Kimkim Trip Reviews

The overall process was really smooth. Priscilla was great to work with and helped us plan a great trip. Budi was an amazing guide with a great sense of humor. He provided a ton of knowledge and insight about Balinese culture/history. Purwa was an awesome driver and was very pleasant to be around.

Hotel Reviews

The Raja Lima Nusa Penida

Beautiful view and cozy bungalow. The restaurant had a very limited menu.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kubu Cemcem Mesari Private Villas

The villa was beautiful and the staff was extremely friendly and welcoming

Authenticity & Character

Location

Away from the hustle and bustle of Ubud center

Staff

Very friendly and accommodating

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Birthday Dinner

Indonesia

Beautiful view but limited menu options

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bathe the Elephants

Ubud, Bali

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit The Elephant Sanctuary

Indonesia

The staff were very knowledgeable and treat the elephants with kindness and respect.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Romantic Dinner

Ubud, Bali

Beautiful French restaurant with exquisite 6 course meal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Spa

Indonesia

Relaxing and calm setting. Really nice facility

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Tegallalang Rice Terrace

Indonesia

Was nice to see how the farmers pride themselves in their work and the scenery was very pretty.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Budi provided lots of insight on how the rice farming process works.

Transport

Clean vehicle with good air conditioning. Purwa was a great driver

We had a wonderful Peruvian adventure. We loved the specialty meals and the traditional Incan meditation/ educational experience. Our guides were exceptional with Diego being one of our favorites! The hotels in Lima, Sacred Valley and Cusco were great and the train ride to Machupicchu was truly amazing! We would highly recommend to our friends and family!

Hotel Reviews

Palacio del Inka Cusco

Cusco

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa del Sol

Machu Picchu

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tambo del Inka Luxury Collection Resort & Spa

Urubamba

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pullman Lima Miraflores

Miraflores, Lima

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Cooking and Bar Master Class in Machu Picchu town

Aguas Calientes/ Machu Picchu

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Must sees in Lima

Peru

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain Tour

Cusco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sacsayhuaman & Cusco Guided

Cusco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Second visit to Machu Picchu and Hike to its viewpoints

Aguas Calientes/ Machu Picchu

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Afternoon Exploration of Machu Picchu

Aguas Calientes/ Machu Picchu

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Moray Terraces

Peru

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Maras Salt Ponds

Peru

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pachamanca: Traditional Andean Underground Cooking

Peru

Fabulous

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Morning Visit to Ollantaytambo

Peru

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Gourmet Picnic at the Sacred Valley

Sacred Valley

wow fun delicious meal

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Stop over visits at Sonidos del Andes with Vicente Rayo & Pisac Village

Sacred Valley

Exceptional

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I had not heard of kimkim before starting to plan for our trip to Norway, so I was a little apprehensive. My experience could not have been better and it exceeded my expectations by far. I found the website online and after reading some of the good reviews (and endorsements by familiar companies), I typed in general thoughts about what kind of travel we enjoy, and some of the things we wanted to do. Anna, our specialist, sent back an itinerary that was a great first start, and within a week or so, we had it almost finalized. I was able to talk with her a couple of times to go through the plan carefully, and she tweaked some things based on feedback. I never felt like I was being forced to pick the most expensive choices, rather Anna was able to point out value where appropriate. She also responded to concerns and adjusted our plans accordingly (where I felt we might benefit from a car service, rather than public transportation, as an example).

Our trip had a few twists and turns, and was not straightforward (one person had to leave early), and we added one person after the trip had been planned, and Anna handled it with grace and a bit of humor. She went above and beyond to help me make it work within my budget, and we wound up with a spectacular experience all around.

The price of our trip did adjust upwards a couple of times, and while it was likely due to adding some things, I would make sure to make sure I know the final cost (and what is included) before I finalize a trip in the future. I will definitely plan on using kim kim in the future, though!

Hotel Reviews

Thon Hotel Oslo Airport

Gardermoen

Typical airport hotel. It was a bit worn, and could use a bit of a fresh coat of paint and carpet repair.

Authenticity & Character

It's a hotel airport

Location

Staff

Nothing lacking, but nothing beyond basic service.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds were comfortable, and room was clean.

Svinøya Rorbuer

Svolvær

Very spacious, comfortable, beautiful views, great location.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful cabin in traditional style.

Location

Just a few minutes walk to town. Great location on the water.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Manshausen

Leinesfjord

Simply amazing! Breathtaking views and totally worth taking a detour to stay there. Everyone was very accommodating and because our unit wasn't rented, they were happy to let us have a late check out, so that we could explore the island until time for our ferry ride.

Authenticity & Character

Unique and wonderful.

Location

Breathtaking.

Staff

Very accommodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

lovely all around.

Hotel Norge by Scandic

Bergen

Loved the upbeat atmosphere, and the rooms were very comfortable and relatively spacious. The breakfast was amazing - it would be impossible to try everything!

Authenticity & Character

Nice vibe - dj in the lobby was fun.

Location

Great location in the middle of everything.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

very clean and comfortable

Highland Lodge

Geilo

Very comfortable and clean. Small rooms, but nice to have common area, and the bakery was great!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Nice lake and hiking in the area.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Continental

Oslo

5 star hotel with all of the expected amenities. Beds and rooms were very comfortable (but small). Breakfast was a highlight!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

One of them took the time to walk us to the train station so we wouldn't miss it.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Lofoten Sightseeing Trip

Svolvær

Andrea was a highlight of our trip. We spent a full day touring with him, and we could have spent another day with him! He went out of his way to show us things. It was clear he loves the islands, and sharing his love of the area with others.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Andrea had a delightful personality, and clearly loves the out of doors and the environment.

Transport

Comfortable car.

Explore Bergen with a Local

Bergen

John was a great guide. He was very knowledgeable about Bergen, and took the time to explain the history and to make sure we got a chance to see things that were of interest to us.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Not applicable - we walked, but it was a good pace.

Explore Oslo's Hidden Gems with a Local Expert

Oslo

Loved Stig - very knowledgeable, and we really enjoyed our time with him.

Quality of Experience

Very knowledgeable, and he was very engaging and cared about our time in Oslo.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Not applicable - we walked, but it was a fun walk.

Absolutely seamless experience! We had a great time

We had a great trip to Morocco which would not be possible without Ali, who carefully planned our itinerary and activities; Said, who was always reachable and responsive to issues we had during the trip; and Farid, who was not only driving us for 9 days, but also answering our numerous questions about Moroccans and their culture and customs, teaching us useful Arabic and Berber words and phrases, making sure we always had water and who was always kind, flexible, patient and attentive to our needs. Morocco is a beautiful country with changing and impressive landscapes, towns full of history and friendly people. One of our best experiences was the stay in the Sahara desert. The staff of this operation who handled the camel ride, the stay in the desert camp, the dinner, the evening entertainment and the ATV ride in the dunes was very personable and professional. Tour guides in the cities were knowledgeable and spoke good English. We especially liked our guide in Fes, Moustafa. Hotels and riads were comfortable, cozy, and conveniently located. The problem we encountered in some accommodation was plumbing in showers. Other than that, staying in riads was very interesting and special.
We are very thankful to the Original Travels team for making our trip enjoyable and memorable!

Our trip to Morocco was very memorable. My husband (78), and me (73) plus our friend (68) had a great time seeing the colorful country of Morocco. Everywhere we traveled, we had excellent accommodations and pretty good food in most locations. Our driver, Soufien, was very accommodating, very kind, funny, and an excellent driver - always on time and with a fresh cold bottle of water for each of us!
A few highlights (and lowlights):
1. Chefchaouen was a very interesting and beautiful smaller city - Our terrific local guide Ali took us on a hike to the Bridge of God, which was great but the extended trip to the small waterfall (no water in the large waterfall) ended up being a little too strenuous and steep for us, in the heat of the day. But we made it!
2. Our guide in Fes, Moustaffa, was the very best of the whole trip. Informative and funny - a good story teller. A highlight was the visit to the mosaics/pottery - amazing!
3. Camel ride on the Saharan Dunes at the sunset. Epic! great guide and a great nighttime experience at the Desert Camp with very nice staff, food and evening entertainment. Recommend this is a one night experience only, though we stayed for 2 nights. Uninteresting day-time guide and not much to see/do (and no English).
4. One overnight stop at a beautiful resort on the way to Marrakesh. (could have stayed here 2 nights)
5. Balloon ride over Marrakesh for our friend Rosa - Another Epic experience!
6. Interesting walk through the city with our guide, Mohammed. He was well versed in his history and walked quite fast for my short legs (although I wasn't feeling too great this day). 2 of us opted out of the food tour because we were not well, leaving one who didn't eat meat. In general, Food tour - Not a good choice for the end of the trip (and same guide).
In summary, We had a fine trip, overall and covered a lot of territory (4 long car travel days)!

90% of our interactions were with Pamela, not Francisco - so this review is more based on those interactions. Pam was great - very responsive, flexible, always polite and very honest. Highly recommend working with her. We are used to dealing with much more expensive trips like Backroads and Jacada, which are a bit smoother, but are nearly 50-60% more expensive - which makes kimkim a very good value. The guides, tours and drivers they selected were very good - Angel in Santiago and Valparaiso in particular, as well as Eduardo the driver, were excellent.

Hotel Reviews

ICON Hotel

Santiago

Authenticity & Character

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Cabaña Del Lago Puerto Varas

Puerto Varas

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lodge Terrantai

San Pedro de Atacama

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Goncalo was fantastic as was the hotel manager

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Wine Tasting, Valparaiso and Viña del Mar- Private Tour

Santiago

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit the Saltos del Petrohue, Todos Los Santos Lake and Osorno Volcano

Chile

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vegetarian Chilean Food Tour & Picnic with a View of Santiago

Santiago

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Trip- Red Rocks, Lagunas Altiplánicas & Atacama Salt Flats

San Pedro de Atacama

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My mother and I recently returned from an unforgettable 12-day trip through Morocco with Morocco Immersion, and we can’t recommend this experience highly enough. From start to finish, everything was seamless, meaningful, and beautifully organized.
Our driver and tour manager Ali was truly exceptional, a wonderful guide and even better person. His kindness, enthusiasm, and deep love for Morocco made every moment special. He ensured everything ran smoothly, filled each day with laughter, and introduced us to the country through his own genuine passion for its culture, people, and landscapes. By the end of the trip, it felt like traveling with a friend.
We were also fortunate to explore Fes with our local guide Rashid, who brought the city’s winding alleys, lively markets, and ancient monuments to life with fascinating stories. In Marrakesh, our guide Ali (different from our driver!) led us through the vibrant Medina, sharing layers of history as we walked, it truly felt like stepping back in time.
One of our most cherished memories was our sunset camel ride into the Sahara Desert, followed by a magical night at our desert camp, a once-in-a-lifetime experience we’ll never forget. Another highlight was visiting Boumalne Dades, where we learned to make traditional couscous and shared a meal with Ali’s family. Their warmth and hospitality were deeply touching and gave us a glimpse into the heart of Moroccan life.
Throughout the trip, we were continually amazed by the beauty and comfort of our accommodations, from riads filled with light and intricate details to stunning kasbahs surrounded by nature. A special mention goes to Kasbah Tiziri in Boumalne Dades, with its beautifully renovated interiors and incredibly kind owners and staff, and to Riad Chems Bleu in Essaouira, a true hidden gem with sun-filled rooms, a serene courtyard, and breathtaking views from the rooftop.
Every part of this journey reflected the care and authenticity that Morocco Immersion puts into their trips. It was an experience that combined culture, adventure, and heartfelt human connection. The kind of trip that stays with you long after you return home.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Exceptional Trip to Portugal!

Our trip to Portugal, planned by Pedro, was absolutely wonderful from start to finish. His attention to detail was outstanding — every hotel, driver, and activity was perfectly arranged. The accommodations were excellent, comfortable, and in ideal locations. The drivers were punctual, professional, and friendly, making every transfer smooth and enjoyable.

What truly made the trip unforgettable were our amazing tour guides, each knowledgeable and engaging — especially João, who brought the history and culture of Portugal to life with such warmth and enthusiasm.

We couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Thank you, Pedro, for creating such a beautifully organized and memorable journey

Hotel Reviews

Grande Real Villa Italia

Cascais

Authenticity & Character

Location

OP

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

NH Collection Porto Batalha

Porto

Authenticity & Character

Location

O

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cascade Wellness Resort

Lagos

Authenticity & Character

Location

O

Staff

Pop

Cleanliness & Comfort

Heritage Avenida Liberdade

Lisboa

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Unveil the Fairytale Villa of Sintra with a Private Driver Service

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Indulge in Elegance on a Guided Winery Tour Infused with Tastings and a Delicious Lunch

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Douro River Escape: 1-Hour Exclusive Cruise

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Pop

Transport

Seamless Discovery - The Ultimate Douro Valley Experience with Private Driver Service

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Flavors of Port Wine - Sip & Discover

Porto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Porto's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour

Porto

Quality of Experience

M

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Authentic Portuguese Cooking Class – 3-Hour Small Group Experience in Lisbon

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

4-Hour Private Driver and Guide Tour of Belém with Jerónimos Monastery Visit

Lisbon

Joao was the absolute best

Quality of Experience

P

Quality of Experience

P

Quality of Experience

P

Quality of Experience

P

Quality of Experience

P

Quality of Experience

P

Quality of Experience

P

Quality of Experience

P

Quality of Experience

P

Quality of Experience

P

Quality of Experience

P

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transport

Transport

Transport

Transport

Transport

Transport

Transport

Transport

Transport

Transport

Immerse Yourself in the Portuguese Culture by Experiencing a Fado Dinner

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Hi

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Transfer from your hotel to a unique Fado Experience

Portugal

Quality of Experience

O

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lisbon's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour & Tastings

Lisbon

Quality of Experience

Jo

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

To Eat Suggestion: Pinóquio

Lisbon

One of the best meals we ate in Portugal .

Quality of Experience

No

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ben was always quick to respond to our questions. He worked with us initially to design the perfect trip in Japan. Many thanks for all of your hard work.

Othman did a great job planning our 9 day trip to Iceland. Everything went smoothly and we were happy with all our accommodations and excursions. Highly recommend!

Our entire trip was absolutely amazing and so much more than we expected. Michael and his team were with us every step of the way from start to finish, and provided a diverse itinerary that somehow met the needs of our entire family including 2 young children. We were very impressed at their communication throughout the trip as well as the experiences they provided. All of the hotels were perfect too.

We were so grateful our trip included guides and drivers because we learned so much more about the country and its people because of them and never needed to worry about getting a cab anywhere. They made the trip so much easier and more fun than it would have been if we did it all ourselves. A few highlights were playing Tejo with Mari Luz in Bogota, drinking coffee with Carlos in Salento, our coffee farm tour, walking the streets of cartegena and drumming at sunset with Roberto.

Too many amazing experiences to name. We hope to come back to Colombia again and will definitely use KimKim to provide our next trip.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Muisca

Bogotá

Great hotel in a quiet area. Perfect for walking down to the Candeleria neighborhoods. The chefs were amazing and the front desk staff were always very helpful and patient. You’ll definitely want to bring ear plugs because the walls are thin, but we’re always prepared for that so it wasn’t a problem.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ecohotel Piedemonte

Very peaceful and relaxing.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Juliana was very helpful and went above and beyond to get our laundry service done earlier in the morning so we could have them for our 8:30am excursion. The chefs also cook to order.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Finca Hotel del Cafe

Santa Rosa de Cabal

Very nice hotel off the beaten path. It was a nice place to rest between cities with great views from the restaurant area.

Authenticity & Character

The hotel part was fantastic, but the American music from the 80’s in the restaurant view area made it feel a little corporate. Luckily the restaurant area is a 5 minute walk up the hill from the hotel.

Location

Staff

They were very helpful and set up the jacuzzi so we could use it one evening.

Cleanliness & Comfort

GHL Hotel Armería Real

Cartagena

The location was perfect because it was walking distance to everything we needed for food and shopping. The rooftop pool and restaurant worker perfect for our family. The staff was very kind, helpful, and service was great. We want to come back.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Sunset Drum & Dance Safari at the Beach of La Boquilla

Colombia

It was an amazing experience.

Quality of Experience

Realizing that this was a music school and watching the sun set during a song. It was all very interactive and engaging.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boquilla Mangrove Tour

Cartagena

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rosario Island Beach Day (Coralina Island)

Colombia

Very relaxing.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walking Tour & Street Food

Cartagena

Absolutely amazing behind the scenes tour of Cartegena with Roberto.

Quality of Experience

Our guide Roberto.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Santa Rosa Hot Springs

Colombia

Beautiful location.

Quality of Experience

Nothing. It was just really crowded because the local families were on vacation.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We learned so much in our drive from Salento to the hot springs. The guide was great. It was also really nice to have someone to watch our stuff.

Transport

Cocora Valley & Salento

Colombia

Absolutely beautiful place. It was more than we were expecting.

Quality of Experience

Our guide was so passionate and went above learned a lot.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Willy Jeep was fun.

Coffee Farm Tour in Finca Buenos Aires

Salento

We loved seeing the process from start to finish.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour to Nemocón's Salt Mine

Bogotá

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tejo Game in Bogotá

Bogotá

Very fun. Family favorite.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Bogotá Museums Tour

Bogotá

Colombian History with Street Art

Bogotá

Fruits of Colombia at a Local Market

Bogotá

It was perfect and we learned so much. Only tip would be to provide a handout with the fruit on it because we couldn’t remember any of the names.

Quality of Experience

Leaning how to cut and eat the fruit and learning about the impact of fruit in Colombia were the highlights.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

OMG… you guys are terrific! Everything was planned out and all planned activities came off flawlessly. We had many times where pickups and drop offs occurred and everyone met us on time. Loved how Kimkim set up our tours that were all private. Maria in Athens was amazing. Very friendly and knowledgeable. Alexander showed us Mykonos in the four wheel jeep. Great guy! So friendly and showed us beautiful places that tourists don’t usually go. Then on Naxos, we helped prepare the Greek luncheon with Nikos and Constantina. We loved being with them and we found it so hard to leave! Then on to Santorini. Simply spectacular. The sunset cruise was truly a great way to end our trip. Also, a special thanks to the Kimkim team for surprising my wife with flowers and champagne on the boat for our 35th wedding anniversary. You had her crying for joy!
All of your accommodations were first class and located in the perfect locations. Loved how you planned the itinerary….Great job Kimkim . (We are also looking to book our 3rd Kimkim vacation to Morocco…. Hopefully sometime in 2026)

Regards,

Tom and Georgette Walsh

Hotel Reviews

Andronis Luxury Suites

Santorini

Simply amazing. The views will take your breath away,

Authenticity & Character

Staff goes out of their way to accommodate all of your needs. Their restaurant is spectacular with incredible sunset views.

Location

Perfectly located right on the cliff. Steps away from all the local shops,

Staff

Michelle went out of her way to insure we were totally comfortable.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Spotless room…. Hot tub overlooking the Agean Sea was incredible!

18 Grapes Hotel Naxos

Naxos

Great location!

Authenticity & Character

Loved the rooftop restaurant with a magnificent view of the sunset over the mountains

Location

Comfortable short walk through a quaint town to get to the beach,

Staff

So Friendly and accommodating

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beautiful clean room with great views… loved our private hot tub,

Asty Hotel & Spa Mykonos

Mykonos

Located just above the main town.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Steps away from walking to the main town

Staff

All staff members were extremely helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Loved the bed…. Super comfortable

xenodocheio Milos

Athens

Centrally located…. Very comfortable and clean

Authenticity & Character

Location

Centrally located

Staff

So very friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Wonderful restaurant on the first floor.

Activity Reviews

Private Naxian Family Farm Experience & Wood-Fire Cooking Lesson

Naxos

Constantina started off by giving us a complete tour of the farm and what they grow. The view from the farm was amazing. We helped prepare a luncheon with all fresh food right from the farm. While waiting for the food to cook in an open oven, Constantine and Nikkos entertained us with the history of Naxos. It was a great way to hear about Greek cuisine while drinking home made Rose wine.

Quality of Experience

Knowledgeable and friendly people.

4WD Jeep Island Adventure

Mykonos

We had Alexander take us all over Mykonos island. He took us to areas of the island far away from where tourists usually go. Fantastic photo opportunities.

Quality of Experience

Jeep was very clean and the driver provided water for us

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Alexander was very friendly and knew a lot of history about Mykanos

Transport

Private Acropolis & Highlights Walk with Food Tastings

Athens

Maria was our guide for six hours. Very friendly and knowledgeable about the history of Athens.

Quality of Experience

Personal guide

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very knowledgeable

Our hotel in Santorini ended up being a dump. This impacted our entire trip, both our first time in Greece and our first time even in Europe. Our travel Agent at 'Somewhere We Know' refused to believe our complaints until we put together a detailed 3-page review with pictures and a list of the lies on the resort website (for example, they claimed to have a poolside bar with service, which did not exist; rooms were supposed to come with robes and slippers, also not true... the list is long, in addition to the complete run down, broke-down aspects of the facility itself). After we made it very clear that the resort website was a complete misrepresentation and false advertising, they did offer a refund on our stay, but acted like this was a huge favor. We paid top dollar to have local, expert recommendations as we planned our trip. This resort should have never even been an option and, like, I said, this impacted our entire stay and was valued at much more then just the cost of the room at the resort.

Further, in the middle of our stay we were informed by Somewhere We Know that, due to high winds, our ferry to Naxos would likely be cancelled. This would leave us stranded in a foreign country with no where to stay, and no tickets to leave the island once it was safe to do so. As a result, the recommended we book a villa and ferry tickets for the following days. The good news is that the ferry did run as originally planned so we were able to continue our trip in Naxos. The bad news is that we were charged for the villa and additional ferry tickets. While we did authorize this booking, we were shocked that Somewhere We Know also charged us an additional 226 Euros to aid us in that situation. FYI: The travel agent contacted us to let us know of this potential delay and encouraged the bookings, which felt like a money grab and a fear tactic at its worst; just poor advice at its best.

Somewhere We Know touts itself as a travel agency that will "personally take care of every single detail of your trip and are available to assist you anytime 24/7." We paid $12,000+ dollars for our trip originally (EXCLUDING AIRFARE from US to Athens), expecting this level of service. We PAID good money for a service that we did not get on the Santorini leg of our trip, and then we paid even more when our trip was possibly delayed and we had to utilize the service they originally charged us for. These fees were taken out of what they refunded, which left us with very minimal compensation.

While there were some wonderful things about our trip and some good suggestions from #SomewhereWeKnow, these two issues were major, communication following the trip was disappointing and the resolution would have been unsatisfactory to anyone in our situation.

Hotel Review

Above Blue Suites

Santorini

This hotel is a DUMP. Do not be fooled by the website. It may have been nice serval years ago, but it is not only completely broken-down, but many of the items touted on their website are lies: 1. Their description said “Bathrooms… come equipped with bathrobes and slippers.” This is not true. No bathrobes or slippers are provided. In fact, we were only allowed one towel every two days, and only one pool towel for our entire stay. 2. Their description said, “an indulgent Champagne breakfast is included”. This is not true. Champaign was not provided, and the selection was very basic, including options like a 1-egg “omelet” with nothing in it or corn flakes with milk. 3. The website shows breakfast being served on outdoor tables with cushioned chairs and white tablecloths. Instead, the tables were rickety and badly peeling, and the chairs were both broken and without cushions. 4. Their website states that is “a pool bar that serves drinks throughout the day.” This is also not true. No bar. No drinks. No service. 5. The website advertises the Moonlit Suite as having an “outdoor private HOT tub”. While there is an outdoor “tub”, the water was ice cold, it was dirty and the jets did not work. 6. The website says there is a Porter. This is also not true. 7. The room material noted that we should not drink the water but stated that two bottles of water would be delivered daily. That was not true. When we asked about water, we were told we could buy some at a store across the street. 8. The room material noted that each room has a mini bar. Again, this is a lie. 9. The website shows a small but clean luxury resort. Instead, we arrived to find loose wiring, broken tables and chairs, missing or stained and torn cushions, haphazard painting, rusted fixtures, mostly dead plants, an abundance of BLACK MOLD in the bathrooms and overall lack of maintenance. 10. The pool was full of algae. I could go on and on but you get the idea. DON'T STAY HERE and SHAME ON THEM!!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Naxos Old Town food tour

Naxos

This was a ton of fun and a great way to explore the streets of "Old Town". The description made it sound like a few small snacks and drinks but it was actually a lot of food that culminated in a full sit-down dinner with our small tour group (maybe 12 people).

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cooking class experience

Santorini

My husband didn't want to do this and we almost skipped it. Would have been a shame. Ended up being the highlight of our trip. The location was charming. The owners were welcoming and engaging. The class itself was relaxed and fun. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chris was very responsive and great to work with. Our family vacation went smoothly from start to finish.

Hotel Reviews

Grand Hotel Parker’s Naples

Naples

Hotel Conca Park 4* Sorrento

Sorrento

Large hotel filled with large tour groups. Must be something more quaint in Sorrento. Did have a good location.

San Montano Resort & SPA Ischia

Lacco Ameno

This place was fabulous. We were upgraded to a room with a pool that was just great.

Staff

Activity Review

Afternoon Neapolitan Cooking Class With Dinner

Naples

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Every aspect of the trip from planning before we left to all of the details during the trip were extremely well managed.

The trip was very well planned and executed. We will recommend Kimkim for others for sure. All the guides were great and clearly vetted by many others. You really listened to what we wanted - cities with off-the-beaten-path destinations and cultural experiences. We were really impressed with the support before and during the trip. We're so happy. Thank you for everything.

Kristy was extremely helpful in a number of ways. She did a great job setting up the trip and was kind enough to help one of our travelers that had issues with departing flight. She also helped to retrieve something we left in a hotel room. Excellent job!

Our trip was on my bucket list for 30 years. The team at KimKim made it all come true. We started planning our trip with Eleni in 2023, and decided the timing wasn’t right. Two years later we contacted KimKim and they still had our 2023 itinerary in their system so we weren’t starting from scratch. All KimKim arrangements were great, transportation at every travel point was on time, pre-printed tickets for high speed ferries and local flights were in our packet, as well as the sailing and other excursions were all planned out. All the hotels and accommodations were exactly what we asked for. KimKim was available to us al during the trip answering our questions in a timely manner, they made our vacation a very relaxed and enjoyable experience. We will use KimKim again.

Other guides were Dimitris and Klio
This is our third KimKim adventure. It was the first time we rented a car to possibly have more flexibility. Everything was smooth when we landed in Athens and hopped to Crete. We were met but Kosta from Kosmos car rental and got a new car (but the windshield washer did not work). Off to Rethymno and we realized how Greeks drive. The double yellow lines in the center of the road is merely a suggestion. After a while driving went from unnerving to terrifying. Our hotel in old town Rethymno was lovely and so were the people there. We know you recommended staying in Chania and Heraklion and we elected to stay in Rethymno. We wish that you had persuaded us and said something about Greek drivers. As it was, we eliminated trips to Elafonisi beach and other places. We went to a beautiful beach Skinaria, the drive through the gorge was beautiful. The last leg of the drive to the beach was again terrifying. It really put a damper on our beach trips. We take some responsibility as you did warn us that it was 2.5 hours to Elafonisi. The tour of the Palace of Knossos was fabulous and Viv is a great tour guide. The museum was amazing. The hotel was nice and the people very friendly and helpful. The room was OK but we read that room 106 has a balcony and that would have been nicer.
Our tour of Chania with Petros was very good too. Parking was very challenging but manageable.
Athens was great. The Elysium was a beautiful venue for dinner with a perfect view of the Parthenon. The hotel was delightful. The car pick up was perfectly convenient and getting out of Athens was surprisingly easy. Hearing about the marathon scheduled for that day made us apprehensive but not a problem. Also it was nice to have a hotel with an elevator.
Nafplio; the drive was straightforward but after our experiences in Crete we were nervous and omitted some of the planned drives. The Athena hotel in Nafplio is beautiful with a nice room at the top floor. Of course, 70 stairs from the lobby to our room carrying heavy bags was not top of my list of exercises. I am 71 years old. I suppose I should have checked into that.
On our last KimKim adventure (Portugal) we thought about renting a car but then changed our minds. I wish we had done it differently on the trip.

Hotel Reviews

Athena Hotel Nafplion

Nafplio

If you are healthy enough to take a lot of stairs (70) then try for the rooftop room. Amazing views to the castle, the city and the harbor. If you are not in the best of shape, the stairs can be a lot. There is no elevator. Also, we could have used a better description of the location as we drove right past it using GPS. There is no parking at the hotel but you can briefly park 10 meters away. Parking is touch and go. There are parking lots and if you are lucky you can get a place not too far from the hotel.

Authenticity & Character

A very nice venue with the best shower of the 3 hotels. The room had a good amount of space.

Location

In the heart of the old city. Easy to get anywhere.

Staff

The only complaint was that there was nobody who could carry our bags up the 70 stairs

Cleanliness & Comfort

Noma Hotel Athens

Athens

Old but updated with a nice elevator, large bed, nice bathroom and shower and a balcony! Its location is close to the destinations we wanted to see and lots of nice areas to explore nearby.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to the Plaka and not far from Syntagnia sq. Close to the Elysium rooftop and Ergon House.

Staff

Friendly and willing to help.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Veneto Boutique Hotel

Rethymno, Crete

Room 107 has small floor-level windows. The restaurant is great, and the breakfast offerings are delicious and with a lot of options. Beds are comfortable, the shower is nice and the AC works well. Get room 106 as it has the only balcony. The staff are delightful and very helpful.

Authenticity & Character

The hotel is a 600 year old monastery that is beautiful and well kept.

Location

Please note: you cannot drive to the hotel, even to drop off your luggage.

Staff

Very helpful when we needed to change plans or get restaurant recommendations.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The beds are very comfortable and the rooms and dining area are kept very clean

Activity Reviews

Acropolis of Mycenae Guided Tour 

Greece

We were surprised that this area was not as developed/restored as Knossos. It was however very interesting.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Again as with all guide, certified, knowledgeable and very personable.

Transport

George was a very good guide.

Local transfer in Nafplio

Nafplio

This was OK since it was major highway. The car was OK except when the check engine light came on causing a lot of distress and anxiety as we were on a 2 lane road with no area to pull off.

Quality of Experience

I could have elected to get a transfer.

Sea Kayak above sunken Epidaurus

Nafplio

The weather report was for cold and wet so we did not go.

Car Rental Drop-off

Greece

Easy, drive up, park, toss the keys through the hole. Done

Private Knossos & Museum Tour

Greece

The Palace is much larger than we expected and it is very well presented with excavations and restorations.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Viv is a wonderful and knowledgeable guide! We loved her discussion of the palace and her insight.

Transport

We rented a car.

Private Old Town of Chania guided walk

Chania

Petros was very accommodating as we got there a bit late due to traffic and could not find parking close to the meeting spot. He is very knowledgeable about the area and its history. He recommended a great place for lunch that was not overwhelmed by tourists. Chania is a delightful place with a lot of history to explore.

Quality of Experience

Coastal Greece has a lot of history from the ancient times, Venetian then Ottoman occupation. All have left their imprint on the island.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Petros was terrific. Very good guide!

Transport

We rented a car and as we said before, driving is not the best part of the experience.

Car Rental Pick-up

Greece

Kostas met us at the baggage claim and brought ut to the car. Very convenient.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Although the car was new, the windshield washer did not work so I needed to carry a bottle of water to wash the window manually.