Kimkim Trip Reviews

Kimkim was terrific and we just completed an outstanding trip to Norway!

I asked Anna to help put together a 3-week self-drive trip that focused on the outdoor beauty of Norway, including lots of day hikes I had read about (including others she might recommend), with accommodations that were nice & clean – and a handful of splurge stops she thought were worth it. Anna was quick to propose a trip that looked great, worked with us as we made a few tweaks (including a start in Oslo to take the cross-country rail trip before starting our self-drive – worth it!), and she recommended & incorporated a handful of private city walks and guided hikes. The process was easy, the trip was custom, the results were great.

Accommodation favorites include: The Bolder (a modern compact stand-alone cabin with a spectacular view), Fjaerland Fjordstove Hotell & Restaurant (a historic gem in a charming tiny town with a terrific restaurant), Blatind Botique Hotel (cozy luxury in a private mountain setting with excellent dining), and an unbelievable lakeside view from a Vollsnes Feiehus Stryn cabin near Loen. We also enjoyed the quirky/funky Dovregubbens Hall, and Hotel Brosundet in Alesund. And we stayed in a handful of Scandic hotels which were nice, clean, and had great breakfasts. We wanted a variety – and we were happy with the variety!

Add-on favorites include: A private city walk in Bergen, followed by a hike above the city the next day (beautiful). A private hike to a historic farm now known for wild blueberries in an idyllic setting near Fjaerland. And a floating sauna (with occasional fjord plunges!)

Hiking area favorites: Forsand, Voss, Loen, Andalsnes

One other note. Kimkim provided support during our trip – I didn’t expect to need it, but I did. During one of our drives, we arrived at what looked like an abandoned ferry terminal (we were the only ones there). I couldn’t quite make sense of the ferry terminal schedule on-line, so I reached out to Kimkim’s 24-hour number (it was Sunday), and they responded immediately --confirmed the ferry schedule, provided an alternate route if I didn’t want to wait, and asked what else they could do. I really appreciated the support.

A great trip! Thank you.

Hotel Reviews

Scandic Byparken

Bergen

I liked the location (away from the cruise crowds, but still very walkable to the main city area). Nothing special, but clean. Good breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Byporten

Oslo

Small but comfortable rooms. Very handy to adjacent mall, restaurant, train station. Good breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very friendly at the front desk.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Brosundet

Ålesund

Great location. Rooms were fine.

Authenticity & Character

Genuine Alesund

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Blåtind Boutique Hotel

Stordal

Cozy luxury in a private mountain setting with excellent dining. This was a treat.

Authenticity & Character

Mountain lodge on the outside, lux on the inside.

Location

Staff

Ole was exceptionally personable and very welcoming.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Frich's Ekspress Hotel

Åndalsnes

Clean rooms. We liked and used the common lounge several times. Handy to have a grocery close. But the restaurant in the building is closed. And it's in a bit of an odd part of town.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Seemed to be in the more industrial part of town. Restaurant in building is closed. Not bad, but we needed to drive to eat, hike, or see the town center.

Staff

Didn't see any, but rooms were clean.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Oppdal Turisthotell

Oppdal

Rooms were clean, but dated. Overall, this hotel seems tired. Breakfast was nothing special.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean, but not cozy or all that welcoming.

Dovregubbens Hall

Dombås

Quirky, funky, but perfect for the setting, and we liked it. Clean and comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Vollsnes Feriehus Stryn

Stryn

The setting is spectacular -- the views amazing. Big, modern, and it has a washing machine! Free kayaks -- we used these and they were great. Walking distance to some great trails. The cabin is a 4-plex, so if others are out late on their deck, you will hear them (we did).

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Owner stopped by after we arrived to make sure all was OK

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean.

Fjærland Fjordstove Hotell & Restaurant

Fjærland

A historic gem in a charming tiny town with a terrific restaurant. The expansive lobby lounge and wrap around deck were really nice. This was a favorite for sure.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Bolder

Forsand

Small but fantastic. We spent one entire afternoon marvelling at the view.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The cabin was initially made up for 2 (reservation was for 3) -- and they remedied the issue promptly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rosendal Turist hotel

Kvinnherad

Top floor room of old building had a tiny triangle-shaped shower with no shower door, and angled (roofline) ceiling in the bathroom (I hit my head twice). We ate at the restaurant on the night they were serving crab and shrimp buffet -- we did not care for it.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms were clean. The bathroom in my room just wasn't comfortable.

Scandic Voss

Voss

Great location in Voss. Big nice breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided hike over "Vidden"

Bergen

Our guide modified our original hike to accommodate us with a less strenuous hike -- funicular up, then hiking above the city, and back down to our hotel.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Bergen Walking Tour With a Local Guide

Bergen

Informative, and away from the cruise crowds -- our guide timed it so the bulk of the crowd had cleared once we arrived at the fish market area. Enjoyed walking the narrow streets and seeing the historic homes.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Explore Oslo's Hidden Gems with a Local Expert

Oslo

I liked getting away from the tourist center to see other parts of the city -- a more "real world" look at Oslo. We had a few bites of local food along the way (cinnamon bun, Syverkiosken) -- a nice walk!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Geraingerfjord Safari by RIB

Geiranger

The day was cloudy & misty. Our guide was fine but not particularly exciting. We had arrived via ferry from Hellesylt (due to a road closure), so we had already seen most of it. On a clear day with a more entertaining guide, it would be better.

Quality of Experience

The Bordals gorge

Voss

This is a quick stop (you can do a hike from the hotel, or drive there and step out). We drove (and did a separate hike around the city).

Quality of Experience

Hike to Rampestreken Viewpoint

Åndalsnes

Steep, and tree-root covered along much of the way, but very doable. The hike above the viewpoint to the top is the steepest and most exposed along the side of the mountain.

Quality of Experience

Cheese Tasting in Undredal

Norway

Great cheese, and hands-down the best brown cheese of the trip. An informative hour.

Quality of Experience

Visit Stegastein Viewpoint

Norway

The view is very nice. The drive up is insane.

Quality of Experience

Voss Gondol

Voss

The gondol ride was nice and the view up top is nice. Unfortunately the trails at the top are shared by mountain bikes, and though we didn't see/meet any mountain bikers on the trail, the trails themselves were torn up from bicycle ruts & very muddy -- a disappointment. Loved the swing at the top of the mountain.

Quality of Experience

Transport

Floating Sauna

Norway

Fun and hot (sauna) and freezing (jumping into the fjord). A must do. And the scenery -- fantastic!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Easy, easy walk from hotel.

Guidet Hike to Blåbærstølen

Fjærland

We had a beautiful day -- the scenery was terrific, and we even ate a few blueberries (though the season had passed). Our guide was a life-long local, very knowledgeable -- and enjoyable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chris was wonderful to deal with, we didn’t make it easy for him, constant changes and re-jigging but he was always patient and understanding, and helped us achieve our goals.
Acropolis Hill Hotel was a great location, wonderful view, and lovely accommodations. Walking tour of Acropolis and biking tour of Athens was a perfect overview of Athens.
We loved Santorini best, Cliff Side Suites was second to none. Our room was huge, beautiful views and sunsets. Many restaurants within walking distance. Took a couple days to tour towns and relax on beaches, a good mix of activity and down time.
Naxos was lovely, Naxos Beach Resort was a great location in Naxos Town, a lot within walking distance. Full day catamaran tour was good, our day the waters were choppy with high winds, so didn’t swim as much as we would have, but a great crew, great food, it was a fun day.
All air and ferry transfers Chris organized were seamless and all drivers meeting us to move us were outstanding.

Natalie, William and Javier were each terrific guides.

Hotel Reviews

Inti Punku MachuPicchu Hotel & Suites

Machu Picchu, Aguas Calientes

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sueños del Inka Hotel

Cusco

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Shared Cooking Classes Ivanna Lescano (18:00 - 19:30)

Cusco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Machu Picchu Tour (Private Guided Tour) AM

Aguas Calientes/ Machu Picchu

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Shared tour to Pisac, Ollantaytambo & Train to Machu Picchu town

Peru

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Half-Day Cusco Walking Tour: Sacsayhuamán, Qoricancha & San Pedro Market

Cusco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The trip was great from planning all the way through implementation. The country is beautiful, the populace is friendly. All the guides were well-versed in their subject areas and were friendly, too. We especially enjoyed Darko, Zoran, and Daniel. The accommodations were enjoyable Noteworthy were the KimKim reps Ivan and Sarah who were exceptionally responsive to our every inquiry. They were the best. We WILL use KimKim again!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Porto

Dubrovnik

Pharos Hvar Hotel

Hvar

Irini Luxury Rooms

Split

Manda Heritage Hotel

Zagreb

Activity Reviews

Tour Dubrovnik's Old Town

Croatia

Day Trip to Montenegro

Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik Kayaking Adventure

Dubrovnik

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

Hvar

Guided Walking Tour of Split

Split

Zagreb - walking food tour!

Zagreb

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Really enjoyed Darko!

We had an incredible family trip to Ecuador. The itinerary was thoughtfully planned and showcased the country's stunning landscapes, culture, and wildlife. Some of the highlights included hand-feeding hummingbirds in Mindo, horseback riding in Cotopaxi, canyoneering in Banos and snorkeling in Galapagos. Our local mainland guide Cristobal was outstanding, bringing each destination to life with his knowledge, professionalism, and warmth. What a beautiful country, highly recommend this trip to anyone looking for a memorable and worry-free adventure in Ecuador.

Hotel Reviews

La Isla Hotel

Puerto Ayora

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Wyndham Quito Airport

Quito

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hakuna Matata Lodge

Archidona

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Sangay

Baños de Agua Santa

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Chilcabamba Lodge

Machachi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ikala Quito Hotel

Quito

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Quito City Tour - Middle of the World

Quito

Having an amazing guide helped make this a great day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

From start to finish we were extremely pleased with our customized trip to Mexico City. Hugo really listened and understoodw our needs, and we even initiated a call or two just to clarify the details. Most would categorize this as a family trip with two daughters in their twenties plus a very active Mom, Auntie, and Uncle in our sixties. We were quite happy with the strong emphasis on art, cuisine and culture so the initial Chef’s Table event was an extraordinary welcome.

Luz was our local coordinator and kept us on track the entire time. She was very responsive to any concerns, any special dietary needs, or potential issues. As such the logistics were smooth despite the notorious Mexico City traffic. We spent the most time with local guide Mony and we could *not* exhaust her vast knowledge of history, religion and especially archeology. My husband and I have traveled extensively and we would request Mony again. She is also incredibly thoughtful and accommodating — a great fit for a family trip.

One standout was the hot air balloon ride over Teotihuacan. Sailing over the tops of ancient pyramids on a beautiful morning was a hit with our entire group.

We split into two groups the final day and my husband and I enjoyed a contemporary art gallery tour with the Traveling Beetle. They did an excellent job and we purchased two pieces, not to mention enjoying the serendipity of exploring art during GAMA week.

In the end we appreciated the high quality and degree of customization — down to securing a floating boat in Xochimilco celebrating our university colors. And the Pug Seal Anatole boutique hotel in Polanco was also lovely and served the most amazing breakfasts, We had a room with an outdoor soaking tub, a wonderful break after our morning tours.

We’ve used KimKim in several countries and they do not disappoint. They’ve earned our highest recommendation.

MY sister and I had the most incredible visit to this magnificent country and I could not have experienced this without the superior planning and assistance from Pedro! My visit to Portugal went above and beyond my expectations, which were already pretty high. Our itinerary was built specifically for us and it met every one of my requests and more. I could never have experienced the true closeness we received from our guides, our drivers, our hotels, the sites we visited and the knowledge of Portugal's history without the professional and caring assistance of Pedro and the people he sent to guide us and help us fulfill all our hopes & expectations. Every one the people we interacted with over our 10 days in Portugal were WONDERFUL. We became close to each one of them and they gave us a new found admiration and respect for Portugal and the cities we visited. Lisboa, Porto, and Cascais were the major cities, but we visited so much more. Our driver for most of the time there, Rui, was very special to us. His knowledge and assistance in all of our travels was amazing and we were sad to leave him, We insisted on learning proper pronunciation and all the history he could share. Ricardo was our second driver and he was wonderful, too. We asked for the same with him and learned so much. Our Historic guides were so knowledgeable! Our first one in Lisboa, Marguerite was overwhelming in her understanding of the history of this country and her manner of telling the stories were moving and beautiful. What an incredible woman ... she brought us to tears (hidden to her I hope) in the descriptions of the dictatorship and the revolution. Ana, our guide in Porto, was truly a walking encyclopedia of the country's history and Porto's history! Our heads were spinning with knowledge. Our culinary class with Chef Pedro was absolutely wonderful. We loved it!
I could go on and on about this trip, but I want to thank Pedro for the amazing job he did with my itinerary and the people he matched us with. I felt that we were so well cared for and all our needs were met in every possible way. Our hotels were beautiful, intimate, with wonderful staff in each. To say we made many friends along the way is an understatement. Knowing that each day Pedro would check in on us as well as Diana and Marisa answering any questions we may have was quite helpful and special. We knew we were in excellent hands. My sister and I have already shared much of our trip with family and friends and KimKim is truly at the top of our suggestions for any future trips.
I feel like there is so much more I want to share, but for now ... thank you from the bottom of our hearts for making this a trip of a lifetime. You truly are the best in the travel industry! I must add one more important note. Along with all the culture, history, and incredible sites & food, it's not complete until I add this, "We had SO SO SO MUCH FUN!"

Hotel Review

Montebelo Vista Alegre Lisboa Chiado Hotel

Lisboa

The Hotel is magnificent and intimate. The staff is truly wonderful! We loved all of them! The food is absolutely amazing. I would definitely return to this hotel!

Authenticity & Character

Location

In the heart of Lisboa!

Staff

Everyone was kind, helpful, charming, and deeply cared for us!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Indulge in Elegance on a Guided Winery Tour Infused with Tastings and a Delicious Lunch

Portugal

This was by far the most amazing meal and the wine tasting was excellent. Sara was our private guide. We learned so much!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Flavors of Port Wine - Sip & Discover

Porto

Claudia was our guide and she was wonderful!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Immerse Yourself in the Portuguese Culture by Experiencing a Fado Dinner

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exploring the Art of Pastel de Nata on a A Hands-On Culinary Group Experience

Portugal

Chef Pedro was incredible. We loved this!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Seamless Discovery - The Ultimate Douro Valley Experience with Private Driver Service

Portugal

Breathtaking sites and beauty.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Porto's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour

Porto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Unveil the Fairytale Villa of Sintra with a Private Driver Service

Portugal

The palace and gardens were incredible. We loved this!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lisbon's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour with Ginjinha & Pastel de Nata

Lisbon

Truly an amazing educational tour of Lisboa. Our guide was incredible and lovely!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Everything! Rui was wonderful!

Transport

We learned so much just from our drivers and their knowledge of Portugal!

Scenic Voyage along the Douro River aboard an Exclusive Boat

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Truly Swahili planned an incredible trip for us! We could not have enjoyed it more, every day was a truly unforgettable experience. We had the most amazing time enjoying everything Tanzania has to offer, seeing the incredible animals at the Ngorongoro Crater, the Serengeti as well as relax in the beautiful beaches of Zanzibar. Our kind and knowledgeable guides and drivers made this the trip of a lifetime! Thank you to Melvin, Irene, Walter, Frances, Alawi, Baraka, Angelo and the entire team for every detail throughout our stay, we cannot thank you enough!

Hotel Reviews

Meliá Zanzibar

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti

The most incredible hotel we have ever stayed at! You are truly immersed in nature and are able to appreciate the life of the Serengeti.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Karatu Simba Lodge

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arusha Serena Hotel

Arusha

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hot Air Balloon Safari at Serengeti

Tanzania

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

2nd Day Full Day Safari Experience at Serengeti National Park

Tanzania

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Evening Game Drive

Kenya

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lake Manyara Cultural Experience and biking Safari

Kenya

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Snorkeling in Zanzibar

Tanzania

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Safari Experience at Serengeti National Park

Kenya

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Safari Experience at Ngorongoro

Kenya

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Hike on Mountain Kilimanjaro

Tanzania

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Knowing nothing about Croatia and having heard wonderful comments, we visited for a week following an eclipse trip to Spain. Kimkim worked with Royal Croatia Tours to organize an efficient trip over one week. We stayed in Dubrovnik, Hvar, Split and Zadar along the Adriatic Shore, with day visits to Cavtat and Sibenek. We traveled by ferry and private car. There's no train service. This region's history is fascinating, from pre-Common Era to date. Dubrovnik's Old City and Split's Roman Palace were most engrossing. The hotels were all excellent, comfortable and located close to walkable destinations. All our drivers spoke excellent English, and were personable and well informed. We had good support from Ivan and Sarah, with Royal Croatia Tours. For instance, we had a boat trip cancel due to weather. They immediately refunded that cost. Cafes and gelato shops are plentiful and Croatian wine is very good. Croatia is working hard to build up its international reputation as a visitor destination, and the hospitality of its people is obvious. If you enjoy beaches, water sports, and historic sites, Croatia is a treasure.

Activity Reviews

Split Walking Food Tour

Split

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide met us promptly and provided an informative tour of the historic parts of town and the Roman Palace. We stopped at four or five cafes to sample the good croatian wine, small bites, entree and pasta courses. Croatian meals are similar to other Mediterranean countries. In addition to the food part of the tour, we learned a great deal about the construction of the huge Roman Palace, and what many subsequent regimes have done in the area.

Transport

Walking tour.

Private Day Trip to Cavtat & Family Farm Day for Traditional Lunch or Dinner

Croatia

Our driver and guide, Doris, was a pleasure. While she was a consummate professional, she was also personable and entertaining. She accompanied us to the little beach town of Cavtat and lunch at a family farm. It was a customized visit and we enjoyed the food, tastings and venue very much.

The support that we received from start to finish was exemplary. The guidance regarding how much territory to cover and the specific sites was perfect. We were not rushed and we saw a lot. The specific site were visited were amazing. The Thorsmork jeep experience was especially good as we were able to hike in a variety of different terrains. Our guide, Carlos, was wonderful. He was knowledgeable, engaging, and personable. The other outstanding location was the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon. It was unlike anything I have ever seen. Our Zodiac boat ride, captained by Hurdur, was a highlight. His appearance, skill, knowledge, and engagement was perfect.

The hotels were exactly what we were looking for and met all our expectations. The breakfasts were a perfect way to start our day; with a full belly. There was a wide assortment of good food and plenty of good, strong coffee.

I'm not sure whether KimKim had any control over the weather, but that worked out very well for us too! The only rain we had was during the nights or while driving. It did not affect our outdoor plans at all. And to top it off, we were finally able to see the northern lights on our last night. Great job all around for your team. I highly recommend them to assist in your vacation planning. And knowing that they were always available if we ran into problems, was another plus.

Our guide, Gummi, was so helpful with his suggestions and when we had to pivot one day he quickly responded with an alternate plan. All of the hotels were great and his suggestions for lunches en route were amazing! The travel directions he provided each day were critical to us getting where we needed comfortably (although the road to Landmannalugar was not comfortable but worth it!). We spent 2 days in Reykjavik, 2 days in the Snaefellsness Peninsula, 4 days in the Hella region, including a Super Jeep tour in Porsmork, a day in Vik for a glacier and ice cave tour, and a day in the Jokusarlon area, where we kayaked in the Jokusarlon Glacier Lagoon, which was thrilling. Wish we had time for the Westfjords, but we know we’ll be back!

Hotel Reviews

Tower Suites Reykjavík

Reykjavík

Wow, what a room, what a view! Very clean and largest of all the rooms we stayed in, truly luxurious but that is what I wanted for our last night in Iceland. Our room was warm and they said it had air conditioning, which is rare in Iceland, but it wasn’t working, so they set up a Dyson fan and opened an unreachable window to cool it off for us and it was fine. You can see over the whole city and the ocean. They bring breakfast to your room at the time you select. You do need a key card to get to their floor at the top of an office building, so they need to know when you arrive. We walked to a local place for dinner, Potturinn og Pannan, which was great and an 8 minute walk. A special experience.

Authenticity & Character

Location

On the outskirts of town, but not a too far walk to the main drag, about 17 minutes.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hótel Jökulsárlón - Glacier Lagoon Hotel

Hofn

Beautiful hotel, only 2 years old, just 10 minutes past the Lagoon. Nice clean and spacious room, although quite warm since it was sunny, but they had Vornado fans in our room and we used them! They said breakfast did not come with the room since it was booked through a third party, but the coffee and tea you could still get from the dining room at no charge. We had a great dinner there. There are 3 big hot tubs overlooking the glacier, which we used, and that was nice.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Black Beach Suites

Vik I Myrdal

We arrived very early, but were able to get checked in so that we could drop our bags and rest before that day’s activities. The room was spacious, clean and comfortable and had a back deck so that after dark we could monitor the Aurora situation, and they came out so that we could see them with our naked eyes, which for me was a highlight! They do not offer free breakfast and their restaurant is basic, so we went into Vik and got Black Crust Pizza, which was very good, and brought it back to the room, which had plates, utensils, and everything you’d need to do that or even make your own dinner. We also purchased breakfast fixings for the next morning, which we stowed in the small refrigerator in the room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Nice view of the ocean in the distance.

Staff

There seemed to be one woman manning the restaurant and the check in and she was a bit overwhelmed.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Rangá

Hella

Loved this hotel! The room was very comfortable and Montana-esque, so we felt immediately at home. The staff could not do enough for you, they were wonderful! The breakfast had so many options and we ate here for dinner all 4 nights because it was so good. Don’t miss their signature mushroom soup!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very, very kind and thoughtful staff!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hótel Varmaland

Borgarnes

In the middle of nowhere, but very quiet and comfortable room with nice breakfast and fantastic restaurant for dinner.

Authenticity & Character

Outside looks a bit sterile but inside is modern and beautiful.

Location

Good midpoint for Snaefellsness Peninsula and other activities.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Eyja

Reykjavik

On the outskirts of town, but they have parking and the walk to town and good restaurants was easy. Room was clean and nicely appointed.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Glacier Ice Cave Experience

Iceland

Great ride in high clearance vehicle to glacier, fitted with crampons, then followed guide through a trail up the glacier to the ice cave, which was beautiful. The ice changes every day due to melt and refreeze, so the cave was pretty small at the beginning of September, but I would still do it again.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Víðgelmir Lava Cave Experience

Iceland

The guide was very nice and informative, but this was the least favorite of our excursions. If you go to the Perlan Museum in Reykjavik, or the Harpa exhibit in Reykjavik, you see the same thing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Laugarás Lagoon - Lerki

Iceland

Great lagoon, very relaxing experience. Can’t be shy about showering or getting naked in front of others of the same sex. Nobody cares, though. Do it!

Quality of Experience

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon Kayaking Excursion

Iceland

They suited us up and gave us boots and then gave a lesson on how to kayak and how to get back on the kayak if you fall in. It was exhilarating! Getting up so close to the glaciers in the lagoon was a special feeling! A bit physically challenging, but oh, so worth it!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Thórsmörk Super Jeep Experience

Iceland

Great guide who has spent many years in Iceland and knew some hidden gems.

Quality of Experience

Food

Decent lunch provided. Nothing fancy.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our overall trip was amazing! Majid did a great job personalizing our trip to meet our needs. We kept changing it until the last minute and he accommodated all our changes. We walked away with lots of great memories of the trip.

We loved the kayaking on the Mediterranean sea with views of the Poseidon and ending up at a small beach and being served fresh delicious fruit. The trekking through the gorge was amazing and the lunch after was delicious. The winery with dinner from a farm to table aspect was great. The ebike tour was challenging with great views and a wonderful midway snack with fruits and cheese. Ending the last day in Crete with a full day of sailing, snorkeling and great food was fantastic. The sunset cruise was disappointing and the food at the Holiday Inn was awful so I would take those out of an itinerary.
Kimkim did a fantastic job for us. We had a family trip with lifelong memories to share.

Hotel Reviews

Holiday Inn Athens - Airport

Athens

The rooms were quite large with mini refrigerator and tea pot. There was a indoor pool, sauna and workout room. Onsite bar and restaurant also available. Staff were professional. We had complimentary dinner and breakfast. Food was terrible and it took almost 2 hours to get dinner. Breakfast buffet had many varieties but food was subpar with hot foods not hot and most of food bland. If you are going for the hotel only, I would give it a higher score but the food and restaurant service brought it down. They only had one waiter! He worked hard but could only do so much. Need a new chef and more waitstaff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Only a gas station next door but within 15minutes of airport.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Spacious and comfortable bed

3 Pines Design Hotel

Heraklion Crete

Apartment was spacious. There was a rooftop with wonderful sunset views and a small pool to enjoy.

Authenticity & Character

It was large and in a neighborhood so many local sounds could be heard but still quiet at night for sleep.

Location

Within walking distance to shops and restaurants.

Staff

Very friendly and helped make some dinner reservations

Cleanliness & Comfort

Porto Veneziano Hotel

Chania

Beautiful hotel with spacious room overlooking the water. It was within walking distance of shops and restaurants. Breakfast was very good with many selections.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Checkin person was a bit frazzled but after that the staff was great.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Black out blinds helped us sleep in. Very quiet and insulated. Bed very comfortable.

Urban Frame Hotel

Athens

Rooms are typical European size. Breakfast was basic. Location was perfect. We could walk to all the sites and shopping we wanted to see and do.

Authenticity & Character

It was a basic, small hotel

Location

We could walk to the Acropolis, restaurants, shopping, Catholic church.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Kourtaliotiko Gorge Hidden Waterfall & River Trek

Chania

The driver was late and then the guide was late. Poor communication on what we really needed to bring on the trek. Guide provided wet bags but no water or snacks as promised. Fortunately, we all brought water and a few snacks. Once we were on our hike through the gorge, it was fantastic. Lunch afterwards was local and very good. The guide was very informative and helpful once we started on our hike.

Quality of Experience

Beautiful nature

Food

We had a large variety of local foods. Fantastic.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Be on time and give better instructions before the hike

Transport

40 minutes late

WOW the whole trip was amazing from airflts to ALL THE TOURS we did it was just a FANTASTIC TRIP. the KIN KIN TEAM did outstanding planning on all fazes of the transportation for us. the 2 hotels were the perfect trip for our college grandson from Rutgers university in new jersey
WILL USE KIN KIN AGAIN FOR SURE
THANK YOU
Travis N Grace

What comes to mind is my interest, long before my trip to Norway, in the Viking Age and Norwegian explorations, as demonstrated in two musical compositions: (1) "Viking" by Peter Hammill who, with vivid imagery, stirringly sings: "Looking out forward over the prow of our long ship, pulling our oars and listening..." see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oXn7m_4Cog, and (2) "Amundsen" by Justin Sullivan (while I cannot speak to this its historical accuracy, his is a fine video regarding Roald Amundsen. In taking on the explorer's persona, Mr. Sullivan sings "long ago I learned how to sail...see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_YZd6N978c.)

Without much thought of these works of art, before having arrived, and having no idea that Roald Amundsen's ship was still around, I was gladly surprised to find the ship, so well preserved, at the museum in Oslo! I was not even aware that there was such a museum in Norway. It was indeed memorable part of the trip.

And then there were the fantastic fjords, the climb made to Steinsdalsfossen waterfall, the Stave churches, the TB museum, all very rewarding. Also, while we were there the beloved King Harald passed away and with that event I was able to learn about his life. It was moving to be witness to so many of his followers paying tribute to the King at the parliament, while awaiting his funeral.

I would enjoy returning to Norway. The above accounts of my time there were made possible by Kimkim's planning, itinerary, and guidance, to include the wealth of knowledge displayed by our Oslo tour guide.

Steve

We cannot recommend Erica and our experience with KimKim enough! Erica helped us plan our Greece honeymoon and truly went above and beyond every step of the way. From the very beginning, she took the time to listen to exactly what we were envisioning and brought it to life in a way that exceeded our expectations. She was incredibly patient, flexible, and adaptable as our plans evolved, and her attention to detail gave us complete peace of mind leading up to our trip. Greece was absolutely magical, and so much of that is a direct reflection of the care and thoughtfulness she put into planning every detail. If you're looking for a travel agent who genuinely listens and delivers, look no further!

The driver who took me on the wine tour was punctual, friendly and spoke good English. I do not recall his name, but he was also my driver the following day with my tour guide William. William was very informative and knowledgeable about the history within Santiago.

Activity Reviews

Tango Show & Dinner

Buenos Aires

Tango show was very enjoyable and highly recommend it.

Quality of Experience

Transport

Driver came 30 minutes early and would not wait ten minutes. The driver left and I had to find the location and take an Uber. Poor communication with Transport drivers and Kim Kim Staff in Buenos Aires.

Buenos Aires City Tour

Buenos Aires

Very informative and enjoyable tour of Buenos Aires. Small group of 5 was enjoyable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transport to the tour van was good. When the tour ended, I had to fend for myself to get back to my hotel. Ended up walking 3 1/2 miles

Spend Your Day at Viña Santa Rita- Wine Tasting day

Chile

Hada private English tour. Very enjoyable

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Santiago City Tour Private

Santiago

My tour guide William spoke very good English and was very knowledgeable about the history of Santiago

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Driver was punctual and very freindly

Transport

Easy to connect with the transport drivers in Santiago. Had challenges with the transport drivers in Buenos Aires. Kim Kim agent was difficult to contact when in Buenos Aires.

Our recent trip to Croatia, arranged by Robi , was amazing! We had a perfect balance of activity with cycling, hiking and walking and kayaking with Tours of the city, which were fun and interesting. We had asked for some off days to relax and he gave us tips and recommendations on those as well, which were optional. Robi was very attentive, and I spoke with him daily about the plans and modified some that I thought would work better with our schedule. Our guides were great from Zagreb with Andrey and Stephen to Sofia and Zadar and Perro in split. They were all engaging and informative. We spent three days with Goran and he took us cycling, wine tasting, and island hopping on a speedboat and we had a blast. He has a great sense of humor and my husband really bonded with him over cycling and music and those few days were super special. I don’t have one criticism about the trip as it was executed perfectly. All of the guides and Transportation people were on time and friendly. We rented a car and that was seamless. So if you’re going to Croatia, which I highly recommend, use Robi at kimkim and you will not be disappointed. We travel a lot, and I feel confident to say this was our best trip ever!

Hotel Reviews

Valamar Collection Dubrovnik President Hotel

Dubrovnik

We are soooo glad stayed here instead of old town. Last stop or first depending on direction on bus to and from old town so very convenient. Fabulous brunch. Big hotel on big beach with loungers included. A great place to come after seeing g old town and walking the walls.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

https://www.facebook.com/VillaRadicSton/

Ston

Good location and good breakfast. Small town but relaxed setting for our activities.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Aminess Liburna Hotel

Korčula

Modern hotel on water with a small seal tester pool. Beautiful view across to old town. Walk easy .45 minutes to old town on a path next to water. Rented bikes and went wine tasting and to lumbarda and sandy beach. Easy to get around.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Devecchi rooms

Hvar

Adorable old building in great neighborhood with great harbor view. Made to order breakfast just for us in the dining room. Small hotel really a house into air bnb.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Marul

Split

Great breakfast and location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bastion Heritage Hotel—Relais & Châteaux

Zadar

Cool hotel in historic building

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Dubrovnik

Zagreb

Amazing breakfast. Best on our trip. Good location modern hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Cavtat

Cavtat

Adorable town and relaxing. The hotel is right across from cute restaurant and beach. Loved it.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our room had terrace with view of ocean and road

Activity Reviews

Cycling On Pelješac Penisula To Ston

Croatia

Wine tasting on Pelješac peninsula

Croatia

Explore Cavtat

Croatia

We loved this cute relaxing city. We had a great meal and overall experience at restaurant recommended by our Dubrovnik guide Annie. She was very good I may have forgotten to mention

Quality of Experience

Visit to Šibenik

Croatia

I could have skipped but my husband really liked seeing the 3 fortresses high on the hills.

Quality of Experience

Private boat trip to Elafiti islands

Croatia

Great day. Flexible. Walked across one island with Goran and heard stories of his youth there. Had lunch at another island and swam different coves. Great day.

Quality of Experience

Dubrovnik Old Town and the City Walls

Croatia

We walked the walls at 8 am. Hot but beat the cruisers another good time would be 6 pm if cruise leave at 8 which you can google. Very crowded in day but lovely at night. Take cable car to Panorama restaurant and make reservations 6 months ahead if possible for good table.

Quality of Experience

Cycling Mljet island and National Park

Croatia

See prior

Pelješac peninsula and Ston- triple atraction.

Croatia

Rode e-bikes in amazing nearly car free roads and went to great winery something like Matusko. Took car ferry tour Mljet and beautiful ride to park with “lakes” actually sea water still but warmer.

Quality of Experience

Our guide Goran was amazing. Fun smart flexible and really bonded with my husband as a new friend.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit to Korčula island and town

Korčula

Loved old town and our hotel location

Quality of Experience

Explore Hvar or boat trip to Blue cave and neighbouring islands and coves

Hvar

See prior review

Explore Hvar, active or leisure day

Hvar

See prior review

Hvar island and town

Hvar

Adorable old town. We kayaked to islands and spent the day there. Did speed boat tour and loved out Skipper named Dario. Kinoba boat tours or something like that stopped and swam many spots and saw blue cave.

Quality of Experience

Explore Split area - Trogir and Klis

Split

Trogir was very crowded since it was a little drizzly so usually not like that I’ve heard. Very cute and my husband really loved it. Had great meal at Casa del Dino. Relaxing day once we sat down.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Split & Diocletian's palace

Split

Great guide and he was funny. Whe organized the tour so we saw Klapa singers and we loved them.

Quality of Experience

Klapa singers

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very knowledgeable. We loved he is a marine biologist and could laugh about the Seinfeld episode.

Transport

We drove ourselves and it was easy

Explore Plitvice Lakes National Park

Croatia

We did 8 am entry. I wish we had done 7 am. It’s beautiful but very crowded so earlier start a few less people. Enter as early as possible. Stay overnight in the area

Quality of Experience

Zagorje region and castles visit and Zagreb overnight

Zagreb

The guide Stjepan was good and drive pretty. My husband loved the area to put the history in to perspective. Personally I could have skipped the day but just because I loved the Dalmatian coast much more.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Very friendly guide

Valentine was a pleasure to work with. The itinerary she curated for us was well planned with thoughtful touches. Her communication before and during the trip was prompt and knowledgeable—she answered all of our questions and helped us make some changes on the fly which made our trip feel seamless. We really couldn’t have asked for a better family vacation—the accommodations, activities, and recommendations for things to do were all nicely tailored to ensure our young kids had a great time. Because of Valentine’s efforts, we were able to just kick back, relax, and focus on having a great time in Switzerland!

We had an absolutely fantastic experience traveling through Morocco!

From the very beginning, communication with Hassan was seamless. He was incredibly responsive, helpful, and worked with us to customize the itinerary based on exactly what we wanted from the trip. The entire planning process felt easy and well organized, and we really appreciated how flexible and attentive he was to our needs.

A huge part of what made the trip so special was our driver, Ismail, who was with us for 7 days as we traveled around the country. He was amazing—kind, helpful, patient, and incredibly knowledgeable. We learned so much from him about Moroccan culture, daily life, history, and the different places we visited. Having him with us made the entire trip feel easy, comfortable, and much more meaningful.

We also really appreciated how Hassan and Ismail handled an unexpected issue we had with our hotel in Fes. As soon as we let them know there was a problem, they were incredibly responsive and helped us find and book another accommodation. They made what could have been a stressful situation feel easy and taken care of, which really showed us the level of service they provide.

All of the local guides arranged for us were excellent as well. They were knowledgeable, engaging, and gave us a much deeper appreciation for each city and region.

The accommodations throughout the trip were beautiful and exceeded our expectations. Everything was well organized, and we felt very well taken care of from start to finish.

Overall, we had an incredible time in Morocco and came home with so many wonderful memories. We would absolutely recommend Under the Moroccan Sun, and especially Ismail, to anyone planning a trip to Morocco!