Kimkim Trip Reviews

The trip overall was fantastic! Firstly, our guide Ibrahim was very accommodating - he made a special effort to find our group vegetarian food for all meals. He was very skilled at working with the locals at each location to make sure we were taken care of. In addition, our transportation between locations was very comfortable. The vans we used had wifi and were just generally comfortable to travel in.
Secondly, the activities were engaging and fun. In particular, our group loved the glamping experience in The Sahara. The camel ride up the dunes to watch the sunset as well as the ATV excursion to the hotel for breakfast the next morning were exhilarating and well planned.
Finally, our lodging was mostly comfortable. We had less than ideal lodging at Ouarzazate, but other than that, the hotels we stayed at in our other locations were nice, comfortable, and had great facilities.
Overall, Megan did an amazing job planning the trip. Everything was well thought out, our excursions/activities were entertaining, and she did a great job accommodating us.

We were a group of 14 (4 families) traveling from Philadelphia to Morocco on a 7 day trip. Sharon was a our KimKim specialist designed the itinerary and made necessary arrangements for travel, stay and tour guides at all the locations we visited in Morocco.
Our experience has been one of the best! It was our first visit to the African continent and to a culture that is very different from the Eastern (India) or Western (US) culture.
Morocco is one of the cleanest countries that I have been to. Every city street we visited is kept very clean! Kudos!

Here is a a list of our memorable experiences:
-Fes - Belly dance in a local restaurant. Make sure you make your dinner reservations well in advance. Between the wine, music and dance you will truly enjoy the experience.
Soak up the sun and try ALL the local food (with bottled water). I was interested to try camel meat but to my surprise it was hard to find a dish made of camel meat in local restaurants.
-Merzouga - The camel ride to the desert camp and ATV ride back is an awesome experience. Watching the sunrise from top a high sand dune is memorable.
-Boumalne Dades - Do not miss the view of the Jorge! Whew - breathtaking! Walking in the valley and being with nature (for a little while) and meeting the locals (Amazigh, also called as Berbers but please use Amazigh to refer to them).
Marrakesh - The market square has so much to see, eat and witness, your senses are going to get pounded. Pace yourself and enjoy everything, one at a a time.
We had teens traveling with us and never felt unsafe in Morocco. Well, they went to a nightclub in Marrakesh and returned at 3am in cab by themselves, if that isn't safe enough, what is!

Shoutout to Mohammed (tour guide), Ahmed (driver), Hassan (Guides), Sharon and KimKim!

Highly recommend KimKim and Morocco for a very diverse experience!

Activity Reviews

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

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

ATV Quad Tour of the Desert

Merzouga

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Thoroughly enjoyed a comprehensive tour on Costa Rica over 7 days. First timer using kimkim and was very pleased with the overall experience. The initial booking on-line and subsequent adjustments were done very easily. Kimkim staff respond very quickly and precisely, and get things done. All the service providers in Costa Rica, transportation and excursions, were professional, on-time, and delivered what was booked.

Hotel Reviews

Gran Hotel Costa Rica

San José

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Los Lagos Spa & Resort

Fortuna

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel & Spa Poco a Poco

Monteverde Costa Rica

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Vela Boutique Hotel

Manuel Antonio

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grano de Oro Hotel

San José

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Arenal Volcano & 1968 Reserve Guided Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

Had a very good two hours hike with a small group of other travellers. This was well organised. Although if you have your own transportation, it is not difficult to get to the start of the hike, having a guide will greatly help with actually seeing any of the wild life, in addition to lots of interesting information about the volcano itself. . It is next to impossible to spot any of the wild life by yourself. The guide carries a telescope lens allowing to see the animals very closely and take good pictures. We made an improptu stop on the way to the volcano because our guide knew that a number of sloths were in trees next to the road, and was excited to show them to us. They are very few sloths left in the wild and they are very difficult to spot. It was a a very good start of the trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve Guided Hike

Monteverde

This activity started with a 20 mn drive in a mini bus from our hotel to the Reserve through a dirt road up the hill. We were there in January so the road was dry, but according to the driver, it can be challenging at time. The Reserve got a number of tracks ranging from 0.5km to 4.8km loops. The guide tour took about 2 hours using a 1.5-2km track, as we progressed slowly looking at plants and animals. The track is easy to walk on, especially since we were there in January and it was fairly dry. The weather can change very quickly and can be very misty at time, so come equipped. Although walking around by yourself is not difficult (if you got transportation to get to the Reserve), having a guide is very valuable since it is next to impossible to find and see animals by yourself. The guide carries a telescoping lens so that you can observe very well all there is to see. Our guide, Danny, was most knowledgeable about all the plants around, and was happy to talk about anything related to Costa Rica. We thoroughly enjoyed discussing with him. He managed to find a sloth, porcupine, a tarantula (hidden in a hole), and plenty of birds and other animals. We walked up to the top of the area, where there is a 4 story tower to observe the surroundings, including a number of volcanos. At some stage, we were at the exact point where the water would either go to the Pacific ocean or the Caribbean seen, depending on which side you go. This tour is great for nature lovers and worth getting a guide if you want to fully experience this unique place.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sherif and his team at Dunes & Beyond (DB) in Egypt and his associates in Jordan (Karma House Travels ) made our dream holiday come true! They were outstanding! Smooth airport assistance and hotel transfers that made us feel like VIPs. And local private-guided visits including transfers that were such a pleasure!

The itinerary was well planned as per our requests and beautifully executed! Sherif also communicated throughout our entire trip to ensure there were no issues. 

Special mention to the guides, Lina in Cairo and Muhammed on our Nile cruise.  The Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan was the highlight of our visit, with Sherif managing an upgrade to an upper deck suite. 

Special mention also to Khalil, who drove us around Jordan. Not only was he a fantastic driver, he was also our walking wiki on all things Jordan! Such a pleasure to have him for our trip!

Thank you Sherif and the team at D&B and Karma House !  

Activity Review

Nile Cruise from Luxor to Aswan-Philae Temple / Unfinished Obelisk/ High Dam - Overnight in Aswan

Aswan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We are first time clients for travel with Kim Kim and had the privilege to work with Nikola to plan a 16 day trip to Croatia with my family (husband and three young kids). We were VERY IMPRESSED and HIGHLY RECOMMEND both our local travel specialist and the agency! The planning process was very easy and Nikola was very fast to reply to emails/calls and adapt our itinerary to meet our travel goals. He was able to provide local expertise for itinerary (Zagreb - Plitvice - Split - Hvar - Korcula - Dubrovnik). My husband and I are very experienced travellers but were a little nervous travelling with our three kids (age 5, 3 and 10 months) to Europe in the high season with COVID reaching endemic levels. Once we landed in Zagreb our trip was so smooth and easy. Nikola had arranged for all airport transfers, all accommodations (which were beautiful and all very central), breakfast each morning to make things easy with the kids, and all private transfers. He was always available if we had any questions and to adapt to any unexpected needs. It felt like Kim Kim went above and beyond to make sure we had the trip of a lifetime and our kids had a blast!!!! Thank you, and we can't wait to plan another trip soon!

We were a bit skeptical of the whole process at first, but went with it and now that we have returned and reflected on the experience it was amazing to have KimKim there for us every step of the way. We have traveled a lot in Mexico previously and wanted an authentic experience without the stress. Leslie was super kind and accommodating throughout the planning and booking process- I highly recommend using her and KimKim. Then, once we were on our trip Ximena was there on What’sApp to help with anything we needed - even sending reminders every evening for the next days activities which included things to think about doing on our free days. We were especially grateful to have Tere waiting for us at the rental car agency to help us navigate that after a long international flight, and to have her there at our departure to make sure everything was correct. It was just such a huge relief to have her and the entire KimKim team available for anything we needed!

Activity Reviews

Immerse Yourself in the Peaceful Yokdzonot Cenote

Mexico

We visited several cenotes in the area and this one was our favorite. It’s an hour drive from Valladoldid, but close to Chichen Itza. We drove to the cenote for an afternoon arrival and then did the Nights if Kulkulcan at Chichen Itza (to avoid the heat and my 5 year old whining). It worked out great for our family. The only odd thing was that the people who worked there seemed very confused about our entrance including a meal. We were given menus, then they were take away once they knew we had food included, but then they told us pretty much everything was available for us to order… it was a little confusing.

Quality of Experience

Food

The food was awesome! The soup was amazing

Coba and the sacred Mayan roads

Cobá

We enjoyed Coba - especially the biking and the more shaded cover Vs Chichen Itza. Our guide was just ok. We went on New Year’s Day so perhaps he was a little tired from the night before. We picked him up at the Pemex near the entrance and he helped us find parking. He slowly explained some things about the ruins before we went in (he was very patient with my kids asking a ton of questions). When we got the main ruins, we sat under a palapa area in the shade while he told us about the ruins. He then opted to stay in the shade instead of walking with us over to the main ruins. He said it was to allow us to walk around but it would have been nice to have him there (and to have a picture of all of our family in front of the ruins!). Selfies will work just fine.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Eco Center & Traditional Mayan Meal

Mexico

We arrived in Nuevo Durango and Blanca and her family welcomed us in and showed us how to make hammocks. My son, who is 9, absolutely loved it and didn’t want to leave. Blanca offered lemonade and we took turns weaving. I speak fluent Spanish but no one else in my family does, and none of the other hosts spoke English. Thankfully I was able to translate for everyone but I’m not sure how it would work if someone was going that didn’t speak Spanish…? The food we ate was amazing, and my kids loved it. I was convinced they weren’t going to eat it but they did! And they loved it

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Float in the Muyil Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve with transportation from Cancun.

Cancún

This was the highlight of the trip for me! We loved floating in the canals carved by Mayans 2,000 years ago. Don’t book the ruins option - it’s an hour walk to get to the ruins. Stick with their most popular tour. Our guide Memo was amazing as was the food we enjoyed after. Highly recommend!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We could not have been happier with the service we received from the kimkim team! Lucia and Angel responded immediately to our questions before and during our travel. Every possible effort was made on their part to ensure we had a safe and exciting vacation with exceptional guides at every turn.

Our time in Peru was a once-in-a-lifetime experience! We had an amazing tour of Lima (thank you Juana!), an educational Sacred Valley tour (thank you Henry!). Lucia and Angel reserved Andre as our Machu Picchu guide and he was perfect for us. Andre taught us about Incan culture and history as well as the integration of Incan beliefs into everyday Peruvian life. This was a highlight of our stay in Peru.

Juan Carlos led an exceptional excursion in Cusco and we can personally recommend his services. There were extenuating circumstances during our Cusco stay but Juan Carlos and the kimkim team made sure that we remained comfortable and cared for without interruption.

Off to Ecuador where we were treated like royalty by Angel and Sebastian in Quito. The next morning, we flew to the Galapagos and the attention from the kimkim staff did not disappoint. Rita was attentive to our every need (drivers, boat transfers, flights, ferries) --- she could not have done more for us! Julio (our guide for nature hikes) was knowledgeable, humorous and energetic.

Definitely take the snorkeling trip to the uninhabited island and try to secure Ricardo as your guide. He and the boat captain went above and beyond to create a memorable experience for everyone. The food and staff on board the Nautilus were friendly and accommodating in every detail.

Our final stop was at the Middle of the World where Marco provided an interesting and amusing tour. We truly enjoyed our time with him. Before we boarded our flight home, Angel took the time to meet us personally at the airport and share much-deserved hugs and farewells.

Because of an unexpected event in Peru, we were unable to meet our daughter on the Galapagos Islands as stated on our original itinerary. Lucia and Angel not only ensured that she was able to participate in the activities as planned, they also rescheduled events for us back in Peru until we could join her. We were never concerned for her safety and she even got one-on-one tours from the guides on the Galapagos Islands.

A final observation: You will not be disappointed with the service provided by this kimkim team. Lucia and Angel managed everything: meals, tickets, transfers, taxis, luggage transport, tours, entrance fees... the list is lengthy! You will be well taken care of and can be secure knowing that your agents are on top of every activity, hotel, and transportation need.

No one could have asked more from Lucia and Angel. We recommend them --- and the tour they created for us --- without reservation!

Happy travels to Peru and Ecuador, everyone!
Barb and Dan

Hotel Reviews

Union Hotel Cusco

Cusco

Great food, excellent and attentive staff. Fun location near the mercado and a short walk from the plaza.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arawi Miraflores Prime

Lima

Location in a funky part of Lima: short walk to Larcomar and Miraflores park.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Excellent breakfast buffet!

Tierra Viva Valle Sagrado

Urubamba

Gorgeous setting, fabulous food, great staff. The room itself was basic, but we were outside most of the time. Beautiful setting near mountains and the river. The town of Ullantaytambo is not remarkable, but it's lively and interesting!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Maritza was a lot of fun. We enjoyed everyone, but she was very kind and friendly!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kitu Hotel

Quito

Authenticity & Character

Definitely a boutique hotel. We were on the 4th floor (walk up) and our drive and guide carried our heavy bags all the way up for us!!

Location

Beautiful night time view from the balcony

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Villa Laguna

Puerto Ayora

Great pool!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very close to the piers and the nightlife and the music and the plaza and the restaurants!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Isamar Hotel

Puerto Villamil, Isla Isabela

Sea breezes lulled us to sleep!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right on the beach. Nice.

Staff

Stored our luggage, put out a great breakfast buffet, provided extra towels: they couldn't have been nicer or more attentive!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Afternoon Highlights of Lima- City Tour

Lima

We had a unique experience due to political upheaval --- our guide kept us safe and informed!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Juana was excellent

Maras & Moray Tour

Galapagos Islands

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Machu Picchu - Huayna Picchu - Cusco

Galapagos Islands

We were blown away by Andre and our experience at the citadel. Mystical, practical, humorous, intelligent... an indescribable experience.

Quality of Experience

Everything was ready for us: train tickets, bus tickets, knowledgeable tour guide. It was perfect.

Food

We ate at Toto's. Good lunch buffet. Avoid the drink "Machu Picchu" unless you like toothpaste or mouthwash!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Andre was amazing!

Transport

Cusco - The Sacred Valley

Galapagos Islands

We enjoyed an amusing and educational tour of the area and the peoples of Cusco!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Colonial Quito City Tour & Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World) Monument

Quito

Marco was hilarious and was a good sport while we practiced our Spanish and asked him to take photos.

Quality of Experience

Great tour on site; the woman was humorous and intelligent

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Thank you Marco!

Transport

Experience the Pristine Beauty of Galápagos Islands: Discovering an Uninhabited Island

Puerto Ayora

We were unprepared for the amazing the boat ride! Schooner to the island, hike to a spectacular view, snorkeling with penguins and sharks and sea lions. And they never stopped feeding us on the boat!! Breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, snack. Lovely voyage!

Quality of Experience

I love boat rides. That was enough for me. The hike and snorkeling were extras. :)

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ricardo crushed it! Concerned about the environment, intelligent, worked well with the entire group.

Transport

Woohoo! Sailboat!

Dinner by the Sea

Galapagos Islands

Delightful night time boat shuttle to an adorable restaurant.

Quality of Experience

The food was exceptional, great cocktails, loved being near the water

Food

We upgraded to lobster. Worth it!

Transport

Short ferry ride and you're there

Isabela Island's Treasures: Exploring the Breeding Center & Wetlands

Galapagos Islands

One of the highlights of the islands! If you want to see tortoises, take this tour!

Quality of Experience

This was a must-see for us. LOTS of tortoises to see.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Julio showed us flamingos, Darwin finches, different flora and fauna of the Galapagos. We arrived when the tortoises were being fed and that was a bonus for sure!

Transport

Well, we walked.

When setting out to plan our honeymoon we ran across Kimkim. Having never heard of it before we were a bit skeptical, but we are so glad we did some research and committed! Having someone on your side to book events and offer optional sightseeing advice was amazing. With our busy schedules we would have never had the time to research Iceland in this depth.

Silvía was amazing in helping to plan our trip, as well as with helping coordinate several last minute changes during our trip. Because of her invaluable help, we were able to see everything we hoped for and many places we would have otherwise missed.

Silvía handled everything from the car rental to booking hotels and activities that require advance ticketing, making the entire process easy and stress free.

We began our trip to Iceland by picking up our rental car and immediately setting off for a winter snorkeling session in a national park, followed by a dip into a nearby hot spring, Secret Lagoon.

The second day was filled with sightseeing waterfalls and a snow mobile ride on a glacier.

The next day, we explored natural ice caves and Diamond Beach.

Our 4th day was spent in Reykjavik, relaxing at the Sky Lagoon and exploring much of the city.

Day 5 we attempted to search out the northern lights. Although it wasn’t a good night for the lights, we were able to check out several restaurants and tried some traditional Icelandic cuisine.

The hotels each night were very nice and accommodating, often with their own restaurants with great food.

We would recommend this trip, especially with Silvia’s help, to anyone. Without her help, we would not have experienced nearly as much as we did.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Vík í Mýrdal

Vík

Clean, modern, and friendly staff. The hotel’s restaurant was great! We had the artic char and lamb shank, both were delicious!

Authenticity & Character

Loved the stone and glass contrast.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hótel Klaustur

Kirkjubæjarklaustur

Clean hotel with friendly staff. The cocktails at the hotels bar were great!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Silfra Snorkeling – Dive Between Continents in Crystal Clear Waters

Iceland

Our guide Eeva was great! Very friendly and easy to talk to. It was surprisingly warmer in the water than out! A fun experience I am they were able to reschedule for us (due to flight delay)!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Myrdalsjokull glacier snowmobiling

Iceland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Crystal Blue Ice Cave

Iceland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hunting the Northern Lights with a Guide -Private tour

Iceland

We didn’t see any of the lights, but still had a good time trying. Our guide was very friendly and offered new knowledge of Iceland!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Very smooth and easy process. Everything was taken care of.. was nice to just sit back and enjoy the trip. Great people as well.

Hotel Reviews

Petra Moon Hotel

Wadi Musa

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Memories Aicha Luxury Camp

Wadi Rum

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Full Day Petra (With Site local Guide or private guide)

Petra

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I would like to thank Kimkim and Kristy especially to make our trip a reality. We were booked to travel to Peru in December but had a last minute cancellation due to political unrest in Peru. However, Kristy was able to create our itinerary within a week for Galapagos, Amazon Rainforest and Ecuador that enabled us to keep our travel dates. We spent 4 nights in Galapagos, 3 nights in the Napo Wildlife Center and 4 nights in Quito most of which were due to transit and travel. We visited 2 islands in Galapagos - Santa Cruz and La Isabela. Santa Cruz is populated and had a feel of a touristy beach town, La Isabela was beautiful and remote. Our hotel was right on the beach and we were able to find some time to relax and enjoy the scenery. Most of the days start early at 6 or 6.30am with guided tours or travel logistics between Islands or to and from Quito. Our guides were very proficient about the local wildlife, flora and fauna. Kids enjoyed snorkeling, we toured lava caves apart from visiting the Tortoises, Iguanas and Sea Lions that are in abundance. My favorite part of the vacation was the Napo Wildlife center that required a 2.5hr motor boat ride from Coca to the cultural center and then a 2hr paddle boat ride to the Wildlife center. The hiking in the rainforest, watching caimans, giant otters, macaws, rainforest canopy were an experience of a lifetime. Thanks to all our guides, especially Jose in the Napo wildlife center to make our trip an unforgettable experience!

Going to Morocco was on my bucket list since very long & I finally made it there. Our trip was quite hectic as we wanted to cover as much as possible within our constrained time frame.

Our itinerary said "included" for many visits but I wonder why we still had to pay entry fees at some locations even though these excursions were as included..??

Let me give my feedback location wise as follows :-

** Marrakech : Fun city.
We stayed at Sofitel & they did not let us check in till almost 3:30pm in the afternoon. Very bad service at the front desk with no consideration for guests. But the location is very good & rooms + breakfast are good.
The Hamaam visit was most terrible - I wonder why the guide chose that particular place..?? The way treatment was done by ladies in hamaam was torturous & you should definitely not send anyone there anymore - please take this up strictly with your guide. Only the massage after hamaam was okay but overall experience, cleanliness, ambience & service was horrible.

** Merzouga : Awesome.
This was the best experience in our entire trip. The camp, food, service, staff, tent accommodation, facilities, camel ride, ATV & 4W drive all were superb. Must consider this for sure.

** Fes : Highly overrated.
Our first accommodation in a Riad but unfortunately we were given the worst room. I even pointed this to the manager when we checked in & he said all rooms are same. Next morning when I peeped into 3/4 other rooms they were far more superior & so were their bathrooms. Honestly a big let down & this should be conveyed to the Riad strictly. The common area was good & food + service was decent but very put off with the room.

Walk through the Imperial City was also just okay & the guide there mostly took us to shops & browsing walk through some streets of the old Medina. Please don't shop here as souvenirs are almost double the price than in Chefchaouen.

** Chefchaouen : Beautiful.
Small & beautiful town on a hill, very clean roads, narrow streets & lovely people. The Riad here was comfortable & service too was nice. A sure town to visit when in Morocco.

** Tangier : Vibrant.
More like a European town with lots to do, a very vibrant city with many things to offer. Cap Spartel is a must visit location here. We stayed at Hilton City Centre which was located perfectly, overall a good property with perfect location as station is just opposite.

** Casablanca : Average
A big city but lot of diversity - the newer areas are good but otherwise just okay. We stayed at Sofitel but did not like the location nor ambience nor rooms of this property. The dinner was good as vegetarian food so was freshly made.

Finally - Morocco is a county one must visit to see the diversity & enjoy the beauty..!!

Hotel Reviews

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

** Merzouga : Awesome. This was the best experience in our entire trip. The camp, food, service, staff, tent accommodation, facilities, camel ride, ATV & 4W drive all were superb. Must consider this for sure.

Authenticity & Character

Everything..!!

Location

Everything..!!

Staff

Very courteous & warmth..!!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything..!!

Riad Marjana

Fes

** Fes : Highly overrated. Our first accommodation in a Riad but unfortunately we were given the worst room. I even pointed this to the manager when we checked in & he said all rooms are same. Next morning when I peeped into 3/4 other rooms they were far more superior & so were their bathrooms. Honestly a big let down & this should be conveyed to the Riad strictly. The common area was good & food + service was decent but very put off with the room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Approach.

Staff

Management.

Cleanliness & Comfort

We got the worst room.

Lina Ryad & Spa

Chefchaouen

** Chefchaouen : Beautiful. Small & beautiful town on a hill, very clean roads, narrow streets & lovely people. The Riad here was comfortable & service too was nice. A sure town to visit when in Morocco.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hilton Garden Inn Tanger City Centre

Tangier

** Tangier : Vibrant. More like a European town with lots to do, a very vibrant city with many things to offer. Cap Spartel is a must visit location here. We stayed at Hilton City Centre which was located perfectly, overall a good property with perfect location as station is just opposite.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sofitel Casablanca Tour Blanche

Casablanca

** Casablanca : Average A big city but lot of diversity - the newer areas are good but otherwise just okay. We stayed at Sofitel but did not like the location nor ambience nor rooms of this property. The dinner was good as vegetarian food so was freshly made.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms.

Hotel Xaluca Dades

Boumalne

Average place to stay as this town was very small. But the restaurant need to improve hygiene & cleanliness standards for sure.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The service staff in the restaurant.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Serenity Unleashed: Indulge in a Tranquil Hammam & Spa Experience

Morocco

The Hamaam visit was most terrible - I wonder why the guide chose that particular place..?? The way treatment was done by ladies in hamaam was torturous & you should definitely not send anyone there anymore - please take this up strictly with your guide. Only the massage after hamaam was okay but overall experience, cleanliness, ambience & service was horrible.

Quality of Experience

Value for money we paid for vehicle, Riad experience at Fes & Hamaam at Marrakech.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We enjoyed the entire journey because of our driver Imad so we compromised on the vehicle quality.

Transport

Vehicle was spacious & comfortable but totally run down.

Mystical Marrakesh: Unveiling the Allure of Morocco's Vibrant Jewel

Marrakesh

The entire experience was amazing & enjoyable. Majorelle Gardens are beautiful.

Quality of Experience

Very knowledgable guide.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Driver Imad is a star - soft spoken, calm & very helpful.

Transport

Comfortable but a very run down vehicle.

Majorelle Gardens Guided Visit

Marrakesh

Beautiful gardens with wide variety of plants & trees. Overall a great experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Driver Imad is amazing.

Transport

Cleanliness & maintenance of the vehicle.

Great trip to Columbia. I would recommend working with KimKim!
There were a few minor issues that could be ironed out, but now that I know what to expect & the right questions to ask, I would definitely use this service again ;)

This trip was a dream trip for my mother and I – years in the imagination and the making. I decided to use the services of KimKim because I wanted a local specialist to devise the best possible package for us, and on, the whole, Lorena delivered.

In 14 days, we managed to visit the highlights of Chile – Santiago, Valparaiso, Patagonia and Atacama. Most of the tours and tour guides were excellent and went above and beyond what is expected from them. The people were friendly and generous, the food was delicious and the scenery was breathtaking. We left Chile full of great memories and a desire to come back again.

Our favourite guide is by far Felipe who gave us a brilliant, informative and entertaining tours of both Santiago and Valparaiso. The private dinner at Gloria & Leo’s house was one of our most memorable nights as we bonded over food, politics and music, spending over three hours singing songs by Violeta Parra and Victor Jara.

Visiting Pablo Neruda’s houses La Sebastiana and La Chascona was another highlight of the trip. I would highly recommend these visits for the poet’s fans.

And of course, the amazing places in Patagonia and Atacama are all beautiful and worth visiting. The only place I would have skipped are the Tatio Geysers, which were underwhelming.

There were a few minor issues noted below, which should be addressed to help improve future trips:
(1) Some of the tour guides did not speak any English, which was a problem for my mother. I translated most of the time, but this may pose an issue for someone who does not have a Spanish-speaking companion with them.
(2) The hotel (Big Sur) we were booked at in Puerto Natales was of very poor quality. Having no knowledge of local hotels, we trusted Lorena’s recommendation, but were surprised to find that the hotel, which is only 3 months old, to be more of a hostel/B&B than a proper hotel. We changed our booking on arrival to Costaustralisa, and were partially refunded.
(3) Our trip to Magdalena Island was cancelled last minute without the travel agency making alternative arrangements. I had to find an alternative arrangement myself and ask the agency to book us a different tour!

Apart from these issues, I would give the trip five stars.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Ladera

Providencia

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Cabo De Hornos

Punta Arenas

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Big Sur

Puerto Natales

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel La Casa de Don Tomás

San Pedro de Atacama

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Renaissance Santiago Hotel

Santiago

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Santiago City Tour

Santiago

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Dinner

Santiago

This dinner gave us one of our most memorable nights in Chile and possibly our lives. We were generously hosted by Gloria and Leo in their home: they cooked and sang for us, and we bonded over a shared love of music and politics. They made us feel at home in Chile, creating an intimate experience that we will cherish forever.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Maipo Valley Wine Experience

Santiago

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Punta Arenas

Punta Arenas

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Penguin Colony on Magdalena Island

Chile

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-Day Tour of Torres del Paine National Park & Surroundings

Chile

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boat Tour to Balmaceda & Serrano Glaciers

Chile

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kayaking in Eberhard Fjord

Puerto Natales

I did this activity on my birthday - it was my first ever kayaking experience. The instructor, Juan Pablo, was excellent - funny, helpful, informative and good-looking too :)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hidden Baltinache Lagoons - Currently unavailable

San Pedro de Atacama

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Valley of the Moon Tour

San Pedro de Atacama

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the Atacama Salt Flats & Lagoons

San Pedro de Atacama

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour of Tatio Geysers

San Pedro de Atacama

Underwhelming experience. The tour guide was very rude and unhelpful. We missed the sunrise because he was late and quite frankly the whole place was underwhelming. I would skip the tour if I were you :)

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Viña del Mar & Valparaíso

Chile

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pura Vida!
I recently had the pleasure of working with Veronica at Kim Kim Travel Agency to plan my 6 day family vacation to Costa Rica. Planning a vacation is never easy, but Kim Kim made the process incredibly easy for me. We communicated a lot via the website allowing me to get my questions answered easily.
During our five days, we had nothing to worry about. Transportation and activities were all taken care of. In Arenal we did the hot pools and took a beautiful hike around the volcano. We also took incredible photos of the stunning waterfall and got to swim around it . The hanging bridges were also amazing!
We moved on to Manuel Antonio where we went on a private catamaran, snorkeled and swam in the ocean. We went deep sea fishing and also explored the National Park. We saw monkeys, sloths, snakes and many other things native to Costa Rica. The beach and the sunset view was amazing!
I highly recommend Kim Kim, it made my life and trip so much easier!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Los Lagos Spa & Resort

Fortuna

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds were great!

Hotel San Bada Resort & Spa

Manuel Antonio

The staff was amazing!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hanging Bridges, La Fortuna Waterfall & Arenal Volcano Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Catamaran Cruise & Snorkeling/Lunch included

Manuel Antonio

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I especially appreciated that Eduardo was able to make last minute changes for us. Due to the major storm in Dec 2022, our flight from the US to Belize City was delayed one day. Thus, we had to begin our trip on Day 2 of our itinerary, instead of Day 1. Eduardo arranged for us to be picked up a day late, and got us quickly caught up to our Day 2 itinerary, which required him to adjust the pick up time for 3 drivers. Had we booked this trip on our own... we would have had a problem rearranging our pick up times. We had Pablo as our guide for the half day bike ride in Antigua and Pablo has a wonderful personality and was patient with our 12 year old. We appreciated having Pablo. Our trip didn't have any hiccups. All the drivers/guides were either on time or early and we had maybe 10 different times/days to meet up. Don't be shy about getting Eduardo's WhatsApp chat info BEFORE you depart for your trip. He'll be super responsive on WhatsApp.

Hotel Reviews

Jungle Lodge Tikal

Peten

For some reason, our hotel room did not have hot water. And for the bed, we each got one sheet as the cover. And the windows actually didn't close all the way. It was December and we all had to sleep in our street clothes and I had to use my jacket as my cover. Just make sure you have warm PJs and a warm coat to cover yourself, and probably skip the shower until your next hotel.

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Having hot water in the shower. Having a bedcover on the bed, and not just one thin sheet as the cover.

Hotel San Jorge

Antigua

This one looked okay from the outside, but inside the room, it was really old. Bed was uncomfortable, sheets were clean, but the blanket and bed cover were old and worn. They need to replace all their beds and beddings. The towels were nice though. The location was very convenient. The breakfast was kinda sad. The staff were lovely, but the breakfast was just so so.

Location

Close to downtown.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

They should consider replacing all their beds and bed covers. When you go to a hotel, you just want to sleep comfortably.

Jan's Hotel

Caye Caulker

Surprisingly, this hotel was simple, yet just right. The beds were comfortable, the shower was strong and the staff was helpful. We got picked up by a staff from the Ferry and he was helpful.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ramon's Village Resort

San Pedro

This was a nice resort. There was a restaurant onsite, and there's also a pier onsite where you can book any water activities (fishing, snorkeling, scuba diving) when you are there so you don't have to worry about booking months in advance for the activities. We booked a half day fishing trip and a fisherman (Tino) picked us up in a boat and took us to maybe 4 spots to fish. We caught about 15 or 20 fish, and took 4 with us when we left. He gutted the 4 fish and we brought it to the resort restaurant where for $10 per person (there were 3 of us) they cooked the fish, and gave us rice/salad as sides. It was a wonderful experience to eat your own catch. The hotel will pick you up at the ferry and drop you off when you depart. We also rented a golf cart for 3 hours from the hotel to drive around the island. Beware, there were lots of mosquitos in our hotel room though! We had to kill about 3-4 mosquitos each night before we went to bed.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Explore Tikal National Park

San Ignacio

This was the jewel of the trip. Our guide was super knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Antigua Walking Tour

Guatemala

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide, Pablo was very patient and answered my many many questions.

Transport

Transport was via our foot!

Traditional Guatemalan Cooking Class

Antigua

This was a shared experience with another couple. We thoroughly enjoyed our cooking and eating experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Valley Ride - Bicycle Tour of Antigua's Villages, Farms, and Ruins

Antigua

We had a good time on this trip, though it got scary whenever we had to ride on the main roads with many trucks and cars.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Snorkeling Tour in the Belize Barrier Reef

Caye Caulker

This snorkel trip to the Hol Chan departed from Caye Caulker, which was pretty far. I think if the visitors are also saying in San Pedro, then it would be a shorter distance to travel from San Pedro to the Hol Chan reserve for snorkeling.

Quality of Experience

The booking experience was very seamless and all details has been thought about and planned. Lucia was very responsive and quickly answered our questions.

On San Cristobal island our guide was knowledgeable but lacked some patience and often did not respond to our request positively. The hotel Pimampiro was a wonderful place and the hosts very extremely helpful and cordial. They were very accommodative and helped us with small requests and pointed us to information when we needed it . Snorkeling experience at Kicker rock was good and boat and the crew were knowledgeable and helpful

The public ferry we took from San Cristobal to Santa Cruz was not the best experience as the boat broke down a few times and it was crowded

Taxi services we used and the restaurants and stores were very good and people were friend and helpful in San Cristobal

The hotel Villa Laguna was good only thing to note is there were no elevators and our room was on the first floor which was ok with us . Hotel was clean and helpful staff. Breakfast was good

Our trip coordinator was good and helpful. The guide and the boat crew who accomplished on our snorkeling to Pinzon island and La Fe were very friendly, knowledgeable , attentive and accommodative . The food was prepared on board and excellent

Our guide and driver to the highlands and beaches were very good

Our only suggestion would be to ensure that The Darwin Research Center is included as part of the itinerary. At least for the 1.5 hours guided tour at the center is worth the visit

Our driver Abdur at Guayaquil airport picked us up and dropped us off at the hotel on the day of arrival and took us back to the airport next day for our flight to the Galapagos. He is very i helpful to navigate the complicated check in process for our flight to the Galapagos.

We definitely recommend using Lucia to book your Galapagos vacation

Hotel Reviews

Wyndham Guayaquil, Puerto Santa Ana

Guayaquil

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa Pimampiro

Puerto Baquerizo Moreno

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Villa Laguna

Puerto Ayora

No Elevators and we were ok but May be an issue with senior Patrons

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Welcome to San Cristóbal Island! Visit the Interpretation Center, Tijeretas Hill, or La Lobería

Ecuador

The views were fantastic

Quality of Experience

Food

Food at Rositas was good

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was knowledgeable but we felt he could have been nor accommodating and interactive . He was as knowledgeable

Transport

We took local taxis everywhere. The guide came with us

Kicker Rock: A Snorkeling Adventure

Isla San Cristóbal

Quality of Experience

Food

Food on the boat was ok. I had asked for vegetarian food but there was not much option

Guides, Drivers and Staff

L

Cerro Mesa Reserve - Garrapatero Beach

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Driver didn’t know much about the place or didn’t know English

Transport

Discover Pinzon Island & La Fé

Puerto Ayora

We had a very nice snorkeling experience . Clear water and lot of marine life

Quality of Experience

Food

Amazing food. Cooked on board and very fresh

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide and boat staff were fantastic . They gave us a very nice snorkeling experience

Transport

Exploring The Charles Darwin Research Station (Self Guided)

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Journey to the Santa Cruz Highlands: Witnessing Giant Tortoises in Their Natural Habitat

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Olman was very patient in working with us as we weren't sure what we wanted from our trip. I appreciated all the information as we were making our choices. Olman had great suggestions on where to stay, what to do, and where to eat. In particular, we loved our stay at The Springs. It was more than we would normally spend, but the resort was worth it. The La Paz Waterfall hiking and rafting excursion were our favorite outings. Our favorite meal was a reservation that Olman made for us in San Jose for our New Year's Eve dinner. All of our drivers were attentive to our needs and got us to our destinations safely and in good time. We normally plan our own trips, but I was so thankful to have Olman from KimKim do it for us for Costa Rica. I would definitely recommend this service!

Hotel Reviews

Park Inn San Jose by Radisson

San José

The people at the front desk were the best part. Very helpful in calling taxis, exchanging money and answering our questions. Room was clean and comfortable, the food at the hotel was good. Only four stars because the fire alarm went off at five in the morning and the pool was cold.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Springs Resort & Spa at Arenal

La Fortuna

Worth the splurge! The staff was amazing - don't miss the welcome tour. The grounds are amazing. Rooms were lovely and the breakfast buffet was so good. The views are crazy beautiful. We wish we would have stayed here longer.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful grounds/furnishings

Location

The view!

Staff

Ready to answer any question and make the stay more enjoyable

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very spacious room even though we were staying as a family of four, it didn't feel cramped

Cala Luna Boutique Hotel & Villas

Guanacaste

This hotel was a great choice for our family because of the 2-bedroom villa with private pool. We even had monkeys swing by as we were swimming! But the vibe wasn't quite our speed. We didn't take advantage of the wellness opportunities and the food wasn't very family friendly. It might have just been a hard transition coming here after our favorite resort in Arenal.

Authenticity & Character

Location

On the beach, walking distance to town

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

San José - Arenal - Visit to La Paz Waterfall & Gardens

Costa Rica

Beautiful place! We loved walking the trails and seeing the waterfalls and the animals. Food was very good for lunch, too.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Whitewater Rafting on the Balsa River Class II & III

Arenal/La Fortuna

It was a bit farther to raft then the information we were given suggested, but even so, I would recommend this trip. Guides were experienced and helpful and it was just the right amount of thrills for our family. The even took us to a spot where we could jump off a small cliff into the water.

Kayak & Snorkel Tour in Tamarindo Bay

Costa Rica

I missed this trip because I became ill in Tamarindo and unfortunately they were unable to reschedule us. My husband and kids went and enjoyed their time. The guide was fantastic. As far as snorkeling goes, they didn't see many fish, but they enjoyed the kayak ride.

We had a wonderful experience in Ecuador with Kimkim. Our guide Sebastian was simply wonderful: warm, helpful, and knowledgable. Our driver, Guillermo was excellent and very sweet. Lucia helped us plan a wonderful a trip. We will definitely use them again!

We are so glad we made our trip arrangements through kimkim! While we had some ideas about where to go and what to do while in Italy, we had no idea where to begin. Chiara from Storywalker filled in all the details - and it worked out beautifully! The hotels were lovely, the drivers who got us to and from our planes, trains and hotels were always courteous and on time and the tours could not have been better. (Many thanks to Luciana who guided us through the Vatican, Suzanna through the Colosseum and Roman Forum, Marta to the Appian Way and the Catacombs of St. Callixtus, Catia in Assisi, Tommaso to the Tuscan countryside and Sylvia through the museums of Florence!) Chiara responded to every message and request I sent during the planning phase and, along with her teammate Jessica, were available and responsive while we were in Italy.
Our days in Rome, Assisi and Florence were the perfect blend of history, faith, art and natural beauty we had hoped for. We would not hesitate to work with kimkim again.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Dei Mellini

Rome

Perfect location, clean and comfortable, excellent breakfast, friendly and helpful service.

Authenticity & Character

Quaint but not too small. Quiet street with residences and small businesses.

Location

Walking distance to the Vatican and other historical sites (Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, etc.)

Staff

Helpful and friendly - answered all of our touristy questions with a smile.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Slept great, felt safe.

Il Palazzo

Assisi

Great location near the Basilica of San Francesco. Clean room, delicious breakfast, friendly and helpful staff.

Authenticity & Character

Modern accommodations in a historic building. Loved the view from our room!

Location

About halfway between the main square and the Basilica. Quiet, even during the busy Christmas season.

Staff

So friendly and helpful!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Roomy bathroom, comfy bed - great place to rest!

Hotel Berchielli

Florence

Terrific location away from the Christmas crowd. Beautiful view. Clean and comfortable with a helpful staff.

Authenticity & Character

Lovely accessible community patio, great view, modern conveniences in a historic location.

Location

Within walking distance to the Duomo, Uffizi and Academia. Set on the Arno River with a beautiful view of the bridges.

Staff

Friendly and helpful. Breakfast staff made sure we had everything we wanted.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable!

Activity Reviews

Highlights of the Vatican & Sistine Chapel Tour

Rome

Very crowded at Christmas time, but our guide Luciana did a beautiful job and kept us moving.

Quality of Experience

As lifelong Catholic, the Vatican has been on our bucket list for years. So much beauty, and such a great education. Our tour ended just in time for us to participate in 5:00 Mass.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Luciana was a pro! The museum could have been overwhelming but she showed us the highlights and answered our questions.

Private Colosseum Tour Including Roman Forum

Rome

An amazing walk through history with an exceptional guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Suzanna met us right on time in the planned location. She was so knowledgeable and personable! We very much enjoyed our time with her and learned so much!

San Callisto and walk through the Appian Way

Rome

This came about because of a last minute scheduling change, and was a real bonus! Interesting history and beautiful site.

Quality of Experience

A wonderful learning experience.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Marta taught us so much we did not know about the Appian Way and history of Rome. She gave us the important background information before we joined the guide for the Catacomb tour.

Free afternoon in Assisi

Assisi

We loved exploring Assisi. What a beautiful, spiritual place. We did not expect the crowd, but it was wonderful seeing people enjoying the Christmas displays.

Quality of Experience

Loved the character and spirituality of this charming place!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Knowledgeable, friendly and helpful.

Transport

Train from Rome to Assisi. Easy and restful. So glad to have been driven up into Assisi!

Assisi Private Walking Tour including St. Francis Basilica with Giotto frescos

Italy

Catia met us on time in the designated location. She taught us so much about Assisi and the region, and showed us the beautiful sites. Although she could not go into the Basilica with us due to the Christmas holiday, she prepared us well. She even gave us recommendations on other places to see in the area.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to India in the Golden Triangle (Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur) was amazing. Leading up to and throughout the trip, our local specialist Ravi Tickoo was attentive and friendly. He answered right away whenever we had a question and helped us plan a trip perfectly catered to our group. Our tour guide, Ajay Gupta, was the best! He was knowledgeable, flexible to our needs and wants throughout the trip, and all around fun to be around. I would recommend kimkim to anyone and can't wait to plan my next trip through them.

Hotel Reviews

The Oberoi Delhi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Taj Hotel & Convention Centre, Agra

Agra

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Royal Heritage Haveli

Khatipura, Jaipur, Rajasthan

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Arrival - Delhi

Delhi

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Old Delhi Sightseeing - Agra

Agra

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Agra - Jaipur

Jaipur

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jaipur Sightseeing Tour + Village jeep ride

Jaipur

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jaipur - Delhi - Departure

New Delhi International Airport (DEL)

Three of us left earlier than the rest of our group, and the travel from Jaipur to Delhi for our flight was a little weird. Our driver stopped at one point at a rest stop, but then did not return to the car for half an hour. We had no way to contact him or find him which was off-putting. He eventually came back to the car and the rest of the drive was smooth.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport