Kimkim Trip Reviews for France

First time to France and first time using KimKim. Liz listened & understood our goals, and made the overall experience wonderful. We already have our next trip (Argentina) scheduled thru KimKim.

France's WWII Legacy
From the time we landed in Paris till we left 10 days later, everything we needed was planned. All of our guides were very knowledgeable and friendly. From Augustine (Monet's Garden), Florent (Paris walking tour), Marie Noelle (Bayeux city tour), Stephen (2 day Normandy tour) all were excellent. Our drivers were always on time (or early) and having our tickets ready to view on our phones was so easy. Even the city maps provided by the website were updated.
Most of all, the communication between KimKim and us was timely, keeping us informed on current situations. We have used KimKim for several trips (5 or more) and have never been disappointed. Thank you for the great service!

The entire package was well-planned and carried out. Every driver/guide was excellent. Olivier was very gracious to take us to all the little towns, villages and farms in the countryside. Paulina knew the wine route well as well as the winery owners we visited. In Caen, our guide was very flexible when rain interrupted our plans and we needed to reschedule. Very knowledgeable about the history of Caen. Our guide to Omaha Beach Tristan, was extremely knowledgeable of the history and the area as well as a great guide through the Airborne Museum. Our driver/guide Rose was an excellent resource to Mont St. Michel. The drivers that took from train station to train station and to the airport were on time and got us where we needed to be easily. Every driver/guide was friendly, had a sense of humor and was very professional and courteous. Having train tickets and museum entry in advance was very helpful. Kim Kim made our trip very low stress and enjoyable. Well worth the cost to have everything taken care of for us. I would use KimKim, specifically Nathalie again to plan future trips.

Hotel Review

Best Western Royal Hotel

Caen

Kept having issue of our keys not working, but it was resolved easily each time. Great location and gracious staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

In

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

D-Day U.S beaches tour

France

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Guided Tour of Mont Saint Michel

France

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Caen: Capital city of the Basse Normandie region

Caen

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Caen!

France

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

An unforgettable French adventure thanks in large part to Caroline's efforts in setting up all our transfers, train trips and tours. We started in Paris where we visited many of the iconic sites... Notre Dame, Eiffel Tower, Versailles ,Le Louvre and many more. A quick side trip to Strasbourg where I met my wife (Pam) over 50 years ago! Afterwards we took the TGV train to Nice... thanks to Caroline for setting up the Acces Plus since Pam is in a wheelchair. The service is invaluable for people with mobility issues or disabilities. We were met by Gilles Bertrand our chauffer/guide in Nice... one of the best tour guides we've ever had anywhere in the world! After Nice we travelled to Aix-en-Provence and spent several days there visiting the quaint towns. Another comfortable train ride from Marseille to Bordeaux where we spent 3 days sightseeing and visiting several chateaus in Medoc and St. Julien. The last leg was a comfortable train ride back to Paris. A trip of a lifetime.

Activity Reviews

Louvre Museum in Paris: entrance tickets & audioguides

Paris

Skip the line Eiffel Tower Tickets - 2nd floor with audioguide

Paris

Versailles in Comfort: Palace & Gardens by Golf Cart

Paris

Riviera Gems: Èze, Monaco, Monte-Carlo & Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild

Nice

Full Day Exploration of Antibes, St-Paul-de-Vence and Cannes

Nice

Luberon Markets & Villages Day Trip

Aix-en-Provence

Le Pont du Gard & Avignon with a private driver from Aix en Provence

Aix-en-Provence

Seine River Gourmet Dinner Cruise - Privilege Service 6:15 pm

Paris

A Wonderful Paris Experience with KimKim Travel – Liz and Her Team Had Our Back!

KimKim Travel really shone from the very beginning of planning our visit to Paris. Liz was incredibly helpful and patient as we worked together to create an itinerary that reflected our interests, preferences, and travel style.

I had some very specific requests: transportation from the airport to our hotel; a hotel in Paris with a kitchen; days with little or no scheduled activity after full-day excursions; a hotel near Disneyland Paris; and transportation to the airport for our flight to Venice.

After much back-and-forth, we finally agreed on an itinerary. A few months later, my travel partner reviewed the plans and had some additional questions. Liz patiently scheduled a call with us, and we spent nearly an hour rearranging activities and clarifying transportation details—including when we would have door-to-door transfers and when we would use the Metro, Uber, or taxis.

A few days later, Liz sent us a video walking us through the entire itinerary in detail, complete with suggestions and helpful hints to make our trip as enjoyable as possible. That level of attention and support was outstanding.

And the outcome? A fantastic Paris adventure!

Our Paris Highlights

Arrival in Paris - KimKim arranged a private transfer from Charles de Gaulle Airport to our Citadines Bastille Marais hotel. That went flawlessly. Importantly, Liz respected our request to keep arrival day unscheduled. After a long flight from Los Angeles, we were grateful for the opportunity to settle in and relax.

A Gourmet Introduction to Paris

Our first activity was A Gourmet Voyage Through Paris: Lunch Experience on a Double-Decker Bus. It was a wonderful introduction to Paris's highlights while we enjoyed a delicious gourmet lunch. We even had our first up-close experience with the Arc de Triomphe!

Remembering D-Day in Normandy

KimKim arranged a full-day excursion from Paris to Normandy, visiting several significant D-Day sites. There was plenty of walking, but the experience was deeply meaningful and memorable.

Liz and her team absolutely hit it out of the ballpark with what was scheduled for us the following day. Knowing we didn't want another activity after our long day in Normandy, they arranged an early-evening Seine River gourmet dinner cruise. Wow.

We had premium seats, which I am certain didn't happen by accident! As we cruised along the Seine, we enjoyed fabulous food, a breathtaking sunset, and the beauty of Paris as it transitioned into night.

We also shared a photograph of ourselves with the KimKim team. They were genuinely interested in hearing about our experiences, and their enthusiastic responses made us feel as though we were sharing our journey with friends.

The Opéra Garnier

Our private exploration of the Opéra Garnier was another highlight. Our kind, patient, and handsome guide escorted us through the highlights of this magnificent historic building during a fascinating 90-minute tour. As we requested, we left the rest of the day unplanned so we could explore on our own.

Giverny and the Palace of Versailles

KimKim arranged our Giverny & Palace of Versailles: Art, Royalty & Gardens excursion.
This was a delightful surprise. I had visited Versailles in 2000, but I had never explored the gardens. The extensive gardens were absolutely amazing, and I actually enjoyed them more than the crowded Palace itself.

Our guide also took us to Marie-Antoinette's estate, specifically the Queen's Hamlet. That experience was, well, mind-blowingly fascinating. Such wealth!

A great excursion, for sure.

Père Lachaise Cemetery

Our two-hour private walk through Père Lachaise Cemetery was splendid.

This cemetery was one of my most memorable experiences during my 2000 trip to Paris, and returning did not disappoint. Our guide, Audrey, was delightful. We felt as though we had known her for years.

The Louvre

KimKim also arranged a private two-and-a-half-hour tour of the Louvre. This was one experience that didn't quite meet our expectations—not through any fault of KimKim. I had naively expected a general overview of the ENTIRE museum, not realizing it takes much more than two hours to cover it. So, a well-informed guide escorted us through one particular era within the museum and shared lots of historical details about the paintings.

It wasn't quite what we had envisioned. We made the best of it and were certainly impressed by the knowledge shared and the artwork we visited.

Disneyland Paris

Kim Kim arranged a private transfer from our Paris hotel to the Disneyland Paris Cheyenne Hotel. That went flawlessly.

However, we did encounter some accessibility challenges at the hotel. No porters and no luggage carts. As seniors, we were surprised to find no stairs providing access to the second floor. We also had to carry our luggage a considerable distance to reach our reassigned ground-floor room.

We shared our concerns and photographs with the KimKim team, and they were genuinely grateful for the information. It was clear that they wanted to learn from our experience to better serve future travelers - especially seniors.

Aside from the hotel accommodation issues, our visit to Disneyland Paris was splendid!

The KimKim Difference

Overall, we felt as though we were working with friends who were cheering us on throughout our journey.

We were even inspired to send Liz and her team photographs of ourselves enjoying the sights along the way. Their enthusiastic responses made the experience feel personal, and we appreciated knowing that they were genuinely interested in how our trip was unfolding.

This was my second trip planned with Kim Kim—the first was a five-day visit to Australia—and I remain impressed by the level of support they provide, especially while you are actually traveling.

Liz and her team were there for us when we had questions, when misunderstandings arose, and when we simply wanted to share the fun of our adventures.

Travel planning is one thing. Having a team that genuinely cares about your experience is something else entirely.

Thank you, Liz, and the entire Kim Kim team, for helping make our Paris adventure so memorable. I would absolutely recommend Kim Kim Travel to anyone looking for a thoughtfully planned, personalized trip with outstanding support along the way.

Hotel Reviews

Disney's Hotel Cheyenne

Coupvray

We did encounter some accessibility challenges at the hotel. As seniors, we were surprised to find no stairs providing access to the second floor. We also had to carry our luggage a considerable distance to reach our reassigned ground-floor room. Additionally, our room was cold and we were unable to get heat.

Authenticity & Character

It is decorated after the famed Disneyland Movie Toy Story

Location

The bus shuttle ride to and from Disneyland Paris was really handy - and never long waits between rides.

Cleanliness & Comfort

A wonderful gentleman gave us until 1:00 to check out instead of 11:00. That was so incredibly helpful for us as we prepared to travel to Venice.

Novotel Suites Paris CDG Airport

Roissy-en-France

A basic hotel. Clean, comfortable.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Citadines Bastille Marais Paris

Paris

It was a bit farther from Paris's highlights than we expected, but it met our needs and was comfortable. Having a full kitchen is a real bonus. Judging by the amount of activity, this is a popular stay for travelers. We wished the hotel staff were a bit more accommodating in servicing our room. It was clear that it had to be done on THEIR schedule, not ours. So, subsequently, for two consecutive days, the room was not attended. We were provided ice, towels, and trash removal, which were promptly provided.

Activity Reviews

Graves & Greats: Père Lachaise Private Walk

Paris

Our two-hour private walk through Père Lachaise Cemetery was splendid. This cemetery was one of my most memorable experiences during my 2000 trip to Paris, and returning did not disappoint. Our guide, Audrey, was delightful. We felt as though we had known her for years. As a photographer and lover of old cemeteries, I found that the two hours flew by as we visited amazing graves, including Jim Morrison, Orson Welles, and Chopin. The cemetery is HUGE; no one can see the entire cemetery in two hours. But the two hours we visited were plenty to fill our cameras with delightful old graves.

Paris to Normandy: Remembering D-Day

Paris

Wonderful recap of the historic D-Day. Felt the tour was complete in the historic recount and sites of D-Day

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Giverny & Palace of Versailles: Art, Royalty & Gardens

Paris

KimKim arranged our Giverny & Palace of Versailles: Art, Royalty & Gardens excursion. This was a delightful surprise. I had visited Versailles in 2000, but I had never explored the gardens. The extensive gardens were absolutely amazing, and I actually enjoyed them more than the crowded Palace itself. Our guide also took us to Marie-Antoinette's estate, specifically the Queen's Hamlet. That experience was, well, mind-blowingly fascinating. Such wealth! A great visit, for sure.

Private Louvre Museum Visit

Paris

This was one experience that didn't quite meet our expectations—not through any fault of KimKim. I naively expected a general overview of the ENTIRE museum, not realizing it takes much more than two hours to cover it. So, a well-informed guide escorted us through one particular era within the museum and shared lots of historical details about the paintings. It wasn't quite what we had envisioned. We made the best of it and were certainly impressed by the knowledge shared and the artwork we visited.

A Gourmet Voyage Through Paris: Lunch Experience on a Double-Decker Bus

Paris

It was a wonderful introduction to Paris's highlights, paired with a delicious fine-dining lunch. There is no narration. Just dining and enjoying the sights.

Early Seine River Gourmet Dinner Cruise

Paris

One highlight of our visit. As we cruised along the Seine, we enjoyed fabulous food, a breathtaking sunset, and the beauty of Paris as it transitioned into night.

Private Exploration of the Opera Garnier

Paris

The Opera Garnier is an incredibly beautiful historical site. How can one not be awed and inspired by its beauty? We had a private tour lasting 90 minutes, which seemed ample time to see the Opera Garnier gems.

We would rate the itinerary arranged by KimKim for our trip to France five stars!!! Having everything loaded on their app allowed us to easily and quickly locate times, addresses and vouchers. The three primary hotels selected were all very nice and centrally situated. The staff were accommodating and welcoming, especially in Bayeux and Ambroise. Having breakfast included made keeping our early morning schedules easier. The variety of fresh foods and coffee provided every morning was wonderful and highly enjoyed. Kimkim seamlessly arranged for drivers and tour guides. All of our tours guide were outstanding and contributed positively to the experience- especially Wally, Alex and Helene( ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️). The drivers were always on time and very accommodating.

Could’ve used a bit of help to locate our train car and seat. Maybe a video link or something!

The only negative in our interactions with KimKim would be the lack of timely communication. After Gersende left we felt more like a number and not a person. Slow response even after multiple repeated requests. Our contact with the agency was slow to handle a request for a dinner reservation. Joel said that we wouldn’t have issue without reservations but the restaurant only had 5 tables and were turning lots of dinners away while we were eating. We were not notified of a cancellation in one of our tours due to a protest. Fortunately, our guide was notified of the closure and informed us. She had been informed by the agency she works for. Had we not known we could’ve been sent into a difficult situation. Our contact apologized for not responding to us as he was off that day, but we felt like given the high unrest in the country at that point there should’ve always been someone on call. Also our request to reschedule the Louvre tour was handled lethargically.
With all the unrest in France you all should have been in closer contact with us!!!

Hotel Review

Churchill Hotel Bayeux Centre

Bayeux

Great location. Caring attentive staff

Authenticity & Character

Location

Location

Right in the middle of town. Grest

Staff

Attentive and nice

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

D-Day U.S beaches tour

France

Taps at the US cemetery was chilling. Had a fabulous guide, Wally who really pulled the day together for an experience we won’t forget!

Nighttime Seine River Cruise with Dining Experience

Paris

I added this in to trip and we really enjoyed it. Great service, food and views!!

Montmartre Walking Tour with Chocolate Tasting

Paris

Don’t eat beforehand. Great adventure in chocolate etc

Mont-Saint-Michel day Tour

France

Lots of tourist and stairs but worth it.

Alexia did an incredible job planning our 4 week and Spain vacation! Our accommodations, tours, transfers, recommendations completely met our needs. Alexia was very responsive addressing our questions or any issues we may have had to ensure a smooth and seamless trip. Thank you KimKim and Alexia!

This was my first experience booking with kimkim, and I would readily do it again. Our tour specialist/planner was attentive to our interests and what we wanted to do, and included all of those activities and more into our itinerary. She was also very responsive when problems or adjustments were needed during the trip. All of the vendors provided good programs and services. Having someone local and knowledgeable to create the itinerary was invaluable and we had a personalized experience we wouldn't have enjoyed on a group tour.

Our trip to France was absolutely amazing, and we came home with wonderful memories! We loved the thoughtfully planned excursions, and the cooking class was truly a highlight. The transportation was always timely, and every driver was polite, professional, and kind. We especially enjoyed the perfect mix of wine experiences, food, history, and free time to explore on our own.

This was our second trip using KimKim, and once again, we appreciated the overall planning and organization. We requested moderate-luxury accommodations, and two of our three stops were exactly what we had envisioned.

Our final stop was a family-run hotel. The staff was very nice, and the property was clean; however, the accommodations and location were not quite what we had requested. The hotel was removed from restaurants and shopping, and without an on-site restaurant for dinner, we needed to rely on Ubers and do additional planning for evening meals.

We want to emphasize that this is not a negative review of Hotel 96 itself. Rather, it is feedback about the fit between the accommodations and the experience we had requested for the final two days of our trip. As a group of women who travel together often, we value having a comfortable, inviting space where we can relax, enjoy a glass of wine, share food, and spend time together in the evenings. That was an important part of why we requested moderate-luxury accommodations, and we had hoped for a similar experience to the first two stops.

We made the most of our time and thoroughly enjoyed our overall French experience, but we felt this feedback was worth sharing for future travelers with similar expectations.

Overall, we had a wonderful trip and are grateful for the experiences and memories created. We would absolutely use KimKim again and appreciate the care that went into planning our journey. We simply hope that future accommodation selections will more closely reflect the requested level of comfort, convenience, and evening atmosphere throughout the entire itinerary.

Hotel Reviews

Hôtel Baume

Paris

Beautiful accommodations

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Saint Christophe

Aix-en-Provence

Beautiful hotel with a wonderful restaurant

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Chateau St Roux

Le Cannet-des-Maures

Absolutely stunning views

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel 96

Marseille

This hotel is a little from restaurants and entertainment. It is family run and very quiet. There is even a sign up saying don’t disturb our grandmother living in the next room. Great if you have small children that go to bed early not good if you’re on a weekend with friends.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Visit and Wine Tasting at Château Saint Roux

France

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Provençal Market Visit & Cooking Workshop

Aix-en-Provence

This was an amazing experience with amazing food and host

Quality of Experience

The hose makes this a great learning experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tour de France of Wine Tasting (cheese pairing)

Paris

This was a great way to experience meeting other travelers and enjoying great wine

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Enjoy the Chateau Saint-Roux

France

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Aix-en-Provence Food Tour

France

Our tour guide was so much fun. We really appreciated a wonderful evening with her.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Skip-the-line: louvre museum greatest masterpieces private guided tour

Paris

Quality of Experience

Just back from an incredible trip to France. Many thanks to Liz and the KimKim team who designed a wonderful itinerary and taking care of all the details hitting the must-sees in Paris, Normandy, Loire Valley and Burgundy. Liz was wonderful to work with sharing creative suggestions and understanding just what we were looking for on our first visit to France. Paris highlights included a visit to the Louvre, Musée d' Orsay, Notre Dame Cathedral, Luxembourg Gardens, Hôtel des Invalides Napoleon's Tomb & War Museum and of course the Eiffel Tower. Montmartre was especially enjoyable with great dining options , street musicians, and an unexpected harvest wine festival on the hilltop steps of the Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur. In Normandy, visits to D-Day sites with Malcom as our guide were definitely memorable and impactful. Other trip highlights included a visit to Giverny (Monet's Gardens), coffee in the shadow of the Bayeaux Cathedral, biking the grounds of grand Chateaus in Loire Valley, walking the streets in charming Burgundy village of Beaune with a moving visit to the Hospices of Beaune. We so enjoyed our experience in France.

Hotel Reviews

L'Hôtel de Beaune

Beaune

Our Favorite Hotel of the trip! Located in the heart of the charming Village of Beaune. L'Hôtel de Beaune was comfortable, beautifully appointed with a lovely restaurant, and friendly attentive staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Brighton

Paris

Our room was spacious and well appointed with views of the Louvre, Musee d' Orsay, Hotel Invalides and the Eiffel Tower. Perfect location for sightseeing in Paris.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Le Clos d'Amboise

Amboise

Charming historic hotel with a lovely courtyard for relaxing. Easy walk to restaurants and castle through the charming streets of Amboise.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Courtyard by Marriott Paris Roissy Charles de Gaulle Airport

Roissy-en-France

Courtyard is reliable and comfortable. Located close to Charles de Gaulle airport, this hotel is a great pick for the final night before a long flight home.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Belle Normandy

Bayeux

Our apartment was in an annex building across street, so we don't feel we experienced the charm of this hotel as The apartment was spacious with 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and a full kitchen. Yet, the decor appeared to be a mixture of used furniture and IKEA. Not sure how we ended up in this room. We feel a room in the former school overlooking the courtyard, would have given us the charming Normandy feel. We did enjoy the spaciousness, but it felt more like an Air B&B than a quaint historic hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Location of the Hotel was great, but the location of our room was away from the hotel not what we were expecting.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Explore Mont Saint-Michel on your way from Bayeux to Amboise

France

We enjoyed a countryside drive from Bayeux to Amboise with a must-see stop at Mont Saint-Michel. Our guide, Theo, gave an informative tour of this amazing site, efficiently navigating us around the crowds and through the corridors. We enjoyed some generous free time allowing for a relaxing lunch and a walk through the charming village. We walked through a sheep filled pasture with amazing views of Mont Saint-Michel on our way back to the van. From there. we continue on to Amboise.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Palace of Versailles Day Trip with Lunch

Paris

The Palace of Versailles is an amazing place. The opulence is over the top even off putting but pretty incredible. The history of the palace is an interesting tale. Highlights were the Hall of Mirrors, the Gallery of Battles, Petit Trianon (Marie Antoinette's Private Residence), and the Queen's Hamlet (portrayal of an English village). We met our guide and fellow tour guests, a friendly group, at the TRIP office and travelled together to Versailles. Our guide was a wealth of information but a but dry and a little curt. We were not impressed with the Versailles gardens, not as pictured in brochures. They seemed a bit tired and needing TLC. The fountains were not running either (possible because of a summer drought). Glad we visited Versailles.

Quality of Experience

Food

Possibly due to shoulder season but just one option for food with space seating. The food was decent quality, yet limited in options.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer from Paris to Bayeux With a Stop at Monet Gardens

France

Monet's Gardens and Giverny was a wonderful stop on our way from Paris to Bayeux. The garden's are amazing. Wonderful to see the inspiration for many of Claude Monet's paintings. We thoroughly enjoyed walking through the colorful gardens, with Dalias aplenty, and to the Lilly pad ponds and Japanese bridge. The surrounding countryside made for a very enjoyable drive.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was personable and knowledgeable of the gardens, the village, and the surrounding area.

Transport

Private Honfleur, Beuvron & Calvados Tasting Day Trip

Bayeux

Honfleur is a delightful port village with so much interesting history. Our guide navigated us to some hidden gardens, shared some town highlights as we toured. We especially enjoyed free time for lunch and coffee. Beuvron was a charming stop, brief (as it's tiny) but worth the stop. A nice surprise was how thoroughly enjoyed the Calvados tasting tour, a wonderful tour of the Calvados distillery on palace grounds. Calvados, however, is a bit strong for our tastes. Our driver & guide was friendly and conversational. We enjoyed experiencing the charm and traditions of Normandy.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Driving a bit erratic.

Private Guided Walking Tour of Medieval Bayeux

Bayeux

The guide shared some interesting facts about Bayeux. However, I think we would have preferred exploring Bayeux on our own also allowing for more time to visit the Museum of the Battle of Normandy. The Bayuex Tapestry was in London at the time of our visit. When it returns an the remodeled Bauex Museum is complete, The Tapestry would be a must-see.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Exterior Notre-Dame & Sainte-Chapelle Visit with Priority Access

Paris

Our guide was knowledgeable and passionate about Paris and the religious history. We probably didn't need a guide to visit the Exterior Notre-Dame & Sainte-Chapelle. Our guide shared interesting facts about Sainte-Chapelle but really shared very little about Notre Dame (maybe because he knew we had already walked through the inside). He walked us through the Latin Quarter and gave us context about the area. The Latin Quarter is where our tour ended (30 minutes early ??), a perfect place to explore. From there we enjoyed walking by the Pantheon and wandering to Luxembourg Palace & Gardens. The gardens are magnificent. So enjoyed relaxing in the gardens watching families enjoy a Saturday morning launching mini boats in the sailboat pond.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Seine River Cruise

Paris

A Seine River Cruise was a great intro to Paris. Our guide highlighted the many landmarks along the Seine. The weather was a bit misty, so not the ideallic setting we had hoped for, but alt least it didn't pour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We arrived at the meeting point 10 minutes in advance of the meeting time. Although we were at the correct spot, our guide did not find us, called saying that we might have to cancel if we are late to the boat. We were exactly where instructed under a statue. Guide was around the corner of the bridge, but never looked to where we were. Sort of an uncomfortable start, but it all worked out.

Self-Guided Visit of Orsay Museum: Entrance Tickets & Audio guide included

Paris

We loved this museum and a self-guided tour with audio is the perfect way to visit this museum. Timed entry is key as well. We enjoyed a wonderful lunch in Cafe Company under the iconic clock.

Quality of Experience

Self-Guided Audio tour. Going at our own pace.

Invalides : Army museum and Napoleon's Tomb : Entrance Tickets included

Paris

Hôtel des Invalides was a great stop. Self-guided with audio was perfect for us. Napoleon's tomb and the surrounding rooms were an impressive display, one of a kind for sure. The cathedral is beautiful, too. Gardens are quite nice. We spent more time in the war museum than we had expected. The collection of weapons and armour were remarkable. The 20th century wars were presented very well, a great lead in to our upcoming D-Day tours.

Quality of Experience

Private Château Chenonceau & River Cruise Escape

Amboise

Château Chenonceau is an amazing Château. The grounds are stunning. Lord that fresh flowers from the grounds adored many of rooms. What a beautiful way to bring an ancient structure to life bringing warmth and color whereas many old structures are drab and cold. Built across the river makes Château Chenonceau so unique. The Corridor served as a hospital during WWI, and we had recently learned that a relative of ours worked in the hospital at that time. We loved the river cruise seeing the château from this unique vantage point. Would highly recommend for others to add the boat ride to this tour. Our guide was excellent & informative. Afterward we were dropped at a 5 star hotel restaurant for lunch. Atmosphere was lovely, food was great, but extremely expensive (most expensive meal of our entire trip), unnecessary for afternoon meal.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

WWII Paris Uncovered – Private Experience

Paris

We enjoyed this tour and a chance to experience the Jewish Quarter on a lively Saturday afternoon. Our guide was a wealth of information. She shared the awful plight of the Jewish people during the time of German occupation. and took us past several historical landmarks honoring those who perished or acted heroically. This was a simple tour. In some respect, not much to it, bot on the other hand, this was information we would not have happened upon on our own. So we were glad we dd this tour. This tour was 30 minutes shorter than listed in description.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private British Sector D-Day Experience with Local Guide Malcom

Bayeux

Malcom is a passionate historian and war enthusiast. We could not image a better guide. He was amazing, a wealth of knowledge and wonderful storyteller. we were fortunate to spend two full days with Malcom, visiting the British and Canadian Sector one day and the US Sector on the second day. The flow was brilliant as we were able to explore the full 50 miles of D-Day operations. Malcom made the D-Day story come to life as he shared personal accounts , described the difficult conditions, and highlighted failures and successes of that fateful day. A powerful and moving experience. We wish we would have scheduled a third day in order to visit a few museums.

Quality of Experience

Malcom's knowledge and artful delivery made this experience amazing.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Malcom's car was very comfortable ad well appointed.

Private D-Day War Strategy Experience in the American Sector

Bayeux

Malcom is a passionate historian and war enthusiast. We could not image a better guide. He was amazing, a wealth of knowledge and wonderful storyteller. We were fortunate to spend two full days with Malcom, visiting the British and Canadian Sector one day and the US Sector on the second day. The flow was brilliant as we were able to explore the full 50 miles of D-Day operations. Malcom made the D-Day story come to life as he shared personal accounts , described the difficult conditions, and highlighted failures and successes of that fateful day. A powerful and moving experience. We wish we would have scheduled a third day in order to visit a few museums. As Americans, this day was especially powerful. In additional Omaha, Point du Hoc, and Utah Beach, we visited the US National Cemetery, a beautiful resting place and memorial for all who gave their lives for freedom sake. We were privleged to witness the daily ceremony singing of the US , playing of taps, and the laying of flowers at the foot of the statue :"The Spirit of the American Youth Rising from the Waves". Very powerful ceremony & honored to witness.

Quality of Experience

The monuments and markers are so well done with bits of history preserved

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Malcom is the best of the best! A terrific guide!

Transport

Malcom's car is quite comfortable and well appointed.

Private Stroll Through Beaune’s Medieval Heart

Beaune

This tour was cancelled, without opportunity to reschedule. This was probably for the best as this allowed us time to explore Beaune on our own. Most especially, this enabled us to visit the Hospices de Beaune, very impressive and well preserved. Had we done the walking tour. We do enjoy some unstructured time, so this worked out well. We do anticipate a refund for this cancelled tour.

Private Loire Valley E-Bike Tour: Château de Chambord & Biscuiterie Tasting

Amboise

Château de Chambord is an incredible structure. The stuff of fairy tails. Crazy, the opulence of the Kings and Queens of the day, for a hunting lodge no less. E-Bikes added a little something extra and was a great way to experience the grounds and nearby forest. Lunch was lovely though a four course meal was a bit much for lunchtime. The tour was not as describe. We expected to go to a Biscuiterie tasting. That did not happen. Maybe they were closed that day? Something that we would expect the guide or Kimkim to know in advance. There was not really an explanation. Our just asked if we would like to ride bikes a bit longer before returning to the van. We didn't understand until after the tour that the extra bike time was instead of the tasting.

Quality of Experience

Part of the tour was skipped with out explanation

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Louvre Museum Visit

Paris

Laura , our guide, was wonderful. The Louvre is an incredible space. House within this amazing palace is the most extensive collection in the world. Loved that our tour was at night when the crowds were fewer. The place is massive, yet our guide helped us navigate through seamlessly. Laura brought the art to life with stories of their relevance. From Roman ruins discovered underneath to the modern pyramid entrance, and everything contained therein, the Louvre is a must-see. Very glad we had a guide for this one! At the end of our tour, Laura helped us make dinner reservations and even walked us to the restaurant.

Quality of Experience

Our guide, Laura, helped us navigate and highlighted a great variety of artwork, including The Mona Lisa, of course.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Montmartre

Paris

We enjoyed a leisurely, unstructured afternoon exploring Montmartre. At the base, Montmartre was so peaceful and quiet. We started to explore by ascending the steps to the Bascilica du Cacré-Coœur for what we thought would be a quiet time overlooking Paris from the Basilica steps. Once we reached the top, it was as if we had entered a time warp. The top was abuzz with throngs of people celebrating grape harvest with a wine festival. The Basilica steps were packed with everybody enjoying the beautiful afternoon with a glass of wine in hand. So festive. Everyone was having a great time, so we join in for a glass on the steps as well. Just a short walk from the crowds in a quiet courtyard, we were entertained by a young singer and the onlookers danced. Our evening culminated with a delicious dinner at historic La Maison Rose. A wonderful day!

Quality of Experience

Private Discovery of Auxois: Burgundy’s Historic Villages

Dijon

The tour was fine, just not necessary at this point in our trip. After 17 days, we could have done without a final day of visits to small villages (Mostly empty and shuttered due to off season). We did enjoy a unique lunch experience at a farmers co-op restaurant. The town was literally desolate with shutter buildings and empty streets. Then we opened the restaurant doors and it was absolutely packed inside, with locals and families on school break. A delightful experience. We also visited a large Abbey which was interesting. However, for this, our last day after many, many tours, I think we would have preferred a leisurely day experiencing charming Beaune visiting shops, tasting some cheese and enjoying a leisurely lunch before transporting to Dijon to catch the train to Paris.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Both were friendly and engaging. Our guide was knowledgeable and informative. Driver info in next section

Transport

Drove very fast on wet hilly and curvy roads making for an uncomfortable drive. Also at beginning of tour, we requested to KimKim and also to our driver that we wanted to arrive at the dijon train station by 5:00. We remind the driver several times throughout the day as well. Driver assured us that she was in control of the schedule, yet we arrived in Dijon at 5:30. Still needing to grab dinner (station restaurants were closing), use the restrooms, an find our way to our train, we were a bit short on time.

Sidecar Through the Legendary Côte Beaune

Beaune

This sidecar tour was a fun way to see the Burgundy landscape up close learning a bit about the region along the way. Gilles, a retired air traffic controller, was a splendid host treating us to his family Sunday drink, Chardonnay with Black Currant and his wife's homemade cheesecake puffs. Winding our way past vineyards and nearby villages, the weather threatened our day but we enjoyed our time even with mist and sprinkles.

Quality of Experience

Riding amongst the vineyards.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Gilles is a great host for this unique tour.

Transport

What's more fun than riding in a retro sidecar!

Grand & Premier Cru : An Intimate Wine Tasting

Beaune

Nicoli was so engaging and knowledgeable. This was wine tasting experience interesting for us as Nicoli talked more about the region and the subtleties in climate and soil that make each wine unique. Wine tastings we've done in California focused more on the grapes and the barrels. We were fascinated how different the wine can be from plots so close in proximity to each other with just a small elevation, tempera or soil difference. We enjoyed learning about the process to become a Sommelier. We know very little about wine, yet thoroughly enjoyed this experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Nicoli was excellent

Paris - Mgallery Echiquier Paris Opera - paid ourselves ~$475 Euro/night)-4 nights. Nice, tiny, but just okay.

Seine River Dinner cruise - excellent first day tour, food was good, singer for entertainment. It would have been better to have had window table for better view.
Louvre - self guided with headphones was great
Versailles - Impressive tour, October was not great time of year for the gardens
Moulin Rouge - did not attend (poor reviews from others); attended Paradis Latin Show - was excellent and food was very good.
Pastry Tour - Fantastic!!
Side Car ride around Paris to Sacre Coeur Montmartre. Excellent.
Wine tasting at Louvre Cellars . Wine was not great for Paris.
Reims, Champagne (2 nights) - B&B Le Clos Corbier - very nice, large room. Lively and quiet. Too isolated and no restaurant/food within walking distance, uber was $60 euro into Reims for dinner! After a day of Champagne tasting, I did not wish to drive.

Champagne wine tour w/Thomas (3 wineries) - 1) Veuve Clicquot 5*, 2) Collard-Milesi w/ lunch 3.5* 3) Lancelot-Royer 4*

Strasbourg, Alsace (2 nights) - Hotel Du Dragon (good hotel, central). Great city! Great spatzle! Nice wine bar (Terres a Vin)

wine tour with Jerome (3 wineries) - 1) Wach winery - good wine, mediocre tour 4*, 2) Gilg- not great wine, poor tasting 3*, 3) Louis Sipp - good wine, good story

Beaune - (5 nights) (Ermitage de Corton, Chorey-Les-Beaune, Bourgogne, France - very nice B&B, large suite. Outskirts of Beaune (10km) and getting a taxi or Uber required a reservation or a potentially long wait. Other than the included breakfast, there was no food service other than full meal dinner and lunch. No coffee machine available in room.

Burgundy Wine Region Tour Operator: ( Emanuel ) France Intense tour company

Wineries: 1) Domaine Comte Senard Aloxe-Corton (8 tastings) 4*; 2) Maillard-Grivot (12 tastings) 5*;
Wine store - (5 tastings)
*** plus shared a bottle of wine at lunch and dinner
Great tour! A daunting number of wines tasted. Excellent quality!

Tours:
Hospices de Beaune - great private tour!
Mustard factory (on own) and could not gain access to the factory, only the store.

Side car tour - this was fun. Rode through the vineyards and had a glass of Kir Royal w/ gougeres!
Burgundy Cooking Experience - Fantastic day of cooking!! Made several dishes, then enjoyed a wonderful lunch. Great class! Highly recommend this class.

Dinner at La Table Du Square… Amazing!
Excellent Wine Bars: Le bout du monde (wine bar), L’arche des vins
Dinner at L’Ecrit Vin Beaune… great dinner.

Lyon (Le Phenix Hotel) 2 nights

Dinner at Le Boeuf d’Argent - great dinner and food presentation!
Beautiful historic centre
Secrets of Lyon’s Gastronomy food walking tour (good tour, just okay charcuterie, but excellent brioche dessert with red candy covered almonds), okay wine pairings

Bordeaux (Hotel Indigo Bordeaux) - 4 nights Oct 13-17
decent hotel, rooftop restaurant; awesome buffet breakfast!!

Discovered 2 great bars - Le Sobre, Bar de Vin

Chartrons, Bordeaux wine walking district food tour (3hrs) - tasted coffee, pastry, and something else; was not a great tour ☹️.
Saint-Emilion wine region tour 7 hr tour small group (incl picnic (mini van tour) - Ended up being a private tour! Went to 3 wineries, and had a lovely picnic lunch in the yard of one winery.
Day trip to Arcachon Bassin and Dune du Pilat. Was not a great tour. Sand dunes were pretty cool though . Went to an oyster restaurant and had disappointing wine ☹️.

River cruise - Would not recommend . Ambiance was rather cold (like a cafeteria), food was lousy, and the wine was just okay. The cruise in Paris was far better!

Madrid (Hotel Emperador) - 3 nights - very nice hotel, great lobby bar, nice rooftop bar/restaurant. Breakfast was included, and very good. A large hotel with some large tour groups which can make for morning elevator access waits and checkout chaos. Clearly they handle large groups frequently as it was very organized chaos at peak times.

Tapas Tour Oct 17 (really good, food was really good and plentiful); wine was just okay.
Private Madrid Winery tour (10-4pm) - Excellent tour, guide was amazing, winery tours were fantastic, and wine and snacks were great!
Royal Palace guided visit - great tour! Guide was excellent!
Flamenco and Tapas night - Great show!, but would not recommend the tapas.

Barcelona (4 nights) - Serras Barcelona Hotel - Magnificent in every way!!! The staff, the food, the bar, the restaurant, the service… all exceeding expectations! Very intimate hotel. The VERY best hotel!!!

Barcelona Market Tapas dinner Tour - Really good tour, food and wine were very good, food was plentiful.
Catamaran sunset dinner cruise - great cruise with live music ( guitar player) and very good food (intimate dinner on board)
Day trip to Montserrat and the Penedes region wine tasting region - Wonderful tour of Montserrat, and very nice winery Llopart Family Estates tour and tasting! Our tour guide was terrific! We were able to have lunch away from the crowds.

Transfers between airports and hotels were much appreciated. Drivers were competent and helpful with our luggage.

Alexia was instrumental in coordinating our travel and was attentive to our concerns and requests.

Review of KimKim trip for Henry Newman and Lisa Belvito France October 2026

Overall review – the trip was excellent. Most things went smoothly and were as planned, with a few exceptions that will be detailed following.
The process of working with Sebastian was good. It took a couple of calls for him to understand that we did not want to spend time in Paris. Once that was resolved he was very responsive to our interest, made good suggestions and replied in a timely manner.
We did have some trouble getting English tours for Mont St Michel and the oyster tour in Cancale. It seemed like we had to press a few times before getting alternatives. In the end it worked out fine.
Properties – all the hotels were lovely, well located for our needs and the staff was very helpful.
We did request at least a queen bed in each. In St. Malo and Bordeaux, we did not have queens – they seemed to be doubles. We would have preferred to discuss this in advance and explore the options (location, pricing etc) of upgrading to determine ourselves if we wanted to upgrade.
Note for people driving – we rented a car for the trip and needed parking. I believe Sebastian made sure that all the hotels had parking available. The location he gave us in St. Malo was especially well done since he kept us outside the old city where there is no parking but close enough to walk.
However – it is critical that guests contact each hotel well in advance to arrange for parking. The spaces are limited and if we had not reached out to each hotel early, we would not have gotten a parking space. You can assist future guests by advising them to make parking arrangement in advance.
Day by Day
We made a lovely stop at Giverny on the way to Bayeux – a nice alternative for those interested.
Villa Lara , a family-run hotel, was great. Paul and Julian were very fun and accommodating for our evening cocktails.
D-Day Sites Tour was very well done. Our guide Violine (??) did a great job giving is the history and creating a sense of what was happening during this period in history. She answered all our questions and accommodated our needs given a rather rainy day. The Airborne museum was also a highlight.
Sadly, the tapestry was on display in Britian, but we enjoyed a quiet day exploring Bayeux.
Mont Saint Michel - easy to get to and the directions look us right to the parking lot. Although it was a bit crowded the process was smooth and the walk to the Abbey was nice.
We ended up with an audio guide due to lack of an English tour. This was the best audio guide we have ever seen! It really provided excellent information and perspectives across the centuries. Perfect if there is not a tour in your language or for anyone who prefers self-guided option.
Saint Malo As mentioned – the hotel location was just the right place for access to parking and access to the intra muros district. We spent a nice day discovering the old town of St. Malo.
The suggestion to visit Cancale on our own since we could not get an English tour of the oyster farms was a great idea. We spent time at Pointe du Grouin and then visited Cancale. Lots of fun sitting by the water eating oysters and watching the oyster farming.
Due to rainy weather, chilly we didn’t drive as much of the coast as suggested.
Bordeaux – another lovely hotel centrally located for everything we wanted to enjoy. Excellent staff – very helpful especially since we were there when some of the riots occurred. They ensured that everyone was informed and safe, so we had no issues.
We had some mix up with our market tour which we have shared with Sebastian.
The itinerary said - Marché des Capucins Lénaïc, a local passionate wine-lover, is your guide to this emblematic Bordeaux neighborhood. You'll learn about its fascinating history while exploring the colorful market. You will stop at three different stalls to hear artisan producers explain their work and techniques and to sample local wines and season products, which could include cheese, oysters, stuffed cod, and more.
Your tour ends in a nearby wine cellar for brunch, enjoying wine and other local specialties. You will have the opportunity to taste six different wines matched with food purchased at the markets. This is a friendly and relaxed experience away from the hustle and bustle of the city above!
Unfortunately, this is not the experience we got. We stayed in the main area, visited 4 local shops for small tastes. There was no market and no brunch or food and wine pairing. It seems the local tour company switched out our planned tour for a different experience which was disappointing.
We did, however, visit Marché des Capucins on our own.
Sauternes Wine and Medoc Wine tours The next two days of touring Sauternes Wine and Medoc Wine were excellent. Ugo our guide was knowledgeable, engaging, informative and a great driver. We learned a lot about wine and life in the area.
Wine Tasting in St. Emilion Our guide for this tour (she did not tell us her name) was pleasant but not very engaging. We were in a rather noisy van with 4 other people, and it was impossible to hear what she was explaining in the back of the van. We did ask her to speak up a few times but to no avail. For small groups in a van, you might consider using a mike so everyone can hear.
The location and tasting were was enjoyable.
Le Monastère de Saint-Mont this was an amazing property with such a lovely family running it. Beatrice arranged a full day tour of the region with Armagnac and wine tastings and lunch with a local guide. KimKim might want to coordinate with these people for others who want Armagnac experiences as you didn’t seem to know anyone in the region.

The trip was planned well and we had a lot of input throughout the process. Caroline, Kate, and Diliana were quick to respond to our questions before, during, and after the trip. When we had an issue they were able to help resolve it quickly and with little friction.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Byakko Nice

Nice

Odd layout made getting around a bit tough. Older hotel with some sewage issues in parts of the hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easy to get everywhere with reasonable walk times

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sewage issues with some smelly areas

Escale Oceania Aix-en-Provence

Aix-en-Provence

Not the best location, but clean and friendly

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very far from where most of the activities are in this area.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Central Hotel

Avignon

Great location, but older hotel with some issues. Lots of stairs, can be buggy

Authenticity & Character

Location

Great location with easy access to most activities in the area

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

A bit buggy and poor room layout

Hotel Duette Paris

Paris

Nice hotel, clean, solid amenities and great location

Authenticity & Character

Location

Although not as close to many of the activities we had, it was close to the metro and made getting around very easy

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Provençal Market Visit & Cooking Workshop

Aix-en-Provence

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Morning in Antibes & Cap d’Antibes

Nice

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nice Old Town Food Walk

Nice

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cassis Village, Calanques Boat Ride & Provence Wines Day Trip

Aix-en-Provence

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Self Guided NIGHT Experience of the Louvre Museum (Entrance Tickets Included)

Paris

Still very packed and hard to get into certain areas, even in the evening

Quality of Experience

Private Exterior Notre-Dame & Sainte-Chapelle Visit with Priority Access

Paris

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Roman Highlights: Nîmes, Orange & Pont du Gard

Avignon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Afternoon Wine Tour

Avignon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

7th District Gourmet Food Walk

Paris

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kimkim arranged our two week itinerary from Marseille north to Dijon. They arranged our rental car, and we visited many lovely towns and cities through Provence and Burgundy. Kimkim set up private or group tours for us in several places, and Liz gave us good ideas for driving and stopping to visit memorable sites we might have missed. We had visited most of the towns on this itinerary many years ago, but the suggestions that Liz made for tours were not what we had done before. Kimkim made our hotel reservations in each destination. During the planning stage, we looked at the hotels suggested and they took our feedback and made modifications based on location and price. With only couple of exceptions, the hotels were unique, in a great location, and very comfortable. The tours were outstanding. We loved visiting and swimming in the Calanques National Park. We had a beautiful day with a gregarious and knowledgeable guide in the wine region of Bandol and Cassis. Our tour guide in Aix-en-Provence was lovely and smart. We spent a day visiting the extraordinary Roman ruins of Nimes, Orange, and Pont du Gard with a terrific guide. Kimkim arranged several tasty culinary and wine tasting experiences in Avignon, Lyon, and Dijon. In sum, we were very satisfied with our experience with kimkim's planning advisor, Liz, and those who make all of their arrangements, particularly Kate. We have to add one extra thank you. We were originally scheduled to travel in June, but my husband's brother died. Kimkim kindly and quickly took all of their arrangements and rescheduled our trip for September.

Hotel Reviews

Hôtel Maison Montgrand Marseille Vieux Port

Marseille

This was the perfect hotel to start the trip. It is located in the pleasant hustle and bustle of Marseilles within easy walking distance to the port area for restaurants and people watching. The room was pretty, comfortable, and decent sized, and the breakfast was a delicious start to each day. The staff was very friendly and kindly let me try out my rusty french. The other guests appeared to be young professionals and happy explorers.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hôtel Boquier

Avignon

The hotel is located on a quiet street not far from the Palais des Papes within the walls of Avignon. You can happily explore many untouristy areas of Avignon from here, but it is close to the highlights as well. The host is a very hospitable man who took time to explain how to get places, where to park, what to visit, etc. The room kimkim had arranged was not a good one for us since the raked ceiling beams made it impossible for my husband to stand upright, but the manager recognized this this next morning and moved us to a very comfortable room while we were out for the day. There are lots of stairs with no elevator to get to the rooms in which we stayed if that is an issue. The breakfast was quite good and there were not many other options for breakfast in the area. The Tourist Bureau is nearby which was convenient since our group and private tours started there.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Mozart

Aix-en-Provence

We were in a very small, poorly lit room on the first floor. Some rooms opened onto a little balcony, but we had only a door and poor ventilation. The desk manager didn't even look up when we came in at night. The breakfast was good. It is about a 20 minute walk to the main area of Aix - not convenient except by car which is about 10 minutes to the underground parking next to the pedestrian area. There is a garage onsite. I believe if you call ahead, some of the parking is free. We didn't know to reserve ahead and so paid for parking. There are other hotels more conveniently located for exploring Aix, but fine if you are just traveling through.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mas de la Chapelle

Arles

Fascinating and tranquil historic hotel outside of Arles. You can only get there by car - it is about 15 minutes from the periphery of the main tourist areas. The large, comfortable rooms are colorfully decorated and painted, and the decor around the hotel is kind of exotic drawing from its 500 year history. There is a swimming pool and nooks for reading or relaxing. Delicious breakfast. I wish we had stayed an extra night.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Le Simplon

Lyon

A very comfortable and welcoming hotel. The room was clean, fresh and good sized, and the staff was very helpful. There is an elevator! The neighborhood is walkable and pretty, not far from the Rhone and a few blocks from the Saone. Lots of young people in the cafes at night and good restaurants nearby. We liked the hotel a lot, but the location requires either Uber or lots of walking along the beautiful Saone river to get to the old area of Lyon or other typical tourist sites. I am glad we stayed there or else we would have missed this more authentic part of Lyon. One great thing is that the hotel is minutes away from the transit system hub which will also get you all around the city.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hôtel des Ducs

Dijon

We had a large, light filled room with a pretty view over the street toward the Palais. The hotel is minutes away from the Palais des Ducs which is the focal area of old Dijon. The friendly staff was helpful with stashing luggage and giving directions. There is an elevator. Dijon is very walkable. We had to park overnight a ways away in public parking, but the walk back was through interesting streets, past the big food market, and lovely parts of Dijon.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Bandol & Cassis : A Private Wine Lover's Journey

France

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Calanques National Park – Boat Morning Escape

Marseille

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Roman Highlights: Nîmes, Orange & Pont du Gard

Avignon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Morning Luberon Villages Tour: Roussillon, Gordes & Sorgues River

Avignon

Needed more time. I would have liked to go into Gordes. Maybe see another town. I feel like we drove far enough from town that it would have been worth seeing other towns if they, too, are charming. I know we weren't there during lavender season, but I have read of other towns that also seemed worth a visit. This was a half- day from 9 to 2, so I understand the limits.

Quality of Experience

The area is beautiful. I would have liked to see more.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Just completed a smooth 6-day journey across Lorraine planned with the help of Nathalie/kimkim, visiting small villages where our 19th-century family ancestors once lived. Hotels in Nancy, Zweibrücken and Strasbourg were well-chosen and reflected local histories rather than international hotel chain homogeneity. Local drivers Olivier and Pauline were charming, wonderfully knowledgeable and flexible, enabling our group of 6 travelers to stop, look and make unplanned visits to local museums or sites as we discovered them in real time (cemeteries, farms tucked away on winding lanes, tiny glass-making museums). The two wine caves we visited along the Alsatian wine road were also great fun, enabling us to talk with the owners and wine-makers and not just hired staff. This trip allowed us to sample the countryside (rather than the large cities), an experience we could not have arranged on our own.

Hotel Review

Romantik Hotel Landschloss Fasanerie

Zweibrucken

Handsomely appointed hotel in a restored 18th-century baroque estate with gardens, pool and sauna and two splendid restaurants, one formal, one rustic, located several km from the center of Zweibrücken. Generously sized rooms, exquisite service.

Authenticity & Character

Location

In the countryside

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Alsace wine route tour - from Strasbourg

Strasbourg

For me, the Alsatian Wine Tour was a delight. I knew very little about Alsatian wines, and left the area with a new appreciation of their variety. The hosts at our two vineyards were informative and eager to answer all our questions. Both afternoons were a highlight for our entire group, which ranged from wine snobs to those who know what they like but have little background in wine culture. We all learned from and loved this experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

In the footsteps of our ancestors around Moselle (France) and Germany

Zweibrücken

Great fun driving through the countryside, trying to find traces of ancestors who lived in these villages more than 200 years ago. First organized by Napoleon, the civil registration records for births, marriages and deaths, now scanned and available at websites of the regional archives, offered just enough breadcrumbs to follow our ancestors as they grew their families and struggled to make a living in 19th-century France. Talk to a genealogist to get started.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

On the whole, the day tours and tour guides were amazing and lots of fun! I thought we would be part of a smaller tour group, which was only true on one day, the other days it was just the two of us. Just something to be more clear about in advance.
My only critique really is on the administrative side - i.e. getting our names wrong, our info getting deleted and also not separated to preserve privacy, miscommunication about transfers, seemingly not recognizing there were 2 separate travelers with different arrival and departure info. It would be good to add that there were no transfers day to day, so one could plan ahead, review how public transportation works, etc.
I will review our Croatia trip next year carefully so I am well prepared, and ask for clarification if there is confusion.

Hotel Reviews

Hôtel Baume

Paris

Great location, user friendly, clean, just perfect!

Authenticity & Character

Location

It's close to restaurants and shops, lots of bustling activities

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

It was very charming overall

Hôtel La Zoologie

Bordeaux

Loved this hotel!! It was so different and interesting, a mix of modern and old

Authenticity & Character

The food was very good, the staff very helpful

Location

Not too noisy, but still close to where you want to go

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Interesting room set up, so spacious!!

Activity Reviews

St-Emilion E-Bike & Wine Excursion with Picnic at a Château

Bordeaux

Our guide was very knowledgeable and well informed. She made the best of our weather that day. The ebikes were very easy to ride. The Lynch was excellent!

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bay of Arcachon Day Trip

Bordeaux

This was a fun day trip, not too long, not to short, had a nice break at a park, the view was awesome.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Farmers' Market Experience

Bordeaux

Thus was a fun tour, tried lots of food, and the atmosphere was interesting

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Gourmet Food & Wine Walk

Bordeaux

There was more history here than food and wine I would say, which was interesting, but maybe woupd have skipped on the same day as the market tour

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cité du Vin Museum: Entrance Tickets & Audioguide

Bordeaux

All the exhibits were in motion causing me to feel slightly nauseous. Somehow it did not live up to the pre excitement.

This was our third time traveling with KimKim - each trip a little different but every experience with KimKim has been just what we wanted and beyond our expectations. The accommodations that were chosen for us on each adventure have been excellent -only one on this holiday in Paris was a little off the usual quality but maybe that’s just Paris?? All of our transportation was wonderful -the drivers contacted us as we were told they would to let us know where to meet them and everyone was professional. The guides for the 7 tours that we were on were very impressive, knowledgeable, accommodating (except for one at the Eiffel Tower - he basically gave us a quick rundown, took us up to the second level, showed us where to go down when we were ready to leave and he left)…we can’t say enough good things about them. We will definitely be using KimKim for our future travels!

Hotel Reviews

The Montague On The Gardens

London

We LOVED this hotel. The rooms were comfortable, the afternoon tea perfect, the breakfast outstanding, and everyone that worked there always had a smile on their face. The location was perfect for us as well.

Authenticity & Character

Cozy, welcoming, comfortable

Location

We were able to walk almost everywhere and the tube station was very close by. It was also a quiet area -not much traffic at all.

Staff

Always had a smile

Cleanliness & Comfort

The bed was great, the room was roomy, the shower was great

Hotel Jeanne D'Arc Le Marais

Paris

Great location! Very quaint hotel but our room was very small and the ‘courtyard’ that our windows opened to was a 4 walled area that only let in the smells of whatever the restaurant below was frying -ugh. Breakfast was fair.

Authenticity & Character

Quaint

Location

Love Les Marais

Staff

Didn’t interact too much with the staff. They were friendly but not overly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Small room, better ventilation. Said it opened to a courtyard but 4 walls is not my idea of a courtyard. Better pillows

Chateau de Bellefontaine

Bayeux

The grounds were beautiful. The rooms were very comfortable. Quiet. The breakfast was great

Authenticity & Character

Decent dinner at the hotel if you don’t want to walk into town. It’s quiet and the grounds are beautiful. The rooms are very comfortable as well.

Location

Quiet area just outside of the main part of town. The walk was nice-about 20 minutes to the center of town

Staff

They were friendly when you could find them. I think they multitask

Cleanliness & Comfort

Moxy Hotel Heathrow

Hounslow

Great vibe! Welcoming staff. Great location for being close to the airport and on the shuttle route (minimal fee)

Authenticity & Character

Fun vibe

Location

On the airport shuttle route but not on top of the airport

Staff

Very friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very comfortable room

Activity Reviews

Private Louvre Museum Visit

Paris

Our guide was incredible. So enthusiastic and engaging. Learned so much

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Uncovered Paris’ Treasures on a Private Tuk-Tuk Experience

Paris

A fun easy way to cover a large area of Paris. The guide was very knowledgeable and personable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The little cart can maneuver around all the traffic

Private Notre-Dame & Latin Quarter Walk

Paris

Learned so much!

Quality of Experience

Loved all the details and history about the Latin Quarter, Notre Dame , and all the other points of interest

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Self-Guided Day in Le Marais: Cheese Shop, Museums, & Market

Paris

We booked a cheese tasting and tried to do a couple of museums. We had done some larger museums before this day so we were getting tired. We also had a WWII Paris guided tour on this day in the morning that was not included in the tour list -it was wonderful! The guide was very enthusiastic about including everything that happened in Paris during WWII -I highly recommend this tour!

WWII Paris Uncovered – Private Experience

Paris

Excellent tour! The guide was very enthused about teaching us everything she knew which was a lot! And we were happy to learn from her.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Honfleur, Beuvron & Calvados Tasting Day Trip

Bayeux

A great tour of the area Honfleur is a beautiful town near the water. We first went to the inn where Monet would stay as well as other impressionist painters. It was nice driving around the country roads to the calvados tasting and Bevron was another very very old quaint countryside village.

Quality of Experience

Juliet was wonderful!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Eiffel Tower Summit Tickets

Paris

The Eiffel Tower is amazing but our tour guide was mediocre especially compared to other guides we heard all around us

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

He could have given us a lot more info

Private Mont Saint-Michel: History, Views & Hidden Corners

Bayeux

Our guide, Theo, was amazing!! Knew everything one could know about Mont Saint Michel!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Self-Guided Exploration of Bayeux

Bayeux

Quality of Experience

Amandine did and excellent job creating a wonderful experience for my wife and I for our trip to the south of France. She built us an amazing itinerary covering all of our requests and added other points of interest with her knowledge of the areas that we
were travelling through. Accommodations, travel arrangements and tours were spot on.

We would recommend and use Kim Kim again for future travels.

Merci Amandine.....much appreciated.

Robin and Kirk Roberts
Canada

Hotel Reviews

Hotel 96

Marseille

Beautiful property with a very helpful and friendly staff. Great breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very quiet and quaint. Not too much close buy though. Bit of a walk to restaurants.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nemea Appart Hotel Cannes Palais

Cannes

Nicely appointed apartments with a small balcony. Close to all amenities....great location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Apartment was in dire need of a good cleaning, painting and bedroom carpet was stained with a bit of mold.

Chateau St Roux

Le Cannet-des-Maures

A real gem. Beautiful property with amazing views and great wines. Lovely dining room and great food. Staff were very friendly. A great wine tour provided by the staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Aparthotel AMMI Vieux Nice

Nice

Very cute hotel in a great location in the heart of Nice on the edge of Old Town. Room was a bit on the small side but was well appointed. Excellent staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Best Western Marseille Aeroport

Vitrolles

Nice Hotel close to the airport with free shuttle. Good restaurant on the premise and a nice outdoor pool. Well appointed room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Half-Day morning Cruise to Calanques National Park - small group

Marseille

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

2-hour walking tour

Marseille

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cannes – Traditional Gastronomy Walking Tour (approx. 3 hours · shared experience)

Cannes

Excellent tour with a very welcoming guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Wine Tour in Bellet & Saint Paul de Vence from Nice

Nice

This has to be one of the best wine tours we have ever experienced. Our guide was very knowledgable and entertaining. We saw some beautiful country side and met several of the owners and families of the wineries.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit and Wine Tasting at Château Saint Roux

France

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Enjoy the Chateau Saint-Roux

France

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had a wonderful and memorable trip to France thanks to the Kim Kim staff. We appreciated all our tour guides along our route in Paris, Amboise, Aix, and Cassis. Standout drivers were Phillip and stand out tour guides were Henri and Greg. We loved it all and would do it again.

Hotel Reviews

Hôtel Palm - Astotel

Paris

Of all the hotels, this hotel had a wonderful selection of breakfast items, had drinks and snacks available all day, ability to do custom orders, and the top tasting yogurt of them all. The bed was comfortable and we were in a lively part of the city with access to almost everything. The hotel was pretty basic, but staff were great.

Authenticity & Character

It was a more modern style with emphasis on unique newness and simplicity.

Authenticity & Character

It was a more modern style with emphasis on unique newness and simplicity.

Location

I loved the location. We walked to the Sacre Cour and I took several runs around the area and down to the Seine for amazing sights.

Location

Staff

Wonderful staff. They were almost always available.

Staff

Wonderful staff. They were almost always available.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very comfortable. Room was a tad bit small.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very comfortable. Room was a tad bit small.

La Maison Rabelais

Amboise

This was obviously a very nice hotel. The staff were especially nice and accommodating. The breakfast was pretty decent but was billed separately. The yogurt was OK, not as good as the Paris hotel. I’m not sure if one could order a cooked to order item, but I didn’t pursue it. The general fruit selection were very good as was bread and bakery items were especially good here.

Authenticity & Character

Very nice plush hotel. The room was vast compared to our prior hotel and we felt like royalty.

Location

The hotel was in an great location in Amboise. We were within close walking distance to all the attractions.

Staff

Great staff! Friendly and cheerful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Excellent cleanliness and comfort.

Boutique Hotel Cezanne

Aix-en-Provence

This hotel was very nice and comfortable. The view out of our window was very nice with a view of a tall plane tree and a courtyard. The staff were very helpful and accommodating, helping to store our luggage until check-in and keeping our wine chilled. The breakfasts were very nice and staff checked on each table to take custom coffee orders. They might have been able to make custom breakfast orders, but I didn’t ask. The variety is fruits, bakery items and other oatmeal & muesli items was a step beyond other breakfasts. Unfortunately the yogurts offered were just a basic well known brand we have in the US and not that special or unique.

Authenticity & Character

The hotel had very appealing character and style.

Location

We loved our location. We were close to the market and all the nice restaurants, shops, and main attractions. I enjoyed a very nice run around the area.

Staff

The staff were quite friendly and helpful. They called us to let us know our driver had arrived.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was a bit smaller than our previous room, but was quite comfortable. This is a very nice hotel and deserves its 4 star rating. The only issue was the bathroom door would not close all the way and had to stay partly open.

Hôtel de la Plage Mahogany

Cassis

This was a very nice hotel and had a ‘beachy’ feel. The staff were friendly and helpful. They stowed our luggage until we could check in and even let us check in early. We didn’t get to experience breakfast due to an early departure.

Authenticity & Character

The character of the hotel was simple and not super updated or stylish, but was very comfortable and had a perfect view of the Mediterranean Sea.

Location

Amazing location! right next to best beach in the area! We were within walking distance to the town center and boat docks.

Staff

Very friendly, but had had a minimal interaction with the staff. They did provide coffee all day long.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very quiet and comfortable room. It was a smaller area but had a very nice seating area on the balcony overlooking the sea.

Activity Reviews

Musée de l'Orangerie: Entrance tickets & Audioguides

Paris

One of my favorite all time museums. I enjoyed all the detailed narration of all the paintings and availability in English. I could visit there each time I go to Paris.

Quality of Experience

I just enjoyed seeing Monet’s Picasso’s and the other artists’ paintings. I also enjoyed seeing a video of Monet painting while in his advanced years.

Luberon Hilltop Villages Afternoon Trip

Aix-en-Provence

The Luberon Hilltop Villages Afternoon Trip was amazing. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and provided complete information. The scenery was spectacular, with beautiful views of the little villages. We enjoyed walking around most of the villages, which made the experience really fun and memorable.

Private Sidecar Ride from Amboise to Vouvray

Amboise

The Private Sidecar Ride from Amboise to Vouvray was a unique and enjoyable experience. The sidecar was like a motorcycle with a sidecar, able to drive on freeways and even sidewalks, which gave us great maneuverability. Although it was a bit chilly due to the speed and weather, the ride was exciting and memorable.

Overall trip was amazing! Loved the mix of history and market shopping. Celine Mancuso was the best guide. She is a true scholar and historian. Wish we could have extended her to the Avignon portion of the trip. Faure Brigitte was very accommodating and pleasant but did not have the depth of knowledge expected from a guide. She was more of a driver. The driver from Provence to Avignon did not speak English. This was a problem. The driver from Avignon to Aix was great! We did not get a chance to spend time with Chloe the guide in Aix. There was a mix-up as to whether we'd tour Gorde on the previous day or on the way to Aix. Alexia did not check with us to find out so we left Hotel Cambis much too early to arrive in Aix at 11 without being able to check in. Having nothing to do, we toured Aix by ourselves which was a long walk from the hotel and back. By check in time at 3, we were exhausted and wanted to enjoy the hotel. That was when the tour with Chloe was scheduled to start. That was very bad planning/timing. Alexia stated that break was time scheduled for lunch before the tour. We did not need 4 hours for lunch with nothing to do but a self guided tour. Should have checked out of Hotel Cambis much later. The Pigonnet hotel was nice but it was not 5-star service or food. It was too far from the city center to walk to the market on Tuesday so I missed that one. Nice grounds but not worth the price due to poor service, poor food and location. Domaine de Manville was awesome and Hotel Cambis was average but a good location. The breakfast buffet was terrible. Ran out of food and poor choice of food. The staff was great and recommended fantastic places for dinner. Your dinner list in Avignon is outdated with those restaurants closed altogether or closed the days we were there. Overall itinerary was awesome except for the last day.

Hotel Reviews

Domaine de Manville

Les Baux-de-Provence

The staff was great. Able to get a ride into town to eat dinner. The Michelin Star restaurant was outstanding! Breakfast was amazing. Property was beautiful.

Authenticity & Character

Furnishings

Location

Beautiful property and pool

Staff

Bell Service (Gerald) was great!

Cleanliness & Comfort

All clean but elevator did smell like fish the whole time we were there.

Hotel de Cambis

Avignon

Rooms were great and management staff was amazing but breakfast buffet was terrible. Not a lot of choice, inconsistent, ran out of mocha, eggs, bananas. Employees were chatting in the kitchen and slow to refill the buffet. Front desk was able to get us incredible dinner reservations each night.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Le Pigonnet

Aix-en-Provence

Hotel grounds are amazing but the bellman was not real helpful. No chance of checking in early. Wait staff was slow (someone delivered hot food on trays and left it sitting for a few minutes waiting on another server instead of serving right away which happened to multiple tables). French fries were cold and soggy and ham sandwich was dry and flavorless. Breakfast buffet was good. Room was big and nice.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Too far from the city center

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Visit Roman Sites and Medieval Heritage in Le Pont du Gard, Uzès and Nîmes

France

Visit Les Baux de Provence & Saint Rémy de Provence

France

Day Excursion to the Luberon villages of Bonnieux, Ménerbes and Lourmarin

France

Pretty countryside but too far to drive it all in one day.

Roman Splendors of Orange & Vaison-la-Romaine

France

Excursion to Gordes and Isle-sur-la-Sorgue

France

Self-guided exploration of Avignon

France

We visited the Pope's Palace but it was incredibly hot inside.

Private Walking tour of Aix-en-Provence

France

Did not go on this tour as it was scheduled at check-in time which would have given us no time to enjoy the hotel. Should have been scheduled between 1-3.

Free time in Les Baux de Provence and visit of the castle

Les Baux de Provence