Kimkim Trip Reviews

Our Guayaquil guide, Corina and our driver, were amazing in their historical knowledge of the city and country, flexibility in the moment based on our interests, and steadfast in ensuring our safety. We had an amazing time looking at all of the effigies across the city in preparation for Ano Viejo. Our walk up the 444 steps to Diego Noboa y Arteta was finished w a lovely and delicious lunch. The rest of the week in the Galapagos was equally fun and interesting. Viviana, our guide, met us in Balstra and escorted us to Santa Cruze, all the while explaining the history of the islands, the economy, the differences between the mainland and islands, and of course introduced us to many amazing animals and sites from land iguanas to gigantic tortoises in their natural habitat. Seeing the evolution of various tortoises who come from other islands where they have different vegetation was spectacular. Thank you to the whole team for a truly eye-opening trip!!!!

Hotel Reviews

Oro Verde Guayaquil

Guayaquil

This is a lovely, modern, clean hotel with all of the amenities, including almond milk for those dairy-free concerned. There are different restaurants and a cafe to choose from. We actually switched hotels to stay here because it was so nice.

Authenticity & Character

Location

In the heart of Guayaquil

Staff

All went above and beyond to welcome us

Cleanliness & Comfort

Exe Galería Man-Ging

Guayaquil

Very basic, but clean if you need somewhere to stay and you arrive late at night and don’t want to pay for amenities that you won’t use. The artwork in the halls is a bit overwhelming though and it’s a bit dark.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sir Francis Drake

Puerto Ayora

This was an unfortunate experience. The hotel appeared dirty and not well maintained so as soon as we checked in, we asked our guides to transfer us somewhere else.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Gran Hostal Tintorera

Puerto Villamil

This was a clean and family friendly hotel, but very basic. Appears to cater to the Ecuadorian mainland guests because nobody spoke English. But it was absolutely clean! And they were friendly so if you are ok w bare bones, it is just fine and very authentic.

Authenticity & Character

Breakfast was cooked and served right in front of you on the outdoor stove.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guayaquil City Tour - Free afternoon

Guayaquil

The tour of the effigies was amazing. Corina’s knowledge about the history of the city and country and the economics of both, was really helpful. We loved the whole tour!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Santa Cruz Island: Highlands & Charles Darwin Research Station

Puerto Ayora

Viviana was amazing! The tortoises, the Charles Darwin center, it all was terrific.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wildlife Tour on Isabela Island

Ecuador

The speedboat was fine though it would have been a little nicer on a larger boat where we could have walked around or had lunch. The guide and tour of Las Tintoreras was fine though I think it would have been better as a private tour instead of a large group. Also, the guide was very nice but didn’t appear to understand English very well as she couldn’t answer questions as much as tell us information.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Excursion to Los Túneles

Ecuador

This might have been better if we had not been snorkeling the day before and it wasn’t the 7th boat ride we had taken.

Quality of Experience

Food

They made me a GF lunch which was amazing!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Puerto Ayora Departure Transfer: Farewell to the Galapagos

Puerto Ayora

Our guide Julio was terrific!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I had an amazing experience travelling to Nicaragua with Kimkim. I was a bit skeptical at first because I have never travelled with this agency before but they really surpassed my expectations. Reyna worked closely with me to accommodate my needs and always made sure everything is okay and if anything else is needed. There was active communication at all times. We stayed one week in Nicaragua and it was the perfect escape for whomever enjoys being in nature, surrounded by great people and eating delicious food. Every guide we had the pleasure to be with picked us up on time, was extremely helpful with any questions we might have had and you could tell they loved doing what they do.

In the future I would definitely book another trip with kimkim and was overall very impressed.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Patio del Malinche

Granada

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

always attentive and very friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

El Caite San Juan del Sur

San Juan del Sur

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Charco verde

Rivas

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa Marimba

Apoyo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Las Isletas Kayak adventure

Granada

Quality of Experience

Food

we did not have any food so I would rate it neutral

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mombacho Volcano - Crater Trail

Granada

Quality of Experience

Food

no food that is why I rate it neutral

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

San Juan del Sur - Sunset Boat Journey

San Juan del Sur

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hiking the Maderas Volcano

ometepe

We are not experienced hikers but we were able to succeed. It was not easy but the views were incredible. We were told this was a beginner's hike and it definitely wasn't. We also were not well prepared with the attire but overall it was a whole new experience for me and I am glad I was able to finish the whole hike.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day at leisure

Apoyo

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Masaya Volcano - Lava Rock Night Tour from Apoyo Lagoon

Apoyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

KimKim helped us plan a fun-filled family vacation in Costa Rica at the last minute! We went on beautiful nature hikes, saw sloths, monkeys and other animals and got to try new things like white-water rafting. We had a fantastic time the entire trip and made so many great memories.

Our trip was well-organized. We had some travel snafus and but we were able to stay in contact with someone on the team so our trip could continue smoothly. The tours we were booked on were fantastic and ran smoothly. The guides were great. All around great experience .

The trip plan David developed for us involved travelling through three diferent parts of the country, Tayrona National Park, the Guajira and the Orinoco, and gave us an idea of Colombia's amazing cultural diversity and natural beauty, just as we had hoped. We have both fallen in love with the country and are very much wanting to go back. It's difficult to say what were the highlights of the trip, as the thing we appreciated most was the possibility to travel, stay and eat with local people, and getting an insight, even if only for a few days, into their way of life. Tayrona was the most familiar in feel as we have travelled in rainforests and stayed in eco-lodges before so it was a good place to begin. You feel as if you are in the clouds slightly above the treeline, and we counted a dozen different bird species just from our bedroom window. We could have gone into the nature reserve nearby but instead walked by ourselves along the road to the coast to orient ouselves. The reward was a blissful view of the Caribbean at Los Cocos in unspoiled natural glory - the forst reaching into the sand, a couple of local families playing football, a dog running freely in the sunset. At Los Naranjos nearby there is a botanical garden with the most beautiful trees.

The food and cocktails at Tayrona kept up the holiday feel but nothing could have prepared us for what happened next, which was when the real adventure began. We were driven to Riohacha which has an amazing frontier city feel - which is indeed the case, as after this comes the desert. Before dawn the next day we were picked up from the hotel by Paola, the leader of the local company who took care of us for the next few days, by Leiner, our guide, and by Oder, the driver, who himself is Wayuu. We could not have felt more welcome and also in safer hands. This is important as it has to be stressed that this is not country in which you can casually venture on your own. It is a place where it is necessary to respect the local people who live here. It is also difficult country, beautiful but inhospitable, and it needs intimate knowledge to get around. Oder the driver was also vital as it is very rough territory for even a 4-wheel drive. He was brilliant, keeping us steady whatever the ground, and taking time so we never felt remotely in danger. Leiner was a terrific guide: knowlegeable, friendly, fluent in English and possessing fantastic people skills. We enjoyed stunning views of windswept landscapes with sparse vegetation but amazing birdlife including Red Cardinals, eagles, vultures and hawks. The sea is everywhere. Attending a local sea turtle conservation project and learning about the way solar technology is used to produce drinking water in this parched land was an inspiring example of grassroot -level community renewal: small scale, local and democratic.
After a quick stopover in Bogota we prepared for a flight to Puerto Carreno, and transferred to 4x4 to reach the Orinoco river. The first sight of the river (the second biggest in the world) was truly unforgettable. Under the guidance of Rosevelt our extremely practical and competent guide, and two lovely travel companions, we spend the next few days travelling down the Orinoco by boat, staying at Tuparro biosphere reserve, Sarrapia, and El Remanso in the Mavecure. There is something unusually lovely about the Orinoco river: the abundance of flora and fauna, the geology with its striking rock formations, and the rapids described by Alexander von Humboldt as the eighth wonder of the world. But the most important thing for us was understanding the river as the lifeblood of so many different communities; connecting different places, providing water and food, as well as identity and belonging. While we felt our lack of Spanish imposed limitations on the way we interacted with people we nevertheless learned so much about the ways in which indigenous communities in the region are connecting traditional ecological knowledge to solutions to the contemporary environmental crisis while protecting their cultural heritage. And, as we discovered while watching the World Cup finals in El Remanso, the language of football really is universal. While tourism can be a highly ambiguous phenomenon (something of which people locally are very much aware), you feel that communities here are managing to get the balance right, and have created infrastructure that allows people to see the astonishing natural abundance of the region, and learn about its cultural diversity, without doing damages or changing its character. Let's hope it stays this way.

Hotel Review

Quetzal Dorado Ecolodge

Zaino

What a lovely spot! The view from the central terrace opens out over the valley, the river and the mountains in the distance and is almost impossibly beautiful. We particularly appreciated the emphasis on sustainability. The staff is friendly and helpful, and the atmosphere relaxed. Special compliments to the kitchen staff for the very tasty food.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Streams and mountains in Tuparro National Park

Puerto Carreño

In terms of sheer natural beauty, this is one of the most astonishing places we have ever visited, with every changing vistas and a final view of the Orinoco rapids. Edgar, the guide who took us op the mountain was incredibly friendly and extremely knowledgeable about the area and its flora and fauna.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trip to Cabo de La Vela & Punta Gallinas 3 days - 2 nights

Colombia

This was an astonishing and beautiful experience, made possible by Leiner our amazing guide and Oder who drove us so safely. At the heart of it is an encounter with the Waiyuu people. The natural landscapes are incredible, topped only by seeing the turtle project explained at the Punta Gallinas community centre. We watched pelicans at sunset but we most enjoyed learning from our guides.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I would put ten stars here if possible.

Transport

Hiking to Cerros de Mavecure

Inírida

The Mavecure may be the most beautiful place we have ever seen. The hike is incredible we are told but forgive us as we chose instead to watch the world cup final with the local community. This was unforgettable.

Quality of Experience

Food

River fish.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Rosevelt is just so capable. He looks after you without saying a thing.

Transport

The boats. Never travel by car ever again.

Our trip to Portugal over the wintertime was fabulous and we are back with some wonderful memories and a good understanding of Portugal.
With exaggeration, Our family loved every minute of it. The accommodation suited as very well as with the entire itinerary . Our guides throughout were fabulous and were very insightful.
The local trips to Douro Valley, Sintra and rural Algarve will leave us with long lasting memories of the regions I would highly recommend this to other tourists.

Once again, thank you very much to Marta for the planning and for being with us through the journey. I will most definitely return for another trip with you.

Thank you Theresa, for planning a seamless trip very last minute for me and my daughter to Malaysia. Plus, I greatly appreciate offering alternative itineraries “on the fly” after unexpected weather impacts arose. Each step of the way our drivers and activities were waiting and ready, all very courteous and offering additional advice and insight. Your suggested itinerary met all our touristy goals. This is my second time to use KimKim’s services, I’ll be back soon!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Park Royal Service Suites Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur

Room was very neat and clean. Breakfast buffet offerings were very good. Location was good, quick Grab ride to anywhere we needed to go.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mutiara Taman Negara Resort

Kuala Tahan

Authenticity & Character

The chalet was cute and gave yiu the feeling of sleeping in the jungle, especially as monkeys pounced on the roof.

Location

It was fun to cross the River and feel very secluded from the world.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Strawberry Park Resort

Their Christmas buffet and Malaysian Santa was very festive for an American away from home at Christmas.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Loved being up on the hilltop with cool breeze and great view from the cozy balcony.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Travel from Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara via Batu Caves and night trekking

Malaysia

Had to check this off the touristy list … just beware of the monkeys, they were aggressive.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Taman Negara

Taman Negara

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

thanks for helping plan a wonderful trip that will leave us lifelong memories! I will of course refer friends to Lorena and Kimkim since we are very happy with the end to end experience you offered.

The guided tours in Valparaiso with Claudia and the all day one with Simple Patagonia in Torres Del Paine were excellent. Pick ups and drop offs were professional and on time in clean comfortable and safely driven vehicles

The penguin tour to Isla Magdalena and the all day boat tour to the glaciers were highlights

The hotels - both boutiques in Valparaiso and Chiloe were divine as was the 5 star comfort in Puerto Varas.

Finally Lorena and her staff in country were always available and super responsive via WhatsApp and so flexible that they were able to move us to an earlier bus when we decided to leave Punta Arenas 3 hours earlier to enjoy more of Natales. Someone picked up the old tickets and the new tickets were handed to us by the driver!

An amazing service experience and Lorena worked so patiently with me to co develop an itinerary that had some self driven days like Chiloe and Lake District and a lot of guided stuff in all other places

We had an excellent trip with the help of Lorena. She picked great destinations and excursions for our 7 person group ranging in age from 10 to 75. She selected excellent accommodations for our budget. It was great always being a walkable neighborhood since we didn't have a vehicle. Having access to someone local who spoke English via WhatsApp throughout the trip was wonderful and helped me manage my stress levels greatly as the group leader - especially when the airlines canceled a flight!

Chile was a wonderful country to visit. Everyone was very polite and hospitable. We felt safe and really enjoyed the experience. Patagonia and the lake region were amazing.

All of the transfers and accommodations were fine but we were disappointed in the level of English spoken by the owner/staff at the Tariri Lodge. There weren’t many guests but the majority of the other guests were Portuguese speakers. The guides didn’t always translate everything into English and we frequently had to rely on one of the other guests to translate for us.

We just completed our 8-day trip, covering Rio, Iguazu from Brazil and Argentina sides, and a day in Paraguay. It was a memorable experience. We had been planning this trip for about two months, and Meghan helped fine-tune our itinerary multiple times. Meghan and the Kimkim team were very flexible in accommodating our custom requests. On the day we were supposed to go to Christ the Redeemer in Rio, the weather turned out rainy with poor visibility, so we had to cancel. Meghan worked with the tour company to accommodate our tickets for another day and that worked out very well for us. Without her help, it would have been quite a hassle otherwise. The local transportation and bilingual tour guides appointed by Kimkim were great and we didn’t have to stress about safety, convenience of pickups/drops and tour tickets. We usually tour on our own, but this time we made an exception to go with a travel company and we think it was a wise choice. Thank you, Meghan and Team!

Hotel Reviews

Nadai Confort Hotel

Foz do Iguacu

We loved the outdoor pool and hot-spa which helped greatly recovery from tiring tour days. The room service was poor.. took an hour to deliver food twice and also messed up the orders. Breakfast was ok. Rooms were small but clean.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nice pool

Arena Leme Hotel

Rio de Janeiro

Great location - Leme beachfront next to Copacabana. Nice rooftop and bar, though very small pool. Breakfast was ok, but not many choices for everyone in the restaurant. I wish they accommodated more vegetarian options. Rooms were good.

Location

Beachfront

Windsor Florida

Rio de Janeiro

Nice connecting rooms, though no views except buildings. Breakfast was ok. Overall, an average hotel.

Activity Reviews

Argentinean Side Falls & Gran Aventura Boat Tour

Foz do Iguaçu

The Argentinian side of Iguazu is beautiful beyond words. The walkway is serene, and the boat adventure was so fun!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The boat operator was not bilingual, and his commentary was only in Spanish/Portuguese. English should be mandatory as there are foreign tourists always.

Guide and vehicle at disposal to explore Paraguay

Foz do Iguaçu

The Monday Falls at Paraguay were amazingly beautiful. Do include this in your itinerary even after visiting the mighty Iguazu!

Arrival transfer in Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro

On time pickup at an odd hour - thank you, for making it safe and convenient.

Exploring the Brazilian Falls

Foz do Iguaçu

A visual treat to eyes .. so many beautiful vista points and then the final stop at the grand Devil's Throat is an unmatched experience.

Day Tour of Sugarloaf Mountain (cable car) and Christ the Redeemer Statue

Rio de Janeiro

I wish we had some visibility at the Sugar Loaf.. it was a blanket of white. It was fun to ride the cable cars. But we overcame that in the Christ the Redeemer part - beautiful beyond words!

Evening Tour to Three Borders Mark (Brazilian side)

Foz do Iguaçu

Nice spot to spend your evening - view of the 3 borders, the show they put on with dancers and drama, and the beautiful monument itself. Relaxing after the day tours of the falls.

Our driver Soukaina was the best part of our trip. There was a lot of driving involved (hours and hours a day especially on the way to and from the desert) and Soukaina was always kind, pleasant and willing to do anything to help us have a good time

Hotel Reviews

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

This was the best part of the trip. The owner of the camp is a great host, musician and really cares about giving you the best experience in the desert. Highly recommend staying at least two nights and visiting with a Berber family and ATV riding.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lina Ryad & Spa

Chefchaouen

Very friendly staff and best massage I've ever had.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Kalaa

Rabat

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Salam Fes

Fes

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very unfriendly and unhelpful staff, bathrooms are terrible with poor drainage, breakfast is not good

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dar Rihana Dades

Douar Aït Ouffi

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

We were only at this ryad one night (less than 14 hours) but the staff was amazing, helpful and friendly. Dinner was great.

Palais Sebban

Marrakech

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

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

Morocco

This was a long day of traveling but our driver Soukaina was always wonderful.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Morocco

I highly recommend having dinner with a local family. The food was incredible and the family was very kind. A lot of food is served so keep that in mind when planning your meals that day.

Quality of Experience

Food

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

Fes

We did not like our guide Mohammed. He spoke to us as if he had a script and didn't answer any of our questions. He also brought us into a carpet place and was aggressive about trying to sell us carpets when I had told him I wasn't interested.

Quality of Experience

Harmonies of the Dunes: An Experiential Desert Odyssey in Erg Chebbi

Merzouga

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

Morocco

If you've traveled through other places with Roman Ruins, I would skip this part of the trip. We had wanted to go to Scorpian House for lunch but they need reservations 2-3 days in advance. Make sure you tell your driver and trip rep if you want to do this. Otherwise, lunch is in a tourist spot in the parking lot of Volubilis (which we skipped).

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover the Joy of Sandboarding in Morocco's Magnificent Erg Chebbi

Merzouga

Quality of Experience

Adrenaline-Pumping ATV Ride: Discovering the Dunes of Merzouga

Merzouga

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Marrakesh

We liked our guide however beware of asking him to take you to any stores not researched beforehand. We asked our guide to take us to a herboristerie for spices and argan oil and it was a complete scam. Our trip rep took care of returning the fake products and made them reimburse us immediately. Not sure whether or not guide knew this place sold fake products.

Our family trip to Morocco was excellent. Every aspect of the tour and travel arrangements were well coordinated. We loved our tour guide, Simo, who was with us every day - knowledgeable of the sites and history and a pleasure to spend time with on a personal level. He was great with all of the kids on our trip, as well. We really enjoyed Asilah, visiting the old city and touring the Caves of Hercules. Seeing the Strait of Gibraltor was a highlight on a beautiful day. The Berber-Roman city of Volubilis was fascinating. And Fes was an awesome experience -- our local guide, Said, was essential in guiding us through the maze of Fes and educating us on its history. We also thought the restaurant selections for lunch and dinner every day were amazing. Always a lovely, local atmosphere and great food. Hotel selections worked perfectly for our combined family of 9. Rooms were comfortable and check-in and check-out was seamless.
Mohamed, our driver, was impressive. We covered a lot of territory and tricky terrain without a hitch. Thank you for a most memorable trip.

Overall, an amazing trip and well worth the extra $$
Milenka our local specialist was very patient with us and organised our trip with next-to-no fuss.
Our highlights were the Uyuni salt flats (almost too early in early Dec) and Macchu Picchu.

Activity Review

Explore the amazing Uyuni Salt Flats

Bolivia

The view doesn't disappoint. Amazing portion of the trip!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We just returned from a most excellent trip Morocco that was booked through KimKim. We appreciated having a local specialist who could help us choose what to see and how best to schedule. Mohamed was very quick to respond and kept us on track to get the vacation scheduled. The hotels that were selected were outstanding and exceeded our expectations. We especially liked our two tour guides in Marakkesh - one for a food tour (Hannan), and the other for a general tour of Marakkesh and the Old City (Abdal). Our driver for the week, Tarik, was friendly and helpful. He was great about communicating and coordinating between the different activities and the hotels. For example, on our final morning, we took a most amazing hot air balloon ride outside Marakkech with Mathieu as our pilot. Tarik knew what time our flight was and communicated directly with the hot air balloon company to make sure that we finished in enough time to make it to the airport on time. There were many moving parts to our vacation and multiple parties involved - the local tour company, our driver, different hotels and and guides for individual activities, but having it all organized through KimKim helped it feel seamless.
Four stars only because we ended up feeling a wee bit overscheduled. This was our first time in Morocco and going into the trip we did not understand how much driving time was needed between locations. However, given the complexity of the trip, we were overall very satisfied.

Hotel Reviews

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

Amazing experience. The tents are luxurious - comfortable beds, running water (hot and cold!) and both showers and flushing toilets in each tent. Remarkable set up in a desert!! A separate full dining tent. Even heated mattress pads to keep us warm on a very cold night! The folks running the camp were welcoming and friendly. We enjoyed a drumming circle by a campfire after dinner. Wished we could have stayed a second night.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lina Ryad & Spa

Chefchaouen

Lovely hotel tucked away in the heart of the Chefchaouen medina. Rooms were very comfortable and we loved the rooftop deck. The staff was very welcoming and helpful. Food was excellent.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Salam Fes

Fes

Out of all the hotels we stayed on our trip, this was not our favorite. The location was great, in the heart of the Fez medina. The lobby and inner courtyards were incredibly beautiful with a huge WOW factor. However, our room was very small and was an adjoining room to a larger suite (e.g. not enough room to open a suitcase on the floor). There was little to no soundproofing between the rooms, so we could hear things like light switches being turned on/off and our neighbor's electric toothbrush in the morning. There was only one very small window. The mattress was very hard, which may be typical, but nonetheless, it was not the best night's sleep. We changed rooms the second night, so it was not as noisy, but the second room was even smaller than the first. We could not get hot water in our room, no matter how long we ran the shower, so ended up showering in our kids' room. Food was excellent and the staff was very helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mattress was very hard and pillow was lumpy. Could not get hot water in our shower the second morning.

Dar Rihana Dades

Douar Aït Ouffi

AMAZING! Lovely, small hotel in the Dades Valley. Our rooms were beautifully decorated and spacious. There is a lovely rooftop deck and a beautiful pool in the courtyard. The food was amazing - definitely ranked as one of the best meals of our trip. The staff was so helpful and attended to our every need. My only regret is that we could not stay longer.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Nyla And Spa Marrakech

Marrakech

Lovely, tranquil spot with an excellent location in the medina. It truly felt like an oasis in the middle of the noise and chaos of the streets. Beautifully and elegantly decorated with an absolutely lovely rooftop deck. The rooms were spacious, clean and well appointed. We even had a Nespresso machine in the room, which felt like a real treat (although we take this for granted in the US, this did not seems to be common in Morocco). The spa looked clean and elegant - unfortunately, we had a hammam pre-booked elsewhere, but in hindsight, I wish we had booked this at the hotel. The food was excellent - on the final night of the trip, we had a most elegant dinner on the rooftop deck. Would absolutely stay here again!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

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

Morocco

Highly, highly recommend. The camel ride was SO. MUCH. FUN. No better way to see the dunes than on the back of a camel. It was so quiet and peaceful compared to the 4-wheelers. Two hours of the 'camel massage' was definitely enough for my backside, but I would not recommend any other method of transport in the desert!!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Morocco

We arrived later than expected. However, our local guide made sure to feed us quickly (food was great) so that we had enough time for our hike before the sun set. He took us to see the local kasbahs and for a short hike through the 'monkey fingers' rock formations. Even though the sun had set, he instructed our driver to take us up the famous windy road into the Dades canyon area for a spectacular view over the valley. He was so friendly and welcoming. Would recommend!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer to Marrakech via Roses Valley, Ouarzazate & Aït Benhaddou

Morocco

Very long day in the car. Our driver made a few stops which helped to break up the day - a rose water cooperative, the Atlas Studio, the Aït Benhaddou kasbah and an argan oil cooperative. The day was already quite long, so we did not spend much time at each location. The drive through the Atlas mountains was absolutely spectacular, but we felt rushed because we wanted to get to Marakkech.

Quality of Experience

Food

ate at a typical touristy lunch spot

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tasting Marrakesh: A Private Gastronomic Adventure

Marrakesh

Excellent. Highly recommend a guide from the outset to help navigate the overwhelming choices. Also, so many food-safety pitfalls in the markets, so best to do with a guide. Our guide, Hannan, was very kind, well-spoken and took us to local spots that she felt were safe for tourists.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Discover the Joy of Sandboarding in Morocco's Magnificent Erg Chebbi

Merzouga

This is a pretty silly activity, given the natural beauty of the dunes. Would not recommend scheduling any specific time for this. So many other nicer things to enjoy.

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

Marrakesh

Our tour guide, Abdul (sp?), was great. He was very knowledgeable and energetic. He took us to multiple historic sites around Marakkech and then into the medina. He took us to a few shops that were better quality and gave us some tips for navigating the medina on our own.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Serenity Unleashed: Indulge in a Tranquil Hammam & Spa Experience

Morocco

This place was very busy - probably saw 15 people (mostly tourists like us) cycle through while we were there for 1.5-2 hours. We had never been to a hammam before and felt a little unprepared as to what to wear - we ended up wearing our underwear bottoms only, but it would have been better to have a bathing suit bottom (and top if you are uncomfortable with a bare chest around strangers). Massage was OK.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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

Marrakesh

The BEST. Don't miss this!! Very professional and we felt safe throughout the entire experience. Our pilot was French and very knowledgable. Other than when he was focused on flying, he spent lots of time explaining to us how the balloon worked and how he navigates. Scenery was spectacular. Highly, highly recommend.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kim Kim, Aracanto, and Margoth planned a great trip for our family to Colombia. We enjoyed Cartagena, Tayrona, coffee country, and Bogota. We had excellent guides in each region, and enjoyed staying in some very unique hotels. The trip was a nice mix of culture, nature, and adventure. Highlights - old city of Cartagena, monkeys in Tayrona, wax palms in Cocora Valley, and the funicular in Bogota. Thank you for a great trip!

Hotel Review

Hotel Boutique Sazagua

Pereira

A beautiful boutique property with a stunning garden. Impeccable service.

Authenticity & Character

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Half Day City Tour of Cartagena

Cartagena

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Jaime was great

Tayrona National Park Tour and Hike

Colombia

Christian was a great guide - it was a serious hike but we enjoyed that.

Minca Tour with Local Cacao Farm and Marinka waterfalls

Colombia

Waterfall was cool - Cacao farm was interesting but the guide for that tour (whom I don’t think is the normal guide) was a bit weird. Christian, our full day guide, was great.

Cocora Valley,  Salento, & Coffee Farm Visit

Colombia

Cocora Valley is breathtaking, Salento is beautiful, and the coffee farm was education - this was a great day.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Claudia was OK - but not as strong as our other guides on this trip.

Hike and Visit the Sanctuary of Flora and Fauna Otun Quimbaya

Colombia

The rainforest was beautiful but it was a lot of driving time for the experience.

Half-Day City Tour of Bogotá with Local Fruit Market and Monserrate Hill

Bogotá

What a great day - the fruit market was amazing, Monserrat Hill was beautiful, the Museo de Oreo was interesting, and the old city was enlightening. Nancy was a terrific guide.

Emi and the others did an absolutely incredible job planning this trip from start to finish! The accommodations were terrific, and any minor problems were resolved quickly. Communication with the team was prompt and excellent. Thank you all so much!

The collaboration between the Realistic Asia group and kimkim was perfect for our honeymoon in Thailand! We especially enjoyed all the guides we had for our adventures, especially Tanny in Bangkok! All the honeymoon surprises made our trip special and were much appreciated. All the hotels were perfect for our preferences. Pick-ups were timely. I would highly recommend utilizing Realistic Asia for anyone considering a trip to Thailand!

Hotel Reviews

Novotel Phuket Resort

Patong

This is a great hotel with perfect views of Patong!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bhu Nga Thani Resort

Krabi

This stay was one of many highlights for our Thailand trip! Great services, location, and staff!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Ao Nang Elephant Sanctuary Half-Day Tour

Thailand

We loved this visit with the elephants! My wife would like to go back for another trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bangkok bike tour 5 hours - Joint in tour

Bangkok

This is one of many highlights from our trip to Thailand. The bike tour allowed us to see an area of Bangkok we would not have explored.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Temple City, Grand Palace & Klong Tour

Bangkok

Tanny is an amazing guide and one of the best I have ever had on a trip! This itinerary is perfect for a day around Bangkok.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

An outstanding trip with Natalia preparing a wonderful itenerary and guides. Natalia was amazing - dealing with a 14 hour delayed arrival, which turned into landing at the same time as the Argentinian soccer team after winning the world cup (mass chaos at the airport and travel) to getting us safely to our hotel. The trip was designed perfectly for us - with Natalia creating a curated adventure - addressing areas we wanted to see and things we wanted to do. All the guides were great - Jessica Zimmerman in BA, Laura in Iguazu and Jorge in Salta. Each of them worked well with our family (adults and a 14 and 17 year old). Would highly recommend this team to anyone considering a trip to Argentina

Hotel Reviews

Pleno Palermo Soho

Buenos Aires

Highlight hotel of the trip - staff and location cannot be beat. Great breakfast and nice amenities (rooftop pool + small gym). Would definitely stay again

Authenticity & Character

Location

Great neighborhood but quiet street

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Loi Suites Iguazú Hotel

Puerto Iguazú

Great hotel and place to relax following long hot days at the park

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kkala Boutique Hotel

Salta

Truly boutique experience in a quiet neighborhood but walkable to downtown Salta

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Las Marías Hotel Boutique

Tilcara

Lovely hotel in a developing area

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel was clean but rooster next door made mornings a bit too early

Activity Review

Colours of Humahuaca

Tilcara

Great selection led by Jorge (guide), most unusual and remarkable part of our trip. Colors and views are amazing.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

kimkim.com is a reliable website for booking our Costa Rica trip. Drivers and tour guides are punctuated and professional. Vehicles are clean. Our tour specialist, Jessica is responsive and helpful. Our family enjoyed the holiday trip so much. We will definitely book future tours from kimkim again.

Activity Reviews

Treetopia: Tram, Zip Lines & Hanging Bridges

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer San José to Arenal with Rafting on the Balsa River en Route (Class II & III)

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Hanging Bridges Guided Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nocturnal Frog Excursion & Traditional Costa Rican Dinner

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sloth & Bird Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Horseback Riding at the Base of Arenal Volcano

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee, Chocolate and Sugar Cane Experience

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport