September 2024 trip to Portugal
Portugal | Sep 6 - Sep 17, 2024

Susan
Susan S.
Holualoa, HI | Reviewed on Sep 23, 2024

Joao did an incredible job planning our trip to Portugal. The communication thru the WhatsApp was great! When our flights to Lisbon got cancelled and everyone in our group ended up landing the next day at different times Joao made sure that everyone was picked up when they landed. Taking the stress off of us at that point was greatly appreciated. Joao also sent us a message every day letting us know our schedule for the next day and what time the driver would be at the hotel to pick us up. The drivers were all very informative and professional. I would definitely recommend them to drive as I would not want to drive in Portugal. All of our excursions were fun, but I think the one that everyone liked the most was the visit to the Quinta da Pacheca winery. Our tour guide Fabio was great, and we learned a lot about port wine. The boat excursion thru the Douro valley was beautiful and they held the boat for us because our lunch at the winery took longer than expected. When they tell you that the trip is all about you, they mean it. They all went out of their way to make sure that we saw everything we wanted to see and try all of the local food and drinks. I really enjoyed all of the places that we stayed as well. Joao did a great job of putting us in the middle of the city in Lisbon & Porto, close to everything that we wanted to do and see. I would highly recommend Joao and his team at KimKim as they made our trip to Portugal very memorable to say the least.
Kelly & Susan Snyder

Hotel Reviews
Maison Albar Hotels Le Monumental Palace
Porto

All of the employees at this hotel go out of their way to make sure that your stay is wonderful. Would highly recommend it and it is very centrally located in Porto.

Authenticity & Character
Absoulety beautiful hotel.
Location
Centrally located to a lot of really good restaurants and bars.
Staff
Everyone was so nice and helpful.
Cleanliness & Comfort
The entire hotel is very clean.
Cascade Wellness
Lagos

We had some nice staff and some staff that didn't really care about what we were talking about. Also, they had just started adding a tip into your bill at the restaurant / bar but didn't tell you about it. So, if you didn't notice it then and you tipped them, they got double tips. It just would have been nice if they pointed it out.

Authenticity & Character
The hotel needs some TLC in places.
Location
Beautiful location but just a little far from town.
Staff
I think maybe they were short staffed at times.
Cleanliness & Comfort
The beds were two double beds put together. Why not just one king bed?
Cascais Miragem
Cascais - Portugal

Beautiful hotel - wish we could have stayed longer.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Heritage Avenida Liberdade
Lisboa

Great location, the breakfast was really good, staff very friendly.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Perfect location in Lisbon. A lot of places to see within walking distance.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Immerse Yourself in the Portuguese Culture by Experiencing a Fado Dinner
Immerse Yourself in the Portuguese Culture by Experiencing a Fado Dinner
Lisbon

The Fado experience was something I think everyone should do when they visit Lisbon. The meal that we were served wasn't that good at all. Probably the worse meal that we had in the 12 days we were there.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Unveil the Fairytale Villa of Sintra with a Private Driver Service
Unveil the Fairytale Villa of Sintra with a Private Driver Service
Portugal

The palace was good to see, and we are glad that we went. Our driver, Petro, was very informative and the place he took us to for lunch was beautiful.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Petro was informative and we saw a lot in that one day.
Transport
The Flavors of Port Wine - Sip & Discover
The Flavors of Port Wine - Sip & Discover
Porto

I wouldn't do this wine tour. Sandeman didn't give us very good Port wine to try and I have to tell you that all of us didn't want to have it ever again. We kept an open mind and the next winery we went to was so much better.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Seamless Discovery - The Ultimate Douro Valley Experience with Private Driver Service
Seamless Discovery - The Ultimate Douro Valley Experience with Private Driver Service
Portugal

Our driver, Ricardo, was great. It is kind of a long day in the car, but the scenery was beautiful, and we learned a lot along the way. The boat tour along the Douro River was fun, and we really enjoyed the wine tour and lunch at Quinta da Pacheca.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
 Exclusive Panoramic Boat Tour to the Ponta da Piedade Caves
Exclusive Panoramic Boat Tour to the Ponta da Piedade Caves
Portugal

Seeing the caves from the water was amazing. Glad we got to do it. They cancelled our original booking but we got to squeeze it in before leaving Lagos.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Indulge in Elegance on a Guided Winery Tour Infused with Tastings and a Delicious Lunch
Indulge in Elegance on a Guided Winery Tour Infused with Tastings and a Delicious Lunch
Portugal

Quinta da Pacheca was well worth it. Fabio was a great tour guide, and we got to see a group stopping the grapes. Their wine is amazing, and I think everyone should do this tour as the lunch that we had was incredible.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Our driver told us to keep an open mind about the Port wine we were going to try since we didn't like the last winery and he was absolutely right. Completely different experience than the day before.
Local specialist: João Branco
João
João Branco
Local specialist in Lisbon | Replied on Sep 23, 2024
Hey Kelly and Susan, Wow, I’m so grateful for your incredibly kind words! It was truly a pleasure to help plan your trip to Portugal, and I’m thrilled to hear that everything went smoothly, even with the unexpected flight changes. I’m especially happy that you enjoyed your time at Quinta da Pacheca and the Douro Valley—two of my personal favorites! It means the world to me and the team to know that we could help make your experience memorable. We always aim to ensure every detail is taken... Read more

Hey Kelly and Susan,

Wow, I’m so grateful for your incredibly kind words! It was truly a pleasure to help plan your trip to Portugal, and I’m thrilled to hear that everything went smoothly, even with the unexpected flight changes. I’m especially happy that you enjoyed your time at Quinta da Pacheca and the Douro Valley—two of my personal favorites!

It means the world to me and the team to know that we could help make your experience memorable. We always aim to ensure every detail is taken care of so you can focus on enjoying your travels, and your feedback confirms that we are on the right track.

Thank you again for your trust in us, and I look forward to helping you plan more wonderful adventures in the future!
Your friend in Portugal - João