Kimkim Trip Reviews

My husband and I had an amazing time in Morocco! The upfront planning was easy with Louis Shannon, his communication was clear and timely, and he has a great personality. I am a planner so I had done research before contacting kimkim which I found helpful, but you could easily leave it to them to plan. Our driver and guide, Younes Bouaid, was fantastic from start to finish! Younes was professional, fun, and became a friend during our travels. He had great tips and advice for each area we visited, the car was always clean, very comfortable, had great Wi-Fi, and he was a very safe driver. We tried to do 2-3 nights in each location so we could experience areas and not rush, we visited Marrakesh, Ouarzazate, Boumalne Dades, Merzouga (Sahara Desert), Fes, and Rabat. We enjoyed all the places we stayed, and the breakfast included was always delicious.

In Marrakesh we stayed at 72 Riad Living, loved it! Amazing Riad in the old town with a beautiful rooftop area and pool, the courtyard was really nice and very relaxing, the breakfast was always good and the dinner we had there was possibly our best meal of the trip, and the staff was friendly and helpful. The tours we did in Marrakesh were fun and very educational from a historic and cultural perspective. We did a 2-hour food tour with Moulay Rachid and an all-day tour with another wonderful guide. Definitely do a cooking class, we did ours at Cafe Clock and had a wonderful time. 4 nights.

In Ouarzazate we stayed at Kasbah Isfoula. Smaller boutique hotel with lovely rooms, nice bar and restaurant, fun artwork, and a pretty rooftop excellent for relaxing and enjoying view. I would not recommend the movie studio tour, the sets were not great, it is not like Universal Studios or other experience we have done. Also, the staff was very disinterested and bored. 1 night.

In Boumalne Dades we stayed at Auberge Chez Pierre. Beautiful area to visit, I wish we had more time there. The hotel is lovely and has a beautiful pool. The room was spacious and very comfortable. The dinner and breakfast we had at the restaurant was delicious. 1 night

In Merzouga (Sahara Desert) we stayed at the Luxury Camp Chebbi. The camel ride in was fun, tents were really nice, and the food was good. The staff was friendly, and we enjoyed the music by the fire. By doing the 2 nights we were able to do an interesting tour to see how the Amazigh live, look for fossils, explore the geography, and visit the Gwana and hear a maalem group perform. One tip, if you would like wine at the camp I would recommend buying at the hotel and taking it in with you, half the price, or checking what the price is before going to the camp so you are not overcharged like we were (we did get a refund).

In Fes we stayed at Palais Amani, beautiful Riad on the outskirts of the old city. The courtyard was stunning, and the staff was very friendly and helpful. Loved the breakfast and enjoyed our dinner there. The room was spacious, and the rooftop area was very relaxing and has great views of the city and mountains. We also did the Hamam and a massage at the hotel and loved it! There is a cooking school that looked really nice as well. The tour we did with Fatima Zahra Hanafi was excellent and a real treat to have a female guide which is rare. We also had a delicious dinner at Riad Fes which also looked nice to stay at. The only thing we did not like on the tour was the tannery because of the smells. 3 nights.

In Rabat we stayed at Riad Kalaa, smaller Riad with a nice courtyard and rooftop with a small pool. The food was nice, and the room was spacious and comfortable. I also really liked the artwork and ambiance of the shared spaces. The sunset in Rabat was beautiful and enjoyed our brief time there. 2 nights.

Hotel Reviews

Kasbah Isfoula

Ait Ben Haddou

In Ouarzazate we stayed at Kasbah Isfoula. Small boutique hotel with lovely rooms, nice bar and restaurant, fun artwork, and a pretty rooftop excellent for relaxing and enjoying view.

Authenticity & Character

Not a Riad but decorated nicely and had some fun artwork.

Location

On its own so not a lot to do but great for one or two nights to explore the area

Staff

Very nice and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable

72 Riad Living

Marrakech

In Marrakesh we stayed at 72 Riad Living, loved it! Amazing Riad in the old town with a beautiful rooftop area and pool, the courtyard was really nice and very relaxing, the breakfast was always good and the dinner we had there was possibly our best meal of the trip, and the staff was friendly and helpful. We stayed here for one night in a back courtyard room and the other 3 nights on the 2nd floor. Both rooms were very spacious, super comfortable beds, very quiet, and nice bathrooms. Conveniently located to explore the old town and markets. Would highly recommend staying here.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful courtyard and interior design

Location

If you want to stay in the old town but not right in the middle of it this is where to stay. Down a nice quiet street out of the busy part of town but still close enough to walk everywhere.

Staff

Always friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms and the shared spaces were always clean and well maintained

Auberge Chez Pierre

Boumalne Dades

In Boumalne Dades we stayed at Auberge Chez Pierre. Beautiful area and hotel, I wish we had more time there. The hotel is lovely with its gardens and beautiful pool. The room was spacious and very comfortable, really liked the decor. The dinner and breakfast we had at the restaurant was delicious!

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful hotel with lots of character and a lovely ambiance

Location

Felt like we were perfectly situated to explore the gorge and the other areas around.

Staff

Nice and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean and comfy

Palais Amani

Fès

In Fes we stayed at Palais Amani, beautiful Riad on the outskirts of the old city. The courtyard was stunning, and the staff was very friendly and helpful. Loved the breakfast and enjoyed our dinner there. They were kind enough to upgrade us to a super spacious room with its own private rooftop area. The room was really nice and the little extra attentions to detail were very nice. The overall rooftop was very relaxing and had great views of the city and mountains. We also did the Hammam and a massage at the hotel and loved it! There is a cooking school that looked really nice as well. Would highly recommend staying here.

Authenticity & Character

Beautifully restored Riad with a lovely courtyard and rooftop.

Location

In the old city but on the outskirts so very quiet

Staff

Everyone was professional, nice, and always ready to help

Cleanliness & Comfort

Super clean and comfy

Riad Kalaa

Rabat

In Rabat we stayed at Riad Kalaa, smaller boutique Riad with a nice courtyard and rooftop with a small pool. We had a dinner and breakfast at the Riad and thought both were nice. The room was spacious and comfortable and I really liked how it was decorated. I also really liked the artwork and ambiance of the shared spaces. Located in the old town and was very easy to walk everywhere, especially to the Andalusian Gardens, Kasbah des Oudayas, and the ocean.

Authenticity & Character

Nice ambiance and decoration

Location

Great for exploring

Staff

Very nice and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean and comfy

Luxury Camp Chebbi

Merzouga

In Merzouga (Sahara Desert) we stayed at the Luxury Camp Chebbi. The camel ride in was fun, tents were really nice, and the food was good. The staff was friendly, and we enjoyed the music by the fire. The one full day we were there they did not communicate they were doing some work on the tents and that we would need to go to the hotel for a few hours after our tour. This caused some confusion with our tour guide who in the end took us back to the camp so we could get a our swimmers for the pool at the hotel. Also, we were overcharged for wine the first night and only found out because we went to the hotel. We did receive a refund after we requested it. I am giving 3 stars because of the lack of communication, the overcharge and how the manager handled it, and the awkwardness both situations caused . Tip, if you would like wine at the camp I would recommend buying at the hotel and taking it in with you, half the price and no hassle.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Lack of communication about construction, being overcharged and how the manager handled it, and the awkwardness both situations caused

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Evening Food Tour in Marrakesh

Marrakesh

We did a 2-hour food tour with Moulay Rachid and had a great time. We got acquainted with the markets and the main square and tried some yummy food. We visited a small street eatery run by a woman that served the harira soup and tried it dates and a sweet pastry, it was really good. We stopped at a fresh juice bar and at the olive market, both yummy, and then went to dinner and tried our first tagine in Morocco. Moulay was great fun and shared interesting insights with us.

Quality of Experience

Local food that was delicious

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Moulay Rachid was professional and fun

Overnight in the Sahara Desert

Morocco

We stayed two nights and enjoyed the atmosphere of the desert at night. We arrived by camel the first night and really enjoyed stopping and watching the sunset over the dunes before continuing on to camp. We were the only ones at camp that night and had a great meal and then enjoyed local music by the campfire, it was a really beautiful night. The second night there were more people which made it a bit more lively. The tents were really nice and while we were there they were upgraded the tents so I am sure they have only gotten nicer. I would definitely recommend doing at least one night in the desert.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our camel guide and the staff at the camp were very nice. The 3 stars is because of some awkwardness we had with the manager (or who we thought was the manager)

Transport

We rode the camels the first night in and took the truck in the second night, both were fun

Guided Desert Adventures in the Sahara Desert with Overnight in the Sahara Desert

Morocco

We did a tour with Mohammed. He took us to have tea at a Amazigh camp, we then went to explore the diverse geography of the desert which included visiting an old mine and looking for fossils, and the highlight was visiting Khamleya and the Gwana to listen to a maâlem group perform music and dance. I highly recommend this tour so you can see what is like to live in the desert and experience the Gwana maalem music and dance.

Quality of Experience

Fun experience, especially enjoyed the cultural aspects

Food

We only had tea and cookies but they were yummy

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exploring the Imperial City and Medieval Medina of Fez

Fes

A day of exploring Fes with our fabulous guide Fatima Zahra Hanafi. Fatima is 1 of 10 female tour guides in Fes which made our tour even more special. Fatima was very informative, had a great personality, and we felt like we had seen the old part Fes by the end of our tour. We visited Al Attarine Madrasa a 14th century school for Islamic studies, Aben Danan Synagogue, walked the Mellah district, visited Art de Poterie ACH where they make the beautiful mosaic tiles and pottery, walked the Medina with its narrow streets and different artisan areas including a rug shop that supports local woman artisans and a tannery, and saw the Royal Palace of Fes and Al Attarine Madrasa Mosque and University Kairaouine. I would highly recommend this tour and Fatima as a guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Informative and fun

Transport

Our guide Younes from kimkim was our driver

Mieke put together an amazing trip! It made it stress free, having our tickets and transportation taken care of in advance. We had a wonderful time and wish we could've stayed longer! I highly recommend Mieke and her team when planning a trip!

Activity Reviews

Amsterdam - Private canal cruise to Rijksmuseum

The Netherlands

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ghent - Private guided walking tour

Ghent

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Very courteous and accommodating
Hotels were okay
Some were nice
Some were fair
But staff and people of Morocco were very very nice
Will certainly go back
Thanks

Lahsen was our guide and Yusuf was the driver. Van was ordinary and seats were uncomfortable. Seats belts didn't work in at least couple of them as the equipment was broken .
Guide was very caring. His English needs some improvement. He needs to speak slowly.

We love the personalised recommended local tours - especially the ones in Rome and in Cinque Terre. We were a bit disappointed by the recommended tour in Florence because everything was rushed and we didn't have time to eat in between the packed tours.

The team was very helpful in addressing any questions we had, and Eirini did a great job picking up after Ina has left the company midway of planning our trip. Thank you for changing the vatican tour just a couple days before the trip because we had a papal audience.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Marina Piccola

Manarola

Great hotel, run by local family. Very clean and very personalised, made some friends there. They even helped with local bookings!

Authenticity & Character

Amazing, local run and friendly hosts

Location

A bit noisy, but if you get the sea facing rooms the view is unbeatable

Staff

Great service

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was recently rennovated, everything is clean and nice

Hotel Pendini

Florence

It's slightly dated, but location is amazing in the middle of the most important piazza in Florence. Really close to the Duomo and the train station! Very clean, but not the best in terms of service and friendliness of staff.

Authenticity & Character

Historical place, interesting background and photos on display

Location

Great location!

Staff

They were polite, but nothing personalised

Cleanliness & Comfort

The breakfast is amazing, must eat the pistacchio cornetto

Activity Reviews

Vatican Guided Tour

Rome

Love love love this! Please take this if you are planning to go to Vatican! Then you won't have to queue for long to visit the Basilica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Kudos to Carlotta, she's amazing

Colosseum & Roman Forum Tour

Rome

Love how knowledgeable Dario was! He really gave life to the guided tour, through colloseo and the roman forum.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Kudos to Dario!!

Trastevere Afternoon Food Tour & Wine Experience

Rome

Eileen was very helpful in navigating the food scene in Rome! Shame it wasn't on our first day. Love the neighbourhood and the food scene, recommended food and drinks!

Quality of Experience

The food and the aperitivo

Food

Everything, especially the suppli

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Eileen was terrific!

Cinque Terre Welcome Tour

Italy

Christian was very helpful in showing us the local paths and the background of cinque. Because of his recommendation, we ate the best pesto pasta ever!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Morning Florence Highlights Walking Tour

Florence

Could have done a shorter one, too many things to do with not much break in between. Could have done two different tours on two different days instead

Quality of Experience

Accademia Galleria was the highlight, local tips

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Fei helped me curate the solo trip to Japan of my dreams. It was like she could read my mind! I saw so much in a short amount of time including Kyoto tea ceremony, sake tasting, temples and shrines and riding the Shincansen. She replied quickly to me during the trip and while planning despite being on the opposite side of the world. I felt safe and well cared for the whole time. I have no regrets and am so grateful to Fei and the kimkim team.

Hotel Reviews

Sotetsu Fresa Inn Kyoto-Kiyomizu Gojo

kyoto

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Helped me when I forgot my key card or mixed up breakfast tickets.

Cleanliness & Comfort

So clean and comfy

Sotetsu Fresa inn Yodoyabashi

Authenticity & Character

Had everything you need, nothing in excess

Location

Close enough to Dotonbori but also the calm river

Staff

Made checkin easy and greeted me for breakfast.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bed was comfy, bathrooms were clean and he window let in fresh air

Activity Reviews

Kyoto Night Foodie Tour

Kyoto

Amazing group and guide. Food was unreal

Quality of Experience

Food was beyond what I would have tasted by myself

Food

Authentic traditional dishes. Simple and delicious

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was helpful, funny and patient

Full Day Kyoto City Tour with Fushimi Inari-Taisha

Kyoto

I saw so much!

Quality of Experience

I felt so special and the tour was really custom to me

Guides, Drivers and Staff

My guide Ho was the most experienced, patient and I learned a lot. Had much fun .

Transport

Thanks to a driver we saw so much in little time with no stress from bussing. The van was cool and comfy.

Half Day Sagano Bamboo Grove & Arashiyama Walking Tour (Join-in)

Kyoto

Saw much more than bamboo forest. Better than expected.

Quality of Experience

Custom tour since I was the only one booked that day

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hiroko was a very enthusiastic and experienced guide

Transport

Easy to find meeting point.

Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

Was on my own. Was hard to get pictures. Staff helped sometimes.

Quality of Experience

Authentic tea ceremony

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very experienced, patient and took it seriously.

Sake Tasting + Brewery Tour (Join-in)

Kyoto

Nobu was the greatest tour guide. It was solo because only me.

Quality of Experience

The other tourists were jealous that I was getting better information. He was so interesting and cool. Sake was delicious.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Nobu was very patient, took pictures and was very interesting. Joined in tasting sake with me

Learn the Secrets Behind Sushi in a Cooking Class

Osaka

Learned that I loved making sushi and are very good at it. Will take these lesson home. Exceeding my expectations.

Quality of Experience

Beat quality ingredients and teachers for all ages

Guides, Drivers and Staff

They spoke enough English and loved sushi making

From the moment we were connected with Aracanto Travel through KimKim, our Colombian adventure transformed into an extraordinary experience. Their commitment to excellence and attention to detail was amazing.

Margoth designed an awesome itinerary that blended culture, nature, and adventure from the vibrant streets of Bogota and Cartegena, to hiking in the Medellín Cloud forest and Tayrona National Park, and scuba diving in Santa Marta.

Aracanto took care of every aspect of the itinerary, from all the transport, and tours to the accommodation – even making our restaurant reservations for us! The personalized approach and thorough planning meant we did not have to worry about a thing! The Aracanto team set up a WhatsApp group a few days before we arrived in Colombia and this worked so well – someone from the team was always available to answer any of our questions or make any last-minute changes – a huge shout out to the team (Margoth, Felipe, Juanita, Marcela, Fabian and Sebastian)!

Our guides across the cities we visited were also excellent – big thank you to Joel (Bogota), Andras (Medellín), Cesar (Santa Marta), and Ana (Cartegena) for making our trip so special.

Colombia itself was spectacular in its people, culture, nature and history – the amazing street art in Bogota, the history and vibrance of Comuna 13, the lush forests and beautiful beaches, the spectacular food (yes, including all the interesting stuff too – ants, beetle larva and guinea pig), and the amazing, friendly people.

In summary, Aracanto Travel provided an exceptional service turning our dreams of visiting Colombia into a reality. They are certainly a passionate team, and we would highly recommend them to anyone planning a trip to Colombia. Thank you Margoth and Team!!!

Activity Reviews

Guatape and El Peñol

Colombia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day City Tour of Cartagena

Cartagena

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chorro Campana Hike

Medellín

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chicaque Natural Park

Bogotá

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Best of Medellín City Tour (with Comuna 13)

Medellín

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day Coffee Farm Tour

Medellín

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tayrona National Park Tour

Colombia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I recently had the pleasure of using the Kimkim website to plan my trip to the beautiful country of Morocco, and I must say, it was an experience like no other. I was lucky enough to have Abdel from Original Travels as my trip coordinator, and I can confidently say that he did an outstanding job. Abdel was extremely attentive to my preferences and provided me with expert recommendations that helped me plan an unforgettable trip. He was always prompt in responding to my queries and made sure that every detail was well-planned. Thanks to Abdel's exceptional planning and coordination, I was able to have a truly amazing and stress-free vacation in Morocco.

Before landing in Casablanca, I received a delightful message from our driver and tour guide, Samir. He provided us with a detailed set of instructions for our arrival, which put us at ease and made us feel welcome. During our trip, Samir proved to be more than just a driver. He was a knowledgeable and friendly guide who went above and beyond to ensure that we had a fantastic time. His warm hospitality and efforts to make us feel safe and comfortable throughout the journey were deeply appreciated. He treated us more like close friends than just tourists, and we couldn't have asked for a better person to accompany us on our travels. Samir's dedication and expertise allowed us to explore everything we desired to see and experience in Morocco, making it a memorable and delightful adventure.

During our trip to Fes, we were fortunate enough to have Charif as our local guide. His extensive knowledge of the area's history and culture added a whole new dimension to our tour. We spent our days exploring the bustling medinas and learning about the traditional craft of ceramic making. We also enjoyed shopping for unique souvenirs and immersing ourselves in the local culture. One of the highlights of our trip was attending the vibrant carpet show, a true feast for the senses. Charif's guidance and expertise truly made for an unforgettable experience in Fes.

Our journey to the Tiziri camp in the vast Sahara desert was nothing short of a thrilling adventure. We kicked off our experience with a camel ride that lasted for nearly two hours, led by our guide, Hassan. He was truly an expert in his field and made sure that our journey was comfortable and enjoyable at every step. He also took some breathtaking pictures of us and helped us find the perfect spot to watch the sunset, which was truly a sight to behold.

As we arrived at the Tiziri camp, we were greeted with warmth and hospitality by Moustafa, Ahmed, and the rest of the crew. They welcomed us with open arms and gave us a tour of the camp, which was impeccably clean and eco-friendly. Our room was comfortable, cozy, and well-equipped with everything we needed to make our stay comfortable.
The highlight of our day was the delicious dinner that was served to us. The food was absolutely amazing, and we enjoyed every bite of it. We were impressed by the hospitality and kindness of our hosts, who made sure that all our needs were met. Overall, it was an unforgettable experience that we will cherish for a long time to come.

During our stay at Dar Rihanna Dades, we were pleasantly surprised by the exceptional quality of accommodation provided. The hotel manager, Mohammed, left an unforgettable impression on us with his warm and welcoming personality, friendly demeanor, and great sense of humor. He made us feel right at home and we enjoyed a delightful conversation with him after dinner. The hotel itself was stylishly designed, immaculately clean, and owned and operated by a family, which added a personal touch to our experience. The meals we had were absolutely delicious and we were highly impressed with the attentive and outstanding service provided by the staff. Overall, it was a truly magnificent stay that exceeded our expectations in every way possible.

During our trip to Marrakech, we had the pleasure of being guided by Mouhsine, who was our private tour guide for the walking tour of the Medina and bustling souks. He took us to some of the most popular landmarks, including the Djemaa el-Fna, central square, the majestic Koutoubia Mosque, and the Bahia Palace, giving us an insight into the city's rich cultural heritage. One of the most memorable experiences we had with Mouhsine was an immersive culinary journey that he took us on. During this tour, he led us to some of the most authentic traditional Moroccan food places, where we got to witness the preparation and cooking of the food. He also taught us how to eat like the Moroccans, which involves communal dining in Moroccan households. Our group thoroughly enjoyed this food tour, and Mouhsine did an excellent job of making us feel comfortable and at ease. His knowledge of the local food and customs made the experience all the more enriching and enjoyable. Overall, it was an unforgettable experience, and we are grateful to Mouhsine for showing us the best of Marrakech.

Hotel Reviews

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

Our journey to the Tiziri camp in the vast Sahara desert was nothing short of a thrilling adventure. We kicked off our experience with a camel ride that lasted for nearly two hours, led by our guide, Hassan. He was truly an expert in his field and made sure that our journey was comfortable and enjoyable at every step. He also took some breathtaking pictures of us and helped us find the perfect spot to watch the sunset, which was truly a sight to behold.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dar Rihana Dades

Douar Aït Ouffi

During our stay at Dar Rihanna Dades, we were pleasantly surprised by the exceptional quality of accommodation provided. The hotel manager, Mohammed, left an unforgettable impression on us with his warm and welcoming personality, friendly demeanor, and great sense of humor. He made us feel right at home and we enjoyed a delightful conversation with him after dinner. The hotel itself was stylishly designed, immaculately clean, and owned and operated by a family, which added a personal touch to our experience. The meals we had were absolutely delicious and we were highly impressed with the attentive and outstanding service provided by the staff. Overall, it was a truly magnificent stay that exceeded our expectations in every way possible.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Tasting Marrakesh: A Private Gastronomic Adventure

Marrakesh

One of the most memorable experiences we had with Mouhsine was an immersive culinary journey that he took us on. During this tour, he led us to some of the most authentic traditional Moroccan food places, where we got to witness the preparation and cooking of the food. He also taught us how to eat like the Moroccans, which involves communal dining in Moroccan households. Our group thoroughly enjoyed this food tour, and Mouhsine did an excellent job of making us feel comfortable and at ease. His knowledge of the local food and customs made the experience all the more enriching and enjoyable. Overall, it was an unforgettable experience, and we are grateful to Mouhsine for showing us the best of Marrakech.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mystical Marrakesh: Unveiling the Allure of Morocco's Vibrant Jewel

Marrakesh

During our trip to Marrakech, we had the pleasure of being guided by Mouhsine, who was our private tour guide for the walking tour of the Medina and bustling souks. He took us to some of the most popular landmarks, including the Djemaa el-Fna, central square, the majestic Koutoubia Mosque, and the Bahia Palace, giving us an insight into the city's rich cultural heritage.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fez to Merzouga Desert - The Road to Serenity

Morocco

Our journey to the Tiziri camp in the vast Sahara desert was nothing short of a thrilling adventure. We kicked off our experience with a camel ride that lasted for nearly two hours, led by our guide, Hassan. He was truly an expert in his field and made sure that our journey was comfortable and enjoyable at every step. He also took some breathtaking pictures of us and helped us find the perfect spot to watch the sunset, which was truly a sight to behold.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fes Unveiled: Unravel the Riches of Morocco's Ancient City

Fes

During our trip to Fes, we were fortunate enough to have Charif as our local guide. His extensive knowledge of the area's history and culture added a whole new dimension to our tour. We spent our days exploring the bustling medinas and learning about the traditional craft of ceramic making. We also enjoyed shopping for unique souvenirs and immersing ourselves in the local culture. One of the highlights of our trip was attending the vibrant carpet show, a true feast for the senses. Charif's guidance and expertise truly made for an unforgettable experience in Fes.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mieke was the best!! From the start of planning our trip almost a year ago to when we were there , she was nothing but attentive, personal, knowledgeable organized and everything you need in a travel agent. We told her what we were looking for and placed we wanted to visit and she organized it all. It was so easy to travel from one city to the next in the Netherlands and Belgium. I loved the private tours she set us up with for our canal tour in Amsterdam, waking tour in Ghent. The personal driver to get us to the Kukenhoff gardens was great too.

Hotel Reviews

Boutiquehotel Staats

Haarlem

Authenticity & Character

Very unique

Location

Quick walk to the train station

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Villa Augustus

Dordrecht

Authenticity & Character

Old water tower

Location

Longer ride to the train station , required the bus and about a 20 min walk to the nearest water taxi

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ghent River Hotel

Ghent

Authenticity & Character

Location

About a 15 min walk or 10 min bus ride

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel le Dixseptième

Brussels

Authenticity & Character

Location

Super close to central station

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Public Transport Pass Amsterdam

The Netherlands

So nice to be able to use this anywhere

Quality of Experience

Flower bulb, auction & Keukenhof excursion

The Netherlands

The flowers are so beautiful ! The auction was fun to see processes but there is no live auction anymore but still cool to see. Great to get to Keukenhof early !!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The private driver was so worth it

Ghent - Private guided walking tour

Ghent

Our tour guide , V, was super knowledgeable , it was so fun to hear the history of Ghent and all the architectural facts.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Amsterdam - Private canal cruise to Rijksmuseum

The Netherlands

Our driver, Michael was super knowledgeable and gave us a great tour

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Everything was perfect. Andrea was willing to soak to us as many times as it took to get things right. He was accessible before and during the trip. So many details were handled by him that we didn't even need to think about. We are so glad we had the fortune of working with him.

Well-organized trip. Having the transport arranged for us let us focus on family and CR, not navigating how to get around. Serendipity Adventures, the on-the-ground subcontractor for KimKim, was superb. KimKim found the perfect place for a family of 7 to stay for a week in Manuel Antonio.

Hotel Reviews

Gran Hotel Costa Rica

San José

Just a Hilton from the Curio Collection. Everything was spectacularly nice (to be expected from a 5 Star hotel), but also quite divorced from a Costa Rican Experience; once inside the hotel, we could have been in almost any country anywhere. Great breakfast. Great location. Interestingly, less-than stellar restaurant staff, some of whom were slow and indifferent. If you value the luxury hotel experience, change this rating to 5 stars.

Authenticity & Character

A luxury hotel that could be transplanted to anywhere in the world. Devoid of authenticity except the building is a bit historic.

Location

Staff

Good front desk, great porters, great room service, and a full sized crib for our toddler, not just a pack-n-play. Restaurant staff a bit indifferent.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Costa Verde

Manuel Antonio

A wonderful place for families. We were 7 and KimKim found us the perfect house (Casa Quinta) on the property. Multiple great pools. Monkeys everywhere, which we all loved.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It is indeed built on the side of a hill. Plan on uphill hiking or plan on multiple taxi rides (totally worth the extra expense).

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The cleaning staff even washed our dishes!

Activity Reviews

Private Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike

Costa Rica

Not suited for young children. Mostly we saw small sleeping sloths only viewable through binoculars, which little kids can't easily negotiate. Defiinitely go early in the morning, before the heat sets in. Nice tour with a naturalist for older children and adults, with lots of teaching and explaining that bores the little ones and is great for others.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Damas Island Boat Tour

Manuel Antonio

Mangroves are cool for those of us with little experience with them.

Quality of Experience

Food

Simple and authentic dinner at an outdoor cafe afterwards.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

One of us left a phone on the bus and they brought it back to us almost before we even discovered it missing. Above and beyond service.

Linda was beyond fabulous- knowledgeable, friendly, accommodating. Keep this woman happy, she is a wonderful asset to KimKim!

5 Stars: Ikala Hotel, Hotel Galapagos Suites, Highlands of Santa Cruz and our guide Daniela, Excursion to Seymour Norte and our guide, our guide Fabricio in Quito and his surprise add-ons to our Quito tour.

Special 10 stars to driver Alejandro and Casa Playa Mann for the biggest hearts and sincerest souls, as well as doing their job excellently. They are wonderful ambassadors for their country.

4 Stars: Kicker Rock. Best suited for true snorkel enthusiasts, which is not us- we are vacation snorkelers. Choppy and cloudy water, some strong currents that really took work to navigate, and while it was cool to see a few hammerheads, not much else to see. Honestly, perhaps the best part of the trip was the spectacular closeup views of the Galapagos birds. Great guide.

Our only neutral-to-negative outing was the Interpretation Center and Tijeretas Hill. These two sites definitely do not need a guide and would have been far more enjoyable exploring on our own. Karen, our guide, was not a good storyteller, and told us little that I hadn't already read in the guidebooks; perhaps if she had turned the walk up Tijeretas Hill into a nature walk, but she made few comments as we walked up this paved and well-signed path. But the truly negative experience was the snorkeling. There was a yellow flag out, and the entrance to the water is on sharp rocks, difficult for nonlocals to negotiate- during our time there, two tourists had to be saved from the big waves/currents and helped back onto the rocks. Karen gave no instruction, but after verifying that we could all swim, jumped in the water and began snorkeling. Only one of the four of us decided to try snorkeling, as the other three felt it too dangerous. My husband lost a flipper, and waited back on the rocks as Karen managed to retrieve the flipper (good for her), but then continued to snorkel as we all waited for her. While pleasant during her guiding, Karen seemed bored with this excursion and I think would be better suited to aquatic excursions only, as this seems to be her true love.

Hotel Review

Casa Playa Mann

Puerto Baquerizo Moreno

Lovely place run by a lovely and sincere family.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Interpretation Center & Tijeretas Hill

Galapagos Islands

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station

Puerto Ayora

Tortoises everywhere, need I say more? Ask for guide Daniela!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Quito City Tour

Galapagos Islands

Much better experience with a guide than exploring on one's own. Ask for Fabricio!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our transport dropped us off at one end of Old Town and picked us up at the other end, so no backtracking!

Snorkel at Kicker Rock (Leon Dormido)

Galapagos Islands

Everything about the day was great- transport, guide, the excursion to a remote beach- except the cloudy snorkeling itself is only worth it for the interesting experience of seeing hammerhead sharks.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Highlands of Santa Cruz Island

Galapagos Islands

Tortoises everywhere, need I say more???

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

You all did a great job of putting together a wonderful vacation. The hotels are top rate with great food. Pyha didn't have any food service and there was some confusion on where to meet for the fatbike tour. My wife, Bea was the only one to make it on the bike, Donna Lee gave up in the parking lot, I face planted on the first turn and took the tram to the mine. The consisted of tailing from their mining. It was what we expected but the ride up and seeing the smile on her face from succeeding on the fat bike was worth it.
Being mostly Fin myself, I didn't listen to the guides recommended boots. We really needed crampons for the waterfalls, the trail was pure ice. I fell about 12 time an the guide got us crampons and took us on a different route. He was wonderful for putting up with us.
Any difficulty we had was due to age and not in as good shape as we thought. All the guides are top notch and very forgiving of our short comings.
Moonika was on top of any issues or questions we had, she was great. Her help in putting this together an d suggestions made a memorable trip for all of us. After falling down I could hear my grandfather laughing with me about why he came to the US. Thank you and your staff for making this happen.

Hotel Reviews

Arctic Light Hotel

Rovaniemi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Wilderness Hotel Muotka & Igloos

Sodankylä

We did not stay in a igloo but are room had a great, private sauna

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pyhä Igloos

Pyhä

The lack of a on site food could be made up if tourists are remind by driver to stop and shop. Thewalk up to the ski lodge is tough. The hotel room was one of the best we have stayed in. The outside of the hotel isn't fancy but the room was great.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Not near food

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Overnight Train

Best train trip

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Fabian

Helsinki

Great food and a 5 star all a round. Good location to walk around Helsinki.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Northern Lights Tour

Rovaniemi

Cloudy day wasn't guides fault no northern light's that nightBe in better shape

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Korouoma Canyon & Frozen Waterfalls Adventure

Finland

I gave this a 3 star not due to anything the guides did but because I'm 75 and the ladies are in their 60s. There is no easy way to the falls. The poor guide may have gotten tired helping up a240 pound man with knee replacement. May God bless him

Quality of Experience

Food

Got tired of sausage

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Arctic Adventure

Rovaniemi

Snow shoes belong on young folk

Quality of Experience

Food

More hotdogs

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Their knowledge and friendliness

SnowHotel & Ice Dinner Experience

Rovaniemi

Quality of Experience

Food

Reindeer

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sami Culture Day

Finland

My grandfather told me about the Sami .

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Husky Safari

Saariselkä

Wow, we all loved it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

They love their dogs. We did too

Transport

Aurora Adventure at Lake Pyhäjärvi

Pyhä

We had wonderful Guide an a great walk in the woods. Weather was our enemy

Quality of Experience

The guide made it a great night

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Fatbike Tour to Amethyst Mine

Finland

I give this a 5 star only because wife made it up and back on a bike. The top of the mountain was beautiful but the mining experience was a let down

Quality of Experience

Not much you can do to up grade a tailings pile, all loose rock with frost line about 2 inches down. Hard stand our get up on loose rocks. I

Guides, Drivers and Staff

They made it fun

Transport

Helsinki City Walking Tour

Helsinki

We didn't get the library because we where so busy learning from the tour guide about the finish history.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Porvoo Private Day Tour

Helsinki

Oh boy. We went to a small Cafe on our Wallander it was like we're in her living room. This was the finland we had in mind. Cities have there place but small places have the charm.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Gas station donuts are the best

Tallinn Day Trip

Helsinki

Wish we had more time and we were not so worn-out from the two weeks before.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The ferrie was what we need to rest. Thank you Moonika,.

Our Italy trip was the most amazing, every detail was heard from what we wanted. The hotel in Florence was quaint and perfectly located. The hotel in Levanto was absolutely beautiful and the owner went above and beyond to ensure we were welcomed as if we were family. The hike tour had the most amazing views and the guide was extremely knowledgeable. Once we reached Siena we were greeted by our next guide who taught about the amazing history and culture of the city. After Siena, we drove to the Tuscan valley and the timing couldn’t have been better. The rolling hills were filled with green fields and blooming trees. The hotel and tours here were perfectly planned. The wine tour at San Polo was astonishing and the cooking class at Podere Casale was like a dream. I can’t thank you enough.

Where do I start regarding our trip to Japan. Firstly it was so far a trip of a lifetime!!! From the moment we landed to the sad moment we left my son and i could not have had a more memorable experience..

Sandy our local specialist did a great job hitting the high points of each of the 4 cities that we visited. Every reservation went off without a hitch including our tickets on the Shinkansen bullet train and our Universal and Ghibli Museum tickets. The hotels picked were conveniently centrally located allowing us to get around easily either walking or using the excellent subway system.

Each of our tourguides were excellent and really made our trip very informative and helped so much given the language barrier we experienced. Satomi was helpful a helped me purchase kitchen knife from a knife shop in Dotonbori. She had lived a while in the US and knew what we were all about. She balanced touring with shopping and was flexible regarding our schedule. Naoko was a wealth of knowledge in Kyoto and went above and beyond in trying to explain the dense history of the various temples and shrines we visited. Kyoto was one of our favorite cities. The other one being Tokyo. Kyoji was our guide for beautiful Mt. Fuji and even took us to a special local Ramen shop where we were treated to a wonderful customary meal. Keiichi, our guide in Tokyo took us to a Sumo practice session which was a treat to be a part of. Having lived quite a while in Tokyo he was very familiar with the different Tokyo districts and provided us with local knowledge of the areas. Finally, Yuki was both our driver and guide during our trip outside of Tokyo to Nikko and really showed us the beauty and splendor of rural Japan. Everyone was so kind and obliging. It made our trip so much more informative and special.

We especially enjoyed Mt. Fuji and couldn't get over the grandeur and beauty of the site. Kyoto had its own special vibe which was really to our liking. Finally Tokyo was a wonderland!!! The subway system was so easy to use that we had not problem getting wherever we need to go. And did I mention the food! We did not have a bad meal. We tried to try it all and were not disappointed.

This is my second trip planned with KimKim . The first was to Portugal and was a private tour with my wife. This was a trip with my son and although I didn't think it was a private tour it might as well have been. The attention to detail was on point and it was comforting knowing that any problems were only a phonecall or text away to solve. I will definitely be using KimKim again for future trips.

Activity Review

World Heritage Himeji Castle & Kobe Tour

Osaka

Being on of the few original Castles not devasted by war or fire this was a wonderful site to see. You got to see all floors all the way up to the shrine at the very top. The castle itself was beautiful but the grounds were even more beautiful.

Quality of Experience

One of first sites we saw.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I had the pleasure of working with Angela from KimKim to plan my recent trip to Greece, and I couldn't be more thrilled with the experience. Angela truly went above and beyond to curate an amazing itinerary filled with fantastic tours and activities. From the moment I reached out to Angela, she made the entire process seamless and stress-free. Her expertise and attention to detail ensured that every aspect of the trip was taken care of. She listened to my preferences and crafted a personalized journey that exceeded all expectations. The tours Angela arranged were exceptional, offering insightful glimpses into Greece's rich history, culture, and breathtaking landscapes. Each day brought new adventures and unforgettable memories, thanks to her thoughtful planning. I highly recommend Angela to anyone looking to plan their dream vacation. Her professionalism, knowledge, and dedication to providing outstanding service make her the ideal travel agent. Thanks to Angela, my trip to Greece was truly unforgettable, and I can't wait to plan my next adventure with her expertise.

Dear DAT
We wish you a fast recovery;
Note that we keep a great memory, much appreciated from all:
the program, the guides, the drivers, the choice of excursions, the activities, the hotels and restaurants were perfect.

Thanks again
Gilbo, Rolana, Jimmy, Carol, André & Paula

Hotel Reviews

Hôtel des Arts Saigon - MGallery Collection

Ho Chi Minh City

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Anantara Hoi An Resort

Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi

Hanoi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

bathroom need to be refreshed, bathtub tight and difficult to access

Avana Retreat

magical, amazing resort, amazing staff,

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Stellar of the Seas

quảng ninh

fantastic organisation, staff, food, security & clean

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Dinner at Anan Saigon (Michelin Star Restaurant)

Ho Chi Minh City

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vespa Insider Tour - Half Day

Ho Chi Minh City

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunset Dinner On Saigon Princess Cruise

Ho Chi Minh City

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cu Chi Tunnels tour by luxury speedboat

Ho Chi Minh City

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Booking our Costa Rican honeymoon through Kim Kim and using Nuria was one of the best decisions we made. It wasn’t just a trip; it was an expertly curated adventure. For anyone looking to celebrate Costa Rica, 10 day adventure, which was an unforgettable adventure I cannot recommend Nuria enough. We had day by day itinary with all the information needed, the car rental easy, driving through costa rica was breeze. Customer service was available, ensuring that any questions we had were answered promptly and any minor issues were resolved quickly via whatups. This peace of mind was invaluable, especially being in a foreign country and wanting to focus solely on each other. e found ourselves one day zip-lining through the canopy of Monteverde, and the next, snorkeling in the crystal-clear waters of the Gulf of Papagayo. booked us into boutique hotels and secluded lodges that emphasized privacy and romance. Each location offered unique charms surrounded by the rich biodiversity of a rainforest.

Had a GREAT time on our trip. Thanks to Gary Topic for putting together a GREAT trip for us to Australia! We had a great itinerary, our hotel locations were always close to where our activities were, our activities were almost always spot on! Gary also guided me several times when I messed up and didn't follow the itinerary and had questions!Job well done!
Our five week trip inclued Port Douglas (scuba diving on the great barrier reef, Daintree, Karunda), Cairns, Whitsundays, Eungella (Glass Mountains, fruit bats, duck billed platypus), Fraser Island, Australia Zoo, Brisbane, Byron Bay, cave diving at Fish Rock Cave, Coffs Harbor, Port Macquarie, Tasmania (Cradle Mt, Bay of Fires), Sydney (opera house, climb the Harbor Bridge, Coogee and Bundi beaches, Blue Mountains tour), Canberra, and Melborne (Phillip Island penguin tour, Great Ocean Road tour). Thanks again - great trip!

kimkim helped us find a hotel that was perfect for our family and in a great location. The full-day excursion to Rincon de la Vieja booked through our kimkim agent was a highlight of the trip. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable about the area and wildlife. We were able to spot a variety of birds and animals. The entire trip exceeded our expectations.