Great 21 days to Thailand
Thailand | Feb 20 - Mar 11, 2025

N
Natalie A.
Canada | Reviewed on Mar 18, 2025

Great 21 days to Thailand - Kimkim team provided guidance throughout the trip They were available when there was last minute changes or issues. Favorite excursions were interactions with elephants - both in Chiang Mai and Koh Samui. Another favorite was a private charter of a catamaran in Koh Samui where they brought us to pig island. Only negatives were sometimes the group excursions were long - they could have been cut shorter (Kayak, road trip from Chiang rai to Chiang Mai) Overall a very memorable trip !

Hotel Reviews
Le Patta Hotel Chiang Rai

The hotel was close to the walking street but it’s on was located on a busy street.

Authenticity & Character
Location
The hotel is closed to the walking street and street food but it’s on a busy street
Staff
The staff was very nice and accommodating
Cleanliness & Comfort
The hotel is clean but the room could use some refurbishing. Lots of mosquitoes in the area
Meliá Chiang Mai Hotels & Resort
Chiang Mai

Very beautiful modern hotel with great amenities such as a pool , bar and nice gym

Authenticity & Character
It’s very modern therefore not your typical Thai hotel with character.
Location
Across the street from the markets
Staff
The concierge was great
Cleanliness & Comfort
Bed super comfy
Hotel (Booked on Your Own)
Koh Samui

Absolutely loved our stay at the Anavana resort. It felt like a true Thai resort with individual huts. It’s a very small resort so it’s not crowded and the restaurant view on the beach was fantastic

Authenticity & Character
Thai huts in a tropical setting
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Eden Beach Khao Lak Resort & Spa
Phang Nga

Very busy resort but with a Thai feel. The lobby and restaurants are all in bamboo therefore you feel like you are in the tropics. Our room was nothing special but the other rooms closer to the beach seemed nicer.

Authenticity & Character
Bamboo lobby on stilts
Location
Resort is close to all the restaurants
Staff
The checkin staff was great but it was difficult to get service from the pool bar staff.
Cleanliness & Comfort
The room was clean
The St. Regis Bangkok
Bangkok

Over the top luxurious hotel with great amenities - rooftop pool and fantastic gym. It also had the best buffet breakfast

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Siam Mandarina Hotel
Samutprakarn

I’m not sure I would stay at this hotel again

Authenticity & Character
Location
It’s a sketchy area - close to the airport
Staff
Restaurant staff was extremely slow. We left our EarPods at checkout and they wouldn’t mail them to us
Cleanliness & Comfort
Crazy weird noises
Dusit Suites Hotel Ratchadamri, Bangkok
Bangkok
Authenticity & Character
Newly renovated modern hotel
Location
Great location - central location but quieter as among all the luxury hotels.
Staff
All staff in Thailand are excellent
Cleanliness & Comfort
Bed was comfortable
Avista Grande Phuket Karon Mgallery
Phuket

Very nice hotel with beautiful pool and very nice rooms. The buffet breakfast was excellent

Authenticity & Character
A very nice hotel especially at night with all the lights
Location
It’s in a bit of a weird location as it’s across the public beach but you can still walk to all the restaurants
Staff
Desk staff were excellent
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Samui Islands Yacht Charter – Sunset Trip
Samui Islands Yacht Charter – Sunset Trip
Koh Samui

Excellent catamaran excursion with great attentive staff, delicious snacks and great bbq. Would charter from blue voyage again.

Quality of Experience
Catamaran was clean and in good shape. The different unexpected snacks were great
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Very attentive but still kept their distance so we could enjoy family time
Transport
Golden Triangle and Mekong River Boat (Private)
Golden Triangle and Mekong River Boat (Private)
Chiang Rai

The guide was excellent and informative. Enjoyed the Opium museum I gave it a 4 instead of a 5 as the golden triangle was interesting but not scenic as expected. . It was fun going to Laos but the vendors are a bit pushy.

Quality of Experience
Food
The local restaurant was delicious
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The guide was excellent
Transport
Driver was great - boat ride to Laos was fun
Chiang Rai - Chiang Mai via Mae Kampong with Lunch
Chiang Rai - Chiang Mai via Mae Kampong with Lunch
Thailand

Loved visiting the blue temple early without the crowds. The white temple was magnificent. Our guide was excellent. The drive to Mae kampong was extremely scary as the drive was unsafe. We never got to see the village and walk around as the driver was scaring us and we missed the meeting point. Unfortunately that made our excursion a disappointment

Quality of Experience
H
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guide excellent. Driver awful
Transport
Fatbike Countryside Explorer
Fatbike Countryside Explorer
Chiang Mai

We ended up being the only two on the excursion. The bikes were in amazing condition. The guide was great and patient ( very safe when we had to cross highways). The lunch provided after the bike ride was delicious.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Grandma’s Cooking Experience
Grandma’s Cooking Experience
Chiang Mai

We loved our cooking experience at grandma S kitchen. Extremely well organized. They would prepare all the ingredients ahead of time and we got to cook and eat - a soup, pad Thai and a curry and dessert. They would clean up our station in between courses. Very efficient excursion with a funny chef

Quality of Experience
Quality of ingredients
Food
Delicious meal
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Similan Island - Small Group Tour
Similan Island - Small Group Tour
Thailand

Loved the similar islands although this is definitely not a small group - we were about 40 people side by side in A speed boat. It’s still worth it as the water is beautiful. There are a lot of other tour boats - so it’s crowded. The food provided after by the company was ok - not great.

Quality of Experience
Food
The food at the island was good
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
A larger boat with less people would have been better
Elephant Day Care at Patara Elephant Farm
Elephant Day Care at Patara Elephant Farm
Chiang Mai

We got to see several elephants rose freely including two 1 year old ( who were funny and kept escaping)We were 4 people to take care of 2 elephants - loved the one on one experience. The fruits at the end were sufficient for a snack

Quality of Experience
Love the one on one with the elephants
Food
The fruits were great as a snack but it wasn’t a meal. We had sticky rice too.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Not too much English but the staff was great
Transport
Local specialist: Jeab Kwanchanok
Jeab
Jeab Kwanchanok
Local specialist in Thailand | Replied on Mar 20, 2025

Hi Natalie,

I’m so glad to hear you had a great time with us! It was a pleasure working with you on your trip plan. I truly appreciate all the feedback you shared, and I’ll be sure to pass it along to our suppliers to help them improve or let them know they did a great job.

Thank you again, and I hope to have the opportunity to help plan your future trips!

Best regards,
Jeab