Profile photo for Kateryna Garkavenko
10547 messages
active 6 hours ago

Kateryna Garkavenko

Travel is truly one of the most rewarding experiences we can have. It's amazing how much we can learn and grow from every trip, and I believe that most people will benefit from exploring new places. Personally, I’ve visited around 50 countries and am excited to continue discovering even more of the world. I think travel is so personal and meaningful, and it’s always a positive experience that leaves lasting memories. I'm passionate about creating tailored tours that meet individual needs, and I hope these trips will lead to unforgettable adventures and memories for everyone.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"Iconic landmarks of the capital of Great Britain, historical sites and its royal glory. Romantic landscapes and fabulous beauty of England's countryside with thatched-roof cottages. Beautiful national parks of Wales with its stunning wild scenery. Charming Roman baths and Georgian architecture, and of course Scotland with its rich history, culture and well-known castles."

How did you get involved in travel?

"After quiet a number of different occupations including high-end residential real estate expert, advisor to the Head of the bank, YAGP ballet competition organiser I did understand that only tailoring travel tours makes me feel that I live my life fully. "

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"Conquering Thorang - La Pass 5,415 meters high on our Annapurna Circuit track in Nepal was probably the most profound emotional experience I've ever had. It was my personal challenge surrounded by breathtaking Himalayan landscapes and best friends. "

Top itineraries and travel advice
Family itineraries

Recent trip reviews for Kateryna

Thoughtful itinerary with time and budget in mind
England | Mar 6 - Mar 14, 2026

Jessica
Jessica S.
Columbia, SC | Reviewed on Mar 15, 2026
Thoughtful itinerary that made the best use of our limited time and kept in mind our location and budget. Kate was easy to work with and responsive. All of our experiences were well paced throughout the week. Read more

Thoughtful itinerary that made the best use of our limited time and kept in mind our location and budget. Kate was easy to work with and responsive. All of our experiences were well paced throughout the week.

Activity Reviews
Discover London in a Private Black Cab
Discover London in a Private Black Cab
London

Perfect first stop for our first day in London after an overnight flight. It allowed us to get a lay of the land from the backseat of a comfortable cab with a very knowledgeable driver, John. He was prompt in our pickup (even early) and did the best he could, even though it was raining. We got out of the vehicle to look and touch the old Roman wall which was a neat moment.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Tower of London Beefeater Welcome & Crown Jewels
Tower of London Beefeater Welcome & Crown Jewels
London

You could spend several days here, but we knew to go straight to the Crown Jewels as that tends to get the busiest the quickest. After that the Beefeater tour is a great way to get some history highlights and learn about the grounds and the people who protect them. The café has wonderfully fresh and delicious food and is a great place to break up the day of looking at all of the buildings and exhibits.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Cotswolds Tour (From London)
Cotswolds Tour (From London)
London

We had a great time once we got on the bus. We had left our flat in Elephant & Castle at 7:30 that morning but missed our tube exit and had to backtrack via Black cab, which made us late. We contacted the number on our ticket, who expressed concern that the bus might not wait for us. Our tickets said to be there at 8:15 with an 8:30 departure, but, despite our best efforts, we arrived at 8:38. The man at the counter (also the person I talked with on the phone) was super rude and chastising about our tardiness. We felt horrible, but he made us feel 100 times worse. Liam, our driver, and the other passengers were very understanding. After that, Liam had a wonderful day planned for us where we had time to go about the towns and see historical sites as well as shop and eat. It was a great introduction to the area, and we can't wait to go back.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
customer service of ticket staff
Transport
Great driver and very knowledgeable.
Local specialist: Kateryna Garkavenko
Kateryna
Kateryna Garkavenko
Local specialist in London | Replied on Mar 17, 2026
Hi Jessica, Thank you so much for your truly kind and thoughtful review - it honestly means so much to me! I’m absolutely delighted to hear that the itinerary suited your time and budget so well and that everything felt smoothly paced throughout your trip. It’s wonderful to know you enjoyed the Black Cab tour and your visit to the Tower of London - such special experiences and a lovely way to begin exploring the city. I was, of course, very sorry to hear about the experience with the staff... Read more

Hi Jessica, Thank you so much for your truly kind and thoughtful review - it honestly means so much to me! I’m absolutely delighted to hear that the itinerary suited your time and budget so well and that everything felt smoothly paced throughout your trip. It’s wonderful to know you enjoyed the Black Cab tour and your visit to the Tower of London - such special experiences and a lovely way to begin exploring the city. I was, of course, very sorry to hear about the experience with the staff before your Cotswolds tour, and I truly appreciate you sharing that. I will certainly pass this feedback along. At the same time, I’m so glad that your day with Liam turned things around and that you were still able to enjoy such a memorable experience. It was an absolute pleasure planning this journey with you, and I feel very grateful to have been a small part of your trip. I would be delighted to help you again anytime your travels bring you back this way
With warmest wishes from London,
Kate

Kateryna was amazing
Scotland | Feb 27 - Mar 8, 2026

Liz
Liz H.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Mar 11, 2026
Kateryna planned an amazing vacation in Scotland! She was super responsive at all times. She planned the trip according to all my must sees and helped me keep it within the budget I had planned. We had what could have been a disaster while on our flight to Scotland from the US our hotel canceled us for our first three nights. Kateryna had us rebooked into a new, and better, hotel and had our airport transfers adjusted before we even landed. I would recommend Kateryna to everyone I know and... Read more

Kateryna planned an amazing vacation in Scotland! She was super responsive at all times. She planned the trip according to all my must sees and helped me keep it within the budget I had planned. We had what could have been a disaster while on our flight to Scotland from the US our hotel canceled us for our first three nights. Kateryna had us rebooked into a new, and better, hotel and had our airport transfers adjusted before we even landed. I would recommend Kateryna to everyone I know and hope to plan a future trip with her some day.

Hotel Reviews
Cameron house
Cuillin Hills Hotel
Portree
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Ness Walk
Inverness
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Outlander Castle Tour
Outlander Castle Tour
Edinburgh
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Holyrood Distillery Tour
Holyrood Distillery Tour
Edinburgh
Local specialist: Kateryna Garkavenko
Kateryna
Kateryna Garkavenko
Local specialist in London | Replied on Mar 12, 2026
Hi Liz, Thank you so much for your incredibly kind words - it truly means a lot to me. I’m so happy to hear that you had such a wonderful trip to Scotland and that everything worked out well in the end. That hotel situation right before arrival was certainly not ideal, but I’m really glad we were able to get everything sorted quickly and that the new hotel turned out to be even better 😊 Knowing that you could simply enjoy your trip once you landed is the most important thing for me. It... Read more

Hi Liz,

Thank you so much for your incredibly kind words - it truly means a lot to me. I’m so happy to hear that you had such a wonderful trip to Scotland and that everything worked out well in the end.

That hotel situation right before arrival was certainly not ideal, but I’m really glad we were able to get everything sorted quickly and that the new hotel turned out to be even better 😊 Knowing that you could simply enjoy your trip once you landed is the most important thing for me.

It was such a pleasure planning this journey with you, and I’m very grateful for your recommendation. I would absolutely love to help you plan another adventure whenever the time comes!

Wishing you many happy memories from Scotland and hoping to work together again someday!

With love from London,
Kate

Girls weekend in London: Me with my two daughters
England | Jan 2 - Jan 7, 2026

Candace
Candace H.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Jan 08, 2026
The "London in a Private Black Cab" was amazing especially with John's stories and knowledge, and a bit of gossip. Delianne was such a delight as host of our private "Royal London Tour!" She is a charming hostess with wonderful inside scoops she has gained from a lively life with friends "in the know." She is the type of person you would want to have for weekly dinners to add effervescence to your life. Kate planned a perfect week for us with smatterings of many of London's offerings... Read more

The "London in a Private Black Cab" was amazing especially with John's stories and knowledge, and a bit of gossip. Delianne was such a delight as host of our private "Royal London Tour!" She is a charming hostess with wonderful inside scoops she has gained from a lively life with friends "in the know." She is the type of person you would want to have for weekly dinners to add effervescence to your life.

Kate planned a perfect week for us with smatterings of many of London's offerings tailored to what we wanted without even knowing ourselves. She was responsive when asked questions, and on top of everything. We had very little time (end of the year and Christmas holidays taking up so much of our time), so it was such a blessing to have Kate to plan the trip so beautifully. Thank you.

Activity Reviews
Discover London in a Private Black Cab
Discover London in a Private Black Cab
London

John made the tour. It was incredible how much he fit into the time slot. His knowledge is unsurpassed, and he is a delightful talker with many interesting and humorous stories to add color to the tour.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
The Royal London Tour: Changing of the Guard and More
The Royal London Tour: Changing of the Guard and More
London

Delianne was a delight with so many anecdotes she has gleaned from her full life. She is bubbly and a joy to be around.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Thames Cruise with Dinner
Thames Cruise with Dinner
London

Could have missed this. I would have preferred an informative river cruise that told us what we were seeing with some anecdotes. This was a very nice dinner cruise with music. Something you would do for an anniversary or birthday.

Tower of London Beefeater Welcome & Crown Jewels
Tower of London Beefeater Welcome & Crown Jewels
London

The size of the Beefeater tour was very large and difficult to hear the stories. We ended up going off on our own, and missing out on some of the colorful tales of the Beefeater.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Kateryna Garkavenko
Kateryna
Kateryna Garkavenko
Local specialist in London | Replied on Jan 10, 2026
Dear Candace, Reading your beautiful words truly touched my heart! Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a thoughtful and generous review. It means more to me than I can properly express. It was such a joy to design this special girls’ trip for you and your daughters, and I’m absolutely delighted to hear how much you enjoyed John and Delianne - they are both such special people, and I’m so happy their warmth, stories and spirit added sparkle to your time in London. Thank you... Read more

Dear Candace,

Reading your beautiful words truly touched my heart! Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a thoughtful and generous review. It means more to me than I can properly express.

It was such a joy to design this special girls’ trip for you and your daughters, and I’m absolutely delighted to hear how much you enjoyed John and Delianne - they are both such special people, and I’m so happy their warmth, stories and spirit added sparkle to your time in London.

Thank you as well for your honest and valuable feedback on the Thames Cruise and the Beefeater tour - this is incredibly helpful, and I truly appreciate you sharing it. Your insights help me continue refining experiences so that every future trip can be even better tailored.

It was a real pleasure planning this journey for you, especially knowing how limited your time was during such a busy season. I’m so grateful you trusted me with your holiday, and I hope this was just the beginning of many more beautiful adventures ahead.

Best,
Kate

Kate was wonderful,,, very responsive and a d...
Scotland | Dec 15 - Dec 26, 2025

L
Larry G.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Jan 02, 2026
Kate was wonderful,,, very responsive and a delight to work with. She tied up almost every loose end, went above and beyond on a couple of occasions and when she didn’t know an answer to our questions, she quickly found the answer and provided it right away.
I do want to provide feedback on a couple of things,,, fist the positive,,,,, the itinerary was fine, maybe a little too aggressive for people in their 70s but that was more our responsibility than Kimkims. We made changes on the spot...
Read more

Kate was wonderful,,, very responsive and a delight to work with. She tied up almost every loose end, went above and beyond on a couple of occasions and when she didn’t know an answer to our questions, she quickly found the answer and provided it right away.
I do want to provide feedback on a couple of things,,, fist the positive,,,,, the itinerary was fine, maybe a little too aggressive for people in their 70s but that was more our responsibility than Kimkims. We made changes on the spot and that was fine. It did result in our not taking a number of tours that we prepaid for.
Transportation was fine, both private cars and trains.
Accommodation’s were of mixed quality. In Edinburgh we enjoyed the Glasshouse Hotel but we wished that our hotel could have been more centrally located and if not in the old city, maybe closer to it. The Leonardo In Glasgow, we would never stay in that prearranged hotel and it should not be used as a choice in the future; out of the way, old and dated, heat didn’t work in our room and not a friendly staff.

Hotel Reviews
The Glasshouse, Autograph Collection
Edinburgh

Nice hotel, accommodations were clean and comfortable

Authenticity & Character
Location
Move the hotel choice closer to the old city
Staff
Guest Services/ concierge were great
Cleanliness & Comfort
Had a number of problems in the bathroom,,,, first arrives, no heat in the room, thermostat needed to be replaced; show door did not close, could not be fixed so bathroom floor flooded everyday; temperature control on shower was broken and needed to be replaced. Too many mishaps for one stay
Leonardo Royal Hotel Glasgow

Terrible experience here, you should not offer this hotel in the future

Authenticity & Character
Hotel was dated, needed a renovation, dingy and sparse,,,, our room had no functions heat,,,,, they had to improvise and moved a space heated in for our stay
Location
Out of the way, don’t feel particularly safe walking around neighborhood
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Don’t use this hotel,,,,, it was at the end of our trip and did not leave a positive last impression
AC Hotel by Marriott Inverness
Inverness

Clean, efficient, tiny rooms

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Edinburgh Castle & Old Town Private Tour
Edinburgh Castle & Old Town Private Tour
Edinburgh

Guide was warn and very knowledgeable but provided tooooo much info, couldn’t absorb it all. Appealed tha she had a set program and couldn’t deviate,,, tooo much and too deep of detail

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The Kelpies Guided Tour
The Kelpies Guided Tour
Scotland
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Erie from Executuve Private transfers was a terrific driver. We used him twice on long distance drive….. A real gem and great representative for the company
Transport
Local specialist: Kateryna Garkavenko
Kateryna
Kateryna Garkavenko
Local specialist in London | Replied on Jan 12, 2026
Larry, Thank you so much for taking the time to share such thoughtful and honest feedback! I truly appreciate it more than you know. It was an absolute pleasure working with you, and I’m very grateful for your kind words. I’m really glad to hear that overall the journey went smoothly and that you enjoyed many parts of your adventure, as well as the transportation and your time in Edinburgh. At the same time, I sincerely appreciate you sharing your experiences with the accommodations -... Read more

Larry,

Thank you so much for taking the time to share such thoughtful and honest feedback! I truly appreciate it more than you know. It was an absolute pleasure working with you, and I’m very grateful for your kind words.

I’m really glad to hear that overall the journey went smoothly and that you enjoyed many parts of your adventure, as well as the transportation and your time in Edinburgh. At the same time, I sincerely appreciate you sharing your experiences with the accommodations - especially in Glasgow. I’m genuinely sorry that the Leonardo Royal did not meet expectations, and I will absolutely take this feedback on board so that we can continue refining our hotel selections and improving future trips.

Your comments about pacing and tour styles are also incredibly helpful. They allow me to better fine-tune future itineraries, especially for travellers who prefer a gentler rhythm and more flexible guiding styles.

Thank you again for trusting me with your holiday planning - it truly means a lot. I hope that despite the few hiccups, your trip still brought you many special memories, and I would be honored to assist you again in the future 😊

Best,
Kate

My friend and I had the MOST AMAZING London/P...
England | Sep 26 - Oct 2, 2025

A
Amy G.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Jan 01, 2026
My friend and I had the MOST AMAZING London/Paris adventure that was organized by Kate on the kimkim platform. We went in September 2025 and still talk about this trip daily. We are planning our 2026 adventure with her now! Read more

My friend and I had the MOST AMAZING London/Paris adventure that was organized by Kate on the kimkim platform. We went in September 2025 and still talk about this trip daily. We are planning our 2026 adventure with her now!

Hotel Reviews
The Academy London
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hôtel du Petit Moulin - Small Luxury Hotels of the World
Paris
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Kateryna Garkavenko
Kateryna
Kateryna Garkavenko
Local specialist in London | Replied on Jan 12, 2026

Dear Amy and Alan,

Thank you so, so much for your beautiful message!Reading your words filled my heart with so much joy. It means the world to me to know that your London and Paris adventure left such wonderful memories and that you still talk about it — that’s the greatest compliment I could ever receive.

It was an absolute pleasure planning your journey, and I’m beyond excited to be working with you again on your 2026 adventure. I can’t wait to create another beautiful chapter of memories for you.

Warmest wishes,
Kateryna

The Magic of Scotland
Scotland | Sep 9 - Sep 16, 2025

C
Caroline M.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Oct 23, 2025
Our trip to Scotland was magical. Kate was very attentive, always quick to respond with questions and to offer alternatives to the itinerary. The pace was perfect and we hit every sight we wanted to see, with the exception of Nessie, she was not in view the day we were at Loch Ness! Eridon was exceptional as a driver/guide. He drove us to Portree and made a few stops en route that were not on the itinerary, places that he thought we'd like, and we did! It was a long day, but one of... Read more

Our trip to Scotland was magical. Kate was very attentive, always quick to respond with questions and to offer alternatives to the itinerary. The pace was perfect and we hit every sight we wanted to see, with the exception of Nessie, she was not in view the day we were at Loch Ness!

Eridon was exceptional as a driver/guide. He drove us to Portree and made a few stops en route that were not on the itinerary, places that he thought we'd like, and we did! It was a long day, but one of the best ones. He was lovely and very knowledgable.

All the hotels were great, but Taransay House stood out. Our stay there included breakfast and dinner each night and the food was delicious. The rooms were immaculate and very spacious and comfortable but what stood out the most is how hospitable Murdo and his family are, he was there at the door to greet us upon arrival and we immediately felt like old friends. He helped us with mapping out routes, and finding a driver for us, by calling in a favor, when he learned that we had no transportation reserved.

As a note - in many of the more remote places in Scotland, Uber is not available and taxis need to be reserved (well) in advance. We didn't understand this and were caught out more than once when there was no transportation available. It would have been better (and easier) for us to have that done in advance, whether by Kate or on our own, as it was a bit stressful on the day to learn that we couldn't move forward with our plans due to lack of transportation.

Hotel Reviews
Virgin Hotels Edinburgh
Edinburgh

Fabulous location, right on "Diagon Alley" and walking distance to everything in Edinburgh. The staff was very helpful and very welcoming. Rooms were comfortable and clean.

Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Taransay House, Small Hotel
Portree

Taransay House is a gem. Only four rooms, run by a family, includes breakfast and dinner. We have stayed at 5 star resorts all over the world, and Taransay House is on par. The rooms are immaculate, large and very comfortable, and the food is wonderful. The family that runs it are very special, we felt welcome immediately and when our stay was over, I didn't want to leave. It was one of the highlights of our trip.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Walking distance to the center of Portree, overlooking a waterway.
Staff
Murdo and Scott are fantastic!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Prestonfield House
Edinburgh

What a special experience! We felt like we had stepped back in time to another, more civilized, era, but with all the modern amenities and comforts.

Authenticity & Character
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Edinburgh: Harry Potter Magical Guided Walking Tour
Edinburgh: Harry Potter Magical Guided Walking Tour
Edinburgh

Even my husband, who is not a Potter fan, thought this was so much fun.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Kateryna Garkavenko
Kateryna
Kateryna Garkavenko
Local specialist in London | Replied on Oct 24, 2025
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! I’m so happy to hear that your trip felt magical and that you enjoyed the balance of sights, comfort, and local charm! Taransay House really is such a gem, and I’m thrilled you connected with Murdo and his family - they’re incredibly special people. I’m also so glad that Eridon made your journey even more memorable; he has such a great heart and knowledge of Scotland. I do feel a little guilty, though, that I wasn’t clearer about Uber and local... Read more

Thank you so much for this wonderful review! I’m so happy to hear that your trip felt magical and that you enjoyed the balance of sights, comfort, and local charm!

Taransay House really is such a gem, and I’m thrilled you connected with Murdo and his family - they’re incredibly special people. I’m also so glad that Eridon made your journey even more memorable; he has such a great heart and knowledge of Scotland.

I do feel a little guilty, though, that I wasn’t clearer about Uber and local transport on the Isle of Skye - you’re absolutely right, it doesn’t operate there. I left that day open to give you flexibility, but I absolutely should have been more explicit about that. Thank you for mentioning it; it helps me make things even smoother for future travelers.

It was such a pleasure to plan this journey with you - thank you again for your trust, kindness, and detailed feedback. I’m so glad Scotland gave you such beautiful memories (even if Nessie stayed shy!).

Warm wishes,
Kate

The trip was overall great. It was planned to...
Scotland | Sep 20 - Sep 29, 2025

B
Bridgid D.
Denver, CO | Reviewed on Oct 19, 2025
The trip was overall great. It was planned too full do the activities,iand our distillary day was disappoitment (the local guide was great, but it was poorly planned). Hotels and local guides were amazing, and I can't wait to get back to Scotland! Read more

The trip was overall great. It was planned too full do the activities,iand our distillary day was disappoitment (the local guide was great, but it was poorly planned).

Hotels and local guides were amazing, and I can't wait to get back to Scotland!

Hotel Reviews
Cameron house
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Monkstadt 1745
Linicro, Isle of Skye
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Rocpool Reserve Hotel
Inverness
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Townhouse Aberfeldy
Aberfeldy
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
N°11 Boutique Restaurant and Rooms Hotel
Edinburgh
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Loch Ness and Caledonian Canal Cruise
Loch Ness and Caledonian Canal Cruise
Inverness
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Speyside Distillery Tour from Inverness
Speyside Distillery Tour from Inverness
Inverness

It was planned in a way we didn't have even have enough time to complete the tours, and not option for lunch or even a snack all day.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Wild Brown Trout and Grayling Fishing River Tay
Wild Brown Trout and Grayling Fishing River Tay
Scotland
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Edinburgh Old Town Tour
Edinburgh Old Town Tour
Edinburgh
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Kateryna Garkavenko
Kateryna
Kateryna Garkavenko
Local specialist in London | Replied on Nov 04, 2025
Hi Bridgid, Thank you so much for sharing your feedback. I’m really happy to hear that overall you had a wonderful time in Scotland and that you can’t wait to return! That truly means a lot. As for the distillery day, I’m truly sorry to hear it didn’t meet your expectations. This experience was arranged with a private guide, and one of the main advantages of having a private guide is the flexibility to shape the day according to your preferences - including taking breaks, enjoying a nice... Read more

Hi Bridgid,

Thank you so much for sharing your feedback. I’m really happy to hear that overall you had a wonderful time in Scotland and that you can’t wait to return! That truly means a lot.

As for the distillery day, I’m truly sorry to hear it didn’t meet your expectations. This experience was arranged with a private guide, and one of the main advantages of having a private guide is the flexibility to shape the day according to your preferences - including taking breaks, enjoying a nice lunch, or adjusting timing along the way. All our previous travellers have found this tour to be a real highlight, with the chance to relax, explore, and savour a delicious meal during the day. I’ll still reach out to the supplier to understand what might have happened, but in such private experiences, the guide is always happy to adapt the plan on the spot if anything feels rushed.

I really appreciate you taking the time to share this, Bridgid - your feedback helps us make every trip even better.

Warmly,
Kate

Kate from KimKim connected us with drivers an...
Scotland | Oct 2 - Oct 11, 2025

Michael
Michael S.
Boston, MA | Reviewed on Oct 17, 2025
Kate from KimKim connected us with drivers and guides that were just good people with local knowledge and an interest in helping us have a positive experience. Numerous times during our trip, my wife and I commented that the support from Kate made this a comfortable and stress free trip. Read more

Kate from KimKim connected us with drivers and guides that were just good people with local knowledge and an interest in helping us have a positive experience. Numerous times during our trip, my wife and I commented that the support from Kate made this a comfortable and stress free trip.

Hotel Reviews
Cameron house

Lovely property and welcoming staff.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Inverlochy Castle Hotel
Fort William

Our time here was impacted by a major wind and rain storm. The staff rose to the occasion and did their best to pamper us and help make it a positive staff.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Views are amazing.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Marmalade Hotel
Portree

Nice property in a very convenient location.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Front desk staff was not overly friendly. All other employees at the property were great.
Cleanliness & Comfort
River Ness Hotel, a member of Radisson Individuals
Inverness
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel du Vin & Bistro Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Authenticity & Character
Unique property, in a good sense.
Location
Staff
Wonderful welcoming staff. Made us feel like we were appreciated.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Holyrood Distillery Tour
Holyrood Distillery Tour
Edinburgh

Was looking for a whiskey tour. This tour focused more on their other distilled spirits. Was not a fan of their whiskey.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Talisker Distillery
Talisker Distillery
Scotland
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Inverness Walking Tour
Private Inverness Walking Tour
Scotland

Our guide was knowledgeable and engaging.

Explore Glen Affric, Culloden, and Clava Cairns Tour
Explore Glen Affric, Culloden, and Clava Cairns Tour
Inverness
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Edinburgh Old Town Tour
Edinburgh Old Town Tour
Edinburgh
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
The Vaults Tour
The Vaults Tour
Edinburgh

If you have limited time, don’t think this needs to be a priority.

Quality of Experience
Probably the least favorite guide we had while in Scotland.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Kateryna Garkavenko
Kateryna
Kateryna Garkavenko
Local specialist in London | Replied on Oct 23, 2025
Hi Michael, Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m really touched to hear that you and your wife had such a positive experience and felt well supported throughout your trip. It means a lot to me to know that everything went smoothly and that the guides and drivers helped make your journey comfortable and stress-free. I truly appreciate your detailed feedback on the hotels and activities - it’s so helpful and I’ll keep your notes in mind for future travellers. I’m just so glad you... Read more

Hi Michael,

Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m really touched to hear that you and your wife had such a positive experience and felt well supported throughout your trip. It means a lot to me to know that everything went smoothly and that the guides and drivers helped make your journey comfortable and stress-free.

I truly appreciate your detailed feedback on the hotels and activities - it’s so helpful and I’ll keep your notes in mind for future travellers. I’m just so glad you enjoyed Scotland despite the stormy weather in Fort William!

It was an absolute pleasure planning your trip, and I hope our paths cross again for another adventure someday.

Warmest wishes,
Kate

Well Organized and Enjoyable
Scotland | Sep 24 - Oct 2, 2025

Barbara
Barbara R.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Oct 09, 2025
Our trip went smoothly overall and all of our accommodations and private guides were exceptional. Shawna did a fabulous private tour of Old Town Edinburgh with us. She recommended a wonderful place to eat in Old Town and we ended up eating there again on our last day when we returned to Edinburgh for our flight home the next day. We had an issue with Ian, our driver (son of Brian of BW taxis) on our transfer to Inverness from Portree-he didn't seem to know where he was supposed to take us... Read more

Our trip went smoothly overall and all of our accommodations and private guides were exceptional. Shawna did a fabulous private tour of Old Town Edinburgh with us. She recommended a wonderful place to eat in Old Town and we ended up eating there again on our last day when we returned to Edinburgh for our flight home the next day.

We had an issue with Ian, our driver (son of Brian of BW taxis) on our transfer to Inverness from Portree-he didn't seem to know where he was supposed to take us and insisted that he had let you know that he could not do Culloden, Cairngorms and Clava Cairns on the same day ; I let Kateryna know and she fixed the issues promptly (on a Sunday!) and arranged for a driver on Monday who was outstanding (Jim). He and Kateryna made sure that we were able to do the activities that we were supposed to do on Sunday even though it made a very long day for both Jim and ourselves. (It was almost dark and we were the only ones left when we left the Culloden battlefield!) If the driver on Sunday had followed the itinerary we would have been able to see all the places on our itinerary before it became so late. I would suggest that you do not use ian again. Constantine, our driver from Edinburgh to Loch Lomond was very accommodating - he stopped at Balloch Castle and took us into Luss. Our driver from Loch Lomond to Portree (Eri) was also great. The driver who picked us up at the airport did not meet us in the airport as we expected but sent me a WhatsApp video of where we should go to find him. We weren't able to follow his directions very well and he had to come and find us after all. I understand that he was not supposed to leave his car in the place that he had parked but this disconcerted us as it was the first thing we encountered upon our arrival.

Kateryna's suggested activities were perfect for us! We were able to see a lot in the 9 days that we were there. We ended up doing the Mary King's Close tour on the last day that we were in Edinburgh which was not something that we booked with you. It really was a spectacular 9 days. The only other thing I want to mention (I've mentioned this to Kateryna) is that we have used agencies for several other international trips in the past and we have always been able to view a detailed list of expenses for drivers, hotels and excursions. I'm not sure why you do not wish to make this information available to your travelers but my husband prefers this transparency. Even though Kateryna did a wonderful job for us, he would be hesitant to use your services in the future for this reason.

Local specialist: Kateryna Garkavenko
Kateryna
Kateryna Garkavenko
Local specialist in London | Replied on Oct 20, 2025
Dear Barbara, Thank you so much for your wonderful review — it truly warmed my heart to read it. I’m so happy to know that your trip went so well overall and that you loved the experiences, guides, and hotels we arranged together. It’s especially lovely to hear that Shawna made such a great impression and that you enjoyed her recommendation enough to go back on your last day - that really says it all! I’m so glad your nine days in Scotland turned into such a beautiful adventure. I also want... Read more

Dear Barbara,

Thank you so much for your wonderful review — it truly warmed my heart to read it. I’m so happy to know that your trip went so well overall and that you loved the experiences, guides, and hotels we arranged together. It’s especially lovely to hear that Shawna made such a great impression and that you enjoyed her recommendation enough to go back on your last day - that really says it all! I’m so glad your nine days in Scotland turned into such a beautiful adventure.

I also want to sincerely thank you for your thoughtful and constructive feedback about the driving arrangements. I completely understand how those moments could have been unsettling, especially at the start of your journey, and I truly appreciate your patience as we worked through things. I’m delighted that Jim was able to step in and make sure you didn’t miss out on any of your planned experiences, even if it made for a long day. Your comments about Ian and the arrival pickup are very valuable, and I want you to know that we’ve taken them very seriously. We will definitely not be working with Ian again, and I’ve already spoken directly with our airport transfer provider, who assured me that such a situation will never happen in the future.

As for your note about pricing transparency, thank you for mentioning it so kindly. As I explained earlier, this is connected to the NDAs we sign with our local providers - we receive special contracted rates that differ from public market prices, and the system we use is designed to protect those agreements. That’s why we can’t display a full itemized breakdown.

The process of improving our services must be continuous, and it’s only through thoughtful feedback like yours that we can keep refining and striving to meet our guests’ expectations.

Thank you again from the bottom of my heart for your trust, your warmth, and your time in sharing these reflections. It was a true pleasure to plan your trip, Barbara.

Warmest wishes,
Kate

Hi Kateryna,Our trip to England was wonderfu...
England | Sep 21 - Sep 28, 2025

E
Ellen G.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Oct 07, 2025
Hi Kateryna,
Our trip to England was wonderful and you were great, responding very quickly to our texts and emails, and making the adjustments we requested. Our guides, Chris, our Black Cab driver in London, and Ulrich in Bath, were so knowledgeable and fun. Loved our hotels, very quaint and comfortable (especially The Manor, I'd like to live there forever). Enjoyed our diverse itinerary and the great transportation between town, especially our train ride.
Thank you so much for making...
Read more

Hi Kateryna,
Our trip to England was wonderful and you were great, responding very quickly to our texts and emails, and making the adjustments we requested. Our guides, Chris, our Black Cab driver in London, and Ulrich in Bath, were so knowledgeable and fun. Loved our hotels, very quaint and comfortable (especially The Manor, I'd like to live there forever). Enjoyed our diverse itinerary and the great transportation between town, especially our train ride.
Thank you so much for making this trip perfect.

Hotel Review
The Manor House
Castle Combe

Lovely 14th century building with beautiful grounds and common rooms. Our rooms were cute, spacious, and incorporated some of the original materials. We had a yummy afternoon tea at the hotel and strolled into town for dinner. Staff was pleasant and helpful. An elevator would be nice.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Kateryna Garkavenko
Kateryna
Kateryna Garkavenko
Local specialist in London | Replied on Oct 12, 2025
Dear Ellen, What an absolute joy it was to read your message! I’m so happy to hear that your trip to England turned out so wonderfully and that everything came together just as we hoped. It was such a pleasure planning it for you, and I loved hearing how much you enjoyed your time with Chris and Ulrich - they’ll be thrilled to know their warmth and knowledge made your days special. And oh, The Manor House - I couldn’t agree more! It’s one of those magical places that makes you dream about... Read more

Dear Ellen,

What an absolute joy it was to read your message! I’m so happy to hear that your trip to England turned out so wonderfully and that everything came together just as we hoped. It was such a pleasure planning it for you, and I loved hearing how much you enjoyed your time with Chris and Ulrich - they’ll be thrilled to know their warmth and knowledge made your days special.

And oh, The Manor House - I couldn’t agree more! It’s one of those magical places that makes you dream about staying forever. I’m delighted you felt the same way and that the combination of comfort, charm, and history resonated so well with you.

Thank you again for your kind words and for being such a lovely traveler to work with. I’m so glad England treated you kindly, and I hope our paths cross again one day - perhaps for another adventure!

Sending you love from London,
Kate