Kimkim Trip Reviews

We had an incredible trip to Italy!!! Every guide we had- Giarda in Venice, Ezgi in Florence, Jessica in Florence, Francisco at Pompei- were all fantastic. They were knowledgeable and engaging and so much fun!! All of our drivers were prompt and courteous and the Tuscany wine tour with Andrea was absolutely breathtaking and delicious!!! Fabio, our trip planner, was perfect. He was thorough and so responsive when we had any questions. He was always helpful and our trip was flawlessly planned and exactly what we wanted. I would recommend his services to anyone traveling to Italy 1000%!!!!

Activity Reviews

Sorrento Coast and Capri Boat Tour from Positano

Italy

Antonio and Giovanni were absolutely the best first mate and captain!! We had so much fun and learned a lot while touring on the boat to Capri! Interesting and very entertaining!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-Day Private Tour of Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius, with Lunch at a Winery at the Foot of the Volcano

Italy

Excellent day trip! Francisco was a great guide at Pompei and so knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience

Food

The lunch at the winery was exceptional as were the wines!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Val D’Orcia & Brunello Wine Tour with Lunch and Two Wine Tastings

Italy

The entire day was absolutely beautiful and the wineries were spectacular. Andrea was charming and so very knowledgeable. Highly recommend this adventure- magnifico!!

Quality of Experience

The tastings and knowledge of the winery staff were exceptional.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Andrea was so knowledgeable and interesting- perfect driver and guide

Transport

Renaissance Walking Tour of Florence with David

Florence

Jessica was very knowledgeable about the city history and art. Very good walking tour and very informative.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Florence Food Tour

Florence

Ezgi was very fun and the food was delicious!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Venice Gondola Ride

Venice

My only complaint is it was too short!! Had a great time!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Venice Food Tour

Venice

Giada was so much fun and the tour was interesting and very tasty!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rome in a Day Tour with Colosseum and Vatican Museums

Rome

We had an amazing tour and learned so much!! Carolina was so knowledgeable and so interesting!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

What an experience.... My travel specialist was Gummy... And he knew ICELAND.. From the falls to Westview Island, my trip was unbelievably perfectly put together.
No water time.... But never rushed

THANK YOU

I started booking a 5 day long weekend trip with Long in March. We texted, had video chats, and tweaked the itinerary over two weeks. He was exceptionally receptive to my desire to cram as much in as possible and that I wanted history, culture, and some relaxation. My daughter and I landed, were expedited through immigration and customs, immediately met by our guide and driver. Long secured us a reservation at a Michelin Star restaurant for our first night. Our accommodations at GM Premium Hotel were lovely, the staff is excellent. Annie especially. She greeted us warmly each day and provided personalized suggestions via WhatsApp. We had a full day history tour. Then the were transferred to a beautiful cruise aboard the Lyra in Ha Long Bay. We stayed one night. Our driver Viet was always on time. Our transport van was very comfortable and always had water. Tin, our guide was knowledgeable and friendly. We had a good tour our last night that ended on train street. Truly and wonderful experience start to finish. Long evening came to meet me at our hotel on day 1 to welcome me to Hanoi in person. I highly recommend Long and Kim Kim.

Hotel Reviews

Capella Cruise

Halong

The ship is only a year old. It is well appointed. Beautiful rooms, bathrooms, small decks. The beds are comfortable. Everything was very clean. Chris was our cruise director. Harry and Annie put on the cooking demonstration. Daniel served us at meal times. Staff is excellent. A really wonderful experience.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

GM Premium Hotel Hanoi

This hotel is centrally located. Has a wonderful staff, clean rooms with good sheets, pillows and towels. Annie was our contact at the front desk and she is excellent. My next visit I would request a room at the end of the hall to reduce noise from other guests. The included breakfast is delicious.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Annie went above and beyond to be helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Dining at Michelin-star restaurant - Gia Restaurant

Hanoi

The entire experience was extraordinary from start to finish. We had the wine pairings and they were delicious. The food was truly outstanding.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

VIP Fast Track Service

Vietnam

I wish every foreign country offered this service! We were greeted as we exited the plane, walked straight to an immigration agent, and expedited through to pick up our luggage.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My husband and I usually plan our own trips but we are so glad we had KimKim plan our Patagonia trip. Our transportation, tours and hotels (loved Lago Grey) were organized for us and we avoided traveling with a large group, wearing matching name tags, and following a umbrella carrying guide. It was the perfect compromise. KimKim did the big planning, offered suggestions for things do, but gave us the freedom to explore on our own. Erin adjusted the itinerary to fit our choices and once we were on our trip, Jessica handled every detail and responded quickly to our many questions.
Our favorite tours involved glaciers (we did four and loved them all) but if you only have time for one glacier, Perito Moreno Boat and walking tour is the tour you want, This glacier is spectacular.
Our Torres del Paine Private Wildlife Tour was another highlight. We had a hike over gentle hills and then it got wild! Our guide, Armando, spotted a puma across the river and our driver, Juan, pulled the car over. We all watched the puma swim across the river to where we were standing and watched it leap up the mountain side! Armando took videos for me!
Even more amazing was the concern Armando and Juan had about the hike we had planned for the next day. After our hike across the gentle hill, they realized that we should not attempt our planned hike. They had a private chat and came up with an easier hike with as similar view. It was perfect and even had a lake view for our picnic lunch! Their quick planning was an example of how great it was to have such personal attention.
Our only regret is that we planned our trip to Iguazu Falls instead having KimKim do it!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Kosten Aike

El Calafate

The location was great to walk downtown and easy to find a great place to eat.

Authenticity & Character

Location

close to shops and places to eat

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Lago Grey

Torres del Paine

Perfection ! Great food - loved our server each evening. The view from our room was amazing!

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

great bed

Activity Reviews

Grey Glacier Boat Tour (round-trip)

Patagonia

well it was the first glacier tour of our trip

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Admire Salto Grande & Hike the Cuernos Lookout Point

Patagonia

Our guide Jauquin was fantastic - always showed us the best place for a photo and offered to take photos of us

Quality of Experience

great lunch and snacks

Guides, Drivers and Staff

very well informed about the area

Transport

nice ride

Boat Tour to Bernardo O Higgins National Park, Serrano & Balmaceda Glaciers

Puerto Natales

we liked getting scotch on the rocks with the "rocks" being glacier ice loved the cormorants loved being able to see the glacier and then get off the boat and walk to it loved the lunch

Quality of Experience

lunch, glacier walk,

Food

all of it

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Gourmet Glacier Cruise to Perito Moreno & Spegazinni

El Calafate

loved seeing the glaciers, excellent lunch, liked seeing the Puesto Las Vacas

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

nice guide for the Puesto las Vacas area

Transport

Torres del Paine Private Wildlife Tour

Patagonia

excellent guide

Quality of Experience

very helpful guide who took photos of puma for me

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

planned a safer hike for. the following day

Transport

Perito Moreno Boat & Walking Tour

El Calafate

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a great experience in Peru with KimKim and the local tour company Peruvian Soul. Jimena worked with our preferences in setting up our trip, made great suggestions, and patiently helped us to make changes and add ons as we finalized our plans. She helpfully answered many questions that we had prior to our trip.
We did a city tour in Lima with Nancy as our guide. She was great and was willing to tailor the tour to our interests
After Lima, we flew to Cusco and won the lottery with our amazing guide Julio who we were fortunate to be with for the next 8 days. I would give Julio a 15 rating out of 5 if that was possible. Super knowledgeable about every area that we toured and able to answer our numerous questions but also amazingly patient, kind and friendly. KimKim is lucky to have Peruvian Soul as their local travel company (maybe they contract with others as well?) and Peruvian Soul has a gem in Julio as their customer facing employee. Julio went the extra mile daily and we couldn't be more grateful for the time that we had with him.
Guido was our driver and was also great; friendly and kind with a great smile and also able to handle many narrow roads, switchbacks, and hairpin turns in our travels with ease. We were returning from the Rainbow Mountains and came to an area that was under construction: Guido got out and helped to shovel so that we could continue on our way back to Cusco.
We had such a good experience with Julio and Guido that all six of us (including my 20 something kids and their significant others) had tears when we had to say goodbye at the airport.

Hotel Reviews

Hatun Inti Boutique Machupicchu

Machu Picchu

This hotel is right on the river and we were lucky to get rooms on the riverside. Very spacious rooms with a lot of character. A window in our shower opened up to the river which was fun and unique. We only spent one night here and all felt it would have been nice to have a second night as it was such a great location with fun rooms

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Casona de Yucay

Ollantaytambo Urubamba

We overall loved this hotel; beautiful setting with an amazing green space surrounded by mountains. We read somewhere else that the rooms were dated, but the place was built in 1810, so I'm not sure why people would expect a modern look. The hotel was clean and staff was gracious. We had several hours free one afternoon and were able to enjoy some relaxation time by the pool with the mountain views

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Innside Lima Miraflores by Melia Hotels International

Miraflores

Nice location in Miraflores. We got to our hotel around 6:30 in the morning and allowed all of us to check into our rooms immediately which was very much appreciated after a long night of travel. I'ms sure this is based on availability. Rooms were clean and the breakfast included a great selection of foods. The rooftop bar is cute and a free welcome drink was included.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain Tour

Cusco

Beautiful hike in the Rainbow Mountains followed by a delicious lunch near a river. Another remarkable experience on our last full day in Peru. This area has been another bucket list item for us and we are glad we were able to experience it

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Julio and Guido picked us up a little after 4 in the morning to get us to the trail before the crowds. They had pillows and blankets in the van for us so that we could nap on the way; this was much appreciated. We were the first people there which made this even more of a special hike. We again are so thankful for the dedication of both Julio and Guido as well as for their selflessness and kindness.

Transport

Exploring Cusco & Sacsayhuaman

Cusco

Fun tour of historical Cusco including Sacsayhuaman, Cristi Blanco, the San Francisco Convent and the San Pedro Market as well as the main square

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Short Inca Trail: Morning at Machu Picchu

Aguas Calientes/ Machu Picchu

Today, we returned to the Machu Picchu site by bus and toured the actual site (rather than the overview following the hike the day before). Again, so much history here and in Peru in general. We felt lucky to get a second day at the site with good weather on both days. What an incredible experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu: Ollantaytambo - Km 104 - Aguas Calientes

Peru

We had to start at marker 106 instead of 104 as part of the Inca trail was washed out which meant we missed the first archeological site of Chachabamba which was a bummer but also could not be helped. It also meant that we had to use the very steep switchback trail that is used by the porters. This was a touch trail, but we are so glad that we experienced it and were quite impressed with the fitness level of the porters running up and down the steep trail with heavy packs. We had a nice lunch at the mid point and visited the site of Winay Wayna which was an amazing site on a very steep hillside The second half of the hike was less grueling but still physical. Getting to the Sun Gate to our first view of Machu Picchu was spectacular. An emotional and somewhat spiritual moment as this is a trip that we haven't wanted to take for several years. The mountains and ruins of Machu Picchu are everything but also much more than what was expected. It is hard to describe the beauty of the site in words. Completing the difficult hike first, made getting to the site so much more rewarding

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We can't thank Julio enough for his patience and kindness on this hike. Breathing was difficult for a couple of us and he always stayed behind with whoever was struggling a bit. He is full of great Peru facts and legends and this was definitely appreciated for the information as well as for the distraction as we climbed. He was so encouraging the entire time. We also appreciate all the pictures he patiently took of all of us.

Transport

Guido had a lot to do today with driving us to the train, getting out overnight packs on the train and then getting our main luggage to our next hotel in Cusco which was in San Blas on the hill of which he could not drive fully to the door meaning, he had to carry luggage for 6 people up a long steep set of stairs and then down a street to get our luggage in storage until the next day. He is also such a nice and kind man. And obviously very strong.

Morning Visit to Ollantaytambo

Peru

Very interesting Inca site that we were not aware of until planning this trip. Another beautiful area with so much history. The town was also very cute.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Julio had restaurant suggestions for us throughout the trip and we can honestly day that everywhere we ate had excellent food

Transport

Discover Traditional Farming in the Andes: Amaru & Pisac arqueological site

Peru

We started the day with a hike around the archaeological site of Pisac; another amazingly beautiful setting with Inca ruins and so much interesting information shared by Julio. We were also lucky to have some of the local llamas and alpacas on the trail so were able to get some great photos next to them. We then headed to Amaru to have lunch with a local family. They were all kind and welcoming. They taught us about their farming and we were able to cut down some of our food and also able to help prepare the food a bit. We saw how the women made some of their crafts; it was a group of highly talented people and the food was delicious

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

As stated in the trip summary, Julio and Guido were both such great people. We so appreciated both of them

Transport

Maras & Moray

Peru

Both of these areas are a must see. We were at the salt flats of Maras near sunset which made for a beautiful setting. Julio also took us to a nice shop where we were able to buy some of the salts. The chocolate at the same shop was amazing The "experimental laboratory" of Moray was also a great experience. Amazing the knowledge that people had so many years ago and the setting was gorgeous

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lunch at the Shores of Piuray Lake

Peru

Absolutely gorgeous setting with amazing food. We all agreed that this was some of our favorite food on the entire trip

Quality of Experience

Food

Everything!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Must sees in Lima

Peru

We started the Lima tour with a visit to the Huaca Pucllana archaeological site and were surprised that we didn't go in. We just stood outside for some information. We should have asked about it, but just assumed that it was not allowed. We looked it up later, and you are able to go in with a guide. We then went to the Larco Museum which was super interesting This was followed by a visit to the El Centro district with historical buildings and churches as well as a visit to Chinatown with lunch at a Chifa restaurant Nancy was our guide and was great

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Peru and Lima

Peru

Basically, this was the pick up at the airport which was seamless. Our daughter and her boyfriend arrived late the night before and four of us arrived at 5AM. We appreciated that someone was there for two different transports at odd hours

Everyone we had was great..Bogdan in Rome was so passionate and informative about the art and history, Hilaria introduced us to great Rome food, Valentina gave us a excellent intro to Florence art, Ezgi's private food, Gelato and wine windows tour really highlighted the Best of Florence, Marco showed us Venice with great tips, Guida shared so many hidden gems during our private tour and took time to map out out places for us to go, and Carlos' food tour of Venice was some of the best food of our trip! In addition, the two standouts for us were Luca and Erika's Tuscan cooking class and our private days with Andrea. He took so much time to explain everything to us and his personal connections to the area and wineries made it truly special.

Fabio's attention to detail made us feel so cared for and we loved that so many of our guides and pick up/transfers knew Fabio personally.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Sant'Antonin

Venice

Right on little waterway, beautiful garden meal area, close to St. Marco square in the Castello neighborhood with lots of restaurants. Front desk helpful with concert tickets.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Issue with bath toilet and shower but staff quickly fixed it

Corte dei Sogni Boutique Hotel & Spa

Lots of USB charging ports, modern feel but in quaint older location, close to train station, near Mercado and restaurants

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Fresh made scrambled eggs to order

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Cellini

Rome

Great hotel in good location, nice buffet breakfast

Authenticity & Character

Location

Quieter street, close to train area and central to most sites

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Venice Food & Wine Tasting Tour

Venice

Carlos was great! You could tell he loved his city and the food. Best food of our tours.

Quality of Experience

Food

Everything and best Gelato of our whole trip!!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Venice in a Day Combo Tour with Gondola Ride

Venice

It was an informative tour of Venice. Some of our group got lost so you have to keep up. Marco was great about taking photos of us during the tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Jewish Heritage Walking Tour: Cannaregio and Venice’s Historic Ghetto

Venice

We weren't able to take this exact tour as it wasn't available but our private time with Guida was so informative and we felt like we were in on the secreta of Venice.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tuscany Day Trip to Siena & San Gimignano | Lunch & Wine Tasting Included

Florence

Andrea again showed us amazing Tuscany. He gave us tips for our self guided walks through Siena and San Gimignano. The winery lunch was out of a fairy tale.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Florence Food Tour

Florence

Ezgi was great. She took the time to make the perfect tour combining our love of Gelato and wine! It would be great to get a written list of places we visited or are suggested at end of tour as it is hard to write as we go.

Quality of Experience

Personal

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Skip-The-Line Uffizi Gallery Ticket

Florence

It was hard to figure out at first as there is no longer a door 3 and no need to find it. We just needed to get in line

Florence Cooking Class and Lunch at a Farmhouse in Tuscany with Local Market Tour

Florence

Luca was so animated and really brought the Mercado to life. We learned so much during the class and the food was great!

Quality of Experience

Food

All of it! Bruschetta was so fresh and we still talk about it. We plan to make several dishes now at home!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Val D’Orcia & Brunello Wine Tour with Lunch and Two Wine Tastings

Italy

Andrea was great, so knowledgeable and personable. We loved Pienza. The winery tours were great. Well organized and professional and was good for someone from the wine industry as well as for someone who doesn't drink.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Andrea was superb. He was a highlight of our trip!

Transport

I am a nervous passenger and always felt safe.

Best of Florence and David by Michelangelo | Small Group

Florence

Valentina was very personable and made the art and artists come alive

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Rome in a Day Tour with Colosseum and Vatican Museums

Rome

This was a great intro to Roman art and history but was exhausting! Bogdan was very passionate and informative

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

One of the drivers was stuck in traffic and late

Trastevere Local Food Tour

Rome

It would be great to get a written list of places we visited or are suggested at end of tour as it is hard to write as we go

Quality of Experience

Food

The Gelato was a bit icey for us

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our trip to New Zealand and Australia was amazing!! I work with Vicky as our agent— she was filled with information, very patient through the reiterations of our planning and was readily available during our trip to answer questions.

To specific places gave us wonderful suprised— the Reef Hotel’s presidential suite was spectacular ( watch out for the cockatoo’s )— so spacious and what a view.
The
The Featherdale zoo was really fun as we got a behind the scenes tour with a zookeeper— the inside the Koala enclosure and back stage at the Reptile house was extraordinary.

It was a A+ trip— many Thanks to Vicky.

The ATM caves were incredible!
Loved the snorkeling, first experience for all of us
Sunset sail, unforgettable

Hotel Review

Sweet Songs Jungle Lodge, a Muy’Ono Resort

San Ignacio

The staff is so, so friendly, always smiling.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very accommodating and always smiling!!!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Thank you!

Belize

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tikal Maya Ruin

Belize

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Xunantunich & Cave Tubing.

San Ignacio

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

ATM Cave | Actun Tunichil Muknal

Belize

Absolutely incredible!!!!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunset Sailing Tour

Belize

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day Snorkeling | Manatees, Coral Gardens & Caye Caulker

Belize

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

¡Welcome to Belize!

Belize

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lana’s birthday trip to Greece was an unqualified success. You will recall that she alone coordinated with you for a variety of excursions and experiences. After the first draft was developed, she asked me for my thoughts; I do not recall suggesting any changes.
After arriving in Athens on Day 01, we rested briefly in the hotel and took pictures of the view out the window. It took us a day to confirm that we were seeing the Acropolis – but not the Parthenon because a building rose to perfectly block its view. That was rectified by going to the hotel rooftop at sunset on Day 02.
Our first excursion was with Katrine as our guide for a neighborhood food tour. While I am not a chef, and do not enjoy cooking, the details Katrine provided at each of the stops along the tour were quite informative. It was simply a superb start to our visit to Greece. If our tour ended with that tour, the trip to Greece would have been a clear success. Wonderful.
Our Day 02 with Michael was exemplary. While I had no particular interest in Greek mythology, he made the morning quite educational. It was only after another mythology tour on Mykonos with a delightful Elizabeth that I learned mythology provides a guidepost for navigating life, death, and a host of other challenges in life.
Day 03 began with different Elizabeth picking us up at the hotel in a snazzy Mercedes to begin a thoroughly enjoyable day at Hyra – and no cruise ships. When the church that she wanted us to visit was closed, we had a wonderful discussion on the ability to improvise without needing to be annoyed at the circumstance. Our engagement with the mules was fun – strangely, they did not appear to be stubborn! Our horse ride began on a low note - I was tethered to Lana’s horse whose bridle was being led by the guide – while two young Irish lasses were free to handle the reins of their beasts. On the return leg I was allowed full control and my ride was a perfect success – I even motioned the guide away when he attempted to regain control because the horse was nibbling at leaves on an overhanging tree. At the end of that day, I wished that Elizabeth could be our guide again – anywhere; she was incredibly engaging.
Day 04 at Mykonos was fun – the taxi driver humorously warned us that we would get lost in town. I’d not say we got lost, but the way back to the hotel was not perfectly direct. As we approached the hotel from our initial wandering, we stopped and watched the rehearsal of a community dance group in an amphitheater across from the hotel.
The start of Day 05 was an absolute success with Dimitri leading us on a hike from the family vineyard to the coast and back. It was more than exercise – it was pure entertainment and full of informative details about life outside town, careers, family, churches, religion, etc.
The second part of Day 05 was a bit of disappointment. The guide, Sylvia, made sure that we were photographed at all her favorite locations. That is not our style, but we accommodated her. Except for the windmills, we had already walked to the stops she led us too. Unlike the engaging, educational food tour by Katrine in Athens, Sylvia’s food tour was ultimately underwhelming. In fact, the meal that we had was the second worst of my life – and to be honest, I do not recall my worst meal. I nibbled at the gyros to be polite. At the conclusion of her tour, Sylvia insisted on guiding us to a pathway leading straight back to our hotel, before going in the direction of her car. When she was out of sight, we turned around and went back into town to wander. While hydrating back at our hotel, we spoke at length with another, engaging guest and then walked crossed the roadway to the amphitheater for the production version of the community dance group. While there were no subtitles (!) or translations available, it was enthralling!
Day 06 was fundamentally a rest day since Lana was not particularly enthused about a hike up Mt. Zeus. I was more than enthused, but that was not relevant, I’ll hike for three weeks come August.
The Day 07 bike tour on Naxos began with a hiccup. We generally are at meeting points ten minutes early and are present when the driver or guide arrives. That was not the case this day, so Lana coordinated with the hotel clerk to arrange a very short ride to the bike shop where we met Manos. We quickly made up for lost time and were soon on e-bikes headed for the hills. What an absolute gem of an excursion. The experience matched that of the Athens food tour with Katrina and Elizabeth’s tour of Hydra in terms of quality, content, and immersion into Greek culture. Time at the goat farm was simply priceless. Fabulous beyond words. The evening mythology tour, while somewhat repetitive, proved to be very enjoyable. I don’t recall ever listening to English being spoken with a foreign accent with such perfect enunciation and pronunciation -- and with captivating inflection. Elizabeth packaged an interesting evening and graciously melded the expertise of a very knowledgeable young member of our group.
Day 08 proved to be long and tiring. On the ferry dock we enjoyed conversing with our driver who also had driven us to the hotel on our first day at Naxos. While standing in the queue we had a good time with several fellow travelers. Since we had a reasonably late breakfast at the hotel, we were not hungry at (U.S.) lunchtime so we ate light snacks on the ferry. Another Dimitri met us at the hotel, and he was as energetic as any guide could be. Picking up on his energy, we told him that the performance bar had been set high by our previous guides. To give him full credit, he tried; but at a key point in the tour, he had to leave us to enter Akrotiri alone because he was not allowed to guide its tour. After he dropped us at the gate to Akrotiri, we had to navigate the site independently – no pamphlet was provided. I admit I did not research the site as I most certainly should have. Since we entered the site without a clue about its basics, I found a QR code that linked to an English website still in development. I also found a PDF I could download, but that was impractical on the iPhone. Halfway through the site I found audio snippets via QR, but the associated diagrams were tough to interpret and many of the objects discussed were not onsite – they were in museums. The breadth of the excavation was stunning – and I learned later that night that it might take another 100 years to finish excavation. After rejoining Dimitri outside Akrotiri, he gave us two options: visit another castle or nearby Red Beach. We chose the latter in hopes that it would bring the day to an early end. It did not and the lack of a lunch break began to take a toll on our energy and moods. After leaving the interesting beach he drove us slowly to another photo-op site and then slowly back to the hotel as if to end the tour closer to the contracted time. One last point about the tour – it was in a rattletrap vehicle that left me unable to understand much of Dimitri’s constant stream of data and eventually led me to tune him out. OK, to be fair to him, I wear hearing aids to restore consonants that over wise would be lost in the ethers. If the consonants were in fact restored during the ride, they were overwritten by the rattling. Lana and I ended the day with a short walk to a restaurant that tested my resolve to keep the hearing aids powered on. We did not get a seat with a wonderful view of the caldera, instead we were ushered to a table set partway into a serving isle. I asked to be moved inside where I then discovered I could not hear Lana over the din created by waiters, bar tenders, music, and acoustics. We asked to be moved again – and were offered a street side, outdoor seat on a very chilly night. All of that movement was of our making, and I apologized to the manager for being so picky at which point he entertained us with stories of really picky customers – a group in which he said we did not fit! We thoroughly enjoyed our meal and his gracious hospitality.
The single scheduled event on Day 09 is always one of Lana’s favorite events – a regional cooking class. The class was perfectly enjoyable; great hands-on participation. Oddly, the lunch and wine tasting afterwards was ostensibly redundant – the food was the same, but double in portion size -- and the wine was similar in the pairing. The only noticeable difference between the two sessions was the dessert. Regardless of the redundancy, the meals had exceptional Greek flavors.
The weather reports for Day 10 promised an overcast day with chilly temperatures matched by high winds which led me to research the possibility of cancellation – not a chance. We spent part of the morning stepping down the 588 steps leading to dockside. There I purchased a trophy (Greek) hat on the assumption that we would successfully ascend the staircase. We did so without the aid of mules and celebrated with ice cream cones. Following quick rehydration, we walked quickly north so we could walk out to the Rock. And then we stuffed warm clothes into a backpack and were driven to the port for our catamaran sunset cruise. The weather was not as forecast – we only needed sweaters. It was as glorious as every other day in Greece – a perfect conclusion to our very, very successful visits to Athens, Hydra, Mykonos, Naxos and Santorini.
Thank you, Sydney, for helping make Lana’s birthday travel a marvelous success.

We just completed an incredible trip through Morocco organized by Hassan and his company, and I cannot recommend them highly enough.

From the very beginning, Hassan was responsive, thoughtful, flexible, and genuinely interested in tailoring the trip to what Kate and I wanted. He listened carefully to our interests, answered countless questions, made adjustments when requested, and created an itinerary that struck a perfect balance between comfort, authenticity, adventure, and relaxation. He was very patient as we went through the process of creating our itinerary which involved tweaking here and there.

The accommodations throughout the trip were outstanding and each had its own unique character. The riads in Fes and Marrakech were beautiful, intimate, and full of personality, while our stay in Merzouga and the luxury desert camp in the Sahara were unforgettable. Riding camels into the dunes at sunset and spending the night in the desert beneath the stars was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The tents themselves were remarkably comfortable and far beyond anything we expected.

A huge part of what made the trip so special was our local guide, driver and on-the-ground host, Hamid, who was with us throughout the journey. Hamid was wonderful — friendly, funny, outgoing, and knowledgeable. His English was excellent, he always made us feel comfortable, and he seamlessly coordinated everything with the local guides and experiences Hassan arranged along the way. Whether navigating the medinas in Fes and Marrakech, the long drive through the Atlas Mountains, and the remote desert villages we went through, he handled everything for us..

What made this trip stand apart was that we truly felt we were experiencing the real Morocco through the lens of both Hassan and Hamid. The trip felt deeply authentic and personal in a way that would have been almost impossible to replicate on our own. We visited places, met people, and had experiences we never would have discovered independently.

While budget was never our primary concern, we were honestly astonished by the value provided relative to the quality of the accommodations, logistics, guides, transportation, and overall experience. Having every detail thoughtfully coordinated removed all stress from the trip and allowed us to fully immerse ourselves in Morocco and its culture.

This was one of the most memorable trips we have ever taken, and much of that is thanks to Hassan and Hamid.

Elena put together a smooth, effortless experience for us. She was available for the entire trip on WhatsApp if we had any questions (of which we had a few!!). Can't wait for our next trip to Italy :)

Everything went as pre-planned, with continual support before, and during our trip from the Kim Kim team via WhatsApp. We were very happy with our hotels, city guides and the whole experience. I'd recommend Kim Kim to any individual travelers who like to plan their own itineraries.

From the start of my perfect itinerary to Northern Italy, the KimKim’s specialists Elisa and later on, Leslie were incredible at taking notes on all my suggestions and accommodating my wishes for every part of the trip. They planned carefully the itinerary and we enjoyed every parto of our visit to: Milan, Verona, Lake Garda, Bolzano and Venice; the highlight and most difficult part was our visit to the Dolomites, but they found the most wonderful Guide, Alessandro, who took us up and down those gorgeous mountains, valleys, lakes and little towns! It was above all my expectations and the best experience of my life! Thank you all!

Activity Reviews

Venice at Sunset: Cicchetti, Food & Wine Tour

Venice

Our guide Anna was really the perfect guide for this activity, we had so much fun wondering the bars and food locations all around the San Polo neighborhood. The last restaurant where the served us pasta was not a good choice, not a typical place and the food choices we had were not good at all. The rest was perfect!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Heart of the Dolomites " (Eastern Dolomites)

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Excellent

"The Great Dolomites Road" (Western Dolomites)

Italy

The most beautiful rides through mountains, lakes, valleys and towns ever! Alessandro is very knowledgeable, lives in the area and takes you to where you get to see the very best of the Dolomites! Driving the Great Road of the Dolomites was an unbelievable experience. The only cable car open after closure of winter season was the highlight with the most amazing view!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day trip to Lake Garda: Sirmione, Malcesine, Cable Car to Monte Baldo

Italy

Our driver and Elena, our guide in Sirmione were great, friendly and very professional.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Great experiences! Attentive service! Superior customer service. Planned great venues around our interests.

Perfect introduction to Croatian Adriatic coast

Hotel Reviews

Riva Marina Hvar Hotel

Hvar

Great staff. Comfortable but limited luggage space

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Porto

Dubrovnik

Convenient to bus for old city. Spacious. Great breakfast

Authenticity & Character

New hotel so not focused on authenticity/character

Location

Staff

Attentive

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Day trip to Salona, Trogir and Klis

Split

Guide was fantastic. Gave history and insights. Very accommodating. Superb lunch recommendation

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

F

Transport

Guided Walking Tour of Split

Split

Knowledgeable guide. Perfect length of time. Informative

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cooking class in the countryside

Hvar

Wow. Phenomenal setting. Wonderful food. Hosts like family

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lumbarda wine tasting tour with local snacks

Croatia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dubrovnik Food Tour

Dubrovnik

Very knowledgeable guide. Good variety of food

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vicky, our advisor, did an amazing job. Sydney opera house, barrier reef snorkeling, rain forests, animals, Southern Ocean lodge, all amazing. And the Australian people are so incredibly warm and welcoming.

Thank you for such a lovely and thoughtfully planned trip - Our family had such a lovely time and appreciate the way all the details came together so smoothly. Every accommodation, every transfer, and all recommendations were carefully crafted and delightfully recieved. There were far too many beautiful staff and operator interactions to single out anyone specifically - but everyone was so kind and accommodating for our kids and that means the world to us - thank you again!

Amandine was great , I would definitely recommend her, we were in very good hands with all the things we planned.

We had an excellent trip.
We were very lucky with the weather during the first two weeks of May — it was perfect for sightseeing.
Tayeb was a wonderful driver: thoughtful, punctual, accommodating, and fluent in English.
The itinerary was excellent and allowed us to experience the country’s diversity — from vibrant cities, to the High Mountains, to the desert, and finally the sea.
Although we very much enjoyed staying in the riads, it was lovely to end our trip in Essaouira at an international hotel with all the amenities and right beside the ocean.

Highlights
• The blue city of Chefchaouen, including our walk to the Spanish Mosque
• Volubilis — a fascinating historical site
• Merzouga — sleeping in a tent under the stars and the camel ride
• Boumalne Dades and the wonderful Todra Gorge
• Being lucky enough to experience the Rose Festival and see the rose fields in bloom
• Marrakesh, We thoroughly enjoyed the Majorelle Gardens (though we would also have enjoyed visiting other exhibits), the balloon ride and the excellent cooking class

Upon arriving in Casablanca, I would recommend touring Hassan II mosque and driving immediately to Rabat.
General Comments
Casablanca – Barcelo Casablanca. The city is very noisy. Recommend room on upper floor near the back of the building.
Rabat – Riad Kalaaz We had a wonderful breakfast. The room was a split level with the stairs going down very close to the entrance door. They should have railings for safety.
Enjoyed seaside lunch at Asilah
Tangier – Palais Zohia . Excellent location. Beautiful inner courtyards. Room is a little small. Enjoyed medina . Good local guide. He recommended excellent restaurant for supper.
Chefchaoeun – Taj Chefchaoeun Very nice hotel. Lots of stairs to reach hotel. Very good guide who recommended many excellent spots for photos. We enjoyed the walk our guide recommended to the Spanish mosque at sunset.
Volubilis thoroughly enjoyed walking through the Roman ruins,
Fes - Riad El Amine Fes – Lovely room. Great roof top restaurant. Beautiful courtyard.
Guide was good and necessary as the Medina is large and very confusing to navigate.
Merzouga - Tiziri Luxery camp. Loved sleeping in the tent and riding the camel.
Boumaine Dadas -Dar Rihana Dades Lovely hotel. (Towels were a little hard). Excellent food!
Marrakesh - Riad Atrium and Spa. The courtyard was very nice. The room was good but the rug inside the room was very worn. We thoroughly enjoyed the Majorelle Garden. The food tour was excellent. (I think his name was Souheil) We very much enjoyed the Mechoui and Tangia. The Balloon ride and cooking classes in Marrakesh were amazing.
In general the internet reception was not very good.

Incredible Experience – Ask for Omar!

We cannot say enough amazing things about our experience with Morocco Immersion Tour and Adventures! If you are planning a trip to Morocco, do yourself a favor and book with them right now.
The seamless experience started with Sharon, who was fantastic to work with during the planning phase. She was incredibly responsive, available, and attentive from our very first conversation. We had a rough idea of what we wanted to see but lacked a clear vision. Sharon patiently mapped out a customized itinerary, listened to our feedback, tweaked the details, and answered our endless list of questions. She even provided a comprehensive packing list that had us feeling totally prepared and confident long before we boarded our flight.

While the planning was top-notch, our guide and driver, Omar, truly made this trip an unforgettable adventure! Omar drove us across the entire country and completely stole the show. He went above and beyond every single day to ensure we had absolutely everything we needed, constantly checking in to make sure we were comfortable and having fun. Thanks to his expertise, we went way beyond the standard city tourist spots and ventured deep into gorgeous rural landscapes and hidden gems we never would have discovered on our own. Omar didn't just drive us around; he immersed us in the local culture, and taught us so much about the country. His fantastic energy and care truly made us feel at home. Omar’s exceptional service turned this vacation into the trip of a lifetime. We are so grateful for the memories and highly recommend this company to anyone looking for an authentic, stress-free Moroccan adventure!

Hotel Reviews

ONOMO Hotel Casablanca Airport

Nouaceur

Great location for early flight out. Shuttle to the airport on the hour.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The service in the restaurant was extremely slow.

Riad Chbanate

Essaouira

This was our favorite place that we stayed and we wish we had spent more time there. The entire Riad, from the lobby, dining room, rooftop and rooms was gorgeous. Dinner in front of the fire and breakfast the next morning were two of the best meals of the entire trip. The location within the Medina was quiet, but close to shopping and the seafront.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad La Croix Berbère Luxe

Marrakech

The location of this Riad can't be beat. It is in the Medina, but near the exit so that you can get in and out easily. The inside has been beautifully renovated. There is lots of comfortable seating on the rooftop and you could choose to have breakfast up there or downstairs.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were a bit small.

Kasbah Roseville

Kalaat M'Gouna

This property was lovely with stunning views of the surrounding town and distant mountains. Our second floor rooms were spacious and comfortable. The Riad was amazingly managed by Osama who served as porter for our luggage, as well as cook and server. He takes such pride in what he does and is a real asset.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Riad is not near anything else.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sahara Stars Luxury Camp

Merzouga

We arrived at the Camp on camels at sunset, which was both beautiful and hilarious! The tents were very nice and clean, and once the A/C came on after dinner, we were very comfortable. The food was average, but service was fine. They had entertainment around the campfire at night. We were too tired to participate but it sounded like all of the other guests were having a great time. We loved our adventurous truck ride out of the desert in the morning!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Farouzi Fes

Fes

We had a lovely stay at Riad Farouzi Fes. Ibraham and Sabir went above and beyond to make our stay incredible. The amount of food at breakfast was over the top! There were eggs, pastries, fruit, fresh juice and coffee. When we got back from our tour in the afternoon they served us tea and cookies on the rooftop terrace. They always made sure we knew where we were going, and escorted us themselves when available.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Day with the Locals in the Valley of Roses

Morocco

This was our favorite day of the trip! We started the day with Sharon's husband, Abdou, at a local rose farm and had an opportunity to pick roses with the locals and learn a little bit about how much this crop means to the area. We then went to the local market to choose vegetables that we took to the home of a local family. We spent the afternoon getting to know the family and how they live, and spent time with them in the kitchen watching them cook a traditional Couscous using the vegetables that we brought with us. A neighbor came over and gave all of us henna tattoos. We left this visit on such a high! On the way back to the Riad we had a chance to shop for some local rose products.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Merzouga to Dades Valley Via Todgha Gorge

Morocco

After a stunning sunrise and breakfast we had a fun ride slaloming the dunes on a 4 x 4 ride from the tent camp, we were reunited with Omar. Our stop to see the ancient irrigation tunnels was very informative and impressive. We had a private guide give us a tour of the Tinghir Palmeraie. It was amazing to see all of the fruits, vegetables and grains that grow in the Oasis behind the homes. Our guide, Zak, treated us to a visit with his father’s “first” wife’s residence in the new part of the village. We also visited a Berber rug cooperative to see the rugs are made and we had a chance to purchase rugs too. Finally, we took a ride through the Todgha Gorge, a natural wonder. It was a holiday so it was very crowded, but we liked seeing the locals spending time with their families swimming in the river.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fes to Merzouga via Ifraine and Azrou - Camel Trek to Desert Camp

Morocco

This was our longest day of travel in the van, and we needed to arrive in the desert by a certain time in order to be on the camel ride to the camp during sunset. The day was rushed because of this. We would have liked spending a little more time in Ifrane and with the Barbary Macaques along the way.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour of Fes

Fes

Omar and Abdul met us first thing in the morning at our Riad and escorted us to the van for a driving tour around the perimeter of Fez which gave us an overview of the city. We walked and learned how the Mellah-Jewish Quarter with exterior balconies differed from those of the Muslim Arabs. The ceramic co op provided an interesting insight into how the mosaics were made from the reverse side. The tannery was smelly as expected but it was interesting to learn how leather is processed. Abdul left us at a delicious and peaceful restaurant in the heart of the Medina while he went to pray.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Driving Tour of Casablanca

Casablanca

This was a last minute addition to our trip. We heard from others that had visited Morocco that we should not miss the Hassan II mosque in Casablanca. Sharon was able to adjust our trip and get us set up with a tour fairly last minute. We are so pleased that we were able to tour this stunning mosque.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We visited this site right after landing in Morocco. We found Omar easily, and after a long trip from the States he stopped and got us some delicious coffees on the way to the mosque. He also took us to a great restaurant for our first meal.

I thought all our guides were good but Tomoe in Tokyo was the best. We also really liked our last day with Fuji in Kyoto.