Kimkim Trip Reviews

Planning: Sharon was great. As we were planning, she was very patient with us as we made modifications to our plans and wishes. She also helped us navigate a couple changes that were required during the trip and made sure we were always aware of what we needed to do.

Tokyo: Blair was an incredible guide. We loved getting a feel for the city and Blair helped us find a couple smaller eateries in addition to doing everything "touristy" we had planned. She also gave us a really good feel for modern Japanese and Tokyo culture.

Kyoto: We enjoyed visiting the temples and appreciated Ellie's knowledge as she showed us around. She helped us understand the differences between cultures in Tokyo and Kyoto and helped us find a couple items outside of our planned tour (a restaurant and a limited-time exhibition) that we enjoyed.

I connected with Kim Kim and Ruth only a mere month and a half before our scheduled trip to New Zealand. Despite the late notice Ruth stepped up, got some preliminary information on our interests, and curated an amazing two week self guided tour of the North and South islands. Every single event, from group tours to picking up our rental cars with driving directions in tow, went off without a single hitch. We had so many amazing experiences along the way it’s hard to choose the best, but I will say if you get the chance to kayak at night in the glow worm caves in Rotorua: DO IT! Amazing. Even in the rain. Thank you so much Ruth for the attention to detail, the quick availability and the amazing organization. We will definitely be in touch for our next adventure.

Activity Reviews

Queenstown Private Transfer Hotel to Airport

New Zealand

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Milford Sound Glass Roof Van/CruiseVan

Queenstown (NZ)

Quality of Experience

Everyone should take the time for this beautiful part of the world.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Skyline Gondola Ride

Queenstown (NZ)

Quality of Experience

Glacier Boat Trip -

Aoraki / Mount Cook Village

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private transfer - Christchurch Railway Station to City Hotel

Christchurch

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Interislander Ferry - Wellington to Picton

New Zealand

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Afternoon/Evening Twilight Wine and Craft Beer Tour

Queenstown (NZ)

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wellington Private Transfer Hotel to Ferry Terminal

New Zealand

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zealandia by Night Tour

Wellington

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Introducing Te Papa Tour and Museum visit

Wellington

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mitai Cultural Experience & Dinner

Rotorua

The host of the evening was absolutely amazing. Sharing his culture and knowledge was truly a passion for him and it translated into an amazing evening.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Waimangu Valley Nature Walk & Lake Rotomahana Boat Cruise

Rotorua

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hobbiton - Shared Tour

New Zealand

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Twilight Glow Worm Kayak Experience - 3 hour guided

Rotorua

The guides were absolutely amazing. Clearly very excited to share information and the beauty of these amazing creatures and their amazing habitat.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Rotorua

Rotorua

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Auckland Private Transfer International Airport to Hotel

New Zealand

Quality of Experience

I

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ngima no doubt is the most experience tour specialist for Nepal. He is friendly, responsible & will meet us frequently to arrange & meet trekking guide before hand to make sure things are going well. Frequently checking on us to make sure we are safe & sound. Ensure the suitable trekking guide & porter to make our trekking exp personal, flexible & fun. Please do recommend Ngima to others for making sure Nepal is a wonderful place for travel, trekking, hiking, culture, food & people.

Shona was truly the most incredible travel agent. From the planning, booking and trip, everything was perfect. During the almost year leading up to the trip she was so attentive and knowledgeable with any questions I had. Going to a new country where your language is not their main language can be very nerve racking but Shona made the entire process so easy. I had messed up our flight days coming into Japan and before I knew it Shona had everything taken care of and fixed. She truly took care of everything. From drivers, hotels, train tickets. It was all so organized and well thought out. I can’t thank her enough for making my husband and I’s dream trip a fantastic reality!

Hotel Reviews

HOTEL THE LEBEN OSAKA

Osaka

A stunning hotel within walking distance of the Shinsaibashi shopping district!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rihga Gran Kyoto

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Keihan Tsukiji Ginza Grande

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full Day City Tour with Osaka Castle

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Osaka Local Foodie Tour in Dotonbori and Shinsekai

Japan

Getting to try different foods was very cool but we only tried 3 foods in 3 hours. I was expecting a bit more. The tour guide was walking so fast that the group had a very hard time keeping up. We were a group of 3 couples and 1 older lady on her own. None of us were aware we were taking the metro so we didn’t come prepared with suica cards so getting through the station was a mess which caused a lot of frustration for us and the other people trying to get through the station. The food portion of the tour was finished but the guide was going to show us to the famous running man sign. This is where we lost a person of our group. She was an older lady who was there by herself. Again the guide was walking so fast and after about 5 minutes, we realized the older lady wasn’t with us. The guide tried to call the office she goes through because she did not have access to her phone number. The office ended up being closed. We never saw that lady again…

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kyoto Highlights: Kinkaku-ji Temple, Nijo Castle and Fushimi-Inari Taisha

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

This was genuinely such a cool experience! Getting to learn the history of a traditional Japanese tea ceremony while wearing kimonos was such a fun time. My husband and I are on the bigger side and they had plenty of kimono options for us to wear. We didn’t feel left out because of our size which we appreciated so much!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi with Oishi Park

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tokyo Discovery with Shibuya & Harajuku - West

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Kumiko was so much fun! She was so knowledgeable about the areas we were in. She was always ready to take a great picture of us that we will cherish for a lifetime!

Transport

We just got back from our honeymoon trip to Japan, and Greg made the entire experience absolutely amazing. From the very beginning, he was incredibly responsive — anytime we had a question or needed help with something, he got back to us right away, which took a lot of the stress out of traveling.

The itinerary he put together was perfect for us. We had such a great time exploring Kyoto, Hakone, Osaka, Tokyo, and Nara. Every place we visited felt thoughtfully planned, and all the details were handled so smoothly that we were able to just relax and enjoy the trip.

We couldn’t have asked for a better first big adventure as a married couple. Thank you, Greg, for helping make our honeymoon so special!

Karla, We all loved this trip across Ecuador! The Mindo Cloud Forest and Cotopaxi National Park were highlights. Cuenca was fantastic and the Galapagos adventure was spectacular. The meals provided were `exceptional. Everything was on time and, despite the early departure several mornings, we got to see and do A LOT while we were there. I would review options of hotels while in the Galapagos. The facility was fine but not at the level of the other hotels we were in. Thank you for all your efforts and I appreciate all the time and effort that went into arranging all these experiences for our group!

Activity Review

Mindo Cloud Forest

Ecuador

We loved having the hummingbirds land on our hands. Beautiful experience!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

To begin with, it is of utmost importance to mention that Sarah and Ivan were nothing short of spectacular hosts.
1. The timeliness with which they responded to our inquiries via WhatsApp was unheard of - this made us feel safe & valued at all times.
2. They were incredibly professional and courteous at all times.
3. The itinerary they planned was very well organized and encompassed incredible sites.
My mother and I would also like to send our regards to Mr. Duro, our driver on two separate occasions. He was very professional and kind to us at all times. Having him as our driver on two separate days simply made the trip feel more relaxed.
The hotels we stayed in were amazing: very clean, with incredibly friendly staff, and with spectacular locations that either offered great views or short access to main attractions.
We only have two pieces of feedback:
1. Try to recommend travelers to carry cash for tips or expenses for specific days. For instance, on the day spent on the Adriatic Sea, it would've been great to know to carry cash for tips for the boat captain and crew. I would've exchanged currencies the day before the trip and taken that worry off my back.
2. Another great detail would've been a Spanish-speaking tour guide in Split to learn and absorb more of the city's background.
I sincerely hope Sarah and Ivan organize our next trip.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Porto

Dubrovnik

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pharos Hvar Hotel

Hvar

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Azur Palace Luxury Rooms

Split

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Day Trip to Mostar

Croatia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour Dubrovnik's Old Town

Croatia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to the Caves & Beaches of Vis Island by boat

Hvar

A heads-up to carry cash to tips for the boat captain and crew would've been helpful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Split Walking Food Tour

Split

A Spanish-speaking tour guide would've been more beneficial to us. Other than this, it was a great experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We have returned from a 21 day trip around Honshu, organized by the local specialist, Greg. Normally we plan our own adventures but were overwhelmed by the multitude of possibilities in Japan. Greg provided excellent planning to experience as much as possible, as efficiently as possible, within our time frame. Our trip included a few guided days as well as some local cultural experiences. We particularly enjoyed the kintsugi experience in Kyoto and loved visiting the tea farmer in Uji. For the other days, we had either specific recommendations (which sometimes included train tickets) as well as more loose recommendations for things to do at our leisure and on our own. The combination worked well! All the little details were covered, including a pocket wifi device which proved invaluable. Prior to the trip, Greg was alerted to the endurance/mobility limitations of one of our party and worked to create itineraries which would work with less demanding walking. Having someone in country familiar with the landscapes and distances was very helpful in our specific case. As the trip commenced, that limitation actually increased, but Greg was able to pivot to adapt to the changing needs, primarily consulting with guides to adjust the itineraries when it looked like we wouldn't be able to manage.

Hotel Reviews

The Prince Park Tower Tokyo

Tokyo

Located a short walk to the Tokyo Tower with views of the tower from the room. Breakfast was chaotic but offered views of Mt. Fuji on "lucky" days.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hilton Hiroshima

Hiroshima

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Thousand Kyoto

Kyoto

Beautiful hotel located adjacent to the Kyoto Central Station .. .in an ideal location for everything.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

IORI SHIROYAMA

Takayama

This villa is absolutely beautiful, with a sauna as well as indoor and outdoor baths. It is isolated with beautiful landscaping and outdoor spaces. The breakfast is delivered in the morning, but was a bit disappointing. I know Japan is a tea culture but there was no coffee (didn't know in advance to buy coffee for the machine). My only problem with it is that it is located way up a hill from the center of Takayama. It's a tough walk back up to the villa. We did take a taxi back to the villa and had to assist the driver to find the villa , even with his gps. Luckily I remembered some visual landmarks to get us to the space!

Authenticity & Character

Location

There is a shuttle to the villa at check in and check out - maybe shuttles at other times? It really is tough to get to on foot.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Hotel Sanraku Kanazawa

Kanazawa

Excellent location literally across from the fish market and close to bus transportation. Beautiful rooms with large baths.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Chisun Grand Nagano

Excellent location within a few minutes to the train station and center. Smaller rooms but clean and comfortable. We weren't prepared for the tatami mats at breakfast and the low chairs but the food was excellent.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Blossom Hibiya

Minato

Excellent location with an excellent breakfast buffet including many Japanese items.

Authenticity & Character

A very western hotel - but very well maintained

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Takayama Half-Day Private Tour with Expert Guide

Takayama

Excellent energetic knowledgable guide thrilled to share hie new hometown with us.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Kamikochi Tour

Nagano

Beautiful day exploring in the countryside with an excellent guide and driver

Full Day Tour to Kurobe Gorge and Unazuki Onsen

Japan

Kintsugi Experience at Shikata Urushi, A Centuries-Old Japanese-Urushi Shop in Kyoto

Kyoto

I knew about kintsugi prior to this experience but had no idea about the complexity involved. This was an excellent overview of not only the actual hands-on work but the background of the materials.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

e provided our own transport via taxi

Tea Plantation Tour and Organic Green Tea Tasting

Japan

We absolutely adored this exploration of the era plantation and tasting the green tea varieties.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our ladies only trip to Brazil organized by Bruno, and I couldn’t be happier with the experience. Everything was perfectly planned — from the Christ the redeemer of Rio to the breathtaking Iguazu Falls and the incredible adventure in the Amazon.
In Rio de Janeiro, our guide Marcelo was good. He was knowledgeable, friendly, and full of local insights. From visiting iconic landmarks like Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain to exploring the beaches.
At Iguazu Falls, we had the pleasure of being guided by Joan and Chris. They coordinated everything seamlessly on both the Brazilian and Argentine sides, ensuring we didn’t miss a single viewpoint.
Finally, in the Amazon, our guide Leo was outstanding. His deep knowledge of the rainforest’s wildlife and ecosystems made every hike and boat ride fascinating. He was patient, fun, and made us feel safe while exploring such a wild and beautiful environment. We watched the sunrise, sunset and even moon rise.
Overall, Bruno did an amazing job organizing every detail. The trip ran smoothly from start to finish, and every guide went above and beyond to make it a memorable experience. I highly recommend this team to anyone planning to explore Brazil

Everything about my trip to Japan was exceptionally well-organized from start to finish. I loved every part of the experience, every site I visited and every city I explored, from Tokyo through Osaka and Kyoto to Kanazawa. It was a smooth, well balanced schedule with a lot of thought put into this itinerary. All the tour guides were friendly, professional, and always ready to help. In general, it was an unforgettable journey which exceeded all my expectations.

Hotel Reviews

Daiwa Roynet Hotel KANAZAWAEKI-NISHIGUCHI

Kanazawa

I'm giving this hotel a lower score only because it didn't quite live up to my personal expectations. I usually book boutique or upscale hotels for myself, so this was a little different for me. That said, the staff was super professional and friendly, which I greatly appreciated.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Candeo Hotels Osaka The Tower

Osaka

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Richmond Hotel premier KYOTO SHIJO

I'm giving this hotel a lower score only because it didn't quite live up to my personal expectations. I usually book boutique or upscale hotels for myself, so this was a little different for me. That said, the staff was super professional and friendly, which I greatly appreciated.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ryokan Aura Tachibana

Hakone

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mitsui Garden Hotel Jingugaien Tokyo Premier

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full Day Gokayama and Shirakawago Tour from Kanazawa

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Osaka-Nara day trip with Osaka Castle

Osaka

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kyoto's Cultural Treasures: Fushimi Inari-Taisha, Nijo Castle and Kinkaku-ji

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi & Oishi Park

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tokyo Day Tour with Tsukiji Outer Market & Senso-ji - East & Central

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I want to give Sebastian a great thank you for the places we saw on this trip. The local guides were very helpful in raising both our knowledge and experience of Paris and the two wine regions we visited.

Hello Liz and team mates,
Joan Carson and I wrote the review together that Joan submitted. I joined the planning late when Joan had much of it organized. We made a few changes together after I signed on- fine tuning actually not substantive. I can tell you that I fully share the points made in our full response. We were fine with the arrangements you suggested, lined up and that were so sensitive to our wishes. You informed us promptly about items that needed to be adjusted because of the tour company and we found an alternative that worked out fine. Had we needed more support during the trip, you were right there for us. Thanks so much,
Pat

Hotel Review

Mercure Lyon Centre Saxe Lafayette

Lyon

The pool is lovely and fine for relaxing with the jet massage or short swims. Its not for someone who needs to do laps.

Authenticity & Character

Not sure what you mean by this question. The hotel was definitely a 4 star. We did love the smiling lion at the entrance.

Location

We walked into town across the beautiful bridges. I would not call it a short walk but a short taxi ride if one is not looking for a walk.

Staff

Coped well with our intermediate French skill. Very helpful with information, reservations and suggestions. Staff in the restaurant also great. Fantastic breakfast buffet and all else we ate there. Its great to have a good restaurant and bar option on site at the end of a long day of walking, using the metro and absorbing the culture.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lovely

Activity Reviews

City Excursion by E-Bike with Food Tasting

Lyon

As we said in our full review, starting off in city traffic means you need to be quite comfortable on an ebike. But alll in all, I enjoyed it- particularly the park and river paths.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Bruno was very good.

Farmer's Market Day in Lyon - Croix-Rousse

Lyon

the day was rainy and we walked a long way to find the market. Take the metro or taxi. On the positive side, we had made reservations at a great restaurant for that night, and we were definitely ready for that.

Culinary Walk in Lyon Old Town

Lyon

Wonderful way to be introduced to Lyon.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Beaujolais & Burgundy Wine Route Experience

Lyon

You may recall I had some trepidation about Beaujolais area but that first stop (small, family vineyard with intro duction by the young owner) wonderful. Then the chateau with all its history and beauty and charm, the varied wines etc as we edged up toward Bugundy- lovely. Lunch in Macon where we chose a very small new place with local residents and fine dejeurner. And the final more modern looking, large enterprise when the owner's daughter did such a great job of talking about the many chardonnay varieties which were fabulous, ending with a Premier Cru. It was a wonderfull day, a full day and beyond my expectations. I would love to see the areas further north into burgundy but it was about right with the amount of time in the car- more driving would have been difficult.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private War History & Traboules Walk

Lyon

Wonderful, don't miss

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Francois gets 5 stars, he is wonderul

Transport

We walked many steps that day but thoroughly enjoyed. See full report for details.






For our part, we realize that planning should have begun earlier — probably 6 months in advance, because certain tours, hotels, etc were already booked. Nevertheless, Judy was terrific and resourceful, getting back to us quickly despite the challenges of being in different time zones. Our goals (arts and hands-on) were different from those of a typical tourist; Judy was good at accommodating them. We could have used more advice about the differences in those programs, so we researched them on our own. That meant we had to request additional things and changes as we learned about them.

Also, we made a scheduling error, not realizing that the flight arrived the day after it began, so Judy had to adjust our bookings to accommodate this. We threw her an extra challenge by asking her to add a day-trip to Hamamatsu for a family visit. Also, a freak accident on the take-off of our flight to Tokyo caused us to be re-routed through Europe, hence losing another day. Altogether, this meant our proposed 14 day trip had to be jammed into a shorter number of days. Upon retrospect, even without these unexpected adjustments, we should have allowed ourselves three weeks to do everything we wanted to do and to give ourselves more time for exploring on our own. An open day in each city would have been preferable and made for a more relaxed trip.

Tour guides - Guides in Tokyo and Kanazawa were excellent and flexible. However, Michiko (Kyoto), though eager to please was less well-informed and had weaker English. She was too focused on Samurai/Shogun history and wanted to take too many photos of us. We were surprised that her tour involved walking and buses, which worked out fine, but we were surprised as we expected a driver in each location unless specified.

Workshops and presentations - Our first workshop (sushi making) was a disaster. We were told to get there on our own by local train, but had no previous instruction about how to navigate. When we arrived at the address we were given, there was no signage and no staff there to greet us, so we didn’t know if we were in the right place. After contacting Judy, we discovered that the company had made a scheduling error, which they corrected as quickly as possible. The workshop was ok in spite of the space with was filthy with cigarette butts and used cups on the table. Looking online afterwards, we saw that there were many other sushi workshops that might have been better choices.

The other workshops were all excellent: washi paper making, dyeing, the artisan visit (embroidery), and an unscheduled visit to a gold leaf workshop that our guide created since we had extra time.

Transportation - There was a lot of transportation that we had to navigate on our own. We found it quite challenging, especially at first. We would have benefited from more advance information about how to manage the different systems and locations (some with QR codes, some with one ticket, some with two tickets). Even after we requested more direction from Judy, we still found it difficult. Fortunately, we were assisted by train station personnel or sympathetic travelers or residents who saw us struggling and shepherded us to the right place.

Hotels - Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka were excellent; the hotel in Kanazawa was fair (amenities were better than we thought at first due to a communication problem). Still, the room was very small and one side of the bed was against the wall.

Due to the popularity of Naoshima, we were booked in Okayama, which required a ferry ride each way. There too one side of the bed was against the wall. Although it was advertised as a beachfront facility. In fact it was a block or two from the waterfront (not a beach) and overlooked a bicycle track. There was a night race one of the nights we were there, which was unique.

Judy was an excellent planner, responding cheerfully under a number of challenging circumstances. It would have been helpful to be advised about how realistic it was to see so much in a short time, especially given our age. Although we’re in good shape for our ages we are in our 80s. As mentioned above, we needed more assistance with independent train travel. It would also have been helpful to have advice about restaurants near our various hotels. We were told that the guides could help us, but they had no more knowledge than what they or we could find online.

Hotel Reviews

Miyako City Osaka Hommachi

Osaka

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

SETOUCHI KEIRIN HOTEL 10 by Onko Chishin

Tamano

Inconvenient. Only recommended for bike racing enthusiats, adjacent to bike racing track. Description says beachfont but it’s over a block away from the water - essentially a small marina for fishing boats. No beach. We were only there because we weren’t able to book a place to stay on Naoshima and it was a 5 minute taxi ride to the ferry to Naoshima.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cross Hotel Kyoto

Kyoto

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Intergate Kanazawa

Kanazawa

Functional, nothing special. Small room with one side of the bed against the wall.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mitsui Garden Hotel Jingugaien Tokyo Premier

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

Location

beautiful but far from anything other than an olympic stadium

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

We didn’t realize that we’d have to wear kimonos. Wouldn’t have chosen to but it ended up being fun.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traditional Yuzen Dyeing Experience

Kyoto

Fabulous personal hands-on experience with a master artisan.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-Day Exploration: Arashiyama Bamboo Grove & Kinkaku-ji Temple

Kyoto

Unless you’re really into the bamboo grove and this particular temple, time would be better spent looking at pictures, avoiding the crowds and doing something else.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Gion Geisha Show and Walking Tour

Kyoto

We arrived too late for the walking tour but the Geisha show was fascinating.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We took a taxi on our own.

Half Day Artisan Tour in Kanazawa

Kanazawa

Wonderful embroidery folks. Unexpected. We wouldn’t have selected embroidery but it was terrific as was the guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kanazawa Highlights with Art: Gardens, Castles & National Crafts Museum

Kanazawa

Intead of having a guide and driver, we traveled by bus with guide. Her English wasn’t as good as other guides and she was focused primarily on Samurai/Shogun. Sweet lady, though.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Driver rather than buses.

Tokyo Sushi Making Experience & Japanese Cooking Class

Tokyo

Scheduled at the wrong time, difficult to find, no signage, dirty.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exploring Futuristic Odaiba with Sumida River Cruise

Tokyo

Wonderful guide, flexible so we were able to make changes to personalize the day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to Morocco was absolutely unforgettable! From start to finish, everything was incredible — the sights, the experiences, and especially the people who made it all possible.

Hassan, the owner of Under Moroccan Sun, made planning our trip so easy and stress-free. He responded quickly to every question and detail, no matter how small, and made sure everything was perfectly arranged before we even arrived. His professionalism and care gave us total peace of mind throughout the planning process.

Once we arrived, our driver, Ismail, made the journey truly exceptional. He was spectacular — kind, attentive, and always going above and beyond. He paid close attention to every detail, ensuring we were comfortable, safe, and enjoying every moment. His knowledge, warmth, and genuine care turned a wonderful trip into something truly extraordinary.

We can’t thank Hassan and Ismail enough for making this such a memorable experience. If you’re thinking about visiting Morocco, Under Moroccan Sun is the way to go — they made our dream trip a reality!

We had an amazing experience working with Bruno to plan our trip to Rio, Iguazu Falls, and the Amazon. From start to finish, he was professional, responsive, and attentive to every detail. Bruno always replied quickly to our questions and made sure all our requests were fulfilled — from hotel preferences to excursions and transfers. Everything ran smoothly, and we felt well taken care of throughout the entire trip.

We truly appreciated his organization and friendly communication. Highly recommend Bruno for anyone planning a trip to Brazil!

We had the most amazing trip to Valladolid and several historical sites in the area. Highly recommend!

Hotel Review

El Mesón del Marqués

Valladolid

Authenticity & Character

Location

City center is beautiful and where the life of the city is everywhere.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

A pink-ish day at Río Lagartos & Las Coloradas

Mexico

The river was beautiful and our guide was extremely knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

WE had several guides throughout our trip. Vivianna was very knowledgeable and thorough. The lunch at the tortoise reserve was quite outstanding, Edwin was also very knowledgeable, considerate of the age range of our group and a watchful eye during our snorkeling adventure! David was with us for a full plus day touring the Historical District and Middle earth. Again he was very aware of or different ages and capabilities. I think he knew everything about everything Ecuadorian!!
Our trip was challenging because weather delays were responsible for 2 lost days. Maria Jose had to rearrange flights and hotel rooms. She put a best effort forward. She arranged for our lost luggage to be delivered to our hotel in Puerto Arroya! We were all pretty sure we would never see that luggage again. Thank you Majo!!

Incredible! It almost felt too easy before we left, so I was feeling nervous. But Minh had every detail scheduled and then Thuy would message us the day before a transfer with details about a driver, car or flights. We had an incredible time exploring Hanoi and the north area of Vietnam (shoutout to our guide Ha), then Ha Long Bay on a cruise (Dragon Legend), and finally down to Phu Quoc for a beach retreat at Grand Ocean Bay Resort.

If you are on the fence about Vietnam or using kimkim, just do it!

Sri Lanka is a beautiful country with very friendly people. The trip had a nice blend of Tours and trekking. My guide, AJ, did a great job of giving me options for each day. I was even able to hike up Adams Peak!

Alden with get to know Belize was a great guide. Very knowledgeable. Jeffrey lead us during the snorkeling and was also great.

Hotel Review

Almond Beach Resort Belize

Hopkins

Great very attentive staff, well maintained. Great food and drinks.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right on the beach

Staff

So attentive and friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean and cofortable. The doors were not very secure

Activity Reviews

Half day Snorkeling Tour in the Belize Barrier Reef from Hopkins

Belize

We saw Lots of amazing creatures. Guides were wonderful. Jeffrey and Alden. The boat trip was a little long.

Quality of Experience

Very knowledgeable

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The trip was a little long

Xunantunich Maya Ruins Tour

Belize

Wonderful tour. Long drive though. I would have added another short trip while we were out that way in retrospect

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Alden was great

Transport

Comfortable,