Kimkim Trip Reviews for Thailand

We booked a two-week trip to Thailand, working with Elena. The planning process was easy and Elena worked with us to come up with a wonderful itinerary that suited us perfectly. She promptly answered all of our questions, came up with great suggestions, and tweaked our itinerary until we were satisfied. I am usually a DIY traveler, so having someone else take care of the details was a new and wonderful experience. Our guides (Wee in Bangkok and Bam in Chiang Mai) were friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. Every detail of our trip went smoothly and we thoroughly enjoyed the activities Elena booked. Our flight was delayed an entire day and Elena was able to quickly rearrange our schedule to accommodate this last minute change, saving us a lot of aggravation. Because of the delay, Wee also tweaked our Bangkok itinerary and we really appreciated this flexibility (Note that the hotel and missed activities were non-refundable and our credit card insurance did not cover these costs). It was a real pleasure to be able to enjoy our trip without the hassle of figuring out logistics and knowing that if we ran into an issue, we could contact Elena or the local contacts in Thailand. I highly recommend KimKim!

Hotel Reviews

Ariyasom Villa

Bangkok

This hotel is a former residence at the end of a side street off a main road. We were only in Bangkok for a short time but it seemed to be conveniently located. The hotel was charming and our room was comfortable, although a bit dark. The staff were very pleasant.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Phra Singh Village

Chiang Mai

This charming hotel is conveniently located near Wat Phra Singh. Our room was large and extremely comfortable, the breakfast was fantastic, and the staff were exceptionally friendly and helpful. Highly recommend.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

500Rai Floating Resort

Surat Thani

This is a magical place reached by boat where you can enjoy the natural beauty of the lake. Our room was very comfortable and we loved the gentle rocking motion of our floating bungalow. Our package included meals (we ate the Thai meals and they were delicious) and activities. Note that there is one main activity per day. We stayed two nights and one day, which was perfect. We chose not to do the caving excursion on the day we were there but went on the evening safari and early morning sightseeing tour. Other than that there are some activities at the resort or you can swim in the lake or pool, use the provided kayaks outside your room, or go paddle boarding. It was a very unique, tranquil, and relaxing experience.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Outrigger Khao Lak Beach Resort

Phang Nga

This is a lovely hotel located right on the beach. We stayed in a bungalow with a private pool and really enjoyed it. The staff were fantastic. I wish I could remember all of their names, but every person we encountered was helpful and kind, especially Natty at reception. The beach is beautiful! The hotel breakfast was fantastic and we also ate in the restaurant a few times, which was fine. There are other restaurants on the beach that are perhaps a bit more interesting. The smoothies at Lomlay next door were very good and the massage at Amma, also next door, was wonderful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Grandma Home Cooking school - Join-in class - Evening session

Chiang Mai

We loved touring the garden and then preparing a delicious meal with fresh ingredients! The whole experience was wonderful and very well organized.

Quality of Experience

Food

This was some of the best food we ate in Thailand.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Similan Island Snorkeling Joining Tour by Speedboat

Khao Lak

This trip is well organized but there is a lot of sitting around when you arrive that could perhaps be avoided. The Similan Islands are beautiful and the staff were wonderful but on the day we went the water was full of tiny jellyfish so snorkeling was very limited and in any case nothing special - very little variety in the marine life.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Elephant Nature Park half day visit

Chiang Mai

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

First off, the trip I thought I was booking and what I got were not the same thing. What I actually got was so much better. It was very easy to get set up with kimkim and the trip that Hien put together for me sounded amazing. My husband and I were excited for all of the tour activities we were going to be doing. But it wasn't until after we arrived in Thailand, had transferred to our hotel, and had gone out for our first day's activities that we realized that First off, the trip I thought I was booking and what I got were not the same thing. What I actually got was so much better. It was very easy to get set up with kimkim and the trip that Hien put together for me sounded amazing. My husband and I were excited for all of the tour activities we were going to be doing. But it wasn't until after we arrived in Thailand, had transferred to our hotel, and had gone out for our first day's activities that we realized that we weren't booked to join group tours each day, we were actually getting private tours and we would have a dedicated tour guide and chauffeur for the entire time we were in Bangkok.
Joey was fantastic as our tour guide. He anticipated our comfort, taught us so much about Bangkok and life in Thailand, and we would not have had the same quality of experience on our trip without him. We were delighted by the food he helped us order and the level of service we received at every turn.
Our time in Chiang Mai was shorter but was also excellent. We did have different guides each day because our scheduled guide was ill but her coworkers took excellent care of us.
To end a great trip our days in Phuket were relaxing and full of time spent in the ocean.
We would absolutely recommend kimkim as a platform, Hien from Realistic Asia as a travel agent, and Joey as a local guide. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to our family and friends and we will use them again ourselves. we weren't booked to join group tours each day, we were actually getting private tours and we would have a dedicated tour guide and chauffeur for the entire time we were in Bangkok.
Joey was fantastic as our tour guide. He anticipated our comfort, taught us so much about Bangkok and life in Thailand, and we would not have had the same quality of experience on our trip without him. We were delighted by the food he helped us order and the level of service we received at every turn.
Our time in Chiang Mai was shorter but was also excellent. We did have different guides each day because our scheduled guide was ill but her coworkers took excellent care of us.
To end a great trip our days in Phuket were relaxing and full of time spent in the ocean.
We would absolutely recommend kimkim as a platform, Hien from Realistic Asia as a travel agent, and Joey as a local guide. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to our family and friends and we will use them again ourselves.

Pros: Our trip was well planned and had an appropriate mix of adventure and relaxation. We were both so busy before the trip, and so we were grateful that Kimkim took care of everything. We didn't have to worry in the weeks leading up. Our guide in Bangkok, Betty, was exceptional. We learned so much more about Thailand because of his storytelling. The temples were amazing, the elephant sanctuary was ethical and special, and the boat/canoe with local guides in Phuket was phenomenal. The Oceanfront Beach Resort in Phuket was exactly what we needed after exploring Bangkok and Chiang Mai. It was so peaceful, and the breakfast was beautiful. It was also nice to have transportation arranged to and from everything.

Cons: Would have preferred going to fewer markets. There was nearly one or two per day. Meals were sometimes challenging as a vegetarian/pescatarian. Duangtawan Hotel in Chiang Mai. It was very dirty and outdated.

One thing to note - sometimes, the details of our itinerary did not align with real-world logistics. For example, our itinerary included a market that was closed on the planned day. And our last morning included a breakfast - which I believe we probably paid for in the package - but our flight was leaving so early that we could not take advantage of the breakfast. In the end, it all generally worked out. Granted, we did not pay attention to these details when we agreed to the itinerary, but I'm not sure why these options would even be offered in the first place if they aren't logistically feasible.

Hotel Reviews

Duangtawan Hotel

Chiang Mai

I would give this zero stars if possible. Very dirty. Shower did not drain. Could hear guests through the walls. TONS of guests, the elevator could not accommodate them.

Authenticity & Character

No one should have to sleep in a dirty hotel

Location

Great view, but that was the only good thing about this hotel.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

If they actually cleaned the rooms, especially the bathroom.

The Cottage Suvarnabhumi

Bangkok

Totally fine for a quick overnight before we caught our flight home.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very close to airport.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Quarter Ladprao by UHG

Bangkok

Authenticity & Character

Not sure what authenticity and character means, but I have nothing bad to say about this hotel.

Location

Plenty of amenities and food close by.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean room. The bed was not comfortable, super firm, but this might be a cultural standard we were not used too.

Oceanfront Beach Resort

Phuket

Beautiful room and view. Comfortable bed. Very nice pool. Breakfast was amazing. We loved it!

Authenticity & Character

Location

It was in a slightly less busy part of Phuket. The view of the ocean and sunset was incredible.

Staff

Very kind.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean. Very comfortable beds.

Activity Reviews

Exploring Bangkok by local transfers and walking tour

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A Day trip to Doi Inthanon National Park!

Chiang Mai

It was a lot of driving, and would have preferred the opportunity to do more hiking, but overall great day.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A visit to Silver Temple and Ban Tawai

Chiang Mai

Only men were allowed inside this temple and most of the Ban Tawan market was closed. Would have preferred to go do something that both partners could enjoy, since one partner had to stand outside of the temple. And would have preferred to skip Ban Tawan since it was mostly closed and we were very tired of markets by this point.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Elephant Nature Park Visit

Chiang Mai

Elephant Nature Park is a very ethical elephant sanctuary. We appreciated the strict boundaries about how people could interact with the animals. It was an amazing experience. Lunch was delicious.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

John Gray's Sea Canoe - Hong by Starlight

Phuket

This was so special. Loved being in the sea and seeing islands and land formations we'd never seen before. Our boat guide was from a local town. It was incredible.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Bangkok!

Bangkok

Our guide Betty really made our time in Bangkok exceptional.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Chiang Mai!

Chiang Mai

Loved visiting all the temples.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

It was a great trip with amazing and knowledgable guides. That helped us considerably while we were in a foreign country. 10/10 would use and recommend to others for their trips.

Hotel Review

Amari Vogue Krabi

Gorgeous hotel and fantastic rooms. The restaurant was really good. Me and my family enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere and the beautiful beach.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full day Bangkok City Tour with Canal tour

Bangkok

I loved doing this the canal was not rough at all. And the temples were amazing to see.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tao was so informative, kind and funny which made the experience more memorable.

Transport

Half Day Elephant Encounter at Baan Chang Elephant Park(Join-in)

Chiang Mai

So much fun to feed the elephants and know more about them throughout the experience. We even got to “cook” for them and pet them in their own habitat.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tina was our tour planner and did a good job responding to our mini requests. Sometimes a little difficult to contact when we were in country and had a problem, but she was quick to resolve it once she jumped on our case. It was a new process for us doing only online reservations through Kim, Kim, but overall had a positive experience.

Amazing trip! Everything was so well planned, from start to finish. Realistic Asia is a great tour company that gave a wonderful, customized experience for our trip to Bangkok and chiang mai.

A special shoutout to the local guide in Bangkok, Tipa!!! She really made the entire trip in Bangkok so amazing! She was so thoughtful, and was the BEST guide I've ever had. She made traveling to Thailand for the first time such a comfortable experience. Not only did she give great information at each excursion and give a great tour, she was really observant and thoughtful. It was so many sweet little things like getting water or snacks for us, finding the best fruits because she noticed my mom really liked them, and helping us make plans and appointments even for things not on the itinerary. She was kind, helpful, and so sweet. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

Hien, the local specialist, helped plan a wonderful 7 day trip with every detail thought out, and the best part was that even during the planning process, we could make adjustments and changes for every part including what experiences/excursions we did, which hotels, etc. she also checked in on us throughout the trip and was so helpful throughout.

Chiang Mai was also great, super nice guide Tas, comfortable as well.
All Around this tour had great service, great experiences, could not recommend more!

Hotel Reviews

De Chai The Colonial Hotel & Spa

Chiang Mai

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Conrad Bangkok

Gorgeous, convenient

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Bangkok - Floating Market– Train Market - Bangkok Half Day Tour

Bangkok

So great, very cool unique experience

Quality of Experience

Food

Great food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Very comfortable

Day Trip to Ayutthaya

Bangkok

Very pretty, cool history

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Wonderful guide Tipa and very nice comfortable driver

Transport

Half day Chiang Mai Elephant Jungle Sanctuary - Join tour

Chiang Mai

Such a cool experience and elephants seemed to be very relaxed and happy

Quality of Experience

So special. Elephants were so nice

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bangkok evening street food tour

Bangkok

Amazing! Such good food

Quality of Experience

Tipa was the best guide

Food

ALL DELICIOUS

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tipa helped find the best food and fruits!!

Transport

Evening Wat Umong and Doi Suthep Temple

Chiang Mai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We could not have had a better time on our trip to Thailand. Lacey from kimkim was so patient with us and planned the perfect trip for us. Our local guides in Bangkok and Chiangmai were kind, knowledgeable, and warm. We missed them when we left! We will use kimkim for all trips going forward and we recommended kimkim to others! Thank you kimkim!!

Hotel Reviews

JC Kevin Sathorn Bangkok Hotel

Bangkok

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Thai Akara

Chiang Mai

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cape Panwa Hotel

Phuket

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Bangkok Symbolic Temples

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

John Gray's sea canoe - Hong by Starlight - Joining excursion

Phuket

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Railway Market & Floating Market

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Night Street Food Tour After Dark by Tuk Tuk

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Encounter oriental gastronomy in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

True Colors Of Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Doi Inthanon National Park - A touch of nature private tour

Chiang Mai

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Morning Alms Giving & Jungle Temple

Chiang Mai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Elephant Jungle Sanctuary (Full day)

Chiang Mai

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip really turned out to be incredible. The city tour by guide Lena was spot on. I had a great interest in the Buddhist Temple; and, Lena took her time to explain every aspect of it to me. Our driver for the trip in Thailand was as reliable as could be. He waited for us at different destinations with not a single complaint, always helpful and patient. The fishing was excellent at both places that Tina had scheduled for us. The hotels were nice and centrally located. Staff at each hotel were great.

Hotel Review

Galleria 10 Sukhumvit Bangkok

Bangkok

Although this hotel isn’t new - everything worked and the rooms were clean and climate controlled. The location was perfect for us, the breakfast buffet was quite good ; and, most importantly, the staff were great sources of information for every question we presented - be it dining recommendations. Interesting sights to see, etc.

Authenticity & Character

Kind of a funky design, didn’t use the rooftop pool, but you could go up just for the view or to have a drink

Location

You are literally steps away from all the the excitement, dining and nightlife in this district.

Staff

The staff were the single greatest positive of this location. Always greeting, always helpful, A+++

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean beds, clean linens, clean rooms

Activity Review

Muay Thai in Bangkok

Bangkok

Get ringside seats! 100% worth it. Someone will come around to get your food and drink order if you’re interested. Our seats were within six feet of the ring. Eight different matches of different weight classes / skill levels. This is one of those events that is gladly do again on a subsequent trip. This sport is embedded in the Thai culture, and you really get drawn into it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our drivers in both Thailand and Malaysia were TOP Notch. They saved the day several times when thing could have gone wrong! Make sure that a driver is a part of your plan!

Transport

Clean and comfortable

Our tour guides Tao and Ying were absolutely wonderful and knowledgeable! Every where we went they explained and answered all of our questions regarding their beautiful country. Not only that, we were treated with so much warmth from them. I was very happy with all the hotels, food, excursions and would love for your company to book all our travels in the near future! Thank you for all you’ve done.

this is my second time booking with kimkim, first was dec 2022 to vietnam , and this time was 2 week dec xmas season to Thailand, both trips were great, well planned, schedules, drivers , guides were excellent. the places we visited were what we expected, the execution of daily activities were on target. my agent, Kien , did a wonderful job planning this trip for us.

Hotel Reviews

JC Kevin Sathorn Bangkok Hotel

Bangkok

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

River Kwai Jungle Rafts Floating Hotel

this hotel doesn’t have electricity! be aware ! so no hot water to shower! needs some improvement on the property

Authenticity & Character

Location

needs to boat 30 min to get here

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

not so clean, too rustic

Kantary Hotel Ayutthaya

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Chanalai Flora Resort

Phuket

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nak Nakara Hotel

Chiang Rai

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Buri Siri Hotel

Chiang Mai

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Park Nine Suvarnabhumi

Bangkok

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Symbolic temples - Klong tour

Bangkok

Kanchanaburi - Morning Hike to Erawan National Park - An Insight to World War II

Kanchanaburi

Kanchanaburi - Ayutthaya sightseeing

Thailand

Elephant Jungle Sanctuary (Afternoon session)

Chiang Mai

Night Street Food Tour After Dark by Tuk Tuk

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chiang Rai Sightseeing and Art

Chiang Rai

Doi Inthanon National Park - A Nature Walk and Culture

Chiang Mai

Half Day - Half Night Hike at Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok

Chiew Larn Lake Khao Sok Full Day Tour

Khao Sok

Simon Cabaret Phuket Show

Phuket

The Spiritual of Twilight Sea Canoe at Phang Nga Bay & James Bond Island

Phuket

Koh Phi Phi - Khai Island by Speedboat

Phuket

We've never worked with a travel agent before, because we were put off by the perceived lack of flexibility and the "one size fits all" feel of what was proposed by the few we talked to. KimKim allowed us to have the perfect blend of planned/unplanned and self-directed vs guided experiences. I also liked being able to plan the trip "asynchronously" -- we gave feedback at night, had a response in the morning, made adjustments and iterated until we had a plan we were super excited about. We appreciated Hien's great suggestions for the Malaysia portion of our trip, and best of all, great "real time" support when we were on the ground. Thank you!

Just returned from a 15 day trip to Thailand. Our local specialist Kelly did a fantastic job planning this for us. She was very responsive, always available during the trip and very accommodating of the last minute changes we had.
We visited Bangkok, Khao Sok and Phuket. The local guides at all 3 places did a great job. They were friendly and informative. We had transportation and support every step of the way.
The only negative, which was a small blip in a 15 day trip, was the Phi Phi Island excursion in Phuket. Our request for the entire trip was private tours but this one was not and the excursion itself was not worth it.
We provided feedback to Kelly and she was very understanding. Following this we checked on another excursion we had scheduled and when we realized it was also a large group tour we decided to cancel. Kelly was able to help us cancel and get a full reimbursement even though it was last minute. Her support was truly appreciated and made this just a small blip in our vacation.
We highly recommend KimKim and Kelly. We will be using them again in the future.

Alex was extremely responsive and helpful in planning our trip, as well as during the trip to help make last minute changes to accommodate things we wanted to add. Our guide T for Vietnam was the best we had all trip - he was extremely knowledgeable about the history and culture, and always went above and beyond to ensure each day was a great experience. The trip overall was a good balance between sightseeing and relaxing, and was a great first experience for both of us in Vietnam and Thailand.

We just returned from a two week trip to Thailand and Cambodia with our family. We were a group of ten people and our planner Kelly did a phenomenal job helping us plan and book this trip. Since we were two families arriving at different times and with slightly differing itineraries Kelly was able to get all these subtleties worked out. This was not a simple task and it all went off without a hitch. Kelly was in touch with us through out the trip and made changes at our request. Both of our families were really impressed with this. We had different guides that all spoke good English. The tours we went on were really fun and interesting. My kids loved this vacation and we will all remember it well. We got to spend time in northern Thailand in Chaing Mai and Chaing Rai. We flew from Bangkok to Siem Reap in Cambodia and had four days there which were unforgettable. Our tour guide Mr. T did a great job with our group. We had a food tour which was unforgettable and a really fun Vespa tour in the country side going to different villages to see different foods and crafts they produce. We got to see Angkor Wat at sunrise and Angkor Tom and other temples in the area.
Our tour guide Maya in northern Thailand was great as well. We had a really great cooking class that was done really well. I was surprised at how much fun and how good the food was.
I really just can’t say enough good things about this experience from the planning part to the execution it was just beyond my expectations. Thank you so much to Kelly and her team for making this such a great and memorable trip!

My experience with Kelly was fabulous. She helped tailor our trip to Thailand and Cambodia to my specifications. She arranged our hotels, internal flights, activities and transfers. I couldn't be more pleased. Highly recommended.

This was my first time visiting Thailand. Spend one week in Phuket and another in Bangkok. While in Phuket, it is tempting to stay around the beach, it is a beautiful one. But I went to visited an Elephant Sanctuary. I also arrange to visit Canoying in the caves. The Mauy Fight was my least favorite activity. The Elephant Sanctuary visit and the Canoing were the two highlights of the Phuket.

Also in Bangkok, Visiting the streets in the evening, soaking all the street life of Bangkok was very nice. Visiting the temple and palaces was nice as well but after while, I was overwhelmed by the numbers. Visiting Mae Klong Railway market and Damnoen Saduak Floating Market! was another highlight. Visiting Ayutthaya⁩ required a long drive starting from the early morning, but it was worth it. This trip should include ‎Wat Phra Si Sanphet⁩ in Ayutthaya⁩. It is not included in the default package.

Exploring Bangkok on a bicycle, repeated some of the earlier activities, but was definitely worth while.

I had several days of leisure days, which I liked a lot. It allowed me to explore the city on my own. I visited a park and went to the MOca museum, both worth the visit. It forced me to use the public transportation which I liked.

Activity Reviews

A visit to Elephant Jungle Sanctuary in Phuket

Phuket

One of the highlights of my trip

Quality of Experience

Love of the elephants

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Bangkok!

Bangkok

Exceptions! Just I arrived to the hotel, I realized I needed to leave again, I was not thrilled. But this activity was incredible. In few hours, I got to see/hear/understand the way the streets of Bangkok.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

My guide was great

Transport

Like the fact that we used the canals and the boats to move from place to place.

Exploring Bangkok with a Bicycle and Boat!

Bangkok

It was great, but do not expect to exercise a lot, it is a light bicycle/boat ride, guided and supported. It took us to some of the places that we visited earlier, but it took to places that we cannot go without such a tour. Definitely worth it

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A visit to Mae Klong Railway market and Damnoen Saduak Floating Market!

Bangkok

Unless you see, you won't understand. Though it is a tourist attraction, it is very nice.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exploring the Ancient Ayutthaya

Thailand

Very impressive

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

It is a long drive

Lacey did an amazing job, the experiences were truly once in a life time, details were planned out and everything went off very well, there was even some added flexibility.

I explained that I was most interested in nature and cuisine. Tina came back with amazing suggestions which evolved only slightly before finalizing the itinerary. The hotels were outstanding, and most important the activities were amazing. Absolutely beyond my expectations.
Excursion 1: John Gray's Sea Canoe - Hong by Starlight. There were 20 tourists, and 10 staff to help us kayak in these amazing islands with internal lagoons. There are only a few hours per day when you can kayak through caves into the lagoons. The boating around the islands was amazing. Also, I had my best meals of the entire trip. The boat has a full kitchen and great chefs.
Excursion 2: Elephant Jungle Sanctuary in Phuket. We spent 1/2 day taking care of these beautiful rescue elephants. We fed them, and bathed with them, and scrubbed them -- anyone who wanted to (including me) was covered with mud in union with the elephants. I made a new best friend through sharing this experience. We met there, and then again during my last day in Phuket.
Excursion 3: Pileh Lagoon & Bamboo Island. While the elephant experience was my favorite excursion, this was the most dramatically beautiful. A small selection of photos can be found on instagram,
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C1G6YKbuX3U/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D

The views of the islands was amazing. But most incredible was the snorkeling. I followed a massive purple moray eel for 30 minutes in amazement.

Excursion 4: Muay Thai in Phuket (Thai boxing). When this was proposed, I responded "why??" My guide Tina as well as a friend from Thailand told me I should check it out. It was amazing! Like everything on the trip, it was VIP all the way. Special box seats with the best views. There were five matches: including a pair of teenagers, a pair of woman to start. They blew our minds, and the best was at the end with two Thai masters. Yes, some parts were a bit uncomfortable when someone got hurt, but the artistry was fantastic.

99% of the trip was flawless. When I needed a ride, a driver was there! The two times when there were minor issues I contacted Tina and all was resolved.

Hotel Reviews

Phi Phi CoCo Beach Resort

Krabi

I love this hotel. You stay in elegant elevated huts. The breakfasts are outstanding, with the best fresh fruit. Parts of Phi Phi can be a bit congested. Here you are completely sheltered from any noise. I have the feeling that every hotel has outstanding personal service. This was the best.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Patong Paragon Resort & Spa

I stayed here at the start of the trip, and at the end. The rooms are spacious and luxurious -- I was so happy to see that bathtub after a long trip! Location can't be beat in this area: by the beach, but far enough away from the big crowds. Breakfasts are great, except I suggest you avoid the coffee. I was unlucky with this hotel. The A/C wasn't working, and they didn't respond to my request for a repair until Tina (my kimkim contact) called them. It turned out to be a simple reboot. On my return to the hotel they acknowledged their failure, and gave me an upgrade -- a massive suite! I preferred my previous room that overlooked the pool. To all: do not accept a room overlooking the busy road! It gets noisy!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

John Gray's Sea Canoe - Hong by Starlight

Phuket

There were 20 tourists, and 10 staff to help us kayak in these amazing islands with internal lagoons. There are only a few hours per day when you can kayak through caves into the lagoons. The boating around the islands was amazing. Also, I had my best meals of the entire trip. The boat has a full kitchen and great chefs.

Quality of Experience

Food

So many delicious Thai dishes!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A visit to Elephant Jungle Sanctuary in Phuket

Phuket

We spent 1/2 day taking care of these beautiful rescue elephants. We fed them, and bathed with them, and scrubbed them -- anyone who wanted to (including me) was covered with mud in union with the elephants. I made a new best friend through sharing this experience. We met there, and then again during my last day in Phuket. The staff seem so committed to the elephants. And each elephant has their special Thai human to take care of them throughout the year. Just amazing.

Quality of Experience

Food

We had a pad thai cooking class at the end! They asked for four volunteers, and I jumped in. My best pad thai of the trip (not the dish I prepared, of course)

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunrise visit to Pileh Lagoon & Bamboo Island

Ko Phi Phi

While the elephant experience was my favorite excursion, this was the most dramatically beautiful. A small selection of photos can be found on instagram, https://www.instagram.com/reel/C1G6YKbuX3U/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D The views of the islands was amazing. But most incredible was the snorkeling. I followed a massive purple moray eel for 30 minutes in amazement. The staff were incredible! Helpful, and *fun*!! They playfulness was fantastic along with being awestruck with the natural beauty.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kien provided an initial schedule for our family trip to Thailand which we adapted to include some other points of interest. After we set the schedule I was prepared to underwhelmed due to the logistics nightmare that I thought we had created.
From our arrival in Bangkok, where we were met at the jetway by a golf cart that whisked us through customs, to the remote aerie house overlooking the ocean with its infinity pool where we spent our final few days, everything was spectacularly coordinated.
Great accommodations, wonderful guides (Annie in Bangkok, and Noe in Chang Mai), safe and courteous drivers with their spacious and luxurious vans.
We took four internal flights over our 2.5 weeks, multiple ferry or long boat trips....there is no way we could have done this with no stress, but with Kiens expert connections it was a trip of a lifetime for our family. One could purchase our vacation cheaper by doing it ourselves, but that comes with all the stress, language barriers, logistics, it just isn't worth it......just call Kien at Kim Kim

Hotel Review

Aksara Heritage

Chiang Mai

Tucked away in a side street in Old Town, Chang Mai this hotel epitomizes comfort. The staff is very attentive and welcoming. The rooms are spacious and the beds are extremely comfortable. The breakfast offers a wide selection of western and Asian options. There was a nice touch of free neck and shoulder massages being offered each afternoon for a few hours.

Authenticity & Character

Although its a relatively new hotel it exudes the comfort of a well worn arm chair

Location

A short tuktuk to the night markets and restaurants of Old Town

Staff

Greeted by everyone, even in passing by. Polite and sincerely looking to ensure you have everything you need

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Bangkok Symbolic Temples

Bangkok

Having a guide makes a tremendous difference to the experience. All the official guides have to do extensive courses before they are allowed to "guide" and so one gets to hear the history of the various buildings and their significance of their time

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Annie was great and well informed

Transport

AD was great navigating the mass of traffic and yet somehow always dropped us off very close to the attractions and very quick to pick us up at the end of the tour

Night Street Food Tour After Dark by Tuk Tuk

Bangkok

Until one goes to Bangkok you cannot describe the night scene. We toured by the flower market which operates only at night, passing by multiple street vendors selling their wares or food offerings.The food is diverse and interesting predominantly chicken.

Railway Market & Floating Market

Bangkok

Organized chaos! Take a long boat through the narrow waterways bordered by vendors in boats along the banks, and more vendors on the sides of the waterways.

Quality of Experience

Very uniques experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Love Chiang Mai cooking experience (Morning session)

Chiang Mai

Lynn met us at the local market, which is an experience in itself, where she/we purchased the products for the meals that we would be making. Then we went off to her house which had a kitchen area set up with multiple cooking stations. Lynn talked us through the cooking process which entailed making predominately local delicacies. Unfortunately for us westerners this included offal , water buffalo blood, and other "delicacies" us westerners are not used to.....but we gave it all a try.

Quality of Experience

Doi Suthep Temple & monk blessing

Chiang Mai

Perched atop nearby mountain accessible by cable car one has panoramic views to the valley below. The buildings lends one to wonder how they built these amazing structures in such a remote area. Some very intricate carvings on site

Quality of Experience

Elephant Jungle Sanctuary (Morning session)

Chiang Mai

This is a refuge for elephants. They are treated with kindness and respect by the staff. A wonderful experience to interact up close with these amazing animals

Quality of Experience

Half Day - Half Night Hike at Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok

Our guide, Man, used to live in the jungle and has an amazing ability to know where various species would be. We were fortunate enough to see monkeys, snakes, tarantulas, a plethora of spiders and other creepy crawlers. once we got to the half way point Man cut down some large bamboo proceeded to fashion some plates and cups, and went to work making a delicious curry dinner all cooked inside some bamboo, over a fire. While Man was cooking we took advantage of jumping in the nearby river to cool down. On the return trip to the hotel night had fallen; however, with the powerful LED lights provided, it was easy to pick up the reflection in the eyes of various creatures in the jungle canopy.

Quality of Experience

Food

Khao Sok - Transfer to 500 Rai Floating Resort - Leisure Time

Khao Sok

A remote paradise. After jumping on the "hotel provided" long boat one waves through spectacular waterways, ending up at this lovely private get away in the middle of nowhere. Greeted by friendly staff one is invited to relax and decompress. Cool off by diving from your rooms deck, or take your assigned kayak for an explore around the quiet waters. One can take a sunset cruise in their long boat and see some of the nearby waterways.

Quality of Experience

Hong Islands Discovery with Snorkeling by Private Premium Long-tail Boat

Krabi

An opportunity to visit some of the islands within the national park. Jump off the long tailed boat and relax on the white sand beaches. Climb the 450 steps up to a lookout where one gets a wonderful view of the islands from above. On to another very small island where our guide cooked up a lovely lunch on the beach. Then off to monkey island where we were able to tempt some of these monkeys to swim (yes.... swim) out to our boat to feed on fresh fruit we fed them.

Quality of Experience

Tina planned an absolutely incredible trip for us to Thailand (Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Koh Yao Noi), Cambodia (Siem Reap), and Vietnam (Hanoi, Halong Bay, Saigon). During the planning process, Tina provided an itinerary that would take us through all three countries in two weeks, including flights, hotels, and activities. She then adapted the schedule to our every preference, including flights with particular airlines and activities that better suited our specific interests. She provided thorough and timely responses to every question that I had prior to our trip. When we were on our trip, Tina responded within minutes to the few questions that we had, such as when we had difficulty locating our driver in the airport or when the flight app would not let us check in to our flight ahead of time. Each issue was fully resolved immediately, which made our trip seamless in every way.

In regard to our hotels, we were impressed with all of the hotels that were selected. They were clean, comfortable, and located in downtown areas that were perfect for exploring the nightlife of the city. Complementary breakfast was always included and our rooms were often upgraded to have a view or balcony.

At each destination, we were assigned a driver and an English-speaking guide, who picked us up at the airport and took us on our guided tours each day. All of our guides were incredibly informative. We’d like to particularly thank Ms. Leena in Bangkok and Mr. Chhay in Siem Reap for going above and beyond with our tours. Our visit to the elephant sanctuary and our Thai cooking class in Chiang Mai were truly amazing experiences as well.

Tina and the KimKim team made sure that every detail of our trip was taken care of and that we had an incredible experience learning about the history and culture of each place that we visited. We had an unforgettable trip and would highly recommend working with Tina to plan your Southeast Asia trip!

Hotel Reviews

Aurora Premium Hotel & Spa

This hotel was perfectly situated to enjoy the nightlife in Hanoi! It was so clean and comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Paradise Koh Yao Resort

Paradise Koh Yao Noi was truly a 5-star experience. Our villa was nestled into the hills and overlooking the ocean and the jungle. Our room was incredibly clean, comfortable, and functional. Breakfast and dinner were delicious, and it was wonderful to eat at tables on the beach in the sand. The live music was the perfect ambiance. This was the most relaxing resort we have ever been to!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Phka Chan Hotel

Siem Reap

This hotel was perfectly located to enjoy the nightlife of Siem Reap on Pub Street! It was so clean and comfortable. The complementary breakfast was absolutely delicious.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kingston Suites Bangkok

Bangkok

The hotel was located in the heart of Bangkok's nightlife, though it was on a block that was off the main boulevard. The room was functional, though the bed was very stiff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sabai Sabai Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai

The hotel was located in an excellent location to explore Chiang Mai's nightlife, though it was on a block that was off the main boulevard. The room was clean and comfortable, and we enjoyed having a balcony.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cochin Sang Hotel

This hotel was perfectly situated to enjoy Saigon! It was one block from Ben Thanh market and easily walkable to the city center. It was so clean and comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Halong Aquamarine Cruise

Ha Long

Our room was clean and comfortable, and we enjoyed having a balcony to overlook Halong Bay.

Authenticity & Character

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Half-Day Eco Elephant Care!

Chiang Mai

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Back to the Nature on Koh Yao Noi

Ko Yao Noi

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bangkok's Temples Tour

Bangkok

Our guide, Ms. Leena, did an incredible job showing us the temples and highlights of Bangkok.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A visit to Mae Klong Railway market and Damnoen Saduak Floating Market!

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chiang Mai Cooking Class Experience

Chiang Mai

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exploring the Famous Angkor Wat

Siem Reap

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Evening Street Food Tour

Ho Chi Minh City

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Temples, Tradition and Cultural Traces of Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Halong on Cruise!

Vietnam

Quality of Experience

It was wonderful to see Ha Long Bay, though the journey was very long from Hanoi (3 hours each way). The cruise took us to a cave for one hour and a beach for one hour.

Food

Food on the cruise was average. We stopped at a rest stop for lunch on the way back to Hanoi which was aimed at tourists.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport