Kimkim Trip Reviews

4.8
Based on 15,713 ratings
Read 15,713 verified reviews by travelers who booked their trip on kimkim. You can also read reviews about kimkim on 3rd party sites including Google, TrustPilot and Yelp.

These ladies know the best places.
Patagonia | Feb 19 - Mar 1, 2025

Colson
Colson S.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Mar 17, 2025
The Hosteria Senderos was a wonderful Inn. The food was amazing. Design Suites in Calafate is beautiful with great views and rooms, however the dinner we had there was poor at best. The breakfast bar was good. We did find an excellent Restaurant, Morrison, and ate there twice. The W Trek was fun. The food was decent and we had good weather. Overall things were smooth and we enjoyed it. Thanks Erin and Nora. Read more

The Hosteria Senderos was a wonderful Inn. The food was amazing. Design Suites in Calafate is beautiful with great views and rooms, however the dinner we had there was poor at best. The breakfast bar was good. We did find an excellent Restaurant, Morrison, and ate there twice. The W Trek was fun. The food was decent and we had good weather. Overall things were smooth and we enjoyed it. Thanks Erin and Nora.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Las Torres Patagonia
Torres del Paine

Outstanding Service, Food and accommodations.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Location
Nestled between Streams and Mountains.
Staff
Outstanding Front Desk Help!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Pristine
Hosteria Senderos
El Chalten

Quaint and Perfect for trailside convenience.

Authenticity & Character
Mountain Town
Location
Closest to some of the most challenging Mountains in the World.
Staff
Superbly Gracious!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Rustic but clean.
Activity Review
Perito Moreno Boat & Walking Tour
Perito Moreno Boat & Walking Tour
El Calafate
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Erin Wiley
Erin
Erin Wiley
Local specialist in Puerto Natales & Pucon, Chile | Replied on Mar 28, 2025

Thank you Colson and crew for the fantastic review! I'm delighted to hear that you all enjoyed your trip and had great weather to top it off. Planning with you was easy going and I can say on behalf of my entire team that we appreciate you all.

Best,
Erin

I thought I already let you know my thoughts,...
Costa Rica | Mar 1 - Mar 10, 2025

M
myrna g.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Mar 17, 2025
I thought I already let you know my thoughts, but I will repeat them here.
While Costa Rica is an amazing country that I have visited four times, this trip had serious problems with transportation. The van that was supposed to be handicapped accessible was totally unsafe and uncomfortable. Even though your company tried to make adjustments, it was still a problem. There was one night when we were all stuck on a narrow, winding road for over 20 minutes. It was dangerous and frightening, as...
Read more

I thought I already let you know my thoughts, but I will repeat them here.
While Costa Rica is an amazing country that I have visited four times, this trip had serious problems with transportation. The van that was supposed to be handicapped accessible was totally unsafe and uncomfortable. Even though your company tried to make adjustments, it was still a problem. There was one night when we were all stuck on a narrow, winding road for over 20 minutes. It was dangerous and frightening, as well as jostling. There were other times when the van couldn't make its destination. The first tour we took had several stairs that were not wheel-chair accessible also.
I feel like you should not be calling yourself a company that can serve handicapped (wheel-chair) clients.
In the future you should let people know the limitations and give better advice about where to travel within the country. I know the road conditions are not your fault, but it is your responsibility to let travelers know the situation.
In a positive note, the people and the hotels were wonderful!

Activity Review
Private Coffee & Chocolate Tour
Private Coffee & Chocolate Tour
Costa Rica
Local specialist: Elena Mora
Elena
Elena Mora
Local specialist in Cartago, Turrialba | Replied on Mar 19, 2025

Dear Myrna,

I sincerely apologize for the transportation issues you encountered. The most important thing is that we were able to resolve the problem, and I truly appreciate your patience and understanding.

It makes me so happy to hear that you enjoyed the rest of your trip—the hotels, the experiences, and the wonderful people you met along the way. Thank you very much for your feedback and for choosing us to be part of your Costa Rica adventure!

Wishing you all the best, and I hope we can welcome you back in the future!

Best regards,
Elena Mora
Serendipity Adventures

This is the best planned trip I have ever bee...
Norway | Mar 1 - Mar 15, 2025

Karen
Karen S.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Mar 17, 2025
This is the best planned trip I have ever been on. Katie’s help was beyond expectations! The itinerary was seamless and easy to follow! Senja was my favorite place on the trip. It is the most beautiful place on earth. The fjord trip from Flan was another favorite. The guided city tours were exceptional giving a good overview and local content about history and the people. I love Norway and what it stands for: protection of the environment , free education and healthcare, low crime,... Read more

This is the best planned trip I have ever been on. Katie’s help was beyond expectations! The itinerary was seamless and easy to follow! Senja was my favorite place on the trip. It is the most beautiful place on earth. The fjord trip from Flan was another favorite. The guided city tours were exceptional giving a good overview and local content about history and the people. I love Norway and what it stands for: protection of the environment , free education and healthcare, low crime, emphasis on healthy living, recycling, electric transportation, care for its people. It was a spectacular vacation and I was sad to leave. The glaciated peaks and arctic air and water will be forever in my mind. Thank you so much for a beautiful trip! And Katie you were wonderful! I have never experienced the kind and thoughtful connection you provided on any tour I have taken. You are one of a kind. I would definitely book with you again.

Hotel Reviews
Norwegian Wild
Vangsvik
Authenticity & Character
Location location location
Location
This hotel is across the street from a national park. The views from the cabins are breath taking across the fjord.
Staff
They went the extra mile.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Thon Hotel Opera
Oslo

Easy access to train to the airport. There was a fire alarm at 2 am that had us leave the hotel and stand in the cold for about 1/2 hour .

Location
I liked the location. It was easy to use the buses and train
Staff
The staff was excellent. They helped me locate my iPad at the airport . A lady was on the phone quite awhile to ID my iPad . I took the express train in picked up my iPad and came back in an hour.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Mefjord Brygge
Mefjordvær, Senjahopen

We had a house so we each had our own bedroom. That was nice for Chris because I snore. It was comfortable, local and not fancy.

Authenticity & Character
Location
The snow capped mountains and fjords were breathtaking
Staff
Everyone was helpful and guides were entertaining. However, they were not up on the geology of the area.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Not much really. It was an authentic local wood house.
Grand Hotel Terminus
Bergen

Nice hotel centrally located. The down comforters are too hot.

Staff
Staff was helpful and answered all of out questions
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean
Flåmsbrygga Hotel
Flåm

Room was right next to breakfast area. Very convenient.

Location
Staff
Didn’t use the staff much. Just to check in
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Northern Lights Safari
Northern Lights Safari
Senja

It’s hit or miss to see the northern lights but our guide made them available to see

Quality of Experience
Good informative guide
Discover Senja
Discover Senja
Senja

It was a blustery day with high winds. We did see a lot but it was very cloudy and overcast. The tour guides did a fair job considering the conditions.

Arctic Boat Safari in Senja
Arctic Boat Safari in Senja
Senja

Best part was watching the sea eagles and seagulls dive for fish. We got a really good show. Pictures were hard to get.

Bergen Walking Tour With a Local Guide
Bergen Walking Tour With a Local Guide
Bergen

The guide was well informed and gave us lots of history. The only improvement would be to not talk while walking . It was hard for me to hear everything. If the guide stopped and faced us while talking it would have been alot better.

Free day in Senja
Free day in Senja
Senja

Went for a walk in the national park. There was fresh powder and it was beautiful. We didn’t need snow shoes so that was nice.

Mostraumen Fjord Cruise from Bergen
Mostraumen Fjord Cruise from Bergen
Bergen

Lots of waterfalls!

Fjordcruise on UNESCO Nærøyfjord
Fjordcruise on UNESCO Nærøyfjord
Norway

This fjord was very special . I think all people visiting Norway should experience it. Pictures don’t do it justice.

Quality of Experience
Felt like I was in a National Geographic video! The beauty was overwhelming!
Transport
The ferry was perfect! Comfortable and easy to view surroundings!
Explore Oslo's Hidden Gems with a Local Expert
Explore Oslo's Hidden Gems with a Local Expert
Oslo

Guide was good. Probably walked 10 miles that day. I loved walking thru the different neighborhoods. We got a museum pass for use after the tour and the next day. Put in a lot of walking. Plus learned how to use the busses!

Flight from Southern Norway to Tromsø
Flight from Southern Norway to Tromsø
Norway

Flight was a normal flight. Got this picture out the window

Local specialist: Katie Acheson-Gray
Katie
Katie Acheson-Gray
Local specialist in Sørreisa | Replied on Mar 24, 2025

Hi Karen,
Thank you very much for the kind feedback, and lovely words about Norway. So glad to hear you enjoyed your time here, and I am so happy you got to experience the wonderful northern lights!
It was a pleasure putting this trip together for you, and hope we can welcome you all back another time - perhaps for the midnight sun season!
All the best,
Katie

We had a wonderful trip to Central Vietnam th...
Vietnam | Mar 10 - Mar 15, 2025

M
Michelle M.
Minneapolis, MN | Reviewed on Mar 17, 2025
We had a wonderful trip to Central Vietnam thanks to everything that Lucy arranged (drivers, tour guides etc.)! Read more

We had a wonderful trip to Central Vietnam thanks to everything that Lucy arranged (drivers, tour guides etc.)!

Activity Reviews
Touch the History of Former Imperial Capital - Hue Full Day Sightseeing
Touch the History of Former Imperial Capital - Hue Full Day Sightseeing
Hue

Trinh was an amazing tour guide--very knowledgeable about the history of Hue and everything that we saw! Plus, she took photographs of my sister and me. She was so thoughtful and amazing!

Quality of Experience
Beautiful architecture and history
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Amazing drivers and tour guide (Trinh)!
Transport
Drivers were friendly and on time!
Day Trip To Bana Hills - Visit Golden Hand Bridge
Day Trip To Bana Hills - Visit Golden Hand Bridge
Vietnam

Loved going up the cable car, seeing the waterfalls, and exploring the Golden Hand Bridge and surrounding area!

Quality of Experience
Beautiful area to explore
Food
Good lunch buffet--a lot of variety!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Trinh was an amazing guide and the driver was great!
Transport
The transport was nice and they always provided us with water!
Hoi An Walking Tour & Making Lantern - Joint in tour
Hoi An Walking Tour & Making Lantern - Joint in tour
Hoi An

It was fun to experience the culture show and make paper lanterns!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Lucy Do
Lucy
Lucy Do
Local specialist in Vietnam | Replied on Apr 10, 2025

Hi Michelle,

What beautiful pictures! I am so grateful and happy to read your detailed and wonderful review.

I'm so glad to know that you have enjoyed your trip to Vietnam and that everything went smoothly. It was a big pleasure for us to organize your holiday. Thank you again for trusting our company, and we hope to see you again!

Best regards,
Lucy

This was a last minute trip during the end of...
New Zealand | Feb 21 - Mar 2, 2025

S
scott t.
Flagami, FL | Reviewed on Mar 17, 2025
This was a last minute trip during the end of the high season. Monika was great in collaborating on the type of trip we wanted, responsive to changes and available whenever we needed something. She made it happen despite the time crunch! The quality of the tours was excellent - smaller groups, professional and well informed. Great overall experience! Read more

This was a last minute trip during the end of the high season. Monika was great in collaborating on the type of trip we wanted, responsive to changes and available whenever we needed something. She made it happen despite the time crunch! The quality of the tours was excellent - smaller groups, professional and well informed. Great overall experience!

Hotel Reviews
Lake Tekapo Holiday Homes
Lake Tekapo

Great - a little far to walk to town.

Bella Vista Motel Wanaka
Wanaka
Distinction Te Anau Hotel And Villas
Te Anau

Nice but a little dated.

Heritage Queenstown
Queenstown

It was fine a bit of a walk to town, not a lot of character, regular sized hotel room.

Activity Reviews
The Crater Experience - stargazing Tekapo
The Crater Experience - stargazing Tekapo
Lake Tekapo

I'm a big supporter of dark sky initiatives, unfortunately due to the 1:30am booking we were booked on the previous (incorrect) night and had some issues rebooking it, although with Monika's help we ultimately did. Very late time, so not sure I would do it again unless an earlier time was available; made it harder to enjoy and tired the next day. Alternative is to find a dark sky in the area yourself.

Mou Waho Island self guided
Mou Waho Island self guided
New Zealand

Very nice mini-trip and hike.

Mt Cook half day Heli Hike
Mt Cook half day Heli Hike
New Zealand

Hike and tour itself and guide were great, however we waiting over 2 hours until our flight was ready, which we were not expecting.

Te Anau Glowworm Caves
Te Anau Glowworm Caves
Te Anau

Very interesting. There was a child crying which wasn't great, not sure why they allow young kids. Guide very knowledgable.

Walk the famous Milford track and cruise on Milford Sound
Walk the famous Milford track and cruise on Milford Sound
New Zealand

Guide was great, it's a long day. Recommend if you can not driving a long way to your next destination. We booked this late so had to drive to Queenstown at the end of the day, due to no availability in town (Te Anau).

White Rafting Kawarau River
White Rafting Kawarau River
Queenstown (NZ)

Water was to low so this was cancelled.

 Bike the wineries
Bike the wineries
Queenstown (NZ)

This was a lot of fun. Outfitter great. Recommend doing most of the biking first!

Onsen Hot Pools
Onsen Hot Pools
Queenstown (NZ)

Nice if you want to soak in a hottub outside of town, nice view, but not something I would do again.

Funyak Safari
Funyak Safari
Queenstown (NZ)

I would have given this 5 stars, one of the best days of the trip, loved the scenery and the rafting. However while the guides were really good, the Jetboat operator was driving dangerously close to large objects (rock walls, bridge stantions, etc.) that if we had hit one people could have been badly hurt or killed. I have been operating power boats for a long time and was shocked that he was putting our lives in danger for a few "thrills." Not okay. He also got my daughter very wet on a very cold and windy day without warning. Not great. The picnic was A+.

Local specialist: Monika Vinsova
Monika
Monika Vinsova
Local specialist in Queenstown, New Zealand | Replied on Mar 17, 2025

Thank you so much for the kind words, Scott! I'm so glad I could help make your last-minute trip a success, and it’s wonderful to hear that you had a great experience. I really appreciate your flexibility and it was a pleasure working with you to create the perfect trip. If you ever need assistance again in the future, don’t hesitate to reach out!

Best regards,
Monika

KimKim Connected us to Colombia!
Colombia | Feb 24 - Mar 10, 2025

Dorrinda
Dorrinda C.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Mar 17, 2025
Through KimKim we were connected with amazing Colombian agents from Aracanto, Margoth and Felipe. Everything was planned and reserved online easily, and when we arrived for our first day we were welcomed with a gift (travel necessities and more) and by our guide.
Everyday was an adventure with guides and reservations made at enticing restaurants....restaurants we would have never known to book. Each guide not only told stories, they had lived the stories of the city. They were able to...
Read more

Through KimKim we were connected with amazing Colombian agents from Aracanto, Margoth and Felipe. Everything was planned and reserved online easily, and when we arrived for our first day we were welcomed with a gift (travel necessities and more) and by our guide.
Everyday was an adventure with guides and reservations made at enticing restaurants....restaurants we would have never known to book. Each guide not only told stories, they had lived the stories of the city. They were able to connect us personally to the land, town, city or region with their own encounters. Plus everyone was so passionate about their region and proud to share the diversity of Colombia.
At the end of our trip I unfortunately fell ill, BUT Margoth went the extra mile to assist us. I will never forget the care and extra work she magically did to ensure our comfort.
Thank you KimKim for creating a collection of highly knowledgeable and caring agents worldwide.
Much Gratitude~Dorrinda Carlson

Local specialist: Margoth Rico
Margoth
Margoth Rico
Local specialist in Bogota | Replied on Mar 17, 2025
Dear Dorrinda, Thank you so much for your beautiful words and for taking the time to share your experience. It was an absolute pleasure to assist you during your time in Colombia, and it is great to hear that we could make your trip truly special. Your words, kind recognition of the team’s efforts, and feedback mean the world to us. We are so proud to showcase the diversity and magic of Colombia, and it brings us great joy to know that you connected deeply with the stories and places we... Read more

Dear Dorrinda,

Thank you so much for your beautiful words and for taking the time to share your experience. It was an absolute pleasure to assist you during your time in Colombia, and it is great to hear that we could make your trip truly special. Your words, kind recognition of the team’s efforts, and feedback mean the world to us.

We are so proud to showcase the diversity and magic of Colombia, and it brings us great joy to know that you connected deeply with the stories and places we hold so close to our hearts. Hearing that our dedication made a positive impact on your journey inspires us to keep creating extraordinary experiences for travelers like you.

Thank you for trusting Aracanto to be a part of your adventure, and thank you very much for visiting our home country, Colombia. Muchas gracias :)

Sending you our very Best Wishes!

Warm wishes,
Margoth and the Aracanto Team

We Loved Our Trip
Argentina | Feb 19 - Mar 1, 2025

J
John S.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Mar 16, 2025
We loved our trip. Our guides and tours in Buenos Aires were wonderful, and the Ventana Tango Show was a big highlight. Iguazu Falls was great to see and it was fun getting drenched going under the waterfall. We really enjoyed our day driving to Aconcagua Provincial Park, and our guide was fabulous. Wine tasting in Mendoza was fun, and we loved the lunch at the winery. Bariloche was beautiful, and our kayaking experience in the rain was magical. We feel like we really got to experience... Read more

We loved our trip. Our guides and tours in Buenos Aires were wonderful, and the Ventana Tango Show was a big highlight. Iguazu Falls was great to see and it was fun getting drenched going under the waterfall. We really enjoyed our day driving to Aconcagua Provincial Park, and our guide was fabulous. Wine tasting in Mendoza was fun, and we loved the lunch at the winery. Bariloche was beautiful, and our kayaking experience in the rain was magical. We feel like we really got to experience Argentina and we had a lovely time!

Activity Reviews
Dinner & Tango Show
Dinner & Tango Show
Buenos Aires

Food was good and the show was thoroughly entertaining.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Half Day Grafoodie Tour
Half Day Grafoodie Tour
Buenos Aires

Thoroughly enjoyed seeing the graffiti murals, tasting the food, and learning more about the Argentinian culture and history. Our guide was fabulous.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guide was knowledgeable and fun to be with.
Transport
On time, polite, good driver.
Half-Day Buenos Aires City Tour
Half-Day Buenos Aires City Tour
Buenos Aires

Our guide was wonderful. Got a good overview of Argentina's history and culture.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Half Day Brazilian Falls tour
Half Day Brazilian Falls tour
Argentina

It was nice, but the Argentina side was better.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full-Day Iguazú Falls Argentine side
Full-Day Iguazú Falls Argentine side
Puerto Iguazú

Loved the hiking and going under the waterfall on a boat. Beautiful.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
There were 6 of us and the guide didn't always count us. A few of us took a wrong turn at a junction when the guide was far ahead.
Transport
Great Adventure Boat Trip (Iguazú National Park)
Great Adventure Boat Trip (Iguazú National Park)
Puerto Iguazú

Loved it!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full-Day High Andes with trekking to Durazno Gorge
Full-Day High Andes with trekking to Durazno Gorge
Mendoza

Loved this activity. Beautiful scenery and fabulous guide. Nice pace of the day.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
It was a lot of driving, and the vehicle was really comfortable. Especially appreciated the hooks and places to put things at each seat.
Half-Day Wineries and Olive Factory Tour
Half-Day Wineries and Olive Factory Tour
Mendoza

Especially loved the small winery. The winemaker was fun and interesting. We visited 3 wineries and there was not an olive factory tour.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Half-Day History and Cooking
Half-Day History and Cooking
Bariloche

The scenery was beautiful and our guide gave us good info. The cooking class was disappointing. We folded an empanada and dipped some meat in breadcrumbs, but we didn't actually learn how to cook anything.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full-Day Kayak & Trekking at Lake Mascardi
Full-Day Kayak & Trekking at Lake Mascardi
Bariloche

The kayak guides were excellent and the rain gear was awesome. We paddled in the rain and stayed dry. It was a fun experience and we were the only ones on the lake. The "picnic" they gave us for lunch was amazing, and showed they put a lot of care into it. The hiking part of our day was cancelled due to rain, so we didn't experience that.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Mery Morelli
Mery
Mery Morelli
Local specialist in Buenos Aires, Argentina | Replied on Mar 18, 2025

Hi John,

I hope you are fine!
Thanks for your feedback, I love to see that you enjoyed your time here :)
I will send the comments to our local suppliers, so they can improve on the little details that you have mentioned.
This helps us a lot :)
Thank you for choosing us and we hope to receive you again soon!
Warm Regards from Buenos Aires,
Mery

We loved our vacation in New Zealand!
New Zealand | Feb 24 - Mar 7, 2025

Jenell
Jenell W.
Bethesda, MD | Reviewed on Mar 16, 2025
We loved our vacation in New Zealand and hope we have the chance to come back for more adventures! Some highlights:
-Afternoon Wilderness tour: great guides, good pace, informative
-Hobbiton: on time early morning pick up, tour was lovely - wish it could have been longer; lunch was very worthwhile. Hobbiton was a magical place to visit, truly special. The transfer to transport service was smooth (though our luggage sat in van trunks and got a bit warm, so good thing we carried around any...
Read more

We loved our vacation in New Zealand and hope we have the chance to come back for more adventures!

Some highlights:
-Afternoon Wilderness tour: great guides, good pace, informative
-Hobbiton: on time early morning pick up, tour was lovely - wish it could have been longer; lunch was very worthwhile. Hobbiton was a magical place to visit, truly special. The transfer to transport service was smooth (though our luggage sat in van trunks and got a bit warm, so good thing we carried around any heat-sensitive items)
-Te Ra Guided Experience at Te Puia Rotorua: we learned a lot on this tour despite the misty rain - the bubbling mud pools were neat to observe and so cool to see our first kiwi birds of the trip; very easy to get to via Uber from our hotel
-Zealandia: AMAZING! We probably heard bird song (and cicadas haha) more than we saw creatures, but we did see numerous Kakas, Tuataras, a North Island Robin, several Shags, and THREE Little Spotted Kiwis. Will and Judy, our guides, were lovely.
-Full Day Lord of the Rings Tour: of course you have to use your imagination and visualize how the film crew turned locations into movie sets, but it was neat to see several of the sites. No pictures allowed on most of the tour, though it was neat to see various artists at work. And of course funny photos with Bilbo's trolls outside were fun. No 'Rivendell Ripple' at the end of the tour so that still remains a mystery...
-Gondola: really cool ride up the mountain; easy to find ticket pick up location; views were spectacular; we are glad we didn't book the buffet lunch at the restaurant at the top as we had a lovely lunch at Bespoke Kitchen at the base of the gondola
-Walter Peak High Country Farm Excursion: really cute and fun tour; loved seeing all the farm animals and even though the interaction was brief, we enjoyed feeding and petting the sheep, cows and goats. High tea was delicious! We would revisit many places, but we would love to do the horseback riding tour and high tea at the farm.

Some things we wish we knew in advance:
- Early check-in at the QT Auckland hotel was $150 NDZ. We got an extra bonus hour in NZ as our flight landed over an hour early, so we're grateful for our airport pickup (Warren - he was very welcoming and knowledgeable!) monitored our flight and was able to pick us up and we were able to check into our hotel early, so it all worked out.
-The afternoon wilderness tour included a stop for lunch! We didn't know that in advance, so we spent time in the morning finding a place to pick up a sandwich and be at our pick up location on time. Had we known there was a lunch stop where we could purchase lunch, we would have spent time in the morning doing something else.
-On the way to Hobbiton from Auckland, the transport included a stop for breakfast about 1 hour into the journey. Had we known we could purchase breakfast along the way, we wouldn't have had to coordinate a to-go breakfast with the hotel and ask for our early departure to be accommodated (hotel breakfast started at 6:30am, but our pick up was scheduled 6:30-6:45am). The breakfast stop had two different cafe/restaurant options that had a lot to offer - breakfast sandwiches, pastries, coffee, tea, etc.
-New Zealand domestic flights have next to no security (especially in the tiny Rotorua airport)! HUGE difference from the US. We did get the last sandwich at the tiny Rotorua airport cafe, which was lucky... will be good once the full cafe is available there. At Wellington airport, we are glad we got a bite to eat before going to our gate because there is only one tiny cafe option once you go through security and there's a whole large food court and set of souvenir shops BEFORE security.

Some things we would change:
-The ferry to Waiheke Island was nice, but we would have skipped the hop on/hop off bus as they weren't really able to keep to the drop off/pick up schedule, making pickups unpredictable and long waits thus less time for exploring. We would have rathered figuring out the public bus that runs seemingly more smoothly and regularly. We also needed a map that showed restaurants & shops, not just vineyards - such a highlights map didn't seem to exist and google maps wasn't as helpful as it usually is in other locations.
-Outside of really anyone's control but hotel management's: the lighting in all the hotels were pretty poor, to varying degrees; plus the light switches were overly complicated (too many combinations and permutations to try to figure out how to turn a few on or the bathroom lights on and not the entire room! never have had such complicated lighting at a hotel. Other travelers on tours we were on mentioned the same thing at their hotels so the issue seems pretty common.).
-In Auckland, we should have not included breakfast at the hotel. It was OK but we would have enjoyed going to local cafes instead as the hotel breakfast menu and continental breakfast didn't offer much that we enjoyed.

Hotel Reviews
Pullman Rotorua
Rotorua

Lighting in room was OK in comparison to other hotels. Bathroom set up was one of the best. Clean and quiet hotel and our room view was decent too. Overall the breakfast offered had a good variety (very long line at the coffee machine though!).

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Crowne Plaza Queenstown
Queenstown

Nice, clean, quiet hotel. If you are on the top floor (7th) be prepared for stairs - the elevator only goes to the 6th floor - not an issue for us but for some guests it might be. Definitely in the top 2 for breakfasts of the 4 hotels we stayed at. The location was very convenient for all of the activities we did!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
QT Auckland
Auckland

Nice, clean, good location. Room lighting was horrible. We would have skipped the breakfast inclusion.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Naumi Hotel Wellington
6141

Great location on Cuba St. Having front and back entrances led to some confusion for pick ups for drivers but in the end it worked out. Interesting interior design... some quite dizzying (especially elevator and carpeting). Decent breakfast offerings. Very nice morning staff. The lighting in the room wasn't very good, and too many on/off switches. The bathroom was squeezed into a very tiny room (shower, sink & toilet all in behind a door) and there was no shower curtain so water escaped easily and only one person at a time could access the bathroom.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Auckland to Rotorua visiting Hobbiton with lunch
Auckland to Rotorua visiting Hobbiton with lunch
Auckland

Just as magical as I imagined! We had beautiful weather to enjoy Hobbiton. The tour does start with a tour bus ride with a little bit of a cheesy video but it's such a small part of the tour. Amazing how they've set it all up again and are preserving the hobbit holes. Loved every minute and didn't want to leave! The lunch was very satisfying.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Lord of The Rings Tour
Full Day Lord of The Rings Tour
Wellington

This was a fun tour. Neat to see where some of the movie scenes were shot. The tour of the Weta Cave was neat too though couldn't take pictures during most of it. Enjoyed learning about the artists and seeing their work in action.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Walter Peak High Country Farm Excursion
Walter Peak High Country Farm Excursion
Queenstown (NZ)

We LOVED this! The tour was fun and the high tea was so good. We'd definitely consider coming back for the horseback riding or the eco tour.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Skyline Gondola Ride
Skyline Gondola Ride
Queenstown (NZ)

This was more fun than we expected. It was amazing to see the views. It will be even better once they finish construction on the larger observation deck.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
TE Puia:  Te Ra (Day Pass) Guided tour (90 minutes)
TE Puia: Te Ra (Day Pass) Guided tour (90 minutes)
Rotorua

This was a nice tour though it was raining the day we were there. I'm sure it would be incredible if we had better weather but nonetheless we made the best of it and really enjoyed learning from our guides. We saw the geyser on the livestream just before the tour started - it ended up too steamy to see anything once we were out there! It was very cool to see the bubbling mud as well as the kiwi birds at their kiwi conservation station.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Afternoon Wilderness Experience
Afternoon Wilderness Experience
Auckland

This was a great afternoon activity. Friendly, informative guides. At the end at the beach, the guides set up a table with some treats (cookies, juice, tea, manuka honey).

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Zealandia Twilight Tour - Private tour
Zealandia Twilight Tour - Private tour
Wellington

One of the biggest highlights of our trip!! We saw a variety of species (and heard even more) and were very lucky that we got to see THREE kiwi just waking up and starting their night. Truly incredible conservation work being done at Zealandia.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guides were fantastic. Thanks, Will and Judy!
Transport
We had a lovely conversation with our driver, Sarah, both ways. She was friendly and understanding that our tour went a bit over than planned. We appreciate her time and flexibility.
Mitai Cultural Experience & Dinner
Mitai Cultural Experience & Dinner
Rotorua

Great cultural experience. We happened to be there when there was a competition going on so the usual performers were away and the performers we saw were younger (late teenage years / early 20s). We wouldn't have known if the hostess hadn't revealed that info as they were phenomenal!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Liz Neal
Liz
Liz Neal
Local specialist in Sydney-Auckland-Los Angeles | Replied on Mar 25, 2025
Hello Jennell and Teresa,
Thank you for taking the time to do a thorough feedback!! I appreciate it, because it gives us an insight of the things you liked the most, so we can apply it to your next trip with us ! I see that you enjoyed the trip and I am glad you liked the hotels and the experiences. I did note that a couple of the breakfasts in the hotels were redundant, but on the other hand, we were able to get them for you for free, so I feel comfortable saying you didn't "waste" money,...
Read more

Hello Jennell and Teresa,
Thank you for taking the time to do a thorough feedback!! I appreciate it, because it gives us an insight of the things you liked the most, so we can apply it to your next trip with us ! I see that you enjoyed the trip and I am glad you liked the hotels and the experiences. I did note that a couple of the breakfasts in the hotels were redundant, but on the other hand, we were able to get them for you for free, so I feel comfortable saying you didn't "waste" money, but maybe yes ate a bit too much!!! That happened to me in Africa this trip (I arrived today after 22 hours of flight time...)

Hope to be able to work with you again in the future, it would be a pleasure!

Liz

India was a culture shock. A beautiful, perfect, delicious culture shock.
India | Dec 21 - Jan 3, 2025

Christopher
Christopher H.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Mar 16, 2025
India was a culture shock. We were constantly surprised, and had a thrilling time learning. We saw so many world heritage sites, we ate so much great food, we had so many incredible experiences. All of this was possible only because of our team. Or driver in the north Puron was indispensable, he safely navigated streets and traffic that we found intimidating (terrifying at times) without any difficulty, just another day. Add to that his excellent knowledge of the country and his charming... Read more

India was a culture shock. We were constantly surprised, and had a thrilling time learning. We saw so many world heritage sites, we ate so much great food, we had so many incredible experiences. All of this was possible only because of our team. Or driver in the north Puron was indispensable, he safely navigated streets and traffic that we found intimidating (terrifying at times) without any difficulty, just another day. Add to that his excellent knowledge of the country and his charming demeanor, he was a cornerstone of our trips success. Additionally the office team was incredible, they helped us plan a action packed trip (just the way we like it) and when there was trouble, like our flight being canceled 30 min before it was supposed to board, they were on it, 20 min later we had new flights, they helped us reschedule events on the fly, and made excellent recommendations. The local guides they chose for us were always professional and knowledgeable. They went to great lengths to make sure we had an excellent time, doing things like explaining how to get through long lines, and advocating for us in crowded, and tense situations. We are very happy with this experience. Would use again.

Hotel Reviews
Zone Connect by The Park
Authenticity & Character
It's a modern hotel that was nicely situated downtown
Location
right next to a mall and many food options
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Abad Turtle Beach Resort
Mararikulam, Alappuzha, Kerala

Great spot, nice room, lots of little fun things, like the butterfly garden. Food was excellent

Authenticity & Character
Character for days
Location
Strangest part of our India trip was how empty the beach was here. Almost no one on the beach or in the water. It beautiful sand positioned perfectly to watch the sunset. So strange to have there be no one there. But also very peaceful.
Staff
one time a front desk person chased us for a 1/4 mile to hand us some keys. She could have shouted to get our attention but didn't want to seem rude. They really took good care of us.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Grand Mercure Agra
Agra, UP

Comfortable hotel with great staff

Authenticity & Character
saxophone playing Santa really did it for me
Location
easy access to the fort and the tomb
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Narain niwas palace
Jaipur

a beautiful place, but it's historic nature came with some downsides. Power was unreliable, and we were on the top floor without an elevator, this was difficult for some in our party. But great food, great location, excellent staff

Authenticity & Character
more character then I have ever experienced
Location
close to all the sights
Staff
obviously take great pride in their hotel
Cleanliness & Comfort
Clean! yes very much so. Comfort was a little more difficult because of the age of the building. But would stay again
Hotel Dev Vilas, Ranthambore

Great experience, lots of little customer service extras, truly lovely

Authenticity & Character
Location
quick drive to safari pick up
Staff
really good, they were very aware of us and our schedules, made sure we got dinner if out late, hot towels to wipe off the dust of safaris when we got back. Lovely holiday celebration,
Cleanliness & Comfort
hot water bags in the bed!!! never knew something could be so cozy
Houseboat

an incredible experience. Lots of comforts for a boat

Authenticity & Character
Location
traveled the back waters and made sure not to have the sun in our face for all parts of the journey
Staff
Great cook, and a captain that left us with no worries. Even though they spoke little English we never had any issues.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Well taken care of. My one note if anyone is reading this is to remember to bring your own alcohol. We were told there wouldn't be any and so were able to plan ahead. I'm from Wisconsin, I'm not getting on a boat without a beer.
Fragrant Nature Kochi
Kochi

great place, great new years party!

Authenticity & Character
beautifully decorated lobby with plants.
Location
close to all the historic attractions, very walkable.
Staff
helpful, curious, friendly
Cleanliness & Comfort
it's hot and humid in Cochin, but we were always happy in the hotel. rooftop pool area was particularly lovely
Hotel Pride Plaza Aerocity
Delhi

close to the airport. Easy check in and check out, very clean and comfortable.

Activity Reviews
Explore the marvelous  and historic monument : Agra Fort
Explore the marvelous and historic monument : Agra Fort
Agra

Didn't even know this existed, but it's arguably more amazing than the Taj. Loved it, loved learning about it.

Morning and Evening game drives at Ranthambore (Sharing Jeep):
Morning and Evening game drives at Ranthambore (Sharing Jeep):
Ranthambore

Reserving early to get a Gypsy would have been better, but I really can't complain, we saw a tiger and a couple leopards and a jackal, and mongoose, and owls and deer and eagles, and it delivered. It was also very uncomfortable but you don't notice when the animals are out

Guides, Drivers and Staff
guides often only knew one or two things about each animal, they were not wildlife experts and were not fluent in English. Probably the guides in Gypsies know more. They were good at pointing animals out
Transport
the Canters were packed, as a 6' guy I was folded into my seat in a vehicle with seemingly no suspension. To be succinct, canters suck.
Bathe, Paint and Feed- A life-time experience with elephants at Elephantastic
Bathe, Paint and Feed- A life-time experience with elephants at Elephantastic
Jaipur

Elephants have been rescued and are living a different life now at the enclosure. They were very docile and happy to take food from us (they knew the drill) We loved getting to make eye contact, give them scratches and in general interact with such an intelligent beautiful animal.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
would like to have learned more about the elephant we were with "Lucky"
Local specialist: Ravi Tickoo
Ravi
Ravi Tickoo
Local specialist in New Delhi | Replied on Mar 17, 2025
Dear Christopher, Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts about your recent trip to India! We are pleased to hear that your experience in India was wonderful and that you & your family enjoyed every moment of your journey. We truly appreciate your kind words.
On behalf of the entire Active India team, we thank you for trusting and choosing us to organize your family holiday tour in India.
We hope you can visit India again in the future and explore even more of what our... Read more

Dear Christopher,

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts about your recent trip to India!

We are pleased to hear that your experience in India was wonderful and that you & your family enjoyed every moment of your journey. We truly appreciate your kind words.
On behalf of the entire Active India team, we thank you for trusting and choosing us to organize your family holiday tour in India.

We hope you can visit India again in the future and explore even more of what our country has to offer. If you decide to do so, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us again.

Warm regards,
Ravi

Beautiful location but frustrating experience.
Norway | Feb 24 - Mar 4, 2025

Stephanie
Stephanie L.
Gilroy, CA | Reviewed on Mar 16, 2025

Contrary to previous experiences with KimKim, this trip was full of missed details and frustrating, last minute, expensive scrambles for transfers. It was very different from my previous trip to Turkey, where everything was impeccably planned and the communication was flawless. On the bright side, Norway was beautiful and the people were lovely and so kind. It’s just a shame that the overall quality of the trip was diminished by the poor planning and communication.

Local specialist: Maria Shephard
Maria
Maria Shephard
Local specialist in Kristiansand | Replied on Mar 23, 2025
Dear Stephany, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. I truly appreciate your honesty and am deeply sorry that your experience did not meet the high standards you previously enjoyed with KimKim. I sincerely apologize for the miscommunication that affected the planning of your trip, especially with all the changes made on both sides. On a positive note, I’m glad to hear that you found Norway beautiful and that its people were kind. I hope those moments brought joy to your... Read more

Dear Stephany,

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. I truly appreciate your honesty and am deeply sorry that your experience did not meet the high standards you previously enjoyed with KimKim. I sincerely apologize for the miscommunication that affected the planning of your trip, especially with all the changes made on both sides.

On a positive note, I’m glad to hear that you found Norway beautiful and that its people were kind. I hope those moments brought joy to your journey despite the challenges.

Please know that your feedback is invaluable to us, and we will take it to heart as we work to improve our service.

Best regards,
Maria

Beautiful destination, disappointing service
Norway | Feb 24 - Mar 4, 2025

Alexis
Alexis W.
Gilroy, CA | Reviewed on Mar 16, 2025
This was our third trip using Kim Kim, and generally speaking we have always received outstanding service, which was why working with Maria was so shockingly disappointing. From the start, Maria was not responsive to our requests and there were an alarming amount of details there were not addressed. For example, in previous trips, all of our transfers were scheduled and included as part of our package, where as with this trip, no transfers had been set up and no transfers were included as... Read more

This was our third trip using Kim Kim, and generally speaking we have always received outstanding service, which was why working with Maria was so shockingly disappointing. From the start, Maria was not responsive to our requests and there were an alarming amount of details there were not addressed. For example, in previous trips, all of our transfers were scheduled and included as part of our package, where as with this trip, no transfers had been set up and no transfers were included as part of the package - something we did not realize until late in the planning process. One of the reasons we use Kim Kim is because of the seamlessness and peace of mind knowing that all of the details have been taken care of. When we inquired about one of the major transfers in our trip, Maria suggested we rent a car, at a huge additional expense, which would have been a 9 hour drive, through mountainous, winter conditions. I find this to be ludicrous for a travel expert to suggest. Due to the last minute planning of these details, we ended up having to take 3 flights to reach our destination. At one point during our trip, we had inquired about canceling an excursion. Our local guides never checked in to ask why we wanted to cancel or if there was something going on that we needed help with. It turns out the excursion ended up being canceled by the tour company (who ended up contacting us directly) and it took Kim Kim more than 3 hours to inform us of this cancellation. Before, during, and after our trip, Maria never reached out once to check in and see how things were going. Again, this has not been our previous experience with Kim Kim. The draw of using Kim Kim, who uses local experts, would imply useful information and tips for the areas and destination, and that was completely absent in this trip. For example, that it was recommended we walk from the train station to our hotel in downtown Oslo rather than being over charged by a local Taxi driver. I can go on and on. Additionally, we had an issue with checking into one of the hotels where the clerk had questions about charging the credit card on file. We tried to reach out to Kim Kim and the emergency line and could not get through. On the bright side, we loved Norway as a destination. The excursions were fantastic and fun. We had requested to stay at Sorrisniva, the Holman Husky Lodge, as well as take the Havila Capilla and they certainly did not disappoint, We would highly recommend each of these stays/experiences. The dog sledding with Trasti & Trine, was a particular highlight and an amazing experience. All in all, despite the unexpected challenges working with Maria presented, we loved our time in Norway, and found the local people to be friendly and kind. Sadly, if this had been my first and only experience with Kim Kim, I probably would never use this company again, as in this case, there was no added value.

Hotel Reviews
Sorrisniva Arctic Wilderness Lodge
Alta

Simply amazing hotel! Everything about our experience exceeding our expectations.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Holmen Husky Lodge
Alta
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Scandic Kirkenes
Kirkenes
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
King Crab Safari from Kirkenes during Winter
King Crab Safari from Kirkenes during Winter
Kirkenes

This was the most disappointing excursion we experienced on our trip. Not necessarily the fault of the tour company. The weather was too warm, and the ice was not frozen enough for us to actually get to experience the king crab fishing ourselves. We had to stand at a far off distance, while the staff went and picked up the king crabs. Of course, we still enjoyed a lovely dinner of the fresh crabs.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Dogsledding Day Trip
Dogsledding Day Trip
Alta

This was the most amazing experience of our entire trip. The dogsledding was such an authentic experience. The owners of the company took us out themselves and we had such an enjoyable conversation with them about their own 'professional' competitive experiences dogsledding. Truly amazing. We would do this again in a heart beat. Highly recommend. To top it off, the owners are a Michelin Star chef and provide lunch of the trip. They have their own restaurant and bar on site. Amazing.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Maria Shephard
Maria
Maria Shephard
Local specialist in Kristiansand | Replied on Mar 23, 2025
Dear Alexis, I am truly sorry to hear about the impact my planning had on your trip. The last thing I ever want is to complicate a traveler’s experience, and I sincerely apologize for the miscommunication and misunderstandings that occurred throughout the planning process. This is why I stepped aside once the booking team took over, in hopes of ensuring a smoother experience for you. My goal, and KimKim’s mission, is always to create stress-free, memorable journeys. I genuinely love adding... Read more

Dear Alexis,

I am truly sorry to hear about the impact my planning had on your trip. The last thing I ever want is to complicate a traveler’s experience, and I sincerely apologize for the miscommunication and misunderstandings that occurred throughout the planning process. This is why I stepped aside once the booking team took over, in hopes of ensuring a smoother experience for you.

My goal, and KimKim’s mission, is always to create stress-free, memorable journeys. I genuinely love adding value to the places I cherish most, and I regret that I fell short of your expectations in providing the right follow-up and support. While some factors, like weather, are beyond our control, I take full responsibility for any gaps in communication and deeply regret any frustration they caused.

That said, I’m so glad to hear that you enjoyed Norway, the excursions, and your stays at Sorrisniva, Holmen Husky Lodge, and the Havila Capella. It’s wonderful that dog sledding with Trasti & Trine was a highlight of your trip!

Please know this was an honest mistake, and I am committed to learning from this experience to ensure it doesn’t happen again. KimKim holds itself to the highest standards, and I will do my best to uphold them in the future.

Best,
Maria

We had an amazing trip to Chile - the country...
Chile | Feb 28 - Mar 15, 2025

Kim
Kim P.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Mar 16, 2025
We had an amazing trip to Chile - the country is truly spectacular. Our travel coordinator Marcela was excellent, she listened to what we wanted and adapted the itinerary as needed when torrential rains and an injury required some shifts. She even brought over some medications and offered to help in the hospital with translation after a badly sprained ankle interrupted our plans. She also coordinated in-country travel for us after our initial start in Argentina and not having to worry... Read more

We had an amazing trip to Chile - the country is truly spectacular. Our travel coordinator Marcela was excellent, she listened to what we wanted and adapted the itinerary as needed when torrential rains and an injury required some shifts. She even brought over some medications and offered to help in the hospital with translation after a badly sprained ankle interrupted our plans. She also coordinated in-country travel for us after our initial start in Argentina and not having to worry about airport pick up and drop off was very helpful.

We enjoyed hiking, white water rafting and kayaking in Puerta Varas - Ko Kayak was awesome for rafting (we have done this a lot and the rain made this the best rafting trip we have ever done). Our guides everywhere were great - especially Catalina (rafting), Juan Miguel (hiking and planned biking until ankle accident) and Paz (kayaking on Reloncavi fjord). We stayed at the Kalfu Hotel which was a good location for walking and offered excellent breakfasts and comfortable rooms.

In Puerta Natales we did 2 days of trekking in Torres del Paine with W-Circuit and they were great. Tour guides Alex (3 shorter hikes of 2 hours each) and Pablo (Base Torres Hike) were very good. Come prepped with the right shoes and gear and be prepared for 4 seasons in one day. We saw quite a few people turn around on the Base Torres hike which is long (22km). We then kayaked and rock climbed with Jorge from Patagonia Adventures. He was superb and we especially enjoyed pushing our comfort boundaries with the rock climbing which was awesome (we have never climbed outdoors before). We stayed at the Weskar Lodge for most of the time (truly superb food) and had one night at the Best Western which was much better than that chain is in the US.

Our final night in Santiago, we had dinner in a local home with Gloria and Leo - great food and wine pairings and even better conversation. We highly recommend. We appreciated this idea that Marcela suggested!

Hotel Reviews
Weskar Lodge
Puerto Natales

Comfortable rooms with a great view. Really great service and fantastic breakfasts. Their meals were truly outstanding - we hadn't expected to stay at the hotel for dinner but the food was so good that we ate 3 dinners there. The only downside is being a bit far for walk to town but Uber was easy and available as needed.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Very friendly and helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
Casa Kalfu Hotel Boutique
Puerto Varas

Very comfortable hotel with a helpful and friendly staff. The only reason not to have a 5 star rating is that we were on the lower level with a patio (lovely) but it was darker as it was fairly rainy while we were there. Very good breakfasts. Great location for walking around town.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Easy walk to town and restaurants
Staff
Friendly
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Trekking in Alerce Andino National Park
Trekking in Alerce Andino National Park
Puerto Varas

Adaptable and energetic guide for hiking Great guide from La Comarca who was able to adapt to multiple changes to planned hiking and biking trips. Juan Manuel picked us up and took us to a great breakfast place after our early morning flight from Santiago. It was pouring when we arrived and the road to the Alerce Andino national park where we were going to hike was blocked by mudslides from the rain. We went to plan b which was hiking near the Petrohue cascades (good to see) and then plan c which was going up the Mount Osorno Volcano where we had our lunch. We were at the TeSki chalet. Great food and snacks. Juan Manuel is extremely knowledgeable and fun to talk with. Highly recommend for adaptability, tremendous local knowledge and great personality. We were disappointed that due to weather and a sprained ankle we couldn’t do a planned bike tour with him.

Quality of Experience
Different than planned but Juan Miguel was amazing!
Food
Stopped at a great local cafe for breakfast and had super sandwiches, hot chocolate for lunch when we stopped at TeSki!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Kayaking on Reloncaví Fjord
Kayaking on Reloncaví Fjord
Puerto Varas

Fantastic fjord kayaking trip Our travel agent arranged a full day kayak trip on the Reloncavi Fjord from Puerto Varas Our guide, Paz was outstanding. She has a passion for the region and outdoor education and knew a ton about plant and animal life. Her English was very good and she just radiated positive energy and enthusiasm. The truck was comfortable for the ride (1.5? Hours) and we wore full wetsuits and this was our first time in a double kayak with a rudder. The fjord and surrounding towns were lovely. We had perfect weather for pics, saw seals and birds and turquoise water. One of the highlights was our guide Paz who was very passionate about the area, the people and the natural surroundings. Highly recommend. We had lunch at a Chilean family’s home and got to tour their small farm. Really fresh food (lamb stew, greens and bread) before continuing our trip. This was a friend of Paz and seeing the relationships between Paz and the people whose home we visited and ate in was lovely! A bonus was our driver then took us up the Osorno volcano as the previous days had heavy rain so we couldn’t see anything. What a truly gorgeous location!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Paz (and our driver) were outstanding!
Transport
Trekking Torres del Paine Active
Trekking Torres del Paine Active
Chile

Excellent trip. We were on a tour run by W-Circuit. Bus driver was speedy but safe We were picked up at 6:30 am and the bus was comfortable. Trekking poles were provided which helped a lot (we had never used before). The first trip we went on 3 roughly 2 hour hikes to the cave paintings, the waterfalls near Las Cuernas, and the Mirador Condor. We hike a lot and enjoyed these. Great start to our stay in Puerto Natales. These hikes were moderate but challenging in terms of vertical gain and strong winds (at one point we were bent over nearly double at the Condor hike!). Our guide Alex was knowledgeable and funny and very good pointing out plants and animals. A herd of guanacos came out right by us and we all got stellar pics. Beautiful intro to the park which truly has stunning scenery at every turn.

Quality of Experience
Food
Box lunches ordered in advance - noting terribly exciting - sandwiches, fruit, juice nuts and bars.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Alex was knowledgeable and funny - excellent English
Transport
Comfortable for ride to and from park.
Base Torres Hike
Base Torres Hike
Chile

Excellent trip. We were on a tour run by W-Circuit. Bus driver was speedy but safe and we did two tours with the same company two days apart. We were picked up at 6:30 am and the bus was comfortable. Trekking poles were provided which helped a lot (we had never used before). After that we did the Base Torres Hike but with a different guide named Pablo. Great hike but long (6 hours minimum) and very crowded at times. The hard thing is that people hike at vastly different rates. Our guide had us go ahead and wait in places (great system). We saw tons of birds and even a puma at the end! Again, breathtaking scenery and rewarding. Some people may not be prepared for the steepness of this hike and be unable to finish as were several folks on our tour. Acclimate a bit, have good boots, and be used to hiking—this is 22km (13.7miles) RT!

Quality of Experience
Beautiful park with stunning scenery.
Food
Nice to have options to buy food along the trail (we got drinks on teh way down) and snacks at the end before our bus ride home.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Pablo was good and allowed us to divide up so we weren't waiting all the time.
Transport
Very good - comfortable and good driver - plenty of space with 6 of us in the van
Rock Climbing in Patagonia
Rock Climbing in Patagonia
Puerto Natales

This was AMAZING! Our second trip with Jorge was rock climbing. We have only done indoor climbing gyms before and this was awesome. This was our first ever outdoor climbing experience. We did 4 routes. Very well explained, safety conscious and exciting and Jorge involved us in everything- belaying etc. Tea mid-route was very neat! We were visited multiple times by condors checking out what we were doing. Our kids were amazed by our pics (one climbs and he was impressed). The rock formations were cool to see and climb on - we learned a lot and this definitely pushed our comfort boundaries which is what we wanted.

Quality of Experience
Jorge's knowledge and how he included us in jobs and taught skills was awesome. Beautiful location and the condors were really a nice lucky feature - about 7-8 were watching and circling as we climbed.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
See comments above - we felt safe and confident trying this with him as the guide.
Transport
Great driver - Jorge - and location was spectacular
Kayaking in Eberhard Fjord
Kayaking in Eberhard Fjord
Puerto Natales

We did two trips with Jorge. He is probably the best guide we have ever had—extremely knowledgeable on local wildlife, culture etc, speaks really excellent English and very personable. We did a kayak trip on the Eberhard Fjord on a fairly windy day. First time in dry suits! Mid trip we stopped for a 1km walk with spectacular views of the mountains, lakes and fjords. We finished with a lovely meal of wonderful homemade foods in a Chilean home.

Quality of Experience
Jorge was great, incredible views and a wonderful meal at the end
Guides, Drivers and Staff
We learned a lot about Chile and the area from Jorge - super knowledgeable.
Transport
Jorge picked us up
Private Dinner
Private Dinner
Santiago

This was a cool thing to do for our last night in Santiago. We were picked up by our host and his friend Felipe who was our guide for the night. Gloria was the cooking whiz and Leo managed the wine and music. We drove into the city center and to Leo and Gloria's home where we had a 4 course dinner and wine tasting with Chilean music. The food was excellent and teh conversation was even better. They are warm and gracious hosts and very welcoming. Felipe did a great job explaining and translating as needed (we enjoyed practicing our Spanish) and we talked about all kinds of subjects. Highly recommend for people willing to branch out and try something new!

Quality of Experience
Great food and very welcoming and gracious hosts and guide
Food
Homemade empanadas, a ceviche, roast and potatoes and a tart with several Chilean wines
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Marcela Huidobro
Marcela
Marcela Huidobro
Local specialist in Puerto Varas | Replied on Mar 31, 2025

Kim and Andy,

Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a detailed review. It was a pleasure helping you plan your trip, and I’m so happy that despite some bad weather and the foot injury, you were still able to enjoy all the activities we arranged together. I've extended your comments to each guide and hotel.

I’m also glad to hear that you saw so many condors and were lucky enough to spot a puma—what an incredible experience!

Gracias y muchos saludos!

Wishing you all the best,
Marcela

Great travel agency and wonderful staff!!
Italy | Mar 7 - Mar 14, 2025

Judith
Judith C.
Flagami, FL | Reviewed on Mar 16, 2025
I did all the planning for this trip for my daughter and grandchildren, but did not go with them. This was a special trip for our 14 year old grandson. Luca helped me from day one and was amazing, especially with choosing excursions that would appeal to my grandson. I corresponded with him nearly every day for several weeks, and he was always very quick to respond and so helpful. He listened to my ideas and guided me with his expertise about the climate for the dates of our trip and... Read more

I did all the planning for this trip for my daughter and grandchildren, but did not go with them. This was a special trip for our 14 year old grandson. Luca helped me from day one and was amazing, especially with choosing excursions that would appeal to my grandson. I corresponded with him nearly every day for several weeks, and he was always very quick to respond and so helpful. He listened to my ideas and guided me with his expertise about the climate for the dates of our trip and which area would be best at that specific date. My daughter thinks I am the best travel agent ever, as they had a wonderful trip with everything being just as we had planned. Luca planned wonderful excursions for them with small group sizes. They were met with your guides promptly with no glitches. Hotels were just as Luca described and I loved that he sent me pictures of each hotel. He suggested many places for them to eat that were reasonably priced, and they loved every one of them. Their favorite part was the Amalfi Coast tour and the boat ride around Capri. Having never used a travel agency before, I was very nervous about this. Luca put me at ease and made it all very easy. I have already recommended your agency to all my friends and told them to ask for Luca.

Local specialist: Luca D'Arcangelo
Luca
Luca D'Arcangelo
Local specialist in Rome | Replied on Mar 17, 2025
Ciao Judith!! 😊
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! It was such a pleasure helping you plan this special trip for your family. I'm thrilled to hear that everything went as planned and that your loved ones had an unforgettable time in Italy and enjoyed hotels, excursions and (most of all) food!!
I can’t wait to welcome you all back for a new Italian adventure in the future. If there were any small inconveniences along the way, please know that we always strive to make things right...
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Ciao Judith!! 😊
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! It was such a pleasure helping you plan this special trip for your family. I'm thrilled to hear that everything went as planned and that your loved ones had an unforgettable time in Italy and enjoyed hotels, excursions and (most of all) food!!
I can’t wait to welcome you all back for a new Italian adventure in the future. If there were any small inconveniences along the way, please know that we always strive to make things right and ensure their travels are as smooth as possible!
Thanks again for choosing us and recommending us to your friends—it truly means a lot to me!
Looking forward to seeing you all again soon! 🌟🗺️
Luca

Excellent trip but one bad experience
Morocco | Feb 21 - Mar 1, 2025

O
Oliver B.
Boston, MA | Reviewed on Mar 16, 2025
Hussein our driver was exceptional. He is an excellent, safe driver ( sometimes on hard roads) and was excellent with all the young people on the trip with us. I cannot recommend him enough. The whole trip went well, but we had ONE BAD EXPERIENCE at the end of the trip (Saturday March 1)in Essaouira at the Riad Mimouna. It is a handsome hotel with a beautiful position looking to the Atlantic.
On the last morning we left early (5 to 6am) as we had a drive back to Casablanca and our flight....
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Hussein our driver was exceptional. He is an excellent, safe driver ( sometimes on hard roads) and was excellent with all the young people on the trip with us. I cannot recommend him enough.

The whole trip went well, but we had ONE BAD EXPERIENCE at the end of the trip (Saturday March 1)in Essaouira at the Riad Mimouna. It is a handsome hotel with a beautiful position looking to the Atlantic.
On the last morning we left early (5 to 6am) as we had a drive back to Casablanca and our flight. As I left my room, I was shocked to find the baggage porter from the hotel going round the rooms we were all leaving. He was helping himself to the cash tip that I had left for the women who come in to clean and redo the rooms. I went back to my room, and I noticed the money I had left had disappeared. I called him on it and asked where the tip money had gone. He sheepishly handed it back to me.
I went downstairs and complained strongly to the man on the desk. I am not sure that he was going to do anything - and ay even have been a friend of the latter had access to our room keys, most of which were handed in at the desk as we prepared to leave.
I would be most grateful if you could inform the hotel of this unpleasant incident. They should know that they have an employee like this who steals from other people who work in the hotel.

Local specialist: Hassan El Amrani
Hassan
Hassan El Amrani
Local specialist in Morocco & USA | Replied on Mar 16, 2025
Hi Oliver, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback about your recent trip. We're thrilled to hear that Hussein, our driver, exceeded your expectations with his exceptional driving skills and warm interaction with the young people in your group. We'll be sure to pass along your kind words to him. However, we're deeply disturbed to learn about the unfortunate incident at Riad Mimouna in Essaouira. The behavior of the baggage porter is unacceptable, and we apologize for the... Read more

Hi Oliver,

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback about your recent trip. We're thrilled to hear that Hussein, our driver, exceeded your expectations with his exceptional driving skills and warm interaction with the young people in your group. We'll be sure to pass along your kind words to him.

However, we're deeply disturbed to learn about the unfortunate incident at Riad Mimouna in Essaouira. The behavior of the baggage porter is unacceptable, and we apologize for the distress and frustration it caused you. We'll promptly notify the hotel management about this incident, emphasizing the importance of addressing this issue and ensuring the integrity of their staff.

Thank you again for your feedback, and we hope to have the opportunity to serve you better in the future.

Best regards,
Hassan

panama in a week
Panama | Mar 8 - Mar 15, 2025

Brad
Brad R.
Springfield, MA | Reviewed on Mar 16, 2025
Panama City 3 day stay in Sofitel
Christian was our private guide for 2 days. He brought us to the Panama Canal and a city tour for one day and then to the Embara tribe another day. WOW BITH WERE AMAZING. What an educational and fun experience both of these days were. Christian was absolutely amazing, smart and personable! Would highly recommend him.
The Sofitel was great and in a great area to walk around!
4 days and 3 nights Nayara
Nothing else to say but YOU MUST STAY HERE IN...
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Panama City 3 day stay in Sofitel
Christian was our private guide for 2 days. He brought us to the Panama Canal and a city tour for one day and then to the Embara tribe another day. WOW BITH WERE AMAZING. What an educational and fun experience both of these days were. Christian was absolutely amazing, smart and personable! Would highly recommend him.
The Sofitel was great and in a great area to walk around!

4 days and 3 nights Nayara
Nothing else to say but YOU MUST STAY HERE IN BOTH THE TREEHOUSE AND THE VILLAS!!!
The food , the people, the service, the wow factors, the tranquility. Just go and you will not regret

Hotel Reviews
Nayara Bocas del Toro

A MUST STAY the treehouse was a room that was so unique, views for miles from every area. To have cocktail hour on the top floor during a sunset or breakfast as the birds awoken is something we will never forget The over water bungalows with private saltwater pools led to a brilliant morning and evening. The service was more of a 7,8,9 star hotel than a 5star. At a push of a button you can have any food , that was Michelin like , a kayak, a bottle of champagne/sparkling wine, a cocktail, or some waters at any time of day. The food does take 45minutes to come out when ordered (except for dinner which is in a restaurant). The ELEPHANT HOUSE FOR DINNER—the most romantic beautiful best food I have ever eaten at a hotel. This is more then just a restaurant, it’s an experience The staff—wow wow wow. So polite so genuine so nice. 12/10

Authenticity & Character
Location
Beautiful island (but def an adventure to get too)
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo
Panama city

We did not have a balcony for some reason but we had a 2 story lifted hotel room that was beautiful! The service and the food is 5star. Every morning breakfast got better and better. The bartenders were fun and personable. The pool was beautiful. The moet roof top is something to not be missed on a weekend with live music and a dj.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Easy to walk around, safe, a million restaurants and a great view
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Room was cleaned 2-3 times per day.
Activity Reviews
Embera Village Adventure: Culture, Nature, and Traditions along the Chagres River
Embera Village Adventure: Culture, Nature, and Traditions along the Chagres River
Panama

Please do this and support the tribe. Such nice People Started with a 30 min canoe ride that was BEAUTIFUL! We then hiked 20 min into the forest to a waterfall that we swam in before continuing our canoe ride to the village. We danced with the children and watched some music. We walked around learning about the village and how they lived This is a MUST DO

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Welcome to Panama City! Arrive at Tocumen International Airport
Welcome to Panama City! Arrive at Tocumen International Airport
Panama City

Christian was there to pick us up on time in a lovely car. He is great!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Christian is AMAZING
Transport
Local specialist: Andrea Morita
Andrea
Andrea Morita
Local specialist in Bogota | Replied on Mar 17, 2025
Dear Brad, Thank you so much for sharing your experience in such detail! We truly appreciate the time you took to write this—it means a lot to us. We’re beyond happy to hear that you had such an amazing trip, from exploring Panama City with Christian (we’ll share your kind words with him!) to the unforgettable experience at Nayara Bocas del Toro. Your descriptions bring everything to life, and it’s wonderful to know that every part of your journey, from the hotels to the activities, left... Read more

Dear Brad,

Thank you so much for sharing your experience in such detail! We truly appreciate the time you took to write this—it means a lot to us.

We’re beyond happy to hear that you had such an amazing trip, from exploring Panama City with Christian (we’ll share your kind words with him!) to the unforgettable experience at Nayara Bocas del Toro. Your descriptions bring everything to life, and it’s wonderful to know that every part of your journey, from the hotels to the activities, left such a lasting impression.

It was an absolute pleasure to be part of your adventure, and we can’t thank you enough for your trust.

We hope to welcome you on another incredible trip in the future! ✨

Andrea

We highly recommend the Aracanto team led by Margoth & Felipe
Colombia | Feb 25 - Mar 10, 2025

Stephen
Stephen B.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Mar 16, 2025
We highly recommend the Aracanto team led by Margoth and Felipe who did an excellent job, 1st listening to what we wanted and then planning a seamless complex trip. All their guides and drivers were top class and we learnt so much about this fascinating country. The standout part of their service was Margoth and Felipe’s genuine care and response 24/7 to any issue and willingness to make changes and reservations whilst we were in country which gave us great confidence as 1st time visitors.... Read more

We highly recommend the Aracanto team led by Margoth and Felipe who did an excellent job, 1st listening to what we wanted and then planning a seamless complex trip. All their guides and drivers were top class and we learnt so much about this fascinating country. The standout part of their service was Margoth and Felipe’s genuine care and response 24/7 to any issue and willingness to make changes and reservations whilst we were in country which gave us great confidence as 1st time visitors. S&J UK

Hotel Reviews
Sofitel Bogota Victoria Regia
Bogotá

Perfect high quality hotel as a base for a Bogata visit located in a nice area - great buffet breakfast but slow service

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hacienda Bambusa
El Caimo

Beautiful and unique property more like a private home than a hotel

Authenticity & Character
Location
The roads are dreadful to get this property - it works much better as arrive and chill out rather than as a base for day tours
Staff
All the staff are great but the walking guide was amazing guy and his walking tour around the estate and neighbouring Cacao farm was a highlight!
Cleanliness & Comfort
El Cielo Hotel
Medellin

Top boutique hotel in best district of Medellin . Hotel is lovely and well designed but rooms are a bit soulless and corporate

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Bedrooms not v comfortable
Villa Playa Tayrona
Magdalena

Beautiful villa style property in an amazing location overlooking river and sea with a pool in front . We would have preferred a room with a view which was not available.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Welcome wasn’t up to the usual up to standard we experienced in Columbia - a tour of the property would have helped.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Casa San Agustín
Cartagena de Indias

Amazing architecture beautiful boutique hotel in heart of old town.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
City Tour of Bogotá with Gold Museum, La Candelaria, and Monserrate Hill
City Tour of Bogotá with Gold Museum, La Candelaria, and Monserrate Hill
Bogotá

Excellent- Oscar our guide was very knowledgeable and a really nice guy and we really enjoyed visiting the highlights of Bogata

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Short Cacao Tour (Hacienda Bambusa)
Short Cacao Tour (Hacienda Bambusa)
Armenia

We did this immediately on arrival and it was a super way to unwind from air travel and an unpleasant journey to the property on v bad roads . This hotel no longer sits in the middle of a Cacao farm - it’s now industrial level citrus planting so this walk takes you to the neighbouring farm to see Cacao farming on a charming local level.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide Camilo was a delight and v knowledgeable and chilled
Local specialist: Margoth Rico
Margoth
Margoth Rico
Local specialist in Bogota | Replied on Mar 16, 2025
Dear Stephen and Jane, Thank you so much for your kind words and for taking the time to share your experience! We are absolutely delighted to hear that you had such a great time in Colombia and that we could help make your trip memorable. It was truly a pleasure meeting you both. Your feedback is incredibly valuable to us. Every detail you have shared will be reviewed with our team and will help us continue improving and offering the best experiences in Colombia. We’ll also pass along your... Read more

Dear Stephen and Jane,

Thank you so much for your kind words and for taking the time to share your experience! We are absolutely delighted to hear that you had such a great time in Colombia and that we could help make your trip memorable. It was truly a pleasure meeting you both.

Your feedback is incredibly valuable to us. Every detail you have shared will be reviewed with our team and will help us continue improving and offering the best experiences in Colombia. We’ll also pass along your kind words to Oscar, Camilo, and all your guides and drivers. Thank you for taking the time to share such thoughtful comments.

Sending you both our very best wishes, and Muchas Gracias for visiting our home country. We truly appreciate your time in writing this review.

Wishing you all the best,
Aracanto Team, Felipe and Margoth

Exploring Japan in 7 Days
Japan | Mar 7 - Mar 15, 2025

Barbara
Barbara P.
Canada | Reviewed on Mar 16, 2025
We were only in Japan for 7 days, but managed to see four cities in that time-Kyoto, Tokyo, Osaka, and Izu. We saw many incredible attractions with the expertise of KimKim. We particularly enjoyed experiencing traditional Japanese accommodation and cuisine. Eleanor, our planner, was professional, responsive to our questions, and very polite. We never worried while we were travelling and were able to discover beautiful Japan! Thank you KimKim and Eleanor for an amazing experience. We... Read more

We were only in Japan for 7 days, but managed to see four cities in that time-Kyoto, Tokyo, Osaka, and Izu. We saw many incredible attractions with the expertise of KimKim. We particularly enjoyed experiencing traditional Japanese accommodation and cuisine. Eleanor, our planner, was professional, responsive to our questions, and very polite. We never worried while we were travelling and were able to discover beautiful Japan! Thank you KimKim and Eleanor for an amazing experience. We would highly recommend their services to anyone planning for a stress free trip!

Hotel Reviews
Asakusa View Hotel Annex Rokku
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Togetsutei Hotel
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Royal Park Canvas Osaka Kitahama
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Yukairo Kikuya
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Royal Park Hotel Tokyo Haneda (Terminal 3)
Tokyo
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Eleanor Chen
Eleanor
Eleanor Chen
Local specialist in Japan and China | Replied on Mar 17, 2025

Thank you for your wonderful feedback! I’m delighted to hear that you had an amazing experience exploring Japan and enjoyed the traditional accommodations and cuisine. It’s great to know that I’m planning made your trip smooth and stress-free.

We truly appreciate your recommendation and would love to assist you with any future adventures!

5 day trip from Marrakech. We travelled with ...
Morocco | Mar 11 - Mar 15, 2025

J
Jacqui H.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Mar 16, 2025
5 day trip from Marrakech. We travelled with Az to Imlil in the Atlas mountains, then to Ait Ben Haddou, Ourazazate then onto Merzouga in the Sahara desert with camel ride to our overnight camp (highly recommended). Then back to Marrakech via Rossini, Todra and Dades gorges. Az was polite, quiet and very helpful. Some long days in the car but well worth it. Multiple stops enroute to walk around local markets and small towns. Particularly enjoyed the fossil workshop visit. You can choose... Read more

5 day trip from Marrakech. We travelled with Az to Imlil in the Atlas mountains, then to Ait Ben Haddou, Ourazazate then onto Merzouga in the Sahara desert with camel ride to our overnight camp (highly recommended). Then back to Marrakech via Rossini, Todra and Dades gorges. Az was polite, quiet and very helpful. Some long days in the car but well worth it. Multiple stops enroute to walk around local markets and small towns. Particularly enjoyed the fossil workshop visit. You can choose when or where you stop or even buy lunch at a supermarket and have a picnic. Az was a safe driver and kept the vehicle clean.

Hotel Reviews
Atlas Berber Lodge
Imlil

Typical Berber lodge and hospitality. Traditional Moroccan food and plenty of it. Large ensuite rooms, excellent views from the terraces. Situated up the hill away from the main village. Highly recommend for the Moroccan experience.

Authenticity & Character
Typical Berber furnishings and hospitality
Location
Fabulous views of the mountains.
Staff
The hospitality couldn't have been more welcoming, friendly and attentive.
Cleanliness & Comfort
It was cold when we arrived but a heater was provided in the dining room which kept us snug.
Kasbah Isfoula
Ait Ben Haddou

Pleasant, clean and good food with a warm and friendly welcome.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Just a 5 minute drive away from Ait Ben Haddou, in a quiet position.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Luxury Camp Chebbi
Merzouga

Great camel ride approx 60 mins, with stops for photos. Camp and facilities clean and tidy. Heating/air conditioning in the room. Good food. Opportunity for a campfire if not too windy. Very friendly and attentive staff. Choice of returning by 4WD or camel.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Kasbah Tizzarouine
Boumalne

Visited out of season, so the pool was not available to us. Upon arrival we were offered a drink/snacks but after a 30 minute wait no one returned. Had to wear duvet jackets at meal time as only one heater for a large dining room. Bedroom warm and comfortable.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Good views over gorge but nothing much in walking distance.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Overnight in the Sahara Desert
Overnight in the Sahara Desert
Morocco
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Yassine Echcherki
Yassine
Yassine Echcherki
Local specialist in Morocco | Replied on Mar 16, 2025

Thank you so much for your thoughtful review! We're delighted to hear that you had a wonderful five-day journey exploring the Atlas Mountains, Ait Ben Haddou, and the breathtaking Sahara. It’s great to know that you enjoyed the flexibility of the trip, from stopping at local markets to having a picnic along the way. We're especially glad you had a great experience with Az—he truly values providing a safe, comfortable, and memorable journey for our travelers.

We appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you on another adventure in Morocco in the future!

We thought all of our guides were great! Step...
Galapagos Islands | Mar 8 - Mar 15, 2025

Melissa
Melissa W.
Dallas, TX | Reviewed on Mar 16, 2025
We thought all of our guides were great! Stephano, Alexis, Justin, Azu did a great job teaching us and helping us to have fun! Jacquie was our support person and she made everything run very smoothly. If I had a question, she could confirm the plan or make sure things went as planned. Read more

We thought all of our guides were great! Stephano, Alexis, Justin, Azu did a great job teaching us and helping us to have fun! Jacquie was our support person and she made everything run very smoothly. If I had a question, she could confirm the plan or make sure things went as planned.

Hotel Reviews
EB Hotel by Eurobuilding Quito
Quito
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel
Puerto Ayora
Authenticity & Character
Location
You have to take a little walk and free boat (provided by the hotel) to get to town, but it was all part of the experience and we loved the location!
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The room was a bit small, but we didn’t spend much time there! The beds were very comfortable and the room was kept very clean.
Hotel Indigo Galápagos
San Cristóbal

This is a lovely hotel by the water and close to everything. We enjoyed sitting by the pool in the mornings and listening to the sea lions.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Kayaking Tortuga Bay (by boat) - Afternoon at Leisure
Kayaking Tortuga Bay (by boat) - Afternoon at Leisure
Puerto Ayora

Tortuga Bay was beautiful. We saw so many marine iguanas and learned about the sea turtles nesting. The waves were incredible and made the walk to Mansa beach a lovely one. We kayaked in the calmer water and saw the mangrove and many, many sea turtles. My daughter loved this!!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Experience the Pristine Beauty of Galápagos Islands: Discovering an Uninhabited Island
Experience the Pristine Beauty of Galápagos Islands: Discovering an Uninhabited Island
Puerto Ayora

We had a great time seeing all the different birds and learning how to identify them. We saw iguanas and sea lions as well. The snorkeling was fun too! We saw rays and reef sharks as well as many varieties of fish.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
There was a lot of waiting on this tour. We had a great time, but when it was all over we had to wait a long time to leave.
Welcome to San Cristóbal Island! Visit the Interpretation Center, Tijeretas Hill, or La Lobería
Welcome to San Cristóbal Island! Visit the Interpretation Center, Tijeretas Hill, or La Lobería
Galapagos Islands

We enjoyed talking with our guide, Justin. The Interpretation Center was okay. La Lobería was beautiful and it was cool to see the sea lions. The conditions were a little rough for snorkeling, but we had a good time. There was heavy rain on the way back to our ride.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Transfer to the airport for your flight back home (Departure)
Transfer to the airport for your flight back home (Departure)
Galapagos Islands
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Welcome to Santa Cruz Island:  Highlands (Plant a Tree)  & Charles Darwin Research Station
Welcome to Santa Cruz Island: Highlands (Plant a Tree) & Charles Darwin Research Station
Puerto Ayora

This was a very cool experience. The restaurant was nice, and we were able to watch the tortoises in the rain. They had rain boots and umbrellas for us. We didn’t end up planting a tree, because my daughter got stung by fire ants in that area. My only suggestion would be to find a way to treat for fire ants.

Quality of Experience
The ants made it a little less amazing. But otherwise it was great.
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Stephano was very knowledgeable and his English was great. We learned so much that day!
Transport
Wildlife Encountering at Lobos Island
Wildlife Encountering at Lobos Island
Galapagos Islands

This was our favorite day! We saw lots of wildlife at Las Lobos Island and enjoyed snorkeling as well. Right after snorkeling we actually followed a pod of Orcas rather than going to the beach. Apparently this is super rare, so maybe don’t expect an orca sighting!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Expedition to El Junco Lagoon - Galapaguera Colorado Hill - Puerto Chino Beach
Private Expedition to El Junco Lagoon - Galapaguera Colorado Hill - Puerto Chino Beach
Galapagos Islands
Welcome to Ecuador: Let Your Adventure Begin!
Welcome to Ecuador: Let Your Adventure Begin!
Galapagos Islands

Marco was so kind. He took us to the hotel and then picked us up early in the morning. The process to fly between Quito and Baltra was not self-explanatory, so it was nice to have his guidance!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Alvaro Pereira
Alvaro
Alvaro Pereira
Local specialist in Quito, Ecuador | Replied on Mar 17, 2025
Dear Melissa,
Thank you so much for your kind words!
I'm truly happy to hear that you and your family had such a wonderful experience in the Galápagos. It’s great to know that Stephano, Alexis, Justin, and Azu did a fantastic job teaching you and making sure you all had fun along the way. I’m also glad that Jacquie was able to support you throughout the trip and make everything run smoothly!
I truly appreciate your comments related to hotels, the staff, and the service, it is so important to... Read more

Dear Melissa,
Thank you so much for your kind words!
I'm truly happy to hear that you and your family had such a wonderful experience in the Galápagos. It’s great to know that Stephano, Alexis, Justin, and Azu did a fantastic job teaching you and making sure you all had fun along the way. I’m also glad that Jacquie was able to support you throughout the trip and make everything run smoothly!

I truly appreciate your comments related to hotels, the staff, and the service, it is so important to improve and to share too, with your feedback.

We are glad you had such a great trip, and I’d be delighted to help you plan an even more personalized and exclusive experience in the future!
We wish you many more amazing adventures together!

All the best,
Alvaro and Jacquie

Marisa & KimKim team were in constant communi...
Portugal | Mar 9 - Mar 14, 2025

Kimberly
Kimberly H.
Wallingford Center, CT | Reviewed on Mar 15, 2025

Marisa & KimKim team were in constant communication with us throughout our trip. The hotels selected were amazing. All plans went off without a hitch. Great vacation!

Local specialist: Marisa Agulhas
Marisa
Marisa Agulhas
Local specialist in Lisbon | Replied on Mar 18, 2025

Dear Kimberly,
Thank you so much for your kind words! It’s always our goal to make sure your vacation is stress-free and unforgettable. Wishing you many more wonderful adventures ahead!😊
Your Friend in Portugal - Marisa

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