Kimkim Trip Reviews

Alfonso was patient with us as we made multiple changes to our itinerary. We prefer solo guides, private your family and each guide was top notch, friendly, knowledgeable and fun! All of the hotels (with one exception — the last hotel) were great. Alfonso kept in contact daily - we felt very supported and informed. Great trip!

Activity Review

Private Evening Tapas Stroll with Locals

Madrid

Gerardo - local! - was an amazing guide and was an expert in navigating the crowds and processions. Smart, funny, informative and a real pleasure to spend the evening with.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vicky was very helpful when we had an issue with a hotel that was sub par. All the tour guides we had were great, we felt so welcomed, entertained & learned so much about the land people & culture of Australia. Such wonderful, friendly people! However I need the following information to send to my Insurance Co. To try & get a refund for the Reef Palms Hotel Booking Confirmation from your Travel Supplier
Proof of refunds/credits (Any coresspondance saying they won't refund?)
Proof of Payment for Claimed Expenses (I need this)
Accident, incident, or police report: (I can fill out)
Evidence of Damage to home/destination and evidence of event ( I will do)
Photos (Which I have)

Hotel Reviews

Medusa Boutique Hotel

Sydney

Very quaint boutique hotel in a lively neighborhood, close enough to a train or a bus to get anywhere. Enjoy our stay there, highly recommend.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Great neighborhood, close to public transportation.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Reef Palms Motel

Cairns

Right after we checked in the manager left before we saw the room, on fist sight the couch had a rip, the A/C was off &?it was sweltering in the room, the sliding door was open, when we tried to close it to get the A/C going it wouldn’t lock or shut properly. They only had one plate & cup in the kitchen for two people. The bathroom had mold. We went back to the desk to complain & the manager was gone & office locked. My husband was able to get into our room from the deck due to sliding door not locking & there was no lock box to hide valuables when we were out of the hotel. We refused to stay. This is not a 3 star place more like a 1 or 2 star.

Authenticity & Character

Everything, especially their rating system.

Location

Had to walk a log way to find a restaurant that was open.

Staff

They could refund our money!!!!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything, clean it up, fix doors new couch, more kitchen supplies.

Activity Reviews

Sydney Opera House Tour

Sydney

Enjoyed the informative tour..

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Rocks Signature Walking Tour

Sydney

Fascinating experience to learn about the beginning of Sydney’s history with the Convicts.

Quality of Experience

Fascinating history of the conflicts and all they did to make it a city.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was so knowledgeable

Transport

Silverswift to the Outer Barrier Reef - ex Cairns

Australia

It was always a bucket list to see the Barrier Reef.

Quality of Experience

Once in a life-time experience

Food

They had a good variety for everyone.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

They helped us when we’re sick, feed us great food, taught us about the reef

Transport

It was so choppy, otherwise a great day.

Barbara was incredibly attuned to our needs and preferences. She was promptly responsive to our questions and adapted to our changing needs. We couldn't have hoped for a better facilitator.

Rafaella and Daniella were phenomenal. They consistently informed us regarding upcoming activities and kept us informed about itineraries, guides, drivers, et cetera.

All of our drivers were fantastic (with one exception). Not a significant factor.

Our absolute favorite was Daniele. He deserves special recognition!

We will definitely use KimKim again, and will highly recommend them to our friends and family for any future travel plans!

Kimkim planned the most amazing trip to Costa Rica for us. We first worked with Yenyi, then Jessica, our local specialist in Costa Rica finalized our trip. We provided an initial idea of what we wanted to do and see while in Costa Rica, and gave information on the flights we had reserved. From there, everything on our 9-day trip was planned for us, and communicated on our online itinerary. We had the opportunity to review, and ask questions along the way in the planning. We enjoyed our accommodations, the activities we had scheduled (lots of eco-tourism, which we LOVED) and the transportation service lined up for us was top-notch. We had the perfect balance of hiking and excursions to down time where we could choose what we wanted to do. Lots of information about what to do in Costa Rica, what to pack, etc. was included. Somewhere in the emails with Jessica, I must have mentioned that this trip was to celebrate our 30th anniversary, because the hotels we stayed in all recognized us with some form of celebration, including a dinner at a nice restaurant (from Kimkim) and a bottle of wine (from the hotel.) We chose Kimkim based on all the positive reviews, having never used an online travel service before. Kimkim totally lived up to their reputation. I would not hesitate to use Kimkim again - it was a fabulous experience.

Hotel Reviews

The Royal Corin Thermal Water Spa & Resort - Adults Only

Fortuna

This was a wonderful hotel. The rooms all had balconies with views of the Arenal Volcano. The thermal springs were amazing - there are at least a dozen places to enjoy the springs, all with varying temperatures. The morning buffet was extensive, as were both the restaurants in the hotel. The staff were so friendly and helpful. The hotel is located outside town, and there isn't a lot within walking distance, so you need to take a taxi or Uber if you want to explore the area. Would definitely recommend!

Authenticity & Character

Loved the open feel, tiled floors, nice decor.

Location

The only thing to know about the location is that is isn't walking distance to restaurants or shipping. It is a short ride to town, so it wasn't a problem for us.

Staff

Everyone was helpful and friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel & Spa Poco a Poco

Monteverde Costa Rica

This is a cute hotel, located on the edge of town. There are a few aces to eat and shop nearby. Santa Elena is a few minutes walking distance. The restaurant was nice.

Authenticity & Character

Location

The Monteverde area is amazing. Santa Elena has a small downtown area, mostly filled with souvenir shops and a few restaurants.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Mariposa Hotel

Manuel Antonio

This hotel sits at the top of a hill, a little outside of town. It has a great view from the restaurant and pool. The rooms were nice, with great views from the patio.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The only "comfort" issue we had was that the light into the bathroom is on a motion detector with a timer (that makes a noise) There isn't a door separating the where the beds and bathroom - if someone needs to use the bathroom in the night, the light goes on with an audible click and stays on for several minutes. It came on by itself once during the night .

Activity Reviews

Arenal Hanging Bridges Guided Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

We saw so many animals on this hike. The guide (Jason) was great. He kept the kids in our small group engaged. It was fun crossing the bridges.

Quality of Experience

We learned so much about the area! The guides are knowledgeable and make the trip for for everyone.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Volcano & 1968 Reserve Guided Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

Our guide belonged to an indigenous tribe from Costa Rica, and explained how a lot of the plants in the area have been used for years and years. We did the 3-mile loop, and had a really nice time.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Guided Hike

Monteverde

Don't miss this one! On this guided tour, we saw so many types of birds, it was wonderful. We learned all about the cloud forest, the plants that live there, and what makes this area unique.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was Micheal. In addition to be an highly educated naturalist, we was local to Monteverde and provided insight into what is what like growing up in the mountains.

Transport

Coffee Experience and Nighttime Nature Walk

Monteverde

This was a highlight of our time in Monteverde. We were picked up at our hotel and driven to a small coffee farm. We first got to press some sugar cane and a lime, and had some to drink. Then we learned abut how coffee is grown, roasted and what gives it unique qualities. We sampled several roasts of coffee beans. We then ventured out into the forest when it got dark, with flashlights and nerves on edge! We saw a mother and baby sloth, armadillos, tarantula, a couple of snakes, and frogs. We purchased some coffee that had been grown there to bring home. Our guide, Junior, was knowledgeable, entertaining as heck, and passionate about growing coffee. This was one of the best experiences of our trip!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike

Manuel Antonio

This trip involved a walk into the park, noticing the animals and birds that lived there. We saw sloths, snakes, birds, insects and monkeys. We had time at the beach to swim in the Pacific Ocean before heading back on a different path.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Amazing experience and five-star service from start to finish! Both Yassine (our trip planner) and Younes (our driver in Morocco) went above and beyond. Yassine was always available and patient to answer all of my questions - and I often have a lot of questions. He was also super knowledgeable and helpful. This was the first time I used a tour operator to help construct an itinerary as I usually like to do it on my own. I was still able to build my own itinerary as we opted for a private tour but having Yassine's knowledge of the country was priceless. And Younes, our driver, was amazing and helped make our trip and experience that much better. He was with us every step of the way and he made us feel more like family than tourists. My kids (ages 7 and 9) still say how they miss him since we've come back home. I would definitely recommend KimKim to help plan your next adventure, and if you can opt for both Yassine and Younes don't hesitate!!

Hotel Reviews

Dar Jasmine

Chefchaouen

Amazing views and beautiful grounds. It's a hike to get to but well worth it! We were only there for one night and walked into and out of town four times and would do it again to stay here.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Views alone are worth the hike to get here

Staff

Everyone was so nice and helpful!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Ksar Ighnda

Asfalou

Beautiful hotel and grounds - our room was perfect for a family of four and had more than enough space with amazing views!

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful hotel and grounds with amazing views of the area.

Location

Staff

Everyone was so nice and helpful!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Laaroussa

Fez medina

Another great stay with a two-story room that was spacious enough to relax and hang out all together. The location was great, and the service was excellent, including the option to purchase local Moroccan wine.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Kalaa 2

Rabat

Luxury Camp Chebbi

Merzouga

Location

Riad Spice

Marrakech

Activity Reviews

Overnight in the Sahara Desert

Morocco

A night we will never forget! It's a long drive to get to but WORTH every second! Everything was amazing - riding the camel to our camp during sunset, great dinner prepared for us, comfortable and clean tents with private bathrooms, traditional music by the campfire while staring at the stars, sunrise over the dunes in the morning, and finally sand boarding! Worth the drive and was the highlight of our trip to Morocco!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exploring the Imperial City and Medieval Medina of Fez

Fes

This private group tour in Fez was informative and the guide was knowledgeable about the area. The intricate medina can be confusing, but the guide helped navigate us through it. However, there were frequent stops at cooperatives, which felt like pushy sales tactics which we did not like.

Exploring the Medina and Historical Sites Of Marrakesh

Marrakesh

This private group tour in Marrakesh was informative and the guide was knowledgeable about the area. The intricate medina can be confusing, but the guide helped navigate us through it. However, there were frequent stops at cooperatives, which felt like pushy sales tactics which we did not like.

My husband and I had a wonderful trip to Costa Rica. We started our journey in San Jose and embarked on an unforgettable adventure, visiting breathtaking destinations such as Tortuguero, Arenal, and Manuel Antonio. Throughout our travels, our guide Priscila played an integral role in ensuring a seamless and enriching experience. Her knowledge of the local culture, wildlife, and history added depth to our excursions, allowing us to truly immerse ourselves in the beauty of Costa Rica.

Priscila's dedication and professionalism were evident from the moment we started to talk to her. She took the time to tailor our itinerary to match our interests and preferences, curating a personalized experience that exceeded our expectations.
Her friendly attitude and enthusiasm made every moment of our trip enjoyable and memorable. From recommending restaurants to advising beaches, Priscila ensured that we had an unforgettable experience.

We had a few issues during our trip, but Priscila tried to help us whenever we needed. Also, we would prefer to spend more time in Manuel Antonio and less time in Arenal as we noticed some of the activities in Arenal and the hotel we stayed in there, weren't great for us. But overall it was a great experience.

We look forward to returning to Costa Rica and exploring more of its wonders with you by our side.

Hotel Reviews

Park Inn San Jose by Radisson

San José

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mawamba Lodge

Tortuguero

This hotel was above our expectations! The staff, the location, the tour guides, and the facilities were great! If one day I go to Tortuguero again, I would definitely stay in Mawamba Lodge. We saw all the animals we wanted on the first day in their garden.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Mountain Paradise

Fortuna

We really think that this was the worst hotel we've ever stayed in our lives. The only good thing is the view from the room but I can make a long list about the negative experience we had in there. We noticed a leak in the toilet the first day, so we called the reception, someone who doesn't speak English came into the room to repair it. He said that it's all good and left. But we found out that he just put a towel on the floor around the toilet for the leak. It was written that they have wireless in the rooms but actually there wasn't. The room location was at the top of the mountain, very dark, and very far from the reception, restaurant and the rest of the facilities. So we could only reach to the room with a golf car. They changed our room on the next day with Priscila's help. The second room was all right but there was still no proper internet inside. We had to dine in the hotel's restaurant because the hotel seemed to be in the middle of nowhere. The food arrived in 1.5 hours and it tasted really bad. They have poor breakfast as well. They offered us a spa to say sorry for the leak in the toilet. So we arranged a time for that with the reception. When we went to the spa area, we had to wait for half an hour for the massage therapist to finish their session with someone else. To summarize, I wouldn't recommend this hotel to anyone!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Playa Espadilla

Manuel Antonio

Great hotel with great food. The location is close to many beaches and the wifi is great!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Hike to the Summit of Cerro Tortuguero

Tortuguero

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome To Costa Rica

San José International Airport (SJO)

The driver who picked us up from the hotel to take us to the airport for Tortuguero left us in the international departure building, so we had to walk around 10 minutes with heavy luggage to the domestic airport.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A Journey into the History and Culture of Tortuguero Village

Tortuguero

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

EcoTermales Hot Springs & Meal

Arenal/La Fortuna

This activity was unnecessarily long! 2-2.5 hours would be definitely enough. The restaurant wasn't great either. We didn't know what to do so we waited in the reception for an hour for the time we agreed with the driver and he was late!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Volcano Hike & La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

The tour guide was late.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike

Manuel Antonio

They have the best beach in there! But the time we spent in there wasn't enough. ( 30 minutes)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ocean Kayaking & Snorkeling

Manuel Antonio

The tour guide gave us a really bad canoe comparing to the other peoples canoe in the tour, so we kept falling.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boat tour visiting Tortuguero

Tortuguero

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zip Lines & Hanging Bridges Guided Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Good bye Costa Rica!

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rainforest Wildlife and Sloth Tour

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a fantastic trip and appreciated our local specialist's patience dealing with a complicated itinerary - this was an extended family trip with different family members arriving and departing at different times. Everything went smoothly with all the various pickups and drop-offs, with just one small hiccup where a driver went to the wrong address that was quickly corrected. All of the tours we arranged were fantastic. We especially loved our two days with the local tour guide Romina - our family adored her and wanted to take her home with us!! Thank you for everything!

Our trip to Costa Rica was so seamless, thanks to the collective efforts of the KimKim and Serendipity team. We had all of our needs met and then some, both with the hotels we stayed at and the activities that they coordinated for us. We couldn't have had the trip we did without their help. Ending our trip in Guanacaste was an incredible recommendation that made our stay so relaxing.

I was especially impressed by the quick responsiveness on the ground during our week in Costa Rica, as we encountered a few questions along the way that were all immediately addressed. I look forward to planning our next trip, wherever that may be!

Hotel Reviews

Casa Conde Beach Front Hotel

Playa Hermosa

Amazing views, food, drink, and pools. Everything we needed and more.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Volcano Lodge, Hotel & Thermal Experience

San Carlos, Alajuela

The rooms themselves were pretty average but the hot springs were the standout! We spent a ton of time outside and enjoying the proximity to Fortuna.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Be prepared for insects and lizards invading your space!

Senda Monteverde Hotel

Monteverde

So peaceful and attentive. Loved it.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Morning Sailing and Snorkeling Adventure

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee & Chocolate Tour

Costa Rica

This was our family's favorite activity!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private: Guided Sloth & Bird Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Guided Nature Walk at Ecological Park & Butterfly Garden Danaus

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Less animals than anticipated given the hot weather

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day at Selvatura including Hanging Bridges and Fauna Exhibitions

Costa Rica

The sloth exhibit was so impressive, as they were very active and right next to us. This was our daughter's favorite part of the trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private: Night Walk in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

Monteverde

So many wonderful surprises on this first night for us, especially the mother sloth carrying her baby across a power line in the dark. What great luck!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Palo Verde National Park Boat Exploration

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lookout Tram, Ziplines, & Hanging Bridges Combination Adventure

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

The hike was very hot and pretty strenuous but the zip lining was unreal.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This was our family's first trip to Africa. Were naturally unfamiliar with the territory and a bit apprehensive about planning a trip. We spent five days wildlife viewing in Serengeti and Ngorongoro, and two days in the city of Arusha.

Our local travel organizer Melvin M. and our local safari guide Walter O. were both extremely helpful and kind beyond our expectations. Melvin was professional and very responsive. Walter and assistant guide Kaka M. were very well informed about Tanzania's natural world and helped us get the most of our time, putting in extraordinary effort to help us experience the best of this wonderful part of the world.

As parents were were protective traveling with our teenage kids. The team made us feel safe and welcome both in the city and in the wild. We will remember their kindness and good company for a long time to come.

All in all a memorable trip that gave us a good overview of Japan. Everything went smoothly. Guides and drivers showed up on time and handled all the details- the little things that can blow up a trip- efficiently. Our guides were personable and friendly and eager to help. Except for a period where Kate was on holiday she always responded to us quickly. (It might be a good ideas to have a back-up person to cover holidays)

We were a bit disappointed that our guides in general didn’t speak better English. I realize it’s kind of arrogant to travel to another country and expect to communicate like at home, but for a relatively high end trip like this we expected better.

Also, a couple of our guides were Chinese students studying in Japan. Delightful people but English was at least their 3rd language. We also found their knowledge of Japanese history to be lacking.

It’s also worth noting that the train system in Japan is pretty intimidating for Americans unfamiliar with train culture. We were given Shinkansen tickets by our guides but had to figure out how and where to use them. Thankfully the Japanese people are very helpful when the see bewildered Americans standing in an overwhelmingly busy train station. Just something to keep in mind when you plan future trips.

2 of our 3 hotels were great. Who is disappointing by the Ritz? After booking and paying for the trip our Kyoto hotel was changed from a 5 star to a 3 star. While the Resol Trinity was very pleasant and well located the rooms were very tiny and hard for two people to move around in. We put our luggage in the bath tub to get it out of the way.

All in all a delightful and well planned trip. Lots of moving parts and with so much that could have gone wrong but didn’t. All very professionally orchestrated.

Gary was amazing helping us plan our trip to Western Australia what a beautiful country

Hotel Review

Novotel Perth Langley

Perth

Close to everything we wanted to do the staff was friends and very helpful

Authenticity & Character

Staff

Location

Walking to city and buses pick up

Staff

All staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Explore Rottnest Island by bike

Australia

Beautiful beaches and laid back fun food great

Quality of Experience

Beaches

Perth Swan River Dinner Cruise

Perth

Loved see the city from the water

Wave Rock, York, Wildflowers & Aboriginal Cultural Tour

Perth

This rock is really cool go see it

Pinnacle Stargazing Tour

Perth

Amazing to see

Perth Arcades and Laneways Walking Tour

Perth

Lots of good information and history

Working with Raquel to plan our trip to Spain was an absolute dream! She was organized, communicative, knowledgeable and flexible with any changes/suggestions I had. Our trip was seamless; from drivers picking us up at airports/hotel/train stations transferring us to our next destination to suggesting places to eat with tween/teenagers. Raquel had great suggestions to make our family vacation fun and stress-free. I would HIGHLY recommend working with Raquel and the kimkim team!

Activity Reviews

Exclusive Food Tour of Barcelona through its Tapas Bars

Barcelona

This was AMAZING! Such a great way to experience local cuisine as well as more authentic restaurants that aren’t tourist traps. The food/wine pairing choices were phenomenal- even our picky 17 year old raved about how good everything was!

Quality of Experience

The food was amazing and the tapas restaurants chosen were quaint and authentic.

Food

Everything!!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide (Brian) was so knowledgeable about all the areas we walked through as well as all of the food/wine. He was personable and fun!

Transport

Every driver was on time and communicative!

Private Tour of Barcelona & La Sagrada Familia

Barcelona

What an amazing experience to see the different areas of Barcelona and this phenomenal place. Our guide, Anna, was absolutely fantastic. She was so sweet, knowledgeable and fun! She had great rapport with my 2 daughters (ages 11 and 17) and made their experience so much more enjoyable by interacting with them while also educating us all!

Quality of Experience

Having tickets pre-purchased so we went straight in- no waiting in lines!!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Anna was wonderful! She was so knowledgeable and fun.

Transport

So easy and always prompt!

Day Trip to Montserrat & Lunch at a Farmhouse

Barcelona

This was a great day trip! Seeing the monastery, the Black Madonna and the different area was great.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

There was a mix up with guide/meeting location (at no fault of kimkim) but Antoni was prompt to call me and get it figured out!

Transport

Private City Bike Tour

Seville

Great way to see the area!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traditional Andalusian Market Visit & Cooking Class

Seville

This was our daughter’s favorite thing about our trip! She loved hearing about all the local food and learning to make some traditional Spanish dishes!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Flamenco Experience

Spain

This was my favorite activity of our whole trip! This exceeded all of my expectations and was captivating!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Visit of Madrid: History, Culture & Architecture of the Capital of Spain

Madrid

The guided tour was a great way to see the area and learn the surroundings as opposed to just walking around on your own.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hot Air Balloon Ride Over Segovia

Madrid

What a wonderful family experience! Even my husband (who hates heights) said this was incredible and he would do it again! It was the favorite activity of our 17 year old daughter!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The entire crew with Globus was super!

Transport

To start off, I was very happy with my trip and I came in with multiple concerns relating to safety and Yellow/Dengue fever outbreak in Brazil. Coming out of it, I think the safety was much overblown and I did not have any issues with mosquitoes as I used bug spray, sprayed clothes ahead of time, and I avoided going to the Amazon rain forest and other areas that are in more "higher-risk" areas.
Using Kim-kim significantly helped with the ease. I was able to modify things before I paid for them, and I was picked up from the airport and had guides set up. Could I have found something cheaper? probably, but I am paying for the convenience and the safety because I needed a guide for any big trip I would go on because I do not speak Portuguese.
I do wish there was a breakdown of the pricing because the lack of transparency makes me think I could have gotten a better deal, especially with the exchange rate and how things tend to be very affordable in Brazil.
I stayed at Hotel Arena Copacabana. The couple negatives that I experienced while I was there was that I arrived at the airport at 8 AM and was exhausted, but my room was not ready until 2 PM so I had to "waste" 6 hours exploring the area until I was able to go to my room and nap. In addition, I believe under the description I was told that each guest gets 1 free water bottle, which was not the case. You can buy one for 8 Brazilian Real.
Overall my room was fine. The view was sort of from the side so it was not the best, but overall I was satisfied with it. The staff was very courteous and they cleaned the room very well when asked.
The guide I spent the most time with was Louis. He was great, and from the beginning I felt very comfortable with him. He bought souvenirs for my guest and I, and he would get us waters when we needed it. He did discuss politics and philosophy a lot but overall I was very happy with him. He took us to Christ the Redeemer, Sugar Loaf Mountain, Tijuca Rain Forest. I wish we went on actual hikes in the rain forest. We essentially drove into the area, and stopped at areas to take pictures near the waterfall. I was a little underwhelmed with the rain forest. Christ the Redeemer and Sugar Loaf Mountain were cool to see. Definitely a must-see, but it is definitely a big tourist attraction.
The next guide was Danyel, or he goes by Jack Danyel. I requested to not go to the Favelas for tours due to safety concerns. We did end up going to the Vidigal Favella and took a van to the top to get to Two Brother's Peak. The hike was very strenuous and I was sweating buckets by the time I got down. We then had food at the Favela and rode a motor-bike down. The food we had at the Favela was very good. The Favela was nowhere as dangerous as online reviews make it seem. I may have also lucked out because at that time there was no ongoing conflict between police and drug gangs in that area. We then went on ao bike tour. My one critique was that Jack Danyel tended to be on his phone for the majority of the time.
The next guide was Miguel. The main adventure with him was going kayaking. Unfortunately, the waves and wind did not let us go to Tijuca Island but we went around the lagoon and enjoyed that as well. Miguel was a great tour guide.
The last day we went on a Food Tour. Vicente, he did not contact me ahead of time like the rest did to confirm pick-up time. Either ways, I loved the food tour and he was very informative. I thinka food tour should be required for any trip to a foerign country to learn about the food and culture. I had a great time that day.
Louis drove us back as scheduled.
Overall, this was a great trip with very few negatives. I definitely want to go back to Brazil again in the future. Almost every guide offered their services to me in the future if I have any questions on future trips and I do plan to keep in contact with them. Louis contacted me later to make sure I arrived in the states ok.

Hotel Review

Arena Copacabana Hotel

Rio de Janeiro

Good location. Annoyed that I had to wait 6 hours to get my room. Wasn't necessarily the fault of my hotel but it was tough to get to the hotel 8 AM from a long flight and wait a while. They do not give any free water bottle for each guest, even though I believe they mentioned that.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Beach was right across the street.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms were ok. They cleaned the rooms very well.

Activity Reviews

Half-Day private tour: Santa Teresa and Rio’s Municipal Theater

Rio de Janeiro

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day Tour of Two Brothers Peak & Vidigal Favela

Rio de Janeiro

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day- Rio by Bike

Rio de Janeiro

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kayak around Tijuca Island

Rio de Janeiro

The weather did not allow us to go to Tijuca Island so we went around the lagoon.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Food Tour in Rio

Rio de Janeiro

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Christ the Redeemer & Sugar Loaf Mountain

Rio de Janeiro

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-day tour Tijuca Forest

Rio de Janeiro

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The trip to Costa Rica was amazing! The places we visited were beautiful and the balance was great between adventure and relaxation. The tours and tour guides were fantastic and not only shared their expertise for the activity (snorkeling, whitewater rafting, biking, and zip lining) but also details about their country and culture to enrich the experience. All of the hotel accommodations had beautiful views, delicious food, and great service. The shuttle transportation was safe and reliable. Olman was patient with my questions and planned a vacation my family and I will remember for a long time. I would recommend Kim Kim and Olman to anyone looking to travel to Costa Rica.

Our family had an awesome trip to Egypt and Jordan. As a family of 5 (kids aged 16, 14 & 13) we experienced some difficulties securing hotel rooms and had to get involved with larger hotel chains to book ourselves. Otherwise, the planning was excellent and smooth. Our tour guides and drivers were excellent! There was no time during our trip where we felt anything but completely safe and cared for. Mohamed planned every last detail to maximize our experiences with the level of activity that we desired. Everything far exceeded our expectations.

Hotel Reviews

Steigenberger Legacy Nile Cruise

Aswan

I spent two nights on the Nile Cruise in both Luxor and Aswan. The cruise was smooth, the tour guides were great, and the experience was enjoyable. The activities on the cruise were well-organized, and I particularly enjoyed the trip to Edfu and Kom Ombo Temples. Overall, a fantastic experience on the Nile Cruise.

Petra Moon Hotel

Wadi Musa

I had a one-night stay at Petra Moon Luxury Hotel and it was a pleasant experience. The hotel was comfortable, clean, and conveniently located for exploring Petra. The staff was friendly, and the amenities were good. A decent place to stay for a short visit to Petra.

Aladdin Camp

Wadi Rum, Aqaba

The visit to Petra and the subsequent stay at the Camp was a seamless transition. Exploring the ancient city of Petra followed by a night at the camp in Wadi Rum offered a blend of history and nature. A well-coordinated itinerary for a memorable experience.

Activity Review

Private Felucca Ride at Nile with Lunch (Nile Pharaoh)

Egypt

The private Felucca Ride on the Nile with lunch was a serene and picturesque experience. Sailing on the Nile while enjoying a delicious meal was a highlight of my trip. The peaceful ambiance and scenic views made it a memorable outing.

We were a multigenerational group of 4, and Michael and his team at Chaska really delivered an exceptional experience! We loved getting a window into Colombia through the personal stories of our guides, and it was amazing to be able to fully enjoy each experience, not having to worry about how to get from point A to B, or if my Spanish language skills were up to the task! Our kids loved Cafe del Parque and our beach day at Rosario Island. Mom and Grandma loved the Corcora Valley hike, and the novel experiential learning via basketweaving, the drum workshop, as well as net-fishing in La Boquilla. Such a great variety and enriching way to experience Colombia.

The trip was great! Is was our honeymoon and it will be unforgettable for both of us. Organization was great. Accommodations were great. Transportation was great and always on time. All tours were excellent and provided the experiences that we were looking for in all cities. Our planner Ruth did an amazing job!!!

Hotel Review

Garden Court Suites & Apartments

Queenstown

Great space. Amazing view from the balcony. Had a washer and dryer which was helpful for our trip. Very close to the city center.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full-Day Jet-Boat Adventure & Funyak River Safari

Queenstown (NZ)

Very very fun!! Must do if you go to Queenstown. They provide all equipment: wetsuit, jacket, boots, etc... Staff was great.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Evening Progressive Degustation Walk

Melbourne

Must do if you go to Melbourne. This city has so many great restaurants that was very difficult for us select which one to go. Luckly this tour helped us go to 3 great restaurants and taste lots of food in each one along with different wines. Great experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Morning Best of Melbourne by Bike

Melbourne

Great way to see the city in a timely and fun fashion. Our tour guy Craig was excellent!!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Outer Reef Mackay Coral Cay

Port Douglas

The tour was one of the most amazing things I have ever done. To be able to see the corals close was spectacular. We saw turtles, rays and lots of different fish. The staff is excellent. The full day is an awesome experience. The food was descent. They provide you with all equipment. Never felt safer.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Wildlife, Waterfalls and Wine

Sydney

Great tour. We were able to touch and being very close with Kolas. Took lots of pictures close with them. Also we were able to feed Wallabies and Kangaroos. Wine tasting was great. The lunch was great as well. The tour guide was excellent.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Mossman Gorge Adventure Day

New Zealand

Guy was a great tour guide! You start with a river tour seeing lots wild life and then you ride the river which was very fun. The lunch was great!! Then the afternoon you go to the forest and can dive into the river which was also cool.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fei organised a wonderful trip to Japan (5 nights Tokyo, 5 nights Kyoto) for our family of four. Our tour guides (Gaku, Marcus and Slash) were absolutely fantastic – very accommodating, knowledgeable and kind. The drivers were impeccable, always punctual and helpful, taking all the stress of out of travel. The excursions chosen by Fei were amazing – and we have taken home many happy memories! We would highly recommend KimKim and Fei.

Hotel Review

Hotel Kanra Kyoto

Kyoto

Absolutely best hotel to stay in in Kyoto. On arrival we were greeted by the very friendly and helpful staff and a refreshing cup of tea. The front of house staff were extremely helpful in organising a table in the restaurant as well as providing excellent recommendations for a nearby coffee shop and restaurant. Rooms were beautiful and thoughtfully prepared. Restaurant was absolutely amazing - as were the restaurant staff. Would definitely stay here again.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful peaceful rooms

Location

Staff

Front of house staff and restaurant staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

An Insight into Local Religion: Fushimi Inari-Taisha, Nijo Castle and Kinkaku-ji

Japan

Our guide Gaku was super. She also had a great recommendation for lunch. Room for improvement? Perhaps only 2 out of the three activities would have been enough on this days.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Gaku was a fantastic guide - friendly, knowledgeable, interested in comparing and discussing different cultures. Driver was super helpful and kind.

Transport

Very clean and comfortable cars. Excellent driving.

Half Day Sagano Bamboo Grove and Tenryuji Temple Tour

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Marcus was very attentive and found the quietest corners of the very busy Grove and allowed us lots of time in the Zen temple to stop and stare. He also had some great recommendations for trying local food. Again, our driver was superb - kind helpful and excellent driving.

Transport

Clean comfortable transport. Excellent driving.

One Day Hiroshima and Miyajima Island Tour

Hiroshima

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Amazing! Slash was super friendly, very understanding and lots of fun to be with. He went the extra mile to help us find a restaurant at the end of our long day trip!

Transport

We used the Shinkansen and public transport. All very pleasant.

Chatting with our driver (Samir) was my favorite part of the trip. He’s such a kind, generous, and wonderful person. A fantastic cultural ambassador for Morocco! 🇲🇦

The tour guides in Marrakech (Hennan) and Fes (Hafid) did an excellent job. A fantastic opportunity to delve into the history of two fascinating cities.

Everything went as planned! The organization was excellent and Christina and her colleagues have been always available to assist us during the trip. The local operators have been super nice and professional. The only thing we did not understand was that the Safari in Senja was going to be changed with another northern lights tour during the night. However, we will choose KimKim again!

Regards,

Giulia and Stuart