marina!

Bea was supportive, accommodating and patient throughout our planning process and always cheerfully and promptly responded to our many questions and requests. We had an unexpected incident during the trip with one of transportation providers, and she was immediately available to support us. After the trip, she continued to follow up and provide updates regarding the incident. We enjoyed the trip, and I would recommend her and her agency without reservation to anyone planning on making a trip to Spain or Portugal in the future.

This was our first experience with KimKim.. Our local specialist Marta was superb! She was knowledgeable and utterly responsive, even on a Sunday afternoon when we contacted her because our flight to Lisbon was delayed. She also reached out to us during our time in Lisbon to ensure things were going well, something we very much appreciated.

We were grateful for Marta's recommendation of an outstandingly beautiful and relaxing Lisbon hotel (Torel Palace), her close coordination of many activities, and arrangements for an incredible guide/driver, Marta Sophia George David, for two amazing days of out-of-Lisbon tours--one to Obidos, Fatima, and seaside towns and the other to Sintra, Cascais, and Belem.

A word about our guide/driver: we cannot compliment her enough! A former journalist, Marta David has encyclopedic knowledge tempered by deep love of Portugal and the ability to speak to history and current events with deep insight. Her contextual passion touched our souls in an soul-expanding way. She also knew where to find the best gelato shops!

Based on our experience, we will use KimKim again and recommend it to others.

Hotel Review

Torel Palace

Lisbon

Torel Palace is an accessible retreat in the midst of Lisbon.

Authenticity & Character

Every part of this property is gorgeous! Beyond charming . . .

Location

The fact that we really could walk to various neighborhoods but nevertheless could retreat from the busyness in an extraordinarily beautiful place with some of the best views in the city!

Staff

So pleasant, helpful, caring, and accommodating!!!!!

Cleanliness & Comfort

The bathroom was a bit cramped, but then what can you expect in a 1902 palace?

Activity Reviews

Sunset Sailing Cruise

Lisbon

Interesting and informative--but the cruise was crowded, uncomfortable, and cold.

Quality of Experience

The traditional boat was way too crowded!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

That's just it: we had been in Lisbon for our first time for less than two hours before the cruise began, and finding transportation (cab) back to our hotel after the cruise was difficult.

Guided Tuk-Tuk Tour

Portugal

A good overview.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pick-up at the hotel (again, this was our first time in Lisbon).

Fado Dinner Experience

Lisbon

Great music; too lengthy an experience.

Quality of Experience

Music was great! Timing was slow. Food was okay but not great. Probably not the experience for first-time fado attendees.

Food

Cod (the specialty of the house) has bones and gristle in it.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our waiter literally disappeared!

Transport

Difficult to get to for newcomers to Lisbon. We tried to walk from the Torel Palace and ended up looking for a cab after getting hopelessly lost.

Cooking Class with Market Visit

Lisbon

A fun morning with an interesting an eclectic group!

Quality of Experience

A good experience, It would have been better if we'd been given copies (or received by email) the recipes we prepared.

Food

The lunch we prepared was great!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The cooking teacher was personable and a good cook--but she didn't offer many explanations about what she was doing or why,

Private Excursion to Fatima

Lisbon

Our guide Marta was exceptional.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Group Excursion to Sintra, Cascais & Estoril

Lisbon

Sintra is a must-visit. The castle in Old Sintra is incredible--a great self-tour. Our guide took us to a second palace/garden to tour in Sintra (not Pena Palace). It was breathtaking, but physically very, very challenging with steep, uneven cobblestone "steps" (or drop-offs). Lunch was at a local restaurant that was delightful! We loved visiting the westernmost point in mainland Europe; thought Cascais was interesting but little more than an overrated "mall" with a good gelato shop; did an Estoril drive-by, and were very grateful for an add-on, half-an-hour stop in Belem.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tiago and Joël expertly planned a most memorable trip to Lisbon and north. Tiago communicated with us immediately when we were in the planning stages and meet us the first day to settle us in and suggest a site seeing route appropriate for the jet lagged. For two days Joël shepherded is throughout old Lisbon, and a fun day to Cascais and Sintra. We experienced Lisbon and the Atlantic Coasts that we would not have seen by ourselves. Plus he introduced us to the Portuguese seafood and fish cuisine.

Once we rented a car, the itinerary develops for ids was varied and exciting; the accommodations were perfect.

Highlights: at the risk of listing them all, Douro Valley, Porto, Tomar, and Évora and the sites at those locations too my list.

We had a terrific experience through KimKim and we will recommend to others and hopefully take another trip with you soon.

Our guide who took us up the Duora Valley and recommended the lunch venue was terrific, so much so that we treated him to join us for lunch. Also, the wine tasting in the valley was terrific as well, as we bought a case of wine there.

Special thanks to Beatrice who made Kimkim the terrific company that it is. She was very easy to reach if we had questions, she planned a trip that we will never forget. We told her we had 12 days and she planned them perfectly, she is so knowledgeable. We will recommend Kimkim and tell our friends to ask for Beatrice.

Hotel Review

Flores Boutique Hotel

Porto

The crew that work there are very knowledgeable and helpful. Great location for restaurants and sites to visit. The buffet was fresh and generous. The room was good size and was accommodating.

Tips for future travelers

I did not pick or look up any hotels that Beatrice suggested as I trusted her choices and we were rewarded with excellent accommodations.

Authenticity & Character

Everything

Location

Center city for convenience

Staff

Knowledgeable and easy to talk to.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nice count on sheets and comforters.

Activity Review

Day Excursion to Douro Valley, Wine Tasting & River Cruise

Porto

Our tour was outstanding!! The River tour was very interesting and felt very privileged to be able to see the wonders of the area. The Port winery that our guide set us up with was amazing. Tour of vineyard and home of wine makers was fun. The restaurant that our guide took us to we had a chef that was outstanding. A very special remembered day.

Quality of Experience

All day trips were well planned into day.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Knowledgeable guides

Transport

Knew area and where they were to take us!

We had the absolute best trip! Tiago was so helpful in guiding us, with both taking suggestions and giving us lots of great ideas and feedback to make our trip successful and fun. We saw so much of the country and enjoyed every second of it.

Beatriz was very flexible and accommodating with the numerous changes to the itinerary. She was also very prompt and responsive to all our questions and needs. Beatriz also had many wonderful restaurant recommendations and things of interest to do while visiting the various cities.

Wow - another fantastic personalized trip planned by Kimkim! Marina helped design a trip for 3 couples with a focus on culture, food, and experience. Highlights included city walking tours of Porto and Lisbon, a very rich cultural food tour in Lisbon, wine country visit, and an interactive cooking class. Hard to say which was the favorite - we all loved it.

Hotel Reviews

Dear Lisbon Bordalo House

Lisboa

Charming boutique hotel in the historic district. We loved the location and the rooms were comfortable and spacious. The breakfast location was lovely - blue tile everywhere. The food was great, and so was the coffee.

Authenticity & Character

Very charming, and the rooms had fantastic views

Location

Walking to everything we wanted to see - it's in the historic area. Safe, clean, convenient

Staff

attentive and available as needed

Cleanliness & Comfort

Exe Almada Porto

Porto

Clean, comfortable, and well appointed rooms. Really had everything we needed and close to everything.

Authenticity & Character

Modern rooms in an older building, very well appointed

Location

Seemed to be close to everything for us - we walked the city and our events from the hotel. Quiet at night.

Staff

Everyone was so nice!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Lisbon Foodie Experience

Lisbon

LOVED THIS! Book this event! Its a small group - I think we had 9 total. It was fun, cultural, and a great introduction to the city and its foods. We visited different neighborhoods and got a feel for their vibes. Our tour guide was so much fun and she knew everyone in town (native of Lisbon). Truly a fantastic experience for our group of 6.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was very enthusiastic, fun, and provided so much history

Private Porto Cooking Class & Market Visit

Porto

Truly a trip highlight! This ended up lasting most of the day - market tour, interactive cooking class, eating and drinking. Our group was 6 and it was perfect for mixing up the cooking, prepping, and visiting. We all loved this. Would definitely recommend anyone interested in food or culture to book this - I would do it again!

Get to Know Lisbon with a Local

Lisbon

A must-do to get the history of the city, better understand the culture, and get tips on where to dine and other sites to see.

Privately Guided Visit of Porto

Porto

Definitely a great way to learn the history of the city and see it on foot. Our guide was a native English speaking but was raised in Porto. He was informative, and showed us some secret nooks and crannies of the city we wouldn't have found on our own. He also provided us with some options for other sites and restaurants to visit. I highly recommend this tour - especially on your first or second day in Porto.

Fado Dinner Experience

Lisbon

It's a great experience - the location was in an old part of the city, the music was interesting and beautiful. The evening included dinner and that was good too - I had a traditional dish. Our waiter really made our night - he was fun to interact with and really added to our experience here.

Day Excursion to Douro Valley, Wine Tasting & River Cruise

Porto

Our guide picked us up at our hotel and stayed with us the day as we visited a couple wineries and the Douro Valley area. Our guide was very fun, engaging, and helpful. The Douro Valley is very scenic and the little wineries we visited were charming and boutique. The river cruise was not that great - I would skip that. We felt we saw all the countryside by driving to the little wineries in the valley. We should have gone to another winery instead! The guide was great though, and made up for any short-comings of the river cruise. I gave it 4 stars because of the river cruise - otherwise the wine tasting was a 5/5!

Beatriz was SENSATIONAL planning every part of the trip and no request was too difficult for her to accommodate...and she always did it with a smile. She stayed in touch with us via text throughout the trip and was able to make some helpful suggestions. She was always responsive to our questions and concerns. Most importantly, the tours she arranged were memorable and the team she established made the trip memorable. For example, the Fada experience in Lisbon was awesome and the restaurant gave us front row seats. The Lisbon walking tour with Maria was perfect-she was fully prepared, arrived on time and provided a fascinating history of the Jewish Portuguese experience that we had requested. Likewise, our guide Paula led us on a Portuguese food tasting tour that was so much fun with a few other couples. All the hotels Beatriz suggested were great, particularly the Penha Longa Ritz Carlton where we enjoyed a fabulous round of golf-and all the arrangements tee times, for clubs and cart were perfect. At the beautiful Yeatman Hotel, overlooking the Douro in Porto, we experienced first class treatment along with a tasting experience that was "beyond beyond. " We ran into some rain in Douro but our guide brought us inside to the winery where we had a wonderful learning (and drinking!) experience. Finally, Porto was both beautiful and charming and our guide Daniel was charming and knowledgeable about history and in particular, the history of the Jewish people in Porto. All in all, a fabulous and memorable experience and Bea was with us every step of the way. Obrigado! Eric and Susan

Hotel Reviews

Penha Longa Resort

Sintra, Linhó

Fabulous staff, beautiful rooms and gorgeous golf course.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palácio Ludovice Wine Experience Hotel

Lisboa

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

MW Douro Wine & Spa by TRIUS Hotels

Santa Marta de Penaguião, Cumieira

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Yeatman Hotel

Vila Nova de Gaia

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Fado Dinner Experience

Lisbon

Quality of Experience

Food

Food and wine!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guides Maria, Paula, Daniel were outstanding. Rai was good but we had bad weather in Douro, no fault of his

Transport

Transport was fine. Our driver to pick up at the airport in Lisbon was a half hour late as was the driver who picked us up in Lisbon to go to Sintra.

Get to Know Lisbon with a Local

Lisbon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lisbon Foodie Experience

Lisbon

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Day Excursion: Sintra, Cascais & Estoril

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Arrival on time to our hotel in Lisbon to go to Sintra. Driver was a half hour late.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tour of the palace with a guide who is knowledgeable of the palace. our guide dropped us off at the park and we got somewhat lost on our way to the palace and. had no guide for the palace itself.

Transport

Transfer from {{start_location}} to {{end_location}}, via Belmonte

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Excursion to Douro Valley, Wine Tasting & River Cruise

Porto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Privately Guided Visit of Porto

Porto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

All in all it was a good experience. The trip was all booked for me and all i needed to do was show up.
I liked the insider tips provided.

Activity Reviews

Porto Foodie Experience

Porto

Very good tour guide. Knowledgeable and passionate. Good tour

Quality of Experience

Service

Food

The places we went to

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walking tour

Get to know Porto by E-bike

Porto

Too many people on the tour

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Ebike was not properly maintained. Seat too high for female rider

Guided Tuk-Tuk Tour

Portugal

Nice was to see Lisbon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The lady driver was lovely however her English wasn’t good so I couldn’t understand her well

Transport

Sunset Sailing Cruise

Lisbon

Couldn’t go on this trip due to rain and winds

Sintra Heritage Hike: Hidden Secrets

Portugal

My personal guide Susana was fantastic.

Quality of Experience

Food

The guide cooked a Keto meal for me which was delicious

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Working with Marina Courtaut of Espiritu Travel was an absolute pleasure. During all the planning she was responsive and very helpful. She listened will to our interests and planned a vacation to match our needs.

During this vacation there were a couple of mishaps related to transfers, however, having Marina and Espiritu Travel on the other end of What’ App was very helpful. We simply advised Marian of the issues and she worked to get them corrected.

The first situation was that upon arrival in Portugal the car to transport the 5 of us to Porto fit only 2. It took about an hour, but the transfer vendor returned to the airport with a van to accommodate us all. The second situation occurred when the vehicle to transfer 5 of us from Lisbon to Lagos was also only for 2 people. While it took more than 2 hours to fix this, eventually a van arrived to transport all of us. Through out all of this Marina was engaged and provided information. Additionally, she took responsibility for the mistakes and accommodated us financially. I adhere to the wisdom that “people remember how you made them feel” and Marina made us feel that she deeply regretted the problems and worked very hard to rectify them. That approach left our family feeling satisfied and not unhappy with the service.

May 28
Due to the delay leaving Lisbon airport the pre-arranged plan for lunch in Coimbra no longer worked (too late in the day) however our driver found us a place to stop for lunch and that worked out well.

The Hotel Teatro in Porto was very nice. Upon arrival they did not know one of the rooms was to be configured as two twin beds however the were easily able to fix that; our 2 sons were sharing the room.

We had dinner that night at one restaurant recommended by Marina – DOP – and it was lovely.

May 29
Bluedragon Bike Shop did not know that we had prepaid for 5 for a guided bike visit of Porto. However, we put them in touch with Espiritu Travel and that was communicated. The Bike Shop charged my credit card and refunded the money in Euros. Our bike guide, Ana, was young and not very knowledgeable about the city. While very pleasant and nothing “went wrong,” she did not know as much as we have come to expect from city guides. FYI, the itinerary lists “water” as one of the things provided; it was not.

May 30
Our guide Pedro was terrific and our day trip to the Douro Valley was very nice. The boat tour wasn’t overwhelming, but not a problem either. Not sure I would recommend it to others. Pedro took us to a lovely restaurant for lunch and we all enjoyed the experience, however it was not, as the itinerary said, “”at a famous Quinta.” We also visited just one winery; the itinerary says, “visit traditional wineries.” We thought we would visit more than one.

May 31
The Lisbon hotel Duque de Loule was very nice. Turns out not as centrally located as we might have wanted, but as I recall that was due to the 3 rooms we needed, and another hotel being fully booked.

While we were making the 3-hour trip from Porto to Lisbon, at 10am, a person called me to say we were late for our 10am guided tour of Lisbon. However, we had no such tour scheduled; in fact, our tour was for 2:00 pm that afternoon. Marina was again very responsive. She learned that the company had mixed two tours and moved ours to 10am. Marina reassigned us to another tour vendor with a guide named Daniel at 2:30.

Daniel was a lovely young man, age 23, and while he did his job, it was clear he did not really know enough about the city and its history. We enjoyed him and our 21-year-old son and he had lots of conversation, but he was not the most informative tour guide. Daniel also provided us with 2 restaurant recommendations, and we ate at both places. It was nice of him to do so and helpful to us.

The pre-arranged Fado dinner this night was a very good choice.

June 1
Our day trip to Sintra, Cascais & Estoril was with a guide named Marta. She was very good; our family felt she was our best guide of the trip. We enjoyed both the pace of the day and the information. Unfortunately, the next day Marta shared she tested positive for COVID. None of the family tested positive, however, one should expect guides test themselves daily before taking a group out for a day in an enclosed vehicle.

June 2
As mentioned, the transfer to Lagos was not smooth, however Marina got it all fixed and made the offer to buy the family dinner in Lagos, which certainly made us all feel like she really cared about our experience.
The Cascade Resort did not have our rooms ready upon arrival however they shortly did, and the property and our stay there was terrific.

This night we had the Sunset Experience tour, not with Pedro as noted, but rather with Luis. We all very much enjoyed him and the tour. He was clearly passionate about the Algarve and his home area. Just to note, the itinerary mentioned binoculars however he did not offer any.

June 4
Our transfer from Lagos to Lisbon airport was fine. We left an item at the Cascade Wellness resort and Marina was very helpful in efforts to retrieve it and have it sent to our hotel in Lisbon upon our return a week later. Side note: the package did not arrive in Lisbon in time for us to take it home with us to the US. However, the front desk at Hotel Portugal was very helpful. When the package did arrive, 2 days after we left the country, the Hotel communicated this to us by email and connected us to a shipping company that is mailing us the package.

Our rental care pick up at the Valencia airport with Sixt went very smoothly.

Marina booked us at the hotel Hospes Palau De La Mar at my request. This boutique hotel was fine for us. It was in a nice neighborhood on a busy, but pretty street, and within walking distance of the Old City. When they brought us to the room they had for us the staff could not get the air system to work so they immediately moved us by their own choice to a different room. The hotel breakfast was very nice and they had outdoor seating.

June 5
We drove to Albufera easily but did get lost looking for the meeting spot for our boat tour. With a phone call to the boat operator, we received directions and we found the meeting spot. Our guide Anna was delightful, and she recommended a restaurant for paella. She made the 1:30pm lunch reservation for us and we thoroughly enjoyed the meal at El Redoli. Also, she led us to the bird preserve (flamingos), and we walked the paths, very nice. We drove a bit and walked to the beach.

This afternoon we chose on our own to do an historical walking tour of Old Valencia with GuruWalk (no fee; gratuity only). This 3-hour walk was excellent, and we learned about Aqua de Valencia (as a bonus); a drink we thoroughly enjoyed.

June 6
This morning we experienced our Local Market and Paella Cooking Class with “My First Paella” and it was very well done. While the attendees are obviously all tourists, the guide/cooking team was very funny, thoughtful, and instructive. We had fun and would recommend it.

This afternoon we had a private bike tour of Valencia with Jose. Bikes were provided by DoYouBike Rental. Jose was very nice and informative. We visited some of the places we had seen on our walking tour the day before but enjoyed the repetition, and we went inside to some places we really wanted to visit, including L’Almonia (archaeological artifacts), La Lonja and climbing one of the city’s old towers. We rode through the Turia Gardens (very nice) to the Science and Arts center, also very nice but we did not enter any buildings by our own choice.

June 7
We visited the Valencia beach and then drove at noon to Javea, stopping for lunch along the way. The Nomad Hotel was wonderful. The room had a beautiful view; Marina chose this hotel, and it was an excellent choice. The service as very good. Breakfast was delicious. We had dinner the first night at the hotel restaurant outdoors on the promenade and it was very nice.

June 8
We spend the day at Cala Grandella, beautiful beach spot 30 minutes away. As the beaches are mostly rocky, we chose to purchase 2 inexpensive beach chairs (which we left behind). A really nice hotel amenity would be to loan beach chairs to guests.

June 9
We chose to return to Cala Grandella having booked a 2.5-hour kayak tour with Siesta Advisor. We found the service and the kayak tour excellent. That afternoon we explored the nearby town of Moraira, for lunch and sandy beach. Great services (restroom and changing) at this public beach; very family friendly (lots of young children) and mostly European vacationers.

June 10
We drove to Valencia mid-day, stopping in the morning to see the castle in Cullero and then lunch near port in Valencia. Car return and flight to Lisbon were fine. We flew Vueling Air and had to pay quite a lot to check our luggage. While this was a surprise, it is understandable. The taxi from Lisbon airport to Hotel Portugal was on our own, which was fine. The Hotel was well located near the old district of the city and lovely.

June 11
The hotel room and the breakfast were very nice. They stored out luggage. They arranged to help us with our missing package. We would recommend this hotel due to location. Our transfer to the Lisbon airport was pre-arranged, on-time and fine, as was our flight home.

Hotel Reviews

Hospes Palau de la Mar

Valencia

Marina booked us at the hotel Hospes Palau De La Mar at my request. This boutique hotel was fine for us. It was in a nice neighborhood on a busy, but pretty street, and within walking distance of the Old City. When they brought us to the room they had for us the staff could not get the air system to work so they immediately moved us by their own choice to a different room. The hotel breakfast was very nice and they had outdoor seating.

Authenticity & Character

its very modern in style

Location

Depends on how near beach or near old city you want to be

Staff

Front desk and porter very pleasant and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

well appointed and cared for rooms

Nomad Xabia Port

Javea

The Nomad Hotel was wonderful. The room had a beautiful view; Marina chose this hotel, and it was an excellent choice. The service as very good. Breakfast was delicious. We had dinner the first night at the hotel restaurant outdoors on the promenade and it was very nice.

Tips for future travelers

While it is very eco-friendly (and the room lighting not great) there were both couples and families and it is right on the promenade so well located

Authenticity & Character

Lots of character which appealed to us

Location

beautiful view of Med

Staff

very helpful front desk and restaurant personnel

Cleanliness & Comfort

room and common areas very nice

Portugal Boutique Hotel

Lisbon

The Hotel was well located near the old district of the city and lovely. The hotel room and the breakfast were very nice. They stored out luggage. They arranged to help us with our missing package. We would recommend this hotel due to location.

Authenticity & Character

it is modern and that appeals to some; we enjoyed it

Location

very close to old part of city

Staff

very helpful front desk

Cleanliness & Comfort

very nicely cared for

Activity Reviews

Panoramic Albufera Cruise

Valencia

We drove to Albufera easily but did get lost looking for the meeting spot for our boat tour. With a phone call to the boat operator, we received directions and we found the meeting spot. Our guide Anna was delightful, and she recommended a restaurant for paella. She made the 1:30pm lunch reservation for us and we thoroughly enjoyed the meal at El Redoli. Also, she led us to the bird preserve (flamingos), and we walked the paths, very nice. We drove a bit and walked to the beach.

Quality of Experience

the guide was knowledgeable and helpful, the experience unique

Guides, Drivers and Staff

as noted, very helpful

Transport

we drove ourselves and got a bit lost

Local Market Visit and Paella Cooking Workshop

Valencia

This morning we experienced our Local Market and Paella Cooking Class with “My First Paella” and it was very well done. While the attendees are obviously all tourists, the guide/cooking team was very funny, thoughtful, and instructive. We had fun and would recommend it.

Quality of Experience

the staff

Food

great fun participating in the cooking and then eating what was made

Guides, Drivers and Staff

very friendly

Valencia Seightseeing Bike Tour

Valencia

This afternoon we had a private bike tour of Valencia with Jose. Bikes were provided by DoYouBike Rental. Jose was very nice and informative. We visited some of the places we had seen on our walking tour the day before but enjoyed the repetition, and we went inside to some places we really wanted to visit, including L’Almonia (archaeological artifacts), La Lonja and climbing one of the city’s old towers. We rode through the Turia Gardens (very nice) to the Science and Arts center, also very nice but we did not enter any buildings by our own choice.

Quality of Experience

It is a very nice way to explore and feel the city

Guides, Drivers and Staff

our guide was excellent

My husband and I just went on a 10 day trip to Portugal. Beatriz did an excellent job of helping us plan. She helped us set up an itinerary that suited our interests perfectly. Beatriz was very responsive to any questions both before and during our trip. If she was out-of-touch, she gave me a number to call for assistance. I really can't say enough about what a positive experience this was for us. I loved the attention to details. Here is a short summary of our tours:

*Privately Guided Tour of Lisbon-Although we were late due to travel difficulties, our guide Julia was great! She gave us the highlights of Lisbon's key sites as we walked around the city. She was friendly, so positive, and informative. We learned a lot, and knew where we would want to return.

*Private Lisbon Brunch and Petiscos Tour: Our guide Alison walked us to many different cafes, shops, and the Market. We had delicious almonds and honey, delicious soup and cod, espresso and pastries, wine and charcuterie-all while learning about the city. We loved learning from Alison. This was another awesome tour.

*Dinner with Fado-So fun! Our seats were within an arm's length of the Fado singers. We enjoyed a delicious Portuguese dinner, and listened to beautiful, haunting music.

*Evora-Martin was our friendly guide for a walking tour of the historical sites in Evora. We again were delayed due to car trouble, but Martin adapted our tour so we could see the best sites. Such a remarkable place. Especially loved the Chapel of Bones.

*Discover Rural Algarve: Tour to the highest peak in the Algarve. Beautiful sites along the way in a comfortable jeep. Stopped to see and drink from a natural spring. At the top, visited a food truck. On the way back down, stopped at a place that made honey and honey liquor. So delicious!

*Algarve Sunset Experience-An evening experience to see the sunset in St. Vincent Cape. The best part were the stops along the way at the beautiful cliffs/beaches. A delicious glass of wine was served after sunset.

***Morgado Do Quintao-my favorite of all excursions. Lunch made with local products-so delicious -in a gorgeous setting. Picture green grass, a table set under the shade of old trees, a quiet pool right beside you, and food grown on the farm, It was great to meet other guests! The wine was great, too.

Every single excursion was great. I would highly recommend all of them. This was our first time to Europe. I felt so comfortable knowing I could contact Bea with any questions. All of the tour guides were friendly and knowledgeable. I would not hesitate to plan another trip with KimKim. Of course, I would really love if Bea would help me plan every trip. :). Thank you!

Marina was wonderful and very responsive through the entire process. I was a little dissapointed in having to upgrade two hotels used during our stay. However, Marina was quick to help resolve and get us where we needed to be, however the additional expense durning the trip wasn't ideal. I think perhaps discussing more room options and cost differences would be helpful during the reservation process and expectations of hotel quality and location should match the travelers desires.

Hotel Reviews

Cascade Wellness

Lagos

We absolutely love our experience at Cascade Wellness Resort. It was exactly what we were looking for!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel HM Balanguera

Palma de Mallorca

I was not happy at all with the location of this hotel. It was very far from the beach or any location we would be wanting to visit. It was a big step down from the hotel in Portugal and after a full day of travel we were very disspointed to say the least. We ended up moving to another hotel which was much preferred.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Staff was very friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

We had a top sheet on the bed with no other blanket. It was also very small for two travelers that are not a couple. The pool area seating was soiled and felt dirty.

H10 Duque de Loule

Lisboa

Authenticity & Character

It was a lovely hotel and the breakfast was wonderful.

Location

We could walk everywhere vs having to pay for an Uber.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Private Day Excursion: Sintra, Cascais & Estoril

Portugal

Nuno was a wonderful tour guide! We loved this day and we were able to see so much of the area.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport