Kimkim Trip Reviews

We enjoyed everything about this hotel except the location. The room was wonderful as was the service, the pools, the breakfast. Regarding the location, it’s about 1.4 km to the bleach and the action of Patong, a nice walk except that the road is very busy and there are stretches with no sidewalk. Consequently we ended up eating at the hotel restaurant 2 nights. The food was good but we would have liked more options.

The islands are beautiful. The downside is the long run by speedboat which was pretty bumpy and the number of people also visiting. The first stop (Maya Bay) in particular was just dense with people. We spent more time in line getting back to the boat than we did at the Bay.

Really enjoyed this, more than we expected. Going in we were concerned about the ethics of these elephant preserves, but once we learned that all the elephants are “rescues” from lives of hard labor and unable to be returned to the wild, and we saw how they are treated, we relaxed and enjoyed the interaction with these incredible creatures and learning more about them and the Preserve.

Wow, that was a lot of fun! Jim made it an educational and fun experience right from the start, with the visit to the market. He really focused on the ingredients and what each brought to the four dishes that we prepared. Once at the school, everything went like a well oiled machine as we prepared the various ingredients, then cooked and ate our delicious meal. We had attended another cooking class in north Thailand on another tour; this was more fun and we really liked that we got detailed recipes should we want to try and replicate at home.

One of the highlights of our 6 week trip to SE Asia. A slower, but much smoother ride out to the islands. The ride around James Bond island was probably sufficient; didn’t need to actually stop. Then the best part: the trips through the sea caves by inflatable kayaks piloted by a crew member to the various hidden lagoons! What an experience! Then to have an entire beach to just our boat (~25 people) was fun. Lastly the dinner and Loy Kratong prep and ceremony was special.

Our stay at the Jungle Camp was overall pleasant. The accommodation matched the natural setting of the National Park, and while we didn't expect luxury, it was comfortable. The only downside was that the local guides organized for us by the hotel didn't speak English, which was a bit of a barrier, especially when noticing that other groups had guides fluent in English. Still, it was a minor glitch in an otherwise good experience.

The Night Street Food Tour After Dark by Tuk Tuk was perfect. We had a fantastic guide named Rodjana, who made the experience enjoyable. She was perhaps the best guide we had in Thailand, making the tour a highlight of our trip.

The Railway Market & Floating Market tour was good despite being crowded. The bustling markets are a must-see, and even though the crowds can be overwhelming, the experience is worth it.

The Golden Triangle – Chiang Rai Sightseeing & Art tour was good. The guide was knowledgeable, and the tales of history and stories about the Golden Triangle were fascinating. Even though there's nothing spectacular to physically see, the stories made it worthwhile.

I’m only giving it a 4 because it poured rain. Horses were great, scenery was wonderful and they waited for us when we took a wrong turn and ended up 15 minutes late

Again, super windy. Great view.

Lovely. We were there late 7:30 pm, so didn’t get to really see the lake, but the pools and facilities were top notch.

Perfect for what we wanted (easier hike). Great guide.

So beautiful!

Super windy. These pools are heated through rocks and gravel under foot - warmer/cooler depending on where you stood. They are also expanding so view wan’t quite as good as it could be.

Gorgeous, new, and very quiet at 2 pm.

Top notch.

Rustic, situated in aforested and hilly area.

Great hotel and menu, on-the-ball staff.

Once upon a time this would have been quite the spot; but it's worn and not kept well.

Quite the experience and more so by meeting with the family and learning about their small business

Fine place. Nothing exceptional, but clean and safe.

Fine place.

Great tents! Pleasant atmosphere. Great camel rides. Beautiful dunes. Beautiful sunset. Food ok.

FAbulous

Fine place

Fine place.

Rained!

Very touristy

The hotel looks beautiful and has lovely food...unfortunately we did not have a nice room...at the end of a long corridor on main level , dark and musty.

Enjoyed the cable car ride up the hill and learning about how it was developed. The site at the top was beautiful and we carefully maneuvered the slippery paths...rainy day ..

Felt our guide was inexperienced, not well organized and didn't seem to know how to relate to the client. As senior clients walking about in 41 degree weather for 5 hours is not OK....we ended our walking tour before seeing the market or taste testing. Our introduction to Cartagena was not a positive lasting impression. Our hotel room was not up to the standard of the other places we had enjoyed. The overall impression of the hotel is most positive, beautiful grounds, pool dining areas but our room was at the end of a long corridor on the main floor and it was dark, dingy and needed refurbishing...the picture over the bed was a frame only. Our dining experiences were all positive.

Many fruits are new to the tourists and it is nice to be able to try them. The arepas made by a special lady were the best I ate compared to the many I tasted through out Colombia. The flower market was colourful and nice to see .... wasn't too sure the vendors were too happy with us walking through as they were getting ready to close....might we worth considering talking with a vendor to learn more about the business and even receive one flower as token....

The museum was delightful...our guide told us about a few key issues and then we took whatever time we wanted to look at the various exhibits.

Colourful, insightful and fun...enjoyed the street art. Most fun for us was playing tejo accompanied by a mulatto local beer...chocolate pairing made us feel like we were in a lab doing a very detailed taste tasting...far too much technical stuff for regular tourist...this program needs to be delivered in a more relaxed fun manner.

Very generous manager and chef introduced us to your national drink. We had lots of laughs and can see why this is such a social beverage.

Many kind wishes were sent my way for my BD celebration....even the hotel dining staff had a lovely dessert for me and sang happy birthday. The meal was delicious, beautiful presented and we enjoyed. There seems to be the thought that if you remove a plate as soon as finished it is efficient...not so when you are eating with another person ... my question which never has been answered is why does Colombia mark up their price of wine so significantly? If tourism is the goal, expect wine drinking goes with that....we were able to find delicious wines in the local grocery for a reasonable amount.

Enjoyed my time with the chef learning about the different corns and how they are treated. With the help of his kitchen staff, the final presentation was delightful.

Amazing valley and seeing these magnificent palms was awesome....our guide was very knowledgeable about the area and shared this with us in an easy to understand discussion. He was happy to accommodate a request to show me an avocado tree and took the time to explain the growth etc. Both Salento and Filandia were colourful and easily walkable locations.

A very well spoken knowledgeable chef taught us lots about the cuisine and how to actual tackle some items that were new for us. We enjoyed all of the dishes that we made and have a much better understanding of the work and effort that goes into some of the Caribbean dishes. Loved the aprons that were easy for me to get home...great memory jogger of a fun time.

Well organized with an interpreter and set up efficient for us to easily manage the steps. Enjoyed the class, the chef, the gift of columbian pots and the experience.

Relaxed, fun and playful experience.

Enjoyed the exhibition of sculptures by Botero. Our guide shared comical information which kept the history fun and memorable.. the wonderful metro cable up to Santo Domingo was enjoyable and knowledgeable and an amazing method to move people through this massive city in a cost efficient manner.

One of the best activities and learning experiences in Colombia. From costume setting, to picking the beans and walking through the fields and learning about the many steps that are taken to produce this bean was amazing. The lady of the manor prepared drinks and snacks and then a sizeable lunch for all of us to enjoy. Language wasn't difficult with a fluent guide and gestures and smiles all added to the enjoy,ent.

We enjoyed taking the path with our guide at a leisurely pace to see the thermal waters. Quite a stunning area of natural beauty.

Other than the rain, we enjoyed getting to the area as well as learning about La Piedra rock. No pressure to climb and didn't.

Essential to experience this neighborhood in order to better understand the massive changes that have taken place by those living in very poor dangerous conditions.

A tour guide arrived at our VBRO, same young chap we had met before......he waited with us until the driver arrived...we were not aware a guide was to accompany us...and off we went to the airport where we were dropped off outside....every other guide that we had accompanied us inside the terminal to ensure a smooth transition, and that's when we tipped....without meaningful service, no tipping. The driver was new to us and the seat belts were non workable in the rear and when we pointed this out we were advised that the car had been cleaned and they hadn't pulled the clips back through....whatever the reason, the client should not be put in that position.

Cartagena takes a little time to get oriented ... our guide walked us to this event which was essential for us as it was an evening event. The owner and presenter of the event was friendly and fun and enjoyed his job. We enjoyed learning about the different flavour profiles and how they were created and the little tapas to aid with the palette were delicious. On our walk back to the hotel we were able to see the party buses and how night life lives in this city.

Hotel is old and musty. Proximity to the airport is its strength.

Room had a lovely balcony and view over pool to beach. I would not stay in any room except this highest level as they faced the run down neighboring properties. Room was clean, cold and quiet. Breakfast was wonderful. Exterior and hallways of this hotel are in terrible condition. Pretty beach, but beach vendors and weed smokers were overwhelming. Location was good for walking to restaurants, but the many weed stores attracted an unsavory crowd. I would stay in an area of koh samui different from Cheweng beach.

Lovely hotel with rustic luxury bungalows. Please note that you arrive by boat and you must be able bodied enough to climb out of the speedboat, into the water and to walk through the water to the shore. The food is average, but there is a fun local village on the backside of the resort we enjoyed in the evenings. We scuba dived here at the resort and had a good experience. Pool is lovely.

Our beachfront bungalow was quiet, clean and well appointed. The breakfast was lovely, and the beach stunning. We could walk to beachfront restaurants, or take a tuktuk to more local spots.

This hotel is even prettier in person. The decor is fresh and modern. Lovely breakfast, nice location. Pool area is a sanctuary from busy Bangkok

We enjoyed this day. Some might find it objectionable that guests can feed, bathe and touch the elephants. Guide was very difficult to understand. Tie-dying and cooking activities were very fun.

Definitely do this! We saw parts of the city we wouldn’t have otherwise, and really experienced local food, restaurants and Bangkok culture. So fun to be with fellow travellers from other countries!

We really enjoyed getting out of Cheweng and seeing the countryside.

Beautiful beach free of beach vendors.

We only had a 1 hour canal tour, and returned on the train.

Great hotel in a superb spot in the heart of the city. 15 min walk to Syd Opera House, 10 Min walk to darling quay. Small coffee shop on site and an italian next door

Really nice hotel with a great onsite restaurant and in the middle of the city. Clean rooms and attentive staff.

Lovely hotel and in a great spot. A bit difficult to find at times when out and about so take a map! Roms were very comfortable and modern, and staff were very friendly and helpful

Quite a basic hotel (more like a Motel) but I dont think in this location you'll be spoiled for choice. In any case it was spotless and the whole point of being here is to experince the outback and be outside. Nice restaurant on site and there is a small 'town square' with a few shops and Cafes. We loved Uluru.

Great hotel in the middle of the action. I imagine this hotel and location will be jumping at the right time in the season. Really helpful staff, and a lot of bars and restaurants nearby.

We had Fred as our guide. Really interesting and funny guy who helped pass the time as this is a long drive, but the scenery and locations are stunning. You must do this this trip in this location.

A real one off. Dinner, drinks all included and a talk by an astronomer. As there is very little light polution, the skies are magical, and the desert is qo quiet. We'd go back tomorrow if we could. An exceptional visit to an exceptional location.

This is a full day and its a long one, but its really worth doing as the scale and sights are breathtaking.

Long day but to get a feel for the location, you have to push on a bit. We were pretty tired afterwards but it was a great day.

You cant get too close to Uluru nowadays but this is as good as you'll get. A nice photo op of an iconic and significant landmark.

Like going back in time. Jurassic Park and king Kong rolled into one trip. We were incredibly lucky and saw the ultra-rare cassowary, plus all sorts of spiders (as big as my hand), wild birds, crocodiles, etc. A fantastic insight, in the oldest rainforest in the world (180m years old).

Poured with rain when we were there which kinda limited visibility but we could still snorkel the reef and see fish, giant clams etc. Was a really good day out to an amazing place.

What a wonderful experience. Our guide was amazing! The vistas were spectacular

Lovely hotel. Lots of old city charm. Excellent service. Delicious omelette for breakfast.

We were happy to go on a small ship so that we would not be overrun with people. The ship has a nice layout with plenty of room to roam about. The food was good with many different choices. The only negative would be the intermittent hot water for showers.

VERY clean, new and comfortable rooms and facilities. The owners were fantastic and the breakfasts each morning were delicious and plentiful. The views are amazing and the grounds are well laid out with flowers and interesting trees - the butterflies enjoyed it as well! Highly recommend if you are in the area.

While the rooms were very clean and comfortable, the landscaping and bird life was absolutely fantastic! I wish I had more time just to sit in the gardens plus the breakfast was excellent.

Really liked that this was a little more rustic (built on the side of a hill which was a little challenging walking up all the steps) and the view from our shared deck was amazing. The best thing about this place was the manager Gino Testo and the chef Arlin Camarena. Gino couldn't have been more attentive and helpful - he works nonstop (I was exhausted watching him) and he consistently wanted to ensure that we were having a great time. Arlin prepared amazing fish and seafood dinners - we were not tempted to eat at any other restaurants in the area because we were sure that they wouldn't top what Arlin prepared. The only reason that I didn't put 5 stars was that on our second day there, the driveway was being repaired and we couldn't drive off the property to do some more exploring. We did go for a walk but were unable to get to the surfing beach which was disappointing. I am sure with the driveway repaired, all is goof.

Exceptionally clean and comfortable in a beautiful location with gorgeous landscaping. A fairly long walk to town was the only downside but even then it was only a $5 cab ride.

While it was clean and the beds comfortable it wasn't located in a very interesting area, the staff weren't very helpful (issues getting $100 bill broken down, trouble getting directions - was told to google it and we weren't using wifi - and there wasn't a swimming pool only a NOT tub which was definitely not needed in 30 plus weather. Would not stay there again nor would I recommend it.

LOVED this experience!

Outstanding and so much more than we expected. Our boat driver was so good at spotting animals and giving us such an amazing experience.

I asked the night before I was to be picked up "if I could do this". At midnight when picked up, I asked the guide "can I do this". Having never done a hike like this (but I did a lot of training at home before coming down there), I had no clue what to expect. The guide, while nice, was ill equipped to 'hear' me when I said that I was in pain, that I was concerned about how I would get back down if I made it to the top. I was given a headlamp that lacked good batteries and had to use my cell phone since we started the hike at midnight and it was pitch black. No hiking poles available either. I was actually doing quite well until km 8 when my groin 'popped' - very strange as that has never happened before and was VERY painful. The guide encouraged me to go further even though I told him I was in pain and a bit dizzy. On we went for another 2 kms and which point I said that I could make it for the remaining 3 kms but would never be able to get back down so we needed to turn around. The guide walked 4-5 m's in front of me so wasn't offering any moral support. Finally at one point as 4x4 trucks were bringing tour groups up the mountain, the guide asked me if I would be willing to pay one of the drivers to let me ride with them. I jumped at the chance since I was in tears from the pain in my groin. Thankfully the last truck had room for one person. I never made it to the very top as I was in too much pain but I got as close as the truck could go so was happy about that. Thankfully I was fine within 48 hours and didn't damage myself but given the cost and my own expectations (rightly or wrongly), I was very disappointed in the lack of medical awareness and support

Unfortunately this hike was cancelled 2 nights in a row due to heavy rainfall.

Not worthwhile. While the water felt good and it was fun to jump into the canyon, the place was too crowded (busloads of people arrived) and it was dirty. There was litter everywhere making us feel 'cringey'

Wonderful experience! A very long boat ride but was very fun seeing the flock of pelicans, the brown footed boobies, the school of tuna and the dolphins swimming alongside the boat. The snorkeling was great as well.

So much better than expected! We saw a lot of the various areas of town plus a good 2.5 hours at the canal learning about its history and watching the boats for through the locks.

Not worth it. I thought we would get a 'flavour' of the culture as well as the food but instead we experienced some touristy stuff including a roof top bar that could have been in NYC or London England

Beautiful hotel that makes you feel welcome/like part of the family. Daily massages, personal touches and a true caring touch.

A beautiful oasis in the southern part of Bangkok.

Stunning, peaceful getaway in Chiang Mai. Incredibly kind and attentive staff and beautiful, calming environment.

Absolutely beautiful, peaceful oasis. Fantastic amenities, private beach and pool - all gorgeous.

Pookie was an amazing guide - absolutely fantastic experience learning with her.

I did get sick from this experience - I would encourage the guides to carry hand sanitizer as hand hygiene is not always perfect at these markets.

Khao Soi was to die for!

Chili Paste tour guide was super fun and the food was excellent!

Nana was a fun, experienced guide - really made the investment of time worthwhile!

Absolutely wonderful experience - so much fun, and delicious!

Was a great park but tour felt a bit long + repetitive.

Do not hesitate! Book one of the Lakeview villas and you will never want to leave. We felt so blessed to stay at this beautiful spot. Our villa was just amazing with incredible views of the lake and Mt Cook and a sky full of stars. The staff were amazing. All of them. They brought breakfast and dinner to our villa one day but they also serve it in the dining room to at the lodge which was also a lovely experience. It's your preference. The food was EXCELLENT. Everything fresh, local and made from scratch. It's located within a dark sky sanctuary and the southern sky was so beautiful. I'm not even going to mention the private swedish style hot tub, and separate little sauna, massage and exercise cabins/rooms. Trust me, just go!

We loved this place! Super quirky location above a little cinema but no noise intruder and really just added to the charm. They have done just an awesome job with designing the layout of that place. Had two huge comfy couches and then another seating area plus the big king bed which you could separate off with some curtains plus a dining area and then there's a second room you can also book that's connected by a small kitchen. The bathrooms are lovely everything was very clean. I absolutely loved the style of the place. Would have loved to stay longer.

Oh my goodness! I almost didn't want to review this place because it's so amazing and I want it to be available next time! The main lobby and lounge area of the boatshed we're so inviting and cozy and the views are absolutely incredible out over the bay. Jonathan and Mila we're such gracious hosts and so helpful with their luggage and other things. We stayed in the "owner's cottage" and I can't even describe how much we loved it. You have views from almost all the windows, a pool, and there's even a piano which I was so excited about. There's little cozy nooks around every corner to sit and read a book or enjoy the view. The host of thought of everything you could possibly need as well in the kitchen, bathrooms and bedrooms. There are places to put and hang everything. We loved it so much we wanted to stay longer and hope to come back someday.

The two rooms that we had here were very beautiful. It's located in an older home so I'm assuming every room is a little bit different but each of ours were just really cool. The staff is super nice and really helpful as well. They went out of their way to help us with luggage and laundry and other things. The location is a little bit out of town but we liked that because it's on a really beautiful property and just a short drive to town. Rotorua was one of the places we definitely would love to have to spent more time!

Our guide Jennifer was awesome! Loved her information and her love of her country. A great way to more of Queenstown and the surrounding area.