Kimkim Trip Reviews

The highlight of the trip is witnessing the Sagsai Golden Eagle Festival in the Ölgii province. Watching the Kazakh eagle hunters and the magnificent eagles was a mesmerizing spectacle. The guide's local connections allowed our group to interact closely with the hunter and family. Riding horses through Terelj National Park was great fun. The Terelj National Park was relaxing with wonderful Ger camp accommodations. At Khustai National Park, we learned about the reintroduction wild horse, conservation efforts, and seeing wild horses in the mountains was highly memorable.

Lea and Erica planned the most amazing trip for us!!! It was absolutely perfect in so many ways!! The tours and excursions really gave us the highlights in the time we had to work with on each island. Frenie was so great on our Acropolis tour in Athens, Pako was so much fun on our Chora tour in Mykonos and Michail was a joy on our tour Milos! Even the drivers who took
Us too and from the airports and ferry ports were so friendly and kind!! Each island was beautiful and unique and KimKim really exceeded our expectations!! Thank you again!!!

Alex Maria Nick Coraima and Lea have all been superb with constant communication and attention to detail. I thank you all so very much for helping to make my first trip to Europe and Norway so amazing! We enjoyed every activity and the flights/hotels were all convenient.

In a word... Magical. Croatia is simply stunning... the landscape, the seascape, the people, the history and the food create a location that is a bucket-list must. We had never been there, so the thought of doing all the research and putting together a trip was daunting. That's where Sarah and Ivan come in. The developed a perfect itinerary, covered all the details and lined us up with guides, drivers and lodging that never missed. When bad weather caused one outing to be cancelled, a quick text to them resulted in a new outing within 20 minutes that turned out to be one of the great memories of our trip. Having them tracking with us during the whole time made this a zero-stress trip of a lifetime!

Robert our guide in Montreal was adequate. Friendly and knowledgeable but lacking in historical references. On the other hand our guide in Quebec Terry or Thierry was exceptional. He shared a lot of his historical knowledge and willingly spent more time with us and answered all our questions. Both cities were fantastic! People were friendly and helpful. Great restaurants, shopping. Not enough time for the museums. Art galleries were fun. Cobble stone streets were tough on my knees. Loved the Aura illuminati performance at Notre Dame. The train ride between cities was organized and relaxing although we almost missed our train to Quebec which wasn’t far from our lodging and the taxi driver didn’t speak English. But we made it with 3 mins to spare! Ryan did a great job along with Sarita and AI in coordinating the trip. It was all a wonderful vacation! Thanks Kimkin

My husband and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary with a trip to Italy. The trip was arranged through Kimkim with Paraskevas as our travel specialist. It was a wonderful experience with stays in Bologna, Siena and Greve in Chianti. We flew into and out of Rome. Our accommodations along the way were very nice and located will so we could travel on foot to see many local sites. Casa Bertagni in Bologna was a wonderful B&B - very classy place to stay with attention paid to details. The breakfast was wonderful as well. The Residenza d'Epoca Palazzo Borghesi provided a wonderful view of Siena as well as breakfast on our balcony served by very kind staff. Our last 2 days were at Peitra del Cabreo. This was an amazing place to stay at the end of our visit. The location was beautiful, peaceful and had wonderful staff. We had a cooking class with Lucca and then were able to have our class food served to us for dinner. It was an amazing way to end our stay in Italy.
Since my husband and I did not wish to drive, Paraskevas made arrangements for several train rides and limo services. Our itinerary was carefully detailed with locations, times, driver names and train tickets attached when needed. The limo drivers who assisted us were always professional and very helpful. They made every transfer go smoothly.
Our days were busy with local guide tours, food tours and day trips to wineries, beautiful Tuscany towns, and a Parma tour that included Parmigiano, prosciutto and balsamico. Every day had a fun adventure.
We also appreciated having the Traveler Care Team available. It was reassuring to know there was a team to assist us if needed.
It was a wonderful way to celebrate our anniversary! We have wonderful memories and pictures of our trip. Our thanks to Paraskevas and the team to helped to make our trip happen.

My wife and I both celebrated significant birthdays this year, so we decided to take a trip to Ireland to commemorate the occasion, and to look for some of our Irish roots. We enjoyed a wonderful trip through Eastern and Southern Ireland, arranged by Claire at KimKim. She took careful note of what we wanted to do, the kind of experiences we were interested in, and constructed an itinerary that combined sightseeing and just traveling through our chosen section of Ireland. She also arranged a session for us in Dublin with an amazing genealogist who was enormously helpful. As much as we enjoyed Dublin and Waterford, I think our favorite times were poking around little towns, and finding small pubs and cafes that were not in any guidebooks. Since a big part of the reason we were there was to research family connections, one day we improvised and detoured from a scheduled stop in Cork City, because we only had a few hours available to us, and detoured to the nearby town of Cobh, where my wife's great grandfather had emigrated from in 1878. We felt OK about doing that because Claire had encouraged us to improvise along our trip, and as a result we got a much better sense of the massive disruptions occurring in Irish society as a result of so many people leaving Ireland looking for better futures. We had another unplanned schedule change when our rental car developed a problem with a sensor and we had to get it addressed. The rental car company chosen by Claire and her firm was very responsive, found us a nearby garage to look at our issue, and got us back on the road . That delay cost us a visit to a castle, but car stuff can happen anywhere. In this case the support was there and and it was a minor inconvenience instead of a major headache. All in all, we felt very well taken care of, and we would not hesitate to recommend KimKim to our friends.

Hotel Reviews

Dooley's Hotel

Waterford

Locally owned and run hotel that has clearly had a lot of care and attention. Very good facilities, conveniently located, and attractive dining and imbibing options. It looks as though a significant portion of the hotel's business comes from tour buses overnighting in Waterford. That was the aspect of the hotel that was less appealing to us. In the bar and restaurant we heard more American accents than Irish. The staff we came in contact with were almost all from countries other than Ireland. Make no mistake, they did a fine job, and were very accommodating. We simply prefer more local flavor.

Location

On the main street, near the Viking Triangle.

Staff

Pleasant, readily responded to queations.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Meticulously maintained.

Stauntons on the Green

Dublin

Really lovely, gracious hotel. The room was elegant, and the breakfast area was equally nicely appointed. We were on the second floor (3rd to Americans), and the absence of a lift made getting our luggage upstairs a bit of a challenge, but that was the only thing that was less than ideal.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right across the street from St. Stephens Green

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Butler Townhouse Kilkenny

We really enjoyed our stay at the Butler Townhouse in Kilkenny. Our lower level room was spacious and beautifully appointed. We had our own private access to the property's beautiful gardens, which in turn provided a shortcut to Kilkenny Castle. The staff was very friendly and went out of their way to be helpful. The breakfast there was provided in a gracious dining room, was made to order, and a touch we especially liked, was our own two tiered tray of breads and pastries. It was wonderfully indulgent.

Authenticity & Character

Beautifully appointed, gracious throughout.

Location

Just up the street from the castle and very near the center of town.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Guided edible Seaweed beach walk

Ireland

This was a fun day. When we got to Tramore, where we met Neil, our guide, it was raining, very blustery, and quite chilly. Before our tour was done that rain has stopped, the wind had died down, and the sun was coming out. Neil was a great teacher, very interesting, and clearly passionate about helping guests learn about the ways the Irish traditionally and today, get sustenance from the plants and sea life that show up with the tides. He is a very well educated and read person, with a keen interest in helping retain this traditional knowledge. It was a great tour.

Quality of Experience

Neil is an exceptional teacher who clearly loves his topic and is eager to share his knowledge.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

See above.

Hoa was an amazing travel specialist. I had to particularly rely upon her expertise for this trip, because it was my first-ever visit to Southeast Asia. I was definitely out of my element.

The trip required extensive planning due to the number of cities and countries involved. Logistics were formidable.

Nonetheless, Hoa seamlessly brought it all together with professionalism, positivity and patience. I LOVED the itinerary she created for me - the specific locales, the accommodations, the activities. I can’t thank her enough. I would have her plan all my trips if possible.

Hotel Reviews

The Tubkaak Krabi Boutique Resort

Krabi

What a way to end my trip! Loved, loved it here. Would move in if I could. Beach is amazing. Sunset to die for. Service and food tremendous. After being in Asia for 5 weeks, was nice to have Italian restaurant on site.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Na Nirand Romantic Boutique Resort

A lovely oasis. You feel serene from the moment you enter. Awesome staff and service. Very good food on-site.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Aviary Hotel

Siem Reap

A very cool boutique hotel with lots of charm. Very nice-sized room. Small but great spa. Best massage of my trip was here.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Muse Bangkok, Autograph Collection

Such a cool spot with an incredible vibe. Was only here for a very short time but made a lasting impression. I wish I had purchased the robe in my room!!!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Discover Ao Nang Paradise & Sunset by Private Longtail Boat

Krabi

Wow! This private boat experience was deluxe. I was so well cared for! The crew was just amazing and it was the best way to see the other islands. Food & drink superb.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Elephant Nature Park Half Day Visit (Joining Excursion)

Chiang Mai

Elephants are my favorite animals. So happy to see them being cared for so well here. Great amount of time to walk around and experience them up close. Loved it!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Alms Giving, Doi Suthep and Jungle Temple

Chiang Mai

A truly lovely day with diverse, interesting & exciting activities. I enjoyed them all thoroughly. So honored to participate in the alms giving.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Araksa Tea Experience & Adventure at Sri Lanna National Park

Chiang Mai

Beautiful location. Well set up for agro-tourism. Enjoyed learning about the tea process. Had a blast with my guide climbing the sticky waterfalls at Sri Lanna. She was a delight.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Relaxing Time at Oasis Spa

Thailand

Beautiful spa. Gorgeous, private treatment area. Only issue was slight irritation on face after treatment. I have sensitive skin, but it subsided quickly.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Angkor Complex Discovery

Siem Reap

My favorite guide of the trip. So knowledgeable and passionate about this awesome place. I was a sponge soaking up every thing I could. Can’t recommend enough. Lunch was delicious!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Local Life Village Participation

Siem Reap

Something I never could have experienced on my own. Grateful. Again, just a wonderful cultural and educational activity.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Floating Village by Jeep and Sunset Boat Tour Joining Excursion

Siem Reap

A wonderful cultural and educational experience. So lucky to have done it. So peaceful on the water.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Night Street Food Tour After Dark by Tuk Tuk

Bangkok

Probably my favorite thing I did in Bangkok. City was particularly vibrant on this evening due to impending water festival. The flower markets were amazing! Guide was particularly gracious in choosing food compatible with my palate. Delicious!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Reflection of Siamese Art and Culture

Bangkok

Loved the venue and activities. Smile every time I wear the bracelets I made here.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bangkok Symbolic Temples

Bangkok

A must-do. So impressive.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Railway Market & Floating Market

Bangkok

Intriguing introduction to Bangkok. Juxtaposition of chaotic and peaceful environments. Something for all of the senses.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Violaine quickly put together a wonderful itinerary for a first time visit to Albania and Montenegro. Her knowledge of the countries, the driving conditions, the available accommodations and unique activities was a huge plus. She patiently priced out several options for us to consider and thoughtfully responded to our feedback. Communication was professional, prompt and detailed. We were well-prepared in advance of our departure.

Upon arrival, we were met in-person by Armada who was a great resource throughout our journey. All of our questions were answered in a very timely manner. It was reassuring to know help was always available if need be, including assistance with a parking ticket. When a small and unforeseen issue arose with a local guide, Violaine went out of her way to make things right.

We had an amazing time in no small part due to the detailed preparation, expertise and execution of Violaine and her team. Many thanks.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Ami

Petrovac

Nice location. Close to beach and promenade. Clean, well-appointed rooms. Blackout shades to curb heat very much appreciated. Super helpful staff who translated complex process for paying parking ticket. Certain common areas lacked air conditioning.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Eco Villas Merak & Winery

Virpazar

Quiet, restful, just enough out of the way. Spacious room with nice terrace. Very good breakfast and dinner.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Panorama Kruje

Krujë

Fantastic view from room. Very good food & drinks at on-site restaurant. Staff went above & beyond to create “certificate” to celebrate my sister’s birthday and by providing complimentary room upgrade.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Camp Nivica

A unique experience in the southern mountains. Local staff extremely helpful and attentive. Very good food. Views from rooms outstanding. Special kudos to our hiking guide Mujo who was exceptionally kind and patient when path proved very strenuous for me. Thanks also to Astrid who arranged a gift of local specialities for my sister to celebrate her birthday.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Plaza

Berat

Well-located. Some facilities closed during brief visit. Very helpful staff. Went out of way to help celebrate my sister’s birthday.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Rogner

Tirana

Excellent location. Clean, safe. Well-appointed rooms. Good food and drinks at on-site restaurant. Lovely pool area. Fantastic staff. Went out of way to decorate room as surprise birthday treat for my sister.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Sightseeing tour of Tirana

Tirana

A must-do. So much fascinating history.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hiking in Nivica: exploring Albania’s wild landscapes

Nivica

A must do for fit guests. Ascent was very taxing for me.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boat trip on Skadar Lake - Virpazar

Albania

Stunning landscape best seen from on the water.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Welcome in Tirana

Tirana

Boat trip in Kotor's Bay

Albania

Nice length of time on water. Nice to be able to swim. Beautiful at sunset.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wine tasting in Alpeta Winery

Berat

Amazing setting. Gracious and entertaining host. Great food and drinks.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Switzerland has outstanding scenery, did not realize how many lakes are there. Our favorite locations were Lucerne, Lugano, Zermatt and Grindelwald. Our e-bike tour at St. Moritz was great; Alex was a wonderful guide.

Hotel Reviews

Central Plaza Hotel

Zürich

Good proximity to train station. Room was so small there was no place for luggage. Adjacent construction and road work did not help conditions.

Ameron Luzern Hotel Flora

Luzern

Good location, modern rooms and facility. Need lobby access without steps.

Hotel Spinne Grindelwald

Grindelwald

Showing its age, but the location is excellent. A bit of a maze to reach our room, but a beautiful view of the Eiger.

LUGANODANTE - We like you

Lugano

Tricky to find, rooms are small. Awkward entrance porch. It is convenient to the incline up to the train station. Close enough to the lakefront to make the walk enjoyable.

Art Boutique Hotel Monopol

St. Moritz

Location is central, but access is hard. Wish we had known there was a shuttle available from the station. Reception is up a flight of stairs from the entrance, or you have to know to enter through the lower-level restaurant to access the elevator.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lobby access. Hard to recommend this facility in August, no air conditioning.

Hotel Alpenhof

Zermatt

Amazing view of the Matterhorn from our room. The rooms, the amenities were all first-rate.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mona Montreux Hotel

Montreux

Room was a bit small and cramped, but we enjoyed the balcony. Cannot enter the lobby without pulling luggage up stairs. Getting from the train station to the hotel was arduous with luggage.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lobby access.

Eastwest Hotel

Geneva

Location close to Lake Geneva is nice. No elevator access at street/lobby level. We were stuck in a room with a view of neighbors' laundry.

Authenticity & Character

There is no access to the building without steps, and even more steps to access the elevator.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Chillon Castle (Entrance tickets)

Switzerland

Beautiful castle and well-organized tour.

Swiss Travel Pass

Switzerland

Quality of Experience

Swiss train system is outstanding. Only negative is the process to reserve lunch on the Glacier Express. It should be simple to have a process that acknowledges and confirms a meal reservation/order.

Night Watchman Walk in Lucerne (private tour)

Lucerne

We enjoyed the presentation and the tour. The stories and history were excellent.

Self-guided day to Mount Rigi, the Queen of Mountains

Lucerne

We decided to pivot to Mt. Pilatus instead.

Summer Kayak Tour Lake Brienz

Switzerland

Enjoyed kayaking, but the trip time before and after made the day more of a chore than an adventure.

Jungfraujoch, Top of Europe (tickets and seat reservation)

Switzerland

The only negative was the weather. Worst day of the trip, there was no visibility at the top. The Discovery tour was excellent in the mountain, walking inside the glacier was awesome.

Cruise and Cook - Lugano

Lugano

Loved the location, the experience and the people. They did not speak English and we did not speak Italian, but we made it work. The meal was outstanding, one of our best.

Private hike & picnic (Summer)

St. Moritz

A beautiful bike ride and lunch. Alex is a fascinating person and excellent guide.

Gornergrat panoramic train (return day-ticket & Priority boarding)

Switzerland

Great experience. Priority boarding is a must.

Wine tasting with Swiss Cheese & Charcuterie in Chexbres Lavaux vineyards domain (30min by train from Montreux)

Switzerland

Enjoyed seeing and learning about the barrels. The "tour" and demonstration were completed in a short time. Maybe not the best experience for a party of two. Other, larger groups seemed to get more attention/activities.

Geneva Food Tour

Geneva

A good experience. The best fondue we had on the whole trip. Truly enjoyed Geneva Old Town.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We could not have asked for a more romantic, enjoyable, and stress-free travel experience. Hotel Du Tasso was the highlight of our trip, and the most impressive hotel I have ever stayed at from luxury, location, and staff professionalism. Each of our excursions went off without a hitch and travel between locations could not have been easier. This is my second experience with KimKim and I'll certainly be back for a third.

Hotel Reviews

Rinuccini Relais Hotel

Naples

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel du Tasso

Sorrento

Simply stunning views in an incredible location with the most hospitable, friendly, and accommodating staff I have ever encountered.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Winery Visit & Tasting

Sorrento

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Self-Guided Sorrento Exploration

Sorrento

Quality of Experience

Depart Italy

Italy

Quality of Experience

Evening Cultural Discovery Walk

Sorrento

Excellent however a bit long at nearly 2.5 hours, perhaps would shorten to 1.5 hours.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Italy

Italy

Quality of Experience

Day Trip to Positano & Amalfi by Boat

Sorrento

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Liz and Paula are both so accommodating and built amazing trips to our specific requests. We saw everything we wanted and more. All of our guides were helpful, knowledgeable and fun. The hotels and restaurants were world class. This is our 8th or 9th trip with Kimkim and we are already planning our next.

Hein helped us plan a wonderful adventure through Vietnam. 🇻🇳 she was patient as we added and subtracted events and made changes to the schedule. We were in 4 cities and at each location the drivers and guides showed up and helped with any and everything. We wanna give a really special thanks to one of our guide Kc Cuong. He spend several days with us, telling the history, personal stories, performing magic tricks and lots of jokes. He was very personable, interesting and fun to be around. Anyone would be lucky to have him as a guide. Overall, great trip.

Hotel Reviews

La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa

Hoi An

The hotel is very nice particularly compared other comparable place in Hoi An. It has a bit of a plantation decor and feel.

Authenticity & Character

Nice resort Hawaii kind of feel, with several pools and bikes to ride.

Location

It’s a tad outside of the old city. But you can walk in about 15 min or take a grab. They also have a hotel shuttle, all though hours are limited.

Staff

Staff were very accommodating

Cleanliness & Comfort

We had a problem with our room as it had been raining and the room smelled like humidity. They changed our room and the second was much better.

Orchid Premium Cruise

Being on the bay for a night is extraordinary and worth the effort. The boat is small and only holds room for less than 20 people. If you’re looking for socializing, this is probably not the boat. It would be great to rent the whole thing for a retreat or wedding party.

Authenticity & Character

It is authentically a boat, it’s bit dated and not at all modern in design.

Location

The views and location are extraordinary. I had never seen topography like these islands.

Staff

Staff are very nice. However, they are very task oriented, to a fault. We would be in the middle of lunch and told to hurry up so we could select dinner and they could prepare. They had problems just letting us be on the boat enjoying our time. I think most westerners would say they could relax a bit.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The boat is clean and the rooms are nice. They are just not modern in decor.

Nham Village Resort

I great resort- particularly if you are looking for relaxation and quiet. Nice rooms with great river views.

Authenticity & Character

Authentic spa resort type facility, with restaurant pool and spa.

Location

It’s off the path, but in walking or grab distance of the old city. They also have a shuttle.

Staff

Very helpful and accommodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel is clean and updated

Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi

Hanoi

Amazing piece of history! It’s a throw French themed throw back decor, filled with famous previous famous guest and rich history.

Authenticity & Character

This is authentically the real deal. A historic hotel with bomb shelter and all!

Location

Just at the edge of the old quarter and lake. Easy to walk or grab everywhere.

Staff

Staff are many and attentive

Cleanliness & Comfort

The place is historic and some things are dated. However, it’s clean and nicely kept.

Activity Reviews

Hanoi Highlights & Hidden Gems By Vietnam Army Jeep

Hanoi

Great way to see the city and the nooks and crannies. It might be hot for those that need aircon- but we enjoyed the fresh open air even in the heat.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Make Taste 5 Signature Brews & Coffee Story

Hanoi

We went to a nice neighborhood into the second floor of a shop that also conducts cooking classes. The space was clean, but nothing spectacular.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

As we both reached this year 80, we decided that instead of a big party we will travel to a very special place. Indonesia was the best choice we could do - and it was beyond all our expectations. The trip was planned very well by Marc - we could experience unique historical sites like Borobudur or Pure Besakih, being overwhelmed by the majestic nature like Bromo and to meet wonderful people of Indonesia. We even learned a bit about the excellent Indosian cuisine. Marc was always there for us, patienly dealing with all kind of questions which occured close to our departure (volcano erruptions) and also during the trip. Marc is super!!!
We liked very much our guide in Jawa - Coco - who was most attentive, knowlegable, intelligent and pleasant person. We also liked our driver in Bali - Made - who was gentle, atentive, always precise and an excellent driver.
All our hotels, recommended by Marc were beautiful and on a very high level.
In short - our trip was an absolutely amazing experience and we thank you for making it such.

My husband and I wanted a special trip for our 40th anniversary. That same month, we were going to be in London and I found that on our anniversary weekend, The Highland Games were set for in Pitlochry, Scotland. With that goal in mind, we let Carolyn, and her team, plan our trip. From our personal guide, Donald, in Edinburgh, who made the country’s history, culture and language come alive (he met a Free Church pastor on the way and they immediately switched to Gaelic), to the Highland Games that we could walk to from our hotel, the Blair Atholl Distillery, and the incomparable Island of Skye; we fell in love with Scotland. Our accommodations were not only of the highest quality, but also very Scottish. There was a bottle of Prosecco waiting in our first hotel from our travel group, and other hotels followed in placing desserts and cards in our room to celebrate our anniversary. All our tickets were in a downloadable packet, but we were also presented a zip-up case, in London, with our itinerary and printed tickets and reservations. I never had to worry if my phone battery couldn’t hold up and deliver my tickets, because I had them in my case. Thank you for being so diligent in making our adventure so effortless.

I loved all of the tours and the tour guides. Evita was our guide on our Acropolis Mythology walk. Evita was so companionable and so knowledgeable. it was a treat to be shown around the Acropolis by her. She also pointed us to a fabulous restaurant for lunch which she offered to take us to. We could not have asked for more in a guide. El was our guide other Off the Beaten Path Villages tour. El was a warm and knowledgeable guide who we enjoyed very much. We loved the little villages and spots she took us to. Stephanie was our guide to the Sifnos Villages. She was the perfect guide, checking on the pace and telling us about the residents of the villages and island. I did not even notice the lack of history because I was enchanted by her love of the villages and its residents. She gave us a real feel for Sifnos as it is today. I wouldn’t change a thing about her (maybe just update description). One of our favorite experiences happened with her — an elderly gentleman saw us and brought us out water and then invited us into his home. Stephanie’s affection for the elderly residents was evident in everything she said and did. Just when you think the guides could not get better we meet Evie for our Culture Walk with Food Tasting. Evie was knowledgeable about the food and the history of Naxos. The tour and dinner with Evie was a pure delight. That leaves the private farm experience on Naxos. It was so interesting to tour the farm and the cooking class shared with 8 others was so much fun. The class was led by Soto, an outgoing women with a contagious laugh and warmth. The plate breaking and dancing was the perfect finale.

And on the water….. the private sunset caldera cruise was definitely another highlight. Dimitri and Dimitri (captain and first mate) could not have been better hosts. I don’t have words to describe how wonderful they were. And the views and the swimming were amazing. And the meal cooked up by Dimitri was delicious.
The private sailing cruise took us to beautiful places on a lovely boat. Unfortunately it was a windy and overcast day so we didn’t get to enjoy swimming but you can’t control the weather and it was lovely to be sailing on the Aegean. The captain and his first mate were very gracious and his concern for Howard when he felt ill was so so very kind.
All of the drivers were prompt and very kind. The only issue was the ride in Santorini to the ferry. I think you need to build some time in for traffic in Fira and on the road down to the port. And I guess the ride a few blocks to hotel in Sifnos. The hotel had a golf cart to pick up guests.

We had fun exploring on our own as well. Matt and I did part of the caldera hike (from Oia towards Fira). We hiked for two hours which let us have some of those beautiful views. On Sifnos we rented a car and went to the beach at Faros and had an amazing lunch there. On Naxos we rented a car and went to Halki which is a beautiful village.

As far as hotels the staff at all of the hotels could not have been nicer or more helpful. The breakfast at Sweet Home Hotel was amazing and the location was perfect. The room was a little small but I expect that in cities. Our room at the Sole d’Oro was spacious and very comfortable. It was one level. I had the impression it was on the water but I blame myself for not checking on that. The Sifnos House was our favorite accommodation. Our room was so spacious with a separate living area and small kitchen. It was beautifully decorated and sparkling clean. I loved the spa there. I had the best facial of my life there. It was a great location and breakfast was delicious. Opal Paros was a nice hotel although it was smaller than the other rooms on the islands. The Melidron Hotel room was also nice and spacious.

All in all it was a fabulous trip that has us wanting to return.

I thought the responsiveness of both Amandine and Audrey was just terrific.
Audrey went to extra times and substantial effort to reply during her after hours.

Hotel Reviews

Yndo Hotel

Bordeaux

Good spot! Staff was just terrific.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

They were all very friendly and eager to help

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hôtel & Spa Les Glycines

Les Eyzies

Rooms were just great. The location was great. However, eating at the petit Leon even though it was fabulous was too far to drive at night. Arrangement should be made for guest if a recommended restaurant is at a distance.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Most of the staff was just terrific. One older gentleman in the restaurant was a bit hard to deal with and unpleasant.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Domaine de Rochebois & Spa Nuxe

Vitrac

A little understaffed. Waiters and waitresses in the restaurant were not really trained to be above and beyond. Breakfast was just average. The rooms were just terrific. The terraces outside the room were really nice, but unable to be used because it was too hot. But great rooms. Again you had to eat in the hotel because it wasn’t close to anything. You don’t want to drive in this area at night after drinking wine!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Les Hauts de Loire

Onzain

I would make this a five star if it wasn’t for a few surly members of the staff. But there were some good ones too: a little out of the way. But really a fine hotel. Not overwhelmed by their breakfast. The bistro restaurant next-door was just great. Great staff there. Planning for this hotel should include proper reservations for guests. There’s nothing near it so it’s almost imperative to eat there. We were lucky time or two because even though it was booked, they let us in.

Authenticity & Character

The grounds and the overall facility were spectacular.

Location

Countryside location with lots of wooded areas

Staff

There was one woman that was a little “bitchy“.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Le Square Louvois 4*

Paris

A little out-of-the-way but in a good Paris location. The rooms could be a little bigger. Breakfast was good. I’d stay there again. Good staff!

Authenticity & Character

Not too fancy, but a nice French traveling hotel

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Dinner at Les Hauts de Loire Gastronomic Restaurant

Blois

Good food. Good staff. Could almost be a five star. Some confusion about whether the wine was included or not. It had to be worked out which caused us some degree of difficulty. Audrey saved the day!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

One-Star Michelin Restaurant

France

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Font-de-Gaume cave (Entrance Tickets Included)

France

Very realistic. Terrific experience. Great guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Chaumont-sur-Loire (Entrance Tickets Included)

France

Quality of Experience

Restaurant La Grande Cascade Michelin Star

Paris

Great food and very professional waiters.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Visit of Milandes Castle (Entrance Tickets Included)

France

Quality of Experience

Overall, the trip was great and Hector planned it well. The guides were good, the country was beautiful and we were happy with the itinerary. Below is some feedback to help with future trips:
1. The driver to pick us up at the airport was not on time and not where he was expected to be. After a half-hour of waiting, I called Hector and he responded within 5 minutes, which was good. Hector reached the driver and redirected us to meet him at the Starbucks and the driver arrived there within a few minutes. In total, it delayed us about 45 minutes. More importantly, it made us nervous that we may have problems with other drivers or tour guides being late, but fortunately that didn't happen.
2. The food tour was good, but the guide talked way too much about every detail. However, it was fun with the other couples.
3. The other tour guides, particularly Carlotta and Simon, were very good and we enjoyed those tours very much. Alex was good, just a bit intense (he scolded me for taking pictures while he was talking} Otherwise, he did a good job.
4. There was some confusion as to when we were going to be picked up for the Sintra Tour, since it was scheduled for 8:00am and then changed in the app the day before to 9:30. I would suggest that when that happens, you send an email to confirm the time change, in addition to changing it in the app, because I almost didn't look at it again.
4. It messed up our schedule a little, when our Catamaran trip was moved from 10:00 to 3:30, which prevented us from doing the 7 Hanging Valley hike. We did the other hike instead, and it was good.
5. The emergency number provided didn't answer a few times when I called it.
I did appreciate that your staff's email responses were very good and generally quick, and that Hector didn't mind me calling him in the evening when I needed help. We also appreciated that there was flexibility from the driver regarding the time to pick us up to go from the Algarve to Lisbon. We really did enjoy the planning process and the trip and will recommend Kim Kim to friends. We would use your services again. Thank you for everything.

Hotel Reviews

Costa D'Oiro Ambiance Village

8600-544

The hotel was fine, but it was a longer than preferred walk from our room to the restaurant and reception.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

PortoBay Marquês

Lisbon

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dorma Almada Porto

Porto

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Get to Know Lisbon with a Local

Lisbon

Foodie Experience in Porto

Porto

Portugal - Important Trip Information: Please Review Before Departure

Portugal

Catamaran Boat to Benagil Cave & Carvoeiro Beach

Portugal

Exploring Sintra & Cascais: Palaces, Cliffs & Coastline

Lisbon

Explore Porto’s Hidden Gems with a Local Guide

Porto

We have recently completed the most enjoyable two week vacation in Norway with the gracious assistance of Mathia. He was very attentive to our requests and arranged for hotels and tours that met our wishes completely. Everything was organized and documented exactly as planned, and the hotels, guided tours, and recommendations were superb. We really appreciated Mathia's availability throughout our trip and were comfortable knowing that we could reach out to him if we encountered a problem. Somehow he even managed to provide good weather!
Among the highlights for us, apart from the spectacular natural beauty and unique cities, were the outstanding museums we visited. These included the Ringve and Rockheim Music Museums in Trondheim, the Sunnmore Outdoor Museum in Alesund, and the Norwegian Fjord Centre in Geiranger. Additionally, Christell, John, and Wanda were enthusiastic guides who shared their passion for and knowledge of their respective cities.
The combination of trains, boats, waterfalls, museums and cities was most enriching and enjoyable. It's difficult to say what we loved best about the trip!

Noga and the Kimkim team planned the perfect Iceland vacation for us. We were two couples with a very vague idea of what we wanted to do, other than spending a few days in Reykjavik, and then renting a car and driving the Ring Road.

During our initial call, Noga listened to what we were looking for and then turned our loose ideas into an incredible itinerary. She planned the perfect blend of activities, including visiting an Icelandic horse farm, an off-road buggy adventure, a lava cave tour, a glacial hike, and lunch at a tomato farm (yes, you have to do this!). She also gave us plenty of suggestions for free-form activities, including hiking and visiting (many) waterfalls, historic sites, and charming towns.

Everything worked flawlessly, from hotel check-ins to tour arrangements. And throughout the trip, the Kimkim team was responsive through an app whenever we needed them. They helped when we were worried that we might not make it to a tour and they gave us restaurant recommendations along the way.

The Kimkim team’s hotel recommendations were spot-on; the places we stayed blended comfort, style and convenience (along with good food from the hotel restaurants). We’d asked for something midway between basic and luxury and Kimkim delivered.

They also streamlined the car rental process. When we picked up our car it included a wireless hotspot. We hadn’t even thought to ask about this and it turned out to be very useful. The car was the perfect size for us and our luggage (which seemed to expand over the trip as we visited a few sweater stores).

We couldn't have asked for a better-planned trip. We highly recommend Noga and the Kimkim team!