Kimkim Trip Reviews

A huge thank you to all the people involved in our amazing trip to Morocco 🇲🇦!
First let’s start with Yassine who planned the whole trip! Thank you ! You listened to everything we said and made our adventure perfect for us!
Arrive in Casablanca and Amine our driver is there and waiting for us with a big smile on his face which is how he greeted us every day or night! We can not say enough about Amine! He was always available and sssooo very helpful and sweet and kind! His driving was exceptional! We always felt save even in the mountains and the narrow streets in the medinas! He became a part of the family!
We asked Yassine to book us into the Four Seasons in Casablanca and next time I would have let him pick the hotel. It was fine but not up to the Four Seasons standard.
Amine suggested La Sqala for an authentic Moroccan dinner and it was perfect! We had tagines and the food and entertainment were a perfect start to our Moroccan journey!
Amine picked us up the next morning and we were on our way out of Casablanca! Yassine you were right to see the Hassan Mosque but then get out Casablanca! Amine drove us to Rabat with a few highlight stops and then we were on our way to Meknes and we stopped there but our first highlight of the trip was at the Roman ruins in Volubilis!!! Our guide Rashid was incredible!!! He was so knowledgeable and patient with me and how very slow I am at walking! He spent hours with us and we basically closed the place!❤️❤️❤️
Onwards to Fes and our spectacular Riad Fes! Yassine this was a perfect choice! You arrive at a nondescript door in an alley and then you walk into this stunning palace! Loved this Riad so much we canceled our tour of Sefrou so we could just relax by the pool at our Riad! The next day Amine picked us up and introduced us to our guide Hassan! Hassan was amazing! Again he was knowledgeable and took us to the tannery which was an eye opening experience! It was like going back in time 1,000 years! Thank you Hassan!
Our three nights in Fes was the perfect length of time. We explored the Medina with Hassan and then on our own! I can’t say this enough, the people in Morocco are so warm and helpful and kind! Going through the Medina without a guide was not scary and when we got lost anyone we asked was helpful in helping us find our way home! There are miles and miles of alleyways in the Fes medina!
The next day was our long long drive to the Sahara desert 🐪! There’s no way around this but I will say it’s totally worth the drive! This was my favourite part of the entire trip! Because of my hips I was not able to go into the desert on camel but Rob did and he loved it!❤️❤️❤️ I went to our campsite in a 4x4 vehicle and our driver made it so much fun riding over the sand dunes!!! 🤪 The campsite was amazing and the staff were great!!! I climbed up the sand dune and watched the sun set in the Sahara desert!!! The most memorable part of the trip !!
Onto Ouarzazate the Moroccan Hollywood! Poor Amine this was tough and long driving for him but he was always smiling and focused on the road! He is the best!! We enjoyed touring the movie set!
Our Riad was quiet and in the middle of nowhere but the person there was sweet and kind and helpful. The next day we visited Ait Ben Haddou and I think this was the highlight of the trip for Rob! Our guide was a character and as there was a lot of climbing and I had only brought sandals - Amine lent me his running shoes!!! 🥰 God bless him!
We had tea with a Berber family and climbed to the top of the site! It was breathtaking and Rob just wanted to stay at the top all night! ❤️❤️❤️
Now onto Marrakech and the long and winding road!!! Amine is an exceptional driver and he did an amazing job driving through the high Atlas Mountains on those narrow and winding roads!!! 👏🥰
Marrakech is a city like no other in the world! Rob loved the pulse! I loved our Riad Jardines de la Medina! Again a nondescript front door in a very narrow alleyway (poor Amine trying to get this big van down this alleyway!)You walk through this door into an oasis!!! This was my favourite Riad!!! Our room was incredible with two private terraces on two floors!!! Thank you Yassine for booking this treasure!!! I didn’t want to leave!! Our tour of the Medina the next day with Siad was good. It was too long for me but that’s not Siad’s fault! We walked for four hours through the Medina! I took the afternoon and the next day off and sat by the beautiful pool! It felt like a resort at Jardines de la Medina! We did go to La Tanjia for dinner and loved it!!! There was great Moroccan food and entertainment (belly dancers) and we were on the third floor overlooking a busy square! We had Tanjia which is different from Tajines. It was delicious! The hotel recommended this restaurant and I would highly recommend you add it to your list of restaurants in Marrakech!
The next day I had my Moroccan cooking class and this was another highlight for me!!! I thoroughly enjoyed it and would highly recommend it!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️
That night Amine took us to the big market with snake charmers and dancing and singing and stall after stall of everything imaginable. Rob loved it but I was overwhelmed!!! I definitely wanted to see it but it was too much and too crowded for me!
The next day we were back on the road again and headed for Essaouira! Our Riad Chbanate was very rustic and the staff was so sweet and warm and welcoming! I however, was done with markets and alleyways and medinas so I personally would have preferred a large hotel with a pool on the beach! Sorry this is nothing against the Riad Chbanate! I just wanted to go back to Jardines de la Medina! Rob went out exploring and came back for me in the afternoon and we walked for miles on the beach! It is a spectacular beach and the highlight of Essaouira!!! If we had started our journey in Essaouira I would have enjoyed our Riad but at this point I was tired of the markets and alleyways and medinas - sorry 😞. We ate at Il Mare and enjoyed the views of the rugged side of the Atlantic and enjoyed a fresh fish dinner! The beach and boardwalk along the beach was spectacular!
On the road back to Casablanca Amine took us along the coast and it was breathtaking but then we went inland and caught the highway to Safi which is nothing to see unless you need to stop for a bathroom break otherwise I would continue on to El Jadida! Beautiful fortified city and great stop to walk along the ramparts! Our next stop was not necessary and would eliminate it from the itinerary.
Continuing on to Casablanca where we arrived during rush hour and Amine tried to find us a restaurant to eat dinner but it was so busy and traffic was a nightmare and he could not find a place to stop so we simply went to our hotel by the airport and we ate there.
We had to be at the airport for 6:00am so staying at the airport made sense.
Thank you to everyone involved in the making of this once in a lifetime adventure to Morocco 🇲🇦!!! Special thanks to Yassine for all the planning and changes !!!
And the biggest hug and thanks goes to our incredible driver and friend -Amine!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
You are a special person and we miss you already!!! Follow your heart and let it guide you!!! You have friends in Canada now!!!🇨🇦🥰❤️

Terry was great to work with and very patient as we tweaked our plans. Her advice was helpful and she made great suggestions we might not have discovered on our own. We had a relatively short time before jumping on a cruise in Reykjavík and Terry helped us make the most of it. We even squeaked two days on the Westman Islands, which was fantastic. We appreciated having all the arrangements made for us and there were no glitches or lost reservations.

It was awesome to have Othman help me piece together this trip for our family! He patiently guided me through every question I had and we pieced together a trip that was manageable and well priced for our budget. Each day was an astounding adventure. The guided day with Midgard Base Camp was flawless, Magnus and Steph gave us a perfect day. We returned to the base for dinner which was our favorite meal in 6 days! One of the best parts of working with Othman and kimkim was the clear itinerary we ended up with. kimkim made all of our reservations and purchased tickets for our 3 biggest day trips. We rented a car and drove 600+ miles with the added bonus of easy short side trips listed for us to consider, we hit most of them and every one was breathtaking. They also kept in touch to make sure that our trip was going well and to contact them if need be. I HIGHLY recommend kimkim for any trip anywhere in the world. It would've been a daunting and stressful task for me to put together this trip of a lifetime!

Our trip to Iceland was nothing short of amazing! Our Kimkim specialist, Duncan, suggested that we follow the Ring Road, and we are so glad that we did.

Every hotel that we stayed at was lovely, with a delicious breakfast included each morning. We loved the flexibility of our itinerary; we felt like there was a perfect mix of guided tours and self-guided exploring. Everyone in Iceland was incredibly hospitable and we were so impressed at how little language barrier we experienced.

The Dettifoss waterfall was definitely our favorite sight of the trip. The view is absolutely breathtaking--but definitely bring a rain poncho as you will get soaked :). Our horseback riding tour at Skorrahestar Icelandic Horse Rental was perfect: the guides were friendly, knowledgeable, and gave us a great restaurant recommendation for Hofn called Hafnarbudin. The Solheimajokull Glacier Hike was a great way to push us out of our comfort zone and is perfect for anyone looking for an adventure.

Overall, the Ring Road should not be missed because of the views and relaxing lagoons, made even better by amazing tours and guides. Thanks again to Duncan for an incredible itinerary!

Hotel Review

Blue Hotel Fagrilundur

Bláskógabyggd

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Blue Hotel! The staff were incredibly welcoming and were great sources for information about the area. There is a lovely hot tub for guests to enjoy. Overall, the rooms were very comfortable and we would absolutely stay here again.

Authenticity & Character

The property felt very homey with amazing Icelandic hospitality.

Location

Easy access to restaurant, gas stations, groceries, and lagoons.

Staff

The staff were great for recommendations and answered all of our questions!

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was very clean and comfortable (and even had Netflix, which is always a plus)!

Activity Review

Horse Riding Tour

Iceland

Our horseback riding tour was amazing! The guides were very knowledgeable not only about the horses but also about the area. The views were absolutely incredible and it was easy to see that the guides truly considered the horses their family. We cannot recommend this tour enough!

Quality of Experience

Once in a lifetime views and experience!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Super friendly, approachable, and knowledgeable.

Julia helped with planning our Norway trip. She listened to my interests and preferences and arranged an amazing trip plan with carefully picked hotels and a variety of activities that made the trip memorable. In addition, she gave recommendations for other activities based on our discussion. She was also very accommodating to changes. I highly recommend her for any Norway trip planning.

Hotel Reviews

29|2 Aurland

Aurland

This place is amazing and so special. Beautiful complex with a beautiful garden. Has interesting history. Lots of nature activities around the area. The staff was amazing. It was hard to leave this serene place.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bergen Børs Hotel

Bergen

Spacious room and nice view. Bathroom had weird design

Authenticity & Character

Uniquely beautiful dining room

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ascot Hotel

Copenhagen V

Nice hotel but I don’t think we got the room we were originally booked for . The room location was not favorable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Cleanliness

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Vøringfoss Hotel

Eidfjord

The view was beautiful. Very comfortable parking and nice dining room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dragsvik Fjordhotell

Balestrand

Great boutique hotel. We had the room with the balcony and sitting area and we loved it. View of the fjord. Also the dining room was so welcoming with an amazing view of the fjord and mountains. Highly recommended. Also nice grounds for strolling . Food and service was great

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotell Utsikten

Geiranger

We had the double room with the amazing view of the fjord. They graciously upgraded us to the family room for the second night which was a much more comfortable room. Location was very nice and convenient for hiking trails.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Røisheim Hotel

Lom

Historic hotel with lots of character. Ample parking and spacious room. The windows were tiny but that goes with its historic nature . I liked the dining experience and the many social rooms available in the complex .

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grand Hotel Terminus

Bergen

We had a very spacious room. It was across from the train station. Close to city center

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nordic Light Hotel

Stockholm

Modern hotel. Very nice lounge, bar and dining area

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Finnafjord Safari by RIB

Balestrand

Very pleasant guide and experience. The vessel was solid and comfortable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Drive to Flåm - Flåm Railway

Flåm

Quality of Experience

Aurland experience

Aurland

This place is very special and serene with personal attention. The landscape and surroundings instill ultimate relaxation

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Norwegian Forest Hike & Organic Dining at Riverside Farm Lodge

Aurland

We had a guided hike with lunch. Amazing experience in a beautiful forest landscape next to the waterfall with gorgeous views of the valley and fjord. Our guide Eilif was so pleasant and knowledgeable and we had a great time with his company

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mostraumen Fjord Cruise

Bergen

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Orchard Tour & Cider Tasting

Balestrand

Educational . Very pretty dining room with beautiful view. Great cider tasting

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trip was great. All vendors on time to pick us up. Ease in booking on website. The rock climbing/ zip line trip was phenomenal and the guides were patient with me (never climbed and bit of fear of heights)
Liz was great.
The only thing I would say was that it might have been a bit better with more transparency of individual pricing and more discussion of options but that might have improved had I done even more research on my own as well.

Hotel Review

Tika Wasi Casa Boutique

Cusco

Pretty cool up on a hill with a great view. Lovely staff. Tough if not in great shape or with altitude sickness. Nice breakfasts. Slow wifi and hard beds.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Amazing view - high up on steep hill

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Shared Ziplining & Via Ferrata in The Sacred Valley

Sacred Valley

Amazing adventure and view. Very patient with me (never climbed/mild fear of heights) Delicious lunch

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Great itinerary! Suggest the counter-clockwise direction for circumnavigating the island.

My wife and I booked a 10 day customized tour through KimKim who work with Egypt Promotions, and we have to say it was simply amazing. Egypt has so much to see and do and 10 days barely does it justice, but without KimKim we would never have had a chance to see what we did and feel as well supported and hosted as we were.

At every location we were met by people who really know their business and were incredibly capable, professional and there to make sure we had everything we needed. The people working with KimKim and Egypt Promotions are simply the best and we made a number of new friends during our tours.

In 10 days we managed to see the Suez Canal, pyramids/sphinx, the high dam, take a 4 day Nile cruise, saw so about 15 different temples and burial sites from Aswan to Luxor, spent a day and a bit in Alexandria seeing catacombs, the library and forts, spent a day and a half driving through oases and the desert with camping in the middle of the desert and finally ended back in Cairo for an evening before heading home.

All in all it was a trip and coordinated effort among many people in each location that we could never have pulled off on our own and KimKim made it all seamless and incredibly enjoyable. Company representatives constantly checked to ensure everything was good with our trip and accommodation, the Egyptologists who gave us the tours were incredibly knowledgeable and adapted to whatever we wanted to do with our time, and anything we asked about was “consider it done”

We rarely use travel agencies versus doing our own thing when we reach a destination, but in a country like Egypt where there is so much to see, time management is critical and we do not speak the language at all, having KimKim and Egypt Promotions work with us was absolutely the way to go.

Thank you to everyone involved in our trip. You all made it extremely special, memorable and we want to come back and when we do we will absolutely work through this company again.

Activity Reviews

Aswan - Kom Ombo temple

Aswan

Sites are great and sailing on Steigenberger Legacy was fantastic

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Edfu temple & Luxor temple and Karnak temple

Egypt

The trip to the valley of the artisans is a must see. Incredibly special and few people go there.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pyramids, Sphinx, Sakkara, Memphis and camel ride

Cairo

Great pyramid is spectacular. So many mysteries still associated with it but incredibly impressive and thought provoking

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cairo - White Desert

Bahariya

Camping in the white desert and seeing the diversity of all the different desert types is a trip not to miss.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cairo - Ismailia

Cairo

Beautiful location and seeing the ship traffic in the canal is rally special

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

overday Alexandria

Alexandria

Fantastic tour of catacombs, Pompeii pillar and city

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Words can't describe just how excellent Jessica and the kimkim team were in making our trip to Italy unforgettable. We had never used a travel agent before, and were visiting Italy for the first time. We are so glad we chose kimkim and Jessica for planning the trip. Our family went back and forth about which cities to visit, what to do, and how long to stay. With each change in our plans Jessica came up with great ideas and a new plan. Jessica arranged our tours and transportation, leaving ample room for free day at the beach or to explore on our own. Private car drivers were prompt and personable and the tour companies for Rome (Lorenzo, walking tour guide extraordinaire!), Pompei (Mena!), Capri (grazie, Francesa and Gabriele!), Lake Como (Renzo, who made us feel so welcome we felt we'd known each other or years) and the Vatican were top-notch, helping us navigate Il bel paese through crowds and summer heat! When a slight hiccup found us off the Pompei tour list, Jessica spoke personally to the tour company! Amazing. A special mention to the Hotel Mignon in Sorrento -- a very special place!

Hotel Reviews

Bettoja Hotel Massimo D'Azeglio

Rome

Gilded, Old world feel -- like a movie set! -- with lots of modern touches. You really feel like you're somewhere special at this hotel. The staff is incredible. We arrived mid-morning and got to check in early instead of leaving our bags in storage. The room had high ceilings, great air and a large bathroom, and an actual writing desk! Breakfast was really spectacular (the "homemade cake" was different each day but always a special treat.) Great restaurant and lots of other food choices, including a Coop market, nearby. The hotel is a block from the terminale (transit hub) -- buses, trolley and trains -- but the area never seemed crowded and there was no noise. SS. Maria Maggiore, Colosseum, Minerva Temple ruin, and several archeological and historical sites and museums are within walking distance (all within about a mile, although it felt like more in the summer heat). And just a few blocks from some cool residential neighborhoods, shopping and theatres. Highly recommended.

Authenticity & Character

"Authentic" and "character" are exactly how I would describe this hotel. It's a work of art in itself. I found myself saying "this is what I always thought I European hotel should be like."

Location

the hotel is close to rains and other transit but it's like a quiet oasis. I loved that I could go out for morning run each day of my stay and could see something really interesting in every direction.

Staff

Staff always say hello and ask how you're doing. Professional but never standoffish.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The hotel is pristine.

Hotel Mignon Sorrento

Sorrento

This hotel is amazing! Combine a resort-spa with boutique hotel: tile everywhere, Mediterrenean-themed rooms, with great closet space and big shower. Incredibly helpful and friendly staff (you'll know all their names and the kitchen staff will seem like family by the time you leave.) Sunshine, lemon and orange trees are literally within your grasp from the room's balcony, and you're steps away from the best shopping, dining and some incredible sights, like local churches, woodworking, ceramic and photo galleries and a medieval fort is right next door! The hotel is a little way from the beach (and uphill from it, like just about everything in Sorrento) but the path is easy to find and there are cool things to see every step of the way. We were truly sad to leave Hotel Mignon. We would stay there again without hesitation.

Authenticity & Character

Feels like a spa: it's exactly like a Sorrento vacation should feel like. Peaceful.

Location

It's a quiet place steps away from everything -- sightseeing, tour pickup location, restaurants, churches and museums.

Staff

Incredibly knowlegeable and friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

It's beautiul.

Uptown Palace Milan

Milan

The Uptown Palace was very nice -- Of the three hotels we stayed at on vacation this one was the most urban and modern-- and the one that felt most like a New York business hotel. Ironically, it was also the one at which we saw the most families. There was a conference taking place during our stay but this was not at all a distraction. There are quite likely "rooms with a view of the Duomo" as per the adverts but ours overlooked U Milan and the ancient church of S. Gregory Nazianzus. It was a nice view, but both of spaces were sadly unavailable for us to visit. Fortunately there is a nice 18th-century park around the block with fountains and a fish pool-- a real find for us. Room was well appointed but on the small side for three adults: we had originally scheduled a delux double but were put in a standard room, and we believe this was an oversight by the staff as they were just finishing up accommodating the guest in line ahead of us who booked online but then wanted adjoining rooms for family members! Staff was otherwise very attentive and there was turn down service. Breakfast was a bit crowded but there was lots of room and the meal was great. It is indeed walkable to the Duomo (we did the whole Duomo package, including the museum and outdoor film screening so we spent a lot of time there), the Sforza castle, the da Vinci Museum AND the da Vinci exhibition (one's near the Duomo and the other isn't), and La Scala, as well as several area churches and an architectural self-tour. There is great food on the Sforza, the De Amicis, and around the Duomo but it was harder to find closer to the hotel, especially on weeknights after eight. This was made a little more problematic as it was very hot during our stay, there was a taxi strike and there were several construction detours in the area for pedestrians and vehicles alike. The airport was a short ride away which was also a plus, but overall, we would prefer to stay closer to a transit hub as the city can be challenging to navigate.

Authenticity & Character

Location

I think it would be great if there were recommendations for area restaurants, shuttle servces and other transportation more readily available. We loved the bathroom design but were a little concerned the height of the tub might be challenging for shorter guests (like one of us).

Staff

Staff were very available. We checked out very early in the morning and were given options to make it as smooth as possible the night before.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The place is spotless and very modern.

Activity Reviews

Exclusive Private Walking Tour of Rome

Rome

We love tours where you can see the sights AND at the same time learn what it's like to live in a city - what is Roma like to Romans? How do they live, travel, etc.? Lorenzo was perfect for the job! We saw areas of Roma that were famous, and gorgeous, but we might not be able to get to during a short stay, even with help from the tour bus -- Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navonna. I'll never forget Lorenzo showing us the "how to turn the downspout water fountain into a drinking fountain" trick! We talked history, architecture, politics, economics, and, yes, how to find out if the gelato is well made just by looking at it! In the end we walked for two hours and hardly noticed the distance or the time. Lorenzo was also very mindful of when we needed a brief break. This was excellent.

Quality of Experience

It's like walking with a friend or colleague. This was an awesome way to learn the city and a lot about the people who live and visit there. I've rarely taken a walking tour but as a result of this one, I'm sold on the idea.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Lorenzo is a great conversationalist, who walks my pace but readily adjusts to the group as a whole.

Exclusive Capri Boat Tour from Sorrento

Italy

This was a highlight of our trip! Very easy transportation from the hotel to the marina. Francesca and Gabriele were incredibly friendly and thoughtful. Francesca easily addressed a child's case of Male di mare, while Gabriele sang and talked with me about the sea. The ride was smooth and the water and sky were brilliant blue. Even the wait for the blue grotto rowboat was enjoyable (tip: bring a couple extra euros to tip the rower, ours did an expert Dean Martin impression.) Food and drink aboard ship was plentiful, including a caprese sandwich for our time ashore. I cannot say enough about how wonderful Capri and Anacapri were (Take the skyride! Visit San Michele Chiesa! Stop for coffee at the caffe in between!) We will remember forever swimming in the golfo and making a circuit of the island. We were a family of three with another family of three aboard: I think this was ideal. Such attention to detail, such personable tour guides. Bravi!

Quality of Experience

Everything!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Francesca and Gabriele were excellent. I really liked talking with them and learned a lot. They really care about what they do.

Transport

Very comfortable ride to and from the marina. The Capri harbor can be seem deceptively large and crowded, but if you look for where you got off the boat, it will be easy to know where you should re-board in the afternoon.

Lake Como and Bellagio – Full Day Trip from Milan with Cruise

Italy

A true vacation highlight! Meeting Renzo and the train station in Milano was like meeting an old friend or family member. He put us all at ease, and was very easy to talk. The train to the Lake and then the ferry was so seamless. Renzo knew the region intimately, and wove the story of the villas, the flora, the local fishing and silk economy, Lake Como celebrities past and present and so much more into wonderful stories. The Lake, and Bellagio itself, are beautiful and fun, but we would not have had had half as great a time if it weren't for Renzo's fabulous tour. The shopping and restaurant recommendations were spot-on, too, and learning from Renzo about all there is to do in the area (touring the villas, cycling and mountaineering) will make the Lake our destination for our next vacation rather than a day outing.

Quality of Experience

There was so much to see and Renzo guided us in a very relaxed, easy manner.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Renzo made the lake feel like home.

Transport

Ferries were easy to find and easy to purchase tickets. (We know this only from observation, as we had them in advance)

We originally planned this trip for before the pandemic, and so we experienced some difficulties when it came to getting this tour re planned, another agent got involved which was very unhelpful. However after we tracked down our original travel agent Julia, everything fell into place. Thanks Julia for rescuing us!!!
We explored Norway by car, bike, boat and foot and were very happy to have traveled from Bergen up the west coast as far as Tromso. Our overwhelming impression of Norway is one of extraordinary beauty, wild summer flowers, snowy peaks, zig zagging highways into breathtaking fjords, water rushing down valleys and cascading off mountain sides, and lush green valleys. The coastlines were almost as spectacular with delightful coves and fishing villages at every turn. We were very surprised by the white sand and opalescent green water on the island of Senja, what a special jewel this place is. Well worth driving to find Senja Roasters, for the best coffee of our trip, Froys Kick Ass blend was a winner.

Every interaction thst we had only added magic to our trip. A truly mythical experience. Can't say enough about Greece and everything that kim kim provided. Thank you for your undivided attention. Your team was so remarkable!!!

Hotel Reviews

Athens Ivy Suites

Athens

Perfectly located, clean and modern. Staff were wonderful and attentive. Would recommend it 100%.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Honeymoon Petra Villas

Santorini

Perfect hotel. Epic views, clean and modern. Breakfast was nothing short of opulent. The staff were so kind and helpful. Felt like true concierge service. I can't say enough good things. Scale of 1 to 10 on this review is still an understatement!!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Acropolis Hill & Museum Tour

Athens

Tour guide was so wonderful, patient and knowledgeable. I loved the opportunity to talk about Greek history and mythology with him. We loved our tour. Bonus....he was a great photographer as well!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Caldera Sailing Cruise

Drama

A once in a lifetime experience. Views were amazing. Trip was so well organized. Staff were kind and attentive. Lunch was delicious.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Francesca was great - good communication etc.
Our car booked was too small- my son’s head was hitting the top of the car. Thankfully the car company was able to get us a little bit larger car- with the immense amount of driving that would have been a problem.
The teip was great- for the amount of time we were there I think the driving was way too much. That was everyone’s take away. The suggested stops foe sight seeing and hiking were fabulous- that really made our trip!
I think some things could be better communicated - such as “it is advisable to pack a lunch” when gone for 12 hours.

Hotel Reviews

Borealis Hotel

Selfoss

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Adventure Hotel Hof

Hof

Authenticity & Character

Location

I

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room With A View Apartment Hotel

Reykjavík

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Northern Light Inn

Grindavik

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Blue Lagoon

Iceland

This was great- I think more info in the upgraded package would have been nice- it was soooo crowded we would have gone foe the nicer package had we had known.

Guided small group superjeep tour to Landmannalaugar

Iceland

The hiking was great- again- had NO idea it was almost a 3 hour ride to one destination and then back. There was a mention to pack some snacks- it would have been very helpful (especially traveling with kids) had we been told to pack a lunch- or lunch should have been provided luke we saw other groups doung.

Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon amphibian boat tour

Iceland

Ended up not going - it wad pouring rain and our tour was so late as well as our hotel another 1.5 hours away after the tour- we decided to cancel this and that nights hotel to get to a town and hotel closer to our next days destination- this 2 day portion of our trip was not great and we would have skipped this all together with the short time in Iceland- we were told the week prior to leaving that the tour was so late- I think this could have been avoided had this tour been booked by Kimkim earlier in our process of booking.

ATV to the Black Beach and Plane Wreck

Iceland

Best thing we did on iur trip! Kids loved it and so did we! Great and diverse terrain! We lived this tour!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Iceland Thermal Bath Experience

Iceland

Fantastic experience! We loved ending our trip here- this was another highlight for our famiky!

Quality of Experience

The trip was the perfect mix of planned / ticketed excursions and self guided sightseeing. We ended up adding a few extras at our own leisure such as the lava show in ViK and a Puffin Tour in Reykjavik. One of my most favorite experiences was the Glacial hike near ViK. Our guide’s name was Gia and she was so fun and kept everyone safe and also motivated! My 11 year old son loved her too.
Of the two lagoons we visited the Sky Lagoon was by far our favorite. That was something we added last min as well. We wish we had had time for the Blue Lagoon but we decided we would just need to come back and visit again to see and experience that! We also loved our horse riding experience at Laxnes Horse Farm. The owner was very welcoming! The guides however did not talk much. I am assuming it would have been difficult to do that and they did do a good job of keeping us all safe.
Iceland is a magestic country with such an amazing landscape and adventure around every corner. I am so thankful to Francesca for putting together our very well planned vacation last minute. She did a fantastic job! Also thank you to Michael who was on call for us while we were there. It was so nice to have someone who was immediately on call when we had questions / needed help.
My only complaint was that our car rental experience was not good. I did not realize that our coverage did not included full protection of the vehicle and when a scratch was discovered that we have no idea how it got there we had to pay $2k USD. I have yet to hear back from them as they are suppose to refund the difference of the amount it took to repair from what I paid. If there is anyway for Kim Kim to help me get my refund it would be much appreciated.
Thank you!
Lily

My wife and I recently returned from our bucket list trip to Tanzania in East Africa on Saturday July 23rd. What an amazing experience. We want to thank Magic Africa and Vivian Kironde for helping to coordinate, schedule, recommend and provide us with an unforgettable trip to the cradle of life. Vivian was very patient with us and listened to our needs. Our experience from the moment we arrived to all the lodges/accommodations/food/people/places were picture perfect but the most important and highlight of our trip was our local guide and driver Johnson Mapimma. Johnson was not only personable, friendly, and accommodating but he had a wealth of knowledge and shared that knowledge with us. He taught us about the local wildlife during the safaris; where to find them, why they do certain things, how humans should respect them and more importantly, he taught us about the culture, it’s people and history. Because of Johnsons knowledge, know how and quick thinking he provided us with an opportunity to experience a rare catch of a lioness taking down a zebra along with her pride. Asante Sana Johnson for showing us your beautiful country and for being a friend.

Best,
Marcello &Anita
Kew Gardens, NY
USA

From the initial planning stage through the changes and modifications and until the final transfer to the airport, everything was wonderful. I always felt informed and up-to-date on everything thanks to Olman's prompt communications. We could not have asked for a better specialist to help us arrange this trip.

Hotel Reviews

Selva Verde Lodge

Sarapiquí

This was the last leg of our trip and the lodge was very different from the first two places we stayed. This felt like the least crowded place we stayed and we had a lot of peaceful time to ourselves and we enjoyed two guided tours, on one of which we had the wonderful guide Faviola all to ourselves and on the another there were just two others. The staff in the restaurant were lovely and friendly and made us feel very welcome.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Faviola is a wonderful asset to Selva Verde and her knowledge, expertise and enthusiasm on the tours made each of them memorable and special.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cariblue Beach & Jungle Resort

South Puerto Viejo

We had a wonderful and relaxing 6-night stay at Cariblue - this was the middle leg of our trip and we enjoyed the extra time and lazy days that a long stay afforded. The accommodation was lovely, the air-con was a luxury and we enjoyed the pool and the restaurant. We were also able to experience the beach and the immediate location outside the hotel on foot. It was quiet and never crowded out and about.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mawamba Lodge

Tortuguero

We enjoyed our stay at Mawamba Lodge and were glad to have stayed three nights to allow us to take our time on tours and enjoying the grounds. We never felt that the place was crowded nor did we ever have to wait for anything. The staff at the restaurant and bar were very friendly and professional and welcoming. You can tell that they are being trained properly by a well-managed company.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Parque del Lago Boutique Hotel

San José

Though we stayed just one night, this was a lovely little hotel in central San Jose. If we ever return to SJ to explore the capital further, I would certainly stay here. The staff are very friendly and welcoming.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Enjoy the Beauty of Tortuguero National Park

Tortuguero

The boat tour of the national park was wonderful - we were in a small group in an open top boat and we pretty much saw everything that we expected to see and more. I had binoculars and was able to help the guide with spotting and we were busy viewing wildlife almost the whole journey.

Quality of Experience

Food

There was no food on this trip

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Hike in Cahuita National Park

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

There were four adults and 3 children on this tour and that was a perfect size - any more people and the trail would have been crowded and we would have had difficulty spotting wildlife and hearing the guide. It was a long, hot walk in the rainforest with a welcome dip in the sea halfway through and some fresh pineapple to refresh us. We also had a boat collect us at one point to help speed up our return trip.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Jaguar Rescue Center

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

This was the most crowded tour and place that we visited in our whole two weeks but it was worth it. The work they do here is incredible and the volunteers and staff are to be commended.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kayak Adventure & Rainforest Hike in Punta Uva

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Our kayak trip was cut short because the river was high due to overnight rains - so we could only go a short distance upstream - and the seas was too rough for the second part of our paddle. we had a short hike around Punta Uva, but the guide seemed like he wanted to be somewhere else and he was much less engaging than any of the other guides we met on our holiday.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rainforest Guided Hike

Sarapiquí

The hike in Selva Verde's primary forest was fascinating. Faviola is an excellent guide and her knowledge of, and enthusiasm, for the flora and fauna is impressive. They even provided wellies for us to walk through the mud!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

There was no transport as the hike was at the lodge.

Rebecca and her team were able to build and curate our dream vacation. Whether it was a tour in the city or an excursion on water, everyone was professional, attentive and fantastic. There is no other way to visit this special place than having someone who completely knows each city, every logistical twist and turn to make sure you have a stress free experience. What can I say more.. I almost never write reviews but I'm doing it now. You simply won't be disappointed.

Hotel Reviews

Domes Noruz Chania

Agioi Apostoloi Chania-Crete

Fantastic experience, with extra attentive staff. Rooms are very nice but angular. Food is tasty, drinks are good at the bar and the beach is awesome. A great place to stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Elia Ermou Athens Hotel

Athens

Great location and breakfast. Clean and attentive team. You can't ask for anything more in a city hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Olive Green

Heraklion

A fine hotel. Nothing fancy, simply a nice room that appeared clean.

Authenticity & Character

Nothing needs to be improved but it's essentially a Days Inn version in Greece.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds were ok, bathroom clean.

Astra Suites

Santorini

Fantastic staff. Steps are a lot. We were in one of the bottom rooms and it was a bit of work to get to town. Room is clean, view incredible and food delicious.

Activity Reviews

Welcome to Chania - The City

Greece

Mannos, the guide, is an upbeat energetic fella who loves his city. The tour is a bit long as we got back at 3pm after leaving at 9am. Should be 4-5 hours based on the ground we covered but a fantastic way to get to know this energetic city.

Quality of Experience

authentic locations

Guides, Drivers and Staff

wonderful person

Transport

prompt

Chania - Samaria Gorge Hiking Tour Experience

Chania

What a bucket list hike. Unbelievable experience, made stress free with a guide going with you. This is a hot day, so best to shoot out before 630am.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide is a beauty.

Transport

Busses are a little unorganized but guide was able to push right up and get things going.

Working with Hien Do was an absolute pleasure. We only decided to go to Vietnam one month before our arrival and changed our plans almost daily, up until 3 days before arrival -Ms Hien was marvelously patient and flexible with us. She made suggestions and then worked with my queries for alternatives.

We were met at the airport by our guide Mr Quang and driver Mr Ham. While touring Northern Vietnam, they were informative, friendly, patient and simply a delight to spend time with. In Da Nang, we had Ms Linh and several drivers - they also were fabulous. At all times, we felt everything was taken care of and all we needed to do was enjoy learning about Vietnam and taking in it’s beautiful sights.

Ms Hien set up some great local adventures for us - we really liked the trip to Ba Vi where we met a former Viet Cong soldier and his wife on their tea plantation, followed by cooking class with Ms Chin who adapted graciously to my gluten-free vegan diet. Our trip to Cam Tanh near Hoi An with a bike ride through the rice paddies and a bamboo boat ride was also lots of fun.

One note for those planning to go to Ha Long Bay - its marvelous - but there was a lack of Wi-Fi on the ERA boat.

We would absolutely use Realistic Asia for another trip to Vietnam. While we’ve traveled extensively in Southeast Asia without using a tour company, it felt reassuring to have the assistance and planning provided by Ms Hien and her team while in Vietnam, particularly in the areas with fewer western tourists.

Chris did a terrific job making arrangements for meals, tours and transportation. He seemed to be on call 24 hrs each day. Very responsive. Very good at communicating.
We still have some financial issues left to sort out.

Alfredo was our tour guide for 1968 Arenal Park. He was amazingly knowledgeable and great to hike with. I wish we could have taken more tours with him.

Andy (Andres) was our guide for the night hike and guided hike in Monteverde through ForestAlive. He was a super interesting character and I loved our experiences with him. Very knowledgeable, cool gadgets, and a very interesting discussion around life, spirituality, and nature.

Nayara resort was the best hotel I've ever stayed at. It was an amazing experience and the quality of service, food, environment, etc was top notch. I wish I could have stayed for longer.

Hotel Reviews

Senda Monteverde Hotel

Monteverde

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very walkable.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nayara Hotel Spa and Gardens

Fortuna

Hands down the best resort/hotel I've stayed at. In a word, impeccable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

A little out of the way, but most everything you'd need is on site anyway.

Staff

Everyone was so friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casitas Tenorio

Upala, Alajuela

Authenticity & Character

Staff was great, breakfast was great. Cabin was super cool design wise. They fed the animals at breakfast which was a neat little show.

Location

It was pretty close to "downtown" but required driving up a unpaved road. Was not walkable.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Rio Celeste & Tenorio Volcano Guided Rainforest Hike

Costa Rica

The overall hike was nice, but our specific experience was not amazing. Our guide was a no-show due to some sort of misunderstanding (presumably). We had to pay for parking at the main lot since our guide wasn't there to tell us to park in their private lot. It was rainy, so the river was not blue like in the pictures (but that's just luck of the draw). The guide who did jump in to help us was pretty good, but the ending of the hike was a bit awkward while we waited around to figure out payment (basically fact checking that we had pre-paid).

Quality of Experience

The river, in the sunlight, would have been very pretty.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Oscar, our impromptu guide was pretty okay, but the fact that our real guide didn't show up was awful.

Tabacón Hot Springs & Dinner

Arenal/La Fortuna

We stayed at a resort that did have hotsprings, so although Tabacon had a gimmick of the river hotspring, it was not worth it for us. It was crowded, the pools were very shallow, the natural rock was painful, and the man-made pools even more painful. They charge a deposit for towels, so you have to worry about people walking off with your towel and owing money at the end.

Quality of Experience

Food

Options were somewhat limited (set menu). Food was good, but the reservation timing was awkward.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Coffee & Chocolate Tour

Costa Rica

It was good, but very touristy. The handmaking of the various products was an interesting experience, but overall it wasn't the kind of thing we typically do.

Quality of Experience

Smaller groups, more authenticity.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Staff and guides were all very nice. No complaints here.

Cloud Forest Reserve Privately Guided Hike

Monteverde

Andy was great. Super interesting to talk to and very knowledgeable about the forest and animals, cameras and photo techniques, and just life in general. Very attentive to our questions and desires.

Quality of Experience

Everything was great.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Andy was an amazing guide.

Transport

Night Hike in the Forest

Arenal/La Fortuna

Our guide Andy was great. We saw some interesting things, got to play with cool gadgets like infrared cameras, night vision goggles and UV lights.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Canopy Zipline Tour

Costa Rica

Roy and Ebi were great guides. It was a fun experience, never felt like we were in any danger. Great views and very exciting.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Guided Hike in Arenal Volcano Park 1968

Arenal/La Fortuna

Alfredo was a really great guide. He was very knowledgeable and very fun to talk to. I would have taken more tours with him if I could have. We ended up going over on time because Alfredo would give such detailed and interesting answers to the questions we asked. The park itself was very cool and pretty. A lot of interesting history here that isn't just generic "this is a jungle hike."

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lost Canyon Waterfalls & Rappelling Adventure

Arenal/La Fortuna

It was really fun but a little bit dangerous. The rocks were slippery and if you don't have good balance you can easily trip. The rappelling was not inherently dangerous, but I did tweak my arm coming down one of the waterfalls. Our guide Roy was fun to work with. I didn't realize how wet we would be getting and should have worn different clothes.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

It was delayed by 20 minutes or so. Couldn't leave stuff on the bus either.

Raquel was the most amazing travel consultant. She took care of absolutely every detail, many that we didn't even think of ourselves, to make our trip run smoothly. The private tours with Sarah and Clara were perfect and the sunset cruise on Mallorca was wonderful. Raquel kept in touch with us throughout our trip via What's App and helped us with dinner reservations and late check out in Seville and cabs into Soller. She was indispensible!

Hotel Reviews

Sa Tanqueta de Fornalutx—Adults Only

Fornalutx

Sa Tanqueta is beautiful, relaxing, spacious, accommodating.....I can't say enough good things about it. We can't wait until we can return!

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful buildings, plantings, decor.

Location

It was great to be up in the mountains, away from the crowds of Palma.

Staff

Everyone was super friendly and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Soho Boutique Catedral

Seville

This hotel is in a perfect location to hit all of the hot spots of Seville. The breakfast buffet is extensive and the hotel management are very accommodating. We really enjoyed our stay.

Authenticity & Character

This is a nicely appointed hotel, very urban and chic.

Location

Perfect location for visiting the cathedral, palace, and other important sites.

Staff

Very helpful and accommodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Madrid Marriott Auditorium Hotel & Conference Center

Madrid

This hotel served it's purpose for us as a place to stay near the airport so we could more easily make our early morning flight home. I strenuously object to their "free airport shuttle". It is first come, first served. The hotel houses about 800 guests, yet their shuttles (which run only every half hour) carry about 25 people at maximum. When the shuttle is at maximum it is extremely unsafe as there are enough seats for about 12 people and luggage. That means that the other thirteen people are standing in the aisles with suitcases piled up 4 and 5 high. It was awful! I don't understand how Marriott could condone such a practice in a hotel that caters to the airport trade.

Authenticity & Character

It's a huge Marriott, very impersonal

Location

Good for accessing the airport

Staff

The check-in people were pretty cold, not at all helpful as far as how to get on the shuttle. The breakfast people and luggage storage people were friendlier.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Free day in Seville

Seville

Always nice to explore on your own. Our guide from the previous day, Clara, gave us some great suggestions.

Sevilla tapas and flamenco tour

Seville

Clara, our guide, went above and beyond, stopping the taxi to show us a local religious parade and taking us to another interesting part of the city before the actual tour. The flamenco dancing was really interesting and beautiful in a small, intimate setting and the tapas were varied and delicious.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private sailing Mallorca

Mallorca

Our captain was very skilled, the boat was clean and comfortable, the trip was great.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Seville highlights tour

Seville

Clara had all of the tickets and knew exactly how to tour the highlights. She is very knowledgeable and made everything interesting.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Daytrip to Palma, Deia and Valldemossa

Mallorca

Our guide, Sara, was wonderful. She knows so much about the island and how to get around. She geared the entire tour around our needs and capabilities and we enjoyed every minute!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Free time in Mallorca

Mallorca

Always nice to explore on your own.