Kimkim Trip Reviews

Our guide in Oslo was just wonderful. She sat down with us at the beginning of the time to see what was best for our 3 hours together. Extremely knowledgeable and shared so much in a short amount of time!

We had an excellent kimkim experience. Anna developed an itinerary that was exactly what we were looking for, and Michelle was very helpful when we arrived. Bookings went smoothly and instructions/vouchers/documents were clear and well organized. We did have a couple of very minor hiccups which were easily resolved with a call to the 24-hr hotline. A reassuring aspect of kimkim’s services is that they are very responsive. If you need anything, you will get a real human on the line who will help you immediately. Staff are also quick to respond via chat. Norway is a beautiful and friendly country. We highly recommend traveling there with kimkim.

Iceland is beautiful! We had great excursions and all the Guides were super, especially for the glacier walk (Hanee), glacier lake kayaking (Tom), the horseback riding, and the lava tube spelunking.
One suggestion is for kimkim to provide a daily map showing the location of all the stops/excursions, so it would make the daily planning easier; we struggled a few days getting the order of activities arranged to minimize travel backtracking, etc. and decide it we had time to deviate from the itinerary for special interest destinations.

Activity Reviews

Horse Riding on Black Sand Beach

Iceland

Great Guides. Would have liked more time to trot the horses.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Víðgelmir Lava Cave Experience

Iceland

Fascinating! Guide was great.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Geothermal Bakery Experience

Golden Circle

Great bread and smoked arctic char and great Guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Whale Watching Ólafsvík

Snæfellsnes Peninsula

We did not see any whales. We saw several dolphin.

Reynisfjara Beach & Reynisdrangar Columns

Iceland

Did not get to do this.

Þingvellir National Park

Iceland

Waterfalls were great!

Djúpalónssandur Black Sand Beach

Snæfellsnes Peninsula

Did not get to do this.

Glacier Walk and Kayak Experience

Iceland

Very interesting and the guides (Tom and Hanee) were great!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cliff Walk from Arnarstapi to Hellnar

Snæfellsnes Peninsula

Did not get to do this due to the weather.

Geysir Geothermal Area

Iceland

Interesting, but underwhelming.

Our trip was absolutely wonderful. Valentine did an amazing job helping us organize our travel plans. We had peace of mind that our transportation was taken care of to and from the various sites we visited. She took extra measure to accommodate a variety of ages within our group. 100% recommend kimkim and Valentine when planning your next vacation.

Our trip to Barcelona and Madrid was wonderful. The itinerary was perfect for what we were looking for. The hotels and transport were great, and we were in perfect locations for everything we wanted to do. Our tour guides and excursions were all wonderful.

Our trip to Portugal was wonderful. The itinerary was perfect for what we were looking for. The hotels were great and the locations were perfect for walking to everything we needed/wanted to do. Our tour in Lisbon with Nuno was great, and beach time at Cascais was nice and relaxing. KimKim and Emily made everything easy and convenient from the planning, to the hotels, to the transportation....our tour of the Moorish Castle and Pena Palace and Sintra were great as well. Highly recommend.

Activity Review

Evening Fado Show

Lisbon

I'm a musician, so I truly enjoyed and appreciated the performance from that aspect, but even if you are not, it was fun and intimate and the songs and stories were great.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We have an awesome time in Ireland. It was our first tune and Adrian did a fabulous job putting the trip together. All of our drivers were great - they were timely and knowledgeable. We had Agnes, David , Lukas and Peter (I think.. the one who took us to Derry) - if I missed a driver it’s not intentional - they were all very good. We loved rhe Carrick - Rede - Rope bridge. It was scary but doable😂, the Giant Causeway was a fun hike with great views.

Derry was our favorite city. The people were friendly, the city felt very safe to walk around at night. My husband made friends with the locals in a couple of pubs and my daughter and I loved the mall next to the Starbucks in the center of town. We did the walking tour and learned a lot about Bloody Sunday and got a feel for the politics and tension in Northern Ireland. It was very educational for everyone and especially for my daughter who is 17 and knew nothing of that part of Ireland’s history.

The Titanic Museum was amazing. Note: my husband’s great uncle was the violin player (Hartley) on the Titanic. His violin was also featured in the museum.

We enjoyed all the cities and got so many souvenirs that we had to buy another piece of luggage. Derry being our favorite city does not minimize the other beautiful locations to note - The Castle at Waterford, Kilkinney Castle, the Tombs, the waves on the coast at the Giant Causeway.

The accommodations were very good.
We were happy to have the apartment type spaces. We were happy to have the higher end accommodations for comfort. The Celtic Show in the last night was fun and a good farewell to Ireland… we were all sad to be leaving. This itinerary covered a lot of ground for a 1st time visitor.

We would definitely book with Adrian again. Next time we want to go back to Derry and then to Scotland.

Hotel Reviews

Staycity Aparthotels Dublin Mark Street

Dublin

Interestingly this hotel was very nice, new and modern! The staff was ok.. not terribly friendly like the other locations. They weren’t rude but just not helpful. No explanation about how the doors worked with the keys so when we got stuck in the hallway not knowing to push the green button to open the doo.. the staff was annoyed that had to call them. Another example, the sheets provided for the pull out bed were not clean. I took them downstairs and politely asked for new sheets. The woman took the sheets, didn’t say a word and said that someone would bring me clean sheets. I said thank you and she mumbled a response like “no problem”. Like I said, not rude but distinctly different than the other experiences that we had. It didn’t take away from our trip but probably not a place that we would stay again.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cordia Serviced Apartments

Belfast

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Staycity Aparthotels - Christchurch, Dublin

Dublin

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Kilkenny

Kilkenny

Very nice hotel.. unfortunately Ireland was having a heat wave and the room was very hot. But, the hotel had 1 portable fan.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Diamond House Apartments

Londonderry

Location was excellent. The apartment was well decorated and comfortable furniture. For some reason the bedroom doors had an automatic spring which forced them closed. So, the bedroom doors would slam shut. Usually this is only see n in industrial buildings. Nonetheless.. we would stay there again!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Waterford Castle

Waterford

Beautiful property. The rooms were high end and very comfortable for a long stay.

Authenticity & Character

Feels like a throw back in time

Location

Just be aware that you will need to consider that you need a ferry to go back and forth.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Bogside History Walking Tour

Londonderry (Derry)

Highly recommend! Gives a great history of the city.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Authenticate.. the tour was given by a resident of Derry who clearly had a passion for the city.

An Epic Walking Tour of the Viking Triangle

Waterford

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Visit Brú na Bóinne and the Newgrange Tombs

Ireland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guides were incredibly knowledgeable

Celtic Night Show & Dinner

Dublin

Quality of Experience

Titanic experience

Belfast

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our trip to Australia, planned by Vicky through KimKim Travel, truly was the trip of a lifetime.
We began our journey in Sydney, where we thoroughly enjoyed our hotel and immediately fell in love with the city. Sydney was vibrant, clean, and filled with incredibly friendly people. We loved exploring its many restaurants, strolling through the beautiful Royal Botanic Gardens, and taking the ferry to Manly Beach, which offered spectacular views of Sydney Harbour and the Opera House. One of the highlights of our stay was a waterfall, wine, and wildlife tour with Rob that gave us the opportunity to pet koalas and wallabies—an unforgettable experience.
From there, we traveled to Hamilton Island, which was absolutely spectacular. We stayed at the Beach Club, a beautiful and scenic resort that exceeded our expectations. We enjoyed hiking around the island and taking a snorkeling excursion to Whitehaven Beach. Whitehaven Beach is, without question, one of the most breathtaking beaches we have ever seen. The crystal-clear water and pure white silica sand made it truly unforgettable.
Next, we continued to Palm Cove near Cairns. Although windy weather unfortunately forced the cancellation of our turtle kayaking tour, Vicky quickly adjusted our plans, and we ended up enjoying incredible wildlife experiences instead. We saw tree kangaroos, platypuses, crocodiles, cassowaries, koalas, and wild kangaroos—an absolute dream for wildlife enthusiasts.
Our final destination was Uluru, the perfect ending to an amazing adventure. We were awed by the brilliant night sky and loved riding camels around Uluru at sunset, an experience we will never forget.
Throughout the entire trip, Vicky was exceptional. She was always available, responded quickly, and seamlessly handled any itinerary changes caused by the weather. Knowing she was only a message away gave us tremendous peace of mind throughout our travels.
Australia is an enormous country, and our itinerary included multiple flights and hotels to experience everything we hoped to see. While it was a busy trip, every destination was well worth it, and the logistics were handled smoothly.
If you're a wildlife enthusiast or simply want to experience the incredible diversity Australia has to offer, I cannot recommend Vicky highly enough. She created an itinerary that perfectly matched our interests and made every part of our journey memorable. We returned home with unforgettable memories and immense gratitude for the care and attention she put into planning our vacation.

Our guide Soleil was very attentive and perfectly helpful. Her choices for activities and events matched our interests perfectly and she was in large part responsible for our wonderful family vacation. I recommend her services to anyone traveling to Japan. Thank you to the KimKim team for a lovely trip.

Julie was an incredible help throughout our trip planning and beyond. She was there every step of the way, always with a smile on her face and an upbeat, client-centric attitude that made the whole experience easy and enjoyable. Her preparation was thorough and thoughtful, and she followed up diligently on every detail, including working to resolve a car rental mismatch with Sixt and a refund for a flamenco show dinner that didn’t go as planned. What stood out most was her sweetness, kindness, and patience. She kept us updated every step of the way and made sure everything was handled properly, even after the trip was over. I’d recommend her without hesitation to anyone looking for someone who genuinely cares about getting things right for their clients.

Amazing vacation and good communication with Lucie. We added a traveler last minute, which I can't believe Lucie was able to do for us! We had a couple of hiccups, but KimKim and Lucie were able to resolve via phone calls and chat. We enjoyed all she planned for us and it was a great balance of fun and downtime (which we needed!). Appreciated her recommendations as they were perfect.

This was a fantastic trip and very well planned. The directions provided by Hector were easy to follow, and nothing was left out. Our hotel accommodations were perfect, and the staff at each hotel were amazing. Our tour guide Linda in Madrid was spectacular, and we enjoyed all her knowledge of the history of Spain. Each guide was very attentive to the pace of an 80-year-old mother. The Flamenco show was breathtaking and left an impression on our hearts. I will absolutely use KimKim's services again and highly recommend this once-in-a-lifetime trip to everyone. Thank you!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Palacio de Santa Inés

Granada

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

H10 Corregidor Boutique Hotel

Sevilla

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Acta Splendid

Barcelona

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Meninas

Madrid

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

A Night of Flamenco in a Sacromonte Cave

Granada

One of the most spectacular experiences. This show is a must-see. Very intimate and moving!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Walking Madrid’s Old Town

Madrid

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover Granada’s Iconic Alhambra & Generalife Gardens

Spain

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Monumental Seville on Foot & Visit Real Alcázar

Seville

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Excursion to Montserrat Monastery & Scenic Hike

Barcelona

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Barcelona Highlights: Guided Walk & Iconic Sagrada Família

Spain

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had a lovely trip to France planned by Liz and the rest of the team! We appreciate all their knowledge, input, and recommendations provided.

Hotel Reviews

Bastide de Bellegarde

Avignon

Personally recommended by Liz and we get the hype! It's quaint, the host is personable, it's the perfect place to get an authentic taste of Provencal life. Dinners were lovely, the pool was a welcome break after our morning activities, and the team is so kind. A couple of things to note-we felt that our stay was uncomfortable due to the heat and mosquitoes. Our room on the top floor stayed warm throughout our stay and we were hesitant to open our window for better ventilation as there are lots of mosquitoes outside. We did mention this to the host, but nothing was done to address it, so we just adjusted for our 3-night stay. At other times of the year we can see how this would be the perfect stay, but during the summer it's a little tough. We also felt some of the pricing wasn't the most transparent. Although there is a sign by the front desk outlining cost of dinners, snacks, wine, etc., we noticed that when we requested a glass of wine during meals, we were poured very large pours that ultimately cost us the entire bottle (even if we weren't interested in this much). Just small things that gave us pause.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grand Hotel du Palais Royal

Paris

This was our favorite hotel. Amazing service (everyone was so kind and helpful with anything we could possibly need); they even upgraded us to a suite on their top floor when we returned on our last night. The location is fantastic, beds are very comfy, lovely bathrooms, great breakfast, GREAT A/C. Cannot say enough good things. This is where we will stay when we return to Paris.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Louvre Museum Visit

Paris

Excellent private tour of the Louvre highlights. Our guide was very informative!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Afternoon Wine Tour

Avignon

An enjoyable afternoon, our guide was very knowledgeable, we went to two wineries.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Luberon E-Bike Adventure With Visits To Small Provence Towns

Avignon

This was our favorite activity of the trip. Our guide was friendly, knowledgeable, kind enough to alter our plan for the day to work around the rough afternoon heat without us prompting him, and he noticed we enjoyed shopping at the small villages and took us to another for our last stop! He even offered to drop us off directly at our accommodation at the end of the day, rather than at the Tourism office. We really appreciated his thoughtfulness.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Caves du Louvre Wine & Cheese Tasting Experience

Paris

Rally enjoyed this experience! Informative, included excellent wines and cheeses.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I used the kimkim app frequently during our stay. It was a great reference filled with so much information. Chris placed us at all the hotels where we needed to be. He was quick to respond to all my questions and was soo helpful and courteous. We could not have had a better experience. For hotels, our favorites were Monisteraki and Heliotrope. Monisteraki breakfast was so fresh and delicious. We loked the layout of the rooms with the loft. Heliotrope had such variety and their restaurant was excellent. Balcony rooms overlooking the pool and water were memorable. Skala was lovely on Patmos, within walking distance of shops and the marina. We were not at Avra long enough to appreciate it. The restaurant food was very good and it was ×within walking distance from the beach. Least favorite? Federalis due to mold in the shower and Achilles which had the least of accommodations. The driver who took us from Athens airport twice was not only a driver but a guide as well. He was very courteous and a patient driver. We had him twice for sure. I know he drove us to Achilles hotel. Again, I must say thank you, thank you to Chris who made it easy for this old lady to return to her roots. If you need a review about anything else, just reach out. I will be happy to help the next traveler.

Hotel Reviews

Heliotrope Hotels

Lesvos

Close to the airport, beaches, marina and shops. Balcony rooms overlook pool and water. Restaurant is delicious. Staff is very friendly.

Authenticity & Character

Authenticity & Character

Location

Location

Staff

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cleanliness & Comfort

Skala Hotel

Patmos

Within walking distance of the Marina, shops and restaurants.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

NLH Monastiraki

Athens

Perfect place to be if you want to be where it is at in Athens. Loved the family loft suites.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Classic Monastery Tour

Patmos

This was truly an experience to remember. The guide was very informative. I could have spent more time there for sure.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Acropolis Of Athens Afternoon Walking Tour

Athens

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was very informative and kept us in conversation

I cannot say enough good things about KimKim and our team at Be A Greek for our recent trip! I have been raving about my experience to anyone who will listen, seriously. We were heading to Greece for a wedding, we had flights and the wedding, and a big dream of building an unforgettable trip around it. This was my first time using KimKim, but i saw the company mentioned in the mags and newspapers i trust (can’t recall if it was NYT and Travel and Leisure, but most likely). The process of getting started was so easy, and within hours I was connected with Marianna at Be A Greek. Ok, the coolest thing about this KimKim process was the access to local experts. She listed to what we wanted, and was so patient with my sometimes inconsistent time to be able to plan. She did it all. She really listened. I wanted to stay away from big groups, no crazy instagram only spots. We wanted history, activity, food, we wanted to be immersed, but also luxurious and romantic. She nailed it. She booked a great semi-private tour guide at Naxos Cultural Tours, she found a private guide who was just as passionate about history and mythology as I am for Delphi, and a delightfully hilarious private guide for the Acropolis. Lovely hotels. And DAILY communication from the KimKim team with reminders about our itinerary for the next day, times, pdf copies our flights or boats, every detail was seen to. For example, when we landed in Athens we had a few hours to kill at the airport before our connecting flight to Naxos. Marianna had a delightful guide meet us at the airport, and Bianca told us stories, took us for coffee, and helped ease us into Greek life all in a layover. That little detail was incredible. I will 100% be using KimKim again, and highly recommend you do too!! Epharisto to Marianna and the KimKim team!

Otham was great in booking exactly what we wanted. Communicated well. Would use Kim Kim again and will recommend to friends.

I couldn't have done any better than to have chosen Kimkim. We had so many transfers, rides, tours, and every one of them was spot on, there on time, and gracious. WE would always call on Kimkim to help us if we return to Costa Rica.

Hotel Reviews

Holiday Inn Express San Jose Airport

San Jose

OK for what it is. We regretted staying here as many days as we did, but that was our choice. It's quite a ways out of town, but close to a local call, so easy to get food or just shop a little,w high we had to do before beginning our trip.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cala Lodge

Monteverde

Incredible location - just a short walk to town. There is a butterfly garden there with a few observation decks, and it is a very pleasant place to just hang around. Our room was small, but smelled like cedar, and was efficient for the two of us. The front desk was helpful, and we enjoyed out stay here.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arenal Paraíso Resort, Spa & Hot Springs

La Fortuna

Our least favorite of the hotels we stayed in. The service was terrible and the restaurant was just OK and expensive. We did get lucky and the clouds cleared long enough to see the volcano, which was visible from our cabin. The cabin was nice enough, but the "hot" pools were not hot, not any of them.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Las Caletas Lodge

Puntarenas

The personalized service was incredible. The hotel itself is awesome and we were in the biggest room, and the only one with a dehumidifier, which acted as an air conditioner. This was great, because we were there in some serious heat! The wildlife is everywhere, and a family of coati live on the grounds. We loved this place.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Walk at Curi-Cancha Reserve

Monteverde

Hands down, my very favorite of the whole vacation! I'm so glad we asked Kimkim for a bird-watching tour. The weather was perfect, the hike is level and not too strenuous, and the guide REALLY knew how to track birds! WE say the elusive Bell Bird, some Toucans, and a list of other birds.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

TreeTram, Hanging Bridges & Zipline Adventure

Monteverde

We had SUCH a good time on this excursion! WE rode in with a great group, and most of us stuck together during the tour, and afterwards. That made it better. I was surprised at the hanging bridges; they were more than I thought they would be! The zipline!!! What an experience! You are literally IN THE CLOUDS! Not our first, but definitely a memorable one, watching people disappear into a cloud!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Volcano & 1968 Reserve Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

VERY knowledgable guide! We really learned a lot of history about the volcano and surrounding villages. It's really quite a story! We didn't see animals here, but the amazing volcano is entertaining to keep us going! Not over strenuous, either, even though it rained the whole time.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Corcovado National Park Hike with San Pedrillo Station Visit

Drake Bay

WE probably shouldn't have started with such a long strenuous hike, but this was a VERY memorable hike! wE say so many animals and birds! The guide was so knowledgeable and great at finding animals! It was essentially two hikes, and they fed us lunch afterward that was probably the best "tour" lunch we ever had! Not deal with some out of the way hole that served us, no. It was a full-on homemade spread for picnic, accommodating carnivores and vegetarians alike! This is a strenuous hike, worth every moment.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jacquie organised a wonderful trip and made sure everything went perfectly smoothly. She kept us updated, ensured we were taken care and came to see us at our hotel in Quito. I normally plan all my trips independently so it was a new experience having someone else do all the organising. But I am so glad I gave it a try - there was a lot of organising to be done and it meant I had no mental load having to double check times or communicating with tour guides when activities needed to be swapped around because of sea conditions etc. I was able to properly enjoy the trip. I highly recommend it!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Fiesta

Puerto Ayora

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nicky Amazon Lodge

Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Boutique Hotel Cultura Manor

Quito

Authenticity & Character

Location

It is in a quiet part of town so not much going on in the evening.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Overnight Shuttle from Quito to Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve

Quito

This was a bit tough - some of the seatbelts didn’t work in the minibus and it is quite a dangerous drive. I think there could be an option available for a private car instead of the bus. Someone at the lodge had done this (of course it is more expensive) but it might be a possible add on, just because the driver is quite tough in the bus.

Welcome to San Cristobal Island! La Lobería

Ecuador

Nice private guide who picked us up from the boat and took us there. Again it meant we could fit more in and was great having someone meet us.

Welcome to Santa Cruz Island: Highlands (Plant a Tree) & Charles Darwin Research Station

Puerto Ayora

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Colonial Quito City Tour

Quito

Mateo was a great guide

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My son and I just returned home from our trip to Vietnam, planned by Hien at KimKim. She could not have done a better job for us! She listened to our interests and crafted experiences that were a perfect fit for us. We only had a week ( could have stayed so much longer- love Vietnam!) and had a lot we wanted to see and do and she made it happen with great guides and experiences. Our guides and drivers were always on time and were so knowledgeable. This trip would not have been possible without Hien and her team's expertise.

Our guides were so wonderful. Informative, patient, and great with our girls.