Kimkim Trip Reviews

We absolutely loved our trip to Turkey! Everything was seamless - transfers, meals, hotels - no problems. Our guides were tremendous- Zekiye in Istanbul, Efe in Cappadocia, and Mr. Ozan in Izmir. Zekiye whizzed us through lines and found wonderful local experiences for us. Efe gave us excellent historical context, and Ozan's enthusiasm for his home city and the historical sites was infectious. Every minute of this trip was a delight - we are already talking about returning to Turkey soon!

Activity Reviews

Discover Byzantine + Ottoman Istanbul

İstanbul

Zekiye was the best guide! She zipped our way through the city - her knowledge helped us quickly navigate crowds and find wonderful local experiences.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Eminönü Heritage Tour: Explore the Historical Bazaars and Ottoman Architectural Sites of Istanbul

İstanbul

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kimkim representative, Aleksandra was fantastic! Always friendly, responsive and professional! Our drivers, were first rate! Thanks to all for the help in making the experience awesome! Doug Johnson

Our October 2026 journey through Japan was a culturally rich, stunning, and unforgettable experience. For two weeks, we traveled from Tokyo to Hakone, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka and Kobe. - each destination offering its own unique beauty, history, and warmth. This trip was more than a vacation; it was a year long project brought to life through the dedication of Elizabeth and the incredible support of our local travel specialists Maru with MYTravel - as well as the local
guides who ensured we experienced Japan with depth, comfort, and authenticity.

The kindness, professionalism, and cultural insight of our guides made this trip one we will remember for the rest of our lives.

Upon arrival in Japan through our final departure, Maru went above and beyond to ensure every transfer, guide contact, and train station pickup was clearly communicated. When an issue arose, she resolved it quickly and thoughtfully. Her presence allowed us to enjoy Japan without worrying about the details. The coordination from Elizabeth and Ivan also contributed greatly to the success of this journey.

Local Guide Services
Kyoko was an exceptional guide who gave us an unforgettable day exploring Tokyo! We visited the beautiful Imperial Palace Gardens, the incredible Senso-ji Temple, the peaceful Meiji Shrine, and the famous Shibuya Crossing. We walked 9 miles throughout the day, taking in the sights, culture, and energy of this amazing city. Kyoko did a wonderful job guiding us through Tokyo and making the experience both memorable and enjoyable. We also enjoyed a fantastic lunch, with a great vegan restaurant for the girls and a delicious pork restaurant for the guys! We were exhausted by the end, but in the best possible way! We highly recommend Kyoko to anyone looking to experience the best of Tokyo.
Anime Lovers Tour with guide Nori- Nori was a great guide, but unfortunately, the tour itself fell short of our expectations. Rather than focusing on the history and culture of anime, much of the experience centered on shopping along Takeshita Street for souvenirs and tchotchkes. The Samsung Galaxy and TeamLab virtual experience was a fun and enjoyable highlight. Overall, I would recommend this tour primarily for kids who enjoy shopping and anime-themed merchandise, rather than those looking for a deeper understanding of anime culture.

Wasake – Sake Experience with Instructor Anh was outstanding. We had so much fun tasing 13-15 different Sakes while learning about the sake-making process and what makes each on unique. Anh was knowledgeable, engaging, and made the experience so entertaining. We highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Japan.

Tokyo Sumo Tour with guide Key. This was an unforgettable experience! Key met us at the train station in Kawasaki and took us to a sumo stable, where we learned about the demanding life of a sumo wrestler and watched an impressive demonstration by two wrestlers. When volunteers were invited to participate, we got to learn some of the stretching and movements ourselves—it was so much fun! The experience ended with a traditional sumo hot pot lunch shared with the wrestlers, making it even more special. Key was a wonderful guide, and this was a unique cultural experience we highly recommend!

Odaiba District Tour with Zain
The Futuristic Odaiba District tour was disappointing. Although the guide tried to accommodate us, he had been misinformed about who he would be meeting and expected to conduct the tour in Taiwanese. He was not knowledgeable about the area, leaving us to Google buildings and landmarks ourselves. This guide should not be assigned to American travelers and Zain should be more knowledgeable of the areas he is exploring with travelers.

Hakone with Mochi
Mochi was an EXCEPTIONAL guide who went above and beyond to make our Hakone experience unforgettable! From exploring the Hakone volcano, visiting Hakone Shrine and its famous Peace Gate on Lake Ashi, to touring the historic Hakone Checkpoint and sailing across the lake, every stop was memorable. Mochi truly went the extra mile when dinner plans became complicated, ensuring we found a suitable dining option. The following morning, he made a special stop so we could witness Mt. Fuji in all its majestic glory! His thoughtfulness, flexibility, and dedication made this an outstanding experience. We highly recommend Mochi to anyone visiting Hakone!

Hiroshima with Wais
Wais was equally exceptional. His depth of historical knowledge and ability to convey Hiroshima’s past with clarity and compassion made our visit truly meaningful. His approach and engaging explanations left a lasting impression. We then went on a food tasting tour and we had a fun time sampling Hiroshima’s local specialties, including okonomiyaki, onigiri, mochi, momiji manju, and ice cream with mochi. Even with some picky eaters in our group, everyone enjoyed trying new things and experiencing the local food culture.

Hiroshima Museum - Day with guide Toshi
Our day with Toshi was another excellent experience! He was flexible, attentive, and genuinely committed to making sure we had a meaningful visit. We spent ample time at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, which was especially important to us, before exploring more of Peace Memorial Park as Toshi thoughtfully explained the significance of each area. We then visited beautiful Miyajima Island to see Itsukushima Shrine and its iconic floating torii gate. Toshi made our day both memorable and meaningful, and we highly recommend him as a guide!

Geiko/Maiko Tea Ceremony in Kyoto – This was an outstanding cultural experience! We learned how to prepare traditional matcha tea and gained fascinating insight into the dedication, discipline, and demanding life of a Geiko/Maiko. It was a wonderful opportunity to experience an important part of Japanese culture firsthand. A memorable and enriching experience that we highly recommend to anyone visiting Kyoto!

Kyoto and Nara with guide Naoko
We spent three wonderful days exploring Kyoto and Nara with Naoko, who was truly exceptional! She consistently anticipated our needs before we even had to ask, making every day seamless and enjoyable. In Kyoto, we visited the iconic Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, beautiful
Nanzen-ji Temple, the stunning Golden Pavilion, historic Nijojo Castle, and Kennin-ji Temple. We explored the charming Gion district, admired Yasaka No Tou, and enjoyed browsing the shops and sampling local specialties at Nishiki Market. In Nara, we visited the famous Deer Park and the impressive Great Buddha Hall.
Our days were filled with walking, exploring, and discovering Japan’s rich history, culture, and beauty. Naoko’s knowledge, thoughtfulness, and incredible attention to detail made these three days truly unforgettable. We highly recommend her to anyone visiting Japan!
Bamboo Forest Guide with guide Akira. Our day with Akira was another memorable adventure exploring Kyoto’s beautiful temples, peaceful Zen gardens, and the magnificent Bamboo Forest and Okochi Sanso Garden. One of the highlights was lunch at Shigetsu, the traditional Zen vegetarian restaurant, where we sampled an array of dishes we could barely identify! It was a fun and unique culinary experience that gave us a taste of Japanese Buddhist cuisine. Akira made the day special as we continued discovering Japan’s rich culture, history, and beautiful scenery. Highly recommended!

Himeji and Kobe tour with Aki. Aki gave us a fantastic day exploring Himeji and Kobe! We began with a visit to the magnificent Himeji Castle, an impressive Japanese landmark. We then headed to Kobe, where we enjoyed a delicious sampling lunch featuring the famous Kobe beef. Our day ended at the beautiful Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens, where we took in the stunning scenery and peaceful surroundings. Aki made the experience enjoyable and memorable, combining Japanese history, incredible food, and beautiful landscapes. Highly recommended!

Hotel Experience in Osaka
Upon arriving in Osaka, we encountered a significant issue with our hotel reservations. Our itinerary included two rooms with two beds, yet the hotel informed us that no such rooms were available because the reservation had not been made correctly.
We immediately reached out to Maru, who quickly provided alternative hotel options that met our needs. After considerable discussion with hotel management, they were able to accommodate one of the two rooms. While we appreciated the eventual resolution, the service at the Osaka hotel was disappointing and did not reflect the hospitality we experienced elsewhere.

Other Hotels
All other hotels—especially those in Kyoto and Tokyo—provided excellent hospitality, cultural warmth, and comfort. Their service and attention to detail enhanced our experience at every turn.

Overall Impression
Japan is a country of extraordinary beauty, deep history, and gracious hospitality. Our two week journey was enriched by the professionalism and dedication of guides like Kyoko, Mochi, Wais, Naoko, and Toshi, whose knowledge, warmth, and genuine care shaped our experience in unforgettable ways. This trip was a culturally wonderful, once in a lifetime experience made possible by the thoughtful coordination of Maru, Elizabeth, Ivan, and the many local guides who supported us along the way.

WE just returned from an INCREDIBLE Japan trip
Sandy customized all as I asked her and understood my needs
We mostly did all our tours organized by her or her suggestions
It was VERY useful and convenient having an agent on the ground in Tokyo-all her tips were amazing -I messaged her often in the day and being on the same time zone was amazing.She even helped me on packing items -We took carry on only so I had space to shop.She educated us on cabs and trains and tipping.
I LOVED all the hotels she picked out-we reached a stage where we had seen enough temples and shrines and she pivoted and we were so happy with her choice.
Friends of ours were there at the same time and I think ours was better organized -we did 2 nights Tokyo-then drove to Fuji and the lakes on our way to Hakone-we spent 2 nights there-then bullet train to Kyoto for 3 nights and then bullet train to Uno to get ferry to Naoshima for 2 nights-art island -then bullet train back to Tokyo for 5 nights-you dont need to go to the other mountain or another big city-Japan is so frenetic and busy that its good to do CITY_COUNTRY_CITY_COUNTRY _CITY
We loved it-the country is the best country I have traveled to and I have traveled a lot-the people are so polite and kind and humble-the food is outstanding and everything about it -bar a cab driver on the last day trying to rip us off was perfect

From the first discussions with Sarah through the actual trip, the interactions with everyone were pleasant and professional. The trip was well planned and well conducted. The drivers showed up when they were supposed to, the guides were ready for us when we arrived, and all ticketing and other arrangements were handled. It was a most stress-free experience. The little things mattered, such as identifying ahead of time that one of our ferry schedules had changed, so they booked a flight for us at no extra cost. The extra nights booking in Bohol was a nice touch because of a late flight.
Special mentions to Ed, our driver in Luzon for several days, our guides Bridget. Paula, and Aladdin in Luzon were amazing. Our boat guide in Coron was also wonderful but his name escapes me. Our local contacts were always ready to help when needed.

Leny did a great job helping us plan our trip to Japan. She was very helpful in answering our questions along the way and being available while we were in Japan as well. Thanks for a great trip!

It was the trip of a lifetime. My wife and I were taken care of from the minute we landed in Naples, Italy till the minute we boarded our return flight home. The drivers, guides, excursions, line free admissions and experiences were 100% first rate. Chris and Maria put together a vacation that was completely worry and question free. We were informed in advance who, what and where we were going to experience each day to come. The drivers and guides were native of each city and area we visited and were incredibly personable and knowledgeable about the history and shorter routes. They gave us wonderful recommendations on additional places to visit or eat and even set up reservations where applicable. I learned about kimkim from a friend. Now, I will be the friend who tells others about kimkim for their travel plans. If another travel destination is in future, we will most certainly reach out to kimkim to see if that location is in their planning abilities.

Tours were excellent and guides knowledgeable. Debra on the Kent trip was especially good.

Review of KimKim trip for Henry Newman and Lisa Belvito France October 2026

Overall review – the trip was excellent. Most things went smoothly and were as planned, with a few exceptions that will be detailed following.
The process of working with Sebastian was good. It took a couple of calls for him to understand that we did not want to spend time in Paris. Once that was resolved he was very responsive to our interest, made good suggestions and replied in a timely manner.
We did have some trouble getting English tours for Mont St Michel and the oyster tour in Cancale. It seemed like we had to press a few times before getting alternatives. In the end it worked out fine.
Properties – all the hotels were lovely, well located for our needs and the staff was very helpful.
We did request at least a queen bed in each. In St. Malo and Bordeaux, we did not have queens – they seemed to be doubles. We would have preferred to discuss this in advance and explore the options (location, pricing etc) of upgrading to determine ourselves if we wanted to upgrade.
Note for people driving – we rented a car for the trip and needed parking. I believe Sebastian made sure that all the hotels had parking available. The location he gave us in St. Malo was especially well done since he kept us outside the old city where there is no parking but close enough to walk.
However – it is critical that guests contact each hotel well in advance to arrange for parking. The spaces are limited and if we had not reached out to each hotel early, we would not have gotten a parking space. You can assist future guests by advising them to make parking arrangement in advance.
Day by Day
We made a lovely stop at Giverny on the way to Bayeux – a nice alternative for those interested.
Villa Lara , a family-run hotel, was great. Paul and Julian were very fun and accommodating for our evening cocktails.
D-Day Sites Tour was very well done. Our guide Violine (??) did a great job giving is the history and creating a sense of what was happening during this period in history. She answered all our questions and accommodated our needs given a rather rainy day. The Airborne museum was also a highlight.
Sadly, the tapestry was on display in Britian, but we enjoyed a quiet day exploring Bayeux.
Mont Saint Michel - easy to get to and the directions look us right to the parking lot. Although it was a bit crowded the process was smooth and the walk to the Abbey was nice.
We ended up with an audio guide due to lack of an English tour. This was the best audio guide we have ever seen! It really provided excellent information and perspectives across the centuries. Perfect if there is not a tour in your language or for anyone who prefers self-guided option.
Saint Malo As mentioned – the hotel location was just the right place for access to parking and access to the intra muros district. We spent a nice day discovering the old town of St. Malo.
The suggestion to visit Cancale on our own since we could not get an English tour of the oyster farms was a great idea. We spent time at Pointe du Grouin and then visited Cancale. Lots of fun sitting by the water eating oysters and watching the oyster farming.
Due to rainy weather, chilly we didn’t drive as much of the coast as suggested.
Bordeaux – another lovely hotel centrally located for everything we wanted to enjoy. Excellent staff – very helpful especially since we were there when some of the riots occurred. They ensured that everyone was informed and safe, so we had no issues.
We had some mix up with our market tour which we have shared with Sebastian.
The itinerary said - Marché des Capucins Lénaïc, a local passionate wine-lover, is your guide to this emblematic Bordeaux neighborhood. You'll learn about its fascinating history while exploring the colorful market. You will stop at three different stalls to hear artisan producers explain their work and techniques and to sample local wines and season products, which could include cheese, oysters, stuffed cod, and more.
Your tour ends in a nearby wine cellar for brunch, enjoying wine and other local specialties. You will have the opportunity to taste six different wines matched with food purchased at the markets. This is a friendly and relaxed experience away from the hustle and bustle of the city above!
Unfortunately, this is not the experience we got. We stayed in the main area, visited 4 local shops for small tastes. There was no market and no brunch or food and wine pairing. It seems the local tour company switched out our planned tour for a different experience which was disappointing.
We did, however, visit Marché des Capucins on our own.
Sauternes Wine and Medoc Wine tours The next two days of touring Sauternes Wine and Medoc Wine were excellent. Ugo our guide was knowledgeable, engaging, informative and a great driver. We learned a lot about wine and life in the area.
Wine Tasting in St. Emilion Our guide for this tour (she did not tell us her name) was pleasant but not very engaging. We were in a rather noisy van with 4 other people, and it was impossible to hear what she was explaining in the back of the van. We did ask her to speak up a few times but to no avail. For small groups in a van, you might consider using a mike so everyone can hear.
The location and tasting were was enjoyable.
Le Monastère de Saint-Mont this was an amazing property with such a lovely family running it. Beatrice arranged a full day tour of the region with Armagnac and wine tastings and lunch with a local guide. KimKim might want to coordinate with these people for others who want Armagnac experiences as you didn’t seem to know anyone in the region.

Had a great time, Sophie made everything super easy and smooth throughout my trip to the UK. Would definitely recommend!

There not enough words to convey the absolutely phenomenal job Leny and her team did for our first trip to Japan. From the hotels to the tours and tour guides Mitsu Kumiko, Rio Suzuki, Claire, and all the rest whom I wish i had written their names down as well were amazing, so friendly and knowledgeable. The level of care each tour guide gave was unmatched in any other tours I've taken in my travels. Our itinerary was seamless and Lenys team went above and beyond with little extras that were so appreciated! The ability to be able to contact a team if we were running late or if a situation arises made for such a secure feeling. The hotels picked were stellar. Simply put i will now need Leny and her team to assist with every future international trip I take in the future as well as a 2nd trip back to Japan.

Hotel Reviews

Kinnotake Tonosawa

Hakone

The location, food, room and amenities experienced were unmatched.

Authenticity & Character

The hotels attention to detail, the robes and slippers for comfortability

Location

Surrounded by nature yet accessibility to the village below was perfect

Staff

Our welcome to the hotel was incredible and assistance with our luggage to our next hotel

Cleanliness & Comfort

The robes and rooms made us never want to leave

Shiba Park Hotel

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

The library

Location

So central to so many great areas to visit in walking distance

Staff

All the staff was amazing

Cleanliness & Comfort

All the room amenities

Hotel Resol Kyoto Shijo Muromachi

kyoto

Loved the accesible washers

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mitsui Garden Hotel Ginza gochome

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

This was one of the most western style hotels we stated in but it still kept so much of what I love about japan hotels I stayed in. The public bath, the amazing staff

Location

So close to so many stores, restaurants

Staff

So helpful with our bags as we arrived well before check in and left after check out but we're able to enjoy our days knowing our bags were safe and waiting

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room and downstairs

SOKI KANAZAWA

Kanazawa

Authenticity & Character

Location

Literally right across from the market and so close to the

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

HOTEL AMANEK HidaTakayama

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Experience Old and Nostalgic Tokyo: Yanaka Walking Tour

Tokyo

Amazing attention to our interest in the route, knowledge of the subject matter

Quality of Experience

The level of attention to how we were and what we wanted to see

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was so kind and genuinely wanted to ensure we had a wonderful time

Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo forest & Garden Half-Day Walking Tour

Kyoto

This was a great tour we were able to see some of the area without crowds and those that were we were able to have the guide navigate us through quickly and efficiently

Quality of Experience

Wonderful locations to explore

Food

This was the only place we were taking to eat in the entirety of our 14 days that was not enjoyed. Unfortunately not as delicious as all the other places we ate

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was so sympathetic to the needs of the people on the tour

Vegetarian Best of Shibuya Food Tour

Tokyo

Absolutely phenomenal food, the tour guide was so great

Quality of Experience

So many great places to try all of the best foods

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Claire was amazing she had so many wonderful stories and was incredibly knowledgeable about the restaurants and the food

Matcha Kyoto Green Tea Tour – Daytime

Kyoto

The quality of the places we visited for this tour were amazing

Quality of Experience

Food

Honestly made me enjoy matcha when I never had before

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Takayama Full-Day Tour with English-Speaking Guide

Takayama

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mitsubishi Kumiko was honestly a shingles star among all the other equally wonderful guides we had, but her enthusiasm and lovely little touches such as a personalized little booklet with our pictures done was so outstanding!

Transfer from Takayama to Kanazawa, including a visit to Shirakawa-go

Japan

A personal driver and luxury car, the amazingly lovely history of the village while being able to enjoy it with as little other people as we were there early was amazing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The driver was incredibly gracious

Transport

The driver and car were both just spectacular

Relaxing Evening: Private Onsen and Kaiseki Dinner

Hakone

The private onsen made me a new person, so relaxing. The food was delectable and divine out of this world

Quality of Experience

The bath surrounded by nature, the food - each course outdid itself

Oboro | Mindful Tea Ceremony in a 100-Year-Old Kyoto Teahouse

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

The solemnity and reverence that the tea master showed and explained was so spiritual

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The tea master made this experience so much more. You could feel the reverence in every movement

This trip was a wonderful experience. Kim Kim was so good at tailoring it to what we wished to see and experience, making suggestions and allowing us to choose among options. Their representative was always in communication with us, was easy to reach and ask questions. During the trip we received messages making sure that everything was going well. Once when we didn't see the person we were supposed to meet at the airport, a message to them got an immediate response and clarification on the meeting point. This is our fourth time using Kim Kim and we have never been disappointed. The drivers and guides have all been excellent. Finn, our guide in Ho Chi Minh City was absolutely wonderful - so full of history, information and answers to our questions. We would recommend him to anyone! The drivers were always on time (early actually), safe and courteous. It is so nice to arrive in a country and not have to worry about where we need to go, how we get there or will the accommodations be acceptable. Kim Kim is outstanding!

From the planning of our trip through to the final days on the trip, everything was effortless. Nikola listened to our requests, made suggestions/recommendations and we were all thrilled with the experiences we had. This was my second trip with Kimkim and I would highly recommend them. We will continue to use Kimkim for future trips.

We had an amazing 10days visiting 4 islands. All our guides were amazing. We saw so much it’s hard to imagine. Many thanks to the Kim Kim team especially Tamar.

Activity Reviews

Transfer Baltra Airport - Puerto Ayora with visit to the highlands of Santa Cruz

Galapagos Islands

Lots of fun exploring with the turtles and iguanas

Quality of Experience

K

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Excursion to an uninhabited island

Galapagos Islands

Saw the blue footed bookie hatching her two eggs. Amazing

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Snorkel at Los Túneles

Galapagos Islands

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Snorkel at Kicker Rock (Leon Dormido)

Galapagos Islands

The water was too rough for swimming. No fish to see and a General disappointment. El Niño was a problem.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The trip was planned well and we had a lot of input throughout the process. Caroline, Kate, and Diliana were quick to respond to our questions before, during, and after the trip. When we had an issue they were able to help resolve it quickly and with little friction.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Byakko Nice

Nice

Odd layout made getting around a bit tough. Older hotel with some sewage issues in parts of the hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easy to get everywhere with reasonable walk times

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sewage issues with some smelly areas

Escale Oceania Aix-en-Provence

Aix-en-Provence

Not the best location, but clean and friendly

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very far from where most of the activities are in this area.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Central Hotel

Avignon

Great location, but older hotel with some issues. Lots of stairs, can be buggy

Authenticity & Character

Location

Great location with easy access to most activities in the area

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

A bit buggy and poor room layout

Hotel Duette Paris

Paris

Nice hotel, clean, solid amenities and great location

Authenticity & Character

Location

Although not as close to many of the activities we had, it was close to the metro and made getting around very easy

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Provençal Market Visit & Cooking Workshop

Aix-en-Provence

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Morning in Antibes & Cap d’Antibes

Nice

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nice Old Town Food Walk

Nice

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cassis Village, Calanques Boat Ride & Provence Wines Day Trip

Aix-en-Provence

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Self Guided NIGHT Experience of the Louvre Museum (Entrance Tickets Included)

Paris

Still very packed and hard to get into certain areas, even in the evening

Quality of Experience

Private Exterior Notre-Dame & Sainte-Chapelle Visit with Priority Access

Paris

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Roman Highlights: Nîmes, Orange & Pont du Gard

Avignon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Afternoon Wine Tour

Avignon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

7th District Gourmet Food Walk

Paris

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

She was very helpful in planning and executing our budget and desires. Will definitely recommend!

Hotel Reviews

Riad La Croix Berbère

Marrakech

People were sooo friendly.

Authenticity & Character

Lovely charm. By no means a five star hotel by typical standards but lovely and authentic.

Location

Right in the center of the hustle and bustle.

Staff

Soooo friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds a bit hard

Riad Kafila

Essaouira

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right in the center of the hustle and bustle

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

Very informative! Our guide was personable, knowledgeable, and kind.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Excursion to Ourika Valley

Morocco

Beautiful part of the country to see.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Judy and her team did an awesome job working with my sister and me. Kimkim took the budget and time schedule my sister and I had and was able to put together a memorable trip that took us from Tokyo to Hakone to Kyoto.

The tour guide who took us from Tokyo to Hakone was very knowledgeable in history and gave us a rundown of the history of Japan from the warring states period (and the moving of the capital from Kyoto to Tokyo) up to the end of the Meiji restoration. I enjoy learning about history; listening to his explanations was a fun way to fill the silence during our travel time between Tokyo and Hakone.

While our tour in Hakone was mainly riding vehicles (we took a car, a cable car, and later a boat), our trip in Kyoto was a lot more walking (especially uphill). Our tour guide in Kyoto I felt was very considerate on maintaining a pace that wasn't too strenuous with all the inclines. She would make sure to suggest a short break if anyone seemed winded, which I appreciated. The last place she took us to was the 1000 torii gate shrine, which we arrived around 4PM (I'll explain why I included this later). We all walked up probably about 20% up the mountain, past most of the notable gates and the shrine that sells charms/personal sized gates. By this point, the tour guide mentioned that the rest of the mountain is pretty much just more stairs and gates and not much more to see. She asked if we wanted to keep going or if we had seen enough and wanted to turn back around. My sister asked to go a little farther, and the tour guide took us another 5 minutes before my sister and I agreed that we were good with turning back and ending our tour. While we were walking back to the car, I asked our tour guide how long it takes to get to the top and if any groups ever ask her to go all the way to the top with them. She replied that it takes about 2 hours round trip and that earlier this year she had gone to the top with 2 separate groups. I honestly feel like if my sister and I wanted to climb all the way to the top, our guide would have accompanied us, which I appreciate because she never mentioned anything about the time and how it would be at least 6PM if we did the whole mountain. (Side note: the guide told us that the shrine doesn't have a closing time and my sister and I could come back later in the evening if we really wanted to get to the summit. We did.)

Overall, I really enjoyed our trip to Japan and would like to thank Judy and her team once again for the wonderful time they planned for me and my sister. Besides the wonderful guides I mentioned above, the logistics behind the trip were equally well thought out. The hotels they picked for us were fantastic and the transportation between each city were seamless.

Thank you again Kimkim for an awesome trip!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Keihan Tsukiji Ginza Grande

Tokyo

The hotel is very clean and provide complimentary toiletries at the front desk. The staff were very friendly. The breakfast (which I'm not sure if is normally included or was paid through our tour guide) was always well laid out with a good selection to choose from.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tokinoyu Setsugetsuka

Hakone-machi

The hotel is very clean and provide complimentary pajamas you can wear during your stay. They also give you the option to borrow yukatas (free of charge) if you want instead of using their pajamas. The staff were very friendly (although our server during dinner did seem very stressed). The highlight of this hotel/inn is that you can try out their onsen.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Royal Park Hotel Kyoto Sanjo

Kyoto

The hotel is very clean. The staff were very friendly. The breakfast (which I'm not sure if is normally included or was paid through our tour guide) was always well laid out with a good selection to choose from. The location of the hotel is very good. Once you leave the main entrance, if you go one way, you're a minute walk from the main street with lots of different stores/restaurants to choose from. (There's also a great currency exchange place at the corner of the street for foreigners.) If you go the other way, you're 5 minutes walk away from the metro station. There's also a river you can walk alongside, giving you an alternate path if you don't want to have to walk next to noisy streets.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Half Day Bamboo Grove and Monkey Park Tour

Kyoto

The monkeys were very cute. I can tell the staff there really care about the wellbeing of the monkeys because they make sure to sell only 1 bag of snacks to feed the monkeys per group (to ensure no overfeeding).

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Full Day Mt. Fuji and Lake Ashi Tour

Hakone

My sister and I were very lucky to be able to see the top of Mt Fuji. Our tour guide said normally (unless you go during the winter) the mountain is often hidden behind clouds/fog. Going to the top of Mt. Hakone using the cable car and getting to see the Hakone shrine at the summit of the mountain was very cool. Although it wasn't as flashy as some other shrines we saw later in the trip, it was the most memorable shrine for me since it was the first one on our trip/my first Shinto shrine I've been to. The lake tour was nice, but without our tour guide pointing out the historical checkpoint between Kyoto/Tokyo and explaining the significance of it, I would have probably missed it. Did enjoy sailing past the floating torii gate and seeing the many couples trying to take a picture (apparently if you take a picture with your partner at that gate it will bring good luck to your relationship).

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Fushimi Inari Taisha and Kinkakuji Temple

Kyoto

Kinkakuji Temple is very pretty. Sad to hear that the original burned down due to arson. Fushimi Inari Taisha was good cardio.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I would have given 5 stars if it wasn't for a couple things that happened on the trip, but I won't mention them here.
My husband and I were in Morocco for 14 days. We had one driver for the entire time. Youssef was there for us day and night. He got to know us and we truly enjoyed him. He always made sure we went to clean bathrooms, stopped for good food along the way, and was very knowledgeable about the places we visited.
Most of the guides and experiences were wonderful. The highlight was the desert camp and riding the camels to see the sunset.

Hotel Reviews

Barceló Anfa Casablanca

Casablanca

We only stayed for two nights. The hotel was clean and comfortable. The only strange thing was that the bathroom sink was in the bedroom. So if you needed to use it in the middle of the night, there was no way not to disturb your partner.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palais Amani

Fès

This was a beautiful true Riad. All the rooms opened to a beautiful garden area.

Authenticity & Character

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Desert Luxury Camp Erg Chebbi

Merzouga

The highlight of my Moroccan trip was the desert camp. The tent was comfortable with air conditioning. The surroundings were incredibly beautiful with the endless sand dunes. The food was good. The people were friendly and welcoming. The evening music under the stars was wonderful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

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Dar Rihana Dades

Douar Aït Ouffi

Even though the room was very small, it was cozy. The shower had hot water. The bed was comfortable. The breakfast was delicious. We also ate dinner there. The food was good. The people were very friendly and attentive.

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La Maison Arabe

Marrakech

This hotel was the perfect place to end our trip. It was beautiful. The breakfast was served in a beautiful garden area. There were people preparing fresh bread, and eggs. The room was very comfortable.

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Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Explore Chefchaouen with your local guide

Chefchaouen

Our guide Hasim was the nicest and very knowledgeable. He knew everyone and showed us all the authentic places. He was very knowledgeable about the history of the city.

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Fes: Exploring the Imperial City

Fes

We liked walking around the city. Tasting the food. It's so colorful. Everyone was very friendly. We ate a delicious meal at a family's home. They were so kind and hospitable.

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Food

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Transfer to Merzouga via Erfoud, Saharan Camel Ride

Morocco

This was definitely the highlight of the trip. We stayed at a luxury desert tent. Gorgeous views. We experienced a nomad village. Rode camels to watch the sunset. Lifetime memories!

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Food

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Camel trek to your luxury camp

Merzouga

Architectural Elegance: A Journey through the Hassan II Mosque

Morocco

Half-Day Private Sightseeing Tour in Rabat

Rabat

Beautiful architecture.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Explore the Blue City

Chefchaouen

Dinner with a Local Family and Henna Party

Fes

We had a delicious meal with a wonderful family. I had fun getting the henna.

Quality of Experience

Food

What a great adventure! Lucie planned the perfect Bavaria road trip. We experienced Eagles Nest, Zugspitze and a couple castles. The hotels were clean and comfortable. The documents center at Eagles Nest was very interesting way to learn the history.
We toured the Porsche factory and museum, this was probably my favorite part of the trip.
It took a minute to understand the app but once I figured it out I was pleasantly surprised how well organized it made the trip.

Kimkim arranged our two week itinerary from Marseille north to Dijon. They arranged our rental car, and we visited many lovely towns and cities through Provence and Burgundy. Kimkim set up private or group tours for us in several places, and Liz gave us good ideas for driving and stopping to visit memorable sites we might have missed. We had visited most of the towns on this itinerary many years ago, but the suggestions that Liz made for tours were not what we had done before. Kimkim made our hotel reservations in each destination. During the planning stage, we looked at the hotels suggested and they took our feedback and made modifications based on location and price. With only couple of exceptions, the hotels were unique, in a great location, and very comfortable. The tours were outstanding. We loved visiting and swimming in the Calanques National Park. We had a beautiful day with a gregarious and knowledgeable guide in the wine region of Bandol and Cassis. Our tour guide in Aix-en-Provence was lovely and smart. We spent a day visiting the extraordinary Roman ruins of Nimes, Orange, and Pont du Gard with a terrific guide. Kimkim arranged several tasty culinary and wine tasting experiences in Avignon, Lyon, and Dijon. In sum, we were very satisfied with our experience with kimkim's planning advisor, Liz, and those who make all of their arrangements, particularly Kate. We have to add one extra thank you. We were originally scheduled to travel in June, but my husband's brother died. Kimkim kindly and quickly took all of their arrangements and rescheduled our trip for September.

Hotel Reviews

Hôtel Maison Montgrand Marseille Vieux Port

Marseille

This was the perfect hotel to start the trip. It is located in the pleasant hustle and bustle of Marseilles within easy walking distance to the port area for restaurants and people watching. The room was pretty, comfortable, and decent sized, and the breakfast was a delicious start to each day. The staff was very friendly and kindly let me try out my rusty french. The other guests appeared to be young professionals and happy explorers.

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Hôtel Boquier

Avignon

The hotel is located on a quiet street not far from the Palais des Papes within the walls of Avignon. You can happily explore many untouristy areas of Avignon from here, but it is close to the highlights as well. The host is a very hospitable man who took time to explain how to get places, where to park, what to visit, etc. The room kimkim had arranged was not a good one for us since the raked ceiling beams made it impossible for my husband to stand upright, but the manager recognized this this next morning and moved us to a very comfortable room while we were out for the day. There are lots of stairs with no elevator to get to the rooms in which we stayed if that is an issue. The breakfast was quite good and there were not many other options for breakfast in the area. The Tourist Bureau is nearby which was convenient since our group and private tours started there.

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Hotel Mozart

Aix-en-Provence

We were in a very small, poorly lit room on the first floor. Some rooms opened onto a little balcony, but we had only a door and poor ventilation. The desk manager didn't even look up when we came in at night. The breakfast was good. It is about a 20 minute walk to the main area of Aix - not convenient except by car which is about 10 minutes to the underground parking next to the pedestrian area. There is a garage onsite. I believe if you call ahead, some of the parking is free. We didn't know to reserve ahead and so paid for parking. There are other hotels more conveniently located for exploring Aix, but fine if you are just traveling through.

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Mas de la Chapelle

Arles

Fascinating and tranquil historic hotel outside of Arles. You can only get there by car - it is about 15 minutes from the periphery of the main tourist areas. The large, comfortable rooms are colorfully decorated and painted, and the decor around the hotel is kind of exotic drawing from its 500 year history. There is a swimming pool and nooks for reading or relaxing. Delicious breakfast. I wish we had stayed an extra night.

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Hotel Le Simplon

Lyon

A very comfortable and welcoming hotel. The room was clean, fresh and good sized, and the staff was very helpful. There is an elevator! The neighborhood is walkable and pretty, not far from the Rhone and a few blocks from the Saone. Lots of young people in the cafes at night and good restaurants nearby. We liked the hotel a lot, but the location requires either Uber or lots of walking along the beautiful Saone river to get to the old area of Lyon or other typical tourist sites. I am glad we stayed there or else we would have missed this more authentic part of Lyon. One great thing is that the hotel is minutes away from the transit system hub which will also get you all around the city.

Authenticity & Character

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Hôtel des Ducs

Dijon

We had a large, light filled room with a pretty view over the street toward the Palais. The hotel is minutes away from the Palais des Ducs which is the focal area of old Dijon. The friendly staff was helpful with stashing luggage and giving directions. There is an elevator. Dijon is very walkable. We had to park overnight a ways away in public parking, but the walk back was through interesting streets, past the big food market, and lovely parts of Dijon.

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Activity Reviews

Bandol & Cassis : A Private Wine Lover's Journey

France

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Calanques National Park – Boat Morning Escape

Marseille

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Private Roman Highlights: Nîmes, Orange & Pont du Gard

Avignon

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Morning Luberon Villages Tour: Roussillon, Gordes & Sorgues River

Avignon

Needed more time. I would have liked to go into Gordes. Maybe see another town. I feel like we drove far enough from town that it would have been worth seeing other towns if they, too, are charming. I know we weren't there during lavender season, but I have read of other towns that also seemed worth a visit. This was a half- day from 9 to 2, so I understand the limits.

Quality of Experience

The area is beautiful. I would have liked to see more.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport