Kimkim Trip Reviews

Our family of four recently had the pleasure of planning our Greek getaway through KimKim, with Hara as our dedicated travel planner. From the moment we arrived, Hara's thoughtful touch made our experience exceptional. She welcomed us at our hotel check-in with kind gifts unique to Greece, ensuring a warm introduction to the country's culture. Throughout our trip, Hara was attentive and accommodating, readily available by text to address any questions or last-minute arrangements.

Hara crafted an absolutely magnificent trip for us, spanning Athens, Naxos, and Santorini. Her meticulous planning struck a perfect balance between enriching private tours and ample free time for our own explorations.

Every detail of our journey was flawlessly executed, enhancing our experience at every turn. One of the standout moments was our unforgettable private cruises—a daytime catamaran adventure and a mesmerizing sunset cruise—that truly captured the essence of Greece's stunning coastal beauty.

Hara's expertise and attention to our preferences ensured that every aspect of our trip exceeded our expectations. Already, we're eagerly planning our next family adventure with KimKim, confident in their ability to create another unforgettable journey.

Hotel Reviews

Elia Ermou Athens Hotel

Athina

The hotel was wonderful, and the location was superb! The roof top dining was such an amazing experience. The food was delicious, and the exquisite views of the Acropolis made it that much more special.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

18 Grapes Hotel Naxos

Naxos

Our stay at 18 Grapes Hotel was nothing short of exceptional. The attention to detail and genuine care extended to guests, both in the rooms and throughout the property, truly stood out. Located just a short stroll from one of Naxos's most stunning beaches, the hotel offers the perfect blend of luxury and convenience. One of the highlights was the delicious made-to-order breakfasts, which were a delightful start to each day. The dedicated staff ensured our comfort with their warm hospitality and attentive service, making our stay truly memorable. Additionally, the rooftop restaurant served delicious food with breathtaking views, adding an extra touch of luxury to our evenings.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

El Greco Resort Hotel Santorini

Santorini

Our recent stay at El Grecco hotel left us with mixed feelings. While the lobby was charming and the receptionists were friendly and helpful, there were some notable drawbacks. Accommodation: We booked two rooms, one of which had a mildew smell, and the other had stains on the furniture. However, the clerks were responsive and tried their best to address these issues promptly. Atmosphere: The hotel tends to host large groups, which meant a bustling atmosphere with frequent tour groups checking in and out. Dining Experience: There was a wide variety of breakfast options available, though the food itself was average in quality. Location: One aspect we found inconvenient was the hotel's location. While there were some decent restaurants within walking distance, we found ourselves spending most of our time in Oia, wishing we had chosen accommodation there or closer. Overall Impression: In summary, El Grecco offers a pleasant lobby and friendly reception staff. However, the issues with room conditions and the bustling nature of the hotel, combined with its location, left us feeling that it was an average choice for our stay in Santorini.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

E-Bike Experience in Naxos

Naxos

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Magnificent Athens

Athens

Our tour guide as wonderful! He was incredibly knowledgeable and did an excellent job of providing a comprehensive and engaging tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Island of Naxos

Naxos

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Island of Santorini - Private Tour

Santorini

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Catamaran Morning Private Cruise

Santorini

This excursion was undeniably one of the highlights of our trip! We enjoyed it so much, we added a sunset tour to our itinerary.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My wife and I just returned from thirteen days in Italy with our two kids, (ages 13 and 10) and had a trip that created memories for a lifetime.

I can’t say enough about Cecilia and how great she was in designing a trip for a family who had never been to Italy before and making sure that our itinerary met our needs. She found us great hotels that were both convenient location wise but also rooms that were comfortable for the whole family. Cecilia was very responsive leading up to our trip and made sure we were well educated on everything we needed to know before we left and provided us all of our necessary travel documents in one easy to use location that made our days travelling easy to follow. While on our trip Cecilia also made herself available for us to ask questions and was quick to respond if we weren’t sure if we were in a proper location for a tour or had a travel question as we moved from one place to the next.

We spent three days in Venice, three in Florence, four in Sorrento and ended with three days in Rome. Sorrento was the highlight destination for the whole family with our boat tour of the Amalfi Coast as our favourite day of the whole trip.

Thank you for everything Cecilia, your talent, your work and your dedication to our happiness is appreciated more than we can tell you!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Ca' Marinella

Venice

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Paris

Florence

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Il Faro 3* Sorrento

Sorrento

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

HOTEL CECIL

ROME

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

MURANO, BURANO AND TORCELLO EXCURSION

Venice

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Gondola Ride

Venice

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pizza and gelato making class

Florence

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half day tour Pisa and the leaning tower

Florence

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Accademia Gallery Tour

Florence

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Truffle hunting and tasting in Valdichiana

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day at leisure in Sorrento

Sorrento

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

AMALFI AND POSITANO DISCOVERY BOAT TOUR - SEMI PRIVATE (max 12)

Sorrento

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pompeii Excavations half-day Tour

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

GOLF CART TOUR ROME

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rome - 2h Gladiator School

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Colosseum, Roman Forums and Palatine Hill

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vatican & Sistine Chapel - Small Group Tour

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lize made our dream trip come true. We had been thinking about this special trip for 2 years and once I reached out to Kim Kim, Lize took time and patience to genuinely understand our needs and pull together the right itinerary. Communication was smooth, everything was as promised and more. Lize checked in on us during the trip as well and helped organise a last minute activity (hot air ballooning in Sossuvei). I would 100% recommend Lize to any one my friends planning a trip.

Hotel Review

Otjiwa Mountain Lodge

This unique, intimate and beautiful property will leave you speechless

Authenticity & Character

The elegance

Location

The position and view

Staff

Very professional and warm

Cleanliness & Comfort

Spotless and beautifully furnished

Activity Review

Etosha South to Okonjima

Namibia

We loved all the tips on the App. Where to stop, get fuel and the visit to the cheetah conservation fund

Very smooth organization by Ethel and great recommendations. Everything was booked ahead of time, which made the trip very seamless. We loved Bergen and the treehouse outside Oslo as well as the amazingly beautiful scenery throughout.

The trip in Cusco was well planned. We appreciated the logistical planning for transport and the guided tours in English. The travel agency in Cusco set up a what's app group and Jime was very prompt in her responses in the what's app chats. She was also very helpful and would provide exact and accurate instructions for each day's activities. In particular, we want to thank our tour guides (Edilberto Huamani in Sacred Valley and Cusco archeological sites tour, Fatima in Machu Picchu and Ketty in Rainbow Mountain tour) for giving us excellent overview of the history of Cusco. They were very kind and enthusiastic in sharing their knowledge with us. They spoke English very well and we could converse easily with them.

For the trip to Pisac, we had a Spanish speaking guide with a translator who seemed like an intern with the tour company. It was unfortunate that we realised the Spanish guide had a lot of information to share but the translator did not manage to translate the information accurately. For example, the Spanish guide spoke for 1 minute regarding the archeological sites in Pisac, and the translator followed up with 1-2 sentences which did not appear to represent what the guide had wanted to convey. The translator did not have very good command of the language as well. Although we enjoyed the sights in Pisac, we thought we would appreciate the sites further if there was a good English speaking guide with us.

The rainbow mountain tour allowed us to appreciate the beautiful scenery but I suffered from altitude sickness. It was also very cold in the mountain with strong wind, and we were unprepared for the weather. Jime had mentioned that it was very cold in the rainbow mountain the day before the trip, but we had not packed thick jackets for our entire trip in Cusco. I will suggest that the tour company should warn the participants regarding the weather and give the temperature ranges in the mountain, and also give warning regarding possible altitude sickness + give information regarding the altitude and how strenuous the activity may be, so that the participants can gauge if this tour is suitable for them.

Overall, we still enjoyed our trip and will recommend other tourists to consider booking the tour with this company, especially for English speaking visitors. The itinerary allowed us to experience many aspects of what Cusco has to offer, and we understood more of the Peruvian/Incan culture from our trip. Thank you Martina for planning this.

Faida organised a trip to Borneo for my family in collaboration. She was great at making changes or incorporating my wishlist. We absolutely loved it. I was a little hesitant to book as I had never gone via KimKim but the experience was incredible. They were able to organise details I would never have been able to figure out. From the moment we were picked up from the airport - every transfer was seamless and on time. It meant I was never thinking about "what next" or "how do we get a taxi?" as it was all done. It felt like I had a team behind the scenes running the holiday so all I had to do was enjoy it.

We spent a a few days in the jungle, then a few on the islands and it was an ideal mix (it was a one week holiday). We saw so many animals in the wild including probiscos monkeys, orangatangs, baby turtles, tarsiers (the big eyed cuties) and many many more. Our itinerary was a two half days / one night in Sepilok, 2 nights on the River Cruise (Wetlands Resort was great, as was Omar our guide) , a night on turtle island then a two nights at the Dive Resort in Lankayan Island. The diver resort was absolute paradise with incredible snorkelling (good for kids), swimming with turtles (they just graze the sea grass casually most of the time) and seeing baby turtles hatch and run on the beach. The set up is like Bora Bora - so luxurious. The staff were also wonderful.

I normally organise holidays myself but I am so glad I did it via Faida. She made everything work like clockwork and she set up a WhatsApp group so if I had any changes or questions while on holiday, they were able to answer them. I didn't realise but a lot of transfers are by boat and there was no way I would have known when they all leave and arrive. However, thanks to Faida - this was all sorted. I was also worried about the timings of everything as it seemed like a lot to fit in, but it worked very well and everything was timed perfectly.

This was a wonderful holiday for our whole family. I cannot recommend Faida highly enough.

Hotel Reviews

Walai Penyu Resort Libaran

Sandakan

This doesn't promise to be a fancy experience - but even for "glamping" this was quite basic. However, that becomes part of the appeal - you get to see the village and the way villagers live (but again, this is very basic). The food and staff were great. It is very rustic - think table and chairs on the beach. The part that was oddly disappointing was the turtles. Compared to other islands, where I saw many adult turtles and babies live hatching - the island had about 3 nests only. I also worry that if they are holding turtles back for tourists to "release" - then it's not ideal for the baby turtles who must sit in a bucket. I would see this island for an off the beaten track tour of what village life is like.

Authenticity & Character

Location

it's an island

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

It is very basic but they tell you that - there is no air conditioning

Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort

Sandakan

Lovely hotel in the jungle. Very comfortable. Excellent staff and food. You fall asleep to the sounds of the rainforest.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lankayan Island Dive Resort

INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE! This place is magical. From the chalets that sit over the blue water, to being able to swim with turtles - it was one of the favourite experiences. Everything about this place was wonderful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Dreamy island. Ample fish to look at while snorkelling. Lovely accessible reef.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Luxurious!

Activity Review

Kinabatangan D1

Malaysia

Omar was an excellent guide - definitely worth doing. We saw so many animals in the jungle.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Morocco would have been a harder place to travel if it wasn’t for the help of KimKim. The driver, Khalid, is an exceptional human being and was the most accommodating driver I’ve ever experienced. He’s a 10! The guide in Fez, Khamal, is also a patient, kind professor who made the tour in Fez most special. His historical knowledge and command of English is truly exceptional. Our other guides both in Marrakech and the Atlas Mountains were very professional and helpful.
Morocco is truly a blend of modern and ancient. Its commitment to its history and religion is impressive. The people are warm. I can say with all sincerity that my cultural life experience is more enriched now that I’ve had a taste of Morocco. Thank you KimKim.

Hotel Reviews

The White Camel Lodge

Agafay, Marrakech

This is a special place that is well worth the awe inspiring sunset and sense of adventure.

Authenticity & Character

Uniqueness

Location

Had never experienced anything like this before.

Staff

Friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Great pool

Es Saadi Marrakech Resort - Hotel

Marrakech

The staff is very very accommodating. It’s clean, colorful, and serves a great breakfast. Fantastic swimming pool. Great pool service. Quiet at night. Ac works well.

Authenticity & Character

It’s more modern with Moroccan details. It’s like a nice hotel in Hawaii with some Moroccan influence

Location

A bit of a walk to the Medina but since we had a driver that wasn’t a concern

Staff

Very helpful. Let us check out late. Let us hang around since we had a late flight out at night.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean yet does not smell of disinfectant!

Barcelo Tanger

Tangier

Very modern and clean. Pool is shady though and was windy.

Authenticity & Character

More modern and new than Moroccan character

Location

Beautiful view of Mediterranean.

Staff

Not much interaction so that was fine. Means it runs well.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very very clean and comfortable

Hotel Dar Mounir

Chefchaouen

Lots of winding stairs. Shower overflowed but they were quick to fix. It was ok

Authenticity & Character

Very Moroccan

Location

Right in the Medina

Staff

Very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Breakfast was poor

Riad Maison Bleue And Spa

Fes

Beautiful authentic Moroccan style. Super close to the Medina. Fun staff. Great personality of place and staff. Lots of stairs but they have an elevator!

Authenticity & Character

So authentic. It was four houses remodeled together

Location

Close to Medina

Staff

Fun, kind and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

We saw other Riads inside the Medina that were more “elegant” (bigger) but this Riad is elegant and has a fun personality. I really liked.

Activity Review

Tour Fes with a Private Guide

Fes

Khamal is a professor who knows his stuff. Lots of energy, so knowledgeable. Speaks English like a natural speaker. Get him!!!

Quality of Experience

Nice accommodations and guides. Great driver Khalid.

Food

We searched for variety and found it. Food from vendors in the Medina was delicious and safe.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

People are warm and real

Transport

Khalid is the BEST

The guide was very good , guided us through the whole trip , from places to restaurants.
The country is beautiful and had a wonderful time driving around and seeing some stunning places .
My 4 star is based on few -
I could have planned it slightly better as felt one or two places were a repetition and could be avoided ( maybe Kritiansund )
Some hotels did not have any lift which meant we had to carry suitcases at least for 2-3 flights of stairs , not ideal when we have 2 suitcases close to 20kgs , avoidable .
Overall fantastic country and trip and our advisor / guide Mathia was very good

We toured through Spain as one part of several countries we visited on this vacation. Working with Marta, we were able to develop a plan that brought us to many cities in Spain and ended in Southern Spain, where we could take a ferry to Morocco. We had chosen to be on our own for much of the trip.
Marta arranged trains between cities as well as hotels that were comfortable, centrally located and included breakfast, which got our days started right! We took a Paella making class in Valencia, did a tapas tour and had a tour of La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, and saw a Flamenco show in Sevilla. We also had several city tours along the way with knowledgeable and interesting local tour guides. All were well-coordinated and gave us a flavor of each of the 6 cities we visited, while providing lots of free time for us as well.
Marta and her team were always available for questions, both before, during, and even after our trip. It was a fantastic 11-day experience.

We had an amazing experience in Iceland! The options for tours, accommodations, and random places to stop and see were great. We really appreciated the help and communication we received from Eric!

Machupicchu: The tour guide told us many stories in detail and helped us take many good photos.

Rainbow mountain：There are not too many people, so you can really revel in the beautiful scenery

In fact the whole trip was great and a very unique experience, I will recommend it to my friend KimKim

Wonderful! Thanks to Chris and our guide Joel for putting together a great itinerary and shepherding us through a phenomenal trip. I traveled to Guatemala with 4 teenagers...who thought this might have been our best adventure yet. Chris and the team suggested a great itinerary, matched the level of adventure + downtime our group was into, were collaborative with adjustments, helped manage within our budget, and communicated well throughout. If we return to Guatemala, we'll work with Chris again....and I'll recommend him to friends.

Valentine was the most wonderful and profesional travel specialist we have ever met. She made every single arrangement exactly as we wanted it to be. She chose the most wonderful hotels and places as she just had the best insight on France and the best instinct. She really was essential in making our trip an absolute joy.

Our family vacation to Japan was fantastic and Myaen was so thoughtful and did a great job of conceiving and preparing a trip that had the right balance of guides and self-exploration as well the right mix of contemporary / modern Japan and traditional sights.

Throughout the trip our guides (Junko, Haruki, Momoko and others) were quite amazing and did a great job of catering a tour to our needs that day.

Activity Reviews

Izakaya Food Tour

Tokyo

Our guide Haruki did a great job of creating a fun welcoming atmosphere and took us to some fantastic places in Kabukicho.

Quality of Experience

Our guide (Haruki?) was amazing and the food was fantastic! Exceeded my expectations.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Haruki was amazing.

Sumo Practice Viewing in Tokyo

Tokyo

I thought we would be touring an actual sumo stable. Instead we got a fairly sanitized sumo exhibition with slapstick comedy. The show itself was fun but much less authentic than we were expecting. .

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tsukiji Fish Market Visit with Sushi Making Experience

Tokyo

An excellent tour of the “old” Tsukkiji fish market area. Sampling the fresh fish was quite amazing. But overall was a bit disappointed by the size of the market and how touristy the experience was.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Traditional Kyoto Tour

Japan

Our guide Junko was quite phenomenal. It was unbearably hot in Kyoto the days we were there and Junko did a Teriffic job of adjusting the itinerary to accommodate for the heat. She offered up a new sequence of temple visits to be outdoors during the early AM and then offered some new indoor outings for us in the PM.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Junko was a fabulous tour guode who accommodated my family when my son was not feeling well.

The Golden Pavilion and Magnificent Views in Arashiyama

Kyoto

Our guide Junko was quite phenomenal. It was unbearably hot in Kyoto the days we were there and Junko did a Teriffic job of adjusting the itinerary to accommodate for the heat. She offered up a new sequence of temple visits to be outdoors during the early AM and then offered some new indoor outings for us in the PM.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Junko was a fabulous guide.

I recently had the pleasure of working with Emanuela to book a family vacation to Iceland, and I cannot recommend her services highly enough. From start to finish, Emanuela was incredibly knowledgeable, attentive, and helpful, making the entire process smooth and enjoyable.

During the planning stages, Emanuela provided us with excellent advice and a variety of great options for travel and accommodations. She took the time to understand our interests and preferences, crafting an exciting itinerary that perfectly suited our family. Her expertise and attention to detail ensured that every aspect of our trip was well thought out and meticulously planned.

While we were in Iceland, Emanuela's support continued to shine. She was readily available to answer any questions we had and provided valuable tips that enhanced our experience. Thanks to her, we discovered hidden gems and had unforgettable adventures that we would have otherwise missed. I wouldn't hesitate to book another trip through Kim Kim, and would certainly recommend Emanuela to help book your next trip to Iceland.

Had a wonderful experience in Sri Lanka thanks to Rikaz’s help with planning the itinerary. The cost was also very reasonable considering it took the stress off researching and booking our own hotels and tourist sites to visit.

The trip to Yala National Park was so memorable - we saw elephants, so many bird species, crocs, deer and the elusive leopard. The safari lodge that was booked for us was also wonderful. Beautifully designed, nice pool to swim in after long rides on the safari jeep and with all the amenities we needed. Service was top notch and the food was so yummy!

Our stay in Mirissa was great too - the beachfront Lantern Boutique Hotel had beautiful crashing waves at its doorstep 24/7 and the beach was a short drive away. There were local family owned eateries where we had authentic Sri Lankan food and a delicious grilled seafood dinner by the beach.

The itinerary was well thought out and our amazing driver Aruna also took the initiative to bring us to additional places on request. We went to a turtle hatchery, elephant sanctuary, wood carving demo, snorkeling with turtles, whale watching and more!

I would definitely recommend Kim Kim for your next vacation!

The trip to Peru was perfect!!
Liz Karen was able to assist us to find travelling options we desired to get. Transfers between different location was smooth and on time.
We also want to thank Kimberly, Javier, Rhonald, and, most importantly, David for guiding us around Peru. This historical and scenic sightseeing was way above our expectation.

Our rating to the trip, Andean Travel Experience, and Kimkim would be 10000000 out of 10!!

Our trip to the Quito and The Galapagos Islands was fabulous! The services provided by KimKim, especially Anthony who coordinated everything for us, was flawless. Every guide and driver we had were knowledgeable, timely, friendly, and welcomed us to Ecuador with open arms. We loved our trip to the cloud forest with David and our 7 day cruise around the Galapagos islands aboard the Archibel I where we saw tons of birds, sea lions, penguins, rays, and other sea animals. When we needed help making a few important changes on the fly, Anthony made it all happen. We felt very supported by him and the KimKim/Responsible Travel Team before and during our travels.

Hotel Reviews

Ikala Quito Hotel

Quito

Great hotel, beautifully appointed room with comfortable bed. Lots of options for the breakfast buffet and for dinner as well. Appreciated the two for one mojitos as well! Hotel has armed security 24/7 and feels safe.

Authenticity & Character

The decor in the room and in all the common speaces.

Location

Easy to walk to a few restaurants. Nice to be in a neighborhood.

Staff

While their English wasn't great, it was good enough to provide super service and help us when the safe in our room wouldn't open!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Perfectly clean. Good temperatures. Loved the linens on the bed.

Archipel I

Guayaquil - Ecuador

We really enjoyed our time on the Archipel I. The food was delicious and plentiful. The chef put a lot of thought into offering a diverse menu for every meal. The fruit drinks provided whenever we returned from an excursion on shore or aboard the dingy were a great treat. The rooms are comfortable, with ample amount of space for storing luggage and clothing. On the first part of the trip we were in a room at the front of the boat which was particularly bumpy, especially because of the route we were on. For the second half of the trip, we moved to a room at the back of the boat which we found a lot less bumpy. The sea may have been less wavy either way but we liked being in the back better and really appreciated the opportunity to move. Overall, the staff on this boat are super.

Authenticity & Character

Great ship to see the Galapagos Islands on.

Location

We went on the 7 day cruise - around the western islands and then up to Genevese.

Staff

Great staff -- so customer focused and efficient. They knew how to get things done and keep the group moving forward and able to address issues as they came up.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The vessel and cabins were very clean. The bathrooms, while very clean and usable, are beginning to show their age a bit.

La Palma Polo Club

La Palma Polo Club is a unique experience and location! Our room was HUGE. Loved all the windows and rustic decor. Only thing missing was a desk. Food was good at the restaurant too. Enjoyed walking the grounds. There are not many rooms so you feel like you are at a special place . We only stayed one night before catching our flight so we didn't use the pools or the spa.

Authenticity & Character

Hotel was beautiful.

Location

While the hotel is closer to the airport than Quito, it is still a half an hour a way. It is also not convenient to Quito if you want to use it as a base for touring. That said, the location is beautiful and it is a great place to stay, particularly if you want to hang out for a few days.

Staff

Very helpful and friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was clean and comfortable! The bed was great. The decor was beautiful.

Activity Reviews

Moreno Point - Urbina Bay (Isabela Island)

Cruise Ship

Espinoza Point (Fernandina Island) - Vicente Roca Point (Isabela Island)

Cruise Ship

Black Turtle Cove - Flamingos and Relax in Bachas Beach

Cruise Ship

Colonial Quito City Tour & the Middle of the World

Quito

Really enjoyed the Middle of the World experience. Very fun and worthwhile. We also enjoyed the tour of old Quito and the view of the city from the Virgin of Quito statue overlooking the city was outstanding!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

David was a great guide, adjusting the tour based on our interests, and sharing with us lots of interesting information about Quito's history and current situation.

Transfer to the airport for your flight back home (Departure)

Galapagos Islands

Smooth transfer with lots of time to check in at the airport.

Arrival to Quito

Galapagos Islands

Friendly driver met us at the airport and we had a smooth transfer to our hotel for the evening.

Birding Day in the Cloud Forest

Quito

Our guide knew of a few "private" birding locations where locales set up bananas and other fruit to attract birds to their property, including hummingbirds. These locations did not disappoint! We saw dozens of colorful and unique birds and were able to feed a vast array of beautiful hummingbirds. We also went to the butterfly refuge which was okay. The highlight there was seeing two kinds of toucans and a sunbittern on or near the property.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

David knows his birds and was passionate about seeing and finding them!

Baltra Airport - Fausto Llerena Breeding Centre (Santa Cruz)

Cruise Ship

We are glad we saw the breeding center but it is nothing like seeing the giant tortoises in the wild! The breeding center focuses a lot on educating visitors about the tortoises and the Galapagos ecosystem. The baby tortoises from various islands was interesting to see.

Twin Craters - El Chato Reserve (Santa Cruz Island) - Transfer Out to Baltra Airport

Cruise Ship

We stopped by the twin craters on our way to the airport. It was cool to see the crater (we actually only had time to see one) but I wouldn't go out of my way to see it. The time we spent seeing the wild giant tortoises on property nearby was more worthwhile. There were so many of them - both male and female.

Exploring Genovesa Island: Prince Philip Steps and Darwin Bay

Cruise Ship

This island was the highlight of our trip! So many birds (red-footed boobys, blue-footed boobys, frigate birds and their chicks), everywhere you looked! Plus several short-eared owls and many other interesting things to see. It is a magical place.

Bartolome Island - Sullivan Bay (Santiago Island)

Galapagos Islands

This island was another highlight of our trip but not because of the wildlife. The landscape and view from the top is magnificent! Snorkeling after the hike around the cove was lots of fun too.

Puerto Egas (Santiago Island) - Rabida Island

Galapagos Islands

Thank you for helping us create a wonderful trip
Some feedback:
1. Transfers between the islands would have been better to fly than take the ferry for time saving. Also a larger ferry like the one between Athens and mykonos much better than a small one from Mykonos to Santorini
2. The hotel in Mykonos was beautiful and had an amazing view. However, it was far from town and we had to order in groceries and food. Would have preferred to be closer to town. Same goes for the hotel in Santorini, would have preferred more in town
3. FYI: Last tour in Santorini: Great tour however just to know for the future: sunset cruise was 9 hours and not 4.5 hours as advertised (we started at 1pm and came back at 10pm). More lunch cruise than dinner. Probably not the best tour the night before flying out of town (we left for the airport at 5pm the following day to travel back to the US)
4. Angela was awesome!

Our trip was nine days: three days in Athens, three days in Mykonos, and three days in Santorini. We stayed in great hotels and took ferries to get to the islands. Even though we didn’t have activities planned for travel days, we had activities every day (which was a bit much). We did a walking tour to the Acropolis and the Acropolis museum, a walking/tasting tour in Mykonos, a driving tour around Mykonos, a wine tasting tour including a visit to the Atlantis museum in Santorini, a catamaran ride to Rhedia & Delos, and a catamaran ride around Santorini. On travel days, we found our own restaurants, which gave us a chance to explore the hotels’ neighborhoods and get souvenirs. We also had a couple of sunset dinners at really nice restaurants in Mykonos and Santorini. I will say, the restaurants with a view were more expensive than the other restaurants in the area. We had transfers booked to take us to the hotels and ferries. The transfer drivers and hotel managers were great and helpful. They were a wealth of information for us on this trip. The food and atmosphere were amazing everywhere we went. However, since I was out of shape from having major surgeries during the pandemic, it was physically hard for me to get around. Plus, there are some areas you can’t drive through. You may have to walk to meet the Ubers and tour groups. I made it work but start training yourself for long walks before the trip. I was able to find Ubers on the app in Athens but they’re not as readily available on the islands. It was also very busy everywhere we went because this is the most popular time of year to vacation there. It didn’t bother us because we live in cities that get a lot of tourists. Everyone was friendly and respectful of each other for the most part.

If you’re going to the Acropolis, try to go first thing in the morning or late afternoon. It got so hot, windy, and dusty, and the crowds got so much bigger after 10-11am. We also bought bottled water because you’re not supposed to drink the tap water on the islands and you'll need water because it's hot. They let us swim on the catamaran tours, but the Aegean Sea was really cold. The islands have steep streets and driveways. You may be dragging your luggage up those streets and steps. Again, start training yourself for the extra walking and hiking before your trip. The trips on the ferries were choppy. Bring your Dramamine and earplugs so you don’t get seasick. Also, we caught a flight on Aegean Airlines from Santorini back to Athens because it was quicker than taking the ferry back. We scheduled in an extra hour to get our bags and go through customs. But it didn’t take long to transfer through the airport in Athens to get to our flights back home.