Kimkim Trip Reviews

I asked Nick to book us a 10 night trip to Malaysia and he did not disappoint. Requested 4 star accommodation and for Nick to arrange a tour in each location ! WOW ! We had an unforgettable journey through Malaysia's vibrant tapestry of culture, cuisine, and natural beauty. We began in the bustling metropolis of Kuala Lumpur, where the iconic Petronas Twin Towers and diverse street food scene await. Great tour of Batu Caves and the city ! Tour guide was very knowledgeable and we had a great time. Then, ventured to the historical streets of Penang, where rich heritage blends seamlessly with mouthwatering local delicacies. Day Trip around Penang, where we visited a nutmeg farm. Ended our adventure in the idyllic paradise of Langkawi, at an amazing beach resort for some downtime ! Great Tour of the Mangroves and the Kilim Geoforest Park. Definitely recommend booking a trip with Nick and the Kim Kim team ! Our trip was seamless from the first pick up at KL Airport, to our last transfer to Langkawi Island. 4 nights KL, 3 Penang and 3 Langkawi - definitely the right time in each location ! Thanks Nick ! Do you have any ideas for our next Trip !

Hotel Reviews

Verdant Hill Hotel

Great location for street food markets and walking around the city. Could use a little update on the interior of the building ! Some paint, also the pool deck area was broken.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to the Street Market - Amazing food!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Royale Chulan Georgetown

George Town

Great hotel in a great location of Georgetown ! Breakfast was amazing every morning ! Staff were very friendly and helpful, especially the doorman.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pelangi Beach Resort

WOW ! WOW ! Great Resort, great location, great staff! We were uppgraded to a Seaview Room - AMAZING !! Great size room, very comfortable and clean and connecting room to our kids !

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Kuala Lumpur City Tour & Batu Caves

Kuala Lumpur

Lawrence was a great tour guide! He went out of his way to ensure that we were able to go to Batu Caves. Picked us up an hour earlier than scheduled so we could get to the Cave. It was the day before their big Festival Thaipusum. Was amazing being able to see some of the devotees chanting, and carrying their offerings all dressed in yellow! Then having Marsala Tea for the first time! After Batu Caves Lawrence took us on a city tour and visit to a temple. Loved it ! Would definitely recommend this tour for when you first arrive in KL, it helped get our bearings and see what we wanted to explore further.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Penang (Island Exploration)

Penang

Ricky was a lovely tour guide who drove us around Penang Island. Was great to see the whole island and we especially enjoyed the nutmeg farm and learning about how they use all the nutmeg! Especially liked the nutmeg drink ! Stopped at numerous temples and decided we would spend more time in Georgetown.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bus was a little bit outdated and was a bumpy ride

Mangrove Boat Cruise

Langkawi Island

We really enjoyed this tour ! Wasn't sure what to expect but was lots of fun ! We loved the Boat and the driver was amazing ! We saw Otters in the water, Eagles and the Monkeys! Lovely swim at one of the beaches and a nice lunch on the floating deck.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We were picked up at 8.45 and didnt get to the tour until 10.15pm - Was a bit of a drive and collected other people from other hotels and they were not ready on time

Camellia did a nice job planning and executing our trip. Here are a few comments about the itinerary and overall experience of our time in Vietnam.

The eight day trip gave us a great sense of the northern regions of Vietnam. Four destinations in eight days was a bit more ambitious than we might have liked. Since we spent so much time in the van en route to Mai Chau, Ninh Binh, Ha Long Bay, and back to Hanoi, perhaps three destinations rather than four would have been a bit better. The hotels were all nice with pleasant service.

Our guide Hiep was a lot of fun and shared interesting information about the country. Our driver, Mr. Hong, was also very good and helpful. I would say that Hiep tended to be a bit more reactive than proactive in terms of telling us about the culture and history of the country. That said, we enjoyed our time with him.

We found that a couple of the activities didn't quite map to the description. The "food tour" in Hanoi as described didn't happen. We sat down to eat at one location for Bun Cha, then walked around the neighborhood without stopping to taste or learn about different kinds of foods. By the end, we had a chance to have Bahn Mi, but were tired and by that point and just returned to the hotel after coffee (and didn't learn anything about egg coffee, as an example of something that was described in the write up, but never happened). By comparison, a food tour we did through Kim Kim in the Netherlands included about seven different spots to try seven different dishes and learn about them. Also, the bike rides were more challenging than expected so Carla didn't have a good experience. I have more experience cycling so they were fun for me.

The food was all good and we particularly enjoyed the opportunity to make spring rolls in a home in Hanoi. We appreciate Camellia's and Hiep's efforts to explain Carla's food allergies at all of the meals to keep her safe.

Overall, we enjoyed our time in Vietnam and are grateful for the different experiences that were organized for us.

We used Active India to organize our trip to Kerala. The trip was wonderful. Ravi did a great job planning the trip to cover all the highlights of the area. Our driver, Pramod, was excellent. His expertise of the country and driving skills made the trip stress free. He coordinated all the guides at each location and made sure we met them at the appointed place and was always waiting for us when we were done. The car was roomy, comfortable and always clean. The accommodations' were top notch. Each destination had something special and unique to offer. In addition, Pramod offered additional suggestions of things to do in our "spare" time. We would highly recommend Active India.

Bill and I had an absolutely wonderful time on our trip to CR. Your choices of places to stay, tours and adventures were well thought out and exactly what we had hoped for. We did many tours and experiences. Don’t remember all the guides but Daniel at Turrialba volcano was knowledgeable and a pleasure! Steven for bird watching amazing. And our catamaran trip and visit to the Corcovado NP with Bahía tours and Adventires was a highlight. We can’t say enough about Serendipity’shelp and as a resource when we needed it! Thank you so much. Cr is a beautiful country with amazingly friendly people everywhere we went! So kind and helpful! We loved all of it!
We will definitely plan other trips with your company! Your professionalism and attention to individual requests, and ease in communication made the trip so enjoyable!
Thank you so very much! Pura Vida!
Anna and william

Hotel Reviews

Casa Turire

Turrialba

Wonderful accommodation in a beautiful setting

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Studio Hotel

San José

Clean friendly staff accompdationg

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Ficus

Monteverde Costa Rica

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Espadilla Gardens Hotel

Manuel Antonio

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa Luna Hotel & Spa

La Fortuna

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casitas Tenorio

Upala, Alajuela

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Vista Ballena

Uvita

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel de Montaña Suria

San Gerardo de Dota

Probably one of our favorites!

Authenticity & Character

Location

The setting was absolutely gorgeous!

Staff

Can’t say enough about how wonderful the staff was!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hike Turrialba Volcano

Turrialba

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Daniel

Night Hike in the Forest

Costa Rica

One of our favorites. The guide and the property were AMAZING

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Birdwatching Tour at CATIE Botanical Garden

Turrialba

Private Guided Nature Walk at Ecological Park & Butterfly Garden Danaus

Arenal/La Fortuna

Catamaran Adventure from Manuel Antonio

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Marino Ballena Park Combination Tour

Costa Rica

Coopedota Coffee Tour

San Gerardo de Dota

Quetzal Tour

San Gerardo de Dota

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit to the Monteverde Orchid Gardens

Monteverde

This was a return trip to Indonesia after a 10 year hiatus. We have been to Indondesia many, many times. I had not used or heard of KimKim before and so was a bit suspect and cautious, as it turns out, for no reason. I would recommend KimKim and Ana (at Shanti travel). Ana was extremely helpful in the planning of the trip. She was available for telephone consultations and created 4 different versions before we finalized the itinerary in order to accommodate each and all of our wishes. When I discovered errors in the plan she corrected them, and was available to us when we were on route. This does not mean that you as the traveller can abdicate responsibility for your travel details. There were changes in flights and times that I had to chase to ensure that we had the correct time. Ana was helpful throughout. We actually met with her in person when we were in Bali.
I was thrilled that each and all of our transfers worked. At each airport/train station/hotel (and there were lots of them) when a driver was supposed to pick us up they were there on time with a sign and /or my correct name and an appropriate vehicle. Drivers were careful and pleasant. Agung in Bali was particularly good.
With regard to the trip itself, the Kalimantan leg up the river to be with the Orangutans was wonderful. The Klotok was uber posh in an "out of Africa' glamorous way with a skilled knowledgeable naturalist guide, excellent cook, Captain and crew. We were happy to be a bit off the beaten path with our particular guide and while Camp leaky is not what it was 15 years ago i am glad to have made the trek again.
Other highlights: Paddling and hiking in the jungle with the naturalist in Munduk. Biking the rice paddies in Ubud. Making lunch the traditional way - starting by grinding the rice, and cooking over an open fire in the rice paddies. Temples on Java are well controlled now for good reason (too many people) but still fascinating as is Bromo. Lovina is beautiful and quiet and the drive over the mountains is spectacular.
Disappointments: 1.Not being able to get out to the Komodo islands as they closed the park because of weather. Ana was great in the rerouting. 2.In the rainy season in Indo the beaches are FULL of garbage as it flows down the rivers and into the ocean and onto the beaches. They have to be cleaned everyday or it is like walking through a landfill. When they are cleaned they are lovely. 3.We would give a hard pass on Jimbaran. Beach filthy, even in front of restaurants and beach clubs no one was cleaning the beach. The seafood dinner on the beach was pathetic. Did it 10 years ago and it was good - now it was really not edible and was stupidly expensive.
Overall: Indonesia has a LOT of people and a LOT of tourists and LOTs of traffic in populated areas. It is a fascinating country both culturally, historically and geographically. We love it. Go if you can and be confident getting Ana and KimKim to help you plan.

The guides and drivers were all very welcoming and knowledgeable. Each guide had different perspectives of Vietnam in general, which I appreciated. I especially enjoyed our visit to Mai Chau and Pa Co. Having lunch with a Mường family was a highlight for me. The homestay in Mai Chau, although chilly, was an experience. Our host provided nice, warm comforters and her meals were delicious. Kayaking in Halong Bay was a once-in-a-lifetime adventure as was bicycling from Hoi An to An Bang beach. Getting to see how the people live along the Mekong River and Mekong Delta was fascinating.

James and Kimkim were incredible. Our 3 week trip throughout Spain and a short 3 days in Lisbon went seamlessly. I am in the process of booking another trip through them. . Cannot say enough good!

We spent most of our time with the best guide ever, Lucas, who took great care of us and helped us get the most out of everything. The drivers were great and our Guide, Mario, at Tikal was very knowledgeable and interesting. Overall, a great trip in spite of landslides on the highway and illness because our guides and drivers were in the ball.

We took a 2-week trip to New Zealand planned especially for us by kimkim. NZ is big and spread out- very overwhelming for first-timers to plan where, when and how. Kimkim knew all the best things to do based on our interests and we stayed in great hotels, saw amazing things and had fabulous adventures. We saw and did things we might have overlooked if we’d been on our own- and we loved it all! I never knew I’d get so excited gazing at a newly hatched kiwi chick- but it was thrilling to see a bird that is slowly being brought back from near extinction. Have you ever held a chunk of an iceberg? Taken a trip on a coal-fired tramp steamer? Gasped at the beauty of unspoiled mountains and mirror clear lakes? Swung on the world’s largest swing (70m drop, 300m swing)? Slathered yourself with silky smooth volcanic mud? We did all that and more.
Checklist for my next vacay:
Passport ✔️ Visa✔️ Contact kimkim✔️

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Ibis Rotorua

Not my favorite, old & dated. There is a Novotel next door that looked much nicer. Great location though, 5 minute walk to bars & restaurants.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hermitage Hotel

Mount Cook Village

Historic hotel. My room had a breathtaking view of Mt. Cook. Staff is great- the chef was circulating the buffet & showed me how to eat a green-lipped mussel & explained the bigger mussels are female & sweeter, smaller ones are male & not as sweet (I couldn't tell a difference in taste).

The White Morph - Heritage Collection

Kaikoura

Darling beachy hotel.

The Hotel Britomart

Auckland

One of, if not the, most fabulous hotels I've ever stayed in! Absolutely beautiful. The bath & body products in the room are soooo nice I bought some to take home. I took pix of the shower so I can remodel mine like theirs- I loved the rough hewn herringbone tile, the shelf instead of a niche, and the horizontal drain, just in case you're curious what I found so special in a hotel shower! I hated to leave. I'll def stay here the next time I'm in Auckland.

Activity Reviews

Auckland Harbour Dinner Cruise

Auckland

It was by sailboat not motorboat, which was extra special. The commentary was really interesting- we sailed right by the entire New Zealand navy, 8 boats, one with a gun! The crew was great. Meal was a bit strange, served in bowls, but the guys were so enthusiastic it was a fun excursion.

Te Pō - Indigenous Evening Experience

Rotorua

The Māori are a proud people, eager to share their heritage with outsiders. I was afraid the show would be touristy and cheesy, but it definitely was not!

Hells Gate - Hell's Gate Experience (Geothermal Walk, Mud Bath, Sulphur Spas)

Rotorua

Don't miss a dip in the mud baths. The mud is luxuriously silky smooth. Listen to their instructions- they said don't wear jewelry for 48 hrs afterward, it will tarnish. I scoffed. I was wrong- see photo of the sterling silver earrings I put on that evening! They polished up nicely once I got home, however.

Swim with the Dolphins Tour

Kaikoura

Where else can you swim with hundreds of dolphins in the OPEN OCEAN??

TSS Earnslaw Farm Tour & Dinner

Queenstown (NZ)

Interesting coal-fired tramp steamer ride. Best buffet of the trip! Sheep shearing with Quinn and his dog Mist was fun.

Milford Sound Full-Day Adventure

Queenstown (NZ)

Unfortunately we had to drive back instead of fly back because of weather. Our flight was promptly refunded. I'm sure it's spectacular from the air...

Shotover River Canyon Jet Boat Ride

Queenstown (NZ)

Don't miss this! It would NEVER be allowed in the USA. A very hairaising ride- at times I thought we'd for sure crash into the canyon walls or flip on rocks in the river but the boat driver was very good.

National Kiwi Hatchery Tour

Rotorua

I'm not into birds at all but the hatchery was very interesting, it was thrilling to see newly hatched kiwi chicks and learn how this unique bird is being brought back from near extinction.

Redwoods - Nightlights

Rotorua

It was tons of fun walking across narrow suspension bridges high in the treetops in the dark by the glow of beautiful lanterns.

Visit the Te Papa Museum

Wellington

Fabulous museum! Don't miss the preserved giant squid. The Gallipoli exhibit (think of it as New Zealand's Dunkirk) is absolutely incredible.

Glacier Explorers - Mount Cook

Aoraki / Mount Cook Village

Pretty amazing! One of the few places in the world where a glacier feeds into a lake - and the lake is accessible!

AJ Hackett Nevis Swing

Queenstown (NZ)

Loved it! Not as scary as bungee jumping with a rope.

This is a review of an 6-day trip to Peru for an adult couple from the United States.

Summary ratings:
Travel specialist (Pilar): 5/5
KimKim platform: 4.5/5
Adherence to Itinerary: 5/5
Quality of local guides: 5/5
Lodging: 5/5
Overall Value: 5/5

As you can see from the ratings, we had a very positive experience with our trip arranged by KimKim. We used to plan our own trips and made our own itineraries to places like England, Greece and Japan in the past. We really enjoyed that ability to do what we wanted to do but it was a lot of work. We decided to try out a service like KimKim to see if we can still get a "personalized" itinerary but let someone else do the hard legwork.

Overall, the KimKim platform was very good. We filled out a detailed survey which helps them gauge what the traveler's preferences are and that helps them plan an itinerary to suit the individual traveler. They then come up with a proposed itinerary. We also did a little research and came up with a couple of places not on the original itinerary, and they were very flexible and easily incorporated our requests into the itinerary. The only drawback on the KimKim platform was when there were a couple of changes made and the platform did not keep up in a timely manner, which led to a little confusion. Our travel specialist was very helpful in clearing up any confusion arising from the website platform.

Our travel specialist Pilar did an excellent job working with us to personalize our travel experience. Our original plan was to visit the Galapagos Islands, but schedules did not work out with what we wanted to do, so Plan B was to explore Quito, the highlands of Ecuador, Cotopaxi and then fly to Cusco and make our way to Machu Picchu. However, a national emergency in Ecuador made us change our plans again, and we then made the trip exclusively for Peru as Plan C. On short notice, Pilar worked tirelessly with us to come up with a new itinerary that suited our needs. She was very responsive to questions, and readily available by phone or email.

We spent 3 nights in Cusco and visited the city, the local ruins in Sacsayhuana, the surrounding salt terraces of Maras and the agriculture terraces of Moray. Absolutely loved the city and all of the tours. Our guide Carlos was very informative and engaged, and sprinkled his discussions with lots of history and little bits of politics. At our request, Carlos took us to a local's market where we saw what the local population ate, wore, and shopped for. We saw stalls with over 20 different potato varieties, different exotic fruits and salted alpaca meat. The shopping was cheaper and better than in Lima. I bought an alpaca sweater and my wife purchased a couple of beautiful jewelry pieces at probably half the price we would have paid in the US.

We also visited Machu Picchu (MP) on a full day tour (i.e. - 4 hours). Since the pandemic, the Peruvian government has limited the amount of time visitors can spend at the site. We took Circuit 2, which is the longest circuit and the one that is probably the most comprehensive of all of the 4 or 5 circuits available to tour. Our guide Antonieta was fabulous. So very informative and with a dry sense of humor. She was also an excellent photographer, and we got pictures that we would never have gotten if we did not have her knowledge and help. MP certainly lived up to its billing as one of the new Wonders of the World. Just an impressive archeological site and with an equally fascinating story. Would recommend to anyone with interests in history, engineering, and the outdoors.

We ended our trip with a night in Lima and a city tour the following day. Lima is a bustling city of 11 million people. We stayed in Miraflores, which is the touristy (and safer) part of Lima. We strolled around the Larcomere shopping center, which reminded me of a high-end shopping mall in the US. We enjoyed the city tour comprising tours of the Lima Cathedral, the Aliaga house and the Larco Museum (lots of Inca and pre-Inca artifacts).

The hotels arranged by KimKim were all excellent. Our local tours and guides were provided by Lima Tours.
Transportation pickups were punctual, and the vans were clean and air-conditioned, which was a necessity in hot and humid Lima in February. It was such a pleasure to be picked up and dropped off at various sites and not have to worry about arranging transportation.

The food in Peru was excellent and above my expectations. We had breakfast buffets at the hotels and then usually had lunch or dinner on our own. The breakfast buffets are all full buffets, and on par with what you expect at 4-star hotels in the US. On our own, we tried the local fare like Andean trout, lomo saltado, alpaca tenderloin and yes, even cuy (sorry, squeaker). My wife still raves about the quinoa salad and Andean soup from Chull's in Cusco, and I had the alpaca tenderloin there (would rate 9/10). People talk about how Peruvian food is ascendant on the world stage, and I would wholeheartedly agree.

Overall, we had a fabulous time in Peru, and owe much of that to the itinerary and arrangements made through Pilar, Lima Tours and KimKim.

This was the first time we used KimKim, and we were impressed by the experience and will definitely use them again on our next adventure.

The overall trip was wonderful. The hotels were superb with one exception. The hotel near the beach at the end segment of the beach was less than.. The staff was fabulous and consistently put forth a strong effort.However...the hotel needs a significant renovation and VAST improvement of the food servoce. The breakfast was ok but the dinners we had were sorely lacking in quality. Such a disappointment compared to the other hotels in which we stayed.

Also, in the itinerary, the tours failed to indicate that they were only 2 to three hours long..not a full day. I think this clarification is important to your clients as it is now written in a somewhat deceptive manner.While the guide for the volcano tour was excellent..the tour per se is weak in that travelers are not allowed to reach the peak of the volcano.

For these reasons, I will have to book elsewhere in the future.

Hotel Reviews

Hilton Garden Inn, La Sabana

San jose

Very good breakfast...nice room...easy check in

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel San Bada Resort & Spa

Manuel Antonio

OUTDATED...food needs sign ificant improvement...wonderful staff

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Gran Hotel Costa Rica

San José

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

El Silencio Volcano Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

Excellent tour guide but unable to reach the peak due to local regulations.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

San José City Tour

San José

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Travel to Arenal - Doka Coffee Tour

Costa Rica

Excellent tour

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The entire KimKim team was excellent in every respect. Effective and flexible planning before our departure. Fulsome information about the properties where we would be staying, which turned out to be accurate. The guides were all knowledgeable, patient, kind and attentive. Overall a fabulous trip, for which we owe our thanks to the KimKim team.

We enjoyed our time in Costa Rica very much. Gustavo ‘s plans took us from the ocean into the rain forest… we loved seeing two such different areas. We also really enjoyed the different accommodation in each place, from bungalow to container to glamping tent. The tours and guides were fabulous. We were picked up on time and the guides were so knowledgeable. We could never have seen so much or learned so much on our own. We enjoyed all of the tours but two that were exceptional were the tour of the animal rehabilitation centre and the Costa Rican cooking class. These should be on everyone’s agenda. Thank you for such a fantastic trip to Costa Rica!

Hotel Review

Arenal Glamping

La Fortuna, Alajuela Province

We enjoyed Arenal glamping very much. The “tents” were luxurious with lovely hardwood floors, comfortable beds, air conditioning and my favorite feature, the deck off the back of the tent in the rain forest where you could see birds flitting about. The pool and area are impeccably maintained. Breakfasts were delicious with a variety of options. We used the barbecue several times. When we stayed here we didn’t have a car, but because Arenal Glamping is a 25 minute walk into La Fortuna to get groceries or to go to a restaurant, it’s best suited to people who have a car.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Proyecto Asis Wildlife Rehabilitation Center - Volunteer Experience

Arenal/La Fortuna

This tour was the highlight of our trip to Costa Rica. We really enjoyed seeing and learning about the animals.

Quality of Experience

The guide was so knowledgeable and interesting

Food

The meals at the Little Farm were great.. from farm to table, plus as we ate there were so many birds to see! A real bonus!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

They were all so friendly, punctual and informative

Transport

On time, comfortable and air conditioned

kimkim really made the planning and organization of our trip to Norway easy and convenient. Their local specialist like Kristiina and Fenne suggest a trip based on your initial thoughts and then offer up many options to refine it into the trip of a lifetime that you're looking for. They know the places to go, things to do, and what to see. They arrange the hotels (including breakfast), local transportation, event tickets, and dinner reservations. When things go a-rye because of bad weather, they are there to help you adjust and get to your next destination. I don't know if I would have changed much in the path of our journey but look forward to sharing with friends and family.

Hotel Reviews

Vestlia Resort

Geilo

This is a nice hotel but isn't the level you might expect for a resort at a ski area. Rooms lack washcloths, bath matts, tissue box, coffee maker, fridge, extra pillow, and safe. Bowling doesn't open until 4 pm. If skiing is closed due to wind, not much to do. We were there when a huge real estate retreat was going on and the partying was out of control. However, you can runt skis, and the cross-country track is great, even for snowshoeing around the lake. Restaurant has limited menu that would get boring after 1 night. Town has some amazing restaurants.

Authenticity & Character

a few more amenities

Location

close to town

Staff

Staff were always nice and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

everything is just a bit old and run down, a refresh, add a few room amenities like extra pillows

Clarion Hotel the Edge

Tromsø

This is so well located. You can walk to most anything in a short time. Close to the cathedral, good restaurants and shopping. Dinner cruise is just outside the front door. Breakfast is amazing.

Authenticity & Character

This is more modern, not really authentic Norwegian.

Location

near everything

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were really nice

Hotell Bondeheimen

Oslo

cute little boutique hotel. Rooms are small but work if you're out much of the time, which we were. Close to many attractions and bus/train routes. Breakfast good.

Authenticity & Character

Location

centrally located near lots.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, Bergen

Bergen

Close to the water and historic buildings. Shopping and bay close as well as old fort for walking. Rooms small but comfortable. easy access to bus to airport.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Oslofjord Sightseeing Cruise

Oslo

This is an open air sail boat but they make it warm and cozy. Peaceful ride and good way to start a trip. Glogg warm drink is a must!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Northern Lights Chase

Tromsø

This tour takes you on a packed bus more than an hour outside of town for dark skies. The staff are pretty quiet. Only went to one location. No guidance on where to look, what you're looking for, or how to take photos...that would help. A bit more narrative of a history of the area would help. Others on the trip stand in front of your pictures, use their flashlights, without regard to others.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

bit more narrative and communication. Provide some "good conduct" when arriving at destination and taking pictures.

Transport

driver was very safe and good driver

Tromsø Cable Car

Tromsø

This is a must. would recommend doing it in the day time, 1 hr before sunset, to be able to see all the mountains around the area.

Quality of Experience

the views

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Nothing special, they just open and close the doors

Transport

pretty smooth operation

Aurora Dinner Cruise

Tromsø

this is a nice cruise around the bay. Food was ok, not great, and meant for fish lovers. We had bad weather, so no going outside or seeing northern lights.

Quality of Experience

Food

quality you might expect for a large group; Ok if you like fish. Offer other options, warn folks that the app is cold.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Narrator was animated and seemed to enjoy what she did.

Transport

easy peeve

We had a fantastic time traveling around Vietnam. Ashley was very responsive to questions in the planning stages and helped us develop an itinerary that everyone was happy traveling from from Hanoi to Mai Chau, Ha Long Bay, Hue Hoi An, Can Tho and finally HCMC. Mr. Curong, Mr. Than and Mr. Phat(Kelvin), our guides, were excellent and each provided us with their unique perspectives on their country's story.

Hotel Reviews

Soleil Hanoi Boutique Hotel

Hanoi

Very comfortable and the staff were very helpful. Great location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mai Chau With Love Homestay

Though it was a bit chilly at the time we visited the homestay owner was very friendly and an excellent cook.

Authenticity & Character

Friendly

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Pandora Cruises

Hai Phong

i enjoyed floating around in the company of friendly staff and guests

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

very nice rooms on the boat

Eldora Hue

Hue

Nice and comfortable

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa

Quảng Nam

Really really comfortble, so pretty and nice walking distance to sites and shopping.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Holiday Inn & Suites Saigon Airport

good location for getting to airport

Authenticity & Character

standard nice hotel which is all I wanted

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Victoria Can Tho Resort

excellent

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hanoi Afternoon City Exploration and Street Food Tour

Hanoi

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walk The Mountain Trails in Xa Linh Village

Mai Chau

Ha Long Bay - Lan Ha Bay (La Pandora)

Vietnam

very relaxing

Touch the History of Former Imperial Capital - Hue Full Day Sightseeing (N)

Hue

Hue - My Son Sanctuary - Hoi An Sightseeing

Vietnam

It was good to visit My Lai Massacre memory, pay respects. This is a place you have to have a lot of intention and purpose in your visit

Visiting Cam Thanh Village

Hoi An

Explore the Cu Chi Tunnels

Ho Chi Minh City

Boat Tour in Tam Coc and Cycling Trip to Hoa Lu

Ninh Binh

Private Cooking Class at the Red Bridge Cooking School

Hoi An

Excellent! A must do if you like to eat

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover the Mekong Delta (Ben Tre and Can Tho)

Vietnam

Can Tho - Visiting Cai Rang floating market

Can Tho

Fun!

our guides in Saigon and siem Reep were better than the ones in Hanoi and Hoiann.

We had trouble understanding the first 2 guides, their English could be better. Jade was a little low energy, lacked dynamism and did not have much commentary for us.

Hotel Review

Angkor Miracle

The Angkor Miracle hotel was below our expectations for a five-star hotel. The rooms felt dated and lacked the luxury feel we were expecting. Despite the staff's efforts to make up for these issues, we would not recommend this hotel for future travelers.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hoa Lo Prison - Huu Tiep Lake - Vietnam Military History Museum - Ho Chi Minh Complex (S)

Hanoi

These activities were quite well organized and enjoyable. However, there was a bit of a language barrier as our guides had a strong accent which made it difficult to understand them. This made it challenging to fully engage and enjoy the activities.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Siem Reap – Angkor Wat morning visit (S)

Siem Reap

While the Angkor Wat morning visit was visually stunning, the day felt long and hectic. We felt that our guides could have offered more flexibility in the schedule to accommodate our needs and preferences.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hoa Lu - Tam Coc - Mua Cave

Vietnam

Fantastic trip. Our guide Aggrey was superb. He was so kind, knowledgeable and has 10 years of experience in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro. Our local contact Ali was attentive and smoothed the way for travel changes.

The trip was exceptionnally well organized.
I never had to wait for the guides or the drivers. Well done.
Very interesting sites to see and tours
The desert was amazing
Unfortunately, i had altitude sickness for a few days.

Our trip to Morocco was fascinating! I did not have any interaction with Abdellah but my husband did and since he delegated us to Said we did have a conversation with him once. We had the opportunity to visit many different places with many different landscapes. We experienced the delicious cuisine of Morocco and got to meet some local people as well during our travels. Our trip began at the port of Tangiers where we were picked up by our driver Soufian. Soufian is a quiet but friendly and helpful person and he remained with us till the very end. We were driven to Chefchaouen where we stayed the night at Lina Ryad & spa. Our Ryad was clean and comfortable but climbing up a couple of flights of stairs was a little difficult. The bathroom needed a bit of maintenance though. Their breakfast service was unique and their staff were friendly and professional. From here we drove to Fes via Meknes where we stopped for lunch. At Fes we stayed at Riad Fes Nass Zmane. We were greeted by Ismail who gets top marks for his politeness and professionalism. Our room again was upstairs and climbing stairs was a bit of an ordeal. The room was well lit and comfortable but the bed was hard and the bathroom sink was not draining properly. We were asked to order from their kitchen and I have to stay their Pastilla was delicious. The first morning breakfast was served to the 2 of us on our table and was reasonable since we were the only ones staying at that Riad. The other morning a buffet was served which was way more sumptuous. Our guided tour with Mr Mohammad Hafeez was good and he was very enthusiastic and professional. Our dinner with Mr Said's family was very special but a word of caution to people who are claustrophobic and or have difficulty climbing stairs, it was a little harrowing getting up to their home. They were wonderful people though warm and welcoming. Their Harira was the best! The next day we went by train to Marrakech and it was very well arranged by our tour company. Although a fun experience in hind sight I might skip this one. Felt crowded in a" first class" cabin with 4 other people who kept changing as we reached different cities. We did encounter 2 young women who were very friendly and offered advice to things we should try while in Morocco. We were picked up by Soufian and then driven to Agadir. Our hotel seemed like we were in Europe and not Morocco. One front desk gentleman was rude and condescending but the others were helpful. The location of this hotel, Iberostar is what makes it amazing not the plentiful food which was average. The Berber souk was a great place to shop. Next we were in Marrakech. Palais Sebban is beautiful but our room was old and tired. The curtains were heavy and the cushions seemed to harbor allergens which started my incessant sneezing. The bathroom door was see through and did not offer privacy. Their breakfast could've been better. The cheese looked old and dry and their bread was hard. The best part was their fresh Msemen! Hannan was a good guide. Friendly, knowledgeable and professional. The next day we were to visit Ouzud waterfalls in Ourika valley. This excursion is not meant for people with physical limitations and we were not adequately warned what it might entail. Less than halfway through the walk up the mountain we had to abort it because was too dangerous for us to climb up much to our guide Mohammad's disappointment whose mother had prepared lunch for us. Her mother did come down to meet us which was delightful. The roads leading up to this place were under construction and we could witness people living in tents following last years earthquake, a sad event. I would have chosen another excursion instead of this one. Our driver Soufian was punctual and came the next day to drive us to the airport. All in all it was an unforgettable trip!

Hotel Reviews

Lina Ryad & Spa

Chefchaouen

Great location. Clean and comfortable. Unique table service for breakfast. Stairs need rails on both sides for people with physical limitations since all rooms are on higher floors. Bathroom needs maintainance ( paint peeling, caulking etc)

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Fes Nass Zmane

Fes

Good location. Rooms require stair climbing therefore need hand rails on both sides. Room was spacious. Need place to keep luggage. No closet. Bathroom sink did not drain properly. Beds very hard. Their breakfast buffet was good. One day we were served at the table which was average.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Iberostar Founty Beach

Agadir

Great location on the beach. Clean and comfortable. No facial tissues provided. Food was plenty but average

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palais Sebban

Marrakech

Great location. Beautiful in appearance. Hotel room looked old and tired. No privacy between bathroom and bedroom ( It was a see through wooden carved door). Not adequate lighting in room. Heavy drapes and cushions harbor allergens so people with allergies need to take anti histamines if they stay here. All Riads have stairs everywhere but not adequate support. Needs handrails on either side of stairs. Breakfast was average. Cheese seemed stale and bread was hard. Mesamen was fresh and great as were their juices.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Arrive at Tangier Ville Harbor , Transfer to Chefchaouen

Morocco

Our driver Soufian was friendly and helpful and on time. Drove us safely to Chefchaouen.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Journey of Colours: Roman Ruins of Volubilis, Moulay Idriss & Meknes

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Fes

Mr Hafeez was enthusiastic and professional. Saw and learned a lot.

Quality of Experience

Food

KaftaTagine, Moroccan salad and Chebakia

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A Taste of Tradition: Sharing Stories and Savory Delights at a Moroccan Home

Morocco

Wonderful, warm and welcoming family. Word of caution for those who are claustrophobic and have physical limitations climbing stairs.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Take the Train to Marrakech and then Drive to Agadir

Morocco

Felt crowded with 4 other people in "first class". Restroom facilities not up to par

Quality of Experience

Food

Not applicable. Did not get food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Self-Guided Exploration of Agadir city

Agadir

Amazing beach and walk on the ocean. Berber Souk was a great place to shop.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Marrakesh

Our guide Hannan was knowledgeable, friendly and very professional.

Quality of Experience

Food

Pomegranate juice, Gazelle cookies.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A Day of Natural Splendors: High Atlas Mountains Adventure & Lunch with a Berber Family

Marrakesh

This tour was not meant for people with physical limitations. It involves a lot of walking on rough unpaved paths and climbing mountains. We were unaware prior to embarking on this trip what it would entail. We had to abort this excursion less than halfway through. We were disappointed to not meet the Berber family for lunch. The roads leading up to the point where we were dropped off were under construction and it was a sad sight watching people still in tents after the earthquake last year. I would have picked another excursion. The best part was meeting our guides' mother!

Quality of Experience

Please explain to people what this excursion entails

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I loved my journey through Indonesia. Each day was filled with adventure, culture, nature and wonder. My guides Lindung, Mail, Dewa, Imam, Chae and my driver Purwa made every journey fantastic. I was always in contact with Jasmine and Raisa from Tripology and they answered every question and kept me on track for each day. I highly recommend working with this team. I look forward to more journeys with Kimkim and My Tripology.

Hotel Reviews

Ecolodge Bukit Lawang

Bukit Lawang

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Terrario Tangkahan

North Sumatra

Fantastic location and luxurious!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The staff was wonderful and helpful!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Samboja Lodge

Balikpapan

This was a very special place and an incredible team showed me the wonders of the orangutans, probiscis monkeys and Sun Bears. I highly recommend a visit to this mind blowing lodge!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Artini Dijiwa Ubud

Bali

A gorgeous hotel with lavish pool, fabulous food and attentive staff!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Ayuita, Dewi, Puspita, Pande and Heni made every day special!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bintang Flores Hotel

Labuan Bajo

A perfect location with a lovely pool and kind staff! My suite was insanely perfect!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Femi was fantastic and explained the history of Flores as well as made sure I was comfortable.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Jungle Trekking in Bukit Lawang National Park

Bukit Lawang, North Sumatra

Just fabulous! I learned so much about the rain forest, its creatures and thoroughly enjoyed this experience!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Canopy Bridge and Trekking

Balikpapan

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunrise Hiking at Mt. Batur and Hot Spring

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Free Time in Jakarta

Indonesia

The hotel was over 1.5 hours from Jakarta so I couldn't even see anything in Jakarta, I was basically stuck in a hotel

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Free Time in Medan

Medan, North Sumatra

The hotel was far from Medan and so I couldn't see anything, basically stuck in a hotel

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Overnight in A Camping Tent in Bukit Lawang National Park

Bukit Lawang, North Sumatra

The chef was wonderful and the guides made this adventure so incredible

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Sungai Hitam

Balikpapan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

IMAM WAS SO BRILLIANT!

Transport

Telaga Waja Rafting

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bathe the Elephants

Ubud, Bali

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Ulun Danu Beratan Temple

Indonesia

Gorgeous temple but the drive took hours to get there

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Snorkeling at Manta Point

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Taka Makassar

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Snorkeling in Kanawa Island

Indonesia

This wasn't organized and there was no guide

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Rangko Cave

Indonesia

This was a long drive and then boat ride, no history was given about the cave it wasn't the best

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Overnight in Bukit Lawang

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Overnight in Tangkahan

Tangkahan, North Sumatra

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit the Elephant Sanctuary

Tangkahan, North Sumatra

I think the folks at the sanctuary need to be able to explain more about the elephants and the natural surroundings

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Morning Visit to Orangutan Island and Sunbear Sanctuary

Balikpapan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Imam was the best guide I have ever had! Simply magical experience!

Transport

Visit Tirta Empul

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cycling in Kintamani

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

My guide was amazing, I learned so much and a blast riding with him!

Transport

Visit the Mother Temple of Besakih

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Tanah Lot

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Uluwatu Temple

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Watch Kecak Dance Performance

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK) Arrival Airport Assistance

Jakarta International Airport (CGK)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Padar Island

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Pink Beach

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Komodo Island

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Mirror Stone Cave

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide did a good job explaining the cave and its natural history

Transport

Visit Amelia Sea View

Indonesia

Nothing special here

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK) Departure Airport Assistance

Jakarta International Airport (CGK)

Great guide got me through the airport and to my flight. She was really wonderful!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport