Kimkim Trip Reviews

Our family of 4 thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Peru thanks to the planning and execution of the KimKim team and associated travel guides. Liz allowed me to curate a trip that was family friendly for our young children while also allowing for adventures that the adults would enjoy as well, exploring history, cuisine, and local culture.
Our favorite guides were Nataly(Cusco area), Natali(Cusco city), Pamela(Machu Picchu -kids), and Roderigo(Machu Picchu).

Muchas Gracias to the team for making a dream trip a reality!

Activity Reviews

Shared Pachamanca Lunch Farm Tour

Sacred Valley

Sacred Valley’s Hummingbirds

Sacred Valley

Shared Painting on Ceramic Pucara Toritos

Cusco

Adventure with Allco and his friends tour in Machu Picchu

Aguas Calientes/ Machu Picchu

Shared tour to the Planetarium Cusco (May - August) w/assistance

Cusco

Private tour to Moray Terraces & Maras Salt Mines: Picnic and Paintings

Peru

Moray and Maras and picnic were amazing but our guide took us off itinerary to a high pressure sales textile factory which we did not enjoy

Urban Kitchen Experience

Lima

Shared Lima Fountains Tour

Lima

This was super fun but we felt rushed and couldn’t enjoy the park

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

Cusco

Self guided Trek to Huayna Picchu

Peru

With children we instead hiked the smaller mountain but it was incredible!

Private Sacred Valley Experience: Andean Animals & Clay Art Traditions

Peru

Our trip to Norway, organized by Taylor, was fantastic. The logistics were flawless, which I have come to expect from KimKim (our second trip organized by them). The recommended itinerary had us see essential Oslo, the beautiful train to Myrdal and then down to Flam. We then spent a few days on ships in the fjords with the Kvikness Hotel in Balestrand as our base camp (which was lovely - by the way the views from the mountain facing rooms are just as beautiful if not more so than the Fjord facing ones). After that we took the ferry to Bergen and enjoyed a couple of days enjoying the local culture, crafts and learning about its history. All told a great trip. Thanks Taylor!

All local tour guides were absolutely incredible, and I enjoyed talking to every single one of them as a means of learning about local life. Jack in London then Ruari and John in Inverness particularly stand out. Also, the Inverness Taxi company was amazing in their flexibility and reliability.

Hotel Reviews

Glenmoriston Townhouse Hotel

Inverness

Really enjoyed our stay here, and the staff as well as the restaurant were excellent.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Bonham

Edinburgh

Beautiful, but we were in the basement and it felt that way.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Montcalm Brewery, London City

Looks wonderful from the outside, definitely needs updating on the inside. It was hot without AC, which was broken, and they seemed to struggle with providing two beds in one room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Scotch Whisky & Artisan Food Tasting Tour

Edinburgh

Loch Ness and Caledonian Canal Cruise

Inverness

Cairngorms National Park Wildlife Tour

England

Our guide, Ruari, grew up on the land and was incredibly knowledgeable and fun to talk to.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day Loch Ness Tour from Inverness City

Inverness

Our guide, John, a former detective, was fantastic.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Stonehenge and Windsor Castle from London, private group

London

Tower of London Beefeater Welcome & Crown Jewels

London

Discover London in a Private Black Cab

London

Loved our guide, Jack. So knowledgable, and he did such a good job navigating the London traffic.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jack the Ripper Walking Tour in London

London

This was my favorite activity, and the guide, a PhD student, was incredibly knowledgable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Explore Harry Potter's London Tour

London

The tour guide, Domiano, was excellent, but the sites scene were mid.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Gersende was great in listening to us and helping book an itinerary which was just right for our family. It had activities on most days but allowed time for us to schedule impromptu activities. Thank you for making our holiday memorable!

Tony was very reliable in coordinating all our pickups and drop offs. It gave us confidence in knowing what was happening when.

Thank you for making our holiday memorable.

Hotel Reviews

Hôtel Bastille Spéria

Paris

Le Soleia - La Malmaison Nice Boutique Hotel

Nice

Hotel de Cambis

Avignon

Lenox Montparnasse

Paris

Activity Reviews

Nighttime Seine River Cruise with Dining Experience

Paris

Special evening experience!

Paris Macaron Baking Class

Paris

Chef Marthe was a wonderful teacher. We leaned many insightful tips and left with her book to try more recipes at home!

Sea Adventure in Villefranche-sur-Mer: Boat Ride, Swim & Snorkel

Nice

Antoine was fun and knowledgeable!

Morning Food and Wine Tour!

Nice

Ally was super! She knew so much about food, wine and the local history. We also really enjoyed her and appreciate being taken to local places we would never have found on our own.

Half-Day Private E-bike Tour of the Alpilles

France

Our guide,Julien, was great! He showed us all around the Alpilles in the area of Provence. He was very knowledgeable.

Château de Versailles (tickets + audioguide only)

France

We had an amazing time in Quito and the Galapagos this summer. All the arrangements for pick up, drop off tours were planned and executed by the guides and drivers to perfection. We feasted on local seafood fusion delights, went swimming with sea lions and sea turtles and met kind Ecuadorian people at every turn.

Our guides, especially Viviana in Santa Cruz and Ian in San Cristobal were wonderful and gracious. They had all the local knowledge and presented it with enthusiasm!!

Special thanks to Nichole for welcoming, planning and rearranging accommodations when needed.

Hotel Reviews

Casa de Nelly

Puerto Baquerizo Moreno

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

We were initially placed in a very small room which was not to our satisfaction, but the hostess very graciously moved us to a room with an ocean view which made all the difference.

Lava House Galapagos

Puerto Ayora

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mercure Alameda Quito

Quito

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Galapagos Cooking Class by the Sea

Galapagos Islands

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My KimKim team to Norway was comprised of Taylor (my initial contact and overall trip designer) and Maria and Nick (who promptly addressed my questions, my issues and any changes I needed). It was comforting to know I had such an efficient team.
It's hard for me to say which aspect of the trip was most memorable. Was it seeing in person the World Heritage fjords (something I had on my bucket list) or was it the experience of driving Lofoten where I had no prior vision of how spectacular that actually was. Or, was it the architecture of Alesund and their 148 steps vista. Norway is just one visual gift after another.

Hotel Reviews

Radisson Blu Airport Hotel, Oslo Gardemoen

Gardemoen

For someone needing to catch an early morning flight, you couldn't have chosen a better hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Quality Hotel Ålesund

Ålesund

I loved everything about Alesund including this hotel. The rooms were uniquely laid out. Their restaurant was full service. Their staff was both knowledgeable and helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

As it turned out, they were exactly where I wanted them to be in relation to resturants and sites.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Tide Rorbuer

Sørvågen

This hotel was a little confusing, as I was assigned a cabin instead of a room. Finding this cabin was not clearly explained, but eventually I did. But this was after a day's drive, so it added a level of frustration to what was an amazing area. The cabin was ok, but I didn't need a kitchenette as I was not planning on making my own meals. I would have requested a change if I had known this was the choice KimKim made. Would recommend KimKim explain the options before booking.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

As a solo traveler I am keenly aware of how I am treated by hotels and restaurants. I felt I was not particularly appreciated as a guest - especially in their restaurant.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Svolvær

Svolvær

At this point I had a rental car; however, the hotel did not provide parking nor any assistance in explaining how to pay for parking. I managed to figure it out, but that fact tainted my feeling about the hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Fine but nothing special.

Location

This was my first exposure to Lofoten and I was so impressed by how nature surrounded the area.

Staff

When you're in a foreign place you want greater assistance regarding unfamilar things ie: paying for parking.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Thon Hotel Opera

Oslo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Heimly Pensjonat

Flåm

Of all the hotels I stayed in during this trip, I was least impressed by this guesthouse.

Authenticity & Character

I suspect the reason for KimKim chosing this guesthouse was its view of the fjord. However, that view is somewhat blocked by trees.

Location

Getting to it was both confusing and uphill.. both from the dock and then the steep driveway and staircase you needed to climb. With 2 suitcases, this 78 year old was not happy. Given there is a hotel close to where you dock, I would have appreciated that convenience. Also, the hotel provides dinner, but it does not provide choices.

Staff

Having to ring a bell in order to have someone assist or answer questions, is just not classy

Cleanliness & Comfort

I felt like I was in a dormitory room.

Home Hotel Bryggen

Bergen

Ideally located within walking distance of everything you want to see.

Authenticity & Character

While an historic building, it amenities were sufficiently upgraded

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Self-Guided Oslo Exploration

Oslo

Walk up to Aksla Viewpoint

Ålesund

Self-Guided Bergen Exploration

Bergen

Self-Drive Exploration of Moskenesøya

Norway

Self-Guided Flåm Exploration

Flåm

There's a wonderful walking/biking path that leads you along the fjord.

Explore Ålesund

Norway

See my earlier comments re Alesund. I loved it.

Self-Guided Svolvær Exploration

Norway

Solvaer is the great place to start the Lofoten experience. While stunningly beautiful, it just keeps getting better as you drive away from it.

Edvard Munch Museum in Oslo (Tickets not included)

Oslo

Enjoyed learning more about Munch than just his 'The Scream". That said, the museum has a dedicated room for the 3 versions of The Scream.

Fjord RIB Safari & Undredal Cheese Tasting

Norway

The speed boat ride was the experience, but the stop to taste the local cheese was a nice touch.

Depart Norway

Norway

Geirangerfjord Cruise & Day Trip

Norway

The boat ride took special care to slow down (and in some instances, stop altogether) to explain what we were seeing and provide anecdotal stories related to the series of waterfalls. Time at the end of the fjord was just long enough to let you refresh, eat lunch or just walk around. It was an extremely pleasant day.

Quality of Experience

Visit Henningsvær

Svolvær

Since the drive from Solvaer to Reine is relatively short, I enjoyed getting off the main road and visiting as many of the towns along the way (Henningsvaer being one). Each is uniquely placed, so each offers a different view. What I also found, is this helped slow me down vs racing to Reine.

Quality of Experience

Reinebringen Hike

Norway

This is not a hike for the faint of heart. The steps are huge chunks of rock requiring much effort everytime. The climb is very vertical, so if you have any fear of heights, you might want to reconsider this choice. There is no railing (and there are sections where a misstep could be serious). The climb up is the climb down, so crowds going both ways can be a challenge. In retrospect, I wondered if I had made a bad choice (but the view WAS spectacular and no point in crying over spilt milk!) Although my 78 year old body had a very different point of view.

Quality of Experience

Although the reward is spectacular, I was more scared descending than going up.

Driving the Lofoten Islands: Nature Stops Along the Way

Norway

Lofoten is one amazing site after another. Even with the summer traffic that gave me more reasons to stop and take in the views.

Quality of Experience

Visit the Gol Stave Church (Norwegian Museum of Cultural History)

Oslo

For me, architecture is important, so this visit may be more personal than necessary for most. However, getting to the church required a short ferry ride which added a pleasant element to the experience.

Quality of Experience

Cultural Walk with a Local

Bergen

The guide was genuine, knowledgeable and flexible. I felt like I was walking around with a friend.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This was a walking tour.

We had a great trip to Norway and the help with knowing where to go and where to stay - was amazing. I took parents in their 80s and my teenagers on a family trip and I am not sure we could have pulled off a trip that was exciting for everyone without KimKim.

Our Norway trip was a magical adventure. KimKim and Tom Christer specifically made sure that every question was answered and every detail meticulously attended to. I recommend this trip highly!

Our Bali trip was absolutely incredible, and so much of that was due to the thoughtful planning and exceptional service of our travel agent, Athaya. She created an itinerary that gave us a wonderful mix of adventure, excitement, relaxation, culture, and luxury, while also allowing us to experience the dramatically different regions and topography of Bali. Every part of the trip felt intentional, and we came away feeling like we had truly experienced the island rather than simply visited it.

One of the absolute highlights was the team Athaya arranged for us. Our driver, Sang, was amazing. Anyone who has experienced Bali traffic knows that getting around the island is an adventure in itself, but Sang maneuvered through it like an expert! We always felt completely safe and comfortable with him, and his skill behind the wheel was truly impressive.

And then there was our wonderful guide, Mr. Oki. I cannot say enough good things about him. He was incredibly kind, patient, attentive, and genuinely cared about making sure we had the best possible experience. He taught us about Balinese customs, traditions, and culture in a way that made everything we were seeing so much more meaningful. He stood in lines to get our admission tickets, handled all the little details so we didn’t have to think about them, and was always looking for ways to make our day easier. He even made sure to take pictures of us throughout our adventures, which means we now have wonderful photographs of our amazing trip.

What impressed me most about the entire trip was the balance. We had exciting adventures, peaceful moments, beautiful accommodations, cultural experiences, and opportunities to see completely different sides of Bali. Each region felt like a new experience, and the itinerary flowed beautifully without ever feeling repetitive.

But perhaps the best example of Athaya’s level of service came when something happened that wasn’t even part of the trip she had planned. Our onward travel arrangements unexpectedly fell through, leaving us in Bali with nowhere to stay and no transportation arranged. Athaya immediately came to our rescue. Within minutes, she had found us a driver and secured a hotel so that we weren’t stranded. There was no hesitation—she simply stepped in and took care of us when we needed help. That kind of responsiveness and genuine concern for her clients is something you don’t forget.

This was the kind of trip that makes you realize how much difference an exceptional travel planner can make. Athaya didn’t simply arrange hotels, transportation, and activities—she created an experience, surrounded us with wonderful people, and made us feel cared for from beginning to end. And when the unexpected happened, she was there for us then, too.

We left Bali with incredible memories, a much deeper appreciation for the island and its culture, and enormous gratitude for Athaya, Sang, and Mr. Oki. They each played a special part in making this an unforgettable experience.

I would recommend Athaya without hesitation to anyone planning a trip to Bali. She is the person you want planning your vacation—and, perhaps even more importantly, the person you want in your corner when your plans don’t go according to plan.

Activity Reviews

Visit Ubud Art Market

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bali Swing at Tegallalang Rice Terrace

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Balinese Massage

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cliffs of Majesty : Visit Uluwatu Temple & Watch Kecak Dance

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

K

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Gitgit Waterfall Canyoning Adventure

Indonesia

Canyoning was hands-down one of the most exciting and memorable experiences of our entire trip to Bali! The guides were absolutely fantastic. They were knowledgeable, professional, and extremely safety-conscious, which made us feel completely comfortable even when we were doing something that pushed us outside our comfort zones. They explained everything clearly, told us exactly what to expect, and made sure we knew what to do before every jump, rappel, and challenging section of the canyon. We always felt like we were in very capable hands, which allowed us to relax and actually enjoy the adventure. And then there was one particular guide who was absolutely hilarious. He honestly made the experience! He kept us laughing throughout the entire excursion and somehow managed to make even the more intimidating moments fun. His personality, humor, and enthusiasm turned what was already an incredible adventure into one of those experiences we’ll be talking about for years. The scenery was spectacular, the adventure was exhilarating, and the guides were exceptional. It was the perfect combination of adrenaline, natural beauty, and just plain fun. If you’re considering canyoning in Bali, DO IT! It was one of our favorite experiences of the entire trip, and we would recommend it without hesitation.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Penglipuran Village

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bathe the Elephants

Ubud, Bali

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hannie did such a great job planning our tours in Korea and picked the best guides and drivers for our family. She was also always available whenever we had questions, both before and during our trip, which we really appreciated.

For our guided day in Busan, our guide was Ms. Son Eunjeong, and she was absolutely wonderful. She was so good with our kids and made the day fun and interesting for everyone. We explored the market, visited Gamcheon Culture Village, rode the beach train, and learned so much about the history of Busan. She knew all the best photo spots and took lots of family pictures for us throughout the day, which we really appreciated. She also recommended some great ice cream that the kids loved. At the market, she even helped my husband find a pair of shoes he was looking for.

Our driver in Busan was wonderful too. She was a very safe and careful driver, and we really appreciated that she had a car seat ready for our child. We felt very comfortable with her driving us around all day.

In Seoul, Hannie booked a food tour for us with Jay, who was also fantastic. He was flexible, great with the kids, and had so many good recommendations. Our kids still talk about the donuts he got for them and the dried strawberries we found at the market! He even arranged a stop at an art museum for our kids, which was such a thoughtful addition to the day.

We really appreciated how well Hannie matched us with guides and drivers who understood what works for a family traveling with kids. Everything felt personal and well planned, and knowing Hannie was always available if we needed anything made the trip that much easier. We had a great experience in both Busan and Seoul and would definitely recommend her.

Marii did an amazing job planning our family trip to Japan. She planned our time in the Mt. Fuji area, Hakone, Kyoto, and Osaka, and we were really happy with the itinerary.

She chose great hotels throughout the trip, and we especially loved the hotels she picked for us in Hakone. She also found tour guides who were a great fit for our family and our kids, which made such a difference.

Marii also gave us some really good restaurant recommendations in each place we visited. It was so helpful to have places already recommended instead of trying to figure it out on our own.

She was also available throughout our trip whenever we had questions, which we really appreciated. It was nice knowing we could reach out to her if we needed anything.

Marii made planning and traveling on a big family trip so much easier. We would definitely recommend her to anyone planning a trip to Japan!

We had a wonderful family trip to Peru, and the team did a great job making everything run smoothly.

A big thank you to Anne for planning a fantastic itinerary and catering to our family's needs, Jesus for always being available on WhatsApp and keeping everything on track, Blanca for an excellent and engaging walking tour of Barranco, and Julio for being a knowledgeable, caring guide and a great storyteller in Cusco. We would also like to thank all of our drivers for being punctual, professional, and friendly throughout the trip.

We did run into a few unexpected challenges, including train issues to and from Machu Picchu and a family health issue that required us to change plans during our Amazon stay. The team handled everything quickly and efficiently behind the scenes, helping us find solutions with minimal stress.

We really appreciated everyone's support and would happily recommend this team to anyone planning a trip to Peru.

Hotel Reviews

Finca Sachabacayoc

Our stay at Finca Sachabacayoc was unfortunately the least enjoyable part of our Peru trip. We understand that staying in the Amazon comes with certain rustic expectations, but there were several issues that made our stay less comfortable than anticipated. The biggest challenge was that we had no running water for the entire morning of one of our days, which made it difficult to shower or get ready for our activities. Even when water was available, the hot water only lasted a few minutes. It was also often difficult to find staff when we needed assistance. The rooms have metal roofs, which made them extremely hot during the day, and the fans were not sufficient to keep the room comfortable. There were also a significant number of insects on the porch, making it difficult to relax in the hammock or enjoy the outdoor space. The food was adequate but fairly average and did not stand out compared to the rest of our trip. That said, we do want to recognize the staff for their kindness during an unexpected family health issue. They arranged breakfast for us when we had to miss one of the scheduled activities and were helpful in coordinating our unexpected return to Lima. We truly appreciated their support during a stressful situation. Overall, while the staff did their best to help when it mattered most, we feel the facilities, amenities, and overall guest experience could be improved.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Los Portales Cusco

Cusco

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Innside Lima Miraflores by Melia Hotels International

Miraflores

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Lunch at Ama

Peru

Lunch at Ama was one of the most memorable meals of our trip. Beyond the outstanding food, we were inspired by the owner's mission of creating employment opportunities for young people with disabilities and single mothers. It was a meaningful experience to support a local business making such a positive impact on the community. We highly recommend stopping here if you're visiting the Sacred Valley.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Maras Salt Ponds

Peru

The Maras Salt Ponds were a fascinating place to visit, and Julio was an excellent guide. He shared interesting stories and local insights that made the visit much more meaningful. A beautiful stop in the Sacred Valley that we would highly recommend.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Moray Terraces

Peru

Visiting Moray was one of the highlights of our time in the Sacred Valley, and Julio made the experience even more memorable. His storytelling and knowledge brought the history and purpose of the terraces to life, and he took the time to answer all of our questions. We appreciated that he shared not only the historical significance of Moray but also local insights and perspectives that made the visit much more meaningful. We highly recommend this tour, especially with Julio as your guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cusco Walking City Tour with San Francisco Church

Cusco

Julio was an outstanding guide for our Cusco walking tour. Instead of only taking us to the typical tourist attractions, he introduced us to local gems and hidden corners of the city that made the experience feel much more authentic. He is a wonderful storyteller, incredibly knowledgeable, and genuinely caring, making sure everyone in our family was comfortable throughout the tour. We learned so much about Cusco's history, culture, and local life, and would highly recommend this tour with Julio.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walking food tour at Barranco

Lima

Blanca was an excellent guide for our Barranco walking tour. She was knowledgeable, engaging, and shared the history and culture of the neighborhood in a way that made it both interesting and enjoyable. She also introduced us to some amazing local restaurants, giving us a wonderful taste of authentic Peruvian cuisine. It was a great experience, and we highly recommend touring Barranco with Blanca!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

One visit to Japan was very wonderful. Kimkim the traveling agency was really helpful. Our tour guides were very friendly and helpful. My grandkids boys really enjoyed our visit to most of the places went. The shibuya sky and shibuya crossing in Tokyo the busys cross street in Tokyo it is a.lot of fun to see the volume of people crossing with their camera 📷 talking fotos. I was very worried about traveling to Japan because we were black but I had nothing to worry about, we felt very comfortable . I will encourage tourists to use kimkim for to all their destinations.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Forza Osaka Kitahama

Osaka

This hotel is in the center of the city and it is easy to connect to wherever u want to go

Authenticity & Character

Location

In the center of the city and easy to move around

Staff

Very friendly and easy to communicate with them in English

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel very very clean and delicious breakfast

Park Hotel Kyoto

Kyoto

Hotel clean and in the center of the city

Authenticity & Character

The food is good the staffs are very friendly

Location

It is easy to get transport and in the center of the city

Staff

The staffs are very friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kimkim is a very reliable travel agency to work with

Hakone Hotel Kajikaso

Hakone

The fin part of this hotel is the Japanese style bed and the hot springs

Authenticity & Character

The Japanese style bed room make a lot of difference and a good experience

Location

It is in the center of the city so getting access to the train station 🚉 was easy

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The hotel in very clean

the b asakusa

Tokyo

Amazing in the center of all the activities in Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

The staffs are very helpful

Staff

Very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

The hotel in very very clean

Activity Reviews

Full Day Mt. Fuji and Lake Ashi Tour with Hakone Tozan Railway

Japan

Although it was soo foggy 🌁 we were not abto see the mountain Fugi but it was wealth it the trip

Tokyo Discovery: From Traditional Landmarks to Akihabara’s Anime Haven

Tokyo

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

Kyoto

Half Day Nara Park & Todai-Ji Temple

Japan

From Hakone to Kyoto

Japan

Enjoy Temples & Bamboo Grove in Kyoto with Your Family

Kyoto

Going through the temple and the bamboo grove was a very interesting experience it was peaceful in the grove

Bea was responsive, easy to communicate with, attentive to detail, and able to create a trip that met the needs of a wide age span - 11 years to 77 years old! She ensure that our requested activites were included, and she added activites that ended up being some of our very favorite! The pinxtos tour and the cooking class in San Sebastian were both so much fun, and our kids stepped outside of their comfort zones to try unfamiliar foods and flavors.

Hotel Reviews

H10 Art Gallery

Barcelona

Clean, compact rooms, with a delicious breakfast buffet

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Vincci Zaragoza Zentro

Zaragoza

Clean, comfortable, and walkable to every thing we wanted to do in Zaragoza. The AC worked beautifully despite the extreme heat (105 degrees fahrenheit).

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Zinema7

San Sebastian (Guipuzcoa)

Clean, quiet, comfortable, and with a delicious breakfast buffet. Walkable to nearly everything we wanted to do in San Sebastian.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

French Basque Coast: Biarritz & Saint-Jean-de-Luz

Spain

The locations were beautiful, but it felt hurried and as if we were in the van for a significant portion of the day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Loarre Castle: The Last Medieval Stronghold

Zaragoza

We had enough time to actually explore the castle, and it was beautiful. There were minimal other people visiting at the same time, and we never felt hurried.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Barcelona for Kids: Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia & Park Güell

Barcelona

I wish I'd had more time in each location - they were both gorgeous, and I could have spent twice as long in each location!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A Culinary Tapestry of Pintxos

San Sebastián

Diego was knowledgeable and friendly, with a sense of humor and way of engaging kids and adults. He chose pintxos that accommodated more selective eaters, but also pushed us outside of our comfort zones. He accommodated our vegetarian daughter easily, as well.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

From Market to Table: A Basque Cooking Experience

San Sebastián

Carlos was knowledgable and friendly, with a sense of humor and way of engaging kids and adults. He chose menu items that accommodated more selective eaters, but also pushed us outside of our comfort zones to try local ways of preparing the recipes. He accommodated our vegetarian daughter easily, as well.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Everything was so easy. We had the best driver when we were in Cairo. Raafat and Mohamed were the best team and took the best care of us. Michael was so much fun and a great tour guide and we had the best lunch with him.
Our stay in Luxor was amazing at a great hotel I enjoyed very much. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and fun. The food we had for lunch in Luxor was a bit suspect and left us both with food poisoning…we ate there twice too.
Our time at the resort in Marsa Matrouh was excellent. Even for a 3.5 rating hotel, the management and the staff were AMAZING and so accommodating.
I would do it all again…minus the food poisoning lol.

Hotel Reviews

Holiday Inn City Stars

Cairo

So comfortable and clean.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Safir Marsa Matrouh Resort

Marsa Matrouh

Authenticity & Character

Location

Was hoping to be ocean front but it was lagoon front and the beach was a bit dirty.

Staff

Staff were AMAZING and so accommodating

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was just okay.

Sonesta St. George Hotel

Luxor

Amazing view, food and staff!!!

Authenticity & Character

So Beautiful

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

10/10

Sofitel Cairo Downtown Nile

Cairo

Amazing food, accommodations and views! Really loud at night, but that’s expected on the Nile.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Kindest staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

10/10

Activity Reviews

Arrival Luxor- East Bank tour

Luxor

Quality of Experience

Food

Made me and husband ill

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Free Day in Cairo – City Stars Leisure & Entertainment

Egypt

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Marsa Matruh

Marsa Matruh

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arrival Cairo

Cairo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Free day at leisure

Marsa Matruh

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day at leisure

Marsa Matruh

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit The west bank then fly to Cairo

Egypt

Quality of Experience

Food

Made me and husband ill

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traveling to Upper Egypt

Egypt

Quality of Experience

I

Food

Made me and husband ill

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day tour to visit Pyramids, Sphinx and GEM

Cairo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Aleksandra planned a trip of a lifetime to London & Scotland for my husband & I. We spent 6 nights in London & 4 nights in Ediburgh. Aleksandra was excellent at communicating with my husband & I. We exchanged many e-mails over the course of several months, planning each day & constantly tweaking what we wanted to do. In addition to that, we had a ton of questions that Aleksandra answered, always within a day or two of sending the e-mails.

When planning this trip we needed the most amount of help with laying out, organizing & optimizing our time in each location so that we could do everything we wanted without running ourselves ragged. Aleksandra accomplished this objective. She planned activities each day that were close to each other or an underground stop or two away so we could move easily & efficiently between locations. Alexsandra fit the days together seamlessly & used every second to the fullest. Her directions to get us from one place to another were a godsend. In both London & Edinburgh we never got lost nor frustrated trying to find a particular location. While planning our vacation, she always provided fabulous choices & presented multiple options so we could select what most excited us. This was true in particular for restaurants & hotels. Aleksandra made us dinner reservations at our selected restaurants & every one of those restaurants worked out beautifully. She was even available to us during the trip, when a small problem or question arose. It was a nice feeling to know that no matter what we needed, she was there for us, both in the planning & while we were on the trip.

There were a few standout tours that Aleksandra booked for us. The first was a private tour while we were in London to see the Changing of the Guard with Delianne. A bucket list item for me. Delianne knew just where to stand for the best viewing in several locations. We did not have to line up hours in advance. All we did was follow her & each time we were exactly where we needed to be at the right time. She had a lot of interesting tidbits to share & we thoroughly enjoyed our morning with her.

The next tour in London that we loved was a small group historical pub tour. Our tour guide, Freddie, was fabulous. We went to 4 interesting pubs, all different from each other. He had a lot of fun information to share & we spent just the right amount of time in each pub. This was our last night in London & it was a perfect way to end our time there before traveling to Edinburgh.

In Scotland, we did two private tours. Both of them were well worth the money. The first was a 3 1/2 hour walking tour of Edinburgh with Zander. He was our introduction to Edinburgh. He took us to so many places & told us so many engaging stories. It was more interesting to us than to just be told a list of facts. The time went by very quickly & we attributed that to his way of telling us information about Edinburgh.

The second private tour was a highlight of our entire trip. We spent the day with Calais, a true gentleman & a delight to have as a tour guide. We went through the East Neuk, even stopping in Calais' hometown & going to his local cafe. We loved seeing where people live & learning a little about why they lived there. St. Andrews golf course was next & it did not disappoint. We could feel the history there & appreciated it all, even though neither of us are golfers. We loved taking our picture on the famous bridge, Swilken Bridge, which made my golf loving brother very jealous. We also toured St. Andrews University. The school is even more beautiful than we had imagined & again we enjoyed learning about the history there. The sad, but true story of the the St. Andrews Castle was very interesting & one we had not heard before.

We are only home a few days & are still talking about all the highlights of this trip. We have fabulous memories & many of them are from the tours outlined above. Both my husband & I highly recommend Aleksandra. Her work in preparing for this trip enhanced our trip & resulted in making our trip extraordinary. Using Aleksandra & her team was well worth it & gave us an unforgettable vacation experience!

Hotel Reviews

Leonardo Royal Hotel Edinburgh

Edinburgh,

This hotel was perfect for our 4 night stay in Edinburgh. Room was clean, quiet & was located right off the Royal Mile. It was a good fit for us.

Authenticity & Character

It wasn't that anything needed to be improved. It was just your regular hotel with few amenities, but perfect for what we needed.

Location

Very near to Royal Mile

Staff

There was a small problem at check in that the manager quickly resolved.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bed was comfortable & room was clean.

Roseate House London

London

We had a wonderful 6 night stay at this hotel. The hotel manager went out of his way to make this an outstanding experience for us. We were lucky enough to stay in a junior suite which provided lots of extra room. The king bed was comfortable which was important to us as we had long days of sightseeing & were exhausted when we arrived back at the hotel. What set this hotel apart from your usual hotel was the staff. They wanted to make our stay the best it could possibly be & they did. We appreciated every bit of that! Highly recommend this hotel!!

Authenticity & Character

The hotel was a boutique hotel which was just what we wanted for this stay.

Location

It was super quiet, but very close to Paddington Station so convenient for seeing all the sights.

Staff

Exceptional in every way!! They went out of their way to make our stay fantastic!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Historical Pub Tour of London

London

We thoroughly enjoyed our historical pub tour with Freddie. He was an excellent guide through the 4 pubs we "toured". He gave us just enough interesting information without giving too much. We loved all the pubs he selected. They were very different from each other, but each had a lot of character. We never would have found these pubs on our own. We would highly recommend this tour! A really fun evening!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Iceland is a treasure! Great scenery, great people, very clean landscapes, bathrooms and superb water. We loved everything scheduled that we tried and couldn’t pick a favorite. As it was peak season we were delayed at customs . Our other setbacks were some unpaved roads and working with the internet/carplay. Still we saw amazing glaciers, lava flows, geysers, thermal hot springs, waterfalls, a lava cave, hiked around a volcanic crater and learned about geologic processes and Iceland’s history in a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The food and hotels were above average. We recommend our tour guide Emanuela for your itinerary.

Activity Reviews

At the feet of the Vatnajokull glacier

Vík

We enjoyed seeing quite a few glaciers as the clouds had lifted enough.

Quality of Experience

Food

My husband liked his cinnamon roll and I liked my gluten free vegan chocolate cake.

West Iceland

Borgarnes

Great waterfalls

Quality of Experience

Explore Fjallsárlón Glacier Lagoon by Boat

Iceland

A bit chilly despite gear provided but worth it to hear and see the glacier and icebergs.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Pics taken from the zodiac by guide

Transport

Lava Show Vík

Vík

Surprising and informative

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sky Lagoon

Reykjavík

Our first spa experience in 80 years and we felt so lucky and relaxed.

Quality of Experience

Outstanding facility and location

A Day at the Westmann islands

Iceland

Loved seeing the puffins from excellent viewing platforms.

Quality of Experience

Food

Gluten free options

Explore the South Coast

Iceland

Despite rain we still had fun.

Quality of Experience

Food

Reykjavík Puffin Watching

Reykjavík

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Víðgelmir Lava Cave Experience

Iceland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Geothermal Bakery Experience

Golden Circle

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Back to the mainland

Westman Islands

People were helpful when conditions were slippery.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Good ferry service.

Transport

Depart Iceland

Iceland

The kiosk at United Airlines wasn’t working to print the luggage strips so we and many other passengers had to wait in the main line even though we had checked luggage online.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Drive back and more of the South Coast

Iceland

Enjoyed the promontory and more puffin and bird watching.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Not applicable

Transport

We had a great trip to Iceland! Was grateful to have Othman making bookings for us, especially for hotels, and planning the overall route while still leaving flexibility in many of our days. We somehow got great weather, too, which was a bonus. Othman was very responsive to our questions and requests for changes. Would definitely use KimKim (and Othman) again.

Activity Reviews

FlyOver Iceland

Reykjavík

Loved this.

Skaftafell Glacier Hike

Iceland

Well-organized, great guide, cool experience.

Puffin and Volcano Tour

Westman Islands

Ebbi is a great tour guide!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Every detail was thoughtfully arranged, and the entire experience felt seamless, safe, and beautifully curated.
Arenal was one of the best travel experiences we’ve ever had. We loved our stay at Casa Luna Hotel & Spa, peaceful, lush, and welcoming. The Arenal Volcano short hike was wonderful, offering stunning views and a comfortable pace. The food throughout the region was excellent, and the organic cooking class was a standout: part farming lesson, part cultural immersion, and entirely memorable.
The boat ride across Arenal Lake to Monteverde was serene and scenic, and our stay at Sibū Boutique Hotel was modern, comfortable, and perfectly located. Although the Monteverde night hike didn’t reveal many animals, we still spotted a few rare creatures, and the guide made the experience worthwhile. The Bat Jungle was surprisingly unique and educational. Monteverde itself offered a very special mountain atmosphere, misty, quiet, and full of character.
Overall, the trip was beautifully planned, stress‑free, and full of meaningful experiences. We are grateful for the care and expertise that went into creating this itinerary.

Great trip - definitely recommend visiting places in Australia 🇦🇺 that are in addition to Sydney, Melbourne, and the Great Barrier Reef. Ayers Rock, Darwin and Perth are all wonderful additions if you have time. Lindsey was able to put together the perfect trip for my partner and me. She was very responsive in the pre planning phase and during the trip when an issue arose. This is my second kimkim trip experience and both have been great!

Hotel Reviews

Rydges Sydney Airport Hotel

Mascot, Sydney, NSW

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Crowne Plaza Perth

East Perth

Good option in Perth. - friendly staff and nice rooms. Breakfast was enjoyable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel

Jabiru

Unique design but it’s dated. Served it purpose. They know they have a captive audience and treat you as such in the restaurant and bar.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Friendliness and can do attitude of bar and restaurant staff.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Desert Gardens Hotel

Yulara

Rustic and nice. Centrally located with easy access to other venues in the immediate area. Bus shuttle was nice to use. Staff friendly.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Novotel Darwin CBD

Darwin

Oh boy this place needs to be taken off the list - 🐜 ants in the room, waited over 15 minutes for someone to check me into the hotel (no staff present at all), when they want to fine you because steam from bathroom might set off fire alarm - then it’s time to leave this place - fortunately I didn’t have this issue but why put it on the hotel guest?!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Perth Private Transfer Fremantle Gaol to Hotel

Australia

Perth Private Transfer Airport to Hotel

Australia

Darwin Private Transfer Airport to Hotel

Darwin

Uluru Shuttle Transfer Airport to Hotel

Uluru

Darwin Private Transfer Hotel to Airport

Darwin

2 Day Kakadu & East Alligator River - Day 2

Australia

This was one of the best excursions on the trip - definitely do!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was awesome here!

Transport

2 Day Kakadu & East Alligator River - Day 1

Australia

AAT Kings messed my reservation up but they got it right at the end of the day. Double check with your contact to make sure the operator has you booked for the right day!! Day 1 was nice but Day 2 was more active and enriching.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Bus driver very accommodating given he had to wait for my taxi to catch up!

Transport

Perth Private Transfer Hotel to Airport

Australia

Pinnacle Sunset and Night Time Stargazing Tour

Perth

Sunset over the Indian Ocean, followed by seeing the Pinnacles and then stargazing. Definitely worthy the time and effort.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Morning Darwin City Sights

Darwin

Great way to get your bearings for walking around the town.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Uluru Shuttle Transfer Hotel to Airport

Uluru

A Night at Field of Light

Uluru

Wow - even with an overcast night it was a great experience with the sunset, dinner, lecture and tour of the Field of Light.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Morning Uluru Sunrise & Kata Tjuta

Uluru

Early morning but worth the experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport