Kimkim Trip Reviews

Our trip to Madrid and Barcelona included several great private and small group tours which were almost all very kid-friendly and enjoyable. Our Boqueria tour and paella cooking class was the most engaging and fun, while our tour with Matt to Costa Brava and Girona was a beautiful and relaxing chance to visit the quieter parts of Catalunya. Our Madrid hotel was great and centrally located, while our Barcelona hotel was located in a grafitti-filled neighborhood with tons of homeless people which was a bit of a long walk from all attractions. Overall, everyone enjoyed Madrid and the day trips to Toledo and other smaller cities the most.

Yuri was very prompt and helped us with all our local needs! We highly recommend his tours.

Activity Review

Tapas & Flamenco Experience in Seville

Seville

We had a great time experiencing the local bars and watching an excellent Famenco dance with authentic music. Our guide Mila was very friendly and gave us a historical tour of the neighbourhood, she explained everything in detail. She even took us to the Feria which was out of the world! We had a great time and highly recommend Kimkim tours for an authentic Seville, tapas and flamenco experience!!.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Wow! What a stunning honeymoon adventure! Thank you so much to Leo for organising a truly memorable adventure of a lifetime! El Nido and Coron were spectacular spots and our guides, Rich and Jhonas, were brilliant hosts too! We will definitely be back!

Hotel Reviews

Coron Westown Resort

Coron

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hue Hotels and Resorts Puerto Princesa

Puerto Princesa

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Atremaru Boutique Resort & Spa

Puerto Princesa

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

We understand the need for an eco solution but some aspects of the accommodation weren't ideal. The bathroom was poor, it was a struggle for me without air-conditioning , the restaurant quality was poor, no shallow end in the pool was problem for my partner who is only 165cm tall etc...

Sea Cocoon Hotel

El Nido

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Ulugan Bay

Philippines

Snorkelling quality was okay but the location, boart crew and lunch were amazing!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Puerto Princesa Underground River Day Tour from Sabang

Sabang, Palawan

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

El Nido via ferrata

El Nido

Brilliant!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Island hopping in El Nido - Tour A

El Nido

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Island hopping in El Nido - Tour C

El Nido

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Coron Town Day Tour

Coron

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coron Lagoons & Lakes Day Tour

Coron

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Powder Day: Sand and Stellar Beaches

Coron

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kimkim (Sabina) did an excellent job in planning my 24-day self-driving tour of the South Island of New Zealand. Other than a few days of rain and wind, that resulted in me missing the Whale Watching cruise in Kaikoura and the glacier cruise at Mt. Cook, everything went as planned and exceeded my expectations!

The car was perfect for me, all of the driving instructions and maps were very valuable, and all of the booked motels were very nice and were expecting me :-)

I hiked most of the recommended tracks and loved them all, finding over 250 species of birds, flowers, mammals, ferns, trees, etc. that were new to me :-). I also did a bungee jump off the Kawarau Bridge and a Luge run while in Queenstown :-). The 3 guided hikes on the Routeburn, Kepler, and Milford tracks in Te Anau were fun with excellent guides, especially Geoff Barnes !

I also took two recommended detours to Blue Pools and Arrowtown, which I would recommend too :-)

The trans-alpine train from Greymouth to Christchurch was a very pleasant break from driving and I was very happy to find Steve Wilson, no relation, waiting for me in Christchurch, to shuttle me to my motel.

I have already recommended using Kimkim to others and will continue to do so. Kimkim also arranged a fabulous custom trip for me to Colombia before the pandemic :-)

Hotel Reviews

Bella Vista Christchurch

Christchurch

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Hotel Nelson

Nelson

Nice restaurant!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bella Vista Motel Blenheim

Blenheim

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bella Vista

Kaikoura

Authenticity & Character

Location

For

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mt Cook Lodge & Motels

Canterbury

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bella Vista Queenstown

Queenstown

Authenticity & Character

Location

CTR

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bella Vista Motel Te Anau

Te Anau

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bella Vista Motel Wanaka

Wanaka

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Punga Grove Motels & Suites

Franz Josef / Waiau

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Punakaiki Beachfront Motels

Punakaiki

Great food at motel restaurant :-)

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Nelson Lakes National Park

New Zealand

I visited Nelson Lakes National Park, where I went on a beautiful hike and encountered some unique wildlife, like flightless birds and stunning purple mushrooms. The park's scenery was breathtaking, and I really enjoyed my time there.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Self-drove this trip and Sabina provided an awesome scenic route for the whole trip!

Nelson/ Abel Tasman free day

New Zealand

I did a nice out-and-back trail and found some more amazing birds, plants, and mushrooms.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kaikoura

Kaikōura

About a two-hour drive to Kaikoura, the rental car company provided a GPS unit but the car had CarPlay so I just used Google Maps from my phone and you are able to get directions. I had coverage for the whole trip. Kaikoura was an interesting town.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walking tracks in and around Kaikoura

Kaikōura

I hiked various walking tracks in and around Kaikoura, taking in the stunning landscapes and coastal views.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kaikoura Whale Watching Tour

New Zealand

I was supposed to go on a Kaikoura Whale Watching Tour with a small group, but due to rough seas, it was canceled. Instead, I went on a different tour and saw hundreds of dolphins, even capturing some amazing photos and videos of them flipping and playing in the water.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Christchurch free day

Christchurch

I took a break during my drive to Christchurch and did a 4-5 mile hike at a nature preserve along a river. I discovered and reported about 170 new species of plants, animals, and fungi. In Christchurch, I went for runs along the Avon River and visited the Arboretum.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Glacier Explorers - Mount Cook

Aoraki / Mount Cook Village

I went to Mount Cook but never got to see it due to rainy weather. However, I completed all six trail recommended by Sabina. I enjoyed the trails and the local restaurants.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Queenstown Adventure & Wine

Queenstown (NZ)

I did a bungee jump at the bridge for my adventure day, I recommend paying for the photos and videos as they came out really well. I also took a gondola ride and participated in a fun activity similar to bobsledding. Although I didn't try the vertical wind tunnel skydiving simulation, I had an overall positive experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Te Anau and Manapouri

New Zealand

I arrived at Te Anau and hiked a part of the Kepler Track on my own, discovering many fly agaric mushrooms and beautiful forests carpeted in thick green moss. I also crossed several swinging bridges during the hike.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kepler Track Guided Heli-Hike with Trips and Tramps

Te Anau

For this hike, they take you above the alpine in a small helicopter and drop you off at a hut where you hike to the top of the mountain. At the end of the hike, you get lunch and hike down to the treeline and got to see more plants and moss. Made some permanent friends on this part of the trip, and loved being a part of the group.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Milford Track Guided Walk and Scenic Cruise with Trips and Tramps

New Zealand

I joined a group and hiked the Milford Track. We also took a two-hour boat trip from the fjord to the Tasman Sea, enjoying the green scenery and waterfalls along the way.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Routeburn Track Guided Day Walk

Te Anau

I did 3 different hikes here, beautiful forest with thick moss. It was an incredible place for photos. There were many swinging bridges that were amazing. Very safe, and cool to see. Great trails for running too! The guide was very nice and we kept the same pace which was nice. We finished the hike quickly and then went to the bird sanctuary.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Wanaka

Wānaka

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hiking in Wanaka

Wānaka

This day I explored Wanaka and hiked several trails, including Roy's Peak track, Diamond Lake and Rocky Mountain, Mount Iron track, and the Outlet track. I enjoyed the beautiful views of the lake and surrounding mountains.

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lake Wānaka Cruise and Island Nature Walk

Wānaka

I went on a Lake Wānaka Cruise and Island Nature Walk, where I saw the rare Buff Weka, a flightless bird found only on one island in New Zealand. I also enjoyed hiking in Wanaka, where I encountered several other interesting birds and took in the stunning landscapes.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover Franz Josef Glacier

Franz Josef Glacier

I visited Franz Josef Glacier, but unfortunately, it was foggy and I couldn't see the glacier clearly. However, I hiked several trails in the area, such as the Douglass Walk, Franz Josef Glacier Walk, Link One Backtrack, and more.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Paparoa National Park

Punakaiki

I explored Paparoa National Park and its famous Pancake Rocks. Although the ocean surges were not as impressive as I had hoped, I still enjoyed observing the unique rock formations and taking in the beautiful coastal scenery.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

CHCH Touring - Private Transfer Train Station to Accommodation

Christchurch

The guide Steve Wilson, was there right on the time holding a sign with my name to take me to the airport very nice guy.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to Belize and Guatemala was amazing! Our scuba trips in Belize organized by Ramon's Village Resort were incredible including swimming with sharks, rays, and sea turtles as well as diving for conch for our lunch. Our visit to Tikal in Guatemala will provide life long memories. Esmerelda, our guide, did a fantastic job leading us around Lake Atitlan and Antigua providing outstanding insight and history of the regions and Guatemala as whole, not too mention assisting us when our Spanish wasn't quite up to the task particulary with the lunch and dinner menus. We can't say enough about our experience and would highly recommend this itinerary as a family trip with teenagers.

How do I put into words my Patagonian Adventures that I've experienced with the people I've met in this journey of self discovery. They are all now a part of my extended family. I've seen such splendor, majestic beauty, and an overwhelming sense of grandeur. It's like when God finished creating the world in 6 days before he rested on the 7th he dusted his hands off over the Patagonian Provinces of Argentina and formed a lavish banquet of wonders with an array of unique wildlife, mountain peaks, glaciers, forests, and lakes all in Argentina for all the world to enjoy and embrace.

(INSERT PHOTO OF ANA AND ME TOGETHER HERE)

I thoroughly recommend Kimkim as they have outperform, and surpass my expectations. All the accommodations were nothing less than 5 stars, all transfers to and from hotels, all my domestic flights across Argentina were handled with such detail, my friend Ana was handling it all. ( I just can't call her a tour specialist). I feel Ana has been with me through this journey from start to finish. When I started this plan to cover as much of Argentina in 16 days I thought it was an impossible task. From Day 1 to Day 16 Ana was right there with me. From My Buenos Aires Querido to all of Patagonia. Starting with my first stop in Calafate as I ventured on a Mini Trekking across the Perito Moreno Glacier, in San Marcos Bariloche experiencing the Nahuel Huapi National Park in the province of Río Negro and Neuquén, along the Valle Encantado route 237 la Angostura this region comprises the southern section of the Andes Mountains with lakes, fjords, rainforests, and glaciers in the west and deserts, rich tablelands and steps to the east. Patagonia is bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the east and many bodies of water that connect them. More than a trip of a lifetime. This checks all the boxes on my bucket list.

BARILOCHE
I can't forget my friend Luis (now a part of my extended family) my private guide as he shared with me the beauty of this province and the wealth of its natural resources. Luis’s knowledge of the province from the Condors nesting grounds to how the locals protect and respect nature. Luis and I spent 14 hours covering as much of the Patagonia landscape before night fall. Stopping to see Llamas crossing the routes and capturing their beauty as local commuters were missing out on what was in front of them. The voyage on board CauCau ferry headed to Victoria Island overjoyed with the breathe-taking views. You have to see it in order to believe it. I did the Circuito Chico Lago Moreno. Llao Llao, saw llamas, Rio Limay, it’s un-imaginable how small we are and what we take for granted, we miss out on what is in front of us. I took time to listen, hear, smell and taste the pureness of the air that was surrounding me. I even visited the smallest Rio in the world. (Thank you Luis for this gold nugget) Rio Correntoso. Folks...the list of lakes and wildlife goes on and on.

IGUAZU
Next stop was Iguazu Falls National Park, my dear guide Camila more than just a guide, she's smart and very pretty. Super knowledgeable with the flora and fauna of Iguazu and has the ears and eyes of a hawk to find the smallest of details of the wildlife that live and breathe in this region. Camila and I managed to walk 600 meters on the green path, 1750 meters on the superior circuit and rounded it out with a 2200 meter walk to the Devils Throat (astounding 80 meters in depth) all while managing to see an early morning rodent Acuti, birds like the Magpie, Boyero, Mallard Ducks, Jotes (black head and red head), Aninga, and Coati mammals.

MENDOZA
My families home, this is where the self discovery comes in. Rich in ancestral history that dates back to the 1900s starting with my Grandfather Don Gustavo Julian Ruiz Cornellias and his lovely wife J. Elvira Ruiz de Gagliolo they migrated from Madrid Spain to Buenos Aires at 30 years of age. I was born in Buenos Aires and came to the United States, and the rest of my family settled in Mendoza where I managed to learn of my great great grandfather's contribution to Argentina’s rich history as he is immortalized at the Plaza Marcos Burgos right next to the national hero of Argentina, Chile and Peru Jose de San Martin. If you love wine Mendoza is the place for it and visiting the vineyards of Tupungato & Tunuyan is the right place to start. Time to relax, inhale the beauty that is Valle de Uco. Ana and her dream-maker team set me up with an experience that I will never forget at Casa De Uco, a must stay, wine testing at various vineyards like Gaia, Sophenia and the Piece de resistance lunch at Andeluna, I totally recommend this place, the food, the warmth of the staff at Andeluna is unmatched. Take 3-4 hours for lunch its so worth it. I was the last to leave. Make sure you stop at Puente de Inca along the Rio Mendoza before you experience Cerro Aconcagua, have a picnic lunch at the foot of Laguna Horcones and take in the beauty that is this province.

In closing don’t let a day go by without embracing it. I found real meaning on this trip. What truly matters. It’s Family and Time. There is a balance. Life is short and we are not promised tomorrow. So live for today. Be grateful for what you do, what you have, and share with those around you that are not as fortunate. We are all part of one another in one shape or form, we touch peoples lives with kindness whether you believe if of not….so be kind.

Day tour to Sintra with guide Matilde and driver Miguel. We felt very cared for traveling with these 2 the whole day. Matilde answered all our questions thoughtfully and explained all the stops thoroughly.

The walking tour of Lisbon with Elsa was effortless. Elsa made the 8 hour long day seem very short. Her lively explanations and wonderful sense of humor made the day go by so quickly and the walk easy. She shared with us some of her favorite local spots. Bifana was delicious and her recommendations for dinner were spot on! Obrigada Elsa.

Our drive up the coast to Porto with Nelson was very comfortable. Nelson was our very informative body guard/driver of the day. The beautiful streets of Obidos and the breathtaking view of the coast of Nazare were fabulous

Arriving in Porto we had our walking tour with Andre. He showed us the wonderful sights/sounds/tastes of Porto. You must try the Pastel de Nata of Porto since we learned it tastes very different from those in Lisbon. Much crispier crust and oh-so delicious.

Duoro Valley. WOW. What more can I saw about this place. Our private boat tour was exactly what the family needed towards the end of our visit.

Overall, I would definitely recommend working with Joao and plan to contact him again when I go back to Portugal. Joao was very patient and listened to our multiple requests and made magic happen. I thank him and his team for allowing our family to relax and have fun. Definitely a trip to remember. OBRIGADA!

Emi and Francesco were absolutely amazing. Emi did a fantastic job planning the trip of our dreams, while Francesco was fast and accommodating - making our time there a breeze! When our train was canceled last minute, it literally took 10 minutes for them to book us a new way of transport, saving the day and our trip. We will absolutely be using this service again and have already recommended it to all our friends and family. Thank you, thank you!

Hotel Reviews

Rome Times Hotel

Rome

Friendly, accommodating - first-rate service all around. Highly recommend.

Authenticity & Character

Location

A quick walk to some of the best places to see and surrounded by fantastic restaurants.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Antica Torre di Via Tornabuoni

Florence

Beautiful hotel with friendly staff. Amazing stay all around.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Rome in a Day Tour with Colosseum and Vatican Museums guided tours

Rome

Good, semi-private tour. Guide got into a few weird religious things, however, that didn't feel relevant or needed.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Florence walking tour on Medici's footsteps

Florence

Fantastic and informative walking tour. The guide was funny, smart, and enjoyable to listen to.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Duomo tour with Brunelleschi's dome & secret terraces

Italy

An absolutely amazing tour. The guide was affable and knowledgable - and incredibly patient and comforting when I ended up succumbing to my fear of heights.

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Accademia Gallery Tour

Florence

The tour guide was funny, smart, and enjoyable to listen to. Highly recommend.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Uffizi Galleries Tour

Florence

A wonderful experience with a fantastic guide. Thoroughly enjoyed and learned a lot.

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Rome Walking Tour

Rome

Beautiful tour that really helps you acclimate to the city. The tour guide was gregarious and funny - we enjoyed learning from her.

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My daughter and I have had the most amazing trip to Greece. We are in love and will be back. It was great having Irene of Kimkim help plan our trip of 9 days as we wanted culture, art and history at a relaxed pace.

We visited Athens, Naxos and Santorini and it was fantastic. Irene organized a cooking class, a trip to Delphi with olive tasting and in Naxos convinced me the best way was to drive to see the beautiful landscape! She was right.

In Santorini, we had a pottery class with a local famous Greek artist which was fun for the both of us and walking around and seeing the sunset was out of this world.

We loved our accommodations too and Irene chose well and to add that the entire team from KimKim were always available in case of anything and made me feel safe should something go wrong.

Everything was taken care of and on time and grateful for our tour guide in Athens, Magda who was entertaining and knowledgeable.

We had a very relaxed holiday and I was glad I had some assistance thanks to Kimkim to navigate around!

All in all, we will back to Greece and would recommend anyone short on time and energy to let Kimkim sort you out. They really know some hidden gems and where to go and are quick to respond so it lets you breathe and be free.

Hotel Reviews

Athens Cypria Hotel

Athens

Right in the heart ofnthe city. Can really hear the hustle and bustle and great restaurants including vegetarian ones. The buffet breakfast was amazing from Greek yogurts to a full English breakfast, Pastries and coffee, tea and juices.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Walking distance to most things like Acropolis

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ippokampos Beachfront Hotel

Naxos

Beautiful location, clean and amazing food! Staff was helpful and we loved how relaxing it was.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right close to the beach

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Abelonas Retreat Sunset & Sunrise Lodgings

Santorini

Stunning views, breakfast in your room. Management was great and we had amazing views where we were. Also for those who like some peace and quiet it’s perfect as it’s not super big and has a certain charm to it.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Views are stunning. Breakfast is delicious and can walk to many places.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Acropolis & Athens Mythology Tour

Athens

Learnt so much on this tour and Magda was highly knowledgeable and engaging. My daughter loved her. She has a way with kids. Carry some snacks and water as it’s quite long.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Cooking Class in Athens

Athens

The restaurant was amazing and the food too. We really enjoyed it but wished we had the chance to make a couple of dishes as I was with my 9 year old. A menu to cater that would have been great. Still we enjoyed it.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Private Delphi Day-trip

Athens

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Local Dinner in Naxos

Naxos

Quality of Experience

Food

Definitely the cheese platter with the local Naxian cheese … we didn’t finish it but it was yum!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We walked and found beautiful spots to eat

Our trek with Kim Kim has been a fantastic experience from start to finish. The communication from Ngima was exceptional throughout. He helped us to think through the various options for the trek and provided helpful guidance and links for further reading. Being met at the airport meant our arrival in Kathmandu was much easier than finding our own way to the hotel and the pre-trek briefing answered any queries which we had. The team on the trek were also excellent - our guide Dafuri Sherpa was knowledgable and responsive to our requests, and the porters Nuru and Finju Sherpa were positive and professional. Their connections with local people meant that we were guaranteed a warm welcome at every place we visited. The whole of the valley was beautiful but there is no doubt that ascending Kyanjin Ri was the highlight

Everyone at all the places we stayed were professional and courteous, very enjoyable stays.
We do not remember all our tour guides names (many were wine tasting tours!) but all were friendly and knowledgeable.
Restaurants, while all were good, had some types of food that were not to our liking. That is a matter of taste though.
Air New Zealand is now our favorite airline. We can not say enough about how well we were treated, both at the airports and on the flights.
Overall all we loved New Zealand. Wonderful people living in a clean and fascinating country. We will be returning for another visit.

Hotel Reviews

Heritage Hotel Auckland

Auckland

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Millennium Hotel & Resort Manuels Taupo

Taupo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scenic Hotel Te Pania

Napier

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

QT Wellington

Wellington

While the hotel, staff, location, restaurant, valet parking were all excellent the overall atmosphere was a little to trendy/cutting edge for this retired couple. Personal taste.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Marlborough Bed & Breakfast

Tuamarina

Steve and Natalie (spelling?) with their lovely dog Paddy were the best. We loved the whole time we were there.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Ferry to Waiheke Island

Auckland

The island itself was nice with great food and wine. We found a local cab driver who helped us around. The ferry ride there was bad. Overcrowded with no seats and people taking extra seats with their backpacks.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Auckland Best of Both World: Bush and Beach - Full day

Auckland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Private Sculpture & Fine Wine

Auckland

Jackie was filling in at the last moment and was a joy to be around.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Half Day Wine, Beer and Cider Tour

Napier

We drink too much, can not remember our guides name but he was great!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Gannet Safaris

Napier

Guide/driver was very knowledgeable and a good driver. Some of those road were a little narrow and windy but the guide/driver was great.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Napier To Wellington Self Drive

Napier

The trip was fine. The driver (me) did not take enough breaks and enjoy the drive like he should have!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

3 Hour Private Capital Flavours

Wellington

Louie (who works for Jackie) was great. Had a wonderful time learning about Wellington.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wear really good walking shoes.

Half Day Sip Wine Tour

Blenheim

Again drank too much. This is why we have guided tours! The three other people on the tour were great company.

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Marlborough Icons Tour

Blenheim

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We worked primarily with Stephen on our trip to Scotland. From setting up the trip in the beginning we received lots of communication. They listened to what we wanted and adjusted the plans accordingly. We did have a few issues arise once we were on our trip that could have been avoided, but once we told kimkim the issues they were handled very promptly and efficiently which we were very thankful for. The customer service team while on the trip was extremely helpful for answering any questions in a very timely manner. Overall, we had a great trip and it was nice to have someone set up things for us that we would not have done on our own.

Our trip to the Atacama was fantastic! We appreciated all the interaction prior to and during the trip :)
The scenery was absolutely incredible and we enjoyed meeting lots of people from around the world. Each of our guides were lovely, full of knowledge and expertise. We would highly recommend visiting!

Hotel Review

Hotel La Casa de Don Tomás

San Pedro de Atacama

Authenticity & Character

Efforts to take an eco friendly approach

Location

Great central spot

Staff

Everyone was so helpful and friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Valley of the Moon Tour

San Pedro de Atacama

Enjoyed the tour with a great guide - incredible introduction to the atacama!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Stargazing Experience

San Pedro de Atacama

This was an absolutely amazing trip - not a long drive and such a special evening. Our guide was incredible with his knowledge and thank you so much for our photograph of the night sky

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Puritama Canyon Trek

San Pedro de Atacama

Súper chilled time with our guide who was friendly with great energy Beautiful and unique scenery

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the Atacama Salt Flats & Lagoons

San Pedro de Atacama

Amazing guide and interesting tour Beautiful scenery and worth getting up early for!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour of Tatio Geysers

San Pedro de Atacama

Great tour but a very early start!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cejar Lagoon, Ojos del Salar & Tebenquiche

San Pedro de Atacama

Such a beautiful tour to end our trip - fabulous experience swimming in the salt water lagoon!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

As a family, we recently embarked on an incredible trip to Italy over spring break, and it was truly a trip of a lifetime! We visited Rome, Naples, Florence, and Milan and saw all the major tourist attractions in each city, including attending an AC Milan soccer match. We are so grateful to our travel agent, Fabio Ilardi, for his exceptional planning, coordination, and responsiveness throughout the 10-day journey.

From the moment we landed in Florence to our final stop in Naples, every aspect of our trip was meticulously planned by our travel agent. The hotels they arranged for us were ideally located, allowing us to explore each city's highlights easily. The tickets they secured for the soccer match in Milan were fantastic, and we cheered on the team with the local fans, creating unforgettable memories.

We were in awe of the iconic landmarks in each city, from the historic ruins in Rome to the vibrant streets of Naples. Our travel agent's recommendations for local cuisine were spot on, and we indulged in delicious Italian food at every stop.

What truly set our trip apart was our travel agent's exceptional coordination and responsiveness. Their attention to detail and professionalism was evident in every aspect of our journey, and their passion for travel shone through. We felt confident and well taken care of throughout our trip, which allowed us to relax and fully immerse ourselves in the Italian culture and history.

We are immensely grateful to our travel agent for creating an unforgettable Italian adventure for our family. Their expertise and dedication to ensuring a seamless and memorable trip are truly commendable. We highly recommend their services to anyone planning a trip, and we look forward to planning future adventures with them.

Thank you, Fabio Ilardi and Italy Bespoke Tours, for making our Italy trip a dream come true!

Andre Christian and Family.

This was a fantastic trip planned and organized with Mieke. Mieke was so easy to work with. She adjusted our itinerary at least five times to make sure we saw what we were interested in the most. We started in Amsterdam the day before our tour officially began with a trip to the Rijksmusuem for the Vermeer exhibit. What a stunning show! We then walked around Amsterdam and came upon the delightful Albert Cuyp Market. We ended our exhausting travel day with a gourmet meal at De Kaas. This is a gorgeous restaurant set in its own gardens. There even was a stork next with parents outside the window!. We were able to follow Mieke's instructions to get back to Haarlem by public transportation.

The Boutique Staats was a lovely, old, boutique hotel with a delicious breakfast. Our rooms on the top floor were very small; I believe the rooms on the lower floors had very high ceilings and were better. The beds were super comfortable and the location was very good.

Highlights of the rest of the tour included the private canal ride to Amsterdam. We loved our captain. Caroline met us for a private tour of the Van Gogh museum - she was great, navigating us to the most important parts of the museum and educating us on Van Gogh's fascinating life. We were especially delighted with the trip to the Poldertuin gardens in Anna Paolowna. This is smaller and more accessible than Keukenhof and almost as gorgeous. The flower mosaics throughout the town were less impressive than I had imagined, but were fun to see. The auction house was fascinating. We didn't see an actual auction but did see the hundreds if not thousands of carts of flower being driven around for delivery to buyers.
Keukenhof was stupendous. Fully in bloom and almost too beautiful to describe. Our driver, Marten, also took us to a private flower bulb farm with rows and rows of tulips in bloom.
Haarlem was an excellent base for day trips and for dining at night. The restaurants were quite good. Plan well ahead, though, for many of them as they fill quickly during the high season.
Our driver Marten was excellent. Always on time and cheerful.

This trip was organized by my daughter with KimKim. I enjoyed the trip thoroughly and I sense the joy and opening up from my family members as well. The trip brought us to Osaka, Kyoto, Nara and Tokyo to experience the different aspects of Japan. The Osaka city life and food, the religious and cultural aspects, the hotspring and nature (flowers, parks, mountains), the complex efficient transport network, unforgettable crammed hotel rooms, the demeanor of Japanese, the theme parks and Japan commercial products. There is also the interesting spring weather to experience in different locations from cold street weathers, gale in the mountain top, icy cold in Mount Fuji, beautiful sunset in a cherry blossom village Oshino Hakkai. The personal local guide and local transport driver add a touch of freedom and enjoy and experience Japan in a deeper manner. It seems to be costlier compared to the Japan trips made by others but the ability to experience so much in a 10 day trip make this a wonderful trip for me.

Not everything was perfect. Example, the driver came 30mins earlier than expected; the local guide detail was provided a little late than what we would be comfortable; an easier way to understand the complex Japan transport system which to be frank I doubt is very very hard. I like to think the imperfectness is what spices up also the trip in a different manner.

This is the second time I used KimKim for my family holiday. Kudos to them, I am glad to say that they have again done a nice trip for me and my family.

Overall, we had a wonderful experience planning our Greece vacation through kimkim. The entire process, from the initial introduction call, to the connection made to our local specialist Ioannis who guided us through all our options, to the flexibility in adjustment our upfront payment schedules, everything was professional and top notch.

Once we were able to share the types of things we were interested in doing across our two families traveling together, Ioannis was able to suggest great options for us to choose from. This included village excursions, cooking tours, luxury catamaran rides etc. Overall, his guidance was really helpful in allowing us to make great choices.

For all the tours that we went on (4 organized ones in total), the local guides were absolutely excellent. All of them spoke great English, gave us a great background in Greek history, exposed us to "local/ traditional" adventures, and really made the trip memorable.

The hotel selections were also great, with good breakfast options every morning, and convenient locations. In the one hotel where the first room we were offered wasn't that great, we got in touch with Ioannis to explain the situation. Ioannis was on this instantly, coordinating directly with the hotel and making sure that we were upgraded to better quality two room as no additional costs! This was really appreciated by us!

Overall, this was very memorable and we intend to use kimkim in the future!

We just had the most phenomenal trip in Morocco with the help of KimKim and our driver - Samir from Original Travel.

Morocco is a unique destination and Samir made our experience extra special. It is a vast country and therefore you will spend a lot of time traveling in a car which means your driver can make or break your trip. We couldn't be happier with our driver Samir, who took care of us, and ensured that we have the opportunity to experience the real culture of Morocco by arranging unique experiences for us like eating with a local family near Volubilis, and a phenomenal local guide the incredible Muhamad in the Dades Valley who invited us to his house where we had homemade Tagin to name just a few.

We were also so impressed with the way he and Ali dealt with issues when they arose to ensure that we have a wonderful time.

If you are planning a trip to Morocco, make sure you take the time to come to the Sahara and stay in Tiziri Camp in Merzouga. This was our absolute highlight. An eco camp, run by local Berbers, offered a unique and highly tailored experience for us, one that we will savor for many years to come.

We enlisted the help of Deb and the Kim Kim team to help us organize a whistle stop trip to S. Africa and Zimbabwe. We only had 10 days so needed help getting the most out of our limited time.
We were so impressed with the level of communication throughout the planning process and whilst on the trip itself. Some great dinner spots and additional activities were suggested which made a huge difference to our experience. It was also great to be given a variety of accommodation options which we could select to best suit our budget.
All transfers and activities ran like clockwork and took the worry out of traveling in a new country with kids. Every guide we came across was exceptionally knowledgeable and professional.
We would definitely use the Kim Kim service again and wholeheartedly recommend Deb and her team for anyone considering a trip to S. Africa. Thank you for the most amazing holiday - we didn’t want to come home!

Hotel Reviews

Parker Cottage

Cape Town

This was a holiday highlight for us. Tomas and his team and the accommodation was exceptional - a home away from home and a blissful sanctuary after a busy day sightseeing. Outstanding!

Authenticity & Character

A beautiful old heritage villa.

Location

A safe walking distance to restaurants in the area and close proximity to Table Mountain and the Waterfront.

Staff

Great advice and super friendly!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Southern Sun De Wagen

Stellenbosch

Authenticity & Character

Location

Walking distance to restaurants.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms/ beds needed to be bigger!

Phezulu Guest Lodge

Victoria Falls

Authenticity & Character

Location

Lovely quiet location but it was easy to organise taxis.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Capital On The Park

Sandton

Authenticity & Character

A big hotel with a great pool area.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to the shopping mall.

Location

Close to the shopping mall.

Staff

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

A great 2 bed apartment for our final night.

Cleanliness & Comfort

A great 2 bed apartment for our final night.

Cresta Mowana Safari Resort & Spa - Kasane

Chobe, Kasane

Authenticity & Character

The isolation of this place was quite special - we loved the open air dining areas and viewing deck and of course the thatched roof.

Location

It took 3 border crossings to reach this lodge but it actually added to the experience. Loved that it was only accessible by river.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Super big beds!

Activity Reviews

Horseback Riding in the Winelands

South Africa

My kids loved this activity! It was an amazing setting.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Table Mountain

South Africa

We loved this trip! We headed straight here after checking in at our accommodation. We took a later cable car up to catch the sunset. It was super quiet and the sunset/ views were beautiful!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cape Peninsula & Penguins

South Africa

We had a friendly and experienced guide. We loved the penguins, haggling with the street vendors and the views.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Robben Island

Cape Town

This is something I have wanted to do for a long time. We had an amazing guide on the bus around the island and a former inmate for the prison tour. Very interesting and humbling. It was quite a big group and sometimes hard to follow what was being said when we were off the bus.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dinner at GOLD Restaurant

Cape Town

The additional drumming workshop was well worth it. We all loved it! It was great to taste various dishes from around the continent and to watch the dancing/ entertainment. This was definitely a very touristy activity but something I would recommend.

Quality of Experience

Food

Authentic and rustic - some dishes were really tasty, some were more interesting.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Gourmet Dinner on a Sunset Cruise

Victoria Falls

This was outstanding! It was stunning scenery on the Zambezi and we saw our first hippo! The 4 course meal was delicious.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour of Vic Falls

Victoria Falls

What’s not to like? The Falls are breathtaking!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dusty Road Township Dinner Experience **highly recommended by our team

Victoria Falls

Loved the little tour that you get upon entry. Great atmosphere and loved the community aspect of this place and the focus on sustainability.

Quality of Experience

Food

The authenticity. Some of the dishes took me back to my own time living in Africa.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We took our own taxi and paid more than we were told to pay.

Arrival at Chobe Savanna Lodge

Chobe National Park

We crossed 3 borders to get here. This sounds overwhelming but each crossing was slick and efficient and we were directed by the driver on where to go. It added to the whole experience. The river ride to the lodge was beautiful - we spotted lion, hippos and elephants. It was nice to be offered a cold drink on board.

Quality of Experience

Food

N/a

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Last morning at Chobe Savanna Lodge

Chobe River - Namibia Side

We actually saw very little wildlife on the morning safari. We ended up watching a troop of baboons for ages. The river ride and sunset was perfect though.

Quality of Experience

Food

N/a

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Michael from Chaska tours proposed an excellent itinerary and was attentive to our wishes and needs during the planning phase, and was very patient with our endless questions. When our arrival flight was delayed by a day, Michael rescheduled our affected tours more than once providing us peace of mind during airport chaos. When one service didn't work out as planned, Michael promptly arranged a refund. We truly enjoyed the personal and in-depth experience of all the tours and transportation.
Our tour guides Jauren, Joker, Sandra, and Jamie were fabulous and spoke good English. It was amazing to tour a coffee farm with a 5th generation local who grew up and worked there. Touring through the forest and archaeological site by someone who is clearly committed to the preservation of native fauna, flora and peoples was captivating even for the teenagers in our group. I can't say enough about this service and our visit to the country of Colombia. Cartagena is historic and charming, the area around Tayrona Park is beautiful. Hotels were clean and comfortable, the food was delicious and not expensive. The people we met were gracious and welcoming. Everything about our trip went great and we're looking forward to using this service to plan our next family vacation!

Hotel Reviews

Casa La Fe

Cartagena de Indias

We had adjoining family rooms on the street side with balconies. These are fabulous rooms. The breakfast was made to order from a menu with many selections. The rooftop pool and bar are fun, the views delightful. Many nearby restaurants to choose from. The staff was helpful and wonderful. Would totally stay at this hotel again!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Senda Watapuy

Santa Marta

Wonderful resort style hotel in a natural setting. You can walk to Tayrona Park from here. The staff is helpful, the restaurant is great. The cabins are peaceful and large. Book it!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel El Prado

Barranquilla

It's an older hotel, very large, historic. Staff was very helpful. The breakfast was spectacular.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Cartagena Street Food Tour

Cartagena

Our guide Joker was funny and great! Food was excellent, it was fun to walk to various parts of the old city to try different things.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

N/A really - we were walking :)