Kimkim Trip Reviews for Philippines

The trip was outstanding, the planning, Organization. Visits, guides, tours, hotel and flight, recommendations…everything was perfect. Thanks to Cami who is tireless and would immediately reply to my queries and whatever concerns I had. Local guides were wonderful in each location were wonderful. Ana Santos, Cami’s representative and my guide in Manila was exceptional. There was not a single glitch, nor delay nor any problem.
Thank you Cami

Hotel Reviews

Bayleaf Intramuros

Metro Manila

Very central in Intramuros, walking distance to the touristic sites. Staff extremely helpful and attentive, good breakfast

Authenticity & Character

Location

In the heart of Intramuros the historical center of Manila

Staff

Very helpful and attentive

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable pillows and bed

Coco Grove Beach Resort

Wonderful resort in Siquijor, the grounds, the rooms, comfort, staff, the beauty of the place is outstanding.

Authenticity & Character

Location

I did not leave the resort as it was my R&R before starting my Philippines escapade

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Marco Polo Plaza Cebu

Cebu City

Very comfortable and clean . Has all the modern amenities. Staff very helpful and attentive

Authenticity & Character

Very modern

Location

Not central you need a car to visit

Staff

Very helpful zndxattentive

Cleanliness & Comfort

Extremely clean

The Marison Hotel

Legazpi

Stayed only one night. The hotel is very central and comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Elysia Beach Resort

Donsol

Lovely hotel and nice location on a beautiful beach. However it is a bit neglected and needs an overhaul . The AC is very noisy and old. However it is comfortable with a beautiful swimming pool.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Staff is wonderful and very attentive and friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hue Hotels and Resorts Puerto Princesa

Puerto Princesa

Wonderful and comfortable hotel. Near a shopping mall and restaurants in the area. Very comfortable

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Funny Lion El Nido

El Nido

Lovely hotel in the center of El Nido and walking distance from the market and the center. The staff is amazing and very helpful. It is clean and comfortable

Authenticity & Character

Very original and modern

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Two Seasons Coron Bayside Hotel

Coron Town

Lovely hotel in the heart of Coron with a beautiful pool and view esp during sunset. Extremely comfortable and clean.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Walking distance to the center but preferable using a tricycle because the road is not good

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Belmont Hotel Manila

Pasay City

Wonderful hotel near the airport. Great location if you want to he near the airport. Excellent breakfast, comfortable bed and pillows. A practical but very busy hotel. Walking distance from a shopping center and surrounded by variety of restaurants

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Manila Day Tour

Philippines

Excellent tour thanks to Ana Santos

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lisa did a fantastic job creating a memorable itinerary for The Philippines full of snorkeling and beautiful water activities! The resorts were great and snorkeling guides (Rap Rap - Palawan) top notch. She was also extremely responsive in following up both before and during the trip, addressing questions or concerns regarding excursions and resort stays.

Hotel Reviews

Shangri-La Mactan

Nice large property with pools, activities and good restaurants.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

very accommodating and service oriented

Cleanliness & Comfort

rooms are a bit tired and need updating

Henann Resort Alona Beach

This place was amazing! Beach, pools, bar area, restaurants all top notch! We loved our Pool Villa and could have stayed here for a few weeks. The spa was also amazing. Very comfortable, good security, great food.

Authenticity & Character

nicely developed and expanded property. pool villas were the best!

Location

on beach - beautiful property

Staff

very accommodating and service oriented

Cleanliness & Comfort

room was great! housekeeping very responsive and kept things clean.

Seda Lio

El Nido

Loved this property and its location! Rooms were comfortable. Resort was very laid back. Pool and outside restaurant and bar areas near beach were favorites.

Authenticity & Character

nicely developed property

Location

on beach, beautiful sunsets, very laid back atmosphere, close to airport.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

room floors were vinyl so harder to keep clean. I would recommend using tile or possibly steam mops to keep sandy floors clean.

Activity Reviews

Full- Day Chocolate Hills and Tarsiers Tour

Bohol Island

Tarsiers were interesting but a very limited tour. We could have passed on Chocolate Hills. River cruise with lunch was enjoyable!

Quality of Experience

Food

buffets with lots of people can be challenging

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

small car, not that comfortable.

Hilutungan and Nalusuan Island Hopping Tour

Cebu City

We actually did not go to areas on itinerary. This issue was addressed by KimKIm with local excursion provider. We were disappointed with the remote island we visited. Guides and boat crew were good.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Whale and Dolphin Watching Tour in Bohol

Bohol Island

very small, uncomfortable and noisy boat considering cost. guide was experienced and accommodating. saw some dolphins. snorkeling added and was good. guide was really awesome. island was okay. lunch good.

Quality of Experience

Food

good hot meal, plenty of food.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

larger more comfortable boat!

Balicasag Island Diving and Snorkeling Tour

Bohol Island

Boat was much better for this excursion. Crew awesome. Scenery great. We saw many dolphins, snorkeling phenomenal.

Quality of Experience

comfortable boat, good snorkeling, dolphins, food!

Food

good variety, tasty food. plenty to eat.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

comfortable boat, had restroom. crew was professional and helpful. captain was great.

This has been the 4th and probably the last of our trips, organized by KimKim.
Our experience this time left us disappointed and on some occasions angry.

First of all our experience with Ailleen was characterised as very slow. In the beginning we delayed in giving her the answers. We acknowledge that we made a lot of changes regarding our chosen activities but every time we sent the answer, we had to wait more than 2 days.
In addition to that, we dod not have all the details needed (time of pickup, duration of the excursions, time of return etc) and even though we asked for this at least twice, we only received limited information. Even though we asked to have a group in WhatsApp (we had this in previous trips and was successful), the delay in giving answers was the same.
If we didn't ask, there would be no information given to us.
One other detail that made us feel embraced was the prices we paid for the tours. Upon checking locally for the cost of the excursions, even the private ones were some times half the price of the one we paid to Kim Kim and some times even lower. If we add the fact that the boats that took us were among the worst ones, this makes it even worse.
No need to mention the fact that in no boat did we eat our lunch, simply because there was not the slightest rule of hygiene respected. We saw what was offered to other boats, where there was no private transfer and the conditions were mach better.
Last but not least, in two excursion, one in El Nido and one in Boracay, the return transfer was not there when we arrived at the port. The second time we even called the number given to us as a contact but no one replied. So we paid for our transfer back to the hotel. I received the call much later.
That was the time when I decided to complain and after some discussions they reimbursed 250USD to us.
I said thank you as this was a right gesture but in no case did this compensate us for the whole fuss.

We could have simply booked everything ourselves and have the same or better experience.
I see no reason why we should use KimKim any more, after this experience.

This is the second time we have used Kim Kim to plan a trip and I would not hesitate to recommend them. From our initial contact all the way through the planning process Cami was available, helpful, friendly, knowledgable and nothing was too much trouble. I would message Cami day and night with big and small questions and she always replied promptly and patiently (even though I'm sure I asked the same questions over and over). Cami listened to our requests, our needs and our budget and planned the most phenomenal holiday ever. Along the planning process, the detailed day by day itinerary/trip plan we received with photos was a wonderful way to decide on activities and get a clear picture of the trip. The holiday was fantastic. Every trip that Cami organised was so unbelievably good. the guides were lovely and couldn't do enough for us. On occasion they altered the trip to accomodate us. The transfers were always on time and in really good, safe vehicles. Everything was ticketed for us and hotels paid and awaiting our arrival. Our trip highlights were canyoning in Kawasan Falls, swimming with the sardines and the beautiful snorkelling off Coron. The guide we had for 2 day trips in Coron, Jhonas was wonderful. He was so obliging even making us a fabulous feast for lunch. All of the island hopping tours were magnificent. If you have a picture of paradise in your head the island, lagoons and the aqua blue, warm water are that. The Filipino people are beautiful. I simply cannot fault our trip and I cannot recommend Cami highly enough. Anyone looking for a wonderful adventure should use Kimkim (Cami) and travel to the Philippine Islands.

Hotel Reviews

Amorita Resort

Loved the hotel, the position is perfect, up on the headland looking down Alona beach. The absolute best place to view sunsets. The pool is gorgeous and the staff fabulous. IThe only thing I'd change is my room type as ours didn't have a balcony and I do really like to have a balcony off my room. Otherwise rooms were lovely.

Authenticity & Character

Staff and set up

Location

The best location. On the headland, away from the crowds but easily accessible by foot to town. Best sunsets ever and great pool. Paradise

Staff

Beautiful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cebu Seaview Dive Resort

Moalboal

This is a great hotel for travellers who are out of their rooms through the day and just need a room to sleep in. Rooms are clean and tidy and beds comfortable. The pool and bar are very welcoming and a great place to watch the sunset. Would definitely stay again if had full day activities booked. Staff are lovely

Authenticity & Character

Location

On the water, great sunsets and great snorkelling out the front to the left.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Two Seasons Coron Bayside Hotel

Coron Town

The hotel is old and needs upgrading. The hallways and rooms are tired/ The pool has no shaded areas around it and there's a lot of concrete which makes it extremely hot and uncomfortable. We couldn't;t utilise the pool due to this. The location on the water is good and if they fixed up the pool area, brought in plants and shade it would be a lot more attractive. The rooms and premises definitely need an upgrade.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Belmont Hotel Manila

Pasay City

We just day transited here. I wouldn't want to stay here any longer than a day transit in the rooms we had which were small and looked into a central courtyard onto other rooms. It was fine for our purpose but would not like these rooms if staying overnight.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Don't know about location, only there on a day transit

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Holiday Inn Cebu City

Cebu City

Very clean and comfortable, in a good location for an overnight stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Don't really know about location as we only overnighted here before a flight.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Dolphin Spotting and Snorkeling in Balicasag Island

Philippines

the dolphin spotting was amazing! Coming from Australia where dolphins are pretty common we weren't expecting much but the sheer number of dolphins and the show they put on is unrivalled. Dolphins fantastic. The first snorkelling spot on Baliscag Island was not good. It was crowded with tourist boats and tourists who could not swim clinging to boats in their life jackets. There was nothing to see and snorkelling was difficult because of the shgeert number of people there. The crew listened to our concerns and took us around the back of the island and it was completely different. The snorkelling was lovely and there were fish and coral to see. so much better than the first location.

Quality of Experience

Food

Food is ok. They try really hard and are lovely but food is average (everywhere)

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Canyoneering in Kawasan Falls

Moalboal

This was our absolute favourite day in the Philippines which is a big call because everything was great. It was so much fun, trekking through the water, jumping from the cliffs (they do give you options) and going through the caves. The water is beautifully clear, the activities fun, the guides exceptional. A must do!!!

Quality of Experience

Exceptional guides, beautiful place and so much fun

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Just lovely. One guide carried my phone above his head for the whole day photographing and videoing my family. We would never have the photo memories if it wasn't for him.

Transport

Island hopping in El Nido - Tour A

El Nido

So so pretty, the lagoons and islands are just lovely. Water is crystal clear and warm, boat comfortable.

Quality of Experience

Food

Transport

Half-day Snorkeling Tour from Moalboal

Moalboal

Oor snorkelling was cancelled due to the weather but we did swim with the sardines which was amazing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coron Shipwrecks & Corals Day Tour

Coron

This was a very close second best of all our activities. We had the most awesome guide Jhonas who went out of his way for us and used his own go pro to photograph and video our families day. The snorkelling on this trip is the best we did. The first snorkel was at a sunken Japanese warship and that was just fabulous. The ship is relatively close to the surface so you can free dive down to it. The coral growing on the wreck and the fish are amazing. The second snorkel was even better, some of the best snorkelling we've ever one. There is an abundance of coral and fish. it is just beautiful. Jhonas....unbelievable. Thank you

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Jhonas is a legend. Definitely ask for Jhonas

Transport

Coron Lagoons & Lakes Day Tour

Coron

Another fabulous day with Jhonas. This area is SO beautiful. the snorkelling and water activities were amazing. You just have to see the waterways off the Philippine islands to appreciate them. Jhonas also used his own go pro to video and photograph our whole day. Such a generous man.

Quality of Experience

Everything was special

Food

Jhonas prepared us a traditional Filipino feast and served in on banana leaves. He went to so much trouble, it was fabulous.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Best guide in the Philippines. Go Jhonas.

Transport

El Nido via ferrata

El Nido

It is worth doing. Really just a walk/climb up to a lookout for views over El Nido, but the view was very pretty.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

la nostra avventura alle Filippine non è stato solo un viaggio ma qualcosa di più' importante per noi, ossia la nostra luna di miele.
L'agenzia grazie all'aiuto di Thao, ci organizzato il nostro itinerario in tutte le giornate permettendoci di visitare luoghi ma anche di svolgere delle attività ricreative che ci hanno fatto conoscere meglio e godere alcuni posti. Tutti i giorni siamo stati seguiti per lo svolgimento delle attività da Adam che oltre ad informarsi sullo svolgimento delle attività ci ha aiutato in diverse situazioni di contatto con le agenzie locali o risolvendo dei problemi che sono presentati.
Grazie a loro il nostro viaggio è stato un'esperienza indimenticabile

Se tornassimo indietro l'unico aspetto che migliorerei è la qualità delle strutture in cui abbiamo dormito, specialmente nei primi giorni, sicuramente in questi paese è molto più' saggio non scendere mai sotto i 4 stelle. Mentre all'agenzia Mango Tiger suggerisco di porre maggiore attenzione alla selezione delle agenzie locali e nel fornire loro le linee guida su come loro vorrebbero fosse realizzato il servizio.

Hotel Reviews

Amelie

Manila

The hotel was not really well cleaned

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hibiscus Garden Hotel

Puero Princesa

A comfortable Hotel with an excellent restaurant, you can find a lot of international dishes specially Italian. Also the cocktail are done with quality ingredients

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lime Resort

El Nido

Although the hotel is modern and the pool very nice it wasn't really well managed. There was a smell of sewage due to the fact that they discharge directly into the sea and in the rooms there was a smell of humidity that could certainly not be eliminated due to the lack of maintenance of the ventilation systems. If it were in another country it would be closed instantly, for further details I suggest reading the many reviews on Google

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Oasis Resort

Bohol

Beautiful resort just close to the beach

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Tarsier, Chocolate Hills, and River Cruise Tour

Bohol Island

The activity was really unbelievable, thanks at our local guide that also choose a beautiful restaurante were we spent our lunch

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Puerto Princesa explore with Underground River

Philippines

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Island-Hopping Tour

Coron

we had the opportunity to make a private tour in Coron and it was really nice, thanks To Thao to give us this opportunity and thanks to our local guide to make it unbelievable

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

El Nido Island Hopping

El Nido

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Leo was so great to work with. He was very responsive and planned an itinerary that provided us with exactly what we wanted. Batangas was a beautiful dive spot and we were blown away with the biodiversity that we saw. The island hopping tour in Coron was spectacular and Johnas was a great guide. The Kawasan tour canyoneering was so cool and fun. The tour guide wolves was awesome and they took some crazy good pictures and videos of us. Smock from Lakbay Palawan was so kind and attentive, great knowledge of reef restoration, and kept us entertained on our boat transfer from Puerto princesa to Coron. All of our tours and guides were amazing and we can’t speak more highly of this trip and fully recommend it.

Hotel Reviews

Bohol Beach Club

Bohol

Beautiful hotel, great food, and friendly staff. Wish we could have stayed longer.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bluewater Maribago

Lapu-lapu City

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Two Seasons Coron Bayside Hotel

Coron Town

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hue Hotels and Resorts Puerto Princesa

Puerto Princesa

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cadlao El Nido Resort and Restaurant

El Nido, Palawan

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Kayaking with fireflies

Philippines

Friendly tour guide, very knowledgeable, and amazing food at the end.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover Scuba Diving in Anilao: Introductory Diving Experience

Anilao, Batangas

One of the most beautiful dives I have been on. Highly recommend!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bohol Island Day Tour

Philippines

Enjoyed this day very much, the chocolate hills and tarsier sanctuary were highlights of this day!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Canyoneering in Kawasan Falls

Philippines

Dante’s peak canyoneering adventure was so great! Very fun, beautiful to see, and very exciting! Our tour guides took amazing pictures and videos of us.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dolphin Spotting and Snorkeling in Balicasag Island

Philippines

The dolphin spotting tour was really cool. We saw so many pods of wild spinner dolphins. The boat follows the pods.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Honda Bay Island Hopping Day Tour

Puerto Princesa

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Island hopping in El Nido - Tour A

El Nido

So many great snorkeling spots and biodiversity!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Puerto Princesa Underground River Day Tour

Philippines

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coron - El Nido 1 day boat expedition

Philippines

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coron Lagoons & Lakes Day Tour

Coron

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Powder Day: Sand and Stellar Beaches

Coron

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Overall, our family has enjoyed this trip a lot as it was varied with culture, nature, experiences and food! To fireflies to tarsiers, everyday was filled with something brand new and exciting. In addition to all the memorable activities, the people and guides we met made a huge difference. The shoutouts go to Jonas as he taught us the basics of free-diving (which we were able to apply on our snorkelling) and was attentive to our preferences on this journey. Adding on to our experience on our island hopping, the food was always high quality and immersed us in the Philippine cuisine. Our personal favourite were the banana cue for dessert ( a snack for us after the long but fun day) On the other hand, our boat transfer with Amick and spectacular sights was made even more remarkable as … taught us about the marvels of the sea. Our holiday flew by as we were accompanied by fish, turtles, and wild dolphins!! As a recommendation for your programme, we thought that canyoning was an unforgettable memory and would be highly enjoyed by anyone who loves adventure as we jumped into the crystal waters and hiked in the serene greenery. In conclusion, if you are seeking a mind-relaxing yet intrepid vacation, the Philippines has everything you need! Thanks a lot Leo for planning this memorable trip!

Hotel Reviews

Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan

Cebu

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lime Resort

El Nido

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Coron Westown Resort

Coron

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hue Hotels and Resorts Puerto Princesa

Puerto Princesa

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Holiday Inn Express Manila New Port City

Pasay

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bohol Beach Club

Bohol

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Manila Day Tour

Philippines

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kayaking with fireflies

Philippines

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bohol Island Day Tour

Philippines

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cebu City day tour

Philippines

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Friendly and flexible tour guide

Transport

Canyoneering in Kawasan Falls

Philippines

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coron Town Day Tour

Coron

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide tour was amazing and well prepared

Transport

Provate large and comfortable boat was used

Coron Lagoons & Lakes Day Tour

Coron

Quality of Experience

Food

Prepared on the boat and serve to the Island

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private large and comfortable boat was used

Pinatubo Volcano Off-Roading and Hiking Day Trip

Manila

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dolphin Spotting and Snorkeling in Balicasag Island

Philippines

Quality of Experience

Food

Very good cooked in front of us on the BBQ of the boat

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Very large and comfortable boat

Puerto Princesa Underground River Day Tour

Philippines

Quality of Experience

Food

The stop on the way to Porto P.. for breakfast didn t have to much choose and all local food not really fresh

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

El Nido via ferrata

El Nido

Quality of Experience

Maybe we had high expectation but the escursioni take in overall 30 min

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Not to much interaction with the guide

Transport

the Car was good but came very late on the agreed time

Powder Day: Sand and Stellar Beaches

Coron

Quality of Experience

io

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

no to much interaction on the entire trip with the guide and boat staff only the minimum indication was given but we were followed very carefully during the trip

Transport

Private minivan and large bit was used

Coron - El Nido 1 day boat expedition

Philippines

Quality of Experience

Food

Rea was cooking avresti breakfast and amazing lunch on the way. Fantastic, we took a breakfast at 07:00 am in a desert Island !

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Amick and area were very Friendly and we were fascinating about the sea life explained by Amick

Transport

private very comfortable boat was used

Island hopping in El Nido - Tour C

El Nido

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private large boat was used

Island hopping in El Nido - Tour A

El Nido

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

private large boat was used

Everything was planned to perfection! Cami was great for every tiny detail. will defenitly use Kim kim services again.

Hotel Reviews

Belmont Hotel Manila

Pasay City

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Shangri-La Boracay

Aklan

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Two Seasons Coron Island Resort

Coron

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cauayan Island Resort

El Nido

Authenticity & Character

Location

⁸

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Coron Island Tour

Coron

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our whole trip to the Philippines was absolutely amazing and perfect from start to finish. We give a lot of credit to our specialist Cami, and the rest of her team members for making our trip so memorable.

When travelling to a foreign country halfway across the world, it can be quite intimidating when you don't know how to get around and you don't know anyone. From the moment we landed in Manila on our first day to the moment we left Manila on our last day, "someone" always knew where we were, whether it be our trip contact Ana or the actual hotels themselves. For us, one of the best aspects of the vacation is that transportation to and from the airport was always arranged for us, so that we were not left scrambling or searching on our own for transportation -- this reduced a lot of stress for us. So Kudos to Cami and her team for helping us with the transportation!

The activities and excursions were amazing. In a nutshell, the beaches and waters of the Philippines are beautiful. Everything is perfect -- whether it be the white sand, clear waters, or beautiful coral. Adding to our wonderful experience would be our wonderful tour guides. Special shout-out to Jhonas in Coron for a super wonderful experience. Jhonas is photographer, guide, diver, and excellent chef all in one! He took us to some wonderful places and made us some wonderful food, including arranging a boodle fight for us.

Hotels are excellent. All 4-star or higher. Comfortable rooms, excellent service.

Overall, our experience was nothing short of perfect. As mentioned earlier, having a wonderful travel specialist plan your vacation makes things even better - and we thank Cami and her team for being that perfect travel team. Their attention to detail was outstanding; they left no stone unturned and they left nothing to chance/uncertainty.

We've already said that we are going back in the future, and we look forward to reaching out to Cami again to help plan our next trip to the Philippines.

Hotel Review

Two Seasons Coron Bayside Hotel

Coron Town

Best breakfast buffet ever! And we loved the fact that it was so close to the town, we could easily hop on a tricycle to get into town.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Coron Lagoons & Lakes Day Tour

Coron

The view is perfect. Crystal clear water, perfect white sand!

I think I can honestly say that this was my best vacation ever with so many nice memories and places, people, food and culture.
I was a little hesitant at the beginning if I should organize my trip by myself as I usually do or ask for help but it was the best decision to ask for help. Leo was my specialist who helped me to create the perfect itinerary based on the timeline, dates and budget. The entire planning went smoothly, I had a few flight schedule changes but he always helped me to adjust the details quickly. The entire trip was effortless from my side, all I had to do was to simply enjoy it and follow the itinerary. Pick ups went right on time, communication was fast and easy with all the guides, Ana helped me on the ground to get additional details of the guides for the next day where it was needed so everything was so easy and without any stress.
I spent 18 wonderful days in the Philippines (Cebu, Puerto Princessa, El Nido, Bohol), every day was a new adventure and a new experience. I had so much fun on the activities; during island hoppings i was swimming and snorkling a lot, went hiking to watch the sunrise in Puerto Princessa which was absolutely magical, kayaking and watching fireflies (never seen so many in one place), city tours, atv riding near the chocolate hills of Bohol, I met the tarsiers, crocodiles and butterflies, so many unforgettable memories.
The nature was stunning everywhere I went, the underwater life was amazing, so many colorful fish, corals, turtles, sea snakes, beautiful birds on the trees, the entire place is magical and super clean.
The people were really kind, the food was delicious. I had the chance already in my first accomodation at Bluewater Maribago in Cebu to try the local specialities as they serve buffet dinner where you can try as many things as you like which is a very nice opportunity.
All the tour guides I met made my holiday memorable, they took really good care of me, explained me history, shared a lot of stories with me. I would like to say special thanks to my guide in Puerto Princessa, Rich Apiaza. I have never met such an energetic, enthusiastic guide before. He loves nature, birds very much, he loves Puerto Princessa so it really comes through all his stories which made the place even more special. I am very lucky that he was my guide for three days and managed to get to know the city and the surroundings from him.
There is so much more to see there and experience that I would like to be back again. After such a great experience with an organized trip by Uncharted Earth, I would for sure do it again the same way.

Hotel Reviews

Bluewater Maribago

Lapu-lapu City

Very nice, big resort, I can highly recomend their spa where they offer amazing massage. I tried their signature massage and also a facial treatment, very relaxing experience, super friendly staff. Another highlight is for sure the buffet dinner where you can try many local food specialties.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hue Hotels and Resorts Puerto Princesa

Puerto Princesa

Nice, modern hotel right next to a shopping mall so very convenient.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cadlao El Nido Resort and Restaurant

El Nido, Palawan

The atmosphere of this hotel is absolutely unique, you can enjoy the view of the Cadlao island from the garden and the swimming pool, the sunset is amazing with all the colors in the sky. The restaurant is excellent with delicious food, I loved the ceviche. I stayed in Gemelina, one of the best rooms with an amazing view on the sea from the porch.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bohol Beach Club

Bohol

I think this was my favourite hotel because of the stunning white sand beach. The beach is so amazing with all colors of blue and green water, full of star fish and colorful fish in the coral area just few min walking in the water. Rooms are clean, the garden is super nice green, i was even watching the stars in the evening from a hammock in the garden.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Cebu City day tour

Cebu City

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Puerto Princesa City Half-Day Tour

Puerto Princesa

It was such a fun day, meeting with butterflies, crocodiles, bearcats, lots if sweets and amazing view at Bakers Hill, some history from the II World War which even inspired me to read a book about it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Honda Bay Island Hopping Day Tour

Puerto Princesa

Amazing snorkeling on Starfish island, desert like view with mangrove on Luli island and swimming on Cowrie island - i highly recommend this tour.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Puerto Princesa Underground River Day Tour

Philippines

This is the tour that I would never skip. The beach where the boats are leaving is unbelievable, the view with the mountains in the background is stunning. The underground river is a real miracle, never seen such a huge cave, i highly recommend to take off the audio device for a bit to be able to fully hear the bats and the water inside. I would also recommend to do the zipline, the view from there was breathtaking.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

El Nido via ferrata

El Nido

It was challanging to climb up but the view worth any effort.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Island hopping in El Nido - Tour A - group tour

El Nido

No words how beautiful the nature is, I was looking forward to the island hopping but it exceeded my expectations. The 7 Commandos Beach is mind blowing even in cloudy and sunny weather. The tour was well organized, pick up on time, nice clean and huge boat, delicious lunch and very friendly staff. I even had a partner for the kayaking from the crew.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Island hopping in El Nido - Tour C - group tour

El Nido

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bohol Island Day Tour

Philippines

It was a really active day, the atv ride around the chocolate hills was a very nice surprise. The tarsiers were super cute and we even managed to get there just before the crowds. I loved the lunch on the boat on Loboc river, we had live music, here i think it would be also nice experience to switch off the music for a few min to enjoy the silence on the river but otherwise it was very pleasent.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The day was great but to be honest compared to all the other guides I met during my vacation this was the day where I felt a huge difference, somehow i did not feel that enthusiasm of the guide therefore stories were not so authentic. I did enjoy the day but it rather seemed like I went there with two people who were mainly responsible for my transportation and nothing more.

Transport

Kayaking with fireflies

Philippines

I would totally recommend to have this tour because the experience was incredible: we went kayaking after sunset before it became totally dark. The river was warm and calm, i enjoyed the silence and the nature so much and when the darkness came the entire rive shore area started to become active. Hundreds of fireflies on the trees started to light up and pulse at the same time, incredible experience. There are no pictures or videos that can reflect that feeling, a truly awesome experience. After the program we had dinner at the kayak station, the food was really delicious, all my greetings to the chef.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Canyoneering in Kawasan Falls

Philippines

This was a real adventure tour, jumping from cliffs, highest jump was 10 meters, swimming in the canyon and enjoying the waterfalls. I was even lucky that there were not so many people so it was really enjoyable. I also tried the zipline at the beginning, really cool ride in vertical position.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

My guide was really helpful since the terraine is not that easy, one advise: dont rush through the canyon jist to avoid people because then you have no chance to really enjoy the nature there.

Transport

Dolphin Spotting and Snorkeling in Balicasag Island

Philippines

We started the day with dolphin spotting, there were so many that I could not even count them. Then we went to Balicasag to swim with the turtles and also to do snorkeling. The underwater life there is simply amazing, many colorful fish. The lunch on the boat was delicious, huge portion, impossible to eat it all. After lunch we did some snorkeling again and then we went back to the hotel. A very relaxing day, enjoyed a lot of sun and sea.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I cannot rate KimKim’s involvement highly enough. First of all Cami who helped develop an itinerary for a group of people of varying ages and abilities, with the added complication of internal flights being cancelled late on in the preparations. The hotel selections, transportation and local drivers and guides were all fabulous and knowledgable people. We felt safe and looked after throughout and couldn’t have covered so much ground so quickly, in a such a stress-free way without all the steps being put in place for us. Out thanks go out to Ana and Jhon especially, and also to Jody. I would certainly recommend to friends.

Hotel Reviews

Belmont Hotel Manila

Pasay City

Great recommendation if travelling from T2 Manilla airport . Very busy hotel with lots of security but clean, well appointed rooms and comfy beds, great breakfasts and lovely roof top pool.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Luna

Vigan

Beautiful hotel. It was very quiet when we were there so we had the pool to ourselves. Local food. Clean , comfortable rooms and very smiley staff.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful old building that was wonderfully restored.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Misty Lodge and Cafe

Sagada

Basic but friendly place .

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Banaue Hotel and Youth Hostel

Banaue

Huge, state owned hotel . We were only there for a night so didn’t get to explore the pool area etc. great evening buffet, welcome drink of warm ginger tea (delicious), comfortable rooms although trying to find a socket to charge phones that wasn’t falling out the wall was tricky. The most amazing views from the balcony and perfectly situated. There was a conference of actuaries on whilst we were there (who were having tremendous fun) so a local dance and costume exhibition was put on. There are shops in the hotel which have a great range of gifts - best we saw in the Philippines - but be prepared for the unwanted badgering you get if you step within 20m of the shop entrance. They would get more sales if they let you browse in peace!

Authenticity & Character

It was one of the weirdest hotels I’ve stayed in . Hard to explain why . It felt like it had been designed in Russia and lifted up and put in the Philippine mountains!

Location

Amazing views

Staff

Desk staff were very helpful . Our packed was half an hour late and you needed a magnifying glass to find the chicken in the chicken salad sandwich.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms has seen better days but we’re clean and adequate including tea and coffee making facilities.

Activity Reviews

Sagada caving

Sagada

I didn’t go on this trip but the younger members of my party did and had a great time . The guides were excellent.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great fun to be with

Transport

Sagada's Echo Valley

Sagada

I was really keen to see this and understand more about it . Involved a short hike to get there . I found this interesting but was a little underwhelmed in that there is no more to see than this.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Knowledgeable and friendly - and concerned for well-being and safety

Transport

Banaue, Hapao and Bangaan Rice Terraces

Banaue

Fabulous to see the different rice terraces, here about the history and farming practices.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Unbelievable driving by Jhon on wet, dark and rock strewn roads. Views were amazing in daylight and he took less used routes so we would get the full experience.

Batad Rice Terraces

Banaue

We chose not to walk down to the terraces beyond and on to the waterfall but the younger members of our party did and loved it - although a hard, hot walk. Views from the cafe were amazing . Guides were helpful and considerate - always safety first and patient.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ana was great, really enjoy to coordinate with locally for transportation.

Hotel Reviews

Bluewater Maribago

Lapu-lapu City

Great breakfast, great service, and location!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bohol Beach Club

Bohol

This resort has everything travelers need to have a good time: ample selection of food and drinks at the restaurant; great customer service; scuba diving services; swimming pool to cool off from the heat; environmentally-friendly glass pitchers to refill for daily water; and an unbelievable view of the water. The hotel staff were always friendly and it's extremely safe (gated with security at all times).

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bayleaf Intramuros

Metro Manila

The hotel staff was great! Manila being a huge city, and after traveling to Cebu and Paglao Islands, it was hard to get used to the traffic noise. Otherwise, the breakfast and staff were on point.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Paniqui Memorial Park

Manila

This was extra special to visit my ancestors' gravesites and I'm glad KimKim accommodated the transportation.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cebu City day tour

Philippines

The tour guide is very knowledgeable about the local history and easy to converse with.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kayaking with fireflies

Philippines

First time kayaking with fireflies and it was a great experience!

Quality of Experience

Food

The food was great, but I ate alone with a dog staring at me. It would've been nice if the tour guide had joined the dinner instead of them eating next door on their own. In previous tours with KimKim, all the guides were part of the meals.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bohol Island Day Tour

Philippines

The tour guide is very knowledgeable about the local history.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I have never booked through a website such as KimKim but we had such a positive experience that I will definitely be using them again. Cami was incredible. She was so patient and accommodating and we really couldn’t have asked for better help. The trip was one I’ll never forget!

Cami’s (our local specialist) planning was fantastic. I had to change my trip dates several times and she remained incredibly patient with me and ensured everything went smoothly through the entire planning process. The trip itself was amazing. There was one slip up regarding a driver showing up very late to pick us up from our hotel, but it was not at all Cami’s fault or the hotel’s, and she was very quick to reach out to the company who dispatched the driver. I was very hesitant at first because I had never used this service. However, the overall experience was incredible and I would highly recommend both a visit to the Philippines, as well as Kim Kim’s services.

Hotel Reviews

Holiday Inn Express Manila New Port City

Pasay

Location is very convenient. Right by the Manias airport, as well as several restaurants and places to shop. The hotel itself was very clean and the staff was friendly. Also, the breakfast buffet was fantastic.

Authenticity & Character

N/A

Location

Convenience

Staff

Helpful and friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean

Sea Cocoon Hotel

El Nido

This hotel was amazing, from the location to the staff to the breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Unique

Location

Perfectly centered in El Nido’s best area.

Staff

Helpful and friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean

Activity Reviews

Island hopping in El Nido - Tour A

El Nido

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

El Nido via ferrata

El Nido

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I never write reviews, but I couldn't pass on the opportunity to write this one. My family just returned from an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime, trip to the Philippines! There were 7 of us total (my husband and me, our 4 teenage kids - who had never been to the Philippines, and my mom - who was born and raised there but has been living in the U.S. for the past 51 years). Thao was incredible! From the moment we started planning, I was impressed by her prompt and articulate communication skills. We spent a lot of time tweaking the itinerary, and she was always very receptive to my change requests, immensely patient with all of my questions, and so timely with her responses. She was professional, attentive, and enthusiastic, and I could tell that she was truly engaged in the process. I always felt like our trip and my family were special to her. Once our trip began, Thao remained involved and engaged with us through WhatsApp. If we had questions or concerns, she was there for us. She was responsive and accommodating - even through a couple of minor, unforseen issues, and we were always confident in her "presence" and support. She was readily available to us throughout our entire trip. I can't say enough good things about her! We would use Thao and kimkim again in a heartbeat!!

We found the whole kimkim experience very good - very easy to find expert help on our chosen location and Cami provided expert advice and prompt assistance with all our queries while helping us to organise the perfect itinerary.

On our first day, the snorkelling trip to Anilao, our drivers, John and Ana were the best - so organised for all eventualities, kind and helpful. From an anticipated two hour round trip, they gamely took on an overnight 10-hour drive after we changed our mind about taking an overnight bus. We felt safe and looked after throughout, even after experiencing some unexpected road diversions which prolonged our drive considerably. They were incredible throughout, so calm and very kind, returning my daughter's sunglasses to the hotel several days after the drive when they found she had left them in the car. Thank you so much John and Ana!

The Anilao trip was a great introduction to diving off a boat into the sea. We had an expert guide in Alan who helped me -with my nervousness of the open sea - to try snorkelling - which introduced a whole sea world to me.

Jodie, our expert guide on the Banaue leg was wonderfully knowledgeable about the area, the rice terraces and the local community, of which he is a member. He helped us up and down some tricky (for us oldies) paths through the rice terraces and got us back in one piece. He took us to some amazing sites. After a hiccup with the airline (last minute cancelled flight), he made sure we were driven back to Manila in good time to make the rearranged flight. Jodie was all-round amazing!

The next leg, at El Nido was wonderful for different reasons. we had a lovely hotel, great staff, very kind and helpful again when we experienced another cancelled flight. Joel (and the team) at the Funny Lion was particularly helpful, making sure we had a laptop to help us find alternative flights at short notice (less than 14 hours from the original scheduled flight).

The trips themselves at El Nido were brilliant, we went island hopping on local boats with a great team led by Capt Mike and his expert photographer, Dodoy! We loved every aspect - the swimming, cave exploring, swimming in the (not so) secret lagoon and kayaking. Each day, we experienced the most delicious lunch on board the ship. Really wonderful experience. Thanks so much to Capt Mike and his team, and great fishing skills!

Bohol was great too - very different with excursions to see the Tarsiers and the Chocolate Hills and the lunch on board the Boat raft. Our guide, Gigi, was very knowledgeable and had brought a raft of interesting local items to illustrate and explain the island. The trip to see the dolphins the following day was wonderful - never to be forgotten sight of the dolphins and turtles and followed by another lavish lunch on board.

The Amorita resort was very relaxing - just what we wanted at the end of the trip with a wonderful spa which my daughter and I made the most of - perfect.

All in all, a trip of a lifetime - plus we managed to set aside the final day for a quick tour of Manila and Intramuros and the largest mall in Asia - MOA - one very happy daughter!

Thanks so mcuh Cami, we will be recommending kimkim and you to everyone!

Kind regards

Kiran Khosla and family

Hotel Reviews

Belmont Hotel Manila

Pasay City

Hotel was conveniently located close to the airport. Staff were very helpful with our left luggage.

Authenticity & Character

Not much as it is designed to be a functional hotel close to the airport.

Location

close to airport.

Staff

very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Banaue Hotel and Youth Hostel

Banaue

A lot of history to the hotel, Functional and clean.

Authenticity & Character

It's a former youth hostel from the 50s/60's - and still has that vibe in its decor and service

Location

Amazing location looking over the rice terraces and valley. great views

Staff

Very kind and helpful, allowed us to go to our room to rest after a long drive and before the day's tour started.

Cleanliness & Comfort

all was clean and comfortable!. Hotel could benefit from some air conditioning and modernised plumbing but that was also part of its charm!

The Funny Lion El Nido

El Nido

Hotel was wonderful - great facilities, staff, pool and restaurant. wonderful cocktails!

Authenticity & Character

lovely clean modern design with local materials.

Location

Close to the main street in El Nido but slightly apart from it which made the hotel peaceful and quiet after a hard day's sailing and touring. Still close to the beach.

Staff

Joel and all the hotel team were kind, welcoming and helpful throughout, nothing was too much trouble.

Cleanliness & Comfort

all was perfect!

Amorita Resort

Great hotel and resort with all the amenities and facilities needed for a relaxing stay - great restaurant, bar and spa and pools as well as access to beach.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Next to the beach - direct access to beautiful beach from hotel. Stunning views of the sun setting over the beach!

Staff

everyone made great effort to make our stay wonderful. Loved the housekeeping staff and enjoyed the towel modelling (swans, elephants) each day.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean hotel, great bar and excellent service in all the public areas.

Activity Reviews

Anilao Snorkeling Day Tour

Manila

See review in introduction.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

See earlier review in introduction

Transport

The car was very comfortable with lots of space to stretch on long overnight journey and the drivers were the best - John and Ana - see earlier review for details.

Banaue, Hapao and Bangaan Rice Terraces

Banaue

See earlier review. One suggestion - a part of this trip through he rice terraces involved walking a narrow path which was quite high and which for someone who is scared of heights, could be challenging. I would suggest that this is flagged to prospective visitors.

Quality of Experience

See earlier review in intro for Jodie's expertise and helpfulness.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

See earlier review

Transport

Very quick, fast and safe driving

Island Hopping in El Nido - Tour B

El Nido

See earlier review for details (in introduction)

Quality of Experience

see earlier section

Food

see earlier review of meals on boat - amazing.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

see introduction for full review

Transport

see earlier section for full review

Island hopping in El Nido - Tour A

El Nido

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dolphin Spotting and Snorkeling in Balicasag Island

Philippines

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bohol Island Day Tour

Philippines

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

After a lot of research, my family and I booked this trip to Donsol for an ethical experience with whale sharks and we are so grateful that we did. I highly recommend this trip as it does not have a negative impact on the natural behaviour and environment of the whale sharks.

Our overall experience from the booking process to the trip itself was positive and enjoyable. Cami, our local specialist was very professional and organised meaning that we could relax and have a great time.

Our guide Arisa was absolutely fantastic. She was very kind, thoughtful, helpful and friendly. She made us all feel very welcome.

Our accommodation at Elysia Beach Resort was serene and peaceful and the staff were so lovely and accommodating. My family and I are vegan and they went above and beyond to make sure we had food that we could eat which was much appreciated.

I loved how flexible this trip was. As scuba divers, we wanted to incorporate some dives into the trip and Cami easily organised this for us. Our dive master Bobby was fantastic and made sure we had a great day of diving. We did three incredible dives. One at Bobby’s Wall at San Miguel Islands followed by two drift dives at Manta Bowl Ticao Pass where we were lucky enough to see three giant oceanic manta rays!

We were very excited to see whale sharks in a natural calm environment and we were not disappointed. Our guide Joseph and the rest of his team were very experienced and we were lucky enough to swim alongside a beautiful whale shark, an experience we will never forget!

Thank you to everyone who made this trip possible!

Hotel Review

Elysia Beach Resort

Donsol

Elysia Beach Resort is absolutely stunning! I felt very relaxed and peaceful during my stay. The staff were so lovely, friendly and accommodating. My family and I are vegan and they went above and beyond to ensure we had suitable food to eat during our stay. I actually didn’t want to leave! I highly recommend them if you travel to Donsol!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Diving & Snorkeling in Ticao Island

Philippines

Diving Bobby’s Wall at San Miguel Islands and Manta Bowl at Ticao Pass was incredible! Our dive master Bobby was professional and he ensured we had a fantastic day of diving. We saw a lot of beautiful corals and marine life including three giant oceanic manta rays! The non divers also had a great time and were able to snorkel, relax and enjoy the beautiful weather. Overall it was an awesome experience!

Quality of Experience

Beautiful weather, wonderful dive master and crew, amazing dive sites and an incredible encounter with giant oceanic manta rays!

Food

We really appreciated the effort to accommodate us as vegans. We had rice and some eggplant but we were still a little hungry as it was a big day out diving and the portions were a little small. We also needed more drinking water.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our dive master Bobby was fantastic. I felt safe diving with him and he ensured our dives were fun and positive. The rest of the crew were also great.

Transport

The boat ride was fun and we felt safe getting from one dive site to another.

Swim with Whale Sharks in Donsol

Donsol

Swimming alongside a whale shark has long been a dream of mine. But for me, the most important thing is to engage in positive experiences with wildlife to ensure we do not negatively impact their environment and natural behaviours. This experience fulfilled my lifelong dream and it was incredible. Our guide Joseph and his team were professional and very experienced. There were only me and my family on the boat and when we finally found a whale shark, it was just us in the water so the experience was calm and stress free. Seeing the whale shark swim on the surface alongside us for about a minute before descending into the deep is a memory that will always stay with me!

Quality of Experience

Although there were other boats also looking for whale sharks, there were not huge groups of people in the water and the number of boats were limited. What made this experience special was the fact that it was a natural encounter.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Joseph was very calm and relaxed. It was clear that he and his team were experienced.

Transport

Take a paddleboat down Firefly River

Donsol

This was a nice addition to our trip to Donsol. Seeing the fireflies was a magical experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Árisa our guide was the most beautiful person
She went out of her way to make sure everything was perfect for us.
Both our tour guides for our whale shark experience and firefly experience were
Lovely too and very knowledgeable.
Overall we had an amazing time

Our experience with Kim Kim and our travel advisor, Cami was beyond our expectations. Cami customized our trip for us and provided guidance based on her experience all along the way. She was in touch from the first day of our trip planning almost daily and in the days after our trip wanting to make sure we were reminded of flights, government registration, transportation pickups, names of local guides, emergency contacts, and general information to make our tours and overall trip a great experience.
Our arrival in Manila was uneventful and the Belmont Hotel was ok but not great. While the proximity to the airport was great, the customer service was lacking; it was crowded and they handled overflow by placing dining tables in the lobby. On Sunday, we had a major problem with our flight from Manila to Legazpi on Sunday on Cebu Pacific Airlines. Our flight was diverted mid-air to return to Manila due to a problem with the landing gear. We had to stay in the air to burn off fuel which was a little disconcerting. Flight announcements were not made so many onboard were nervous to say the least. Upon our safe landing in Manila (Sunday evening), none of the emergency contacts answered the phone numbers which was very frustrating. I finally was able to get through to Carmel with WhatsApp. We were directed to an area near the baggage claim where we were given vouchers from Cebu Pacific. After more than an hour and a half, they took us by bus to a cheap and disgusting hotel (Royal Bellagio Hotel). There were prostitutes on the street soliciting passengers (including our husbands) and men trying to sell Cialis. We had to wait in line for over an hour to get on the elevator (maximum capacity of 2-3) to register on the 3rd floor. We were all lined up on the outside steps and through a restaurant to board the elevator. At approximately 8:00 p.m., we finally checked in and were promised dinner that did not arrive until 11:00 pm and it was inedible. We had to be ready to leave at 4:00 a.m. to depart on bus for the airport where there was no one there to meet us and let us know our flight number – we were directed all over the airport before finally getting our boarding passes. I would highly recommend any other airline other than this one.
We let Carmel know our flight number on Monday morning and she arranged for our airport transport to Donsol. Cami was back in touch to help us rearrange our itinerary so that we didn't miss out on anything. After a really rough beginning, our visit to Donsol was wonderful. The Elysia Resort was good but clearly our most “rustic” stay. While this was on the beach, the beach left much to be desired. It was dirty and there were dogs everywhere. They barked all night long. It was difficult to adjust the room temperature, the towels were pretty bare, the beds were only okay, but the food was good in the restaurant.
In Donsol, we were taken care of by Carmel and Ariza with Bicol Beyond; both were very accommodating, but Ariza was beyond our expectations. She was personable and very hands on. We really appreciated the rearrangement of our day to Busay Falls and the ability to switch it out with a second whale shark outing – all at no additional cost. Our first rearranged outing was our dive trip to Ticao Island and the Manta Bowl. Junery Azupardo (Jun) was our divemaster and he was assisted by July. They were both very, very good and experienced divers and we felt confident we were in good hands. Our first dive was a wall off Ticao Island and it was magnificent with colorful coral. Jun took photos and videos for us and hand delivered them to us on a thumb drive at our hotel in Legazpi – that is what I call “over and beyond” service. Jun and Ariza are both very good representatives for Bicol Beyond.
Because we arrived late, Cami worked with Bicol Beyond and Ariza was on the job. She rearranged our schedule for a second whale shark outing that was staffed with a great crew (including her husband who is a Butanding Interaction Officer [BIO]) and a university student, Aldwyn Calaguing, who was researching whale sharks also was onboard. Aldwyn was able to provide us so much information about whale sharks. Both BIOs on the boat were in the water with us and pushing us along to get the best from our swim with two different whale sharks; one was approximately 6 meters long (nicknamed Notchie due to a notch in his tail) and the other nicknamed Biggie because he was between 9 and 10 meters long. It was awesome! Ariza then arranged a special lunch for us. Her husband had hand-selected two large fresh crabs and she paired them with vegetables and rice. WOW! Our tricycle drivers (Mark) were so much fun and we enjoyed them so much. This company and the entire staff was wonderful!
The firefly river was fun and relaxing and our guide, Laura was good. We were able to see a couple trees where they were swarming so that was neat to see.
Our transfer from Donsol to Legazpi was uneventful and The Marison Hotel was very nice and the staff was very welcoming. We enjoyed our trip to Camalig province and the cooking demonstration was great – I must learn how to make that dish! I think it was Pinangat? It was delicious.
Our flight to Cebu City was uneventful despite a delay on Cebu Pacific airlines. We enjoyed the Marco Polo Hotel – the breakfast buffet was great and there were dining options. Canyoneering in Kawasan Falls was great and it was strenuous. I would suggest you have your clients watch a video of the trekking. We were by far the oldest people there but we had a great time- take that, you young ones!!. Justin and Vincent were our guides. When one of our group struggled with asthma and some of the climbs, Vincent and Justin he stuck by her side, holding her hand, and floating her through some of the river areas while we went forward and jumped all the cliffs – It was great fun!!
We enjoyed our trip to Bohol. It was a nice and relaxing day scheduled after a few days of very active tours. Both our tour guides were very nice. Christine accompanied us to the seaport and was there after our day to get us back to our hotel. Marichu (she gave her name as Sarah) was wonderful giving us a lot of information about Bohol, the Targsier Sanctuary, the Chocolate Hills, and the town. It was a very nice day aided by great tour guides who were clearly very interested in our comfort and needs.
The flight from Cebu City to Puerto Princesa on Philippines Airways was uneventful and it was a better airline experience. The Hue Hotel was good-clean and comfortable, and the location close to the Robinson Mall was nice. When we got in, we decided to chill by the pool and were seated but the bar staff asked us to move while they prepared for a private party. We moved to where we were directed and after 5 minutes, they approached us again and asked us to move. They suggested a location in the sun and after finishing our drinks, we decided to leave. The way this was handled was very poor. Later, we visited the pool which is badly in need of repairs. Many tiles were missing and the edges of the plaster were sharp.
The underground river was a nice experience. Rich is a very good tour guide who clearly knows the area well. Like all our guides, he offered to take group pictures for us and we got a really good guide for the mangroves who sang to us. It was quite entertaining.
Our trip to El Nido was interesting. We had someone pick us up but were taken to a gas station where our driver and van were switched. The driver didn’t appear too engaged or interested.
El Nido was great and the Funny Lion is a great hotel. We were greeted by the hotel manager who welcomed us and offered his assistance with anything we needed. He checked on us daily. The rooms were clean and beds and pillows were great. The pool was wonderful. Our island hopping was good but we were shocked at the amount of coral that is dead or dying. I know some of this is due to Typhoon Odette but this was not the best for snorkeling. The boat crew was wonderful and attentive and they prepared two great lunches on the boat. It was great, great fun.
Overall, we really enjoyed our trip and all of the transfers, guides, and details were attended to very well by Cami who continually checked in on us.

On a scale of 1-5 with 5 being the best, we rated the hotels:
• Belmont Hotel – “3”
• Elysia Beach Resort – “2.5 to 3.0”
• Marison Hotel – “4”
• Marco Polo Hotel – “4.5”
• Funny Lion Hotel – “5” – this staff went way and beyond. The rooms were nice. The linens and towels were great. Food was good. Pool was wonderful and the outside showers, bathrooms and foot wash was really convenient and useful.

For publication (here is a condensed review but feel free to use specific information about the tour guides, tour companies and the individuals as you feel appropriate). Most of this is designed to be helpful to you in further trip planning.
We planned a trip to the Philippines with KimKim Travel and were very pleased with their services. Our agent, Cami, helped us to customize a trip specific to our wants and needs. She provided guidance based on her experience. After a couple of months in getting the itinerary finalized, flights confirmed, submittal of needed documents, and answering our many questions, she sent a comprehensive summary of our trip with emergency contacts, tour guide names, details about transfers, and suggestions for restaurants, shopping, and additional activities. She kept in touch with us almost daily and made recommendations throughout our vacation. She sent us reminders throughout our trip and provided troubleshooting when we had a canceled flight that disrupted our schedule. She and the tour companies and guides in the Philippines rearranged things for us so we were able to regroup and continue our trip with very little problem. We highly recommend KimKim and Cami Sarmiento.

Hotel Reviews

Belmont Hotel Manila

Pasay City

Belmont Hotel was ok but not great. While the proximity to the airport was great, the customer service was lacking; it was crowded and they handled overflow by placing dining tables in the lobby. A special request to use the pool in the afternoon on our last day was a major issue as check-out was at noon. After escalating our request to a manager, we were allowed to use the pool.

Authenticity & Character

The service was "so-so" and staff was not customer-centric. Rooms were clean, dining was okay, phones did not work, some electrical outlets did not work, and the air-conditioning could not be adjusted. Overall, I would choose a different hotel with some character and better service.

Location

Staff

Not interested in helping or accommodating anything out of the ordinary.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean and comfortable but maintenance was needed for phones and electrical outlets.

Elysia Beach Resort

Donsol

The Elysia Resort was good but clearly our most “rustic” stay. While this was on the beach, the beach left much to be desired. It was dirty and there were dogs everywhere. They barked all night long. It was difficult to adjust the room temperature, the towels were pretty bare, the beds were only okay, but the food was good in the restaurant.

Authenticity & Character

A little more luxury would be nice. It did appear that the management of the hotel was interested in cost controls more than guest comfort. A rating of 2.5 is more appropriate

Location

Proximity to our tours was great.

Staff

Staff was polite and helpful but not over the top on service.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds were a little hard, towels were pretty thread-bare, linens were clean. A little 'up-grade' would go a long way.

The Marison Hotel

Legazpi

The Marison Hotel was very nice and the staff was very welcoming as we checked in. The rooms were comfortable and had everything we needed. The restaurant was good and all staff from bell staff, to desk clerks, to restaurant servers were all very, very good. Great view of the volcano - wish it hadn't been so cloudy!

Authenticity & Character

Very nice - standard character.

Location

Great view of the volcano.

Staff

Everyone was great.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms were very clean and the beds were super comfy.

Marco Polo Plaza Cebu

Cebu City

We would rate this a "4.5". All staff was very welcoming and helpful. There were multiple dining options. The pool area was a nice place to have a late meal. Breakfast was really good and plentiful with food and selection.

Authenticity & Character

It's a large and more luxurious hotel. The dining areas were really nice.

Location

With the city being so large, it is hard to rate the location but it was close to a lot of shopping.

Staff

Service was fast and easy.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were comfortable.

Hue Hotels and Resorts Puerto Princesa

Puerto Princesa

The Hue Hotel was good-clean and comfortable, and the location close to the Robinson Mall was nice. When we got in, we decided to chill by the pool and were seated but the bar staff asked us to move while they prepared for a private party. We moved to where we were directed and after 5 minutes, they approached us again and asked us to move. They suggested a location in the sun and after finishing our drinks, we decided to leave. The way this was handled was very poor. We had ordered beer - San Miguel Light but got the wrong beer. We approached the bar and they provided the correct beer but we watched one of the servers putting caps back on the beers we returned - that was a little alarming! Later, we visited the pool which is badly in need of repairs. Many tiles were missing and the edges of the plaster were sharp.

Authenticity & Character

Facility needs maintenance.

Location

Great location to road and next door to a mall.

Staff

Pool bar staff needs training. All other staff was good.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Maintenance was needed.

The Funny Lion El Nido

El Nido

The Funny Lion-El Nido is a great hotel. The rating we gave was primarily due to the over-the-top service we received. From the management staff to every single employee there, it was clear we were the number one priority. We were greeted by the hotel manager who welcomed us and offered his assistance with anything we needed. We were provided with welcome and departure gifts - they weren't much but the thought was lovely. The manager checked on us daily. The Food and Beverage Manager was very attentive and was present in the restaurant and breakfast area each day. Like his manager, he was very focused on our satisfaction. The rooms were clean and beds and pillows were great. The pool was wonderful.

Authenticity & Character

The design of this hotel is really great. The pool was the center of the hotel and was beautiful. All facilities were open to the pool and fans kept everything cool and comfortable. There is a large bathroom at the end of the restaurant with showers and toilets if you want to use them as you come in from the ocean.

Location

Close to town. New facility on road where transportation was readily available.

Staff

If we could rate them a "10", we would. Their attention to our every need was just wonderful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were clean, towels were fluffy. Bedding and beds were very comfortable. Drying areas for beach clothing were available out of the front door and on the balconies.

Activity Reviews

Diving in Ticao Island

Philippines

Junery Azupardo (Jun) was our divemaster and he was assisted by July. They were both very, very good and experienced divers and we felt confident we were in good hands. Our first dive was a wall off Ticao Island and it was magnificent with colorful coral. The manta bowl was a challenging dive with some strong down currents but Jun and July made sure we were safe and taken care of. When our first dive had to be cut short, we went to the other side of the bowl, and were able to see a large manta. Jun took photos and videos for us and hand delivered them to us on a thumb drive at our hotel in Legazpi – that is what I call “over and beyond” service. Jun, July and Ariza are both very good representatives for Bicol Beyond.

Quality of Experience

The wall was beautiful and our dive team was really attentive. They went above and beyond.

Food

Wow! We really didn't expect such a great meal.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Jun and July - you have to have good dive masters - they were familiar with the locations and our safety and comfort was their priority.

Transport

Boat crew was very helpful.

Swim with Whale Sharks in Donsol

Donsol

Ariza arranged our schedule for a second whale shark outing that was staffed with a great crew (including her husband who is a Butanding Interaction Officer [BIO]) and a university student, Aldwyn Calaguing, who was researching whale sharks also was onboard. Aldwyn was able to provide us so much information about whale sharks. Both BIOs on the boat were in the water with us and pushing us along to get the best from our swim with two different whale sharks; one was approximately 6 meters long (nicknamed Notchie due to a notch in his tail) and the other nicknamed Biggie because he was between 9 and 10 meters long. It was awesome! Ariza then arranged a special lunch for us. Her husband had hand-selected two large fresh crabs and she paired them with vegetables and rice. WOW! Our tricycle drivers (Mark) were so much fun and we enjoyed them so much. This company and the entire staff was wonderful!

Quality of Experience

An experienced crew focused on giving us the best experience possible.

Food

Ariza arranged for a fresh crab lunch - it was delicious!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Staffed by licensed Butanding Interaction Officers [BIO]) and a university student, Aldwyn Calaguing, who was researching whale sharks. Arranged by Ariza with Bicol Beyond who was so hands on and arranged for a fantastic lunch for us.

Transport

Boat and crew were great!

Take a paddleboat down Firefly River

Donsol

Fun and relaxing. We found an area where the fireflies were swarming and it was interesting to see the synchronization.

Quality of Experience

Pretty and relaxing

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Laura was very nice.

Transport

Picked up on time; back to hotel afterward. Easy and close.

Busay Waterfalls Adventure

Philippines

Not applicable - we canceled this tour.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Canyoneering in Kawasan Falls

Philippines

Canyoneering in Kawasan Falls was great and it was strenuous. I would suggest you have your clients watch a video of the trekking. We were by far the oldest people there but we had a great time- take that, you young ones!!. Justin and Vincent were our guides. When one of our group struggled with asthma and some of the climbs, Vincent and Justin he stuck by her side, holding her hand, and floating her through some of the river areas while we went forward and jumped all the cliffs – It was great fun!!

Quality of Experience

Great scenery, good exercise, fun!

Food

Freshly prepared - healthy

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Justin and Vincent were great.

Transport

Bohol Island Day Tour from Cebu

Philippines

We enjoyed our trip to Bohol. It was a nice and relaxing day scheduled after a few days of very active tours. Both our tour guides were very nice. Christine accompanied us to the seaport and was there after our day to get us back to our hotel. Marichu (she gave her name as Sarah) was wonderful giving us a lot of information about Bohol, the Tarsier Sanctuary, the Chocolate Hills, and the town. It was a very nice day aided by great tour guides who were clearly very interested in our comfort and needs.

Quality of Experience

Relaxing day following a very physical prior several days.

Food

Very good food, nice restaurant!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

All tour guides were knowledgeable and very customer oriented

Transport

Puerto Princesa Underground River Day Tour

Philippines

The underground river was a nice experience. Rich is a very good tour guide who clearly knows the area well. Like all our guides, he offered to take group pictures for us and we got a really good guide for the mangroves who sang to us. It was quite entertaining.

Quality of Experience

The caves were beautiful

Food

Variety

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Rich was a great guide! Friendly, helpful and very knowledgeable.

Transport

Island Hopping in El Nido - Tour B

El Nido

Our island hopping was good but we were shocked at the amount of coral that is dead or dying. I know some of this is due to Typhoon Odette but this was not the best for snorkeling. The boat crew was wonderful and attentive and they prepared two great lunches on the boat. It was great, great fun.

Quality of Experience

Mike was really a great guide and he and the boat crew were very attentive.

Food

It was delicious and freshly prepared just for us. What a spread they put on.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

So very nice - all of them.

Transport

Boat crew was great

Island hopping in El Nido - Tour A

El Nido

Our island hopping was good but we were shocked at the amount of coral that is dead or dying. I know some of this is due to Typhoon Odette but this was not the best for snorkeling. The boat crew was wonderful and attentive and they prepared two great lunches on the boat. It was great, great fun.

Quality of Experience

Food

Awesome lunch prepared fresh on the boat. We even had fruit carved beautifully.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mike and the boat crew were great!

Transport