Kimkim Trip Reviews

I had an idea of the places that we wanted to go and Trang advised me on which ones were best and those that were not optimal.

Hotel Reviews

La Vela Saigon Hotel

Good hotel with excellent restaurants.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hanoi Pearl Hotel

Hanoi

Right in the middle of the old city, close the park. Great rooftop bar too.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bamboo Village Resort

Great beach location and restaurant.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Indochine Palace

We enjoyed the the restaurant and location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Indochine Lan Ha Cruise

Hai Phong

The bay was gorgeous, the excursions enjoyable and the food fantastic.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Ho Chi Minh City - Mekong Delta, Explore Ben Tre - Ho Chi Minh City

Vietnam

Our guide was exceptionally well-spoken.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ho Chi Minh City: Visit Cu Chi Tunnels & HCMC City Tour

Ho Chi Minh City

Guide was exceptional.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ho Chi Minh City - Mui Ne Beach

Mui Ne

Fantastic place, highly recommended.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hue City Tour

Hue

We enjoyed touring the palace and had a very good guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The dragon boat had the owner’s family on board, which was a treat.

Hanoi - Lan Ha Bay, Indochine Lan Ha Cruise

Vietnam

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Stopping at the Cultured Pearl exhibit was a bonus.

Hue - Fly to Hanoi, Hanoi City Tour

Vietnam

Everything was well planned out and executed. We weren’t expecting to go to the ‘Minority’ museum, but we’re glad we did, as it helped understand the fabric of Vietnam.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Halong & Lan Ha Bay, Indochine Cruise - Hanoi

Vietnam

We’ve always wanted to go and we’re not disappointed.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Very well-planned trip. KimKim allows you to easily tailor your holidays to your tastes. We have done three trips with KimKim, and we have been very satisfied with each of them. Also, they seem to have a knack for finding very good guides.

Holden did an amazing job putting together an initial plan, and making changes according to our feedback. Also giving honest input into lodging choices. Nancy provided comprehensive information about what to expect on our arrival and through our trip. Wilman was very responsive during our trip, answering questions and making last minute changes. What a great team!

Hotel Reviews

Volcano Lodge, Hotel & Thermal Experience

San Carlos, Alajuela

The thermal pools were fabulous. The grounds were gorgeous with beautiful foliage and great bird watching. We liked the location and appreciated the responsiveness of the staff. The rooms were adequate but a bit dated and often felt a little damp. Meals were fine but not standout.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

With all the rain, the room often felt damp.

La Mariposa Hotel

Manuel Antonio

Beautiful hotel! Room well appointed. Wonderful view. Comfortable beds. Pool and patio area was great. Saw many birds during our stay. Staff was attentive. We only had breakfast here, but the restaurant was busy for dinner, suggesting that it was a good place to dine. Breakfast was good. Good tea selection which we appreciated. Location of hotel was central to many shops, restaurants, etc.

Authenticity & Character

Location

beautiful view, central location, yet off the busy road.

Staff

very friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds very comfortable

Activity Reviews

Sunset Sailing Cruise on the Brisa Elegante

Manuel Antonio

Crew worked hard, friendly and entertaining. Ship was very cool. Liked how they stopped to allow people to swim/float. Food prepared was okay. Could be better. Drinks great.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Arenal Hanging Bridges Guided Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

Very nice experience. Weather was not the best, rained often, but cannot control the weather. It mostly impacted the view from the bridges.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ecocentro Danaus Guided Rainforest Walk (without Transportation)

Arenal/La Fortuna

Small area, yet amazed at the number of wildlife we saw.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Diago was great!

Kayaking on Lake Arenal

Arenal/La Fortuna

Cloudy and a bit rainy. However did not do more than sprinkle a couple times. This was supposed to be 3 hrs, but only needed up being 2 hours. Guide was knowledgeable, he was young. It was only the 2 of us on the tour, so maybe this impacted it only lasting 2 hrs.

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike

Manuel Antonio

Bernie Sanchez was great! He was very patient and knowledgeable. Saw so many species. We wanted to spend time on the beach after. He lead us to a less busy beach, instructed us how to get back to the entrance, and set up our transportation back to our hotel. Went above and beyond.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Above and beyond.

Our trip was extraordinary from beginning to end. Amanda helped us with our itinerary until it was just what we wanted. The 3 totally different areas we visited were fascinating. We learned so much about the people, religions, culture and foods of Nepal.
From our first meeting with Raj we knew we were in good hands. He as welcoming and helpful as he went through our week’s itinerary.
Our guide for the first 2 locations was Pratikshya. She was energetic, fun, knowledgeable, patient and kind. We loved our time with her. She helped us change our itinerary when our mountain flight was cancelled and we were able to visit a base camp instead which was wonderful.
When we went to Chitwan we had Gobinda as our naturalist. He was very knowledgeable, kind, patient and helpful. He went out of his way to make sure we were well taken care of.
The hotels we stayed in were all first class. Nepali Ghar was charming. The restaurant was great and the staff was very helpful.
Temple Tree Resort and Spa was beautiful, had great spa services and great food. The Bahari Lodge in Chitwan was amazing. The cabins were fantastic, the staff top notch and the food delicious.
This trip exceeded all expectations and I can’t thank KimKim enough for your help and guidance. If I could change one thing, I’d stay in Chitwan one more day. I will definitely encourage my friends to visit Nepal and use your company to guide them. I would love to come back someday soon to do some trekking.
I would love to know what I can do to help the people of Nepal.

First of all thanks to our amazing tourist guides Jojo and Bon. And the drivers who picked up from the airport and’s dropped off . Different places that makes our travel safe and comfortable. We had an amazing trip that is unforgettable even for a 4 days visit to Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Our hotel in Bangkok is nice and beautiful. Our 2 days stay is amazing and our breakfast is much more satisfying. The Grand Palace is the best Temple we saw and the elephant ride is a must. And the food was delicious. Train ride to Chiang Mai was great. The hotel we stayed was cozy and nice. Best of all we enjoyed our travel and thanks to Ashley for all the help that makes our visit to Bangkok safe and memorable.❤️

Hotel Reviews

Centre Point Sukhumvit 10

We loved our stay especially your breakfast

Authenticity & Character

Great

Location

We love it

Staff

Great

Cleanliness & Comfort

Great

Night Train between Ayutthaya and Chiang Mai

Nice overnight ride to Chiang mai

Authenticity & Character

Great

Location

Great

Staff

Great

Cleanliness & Comfort

Great

Banthai Village

Chiang Mai

Great and cozy to stay

Authenticity & Character

Great

Location

Great

Staff

Great

Cleanliness & Comfort

Great

Activity Reviews

Bangkok city tour - Chatuchak weekend market

Bangkok

Not much to explore

Quality of Experience

Food

It’s okay

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Po

Full Day of Exploring the Ancient Capital Ayutthaya (RA)

Bangkok

Great. The elephant ride was unforgettable

Quality of Experience

It was amazing experienced

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great

Transport

Great 👍🏻

Half day Chiang Mai City Tour

Chiang Mai

Not much time to explore

Quality of Experience

lol

Transport

Evening Khantoke Dinner "Traditional Dinner" and Thai Classical Dance

Chiang Mai

Great experience

Quality of Experience

Food

Not satisfied

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a wonderful time in Northern Morocco. The driver was excellent, and the guides at each site were great. The hotels chosen for us exceeded our expectations. It was very easy to customize the tour to my specifications.

Hotel Reviews

Dar Jasmine

Chefchaouen

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palais Faraj Suites & Spa

Fès

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Tour of Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour Fes with a Private Guide

Fes

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mohammad, our guide, was incredibly knowledgeable and interesting. He is an excellent guide!

Transport

En Route stop at Volubilis

Morocco

The guide was not good. We knew more about Volubilis than he did.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mohammad was an excellent driver for our whole trip. Always punctual and pleasant.

We really enjoyed our trip to Costa Rica - the folks at Serendipity were so helpful in both planning, and then altering a few things for us once we were in-country.

Lost Iguana (Arenal) and Senda Resort (Monteverde) were both lovely. Standout activities were the Northfield Coffee Tour, Maquique rappelling adventure, La Fortuna waterfall, Aguti Reserve, and Treetopia Park. But we didn't have a bad day of vacation overall.

Activity Reviews

Canyoning in Arenal

Arenal/La Fortuna

One of our best days of vacation - breathtaking - and wonderful staff.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Coffee, Chocolate and Sugar Cane Farm Tour

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Treetopia: Tram, Zip Lines & Hanging Bridges

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Micaela did an excellent job with offering local insights and putting together a great trip at short notice!! Thanks for your excellent support.

Our driver Abdel was terrific. We did a 10 day tour of Morocco and learned so much about the history and culture and warm people of Morocco. All the Riads we stayed in were clean and beautiful. The highlight of the trip was the camel ride to our camp in the dessert. What a magical experience. Thank you Sharon and Abdel.

Hotel Reviews

Riad Madu Premium Camp

Merzouga

Great food. Beautiful "tents"! a magical experience!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kasbah Tiziri

Kelaat Mgouna

Warm welcome and delicious food made by the host Michelle. Clean and beautifully restored Kasbah.

Authenticity & Character

Super authentic

Location

Could not walk to anyplace but the views were amazing from the rooftop terrace.

Staff

The hosts could not do enough for you, Very accommodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palais Tara & Spa

Marrakech

Beautiful Riad in the medina of Marakech. Close to restaurants and shopping. Clean and modern.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Farouzi Fes

Fes

My least favorite place to stay. A tad antiquated compared to the other beautiful Riads we stayed in. The staff was excellent, good breakfast. Our rooms were right off the main lobby so it was a bit awkward. The window in the bathroom was shared with the kitchen, another awkward situation.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Did not feel very safe walking in this area, but the host walked us to a restaurant both nights we stayed there.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Dar Chrifa

Rabat

Beautifully restored and updated Riad. In the one night stay we enjoyed the delicious food for breakfast and dinner, nice staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Fes to Merzouga via Ifraine and Azrou - Camel Trek to Desert Camp

Morocco

Highlight of our trip. A magical experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

Learned a lot on this tour but felt we had to spend money when visiting the many vendors and crafters.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our amazing New ZEALAND adventure was 16 days of pure joy. Monika worked with us tirelessly in planning our vacation and customizing the itinerary to our specific preferences. She included everything to make our stay stress free, including transfers and pre-planned meals when available. Communication was wonderful, both before and during our stay. She was always there when we needed her including at the outset of our trip when our scheduled flight from Auckland to Christchurch was cancelled last minute due to an Air New Zealand issue. Transfers throughout our trip were seamless and accommodations were mostly excellent. Car rental was convenient and went smoothly. Highlights of the trip included a stay at the Kahiutara PurPod in Kaikōura, a fishing trip with Tomo, and a helicopter/glacier hike. The overnight cruise to Doubtful Sound is a delightful experience, and we highly recommend including it if you can. We could not have been happier with our KimKim experience. We would highly recommend their services, and will most certainly utilize them for future travel!

Amazing trip.
Don’t even know where to start.
Trang
The amount of effort and time you put into planning this trip was amazing. Communication was so well handled. Every question was answered right away and any issues dealt with instantly. From pick up to drop off it was like the drivers were hiding right behind us. We actually made the comment one day we better not wait any more than 60 seconds for the driver and he never disappointed.
Richard was awesome. His knowledge of south Vietnam was so amazing. Took the time to explain things in the vehicle before we arrived at each location so we could avoid the crowds.
Transfers were all as promised and well organized
Our trip to Ha Long Bay was everything we expected and more. The cruise Trang chose was truly 5 Star
In all I would recommend KimKim to plan your Vietnam vacation.

The whole trip turned out to be even better than expected. Megan was very responsive and made it easy to make adjustments to our itinerary that best fit our interests. Our driver Karim was there waiting for us at the airport and guided us throughout the whole trip. He got us everywhere safely and really made the trip more enjoyable. There were long stretches in the car getting to all the towns and he always made sure we were comfortable, had new water bottles everyday and answered all our questions about Moroccan culture and traditions during the drives. All our accommodations were very comfortable and ready for us when we arrived. Our reservations for hotels and guided tours were set up beforehand and we had no issues with them during the trip. Morocco was truly beautiful and so diverse going from dry desert, to mountains and forests. Better save extra room in the budget for all the amazing handmade goods you'll find throughout Morocco too. I would 100% go back and book with the same travel agency again.

Hotel Reviews

Riad Madu Luxury Camp

Merzouga

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ksar Sultan Dades

El Hart

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palais Sebban

Marrakech

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Radisson Blu Casablanca City Center

Casablanca

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Maison Bleue And Spa

Fes

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lina Ryad & Spa

Chefchaouen

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hassan II Mosque

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Marrakech to Boumalne Dades via Ouarzazate

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dinner with a local family

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Camel Trek into a Luxury Sahara Camp

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour Fes with a Private Guide

Fes

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour Marrakech with a private guide

Marrakesh

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Hike in the Dades Valley

Boumalne Dades

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Erg Chebbi to Fes by way of the Atlas Mountains

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Roman Ruins of Volubilis

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We have recently returned from a wonderful trip to Thailand that was made possible in large measure by kimkim and Tina, in particular. We were a group of 8 adult family members and Tina helped us plan a fabulous itinerary for Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket. Tina was very patient and accommodated our preferences and made changes or adjustments when needed. The guides in Bangkok (Lena) and Chiang Mai (Tana) were extremely knowledgeable and helpful and provided wonderful information about history, temples and the general area. The hotels were all excellent and other activities (Bike tour in Bangkok; Elephant Sanctuary & Tea Plantation in Chiang Mai; Sea Kayaking in Phuket) all exceeded our expectations. We were very pleased with our experience and would not hesitate to use kimkim again for future travel. Highly recommend.

I will start this review by saying this was one of the best trips overall that we have experienced. We had never worked with Kim Kim before so let's just say we were a little nervous. Everything was well planned and organized starting with Gustavo all the way through the planning process but you never know how things will go until that very first interaction at the airport. Well let's just say our flights were delayed on both ends and that's certainly no fault of Kim Kim. We obviously let the driver service in San Jose know that we would be late and once we landed in San Jose we were already in communication with each other so very comforting. From the moment of that first transport at the airport to all of the other transport throughout our 8 days, we were very pleased with the promptness, cleanliness, professionalism and bilingual abilities of all of our drivers. Our hotels(Hotel Presidente in San Jose, Arenal Kioro and Parador in Manuel Antonio were all great with the latter two having exceptional views. Hotel Presidente is in an urban area in close proximity to a lot of nearby activities so of course we didn't care about the views. All hotels were very clean and had great breakfast buffets. We only ate two other meals at the hotels during our trip. One dinner at Arenal Kioro was a seafood medley for two that probably could have satisfied a family of four. Our other meal was a quick grab at Parador which was just fine before our next tour time. All hotel staffs were courteous and bilingual so easy to communicate with during our stays. The three hotels were all very different with Hotel Presidente being in an urban setting close to major attractions which is what we wanted there. Arenal Kioro was on beautiful grounds more in a rain forest setting with sweeping views of the volcano. Parador took advantage of beautiful ocean views and definitely had more of a resort feel. There were many families there and maybe someday we'll come back with our own extended family as it seemed like a great place for both adults and children. All hotels were safe with appropriate security at all gates.
Before I review our activities, I just want to make a comment about Greg and others that we worked with in planning this trip. They were all excellent about keeping us informed as we did have a couple of cancellation issues. Greg either found us a beyond expectations alternative or promptly refunded us money, One of our concerns going into this trip was that we would largely be on our own once we got to Costa Rica. Let's just say that to the contrary, we felt Kim Kim was there every step of our trip.
Starting with the two activities we did not get to experience through no fault of Kim Kim. The second day of our trip we were supposed to go on a Costa Rican Culture and Cuisine Walk in San Jose. Greg let us know well ahead that the operator cancelled but in doing so refunded our our money and also arranged for a phenomenal alternative beyond our expectations. The only other activity that cancelled on our trip was on our very last day. Regarding Kids Saving the Rainforest Wildlife Sanctuary-Our transport never showed and we called the organization several times that morning. Our hotel staff even tried on our behalf and they never answered the telephone. Being that this was our last day, there was nothing we could do about an alternative but our money was promptly refunded . We still don't know what happened but it is what it is or Pura Vida.
Review of Activities-
Self-guided activities(Kim Kim did not schedule for us)-Nature walk in Ecological Park and Butterfly Park Danaus-This park was a pleasant enough walk but would not recommend it without a guide. Fortunately, the park staff realized after we returned from a fairly short walk that we probably did not take full advantage of the activity. A staff member was kind enough to take us back out to see sloths, caimans, and toucans although not a formal tour so our trip there would be more memorable. The second self guided trip we did was to the La Fortuna Waterfall. Doing this self-guided was just fine as it was basically a walk down 500 steps to the falls and then a swim. There are lockers near the entry, to store dry clothes so assuming someone can make the 500 step walk, it was fairly easy to do on our own and worth the trip. The third self-guided piece of our tour was to visit Manuel Antonio Beaches after the guided Manuel Antonio Nature walk. We basically stayed a couple of hours in the National Park to enjoy the beautiful beach. We found a quieter side of the beach after our tour and it was well worth spending that time there.

Wildlife Rescue Center Tour-San Jose-We found this to be a very relaxing introduction to the wildlife we would see throughout the rest of our trip. We would recommend this as it was not only enjoyable with our guide but also gave us an opportunity to see a caring organization rehab and take care of wildlife that will never be able to be reintroduced into the wild. Well worth it to see and a wonderful cause.
Nocturnal Frog Excursion and Traditional Costa Rican Dinner-La Fortuna. The night walk was easy to navigate and the guide was enthusiastic but we did not see much in the way of wildlife. We do realize that this is not a zoo so every night-wildlife observation will be different. The Costa Rican Dinner was excellent and the family was very hard-working and hospitable. Even though if the walk itself was not that great, the dinner more than made up for it and made the trip out here well worth it.
Arenal Volcano and 1968 Reserve Guided Hike-La Fortuna This was a great hike with a wonderful guide that stopped and spoke with us a number of times. Half the trail was easy to walk and navigate. The other half as we ascended through more of lava flow-rocky areas was a little more challenging. We certainly enjoyed but those with younger children or seniors with mobility challenges may find the second half of this walk difficult. I will also say that our guide took the extra step not only to provide us with fruit in the end but lay it out on a table and table cloth that was above and beyond our expectations.

Rio Penas Blancas Safari Float-La Fortuna
This was a very relaxing float down the river in a six person raft perfect after our hike in the am. The guide was great and there was really not any work to do other than the occasional paddle. The current really did the work. Although the wildlife that day wasn't particularly abundant, we did see sloths, monkeys, and a number of birds. Enjoyed the scenery and nature and would recommend this for a relaxing afternoon.

Sky Tram, Ziplines, and Skywalk Adventure-La Fortuna
We had a great trip with a lot of enjoyable activities but this was our favorite excursion. My wife was a little hesitant about the zipline. We have done them a few times in the past but it had been several years since our last one. Let's just say we both loved this activity as it was extremely safe and well organized. The staff also was sensitive to taking care of the younger ones in our group and would either assist them across or have them go together. The guided walk through the rainforest and over hanging bridges was extraordinary as well. It was an easy enough walk and a great way to get us out of the rainforest.
Coffee, Chocolate, and Sugar Cane Tour-La Fortuna
This was exactly we we expected and what we wanted on this afternoon. An educational and easy walk through sugar cane, cacao and coffee fields along with tastings along the way. The coffee and chocolate tastings were well done as they showed those important products to Costa Rica in their various processing stages.
Manuel Antonio Jungle Night Walk-This was probably the one activity during the whole trip that I'm not sure we could recommend. We realize that every night could be different in terms of wildlife you could see. The setting was a little strange as it was literally outside of a busy restaurant parking lot. With that said, certainly every portion of rainforest could be fascinating. As we walked through the forest, we mostly saw insects and spiders and although we all had flashlights to help spot, I'm not sure that our guide was all that excited to be on our tour. The walk was simple enough to navigate but we left the forest without seeing much at all. I guess we had higher expectations after our volcano walk of the fruit served at end but even that seemed like a less organized and not well-thought out presentation.
Manuel Antonio Nature Walk-We didn't realize how busy this park was but we had a guide that really made this tour special. He was enthusiastic, willing to take the time with us to take excellent pictures and he was an excellent spotter. He also was extremely personable not only with us but with other guides who clearly were keeping each other informed about wildlife sitings. This was also an A+ experience and highly recommended.
Catamaran Adventure with Barbecue-This was the largest group activity that we did the whole trip and as such could have been really chaotic. It was everything but chaotic and very well organized from start to finish. It was the only time that rain interfered at all with our trip but was not that big of a deal since there was more than adequate covered space on the boat. The only downside was that the boat parked a fairly long way from the snorkeling opportunity. We have snorkeled in the past so were looking forward to it but once we got there, it didn't quite seem worth the swim on a rainy choppy sea day. With that said, we know this wasn't a snorkeling trip and certainly enjoyed everything else about it. There was no skimping on drinks and food was great and served in a very organized way and we were truly amazed at how quickly that all the people on the boat got served. Add to that we saw a whale and dolphins and you have a very enjoyable trip and highly recommended.
The last activity review is not one that was recommended by Kim Kim and I appreciated your staff professionally telling me they did not have a recommendation for this activity. We were originally wanting to do a Las Dumas Mangrove boat tour but because of the tides and our schedule it could not be accommodated. I booked a Night Mangrove Safari Tour through trip advisor/Costa Rica Jade Tours not knowing what to expect. They picked us up promptly and took us to a boat dock where we had a private tour. There were other boats on the mangrove (Las Dumas) river that night with more passengers but we were by ourselves. Let's just say this trip was truly fascinating and an adventure at the same time. The driver and guide were able to spot some incredible snakes, birds, insects and small mammals. While we thoroughly enjoyed this excursion, it was a little on the rougher side and none-the-less could potentially be seen as less professional than everything else Kim Kim recommended to us. We also had dinner as part of this excursion and had a quick stop at a cute little restaurant with our guide in Quepos. Personally, I would highly recommend this tour but leave that up to your expert trip planners.
Thanks for the opportunity to provide you with our tour insights. We truly enjoyed working with you.

Our other day two activity in San Jose was the Wildlife Rescue Center.This was a truly relaxing and enjoyable experience and a great introduction into the wildlife we would be experiencing throughout the remainder of our trip. This is also a caring organization that is focused on the wonderful cause of rehabbing animals and taking care of those animals that could not be released in the wild. Definitely worth a visit.

Day 3-We did two self-guided trips in the morning and afternoon so Kim Kim did not arrange. The first was a self-guided walk through Ecological Park and Butterfly Garden Danaus. This was a pleasant and easy trail walk but I would definitely do a guided tour here because otherwise you will miss much of it. We finished after a short time on the trail and I think the staff realized that we missed much of the experience. A staff member kindly took us back out to see caimans, sloths and toucans that we would have otherwise missed. We really appreciated their kindness towards us. We also did a self-guided tour of the La Fortuna Waterfall. Assuming that you can do the 500 steps, this was certainly worth it. They have lockers to store dry clothes if you want to swim at the base of the falls. This is something you can do self-guided.
Nocturnal Frog Excursion and Traditional Costa Rican Dinner-The frog excursion itself was little disappointing since we only saw two frogs on the hike. However, we know that this is not a zoo so some nights, I'm sure you would see more wildlife than others. The dinner afterward however was fantastic and the hosts were great so that in itself made this a worthwhile time investment.

João from Across Portugal did a fantastic job helping us plan our 12-day vacation in Portugal. In the planning stage he offered suggestions after listening to our needs and preferences. We emailed back and forth until we had the perfect trip for us. Then Across Portugal did all the booking and sent a detailed itinerary to review.
Once we were in Portugal, everything went like clockwork. We had a walking tour of Lisbon with Anna, who had lots of history and contemporary information to share with us. Our driver, Carlos, was with us several times during the trip and we had lots of opportunities to learn about his country from him. We felt safe in his hands and enjoyed his company. He also gave us good suggestions for places to eat.
Another highlight of the trip was our cooking lesson in Tavira with Inez and Mariana. We loved visiting their farm and learning to cook cataplana and other delicious traditional Portuguese dishes. We wished we had more time to explore Tavira. It is a much smaller town than the other places we stayed.
João checked in with us each day to tell us what to expect and make sure all was going well. He rebooked a cancelled boat excursion before we even knew it happened! The joys of having an in-country travel agent!
In sum, I highly recommend Across Portugal, João in particular, to help you plan and execute a magnificent vacation in beautiful Portugal!!!

Hotel Reviews

Heritage Avenida Liberdade

Lisboa

Lovely boutique hotel located perfectly in historic Lisbon. Great staff, delicious breakfasts, beautiful decor. Everyone was friendly and helpful

Authenticity & Character

Warm and friendly

Location

Walk to shops, restaurants, historic sections of town and the metro.

Staff

Greeted us every time we came in the door with smiles and words expressing interest in us.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was clean and comfortable

Casa Mãe Lagos

Lagos

This hotel is unusual for us. We stayed in the minimalist rooms and enjoyed the care with which they were furnished and decorated. The balcony was an enjoyable place to relax. We loved the restaurant and the wellness drinks on offer! Dinner was excellent as were the breakfasts. The beauty of Casa Mae is also outside of their buildings. The garden is a centerpiece, even in February and the pools look enchanting, although it wasn’t warm enough for us to be tempted.

Authenticity & Character

Quite unusual compound of buildings and gardens. All renovated with care and creativity.

Location

The hotel has a great location inside the historic wall on a hill above the center of town. It was an easy walk to the water, shops, and restaurants and it was very quiet at night.

Staff

Everyone was very friendly and helpful. Solange, Barbara and Candela stand out.

Cleanliness & Comfort

In a minimalist room a traveler must work a bit to keep things tidy. Each day the housekeeper would have everything in order for us!

Pousada Convento de Tavira - Historic Hotel

Tavira

We were only here one night and wished it could have been longer.

Authenticity & Character

It survived the earthquake of 1755 and is a gorgeous building. Lots of space.

Location

Tavira seems like a cozy small town. The pousada is at the top of a hill next to a beautiful garden.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Estoril Vintage Hotel

Estoril

This gorgeous small hotel was the best of the best. The staff makes every effort to help you feel at home and every detail was considered in planning and decorating. Every where you look you find something beautiful. The restaurant was excellent and the location was convenient to everything we wanted. The terrace overlooking the water was unforgettable. Nothing better than sitting there, sipping a drink and watching the waves.

Authenticity & Character

Feels like a gorgeous, stately old home, which is what it was.

Location

We didn’t have a car and loved the short walk to the beach promenade which seemed to go for miles. Stunning neighborhood also.

Staff

Attentive and warm and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Perfectly maintained

Activity Reviews

To Eat Suggestion: Cervejaria Trindade

Lisbon

Lisbon's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour & Tastings

Lisbon

Anna was full of information. She tailored the walking experience to our needs. Answered all our questions and was fun to be with.

Unveil the Fairytale Villa of Sintra with a Private Driver Service

Portugal

This is a crowded tourist spot even in February. The drive up the mountain is interesting!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Carlos knew some tricks to avoid the crowds and make the best of the day’s experiences. We were glad we listened to him

Transport

When we weren’t walking or on a train, we were driven by Carlos in his immaculate Mercedes van. Smooth and quiet on the highway.

Immerse Yourself in the Portuguese Culture by Experiencing a Fado Dinner

Lisbon

If you haven’t seen and heard fado, you must. The guitar playing is amazing but I can’t quite relate to the singing style.

Quality of Experience

Food

The food was really pretty good for a dinner theatre experience.

Exclusive Panoramic Boat Tour to the Ponta da Piedade Caves

Portugal

We do a lot of personal boating, so we weren’t sure how much we would enjoy this. However, it was a lot of fun and really special to see the rocks and cliffs from the water side. The guides on the boat were safe and entertaining.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Embark on a Flavorful Cooking Class with a Meal at the Farm

Portugal

This was our favorite experience of the whole trip. These families are working hard to create a sustainable organic farm, raise their children and earn a living. They are so proud of their home, their property and products. It was an inspiring evening. We had a great time cooking and chatting and eating.

Quality of Experience

Amazing farm and home.

Food

Traditional cataplana main course with fried goat cheese starter and light dessert I can’t remember the name of.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great chef Inez! She explained the chemistry of our cooking method.

Long was responsive only at the beginning of planning. We have a lot of confusion regarding meals included vs meals reserved. We had three full days in Cambodia but only one full day planned activity and two night activities. Fortunately the guide (Vibal ) and driver (Sofar) were excellent and they made themselves available to us the entire time and took us to places not included in the planning. We were anxious about our activities in Siem Reap and Vibal on the first meeting already reassured us he will take us to wherever we want to go. They gave us the best moments in our trip with excellent service and hospitality. Kudos to this team.
In Vietnam we were thankful to have the driver took us to the restaurant Gia because if we had to call taxi as suggested by Long it would have been a very nerve wrecking experience.
The recommendation of Gia restaurant was of questionable value. I would prefer a restaurant that serves classic Vietnamese meals that one that serves molecular gastronomy type of food. Also it would have been nice to be told that the meal will be 3-3.5 hours and that it will cost around $150 per person. It was presented as if the meal was included and caused confusion to all of us. Did the local tour group get a kick-back from this recommendation?

My trip to New Zealand was magical and everything I dreamed of! My local specialist Paula, and the others at Southern World, were helpful, professional, gave lots of attention to detail, and went above and beyond to make sure I was taken care of. I appreciated not only all the support, but the suggestions for itinerary and activities since it was my first time visiting New Zealand and I was traveling solo. Paula was also helpful in figuring out ways to stay within my budget. Overall a positive experience and I would definitely recommend Paula and/or Southern World to help with a trip to New Zealand or Australia.

Our trip to CR was amazing. Bryan at Kimkim and Nancy and Wilman at Serendipity Adventures did a great job planning and executing our trip.
The Zip line in La Fortuna was a real highlight. Our transfers were always on time, comfortable and we felt safe at all times. Our accommodations were wonderful and the food was excellent. The nature walk in Manuel Antonio park was amazing. Our guide had a telescope and knew all the right places to look for birds and animals.
Serendipity also arranged a side to Paos volcano at the end of our trip. It was amazing since the clouds lifted and we got to see the entire crater and lake!
We also thoroughly the rafting trip in La Fortuna and the cooking class in Manuel Antonio Park area.
We highly recommend a trip to Costa Rica and thank Kimkim and Serendipity for all their work to make our trip highly memorable.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Presidente

San José

This a great hotel in the heart of San Jose. great for walking around the City Centre. our rooms were spacious and the breakfasts were wonderful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Costa Verde

Manuel Antonio

the hotel is built into the side of a mountain that overlooks the Pacific Ocean. The views are amazing. Sunsets on the deck off the swimming pool are stunning. Enjoy a beverage and watch the sun go down over the Pacific ocean. The rooms are spacious and clean. staff friendly and accommodating to all our needs. Highly recommend. One other thing - there is a lot of steep walking on the property and down to the beach area. Use the local bus to manage the trip down and back from the beach.

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

The views from most everywhere on the property were stunning. The food especially the breakfasts were delicious and varied. We were there for 5 days. The staff were friendly and always accommodating. We highly recommend staying with them

Studio Hotel

San José

This hotel is out of town near the airport. It is an excellent choice when travelling the next day to the airport. Good restaurants nearby and the decor (sculptures and paintings) are amazing. You will need a taxi to get to the big shopping mall - Multi- Plaza. Staff friendly and very knowledgeable about the surrounding area with things to do. Highly recommend.

Activity Reviews

Arenal Hanging Bridges Guided Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

Great walk through the rainforest. Lots of birds and animals. The hanging bridges are a fun walk!

Ecological Park & Butterfly Garden Nature Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

Río Peñas Blancas Safari Float

Arenal/La Fortuna

Lots of fun. Our guide was very knowledgeable and pointed out lots of birds, animals and a few alligators during our ride.

Coffee & Chocolate Tour

Costa Rica

Learned a lot about the best way to make a great cup of coffee. Yen our guide made the tour interesting and informative. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the coffee and chocolate planation!

Manuel Antonio National Park Nature Hike

Manuel Antonio

Our guide had a telescope and tripod and we were able to see more animals and birds than with the naked eye. The guides work together to point out different "sitings" of wild life. Excellent tour and we would highly recommend it. The walk is generally flat and easy to navigate.

Local Flavors Cooking Experience

Manuel Antonio

We had a great time and lots of laughs. The end result of chicken, vegetables and salsa was delicious. Knowledgeable instructors and a good group of people. Lots of fun.

Our drivers and our guides were all very polite and pleasant. I enjoyed all of our boat rides viewing wildlife and learning about the different species. We loved our little cabin at Mawamba lodge. We learned about the beautiful yellow tailed oropendulas and their interesting sound. They had nests right in our trees so we had their company all day long. Then we liked our little cabin at Mirades Arenal, really enjoyed the Arenal sunset cruise. We also loved the boat ride in Canó Negro. Then, staying at the Karahe by the ocean was very nice but very hot!! The capuchin monkeys hung around all the resort. It was so entertaining to watch them!! So it was a very memorable trip. We’re just home and it feels like it was all a dream!! What stands out the most to me was my beautiful birthday dinner with champagne on the Katonga, the floating restaurant going down the river, with soft music playing, seeing all the lights of Tortuguero. Your company gifted us with that and we won’t forget it. Thank you so much! And thank you Gustavo for being so patient and knowledgeable with me to plan this trip. We love you all! ♥️

As always with kimkim.com the planning and communication for our Chile trip was excellent. Tamer listened to what we wanted to see and do and made good suggestions for additions like fishing on the river. He took into account the limitations of our group and made sure our guides were well informed. We especially appreciated the responsiveness to our questions during the trip and the coordination for our transports and excursions.

Hotel Reviews

ICON Hotel

Santiago

Excellent location, cool vibe, rooftop pool and restaurant with good food and live music. Service was top notch and rooms were comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Modern and filled with video and are of Chile

Location

Walkable to many restaurants, shopping and activities. We felt safe and connected to the city.

Staff

Very responsive when my luggage didn't arrive and I needed to be contacted while on an excursion. Service with a smile and excellent English speakers.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Rio Serrano

Torres del Paine

This hotel is perfection, from the staff, to the views, to the meals and the common areas, it is first class. We were recommended to get the full board plan which was all inclusive breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks. It was excellent.

Authenticity & Character

It made you feel like you were in the middle of Patagonia with every view. Horses wandering through the property, riding available on site, birding from your chair!

Location

Perfect location in the park. Easy to get everywhere. Views of the mountains from everywhere in the hotel were breathtaking and ever changing.

Staff

Smiling, courteous service. Anticipating your every need.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Spotless everywhere including pool, spa, common areas.

Solace Puerto Varas

Puerto Varas

Conveniently located just up the hill from town. Walkable to the lake, many restaurants and shopping.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful location and property, could use better outdoor seating and make better use of their gardens. When the hotel was busy, there ae limited places to gather.

Location

Quiet and central

Staff

Always happy to make recommendations and reservations.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were nice size and comfortable. Carpets and bathroom could use upgrading.

Hotel Alma Sur

Punta Arenas

Comfortable, helpful staff and nice common areas with plenty of seating. Breakfast was good and the restaurant served 3 meals a day.

Authenticity & Character

Felt like a locally owned place, not a big US hotel!

Location

Just a 10 minute walk from town, near many restaurants and safe.

Staff

Super nice, helpful with storing luggage and answering questions

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were clean and well equipped, beds and pillow very comfy

AKA Patagonia

Puerto Natales

We didn't stay at this hotel. I put the rating in just to get through the review. We stayed at the Best Western Patagonia. It was a very good choice.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Wine Tasting, Valparaiso and Viña del Mar- Private Tour

Chile

Juanito was kind and knowledgeable about our location and the area we visited. He didn't seem to know that we were having a wine tasting in the afternoon and had to set it up on the fly. This is a very long day in the car with not enough time to get out and walk the city / town.

Quality of Experience

Juanito was a good guide but his van was not good. If using him again, have an another driver. Janet's English and knowledge was fine and he was helpful and fun.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

When he talked while driving he slowed down ALOT on the highway. On the way home. he drove very fast and in the right lane scared us with a swerving to miss a slow vehicle.

Transport

The van was old, uncomfortable and didn't feel very safe on the highway. Had a low tire and this wasn't the first time it was low.

Visit the Saltos del Petrohue - Todos Los Santos Lake & Osorno Volcano

Chile

Excellent group tour, great timing to visit each place and enjoy the scenery.

Quality of Experience

Javier was very good and I highly recommend this trip.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Javier was excellent, knowledgeable and a good communicator. Kept us to a good schedule.

Transport

It was a very nice van but The van was over crowded with 1 extra person jammed in the back seat. Those in the back couldn't understand Javier over the mic system.

Full Day Private Tour to Chiloe - The Island of the Legends

Puerto Varas

Chiloe is interesting with a few historical attractions to see but they are very spread out once you get to the island and it is a VERY long drive. We wouldn't recommend it for a day trip.

Quality of Experience

I'm not sure other and its too long in the car for a day trip. We had a wonderful lunch experience at Mercado Delcahue watching our meal be prepared by a local family. It was delicious.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide, driver and transport were great.

Transport

Very comfortable

Magdalena Island - Penguin Encounter Half Day Tour

Chile

An amazing adventure to experience magellanic penguins. Excellent boat ride with dolphins and sea lions.

Quality of Experience

On time, well guided and breathtaking closeness to the penguins and gulls

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Punta Arenas

Punta Arenas

We learned a lot about the town, the history, the amazing cemetery and the explorers. Always a good way to be introduced to a new area.

Quality of Experience

Super windy day and the driver and Joaquín took very careful care of us

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Knowledgeable, clearly have a deep interest in history and culture, kind and helpful

Transport

Fishing in Maullin River - Half-Day (October to May)

Puerto Varas

Mateo and Paulo were amazing guides and fishing instructors. We had a beautiful sunny day on the river, learned to fish for trout and loved the whole excursion.

Quality of Experience

Unique float boat with guide navigating the river while we fished. Beautiful river with jungle on both sides!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very patient teaching us and helping us catch fish! Provided us a yummy lunch and drinks. Know so much about the ecology, flora and fauna and fish

Transport

Safe and fun

Torres del Paine National Park - Private Panoramic Tour

Chile

Joaquin gave us a comprehensive tour of the park, beyond all expectations.

Quality of Experience

Every changing weather and wind made Joaquin's experience as a guide so important. We had plenty of opportunity to walk and explore at a pace that was just right for our group.

Food

Provided by hotel in a box lunch

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Joaquin was driver and guide and did an excellent job of telling us stories, answering questions and keeping us safely on the road!

Transport

super comfy van w captains seats

Full Day Private Grey Lake Hike - Glacier Navigation & Hike around the Lake

Chile

We did not end up taking this trip. The hike was going to be too difficult for us and the weather too rainy and cold. I had been advised by Tamer that because it was a private tour, we could customize the hike to meet our needs. I don't think he realized we would have been dropped off on an island and once the boat would have dropped us off, we would have had to stay on the island our in the elements for 8 hours until the boat came bak to get us. Our local coordinator Jose Luis made us aware of the situation, that there was not way to do a gentle hike and so we didn't get to go. I'm sure it's a great trip but it is difficult and remote with no flexibility to adjust for an easier trek. It never should have been recommended to us.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chilean Food Tour & Picnic with a View of Santiago

Santiago

Angel was an excellent guide. We enjoyed the walking through the market, tasting local foods and the grand finale wine and local snacks on the hill overlooking the city. We learned a lot about the culture and Santiago in our very first day.

Quality of Experience

Professional, knowledgeable and fun!

Food

Local, fresh and yummy

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Thoughtful and very interesting

Transport

Comfortable and safe