Kimkim Trip Reviews for Spain

Don't recommend. Location is good but that's it.

Perfect location in Barcelona. Safe, friendly, beautiful, clean. We'd love to visit again. They treated us like royalty! Food was terrific as well.

Beautiful location and private beach. Very helpful staff

Our guide made it special for us. Super friendly. Llopart winery was very fun!

Guide was great! Beautiful day and plenty of time to jump off of rocks and swim. Beautiful way to experience the seaside of Spain and it's ocean wildlife.

Our family of 4 had 2 rooms at this hotel, of which one was just a poorly laid out and positioned room which though was unsatisfactory, in itself would not be a fair overall reflection of the hotel. But we had a case of bed bugs in the other room which is unacceptable. The hotel did immediately provide a change of room with out question when we complained. But the ease of their response only made us believe bed bugs is a prevalent problem they have,

This is a very small, boutique hotel is a perfect location related to the historic heart of Salamanca. The service was personalized and exceptional. The rooms were beautiful and well-appointed. We were greeted with champaign and some special treat every night. This is one of the best hotels we have experienced anywhere we have travelled. We cannot recommend it too highly.

Perfectly located right next to the Cathedral in the heart of the old city. Nothing fancy, but very pleasant.

We initially thought that the hotel was badly placed, outside the walls of the old city. It turned out to be a perfect location to follow the Roman aqueduct into town. For those with cars, it actually has a parking lot, which you will not find in the city center.

Much higher quality, more pleasant and less generic than your average airport hotel.

This was the highpoint of our two weeks in Iberia. Coming from California wine country, BUT already hooked on Duoro red wines, we were not prepared for the steep hillsides and rugged beauty of the river. Second, the specific driver, Rui, was remarkable: Personable, knowledgeable, and responsive. He specifically approved of the choice of Quintos de S. Tiago in Mesâo Frio, which on the outside is a dump that no-one would pull off and visit on their own--burned out buildings, junky driveway, humblest of houses. But, upon entering the house through an open-hearth kitchen, we knew we were in for something special. The food, the wine, the atmosphere, and the host made this the Quinta an unforgettable experience. Keep using Rui and this particular Quinta.

Our guide met us in a timely manner at the hotel and walked us through the University and Cathedral and associated areas. She was delightful, but overly detailed about things that interested her and not necessarily sensitive to whether or not it interested us. She was particularly absorbed with esoteric marginalia about the university. Eventually, after the tour was 30 minutes longer than scheduled, we (gently, I hope) asked her if we could have the opportunity to explore on our own.

With certificates in tourism and theology, our guide provided the perfect introduction to Avila and its two saints--Teresa and Juan de la Cruz. He quickly picked up our interest in them and shaped the tour and his message to our interests. For instance, at the chapel built in the room where Teresa probably was born, he emphasized the holiness of the space, not the art of the chapel, and he asked if we wanted some time just to sit in prayer and contemplation; we did. He also recommended the monastery where Teresa had trained and lived, and we found it to be a deeply moving experience. I was in the museum business for 40 years, and I deeply appreciated the simple presentations, the unprotected access to the "things," and the freedom to explore on our own time. Our guide reflected that receptive and trusting attitude and helped us discover meaning and treasures beyond the formal tour.

This was the most traditional tour of the trip. The handed us ear plugs, spoke into a microphone, and largely led with her back to us. She would have fit as a tour guide in San Francisco. At the same time, she provided a marvelous orientation to the city, not too detailed, but with enough off the wall items--like the first book published in Spanish--to make it fascinating. A special commendation: When she informed us that the Cathedral was closed New Year's Eve (the day of our tour) and New Year's Day, we noted that January 1st was a Sunday, she called a friend to check on service times, which we attended the next day. That is the kind of personal responsiveness you would seldom receive on a tour in the United States. She also helped us plan our walking for the next day. We are grateful for her tour and assistance.

Incredible views of Alhambra from apartment and rooftop. Meticulously cleaned. Management very helpful. Loved this place.

Cordoba is a wonderful stop along the way to Madrid.

Take this day trip. High speed train excellent. Cathedral fabulous. Toledo incredible.

Great location in the city. The accommodations for a family of four were good. Great breakfast!

Seemed out dated. Rooms were small and had tile floors. Would recommend a small carpet by the bed. Bathrooms and rooms need makeovers. Breakfast was lacking. Staff were great and rooms seemed clean however.

Beatriz is absolutely awesome! We had so much fun on this tour. We highly recommend.

Was fun to watch. Was one hour in length. We wish the couple would have danced more together as they spent a considerable amount of time dancing solo. Other than that, they put on a good show.

Alberto was our guide. He is very knowledgeable about everything. This was a good thing and a bad thing as he would talk forever about tiny details. The kids got bored very quickly with our pace.

Such a fun thing to do as a family. We are vegetarian and they helped us make dishes without meat. The kids were awesome and tried everything they made!

This hotel was fantastic!! Upon check in we were told our room had been upgraded, we were greeted with a glass of Cava with an additional bottle in the room. It was luxuriously furnished, and we really enjoyed our stay.

We liked this hotel a lot- lovely rooms, spacious and well furnished. Its located on a side street but still extremely accessible to major streets. As a result, our rooms were blissfully quiet.

Nico was fantastic!! He demonstrated his love of the City during our walk- highlighting not just the typical tourist spots but providing color and depth from a historical perspective on our tour. Using a combination of humor, facts and in depth knowledge of Seville, he gave us possibly the best tour of our trip.

Laura was great- very articulate and wonderfully knowledgeable about the foods and drinks we had.

Toledo was a wonderful City- so rich in culture and interesting on so many levels The winery was lovely and the wine was delicious.

Carlos- our guide, made this trip so much fun. He was engaging and informative and kept our attention throughout this (long) tour.

For this (larger) tour we had Richard as our tour guide- he was funny and engaging. He clearly was having fun on the trip- which made it fun for us! Very informative

Wonderful hotel and experience. Comfortable modern room in this historic renovated convent. Excellent breakfast buffet and table service and one of the best dining restaurants of our three-week travel through Spain. Convenient location.

Spacious corner room with a great view of the Plaza Mayor. Airy and bright but easy to black out the windows for sleep and quiet. Good breakfast in convenient dining room. Front desk staff were attentive and accommodating.

The tour began on the steps of the walled city, where we stood too long next to a loud generator that made it difficult to hear and understand our guide; we wish our guide had taken the initiative to step to a quieter spot much sooner. Our guide Javier was relatively low energy and, unfortunately, the night was cold and rainy, which detracted from the experience. Javier was well-informed and shared many intriguing stories and points of history. The sites themselves were stunning and beautifully lit at night. We did not know how long a tour to expect, so when Javier said at several points that we could go into a building or museum then or come back later on our own, we opted not to enter each time in order to walk and see more. In retrospect, I wish Javier had encouraged us to step inside from time to time to get out of the rain and cold. We were able to tour the walled city fairly thoroughly, and did return the next day, but might have enjoyed touring some of the interiors with Javier who had extensive knowledge about the architectural, political, religious, and art history of the city.

The Roman ruins in Merida were our primary focus and we were thrilled to walk among the ruins of the theater, amphitheater, and Temple of Diana. These spots have enough authentic relics to ground the viewer in their historical relevance and enough restoration to give a feel of their awesome grandeur. Our guide Juan Luis, native to the city, was informed, funny, and responsible to attend to our interests and comfort. Right away, he stepped up to help us find parking, paced our walk among sites to match our interests and stamina, then recommended restaurants for us to access following the tour. He relayed stories of historical importance and reveled in trivia about the daily lives of ancient Romans which made his tour especially fun and engaging.

Perhaps the highlight of our three weeks in Spain, the experiences our guide Álvaro shared in the dehesa met and exceeded our hopes for pastoral experiences of the Spanish countryside. He shared deep knowledge and passion for sustainable agriculture and demonstrated an impressive grasp of the intersection of politics, economics, geography, and biology in determining the past and likely future of this region. We got rare glimpses of the workings of animal husbandry due to his investment in and commitment to individuals who work the land and whose efforts maintain the local culture and economy. We strongly recommend this experience for anyone interested to get out of the urban centers and seek to learn about the people and culture of this region of Spain.

A tour of this beautiful park was a great change from the urban areas we also visited on this trip to Spain. We enjoyed a mountaintop walk to an ancient Castillo offering amazing 360-degree panoramic view of the area, birdwatching with binoculars and a telescope the guide provided, and a delicious picnic provided by our guide.

This was a busy tour both because there was much to see and because our guide kept a fast pace to cover a number of sites in limited time. His knowledge and passion of this hometown were evident as was his professional commitment to being a guide. He encouraged us to return later to visit several sites we passed; we were able to return to a couple of them but the initial tour was so rushed that we could not get our bearings and had difficulty finding some locations when we tried to return. Nevertheless, Salamanca was one of our favorite cities to visit in Spain due to its remarkable architecture, profoundly significant 15th-century history regarding discoveries of the "new world," and the presence and influence of the third-oldest surviving university in Europe.

A beautiful, quirky old building. We kept getting lost, trying to find our room, but it was worth it and the staff were so helpful.

Location, location, location!

Pilar was outstanding.

A great place to stop en route to Seville. There are so many white villages in Andalusia, we enjoyed seeing such a pretty one.

Damiana was excellent, an art history student initially from Italy. She knew her history and was so enthusiastic. We loved the walking tour with her.

We weren't sure that we would enjoy the art of flamenco, but we were spellbound. It was thoroughly enjoyable.

The video about the archeological site before touring the real thing was very well done and worthwhile.

It is so important to see the Mesquita. Don't miss Cordoba.

We felt so fortunate having Maite guiding us. There were a number of large group tours and we knew that we were having a much richer experience having our private guide.

Once again, we were surprised by how much we enjoyed the flamenco, and the dinner was very good as well.

We felt we were at the winery off season and would likely have enjoyed the day even more had we seen more of the wine process. We did enjoy tasting the final product though!

Very clean and cute, great location but during my stay the entire building had a very strong drainage odor. I had to leave my windows open in the room.

Very cool place! And located in some of the coolest nighttime views I had during my trip. It is on the edge of town but still close enough to all the bars and tapas.

This place is right in the heart of the downtown area. The only thing to consider is cars cannot drive to it. You will need to wheel your luggage for a few blocks, but the walkway is very easy.

Of all the hotel I stayed at in southern Spain, this one felt the most luxurious. Very clean and friendly staff. The hotel on the top floor is really good too!

Beautiful and spacious, best location,- probably the nicest hotel we stayed in Spain

Creative and comfortable with excellent staff and breakfast.

Elegant and fun location.

Creative design and very helpful staff. Outside room with light but noisy at night since the Spaniards eat fro 10pm - 1am it seems and then hang out in the street.

Superb breakfast. Not charming. Many rooms have air shaft views.

Comfortable, historic, good location, very good breakfast.

Very nice evening tour with history and interesting neighborhoods. Madrid is so large it's hard to get a feeling for it and this was just one special corner.

Guide was great. Excellent tour.

Go to the museum in addition to the church. May need more time to go up to the top of the mountain.

Mishap related to misunderstanding of the tour group was remedied very well by kimkim. Fit in the Jewish Museum in Girona.

Guide was very good. Senses part - nice idea but not that necessary.

Would have liked an explanation of the history of Flamenco. Dancing was great.

Very nice addition but don't know if it is necessary given the amount of trips and activities that were put into our 18 days.

Wasn't at night but was very good.

See my evaluation of guides.

Very interesting and worthwhile.

Loved the designs on the buildings. Tour included the Jewish quarter and other interesting sites and beautiful views.

We enjoyed the food tour in the market and the small class. We helped make salmorejo, spinach and chick peas, and paella. We learned how to make a real sangria and how to debone a chicken. Each person was involved and there were accommodations for vegetarians and pescatarians.

The guide was excellent and brought to us to especially selected bars where we were served generous portions of wine, vermouth, and tapas.

An excellent introduction to Sevilla.

Guide was excellent. Everyone should experience La Sagrada Familia.

I enjoyed Sagrada Família the most because it is such an incredible sight. I recommend the guided tour because you learn so much more about why he designed things the way he did. You receive headphones so you can hear the guide without her having to shout. Parc Guél was crowded so I can’t even imagine how it is in the summer.

This was a wonderful way to explore the coastline and see a beautiful beach not accessible by car. Our Spanish is limited and our guide did not speak English. We wish we spoke Spanish better so we could have communicated with our guide more during the trip.

Beautiful views, great exercise. There is some steep uphill but it is not too long and definitely worth it. We enjoy hiking and it was a great way to get outside and see some amazing scenery. November is a perfect time for this because we could wear shorts yet were not too hot.

We were originally thinking we would be going to more than one restaurant to try out tapas but this tour is a walk around El Born and you dine at one Tapas restaurant. Our restaurant was right by the Picasso Museum. I cannot remember the name of it but was very good. Our guide George was wonderful.

The Gothic Quarter is an amazing place to walk around and just get lost, but luckily with our guide we didn’t have to get lost. Ha. Jorge was so knowledgeable and familiar with the area and it’s history. This was a favorite part of our trip.

I enjoyed this a lot because we were able to see many different neighborhoods and make it down along the water as well. It was an easy bike ride and our guide was great. It might not be as enjoyable in summer with hot temps and big crowds but November was perfect for it.

The location is great because you’re in an area that makes it easy to walk around the city. The hotel itself was clean and the staff were very friendly! As many hotels are in Europe, it’s older so the walls are thin and you can hear everything going on around you. So if you’re a light sleeper (like me!) bring ear plugs and maybe install a nice sound machine app on your phone. We had the free breakfast included, but ended up only using it once. I’d recommend walking down the street to the local market and grabbing something there instead. Overall, a decent place to put your head at night, but if you’re looking for a luxury stay, maybe look elsewhere!

The aesthetic is super cool - very eclectic wall paper in the rooms and carpeting in the hallways. Breakfast was very good, lots to choose from. Staff was friendly and accommodating. Walls we’re very thin and the room would get very hot at night, despite trying to lower the temperature on the AC. Bathroom was updated nicely, but there was no shower door in ours, just a long piece of glass, so water would get on the floor when showering. For what we were looking for on our trip (essentially a place to put our heads at night, shower, and change) it was perfect. If you’re looking for a luxury stay, this is not the hotel for you!

This hotel is in the heart of a large shopping district and in busy roads - so light sleepers beware! It’s also in a pedestrian area, so a taxi can’t drop you off right in front of the door. The room itself was fine, beds were comfy and the bathroom was nice and large. The shower was… interesting. Took me a few tries to master as there are multiple shower nozzles, a large shower head, and other odd features that were a bit confusing! The walls are paper thin, so again, beware light sleepers! The location was great to get around the city and if you enjoy shopping.

This was a great experience. We visited 4 separate restaurants and got to try at least 4 different tapas at each location and a drink of choice at each location. We had about 10 people in our group and the guide was really knowledgeable. There’s a lot of different options for the tapas but if you’re a vegetarian or don’t like seafood, this may not be a good experience for you as most options had meat or fish in them. Overall this was a great first experience in Barcelona and we loved being able to meet other visitors in our small group!

We had a lovely private tour of this estate and our guide, Sarah, was so knowledgeable about all of the different olive types and what they’re used for (eating vs olive oil extraction). The estate itself is beautiful and you get to see the modern day way they make olive oil as well as the ancient way they used to make it. The owner of the estate also has an impressive collection of old horse carriages that was an unexpected, but very interesting, addition to the trip. We ended up buying a ton of olive oil to bring home with us as gifts!

The show and experience was really wonderful, but since we were there on a Wednesday night, we were one of only a handful of attendees in the audience. This was a bit weird and felt awkward at first, but once the show started you forgot about it. The dancers and musicians were highly skilled and you could tell that they love performing. This may be a better experience on a weekend day assuming more people attend at that time.

Highly recommend this experience! The cooking class takes place inside the market and you do a tour of the market beforehand. The guide tells you about the local fare and what is in season. Then you get to cook with the ingredients that we’re discussed like saffron, purple garlic, and smoked paprika. Our chef, Dom, was so incredible! He was able to make a group of about 12 feel like a little family. He got everyone involved with chopping and cooking - everyone got a chance to be the star.

H10 was perfect for our first stop in Barcelona. We liked the location it was close to the Gothic Quarter. It was quiet but close to businesses if you wanted it. The morning breakfast was delicious and lots of choices. The wait staff always had a smile on their face and helped us through the menu. They entire team met us with such kindness, explained where to explore on the map, helped us with some laundry that needed to be done, and gave us recommendations on where to have some local wines. We couldn't have asked for a better place.

Loved 7 Islas Hotel. It's in a location that is easy to walk around and lots of fun tapas restaurants. They gave us great recommendations for places to eat and would call ahead for reservations for us. This place has little clutter and minimalist which was perfect for us. The downstairs bar had fantastic drink and our bartender who works all the time was so kind to us. If you have a chance, try the apple crumble dessert with a cappuccino (so yummy).

LOVE the hotel! This was towards the end of our Spain tour and what a surprise. The beautiful architecture of the hotel, the sauna, and the roof top terrace were just some of the perks in this hotel. Watching the sunset while having a glass of wine before heading to dinner was one of the most memorable times of our trip. The staff was absolutely kind and helpful. We loved talking to them and they helped us through every part of our stay. We only wish it would have been longer.

This was towards the last part of our stay. It's a beautiful hotel in downtown Barcelona. It's a great hotel and is super busy. They have a great bar and room service and if you need anything such as groceries are right across the street. The room was a little hot so having the balcony door opened helped. What I learned is that when the AC is on in a hotel it's on for everyone. So when it's turned off and it's winter the heat is on. You can't regulate your own room. This is on all the hotels I stayed in. With that said, then you have a window open. If the noise of outside doesn't bother you then you are fine. I can sleep like that and most people can. This hotel had a great and friendly staff. You can go outside and get anything you need. Everyone is super friendly.

Loved our tapas event. Mirko was a great tour guide. Our first thought was to go out eat, drink, and watch flamenco dancing. We were so tired from our trip and he adjusted to our energy. We saw places we would have never visited and wen't back another time too because we loved it so much. We went to three different restaurants and learned about the different types of food, culture, and how the area is divided up. We were so glad to meet him and he was the start of our 9 day trip.

Ann Marie was a perfect guide! She showed us all around The Gothic Center and much more. We were able to go into stores, museum, and the chapel. She accommodated our request for tour and adjusted as needed. She is a wealth of knowledge and we didn't know how much history was surrounding us until we were done. What's cool is we weren't expecting to get what we received and it was a lot of unexpected history and information that we are grateful to learn and appreciate the culture a lot more. We had so much fun and learned so much.

Santiago (Santi) was such a great instructor! We learned so much and had the best Iberico ham tasting. The quality of pigs, how they are raised and how you will have different taste from the same pig. We learned that this is an art and it takes years of experience to understand. We learned that this is only from Spain and which one to choose next time we are out dinning. Such a great experience.

This was such a great class! We thought it was a private class and it ended up being a group class which ended up being a blast! Our instructor, Angel was so knowledgeable and an excellent teacher. We took a trip to the market and learned about what to buy for our paella, dessert, and also Sangria. We all worked together but also made some delicious food that we can try and recreate at home. Delicious food, conversation, and drinks! They also send you home with the recipes.

Tucked away at a beautiful estate, is a little slice of heaven. We tried different wines, walked around a beautiful estate, and learned about their new wines and projects. This family has been making wines for decades but did it for trade. They made the wines to barter and trade on their island they live on. Now, this is newer and they are bottling their wines. It's just a serene time with yummy tapas and wine.

Hotel H10 Casa de la Plata was our favorite hotel during our two-week stay in Spain. Front desk staff were top-notch: warm and welcoming. The lobby area is tastefully appointed with eclectic furnishings and decor. The guest rooms are wonderful: spacious but cozy. We loved the bidet and the illuminated toilet :-) There was witty and whimsical art on the walls, eye-pleasing colors and - a first for us - a pillow menu!! The breakfast buffet was lavish and delicious, with more choices than we knew what to do with. Service at breakfast was warm, friendly and welcoming.

Clean, centrally located, but utilitarian and not very charming.

This hotel is charming. It's ideally located in the old quarter of the city, steps from la Mezquita and the Roman bridge. Reception is wonderful and they gave us a very warm welcome, which was appreciated after a long drive. Breakfast was served in a large utilitarian room, but the choices were great, and the service was responsive and friendly. The courtyards and fountains were magical, but one caution I would mention is that the various steps up and down through the garden and courtyard areas were not well-lit or marked. We were traveling with my elderly parents, and I worried about them slipping and falling. Otherwise, it's a lovely property. We didn't get a chance to partake in the "honor bar" in the lovely library, but I loved the idea of it and we definitely would have if we had had more time in the beautiful city of Córdoba.

Hotel is lovely, with excellent service, comfortable rooms and beds, and great breakfast.

Jenk was a friendly and informative guide. We liked that it was in the Chamberi neighborhood, which has fewer tourists and so felt like an authentic experience.

Christina was an excellent guide, with considerable knowledge about the museum, which she presented in a lively and interesting manner.

Alberto was outstanding.

The hotel itself is stunning in its preservation of historical detail. The beds and pillows were very good, supportive and comfortable without being too soft or too firm. The modern sinks and faucets can be a challenge, depending on your room. The auto shutoff was an irritant regardless. Breakfast was excellent, and in an absolutely beautiful space. The staff were attentive, but not oppressive, and seemed truly happy to be of service. One criticism would be the difficulty of vehicles getting to the hotel entrance -- taxis had the proper transponders to lower the bollards to access the street, while private drivers did not.

This hotel was in a *perfect* location for exploring Old Town Zaragoza, enjoying views over the river (sunrises, sunsets, and fireworks at the close of the Festival de Pilar), and gave easy access to shopping, dining, transit, and major attractions. While the building lacked the historical appeal of other accommodations, the room itself was extremely comfortable, well appointed, and clean. We ate one dinner and two breakfasts at the hotel restaurant; the meals were good, but did not stand out as exceptional when compared to virtually any other meals we enjoyed in Spain. The staff were capable and friendly.

Our room was large, the staff were helpful and professional and friendly, and the breakfast offerings were superior in both quality and variety. This hotel is in an excellent location and is of very high quality.

This felt like a private villa, which it used to be. The staff were impeccable and our room was lovely. The grounds and meals were also above-par.

Daniel (Dani) was knowledgeable and a joy to spend our time with. He patiently answered our questions and enthusiastically shared stories of the history and culture we were seeing. Exploring the Gothic Quarter with him was a true joy, and his insider knowledge of La Sagrada Familia was outstanding.

Montserrat is worth visiting, especially the museum there. Standing outside the church and waiting to see if you can get inside for a singing performance is not worth it. We strongly recommend spending that time in the museum or riding the funicular or pursuing some other interests. The museum is outstanding, as are the views from the top of the funicular. The quality of your guide will strongly influence your enjoyment of this experience. The winery stop was a lovely way to end the day.

We rescheduled this tour in the city of Zaragoza, rather than in Barcelona. Our experience was mind-blowing and our guide was exceptional.

We didn't know until we arrived that we would be in Zaragoza for the last two days of the city's primary festival, the Festival de Pilar. This made the experience so much more special! Despite the huge crowds, our guide did a wonderful job of sharing with us her love of the city, its history, the two primary churches in the old town, and the nature of the festival itself. We would recommend this tour without hesitation!

The nature of this experience is likely to feel chaotic, especially when you have 10-12 people and half of them have some form of dietary restriction. Having said that, the foods we sampled were incredible and our guide did an impressive job of ensuring that everyone would have something to sample at each of the many stops we made. We had a lot of fun and were glad we had this tour on our itinerary.

Our day changed up a bit, so that instead of simply hiking, we also got to forage for mushrooms, visit a small chapel and beautiful overlook, and enjoy some time driving in the area and visiting multiple forests. This was necessitated when one member of our party was unable to safely complete the hike, and our guide was simple wonderful about falling back on an alternate itinerary for us. This area was stunning in every way, and completely worth visiting no matter which activities you choose.

Between Bilbao and San Sebastián, you can choose to go by bus, taxi, or private guide. Going on a highway may be fast and efficient, but it doesn't give any context to the area. By hiring a private guide, we got to stop in numerous small towns, including Guernica, where we visited the site of the Basque council's seat of government. We took short hikes, saw sites and sights all along the coast, enjoyed an excellent lunch in the town where Balenciaga is from, and learned SO MUCH about the history of the area, the Basque people, the cultural traditions, the landscape and geography, and what keeps these small seaside communities thriving today.

What a fantastic way to get to see more of San Sebastián than just the beach and central area! We stopped in several areas, learned about the town and the architecture, the university, the local sports, the history of royalty visiting the area, and even got to stop and play a tiny bit of Basque handball! Very cool, lots of fun.