Kimkim Trip Reviews

Trip was aligned mutually based on our needs and finally perfectly organized by kimkim guys. All went 100% correct as per our agreement, the service was excellent. Our local specialist was always stand by in case we needed any clarification or help. It was our 2nd trip with kimkim and we had a great experience again. We could focus on our holiday activities, instead of logistics (where, when, how). We don't like to stay at one place only, we prefer to explore the country where we are going to, therefore logistics is quite important and kimkim is providing excellent service in this area.
We definitely recommend kimkim to the others and we will use it in the future again.

Hotel Reviews

Our Jungle House

Khao Sok

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Galleria 12 Bangkok Hotel by Compass Hospitality

Bangkok

Good hotel with everything you need. We haven't spend too much time inside. Beds were very comfortable and huge :-) .

Authenticity & Character

Location

The street is very small and narrow, on the other side there is not noise there. Also Skytrain and shops are 5-10 min walk from there, which is very convenient.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Phi Phi Natural Resort

Krabi

Great experience in less busy area of the island.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It is located at the northernmost part of the island, not overcrowded by tourists, which we liked a lot. Directly located at the beach. We could watch the sunrise directly from our room and also sunset when walking 10-15 minutes over a small hill.

Staff

Very helpful, whenever we asked for anything.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Khao Sok night safari (Our Jungle Resort)

Khao Sok

We were a bit disappointed with night safari. First of all we wouldn't call it safari, however we might be spoiled by real safari in Africa. We would rather call it easy walk through night forest on wide pathways, but a bit overcrowded with lot of other people group, which were unable to keep quiet. Therefore also the number of spotted animals was quite limited (besides insect and some snakes). We were lucky to spot few sleeping monkeys.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full day trip to Cheow Lan lake joining tour

Khao Sok

Very relaxing day - the lake is awesome, water is clean and warm. We had enough time for swimming and kayaking, food for lunch was delicious. Hiking to cave and through forest was quite an easy one, we were expecting much more difficult hike. It's easy for kids as well.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bangkok Symbolic Temples

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Night Street Food Tour After Dark by Tuk Tuk

Bangkok

Great experience. Our guide was very actionable and she was explaining everything all the way. Thanks Kanya for great evening.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Austin created the trip that we had no idea we wanted. We basically said to him "we want to visit Ireland" and he delivered the BEST of the country. I cannot stress how easy and pleasant it was to work with Austin. And once we landed in Ireland, it was like he was with us. We followed his guide and had the most amazing trip.

Our trip to Greece was fantastic. They really listened to what our interests are, the age of the group traveling, and developed the trip around that. Everything happened on time, drivers were always on time and we had no hiccups.

Hotel Reviews

The Tanneries Hotel & Spa

Chania

We absolutely loved this hotel! While it wasn't in the middle of town, we could still walk to everything. The hotel itself is beautiful with generous rooms. The restaurant and its staff are excellent and the view is spectacular.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sofitel Athens Airport

Athens

Nice hotel and the location across the street from the airport was very convenient as we had a 6:00 am flight.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kivotos Santorini

Santorini

This hotel is a nice hotel but doesn't fit our demographic. The rooms are very dark, with no natural lighting. Because of the indoor jacuzzi everything was damp.

Authenticity & Character

They are trying to tie the volcano ash piece into their theme, but for us it didn't fit the vibe of the island.

Location

Staff

Very attentive - maybe too much so.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Adding some natural lighting and ventilation.

DOM Boutique Hotel

Heraklion

Nice hotel with a nice location. Rooms are a bit smaller than other rooms we have been in.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was just a little small.

Ergon House Athens

Athens

We really loved this hotel. The location was fantastic, rooms were comfortable and the restaurant was top-notch.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Apokoronas Region Seven Villages Private Tour

Chania

This was a very unique tour. It was good because you got to see Crete, but off the beaten path. Definitely areas that most tourists don't get to see. For us, the trip was much more about local food and tasting than most food tours we have been on.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chania Old Town Private Walking Tour with Food & Wines Tastings

Greece

This should not be labelled as a Food and Wine Walking Tour. It is a cultural tour of the City - which we appreciated, however that isn't what the name implies. We started tasting some local cheese, but then finished the evening at a restaurant where we did some wine tasting with appetizers.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tasting Menu & Wine Pairing Dinner at Aleria Restaurant

Athens

Half of the group really loved the experience and the other half didn't. It all depends on your food interests and if you like what they are focusing on that evening, it is a great experience. If you don't than not so much so.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Acropolis & Acropolis Museum Private Guided Tour

Athens

If you are heading to Athens, this is a must see. It explains so much of the Greek culture.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Knossos Palace Small-group Mythological Tour

Greece

This is a super interesting tour and in our opinion, a can't miss. The ruins and the stories behind it all are fascinating.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Tailored Elafonissi Tour

Greece

This was an unfortunate day, not because of the location or our guide, but because of the weather. To have to spend about 6 hours driving and to have the weather be cold, windy, and rainy when you get to the beach it is very disappointing. I am sure the beach is super beautiful but it wasn't on the day we were there.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover Santorini Small-group Guided Tour

Santorini

This was a perfect outing for the last day of our 20 day trip. It showed us the true Santorini and Elsa was very knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trip with Enjoy Jordan thru Kim Kim went well. We were a group of 4 that did a 6 days/5 nights around the Dead Sea, Petra and Wadi Rum in Jordan. Our local guide/driver, Nadir, was amazing!! He went above and beyond (from guiding, driving and even entertainment)!! This is our first trip with KimKim and it's close to no-hassle but we did underwent a couple of issues with the booking and mis-alignment in pricing. Prior to contacting an agency, the group is fully aware that the month of April is peak season, hench, why we reached out to KimKim early (in advance) to ensure we get the Panoramic Tent we wanted in Wadi Rum. Despite of reiterating multiple times, unfortunately, the local tour agency still did not secure a spot. It is disappointing especially after having repeated it multiple times over email of how crucial it is for the group. The second mishap was with regarding to pricing. The initial request was for a total of 8 days (including Aqaba). 2 months leading to the tour we had changed this to 6 days (minus Aqaba). The local tour agent, did not update the pricing up until it was called out.

Activity Reviews

Wadi Rum (Full Day)

Jordan

Our Wadi Rum experience was spectacular. Our local guide, Ibrahim, was very kind and went above and beyond in giving us a phenomenal experience. The drive in the desert is unimaginable, though, I should mention - it is not a jeep drive but a pick-up drive around.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Meet & Assist - Queen Alia Airport

Jordan

Our local drive/driver was mis-informed about the correct arrival time. We had to wait and search for our immigration guide which took about 15 minutes of waiting/calling KimKim customer service, and we had to wait for about 20 mins for a new driver to come and pick us up.

Quality of Experience

better staffing coordination

Guides, Drivers and Staff

when the guide and driver did eventually come they were welcoming.

Transport

Our trip to Indonesia was a true reprieve from the stresses of regular life, a perfect vacation. Our KimKim specialist Ana organized several lovely events for us but also maintained a comfortable flexibility, listening well and helping us refund things when our energy wasn't up to the big tasks. In particular, our driver throughout the trip, Parma, was one of the kindest, most splendid humans we have ever met and want him to get as much praise possible for hosting us so well. The Komodo Island boat cruise stood out as a spectacular highlight of the trip (we saw Komodo dragons, Mantas, turtles, soft coral, and unreal sunsets). Our guide Tony also stood out as a spectacular and knowledgable friend.

I was very nervous about booking through an online company, as I have travelled before with well known companies. From the moment Dat contacted me, and asked what we wanted to do, his suggestions were all fantastic, and we nervously booked through him, on Version 6 of his planning. We were relieved when we landed in Vietnam, and there was someone with my name on a board waiting….then this happened every flight, or even day tour guides etc…they were all there waiting for us, usually about 10 minutes early on each day. I could highly recommend Dat to anyone wanting to travel to Vietnam…he didn’t miss a thing…I just hope he gets paid well, because we did spend a lot on tipping all his guides and drivers that he had booked, so hoping he does get rewarded for his wonderful work.
Thank you so much Dat…very happy first time online customers!
Lindy and Greg Scott

Hotel Reviews

Adora Art Hotel

Another perfect location…we did end up finding it great to get around HCMC from here. Staff were very helpful, but the markets and great shops were all within 5-10 minutes walk

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mekong Lodge

Another great experience, possibly would not repeat, but wonderful to see on first trip.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Phu Thinh Boutique Hotel & Spa

6 great nights spent here…very relaxing and once again very central to walk anywhere. Even the restaurant owner opposite this hotel became our personal taxi whenever we wanted to go to beaches or tailors etc.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

ÊMM Hotel Hue

2 nights spent here were most enjoyable…the only place we did get ripped off by a taxi driver for going only 2 blocks, as we mixed up the map of where we were headed!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mina Hotel & Spa

Hanoi

Another fantastic location chosen by Dat…

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very central again…he chose so well

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Verdure Lotus Gradeur (former Halong Aquamarine Cruise)

Ha Long

Another great place to stay for one night on Halong Bay…great big bedroom…lovely food etc.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Well we sailed around Halong Bay

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Prague Saigon Hotel

Good location for tourists, just near Walking Street (pub street), and also close to big market.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very handy to everything

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Continue Mekong Lodge - Ho Chi Minh City

Cai Be

A wonderful morning …spent at the market and industrial area of Cai Abe…we did enjoy this before heading back to a HCMC where we had a couple of last days to shop.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ho Chi Minh City - Mekong Lodge

Cai Be

Once again a great experience, if I have to be honest, we didn’t love the local singers performing in their home, as it was all in Vietnamese and we couldn’t understand what they were singing etc.. The bike ride itself was good…very interesting life on the island…even funnier for us was seeing the ferry how we got over to island. Then we had a great cooking demonstration back at the lodge.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ho Chi Minh city tour - Cu Chi tunnels - Joint in tour

Ho Chi Minh City

Very moving day…the war remnants museum, then to Cu Chi Tunnels….very sad but interesting to see.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cam Thanh Fishing Village Tour & Basket Boat Ride

Hoi An

Another interesting day, riding through to a fishing village then lunch in a local restaurant again.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hoi An Ancient Town Walking & Street Food tour (N)

Hoi An

We were taken to museum, temples etc, which are in every town…but still always good to see once. Food was delicious again.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hue Halfday City Tour (N)

Hue

It’s great to learn a bit about the tradition of the country you are visiting, but half a day is really enough for us in things like this…we did enjoy, but also loved getting back to hotel for a swim.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Halong Bay - Hanoi (Verdure Grandeur Cruise)

Ha Long Bay

Went sailing to see the wild monkeys in Halong Bay.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanoi - Halong Bay (Verdure Grandeur Cruise )

Ha Long Bay

Another great trip to Halong Bay…they even brought me a birthday cake out and sang to me…which was a lovely touch….and then also to Helen who’s bday was 2 days later.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Ba Vi Countryside & Cooking Class

Hanoi

Another fantastic experience…going to local market…then going to Chins home to help prepare our large lunch…then a walk around her village to friends homes, who grow/make different things…then onto a tea factory. (Unfortunately, we all did get the runs for a couple of days following this day…so not blaming anything really!)

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Hoa Lu & Tam Coc - Joint in tour

Hanoi

Another wonderful experience…they are amazing how they row these boats with their feet.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanoi Afternoon City Exploration and Street Food Tour

Hanoi

Really enjoyed Hanoi…the food tour was great, trying traditional foods in several places.

Quality of Experience

B

Food

Everything

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We found the Vietnamese people so lovely, even though we struggled with some accents!

Transport

All transport was a wonderful minivan for the four of us.

I had such an amazing experience. It was truly all, if not more, than what I wished for. Raj and his team are so incredible at getting people to love and understand the Nepalese culture. Rabin was an excellent guide out to the Everest Basecamp region of the Himalayas. We had an amazing experience.

Bolivian Dream Vacation:
Johanna helped create for us a detailed and individualized vacation that suited our interests and time constraints during our April visit to Bolivia. She was easy to communicate with and tried very hard to include as many of our wishes as was feasible. This was not an easy task, since we wanted to see everything but only had a week to devote to our travels. Johanna and Kristy were both available to us during our trip through WhatsApp for any last minute questions or problems, but overall our trip was flawless. Everything flowed smoothly and we experienced no issues.
We started our guided tour in La Paz, seeing all the highlights of the city. The next day we were off in the direction of lake Titicaca with a side trip to Tiwanaku where we marveled at the ruins from this pre-Inca civilization. Next was lake Titicaca where we took boat trips around the lake to the Sun and Moon islands. We were offered and enjoyed a traditional Inca lunch that included trout from the lake and rehydrated potatoes. Our trip then brought us back to La Paz where we took a flight to Uyuni. We visited the salt flats, the red and green lagoons and saw many scenic views along the way. We saw Llama, alpaca, vicuña, viscacha-wild Andean rabbit, emu, wild donkeys, fox and flamingos. While everything was absolutely stunning, I think I can say with out exception the salt flats was the highlight of our trip. As the views were breathtaking. Marisol, our tour guide, educated us on geology, history, culture, food, and more. She was very attentive and remained flexible. She also helped us take fun pictures with a green dinosaur and interactive photographs on a reflective lake. We were able to enjoy both a secluded picturesque lunch on the salt flats and a memorable sunset drink in a salt lake.
Marisol was with us for our entire trip and was an invaluable resource. She imparted the history and geology of the various sights we visited and included many fun facts that made listening pleasurable. She and Samwel were there to greet us when we arrived at 7 am and with us at 3 am at the end when we passed into the customs when we left Bolivia. Both Samwel, our driver in La Paz , and Ever, our driver in Uyuni, were amazing and present on all of our adventures. They drove us for many hours covering vast and varied terrains from salt flats to bumpy paved and unpaved roads. We felt safe in their hands and they were pleasant to be with.
There is only one thing I would change and that would be listening to the warnings of the altitude sickness. Having come directly from sea level by plane to La Paz we had little time to acclimatize, pre planning with meds and excersise would have been helpful. Having said that Marisol and all the personal including staff at the hotels were ready to help. We were able to get oxygen delivered to our room on one occasion when we felt we needed it, without charge. This did not stop us from hiking up and down hills , enjoying lavish sometimes Michelin rated meals and taking exceptional pictures.

Hotel Reviews

Mallku Cueva

Villa Mar

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Palacio de Sal

Uyuni

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Rosario Lago Titicaca

Copacabana

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Atix Hotel

La Paz

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

La Paz to Uyuni

Bolivia

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Free day in La Paz

La Paz

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Laguna Colorada, Sol de Mañana geyser, Green Lagoon, and overnight bus back to La Paz (Day 3)

Bolivia

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the Small Lagoons (Day 2)

Bolivia

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Isla del Sol, and back to La Paz

Bolivia

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

La Paz to Tiwanaku, to Copacabana

Bolivia

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Tour of La Paz + Valley of the Moon

La Paz

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to La Paz

La Paz

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Depart La Paz-Farewell Bolivia!

La Paz

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to Argentina exceeded our expectations and some. On the ground, the transfers were always early and ready for us, providing a seamless and on-time experience. We felt like each of the guides on the ground were knowledgeable about the given area that we were in and, most importantly, answered our one-off questions when we had them. We traveled to El Calafate, El Chalten, and Iguazu Falls and had a memorable time in each destination. In addition, each of the hotels we stayed had incredible views of the mountains and in the case of Iguazu was situated in the rainforest. They were clean, and definitely felt safe. Overall, Ana and the team at kimkim were responsive and lined us up to having a memorable and fun vacation in Argentina.

Amazing experience in Nepal, made very special by Sangita, Vpin and our trek guide Bhim. Provided lots of insight and history of Kathmandu and Nepal and made our visit very memorable.

My husband and I had an excellent two week trip to the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxemburg. Mieke was very responsive and quickly answered all our questions. She helped us plan the perfect vacation that allowed us to go at our own pace and explore the cities of our choosing while helping to identify some off the beaten path locations for us. All of the hotels we stayed at were in great central locations and the few guided tours that we did were really enjoyable with very knowledgeable guides. Both my husband I have very busy jobs and the use of Kim Kim and Mieke helped us quickly plan a vacation that took all the fuss of planning for travel off our plates. Would highly recommend.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Royal Bridges

Delft

Lovely small hotel in a great location in Delft. Easy access from the train station and to most of Delft's main attractions. The room was quite large and comfortable. The breakfast was decent but nothing fantastic. It suited our needs and we were very comfortable during our 3 night stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Merveilleuse

Dinant

A fun place to stay for a couple of nights. However, the front desk staff is hard to get ahold of and often not at the desk. The room was spacious and comfortable. They are doing renovations on their spa so this was closed when we were there. The hotel is located at the top of a very large hill so make sure to have good walking shoes if you plan on walking to and from town.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pillows Grand Boutique Hotel Reylof

Ghent

A beautiful grand hotel. A little bit outside of the main bustling aspect of Ghent which we appreciated. The morning breakfast was the best we had on our trip. Lovely room, quite spacious with comfortable bed. Our bathroom shower had trouble draining one day and the hotel fixed it quickly once we called them. Only complaint was that renting bikes was extra but other than that would highly recommend a stay here. They also have a spa which had we known we might have tried and booked ahead of time, but they were all full when we were there.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Amrâth Grand Hotel Frans Hals

Haarlem

A great hotel in a perfect location in Harlem. Lovely breakfast in the morning that is quite extensive. The rooms were a bit small, but as we didn't spend much time in them it wasn't an issue. We had a balcony room that faced the main street and therefore things were a bit loud late in the evenings on the weekend, but we otherwise enjoyed our stay. The front desk staff was quite helpful and made delicious dinner recommendations and helped us with reservations.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Parc Beaux Arts

Luxembourg

Very cute small boutique hotel with excellent staff and service. The morning breakfast is delightful and the room was quite spacious and cozy. It's central nature in the old city is perfect for wandering around and exploring but it is located in a popular spot and therefore can be a bit noisy on weekend evenings (this is only a problem if you leave the windows open while sleeping at night). Would highly recommend a stay here and would definitely stay again.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Ghent - Scenic Boat Tour

Belgium

We love a good boat tour and while we had already walked around most of the city it was fun to see it from the water.

Amsterdam - Private walking lunch tour

The Netherlands

We were taken to a place with the most amazing Apple pie! All the food we had was delicious. We got a little rushed on our last cheese stop as we had tickets for the Anne Frank House. Otherwise it was greatly enjoyable and we loved all the food.

Public transport pass Amsterdam

The Netherlands

This made all our transport needs quite easy. We didn't have to think about taking any particular train, tram or bus.

Hoorn - Private boat tour historic harbor

The Netherlands

Such a fun hour excursion!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Haarlem - Day trip to Marken, Volendam, and Hoorn

Haarlem

We loved Hoorn! Marken was mostly closed when we were there but we enjoyed wandering around the little sleepy town. Volendam is very touristy and I think we could have skipped it. Would have easily spent more time in Hoorn if possible. We loved our boat tour around Hoorn. This city is incredibly charming and full of great history.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Amsterdam - Private guided historic city walk

The Netherlands

Very knowledgeable guide who shared some secret insights into the beautiful and historic city of Amsterdam. We learned some fascinating tid bits and really enjoyed our time in the city.

https://youtu.be/kn0XiW4_wqY

Our trip with Morocco Immersion Tours was amazing. We went in November 2022 and had a blast. We were only able to make a short week but Sharon and our guide Sallam made sure we saw as much as possible. Sallam made the trip easy and so incredibly enjoyable. He made sure that we always had what we needed and went out of his way to make sure we were always having a great time. We managed a full loop including Chefchaouen, Fez, the Sahara, and Marrakech!

Hotel Reviews

Merzouga Dunes Camps

Merzouga

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad al Rimal

Marrakech

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Chez Ichou

Dades Gorge

This hotel and staff were wonderful. There was a minor mistake on one part of our meal and they immediately went into action to fix it and make sure we were all right. They went above and beyond. The location was beautiful and everyone was wonderful!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Al Makan

Fès

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Hicham

Chefchaouen

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dades Valley to Marrakech via Ait Ben Haddou

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Merzouga to Dades Valley Via Todgha Gorge

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fes to Merzouga via Ifraine and Azrou - Camel Trek to Desert Camp

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour of Fes

Fes

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Orientation Walk & Free Afternoon in Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I want to thank Sangita and Vpin for making my trip to Nepal a beautiful experience. Both of them were always present to make sure that everything was going as planned. Vpin was our guide for most of the trip, and he has an excellent knowledge of English and his country. For the trekking and safari, we were assigned to two other guides who were attentive, polite, cheerful, and knowledgeable. We had the opportunity to discover fantastic places, breathtaking landscapes, and to see wild animals during the safari: incredible! I recommend this fantastic adventure in Nepal to everyone!"

The SPECTACULAR LOIRE VALLEY!! 5 days and 4 nights in this wonderful section of France. Walking through castles where recorded history occurred sometimes 800 years ago! The people, the gardens, the chateaux, the history and art, the food, the wine, and the cheese made our vacation the perfect escape from the normal stressors of life.

I am an experienced traveler, but this was my first time using a travel agent/tour company. I am so happy that my first experience with a travel agent arranging all the details of a trip was so positive! I gave Lise (our specialist) a budget, a list of places that were a "must see" for us, and some preferences for our trip and she put together an itinerary that we could adjust and tweak. After some back and forth, we landed on an itinerary and price; a trip that we were so looking forward to!! And it did NOT disappoint! All I had to keep track of was a folder of printed vouchers because EVERYTHING was taken care of. Every detail from the TGV, transfer taxi to hotel, hotel, small group guided days (which included the "skip the line" chateaux tours, lunches (or free time to lunch), driver, and winery tours), transfer back to rail station, and TGV back to Paris, was arranged for us--all we had to do was show up and enjoy!

Lise and the Kimkim team remained in contact with us prior to the trip offering guides and suggestions. During the trip, they remained in contact over email and even gave us phone numbers in Europe to call in the event of emergency or inconvenience that might need assistance. We did not need to contact them, but it was reassuring to have just in case.

Our guides Marion, Camilla, and Aurelia each provided wonderful days touring amazing Chateaux, gardens, wineries, and offered little extras (history details, suggestions for how to get the most out of the day, restaurant recommendations, and little known places to check out) that made the trip extra special.

The highlight of the trip was the lunch we were so fortunate to have at Chateau Villesavin. A privately owned chateau where the Madame greeted us and, after a home cooked meal we all enjoyed in an 18th century room, allowed us to roam the grounds and certain rooms of this lesser known, but beautiful, chateau tucked into the gorgeous Loire valley countryside.

If you want to walk the narrow cobblestone streets of medieval towns, tread the paths formerly walked by the Kings and Queens of very old France and Leonardo DaVinci, and encounter the most incredible gardens and flowers we have EVER seen...then the Loire Valley in Spring is for you. To make it all easy, accessible, and affordable---I highly recommend Lise and the kimkim team.

Hotel Review

Hôtel Au Charme Rabelaisien

Amboise

This is a small boutique hotel with the service and amenities of a large hotel, and the charm and personal touch of a bed and breakfast. The breakfast each morning was excellent. The room, amazing view, and large modern bathroom made it the perfect central place to enjoy the Eastern Loire Valley and all of its charms. The staff was so nice and eager to accommodate to ensure comfort and enjoyment.

Authenticity & Character

A modernized and converted 18th century space that is cozy and unique.

Location

Amboise is a perfect little town to be central to so many of the Loire Valley attractions.

Staff

Everyone was quick to greet with a smile and assist any way they could.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private guided tour to Chaumont-sur-Loire & Blois

Amboise

We experienced the Chateau Royal de Blois and Chaumont sur Loire during this privately guided trip and it was a truly unique day!

Quality of Experience

We were lucky to get to see the garden festival at Chaumont sur Loire.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Aurelia did an amazing job taking us through these wonderful castles and helped us get a wonderful lunch at Chaumont sur Loire. She provided lots of background and visual aids to help the figures who make up the centuries of history of these spaces come to life.

Transport

Picked up right at our hotel in a beautiful, clean, comfortable sedan and driven through the french countryside without worry for parking or navigation.

Villandry, Azay-Le-Rideau & Vouvray wine tour - Full Day

France

These Chateaux are incredible. The gardens at Villandry are once-in-a-lifetime amazing. The winery tours were interesting and fun to learn and experience the Vouvray wines of the Loire Valley.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cami is new to guiding and her enthusiasm and pride for her new profession shone through.

Transport

Small minivan, very comfortable and spacious for 6 people.

Chambord, Chenonceau & Lunch at the Château - Full Day

France

Marion did a wonderful job taking to these sites providing background and history to bring these Chateaux to life. The lunch at Villesavin was so special.

Quality of Experience

Food

The Madame at Villesavin provided an incredible lunch that was really a highlight of the entire trip.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Marion did a great job guiding us and making everyone feel welcome and included.

Transport

Self-guided visit of Le Chateau Clos Lucé (tickets only)

France

Experience the genius of DaVinci in the place where he spent the last years of his life. Marvel at his inventions and artwork that might be previously unknown to you.

Quality of Experience

Our trip was prefect. I worked with my guide to create the perfect Morrocan itinerary for July. We skipped Marrakech which was not something most guides were okay with. I completely understand but it would have been 127 degrees. We opted for northern Morocco and absolutely loved the cool breezes, hiking and remoteness.

Lots of back and forth in creating the trip to Iceland . Packed what were quite a few stops on the self driven tour putting on 1650km in essentially 6 days. The driving instructions along with the commentary was well thought out and professionally done. Weather conditions changed dramatically through the days there and the weather reports essentially were pretty erratic. On our way back from Vik we got hit with a storm that the car rental folks said was only the 4th time in the last 75 years it snowed with such fury this late in the season. Counted at least 15 cars along the way that needed to be pulled out of ditches. If you are traveling in hump seasons be sure to get road hazard protection. I did and fortunately did not have to use it. I think I included too many stops on the first day after an early morning arrival ( 5am) but better to over than under plan. Most of the hotels were very nice but small as are most in Europe. Breakfasts were very good with Langaholt the most unique, the Skuggi missing a warm bacon, egg, and sausage option. Accommodations at Hotel Vik and Langaholt quite plain, Geysir and Magma most scenic and well appointed hotel. Liked the B59 Hotel beds, nice and firm. Very much enjoyed the Freidheimar tomato lunch, and dinner at the Magma Hotel. Check in a breeze. With all the reviews and articles I read on Iceland I have to concur that layering -merino wool long johns- hiking boots, scarf, hats, and gloves especially to a 75 year old that does not enjoy cold weather were a must.

The Icelandic tour guides ( from Poland) were all very well informed and congenial so no complaints there. The people of Iceland have been able to stay focused on keeping their unique country environmentally beautiful clear of graffiti and litter and word of caution- watch out for scooters and bicycles.

TAKK

Activity Reviews

Lava Tunnel Tour

Iceland

Loved this experience,

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Explore Fjallsárlón Glacier Lagoon by Boat

Iceland

Solheimajokull Glacier Hike

Iceland

Pretty strenuous activity

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Personable/ knowledge

Blue Lagoon

Iceland

Checked the box.

Using a travel agent we didn't know, was scary. Randall was so professional and helped in such an expedient and complete way, we felt well taken care of in the planning of our 7 day adventure. Each of the four legs of our trip were awesome! The hotels were top notch, the guides were exceptional and very informative. Every tour was different and wonderful in its own way but the adrenaline rush of the zip lining was a highlight. We had a wonderful anniversary trip and would definitely recommend Kimkim to anyone.

Hotel Reviews

Sleep Inn Hotel Paseo Las Damas

San José

A perfect hotel in the center of San Jose. Breakfast was perfect for our travel day. We also felt very safe there with the guards and gates!

Authenticity & Character

It's what you would expect in the city center.

Location

Staff

They found and returned our cell phone!!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Costa Verde

Manuel Antonio

A really fun hotel spread among the forest. As said in another review, the highway noise was a bit loud but the howling monkeys and the Toucans were worth leaving the patio doors open. A huge room with hots of amenities! Not a lot of restaurants nearby unless owned by the hotel. The beach was a 5 minute walk down but a 20 minute walk up!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Jaguarundi Lodge

Monteverde

Secluded hotel with a bit of walking necessary. Restaurants, etc. were a short walk away but mostly up and down hill. Lots of fun unusual animals in the area.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arenal Country Inn

La Fortuna

Quiet and very protected from the highway. Loved it!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

San José City Tour

San José

It was nice to see the city center and hear a bit about the culture and history of the country. Our guide sat below in the double decker bus so we could not ask questions but we were serenaded with wonderful music as we drove through the city.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Catamaran and Snorkeling near Manuel Antonio

Manuel Antonio

It was a very nice afternoon and early evening. The water was quite murky so the snorkeling was not as good as I'm sure it is some days.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Manuel Antonio - Jungle Night Walk

Manuel Antonio

It had just rained but our guide worked really hard to find the frogs and insects. He did a great job!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Monteverde - Zip-lining tour at the Selvatura Park

Monteverde

Another check on our bucket list! What an adrenaline rush!! Worth the time and cost!!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Hike

Monteverde

Small but beautiful. We found many Questrals!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Volcano Hike & Baldi Hot Springs & Dinner

Arenal/La Fortuna

Our guide was really great (can't remember his name). He found a sloth in a tree on the way back down and stopped and let us all get pictures! The volcano was beautiful because it was clear that day and the hike was educational and fun (eating fruit). The Baldi Hot Springs were fun and dinner was ok.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our guide set up our return trip from the Baldi Hot Springs which we didn't expect.

Arenal Volcano - Mountain Biking

Arenal/La Fortuna

Enjoyed the ride (not too strenuous) and our guide did a great job. We heard howling monkeys on our first day's adventure, crazy!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My friend and I used Lise at Kim Kim to plan a 5 day trip through the Loire River Valley. We gave Lise the overview of what we wanted to see during our trip. From there, she filled in the details that included everything from our train ride from Paris to LRV and back, hotel, guided chateau tours, and drivers. She also did a great job of touching base periodically prior to our arrival and during the trip.
We stayed in Amboise at a lovely boutique hotel that was in a great location. The accommodations at the hotel were perfect.
The guided tours were either private (just my friend and I) or small groups (max of 8). The tour guides were knowledgeable and friendly. Because we had tour guides, we were able to skip the lines which proved invaluable. During the tours, we also had time to explore on our own.
My friend and I are from the U.S. and had not been to the LRV before. Lise did a wonderful job of taking the time and stress out of planning a trip in a different country. It was truly a delightful and memorable trip!

Hotel Review

Hôtel Au Charme Rabelaisien

Amboise

Lovely boutique hotel in a wonderful location. It's within walking distance to shops, restaurants, markets, and to most attractions around Amboise. It's also centrally located within the Loire River Valley. The staff at the hotel was super friendly and helpful. The continental breakfast was very good with fresh fruit, cereals, breads, and other light fare. Our room was a good size and very clean. Overall, we were very happy with our experience and would stay at the hotel again.

Authenticity & Character

Vintage boutique hotel with modern conveniences.

Location

Within walking distance to shops, restaurants, and to most attractions around Amboise.

Staff

Very accommodating and friendly staff.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The bed was comfortable and the room and property were very clean.

Activity Review

Chambord, Chenonceau & Lunch at the Château - Full Day

France

Visited several chateaus on our trip and Chenonceau was my favorite. The history of Chenonceau is fascinating and the grounds are beautiful. Chambord was interesting to see because of its grandeur and the double helix staircase but other chateaus have a much richer story. I'm still glad I saw it, however. The most special part of the tour was our delicious and authentically French lunch at the privately-owned Chateau. This really made for a unique and memorable experience.

Quality of Experience

If you're visiting the Loire Valley to see the chateaus, this tour shouldn't be missed.

Food

The private lunch at the Chateau was very special and delicious!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Camilla was a friendly and knowledgeable guide. She did an excellent job of explaining the history of the chateaus and region. She was also a safe driver.

Transport

Marta, our travel coordinator, was fantastic. She provided an app that gave us great information. She did a perfect job matching our vacation wishes with experiences. She continuously checked in with us to see how everything was going and if she could assist in anyway, always going above and beyond. KimKim has a gem in Marta!!
All our guides throughout Portugal, Azores and Spain were wonderful. (With the exception of the guide we had in Barcelona for our visit to Monserrat. He did not provide good information and was more interested in smoking than speaking to the group.) But, we can’t let that one incident overshadow the amazing trip we had.

Hotel Reviews

CoolRooms Palacio de Villapanés

Seville

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Gran Hotel Havana

Barcelona

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Gran Hotel Miramar

Málaga

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Noble House

Evora

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Exe Almada Porto

Porto

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pousada de Lisboa, Praça do Comércio - Monument Hotel

Lisbon

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Small-Group Montserrat & Penedès Region Winery Excursion

Barcelona

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Driver was good. Guide was poor.

Transport

Barcelona Highlights: Guided Walk & Iconic Sagrada Família

Barcelona

This was our main reason for wanting to visit Barcelona. We were not disappointed

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Taste Barcelona: Authentic Tapas & Neighborhood Walk

Barcelona

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A Free Day to Explore Málaga & Beyond

Málaga

Wandered around. Visited the Picasso Museum. (Don’t waste your money on “Skip the Line” tickets. We didn’t get in any faster than anyone else.) spent the afternoon relaxing on the beach.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunset Sailing on the Mediterranean

Málaga

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Monumental Seville on Foot & Visit Real Alcázar

Seville

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

An Evening of Flamenco

Spain

FUN!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Excursion to Alentejo - Jeep Safari Through a Cork Fork & Visit to an Olive Oil Estate

Lisbon

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver was super fun. He even took us to an optical store to get my husband’s glasses fixed.

Transport

Private Transfer {{start_location}} to {{end_location}} via Coimbra

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Driver was great. Very knowledgeable.

Transport

Day Excursion to Douro Valley: Wine Tasting & River Cruise

Porto

Our wine tasting and food pairing was the best!! Got so involved with the tasting that we decided to forego the cruise

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

An Introduction to Portuguese Wines

Porto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Guided Visit of Porto

Porto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Furnas After Dark: Dinner, Fumaroles & Thermal Pools

São Miguel Island

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sete Ciudades Jeep Adventure

São Miguel Island

Natasha, our guide, was unbelievable. She shared great info about the islands. Our adventures with her were outstanding. We felt like she was a family member by the time we parted ways.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Azorean Culinary & Wine Experience

São Miguel Island

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sintra Heritage Hike: Hidden Secrets

Portugal

Our guide was wonderful. She was flexible and fun. Had a wonderful time.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Get to Know Lisbon with a Local

Lisbon

Our guide was fantastic! Very knowledgeable and provided a great experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport