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High Point Holidays and Randonnees Outre-Manche

15 years on from taking our first bookings, High Point Holidays has grown from small beginnings in the Beaujolais region of France to cover active holidays across the UK France, and elsewhere in Europe.

We specialise in active holidays including hiking and cycling trips, mainly self-guided, where travellers immerse themselves in the local way of life, through our careful choice of accommodation, location, and routes.

We are a truly independent tour operator; not part of a large company. The majority of our holidays are set up or created by us based on our principles, so we have full control of all aspects of the trip from the choice of the guest house and transfers to the smaller key details.

The philosophy of the company has been clear from the beginning; to provide good quality, active holidays with a commitment to personal and flexible service. We create unique walking holidays with authentic local experiences.

We are here to help you every step of the way. You can contact us always, before, during and after your holiday, to ensure your satisfaction.

High Point Holidays and Randonnees Outre-Manche is part of the following groups: France Travel Agents, Ireland Travel Agents, United Kingdom Travel Agents

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Top itineraries and travel advice

Recent Trip Reviews for High Point Holidays and Randonnees Outre-Manche

Great trip plan provided by Cathy!
Ireland | Feb 12 - Feb 20, 2025

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Suzanne C.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Feb 21, 2025
Cathy did an amazing job delivering a wonderful international trip to Ireland. She was very responsive and chose wonderful activities the whole family could enjoy. We especially love the Falconry visit with Mark. Read more

Cathy did an amazing job delivering a wonderful international trip to Ireland. She was very responsive and chose wonderful activities the whole family could enjoy. We especially love the Falconry visit with Mark.

Hotel Review
Ashling Hotel Dublin
Dublin

They would not let us check in a minute before 3PM. The train was steps out front of the door, it was a bit unnerving with kids. Would not recommend with children. It was clean, and well kept otherwise not a lot of amenities.

Authenticity & Character
Clean
Location
It was tricky for taxi drivers, as it was on train track
Staff
Not friendly
Cleanliness & Comfort
comfortable Beds & Bedding
Local specialist: Cathy Geoffroy

Cathy did an incredible thoughtful trip itine...
Ireland | Dec 27 - Jan 3, 2025

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Rachel K.
Boston, MA | Reviewed on Jan 12, 2025
Cathy did an incredible thoughtful trip itinerary for our family of 3. The entire trip was flawless, and we really appreciated not having to worry about a thing! Will definitely use your services again!
Thank you!
Rachel Keyser
Read more

Cathy did an incredible thoughtful trip itinerary for our family of 3. The entire trip was flawless, and we really appreciated not having to worry about a thing! Will definitely use your services again!
Thank you!
Rachel Keyser

Hotel Reviews
The Galmont Hotel & Spa
Galway

Even though the room was small, the breakfast was AMAZING! Great location as well and very clean

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Iveagh Gardens Hotel
Dublin
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Cathy Geoffroy
Cathy
Cathy Geoffroy
Local specialist in Dordogne | Replied on Jan 13, 2025

Thank you so much, Rachel! It was an absolute pleasure organizing your family trip to Ireland! I’d be delighted to work with you again on your next adventures, can’t wait to help create more unforgettable memories! 😊🍀

Exploring Scotland Over the December Holidays
Scotland | Dec 22 - Jan 1, 2025

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Chad H.
Morgantown, WV | Reviewed on Jan 12, 2025
We had an outstanding Scottish trip over the December holidays! Stephen and Marine provided wonderful support in planning a 11 day trip that took us on a loop from Edinburgh to the Highlands (Glencoe and Skye). In Edinburgh, our local guide, Gareth, was phenomenal. He maintained a captivating discussion of the city over over three hours! The Wee Touring Menu at Wedgewood was a huge success with the entire family. The Mary King's Close Tour was a wonderful addition to the trip and well... Read more

We had an outstanding Scottish trip over the December holidays! Stephen and Marine provided wonderful support in planning a 11 day trip that took us on a loop from Edinburgh to the Highlands (Glencoe and Skye).

In Edinburgh, our local guide, Gareth, was phenomenal. He maintained a captivating discussion of the city over over three hours! The Wee Touring Menu at Wedgewood was a huge success with the entire family. The Mary King's Close Tour was a wonderful addition to the trip and well worth the time.

Once we left Edinburgh, hiking in Glencoe, Pitlochery, and Skye was pretty outstanding as well. While it was always a little but rainy (as expected), we really enjoyed the views, the streams, and waterfalls.

Hotel Reviews
York Place Apartments by Destination Edinburgh
Edinburgh

Very comfortable, quiet accommodations in the heart of Edinburgh. Very spacious, strong WiFi, and is a place that a large group could stay for several days. The single blip with York Place Apartments was the check-in process. This was nobody waiting for us and there is no desk--so we were somewhat stuck outside this apartment without a way to get inside the apartment.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Very walkable to downtown, restaurants, etc. The biggest challenge is there is no way to park in front so you will need to park a car and walk to the apartment.
Staff
Have staff there to meet people or provide a clear point of contact to enter into the apartment.
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Glencoe Inn
Ballachulish

The Glencoe Inn is very comfortable and tucked away in the mountains. From a location perspective, Bellachulish was just beautiful and had great places to hike. The Inn's accommodations were limited during our stay. Upon arriving, we were told that the main restaurant and bar were closed for renovations and there was limited staff available. The Inn provided a limited menu and limited bar during our stay.

Authenticity & Character
The character was not clear since many portions of the Inn were closed or under renovation.
Location
Beautiful location and great place to explore
Staff
Very helpful and kind!
Cleanliness & Comfort
The rooms were clean and quiet and we really enjoyed the shared community spaces.
Broadford Hotel
Broadford
Authenticity & Character
Location
Beautiful location with good access to local restaurants.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Atholl Villa Guest House
Pitlochry

A solid place--the staff was very friendly, the rooms were clean, and comfortable, and the hotel is in a great location.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Right on the main strip, the rooms were quiet and comfortable.
Staff
The staff were present, they communicated well, and they were there to help if you needed guidance.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Broomhall Castle
Stirling

The location was wonderful and provided a unique experience for the family. The rooms were clean and comfortable. The biggest questions were based on the New Years' celebration events. While we initially believed there would be options to eat locally or eat within the hotel at the bar, the only option was to buy tickets for a New Years Dinner.

Authenticity & Character
How often can you sleep in a castle?
Location
Great location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Small group visit of Mary King's Close
Small group visit of Mary King's Close
Edinburgh

Just a fantastic way to understand the city's history and how lower class people lived.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Creative and interesting tour guides. Informed and interested in telling their stories.
Private Walking Tour of Edinburgh with a Top Local Guide
Private Walking Tour of Edinburgh with a Top Local Guide
Edinburgh

Possibly the highlight of the trip, Gareth was interesting and informed. This felt more like a 3 hour discussion between Gareth and our family of 4 than a simple tour were you are blasted with facts and figures.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Stirling Castle Tickets
Stirling Castle Tickets
Scotland

Again, a strong contender for being the main highlight, Stirling castle was a great experience. The parking was easy, Stirling is a central city to Scottish history, the castle is well-maintained, and the tour guides were great. I was surprised when my teenage daughters wanted to keep exploring after 2 hours!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The Wee Tour of Scotland tasting menu
The Wee Tour of Scotland tasting menu
Edinburgh

The Wee Tour of Scotland tasting menu was a good culinary experience. We enjoyed a set course meal of five or six dishes, offering a nice variety of Scottish cuisine. It was a solid four out of five experience.

Local specialist: Stephen Molloy
Stephen
Stephen Molloy
Local specialist in Dorset and Lyon | Replied on Jan 23, 2025
Hi Chad, Thank you for your wonderful review! We're thrilled that you had such an outstanding trip, from Edinburgh’s history with Gareth to the stunning hikes in Glencoe and Skye. It’s great to hear that Wedgewood’s tasting menu and the Mary King’s Close tour were highlights as well! We do appreciate your understanding about the holiday season—while we do our best to organize everything, some hotels operate with a lighter service during that time. We're sorry that the Glencoe Inn had only... Read more

Hi Chad,

Thank you for your wonderful review! We're thrilled that you had such an outstanding trip, from Edinburgh’s history with Gareth to the stunning hikes in Glencoe and Skye. It’s great to hear that Wedgewood’s tasting menu and the Mary King’s Close tour were highlights as well!

We do appreciate your understanding about the holiday season—while we do our best to organize everything, some hotels operate with a lighter service during that time. We're sorry that the Glencoe Inn had only the bistro menu available during your stay.

Thanks again for your thoughtful feedback, and we hope to welcome you back to Scotland in the future!

Best,
Stephen and the team at High Point Holidays

Everything was great, from the hotel stays, h...
Spain | Dec 20 - Dec 30, 2024

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Richa M.
San Diego, CA | Reviewed on Jan 10, 2025
Everything was great, from the hotel stays, hotel locations pickup, and all the small local tours…everything was smooth. Couldn't ask better. Our only concerns pertain to the two planned day trips, which held significant anticipation, particularly for the girls given the rich historical context. So, trip to Cardoba/ Carmona from seveille was not what we were expecting, even though we paid extra for a private tour for comfort and convenience. The driver got a very small car; we were... Read more

Everything was great, from the hotel stays, hotel locations pickup, and all the small local tours…everything was smooth. Couldn't ask better.

Our only concerns pertain to the two planned day trips, which held significant anticipation, particularly for the girls given the rich historical context.

So, trip to Cardoba/ Carmona from seveille was not what we were expecting, even though we paid extra for a private tour for comfort and convenience. The driver got a very small car; we were all seated cramped for the long drive. No hotel pick up and drop off provided even though thats what our local representative told us thats irs part of private tour.Then, the mosque was closing soon, so we spent only half an hour there, although the expected time was a little more than an hour. In fact, our local guide told the driver to arrive half an hour early so that she could show the mosque property, but he refused, and he did the same for Carmona; he didn't show much interest.when i asked him in the car after my chat with Marine

Segovia and Toledo were total chaos, with 50 people on a large bus. Though it was supposed to be small grp,and on top it's was bilingual group We were just rushing through things; there were no proper restroom or food breaks. The restrooms were overly dirty, and when we declined the food place from tour guide choice because there was only one vegetarian salad option.AND it was more of BAR with overly crowded and lots of cigarettes smoke and alcohol, we wanted a family lunch place not a BAR so we told her that we will look ourselves for other options to eat in town, She became angry and started talking loudly, ugly words, which was very insulting, but she behaved similarly toward others on other occasions..so basically she had a really bad attitude towards tourists even though it's all paid, nothing free
So we will appreciate if you take care of those kind of suppliers in future because we all put lot of trust in you guys and money to make our lifetime memories . Hope you all will understand my point.
Thanks

Local specialist: Marianna Leccese
Marianna
Marianna Leccese
Local specialist in Nice | Replied on Jan 13, 2025

Hi Richa & all the family,

I'm glad to hear you enjoyed your trip to Spain, it was a two weeks trip to experience most of Spain, a wonderful country ! I’m happy that you had a wonderful time with your family, and thank you so much for your detailed feedback. We will definitely take all your comments into account, as they always help us improve and provide better service to our clients.

Looking forward to working with you again!😊

Jane and Celina were outstanding. They hel...
Scotland | Dec 25 - Jan 2, 2025

John
John H.
San Jose, CA | Reviewed on Jan 09, 2025
Jane and Celina were outstanding. They helped us with substantial last minute changes including adding an extra person and making sure all our lodging and activity reservations were modified to accommodate our request. We got great recommendations about things to do in Edinburgh. It is a fascinating city and we look forward to returning. Read more

Jane and Celina were outstanding.

They helped us with substantial last minute changes including adding an extra person and making sure all our lodging and activity reservations were modified to accommodate our request. We got great recommendations about things to do in Edinburgh. It is a fascinating city and we look forward to returning.

Hotel Review
Hotel du Vin & Bistro Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Authenticity & Character
Location
Great neighborhood near the university and across the street from the National Museum. Walk everywhere!
Staff
Helpful and courteous in every way.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Small group visit of Mary King's Close
Small group visit of Mary King's Close
Edinburgh

Fantastic experience. The perfect way to start your visit to Edinburgh. Learn history, geography, get oriented to the city.

Walk up Calton Hill
Walk up Calton Hill
Edinburgh

We should have done this earlier in our visit. A great way to see the city from a vantage point. And don't overlook the Old Calton Cemetery directly across as you approach on Princes Street.

A Show at the Edinburgh Playhouse
A Show at the Edinburgh Playhouse
Edinburgh

This was a rousing show. Great performances in a wonderful venue.

Local specialist: Jane Davey
Jane
Jane Davey
Local specialist in United Kingdom | Replied on Jan 10, 2025

Hi John

Thank you for taking the time to review your wonderful trip. It was an absolute pleasure to work with you and your family. We are delighted to know that you had the most amazing, memory-making time and your feedback is super helpful so thank you 🙏! The Hotel du Vin is a favorite of ours and we are super happy that you enjoyed it too!

We look forward to working with you again and wish you all the very best for future trips.

Thank you for choosing KimKim.

Kindest regards, Jane & Celina

Loved our guide when we visited Louvre!
France | Nov 2 - Nov 9, 2024

Anuradha
Anuradha D.
San Jose, CA | Reviewed on Nov 16, 2024

Loved our guide when we visited Louvre!

Local specialist: Fanny Venet
Fanny
Fanny Venet
Local specialist in Lyon | Replied on Nov 26, 2024

Thank you Anu for your review! It's been a pleasure to have you and your parents in Paris!
Looking forward to having you and your family in England and Scotland 🤩

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

Wonderfully Planned and Executed Central Europe Trip
Italy | Oct 13 - Oct 27, 2024

Jeremy
Jeremy P.
Canada | Reviewed on Oct 28, 2024
I would highly recommend KimKim for planning any sort of vacation where you want a more 'local' experience! From the beginning stages of planning my trip and explaining to Marianna what I wanted to do and see, I was impressed with the level of care and attention she gave to helping create the greatest experience. She helped tailor it to myself and what I wanted to see and do and within the budget I had allocated. Not only that, she had great suggestions for excursions and touring central... Read more

I would highly recommend KimKim for planning any sort of vacation where you want a more 'local' experience!

From the beginning stages of planning my trip and explaining to Marianna what I wanted to do and see, I was impressed with the level of care and attention she gave to helping create the greatest experience. She helped tailor it to myself and what I wanted to see and do and within the budget I had allocated. Not only that, she had great suggestions for excursions and touring central Europe and Italy like a local - suggestions I would have never found and made my experience so much more rich and robust then simply staying on the tourist track.

I was very impressed with my itinerary, the quality and location of the hotels of which I stayed, and the range of excursions and items that were planned for me on this trip - it was a lot! The service from Marianna and the KimKim team before my trip was excellent and they were available and outstanding for a couple minor items that came up during the trip as well.

They were courteous, professional and did everything to help make this dream trip outstanding and exceptional. I will definitely be using them again for my next travel adventure. Thank you!!

Hotel Reviews
Al Manthia Hotel
Rome

Great location for being close to all the action in Rome. Walk-able and easy to find. Clean, quiet and friendly hotel staff and a great breakfast made this an ideal location for a trip into Rome. Restaurants and cafes close by. Would definitely stay here again.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Centrally located and close to all of the main attractions in Rome.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Davanzati Hotel Florence
Florence

Amazing location for being close to all the action in Florence. Located right by the main Piazza and market so all of the main attractions are minutes away. Hotel staff was exceptional - friendly, hospitable and made for such an enjoyable stay. Walk-able and easy to find. Clean, quiet and friendly hotel staff and a great breakfast made this an ideal location for a trip into Florence. Breakfast was also exceptional with lots of good options and phenomenal service.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Staff were all amazing!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Gran Duca Di York Milan
Milan

Fantastic location for being close to all the action in Milan. Located close to the main Square for shopping and of course the impressive Duomo! The Hotel staff were exceptional - friendly, attentive and the room was beautiful, spacious and clean. Walk-able and easy to find. Ideally located and close to many of the main attractions and had a great breakfast selection and impeccable service.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Staff were so friendly and great to deal with.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Clean, spacious and comfortable bed. Bathroom was spacious as well.
Le Phénix Hôtel
Lyon

Fantastic location in the old city in Lyon. Hotel is quiet, clean and charming and the hotel staff were exceptional! The room was spacious and clean and easy to find. Breakfast was also very good with a good variety while also staying very French, including a variety of delicious pastries and bread. Staff were excellent on check-in and check-out.

Authenticity & Character
Very charming and unique.
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Resident Kensington
London

Service here was excellent! From check-in to check-out the staff were attentive, knowledgeable and went above and beyond to serve including providing a snack and coffee while waiting to check-in. Room was charming, clean and very quiet. Halloween decorations were also a nice touch! Hotel is very close to the metro line making going to and from the hotel very easy. Plenty of great pubs and coffee shops in the area and a few blocks from the hotel as well. Would definitely recommend and will definitely stay here again.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Outstanding - professional and courteous
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Jeanne D'Arc Le Marais
Paris

Loved this hotel - the location was great and very close to the metro. Plenty of shops, fine dining and cafes in the area close to the hotel. The staff were excellent, friendly and more than willing to help offer suggestions for food choices in the area. The room was clean, quiet and easy to find. Was very charming.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Rome: Catacombs and Capuchin Crypt Guided Tour with Transfer
Rome: Catacombs and Capuchin Crypt Guided Tour with Transfer
Rome

Was a very interesting tour and certainly not something on the normal tourist track. Had some beautiful paintings and an excellent overview of the Capuchin Monks and why they created the crypts. Very informative and a good start to seeing the city of Rome.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Staff were knowledgeable and provided additional insight to the location and history.
Transport
Colosseum Underground Tour with Arena, Palatine Hill & Roman Forum
Colosseum Underground Tour with Arena, Palatine Hill & Roman Forum
Rome

What an experience and the guide was incredible. Was a nice small group (5 person) tour that gave us plenty of time in the Colosseum; plenty of history and understanding of what it was, what it wasn't and lots of interesting information along the way. The Forum was incredible as well and again, lots of great historic information one might not get if not using a guide. This was a definite highlight of Rome and it is a busy site with lots of people taking it in, but totally worth it to have a guided tour with a knowledgeable guide. Gives a very authentic and informative experience.

Quality of Experience
Quality of tour and the information - ease of access as well.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guide was excellent - so good.
Transport
TOUR OF ESOTERIC ROME
TOUR OF ESOTERIC ROME
Rome

This was a one-on-one tour of Rome for 3 hours and it was fantastic. Marco was incredibly knowledgeable of the area (having grown up in Rome) and took me to places I never knew existed and provided a great history experience. This tour provided new insights and history of Rome that I was not aware of in addition to showcasing other gems of Rome that most tourists might miss. Another great thing about this tour was having someone local who also knew of the best place for pizza, the best place for espresso and of course, a hidden away bakery well away from the tourist areas - all of which were a nice added bonus as we walked the city and covered off Esoteric Rome. Very interesting and would highly recommend.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
From Rome: Full-Day Pompeii and its Ruins
From Rome: Full-Day Pompeii and its Ruins
Rome

Pompeii was excellent. A bit of a long day as it is quite a ways from Rome but so worth it. It was a much bigger area than I had anticipated and could have easily spent an extra day there exploring the ruins and how vast they really are. Local guide was very knowledgeable and provided a lot of color and historical depth on the tour. We did move fairly quickly through the some of the areas but we had ample free time at the end to explore further. An afternoon is not nearly enough but an incredible place nonetheless. Tour through Naples was also very nice and had some stops along the way for photos and enjoying a bit of Naples.

Quality of Experience
Food
Food was authentic and was delicious with great service.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Air conditioned bus and it was needed as it was quite warm in that area.
Transport
Welcome to Rome
Welcome to Rome
Rome

This activity turned out to be a simple transfer from the airport directly to the hotel. Driver drove but did not say much and there wasn't really any sort of introductory tour or welcome to Rome.

Quality of Experience
Driver could have talked a bit and explained about the city but it was simply a transfer.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Driver not talkative or all that friendly actually.
Transport
Quality of transport good, clean, quick and air conditioned.
Private Renaissance Walking Tour of Florence
Private Renaissance Walking Tour of Florence
Florence

Such an informative tour! Having a private walking tour around a city like Florence gives so much history, backstory, tales and stories that one likely won't get just walking around on their own. I learned stories about some of the artwork, the sculptors and the painters one would not receive just walking into a church to view the art and sculptures. It was a great way to get familiar with the city and the main sites and to learn about lesser known ones. My guide, Janella was informative, very knowledgeable and she provided me a lot of information about the works in the Academia and of course, the David, which was as phenomenal and breath-taking as she said it would be. Was a very good tour and an excellent way to explore the city and of course with a local who knows the ins and outs and some great places to eat like a true Florentine.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Tuscany Day Trip: Siena, San Gimignano, Monteriggioni, & Chianti
Tuscany Day Trip: Siena, San Gimignano, Monteriggioni, & Chianti
Florence

Going to these 3 places has been a dream of mine for years so to see them all in one day was absolutely incredible. And to end it off with a wine tour was perfect. The drive was beautiful and scenic on an air conditioned tour bus. We first stopped in Monteriggioni and it was magnificent to explore the town as it only takes 20 minutes as it is quite small and lovely. Walking along the wall was a definite highlight and I'd recommend that. Siena was a gem and absolutely stunning. A beautiful and walk-able city with plenty to see and do and quite an amazing step back in time. Easily could spend a whole day there as it is quite large and there are some great places to eat, drink coffee and of course find gelato. Worth taking time to walk and find yourself in some interesting places like the Porta Romana, which was fascinating and equally beautiful. San Gimignano was also incredible and I enjoyed the time we had there to walk the streets and check out the stunning views of Tuscany from the many, many vantage points that over look the area. Feels magical and historic but also quaint and quite a friendly city. The winery was also amazing and had some of the best wine I have had as well as really good Balsamic Vinegar they make as well. It was a wonderful way to cap off the day and was a definite highlight of the day.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Staff and driver were excellent and plenty of time given at each stop along the way.
Transport
Tuscany Day Trip to Lucca and Pisa
Tuscany Day Trip to Lucca and Pisa
Florence

This was an incredible day as I had a private car take me to Pisa and then onto Lucca and the day was perfect. Was a lovely beautiful drive and my driver was incredibly knowledgeable as she was local to Florence. She gave me some suggestions for walking Lucca; like an amazing local place to eat and provided me with some additional information on Pisa that was very helpful. Was a great solo day out and allowed me to venture out at my own pace and was very impressed with both cities and the overall tour.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Friendly and hotel pick up and drop off service. Was excellent and very knowledgeable.
Transport
Private car - nice way to travel.
DOME - GUIDED TOUR
DOME - GUIDED TOUR
Florence

This was a highlight of the trip as it has been something I have always wanted to do and it did not disappoint. They were right on time with letting us in and up and away we went. View was incredibly worth it - the top of the dome looking at the city and the inside of the dome on the way up as you stop to look at the massive paintings within the dome - incredible works of art and architecture. I personally did not find the climb hard but there were certainly some in my group who struggled through it as there are quite a few steps and some steep sections. Not for those who are claustrophobic for sure. Was a great way to see the city and you get about 15 minutes up there to take in the views and your photos - which is a healthy amount of time considering all the people at the top.

Quality of Experience
Evening Wine Tasting and Dinner
Evening Wine Tasting and Dinner
Florence

This was a fantastic evening! The food was delicious and really showcased Tuscan cuisine. The winery (Diadema) was lovely as well, including all of the staff we encountered. The event was a small group event and we were first given a tasting of their wine and locally produced olive oil. We're also fortunate enough to watch the olive oil press process as they had recently harvested and were making a fresh batch and that was a fun process to watch and enjoy the wonderful smell and sights of that. At one point we went into our own little part of the cellar to do a bit of a blind tasting and were given a complimentary bottle of wine to commemorate the evening. It was a mix we each got to create, so that was a really nice takeaway from the winery. Would highly recommend this tour as it was small and intimate and our local guide was really great. Loved this small wine tour.

Quality of Experience
Food
Food was outstanding as was the service.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Evening Aperitivo Street Food Tour
Evening Aperitivo Street Food Tour
Milan

This was another great local experience as I had one-on-one time with my two guides - Franceso and Alessandro as we walked the streets of Milan and ate some delicious food. They had arranged some great places to eat and drink to showcase the local cuisine in Milan. They also provided a lot of history about local food culture and how Milan differs from the other food culture of Italy and it was really informative. We stopped at some great little places along the way and it was fun enjoying the local history tour, additional aspects about Milan and Italian culture in general. Milan is a very walk-able city and again, walking around with locals and hearing some stories while stopping to eat some great food is such an enjoyable way to see the city more like a local. Would highly recommend this!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The guys were amazing and great guides!
Transport
Moulin Rouge - Big Night Out - Tickets only
Moulin Rouge - Big Night Out - Tickets only
Paris

This was a great event and a lot of fun. The show itself was very well done and the champagne was a nice touch as well. Was a great evening and I chose to walk from my hotel to the Moulin Rouge (took about 45 minutes) so I could experience more of Paris and see what a typical Thursday evening looks like in that area. This was a classy act and a great way to experience some authentic cabaret culture in Paris. Would recommend this as an activity if you are visiting Paris!

Quality of Experience
Lake Como Day Trip to Como, Bellagio & Varenna
Lake Como Day Trip to Como, Bellagio & Varenna
Milan

Lake Como is stunning and did not disappoint. Our guide was amazing from start to finish and we had such beautiful weather. The area is breathtaking and taking the ferry up the lake allows for so many stunning photos and is a great way to see a large portion of the lake. Bellagio was a lovely town, but Varenna was definitely a highlight. It has a lot of beautiful flowers and fun walkways and stairs to explore and some great places to eat. Neither of these places felt 'touristy' or as busy as other major cities. Train on the way back was a great way to end the day and relax as well.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guide was fantastic. Very informative especially on the ferry. Great food recommendations as well.
Transport
Private transfer in town
Private transfer in town
Italy

This was a great adventure. I did not realize that I would have a private car take me to Pisa and then Lucca so it was a wonderful way to see some of the country well also visit with my lovely driver and learn more about the culture and people in Florence and the Tuscan region. She dropped me very close to the tower of Pisa and I had ample time to explore that area, climb the tower and even get a bit of local food from a street vendor. Then off to Lucca, which was a very under-rated and beautiful city. I loved it there. She also provided me with a few places to see while roaming Lucca and made an excellent restaurant recommendation, which I took her up on and it did not disappoint. This was a great excursion and I loved the one-to-one aspect of having a private car and driver who were friendly and knowledgeable about the area. This was one of my favorite events.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Driver was excellent. Friendly, attentive, knowledgeable and her English was very good!
Transport
Private car - clean, quiet and a great way to see more of the country side with no stress of driving myself.
Timed tickets to Le Louvre
Timed tickets to Le Louvre
Paris

Let me say this - a few hours is not enough time to fully explore everything this museum has to offer. I was very happy to have a ticket for the opening time as it allowed me to get in right away and beat the crowd to see the Mona Lisa. There were maybe 20 people in total there when it first opened and by the time I left, the line to see it was very large. Aside from that there is the Crown Jewels, many paintings, statues and other wonderful works to see - could easily spend a day or two there because there is so much to see. Navigation of the museum is easy and I would highly recommend adding the audio tour to your musuem tour as it does help navigate and provides a nice way to walk through and see everything. Also was impressive to see what the Royal Palace looked like and it is impressive for sure!.

Quality of Experience
Small group discovery of the Catacombs
Small group discovery of the Catacombs
Paris

This was simply the highlight of Paris for me. Seeing the catacombs, understanding why they were built is a very humbling experience and very spiritual. You are looking and walking among the dead - bones of real people and even though it is an attraction, the tour is carried out with dignity and respect for those whose bones lay there. It is an incredible place full of mystery and wonder and our guide was really great. He was knowledgeable and was very passionate about the history. I learned things I didn't know about Paris, the cemeteries and the catacombs. Would definitely recommend doing this especially in a tour group as we got access to 'Group' only areas that normal single tickets don't. Worth it!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Historical Pub Walking Tour of London
Historical Pub Walking Tour of London
London

This was a great way to finish off my full itinerary by walking through the streets of London with Adam, our guide, and getting some fun stories and then having a pint in each of the places we visited. It was a fun tour, light hearted but full of interesting facts and history and some embellished stories along the way. The pubs were very English and obviously have been there quite a while and was also fun to mingle with the locals in those pubs. Guide was great, fun, funny and had some great recommendations for choice of beverage at each place we stopped.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Adam was a great guide and clearly loves what he does.
Local specialist: Marianna Leccese
Marianna
Marianna Leccese
Local specialist in Nice | Replied on Oct 28, 2024

Ciao Jeremy!

Grazie mille for your detailed feedback! I’m thrilled that you enjoyed your journey and returned home with unforgettable memories from three incredible countries. It was such a pleasure to introduce you to my home country, and the countries I've lived in! Thank you for your feedback, it heps us to always improve! I hope you tasted all the amazing food we have to offer I look forward to working with you again on more adventures!

12-14 Day UK Highlights Trip!
United Kingdom | Oct 3 - Oct 15, 2024

Justin
Justin W.
Herndon, VA | Reviewed on Oct 27, 2024
Got back a week or so ago from a 'UK Highlights Trip.' Trip itself was 14 days, including 2 days for air travel. We were able to hit Ireland, Scotland, and England....overall, I would say every interaction I had with locals was pleasant, everyone was very friendly, and didnt feel unsafe.... Planning for the trip through KimKim took a lot of the guesswork out of the plannig the logistics for going city-to-city, offering suggestions on the top things to see and do in each city, based on... Read more

Got back a week or so ago from a 'UK Highlights Trip.' Trip itself was 14 days, including 2 days for air travel. We were able to hit Ireland, Scotland, and England....overall, I would say every interaction I had with locals was pleasant, everyone was very friendly, and didnt feel unsafe....

Planning for the trip through KimKim took a lot of the guesswork out of the plannig the logistics for going city-to-city, offering suggestions on the top things to see and do in each city, based on our preferences, and they were able to set a lot of it up and manage for us (domestic flight, trains, tours, etc). Would like to thank Emily, Romane, Salome, and Stephen, who were all very helpful.

With taveling 14 days, we did understand and anticiapte the potential of a fewtravel hiccups, here and there (train delays / cancellations, for example). Any issues we did have, KimKim was very responsive in getting back to us and making sure the they were resolved in a reasonable time, and we were satisifed.

these are some highlights from each spot we hit:

-Dublin - really cool city. if you're going, definitely plan at least 2 days... would recommend getting a drink at the Brazen Head, one of Irelands oldest pubs (going back to 1100s). We also checked out the Viking Museum, Church of Christ Cathedral, and Guiness Factory... we closed one of the days out at the Church Bar and Restaurant

Day 2 was St Patricks Cathedral, Dublin Castle, Dublin Masonic Lodge, Trinity College Library / Book of Kells Experience, and the popular Temple Bar!

Day 3 - Galway Ireland - take a train from Dublin, to this cool, underrated city...some of the medieval fortifications are still standing, and one of the guides did mention that Christopher Columbus had visited it at one point.

Day 4 - we took a bus trip, which featured a short stop to Dunguaire Castle, and Cliffs of Mohr

Day 5 - we took a flight from Galway to Edinburgh, Scotland....would recommend taking a walk to Calton Hill, one of the highest view points of the city. we had dinner at The Dome, which featured wonderful ambiance, and if you're a fan of Harry Potter, would check out The Department of Magic, where you can make magic 'potions'

Day 6 - Edinburgh walking tour, and Edinburgh Castle - you can easily spend a whole day here...right next to it is St Giles Cathedral. Very underrated pizza place btw, check out Dough Pizza

Day 7 - Inverness, Scotland...we took a 3-4 hour train ride to Inverness, Scotland, where we took a tour of Clava Cairns, which were an important place for ritual activity, and thought to be older than Stonehenge, going back 5000 years...as well as Culloden Battlefield - now more well known, due to 'outlander,' it was the site of the last battle of the Jacobite uprising. Food and Drink, check out Aye Eat, and Scotch and Rye

Day 8 - Isle of Skye Bus tour - highly recommend booking this 2 day tour

Short hike to Rogie Falls, followed up by a trip to Dunvegan Castle, which dates back 800 years to clan MacLeod;
additionally saw other famous landmarks of Skye, including Kilt Rock, Lealt Falls, and the Old Man of Storr;
we wrapped it up with a Highland Cow encounter, and short walk around the small town of Portree

-Day 9 - York - -We visited York for a quick overnight stay - would have liked to check that city out further had we have had time, as i found it interesting some of the city's original medieval wall was still standing

Day 10 / 11 - London - Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, and Churchhill War Rooms

Hotel Reviews
Harbour Hotel
Galway
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Ashling Hotel Dublin
Dublin
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Tigerlily
Edinburgh

Service, rooms, and breakfast service were all superb - i did however have to do laundry here, and it may have been cheaper just to buy new clothes from one of the gift shops than pay them to do it, so just something to keep in mind when traveling with light luggage

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
River Ness Hotel, a member of Radisson Individuals
Inverness
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
No.1 York
York
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Park Plaza London Riverbank
London
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Visit of Christ Church Cathedral
Visit of Christ Church Cathedral
Dublin
Galway Private Walking tour
Galway Private Walking tour
Galway
Cliffs of Moher Day Trip from Galway (small group)
Cliffs of Moher Day Trip from Galway (small group)
Galway
Secrets of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile - walking tour with castle tickets
Secrets of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile - walking tour with castle tickets
Edinburgh
Tower of London Timed Entry Tickets
Tower of London Timed Entry Tickets
London
Two-day tour of Skye from Inverness
Two-day tour of Skye from Inverness
Scotland
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
Tickets for St Patrick Cathedral, Dublin
Tickets for St Patrick Cathedral, Dublin
Dublin
Trinity College Library : The Book of Kells Experience
Trinity College Library : The Book of Kells Experience
Dublin
Culloden Battlefield private tour
Culloden Battlefield private tour
Inverness
Tickets to Westminster Abbey
Tickets to Westminster Abbey
London
Local specialist: Salomé Deroyer

Fanny, Sarah and Pauline all helped us plan o...
United Kingdom | Oct 6 - Oct 13, 2024

K
Kelsey L.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Oct 21, 2024
Fanny, Sarah and Pauline all helped us plan our perfect trip to London and Paris! Kimkim helped make the process of traveling to another country super easy and helped walk us through using their public transportation systems. We were very happy with everyone we worked with, and especially the response times of updating or rescheduling things that came up during our time over there. It made making changes on the fly super quick and easy. Thank you Kimkim. We will definitely use this service on... Read more

Fanny, Sarah and Pauline all helped us plan our perfect trip to London and Paris! Kimkim helped make the process of traveling to another country super easy and helped walk us through using their public transportation systems. We were very happy with everyone we worked with, and especially the response times of updating or rescheduling things that came up during our time over there. It made making changes on the fly super quick and easy. Thank you Kimkim. We will definitely use this service on our next European vacation!

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Fior d’Aliza
Paris
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Holiday Inn Express Southwark
London

Super nice continental breakfast every morning and lots of great pubs and coffee shops nearby. Pretty standard chain hotel accommodations. A little far some of the main attractions on the other side of the river, but very affordable to take an uber, and/or nice easy walk along the river to get back.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Somewhat far from the main attractions in London, but very easy to get an uber to get where you need to go. The walk along the river is also very beautiful and easy to get to with beautiful views.
Staff
They got us into a room way earlier than our check in time which was great since we had an early flight and were very jet-lagged!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Super clean and decent sized rooms, the beds were on the smaller size though and not super comfortable.
Activity Reviews
Harry Potter Studio Tour from London (with transport)
Harry Potter Studio Tour from London (with transport)
London

This was one of my favorite activities from our whole trip! Great for any Harry Potter fans! They did have three pickup spots along the transportation route which made the trips their and back take a little longer. Getting off and on at the last pickup spot might be more ideal so you're not waiting as long to get there. The props and tour was absolutely incredible to see and the food and overall experience though was a 10/10!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Tickets to Westminster Abbey
Tickets to Westminster Abbey
London

We loved getting to see such a historical and beautiful church! There is so much more to see even after we were done with the audio tour. The audio guide was super easy to follow and worked well with the size of the church. You could move and see things throughout the tour at your own pace. The line to get in also moved pretty quickly as well.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Tower of London Timed Entry Tickets
Tower of London Timed Entry Tickets
London

The Tower and all the buildings were really cool to see, as well as the crowned jewels! The only thing I would have changed is using an in person guide instead of the audio guide. I didn't feel like it really gave that interesting of information and it was kind of hard to follow based on where you were since the area around the tower is so vast. We found ourselves more following the maps and physical information they put up around the castle grounds and not really listening to the audio guide. I just think having someone lead a tour might have been a little easier and more informational.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Timed tickets to Le Louvre
Timed tickets to Le Louvre
Paris

It is definitely a must see in Paris, the architecture alone is very iconic. It was amazing to see some of the most famous paintings and sculptures in the world. I don't think the audio guide was worth it at all though. It was incredibly hard to follow and with the museum being so large we found ourselves following the physical signs around the museum to get to where we wanted to go and barely used the audio guide. I would have preferred to have an actual tour guide show us the most important pieces and talk about them more in detail. The information on the audio guide wasn't that useful or interesting.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The audio guided tour was not worth it.
Transport
Night Cruise on the Seine with Music & aperitif (With drinks included - 1 glass of Wine)
Night Cruise on the Seine with Music & aperitif (With drinks included - 1 glass of Wine)
Paris

We loved the boat cruise! The only bummer was they had to skip half of the stops due to the rain I believe, but the view was incredible from the water. It was kind of hard for us to find the loading point, so I would be a little more detailed in where the boat is actually picking them up, because just giving the port wasn't super helpful as it is a big area and hard to find what boat you are getting on at night.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Fanny Venet