South Korea Travel Agents

This was my second trip to Seoul and second time working with Jessica…and both of exceeded my expectations. The only part I would advise to pass is on the DMZ experience which was underwhelming. Head to the Gamaksan suspension bridge and unification park, grad Korean BBQ in Pagu, then head back to Seoul.

Hotel Review

JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul

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Activity Review

Full Day Korean DMZ and Hongdae Shopping Street Tour

Seoul

Avoid the full tour and enjoy the suspension bridge and Pagu instead.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Overall, I had a great trip. My planning was definitely a little different. As I was going to visit my cousin, plus break up my trip with popping over to Thailand for 15 days, when I first put together an idea, Kimkim said that they wouldn't be able to do it. After I contacted customer service, they quickly explained to me that they were more than happy to accommodate what I was wanting for my Korea trip. I did have a problem arise while planning and when I contacted customer service again, they promptly called me and told me that they would get my agent to contact me so we could get my issue resolved.

Most of my trip was self-guided, but when I went to Gyeongju, I did have a guide. William was an excellent guide and I greatly enjoyed touring with him for the few days. He was able to take me to all of the sites I was wanting to visit in and around Gyeongju. Plus he had the best recommendations for lunch spots. If one is able to get William as a tour guide, one will definitely have a great experience with a very competent guide.

Part of my trip, I researched 2 places I wanted to go: Gyeongju and Jeonju. While researching the cities, I saw the recommendations to stay at 2 different hanoks. When I was putting together my trip, I requested to stay in those hanoks and Kimkim was able to make the reservations. I definitely recommend staying at Siwoowadang. The hanok was situated within walking distance to multiple areas and the hanok village. The restaurants around Siwoowadang were fabulous and my breakfast every morning was delicious. The couple that ran the hanok were amazing hosts and I had all the comforts I needed. When in Jeonju, I definitely recommend staying at Samlockhon as it is in the heart of the hanok village and the host is quick to give you the best restaurant and cafe recommendations. Jeonju was definitely one of my favorite places to visit.

My trip planner did plan my KTX tickets at a perfect time leaving me with a perfect amount of time visit each city. I am so glad that I was able to plan my trip with Kimkim and I will use them for my next vacation planning.

This was an amazing trip and we had a great time!
The tour with Jones the first 2 days was perfect. Jones did such an amazing job and he always went above and beyond to make sure we had a great time and be safe at all times. We truly missed him the rest of the trip. He’s a great driver and a great guide too.
K-pop class was great.
Color Analysis was great too.
Rides from and to airport were also great. MrNam has such a nice limo van with reclining seats, the most comfortable ride.
Alicia, our driver, was great too. She drove us the day of the snow storm. She was well prepared and she was a great driver even with the snow conditions.
Hotel was good. Nothing too fancy, but a great location. Staying in Myeongdong was a great decision. I think we went to the shops and market daily.

Thanks again for making this an unforgettable trip.

Hotel Review

Lotte City Hotel Myeongdong

Seoul

Great location. Good breakfast buffet with a great variety of Korean and non-Korean food.

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Activity Review

Sightseeing in Seoul: Gyeongbokgung Palace and Jogyesa Temple

Seoul

Jones was the best driver and tour we could have ever had.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This was my second time planning a trip with KimKim, and it easily matched the stellar experience I had the first time. Christine truly did listen to my individual preferences in planning a trip to South Korea and Beijing that felt very bespoke in the end.

I personally find 5-star hotels very isolating but adore private tours, which is probably an odd combination. Nevertheless, Christine listened and accommodated my wishes. She was also the first to suggest China as a secondary destination. It was a segment that turned out to be the highlight of the trip - although everything was pretty much perfect from beginning to end.

What I failed to fully appreciate my first time with KimKim was how comforting and luxurious it is to have someone checking in on a routine basis as the tour progresses. As a solo traveler, it’s nice to know someone is there looking over my shoulder in case I run into trouble.

During this trip, I did encounter a couple of minor hiccups involving daily tours. I was able to reach out to Christine both times, and she quickly resolved the situations, leaving me free to enjoy myself. If I’d planned everything myself, I would have had to set aside a portion of my vacation to make alternate arrangements on the fly while in unfamiliar lands.

I’m sure this is only the start of a long relationship with KimKim, and I can’t wait to begin scoping out other destinations.

Hotel Review

Imperial Palace Botique hotel itaewo

The Imperial Palace Boutique Hotel Itaewon was fine. It's not luxurious, but I don't seek that when I travel. It had character and was a decent place to stay. Plus, it was in a great location.

Activity Reviews

MBC DRAMA STUDIO One Day Tour from Seoul

Seoul

The MBC Drama Studio One Day Tour was a pleasant surprise and ended up being much more interesting than expected. Initially, it was a substitution for a K-pop tour, which got canceled, but I found it fascinating to see the depth of production they manage. Even though it turned out to be a large group tour, contrary to what was scheduled, it was still enjoyable.

Small Group Korean DMZ Tour

Seoul

The Small Group Korean DMZ Tour was disappointing due to the size of the group. It was larger than what I consider a small group, and it ended up with guides spending too much time tracking people down rather than providing in-depth information.

Jessica was amazing. She managed to understand and follow up with all my requests. This was my first solo trip and I felt safe. I had wonderful guides. Mr Taylor Woo and William were amazing. Had a great vacation.

Hotel Reviews

Lotte City Hotel Jeju

Jeju

I wanted to share some feedback about my hotel experience, as it was unfortunately the only downside of my time in Korea. The hotel lacked room service and didn’t have an onsite restaurant, so I was left with only the convenience store onsite for meals—which wasn’t ideal, especially with the heavy rain preventing me from going out. The TV was outdated (not a smart TV, NO netflix or other apps), with only CNN available for English-speaking guests, and the staff’s limited English fluency made it difficult to get assistance. Additionally, there was a strong, overpowering smell of wood in both the hallways and the rooms, making the environment uncomfortable. I seriously considered changing hotels due to these issues.

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Cleanliness & Comfort

They took my shower cap and didn't replace it. NO hand soap. Only 2 large and medium towels. NO small, face towel.

Grand Josun Busan

Loved the location, the staff, the room and the food!

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Soi Hanock Stay

Gyeongju

Very nice host and very clean! So relaxing!

Authenticity & Character

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There is no on-site staff. The owner of the house is pretty accessible.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Westin Josun Seoul

This hotel is great and has an amazing location. I had 2 situations. 1) there was construction and they had to relocate me to another room. 2) In The second room the A/C was not properly working so they had to move me again. Although I had to change rooms three times, the staff was very helpful and acted quickly. They tried to make me feel comfortable and well cared for.

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Activity Reviews

Sightsee in Seoul: Gyeongbokgung Palace&Bukchon Hanok Village&N Seoul Tower

Seoul

Mr. Woo was a great guide

Hwadam Botanic Garden&Gwangmyeong Cave tour

Seoul

This was a group tour. They just drop you there and you walk and practically self-guide. If you want to do the Monorail you have to purchase ahead of time since it gets sold out quickly.

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Full Day Petite France and Nami Island Tour (join in )

Seoul

Self guided. They just provide transportation.

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