Kimkim Trip Reviews for Thailand

All four guides and drivers were great, knowledgeable and dedicated. The itinerary was planned according to our wishes and the interactive software is amazing and effective, not to mention our specialist.

Hotel Review

Vana Belle, a Luxury Collection Resort, Koh Samui

Surat Thani

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Half Day Snorkeling at Koh Tan & Koh MadSum by Private Long-Tail Boat

Koh Samui

Quality of Experience

Our visit through Southeast Asia was incredible, from the people we met,to the food we ate and the sites we saw, every experience was wonderful. I highly recommend visiting this beautiful part of our world!

Hotel Reviews

La Sinfonía del Rey Hotel & Spa

Hanoi

The location in the old quarter, just across the road from the lake and the promenade, is really great. The only place to get a drink at the hotel is at the sky terrace, which was unusable during our visit due to rain. We asked if we could order a glass of wine in the lobby, which they accommodated, but it seems they could better utilize their lobby seating and wet bar, especially during inclement weather. Breakfast buffet was very good.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was very small, with no drawers in which to unpack any clothing, nor space to leave an open suitcase. We had to remove our suitcases from the closet and open them on the bed each time we needed a change of clothing. Our room was directly under the dining room, so we began to hear movement and activity above us as early as 6:30 am each morning.

La Siesta Premium Sai Gon

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Anjali by Syphon

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Orchid Classic Cruise

Hai Phong

The ship was wonderful and our stateroom was spacious, clean, comfortable and quiet. All the meals were delicious.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The spa room was quite spartan, and there was no place to disrobe except right in front of the masseuse.

Allegro Hoian

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easy walk into the center of the old town.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Sukhothai Bangkok

Probably one of the most beautiful hotels we've ever stayed in in the world. They were also very kind to upgrade our room. The pool and terrace were wonderful and a welcome respite in the center of the city during very hot weather.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tamarind Village

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was quite small; no drawers or space to leave suitcases open, so we had to open our suitcases each time we needed a change of clothing and then re-store our luggage to get it out of the way. The whole hotel, while pretty in the setting among trees, seemed tired and could use an update of fixtures, paint, bathroom tiles, etc.

The Surin Phuket

Phuket

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hanoi Full Day City Exploration

Hanoi

Our guide, Bach, was very informative and had answers for all of our many questions. This is a great overview for anyone who has never been to Hanoi.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Hanoi!

Hanoi

We were met at the airport and then introduced to our guide and driver. Upon arrival at our hotel, we also met the kimkim rep who had helped us put together our trip. We had no set agenda for the day, but our guide stuck around and walked us through the old quarter of Hanoi to show us where things where and familiarize us with the area. It was a pleasant way to begin our trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hoi An Free Day

Hoi An

We loved exploring Hoi An on our own. It's very walkable and easy to navigate. We bought the city pass to visit temples and museums, explored the Central Market and had the best banh mi for lunch!

Quality of Experience

Food

The banh mi from Madam Khanh!

Angkor Complex Discovery

Siem Reap

Another amazing day. Once again, our guide was very knowledgable and informative.

Food

The restaurant we were taken to was just okay. And we were bombarded upon exiting by many children asking us to buy their trinkets. It was unexpected and uncomfortable.

Chiang Mai Off the Beaten Track by tuk tuk - joining activity (chauffer driven)

Chiang Mai

This was a super fun day. Our guides/drivers were pleasant and fun, and the variety of sites and activities was great.

Quality of Experience

Food

Loved that a home-cooked meal that we could eat outside near the elephants was prepared for us.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wat Umong & monk blessing

Chiang Mai

This was one of our favorite temple visits, in a beautiful, peaceful setting. Loved that it was so different from other temples we'd seen.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cu Chi Tunnels Half day

Ho Chi Minh City

This was one of our most memorable days. The tour was amazing and our guide was incredibly informative. Anyone visiting Saigon should add this to their list. The ambience and setting of the restaurant we visited for lunch was very nice. However, the food was all pre-cooked and the pre-set menu was basic. We ordered a couple beers and learned at the end of the meal that they only accept cash. Since it was our last day in Vietnam, we were low on cash. We worked it out, but would have liked to have known about the cash-only policy beforehand.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Orchid cruise 2 Day 1 Night Program - Day 1

Ha Long Bay

Beautiful experience and excellent staff. The rooms are very comfortable and the food at all meals was delicious!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ha Long - Hanoi by private car - Fly to Danang - Hoi An

Thailand

This was a long day. The drive from Ha Long to the Hanoi airport is unavoidably long, but we also stopped for a "rest" stop at a massive commercial location. It was full of tour busses and crowds of people and definitely not a place we would visit on our own.

Visit The Tumultuous Capital of The South

Ho Chi Minh City

Despite the incredible heat, our guide Harry gave us a great walking tour of the capital sites. He provided a very good overview of the political and cultural history.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Plenty of water in the car!

Night Street Food Tour After Dark by Tuk Tuk

Bangkok

This was a fun night. Our guide was very knowledgeable and engaging. The only disappointment was the rooftop bar. While it had a nice view of the capital sites, lit up at night, we had to walk through the lobby of a hostel, which had a horrible smell, to the back of the building and up six flight of stairs. The rooftop area was pretty rudimentary, with iron patio furniture and a limited drink menu. Service was spotty.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide, while easy to understand and very personable, explained that he wouldn't be with us for the next two days during our stay in Bangkok because he had to renew his tourist guide license. As a result, we had three different guides on three different days. He also promised to send us photos he took of us while on the night time food tour and check-in to see how things were going with the "substitute" guides, but we never heard from him again.

Ayutthaya: Glory Days of Old Siam

Bangkok

Our guide was wonderful. He decided to "rearrange" the order of temple visits, and include an air conditioned museum visit, to work around the intense heat, and it was all good. He really made all the difference in our day.

Quality of Experience

Food

Rather than channel us to a tourist location with pre-set menus, Tony took us to one of his favorite spots, and helped us select dishes that we were curious about plus a few he wanted us to try. It was one of the best lunches we had on the trip because it was not pre-cooked.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bangkok Symbolic Temples

Bangkok

We were glad to have seen this, but it was so incredibly hot. We would have welcomed the option to start earlier in the morning.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was kind and personable but difficult to understand and she didn't provide much backstory to the sites we were seeing. She very kindly, however, offered to come into the airport with us to get us checked in.

Transport

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

Phuket

By far, one of the best days of our trip. This crew knows what they're doing and took great care of us all day. The food on board was delicious, the kayaking guides were amazing, and the whole day was a beautiful experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day 2: Halong Bay - Hanoi by private car - Orchid cruise

Ha Long Bay

See previous review

We had a wonderful first trip to Thailand thanks to kimkim. Tina, our local specialist, was extremely responsive whenever a question or issue came up, and even changed our itinerary on the fly (for the very next day) when we decided we wanted a shift in experiences. And we loved our drivers and tour guides, especially Pear and Dam from Udomporn Tours in Chiang Mai.

Accommodations were all excellent (The Quarter Ladphrao in Bangkok, U Inchantree in Kanchanaburi, and Buri Sriping Resort in Chiang Mai), except for The Cottage Suvarnabhumi for our Bangkok airport stay - do not recommend.

Make sure to ask for the exact meeting points in the airport (e.g. at which door your driver will be waiting) and confirm pickup times the day before with your driver, we had some mixups but they always worked out.

Guides everywhere were excellent - Yaya in Chang Mai and Chai in Bangkok. Very informed about Thailand in general and the centuries of history and culture that we were interested to hear about. Kelly always professionally and rapidly accommodated our many requests and changes.

Best days were 1. Full Day Phang Nga Bay Sea Canoe Tour(Join-in) and 2. Full Day Explore Doi Inthanon National Park Tour. Phi Phi worth seeing, but a bit touristee (many boats and visitors), whereas Phang Nga Bay was about right - the boat showed us traditional Thai festivals - flower boats with candles after dark; the scene was lovely. Bangkok worth the visit, but probably earlier in season - very hot in early March. While the Grand Palace is amazing - incredibly crowded. Summer Place and Ruins also fascinating.

Chala Hotel 6 in Chang Mai was very nice and well located - esp. for Sunday Night Market.
We booked Intercontinental in Phuket - would recommend again. Also, the Peninsula in Bangkok - very nice!

Hotel Review

Chala Number 6 Hotel

Chiang Mai

Great location. Nice rooms and facilities. Staff friendly. No issues whatsoever.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full Day Explore Doi Inthanon National Park Tour

Chiang Mai

Lovely views. Cooler than expected, but welcome as Bangkok and Phuket were very hot this time of year. The Pagodas and flower gardens were spectacular.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Phang Nga Bay Sea Canoe Tour(Join-in)

Phuket

Don't miss.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tina helped us plan an amazing trip to Thailand! We could not have found the activities she planned for us on our own. Even when we got put on an earlier flight on the way to Thailand, Tina was able to make sure our driver was able to pick us up two hours earlier than expected.

Our guide Lina in Bangkok was knowledgeable and very passionate about history and food. We really enjoyed getting to spend three days with her and she kept finding amazing treats for us to try no matter what type of tour we were on! She even found us a non-touristy spot to eat near the palace, which was so delicious and no easy feat!

Our hotel in Phuket was amazing, it had one of the best breakfast's I've ever seen and we were able to throughly relax with a spa day there. Tina's recommendation to stay on Kata Noi beach was perfect for us as we wanted a more calm beach experience. We were always able to find a beach lounger and the beach was perfect for swimming. The John Gray Sea Canoe was a major highlight and I recommend it to anyone considering Phuket. It was our favorite activity and had some of the best food we had on the entire trip.

This trip was the perfect combination of adventure and relaxation and we could not have asked for more.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Muse Bangkok - MGallery Collection

Great location in Bangkok a few blocks walk from the subway, shopping, and Lumphini park. The rooms are very nice, quiet, and clean and room service was excellent the day we ordered it. The rooftop bar has a very fun atmosphere too!

Authenticity & Character

It has a very cool Art Deco feel, especially with the speakeasy

Location

Great location in Bangkok a few blocks walk from the subway, shopping, and Lumphini park.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Katathani Phuket Beach Resort

Phuket

We really loved the Katathani Resort. It was the perfect stay for a relaxing getaway. Right on the beach we had great views from our balcony and they even upgraded us to a nicer suite, which was large and comfortable with a nice balcony and soaking tub. The breakfast buffet is major highlight of this hotel, they have an amazing array of Thai, Chinese, and western breakfast options all hot and fresh! We did a half day at the spa one morning and it was phenomenal, it was easy to book, very affordable for the level of service provided, and the ultimate relaxing treat. If you are looking for more of a party spot this is not the hotel or beach for you. But if you want a quite place to soak up the sun from look no further!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

John Gray's Sea Canoe - Hong by Starlight

Phuket

This was our favorite part of our trip to Thailand! Getting to see the Hong's (sea caves) was amazing and we were so surprised when we found out each canoe got their own paddler so we got to just sit back and take in the stunning scenery. The food on the boat is also a major highlight. They say a "light lunch and dinner" will be served, but both meals were feasts of amazing home cooked Thai food. Seriously some of the best food we had on the trip. For being a large group tour you always felt like you had personalized attention, due to the individual paddle guides, and were never crowded. Cannot recommend this activity enough!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had blast. Our tour guy for first few days was amazing. Mr. Betty taught some much in the small amount of time we had with him. Drivers were nice and helpful as well. Phuket was an amazing escape from the city of Bangkok. That’s not to say Bangkok wasn’t, but both places had a beauty to them that’s hard to describe. You just have to see for yourself. We loved the activities that were planned for us. For my first trip out the country since I was 15, it was nice experience. Thank you so much.

Activity Reviews

John Gray's Sea Canoe - Hong by Starlight

Phuket

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Scuba diving around Phuket!

Phuket

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day Bangkok City Tour

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tina was a fantastic help planning the trip. The coordination and organization was incredible. We effortlessly moved from one location and activity to the next in total comfort. The guides were very personable and truly invested in creating a memorable experience . I would recommend this service with zero reservations.

We had an amazing holiday in Thailand, our first visit and organised with just one months' notice! Lacey, the local specialist, was really quick to understand our needs, and it was so quick and easy to communicate via the Kim Kim platform. The quality and care were first class and every detail was taken care of and proactively anticipated. Everything ran like clockwork, very efficient and really made the most of our time there! I have become a huge fan of Kim Kim and am telling all our our friends:) Our two guides, Annie in Bangkok and JJ in Chiang Mai were super friendly & fun and full of insights and tips, going out of thier way to make sure our needs were met. What's not to love about Thailand! Loved all of it but the big highlights were the railway market and river cruise in Bangkok , our culinary family experience in Chiang Mai and both the Kayaking and speed boat Island tours in Phuket.

We were very pleased with our trip in Thailand - a lot of support and fun activities. The process for booking and getting the itinerary set was smooth and helpful. Our local guide Ju was filled with good information, did the little extras (taking us to a coconut plantation for example) and choosing good food options on our Street food tour. She was also very responsive to questions.

We loved the Thai cooking class. A great company and a lot of fund.

We would recommend letting folks know that you spend a lot of your time in traffic in Bangkok - that was a surprise to us.

Hotel Review

Maitria Hotel Sukhumvit 18

Bankok

Excellent service and really nice rooms! The staff were helpful with scheduling transport to the airport and helped with the laundry and anything else we needed.

Authenticity & Character

This is a really good hotel for long stays - large rooms, fridge, microwave and desk. Coin laundry if needed

Location

This was in Sukhumvit which was perhaps not the neighborhood for us - but it was right downtown and is a great hotel

Staff

Friendly and helpful every time

Cleanliness & Comfort

Modern, clean and comfortable furnishings

Activity Reviews

Nopparat Thai Classical Dance and Restaurant

Bangkok

Seemed a little touristy - would perhaps have paid more for something that was more explanatory about the dancing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Friendly and warm - open to questions

Transport

Air conditioned, comfort, always a cold bottle of water and a cloth to cool yourself and wash

Full day Bangkok city tour with Jim Thompson's House

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Food

OK mall restaurant

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Same people for each day. Prior comments still apply

Transport

Full Day Maeklong Railway Market and Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

Bangkok

Railway tour was short, interesting but very touristy.

Quality of Experience

Food

Nice stop on return from the trip.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Same as all days great people - consistent

Private Night Food tour with Tuk Tuk

Bangkok

Ju made this a great experience with a combination of walking tour of old China town, time in the EV tuktuk, sample food and great noodles (Michelin 5 star ) plus Peking duck.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Historical Ayutthaya Tour from Bangkok

Thailand

So interesting to see all of this - Ju had great knowledge and really allowed us to do this at our own pace. She added a stop to show us more.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half day Thai cooking class at Baipai Thai Cooking School with lunch (join-in, private transfer without guide)

Bangkok

Great Cooking school - lots of fun with the teachers and the other guests. We really got to cook.

Quality of Experience

Teachers, process and other guests

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ashley was incredibly helpful and responsive - especially about our accommodations. The highlight of our trip was our stay at Anantara Golden Triangle. We had gorgeous views of Myanmar and Laos from our window, with the hotels elephants roaming free in the foreground. The staff there was superb, and they - and the elephants - are clearly treated very well. Spending time with the elephants, both as part of the Walking with Giants" tour and spending a night in the jungle bubble, with the elephants just steps away, felt once-in-a-lifetime. Ans while Phuket seems overrun with tourists, our hotel there, the Shore at Katathani, was super luxurious. Climbing out of bed and into our privite infinity pool overlooking the Andaman Sea (in our room!) made for a memorable honeymoon. The guides in each location were friendly and helpful too, especially Ron in Bangkok and Pui in Phuket. Don't miss ziplining through the jungle at Flying Hanuman in Phuket.

Lacey planned the perfect trip for us.
I was a little apprehensive about using what felt to me like a random travel agency website but it was a wonderful experience all the way from planning it to the plane ride home. Lacey met all of our needs and requirements and was incredibly helpful. We wanted an active, culture filled trip with a little bit of relaxation time on the beach and we got exactly that. Our adventures with elephants were with sanctuaries that seem to treasure their animals. All of our guides were incredibly kind and helpful. Chiang Mai was our favorite part of the trip and I wish we had flopped it around so that the city was last so I could have spent all of my money and extra room in my suitcase at the night market.

We absolutely adored our guide, Pukie, in Chiang Mai. If you go to Chiang Mai I hope you are lucky enough to meet her.

Hotel Reviews

Na Nirand Resort

Chiang Mai

This place was lovely. I felt to relaxed and cared for here. The staff was friendly and thought of everything for us. When our van was late they were calling the place to make sure someone was on their way and they had towels ready for us when we visited an elephant sanctuary. And not that we wouldn't have paid for it but it was the only hotel in Thailand we stayed at that offered us bug spray for free. The tea we had when we first arrived was to die.

Authenticity & Character

The hotel is in the middle of the city but the aesthetic and tree walled surrounding makes it feel completely separated. The atmosphere is very zen.

Location

Only a 5 minutes walk from the night market!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Once we would leave for the day they would come in and tidy up. They even arranged my makeup on the counter and put it in a little container.

Our Jungle House

Khao Sok

The hotel itself is so unique and fun to be at. I would caution travelers to just be aware of the heat and bugs and brace your heart for that before arriving. There is no AC and on my first day here I was so hot, and with no escape from the heat, I just wanted to leave. But, after getting used it, I really enjoyed my surroundings, the animal life and the very friendly staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hot and bug but that's literally what you're signing up for

Thavorn Beach Village Resort & Spa

Phuket

This hotel has stunning views, amazing staff and so much to do.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It's only a few minutes from Patong Beach and the shopping and nightlife there but the traffic is so intense it was nearly a 40 minute drive.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Phi Phi Island & Maya Bay Discovery with Snorkeling by Hype Yacht Join-in Activity (Nov 15th to Apr 16th)

Phuket

It's a really great tour but I had read the description with the wrong thought process. "Sunset sailing, relax, have a drink, dance, until the sun goes down." To me this meant like a romantic sunset tour after snorkeling during the day but is in fact a party yacht with WAY MORE PEOPLE than you would expect to join you on the boat. It really wasn't my vibe and I did not enjoy it but for someone looking to have drinks with their friends and dance, its perfect. Not the tour's fault but monkey beach was packed and tourists were throwing rocks at the monkeys which just made it really sad. They shouldn't have to but its not like the guides come with to the beach to force adults to behave.

Quality of Experience

Food

I had put down that I am lactose intolerant and this was something they struggled with a bit.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Elephant Jungle Sanctuary (Full day)

Chiang Mai

We really loved getting to hear about the elephants. Their names, history and relations were super interesting. We liked feeding them and making their medicine. We really appreciate seeing that they are free animals. We liked that they explained that any activity would end as soon as the elephants showed they didn't want to participate anymore.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Phuket

We loved this tour. The group of people were larger than we expected but it didn't matter because you are paired off with one person on a canoe and that feels like the real tour. Our guide was Tar and he was kind, knowledgeable and took photos of us with my phone. He pointed out animals, fish, and cool shapes in the rocks. They also served authentic and unique dishes we hadn't found yet.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fantastic experience using KimKim! I wasn’t sure what to think of KimKim, so looked them up on BBB and they are a highly rated legit company. Kelly, our local specialist, organized our entire trip to Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket, Thailand. She was thoughtful in understanding what kind of trip we were looking for (part culture, adventure/nature, and relaxation time) and proposed several options, and then tweaked them with our input. We landed on our personalized perfect mix. And wow, the hotels we stayed at were GORGEOUS, and the staff very professional. We appreciated the amazing beds, given the jet lag, and the refreshing pools.
The people that she arranged as our guides at each location (Bangkok - Paul; Chiang Mai - Noi; Phuket -Jerry and his team) were all so nice, knowledgeable, and responsive on What’sApp - and all spoke really good English. All the pick-ups and drop-offs were easy and carefree. Special shot-outs to Paul who navigated us through Bangkok during Chinese New Year (OMG, so many people and so much food!) and Noi for her personalized care and accommodating our wishes ad hoc. Will miss you!

This was a great trip that fairly met our expectations. Kudos to Hein for putting a wonderful adventure together. Having now seen Thailand from Bangkok to Chang Mai to Krabi and Koh Lanta I think I would have allocated available time to reduce the amount of travel by car. Our guides Kiki, Dare, Amir, were great and we never felt alone when things went awry. Our favorite experiences included seeing the Royal Palace in Bangkok. experiencing the elephant sanctuary in Chang Mai, sunsets in Krabi, an excellent selection of hotels, especially the Chala 6 in Chang Mai and the Amari Vogue in Krabi and the Nervana Resort in Koh Lanta. We spent a total of 11 days in Thailand that could have easily been a month. We want to thank Kimkim for yet another wonderful travel experience!

We had a wonderful time. Leena was great showing us around Bangkok. She was very informative and enthusiastic about everything. She made sure we tried all of the different foods of Thailand. We really enjoyed her company. “B” was our tour guide in Chiang Mai. He also did a great job showing us around the temples and village of the Hmong tribe. We really enjoyed the half day with the elephants. That was one of our favorite excursions. Ben was our guide for the half day Phuket tour. She was also good. We could have skipped the gem factory. Wasn’t impressed with that. The speed boat ride to the Phi Phi islands was also exceptional. We are very happy we used KimKim for our trip! It was great not having to worry about excursions, transfers or drivers.

Hotel Reviews

Kingston Suites Bangkok

Bangkok

This hotel was not updated and had a musty smell. Also ants in the bathroom

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bodhi Serene Chiang Mai Hotel (SHA Extra Plus)

Chiang Mai

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beyond Resort Kata

Phuket

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Welcome to Bangkok!

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

The guide was exceptional. She made sure we did everything

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Phuket Half-Day City Tour

Phuket

We were not impressed with the Gem factory and cashew nut factory. You really didn’t get to see anything being done in the factory. Was more for sales of products

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day Bangkok City Tour

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Look

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Phi Phi island, Khai island, Pi Leh lagoon & Maya bay by speed boat

Phuket

Amazing to be able to go out on the water to snorkel and swim. Beautiful scenery and experience

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Enjoy Food Tasting in Chinatown!

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Chiang Mai!

Chiang Mai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Temple and Hill tribes in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai

It was great to see how the tribe lives and be able to see the culture of the people

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day Eco Elephant Care!

Chiang Mai

This excursions is a must see! We thoroughly enjoyed being able to feed the elephants and bathe them. What an experience!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Bangkok

Worth driving out of Bangkok for. It was nice to experience the train and go out on the paddle boat along the canal. And the mango sticky rice was awesome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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 (Joining Excursion)

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 Temple and Chiang Mai City by night

Chiang Mai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport