Kimkim Trip Reviews for Portugal

Marina planned the most fantastic memorable Portugal vacation. I could not have asked for more. Each event was VERY nice. All of the drivers were professional and prompt. The hotels were located in the center of all of the fun.
Filipe gave is a very informative historical tour of Lisbon with so much to learn.
Paulo made sure that we missed nothing on our way to and through Sintra and Cascais. What a phenomenal lunch and tour. I felt like family there.
I also truly enjoyed a solo toru in Coimbra.
Celia provided a great overview of Porto and I did not want the tour to end.
The Douro Wine Valley tour- truly the highlight. Pedro demonstrated his love for his country and it's history with wine. He made it so much fun and our group was the envy of others on the boat.
Marina hit a 10+ on planning this tour. I will never forget this vacation...

Hotel Reviews

PortoBay Marquês

Lisbon

In the heart of everything with excellent amenities. Professional staff and everyone was so welcoming. 10+

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very inviting

Hotel Oslo Coimbra

Coimbra

RIght next to the train station and close to everything that I wanted to see. Close walk to the river and great breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Premium Porto Downtown

Porto

Right in the heart of everything. Hotel staff stored our bags until check in and offered suggested things to do until checkin. Great breakfast and Amazing rooftop bar.

Authenticity & Character

This hotle fit in with the location with all of the stores and restuarants in walking distance.

Location

I walked to everything in just a matter of minutes.

Staff

Friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pillows too soft.

Activity Reviews

Get to Know Lisbon with a Local

Lisbon

I learned so much about the history of Lisbon from Filipe She was sooooo informed.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Day Excursion: Sintra, Cascais & Estoril

Portugal

Paulo made this a very special and memorable day. He is a very special person with a wealth of knowledge. He made sure that we got the most form each stop.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Smooth ride, wifi, great converstation and views.

Privately Guided Visit of Porto

Porto

Celia was so personable and excited to share her home town. I did not want the tour to end, Very special.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Foodie Experience in Porto

Porto

This was a great and fun food tour, Each stop offered a true culinary experience with wine. The sardine and mackeral blew me away.

Quality of Experience

Food

The wine pairings were perfect!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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

Porto

WOW. I was blown away by the views. Pedro made sure that we got pics of each event and made it so much fun. It did not feel like 8 hours at all. We were the envy of other groups on our boat because of Pedro.

Quality of Experience

Food

The fish at lunch......Soooo good. All of the wine... delish

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Pedro made it fun. Each stop was ready for us.

Transport

Couple things to note:
- I do not write reviews unless something blows my mind - good or bad
- I was with my family, our teenagers close in age but very different in preferences. (Had our work cut out for us)

Let’s break this down into parts:
- KimKim process / portal (intro to AP)
- Across Portugal Experience
- Our Portugal itinerary
- Experiences & People
- Lodging

1. KimKim: I stumbled upon KimKim having given up on our standard (and unresponsive) travel agency. It was the perfect way to explore experiences without feeling alone or winging it on details that matter when you are jetlagged and out of your comfort zone. And now I am absolutely spoiled having met Pedro. He sets the bar so high that I am totally willing to try KimKim again but wary that anyone can match his care. That said - KimKim provided a super user-friendly interface, reliable communication and time lines. The payment and plan finalization was a breeze. Great platform, totally recommend.

2. Across Portugal: I cannot express how delightful our experience was. Pedro was so communicative and thoughtful in every interaction. And not just during or after the trip. The whole time. Any time I had a question, he answered within hours. What I appreciate most is that I came with ideas and Pedro listened and asked “why” to a couple of my accommodation and tour requests.
He gently redirected me and I am so glad he did. The first was hotel location in Lisbon. I had one neighborhood in mind and he suggested where we ended up staying. (I’ll explain more below). Another was, “mehhh, I don’t know if we need the cultural walking tour day after Sintra” and I am so glad he said “yeah…you do”. First of all, we had the same delightful guide Mariana as with Sintra (and Carlos, who I will get to as well!). We saw parts of the city which would have felt too far or not known how to navigate. Net/net - every single recommendation was SPOT ON. We were greeted by a thoughtful care package of treats. We ended each day with a reminder of our itinerary and time lines. The perfect combination of attention and space. Lovely lovely lovely. I wish he could do every country on our list!

3. Our Portugal itinerary: Probably not that uncommon but we have a history buff and a beach bum - so we chose to stay in Lisbon for 4 days and Algarve (Albufeira) for 5 days leaving 1 day close to the airport back in Lisbon. Day 1 we attempted all Anthony Bourdain spots on our own. Day 2 we went to Sintra and Caiscais. Day 3 was a private walking tour and wine tasting. Day 4 was on our own. Perfect balance of activity and time to explore or just stare. I love that city! From there we went to a private resort outside Albuferia - we could have walked to town but didn’t. We rented a car and it was easy (another recommendation from Pedro and glad we did) back to Lisbon for low stress.

4. People and Experiences: We started by meeting Carlos. What a guy. He was so kind and fun. A gentleman, historian. He cares so deeply. Carlos was chief transportation officer and so much more. He was ALWAYS early, everything handled with care, personal touches regarding recommended restaurants and experiences. He was so fun to be around we asked him to join us for a cliff jump in Algarve (he smartly declined - it was steep). Needless to say we spent nearly 16 hours across the span of our trip and we didn’t stop talking. We learned a ton, shared a ton. That said, I bet if you said - “I need to sleep” he would have lullaby music. Just a gem. We enjoyed his company so much I now call him our friend.
Then Mariana! “PORTUGAL!!!” Was her enthusiastic picture quote and she actually got our 15 yo daughter to smile. Repeatedly which is no small feat. Mariana was so kind and a great conversationalist as well. Not only with us but with everyone around her. She took our pictures and then if others asked, she just did. And when people were bustling by, she just let them pass. She had such a calm yet radiantly positive vibe that made hikes, crowds, decisions feel effortless. She and Carlos pivoted when we needed to at the end of our day tour with such ease. We also LOVED the walking tour the following day. You could really spend a week exploring Lisbon but when you cannot - find Mariana. She’ll show you what you need to see so you can make tough decisions on where to spend your time later. She didn’t blink at taking pics and took care to find the right angles and spaces. So grateful. The Lisbon Winery was a great place to end the day trip as it was calm, cool, great wine and very relaxing vibe. My only regret is that we couldn’t buy some wine.

5. Lodging: In Lisbon we stayed in Heritage Avenida Liberdade Boutique Hotel. Just like real estate. Location location location. We walked everywhere and with ease. The hotel was welcoming clean, comfortable. We received adjourning rooms so our teens had space. It was perfect. It is also a hotel in a historic city not a “resort”. So manage buffet and size expectations appropriately. We have done a fair bit of travel and found it to meet our needs entirely. Highly recommend. While in Algarve we went to Vilalara Thalassa resort. Shout out Nitin! He was our favorite human at that resort. Beautiful views, pickleball, pool, bountiful breakfast, beach access, ample parking, sunset on the deck, great restaurants within 5-10 mins drive. Amazing.

I am so wildly grateful to have met and worked with Pedro, Carlos, Mariana. Such a tremendous experience from beginning to end. Obrigata!

Hotel Reviews

Heritage Avenida Liberdade

Lisboa

Perfect location. Delightful blend of artistic influence with old world charm. Friendly and attentive staff. Ticked all of our boxes.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Vilalara Thalassa Resort

Lagoa

Perfect for those seeking a resort experience. Typical of a resort, we waited a bit for check in but quickly forgot about a room when we hit the pool, beach, sangria on the deck. Great parking, pickleball courts, comfortable clean and quiet!

Authenticity & Character

Clean, quiet, not crowded.

Location

5-10 mins drive to GREAT restaurants

Staff

NITIN!!! We adore you! Nitin was so kind and courteous. We enjoyed spending time with him. Also Rueben. I did a “Hail Mary” to seek a cliff to jump from. Rueben happened to be a former life guard (he was at the front desk). Took time out of his day to drive me to a safe spot, shared best time for the tide. What a guy! We did it! (Estimating 55-60 FT - it was fabulous)

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were cleaned when we asked, we had onsite laundry with a drying rack.

Tivoli Oriente Hotel

Lisbon

Great spot for low-stress airport transport. Also, we were knackered after 10 days travel so we opted to do “the hotel bar” and wow, it was not a typical hotel joint. Roof-top, Fresh sushi, fun fusion recipes, great GTs, really refreshing sangria. We forgot that we just stayed at the hotel - it was a fun experience

Authenticity & Character

It was a little tired but it served its purpose

Location

Perfect for an easy trip to airport

Staff

Very kind

Cleanliness & Comfort

Again, a little tired. The shower was small with a leaky glass door but it’s not atypical and we just needed to lay our heads for 8 hrs.

Activity Reviews

Unveil the Fairytale Villa of Sintra with a Private Driver Service

Portugal

What made this special were Carlos and Mariana. Sintra and Caiscais were delightful, don’t get me wrong but what we learned and sa along the way was priceless lightening in bottle.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

See my review on the trip and Trip Advisor - 10 stars

Transport

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

Lisbon

Great way to see a lot with 1/2 day. It gives great perspective on things you want to come back and dig into in more detail later!

Quality of Experience

Mariana was so generous with her time and knowledge

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Vibe! Chill yet exciting. We just fell into a rhythm. Effortless and yet accomplished so much

Transport

We walked everywhere! Up and down and it was great. Forget the heels at home.

Small Group Boat Trip to the Timeless View of the Benagil Caves

Portugal

So glad we did this. Short yet long enough. At first I was bummed it wasn’t a kayak then quickly saw the beauty of the boat approach. We zoomed in and out of way more than would have been feasible in a kayak. Our guides were fun.

Quality of Experience

Great way to see natural beauty in Algarve while not sacrificing a beach day!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Fun, jocular

Transport

Quick, easy - late enough for a nice breakfast and back by lunch to enjoy the sun

What. A. Trip!!! Absolutely loved every moment I had in the country, what made it better was the quality of service and hospitality of our local specialist Pedro, our driver Carlos who had many amazing stories, and our tour guide Mariana who was amazing and so much fun. It was so much fun to visit Portugal, we loved it so much.

Joao created an amazing and memorable trip to Portugal for my multigenerational family. He put together an awesome itinerary that worked well for my wife and I, our two kids, and my elderly parents. Joao planned every detail and was in contact with me throughout the trip to make sure everything was going smoothly. He was always available and always ready to help. We visited Lisbon, Porto, Douro Valley, Algarve, and Cascais. Joao planned many fun experiences for us and the kids. He made the whole experience easy and stress free. I would use him again in a heartbeat.

João provided detailed information and options for each of my stops in Portugal. He also provided historical and cultural context, which helped me dive deeper into locations of interest. He was always available, and all logistics were flawless. I arrived; someone was waiting to pick me up and take me to the first hotel. The hotels were top-notch. They were also centrally located. I could just walk out and enjoy each location I visited. The rental car experience was fine as well. The tours that João organized for me in Porto were excellent. I enjoyed my trip (8 days in Portugal), and will use Kim Kim as I make plans to visit new places.

Hotel Reviews

Heritage Avenida Liberdade

Lisboa

Excellent location, great staff and very good breakfast spread.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Vila Gale Ericeira

Mafra

It is a very traditional and classy hotel with a superb location. Wonderful views from the room. I drove there, and there was parking available.

Authenticity & Character

Historic and classy

Location

Right on the water.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa dos Ofícios Hotel

Tomar

An amazing location, beatiful facility and great service. The staff was awesome.

Authenticity & Character

Super clean and unique.

Location

Right in the heart of Tomar.

Staff

A joy to be there. The staff was friendly and super helpful with recommendations.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Top notch.

Aveiro Palace

Aveiro

Right in the middle of the square and with great views from the room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

NH Collection Porto Batalha

Porto

Super place... in a historic square. Lots to do right outside the door; food, shopping, drinks.

Authenticity & Character

It's a super nice place. There's a gym and Turkish bath on site.

Location

In Plaza Batalah

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Dinner with Live Fado Music

Lisbon

This part of the trip did not happen. There was an error on the booking. I had to find a place myself.

Quality of Experience

Not relevant.

Lisbon Food tour

Lisbon

Super good tour... full of culture and a well-curated experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The tour guide as awesome.

Transport

walking tour

Explore Porto (Half-Day Guided Walking Tour)

Porto

What a joy to walk Porto! The tour guide, Henrique, was so knowledgeable and witty.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Henrique is a must guide.

Transport

All walking.

Six Bridges Douro Cruise

Porto

Not a tour I took.

Port Wine Cellars Visit with Tasting

Porto

What a delightful tour. I learned a lot.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walking.

I think main problem was selection of hotels. Their locations were right in the busy place with no access by car. On Saturday Drivr left us to block away from Moon sun hotel Loan. We had to log our luggage. We had the similar problem when we came back in Lisbon to Behotelisboa hotel.where hotel was more than half kilometer away from parking spot. Cars were not permitted in front of the hotel.
For Tuk ride, we could not find the driver. We called number on the seat and was told this is a porto branch number and they could not find our reservation. We arrived at the location at 4.05. We even talk to other Tuk driver. They tried to help and call the local number as was mentioned on the voucher with no success. It was really disappointing.

From Castelo S Jorge in Lisbon, then Sintra with its fabulous Palacio de Pena to Cabo de Roca, then walking along the westernmost point in Continental Europe, then Cascais along the harbour, we had a fantastic time. Our guide Anabela was thorough and lovely, and our driver Rui, were both wonderful! Tiernan, our local specialist provided us with a great 4 day itinerary.

Overall, it was an excellent trip. We loved Portugal! The people are very welcoming. The country is beautiful and very historic. We enjoyed the hills and mountains, rivers and sea, sandy coastline and rocky shores, delicious food and excellent wines. The fresh fish was a real treat! I had never tasted fresh sardines before. Yum!

Lodging:
- The Laranjais in Porto was lovely. Good location in a quiet part of town that was walkable to everything. The rooms were perfect. Comfortable, stylish, and spacious. The yoga mats were a nice touch! We liked the charming style. The service was good.
- The Legendary in Lisbon was comfortable but generic. It was in a nice part of town and walkable to the downtown.

Tours/Excursions:
- The tour guides were all excellent. However, most of the tours started very early and took up the whole day. We should have planned more downtime and time to sleep late since we needed to relax on our vacation!
- In Porto we would have preferred a city tour that showed us the sites, introduced us to the culture, and gave us a briefer introduction to the story of the tiles.
- The Douro Valley was beautiful. The ride on the river was lovely. The wine, vineyards, food were good. It was very hot there, so being in the wine caves was helpful! The first vineyard taught us about tasting. We liked the way they sat us down for a few different varieties with some snacks. The guide in the second vineyard was excellent, and the port was top quality. We loved the graciousness of that space. It was a grand old home.
- We enjoyed the day in Braga and Guimarães. The walk through the grounds of the Bom Jesus do Monte grounds was beautiful. Great views too! We had time to explore the town too. The very old castle in Guimarães was really interesting. Excellent traditional Portuguese lunch with the group!
- We are really glad we asked to see Nazaré! Even though there weren’t any waves at the beach, it was gorgeous! That was our first glimpse of the sea in Portugal. We just wish we had been told that the walk to the beach was 10 minutes from the top where our driver left us to wander around. We didn’t find the path until just before we had to be back at our meeting point. We would have walked on the beach, and I would have gone for a swim! By the way, we drove by Óbidos, but we didn’t stop since we needed to be back in Lisbon by 1 PM.
- The Highlights of Lisbon was a fun tour — mostly driving around with a bit of walking. We got a good sense of the history and the parts of town we wanted to return to (especially Alfama). My husband was excited to learn that the Volta à Espanha / Vuelta a España starts in Lisbon this year. Sadly for us, the first stage started the day after we left.
- The kayaking, snorkeling, caving, and cliff jumping day in Portinho da Arrábida was by far the best day! The tour guide was a great host. Very enthusiastic and energetic. We felt like we were seeing some things that were off the beaten path. It was fabulous to be on the water. He treated us to homemade lunch on the beach afterwards. And he offered us wine and port as well. The water was a perfect temperature and not too rough.
- The palace in Sintra is definitely worth seeing, and the town is beautiful and very old. It’s lovely to walk on the paths in the cool forest. We enjoyed visiting Cascais where we got to wander around to find our own lunch. Then we went for a swim. I am glad we went there, but it was VERY hot!
- We were very happy to have a full morning in Lisbon before leaving for the airport. We got to walk around a bit, although it was very hot (99 degrees F). We got to taste delicious gelato! The night before, we walked from the hotel to Alfama for dinner and back. It was a perfect night. Over 6 miles round trip!

Hotel Reviews

Laranjais Boutique Suites & Apartments Porto

Porto

Highly recommend the Laranjais. It’s a quiet boutique hotel with apartments in a quiet part of the old city of Porto. The rooms are spacious and very comfortable. It’s in 2 old buildings across the street from each other. They are tastefully renovated. Although the hotel does not have a fitness center, they provide yoga mats in each apartment, and there’s plenty of space for exercising. The views out the French windows are charming. Excellent restaurants are just steps away. Breakfast is vegan (which is not required for us, but we appreciate sustainability).

Authenticity & Character

Tastefully renovated.

Location

Quiet part of the old city. Up the hill from the river.

Staff

Gracious and accommodating

Cleanliness & Comfort

Just right!

Legendary Lisboa Suites Apartments

Lisbon

The hotel is comfortable but generic. It lacks charm. Also, the bathroom is not ergonomic. The door, sink, and toilet are too close to each other. It’s also a bit outside the old part of town. Next time, we’ll try to find a more interesting place to stay — perhaps in one of the old neighborhoods.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Kayaking & Snorkeling in Arrábida

Lisbon

Highly recommend! The beach at Portinho da Arrábida is beautiful. The tour guide is energetic and fun. We loved kayaking, snorkling, cliff jumping (optional, not that high, not so scary), and caving. We also were treated to a simple homemade lunch on the beach afterwards. Plus, we had a chance to swim in the ocean. The sea was calm, and the water was cool and refreshing. The beach was huge and not crowded.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Azulejos Walk

Porto

The Guided Azulejos Walk was too focused on tiles for my taste. While the guide was knowledgeable and took us to interesting places like a guitar shop, the tour was overwhelmingly about tiles. I would have preferred learning more about the city's history, landmarks, and cultural spots, rather than such a specific focus.

Douro Valley Day Trip with Wine Tastings & River Cruise

Porto

The Douro Valley Day Trip was lovely, especially the wine tastings at two different vineyards. It was very hot that day, making the river cruise feel like hot air was being blown in our faces, but the beautiful scenery and welcoming people at the vineyards made up for it. Overall, it was a very enjoyable day.

Sintra Day Trip with Visit to Pena Palace, Cascais & Cabo da Roca

Lisbon

The Sintra Day Trip was interesting, although very crowded at the palace. We loved the little town and found beautiful paths through the woods, but didn't have enough time to explore them fully. I wish the guide had given us more information about what to do and see in Sintra, as we missed out on some great spots. Nonetheless, it was worth seeing and enjoyable.

Amazing just doesn't come close to the experience we just had on our Portugal trip!
Helena, was pivotal in making this a reality with memories we will cherish for a lifetime. From the beginning she planned our holiday with the professionalism I've not seen with any travel group. Kim Kim can be proud to have her on your team.
Every detail, communication, and trip updates were handled promptly with a flair we admired most about her. She was almost part of the family. We only wish she could have traveled with us. Sue and I would not hesitate to recommend Her expertise and the Kim Kim Group as a whole to anyone.
Some Special Reflections on our Guides!
Porto - Luis Ferreria is one of the most knowledgeable historians I've ever met. He shared his experiences with each venue we attended. From the history of Porto, the Olive Oil and Wine tasting, Port Wine tour and tasting; Luis added color to each one. Even sent us some pictures he took along the way. What a Day!
Duro Valley- Nelson. WOW, nothing but raves about this very talented guide and now a friend. He went way out of his way to make this day very special. His knowledge of this region and those who live and work there was very special. Our lunch and wine tasing experience with Rafael Rangel one if the wine co. owners was very special. He opened his home and his family to our group. We will not soon forget this afternoon and day tour.
Lisbon, Fatima, & Nazare with Rui Queiroz was very special as well. The Shrine and Cathedral at Fatima was breathtaking. The rest of the day was filled with awesome visits to Nazare and the beauty of its beaches. Lunch was great. Rui knew the best places. Lobster rolls and fresh fish.
Sintra- Paulo Pires. Another extortionary guide experience. His knowledge was also over the top. The little extras like coffee and pastry was a nice touch. Lunch with the locals was really fun. Views of the furthest western point in Portugal and the lighthouse was a great ending to a super day.
There were just to many wonderful moments with these professionals to name them all.
From transfers, Hotels, Tour guides all were perfect without a hitch. Not possible without the super planning by Helna and her Kim Kim team.
Thanks to everyone for making this trip one we will never forget.

Hotel Reviews

Memoria Porto FLH Hotels

Porto

Clean, comfortable, friendly staff.

Authenticity & Character

Old City charm

Location

Central to our tours

Staff

Courteous, friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Perfect

Memoria Lisboa FLH Hotels

Lisboa

Lots of steps but very authentic

Authenticity & Character

Fits the city culture

Location

Central to our tours

Staff

Friendly courteous

Cleanliness & Comfort

Perfect all areas

Activity Reviews

Vintage Car Tour of Porto

Porto

Really special a great way to see the city rather than the regular hop on hop off venue

Quality of Experience

See the commentary above

Guides, Drivers and Staff

See commentary above

Transport

Timely and clean

Day Excursion to Douro Valley, Wine Tasting & River Cruise

Porto

Quality of Experience

See individual write up

Guides, Drivers and Staff

See individual write up

Transport

See individual Write up

Get to Know Lisbon with a Local

Lisbon

See individual Write up

Quality of Experience

See individual Write up

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Day Excursion: Sintra, Cascais & Estoril

Portugal

See individual write up

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The trip was amazing and we felt cared for during the entire experience. Pedro was always readily available to assist, even during his own time away. The guides and drivers were all extremely knowledgeable and professional. Henrique Pepe was especially helpful and kind.

Would recommend your service to family and friends.

João helped us plan the perfect honeymoon! We had an amazing time exploring the cities of Portugal and relaxing on the coast! Each activity was planned with care and the team even provided little surprises along the way such as a wine and cheese tasting at the end of our walking tour. João and the across Portugal team were always great about checking in on the support chat they set up and quickly responded to any changes or issues along the way. The itinerary he planned was perfect we only wish we could have stayed even longer! We highly recommend João and across Portugal!

Tiago created a perfect trip for us. It was a great balance of big city and smaller historic ones, plus beautiful countryside. He managed to make an itinerary that kept everyone happy- my husband, myself, and our 3 kids, aged 21, 19 and 15. A big challenge and Tiago was definitely up for it.
The hotels we stayed in were a great deal for the price, just quirky enough to be interesting but still had all the modern amenities.
Our tour guides were all fantastic, spoke perfect English, and were incredibly knowledgeable about local sites and history.

Henriquee pepe outstanding very service oriented to what thoughts we had and made efforts to make happen and gave ideas like Porto sunset on the river. Guides in each area knowledgeable explained what we were doing and going gave recommendations adapted to us Lisbon we had gone to castle st Jorge so changed what she would do asked where two mishaps gerez national park I feel one needs to be clear about the concern for safety and because our mentalodel of national parks diffetent. We were asked to go to to Algarve airport early because of concern for accident with 3000 in ilets wr got there 3 hours early and did not seem necessaryit would work to leave us.sarah in Porto great stayed with us at bookstore in evora joao had the greatest stories kept granddaughter and friend entertained. Young man in Funchal kind and great the metcado fruit merchant peeled and gave fruit tasting to all of us plus chocolate shop. It felt personal and thoughtful. Ricardo in Porto great also.

Activity Review

8H Private Driver to Gerês National Park

Peneda-Gerês National Park

Our visit to Gerês National Park was a bit underwhelming. We expected to go hiking on some trails and swim in lagoons, but the actual plan seemed different from what we assumed. The guide took us around a village and explained the myths about wolves, which was interesting, but not what we were anticipating. The driver mentioned that the trails were treacherous, although we were prepared for hiking. It seems there was a misunderstanding between our expectations and what was planned. Unfortunately, this caused some disappointment, especially for my daughter, as we didn't get to enjoy the natural beauty in the way we had hoped.

Our trip to Spain, Portugal and Morocco was exceptionally well planned and executed thanks to Rita and the KimKim team. We were blown away by the level of support she provided both before and during the trip. She created a really amazing itinerary and then patiently made changes and improvements to it a number of times before we locked on a plan and booked the trip! She really listened to our requests and suggestions and went the extra mile for us to fit in the things that mattered most. The local guides she connected us with were so great and the drivers made us feel safe and supported on the ground. Every single details was attended to with care and we loved having the app and chat access to Rita throughout our travels. Cannot recommend highly enough!

Hotel Reviews

Eric Vökel Boutique Apartments - Madrid Suites

Madrid

Spacious accommodations and good location - be aware there are no amenities onsite since it's an apartment vs hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The front desk went the extra mile to help us arrange airport transportation.

Cleanliness & Comfort

PortoBay Hotel Teatro

Porto

Beautiful hotel in a terrific location! Great front desk staff and concierge. The hotel breakfast is just LOVELY. Nice extra touches in the rooms - our suite even had an incredible balcony with lounge chairs! The fitness center is a partner property a 5 minute walk away and was very minimal.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pestana Lisboa Vintage

Lisboa

The location just off Avenida da Liberdade is great. Rooms were nice but not exceptional. Instant coffee in the rooms was disappointing but the hotel breakfast more than makes up for it! The elevators are small and slow - good chance to take the stairs and get some extra steps :)

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Belmar Spa & Beach Resort

Lagos

This is more of a condo-style hotel with plenty of space including a living room, dining table, kitchen, washing machine and drying rack. One of our rooms had a lovely view of the pool and the other had walkout access directly to the pool. It was an easy walk to the public beach. The onsite restaurant had a great breakfast buffet and the hotel fitness center was well equipped. We were a bit removed from other activities at this location so be prepared to drive or call an Uber.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Le Pèlerin

Marrakech

We absolutely loved the design and decor of this riad and the staff was so attentive! The traditional breakfast was delicious and our every need was attended to. We were grateful that they met us at the street and helped get our baggage to the property since it was not accessible by car. During a trip that took us to three countries and 5 cities this was our favorite hotel experience of all.

Authenticity & Character

Instagram-ready!

Location

Really central - just be aware you need help getting luggage as a car cannot get you all the way to the door.

Staff

We adored Mustapha who was the consummate host!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Tapas Culinary Experience

Madrid

We loved our guide and getting to share this experience with another family - the places we visited were good but I wouldn't say great in terms of the tapas served.

Quality of Experience

Food

the specific restaurants visited - the food was ok but not great

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Algarve Kayaking Trip to Benagil Caves

Portugal

The kayaking experience was exceptional! We enjoyed paddling through scenic waters, which offered both adventure and tranquility. This activity provided a perfect blend of excitement and relaxation, making it a highlight of the trip.

Fado Dinner Experience

Lisbon

The Fado experience in Lisbon was a bit of a letdown for me. While the food was fine, the overall atmosphere felt overly touristy and lacked the authenticity I had hoped for.

Guided Tuk-Tuk Tour

Portugal

The tuk tuk tour was amazing! We enjoyed hopping on and off our tuk tuk through the city's streets. This activity offered a unique and enjoyable way to explore the city, making it a memorable part of our trip.

Trip was nice. Only recommendation is providing addresses for the train stations and meeting points for the tours. There were some room for error there. Also worth noting connecting train in between Lisbon and Algharve is only 2 mins. We missed this train as we didnt think we would have to rush over, not to mention the initial train was delayed making it even more difficult to connect in time. Overall tour guides were great. We could have benefited also from having better directions on where to meet our driver on last day at train station in Lisbon. It was a huge station with many directions to go for pickup. More communication there would have been helpful. Thank you

Tiago was great and this service was great. I really appreciated not having to look at bills each step of the way, and especially enjoyed not having to choose and book anything. That part of vacations is not fun for me so I was happy to try outsourcing it for the first time-- It was cool how Tiago provided several daily excursion ideas but we could opt in or out of these which worked well for my family. Sometimes, we are not all ready to move and explore in jam-packed fashion. The experience of answering the questionnaire, then reviewing draft itineraries and making adjustments was perfect. We enjoyed the help and accessibility of Tiago and also the few booked local guides/experiences. All in all, the trip exceeded our expectations and was a good value for us. I can't wait to do another one!

Hotel Reviews

Mercure Porto Centro Aliados

Porto

great location. good food. cute room. nice service. no complaints whatever!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ventozelo Hotel & Quinta

São João da Pesqueira

great location again, beautiful views, nice pool, and great meals.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Albergaria do Calvário

Évora

Authenticity & Character

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Belmar Spa & Beach Resort

Lagos

huge suite but views were only ok.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

for example, regarding getting laundry done, I got mixed info from different staff, and there was the issue of my 13-year old son not being allowed to go to gym with his Dad. Service was not particularly warm. Oh, also the am breakfast buffet guy was a big judgemental when i came down to get coffee to go every am.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Lisboa Plaza

Lisboa

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Port Wine Cellars & Tasting Experience

Porto

fun, learned a little history, drank a little wine, enjoyed other patrons, and providers alike

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

we transported ourselves-- walking there and were slightly late, and then we got a tuk tuk back which was fun

Kayaking or Stand Up Paddling in the Algarve

Portugal

very fun and great way to see the scenic coast, caves, etc., in an active, participatory way

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

the main talking guy talked a bit too much...

Transport

Cascais & Sintra Guided Visit

Portugal

Our guide was very nice, helpful, and good company for the day!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I am so thankful that I found Kim Kim whose service connected us with Joao in Portugal. He and his team planned our fabulous trip. Joao was responsive and attentive to our desires for the trip and he was so easy to work with. He planned the perfect itinerary for our 13 day trip which included walking tours, wine tastings, boat trips and personal drivers for our day trips to Sintra, the beautiful Douro Valley and for the long drives from city to city. Each person Joao connected us with were passionate and professional in the service they provided. They gave us extra history and knowledge of the beautiful Portuguese culture as we drove from town to town. In addition, the Hotels Joao chose for us were fantastic! Joao and his team's attention to detail and the daily check ins and reminders of the next day's events truly made our trip stress free and fun-filled. Thank you Kim Kim and Joao for coordinating such a magical vacation!

Hotel Reviews

PortoBay Liberdade

Lisbon

Great location and service in a beautiful setting. The breakfasts were amazing!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Maison Albar Hotels Le Monumental Palace

Porto

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cascade Wellness

Lagos

Good get away hotel for relaxation

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

hotel is a little dated- needs updating

Cascais Miragem

Cascais - Portugal

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

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

Lisbon

Anna was a great guide who immersed us in the history and culture of Lisbon. and then it was followed by a delicious wine tasting. This was a highlight of our stay in Lisbon

Quality of Experience

A great way to get acclaimated to the city

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Anna was a fantastic guide- very knowledgeable and fun to be with

Transport

The Flavors of Port Wine - Sip & Discover

Porto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Unveil the Fairytale Villa of Sintra with a Private Driver Service

Portugal

This was a great day trip. However, we chose to skip the Pena Palace, which is new, and instead toured the National Palace which dates back to the 1300's. We also toured Regalaria and enjoyed the beautiful gardens. We also toured the town and the various shops. A wonderful day trip not to be missed

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Nelson, our driver, was a highlight of this day trip. The service he provided was exceptional and his knowledge of the area very deep.

Transport

Nelson

Porto's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour

Porto

We had a fabulous guide who was passionate about Porto and the history of Portugal. He gave us a thorough tour of the city

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Bernardo was a fantastic and passionate Walking tour guide!!

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

Portugal

A wonderful day trip to be immersed in the beauty of Douro Valley and its history. Not to be missed!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Scenic Voyage along the Douro River aboard an Exclusive Boat

Portugal

We loved our boat tour with Nuo Nu...... the champagne was icing on the cake! We only wish it was longer!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Portugal

We loved our tour, lunch and tastings in the beautiful setting of this Winery. Carlos was a fantastic tour guide and teacher.

Quality of Experience

The setting, the food and the wine!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Panoramic Boat to the Ponta da Piedade Grottoes

Portugal

A fun filled boat trip to the Grottoes. A wonderful way to see them and to photograph them.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

They were fun ad knowledgeable---Bruno and Catarina

Transport

To Eat Suggestion: Mar do Inferno

Cascais

Fabulous and large selection of fresh seafood from which to choose--all cooked to order. Beautiful view

Quality of Experience

Dear kimkim team, In a word, our trip was AMAZING! The accommodations were all lovely, guides were all so helpful, drivers were prompt , professional and informative. The gift basket and wine tour cheese tray, as well as other extra touches, were so appreciated. Pedro was flexible, responsive and in touch with us every day to make sure our trip was going well. It will be hard to travel any other way in the future! Thanks to the entire kimkim team! Kim and Sara

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Britania Art Deco

Lisboa

We had a lovely stay at the hotel Britania! It was our first stop after arriving in Lisbon and the perfect place to get over jet lag. The room was so comfortable and the staff friendly and helpful. Sue Ellen, Larissa, and Omar went above and beyond to make our visit special. The breakfast staff was also very attentive and hospitable. Thanks to the whole staff for making our visit to Lisbon so memorable. Kim and Sara

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The beds and pillows were the best!

Sapientia Boutique Hotel

Coimbra

Sapiencia Boutique Hotel was a great place to stay during our visit to Coimbra. The location was perfect and our room was spacious and clean. The outside areas (Patio and roof top) were awesome places to relax with a glass of wine.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The staff was polite and helpful when asked. On check in there were several staff at the desk but no one came to help with our bags. Some of the staff, particularly at breakfast, were not always available and did not feel very friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

NH Collection Porto Batalha

Porto

This hotel was in a great location. It was very clean, and the staff was helpful. All this made our stay enjoyable but the absolute best part was the fantastic breakfast!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

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

Lisbon

Anna did a great job showing us around and giving us all the history. The wine tasting was a nice way to end the tour, mostly because it gave us a chance to sit down and ask Anna more questions.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Unveil the Fairytale Villa of Sintra with a Private Driver Service

Portugal

We enjoyed our day with driver André visiting Sinatra followed by a stop to see the furthest western point in Europe , “Cabo Da Roca”, and a drive through Casias. André gave us so much information on the area along the way, was very flexible, and punctual.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

To Eat Suggestion: Terra Nova

Porto

Terra Nova was a nice and convenient place to grab dinner. It is right on the water but also in most touristy area.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Porto's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour

Porto

Bernard was a very knowledgeable guide and gave us a good tour of the city.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Bernard was very passionate about the city and its architecture, The train station lecture was a bit too long with unnecessary details..

The Flavors of Port Wine - Sip & Discover

Porto

We had a great time sipping and discovering!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

To Eat Suggestion: Brasão - Coliseu

Porto

We enjoyed this lively popular restaurant. Our waiter was so friendly and helpful. We went with the popular sandwich francesinha ( it seems the majority of guests did too). We needed one to be vegetarian and it was not very good. The regular sandwich was good but beware of rich rich gravy. Our favorite part of the meal was the Porto Tónico!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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

Portugal

Hugo was punctual and informative as he drove us to the Douro Valley. We enjoyed the lunch and the tour. Sara was a fun and knowledgeable guide and we enjoyed the tasting as well. The boat trip was a nice way to end the day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Portugal

We enjoyed Lunch.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Transfer

Portugal

On time pick up and drop off! Good driver!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Planning this trip was made easy with Rita's help and kimkim! This is my second time using kimkim and confident to say it never disappoints. Rita was so patient with our requests and making changes till we were satisfied. Rita suggested Porto, Lisbon and Algarve for our 10 days trip.

We started off in Porto with an amazing food tour guided by Marina and had the chance of trying Portuguese wine🍷(it was divine!!! had to bring a few bottles back home). We had time to walk around on our own as well and observe the beautiful architectures and streets, the Portuguese were so warm and welcoming. Not to mention their famous canned sardines, which my mum carried a whole box back! Everything was so beautiful. Lisbon was more on the crowded side but still beautiful nonetheless.

Rita arranged many tours to the beautiful parts of Portugal, my dad's favorite was Cascais because of the nature. The tour guides were amazing too, friendly, knowledgable and patient! Our last destination was Algarve, beautiful beaches🏝️, had the chance to set out to the Benagil Caves. Rita's recommendation was to rent a car to drive around but we opted out of that. But I could understand why having a car would have been more convenient.

I could rave on and on about this trip, will definitely go back again when I have the chance to! I'd say the most memorable things about Portugal are their intricate handmade products, delicious cuisine, hospitable people and beautiful Cork trees.

Activity Reviews

Vintage Car Tour of Porto

Porto

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

Private Day Excursion: Sintra, Cascais & Estoril

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tuk-Tuk Tour

Portugal

This tuk-tuk tour brought us to the main attractions of Lisbon, would be even better if the tour was longer!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

From the planning stages to the final day of our journey, Tiago has been an exceptional travel agent whose expertise and dedication made our trip to Portugal truly fabulous. His attentiveness to our needs, meticulous attention to detail, and deep knowledge of Portugal ensured that every aspect of our vacation was perfectly organized.

Tiago's recommendations for activities and accommodations were spot-on, aligning perfectly with our interests and expectations. He provided us with a comprehensive roadbook that became our go-to guide throughout the trip, filled with valuable insights and tips that enhanced our travel experience. His choice of locales, from the bustling streets of Lisbon to the serene landscapes of São Miguel in the Azores, and the vibrant cultural tapestry of Porto, allowed us to experience a vibrant range of what Portugal has to offer.

We are particularly grateful for the personalized touches he added to our itinerary, ensuring that each member of our family had memorable moments tailored to their interests. Whether it was suggesting activities in Porto that delighted the connoisseurs among us, exploring historical sites in Lisbon, or enjoying the natural beauty of São Miguel, Tiago’s thoughtfulness shone through.

His responsiveness, patience and availability to address our queries and adjust our plans as needed were remarkable. We felt supported every step of the way, which was especially comforting being far from home.
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Special thanks are also due for the seamless airport transfers; a heartfelt shoutout to Antonio and Afonso in Lisbon, Henrique in Porto, and Filipe and Hugo for their dependable airport services. Their professionalism and efficiency made all our transitions smooth and stress-free.

Joel, our incredible driver from Lisbon to Porto, deserves extra praise. Not only did he expertly navigate us through the beautiful cities of Óbidos, Nazaré, and Fátima, but his patience and flexibility made each journey enjoyable and stress-free. Whether accommodating additional stop requests or managing schedule changes, Joel's professionalism and friendliness were unmatched. His deep local knowledge and eagerness to share made every mile traveled with him a journey in its own right.

In the Azores, our guide Hugo stood out with his profound knowledge and warm hospitality. His passion for São Miguel and its history brought the island's stories to life in a way that enriched our experience immeasurably. Always ready with a smile and an interesting anecdote, Hugo made sure that every aspect of our visit was engaging, informative, and immensely fun. His dedication to ensuring we had the best experience possible was truly beyond our expectations.
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We cannot express enough gratitude for the unforgettable experience Tiago curated for us. His professionalism, passion for travel, and genuine care for his clients' satisfaction are what make him truly outstanding in his field. We wholeheartedly recommend Tiago to anyone looking to explore Portugal; with him at the helm, you are in the best of hands. Thank you so much Tiago. We look forward to working with you soon, and most importantly meeting you again in the near future. Keep in touch

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Lisboa Plaza

Lisboa

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

NH Collection Porto Batalha

Porto

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Lince Azores Great Hotel

Ponta Delgada

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms got too hot at night-no one addressed after brining it up to the staff

Activity Reviews

Whale-Watching in the Azores

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Central São Miguel Guided Tour

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Western São Miguel Guided Tour

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

São Miguel: Furnas Valley Tour

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport