Kimkim Trip Reviews

Carlos arranged an amazing trip for my family that captured all the best things about travel: opening hearts and minds, meeting new people and some great fun! I'd say that the trip included something for everyone, but it actually included everything for everyone. We all - myself, my wife and my 10 and 8 year old kids - loved rafting on the Balsa with Carlos T., a chocolate tour near Arenal with Katherine and surfing (or trying to, anyway) on Playa Blanca with Walter and Niels. Along the way we managed some relaxation in the Arenal springs and some poolside chillin' in Papagayo.

Unexpectedly, the highlight of the trip may have been the afternoon before we left when Carlos himself came out to spend an afternoon with us in San Jose. We walked, ate and went to markets where we met some of the warmest and friendliest people you can imagine. Thanks Carlos, for sharing some of your amazing home town with us.

Carlos arranged a seamless trip. Every tour and transfer he arranged was with warm, friendly, and reliable guides. To a T, each was on time and ready to go. Carlos was immediately available by phone, text or WhatsApp throughout the trip.

The highest compliment was from my 8 year old who had tears in his eyes as we left, wanting to know when we could go back to Costa Rica and willing to give up his Nintendo Switch just to stay another day.

Thanks Carlos. Pura Vida!

My cousin and I had a great experience in Lithuania! Our tour guide Minda was fantastic and made the trip a special experience for us. We called him our Guardian Angel. As we drove or walked he gave us such great historical and cultural information just as we wanted. He felt like a friend or relative and was so comfortable to spend time with. We highly recommend him.

Leva did a great job helping us with our itinerary. I told her some places we wanted to go and the types of experiences we were looking for and she organized it perfectly for us. When I asked for some changes or soecial requirements like air conditioning she came through. Our only disappointment was not finding Kugelis! We found a dish that was very close though and enjoyed all of our meals. I will recommend Leva and Kimkimtravel to my fellow travelers!

It was a great trip and exactly what we discussed. Could not be happier.

Thanks again,
Jake

There are so many wonderful places to visit in Iceland, but to do it justice you need time. We had 17 days and it was hectic. Course, we didn't want to miss anything. Caroline certainly put a great itinerary together for us.

One of the regions I thought was exceptional was the Western Fjords, but everything was memorable. The northern regions of Akureyri and Lake Myvatn were also well catered.

We met people from all over the world and shared stories and experiences, and you always felt safe. Even leaving luggage in the car anywhere, without problems.

The western tip of the Reykjanes Peninsula (near the airport) is a must, as well as the more commonly visited places.

Anne was great. Very accommodating and responsive. Whenever there were any questions she answered promptly. We would use Anne again to help plan our trip :)

Brahim was very helpful and patient in organizing our trip! He went above and beyond in picking the kindest and most knowledgable guides. The driving agency was top notch, as was every experience we had through Brahim planning. I would love to repeat my trip and would not hesitate to recommend Brahim and the Kimkim team to anyone!!!
Karen slonski

I found Kimkim on the internt when i was looking at going to Greece for a holiday.
I dealt with Chris and he listened to what i wanted to visit and as a woman travelling on her own, safety was too of this list.
Not only did Chris put together a fantastic itinery he sent draft copy to me first to peruse, along with some excellent comments on due to his knowledge of the area.
From start to finish everything rang like clockwork, the best was having someone there to pick me up at airport or cruise port do deliver me to my hotel or pick me up at hotel to take me somewhere else. Everyone was so accommodating and lovely.
I started in NZ ..Auckland 10 hour stop over at Dubai then onto Athens. From there to Crete for 4 days, awesome beaches outside my door. Then onto Sanorini for 6 days, went on day cruise to other sights around island.
On to 4 days on Naxos, such beautiful beaches, ideal to relax. Back to Athens then home.
Once again a huge thank you to Chris and his tem.
Will be referring them to all my friends and will use them .

Our guide Mr. King Kong was Fabulous! He was fun, engaging and very knowledgeable about the history of China. He was also an excellent photographer as we were able to take some unique shots we would have otherwise missed.
5* highly recommend!

Every person that we interacted with was amazing and were extremely helpful. The Arenal Lava flow hike, Monteverde river raft, coffee plantation, zip line, and Damas Island mangrove kayaking were all super fun and the tour guides were all very knowledgable about all the questions we were asking them. It was nice that all we had to do was hand over the voucher and were driven around to wherever we were going. There was also a perfect blend of activities to do and relaxing time at a pool or beach.

We loved our experience and would highly recommend anyone else to use KImKim in the future.

After years of doing my travel arrangements all on my own, I decided to trust a travel agent again, for a trip to Iceland that I was organizing as a birthday gift to my husband and had to be just perfect in every way.
Entrusting Kimkim and their local specialist Preeti was the best decision I ever made! Massive time saver, not a single problem or hiccup, and all the choices they made - bookings, itinerary, recommendations, - everything was perfectly tailored to my requirements, individual interests and circumstances.
Very quick response, great professionalism and customer care. Warmly recommended!

Our trip to Greece exceeded my expectations. From the first interactions with kimkim I was very pleased as I was having difficulty finding a good balance between relaxation, luxury and adventure from one source. The initial survey made me feel I finally found a source that understood that there was more than a single goal in vacation planning. With limited time available, Dimitris with Personality Journeys was able to fit all three goals into a 9-day tip with a one-month lead time. With the added bonus of being thousands of dollars less than another quote I received from a travel specialist I've used before.

The interaction through the website was seamless. Being able to reliably communicate online is important to me with a busy full-time job and the time difference using a local expert. Knowing that Dimitris was local made me feel at ease with his recommendations. I also found it very refreshing that he was not pushing for the most expensive options and was considerate of value vs. convenience. Having never been to Greece, Dimitris was patient with my requests, changes and need for clarification prior to the trip. Throughout the entire trip Dimitris was available through Whatsapp to answer questions or communicate any changes.

Together we planned 9-days full of rest as well as adventure in 3 very different locations in Greece: Athens, Naxos and Santorini, Naxos being a recommendation and my favorite of the 3. The New Hotel in Athens was artisitic, beautiful and the provided the top service from the security greeting at the front door, through check-in and everything in between. Warm, friendly and highly professional. It was in walking distance of many of the tourist spots but far enough that I didn't feel overwhelmed and crowded leaving the hotel. With only two days in Athens the pre-arranged activity was a tour of Acropolis Hill and Acropolis museum. Our guide was well versed and patient with our group. However, completely from personal preference, while I very much enjoyed visiting the locations I would have preferred a private guide. The group was larger than expected, it took long for the tour to begin and with a group of several families the guide needed to cover a lot of detail to cater to the different interests. I prefer more personal interaction.

We transferred to Naxos via ferry (the Greek Ferry system is very impressive and efficient) and made our way to Naxos Rock Villas which was simply stunning! I had never heard of Naxos prior to Dimitris' recommendation and it was our favorite fr the laid back island atmosphere. I specifically asked for a balcony and private pool and was pleasantly surprised with a completely private Villa with not only the requested but full kitchen and two baths. I fell in love with these accommodations. We were briefed by the owner on the Villa and the island. "Breakfast included" referred to a stocked fridge which was a very nice change of pace to prepare our own meal. Local snacks, wine and beer were also stocked for our enjoyment. The Rock Villas took our breath away as did the day of sailing that Dimitris arranged for us. Naxos Yachting Giannis and his crew were friendly, professional and engaging. The home cooked meal, the stop at Paros and 2 swim spots were out of a dream. I've traveled around the world but if I ever run away you'll find me here. I would have loved to stay longer. The only change I would make our next visit is to rent a car as the Villas are hillside away from the heart of the town and taxis are not cheap in Greece.

Finally, on Santorini, we were located at Del Sol. Del Sol is about a 30-minute walk from the tourist heart of Santorini or a 5-minute cab ride. Our room was somewhat "stand alone" which we prefer. The rooms were well appointed and the restaurant staff was very friendly and accommodating. The front desk staff was friendly and quick to help us when asked. We also managed to squeeze in a visit to the spa, a last minute request that I am glad we made. In Santorini our acitivities included a wine tour of Argyros Estate winery, sea kayaking and a hike. The winery was very modern but steeped in history. The tour was brief but the tasting was wonderful, including pairings with local fare, rich and plentiful. Our guide gave us a lot of input and suggestions as well as time alone to enjoy the experience and eachother company in private. The best of many wine tastings that I have experienced in my lifetime.

Our second adventure in Santorini was sea kayaking with Adonis. Due to weather conditions, we had to be re-routed. I was a little disappointed as I was very interested in the original route but was happy that the guide made safety the number one priority. The tour was a little late to start but we felt well supported throughout the activity and we were happy that they could accommodate and not have to cancel per previous days. They took a lot of pictures that were e-mailed to us a week later so we could focus on being in the moment. They were very open to feedback and Adonis was very entertaining while explaining the history of Greece and the islands.

Tied with sailing as our favorite activity was the hike from Santorini to Oia our last day in Santorini. It is not to be missed. Intimidated at first looking at the distance we were about to cover, we were in complete awe! Our guides Thanos and Mariana were absolutely wonderful. They were so knowledgeable and yet had the enthusiasm as if they were seeing it for the first time with us. The picnic they prepared of local favorites was perfect. By the end of the experience they felt like friends spending the day with us. While many people were completing the hike independently, I was so happy to have experienced it with our guides. This was the perfect way to end our adventures.

Outside of all the scheduled activities, the itinerary allowed for plenty of relaxation and independent exploration. Our trip couldn't have been more perfect.

Dean was great to work with and it was nice to have things set up and prepaid along the way (car, B&Bs, etc). Also good suggestions on places to stop, sites to see. One place not to miss is Skellig Michael, especially on a clear day, but reserve well ahead!

Olman was amazing responding to all my queries in a timely manner and changing things in the itinerary based on my daughter’s animal and wildlife requirements!

Our trip, while only 7 days, incorporated so many trips and places. We had an absolutely amazing time and pretty much saw most of the country’s animals in their natural habitats.

Absolutely stunning country and Olman’s help definitely helped us to make the most of our limited time there.

Thanks again!

My granddaughter and I had a wonderful trip!

Petrina arranged everything beautifully and was responsive to all my questions and doubts.
My only complaint was the weather. I doubt she could do anything about it, though.

Ireland is beautiful. The people, the scenery and the food were lovely.

Thank you for all your help.

Stephanie Penn

We booked a vacation that included me, my husband and our adult children and children in law. Tasos made it all so easy. We arrived and departed at different times. Pickups and drop offs were perfectly executed.

Tasos's recommendations were excellent. We had a wonderful combination of historical exploration, guided cultural experiences, beach days and time to explore on our own.

Highlights included: welcome dinner at Zillers, our guides in Athens, our guided trip to Delos, our full day exploring Naxos with Katerina of Vioma (do not go to Naxos without meeting her), our car trip to the Temple of Poseidon during the time between arriving in Athens by air from Naxos and leaving by ferry for Hydra, and our brief respite on Hydra at the Four Seasons (no relationship to the chain).

The process of planning was efficient and painless.

Already planning our next KimKim vacation.

I can't thank Julia enough for all her recommendations of where to go in Northern Norway. I started out trying to organise the trip myself, as I would usually do, and Norway had me perplexed with exactly where to go and how much time we would need. Julia was spot on with her advice and location choices. Particular highlights were the Sea Cabins in Reine, the stunning house and surrounding areas in Senja and the gorgeous accommodation approximately 30 minutes outside Tromso. Active Tromso and our midnight kayak was also a massive highlight. I can not recommend their adventure experiences more highly and we will be back to do some mountain climbing and husky adventures soon. Thank you again Julia! Our experience was so memorable and you took all the angst out of the decision making process guiding us through ferry crossings and pointing out not to miss spots along the journey.

Review for Nepal Tibet trip from 18th May – 5th June 2019
Unforgettable Nepal, I was back to this country again for trekking to Lower Mustang,
which is very similar to Tibet Plateau?
First time domestic flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara without delay, leaving me plenty time to explore this town again either food or shopping. Stunning view from plane flying from Pokhara to Jomsom and landed on an “unbelievable” that it’s an airport! Weather changed from hot Pokhara to a dry and cool Mustang, made me felt fresh and excited to begin with the trekking. I like the 2st 3 days trek, as it took only 3 – 5 hours for each day, so I have sometimes to explore the town and mesmerized to the scenery,
unique building structure, “oasis within a desert”, monastery and cold dry air. However, the last day back to Jomson via Lubra....aw...I was taken so long hours to reach the main road which completely out of expectation, but I will never never forget this part of journey, rocky road with some “stream” and very very strong wind always push me walking backward rather than helping me to walk faster, so you can imagine how difficult to walk against strong wind.
I am feeling thankful to guide, Suman, who were always helping me to carry my heavy backpack, patiently waiting for me and assisting me on walking through difficult trail. Even though the whole trekking trail not consider difficult, but it does really required certain level of fitness and stamina if wanted to complete all according to planned hours especially the last day.

Next chapter of this trip would be Tibet.
Travelling to Tibet was my dream and finally I have completed once in my life time experience in Tibet though most of the days were cloudy and sometimes rain. I saw the iconic Potala Palace, scenic Yomdruk Lake, awe inspiring Mt Everest from base camp, played snow at Gong Tang La Pass.
Felt the elevation at the 5000+.......This part of the review short and sweet, as really need to experience it personally. I hope this is not going to be my once in life time travel to Tibet, wish to be back there again with nice clear weather.
I am really grateful to driver (Dawa) and guide (Tseten), both of them really taken good care of me, always check and ensure that I did not experience the altitude sickness. I felt safe and comfortable throughout my whole trip as he has excellent driving skill, sharing and taking plenty of beautiful photos and left me with lots of memorable pictures. Experience guide who discussed and give suggestion if possible depend on the affordable flexibility that he can in order for me to have pleasant and enjoyable trip in order to prevent altitude issue.

Last, I would like to thank Kripa who planned this wonderful trip for me again and arranged Bimba to brief me on the Tibet trip, he (Bimba) also always called to ensure my safety in Tibet. Thanks Anil help at Nepal border when back from Tibet and shared with me the history of Nuwakot. Hope to see you guys in future visit.

Chris did a great job and the trip to Greece was one of our best vacations. Everything was handled and all the staff were professional and wonderful to deal with.
I would definitely recommend kimkim to handle your travel needs.

Anne was wonderful and so caring. Made the trip seamless. She wants people to learn and explore her country not on a bus with 100's of tourists.

I would definitely recommend Peruvian Soul to future travelers! She worked with our budget seamlessly and didn't feel like a budget trip AT ALL. Kudos to her hard work! Thank you so much!!

My family went to Athens, Mykonos and Crete in Mid May of this year. It was a fantastic trip from start to finish. Christos , I am sorry this is so late. I cant thank you enough for the terrific Itinerary you put together for us. All the Accomodations were wonderful with a special shout out to Aletro Cottage Houses. The location, pool, view, breakfast and rooms were all amazing. The owners were great and when my daughter needed something for some insect bites they quickly came to the rescue.
The tours set up by Christos and all transportation were 5 star . The drivers always had water available to us and gave us lot of info. Shout out to Alternative Athens for the tours especially our Tour guide Alex on our Mythology walking tour in Athens. He was so passionate about his job!
Our boat rides between islands were fun and the views unbelievable. Just make sure you have some Euros as the internet went down on our day trip to Balos and couldn't buy food on the boat!!
KImKim was available around the clock to answer questions and were quick to answer,.
I will be using KimKim again for our next European travel!!