Kimkim Trip Reviews

This was our first “vacation” trip to Japan and we wanted to blend a traditional travel trip with a cruise that also covered Japan. Angel was able to make this happen very well, adding some hiking elements that were perhaps not on your typical US travelers wish list.

Hotel Reviews

Asakusa Tobu Hotel

Great location to many sites, restaurants, and the subway

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hakone Hotel Kajikaso

Hakone

It appears to be a nice hotel. Unfortunately the arrival time ( 5 pm ) and an early morning departure time ( 7 am) didn’t allow us to enjoy the facility. I think the travel TO the hotel was way too long ( not the hotel’s fault but a travel planning fault )

Authenticity & Character

full traditional experience

Location

Train station error. The trip plan did not specify that the local station was 30 minutes from the station we needed to be at for our travel

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Taoya Kisoji

Tsumago

Following the experience in Hakone, this hotel seems large and not comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Felt like a Disney land hotel

Location

Probably our worst KimKim moment when after a tough hike we realized the hotel was 2 miles away from the end of the hike with no easy way to get to the hotel. We ended up with a taxi, but were very frustrated

Staff

Really didn’t see much of the staff. Cafeteria style dining was just too much

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kiso Mikawaya

Kiso-Fukushima

While the property doesn’t look very good, the river front option for the room and dining area was great

Authenticity & Character

Again the look of the hotel is not appealing to the eye

Location

convenient to the hike

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

BYAKU Narai

Narai

My wife and I are “split” on this hotel. It’s nicely restored in a beautiful town along the trail. But the windowless room was a real problem for me.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful restored property

Location

Right on the trail.

Staff

nice and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Window less room was a problem

Onyado Nono Matsumoto Natural Hot Spring

Nice blend of modern and traditional Japanese hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Daiwa Roynet Hotel Kanazawa-Eki Nishiguchi

Kanazawa

Really liked this hotel - near good shopping and the train station

Authenticity & Character

Location

Walkable from the train station

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Richmond Hotel Premier Kyoto Ekimae

Kyoto

Nice location near the train station, which is amazing.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi & Oishi Park

Japan

Driver was on time. But the activities were boring. The restaurant recommended by the guide was very overpriced ( our most expensive meal on a 40 day trip )

Quality of Experience

Not much to see

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Again, I felt the driver was only focused on the dining experience. And we kindly paid for his lunch at an expensive tourist trap

Transport

He was on time,, and had a nice van

Tokyo Highlights Day Tour with Tsukiji Outer Fish Market

Tokyo

Our guide, Ayumi, was excellent! She helped us navigate the practicalities of the Japanese train system and Tokyo subway (use of the Suica Card)…as well as provided an overall overview of Japanese history, culture and religion. In addition, she made wonderful recommendations for dining and activities for us for the remaining days in which we were on our own. Her English was also excellent. She refused accepting a tip from us saying it was not the Japanese custom.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Good to experience subway in Tokyo. (Angel, you might disclose up front that Tokyo uses subway extensively …and that while crowding is common, the trains run on time AND are easy to navigate since they have English)

Lenny and the entire team made this trip a memorable experience.

We really appreciated all the planning and details that wen into our trip to Peru. The trip was amazing and the team we interacted with was great! Enfrain was a great guide throughout Cusco and the surrounding areas. Sergio was amazing at Machu Picchu. We really did enjoy everything that got booked and all the hotels we stayed at. Thanks for all the help to make sure we made the most amazing memories!

Hotel Reviews

Innside Lima Miraflores by Melia Hotels International

Miraflores

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa San Blas Boutique

Cusco

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The best staff we came across on our trip. Really stood out with trying to make sure we enjoyed our stay and were taken care of.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sonesta Posadas del Inca Yucay

Urubamba

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Shared Half-Day Lima City Tour & San Francisco Catacombs

Lima

Quality of Experience

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

Private tour to Awanakancha, Pisac Sites & Market: Hacienda Lunch

Peru

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Machu Picchu exploration with a private guide

Peru

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sergio was an amazing guide!

Transport

Private Llama trek, Ancestral Weaving & Salt Flats of Maras

Peru

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Shared Full Immersion Cooking class

Cusco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

On the whole we had a wonderful trip to Greece. The scenery, history, food, and wine were just amazing.
I think that our highlights were the Acropolis and its museum, the temple of Poseidon, and Meteora. We also enjoyed Dion as well as the kings' tombs in Vergina.
Our accommodations were well chosen and we felt comfortable in all of them.
We did have a snafu when our walking evening tour in Athens was cancelled at the last minute, and Kimkim was very proactive in ensuring that we received our refund.
Our guide, in Meteora, Chris, was really outstanding and was very patient in pushing us to our limits - in a good way.
The only downside was that, since we did a great deal of driving, we would have liked to have a bit more guidance about routes, not just having to rely on GPS.
I would certainly strongly consider using them to help us plan a trip in the future.

Hotel Reviews

The Foundry Suites

Athens

The staff was really friendly and helpful, the location was great, and the room was lovely. I would go back if I were going back to Athens.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dellas Boutique Hotel

Meteora, Kalambaka

If only for the view out our window - and on the balcony, this hotel was really over the top. The room was very nice, and the breakfast was delicious.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Plaza Hotel

Thessaloniki

One of our goals in Thessaloniki was to find a nice place to celebrate my husband's birthday. The restaurant (Mamalouka) that was recommended by the hotel was a perfect fit. In addition, since the city has a lot of 1 way streets, it was a little complicated to get to the entrance to the hotel. The staff was quite helpful, including coming with me in the car to the parking. Breakfast was very good.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Athenian Riviera Hotel & Suites

Vouliagmeni

We were happy to be upgraded to a king room with a balcony. It was easy to walk to shopping and restaurants/tavernas. There was street parking right beside the hotel. My only complaint was that the hotel felt a little more impersonal than the other places we stayed.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Self-Guided Acropolis Visit

Athens

It was a do not miss, although, as a high light, was also quite crowded. We also went to the Acropolis museum which was a really nice complement to the temple.

Quality of Experience

Self-Guided Local Markets Visit

Athens

Self-guided Exploration of Meteora's Monasteries

Meteora

Visiting the monasteries was so interesting. We had done our homework ahead of time and were able to visit several of the more highly recommended sites.

Sunset Hermit Caves Hike

Meteora

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Self Guided Visit to the Archeological Site of Delphi

Delphi

Visiting Delphi and the oracle was really nice. We also went to the museum which was very informative. It was well laid and enjoyable to visit

Quality of Experience

Amazing time in Iceland! Alicia was so patient, kind, knowledgeable, and very friendly with me while I took my time booking/planning this big trip! She was able to provide excellent recommendations and was willing and able to alter any of my last minute needs. Highly recommend her and her company- can’t wait to book again to see the North and East of Iceland!!!

Marianna went above and beyond in every way! From planning more than a year in advance and answering our countless questions to crafting the perfect Italian adventure filled with nonstop sightseeing, incredible food, and unforgettable experiences, every detail was thoughtfully planned. The pacing was perfect, our transfers were seamless, and every driver was kind, helpful, and welcoming. The entire journey was nothing short of amazing!

Marianna and her team paid exceptional attention to detail, truly listened to what we wanted, and brought the trip of our dreams to life. We couldn’t have asked for a better experience and would absolutely work with Marianna, her team, and kimkim again in a heartbeat.

Maryem was great. She responded quickly to suggested changes to the trip planning. During the trip, we had one request about the hotel room for our next city, and she immediately contacted the hotel. My traveling companion, Patrize, did most of the trip planning and worked closely with Maryem and thought she was excellent. The hotels she booked for us were all very nice, especially the one in Marrakesh where we spent our first two and last two nights. Our driver and primary guide, Mohammed, was also excellent. He was very nice and easy to be with, which was important since we were with him for 13 days. Our other two traveling companions shared our views on Mohammed. We made a couple of itinerary changes during the trip, and he did whatever we asked of him. I had an incident with one hotel that accidentally charged me twice for an expense. As soon as I realized it (via a notification of the charges on my iPhone), I told Mohammed, and he called the hotel and fixed it. There were four of us on the trip, and Mohammed had a comfortable Mercedes-Benz SUV with cold water bottles and a nice Wi-Fi system, so we were always connected to the internet.
We saw a lot of Morocco, flying into and out of Marrakesh, going south over the Atlas Mountains into the desert, and taking a camel trek to a desert luxury camp and then north again over the mountains. We also visited Fes, Rabat, and Casablanca. Between Fes and Rabat, we stayed in Chefchaouen (the Blue City). The old part is small and very beautiful and well worth the side trip. In Marrakech, Fes, Rabat, and Chefchaouen, we took short tours with local guides who were all excellent. Mohammed was an excellent guide for the other parts of our trip. We even visited his relatives in Rissani, who had us for lunch at their home. All in all, a great trip thanks to you and your people in Morocco.

Bella did an amazing job of coordinating an unforgettable trip to Japan for my mother, sister and me. She was extraordinarily proactive during the trip, providing detailed overviews of the upcoming itinerary each day during the trip with tips on how to best enjoy our time. We had one day with some minor issues (a venue we were supposed to visit was closed for the day) and when we mentioned this disappointment she immediately responded by booking (and paying for) an unforgettable traditional Japanese lunch the next day to make up for the inconvenience. Our local guides (Peter in Tokyo and Hakone and Hiroshi in Kyoto) were wonderful - and both took many, many photos which was much appreciated as it’s rare to have so many photos of your whole group since someone in the group is usually the primary photographer. Overall a wonderful experience!

Alex did a fantastic job helping us plan a short trip to Norway. We had always had it on our list to see the fjord's and possibly Northern Lights in Norway, but the timing never seemed right. This year we decided to do a week in Iceland and thought a trip to Norway would fit right in with our travel plans!

We were so lucky to be connected with Alex! After discussing some places we'd like to go in Norway (Bergen, fjords, Northern lights), Alex suggested we do the Norway in a Nutshell day trip from Bergen, followed up by a 3 day stay in the Lofoten Islands and a final night in Tromso, where we might be lucky to see the Northern lights (we didn't).

The KimKim team arranged all our hotels and transportation to/from the airport to our hotel, rental car in the Lofoten Islands, as well as the Norway in a Nutshell transportation, and internal flights in Norway from Bergen to Svolvaer and on to Tromso!

The hotels were close to the sites in Bergen and Tromso, and in Svolvaer, the Anker Brygge, was right in the center of town on a small island. The rooms were a good size and very comfortable, with Anker Brygge being traditional Norwegian fisherman’s cottages with a small kitchen and dining area, living room and separate bedrooms and free on-site parking! The restaurant Kjøkkenet, which is located on the island and associated with Anker Brygge, served delicious dinners (we ate there all 3 nights!!)

Breakfast was provided at each hotel, and was a nice variety of breads, pastry, sliced meats, cheeses and fruit!

Since Alex had spent time in Norway and specifically Lofoten Islands, he suggested areas to stop and explore, as well as provided some beautiful photos he had taken on his most recent trip!

All-in-all, we had a great time in Norway, and we couldn't express our thanks to Alex and the KimKim team any deeper for arranging this for us!

Maryem was excellent; Her follow through and responsiveness to our requests were outstanding. All our local guides were excellent; knowledgable and helpful. Our driver, Mohamed was a gem; punctual, helpful and very pleasant to spend time with. We all enjoyed our time in Morocco and will recommend both Morocco and KimKim with high praise,

Hotel Reviews

La Maison Arabe Hotel

Marrakech

Absolutely beautiful hotel with outstanding service

Authenticity & Character

One of the nicest hotels I've stayed at all over the world. Spa, restaurants and Jazz Bar outstanding

Location

Located in the Medina;

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Madu Premium Camp

Merzouga

Now this is my idea of camping; luxury in the desert

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hôtel & Spa Le Doge

Casablanca

Art Deco Hotel with esquisite furinshings

Authenticity & Character

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Boumalne Dades to Merzouga Sunset 4x4 to your camp via Tinerhir & Rissani

Morocco

Magical experience; riding a camel in sand dunes.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sand-Boarding in Erg Chebbi

Merzouga

There was no opportunity or mention of sand-boarding at the camp so can't be rated.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fes walking guided tour : No drive

Fes

Fes was my favorite walking tour due to the artisians and lack of motorbikes in the narrow streets

Quality of Experience

Food

wider variety in hotels

Transport

Tour of the Desert Region

Merzouga

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fes to Chefchaouen via Meknes & Volubilis

Morocco

Chefchaouen (blue city) is so delightful to roam around with every alley and structure begging to be photographed

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Marrakech to Boumalne Dades via Ouarzazate

Morocco

No way around the length of the drive but it was long. Mohamed broke it up with several stops which helped

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walking tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

Very interesting but dodging the bikes, motorcycles and animals in the Medina was challenging

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Free day in Marrakesh

Marrakesh

Visit to YSL garden, Berber and YSL Museums followed by a delightful lunch in the area. Enjoyed walking through the city.

Quality of Experience

Explore Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen(Blue City) was magical; every alley and building begged to be photographed.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Camel trek to your luxury camp

Merzouga

Now this is my idea of camping. Amazing experience to ride a camel through the sand dunes to a luxury camp with all the comforts of a good hotel

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hammam Spa & Massage in Marrakech

Marrakesh

Fantastic massage

Quality of Experience

I can't say enough great things about our local specialist, Chris Gravas! He did a fantastic job of helping us plan and manage our trip to Greece and Turkiye - even helping us to coordinate with another couple who joined us mid-trip. His recommendations for locations, selection of hotels, and the tours he picked were all superb and helped to make our trip an all-around great time. He was very communicative, ensuring we were well prepared in advance with contact information and itinerary updates, and even helped us navigate more than a few questions and changes we had on the fly.

Overall it was a fantastic trip that we couldn't have done with Chris' help. Thank you, Chris, and everyone for a truly spectacular time!

Hotel Reviews

Elia Ermou Athens Hotel

Athens

The rooftop restaurant has a fantastic view of the Acropolis with delicious food and drinks (the Greek orange pie was my favorite!). The breakfast buffet each morning was one of the best we've had in all our travels, and the staff are very helpful and accommodating.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mr. and Mrs. White Santorini

Oia, Foinikia

Mr. and Mrs. White Santorini in Oia offers spectacular views right outside of our room and even included a relaxing pool to lounge by or jump in to start your day. The staff are exceptional, the included breakfast is delicious, and the drinks were amazing (I highly recommend the Mr. White's Garden - they're addictive!)

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Burdock Hotel Istanbul

Istanbul

The Burdock Hotel in the Beyoglu neighborhood is truly incredible, with the one of the most comfortable beds we've slept (except of course, of our bed at home). With an onsite spa, delicious food available at the bar, their restaurant, or for room service, and a staff that consistently go above and beyond, it was a pleasure just being at this hotel. As for food, I highly recommend the chicken skewers, meatballs, San Sebastian cheesecake, and one of their pasta dishes with eggplant (I can't recall the name and their menu isn't listed online) delivered to your room. The bartenders and servers are prompt, accommodating, and friendly. Easily one of the best hotels I've ever stayed at, without being the priciest.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Diamond Caldera Morning Cruise

Santorini

The Diamond Caldera Sunset cruise was a blast, with a fun and interactive crew, who took us to a number of beautiful spots, allowing us to jump in at numerous locations. The included meal, which was cooked on the boat, was one of the best meals we had all trip.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Istanbul in a Day: From Hagia Sophia to the Grand Bazaar

İstanbul

We had an incredible tour guide, Emrecan, who effortlessly tailored the trip to our needs, kept the conversation going (we were pretty exhausted the first day), and had wonderful recommendations for food. We enjoyed the Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, and Grand Bazaar very much, and had a wonderful time sitting in the Sultanahmet Square, hearing of all the history that has transformed the area over the centuries.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Early Access To The Acropolis & Acropolis Museum Tour

Athens

The tour of the Acropolis was a great time, though I would definitely take the recommendation to go early before the cruise ships overflow the place. The views are amazing and the history was fun to learn about. The Acropolis Museum was very nice, full of interesting artifacts and historical information, but having just been to the Acropolis, it felt a little less exciting and a tad redundant. If I had to do it again, I might pick another museum.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Athens Morning Food Tasting Tour

Athens

Included a large variety of great food, with an excellent tour guide (Lev) who was engaging, knowledgeable, and able to get the entire group to interact and participate. Easily one of the best food tours we've ever done.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Delphi Day Trip From Athens

Greece

Our day trip to Delphi was filled with great views and interesting histories from our guide. The ruins themselves gave you a true sense of the old temple, and the museum is filled with beautiful artifacts, interesting history, and plenty of stories. The stop in Arachova was the best part, with a delicious lunch at a local restaurant, amazing views, picturesque side streets, and shops with tasty treats.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had such a wonderful honeymoon in Ireland. Thank you, Aleksandra, for getting this trip together for us so we could enjoy the visit without having to fret with booking hotels, tours, and experiences. We loved the walking tours learning the history of Dublin, Jameson, and Guinness, the food and culture tours in Kilkenny and Galway, our free day in Cork where we got to enjoy the English Market, the incredible views at the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren, and capped off with a relaxing stay at the K Club. Usually, after a vacation, we're ready to head back home and go back to our day-to-day, but we could have easily spent another couple of weeks in Ireland. We can’t wait to come back.

Activity Reviews

Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher Day Return Tour

Galway

Dublin Private Walking Tour

Ireland

Our recent trip to Spain (Barcelona, Rioja, San Sebastian, and Madrid) marks the third vacation KimKim has planned for us, and once again, it was a flawless experience. Each itinerary they create is seamlessly organized, perfectly paced, and deeply memorable.
The new KimKim app kept us fully updated and informed every step of the way, providing daily meeting locations, contact numbers, and clear summaries. Before our departure, our travel specialist, Coraima, even met with us over Zoom to review the itinerary in detail and answer our last-minute questions.
All of our local drivers and guides were prompt, professional, and incredibly knowledgeable. We want to extend a personal thank you to our fantastic guides: Noah (Gothic Quarter Tapas Walk in Barcelona), Gorka (San Sebastian pintxos and wine walk), Victor (Coastal Villages Excursion in San Sebastian), Macarena (Prado Museum Tour in Madrid), and Carlos (Private City Walk and Royal Palace Tour). We also want to thank Juan from Luxury Car Rioja, who was prompt and offered excellent local recommendations for our free time. Every one of these individuals went above and beyond to enhance our experience.
Thank you again, KimKim, for planning a phenomenal trip. We cannot wait to plan our fourth adventure with you!

We did a self driving tour of Ireland. What a beautiful country! We probably took on more than we should have in our driving portion of the trip, not being fully knowledgeable of distances and roads. In retrospect we should have just scheduled a day exploring Cork rather than leaving Cork to explore other areas. Don’t get me wrong the other areas were beautiful, but you can’t see it all in six days. We particularly enjoyed our time in Dublin because we just stayed in Dublin and could fully enjoy it. We did a food tour with Ciaran that was delightful. A good chance to slow down, get some Dublin history, sample local specialties and have a lot of laughs. We also scheduled on our own the duck boat Viking tour. What a hoot! Tons of laughs with some good history lessons added in. The people of Ireland were so welcoming and gracious. A big thanks to Aleksandra for planning our vacation.

Hotel Reviews

Moxy Cork

Cork

A fun boutique hotel in the heart of Cork. Great location for restaurants and shopping.

Authenticity & Character

Very hip, my adult children loved it.

Location

Close to restaurants and shopping

Staff

We didn’t have a lot of interaction with staff.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms are small but efficient.

Hotel Riu Plaza The Gresham Dublin

Dublin

A beautiful hotel close to the heart of Dublin.

Authenticity & Character

It was a beautiful hotel that I greatly appreciated, but I think my kids would have preferred something a little more trendy.

Location

It was in walking distance to restaurants and shopping and all the local attractions.

Staff

We didn’t have much interaction with staff, but the times we did everyone was very friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very well kept hotel.

Activity Reviews

Guinness Storehouse Experience Tour

Dublin

It was a good experience. Guinness did an amazing job with their visuals on there self guided tour. The pint at the end was very welcoming and I loved watching the pour!

Titanic Experience Cobh

Ireland

It was a good interactive and informative tour.

Dublin Secret Food Tour

Dublin

This was a great food tour! Maybe because our guide Ciaran was so energetic, knowledgeable, and provided loads of laughs. The food was also enjoyable, especially the Irish coffee,

We had a wonderful time making the journey along the Mediterranean coast. Starting in Barcelona we were able to visit the newly opened Sagrada de Familia with a wonderful guide - one of the highlights our trip. We had an early entry so the crowds were easily managed and we were able to enjoy both inside and out. The next day we had another great guide who showed us the Jewish history and historical presence in Barcelona. After Barcelona, we went to Girona, which was a wonderful surprise. We stayed at a lovely hotel in the old town that was a converted palace. Our tour here of the old town focusing on Jewish history was incredible. The next day we had an all day small group tour of Dali's house and museum - both well worth the travel including the incredible views along the Costa Brava. Travelling by car along the southern coast of France was relatively easily finding great things to see - Pone du Gard, Baux de Provence town and castle, St. Paul de Vence and finally Nice. An electric bike ride in Nice was also wonderful.

I was planning a two-week trip to Japan as a surprise for my partner. We didn't want to be part of a tour group, and wanted it to be a couple's trip fir the two of us. We had never been to Japan, and I started by looking at guide books but it was so overwhelming. I foudn kimkim online, and the reviews were good. I reached out through kimkim about a year and a half before our trip, and the local expert, Olivia, was so patient with me. She asked me our interests, and suggested an amazing itinerary, to introduce us to history, art and culture in Japan. She listened and helped me tweak certain parts of itinerary. She set us up with English-speaking guides in Tokyo, Kanazawa, Shirakawa-go, Kyoto, Nara and Osaka, and suggested other places in each town that we could explore on our own. Once we arrived at the airport, there was a driver there to meet us, and we had specific information (in my kimkim app!) for every tour guide who would meet us, every hotel, all transportation, and our itinerary was fool proof. There was also flexibility so we could explore on our own, as we wanted. Every stop was seamless, and we felt so well taken care of everywhere we went. I recommend kimkim and Olivia very highly and have already recommended them to friends who are planning a trip to Japan. We loved our trip and plan to come back, and will contact kimkim again. Arigato!

Hotel Reviews

Asakusa View Hotel Annex Rokku

Tokyo

Fantastic location in Asakusa! Plenty of things to walk to from this hotel, and easy to get to other venues (like Meiji shrine and Imperial Palace Gardens). Excellent breakfast. Will go back when we visit Tokyo again.

Authenticity & Character

Modern and clean, great breakfast with Japanese and western selections

Location

Great walkability

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Indigo Hakone Gora by IHG

Hakone-machi Ashigarashimo gun

The hotel was elegant and the in-room onsen bath was AMAZING. What holds it back from 5 stars was that ours came with a pre-selected dinner that wasn't great, and the hotel felt more corporate than authentic. The breakfast was much better than the dinner.

Authenticity & Character

Onsen bath was great. The hotel and staff felt corporate

Location

We arrived by taxi -- nowhere to go but the hotel for dinner

Staff

Nice and attentive, but corporate

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was great and the bed was really comfortable

Mitsui Garden Hotel Kanazawa

Kanazawa

Onsen on the roof made this a great experience. We could walk everywhere we wanted to go from this hotel. And the obansai breakfast buffet was the best we had in Japan.

Authenticity & Character

Try the Onsen! Having this truly Japanese experience was great. And the Obansai buffet was incredible for breakfast!

Location

Central Kanazawa near the Omicho market

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

FAV LUX HIDATAKAYAMA

Even though the hotel was built recently, it felt dated and tired. If you are a family traveling and need a room with lots of beds, it might make sense, but we were a couple traveling without kids and we could hear the kids in the room next door late into the night.

Authenticity & Character

The breakfast was really limited.

Location

It was near the train station, like a lot of other hotels, but the neighborhood at night felt deserted

Staff

Staff was friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

The carpet was dated, and the bathroom had a window into it from the bedroom. It was odd.

Mercure Kyoto Station

Kyoto

The hotel had a terrific staff and an excellent restaurant. The breakfasts were great -- lots of Japanese and western options. Our room was very comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Modern and clean, but we definitely felt like we were in Japan with the great meals and decor

Location

Easy to get to with our bags from the Kyoto Station

Staff

Friendly and helpful!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mercure Tokyu Stay Osaka Namba

Osaka

Good location and comfortable room

Authenticity & Character

Good breakfast options -- lots of Japanese selections as well as westerno options

Location

We were located near the prime shopping area of Osaka

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The bathtub in our room was great!

Activity Reviews

Half Day Artisan Tour in Kanazawa

Kanazawa

Our English speaking guide took us to the outskirts of Kanazawa where we met a kimono maker. He told us (through our translator) about his artistic process, how kimonos are made (hand-painted and dyed), and showed us some of his work and techniques. One of the most memorable experiences of our trip!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Shirakawa-go, Hida Furukawa, and Takayama Tour from Kanazawa

Kanazawa

Our driver and guide, Junpei, was very knowledgable and so courteous. He was able to give us a lot of history about the towns. The house tour in Shirakawa-go was incredible.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Junpei was amazing! We learned so much from him!

Transport

Full Day Kyoto City Tour with Nijo Castle, Kiyomizu-dera Temple and Fushimi Inari-Taisha

Kyoto

Our tour guide, Yvonne, was terrific. She explained the history (which we were really interested in) and showed us so many things that make Kyoto such a special place.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Yvonne was amazing. She was extremely knowledgable about Kyoto! And so friendly and patient! She took us by train and taxi around the city, in ways we couldn't have navigated alone.

Transport

Sightseeing in Arashiyama - Boat Ride and Bamboo Grove

Kyoto

I didn't know what to expect but this peaceful day and beautiful day was a highlight of our trip.

Quality of Experience

It was so peaceful and serene, it was immersive for us

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Yvonne was great guiding us to the boat, to visit a temple and into the bamboo grove (and insearch of matcha ice cream!)

Transport

We took a very comfortable train, with our guide's help

Tokyo: Sumo Tournament with Guide & Assigned Reserved Seat

Tokyo

If I had to choose ONE favorite thing about the trip, it would be the Sumo tournament. The pageantry was incredible. We loved the experience of watching sumo with 11,000 people. And the explanatory guide before hand was terrific.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Before the tournament we had an English-speaking tour guide (from a Latin country) who loved sumo. He was so enthusiastic that we got very excited for the tournament before we went in to see it.

Transfer from Kyoto to Osaka via Nara

Japan

Nara was beautiful, and the bowing deer have to be seen to be appreciated. I had read about the deer, but didn't understand how different they were to all the deer I'd ever seen. Really amazing and a highlight of our trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Yvonne told us a lot about the temple, "Buddha's nose" and how to feed the deer.

Transport

kimkim arranged a private car.

Half Day Imperial Palace East Gardens and Senso-ji Tour

Tokyo

Sarah, our tour guide, was great. It was our first day in Tokyo and she took us on the subway (quite the experience) to the Imperial Palace garden and then to Senso-ji. She told us about the history, the traditions at the temple (handwashing, for example) and we felt like we got a grasp the first day. Both of these sites are really worth seeing in Tokyo.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sarah was terrific

Osaka Local Foodie Tour in Dotonbori and Shinsekai

Japan

Masa was a great guide to food and Osaka culture. We had a small group, and he listened to what we were interested in (and we got to do some cooking at our last stop!)

Quality of Experience

We went to a part of Osaka we would not have found on our own!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Masa was amazing!

Transport

Went by subway which was fun!

Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

Dressing in a kimono and learning about the tea ceremony was a highlight of the trip.

Quality of Experience

The ladies who helped us dress in kimono and do our hair added to a great experience. We learned a lot about japanese culture and courtesy.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Samurai and Ninja Museum with Experience

Kyoto

This turned out to be even more interesting than we expected. There was so much excellent history about the samurai and Shogunate that we were able to get a lot more context for the history of Japan as a whole.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Wonderful trip! Everything was handled expertly by Mathilda! Our guides in Nuremberg, Justina, and Munich, Renata, were absolutely fantastic. We had a fantastic time, enjoyed every place we visited. Hotels and arrangements were hassle free. Overall beautiful and care free experience. Will most assuredly do again!!

Our trip to Portugal was amazing! Coraima was able to put together an itinerary that covered all the places we wanted to see. We never would have thought of visiting Coimbra and that was actually our favorite city. She chose wonderful hotels and Inns for us that she had personally visited. Our drivers and guides were all local and gave us so much information about the history and culture of the country. We also appreciated the restaurant recommendations.

A big thank you to Ali and the team for planning such a wonderful family trip! Everything was well organised, and we really appreciated their flexibility and support. With just two days’ notice, they changed our itinerary, city and hotel to accommodate our departure change, at no extra cost. Their thoughtful service made our trip comfortable and stress-free. Highly recommended!

Hotel Reviews

THE ORION DOME AGAFAY MARRAKACH

Marrakech

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Wow

Marrakech

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Barceló Casablanca

Casablanca

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Chama - Essaouira

Essaouira

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Casablanca in a Few Hours: A Driving Tour

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Leny was great! She planned a great trip for me to Hakone. The hotel was so good and very traditional with a private onsen in it which was brilliant. I also loved being on Lake Ashi, the tea house and just walking around Hakone. Hakone is truly a place to escape and the surroundings are tranquil. Definitely highly recommended if you want to relax and get away to a quiet place. Leny also provided me with a good local guide Mitsuri-san and he was excellent. Made my trip very special by taking me to some non touristy spots

Hotel Reviews

Hakone Kowakien Ten-yu

Hakone

Loved the traditional ryokan style hotel. It was very clean and spacious. Having a balcony looking out to the greenery, the forest was breathtaking. The balcony also had a superb private onsen and it was truly a nice traditional Japanese experience. The breakfast and dinner was excellent!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grand Hyatt Tokyo

tokyo

Outstanding hotel. The location was perfect to go around to nearby places. Loved going to some quiet local areas recommended by the hotel. Location in Mimato and the Roponngi area made it special. The staff at the hotel know how to curate trips and experiences for you. The food and restaurants are of very high quality. Breakfast was excellent. The traditional Japanese food and the European breakfast was of very high quality The room was very spacious. Loved the pool and the workout area. The workout area can be improved. It was tight and claustrophobic. But on the whole the pool and gym was good. Staff are very polite and lovely

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hidden Hakone: Scenic Views, Local Traditions & Quiet Nature

Hakone

Had a great tour guide Mitsuri san. He did a fantastic job.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Hakone!

Hakone

Welcome (Yokoso) to Tokyo!

Japan