Kimkim Trip Reviews

Our trip to Morocco was an amazing experience. We would like to thank our driver Soukiana Arrabhi for her professionalism and warmth. Soukiana went above and beyond to make us feel comfortable. She is one of the few female drivers in Morocco. My sister and I were so lucky to get her. We are huge coffee drinkers and she knows all the great stops to get coffee during our drive through Morocco. She is also a fantastic photographer - an expert at the group selfie!

We also want to give a shout out to our fantastic guide in Marrekesh - Hannan Eland. Hannah is very knowledgable in the history of Morocco which is what we wanted to learn while we were there. She found us a fantastic pharmacy to buy natural health care products like eucalyptus crystals and snail cream for wrinkles. They go through the whole process of how the products are made and how they work.

The whole trip was fantastic but our 2 favorite places/experiences were at Tiziri Camp in the Sahara desert run by Imazighen people and the Dar Rihana riyad in the Dades Gorge. There is nothing like sleeping in the desert! It is so quiet and serene. The camp employees did everything from lead the camels to cooking meals and also entertaining us with Berber music by the moon light and camp fire. As for Dar Rihana - the hotel is gorgeous and the chef is amazing. I was not expecting this diamond in the middle of the mountain valley. It is truly an oasis.

We had a fantastic trip and I would recommend it to anyone, Thank you Kimkim team!!!

Hotel Reviews

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

Staying at Tiziri Luxury Camp was one of the highlights of our trip. The gentlemen that run the camp are fantastic hosts! They did everything from get us to the camp by truck, ATV or camel (the camels were very well taken care of in case anyone is worried), cook and serve all of the fantastic meals, and provided beautiful Imazighen music by the camp fire. The accommodations are gorgeous and comfortable. It was truly a magical experience. The Sahara desert is so quiet at night and the sunrise is stunning. We would stay longer next time. Thanks Tiziri Camp for all of the hard work that you do. They are eco-friendly on top of everything!

Authenticity & Character

Imazighen music by the camp fire and learning about the history and culture of the people

Location

The desert

Staff

The guys did a great job!!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Unbelievable that this little paradise is in the desert!

Dar Rihana Dades

Douar Aït Ouffi

Dar Rihana is a gem in the Dades valley. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised as I never imagined there would be such a beautiful little riyadh in the middle of the gorge. We were served mint tea and delicious home made almond cookies out on the patio before we went to our room. The hotels decor is gorgeous with all type of interesting detail in the design. It has a fresh new feel to it but keeps a 'true to Morocco culture' look. An even bigger surprise was the food. The chef put out a 6 course dinner that was fantastic. The food was creative but still all Moroccan flavors. My favorite was a goat cheese tart with spicy tomato roulade and a dough crust. The two brothers who own and run this riyadh have something amazing going. We have already recommended it to people that we know. I would actually like to doing some hiking in the valley and stay longer next time.

Authenticity & Character

It was clean, beautiful and comfortable

Location

Beautiful in the bottom of the valley

Staff

Two amazing brothers run it and the rest of the staff are fantastic.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beyond clean and comfort. The bathroom shower was special and the beds were big with lots of blankets,

Palais Sebban

Marrakech

It is a beautiful riyadh hidden away in the Medina. I was so surprised that the outside looks like nothing and when you open the door you enter a paradise. This place definitely had that feel. We loved our room, the service was amazing and the location is perfect. Thank you Palais Sebban for the great experience. I also got to watch one of the workers make msemman for our breakfast. I will be trying it at home. It is a delicious fried yeast dough that is served with honey or jam. Yummy.

Authenticity & Character

Gorgeous place

Location

Perfect

Staff

Staff was friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our room was beautiful. Clean, private, comfortable. It felt like we had our own apartment with a roof top patio.

Lina Ryad & Spa

Chefchaouen

Loved this beautiful little riyadh. Our room was on the top floor so we had a patio overlooking the city and country side. It was the whole top floor. We ate our dinner there and the food was excellent. Cannot say enough about the wonderful staff. I would stay here again.

Authenticity & Character

Authentic Moroccan style riyadh - beautiful.

Location

It is was in the Medina and overlooked the whole city so the views from our roof top patio were amazing.

Staff

So welcoming and accommodating - shout out to the guys who carried our heavy suitcase up all the stairs in the Medina.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and the beds were so cosy!!

Riad Salam Fes

Fes

We stayed here for New Years Eve. The room was cute. The service was very good. My favorite things were the hamman (massage and bath), the pecan cookies (I want that recipe!), the gorgeous interior design and the location. There was a New Years Eve dinner which included entertainment. There was a young Moroccan woman at the table next to us who got up and gave the belly dancer a run for her money. She told us that she learned how to shimmy on Youtube. It was a great cultural experience. The food was also excellent.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful Moroccan design

Location

right in the middle of everything - perfect

Staff

Very professional. The two sisters who did our hammems were fantastic!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable

Activity Reviews

Guided tour of Tangier

Morocco

Our driver/guide Soukiana Arrabhi was a total professional. She showed us the city and then we went to our next destination. Soukiana was our driver the whole trip. Our experience would not have been the same without her.

Quality of Experience

beautiful city - easy to fly into

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The best

Transport

On time, clean car, smart friendly female driver, vert accommodating especially with our coffee stop requests

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

Morocco

We got a guide at the entrance. Make sure to go with the guides that have a badge. Our guide Mohammed was excellent. There is so much history at this site. Very much worth seeing with a good guide.

Quality of Experience

love the history

Food

Great coffee all over the place.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

we had our driver Soukiana and found an excellent guide at the entrance - guide is an extra cost plus tip so bring cash

Transport

I loved driving through Morocco with Soukiana because we really got to see the country.

Wonders of Fes: Exploring the Medina in Half a Day

Fes

Fes was our first stop where we really got to explore the Medina. Mohammed our guide was fantastic. He took us to the leather shop/tannery, carpet shop where we learned how the make beautiful carpets, clothing shop where they weave and make all of the products, and the ceramic shop where we watched craftsmen making pots/tiles/tables and more. At each place we learned about how these trades are done which is a huge part of Moroccan history. Of course you are encouraged to buy things at each place. The tour is a historical and cultural experience.

Quality of Experience

Mohammed our guide

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mohammed

Transport

Soukiana

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

Marrakesh

Marrakesh is such a vibrant city. Our guide Hanan Elaadi was extremely knowledgable about the history of Marrakesh and Morocco. We were in very good hands with her. She did not let us out of her site. She also found us a fabulous shop with natural products for health care - skin products, eucalyptus crystals, spices, hair care products. We bought snail slim for our wrinkles - I think it is working!!! Hanan also found a good restaurant at the edge of the Medina to stop for lunch and do some people watching.

Quality of Experience

our guide Hanan

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Knowledgable and kind

Transport

our driver and guide

Over the Middle Atlas to the Desert: Erfoud, Merzouga, Sahara

Morocco

The highlight of our trip was staying at the Tiziri Camp in the Sahara desert. The desert camp is beautiful. The tent and accommodations were clean, comfort and luxurious. Food was excellent. The men running the camp went out of their way to make our time there a 'true one of a life time' experience.

Quality of Experience

Sitting around the fire under the stars listening to the camp workers play amazigh music was a real experience.

Food

Wonderful food.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The camp staff were all fabulous.

Transport

We did ride the camels but you can take a jeep or ATV.

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

Morocco

I was not expecting such a wonderful little riyadh in the middle of the mountains. The Dades valley is a site to see - gorgeous. We would definitely go back to Dar Rihana riyadh and spend some time hiking in the gorge. The food was super fantastic at Dar Rihana. The two brothers that own it have a great thing going.

Quality of Experience

Dar Rihana riyadh and the food there

Food

The chef at Dar Rihana is top notch. We were served a 6 course meal that rivals some of the meals I have had in top NYC restaurants.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The owners and staff at Dar Rihana are top notch.

Transport

The drive was stupendous and a bit scary. The roads are super curvy around the mountains and narrow. Thank goodness for our expert driver Soukiana.

Transfer to Marrakech via Roses Valley, Ouarzazate & Aït Benhaddou

Morocco

We stopped at a casbah that is a UNESCO heritage site. It was really nice to get out and spend some time walking around.

Quality of Experience

The casbah

Food

none

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We did a self tour but ended up being near a group with a guide so we heard a few historical things. We read about the casbah online.

Transport

Soukiana

Every single guide we had was special. They made us feel at home, at ease. Beginning with Luis that greeted us at the airport in Rio, the professional knowledgeable, fun Ortiz at Iguacu, Crocidile Dundee realty star Dave at the Amazon.. professionals that made us feel comfortable and safe from their first hello! Rachel ass knows the best team and was in touch every single day to ensure we were having a blast!

Hotel Reviews

Arena Ipanema

Rio de Janeiro

Convenient location.. average food

Authenticity & Character

It felt kkke another normal hotel

Location

When your backyard is the Ipanema beach with amazing sunsets.. there is no way you can go wrong

Staff

Friendly, courteous

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was not cleaned on 2/6 days

Hotel Intercity Manaus

Manaus

Hotel looked tiered, old…

Location

No where to go

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sheets appeared dirty. Rooms need to be uodatef

Amazon Tupana Lodge

Manaus

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Christ the Redeemer & Sugar Loaf Mountain

Rio de Janeiro

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Iguaçu Falls - Argentinean side

Foz do Iguaçu

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-day tour Tijuca Forest

Rio de Janeiro

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day- Rio by Bike

Rio de Janeiro

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Canoeing in the Amazon and overnight in the jungle

The Amazon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

City Tour in Manaus

Manaus

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Carnaval Experience - Half day Tour

Rio de Janeiro

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

What an amazing trip! Our daughter had been studying in Valparaiso for nearly 4 months and we traveled to Chile at the end of her semester to see where she had been and to explore some other parts of the country. Lorena seemed to understand us immediately, and arranged for us to see Punta Arenas, Puerto Natales, Puerto Varas, Santiago and Valparaiso. She planned a perfect mix of outdoor adventure, educational and historical sites, and time to explore on our own.
Each tour guide was better than the next, from the wonderful young woman (whose name I am embarrassed that I have forgotten) who answered all our questions at Monumento Natural Los Pengüinos, Jan Erick on the glacier tour, John on the Torres del Paine tour, Damian for Chiloé Island, Carlos at the volcanoes and Hernan in Santiago and Valparaiso. Hernan was especially knowledgeable and open about recent history, and very flexible with our interests (like when we stumbled upon a bicycle race in Santiago or the World Cup final going on between our visits to Casablanca and Vina Del Mar).
I am especially grateful for all of the local travel companies. Each time we slowed down and wondered about the tour/transport/hotel tomorrow, we would check messages and find they were one step ahead of us. A special thank you to Sophie, who stepped in for a few days while Lorena was away.
The hotels were all wonderfully unique to their location and perfectly situated for us to explore the towns on our own. We especially loved the ones in Puerto Natales and Valparaiso. We had been needlessly worried about meals. Lorena arranged all our breakfasts (and hotel operators kindly accommodated our early tour departures) and most of our lunches, and as I said, hotels were always perfectly located so we could get to dinner easily.
Overall, our trip was flawlessly executed (even the weather cooperated and only rained while we were on a bus transport). Chile is a stunningly beautiful country, and the people we met were so incredibly kind and generous with visitors. The only thing I would change is to have planned more time there.

Hotel Reviews

Fauna Hotel

Valparaíso

Such a fun, funky vibe to this hotel and the neighborhood around it. Be sure to try the ascensore at the end of the alley, and the fun little slide.

Authenticity & Character

The decor and architecture were so fun and funky. The location was so great for exploring the city, but even outside the vibe on the street was just so fun.

Location

The street vendors views on the street to the hotel were so great, and the view from the end of the street at dusk was just stunning! It's important to note that it isn't the best location for anyone with a mobility issue or physical disability, but it was great for us since we enjoy exploring a city on foot.

Staff

The staff were so kind to let us keep our luggage there all day after we checked out, until our transport to the airport in the evening.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was clean and comfortable and spacious enough for three people on the last leg of their trip to spread out and reorganize before flying home.

Hotel Big Sur

Puerto Natales

Loved this hotel. Clean, modern aesthetic with very comfortable beds. Great breakfast. Walkable to the waterfront and lots of shops and restaurants.

Authenticity & Character

Location

great location, walkable to everything

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

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

Chile

John was a great tour guide, taking the time to learn everyone's name. He enthusiastically offered to take our picture at every stop and made sure to learn something about everyone on the tour and then connected us with each other, as well. He taught us a great deal about the beautiful park, the wildlife and geology. National Geographic magazine was right - definitely one of the most beautiful places on earth!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Penguin Colony on Magdalena Island

Chile

We loved this tour. I have forgotten her name, but the guide was new to the tour company and very knowledgeable about the penguins. She walked along with us, keeping the pace and but teaching us all about the penguins and other inhabitants of the island along the way.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boat Tour to Balmaceda & Serrano Glaciers

Chile

This was an incredibly beautiful day. The boat ride was cold and windy (not unexpectedly) but we saw all kinds of amazing birds and the glaciers were just stunning. We really enjoyed the short hike into see the glacier within the Bernardo Higgins park. The lunch was such a wonderful experience - we sat with two French couples who also spoke English and solved many of the world's problems over several courses and a couple glasses of wine. Wow!

Quality of Experience

Food

The traditional Patagonian barbecue was AMAZING!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Jan Erick was a terrific guide, full of great stories about his work/travels all over the world. He was very good at spotting wildlife, too.

Transport

Excursion to Chiloé Island: Ancud, Dalcahue & Castro

Puerto Varas

This was a lovely day - more lovely than we expected. Our guide was a little shy about his English and relied a bit on our daughter to translate, but nonetheless we had a great day. Chiloé is such a beautiful spot, and the spirit of cooperation and community was so lovely for world-weary Americans...from the museum of church building, to the palafitos. We really enjoyed the unexpected lunch on the farm (and the really unexpected cows who came right up to meet us!).

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park

Chile

It was a beautiful day to see the volcanoes! Carlos was a great guide, offering lots of information about the history and geology of the volcanoes and the area, and willing to take pictures for us at every stop. The lunch stop, again, was great meal with a great view of the lake and volcano.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Santiago City Tour

Santiago

Hernan was such a wonderful guide. He was so knowledgeable about this history of Chile and Santiago. He was clearly so proud of his country, and willingly shared with us his own personal history as it relates to the present government of Chile. He educated us about Chilean - US relations and history, and we are so grateful that he did so in such a generous manner. He shared with us all the facets of life in the capitol city, including recent political issues in Santiago and Chile, reminding us again that we have more in common with people around the globe than we think we do. He was also very willing to get to know us a little bit and accommodate our interests. (When we crossed paths with a bicycle racing event my husband became very excited and Hernan facilitated a discussion with some of the organizers, who allowed my husband to try their "fixed gear" bike.)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hernan was excellent! Francisco the driver was also wonderful - slowing down, circling around, making sure we got a good view. We enjoyed his company, as well.

Transport

City Tour in Puerto Montt & Puerto Varas

Puerto Varas

We really enjoyed Damian and the tour of Puerto Montt and Puerto Varas, especially when he stopped for us at the fish market (where we found some great souvenirs) and made sure we went around back to see the sea lions!!!! It was a bit more industrial than some of our excursions, but Damian found some wonderful vista points to see the cities and he knew his way around very well (which is the exact reason to engage someone to guide you around the cities).

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Winery & Valparaiso Tour with Overnight

Santiago

Casablanca was so lovely - The winery we visited - Casas del Bosque - was a beautiful oasis and we took home several bottles. The circumstances of our visit were perfect...when we finished the tour, we came out to find our driver, Francisco, (and several other tour drivers) listening to the World Cup Final on the radio. Hernan had arranged a lunch for us in Vina Del Mar at a restaurant with a stunning view of the harbor. We encouraged them to keep the game on the radio as we went to Vina Del Mar, because it was at such an exciting game. Even though we didn't understand the language, we could appreciate the excitement. When we arrived at the restaurant, we were torn between the table with the beautiful view and the lounge where the game was showing on giant screens. The restaurant staff was extremely accommodating as everyone - customers and staff alike - were enthralled by the penalty kicks and trying to see. It was one of those moments that transcends language barriers and nationalities, as everyone in the restaurant just seemed to enjoy the excitement of the game. Afterward, we traveled along to Valparaiso and enjoyed learning about the history of the city and its role as a major port now. We were thrilled to arrive in the city where our daughter had spent the last four months.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

What a fabulous trip!!! Erika was wonderful to work with and designed the perfect trip for us. Everything went as planned. The customer service and responsiveness of Erika and our guides and drivers was flawless. We had the perfect balance of individual time and planned excursions. Some highlights of our trip were canoe rides in the Amazon, biking the waterfall route in Banos, and hiking to base camp at Cotpaxi. The accommodations and food were fabulous. Thank you, Erika for planning an unforgettable family vacation for us.

While researching agencies to help me plan my 50th birthday trip to South America, I came across the name KimKim. KimKim is an online travel agency that uses local travel specialists to help you plan your trip. I was very fortunate to be connected with Emilce Alonso, an Argentina travel agent that helped me put the trip together. I’ve done a lot of traveling, but this trip was incredible. Emi did a phenomenal job of putting our trip together. I made a list of everything I wanted to do in South America, eliminated a lot because of time and then let Emi know the things we wanted to do. She put it all together for us and did an amazing job of booking our flights in South America (we had to book the international flights), booking all of the hotels and setting up all of our excursions. She was extremely patient as I made multiple changes to the itinerary, even weeks before departure time. We were greeted at every airport by a driver and sometimes a guide, we were picked up for every excursion at our hotels and all of the guides were very friendly and spoke English. We did some of the excursions with private guides, which made it extra special. A few guides that stand out are Yvette in the Brazilian side of Iguazu Falls. She was well known and led us to the front of the many long lines and was very knowledgeable. Jorge in Quito, Ecuador was our favorite! It was a private tour of the city and old town. He was very personable, felt like we were family visiting and getting to know his city. While in Peru, Veronica went out of her way to make sure our stay was special. This trip was also about celebrating our 20 year anniversary and she surprised us with a bottle of champagne for New Years and set up a private tour guide for Machu Pichu. Fatima picked us up at the train station and led us through an impressive tour of one of the new seven wonders of the world! One of the best things was that they were available 24/7 to answer any questions or concerns we had. I highly recommend KimKim to anyone interested in stress-free travel!

Everything was so very easy and wonderful, tailored so nicely to our family! The kids had a marvelous time, no melt downs, which meant that the parents had a wonderful time as well! The jungle fly tour was especially fun for all and finding the best ice cream spot on the city tour was also a big treat! Iguazu is a place for all to visit, especially up close and UNDER the falls. All of our guides were attentive to the adult and children needs, meeting them wonderfully. Thanks for a great trip!

Activity Reviews

CATAMARAN RIDE: SUNSET

Puerto Iguazú

A beautiful way to see 3 countries.

Tigre & Delta of the Paraná - PRIVATE

Buenos Aires

Such a unique and interesting place!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Excellent staff able to cater to the needs of our family, understanding how children can be!

Transport

Half day City Tour - Private service with English speaking guide

Buenos Aires

Excellent tour, our guide was able to tailor the tour to the changing needs of our whole family throughout the tour. So much great information about the history, architecture, and art of the city. Very helpful guide in all ways with great recommendations! Thank you!!!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Everyone was so nice and very understanding of children

Transport

Puerto Iguazu: Jungle Fly Adventure Tour

Puerto Iguazú

Excellent adventure for our family, the kids absolutely loved it, as did the adults. A great way to see the area up close.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Kind staff

Transport

Fun ride in the back of the big green truck

Argentinean Falls - PRIVATE

Puerto Iguazú

So much to see and a great way to see it and get lots of information!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Amazing staff

Transport

Brazilian Falls - PRIVATE

Puerto Iguazú

So lovely, definitely do the boat tour to experience going under the falls! Bring shoes you can get wet along with a change of clothes!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was very helpful and able to cater to the needs of our whole family, understanding how children can be!

Transport

Nara arranged the trip, which was smooth and timely. Our guide in Iguazu was Marco and he was so kind and patient with us and knew all the best views. Nori in Ushuaia took us to see the penquins and we also went to Laguna Esmerelda with her and she was also so kind and patient with us. They both knew english very well and explained everything to us.

Hotel Reviews

O2 Hotel Iguazú

Puerto Iguazú

Loved the pool and hot tub!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hostería Schilling

El Calafate

The girls in the front desk were so helpful and kind to us! They did not forget any details!

Authenticity & Character

Loved the authentic decor!

Location

Close to down town.

Staff

Sooooo helpful!

Cleanliness & Comfort

So comfy!

Patagonia Travellers Hostel

El Chalten, Santa Cruz

We enjoyed riding the mountain bikes!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

They explained all the trails to us very well!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very close to the trail heads!

Activity Reviews

Visit the Penguin Colony on Isla Martillo, Explore Puerto Almanza

Ushuaia

Nori was the best host, so kind and sweet!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Iguazú Falls (Argentine Side)

Chile

Marco was the best guide ever! He even filled up our water bottles for us!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Perito Moreno Boat & Walking Tour

El Calafate

Loved our guide very good at English!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cami put together an amazing itinerary for our scuba-loving group. We went to Bohol and Coron, staying in quality resorts with all the amenities we needed. We had a couple older people with us who were catered for brilliantly as well, lots of snorkeling and moderate activities for them so they never felt left out. What's more, Cami continued to be there for us the whole time we were traveling. We had to make a few changes to our schedule and planned activities, and Cami was in constant contact with us and with the staff on the ground to make sure our changes went smoothly. We always felt secure knowing she was there to help. She is knowledgeable, hands on and proactive, highly recommend.

Vietnam? Yes Vietnam!
To be honest we pondered that question as well prior to making our plans to visit this little known country located in SE Asia, but Vietnamese expats we knew reassured us that it was a beautiful and very friendly country, and boy were they right!
We used KimKim Travel to help us plan a vacation which took us from the capital city of Hanoi and Ha Long Bay to the ultra-modern Ho Chi Minh City (aka Saigon) and Mekong (river of the 9 Dragons) Delta. We initially viewed Vietnam as a small country but were surprised to discover that the distance along its coast from the northern tip to southern tip is further than the distance from Vancouver Canada to Tijuana Mexico! Just letting you know in case you thought this could be covered in a week’s time. We spent 17 glorious days and discovered that the wonder that is Vietnam will take time to truly savor, and savor we did!
We started in Hanoi and met our northern guide, Khoi, at our very charming boutique hotel, La Siesta Classic, located in the old French quarter of the city. We toured the capital and biked through the suburbs, learning about Vietnam’s early history and the Buddhist influence. We toured the local markets and met with a local family where we learned to make spring rolls before heading off for two days in Ha Long Bay. This is the one you see in literally all the brochures about Vietnam and it is every bit as magical in real life, especially aboard a Junk Ship, the Dragon Legend, where we spent the night in a luxurious stateroom. Sunset and sunrise at among the 1500+ limestone islands was a delight. The expansive development in Ha Long impressed us and we pondered where all the people would come from. The why is obvious, Ha Long Bay is definitely a destination in itself.
Returning to Hanoi we quickly boarded a flight to the Imperial City of Hue where we spent another two nights. We met our next local tour guide, Chu, at the airport and headed off to another fantastic hotel, The Eldora. Hue was not only the political but also the cultural and religious center under the Nguyen Dynasty, the last royal dynasty of Vietnamese history. A private tour of the King’s fortress with its multiple moats rivaled the finest of medieval castles of Europe but with a definite Asian flair. The afternoon was spent bicycling alone the Perfume river stopping to visit another local family where we learned how to make paper flowers.
Day 8 began with a drive through the marble mountains to Da Nang and eventually the ancient town of Hoi An. If you are a fashionista, this is the place for you. The town abounds with tailors and is renowned for crafting whatever garments you can imagine overnight. You can bring a picture of what you have in mind or spend hours perusing the many fashion catalogs to design the perfect tailor-made wardrobe. Just bring an extra bag to take it all home with you, or you can opt to have a leather bag made to your specifications, as we did to hold your new apparel.
The beach front Boutique Hoi An Resort, was our home for the next four nights. Tip, the Spa is fabulous! Over the three days we toured My Son, learned about the Champa people who helped to settle Vietnam in its early days. We returned to Hoi An by boat but not before stopping to learn how to make fishing nets and how to cast them as we went on our first fishing trip of the tour. At another stop along our river voyage, we stopped to learn about pottery making where we got to take a spin at the potter’s wheel to make souvenirs. The next day we toured the ancient city of Hoi An, a much slower life style, walking its streets are a delight, especially since it is also known for its colorful oriental lanterns which turn magical in the evening. Round boats! I sore they didn’t look safe but my fears were quickly assuaged when we were treated to a river filled with them including people using the round boats to literally “dance” on the water (granum style).
The next day was beach and spa day, Ahhhh! That night we ate at a new restaurant, Reu, that we heard about from other guests at our resort. As much a work or art as it is a restaurant, hands down our best meal the entire trip, and trust me that is quite a compliment as the food of Vietnam is extraordinary. I am not sure if it is due to the French Colonial influence or that they influenced the French, maybe a bit of both!
Day 12 and we were off once again, our flight took us from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City where we met our last tour guide Duc (Dee). I include his nickname here because he showed us how complicated the Vietnamese language can be. The same spelling of a word, such as Mo, can have 5 different meanings based on the accents and hence the pronunciation of the word. The meanings can be vastly different. Our hotel this time was the classical Saigon Majestic Hotel located on the waterfront which afforded us front row seats for New Year’s Eve celebration.
Early the next morning we traveled north to visit the Cu Chi tunnels, made famous by the Viet Cong soldiers during the Vietnam War (or as they call it the American War). First created during the French colonial period, the Cu Chi tunnels became strategic in the fight to retain South Vietnam and quite possibly, what helped them win. The 155 miles network of tunnels were ingenious to say the least and a must see.
The afternoon was spent touring the modern city along with its historical landmarks from its French Colonial period including the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Opera House and the Saigon Central Post Office. Ending our day at the Thien Hau Temple helped slow our pace down, preparing us for the next day’s trip to the Mekong River Delta, or as they call it, the River of the Nine Dragons. Amazing how each tributary of the river can be so massive and support so much maritime trade.
In Can Tho we started our day early so as to our guide could take us up river to the floating market. Although we were told that it pales in comparison to what it once was, we were impressed with the hundreds of boats gathered together selling fresh produce and other goods and service including breakfast on the water. Surprisingly breakfast was served in china dishes that had me wondering what to do with them once we were through, not to worry they’re quite adept at keeping track of everything and soon they reappeared and gathered up all their china. Anthony Bourdain spoke highly of the floating market cuisine, and I can definitely see why! Our river tour continued with occasional stops to educate us about the agriculture and life along the Mekong Delta. We met up with our driver who drove us back to the Majestic in Saigon.
Our last day in Ho Chi Minh City, sad to go, so much left unexplored but memories to last a lifetime. We are sure glad we made the choice to visit Vietnam as our first foray into Asia. Truly, a magical place filled with amazingly friendly people, I can see now why so many people have tried to conquer this marvelous country for over a thousand years.
Thank you KimKim for putting together an extraordinary package of experiences, led by great tour guides and top rate accommodations. You exceeded our expectations. We will definitely seek you out for our next adventure! We’re already beginning to plan where to next…

Wow! What an amazing experience. My trip to Morocco exceeded my expectations and I am so thankful to KimKim and Megan for helping to coordinate such a lovely trip. I appreciate that Megan met with us live over Zoom before the trip to really understand what we were looking for in this trip. As two young women traveling together, our biggest concern was safety, and we did not feel unsafe for even a single moment during the trip.

The logistics were impeccably managed. Everyone - from our drivers to our city guides to our Riad hosts - worked together to make sure we were comfortable, safe, and that we enjoyed our time. We traveled across much of the country and the time getting to know our driver, Mustapha, was a highlight of the trip. I'm glad to say we gained a new friend!

It's difficult to summarize the experience because we saw and did SO MUCH in just a week. We explored the medinas of Fes and Marrakech, ate amazing food, saw beautiful sights across the country like Todra Gorge and the historic Ait Benhaddou, we bought beautiful souvenirs, and made many friends along the way. Morocco is a unique and very special place, full of lovely people, sights, and sounds. I couldn't recommend a trip with KimKim and Megan/Wanderlust more.

Hotel Reviews

Dar Victoria

Fez

We loved Dar Victoria! Karim and Abdul were lovely hosts, helping to carry our bags and always making sure we were comfortable during our stay. Our room was spacious, comfortable, and SO CLEAN! Breakfast was delicious and plentiful. We also ate dinner one evening, and the chicken tagine was my favorite meal of the trip. The rooftop has an AMAZING view of the Fes medina and was a lovely place to be at sunset.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Paradis Du Sahara

Merzouga

Like most of the trip, our experience at Paradis Du Sahara exceeded our expectations. We began with a camel ride to the camp. Riding camels for an hour at sunset in the Sahara was a surreal experience. It was so peaceful and our guide, Said, was kind and fun, always willing to take photos and share a story. This is definitely NOT "camping" but a comfy king size bed with lots of blankets, a working toilet and shower, and plenty of other amenities. The food and service from the staff was just perfect. Being around the fire at night playing drums, dancing, and sharing stories was a highlight of our trip. I can't wait to go back!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dar Chamaa

Ouarzazate

Dar Chamaa was lovely! The staff was friendly and helpful, the room was spacious and clean, and the food was great. The property is beautiful, with a lovely outdoor seating area and pool. We especially loved the buffet-style breakfast and the balcony overlooking Ouarzazate from our room. The location is not very walkable, but you really have no reason to leave the property because all of your needs will be met. Would recommend!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Merzouga

Marrakech

We LOVED Riad Merzouga. We were greeted by our host, Brahim, who started the stay with some mint tea (of course) and guitar. The lobby and common space are beautiful, with a pool in the middle, and plenty of space to relax. We especially loved the rooftop and spent time there relaxing. Our room was spacious, clean, and they even included some towel animals for us! The location is great - easy to find and close to the main attractions in Marrakech. Brahim was so kind to even wake up before 4AM to walk us to our driver as we headed for the airport. Everything was wonderful and we can't wait to go back.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Brahim is the best!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Wine Tasting in Meknes

Morocco

While this may not be the most expected or "authentic" experience when visiting Morocco, I am very glad that we visited the Volubilia-Domaine de la Zouina winery in Meknes! After a week of travel, this was a perfect way to relax and see a different side of Morocco. Our guide, Mohamed, was so kind and went out of his way to make our time fun, including driving us around the vineyard and sharing wine and cheese with us. We toured the winery, then were greeted with a lovely spread of cheeses and wines out on a lawn by the vineyard. I would hardly call this a "tasting" as we were given several bottles of wine to enjoy as we pleased. We purchased a few bottles to enjoy over the rest of the trip. Overall, it was a lovely experience!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour Fes with a Private Guide

Fes

To say we just grazed the surface of Fes with a 6 hour tour is an understatement. The city is incredibly dense, full of lovely people, historic sights, shopping, food, and more. Our guide, Kamal, is so knowledgeable about the history of Fes and Morocco, and it was so interesting to just soak up his brain for the afternoon. Kamal was very helpful in guiding us through the medina to purchase good quality items and seeing all of the artisans at work was fascinating. This tour was a blur in the best way, and Kamal spent extra time with us later in the day to make sure we'd get to see as much as possible.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Camel Trek into a Luxury Sahara Camp

Morocco

Riding camels in the Sahara at sunset is surreal. Our guide, Said, was fun and helpful, always willing to snap a picture or share a story. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sahara to Ouarzazate via Todra Gorge

Morocco

Such a fun day! We stopped in Rissani to visit the market, visited a fossil shop, tried on traditional Berber clothing, stopped at Berber villages, walked the Todra Gorge, and explored some of the "Hollywood of Morocco" sights in Ouarzazate. It was a fun and busy day, and a great way to see Morocco outside of the major cities. Our driver knew exactly where to stop and when to maximize our time and comfort!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ait Benhaddou, Tizi-n-Tichka Pass over the High Atlas, Marrakech

Morocco

Ait Benhaddou was one of my favorite experiences of our Morocco trip. Be prepared to climb a bit if you plan on visiting the top for the views. The drive through the High Atlas was SO BEAUTIFUL! Our driver was always willing to stop for a photoshoot. I was also impressed with the new, well-maintained roads throughout the mountains. We visited the Argan and Rose Oil co-ops as well, which I would recommend as a nice stop for souvenirs.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Food Tour

Marrakesh

We are SO glad that we did a food tour with a guide in Marrakech! It's easy to become overwhelmed with all of the available food options, and the many stall-owners who are vying for your business. With the tour, we were able to try a wide variety of foods that we knew were all of great quality. My only suggestion is to PACE YOURSELF for this tour, as you will eat more than you should!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Gary, our tour agent planned for us a very good 6-day trip in Australia. We went to most of places we wanted to be. And we're very satisfied with his arrangements. The fact that we couldn't make local phone calls made things difficulty but when there're changes during the trip Gary responded very fast to meet our requirements through other communication channel he could find.

We were arranged in Palm Cove for 3 nights. That is a beautiful place. But the hotel (Alassio) is horrible. We couldn't get in after 5pm because we didn't get the code to get the key and their emergency phone didn't work at all. Thanks the restaurant next door who helped us to got the key. Then we found there're no elevator, no microwave oven, very hard to get into shower tub (aged people could fell and hurt themselves easily), the toilet seat doesn't stay up at open position unless you use your hand to stop it falling down. One of the bed lamp didn't work, TV remote controller out of battery, There're bugs in the closets. Couldn't find the switch for the ceiling fan (hiding behind the bed board) and nobody to ask after 5pm. Other than that, Palm Cove experience was still very good.

We missed the part of Rainforest program (because we stay at Palm Cove?), still wait for the refund Gary promised for that part.

The experice in Gold Coast is super! Stay in a great hotel (Hilton) at a great location!

After we fly back to Sydney we found no transportation arranged from the airport to the hotel. And we're not told that we need to take a taxi to get to the hotel. Asked Gary, he probably is on vacation so still waiting for the reimbursment from kimkim for the taxi.

All in all kimkim is a very good and trust worthy toure agent! We believe it'll improve their work from our experience to make it better.

Hotel Reviews

Alassio Palm Cove

Palm Cove

We were arranged in Palm Cove for 3 nights. That is a beautiful place. But the hotel (Alassio) is horrible. We couldn't get in after 5pm because we didn't get the code to get the key and their emergency phone didn't work at all. Thanks the restaurant next door who helped us to got the key. Then we found there're no elevator, no microwave oven, very hard to get into shower tub (aged people could fell and hurt themselves easily), the toilet seat doesn't stay up at open position unless you use your hand to stop it falling down. One of the bed lamp didn't work, TV remote controller out of battery, There're bugs in the closets. Couldn't find the switch for the ceiling fan (hiding behind the bed board) and nobody to ask after 5pm. Other than that, Palm Cove experience was still very good.

Authenticity & Character

after hour attendant

Location

the environment

Staff

more friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

shower tub layout

Hilton Surfers Paradise

Surfers Paradise

Convenient, comfortable, friendly!

Authenticity & Character

like it very much

Location

so close to everywhere

Staff

so friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

very clean and comfortable

Rydges Sydney Airport Hotel

Mascot, Sydney, NSW

No shuttle bus to the hotel from airport after 5:30pm.

Authenticity & Character

we arrived late so didn't see too much

Location

close to airport

Staff

tried to help

Cleanliness & Comfort

clean

Activity Reviews

Outer Great Barrier Reef Cruise

Australia

The Great Adventure arranged everything for us, including Green Island visit, Great Barrier Reef, (we took semi-sub), lunch buffet, afternoon tea/coffee snack, transportations to and from the hotel...

Quality of Experience

Went to Great Barrio Reef

Guides, Drivers and Staff

all people were very friendly and helpful

Transport

On time and professional

Kuranda Rail, Rainforestation, Skyrail

Australia

We like the Skyrail and Kuranda Rail experiences! We missed Rainforestation program. kimkim promised to refund that part of the trip.

Quality of Experience

smooth ridings

Guides, Drivers and Staff

all people are friendly and helpful

Transport

On time and professional and friendly!

Our trip was everything we had hoped it would be and Marina made it happen! I had a very limited amount of time to plan this trip and she made herself available to answer any questions or concerns we had. I will absolutely use kimkim again and highly recommend it. Marina is the icing on the cake!

Response time while in Spain was also exceptional. We had a couple of questions during our travels and we received help almost instantly.

Thank you for making our trip so memorable!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel España Ramblas

Barcelona

Don't recommend. Location is good but that's it.

Authenticity & Character

Location

in the center of the gothic quarter

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Windows fogged and mold. bathrooms not comfortable and could be cleaner. Not great

Majestic Hotel & Spa Barcelona

Barcelona

Perfect location in Barcelona. Safe, friendly, beautiful, clean. We'd love to visit again. They treated us like royalty! Food was terrific as well.

Authenticity & Character

They keep true to the history and it's exceptionally maintained

Location

Staff

Can't compliment enough

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Aigua Blava

Costa Brava · Girona

Beautiful location and private beach. Very helpful staff

Authenticity & Character

Location

Beach! Views!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean, comfortable. I wish they had more food options. Breakfast was great but after our first night, we left for meals elsewhere. Only drink service at pool. It would be awesome if they offered some kind of food service poolside instead of chips and prepackaged icecream.

Activity Reviews

Day Trip to Montserrat & Penedès Region Wine Tasting

Barcelona

Our guide made it special for us. Super friendly. Llopart winery was very fun!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kayaking Excursion

Spain

Guide was great! Beautiful day and plenty of time to jump off of rocks and swim. Beautiful way to experience the seaside of Spain and it's ocean wildlife.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Tour of Barcelona & La Sagrada Familia

Barcelona

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an excellent time in London. The house was exactly as advertised with plenty of space. We met with Ann on our first day and enjoyed excellent weather with our walking tour. Ann was kind and very flexible as we did cut the tour a bit short due to exhaustion.
Each day we used the Tube as there were suspensions of other services and frankly the tube was swift and easy to use.
We went to Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery on the second day before enjoying our Chelsea game. They even played our American player!
The following day we traveled to Westminster. Our tickets were excellent and we were able to quickly enter. It was crowded but beautiful. We walked the rest of the day - over to Seven dials to get lunch and onto St. Paul's. We LOVED climbing the the top. After, we through the financial district (my eldest son's dream location due to his university interests). We then walked along the river to see the Tower Bridge light up. We walked around the Tower of London which had beautiful lighting and, then across the Tower Bridge. We ended up returning home via the Tube and had to change trains at Kings Cross, so of course, we went into the train station to see 9 3/4. Boys were bored and sitting in the corner and my daughter was gleeful!
On our free day the boys slept. Joe and Lizzie went to the British Museum and met up later with the boys for the Harry Potter Tour. Kate spent hours in the William Morris museum and then walked the Walthamstow Wetlands. It was beautiful.
Our tour of Stonehenge and Bath was lovely. It was nice to get out the the city and Lawrence was delightful. It was a comfortable ride, we found food (essentials for the boys) and the weather was cooperative (enough - just a bit of rain). Long day at the end as Bath was far from London and traffic was awful, but this was not unexpected.
The following day, Joe, Lizzie and Patrick went to the Tower. Kate and Dominic went to the Science Museum to the gallery of mathematics - this was Dominic's favorite as he studies this at university. We met later to travel to the Shard.
We stayed in New Year's Eve. We had no idea that there would be so many fireworks. Fireworks are common in the USA in the summer at July 4, but not at New Years.
On our last day, we slept and traveled early to the Tottenham game. Kate was so excited. The food was excellent and the stadium was beautiful - now if only Tottenham would have played better :(
Many thanks to Eleanor for planning our dream vacation.

Hotel Review

Victorian Sunbeam

London

This house was spacious (for London). The photos are accurate and the owners left good instructions. They cleared out generous space for food in the fridge and the temperature was very comfortable. Beds were large and comfortable and having 2.5 bathrooms was excellent (and the main reason that we selected the house). Being from the USA, we were completely clueless on how to work the microwave and the washing machine. Many thanks to YouTube for assistance. Directions would have been helpful. I'm not sure we ever really understood the washing machine. Special Note: The house is clearly owned by artists who enjoyed modern and avant garde art. There were artistic drawings and photos of semi-nude women in the house. They were beautiful but a bit shocking and my sons informed me where each drawing/photo was as they wandered the house. Younger kids would likely not notice and adults may appreciate them, but teenage boys are likely not the audience for these photos. We were not offended but I know many a USA family who would be unappreciative of these decorations.

Authenticity & Character

I wasn't really looking for character, just space, but I'm 5 starring this one.

Location

About 7 minute walk to the Victoria Line of the tube. Grocery store on the way. Very end of Victoria line so it takes a bit of time to get to many city central sites.

Staff

Nice notes and directions from owners

Cleanliness & Comfort

House was very clean. Towels were laid out. Easy places to put shoes and coats. Space in fridge and easy to use kitchen.

Activity Reviews

Shard Viewing Platform

London

This would be great, if the weather would cooperate. My kids liked the view but it was considerably cloudy, so buying tickets ahead of time is a gamble. We have done it once, so don't need to repeat this experience.

Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa - Kick-Off 2pm

London

Wonderful stadium and food. Lovely atmosphere but our tickets were DIRECTLY in front of opposing team fans which was an odd experience. Now if only Tottenham had played well. Since Villa won the game there was much taunting by these fans directed towards Tottenham fans. My kids thought that this was amusing and not typical of the USA.

Quality of Experience

Private Walking Tour of London

London

Our guide was Ann. She was knowledgeable and flexible, adapting to what we wanted to see. It was a lovely day and a great experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Chelsea v Bournemouth - Kick-Off 5.30pm

London

Great food and lovely seats. A bit high up, but good view of the field. You can arrive early and also stay after the game.

Quality of Experience

Discover Bath & Stonehenge - Full Day Tour

London

This was an excellent day but a long drive home afterwards. I wish we had done Bath first and then Stonehenge (or just skipped Bath and found some closer place.) The museum at Stonehenge is interesting and the walk around the stones was lovely. Our entire family really enjoyed Lawrence and he was a helpful and responsive guide. I highly recommend him for future tours. His car was comfortable and he had a lovely personality.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Westminster Abbey

London

This was a lovely place although we attended at peak tourist season, so a bit crowded.

Quality of Experience

St Paul's Cathedral

London

This is a lovely church. We thoroughly enjoyed climbing to the top and enjoying the views. All three teenage kids really liked that experience.

Quality of Experience

Thank you so much for a wonderful trip experience!
All the drivers were friendly and on time. We really loved the zip lining and rafting day! The food at the buffet that day was amazing, especially the coffee!!

Olman was an excellent organizer, we are all extremely happy with the service that Kim Kim provided. We will use Kim Kim again in the future to trip plan.

Thanks again!!

Allison

Hotel Reviews

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

Amazing views and comfortable and rooms

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nammbú Beachfront Bungalows

Sámara

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Parque del Lago Boutique Hotel

San José

Clean rooms but very stuffy

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

El Silencio Hike & Visit to Ecotermales Hot Springs

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Oh

Zip Lining Adventure & White Water Rafting Class II & III

Arenal/La Fortuna

Very professional and safe!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nature Walk at Ecological Park & Butterfly Garden Danaus

Arenal/La Fortuna

Joe was very knowledgeable and informative.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Isla Chora Kayak and Snorkeling Tour

Costa Rica

Good Experience, but the snorkeling was a bit disappointing, we didn't see anything. Also, we wanted this trip to be longer, we had such a great time!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Phil was polite, responsive and courteous throughout my trip. However, a few things could have been better planned and the last day was quite frustrating. My 8-day solo trip had 3 legs which started off in La Fortuna, then onto Manuel Antonio and finishing off In Corcovado National Park.

Phil did an amazing job arranging a car rental pick up and drop off at specific locations which really helped my journey. He also very kindly helped with the flight back to San Jose from Drake on the last day after I realised I had booked the wrong flight time. Thanks!

Unfortunately, I was given the wrong international dialling code so I wasn’t able to get Phil on WhatsApp until day 3. During this time he was not contactable on the KimKim platform either. It got sorted out eventually.

The Volcano Hotel Inn at La Fortuna was pretty basic to be honest and didn’t have any hot water for the shower. Spending $3,000 I would have expected a little bit of a higher standard. What lacked in quality was made up somewhat for a location as I had a breathtaking view of the Arenal Volcano from my room. The Baldi hot springs were super cool and highly recommended. I was disappointed that the waterfall tour was cancelled because of a lack of numbers and I would have liked an alternative to being arranged rather than a refund.

The next leg of my journey was a 9-hour drive to Manuel Antonio. In hindsight, I think this could have been planned better. I was able to break up the journey by stopping off at the La Paz waterfall which was beautiful and the crocodile bridge which was also cool. Then I was privileged to see a family of 9 whales on the afternoon whale-watching tour at Uvita. I didn’t realise I had to double back on myself to Manuel Antonio with another 2-hour drive. This left me absolutely exhausted when I checked into my hotel.

The Manuel Antonio hotel was fine, nothing spectacular but again the location was superb as I was right on the beach. There was a degree of noise outside my room with loud music coming from a local market across the way a few yards away. The itinerary said I should book a ticket for the local national park but when I got there it was already booked out for the next 2 days. I wished Phil had booked this for me in advance and can’t understand why it wasn’t.

The final leg of the journey started in Rancho Corcovado in Drake Bay but I had to pay for the ferry boat to get there. Phil kindly refunded me this fee. The hotel was right on the beach and the location is truly spectacular. The instructions for the pick up the next morning for Corcovado could have been better as the hotel manager didn’t know where I was getting picked up and Phil had some vague direction that it would be from the beach I was on.

I thought I was spending 2 nights inside the remote parts of the park but I only found out on day 2 that this wasn’t the case because there was no room for me at any station in the park. I felt let down when I found this out. I thought I had given KimKim and Phil enough time to arrange for this. I was very disappointed that I never received any communication about this. On day 1, this was the highlight of the whole trip. I saw so much wildlife and took many pictures. Our guide was amazing and had so knowledgeable about everything. He had a telescope with him and was able to zoom in on every animal so we could see everything in amazing clarity. The people on my tour were great and so friendly.

Day 2 of the trip started out with more wildlife watching, which is what I came for. Amazing! I was then told then the group would depart around 11, and I would be on my own with the guide which would turn into “more of a hike”. This was not clear in the itinerary as it mentioned “backyard station” which I took to mean a station inside Corcovado. This was not the case. There was also confusion about my large bag which I had kept on me and even hiked for 2 KM with on my back on day 1. In my opinion, it should really have been left behind in Rancho Corcovado but the communication on this wasn’t there, and at the last second I was told to leave it on the boat at San Pedrillo. I didn’t have time to really get anything out of my large bag to bring with me on the hike.

And so, to the “hike” which was very intense and very difficult through some very thick and dense forest. There wasn’t much of a trail and it was very muddy even for the dry season. As we were gaining altitude it was noticeable how little wildlife there is up here as they like lowland terrain just like humans. I really didn’t enjoy this at all, and the last thing I wanted on my last day on holiday before 20 hours of flying back to Ireland, was a workout like this.

I was very warmly welcomed at the lodging that evening, and while I had my own room, I couldn’t believe there was no mosquito netting around the windows, it was completely open. Even my guide said he had complained previously about this and was told there are no mosquitos around here. How wrong that was. I woke up the next morning with lots of mosquito bites, and for another gruelling hike back towards Drake Bay. It was really disappointing that I felt I only got half a Corcovado 2-night experience.

Overall, Costa Rica is a beautiful country with amazing people and I would have no reservations about recommending it as a destination for other travellers. My expectation was slightly off given some of the accommodation. Using KimKim on the whole was a useful experience. I guess where I feel let down is in some of the finer details which I was hoping I didn’t need to micromanage so closely.

Hotel Review

Hotel Manuel Antonio

The Volcano Hotel Inn at La Fortuna was pretty basic, to be honest and didn’t have any hot water for the shower. Spending $3,000 I would have expected a little bit of a higher standard. What lacked quality was made up somewhat for a location as I had a breath taking view of the Arenal Volcano from my room

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

The impressive Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

Didn't happen because there was not enough people to fill the tour

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Whale & Dolphin Watching Tour (seasonal)

Costa Rica

Absolutely amazing. Really amazing guides and very professional. I was honoured to see so many whales!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Corcovado Reserve Package - 2 nights

Corcovado National Park

I thought I was spending 2 nights inside the remote parts of the park but I only found out on day 2 that this wasn’t the case because there was no room for me at any station in the park. I felt let down when I found this out. I thought I had given KimKim and Phil enough time to arrange for this. I was very disappointed that I never received any communication about this. On day 1, this was the highlight of the whole trip. I saw so much wildlife and took many pictures. Our guide was amazing and had so knowledge about everything. He had a telescope with him and was able to zoom in on every animal so we could see everything in amazing clarity. The people on my tour were great and so friendly. Day 2 of the trip started out with more wildlife watching, which is what I came for. Amazing! I was then told then the group would depart around 11, and I would be on my own with the guide which would turn into “more of a hike”. This was not clear in the itinerary as it mentioned “backyard station” which I took to mean a station inside Corcovado. This was not the case. There was also confusion about my large bag which I had kept on me and even hiked for 2 KM with on my back on day 1. In my opinion it should really have been left behind in Rancho Corcovado but the communication on this wasn’t there, and at the at the last second I was told to leave it on the boat at San Pedrillo. I didn’t have time to really get anything out of my large bag to bring with me on the hike. And so, to the “hike” which was very intense and very difficult through some very thick and dense forest. There wasn’t much of a trail and it was very muddy even for the dry season. As we were gaining altitude it was noticeable how little wildlife there is up here as they like lowland terrain just lie humans. I really didn’t enjoy this at all, and the last thing I wanted on my last day on holiday before 20 hours of flying back to Ireland, was a workout like this. I was very warmly welcomed at the lodging that evening, and while I had my own room, I couldn’t believe there was no mosquito netting around the windows, it was completely open. Even my guide said he had complained previously about this and was told there are no mosquitos around here. How wrong that was. I woke up the next morning with lots of mosquito bites, and for another gruelling hike back towards Drake Bay. It was really disappointing that I felt I only got half a Corcovado 2 night experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Baldi Hot Springs & Meal

Arenal/La Fortuna

The Baldi hot springs were super cool and highly recommended.

Quality of Experience

Food

Very Basic Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We were two American women traveling through Morocco on a budget, but we felt like princesses thanks to our EXCEPTIONAL driver Rasheed, the gorgeous riads selected by the travel agency and the well-informed guides.
Hakim worked with me via email and Zoom, in English, to come up with our ideal itinerary. Not only did we see many historical sights, the guides taught us so much about the history, culture (past and present) and customs of Morocco. And, they were flexible if we wanted to stay a little longer at once place or skip something.
If you go to the Roman Ruins, request the guide Hassan. In Meknes you want Mohamed and in Casablanca, request Mourad.
Many thanks to Hakim and KimKim for giving us a once in a life-time experience!!

This review is long overdue for our 10 day trip to Italy in October 2022. We had never used kimkim before, nor do we typically use travel agents , but we decided to give it a try and we are so glad we did! Our trip covered Tuscany and Cinque Terre, and we flew in and out of Rome. Maria Grazia was a delight to work with. She came up with an organized itinerary, and was receptive and accommodating to my modifications. She revised it three times, and we also had a zoom call during the planning process. The hotels she chose were perfect - very boutique like, but not budget breaking. We stayed in hotels in Siena, San Gimignano, Monterosso and Rome. And the transportation from place to place was seamless - we had drivers, we rented a car for a portion, and we took the trains. Everything went smoothly. One of the highlights she organized for us was a private walking food tour of Siena and that was a treat. Our tour guide Anna was knowledgeable, fun and knew the authentic places to go. It was a well spent four hours.

I highly recommend kimkim, and in fact, we are working with them again for a trip to Croatia and I have referred the company to many friends.

Activity Review

“Taste Siena” Food Tour

Siena

Our guide Anna was just delightful. It was a relaxing and fun four hours. She really knows Siena and also had lots of recommendations for other places to take a day trip to in the area as well as shopping and restaurant tips. Her English was excellent and we just thoroughly enjoyed her knowledge of the city, its history and its food.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had an exceptional experience in Morocco with Kim Kim and original travels, the tour company in Morocco. Our driver Karim was excellent: Karim was great company for 7 days, full of interesting information especially about Berber culture and history. Karim knew all the interesting villages and side-excursions to take us on, completely flexible and helpful with changes - and a relaxing safe driver. Fantastic thank you Karim, Mohamed and Saïd.

The reindeer sled experience with the Sami guide was amazing. We also enjoyed the cruise in Tromso even though the northern lights did not cooperate. The food on the cruise was delicious and the guides were knowledgeable.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Norge by Scandic

Bergen

Rooms and bathroom were large and comfortable. Breakfast buffet had many delicious options and the dinner we had in the hotel restaurant was very nice. The location near the harbor, shops, funicular train and restaurants was great - we were able to walk everywhere.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Bristol

Oslo

I would stay here again for sure - it is a beautiful hotel with friendly and helpful staff. The location is great and we were able to walk to the Winter Wonderland one afternoon and to a movie theater one evening. It is also convenient to picking up the tram. The afternoon tea is first rate and their breakfast buffet was the best one we experienced. The rooms were perfectly appointed and the beds were super comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful old building and very warm and cozy

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Radisson Blu Hotel

Tromsø

Very nice location in Tromso - walking distance to shops and restaurants, and the airport express bus has a stop across the street. Many of the tour groups pick up there.

Authenticity & Character

It is not charming because it is a newer hotel but it was nice.

Location

close to airport and shops and restaurants

Staff

Friendly and helpful in both the restaurant and front desk.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The hotel was very clean but the rooms were hot and adjusting the thermostat did not help. We had to open a window to cool it down. Breakfast had many choices and was delicious.

Activity Reviews

Northern Lights Chase

Tromsø

While our guide was tenacious in trying to find the lights, nature did not cooperate. Still, it was a nice experience and we did get a photo with a glimmer of the lights.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Reindeer Sledding & Sami Culture

Tromsø

We loved the reindeer sled ride in the beautiful snow but hearing our Sami guide talk about her life and her reindeer was the best. We learned much about the Samis and the reindeer stew and other snacks, along with hot coffee and tea, was much appreciated after being outside for a while.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Very nice bus transportation

Aurora Dinner Cruise

Tromsø

Even though we did not see the northern lights due to clouds, we really enjoyed the experience. The boat was very nice and comfortable. The guides were knowledgeable and the three-course meal with glass of champagne was delicious. They also offered a bar with drinks for purchase.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Alverstraumen winter cruise

Bergen

The cruise itself was nice but the weather was not pleasant. This would be a wonderful cruise in warmer months. We met some nice people from other places and enjoyed speaking with them.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lucy was an incredible travel planner. We worked with her for over a year planning our honeymoon to South Africa. She was very supportive, responsive, and flexible with us throughout the entire process.

Our in-country guide Craig Taljaardt from Capey Tours took our trip to a whole new level with his expert knowledge of the country and his over the top kindness to us. We spent a lot of time with Craig and his wife, Michelle, and they both were a pleasure.

The highlights of our trip included a safari experience at the Kuzuko Lodge, Table Mountain in Cape Town, great white shark diving in Mossel Bay, kayaking in the Tsitsikamma National Park, and staying at La Terra de Luc in Franschhoek.

We would recommend kimkim and Capey Tours to anyone!