Kimkim Trip Reviews

Our travel agent Rita did a fabulous job helping us plan our trip with a good balance of culture, history and experiences.
We arrived in Lisbon in the morning and had an afternoon Walking food tour with our guide Daniel. What a great way to get familiar with the city, the foods from the area and to quickly get set to local time. We spent a full day tour traveling to Sintra and surrounding areas. Our guide Paulo was fabulous! The history as well as his personal experiences growing up in Portugal was great. We also got the opportunity to eat at his wife's restaurant in Sintra. The food was really great. Loved the cod dish! In the Algarve, our guide Roy took us up the mountain to experience the rural area. You could tell Roy really loved sharing his stories about growing up in the area. The accommodations were perfect! I highly recommend working with Rita and team!

I had a fantastic trip to Thailand, which mostly was focused on beaches and relaxation. Thailand is just a perfect destination for it. At the same time, it was cool to be on a traveler's side, since I am a kimkim staff, and manage the Asian region. So my feedback is based not just on the impressions and experiences, but also on the knowledge about how tours should be conducted. We had just one private sightseeing tour in Bangkok included in the itinerary and our tour guide Lina was awesome! She is so passionate about what she does, she is knowledgeable and attentive to details.
We also had all transfers included, and the minivans provided for transfers were spacious, comfortable and had great air conditioning ( which is super important in Thailand), drivers provided us with cold water all the time. We had another speedboat "join-in" tour included in our itinerary, which I highly recommend. There were options and we were recommended a sunrise tour. It was fantastic to see the famous beach from Leo DiCaprio's movie "The Beach" without people since attending a sunrise tour allows you to enter the Island before all the crowds.
Also, I'd like to highlight the hotel we stayed at at PhiPhi Island - Phi Phi Co Co resort. I think this one was the best on the Island.
To sum it up - great tour, Tina is a great specialist and I am grateful for such a wonderful vacation.

We had an amazing trip with short stays in Zurich, Lucerne, Grindewald, Lugano, Stressa, Chamonix, Montreux and Zurich. Each city had its own character and April was a great time to visit with the spring blossoms! Our activities ranged from city tours, bike tour, hiking, mountain and glacier tours, relaxing spas, vineyards with wine tasting to free time where we explored on our own.

My son and I just returned from a trip to the Galapagos islands planned and arranged by kimkim.com. It was an amazing and wonderful experience made easy and worry-free by Isabel Pérez's diligent planning and responsiveness to our requests and force major causes requiring changes in the itinerary.
Our guides were prompt, knowledgable and friendly: Andrei and Christian in Guayaquil, Solange in San Cristóbal, Danielle in Santa Cruz as well as the crews of the boats to Kicker Rock and North Seymour island. The hotels Ibis in Guayaquil, Miconia on San Cristóbal and Galapagos Suites on Santa Cruz were clean and accommodating with a friendly and courteous staff.
We will definitely recommend the kimkim company to family and friends who are thinking of the Galapagos islands as a trip destination.
Sincerely,
Ora Yadin & Gil Benezer
Manhattan Beach, CA
USA

We had a wonderful trip to Egypt through KimKim! Lareine was extremely responsive and helpful throughout our planning process, and she put together a fabulous itinerary for us that allowed us to see so much of Egypt in 10 days. She made all the bookings per our preferences and made it easy. We started in Cairo (which included a visit to the Great Pyramids), continued to a Nile River cruise from Aswan to Luxor, and ended the trip at a resort on the Red Sea in Hurghada. Seeing the pyramids and riding camels were definitely highlights, but we really enjoyed the entire trip and it all felt like a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

All of our tour guides, representatives, and drivers gave us very good service and made us feel comfortable. They went above and beyond to help with things like getting through the airport, translating, even just tips and tricks about the culture and sites. Our Cairo tour guide Mohamed Samir in particular did a great job in giving us a personalized experience, adjusting our days based on our interests, what kind of shopping we wanted to do, and what kind of food we wanted to eat. Representative Samara was also great about constantly checking in with us, from our flight in all the way until the end of our trip.  

All of our accommodations were nice, but specifically the Sonesta Nuba in Aswan and the Premier Le Reve in Hurghada were beautiful! We would have loved more time at both. 

The only thing we might not recommend are the sound & light shows at various ruins. They are not that exciting and not necessarily worth the time/price. Also, we unknowingly travelled during Ramadan so we had to contend with some holiday hours at sites and restaurants. We did not miss out on anything because of this, but I'd avoid travelling during Ramadan if possible. 

I had an amazing time in India! I appreciated everything about our trip!
I learned about India’s rich history, religions and culture. Love, love the food and guides. I especially want to mention our driver Ram. He was always punctual, attentive and courteous. I always felt safe with him. Thank you Ram. 🙂🙏🏽

The view from here is amazing. This is my second trip to this ethereal land within a year of each other. First was the Southern provinces of Patagonia. Which lead to the craving to see so much more of South America. The Northwest regions of Argentina’s frontier lands, to stand on the Tropic of Capricorn, And who better to make it happen than my trusted friends at KimKim. Ana, my darling one of kind planner. Give her your wish list and she will make it happen. Take it from me, I’m hard to please and Ana didn’t fail me on this second go-a-around.

I can truly say that I’ve managed to see a forceful awe-inspiring wonder that is Argentina’s Northern provinces. Mendoza, Tunuyán, Luján de Cuyo, Salta, Cafayate, Maimará, Purmamarca, Tilcara, Humahuaca, Pucara de Tilcara, San Salvador de Jujuy, Guachipas, the Wetlands of Pellegrini, Lago Iberá. Folks you have to be in good physical shape for the wetlands, (no back injuries, no anxious behavior, or motion sickness if you are prone.) As this road is treacherous to getting to your destination. Approximately a 7 hour drive from Misiones to Corrientes to Pellegrini. But so worth it. If you are game. The beauty and its powerful effect of mindfulness and tranquility is absolutely incredible. A land untouched by time. Animal enthusiasts will sure want to experience this land.

A sincere shout out to the guides, drivers, and hotel staffs who become part of my family while visiting and exploring their beautiful country. Daniel- a kind sprint his dedication in getting up at an un-godly hour of the morning to take me to the airport in order to catch my domestic flights to my destinations. Ramiro my triple AAA 1# Trekking and mountain explorer who took me to 4500ft above sea level elevations just to catch a view of the highlands and into the life of the Vicuñas territory. Guided me through the Salinas Grandes Salt Flats, showed me the beautiful history of Andean culture and the ruins of Pucara de Ticara as old as 5000 bc. And managed to share a meal with me and my family in the Pena’s of Salta to drink and laugh hysterically as we listened to folklore music and the history of samba culture, where the youth of today still is passionate of its music and heritage that is Salta to this day. A beautiful and kind city full of music, dance, and history, and the best empanadas this side of my beautiful Mendoza. I can go on and on, but you need to experience this for yourselves. I’ve just given you a small taste of what South American means to me. My pachamama. Love to all. Sandra Rawlings

Hotel Reviews

Casa de Uco Vineyards & Wine Hotel

Tunuyán

food is excellent, and the staff very attentive to my needs. I recommend that they purchase golf carts for those that are older and can't get around. The on-sight activities are fantasic, archery glass, and bikes a plus, horse back riding and the villas are top notch. the cleaning staff are excellent. worth the price.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Aguapé Lodge

Colonia Carlos Pellegrini

PROS the food is excellent the full board experience is un matched. when it comes to food. I commend the chief. 5-stars. The room is clean and for a ranch. Activities the best - especially the horseback riding guide - went out of his way to show us monkeys. CONS WIFI needs to be broaden to many lost signals especially if you haven guests that do a lot of writing drive is long and unpleasant. Being kind.

Authenticity & Character

Location

the roads may be too much for seniors to take. I would give them a disclaimer of the hazards and the length of road travel. I've heard stories from Oscar the driver on a particular traveler that was not to happy with the experience. It's just to protect the agency against any unlawful lawsuits due to injuries.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Boutique Balcón de la Plaza

Salta

the staff are excellent. the room and balcony, the authenticity of the hotel was my favorite. 1892 built. WOW!!!!!!!!! the charm and character is unsurpassed. I would definitely stay here again.

Authenticity & Character

10++++++++++

Location

right in the heart of town. PERFECT !!!!!!

Staff

charming and friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

No complaints

Grace Cafayate

Cafayate

PROS Excellent. the villa met all my expectations. Clean, beautiful grounds. everything contained on property Food excellent. Servers - Patricia - lovely in our first night evening meal. the ASADO under the stars - AMAZING !!!!! catered our every need. Too much food, we shared with the staff afterwards, so that it would not be wasted. They were so Grateful. Pottery class - Loved it. Personal attention. CONS they should offer more amenities with the villas, I was fortunate enough that I didn't have to pay for a 20 minute bike ride, they comp me on that. but they should provide other amenities within the property.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Las Marias Boutique Hotel

Tilcara

PROS breakfast service - perfect. spa services - loved it. CONS WIFI - since we are in such a remote town, the service was nonexistent, was difficult to communicate with family

Authenticity & Character

great views of the mountains.

Location

very out of the way hotel, but close to town we can walk and shop

Staff

pleasant and accommodating

Cleanliness & Comfort

very hot room during the nights. No AC. but understandable, nights are cool.

Activity Reviews

Sunset Horseback Riding in Mendoza

Mendoza

long ride through the mountain terrain, very narrow trails, but amazing to view the Mendoza valley below. Be prepared on dusty trails, and cool weather. Prepare to gallop at some points on the trail.

Quality of Experience

would love to see 2 gauchos on trails, one in front and the other at the back end to help manage travelers expectations and help move the horses along if they are not comfortable with riding.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

earlier start on the pick up time of guests in order to make sure that the ride is not set in the dark when coming back for the Asado.

Cooking Class at Casa de Uco

Mendoza

Had to cancel this experience. It would have been great if....

Welcome to Iberá!

Iberá

the Estancia where we stayed was amazing, and having the VIP experience only 2 people in a large ranch that overlooks the wetlands, rain or shine, just the vast beauty of this place sets it apart. The wildlife....in AWE.

Quality of Experience

I love the wildlife and the solace of the wetlands, land, and forests.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Oscar - top notch experienced driver over 20 years driving through these road conditions. Commendable.

Transport

for future travels, please make them aware of the long drive and the rough terrain to get there, for safety concerns.

Lujan de Cuyo Wine Experience

Mendoza

Marcos, was a great. And to see him again, after last years wine tasting and he remembered me. I was taken back that he would remember our talk and asked about my family.

Quality of Experience

Food

lots of quality wines and brought home a case.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

SUV straight to the winery. Perfect. Sol also accompanied us there.

Horseback riding!

Iberá

Personal attention on this ride. I truly recommend it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

the guide came to the ranch and we rode straight to the everglades. Nothing can match this experience. Truly EPIC.

Transport

Canoeing adventure

Iberá

can't rate this adventure, as we didn't get to experience. due to weather, but we had an alternative by small boat where we managed to see numerous flora and fauna.

Tour of the City - Discovering Salta's Hidden Treasures

Salta

From the 1892 Colonial Mission Style hotel, to the town square with all its shopping. I was fortunate enough to see Salta celebrating their Anniversary this day. Parade of Gauchos and China's on traditional attire, dancing through the town of Salta, gauchos yipping and hollering while the crowd watched in awe. Taking pictures at the marvel coming down the street. Our guide Ramiro, knew one of the gauchos and flagged him over to where we were on the steps of the Cathedral and I took a picture with a gaucho. Getting my shoes shined by an old world traditional back in the 40's was a treat. Eating pastel de papa, at an outdoor cafe while a troop of young Salteños matching through the town in uniform and wearing the Salta flag, all ages from 5 to 18. Wow!!!! can't get any perfect than that. Late night shopping, make sure you bring extra luggage to carry it all back with you.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Scenic road from Cafayate to Purmamarca

Argentina

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Road trip to Cafayate

Argentina

the drive didn't phase me. when you love this country the way I do. the hours fly by and when you have great guide and licensed drivers like KimKim's partners even better. They stop for photo ops and continue on. the Devils Throat, EPIC and to hear Salteños sing the national anthem of Buenos Aires, brought tears to my eyes as their voices filled the cavern. No words.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

It's wine time!

Cafayate

Quality of Experience

I can't stop raving about the smaller wineries in this region. Salta's Torrentes wines are one of a kind, especially at this little winery that specializes in sparkling wines. Burbujas Winery. I met Andres and his lovely wife. His family owned winery is custom to small runs but his story and legacy from the Noruega blood line is what you need to stop and listen as he describes his craft as enólogo. And how he nurtures the land, Ecosistma. and cradles his craft. I highly recommend these type of vineyards to the larger ones

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Colors of Humuhuaca

Purmamarca

local town is full of artisans selling their wears. the food is simple but tasty. fall weather in the afternoon is warm and sleepy. and the nights are cool and entertaining. lots to see and do, trekking and to see the Cerro las Senoritas and behold the beauty that the multi color limestone mountains show is breathtaking. can say enough of my experiences here in the land of wonder.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Salinas Grandes

Argentina

Lot's of tourists, and super hot when the sun beats down on the salt flats. But a sight to behold, on how they mine the salts from this volcanic paradise. Make sure you take protection and drink plenty of water the elevation is brutal to those that push themselves too hard in this valley. you reach height of approx. 4200km back to 2500km within hours, so try to have fun without the expense of pushing your body to hard, slow and easy wins the race.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

When I began the planning process for our trip to Italy months ago I was referred to KimKim. One of the best recommendations I have ever received! I began working with Chris who worked with me for weeks to come up with the perfect trip, the perfect tours and the perfect accommodations. Chris was super easy to communicate with and work with and he was very responsive to all my questions. We spent 12 days in Italy visiting Naples, Rome, Florence and Venice. From the minute we arrived to the minute we left we knew that Chris and Maria, our wonderful Italy contact, had everything under control! Every reservation, every tour, every hotel transfer, every train ride, water taxi ride, etc. was planned out with precision. No one was ever late, no tour guide was anything less than absolutely amazing, and all of our hotel accommodations exceeded our expectations. I will not hesitate to use KimKim for all of our future travel. They simply made it so easy and so enjoyable! Kudos to Chris and Maria for making this trip to Italy truly the trip of a lifetime!

Hotel Reviews

Palazzo Caracciolo Napoli - MGallery

Naples

We were traveling with our daughter and the accommodations (for 3) were perfect! Beautiful hotel! Great location! Breakfast was amazing! Staff very professional and helpful!

Authenticity & Character

Beautifully appointed!

Location

Close to everything!

Staff

Very helpful!

Cleanliness & Comfort

The entire property was clean and inviting ... very nice to "come home to" after a day of Naples ;)

Hotel de La Ville

Florence

We were traveling with our daughter and the accommodations (for 3) were perfect! Beautiful hotel! Great location! Breakfast was amazing! Staff very professional and helpful!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Olimpia

Venice

In Venice, I stayed at Hotel Olimpia for two nights. The hotel was charming and unique, located on the fifth floor with a cozy atmosphere. Ours was the only room of the floor and almost felt like being in a cottage. The breakfasts were delightful, and overall, it was a fantastic stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel White

Rome, Italy

During my three-night stay in Rome, I stayed at Hotel White. The hotel was not my favorite as it felt too modern and not authentic to Italy. One meal recommendation from the concierge was disappointing. Not particularly impressed but it served the purpose.

Authenticity & Character

A bit too modern for my taste ... especially in Italy. I was expecting more "old world charm"!

Location

Really IS in the middle of everything!

Staff

Do not ask the front desk for restaurant recommendations!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Pompeii guided tour & wine tasting paired with food on Mt. Vesuvius

Naples

The tour was fantastic, and the guides were very knowledgeable. The wine tasting was great, and overall, I had no complaints.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Colosseum - Palatine Hill - Roman Forum

Rome

The tour guides were extremely informative, and I enjoyed every moment of it. It was a wonderful experience.

This is our second time using kimkim and I would not travel abroad without it in the future. This particular time we traveled to the Netherlands and the last trip was to France. We knew very little about each destination other than a few specific places we wanted to visit. Emma made our Netherlands experience flawless. She laid out a perfect schedule for us with time built in just to explore on our own but still being able to see the places we wanted. I did add a couple things at the last minute and she performed some magic to make it happen. She was very quick to respond to any questions that we had, both before and during our vacation. I would highly recommend Emma to plan your trip to this area. And because of the ease of planning, the layout of the travel plans, and the overall experience, I highly recommend kimkim for any travel. I will not travel abroad without it in the future.

We had a wonderful time in Amsterdam. Emma communicated well and set everything up so we didn’t have to worry at all. Our food tour was excellent and Dirk was a wonderful guide. Our boat tour was very informative and relaxing. Overall we were very pleased with our trip and the service provided by Kim Kim and Emma.

Hotel Review

Tivoli Doelen Amsterdam Hotel

Amsterdam

Excellent location, comfortable beds, very helpful and attentive staff. We had breakfast and dinner at the restaurant and their food is delicious. We were only mildly disappointed in the limited room service offerings, however the staff recommended and delivered to our room Uber Eats. Check in was easy and we were happy the room was ready when we arrived in the early afternoon. We would definitely stay here again.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Public Transport Pass Amsterdam

The Netherlands

Emma set us up with an unlimited travel pass. It worked great and we were able to go anywhere we needed to go.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Amsterdam - Private canal cruise to Van Gogh Museum

The Netherlands

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Daytrip to Marken, Volendam, Edam and Zaanse Schans

The Netherlands

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Amsterdam - Grand Dutch Food Tour

The Netherlands

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ashley did a great job for us.
From planning the trip, to the necessary paperwork. And once we were in Vietnam she was very attentive to our needs. She made sure all arrangements were followed through and met expectations.
Her involvement really allowed us to fully enjoy our trip to Vietnam!

The Serendipity team of Holden, Nancy and Wilman provided excellent advice and support for our trip to Costa Rica, both before and during our three weeks in CR. They were knowledgeable, friendly and always responsive. The Kimkim website made it easy to plan our visit and communicate. We had to make a few changes ‘in real time’; these were done promptly and professionally. Thanks for helping us have a great experience in Costa Rica!

Hotel Reviews

Rio Celeste Hideaway Resort

Bijagua

Beautiful room, great hotel staff, excellent food, very nice pool, pretty grounds with hiking trails. Saw a sloth when we arrived and colorful birds every day at breakfast!

Authenticity & Character

Design, rooms, staff, common areas, wildlife on grounds

Location

Lots to do and see. Rio Celeste river.

Staff

Very friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything!

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

Nice room. Friendly, helpful staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Off the main road. Pretty grounds.

Staff

Very attentive. Helpful during a temporary illness.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Monteverde Lodge & Gardens

Monteverde

Nice room. Pretty grounds with trails. Comfortable restaurant and pool area.

Authenticity & Character

Natural setting with birds and some small mammals.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Issimo Suites Boutique Hotel & Spa—Adults Only

Manuel Antonio

Very nice hotel. Beautiful views to the ocean.

Authenticity & Character

Layout of hotel restaurant, pool area and our room.

Location

Staff

Randall in the restaurant was great!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hampton Inn & Suites San Jose Airport

Alajuela

Very comfortable, clean. Excellent staff. Easy in and out.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Near the airport. A little tricky to find on googlemaps.

Staff

Very helpful and friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grano de Oro Hotel

San José

Very nice hotel. Excellent staff and restaurant.

Authenticity & Character

Charm

Location

Easy to get to; near other restaurants.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Ecocentro Danaus Guided Rainforest Walk (without Transportation)

Arenal/La Fortuna

Excellent guide. Interesting place. Rained all morning!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tapir Valley Nature Reserve Night Walk

Bijagua / Rio Celeste

Very cool night hike! Saw tapir and her baby.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rio Celeste & Tenorio Volcano Private Hike

Bijagua / Rio Celeste

A strenuous hike of 3+ hours. Go early!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide helped us with trail challenges, shared cultural info., , not much re: flora and fauna.

Transport

Cloud Forest Reserve Privately Guided Hike

Monteverde

Excellent hike with lots to see and learn.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Andres was great!

Transport

Day at Selvatura including Hanging Bridges and Fauna Exhibitions

Costa Rica

Excellent variety of plants and animals. Awesome butterfly area. Very good lunch, too.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had an amazing trip in Ireland! We travelled from Dublin to Cork to Killarney to Dingle to Galway and finished in Athlone. We met lovely people, ate great food and stayed in comfortable accommodations. One tip is to be prepared for any kind of weather although we had mostly sunny skies 😊. We can’t wait to visit again!

Hotel Reviews

Dingle Skellig Hotel

Farran, Dingle

The Dingle Skelling was very comfortable and beautiful. The staff was friendly and the restaurant was delicious.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Menlo Hotel

Galway

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Green

Dublin

We loved the Green and immediately felt welcome and comfortable in our accommodations. The green is centrally located and had lovely staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

The hotel is centrally located

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Ross

killarney

The Ross has a lot of character, friendly staff and we stayed in a beautiful suite. We were able to use the swimming accommodations at their sister hotel and the hotel is centrally located.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clayton Hotel Cork City

cork

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hodson Bay Hotel Athlone

Athlone

The Hodson Bay Hotel was very beautiful and full of character. The staff was friendly and suggested and offered reservations for complimentary whiskey tasting which we enjoyed.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Entry into the Emigration Museum EPIC

Dublin

Quality of Experience

Irish Dancing - The Irish House Party

Dublin

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hidden homes of Dublin

Dublin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was very knowledgeable and friendly.

Transport

Self-Guided Guinness Storehouse Experience

Dublin

Quality of Experience

Sailing in Kinsale Harbour

Kinsale

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Owen was very patient and knowledge and made sailing great!

Gap of Dunloe & Lakes of Killlarney Boat Tour

Ireland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cliffs of Moher Visitor Center tickets

Ireland

Quality of Experience

Galway Cathedral

Galway

Quality of Experience

We had an incredible trip. Tricia was very helpful during the planning process, incorporating our wishes and adding suggestions to create a fantastic and sometimes complicated itinerary tailored for us. She was patient during a lot of back-and-forth and was able to pivot when we made adjustments before our departure. On the actual trip, we were always well informed on where to be and what was next. For one exception — during one day's confusion about a booking confirmation — Tricia was very responsive on her day off, helping us get things sorted out.

We were able to pack a lot (but not TOO much) into a 9-day trip, and would absolutely recommend KimKim and Tricia to anyone planning a trip to Norway.

Hotel Reviews

Bjørvika Apartments

Oslo

Fantastic location, convenient access to sights and transportation, great amount of space. Bare bones with no services. Cheap furnishings and thin walls. Having to go to a nearby office to get the key and then double back to the apartment is no fun when you're tired from travel, but the access was simple enough.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

A nice woman checked us in and gave us directions to our building, but there was no interaction with staff beyond that.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean and as-advertised, but bedding was not especially comfortable. Towels were few and small.

Svinøya Rorbuer

Svolvær

A very special spot in the world, with great charm and unbelievable views. Finding our cabin was a bit confusing, as it was easy to confuse our cabin number with a private home with the same address. Upon check-out, we were taken aback at having to strip the linens and take out the trash ourselves (or accept a penalty cleaning fee), but that was not enough to deter from our fond memories of this stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Manshausen

Leinesfjord

What a special place, what special people who run it. We made incredible memories with fun excursions. The staff was very accommodating in adjusting the menu for our children. Know that the mountain hike is a bit more strenuous than we expected, but was wonderful all the same.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Radisson Blu Airport Hotel, Oslo Gardemoen

Gardemoen

A comfortable place to stay between flights. Somewhat long wait to check in. Advertised photos of a "family room" led us to expect partition walls that we didn't have in our room. Still, amount of space was good. Excellent included breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Half day hike with a guide

Mannshausen

A beautiful hike with varied terrain. Incredible mountaintop views.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A Taste of Norway's Culture and Cuisine

Oslo

Less food than we expected, but the walk was scenic and our guide pleasant.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lofoten by horse: Guided tour

Norway

A beautiful tour with sweet horses and lovely guides. A real highlight of our trip. The restaurant is excellent as well.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fishing Trip with a Guide

Mannshausen

The experience we had landing a monstrous halibut was certainly more luck than anything else. Still, even if we had caught nothing, the location and staff and equipment had the makings of a great fishing trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a terrific time on our trip to Costa Rica. Randall was very helpful and everything he organized happened like clockwork.

Hotel Reviews

Arenal Country Inn

Fortuna

Beautiful hotel grounds with individual bungalows for rooms. Loved all the gorgeous plants and flowers. The staff was super nice and friendly. They went out of their way for us. We arrived very late at night, but someone was there to greet us and take us to our room. The front desk staff was very helpful and friendly, too.

Authenticity & Character

Gorgeous plants and flowers and individual bungalow rooms.

Location

Very close to downtown

Staff

Super nice and friendly staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable rooms.

Mar Inn Costa Rica

Monteverde Costa Rica

Great place to stay in Monteverde. Big, clean and comfortable rooms. Balcony with a view. Fun, friendly, informative staff.

Authenticity & Character

Cute place with nice staff. Loved the sister hotel next door where we had breakfast was call Hotel Don Taco and they had a good bar with unique drinks. The resident dogs were the best!

Location

Very close to downtown. Need to climb a hill to get back to hotel, but not a big issue.

Staff

Super friendly staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean, big and comfortable rooms

Activity Review

Maleku Tribe Village Visit

Arenal/La Fortuna

I enjoyed learning about the culture of the tribe. What they eat, how they dressed, their music and their language.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Matias was extremely knowledgeable about the places we traveled to and so enthusiastic and helpful in planning our trip to Chile and Argentina! Even for my million questions, Matias always provided timely feedback and was willing to hop on a video call, which made the trip and planning feel that much more personable. Couldn't have had a better experience, the trip was so well organized. We had an app to track our daily activities, pickups, and contact info, and everybody from Matias to the lodging front desk to our tour guides were so well coordinated.

Elena did an amazing job of communicating with us throughout the entire process of itinerary creation, booking, and execution. Our guides were very knowledgeable and Elena always provided their contact information prior to the Tours. Two of our best guides were Mariapaola and Riccardo. Mariapaola was really amazing as our Rome Tour guide, our driver Riccardo, took us from Napoli to Sorrento gave us great local info along the way. This trip was a great balance between education and relaxation for our family of 5. Thank you Elena for customizing for us.

What an incredible trip! Our group of 6 family and friends had the best time in Morocco. First, when we starting booking this trip we were connected with Ali. He did a fantastic job creating the itinerary and answering all of our questions. Then Said was our emergency contact and while we didn’t need to interact much, it was always pleasant and professional. We were LUCKY enough to have two driver guides in Saadane and trainee Hamza. Saadane was very knowledgeable and was able to answer all of our questions during the trip and took our safety very seriously. Thank you brother! Hamza was always helping during the trip translating and buying roadside fruit and taking photos (have him take your photos!!!). We all agreed he will make a great guide! Chefchaouen was stunning and Saadane showed us some wonderful spots there. Then on to Fes. Our Riad was A+ and we spent a day with our local guide Mo Mo. He showed us all the historical spots and gave all the details. Then also brought us to all the best spots to shop! On to the desert! The Sahara is breathtakingly beautiful and the guide and experiences we had there I will never forget. Ride the camels and visit the Nomads. You won’t be disappointed. Ait Ben Haddou is a great pit stop on the way to Marrakesh. The Red City is another highlight and the energy in the Medina in undeniable. We got to experience both a walking and food tour with Hanan and it was such a treat to get to know her. She was so fun and I’m so grateful that we got to have deeper conversations on the second tour. She showed us all the great food stalls! Don’t leave Morocco without heading to the Hammam for a scrub! After 10 glorious days we had a tearful goodbye (maybe that was just me). Sending lots of love to our brothers Saadane and Hamza from MN and WI.

Hotel Reviews

Dar Jasmine

Chefchaouen

We didn't get to spend a lot of time at the hotel, but it was beautiful and clean and the view are spectacular. Highly recommend.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Beautiful views of the whole city.

Staff

Helpful and friendly staff. Carried our bags up all the stairs!

Cleanliness & Comfort

comfortable bed and great shower pressure!

Riad Fès - Relais & Châteaux

Fès

This is one of the most beautiful hotels I've ever stayed at and loved the rooftop bar and terrace.

Authenticity & Character

Stunning details.

Location

You have to walk a little way through the alleys to get to the hotel. Not a big deal and reception will come out to help with the bags.

Staff

Very helpful and friendly. They made us breakfast to go the morning we had to leave because it was too early for breakfast.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very comfortable.

Riad Ksar Ighnda

Ait Benhaddou

A great spot to stop on the way to Marrakesh from the desert. We ate at the restaurant on site which was convenient after a long day of driving.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very close to Ait Benhaddou.

Staff

Easy check-in and friendly staff.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room as a little small, but we only stayed for 1 night so it wasn't a big deal.

Desert Luxury Camp Erg Chebbi

Merzouga

One of the most fun experiences of my life. Driving the 4x4s out to the camp is super fun and the drivers have some fun with it on the dunes. Staff are very welcoming and accomodating. The food it great! Tents only have AC at night but that was fine as we were out partaking in all the fun activities. Music and fire at night is really special.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Staff are so friendly and willing to make adjustments to make your stay special.

Cleanliness & Comfort

very clean and comfortable glamping accomodations!

Les Jardins De La Koutoubia

Marrakech

Very nice hotel in a great location. Just walk right out into the souks and enjoy great shopping and street food. Head right around the corner and get a Moroccan crepe with olives in it from Fatima!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Staff was always asking for our room number which made us feel like we didn't belong there. Otherwise generally friendly and accomodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

A Taste of Tradition: Sharing Stories and Savory Delights at a Moroccan Home

Morocco

Do this experience! Spending time with the family was so special. We ate and talked and asked so many questions and wore kaftans and danced. Very memorable.

Quality of Experience

Food

We loved experiencing the family recipes and traditions!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tasting Marrakesh: A Private Gastronomic Adventure

Marrakesh

Hanan was a fantastic guide and all the food was super good!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Indulge in a Three-Hour Cooking Experience at La Maison Arabe

Marrakesh

This is a great activity if you love to cook or enjoy good food! Really fun to work with the chefs!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Harmonies of the Dunes: An Experiential Desert Odyssey in Erg Chebbi

Merzouga

Experiencing the Erg Chebbi was something I will never forget. I enjoyed meeting the Nomad family and playing with the kids, they were so welcoming. I wish we would have know more about the family and any gifts we could have brought to them.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day 1 Arrival: We especially enjoyed the prompt and efficient pick-up service at the airport. The transportation to the hotel was comfortable as well.
Areas for Improvement:

Accommodation: While we understand the need for efficient logistics, MJ Suites Hotel fell short of our expectations. The hotel seemed dated and lacked amenities. Fortunately, our short stay minimized any inconvenience.

Transportation: We requested a comfortable bus for the entire group. Traveling in 3 cramped vans caused discomfort, especially with limited legroom. A larger, more comfortable van with ample legroom would have been greatly appreciated.

Itinerary Planning: We began planning our itinerary in January 2023 and booked flights in August 2023. We were disappointed to learn upon arrival that the whale shark watching activity couldn't be done on Sundays. Perhaps including Paullete, who is based in the Philippines and familiar with local restrictions, in the planning stages could have helped avoid this scheduling conflict. Additionally, considering the travel time for those arriving from Australia (approximately 12 hours flying time + 4 hours transit) and the limited sleep in the hotel MJ suites (around 20 minutes), a slightly later start time on the first day would have allowed for more rest and a smoother transition into the trip.

Day 2 & 3 Positive Feedback:

Guide: We truly appreciated our guide, Raymond. He was friendly, jovial, and approachable, making the experience enjoyable.
Canyoneering: The safety precautions and assigning one guide per person for canyoneering exceeded our expectations and highlighted MangoTiger's commitment to safety, which is commendable, especially in Asia. The lunch was delicious with special mention to the extra sweet mangoes. 
Hale Manna Resort: We were happy with the spacious rooms, ample luggage storage, clean and well-equipped bathrooms, a nice pool, and good food at Hale Manna Resort.
Areas for Improvement:

Transportation: Traveling in 3 cramped vans with limited legroom on Day 2 was quite uncomfortable, especially for a long distance in spacious roads. A comfortable, larger bus would have significantly improved the experience. Additionally, the driving style of two of the drivers was aggressive, adding to the discomfort.

Accommodation:

While Hale Manna Resort was good, St. Mark's rooms lacked sufficient space for luggage storage. While the lift, breakfast, and proximity to attractions were appreciated, the rooms themselves fell short of our expectations.
Itinerary Planning:

We encountered some resistance from Paullette regarding using the pre-booked rooms for the photographers when some guests from Dubai did not join. These rooms were already paid for, and Paulette shouldn't have objected.
Similarly, there was hesitation from Paullette to simply adjust the photographers' accommodation for the whale shark watching activity in place of the absent guests.
Suggestions:

Including Paullete, who has local knowledge, in the earlier stages of itinerary planning might help avoid scheduling conflicts like the whale shark watching on Sunday.
Offering a larger, more comfortable van or bus option for longer journeys would greatly enhance the travel experience.

Day 4: Cebu City to Bohol Island & Bohol Scuba Diving
Transportation: The comfortable, spacious luxury bus with push-back seats for the Cebu to Bohol transfer significantly improved the travel experience compared to the previous day's vans.

Ferry: We enjoyed the ferry ride itself; however, there was a discrepancy regarding luggage fees. The itinerary contract stated that all domestic transfers, including ferry tickets, were included in the trip cost. Yet, upon boarding the ferry, Paulette and Raymond requested additional payments for luggage (100 PHP for large bags and 50 PHP for small bags, totaling over 2500 PHP). This unexpected expense felt like an attempt to extract extra money and contradicted the terms of the contract. Finally Raymond and Paullette agreed to follow the contract as per the itinerary since we objected.

Accommodation: Our stay at Twin Tides Panglao unfortunately fell short of our expectations. While we appreciate the polite and helpful nature of the receptionist and kitchen staff, several aspects of the hotel detracted from our overall experience.

Room Size and Amenities: Both the double and triple rooms were quite small, creating a cramped feeling for our group, especially considering we had two absent members. Since we had already paid for their room, we discussed with Paulette utilizing that space for the photographers. She initially agreed.

However, due to the congestion in the triple rooms, we still required two additional rooms to comfortably accommodate three extra guests. While we understood this might have been a MangoTiger planning oversight, we were surprised when they only offered one additional room. This meant asking the photographers to vacate the room we had already paid for, causing them inconvenience..

Air Conditioning: The outdated window AC units lacked proper thermostats, forcing us to keep them running even when not in the room. Additionally, the lack of a second key card meant relying on reception to switch on the AC during our absence.

Convenience: The unavailability of room phones and a lift made communication with reception and luggage transportation inconvenient.

Breakfast: The limited set breakfast menu with few choices did not offer the variety we were hoping for.

Positive Aspects:

Hotel Staff: We appreciate the receptionist's politeness and helpfulness, as well as the kitchen staff's willingness to prepare breakfast early on our check-out day.

Social Gathering: The hotel staff kindly allowed us to use the reception hall and pool area for socializing, as the rooms themselves lacked space.

Laundry Services: The lack of laundry services at the hotel was an inconvenience for a three-night stay .

Scuba Diving: The highlight of our stay in Bohol was the amazing scuba diving experience. The organizers prioritized safety standards, which we truly appreciate, and we thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it.

Overall: While we appreciate the surprise birthday dinner and cake arranged by MangoTiger, the accommodation at Twin Tides Panglao significantly impacted our experience during the longest leg of our trip to a beach town. We believe a more suitable beachfront hotel option could have significantly enhanced our overall satisfaction. However, the exceptional scuba diving experience saved the day!

Day 5, 6 & 7 .
Positive Feedback:

Transportation: The continued use of the comfortable luxury bus for these days was much appreciated.
Guide: We enjoyed having Emilu as our guide. He was intelligent, joyful, pleasant, and approachable, making the experience more enjoyable.
Loboc River Cruise Lunch: The cruise lunch on the Loboc River was a highlight – it was super awesome, and we thoroughly enjoyed it.
Balicasag Island: The island hopping trip and dolphin watching were good experiences. The brunch served on Balicasag Island was particularly appreciated for its variety, including seafood specialties like seaweed, sea urchin, crab, shrimp, and delicious mangoes and other fruits.
Domestic Flight: The foresight to include extra check-in baggage allowance for the domestic flight from Bohol was a valuable addition and helped avoid any last-minute issues.
Areas for Improvement:

Bohol Tarsier Conservation:  While we understand the importance of keeping time to reach the river cruise, a slightly longer time allocated for shopping at the souvenir shop would have been appreciated as it seemed to have a good selection.

Snorkelling Equipment:  Unfortunately, a few members of our group experienced faulty snorkeling equipment, preventing them from fully enjoying the snorkeling activity. It would be beneficial to ensure all equipment is properly checked before each use.

Overall:

Days 5, 6, and 7 offered a good mix of activities and experiences.  The comfortable transportation, Emilu's guidance, and the enjoyable meals made these days memorable.  We appreciate the effort to include the extra baggage allowance for the flight.

Day 8 & 9 , Trasure mountain and Mount Pinatubo.

Transportation:

We understand a large bus might not be suitable for the final stretch to Treasure Mountain due to the narrow road.

However, our disappointment regarding transportation continued. Despite the spacious roads on Manila airport to Clark ( 3 vans) and to Mount Pinatubo , we were again assigned two cramped vans ( instead of 3 ) for 16 guests. This caused significant discomfort, especially considering our lack of sleep and exhaustion from the early morning start for Mt. Pinatubo.  These vans were of such poor quality that they seemed better suited for short-distance hotel shuttles, not long journeys.

The situation worsened upon returning from the trek.  Exhausted and yearning for rest after minimal sleep the previous night, we were further inconvenienced by the third vehicle provided.  A small MPV like a Toyota Innova lacked the space to accommodate the luggage of 18 people (both check-in and carry-on).  Many suitcases were left outside the vehicle.

Reaching out to MangoTiger contacts yielded no immediate response.  The absence of a guide on this day further compounded the problem.  Finally, after contacting a driver who provided a different contact number, we were promised a replacement van (a solution that seemed like basic common sense).  However, this resulted in a frustrating wait of 1 hour and 45 minutes in the hotel lobby, adding to our fatigue from the trek.

We also believe the itinerary planning could have been optimized.  Clark has an international airport with connections to various destinations.  Since we booked our return flight from Manila after receiving the itinerary, a more experienced travel planner like Thao could have suggested a return flight from Clark. This would have saved us a long unnecessary travel back to Manila, allowing for much-needed rest at the same hotel upon returning from Pinatubo.  
Mt. Pinatubo Tour:

Despite the transportation issues, the Mt. Pinatubo trek itself was an amazing experience that we thoroughly enjoyed. The Aeta community guides and drivers were very friendly and helpful. The base camp guide was knowledgeable but could have benefited from additional training. The packed breakfast and lunch were satisfactory
Accommodation:

The room at Clark was outdated but offered sufficient space and had a good bathroom. However, the lack of a lift might be inconvenient for some guests..
Treasure Mountain:

Schedule: The activities at Treasure Mountain seemed poorly timed.  Ideally, they could have begun after 3:30 PM to avoid the hottest part of the day.  Unfortunately, they closed at 3:30 PM when the sun became cooler, preventing our participation.

Facilities:  The tents were good, but the additional 30 PHP charge for mobile phone charging felt like an unnecessary expense in this day and age.  The bathrooms were clean and sufficient in number.

Food: The dinner and breakfast were satisfactory.

ATV Ride: The ATV ride itself was an amazing experience despite the age and stiffness of the vehicles.

Guide: Our guide, Neu, appeared to be a last-minute replacement and lacked essential knowledge about the itinerary and activities. This significantly impacted our experience.

Day 10: Last Day in Manila

Positive Feedback:

Accommodation: We appreciate the last-minute upgrade to LubD Hostel, which exceeded our expectations for a hostel. The rooms were clean and comfortable.

Farewell Dinner: The surprise dinner arranged by Adam the night before our departure was a delightful and delicious way to end our trip.

Areas for Improvement:

Breakfast: Although we appreciate the upgrade to LubD Hostel, there was a discrepancy regarding breakfast. We were initially promised breakfast included on the check-out day, but upon arrival, we were charged 300 PHP each. It would be helpful to ensure clear communication regarding what's included in the accommodation package to avoid any surprises.

Itinerary Planning: As mentioned previously, considering Clark has an international airport, the itinerary planning could have been optimized to include a return flight from Clark instead of Manila. This would have saved us a day of unnecessary travel back to Manila, allowing for more rest and a smoother conclusion to the trip.

Overall:

Despite the minor breakfast confusion and missed opportunity for a more efficient return travel option, we appreciate the last-minute upgrade to a better hostel and the surprise farewell dinner. These gestures positively impacted the final impression of our trip.

Additional Thoughts:

Overall Experience with MangoTiger Tours:

Overall, we had a memorable experience in the Philippines with MangoTiger Tours. While there were a few areas for improvement, particularly regarding transportation choices, communication on some occasions, and missed opportunities for itinerary optimization, the positive aspects like the friendly guides, some of the accommodations, and the unforgettable activities outweighed the shortcomings. We would recommend MangoTiger Tours to others with the suggestion of considering these areas for future improvements, especially regarding transportation options and clear communication throughout the planning and execution of the itinerary.

Regards
Saneej

Hotel Reviews

MJ Suites

Cebu

MJ Suites Hotel fell short of our expectations. The hotel seemed dated and lacked amenities. Fortunately, our short stay minimized any inconvenience. Avoid this hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hale Manna Resort

Moalboal

We were happy with the spacious rooms, ample luggage storage, clean and well-equipped bathrooms, a nice pool, and good food at Hale Manna Resort.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

St. Mark

Cebu

St. Mark's rooms lacked sufficient space for luggage storage. While the lift, breakfast, and proximity to attractions were appreciated, the rooms themselves fell short of our expectations.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Twin Tides Panglao

Bohol

Our stay at Twin Tides Panglao unfortunately fell short of our expectations. While we appreciate the polite and helpful nature of the receptionist and kitchen staff, several aspects of the hotel detracted from our overall experience. Room Size and Amenities: Both the double and triple rooms were quite small, creating a cramped feeling for our group, especially considering we had two absent members. Since we had already paid for their room, we discussed with Paulette utilizing that space for the photographers. She initially agreed. However, due to the congestion in the triple rooms, we still required two additional rooms to comfortably accommodate three extra guests. While we understood this might have been a MangoTiger planning oversight, we were surprised when they only offered one additional room. This meant asking the photographers to vacate the room we had already paid for, causing them inconvenience.. Air Conditioning: The outdated window AC units lacked proper thermostats, forcing us to keep them running even when not in the room. Additionally, the lack of a second key card meant relying on reception to switch on the AC during our absence. Convenience: The unavailability of room phones and a lift made communication with reception and luggage transportation inconvenient. Breakfast: The limited set breakfast menu with few choices did not offer the variety we were hoping for. Positive Aspects: Hotel Staff: We appreciate the receptionist's politeness and helpfulness, as well as the kitchen staff's willingness to prepare breakfast early on our check-out day. Social Gathering: The hotel staff kindly allowed us to use the reception hall and pool area for socializing, as the rooms themselves lacked space. Laundry Services: The lack of laundry services at the hotel was an inconvenience for a three-night stay .

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clarkton Hotel

Clark

The room at Clark was outdated but offered sufficient space and had a good bathroom. However, the lack of a lift might be inconvenient for some guests

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Z Hostel

Manila

Did not satyed

Activity Reviews

Mt. Pinatubo Tour

Manila

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kawasan Falls Canyoneering Adventure

Moalboal

Canyoneering: The safety precautions and assigning one guide per person for canyoneering exceeded our expectations and highlighted MangoTiger's commitment to safety, which is commendable, especially in Asia. The lunch was delicious with special mention to the extra sweet mangoe

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Oslob Whaleshark and Aguinid Falls Tour

Cebu City

Nice one

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bohol Scuba Diving

Bohol Island

Safe and good

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bohol Countryside Tour

Bohol Island

ATV was good

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Island Hopping & Dolphin Watching Day Trip

Bohol Island

Nice.Some snorkelling gears were defective

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Flight Bohol - Manila, Transfer to Treasure Mountain

Philippines

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Travel from Treasure Mountain to Clark

Clark

Bad vans, crampy ride

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I wanted to do a motorbike tour of the Ha Giang loop but was feeling very overwhelmed by all the different tour operators online. I was very worried about having a bad experience, as i had seen reviews of people who went on bad tours.

Thankfully, I reached out to KimKim and Ashley helped me to book the perfect tour! I let her know what I was looking for, and she got me set up with a great tour group. She also fully managed my travel to and from Ha Giang, making the whole trip totally stress free. She was very responsive to any questions I had, and also reached out independently to make sure things were going well. Overall a great experience!