Kimkim Trip Reviews

had a fantastic time and everything was perfectly organised from start to finish. Jimena and Nara replied to all our questions before the trip the day we sent them. Chileno camp site is wonderful - ignore the bad reviews of the camp - I just do NOT understand some people. Hotel Lago grey and the grey glacier were simply awesome
The trek to the towers was tough, but worth it. Bear in mind that Kim Kim’s estimate of the time needed was not generous enough in my opinion - I would allow 8 hours from camp back to the pickup at the welcome site to be safe. Also the bus station is a little more than 25 minutes from Hotel Big Sur
These are just minor details of course and I would recommend this trip to anyone
Ps we are both over 60 and did it - no problem
Thank you Kimkim! 😀

Hotel Reviews

Camping Chileno

Torres del Paine

The campsite at Refugio & Camping Chileno was brilliant. I don't understand why there are so many negative reviews online. We had a great big tent, comfy sleeping bags, and the site had a bar and a restaurant with friendly staff. It exceeded our expectations, and we were very satisfied with our stay there.

Hotel Big Sur

Puerto Natales

Hotel Big Sur was really good. We really enjoyed it, and the room was great. The staff were friendly, and it was conveniently close to everything, including the waterfront. The breakfasts were also good. The only downside was the walking distance to the bus station for a trip out to Torres del Paine. The walk was uphill and definitely took more than the 25 minutes stated in the itinerary.

Activity Reviews

Grey Glacier Boat Tour

Chile

The Grey Glacier Boat Tour was absolutely wonderful. The scenery was stunning, and I was impressed by the overall experience. It was a bit choppy, and my husband felt a bit seasick, as did a few other people. But it was still an incredible experience, and the glacier was amazing.

Self Guided hike to Las Torres lookout [Chileno - Base - Central]

Torres del Paine

The hike to Las Torres lookout was long but worthwhile. The itinerary underestimated the time it would take. We expected to spend about two hours at the top, but we only managed about ten to fifteen minutes before having to head back. It took us about eight to nine hours in total, without stopping much at the summit. Future travelers, especially those not accustomed to hiking extensively, should plan more time for this activity.

We loved our honeymoon trip to Thailand and Cambodia. All of our private guides were top tier. They shared very interesting factoids about details we may have missed that enhanced our experiences at temples, landmarks, etc. The layout of the trip beginning fast paced and ending with relaxation/beach time was perfect. Beginning with the early morning sunrise over Angkor Wat scared us at first due to the early rise time, but so so worth it! We loved most of our group tours as well. My recommendations are ask about closing times and work to pace yourself as the guides will mostly go at your pace, and research all of the companies you’re recommended before booking.

Our favorite day was probably in Chiang Mai visiting the Elephant Nature Park in the morning and doing a group cooking class in the evening at Thai Organic Farm. ENP really really takes wonderful care of their injured and otherwise rescued elephants and it is so fun to see them so happy playing with their handlers and munching on their favorite watermelon treats. We also loved that they have cats and dogs. I wish we had had a little more time to see the water buffalos, but other than that—no complaints. For the cooking class, DEFINITELY go hungry. We made so much delicious food that we didn’t have enough room for all of it!

Our very last group tour billed as a whitewater rafting day. The tour booked was the definition of a tourist trap, unlike everything else we did on this trip. Our biggest gripe was the visible elephant abuse we witnessed despite expressing strong opposition to any company participating in said abuses. That being said, even the activities were underwhelming, there was a constant pressure to pay more to do said activities longer, and the location was over 2 hours away from our hotel in a van with broken AC. This did not ruin our whole experience, but I mention it because if you’re reading this you may want to ask about and research the group tour companies before you book so you can be more aware before booking than we were.

Hotel Reviews

Chanalai Hillside Resort

Phuket

Great location close to Karon beach. Beautiful swimming pool with just the right amount of shade throughout the day for relaxing in. We were upgraded to a poolside room and that really was such a special thing that really made the end of our honeymoon trip that much more special. Kind and helpful staff. Nice breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Royal Crown Hotel & Spa

Incredibly warm, kind, and helpful staff. Fantastic spa inside. Two beautiful pools. The best breakfast of the hotels we stayed in on our trip.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

W22 by Burasari

Bangkok

Fine accommodations. They put us in a room with two single beds which wasn’t our favorite on our honeymoon. The room was a little small, but sufficient as our plan was never to spend a ton of time in our hotel room. Breakfast was ok. Nothing great.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

White Boutique Hotel and Spa

Wonderful staff, top tier spa, comfortable rooms, nice pool, decent breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Phuket – White Water rafting full day tour – Join in

Phuket

Definition of a tourist trap. Elephant abuse. Poor upkeep of ATVs. Staff doesn’t even seem to enjoy working there. No one really ever seemed to be having a good time except occasional moments on the very short lived 5k raft ride.

Quality of Experience

Underwhelming activities, disinterested staff, elephant abuse

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Most of the staff gave the energy that they hated working there.

Transport

Make sure the AC works in the transport vans.

Explore the Complex of Angkor

Siem Reap

Worth it to wake up so early for the sunrise!!

Full day Bridge of River Kwai and Erawan Waterfall

Bangkok

We enjoyed the bridge and history, but it took up too much of our day. Swimming in the waterfalls was one of the main activities I was looking forward to on our trip and we didn’t end up having enough time to swim much and missed the last two levels of the waterfall because we didn’t know that they closed so early. This was a little disappointing. The waterfall was truly wonderful and I loved swimming I just wish I had had more time there. I could’ve spent all day just at the waterfall.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover Banteay Srei, Banteay Samre & the Roluos Temples

Siem Reap

Definitely add these temples! Banteay Srei was my favorite temple we saw. The carvings are breathtaking!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Swimming & Snorkeling on the Phi Phi Islands (Join speedboat)

Phuket

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Morning Visit to Elephant Nature Park Join-in tour

Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai – Half day cooking class at Thai Organic Farm (N) (Afternoon)

Chiang Mai

Boat Trip Along Mae Ping River

Chiang Mai

The Boat Trip Along Mae Ping River was nice and relaxing, albeit not particularly special. A little hiccup with the plan occurred when we headed directly to the river from our arrival and had to dig into our luggage to get sun hats and suitable attire. It would've been helpful to know this change in advance. Still, the cruise was enjoyable.

Kim Kim put together a wonderful trip for our family along with their partner Serendipity Adventures. From the hotels to the activities to the drivers everything was top notch. Serendipity provided a contact for us that was super-responsive and helped make sure our trip went smoothly, whether it be arranging pick ups or recommending restaurants and other activities. Booking with Kim Kim took all the stress out of our vacation, allowing us to relax and enjoy. Highly recommend!

This was my first experience using kimkim and their local agent, Diana, in Portugal, and I will not travel again without contacting them! It was the most seamless, wonderful trip I have experienced. Every detail of the trip was arranged prior to our departure, all with our feedback and suggestions, as needed. Having never been to Portugal, we were grateful for Diana's suggestions on locations to visit and the amount of time allotted for each. I am a female who was traveling with my sister-in-law and 27 year old daughter, and we all agreed it was the most amazing experience.

The private driver service was a game changer! Prior to our travel, we had suggested to Diana that we may not need a private driver; however, she responded that this was the best way to travel without stress and enjoy local knowledge as we traveled. Our main driver, Costa, was beyond amazing. He was professional, polite, kind, attentive, and always receptive to our requests to stay longer in a location or move on. It was like traveling in a high-end van with a tour guide and secret service (no safety concerns, but Costa watched our every move)! Costa helped arrange for restaurants during several stops, and we were treated like royalty by the staff. We had our most amazing meal overlooking the ocean in a restaurant in Cascais on Costa's recommendation.

The hotels arranged by Diana were amazing. We were pleasantly surprised at each of our three accommodations, but especially overwhelmed in Lisbon and Cascais. The staff at the hotels were professional and kind, and the breakfast options that were included were excellent.

We also took advantage of a few walking tours and excursions recommended by Diana. Each of the tour guides seemed very concerned at our satisfaction level, and we enjoyed the private aspect of the tours in giving us a chance to ask questions and take detours at our discretion.

In every piece of our travel, we felt that we were offered higher levels of accommodations and service based on the service providers' desire to keep good standing with Diana and Across Portugal. Diana was quick to respond when we had questions, and there were no unpleasant surprises along the way. Many thanks to kimkim and Diana at Across Portugal for the trip of a lifetime!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Britania Art Deco

Lisboa

The hotel location, decor, rooms, and service were exceptional. We were on a quiet street, yet only blocks from the high end district. The rooms were beautiful and well-appointed.

Authenticity & Character

Amazing that they were able to bring an historic building up to current and exceptional comforts.

Location

The hotel is on a quiet street, yet only a block or two from city center.

Staff

All of the front desk staff were amazing. The bartender was exceptional, as well.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The beds were amazing, as well as the bathroom.

Condes de Azevedo Palace

Porto

The hotel was beautiful and nice that the apartment offered separate bedrooms and a common area, dining table, and kitchen. It was on a very busy and noisy street, and the bedrooms were up a flight of narrow stairs with a tight turn, making luggage a bit of a challenge.

Authenticity & Character

Location

The hotel provided easy access to the river as well as central Porto.

Staff

At check-in, we were offered a quick tour of the apartment, but no assistance with getting our luggage up the stairs to the bedroom. We also asked for a recommendation for wine and pizza and were directed to a hotel that did not serve pizza (which seems trivial, but we were very specific in our request).

Cleanliness & Comfort

The apartment was very clean, but there were no extra amenities such as extra towels or pillows.

Hotel Cascais Miragem

Cascais

Every aspect of this hotel was amazing. It was one of the nicest hotels experienced by anyone in our group. We did not want to leave!

Authenticity & Character

The hotel is spacious and well designed. The fresh floral arrangements and design were impeccable.

Location

The oceanfront location cannot be beat. The restaurant, bar, pool, and balconies all have amazing views of the ocean.

Staff

The cleaning staff offered turndown service, fresh towels throughout the day, pillow options, etc. and were so kind and professional.

Cleanliness & Comfort

This hotel offers every amenity. It is exceptional.

Activity Reviews

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

Lisbon

The private tour of Lisbon offered just the right level of detail on the history and current state of Lisbon. Our tour guide was kind, fun, knowledgeable and professional.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We felt that we would have liked to have our guide as a friend. She was kind and fun.

Transport

This was a walking tour that was just the right level of challenge and comfort.

Unveil the Fairytale Villa of Sintra with a Private Driver Service

Portugal

Our driver was beyond amazing in his professionalism and knowledge of the area. We enjoyed Pena Palace but especially enjoyed Sintra and the brief tour of Cascais.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We cannot say enough good things about our driver. He was extremely professional, kind, attentive, and helpful. We loved Costa!

Transport

The high end van and private driver offered a wonderful way to see the area.

Immerse Yourself in the Portuguese Culture by Experiencing a Fado Dinner

Lisbon

The atmosphere and music offered great insight into the Portuguese culture. We appreciated how much all native Portuguese love the Fado music. It is beautiful.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Porto's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour

Porto

Porto is beautiful and we walked through some amazing locations. Our guide offered an extensive history of Porto and Portugal as a country - perhaps a little too extensive, at times. We would have preferred to cover a little more ground and see more sights.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was very kind and knowledgeable. He could benefit from being a little more aware of the attention level of his visitors. To his credit, he is very passionate about the history of Portugal and the style of buildings, etc.

Transport

We would have preferred more walking and less standing and talking.

The Flavors of Port Wine - Sip & Discover

Porto

Beautiful location and interesting tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Seamless Discovery - The Ultimate Douro Valley Experience with Private Driver Service

Portugal

The Douro Valley is amazing and beautiful. We enjoyed the views and the winery tour; however, the time spent in the car seemed a bit excessive.

Quality of Experience

Having been on vineyard tours in other countries, we would have foregone this experience due to the travel time to and from the area.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Douro River Escape: 1-Hour Exclusive Cruise

Portugal

The guides on the boat were wonderful; however, the boat tour was a bit underwhelming. We traveled a short distance down the river and back and really did not see anything overwhelming - perhaps because we live in a part of the world that also has beautiful rivers and hills :)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Indulge in Elegance on a Guided Winery Tour Infused with Tastings and a Delicious Lunch

Portugal

The lunch was wonderful. We did enjoy the tour of the vineyards, but having been to other vineyards, we would have opted not to do this experience.

Quality of Experience

Lunch was exceptional!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cascais-Sintra Exclusive E-Bike Adventure

Portugal

The weather was not conducive to a bike tour that day, yet the guide suggested we continue. We thought we would be transported to the park by car, but we left the hotel on bike after only a brief introduction to the e-bikes and traveled on side walks and through the narrow city streets. Due to the wet tiles on the street, one member of our party wrecked their bike after two previous near falls. Thankfully, she wasn't seriously hurt, but had a large bruise on her cheek and a sizeable scrape on her knee. We returned to the hotel without seeing the park. Our travel agent, Diana, was exceptionally concerned about the injury and make sure our injured traveler did not need additional care. Diana also immediately refunded our fees for the tour.

Quality of Experience

I am an experienced biker; however, I was very uncomfortable following our guide through city streets with pedestrians. The workings of the e-bike deserve more than a brief introduction.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Booking a trip via a travel agent is something new to us as we’ve been the type who like to book flights and hotels only and keep the day flexible.
Boy was I glad I gave kimkim a try mainly because:
- it’s a bit last minute and I didn’t have a lot of time to do research
- we have a teenager son and it’s getting to a point where a successful trip means letting him bring a friend along (which tend to be super hard to coordinate a multi-family trip), or involving more local guides and planned activities so I can delegate shepherding him along to the tour guides
- I was also hoping he can practice the Spanish he learned in school in a safe space 1:1 with a local guide on private tours.

- Helena and team took care of all the hotel and train bookings saving me a lot of hassle entering passport info and lining up train and hotel logistics
- Helena was able to recommend activities based on our interests and timing of arrival, as well as lead time for heading to train stations and airport which was super helpful (googlemap timings doesn’t take into account for time for getting lost/not knowing exactly where to turn/going through security etc)

Helena went through iterations of planning and also identified a bug in the system with pricing (I got a little suspicious when updating the itinerary didn’t change the price) and got everything resolved in a timely fashion.

We are super happy with the cooking class (the food was some of the best we has while in Spain! And the guide to the market took a lot of stress out which stall to pick to get our shopping done!)

Our next favorite was our Seville tour, our guide was superb exposing us not only to history and architecture, but also fun facts and hidden gems. She’s also a great listener and made helpful recommendations from dining to shopping.

I am so glad Helena recommended the Segovia tour (such a dreamy historical town!) and our tour guides was very knowledgeable.

Our Madrid local guide was awesome trying to speak a little Spanish slowly with my son, and gave us recommendations which areas he wouldn’t recommend for tourists and where to eat if we want the local experience.

It was also helpful the espiritu local agents checked in with us during the trip and was super responsive when we had questions, even on a Saturday!

Highly recommend if you want to pamper yourself saving time on research/comparing tour options and pricing, yet still want a tailored experience (instead of big group bus tours where you are just rushed along).

Hotel Review

7 Islas Hotel

Madrid

Location was perfect in a trendy area, yet still close to a lot of the tourist activities as well as museums and Retiro park. Staff was courteous and helpful, and breakfast variety was great. I took off one star mainly because of: 1) the hotel should really invest in renovating the bathrooms to include ventilation- otherwise the steam and smell is just permanently trapped which wasn’t pleasant 2) if you are staying on a Fri or Sat night the noise from nearby bars at night can be quite loud.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to everything and a few mins walk to Gran Via metro that lands us in chamartin or Atocha station for day trips without needing to connect to a different line.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Issue without bathroom vent per overall comment

Activity Review

Traditional Andalusian Market Visit & Cooking Class

Seville

Going around the Triana market for specialty stores and products was awesome! Very fun to learn about local foods and spices. Instructions for cooking class was clear and great pacing. Chef also kept things entertaining and very informative. And the best spinach with chickpeas dish and chicken paella I have tastes!

Quality of Experience

Food

Loved the chicken Paella and spinach chickpeas!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We really didn’t participate in the planing of the trip but Jerry kept us in the loop and we provided some suggestions. Our personal guide Mohamad was wonderful He went above and beyond to make sure we were well cared for. All of our local guides were wonderful with the exception of Ali, my guide for the waterfall. I sent the review of that apparently to the group chat and pasted it to the review link as well. If you did not receive that, please let me know

Hotel Reviews

Desert Luxury Camp Erg Chebbi

Merzouga

Fabulous location. Fun staff. Beautiful views. Our favorite hotel

Authenticity & Character

There are several staggered camps in the desert. This was comfortable and the staff was attentive and fun. It was advised that we bring our own cocktails which was great advice as they do not carry any

Location

The sunrise and sunset views are spectacular

Staff

They were fun and very accommodating

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was clean and comfortable. The window coverings were sheer which didn’t bother us but may be disturbing to some people

Kenzi Basma Hotel

Casablanca

Nice room. Comfortable

Location

Hard to evaluate. We had a driver so everything was convenient

Staff

Staff very welcoming

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room and hotel very clean.

La Maison Arabe Hotel

Marrakech

Beautiful hotel. Room was lovely. Staff were very helpful. Hotel can be a bit confusing to find your way around in but you frequently saw staff who would point you in right direction. Lovely rooftop views and a beautiful spa

Location

Right near main market

Staff

Very helpful and attentive. My husband became ill and they provided special meal in room and extra cleaning

Cleanliness & Comfort

Frequently checked to see if we needed anything

Riad Laaroussa

Fez medina

The hotel is beautiful. Our room was large and comfortable. There was a loft in our room as well as main level. Beautiful rooftop views for dining

Location

Everything was walking distance

Staff

Very attentive. Everyone was welcoming and happy to have us

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was clean and comfortable

Euphoriad

Rabat

Lovely hotel with beautiful views Rooftop dining for breakfast was very nice

Location

Staff

Everyone was very welcoming and available to help

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were clean and beautifully decorated.

Hotel Xaluca Dades

Boumalne

We were only there one night but everything was very nice

Staff

Staff always available for questions. Staff wanted to be sure their guest were comfortable

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Food Tour & Local Gastronomy

Morocco

Our guide was clearly excited about sharing this adventure with us and made it fun and very interesting. That main main market in Marrakesh is a wonder to behold as it evolves over the course of the day from a busy area with everything from snake charmers to wedding shopping venues, to a loud, boisterous, fun filled place with something for everyone to enjoy.

Quality of Experience

Just loved the experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was young, fun, enjoyable to be with and passionate about his city

Transport

Can’t say enough about Mohamad. He was the best

Guided Tour in Marrakech

Marrakesh

We had the same guide as our evening tour and as I mentioned, he was fun, enjoyable company, very knowledgeable and passionate about his city

Quality of Experience

Just very interesting to see how people from around the world live

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was fun, knowledgeable and enjoyable to be with

Morning Guided Tour in Casablanca

Morocco

Great tour of the city. Fun to see the area. Guide had many suggestions about places to dine. Tried to make reservations for us for Ricks Cafe but they were booked out several days

Quality of Experience

Very interesting. Enjoyed learning about their faith. The grounds are spectacular

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver Mohamad was the best. Our guide for this tour was knowledgeable and answered all of our questions

Transport

Guided Tour of Hassan II Mosque

Casablanca

Very lovely mosque. The history of its origin and the planning to ensure its future is remarkable. The grounds are beautiful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Excursion to Ouzoud Waterfalls, Return to Marrakech

Morocco

I sent a detailed note on another link.

Quality of Experience

Everything

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The alleged guide that met me at the hotel merely rode in car . Please refer to the detailed message I sent to Hakim

Transport

Mohamad was the only shining star on that adventure

Traditional Hammam & Massage

Morocco

My wife said the traditional Hammam & Massage was a really amazing experience. It was very relaxing and definitely one of the highlights of the trip. After all the traveling, it was exactly what she needed to unwind and recharge.

Gustavo and Greg did a great job meeting our primary request for amazing eco-resorts where we could kick back in a jungle environment. The first property was so relaxing that we blew off a nearby hike that we'd scheduled just to sit around by the hot springs all day. At the second property we did get to do the fun excursions they recommended, but the hotel itself was also so nice that we would have been happy just to hang out and explore the grounds.

We spent 8 days traveling the length of Vietnam from North to South, with excellent guides (KC, ChickyTrung, Tin Tin).

Vietnam is an extremely beautiful country with people who are kind, open, and engaging. We loved having a private tour guide for each city we visited, and we truly enjoyed the introduction to the food we had on food tours in Ha Noi and Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City).

The old town at Ha Noi was both fascinating and beautiful and the shopping there was really fun. We had outfits made for our daughters using their custom measurements.

Hien Do did a masterful job organizing every element, making this one of the easiest trips ever to plan, with a rich array of experiences we got to take part in. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Karim was our local guide throughout the tour, he was fantastic. We toured Morocco for 11 days and really saw some great sights. Halif was our driver and he was amazing. Both shared a lot of their Berber heritage. Our only hiccup was our local guide in Fes, he marched us through the Medina and took us to several spots just for us to make expensive purchases. We would have rather experienced the Medina and with some minor purchases along the way. I believe we only met Mohamed briefly in Marrakech, Karim was our tour specialist. This was a trip of a lifetime that I’ll never forget, completely amazing!

Hotel Reviews

Dar Jasmine

Chefchaouen

This was an amazing hotel, great city views and good food. Very comfortable

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

Wow! Camel ride to the luxury campsite, our tents we great and the staff treated us very well

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Chefchaoeun to Fez via Volubilis, Moulay Idriss & Meknes

Morocco

We did not make it to Moulay Idriss or Meknes, so a little disappointed

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day Guided Sightseeing in Fes

Fes

This ended up being a full day. We were rushed by our local guide through the Medina. Lunch was over 2 hours and we stopped 4 times for quite a bit of time where we felt pressured to make purchases

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Better local guide

Transfer from Fes to Merzouga via Erfoud & Camel Ride

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Marrakesh Evening Food Tour

Marrakesh

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

36 days in Chile was wonderful and as all human endeavors, one cannot anticipate and plan out everything detail without having some surprising like adverse weather along the road. Our kimkim people were always available to answer our questions and as weather and road conditions required, we had very fast help to adjust our itinerary to continue onward safely for our fun filled adventures. Thank you Marcella and all of our local guides and drivers for you customer service focused approach to our travelling needs.

Hotel Reviews

El Refugio - La Casa de Don Tomas

San Pedro de Atacama

Loved the hotel between our adventures. Great food and all of the staff were fun and helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Bellavista

Puerto Varas

Nice facility in a picture-perfect location, but cold water in a shower without doors to hold the water back was not fun at the end of a long day.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hot water showers

Activity Reviews

Valley of the Moon Tour

San Pedro de Atacama

Quick action from local agents saved our trip from an accidental mistake…….turne doubt to just add to the fun

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Santiago City Tour - Private

Santiago

Guide and driver were wonderful and fun

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hike to the Summit of Toco Mount

San Pedro de Atacama

Wow, Gudelia took control and got us to the top. So glad wd made it for the pics

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hike in Devil's Throat

San Pedro de Atacama

Red rock hike was great and the guide was a world of info

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Excursion to Chiloé Island: Castro & Dalcahue

Puerto Varas

Long all day trip with not much to do, a day off would of given more energy fro the next leg

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Torres del Paine National Park - Lago Grey

Chile

Loved it

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

San Rafael National Park & Glacier Boat Trip

Chile

Yes it was a top adventure

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Santiago Cooking Class

Santiago

Best way to end and savior our 36 day adventure end.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trip to Socorama with Overnight in Putre

Chile

Guide and driver helped us soooooooo much and we has a great adventure

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Penguin Colony on Magdalena Island

Chile

YES do it again

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This visit to Morocco has been one of my most memorable adventures. Morocco has everything: coasts, desert, mountains, lively cities and medinas and souks. Good food. So much to take in, and there are a few key things that made this so enjoyable.
First, the up front planning of the itinerary and assignment of Hakim to our trip was an excellent decision. It was a well balanced itinerary, and we saw so much in our 12 days in Morocco; from Casablanca, to Rabat, to Fes, to Merzouga, to Dades and ending up in Marrakech. Some days were a little busier than others, but not overwhelmingly so. Hakim was extremely responsive and flexible as we had some last minute changes. I had used Kimkim a couple of times before, but this was our first major trip with them and I convinced my daughter and friends the experience would be good. And you delivered a top notch experience. Thank You.
Secondly, it was also and excellent decision to assign Mohamed as our driver for the entire trip. He was so helpful and responsive to our needs. In a short time, we developed a nice friendship. It really made a difference towards the comfort and security of our trip. Not only is he a professional, but a genuine warm and kind human being. We thoroughly enjoyed his company.
Third, I need to again give gratitude to Hakim for his help in dealing with a luggage issue we experienced throughout our entire trip. To be clear, this was not a Kimkim issue as we booked our own airline itinerary. When two of our checked bags did not arrive to Casablanca, it started a string of phone calls and follow ups that continued throughout the trip. My bag did not show up until 3 days before departing, my spouses suitcase never did catch up with us, and has just been received here in Wisconsin today. I made a number of calls while traveling but Hakim really went above and beyond to follow up with multiple airline baggage companies to get our bags to us. Mohamed as well drove me to the airport a couple of times outside his schedule to look for and pick up my bag. Hakim tried everything he could to take the stress off of us so we could enjoy the trip without much of our clothes that we had packed. It is very much appreciated.
Fourthly, the selection of Hotels and Riads were outstanding. The Merzouga desert experience was a bucket list item realized. The mosques and medinas were fascinating, and the people of Morocco are wonderful. So kind and tolerant.

This has been one of my top ten travel experiences. I fully expect to use your services again in the future. There has already been some interest from one of my family members and if they decide to go, I will recommend they work with Hakim and Mohamed. Local guides were also very accommodating, special shoutout to Amine who gave us a guided tour of the medina in Marrakesh. He was excellent and allowed for the ladies in our group to do some last minute shopping which they very much appreciated. Well done.

With all thanks and gratitude, my appreciation to Kimkim for putting together a most memorable travel adventure.

Jerry Kobiske

Hotel Reviews

Desert Luxury Camp Erg Chebbi

Merzouga

The desert camp experience was excellent. The accommodations were clean and functional in the Domes, overlooking the desert. Beautiful skies at night, great food and service from the staff. Would recommend this to include as part of your visit to Morocco.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Laaroussa

Fez medina

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Euphoriad

Rabat

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kenzi Basma Hotel

Casablanca

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Xaluca Dades

Boumalne

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Maison Arabe Hotel

Marrakech

This Riad was by far the best during our entire trip. Very fancy and the staff was exceptional.

Authenticity & Character

Truly special Riad.

Location

Close to the main streets and to get to the souks if you want to do some shopping.

Staff

They were there for all our needs. The spa staff for the hammam and massage were wonderful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Merzouga to Boumalne Dades via Tinghir & Todra Gorge

Morocco

Very impressive geography and scenery.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Golfing in Marrakech

Marrakesh

A great way to spend the last day of our trip. My son-in-law and I played 18 holes, well actually 17 as we were 5 minutes late to our tee time and the starter set us off on hole number 2. Very nice golf course and lunch afterwards.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Morning Guided Tour in Casablanca

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a great driver throughout our trip.

Half-Day Excursion by 4x4 to Erg Chebbi Region Including Tea with a Local Family

Merzouga

This tour was OK. Part of our group went horseback riding, which they said was amazing. We opted to do this excursion. It was interesting and we did spend some time with a Bedouin family and attended a musical performance. Also included a very nice picnic lunch.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour in Marrakech

Marrakesh

Our guide Amine was fantastic. Gave us some additional insight and history that we had not heard before, which with all our guided tours we were quite well informed already. He structured the tour to meet all our needs. Very personable and professional.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour of Hassan II Mosque

Casablanca

This is a must see stop, primarily because non-Muslims cannot always get into a mosque. But this one you can and it is quite the amazing structure.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour of Volubilis

Morocco

Our original guide was ill, so we managed to get another one last minute. It seemed to be a very quick tour, he talked very fast and kept us moving. The site itself is interesting and I am glad we visited.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fes to Merzouga Sunset Camel Ride and Overnight in the Desert via Ifrane, Azrou, Midelt & Erfoud

Morocco

This was a bucket list item for me to ride a camel in the Sahara and this tour did not disappoint. Wonderful location and great service staff.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Walk in Dades Gorges

Boumalne Dades

With apologies to our local guide, we were unable to realize the full exploration of this gorge. We were behind schedule because we got caught up in rug buying at the carpet shop, which took more time than anticipated. So I feel bad for the local guide, who was very good, but had to cut our tour short.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boumalne Dades to Marrakech via Ouarzazate & Aït Benhaddou

Morocco

Only disappointment here was we couldn't spend more time at Ait Benhaddou casbah. Only had about 45 minutes in order to stay on schedule, wish we could have spent two hours. But it was adjusted due to some other activity that we asked to be changed, so we had to keep moving.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traditional Hammam & Massage

Morocco

I had never had quite this experience before. Have been to spas, but never had a hammam. The staff was excellent, it was a very relaxing and pleasurable experience.

Quality of Experience

The hammam and massage staff.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

This was such an incredible journey. It was my first time working with KimKim and I will be recommending you to anyone looking for help planning a trip where you can be immersed in the local culture.

I would like to call attention to two individuals who made a tremendous impact on our visit. Hakim, our travel agent, went above and beyond to make sure that we had a fantastic experience. The itinerary he put together for us was excellent, he tailored it to our interests and connected us with local guides who were welcoming, informative, and kind. He incorporated our feedback (as someone who typically plans her own trips, I really appreciated the opportunity to collaborate and have input- the ability to personalize definitely sets KimKim apart from the competition). I truly don't think we would have been able to make such genuine connections to the people and the culture without Hakim's expertise and thoughtful planning. He also spent a significant amount of time on the phone with various airports trying to coordinate our lost luggage. We booked our airfare on our own so this was not something he was responsible for- it just highlights his commitment to customer service. With the luggage saga and a few last-minute logistical changes we asked for, we kept Hakim very busy during our time in Morocco and he was always extremely responsive and helpful. He is a true professional and someone I would love to work with again.

Mohamad, our driver, is the second person who deserves commendations. We felt so cared for all week, I am so grateful that we had this opportunity to connect with him. Throughout the week he taught us about Moroccan history and culture, answered our questions and helped us navigate everything from finding our way through the medinas to ordering food. We could not have asked for a better partner for the week- he was prompt, patient, and attentive- and he handled our special brand of chaos very well! Getting to know him was a privilege, and I will miss driving through the countryside making jokes together.

For me, the highlights of our trip were:
1. 2 nights at Desert Luxury Camp in Erg Chebbi. It's off the beaten path (getting in and out is a 4x4 adventure!), so you feel like you're alone in your tents in the middle of the Sahara. The accommodations are very comfortable (definitely glamping), food was great, and sitting around the fire stargazing is a memory I will not soon forget. For equestrians, horseback riding through the dunes with Sahara Horses is an unmissable activity. Absolute magic.

2. Tinghir visit to the Berber women's co-op. Carpets are for sale all over Morocco, but going to the source to meet with the women who make them was one of the coolest experiences I've ever had. I came home with a beautiful rug that will be an heirloom piece, and I am glad I was able to directly support the artisans.

3. Food tour of Marrakech. We were lucky enough to have our guide (Amine) for both our food tour and our walking tour of the city the next day, it was a true pleasure discovering the magic of Marrakech with him! His passion for sharing his city with others made this one of my favorite stops. Marrakech is vibrant (and delicious), and Amine let us discover at our own pace - his flexibility and attentiveness are the mark of a true professional.

4. Accommodations throughout the trip were incredible, Hakim did an amazing job selecting them for us. La Maison Arabe and Riad Laaroussa are two of the best hotel experiences I have ever had. This trip has proved to me that Moroccan hospitality is some of the best in the world, and these two riads provided the most welcoming and attentive service throughout our stay. The staff were exceptional, the properties were gorgeous, and I will be dreaming about the beauty of the courtyards and rooftops at these two riads for years to come.

5. Sunday Brunch at Selman Stables. For lovers of horses (or just luxury), this is a must-do. The Selman property is stunning, and the brunch spread was out of this world.

6. Guided tour in Fes. Our guide Azdin (not sure on spelling) was another gem. He was a wealth of knowledge and spent extra time with us because we had so many questions and wanted to explore all our stops. I felt like I really got to know Fes (although I can tell you we would not have figured out the maze of the medina without him!).

There is very little I would change about our trip, except to have more time! If we had been able to extend our trip by an extra day or two it would have broken up the driving a bit and given us more time to shop in the medinas. We ended up cutting our Marrakech tour short so we could explore the shops and I'd recommend that others build time in specifically for this- Moroccan souks are distinctly unique and I expect almost any visitor will want the experience of negotiating over handmade wares unlike anything you can buy at home.

Thank you Hakim, Mohamad, and KimKim for an incredible trip!

Hotel Reviews

Euphoriad

Rabat

Beautiful view from the rooftop terrace. Lovely rooms and friendly staff. Located in the Rabat medina, with restaurants in walking distance.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Laaroussa

Fez medina

Stunning hotel in the middle of the Fes medina. I'm very grateful for the porters and their carts who navigated the maze that is Fes with our luggage! This riad has so much character- we stayed in the grey room and it took my breath away when we opened the door the first time. There's a fireplace in our room! I almost with our itinerary hadn't been so packed so we could have spent more time lounging here. The rooftop bar and restaurant was our favorite place to end the night after a long day of sight seeing. The staff were exemplary. I would love to visit again (but might wait until the elevator they're planning to install is complete- since the building is quite old the stairs are plentiful and not all the same size, which can be challenging to navigate).

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The staff here were so genuinely welcoming, we felt like we got to know them even during our short 2 night visit. Their easy smiles and jokes were a highlight of our day!

Cleanliness & Comfort

This is a true luxury accommodation, but be warned that they do not yet have an elevator (planned to install next year I think), so if you have mobility challenges you may have difficulty.

Desert Luxury Camp Erg Chebbi

Merzouga

A stay like no other- Desert Luxury camp exceeded my expectations. You take an adventurous 10 minute 4x4 ride to get to a secluded spot in the middle of the Sahara. Surrounded by dunes, but not without modern luxuries (the full bathrooms in each tent were far more luxurious than I was expecting!). With almost 0 light pollution, it's an incredible place to stargaze. The food was excellent, staff superb, and the location is rugged and beautiful. Stay at least 2 nights, you won't want to leave.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Xaluca Dades

Boumalne

This is more of a standard hotel experience than the smaller boutique riads we stayed at for the rest of the trip, but it was perfect as a quick overnight on our way from the Sahara to Marrakech. They have an expansive dinner buffet that was included in our package. The rooms were expansive- we had two full bathrooms, a separate sitting area, and two balconies in our suite. The view from the pool area is breathtaking. They have a full bar with a comfortable lounge that was great for our evening debrief together with our group.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Maison Arabe Hotel

Marrakech

I just adored this hotel. The staff are friendly and welcoming, they make you feel so at home. It's a maze of corridors and rooms, each more beautiful than the next- this place exudes character. I wish we had more time to spend in Marrakech just so we could have spent more time lounging around this property. Our room was spacious and luxurious with a courtyard facing balcony. The food was incredible, the dinner we ate here was my favorite meal over our stay in Morocco- enhanced by the beauty of the courtyard and the live music playing each night. The jazz bar is cozy, the rooftop bar serene, the hammam/spa luxurious and relaxing. Take me back!

Authenticity & Character

The attention to detail was impressive- this riad is truly beautiful.

Location

Walkable to the medina!

Staff

Easy smiles and extremely attentive!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Crisp sheets, comfortable beds and pillows, and you yourself can get the cleanest you've ever been if you visit the hammam! For guests with mobility issues, be aware that while there is a lift, some stairs are inevitable in the lobby area.

Activity Reviews

Morning Guided Tour in Rabat

Morocco

Our guide (Bettina) was wonderful! This was a great intro to Morocco (we took this tour on our first full day here), we learned about Morocco's current government and the history of Moroccan rule as Rabat is the imperial capital. The tour was informative and the Mausoleum of Mohamed V was striking.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our originally scheduled guide was sick, but Hakim and Mohamad made it feel seamless for us. Bettina (our guide) was wonderful, thank you for sharing your city with us!

Transport

Guided Tour in Fes

Fes

Azdin was an excellent guide and a wealth of knowledge. We learned a ton about Fes and Moroccan culture, and we covered a LOT of ground. Our group asks a lot of questions and are pretty slow explorers, Azdin never rushed us and was willing to stay late to make sure we saw all the sites. Just walking the maze of streets in the medina was an experience unlike any other- I am very glad we had a guide to help us navigate the cramped alleys. Learning about the history of trade and how the city formed into the various quarters (copper, jewelry, carpentry, tanning, etc.) was fascinating. A guided walking tour here is an absolute must-do in my opinion.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour of Volubilis

Morocco

The restoration they've done of these ruins really bring them alive for you. Our guide Karim (aka Karimus Maximus) shared with us the history of the Roman occupation in Morocco and how that has influenced the culture. I love exploring old ruins so this activity was right up my alley, but if you don't get excited about crumbling buildings and old rocks you might want to skip it- it's a ways out in the country through windy roads to get there.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fes to Merzouga Sunset Camel Ride and Overnight in the Desert via Ifrane, Azrou, Midelt & Erfoud

Morocco

A long drive but absolutely worth it. The two nights we spent in the Sahara were the highlight of the trip for me- there is something magical about the sand dunes rising from the rocky desert, and the sunset camel ride is an experience you just can't get at home. The camp was luxurious, we didn't lack for any comforts. The stargazing was stunning. Take me back!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day Horseback Ride Tour to the Lake in Merzouga

Merzouga

My favorite part of the trip by far! Riding the dunes on horseback was a childhood dream of mine, and I am still in awe that I got to make it come true! Our guide (Nour-Eddine) navigated us through the shifting sands, and took lots of pictures and videos for us so we can relive the experience when we get home! While riding the dunes was definitely the best part, it was also very cool to ride through the town of Merzouga, and when we reached the lake after a 3km ride through a rocky plain, there was a little mobile cafe oasis for us where we ate a huge picnic spread. A surreal and amazing experience all around!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Merzouga to Boumalne Dades via Tinghir & Todra Gorge

Morocco

A long drive, but I would not have skipped it (the time in the Sahara is absolutely worth it)! Tinghir was the perfect place to stop and stretch our legs for a few minutes on the walk through the gorge. The highlight of this day was definitely visiting the Berber women's co-op in Tinghir, where we got to meet the women and watch them weave the famous Moroccan carpets (and buy one to bring home!). We spent a little too much time here (who can blame me? I wanted to see all the rugs!), and had to cut our hike short in the Todra gorge short, but we still had a chance to walk through the fields in the valley and get up close to the Monkey Fingers rock formation before walking through the village back to our bus.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Walk in Dades Gorges

Boumalne Dades

The views are stunning! We unfortunately had to cut this hike short (spent too much time buying rugs at the last stop on the tour), but it was so nice to get out in nature, stretch our legs, and learn a bit about the farming practices in the Dades gorge villages.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boumalne Dades to Marrakech via Ouarzazate & Aït Benhaddou

Morocco

We spent most of this day in the van, but that was expected given the changes we made to Hakim's original itinerary to allow us to spend two nights in the Sahara. If you have flexibility, taking an extra day in this area would definitely be worth it before heading to Marrakech. Ait Benhaddou was really cool, and we would have loved to explore there for a few hours but we just didn't have time if we were going to make our evening food tour in Marrakech.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Food Tour & Local Gastronomy

Morocco

Amine was an incredible guide! It was so fun to eat our way through the medina. Everything was delicious, but I especially loved the stop for fresh fried msemmen, yogurt, and the olive stand (Amine got us each a to go container of olives that we snacked on for the rest of the trip). We made a longer stop at a spice shop which was really interesting, and even got to learn a bit about Moroccan wedding traditions. Super cool way to experience a new city!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour in Marrakech

Marrakesh

We were so lucky to have Amine as our guide two days in a row! That was a brilliant move on Hakim's part, as we got to know Amine well and he was able to give us a wealth of information without repeats. Amine is passionate about sharing his love for Marrakech and Morocco, and he is a very attentive guide who updated his plan for our tour in real time to match what we were most interested in. Marrakech is such a vibrant and exciting city, I absolutely loved exploring it and wish we had more time to spend with Amine!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traditional Hammam & Massage

Morocco

It was my first time experiencing a hammam- the staff at La Maison Arabe were fantastic, ensuring we were comfortable throughout. It was both very relaxing and very vigorous (you will be very clean by the time you are done). The spa area is beautiful, and the massage was a much-needed release after all the walking we did on this trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunday Brunch at the Selman Stables

Marrakesh

The perfect activity to end our trip! My mom and I separated from the rest of the group for a girls day at Selman, and I am so glad we did. Relaxing in the sun at Le Pavilion while beautiful Arabian horses pranced past was a true highlight for me, and it was nice to end our incredible trip with something slow and luxurious. The brunch spread was out of this world- extremely high quality food with a multitude of options, from sushi to grilled lobster tails, tagine to more salads than I had room to try. And the dessert buffet! Outstanding food and service throughout. While we ate, we were treated to a demonstration of masterful horsemanship, and had the opportunity to see the majesty of two of Selman's beautiful Arabian stallions. Service at the Selman was outstanding as well, it's clear that they provide a 5 star experience for their guests.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Richard was pleasant but only received and accompanied us to the Lake Titikaka hotel. Willie was well informed and helped us physically to walk safely. Jesus negotiated a discount so we could enter a VIP waiting area since our flight out was delayed 5hours. Excellent service even on the weekend. Thanks for your excellent recommendations and addressing our concerns. I will recommend Kimkim.

Hotel Review

Sonesta Posadas del Inca Puno

Puno

Lakeside view, clean & comfortable room. Very good food and friendly service.

Authenticity & Character

Well Maine’s with remodeled bathrooms. Not particularly filled with character but who cares with a view like that?

Location

View & easy access to boat tours

Staff

Wendy was wonderful waitress & served us in both English & Spanish. Front desk clerk wanted us to pay without presenting a detailed bill, but ultimately he read off the charges which were correct.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was clean & warm. Grazing Llamas provided entertainment.

Activity Reviews

Nazca Lines: Lima - Nazca Lines - Lima

Peru

Difficult to see many of the lines. Some were visible only from one side of the plane. Co-pilot’s microphone had static so her directional advice was not helpful. Single prop engine got us there and back

Quality of Experience

Happy to see even only a few of the lines

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Got us there and back.

Transport

12-seater was bigger than I expected.

Paracas Reserve Exploration

Paracas

Beautiful area. Museum was well done & fascinating.

Quality of Experience

Views are remarkable

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Blanca was very well informed and friendly. Andre’s’ driving made us nervous. Compared to US drivers he was following too close & making unsafe lane changes. Welcome to Peru!

Transport

I believe we had WiFi in the vehicle

Sailing in Lake Titicaca: Taquile, Luquina & the Uros floating Islands

Puno

So sad to see such poverty. We heard from other tourists that Uros residents don’t live on the islands anymore. They just pretend to live there. Being invited into a home was special but we were saddened to see the daughters “perform” by chewing Totoro reeds on cue then singing a song. Fascinating way of life even if it is a recreation.

Quality of Experience

Guide on board (William) who was hosting a dozen other people was also well informed and spoke excellent English.

Food

Excellent experience on Taquille island meeting several acquaintances of our guide, Willie. Also tasty lunch in a warm environment on a cold & windy day.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Willie was very accommodating of our recent injury impacting our locomotion.

Transport

Safe driver Francisco

Sillustani tombs

Puno

Beautiful surrounding valley. Fascinating structures. Guide Willie was well informed.

Quality of Experience

Good narrative by guide Willie

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great command of English

Transport

Clean & efficient

Our first trip to Morocco was a fantastic experience.
Said was always available to answer questions.
Our accommodation riads were beautiful. The staff were helpful and friendly.
We were told about an app for direction finding in Marrakesh which was invaluable. It didn’t require wifi.
Soufaine was a great driver who always did his best for us.
We visited Imlil and Essouria which were a perfect contrast to Marrakesh.
In Marrakesh we did a tour, food tour and cooking lesson which were well done and enjoyable.
Said added a visit to the Ourika Valley to our itinerary which was wonderful. Ayub our guide there was very informative and interesting.
We did a walk in Imlil and had lunch on a rooftop with an incredible view of the mountains.
We took a tour of Essaouira with Rashid which we enjoyed.
Shukran

Hotel Reviews

Riad Pachavana

Marrakech

A beautiful riad with helpful , friendly staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easy access to everywhere we wanted to go

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dar Imlil

Imlil

The views and ambience were amazing.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Mimouna

Essaouira

Authenticity & Character

Location

We

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Half-Day Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

Interesting . Maybe speak a bit slower in future?

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Souf was attentive, punctual and friendly.

Ashley is 5 star
Thank you Ashley/ you gave us a brilliant service. You were always there for us- very quick to respond- and I think I have been demanding- as I always get anxious- plus I am fussy- so THANKYOU!!!

We were really well looked after though the whole trip- with Ashley always checking in- and the guides- always there and on time.

The guides.
Eddie- no. 1 in Bangkok / Kanchanaburi- He was PERFECT. The loveliest person/ caring- knowledgable, reliable- great values- and funny!! He made us laugh a lot. We felt like friends at the end. We were lucky to have him. He researched every activity- and always told us what to expect on timings- accurately- and gave us interesting facts. He could answer every question. We missed him once we said goodbye!

After Eddie- they were all nice people- the best ones were the man guide who helped us at Chaing Mai airport to go to Krabi- I don’t know his name- but he was really efficient.
Also the lady who helped from The Tubaak Boutique hotel to Krabi airport. A lovely lady/ who helped with interesting facts.
All the others were fine-
The man whom was our guide in Chaing Mai- for the Ling neck tribe and waterfalls- was nice- but his English and Knowledge was poor- so he wasn’t able to help with any information- or understand our questions. He was nice though- and fun- so it was ok- but just so you know- it’s better when they know about the destinations- and can speak English to explain.
( though I am bad for not understanding Thai!!!!)

Regarding Hotels.
1. Eastin Grand Sathorn- FANTASTIC! Great room, great location- fabulous staff, perfect room👏👏
2. ⁠U Inchantree
This was ok- nothing special- but I think cheaper- do value for money good. We were busy here- so just a base- so it was ok. The grounds were pretty- but no where near enough loungers to relax on outside/ after a busy day- so we sat inside/ which is a waste of the lovely garden.
3. Na Nirand Romantic in Chaing Mai/ Wow Wow and WOW! my favourite EVER hotel- what a fabulous choice. I think to balance our budget- it was a great way to spend our money/ and made sense that the previous hotel was less good- it made it really worth it- they treated us as we were in our honeymoon. I never wanted to leave!!!
4. ⁠the Tubkaak Krabi- also lovely- great location- wonderful staff- especially Hana in the restaurant.
5. ⁠the Montien Riverside. My least favourite/ a little ‘tired’ ( we say this for- old/ out dated) And the location not as good. This is my fault- not Kim Kim because I asked them to change from staying in the Eastin Grand again! But it didn’t ruin our holiday/ it was still nice.

The activities were all brilliant.
My favourites were the Temples day inBangkok , the Erawan national park, the Train and floating markets. The Ekephant sanctuary in Chaing Mai and the 4 Islands speed Boat in Krabi.

Hotel Reviews

Eastin Grand Hotel Sathorn

1. Eastin Grand Sathorn- FANTASTIC! Great room, great location- fabulous staff, perfect room👏👏

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful, fab staff

Location

Train station within the hotel! Close to everything

Staff

Check in , in the lounge was a great, personal experience. I am ashamed I can’t remember the name of the great fun girl who checked us in- she was fabulous!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Comfy bed, very clean room

U Inchantree Kanchanaburi

Kanchanaburi

2. ⁠U Inchantree This was ok- nothing special- but I think cheaper- do value for money good. We were busy here- so just a base- so it was ok. The grounds were really pretty- but no where near enough loungers to relax on outside/- only 8 at the pool- all taken- after a busy day- so we sat inside/ which is a waste of the lovely garden. But restaurant was a pretty location.

Authenticity & Character

Lovely grounds, rooms ok- could be better

Location

Views of River Kwai lovely

Staff

All polite, nice- but not exceptional compared to other hoteks

Cleanliness & Comfort

There were not enough comfy loungers outside in the grounds.

Montien Riverside Hotel

Very pretty- but staff not totally engaged- bed- not super comfy. Mini bar- tragic!!! Location - not the best.

Authenticity & Character

Pretty hotel- on the river

Location

A bit far away from the centre

Staff

Not very visible- very operational more than friendly. We struggled to get service in the riverside restaurant- and didn’t get our order correct. We left- as we couldn’t get served easily.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything a bit dated. Bed not that comfy- thin, limp covers, and pillows. Bed was pushed against the wall on one side with no side table.

Na Nirand Romantic Boutique Resort

3. Na Nirand Romantic in Chaing Mai/ Wow Wow and WOW! my favourite EVER hotel- what a fabulous choice. - they treated us to all sorts- as we were in our honeymoon. I never wanted to leave!!!

Authenticity & Character

The most beautiful place, unbelievable room!

Location

Immediately adjacent to the nightlife/ markets

Staff

The best we encountered. They brought treats every evening- and couldn’t do enough to help!

Cleanliness & Comfort

All spotless- and Supersonically comfy!

The Tubkaak Krabi Boutique Resort

Krabi

Beautiful location on the stunning beach. Not overcrowded, peaceful. The staff were all 5*. Fantastic activities. Comfy room.

Authenticity & Character

Great staff, restaurant and activities

Location

Beautiful beach

Staff

All fabulous- but especially Hana!!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything perfect

Activity Reviews

Poda - Tab - Chicken - Taloo Island (4 Islands by Join Speed boat)

Krabi

Fab boat, great islands, food and staff

Quality of Experience

Food

Great picnic- but just in a spot that was a bit too busy!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had to wait over an hour to get a car home- and then were last of 5 drop offs so took an hour- if we had got a taxi- it would have all taken just 20 mins!

Half day combined Grand Palace Temples city tour

Bangkok

Eddie our guide was 10* The temples were awesome- Eddie really helped us with info.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Eddie was an amazing, friendly, fun and knowledgeable guy. The driver was good too.

Transport

Always went smooth- never any worry’s.

Dinner on Chao Phraya Princess Cruise

Bangkok

We had fun- but it was a bit commercial for us! We loved the free time before on the water front.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Eddie was fab- looking after us

Transport

Bangkok - Floating Maket - Train Market - Kanchanaburi

Kanchanaburi

Awesome/ great fun

Quality of Experience

The best

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great fun!

Transport

Always on tome

Explore Erawan National Park, Hellfire Pass & Death Railway

Kanchanaburi

Beautiful

Quality of Experience

Food

Eddie took us to a little local restaurant. Authentic, delicious

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half day Chiang Mai Elephant Jungle Sanctuary - Join tour

Chiang Mai

The best fun

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very knowledgable

Transport

Efficient

Temples, Long Neck Village And Sticky Waterfalls

Chiang Mai

Enjoyed the Long neck tribe, but the Temple was a bit too commercial- as new, and just for tourists- sticky waterfall was too busy.

Quality of Experience

Food

( orchid/ butterfly place- buffet lunch)I would prefer less commercial/ tourism- and more authentic Thai restaurant.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

He couldn’t speak great English/ and hadn’t researched activities and so not knowledgable - but a nice man none the less and on time.

Transport

On time

This week long private tour with kimkim tours was a wonderful way for a first hand experience in this beautiful country of Sri Lanka! My driver and guide Aj, was easy going, punctual, professional, and full a suggestions to make my experience that much more enjoyable! From white water rafting to trekking thru the jungle, AJ always made sure of my utmost safety! The week that Dhanuakha planned for me was absolutely TOP NOTCH! The resorts were incredible and the activities planned absolutely thrilling and engaging! I highly recommend this type of “custome taylored” trip to anyone thinking of this incredible destination, Sri Lanka!

Each and every stop was intentional and purposeful. To our surprise the Vietnam people made the biggest impression, followed by food and rich history. All of the guides were well versed in their area and added immensely to our trip overcoming the biggest obstacle: language barrier. Highly recommend this excursion into Vietnam - a beautiful country on the rise!

Hotel Review

Silk Path Grand Hue

Every detail attended to and the bed was amazing!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Authentic Home Dining - Enjoy a traditional Hue dinner

Hue

The host were gracious and humble; the food exquisite, and the guide filed with historical detail. Don’t miss this one!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Working with Serendipity Adventures to plan our trip to Costa Rica was a pleasure. Elena, Nancy, Wilman and the team took care of us from planning through the trip, including booking all hotels, drivers and excursions. Wilman kept tabs on us as we traveled through Costa Rica to make sure our drives were comfortable and the hotels were as expected; any bumps in the road were addressed in timely, professional manner. I highly recommend the KimKim process and specifically Serendipity for well planned and executed vacation. We had a great time!

Based on my preferences of where I wanted to go, what kind of tours I prefer (small groups/private), and the type of hotel - Elena put together the perfect itinerary with a great mix of doing things and relaxing. As we were making plans she reached out by phone when decisions needed to be made in a timely manner. All questions/concerns were addressed. We stayed in 3 wonderful hotels in La Fortuna (room with a view of the Volcano), Monte Verde (view of the valley and Pacific in the distance) and Manuel Antonio (corner room with a sunset view of the Pacific) with spectacular views, very good food, and spot on service. While each was a little different, they each showed Serendipity's knowledge of their beautiful country. Our private tour at Arenal that included hanging bridges, a volcano hike and the waterfall with Mariano were a pleasure given his personable nature and knowledge of the flora and fauna. Our day at Sevultura Park in Monte Verde, while a touristy place, offered really great professionally run zip line and hanging bridges. Finally, a catamaran tour and a tour of the national park rounded out our activities in Manuel Antonio.

Michael and Chaksa tours planned a fabulous tour of Colombia for my family including two adult kids in their 20s. Medellin was fascinating and our tour guide Liliana was awesome - very knowledgeable, patient, caring and flexible. Our hotel Sites was very nice and in a lovely, safe neighborhood. Our trip to a local flower finca (farm) was wonderful and we loved shopping in the charming town of Guatape. Senda Watapuy hotel right outside Tyrona National Park was a jungle paradise. Our kids loved the hike to a pretty beach and kayaking a river all the way to the ocean. Then in Cartagena, our guide Isaac was amazing. We loved the old town, making empanadas in our cooking class, and the boat ride in the mangroves was not to be missed.

KimKim provided the drivers to meet me at the airports/hotels/preserves. All were on time. A couple of drivers could speak no English, (and I can speak no Spanish) so that made for interesting rides.

The major problem here was my cell service provider. After getting back home, I contacted them and, hopefully, this problem has been corrected. I had a translator app on my phone but it was useless when not connected to Wi-Fi.

I also had a couple of guides who were just awesome. They were knowledgeable of the areas, bird identification and willing to help/answer all questions. Could not have been a more pleasant interaction with them and their English was very good.

Destinations:
Paramuno Birding-Trail in Monserrate
La Minga Ecolodge
Tinamu Natural Reserve
El Dorado Nature Reserve

The birding at Paramuno Birding-Trail was absolutely amazing. After spending hours here, I’m hoping the other places are as good as this is. They were! It just kept getting better.

At La Minga Ecolodge, after two days here, I was convinced this is the best place for birding. Lina, (Host?) although could speak no English, was just great. (I had Wi-Fi here) The food/preparation was excellent.

The downside here is your shower water is lukewarm at best. They have one of those “Tankless Water Heaters.”

Tinamu
No English spoken here either and Wi-Fi saved the day. The birding is just amazing here and even better if you’re willing to hike.

Sandra, the host, fed us very well and the food/preparation was outstanding. Some of the best soup I’ve ever had.

They do have hot showers here. Definitely my favorite place.

El Dorado
Excellent birding here if you’re into hummingbirds. This is rugged country and not an easy place to get to from Santa Marta. The 4-wheel drive road is long and brutal.

Once in El Dorado, my room to the restaurant (the only two places I could get Wi-Fi) are far apart and all uphill. You either walk a steep trail or catch a ride on a three wheeled contraption provided that you called the restaurant ahead of time. So, a couple of times, I had to walk the trail.

This place also has HOT water.

Once again, the food/preparation was outstanding. I had hot chocolate at other locations but chocolate at this place was the best.

I could not give two locations the top spot so I would rank Tinamu 5 stars for birds AND personnel and El Dorado 4.75 stars for birds. Because of the remoteness of El Dorado, they did not have the personnel but what they did have, they were great also. (Fred, in the restaurant)

Conclusion
I could and will visit these places again but will also be looking for new places to explore.

I don’t know why hot water seems to be a luxury in some locations in Colombia, but each place tells you to use as little hot water as possible.

KimKim did an outstanding job putting an itinerary together for me and I would not hesitate to use their services again. Well done, KimKim, (Michael Gold) well done!