Kimkim Trip Reviews

Absolutely fantastic experience with both Giulia and Andrea from start to finish. Giulia helped me plan an unforgettable trip with great hotel selections, unbelievable tours and lovely restaurant recommendations across all of Italy. Andrea made sure we were taken care of even when the train operators went on strike. We are so grateful for both of them and cannot recommend kimkim enough to all our friends.

Hotel Reviews

Corte dei Sogni Boutique Hotel & Spa

Florence

Tucked away on a small side street. We were close to the action without having to listen to the street noise all night. Beautiful room with excellent AC for the super hot summer days.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Continental

Sorrento

Beautiful view. Delicious restaurant. Great location close to everything.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Wine tasting and lunch at Winery near Montepulciano

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Historic & Food Tour in Sorrento (Private guide)

Italy

Our guide, Antonino was so incredible. We talked about how much we enjoyed spending time with him the rest of the trip. He gave us great recommendations and shared some sweet personal stories along the way.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fine job in selecting guides in Kyoto, but other than a food tour in Tokyo the experience was not as expected.

Activity Reviews

Kanazawa Food Tour: Private & Personalized with a Local Guide

Kanazawa

Not a normal food tour as it was going to two restaurants and ordering off the menu. Not what we expected, fortunately the food was good.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Authentic Ramen & Gyoza Making Class in Kyoto

Kyoto

I would recommend this cooking class to anyone

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Enjoy your private open-air bath and dinner

Kaga

We didn’t care for this experience

Kanazawa Artisan Half Day Tour

Kanazawa

Didn’t have a very good guide, though the experience was good

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Dinner with Maiko in a Traditional Kyoto Style Restaurant Tour (Small Group)

Kyoto

Not to be missed experience in Kyoto and great fun evening.

Welcome to Kaga: Japan's Hidden Gem of Hot Springs and Art

Kaga

Not enough information on the experience

Best of Shibuya Food Tour

Tokyo

Great tour guy with lessons in Japanese culture which was great experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Half-Day Walking Tour: EasternTokyo Your Way (by Public Transportation)

Tokyo

Unfortunate heavy rain dampened our experience and SkyTree was a bit too commercial.

Tokyo: teamLab, Azabudai Hills & National Art Center Tour

Tokyo

Poor guide, but ok experience.

Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo forest & Garden Half-Day Walking Tour

Kyoto

Good guide for the local temples and the forest experience.

Kimono wearing and Tea ceremony (Sado) in Kyoto (Private)

Japan

Good experience for our 17 year old grand daughter.

We absolutely loved our trip to Japan! Shona helped us get the balance just right, between guided experiences and independent travel. Our guides were exceptional and allowed us to cater our days and gain much more than we could have on our own. The assistance in transportation with luggage was especially appreciated. Lastly, the app was easy to use and had everything we needed in one place.

We couldn't have been happier about our trip and will definitely use Kimkim again!

Activity Reviews

Half Day Samurai Ninja Museum and Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

If we were to do it again, we'd do the Tea Ceremony and skip the Samurai Ninja Museum. Purely a matter of personal preference, but we loved the tea ceremony and didn't find the Samurai museum very engaging.

Full Day Tokyo City Tour

Tokyo

Moto was an exceptional tour guide. We inited him to visit us at home, because we sincerely enjoyed his company so much!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nokuthula was responsive and attentive from the very start of the process. From the start to the actual travel, she pours her energy into the planning and works so hard to make sure it's a great experience.

Activity Reviews

Guided Tour of the Falls

Victoria Falls

We had a phenomenal guide who taught us so much and in addition to brining the history of the falls to life identified birds we saw and heard and trees and plants we came upon. Fantastic!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Activities on the Zambezi Queen

Chobe

Highly recommend this unique experience with so much opportunity to view wildlife, animals, birds. Amazingly hospitable and knowledgea ble staff. Great food too!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Game drive in Chobe

Chobe

Amazing experience with Six as our guide! We saw so much more than expected. Lions, giraffes, kudu and much more. Would love to do again.

Quality of Experience

Our driver guide Six was fantastic!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We recently returned from an unforgettable trip to Romania, and working with Irenne through KimKim made the entire experience seamless and stress-free.

As travelers coming from the United States, we were hesitant about renting a car and driving in a foreign country. Since KimKim had done such an excellent job planning our trip to Norway last year, I reached out again to see if they could help arrange a driver for Romania. I provided Irenne with a rough itinerary, and she took care of every detail. Her communication was outstanding from the planning stages through the end of our trip, and she was always available whenever we had questions.

Our driver and guide, Alin, met us at the airport right on time and accompanied us throughout our journey. We spent our first night in Bucharest, exploring the charming Old Town at our own pace. The next day, we visited Peles Castle and Bran Castle before spending the evening in Brasov. With Alin driving, we were able to rest in the car, check our phones, sleep, etc. He was also a great driver, didn't speed or drive rough, or play loud music.

Alin was exceptional. He never rushed us, encouraged us to take our time at each stop, and even became our family photographer, capturing some truly beautiful photos. His knowledge of Romanian history was impressive, and he shared fascinating insights throughout the trip.

On the third day, we stopped at the Sighisoara Citadel on our way to Sibiu. After arriving, we spent a relaxing evening exploring the city and recharging after several busy days of sightseeing.

One of the highlights of the trip came on Day 4, when my wife expressed interest in visiting Corvin Castle. Alin was incredibly accommodating and adjusted our itinerary, replacing the Astra Museum visit with Corvin Castle at no additional cost. It turned out to be a fantastic decision, as we felt Corvin Castle was the most beautiful castle we visited in Romania.

Day 5 was perhaps the most memorable of all. We drove from Sibiu back to Bucharest via the spectacular Transfagarasan Road. The scenery was breathtaking, and we frequently stopped to take photos of the mountains, lakes, snow-covered landscapes, and even bears. Alin was patient throughout the day, and we never felt hurried. It was the perfect way to conclude our Romanian adventure.

We arrived back in Bucharest in the late afternoon, giving us enough time to enjoy one final dinner in the city before heading to the airport the following morning.

Looking back, I am extremely grateful that we chose KimKim and hired a driver. Romania is a beautiful country, but the distances between destinations can be significant, and driving can be challenging. Having Alin behind the wheel allowed us to relax, enjoy the scenery, take naps during longer drives, and arrive at each destination refreshed.

I highly recommend Irenne and KimKim to anyone planning a trip to Romania. Their professionalism, attention to detail, and commitment to creating a memorable experience made this one of the best family vacations we've ever taken.

We had an amazing time. All of our excursions were great. We did a Lava Cave experience and our guide was great! The Ice Cave experience was so cool and our guide was really fun and even gave us information about movies filmed in certain parts of Iceland. Our favorite activity was the Zodiac boat tour at Glacier Lagoon. We visited the Blue Lagoon and Laugaras Lagoon. The Laugaras Lagoon was by far our favorite of the two. Gudmundur our specialist was quick to answer our questions and help with anything we needed. His planning of our trip and knowledge of Iceland were top notch. We loved everything we did and saw.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Vík í Mýrdal

Vík

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hótel Grímsborgir by Keahotels

Ásborgir

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hótel Búðir

Búðir

Amazing location!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Apótek Hótel by Keahotels

Reykjavík

Great hotel and location!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Center Hotel Arnarhvoll

Reykjavík

We were disappointed in the hotel. The staff was friendly and we were greeted with sweet treats in our room upon arrival. That was the positive. Unfortunately, the rooms were not up to par. It was shown/advertised as a 4 star hotel and the rooms did not meet this standard. We had 2 rooms for one night. The bathrooms in both rooms were very tiny and awkwardly layed out. The shower in our children’s room was so small and the shower cleaner brush was left in the shower. Water leaked out from the shower as well. Our shower in the queen room was an oddly shaped tub shower and hard to get into. The queen room had cracks in the ceiling and seemed not well maintained. Walls and doors needed paint.

Authenticity & Character

Spa was nice.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Glacier Ice Cave Experience

Iceland

Quality of Experience

I

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Víðgelmir Lava Cave Experience

Iceland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon by Zodiac Boat

Iceland

Once in a lifetime experience. Great guide!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Emilie was the best! She listened to what we were and were not interested in doing during our 13 day Switzerland adventure! She picked wonderful hotels in each city/town we visited, each conveniently located near a train station. She set up all of our daily activities and gave us great recommendations for things to see/do on our free days. Emilie also recommended that we download the SBB Mobile App to easily navigate the train schedules. Having that plus the KimKim App made the whole trip run smoothly! We thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Switzerland and will recommend Emilie and KimKim to all of our friends and family!

We had a great time in Costa Rica. The trip was worry-free and well planned. We went on the mountain hike and loved it. Our guide, Oliver, was wonderful. He was knowledgeable and made it fun for us older folks. The river adventure was awesome as well. Our guide, Henry, was great. The food was amazing and the people were so friendly. Three Monkeys were always early to take us on the next adventure. Our drivers were friendly and kept us informed of where were and where we were going. We hope to return to Costa Rica in the future and will use Serendipity again. Thank you for a wonderful trip.

I will start with what went well or very well.
- Hotel in Stockholm was excellent in an excellent location.
- The Wildlife Safari was a disaster. The guide, I think his name was Daniel, smelled so bad it was nauseating. The trip was not as advertised. The van was not comfortable and it was dirty -- so dirty I could not see out of the windshield and we were supposed to be looking out the window to spot wildlife. It included one hike up a fairly steep hill with NO PATH. It was extremely difficult and I would never done that trip if I had known. I would never recommend this trip.
- Guided Tour in Stockholm was great with an excellent guide, Adam.
- Pre-arranged transportation in Stockholm from hotel to airport worked well.
- Helsinki & Suomenlina Tour was good with an excellent guide, Danielle.
- Guided Tour to Porvoo was good with an excellent guide.
- Pre-arranged cab in Rovaniemi worked well.

Here is what was not so great.
- The Hotel Reisen in Stockholm was not within walking distance of where the ship left us off. We were easily able to get a cab but it would have been helpful to know that in advance.
- Loyly Sauna was not a great place. We went for a drink but did not stay for dinner.
- Turku was very disappointing. Not much to see or do there. We took the train, walked around from the Cathedral to the Tower (which was a pretty long walk), stopped at a cute place for a drink but not much was open. I would not recommend going all that way.
- Rovaniemi was not a good choice in the summer. Most everything including most restaurants in town were closed. Our hotel was fine but the BAR and restaurant were closed. We got off the 9 hour train ride to check in and have a drink but we could not. At the point, we did find one restaurant in town that was open and pretty good. Sitting at our table, we began the process of trying to fly home earlier than we anticipated. That night our hotel room was so hot. There were only a couple of guests at the hotel and no manager on the property. He had given us his What's App contact and I contacted him to ask how to make the room cooler. He did not respond until we had left the next day at noon.

I think that is it.

Hotel Reviews

Nova Skyland Hotel

Rovaniemi

Pleasant room. Bar and restaurant were closed. And room was way too hot with no ability to make it cooler. Not a great place in the summer.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Way too hot

Hotel Lilla Roberts

Helsinki

Nice hotel. Good lobby. Pretty good location. Room was a bit overdone.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hôtel Reisen in The Unbound Collection by Hyatt

Stockholm

Really great location. Nice hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right at the edge of the old town.

Staff

Our room was not available when we got there. We walked around for quite a while and then went back to the hotel for a drink in the lobby until the room was ready. One women at reception charged my phone for me.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Wildlife Safari

Stockholm

Horrible experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walking Tour Stockholm (private)

Stockholm

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guided Tour to Porvoo

Helsinki

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Helsinki and Suomenlinna

Helsinki

Good trip. Guide was great.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Overall, it was amazing. Only two minor hiccups which could have been prevented with more proactive communication. However, they were handled quickly and only slightly inconvenienced me. Loved the path of the gods hike; however, having everyone in the group introduce themselves first and maybe answer an icebreaker question or two would go a long way in making the tour more enjoyable. Our group was quiet and we jumped into the hike with no introductions. Of note, all of the tours could be better improved with intros and icebreakers so the group can more easily get to know each other and relax. My favorite day was the day trip through Tuscany (Siena, San Gimigiano). Our guide, Giacomo, made the experience unbelievable. He was so knowledgeable about the area, Italian food, and Italian wine. It was a long day but worth it. Metro in Rome was easy to navigate. No problems with either train transfer. Well worth what I paid for the trip.

When we first considered using Kimkim to plan our family's trip to Japan, I was honestly a little reluctant.

As someone who typically plans complex travel myself, I wasn't sure if anyone could truly understand what we were looking for. We wanted luxury, but not just luxury. We wanted authenticity. We wanted Michelin-level food experiences alongside tiny local restaurants. We wanted our children (ages 10 and 13) to experience the real Japan, not simply move from tourist attraction to tourist attraction. Most importantly, we wanted a trip that would bring our family closer together.

Then we met Bella.

From our very first conversation, Bella was remarkable.

Over the course of months, we probably sent her hundreds of questions, requests, revisions, restaurant ideas, hotel changes, flight updates, and random thoughts. Not once did she make us feel like a burden. In fact, she embraced the process. Every request was met with enthusiasm, thoughtfulness, and genuine care.

What impressed me most was her willingness to adapt. We changed hotels. We added destinations, removed destinations, swapped experiences, changed flights, debated Disney, baseball games, restaurants, and transportation. Bella never missed a beat.

She helped us create exactly the trip we wanted.

And then the trip began.

What followed exceeded every expectation.

The guides Bella selected were exceptional.

Mr. Hajime in Tokyo was fantastic. Knowledgeable, personable, flexible, and passionate about sharing Japan beyond the guidebook. He understood immediately that we loved local culture and hidden gems. Some of our favorite moments came from spontaneous recommendations and side streets we never would have discovered on our own.

Mr. Hiroyuki in Hakone helped us experience a completely different side of Japan. The pace slowed, the scenery changed, and we were able to enjoy one of the most relaxing parts of our journey.

Ms. Ursula in Kyoto and Osaka was equally outstanding. Warm, insightful, and incredibly knowledgeable, she helped bring centuries of Japanese history and culture to life while also making everything accessible and enjoyable for our children.

The drivers were equally impressive.

Every transfer was seamless. Every pickup was on time. Whether we were moving between hotels, stations, or destinations, the logistics simply disappeared into the background—which is exactly how great travel should feel.

One of the things I appreciated most was that the trip never felt rigid.

We had structure when we needed it and flexibility when we wanted it.

Bella listened when we said we preferred local neighborhoods over crowded tourist zones. We explored areas where locals actually live, shop, and eat. We wandered hidden streets in Tokyo, discovered incredible food, and experienced moments that felt authentic rather than manufactured.

The food was extraordinary.

We enjoyed everything from world-class omakase and Tempura Kondo to local ramen shops, yakiniku, Kobe beef in Kyoto, and countless memorable meals in between. Bella understood that we were food-focused travelers and helped us build a dining experience that balanced celebrated restaurants with places we likely never would have found ourselves.

Hakone was magical.

Our stay at Gen Hakone Gora was one of the highlights of the trip. The onsen experience, the kaiseki dinners, the tranquility, and the incredible hospitality created memories our family will never forget.

And then there was the family aspect.

As I write this, we're sitting in the Delta Lounge preparing to fly home.

The thing we're talking about isn't DisneySea. It isn't the Michelin restaurants. It isn't the luxury hotels.

It's how much time we spent together.

This trip gave us something that becomes increasingly difficult to find in everyday life: uninterrupted family time.

We laughed together, explored together, got lost together, discovered new foods together, and experienced an entirely different culture together.

Our children leave with a genuine appreciation for Japan.

My wife and I leave with memories that will last forever.

And our family leaves closer than when we arrived.

That's the true measure of a great trip.

Japan itself is an extraordinary destination, but Bella and her team transformed it from a vacation into a family experience we'll be talking about for decades.

If you're considering Japan and wondering whether to trust Bella and Kimkim, my advice is simple:

Do it.

Trust the process.

Share what matters to you.

Bella will listen.

And if your experience is anything like ours, you'll come home wondering when you can return.

Bella, thank you for your patience, your professionalism, your attention to detail, and most importantly, your genuine care for our family.

You helped create memories that we will cherish for the rest of our lives.

It was so great to work with Alicia. She was so helpful and very responsive! I recommend doing a lot of your own research too so you can feel confident adjusting your plan if needed. I also recommend training ahead of time if you plan on hiking a lot. The elevation is a bear! 10 days was a great amount of time for our trip but would have loved maybe 2 more days. We rented a 4x4 and explored the golden circle and down to the south.
This was the greatest trip of my 50 years!

My extended family just returned from a 7-day trip to Iceland that was organized by Emanuela Grieco at Arctic Travel Designer (through KimKim). We had a FANTASTIC time. I can't speak highly enough about Emanuela and her incredible work putting together our itinerary. She is awesome!

We were a group of 10 people ranging from ages 13 to 80, so it wasn't easy finding the right mix of things to do and the right pace to do them at. But Emanuela handled it all while answering our endless questions with incredible patience and great insight. Among other things, we had a fantastic food tour in Reykjavik, a wonderful trip through the Golden Circle sights along the south coast, and an incredible trip to Sky Lagoon. We especially loved snowmobiling on a glacier and going on a Zodiac boat tour at Glacier Lagoon.

If you are thinking about traveling to Iceland, get in touch with Emanuela. She is a total gem and will not steer you wrong. (She hooked us up with Siggy at Iceland Everywhere Tours to take our family around via luxury bus for the week. I'd highly recommend him as well. You can find him at www.icelandeverywhere.is.)

Thank you, Emanuela!

Alan S.
Washington, D.C.

We were so grateful to have found Kimkim when we were planning a trip to celebrate our 10-year wedding anniversary! Coraima was very responsive to our messages and helped us modify our itinerary MANY times until it was just what we wanted. We especially enjoyed our guided tours of the Royal Palace and the Prado, though our day trip to Toledo and the paella cooking class were highlights of the trip. All the guides were so knowledgeable and friendly! We also adored our wine tasting day in La Rioja—truly such a gorgeous and enjoyable day. This trip was so special and it was nice to have so many of the details taken care of by Coraima and the Kimkim team. Our hotels in Madrid and Logroño were just right and located perfectly for our daily wanderings. The train from Madrid to Logroño was so convenient, as was the new app to keep track of our itinerary and bookings. The next time we travel, we will definitely use Kimkim again!

Hotel Reviews

Sercotel Calle Mayor (Logroño)

Logroño

This hotel was conveniently located and had great breakfast. The hotel is a bit impersonal and the beds were a little hard, but the rooms were spacious and quiet.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very centrally located in old town Logroño

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room Mate Alba

Madrid

The hotel was conveniently located, the staff were all so friendly and helpful, and the beds were SO comfortable!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Conventionally located in El Centro

Staff

They were all amazing and friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Spend a Sunday like a local: Exploring El Rastro Market in Madrid

Madrid

El Rastro is clearly a big part of Madrid’s weekly culture, but we were hoping to find more handmade items rather than the cheaply made items designed for tourists most stalls sold. It was still a pretty enjoyable experience though.

Quality of Experience

Short Prado Museum Visit with Skip-the-Line Ticket

Madrid

Our guide was clearly very knowledgeable about art history and made her tour so engaging! The Prado is huge, so getting a snapshot of some of the most important works and art movements was so helpful—plus you can continue to wander the museum after the tour ends.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Self-Guided Walk around the Historic Center

Madrid

This activity was a nice way to kick off our trip and let us familiarize ourselves with Madrid and go at our own pace. It would have been nice to have more information about the background and history of the places we visited though—we ended up Googling this information because we love history and were so curious. An embedded map of all the locations would have been helpful too, though it was easy enough to navigate with Google Maps.

Quality of Experience

Bianca planned a 10 day itinerary for me. We started in Johannesburg and visited the Apartheid Museum and Soweto. Our guide in Joburg was Tefo and he was excellent. We had lunch in Soweto and got to experience the vibrant cultures of Johannesburg. Tefo was knowledgeable, warm and kind. We then flew to Hoedspruit for a 3 day safari at the Kusudelwani Safari Lodge. This part of the itinerary really exceeded our expectations. Kusudelwani is the perfect combination of safari and relaxing vacation. The staff and the accommodations delighted us and the safari experience was a bonus as we saw 4 of the Big 5. I highly recommend the Panorama Tour while you are there. We finished our itinerary in Cape Town where our guide Mansur showed us all Cape Town had to offer over a 4 day period. Mansur was knowledgeable about the Cape and its history. Our favorites while in Cape Town include The Wine Tours, Table Top Mountain, and our visit to see the African Penguins. We couldn't have planned this trip on our own. We are happy with the trip and felt like we got more than our money's worth.

we traveled from may 24th 2026 to June 6th 2026 to Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda. Melvin team is amazing as we have welcome call 1 month before with us and they are helpful in getting visa and working thru all details. Guides in each country -Norman ( Kenya) , Simba and Kaku ( Tanzania) and Nelson ( Rwanda) are very friendly, professional and caring. trip was amazing memorable and without any hick ups. Thank you whole team ( Caroline, redo and Irene). Thank you thank you for providing amazing experience.

Hotel Reviews

Tiloreza Volcanoes Ecolodge

Musanze

very friendly service, feels like home, they wash your shoes after you come back from trekking, food was amazing, they did bon fire at our request just for us that was very kind .

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fairview Hotel, Nairobi

Nairobi

they have restaurant 24 hours and they serve hot food anytime. location was very peaceful, convinent, safe and rooms are cleaned and comfortable. Staff was amazing

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Coffee Tour in Ngorongoro

Ngorongoro

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Exceptional Service from Paul at KimKim Travel — A Truly First-Class Experience

As seasoned and discerning travelers, our expectations are high, and Paul at KimKim Travel exceeded them in every way. From the beginning, his communication was outstanding—prompt, consistent, and incredibly thorough. He anticipated needs before we even had to ask, including arranging a flight upgrade and providing detailed information to help us pack and prepare for three very different microclimates: Quito, Mashpi Lodge, and the Galápagos Islands.

Upon arrival to the Quito Airport, everything was seamless. Tony Sotomayor met us at the airport and orchestrated a flawless transition with luggage, customs, security, and access to the VIP Sala Lounge before our adventure began. Traveling with children can be challenging, but Paul thoughtfully arranged a private naturalist guide who met us at the Baltra airport and made the experience both effortless and enriching for our family.

The Galápagos portion aboard the Elite was nothing short of extraordinary. The crew was exceptionally accommodating to families with children and operated on our pace. Special recognition goes to Captain Marcelo for getting us safely to every destination, Roberto for delivering a true luxury experience as cruise director, Chef Angel and Bartender Romulo for keeping us wonderfully fed and refreshed, David for capturing incredible GoPro memories, Andreas for kayaking with our daughter Brynn, and of course our naturalist guide, Matthias the Magnificent, whose passion and expertise ensured we experienced every wildlife encounter the islands had to offer.

This journey was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience—not only because of the incredible destinations and wildlife, but because of the remarkable people who made us feel at home every step of the way. We are forever grateful to Paul and the entire KimKim team for crafting such a seamless and unforgettable adventure.

Warmest regards,
Dr. Timothy, Joy & Brynn Davis

Bear in mind that the airfares were paid and the Kimkim deposit paid before the US and Israel decided to bomb Iran, so the entire trip was will we/won’t we with our flights travelling from Australia through Dubai. Bas, however, accommodated us every inch of the way with our concerns. Luckily threats around our travel dates never eventuated.

I, and an old university friend, flew into Paris CDG and caught trains into Brussels. Three nights in Brussels, starting with a very instructive tour guided by Lieven and culminating in a sampling of the famous Belgian beer. The last day took us via an extensive voyage through the Brussels metro to the overrated Atomium.

Onto Ghent and guided by the excellent Christine, we stayed near the main square in the Ghent River Hotel. A visit to the Castle of the Counts was eventful. Well worth it, as was the included river cruise around the city. One day was taken with a day trip to Bruges, but unfortunately electric overhead wire problems delayed us substantially, and we did make it in time for a canal cruise viewing the highlights of the medieval architecture. A visit to the Historium, a video re-enactment of the time of Rubens was interesting, and followed by a cooling beverage.

We next caught the train to Antwerp where we had two great guides, Jorinde and Nina. Jorinde took us around the historic areas, Nina the food areas. We visited an early printing house, the Plantin-Moretus Museum, which was run for centuries by the Plantin family. Antwerp is a major river port and the river Scheldt is much bigger here than in Ghent. We also visited the MAS museum. Interesting building!

Over to the Netherlands and Rotterdam, one of the biggest ports in Europe, and very heavily bombed during WW2. We did a cruise around the port and it is massive…much bigger than Sydney Harbour. The weather burst here after 7 or 8 days of 30 degrees (86F) and we got quite damp. We also visited the Markthall, a big indoor market, and the Cubic Houses. The next day was a trip to Kinderdijk where there remain a dozen or so working windmills, with their original purpose of pumping water upwards to the river system. Well worth it.

Amsterdam next where we had our first mishap in communications in meeting the tour guide. A quick Whatsapp call rectified the issue but we had a shortened, but quality, trip around the city with Jan. We met 45 minutes overdue, and were restricted by the next appointment. A visit to a canal-side mansion, the Van Loon House, followed. Next day, we had the visits to the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum, two of the world’s great art museums showing the works of Rembrandt (among others) and Vincent Van Gogh. The must-do two-hour canal cruise split the two visits. The hotel was an interesting one in the Halles district, an old tram workshop. There was a food hall covering many cuisines.

Onto a rainy Utrecht where we stayed in a boutique hotel alongside the city canal. One quibble would be whether this hotel was appropriate for 70-plus year-olds lugging heavy luggage up two flights of a spiral staircase with no lift. But with an unbooked tour round the church, the rains came again and I, personally, decided that 465-step towers, both the climbing and the height, were no longer part of my bucket list. My friend ventured up. The next day, we walked to a 100-year-old house, the Rietveld-Schröder house which was built to be adaptable and utilitarian in every way. An interesting walk through the Utrecht neighbourhoods.

The next day, we travelled to Eindhoven, the home of the Philips electrical goods company which dominates the city. All of our activities thenceforth were with friends from the area and we visited the site of the Battle of Arnhem, Operation Market Garden, “A Bridge Too Far” from the later days of WW2. And a more localised Van Gogh museum from his home area of Nuenen.

Even though we’re not really connoisseurs of haute cuisine, we did enjoy most suggestions that Bas made. The hotels ranged from quite modern (Amsterdam and Eindoven) to more boutique. The appointed guides were all very good, and the provision of the Chipkaart, which is required for most public transport in the Netherlands, very handy.

Hotel Reviews

Westcord Hotel Eindhoven

Eindhoven

Probably the most modern and comfortable hotel. Close to the station, shopping and restaurants. We did have a mild hiccup with the booking in that the hotel weren't aware of our booking, but after calling the agents, was resolved very quickly. Excellent breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

It's very modern, probably on the site of an old Philips building.

Location

So close to everything.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Boutique Hotel Museumkwartier

Utrecht

Quaint is the word. no facilities downstairs eg breakfast. No lift, and two storeys of narrow spiral staircase. Good location on the canal though.

Authenticity & Character

it's old-fashioned but the lack of a lift takes marks away.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel de Hallen

Amsterdam

Was modern and comfortable but the bathroom setup was a bit below par. No privacy and not enough hanging space for extra towels.

Authenticity & Character

REfurbished tram depot.

Location

A little out of the way but ideally positioned within the Hallen district.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel van Walsum

Rotterdam

Close to the shopping strips. Everything else was good.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Near to bars and main shopping strip.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel FranQ

Antwerp

Close to amenities. Wasn't modern but comfortable enough.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Near to transport.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ghent River Hotel

Ghent

Quality hotel central to the main square.

Authenticity & Character

Location

On the river, but also very close to a major square.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

9Hotel Central

Brussels

Very local to the centre of town and particularly the railway station.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Central to transport.

Staff

Great tips for food.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Rotterdam - harbor boat tour

The Netherlands

We didn't realise the harbour was so massive. Unfortunately the weather did break towards the end, and we got wet.

Quality of Experience

Transport

Amsterdam - Van Gogh Museum

The Netherlands

Another great museum/gallery. We did visit another Van Gogh gallery in Neunen, near his home town. This was not part of the trip, rather with friends in Eindhoven.

Quality of Experience

Amsterdam - Museum van Loon

Amsterdam

The house was nice, particularly the garden. I don't think our trip would have been poorer if we'd skipped this one.

Quality of Experience

Antwerp - Private guided Food Tour (on foot)

The Netherlands

Nina collected us in the town square and introduced us to various food types. The charcuterie (don't know the Flemish word) gave us a good sample of Antwerp delicacies.

Quality of Experience

Food

All of it.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Nina was excellent.

Bruges - Historium

The Netherlands

A little stagey. A video re-enactment of a young man working for Rubens and a model he was asked to collect from, the port.

Quality of Experience

Utrecht - Dom Tower

The Netherlands

I've decided that I'm past the age of being willing to do high towers, both due to my poor fitness and issue with heights. My travelling companion however did all 465 steps and got the photos.

Quality of Experience

Amsterdam - Canal cruise (join in)

The Netherlands

A good, long cruise around the canals.

Quality of Experience

It's essential to do a canal cruise in Amsterdam, indeed in many cities of the Low Countries.

Amsterdam - Private guided historic city walk

The Netherlands

The problem here was the miscommunication re pick up times. We were told to wait opposite the railway station. The guide, Jan, was told to pick us up at our hotel. So we lost 45 minutes of our two hours. Nevertheless, Jan gave us a good walk through the old town.

Quality of Experience

Communication, although we were able to contact the agency quickly.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Jan was good, Just a pity about the lost time.

Antwerp - MAS (Museum Aan de Stroom)

The Netherlands

Interesting view of the various aspects of Antwerp history, including the war. We did skip some floors which were of no particular interest.

Quality of Experience

Antwerp - Private guided walking tour

The Netherlands

Jorinde showed us all over the main part of town, together with the port region.

Quality of Experience

The history and geography.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ghent - Scenic Boat Tour

The Netherlands

Along the river (Leie), a good view of that part of the city.

Quality of Experience

Ghent - Private guided walking tour

The Netherlands

Excellent walk with Christine. Through the main part of town, with the cathedral (not that I sent in), chocolate merchants and the Castle of the Counts.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

10/10 for Christine.

Brussels - Atomium

The Netherlands

Overrated. Reasonably difficult to get to on the train network.

Quality of Experience

Transport

Brussels - Private guided walking tour

The Netherlands

With Lieven, through the government and museum district, and then into the central part of Brussels. Finishing with a convivial introduction to Belgian beers.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Amsterdam - Rijksmuseum

The Netherlands

One of the great masters of European painting. The Night Watch is currently being restored, iun full view, and the reproduction is on display.

Quality of Experience

Rotterdam - Kinderdijk windmills by water shuttle

The Netherlands

Interesting insight into the use of windmills in raising water levels, rather than in milling grains.

Quality of Experience

Transport

Getting there by water.

Antwerp - Museum Plantin-Moretus

The Netherlands

Very interesting insight into the history of printing in Western Europe. Printers from Antwerp went with Caxton to set up printing in England, then prettyy much the only country in the English-speaking world and able to influence English spelling.

Quality of Experience

Ghent - Day trip to Bruges

Ghent

This was a little less than expected due to problems in the railway system. Trains through Gent-Dompaart were out of action due to problems with the overhead wiring. We had to take other methods to get to Gent-St Pieters and then to Brugge. It was a very warm day as well.

Quality of Experience

Transport

Bad luck with the network.

Explore Ghent with a CityCard

The Netherlands

Excellent value. We jumped a large queue to enter the Cstle of the Counts.

Quality of Experience

Brussels card 48h

The Netherlands

We didn't really get full use of this.

Quality of Experience

Unimpressed with the ways to get to the Atomium.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Lieven was excellent and information, and good value for the post-tour sampling of Belgian beers.

Transport

Our family just returned from the most magical and unforgettable trip to Croatia, and we owe it all to Nikola and the incredible team he set up for us through Kimkim.

Nikola planned the perfect itinerary for my 50th birthday, taking us from Zagreb to Zadar, the breathtaking Plitvice Lakes and Krka National Park, Split, Hvar, and finally Dubrovnik. Every destination was more beautiful than the last. Croatia is now my favorite country, and we genuinely did not want our vacation to end.

From the very beginning, Nikola was exceptional. He was always available to answer questions, whether by email or phone, and his communication throughout the entire process was outstanding. He was patient, kind, knowledgeable, and genuinely invested in making our trip special.

The Kimkim app made everything seamless. Having our daily itineraries at our fingertips and receiving Nikola’s nightly check-ins gave us so much peace of mind. Every tour guide and driver we met was friendly, professional, and incredibly helpful.

What made this experience so special was having a local expert who truly knows and loves their country. Nikola’s recommendations, attention to detail, and personal touch transformed our vacation into a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

I cannot say enough wonderful things about Nikola. We are so grateful for all the care and effort he put into planning this trip. If you’re considering a trip to Croatia—or anywhere Kimkim operates—I wholeheartedly recommend working with him.

Thank you, Nikola, for creating memories our family will cherish forever.

Our trip was great. The itinerary was perfect. And Rachel did a good job helping us customize it for our needs. The only items should be pointed out are two of the links in the app directed us to the wrong place for tours. One was the food tour in Kinsale and the other was the boat tour of the cliffs of Moher.

Hotel Review

Cliff House Hotel

Ardmore

Location

Activity Reviews

Celtic Nights Music and Dance Show - with dinner optional

Ireland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Caherconnell Fort & Sheepdog Demonstrations - Private

Ireland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Kinsale Private Walking Food Tour

Ireland

Awesome guide

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff