Kimkim Trip Reviews

We had an amazing trip to Jordan and Israel everything was planned perfectly and worked like clockwork so thankyou for that. We saw everything we wanted to and a lot more.
Our two drivers Mo'ayed in Jordan and Monther in Israel were fantastic - nothing was too much trouble they were always on time and very efficient, informative and very pleasant, please pass on our thanks to them they really made the holiday. Our jeep safari of Wadi Rum was very enjoyable what an adventure! as was the entertainment in the Dead Sea and the desert camp.

However we were disappointed by the quality of a number of the hotels we stayed in, as you know we asked to be moved from the Rum Al Waleed for which we were grateful as we were due to stay 4 nights - this hotel was dark, dingy and dirty and Breakfast was very basic. I would highly recommend that you do not put other tourists in that hotel. The Corp which you moved us to was superb and much more the standard we were expecting so thank you for that.

The Grand Court in Jerusalem was also very good, and we enjoyed our stay there.
The Dead Sea Spa was ok but just tired and in need of a refurb and it showed it was tatty and unloved, the food was also not great.
Our desert camp likewise tired and basic - whilst we were expecting a Bedouin camp experience not a 5 star hotel it again had seen better days. The food was very good however! The sister hotel to it in Aqaba was better and we enjoyed our stay there.
The hotel in Petra La Maison the same our room was really tatty and basic.
I can understand that when you are used to using the same hotels some of these things can go unnoticed however you should be checking on your clients experiences and the facilities on offer- with such a wide range of hotels in the area to choose from I would strongly recommend you review your choices.
That said we had a fantastic holiday and with the above caveat would recommend you to others looking to explore this fascinating part of the world.

Thank you for a very well organised and memorable trip!

We were doing the EBC trail and had to be evacuated due to my husband getting high altitude sickness and sent a request on Kimkim for an alternative for the remainder of our stay in Nepal and got a promt response from Amanda with an excellent description of our trip and great service from her in all respects. We had a great experience, loved all the hotels on our route except one but I suspect that the options were rather limited as we booked our trip with almost no notice. The guide and porter were lovely, their English a little limited but that did not cause any problems.
A lovely time!

My wife and I has visited Norway from 30th October, 2018 to 10th November, 2018. In short, this was one of the best trips of our lives, all the credit goes to Ingrid.

Our plan was a 12 day plan, more on the road and outside than on tours and hotels. Our itinerary was planned in a great way along with the maps provided to us by ingrid was very helpful. We got to see many things, mountains, Fjords, Northern lights, whales, beautiful clean roads, scenery, sunrise, sunsets etc.

We visited the places, Bergen, Eidfjord, Flam, aurland, Geiranger, Kristiansund, Trondheim, Bodo, lofoten Islands, Andenes. Sounds like a lot, but it was just right.

We met lot of people, ate lot of local food, enjoyed the hotels we stayed in.

Everything went very smooth, from renting cars in airports, to the different hotels arranged by ingrid in each place each day. And we used to get messages from ingrid regarding our updates, seemed loving and caring, which i really don't see with any other travel agents.

We had also purchased an item but were unable to arrange delivery precisely as were in different locations each day, Ingrid really supported us through that ordeal.

Rest Assured, If you are planning anything with Ingrid and her travel agency, then know, that they are with you all the way literally, from planning the trip, to arrival in the country, through the country, and till you depart the country to return.

I once again thank Ingrid for the beautiful vacation, and if i have a chance to work with her again in any scenario i would'nt think twice!

Everything was great especially our wonderful driver Mohammad who was very informative about the areas we were visiting as well as Jordan in general. We would have liked a bit more time at the dead sea as we arrived at 230 pm and left at 8am the next day. It was a wonderful experience except for our hotel in Petra , the Candles hotel is an absolute dump. We were initially given a room I wouldn't have housed a dog in and the replacement was much better but still way below the standard expected.

Lenin and Mauro (our other guide) were both very knowledgeable about the native tribes, culture and history of Ecuador in general.
And they both had detailed knowledge of the specific places we visited … being Otavalo, Quito, the Avenue of the Volcanoes, Baños, Alausí and Cuenca.
Both spoke excellent English.
Lenin was particularly good when it came to knowing when to have a break, etc or comfort stop.
Overall the trip was a memorable experience and we would recommend KimKim.

Suggested considerations/changes …
- Do not use the hotel we stayed at in Baños again (no hot water, mould on the bathroom ceiling, no power to the room until sunset);
- Given the state of some of the roads we travelled on around Cotopaxi we feel that you need to provide a vehicle with better suspension … something like a 4 wheel drive;
- Mauro was working to his schedule … and we understand the need for a schedule … but we would have liked to be offered some flexibility.

We had a great experience. The booking process and all preparation felt very good. Good information and checklist for equipment.

The highlight of the whole trip was Chhepal, he was very friendly, knowledgeable and also curious about us. I really liked that he also made a good example pickup up trash along the trek.....

The porters was also very nice and friendly and made a good job helping out with food in the evenings and mornings.

The trek was excellent for our boy. The was no hurry and made it to the the houses by walking in our own pace.

Our family of five tried KimKim.com for the first time to help us plan our one week trip to Jordan.

Carmen showed great flexibility and willingness to adapt to our (changing) requirements until we had an itinerary fitting our wishes and budget.

On site in Jordan, things worked nicely and without hickups with regards to booked activities, over night stays and drivers/guides.

All in all a very good experience!

Thank you
/Jonas Adolfsson

Ed with Driving Albania put together a great 12 day Albania trip for us., filled with superb biking opportunities. Although occasionally we would have enjoyed road bikes, the mountain bikes Ed provided were perfect for the lesser roads with some broken pavement, and we appreciated the low gears for the mountain climbs. After a couple nights in Tirana to see the city and recover from jet lag, we hit the road , enjoying 25 kms of downhill riding to kick off our trip. After that our biking days ranged from 30 to 70kms on paved rolling roads through the mountain countryside and villages. Vehicular traffic was light. Our guide Nick, a former Olympian and Albanian road bike champion was always near by in the 4wd vehicle with water and snacks while we were on the bikes. Nick proved a conscientious driver when the bikes were loaded and we were in the vehicle and a competent guide to the many historical and nature spots we toured. We appreciated the dash cam videos Nick took for us showing the scenic landscapes and us on the bikes. Ed set us up in great hotels every night; food was plentiful, tasty and inexpensive. We would definitely recommend Albania as a destination and Ed to set up your Albania tour.

We loved the trip. Going to Jordan was a wonderful experience.
There were surprises. One was how long the travel took. Knowing the time frame better in advance would have settled some of our mild anxiety. We were surprised it took all day to get to Wadi Rum and arrived almost at dusk. But the camel ride was waiting and everything ended up perfectly.
Our guide was very good, but she held the mike too close to her mouth and some of her narrative was distorted by the sound on the bus, but that was a fairly minor issue.
The accommodations in Wadi Rum were wonderful, better than expected and the food was very good. Sitting by the fire and experiencing the singing and dancing there at night was a treat. The jeep ride next am was great fun and the scenery incredible.
Petra was magnificent. The hike was long and wearing, and the prospect of coming back on horseback or by carriage was impaired by gouging prices by the carriage drivers and too short a horse ride, so we just walked. We were most thankful for an honest boy who found the backpack I absentmindedly left on the trail. The police escort with us was a godsend as he contacted the police office there and located the backpack, all intact.
Hotel and food in Amman were great. Overall a great experience.

Bhutan was an incredible adventure and one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. Vishal and Sonam put together a great trip!! I feel like Migmar and Gem were not only the best driver/guide in the whole country but lifelong friends as well. I had a great time and highly recommend Vishal and his team

I'm very grateful to Marianne and Carmello and the kimkim team behind them for their patience with my very specific interests and their continuing effort to find matches. Minori, on the Amalfi coast, was just the right size, the Hotel Lucia was simple and impeccable, local bus service to other coastal cities was as promised and their transfer arrangements spot on. I'm an experienced solo traveler but new to this part of Italy and wanted a little local insight beyond what's on the internet. I'll use kimkim again and recommend it to others.

Gabor was very flexible and patient with numerous changes to our itinerary. He uses fabulous guides and booked wonderful lodges. His expertise was invaluable in making our trip to Ecuador (Galapagos and Amazon) fantastic!!!

A Special Thanks to Diana (our assign local guide) she did the extra miles for us ensuring that all small details were met along the way.

I would strongly recommend KimKim !!

Steve and Christine.

Now time to start a new project, here comes Africa!

The whole trip was amazing. Thanks to the incredible organization by Vishal the trip ran smoothly and to plan, but we always felt there was flexibility to cater for the unexpected.
As I said, the trip was extremely well organized to cater for the two of us. Neither of us are young but we are both fairly energetic still. The activities, visits, walks suited us very well. Vishal constantly kept in contact with our guide to make sure everything ran smoothly for us.
We were both very pleased with the high standard of accommodation Vishal organized for us throughout the trip.
Vishal chose a driver and a guide both of whom can only be described as amazing.
I suffer from travel sickness. The driver and guide were both aware of this and kept a very close eye on me, particularly when we were on the very windy roads.The driving was also adjusted to ensure I had a comfortable ride. Our every need was anticipated.The driver never hesitated to find a safe place to stop when we wished to take photos.
My traveling companion doesn't like certain foods, our guide always checked to make sure that what was offered was suitable for her, and if not suitable had something else cooked for her.
Our guides general knowledge was amazing and he showed a great love for his country.
I can't say there was one place that was most memorable as each place we visited had its own story and its own beauty. Enhanced by an enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide.Every day and every activity provided us with an endless set of wonderful memories.There were no low points in the trip.
I have already started recommending Vishal and Bhutan to my friends who are interested in traveling there.

Susan was very flexible and patient with numerous changes to our itinerary. She uses fabulous guides and booked wonderful lodges. Her expertise was invaluable in making our trip to Kenya fantastic!!!
Virginia

All guides were very good.
We did not go much on Ragusa, this was part due to long trip after previous days journey, plus when we got there we had to search for information office, get town map etc. Maybe KimKim could provide this sort of info within welcoming pack, details of sites where not staying at hotel. Also checking of recommendations the week before would be advisable, the soap museum was closed and also website said booking required for visit. Yes we could of looked on website before we left but also KimKim should not be recommending visits without suppling this sort of info.
Response by KimKim staff , mainly Marianne, mainly on WhatsApp, was very good, when we needed her she was usually there ,if not replied within minutes rather than hours.
Hotel at Palermo is very tired and lacking facilities we had become used to, ie safe in the room, basic toiletries, and fridge. Also it needs to be noted that hotels parking arrangement not available 13.00-21.00 on sundays. Resulted in us spending all of Sunday afternoon at hotel rather than exploring the city.

Our Sherpa Lhakpa was great and the porter was excellent. The trip was a good trip for us - not too hard. The accommodation along the way was mostly good apart from Low Camp and High Camp where the toilet facilities were poor and the fire/heater were not turned on at these places even though everyone was cold. The accommodation in Sidhing was brilliant.
It was great to be met and farewelled by Ngima - the parting gift was a lovely touch.

This was our first time using Kimkim and it was a very positive experience. The local agencies they used in Morocco were excellent. From the beginning, our agent Brahim was very attentive and responsive. Any question or concern we messaged him about, he would get back to us right away. Additionally, he really took our requests into consideration when customizing our tour of Morocco. A highlight for us was the blue city of Chefchaouen, but honestly, Morocco is a stunning country with amazing landscapes, architecture, and culture, so it was all a highlight.

Our private driver, Rachid, was very punctual, responsible, and attentive to our needs. He would arrive on time every day and before arriving at our accommodation, he would call ahead to make sure they were ready for us. He was also great about suggesting local places to eat and when we should stop because some of our days were quite long in the car given the nature of the particular tour we chose. He also took some really excellent photographs of us (he's into photography). He is a driver that I would recommend other travelers to request :)

Additionally, the accommodation that was selected for us was just what we wanted--not big hotels, but local Riads (traditional Moroccan houses). One of the riads, Riad Sabah in Marrakech, was a highlight because the owner, Hans (he is from Germany, but lives in Marrakech because his wife is Moroccan) was so friendly and helpful and really made our stay pleasant.

Lastly, the local guides we had (Hafid in Fès and Khalid in Marrakech) spoke excellent English and were very knowledgeable.

All in all, this was a very positive experience and most importantly, it was very stress free. We chose to give Kimkim a try because with our busy work schedules, we did not have the time to plan and do our own research, so we wanted someone that could make this as stress free for us as possible. It was great waking up every day with our driver at the ready letting us know what our itinerary was for the day, not having to worry about how we were going to get to the next place, and arriving with our accommodation ready. Each day, we just got to sit back and enjoy, which is exactly what we needed. Though it was a little more expensive than we would have liked, time and zero stress is a luxury you pay for :)

We had a fantastic trek for our honeymoon and would highly recommend Amanda, our guide Tendu Sherpa and the entire Himalayan Trails team. Amanda was so responsive and helpful in planning our adventure - and went above and beyond to track down my bag that arrived late from our airlines and helicoptered it to the Himalayas to meet us a few days along our trek - really grateful! We have already recommended them to our friends!

The trip was a blast. Our driver Amjad was personable and professional. My only critique is that there was not enough time to do this trip properly. If I did it again, I would skip the Wadi Rum and spend more time in the other locations. We spent a long time driving just for a couple of hours touring the Wadi Rum. Otherwise, it is a good overview of some of the spectacular highlights of Jordan.

While we had a really good trip, we were honestly a bit disappointed with the city of Heraklion. (Should note that we originally intended to go to Chania, but we 'accidentally' booked flights to Heraklion, not realizing there is more than one airport in Crete. Perhaps we could have been steered further away from Heraklion, or just driven out for more day trips from there.) The pedestrian areas there were nice, and George did a great job w/our food/wine tour; however, it was almost frightening to walk around much of the city, since motorcycles abound on the myriad tiny, winding streets. We did thoroughly enjoy our wine tour to Douloufakis, as well as our olive oil farm tour to Koronekes. Our driver, Alexandra, was great! Always on time and very friendly, as well as an expert on touring commentary, especially cultural comments. Tasos was very kind and generous in taking good care of us, and again, a good trip, but would definitely have done a few things differently had we known that Heraklion probably lacks much of the charm that Chania apparently has. KimKim is, however, excellent to work with, always answering questions quickly, and very attentive. Thanks!