Kimkim Trip Reviews

1. Nikola did a remarkable job. He knows his business.
2. Lodgings were all to your satisfaction or better.
3. The rental car was small, but we got by.
4. The tours and recommendations were outstanding. The guides were well-informed and knew the right places to visit. They set the pace for us, and their English was as good as ours.
5. Nikola's recommended routes took us to a great location with scenery we had never seen before. The mountains, lookouts, and passes were super scenic.
6. The whole experience was one of the best we have had.
7. Teenage grandsons had great fun on the river rafting trip.
8 Nikola led us to restaurants with enjoyable food, especially unique Slovenian food and beer.

Hotel Reviews

Tromostovje Apartments

Ljubljana

Clean and comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

best location in the city

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Plesnik

Solčava

Great location in the valley, with wonderful views.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

No A/C, during very hot days,

Veldes B&B

Bled

Very new building with all the comforts of home.

Authenticity & Character

Good breakfast

Location

Need to drive to places in Bled

Staff

The host ( I think she was the owner) was extremely helpful and fiendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Spotless

Hotel Soča

Bovec

This is a top-notch hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The staff was courteous and friendly, on top of everything.

Cleanliness & Comfort

extremely so.

Boutique Hotel Portorose

Portorož

An older hotel that is up-to-date in the respects you want.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Need to walk or take a bus to Piran, but a block from swimming places on the Adriatic Sea.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Walking Tour of Ljubljana

Slovenia

Perfect guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

on foot

Discover Bled Town and Enjoy Pletna Boat Ride

Bled

Wonderful guide, very friendly and fun.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

on foot, lots of walking.

Rafting Experience on Soča River

Slovenia

The top of our grandson's trip.

Postojna Cave Tour

Slovenia

A unique visit of the cave. It was a well-planned tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The train ride was special, lots of walking too.

We loved our trip (despite being sick on 7/11 and missing Fjaerland). We particularly enjoyed the ferry and train trips! Great service and everything runs on time. Very impressive.
We loved Bergen (so much to see and do) and had fun in Balestrand and Flam. The hotels and breakfasts were very good. We found it interesting that you can not adjust the heat in each room…it’s done by management for each floor.
Thank you for your planning and answering our questions before the trip. Great service.
We hope to travel with you again. Win & Cinda Johnson

To plan our Norway trip we worked mostly with Maria (and some with Fenne), both of whom were very helpful in figuring out the best itinerary for us. We had a few things we wanted to do and they helped plan the rest of the trip around them. We had an amazing time in Norway. Most of our outdoor activities had fantastic weather. We also greatly appreciated our private airport transfers. The highlights of the trip were Bergen, Trolltunga hike, kayaking, fjord sauna, e-bikes, and seeing endless waterfalls.

Bergen:

We started in Bergen at the Clarion Collection Hotel Havnekontoret. The hotel was nice, and in a great location to the city center. The staff were very friendly and helpful. Our room (and bathroom) was quite small, however, which made it tricky with larger suitcases. At the end of our trip we stayed here for one night and had a larger, upgraded room which would have been nicer to begin the trip with. The breakfast each morning was great, with a vast abundance of choices and options.

Since we needed to kill time before checking in, the cable car in Bergen was suggested. We enjoyed that since it was a clear sunny day. However, we did not know that there was a bus from the city center, so we ended up paying for an expensive taxi. We found the bus ride to the center back though.

Our city walking tour the next day was very informative about the history of the city. Our guide Kristina was excellent, whose suggestions on local eateries were great. The funicular up the mountainside to see other city views was fun, and there we were able to do a short trail walk around a pond, and say hello to the local wildlife.

We had a very unique dinner at Cornelius Seafood Restaurant. The food was great, and adventurous for us, which was fun. Our we loved our waitress, and the stories the owner told us all during our time there. The restaurant was very cool and we are glad it was suggested.

The trip to Rosendal on the Hardangerfjord Express was nice. We did a small hike to Hattebergfossen which we enjoyed very much. Then we had some lunch and it was time to return on the ferry. It was a nice day trip.

Odda:

Our drive to Odda (via rental) was fantastic. Once we figured out the light rail in Bergen and found where to pick it up, we were able to use it to get to the airport and get our rental car. And it was much cheaper than doing a taxi. It was a hassle, but in the end worth it for the scenery while driving, and the ability to stop at any point. The weather and the views on the day of our drive were AMAZING. We had to take a car ferry with was so easy. We didn’t need to worry about tickets or paying, it was just billed as a toll to the rental car company and it was only 60-70 NOK. On the car ferry we met a local who suggested we “go left” after the ferry instead of right (which is what the GPS wanted us to do). Going right was all tunnels, he said, while going left was all fjords (but longer). Since we had a lot of time it was worth it!

The Trolltunga hotel was much nicer than we both expected. We expected it to be pretty rustic, but the room was VERY nice (I honestly liked it more than our previous hotel). We got a great view, and the breakfast also had lots of options (but not quite as many as at Clarion in Bergen). It was great. Since we were doing the hike to Trolltunga the next day, we both bought meal vouchers, which allowed us to make some sandwiches while at breakfast, and get a bottle of water, apple, and chocolate. I don’t find that the cost of the lunch voucher was worth it. We didn’t need a bottle of water, and we already had plenty of snacks. The ability to make a sandwich was nice, but there were not many options other than ham and cheese. We probably could have just made a couple sandwiches at breakfast even if we didn’t have the lunch voucher.

Our hike to trolltunga was GREAT. It was a challenging hike mostly in the sense of time and distance. The up-hill portions were not impossible. We saw lots of people under 15, and even lots of dogs. We had a small private group with a guide, Hanna. She was new but she was great. She kept a quick pace but allowed for many stops for rest, snacks, and water. We loved her. We had a great time doing this hike as it was on our bucket list for this trip. It did not disappoint. The views were out of this world.

Flåm:

From Odda we drove to Flåm, which also provided us with spectacular views and wild tunnels (including the world’s longest land tunnel!). Our hotel in Aurland (Hotel Aurlandfjord) was very nice, and the room was very nice too. Breakfast was great, with lots of options. It was nice staying outside of Flåm, but it was a bit of a hassle getting to and from the city. There are only a handful of busses going back and forth, so you don’t have a lot of options if you have things scheduled for specific times in Flam. Figuring out the busses was tricky. You definitely have to get to the bus stop early, and they can also be late. Sometimes the busses are big, sometimes they were small and we barely were able to get on with the other people waiting or already on there. We didn’t have any issues, but we saw people that did.

Kayaking in Flåm was a lot of fun, and the weather was great. After kayaking we did the private fjord sauna, which was AWESOME. This was GREAT. We are so glad we did it and so glad we booked a private one. This was a great way to unwind after a recent long hike.

E-bikes in Flåm was also a GREAT idea. It was our first time on them and we had so much fun conquering hills. We were able to see things we definitely would not have without the e-bikes. We explored a waterfall, (Brekkefossen), and rode along Flåmsdalsvegan taking pictures of waterfalls and mountains.

From Flåm we took the 5+ hour ferry back to Bergen, which was nice, but it was cloudy a bit dark most of the way so we didn’t get the weather we were hoping for.

Hotel Reviews

Aurland Fjordhotel

Aurland

Hotel Aurlandfjord was very nice, and the room was very nice too with a great view. Breakfast was great, with lots of hot and cold options. Dinners were set menus and generally very delicious, with very polite wait staff. It was nice staying outside of Flåm, but it was a bit of a hassle getting to and from the city. There are only a handful of busses going back and forth, so you don’t have a lot of options if you have things scheduled for specific times in Flåm. However, it was nice staying in a less tourist-congested area. There only a service elevator for luggage (not people). Our room had a small balcony, and no TV, which we enjoyed.

Authenticity & Character

Nestled in a smaller, quieter town than its neighboring Flåm, this hotel felt more immersed in the local culture, while still sitting just above the fjord with great views over the houses below.

Location

The town felt more authentic than the more touristy Flåm, but it mean needing transportation back and forth for activities.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The whole hotel (lobby, restaurant, room/bathroom) was spotless.

Clarion Collection Hotel Havnekontoret

Bergen

The hotel was nice, and in a great location to the city center. The staff were very friendly and helpful. Our room (and bathroom) was quite small, however, which made it tricky with larger suitcases. At the end of our trip we stayed here for one night and had a larger, upgraded room which would have been nicer to begin the trip with. The breakfast each morning was great, with a vast abundance of choices and options.

Authenticity & Character

Location

right next to the Bryggen houses in the city center; easy to walk everywhere

Staff

Very polite and courteous, willing to assist with any needs or questions

Cleanliness & Comfort

Trolltunga Hotel

Odda

The Trolltunga hotel was much nicer than we both expected. We expected it to be pretty rustic, but the room was VERY nice (I honestly liked it more than our previous hotel). We got a great view, and the breakfast also has lots of hot and cold options. It was great. Since we were doing the hike to Trolltunga the next day, we both bought lunch vouchers, which allowed us to make some sandwiches while at breakfast, and get a bottle of water, apple, and chocolate.

Authenticity & Character

The furniture and decor was definitely appropriate for its location. It felt like just an extension of the surrounding nature while still having the comforts of a luxury hotel.

Location

quiet, great views, and just a short drive or bus ride to the Trolltunga starting point

Staff

Very friendly and accommodating to guests and patrons.

Cleanliness & Comfort

very clean, well kept hotel and rooms. Everything was spotless.

Activity Reviews

Private Fjord Sauna experience

Norway

we did the private fjord sauna, which was AWESOME. This was GREAT. We are so glad we did it and so glad we booked a private one. This was a great way to unwind after a recent long hike.

Quality of Experience

The sauna was very luxurious inside and out.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Rental Bikes in Flåm

Flåm

E-bikes in Flåm was also a GREAT idea. It was our first time on them and we had so much fun conquering hills. We were able to see things we definitely would not have without the e-bikes. We explored a waterfall, (Brekkefossen), and rode along Flåmsdalsvegan taking pictures of waterfalls and mountains.

Quality of Experience

the e-bikes are definitely a must for the hills!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Only takes 5 minutes to get a bike and head out. Super easy.

Summer Kayaking Tour

Flåm

This was a lot of fun. There are tandem kayaks with foot pedals for steering, which are way easier to maneuver the kayak. We saw waterfalls, goats, and heard stories and history of the area. Our guide Victor was great.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Trolltunga Summer Hike

Norway

Absolutely incredible. It was a challenging hike mostly in the sense of time and distance. The up-hill portions were not impossible. We saw lots of people under 15, and even lots of dogs. We had a small private group with a guide, Hanna. She was new but she was great. She kept a quick pace but allowed for many stops for rest, snacks, and water. We loved her. We had a great time doing this hike as it was on our bucket list for this trip. It did not disappoint. The views were out of this world. There is paid parking at the Trolltunga starting point but it fills up FAST.

Quality of Experience

The challenge of a longer hike and having a small group and guide was fun. The views along the way and at the tongue were amazing. And the weather was absolutely perfect.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

our guide Hanna was so great, we loved her!

Transport

Ride the Ulriken Cable Car

Bergen

Great views when the weather is great, and plenty to explore at the top, including a zip line. If you have time to kill (before checking in to your hotel, for example) there is also a restaurant at the top which provides great views to the city below.

Quality of Experience

The weather!

The whole process using Kim Kim and Cami was amazing. The minute we arrived and picked up everything went smoothly. We enjoyed all the hotels, tours and islands we visited! A perfect plan, day of rest and then a tour day. We will definitely use Kim Kim again in the future.

Dear kimkim team, In a word, our trip was AMAZING! The accommodations were all lovely, guides were all so helpful, drivers were prompt , professional and informative. The gift basket and wine tour cheese tray, as well as other extra touches, were so appreciated. Pedro was flexible, responsive and in touch with us every day to make sure our trip was going well. It will be hard to travel any other way in the future! Thanks to the entire kimkim team! Kim and Sara

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Britania Art Deco

Lisboa

We had a lovely stay at the hotel Britania! It was our first stop after arriving in Lisbon and the perfect place to get over jet lag. The room was so comfortable and the staff friendly and helpful. Sue Ellen, Larissa, and Omar went above and beyond to make our visit special. The breakfast staff was also very attentive and hospitable. Thanks to the whole staff for making our visit to Lisbon so memorable. Kim and Sara

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The beds and pillows were the best!

Sapientia Boutique Hotel

Coimbra

Sapiencia Boutique Hotel was a great place to stay during our visit to Coimbra. The location was perfect and our room was spacious and clean. The outside areas (Patio and roof top) were awesome places to relax with a glass of wine.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The staff was polite and helpful when asked. On check in there were several staff at the desk but no one came to help with our bags. Some of the staff, particularly at breakfast, were not always available and did not feel very friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

NH Collection Porto Batalha

Porto

This hotel was in a great location. It was very clean, and the staff was helpful. All this made our stay enjoyable but the absolute best part was the fantastic breakfast!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Lisbon's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour & Tastings

Lisbon

Anna did a great job showing us around and giving us all the history. The wine tasting was a nice way to end the tour, mostly because it gave us a chance to sit down and ask Anna more questions.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Unveil the Fairytale Villa of Sintra with a Private Driver Service

Portugal

We enjoyed our day with driver André visiting Sinatra followed by a stop to see the furthest western point in Europe , “Cabo Da Roca”, and a drive through Casias. André gave us so much information on the area along the way, was very flexible, and punctual.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

To Eat Suggestion: Terra Nova

Porto

Terra Nova was a nice and convenient place to grab dinner. It is right on the water but also in most touristy area.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Porto's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour

Porto

Bernard was a very knowledgeable guide and gave us a good tour of the city.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Bernard was very passionate about the city and its architecture, The train station lecture was a bit too long with unnecessary details..

The Flavors of Port Wine - Sip & Discover

Porto

We had a great time sipping and discovering!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

To Eat Suggestion: Brasão - Coliseu

Porto

We enjoyed this lively popular restaurant. Our waiter was so friendly and helpful. We went with the popular sandwich francesinha ( it seems the majority of guests did too). We needed one to be vegetarian and it was not very good. The regular sandwich was good but beware of rich rich gravy. Our favorite part of the meal was the Porto Tónico!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Seamless Discovery - The Ultimate Douro Valley Experience with Private Driver Service from Porto

Portugal

Hugo was punctual and informative as he drove us to the Douro Valley. We enjoyed the lunch and the tour. Sara was a fun and knowledgeable guide and we enjoyed the tasting as well. The boat trip was a nice way to end the day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Indulge in Elegance on a Guided Winery Tour Infused with Tastings and a Delicious Lunch

Portugal

We enjoyed Lunch.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Transfer

Portugal

On time pick up and drop off! Good driver!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Although there were some large gaps in communication during planning and reservation making, Thomas put together a great itinerary for us. We had an amazing trek through two parks in the Dolomites.

KimKim is one of the best companies in which you can book your tours for any country. They offer a great variety of tours for each country. We used Kimkim for different countries like Australia and Cambodia, but we decided to try for Colombia and it was great. Our tour organizer was Micheal, who arranged the tour perfectly well and made us really happy of his excellent service. All the guides in the cities in Colombia were very informative, kind and friendly. The hotels chosen by Micheal were all really good. The food options are great if you are a non-vegetarian, but it is very hard to find vegetarian food in Colombia.

So, KimKim, you guys did a best job. Please do keep it up. Thank you!

Duncan did a fantastic job laying out our vacation! Gave him some hints of what we wanted & didn't want to see and accomplish and a taste of places that would be fun to stay to help him understand our family goals. Nicely done! We spent most of our time in the country areas, which we couldn't have been happier -- got us out of most of the tourist areas. Our itinerary had interest places marked to stop which was really nice. The first place we stayed, Hótel Varmaland, the restaurant's food was amazing! Our daughter had the Ribeye and said it was the best steak she has ever had. Our son got the lamb - out of this world -- nothing like the lamb in the States; we ate a lot of lamb during the trip. We had the pork chops -- some of the best we have had - food all came from local farms and it showed -- just fantastic! Iceland is an amazing place and highly recommend a visit -- Duncan made the trip very easy with way-points to stop and things to explore. Highly recommend the ice cave & glacial tours too.

My family and I had an amazing experience in Spain thanks to KimKim service, led by Alfonso and his colleagues that arranged everything during our 10 day tour through northern Spain. My colleague initially recommended KimKim given she had a very positive experience. While I was initially a little reluctant given it’s mostly an online only set-up experience, I was very pleased with the overall experience from start to finish.

Alfonso and his team set us up for amazing experience which started in Madrid (2 nights), wine region Rioja (2 nights), San Sebastián (3 nights) and finally Barcelona (2 nights). Starting in Madrid, we met with Gerardo, a local expert on Madrid and Spanish history. We walked through Madrid with Gerardo over two days. He was excellent guide and showed us amazing sites; experienced Tapas at local markets; went to a few museums and experienced the royal palace. Of particular interest was our site visit to the Prado museum. Gerardo was spectacular guide throughout the museum and knew exactly where to go and the history of each of the major art exhibits.

We then transitioned to wine region and two absolutely amazing experiences at two local vineyards. The first day, we were able to walk to a local vineyard (Luis Canas)from our hotel (Hotel Vuira) and the second day, we were blessed to have Alfonso meet us and we rode E bikes throughout the wine region on an absolutely gorgeous day and ended the day with an outstanding wine tour and lunch visit to Murua vineyard.

Upon arriving in to San Sebastián we adored the town and really enjoyed walking around experiencing tapas places on our own. As an American, most can attest, our education curriculum rarely spends time on Spanish history. Most of our emphasis is on WW1 and 2 and the countries most involved, therefore our curriculum rarely covers Spain. If you’re a western educated traveller, do yourself a favor prioritize Spain on your next trip. The history is fascinating and of particular interest is the Basque region, its people and its culture. You may not find a more amazing gastronomy experience and culture anywhere in the world! The food and people are amazing! For our second day there, Alfonso met us at our hotel and we enjoyed another full day of great history and experience. On our last day in the region we completed a day trip to Balboa for a cooking class (which was amassing!) and a excellent visit, with an expert guide (Susanne) at the Guggenheim Museum. Do not skip this part of your Basque region visit! I’d also comment that when driving through the area, it offered amazing scenery, Swiss like mountain beauty.

We ended the trip in Barcelona with a great walking tour and an amazing sailboat experience in the Barcelona. Bay to observe the sun go down. Amazing way to end our trip.

Bottom line, there is no way we could have planned this on our own, or derive such a sequence of experiences through some travel book or website. The KimKim’s ability to liaise and build a travel experience with local travel experts was hands down the best way to go. I’m particularly pleased with Alfonso and his teams ability to connect with local experts in each region that created a lasting, educational and rich cultural experience for my family. Our kids learned a lot and what was most inspiring is Alfonso’s disposition and approach to life as a guide, father, expert on Spanish history and culture. He and his team left nothing to chance and took great care for each and every detail.

When we return to Spain again we will, without question, work directly through KimKim and Alfonso’s travel company!

Excellent trip. Our guides were great, informed, took questions, etc. Our guide for Istanbul Safak Emre Kilic was +++excellent. 2 suggestions:
1. The rooms at Rose Mansions Sinasos were very good. However our room only had 2 small windows. It was hot sleeping. I would suggest they provide a fan in the room to at least get some air circulation. Also a small refrigerator would be nice to be able to have some cold water.
2. The room at our shortened night in Istanbul was also very good. However it is above a Pub and was very difficult to get to sleep with the loud music, etc. both inside and outside in the street. The activity in the street was still going on when we left the hotel at 2:35AM. Great room but poor location especially since we tried to get to bed early because of our early departure.

Hanna did an excellent job of creating an itinerary with activities for everyone in our party (of six) to enjoy.

Activity Reviews

West Glacial River family rafting

Iceland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rye Bread tour (Geothermal bakery)

Iceland

This was a nice activity for our first day in Iceland. We landed and went directly to the bakery for an interesting , relaxed, and family friendly demonstration. You instantly learn that Iceland is a unique land.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Katla Ice Cave

Iceland

We loved this activity! It was a bit more demanding than what we expected (which we welcomed)! Let's just say you are on ice....so be prepared. Dress warm with appropriate footwear (spikes will be provided).

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Jakop was a great guide. He was enthusiastic and very attentive to the needs of everyone in his group. He loves what he does!

Transport

The ride to the ice cave in the super jeep was pretty cool.

Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon Zodiac boat tour

Iceland

You never know what you might see! Our guide was awesome and very knowledgeable. According to her, she has the best job in the world!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Horse Riding Tour

Iceland

These horses are amazing! I have some experience riding and I fell in love with this beautiful breed. I learned about their fascinating history and enjoyed the awesome views and scenery on our ride.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Barbara and her talented young helper were beyond attentive and professional.

Myvatn Nature Baths

Lake Mývatn

A must when in Iceland. A nice break to recharge for our more demanding activities.

Matilde was very helpful with planning our trip to Germany and Switzerland. She communicated often with me, and listened to alterations of the original planned trip. Once in Europe, I found that everything was well thought out and organized. I had zero glitches during our trip. I had no worries from a planning perspective. All accommodations were good, and planned activities were just right. I highly recommend KimKim and especially Matilde.

Gudmundur made everything easy! Everything he chose was time well spent. Every day was so different! It was really helpful to have the wireless router. We will be using Kimkim services again!

Hotel Review

Hótel Kría

Vík

A comfortable place to rest after a very active day! Delicious food. Updated.

Authenticity & Character

Near the Kria nests

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

The Secret Lagoon

Iceland

Great to experience a natural pool

Skaftafell Glacier Hike

Iceland

Terrific! I felt safely guided during this once in a lifetime experience

Aggeliki was outstanding! She always ensured that our goals and needs were met! She was extremely responsive and timely with her replies. I highly recommend her to any other client!

Hotel Reviews

Classic Hotel by Athens Prime Hotels

Athens

It’s a bit difficult to find, but it’s very clean and the staff is very friendly.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Abelonas Retreat

Santorini

The room with the loft where we stayed was a bit deceiving. You could not even stand up straight in the loft nor the bathroom that is up there. I would not recommend this unit for 4 adults, but if traveling with younger kids it should work ok. The main bathroom with the shower is tiny. For women who shave their legs, good luck doing that in this shower. The staff is awesome, which helps to make up for some of these downsides.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Creta Blue Boutique Hotel

Hersonissos

Definitely off the beaten path and just outside a cute village. It is worth it though. The view is incredible and the staff is very friendly and helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mirabile Luxury Suites Chania

Chania, Crete

This hotel advertised they have staff to assist with the luggage until 18:30, which was not true in our case. After a full day traveling, we had to carry our baggage up a steep flight of stairs just to get to the lobby level/registration. It would have been helpful to know that ahead of time. The rooms were very nice, clean and modern. And this was the first hotel that provided washcloths - which may seem like a small thing, but to those of us used to using washcloths daily, it was a huge bonus. The location was great and very convenient to many restaurants and shopping and the port.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Not much interaction with the staff as they were not around much.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Knossos Palace & Authentic Crete with Local Experiences from West P9

Greece

Our guide made this what we wanted. We were able to modify our stops according to what we had already experienced. She was able to adjust our agenda on the fly. This one did not disappoint.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Athens Highlights Mythology Tour

Greece

Our guide made this trip awesome. She was very knowledgeable, friendly and prepared. She made this trip very worthwhile and educational.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

A Dazzling Day Trip to Hydra Island from Athens

Greece

You have to go to Hydra! It is such a quaint island. No cars!! Lots of stairs, so be prepared. Well worth it to carve out time. If the weather (including the wind) conditions do not cooperate, you will not be able to go to the beach. This was our experience, however our guide more than made up for it with stops at some of the local establishments that he was familiar with.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunset Black Waters Sea Kayak

Greece

The crew makes this an awesome excursion! Kayaking is fun, no doubt, but with their energy, positive attitudes and stories/ details - it was even better! Highly recommend!!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

HS 2024 Catamaran Sunset Cruise

Santorini

This could be an alternative excursion to the sunset kayak tour. The staff was nice and the food was good. It was great to interact with other travelers from all over the world too. Great excursion

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The “Just Wow” Trip: Balos Beach. A Lagoon For Bliss.

Greece

If you are considering this be prepared for a 30 minute hike (and I mean hike) down to the beach. There are limited beach umbrellas, so you might want to bring your own. And then you have to hike out after soaking up some sun. OR your guide can take you to the 7minute hike spot for pictures and then drive you to another beach that have food/drink/restrooms close by plus MANY umbrellas and cabanas to rent. That’s what we opted for - now keep in mind this was towards the end of our trip, so we were getting a little worn out 😊 But this was beautiful and a very relaxing experience for us. Our guide provided food and water for us, so we didn’t have to worry about that either. Highly recommend and you might consider the alternative path that we took!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kuriko(Hakone day trip guide)was SUPERB. Professional,Well informed,patient,friendly and it was a pleasure to spend the day with her.
Melanie(Gion walking tour guide) was pleasant but did not give good information or history about the area. No depth of local knowledge.
Josh ,our Nara day trip guide was very good. Well informed, pleasant. Came very prepared for the day with lot of pictures in folders.
Amongst experiences:
Owl cafe
Sumo experience were both exceptional
Esp thanks to Angel for quick responsiveness and well planned itinerary with attention to detail.

Hotel Reviews

Gora Kansuiro

Hakone

Authenticity & Character

Old world Charm, attention to detail.

Location

Scenic, lush green.

Staff

Polite,helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cross Hotel Kyoto

Kyoto

Great location, helpful staff. Good sized room(deluxe twin). Excellent breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Shibuya Excel Hotel Tokyu

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Authentic Sumo Experience in Tokyo: Enter the Sanctuary

Tokyo

This was an amazing experience!! The wrestlers and guides were so kind and helpful and fun to spend time with! They shared their history and profession with us, and we had a very fun afternoon with them. This is a MUST SEE experience!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Eric created the perfect itinerary which balanced the driving time with sightseeing and hiking. He gave us some fantastic restaurant recommendations and also was super helpful with budgeting for food and gas. He responded to all my questions in a polite and timely manner. An amazing experience, thank you!

Activity Reviews

Sky Lagoon

Iceland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Silfra Snorkeling

Iceland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Solheimajokull Glacier Hike

Iceland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon Zodiac boat tour

Iceland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Whale Watching in Akureyri

Iceland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The Kim Kim company is great!! The guides are very professional and informative. Our main contact person Angela was very helpful every step of the way. She was able to make any requested last minute adjustments to make our trip more comfortable and convenient.

Angela planned us an amazing Greece experience! Thank you!
We spent 12 days in four different cities which gave us the ability to see so much more than staying in one place the entire time.
Athens (3 nights)
Santorini (3 nights)
Heraklion (2 nights)
Chania (3 nights)
We had private transfers and personal tour guides for each excursion that exceeded our expectations and made us feel so special. Each tour guide had so much knowledge and could answer every question we asked.
Santorini was beautiful but expensive. I would suggest not buying too many souvenirs there because they cost about twice as much as the other islands. I would recommend taking a sunset kayak excursion with Sunset Black Waters Sea Kayak. We got to have lunch and snorkel on one of the beaches. We took an HS 2024 Catamaran Sunset Cruise the next night and met some wonderful people and saw a breathtaking sunset.
My favorite hotel was Creta Blue Boutique Hotel. It was an adventure getting to the hotel through all the narrow roads but it was sooooo worth it! Friendly staff and an infinity pool with great views. Walking distance to what they call a "village" with restaurants and shops galore.
Overall, it was a once in a lifetime adventure that was beyond my expectations!

We loved our trip to the Yucatan! We traveled from Cancun to Tulum to Vallodalid and ended our trip on la Isla Holbox. We especially loved our accommodations in Tulum which were tucked away in a neat little area surrounded by plants, had a beautiful pool, and wonderful breakfast. We were able to walk easily to the main street to explore. We also loved our stay in Valladolid which had my sons' favorite breakfast and walkability to the main shopping/restaurants.

We enjoyed all of our tours and adventures and felt that they were nicely spaced out and easy to check in and experience. Some of our favorites were the Sian Kaan, Cenote Sac Actun and Punta Laguna. We felt that the guides all cared about our safety and enjoyement as well as our desire to learn about the area.

Monica was very helpful when we had a flat tire and got us a recommendation for where to get it fixed right away.

Our rental car agency was professional and prompt in dropping off our car the first day and meeting us at the airport to pick it up the last day.

Our least favorite spot was Cancun. We were only there one night but we would rather have gone right to Tulum :)

We truly enjoyed our adventures and look forward to having Kim Kim plan another adventure for us soon.

Hotel Reviews

Ambiance Suites

Cancun

This had a lovely breakfast and was clean.

Authenticity & Character

Location

This was not close to anything you can walk to

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa Don Diego

Tulum

This was AMAZING! Although it did not have air conditioning it was still our favorite. It had a wonderful staff and a nice small feel. It was close to walk to restaurants and downtown but felt safe and tucked away. We loved the resident animals and the laundry service was a nice added bonus!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel boutique Saastah

Valladolid

Beautiful, wonderful breakfast, nice laundry service, wonderful pool

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Spirit Holbox

Isla Holbox

Great location on the beach! The pool was cool but not very deep. Nice restaurant and breakfast but you had to pay for dinner which was very expensive and not too many choices. Nice staff!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Boat tour in the Natural Reserve of Sian Ka'an

Mexico

This had an amazing breakfast and lunch with it! We loved the float and although we didn't see any manatees we still had a great time in the mangroves

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Punta Laguna

Mexico

This was really fun! It was an adventure for sure! This includes a zipline and a drop into a very deep cenote that you have to climb out of so be sure to be strong to be able to do this portion.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chichen-Itza site with an English speaking guide

Mexico

This was an outstanding tour! He was our favorite guide. He was so funny and gave us a great look into the mayan culture

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I was introduced to Tom Christer with Ethical Travel in Norway through KimKim. Tom was responsive, knowledgable, willing to express his own opinion when asked, and flexible to our travel requests. Highlights of our stay included Stavanger and climbing Pulpit Rock, Aurland via ferry and rail, Alesand via overnight ferry, and Oslo. Tom arranged local guides for us both for the Pulpit Rock climb and a 3 hour walking city tour of Oslo. Both were excellent.

Hotel Reviews

Amerikalinjen

Oslo

Loved everything about this hotel. Ideally located, super friendly and helpful staff, fantastic breakfast, comfy bar, and beautiful large rooms.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Vangsgaarden Gjestgiveri

Aurland

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Staff was very nice but did not have as much knowledge of the local attractions that you would normally expect from a larger hotel conciegre.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hurtigruten

Bergen

Older ship. We had an outward facing room, but the window view was fully obstructed by a life boat. Also, our room was very very small. For three people we would have gladly paid for a nicer and larger room if that option had been presented and explained to us. The boat is old, but well maintained and comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Brosundet

Ålesund

Best hotel in Alesand. It is just charming and one can easily just hang out in the lobby by the fire or at the spa when not experiencing the town. Rooms are a little small but appointed very nicely. Food is excellent. Overall, it is a first class hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel No13

Bergen

Super location, very welcoming staff, art deco rooms, quiet. Not a 5-Star hotel, but nice and pleasant for a short stay in Bergen.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Victoria

Stavanger

Authenticity & Character

Charming.

Location

Ideally located close to shops and restaurants.

Staff

Very helpful. They even arranged breakfast bags for us as we had to leave at 5:30 am for an early morning ferry.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Pulpit Rock Classic Summer Hike

Norway

Our guide picked us up and returned us to the hotel as well as accompanied us on the hike. She was wonderful, sticking with the slower hikers and allowing those that wanted to go faster hike at their own pace. We were concerned that the weather would prevent us from making it to the top as it was raining hard and quite windy when we left the parking lot. Fortunately, it calmed down after the first few minutes and even cleared up enough at the top for us to see the fjord. This is a definite bucket list item.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fjordcruise on UNESCO Nærøyfjord

Norway

Quality of Experience

In addition to the phenomenal views, our trip was made even more special as a traveling teenage choir from the United States was on our boat and we stopped in the middle of the trip for them to sign a song. Very cool!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Very nice modern boat with lots of outdoor viewing space.

Transit Between Stavanger and Fjord Line Terminal

Stavanger

Right on time. Clean van and a good driver.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Stegastein Viewpoint

Norway

An amazing view.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Viking Dinner at Ægir BryggeriPub

Norway

Even though this experience is commercialized and designed for tourists, we really enjoyed it. The food was excellent and we enjoyed trying all the items on the plank.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer from Flåm to Aurland

Norway

Driver ran a few minutes late as he got tied up on another ride, but he was super nice and told us a lot about the area.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Embark Hurtigruten

Norway

An older boat. Our cabin for 3 was extremely small. We had an outside view, but our window looked directly into a life boat. Would have paid for a larger and nicer cabin if given the choice. Food was good but nothing special.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Oslo's Hidden Gems with a Local Expert

Oslo

A great introduction to Oslo. We did this on our first afternoon in the City.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Would recommend Stig to anyone. He is local to Oslo and loves the City.