Kimkim Trip Reviews

Chris did an outstanding job working with our group of 11 people traveling to Greece. We had people flying in at different times, leaving etc and he managed it all! We had a fabulous itinerary at each place we stayed, with free time built in as well., guides were very knowledgeable and friendly, transportation in very nice luxury vans was the cherry on top!
Chris ‘s communication prior to the trip was very consistent, explaining things and accommodating our needs. He kept in touch during the trip and when rain canceled a gorge hike we were planning, he quickly pivoted and made alternate plan we thoroughly enjoyed! We were able to experience local things, street fare food, small olive oil factory, monastery with wine tasting etc.

We also met up with Chri# on the trip and it was so fun to meet him after all he planning. Thank you Chris!

We had a fabulous trip and will use Kim Kim in the future, no doubt. Worth every penny! A memorable trip with friends.

Activity Reviews

The private tour of Knossos Minoan palace

Greece

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Drive towards Heraklion - Short stop at Rethymno

Greece

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Acropolis & Flavors Combo Tour

Athens

Knowledgeable guide said she could focus on our interests too, history, mythology etc. best tour guide I have ever had! Food tasting and wines small local restaurants inside and out was so much fun!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

All Time Classic Santorini

Santorini

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Robi, who was our local specialist\guide did an amazing job planning a custom itinerary for our 10 day stay in Croatia. Robi drew from intimate local knowledge and created a trip plan that fulfilled everything we hope it would while we were in Croatia. He was always friendly, available, and responsive by phone whenever we had questions during our trip. I really couldn't have asked for more from our guide. I would recommend Robi to my family and closest friends.

Cain and Monika

Great experience using KimKim for our trip to Iceland. Emanuela was helpful obtaining hotel reservations we were unable to get on our own. She seemed to get the best rooms at the best hotels for us. Daily itineraries including maps, travel times, sights to see and places to eat were so helpful. This gave us the confidence to go out on our own to explore instead with a tour group. I would definitely use again when a first time traveler to another region of the world.

John wrote:
Andreas, our driver, was a fount of information that we were not expecting. Absolutely brilliant!

Susan wrote:
Title: Outstanding organisation and people.

"I can't speak highly enough of Thanos. He had organised for us an excellent journey which he ensured worked smoothly throughout the whole time, from beginning of our planning to the very end. Thanos was most personable and caring and it was a delight meeting him in person.

The other person I can't speak highly enough of either, was our driver, Andreas. Throughout the four days with him, his driving was fantastic, he was great company, thoughtful, helpful and was there for us every step of the way. We gained from Andreas a lot of knowledge about modern Greece.

All the guides were superb, especially Alex, who guided us through the Acropolis.

We appreciated the great hotels chosen for us.

Thank you Thanos and Kimkim."

Dalia is a fabulous travel specialist. After talking to us through emails and phone calls, we were able to decide where we wanted to go for our 2 week trip to Spain, and what we wanted to do when we got there. We went to Madrid, Toledo, Sevilla, Granada, Cartegena, Valencia and Barcelona. With her help she booked us into super nice - but also within our budget - hotels that were very close to the city centers and the attractions we wanted to go to, which included museums, parks, Roman ruins, cultural events and good places to eat. Dalia lives in Spain and speaks perfect English as well, and was ALWAYS available to communicate with us before and during our trip, but the time difference to the US made it easier once we got to Spain. While we were there, she would instantly respond to any questions I had about language, customs, etc.
We were booked with several tours including the Alhambra in Granada, the Roman ruins at Italica, a winery tour and Toledo, and the Gaudi tour in Barcelona. I want to give a special mention to Enrique, our guide to Alhambra, who was the nicest person and so educated about his city in general. He was born there. We took his suggestion for a restaurent and had a wonderful meal there, and he was there with his wife. He even came over to our table and bought my appetizer! I'm glad we tip well in general but he didn't need to do that. Also, our guide in Italica (what was his name???) was fabulous and funny. And our guide in Toledo spent some free time showing us around the cathedral when he didn't have to before our wonderful winery tour.
With Dalia's help she rented a car for us, got us 2 sets of train tickets and timed tickets for the Prado. I absolutely always felt supported by her, as much as if I had a friend on hand who was able to answer all my questions.
This is our third trip booking through KimKim and they honestly do a really good job at finding the right people to help travelers get around an unfamiliar country on their own.

Activity Reviews

Barcelona: Sagrada Familia and Park Guell - Afternoon Tour

Barcelona

We went with a big tour and that is not so much our style. However, we did get to see everything - the Sagrada Familia and the Park Guell, and they are spectacular. I would suggest to either have a private tour or go on your own with information so you know what you are seeing because these are out of this world sights and emblematic of Barcelona. Once you see them, you will know what all the fuss is about, believe me.

Quality of Experience

smaller tour

Alhambra Private Guided Tour

Spain

Such an interesting palace with a rich history! Wear good walking shoes. Enrique was our guide and he was just the best. He grew up in Granada and told us about so much history, not just of Alhambra but also of Granada and it's people. He has been doing tours there for so long that every single person who worked there greeted us and I told him he was like the "Mayor of Alhambra". :)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Day trip to Italica

Seville

Such an interesting place and only a 1/2 hour outside of Sevilla! Really if you like Roman ruins you have to see this place. They filmed the last GOT episode here! Our guide, Alfonso Jose, was amazing. Funny, well-read and passionate about the subject. Great 1/2 day, worth the time and money.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Toledo group tour

Spain

Toledo was an interesting old city but the best part of our time there was our guide took us around the Cathedral and he was good, I think his name was Majed. Also we went to a winery afterwards and that was excellent. The woman was warm and funny and smart who showed us around and did the wine tasting with us. We bought some to take home and my husband told me I asked him what we can throw away in our carry on so we can get my wine home! It was a fun day all around.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Just returned from a 10 day trip to Peru. Jessica at Kim Kim was amazing throughout the booking process and all the way along. She was very attentive to our numerous questions and had great suggestions for hotels and timing of the entire trip.

We did the Cusco City Tour, the 4 day Inca Trail trek, Sacred Valley Tour and Rainbow Mountain hike. Edy was our local guide throughout and was fantastic- personable, kind, always prompt, and very knowledgeable. Edwin was our chef for the trick - unbelievable what he was able to cook while camping and our 9 Quechuas (porters) were all super sweet. It is incredible what they carry and how they run the trails.

The trek is challenging - but very doable if you are in shape. We only did a little bit of training - and oh, the views!!Spectacular - especially the view of Machu Pichu from the Sun Gate. And our last camp site was up high in the mountains - just gorgeous.

Rainbow Mountain is touristy - but really not that bad. We had reservations about how touristy it would be but the hike and views from the summit are well worth it. OUr drive was 2.5 hours there from Cusco and 3.5 hours back (traffic in Cusco is heavier at the end of the day). They break it up with breakfast on the way there and lunch on the way home so it didn’t seem that long.

I would highly recommend Peru for both a cultural and a hiking experience. We had no troubles at all with any political protests and felt safe the entire time - even walking in Cusco at night.

Hotel Reviews

Camping

We tent camped during the Inca Trail trek. The experience was good, despite the rain.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

El Albergue Ollantaytambo Boutique Hotel

Cusco

The hotel was fantastic, and we wish we had more time to spend there. The location was great, right beside the train station.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa Andina Premium Cusco

Cusco

The Casa Andina Premium Cusco was a fantastic hotel with great service, good food, a lovely room, and a quiet location. Highly recommended.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Costa del Sol Wyndham Lima Airport

Lima

The hotel was convenient, being right across the road from the airport. It was a good place to stay for a quick overnight due to our flight times.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Rainbow Mountain Trek

Peru

The Rainbow Mountain Trek was better than anticipated. Although touristy, the actual hike was picturesque, and the snow on the mountains made it even more beautiful. We had a headache afterward due to the altitude, but it was worth it.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lunch at Mountainview

Peru

The lunch at Mountainview was unbelievable - both the food and the view were incredible.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sacred Valley Tour (Ollantaytambo- Maras- Pisac )

Peru

The Sacred Valley Tour was fantastic, and the lunch at Mountainview was incredible. The view and the food were both amazing.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Inca Trail Day 1/4: Cusco- Ollantaytambo to Wayllabamba

Peru

The Inca Trail trek was great, despite the rain. We had porters, who were essential, and all our meals were included. The only downside was the boxed breakfast on the last day, which was not very good. We recommend bringing your own snacks.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trek Briefing

Peru

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Cusco Tour

Peru

The Cusco City Tour was very good, and our guide was fantastic. We had him the entire time, which was a great experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fly from Lima to Cusco, Explore the City

Peru

Cusco is an amazing city, although the altitude is intense. We definitely noticed it in our hotel, but overall, it was an enjoyable experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We just got back from our honeymoon in Norway and the team here was nothing short of amazing. Within our 10 day trip we were able to see so much and go to so many places thanks to the help we received. Our local specialist was Krista and she was extremely helpful from the very beginning. There was a lot we wanted to do in a short amount of time and we were able to get so much done due to the planning she did. We also had help from Julia, Fenne, and Meree before our trip and during our trip when we had questions. One of the best things were the tours they helped us set up. Seeing the beauty of the fjords as close as we did is a memory we will never forget. Going to Cornelius restaurant was also a highlight of our trip. When we went there we were not sure what to expect but as soon as the food started coming out we got to try food that I probably would have never tried before and I am so glad I did. We still talk about how amazing the fish was. I tell anyone who asks to book through here because they are so knowledgeable and helpful. We are already talking about when we will be going back and how we will be using here again!

Activity Reviews

Day trip to Nærøyfjord, Flåm and Stegastein

Bergen

The scenery on this trip is beautiful. We had an amazing tour guide Steg, who kept us entertained and gave us so much information. When there was construction at a tunnel it messed our time line up a little and he rearranged our day a bit and you would have not even known the day was not as planned.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Steg was the perfect guide. I ended up sitting close to him and got to talk to him a lot throughout the trip. You can tell he truly loves his job.

Transport

Mostraumen Fjord Cruise

Bergen

The views from this cruise were some of the prettiest views I have ever seen. The captain made sure to slow the boat down and get up close to waterfalls and scenery he knew everyone would want pictures with.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fjord Cruise & Seafood Dining Experience

Bergen

The food was fresh and delicious. Having Cornelius pick us up in his boat and bring us to the restaurant made it so special.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our honeymoon trip to Portugal was absolutely amazing! I'm an event/travel planner in my day job, so I know I could've planned the trip on my own, but working with Kimkim and our specialist Beatriz made the planning experience SO much quicker and I appreciate all the time they saved me! I loved how we were able to customize our itinerary, ask specific questions, and tailor the whole experience to our interests + Beatriz was super responsive during our travels in case we had questions or last minute change requests (which was super reassuring). All of our onsite tour guides were all so friendly, knowledgeable, and passionate about making sure we had the best time. A few stand out experiences that we highly recommend: Duomo valley tour (100% ask to book a Quintas lunch experience!!!), our private cooking class in Porto (huge shout out to Vitor!) , and our kayaking excursion to the Bengali caves in Algarves. The hotel recommendations were fantastic as well - all located in convenient, central locations and were usually walking distance to our tours. Thank you kimkim and Beatriz for an amazing experience and we look forward to planning our next trip with you soon!

Hotel Reviews

The Editory House Ribeira

Porto

AMAZING location and great breakfast! Appreciated the complimentary port glass upon check in. Rooms are a bit smaller, but didn't matter too much since we didn't spend much time there besides sleeping!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

PortoBay Marquês

Lisbon

Great location and clean rooms!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

We had some issues with our wifi device being delivered and they were so helpful in rescheduling our delivery!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Octant Évora

Évora

Absolutely stunning resort property - we just wish we had more time to spend there since there is so much to do! Multiple pools, planned activities, onsite restaurant, farm/garden, hikes, the spa, etc.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

We were late to the breakfast buffet and they had already cleaned it up, but their staff went above and beyond to fetch us two plates from the kitchen!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Boutique Hotel Vivenda Miranda

Lagos

Stunning views, convenient location! The decor has a bit of quirkiness to it, but still felt high end!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Day Excursion to Douro Valley: Wine Tasting & River Cruise

Porto

Rui was an amazing guide and really hooked us up with such a special, delicious lunch/wine tasting experience at a local quinta. A highlight of the trip!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hands-On Cooking Class with a Local Chef

Porto

Vitor was the best! Amazing company, laughs, and food. We have a new friend for life :)

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Day Excursion: Sintra, Cascais & Estoril

Portugal

Marta was absolutely amazing and beyond accommodating! She really knew all the secret back roads, local spots, and most interesting facts about all the locations we visited. We appreciated that we didn't have to wait in any lines and chose some of the "off the beaten path" places to visit - just our style! :)

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hello- The sightseeing plan and accommodations arranged by Kim-Kim were done well. I gave four stars instead of five as I felt there were three events where we needed more insight to aid in our planning. First, May 1 was a holiday in Zurich so museums were closed. We did have a wonderful walking tour that morning but had limited options in the afternoon. Had we known this was a holiday we may have chosen to go to Lucerne first. Second, the mini cruise would have been better if we had known in advance to download the app so we could listen to a tour guide while taking our cruise. Lastly, the Top of Europe was wonderful but extremely crowded. Once there we saw that some guests had “Priority Boarding” and they were able skip the long line. We would have liked to have known about this option prior to our trip as we may have taken advantage of it.

Our tour guide (Albert) was extremely knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. We enjoyed him very much. We want to also acknowledge the excellent staff at our hotel in Lucerne (Hotel Restock). They were extremely friendly and helpful.

Hotel Reviews

Ruby Mimi Zurich

Zurich

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The staff often seemed to rushed to answer questions thoroughly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Rebstock

Luzern

Wonderful staff! Very helpful and friendly.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Everyone on staff that we encountered was friendly, helpful and pleasant.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Zürich city guided walking tour

Switzerland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We went on a five night trip to Oxford, the Cotswolds, Stratford upon Avon, and Bath. We had a wonderful time in each place, and realized we could go back and spend more time in Oxford and Bath, in particular. My very favorite memory of our whole trip was sitting on the balcony of our room at The Old Bank Hotel, at eye level with some amazing architecture (University Church of St. Mary the Virgin), drinking a glass of wine and listening to the bells chime. Rapturous!

The planning of the trip was really well done - good communication with the team, primarily with our #1 guide, Jane.
After looking back at all of the itinerary suggestions made by Jane, I actually wish we had followed her original advice at the very beginning. She definitely knew better than we did what should have been our priorities. :)

Jane was also a fantastic guide while we were actually on the trip. It was very much a comfort to be able to ask her a question via text whenever we needed to, about anything. She even rang us a couple of times, just for absolute clarity.

We had a few troubles with delayed or cancelled train trips and Jane was easily contacted and kindly supportive throughout.

If there is any suggestion I could make for better service, it would be to have someone on the team confirm the train schedule for the travelers on the day and then send a text to say “All is well” or “Things have changed”, so we could have planned accordingly.

Overall, we are very happy with our experience with KimKim and will be looking into working with them again on a future trip to Australia.

Morocco is an diverse and amazing country. We had great experiences with Salaam as our driver and Said as our tour guide in Fez. The trip was arduous. We traveled many miles over road construction over the Atlas Mountains bounced around for hours in the vehicle. Many of our hotels had difficult access and treacherous stairs to navigate. In the future, it might be advised you consider the ages of your tourist.

Carl was super helpful he suggested out of the box destinations that were a perfect fit with what we wanted. Every place we visited was awsome. His attention to me and my family were great.

Hotel Reviews

Sandman Hotel & Suites Kelowna

Kelowna, British Columbia

The hotel was not very centric, it was very old, the rooms we got did not have lighting and illumination, felt very dark. The carpets were not clean, they did not have a safe in the bedroom, the door did not close correclt, the staff did not make your bed or clean your room. They did not have a restaurant and overall not a very good experience.

Authenticity & Character

Very old hotel needs a revamp

Location

Very far away from downtown

Staff

They did not clean the rooms unless told to

Cleanliness & Comfort

very old, beds were not done properly, old AC and dirty carpets

Chateau Victoria Hotel and Suites

Victoria

Super nice hotel nice and fair tariff and tha location was great, very local, people were very nice and the rooms were super comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Loved all the detail the shampoo, the architecture, the views

Location

Awsome location very centric close to everything nice neighborhood

Staff

Super nice and helpfull during the visit

Cleanliness & Comfort

From all my hotels the very very best

Holiday Inn Vancouver Centre, an IHG Hotel

Vancouver

The Hotel was ok but the location isn't that pretty. The rooms did not have a safe in the bedroom so there was no safe place to store passports and computers. Parking was not included and was expensive per day.

Authenticity & Character

Very Standard Holiday inn hotel

Location

The Area could be better and more centric

Staff

Helpfull and spoke spanish

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds coul be impoved

Activity Reviews

Arrive in Kelowna

Kelowna

Loved the town but would have liked more suggestions on what to do there

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Victoria to Vancouver, Depart (2 h 30 min)

Victoria

We bought the tickets ourselves

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Capilano Suspension Bridge Park

Vancouver

Loved this park it was one of the best suggestions !!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

we did not have one

Transport

we drove ourselves

We had an AMAZING Family Vacation to Greece! Chris at KimKim absolutely hit this out of the park!!! The detail and planning that went into to trip was second to none. Every single aspect of this trip was perfection. Beginning with the initial planning phone call with our specialist Chris - all of way to our arrival at the airport to return home was handled with precision. After speaking with Chris and sharing the types of activities an experiences we were hoping for - he went right to work! He had the first draft of our itinerary to us within 48 hours!!

The most difficult part of this whole experience was just waiting until it was time to go!

The transportation provided by Lampros was timely and courteous. We especially enjoyed visiting with Kennedy - he was very personable and friendly. Aris with Nafplio Luxury Tours was amazing during our all day tours of Delphi and Nafplio. He was always on time delivering us to our many tours, and was waiting to pick us up afterward. We had two very full days (8 - 10 hours) of sightseeing and experiences and he was professional and kind throughout! He was dressed to the nines and we felt like celebrities getting driven around in such style.

Our hotel, Athens Manor House was situated in the heart of the city - and the staff was fantastic! They carried our bags to our rooms for us, and even allowed us to leave a suitcase there while we jetted off to Santorini for a few days in the middle of our vacation. It was located near many restaurants, shopping, and within walking distance of the Acropolis.

Hilda, our guide on our hike in Delphi was a treat!! She was so knowledgeable and just a joy to spend time with! We were so impressed with Mer Des Oliviers. We learned so much and had a fantastic lunch! The view of the “Sea of Olives” was impressive.

Georgia, our guide at the Delphi Archaeological Museum was out of this world! First of all, we were blown away that she is an actual archaeologist! She taught us so much and was able to explain things in both an interesting and informative way. We loved it!

George at Landlife Travel was a treat! He was also extremely personable and provided such a memorable kayaking experience. He provided us with dozens of pictures of the experience afterward that he and his team had taken along the way.

The entire vacation was amazing - but our time in Santorini was absolutely spectacular! I can not say enough about Lithies Traditional Homes. The property is stunning and the view took our breath away. Maria and Sony went out of their way to make sure every single aspect of our stay was top notch. We will 100% return to this property - in fact I am devastated that I had to leave!!!

Southside Bicycling Tours provided a fun and adventurous e-bike tour of the island. Vasileios and Katarina did a great job showing us some beautiful sites on the other side of the island and provided us with fun and interesting information about Santorini along the way.

We had scheduled a family photo shoot while we were there - and ouR photographer, Tasos Aggelou was fantastic! He knew all of the best places to take us to capture iconic photos of the blue domes and breathtaking sunsets! These photos will be family treasures!!

We capped off our time in Santorini with a Catamaran Cruise with Vista Yachting and it was a blast! Cruising around to several beaches and getting to swim in the natural hot springs - what a way to end out time on the island!

After arriving back in Athens, of course we visited the Acropolis with a private guide, Sophia. Once again, as with all of our guides, she whisked us to the front of the line - and was able to navigate us to all of the best locations for pictures while providing us with tons of interesting and historical information.

There is no way that we could have planned out all of the details of this trip and ended up with the flawless results that we had without KimKim - and especially without Chris and his team! He arranged dinner reservations for us at the most incredible restaurants (including rooftop seating at one location), selected the PERFECT accommodations, make all of the transportation arrangements as well as all of the activities and tours. We just showed up and got to enjoy all of it!

Chris, and his colleagues - Christos, Ina, Marianna, Marina stayed in communication with us throughout our trip. They were prompt to respond to questions that we had, and they checked in on us and provided updates along the way. I cannot recommend KimKim highly enough…..and if you are going to Greece - you 100% need to ask Chris to plan your trip!! There literally isn’t one thing about this trip that could have been planned better!

Hotel Reviews

Lithies Traditional Homes

Thíra

OMG! If absolutely breathtaking views, and getting treated like a celebrity is your idea of a perfect vacation - there is NO WHERE else you should go! Maria and Sony at Lithies Traditional Homes were amazing! This was my idea of heaven on Earth! 100% certain that we will return!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Athens Manor Houses

Athens

Perfect location, amazing staff - we had an incredible stay!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to restaurants and shopping - within walking distance of everything….including the Acropolis!!

Staff

Very helpful and accommodating!!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Photo shoot in Santorini

Santorini

These pictures will be family treasures!! Tasos Aggelou was amazing!! He knew exactly where to take us in the island to capture the most spectacular photos!! Absolutely breathtaking!!!

Quality of Experience

Nafplio Sea Kayak & Picnic

Nafplio

What amazing views!!! George and his team were so much fun!!! They even took pictures throughout the day and emailed them to us! 10/10 would recommend this!!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

George and his team were amazing!!!

Private Delphi Day Trip with Hike

Athens

Hilda was amazing! Very personable and outgoing! She was a joy to spend the day with!!

Quality of Experience

The Sea of Olives was so cool!!

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hilda was awesome!

Transport

Southside Cycling Tour

Greece

SO.MUCH.FUN. I was a little worried when I saw how hilly Santorini was - but there were no issues whatsoever with the E-Bikes! I had never ridden an electric bike before - but after a quick lesson it was a breeze! What a great way to see the island, and have so much fun along the way!!

Quality of Experience

We would 100% do this again!! It was a blast!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great trip well organized Marina is amazing

Japan is an amazing country! We really loved our trip there! I'm so glad we had KimKim to help us plan a lot of the logistics, book, lodging, and make recommendations for experiences. I really loved all of the hotels that we stayed at. And the sushi making class that we did, renting kimonos in Kyoto, as well as staying in Hakone to experience natural hot springs. Christine also made reservations for us at an incredible restaurant called Nadaman which was a 5 star meal. The one thing I would have loved more of is more recommendations for restaurants and places to eat. We understood that a lot of restaurants were already booked up for Golden Week, and that reservations were not always possible. However, it would have been great to have a list of a few casual, walk-in type of restaurants/eating establishments that we could check out. We did have to do a bit of our own research, which is fine, but some guiding parameters from KimKim would have been really great. We were expecting a little more help and guidance with where to eat, which was really important for us as travelers!

My family and I had a fantastic experience with Jenny and KimKim overall. It was such a memorable experience. We wanted an adventure style vacation with our 2 young sons, and this didn't disappoint. Jenny took all of my feedback on the type of vacation we wanted and she curated a wonderful itinerary that hit all of the sites and excursions we wanted to see/do all within our budget and timeline. We will absolutely be back to Iceland and will use KimKim for my future vacations.

Hotel Reviews

Fosshotel Baron

Reykjavík

Great location - you can walk and don't need a car. Very clean and great breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hunkubakkar Guesthouse

Kirkjubæjarklaustur

Comfortable and quiet guesthouses that are in a great spot if you are traveling on the south coast. Very friendly staff, nice breakfast. Quiet and clean.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Eldhestar

Ölfus, Hveragerði

Wonderful hotel - clean and quiet close to our daily activities and with an awesome horseback riding experience.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Horses and Hotsprings

Iceland

We loved this experience. It was more than just horseback riding on a farm. We went with a great tour and it was a real horseback riding adventure that took your experience into account.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Khaled was far the best guide we had ever had compared to past trips. He was kind, cordial, professional, fluent in English, exceptional knowledgeable in the Egyptian culture and all the places we attended. He was outstanding! Relied on him for other ideas and assistance in obtaining information we needed and he came through with flying colors! I give him 5 stars plus! He deserves a raise! Khaled, I felt went beyond the call of duty.
Muhamond(sp) also did a great job, greeted us with smiles and kindness, assisting and directing us through airports, and to our hotels. He also assisted the students with luggage that did not arrive in time. Very Professional in mannerism. He communicated with others to reassure that we arrived safely and efficiently to our destinations. 5 stars to him as well.
All the other guides and the bus drives were also kind, professional, helpful and we always made it to our destinations in a timely manner and safely. Thank you also for the security guides(I know the government secured them for all travelers in groups, but they were excellent) to be sure of our safety), all were professional and on the alert. I would highly recommend your company to everyone I meet to use you.

Activity Reviews

Free Day

Cairo

Great adventure heading to Alexandria from Cairo, only about 2 1/2 hours away. Relaxing and enjoyed the sites that we saw. The Catacomb was amazing, as well as the Pompeii Pillar with artifacts from Cleopatra's Palace and the Old Lighthouse which are both underwater due to an Earthquake, however you can see some of the pillars, underwater. Lunch on the Mediterranean Sea Fish Market-amazing lunch. Beautiful water and relaxing. The Citadel was also fantastic to see as well the walk around the area, found the perfect gift for my grandson, turned 4 on the day I bought it!

Quality of Experience

Food

Fantastic food Fish Market

Guides, Drivers and Staff

All of it!

Transport

The transportation was great

Sharm El Sheikh

Sharm el-Sheikh

Excellent Hotel, recommend Safir Water falls hotel, a beautiful place and on the Red Sea where you can rent your snorkeling to swim around the area and see colorful fish. Food is buffet style, variety and great tasting. The hotel has multiple pools for leisure and lovely areas to relax by the sea as well as a great spa. The rooms are beautiful and the service is great. Everyone greets you with kindness and they are helpful when you need assistance. They do have a doctor on site, which was great because some of our passengers had serious colds and were taken care of immediately. Close to the old market and Farsha Cafe is a must place to see during day and evening. It is on the Red Sea and has multi-levels. Variety of drinks are served, with music and so much more.

Quality of Experience

Food

Buffet style great food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Easy to get around by Taxi

Transport

Sharm El Sheikh

Sharm el-Sheikh

Sharm El Sheikh most beautiful place by the Red Sea. Snorkeling was fantastic, the fish were unbelievable, and the Boat ride was incredible

Quality of Experience

The captain made the adventure fun and exciting with all of his tricks, etc.

Food

great lunch, healthy and tasty

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Yes, all the crew, especially the captain were amazing, helpful to those who are novice at snorkeling, and the captain added so much more, it was a great adventure. I was grateful I had an underwater camera, as I captured some beautiful shots of fish and coral, as well as video taped the, and was able to use the camera under water as well as land.

Transport

St Catherine - Sharm El Sheikh

St Catherine

St. Catherine is not only beautiful, but very sacred as it holds the generations of the burning bush which still thrives after 1000 years +, it also holds the famous well that Moses helped others (women) to draw water from. The stories continues inside the walls of this special place. Its another must place to see.

Quality of Experience

Food

the food was very good, a nice variety to choose from

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

West & East Bank Luxor

Luxor

The temples/ tomb of Hatshepsut very impressive especially the stories that as a woman she chose to dress as a man or be masculine at times, but, she also brought great wealth and artistry to her land. Of course, King Tut, you must be sure to go in to that tomb site. Amazing to see King Tut inside as well as some of the carvings/drawing on the walls depicting some of his life missions. The other temples/ tombs and Pharoahs were all of interest having their own legacy of fascinating stories. You don't want to miss these fascinating tombs. At one point we also saw the famous Dam that helps the Nile maintains an even flow throughout Egypt. We also enjoyed the workshop on alabaster, papyrus and healing herbs.

Quality of Experience

Great experience and great guide who was very knowledgeable

Food

Great, always healthy.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Safety always first with all of our drivers

Transport

Comfortable upscale Vans

Grand Egyptian Museum & Old Cairo Mosques

Cairo

the Museum is a must place to go!The Christian/Catholic Church and the story about the holy family entering Egypt a sacred place.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Swimming in the Nile - Visit the Local village - Gebel El Silsela

Egypt

I did share Kom Ombo temple in another area, but a couple of pictures I did add to this photo gallery. The trip down the Nile was an extraordinary adventure that no one should miss, with a private boat. My pictures here showcases the village people and families we encountered, but, also the boat crew, who were superb, along with just being in and around the Nile on this awesome journey. A

Quality of Experience

Just see above, it was just really great

Food

outstanding!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The boat and staff were amazing!

Transport

The boat ride was fantastic!

Edfu - El Kab - Esna

Edfu

A gain another beautiful temple with much of its original symbols and sculptures intact, love the horse and carriage ride through the town, driver was great too

Quality of Experience

Food

Always good and healthy food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Love the horse and carriage drive through the town and it was very helpful so one didn't have to walk too far to enjoy this temple

Transport

Great horse and carriage ride with driver, who was amusing but, shared the reins with me, a great experience

Abu Simbel - Kom Ombo

Egypt

Love the sunset tour of the temple and how the light gives it an extra flare

Quality of Experience

Transport

we walked to the temple, easy walk

Aswan

Aswan

Quality of Experience

Khaled again amazing guide

Food

good food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The people on the boat were curtious

Transport

Love the boat adventures

Cairo - St Catherine

Egypt

Early morning adventure, but well worth it! The sacred place was one of the best experience we could have imagined. Using the camels was far better than I thought it would be, so serene and the stars were so mesmerizing! Thank you Khaled for this recommendation!The camels made the climb easier, and the rest of it was up to us! To be where Moses received the 10 commandments couldn’t be any better experience! Love the sunrise as well, (especially with the camels) breathtaking, was very spiritual experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

All of it, but it was a short stay, however I knew we had to get going to our next place! An incredible journey so far

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The camels!

Day Tour to Pyramids, Sphinx & Sakkara and Dahshour

Cairo

It was amazing to see these sites, the ancient Pyramids, the Spynx & more. We felt in awe that they are still around all these years. The weather was 104, but the breeze was cool and it didn’t affect us that much, as our guide made sure we were there early before it became too hot. Unusual for this time of year we were told.

Quality of Experience

The ease of getting there and just the fact we could explore inside and outside the Pyramids

Food

All the food was great, but sometimes for dinner and lunch we seemed to have the same entrees, but all good. However, all breakfast outstanding when we were not traveling early mornings, but we always received a nice box to go. Excellent food on the Nile, and in the hotels where we stayed for several days

Guides, Drivers and Staff

That we always felt comfortable, safe and treated with respect.

Transport

The drivers were well mannered, kind and brought us to our destination safely.

Our flight to Ireland was delayed by a day. Rachel rearranged everything for us so that although of course we were more rushed, we didn’t miss a thing. She was always available in country. Excellent service

Hotel Reviews

The Imperial Hotel

Cork

Great location. Nice rooms staff couldn’t have been more helpful

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was nice but I hate separate hot and cold water taps

Monks Inn & Famous Restaurant

Beautiful room with lovely room. Even had a washing machine which we took advantage of

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Just a bit of confusion at check

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ballyseede Castle

Tralee

I think this is a great place for a wedding or if you want to get away and do nothing and sit on the lawn but not in the best shape

Authenticity & Character

It is a castle

Location

Staff

They weren’t very visible. Food staff was nice

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bayview Hotel

Bushmills

Beautiful views. Nicely appointed rooms

Authenticity & Character

Location

This is for people who want to be away with nice views. Fairly close to giants causeway

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Fleet

Dublin

very nice staff, good room, very pretty atmosphere! Breakfast was great. Good location

Authenticity & Character

Very pretty lobby and exterior

Location

Staff

Gave great recommendations and were very accomodating

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Dublin Walking Tour

Dublin

Sam was a great guide. Highly recommend him

Black Cab Tour

Belfast

Joe was friendly, charming and extremely knowledgeable. A must do

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trip was well organized. Transit from Lisbon to Carvoeiro via coast & Sagres was good. Carvoeira hotel & location was great. Caves boat tour was spectacular . Monchique/Foia was not very interesting. Day trip to Silves & Lagos was great. Same local guide for most of the local tours - good guide & flexibility (e.g, changed Tavira walking tour to trip to Castro Marim & across border to Spain to Ayamonte). Rio Fomosa boat tour - would have done the shorter excursion option . The only issue was the transit from Tavira to Lisbon. The driver was one hour late, as he was given the wrong hotel location.

The trip plan app was great for providing information

Anna-Maria planned this trip thoughtfully from beginning to end. Every guide she selected was terrific-from our first tour guide in Zagreb (Josepa) to the kayak leader (Tony), as well as the people who led us on a food guide in Split, a bike tour of Hvar Island, and finally a historical tour of Dubrovnik, all were first class! Additionally, the drivers she coordinated were all friendly and professional. We saw so much of Croatia and covered a lot of ground in the ten days we were there, but it never felt rushed or like we were trying to pack too much in.

The hotels she selected were also comfortable, convenient, and just what was needed after a day of travel or sightseeing. They were all right in the middle of the action without being chaotic or noisy.

I had such a good time on this trip that I would like to go again, as I would see and learn new things again. I would book again with KimKim and Anna-Maria; it was truly a trip of a lifetime!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Lero

Dubrovnik

The location was terrific, but the hotel had a few quirks. The building was reasonably modern but did feel a bit dated. The shower was terrible, however--the shower door on the tub leaked like crazy, so the bathroom floor got wet during and after a shower, requiring several towels to mop up the mess. The hotel bar, pool, and restaurant were all nice amenities!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Heritage Hotel Dea

Hvar

I loved staying in Hvar and this hotel added to the experience. The town was so lovely and warm, and this felt like being in a hidden Mediterranean villa with its location and open windows both in the room and the open courtyard of the hotel restaurant. The shower and toilet configuration were a bit awkward and the room got very wet from not having a shower door, but this was remedied with several towels. Breakfast was delicious, and the staff, while fairly incognito, were professional.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Slavija

Split

Amazing historical hotel in the Diocletian palace. The bathroom was a little bit small, and the shower was a bit difficult to manage. However, the on-site restaurant and location made up for these slight inconveniences. The hotel had a lot of character to make for an enjoyable stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Teatro Verdi Boutique Hotel

Zadar

Convenient hotel located in the heart of Zadar. Lots of character, with professional staff and a good restaurant on site. The room was lovely, and the bathroom was surprisingly large compared to some of the hotels we had stayed in. This was a charming place to spend the night in Zadar, and I would stay again if given the opportunity.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Plitvice Holiday Resort

Grabovac

The hotel was generally fine, but our room was not what I expected. One king bed was provided for my traveling buddy and me (we are not married), and the room was a bit small with a very small bathroom. The shower was so small that the temperature would scald or freeze me if I accidentally bumped into the faucet. It felt more like camping than staying in a hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hilton Canopy

Zagreb

Convenient, modern, and well-maintained with many amenities not found in the older historical hotels (gym, transfer room with shower, full restaurant and bar). My favorite of the hotels we stayed in while in Croatia and a great place to stay in Zagreb!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Walking Tour of Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik

This was probably the best tour I have ever been on. Our guide (whose name I have unfortunately forgotten) made it the best day. It was like walking with a friend as he took us around Dubrovnik, sharing stories, history, and, most importantly, his honest perspective and opinion. I appreciated how he could speak his mind but handled topics sensitively and appropriately (specifically, when speaking about the internal war in the 1990s). Dubrovnik might be my favorite place in Croatia because of its beauty and history. Learning about it added richness and depth to the trip, and I 100% attribute this to the guide. He was a 10/10!

Quality of Experience

Food

Our guide's food recommendation for lunch was amazing. I would have never gone to that restaurant, but it was such a treat!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Probably the best tour guide I've ever met. He was top notch!

Transport

Cycling Tour around Ancient Pharos (Stari Grad)

Hvar

Our driver, the tour operator, and the cycling guide were all world-class! This was a highlight of the trip for me. I loved seeing the other side of Hvar Island, and especially loved being out on a bike, able to move faster than walking but not being in a car. I never felt unsafe on the roads, and I appreciated the new bike and helmet. I am an avid cyclist at home so this was not a terribly challenging ride, but we did see a lot of the island, experienced some of the small villages, and got so much perspective on things from our cycling guide. I have forgotten her name, but I do want to send along my thanks for being so hospitable and open. She was amazing!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Split Food & History walking tour

Split

Seeing the farmers market and meeting the vendors was a real treat. I wouldn't have had the courage to go up and talk to vendors, but we got to learn about food production and what makes Croatia unique from an agricultural and culinary perspective. Our guide was warm and fun, and she took us through the Diocletian palace with some great stories of the history and culture. The food was also amazing--I enjoyed our lunch very much and feel like I got a good sample of Croatian dishes on this tour.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kayaking Mreznica Canyon

Croatia

I was a little hesitant at first about the kayaking adventure (it wasn't clear what the skill level would be, and it seemed like we would go into a waterfall right away), but our guide Tony was so helpful and patient. He is knowledgeable about the area and truly loves his job. He was a top-notch outdoorsman. We had three other people on the kayaking trip with us which was a fun way to meet some other people and experience the beautiful Mreznica Canyon with other travelers.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private guided tour of Zagreb

Zagreb

The tour started with a glitch--we couldn't find our guide and were sent to the wrong location--but she stuck around for us and gave us a fantastic tour of the city. I learned so much and really enjoyed the insider's view of Zagreb. The tour was just the right length--we got to see the sights, and some hidden history and had time for a few recommendations for dinner--and then we were able to go on our way for the evening with plenty of time to spare. This tour guide was amazing--truly a global citizen and knowledgeable about Croatia and the world at large!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport