Kimkim Trip Reviews

I worked with Ben for a number of months to personalize a very special trip to Japan. He could not have been more accommodating, and he answered every question in a timely manner. He made wonderful suggestions, and we weren’t disappointed anywhere along the line.

We had three different guides, Ursula, Sorata, and Pitt - each lovely and knowledgeable. We enjoyed spending our days with them very much.

Everything promised was delivered, and even more. Ben even arranged for a birthday cake for me - a delightful surprise.

Our time in Japan was filled with wonderful memories, beautiful experiences, and gracious interactions. We can’t wait to come back!

Hotel Reviews

PROSTYLE Ryokan Yokohama Bashamichi

Yokohama

Good location, nice room. Easy access to subway, restaurants and shopping.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

THE KNOT HIROSHIMA

Hiroshima

Love this hotel! Great location next to the Peace Park. Easy access to shopping and food. Overall, a nice hipster boutique hotel, if that’s where you’re looking for. Nice high floor bar.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Onyado Nono Namba Natural Hot Spring

Osaka

Our only disappointment on the trip. This hotel, although in a great location and clean, is not the most comfortable. Tiny room. We could barely put our clothes or suitcases anywhere. It feels more like a family budget hotel, and we were paying luxury prices.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Gion Elite Terrace

Great location! Clean and comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Kamakura Ancient Capital Tour: Great Buddha & Zen Temples (Public Transport)

Japan

I had visited, Kamakura before, but my husband had not. I wanted him to see the Buddha and bamboo forest and it could not have been a more perfect day, weatherwise. We thoroughly enjoyed it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Miyajima’s World Heritage & Serene Temples: Guided Full-Day Tour with Public Transfer & Ferry

Hiroshima

This was always on my bucket list, and it did not disappoint. Beautiful setting, nice day overall.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Osaka's Dual Charms Guided Tour: Tsutenkaku, Namba Yasaka Shrine & Kuromon Market with Public Transportation

Osaka

The tower, — it’s a bit touristy. If you like going up the Eiffel Tower, or to the Statue of Liberty, or to the top of the Empire State building, then this is that type of experience. But we enjoyed walking in the nearby neighborhood and stopping by Four for a night local lunch. We also had a nice walk through a beautiful park. Be careful at Kuromon market if you order Uni. They hide the prices a bit, and there might be a little sticker shock at the end.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Himeji: Exploring Japan’s First Famous Castle and Tranquil Gardens （by public transport）

Osaka

Fascinating castle with an interesting history. The gardens nearby were beautiful. Be prepared for a lot of steps.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hidden Paths of Arashiyama:Tea Ceremony ,Moss Temples and Kaiseki Dinner with Maiko Performance（Private Guide, Public Transportation）

Kyoto

Arashimaya was fabulous! Highly recommend going there - just glorious in spring. The tea ceremony and Maiko experience felt a bit touristy, but if you want to be dressed in a kimono for tea, then this might be for you. But our guide Ursula was wonderful!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to the Galapagos was very well planned. We enjoyed our few days on land ,interacting with the local culture.
Our cruise on the Treasure was fabulous. The Staff and Captain were excellent ,educational including a delicious variety of snacks,drinks and meals.

Thank you Paul

Thank you for a beautiful & memorable trip! We started out with a flight delay & missed flight connection, so we lost our first day in Edinburgh. Thank you for booking the room in London & a train to Edinburgh the next day. Loved the Edinburgh Castle(quite the uphill hike) and high tea for my birthday. Toured 4 amazing castles, saw 2 castle ruins, boat trip on Loch Ness, boat trip in Oban. We hiked to the fairy pools-gorgeous! All accommodations were comfortable with kind & efficient staff. Everything was organized & easy to follow on your app.

Paula was absolutely wonderful! She was very responsive, helpful, and informative in planning everything for this trip where we could be completely at ease during our trip. Her dedication to working with us from months prior all the way to during the trip itself was incredibly helpful. We would not have been able to have the same experience without her help making the planning process so much easier along with making the trip itself stress free. Not needing to worry about booking tours, hotels, flights, and especially transportation to and from everywhere allowed us to completely enjoy our trip rather than worry. We would definitely recommend booking with kimkim and Paula!

We just came back from a 2 week trip to Peru. KimKim did an amazing job. We had a well rounded tour, starting in Lima to Cusco, Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley, Puno, then back to Lima. Everything went according to plan. The tour guides were wonderful. Pick ups were always on time. It could not have been better.
Thank you!

Activity Review

Urban Kitchen Experience

Lima

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a lovely experience with visiting 4 cities in southern Spain: Madrid, Granada, Seville and Cordoba. We had tours and tickets arranged for key sites like the Alhambra in Granada, the King's Palace in Madrid and audio guides for The Prado Museum (Madrid), the Alcazar and Seville Cathedral in Seville. Our driver Joan and guide Angel in Cordoba were wonderful. Otherwise, we did a lot of reading up on what to see and do on free days so we could wander at our own pace. All of our guides were so knowledgable, fun and were so patient with all of our questions. Yassime was wonderful planning the trip with us and finding hotels that were right in the heart of old towns and so close to walk to everything. They worked with MOBT Global to make a seamless travel experience. Anna was our go to person and was so helpful and checked in with us often, keeping us up to date for transfers and driver information. When we traveled in Marrakech and Fes, we had the nicest driver Said who became our friend immediately! He was such a good conversationist that our drives would fly by and we learned so much about each other's cultures. Our guide, Ahmed, in Marrakesh was awesome. He really took care of us, going at a slower pace, getting a tuk-tuk for farther distances. Sahara was our amazing guide in Fes and was so full of energy, smiles and so much history. We traveled the souks on a Friday when almost everything was closed and there were hardly any tourists around. We got to hear about the real Fes, culture and people.

Every driver and guide we had was super. The food tour with Iva was very interesting. I only wish we'd been warned to eat a light breakfast. Zoran was a very punctual, informative and pleasant driver. We enjoyed the War museum with him and Plitvice Lakes exceeded all expectations. Our walking guide, Joseph, in Split was wonderful - so patient, pleasant and informative. The walk itself was perfect for our abilities and the Peka lunch delicious.

The cooking class was probably my favorite activity. Tomi is a great teacher and made me a much braver cook. I know the boat excursion in Dubrovnik with Simon would have been a favorite if the weather had been more pleasant. Ah well, Simon's cheery personality made up for it.

All 4 hotels were very comfortable and the breakfasts were amazing.

We planned to visit Croatia some time ago with no idea what to schedule. You planned our itinerary perfectly.

Activity Reviews

Croatian Cooking Class

Split

Tomi is fun, informative and patient. We had a tour through the markets to get the food we would be preparing. the school where we prepared our food was wonderful to work in. I learned to skin a fish, chop swiss chard and knead bread with confidence. This was a very fun activity

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Zagreb - walking food tour!

Zagreb

Iva was very informative guide through the old city. Delicious traditional food. Definitely go on an empty stomach 'cuz you'll get a lot to eat.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The choice of four of the most spectacular Argentinian locations (the Lake Country - Bariloche, the wine country – Mendoza, the rain forest – Iguazu, and Buenos Aires) was excellent for first-time explorers like us in the country. The Kimkim team was highly interactive, asking about and responding to our interests, suggesting locations, and working with us at every step. The team was especially responsive in working with us to revise and adapt the original plan when a significant ‘hitch’ occurred on our part.
We can’t say enough positive things about the planning and care by staff (Micaela & Julieta): every ride was there when promised, the guides (Sabrina and Rodriguez) were beyond excellent with their in-depth knowledge and interpretation, the choice of hotels (espeically the boutique hotel in Palermo/Soho and the Yurt at Pristine Camp) , and regular contact with us to make sure all was well.
Though all parts of the trip were superb, the cooking class Lamadrid Winery in Mendoza and the Iguazu Falls in Iguazu were fun and engaging.
This was our second Kimkim trip planning experience, and it’s not likely to be the last!! Thank you, Kimkim!!

Activity Review

Half Day Dinner & Tango Show with Lesson included

Buenos Aires

Superb! It started off with us two - 86 and 83 years young - working our way through a Tango lesson. Even have a video to share (if we choose!). Then a stage-side dinner show. Dinner was good, the Tango show (90 minutes) was fun and superb. It happened that the couple sharing our table had their daughter as a part of one of the Tango teams. That added some 'connection' for us, and after the show, we had our pictures taken with the daughter and her Tango partner.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Always there when promised; courteous and sometimes conversant drivers

Our trip to South Korea with Kimkim was truly the trip of a lifetime—honestly, it exceeded even our highest expectations. We were already passionate about South Korea, its culture, history, food, and of course BTS, so we came with a long “must-see” list. We shared those dreams with Kimkim, and somehow they turned every one of them into reality—and then added so much more.

From the very beginning in Seoul, Kimkim hit the nail on the head. As BTS fans, visiting places significant to their journey to stardom was incredibly meaningful, and Kimkim thoughtfully wove those experiences into our itinerary. But beyond that, they immersed us in Korean culture in the most unforgettable ways. Wearing traditional hanboks while exploring Gyeongbokgung Palace felt like stepping into history. Walking through Bukchon Hanok Village was magical, and visiting N Seoul Tower gave us breathtaking views of Seoul we will never forget.

And then there was Wookie—our guide in Seoul, Andong, and Busan—who was simply exceptional. Wookie was not just a guide; he felt like a friend we were lucky enough to travel with. He listened when we told him one of our biggest wishes was simple: “Take us where you like to eat.” And wow, did he deliver. Our food experiences were beyond anything we imagined—from Korean fried chicken, Andong’s famous jjimdak, and incredible seaweed soup in Busan, to even stopping at a roadside rest area where we had one of the most memorable lunches and tasted warm hodugwaja donuts (still dreaming about those!). Through food alone, Wookie gave us a deeper connection to Korea.

Our journey to Andong was full of surprises and authentic moments. Wandering through the traditional market, interacting with the kind and welcoming shopkeepers, and experiencing the cultural village with its mask performance during cherry blossom season felt like walking through another era. It was one of those places that leaves a permanent mark on your heart.

Then came Busan, and once again Wookie made us feel less like tourists and more like locals. Riding the Busan Sky Capsule was unforgettable and something we highly recommend. From exploring the BIFF district and fish markets to wandering through one of the world’s largest department stores, every day felt alive with discovery.

Just when we thought the trip couldn’t get any better, we arrived in Jeju Island and met Clover—another extraordinary guide who gave us an entirely different, but equally incredible, side of Korea. Clover was warm, knowledgeable, adventurous, and so much fun to spend time with. She made Jeju feel magical.

With Clover, we visited a BTS-themed café, explored the fascinating Jeju Haenyeo Museum, and climbed Seongsan Ilchulbong where we were lucky enough to witness the legendary women divers in action—absolutely breathtaking. She introduced us to foods we never would have discovered on our own, including eun-galchi (silver hairtail fish), which I still crave, and the black pork BBQ experience… honestly, we nearly cried over how delicious it was.

Another unforgettable day was visiting Jeongbang Falls with Clover. For adventurous travelers, this is a must. Sitting by the water eating fresh-caught abalone and conch was one of those spontaneous travel moments you remember forever. We also marveled at the dramatic beauty of Daepo Jusangjeolli Cliff and its stunning hexagonal rock formations.

And I would be remiss not to mention the hotels Kimkim selected, which elevated the trip even further. The Westin Josun Seoul, Signiel Busan, and Grand Hyatt Jeju all had the most welcoming, gracious staff. Everywhere we stayed, we felt less like guests at a hotel and more like we were being welcomed into someone’s home.

What made this trip so special wasn’t just the destinations—it was how personal and thoughtfully curated every moment felt. Kimkim didn’t just plan a vacation; they created an experience full of heart, culture, adventure, and memories we will treasure forever.

And Wookie and Clover… they made this journey extraordinary. Their warmth, humor, knowledge, and genuine care transformed this from a tour into something deeply personal and unforgettable.

We can say without hesitation: Kimkim gave us the trip of a lifetime. South Korea stole our hearts all over again, and thanks to Kimkim, we are already dreaming of coming back. If there is ever a reason to return for another adventure (and we hope there is!), we would book with Kimkim again in a heartbeat.

Thank you for memories we will carry forever.

First off, I want to appreciate our agent, Coraima. She planned a terrific trip! Sh was very knowledgeable and really took great care of us through out the journey. Our Spain trip included three locations, Barcelona, Valencia and Madrid. Through it all, Kimkim was there for us and really made the journey easy. The Kimkim AP is a bit of a work in progress, but the key to what make this group work is how responsive the whole team was when we needed them. 24/7 they all seemed to be there for us.

Hotels? Good solid choices with central locations, good breakfasts and very helpful concierge.

Travel was easy. Either drivers, uber, or trains were all accessible and simply laid out in our schedule.

Tours were all a little crowded, but we’re not really “crowd” people. The one thing I will say is that across the board we met the nicest people! The leaders of the tours were all very knowledgeable and engaging. “Just enough” is how I would describe them all.

Favorite experiences…probably “paella cooking lessons.” Shout out to our chef who was SO entertaining and dynamic! Personally, I could have lived without the flamingo dancing and tapas evening. Not that it wasn’t entertaining (and this is subjective)… but the tapas were just ok and the performance was just a little cheesy.

Extra note…both my wife and I caught colds. The hotel in Barcelona sent us a doctor who was amazing and the medical system in Spain was really remarkable. Easy access pharmacies and educated help.

Bottom line, we just had a sensational time!!

Working with Penny from KimKim was a pleasure from start to finish. She was so easy to work with and I could tell she loves her job. She created a dream trip with everything we asked for to make my husband’s 50th birthday feel special. Every hotel and excursion was spot on, and the private transfers made everything seamless and worry free.
We decided to travel in the shoulder season over Easter and Greek Orthodox Easter and Penny made sure the places we visited were open and ready for visitors. We normally plan our own trips but since we wanted to visit various islands and we were traveling in the shoulder season, I wanted to make sure we didn’t encounter any issues. Plus, who wants to stress over a two week celebratory trip? I can tell you we never stressed on this trip!
We stayed in Athens, Chania and Heraklion in Crete, Imerovigli in Santorini, and Chora, the port in Naxos. Crete and Santorini were our favorite islands. All of the islands had their own beauty and the Greek people were always so friendly and welcoming. Greece is very clean and crime free, at least where we were! Our hotels were amazing, our favorites being the SanSal next to the old town in Chania and Cresanto Luxury Suites. Both were very close and walkable to restaurants and shopping. The guest relations/ concierge were wonderfully helpful and fun to talk to. The rooms were spacious. SanSal had the best sea view and Cresanto had the best shower with instant hot water the whole trip. There was a bit of construction happening at Cresanto while we were there but the room was soundproof and it didn’t bother us. They are expanding. we had our own plunge pool but the weather was still chilly so we didn’t take advantage. I will say it is not very private as the walkway is right in front of the pool so even though it is private from the suites on either side, anyone walking past can see right in.
Our favorite experiences on the trip were a Cretan cooking class in the White Mountains booked by Penny, and experiencing Santorini over Greek Orthodox Easter, specifically the Pyrgos Fire Celebration on Good Friday. I’m only calling out a couple things but we did have an excursion almost daily, most coordinated through Penny at KimKim and they were all great. The cooking class stood out because it took place in a sweet couple’s home who were so hospitable, we had a wonderful small group, a cozy fire (chilly, rainy day) and got to feed the neighbor’s sheep. Mr. George, the husband even shared his personal barrel of wine with us which was wonderful and he had put it in the barrel when he was 15. Great stories and family history. Fun and informative tour guide who interpreted for us as Mr. George didn’t speak English and his wife (very sweet and head chef) only spoke a small amount but was hilarious. We ate what we made and everyone had a wonderful time.
The Pyrgos village lights up on Good Friday with giant candles over every possible surface. It made the most beautiful and memorable sight, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus. It’s an entire procession through the hilltop village along with burning crosses. Wall to wall people as Greeks come from all over to celebrate. This was a once in a lifetime experience and something only done on Santorini. If you find yourself in Santorini over this timeframe I encourage you to attend this must see event.
Penny, thank you for putting so much thought into our trip and for always being available to answer questions. Oh also, we did very much enjoy the couples massage you arranged for us in Athens! Thank you for everything!
I highly recommend KimKim for planning your next trip! I’ve already recommended them to everyone I’ve talked to about our fabulous trip and I hope we take another trip where we are able to use them soon!

Hotel Reviews

Cresanto Luxury Suites

Santorini

Very close and walkable to restaurants and shopping in nearby Imerovigli. Angela was wonderfully helpful and fun to talk to. The suite was spacious and unique with the sky light. Cresanto had the best shower with instant hot water the whole trip. There was a bit of construction happening at Cresanto while we were there but the room was soundproof and it didn’t bother us. They are expanding. we had our own plunge pool but the weather was still chilly so we didn’t take advantage. I will say the personal pool is not very private as the walkway is right in front of it so even though it is private from the suites on either side, anyone walking past can see right in.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Angela

Cleanliness & Comfort

SanSal Boutique Hotel

Chania

My husband and I loved this hotel. It was walkable to everything and had great sea views. We also loved the spacious room. Very clean and the concierge/ guest relations team were wonderful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to old town

Staff

Everyone we encountered at the front desk was terrific as was the restaurant/ bar staff.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Villages of Naxos Tour

Naxos

Our favorite stop was the pottery shop! Marble village was also cool. Oh and the olive oil press where we were able to do a tasting of olives and olive oil.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Santorini Cultural Highlights Guided Tour with Wine Tasting

Santorini

This was a private tour and we loved our tour guide. She was very knowledgeable and easy going. It was a lovely day to wander around Santorini.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The 7 Villages Of Apokoronas Small-group Tour

Greece

We enjoyed wandering up the mountainside and visiting different village. From tea, to cheese, to lunch, it was a relaxing day. We also loved wandering around the orange orchard and grabbed a great view of the white capped mountains from an unexpected spot.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Real Cretan Cooking Small-Group Experience

Chania

Our favorite of the trip! Don’t miss out. The cooking class stood out because it took place in a sweet couple’s home who were so hospitable, we had a wonderful small group, a cozy fire (chilly, rainy day) and got to feed the neighbor’s sheep. Mr. George, the husband even shared his personal barrel of wine with us which was wonderful and he had put it in the barrel when he was 15. Great stories and family history. Fun and informative tour guide who interpreted for us as Mr. George didn’t speak English and his wife (very sweet and head chef) only spoke a small amount but was hilarious. We ate what we made and everyone had a wonderful time.

Quality of Experience

Wonderful and informative tour guide, and the sweetest family.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Acropolis & Acropolis Museum Private Guided Tour

Athens

The guide was extremely knowledgeable! Poor weather but it made for fewer crowds which was a bonus especially while exploring the grounds.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

It was more than a trip it was an experience. The sights,sounds and food were amazing. Spain was a bucket list destination and was a blessing. There are not enough words to express how grateful I am for the experience and for Giorgia and KimKim who did an amazing job for our group

Hotel Review

Hotel & Spa Plaza Mercado

Valencia

The rooms are comfortable and the staff was courteous and very accommodating. Excellent

Authenticity & Character

Location

The shops were within walking distance of hotel

Staff

So accommodating and polite

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very accommodating and polite

Activity Reviews

An Evening of Flamenco

Madrid

The culture of Madrid flamenco was amazing

Quality of Experience

The culture of the dance and seeing it live was amazing

Transport

Went by cab during rush hour so give yourself time

Cook Paella like a Valenciano

Valencia

This was amazing. From shopping in the market to cooking. Truly an amazing experience. Highly recommend i

Quality of Experience

The staff at this class is so warm and friendly that we were sad to say goodbye

Food

The paella that we made was awesome as were the appetizers they were so kind to provide

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Professional, polite and engaging

Transport

Not applicable as we went by cab

Mediterranean Sailing Experience & Live Spanish Guitar Music

Barcelona

It was beautiful. I’ve been on similar excursions in other areas I traveled but this was the best. Intimate and beautiful

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The captain of the boat was engaging and friendly

Transport

We took cans there so not applicable

Barcelona in Bites: Tapas as Local

Barcelona

This was so amazing. Learning the history of specific tapas and culture was great. The tapas were amazing

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was awesome

Transport

We walked to meet the guide

Wonderful itenerary to get a taste of all the cities we visited in our very first trip to Italy. Hotels were excellent with only one small issue in Rome, but Anita got that taken care of. Our tour guides were all extraordinary and we liked them all. For 70+ year olds perhaps no more 7 hour tours with a lot of walking. Three to four hours seemed to be the best. I think our favorite cities were Florence, Sorrento, and Palermo. Our wine tastings and pairings were superb! And our cooking class in Palermo with Chef Marco was a special delight.
All in all an incredible once in a lifetime experience. Grazie mille, Alan y John

Thanks to Trang we had a wonderful trip throughout Vietnam. She was immediately responsive and open to our thoughts during both the planning stage and our actual travels throughout the country. She was checking in with us almost daily to see how we liked our hotel, day’s activities and/or local guide. When we needed her assistance at one hotel, she took care of it immediately. She also made sure all hotels and local guides were aware of my dietary restriction. Overall her planning allowed us to experience a wide range of sights and experiences. We used a number of local guides and drivers throughout the trip. The guides English skills were generally very good and enhanced our experience.

Hotel Reviews

Pistachio Hotel Sapa

Very nice hotel with stunning views. Room was very nice with balcony overlooking mountains. Breakfast was very good. Staff was also.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Sinfonía Majesty Hotel and Spa

Lovely small hotel. We stayed here before and after our trip to Sapa. Great location and front desk staff was wonderful. Rooms were very nice overall. Breakfast was wonderful. Nice small rooftop bar with good view.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Chay Lap Farmstay

Phong Nha

The area is beautiful but the hotel is rather run down at this point. When we were brought to our first room it was so tiny we had no where to open our suitcases other than in the bathroom. There was no storage and the room was run down. We asked to move but had to get our travel agent involved. After that we did move that night to a better room where we could at least move around in our room. We moved again the next night to what they consider their deluxe rooms because the prior room was reserved. While the room was a good size and charming in its on way, we had a large hole in the floor in the gap between the bathroom door and the room where you could look right outside! We stuffed a towel in the hole to keep bugs and critters out. We did enjoy the free bikes and kayaks.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

TTC Imperial Hotel

Hue

Very nice hotel. We had a lovely room. Breakfast buffet was good. The gym room needs significant improvement. Staff was good but not as friendly or helpful as other hotels we stayed at. We arrived early but we could not check in for hours. There was also a mix up on what room we were in at check in after we went to the wrong room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rivertown Hoi An Resort & Spa

We loved this hotel. We enjoyed the location, pool area, food and staff. Our room was fine too.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was very clean. Room was a nice size and comfortable. We enjoyed the balcony also.

Can Tho Ecolodge

Can Tho

We wish we could have stayed here more than one night. The room was beautiful, the pool area was lovely and the restaurant was very good. It is a nice place to rest for a day or two.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful grounds and room

Location

Near sights

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Amazing room. Wanted to stay another night to enjoy it and the grounds.

Silverland Yen Hotel

Ho Chi Minh City

The hotel was in a great location and the lobby and common areas were very nice. The staff was amazing. The morning breakfast was also wonderful. The pool area is tiny but a very pretty and a really nice spot to relax for a bit after a hot day. Our only negative was that the room was very basic, a bit tight, and the furniture was worn. Otherwise it was a very nice stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to main sights.

Staff

Front desk staff.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The hotel was very clean but the room was not comfortable per se. it was fine.

Activity Reviews

Half-day Cu Chi Tunnels afternoon tour

Ho Chi Minh City

Very interesting and educational experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanoi - Sapa – Tram Ton Pass – Love Waterfall - Sapa (Limousine Bus, Private Tour)

Sapa

Pretty but very touristy

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanoi - Ninh Binh: Hoa Lu, Ancient Capital & Tam Coc Boat Trip - Hanoi

Vietnam

This day trip did not make a lot of sense for us. We had just left the Phong Nga cave area and arrived in Hanoi the day before after a long drive. This was a 2 hour drive back towards the area we just left. We had already done other boat rides and seen amazing caves. The visit to the UNESCO site is significant from an historical point of view but it is just ruins.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sapa – Explore local villages (Lao Chai - Ta Van - Cat Cat village)

Sapa

Our local guide understood that we did not want to spend our time here in a car or bus. So he arranged for us to do a beautiful hike through the villages after he gauged our fitness levels. We hiked 11 miles and managed to see quieter and more authentic areas than the very touristy town of Sapa. It was one of our favorite days.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We walked from hotel and a driver met us at end.

Hanoi - Halong Bay, Overnight on Cruise

Vietnam

We loved this experience and it was the perfect way to end our trip. The boat was beautiful. We loved the woodwork, common areas, food, and the staff. We were surprised when we were upgraded to the presidential suite which was gorgeous. Yes Halong bay is way too crowded but when the boat manages to move through quieter parts of the bay it is stunning.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

All was planned very well. We had a wonderful time in the Galapagos. They even planned a nice 50th Birthday dinner at a fancy restaurant including the cake in Santa Cruz, Galapagos. They accommodated when I had to cancel at the last minute an excursion due to my wife getting sick, and they were able to reschedule for the following day without to much hassle for me. Hotels were very nice as well as the private driver. They had somebody with us from the time we landed in Quito to the time we left Baltra back to Quito. I appreciate this attention to customer service. I would definitely travel with them again.

Majid (our coordinator), Red (our guide), and Ishaam (our driver) all did a fantastic job.

PRE-TRIP
Majid worked with us to set up a custom itinerary and was knowledgeable, prompt, and available for all questions and concerns before and during our trip. We opted for a trip with luxury stays in highly rated hotels and riads. One of the most helpful pieces of information he provided was regarding acceptable tips for guides, drivers, etc.. Our group referenced his recommendations throughout the trip.

FOOD
Breakfast was included in the price, and Majid made dinner reservations for us whenever we requested it. Red took us to all of our lunch spots. We paid for both lunch and dinner. A note for vegetarians and vegans: While there are veg options for Moroccan food (salads, bread, veg tagine and couscous), it can get pretty repetitive after a while. So just be prepared to break your Moroccan meals up with other cuisines if you have access to them!

TRAVEL
Over the course of 9 days, we went to Chefchaouen, Fes, Merzouga desert, the Atlas mountains, and Marrakesh. As a group of 12 with 4 kids, it was so helpful to have a guide as energetic and positive as Red accompanying us throughout our travels. We were on the road a lot, and were in very good hands with Ishaam, who expertly and safely navigated through different types of terrain.

Because of our packed itinerary and time on the road, we didn't have too much time to shop. I would have loved to have had a bit more time to get more souvenirs and gifts.

OVERALL
Everyone we met was so warm and welcoming, and it was extremely helpful to have Red with us to navigate the language and culture. The guides we met along the way in Chefchaouen, Fes, and Morocco were very knowledgeable as well.

The best parts: I loved being in Fes and learning more about the intellectual and cultural capital of Morocco. Having 2 days in the desert right in the middle of the trip was a great call as well. After hours on the road and in bustling cities and towns, the calm and quiet of the desert was exactly what we needed to feel rejuvenated.

Highly recommend using KimKim and working with this team. A big thank you to Red, Ishaam, and Majid, for such a wonderful trip!

Driver, Mohammed, excellent. Riad in Fes nice, but riad in Marrakech had black mold and room odor. Riad in Ait Benadu was excellent. All guides were good and their tours very informative. The hike in the High Atlas was one of the highlights of our trip, as was the Sahara Desert camel trek and tent campsite. We had an excellent time. Our only areas we felt could be improved were drive times (unavoidable) and the constant solicitation by souk owners and individuals, but we realize that is a way of life in Morocco.

Hotel Reviews

Riad Chergui

Marrakech

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Ksar Ighnda

Ait Benhaddou

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Madu Desert Camps

Merzouga

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad El Yacout

Fès

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full-Day Hike in Imlil Village, Return to Marrakech

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour in Marrakech

Marrakesh

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Aït Benhaddou to Marrakech via Tizi n'Tichka Pass & the High Atlas Mountains

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fes to Merzouga Sunset Camel Ride and Overnight in the Desert via Ifrane, Azrou, Midelt & Erfoud

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Meknes & the Roman Ruins of Volubilis

Fes

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour in Fes

Fes

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our family had an awesome time in Costa Rica. The Kim Kim Team and Serendipity Team made this a trip that we will never forget. We are looking forward to doing this trip all over again next year

We just returned on a 10 day trip to Turkiye.
Corbeico did a fantastic job or planning, booking and the executing the trip. We worked with Buse to plan our entire trip and tailored it to what we wanted to do. She was very patient in terms of answering my questions and making useful suggestions. We made our own hotel bookings because we wanted better quality hotels. Each pickup and drop off was perfectly on time. Their people were always at the airport to pick us up on time. We never had to wait around. Their vans were clean and the drivers were punctual. Our Istanbul guide Ismail showed us around for 3 days. We had a great day of seeing the main Sultanahment area sites- Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Bascilica Cistern, Topkapi palaceband Harem were the highlights. Ismail then took us to Dolmabacche Palace (a bit over the top), the grand Sulemaniye mosque, Egyptian Spice market, Ortakoy and a Bosphorus cruise. In between we went to Cappadocia and the returned for a day to the Asian side of Istanbul. Ismail was again our guide and took us around to Camlica hill, Uskadur, Kuzguncuk and Kadikoy. Ismail always took us to good local restaurants as we wanted to try Istanbul street food rather than eat at fancy restaurants.
We spent 3 days in Cappadocia as well. Our guide Didem was superb. The places that we enjoyed the most were the Goreme open air museum and the Zelve open air museum. The geology and cave houses, some with churches and painted frescoes. The geology in Cappadocia is truly like nothing else we have seen. An ancient volcano deposited ash over a vast area and erosion and weathering over millions of years has created a unique geology of towers, conical shapes etc. The Derinkuyu underground city was one of the highlights. It is hard to imagine how this elaborate underground city could house 30,000 people, their livestock, grain, water and have elaborate ventilation systems. Didem also took us to local restaurants to eat simple, authentic Turkish food as we requested. Some of the stops to see overpriced Pottery and semi precious jewelry was something we could have avoided. The pottery and precious stones were lovely but the prices were absurdly high. The two castles Uchisar and Ortahisar were quite imposing. The clean air, fresh air in Cappadocia was a welcome change from the hustle and bustle of Istanbul. Due to weather conditions our Balloon trip got canceled on the day we booked it as well as on the reserve day. That would have enhanced the experience in Cappadocia

All in all a very successful trip that exceeded our expectations

From the moment we were connected with Elena from Serendipity Adventures in Costa Rica to plan our family vacation we knew we were in great hands. Elena and the team helped build us an itinerary which included all the adventures our family had in mind for our trip. She helped choose the perfect accommodations in each location which exceeded our family’s expectations. When our trip started we were picked up by Mariano who was patient, kind and professional. He also gave us great tips for our tours we had booked the next day with him. All of the tours started on time and all the transportation was comfortable and the guides who led the tours were knowledgeable and professional. We had a great driver who took us to Monteverde (Alex). He was very friendly and funny. He was great at giving us a lot of history and information about CR. He made the 3 hour trek seem short! He also took us to the Airport for our last day and he was extremely conscious of the time and made sure we ran on time. He is just a joy to learn from. Our favorite part of the trip was our tour of the national park in Manuel Antonio. The guide who led the tour was amazing and he had quite the eye to capture all the animals we encountered. Everyone communicated where to go, how to get picked up. It made the whole trip worry free. I was also able to communicate with Serendipity on WhatsApp if needed. We also enjoyed the catamaran and snorkeling! The lunch was delicious. Costa Rica is a beautiful country and having experienced travel agents help you make the whole experience worry free. Thank you to Elena, Mariano, Alex, faro travel and everyone else who made sure our family had the best experience. We will be back!

Activity Reviews

Private Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Treetopia: Tram, Zip Lines & Hanging Bridges

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Safari Float on the Peñas Blancas River

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Volcano Hike & La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport