Kimkim Trip Reviews

We had a wonderful trip to Santiago , the coast and wine country thanks to the amazing welcoming and caring by Dominique and Eliseo. They were real, authentic and so helpful, prompt and communicative. Dominique also went out of her way to make sure we knew our pick up times, etc for other outings. They both helped me celebrate my birthday in a special lovely way. Dominique is so knowledgeable and Eliseo despite our language barrier was so fun and caring for us. We had a blast and great introduction to Chile thanks to them both.

The trip to Patagonia was also amazing. KimKim did take care of all the details. Some additional descriptions about tour time pick ups and drives would have been helpful but in the end we had a blast.

Activity Review

Boat Trip to Glacier Grey

Chile

This was a great cruise. I think it would have been helpful to have more of a description regarding the pick up time, the length of drive, and need for walk to the boat as felt somewhat surprised by the morning. The trip was fantastic though but could have had a better description of what to expect.

Quality of Experience

Beautiful!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Driver on this leg was not that communicative and the van did not heat up so we were Freezing!

Transport

Van did not work well in terms of heating so a cold drive first thing in the morning was challenging.

This was the first time we have traveled to Portugal and Spain and we wanted to have a very happy experience. We researched the Internet and various other travel documents and we found the tour company KimKim and how they focus on private tours that are tailor-made, and they use expertise and knowledge of people who actually live and work within the respective Countries. This was most important to us. A simple email initiated the process and we were delighted to make contact with Pedro our Portugal contact. Wow, how fun to have someone who listens, provides immediate responses and recommendations, and develops a plan that can be shared and discussed with travel companions. There were four people in our group and we all felt ownership in the travel plan that was developed. We booked a 21 day trip to Portugal that included a 3 day adventure to Seville, Spain.

Pedro and his working associates took the stress out of travel and provided us with opportunities to stay in Hotels that were centrally located, to have historical walking tours, to witness a Fado and Flamenco Dinner and Show, to have private wine tastings, to have Private Drivers that enabled us to visit wonderful locations throughout Portugal, to be on excursions of the Douro river and Lagos Grottos, and to have Portuguese foods at very nice restaurants. The weather was perfect and this really enhanced our trip of a lifetime!

Pedro always remained in constant communication with us using the electronic application called ‘WhatsApp’. This enabled us to always know the current plan; everything (and I do mean everything) was meticulously identified and always implemented to perfection. Our trip was a ‘5+ Star Day’ every day with many surprises along the way. Pedro made us feel welcome surprising us with a box of treats with a bottle of Port Wine at the hotel. Kind words were always expressed with immediate feedback which made every day special, and of course the use of knowledgeable people that really wanted to make our trip the best ever. Pedro and his associates did this to perfection!

Our Hotel accommodations were excellent. We stayed in Lisbon, Porto, Evora, Seville, and Lagos. Each stay included a very nice room, excellent breakfast, onsite bar and restaurant, and very professional staff.

Thank you goes to the many people we met along the way, who we now consider our Portugal Friends; private drivers, hotel staff, walking tour guides, Belem Tuk-Tuk driver, boat captains, and of course the wine tasting experts. A noteworthy ‘Job Well Done’ goes to Private Drivers Pepe and Helder; both really went out of their way to create lifetime memories. Also, a very special ‘Thank You and Job Well Done’ goes to Pedro, Joao, and their associated staff; YOU ARE THE BEST.

Your friends,
Greg & Nancy Hanson

Our guides, Mike and Tim, were just wonderful. They made sure we saw all the items that were on our lists and even some unexpected ones. The visitation to all the Buda sites, the gold and people dressed in clothing from the country was so great. Seeing how the women made the flower decorations to honor the temples was amazing. All the areas to shop and the street food vendors were a site to see. Great time!! Now looking forward to the next adventure.

Hi Kim Kim, thank you for putting us in touch with Sangita who put together a wonderful experience for Camilla and I in Nepal. It was a special time

I liked our first week the best where Rabin as our guide and Iswar as our porter walked and talked us from Koto, Meta, Naar, Ngawal to Menang via Kang-La pass. It was a treat to have the mountains to ourselves and be able to get into a trekking rhythm without others around and be able to absorb the true beauty and peaceful mountain landscape of Nepal.

We learnt a lot about life in Nepal from Rabin and Iswar even some Nepalese music. They helped us feel welcome at the tea houses and we enjoyed dal Bhat, Thukpa and momos daily - the spices were so good. Nothing was a problem

Thank you again for a great time in Nepal
Catriona

Barbara was fantastic! From beginning to end our trip was seamless. She really understood the assignment and delivered. Our excursions were amazing. The hotels were beautiful and centrally located to all sites. Rafaella and Daniella(Italian team) we're also fantastic. They communicated with us daily regarding pick up times, drivers, excursion, directions etc. Also, they were extremely quick to respond to any questions we had. The ground transportation team in each city(Amalfi, Rome & Naples) were extremely professional and punctual. Can't say enough about how wonderful this Italian getaway was for us!!

Hotel Reviews

Kolbe Hotel Rome

Rome

This was a beautiful hotel. The staff was exceptional. Centrally located so you can walk to most sites. Note- This is a former Franciscan monestary that has a beautiful garden and 100 year old olive trees. It also backs on to Paletine Hill and steps from circus maximus.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grand Hotel Oriente

Naples

Well appointed hotel in the heart of Naples. Steps from tons of historical sites and shopping. Breakfast was awesome.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Lemon Tour and Cooking Class

Italy

What a great experience! This is a 6th generation family run lemon grove. Wear running shoes because you'll be walking up hills and uneven terrain during your tour. The cooking class was awesome. This is a must do in Amalfi.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Capri Island shared boat tour

Italy

Amazing boat day to Capri. We had not one but two Fabio's manning the boat. There were 12 of us and it was comfortable. They provided us with some history about the coast and Capri as we sailed. We even sailed thru the arch of Faraglioni. We had roughly 4 hours to roam Capri before sailing back to Amalfi. We were offered refreshments during the boat ride as well.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Golf cart Tour of Rome

Rome

This was a highlight of our trip in Rome. We had a 3hr private tour with Lorenzo. He was an amazing guide. He showed us so many landmarks and corners of the city we wouldn't have seen on our own. He was extremely knowledgeable about Roman history and navigating the city.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Lorenzo made the excursion exciting and educational.

Transport

This was an absolutely fantastic experience, from top to bottom with KimKim. Patricia kept in touch ahead of our trip to make sure that the itinerary met our needs and to ensure we had all the connections noted. Everything was seamless and that attention to detail and staying in touch with us continued throughout the trip. We were a group of eight friends each couple arriving at different times and our transfers from the airport all went beautifully. We had a half day tour of Lisbon shortly after we arrived with Claudia. Claudia came with the highest certification and credentials, and she was clearly a skilled guide, but it was also her warmth and desire to provide us with a terrific experience that really stood out. She packed into the afternoon a wonderful tour that oriented us to the city and gave us a taste of what was to come. Claudia again accompanied us on a day trip to Sintra providing us with a fantastic experience. Our driver Vasco likewise was an utter delight making the trip easy and efficient. Our food tour the following day in Lisbon was led by Ricardo who took us off the beaten track and introduced us to typical Portuguese food and some new foods brought to Portugal from the cultures that make it a city of diversity. The following day it was off to Porto and again Claudia and Vasco made the drive and day special. We stopped in Obidos along the way, one of my favorite small villages with white washed buildings, cute shops and a medieval castle. Once in Porto, our guide Lucia oriented us on the layout of the city and gave us great restaurant suggestions. The walking tour included a stop at the famous bookstore that inspired JK Rowling and the Jewish quarter with fascinating history. Lucia also accompanied us the next day to the Douro Valley where we had an experience of a lifetime visiting two wineries, one being the winery of our guide Lucia’s husband. Lucia’s knowledge of the winery added to the depth of our experience and gave us unique access to the vineyard. We then proceeded to the second winery and dined at the home of the wine owner tasting some amazing wines, eating delicious and authentic Portuguese dishes and having wonderful conversation. A unique and intimate experience. From there we headed to the Algarve and again the transfer to and from the airport and to our hotel were all seamless. The next day our sailboat tour along the Algarve coast provided stunning views and scenery. Then it was back to Lisbon stopping in Lagos along the way where Carla was our guide. Carla is not only a local who gave us a wonderful tour of her city, but an accomplished guide who has worked frequently with Rick Steves. Vasco was again our driver getting us back to Lisbon safely and with a warm smile. Kim Kim put together an amazing trip with wonderful guides and a fabulous itinerary. They were recommended to us by friends and I absolutely give them our highest recommendation as well. Top to bottom, fantastic. Thank you for a fabulous experience.

Hotel Review

Cascade Wellness

Lagos

Relaxing spot with wonderful walking paths along the coast for stunning views. Spa experience was a nice way to end our trip. Dining options on site limited and had a long wait, but good restaurants available in town.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Appliances in the apartment were not working, but staff helpful.

Activity Reviews

Douro Valley Tour

Portugal

Our guide Lucia provided us with an intimate and memorable experience. Highly recommend her and this tour. Stunning views and absolutely fantastic wines.

Private Tour of Sintra Castles & the Lisbon Coast

Lisbon

Fascinating history and stunning scenery. Claudia our guide did a great job navigating lines and timing so we did not wait, and provided a wonderful experience.

Quality of Experience

Our guide and scenic area

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Claudia and Vasco were amazing

Transport

Timing and efficiency

We had an amazing trip planned for New Zealand, with the help from Franck, our tour guide. He listened to what we were interested in and made all of the reservations and adjustments. It was so wonderful to have all of the details taken care of.
When there was a cancellation of a tour, KimKim helped us find alternate plans and we were refunded the cost of the cancelled tour as soon as we got home. It was a trip that was full of amazing memories including the people of NZ and their beautiful country. Maile

Activity Reviews

Abel Tasman - Full Day Sailing

New Zealand

This was one of our favorite tours - great skipper and a wonderful day out on the water and multiple stops at islands and beaches.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cass Valley Backcountry Tour

New Zealand

We loved this tour because it took us into the backcountry with so many fascinating pieces of history and knowledge about family sheep farming and the amazing mountains and valleys that surround the sheep stations.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Olman did an outstanding job meeting our objectives for the itinerary. All aspects of the itinerary were achieved and experience exceeded our expectations!

Hotel Reviews

Trogon Lodge

San Gerardo de Dota

All aspects were good, except the dining room was chilly and the food selections limited.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Esquinas Rainforest Lodge

Piedras Blancas National Park

A great experience. Food choices were adequate.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Immersed in the rain forest with beauty all around.

Staff

Very helpful and accommodating in answering questions

Cleanliness & Comfort

Parador Nature Resort & Spa

Manuel Antonio

Five star hotel with exceptional service and care. Excellent food.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Koora Hotel at Monteverde

Monteverde

Outstanding location and accommodations

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Went over and beyond our expectations

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Quetzal Safari Quest

San Gerardo de Dota

An adventure with an outcome of 5 Quetzal sited.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Early Birdwatching Tour on the Southern Pacific Coast

Costa Rica

The guide was outstanding and birding exceeded our expectations

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vanilla, Coffee, Chocolate, and Spice Guided Tour

Manuel Antonio

Did not meet our expectations based on what we thought would occur.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike

Costa Rica

Group was large

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Early Birdwatching Tour at Curi-Cancha Reserve

Monteverde

Overall the best birdwatching experience. Exceeded our expectations. Knowledgeable and professional guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

El Tigre Waterfalls Exploration

Monteverde

We cancelled this event as we were scheduled for La Paz. We went to Monteverde Forest Biological Reserve and Cafe Colibri instead.

Quality of Experience

Better detail of the walking/hiking requirements.

The whole trip was amazing. The guides and drivers were friendly and knowledgeable and went out of their way to help. I particularly appreciated Arnold and his information and conversation.

Ana was a pleasure to work with. She worked hard to create a trip just for me and was on top of all issues that came up. She provided valuable information. She made it easy for me to relax and truly enjoy my vacation.

Hotel Reviews

Hostería América

A great location and a wonderful restaurant. The rooms were quiet and comfortable. The people at the front desk were incredibly helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Lunajuim

El Chalten

Comfortable rooms but not terribly quiet. Great location. Super helpful staff. Good restaurant.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sent Hotel Calafate

El Calafate

Good location and comfortable and quiet rooms.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Gable Island and Penguin Colony with Harberton Ranch

Ushuaia

Perfect amount of time for a hike. Amazing lunch. Fun guides and group. A great experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Maria did an outstanding job of setting up our trip. The hotels were perfectly situated (very noticeable) and comfortable. Aside from dealing with the train strike, all of our travel logistics went perfectly smoothly. We loved using Sienna and Levanto as our bases. That was quite smart on her part. The cooking class was so much fun, as was the hike in Cinqueterre. Also loved the tour in Sienna. We had an amazing time and would highly recommend Maria and KimKim to others

Our southern Albania and northern Greece trip was perfect in every way. Ed, our travel consultant, was terrific. We had some last minute scheduling hassles that were out of his control and he got us wonderful last minute accommodations. Everything he suggested regarding the itinerary, hotels and restaurants were spot on. He was easy to work with and lots of fun. We are using Kim Kim for our next trip and have recommended you to many friends. Albania was so refreshing with kind people, gorgeous scenery, interesting culture and good food. We enjoyed the guesthouse near Permet and the mountains. Also the guesthouse in Ano Pedina, Greece nestled in the Zarori area near theVikos gorge. We wouldn’t change a thing about the trip. Thanks Ed.

Pedro and his team did a remarkable job in the design and execution of our approximate 3 week trip to Portugal which included a 3 day stay in Seville Spain. In the beginning stages of planning last autumn Pedro listened to us and set up an itinerary that included walking guides, knowledgable drivers, and free days that allowed us to explore on or own. I believe that the outline of our travels will be a template for future customers. Having personal drivers to get us from city to city was also a key attribute that allowed us to remain worry free. No rental cars or public transportation other than a cab now and then worked very very well. The drivers were always on time and polite. The hotels were also top notch. Almost all of the scheduled tours were set aside for the 4 of us exclusively. We were able to interact with our drivers and guides on a personal level. Speaking of a personal level, it was my 75th birthday on May 4th and Pedro arranged a boat trip for the four of us to the grottos of Lagos that included champagne. When we returned to the hotel a bottle of wine and a personal note from Pedro were the proverbial icing on the cake. Pedro communicated with us via WhatsApp on a daily basis to make sure we knew the next day's itinerary and to simply check in. We would recommend KimKim and Pedro to anyone traveling to Portugal. It just doesn't get any better.

Steve and Karen Clemens

Raj & his team at Social tours were absolutely amazing. They went above & beyond to ensure we had an amazing time despite some challenging weather that cancelled flights & disrupted our itinerary.
The insights into local life & culture together with the personal touches were truly amazing. It made the trip so much more meaningful & enjoyable for us. They have a great awareness and focus on sustainable/responsible tourism which is so refreshing given the pressure we all put on nature.

Our visit to Portugal was wonderful. Rita arranged good hotels and tours for our group and was responsive to group members that had travel challenges that included cancelled flights, late arrivals and missing luggage.
I encourage anyone that is traveling to be proactive on your own behalf and not expect a travel agent to make all the decisions regarding where you'll go and when. The more input you provide about your interests and preferences the better your trip will be. Rita arranged several tours for us. Sintra is a good side trip that included Cascais, a thriving little beach town (also a short train ride away) . We had a private 3 hour walking tour of the city that really added to our
background info and enjoyment of the city. The history of the small country of Portugal is amazing. We went to
St Jorge's castle on our own, Time Out Food Market was a big food hall; skip it. Pick a nice sidewalk cafe instead.

We tweeked little things along the way, such as the timing for our stay at Nazare, Rita was great at responding and facilitating that. Don't miss Porto & Gaia; our group loved the smaller city and Duoro River region.

The customs process for international travelers arriving in Lisbon is messy if several planes arrive at the same time.
Global Entry doesn't do a thing for you in Europe; it's only for the U.S. entry. Unless you have a new electronic chip passport, be prepared for long lines. I'm getting one this year even though my passport is good for two more years. The airport pick up & transport system is also convoluted with a long walk to the pick up area.
Once we were in the hotel it was beautiful. I'd return to the scenic, not-too-large country and its welcoming people.

Hotel Reviews

H10 Duque de Loule

Lisboa

Lovely boutique hotel, completely renovated. Included breakfast was expansive. Welcoming staff and quiet area. It's an easy walk to the center of the city down a nice leafy boulevard .

Authenticity & Character

Completely remodeled solid old building. There's a lot of urban renewal going on all over te city

Location

I'm glad we weren't in the busy tourist city center but close enough to walk or Uber is super-cheap & fast

Staff

thoughful & responsive

Cleanliness & Comfort

Spotless & hygenic

Hotel Praia

Nazaré

Good location near the beach. Modern hotel. Rooms have views. Breakfast included. The roof top pool should stay open later

Activity Reviews

Evening of Fado

Lisbon

Food was good, we enjoyed the entertainment. The location was a well established venue. The format was two dining rooms with several Fado singers and musicians that moved from room to room every twenty minutes. This was good because you had a break for going to the restroom and servers to refresh food and drink. When the fado groups were performing they commanded the room's attention.

Quality of Experience

The setting and experience was unique to Lisbon

Food

It was all very good, made well and good portions; I didn't click 5 stars simply because "amazing" is a whole different level.

Get to Know Lisbon with a Local

Lisbon

Our walking tour was very interesting. Our guide Rita provided a lot of background and navigated us around the center of Lisbon and the hilly streets. We sampled some local specialties such as Castro's custard tarts and ginjen, a local cherry liquor ( be sure to order it with the cherries in your shot) while we walked. When te tour was completed she gave us a dinner suggestion for a local restaurant down a side street that had the best roasted spit chicken you could ask for.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The tour guide was well educated and informed

Private Day Excursion: Sintra, Cascais & Estoril

Portugal

We toured Sintra on a Monday. It was a busy place! Perhaps it's just the way it is in Portugal right now because it's a great tourist destination but we were also told tat Mondays can be busy because some museums places in Lisbon are closed on Mondays. We had a short and interesting walking tour around Sintra then did more driving around the area. I would have appreciated going into the large palace that dominated the central square in Sintra or any other large building in the town but we moved on. We did go to an amazing place outside Sintra called Montserrate with a colorful history and chain of ownership, had a simple meaty Barbeque lunch at a Refugio Biciclet on top of a mountain overlooking the area and circled back toward Lisbon along the coastline stopping at the Roca and Cascais along the way. Manu, our guide, was well infirmed about the places we visited and history of his country. He made things interesting.

Quality of Experience

I think our guide may have added te Roca stop to the drive back because Sintra itself was crowded. He wanted to ensure our satisfaction with the experience. We truly appreciated that.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Manu really wanted us to enjoy the tour and get a lot out of it.

Transport

Nice van with room for 8 and windows that opened

Dear Kim Kim team.
Thank you very much for your arrangments during our trip and being immadiately reachable at every moment when we have needed your assistance.
We are very much delighted with our trip and arranging this trip over Kim Kim. Thank you.

Megan and Winnie at Wanderlust Voyages were amazing to work with. Megan helped me plan the most fantastic - and personalized - trip through Morocco. Everything went smoothly throughout the trip. My driver Ibrahim was terrific. Always on time, a safe driver, and a great person! I didn't ask for much in regard to guided tours but the one guide I did have, in Fes, was also great. Very knowledgeable and provided a tour that matched my interests. There were absolutely no issues with any of the arrangements provided by Wanderlust Voyages. I will recommend them to anyone who wants to travel in Morocco - and I do highly recommend traveling in Morocco!

Steve did a really nice job planning our trip to Cambodia. We had a few conversations with him to describe what we were interested in doing/seeing and he came up with a suggested itinerary and made all the arrangements. We were really pleased with the accommodations and the guides were professional, friendly and knowledgeable. Drivers were available when we arrived at destinations so we did not lose any time waiting or trying to figure out transport.

All of our guides were excellent except Naples where it was actually too crowded to walk anywhere. All drivers were excellent. All very polite and good drivers.
The trip flow was excellent. The boat tours in Capri and Oretega were very enjoyable.

We had some issues with hotel in Rome. When we arrived the air conditioning did not work, the room was very small, noisy etc. Much better on return . Hotels were good elsewhere.
The hotel in Tamorina was interesting. I needed to pay for an upgrade which saved the day. The assigned room was tiny with poor view. The new room was excellent. In its day this hotel was probably on par with the Four Seasons. Now it is full of plastic flowers, even in our room. The hotel is very clean - good . The only poor meal we had in Italy was in the hotel's dinning room -un-edible. This hotel seems to be catering to the American bus tours now. Restaurants outside the hotel were wonderful.

Hotel Reviews

Palazzo Caruso

Rome

Square way to busy and noisy. They do have good rooms.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Miramare

Sorrento

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Residence

Amalfi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Located at bus stop?????

Cleanliness & Comfort

Algilà Ortigia Charme Hotel

Syracuse

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Villa Diodoro

Taormina (ME)

Upgrade to larger room with view.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Politeama

Palermo

Very cold. No charm Prefer a quite street in a big city.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grand Hotel Santa Lucia Naples

Naples

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Welcome to Rome!

Rome

Rome is very crowed.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vatican & Sistine Chapel Tour

Rome

Too crowded.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

A half-day tour of Isola del Liri, and Castelli Romani

Italy

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Walking Tour of Napoli

Naples

Couldn't go very far. Strrets blocked with people. Guide turned around and apologized .

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Welcome to Sicily!

Italy

Wine Tasting Experience on Mount Etna

Italy

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour of Pompeii

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Capri Half-Day Boat Tour

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Sorrento!

Sorrento

Wine Tasting and Lunch in Amalfi Coast

Italy

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour of Syracuse

Syracuse

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boat Tour around Ortigia

Syracuse

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to the Valle dei Templi

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Walking Tour of Palermo

Palermo

outstanding guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Having travelled the world for many years, including South American countries, I could never have gone to Colombia without the reliable journey planning that KimKim provided. Although I had done my own research prior to the strategies, the extraordinary planning done by the specialista, Margarita Moreno, could not have been more perfect. Each day the guides were superb, caring, knowledgeable, and enjoying the time they spent with me and my granddaughter.
Bogota was a complete surprise...a huge city that I could not have navigated on my own. The visit to Egipto responded to exactly what I wanted my granddaughter to learn about. Our guide, Andrea Morita was fantastic as we went to Monserratre and found a restaurant that should have a Michelin rating. The day with her at the Museo de Oro and Museo Botero showed that she knew the history of indigenous artwork and the life and purpose of Botero as an artist and philanthropist . Our excellent guide for Las Amazonas, Claudio Gutierrez, was fantastic. There are not enough words to describe his keen attention to us and constantly pointing out things we should see in the jungle and translating indigenous leaders conversations when our Spanish understanding was not quite enough. He gets an A++ for all that he did. Going to the indigenous sites along the Amacayacu river, like being in Paradise, will be the most memorable moments in outlives.
And Cartagena was a contrast from Leticia and everything we saw. Most tourists don't see El Pozon and Margarita's instincts were good in suggesting this region of the city. The old town is a tourist shopping center and the Misura Restaurant and the Bantu Hotel were outstanding. Our boat ride to the Islas del Rosario, with an excellent guide, was the opportunity to see birds that we did not see previously. Margarita's descriptive journey plan tells a story more about Colombia than I could ever write and I am thrilled she was so involved in making this journey so perfect for us.

My wife and I wanted to let our travel agent Bruno help us plan our weeklong Croatia trip, which started in Zagreb, visited national parks and a winery, and historic cities in the Dalmatian Coast. Bruno was very helpful in providing the perfect itinerary after listening to our preferences. We had the rental car delivered to us and drove from Zagreb to Plitvice National Park, which has more waterfalls than I thought was possible in one place. We then went to Krka park, which was also beautiful. Then we visited Zadar, Split, Hvar, a winery, and Ston, on the way to Dubrovnik. Each place was unique with a fascinating history and a beautiful and unique experience. Bruno booked us at perfectly located and comfortable hotels, a mix of mostly 4 and 5 star places. He arranged for walking tours with very knowledgeable guides. It was great to learn about the history and also get a local’s perspective. His restaurant recommendations were all truly excellent. During the trip, Bruno was incredibly responsive, replying to my WhatsApp messages within minutes. I highly recommend Croatia and using Bruno to help plan and book it.