Unbelievable Experience with KimKim!
Spain | Sep 7 - Sep 20, 2024

Steven
Steven M.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Sep 21, 2024

I was initially referred to KimKim by a family friend who had a great experience. Due to my work schedule and never traveling abroad before, I needed a company I could trust to set my trip up the right way. Raquel was not only super responsive and helpful, but she also listened to everything I wanted out of a trip to Spain and Portugal and custom created a trip beyond what I could imagine. This trip was 5 cities over 2 weeks. 5 hotels, 2 train transfers, and multiple flights (not counting getting to and from the EU from the US) and she made it as clear and easy to follow as absolutely possible. I do not speak Spanish or Portuguese for reference, and yes it was still extremely easy to follow. Each activity that was arranged was an incredible and memorable experience with a guide who was a true local with local experience and connections. Writing this, I honestly can’t think of a critique I could even give. My expectations were met within the first couple days, then exceeded at about half way through the trip. The rest was all a bonus. If you are reading this review because you might be skeptical or questioning whether or not to use KimKim or Raquel, just know I had my concerns as well. I am now 2 days back and wrote this review and I cannot recommend this service enough if you want a truly memorable experience.

Hotel Reviews
NH Collection Barcelona Pódium
Barcelona
Authenticity & Character
Did not feel out of place and it felt like you were a part of the city
Location
Great location for activities and rich in culture
Staff
Incredibly nice and helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
Intelier Victoria
San Sebastian
Authenticity & Character
Great rooftop views, incredible breakfast, very clean
Location
Great central location to the old town and everything is accessible by foot
Staff
So incredibly nice and helpful. Everyone seems truly happy to work there.
Cleanliness & Comfort
EVERYTHING was very clean. From the lobby to the showers to even the elevator
H10 Puerta de Alcalá
Madrid
Authenticity & Character
The hotel was just remodeled so it had a very cool and “swank” design
Location
In a VERY nice part of town and was centrally located to many great restaurants
Staff
Everyone involved was very helpful. This was one of 5 hotels we stayed at so unfortunately I do not have any names to mention
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very comfy beds and clean all around from the lobby to breakfast bar to the hotel bar to our room
Catalonia Porto
Porto
Authenticity & Character
Blends in great to surrounding areas and retains a Portugal charm. Also truly an amazing breakfast
Location
Excellent location to city center and the river
Staff
Not only was the staff very friendly to deal with but also happy to help at a moments notice
Cleanliness & Comfort
EVERYTHING was clean all the way down to the inside of the mini fridge
Dear Lisbon - Gallery House
Lisbon
Authenticity & Character
This hotel was clearly renovated from a traditional Lisbon apartment building and gives you a traditional feel with modern amenities. Very very cool place to stay
Location
Very nice area located and very close to amazing restaurants but not so centrally located that it is loud at night from street activity
Staff
Super welcoming and always helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
Despite being a traditional building, the carpets and rugs do not even have stains on them. The “mini-split” AC units were fantastic
Activity Reviews
Tapas Walk in Barcelona
Tapas Walk in Barcelona
Barcelona

This was our first activity coming off a 9 hour red eye flight being abroad from the US for the first time just to set the scenario. Boris (our guide) welcomed us to the city in the most impressive way possible. I normally cringe at the idea of a “tour”. This isn’t your traditional tour guide walking and shouting to keep everyone together with a giant sign and whistle giving you the cliff notes of generic “authentic” foods. This is a local guided, off the beaten path, “locals only” known with history and culture. Each location is unique and purposefully selected to give you an authentic experience. The group is not more than 8-10 and you start as strangers and end as friends taking pictures to remember the experience. Boris was an awesome guide with amazing taste.

Quality of Experience
Boris was an incredible guide and you eat at places you are not going to find on a local yelp page.
Food
The authenticity of the meals were great and unlike anything I ever had before
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Boris was fun, friendly, experienced, knowledgeable and the places you go to are welcoming and happy you are there.
Transport
We walked and met at a location that was easy to find
Private Tour of Barcelona & La Sagrada Familia
Private Tour of Barcelona & La Sagrada Familia
Barcelona

We met Albert who was our guide and he was incredible. I could not believe how much this man knew about Barcelona. This man had binders of pictures of what the city used to look like and how it has changed over centuries. I walked away from this tour amazed at the education I was provided along with local tips for how to navigate around Barcelona that you would never find even online. You will get a college semesters worth of education in 4 hours and the best part about Albert, you can tell he was excited and passionate about the city’s history and excited to share it with you.

Quality of Experience
Albert (our guide)
San Sebastian Pintxo Experience
San Sebastian Pintxo Experience
San Sebastián

This was an incredible experience with fantastic food all put together by my guide, Felix. Felix is a local and has grown up in San Sebastián so his selection and taste was spot on. He provided an incredible tour and by the end, became a friend. I mean this in the most professional way possible. The selections he picked were unique to San Sebastián and even gave more suggestions for meals during your stay that couldn’t be included in the tour because time wouldn’t allow.

Quality of Experience
Felix and his knowledge
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Incredibly friendly and knowledgeable and the food was nothing short of amazing
Guided Visit of Madrid:  History, Culture & Architecture of the Capital of Spain
Guided Visit of Madrid: History, Culture & Architecture of the Capital of Spain
Madrid

When first getting into Madrid, I wasn’t sure how much I would love the city. Just coming from Barcelona and San Sebastián, Madrid was massive and had a different vibe all together (not bad or dangerous, just very different than the other 2). Sean (our guide) was the game changer for my impression of the city. He showed us the real Madrid that I’m sure not a lot of tourists get to see or understand. If it wasn’t for Sean, I don’t know if I would have enjoyed Madrid as much as I did. He has an awesome local knowledge base of the city and helped us navigate the city much better. By the end, Sean became a friend we met along the way through our journey and I mean that in the most professional way possible.

Quality of Experience
Sean. He was welcoming and extremely knowledgeable
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Sean truly loves the city and understands it so well
Foodie Experience in Porto
Foodie Experience in Porto
Porto

This was one of many food tours we took on this trip and we had Jon (Jean) as our guide. This man was incredible. Not only was Jon a knowledgeable local guide who knows the city well, he was also a chef. So all meals were expertly picked with a chefs taste and Jon was about as entertaining and knowledgeable guide as you could ask for. Meals ranged from local meats and cheeses with authentic port wine to local hot spots with authentic dishes

Quality of Experience
Wide variety and incredible guidance
Food
Absolutely everything
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Jon (Jean) was amazing and a local expert.
Privately Guided Visit of Porto
Privately Guided Visit of Porto
Porto

Emanuel is a local expert and was such an amazing guide to have. His knowledge of the city and its history is so vast you were getting a college semesters worth of history in a 3 hour tour. He loves the city and gets you to love it too.

Quality of Experience
Emanuel’s knowledge and expertise
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Emanuel’s enthusiasm and attention to city detail along with local pointers for things to do later
Go West to Belém TukTuk Tour
Go West to Belém TukTuk Tour
Lisbon

This was my first time on a Tuk Tuk and Catalina provided a great knowledge base of the city. She took us to great places and gave us exclusive access to some things that made the city so great.

Quality of Experience
Great knowledge from Catalina
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Catalina’s enthusiasm for the city of Lisbon
Sintra Heritage Hike: Hidden Secrets
Sintra Heritage Hike: Hidden Secrets
Portugal

Initially, we had a hike planned that unfortunately got cancelled due to the tragic wildfires that happened in Portugal at this time. Our hike got rescheduled to another area along the Sintra Coast. We got paired with Falis, and this might have been the best highlight of an already incredible trip. Falis prepared the hike according to us and what WE felt comfortable with. I am a 30 year old and I am in good shape. We did a roughly 15 km hike that was unlike anything I could have imagined. This was a private costal hike to a private beach and through small costal towns that was beyond anything I could have imagined. The terrain was tough but I can personally handle it. Felis was 100% prepared for anything and knew all the best routes that were the opposite of any “tourist” walk. I will never forget this experience. Felis is now a true friend after my experience. He even personally selected food for lunch and provided it to us. Unbelievably beyond my expectations.

Quality of Experience
Felis and the views. I knew nothing of what the Portugal coast had to offer and was completely blown away
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Felis is truly one of the most welcoming guys I have ever met that you could tell, this is what he loves to do and he loves giving you a memorable experience.
Transport
Felis met us at the hotel and transported us to the hiking destination. As easy as absolutely possible.
Visit Traditional Basque Coastal Towns & a Txakolli  Winery Visit
Visit Traditional Basque Coastal Towns & a Txakolli Winery Visit
San Sebastián
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Raquel Aceituno
Raquel
Raquel Aceituno
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Sep 23, 2024

Hola Steve! Thanks so much for taking the time to write this wonderful and detailed review. I am glad to know that you and David had a great time discovering Spain and Portugal and that everything I planned go beyond your expectations! 🤩 It has been a real pleasure working together creating this experience and hopefully, we get in touch again for future adventures x All the best, Raquel