Kimkim Trip Reviews

The breakfast is really really good! The rooms were a little stuffy at night, but other than that it was a good stay!

The view were amazing! And our tour guide, Natasha was the best!

Natasha, our guide, was great! We loved the different actives and the hike was gorgeous!

Super fun! The guides were awesome and fun to chat with. The waterfalls and rivers were a lot of fun to canyon in.

It was cool to see the different restaurants and learn about the wines and cheese.

This was a lot of fun, we loved the different places we got to see and our guide Natasha was wonderful, she was very charming and knowledgeable. 10/10!!!

Great location, wonderful staff. Nice, simple breakfast. Rooms were small, but welcome to Paris!

The hotel was beautiful and the food was delicious. It was my favorite breakfast of the trip. The staff was so warm and friendly

The setting is gorgeous. We had a Mountain View from our hotel room and I could have looked at it all day. The food and drinks were delicious. The Calafate sour was quite memorable. The pool and spa were lovely. Tours excellent.

Gorgeous hotel right in the center of town in the main square. Walk to many lovely restaurants

The hotel lobby is stunning. The pool area is gorgeous and the restaurants were delicious

It was a nice hotel. Very clean. The breakfast buffet was not so great. We ate at the restaurant for dinner and it was excellent. It was on the lake but not walkable to the cute town. They did have a free shuttle though.

We did not enjoy this hotel. The location was not great. There was not a lot of shopping and restaurants that close by and some vacant store fronts. We had the penthouse and it seems more shabby than chic. The breakfast was fine but nothing great.

Good location and nice lobby. The rooms are a little dated. The breakfast was just ok.

Lovely food and a fun show

The Perito Merino glacier is just stunning and if you have the opportunity to get close-up on a boat, I Highly recommended

We had a very good guide. He showed us quite a bit of Buenos Aires and gave us a lot of history. We enjoyed it.

We really enjoyed both sides of the falls but our tour guide was not great. He tried to upsell us to do the Brazilian boat ride $20 pp instead of the Argentinian boat ride we already paid for so that was weird. He didn’t tell us that much about the falls or provide suggestions but where the best pictures were. We cover both sides of the falls so it was a long day but we had to ask him to stop so we could eat lunch at 2:00 because we had been going since 8:30. He told us we could have 30 minutes for lunch at a place that did not have takeout. We changed clothes after we got soaked on the Argentinian side and then then we went over to the Brazilian side and he sent us down a path to see a part of the falls and we got soaking wet again. I thought it would’ve been nice if he had told us that we were going to get drenched again.

This was one of the best tours of our trip. The scenery is amazing. The boat was very nice and the staff were super friendly.

Torres Del Paine is beautiful. We had a cloudy day but our tour guide tried very hard to show us the peaks. He pointed out lots of wildlife and we had a very nice picnic lunch.

The boat and staff were great. The Penguins were just super cute and amazing to watch.

This tour was just ok. There was some history, but a lot of politics and the tour itself just wasn’t that exciting. We had two teens with us and he didn’t try to engage them at all or make it interesting for them.

Wonderful hotel, located in the Plaka neighborhood very close to the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum.

We enjoyed our stay in Gabalochori, and appreciated their willingness to open to us off season. The only reason I didn't give this five stars was that we could not initially gain entry - we needed to call our travel agent for the entry code.

This was our favorite accommodation in Crete. The view from the terrace was spectacular. The location was great - convenient to restaurants and the town's many interesting sights. The staff - especially the owner - was also extremely helpful.

We really enjoyed this beautiful small hotel. Archanes is a very pretty village close to Knossos, with some excellent restaurants - even off season.

A perfectly fine airport hotel. We loved that it was right across the street from airport checkin.

It was a bit long and extremely cold, plus the lights are hard to see with naked eye - however, they came out in pictures. We enjoyed looking at the sky full of stars, that was beautiful!

There is only one word: AMAZING! It is a gorgeous setting, super relaxing!

It was nice, but a bit crowded and the changing rooms area was not as clean.

A good experience!

A unique experience!

An amazing drive, scenery absolutely breath taking!

The waterfalls are simply impressive!

The absolute BEST !!! Wonderful does not even get close, this place is magical!

Beautiful place!

All went well.

This is certainly the worst Mandarin Oriental hotel I have ever stayed in. Service was OK; Food was OK and really could use a renovation.

Words can't describe how extraordinary this property is. Set in a Eucalyptus forest high on a hill, overlooking the vast Southern Pacific ocean. Staff, guides, and the history of the island makes this a true destination.

A wonderful boutique hotel - food was great; views were outstanding and the staff could not have been more accommodating and best of all - within walking distance of most things

The view from the hotel is well worth the trip. The food was not up to other Explora properties. The management team was amazing

A truly amazing destination in a truly amazing locale

This riad was right in the heart of the spice market, which made for a unique experience. The staff helped us navigate our luggage through the bustling souk, which was much appreciated given the narrow alleyways. Although we preferred our initial hotel in Marrakech (Elegancia Riad), we opted for this more budget-friendly option for our brief stay at the end of our journey. It was a short walk to the nearby square (Jardin Sidi Hmed El Kamel), which had several good food options (including vegan options) that were well priced. This hotel was better located, but our first riad was more luxurious. The staff were very friendly, but the hotel itself felt somewhat dated and could have been cleaner. Our room overlooked a central riad, offering limited natural light and a slightly dim atmosphere. While it served its purpose for our short stay, we both agreed that there are likely better riad options within the city (though perhaps more expensive). Although we didn't have dinner at the hotel, we found the breakfast to be satisfactory. We definitely had better breakfast meals at our other hotels, but it was fine for being included in the hotel price. An unexpected highlight was meeting the two turtles who reside in the lobby, which added a fun element to our experience!

We thoroughly enjoyed our two nights here! It's tucked away down an alley off a moderately busy street. The area felt very safe, even at night, and was about a 15-minute walk from the main square. We had no problem navigating around the neighborhood on our own. Our room was nice, clean, and comfortable. Complimentary water, cookies, and a bottle of wine were provided. We ended up taking the wine with us and were glad we did because it was much more difficult to get alcohol in the rural areas. The woodwork on the door to the room was beautiful. Our only complaint was that there were no outdoor windows, which meant no natural sunlight in the morning. We understand that's a common occurrence at riads in Marrakech and wasn't a major issue. The interior of the riad was beautiful and very clean. It was classically decorated and felt comfortable and well-maintained. The staff was helpful and friendly — we really enjoyed the welcome juices and made friends with the orange cats on the rooftop. On several occasions, the staff helpfully offered to escort us to nearby locations that were hard to find. We didn't eat dinner at this riad, but breakfast was nice. There are several well-reviewed restaurants right down the street. We really enjoyed dinner at M Bacha Restaurant (2 min walk). It's a standalone restaurant with a beautiful interior riad/garden with citrus trees and excellent, affordable food. Breakfast (yogurt, fruit, eggs, smoked salmon, pastries, etc.) was served on the hotel's beautiful rooftop, which has a bar, restaurant, pool, and sitting area. The rooftop was the selling point of the riad for us — it's well-appointed and has a lovely view. There was a nice pool, but it was too chilly for us to swim. We also enjoyed evening mojitos there (120dhm/$12 USD per drink). The riad's larger sister property is worth visiting. It's about a 2-minute walk away and is more of a classic hotel. It has a fun indoor jazz piano bar.

We absolutely loved our stay at this guest house and are so glad we included it in our itinerary! It was the smallest riad we stayed at and felt very intimate. The room was beautiful and had a sofa and balcony with sun lounges. Our room had a spectacular view of the mountainside, and we loved stargazing from the balcony at night. The rooms had heating and air conditioning, which helped given the temperature variation. The riad looks very small from the outside, but it is absolutely gorgeous on the inside. We were the only guests on our first night and felt extremely pampered! The brothers who run the guest house were particularly hospitable and really went out of their way to make us feel welcome. The meals here were the best of our trip! The kitchen serves a mix of African and French-inspired cuisine. The portions were huge at both breakfast and dinner (five courses). We particularly enjoyed the olive sampler that was served at the beginning of dinner and the fresh zucchini and pumpkin soups, which added some delicious variety to the typical rotation of tagines. One of us is pescatarian, and we really appreciated how the kitchen staff went out of their way to prepare salmon for me after we asked for a meal with more protein. FYI, alcohol was not available for purchase at this hotel or any of the stores in Dades, but they’re happy to serve wine you bring with you. Dinner costs about $25/head each night and is well worth it. We appreciated being able to pay for both dinners by credit card at the end of our stay (there are no ATMs in or near Dades). The town of Dades itself is very small, but we enjoyed walking around the fields behind the hotel. There was a lovely outdoor pool, but it was too cold for us to use during our stay in February.

Tiziri was definitely the highlight of our trip! Our driver dropped us off at a lodge and reception site to wait for transport into the desert camp. We enjoyed some fresh tea, which was much appreciated after a long drive. About 30 minutes before sunset, we got on our camels. At Tiziri, they seem to offer two camel rides: one longer ride where you are on your camel for about two hours (with a break to see the sunset), and a second option where you ride for 45 minutes, stop for sunset, and then a driver drives you to the camp. Based on the reviews we read ahead of time, we asked for the second (shorter) option and were glad we did. The camel ride was not particularly comfortable, but it was fun and felt like part of the experience. We’d encourage other guests to communicate their preference to their driver a few days in advance so they can let the camp know. They were more than happy to facilitate a shorter trek. We spoke to other guests who did the full two-hour ride and felt like it was too long. The camels are owned by local families and the animals seemed happy and well treated. We’re always hesitant about the ethics of riding animals, but we were very comfortable with this experience (and pleased with all the information made available). Climbing off a camel to watch the sun set over the Sahara was an absolutely incredible experience! It was beautiful to watch and felt like something out of a movie! Tiziri Camp itself is beautiful, luxurious, and situated in a secluded spot in the dunes. We drove past several other camps along the way and definitely felt like ours looked the most upscale and well-maintained. Besides about 6 private guest tents, there is one larger dining room tent. There is also plenty of outdoor seating, including a covered gazebo and a treehouse hidden among the dunes. We didn’t find the treehouse until the last morning, so definitely ask about that earlier! The private tents had large beds and plenty of room for luggage. We didn’t spend much time in the tent, but they felt very luxurious. The private showers in each tent have warm water, but we’d recommend you bring sandals or flip flops as the bottom is raised on wood planks. It's the desert, so there was definitely sand everywhere, something we just got used to during our stay. Most of the camp is lit by candlelight after dark, which made for a magical experience. The staff were friendly and extremely attentive. After arriving at the camp after sunset, we had dinner alongside the other guests. The food was good, particularly for the middle of the desert. If you are vegetarian, I would suggest asking ahead of time for lentils or another source of protein. Breakfast and dinner were included. Wine was available for about $30/bottle. They were also happy to serve a bottle we brought with us. After dinner, all the guests gathered around the fire for traditional Berber music and dancing. This started quite late (around 10:30 pm), which was fine for us but also unexpected as we were tired after a long drive. Several other guests went to sleep instead of going to the fire, but the music was loud, so they likely heard it regardless. We’re glad we rallied and made it to the campfire! The staff all seemed to really enjoy playing music and hanging out with each other, and they told us they do this every night, even when there are no guests at the camp. A key feature of the camp is their focus on environmental sustainability. They made an effort to have very little single-use plastic and were very focused on saving water and producing little waste. The camp will sell water bottles and wine to guests, but it’s definitely cheaper if you can buy before heading to the desert. We highly recommend Tiziri, and our biggest suggestion to other travelers is to stay 2 nights in the desert. The drive to Merzouga is very long, and the desert felt like a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We highly recommend fitting in two nights if you can and opting for less time in one of the city spots. It’s worth it!!!

This hotel was very modern and upscale, like a Marriott or Hyatt in a typical American or European city. Our room had a large closet, sofa, and kettle. The hotel is massive, so it felt much different from the more personal riads we enjoyed during the rest of our trip. We did not spend much time at the hotel but enjoyed walking around the local park, Arab League Park, which was about a 10-minute walk from the hotel. It was very well-maintained and beautiful to explore during sunset. There were plenty of families out having picnics, and it felt cool to be among locals. There were several well-rated restaurants in the neighborhood too. The hotel breakfast buffet was huge and opened early, which we appreciated before an early morning flight. The food was much more typical of a European hotel, with a latte machine and omlet bar.

Caravane was a lovely little hotel, tucked away on a modest street behind some construction. This riad was very stylish and extremely modern, and felt like it was the inspiration for an Anthropologie home store! The rooms are very large, impeccably clean, and have lots of natural light. The staff were very welcoming, and the lobby is stocked with ample reading material and games. While the rooftop offers inviting sofas and lounges, our February visit was a bit too windy to fully enjoy it. Both breakfast and dinner were good, with desserts being a particular highlight. Wine was available for $27/bottle with dinner. They served by far the best chicken tagine of the trip, and we tried many! Dinner cost about $25/head. We paid by card at the end of our stay, but be aware they have a $75 minimum for credit card charges. We are very glad we stayed here after our nights in the desert — it's a great place to enjoy a refreshing shower and wash off some of the stubborn sand!

The walking tour was a good way to explore the city. We stopped briefly outside the mosque and learned about the religious history of the city. Next, we had a guided walking tour of Bahia Palace. Our guide was very knowledgeable and helped us skip the long queue for tickets ($7 cash each, not included in the tour price). He also knew several great spots for photos. Then, we explored the souks and felt very fortunate to be there with a guide, as the alleyways are very narrow and it felt easy to get lost. We are not big shoppers and did not feel pressured to make any purchases (which actually surprised us given what we’d read online before traveling), but enjoyed hearing about the various crafts. It was clear that our guide had good relationships with several of the merchants, so if you are interested in buying specific goods, he would probably be helpful in finding shops that would offer good prices. Overall, we felt like it was a great way to get familiar with the city, and we felt more confident navigating Marrakech on our own afterwards. It took about 3 hours.

INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE! The food tour with Hanan was absolutely our favorite guided activity! She’s a stellar guide and took us to an array of amazing local vendors. It never felt touristy, and she was spectacular at adapting the itinerary based on what we stumbled across or expressed interest in as we walked. Food is always a focus of our travels, and thanks to Hanan, this was one of the best food-based experiences we’ve had (and vegetarian/pescatarian friendly). The first stop was a small cafe where we enjoyed onion-stuffed crepes, soup, and tea. We were the only tourists there, and she had the cafe pull a table outside so we could eat in the alley amid all the hustle and bustle around us. The next stop was an olive stand, where we sampled a variety of olives and tapenades. Hanan and the olive vendor (stall #10) did a great job explaining the different types of olives and products at the stand and let us taste absolutely anything and everything we wanted. There happened to be a prickly pear wagon passing by the olive stand, so Hanan purchased some fresh prickly pears for us to try. Next, we stopped at a street sandwich vendor, where Hanan had them make an all-chicken version of a traditional chicken + beef sandwich filled with vegetables, cheese, and spices, all cooked in front of us on a griddle. Again, this was clearly a stall frequented by locals, not tourists. We walked with the sandwich to our surprise favorite stop — sardine meatballs. We weren’t sure what to expect, but they were absolutely delicious and a must-try item in our opinion. They were so good we sought them out again on our return trip to Marrakech. After the meatballs, we went to a street vendor selling freshly fried donuts. We watched him make ours and then got to dip them in honey and sugar before eating them. The last stop was a bakery, where we tried several fresh fruit smoothies. Hanan also surprised us with a box of local sweets and cookies she’d picked up for us earlier in the tour. All of the food we sampled along the way was included in the price of the tour. Hanan ended the tour by walking us through the public square at night, which was alive with music, dancing, and locals playing games. It’s worth noting that Hanan was the first female tour guide from her hometown and the only female tour guide we saw during our trip. Her English is phenomenal and she was tremendously fun to spend time with. We absolutely loved this experience and would definitely recommend it (and any tour led by Hanan)!

This was one of the most memorable and enjoyable experiences of the trip. Our guide, Ismail, was fantastic and spent seven hours with us! He met us at our hotel at 9 am and asked us about our preferences and comfort levels so he could tailor the hike accordingly. We are in our 20s and avid hikers, so we told him we were happy to go wherever he wanted to take us. The day started with a three-hour climb up and down opposite sides of the mountain adjacent to the “Monkey Fingers” rock formation. It was a rigorous (+1,200 ft elevation gain) but gorgeous hike, with sandstone arches and remarkable views of the Monkey Fingers and surrounding canyons. Ismail also brought traditional Berber clothes for us to try on during the hike. The only other people we encountered along the way were a pair of local nomads who stopped to chat with us. For those who prefer a less strenuous hike, there’s a mining road behind the mountain that provides easier access to the overlooks. Ismail flagged down a local minibus taxi to take us back into town (which was a really fun experience) and then showed us some local kasbahs and rock formations. His English is superb, and he shared a lot of really interesting information about local history and customs with us. After exploring the kasbahs, we enjoyed a lovely lunch at his family’s home in the center of Boulmane Dades. We met his father, Mohammed, who used to lead these tours, as well as his mother and brother. The lunch was good (veggie and chicken tagines, bread, fruit, and tea), and they happily accommodated our dietary request (we relayed that information in advance through our driver). It was fun to see the inside of a local home — we were worried this part of the experience might feel too “touristy,” but it didn’t. Lunch was directly across from our hotel (Dar Rihana), so we assumed that would be the end of the day, but we were wrong! We finished lunch at around 2 pm, and then he led us to the top of a nearby mountain for a view of the Tizi n'Tichka Pass. On our way back into town, we ran into several members of his family and stopped to see several local businesses. To be clear, these were not sales stops — Ismail seemed proud of the town and wanted to show us around, which we really appreciated. We cannot say enough good things about Ismail or this experience — he was a stellar tour guide and made our experience incredibly memorable. It’s a small town, and he was clearly known and liked by everyone we encountered. All told, we walked a little over 10 miles in 7 hours, with stops for lunch and sightseeing along the way.

Tiziri has two sandboards available for guests to use on nearby dunes. They’re essentially snowboards but without footholds. This was fun to try for a few minutes, but not an organized activity led by staff.

We were initially a little hesitant to do the 4x4 activity because we were worried it would feel too touristy (and we’d be sick of riding in a car), but we ended up really enjoying it and are glad we did it! Our driver and guide, Yusuf, made the experience a lot of fun. It took about 4 hours and included stops at the Gnawa music house, an abandoned mining village, a nomad family’s campsite, a lunch restaurant, and a local oasis. It’s also worth noting that there’s not much to do at the camp during the day, so it makes sense to fill the time with an excursion. Even with the 4x4 tour, we had plenty of downtime in the morning and afternoon/evening. We enjoyed all the stops and appreciated that there was no pressure to stay for any specific amount of time — Yusuf made the entire experience very relaxed. The Gnawa music house was definitely touristy but worth a visit. There was just live music — no oral history or anything to accompany it — but it was fun to see and listen to. The nomad family was very welcoming and gave us each a slice of delicious homemade “Berber pizza,” which is essentially a flatbread with egg and vegetables baked inside. Yusuf spent part of his childhood as a nomad and was able to provide some really interesting insight into the way of life and features of their camp. Lunch was included at a restaurant called Café Restaurant Chez Ibrahim. It was good — definitely one of the better lunches we had on the road! We stopped for a walk in the oasis and learned about the local economy and camel ownership practices from Yusuf before heading back to camp. After some downtime at camp, he whisked us off to the tallest dune in the area so we could catch the sunset. He took us for some fun off-roading along the way. Highly recommend this experience! Thanks, Yusuf!

Long drive to the desert, not many stops but appreciated the changing landscapes.

Last drive, left plenty of time to explore Marrakech in the evening

Long drive, but beautiful scenery.

Another long drive, not our favorite food stop

Busy busy! Front desk was a bit slow but room was clean & steamroll was great.

Friendly staff, clean rooms and nice breakfast.

Clean and great staff. Breakfast was also really nice. A bit loud due to location being by a soccer field but overall, happy with the hotel.

Friendly staff, clean rooms, great location. Restaurant was fantastic, ate there 3 times and loved it each time. Highly recommend, super cute atmosphere and good energy

Perfect, so clean! Wonderful customer service, friendly, helpful, responsive and the food was perfect too.

Wow! What an experience! Our guides were very professional, polite and helpful. I had a hard time climbing since it was my first time but they were so encouraging and patient. The zip line was so incredibly fun!

Beautiful hotel and city! Great day!

Great day! Challenging by bike but worth it when you get on the road and get to coast with a beautiful view.

Highlight of our trip. Herlin was encouraging, knowledgeable and helpful! I learned so much and had a great hike! Would absolutely love to have Herlin as a guide in the future!

Another amazing day with Herlin, bye went out of his way to get my husband into a part of Machu Picchu, but he missed the previous day due to sickness. Herlin is so passionate about his country, his work and Machu Picchu. I couldn’t have asked for a better person to help us experience such a magical day!

Really surprised by how much we loved this day! We aren’t much for guided tours but Eddy and Diego were so great! We had a ton of fun learning about the country and culture. They really went above and beyond for us.

It was clean and quaint, the location worked well.

Allocation of this ecolodge was awesome and beautiful wouldn’t have changed a thing about this experience

This hotel was nice for being there only a short period of time. It wasn’t overly unique, but it was clean and the staff was very friendly.

Amazing!

Was actually just what we needed right before our flight out the next day. The food at the restaurant was really good. I was surprised.

We got Daniel and Andres and could not have asked for better. Super good guys with extensive knowledge on area, history, flora and fauna. Very professional and fun to be around. This guided tour around the national park and the subsequent day hiking to Base Las Torres on our own were our favorite parts of the trip. So Glad we booked this and cannot recommend enough!

Fun experience, relaxing. Guides were great.

We made this our first activity upon arrival. After a red-eye flight we were able to get our rental car and spend a little time in Reykjavik before heading to Sky Lagoon. It was fantastic. What a way to refresh and prepare for the days ahead. Facility was top notch and the views from the main lagoon were incredible. This set the tone for our vacation. Very relaxing.

Exceeded expectations. This was a highlight of the trip and one of my favorite travel experiences. You go in groups of 6 per guide so you get a really good experience and attention from the guide.

This was pretty crazy overall. The drive up to the glacier makes you feel like you are on another planet. It's quite adventurous including the hike up to the caves but they provide crampons and there is a rope you can use for support. Once you are there it's worth the effort. Caves were amazing to walk through and even with a bit of a crowd they did not rush us at all.

Loved the decor or the hotel, the comfy beds and great breakfast buffet. We enjoyed sitting outside on the patio garden area for breakfast. Staff were friendly, rooms very clean and the hotel was in a nice residential neighborhood close to the metro.

Hotel was nice with a nice garden outside, decent breakfast buffet. The hallways were a bit dark and the door lock on our room was a bit loose. The rooms could use a bit of updating and the walls were thin so there was a lot of noise from adjoining rooms.

Great location near the temple, nice restaurant patio and beautifully decorated rooms. We loved our little balcony and the bathrooms were large. The dogs barking all night were a major distraction and the breakfast buffet was pretty limited. Some of the wait staff were incommunicado but seemed to take the orders, they just didn’t say anything to acknowledge what you said. The entrance is on a steep hill with lots of stairs, so guests should be prepared physically to access the hotel.

We really enjoyed our time at the Palace! It was a nice respite from the hustle and bustle of the Ghats. The breakfast buffet was delicious and food was great on the restaurant. We loved the gardens and the pool and appreciated that our balcony opened and we could sit outside. Only complaint was the mosquitos!🦟

The Artisan D.C. hotel was great. Terrific location. Great breakfast. Friendly helpful staff.

The experience was good. The location is great. The rooftop deck and the breakfast was great. However, the rooms are dark with only 1 small window.

This hotel was excellent. Fabulous location in the old city. Staff was very welcoming and friendly. Room was spacious and beautiful, included a outdoor patio area. Rooftop restaurant and pool were superior. Breakfast was excellent.

Very friendly staff, room was cozy , comfortable and located in a prime location. Breakfast was amazing.

Hotel was grand and luxurious. Room was very spacious, location was excellent. Staff was very helpful. Many options for vegetaians in the breakfast buffet.

Staff was very friendly room was just okay, could have a been a bit spacious. We stayed there three nights, breakfast was good on one day had many options for vegetarians, however last day we didn't have many. Dinner on the rooftop restraurant on 15th floor was delicious.

Beautiful facility. Absolutely delicious breakfast buffet. Very nice and helpful staff.

Very nice hotel. Central to many places to eat. Staff very attentive

Nice and clean hotel. Food was decent

Terrible check-in. The front desk could not find our reservation for two rooms and took a long time before locating them even though we showed them the confirmation. They also charged us for a dinner that we never took!

A magical experience for northern light viewing. We were not cold with the heating blanket and warmed air. Very clean.

We went to the Sky Lagoon shortly after we landed in KEF. It was a welcoming surprise. Staff was very nice and the experience was "cool" (per the children). We were able to soak in the warm lagoon as the sunset

Magical experience. The Northern Light can be seen clearly from our bed for several hours at night. The "room" was warm and clean and not as small as some reviewers have mentioned.

The ice formations were surreal - beyond our expectation. The ride to the cave was a bit rough and we wished we had more time.

The ship and staff and setting was very nice. Except we saw only a few dolphins and no whales!

NOt seen- cancelled due to active volcanoes

Our experience started off good, but we ended with a bad taste. Beware about the cash deposits this hotel takes when you check in. It is the first time we have been to Langkawi and we stayed at the Holiday Villa resort. The facility is close to restaurants outside, and the beach and sunset views were terrific. It is not a new hotel and I was fine with that. Some of the room renovations they did were not finished particularly well such as the flooring connecting to the bathroom which was not level. This was a tripping hazard, but we were willing to overlook that. Service was good from the beginning to the middle except at the very end when we checked out. When you first check into the hotel, they ask for a 200 ringgit cash deposit which I did and they gave me a receipt. I thought a cash deposit was odd, as hotels we’ve been to normally just do a pre-authorization on your credit card. Upon check out at the reception desk, a lady named Diana wanted me to present a receipt to prove to her that we had paid the 200 ringgit. I wasn’t aware that we had to present the receipt as I packed everything already in my bags. She insisted that I have to give her the receipt before I get my deposit, and I asked her “don’t you have a copy in your receipt book?” She said that she would have to go to the back office to get it. I told her I would have to unpack and repack my luggage to get the receipt. I asked her again for the deposit, and she still insisted that I needed to present my copy that I was paid. My husband arrived at the front desk, and said “what’s the problem, you should have a copy in your receipt book?” She immediately presented the receipt book with the page already open to the copy of the receipt with my signature on it. She said “it’s ok I have it” and showed my husband. She then gave me back the deposit and I signed the book to confirm I received it. The receipt book was never in the back office and was there on the desk all along. Obviously Diana lied that the receipt was at the back office that she had to get it. I later read in another review that the guest also had problems getting their room deposit back. The guest said that they had not received the deposit back after a month and a half. It is not clear if they received it in the end. Nevertheless, a guest should not have to go through with this charade at the end of their stay. I have a suggestion for this resort: Please do not insist on taking a cash deposit for a guest’s stay, and putting the onus on the guest to get the deposit back. Take a credit card pre-authorization only like other reputable hotels do. Cash is also more difficult to account for and can easily go missing. We were otherwise satisfied with the good service of the room cleaner, waiter, bell boy, and restaurant staff. Unfortunately, this game Diana played at the end of not initially returning the cash deposit ruined our stay. Beware of giving a cash deposit to this hotel!

Fantastic location. Concierge Zuri had great suggestions which made our Penang trip memorable. He recommended where to eat and Balay taxi. Who took us all over for 8 hours. We had Morally who catered to our needs and brought us to many places and to this wonderful and reasonably priced chicken rice restaurant. We also went to coffee tree and got to sample many tea and coffee. He catered to our needs - to take pictures of the wall art. And took us to the biggest temple keh lok si and Penang hllls )(told us to take the funicular ) My highlights were the upside down museum and the temples. Morally took us to the best coconut stands - young tender coconut meat. Hotel has one of the best breakfast.