Kimkim Trip Reviews

4.8
Based on 14,523 ratings
Read 14,523 verified reviews by travelers who booked their trip on kimkim. You can also read reviews about kimkim on 3rd party sites including Google, TrustPilot and Yelp.

2022 Honeymoon in Italy!
Italy | Sep 27 - Oct 11, 2022

Dmitry
Dmitry W.
Middleton, WI | Reviewed on Jan 21, 2023
Worked with KimKim and specifically Cecilia at a local Italian travel agency to plan our honeymoon to Italy in Fall of 2022. It was a breeze to plan, and Cecilia made sure to work in all our requests while still helping us find experiences with best local guides for things we were not sure about. Can't beat the ease, safety, value, and guaranteed high quality experience that kimkim ensures your vacation will be. This was our 3rd trip in different parts of the world that we booked through them... Read more

Worked with KimKim and specifically Cecilia at a local Italian travel agency to plan our honeymoon to Italy in Fall of 2022. It was a breeze to plan, and Cecilia made sure to work in all our requests while still helping us find experiences with best local guides for things we were not sure about. Can't beat the ease, safety, value, and guaranteed high quality experience that kimkim ensures your vacation will be. This was our 3rd trip in different parts of the world that we booked through them and we will definitely be back!

Activity Reviews
Pizza and gelato making class
Pizza and gelato making class
Florence
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Best of Venice guided walking tour with gondola ride
Best of Venice guided walking tour with gondola ride
Italy
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
SMALL GROUP TUSCANY WINE AND OLIVE OIL TOUR
SMALL GROUP TUSCANY WINE AND OLIVE OIL TOUR
Florence
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Walking tour with the Accademia Gallery
Walking tour with the Accademia Gallery
Florence
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
SEMI PRIVATE - FLORENCE: PISA, SIENA, SAN GIMIGNANO, CHIANTI TOUR
SEMI PRIVATE - FLORENCE: PISA, SIENA, SAN GIMIGNANO, CHIANTI TOUR
Florence
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Vatican & Sistine Chapel - Small Group Tour
Vatican & Sistine Chapel - Small Group Tour
Rome
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Capri Day Trip from Sorrento
Capri Day Trip from Sorrento
Sorrento
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
MURANO, BURANO AND TORCELLO EXCURSION
MURANO, BURANO AND TORCELLO EXCURSION
Venice
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
 COOKING CLASS IN ROME
COOKING CLASS IN ROME
Rome
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Colosseum, Roman Forums and Palatine Hill
Colosseum, Roman Forums and Palatine Hill
Rome
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Amalfi Coast experience from Sorrento
Amalfi Coast experience from Sorrento
Sorrento
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
PRIVATE VISIT TO THE SORRENTINE HILLS AND A FARM WITH LOCAL TASTINGS
PRIVATE VISIT TO THE SORRENTINE HILLS AND A FARM WITH LOCAL TASTINGS
Sorrento
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Cecilia Ventura
Cecilia
Cecilia Ventura
Local specialist in Rome | Replied on Feb 14, 2023

Hi Dmitry!
Thank you for all your words. This is the best part of my job

Patagonia Review
Patagonia | Jan 5 - Jan 16, 2023

K
Kira P.
Manhattan, NY | Reviewed on Jan 21, 2023
KimKim review: Emi was amazing and curated such a wonderful trip for us. Booking on KimKim was very convenient for us as we had very little time ourselves to plan a whole trip. The one aspect that caused some frustration was that Emi was only reachable by email effectively which makes the process very slow. I think even having one phone call to sort out small details and ask questions would have been much more efficient. In addition, factors outside of our control (big storms that take out... Read more

KimKim review: Emi was amazing and curated such a wonderful trip for us. Booking on KimKim was very convenient for us as we had very little time ourselves to plan a whole trip. The one aspect that caused some frustration was that Emi was only reachable by email effectively which makes the process very slow. I think even having one phone call to sort out small details and ask questions would have been much more efficient. In addition, factors outside of our control (big storms that take out internet for a week or Park Ranger strikes) made Emi inaccessible for a week. We certainly don’t blame Emi for this at all, but it did create kinks in the planning process.

Once we were in Patagonia, our local support on WhatsApp Mateo was SO responsive and immediately available when issues came up (a lost reservation at one of the hotels, a lost cab, etc). None of these were KimKim’s fault but each issue was resolved in minutes. This was such an amazing feature!

Our trip review:

Transitions:
The transitions were seamless and we didn’t have any issues at all! Cab transfers to and from the major airports with local guides was a nice touch but ultimately for those wanting to save money, getting a cab/uber on your own seemed easy in Buenos Aires and Santiago and was likely a lot cheaper. I would therefore offer the transfer as an option. I would definitely recommend the private transfer from Calafate airport to El Chalten lodging. Puerto Natales also has a great cab system, and Weskar lodge can call a cab for you at any time that will be there in 5 minutes. That being said, not having to worry about calling cars was such a luxury. Our Taxi driver in Puerto Natales from the bus terminal to Weskar was really great.
- The bus from Argentina to Chile was very easy but a little confusing at the boarder. We could have used some instruction on what to expect.

English speaking guides:
- We found the guide in Buenos Aires to be helpful, especially because we had just arrived and money changing is quite difficult in Argentina. The English speaking guide in Santiago was not necessary for us, although if you are starting your trip in Santiago it could be nice.
- In general, we felt we did not need english speaking guides for transit purposes.

Airport timing: We appreciated getting to the airport before international flights early, but 2 hours early would have sufficed and definitely you don’t need to get to Calafate airport or Puerto Natales airport more than one hour in advance (2 hours early was way too much time). It felt like we were sitting for hours waiting for those flights. Others may have different preferences.

Hotels: We loved all of the hotels we stayed at. Weskar Lodge in Puerto Natales and Alto Calafate were our favorites. The pools and sauna at Alto Calafate after our 30 mile trek in Chalten was such a nice treat. It’s sort of away from the main town, but they have an hourly shuttle that takes you to and from the center of town. Weskar Lodge is also a bit outside of the center but we loved the 20-30min walks along the water to get into town.
For younger people like us wanting a more social lodging situation, staying in hostels in Chalten and Puerto Natales or even the major cities would have also been fun options. But we were really happy with the hotels Emi chose.
-We ended up booking a one-night stay at the Patagonia EcoDomes which was an absolute highlight. From the Domes you can hike directly to Lagos de los Tres and then hike down to town and they had a car that could bring your belongings down El Chalten for free. We had already paid for a private transfer, but this was a great option! They can also call you a cab easily so a transfer isn’t necessary if you want timing to be flexible.

Highlights:
Lagos de Los Tres
Mini Trekking in Calafate
Kayaking in Puerto Natales
(We also heard Paddle boarding with PatagoniaPaddle (you can find on IG) is an amazing activity although we didn’t do it.)
Hiking Base Torres in Torres del Paine (and our guide Claudia was amazing)
Tango show in Buenos Aires
All of the food in Puerto Natales- we were happy to have so many nights there!

We enjoyed the second hike in Torres del Paine through guanaco territory because we saw cave paintings and learned a bit more about the natives and the geology, but it was a very mild hiking day (~6 miles) and some may have preferred a larger trek in the park. We were tired after hiking Base Torres so it was actually nice! Also, Gabriella our guide was fantastic

Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers was also a really fun boat excursion. We also heard great things about the Grey Glacier boat excursion.

Overall AMAZING trip with basically no issues. Thank you all so much!!

Hotel Reviews
Two Hotel Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires

Nice hotel, basic amenities, continental breakfast, good location.

Posada y Cabañas El Barranco
El Chalten

Basic amenities, private ground floor room. Very close to trails and main strip. Nothing special. A hostel would have probably been just as nice and more social.

Alto Calafate Hotel Patagonico
El Calafate

Spa, massages, sauna, pool was so nice after trekking in Chalten! AMAZING view of Calafate-- we sat outside reading with wine every afternoon. Shuttles every hour can take you into town.

Weskar Lodge
Puerto Natales

Amazing view over the bay. Great staff and breakfast. They can easily call cabs within 4 minutes. Only a 20-30min walk into town (beautiful walk along the water) or a 5 min cab away.

Activity Reviews
Full day tour to Parque Nacional Los Glaciares and Minitrekking
Full day tour to Parque Nacional Los Glaciares and Minitrekking
El Calafate

Such a highlight!! Would recommend 100%

Full day Hiking Base Las Torres - 20km approx
Full day Hiking Base Las Torres - 20km approx
Puerto Natales

Our guide was amazing and we had a great group. The hike is spectacular. They provide trekking poles. You definitely want to be in good shape for this one. The drive from Puerto Natales is a couple hours so bring a book or something to listen to.

 Eberhard Fjord Kayaking Tour
Eberhard Fjord Kayaking Tour
Puerto Natales

It was very windy and difficult but still so much fun! There were many beginners on our trip who did great, and one blind woman! It was definitely hard, but worth it. There is a mini hike on the island where you kayak to with amazing views of Patagonia.

Full day Hike Porteria Lago Sarmiento - 6/7 km approx
Full day Hike Porteria Lago Sarmiento - 6/7 km approx
Puerto Natales

Definitely an easier day. We enjoyed seeing cave drawings and learning about guanacos, the other fauna, and the native history and geology.

Navigation to Balmaceda & Serrano Glaciers
Navigation to Balmaceda & Serrano Glaciers
Puerto Natales

Good to do after a big trek to rest. The average age was definitely 60-80 (or young children) so we felt a little bit young but the glaciers are so cool to see (although not as impressive as Merano glacier), they serve whisky on the rocks and serve an enormous plate of lamb for lunch- we had a BLAST.

Local specialist: Emilce Alonso

Mexico is great. Never again Rutopia.
Mexico | Dec 28 - Jan 18, 2023

Emilia
Emilia L.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Jan 21, 2023
We spent three weeks in Mexico on a trip organised for us by Rutopia. Mexico was astonishing, beautiful, interesting, fun and we cannot wait to return. But we will not be doing so with Rutopia. We were put in contact with Rutopia via the site Kim Kim, which is an independent travel website putting users in touch with country experts… ostensibly. I’d used Kim Kim before and had been happy with the resulting trip. Not this time. Rutopia seemed great before setting out. They were friendly and... Read more

We spent three weeks in Mexico on a trip organised for us by Rutopia. Mexico was astonishing, beautiful, interesting, fun and we cannot wait to return. But we will not be doing so with Rutopia. We were put in contact with Rutopia via the site Kim Kim, which is an independent travel website putting users in touch with country experts… ostensibly. I’d used Kim Kim before and had been happy with the resulting trip. Not this time.

Rutopia seemed great before setting out. They were friendly and efficient in their communication and their detailed itinerary also seemed fine. Their local contact – via WhatsApp was helpful, friendly and responded quickly. But the sheer number of providers they subcontract to and the subcontractors in-turn subcontracting to others make for a supply chain of chaos. And we start to see things change a day or two before we depart.

First, Rutopia was unable to book us tickets to the Frieda Khalo museum (this was part of the detailed itinerary we paid for). They blamed the large visiting New Year’s Eve crowds buying up all the tickets. I thought it was odd because we had planned the trip with them months before, so if Rutopia – as local experts – would expect crowds, they’d be able to jump on the tickets right away. Or Rutopia would have alerted me to this possibility so I could’ve made sure to be on the alert as soon as the tickets went on sale. Rutopia proposed a virtual reality Khalo experience instead, but we weren’t interested. I opted instead for a free day in CDMX. Did Rutopia offer a refund for that day? No. And I thought it was odd, but I didn’t ask for one. The reason: at our request, Rutopia got us an upgraded room in the hotel they had booked for us. We requested the upgrade because our original room had a paper-thin connecting door to the next room and we could hear our next-door neighbours clearly as if they were in the room with us. Five days of that was a non-starter. So, considering the upgrade, I didn’t ask for a refund for that day. We had a lovely time on our own and visiting Teotihuacan as per our itinerary.

Second, we depart CDMX and our flight arrival time was not listed properly on our itinerary. That didn’t affect us, but the transfer driver had been told an even earlier time and had been waiting for us for something like three hours. We thought it was odd, but again, didn’t suspect what was about to happen.

Third, our departure from San Cristobal was scheduled for 3am via a private transfer. This was clearly stated in our detailed trip itinerary Rutopia drafted for us and which we agreed before paying them a five-figure sum for our trip. We would then stop en-route to visit two waterfall areas.

At 3am on the designated day, a large, multi-person van pulls up. The driver is cross seeing our luggage and says he would’ve sent a different vehicle if he knew we had luggage. We thought this was odd. It wasn’t a lot of luggage for two people travelling for three weeks: a weekend-sized rollaboard, a large duffel bag (these were the two largest pieces), two small rucksacks/daypacks, a small camera bag and a small handbag. This attitude and the type of vehicle prompted me to ask if we would be the only persons. The driver said no. He needed to pick up more people between 3am and 5am. We were merely the first stop.

We were stunned. I explained, in my basic Spanish, we had paid for a private transfer. The driver calls his boss (not Rutopia – each driver we’ve had so far and would have for the trip is from a different company – supply chain hell as I previously mentioned) and the boss tells him he doesn’t know what’s going on. The driver asks us for a confirmation voucher. We never received any vouchers from Rutopia and no one until then had asked us for any. It’s the digital age after all, and we had our detailed itinerary, which I showed the driver. The driver is now visibly annoyed with us and asks us what we want to do. It’s after 3am, we’ve checked out of our hotel and we are trapped. So of course we say we will stay on the bus and make the several hour journey like this. But this wasn’t satisfactory to the driver! He drives us back to the hotel and dumps us there. In Spanish he says to the passenger in the seat next to him that he’s washing his hands of us. My spoken Spanish isn’t good, but my understanding of it is excellent. I hear this clearly.

We’re now back at the hotel. I’ve messaged Rutopia, called them and nothing – obviously, it’s almost 4am. I next call the transfer company and I speak to who I believe is the driver’s boss. That person tells me there’s no private transfer for that day and if I want the same driver to return. Of course I say yes to have him return. That’s what we had said to the driver originally. We had no choice!

When the van arrives back at our hotel, it’s full of passengers and there’s no room for our luggage. We spend the next six hours jammed with most of our luggage on our laps, in seats not next to each other, on the tortuous roads of Chiapas. Because we had believed we had a private transfer, we had left our bathing suits (for the waterfall stops) in our luggage as we believed we would have easy access to them. The reality was our luggage was piled with others’ and things had to be moved just for all the passengers to be able to get out of the van. We were utterly unprepared for the hell trip this was and were extremely disappointed we couldn’t go swimming. Of course the sights were beautiful, but they were marred by the utter discomfort of the trip. Had we paid for this type of transfer and had a backpacker trip in mind, then fine. But that’s not what we paid five figures for.

Our itinerary also detailed a sunset visit to the ruins of Palenque as the final activity for that day. Did that happen? Nope. We were dropped off at our hotel around 12.30 or so. Check-in wasn’t until 3pm, but were able to get into our rooms a little earlier.

When the Rutopia in-country representative came back on line I requested a refund. The in-country representative said the transfer was meant to be shared and didn’t know why her colleagues had written private. We were shocked by this. I pointed to the detailed itinerary showing clearly the transfer was private. The itinerary is the contract we agreed to with Rutopia and they couldn’t change significant things and just say oops. I asked about the sunset tour of the ruins and nothing. That didn’t exist either. So we had had a hell trip from 3am for nothing.

I asked for a refund of that day. Reluctantly, Rutopia agreed and said it would be in my account a few days later. It’s now weeks later and it’s not there.

After this incident, there were others. For example, one driver was told to pick us up at 8am, but our itinerary says 9am and that’s confirmed the day before by the in-country representative. During the day, we discover he had been waiting for us from 7.30am. And no wonder he was sullen when we stroll up at 9am with no apology. Both of us had been under different instructions.

Another example, I had mentioned several times in the discussions with Rutopia we are vegan. And where do we go for one of our activities – a crocodile farm. The activity listed was for a boat trip, but it didn’t list we would be going to a crocodile farm, which we would have refused. The boat trip itself was nice, but the nature of it was totally different on the detailed itinerary. And that happened a lot. Things would be described in one way on the itinerary, but would be quite different in reality. It was as if Rutopia hadn’t updated themselves on what was actually happening on the ground.

Our breakfasts were included, but only one hotel during the entire three weeks seemed to have gotten the message we are vegan. And kudos to them. The irony was there were even vegan hotels in many of the places we stayed, but Rutopia didn’t suggest them to us. And as this was not a trip I planned, I didn’t do all the research. After all, I believed I was paying for someone to do that.

This disconnect between paper and relity was reflected in some of the hotels. In particular, the hotel in Punta Morelos. Ostensibly a three-star hotel given the three stars on its façade. In reality, a mouldy, 1980s nylon curtained, tired two stars at best. Again, if that’s the trip we had paid for, then ok. But at the five figures we spent, then no. Not acceptable.

Rutopia is disorganised. They have to make their margins wherever they can and so do their subcontractors. At the end of this stick is the driver and the traveller. And the poor in-country representative who has to hear the traveller’s complaints. So, never again Rutopia.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel El Moro
Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo

This is a two star hotel at best. Mouldy, badly in need of an update, motel style nylon curtains and a common area which could be the site of a crime show. Avoid

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
everything
Guayaba Inn
San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas

Lovely place, spacious room, beautiful gardens. No vegan food available.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Punto Mx
Mexico City

Do not get a room with a connecting door. The connecting doors are paper thin and you'll be able to hear next door as if they were right in the room with you. However, the location is great. And the upgraded room we eventually got was terrific. No vegan food.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel La Aldea del Halach Huinic
Palenque

The rooms are bleak and need an update. But they're clean and the bed is comfortable. The location is great though with lots of wildlife and trees. The restaurant was pretty good too. They had vegan food.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Casa Don Gustavo
Campeche

This was the best hotel of our trip. They were the only ones who actually had gotten the message of our dietary requirements and prepared accordingly. The location is perfect. The rooms and the entire property are gorgeous.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Casa Lucia Hotel Boutique
Mérida, Yucatán

Location was good. But the rooms were tired and noisy. Clean though.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Le Muuch
Valladolid, Yucatán

Small room with nowhere to put luggage other than in a corner on the floor. But nice property. Impossibly slow breakfast service. Thirty minutes just for a cup of coffee, which was all we ordered. Good location.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Private Transfer from San Cristobal to Palenque - visit Agua Azul and Misol Ha en Route
Private Transfer from San Cristobal to Palenque - visit Agua Azul and Misol Ha en Route
Mexico

This was hell and it wasn't a private transfer at all. I've set this all out in my detailed feedback letter. But here's an excerpt: Third, our departure from San Cristobal was scheduled for 3am via a private transfer. This was clearly stated in our detailed trip itinerary Rutopia drafted for us and which we agreed before paying them a five-figure sum for our trip. We would then stop en-route to visit two waterfall areas. At 3am on the designated day, a large, multi-person van pulls up. The driver is cross seeing our luggage and says he would’ve sent a different vehicle if he knew we had luggage. We thought this was odd. It wasn’t a lot of luggage for two people travelling for three weeks: a weekend-sized rollaboard, a large duffel bag (these were the two largest pieces), two small rucksacks/daypacks, a small camera bag and a small handbag. This attitude and the type of vehicle prompted me to ask if we would be the only persons. The driver said no. He needed to pick up more people between 3am and 5am. We were merely the first stop. We were stunned. I explained, in my basic Spanish, we had paid for a private transfer. The driver calls his boss (not Rutopia – each driver we’ve had so far and would have for the trip is from a different company – supply chain hell as I previously mentioned) and the boss tells him he doesn’t know what’s going on. The driver asks us for a confirmation voucher. We never received any vouchers from Rutopia and no one until then had asked us for any. It’s the digital age after all, and we had our detailed itinerary, which I showed the driver. The driver is now visibly annoyed with us and asks us what we want to do. It’s after 3am, we’ve checked out of our hotel and we are trapped. So of course we say we will stay on the bus and make the several hour journey like this. But this wasn’t satisfactory to the driver! He drives us back to the hotel and dumps us there. In Spanish he says to the passenger in the seat next to him that he’s washing his hands of us. My spoken Spanish isn’t good, but my understanding of it is excellent. I hear this clearly. We’re now back at the hotel. I’ve messaged Rutopia, called them and nothing – obviously, it’s almost 4am. I next call the transfer company and I speak to who I believe is the driver’s boss. That person tells me there’s no private transfer for that day and if I want the same driver to return. Of course I say yes to have him return. That’s what we had said to the driver originally. We had no choice! When the van arrives back at our hotel, it’s full of passengers and there’s no room for our luggage. We spend the next six hours jammed with most of our luggage on our laps, in seats not next to each other, on the tortuous roads of Chiapas. Because we had believed we had a private transfer, we had left our bathing suits (for the waterfall stops) in our luggage as we believed we would have easy access to them. The reality was our luggage was piled with others’ and things had to be moved just for all the passengers to be able to get out of the van. We were utterly unprepared for the hell trip this was and were extremely disappointed we couldn’t go swimming. Of course the sights were beautiful, but they were marred by the utter discomfort of the trip. Had we paid for this type of transfer and had a backpacker trip in mind, then fine. But that’s not what we paid five figures for. Our itinerary also detailed a sunset visit to the ruins of Palenque as the final activity for that day. Did that happen? Nope. We were dropped off at our hotel around 12.30 or so. Check-in wasn’t until 3pm, but were able to get into our rooms a little earlier. When the Rutopia in-country representative came back on line I requested a refund. The in-country representative said the transfer was meant to be shared and didn’t know why her colleagues had written private. We were shocked by this. I pointed to the detailed itinerary showing clearly the transfer was private. The itinerary is the contract we agreed to with Rutopia and they couldn’t change significant things and just say oops. I asked about the sunset tour of the ruins and nothing. That didn’t exist either. So we had had a hell trip from 3am for nothing. I asked for a refund of that day. Reluctantly, Rutopia agreed and said it would be in my account a few days later. It’s now weeks later and it’s not there.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Lucha Libre Experience & Mezcal Tasting
Lucha Libre Experience & Mezcal Tasting
Mexico City

Fantastic night and great guide.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Shared biking experience through Teotihuacan "The City of the Gods"
Shared biking experience through Teotihuacan "The City of the Gods"
Mexico City

Brilliant day. Terrific guide.

Quality of Experience
Food
restaurant had clearly marked vegan options!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Natalia Tavera Daza

We loved our trip to Chile! Every place was a...
Chile | Jan 9 - Jan 20, 2023

Y
Yana D.
Keller, TX | Reviewed on Jan 21, 2023
We loved our trip to Chile! Every place was amazing- experiences was the best in every place! Hotel in San Pedro Atacama desert - la casa de Don Thomas was the best!!! All guides and drivers were great and helpful! Communication was great! Thank you for a best time of our life!!! Read more

We loved our trip to Chile! Every place was amazing- experiences was the best in every place! Hotel in San Pedro Atacama desert - la casa de Don Thomas was the best!!! All guides and drivers were great and helpful! Communication was great! Thank you for a best time of our life!!!

Hotel Reviews
Hotel La Casa de Don Tomás
San Pedro de Atacama
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Fundador
Santiago, Región Metropolitana
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Park Inn by Radisson Puerto Varas
Puerto Varas
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Glaciares
cesson sevigne
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Excursion to Chiloe Island: Ancud, Castro & Dalcahue
Excursion to Chiloe Island: Ancud, Castro & Dalcahue
Puerto Varas
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Rafting Petrohué River
Rafting Petrohué River
Puerto Varas
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Evening Astronomy Tour
Evening Astronomy Tour
San Pedro de Atacama
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Half day Moon Valley and Mirador Ckari
Half day Moon Valley and Mirador Ckari
San Pedro de Atacama
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Navigation to Balmaceda & Serrano Glaciers
Navigation to Balmaceda & Serrano Glaciers
Puerto Natales
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full day Hiking Base Las Torres - 20km approx
Full day Hiking Base Las Torres - 20km approx
Puerto Natales

The best part of vocation!!!!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Torres del Paine National Park
Torres del Paine National Park
Puerto Natales
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Rainbow Valley
Rainbow Valley
San Pedro de Atacama
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Tatio Geysers
Tatio Geysers
San Pedro de Atacama
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Cejar & Tebinquiche Lagoons - Atacama Salt Flat
Cejar & Tebinquiche Lagoons - Atacama Salt Flat
San Pedro de Atacama
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Ana Maibach Cikes
Ana
Ana Maibach Cikes
Local specialist in Córdoba | Replied on Jan 30, 2023

Dear Yana,

It was a pleasure hosting you and Vlad in Chile! Thank you very much for taking the time to write a review for all the activities and hotels, this helps us to continue improving day by day.

It was a pleasure planning this trip with you and it makes me very happy to know that everything was to your liking.
I look forward to working with you again soon!

All the best,
Ana and the entire Trips South America team

The trip was amazing! Everything was planned ...
Chile | Jan 9 - Jan 20, 2023

V
Vladyslav B.
Keller, TX | Reviewed on Jan 21, 2023

The trip was amazing! Everything was planned so well and there was a great variety of experiences with nothing overlapping. It is hard to experience a huge country like Chile in limited time but we had an wonderful variety of activities in every location we visited and we enjoyed every day there

Local specialist: Ana Maibach Cikes
Ana
Ana Maibach Cikes
Local specialist in Córdoba | Replied on Jan 23, 2023

Dear Vald,

Thanks for your kind words! It was a pleasure helping you plan this beautiful trip!
We hope to receive you again soon!

Regards,
Ana and the entire Trips South America team :D

A perfect 2 weeks in Patagonia: Puerto Natales, Torres del Paine, El Calafate, Los Glaciares, El Chalten
Patagonia | Dec 9 - Dec 22, 2022

Caroline
Caroline D.
Charlotte, NC | Reviewed on Jan 20, 2023
We had the trip of a lifetime! It's really hard to narrow down our favorite parts of the trip, but one huge positive of using Erin and her team at Dittmar was that they were able to find experiences that were off-the-beaten-path, give us great advice on the better-known hikes and sites, and tailored the entire trip to our exact requests. My husband and I are both extremely busy people, so to be able to tell Erin the major things that we wanted to see, the type of vacationing that we wanted to... Read more

We had the trip of a lifetime! It's really hard to narrow down our favorite parts of the trip, but one huge positive of using Erin and her team at Dittmar was that they were able to find experiences that were off-the-beaten-path, give us great advice on the better-known hikes and sites, and tailored the entire trip to our exact requests. My husband and I are both extremely busy people, so to be able to tell Erin the major things that we wanted to see, the type of vacationing that we wanted to do, and let her largely plan the trip from there, was awesome! I also loved that she and her colleagues had experienced all of the excursions, hikes, and many of the hotels themselves, so could give real-time feedback and advice as we were selecting our itinerary.

One of the best days of the entire trip was going to Estancia La Peninsula in Puerto Natales. This was a last-minute addition to the itinerary after our flight from the States to Chile was unexpectedly moved up a day. While nothing will beat the insanely beautiful views of the national parks in both countries, this day was uniquely special, intimate, and fun. We visited the ranch with 4 other tourists and really got to know the owner and staff as a result. We learned a ton about the culture of Chile and the Patagonia region, got to know their life stories, had a DELICIOUS meal, saw beautiful views on horseback, and just generally had such a special day. These are the types of experiences that Dittmar and Erin arrange: ones that truly unique to the region and to working with Dittmar. That said, Erin and team were also great with the more traditional "must-sees/dos." For example, Erin had a ton of great tips for us while on the 3-night, 4-day W Trek in Torres del Paine, and we felt more prepared and were able to really enjoy our time as a result.

We're so sad that our trip is over, but we're recommending it to anyone and everyone we know now that we are back in the US!

Hotel Reviews
The Singular Patagonia
Puerto Natales

One of the best hotels we've been to yet--gorgeous views, top-of-the-line service, delicious food, and such a unique, historical setting.

Authenticity & Character
One of the coolest places we've stayed--it's like a hotel within a museum. Like that they've added minimalistic architecture to the existing structure to really preserve the history of the place.
Location
Gorgeous views of the fjords, quick ride (or long walk) into town, so there was a lot of privacy and serenity.
Staff
Such nice and helpful people that we felt like we got to know!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Great spa area, super cozy bar / restaurant to hang out in after a busy day or to grab a bite
Cabaña Los Cuernos
Puerto Natales

The prettiest place I've EVER been. The cabins were well worth the extra cost as a break from the tents, and nice to have a more private bathroom with just the other cabin-goers. I will never forget this awesome place!

Authenticity & Character
The little cabins were so quaint and cute, while blending in with the surroundings
Location
Truly the prettiest place, maybe on earth
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Camping Paine Grande
Puerto Natales, Chile
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Bathrooms were not great but everything else was perfectly fine!
Hotel Lago Grey
Torres del Paine

The most amazing night after 3 nights of camping on the W! Such a serene lobby, loved the architecture, great food, and insanely gorgeous views.

Authenticity & Character
loved that the architecture was so minimalist and let the views speak for themselves. The lobby/bar area is like a living room--cozy and warm, perfect after a long day of hiking
Location
Such a gorgeous view of Lake Grey and the Cuernos / Paine Grande. What
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Kosten Aike
El Calafate

Great breakfasts, super nice staff, perfect location!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Just off the main drag, which makes all of the areas you'd want to see in Calafate accessible, but without too much noise.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Chalten Suites Hotel
El Chalten

Nicest staff! Great breakfast, beautiful views, perfect location!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Right on the main street--easy access to the hiking/adventures and all of the cute restaurants and bars in town.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Trip Briefing at Dittmar Adventures
Trip Briefing at Dittmar Adventures
Puerto Natales
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Day Trip to a Patagonian Estancia
Day Trip to a Patagonian Estancia
Patagonia

We added this to our trip at the last-minute because we ended up having an extra day in Natales--and we are so so happy we did! Ian and his team were the best hosts. The boat ride, the horseback ride, the lunch, sheep sheering and watching the sheep dogs do their thing--I can't imagine a more perfect day. The views at the top of the horse trail were absolutely gorgeous.

Quality of Experience
Everything
Food
Best meal of our trip
Guides, Drivers and Staff
These were some of my favorite people from the entire trip!! The best!
Transport
You get there by boat--so cool!
Grey Glacier Boat Tour
Grey Glacier Boat Tour
Patagonia

We have never been so happy to see this boat at the end of our ~50 mile W Trek!! It was so fun--we ended up being with a lot of other W Trek-ers. What a fun way to share stories, all while seeing these gorgeous glaciers with a free pisco sour!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
These guys are pros!! I was amazed by their work
Transport
Kayak Lago & Rio Grey, Return to Puerto Natales
Kayak Lago & Rio Grey, Return to Puerto Natales
Patagonia

The guides were awesome--we loved learning about their lives! The kayaking was pretty easy between the current and the wind at your back (which I think it typical coming off the lake). Unbeatable views!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Admire the Famous Perito Moreno Glacier [Mayo Trek - Alternative Excursion]
Admire the Famous Perito Moreno Glacier [Mayo Trek - Alternative Excursion]
El Calafate

Loved seeing the waterfall, forests, and other mountains and glaciers of the park in addition to Perito Moreno. It was also great to see so much of Lago Argentina--the lake itself is so incredible. It looks like the southwestern USA on one end (desert-like), and the other you have these huge snow-capped mountains and glaciers. And in between, rolling green mountains that could be in Hawaii! The water is such a neat color once you are on it, too. We had PERFECT weather, which definitely helped, but I think this experience would have been awesome either way.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Erin Wiley

A great trip to Argentina
Argentina | Dec 23 - Jan 9, 2023

A
Adam H.
Mexico | Reviewed on Jan 20, 2023
We had a great trip to Argentina, which was only organised 6 weeks before.
Overall the experience was good, however there were a few small issues.
Matias was really friendly and helpful, however when planning the trip initially i felt the response time was quite slow and the initial trip planned did not coincide with the budget well which wasted a couple of weeks. This meant we had less time to plan it properly. The majority of the activities booked were really good and enjoyable. Some were... Read more

We had a great trip to Argentina, which was only organised 6 weeks before.
Overall the experience was good, however there were a few small issues.

Matias was really friendly and helpful, however when planning the trip initially i felt the response time was quite slow and the initial trip planned did not coincide with the budget well which wasted a couple of weeks. This meant we had less time to plan it properly.

The majority of the activities booked were really good and enjoyable. Some were not so good.
Overall the help during the visit was good however there were times we did not get responses back quick enough to react to. And even once we had to chase to get our boarding passes sent to us as we were at the airport. Some things like this could have been planned and communicated a lot better.

I didnt really feel like there was enough planned or offered to us that we couldnt have quite easily researched ourselves and definitely could have done it much cheaper. There were a few places in Argentina and Uruguay that other people kept telling us about whilst we were over there but where not mentioned to us before to have a look at
For the prices we paid i would be hesitant to use the service again, unless like us in this situation you are short on planning time. In which case it was very helpful

That being said Matias made our lives easy whilst we were out there and arranged all the transfer to and from the hotel and the planned activities. And a big shout out to Lucas who was always available when we couldnt get hold of Matias.

Hotel Reviews
Awwa Suites & Spa
Buenos Aires

A decent hotel, but definately not a 4 star hotel as advertised. They had no restaurant and offered the same basic breakfast everyday. We stayed here on 3 separate occasions, one of which the room was not clean when we checked in The rooms are nice and big and have a small kitchen facility They have a nice pool and gym area and the staff are helpful.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Sent Hotel Calafate
El Calafate

An ok hotel for a couple of nights Limited facilities in the room, no fridge or kettle

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Rainforest Hotel Selva
Puerto Iguazu

1st room we checked into was dirty 2nd room we checked into had stains on the pillows The check in staff didnt even apologise Overall basic hotel. Breakfast had a decent selection. Ok location, close enough walk to the city centre

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Small Group City Tour
Small Group City Tour
Buenos Aires

Good experience Tour guide was energetic and funny Worth it

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Cooking Class: touring four regions of Argentina
Cooking Class: touring four regions of Argentina
Buenos Aires

The chef was very friendly and engaging The food was really good Great experience but we didnt really get to do much cooking. It was more watching the chef, which was nice but would have been good to join in a bit more

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Bike tour in the heart of the city
Bike tour in the heart of the city
Montevideo

Didnt enjoy this Tour guide arrived late Kimkim had the wrong location on the map which confused everything Tour guide wasnt very good Quality of the bikes available was limited

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Tango Show & Dinner at La Ventana
Tango Show & Dinner at La Ventana
Buenos Aires

This was an absolute mess Transport didnt arrive Organisation at the venue was piss poor The tango show was good Food wasnt Transport back was useless Terrible experience for what should have been a brilliant night

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Minitrek Perito Moreno Glacier
Minitrek Perito Moreno Glacier
El Calafate

Really enjoyed this experience and would do it again

Quality of Experience
Food
i felt food should have been included in the price. it wasnt
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Estancia Cristina Discovery Trek
Estancia Cristina Discovery Trek
El Calafate

Great view and experience The boat trip there was not enjoyable though and the activity at the Estancia was a bit boring Overall was worth going

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visiting the Argentine Waterfalls of Iguazu
Visiting the Argentine Waterfalls of Iguazu
Argentina

A must see Only downside was that we were not told about the boat tour to the waterfall and didnt get the response from the tour guide in time to go ahead with it.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Brazil Falls
Brazil Falls
Argentina

Another must see

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Matias Alemani
Matias
Matias Alemani
Local specialist in Buenos Aires | Replied on Jan 31, 2023
Adam, thank you so much for taking the time to review your trip. I find all your comments very useful. I've noticed from your review that I have space for more growing and learning in my professional skills and knowledge. So let's get on with it! 😃 It was very nice meeting you and spending some weeks planning your trip to Argentina. Quite sad to be honest to know it was not as perfect as you imagined, but I hope you found some time with Gamze to relax, visit my beautiful country and enjoy... Read more

Adam, thank you so much for taking the time to review your trip. I find all your comments very useful. I've noticed from your review that I have space for more growing and learning in my professional skills and knowledge. So let's get on with it! 😃

It was very nice meeting you and spending some weeks planning your trip to Argentina. Quite sad to be honest to know it was not as perfect as you imagined, but I hope you found some time with Gamze to relax, visit my beautiful country and enjoy the Argentine experience after all the hiccups and inconveniences.

Best wishes from your new Argentinean friend!
Matias.

Costa Rica adventures
Costa Rica | Jan 8 - Jan 17, 2023

Mason
Mason P.
Lehi, UT | Reviewed on Jan 20, 2023
Where do I start! This vacation was the dream just from the itinerary we set up, only took about a week and half to customize this amazing trip to Costa Rica. Our guide Nuria helped us every step of the way making sure we had tons of excursions and amazing resorts to stay while there. We had just the right amount of days in the beautiful city learning the history, an amazing few days on a jungle island where we explored the wildlife and people there. They ended it perfectly with our last... Read more

Where do I start! This vacation was the dream just from the itinerary we set up, only took about a week and half to customize this amazing trip to Costa Rica. Our guide Nuria helped us every step of the way making sure we had tons of excursions and amazing resorts to stay while there. We had just the right amount of days in the beautiful city learning the history, an amazing few days on a jungle island where we explored the wildlife and people there. They ended it perfectly with our last weekend in a giant party city where we surfed with locals, drank beers, and listened to music till the late night. I highly recommend booking with them, they make your vacation so much less stress as they accompany you ever step of the process.

Hotel Review
Mawamba Lodge
Tortuguero

Beautiful eco friendly lodge. Place is decked out with adventures and excursions. It comes with beautiful breakfast, lunch, and dinners as well as amazing cocktails. The locals in the town near by are the best too, so make sure to venture away from the beautiful resort even though you could stay there all day and still be in paradise.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Nuri R
Nuri
Nuri R
Local specialist in Costa Rica | Replied on Jan 23, 2023

Hello Mason,

Thank you so much for your kind words. For me, it was a pleasure to help you have an experience of a lifetime. I'm are very grateful for your trust in me for your trip to Costa Rica. Meeting you both was amazing and I hope you come back to Costa Rica.

Pura Vida!

Our Fantastic Journey In Costa Rica
Costa Rica | Jan 6 - Jan 16, 2023

M
Maddy Z.
Hicksville, NY | Reviewed on Jan 20, 2023
Dear Sergio, Charlotte and Nancy, We cannot thank you enough for the wonderful experience we enjoyed in Costa Rica with your tremendous assistance, including the splendid itinerary, your responsiveness before and during our trip, and your suggestions of what to see and experience. True, you had an excellent canvas to work with: Costa Rica! The country is beautiful with so much to see and enjoy, and the people we met along our journey were also a pleasure, and the food was so tasteful and... Read more

Dear Sergio, Charlotte and Nancy,

We cannot thank you enough for the wonderful experience we enjoyed in Costa Rica with your tremendous assistance, including the splendid itinerary, your responsiveness before and during our trip, and your suggestions of what to see and experience. True, you had an excellent canvas to work with: Costa Rica! The country is beautiful with so much to see and enjoy, and the people we met along our journey were also a pleasure, and the food was so tasteful and exactly the kind of food we enjoy as vegetarians. That said, we know that the quality of our experience was enhanced due to your individual and collective expertise and professionalism.

As for the guides and tours you recommended, each were great in their own way. Chris, our guide at hanging bridges (assisted by Pablo) was informative and personable. The white water rafting was truly a blast and well run, and the zip lining was, despite my personal fear of heights, truly amazing. Likewise, we cannot say enough good things about Andres Socio, our guide at Manuel Antonio National State Park; he is truly brilliant, good natured, and has a good sense of humor. Frankly, without the guides you recommended we would have missed the vast majority of what we saw on the hikes we did. Also, the ocean kayaking and snorkeling tour, in which Maddy and I were the only two participants, was also a tremendous life experience and very well run. We even made a point, per your recommendation, of stopping at Crocodile Bridge and were glad that we did. And the resorts we stayed at were each spectacular in their own way. Tabacon it was the thermal hot springs. Peace Lodge: as animal rights activists and nature/outdoor lovers, Peace Lodge was heaven on earth to us and had great vibe. And Arenas del Mar, particularly given its beachfront access and trappings and staff, and the many creatures of nature (capuchins, sloths, iguanas etc) that were just roaming about, was a blend of perfection. And Grano de Oro, an oasis in that neighborhood, proved to be the perfect cap to our trip.

Again, thank you, thank you and thank you.

Andy and Maddy Zwerling

Local specialist: Sergio Bolaños
Sergio
Sergio Bolaños
Local specialist in Limon, Costa Rica | Replied on Jan 30, 2023

Hi Maddy and Andy, thank you so much, your words mean so much to me and the team. I am glad that you have enjoyed your time in Costa Rica, and we hope to see you again.
Pura Vida!!

Natalia from KimKim was super responsive, int...
Patagonia | Jan 4 - Jan 19, 2023

Louise
Louise R.
Australia | Reviewed on Jan 20, 2023

Natalia from KimKim was super responsive, intuited our needs for accomodation, personal transfers , and overall logistics. We are so grateful to have had Natalia with us on our journey as it made all aspects smooth and stress-free.
EcoCamp is a must and if you are lucky you’ll have Claudio and Nicole as guides, they are exceptional!

Local specialist: Natalia Canónico
Natalia
Natalia Canónico
Local specialist in Buenos Aires | Replied on Jan 20, 2023

Dear Louise,
I would like to thank you so much for taking the time to review us and for your kind words 😊
It's been a pleasure to work with you and help you to design this amazing trip.
I'm so happy to read that everything went well and you are taking home great memories of Chile and Argentina.
I wish you a splendid continuation of this adventure and hope you have a wonderful time on the cruise!
All the best,
Natalia

Reeve Review
Ecuador | Jan 16 - Jan 19, 2023

Derral
Derral R.
Granger, IN | Reviewed on Jan 20, 2023
Our guide Ven was phenomenal and very attentive to all our needs. We also were very impressed with the vegetarian meals that the cook provided. We loved the tower, the wall and the river paddling trip. We were able to view over 130 different birds which exceeded my expectations. Thank you for your time. Read more

Our guide Ven was phenomenal and very attentive to all our needs. We also were very impressed with the vegetarian meals that the cook provided. We loved the tower, the wall and the river paddling trip. We were able to view over 130 different birds which exceeded my expectations. Thank you for your time.

Hotel Review
Napo Cultural Center
Quito
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Arrival to Yasuní National Park - First hikes or kayaking (NCC)
Arrival to Yasuní National Park - First hikes or kayaking (NCC)
Ecuador
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Parrot clay lick - Intercultural interpretation center - Observation tower - Ancestral catamaran ride (NCC)
Parrot clay lick - Intercultural interpretation center - Observation tower - Ancestral catamaran ride (NCC)
Yasuni National Park
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Community projects - Paddling excursion - Traditional dinner - Night walk (NCC)
Community projects - Paddling excursion - Traditional dinner - Night walk (NCC)
Yasuni National Park
Quality of Experience
Y
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Last activities - Transfer to Coca
Last activities - Transfer to Coca
Ecuador
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Mathias Onisseit

Hakim and Hanyn were fantastic. Professional ...
Morocco | Jan 8 - Jan 19, 2023

M
Mark J.
| Reviewed on Jan 20, 2023

Hakim and Hanyn were fantastic. Professional and knowledgeable. It was a large group of about 27 people, but we all had a great time. The two of them put in extra time when one of the group got ill and they were flexible with meeting our wishes.///mark

Local specialist: Hakim ALIBOUCHE
Hakim
Hakim ALIBOUCHE
Local specialist in Agadir | Replied on Jan 23, 2023
Dear Mark,
Hello Hello, as Hanyn used to say whenever he picks up the mic to speak on the bus!😂 😂 
Thank you so much for your valuable, motivating, and really outstanding review. It has been a truly absolute and really great pleasure to work with you and your group. It was so exceptional being part of your experience in Morocco, enjoying the tour, and learning about the history, culture, and especially the architecture of the country.
I hope we can work again in the future. We'll be more than...
Read more

Dear Mark,
Hello Hello, as Hanyn used to say whenever he picks up the mic to speak on the bus!😂 😂 
Thank you so much for your valuable, motivating, and really outstanding review. It has been a truly absolute and really great pleasure to work with you and your group. It was so exceptional being part of your experience in Morocco, enjoying the tour, and learning about the history, culture, and especially the architecture of the country.
I hope we can work again in the future. We'll be more than happy to welcome you all and your beloved ones. This was your first visit to my country, and I'm pretty sure it will not be the last!
All the respect and appreciation to you, dear Mark!
Best,
Hakim

Argentina was a breathtaking country! The bio...
Argentina | Jan 3 - Jan 16, 2023

Anna
Anna D.
San Jose, CA | Reviewed on Jan 19, 2023
Argentina was a breathtaking country! The biodiversity was unmatched. Every new city was like being in a different world. All the activities were terrific, private transport was great, and the guides were lovely! Our favorite guide was Camila in Iguazu Falls. She had the best energy, shared mate with us and was just lovely! Our favorite activities were trekking Perito Moreno Glacier and snorkeling with sea lions in Puerto Madryn. Can’t miss. There were a couple hiccups along the way, but... Read more

Argentina was a breathtaking country! The biodiversity was unmatched. Every new city was like being in a different world. All the activities were terrific, private transport was great, and the guides were lovely! Our favorite guide was Camila in Iguazu Falls. She had the best energy, shared mate with us and was just lovely! Our favorite activities were trekking Perito Moreno Glacier and snorkeling with sea lions in Puerto Madryn. Can’t miss. There were a couple hiccups along the way, but Mattias was quick rectify them! The only suggestion I would have is get to know travelers better to suggest more appropriate yours. We are a very active couple and adventure seekers and there were a few things that weren’t suggested to us that we had to squeeze in on site when we learned about them from other travelers.

Hotel Review
Loi Suites Iguazú Hotel
Puerto Iguazú

Perfection! Stunning hotel, very nice employees, terrific spa services. When I needed medicine they even called a pharmacy and had them deliver medicine to me.

Authenticity & Character
Location
B
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Matias Alemani
Matias
Matias Alemani
Local specialist in Buenos Aires | Replied on Apr 26, 2023

Dear Anna,
Thanks for your review! I'm glad you had a great time in the beautiful Argentina. So happy I had the chance tot be part of the trip planning and thankful for your trust in the process.
We keep in touch for future adventures in South America!
All the best,
Matias.

8 Days of Moroccan Highlights, Marrakech to M...
Morocco | Jan 11 - Jan 18, 2023

P
Paul D.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Jan 19, 2023
8 Days of Moroccan Highlights, Marrakech to Marrakech an 1800Kms road trip.
Marrakech, dades valley, Ait Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate, Tinghir, Gorge Toudgha, Merzogha, Fes, Rabat and Marrakech.
We were accompanied by our driver/guide throughout the trip. Rafiq. He was a very competent and considerate driver and he was very knowledgeable about all the areas and places we visited. He was also an extremely nice guy who went over and beyond to make our trip memorable especially on my wife's... Read more

8 Days of Moroccan Highlights, Marrakech to Marrakech an 1800Kms road trip.
Marrakech, dades valley, Ait Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate, Tinghir, Gorge Toudgha, Merzogha, Fes, Rabat and Marrakech.

We were accompanied by our driver/guide throughout the trip. Rafiq. He was a very competent and considerate driver and he was very knowledgeable about all the areas and places we visited. He was also an extremely nice guy who went over and beyond to make our trip memorable especially on my wife's birthday. However, in each place we had a local guide who was a specialist for the city. Hassan for Marrakech and Said for Fes were excellent.
The accommodations selected by Sharon based on our specification were excellent and gave us a very good insight into Moroccan high life. The Ryad Paradise delivered the best dinner of the entire trip.
I would strongly recommend this company and this itinerary to anyone wanting their first taste of Moroccan culture but in some style.

Activity Review
Guided Tour of Fes
Guided Tour of Fes
Fes

Said, the local tour guide was very interesting and extremely knowledgeable and made the tour a long but fun day.

Quality of Experience
The guide was brought up in the city so could speak about his own experiences in the city which made the history very real.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
As guests from the UK, all could speak very good English and all had a good sense of humour
Transport
Clean, on time and a good driver, never felt at risk and always courteous to other road users
Local specialist: Sharon Louthian
Sharon
Sharon Louthian
Local specialist in US and Morocco | Replied on Jan 19, 2023
Hi Paul, Thanks for taking the time to write us such an amazing review. We are thrilled that you had a memorable trip to Morocco and that your wife's birthday was special! Also glad to hear that you enjoyed your time with Rafik, Hassan, and Said. We agree with your assessments and are super happy to have found Said as, believe me, all local guides are not equal! Thanks for the positive feedback regarding Riad Paridise, too. They are a fairly new riad and we just started working with them. I... Read more

Hi Paul,

Thanks for taking the time to write us such an amazing review. We are thrilled that you had a memorable trip to Morocco and that your wife's birthday was special! Also glad to hear that you enjoyed your time with Rafik, Hassan, and Said. We agree with your assessments and are super happy to have found Said as, believe me, all local guides are not equal! Thanks for the positive feedback regarding Riad Paridise, too. They are a fairly new riad and we just started working with them. I know that they use fresh and locally sourced ingredients because we ran into the owner at the weekly market in Kelaat M'Gouna a few weeks ago!

Thanks again for the great review and thanks even more for trusting us with you trip!
Take care and keep in touch,
Sharon, Rafik, and the rest of the Morocco Immersion Family

HIGHLY recommend Hien!
Vietnam | Dec 23 - Jan 2, 2023

Hae Jun
Hae Jun J.
Jollyville, TX | Reviewed on Jan 19, 2023
Hien was such a detailed, thoughtful, and organized planner! We traveled to three different cities and she single-handedly coordinated seeing all of them, seamlessly. She's also very patient as well as, I've made a lot of requests throughout the trip, and she delivered on all of them. Vietnam was amazing, highly recommend, lots of history there and very beautiful place. Read more

Hien was such a detailed, thoughtful, and organized planner! We traveled to three different cities and she single-handedly coordinated seeing all of them, seamlessly.

She's also very patient as well as, I've made a lot of requests throughout the trip, and she delivered on all of them.

Vietnam was amazing, highly recommend, lots of history there and very beautiful place.

Activity Reviews
My Son Sanctuary Luxury Tour - Joint in tour
My Son Sanctuary Luxury Tour - Joint in tour
Hoi An
Ha Long Bay - Lan Ha Bay (La Pandora)
Ha Long Bay - Lan Ha Bay (La Pandora)
Vietnam
Dark and Bright Cave - Ha Long Bay (La Pandora)
Dark and Bright Cave - Ha Long Bay (La Pandora)
Vietnam
Hoi An Sightseeing & Food Tour - Joint in tour
Hoi An Sightseeing & Food Tour - Joint in tour
Hoi An
Local specialist: Hien Do
Hien
Hien Do
Local specialist in Vietnam | Replied on Jan 28, 2023

Dear my beloved partner!

Thank you so much for sharing your experience!

We are so glad to know that you have enjoyed your trip to Vietnam and that everything went smoothly. Thanks for your kind words as well. It was a big pleasure for us to organize your holiday.

Thank you again for trusting our company, and we hope to see you again!

Best regards,
Hien

3 night, 4 day Dehli Agra trip
India | Jan 11 - Jan 14, 2023

R
Reinardt S.
South Africa | Reviewed on Jan 19, 2023
Was met in Dehli, on time, well spoken meet agent and friendly driver Lall.
Our Guide for Delhi was Samar, very pleasant and well spoken gentlemen, we saw all the sites we wanted to see and some hidden gems. Samar was very knowledgeable about the the Indian history and all the monuments. We really enjoyed our time with him. Samar also assisted us with what foods to eat and how to eat them👍🏽.
We then had a new guide for Agra. Ajay was also very accommodating and got us some real bargains... Read more

Was met in Dehli, on time, well spoken meet agent and friendly driver Lall.
Our Guide for Delhi was Samar, very pleasant and well spoken gentlemen, we saw all the sites we wanted to see and some hidden gems. Samar was very knowledgeable about the the Indian history and all the monuments. We really enjoyed our time with him. Samar also assisted us with what foods to eat and how to eat them👍🏽.

We then had a new guide for Agra. Ajay was also very accommodating and got us some real bargains at the market, our time was short in Agra so it did feel a bit rushed but no fault of the guide.

Overall we where very pleased with the Claridges hotel in Dehli. We had a poor night at the Crystal Savor as kids were running in the corridor until 1am and had the television on full blast the entire night. We did contact hotel management which did not solve the situation.

Hotel Reviews
The Claridges
New Delhi

Great facilities, although bathroom in rooms need a upgrade

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Bathrooms
Grand Mercure Agra
Agra
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Could not sort out noise at night
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Ravi Tickoo
Ravi
Ravi Tickoo
Local specialist in New Delhi | Replied on Jan 20, 2023

Dear Reinardt,
Glad to read your review. Thank you for your kind appreciation, especially for your Delhi and Agra guide. You have written beautifully and this would surely encourage other intending travellers.

It would be an honor for us to have this continued association with you and fulfill your travel needs whenever you plan to travel to our part of the world again. Please do keep us in your thoughts.

In the meantime, I send your way my best wishes.

Kind regards,
Ravi

Fantastic 'Grand tour' of Vietnam
Vietnam | Dec 28 - Jan 12, 2023

Jason
Jason P.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Jan 19, 2023
Thank you Ashley for assisting me organise the 'Grand tour of Vietnam' in January 2023.
You were very helpful in suggesting the most efficient route and listened to my requests and were quick to accommodate any changes I wanted to make.
I was grateful for your prompt responses when I was in Vietnam with the questions I had which was very reassuring.
All the transfers were on time and very efficient and friendly as were the guides.
Thank you very much for putting this trip together.
With...
Read more

Thank you Ashley for assisting me organise the 'Grand tour of Vietnam' in January 2023.
You were very helpful in suggesting the most efficient route and listened to my requests and were quick to accommodate any changes I wanted to make.
I was grateful for your prompt responses when I was in Vietnam with the questions I had which was very reassuring.
All the transfers were on time and very efficient and friendly as were the guides.
Thank you very much for putting this trip together.
With kind regards
Jason

Hotel Review
Renea Cruises Halong
Hon Gai, Ha Long

Super hospitality and fantastic food, well done!

Authenticity & Character
Charming boat
Location
The scenery
Staff
Very friendly
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Ashley Nguyen
Ashley
Ashley Nguyen
Local specialist in Hanoi | Replied on Jan 20, 2023

Dear Jason,
Thank you so much for your feedback and your kind words! It was a great pleasure for me and Realistic Asia team to accompany you on the trip.
Thank you again for choosing our services. Wishing you all the best and hope to see you on the next vacation to Southeast Asia in the future!
Best wishes!
Ashley

6 days in Bangkok!
Thailand | Jan 13 - Jan 18, 2023

Joanne
Joanne M.
Canada | Reviewed on Jan 19, 2023
I had an excellent 6 day trip to Bangkok. I was able to chose my budget, choose from 1/2 day & day tours, have transportation to & from the hotel & the assurance that Emilie would be able to answer any questions.
I enjoyed my stay at the Grand Sathorn, nice big room with bathtub, lovely staff, lots of choices at breakfast and wonderful rooftop pool.
I liked that I had a free day to orientate myself on arrival. I then enjoyed 3 tours. My tour guides Ping & Nana were kind, knowledgeable &...
Read more

I had an excellent 6 day trip to Bangkok. I was able to chose my budget, choose from 1/2 day & day tours, have transportation to & from the hotel & the assurance that Emilie would be able to answer any questions.
I enjoyed my stay at the Grand Sathorn, nice big room with bathtub, lovely staff, lots of choices at breakfast and wonderful rooftop pool.
I liked that I had a free day to orientate myself on arrival. I then enjoyed 3 tours. My tour guides Ping & Nana were kind, knowledgeable & took my wishes into consideration- I like to take lots of photos & they were very accommodating.
I would recommend Kimkim to anyone wanting to do a semi independent tour.

Hotel Review
The Grand Sathorn
Bangkok

I liked this hotel- I had a big room with a fridge & bathtub-bottled water was supplied daily. The breakfast buffet was diverse & the staff were very accommodating. The neighbourhood is relatively safe with local shops, laundry, massage places & a 7-11. The rooftop pool & patio were great. My only complaint was the smoking- one day there were people at the 4 corners of the pool on chaise loungers all smoking. I think there should be no smoking at poolside & maybe a dedicated area i a far corner of the patio.

Authenticity & Character
Big rooms
Location
Safe neighbourhood & near the river & the metro
Staff
Very cheerful & accommodating
Cleanliness & Comfort
Housekeeping was efficient
Activity Reviews
Mahachai and Mae Klong Markets Trainspotting & Amphawa Floating Markt
Mahachai and Mae Klong Markets Trainspotting & Amphawa Floating Markt
Bangkok

Fabulous trip-8 modes of transportation!! My tour guide Ping was excellent & knowledgeable & a delight to be with- the Amphawa market with the lifting of the awnings to let the train go by was the highlight! Lunch at the floating market was really good!

Quality of Experience
Knowledgeable guide
Food
Pad Thai & papaya salad! Very good!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
As above
Transport
Diverse-8 different transportation vehicles!
Canals of Bangkok & Temple Delight
Canals of Bangkok & Temple Delight
Bangkok

Loved this tour on the river & into the canals. Liked the temple we visited & the artists colony. Lunch was good & the the tour went to the reclining Buddha & the Grand palace-both are amazing!

Quality of Experience
Loved it- learned a lot!
Food
Good lunch
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Nana was excellent- knowledgeable, kind & accommodating
Transport
Long tail boat was great!
Flavors of Chinatown by Night
Flavors of Chinatown by Night
Bangkok

Loved this tour- was not sure what to expect. As it was so close to Chinese New Year there was lots of celebrations in the street. Food tasting was good- lived the soup!

Quality of Experience
Variety of sights seen
Quality of Experience
Variety of sights seen
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Ping was excellent & knowledgeable
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Ping was excellent & knowledgeable
Transport
Tuk tuk to Chinatown
Transport
Til tuk to Chinatown
Local specialist: Emilie Khautisen
Emilie
Emilie Khautisen
Local specialist in Bangkok | Replied on Jan 22, 2023

Hello Joanne,
it s great to hear you had a great time in Thailand with us. Our guides will be so happy to hear about that. Thank you for the kind review :)

Enjoyable trip
Chile | Jan 4 - Jan 17, 2023

Gregory
Gregory R.
Australia | Reviewed on Jan 18, 2023
Nicely spaced trip. Plenty of “ spare “ time. Suggestions were practical & although hard work - fitness wise, worked. Most things ….. within the teams control, worked well. Read more

Nicely spaced trip. Plenty of “ spare “ time. Suggestions were practical & although hard work - fitness wise, worked.

Most things ….. within the teams control, worked well.

Hotel Reviews
Hosteria Pehoe

Oldie but a goodie. Could be SO much better with good grounds people, a tidy up and some renovations. Menu basic but OK.

Authenticity & Character
Oldest in the NP. A bit tired but adequate.
Location
Views are incredible.
Staff
Lovely, young enthusiastic staff.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean. Bedding to die for. Just older & “ tired” rooms & grounds.
Hotel Las Torres Patagonia
Torres del Paine

Excellent location wise. Views OK. Meals above average quality & presentation. Expensive but so much better than daily transitioning in & out of the park if not serious hiking.

Authenticity & Character
Estancia feeling. Loved the daily horses release and round up.
Location
Right on the track to the towers base, W & O.
Staff
Tried hard - many new, inexperienced staff - lots of mistakes made and service forgets.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Bedding divine. Big rooms. Views expansive but not stunning. Bath was great after a hike - but had to request a plug.
Hotel Lago Grey
Torres del Paine

View. Room. Bedding. Food. Bar & relax area.

Authenticity & Character
Fits well in the environment.
Location
View is stunning. Very windy most days I think.
Staff
Very attentive.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very comfortable hotel.
Hotel Carpa Manzano
Punta Arenas

Small-ish, but comfortable rooms. Bit dated & tended to be noisy. Probably better offering in town. Walk in & out is borderline.

Authenticity & Character
Nice enough rooms. Dated.
Location
A little distant from downtown.
Staff
Attentive.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Was adequate.
Weskar Lodge
Puerto Natales

Nice view. A little distant from town in tough weather. Probably better offerings downtown and mire distractions. Restaurant meals hit & miss and no variety presented each day.

Authenticity & Character
Authentic use of wood. Cosy rooms & sit down area.
Location
Great views. Just that little dar from anything.
Staff
Tried. English & understanding requests etc, was difficult.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Lovely bedding. Comfortable smallish room. Lits of woid. Nice.
Holiday Inn Santiago - Airport Terminal
Santiago

Excellent location at airport ( if that is what you want ). Nice rooms. Good bedding. Interesting enough food. Could do with a Daily Change / Soecial.

Authenticity & Character
Airport hotel.
Location
If that is what you want - between Domestic & International.
Staff
Hit & miss. Service not #1 priority. Wait, wait, wait for actual attention. Slow service but seemingly “ a thing “ in Chile - in their own good time !
Cleanliness & Comfort
Great beds & linen.
Activity Reviews
Kayaking in the Magellan Strait
Kayaking in the Magellan Strait
Chile

Not that “ exciting “ an activity really to be really honest. Lot of preparation & time taken ( pick up / drop off / gear up for kayaking / transfer to water edge / instruction / kayaking & then reverse ). Minimal wild life, birdlife etc …… limited English & no really “ spotting “ or information.

Quality of Experience
Not that interesting.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Limited English or “ interpretation “ .
Transport
All good.
Tour to Torres del Paine National Park with Overnight
Tour to Torres del Paine National Park with Overnight
Chile

Great way of getting to the NP rather than a private transfer or large bus. Very early start as it was a one-way for us , on a return same day tour. Enjoyed Milodon Cave and information. Stops for vistas & photographs. Tour guide was very informative.

Quality of Experience
Milodon Cave visit & explanation boards. Vistas.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guide on departure said we would have “ quiet time “- so all could catch up on rest …… till after Puerto Natales. Then proceeded to TALK ALL THE WAY to the driver & back and forth. No rest for anyone. Driver spent more tome looking at the guide whilst in conversation - than concentrating on the road. Very un-nerving ! A good driver ….. BUT ! Guide had excellent knowledge and was firth coming if asked..
Transport
Nice new vehicle. Close quarters. We had a seat between us because we PAID for it with luggage cost.
From Pehoé to Las Torres
From Pehoé to Las Torres
Torres del Paine

José - nice nan - knowledgeable, good English. Recommended.

From Las Torres to Lago Grey
From Las Torres to Lago Grey
Torres del Paine

Same ….. José.

Horseback Riding in Patagonia
Horseback Riding in Patagonia
Puerto Natales

Thoroughly enjoyed. Nice horses. Well groomed & cared for. Just wish I was riding fit ! Very sore body the next day. My wife who is a novice enjoyed too.

Quality of Experience
Vistas.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Could have done with a rear guide / rider to manage “ slower “ horses / riders. Insufficient supervision in my opinion.
Transport
Great ….. arranged well there & back.
Local specialist: Lorena Huidobro
Lorena
Lorena Huidobro
Local specialist in Houston, TX & Santiago, Chile | Replied on Jan 18, 2023

Hi Greg and Annie! Thanks for this review, it was my pleasure working with you to plan a trip to this amazing place in the world... offering both value and taking care of the logistics so you could fully enjoy it. I appreciate your trust in me and hope you keep many nice memories from this adventure.
Best always,
Lorena

The most memorable places were Rotarua., Hobb...
New Zealand | Dec 31 - Jan 11, 2023

J
John M.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Jan 18, 2023
The most memorable places were Rotarua., Hobbiton, Queenstown and Wanaka. The hotels in Wellington, Queenstown and Christchurch were excellent. The Wellington hotel was outstanding. By contrast the hotels in Auckland and Rotarua were very poor indeed. Really not acceptable. The cultural evening in Rotarua however could not be bettered. Read more

The most memorable places were Rotarua., Hobbiton, Queenstown and Wanaka. The hotels in Wellington, Queenstown and Christchurch were excellent. The Wellington hotel was outstanding. By contrast the hotels in Auckland and Rotarua were very poor indeed. Really not acceptable. The cultural evening in Rotarua however could not be bettered.

Hotel Reviews
Nesuto St. Martins Apartment Hotel
Auckland

The hotel lacked charm and comfort. It felt more like a cheap hostel. The rooms were not clean and were sparsely and awkwardly furnished. They also lacked natural light.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Sudima Lake Rotorua
Rotorua

The rooms were pocky and tatty. The breakfast was poor. The hotel staff were unhelpful eg I asked for advice as to where we might go to see thermal activity. There was no one at the desk who had actually visited any of the sites, so they gave me two leaflets but at least one of the places in the leaflets was closed. I was told that it was unlikely anyone would be there that day who could help. The lady I spoke to thought nothing of this. In the end. We want to the information centre which was excellent. At the very least the hotel could have recommended this.

Doubletree by Hilton Wellington
Wellington

This hotel was excellent in every way. It was stylish, comfortable and homely. The staff at the front desk were very welcoming and could not have been more helpful. It is one of the best hotels I’ve ever stayed in.

Copthorne Hotel & Apartments Queenstown Lakeview
Queenstown

This was a very comfortable and spacious hotel, in close proximity to the main town.

Distinction Wanaka Alpine Resort
Wanaka

An excellent hotel which was very well managed. The layout and provisions in the apartment itself could not be faulted. We felt very much at home and enjoyed eating in and making the most of the space.

Chateau on the Park -
Christchurch

A lovely hotel in a wonderful part of the city. Excellent breakfast.

Activity Reviews
Skyline Gondola Ride
Skyline Gondola Ride
Queenstown (NZ)
Full-Day Milford Sound Bus Tour
Full-Day Milford Sound Bus Tour
Queenstown (NZ)

Well organised. Good guide. The place is unforgettable and well worth the drive.

Hobbiton Movie Set Tour
Hobbiton Movie Set Tour
New Zealand

Great fun and well organised.

Welcome to Rotorua
Welcome to Rotorua
Rotorua
Te Po Combo - 90 Minute Guided Tour & Evening Experience
Te Po Combo - 90 Minute Guided Tour & Evening Experience
Rotorua

A real highlight. Fantastic guide, great food and amazing show.

Local specialist: Liz Neal
Liz
Liz Neal
Local specialist in Sydney-Auckland-Los Angeles | Replied on Jan 31, 2023

Hi John,
Thanks for the review. I'm glad you enjoyed the activities and most of the hotels. I wish you would have contacted us when you were not satisfied with the two hotels mentioned above, we could have upgraded to a different hotel, this would have been a higher expense, and although we were trying to fall within your budget, it might have been convenient to upgrade.

I enjoyed working with you and if we ever work with you again, I'll make sure to suggest and option of 4 star hotels instead of 3 for all destinations.

Have a wonderful rest of the year in beautiful UK.
Liz