Kimkim Trip Reviews

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.

Aleksandra planned our family an amazing vacation with London Stratford as our home base and side trips to downtown London, Oxford and Bath. We liked everything about our trip from the hotel to the tours and tour guides. Most importantly, Aleksandra was so accommodating while planning and during our stay in London. We had to make some last-minute changes to our itinerary because of family reasons and she was easy to reach and took care of everything. She answered all of our questions and checked on us each day even on weekends. I highly recommend Aleksandra and KimKim.

Hotel Review

Hyatt Regency London Stratford

London

The hotel is conveniently located right next to the London Stratford train station which is fantastic for travelers. The hotel was nice and the breakfast served daily was very good. It was difficult for taxis to find because it's located within a shopping/restaurant type mall so always send your GPS location to your taxi driver.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Smoke alarm went off in middle of night so no water, a/c, elevators until mid-morning

Activity Reviews

Round Trip to Oxford - Private Transfer

London

Our driver to Oxford went above and beyond traveling through horrible traffic to Oxford and back. Also, he was extremely accommodating when we had a family issue that delayed our return. He was very kind.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Retired Royal Guard Central London Walk

London

We highly recommend this tour. David Lombardi is an excellent tour guide. He has such a unique background that affords him inside information that other tour guides would not have. We learned so much and were interested the entire time. He was extremely professional, knowledgeable and interesting.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

British Museum Private Tour

London

The British Museum is worth seeing but it is extremely crowded. It probably depends on when you visit it. We had to wait in long security lines to get in and then it was hard to see exhibits at times. Our tour guide was late so that did not help.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Iconic Oxford Private Walking Tour

Oxford

Our tour guide was fantastic. First, we were an hour late because of London traffic and he was so nice and accommodating. He was extremely knowledgeable and an excellent storyteller. Very interesting tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Oxford University Punting Tour

Oxford

What a fun, relaxing excursion this was for our family. Our guide was so nice and knowledgeable. We enjoyed this punting tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bath and The Cotswolds

London

We changed our itinerary slightly and ended up going to Stonehenge and Bath. Both were definitely worth seeing. It was a beautiful drive too. We had a nice lunch at the Derby in Bath and enjoyed touring the Roman Baths. We were thankful to visit Stonehenge and happened to be there when it was not too busy. Our tour guide, Alam, was fantastic. He was so kind and patient with us and very knowledgeable. He made sure we saw the best views and sites.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exclusive Guided Tour in Buckingham Palace

London

We thoroughly enjoyed this tour. Buckingham Palace is stunning. The self-guided tour was very well-done.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Afternoon Tea at Fortnum & Mason

London

We had a slight itinerary change and had afternoon tea at the Savoy and I'm so glad we did. It was very special. They provided excellent service; the setting was beautiful, and the afternoon tea was delicious. They even packed up a box for our daughter who was unable to attend.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Beatles Private Walking Tour

London

This tour is not just for intense Beatles fans. It's for anyone who is interested in learning about the Beatles and seeing different parts of London. Our guide, Michael Purvis, was amazing. He took such good care of us. He is a musician and had so many interesting stories and pictures to share with us. Even though it was a misty day, we enjoyed every minute of this tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

It was a great trip that included a bit of the Isle of Skye but mostly focused the Western Isles (Outer Hebrides). These are beautiful locations but a bit tricky to navigate on your own. Without Kimkim, it would have taken me forever to figure out all the buses and ferries. Aleksandra designed a perfect trip for me, balancing travel, my favorite activities at the locations and time to just be there and explore on my own. She also picked great places for me to stay: it was a good mix of homely and comfortable. I liked every single one of them, though they were very different in their vibe. Staying in the Lewis Castle in Stornoway was probably the most memorable one; the Edinbane Lodge that dates back to 1543 (no kidding, for real, it's an old building re-furbished into a top-notch accommodation with superb dining experience) was also quite an experience. My B&B host Elizabeth from Barra was absolutely lovely (but she wants to retire, so I was lucky I guess).

Olha was a constant support over WhatsUp, which was great because changes of weather meant some of the activities had to be adjusted short-notice. Every single person I got to interact with was kind and open. I felt truly welcome in every location. All my drivers (Alan, Murdo, Roddy, Alasdair, Brian) told me stories about the place and its people, all of them were native Gaelic speakers so I got to pick and practice a few words: that was important for me. I learned so much about the history and the contemporary life on Skye and Western Islands. Murdo is a musician and a very authentic, fun person to be around. As a bonus, I got to hear a Gaelic song he wrote and performed! A surfing lesson with Eli (I probably misspell the name here) was amazing - the location and the weather made it a very special experience. Kayaking on Barra with Ben and Chris was also fun and relaxing. We got to see many seals who would just pop out of the water near the kayak and stare at us for a few seconds before diving back.

I would definitely go back to Eilean a' Cheò and na h-Eileanan Siar again and would definitely ask Kimkim team again to help plan it. These places are treasures for those who love nature and who appreciate simple, kind, honest and trusting communities with deep roots and oral history of resilience. The trip has left me with many cherished memories, stories to share, a sense of healing and a deep appreciation of true Island hospitality and kindness. Mòran taing.

Hotel Reviews

The Bracken Hide

Portree

It's a lovely location on a slope overlooking Portree, with a view to the harbor. I loved having my own pod that was warm and cozy. The days were rainy, but the pit-pat of the rain on the roof made it even more cozy to be inside.

Authenticity & Character

I loved staying in a pod. The inner decor was very cozy.

Location

The view

Staff

Very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

I loved the warm floor! :-) makes a huge difference when you come back cold and soaked with rain. The place was warm and dry and the wet clothes would dry quickly as well

Lews Castle

Stornoway

Where do I even start :-))) You get to stay in a real castle! My room was under the roof and looked out over the roof tiles to another tower. The refurbishment is very modern, of course. There is a shower, a bathtub, a fridge a coffee machine and a tea kettle. But somehow it still feels like a castle. That's how a modern castle room should look like :-) I particularly enjoyed opening the front door of the castle with my own key when I came back form my daily explorations. It felt like a lot of fun just doing that. And then you get inside, there is a hall, a staircase and the place is your temporary "home."

Authenticity & Character

It's a castle! Does not get any more authentic than that :-) During the day it's a museum. You can do a tour of the rooms with augmented reality app - I highly recommend doing that

Location

Stornoway center is a walking distance. But the castle itself is surrounded by a forest with many paths - great for walking, biking, exploring, relaxing...

Staff

There is always someone in the building but they give you your own space and are only there if you need help. Very friendly, gave me plenty of good advice on the first day and then just let me be - exactly what I wanted.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Spotless clean, spacious, my room was full of light and sunshine, the bathroom was always warm, which was important because the weather was a bit chilly. Great comfortable bed, tea kettle, very relaxing atmosphere, could also hear the sound of rain on the roof (which I love)

Carnan B&B

Castlebay

The host greeted me with tea and chocolate cake! She is lovely, but she wants to retire, so I think we should leave her alone :-))) Her little pet dog is very friendly and fun - we became best buddies.

Authenticity & Character

It's a lovely house. A real house where a real family lives. Gives you a sense of home

Location

It has a great view to the castle in the bay.

Staff

Elizabeth is very welcoming, kind, attentive and good-natured. She gave me lots of good advice where to go and what to see.

Cleanliness & Comfort

A very comfortable home away from home

Edinbane Lodge

Edinbane

This place is very special. It dates back to 16th century and looks very picturesque. Once you step into your room, you are amazed at the level of luxury. You could watch TV while taking a bath, if you wished. My room also had a patio with a gas fireplace that I enjoyed for a few hours in the evening. It's very atmospheric: great combination of old and modern. Their dinners are famous. If you stay at this lodge, I highly recommend booking a dinner experience as well. Also, check the pottery workshop nearby: you won't be able to go away without a souvenir.

Authenticity & Character

A lodge that has been a lodge since 16th century. It has all the character that comes with the time it's been around

Location

It's a tiny place. Very quiet.

Staff

Friendly, helpful, graceful

Cleanliness & Comfort

I loved sitting by the fire in the patio. I also loved the tea set from the local pottery workshop. It's beautiful and great to see they support their neighbor's business.

Activity Reviews

Isle of Lewis Heritage: Private Day Tour from Stornoway

Scotland

My driver and guide, Murdo, was just great. He is very authentic, a local through and through who told me so many interesting stories about the Isle of Lewis, it's history, it's people. And these stories did not feel like stories from the book. They were real stories, lived by the people or passed by the people from one generation to another. The Callanish stones are a very special cite to visit. The Black Houses were also very interesting to experience.

Quality of Experience

The bridge over the Atlantic! :-)

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Gaelic heritage, knows every road and path and settlement, great sense of humor, honesty

Transport

Taxi to Surf Lesson

Stornoway

Alan MacKenzie is a great travel companion, equally good at sharing and listening. I am very grateful he was the one to welcome me to the Western Isles. I think it sat the tone for the rest of my stay and travel.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Attentive, tactful

Transport

Lewis Surf Lessons

Scotland

This was my first ever surfing lesson and I am glad it took place on Lewis. We had the whole huge beach to ourselves, since you are going to get wet anyways, you don't need to worry about the rain and it being not exactly the warmest day :-) It was very atmospheric, you could feel the power of the sea (which you have to respect). I think if I did not have a one-on-one lesson and a lot of support from the instructor, I would never manage to get as far as I got. She was great - very encouraging and easy going. It was pure fun but also a good challenge (did I feel it the next day :-))) ). There are also caves on that beach that can only be visited at low tide - we took a short stroll after the class to check them out.

Quality of Experience

the location is amazing

Guides, Drivers and Staff

easy-going, attentive, fun

Sea Kayak Trip

Barra

I had two sessions. One was a one-on-one trip with Ben. It's very relaxing to be on the water and take it at your own speed. We did a good round and saw lots of seals. We also did a round around the castle in the bay. The other one was with Chris and his daughter (sorry, can't remember the name). They are all a great family - all very friendly, experienced and attentive. The second was with a group on a sunny day - so that was also a lot of fun and very picture-pretty, but no wildlife.

Quality of Experience

We swapped a few stories while on the water. Ben is a great companion. He was guiding, spotting wildlife, telling about me about the local traditions, good advice on where to eat and what to try, some funny stories. Felt like a great day on the water with a good friend. The group trip was great too, people watched out for each other, everyone was a good sport.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Easy going but attentive to detail, good fun

Taxi

Scotland

Brian told me a few stories while on the road. Also gave me the advice to use the opportunity and have dinner at the place where he dropped me off. Thank you. I would have missed an amazing dining experience, if not for this advice. That was a perfect ending to my perfect Islands getaway.

Quality of Experience

In general, all the taxi pickups and transfers were hassle-free, all of them were super friendly

Guides, Drivers and Staff

very genuine. I don't know how to explain it, but it's just that they were all very friendly and somehow very "authentic" welcoming locals.

Transport

always clean, always comfortable, always warm on cold days

service was great, excursions were either fabulous or just meh.

There were some excursions that we weren't prepared for, like the waterfalls. We didn't have bathing suits or towels, didn't realize the atmosphere was more like an amusement park rather than a walk in nature that we were expecting.

Hotel Reviews

Prijeko Palace

Dubrovnik

Nice hotel located in Old Town AC is not the best, a bit noisy due to being right above restaurants-lots of street noise. Staff was good, however, they messaged up a reservation at the restaurant and 1 of the staff, a young blonde woman was quite rude.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Korsal

Korčula

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Porto

Dubrovnik

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private transfer from Dubrovnik to Korcula (stopping in Ston / Peljesac Peninsula along the way)

Croatia

E-bike tour in Dubrovnik with lunch

Dubrovnik

Great experience with Mislav, aka Super-Slav! Fun guy and a great tour!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Mostar

Croatia

Just not to my liking. Didn't get to see much of Mostar and spend time meandering in the market place due to the guide spending a lot of time talking about the war. Important but when you have limited time it was not fun to stand in the sun when you wanted to get into the city.

Quality of Experience

A lot of driving for not much time.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Older vehicle, felt cramped. Didn't discover how the AC worked until the trip was 1/2 over.

Private Boating Excursion to the Elaphiti Islands

Dubrovnik

Gorgeous water!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Day Trip to Montenegro

Dubrovnik

Really not much to see. Water, restaurants and souvenir shops. We got that pretty much every where.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Same car as on trip to Mostar. See those comments.

Dubrovnik to Korcula, stopping to visit Ston + the Peljesac Peninsula for wine tasting

Croatia

Loved the driver through wine country!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Good sized vehicle for 4 hot and sweaty travellers

Our trip to Spain including Madrid, Seville, Granada, Málaga and Barcelona was out of this world fantastic. Raquel is an empathic, loving and expert travel specialist that our family appreciates beyond words. She worked with us to personalize our choices, destinations, hotels, costs and needs while we were on the vacation. She has been there at every turn when we are planning, traveling and having questions during the whole process. I would recommend her to everyone and anyone that is planning a trip to Europe in the areas she covers. Please treat her with respect and kindness and she deserves these in full measure. I can only say thank you Raquel and KimKim for their expert assistance. She is like family to us.

We booked our holiday to Egypt through KimKim Travels. Our contact was Mohamed Nabil. He provided excellent advice and support in the booking of our trip and was also kind enough to help when we made amendments to our schedule and wishes. He was always prompt, helpful, friendly and professional in his interactions and communication. Without him, our trip would not have been as enjoyable and smooth. 5 Star Servicr. Sincere and heartfelt thanks.

Hotel Reviews

Royal Great Pyramid INN

Giza

Excellent staff especially Ahmed, Youssef, Khalid and Mo Salah! Beautiful location and views of Pyranids of Giza. Highly recommended

Authenticity & Character

Excellent

Location

So close to pyramids

Staff

Friendly and courteous

Cleanliness & Comfort

Superb

Pyramisa Luxor

Luxor

Beautiful hotel right on the Nile. Comfortable rooms and excellent facilities.

Authenticity & Character

Decor and cuisine

Location

Close to Luxor Temple

Staff

Very helpful and friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Super

Activity Reviews

Tour to High Dam, Philae Temple, and Obelisk

Aswan

Guide Abdul was excellent and knowledgeable

Trip Hot Air Balloon Ride in Luxor, Egypt

Luxor

Excellent . Guide Mr Mansour was excellent

Nile Pharaoh Dinner Cruise Cairo

Cairo

Superb

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trip to Pyramids, Memphis, and Sakkara

Egypt

Beautiful Do enjoy the camel ride

Quality of Experience

Guide Mahmoud was excellent

Food

Very good

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mahmoud was excellent

Transport

Excellent

My sincere apologies for the delay in responding to your invitation to review our KimKim-organized trip to Norway of June 24-July 7. The truth is that there is little I can add to the glowing and comprehensive account Robin submitted. The experience made me regret that – and wonder why – I had delayed so long in visiting Norway, having always wanted to.

The country was even more beautiful than I had anticipated (I was particularly struck by the abundance of flowers, both wild and cultivated, everywhere we visited), but more striking still was the unfailing friendliness, warmth, efficiency and readiness to be of help of everyone with whom we came into contact, from hotel staffs to guides to taxi and transfer service drivers, all of whom were knowledgeable, personable, flexible and utterly dependable. (In my case they courteously fielded requests for assistance that I’m sure a less technologically-challenged guest would not have troubled them with – I came away with a deeper appreciation for the achievements of Scandinavian bathroom-fixture and lighting design, and renewed chagrin at my dim-wittedness in mastering its use!)

I would find it difficult to single out any particular guides for praise, but was most grateful for the unflagging energy and enthusiasm of Ole in showing us the highlights of Hamar and Lillehammer (from the glorious sunlit morning exploring the Domkirkeodden to displaying the view from the apartment he has had purchased atop the “world’s tallest wooden building” Mjøstårnet – where he also showed us a video introducing us to the Norwegian comedy team Ylvis – to plying us with delectable jordbær and cream), as well as for Randi’s astuteness, aplomb and adaptability during our damp but delightful short stay in Ålesund. She is certainly someone I would keep on your short list of guides for anyone visiting that area.

In brief, it was hard to return home (and would have been hard even had “home” not been as unsettled a place as many of us now find it). I can only hope I will be granted enough years to make another trip over, in which I can see some of the things we had insufficient time to get to in the two weeks we were there – e.g., to see more of the three great open-air museums (the Norsk Folkemuseum, Maihaugen, and Sunnmøre) we were introduced to, and to visit the sites associated with great Norwegians that we noted in passing but couldn’t include in our schedule, such as the homes of Ibsen, Kirsten Flagstad, Sigrid Undset, Grieg and Ole Bull, among others.

You and your colleagues surely merit the highest praise (and quite possibly canonization) for your patience and professionalism in putting together a travel plan that met such a complex set of requests, and for dealing so promptly and capably with such small emergencies as arose while we were there. I would be only too happy to recommend your services to anyone I knew who might be hoping to visit Norway.

With many thanks and sincere best wishes,

Jennifer Boger

Normally I don't write reviews, but I felt that the service I received made my trip 100% more enjoyable.

Starting with the planning of the trip, Andrea was really easy to work with. We went over our price range, the ideal trip (walking tours, food tours, both smaller and larger cities, incorporating some relaxation, experiencing true Italian experiences). We booked 4-5 months in advance of our trip. The booklet we received that outlined the trip had all the details, and went over where to meet each guide at what time, and how long it would take. It had every train, event, and other travel tickets were provided timely. Every hotel they booked was in a really good location in our opinion. Every guide was great and would text us the day before letting us know who they were and where to expect to meet them. The most important aspect of the trip was how they handled our transportation issues that arose.

During our trip, the Italian train companies went on strike midway through our trip. The team at Kimkim communicated that this was going to be an issue the minute they knew and went to work on finding a solution. Within 24 hours they had booked a private transport service that would take us away from the regional trains and booked us on a different train in a different city that was hopefully guaranteed. Everything ended up working out great, the train they booked was not cancelled, and they stayed in constant communication with us the entire time. It truly felt that we were not alone and allowed my wife and I to enjoy our honeymoon instead of stressing about this issue. I will definitely be using Kimkim in the future and recommend their services to any individual.

The plan to visit three Countries - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania was built around my curiosity with the complex history, mix of cultures of pre-Christian, Nordic, Slavic, German, Russian and many others, and intriguing cuisine of this part of the world. Veronika created a good plan to cover everything I wanted to experience. In actual execution this is what I felt about the trip:

Hotels:
The hotel choices were uneven. Of the 4 hotels three did not have lifts. I should have been told that in advance, because this meant I had to carry the suitcase 3 floors up. Veronika should have checked that I can physically do it. I understand these are historical buildings but the traveller should be informed. The check in and check out information need to be with the traveller, so in case I arrive early I can prepare what to do. These details were not shared. I arrived in Tallinn after a 16 hr journey and was told I could not check in for another two hours! The hotel in Tallinn (Three Crowns Residents) was also really bad and had the smallest room I have ever had. The staff were among the most unfriendly I have ever met. The other three hotels were good and staff friendly. Espcelially the Edvards Hotel in Riga and the Rinno hotel in Vilnius was good. When I checked Booking. com I saw that the reviews support how I felt about these hotels - good and bad. So I felt that booking.com was giving me more information than I was getting from a kimkim tour which is supposed to be bespoke. Honestly what I paid for as a package and what I got in terms of hotels (I now know hotel prices online from booking.com in these cities) was disappointing.

Activities and Tours:
The guides were almost all good. The city tour of Tallinn, the food tour of Tallinn, the city and food tour of Riga, the city tour of Vilnius, the tour to Trakai - all well informed and interesting. However the Sigulda trip had only a driver and no guide while the description given to me was different and promised a guide. The driver told me he knows nothing and basically just drove me to the castle and left me on my own. Also unlike the description given to me earlier I realised that all the entry tickets I had to pay for at Sigulda and Turaida. So basically the tour only organised my transport to these places! Similarly the Riga city tour was supposed to be a tasting of food tour too - but the tour was completely different from what was promised in the write up. This difference between what is given as a write up to fix the package and price and what comes later as final bookings was there in some cases and it felt bad because one expected a seamless journey through this, which did not happen. I felt not enough research was done to find the best tours, they were mostly what can be found on viator which I can book myself (which i did earlier when I used to curate the trips myself) and kimkim's promise of the 'local' added nothing to the journey. Another example of this is the Saaremaa trip - in the description which was sent to me for me to finalise and pay the advance it said small group tour with detailed descriptions of what all I would see Later I got only a bus ticket and a ferry ticket and was told I have to do the tour
on my own! This was completely different from the expectation at the time of fixing the budget.

Veronika herself is a lovely friendly person. She was in the area and drove down to take me in her car to Saaremaa islands which I deeply appreciated. She also came on the last day to have an evening out with me and her friend which i liked a lot.

The three countries are beautiful, as was the food and the people I met. I had so many amazing discussions on politics, power, people and culture. I loved the food and the spirits - both in bottles and of people. It was a very special experience. My respect also for their resilience against the constant empire building aggression of Russia and for their solidarity with Ukraine.

However, as far as Kimkim goes, I would say that going by my earlier experience with traveling in Japan with Kimkim, where Kimkim's local partner there did a fantastic job, I was expecting the same level of service here. I would give that a 9/10. Unfortunately my experience here was a 6.5/10 . I felt I did not get the value of money I spent and I could have got a similar trip much cheaper if I did this through viator and booking.com This should not be how kimkim feels. I have already booked an Iceland trip through kimkim and Veronika - which she has promised me will be with less problems. I really hope so. But i will think twice before booking one more kimkim trip.

Hotel Reviews

Three Crowns Residents

Tallinn

Really bad attitude of staff and small dreary rooms.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Staff and room airy.

Beguta Guest House

Haapsalu

Lovely, tiny, comfy.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Breakfast can be more substantial.

Hotel Edvards

Riga

Absolutely lovely hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were amazing.

Rinno Hotel

Vilnius

Lovely room with sun window

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

After 8 pm open and close door yourself with pin. No lift. So up 4 or 5 floors.

Activity Reviews

Sigulda & Turaida Treasures — An Intimate Glimpse into Latvia's Medieval Magic

Latvia

Only driver, there was no guide. No tickets were paid for. This was only a car ride to and from these places.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Please provide guide

Transport

Lithuanian Kitchen Secrets—A Vilnius Culinary Experience

Vilnius

Was cancelled.

Trakai's Island Splendor—A Serene Escape from Vilnius

Vilnius

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tallinn's Hidden Depths & Heights—Private Exploration of Old Town and Bastion Tunnels

Tallinn

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Vilnius Old Town Reverie — A Private Stroll Through Time & Beauty

Vilnius

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Estonia Bites & Delights: A Culinary Expedition

Tallinn

Wonderful guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Riga Revealed—An Insightful Stroll & Local Tastes

Riga

The tour was good but there was nothing to taste. The actual trip offered and what is in description is totally different.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Riga's Central Market Delight — A Dive into Latvian Gastronomy

Riga

Wonderful guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We loved our driver George. He was GREAT. I think if we were to do it again, I would ask for a slight upgrade in the hotels. They were nice and what we asked for. Naxos Hotel was the best and Santorini was our least favorite. Not that the rooms weren't nice but the management was not warm and welcoming. We particularly enjoyed the cooking class and our "down" day in Naxos.

Hotel Review

Antony Suites & Residences Naxos

Naxos

This was our favorite hotel. LOVED it. Clean, roomy, management was friendly, and close to the beach and downtown.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Naxos Food & Culture Tour

Naxos

We enjoyed the entire afternoon!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Caldera Cruise & Volcano Visit

Santorini

Fun day. Not everyone went but those of us that did had a great time.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Santorini Wine Tour

Santorini

Last stop was the best. Could have eliminated the first stop. Too much wine for one afternoon.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Loved our guide. Harry was great.

Dinner in Athens with Acropolis View

Athens

This was a wonderful dinner. Quite the surprise and everything was Great!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Guided Tour in Ancient Olympia

Olympia

She was our favorite guide. Friendly, funny, spoke English well, and very informative.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Cooking Class in Nafplio

Nafplio

Best and favorite activity!! 5 stars

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The idea of planning a two week trip all around Iceland was extremely daunting but Eric made the process extremely easy. He provided us with a detailed trip plan that clearly mapped out each day with key places to visit - this was invaluable and took the burden off us. He assisted us in scheduling incredible adventures that made our trip to Iceland even more special and memorable, including river rafting, ATV tour, kayaking, glacier hike, and glacier ice cave tour. Everything was seamless and we were able to focus on enjoying the trip rather than the stress of planning and navigation. Some incredible highlights that will stay will us forever were our hikes in Thorsmork and to Glymer Falls, seeing a colony of hundreds of puffins up close, walking on glaciers, and simply enjoying the beauty of Iceland. Thank you so much!

Activity Reviews

Katla Ice Cave Superjeep tour

Iceland

Our tour guide John was INCREDIBLE. He was extremely knowledgeable and passionate about glaciers and made the tour fun and interesting even though it was rainy and cold :-)

Skaftafell Glacier Hike

Iceland

A memorable experience to walk on glaciers and see the extent and degree to which they are melting.

The Geothermal Vok Baths

Iceland

A great way to relax after multiple days in the car.

West Glacial River family rafting

Iceland

Tour guides were positive, friendly, and made this such a fun experience. It was a cool day but they provided us with all the needed gear to keep us warm and focused on enjoyment of the experience.

Kayaking tour under Mount Kirkjufell

Iceland

The scenery was incredible and it was great having an Icelandic guide who could speak to growing up and living in Iceland. It was an easy kayak experience as we didn't go very far.

Mountain ATV tour

Iceland

A great introduction to riding an ATV. The weather was rainy and cold but they provided us appropriate gear to ensure we stayed warm and our clothes stayed dry. Unfortunately, visibility was limited that day but I'm sure the views of the capital city would have been amazing on a clear day.

I cannot recommend KimKim and Melanie enough!!! From our private transportation to our guided tours, everything went smoothly and we learned a lot about Italy and all of it's rich history and beauty!!!

Activity Reviews

Amalfi coast boat tour

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vatican & Sistine Chapel Tour

Rome

Historical Rome walking tour and Colosseum guided Tour

Rome

Lake Como Boat tour

Lake Como

Massimo was our boat captain!! He showed us all the sights!!! He was wonderful!! Definitely 5 stars!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Best of Tuscany

Italy

Rhonda spent the entire day with us with stops in Siena and San Gimignano!! She was very knowledgeable and very professional!

We worked with Myaen who was very accommodating of my preferences and questions. I traveled with my 2 teenage girls throughout Japan, and we wanted something we'd all enjoy - meaning very few temples and lots of teen-friendly activities. We also wanted to experience traditional accommodations and lots of great food. Myaen came through with meeting all of our requests, and her team was available to help navigate through issues once we were in the country. Had a good experience overall!

Activity Reviews

Welcome to Kanazawa

Kanazawa

We really liked the smaller town, and it was a good way to start the trip by getting used to transportation and customs of Japan.

Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Shirakawa-gō

Japan

This was one of our favorite sites in Japan because at the time of our visit, we didn't have to be among too many other tourists. We also enjoyed seeing the traditional homes and roaming through them at our own pace.

Traditional Tea Ceremony wearing a Kimono

Japan

This was our favorite activity. Not only did we enjoy putting on the kimonos, but we also loved learning about the meaning behind the ceremony and the picture taking opportunities in the gardens.

Day trip to Nara

Kyoto

Very cool to interact with the deer and to be in a peaceful forest setting.

Izakaya Food Tour

Tokyo

The tour and district were a bit too "adult" for my teens who could not participate in the saki tastings and perhaps didn't need to see the redlight district. Otherwise, the food was good and plentiful.

Get close to Mount Fuji at Kawaguchiko

Tokyo

It was a beautiful view from the bottom of the hill, as we did not make the climb to the temple at the top. We were already tired from the trip to begin with, and wished we would have known there were 500+ steps to climb. Instead, we took pictures from the viewpoint at the bottom and enjoyed the soft serve ice cream sold there.

Tokyo Skytree

Tokyo

It was a great visit, and it was good that we went when it opened in the morning before it got too busy. It started filling up quickly after that.

Tsukiji Fish Market Visit with Sushi Making Experience

Tokyo

Our guide clearly wanted us to have a good experience and tried to make the most of a very hot day. She made sure to give us breaks in air-conditioned parts of the market and provided electrolyte candies to make sure we were not overcome by the heat. We enjoyed trying the free samples and looking for the treats my kids had heard about on the internet. The private sushi-making class was also good and happened at our own pace.

We were two couples with somewhat different physical needs. Most of the planned days and guides were great. A couple of the days were either beyond our capacity or interest or were not delivered as promised (booked a private tour but were thrown into a group) To her credit Veronika refunded our money for that trip. The rest of the trip and guides were good and knowledable. We particularly enjoyed Urban , Sari and Marianne.

If going to Scandinavia with walking or heuggt issues, avoid adventure park and forest as you will spend the day in pain or sitting waiting for others.

Activity Reviews

Møns klint and Forest tower - A day tour from Copenhagen

Copenhagen

Didn't have a guide really but a driver. And we had asked repeatedly if this was appropriate for us and it was not. Could have done other things adventure camp great for an overnight stay if you are a zipliner. We didn't or couldn't climb the tower so a brief walk in the woods same with the cliffs. We couldn't really enjoy it. A wasted day

Quality of Experience

Listen to traveller's when they are concerned about participating.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vasa Museum

Stockholm

It is amazing. Might want a private guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Stockholm Hidden Gems Tour with a Private Guide

Stockholm

Sari was great and knowledgable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Harmony in Stone: Temppeliaukion Church

Helsinki

Amazing site.

Nuuksio National Park—Finnish Wilderness Wonders

Helsinki

David was very sweet.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

David was thoughtful and sweet

Transport

Helsinki Flavors & Tales: City Sights Meets Culinary Delights

Helsinki

Alvaro made the trip Food hall and food great and he was prepared to answer all questions.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Helsinki Highlights & Suomenlinna Island—A Combined Sightseeing Experience

Helsinki

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Viking History Full Day Tour from Stockholm including Sigtuna and Uppsala

Stockholm

Great day and very knowledgable guide Urban.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Stockholm Archipelago Tour with lunch

Stockholm

Great lunch bit couldn't hear the guide so missed some info.as speaker near us was broken. Complained but staff couldn't do anything. Company refunded part of our fee.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kon-Tiki Museum

Oslo

A gem of a place. Great little museum.

Quality of Experience

The Norwegian Museum of Cultural History

Oslo

Fascinating plan to spend the day not just the morning

Quality of Experience

Dinner Cruise on the Oslo Fjord

Oslo

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Oslo with a Local

Oslo

Great guide dont miss city hall!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Marianne was wonderful.

Planning this trip was made easy with Rita's help and kimkim! This is my second time using kimkim and confident to say it never disappoints. Rita was so patient with our requests and making changes till we were satisfied. Rita suggested Porto, Lisbon and Algarve for our 10 days trip.

We started off in Porto with an amazing food tour guided by Marina and had the chance of trying Portuguese wine🍷(it was divine!!! had to bring a few bottles back home). We had time to walk around on our own as well and observe the beautiful architectures and streets, the Portuguese were so warm and welcoming. Not to mention their famous canned sardines, which my mum carried a whole box back! Everything was so beautiful. Lisbon was more on the crowded side but still beautiful nonetheless.

Rita arranged many tours to the beautiful parts of Portugal, my dad's favorite was Cascais because of the nature. The tour guides were amazing too, friendly, knowledgable and patient! Our last destination was Algarve, beautiful beaches🏝️, had the chance to set out to the Benagil Caves. Rita's recommendation was to rent a car to drive around but we opted out of that. But I could understand why having a car would have been more convenient.

I could rave on and on about this trip, will definitely go back again when I have the chance to! I'd say the most memorable things about Portugal are their intricate handmade products, delicious cuisine, hospitable people and beautiful Cork trees.

Activity Reviews

Vintage Car Tour of Porto

Porto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Excursion to Douro Valley, Wine Tasting & River Cruise

Porto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Day Excursion: Sintra, Cascais & Estoril

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tuk-Tuk Tour

Portugal

This tuk-tuk tour brought us to the main attractions of Lisbon, would be even better if the tour was longer!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Everything was fantastic! Dalia planned the perfect itinerary and our group had a blast!

Activity Reviews

Lisbon: Tuk Tuk Culture & Food tour

Lisbon

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Algarve's Marine Wildlife Boat Tour

Spain

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sevilla: Walking and biking tour

Seville

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

KimKim travel helped put togethet an itinerary just right. We wanted to manage to our budget and have experiences beyond sight seeing. Melanie help us achieve that. The hotel was situated perfectly and wr has a wonderful time.

Hotel Review

43 Station Hotel

Milan

The staff were so helpful. Breakfast was fantastic. And the staff recommended 2 restaurants both perfect and not expensive.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Breakfast is great, rooms comfortable, staff friendly and helpful

Activity Reviews

Gelato and Pizza Making class in Milan

Milan

What a great experience. The class wad fun and well paced. Thete were all levels of experience but the chef kept us all engaged. We made and ate our pizzas, had sip of wine while he talked about gelato, then made our own cones and finished by saviuring fresh made gelato w toppings we chose. Plus! The location is an amaxing foodhall that we visited the next day. This is a do not skip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We could walk from the hotel

Street Food Tour

Milan

A wonderful way to see the parts of the city and exolire foods. Our guide Marco made it feel like we were on an afternoon walk with a foidie friend taking us to his favourite spots. The balsamic tour and tasting started us off, but every stop was a highlight.

Quality of Experience

Food

Almost everything but especially tasting some things were would have missed on our own

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Friendly guide, easy peace, interesting stops

Transport

Easy meeting point to get.

We had an amazing time in Sweden! We had terrific guides throughout the trip. Zennid was knowledgeable and great with the kids in Stockholm. Rostrum took us on a beautiful kayaking trip that was suitable for all levels of experience. The hiking around Torsö was incredible. Tours in Gothenburg were fun. The Universeum was the interactive and entertaining for all ages. I would definitely return to Sweden and would love to plan a trip to Iceland with Veronika!

Hotel Reviews

Nordic Light Hotel

Stockholm

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Grand Central

Stockholm

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easy access to public transportation and walkable

Staff

William was our waiter at the hotel restaurant. He was friendly and provided local advice.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Laxhall Hamnkrog & Konferens

Torsö

Authenticity & Character

Location

Picturesque

Staff

All the staff were incredibly friendly. Provided great insight about the area. Packed the most amazing picnic for our hike. Loved this place!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Göteborg Central

Göteborg

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easily walkable

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Train Transfer

Sweden

Super easy to navigate, quick, and comfortable

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Stockholm Hidden Gems Tour with a Private Guide

Stockholm

Zennid was very knowledgeable. He gave us tips and additional area to explore and restaurants to try during the rest of the trip. He was great explaining everything to our kids (ages 7 & 9).

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunset Kayaking in Stockholm

Stockholm

This was a great experience. We had three generations of varying experience and abilities kayaking and everyone enjoyed it. Our guide was interesting, knowledgeable, and friendly. Would highly recommend this experience

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Boat Ride

Gothenburg

This was a great way to see the area. Our guide was excellent with our kids, friendly and knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I can't speak highly enough about KimKim and their entire team. Our family just returned from an incredible 10 day journey to Italy and we could not have made it all possible without Arianna's amazing planning and Barbara's constant logistical support once we were there. Arianna worked tirelessly in helping us to plan the perfect trip for our crew of 5 (ranging from 10-48 years). We started in Venice (2d) where we had an exceptional guide named Sarah, then moved on to Lake Como (2d) where Barbara helped us figure out how to work around the only rain we had on the trip, allowing us to catch a later tour with Paulo, our wonderful captain. Our next stop was Cinque Terre, (3d) which was beautiful beyond words and our collective family favorite. We ended our trip in the "Eternal City" of Rome (2d), where we were fortunate enough to have Gioia lead us through both the Coliseum and the Vatican. We were all blown away at the amazing beauty and diverse attractions Italy has to offer! My wife and I were especially impressed with the AXIUS app we had access to. It kept us perfectly organized and in constant contact with Barbara, should we need ANYTHING during our stay. Every time, meeting point, document, ticket, hotel, and transportation detail was accounted for and accessible within seconds. Would definitely use KimKim again and recommend to friends/family. Thanks you!!!

Our guide Esteban was absolutely amazing. He was with us in Antigua and Lake Atitlan, and was great with the kids and with the grandparents. The whole KimKim team was very accommodating. They were attentive to our initial requests and put together the perfect itinerary that wasn't too overwhelming and allowed for some flexibility. We were a relatively difficult group, as initially we had a party of 5, then a couple of weeks before the trip we added 2 more people. The team repsonded quickly, found bigger accommodations for us where necessary, and upgraded the vehicles used to transport us everywhere. Even during the trip, we encountered an issue with one of our accommodations in Lake Atitlan, and the team mobilized quickly to rectify all issues we had identified. I got sick on one of our days in Antigua, and Esteban and the KimKim team accommodated a last minute change to our itinerary for the day, providing us with alternate options for experiences, and also being kind enough to fetch me some electrolyte drinks to keep me hydrated thru my sickness. They even offered to connect us with a local doctor.
Esteban gave plenty of recommendations for places to eat and visit during our spare time, continuing to send us recommendations via WhatsApp even after we had parted ways. KimKim was the ideal tour company for us in Guatemala, and we would absolutely recommend them again.