Kimkim Trip Reviews

Our two guides, Francesca and Elena? were wonderful. Knowledgeable, friendly, easy to be around.
The hotels were exactly what we were looking for on this trip.
The bike tour was great. The ebikes themselves had operation issues, but we managed.
The olive oil tasting stop was a highlight.
Casamar is a must go restaurant for anyone in that region. Reasonably priced and incredible experience.
The boat ride was less than awesome. I should have taken your recommendation to hire a small boat guide directly from the beach. The large boat was unable to approach the shore and even though it was a sailboat, we just used the smelly diesel engine the whole time. This is the only part of the whole experience that we would not repeat - and I can only blame myself. You warned me that sailing trips in this area are not really a thing and I forced the issue. Jessica, the captain of the boat was great, but the boat ride experience itself - not so much.
The drivers from and to the airport were great. They were on-time, professional, friendly.
You had suggested we spend a night or two in wine and olive country. I declined to include that in the itinerary because we do not really drink wine, but the bike tour through the ancient cities was one of the best parts for Lynn. When we come back we will want to spend more time in these villages, maybe more biking and exploring?
Kayaking was cool. Javi, our guide, was a seasoned professional from the Basque country. Made us want to explore that area. We landed on a secluded beach and did some snorkeling. That was also a highlight.
Hiking the Cami de Ronda was great. Met a group of Americans from our home town!!
My favorite part of the entire trip was swimming at the Platja de Ros. This is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been in my life. I would like to maybe go back with a larger family group and explore the beaches on that whole peninsula.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/wv9ZWnQvmwT3w7gp7
Many people told us that we were lucky to be there so early in June because after June 23rd, the whole area is very crowded. In fact, this last week, there were already many school groups in Llafranc and Calella. They occupied much of the beach. If we go back to these places, it would be good to keep that in mind.
Thanks again for your help on all of this. If we are fortunate enough to keep working in our current jobs, we will reach out to you again.

Marion was great, super attuned to custominzing the trip for the perfect mix of hiking, history and culture to fit our interests…

Hello, I will be honest in my review, and hopefully not too critical.
Overall our trip was fine but not outstanding. Part of that may be that we have always been fit and healthy, and now in our mid 70's we not as energetic or willing to accept annoyances.
Hotels....the 3 hotels we stayed in were nice hotels in general, and all had friendly, professional, and helpful staff. All breakfasts were good as well.
Our first hotel experience though, was challenging. Our assigned room at the Norge was the smallest room I can ever remember, and we were there for 5 nights. Our only other choice, which we opted for, was a much larger room with a pleasant view. This was in a handicap accessible wing on the ground floor with wide hallways which were used to store extra furniture. This, combined with food smells from the restaurant, and the stained carpet made for a less than appealing sense of arrival each time we came to our room. In addition, we had to pay $470 CAD extra to the hotel for the room.
It seems that all our hotels in Norway used the same company for interior room design. All were minimalist, with zero or only one drawer for clothes. This is unacceptable for stays of several days....no place for socks, underwear, PJ's, dirty clothes etc. It ends up with shoes and clothes strewn all over the place.
Regarding the guided tours, we were pleased,
Although we recognize much of Norway is about the water, we spent too much time on boats, even considering the one we missed. The ferry from Bergen to Stavanger was very nice. We went to the oil and gas museum in Stavanger, which was very interesting.
regarding you contact people, we started with Kristina, then over to Fenne, then to Rufo. Rufo was helpful in last-minute rescheduling of our Cornelius dinner.
I sent 2 messages requesting light bedding in our rooms. None of the hotels had the requests on file when we checked in, so we had to deal with that in various ways. The bedding issue was important to us, especially sing none of the hotel have air conditioning.
Thank you,
Randy Byrne

Activity Reviews

Dinner Cruise in the Oslofjord

Oslo

Food and culture guided walk

Bergen

Nina is very good

Great Summer Waterfall and Fjord Tour

Bergen

A bit too long

Boat Trip and Dinner at Cornelius Seafood Restaurant

Bergen

Private Nature Walk: Island hopping

Oslo

Private tour of Oslo's highlights: Fram Museum, Vigeland Park, and Holmenkollen Hill

Oslo

Mariann was very good

Our trip planned by Tasos at KimKim Travel was the best vacation my Husband and I have ever taken! Tasos worked to organize our customized Greece trip by listening to what we wanted to do and not do. We flew from Tucson, AZ, to Atlanta, GA, then to Athens, Paros and Santorini Islands. We spent 4 days on the mainland of Athens while also traveling to Meteora and Delphi. The history is like none other in the world! The Plaka District is the place to stay for the history in all of Athens in my opinion and The AVA Boutique Hotel where we stayed had amazing breakfasts every morning and treated us superb. Very comfortable suite w/kitchen. They even gave us welcome and parting gifts! Totally unexpected. In Athens, we visited the Parthenon, Acropolis Hill, the Ancient Agora, National Archaeological Museum. Very historic and great history learned.
Michael was our Tour Guide for The Acropolis & Ancient Athens Mythology Tour, he was wonderful, funny and a great historian.
George was our Private Transfer Driver who drove us safely to Meteora, the oldest Olive Oil Producer in Greece with ancient olive Grove and Delphi and he was great too! He added stops along the way at no additional cost so we could get some beautiful pictures by the sea and history (battle of Thermopylae) that he provided himself. Meteora and Delphi were humbling. The history there and the stories of the Monks from the past to today we will never forget! By the end of the three travel days we were friends with George and he too gave us a parting gift of his very own harvested olive oil and oregano! We're enjoying both today as I write this:)!
George, delivered us to the Athens Airport and we flew to Paros Island. The plane was small and we were cramped. Husband is 6'5" and I'm 5'10" so hard to get around that. Fortunately, it wasn't a long flight.
We loved Paros, didn't want to leave. Don't recommend anywhere that we traveled in Greece to snorkel. Did bring our gear but no coral, sea floor is black rock or rock from volcano eruption and/or earthquakes. Did see lots of small fish though. Water is a beautiful turquoise and just the right temperature in June to swim and enjoy. Don't wear your smart watch in the salt water!
Paros is an amazing Island. Old authentic with new development just as Tasos mentioned. We wanted beaches and that's why Tasos recommended Paros. We spent 4 nights on Paros. Town of Naoussa (where we stayed) and Parikia were great to visit, dine, shop and just go around at our own pace. We had great meals and service everywhere we ate. Never had a bad meal. We stayed at the Contaratos Beach Hotel. Right on the water. Had an amazing balcony that looked right out on the gorgeous pool and then the Sea. The view was fantastic. Employees were awesome at hotel. Always smiling and willing to help whenever needed. Tasos recommended a full day boat trip that we met great people on and had a huge meal that was delicious. All the beer, wine, other beverages and food you wanted. We traveled to many islands, swam and snorkeled. Great day! Naoussa and Parikia were so much fun! We used Panos as a private transfer driver throughout our stay and he was very friendly and kind too.
We took a ferry from Paros to Santorini Island. Very crowded but moved well. We were comfortable on the ride. We arrived on Santorini along with 7 other "Cruise Ships" that day! Santorini is way too crowded at this time of year. Yes, the island is beautiful but don't recommend going here. Way too crowded and expensive. Everything here was more than double the price of Paros and other Greek Islands that are spectacular. Our hotel, Petit Palace Suites, was fantastic. Great view of the caldera, off the crowded track. Room and Employees were fantastic. We took a morning Catamaran Caldera Cruise and thoroughly enjoyed the cruise, ship crew and getting to know the people cruising with us. The town of Oia was beautiful but disappointing because it was way too crowded. Did come away with great pictures from the island though. Wasn't impressed with the sunset. We have prettier sunrises and sunsets in AZ;). We also attended a wine tasting that we were supposed to sip wine, learn about their old vines and the centuries long winemaking process that we would only find in Santorini, but, we were only entitled to sip 4 wines and didn't have any tour or learn about their winemaking process. I think that lasted for 30 minutes. There was no view that I recall either.
After two nights in Santorini, we started our return by flying to Athens late on day 3. However, our flight was cancelled due to weather in Athens. Tasos set us up with "Travel 12" Customer Service through Whatsapp to communicate from the beginning of our trip to the end. Travel 12 was with us all along the way, while Tasos left us to enjoy our trip but monitored the communication. Immediately, Travel 12 was there to support us by offering to find us a hotel with transfers. My Husband stood in line for over 2 hours with Aegean Airlines (partner of Delta) to determine what they were going to do with us. We had to catch a connection the next day at noon for the US out of Athens. We did have insurance and was assured the hotel and flight changes would probably be covered according to Travel 12 so that was a relief. Travel 12 consulted with Tasos and he advised to wait to see what Aegean would do for us because if they offered a hotel with transfers back to airport the next morning our insurance would not cover what Travel 12 was working on for us and that's exactly what happened. Aegean covered transfers and another night stay on Santorini. The hotel was decent and the transfers were timely and just as expected.
Once we finally arrived home in Tucson, AZ, our bags did not. However, Delta tracked them out of Athens and were delivered to our home 2 days later in tact with nothing damaged.

Hotel Reviews

AVA Boutique Hotel

Athens

Wonderful place to stay, great employees, fantastic breakfasts (best on the whole trip!) receive both welcome and parting gifts from them!

Authenticity & Character

Old world classy charm! Chandeliers everywhere!

Location

Historic old city with walking distance to Acropolis.

Staff

Staff was always smiling and exceptionally attentive! There were Employees who stood out but I'm sorry don't remember their names.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was perfect regarding the cleanliness and comfort. Loved the bathroom! Very beautiful bathroom ceiling and chandelier in bedroom:)!!

Monastiri Guesthouse

Kalampaka - Meteora

Beautiful view. Old world charm. Didn't care for different levels in hotel room and bath. Breakfast was just okay. Staff very kind and attentive.

Authenticity & Character

Old world charm. Don't know the history but imagine the hotel is very old with renovations.

Location

Walking distance to town. Loved the town.

Staff

Very helpful and kind!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel was very clean, bed wasn't too comfortable though. Hard mattress.

Fedriades Hotel Delphi

Delphi

Smallest bathroom we've ever showered in. Bed and breakfast very nice though. Great location in town to stroll around in.

Authenticity & Character

Nice feel. Didn't get authentic or a character feel here. Small accomodations.

Location

Right in town you can stroll around in. Ate at great restaurant across the street for dinner.

Staff

Did their job. Was only a one night stay.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was very clean and comfortable beside the small shower that sprayed the whole bathroom.

Contaratos Beach Hotel Paros

Naousa

Everything here was PERFECT! Didn't want to leave!!

Authenticity & Character

Everything here was PERFECT! Didn't want to leave!!

Location

Everything here was PERFECT! Didn't want to leave!!

Staff

Everything here was PERFECT! Didn't want to leave!!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything here was PERFECT! Didn't want to leave!!

Petit Palace Suites

Santorini

Everything here was PERFECT! Didn't want to leave!!

Authenticity & Character

Everything here was PERFECT! Didn't want to leave!!

Location

Everything here was PERFECT! Didn't want to leave!!

Staff

Everything here was PERFECT! Didn't want to leave!!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything here was PERFECT! Didn't want to leave!!

Avra Hotel Rafina

Rafina, Athens

Didn't stay here because our flight from Santorini was cancelled.

Authenticity & Character

Didn't stay here because our flight from Santorini was cancelled.

Location

Didn't stay here because our flight from Santorini was cancelled.

Staff

Didn't stay here because our flight from Santorini was cancelled.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Didn't stay here because our flight from Santorini was cancelled.

Activity Reviews

Acropolis & Athens Mythology Tour

Athens

Highly recommend it. Michael our tour guide was great!

Quality of Experience

Highly recommend.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Highly recommend.

Transport

Highly recommend.

Local Transfer in Athens

Greece

Great - Highly recommend!

Quality of Experience

The Driver - George!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Loved George!

Transport

Very safe, informative and helpful!

Meteora Sunset Tour

Meteora

Remarkable, will never forget this experience. One of a kind, breathtaking and amazing history.

Quality of Experience

Remarkable, will never forget this experience. One of a kind, breathtaking and amazing history.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Remarkable, will never forget this experience. One of a kind, breathtaking and amazing history.

Transport

Very safe and comfortable!

Private Tour of Delphi

Greece

Tour Guide was exceptional regarding the history information shared. She even extended the tour time because we were her last tour for the day and she wanted us to have all our questions answered.

Quality of Experience

The history and Tour Guide

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Perfect!

Transport

Perfect!

Lunch with Olive Grove View

Greece

Owners were very informative and lunch was delicious! View spectacular!!

Quality of Experience

Remarkable, will never forget this experience. One of a kind, breathtaking and amazing view!

Food

Meals were delicious at the Olive Grove and in Delphi!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

George was very kind, safe driver, shared great historic info, took us to stops that were on the way and even shared a parting gift of his own olive oil and oregano produced from his home! Loved George!

Transport

Very safe and great vehicle!

Local Transfer in Paros

Paros

Panos was very kind, safe and informative about the area.

Quality of Experience

Highly recommend!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Highly recommend!

Transport

Safe and convenient!

Antiparos Day-Trip

Paros

Highly recommend! Great Crew, food and beverages and people touring that we met!

Quality of Experience

Highly recommend! Great Crew, food and beverages and people touring that we met!

Food

Highly recommend! Great Crew, food and beverages and people touring that we met!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Highly recommend! Great Crew, food and beverages and people touring that we met!

Transport

Highly recommend! Great Crew, food and beverages and people touring that we met!

Santorini Highlights with Wine

Greece

Guide and tour was great - tired us out though in the heat. Wine tour was disappointing. Wasn't a tour and we had a sip from 4 wines (lasted about a half hour). Did end up having lunch at the winery and that was very good.

Morning Catamaran Caldera Cruise

Santorini

Highly recommend! Great Crew, food and beverages and people touring that we met!

Quality of Experience

Highly recommend! Great Crew, food and beverages and people touring that we met!

Food

Highly recommend! Great Crew, food and beverages and people touring that we met!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Highly recommend! Great Crew, food and beverages and people touring that we met!

Transport

Highly recommend! Great Crew, food and beverages and people touring that we met!

The Greek Wedding Show

Santorini

Cancelled because it was too late in the evening for show start and we were tired and sunburned.

Quality of Experience

Cancelled because it was too late in the evening for show start and we were tired and sunburned.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cancelled because it was too late in the evening for show start and we were tired and sunburned.

Transport

Cancelled because it was too late in the evening for show start and we were tired and sunburned.

Our 16 person tour van from Bath that included Stonehenge, Avebury and Cotswold village was okay. The van was full and I felt quite cramped in comparison to a similar tour we had taken in Iceland. Driver gave no instruction about moving one’s seat around to give everyone an opportunity to sit up close or not. We were on time and the van was already fully seated so we were trapped in the rear seat for the entirety of the day. Shouldn’t have been my responsibility to complain rather than provide some up front guidance. L

We had such an incredible trip to Patagonia! Jimena was terrific to work with, she provided us multiple options for our trip the end of May. Everything was so organized and easy. Great choices in hotels and the public and private transportation was so convenient.
Once we were in Puerto Natales, we wanted to adjust our trip and add a hike to the Torres del Paine towers in addition to most of the W that were already planned, so Nada and Jimena worked their magic and made it happen.
Highly recommend Patagonia in April or May! Yes, it’s cold but manageable and you basically have the park to yourselves, including staying at the Refugio’s. Pedro, our guide, was terrific and so much fun. We really enjoyed our time with him.
It was a trip of a lifetime, we couldn’t have been more pleased with everything!

Harris was helpful and listened to everything I wanted out of the trip. He even took the extra step to call and walk me through some questions I had

Hotel Reviews

Volcano View Hotel

Santorini

Amazing view and good !

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Editor Hotel Athens

Athens

Great location and nice room. No view from our room though.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Saint Andrea Paros Seaside Resort

Naousa

Beautiful room and ambiance throughout. Friendly staff

Authenticity & Character

Location

A bit far from town but we had scheduled a private driver so it worked out

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Local Transfer in Paros

Paros

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boat Tour in the Blue Lagoon

Paros

Food was absolutely incredible ! Staff were friendly, fun, knowledgable, and engaging

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunset Catamaran Caldera Cruise

Santorini

Food was absolutely incredible ! Staff were friendly, fun, knowledgable, and engaging

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Acropolis Hill & Museum Tour

Athens

Knowledgable guide !

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Loved the agent who took our ideas for the trip.
Francesca and Maria were great! Lucy was amazing as were her friends who guided us in Pompeii and Naples.
Yes, Kimkim is expensive but ALL your needs, wants and every transfer is perfect!!
I used them for Madrid and Barcelona with the same perfect results.

Giulia was very responsive but I was not very happy with my trip.

- shuttles only run once an hour to/from the hotel, the shuttles stopped running at 23:30 so we had to pay 50+ euros if we wanted to enjoy a full night out. One morning our travel agency booked excursion was booked at an early morning time and the shuttles were not running yet so we had to pay for transportation
- the hotel itself catered to an much older crowd (average age was about 70 years old) this wasn’t ideal for two women in their 30s and I really wish there was more thought put into that since we relied on the travel agency to have a better idea of the ideal place based on what I shared with the company (this was the biggest point of frustration for us)
- the path of the gods were very far and I wish we knew how difficult and costly it would be just to get to the start of the path. It was mentioned that this would be a “half day” excursion but getting there and back plus the hike would have been 8+ hours.
- the boat excursion to Capri only shared a limited amount of alcohol. I could understand wanting to ensure no one was drunk or unsafe while swimming but there shouldn’t have been any limitations on the way back to Sorrento. If there is a set amount of drinks allowed per person with the excursion then that should be laid out beforehand.

Absolutely amazing experience with Kim Kim Travel Agency!

From the moment we started planning our trip to Turkey, Kim Kim Travel Agency exceeded our expectations in every way. Their personalized service and attention to detail made our journey through Istanbul and Cappadocia unforgettable. Volkan was an amazing guide through the two cities, giving a glimpse into the historical and current day Turkey as a local. He also recommended the best food places, shopping stores and was considerate of the food, health and age related concerns of our group.

In Istanbul, we were immersed in the rich history and vibrant culture of the city. Our knowledgeable guide brought the ancient streets, majestic mosques, and bustling bazaars to life with captivating stories and insights. The itinerary was perfectly balanced, giving us enough time to explore the iconic landmarks like Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, while also allowing us to savor local cuisine at charming restaurants.

Cappadocia was a dream come true. The landscape was otherworldly, and Kim Kim Travel Agency arranged an exceptional itinerary that included a breathtaking hot air balloon ride at sunrise, visits to the surreal rock formations, and explorations of the underground cities. Every detail was taken care of, from our comfortable and unique cave hotel accommodations to seamless transportation between locations.

What truly set Kim Kim Travel Agency apart was their dedication to ensuring a personalized and memorable experience. They took the time to understand our interests and preferences, tailoring the trip to suit our desires. Their local expertise and connections provided us with authentic experiences and insider access that we would have never discovered on our own.

The communication and support from Kim Kim Travel Agency were top-notch throughout the trip. They were always available to answer questions and provide assistance, ensuring that our journey was smooth and enjoyable from start to finish.

If you're considering a trip to Turkey, I wholeheartedly recommend Kim Kim Travel Agency. Their passion for travel, combined with their exceptional service, will ensure that you have a truly unforgettable adventure. We can't wait to book our next trip with them!

Hotel Reviews

Gullu Konaklari Sirince

Izmir

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sirkeci Mansion Hotel

Istanbul

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kale Konak Hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Sightseeing Around Uçhisar and Discovering the Cappadocian Valleys

Cappadocia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Turkish Bath and Spa at Hürrem Sultan Hammam

İstanbul

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visiting Göreme Open Air Museum (UNESCO World Heritage)

Cappadocia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover Byzantine + Ottoman Istanbul

İstanbul

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

lol

Transport

Eminönü Heritage Tour: Explore the Historical Bazaars and Ottoman Architectural Sites of Istanbul

İstanbul

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hot Air Balloon Tour at Sunrise

Cappadocia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kaymaklı Underground City

Cappadocia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Avanos: Discovering the Ceramic Tradition and Light hiking in the Love Valley

Cappadocia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the Ancient City of Ephesus

Turkey

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pamukkale and Hierapolis

Pamukkale

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our second journey with KimKim, and specifically the remarkable travel agency Mobee Travel / Tomorrow Travel, to explore France was an absolute delight.

Amandine expertly curated various itineraries for our return trip, meticulously booking everything and providing us with detailed vouchers, daily itineraries, and travel guides for each event, destination, and hotel. The standout feature of our experience was the unwavering support from Amandine and her colleague Valentine throughout our trip. For instance, during a strike at the Musee d’Orsay, they promptly informed us and swiftly rescheduled our private tour around the disruption. When we arrived at the museum, we bypassed the long lines of uninformed visitors, thanks to Valentine, and our guide was there to ensure we were among the first to enter when the doors opened. This level of service exemplified the seamless nature of our trip.

Every detail of our journey was flawlessly executed. Our private drivers were punctual and flexible, all vouchers worked seamlessly, and our first-class seat assignments on the high-speed train were perfectly convenient. The tours were led by guides who spoke excellent English and were personable, knowledgeable, and friendly.

Amandine and Valentine eliminated the stress of planning a two-week adventure through Paris, Bordeaux, and back to Paris. We never had to worry, knowing they were always accessible via the KimKim app or a phone call. Their dedication and attention to detail made our trip to France unforgettable.

Hotel Reviews

5* Hotel Napoleon Paris

Paris

This was our second stay at the Hotel Napoleon and it was exactly the same top experience we remembered from 2022 (we even remembered some of the same staff). The hotel is exquisitely decorated in gorgeous traditional classical French finishes and furniture. No detail was spared anywhere. The breakfast was always wonderful and the woman who works there (I wish we could remember her name) was a delight every single morning when she served us delicious cappuccino coffees and individual orders of poached eggs. She also acted as an informal concierge and provided us an excellent restaurant for lunch and a top chocolatier to pick up gifts to bring home. She made our mornings even better. The bar was another lovely place to have a drink and sometimes snacks. The service was excellent and the staff wonderul (they even tried to teach us some French words). We had two small problems with the toilet and the hotel immediately sent people to repair the problem quickly. We were very impressed and wished we had service like that at home (LOL).

Authenticity & Character

Gorgeous hotel. We want to decorate our home like the hotel.

Location

Perfect location to the Arc d’Triumph, the metro, tour buses, restaurants and of course famed shopping

Staff

Lovely professional people from checkin to checkout, including the people who took care of our baggage.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Quiet, comfortable, lovely room.

Hotel Le Burdigala

33000

Here's an improved version of your hotel review: --- **Exceptional Hotel Experience in Bordeaux** From the moment we arrived, we were treated exceptionally well at this fantastic hotel. Rodrigo at the front desk checked us in and seamlessly took on the role of concierge, arranging our restaurant and taxi reservations for several days. His dedication, along with the rest of the front desk staff, was outstanding. The bellhops greeted us daily, inquiring about our experiences and making us feel genuinely welcomed. Our room was one of the largest we have encountered in French hotels, both well-appointed and functional. Comfort was paramount, evidenced by a menu detailing the different types of pillows available—all of which were exceedingly comfortable, as was the bed. Breakfast was a delightful experience, served in a lounge-like setting with elegant tables, sofas, and oversized chairs. The staff were incredibly accommodating, keeping us supplied with endless cappuccinos and Americanos. Upon request, they even prepared eggs to our individual preferences. Dining at the hotel's restaurant, Madame B, is a must. We enjoyed an excellent and affordable meal on our first night, complemented by superb service and lovely decor. The hotel's location just north of the city center is ideal—quiet at night yet only a 10-minute walk to the heart of Bordeaux. Additionally, the nearby tram stops make exploring the city convenient and effortless.

Authenticity & Character

Large rooms, large lounge for breakfast

Location

Short walk to city center, yet away from all the bustle and hustle

Staff

Everyone at the front desk, especially Rodrigo were excellent, including the bellhops

Cleanliness & Comfort

Great selection of pillows for the bed

Activity Reviews

24/7 assistance in case of emergency

France

Our travel agents, Amandine and Valentine were always available to help us during our trip. At one time they called us to alert us to disruption due to a strike at the museum. They quickly rescheduled everything for us to avoid the disruption. Another time we needed the car service to arrive earlier than scheduled and they made that happen. Lastly, we had problems getting to a cheese making class (rain in Paris, no cars, no taxis, no ubers) so we called them to let them know we could not get to the event.

Quality of Experience

They called us to alert us to a strike and rescheduled events around the strike to make everything uneventful

Guides, Drivers and Staff

All our guides were knowledgeable, spoke fluent english and were friendly and accomodating.

Transport

All transports were excellent, polite and overly helpful.

Private Guided Visit of Orsay Museum

Paris

Vivian was our tour guide and she was lovely, knowledgeable and friendly. She walked us through the entire museum and highlighted many of the more important paintings, all along allowing us to wonder about to other paintings. Having Vivian as our guide made seeing all the art in 2 hours a pleasure.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cheesemaking workshop and cheeses and wine tasting (small group/2hours)

Paris

We never made it to this tour due to rain, no taxis and no ubers. Tried to take the metro but still had too far to walk that we gave up and notified the agency we cannot get there.

Transport

Giverny and Monet’s Garden Half-day trip from Paris in a Small-Group

Paris

We enjoyed this tour and our guide was very entertaining (cannot remember his name, but he was young, had a pony tail and wore his signature Celtics basketball jersey). The ride in the van to and from was comfortable. Our guide provided a good orientation and we never felt rushed and had plenty of time to explore the gardens, the house and water lily pond on the other side. After seeing Giverny, we have a better appreciation for Monet.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very entertaining guide and driver. Spoke very good english.

Transport

Very comfortable van and we could control the temperature and vents overhead

La Cité du Vin - Bordeaux Wine Museum - Entrance Tickets

Bordeaux

Interesting museum but the tour on the first floor was odd and not my cup of tea (too much using your imagination in a very non-vineyard like environment). Second floor was interesting to see so many exhibits, but after awhile it was information overload and we shut off the audio guide and just walked around and looked at various exhibits. The wine tasting on the top level was okay. The best part were the amazing views of Bordeaux from up high. The wine, was meh and not really a place to enjoy a fine wine. You would not be missing too much if you skipped this venue. I would rather have used the time to see another vineyard and speak with the people there.

Picasso Museum - Entrance tickets

Paris

Very good, large museum with over 5000 items to see, however it can be a bit overwhelming. We decided during the tour that we are not really fans of contemporary art, especially Cubism (it is just a little too abstract for us). We eventually rushed through the museum because we were getting overwhelmed and not a huge fan of this important contributions to the art world.

Quality of Experience

It can be overwhelming to try and see over 5000 pieces

Musée de l'Orangerie: Entrance tickets & Audioguides

Paris

Beautiful smaller museum in a gorgeous park across the river from the Musee de’ Orasy. We enjoyed seeing the two massive oval rooms of Monet’s Water Lilies (4 massive canvases in each room). It was a peaceful place to enjoy the paintings (although many people kept trying to stand in front of the canvases to take selfie videos which was annoying). We went to the lower lever where a different collection of exhibits existed but by this point we were mentally drained having been to Giverny the day before and Musee de’ Orsay in the morning so we speeded our way through the lower level (which was very busy with patrons)

Quality of Experience

Lunch/Dinner at Madame Brasserie

Paris

We enjoyed our gourmet dinner at Madame Brasserie on the 2nd level of Eiffel tower. It was impressive that they sat and served the entire restaurant at the same time and the service was very good. The views were even better as we walked around the 2nd level before and after dinner.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Full day classified growth Medoc & St Emilion

Bordeaux

Ben was our tour guide for the day and he was very friendly, personable, and knowledgeable. He provided us great transportation and was informative and entertaining along the way. He made time for dialog on general topics to keep the trip interesting. We enjoyed the one Medoc winery and wished we could have seen more of Medoc. We saw two wineries in St. Emilion and had a relaxing and enjoyable lunch at one with wine pairing.

Quality of Experience

Food

We enjoyed our picnic style lunch at the winery in St. Emilion

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ben was a very good guide and driver.

Transport

Nice comfortable van

Bordeaux Historic & Gourmet City Tour

Bordeaux

Dorian was our guide for this walking tour and this was his first time providing this particular tour. He was very knowledgable and informative and attentive to us. He spoke very good English and we enjoyed everything he showed us. We covered a lot of ground and there was quite a not of walking. The food part was minimal at best. We had three food stops: 1. Purchased for us 2 cannellini's to eat while we walked 2. Sat outside at a small gourmet ham/pork shop for some exotic pork charcuterie 3. Cheese shop where we were given two packages of different cheese to take with us while we walked - very minimal information about the cheese and no where to sit to eat it. Overall, we learned a lot from Doreen, and we walked a lot. Just do not come hungry and expecting to eat much.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

My daughters and I planned a girls trip to Africa. Four countries (South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Namibia) in 3 weeks was no small feat for first time visitors. We reached out to Kimkim for help and they connected us with their local specialist Esther Reumpol of The Eco-Travel Boutique.
Esther, through the Kimkim platform, made the whole planning process easy. Her suggestions based on our given budget, interests and preferences helped us narrow down what we wanted to do. From the time we connected till the time we got home, Esther was in constant contact, coordinating, revising, confirming and checking in.
The result of her patience with our itinerary revisions was perfect! The accommodations she booked were superb, the transfers to and fro like clockwork, our last minute tour bookings accommodated and all our inquiries patiently and promptly answered.
Esther is also a miracle worker. My luggage, amongst some other passengers, was offloaded from our flight from Nelspruit to Victoria Falls. We were taking a morning chartered flight to the Okavango delta the day after and there were no more flights from that airline coming in that day or the next. All I had were the clothes I was wearing. All my necessities, toiletries and medicines were in my luggage.
I call her a “miracle worker” because on this chartered flight, you can only check in soft luggage with a weight limit of 20 kg inclusive of hand carry. My luggage was in a hard case and weighed 25 kg which I was planning on repacking to a duffle for our 4 night stay at the Delta. I had resigned myself to accepting that I would not get to see my luggage until I got back to Victoria Falls but Esther, somehow, made the airline deliver my luggage to the heart of the delta. This was the airlines responsibility and was not part of Esther’s obligation to us. I can just imagine how many phone calls she had to make, while she herself was away on a work trip and I am truly grateful.
Our biggest thanks to the KimKim team, Esther and Lucy, our concierge, for making our first visit to Africa the most wonderful and memorable experience. It was a palate teaser that makes us want to go back, stay longer in each country and explore more of what Africa has to offer.

Pre trip planning was excellent. Mar and Fenne were responsive to all my questions and made adjustments based on my needs.

Hotel Reviews

Scandic Torget

Bergen

Great hotel right in the center of everything which allowed for walking. Would have been helpful to know where to park before arriving.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very central

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Flåmsbrygga Hotel

Flåm

The hotel and room was very nice. I just happened to have a cruise ship directly out the window which ruined the view.

Authenticity & Character

Liked the rustic feel

Location

Easy walk to train and harbor

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fjærland Fjordstove Hotel

Fjærland

The view from my window was spectacular. Dinner with the wine pairing was great.

Authenticity & Character

Loved the old house

Location

Most remote location I stayed but by far my favorite.

Staff

Very knowledgeable and friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Loenfjord hotel

Loen

The hotel was nice but full of very large tourist groups coming in on buses. It made finding a time for breakfast a little difficult.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Utsikten

Geiranger

First rate food and meal. A bit of a hike from the town

Authenticity & Character

Location

Outstanding view but have to drive everywhere from here.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Quality Hotel Ålesund

Ålesund

Decent hotel within walking distance of everything. Again it would have been good to know about the parking situation before arrival.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Summer RIB boat Safari Local Taste of Undredal

Flåm

The boat tour guide was very fun and knowledgeable. The cheese tasting was underwhelming, not bad just wasn’t as involved as I expected.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

It was a much more intimate experience in a small boat as we were able to get up closer to the sites.

Ride the Ulriken Cable Car

Bergen

The walk from the center of town to the cable car was very nice. I took the ride up and walked down which I definitely felt for the next two days.

Quality of Experience

Luckily I had good weather. This probably isn’t worth it if it rainy and foggy.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bergen: A Walk Through Past and Present

Bergen

Fabiola did great job of weaving history and modern culture into her tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Summer Adventure day in Flåm with Zipline and Bicycle trip

Flåm

Although the weather was a little rainy I was still able to zip line. I got wet on the bike ride back into town but it was still worth it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Car ferry between Geiranger and Hellesylt

Norway

While you can get to Geiranger by car, the ferry trip is worth it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover Kayaking Geirangerfjord

Geiranger

Because it was cold, rainy and windy we weren’t able to get as far as I would have liked. It was fun and the guide was great but the weather was a damper.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The trip planning was seemless. The local guides were amazing and the itinerary was perfect for our family. We truly enjoyed our experience with KimKim.

We appreciated having someone that could arrange tours and hotels for us. We found that the descriptions and photos of the tours were more glowing than our experience. Also, the hotel photos were incorrect in one instance. All of the guides and drivers were punctual and polite. We especially enjoyed our guide/driver Seong in Penang, he did an excellent job showing us the important sights as well as offering us choices of what we wanted to see.
The guide in Cameron Highlands was knowledgable about the tea farms and the Mossy Forest. The tea shop was very crowded with families and we had a long wait to order our tea and didn't get to have the tour.

Our tour Guide for the Harry Potter location sites was excellent. She was knowledgeable, she had clips of the various scenes that related to the sites, she pasted the tour so that we all survived. And she was fun and very personable.

Our driver for our auto. Tour was also very knowledgeable friendly was delightful with our seven and 10-year-old boys. He introduced them to the telephone in a red iconic london phone booth. He had the phone number of that particular booth so when they were in there, he called the number and the boys, who had never seen a telephone like that, didn’t know what to do. He told him to answer it. They didn’t know how. It was a delightful event for everybody. He also took us to Buckingham Palace and we saw the guards and the parade. We went to a number of famous stores and were cordially invited in. Also our driver gave recommendations for restaurants and made sure that we were safely dropped off and heading in the right direction for our next event. The next event was the tower of London. Which was OK. It was a simple tour with a lot of stories, which were interesting, humorous, and gory. In order to see the Crown Jewels, We had to stand on a conveyor belt that moved us right along, so everyone had a chance to see the jewels, but you could not take time to look at them. We rode the London Eye. The boys played in the park across the walk from the eye. We took a Luncheon cruise on THAMES. That was interesting and fun for the boys, especially when the people from the bridge threw peanut at us, and the food was pretty good too. We spent time in Hyde Park at DIANA’s playground, we rode the paddleboats, we did the canals in Little Venice, Camden market, a couple of pubs, a day at Harry Potter studio, and many trips on the underground.
We took the train to Edinburgh, meet another family member, then vusted many castles and “Outlander” shooting locations. One really fun thing KimKim planned for us was High Tea at a prestigious Country club. The seven and 10-year-old had never been to such a place. It was such fun to watch their eyes when the trays came out with the tea service. It was also fun for them to see the hairy cows out front. We Rented cars, went from Edinburgh to Inverness to Fort William, and then back to the Train to London.
It was nice to have Kim Kim set the bases for our trip and we could deviate from it as we saw fit. There was plenty of activities, free time and downtime so that everyone had a delightful time and no problems. The places where we stayed and we comfortable for all of us. Our trip wasn’t easy to plan. Our age range,of family, went from 7years old to 80 years old, and for a group of 5 and 6 people.
Thank you Kim Kim.

Hotel Reviews

Black Sheep Hotels Cabins

Spean Bridge

Very comfortable. Very nice place right on the Loch Lochsley. High marks. Good food.

Authenticity & Character

Upscale.

Location

Right on the Loch. Kids could skip rocks on the Loch. Kim Kim hired a private boat tour for the young folks.

Staff

They were unfazed by having young children to dinner.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very nice.

Notting Hill Residences

We enjoyed the location. Apt #3 There was one bathroom for 5 people. The shower was a tub /shower. A dangerous tub shower with a deep step down to get out if the tub. I would not recommend for someone my age 80. Chances of falling were great. I’m pretty agile and could manage. But many other seniors Or handicapped people would not be able to do it without falling. There were ants and the ceiling leaked onto the pull out bed in the living room/kitchen. Other wise beds were comfortable and rooms were small but adequate . Apt#1 same lay out as #3, but walk in shower. MUCH BETTET! we now had 6 people to one bathroom, but only for two nights. No other issues.

Authenticity & Character

The location,

Location

Not far from tube stop, many restaurant choices nearby, laundromat next door, easy in and out , relatively quiet. Girls elementary school next door. 8 AM student arrival would wake up people, but we were up. They wear straw hats. Very cute.

Staff

Bathroom

Cleanliness & Comfort

You let yourself in with a code. You are on your own.

Cairn hotel & Appartment

Edinburgh

Two bathrooms. 6 people - much better showers. . Comfortable. Easy access, to trolley, walking distance to Royal Mile, good location, great towels,

Authenticity & Character

It was comfortable.

Location

Easy walking distance to main attractions and trolleys

Staff

No just the key.

Cleanliness & Comfort

All good

Bunchrew House Hotel

IV3 8TA

Nice. Each hotel room had a bath room. Great towels. Comfortable. Lounges, breakfast very good.

Authenticity & Character

Appearance and interior.

Location

On our route and iconic building

Staff

They were very pleasant and accommodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very nice

Activity Reviews

Discover London in a Private Black Cab

London

Read my review from the beginning. This guy was great. Very good with the kids, many interesting stops and good advice for the rest of our trip.

Quality of Experience

We enjoyed it.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

He was great.

Transport

Comfortable.

Tower of London Beefeater Welcome & Crown Jewels

London

The was less then I expected. The beefeater was fun. He had great stories. He did his job well but we didn’t do anything more than walk from location to location.. we were on a conveyor belt to look at the Crown jewels.

Quality of Experience

Great stories

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Funny and entertaining

Transport

There wasn’t any

Thames Cruise with Lunch

London

Food was quite good. It was well organized. The stories were fun and entertaining. It was a relaxing way to see a part of London and we didn’t get hit by any peanuts. People throw things ontothis boat. from the bridge. We didn’t believe it until they threw peanuts at us. The guide said it usually is a milkshake.

Quality of Experience

It was fun

Food

Surprisingly, much better than I thought it would be.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Entertaining and efficient

Transport

Comfortable

Rosslyn Chapel & Glenkinchie Distillery Private Tour

Edinburgh

This was interesting. It gave us a look into a slice of Scottish life that otherwise we wouldn’t of known plus the ride out to the chapel was quite interesting. The scenery and our driver for the TAxi was great and stories.

Quality of Experience

It’s a delightful old Chapel with a history.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our cab driver was great

Transport

The cab picked us up and the driver was fabulous

Explore Harry Potter's London Tour

London

Our guide was very knowledgeable. She took us to a number of different sites. She had clips of the videos for us to see she was very thorough. I give her high marks.

Quality of Experience

The guide was delightful

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Again, the guide was delightful

Transport

It was a walking tour

Seal Spotting Loch Linnhe Cruise

England

This was fun for the kids they could run up and down the stairs on the ship. They could see the different places and we did get very very close to some seals.

Quality of Experience

It was a good idea for a seven and 10-year-old to be entertained

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The captain of the boat, let the kids steer on the way back.

Transport

Boat was fine

My husband and I had a great time touring Scotland on our own via car. Justine worked with us to customize our trip and made all arrangements including the rental car and transfer via train to Manchester, England on our final day.
In the Trossachs National Park we stayed at Cameron House on Loch Lomond. We explored the nearby conservation village of Luss and despite the rain, enjoyed a beautiful view of the lake while dining at Colquhoun's.
The village of Glencoe and Eilean Donan Castle were interesting stops enroute to the Isle of Skye. We loved our two-night stay at Ullinish House with views of Loch Bracadale and the Cuillin Mtns. Blue skies prevailed for our exploration of the Trotternish Loop which included a whiskey tasting and sunset on the black sand, Talisker Beach.
During our drive to the Cairngorms National Park/Fife Arms at Braemar, we stopped at the amazing Clava Cairns, a prehistoric burial site just outside of Inverness. Two highlights of our time in Braemar are a four-mile hike on the "Braemar Circular via Queen's Drive" and a leisurely afternoon stroll around the grounds of Balmoral Castle.
Our final destination in Scotland was Edinburgh. We started with a fantastic private walking tour of the city with our guide Robert; he was exceptional! In the evening we enjoyed the Johnnie Walker Tasting Experience followed with dinner in their 1820 Rooftop Bar with wonderful views of the city and Edinburgh Castle. After touring the historic castle the next morning , we departed Scotland on our Manchester bound train. Our Scottish Adventure was perfect!

Hotel Review

Ullinish House

Isle of Skye

Wonderful hosts! Helpful and accommodating. Our room was perfect and the breakfast was very tasty. A beautiful and relaxing rural experience with views of Loch Bracadale and the Cuillin Mountains.

Authenticity & Character

You feel like you are a guest in someone's home.

Location

It is located off the beaten path and has beautiful views of the countryside, the lake, and the mountains.

Staff

Both hosts - wife and husband

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our room was clean and the bed was comfortable.

Activity Reviews

Private Walking Tour of Edinburgh with a Top Local Guide

Edinburgh

Robert was an exceptional guide! He asked us a couple questions about our backgrounds and the customized the tour to include our interests... and still shared the traditional sites of the city with their interesting stories. In my opinion, Robert should be your go-to Edinburgh guide.

Johnnie Walker Tasting Experience - Whisky Explorers

Edinburgh

Interesting and Entertaining!

Ada was very accommodating and helped us plan a very personalized trip. We are very pleased with the results of her planning efforts, suggestions, and local guide selections and had an amazing time while exploring Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand. Thank you, Ada!!

Kim Kim was fantastic. Very helpful with some minor and not so minor traveling hiccups. VERY responsive. I would highly recommend.

Hotel Reviews

Albergo Firenze

Como

Location

Located right in the center of town. Easy to access and navigate...plus they had an ice machine!

Alfieri9 Boutique Hotel Florence

Florence

Authenticity & Character

Location

Was a bit off the beaten path

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palazzo Starace

Sorrento

Quaint B&B right in the heart of downtown sorrento

Authenticity & Character

The staff were fantastic

Location

Fantastic

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Daily room service was great

Relais Le Clarisse Rome

Rome

Quaint hotel centrally located. Nice green space to enjoy morning coffee out doors

Authenticity & Character

⁹

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Afternoon Como Food & Wine Tour

Lake Como

The guide Michela (sp?) was exceptional. A lovely experience

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Lake Como Boat Tour on a Venetian Limousine

Lake Como

Guide was fantastic!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cinque Terre Day Trip from Florence

Florence

LONG drive.

Quality of Experience

Food

Lunch was so so

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Staff were great.

Transport

Punctual

Chianti Wine & Olive Oil Tour from Florence

Florence

Guide was fantastic. The rather intimate small group we had made it more fun

Quality of Experience

Food

Lunch at the tuscany villa was awesome

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very punctual

Transport

Morning Florence Highlights Walking Tour

Florence

Very good tour. Helped to see more of Florence and ubderstand its history

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pasta and Gelato Making Class in Florence

Florence

Absolutely loved this class. Super fun. Great chef/teacher

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Amalfi Coast Boat Tour From Sorrento

Sorrento

Fantastic day trip around amalfi coast

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very personable

Transport

Capri Island & Grottos Boat Tour from Sorrento

Sorrento

I'm glad I went there but probably wouldn't ho back

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Local transfer in Rome

Rome

Very punctual

We're a group of 6 who are very knowledgeable about wines. Bastien (our local specialist) and our 2 guides (Nicholas - Chablis; Christophe - Champagne) were all incredibly helpful in the trip planning and our tasting locations during the 4-5 months before the trip. They were very gracious about the many ideas and requests we had, and educated us that tastings schedules often are booked only a week (or less) at the smaller wineries/champagne houses. We also used transportation services through Kimkim from Paris to Chablis and Champagne. The drivers were always on time and kept us aware of their timing. A big shout out in particular for our guide Nicholas in Chablis. He had a wealth of knowledge not just about the wineries but also the history of Chablis. He was a great storyteller.