Profile photo for Jane Davey
9352 messages
active 13 hours ago

Jane Davey

Born and raised in the UK, I’ve always had a love affair with the great outdoors. It’s no wonder I ended up in travel!

Growing up, family holidays meant exploring the UK with my parents and brother, often on a mission to track down my dad’s lost racing pigeons (yes, really!). Those little adventures sparked my curiosity for the country's remote corners, and that wanderlust has never left me.

These days, my heart is torn between the rugged beauty of the Peak District, the dramatic landscapes of Scotland, and the breathtaking mountains of Wales – where I’ve ticked off all the Welsh 3000-footers. In winter, I call the French Alps home, chasing the powder on the Paradiski slopes. The rest of the year, I split my time between my homes in France and the UK, with a special love for the Vanoise National Park, where I spend the summers exploring on an electric mountain bike.

When I’m not skiing down the Alps, you’ll find me hiking through the Peak District or pedaling through the Vanoise, always on the hunt for my next adventure.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"With an in-depth knowledge of the UK, I specialize in not only single destination but multi-destination, including England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
My favourite TV program is ‘All Creatures Great & Small’, filmed in and around Yorkshire.
As I have been traveling to France for many years, I have a passion for researching the 2nd World War, ski locations, and summer activities. My love of the French mountains and culture was the main reason that I moved there in 2021, but still visit the UK often.
"

How did you get involved in travel?

"My Grandad was a coach driver and he traveled all over the World. On returning from his ‘trips’, he would always buy me a doll, in native costume, from the countries he had visited. I was in awe of his knowledge of how to find locations without a map. His passion and experiences inspired me to become a travel agent, as I love to find new places to explore."

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"I once traveled on a guided group tour on a Greek Caique Cruise boat, where we went island hopping. It was a rustic experience, and I met many people that had traveled. We slept above deck and looked at the stars whilst chatting about our travel experiences, swam in the sea and I saw a Manta Ray and giant starfish. We visited several destinations that were off the beaten track, met local people, and supported their economy directly, and I just took it all in."

Top itineraries and travel advice
Family itineraries
Luxury itineraries
Road trip itineraries

Recent trip reviews for Jane

The Best
England | Oct 15 - Oct 26, 2024

Racquel
Racquel g.
Atlanta, GA | Reviewed on Oct 30, 2024

Hello,
This was just a delightful experience was the most amazing. Jane out did herself in every aspect of my experience bring to life history, beauty and romance. From each hotel to the tour guides was spectacular. Jane took each email and brought my dream to life.

I love each and everyone of our guide. however Nick which one I believe the last guide was just outstanding. his knowledge, to charismatic personality, to his time management was just epically exquisite.

Local specialist: Jane Davey
Jane
Jane Davey
Local specialist in United Kingdom | Replied on Oct 30, 2024

Hi Racquel

Welcome home after your awesome trip. Wow, it sure was a super experience for you both. The team and I are delighted that you had such a super time and it was an absolute pleasure to work with you both.

Thank you for the feedback and we are so happy that you met our wonderful guides too.

We would love to assist you in the future with any trips you have planned. Until then, all the best.

Jane, Marine-Héloise & The Team

An exceptional visit to the UK!
United Kingdom | Sep 28 - Oct 18, 2024

Mike
Mike C.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Oct 21, 2024
Jane and Sarah worked with us to create an amazing three week trip to the UK. Their planning was seamless--and they even helped us make a couple changes as we traveled. They arranged transportation, hotels, and tours complete with incredible guides for my wife's 55th birthday/bucket list trip, visiting castles and cathedrals, museums and highland hikes. They even had dining recommendations that we found to be on the money! I would absolutely recommend working with them and KimKim; their... Read more

Jane and Sarah worked with us to create an amazing three week trip to the UK. Their planning was seamless--and they even helped us make a couple changes as we traveled. They arranged transportation, hotels, and tours complete with incredible guides for my wife's 55th birthday/bucket list trip, visiting castles and cathedrals, museums and highland hikes. They even had dining recommendations that we found to be on the money! I would absolutely recommend working with them and KimKim; their experience and knowledge combined to send us on the trip of a lifetime!
Thank you so much ladies!

Hotel Reviews
Park Plaza London Riverbank
London

Our visit to the Park Plaza was disappointing--we visited several hotels on our visit to the UK, all four and five star properties--and the Park Plaza was the only one without any water or snacks in the room, and the only one that charged us for early check in. The beds were comfortable, the rooms were clean, but the bathrooms were in need up updating.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Glen Mhor Hotel
Inverness

We really enjoyed the Glen Mhor hotel--the location was fabulous, the staff was wonderful, the room was comfortable and clean. The restaurant was great; the tour of the brewery/distillery was a blast! If we make it back to Inverness, we'll definitely book here again!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Overnight Caledonian Sleeper Train between Scotland & London
Overnight Caledonian Sleeper Train between Scotland & London
London

We did not enjoy the Sleeper--there was no where to sit in the sleeper room, the food was uninspired. The bed wasn't very comfortable; sleep was hard to come by with the train noise and movement.

Quality of Experience
Afternoon Tea
Afternoon Tea
Fort William

Delightful! yummy, quiet, wonderful. We were unaccustomed to Afternoon Tea--what a great surprise to find a delicious assortment of sandwiches, scones, and treats!

Private Guided Hike of Ben Nevis
Private Guided Hike of Ben Nevis
United Kingdom

Peter was great! Knowledgeable, experienced, and accommodating--the day's weather was not suitable for a hike up the mountain, so he took us on a great alternative.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Walking Tour of Edinburgh with a Top Local Guide
Private Walking Tour of Edinburgh with a Top Local Guide
Edinburgh

Gareth was a fantastic, knowledgeable and personable guide. Two thumbs up!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Hampton Court Palace, Afternoon Tea & Return Transport
Hampton Court Palace, Afternoon Tea & Return Transport
London

Garaint was fantastic, as was Tea! Definitely recommended!

Local specialist: Jane Davey
Jane
Jane Davey
Local specialist in United Kingdom | Replied on Oct 25, 2024

Hi Mike

Such a lovely review and an absolute pleasure to work with you both on the creation of your wonderful trip. Thank you for the feedback for the Park Plaza and Caledonian. Although they didn't come up to the mark for you both, I see the wonderful attractions, activities, personal tours were a hit.

Look us up if you are this way again and we would love to assist you.

Wishing you all the best, Jane & Sarah

We discovered Scotland to be its own brand of...MAGNIFICENT
Scotland | Sep 28 - Oct 10, 2024

Dr. Laura
Dr. Laura F.
Denver, CO | Reviewed on Oct 12, 2024
We discovered Scotland to be its own brand of magnificence, from city to rural and windswept scapes over the Isle of Skye. Not sure we have ever enjoyed seeing a country as much as this and the help from our KimKim team made that possible as they catered an itinerary unique to what we wished to see and do and where to travel. We especially loved the daily itinerary with maps downloaded and vouchers already paid and available for some of the sights (Edinburgh castle and Uruguart Castle along... Read more

We discovered Scotland to be its own brand of magnificence, from city to rural and windswept scapes over the Isle of Skye. Not sure we have ever enjoyed seeing a country as much as this and the help from our KimKim team made that possible as they catered an itinerary unique to what we wished to see and do and where to travel. We especially loved the daily itinerary with maps downloaded and vouchers already paid and available for some of the sights (Edinburgh castle and Uruguart Castle along Loch Ness) and our arranged hiking guide, Mark, who took us to the Hidden Valley near Glencoe was terrific. Among our main criticisms was that, over the course of our making arrangements there were four separate people supporting the plans as several 'left' the company and that made coordination a confusion. We also were very disappointed with some of the accommodations (in fact, one was simply unacceptable: dirty, six flights of stairs, cold and paint peeling off walls in a town far from our stop in Inverness) so had to book our own en route. I would definitely use KimKim for the many details of arranging a visit as broad as ours but would only book accommodations on one's own. A second stay, rated as four stars, was the equivalent of a motel travelodge in the States and a third, in Isle of Skye, had a room we could barely both stand at once with our luggage!
Overall, it was a remarkable visit and many of the arrangements were satisfactory (car rental easy, arrangements for afternoon tea in Edinburgh on a rainy afternoon delightful) but often rather jam-packed (we like to wander to discover) and the lodging was sub-standard but for our own arranged hotels. The change in hands before and then during the trip made it rather challenging to know who was actually in charge but, in the end, Jane made good on our expressed disappointments and displeasure with accommodations at our final stay in Glasgow and escalated the concerns to ensure our trip went well overall. We would probably not be inclined to use KimKim again as a result of these concerns but are quite satisfied with the visit in general and would recommend Scotland to anyone curious to see a country of beauty, tranquility, castles, tea and whiskey and landscapes broad as the sky.

Hotel Reviews
Nevis Bank Inn
Fort William

Equivalent of a US motel along a highway

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Tulloch Castle Hotel
Dingwall

Filthy, paint peeling off walls, carpet unfurling, stairs only and no staff (concierge doubled for waiter at tiny tourbus stop cafe - only place to eat!) and in a town far out of Inverness. Worst stay ever.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Skeabost House Hotel
Portree

Lovely but be sure to request a larger room or cramped into a space the size of a medium closet. Also, no power for a day (clearly unplanned - the entire Isle of Skye and Outer Hebrides had outage) so cold morning with no provisions, warm drinks, showers or available warm meals. Lovely spot for walking but the room was tiny and, again, stairs - although did get help from a staff to carry luggage up three flights.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Meal service at dinner was slow and there was a conference there so delayed by nearly two hours.
Cleanliness & Comfort
One Devonshire Gardens - Hotel du Vin
Glasgow

Outstanding in every way

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Jane Davey
Marine-Héloise
Marine-Héloise Lefebvre
Local specialist in Villefranche Sur Saone | Replied on Oct 18, 2024
Dear Dr Freshman
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your detailed review of your recent trip to Scotland. We are thrilled to hear that you found Scotland to be as magnificent as we do and that you enjoyed many of the experiences, especially the stunning landscapes, historical sites like Edinburgh Castle and Urquhart Castle, and your guided hike in the Hidden Valley. It’s wonderful to know that the daily itineraries, maps, vouchers, and car rental arrangements contributed to making...
Read more

Dear Dr Freshman
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your detailed review of your recent trip to Scotland. We are thrilled to hear that you found Scotland to be as magnificent as we do and that you enjoyed many of the experiences, especially the stunning landscapes, historical sites like Edinburgh Castle and Urquhart Castle, and your guided hike in the Hidden Valley. It’s wonderful to know that the daily itineraries, maps, vouchers, and car rental arrangements contributed to making your journey smoother. Your kind words about these aspects and our team’s efforts mean a lot to us.
We also sincerely appreciate your constructive feedback about the areas that didn’t meet your expectations. We deeply regret the issues with the accommodations and the coordination challenges caused by team changes during the planning phase. We understand how this impacted your overall experience, and we will take your comments on board to improve our processes moving forward. Rest assured, your feedback will help us refine our communication and service to ensure better continuity and higher standards in all aspects of future trips.
While we're sorry to hear that you might not consider using us for future travel plans, we are very grateful that you chose to travel with us. Should you decide to give us another opportunity in the future, we would be more than happy to address any specific concerns in advance to ensure a seamless experience.
Thank you again for your feedback and for trusting us with your Scottish adventure. We wish you many more remarkable journeys ahead!
Warm regards, Marine-Héloïse, Jane and The Team

This is our second trip with kimkim and it di...
England | Sep 27 - Oct 10, 2024

Elizabeth
Elizabeth P.
Gilbert, AZ | Reviewed on Oct 11, 2024
This is our second trip with kimkim and it did not disappoint! We worked with Jane and Marine-Heloise, and they were a dream team! They put together a two-week trip with the highlights of London and Scotland based off the things we enjoy. Every day was an adventure filled with new discoveries with ample free time to add things along as we went. I LOVE to travel and have FOMO - but I also don't have the time to do a ton of research for the best places to see and visit. The... Read more

This is our second trip with kimkim and it did not disappoint! We worked with Jane and Marine-Heloise, and they were a dream team! They put together a two-week trip with the highlights of London and Scotland based off the things we enjoy. Every day was an adventure filled with new discoveries with ample free time to add things along as we went.

I LOVE to travel and have FOMO - but I also don't have the time to do a ton of research for the best places to see and visit.

The roadbook guide is extremely detailed with times and places we needed to be with notes about how long it took to get to each place via walking or public transport. All of the arranged private drivers were on time, and very kind. There was no confusion about where we were supposed to be, or when we supposed to be there. These ladies nailed it.

We had such an amazing trip and love the flexibility that kimkim offers. We had a mix of private tours, group tours, and self-guided tours. Each was unique, fun, and educational.

My only regret is that we didn't have more time in the UK. It is such a beautiful country with so many more things to discover. The people, the food, the history, the landscape - it was all so wonderful!

Hotel Reviews
ibis Styles London Southwark – near Borough Market
London

Cute hotel - clean rooms - great staff! Perfect location next to Borough Market and so much great food!!!

Authenticity & Character
Cute lobby - lots of style
Location
5 minutes walking distance to the market and tube.
Staff
Everyone was kind.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Clean hotel
The Resident Liverpool
Liverpool

We were only here one evening but this hotel has a great location - close to the downtown area. The rooms were neat ahc clean! We had a bit more room in these units that was much appreciate!

Moxy York
York

This was our favorite hotel of the places we stayed. The lobby is so cute and fun. Great breakfast and the staff were kind. Perfect location - close to the Shambles. We were only here for one night - we'd definitely stay here again and if we're back would like to spend 2 days in York.

ibis Edinburgh Centre South Bridge - Royal Mile
Edinburgh

Great location!!! Walking distance to royal mile. 4 stars only because the bathrooms were a little odd.

Citadines Trafalgar square
London

We were only here one night, and we came in late and left really early. We didn't really have a chance to spend time in the area. The lobby was clean - the staff was great. The room was nice because it was the only place we all 4 got to be together in one room. The room was clean but definitely needed a few touch ups in the bathrooms. Nothing crazy - we just noticed peeling paint, other handyman stuff.

Activity Reviews
Magical Mystery Tour
Magical Mystery Tour
Liverpool

We stopped in Liverpool for this tour - my daughter and husband love the Beatles. They enjoyed this tour.

Hidden Gems Food Tour - Tower Bridge to Borough Market
Hidden Gems Food Tour - Tower Bridge to Borough Market
London

This was a great tour especially given the location - we went through the Borough Market which was right around the corner from where we stayed. The guide was very knowledgeable about food in the market but also the history of London. Two of us are vegetarian and he accommodated our dietary lifestyle with ease.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Very knowledgeable!
Hop-on, Hop-off Bus
Hop-on, Hop-off Bus
London

I love these tours - we didn't get to complete the whole route as we hopped on late...but what we did get to see was fantastic!

Tower of London timed entry tickets
Tower of London timed entry tickets
London

The beefeaters are great guides - lots of humor. We chose to do the 45-minute guided tour with them as opposed to the self-guided audio tour.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Windsor, Stonehenge & Bath  from London
Windsor, Stonehenge & Bath from London
London

This was one of our longer days but totally worth the time. The guide was humorous and knowledgeable. The coach was comfortable. My favorite was Stonehenge - my family loved Bath the most.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Watch a Football Match!
Watch a Football Match!
London

One of our favorite days! None of really watch sports but we fell in love with Ted Lasso and wanted to see a match in person. What an experience! I would highly recommend this to anyone visiting.

Quality of Experience
Harry Potter Studio Tour from London (with transport)
Harry Potter Studio Tour from London (with transport)
London

I love Harry Potter - probably more than our kids! We had a great time at the studios.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Oxford and Cambridge Tour
Oxford and Cambridge Tour
London

Another long day trip but worth it. The campuses are beautiful! I just wish had a bit more time in each location. They allotted about 1.5 hours at each stop. Once we finished walking through, we didn't have a ton of time to walk through the town squares.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Afternoon Tea at the Edinburgh Castle
Afternoon Tea at the Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh

Afternoon tea was a treat! And a great break in the day at the castle. The castle is impressive - we came through the front entrance at the Royal Mile. To truly see how expansive this castle is, walk around the outside of the grounds and view from the back side. It is enormous, and terrifying, and beautiful!

Deer & Owl Encounter
Deer & Owl Encounter
England

The drive from Edinburgh to Aberfeldy was beautiful. The guides at Highland Safari Park are knowledgeable and you can tell they really and care about what they are doing. We had a great time here. The deer experience on the grounds was neat and we got to feed them. The Safari was fun off roading and we got to view stags through telescope lens in their natural habitat. It was mating season so you could hear them everywhere!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Our Private transfer driver was amazing - he was happy to share knowledge about the area.
Local specialist: Jane Davey
Jane
Jane Davey
Local specialist in United Kingdom | Replied on Oct 11, 2024

Hi Elizabeth & Awesome Family

We are so sad you have left us!!! We had great fun working with you during the planning stage and also whilst you were traveling. Marine-Héloïse & I loved the pictures you shared too!

You all have such an awesome approach to traveling and just took it all in and maxed out on the fun. Just the way it should be!

Please choose us again if you travel in the UK, or Europe as we would love to work with you all.

Thank you for your detailed feedback and this sure is a great end to our week.

Wishing you luck, happiness & happy travels.

Best, Jane & Marine-Héloïse

Great tour of London and Oxford
England | Sep 22 - Sep 30, 2024

M
Mary M.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Oct 07, 2024

Working with the KimKim agency was great -especially for independent minded travelers. All of the tour details for our trip to Great Britain We worked out in great detail before we left the US. This included a great hotel in London, close to all of the major attractions and transportation Plus prearranged tickets to all the special things that we want to see such as Westminster Abbey, Windsor Castle, and Christchurch in Oxford, plus many others.

Local specialist: Jane Davey
Jane
Jane Davey
Local specialist in United Kingdom | Replied on Oct 08, 2024

Hi Mary

Thank you for your feedback which is very much appreciated. It was an absolute pleasure working with you and the team and I am delighted that we could assist in crafting your personalized plan to enable you to see the sites on your wish list.

We look forward to working with you again in the future.

Happy Travels!!

Best, Jane & The Team

A Wonderful fall trip to London, and Southern England.
England | Sep 22 - Sep 30, 2024

A
Ann A.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Oct 06, 2024
All of the arrangements worked very well and reservations; No problems. The hotels were in great locations and once we learned to use the train system we went to different locations easily. We found the hotel staff very friendly and very helpful. It was a great trip and we enjoyed each unique location. Our trip advisor was extrememly helpful and willing to answer all of our questions. The advise given was right on target and we were very pleased with Jane's knowledge of all venues. Thanks... Read more

All of the arrangements worked very well and reservations; No problems. The hotels were in great locations and once we learned to use the train system we went to different locations easily. We found the hotel staff very friendly and very helpful. It was a great trip and we enjoyed each unique location. Our trip advisor was extrememly helpful and willing to answer all of our questions. The advise given was right on target and we were very pleased with Jane's knowledge of all venues. Thanks for your help and support.

Hotel Review
Riu Plaza London Victoria
London

This hotel is very well located in a safe walking neighborhood. It is close to the theaters, transportation is readily available and there are good local restaurants. The staff are very supportive and offer good advice.

Authenticity & Character
Location
A little less construction around the hotel
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Downton Villages, Cotswolds and Blenheim Palace Tour from London
Downton Villages, Cotswolds and Blenheim Palace Tour from London
London

Interesting.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
It was a hard day as there was flooding in the area. The bus driver did fine. We were left off at a different location, so transport back to our hotel was more complex.
Tickets to Westminster Abbey
Tickets to Westminster Abbey
London

This was so crowded that trying to walk through was very difficult. It is filled with museum artifacts and honestly feels more like a museum than an Abbey.

Churchill War Rooms Small-Group Walking (plus discovery of the area around Westminster) Tour
Churchill War Rooms Small-Group Walking (plus discovery of the area around Westminster) Tour
London

This was very interesting. It is very detailed and fills in a lot of history that one might not know.

Bodleian Library Tour
Bodleian Library Tour
Oxford

This was very interesting. The guide was very informative and the library was beautiful. It is an amazing collection.

Guides, Drivers and Staff
I spoke to this.
Christchurch College and Cathedral Tour
Christchurch College and Cathedral Tour
Oxford

Very interesting. Both the college and the church were beautiful. The guide was very informative. She was a grad student in the college, so she shared a lot about the college as a community and the how the students relate to the greater community.

Guides, Drivers and Staff
Very good guide.
Entry into the Roman Baths
Entry into the Roman Baths
Bath

The history of the Baths was intriguing. It was very crowded, hot and difficult to hear at times . We were glad we went. My friend had been there previously and said that they have improved and expanded the exhibits tremendously.

Simply Windsor Castle - Afternoon Tour with transport
Simply Windsor Castle - Afternoon Tour with transport
London

Going to Windsor is always a treat. It is so beautiful, both the setting and the castle itself. Unfortunated St. George's Chapel was closed for repairs, but otherwise it was a wonderful trip. There were lots of people on a Sunday afternoon, but things moved along quite easily. I wish we could have stayed longer.

Quality of Experience
Tickets to British Museum
Tickets to British Museum
London

Very crowded but lovely Jade Exhibit and Grecian and Roman artifacts. We were disappointed that we couldn't see the Elgin Marbles.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Taxi drivers were very helpful as were the staff members in the hotel. The Courtyard Marriott in Oxford couldn't deal with cash. Twice we went to pay them for a dinner and they took our money but struggled to find cash to return to us.
Transport
Bus tours were fine
Canterbury Cathedral Entrance ticket
Canterbury Cathedral Entrance ticket
Canterbury

This was a very meaningful experience, both the cathedral and the abbey. Very worthwhile. I really loved it. I could have stayed longer.

Local specialist: Jane Davey
Jane
Jane Davey
Local specialist in United Kingdom | Replied on Oct 07, 2024

Hi Ann

Thank you for taking the time to review your wonderful trip. It has been an absolute pleasure working with you both, and the team and I are delighted to read that you have taken some memory-making experiences away with you.

It certainly can get a little congested around the popular tourist hot spots and we are delighted that you found peace in Canterbury Cathedral, which I have to agree is simply breathtaking.

Wishing you many more happy travels and if you return to England/Europe then my colleagues and I would love to plan with you again.

All the best, Jane, Winona and The Team

Absolutely fantastic trip to Scotland planned perfectly
Scotland | Sep 2 - Sep 17, 2024

B
Brian S.
Apex, NC | Reviewed on Sep 18, 2024
Jane and her team did a fantastic job organizing our 17-day honeymoon to Scotland. They handled countless details, and they were readily accessible 24/7 for any hiccups. They very clearly outline every detail for every day with times, directions, ticket confirmation #s, and the tickets to anything pre-booked. They picked almost all B & Bs which is the best way to experience the culture of the country you're in. Everything was paid for prior to arrival which made it so much easier. We did... Read more

Jane and her team did a fantastic job organizing our 17-day honeymoon to Scotland. They handled countless details, and they were readily accessible 24/7 for any hiccups. They very clearly outline every detail for every day with times, directions, ticket confirmation #s, and the tickets to anything pre-booked.

They picked almost all B & Bs which is the best way to experience the culture of the country you're in. Everything was paid for prior to arrival which made it so much easier. We did have one hotel claim it wasn't paid so they made us pay again, but Jane/team quickly handled it and we got a refund ASAP.

Our trip had several tours booked but plenty of free time to explore, which was a perfect balance. We love exploring nature and they had a lot of suggestions for things to do. It can be overwhelming going to a place you've never been to, not knowing where to start. They give a lot of great recommendations of things to check out which was really helpful.

Jane/team were very responsive and flexible when changes needed to happen. There were a couple of hiccups with tickets for distillery tours, but we got them figured out.

It's important for all travelers to set proper expectations when hiring a travel agent. No one knows exactly what things you like to do, what accommodations you consider to be perfect, what cuisine you like, etc. Some of these reviews from people are complaining that a travel agent can't read their mind, which is unreasonable. Everyone needs to be flexible and go with the flow. You will enjoy your trip by setting proper expectations that international travel (or travel anywhere) is never perfect. Delays happen, weather happens, people are people - go with the flow and you will enjoy your trip so much more that way.

I would hire Jane/team again in a heartbeat and will be reaching out again for our next trip.

Hotel Reviews
Motel One Glasgow
Glasgow

Smallest room we had but functional. Great continental breakfast included. Great location.

Authenticity & Character
Locals employed
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
B+B Edinburgh
Edinburgh

Best traditional breakfast we had on the entire trip. Super kind staff, had a quaint little hotel bar we could visit at night. We had an issue with their shower that didn't really get handled which was unfortunate, but no big deal. Location is a 15 min walk to downtown but manageable and in a quiet part of town.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Not optimal for doing anything in the city as it is a 15 min. walk to the nearest car park. However, once you realize you will do a LOT of walking on your trip, it's less of an issue. We just parked our car and left it there for 2 days and walked everywhere.
Staff
Absolutely wonderful staff.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Shower didn't drain and they couldn't fix it so water would just overflow onto the floor after 30 seconds. We went 2 days without a shower which was disappointing. On the last day they finally allowed us to shower in another room.
The Kings Arms Hotel
Melrose

Room was extremely tight but functional. Restaurant attached was great and so was the bar/beer garden. Free parking on the street and easy to find a spot.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Fonab Castle
Pitlochry

Very high end hotel. You will absolutely feel like royalty here. Parking lot full of Bentleys and Porches. Bring cash because you will need to tip people (doorman, concierge). Unbelievable views from the deck at the bar. Breakfast was good, service not so much. Restaurant is good but expect everything to be very expensive. The room was about 90 degrees F when we entered and there is no AC. We sweated that night but the bed was comfortable. The bathroom is incredible with the best towels and robes you'll ever use. They made us pay for the room on departure even though Jane/team had already paid, so we ended up having to get a refund.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Restaurant staff gave poor service especially given the prices you are paying. Bar staff was nice.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Glen Mhor Hotel
Inverness

Great location, attached to a bar/distillery. Room was very comfortable and quite spacious. Bathroom was excellent. Included breakfast is a buffet which was mediocre but good enough to tide you over until lunch.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Greshornish House Hotel
Edinbane

One of our favorite hotels. Unbelievable setting, very quaint older house with a fantastic restaurant. Very comfortable bar lounge with a real fireplace, books, chess, and snooker table.

Authenticity & Character
Location
There's a 10 min drive on a single track road in order to get to the B & B so make sure you know the rules of the road on single track. Many sheep roaming which may slow you down :)
Staff
Staff was very friendly
Cleanliness & Comfort
Room is tiny but who cares? It's an absolutely fantastic place to stay!
The Whispering Pine Lodge
Spean Bridge

Incredible views right off the deck of the loch and mountains. The staff is extremely service-oriented. Not owned by native Scots (the entire staff is Indian), so there are lots of Indian food offerings on the menu (which were absolutely fantastic). Just a few Scottish food items on the menu. Not much to do in town but a great location for hiking and sight-seeing.

Authenticity & Character
Not authentically Scottish
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Room was quite comfortable
Bridge of Orchy Hotel
Bridge of Orchy

Very busy hotel because it's on the West Highland Way, so lots of backpackers passing through. Great way to meet a lot of non-native travelers from other countries. Beautiful setting with a really nice restaurant/bar. Super friendly staff. This is essentially the only hotel for 20+ miles and you are in the middle of paradise. 15 min drive to Glencoe where you will see the most incredible scenery on planet earth.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Eat Walk Glasgow
Eat Walk Glasgow
Glasgow

Tour guide was lovely and we met some really great people from South Africa. Great way to tour the city and try local foods/beers. Highly recommended.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
N/A - it's a walking tour
Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour
Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour
Glasgow

Highly recommended as a great way to get around the city for very little money. Two tiered bus with upper tier having some covered and some uncovered seats. Bus comes every 15 mins to every stop until about 6p.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Secrets of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile
Secrets of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile
Edinburgh

Extremely educated and knowledgeable tour guide! Tons of history given and his enthusiasm was second-to-none. 10/10 recommended and a fantastic way to see a large city in a short amount of time.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Best tour guide we had the entire trip
Transport
Edinburgh Castle Tickets
Edinburgh Castle Tickets
Edinburgh

A must-see castle. I would highly recommend paying for a tour guide because otherwise you're just wandering around and looking at things you really don't know anything about.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Wish we would've hired a tour guide
Transport
N/A
Visit the Kelpies
Visit the Kelpies
Scotland

We ended up driving past them but didn't have enough time to tour them. It's quite a walk from the car park (15 mins).

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Lochleven Castle
Lochleven Castle
Scotland

Great experience with the small boat that gets you to the island. Wish we had more time to explore but it was the end of the day so we had to turn around quickly.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
10 min small boat ride
Uilebheist Distillery
Uilebheist Distillery
Inverness

Interesting distillery that is only a year old, so they don't actually have any of their own whiskys yet (other than blended whiskys from other distilleries).

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guide was OK but we had better experiences at other distilleries
 Strathisla Distillery Tour (Home of Chivas)
Strathisla Distillery Tour (Home of Chivas)
Scotland

Fantastic tour through a very old distillery with lots of history

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Isle of Skye Raasay Whisky, Gin and chocolate tour
Isle of Skye Raasay Whisky, Gin and chocolate tour
Scotland

Really great experience. You need to take a ferry to the island, and it's a 10 min walk from the ferry to the distillery.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Glass-bottom Boat Trip by Isle of Skye
Glass-bottom Boat Trip by Isle of Skye
Scotland

Guide was very knowledgeable on marine life. We saw a few seals but really nothing else. Luck of the draw, I suppose. Not really sure we'd do this again.

Quality of Experience
It's got to be hard to plan for people to see things that are inconsistently present. However, we saw almost nothing on the tour which was disappointing. They might need to rethink their tour strategy.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guide was incredibly knowledgeable and tried to make the best of a situation where there was nothing to really look at.
Transport
Evening cruise on Loch Linnhe
Evening cruise on Loch Linnhe
Fort William

We ended up not making this tour so I can't really comment.

Local specialist: Jane Davey
Jane
Jane Davey
Local specialist in United Kingdom | Replied on Sep 19, 2024

Hi Both

What an absolute pleasure it was to work with you both from start to finish on your awesome trip.

Thank you for taking the time to review in detail. This has been a great read and certainly valuable to myself and the team to strive for excellent service. You both had an amazing attitude towards your memory-making honeymoon experience and even with those little hiccups along the way you reached out to us.

The team and I would be delighted to work with you again in the future.

Wishing you many happy years together.

All the best, Jane & The Team

Overall the trip was amazing. I wish I had s...
Scotland | Sep 1 - Sep 8, 2024

Diane
Diane M.
Newark, DE | Reviewed on Sep 12, 2024
Overall the trip was amazing. I wish I had some better guidance on making flights arrangements. My connections in Heathrow were very tight. The executive car travel in Edinburgh was excellent. The Hotel du Vin was lovely. Food was very good. The rooms face the courtyard so it can be noisy. Timberbush is the best tour group. Mercat and Raabies were ok too but Timberbush guides were very polite and engaging. The hotel in Inverness was ok. Food and staff not so good. Location... Read more

Overall the trip was amazing. I wish I had some better guidance on making flights arrangements. My connections in Heathrow were very tight. The executive car travel in Edinburgh was excellent. The Hotel du Vin was lovely. Food was very good. The rooms face the courtyard so it can be noisy. Timberbush is the best tour group. Mercat and Raabies were ok too but Timberbush guides were very polite and engaging. The hotel in Inverness was ok. Food and staff not so good. Location excellent. Train ride to and from Inverness were great but KimKim needs to remember that not all tourists know the rail system and it can be tricky. Glen Afric, Cava Cairns, Culloden, Eilaen Donan Castle, St. Andrews are a must. The most incredible journey was the Isle of Skye. We had a beautiful day and the guides were amazing. Our return to Edinburgh on train was lovely but we were asked to get our own taxi. That was difficult since no taxis are allowed at Waverly and must be prebooked. We had to haul our luggage a couple blocks to where the taxis were. The Tiger Lily was an incredible hotel. Did not eat there. This part of the city looked amazing. We called KimKim on check-in to Tiger Lily that we missed our Whiskey tour since we could not get a taxi. We were told someone would reach out on Monday. We have not heard anything. Overall, I would recommend KimKim but the travel advisors need to remember that we are not all European travelers and need additional assistance.

Activity Reviews
Private transfer in town
Private transfer in town
Scotland
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
The Isle of Skye & Eilean Donan Castle
The Isle of Skye & Eilean Donan Castle
Inverness

Excellent!

Quality of Experience
Jack our guide
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Jane Davey
Jane
Jane Davey
Local specialist in United Kingdom | Replied on Sep 13, 2024
Hi Diane, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your review about your recent trip with us. It was truly a pleasure working with both of you, and we are thrilled to hear that your overall experience was amazing. That’s such wonderful news! I can see that you enjoyed some incredible moments during your travels. Your feedback is invaluable, as it helps us learn, grow, and continue offering a service that makes a positive impact on our guests. It's such a shame that you missed the... Read more

Hi Diane,

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your review about your recent trip with us. It was truly a pleasure working with both of you, and we are thrilled to hear that your overall experience was amazing. That’s such wonderful news!

I can see that you enjoyed some incredible moments during your travels. Your feedback is invaluable, as it helps us learn, grow, and continue offering a service that makes a positive impact on our guests.

It's such a shame that you missed the whisky tour we arranged for you, which was scheduled just an hour after your arrival at Edinburgh Waverley. We completely understand how navigating such a large station can feel overwhelming. I was hopeful our conversation before your trip had covered the steps for getting a taxi, and I thought the introduction of Edinburgh Waverley's dedicated taxi zone in 2023, the largest in the city, would make things easier. We had discussed that there were staff inside the station to help book taxis for you, meeting you at the main entrance, which we felt was a better option than locating a pre-booked transfer. Perhaps this wasn’t as clear as it should have been during our call.

We’re sorry to hear you had to walk, and we truly wish we could have provided immediate assistance through the on-call number we gave you. Unfortunately, by the time you contacted us after checking into your hotel, the tour had already started, and we weren’t able to rearrange it or secure a refund. This feedback is very valuable to us, and we'll ensure we add extra details to our roadbook to clarify these steps even more.

Thank you also for your comments on the hotels and tour operators. This information is incredibly helpful as we continue to improve our service.

I did reach out to you on Monday via the KimKim messaging system, as promised. I’m sorry you didn’t see the message, as we would have gladly arranged a call.

Once again, thank you for choosing to travel with us. We hope you’ve created some lasting memories and have plenty of photos to remember your journey by. We’d love the opportunity to work with you again in the future.

All the best,
Jane & The Team

Awesome trip, well planned and perfectly executed.
United Kingdom | Aug 15 - Aug 24, 2024

S
Suri P.
Atlanta, GA | Reviewed on Sep 02, 2024
Awesome trip, well planned and perfectly executed, from the start, the day we arrived on the 15th in London to the last day the 24th in Edinburgh. The Wellington Hotel by Blue Orchid in London and Leonardo Royal Hotel in Edinburgh was perfect, centrally located, and walking distance from all the meeting points / attractions. The schedule was very well planned with plenty of downtime to enjoy family time and relaxed dinners.
Our trip included view the changing of the guards, the war museum,...
Read more

Awesome trip, well planned and perfectly executed, from the start, the day we arrived on the 15th in London to the last day the 24th in Edinburgh. The Wellington Hotel by Blue Orchid in London and Leonardo Royal Hotel in Edinburgh was perfect, centrally located, and walking distance from all the meeting points / attractions. The schedule was very well planned with plenty of downtime to enjoy family time and relaxed dinners.
Our trip included view the changing of the guards, the war museum, was memorable. The private Jane Austen tour was fantastic, our guide Kevin was very knowledgeable provided unique insight. Our trip to the stone hedge, Dover castle, Canterbury, Cliffs and Kent was a lot of fun and got to see some of the less tourist traveled locations.

In Edinburgh, the visit to the Castle and watching the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo was the a great start on the first day. Planning a trip to Edinburgh again just to watch the Military Tattoo again soon. Our Whiskey tour with Graham (driver / guide) was amazing made the trip informative and very enjoyable. Trip to Lock Lomond and Stirling castle with Pete (driver / guide) was fantastic and got some great family pictures.
Overall, my family and I enjoyed the trip and created awesome family memories. Thank you Jane and Sarah for putting together a great travel itinerary and executing it flawlessly.

Hotel Reviews
Wellington Hotel by Blue Orchid
London

Good breakfast and very helpful and friendly staff.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Centrally located and close to major attraction and at the same time tucked in a quite neighborhood.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Leonardo Royal Hotel Edinburgh - Formerly Jurys Inn
Edinburgh,

Currently some parts of the hotel under construction, but still has a very good stay. Friendly staff.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Centrally located and close to major attraction.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
London Globe Theatre Tour
London Globe Theatre Tour
London
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Afternoon Tea at Harrods
Afternoon Tea at Harrods
London
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Churchill War Rooms Small-Group Walking (plus discovery of the area around Westminster) Tour
Churchill War Rooms Small-Group Walking (plus discovery of the area around Westminster) Tour
London
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Tickets to Westminster Abbey
Tickets to Westminster Abbey
London
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
JANE AUSTEN PRIVATE TOUR BY CAR
JANE AUSTEN PRIVATE TOUR BY CAR
London
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Best of Royal London - including Tower of London and Westminster Walk
Best of Royal London - including Tower of London and Westminster Walk
London
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Buckingham Palace
Visit Buckingham Palace
London
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Stonehenge half day tour from London
Stonehenge half day tour from London
London
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Small Group Canterbury, Dover Castle and Cliffs & Kent Villages Day Tour
Small Group Canterbury, Dover Castle and Cliffs & Kent Villages Day Tour
London
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Edinburgh Castle Tickets
Edinburgh Castle Tickets
Edinburgh
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Ultimate Whisky Experience tour from Edinburgh
Ultimate Whisky Experience tour from Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Loch Lomond, Kelpies & Stirling Castle Tour
Loch Lomond, Kelpies & Stirling Castle Tour
Edinburgh
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Jane Davey
Jane
Jane Davey
Local specialist in United Kingdom | Replied on Sep 09, 2024

Hi Suri

Just returned from my holiday today to find you took the time to review your holiday and provide some insightful feedback for the lodgings, tours and guides.

Sarah and I are so happy that you and your family had such a wonderful time, and it was a real pleasure to work with you.

We would love to assist you again to plan a return visit to Scotland, UK or Europe, so feel free to reach out.

Thanks again for taking the time to review your trip. It means a lot to myself and the team.

All the best, Jane & Sarah

KimKim saved us many hours in planning last m...
Scotland | Aug 8 - Aug 19, 2024

C
Cynthia R.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Aug 21, 2024
KimKim saved us many hours in planning last minute trip to Scotland during the height of the season. Read more

KimKim saved us many hours in planning last minute trip to Scotland during the height of the season.

Hotel Reviews
One Devonshire Gardens - Hotel du Vin
Glasgow
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
No17 The Promenade Hotel
Oban
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Cruachan Hotel
Fort William
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Breakfast was not good. Only instant coffee, no fresh fruit, I think there was not even yogurt.
River Ness Hotel, a member of Radisson Individuals
Inverness
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Northern Sands Hotel
Thurso
Authenticity & Character
The outside curb appeal does not match the pleasant interior of the common areas or the room.
Location
Staff
Newton Lodge
Sutherland
Authenticity & Character
The hotel architecture does not match the surrounding charm of Inverness.
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Ac Marriott Inverness
Inverness
Authenticity & Character
The architecture of the building does not match and fit in with the charm of Inverness.
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour
Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour
Glasgow
Cruise of Mull, Iona and Staffa Islands
Cruise of Mull, Iona and Staffa Islands
Scotland

It was cancelled by the operator due to weather but the ferries continued to run and we wish that we had been better informed of the option to take a ferry to one of the islands on our own. This was a big disappointment.

Evening cruise on Loch Linnhe
Evening cruise on Loch Linnhe
Fort William
Private guided tour with driver/guide in Skye from Fort William
Private guided tour with driver/guide in Skye from Fort William
Scotland
Private day with a driver/guide from Inverness
Private day with a driver/guide from Inverness
Scotland

Ian is a top notch, very informative guide and excellent driver who tailored our experience to our personal needs and interests. Anyone who gets him as a guide, is very lucky.

Boat Ride Around the Canal & Loch Ness including a Visit to Urquhart Castle
Boat Ride Around the Canal & Loch Ness including a Visit to Urquhart Castle
Scotland
Local specialist: Jane Davey
Jane
Jane Davey
Local specialist in United Kingdom | Replied on Aug 26, 2024
HI Cynthia Thank you for taking the time to review your 'last-minute', trip to Scotland. We were certainly firing from the hip to secure your trip in such a short space of time. Sounds like the weather threw a curved ball with the boat tour being cancelled, however, this was well recovered by our wonderful driver Ian. And how awesome to be able to tour the NC500 with such a knowledgeable, local guide too. It was an absolute pleasure to work with you both on such a wonderful trip. Thank you... Read more

HI Cynthia

Thank you for taking the time to review your 'last-minute', trip to Scotland. We were certainly firing from the hip to secure your trip in such a short space of time. Sounds like the weather threw a curved ball with the boat tour being cancelled, however, this was well recovered by our wonderful driver Ian. And how awesome to be able to tour the NC500 with such a knowledgeable, local guide too.

It was an absolute pleasure to work with you both on such a wonderful trip. Thank you for your detailed feedback and we thank you for choosing KimKim.

Look forward to working with you in the future.

All the best, Jane, Eva & The Team