Kimkim Trip Reviews for Thailand

Everything was awesome, the service the attention and overall we are very happy with the whole trip

I had an action packed 12 days in Thailand! My travel planner Alex was great and took care of every detail. I shared with him my vision and he provided great suggestions. He was readily available when I had questions and he took all the guess work out of traveling to a new country. Having Alex do all the planning gave me the ability to simply show up and enjoy my perfect vacation. Some of the experiences I enjoyed were a ringside Muy Thai match, time at an Elephant Sanctuary and a Tiger Park and an exciting night hike in the rain forest. I would definitely recommend using Kimkim to others and would use them again on my future trips!

Hotel Review

Khao Sok River Lodge Hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Half day combined Grand Palace Temples city tour

Bangkok

This tour was an amazing experience. We visited a lot of temples in Bangkok and Chiang Mai. The guide was with us the entire time, providing valuable insights. It was an enriching experience and the temples were beautiful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Evening Muay Thai Show

Bangkok

The Muay Thai fight was a unique experience. We were right at ringside and the venue was quite small, making it an intimate setting. It was thrilling to be so close to the action.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Authentic Thai Railway & Floating Markets

Bangkok

This was another great experience. We saw the railway and then moved on to the floating markets. The tour allowed us to shop and haggle, giving us a real taste of local life. We bought a lot of different souvenirs.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Evening Wat Umong and Doi Suthep Temple

Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai was more traditional compared to Bangkok. The evening temple visit was quite fancy and left a lasting impression.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Karen village - Elephant Jungle Sanctuary

Chiang Mai

This was a wonderful experience. The people there truly care for the elephants and it's not like those places where elephants are mistreated. We got to feed the elephants, take pictures, and even bathe and brush them in water. It felt like a very ethical and rewarding experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Self - Guided Day in Phuket

Phuket

On our last day, we had a car take us around for a self-guided tour. We visited Monkey Hill, which was a nice experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to Thailand was a bit short, but it was great. Every city that we visited was amazing, but there was something unique being in Chiang Rai and so we would like to give a special shout out to our guide and driver - Nok and Dee. They simply went above and beyond and made it extra special.
From the moment I requested information for our trip to Thailand, Thao knew exactly what we were looking for. Our entire itinerary was done within a week. Thao was always on top of everything and she would always get back to you as soon as you would send her a note or a question. We were so impressed with her service.
As soon as we landed in Thailand, we had a dedicated team in case we ran into any issues or had any questions. Thank you Adam, Moruecha, and Orn for taking care of us! You were always on top of your game.

Hotel Reviews

De Charme Hotel

Amphoe Muang, Si Phum, Chiang Mai

It was awesome and really nice. I had a great time staying here with no issues.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nak Nakara Hotel

Chiang Rai

This hotel was also very nice, providing a comfortable stay!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Art's Riverview Lodge

Khao Sok

This place was a bit too rustic for my liking. There was no WiFi and our shower was not working. However, it was nice being out in nature and felt like a tree house.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Slate Phuket

Phuket

Absolutely the best. The resort was luxurious and comfortable with excellent customer service. The property was well-maintained and it was convenient to get out of the resort. The security was also top-notch.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

DAMNOEN SADUAK MARKET – MAEKLONG MARKET – KANCHANABURI

Bangkok

I did this on my own and it was an interesting experience. However, it seems to be more for tourists now.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Spend a Day with Elephants in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai

It was great but a bit too long. The waiting time for our ride back was unnecessarily long and resulted in us getting stuck in traffic.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Highlights of Chiang Rai

Chiang Rai

Absolutely the best. The guide, Nok, went above and beyond in explaining things to us. The White Temple was amazing to see in person.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Phi Phi Island by Speedboat

Phuket

It was beautiful and the boat ride was a good experience. The weather was amazing

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an amazing trip to Thailand. Tina provided us an unforgetable itinerary of unique experiences in three different areas of Thailand. All very unique and different from each other. So happy we got to see all these difference facets of Thailand. Our local guides and drivers were polite and caring and very knowledgeable and deeply cared that we had a great experience.
Very happy with the Kim Kim experience!

Hotel Review

Bodhi Serene Chiang Mai Hotel (SHA Extra Plus)

Chiang Mai

Located in the heart of Chiang Mai with easy walking access to local shops and restaurants yet it provides an oasis of calm and serenity with green courtyards and pools. Great breakfast as well.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Half-Day Eco Elephant Care!

Chiang Mai

This was one of our favorite activities. While it is a tourist activity, it provided us a rare glimpse at the amount of work of feeding and taking care of these beautiful creatures in a way that felt very authentic. We started by driving on the back of a truck to a farm to cut down with machetes the plants to feed the elephants, carrying the food back, cutting it into pieces and feeding the elephants. We also made rice balls to feed them additional vitamins. We made natural sponge and soaps for the bath from the trunk of a tree. We hightly recommend this activity for a humane and authentic way to interact with elephants and help their caretakers.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Authentic Thai Cooking Class in a Traditional House!

Bangkok

This was such a fun experience! It greatly surpassed my expectations. We made food from scratch that I didn't think could be made in the time frame of a cooking class. And the food was delicious. Really the best tasting food we had. Hint: go hungry because you will have a hard time eating all the food.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We took a quick 10-day, 3-country, 4-stop Southeast Asian holiday and Ha Dinh made us the perfect itinerary. The boutique hotels she got us in Ho Chi Minh, Siem Reap, Bangkok and Chiang Mai were all up to standard and very central in their location. The guides in each destination all made our trip quite informative and definitely memorable, slightly bittersweet in Cambodia as we learned about their political past and present. A score of 10 for Ha Dinh as she opened the communication with us when we got to our first destination (Vietnam) and was there every step of the way. She looked after us so well we felt secure, confident and safe in this trip.

Our trip went perfect from start to finish. All the tours and guides were super helpful and provided a ton of information that allowed us to learn about the culture, the country and their food. The hotels were exactly what we were looking for, all of them boutique style, very unique and provided excellent service. Ik (sorry if it wrong), the guide to Chang Mai and Mae Hong Son was extremely knowledgeable about the culture, temples and customs. The guide to Kanchanaburi (Marrie) was also excellent. 20/20 I would have changed a couple of things that Ashley recommended, by doing a bit less to have some down time. But... we traveled around and saw a lot of different places, people and food styles. Highly recommend KimKim for any traveler looking for a unique and tailored experience.

Ashley was amazing from beginning to end! She was very accommodating to all my requests and several changes during the planning of the trip. Thanks to her planning, everything went smoothie and easy during our stay in Thailand. She was always in every detail, contacting me with text reminders about air tickets, tourist guides, and transportation. Constantly assuring that our experience was as expected. The tourist guides who she works with through Realistic Asia are the best. We toured the Kanchanaburi area with Mayree, who was knowledgeable, attentive, and patient. We traveled with my 10-year-old niece, and she spoiled her, having plenty of treats ready for her! The chauffeur was amazing too.
We tour the North of Thailand Chain Mai, Pia, with Erk as our tourist guide; he introduces us to the local history, live style, monastic life, and Buddhist philosophy. He was incredibly open, answering every question with plenty of details and knowledge. The driver was very polite and professional too. Thank you very much, Ashley! We highly recommend you!

Having embarked on numerous trips to different countries, I can confidently affirm that this was by far the most remarkable journey I've ever had. I owe a great deal of gratitude to Tina, who expertly planned and supported me throughout the entire experience. There were so many extraordinary moments that I could go on forever, but I'll highlight a few that truly stood out.

First and foremost, bathing with the elephants during the Eco tour was an absolute delight. It was an unforgettable opportunity to interact with these magnificent creatures up close and create memories that will last a lifetime. Additionally, the temples and ruins in Thailand were truly captivating. The knowledgeable guides, who spoke English fluently, provided insightful information that went beyond mere observation, enhancing the overall experience.

Two markets, in particular, left me in awe. The floating market, where one can travel by boat, offered a unique and vibrant atmosphere. It was fascinating to witness the hustle and bustle of commerce taking place on the water. Equally captivating was the market situated on the train tracks, which had to open and close rapidly as the train passed by. The sheer energy and efficiency of this operation were remarkable.

Finally, the beaches in Phi Phi island provided a perfect conclusion to the trip. With its crystal-clear waters and a range of activities like snorkeling and jet skiing, it offered both relaxation and adventure. It was an ideal way to unwind and reflect on the incredible experiences I had throughout the journey.

I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude once again for this truly wonderful experience. Tina's impeccable planning and support, coupled with the diverse and awe-inspiring highlights, made this trip the best I have ever had. I can wholeheartedly recommend this travel experience to anyone seeking an extraordinary adventure.

Our recent trip with KimKim was nothing short of amazing! From the moment we arrived, we were greeted by a team that went above and beyond to ensure our comfort and enjoyment throughout the entire journey. Let me tell you about some of the exceptional individuals who made our experience truly unforgettable!

Ms. Belle, our tour guide for our first day, left a lasting impression. Despite her limited time with us, she made herself available on WhatsApp to assist in coordinating our drivers for the following days. Her warmth and helpfulness were evident from the start, always greeting us with a cheerful "Good Morning." Ms. Belle's dedication and willingness to go the extra mile made us feel welcomed and supported throughout our trip.

And then there was Ms. Aurora, who accompanied us for an entire day in Bangkok. Her commitment to our comfort and satisfaction was evident from the moment we met her. Despite the scorching sun, she had wipes ready for us and ensured we stayed hydrated with refreshing water. Ms. Aurora's flexibility was truly remarkable, as she effortlessly adjusted our itinerary to accommodate our preferences, even managing to fit in a delightful lunch at a local restaurant. Her expertise and knowledge as a tour guide were apparent, making our time with her educational and enjoyable.

One of the aspects that impressed us most about KimKim was the consistency in their services. The drivers were punctual, always arriving within a 10-minute window.

We wholeheartedly recommend KimKim to fellow travelers seeking a professional and reliable travel agency!

Lacey was great! Her initial proposal had a lot of great suggestions and details, and she worked with me to revise it several times to meet our sometimes changing needs. I appreciated the clear pricing details and the photos and links to each hotel so we could look at exactly which room we'd be getting.

A little background about my family to help give a perspective as to why we chose this trip. I traveled with my husband, my sons age 25 and 22 respectively. My youngest son achieved the rank of Eagle at 15 in 2015. My oldest is an officer in the Army. My husband and my boys have been in outdoor fanatics since elementary/primary school. While in college, both boys served in various roles as Wildland Firefighters. Me however, not even close. My minimum requirement for any outdoor activity must have running water and a flushable toilet. With this background, the family chose the trip titled "Thailand Off the Beaten Track". Two family members would go into anaphylactic shock with food containing crab and peanuts, and none of us can read or speak Thai, we elected to have a private tour with a guide.

I worked with Hien Do, the Local Specialist from Realistic Asia, back in October, and we finalized the trip in February. Needless to say that Hien was very patient and understanding throughout this process, and was very accommodating to my family's circumstance since October. When my husband could not fly with us on the actual travel date, and had to take a separate flight to Thailand, Hien arranged to have my husband picked up at the airport and dropped off where the rest of the family were located at day 2 in the trip, which was a 3 hour drive and a 20 minute boat ride to the River Kwai Jungle Rafts Floating Hotel. Now that's customer service done right!

We had 2 sets of guides and drivers, one in Bangkok (Kun Thim and Run Joie), and one in Chiang Mai (Kun Arty, Kun Johnny, and Kun Sompong). Both guides are very good in their jobs, very knowledgeable of the history and tribal knowledge of each location. When we wanted to take extra excursions, they found ways to fit them into the already packed itinerary, and they did so with great efficiency and always with a smile. With food allergies that could send my family to the hospital, they were on top of it like an eagle - always speaking to the restaurant staff to make sure that there are no crab or peanuts in any of the dishes. While at the Movenpick Hotel, Kun Thim requested for an allergy card for each of my family members, in the event that both guides were not available, we could just show the allergy cards to the restaurant staff to make sure that there were no crab or peanuts in the food.

If you ever go to Thailand and require a guide in Bangkok or Chiang Mai, I HIGHLY recommend using their service because, man alive, they are super at their job, but more importantly, they are good, honest, hard working folks who are patient, accommodating, kind, and understanding of you or your family's needs. Big shout out to both guides and drivers! Our trip would not be successful without them, they were really amazing, warm, and welcoming people.

The rest of the review will be to focus on notable events that happened during the trip beginning with a stop to the Hellfire Pass Museum, fully funded by the Australian government, this put a lot of perspective throughout the rest of the trip, and we were all so grateful for the opportunity to visit such a place rich with history. We proceeded to head towards the River Kwai Jungle Rafts Floating Hotel. What a beautiful floating hotel, the staff are very kind, patient, and polite. We stayed for 2 days, and each morning, we had the good fortune to meet the village elephant by the restaurant, who gladly took the fruit and vegetable scraps from you. She had such a funny personality and the family had great fun feeding her. We also toured the Mon Village and got a better understanding of Mon history and culture, the Buddhist Monk's way of living, and the seamlessness of the people to the monk's co-existence. Note to others: There is no electricity, except for the kitchen and dining area. Although a LED lamp and battery operated candle are provided in the room, might be good to pack a head lamp to navigate in the room for better light. While in the River Kwai, we visited the National Park, where we had the opportunity to explore various trails. Note to others, bring plenty of water, avoid using sunscreen with mineral content (somehow it attracts the mosquitoes, and other biting insects), wherever skin is exposed, and on your back, slather on loads of citronella or bug spray with Deet, and wear appropriate footwear. Depending on the weather, wet or dry, makes a difference in footwear. Some hiking trails can be quite slippery.

Lawa Cave, caught us by surprise, in a good way, because of the healthy bat population living in the stalactites and stalagmite formations. We've gone to caves but not had the experience of bats residing in the caves. This is a great sign of a health eco-system.

On our way to Ayutthaya, we rode on the historic Thai Burma Railway (aka: Death Railway), the experience made it more rich since we visited the Hellfire Pass Museum a few days before. This is a must to experience, to ride on a train and the track built in the 1940s with the knowledge of the circumstances that took place during construction made the experience all the more remarkable.

We took a side trip to the Maeklong Station (aka: train market), and that was quite the experience to watch the vendors pack up their stuff to make way for the train to pass. We also took another side trip to the oldest floating market, Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, the boys truly enjoyed the experience of watching how food was cooked on the boats and served, as well as haggling with vendors on the side of the canal.

We took the bike tour in Auytthaya, the guide was fantastic, and honestly can say that biking in temperatures between 90 F (32.2 C) and 97 F (36.11 C) with almost 100% humidity was not fun. Although the guide provided water, we froze water the night before and packed it with us. The temperature stifled the enthusiasm of the great history that was told by the guide, and we cut the trip short by an hour because of the sheer heat and humidity. Our guide was fantastic and bought more water for us, but whoo geez, it was super hot.

We flew to Chiang Rai and met up with another guide, Kun Arty and driver, Kun Johnny. We stayed at the beautiful The Riverie Chiang Rai hotel overlooking the Kok River. The food, accommodation, and service were unbelievable. Our guide, Kun Arty took us to an Akha village, specifically to her good friend's home to meet her and to get to know Akha life from her perspective. What a special treat that was to meet a special, old-time friend, and to get to understand Akha life. While in Chiang Rai we visited the tea plantation and was able to understand the process from growing, harvesting, packaging, and selling tea. Most notable during the tour, was the presence of the Akha women during harvest, they wear their traditional outfits. Although we did not see the harvest process, Kun Arty's friend informed us that she too goes to the plantation to pick tea leaves wearing her traditional garb.

From Chiang Rai, we headed to Chiang Mai, where we stayed at another beautiful hotel, Na Nirand Romatic Boutique Resort. Just as in the Riverie hotel, the accommodations were fantastic! We took an additional trip to the Silk Factory. Well worth the trip! We walked through the process of mulberry silk making and purchased beautiful scarves and clothing. What an experience.

The highlight for my husband and the boys was the bamboo river raft experience. This is the portion of their trip in their element: long hike (8 km, normally 12 km) through the jungle, villages, and rice patties. I paid to ride on a motorcycle to get to the village. We stayed in very rustic, provincial accommodation at our guide, Kun Suwit’s home. We helped cook dinner with Suwit’s family and watched LOADS of fireflies near the house, and in the darkness, watched the countless number of stars above. The toilet and shower are a few meters away from the house, so we did our business before retiring for the night. The next day we met and fed a very friendly elephant within the village owned by Kun Suwit’s friend, Kun Salam. He spoke no English and did not understand English, so he went through Kun Suwit to relay messages. We did not go to Elephant EcoValley, but enjoyed private time with Kun Salam’s elephant, Mabutsi. So special, to experience first-hand in a quiet setting to getting to know Mabutsi. Before meeting Mabutsi, several local villagers prepared the bamboo raft. Amazing to see how the bamboo raft was put together in a matter of a couple of hours that can easily hold 6 people. The raft floated right on top of the water, so every rapid we went down, we were easily under water a few inches, then popped back up to the water level. We stopped by the Lahu Hill Tribe briefly, nothing notable, then proceeded down the river to the Shan village to have lunch. This was the last stop before heading back up to Chiang Mai to head back to Bangkok.

This was a story, not a review, of our family’s experience in beautiful Thailand, with fantastic guides, all coordinated by the patient and helpful Ms. Hien. A highly recommended trip for those that love adventure with all the riches of history, temples, museums, monks, hiking, biking, and to experience the jungle, raw, rich with foliage, and filled with people in villages that are so kind and accommodating. We are looking forward towards our next visit in years to come.

Hotel Reviews

Na Nirand Romantic Boutique Resort

What a beautiful resort! The room, service, and food was fantastic. Just a few minutes from the night market, a fun place to grab local food, and experience the culture. Will definitely come back to this resort at our next visit.

Authenticity & Character

The room had this kind of SoHo vibe, relaxing, beautiful, and very comfortable. We had fresh fruit on the table, a complimentary post card, and the room smelled of jasmine.

Location

In a maze of buildings, we arrived greeted by beautiful buildings, a gorgeous pool, and friendly staff.

Staff

The staff were always very polite and accommodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

No dust bunnies! Super clean. There was even a citronella lamp to keep mosquitoes at bay. Details, they matter.

River Kwai Jungle Rafts Floating Hotel

Arriving by boat to be met by thatched roof accommodations was very special. The staff were very polite and accommodating. The food was delicious, and in the mornings between 7:00 am - 7:30 am, were greeted by the village elephant! What a magnificent surprise. One thing to note, there is no electricity in the rooms, however, there is in the kitchen and dining areas. LED lamp and a battery operated candle are provided in the rooms so that you can navigate to the restroom at night. Other than not having electricity in the bedroom , this was a very nice hotel.

Authenticity & Character

The accomodations was just wonderful. Right outside of the room is your own hammock and deck to just just lounge. Super relaxing.

Location

Only way to get to the hotel is by boat ferry. What a fun way to get to your hotel. Note, there isn't very much room to put your luggage. So we kept our luggage in the outside patio behind the bathroom. The hotel felt super safe and felt comfortable leaving the luggage in the back patio.

Staff

Super nice and warm people. Most, if not all, are from the Mon village, which is located above the raft hotel.

Cleanliness & Comfort

We stayed 2 nights, and upon returning after a long day of excursion, came back to a room that was cleaned and the beds turned.

The Riverie Chiang Rai

What a spectacular hotel. We arrived and was greeted by this beautiful lounge area overlooking the Kok river. The staff were just lovely and accommodating and the rooms so pristine. Our room overlooked the river and was just wonderful to just sit next to the window and relax.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Bangkok – Kanchanaburi – River Kwai Jungle Rafts

Kanchanaburi

What an experience to ride on the train and the track built in the 1940's. Having a brief understanding of the history, enriched the experience even more.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Kun Thim, the guide, and Kun Joie, the driver were absolutely a joy! We enjoyed all the history and perspective throughout the trip.

Transport

Air conditioned van, clean, and was provided cold water after an excursion. That was so appreciated in the sweltering heat and high humidity.

Sai Yok Yai waterfall - National park – Lawa cave

Kanchanaburi

The National Park has loads of trails with lots of history with some of the trails. We went at the beginning of rainy season, and the terrain in some of the trails can be a bit slippery.

River Kwai Jungle raft - Ayutthaya

Kanchanaburi

This was a man made fall but still very nice to visit. Visitors were able to get to the top portion of the water fall, which was greatly appreciated on a very hot, humid day. Visitors are highly encourage to remove their shoes before ascending to the top.

Quality of Experience

Chiang Rai - Golden Triangle

Chiang Rai

Wow! We were so close to neighboring countries, Laos and Myanmar. We definitely were able to get a better appreciation of Thai history. We also were treated to meet our guide's best friend in of the Akha villages. That was quite an experience to hear the story of daily living in the village.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chiang Mai – Local Market – Karen Hilltribe Village – Elephant feeding and bathing

Chiang Mai

This is an experience for those that truly love to hike and be connected to nature. This is a truly provincial, rustic experience of trekking 8 km (should have been 12 km, but the rice patties were dry so an alternate route was taken) through rice patties, jungle, other villages, close encounters with water buffalos, and crossing creeks to get to the village. Once there, it's basic accommodations where the toilet and shower are meters from the main living quarters. We stayed at our host and guide, Kun Suwit, home. We helped prepare dinner with his wife and kids. The best part after a long day trekking, preparing and having dinner, was to watch in the darkness, the millions of stars, the quietness broken by the humming of the cicadas, and being entertained by the hundreds of fireflies next to the house. The next day we were greeted by a beautiful, 50 year old elephant named Mabutsi. We didn't head to the Ecovillage where the other elephants were staying, but had a private, wonderful encounter with Mabusti. Then we witness how a bamboo raft was built within a couple of hours that safely can carry 6 adults down the river. Shortly we bid Run Suwit's family goodbye and headed down the river until we landed in the Shan village.

Quality of Experience

Food

Our family helped Kun Suwit's wife prepare dinner, which was pretty special.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

To get to Kun Suwit's home stay we traveled by truck, which was appropriate to get through rugged terrain.

Ayutthaya biking - Transfer to Bangkok

Ayutthaya

The guide, Bella, from Recreation Biking Tour, was absolutely amazing! The downside was that the temperature by 9:00 am hovered around 90 F (32.2 C) and hit 97 F (36.11 C) with almost 100% humidity by 10:30 am. Biking in such warm conditions was not fun by any stretch of the imagination, but Bella was super nice and very informative. We cut the tour short by an hour because of the heat, it became remarkably unbearable, but other than that the everything was fantastic. We went to a restaurant, where Bella informed the restaurant of the food allergies, for which the restaurant was sure to not present any food with crab or peanuts.

Quality of Experience

Food

We went to a restaurant where Bella helped us out by explaining to the restaurant staff that we had crab and peanut allergies. The food was fine, but coming from a hot ride under the sun, eating was not really our priority.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Under the circumstance, Bella was remarkably patient and made frequent stops to be under the shade during the tour.

Transport

We rode the bikes, popped them onto a boat ferry, and made shortcuts around town. It was great!

Chiang Rai – City tour – Chiang Mai

Chiang Rai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Karen Hill tribe village - Bamboo raft - Lahu Hill tribe Village - Shan Village – Chiang Mai

Thailand

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

It was a great trip, places we have stayed were well selected. Guides at the airports were very helpful and important. The part we stayed in Koh Samui is very well selected and great.

I specifically wanted to thank to our local guide in Bangkok and Kanchanaburi. Thani you Kanya, for everything you have done with us. She is the greatest guide ever :)

Thanks to her we had the chance to experience both popular attractions and local dishes, local history, shopping…

It was a great trip and we are very happy…

Thank you KimKim, Sunny and best guide Kanya.

Bulent

Hotel Reviews

U Inchantree Kanchanaburi

Kanchanaburi

First of all the Tree is amazing and our total experience was great.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mode Sathorn Hotel Bangkok

Bangkok

Great city hotel comfortable beds very very close to the sky train.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Peace Resort

Koh Samui

The rooms are clean, beds are comfortable maybe pillows can be better. Restaurant was very good. It is really close to fisherman’s village which was a great local experience. People were very friendly and helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Design, architecture and plants.

Location

Close to fisherman’s village.

Staff

They were always smiling, they did everything to help.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean, daily room service was great.

Ariyasom Villa

Bangkok

It is a great experience, we loved the location, design, restaurant.

Authenticity & Character

The architecture, furnitures, plants and design was great. Rooms were spacious and bathrooms were designed beautifully.

Location

Close to sky train, hospital and 7/11

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms can be cleaner and my safe was not working. Mosquitos :(

Activity Reviews

Elephant Sanctuary Koh Samui - Afternoon visit - Joining activity

Ko Samui

It was the best activity we have experienced in Thailand. We had a great time while family loved.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Family fun day with kayaking &snorkeling at Angthong Marine Park by VIP joining speedboat

Ko Samui

Quality of Experience

Food

Really good food.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great guide.

Transport

Family evening food tour by tuk tuk

Bangkok

With our local guide Kanya this was a great experience for our family. We loved it.

Quality of Experience

Food

Chinatown is great listen to your guide!!!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Symbolic temples - Klong tour

Bangkok

It was great, our guide was great.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Erawan National Park - Hellfire Pass museum

Kanchanaburi

It was great but long drive can be hard.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver and the vehicle was was great.

Transport

My family and I had a wonderful experience traveling through Thailand. All of the logistics were smooth and easy, allowing us the maximum time to spend together relaxing and learning new things. We adults marveled at the Grand Palace in Bangkok (though it was a lot for the kids), and the kids loved the tuktuk tours and the colors of the floating market. Everyone relaxed in Koh Samui and enjoyed the charm of Chiang Mai. Our friends wondered if we were trying to fit too much into our time in Thailand, but with our tailored tour, it all felt possible! Lacey checked in to make sure it was all going well, and her team was always available when we needed!

I connected with Kelly on Kimkim and she helped me plan a fun and relaxing trip to Thailand. From the start, Kelly gave me a great itinerary. There were some things I wanted to do, and she was able to make it fit into the itinerary. I was also picky with my hotels, but Kelly was patient and helped me find the perfect ones! My tour guide in Bangkok, Tammy, was very friendly and helpful. She was very knowledgeable on the history of Thailand and on the temples we visited. Vicky, my tour guide in Chiang Mai, was also great! She was able to show me the area and how it’s different than Bangkok. She also gave great recommendations on what to do during my free time. Overall fantastic experience!

Our trip was everything we could have imagined and more. Our guide in Bangkok, Peak was wonderful. He gave us tips and tricks for how to negotiate prices with street vendors. He was very informative and taught us a lot about Bangkok. He became like one of our family in the few days we were with him. JJ our next guide in northern Thailand was wonderful as well. She gave us suggestions on things to do. She suggested a change to our original itinerary to see a sunset rather than a sunrise and we were very delighted in the change. She also showed us many more unexpected sights. She walked us down the food vendor street in Pai, telling us what all the food was. I felt we were on a foodie tour that I didn’t even sign up for. So great! Both our guides I would definitely use again and highly recommend. Lacey our tour specialist who put the trip together was great as well. She worked with me for months putting the perfect trip together for me, my husband and 2 young adult daughters. She was so patient with me asking many questions and changing the itinerary several times up until we left for our trip. It was my daughters birthday the day we arrived in Bangkok and I asked Lacey to arrange a surprise for her in the hotel upon arrival. The surprise was so much more than I expected from a small gift, to a cake, flowers and her bed decorated with the words Happy Birthday. She felt so special. The itinerary was as flawless from the moment we arrived like going to the fast track right off the plane and not having to wait in customs. We were treated like royalty the entire trip. So organized and put together well. All the hotels were also top notch. They were all so different. My only complaint would be our excursion experience in Khanom. Our first excursion was snorkeling and visiting pig island with lunch. The guide gave very little info or direction. When he gave us the mask and snorkel the mask came apart from the snorkel and sunk to the bottom of the ocean which I felt was because he did not attach the snorkel correctly for us. At the end of the excursion I was charged 1000 bht to replace the mask. For lunch he asked us if we had food allergies. I told him we were vegetarian. He seemed to understand but our lunch was seafood soup and chicken entrees. The next days excursion we ended up canceling due to the fact it was the same guide and our experience that day was not great. We decided to stay at the hotel and take advantage of the spa which was a good choice. My overall experience with KimKim was excellent. They did all the planning and arranging everything which was so nice. I will definitely be using them again and highly recommend. Next trip Slovenia/Croatia.

Thank you Lacey & KimKim

Hotel Reviews

Rachamankha Boutique Hotel

Chiang Mai

The grounds were beautiful! Like an oasis. The entire experience here was top notch

Authenticity & Character

The originality of the design made this hotel absolutely beautiful

Location

Walking distance to many shops, street venders and restaurants

Staff

The bartender and restaurant staff was great. Best lychee martini ever

Cleanliness & Comfort

Loved that they had little bottles of big spray complementary. Also liked the fact they came by each night asking if we needed any more towels or toiletries

Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas

Phuket

From the time you enter the grounds you are in paradise. Love everything about this hotel. One favorite was feeding the fish at breakfast. The hotel provides bread to feed the fish. The activities scheduled each day as also nice. Breakfast buffet had something for everyone

Authenticity & Character

Having a pool for each bungalow is what sets this hotel apart

Location

Close to restraunts and shops but far enough away you are very secluded

Staff

The front desk staff seemed to anticipate what we needed before we even asked. Very helpful in getting taxi’s and suggestions

Cleanliness & Comfort

Loved that they give you new beach towels to use everyday. Nice touch putting a glass and bottle water beside your bed each day

Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel

Bangkok

A favorite hotel we stayed at. Close to everything, breakfast buffet was exceptional and the staff went above and beyond. If I could give it 10 stars I would

Authenticity & Character

The ambiance

Location

Walking distance to several malls, walking distance to rail station

Staff

The staff that left the goodies through the day in our hotel for my daughters birthday. Each time we came back to the room a new surprise was waiting from a gift to a cake to flowers to happy birthday spelled out in the bed. Above expectations

Cleanliness & Comfort

Plenty of towels was provided without asking. The shampoo and conditioner was great smelling

Reverie Siam Resort

Mae Hong Son

This hotel was tranquillity. You feel like you’re in a garden. So laid back and beautiful

Authenticity & Character

Very original and antique boutique hotel

Location

Felt like we were in our own world

Staff

The breakfast staff girls were so friendly. On our 2nd day of breakfast they remembered each of our coffee and drink orders

Cleanliness & Comfort

All comfy. Only negative would be the bathroom gets very hot in the middle of the day. Air conditioner cannot keep us with heat in the bathrooms

Aava Resort And Spa

Restaurant on the beach was beautiful. And the staff was very caring and attentive. The hotel has an orange cat named Ginger that lives there and is very friendly. The spa was very relaxing and a good was to spend an afternoon

Authenticity & Character

I liked the bungalow style rooms. Felt like you had your own place with nobody around

Location

Location was a bit far from anything. Only a couple restaurants to choose from

Staff

Restaurant staff was the best all around.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

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

Phuket

This excursion was excellent. There was a guide for each 2 people. Very one on one and personal experience. Food was excellent. Fun fun trip. Would highly recommend as one of the most do excursions

Quality of Experience

Setting the flowers in the water at sunset and seeing the glowing plantkin in the water at night

Food

All of it. A lot of variety

Guides, Drivers and Staff

All the guides and staff were fun. Very well organized tour

Transport

Nice and smooth relaxing boat

Railway Market & Floating Market

Bangkok

Great way to experience the culture. Loved seeing how the locals live.

Quality of Experience

Experiencing the culture of Thailand

Food

Trying the floating market food and Peak’s recommendations

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Peak our guide taught us much about the Thai people and culture. He was able to answer all questions we had.

Transport

Prompt and comfortable van

Bangkok Symbolic Temples

Bangkok

Beautiful temples.

Quality of Experience

Our guide explained a lot of history

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The knowledge of the history of Buddhism, temples and Thai culture

Transport

Bangkok - Flight to Chiang Mai - Transfer to Pai

Thailand

Good flight. No issues

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pai - Sunrise at Yuan Lai View Point - Lod cave - Ja Bo - Kiew Lom

Pai

The Jabo Village was wonderful and a highlight of our time in Thailand. The local family showed us some bamboo crafts, let us try in the tribe clothing and we even got to visit the ho e of the oldest village lady. The Lod Cave was the ok. Water was too low so we had to walk the cave instead of bamboo rafts

Quality of Experience

By far the Jabo village experience with a local village family is a must

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The villagers welcomed us into there home like we were one of them

Transport

Elephant Jungle Sanctuary (Morning session)

Chiang Mai

Fun experience. I liked that they have a photographer and they didn’t charge extra for the photos. Very well organized activity and friendly staff.

Quality of Experience

Well organized. Food was good. Participation with everyone was good

Food

The variety

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hit and bumpy

Love Chiang Mai cooking experience (Afternoon session)

Chiang Mai

Fun great experience. From shopping at the market to cooking. She let us pick several different things to cook so we weren’t all cooking the same thing.

Quality of Experience

Host was funny and fun. Let us experiment

Food

Likes the mango sticky rice the best of course

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Fun

Transport

ATV & Jungle trekking (join-in)

Chiang Mai

We started with the trekking first. It was fun but very hot and not an easy trek. Not for those that are not in shape. We then switched from the ATV because we thought it might be too hot to the rafting. That was great fun and quite an adrenaline rush

Quality of Experience

The rafting. The guides made it so fun

Food

They knew we were vegetarian and we didn’t even need to remind them

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The rafting guides

Transport

Phi Phi – Bamboo Island by speedboat joining tour

Phuket

Beautiful scenery, great fun guides, snorkeling not as good as I’ve seen other places I have traveled. Well organized.

Quality of Experience

Guides were fun. When snorkeling they got in the ware with us showed us things

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fast boat but very choppy water

SNORKELING TOUR - Madsum and Tan Island

Khanom

Our experience was not the best. Guide was not very informative and spoke little English. Was charged extra for mask that fell into the ocean. Food was suppose to be for vegetarians but wasn’t even though we reminded them. No instructions when we got caught in storm. Just told we had to hunker down and wait it out. No ladder to climb back into the boat. Had to be pulled up by boat driver and guide. Guide and driver smoked on the boat. No guidance to times we needed to meet back on the boat

Quality of Experience

Better guide

Food

Stick to what is requested-vegatarian

Guides, Drivers and Staff

More direction and instructions. No smoking

Transport

Finding pink dolphins on a local boat & Khanom sightseeing

Khanom

Did not do this activity due to same guide and your company as previous day

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I had such a wonderful time with Aurora. She made extra special stops here and there to show me authentic food choices and gluten free options as I am gluten free. I really feel lucky to have got to spend so much time with Aurora exploring the culture of Thailand.

Trip was aligned mutually based on our needs and finally perfectly organized by kimkim guys. All went 100% correct as per our agreement, the service was excellent. Our local specialist was always stand by in case we needed any clarification or help. It was our 2nd trip with kimkim and we had a great experience again. We could focus on our holiday activities, instead of logistics (where, when, how). We don't like to stay at one place only, we prefer to explore the country where we are going to, therefore logistics is quite important and kimkim is providing excellent service in this area.
We definitely recommend kimkim to the others and we will use it in the future again.

Hotel Reviews

Phi Phi Natural Resort

Krabi

Great experience in less busy area of the island.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It is located at the northernmost part of the island, not overcrowded by tourists, which we liked a lot. Directly located at the beach. We could watch the sunrise directly from our room and also sunset when walking 10-15 minutes over a small hill.

Staff

Very helpful, whenever we asked for anything.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Galleria 12 Bangkok Hotel by Compass Hospitality

Bangkok

Good hotel with everything you need. We haven't spend too much time inside. Beds were very comfortable and huge :-) .

Authenticity & Character

Location

The street is very small and narrow, on the other side there is not noise there. Also Skytrain and shops are 5-10 min walk from there, which is very convenient.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our Jungle House

Khao Sok

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Night Street Food Tour After Dark by Tuk Tuk

Bangkok

Great experience. Our guide was very actionable and she was explaining everything all the way. Thanks Kanya for great evening.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bangkok Symbolic Temples

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full day trip to Cheow Lan lake joining tour

Khao Sok

Very relaxing day - the lake is awesome, water is clean and warm. We had enough time for swimming and kayaking, food for lunch was delicious. Hiking to cave and through forest was quite an easy one, we were expecting much more difficult hike. It's easy for kids as well.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Khao Sok night safari (Our Jungle Resort)

Khao Sok

We were a bit disappointed with night safari. First of all we wouldn't call it safari, however we might be spoiled by real safari in Africa. We would rather call it easy walk through night forest on wide pathways, but a bit overcrowded with lot of other people group, which were unable to keep quiet. Therefore also the number of spotted animals was quite limited (besides insect and some snakes). We were lucky to spot few sleeping monkeys.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip was fenomenal from beginning to end. It was more than what I expected. It was so perfectly crafted for what we wanted.

We started at Bangkok where we had the sweetest, kindest and nicest guide we could have asked for (Annie). She made the Bangkok experience so much better. She had fun facts about every site we visited, knew her history, was really passionate about her work and was always prepared for any eventuality. With her we visited the different palaces and temples, went to Chinatown for our food experience, night tour of the city and she pointed us out to great food and places to visit on our day off.

I must confess that Bangkok was not my favorite but I in general don't like large cities. Our hotel W22 was exactly what we asked for. However, the location left some to be desired. If the exact same hotels was somewhere different I would go back. The rooms were simple but nice looking and clean, it was styled very nicely, it was just the unexpected surrounding areas and somewhat questionable characters, so the location was not my favorite. in the street. But I never felt unsafe and with all and all it was very accessible, close to site, food and bars. Now this was not Kim Kim's first recommendation, they had proposed some other more fancier hotels, but since I was in somewhat of a budget this hotel was Ok and met all our needs. Plus Annie picked us up almost every day, took us where we needed to go and made sure we knew how to get around, expected prices and gave us tips to navigate the city when we were not with her. She was always on time and ready for anything.

From Bangkok we went to Ayutthaya, Annie and Kim Kim arrange for all transportations and accommodations, which were just great. (PS: I really loved being assisted and greeted at the airport to be able to fastrack all lines and process to enter the country).

Ayutthaya was fantastic, even though the heat was overwhelming, so if you go do it before April. The ancient city is so large that you should plan for a couple of days if you like ruins and to walk around and be transported in time. If I would have done something different, I would have skipped the summer palace altogether to get to Ayutthaya much earlier. That way I would have beat the crowds and the heat, because by the time we got there it was got painfully hot. I don't mind waking up early so I wish this would have been a choice or we could have gone the night before to be there much earlier, since Bangkok is really not far. I would rather leave really early, get there as soon as they open and once, I finish visiting all the places I wanted be giving the option to go to the summer palace or not. Unfortunately for us there wasn't much of a choice, we were driven to the palace directly. There wasn't really much to see aside from the spacious gardens, most buildings were closed so I really didn't see the point of stopping there. Definitely go to Ayutthaya, stay the day, enjoy the city, see the ruins at sunset, explore it again in the morning and then go back to wherever you are traveling. It is worth the trip and time. Our hotel in Ayutthaya (Kantary Hotel) was great, had a nice pool with a great view. The rooms were beautiful and very spacious.

Annie went above and beyond her job to make us feel confortable and welcomed, her kindness and graciousness will be something I will remember always. She was a trooper and a fantastic photographer, I think we have hundreds of pictures of us which we often don't take. She send them all to us and now we have more wonderful memories! If we go back to Bangkok or any surrounding areas I would ask to be paired with her again.

After we went to Chiang Rai, what a fun little city. Our hotel was amazing, I think my favorite one, based on style. The Nak Nakara was a relatively small Lana Style hotel, confortable, beautifully kept, really well maintained and with lots of personality. It had a really nice pool that we got to enjoy in the evenings a very convenient restaurant and close to fun evening markets. Everyone there was lovely and helpful, they helped us arrange for tuk tuks to take us places. Our guide Mr Chuan was great. He was nice, knowledgeable and pleasant, he was very accommodating and kind, he let us do the visits in our own time, never pressure us or rush. The golden triangle was interesting, and we did also the food experience. But it was all the variety of temples we visited that made this place so memorable. Do visit the white temple and black house and if you have time go to the blue temple. We also discover a funky little bar, restaurant, hanging place
the Chivit Thamma Dat, this was recomended by our hotel staff. What a nice place to end our days. We ended going there in the evenings for food and drinks, to relax by the river and enjoy the view. It really rounded up our little adventure. 5 stars for Chiang Rai. We loved it.

On to our favorite place Chiang Mai.

We stayed inside the old walls and had the most amazing guide, Mona (Ms Kanyavee). Our hotel Thai Akara was great! Also a Lana Style hotel, a little more modern than the others, was perfectly locatate. Everything and anything was reachable by foot. Our street was awsom, we had food, markets, bars, temples, spas a barber and even a laundramat all within walking distance. The people were amazing, the pool was great (it was really hot in May). Our favorite person was our guide Mona.

Mona was so much fun to spend time with. She was knowledgeable, spoke excellent English, very well rounded and make each day fun. She was never intrusive and so, so kind. With her we did a food experience which was great and she was flexible enought to acomodate to anything we wanted, took us around the city and went with us to the Jungle temple (my favorite) on to a hike, waterfalls, coffe farm and a monk blessing. We went with her to the Doi Inthanon National Park (A must go if you can) She was great! Thanks Mona!!!

Finally we ended this three week trip in Krabi. We stayed at a resort and that may be the only place I would not recommend. It was supposed to be a 4 star resort but I am sorry to say maybe a 3. The Beyond resort at Krabi has seen better days and is somewhat run down. The first room we received was really substandard and I had to raise a complained about it. And while we had issues with our room, the staff was so accommodating and understanding. We were promptly moved to another room but it was an inconvenience. Now the resort staff will make up for it, what an amazing staff they have, every single one of them. Including the manager who called me to apologize for the room. With some TLC the resort can recover, the grounds are great, I loved the beach and pool and absolutely love that they were very kitty friendly (as most of Thailand is). The pool was nice and the restaurant was OK... but no worries cause just next door there was a fantastic restaurant, bar and spa.

At Krabi we spend most of the time on boat tours, island hopping, visiting beautiful beaches and snorkeling. One recommendation though. I don't think it is needed to book this experiences ahead of time. On our day off we coordinate through the hotel a private boat. This was so much better than the joining tours and the price difference was very small. But do it there, all the prices as consistent and listed everywhere so there is little chance for anyone to take advantage of you. They really cater to tourist and I am sure that way will be much more affordable than booking them ahead of time. I do recommend the speed boat to Phi Phi islands. If you are choosing to do Kayaking at Ao Thalane don't do the whole day. The best part was the first part of the trip through the canyon, absolutely breathtaking. The kayaking through the river was nice and fun but not as amazing as the first part of the day.

All and all I give this trip a 9 out of 10. With very, very few inconveniences that were promptly resolved by our specialist Lacey. I want to give kuddos to her, since she was always attentive and in the few instances, we had an issue she was easy to reach and prompt to help us.

Hotel Reviews

Nak Nakara Hotel

Chiang Rai

Cute Lana Style hotel. Well located, confortable, clean and good looking rooms. Great pool, amicable and hospitable staff. Close to everything we needed. Perfect for our visit.

Authenticity & Character

Love its character. It had a mixed of modern while still traditional. Lovely looking gardens, perfectly manicured, open aired areas, great pool

Location

Close the night bazar, on a quite road, with easy transportation.

Staff

Oh the staff!!! Very young but so helpful!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cant complaint! Clean confortable rooms and shared spaces.

W22 by Burasari

Bangkok

More like a 3 1/2 stars. The hotel itself is very nice looking. It is great for a short stop. The pictures do give credit to the hotel. It is the location that left me hesitant to give it a higher rating. However while this hotel is not for me. It is in the heart of China Town close to everything. So give it a try, you may like it.

Authenticity & Character

The decorations are very nice (I wish it had a bar or snack area). The hotel is charming in its own way. It looks lovely inside and it was perfect for spending a couple of nights. It did meet all our needs.

Location

The location was not for me.

Staff

The staff could have been a little more helpful, but they were nice. It is a small hotel so there isnt too many people there who can help you with simple things like calling a cab or helping you negotiate with a Tuk Tuk driver (which in all other hotels we stayed, we were assisted with).

Cleanliness & Comfort

The hotels is impeccably clean and the rooms while on the small size and confortable.

Kantary Hotel Ayutthaya

Fun hotel with excellent rooms and a rooftop pool with a view. Great restaurant.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms were beyond spacious, really clean and confortable. Excellent choice of hotels

Thai Akara

Chiang Mai

I love this hotel. The location was excellent, everything was close by and an easy walk. The days were hot so the pool while a little small was really a nice treat. The pool and restaurant staff was lovely, engaging and helpful. They remembered us and try to make sure we had a good time. I love the hotel style with its airiness and decorations. But it was really the location that made it great.

Authenticity & Character

Charming, modern with loads of traditional character. Extremely convenient and fun.

Location

The hotel is on a tiny side street and is very inconspicuous. You could miss it if you don't know it is there. The hotel is spacious and so very confortable. In close proximity to absolutely anything you may want. Close to temples, city center, night markets, food markets, restaurants, bars, laundromats (the hotel offers this service, but right next door for a fraction of the price you can have everything washed and delivered to you in the same day), spas, little tiny Thai Massage places (don't pay for the fancy ones, cause these small ones are a jewel). Really great location.

Staff

The pool and restaurant staff was amazing. We didn't really interact much with the rest of them, we didn't need to but i am sure they are also lovely! The pool staff knew our order, were engaging without being intrusive, always attentive.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Really confortable, tidy, immaculately clean.

Beyond Resort Krabi

Krabi

I really wanted to love this place, but it is a bit rundown. It needs some TLC, a coat of paint and some more maintenance. However, I loved the beach area, the pool was fun and the staff was the nicest people we have encountered. The staff made up any shortcomings the hotel had. But I was expecting more, and I was a little disappointed by it. I spoke with the manager, and he told me they are starting renovations in the summer of 2023. So, trust but verify that the reno has been completed. If yes, then try it. If not, then depending on what you are looking for give it a try. Since we spent most of our time out of the resort, we didn't miss much but if you are a resort type of person be aware of its shortcomings. The restaurant food is a little generic, the drinks are not the best, the furnishings in the rooms and common areas are outdate and need to be upgraded. The overall look is rundown, it seriously need painting and the palm trees need to be replaced since many are dead. The rooms are weirdly spacious, but there is no airflow to the bathroom, which gets ridiculously hot and humid with a very uncomfortable smell, which we could not pinpoint where it was coming from. It was really somewhat sad, because I can picture it in its better days and I can see the potential for it to be much more. But the staff!!! The staff is amazing, hospitable, caring, serviceable, attentive and I can go on and on how incredibly nice they were.

Authenticity & Character

It has seen better days. This leaves much to be desired.

Location

The beach is really nice, you just need to wait for high tide and you can walk for miles. It was lovely! Very accessible and the staff helped us to arrange transporation and tours. You can just walk out and will find little taxi, tuk tuk stands. Walking disatance on the beach are other bars and restaurants all with amazing views. I like that the area we were in was quite and didnt have the overwhelming hecticness of Ao Nang or Raily Beach.

Staff

Lovely people all of them.

Cleanliness & Comfort

It wasn't unclean, it is just that a place that is rundown makes you feel a certain way. It was confortable with some question marks. I do adminer trying to save enegery but this made the rooms really hot and uncomfortable when you arrive and I have no idea what was up with the bathrooms. I guess it is just poor desing. The comun areas especially the lobby really need better ventilation and an investment in better more powerful fans. I understand the open concepts but it was uncomfortably hot and the tiny celling fans barely blew any air. The furniture is outdated so that contributes to the overall feeling that the hotel is past its prime.

Activity Reviews

Phi Phi Island By Joining Speedboat

Krabi

They are beautiful!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The tour guide for the joining tour was very nice. He made sure we were confortable and he was funny to boot!

Transport

The speed boat are really confortable.

Golden Triangle - Chiang Rai Sightseeing & Art

Chiang Rai

This was so fun!!! I cant believe how corky some of the places we went to. So creative and a great combination of modern and spiritual with a touch of irreverent and fun while still absolutely beautiful. Impresive array to talent in the best possible way. White temple and black house are a must see while in Chiang Rai.

Quality of Experience

So much fun!!!

Bangkok - Ayutthaya

Thailand

I loved this place, but please go there first and then to the summer palace. Timing is everything and when you are visiting in the middle of the summer this should be taken into consideration. This place is magical and should be appreciate.

Quality of Experience

Really good

Food

We ate at the hotel and Annie (bless her soul) bought us all sort of disserts, drinks and snacks, which were absolutely delicious. I took them with me and munch on them for the remainder of the trip.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Loved our driver and guide (Annie). So much fun and kind. Annie even bought me a fan because I was overheated and uncomfortable. She was the best!

Transport

Those vans are great!!! So confortable and spacious, I guess next time I will travel by land if they are available.

Morning Alms Giving & Jungle Temple

Chiang Mai

This was my favorite day along with the visit to Doi Inthanon. The jungle temple is so beautiful, so serene, so different. This is more of a spiritual experience. The temple is not as grandiose as the ones in the cities but it has such a vibrancy and quietness. The jungle, mountains and design is a rest for the soul.

Quality of Experience

A lot of this had to do with our guide, she was patient and lovely, she welcomed every question and was insightful and kind.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Both driver and guide (Mona) were fantastic. I can say enough good things about Mona. She was great, non intrusive and never pushy. She was insightful and knowledgeable but not stuffy and always kind and fun. We really enjoyed our time with her. She was open and welcomed all our questions, she was great at explaining us and giving us background especially related to Buddhism and the temples without being preaching or judgmental. She really made us feel very confortable. We really recommend her

Transport

Loved our driver and our van. Van is spacious and very well kept, inmaculate and clean. They provided for any need, had cool water at hand all the time. It was great.

Doi Inthanon National Park - A Nature Walk and Culture

Chiang Mai

What a fun day and break from all the temple sight seeing. The park was lovely and the waterfalls beautiful. The treck was not difficult (but there were some steep stairs). We loved getting coffee and having lunch at the Karen village. The twin chedis were quite a contrast to the lovely walk and beautiful natrue. The waterfalls were my favorite part.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Four Islands by Longtail boat Joining tour

Krabi

We didn't get the speedboat for this, we got the long tail boat. We had a lot of fun but boy the crowds! It is still amazing and a must do!

Hello,

I booked a trip for myself (36), my three children (17, 13, 11) and my Elderly Father (73) for about ten days in Thailand. During that time frame we spent time around Bangkok, Chiang Mai and one day south of Bangkok for "snorkeling".

I think the itinerary on paper was generally well set up, but the delivery and the guide were mediocre at times. I would rate the entire experience a seven out of ten (70%) which is slightly better than 3/5 stars. Had our last final day not been so bad and inefficient, I may have felt differently and given this experience 4/5 stars and not been so critical of our guide.

Our guide on the ground, named Ken, was playful and funny, but often sloppy and did not always listen effectively. For example, on multiple occasions I asked him to slow down and speak about the history of various things to my Father, rather than speaking to my children who were up front when we were walking. I also told him to speak louder and towards my Father, but he rarely listened and I gave up after awhile. My children were not interested in the history, but my Father would have soaked up everything happily.

On another occasion we missed the tour of an old temple (it was closing down as we arrived late) and had to rush through a cool festival because we had spent too much time stopping at coffee shops along the way. When I complained to Ken afterwards, he tried to blame this on us rather than taking responsibility for not communicating effectively; he also spent a bunch of time himself getting free internet at KFC while we were searching for him. A good guide would have spoken to us about the timelines and made sure we understood the consequences of spending additional time at multiple stoppages; a good guide would not have contributed to such delays along the way either. I was very disappointed that we didn't get to eat/shop at the festival and spend more time around the old temple.

Ken also loved singing and often sang the same song about "The train is coming here, Baby!" over and over. And over. It was redundant and annoying each and every day, and when I politely asked him to stop, he seemed to think it was funny and often continued. I wasn't impressed, and days later I can still hear his annoying voice singing this particular song.

On the final full day that we had in Thailand in Bangkok, we were supposed to go skydiving out of town, followed up by snorkeling. We had Ken arrange things with the skydiving business over the phone, who told us it was important to get there a few minutes before they opened around 7:55am the next day. Ken arranged for us to be picked up from the hotel at 6:15am, and we ended up arriving at 9:20am about an hour and a half late. The consequence was that there were 40 people ahead of us upon arriving, and given the other plans we had during the day, it was impossible or us to do the skydiving. What made matters worse was that the skydive area was 1.5 hours out of the way from our snorkeling activity route, so we ended up wasting 3 hours on the road for nothing, getting the kids excited for nothing, and wasting the additional time lining things up and doing research the day before. When I complained to the tour provider on WhatsApp about this terrible occurrence, they offered to take us out for dinner, which turned into a cheap street food meal with Ken later that evening around 10pm (after waiting for Ken more than an hour in a loud market area; we had fun keeping ourselves busy).

In the evenings that we were free after various activities, Ken did not always make meaningful suggestions, and I often found additional activities myself. For example, Ken didn't mention the popular Night Safari in Chiang Mai, which was well-known, popular and excellent. I found this myself, asked Ken about it, and then he joined us. I do give Ken credit for always being willing to go out to evening activities with us, and I was impressed at his stamina when we were hiking and rafting on the one day. He was a good guy and I still gave him 5000 Baht as a tip at the end, but I did this more out of pity rather than genuinely feeling as though he had earned this for being excellent. Had Ken listened more and been more diligent, some key issues could have been easily avoided.

As for the planning itself, the "snorkeling" was terrible. We boated to a single island, then myself and two sons went on a different small boat to a larger boat which had five people and a bunch of gear just a couple hundred feet from the shore. The waters were not clear and began burning our skin immediately. My youngest got out right away, while my eldest son and I tried to make the most of the opportunity for a few more minutes. When we got back on the boat, someone had a green cream there waiting for us because they knew of the terrible water conditions. I still have rashes on both armpits and it still itches and hurts. We wanted to leave shortly thereafter, and all five of those on the snorkeling boat left along with us. I don't want to know how much we paid for this entire experience, but I'm sure it was quite a bit considering the van ride to the first boat (two hours from our hotel), the boat ride to the island (25 minutes), the additional boat ride to the bigger boat (5 minutes), and then the boat ride back (5 minutes) with all the people who were there only for us. Terrible.

The last negative thing I'll say is that I emphasized the importance to Kimkim for us to spend some time with an indigenous group in their local surroundings somewhere, and this wasn't done well. We simply walked through a village of Karen people, they tried to sell us trinkets they didn't even make themselves for five minutes, and we quickly left thereafter. There was no showing us their daily lives or culture or anything meaningful or fun or memorable.

All that being said, the temples throughout the trip were amazing. The hiking and bamboo rafting down the river in the same day was great. The elephant experience was cool, although it wasn't as good as others I had done in the past (in Thailand) where we learned about buddhism and were allowed to ride the elephants (just one person per elephant without a carriage; I don't view this as being harmful to the elephant). Staying at the hotel along the river was awesome; we were the only people crazy enough to swim in the fast current in the morning a few times.

Ken helped us navigate a lot, and we felt like he was a family member by the end of the trip. I learned a lot about Thailand, as this is the first time I was here for more than a week and the first time I had money to pay for a guide and more experiences. The next time I go, I'll use the experience of this trip to be more efficient and will certainly return to Chiang Mai. I think I would fly directly to Chiang Mai and just do three of four sets of tours without going through someone like Kimkim again, unless I went somewhere new and was convinced the experience would be better.

I feel bad being so brutally honest about Ken and some of my negative experiences, but I feel Kimkim really let us down this time and I will likely not use them again if this isn't rectified in one way or another. When I utilized the company in Colombia our guide and experiences were basically flawless, so I had higher expectations to say the least.

The trip was amazing! Working with Lacey to plan exactly what we wanted to do was one of the easiest processes. She was very responsive no matter what day it was. (does she ever get a day off?) She was patient with me as I had to check with other travellers to answer her questions sometimes. She was very knowledgeable and gave us great advice on hotels as well. It was great that she gave us choices.

Pom in Bangkok was very knowledgeable and a lot of fun. He had a great sense of humour and could answer all of our questions. The W22 hotel was in a great location for walking around Chinatown. We moved through the sights quickly and efficiently and he knew where to get the best souvenirs, how to barter and where it was appropriate and he found us all the great foods to eat. I felt like we ate our way through Thailand.

Mona was fantastic, she was also very knowledgeable, answered all of our questions. She offered so much information about Chiang Mai and the surrounding area. We wished we had more time there. The Thai Akara is a beautiful hotel and we spent some time relaxing in the courtyard by the pool. The cooler weather was a welcome change from Bangkok. The Elephant Sanctuary was definitely a highlight for all of us in my group. We met some wonderful young people on our ride out there and back. One thing we were not expecting was the red taxi ride out to the sanctuary. We had been in air conditioned coaches all along and then to ride in the back of the red taxi was unpleasant. The street food tour was amazing with so much great food. Mona and our driver Aude were so friendly. Mona's tips about the night market and the accessibility from our hotel on foot was great. The temple and the blessings by monks were both very spiritual for me and a great way to start the day. The extra stop at a cute little coffee shop was a nice touch and it was nice to get to know Mona a little bit on a personal level. We will definitely come back to this area of Thailand and spend more time.

Phuket was hot and humid. The Cape Penwa hotel was divine. The breakfast buffet was huge, the beach was lovely and the service excellent. We only had limited contact with Kai because of the type of experiences we had there but she was able to ensure we had a driver when we needed one. She was very responsive to all my questions via what's app throughout our stay and got us tickets to the cabaret on the last night. She was also very knowledgeable and so helpful.
The island and snorkeling tour we went on was enjoyable but we were surprised at the size of the boat and group with us. We were all given a coloured wristband when we arrived but no further instruction. We almost missed our briefing and the group leaving because no one called out colours or anything. There was a large, loud group at the back of the boat that never moved and so some of us had to fight for space inside out of the sun. (one of them laid down in the back and went to sleep so we had to climb over her to get off the boat) There was not enough room out of the sun for all of the people on the boat. The snorkeling was great for us that are experienced snorkelers but if you were a first time snorkeler, there was no instruction, rules, what to do and what not to do. The masks were handed out and we jumped in. The buffet was horrible. The food was edible but it was small, no service and we were left alone. The tour could have been much shorter, we had way too much time at each stop and the beaches had no lounge chairs or anything. We would not do this tour again.

We absolutely loved our trip to Thailand and will definitely return for a longer visit.

Hotel Review

Thai Akara

Chiang Mai

Beautiful, well situated hotel. The courtyard area around the pool was quiet, and the pool bar staff were attentive. Breakfast buffet wasn't large but had lots of choices as well as a small menu for eggs made fresh. I would definitely stay here again.

Authenticity & Character

Charming, courtyard around the pool like an Oasis

Location

Options for restaurants and bars, and the night market within walking distance.

Staff

Always helpful and friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bed was comfortable and the bathroom had both a tub and a shower

Activity Reviews

Manohra Dinner cruise

Bangkok

Food was incredible 5 star for sure, views spectacular and staff were able to answer questions about what we were seeing as we floated past.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Charming Night And Night Street Food Tasting

Chiang Mai

Temple was beautiful. Food was great, Mona was helpful and knowledgeable. We were stuffed by the time we were done eating.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mona and Aude were beyond helpful and friendly.

Transport

Morning Alms Giving & Jungle Temple

Chiang Mai

This was an experience like none other we have had. The temple in Chiang Mai was so different from the flashy gold ones in Bangkok. We really loved this experience and the blessings from the monks.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Elephant Jungle Sanctuary (Afternoon session)

Chiang Mai

Words cannot express how we feel about the elephant sanctuary. This sanctuary is a no riding sanctuary which is an important distinction for us. These elephants are rescued from working and begin ridden. We fed them, interacted with them, got up close. We made and fed them their medicine, Ken was great at teaching us lots about the elephants, and we all learned new things. We watered them and had a big water fight. It was simply a great afternoon.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The staff at the sanctuary were amazing

Transport

Did not know about the red taxi and it was hot and uncomfortable

Night Street Food Tour After Dark by Tuk Tuk

Bangkok

This was a wild ride for sure. The tuk tuks are an adventure in themselves but we had a great guide and great food all evening long. We started in a restaurant for some Thai food and then went out on the street which was much different than it had been during the day.

Quality of Experience

Food

All the food was so good

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Pom was amazing and got us all the food we wanted to try

Transport

Tuk Tuks are fun

Railway Market & Floating Market

Bangkok

The markets were like nothing we had experienced before. We had so much fun, and bought original artwork, souvenirs and elephant pants. You have to get some elephant pants, great for going in temples and so comfy for the flight home.

Quality of Experience

Food

ate all kinds of new foods

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Pom was amazing, knew so much and helped us buy and barter.

Transport

Lot's of walking, so make sure you have good shoes on