Kimkim Trip Reviews for Spain

Enjoyed a fabulous trip through Andalucia (Southern Spain) organized by Megan. This was an add-on to the original trip we spoke to Megan about but she delivered a wonderful itinerary hitting all the sights we were interested in visiting, or explained why some sights were too difficult to incorporate given the schedule. The guides we had along the way were excellent - knowledgeable, friendly and very welcoming to their city. They felt like friends after our time spent with each of them. Love that it was a customized itinerary just for us - made us feel truly special! Accommodations were great and centrally located. Megan was quite responsive during the planning phase anytime we had a question. I would recommend Megan to my family and friends and anyone looking to travel through this region.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Giralda Center

Sevilla

Great location - not far from train station and close to Plaza de Espana and other sights. Room was very modern, spacious and comfortable. (Room size is comparable to US hotels.) Breakfast buffet was separate. We found out on Day 2 that you can do a la carte breakfast in the bar/restaurant area and it was very affordable. (Not too many cafes walking distance to grab a coffee in the morning.)

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Soho Boutique Capuchinos Hotel

Córdoba

We walked here from the train station - approx 15 mins. (No Ubers available but after we did the trek it wasn’t a bad walk.) We had rooms on the ground level but it was interesting that the window was to the interior core of the building. It wasn’t loud and we didn’t spend too much extra time in the room so it wasn’t an issue. Breakfast was included.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room Mate Leo

Granada

Centrally located in Downtown Granada just a few blocks from the Cathedral. Ubers/taxis can’t drop you off at the door because it’s located inside the business area (pedestrian only) but it’s only a short walk from the main street to the hotel entrance. Rooms were very modern and rooms comfortable. Breakfast is not included but there are coffee shop options a few doors down. Front desk staff was helpful with dining recommendations when we first arrived.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Caterina Victoria

Malaga

This isn’t a hotel but apartment. Bathrooms were a little tight on space but the room was large enough and the living area (dining, sitting area and kitchenette) was plenty big and you could really spread out there. We got dropped off by the Cathedral and since this apartment is located in the pedestrian area, it’s a little bit of a walk through some busy pedestrian streets depending on the time of day. There are bars located at the base of the building so there can be noise depending on how your apartment is situated or what game is playing. Since it’s an apartment, don’t expect daily cleaning or on-site personnel, which was fine with us. But their manager was great in getting in touch a week before our arrival to confirm our reservation and provide instruction on how to find the apartments. There were grocery stores and coffee shops nearby if we needed snacks and drinks. There was also a Nespresso-type coffee maker in the apartment.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The apartment manager was great about getting in contact with us a week before our arrival to confirm our travel details.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Tour of Seville’s Cathedral, Alcázar & Giralda

Seville

Julio was great! Very friendly, informative tour and always happy to answer questions that we had.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Julio spoke excellent English for us non-Spanish speaking travelers.

Transport

It was a walking tour so no separate transport was used. But the paths we walked were fantastic.

Tapas Tour

Spain

Really enjoyed this food tour. Our guide was a former restauranteur so she could speak in-depth about the food that was presented. Everything we sampled was delicious and we did a small “crawl” or walk from stop to stop. I have a new appreciation for Spanish olive oil.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had a fantastic time on our trip to the Andalusia region of Spain! KimKim made all arrangements extremely convenient. The guides were impeccable and open to suggestions with our itinerary. Each of the four hotels we stayed at were incredibly nice in a great area of town. I would highly suggest KimKim to anyone traveling for pleasure in the future.

Helena was a huge help planning our first trip to Spain. All her suggestions and tips were super helpful. She was VERY patient with us and our multiple (7!) revisions over a period of almost 6 months.
Our 10 days in Spain were incredible - our most memorable vacation in 9 years (and their have been many!)
The transfers were all on time and comfortable, the hotels were fabulous, the excursions and guides were incredible... each tour got better and better as the trip went on!
Planning our trip with KimKim took a lot of pressure and worries out of the process and made our trip that much more enjoyable. During the trip, if we had any questions, Helena or her assistants were just a message away in the "Trip Plans" app and they always responded immediately. (LOVED the app! So Organized and detailed!)
We ended up getting engaged on the beach of Tossa de Mar on our 8th day and Helena was so helpful in recommending the professional photographer to my now fiancé! She even went above and beyond to upgrade our final hotel room in barcelona to a higher floor with a congratulations basket of Prosecco and chocolate dipped strawberries! It was the perfect way to celebrate!
We are already using KimKim again to plan our trip to Rome and the Amalfi Coast. We have been recommending them to anyone planning trip... and we highly suggest working with Helena if you are going to Spain!
Thanks again Helena (and team), for everything!!!!

Hotel Reviews

Ohla Barcelona

Barcelona

Amazing location. Fantastic rooftop pool, bar and views Incredible breakfast! They will make fresh eggs to your liking AND cappuccinos at your request as well! Very friendly staff, always so kind, attentive and helpful. Be prepared for firm beds everywhere in Spain. but the pillows were nice and we slept well. Would definitely stay here again

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Be prepared for firm beds everywhere in Spain. but the pillows were nice and we slept well.

W Barcelona

Barcelona

FABULOUS! WOW!!!! We stayed here before our flight out... and the SPA was sooooo nice after a busy 10 days of exploring and adventure. The outdoor pool was cold but I still went in. The dinner at NOXE on the top floor was so delicious with an amazing view, great vibes and very friendly staff. Incredible breakfast! Huge Spread! and so nice to eat out on the patio with the view of the beach. Would definitely stay here again

Authenticity & Character

Super cool design and vibe! Felt like a rockstar!

Location

Incredible view of the marina/cruise port, Montjuïc and the beach and

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full Day Barcelona Old Town & Sagrada Família

Barcelona

Our guide was soooo knowledgeable and fun. We saw so much on this full day, customized private tour and learned a lot! The Sagrada Familia and The houses on the Block of Discord were incredible!!!!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Hike in Montserrat Mountain & Explore Penedès Wineries

Barcelona

OMG it was so beautiful up on Montserrat! The views were amazing, the funicular was so much fun, our hike was worth it for the views, and the tour of the monastery & other buildings was impressive. Our private guide was so funny and made the hike/walk enjoyable (wear good sneakers/hiking shoes and bring water!) The winery was very nice and the tasting was delicious. We learned a lot.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Cooking Class in Costa Brava

Spain

Mariona and Pere are AMAZING! They are full of knowledge, are so kind & funny, and have so many wonderful stories to share. The tour of the Market in Palafrugell was a great way to start the day shopping for our ingredients (seeing all the fresh seafood was the best part), and then we were welcomed into their own home and kitchen... which was such an honour. I could go on and on about the delicious food we learned to make and the incredible experience of working alongside this lovely couple in their beautiful home to create this masterpiece seafood Fideua (Paella made with Pasta instead of rice) and Creme Brûlée. (oh and I can't forget the suprisingly delicious Catalan Tomato Garlic Bread with Spanish Anchovies as an appetizer - SO good!). Our conversation over the meal was so special and I felt like we were old friends by the end of the day. Thank you for the most amazing experience Mariona & Pere. You are incredible!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coastal Hike, Kayaking & Lagoon Dipping in Costa Brava

Spain

This was an incredible experience... the views along the coastal hike were unreal, and then when we got to paddle our kayak down along the coast, it was so neat to see everything we'd hiked along from a different vantage point. We had perfect weather and fun waves... we were brave and paddled through caves and near cliffs - it was a fun team-building experience for my fiancé and I haha! and the lagoon dipping and snorkelling was made extra special when we got to jump off of various heights of cliffs! Bucket list item checked! Our guide was so informative and funny, and he even took photos for us while we were on the kayak and cliff jumping using his own phone which he sent to us that night.... that allowed us to fully enjoy the experience but still have the captured memories. This was one of the best excursions of my life!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our guides, Ana (El Escorial), Mercedes (Avila),
Luis (Salamanca), and Mariano (La Granja and Segovia) were wonderful, very knowledgeable and easy to understand. The hotels were all very good and centrally located. It was very enjoyable and relaxing vacation.

This was our first trip with KimKim. Some highlights:
- Trip planning was super easy and they were very flexible to match our needs
- Hotel locations and hotels themselves were excellent. In both cities, the hotels were an easy walk from all the places we wanted to go and close to restaurants/shopping/public transport
- the guided tours in Barcelona and Seville were fantastic. Special shout out to Noah in Barcelona for the food tour. It was just the two of us with Noah and honestly it felt like we spent the evening with a good friend. Our other tour guides Alexi in Barcelona as well as Miguel and Mariam in Seville were excellent as well.
- due to some internal miscommunication within KimKim, our tour for the Alcazar was not booked. They let us know, refunded our money and offer another complimentary tour with Mariam which was excellent
- prearranged transportation is a huge value add as landing in a foreign country and not knowing the language makes navigating public transport challenging. On our return, the pickup was at 4 am and we were grateful for the prearranged ride
- The call with our planner Adam prior the trip was very valuable as he ran through the itinerary and answered common questions (how much cash do we need to carry, how much to tip, what type of weather to expect etc)

Downsides:
- The missed tour of the Alcazar though handled well, was a big miss. It is one of the marquis attractions in Seville and one that we will likely not see again
- Most of the tours are available from TripAdvisor or Viator at lower cost BUT the trip planning and co-ordination needs a lot of prep work if you do it your self

Fantastic trip to northern/northwest Spain. Logroño in La Rioja was beautiful. Our guide Ameli took us on a personal tour of the wine country including a stop in Laguardia. It was a beautiful day/evening. Next on to San Sebastián. We loved our accommodations at Maddiola just outside the city on the beautiful coastline. Our tour the following day to Biarritz, Bayonne and Saint Jean de Luz was lovely and nice afternoon lunch in Bayonne with our guide ( Iator?) who was very informative. We really enjoyed our pinxtos evening tour with Gorka in the historic district of San Sebastián. One of the many unforgettable highlights! Our boutique hotel in Bilbao was vey nice and convenient and the city was beautiful. We visited the Guggenheim museum, rode the funicular, explored the historic district and thoroughly enjoyed our walks throughout the city. Our next stop was San Vicente de la Barquera. This was a nice break from the more populated Bilbao. Love the change of pace and apartment style accommodations in the national park. Our host Martin gave us great advice on alternative hikes in the Picos de Europa as weather was threatening and we had an enjoyable drive to and afternoon in
Potes after a nice morning hike along the Nansa River. Our next stop in Ribadeo was also beautiful along the coast and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay and the scenic coast in this area including the impressive La Catedrals beach! On our way to Santiago we made an extra trip to A Coruña which was gorgeous walking along the coast trail to the monument and we did the same previously in Santander where we hiked around the palace. Santiago was wonderful, our hotel was perfect location and we love the vibrant, historical city with all the pilgrimage vibe. Our final destination Vigo was spectacular including ferry ride and hike to Cies Islands. Overall we loved the trip, accommodations were great and as expected with convenient locations but also variety of experiences. Rental car worked out well and no concerns or problems with travel, parking or tolls. Thanks for planning a great trip, Alba!

Everything was perfect. Your choice of hotels were perfectly located in the center of the activities that we wanted to see and do. Your choice of restaurants were great.
Thank you for all your support.

We booked the Andante hotel, Paella Cooking Class, and the Tapas Tour. The hotel was alright, it's not the cleanest, but it serves its purpose and a bonus to convenient location. The Tapas Tour and the Paella Cooking Class were one of the highlights, wine was definitely not scarce with either of these. We also got the Welcome Pick Up where a taxi cab immediately pick you up from the airport and to your hotel and vice versa, this was an absolute game changer for us.

Hotel Review

Andante Hotel

Barcelona

Great view and location. The infinity pool is picture worthy.... Could be cleaner though.

Authenticity & Character

It's pretty and modern and of course the infinity pool

Location

Near a convenient store and a few restaurants

Staff

They can be stingy with the cups of ice and housekeeping is a hit or miss

Cleanliness & Comfort

Stains in bedding sheets and towels can be seen even after being changed. The tiles of the pool looks neglected. We also might have had bed bugs.

Activity Reviews

Multi-Course Cooking Class with Wine Pairing

Barcelona

Very friendly staff with a hipster atmosphere to the place. We paired up and made a unique paella dish per group that we then got to sample each dish made.

Quality of Experience

We learned so much history about Spain as we cook up our Paellas.

Food

The Paella of course! The bread they give you during the cooking session was good too.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

They are nice and engaging. You won't feel like a complete stranger.

Tapas Walk in The Gothic Quarter

Barcelona

We happen to be in a small group so we were able to get to know the other guests more. We walked to multiple restaurants and tried a variety of dishes - think of it like bar hopping if you will. As we walked to each place, we gain insight of the city and the origin of each tapas dish.

Quality of Experience

Super casual and you'll be well fed.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Marta from KimKim put together a perfect itinerary for our first trip to Spain and Portugal with two other couples. The itinerary was thoughtfully crafted, covering a blend of cultural, historical, and gastronomical experiences that brought out the true essence of each city. From the grand architecture of the Alhambra to the seaside charm of Lagos and Porto, every moment was enriched by the friendliness, knowledge and local expertise of our exceptional guides and the comfort provided by our dedicated drivers.

Hotels were perfectly selected for their comfort, location, and hospitality, making each stay a delight. I particularly liked that each boutique hotel had its own charm and reflected the local architecture - plus, every one was centrally located so we could easily walk to restaurants or catch a short Uber ride to an activity. And I can't say enough about the delicious food in both countries. The recommendations provided by Marta/KimKim were great and we especially appreciated the quick response when we didn't have any plans and I texted in the app "can you recommend 1-2 local seafood restaurants near our hotel" and got an instant response - even after normal business hours!

The activities, from the (super fun) cooking class at The Cooking Clubhouse and a Fado dinner to the scenic wine-tasting experience and lunch in the Douro Valley, were well-organized and immersive. Highlights like the Flamenco show in Seville and a visit to a hammam in Seville brought unique local color to our journey, making the trip unforgettable. The only disappointment was that our boat excursion to Benagil Caves was canceled due to weather (but that was unavoidable as we were in Spain the days there were terrible flash floods in Spain causing tragic fatalities in the north).

Overall, this itinerary was flawless in its execution. The attention to detail and seamless coordination ensured that we could simply enjoy each day without a worry. This is our second trip with KimKim and they've done a spectacular job each time customizing each tour to our interests, preferences and budget.

Dalia was extremely responsive to our requests both before and while we were traveling. On the trip we realized we had overbooked ourselves particularly in light of sleeping problems. She made adjustments to the schedule every time we asked. We appreciated her cheerfulness and overall professionalism.

Activity Reviews

Modernist Barcelona: La Sagrada Familia

Barcelona

The easy entry and overall efficiencies getting to and entering the La Sagrada Familia were great. The guide was extremely knowledgeable and helpful. The tour of the other Gaudi locations could have been shorter. We tried to end the tour early--we were tired-- but it didn't seem to be an option.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Montserrat private half-day trip

Barcelona

The location was beautiful, information interesting. Unfortunately, the guide was a distraction. She said she was a trained Opera singer and preceded to sing at inappropriate times. She also had exaggerated gestures and was a bit over the top, really. When we'd try to cut sections short, she was insistent that we had to follow her lead. Our driver on the other hand was wonderful. Excellent, safe driver.

San Sebastian: Panoramic & city center tour

San Sebastián

For all of us, this was a superb location to visit. Just what we needed. The tour guide Veronica?-- was the best! Mature, knowledgeable, entertaining. Perfect fit --History teacher--for our interests.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day trip to visit Marqués de Riscal & self-guided walk in La Guardia

San Sebastián

Beautiful setting, interesting tour. Eating lunch here was my idea but it wasn't as special as I hoped. The lunch at the vineyard on the way to Leon was much better and felt authentic.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day trip to Bilbao for Guggenheim on the way to Leon

Spain

The exterior of the museum is the reason to visit. We were disappointed in the exhibits.

Transfer to Santiago de Compostela with short hike on the Camino de Santiago

Spain

Theresa was enthralled with the whole experience. So this rating is for her.

Quality of Experience

The setting, the religious experience.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Santiago de Compostela city tour

Santiago de Compostela

We skipped this tour. We only toured the church which was great for Theresa.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Madrid Guided Tour with Royal Palace

Madrid

We only toured the palace. Guide was fine but again we were finished before she was.

Private Tour of Madrid by Electric Tuk-Tuk

Madrid

We loved the Tuk-Tuk tour! Perhaps because we were finally off our feet. Seriously, the tuk-tuk and guide were perfect. Entertaining, efficient, and the tour was just the right length. Great combination.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Loved Cordoba and Grenada. The Mezquita and Alcazar were amazing, as was the Alhambra. People were friendly and we received an excellent overview of Spain which we can build on in future trips. Loved the Tapas tours and the opportunity to eat as the locals do. Appreciated all our guides and their passion for the history and culture of a nation who once claimed ownership of more than half the known world.

The communication with Kim Kim during both our planning phase and prior to leaving for our trip to Spain was fantastic. All of the activities that were planned by Kim Kim were fantastic. There was a scheduling problem with one of the activities while we were on site and the Kim Kim team handled it wonderfully. I would use them to plan activities on future trips.

Helena and KimKim were amazing in helping us plan our first two week trip to Spain. The trip was wonderful and went seamlessly without a single hiccup. Helena gave us everything we asked for and more and was able to foresee details we would not have thought of. She found the perfect hotels, tours, activities and transportation for us and planned it in a way that flowed so well. She also provided multiple suggestions on the best things to do, places to eat etc. in our downtime. Our tour guides were well informed and friendly and made sure we got the most of the experience. They knew how to avoid the crowds without missing out on anything. We learned so much of the history and culture of Spain and saw beautiful scenery, cathedrals, palaces, fortresses, old towns, city streets and more. Our drivers were also friendly and fun to talk to. We loved the trip app that KimKim provided, giving us a very detailed outline of every day that Helena had organized - hotels, drivers and their contact number, tours and guides, train rides and tickets etc. Additionally it included information about each city and site, where to go, what to see and where to eat. We found it to be invaluable. Everywhere we went we were expected and welcomed warmly. We are very grateful for Helena and KimKim and will definitely use again and recommend to others.

Hotel Reviews

Urban

Madrid

Beautiful hotel in a great location. Staff were very friendly and helpful and the food was great! We enjoyed our stay here.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Colón Gran Meliá

Seville

We really enjoyed this hotel! The staff were friendly, it was a great location and the food was good. It was a pretty hotel and we enjoyed our stay here!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Meliá Granada

Granada

We loved our stay at the Melia. The rooftop had an amazing view of the city, our room was nice and the food was good! The staff were friendly and very helpful with every detail of our stay. The location was great too and we had no problem walking everywhere we needed to go.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Only YOU Hotel Malaga

Málaga

We loved the Only You hotel. The staff was very friendly and accommodating, the location was amazing, the views from the room and the top of the hotel (where we ate breakfast) were beautiful. We really enjoyed staying at the Only You in Malaga.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Tapas Culinary Experience

Madrid

We loved this tour! It was our first night in Madrid and the perfect introduction. Our guide was fun and very informative, the food and drinks were really good and we had a great group and met some cool people. We really loved this tour!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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

Madrid

Wow! So many beautiful sights, cultural and history in Madrid. Our guide, Javi was great! He was very informative and friendly and took us to some neat places and a few out of the way shops in Old Town that we loved. We really enjoyed this tour!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Train Madrid to Toledo, Guided Visit of Toledo, Train Toledo to Madrid

Madrid

Wow! Toledo is such an amazing place full of history and cultural and very unique as well. We loved our guide Sonia. She taught us so much about Toledo and the history, art, architecture and so much more there. She knew. how to take the side roads to avoid the busy and more crowded areas and got us right up front for prime views of everything. She knew so much about every aspect of the city and all of its history. She was fun and went out of her way to give us additional suggestions of places to eat and see and even got us a taxi back to the train station. Toledo is a place where I wish we'd been able to stay longer.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Guided Visit of Seville

Seville

We loved our private tour of Seville with Lita! Wow, what a beautiful city with so much to see and so much history. Lita was so informative and we had a great tour with her. We learned so much about Seville and saw so many beautiful sights, history and buildings. It was a wonderful tour!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit an Andalusian Olive Oil Estate

Seville

We really loved this tour of the Olive Oil Estate. Alberto our driver to the estate was a lot of fun and taught us a lot as well. Sarah, who led our private tour of the estate was great! We learned so much that we didn't know about the types of olives and the process of making olive oil both in the present and the past. A bonus was the carriage collection that the owner had - it was amazing to see and we got to pet the horses. We also enjoyed the tasting at the end. Sarah made the tour a fun experience and we really enjoyed it!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Seville

Wow! Cordoba is such a neat city with so much to see! We had a great tour with Jose who was so informative! We loved the old Roman bridge and of course the Mezquita, the enormous mosque-cathedral. That was pretty amazing and there was so much in there to take in! It is such an interesting history. We had an excellent lunch while there and some free time to explore.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Flamenco Show in a Sacromonte Cave

Granada

What a great Flamenco show in Granada! We even enjoyed the walk up the hill to the Sacromonte area where the Flamenco show was held in the cave. It was a lot of fun and the performers were so talented from the dancers to the singers to the guitar player. We had a great experience!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Visit: Alhambra & Generalife Gardens

Granada

Wow! The Alhambra and gardens are amazing! There was so much to see and it was beautiful! Christina was a great guide and very informative and made the tour fun. The views were incredible as well as the beautiful gardens and of course the palaces. The old fortress and the old roman aqueduct and ruins were very cool. There is a museum onsite that had some very neat artifacts. There were so many different parts to this tour and each part was spectacular! We really enjoyed this tour!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Spain

We enjoyed the views of the countryside on this private drive with Rafael who was very nice to Rhonda and when we got there, WOW! What an amazing place! The views and cliff are just incredible and the town of Rhonda was fun too. We had an excellent lunch at a cafe in the city and enjoyed walking around. But really it's all about the views. Wow!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Privately Guided Visit of Málaga

Málaga

Malaga is another beautiful city in Spain and we had a great private tour with Nahuel. He was a great guide and very informative! We enjoyed this tour and learning the history of Malaga. The Roman Theater was very cool and we learned how the Cathedral of Malaga was unfinished but they are working on finishing it now. It was also at the time of Picasso's birthday which is the same day as mine and so we learned more about his history with Malaga. Nahuel also gave us some great suggestions for places to go eat and to see while we were there. This was a great tour!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Self Guided Day Trip to Marbella

Spain

We enjoyed the beautiful drive to Marbella with Angel who was informative and so friendly. Marbella old town was beautiful and really neat! We had a delicious lunch there and enjoyed looking at the pretty flower lined streets and visiting the shops. Overall we had a fun trip to Marbella.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a wonderful trip to Spain and Portugal. Everything that was scheduled for flowed beautifully. We did not have one hiccup. It was relaxing to not have to worry about scheduling anything from airport transfers to tours. Marta delivered everything she said she would. We spent time with Marta in advance of our trip going over what we wanted to do and the budget and it all came to fruition. I would use kimkim travel again!

Hotel Reviews

Andante Hotel

Barcelona

This was our favorite hotel of the trip. The location was great. The breakfast was delicious. the decor was fun and modern. Bed and linens were comfy and the room had nice space.

Authenticity & Character

The modern vibe gave it character.

Location

We could walk to everything and we felt safe.

Staff

Overall staff were very friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable.

Hotel Son Caliu Spa Oasis

Palmanova

We are giving this hotel 5 stars as well. The location was not only beautiful but also walking distance to many restaurants. The rooms were spacious and well kept and the beds were comfortable. We had a balcony with a lovely view of the ocean. The decor was a little old fashioned for my taste. That is just a matter of opinion. We like it to be a little more modern. They have a wonderful spa onsite with a sauna, steam shower and indoor pool. You do not have to pay extra to use these and there isn't a resort fee. That was a very special treat. Once again the breakfast was delicious. We were lucky to have good weather so we could sit outside at the pool. Lastly, we rented a car and parking was a bit difficult. The hotel does not offer parking so you need to park on the street. It is safe, it just takes time to find a spot sometimes.

Authenticity & Character

It is a little old fashioned to me. It isn't run down, but it could use some modernization.

Location

Beautiful views, close to the water and walking distance to restaurants.

Staff

They were not particularly friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable.

Casual Belle Epoque Lisboa

Lisbon

This was our least favorite hotel. I will start with that it was clean and the bed was comfortable. Again, the pictures are a bit deceiving. It looks light and bright, but in fact the room is very dark and old. Carpet is old, the decor is old. The location was pretty good, but I would've liked to have been in a more modern hotel. The staff was very friendly and helpful. The breakfast was good too.

Authenticity & Character

The carpet could be cleaner and the rooms could be brighter.

Location

It was pretty good. I would've liked to been closer to the hustle and bustle of the city.

Staff

Staff was very friendly and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

It was clean and comfortable.

Legendary Porto Hotel

Porto

The pictures of the rooms in this hotel are a bit deceiving. The rooms are not that bright or spacious. They were darker and smaller. The lobby of the hotel is light and bright. The people at the front desk were not very nice and seemed irritated that we were talking to them. However, they did seem friendlier to others, maybe they didn't like that we were American, seemed a bit weird. But everything was clean and everything worked. Breakfast was good. Location was pretty good. I would've liked to stay in a more modern hotel closer to a more interesting part of the city.

Authenticity & Character

It was nice and clean, but the rooms were small and dark.

Location

Seemed to be in a more run down part of the city, not close to a lot.

Staff

The staff was very unfriendly. I think it was just to us because we were American (I'm guessing)

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was clean, beds were comfortable.

Activity Reviews

Tapas Walk in Barcelona

Barcelona

We loved our host Carla. She was fun and bubbly and had lots of information. We loved all the tapas restaurants she took us to.

Quality of Experience

Food and restaurants were great

Food

All the tapas were delicious

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Carla was so friendly and fun

Day Excursion to Montserrat & Scenic Hike

Barcelona

Overall this was a good experience. I was hoping to learn a little bit more about the location and the history. That may just be my preference. It also really wasn't a hike. I think it would've been if the people on the tour wanted to or could. But, because they couldn't we didn't hike up. We did walk down from the top, so that was good.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I would've liked a little more information about the site.

Transport

We really enjoyed our trip to Spain. The Heritage Hotel in Madrid was incredible and we really appreciated the service and meals there. Kike made sure that our stay there was nothing but the best. We also enjoyed our tour guides on our various tours. Victor in La Rioja and our tour guide in Toledo were some of our favorites, but we would highly recommend everything that we did.

Hotel Reviews

Relais & Chateaux Heritage Hotel Madrid

Madrid

Kike and all of the staff were great. We will be back.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Not in a very crowded area.

Staff

Kike from Peru!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Marqués de Riscal

Elciego

Maître d at the hotel made us uncomfortable after an experience that we made hotel management aware of. Otherwise, it would have been 5 stars. Beatrice, the sommelier, was a superstar and we really appreciated her!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

See comments above. Beatrice was amazing!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Madrid’s Royal Palace Private Tour

Madrid

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Flamenco Show in Malasaña

Madrid

This is a must for traveling to Madrid. We also met the owner who was very kind to help us arrange transportation following the show.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Horseback Riding & Vineyard Visit

La Rioja

Victor our tour guide was amazing. In terms of the horseback riding, we are not experienced. Our guide was there that spoke English but no one else did. This was a bit concerning as we were trying to figure out how to ride the horses... But, we managed it! The tour of the vineyard was awesome and Marta, the tour guide at the vineyard was so fun! This was one of our favorite days. Victor was very knowledgeable and made sure we had a wonderful experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Toledo Day Trip

Madrid

Our tour guide was awesome with lots of knowledge. I would definitely recommend this. Next time we want to stay in Toledo for a few nights!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Prado Museum Visit & Lunch at Botín

Madrid

Tour guide was also awesome for this! It was a fun trip that focused on food and art!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

From start to finish, Alba put together a terrific two week itinerary of Northern Spain (Madrid, San Sebastian, Bilbao, Las Rioja, ALQUÉZAR* and Barcelona). She (and her staff) have set the standard for working with a travel planner. Alba gave us a broad suggestion to start and over subsequent KimKim messaging system and direct phone calls we were able to shape a dream itinerary that gave us everything we wanted to do and was able to afford. Moreover once we set out on our adventure she and her staff were in constant contact to make sure all the plan's details were falling in to place seamlessly.

Note that Alquézar is starred. That is because it was the star of our journey. A quaint little Medieval Village in the foothill of the Pyrenees held the most amazing foot journey through a beautiful river valley. So different from the big tourist cities like Madrid or Barcelona. We spent several hours walking through forest trails, on catwalks (installed into the rocks) overlooking river falls and along river beds. And the village itself was so charming and picturesque!

Within the large city Alba's stable of vetted tour guides (both private and small group) only enhanced our overall experience. Each was personable, knowledgeable and totally amenable to our needs. Pairing us with this type of service truly showed that Alba listened to us.

Alba...as far as my wife and I are concern, you are a Rock Star of the travel industry!!

Dearest Alba,
My wife Jill and myself cannot thank you enough for the absolutely wonderful trip that you planned for us in Northern Spain. Your professionalism was unparalleled throughout the entire planning phase and we are forever grateful that you put this all together for us. From the very beginning, we felt totally comfortable with you and knew that you would come up with some unique things for us to do and see. All of the accommodations that you sourced out were excellent in the 5 different locations that we travelled to during the trip. We especially felt that the daily activities you suggested and booked for us were perfect and well balanced. The full day Gaudi tour in Barcelona was an amazing way to start the trip. In Alquezar, the Footbridges hike down in the canyon was really cool but our favourite thing to do there was the day we personally got to meet you and we went to "The man who whispers Vultures". It was a day we both will never forget. Another special tour was when we arrived in Haro in the Rioja wine district and went on the full day wine tour which included horse back riding through the vineyards. Additionaly, from the bike and hiking tours in San Sebastian, to kayaking in the Mediterranean in Aigua Blava Begur, the itinerary you organized for us could not have been better. Thank you so much again Alba and we can't wait to book with yourself and Kimkim as we plan to go to the Southern Spain in the future.

Bryan and Jill Turkstra,
Ontario, Canada

Activity Review

Full Day Horseback Riding & Vineyard Visit

La Rioja

Thank you so much Rebecca and Robert for the wonderful full day on the WIne and Horseback Tour. Jill and I had so much fun!!! Your personal attention and kindness were over the top. We did a lot of great things during our 2 week trip to Spain, but this day was very special to us and will remember forever. Thanks again!!! Bryan and Jill Turkstra, Ontario, Canada

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

What an incredible trip! The team at kimkim made our trip to Spain a complete success! Our local specialist in Spain that coordinated the entire trip was Alfonso. Alfonso made sure that we made the most efficient use of our time and he arranged guides, transportation, and got us access into sites that were impossible for other tourists to get in to. The team of guides in each city (Barcelona, Madrid, and Granada) were of the highest caliber and were truly, educated, historians. In 14 days, we visited more churches, museums, and attractions than any other trip we've made throughout Europe. The trip is geared to your own capability of what you want to do and how many things that you physically can do. Alfonso figures that out in early communication with you and plans the PERFECT agenda along with the most comfortable hotels that are of the highest quality and situated in the most strategic parts of the city. This will be one of our most memorable trips in our lifetimes. My wife and I give 5 stars to kimkim and Alfonso. Also we give a huge thanks to the other team members that made sure everything went well: Uhaina (everywhere), Leon (Madrid), Miriam (Granada), Jose (TukTuk Madrid), Eirini (Barcelona)

We started with a rough itinerary and Marina really helped us fine tune the details. The local guides were fantastic and provided much more context to the sights and areas than we would have gotten just from the guide books. We will definitely rely on kimkim in the future and highly recommend them.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Spa Adealba

Mérida

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Meninas

Madrid

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Alcázar

Seville

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel YIT Casa Grande

Jerez de la Frontera

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Anahita Boutique Hotel

Málaga

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Montelirio

Ronda

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Viento10

Córdoba

Authenticity & Character

Location

973-384-0265

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Reina Cristina

Granada

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hiking Excursion in the Andalusia Countryside

Spain

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Privately Guided Visit of Mérida

Mérida

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Flamenco Experience

Spain

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit an Andalusian Olive Oil Estate

Seville

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Visit: Alhambra & Generalife Gardens

Granada

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Guided Visit of Córdoba

Córdoba

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Madrid

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Train Madrid to Toledo, Guided Visit of Toledo, Train Toledo to Madrid

Madrid

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Guided Visit of Seville

Seville

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Privately Guided Visit of Málaga

Málaga

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We took a 2 week south Spain trip with Helena. It was an absolute perfect experience. She had wonderful ideas. She planned all travel. There was basically no problems. It was so nice to enjoy our time there without stressing about logistics. She made herself available for questions. She was very patient with us and took our requests into consideration. We would work with Helena again in a heartbeat!