Kimkim Trip Reviews

Everything was great besides the Station Hotel in Aberdeen. Planning, transportation, tours and the app were all outstanding besides that.

Hotel Reviews

The Station Hotel, Aberdeen

Aberdeen

Place was very run down, floor in room was uneven to the point of hazard. Room was far too hot. Shower water was scalding hot, and couldn’t be changed to normal temperature to the point I was unable to fully shower

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Blackfriars Hotel

Inverness

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Bosville Hotel

Portree

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Shower was a little small

Ben View Guesthouse

Fort William

Very focused on high quality service. Left chocolates and whiskey for my birthday and filled our waters before leaving

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Skye In A Day From Portree Visiting The Most Scenic Spots

Scotland

Wish I could give it 6 stars, despite bad weather Kevin was the best!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private transfer in town

Scotland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dunnottar Castle & Royal Deeside

Aberdeen

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Alan was fantastic

Transport

Canal and Loch - Loch Ness Tour with Urquhart Castle included & Bus to Inverness

Inverness

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We couldn't be happier with the planning and execution of our family's Costa Rica trip by Adam and the rest of the team. We let him know the areas we wanted to visit and the activities we were interested in, and he did all the rest. All of the activities, hotels, drivers and suggestions were absolutely top notch (especially our last hotel room with a corner, panoramic ocean view - amazing!) We loved working with Adam, he was so responsive, knowledgeable and very patient with us! I was also very impressed by the communication leading up to and throughout the trip to make sure we felt prepared and comfortable - they really went beyond my expectations! (Plus the app with the itinerary and details in it was SO helpful to have each day!) We have already recommended KimKim others, and will 100% use them again for future trips!

We had a wonderful two-week trip through Greece with my two boys, combining Athens, Delphi, Olympia, the Peloponnese, Costa Navarino, Nafplio and Mycenae. Overall, the itinerary was very well designed: it gave the children a real sense of Greek history while leaving enough time for swimming, boating and simply enjoying the country.

Some of the highlights were the guided visits to Delphi, Olympia and Mycenae, as well as our day on the water with Andrea / Mani. Guides in Delphi and Olympia were amazing. From our discussion and written descriptions, it seemed that it’d be more interactive / digital but in practice none of this - that being said worked really well with paper bc my kids are used to this but for other families that could be a surprise. Costa Navarino was also a great choice with children and gave us a very welcome few days to slow down after the more active part of the trip. But some recommendations & conditioning could have been done. The balance between cultural visits and downtime worked particularly well for a family trip.

Anna was very responsive and helpful throughout the planning process and while we were in Greece. She was also flexible when we wanted to adjust a visit on our last day.

Where the experience was less strong was in the overall value added by booking through Kimkim. For a fairly high-end trip, I still found myself managing or researching quite a few details during the vacation — restaurants, activities, some logistics and what to do in our free time. A few more tailored recommendations and arrangements could also have been more proactive or more carefully tailored to traveling with two young children. At times, it felt more like a collection of well-booked components than a fully curated trip where everything had been anticipated for us. A good example are the stops on the road which felt generic to anyone vs to us. So, magnitude of markup from Kimkim I don’t think is justified and for this reason I’m not sure I’d book again with kimkim.

That said, the core itinerary was excellent, the local guides and experiences were very good, and most importantly my boys and I came home having had a fantastic and very memorable trip to Greece.

Hotel Reviews

Nafplia Palace Hotel & Villas

Nafplio

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Looks old - was modern 20yeara ago. There were ants in our bedroom.

Costa Navarino The Westin Resort

Messinia

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Europa Hotel Olympia

Olympia

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Amalia Hotel Delphi

Delphi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Restaurant staff was ok but not so accommodating. Food was average, subpar to what one may expect

Cleanliness & Comfort

Electra Metropolis

Athens

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Acropolis & Acropolis Museum For Families

Athens

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Delphi Guided Tour

Greece

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mycenae Guided Tour

Greece

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Boat Trip Adventure to Limeni

Pylos

Skipper had to bring the boat full speed an hour away and bring it back in the evening. That probably increase the cost significantly. Having this discussion may have helped reduce cost and find an alternative

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ancient Olympia Guided Tour

Greece

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had an incredible family trip to Thailand with a group of nine ! Planning travel for a large group can be challenging, but KimKim and our local specialist, Bella, made the entire process smooth and stress-free.

Bella put together a fantastic itinerary that catered perfectly to everyone in our group. Throughout the trip, our local guides were wonderfully informative, friendly, and exceptionally accommodating to all our needs.

One of the biggest highlights was visiting the elephant sanctuary—it was truly an amazing, ethical, and unforgettable experience for all of us. We also spent time on the wonderful island of Koh Samui, which was absolutely beautiful and relaxing.

Beyond the sights, we were blown away by the genuine warmth and friendliness of the Thai people everywhere we went—and, of course, taking advantage of the wonderful and very affordable Thai massages!

Thank you, Bella and the Kimkim team, for creating a seamless and unforgettable family vacation. We highly recommend them to anyone planning a trip to Thailand!

Pedro was very attentive to our groups needs. He helped curate the most perfect itinerary for my parents in their 70s, my husband and I who are middle-aged, down to our preteen and teenagers.

Everyone had such an amazing time. The attention to detail and thoughtfulness of the schedule and the activities was 10 out of 10.

Pedro constantly checked in and made sure if we had any questions or concerns he was accessible to us.

His selection of companies for our Tours, our transportation, and our accommodations were way nicer, and more perfect than I could’ve found myself

I would highly recommend Kim Kim. And I would also very highly recommend Pedro. He did a great job and was super professional kind, and responsive.

Hotel Reviews

Tivoli Avenida Liberdade Lisboa—A Leading Hotel of the World

Lisbon

The staff was super friendly and professional. Pit rooms were perfect. ! The breakfast and food options were delicious. The location was also perfect. Great for our family of 6 :) The slippers and daily breakfast made us feel like royalty:)

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

PortoBay Liberdade

Lisbon

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Cascais Miragem

Cascais

The staff was super friendly and professional Our family suite was great! The breakfast and food options were delicious. The location was also perfect. Great for our family of 6 :)

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa Mãe Lagos

Lagos

The staff was super friendly and professional Our villa was top notch and a dream! The breakfast and food options were delicious. The location was also perfect. Great for our family of 6 :)

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full-Day Private Driver: Exploring the Algarve’s Hidden Gems

Portugal

George was so great. He was professional, kind and very friendly. He had so much knowledge and passion for his job!

Quality of Experience

No

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exclusive Boat Tour to Ponta da Piedade Grottoes with a Swimming Stop

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lisbon's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour with Ginjinha & Pastel de Nata

Lisbon

Sadly I can’t remember his name ( but not because he was unremarkable.) our guide was the perfect pace for our family of six. He was very informative, upbeat, interested in his material, and very friendly. We love learning about the history, and he also added his own flare when presenting. Even my preteen and teenagers enjoyed the history walk. And the samples of alcohol and pastries were also delicious.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our guide in Cusco Julio Cesae was fantastic, he went above and beyond to ensure we had a wonderful experience and treated us like family. I highly recommend him!

We only had 1 negative experience, on arrival our guide Bosco slept then entire drive to the hotel. I wonder if he might have sleep apnea or just had a late evening.

Overall we had a wonderful trip!

Hotel Review

Inkaterra Hacienda Concepción

Puerto Maldonado

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Exploring the Sacred Valley: Maras, Moray, Ollantaytambo

Peru

Quality of Experience

Food

Food was amazing everywhere.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our Guide Julio Cesae was amazing and treated us like family. He went above and beyond to make us feel comfortable. He is also very well educated regarding the Incan history and ruins.

Transport

Lima Market & Hands on Cooking Program

Lima

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I cannot say enough wonderful things about Valentina and the trip she was able to curate for my parents and I. She was very helpful with making sure that activities were not beyond their physical limitations in their older age, took great care to arrange fantastic accommodations for us, guides were some of the friendliest people we’ve ever met anywhere on earth, and were always ready for us whenever we were to be on our way. If we had any questions, she was quick to answer ie helping when we lost a passport and when our guide had a flat tire. The hike to the sulfur mine was a great trek, we absolutely loved the kayaking experience, and I cannot say enough how much I personally loved all of the snorkeling. I intend to book with her again when we come back for a much longer adventure next time!

Our family of four had an amazing experience planning our Portugal trip with Kimkim! 🇵🇹

Adam and Summer were wonderful throughout the entire planning process. They really listened to our requirements, especially when it came to hotel locations, and the hotels they selected were in fantastic locations and worked perfectly for our family.

The activities and experiences throughout the trip were also very thoughtfully chosen. Every vendor we worked with was professional and met—and often exceeded—our expectations.

What impressed us most was the support throughout the entire trip. Adam, Summer, and the rest of the team were always there to answer questions and assist us whenever we needed anything along the way. It made traveling to a new country feel easy and stress-free.

This was our first trip planned through Kimkim, and based on our experience in Portugal, it definitely won’t be our last. We would happily use them again for many more trips in the future. Highly recommend!

Hotel Reviews

Cascade Wellness Resort

Lagos

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

We checked in very late at night so no one could go over hotel info that time. It’s understandable but next day even we were not told all the highlights of this hotel. We found out in our own very last day that hotel had beautiful hiking trail right behind and there was an easy access to that trail for hotel guests. Wish we would have know that on day 1. That hiking trail was stunning and we got glimpse of it and would have enjoyed extra time in hiking.

Cleanliness & Comfort

PortoBay Flores

Porto

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

AlmaLusa Baixa & Chiado

Lisbon

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

🥾 Self-Guided Coastal Hike: Lagos Old Town to Ponta da Piedade

Lagos (Algarve)

It was not all that and rather do trails that specifically for hiking for views.

Quality of Experience

Guided Alfama Walk

Lisbon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Self-Guided Local Markets

Porto

Quality of Experience

Porto Highlights Walk

Porto

It was not all that and we could have done this on our own and felt like it could have been better with guide. What we did was something very basic.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Benagil Cave Visit by RIB

Lagos (Algarve)

We did not know thjs tour can be done with dolphin viewing too. Wish we had given that option. We couldn’t do separate dolphin tour as they were sold out.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ponta da Piedade by Boat Excursion

Lagos (Algarve)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Sintra & Cascais Day Trip with Pena Palace & Quinta da Regaleira Visit

Lisbon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pastel de Nata Pastry Class

Lisbon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The trip was memorable and adventurous in every way. The detail timing of the taxis, cruises, and tours was perfect for us to have personal time as well. Taylor was accommodating and helpful in choices to make our tailor-made trip perfect. Aselund in the Lofoten Islands was the highlight of the Norwegian region with the majestic mountains, lakes, rivers and Fjords. The city tours in each region were helpful and educational to understand the history and culture of Norwegian heritage.
One Negative...The "Norway In A Nutshell" day tour was a disaster with the distance that had to partake to get to the Fjord over 12 hours in trains (3), busses, and a ferry. The day in Flam was a tourist trap with souvenir shops everywhere. However, we captured a waterfall hike in Flam that overshadowed the transportation distance to get there.
The Norwegian trip overall was a bucket list expedition of nature, cultural presence, adventurous Fjords that will be memorable forever.
KimKim will be used in future regions that we are not familiar in travels going forward. Thank you for your knowledge, experience, and support to make this a comfortable, relaxing, adventurous holiday for our 45th Anniversary celebration!

Hotel Reviews

Grand Hotel Oslo

Oslo

Excellent location to Old Town, Galma Stand of Stockholm. Nostalgic hotel by the waterside with immediate access to Palace, ferries, and activities.

Authenticity & Character

Everything...the room was fabulous with 3 bay windows facing water.

Location

close to Galma Stand, Old Town.

Staff

Great people who were accommodating to our needs.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Large spacious room

Bergen Børs Hotel

Bergen

The room is not comfortable as it was 2 levels with an upper bedroom loft with stairways, a living area with crossing wooden beams throughout the room that we hit repeatedly and one small window looking out to the courtyard and market. We asked for another room but they said they were fully booked and did not accommodate us.

Authenticity & Character

Accessibility

Location

In Old Town where all the action was in the city

Staff

Very cold appearance when we arrived with no alternative to change room. The temperature of room was cold and room heaters had to be brought in.

Cleanliness & Comfort

With multiple step down levels, crossing wooden roof beams, stairs to bedroom, no heat, bathroom was open shower with no tub (requested), etc

Nordis Suites

Svolvær

Views looking out were fabulous. Cleanliness good but service poor as this is an apartment complex.

Authenticity & Character

Service

Location

Staff

To have service....This was an apartment so they did not have immediate service attendents.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Door glass to balcony shattered...more shelving for luggage.

Hotel 1904

Ålesund

Historical Elevator is very small. Breakfast is great. People were hospitable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Depart Norway

Norway

Too early to airport as it was a very small airport and waited 3.5 hours.

Evening Kayaking Excursion

Svolvær

Excellent tour guide and experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cultural Walk with a Local

Bergen

Somewhat knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Explore Ålesund

Norway

Quality of Experience

Self-Guided Svolvær Exploration

Norway

We did this on our own.

Private Lofoten Floating Sauna Experience

Svolvær

Excellent Experience especially when diving into the cold 46 degree Farenheit water temps.

Quality of Experience

Oslofjord Dinner Cruise

Oslo

It was the same cruise area region we did earlier in the day. We did not like the food quality and service. Taylor was adamant on doing this tour after I told her we prefer personal foodie restaurants.

Quality of Experience

Quality and Service of Food; No selection of wines.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private City Walk

Oslo

Good, personable, knowledgeable, kind.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Fjord Cruise to Rosendal

Bergen

We never went as we were Fjorded out!

Oslofjord Sightseeing Cruise by Traditional Boat

Oslo

Excellent tour of the entire area.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Norway in a Nutshell Day Trip

Bergen

I should get a credit on this trip as it was too long in distance with 3 trains, 1 bus, and cruise over 12 hours. Refer to clients next time private tour to the same cruise.

Quality of Experience

Geirangerfjord Cruise & Day Trip

Norway

It was the best Fjord we saw! No changes to God's world.

Quality of Experience

Private Lofoten Sightseeing Trip

Svolvær

He was excellent to take us to the majestic mountains of the Lofoten region. His knowledge and experience on the island was very good to give us a pleasurable time seeing nature at its best.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our trip to Costa Rica was wonderfully amazing. Huge credit to all the team at KimKim and Serendipity! We have already recommended many times.

We started off with amazing personal service on arrival, outstanding bookings in Cloud Forest at Savegre Resort where the room had a private enclosed balcony with jacuzzi tub and views of the river. They also had a special anniversary table and dinner for us, that we did not know KimKim had even set up. Beautiful and very thoughtful.
Bird watching was great with local guide and we managed to see the bashful quetzales. Horseback tour was a wonderful outing through river and up into hills. Our planned coffee tour was great and gave us unique perspectives into local growing cooperative.
We moved on to the Pacific coast and Uvita where we had another amazing balcony room at Cristal Ballena overlooking the ocean. With monkeys and toucans out our window it was a wonderfully natural landscape. Plus the afternoon in the pool was so relaxing and the staff took amazing care of us.
Our whaling tour actually saw humpback whales and dolphins so that was a bonus.
Kimkim set up everything and Serendipity was right there to answer any questions in real time. The service was outstanding! We can’t say enough great things for all the assistance. So easy to work with and everything came through even better than expected.
Would HIGHLY recommend!

Hotel Reviews

Cristal Ballena Boutique Hotel & Spa

Ballena

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Savegre Hotel Natural Reserve & Spa

Páramo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Horseback Riding Along the Savegre River

San Gerardo de Dota

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Marino Ballena National Park: Boat Trip

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coopedota Coffee Tour

San Gerardo de Dota

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Birdwatching and Natural History at Hotel Savegre

San Gerardo de Dota

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

In one word: SUPERB!
We had an amazing family trip that showed us many different sides of Peru including cities (Lima, Cusco) and desert landscapes, rainforest and wildlife, history and culture . Everywhere we went the people were extraordinarily nice and the food was always delicious. A special mention goes to the Inca Trail experience culminating in Machu Picchu, led by the wonderful Iza.
We had a packed program with lots of travel and activities in 2 weeks, and all the transitions were managed very smoothly and we never experienced any problems. Really great how the program was designed and executed on the ground.
Would recommend this to anyone.

Our trip to Iceland was great. Emanuela was only a message away at anytime and we felt very supported throughout the trip.

Hotel Review

Blue Hotel Fagrilundur

Bláskógabyggd

Authenticity & Character

Location

It was so quiet and relaxing.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Silfra Snorkeling Adventure

Golden Circle

This is so much fun!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Explore Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon by Zodiac Boat

Iceland

We had a great guide and enjoyed this a great deal!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Marianna took our visions for our dream Italian vacation and made them a reality. No detail was left out. Everything she promised, came through. I would highly recommend KimKim and Marianna! We are already looking at booking another vacation and Marianna will be the first person I reach out to!
Thank you for making our 35th Anniversary vacation become a reality!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Dei Dragomanni

Venice

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel The Square Milano Duomo

Milan

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

NH La Spezia

La Spezia

Amazing! I only wish there was a pool!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Dei Mellini

Rome

Grand Hotel De La Ville

Sorrento

Rooms were clean and very nice. We wished the pool was open a bit later. Otherwise, I would stay here again. Staff was very friendly!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Basic Rome Tour with Pizza and Gelato by Electric Golf Cart

Rome

The golf cart tour is a must. I do wish we would have had more time to spend at the Colosseum .

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica

Rome

This was amazing even though there were quite few people visiting that day and Rome was in record high temperatures.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Essential Tour Of Venice

Venice

Our tour was for St Marks Basilica and the Doge's Palace and we were only able to do the Palace. That was very disappointing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Bernina Express From Milan

Milan

This was unbelievable! A must do! We are planning a trip to Switzerland to see more.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lake Como & Bellagio Day Tour From Milan

Milan

Top 3 experiences. Our Guide, Renzo was amazing!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour To Capri From Sorrento

Italy

Top 3 experiences of the trip!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Tour Τo Positano, Amalfi & Ravello From Sorrento

Italy

I wish we would have done the boat tour. We felt a bit rushed during this tour. Our guide was friendly and the area was amazing!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mathia provided knowledgable and professional consultation and coordination to create a customized itinerary for our trip to Stavanger to experience the fjords in this area. He arranged our hotel and tours and provided valuable recommendations for restaurants and things to do. Mathia was very responsive and attentive to our needs and interests. He checked in during our trip and was extremely helpful in making last minute adjustments we requested to ensure our holiday was all we dreamed it to be. We would be very happy to work with Mathia again in the future.

When my friends and I started planning the trip to Japan, it wasn´t clear exactly where to begin. Fortunately for us, we discovered Kimkim, and shortly after completing the preferences survey, Shona got back to us with an itinerary proposal in no time. Since then, she has remained actively engaged with us through the rest of the planning, the trip, and up to the end.

In the planning phase, Kimkim´s itinerary chat allowed everyone on both sides of the chat to make and take into consideration others´ suggestions and recommendations. Shona let us know the requirements, addressed our concerns, and kept us up to date on bookings and reservations at every step, and we worked together to plan the best trip based on our budget. Thanks to this coordination, the itinerary was complete a long time before the trip. This breathing room ahead of the trip allowed for last-minute adjustments, which Shona actively managed for us.

During the trip, Shona and her team at Odynovo did not waver. From the moment we left for our trip up to when we returned, her team of coordinators, guides, and drivers was in constant communication with us. They made sure everything went smoothly, checking in to make sure we were where we planned to be and when we planned to be there; despite the language barrier.

The trip flowed seamlessly, a testament to their thoughtful planning. It was evenly paced, neither rushed nor laggy, considering the many activities we did and places we got to visit in a few days. The order of activities was well put together too. In every new place we visited, the guided days came first, followed by the self-guided days. Our tour guides were engaging and enthusiastic, intuitively showing us around, thereby boosting our morale to manoeuvre on our own and explore freely.

Leading up to the end of the trip, we only wished we had planned for more time. Shona and her team set a benchmark, a high bar, to which all trips to come, to Japan and other places around the world, will be compared. Japan is an interesting place, with a lot to offer in many aspects, and this trip, great as it was, was only an introduction, a momentous one. We look forward to returning sometime in the future, and we hope it will be just as amazing, if not more.

So, if you´re planning to visit Japan, and Shona is your agent, you´re in good hands. Actively participate in planning, remain engaged, and keep an open mind. Thanks, Kimkim, Odynovo, and thank you, Shona!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Monterey Le Frere Osaka

Osaka

Authenticity & Character

Location

Great views from the higher floors.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Gracery Kyoto Sanjo

Kyoto

Authenticity & Character

Location

You can walk around the local area and discover a lot with little effort.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Asakusa Tobu Hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

It´s close to great local places to explore for a tourist.

Staff

Welcoming and friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Overall, well-maintained.

Activity Reviews

Half Day Sagano Bamboo Grove and Tenryuji Temple Tour

Kyoto

Osaka Local Foodie Tour in Dotonbori and Shinsekai

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kyoto Authentic Sake Tour in Fushimi: Sake Tastings & Explore Historic Breweries

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Samurai Sword Experience for Adults in Kyoto

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Fushimi Inari Taisha and Kinkakuji Temple

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Tokyo City Tour

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We returned last week from a 7 day self-drive tour in Iceland. We connected with our Icelandic travel planner Gudmundur Oli, better known as Gummi, through Kimkim. Planning our customized tour with Gummi was easy through online chat, Zoom calls and phone calls. We were a group of 6, ages 10 to 71 and Gummi helped us plan a trip with something for everyone.

Our trip was fabulous! From the Blue Lagoon, to the stunning waterfalls, to the thrilling Zodiac boat ride on Glacier Lake, and the ice caves, and the black sand beaches, to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, and the puffins!!

The landscape of Iceland is a study in contrasts. One day you feel like you could be on the moon and the next like you might be in the Rockies in Colorado. It's stunning. I loved the contrast between the vast open spaces and rocky landscape and the warm and cozy indoor spaces like our accommodations and restaurants. There's a very Zen feeling to it all.

If I had to mention one negative it would be the cost...of everything. Lunch for 2, no drinks will cost you 75 bucks. Even souvenirs are outrageous. I thought Bermuda was expensive, but Iceland has them beat.

Thanks Gummi, it was great! We felt like we had a friend in Iceland and knew you were just a phone call away.

Hotel Review

Frost & Fire Boutique Hotel

Hveragerdi

Loved this property! It was our favorite. The location is so unique and interesting along the river with views from our room.. The hot tubs and heated pool were great, even on a cold and rainy day. The staff is great!

Authenticity & Character

Location

The river view and quiet area.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Explore Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon by Zodiac Boat

Iceland

Fabulous! The lake was full of ice floes and seeing the glacier up close was very exciting.

Trip Planning
Provide a detailed itinerary. The itinerary on the kimkim site was quite high level, without any details. It was only after booking that we got more specific travel details from the local specialist, Giovanna, via the messaging section of the kimkim site. Giovanna was very responsive, checking in periodically with us before and during the trip.

The first day of the Rio tour was quite interesting, particularly visiting the artistic Santa Teresa neighborhood. After visiting Sugarloaf Mountain on the second day, the tour consisted mostly of driving quickly through various neighborhoods.

I would suggest that kimkim offer a list of some suggested activities for the “free days” in Rio, such as attending the Carnival Experience, recommending museums, etc..

Flight Scheduling
For the Rio-Brasilia-Manaus journey, schedule flights earlier in the day, with ample connection time in Brasilia. Our evening GIS-BSB flight was somewhat delayed, so the 45-minute connection time was inadequate. We literally ran to the departure gate for Gol Airlines’ BSB-MAO flight, which was marked as “closed,” but the gate agent was able to quickly onboard us, and the baggage crew managed to get our luggage loaded, as well. The BSB-MAO flight landed at 10:55pm, so we didn’t arrive at our hotel until almost midnight. With a 6:30am shuttle-bus pick up the next morning, we barely got any sleep before the arduous journey to the Amazon Tupana Lodge.

Travel to Amazon
Inform travelers about the extent and methods of transportation to the Amazon Tupana Lodge. We would likely have chosen a different itinerary had we known that we would be packed into a shuttle bus for an hour, ride on an aluminum boat for 45 minutes, ride on an even smaller shuttle bus for a couple of hours, and then board another aluminum boat for 30 minutes – all while having to carry our luggage between the four travel segments.

Inform travelers who choose to go to the Amazon to pack a smaller bag for that segment and store their larger luggage at their Rio hotel.

Hotel in Rio de Janeiro
While the Windsor Excelsior has an excellent location on Copacabana Beach and the staff is quite professional and welcoming, the rooms are outdated and not well-maintained, with chips and wear-marks on the floor and the furniture. The thermostats did not work, so one’s choice was very, very cold or no air conditioning at all. The sheets on the beds really didn’t fit the mattress, and the blanket was so small that it was difficult for two people to share. The bathroom was tiny. We had to call maintenance to repair a flickering light in the room we had at the end of the trip. The walls were so thin that we could hear conversation from the room next to us. Internet coverage was spotty and quite slow. On our check-out date (August 10), the hotel had a plumbing problem so that the water pressure was very low, and we didn’t have hot water at all, which was a problem since we wanted to shower before our evening flight from Rio to Miami.

In short, the Windsor Excelsior was not even a 3-star hotel, in my book.

Amazon Tupana Lodge
The Tupana Lodge was very rudimentary, with the wood cabins having gaps in the floor, tiny bathrooms with no hot water, and only a single fan to combat the high heat and humidity. There was no “check-in” process so we were left unaware of how things worked, what services or activities were available to us or the timing of meals. The common room was closed and locked during portions of the day, so if someone (like me) opted not to go on an excursion, there was not any access to drinking water since the dispenser was inside. Additionally, internet access was turned on and off intermittently.

The staff was working on some handrails on the main outdoor walkway, but the one to our room was completely missing, which was dangerous, particularly when we were returning to our cabin after dark and there was a meter to a meter-and-a-half drop from the walkway to the ground. The hand-towel rack was falling off the bathroom wall, making it completely unusable, with shower shelf fasteners pulling out of the walls and quicky heading towards the same fate as the towel rack.

The lodge does not accept cash, and their credit card reader had difficulty connecting to their very spotty internet.

We gave the room key to the front desk at “check-out”, but they called our driver to the Manaus airport to ask if we had taken it.

Tupana Lodge Excursions
Schedules were not announced by guides. The “motorized canoe” described in the kimkim material was actually an aluminum fishing boat.

We were not informed that the evening hike into the forest was going to take 5 hours (including dinner). I abandoned the hike after 25 minutes and returned to the lodge, but the lobby was locked, so I had to search for a staff member to let me into our cabin.

We didn't learn that the Wednesday morning boat trip included fishing until we got on the boat, and we both hate fishing. We made the best of it by just reading books on our phones. When no one caught any fish, the guide was trying to find some facts to tell us about the Amazon River, pointing out the "great insight" (sarcasm intended) that water in the sun was warmer than water in the shade.

Communication from Leonardo, the Amazon guide, was lacking. Often, there was often no information provided on what we would be doing the next day, with only his comment that "I'll tell you at breakfast." When I asked what an afternoon activity was going to be, he answered that we were rowing canoes. I explained that I have a shoulder problem, and he dismissed my concern. I asked what we were going to see, and his response was "trees." Again, I opted out of the excursion. During excursions, Leonardo was often conversing with a local guide or boat operator without explaining what he was doing or trying to achieve. We guests often felt like an afterthought.

The 5:30 am boat trip was re-scheduled for our last day, when we had a long travel day ahead of us. My husband, Brad, did the tour, but I again opted out. Brad reported that there were no animal sightings and that the excursion was a waste of time. He also noted that there were only a few people on the excursion, indicating a lack of interest or poor planning in the types of activities offered by the Tupana Lodge.

The excursions were uninspired and repetitive, so I ended up skipping most of them. Consequently, for me, four days at the Tupana Lodge was way too long.

The lodge portion of the trip was a waste of time for me. Frankly, I hated being there.

Transportation
On a positive note, all the car services were on time and reliable.

Overall
Based on the low quality of this trip, we are unlikely to use kimkim’s services again.

Hotel Reviews

Amazon Tupana Lodge

Manaus

The Tupana Lodge was very rudimentary, with the wood cabins having gaps in the floor, tiny bathrooms with no hot water, and only a single fan to combat the high heat and humidity. There was no “check-in” process so we were left unaware of how things worked, what services or activities were available to us or the timing of meals. The common room was closed and locked during portions of the day, so if someone (like me) opted not to go on an excursion, there was not any access to drinking water since the dispenser was inside. Additionally, internet access was turned on and off intermittently. The staff was working on some handrails on the main outdoor walkway, but the one to our room was completely missing, which was dangerous, particularly when we were returning to our cabin after dark and there was a meter to a meter-and-a-half drop from the walkway to the ground. The hand-towel rack was falling off the bathroom wall, making it completely unusable, with shower shelf fasteners pulling out of the walls and quicky heading towards the same fate as the towel rack.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Intercity Manaus

Manaus

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Windsor Excelsior Hotel

Rio de Janeiro

While the Windsor Excelsior has an excellent location on Copacabana Beach and the staff is quite professional and welcoming, the rooms are outdated and not well-maintained, with chips and wear-marks on the floor and the furniture. The thermostats did not work, so one’s choice was very, very cold or no air conditioning at all. The sheets on the beds really didn’t fit the mattress, and the blanket was so small that it was difficult for two people to share. The bathroom was tiny. We had to call maintenance to repair a flickering light in the room we had at the end of the trip. The walls were so thin that we could hear conversation from the room next to us. Internet coverage was spotty and quite slow. On our check-out date (August 10), the hotel had a plumbing problem so that the water pressure was very low, and we didn’t have hot water at all, which was a problem since we wanted to shower before our evening flight from Rio to Miami.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Last Day Jungle

The Amazon

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Amazon Jungle day 3

The Amazon

We had already decided that we were not going to camp overnight, but we were not informed that the hike into the jungle would take 5 hours, including dinner. I abandoned the hike after 25 minutes and went back to the lodge.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Amazon Jungle day 2

The Amazon

We didn't learn that the Wednesday morning boat trip included fishing until we got on the boat, and we both hate fishing. We made the best of it by just reading books on our phones. When no one caught any fish, the guide was trying to find some facts to tell us about the Amazon River, pointing out the "great insight" (sarcasm intended) that water in the sun was warmer than water in the shade.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had driven the golden circle in 2023. This time we wanted to see the North. The Kim Kim team did a superb job on planning the routing, suggesting stops along the way, sourcing great accommodation, and even suggesting some restaurants. They made it easy, with clear maps, descriptions of points of interest, confirmed arrangements along the way, and clearly a thorough understanding of what would interest us. I don't think we could have made these kinds of choices on our own, since we don't have the experience of Iceland and it is a very long way between towns. There was a huge advantage for us to have a rental car so that we could stop where we wanted, spend extra time at places of interest, or skip something where we didn't have the time to stay. The highlight was seeing the full solar eclipse at the Western most tip of Europe. When we return (and we will), we will be contacting Kim Kim again for the planning.

All the guides, drivers, hotel staff, etc were very friendly, caring and tended to all our requests and needs.

Hotel Reviews

Buri Rasa Samui Village

Samui

The beach was great! Extensive food options and staff ready to greet and assist with needs.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

De Chai The Colonial Hotel & Spa

Chiang Mai

Breakfast was extensive and staff always ready assist with anything needed

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riva Vista Riverfront Chiang Rai

Chiang Rai

Close to temples

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Once Bangkok

Bangkok

Great breakfast and able to get it “to go”!

Authenticity & Character

Rooftop

Location

The view of the river

Staff

Breakfast staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Bangkok Symbolic Temples

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Doi Inthanon National Park - A Nature Walk and Culture

Chiang Mai

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lanna Lifestyle & Cooking Experience with A Local Family with dinner

Chiang Mai

This was some fun and the family was just delightful. That two sons are very funny and personable. We got lots of great information and had lots of fun.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Afternoon Monk Blessing at Doi Suthep

Chiang Mai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vivid Arts of Chiang Rai

Chiang Rai

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Afternoon Visit Elephant Jungle Sanctuary (Joining)

Chiang Mai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Night Street Food Tour After Dark by Tuk Tuk

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Premium Koh Tao & Koh Nangyuan Snorkeling by Joining Speedboat (Tue/Thu/Sun)

Thailand

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chiang Mai Culture and Art

Chiang Mai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Scenery of Golden Triangle Region

Chiang Rai

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Back to The Glorious Days of Ayutthaya Kingdom

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Railway Market & Floating Market

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip was planned flawlessly by Leslie at KimKim! Can’t say enough how incredible the trip was and how every place, guide, and tour were wonderful - - - even in 100 degree heat!

Venice:
Our guide Sara was so warm, informative and loved her City. We learned so much about the history, saw the basilica, and went on a gondola ride. So lovely. Our hotel was fabulous and we made friends with the staff.

Florence:
Our guide Marco was charming and knowledgeable. We did some wine tasting, visited sites and were again spoiled at our hotel.

Rome:
Once again our guide and hotel were memorable. Our guide did her best to help us be more comfortable in the extreme heat, while we learned about our host city. We visited the Collisium and the Vatican; both left us speechless in their beauty.

Amalfi Coast:
We had a full day boat ride. The Captain and Marta were the perfect hosts who love their professions! We were shown the Blue Grotto, Mt Vesuvius, Capri, and the Sorrento coastline. We swam in the sapphire blue water, had a delicious Italian lunch and learned about the locations history. Our hotel was on the water and we got to relax a couple days and even got to see the Solar Eclipse!

I’m really not able to do the trip enough justice. Every guide, tour, ride, etc. was on time and high quality. Each hotel had a great location and was 4 - 5 stars. The memories my kids, grandkids and friend made together will last a lifetime. Can’t thank Leslie enough for her careful planning, availability, and kindness.