Helena Fernández

Our trip to Portugal was a special vacation for us. Since we don't like planned tours or large tour groups, it was important to be able to design an agenda that appealed to things we liked to do. Typically I do all of the planning, but after coming across kimkim, we thought that a local person who is familiar with the places we wanted to go would be even better. Helena did a great job of putting together a plan for us. She was open to making changes as we went along, and gave good suggestions. Her choice of hotels was fabulous! They were all of high quality, provided good service, and gave us a luxury environment. Having Helena take care of our train tickets and our rental car made it so easy for us.

Despite one "blip" with a pick-up from the train to the hotel, our transports were excellent. It was tricky to find our driver at the airport, but once we did, we were pleased. The issue we had was difficulty getting in touch with the company after our driver had left us at the station due to our train arriving late. The phone number we were given had been changed, and the automated message letting us know the new number was so fast that it took us listening to it three times before we could catch all of the numbers. When we called the new number, we were told that someone would be coming for us in 15 minutes and to wait inside of the station. We split up so as to not miss the driver, but nobody came. After yet another call, we were told that a black car would be there shortly; however, someone in a light colored vehicle showed up and then didn't know where we were going nor where the hotel was located. After speeding down narrow streets, we were finally let off at the top of a steep cobblestone street where we had to drag our suitcases down two blocks to our hotel. Later we learned that transportation companies and taxis are permitted to access the pedestrian street in front of our hotel. We were just grateful that none of us fell down the hill or were injured, but that was completely ridiculous! After being told on the phone by a kimkim representative, Carin that the company is one that is often used and the disbelief that the phone number had changed, I sincerely hope that kimkim reconsiders using the company in the future.

The tours and tour guides that were set up for us were very good. The guide to the Douro Valley, Joao Campos, was friendly, interesting and accommodating. We really enjoyed the boat ride, visits to a winery, and lunch at a quinto was a highlight for us. Out 3 hour tour in Porto with Sandra Tavares was not exactly what we expected. Sandra was energetic and knowledgeable, however, we walked for 80% of the tour. The classic car picked us up near the end of the tour which lasted almost 6 hours. We were able to see a lot of Porto, but at the end were left far from our next tour without transportation. The amount of walking was also very difficult for some of us to handle, and did result in soreness the next day. Right after the first tour, we had a walking food tour. Fortunately, when we told the guide that we were exhausted and not up for a lot more walking, she was able to accommodate us by using streets that were less steep. The places we visited were definitely off of the beaten path and the food was eclectic from wine and cheese to beer and dessert. We had a great time with the others on the tour who were from various countries. Driving to Evora, Lagos and back to Lisbon was very easy. We were sad that our balloon ride was canceled due to the weather, but that is out of our control. Evora was very interesting, and the hotel there was outstanding. We didn't stop at Coimbra, but opted to relax at the hotel instead. We enjoyed the tour with Jones. He was also personable and knowledgeable. Our only concern was that his vehicle was small for all of us and not very comfortable. He showed us the cork factory and an old town with a former palace that had wonderful views. In Lagos, our tour to see the sunset at St. Vincent's Cape in Sagres wasn't exactly as written. Pedro was not our guide, Miguel was. His vehicle was a loud jeep-like truck that didn't have seatbelts that worked consistently. He would drop us off and then go off to smoke. He had some crazy stories and really couldn't answer some of our questions. He was a nice guy, but we felt unsafe driving with him. He brought wine to the sunset, but no binoculars or chorizo, as promised. We did enjoy lunch at Morgado Do Quinto that we drove ourselves to. The hostess served plenty of food and wine, and gave everyone a tour of the property. She also told us about the grape vines, almonds and cacao trees. It was very good. In Lisbon, our guide, Jose Antunes, was very good. He knew a lot about the city and walked us to see sights without going into a lot of buildings. Our day was a bit hectic after that because we had to travel by Uber across the city to paint tiles with Ana which was very cool! After leaving there, we met Mariana who gave us a tour at the tile museum in Lisbon. She was excellent. She was well prepared and really knew about tile history. After that, we were back across the city to the Earthquake Museum which was so-so. I think we call were less impressed with that. Following the Earthquake Museum was the Banksy "Museum". We found it interesting to review his work over time, but it was a tiring day. Our final day we toured with Marta to Sintra and Cascais. She was friendly and also very knowledgeable about the area from a resident's perspective. We went to a park to see the palace there which was spectacular, but involved a lot of trail walking. Then we had lunch at a local restaurant where we tasted all types of meat. That was also interesting.

Our trip exceeded our expectations. We loved Portugal: the people, the food, the history and the scenery. The one thing that was a bit concerning was being given all of the options for our trip but not knowing how much each item cost separately. In some ways, it was good because we got to do what we wanted and had the experiences without worrying about the cost. In other ways, it would have been nice to have some choices that may have saved some money.

Portugal: History, Wine, and Sun-Soaked Coasts
Portugal offered a fantastic mix of historical exploration, delicious food, and stunning scenery. Here's a breakdown of my trip:

Porto: A guided tour with Tania provided a solid introduction to Porto's rich history and architectural beauty. We explored the Ribeira district and learned about the city's connection to Port wine.

Douro Valley: Nelson, our knowledgeable guide, led us through the stunning Douro Valley. We visited a family-owned winery for a personalized experience, learning about traditional Port production and enjoying a delicious home-cooked meal paired with their wines.

Matosinhos: This coastal town lived up to the hype. We indulged in some of the freshest seafood I've ever had – a must for any seafood lover.

Via Comburia & Évora: A day trip took us to these contrasting destinations. Via Comburia offered a glimpse into cork production, a significant aspect of Portugal's economy. Évora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, impressed with its Roman Temple and the haunting Capela dos Ossos.

Algarve & Benagil Caves: A trip to the southern Algarve region wasn't complete without a visit to the incredible Benagil Caves. The boat tour provided stunning views of these natural wonders. The region's abundance of fresh fruit, especially oranges, was a delightful treat.

Évora & Paulo's Pastéis: A day trip with Paulo included exploring Évora's castles and learning about their historical significance. The highlight was visiting his family's bakery in the old town for some truly phenomenal pastries – a perfect way to end the day.

Lisbon: We finished the trip in Lisbon, allowing time to explore the city at our own pace.

Overall: Portugal exceeded expectations. The combination of informative tours, delicious food and wine experiences, and breathtaking scenery made it a memorable trip. The hospitality of the locals, especially Tania, Nelson, and Paulo, added a personal touch that truly enhanced the experience.

Hotel Reviews

Flores Boutique Hotel

Porto

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Évora Olive Hotel

Evora

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bed was very hard

Portugal Boutique Hotel

Lisbon

Not easy to get to by car but a lovely hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

It was the largest hotel room that I have ever had in Europe, very nice and comfortable

Cascade Wellness

Lagos

Top-notch breakfast buffet

Authenticity & Character

Location

Need to have a car, which we did

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lovely view and very spacious

Activity Reviews

Lisbon Tuk Tuk Food Tour

Lisbon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Porto's Culinary Scene and Bolhao Market

Porto

This was a fun intro to the food and wine of Porto

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Privately Guided Visit of Porto

Porto

Tania did a great job showing us the highlights of the city. But it was also done in a logical manner such that weren't constantly going up and down hill the whole time. She dropped us off near the river and suggested a place for lunch and called ahead for us to get us a table. She was very friendly and knowledgeable and gave us some unique insights into different aspects of the city

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Day Excursion to Douro Valley, Wine Tasting & River Cruise

Porto

Because of the weather Nelson offered to take us to a Port winery vs doing the open River Cruise and we were glad we did. It was a lovely location and the port was excellent. The private tour of the family winery we went to was wonderful, really got to see and learned about how they produced their wines. Topped off with a private traditional lunch they made just for us. A lovely day

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Nelson was great, really enjoyed talking with him

Transport

Nice relaxing ride

Bohemian Lisbon Private Food Walk

Lisbon

Filipa was lovely and we enjoyed some of the food along the tour. However, the final restaurant she left us at for our meal was terrible. It was loud, and packed and the food was just not good. We ended up leaving because we didn't want to insult the owners by not eating what they were bringing out

Quality of Experience

Food

Final restaurant was just not a good experience for us

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Évora Cork and Castle Tour

Évora

Interesting. I did not know that there is so much to know about cork or how many places it is used

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hiking & Cultural Excursion in Peneda-Gerês National Park

Porto

There were some interesting aspects to this trip, it was a bit more strenuous than we expected. I honestly enjoyed walking around in the Palacio Nacional da Pena (Pena Palace) in Evora far more. Rafael was a lovely guide and a very nice person. He showed us around the villages that still exist within the park which was interesting

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Very rough ride along the fire roads inside the park

Boat Excursion Inside Benagil Caves

Portugal

Amazing view of the coastline and caves. Cool to go inside and see first hand. Well worth it

Quality of Experience

Very cool

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Fun staff & captain

Transport

Boat is a little uncomfortable after a while

Guided Visit of Historic Coimbra

Portugal

We were slightly late due to our navigation system messing up. Nuno was very patient with us. He was extremely knowledgeable about the university and surrounding area. Interesting tour

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

4X4 Algarve Sunset Experience

Portugal

We weren't quite sure what to expect with this tour. It had been cloudy all day so we were afraid that we would not see the sunset, but in the end it cleared up and we were able to see it. Our guide was fun and showed us some out-of-the-way places you would never know to see. Our dinner was very good, some of the best chicken we had the entire trip

Quality of Experience

Sipping sparkling wine and watching the sunset was lovely

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Funny and gregarious

Transport

Old truck, a bit uncomfortable and difficult to see out of if you are in the back

Private Day Excursion: Sintra, Cascais & Estoril

Spain

Pauolo was great, very informative and friendly. We enjoyed spending time with him and meeting his wife at their shop in town. Castles we great as well as the Well of Initiation which I had always wanted to see. Unfortunately the weather was not very cooperative and it rained a fair bit of the time

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very friendly and fun to talk to

Transport

Loved the Tesla, roomy and comfortable

A spectacular week for our family exploring Andalucia! Things were so well planned, our guides and drivers were amazing. Helena helped us find activities that were right up our alley... a really fun way to explore the countryside. Enjoyed the hiking and especially loved the E- biking. A great trip-- thank you!

Activity Reviews

Madrid Fun Segway Tour

Madrid

A great way to see a lot of the city in a short amount of time. Fun, and just the right amount of history.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

He "read the crowd" and made things enjoyable for adults and teenagers.

Hiking in Madrid National Park & Visit to a Medieval Castle

Madrid

Our guide, Javi, was terrific! His pride in the park was evident, and we enjoyed the way he wanted us to experience the park work all of our senses. He adjusted to our level, and took our teenager (who's a rock climber) on some extra paths to explore.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sierra Nevada E-Bike Route

Granada

One of our favorite excursions of the trip. Longer than described, so we ended up having to leave early to make it to meet our guide at the Alhambra... that was a little disappointing. But the guides were flexible and helped us make it work. The ride itself was fun and just beautiful. It was amazing to bike through all of the different climate zones. The Ebikes were easy to use and the route was fantastic

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Driver really went above and beyond to get us back to Grenada on time

Guided Visit of Alhambra & Generalife Gardens

Granada

Alberto was an excellent guide. Enthusiastic and knowledgeable. A great balance of historical storytelling and art history commentary

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hiking Excursion to the Andalusia Countryside: Las Alpujarras

Spain

Jaime was an excellent guide. Personable and knowledgeable, adaptable and gave us options along the way to extend our hike. Definitely hooked tetanus we never could have navigated in our own.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tajo Trip: Discover Ronda Countryside in Buggy

Ronda

We felt like we were driving around town with the mayor... in buggies! A lot of fun, beautiful views, and felt like we were exploring Ronda with an insider. We enjoyed his recommendations for exploring the town on our own after, and appreciated the tips on things like how to see the bullring.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Excursion to Caminito del Rey

Málaga

Pretty views. I think we were spoiled by the remoteness of our other activities-- this felt very "touristy" in comparison. But it was a fun experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our driver, Jesus, was wonderful! He was disappointed he wasn't assigned to drive us during other legs of our week. Our other drivers were fine, but Jesus really stood out above and beyond... both him personally and his exceptionally clean car.

We had a lovely time in Barcelona, I think given the requests, our trip plan was well curated and we had very good experiences. In terms of the accommodations, we had a slight issue each time we stayed at the Gran Havana with the rooms not being equitable for a family of five, but they were kind enough to move the furniture out of the way and bring a rollaway bed in each time for the fifth person to sleep on. Not having heated pools at either accommodation was also a bit of a disappointment when traveling with little kids. The driver and tour guides were all very great. I think we were a bit disappointed with the cancelation of the kayak trip because the weather turned out to be very nice on the morning that we were scheduled to go on that excursion. The mosaics class was really nice and we enjoyed the other tours as well.
Thank you Kim Kim and Helena for your help!

Helena did an exceptional job in planning our wonderful 3 week visit and tour around Spain! The whole kimkim experience is terrific from the start, asking questions and gathering information to understand and accommodate our interests: preferred types of activities, length of time available, budget, travel dates, food interests, physical abilities and/or limitations, willingness to fly/take trains/buses, self-drive, preferred accommodation level, tour group sizes, etc.!! Then Helena created a custom excursion for us based on those imputs, and we had a blast! She was very knowledgeable of all aspects and areas of travel in Spain, and was also available and responsive (or other agents over the weekends) during the trip to advise or answer questions. Very professional and enjoyable experience!!

It’s the first time my husband and I used Kim Kim for one of our trips and we’re very happy we did. Helena was our local specialist and she did a fantastic job with not only the planning of the the itinerary but with keeping in touch with us every step of the way. She was personable, made all the changes we asked for and made sure everything went very smoothly throughout our trip. The hotels were beautiful, their locations were great and the included breakfasts delicious! Also, all the trains we took were on time and our guides in each city were very interesting. Anne Marie, in Barcelona was great, Hector in Madrid was awesome, Laura at the Alhambra was very knowledgeable, Andrés in Seville was personable and funny and the young girl at the Hacienda Guzmán (olive oil estate) really knew her stuff!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel España Ramblas

Barcelona

This hotel was amazing! Most of it is decorated in the Art Nouveau Style (which I love) but the rooms were all remodeled with a contemporary look. The breakfast was one of the best of our trip to Spain.

Authenticity & Character

Perfectly decorated Art Nouveau Style especially because it’s in Barcelona!

Location

Near the lively Ramblas , near several restaurants and a subway station.

Staff

Everyone at the desk, on the roof top and at the breakfast was very helpful and nice!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Whole hotel was supper clean and the rooms were spotless!

7 Islas Hotel

Madrid

Hotel was at a great location almost right on Gan Via and near many attractions. Breakfast was very good!

Authenticity & Character

Very contemporary looking hotel! Breakfast was excellent, lots of variety!

Location

Near most attractions and across from a conveniently located market.

Staff

Everyone at the front desk and at breakfast was very helpful and personable.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds were amazingly comfortable! Bathroom was spotless!

Hotel Casa 1800 Granada

Granada

This was one of the most interesting hotels on our trip to Spain because it was so picturesque! The decor was rustic and at the same time contemporary! We loved the way it looked!

Authenticity & Character

As I said above the very Spanish style of the Hotel looked very authentic to the region it’s in. Loved it!

Location

It couldn’t have been a better location, near the action but away enough that it was quiet at night. Also near the Alhambra.

Staff

Everyone from front desk to breakfast staff was amazing! We needed a to go breakfast very early one day and they had it all ready for us.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Super clean hotel and very quaint!

Hotel Hospes Las Casas del Rey de Baeza

Sevilla

This hotel was beautiful with gorgeous courtyards and Bougainville growing everywhere. The breakfast was amazing too and the room very big and sumptuous!

Authenticity & Character

This hotel was very special in that it had the feel of a bed and breakfast with all the amenities of a hotel. In other words the perfect combination of both.

Location

The location was perfect because it was in a more quiet neighborhood yet within walking distance of the historic center of Seville.

Staff

Staff was very nice and helpful with anything we needed from calling us a cab to offering us hot breakfast in the morning!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Exceptional cleanliness in the entire premises of this i hotel!

Only YOU Hotel Atocha

Madrid

The best hotel for the one last night we were in Spain. Right across the Atocha train station where we arrived from Seville and close to museums I still wanted to see on our last day, like the Reina Sofia Museum.

Authenticity & Character

Very contemporary looking hotel, very lively lobby, a “breakary” to have some sweets and a nice restaurant.

Location

Superb location by train station, restaurants, museums, parks, etc

Staff

Everyone was so accommodating at the front desk! Firmin was super helpful and friendly!

Cleanliness & Comfort

The beds were one of the most comfortable beds I’ve ever had in a hotel and the bathroom was super clean!

Activity Reviews

Private Tour of Barcelona & La Sagrada Familia

Barcelona

Absolutely loved this attraction! Was here in 1981 and it was so wonderful to see the finished inside of the Basilica! Not to be missed if you’re in Barcelona.

Quality of Experience

The excellence of the work of Gaudí and the history behind it is what makes this an extraordinary experience!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Anne Marie was very knowledgeable and had interesting things to tell us that made it a very special experience!

Transport

We used the Subway to get to the Sagrada Familia and Anne Marie explained how to use the Metro which helped us the next day when we needed to go somewhere else in Barcelona.

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

Madrid

This private guided visit was great! Hector, our guide, was an expert on the history and culture of Madrid. He pointed out several buildings including the famous Royal Palace and showed us places where Madrileños spend their nights having a good time with friends.

Quality of Experience

We wouldn’t have learned so much about Madrid if we didn’t take a private tour like this, with only the guide, my husband and I.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hector our guide was very personable and we engaged in very interesting conversations about not only Madrid but the rest of Spain and other countries. No drivers were necessary on this tour, it was supposed to be a walking tour of the center of Madrid.

Tour of the Alhambra and Generalife Gardens

Spain

This was one of the most impressive and iconic places we saw in our Spain trip. We really enjoyed every minute of it! We had seen videos of this palace but there’s nothing like being there in person immersing yourself in the experience with a very knowledgeable guide.

Quality of Experience

Excellent quality of experience! We learned so much about the history of Spain by going on this tour and also learned so much about Muslim culture and art! It’s totally worth it.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide, Laura, was fantastic! Her background was in archeology so she knew a lot about the Alhambra and it’s history. No transpor was needed for this tour.

Transport

Guided Visit of Seville

Seville

Once again we had a wonderful guide, Andrés, who showed us not only the old part of Seville like the Cathedral and the Giralda but also the Alcázar. The interesting thing about the Alcázar is that it’s decorations have Muslim elements as well as Christian elements and that makes it very unique . Also Andrés told us very intriguing stories about the Catholic king that had it built.

Quality of Experience

This was a magical tour and the quality of the experience unique! We totally recommend it.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We really enjoyed Andrés’ tour because he made the palace come alive with the details he told us about the king and the court. No drivers in this tour it was a walking tour.

Visit an Andalusian Olive Oil Estate

Seville

Amazing tour of an olive oil plantation and processing plant. We learned a lot from our lovely and friendly guide. Not only did we see how olive oil is processed now a days but how it was done in the 16th century. We also got to taste the delicious olive oil they obtain from the olives that grow there.

Quality of Experience

What stood out the most was the way they used to do the whole process in the old days. All the vats, the grinders, the containers are still there for us to see how involved the entire method of extracting the olive oil was back then… fascinating!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was young but very knowledgeable so she showed us when olives are ripe to be plucked from the trees, the different olive trees from different countries, the process of extracting the oil from the olives nowadays and back in the day. She let us taste some of their finest olive oils at the end of the tour. She also gave us a gift of two olive oil bottles. Very visitor friendly place!

Transport

A van came to pick us up at our hotel to bring us to the Estate. The lady driver was on time and waited for us at the estate to bring us back. Everything went according to plan.

Helena was always prompt and made the process easy. She made great suggestions and helped us plan a great trip to the Canaray Islands.

Hotel Review

Iberostar Grand El Mirador

Costa Adeje

We've traveled a lot and this was one of the best places we've ever stayed. Great location. Wonderful, friendly staff. Set up well. No kids. Just the right size. They thought of a lot to help make the stay so comfortable. LOVED IT!

Authenticity & Character

Everywhere you looked this place was lovely

Location

Gorgeous views. Walk to the beach in 2 minutes if you want.

Staff

Very friendly and accomodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Spotless

Activity Reviews

Teide Excursion in Safari Jeeps

Spain

What we got to see what great. Our guide was wonderful. Loved Teide National Park.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Massage in SPA Sensations Iberostar

Tenerife

I wouldn't get massages here again. They weren't great. Not much pressure. Climbed on the table (I always think that is inappropriate).

Quality of Experience

Day Excursion to the Island of La Gomera

Tenerife

Long day but worth it. Only reason it doesn't get 5 stars is because it is long, but that's no ones fault.

Maryann was our Guide for Food and Wine tour.
Pedro Dias for our Porto City Tour who was both knowledgeable and accommodating.
Pedro for our Douro Valley and Wineries tour and Port Wine Tasting, very funny and nice guy.
Joao who went out of his way to pick us up from Coimbra upon learning we have left Porto the day before via Fatima to take us to Lisbon. Guillermo or Guill was our Amazing Tuk Tuk Lisbon City Tour Guide. Paulo Pires our Guide for the Day Excursion of Sintra, Cascais and Estoril, Very informative Historically of Lisbon and Portugal as a whole.