Kimkim Trip Reviews for France

We never would have been able to organize and enjoy as many sites on our Paris trip had it not been for Nathalie's expert organization and knowledge of where we needed to stay and how long certain site visits would take. Nathalie set up 4 tour guides for us and also pre arranged tickets for other events we did on our own. The tours that required we go outside the city were arranged so that the guide met us at our hotel and stayed with us through the metro, through the tour and got us back to the metro. All of the guides, Stephanie for Versailles, Athina for the Louvre, Diane for La Sainte Chapelle and Notre Dame and Diane (a different Diane) for Pere Lachaise Cemetery were excellent. We were able to walk straight into all these sites without waiting (well, we had a snafu with Notre Dame but that is because we chose to visit during Easter break - not Diane's fault at all) and had what had to be some of the most knowledgeable guides possible. No question went unanswered.

Hotel Review

Le Derby Alma

Paris

Excellent location. Quiet, easy to walk to shops and especially restaurants. Metro station is only a block or so away and every Uber/Taxi we took knew exactly where to go. The rooms themselves were very comfortable and the staff was kind and accommodating. We had limited French language abilities and they were well versed in English. Room was replenished and cleaned each day allowing us to come back from busy days and "crash" in luxury!

Authenticity & Character

It was very comfortable for an American. Not much on the "French" style, but that wasn't what we were looking for in our hotel room. We had plenty of that when we went out.

Location

Easy walk to restaurants, shops, the Eiffel Tower and the metro

Staff

Greeted us each time we came and went. Housekeeping was on top of everything.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms were quiet and dark and kept very clean. My only complaint was the open concept shower. I shivered the entire time I showered - I began to dread taking a shower. The amenities are lovely, staff is wonderful, bed was comfortable and the treats in the room were most welcomed. I just don't understand not having a closed shower - they do this often in the US as well thinking it's an impressive design. It's not. We don't have to reinvent the wheel for a shower.

Activity Reviews

Sainte Chapelle and Notre Dame walking tour

Paris

We booked a tour of these two locations, Sainte Chapelle and Notre Dame, so that we could get some history and architecture lessons on the buildings. The tour wound up being an hour long walk around the island, a brief stop in Sainte Chapelle and no tour of Notre Dame. This was our only disappointing experience. The photos of Sainte Chapelle are so breathtaking that visiting this chapel became almost more important to us that Notre Dame. I envisioned a quiet little jewel that we could sit and contemplate the marvels of architecture and artistic talent that contributed to these stunning windows. There is no doubt the windows were stunning, but we did not know that the chapel is not a current functioning religious church. It had no chairs or pews, and was packed with tourists talking loud and doing selfies. It's is also a small chapel so you basically walk in, do a circle and are right back out. When we finished here was when the guide told us that they would not be taking us to Notre Dame because the wait in line was 2 hours. This was somewhat our fault because we assumed we had timed reservations, but we booked for the week after Easter AND the Pope passed away while we were there so timed reservations were cancelled. We would have much rather waited in line to see Notre Dame than spent an hour walking the island. We did get up early the next morning and walked right into Notre Dame on our own.

Quality of Experience

Perhaps a better explanation of expectations. We did not expect to walk for an hour touring the island before attempting to enter either church.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Diane was a sweetheart and extremely professional and informative, we just did not understand the plan and did not get to see the main thing we came to Paris to see - inside Notre Dame.

Dinner show at the Moulin Rouge

Paris

This was a blast. Campy, crowded, fun. The food was better than we expected. We should have arrived about 45 minutes before our seating, but we still got a lovely table even arriving 15 minutes before our seating (in fact, we had easy access to the restrooms by being seated further back).

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Your private visit of Père Lachaise cemetery

Paris

Pere Lachaise is just an unbelievable spot on this earth. It is arranged like it's own city. There are sunny spots and lots of dark, damp and cozy spots. There is every kind of architecture you can imagine in the family crypts and so many stories that you could spend years here and not know them all. Every little path has something fascinating and historical. It is huge so we recommend a map and a plan. We were fortunate enough to have Diane for a guide. She is passionate about this cemetery and knew where to go, the stories to tell and the nuances to point out.

Quality of Experience

It was a cool, dark day and utterly peaceful. We could have stayed hours and hours.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Diane is an expert on Pere Lachaise. She made this efficient and interesting.

Transport

Diane met us at our hotel and walked us through the whole metro process. We would have stayed later in the cemetery on our own but we were nervous about getting the right Metro train back so we left with Diane so she could make sure we were getting the correct train.

Versailles Palace & Gardens Private Tour

Paris

Stephanie was our tour guide and she was simply amazing. She met us at our hotel and taught us how to use the train out to Versailles (different than the metro). She was full of information and tricks to get us straight into the palace. Every room she had a story and would take us right to the front so we could get a great view of the room. She set it up so we could stay later, after she left, and still we were comfortable on the train back to the city. We could not have asked for a better guide.

Quality of Experience

We wish we had done the Palace first, then rented the cart for the gardens

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Stephanie, our private tour guide, made this more fun and interesting than we could have imagined.

Transport

Stephanie, our tour guide, handled it all. The train was perfect!

Orsay Museum with audioguide (tickets only)

Paris

The museum is not intuitively organized and we wasted a lot of time following the crowd to the "popular" pieces of art that they were all determined to take photos of. That crowd was miserable. Once we figured out the layout we were able to enjoy the museum more. Just be warned, everyone is jammed into the Impressionist area and there are lots of other areas on the first and second floors that hold breathtaking pieces of art that are not jammed packed. We did not get to see all we wanted (we had a lunch reservation) because we wasted time trying to figure out where everything was.

Quality of Experience

Le Louvre Private Tour

Paris

So many reviews complain about the crowds at the Louvre, but because we were not interested in the Mona Lisa, our guide, Athina, was able to take us to works of art and artifacts of history that had, maybe, 3 other people in the room. Athina is an expert on the Louvre and could tell us everything about anything. She was enthusiastic and just as excited to see things the 200th time as we were to see them the first time. She knew the "secret" rooms and paths through the museum and made our experience a lifetime memory.

Quality of Experience

Athina (our guide) made this an amazing, crowd free experience.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Athina (our guide) could not have made this any better. The experience was WAY over our expectation. Perfect.

Overall the trip worked out because I had to stay on top of changes and updates to make things go smoothly. I will walk through each day and what went well and what could be improved. Our trip was with my 80 year old parents, and my 10 year old daughter.

One takeaway that still confuses me is that we had the Siene Dinner Cruise until 11p, and then Versailles at 8a the next day. When I asked to move the Dinner Cruise, I was told it was not an option and non-refundable. But when I called the company, once in Paris - and paying international calling fees - they said it was not a problem but that the company that booked it had to ask to move it. Then it seemed like no problem. It seemed like KimKim just did not even want to try.

Day1 - we arrived in Paris with someone waiting with my name once we got through customs and had our bags. They had the wrong delivery address though and so we hand to figure that out and I had no cash yet to tip them.

Day2 Notre-Dame: We started early (9a) with a tour of the Notre-Dame. It would have been nice to sleep in a bit more and acclimate to the new time zone. Also there was some confusion in that we did not actually have tickets to the Notre-Dame, they just let us get in the very long line with everyone else, even though the title of the event was "Private Notre-Dame & Sainte-Chapelle Visit".

Day2 Louvre: For it being day1 after long travel, this made it a long day, but we did have a private entrance here. This guide seemed very scattered. The first thing we heard was that we were going to see the Mona Lisa, but we kept getting "distracted". This visit was supposed to be 2h, but it went about an hour over. If we had plans after we would have missed them. They give you a headset so you can hear them as you drift around a bit. Personally, I would rather had the easy entrance and then to just meet in the middle with a map and let us guide the route, and the person can speak to the things we are interested in. There is just so much there, and it was information overload. There are a ton of tour groups at the Louvre, so you need to pay attention to where your guide is.

Day3 Eiffel Tower: This worked out well, in that we got in quickly and had time to ourselves at the top.

Day4 & 5: We had food tours both of these days that had about half of the experience overlapped. Marais Pastry & Chocolate Tasting Experience - was all around sweets, and very interesting, and the guide was very good. The next day we had the "Montmartre Local Food Walk" tour with another very good guide, but they were not that different.

Day5 Siene River Dinner Cruise: This was good. Guidance on a dress code would be good here. There was a mix of folks dressed in full suits, and others in sweatshirts. Also, we do not drink alcohol so the fact that the agency paid for the wine paring for our whole table was a waste. Seeing the Eiffel blink at night was wonderful.

Day6 Shopping Day: This was nice to have a day to walk around and enjoy the city.

Day7 Parfume Making: This was very good, and we highly recommend this experience.
Day7 Baking Class: This was also wonderful and very kid friendly. We came home with so much bread!

Day8 Versaiiles: Taking the private van out to Versailles in the morning was the way to go. Going through the neighborhood of Versailles and visiting the queens grounds was all new to me. The guide here was very good as well.

Overall a very memorable trip.

Our trip to Normandy was amazing - all that we wanted and more! Thanks to Sebastian, we saw all the things we had asked for, as well as had informative and engaging guides for the more important sites. He listened to our request for hotels and locations, and everything on the trip went smoothly. The whole family had a wonderful time and we came home with great memories!

Hotel Reviews

Le Bayeux

Bayeux

This hotel was convenient, quiet and clean - just what we wanted. We were able to easily walk to the Tapestry and Cathedral in Bayeux, as well as the British cemetery. The drive to Mont St. Michel and the D-Day beaches was easy from this centrally located area. Parking was great, as well as the lovely breakfast each morning. The staff were friendly and had good recommendations for us.

Authenticity & Character

Charming!

Location

Centrally located with parking

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Radisson Blu Hotel, Rouen Centre

Rouen

Conveniently located for our family with parking. We parked the first day and then walked everywhere in Rouen. Five minutes walk to the restaurants, another 5 mins for the Cathedral and Abbey. It was clean and quiet, and the family suite was great for us four. Breakfast was filling and tasty.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Jangle Courtyard by Marriott Paris Roissy Charles de Gaulle Airport

Le Mesnil-Amelot

Stayed overnight prior to an early morning departure - convenient and quiet. Only seven minutes from the airport and the shuttle arrived as advertised. Breakfast was great - just what we needed.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Mont-Saint-Michel Day Trip with Entrance Tickets (Rental Car)

France

Because we had a rental car, we could make our own way to Mont St Michel. We arrived in the late morning and spent a couple of hours exploring before our private tour. I liked having time before hand to think of questions, and our guide was great. We walked the causeway both ways - great way to experience the charm of the island!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided visit of Rouen

Rouen

Our guide, Ludevic, was engaging and entertaining, and we learned so much from our time with him! I appreciated his enthusiasm, especially as both teenagers were listening to him and learning. He covered all the major attractions and easily answered questions we had. His information really enhanced our time in Rouen.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guided tour of Monet's house and gardens

Giverny

Veronique was great! Her tour of Monet's garden added to our knowledge and made the place come alive! I appreciated that she engaged both teenagers, and then tailored parts of the tour to what they had mentioned. I'm grateful for her care and attention. I learned so much and came away with even more respect for Monet's work.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Lise and Joel went above and beyond while working with us.

Firstly the itinerary was amazing. It was clever to have our time in Paris so active when we first landed, as we enjoyed relaxing more as the trip went out and our destinations become a but quieter. The tours we connected with were all well chosen. This trip for our mother and my recently widowed sister was just what we needed.
Joel's team went above and beyond regarding our family emergency. They handled my miscommunication with grace and helped us out.
This is the second trip I have booked through kimkim, and I believe you have a life long customer for all my future vacation plans.
Thanks again for the amazing memories.

I've never traveled overseas, and KimKim gave me the help and confidence I needed to get past my concerns of traveling internationally (all the unknowns!) in order to make the trip actually happen. Audrey was very helpful and answered many, many questions. I recommend KimKim to first time international travelers especially. There were a couple of minor issues, but Audrey was very prompt with her support.

Hotel Reviews

Apartements du Louvre - Le Marais

Paris

Location was great and the room was nice. The apartment was clean. The balcony was cute and such a nice Parisian touch. The location was near a grocery store and subway station. Had some trouble with the dishwasher and the washing machine had a learning curve (the directions provided didn't match the unit). I would recommend this accommodation.

Authenticity & Character

Parisian balcony!

Location

Close to subway and grocery store. Charming area.

Staff

A little confusion about the prepayment with the travel agent, but everyone was kind.

Cleanliness & Comfort

It was clean and had enough fresh towels.

Vancouver Studio

London

Friendly staff, regular housekeeping, lots of space for the family. Appreciated having a kitchen in the unit as well.

Authenticity & Character

The private garden for our room was a nice touch.

Location

Close to a grocery store and subway.

Staff

Everyone was helpful and we enjoyed the candy dish!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Loved the daily offer of housekeeping in an apartment setting. It was nice to have fresh towels and beds made.

Activity Review

Seine river cruise

Paris

We couldn't find where this tour started. We tried on two different occasions. We spoke with a representative at the address we were given by our travel agent who told us to "walk 15 minutes that way and cross the bridge." We walked for a long time and never found it. It was very disappointing. Never got on a boat. We also couldn't find a schedule to try to time our arrival (not that we could find the boat anyway).

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

A specific address and time of rides.

Transport

It was a truly memorable trip for all three of us. We especially enjoyed the cooking class with Chef Dominique. He was very informative and great letting us all have a chance to participate. Also special was the view of the Eiffel tower from our room on the 6th floor of our hotel. We watched it lit up every night! Saw the usual iconic landmarks, the tower, the Louvre, Notre Dame and the cathedral with the beautiful stained glass windows. Some of us saw King Louie's castle and were underwhelmed with the Hall of Mirrors but were really wowed with Claude Monet's home and gardens. All in all a great trip. First time in Paris had to see all the major attractions. Lines were long even though we had timed tickets. Some of the venues (the Eiffel tower in particular) did not have signs to direct you where to go. We were trying to get to the second floor restaurant for lunch and had to walk totally around the building to find the access. Thanks to KimKim for all their help in getting this trip together. Will definitely use your services again if we make another European trip. I don't think we contacted Valentine while we in Paris although she was very receptive to our requests to organize the itinerary.

Hotel Review

Hôtel Lorette - Astotel

Paris

We stayed in an apartment on the 6th floor and could see the Eiffel Tower from our skylight. What a bonus! Enjoyed the treats in the lobby and the beverages in the room. Breakfast was great,,,plenty to choose from. (Would have liked soft boiled eggs.) Clean establishment with beds made and clean towels every day. Good working elevator which was important to me as I have a breathing problem and do not do stairs well. Would highly recommend this establishment.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to Metro stop and cafes.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

French Cooking Class

Paris

We really enjoyed this activity. Chef Dominique was great in explaining everything and letting all of us have a chance to contribute to the meal. It was delicious. I would recommend this activity to any travelers over the age of 10.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Palace of Versailles & Giverny Day Trip

Paris

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Working with Kim Kim and Lucie was a real pleasure. This was our first trip to France and having someone to work with to help navigate the area gave our group and our kids back home real piece of mind. Our tour guide Bridgette was an absolute delight! We spent a full day with here for a Lueberon Tour and one day on a great wine tour. When we arrive in Paris, we have a slight glitch at the 9Hotel Opera! The elevator was out of order when we arrived and being on the 5th floor was a tough climb, but we forged ahead. The elevator was repair the next day so it all worked out. The bed was very very comfortable and the staff was very nice. The daily breakfast which was included with our stay was excellent!!!!
We had a wonderful tour of Nortre Dame. Our guide Laurent was the best, very knowledgable and personable. The whole France experience was wonderful!!! Thank you Kim Kim and Lucie

Hotel Review

Le 9Hotel Opera

Paris

I would have given it 5 stars, but when we arrive the elevator was out of order and we had climb 5 flights (92 stairs) to get to our room the first night. The room was small, but that is unusual for the type of hotel.. Very clean and the beds were very comfortable. Great shower!!!!!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Enchanting Luberon Experience: A Journey Through Provence’s Most Beautiful Villages

France

Fabulous! very enlightening. Great tour guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chateauneuf du Pape & Gigondas Wine Tour

France

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The trip planning was easy and Lucie was very prompt with her service and very courteous.
The guide was also excellent. And the hotel chosen was perfect.

The trip to Paris was all we had hoped for when started planning last summer. KimKim provided us with a driver most of the days we were in Paris and this proved very important. Our drivers name was
Mohammed and he greatly enhanced our experiences.
Prompt, courteous, masterful driving of the car in Paris traffic allowed us to relax and see the sights. The only thing that could have been added was that Mohammed spoke a bit more English.
We also toured for 90 minutes by vintage 2CV car. Our guide was Vivian and he was very good. A major part of our time was spent in Montmartre which I really enjoyed. It was first thing in the morning , so no Champagne. It was cold, so had to put top on the car. The old car was not for people our age (in our 70’s)as it was hard to get in and out. Vivian was a charming Frenchman and we enjoyed our time with him.
Our next guide over the next 2 days gave us her nickname SoSo. My wife especially liked her warm and friendly manner. She was especially good at looking out for my wife’s limited mobility. For both of us she was very intelligent and informative and we learned a lot about The Louvre and Versailles and had a good time doing the tour.
To quickly review, our journeys to the Loire Valley and Giverny were a couple of favorite parts of the vacation. The food, wine and flowers and castles makes me want to return in the near future and spend more time there.
Lastly 9Hotel had a great location and good accommodations. Only complaint was only hard wooden chairs in the room. Breakfast was hot and good. The staff was kindly and helpful.
My compliments to Slimane for putting together all the details of this trip. He was patient and helpful during the planning and made everything easy and trouble free.
We would recommend KimKim for any overseas trip and would use their services ourselves in the future.

Mike and Pat Largen

I think my only "complaint" were our hotels in Paris as far as their location to the events that we had planned. Even though it was my responsibility to select the hotels (which were all excellent), I would have appreciated being told about the distance to the events that we were to participate in, especially in the mornings. I may have chosen differently so that we would not have had to get up as early or take a taxi.

Other than that annoyance, we had a fabulous time. Megan's favorites were Les Baux des Provence and Giverney. My most memorable was St. Remy and Amboise.

Of the cooking class, the one in Paris w/ Marthe was our favorite. The one in Aix was not prepared for us (I believe there was information we were to complete to help her in the menu.)

Our Kimkim's arranged trip to southern France was terrific in every way! They were easy to work with and accommodating to our particular requests. The accommodations were convenient and lovely, and the itinerary matched our desire for cultural/museum visits and explorations of small villages. (Unfortunately, after the height of the tourist season in October, many ateliers were closed for renovation.

Due to financial constraints, Kimkim recommended we rent a car to travel between some of our destinations. Unaware of the areas conventions around tolls, etc. driving turned out to be a bit hair-raising.

I've used Kimkim before, also for travel in France. That trip too, was excellently conceived and executed. I highly recommend Kimkim!

Audrey Benezech took all our requests and put together pretty much exactly what we wanted. A nice hotel in Avignon, small group tours each day, all the tour guides were excellent. only small thing that could have helped was when we needed to cancel a tour one day, by the time we figured out to put 011 with the number listed it was a bit late.
Audrey also helped by getting our train tickets for us, so everything was covered.

We had a wonderful family vacation to France in Summer 2024, thanks to the exceptional planning and support from Aline and Bastien at Discovery DMC. They designed a thoughtful and well-paced itinerary that included the highlights of Paris, the historical sites of Normandy, and the beauty of Nice. The mix of guided tours, comfortable accommodations, and seamless travel logistics made the entire trip feel effortless.

What stood out most was their attention to detail and responsiveness—before and during the trip. They tailored the experience to fit our family’s preferences and made sure everything ran smoothly. It was a perfect balance of sightseeing, cultural immersion, and relaxation. We highly recommend Aline, Bastien, and Discovery DMC, and would definitely work with them again for future travel.

> All our guides were phenomenal. Alex at Amboise, Fabian at Bordeaux as well as the guides at Bordeaux for the cheese and wine tour as well as the chocolate and pastry tour guide at Paris.

> All the private transfer pick ups, drop offs, etc. were all really good.

> My only criticism is the train ride. We all couldn't be together from Bordeaux to Paris. As we were traveling with 2 young kids, that was hard. We were able to talk to the people and figure out a solution but this was not ideal.

Hotel Reviews

Grand Hotel du Palais Royal

Paris

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Le Manoir Saint Thomas

Amboise

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Le Burdigala

33000

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Photo Shoot in Paris

Paris

Javier was great. We had 2 young kids and he was very accommodating. We are still waiting for professionally touched pictures but so far they look great.

Quality of Experience

Discover the mythical Loire Valley Châteaux & Hot Air Balloon Flight

France

The Chateaux visits were great. Alex, our guide, was fantastic. Very family friendly and our kids absolutely enjoyed the time. We had to unfortunately miss the hot air balloon since it was cancelled due to poor weather.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Gourmet Food & History Walk

Bordeaux

Overall good experience but the guide didn't know that we did not eat meat. There was charcuterie also planned but we skipped it since none of us were meat eaters.

The trip itself was the trip of a lifetime. Thanks to Sebastian’s expertise and planning we didn’t have a single thing to worry about regarding scheduling or transportation. Some of our “small group” tours ended up being private which was a very pleasant surprise, and any time we needed to communicate we always received a very kind and timely response.

What an amazing trip to France that the KimKim Team and Liz put together for us! All our guides and experiences were 1st rate and we learned and did so much! I really don't have a favorite as it was all fantastic and each and every guide we had shared their love of the culture and history in their own special way. They were enthusiastic, friendly and knew the history of all the historical places so well. The trip to the Loire Valley Chateaux Day trip was definitely a highlight as was the perfume- making class and I absolutely loved the French Cooking class and market visit. Oh and the trip to Versailles riding Bikes and seeing the palace was incredible. All the vendors that Kim Kim chose where fantastic. I won't hesitate to book another trip with Kimkim again! Thank you for the memories to last a lifetime!

Hotel Review

Citadines Trocadéro Paris

Paris

Clean, comfortable and great location within walking distance to the Eiffel tower and metro stations very convenient.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to Eiffel tower, grocery store, Victor Hugo Metro Station, Cafes

Staff

Nice staff, helpful and very good English

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Opera Garnier and Covered Passages Tour

Paris

Victor was our guide the day we went to the opera house and covered passages and he was excellent. He was extremely knowledgeable and a very nice man. You could tell he loved the history and sharing Paris with visitors.

Unlock the Secrets of Perfume-Making!

Paris

Perfume-making was one of our favorite activities! Our teenagers absolutely loved it, and the entire experience was incredible. Working with the perfume specialist to craft a unique scent was great, and bringing home a personalized perfume was a special treat.

Private Loire Valley Châteaux Day Trip: Chambord, Clos Lucé & Chenonceau

Paris

The private tour to the Loire Valley Châteaux was phenomenal. The experience was filled with fascinating history and stunning architecture. This day trip was very enjoyable and stands out as a highlight of our trip.

The Louvre quest for teens

Paris

The Louvre quest for teens was a fantastic activity. Lorraine, our guide, was phenomenal and made the experience engaging with her stories and historical insights. Even our teenagers enjoyed the tour. The Louvre itself can be overwhelming, but with Lorraine guiding us through the highlights, it was both educational and fun for our family.

French Cooking Class & Market Visit

Paris

The French Cooking Class and Market Visit with Chef Dominique was really good. Initially, cooking in his home felt a bit different, but it turned out to be a wonderful experience. From the market visit to cooking at his house, everything was delightful. The recipes we learned have been a hit since coming back home, and I've made them multiple times.

Overall we very much enjoyed the variety and expertise of our tours and guides! Here is a super-picky review just so you have details, but again we very much enjoyed our trip!!

Eiffel: guide was knowledgeable on how to make sure we would get to visit the very top given crowds and closures
Riverboat: great! one of our few chances to sit and have relaxing dinner as most days we were tired at the end of each day
Louvre: great run through the museum - guide was fantastic!
Notre Dame: guide was knowledgeable and talking points were interesting. Again, knew how to work the crowds
Loire: wonderful to see country outside of Paris for a day and the chateaux’s were great. DaVinci was a little underwhelming as but Amboise was beautiful - again we were in a hurry so I think we would have all liked more time in town to sit and eat a nice lunch (and browse) and I personally would have skipped the Luce just because we didn’t learn anything about DaVinci that we didn’t already know. We only had 30 min to get through Chambord. Maybe it was just too much for our group for the day, or maybe the guide should have kept us on schedule, but we still enjoyed the day trip.
Wine tasting: I enjoyed but the girls not so much
Perfume: fun and different!
Cooking class: chef was very nice, market was really cool (we all loved it) food was good, but no real cooking experience spent a lot of time there - maybe better for a longer trip or trip without teens
Versailles: great! again rushed in the actual palace (30 min to view before closing and some areas were closed) but bikes were fun and guide did a fantastic job with historical highlights
Opera/Passages: love the tour, guide was great! but we were all under the impression that we would get to do some shopping. It was great doing this at the end of the trip as it sort of touched on all the history we learned.
Food walk: guide was sweet and kind but the tour itself was not a highlight

Lodging: was nice! also nice to have a great little Italian place downstairs, but a couple of restaurant recommendations around lodging would have been fantastic - we were too tired to hit the bricks to look around and too hard to make a decision with 5 people. Nice accommodations, but may have been better to have been closer to our tours as we needed 45-1hr to get to them each morning.

Personally, I would have liked time to sit and eat between tours, but I like to eat :)

Kim Kim app: wonderful to have - here are thoughts for future
-push notifications when chat is enabled
-enable tour ratings in the app
24/7 help (by app or phone) on weekends as Karen mentioned

Other notes:
We found uber to be much better than taxi and the subway was clean and easy!

Thank you so much, Liz!

We had a very nice time and appreciated Rose as our Normandy guide. She was wonderful for both our tours and even timed our American Cemetery (Omaha Beach) visit to witness the taking down of the flags and taps playing - very moving. The hotel in Bayeux was lovely. The drivers set up to pick us up and take us from the airport and train stations were wonderful and right on time.
Paris is always wonderful. The hotel was nice and quaint and quiet. The dinner and show at Moulin Rouge was very fun! The day going to the castles felt really rushed and long. I wouldn't do this tour again but rather stay in Paris or someplace closer. Our guide was nice but talked a lot, more then any other guide we'd ever had.
Dinner on the Seine was absolutely wonderful. When were seated the Eiffel tower right next to us, providing wonderful views at night. The food and wine were amazing. Truly a night we will always remember.
Overall, it was another wonderful time in Paris (we visited in 2015). We always plan our next years trip on the last day of our current one.... Scotland here we come!

Hotel Reviews

Chateau de Bellefontaine 4*

Bayeux

We had a lovely time in this beautiful Chateau. The staff were helpful and kind. Room was clean, had a great bathroom and had a lovely sitting area by the dormer window. The only drawback was that we needed a taxi to take us into town. It wasn't very expensive (about 7-9 euros) and the service responded quickly. The only thing was that we wished the small restaurant would have changed their menu from night to night. Food and breakfast were very good. We would stay here again.

Authenticity & Character

Lovely charm and a real old world French feel

Location

needed a taxi to get to town, morning and evening transfers provided would be really nice

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hôtel Bourg Tibourg

Paris

This little hotel was so quaint and charming with a real old time French feel. The room was small but arranged nicely with a nice bathroom with tub and shower. It was nice to get a couple of US TV channels to watch when winding down after a long day sight-seeing. Beds were soft with great bedding. The staff were very nice as well. We would stay again without hesitation.

Authenticity & Character

Loved the decor! Very old world French!

Location

A little far from the Eiffel Tower and that area but closer to Notre Dame. The area was lively with lots of little cafes and such.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Loire Valley Châteaux Day Trip: Chambord, Clos Lucé & Chenonceau

Paris

I wouldn't recommend this tour from Paris. We enjoyed seeing the castles but were rushed through each one and given too much information. We always book private tours so we can take our time. We didn't have time to linger and take in the sites, explore different areas of the sites, or have lunch in a nice small cafe. The ride would have been much more comfortable in a car but instead we were picked up in a van. It was uncomfortable ride for a long day of driving.

Quality of Experience

We didn't get to control the pace of the day or have time to linger at places or have a nice relaxing cafe lunch.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was very nice but talked a lot, way too much information to absord.

Transport

The van, for only the two of us, was uncomfortable. A car for two people would be much more appropriate.

Tour of D-Day Sites

France

Our tour guide Rose was truly awesome. She was very knowledgable and didn't rush us through the day. We learned so many things we never learned in school. It was great having lunch with her and learning more about life in the Normandy area of France. She timed our day so we arrived at Omaha Beach in time to watch the flags taken down and taps played. It was very moving.

Quality of Experience

We were very moved by learning and seeing these sites.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Rose is truly a gem

Transport

Very comfortable vehicle

Starry dinner on the Seine

Paris

We had a lovely experience from top to bottom. The view from our table was so amazing. The food and wine were wonderfully paired. A night we will remember always.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Mont-Saint-Michel

France

Rose was a wonderful guide. She was very knowledgable and patient as I was on crutches but determined to make it to the top. Mont Saint Michel is a true treasure of France. I had wanted to see it for years and was so happy I finally made it. We had a great time, even with all the walking and step climbing. Again, we enjoyed a nice lunch and conversation with Rose after our adventure.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cabaret show and dinner at the Moulin Rouge

Paris

This was such a fun dinner and show! We didn't make it here the first time we visited Paris. I'm so glad we made it this year. Really, a fun and enjoyable evening.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hi KimKim team......thank you all for putting together a fun, educational, interesting, workable, walkable, cultural, meet wonderful people itinerary for us. We all had an amazing time! All of our private guides and tours were definitely the way to go for the 5 of us.....no waiting in lines or having to decide where to go, how to get there, or what to expect. The order of the daily activities was also good...one day built on the next especially learning about King Louis XIV...from the Chateaux Day tour, to the Louvre, to Versailles and finally the covered passages - he definitely got around. It's hard to pick out one favorite activity....each one had its highlight. Joel, our chateaux day trip driver and guide, Laurine at the Louvre, and Chef Dominque were exceptional. We all loved the Louvre teen quest tour- Laurine's stories made the sculptures, art works and history come alive. Since this was my 3rd visit to Versailles I enjoyed seeing the grounds by bike (even though it was a cloudy day and the gardens were not in bloom), but felt a little bad when our time at the Palace was cut short due to the length of the ride. The Opera Garnier was beyond imagination in decor. A special treat was seeing the outside and inside renovation of Notre Dame combined with Sainte Chapelle - our guide was able to go in with us, again a plus for having a private tour. Oh yes....and we all came home smelling very French!

Hotel Review

Citadines Trocadéro Paris

Paris

We had 2 rooms for the 5 of us. The 2 teenagers enjoyed having their own room as did the 3 adults. The adult room had a sitting room with a twin sofa bed (very comfortable) and one bedroom with a double bed ( it would have been nice to have 2 single beds instead). As you would expect, the rooms were small but adequate. The kitchenette was nice for snacks and coffee. The hotel had a breakfast buffet but we did not partake. There was a nice bakery 2 doors down for morning pastries as we headed out early every morning. There was a nice restaurant next door plus small market just down the street. The neighborhood was very welcoming and within walking distance of the Eiffel Tower, Arc of Triumph and Champs-Elysees and close to 2 metro stations. We found taking an Uber or taxi to get across town was expensive since we were about 3 miles from the Louvre area where a lot of our activities took place so walking and the metro were our favorite modes of transportation!

Authenticity & Character

Older hotel with small lobby and nice sitting room with fireplace. Breakfast buffet was extra. Very nice courtyard and patio if we had had time to enjoy it!

Location

The walkable and local neighborhood. We did not have a view from the hotel but loved having the Eiffel Tower as our landmark especially at night.

Staff

Friendly and available to give directions.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were clean, bathroom/shower was nice. Extra towels were readily available. Would have been a little tight with 4 in the one room with the one bedroom and sitting room with the twin sofa bed.

Activity Reviews

Eiffel Tower Guided Climb (stairs) to Second Floor with Optional Summit Access by Elevator

Paris

We all made it up the 360 stairs to the second floor, then took the elevator to the top. It was a sunny, cool day with clear skies so the view from the top was amazing. Dasha our guide was very personable and had lots of stories to keep us going.

Quality of Experience

Just being there!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Dasha our guide was a good storyteller.

Transport

We were able to walk from our hotel.

Seine River Gourmet Dinner Cruise with Live Music

Paris

Our window side table was the best.....another beautiful night on a beautiful river! The food and wine was delicious.

Quality of Experience

Food

Private Notre-Dame & Sainte-Chapelle Visit

Paris

Private tour allowed us to skip the lines plus have the benefit of a very knowledgeable and passionate guide.

Quality of Experience

Seeing the renovated Notre Dame outside and inside.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Another amazing private guide.

Transport

A 3-mile walk from our hotel !!!!!!!

The Louvre quest for teens

Paris

A private tour and guide with a focus on seeing 15 iconic masterpieces - sculptures and paintings - to uncover a secret code and unlock the cryptex was a fun and learning experience for all of us. The Louvre is just too big and overwhelming to just wander around without a focus!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Wine & Cheese Tasting Experience

Paris

Learned about the various wine regions and how the right cheese can enhance the enjoyment of the wine.

French Cooking Class & Market Visit

Paris

Fun to go to the market with Chef Dominque and choose the food for our lunch. It was a hands-on cooking class so we all learned some new tips. Oh....and the food was delicious!

Quality of Experience

Food

Unlock the Secrets of Perfume-Making!

Paris

Had no idea how many scents can go into one eau de par fun creation. Fun chemistry lesson!

Quality of Experience

Versailles Bike & Palace Day Trip

France

It was fun to see the Palace grounds from the backside and around the canal. The Palace was of course beautiful and rich with history.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Montmartre Local Food Walk

Paris

Fun seeing another area of Paris with cobblestone streets, historical architecture, art and steep hills leading to Sacre-Coeur and sampling rocks, macaroons, wine and cheese along the way.

Opera Garnier and Covered Passages Tour

Paris

The covered passages gave us another view of Paris and French history.....more Louis XIV references. Beautiful architecture and store fronts.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Loire Valley Châteaux Day Trip: Chambord, Clos Lucé & Chenonceau

Paris

Great to get out of the city and see the Loire Valley countryside plus 3 very different but beautiful Chateaux!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

An amazing travel experience was had! Sebastian’s meticulous planning ensured a seamless itinerary. The hotel and location were ideal, situated centrally near attractions and in a vibrant neighborhood. The tours were exceptional, with knowledgeable guides who enhanced the overall experience. We felt like we got the full Parisian experience.

Despite traveling with two young children, the trip was remarkably smooth and enjoyable for all. The children remained engaged throughout the journey with the recommendations. This was our second booking through KimKim, and we anticipate future endeavors with the company. Their user-friendly platform significantly enhances our travel experience, allowing us to fully immerse ourselves in the destinations.

Hotel Review

Hotel Bastille Spéria

Paris

Although the rooms were smaller compared to US hotels, they were reasonable considering we're in Paris! The location was exceptional, and I thoroughly enjoyed the neighborhood it was located in. The Italian restaurant across the street was particularly impressive and I highly recommend it. The surrounding area offered a diverse culinary scene with numerous excellent restaurants. The hotel’s breakfast buffet was exceptional, and the overall cleanliness and efficiency of the establishment were commendable. I would be delighted to stay there again in the future.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Paris: Illuminations Seine River Cruise

Paris

An excellent commencement to our journey. We were fortunate to witness the city’s prominent landmarks and get a great overview of our home for the next week. Regrettably, we wish we had scheduled our visit slightly later in the evening to experience the city’s illuminated beauty.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Louvre Treasure Hunt (kids or teens tour)

Paris

Our guide, Tiffen, was exceptional in maintaining the engagement of both children and adults throughout the tour. Through insightful commentary, we gained a comprehensive understanding of the Louvre’s historical significance and the historical context of the artwork it houses. The incorporation of a treasure hunt element significantly enhanced the enjoyment of the experience for the children, who were particularly delighted by the prize they received at the conclusion of the tour. The duration of the two-hour session was highly appropriate.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Palace of Versailles Half day trip (Skip the line, audioguided & gardens) by minivan from Paris

Paris

A must-see attraction in Paris, Versailles offers a captivating experience despite the lengthy commute from the city center. The driver’s entertaining commentary provided an engaging narrative while commuting to Versailles. The audioguide offered a comprehensive historical account, however, its detailed nature may occasionally hinder sustained attention. The gardens are resplendent, though vibrant array of blooms were missing for us during the early spring season. Nevertheless, navigating through the extensive palace can become congested, particularly during peak tourist hours.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Opera Garnier visit

Paris

A comprehensive tour of an exceptionally grand opera house left a lasting impression. Its imposing architecture and regal aura were truly awe-inspiring. However, the two-hour duration proved somewhat protracted for what was to be seen. Despite this, the guide’s exceptional engagement skills ensured that we remained captivated throughout the experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guided tour of Paris and secret Montmartre in a Citroën 2CV

Paris

The highlight of our trip was undoubtedly the exhilarating experience of racing around the city in a Citroen 2CV, the iconic French car. The exceptional driving skills and captivating entertainment value of the drivers made it an unforgettable experience for all ages, including the children. We captured some of the most memorable photographs with the car positioned in front of iconic landmarks such as the Montmartre, Eiffel Tower, and Arc de Triomphe. Passersby were captivated by our presence, often capturing images of us as if we were movie stars during our thrilling drives. This unique mode of transportation provided an exceptional opportunity to explore the city while immersing ourselves in its vibrant atmosphere.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Macaron Cooking Class

Paris

I selected this experience for my children, and they thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a remarkable opportunity to witness a genuine Parisian apartment and create our own macarons, immersing ourselves in the authentic Parisian experience. The tour was exceptionally efficient and entertaining. Was great talking to the chef to learn more about French food and culture. If you have a passion for macarons, this is an indispensable activity.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Transfer from Paris hotel to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG)

France

Professional and reliable drivers who prioritize safety and punctuality. The pickup service was provided in a luxurious minivan, ensuring a comfortable and convenient experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport