Kimkim Trip Reviews

Our guide was great to be around, he instilled confidence and comfort. He was very knowledgeable and articulate. His range of knowledge was broad from cultural insights to birds, animals and trekking! Just fantastic. Our driver was wonderful as well, great to talk with and not to mention a very good driver. I highly recommend.

We had a truly amazing trip to Greece thanks to Rebecca and her team members with KimKim! Our arriving flight was delayed multiple times and she was always responsive and our pickup was there on-time at 1:30 a.m. The next morning we were met by a friendly GrecianLux concierge, taken for coffee at an adorable place for a brief orientation. We felt very warmly welcomed. Our archaeologist guide in Athens, Nikolaos, was exceptionally knowledgable, making our private tour of the Acropolis an early highlight. We spent several days touring the northwest mainland with our scholar guide, Babis, who was definitely both of these and much more. He gave us many fantastic guided tours, including a very memorable tour of the Meteora monasteries. He also pointed out special points of interest for us all along the way -- all the time skillfully navigating the national highway system! Every hotel was excellent and perfectly suited to what we requested. Our time staying at Apeiros Chora in Zagori is especially noteworthy for the rich heritage and charming proprietors. We had a lot of travel experience before this trip and hesitated to hire help; in the end we're so glad we did and just thrilled that we let KimKim do so much of the planning. The trip was an absolute dream.

Hotel Reviews

Hermes Hotel

Athens

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Archontiko Mesochori

Meteora

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Apeiros Chora Zagori

Zagori

Here are some of the things that we loved most about Apeiros Chora: - The heritage of the 19th century Zagori mansion, beautifully restored to retain its original charm. - The proprietors, warm and welcoming hosts who are passionate about sharing their love of the Zagori region. - The location, in the heart of the Zagorochoria known for its small stone villages and alpine beauty. - The amenities, including comfortable rooms, a delicious breakfast, and many others that we didn't have the time to try (like the sauna and spa).

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Siora Vittoria Boutique Hotel Corfu

Corfu

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Athens - Acropolis at Sunset & Plaka neighborhood | Private tour with an archaeologist/guide

Athens

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hiking Meteora's Hermit Caves - Afternoon Adventure

Meteora

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zagori - Bridges & Villages Hike Half Day

Zagori

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Athens

Greece

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Depart - Time to say farewell to Greece !

Greece

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I think the company needs a lot of help with the planning. The only reason why we tried this service was to see if it would be easier to plan a trip through an agency. Overall, I would go the route of hiring a driver for the stay and book everything else on your own.

Pros:
- Our tour guide was Nadir/Samir is AMAZING! Could not say more positive things about , he really went out of his way to make our stay comfortable and pleasant. Always early ready to take us anywhere. Very knowledgeable about Jordan.

Cons:
- We requested specific rooms with the agency, the contingency to book with them was to get a specific room and we booked months in advance. They promised the room and after we paid, they changed two of our hotels without any communication.

- The hotel rooms that were given to us were not the ones that was in the itinerary. When we inquired with the hotel, they said they couldn't do anything. We were not going to fight it but again lack of transparency from the agency.

- The places that were covered for food by the agency were honestly bad. You could tell the food was the same in every spot and not authentic, I wish we would get more freedom to get authentic food that was covered or we would have opted out.

- Many of the experiences included were already included with the hotel so not much that the actual agency booked on our behalf.

The trip was outstanding. The itinerary set up by Jessica worked perfectly. I had a bit of a physical issue and we had to make some last minute changes and everyone was helpful and it worked out great. Daniel our lead guide going up the mountain to the zip line stayed with me most of the way to make sure I was safe at all times. The raft trip on our second day was fun and just enough. Our lunch at The Mountain View Experience was breathtaking. Edwin was our guide and companion the last three days. I can't say enough about his knowledge and advice as we adapted some of our hikes. Machu Picchu was breathtaking and as special as we had imagined. The mountains and Inca sites were spectacular. Thanks for doing such a good job taking care of us.

Hotel Reviews

Tierra Viva Cusco Centro

Cusco

Great location in the historical section of Cusco. Rooms were ideal

Authenticity & Character

Spanish influence in design, once inside you wouldn't know you were in the middle of the city

Location

close to everything. Allowed us to wander without getting lost

Staff

Everyone was extremely helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

El Albergue Ollantaytambo Boutique Hotel

Cusco

spent two night here in the Sacred Valley. Unbelievable botanical garden inside the walls of the complex. Staff very accommodating, food in dining room was excellent

Authenticity & Character

Location

next to the train station and central to all Sacred Valley activities

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

El Mapi by Inkaterra

Cusco

modern, luxury hotel in the center of the town of Machu Picchu. Location was great, staff helpful

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Via Ferrata & Ziplining

Peru

it was a once in a lifetime experience. Probably a bit more than I should have taken on given my age and physical condition, but Danny was by my side the whole making sure I felt safe

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rafting in the Urubamba River

Peru

just enough class 2's and 3's to make it exciting. Our guide had great knowledge of the area and history. Very enjoyable day

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Short Inca Trail Day 2: Machu Picchu Guided Tour and Return to Cusco

Peru

Edwin was outstanding with his knowledge. Very enjoyable to spend time with him

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an intensive 9-day tour planned, so it was critical to get the right guide and driver. We also wanted a short time break, even if it meant having an extra long day to make up the sites missed.
We were fortunate to acquire one of the best guides in Israel, Ille, and an excellent driver in Michael. Ille spoke very good English and had an encyclopedic knowledge about everything. He also knew everyone and was able to get us singular access to important sites, even with dense crowds and long lines. Ille is very personable and accommodating and was able to make several day-to-day adjustments to our schedule to better fit our needs. For example, we swapped out going to Haifa for traveling through Bethlehem on the way back without problem.

We were extremely impressed by Jerusalem, of course, but Masada was much different, and more dramatic, than I had pictured. Also, the vide of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv couldn’t be more different. Btw, we felt extremely safe in every sector of Old Jerusalem, even walking at night outside the walls. The same for Tel Aviv.

Tel Aviv

Hotel Reviews

The American Colony Hotel

Jerusalem

This is an iconic and historical hotel. It’s very pricy but this was our last big splurge., The garden grounds alone are worth a stay. The staff are absolutely first rate and very attentive and helpful. The large rooms are magnificent. Ours had a balcony overlooking a peaceful courtyard. Each night chocolates were delivered. The included breakfast is so massive, with at least fifty stations of all sorts of freshly prepared items, that there was no way to taste them all. There is also a lovely indoor garden restaurant. The American Colony hotel is located within easy walking or taxi distance of the Damascus Gate. There are also many good restaurants in the area.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Extremely attentive and knowledgeable.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Some days our rooms were cleaned twice, with lovely chocolates delivered.

Tal By the Beach Hotel

Tel Aviv

A beautiful hotel located just two walking blocks from the beach and a string of excellent seafood restaurants.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very helpful, but I had trouble with getting taxis. I think it was more of a language problem. A great guy next to me at an ice cream shop used his app to get us a taxi back to the hotel.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Tel Aviv City Tour ( Tel Aviv & Jaffa)

Israel

I went on a private group tour of Tel Aviv and Jaffa and it was a great experience. Our guide, LA, was amazing and knew all the right places to take us. We were able to skip lines that would have taken a long time otherwise. Overall, it was a fantastic trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Old City Jerusalem

Israel

I was part of a private group when we visited the Old City of Jerusalem. Our guide was LA and he was very knowledgeable and knew all the right places to take us. It was an unforgettable experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jerusalem, Mount of Olives and Mt Zion

Israel

Our group visited Mount of Olives and Mt. Zion with our guide, LA. He was extremely knowledgeable and made the experience highly enjoyable. It was fascinating to explore these historical sites.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day trip to Yad Vashem, Ein Karim and the Israel Museum

Israel

In a private group tour, we visited Yad Vashem, Ein Karim, and the Israel Museum. Our guide, LA, was very knowledgeable and provided great insight into the history of the museum exhibits. I particularly enjoyed the Israeli National Museum.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trip to Masada & Qumran

Israel

We had a great day trip to Masada and Qumran with our guide, LA. The experience was interesting, and it was clear our guide knew the history of these sites very well.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

STAY PUT JERUSALEM / FREE DAY / OPTIONAL TOURS

Israel

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

JERUSALEM / HAIFA / CAESAREA / ACRE / TEL AVIV

Israel

We had to change our plans and ended up not going to Haifa, Caesarea, and Acre due to feeling unwell but instead traveled directly from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv. However, we were able to visit Palestine, which proved to be an extremely interesting experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Had a lovely time! Chris did an amazing job organizing hotels, transportation, and guides in Athen, Crete and Santorini. Everyone was phenomenal and would use them again!

Trip planner/co-ordinator, Mieke, has been very professional and patience in putting the trip plan together over more than 2 years, due to multiple disruptions such as COVID-19 locked down. She is always responsive, obliging and accommodating to our requests and made changes swiftly.

We are also very happy and grateful for having Mr Maarten Ablij as our private diver to Zaanse Schans, Edam and Keukenhof. He is very gentle, polite and punctual in picking us from accommodation in the morning.

In summary, we had an enjoyable and wonderful time in The Netherlands, especially the visits to Anne Frank House, Naturalis, Boerhaave, Windmill de Valk, Madurodam and Keukenhof. We also loved the Dutch food such as bitterballen and stroopwafel.

Thank you Beat the Dutch Travel and Mieke for the good job well done.

Hotel Reviews

Dutch Golden / Velvet Lodge

The Hague

Hotel staffs are friendly and checking in/out was easy and fast. Room is of a good size, clean and comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Refurnished old building with a nice welcoming vibe

Location

Within 10mins walk from The Hague Central railway station.

Staff

Both Oscar and his staff are super friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Was not told test the clean would not be cleaned and no towels changed on Koningsdag!

Inntel Zaandam

Zaandam

Disappointed with the check in experience and scare we had. We arrived at 11.30am but was too early as room was not ready. Returned to check in at 7.30pm and being assigned a room on 5th level. However, when we opened the door, we were astonished to see coats hanging on the coats hooks and a big luggage on the luggage rack. Went back to front desk and was told that staff from previous shift had failed to update hotel records when the customer made a room change. Although a new room was cleaned and assigned to us with a complimentary buffet breakfast for the next morning, but we were still very shaken that security and privacy are breached.

Authenticity & Character

Pretty architecture and colors like lego blocks stacked together

Location

3mins walk from Zaadam railway station

Staff

Not competent and did not honor promise.

Cleanliness & Comfort

House keeping did not empty out garbage and replaced clean disposal cups. However, room is big like a small studio with kitchenette.

Activity Reviews

Museum Card Netherlands

The Netherlands

Very convenient and budget friendly to have museum card if planning to visit many museums.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Public Transport Pass Amsterdam

The Netherlands

OV card is handy and can be used on almost all kinds of transportation.

Quality of Experience

Transport

Daytrip to Cheese Farm, Edam and Zaanse Schans

The Netherlands

Not worth going to the cheese farm. A very short brief about the history of the farm and various cheeses, then being led to shop. Too commercialise! There is nothing much to do and see at Edam. Zaanse Schans is too crowded within tourists. Walking paths are narrow and hard to pass through when people were standing around to snap pictures of the windmills. Too commercialise and need to pay entrance fee to almost every sights inside the windmills.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private driver Mr Maarten Ablij is very nice and patience

Keukenhof & tulips fields by private transport

The Netherlands

The botanical garden is very well organised with many different types of tulips, other floral, trees and water features.

Quality of Experience

Need more than 2hours to enjoy the garden

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

the trip through Kim kim was a breeze . Worth mentioning is Anna who was so patient planning and really tailoring our trip to the experiences and the places we wanted to go to. She made sure that we had exactly what we needed. She was very knowledgeable of the place and suggested the best places and best alternatives if we needed to change our plans. She was so enjoyable to work with.

the trip plan was well detailed including the activities we can do on our own, how long exactly our trips are, how close our hotel was to the train station etc. the tickets we needed to have were all ready! no hazel. Even the hotels ! All awesome.

everything was memorable. i enjoyed the Flamraiways train ride and got to see the most awesome view of norway!! the Wooden houses in Bergen which is a unesco heritage site....
the sculpture park ..... and how can you forget the view of the opera house in oslo while we did the floating sauna!!! Just amazing.

. All i can say is this is my first time to work with kim kim but I foresee more travels with them!!!

Our thanks to Chris for helping us plan a fun trip in Athens and Crete. We were a challenging group of 11 adults with varying travel dates and preferences and Chris did a masterful job of keeping us all organized, safe and entertained. He also personalized our trip by meeting up for drinks and giving us each a nice gift package.
We had some great guides and drivers starting with Vicky who shared her love of Athens and knowledge of Greek history on our tour of the Acropolis. Afterwards we did a food tour that sampled greek cuisines and drinks. A 5-star day.
We ran into unusually rainy weather in Chania which forced us to cancel our gorge hike but our driver and guide Andreas was able to devise at the last minute a driving tour of the area. Driving through the countryside we stopped off at a coffeehouse and also a bakery. Next we had a tour and tasting at an olive oil producer and then drove to an old Greek Orthodox Church hidden in some caves in the hills. As the sun began to shinewe made our last stop - a visit to the monastery and a private wine tasting in their wine cellars. It turns out Andreas is also a sommelier with connections.
Our last tour was In Knossos with guide George who shared his knowledge of Minoan and Greek history of the area and ruins. It was an insightful tour. My husband and I then broke off from the group for relaxation on the Aegean Sea.

Our experience with Kim Kim and our travel advisor, Cami was beyond our expectations. Cami customized our trip for us and provided guidance based on her experience all along the way. She was in touch from the first day of our trip planning almost daily and in the days after our trip wanting to make sure we were reminded of flights, government registration, transportation pickups, names of local guides, emergency contacts, and general information to make our tours and overall trip a great experience.
Our arrival in Manila was uneventful and the Belmont Hotel was ok but not great. While the proximity to the airport was great, the customer service was lacking; it was crowded and they handled overflow by placing dining tables in the lobby. On Sunday, we had a major problem with our flight from Manila to Legazpi on Sunday on Cebu Pacific Airlines. Our flight was diverted mid-air to return to Manila due to a problem with the landing gear. We had to stay in the air to burn off fuel which was a little disconcerting. Flight announcements were not made so many onboard were nervous to say the least. Upon our safe landing in Manila (Sunday evening), none of the emergency contacts answered the phone numbers which was very frustrating. I finally was able to get through to Carmel with WhatsApp. We were directed to an area near the baggage claim where we were given vouchers from Cebu Pacific. After more than an hour and a half, they took us by bus to a cheap and disgusting hotel (Royal Bellagio Hotel). There were prostitutes on the street soliciting passengers (including our husbands) and men trying to sell Cialis. We had to wait in line for over an hour to get on the elevator (maximum capacity of 2-3) to register on the 3rd floor. We were all lined up on the outside steps and through a restaurant to board the elevator. At approximately 8:00 p.m., we finally checked in and were promised dinner that did not arrive until 11:00 pm and it was inedible. We had to be ready to leave at 4:00 a.m. to depart on bus for the airport where there was no one there to meet us and let us know our flight number – we were directed all over the airport before finally getting our boarding passes. I would highly recommend any other airline other than this one.
We let Carmel know our flight number on Monday morning and she arranged for our airport transport to Donsol. Cami was back in touch to help us rearrange our itinerary so that we didn't miss out on anything. After a really rough beginning, our visit to Donsol was wonderful. The Elysia Resort was good but clearly our most “rustic” stay. While this was on the beach, the beach left much to be desired. It was dirty and there were dogs everywhere. They barked all night long. It was difficult to adjust the room temperature, the towels were pretty bare, the beds were only okay, but the food was good in the restaurant.
In Donsol, we were taken care of by Carmel and Ariza with Bicol Beyond; both were very accommodating, but Ariza was beyond our expectations. She was personable and very hands on. We really appreciated the rearrangement of our day to Busay Falls and the ability to switch it out with a second whale shark outing – all at no additional cost. Our first rearranged outing was our dive trip to Ticao Island and the Manta Bowl. Junery Azupardo (Jun) was our divemaster and he was assisted by July. They were both very, very good and experienced divers and we felt confident we were in good hands. Our first dive was a wall off Ticao Island and it was magnificent with colorful coral. Jun took photos and videos for us and hand delivered them to us on a thumb drive at our hotel in Legazpi – that is what I call “over and beyond” service. Jun and Ariza are both very good representatives for Bicol Beyond.
Because we arrived late, Cami worked with Bicol Beyond and Ariza was on the job. She rearranged our schedule for a second whale shark outing that was staffed with a great crew (including her husband who is a Butanding Interaction Officer [BIO]) and a university student, Aldwyn Calaguing, who was researching whale sharks also was onboard. Aldwyn was able to provide us so much information about whale sharks. Both BIOs on the boat were in the water with us and pushing us along to get the best from our swim with two different whale sharks; one was approximately 6 meters long (nicknamed Notchie due to a notch in his tail) and the other nicknamed Biggie because he was between 9 and 10 meters long. It was awesome! Ariza then arranged a special lunch for us. Her husband had hand-selected two large fresh crabs and she paired them with vegetables and rice. WOW! Our tricycle drivers (Mark) were so much fun and we enjoyed them so much. This company and the entire staff was wonderful!
The firefly river was fun and relaxing and our guide, Laura was good. We were able to see a couple trees where they were swarming so that was neat to see.
Our transfer from Donsol to Legazpi was uneventful and The Marison Hotel was very nice and the staff was very welcoming. We enjoyed our trip to Camalig province and the cooking demonstration was great – I must learn how to make that dish! I think it was Pinangat? It was delicious.
Our flight to Cebu City was uneventful despite a delay on Cebu Pacific airlines. We enjoyed the Marco Polo Hotel – the breakfast buffet was great and there were dining options. Canyoneering in Kawasan Falls was great and it was strenuous. I would suggest you have your clients watch a video of the trekking. We were by far the oldest people there but we had a great time- take that, you young ones!!. Justin and Vincent were our guides. When one of our group struggled with asthma and some of the climbs, Vincent and Justin he stuck by her side, holding her hand, and floating her through some of the river areas while we went forward and jumped all the cliffs – It was great fun!!
We enjoyed our trip to Bohol. It was a nice and relaxing day scheduled after a few days of very active tours. Both our tour guides were very nice. Christine accompanied us to the seaport and was there after our day to get us back to our hotel. Marichu (she gave her name as Sarah) was wonderful giving us a lot of information about Bohol, the Targsier Sanctuary, the Chocolate Hills, and the town. It was a very nice day aided by great tour guides who were clearly very interested in our comfort and needs.
The flight from Cebu City to Puerto Princesa on Philippines Airways was uneventful and it was a better airline experience. The Hue Hotel was good-clean and comfortable, and the location close to the Robinson Mall was nice. When we got in, we decided to chill by the pool and were seated but the bar staff asked us to move while they prepared for a private party. We moved to where we were directed and after 5 minutes, they approached us again and asked us to move. They suggested a location in the sun and after finishing our drinks, we decided to leave. The way this was handled was very poor. Later, we visited the pool which is badly in need of repairs. Many tiles were missing and the edges of the plaster were sharp.
The underground river was a nice experience. Rich is a very good tour guide who clearly knows the area well. Like all our guides, he offered to take group pictures for us and we got a really good guide for the mangroves who sang to us. It was quite entertaining.
Our trip to El Nido was interesting. We had someone pick us up but were taken to a gas station where our driver and van were switched. The driver didn’t appear too engaged or interested.
El Nido was great and the Funny Lion is a great hotel. We were greeted by the hotel manager who welcomed us and offered his assistance with anything we needed. He checked on us daily. The rooms were clean and beds and pillows were great. The pool was wonderful. Our island hopping was good but we were shocked at the amount of coral that is dead or dying. I know some of this is due to Typhoon Odette but this was not the best for snorkeling. The boat crew was wonderful and attentive and they prepared two great lunches on the boat. It was great, great fun.
Overall, we really enjoyed our trip and all of the transfers, guides, and details were attended to very well by Cami who continually checked in on us.

On a scale of 1-5 with 5 being the best, we rated the hotels:
• Belmont Hotel – “3”
• Elysia Beach Resort – “2.5 to 3.0”
• Marison Hotel – “4”
• Marco Polo Hotel – “4.5”
• Funny Lion Hotel – “5” – this staff went way and beyond. The rooms were nice. The linens and towels were great. Food was good. Pool was wonderful and the outside showers, bathrooms and foot wash was really convenient and useful.

For publication (here is a condensed review but feel free to use specific information about the tour guides, tour companies and the individuals as you feel appropriate). Most of this is designed to be helpful to you in further trip planning.
We planned a trip to the Philippines with KimKim Travel and were very pleased with their services. Our agent, Cami, helped us to customize a trip specific to our wants and needs. She provided guidance based on her experience. After a couple of months in getting the itinerary finalized, flights confirmed, submittal of needed documents, and answering our many questions, she sent a comprehensive summary of our trip with emergency contacts, tour guide names, details about transfers, and suggestions for restaurants, shopping, and additional activities. She kept in touch with us almost daily and made recommendations throughout our vacation. She sent us reminders throughout our trip and provided troubleshooting when we had a canceled flight that disrupted our schedule. She and the tour companies and guides in the Philippines rearranged things for us so we were able to regroup and continue our trip with very little problem. We highly recommend KimKim and Cami Sarmiento.

Hotel Reviews

Belmont Hotel Manila

Pasay City

Belmont Hotel was ok but not great. While the proximity to the airport was great, the customer service was lacking; it was crowded and they handled overflow by placing dining tables in the lobby. A special request to use the pool in the afternoon on our last day was a major issue as check-out was at noon. After escalating our request to a manager, we were allowed to use the pool.

Authenticity & Character

The service was "so-so" and staff was not customer-centric. Rooms were clean, dining was okay, phones did not work, some electrical outlets did not work, and the air-conditioning could not be adjusted. Overall, I would choose a different hotel with some character and better service.

Location

Staff

Not interested in helping or accommodating anything out of the ordinary.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean and comfortable but maintenance was needed for phones and electrical outlets.

Elysia Beach Resort

Donsol

The Elysia Resort was good but clearly our most “rustic” stay. While this was on the beach, the beach left much to be desired. It was dirty and there were dogs everywhere. They barked all night long. It was difficult to adjust the room temperature, the towels were pretty bare, the beds were only okay, but the food was good in the restaurant.

Authenticity & Character

A little more luxury would be nice. It did appear that the management of the hotel was interested in cost controls more than guest comfort. A rating of 2.5 is more appropriate

Location

Proximity to our tours was great.

Staff

Staff was polite and helpful but not over the top on service.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds were a little hard, towels were pretty thread-bare, linens were clean. A little 'up-grade' would go a long way.

The Marison Hotel

Legazpi

The Marison Hotel was very nice and the staff was very welcoming as we checked in. The rooms were comfortable and had everything we needed. The restaurant was good and all staff from bell staff, to desk clerks, to restaurant servers were all very, very good. Great view of the volcano - wish it hadn't been so cloudy!

Authenticity & Character

Very nice - standard character.

Location

Great view of the volcano.

Staff

Everyone was great.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms were very clean and the beds were super comfy.

Marco Polo Plaza Cebu

Cebu City

We would rate this a "4.5". All staff was very welcoming and helpful. There were multiple dining options. The pool area was a nice place to have a late meal. Breakfast was really good and plentiful with food and selection.

Authenticity & Character

It's a large and more luxurious hotel. The dining areas were really nice.

Location

With the city being so large, it is hard to rate the location but it was close to a lot of shopping.

Staff

Service was fast and easy.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were comfortable.

Hue Hotels and Resorts Puerto Princesa

Puerto Princesa

The Hue Hotel was good-clean and comfortable, and the location close to the Robinson Mall was nice. When we got in, we decided to chill by the pool and were seated but the bar staff asked us to move while they prepared for a private party. We moved to where we were directed and after 5 minutes, they approached us again and asked us to move. They suggested a location in the sun and after finishing our drinks, we decided to leave. The way this was handled was very poor. We had ordered beer - San Miguel Light but got the wrong beer. We approached the bar and they provided the correct beer but we watched one of the servers putting caps back on the beers we returned - that was a little alarming! Later, we visited the pool which is badly in need of repairs. Many tiles were missing and the edges of the plaster were sharp.

Authenticity & Character

Facility needs maintenance.

Location

Great location to road and next door to a mall.

Staff

Pool bar staff needs training. All other staff was good.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Maintenance was needed.

The Funny Lion El Nido

El Nido

The Funny Lion-El Nido is a great hotel. The rating we gave was primarily due to the over-the-top service we received. From the management staff to every single employee there, it was clear we were the number one priority. We were greeted by the hotel manager who welcomed us and offered his assistance with anything we needed. We were provided with welcome and departure gifts - they weren't much but the thought was lovely. The manager checked on us daily. The Food and Beverage Manager was very attentive and was present in the restaurant and breakfast area each day. Like his manager, he was very focused on our satisfaction. The rooms were clean and beds and pillows were great. The pool was wonderful.

Authenticity & Character

The design of this hotel is really great. The pool was the center of the hotel and was beautiful. All facilities were open to the pool and fans kept everything cool and comfortable. There is a large bathroom at the end of the restaurant with showers and toilets if you want to use them as you come in from the ocean.

Location

Close to town. New facility on road where transportation was readily available.

Staff

If we could rate them a "10", we would. Their attention to our every need was just wonderful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were clean, towels were fluffy. Bedding and beds were very comfortable. Drying areas for beach clothing were available out of the front door and on the balconies.

Activity Reviews

Puerto Princesa Underground River Day Tour

Philippines

The underground river was a nice experience. Rich is a very good tour guide who clearly knows the area well. Like all our guides, he offered to take group pictures for us and we got a really good guide for the mangroves who sang to us. It was quite entertaining.

Quality of Experience

The caves were beautiful

Food

Variety

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Rich was a great guide! Friendly, helpful and very knowledgeable.

Transport

Diving in Ticao Island

Philippines

Junery Azupardo (Jun) was our divemaster and he was assisted by July. They were both very, very good and experienced divers and we felt confident we were in good hands. Our first dive was a wall off Ticao Island and it was magnificent with colorful coral. The manta bowl was a challenging dive with some strong down currents but Jun and July made sure we were safe and taken care of. When our first dive had to be cut short, we went to the other side of the bowl, and were able to see a large manta. Jun took photos and videos for us and hand delivered them to us on a thumb drive at our hotel in Legazpi – that is what I call “over and beyond” service. Jun, July and Ariza are both very good representatives for Bicol Beyond.

Quality of Experience

The wall was beautiful and our dive team was really attentive. They went above and beyond.

Food

Wow! We really didn't expect such a great meal.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Jun and July - you have to have good dive masters - they were familiar with the locations and our safety and comfort was their priority.

Transport

Boat crew was very helpful.

Swim with Whale Sharks in Donsol

Donsol

Ariza arranged our schedule for a second whale shark outing that was staffed with a great crew (including her husband who is a Butanding Interaction Officer [BIO]) and a university student, Aldwyn Calaguing, who was researching whale sharks also was onboard. Aldwyn was able to provide us so much information about whale sharks. Both BIOs on the boat were in the water with us and pushing us along to get the best from our swim with two different whale sharks; one was approximately 6 meters long (nicknamed Notchie due to a notch in his tail) and the other nicknamed Biggie because he was between 9 and 10 meters long. It was awesome! Ariza then arranged a special lunch for us. Her husband had hand-selected two large fresh crabs and she paired them with vegetables and rice. WOW! Our tricycle drivers (Mark) were so much fun and we enjoyed them so much. This company and the entire staff was wonderful!

Quality of Experience

An experienced crew focused on giving us the best experience possible.

Food

Ariza arranged for a fresh crab lunch - it was delicious!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Staffed by licensed Butanding Interaction Officers [BIO]) and a university student, Aldwyn Calaguing, who was researching whale sharks. Arranged by Ariza with Bicol Beyond who was so hands on and arranged for a fantastic lunch for us.

Transport

Boat and crew were great!

Take a paddleboat down Firefly River

Donsol

Fun and relaxing. We found an area where the fireflies were swarming and it was interesting to see the synchronization.

Quality of Experience

Pretty and relaxing

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Laura was very nice.

Transport

Picked up on time; back to hotel afterward. Easy and close.

Busay Waterfalls Adventure

Philippines

Not applicable - we canceled this tour.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Canyoneering in Kawasan Falls

Philippines

Canyoneering in Kawasan Falls was great and it was strenuous. I would suggest you have your clients watch a video of the trekking. We were by far the oldest people there but we had a great time- take that, you young ones!!. Justin and Vincent were our guides. When one of our group struggled with asthma and some of the climbs, Vincent and Justin he stuck by her side, holding her hand, and floating her through some of the river areas while we went forward and jumped all the cliffs – It was great fun!!

Quality of Experience

Great scenery, good exercise, fun!

Food

Freshly prepared - healthy

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Justin and Vincent were great.

Transport

Bohol Island Day Tour from Cebu

Philippines

We enjoyed our trip to Bohol. It was a nice and relaxing day scheduled after a few days of very active tours. Both our tour guides were very nice. Christine accompanied us to the seaport and was there after our day to get us back to our hotel. Marichu (she gave her name as Sarah) was wonderful giving us a lot of information about Bohol, the Tarsier Sanctuary, the Chocolate Hills, and the town. It was a very nice day aided by great tour guides who were clearly very interested in our comfort and needs.

Quality of Experience

Relaxing day following a very physical prior several days.

Food

Very good food, nice restaurant!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

All tour guides were knowledgeable and very customer oriented

Transport

Island Hopping in El Nido - Tour B

El Nido

Our island hopping was good but we were shocked at the amount of coral that is dead or dying. I know some of this is due to Typhoon Odette but this was not the best for snorkeling. The boat crew was wonderful and attentive and they prepared two great lunches on the boat. It was great, great fun.

Quality of Experience

Mike was really a great guide and he and the boat crew were very attentive.

Food

It was delicious and freshly prepared just for us. What a spread they put on.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

So very nice - all of them.

Transport

Boat crew was great

Island hopping in El Nido - Tour A

El Nido

Our island hopping was good but we were shocked at the amount of coral that is dead or dying. I know some of this is due to Typhoon Odette but this was not the best for snorkeling. The boat crew was wonderful and attentive and they prepared two great lunches on the boat. It was great, great fun.

Quality of Experience

Food

Awesome lunch prepared fresh on the boat. We even had fruit carved beautifully.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mike and the boat crew were great!

Transport

Excellent organization and help throughout my stay in Tuscany and Amalfi coast. The quoted price was well worth it and my trip was not rushed or too slow, just right. Jessica was available 24/7 for any concerns or questions.
I’ll be in touch again for another trip to cover Southern Italy.

Just an amazing trip from start to finish. The kimkim team provided us guidance from the initial planning through the entire journey. The guides on-site were prompt, professional and fun! It was an experience of a lifetime.

Hotel Reviews

Tierra Viva Cusco Centro

Cusco

Tierra Viva Cusco Centro was a lovely place with a great location. The only downside was that there was no fridge available. Excellent service and a comfortable stay overall.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

El Albergue Ollantaytambo Boutique Hotel

Cusco

Amazing hotel with a great location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Via Ferrata & Ziplining

Peru

The Via Ferrata & Ziplining experience was quite adventurous and enjoyable. However, it was more strenuous and somewhat intimidating than expected for some of the group members. Nonetheless, the guides provided great assistance along the way.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rafting in the Urubamba River

Peru

The rafting experience was great, with class 3 rapids being ideal for our group. Our guide was fantastic and the restaurant we visited afterward had amazing views and delicious food. Overall had a wonderful day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Short Inca Trail Day 1: Hiking to Machu Picchu via Chachabamba and Wiñay Wayna

Peru

Hiking the Short Inca Trail was an amazing experience. Though some group members found the altitude challenging one of our guides helped them throughout the trek, and everyone managed to complete the hike. Machu Picchu offered breathtaking views.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rainbow Mountain Trek

Peru

We ended up skipping the hike to Rainbow Mountain due to some altitude-related concerns, but our guide provided us with a great alternative, exploring nearby ruins instead. Rating: 4/5

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hiking to Humantay Lake: A Scenic Adventure in the Andes from Cusco

Peru

We enjoyed the hike to Humantay Lake, the guides even brought a birthday cake up and sang for my brother. The roads on the way to the trailhead however made us very nauseous.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Overall, our experience with our specialist Harris was positive. He was responsive to any questions or changes we had, and the tour guides for all of our activities were knowledgeable, friendly, and entertaining. One notable moment of excellent service was when our limo driver at the train station went above and beyond to help us with an issue with our train tickets.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Olimpia

Venice

Absolutely loved this hotel. The location was perfect, the front desk staff was friendly and helpful, the room was clean, and the breakfast was fantastic. My teenager even had her own little space, which made her very happy.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Alfieri9 Boutique Hotel Florence

Florence

This hotel was not a good fit for us. The good parts were that it was clean, quiet, and secure, and the breakfast was good. However, the location was not ideal as there was not much around it, and there was an issue with hot water pressure in the shower.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Boutique Hotel Campo de' Fiori

Rome

This hotel was perfect. We stayed in one of the apartments, which was more than we needed, but it gave our 14-year-old her own space. The breakfast was great, with eggs and omelets available. The location was fantastic, with plenty of places to eat nearby and a market right outside the hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Morning Florence Highlights Walking Tour

Florence

The tours were great, but it was too much to have them back-to-back without a break in between. If I were to do it again, I would space them out more.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Colosseum & Roman Forum Tour

Rome

Really enjoyed this tour, and our guide was fantastic. It was amazing to go into the bottom level of the Colosseum.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vatican Guided Tour

Rome

The tour itself was great, but we were not aware that the Vatican could close the church at any time, which happened during our visit. However, we did get to see the Pope, which was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fresh Pasta Making & Tiramisu Cooking Class

Rome

This was a fun and enjoyable experience. The chef was great, the food was delicious, and we had a nice group of people to share the experience with.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We highly recommend Valeria and her team for planning (and executing) a trip to Italy. Ours was flawless.
Guides were excellent. Barbara was our primary in-country coordinator and texted us every day with detailed plans and contacts. This was very reassuring. Can't say enough about Melissa, our guide at Lake Como. She provided valuable information throughout the tour. Cannot remember the name of the lady who met us in Venice but she met us at the train and got us to our hotel easily. She provided us will maps and advice as to how to get around Venice. She also recommended a great restaurant on the main channel that we loved.

Our guide in Venice, Sill, was very knowledgeable but she provided too much historical detail and actually held us up at times so that we had to rush through the last part of our tour. We would have preferred for her to be more sensitive to our preferences. (In hindsight I probably should have said something).

All three hotels and services were exceptional.

Overall this is the way to have a stress free vacation in a country that is not easy to travel in when you have several destinations and activities planned. It is probably at least 1 1/2 times what you would pay making all of the arrangements yourself, but it can make the difference between a pleasant versus stressful vacation.

Mieke organized a wonderful trip through the Netherlands & Belgium. The itinerary was perfect, well laid out & all our tickets / passes worked fine. She was extremely responsive to any questions we had both prior to and during the trip. Cannot say enough good things about her.
This is the second time we have used Kim Kim for our international trip needs and both have been great experiences.
Thanks for everything!

Imam remiss in not writing this review earlier ! Luis organised the most amazing trip we could ever have done in the time we had in Spain. I had done quite a bit of research beforhand but needent have bothered. He just asked us for a few ideas we had and then like an architect, brought everything together like magic. The local guides and drivers he selected were absolutely first class, along with the hotel recommendations too. Trust his ideas is all i can say :0

Thanks Luis !

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Neri Relais & Chateaux

Barcelona

We stayed here on Luis’s recommendation and it couldn’t have been more perfect. The folks there were just amazing. When my two teenage boys wanted to have a night out they advised how to keep safe and arranged transport both ways to make sure that they were. Just outstanding. The location is perfect - steps away from the cathedral so you can see it off peak and lots of lovely restaurants and shops nearby. Stay here if you can!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa Romana Hotel Boutique

Sevilla

A cute hotel just near Real Alcazar and Le Corte Englaise. Nice helpful staff who made us feel welcome and a very authentic environment as if you were a nobleman during Seville’s peak, Breakfast was excellent.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Sunset Yatch Tour

Barcelona

The assembly place didn’t have clear signange.

Our local specialist Hakim was very efficient and attentive during our planning process and during our trip.
Our driver/guide, Hakim Hamzawi, was also wonderful. He helped us navigate some very difficult circumstances during our trip, and was very flexible and resourceful. He is a lovely, compassionate man with excellent language skills.

Robi was absolutely wonderful and went out of his way to ensure all 4 of us had a customized experience that was epic! He modified things as we went, including accommodating someone who wasn’t able to follow the original program due to injury. He is keenly observant and quickly figured out what would delight us. He is super responsive, warm, friendly, fun, super smart, knows everyone, has encyclopedic knowledge of history, culture and nature, and shares his love of Croatia in a way that is infectious! We could not have been happier. Especially loved the cycling routes and hikes he chose. Thank you, Robi!

From the time we started planning our trip to the last day, it was an amazing experience. Our agent Chris was amazing, he went the extra mile to make sure our trip was what we wanted. He met us in Greece for a face to face, this was nice because we could ask more questions. We did 3 days in Athens, 3 days in Mykonos and 2 days in Santorini. Despite some rain and cooler weather, we had a great experience and are already talking about a second trip. Our hotel in Athens was just a short walking distance to all the main attractions and definitely recommend a personal guided tour. When in Mykonos we stayed at the Princess hotel, 5 stars!!! All of the staff were friendly and very accomodating. I highly recommend renting 4 wheelers, we were able to see the island and it's hidden treasures. Lastly, our villa in Santorini was to die for...THE SUNSET VIEWS!!! We did wish however we had more time in Santorini, 2 days wasn't enough. I highly recommend KimKim for your planning agents.

Hotel Reviews

Amalia Hotel Athens

Athens

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mykonos Princess Hotel

Mykonos

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Anteliz Suites

Fira

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Holiday Inn Athens - Airport

Athens

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Acropolis Guided Tour

Athens

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Platinum Sunset Caldera Cruise

Santorini

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I had such an unforgettable trip to Iceland. This is actually the third time I used Kim Kim. Our group worked directly with Eric as well as a few other employees from Kim Kim. All were professional and hard-working. Through them we were able to have wonderful memories. Thanks for helping us navigate through all the details.