Kimkim Trip Reviews

The whole experience working with Arianna at KimKim and the team at Storywalking was extraordinary. Everyone worked hard to listen to our interests in activities and pace of travel and matched these to our itinerary. Our guides were friendly, knowledgeable and fun and the suggested activities for self-guided exploring matched what was scheduled.
I only have two small constructive suggestions:
Information about ZTL parking restrictions for each locality in Sicily needs to be more carefully explained and highlighted. It is only mentioned briefly in a general document about driving and parking regulations. I suggest highlighting ZTL rules separately so people can make more informed decisions about the restrictions and plan their driving and parking accordingly.
Also, in our itinerary, we had a scheduled pickup of our rental car one morning at the Palermo airport. The airport was crowded and the lines were long. We were frustrated but now understand that it couldn’t be helped. But our plan that day was to drive east to Cefalu, back through Palermo, making the drive longer than necessary. The following day, the suggestion was to drive west to Scopello. Both were self-guided trips and in retrospect we could have simply swapped the two day trips. But in the future, I would suggest switching the suggestions as better guidance for the next traveler.
That said, thank you! It was a trip of a lifetime! We will return!

Hotel Reviews

B&B Khalisah

Palermo

Authenticity & Character

Location

It was historic and charming, walking distance to many wonderful locations. The staff was so friendly and helpful, especially regarding places to eat and visit as well as details concerning ZTL rules. Breakfast was delicious and our accommodations perfect.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Doric Boutique Hotel

Agrigento

We will definitely return! Staff was so friendly! Our accommodations were so luxurious!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palace Catania | UNA Esperienze

Catania

This was a pleasant hotel in the center of everything. All staff was so helpful and friendly. It is a typical city hotel. Not recommended if you want a historic, authentic experience.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Palermo Street Food Tour

Palermo

This activity was a feast for the senses: the flavors, sounds, colors, aromas were all combined to create an unforgettable experience. Our guide, Salvo, also delivered knowledgeable and often humorous commentary about the history of daily life through food. This is a must-do activity for anyone visiting Palermo.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Salvo was engaging and friendly and often funny.

Transport

Marsala Wine Tasting

Marsala

We arrived in Sicily with the intention to explore Sicilian wines. The tour itself of the facility was interesting but in the end, we didn’t see much. It was a quiet day. But the tasting expanded our knowledge of the wine producer. We will be shopping this wine.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Valley of the Temples Tour

Agrigento

Wow! What a history lesson. We left this tour with such an appreciation of the unique ancient history of Sicily, and a greater understanding of how central Sicily was to the various civilizations that invaded/populated it. Our guide was clearly a student of ancient history and archaeology. His enthusiasm was contagious.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour of Villa Romana del Casale

Italy

This was a marvel. To think that it was so casually discovered and over time how much was unearthed. The mosaics were an artistic achievement and what a miracle that so much of it remains to this day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Visit Taormina - Private Driver at Disposal

Catania

The stroll through Taormina was delightful but what made this extra special were the suggestions our driver made to visit Castelmora for lunch, Isola Bella and Naxos. A beautiful day though I wish we had time to spend at the beach

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Mount Etna Tour with Wine Tasting

Italy

This activity was a highlight of our trip to Sicily. What an extraordinary lesson in vulcanology, natural habitats, the history of people who live alongside it, micro climates and more. Our guide was a natural teacher. We were glad that he encouraged our enthusiasm to learn more. And the hike was a welcome physical activity that not only put us at the center of several craters but the effort was rewarded with extraordinary views. We were only slightly disappointed later when we realized we didn’t visit the reported extinct lava cave. The wine tasting, with views of the grape vines that were days from being harvested, was a pleasure. We couldn’t resist buying some wine to take home.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Everyone that helped us throughout the tour were very helpful, knowledgeable, and proactive. They all knew we had limited time at each site, so they arranged their respective itineraries accordingly to ensure we saw as much as possible. All guides and drivers were very professional and experienced. They all paid attention to detail and ensured our comfort throughout the long drives to each site. My daughter and I really enjoyed our time during this tour.

Activity Reviews

Kuala Lumpur: Batu Caves & City Tour

Kuala Lumpur

I wish the guide would of explained to us more about the history and significance of the temple. Our time was limited to the general area at the bottom of the steps. I didn't realize that there was more to the site than just the steps and caves. We did not see the surrounding area. We ended up learning more about this site through our driver than the actual guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide should have explained the significance and history of the site a bit more in detail

Transport

Kuala Lumpur: Petronas Twin Towers

Malaysia

I wish the guide should have taken us to an area where we could see the two towers from a distance so we can take photos and appreciate the architecture. We were immediately taken inside so we could get in line and wait for our turn.

Bruno and team served us very well and made our vacation in Croatia memorable. Kudos to our local guides, especially Dora and Mia, who were gracious and patient! Highly recommend this local travel service…brilliant concept!

Connie and Sherry were great! We had an amazing time in New Zealand and our trip couldn’t have been any better. We loved all of the recommendations, accommodations, and tours and we would love to return to NZ again and of course work with Connie and Sherry.

We had an amazing time in Turkey. From start to finish our 10 days were well planned, with fantastic guides, and comfortable and safe drivers. We even had the opportunity to meet with our local travel planner, Berat. We made changes once we were in country that Berat handled seamlessly, easily taking care of each. We were also given fast recommendations when we had a need for medication due to an illness. Berat listened to our desires and needs, and planned accordingly.
Some suggestions:
- Make sure your personal email and phone number are included on all airline reservations that are made for you that you will need to check in for during your travels.
- Perhaps the guides could send a brief summary of each site visited, providing the history and culture in a written format.
We will be using KimKim again!

Our trip to Italy was FABULOUS!! Melanie did an outstanding job planning our 40th anniversary trip. She was always available and right on top of things. She had wonderful recommendations and worked very hard to make our dream trip come true!!
Our tour guides were very knowledgeable, most especially Claudia at the Vatican, Katie at Pompei and Mina? in Venice. Each tour guide brought the specifics of Italy alive and left us wanting MORE. All of our guides and drives were friendly and accommodating, helping us manage a new experience. We loved sharing stories with them and hearing about how they ended up as guides or drivers
We will be recommending this company to friends and family in hopes that they have the same experience.
Thank you for a trip we will always remember and we WILL be back
Nina and Bob

Hotel Reviews

Ambrosio Relais

Sorrento

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Navona Colors

Rome

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Vatican & Sistine Chapel Tour

Rome

Claudia was a wonderful guide, my anticipation of the Vatican experience was lessened just a bit by the crowds. Rather loud and too many. Maybe less people in the groups

Pasta & Tiramisù class

Rome

Outstanding, it was a wonderful learning experience and lots of fun. Friendly staff and the group number was perfect.

Special Colosseum tour: Colosseum, Arena Floor, Underground, Roman Forum

Rome

Katie did an outstanding job explaining the past history up to the present, like an enjoyable history class. :) The undergroud tour was amazing!! Thank you Melanie for making that happen.

Ravello, Amalfi & Positano

Sorrento

Could have used more time in each area to enjoy and investigate this beautiful area.

Olive and Wine Tasting in Tuscany Countrtyside

Italy

We very much enjoyed tasting at 3 different wineries. Lunch was delicious and our tour guide Chechi? did a fabulous job keeping us interested and entertained.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Venice Walking and Gondola Tour

Venice

Again, the tour guide was outstanding, very knowledgeable and entertaining.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ayoub Benalla, our driver was so great. He was professional, helpful, kind and considerate at all times. He was concerned about everyone's desires and needs. He made the trip very special.

Jazmine, Sharif, Hanan, were three guides in Tangier, Fes and Marrakesh that each added so very much to our experiences. Sharif is so well educated and informed. But also kind and sweet to us.

Hanan though was our delight. She has a gentle aura while being incredibly informed and kind.

Yusef in Merzhuga was one of the most articulate people I've even met.

All of the Riad's were good with the exception of Chefchaon, which while run by lovely people was a dark unpleasant place to stay. There wasn't even a glass a single glass in the room to have a drink of water, much less a bottle of water. The Riad in Tangiers was delightful, the Riad in Fes was quite lovely, in a traditional old home. The Riad in Marrakesh was another lovely, comfortable well appointed place. The Hotel is Skoura was of course palatial. It was so elegant, a little bit of paradise. The gardens, the swimming pool, all of the rooms were divine. Breakfast under the ancient olive tree was a once in a lifetime experience.

The camp in the Merzhuga desert was very well run. The tents were lovely and the whole experience was excellent.

The one thing that I didn't like about this trip is that I wished it wasn't so shopping centric. I didn't really want to stop at all of the herbalist, and oil and soap making facilities. There should only have been one of those on the whole trip. But it came up over and over and I felt an uncomfortable pressure to buy things I didn't want to buy. There were at least three of those stops scheduled.

Ayoub was our prize on this trip. We will never forget this Amerzigh kind person.

Hotel Reviews

Riad Mokhtar Tanger

Tangier

This was one of my favorite places on this whole trip. Such a great setting. And the rooms were wonderful as was the courtyard and roof terrace.

Authenticity & Character

A completely charming place

Location

Perfect for us.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Great breakfasts too.

Hotel Dar Mounir

Chefchaouen

While the staff was kind, the place is not a pleasure to stay in. The rooms aren't comfortable. And there were no amenities available. Not even a water glass in the room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Ghita

Fes

Quite pretty. And very well located. An authentic old home in Fes.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

Well organized and comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ksar El Kabbaba

Skoura

Dazzling. One of the nicest hotels I've ever stayed in. A complete joy.

Authenticity & Character

Look at the photographs and that will tell you everything you want to know.

Location

Staff

They were concerned for our every comfort and kind and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

The place was impeccably run.

Riad Le Pèlerin

Marrakech

A lovely well appointed Riad.

Authenticity & Character

The decor is terrific and the rooftop terrace charming too.

Location

Staff

Couldn't have been kinder.

Cleanliness & Comfort

perfect

Activity Reviews

Explore the Magic of Marrakesh: A Guided Tour

Marrakesh

Hanan was a remarkable guide in a great city.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The best.

Transport

Ayoub Benalla made everything better for us.

Journey of Colours: Roman Ruins of Volubilis, Moulay Idriss & Meknes

Morocco

Not interesting to me enough. I've been all over the Mediterranean. I didn't need to see more Roman ruins.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fes Unveiled: Unravel the Riches of Morocco's Ancient City

Fes

Seeing the ceramics and mosaic cooperative was a great experience. Moroccans are so hard working and so very skilled. It was great to see that.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A Taste of Tradition: Sharing Stories and Savory Delights at a Moroccan Home

Morocco

It's a complicated experience to go into a private home. Especially people who are so hardworking and who live modestly. I'd say don't do this.

Food

The food was great, but the experience was awkward.

Transport

Fez to Merzouga Desert - The Road to Serenity

Morocco

The dunes are exceptionally beautiful. The sky at night is extraordinary.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Yusef is exceptionally smart. The wait staff were great.

Transport

Journey Through the Beauty: Skoura to Marrakech

Morocco

The High Atlas Mountains and the terrain was so beautiful. Thrilling to ride hours through this amazing landscape.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We were knocked out by the variety, depth and professionalism we experienced during our travel adventures. This was one of the best travel experiences we've ever had. We could never have dreamed up the countless escapades we got to be a part of and were so appreciative of the accessibility and ease of it all!

We explored museums, castle ruins, and ancient villages and dined in cozy pubs in the middle of vibrant world-class cities. We had some of the finest guided tours I've ever been on (the Edinburgh literary tour and Cotswold Tour in Bath were standouts). But we were most impresssed by our KimKim travel specialists, Pauline and Sarah (and earlier on Neil), who not only put together this unforgettable travel experience for us but who were available to us at every turn.

In fact, they managed to transform a potential disappointment (due to an unexpected train incident) into one of the most exciting days of our long vacation by rescheduling a much-anticipated river cruise for us. We were able to sneak in a spontaneous visit to the Greenwich Museum and see a show at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre because of the way they thoughtfully configured our day. (We even had a chance to visit with some of the actors at the Swann afterward)! Pauline was as warm and attentive as she was thoughtfully professional as she worked to troubleshoot the inevitable unexpecteds that travel brings.

Our accommodations, while varied, were universally safe, clean and served delicious breakfasts. We were especially fond of our accommodations at the Grosvenor Arms in Bath, where we found the company of our host Richard genial and engaging. The Crown Inn at Penrith was our coziest night of sleep and the hardworking staff was personable, warm and gracious. We loved our travel itinerary in the Lakes District and the fascinating visit to beautiful ruins of Lowther Castle.

There is an endless array of memories to meditate on over the coming winter. One thing is certain: we will be trusting our next travel adventure with Kim Kim!

Hotel Reviews

Grosvenor Villa

Bath

Grosvenor Villa was really lovely. It had a charming atmosphere with the host being very personable. The setup was cozy with a piano and fireplace, making it a great communal space. My husband, being a musician, enjoyed playing the piano there. It was a delightful stay, and the breakfast was excellent, featuring delicious food. The hospitality stood out, and the ambiance added to the relaxing experience.

Crown Inn Pooley Bridge

Penrith

Crown Inn Pooley Bridge was incredibly quiet and cozy, giving us our best night's sleep during the trip. It's a dog-friendly location, which is wonderful for pet lovers, but perhaps not ideal for those with allergies. I appreciated the peaceful setting and the overall comfort of our stay.

Angel's Share Hotel

New Town, Edinburgh

Angel's Share Hotel in Edinburgh had a cosmopolitan and edgy feel, which was a fresh change of pace. The aesthetic was distinctly modern, and while it wasn't as warm as some other places, the service was accommodating, with our room ready upon arrival. The overall ambiance was enjoyable although it felt a bit less intimate.

ibis Styles London Gloucester Road

London

Our stay at the hotel was a bit of a mixed bag. While it was an understandable price point for a central location like Kensington, the hotel felt a bit too commercial for my liking. They had a quirky subway theme, which included 'mind the gap' decor, but it was a bit much after a day of train travels. Our room was small, and we barely had space to move around. One of the lifts was broken, and although there was another working one, it was a bit of a hassle. Having to deal with many stairs wasn't ideal either, especially when mobility could be a potential issue for some.

Activity Reviews

Lowther Castle

England

One of our favorite experiences was visiting Lowther Castle. The ruins are off the beaten path, and it was a great recommendation from our guides that truly added a unique touch to our trip. I thoroughly enjoyed the Castle's ambience and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a memorable historical site.

Johnnie Walker Tasting Experience - Whisky Explorers

Edinburgh

The Johnnie Walker Tasting Experience was a pleasant surprise for us as casual drinkers. We had an excellent guide, and despite it being her first launch, she did a commendable job. I'd recommend this to whisky lovers and those who are curious alike.

The Bath Gin Company Distillery Tour & Tasting Experience

Bath

The Bath Gin Company Distillery Tour & Tasting Experience was nothing short of amazing. Our guide was remarkable, and it was fascinating to go behind the scenes and witness the inner workings. The quality of their product speaks for itself, and I'm hopeful for their great success. A must-visit for gin enthusiasts!

Literary tour of Bath

Bath

The Literary tour of Bath was fantastic, particularly the Jane Austen experience. It was well-written, comprehensive, and beautifully presented. The guides were top-notch, enhancing the entire visit with their depth of knowledge.

Edinburgh Castle Tickets

Edinburgh

Our visit to Edinburgh Castle was a bit disappointing as we missed our guided tour slot due to unforeseen circumstances. Although we managed to do the audio tour, it felt like a lost opportunity. The site was extremely busy, probably due to a bank holiday, which added to the regret.

Working with the KimKim agency was great -especially for independent minded travelers. All of the tour details for our trip to Great Britain We worked out in great detail before we left the US. This included a great hotel in London, close to all of the major attractions and transportation Plus prearranged tickets to all the special things that we want to see such as Westminster Abbey, Windsor Castle, and Christchurch in Oxford, plus many others.

Such a wonderful 14 days of exploring this beautiful country. Our driver, Ilyace, picked us up at Tangier Med and quickly became our new best friend. He was helpful, informative, friendly, very easy to talk to, and a great driver, We absolutely loved and appreciated how Ilyace made every step of this journey feel easy and stress-free.
We started at Chefchaouen, then to Fes, the Merzouga desert, Boumalne Dades, Marrakesh, Essaouira, and ended in Casablanca - with many interesting stops along the way. It’s impossible to say which part of this journey was the best, as each piece of it offered new and wonderful experiences.
Each guide offered us a great insight into the history and beauty of each of the places we explored. Azdin in Fes, Yusuf in the Merzouga Desert, Mohammed in Boumalne Dades, Hanan in Marrakesh and Hassan in Essaouira.

Hotel Reviews

Dar Jasmine

Chefchaouen

Beautiful hotel with the most incredible view of the blue city. It was worth every step we had to take to get up to the hotel. The staff were amazing and helpful with anything we needed.

Authenticity & Character

The view from the terrace in our room was awesome!!

Location

Staff

The staff made the stay very pleasant. They carried our luggage up all the stairs with a smile

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Fes Nass Zmane

Fes

Beautiful Riad in the Medina. Perfectly located,. Rooms and service were great

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

The 2 hour camel ride to the camp was fantastic. The welcome by all the friendly staff upon arrival was fantastic. We enjoyed the music my the fire and the setting in the desert was amazing.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dar Rihana Dades

Douar Aït Ouffi

This was a beautiful hotel in the small town. The meals by the hotel chef were unmatched. It was a wonderful place to stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palais Sebban

Marrakech

This Riad was incredibly beautiful. The rooms were large and fit for royalty. A great place to stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Le Medina Essaouira Thalassa Sea & Spa MGallery

Essaouira

Beautiful hotel right across the street from the beach. Perfectly located. Walking distance to the Medina and the fishing docks. Wonderful sunset from the restaurant on the beach.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Barceló Casablanca

Casablanca

Very nice hotel in Casablanca. We only had one night here and had to get up and leave by 4:30 AM. The staff were helpful and provided us with a boxed breakfast to take with us.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It was difficult to tell how this hotel was located as we didn’t spend much time.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Fes Unveiled: Unravel the Riches of Morocco's Ancient City

Fes

This amazing and ancient city was so worth the visit. We were so thankful to explore the old Medina with a guide. We for sure would have been lost in the labyrinth of streets on our own. Learning about the history was very interesting and I’m sure we explored places that we would never have found without a guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A Taste of Tradition: Sharing Stories and Savory Delights at a Moroccan Home

Morocco

We loved the experience of sharing a meal in a Moroccan home. And we were so happy that our driver, Ilyace, joined us as well. The food was delicious and the family were so pleasant, accommodating and kind.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer to Dades Valley via Todra Gorge: Enchanting Valleys, Kasbahs, and Villages

Morocco

Beautiful drive to the Dades Valley. We enjoyed the walk through the Todra Gorge. Very scenic landscape.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arrive at Tangier Med Harbor , Transfer to Chefchaouen

Morocco

Our fabulous driver, Ilyace, was there and waiting for us when we arrived off the ferry. He helped us to become familiar with the country and the surroundings as we drove. Chefchaouen was a beautiful town to visit. We loved walking through the streets and seeing all the beautiful blue stairways. Walking up to the Spanish mosque to see the sunset was fabulous as well.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fez to Merzouga Desert - The Road to Serenity

Morocco

This was a long day of travel. Ilyace made it a great day by making some great stops - in the beautiful city Ifrane, a stop to feed the macaque monkeys along the way, and our stop to see the Ziz oasis of palm trees. The 2 hour camel ride to our camp was icing on the cake. What a wonderful experience!!!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sands and Adventures: Exciting Desert Activities in Merzouga

Merzouga

Our guide in the desert, Yusuf, provided us with a great tour and taste of the Berber culture in the desert. We loved the visit in one of the nomad villages.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trails of Connection: Trekking through Berber Villages and Immersing in Local Hospitality

Morocco

Our guide, Mohammed, was very entertaining. There was a bit of a language barrier as he didn’t speak much English, but that didn’t matter. We loved the beautiful walk through the valley by the monkey fingers and community gardens. Lunch at his home was very nice.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Path of Beauty: Southern Kasbahs to Marrakech via the Majestic Atlas Mountains

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rise with the Sun: A Majestic Hot Air Balloon Adventure over Marrakech

Marrakesh

A wonderful experience!!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the Magic of Marrakesh: A Guided Tour

Marrakesh

Our tour of the old Medina with our guide, Hanan, was very informative and interesting. Hanan brought us to parts of the Medina that we never would have found on our own. I found walking through the artisan section the most interesting and fascinating.

Quality of Experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transport

I highly recommend using KimKim for your next travel experience. Our planner, Lorenza, was exceptional. We spent two nights in Naples and seven nights in Sorrento, with Lorenza selecting a wonderful hotel in Naples that offered an ideal location.
She organized a variety of activities, including a tour of the Pompeii ruins, an outstanding pizza-making class, and an enjoyable winery visit. Additionally, Lorenza arranged a fantastic street food tour and a private boat tour of Capri. Lorenza also managed all transportation, including transfers to and from the airport and between Naples and Sorrento.
Lorenza's communication was always clear and prompt, ensuring a seamless experience. Lorenza often responded to emails within hours(Keep in mind the 6 hour time difference) and when I did need to call her for something she picked up her phone right away. When we requested a change to a four-star hotel with a sea view in Sorrento, she was very accommodating.
Overall, every aspect of our trip was top-notch. Their level of service and attention to detail exceeded my expectations.

Hotel Reviews

Melrose Naples

Naples

The online pictures do not do this place justice. This hotel was so cute and the service was excellent. It is also in the perfect location and a very safe neighborhood.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Corallo

Sorrento

We chose this hotel because a friend had stayed there and we are so glad we upgraded from what we originally booked. This hotel is beautiful and charming. and in a great location. We stayed in the deluxe room and had a fantastic view of the sea. Definitely walk down to the black beach for the day. Town is only a 30 minute walk or you can take the shuttle. The rooms very very clean, staff was A+++ and the view was absolutely amazing! I highly recommend this hotel!

Authenticity & Character

Beautifully decorated

Location

Close to town and lots of restaurants, the best view!

Staff

every single staff person went above and beyond to make sure our experience was top notch. They seemed to genuinely enjoy working at the htoel.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Perfecto!

Activity Reviews

Street Food Tour

Italy

Daniella was the best tour guide. Her English was excellent, she made an effort to talk to our entire group, she also made sure we all stayed together, she brought ponchos for us in case in rained, she had wonderful stories and also gave us a lot of historic facts about Naples and the local food and was so cute and cheerful with little jokes. LOVED her! She seemed to really enjoy her job!

Quality of Experience

The excursions were of the highest quality

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Winery visit and wine tasting in Pompeii area including light lunch

Italy

Wow, this was one of the best experiences. A scenic location, quality wines, expert guidance and amazing food! We started out with a tour and then had lunch. I loved how they brought out several small plates. We sat, drank wine, enjoyed the beautiful scenery and they just kept bringing us plate after plate of delicious food. Together, these elements created a memorable and enriching experience that exemplifies what a top-notch winery should offer. I have high standards and this met my expectations 100%

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pompeii ruin visit with a private guide

Italy

Visiting the Pompeii ruins was an unforgettable experience that transported me back in time. As I walked through the ancient streets, I was struck by the remarkable preservation of the site, which vividly illustrates daily life during the Roman Empire. On a sad note, our tour guide was not the best. He often walked ahead of the group, didn't speak loud enough and often started talking before our entire group got together. At one point he started arguing with a security person because there were so many people cutting in front of us. We told him it was fine but he then said no it's not fine and they need to do something about it. He was more upset then we were. We didn't even know his name. He did seem to know a lot of the history and was very informative but was not in a good mood.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pizza Making Class

Italy

The pizza-making class was an absolute delight, filled with laughter and creativity from start to finish. Upon arrival, we were greeted by our enthusiastic instructors, Anna and Giuseppe who exuded passion for both pizza and Italian culture. We made Tiramisu with Anna and pizza with Giuseppe. The actual place was so nicely decorated. We made the Tiramisu, placed it in the fridge to cool and ate it at the end of the night. We each made a pizza, different kinds and shared each one. The best part was savoring our delicious creations together, sharing stories and laughter over each slice. This fun and interactive class not only taught us valuable culinary skills but also created lasting memories and a deeper appreciation for the art of pizza-making. Anna and Giuseppe had the best personalities, we all felt like we were at a friends house for dinner.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Anna and Giuseppe were such gracious hosts!!!!

Transport

Day trip to Capri Island from The Amalfi Coast - small group

Italy

The boat tour of the Isle of Capri was a breathtaking experience that offered stunning views and a sense of adventure from start to finish. We upgraded from a large group to just our group of 6 and I'm glad we did that as it was more personal. Our guide Francesco was great and he shared fascinating insights about Capri’s history and landmarks. The blue grotto was so busy that we decided to skip it but our guide took us to the white cave, the red cave and the love cave. At first I was very sad because the Blue Grotto is on my bucket list but I got to experience the beautiful blue water in the other caves as well. Maybe not as big but I did see it. Along the way, we enjoyed delicious local snacks and sipped on refreshing drinks, soaking in the sun and the beautiful scenery. Francesco made us a lunch reservation at Restaurante La Canzone Del Mare and the view was amazing and the food was delicious. We then took the chair lift up to the top of the mountain, a must do!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Steph did an amazing job. Coordinating our flights and ground transportation to the safari camps was flawless.

Cape Town was fun. Skip Karibu restaurant. Plenty of much better places nearby

Cape of Good Hope is a must do. Book a private tour. Our 'small group' tour had 23 people on a 23 seat bus. Several were ill and they passed it along. 24 hours of down time.

The foodie tour was unimpressive.

Our hike up Table Mountain was fantastic. Justin Hawthorne is an amazing guide. 10/10.

The Safari camps were great.

We liked Umlani camp in Timbavati: it had the best animal viewing of the trip. The camp itself is just great.

Rhino Post Lodge is amazing. Just a beautiful place and excellent service. Our Guide Wesley was great.

The Vic Falls tour was more crowded than we would have preferred. Batonka Guest Lodge was just great. We would avoid the Boma dinner: very touristy with crowds of people taking selfies. No thanks. Highly recommend the helicopter flight over the falls. We also enjoyed the river cruise upstream of the falls.

Hwange Bush Camp tied with Mana Pools as our favorite places. The Bush Camp is beautifully set overlooking a huge savannah. Sophie and Anthony are great hosts. Our guide Darmesh, was great. We also spent two nights at fly camp. We were the only guests and were treated like royalty. Spent 3 days tracking Black Rhino with two trackers and Darmesh. Walked 25 miles and never found them. Nevertheless an amazing experience out in the bush.

John's Camp/Croton Camp is great. Set near the shore of the Zambezi River, you overlook the flood plane with the mountains of Zambia in the background. Breathtaking. Milo is a wonderful host. We spent one night in the treehouse. What a unique experience.

Overall very happy with the trip.

Aline was terrific. She was able to plan a trip for my wife and I that was just wonderful. We saw a lot of south of France, our hotels were small boutique, hotels that were closer to town than a larger hotel might’ve been. The travel was all arranged for us, with only a tiny glitch or two, which were easily resolved.

The Eiffel Tower tour was really wonderful and learned a lot and had fun simultaneously. The activities were just right. Not too much not too little and we were able to relax and have a great time seeing new places and meeting some new people.

We also really enjoyed the cooking class and a free day in Antibes. Overall a really great trip. Thanks to Aline.

We can’t say enough about our trip through Morocco. Thank you KimKim and Original Travels. We never had to worry about anything. We were taken care of from the minute we made the reservation with KimKim as we always had accurate and well documented details. We landed in Tangier and met our driver Karim. For the next week we saw and learned so much about the sights, people, craftsmanship, religion, history and present-day Morocco. Karim’s English is very easy to understand, easy communication in person and through texting. We enjoyed learning about his life and family and his Berber culture. Thank you KimKim, Karim and Original Travels for all the perfect planning—unforgettable accommodations, delicious meals all along the way, great local tour guides, visiting artisan co-ops, Sahara camel rides with glamping accommodations, shopping, and cultural sites! Tangier, Chefchaouen, Fes, Atlas Mountains, Sahara Desert, Marrakesh. Best trip ever!

Our 10 day adventure began in Zagreb. Mario was our guide and he was fabulous! The sights we visited along our travels included 3 National Parks I think we took over 500 pics as every turn created a beautiful landscape. Plitvice Lakes waterfalls were breath taking and Krka National park rivers and rapids were spectacular. From there, we discovered Split and Hvar and got ready for 3 days island hopping on E-bikes.. We met up with Goran as our guide and were treated to manageable 15-20 mile bike hikes. I am 74 and my wife is 67.. what a great experience to visit Korkula island, Pelješac peninsula and finally Mjet island and national
park. Cycling was a great way to see so much of Croatia! We ended our trip to the beautiful city of Dubrovnik. We had visited this city one month earlier on a cruise ship trip. So, we were treated to mountain top views and fortresses that we would never have seen without our wonderful guide Goran. We can’t say enough about the coordination, the accommodations were 5 star+ and the friendships we made in just 10 days. We wanted to adopt them both snd take them home 🤗 KimKim and Robert (Robi) could not have done a more professional and satisfying job for us. You have to put Croatia on your bucket list!!!

Positives
Krista was very responsive.
Patrick, our guide for “Forest to Fjord” was very good. Please note, however, that our itinerary indicated this would be a two hour experience and it actually was about five hours (10 to 3). Also, we were not informed that we should pack a lunch for this day but managed to purchase food at a mountain cafe.
Particularly good: in Oslo on the island — outdoor Norway folklife, Kon Tiki and the Fram museums.

Negatives:
The Oslo Evening on the fjord dinner trip was too long and had no interpretation. Though a beautiful cruise you might inform clients it’s really a “party” and drinking scene.
The cancellation of our excursion trip to Fjareland was very disappointing—we still await a refund from you. This also led to a lot of spare time with nothing to do in Balestrand, as the weather turned cold.
The payment mix up at Sogndal Quality Hotel was irritating but did get worked out.
It would be helpful to alert future travelers to leaner offerings and closures when traveling so late in September to Norway.

Just returned from 11 day tour of Switzerland. Amandine was our agent who planned the entire trip. Everything was perfect. Every hotel she picked was very close to trains and extremely clean. We had lots of excursions planned by Amandine and the details on where to go what time to go etc. were very easy to understand. We never had any problems. I would choose Amandine to plan my next European vacation.

We had a wonderful trip to Morocco - it was our first time and kimkim.com made it easy to connect with our local planner, Majid. Majid iterated with us on the itinerary and was super responsive on kimkim. He did a great job helping us create the perfect itinerary. The riads and hotels he suggested were super fun for us. And he connected us with our local driver and guide, Mouad.
Mouad was great! He drove us all over Morocco seeing the sites and explaining about the local culture and experiences of living there. Mouad was super friendly and helpful. He went out of his way to procure pomegranates, apples, dates or anything else we needed.
We are already looking forward to our next trip to Morocco and would gladly use them again!

The trip was everything we hoped for. All booked tours , transfers and hotels were seamless. We were welcomed in both countries with a welcome package with all important information. When we needed to get in touch with agents both Paula and Sherri were helpful and timely with their responses.
We had friendly and Knowledgeable guides for each excursion. One who particularly stood out was our guide Dandy in Melbourne. He took us on the Great Ocean Road, entertained us and was attentive to the needs of everyone on the tour.
We could not be more thrilled with our experience.

Hotel Reviews

The Grace Hotel

Sydney, NSW

Beautifully located with Friendly and attentive taff. a mix of old and new.

Authenticity & Character

Historic charm well updated

Location

Central in the CBD. Easy walking distance to warf and central

Staff

very friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mini bar replenished daily. Large room and nepresso

Port Douglas Peninsula Boutique Hotel

Port Douglas

In Port Douglas, the hotel was great! Our apartment was fantastic and the hotel offered free laundry services which was wonderful. The location was convenient and the breakfast, although not included, was amazing with people coming from outside just for it.

Vibe Hotel

Melbourne

The Vibe Hotel in Melbourne was a pleasant stay with a modern look and a great location. Laundry services were available, which was really helpful.

The Hermitage Hotel

Mount Cook Village

The Hermitage Hotel at Mount Cook was extraordinary and the highlight of our accommodations. It was a splurge but worth every penny for the breathtaking location. Note that it's a cashless hotel, something to be aware of if staying there.

Sudima Lake Rotorua

Rotorua

Sudima Lake Rotorua was disappointing due to the strong sulfur smell that woke us up at night. The hotel was under renovation, with construction noise all day. We received a complimentary drink, but it didn't quite compensate. The pool was closed, which was another letdown.

Activity Reviews

Full Day Rotorua to Auckland Hobbiton and Waitomo Tour

Rotorua

The Hobbiton tour was surprisingly enjoyable despite not being a huge fan of Lord of the Rings. We watched the movies before going and found the experience to be a lot of fun.

Big Sky Stargazing Adventure

New Zealand

Couldn't do the Big Sky Stargazing Adventure due to clouds, but the company was prompt with a refund. Appreciated their efficiency, showing great customer service.

Aleksandra was excellent! She took our specific interests and likes and crafted them into a well planned eight day vacation in London. She gave us an excellent mix of the history and culture and Overall vibe of London. We changed our days of travel and she was right on top of moving scheduled tours to accommodate. Can’t give enough positive feedback for how quickly and professionally and pleasantly she and Kim Kim reacted to, our needs. A note to travelers – Apple Pay and the subway system are a must! Google maps was very helpful in navigating both walking and public transit. No need to do a currency exchange as long as you have Apple Pay or a credit card. Thank you again.

Hotel Review

NYX Hotel London Holborn by Leonardo Hotels

London

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Afternoon Tea at Fortnum & Mason

London

Hampton Court and Hever Castle Tudor Tour

London

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tower of London Beefeater Welcome & Crown Jewels

London

Quality of Experience

Hidden Pubs of London tour

London

Wow!!! what a fun and informative night couldn’t have asked for a better guide than we had. would highly recommend this experience!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Six Course Michelin Star Dining with Champagne for Two at Angler Restaurant

London