Kimkim Trip Reviews for Portugal

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.
----------------------------------------------
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.
-------------------------------------------
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

São Miguel Island

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

São Miguel: Furnas Valley Tour

São Miguel Island

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Good, The Bad and The Just Right
The Good
The initial leg: Air France-Our home airport to Paris. We will definately do a 3 day layover in Paris. If an airport tells you something about a city, Paris will be..well Paris. Incredible people watching and shops, whatnot. Another level.
The beaches of the Silver Coast are amazing. Can't say enough good things. Comporta is the Hamptons on the come up. We visited so many places.. Nazare, Peniche, and Ericeria are all special. Sintra and Cascais are as advertised. Sintra has some incredible castles.

The food and the culture of the towns really stand out. I thought KimKim (Tiernan) provided us with a top notch A level service. Our experience was wonderful. We booked too many tours, so we revised the schedule on the fly. At least a 10 day trip is a must. The travel will cost you a day or day and a half of time including the jet lag effects.

The Bad & The Learnings
Layover in Boston, because of the flight cancellations and overnight layover. Learning: Avoid connecting in a U.S. City on the departure. Look to fly direct to Paris, London or Amsterdam..then catch your connecting flight to your final destination.
*Avoid the hotels near Martin Moniz square if you have a young family. It is very touristy so it draws a certain element. Great for people watching over a vinho verde with the wife while the kid sleep, but not a must see.

The "Just Right"
The travel experience: Lodging by City/Town: I thought all the lodging we stayed in were excellent. Each had their different vibes, charm and appeal. We are a family of 3 with a young daughter. I thought the prep work done to have experiences specifically for her worked out well.

This was our favorite tour: In Lisboa Tuk-Tuk: Tomas-(Our driver/guide) (College student, mid to late 20s, he did a great job)

We highly recommend KimKim (Tiernan) for your vacation planning needs. Be specific, it will help you shape your experience. Lots of communication upfront before you travel, helps you hone in the experience you want. Oh, get an automatic vehicle for Lisboa. Unless you drive in San Francisco often..the Hills of Lisboa driving a stickshift, you need to be very experienced. The restaurants are wonderful. The food is amazing in PT. Next time..we will go north to Porto, Braga and the like..along with the two places we love the most in the country..so far :) : Ericeria & Cascais.

Marina did an amazing job planning and booking all the hotels and tours. She constantly communicated with us to ensure that we were enjoying our trip. I will definitely recommend planning trips with kimkim.

Marina planned a great 10 day trip to Portugal. The hotels where we stayed and the activities she booked were great. The trip exceeded our expectations. Communication with Marina and our local contacts was easy. I felt like she understood what we were most interested in seeing and took into consideration the pace we wanted to travel. I would recommend using KimKim for your future travel!

Hotel Reviews

NH Collection Lisboa Liberdade

Lisbon

Right in the heart of the city. Great pool area. Rooms are a good size. Great breakfast buffet.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Vine House—Quinta São Luiz

Tabuaço

Beautiful!! The views couldn’t have been better.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Prettiest view from the deck of our hotel room

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Meliá Lisboa Aeroporto

Lisbon

Authenticity & Character

Location

Great place to spend the night before an early flight. Can walk to the airport but the hotel also provides a shuttle

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Just needs some updating. Pool area was very nice

Activity Reviews

Get to Know Lisbon with a Local

Lisbon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Workshop: Painting Traditional Ceramic Tile

Lisbon

Quality of Experience

Sintra Heritage Hike: Hidden Secrets

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wine Cellar Guided Visit with Lunch

Douro Valley

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

River Boat Experience in Douro Valley

Douro Valley

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Self Drive {{start_location}} to {{end_location}} via Aveiro

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Transport

Private Porto Cooking Class

Porto

This activity was canceled but our local kimkim Representative let us know right before we started walking to the cooking class. The chef took us to dinner instead to a Michelin chef’s newly opened cafe. We spent the evening with him and spoke with the chef as well. The meal was delicious and the company was just as good!

Get to know Porto by E-bike

Porto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hiking & Cultural Excursion in Peneda-Gerês National Park

Porto

Great hikes. Beautiful waterfalls. Loved our guide Nuno. Great local lunch at a nice restaurant at the park.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

First time using Kim Kim and it was so easy. Helen and her team had quick replies and solutions to any questions that I may have had. we even last minute added another tour onto our itinerary and she messaged us back very quickly and made it happen. I will definitely be coming back and using Kim Kim for future explorations. Thank you Kim Kim for an amazing and memorable trip.

Hotel Reviews

Lagos Avenida Hotel

Lagos

This hotel was clean, professional, and very modern. It was in a great location close to everything. The restaurant is amazing.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Meliá Lisboa Aeroporto

Lisbon

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Évora Olive Hotel

Évora

The rooms were massive compared to other rooms that we stayed in Portugal. Very walkable and close to the city center. Staff was very nice and it was clean.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Get to Know Lisbon with a Local

Lisbon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Privately Guided Visit of Évora

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boat Excursion Inside Benagil Caves

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lisbon Petiscos & Wine Tour

Lisbon

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a wonderful, stress free trip to Portugal thanks to the KimKim team and Marisa and her team from Across Portugal! It was a birthday trip for 3 of us who have been friends for 35 years. All the details had been worked out, all we needed to do was to get our flight to Lisbon.
Marisa was in communication with us long before our trip with details and a potential itinerary. We had mentioned we would like 4 star hotels, a cooking class at a farm with beautiful ocean views, a walking tour with tastings of Lisbon, with guide Anna who was so knowledgeable about the history of Lisbon/ Portugal, plus she was fun to be with! (We had our own private tour).
She arranged all of that! Our hotels were beautiful! Especially the Vilagale, Lagos and the Miragem in Cascais was simply breathtaking. All our hotels were within walking distance of local restaurants and shopping. She even arranged a boat ride for us in the grottos with breathtaking views of the rock formations. All of our transfers were arranged, including a pick up from the airport. All our drivers were excellent, especially Carlos, whom we had twice.
We were able to communicate through What’s App anytime and always got a quick response.
We would definitely use KimKim again and give everyone 5 stars! Thank you for providing us with a memorable Portuguese vacation!
We chose KimKim because we wanted to do our own thing without going with a tour group. It worked out perfect for us!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Activity Reviews

Lisbon Walking Tour + Delicious Portuguese Flavours

Lisbon

Anna was the perfect tour guide! She was very knowledgeable about the history and we walked all over Lisbon. We ended with some wine tasting and local tastes of the area. Thank you Anna! It was fun meeting you!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

All excellent- especially Carlos!

Transport

The black metris vans were especially comfortable to travel in!

Explore Belém on a Scenic 2-Hour Tuk Tuk Tour

Lisbon

This was a very fun way to travel to Belém and see all the beautiful sights! A bit bumpy at times with the streets but still fun! Loved the warm custard!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Unveil the Fairytale Villa of Sintra with a Private Driver Service

Portugal

Sintra is a town not to be missed! Our driver was very good and made sure we saw everything!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exclusive Panoramic Boat Tour to the Ponta da Piedade Caves

Portugal

Blue Fleet took us on our boat ride to see the grottos. It lasted about an hour and the views were amazing! The water color and rock formations were unbelievably stunning! Marta was our captain and did a wonderful job!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Immerse Yourself in the Portuguese Culture by Experiencing a Fado Dinner

Lisbon

We had a wonderful experience with the Fado music/dinner. 2 different singers, but the same 2 guitar players. They were excellent! The meal was good, but I have had better beef. I think the fish is the food to order on the menu there. The wine and entertainment made up for it!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Portugal

Loved this class! It was a bit of a drive from Lagos, but again with our excellent driver, it was not a problem. The host was very nice and took us on a tour of her farm/gardens. Then we went to the separate kitchen and had a cooking lesson where we could prepare our meal. After that, we went to a covered patio and had a fantastic meal that we prepared! The view was amazing! Great to meet other people from Ireland and other parts of the. US.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Kim Kim team put together a fantastic trip to Portugal for my husband and me. They selected excellent hotels that met our budget and were in great locations. We loved the tours that Kim Kim book. We absolutely loved Paulo in Sintra who spent the day with us and took us to the Pena Castle and other local areas of interest. Kim Kim booked all of our train and car travel and hotel transfers. We had a blast!

Hotel Reviews

NH Sintra Centro Hotel

Sintra

Our favorite accommodation was at NH Sintra Centro Hotel. Recently renovated, it offered beautiful views and was very updated and clean. Getting there was a bit tricky due to narrow roads, but once we arrived, it was perfect. The breakfast was excellent, and the overall experience was wonderful.

Miramar Hotel & Spa

Nazaré

The Miramar Hotel & Spa in Nazaré was nice but not our favorite. The hotel was under construction, so the spa and indoor pool were closed. The room was clean, and the staff was polite, but it lacked some conveniences like an ironing board. The location was good, allowing us to walk to most places. Overall, it was a decent stay but could have been better.

Pousada Porto - Rua das Flores

Porto

Our stay at Pousada Porto—Rua das Flores was excellent. The hotel was in a prime location, especially during the St. John's Festival. The breakfast was fantastic, and the dinner we had there was delicious. The room was a bit small but very clean, and we spent most of our time outside, so it didn't matter much. The staff was polite, and we enjoyed the overall experience despite the room size.

Activity Reviews

Lisbon Roots, Food & Cultural Walk

Portugal

We started our trip with a food and cultural walk in Lisbon, which was fantastic. Our guide took us to some traditional Portuguese places, including an olive oil shop that we probably wouldn't have found on our own. We were paired with two ladies from Tampa, Florida, and despite our initial doubts about getting along, we ended up having a blast and even stayed in touch. The guide was lovely and made the experience really special.

Guided Tuk-Tuk Tour

Portugal

The tuk-tuk tour in Lisbon was another highlight. Our driver was punctual, knowledgeable, and spent plenty of time with us, giving us a rich history of the city. Lisbon's steep hills can be a lot to handle on foot, so this was a perfect way to see the city without too much walking. It was a great way to get around and learn about Lisbon.

Get to know Porto by E-bike

Porto

This e-bike tour in Porto was incredible, though challenging due to the hot weather and the crowd from the St. John's Festival. Our guide was wonderful, spent extra time with us, and made sure we were safe and comfortable. He took us to less crowded trails and provided a lot of historical context, which we appreciated. He also brought water and snacks for us and even took great photos. This was a very active excursion, but we loved every minute of it.

Our family trip to Portugal was amazing. It was our first time traveling to Europe and we had an amazing amazing amazing time. From the very beginning the help and guidance Pedro provided was 5 star. I was really impressed each step of the way while on the trip, as Pedro reached out daily and made sure to respond immediately when I had any questions. Our drivers and every tour we did was incredible. Zero complaints. It was a once and a life time trip, I would not have been able to plan without Kimkim and Pedro.

Hotel Reviews

PortoBay Marquês

Lisbon

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cascade Wellness Resort

Lagos

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Cascais Miragem

Cascais

Our favorite of the three hotels ;)

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Explore the Enchanting Ponta da Piedade Grottoes on a Thrilling Kayaking Expedition

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a really good experience with KimKim and Across Portugal. Joao and Pedro were excellent - and were attentive/thoughtful before, during and after the trip. Joao helped us plan a trip that met our preferences - in a country we weren’t familiar with. All the local guides/drivers were professional and great (especially with our kid(s)). We would recommend Joao and Pedro to friends and family. One quick note: we loved Cascáis (lovely, relaxing way to end up our trip and still be close to the airport for our departure), and in retrospect would have spent a couple more days there and a couple fewer days in Porto.

I was a little skeptical about using kimkim at first-- but it proved to be a thoroughly convenient and helpful service in planning our trip(s) to Portugal and Morocco. The travel planning services provided by Pedro at Across Portugal were excellent! He and his team were always responsive to our questions and the 9 day custom trip they planned for us through Lisbon (including trips to Sintra and Belem), Algarve and Cascais was exactly what we hoped for. We particularly appreciated the thoughtful welcome gift upon arrival at our Lisbon hotel and Pedro's responsiveness when our hotel in the Algarve, Cascade Wellness Resort, did not meet our (admittedly) high standards. Our driver, Andre, was one of the highlights of our trip. He was great with our kids and we really enjoyed our conversations with him.

Hotel Reviews

Cascade Wellness Resort

Lagos

We have admittedly high standards when it comes to our resort hotels. Unfortunately, despite what appeared to be their best efforts Cascade Wellness just didn't meet the mark. Our first apartment (#511) was very disappointing-- a not insignificant walk to the main dining areas/pools with a view of the roundabout, combined with worn/dirty furnishings, dirty linens and black mildew rampant in the shower areas. We were disappointed enough that for only the 2nd time in my life, we requested a room change. The second apartment (#1111) was an improvement in terms of cleanliness/pool access. Overall, however, this resort needs refurbishment. The carpets/couches/draperies in both apartments need to be deep cleaned to remove stains and the furniture is noticeably dented and scratched. In the three days we spent poolside, the pool bar by the 'sand' pool never opened (we were there in mid-June and the pool was in use by many people). Landscaping does not appear to be watered regularly and walkways between buildings were in need of repair. We only ate at the hotel once after being unimpressed with our lunch, preferring either to go out and order in via UberEats. The front desk, however, did try to be helpful, providing good restaurant recommendations and, after moving us, checking to see if the new apartment was an improvement. Bottom line, this is not a 5 star, or even a 4 star, resort.

Location

Resort was convenient to Lagos and other towns, but given the environment (set on a cliff above the ocean) no easy beach access or easy ocean views.

Staff

Staff was fine-- but other than one woman at the front desk who really helped us with dinner reservations and with moving our apartment, service did not particularly stand out.

Cleanliness & Comfort

As noted in my review, our initial apartment was dirty enough and in bad enough repair overall that we requested to be moved to a new apartment. Stay away from Apartment #511.

Heritage Avenida Liberdade

Lisboa

Great location, well appointed, clean rooms (the port in the rooms is a nice touch).

Hotel Cascais Miragem

Cascais

Great location, beautiful ocean views with a balcony. Large rooms (our adjoining rooms had dressing room area(s) larger than many hotel rooms). Only stayed one night so can't speak to the pool and other services.

Activity Reviews

Unveil the Fairytale Villa of Sintra with a Private Driver Service

Portugal

Sintra is a can't miss stop on your visit to Portugal and, at the suggestion of our driver, Andre, we combined our visit to Pena Palace with a visit to Quinta Da Regaleira and a quick lunch in the old town area-- which made for a perfect day trip from Lisbon.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Andre is a MAJOR asset to his employer. We really enjoyed our time with him and his excellent recommendations. We will recommend him to others and request him as our driver on a return visit.

Transport

Very comfortable Mercedes vans were used throughout all of our transfers.

Exclusive Panoramic Boat Tour to the Ponta da Piedade Caves

Portugal

Lovely private boat tour along with coast. Knowledgeable, pleasant guide and appreciated the mid-ride port sampling and that our son got to help drive the boat. Would have liked the option to jump in the water at some point, but recognize that was not part of the itinerary.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guides we had were all exceptional and very knowlegable and fun to be with. They made our trip very special. The hotels were beautiful and spacious with the exception of the hotel Vintage Pestana which was a bit dated. Although the location was good. We especially loved the Palacio Ludivice in Lisbon, The Octant in Duoro and the Sensi in Azores. I would hightly recommend these hotels and would stay there again. I would take extra time to also stay more in the eastern part of the Duoro in addition to staying at the Octant to be closer to the wineries. Raquel put together an amazing trip.

Hotel Reviews

Palácio Ludovice Wine Experience Hotel

Lisboa

beautiful hotel. exemplary staff

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Quinta das Lágrimas

Coimbra

beautiful. a few of rooms were musty so had to move to differnt rooms. upgraded to big suite Would never stay in the new addition. extremely ugly

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

two rooms they offered were musty/moldy

Octant Douro

Douro

Fabulous, want to go back

Authenticity & Character

Location

although not close to many wineries

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pestana Vintage Porto

Porto

a bit dated and small rooms and bathrooms

Authenticity & Character

update the rooms

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

updated rooms

Sensi Azores Nature and SPA

Ponta Delgada

Will someday go back. loved everything about the hotel. Ate dinner there 3 times. superb

Authenticity & Character

Location

a bit far from Ponta Delgada

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Architectural & Historical Highlights of Lisbon with a Local

Lisbon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Day Excursion: Sintra, Cascais & Estoril

Portugal

loved sintra and our guide was exceptional. Had lunch at his family restaurant and met his wife. Best guide on the trip

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dinner With Locals at a Local Home

Lisbon

One of highlights of trip. Loved spending toime with a local family. they were lovely. Best food in Lisbon

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

hard to find. took a taxi

Guided Visit of Historic Coimbra

Portugal

very interesting. beuatiful buildings

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Wine Experience in the Douro Valley & River Cruise

Douro Valley

amazing guide

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

good guide

Vintage Car Tour of Porto

Porto

it was good but short in the car

Quality of Experience

more sights to see

Guides, Drivers and Staff

enthusiastic

Transport

could have been longer in car to see more sights

My three daughters and I had an amazing vacation. We saw a lot of the country in 10 days. From Porto to the Algarve and many stops in and around the major cities. Our drivers and guides were friendly and informative. I think a must do on my list would be to kayak around the rocks and caves in Lagos. The water is crystal clear and although the weather is hot there is a nice breeze The Portuguese folks are happy and friendly with concerts and dancing in the streets with little pop up beer gardens around the city of Lisbon.and Lagos. The towns seem to be very safe even in the evening and the towns are always lively. Everyone speaks English, it’s the common language to speak with most tourist. Don’t miss the beach town of Nazaré at least a quick lunch and visit to the light house. The Douro Valley is splendid to view and visit a winery while you’re there. The town of Sintra is very charming. We visited the pena castle with absolutely splendid gardens. Prepare to hike a bit and wear sneakers It also seems that most towns have a signature pastry so you must visit a bakery or two. I gained a pound or two!

Pedro did an amazing job with our trip to Portugal. He listened very carefully to our preferences and tailored the trip to accommodate our likes. His daily check in was incredibly reassuring. Our driver, Nelson, was very kind and a great resource during our travels. He was beyond professional and incredibly accommodating. I can't recommend Pedro enough! When we return to Portugal, we plan our travel with Pedro.

Portugal is a beautiful country, with friendly and kind people. The food is delicious and the wine is amazing. We enjoyed our visit very much.

Hotel Review

Maison Albar - Le Monumental Palace

Porto

Great location, clean rooms and friendly staff. The dining at the hotel was delicious.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

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

Lisbon

Our guide Pedro was super knowledgable and took us on a great walking tour of Lisbon. He showed up some less crowded ways to navigate the city. The tour concluded with a wine and cheese tasting. Great guide, great city.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Raquel picked great hotels. Cliff Bay in Madeira was absolutely amazing. The private tours were wonderful. The cooking class in Porto with Chef Sara Verde with just the three of us cooking lunch was such a treat. Hiking with our guides in the Peneda-Gerês National Park was breathtaking. A great trip.

Hotel Reviews

Pestana Vintage Porto

Porto

Busy area of Porto, so you have to want to be where the action is. Balcony room a must. River view adds so much. Fantastic breakfast and staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

In the middle of the River scene.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Comfortable beds.

Douro Suites

Ribadouro

Location

Portugal Boutique City Hotel

Lisbon

Boutique hotel next to their much larger hotel in the center of Lisbon’s tourist area. Great staff. Smallish room without any view. OK breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Perfect.

Staff

Always helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Cliff Bay

Funchal

WOW! What a beautiful property. Access to the ocean. Indoor/outdoor pools. Amazing breakfast in beautiful restaurants with outdoor eating in the gardens. Great room with ocean views. Short walk to downtown.

Authenticity & Character

Gardens. Can not be described with words. Just beautiful.

Location

Close to downtown. Ocean access.

Staff

Responds immediately to requests.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything perfect

Activity Reviews

Introducing Funchal - Food & Cultural Tour

Portugal

Cancelled due to holiday.

Private Day Excursion: Sintra, Cascais & Estoril

Portugal

Driver just OK. Did adapt to our requests but didn’t adapt to issues in Cascais and never got to Estoril.

Quality of Experience

Needed to adapt to conditions.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Portugal

Personable driver. Could have provided more information on Coimbra.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wine Experience in the Douro Valley & River Cruise

Douro Valley

Didn’t do this tour.

Guided Visit of Porto's Architecture & World Heritage

Porto

Excellent personable guide. Great insight into Porto’s history with multiple recommendations for shopping and restaurants.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Day Excursion in Peneda-Gerês National Park

Porto

Two great hikes and tour of the old city.

Quality of Experience

Food

Nice local restaurant.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Personable and engaging. Chose two beautiful hikes.

Transport

Lisbon Roots, Food & Cultural Walk

Portugal

Guide was great. Tour was a good introduction to the city. She took us to ethnic food areas that were outstanding. It is unlikely that we would have discovered these intimate areas.

Quality of Experience

Food

pastel de nata

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Half-Day Hike Larano Cliff footpath

Portugal

Didn’t do this tour.

Porto Cooking Class

Porto

Cooking lunch with Chef Sara Verde in her restaurant was a highlight of this trip. She was a wonderful host.

Quality of Experience

Food

Cooking in the Cataplana pans. Chef gs e us directions to a kitchen supply store to buy them!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Madeira East Island 4x4 Private Adventure

Portugal

Great investigation of the Northwestern part of Madeira. A little too much time in the 4X4. Longer stops would be better.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Knowledgeable. .

Transport

Vehicle was old and felt somewhat unsafe. Seat belts were not functioning correctly.

We have just returned home to NZ following an amazing trip to Portugal, planned and organized by our amazing agent Marisa Agulhas -with KimKim.
Marisa was a pleasure to deal with, she listened to our ideas and time frame, then managed to put together a custom-made trip for the 3 of us - 10yr old, 40yr old and 77yr old kiwis. The tour plan was adjusted to meet our interests, pace and budget, all online with easy to follow prompts. A whatsapp group was formed prior to arrival with a couple of Marisa's colleagues who kept themselves available 24hrs, and responded to all our questions/concerns very quickly. The accomodation chosen for us was comfortable, stylish and very central to what we were interested in. All the transport including car hire, private drivers, train and transfers were organized ahead of time, we had amazing guides hand picked for our adventures, so knowledgeable, patient and friendly. Our highlight was a trip to Sintra from Lisbon, we loved our guide Pedro who was happy to accommodate our interests and suggest options, all our guides were amazing with my 10yr old and elderly mum. We also really enjoyed our brief stay in Seville Spain, and the activities picked by Marisa, as well as a Flemenco show/dinner suggested by her colleague.
The level of Marisas availability, attention to detail and communication blew us away, I 100% recommend booking with her and KimKim for a seamless, interesting and fun experience!

Hotel Reviews

Vila Galé Lagos

Lagos

Great place to stay with kids, amazing pool, activities, and right across the road from the ocean! Comfortable beds, large rooms, lovely house keeping ladies. We loved the Italian restaurant by the pool, friendly waiters and delicious food.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Tucked out the way, but convenient to most things

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lovely linen, comfy beds, nice outlook, clean bathroom, housekeepers went thr extra mile

Pousada Palacio De Estoi—Monument Hotel & SLH

Faro

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful historical palace, oozing with character and class

Location

Staff

Friendly staff, courteous and accommodating

Cleanliness & Comfort

PortoBay Teatro

Porto

Loved this hotel, welcoming, comfortable and enjoyed the personal touches the staff made to make us feel valued. Great location, comfy beds and beautiful linen.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

NH Collection Sevilla

Seville

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Lisboa Plaza

Lisboa

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Exclusive Panoramic Boat Tour to the Ponta da Piedade Caves

Portugal

Great captain and guide on board, kept us safe on a choppy sea, but also made sure we got value for money. Friendly, English speaking and fun

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Historic Odyssey Walking Tour of Lisbon

Lisbon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tickets to Lello Bookshop

Porto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Belém on a Scenic 2-Hour Tuk Tuk Tour

Lisbon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Unveil the Fairytale Villa of Sintra with a Private Driver Service

Portugal

We loved this day out, Pepe our driver was so friendly, knowledgeable patient and respectful. We were in safe hands, he was able to offer a range of activities, recommended places for lunch and extra spots of interests to suit our group. Loved Sintra!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Pepe was amazing, so great with my 10yr old and elderly mother. v Very patient, knowledgeable and accommodating to our interests/needs

Transport

Very nice van, new Mercedes

The entire trip was marvelous, exactly what we wanted - history, culture, archaeology and good food. And our driver/ guide was superlative. He went out of his way to make sure we did everything we wanted

Hotel Review

The Noble House

Evora

Breakfast was excellent and sufficient to keep you energized until dinner as long as there was a pastry stop midday. Only negaive was we had to go outside to get to our room

Authenticity & Character

Nicely appointed

Location

Within walking distance of everything

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Castelo de Vide

Portugal

Tiago made sure our experience was broad a d detailed at the same time. We missed nothing and came away with a broader understanding of what occurred in Spain and Portugal during the inquisiton

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Algarve Caves Boat Tour

Portugal

The tour was great

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit the Ancient Roman City of Évora

Portugal

We walked around the town and got a feel for the history of the area. Tiago made sure that we got a taste of local food in each of the areas we traveled and we did a lot of walking

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We walked A lot and saw everything

Tiago was rude, obnoxious and unhelpful from start to finish. While planning, he argued with me about minor changes and hotel selections. Once in Portugal, his behavior was consistent with the planning phase. Our travel through Portugal was supposed to be with a paid for driver/tour guide. We got a driver, who was a very nice person and excellent driver, but had no information about the sites, their history or even important places for us to see on our own. He was not a tour guide. Thank goodness I bought a Frommer’s tour book, otherwise we would have missed or not appreciated what we were seeing. We loved our trip with KimKim to Morocco last year, but we were disappointed with this experience.

Anita, and the entire KimKim team, did a masterful job of organizing and executing our two week visit to Portugal. Travel staff put together an agenda which ensured we saw and experienced Portugal from top to bottom, and by the trip conclusion we had come to fully appreciate what makes this wonderful country unique. Perhaps, most impressive was the fact that if there was an item on our agenda, no matter where or when it was, the expected person, van, bicycle, kayak, boat, jeep, rental car, airplane, etc. was there right on time to take us to the next part of our agenda. Yes - some people may wonder if you could plan this trip without travel professionals like Anita and KimKim, and we did at the onset. However, we can say now with absolute certainty that our 2 weeks in Portugal could never have been so thorough, so eventful, and so memorable, had we not engaged with KimKim. We are most thankful for all the hard work and professionalism brought to our holiday experience and for the ways in which this made our Portugal visit truly special. We tip our hat to the excellent work of Anita and team.

Hotel Reviews

Legendary Porto Hotel

Porto

Location and staff were amazing! 10 out of 10. The particular room we were given was slightly dated but served us well overall and we appreciated having a nice outdoor balcony on our room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Central to anything that you may want to walk to. Perfect

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean but perhaps needing a little update/reno on the room

Hotel Mondego

Coimbra

We spent only one night in this hotel but found it to be comfortable, clean, modern, and with very friendly staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tivoli Oriente Hotel

Lisbon

Beautiful hotel, modern clean rooms with helpful staff and a great bar up on the roof.

Authenticity & Character

Location

For some people this may be a great location but unfortunately we found ourselves constantly in a 30 minute Uber ride when looking to visit the sights of Lisboa. The hotel is in close proximity to shopping if that’s your thing but not in close proximity to the major attractions of Lisboa and as such it doesn’t lend itself well to walking.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pestana Promenade Ocean Resort Hotel

Funchal

We loved this hotel. Super friendly staff, great view, large clean room, and wonderful pools to swim in. The complimentary breakfast was the best of our entire trip. At first it may seem like there are not many restaurants nearby but an easy 5 minute walk puts you in touch with some great bars and food establishments, just need to go looking. Walking into the city of Funchal was possible from here and it was nice to be away from the noise of the city. Great choice for this property.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Hands down the friendliest person of our entire trip was the nice lady who welcomes people to their breakfast table

Cleanliness & Comfort

Meliá Lisboa Aeroporto

Lisbon

Beautiful, clean, modern hotel in walking distance from the Airport. Great for transfers but not great as a vacation destination property as it’s too far from most of the Lisboa attractions.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

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

Porto

What a breathtaking experience this was. The scenery was out of this world. A must visit for anyone coming to the Porto area of Portugal.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was OK and knowledgeable but unfortunately just seemed to be a little too “high energy” for the group he was driving. He was a young man, and I won’t quote his name in this review, but his aggressive driving was a complaint by a few people on the trip and we had asked him to cool it, made worse by the driver boasting about how little sleep he had had the night before. In the end his over the top enthusiasm caused his van to be in a minor collision with another car and everyone in our group could have predicted this far before it happened.

Transport

Foodie Experience in Porto

Porto

This was fantastic and in our opinion a must do for people visiting Porto. Our guide and all the restaurants who welcomed us were outstanding. Highly recommended.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was amazing - actually better than amazing if that’s possible

Transport

Guided Visit to Porto

Porto

This was a great tour for us but we could see that it may not be right for everyone. We loved the up close experience we had to seeing the sights of Porto but in doing so you need to put your steep hill shoes on and be prepared to navigate some crazy streets and sidewalks. 100% ok for us but perhaps not for all. Our guide did a great job of looking after us.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hiking & Cultural Excursion in Peneda-Gerês National Park

Porto

Beautiful, breathtaking, spectacular scenery and a wonderful guide

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Small Group Excursion to Sintra & Pena Palace

Lisbon

This one is a “must” for visitors to Portugal. It will be an entire day excursion in a van but worth every minute in our opinion. We were also fortunate to have a tour guide at the “expert” level and one that even had a plan-B for every delay or possible interruption we encountered. This trip could not have gone more smoothly. Highly recommend.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dinner With Locals at a Local Home

Lisbon

This one experience made our entire 2 week visit to Portugal worthwhile. We were welcomed into the home of Sofia and Carlos and they immediately made us feel like family. We enjoyed a beautiful home cooked meal, we laughed, told stories, and were treated like friends. I cannot envision a more genuine experience when visiting Portugal and full credit goes to our hosts Sofia’s and Carlos for this night. This is not something that could be repeated by just any host - this couple is truly special and they deserve a huge thanks for being such great ambassadors for the wonderful country of Portugal.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lisbon Up the Hills E-Bike Experience

Lisbon

This was a fantastic way to see Lisbon. However, it turned out that pretty much our entire bike ride was either flat or downhill. As a result, there was really no need for an e-bike. At the same time, it would have also been great to have an option, even at extra cost, to keep the bike beyond the tour for extra exploring. We saw so many sights and wanted to return for a better look and a bicycle is the perfect vehicle for the excursion.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Enchanted Terraces and Porto do Moniz Tour

Portugal

Great experience and extremely worthwhile. We had set off to Madeira thinking that we would need to do several different tours of the island to see the highlights. Lo and behold, this one day trip in an open jeep took us to almost everywhere we had wanted to go. It was perfect and if one has only a few days to spend on Madeira then this is a great way to have a condensed high quality experience. Our tour guide was funny, informative, a great driver, and went above and beyond for everyone’s benefit. Job well done here.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Garajau Nature Reserve: Kayaking, Snorkeling & Cliff Diving

Portugal

This was an enjoyable experience and we were most grateful to see the Madeira shoreline by kayak and then to snorkel in the protected waters of the Atlantic. The facility we left shore from was first class. Our only concern on this trip was that the nice young man who was our guide was really put in a very difficult position. He never complained or asked for anyone’s help but he was expected to single handedly launch, and then lift 75 lb. kayaks up out of the ocean, and pull them solo up a 6 ft ladder with just a rope wrapped around his arm. He wouldn’t let his customers (us) help him and it’s a miracle he wasn’t physically injured by his job. We felt sorry for him and his employer should be checked for creating an unsafe work environment. I think the young man didn’t want to complain and we sensed that he greatly valued the job he’d been given. Just a bit sketchy to watch.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This is the first time we used kimkim for a travel experience. We weren't familiar with Portugal, so we relied on the advice of Katerina, Karin, and Anita to guide us with customizing the itinerary. We requested minor revisions to the itinerary which were accepted graciously. The final itinerary and instructions for traveling were detailed, organized, and complete. We felt very comfortable traveling to a country we never visited before due to the kimkim team's guidance.

While in Portugal, we had just a few minor "bumps", but we were very impressed with how the kimkim team responded and immediately made adjustments. They did everything possible to ensure we were safe, happy, and cared for while traveling. We want to say, " thank you", to our tour guides and drivers; Emmanuel, Clarissa? and Rui. We asked for Rui again because he went above and beyond for an amazing experience! in Porto, Felipa, Ricardo, and Nuno who also went above and beyond to show us the beauty and provided so much education about Portugal.

To summarize, we look forward to planning many more trips in the near future with kimkim. We highly suggest taking their suggestions and requesting what is important to you. The kimkim team will make sure your traveling experience will be truly memorable!

Thanks for the wonderful Portugal experience!

Hillary and Michael

The whole trip was memorable. Tiago did an amazing job. We learned so much about the Country and History. I loved experiencing different regions and seeing beautiful beaches, wine country, Castles and Palaces. Food was wonderful. Tiago was patient, flexible and we enjoyed his company.