Kimkim Trip Reviews for France

Truth be told, we took a leap of faith when we engaged KimKim.com for our honeymoon in Southern France, because no one around us had heard of KimKim.com before. It turned out to be one of the best decisions for our honeymoon trip, especially since we could not speak French.

Pre-trip wise, it was lovely to work with Joel, and the detailed itinerary he prepared as well as the prompt responses he gave to all our countless enquiries made the preparation so much easier. He gave priority to what we wanted, and was very open to discussing options on how we could fit this trip into our budget, even going the extra mile at times which we appreciated very much.

During the trip, we felt very assured and relaxed since all our accommodation/transport/activities were booked. This helped us to "live in the moment" and experience our trip fully.

What we really liked about the trip:
- We appreciated the pace of the trip, where we had a good balance of sports activities (i.e. hiking, water rafting) and cultural /leisure activities (i.e. food tours, lavender field tours) throughout our 10-day trip.
- The accommodation options that Joel picked for us were really awesome. Each had their own unique charm. I personally loved the College 4 Hotel in Lyon the best while my husband loved the Rivera Hotel in Annecy the most.
- We loved the activities that were planned for us, especially the water rafting experience in Chamonix and the private hiking tour in Annecy by our guide Olivier, and full day trip to Cassi and villages of Luberon by our guide, Ady. It was a good mix of small group and private activities and very apt too, fitting with the nature of the activity.
- Our drivers for the private transfers were really friendly and welcoming too. Special mention to our driver who waited for us at Aix en Provence for a few hours till midnight due to our train delay,. During the trip, we realized how much we would have struggled if we had done this trip on our own as navigating around with language barriers was challenging, especially for transport.

One point that we must highlight would be the responsiveness of Joel and his team. Not only was Joel prompt in responding to our enquiries and couple of changes that needed to be made during the trip itself, we also experienced first-hand the "crisis support" that was provided. We had a security scare at Lyon train station where our train was delayed for slightly more than two hours, and the process was quite anxiety-provoking and nerve-wrecking given that it was already nighttime when this happened and our inability to understand what was going on due to the language barrier. However, thankfully Valentine (Joel's colleague) reached back to us promptly after we tried calling the after-office-hours hotline for support. Her assurance and liaison with the driver who was supposed to pick us up at our destination (Aix en Provence) was immensely helpful and she ensured that she remained contactable to us till we reached our hotel safely in Aix en Provence. We were extremely thankful that we had Kimkim's service to back us up if anything happened in France. :)

There was one aspect which we felt could be improved though. For our train ride from Geneva to Lyon, even though we had First Class tickets, we were unable to get any seats in the First Class cabin likely because it was free seating, and it was full by the time we reached the cabin. It was also quite chaotic and confusing as we did not know where the First Class cabin was in the train and everyone was rushing up the train so it was difficult for us to ask people as well (we almost got onto the wrong end of the train). In the end, we ended up sitting at whatever available seats we could find, which was in the Second Class cabin. We noted that perhaps this was a common occurrence as there were others who were like us, had First Class tickets but there were no more seats in the First Class cabin for them. Additionally, there was also no train conductor to verify if our seats match our tickets. As we were unfamiliar with taking trains in Europe and this was not what we were expecting, it might have been helpful to let us know such situations could occur and tips for us to manage this (E.g. which end of the train that the First Class cabin belonged to). Nevertheless, for the other trains where there were fixed seats and cabins designated for us, it was much easier.

Apart from this however, everything else was perfect. :) We are grateful to have engaged Joel via KimKim and would highly recommend for others to do the same, especially if you are taking tours in a foreign country where you do not speak their native language.

- Lyon and Shan (from Singapore)

Hotel Reviews

Collège Hotel

Lyon

We had a pleasant experience at this hotel. It is cozy and quaint. The staff at the reception are friendly and willing to help. What impressed us most was the dedication of the hotel to being environmentally-friendly.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rivage Hôtel & Spa Annecy

Annecy

This was the most luxurious hotel that we stayed at for our trip. We loved the spaciousness and the balcony which overlooked beautiful views of the sky. Though it is located slightly further away from the city centre, it was nevertheless a good location for those who wanted to enjoy the lake.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hôtel Le Refuge des Aiglons

Chamonix-Mont-Blanc

We felt that this hotel would be perfect for winter but not so much for summer. For example, there was no aircon and we had to borrow a fan from the reception. The hotel also seemed understaffed as there were a few times where we could not find a staff to talk to and needed to wait for awhile. They also had no dental kits to provide us. Nevertheless, the design of the room and the balcony that overlooked the snowy mountains made up for it, on top of the lovely design of the hotel ground floor. :)

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grand Hôtel Roi René Aix-en-Provence Centre – MGallery

Aix-en-Provence

We loved our stay at this hotel. The location was great and the room was very well-designed, especially the toilet. The breakfast spread was one of the best as well. The room could have been slightly more spacious, if not all would be perfect. :)

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Lyon Old Town Food Tour (Small Group)

Lyon

We loved that the guide not only brought us on a food tour, but also gave us a history tour of Lyon. :) However, this tour might not be the best for vegetarians, because there will be some dishes where vegetarians are unable to enjoy.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cruise and Walk : Plus +Formula

Annecy

As first-time hikers, we were pleasantly surprised that we were able to achieve our hiking goals for the day. It was a good experience, though quite challenging at certain parts and the hot weather certainly didn't make it easier. However, we had a charming and wonderful guide who really helped and cheered us on.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Rafting Chamonix

France

It was unexpectedly awesome, one of the most memorable experiences this trip! :) Definitely worth a try. Rafting down the river of Chamonix was an amazing experience , with the backdrop of the snowy mountains and beautiful scenery. It helped that the guide was witty and humorous, and made it very fun for us. Kudos to him for also speaking in both French and English to cater to us.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Lavender morning tour

France

It was a pity that due to the drought, much of the lavender fields had been harvested already. However, thanks to our guide, we were still able to find some lavender fields, together with sunflower fields to take beautiful pictures. We also enjoyed the tasting session at the lavender shop.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cassis & Villages of the Luberon

Aix-en-Provence

Though the full day tour can be tiring, it was fulfilling. We loved Cassis with the cruise and the amazing views, and the different villages of the Luberon were really charming and beautiful. :) We really appreciated the guide who always offered us tidbits of knowledge about Provence and also spoke in French and English to cater to the whole group.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Valentine helped us a wonderful trip to France. She made suggestions for itineraries, tours, hotels--everything. She was responsive and communicative. Kimkim made traveling stress free.

Hotel Reviews

Hôtel Dieu Intercontinental

Marseille

Nice hotel but larger and more commercial feeling. If you want big and modern inside this hotel is great, but if you are looking for charm, I'd look elsewhere.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Villa Victoria

Nice

This place was lovely. The outdoor garden was so fantastic and a highlight. The staff was so friendly and helpful. We would go back in a second.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Not close to the older part of Nice. We did a lot of walking to get to our hotel

Staff

Mariann was amazing

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mas Valentine

Saint-Rémy de Provence

This hotel is a winner. Beautiful, charming and run by Mariann-who is the best part of the hotel. She is a treasure. We'd go back in an instant.

Authenticity & Character

Just beautiful. Pool is an oasis. Rooms are charming.

Location

Not right in the town but five minute drive away.

Staff

Mariann is a treasure. She was so nice and helpful--all the guests loved her

Cleanliness & Comfort

Le Square Louvois 4*

Paris

Well located near the Opera and Place Vendome, this was a very nice hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Modern and chic

Location

Right near a metro stop and easy walk to many wonderful shopping sight seeing areas

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms are quite small for the price

Activity Reviews

Cruise in the Calanques - Max 12 people on board

France

Great trip! 3 hours and you see things you couldn't see otherwise. We were helped by great weather-but this is a wonderful way to see Les Callanques

Quality of Experience

H

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Art, Architecture & Wine: A Provencal Journey at Chateau la Coste

Aix-en-Provence

Interesting but it was blazing hot, really too hot to be outside, and it's a lot of walking. Beautiful grounds, but not as interesting as I would have thought

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Stroll in the Alpilles and visit of the Carrières de Lumières by electric bike

France

Absolutely great way to see this area of France. I'd recommend this to everyone.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A Taste of Avignon

Avignon

This was a good tour because we only had the morning to spend in Avignon and Simon was a great tour guide for the area, using food as a starting point for his stories.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

N/A

Josee spent a lot of time with me before we had the travel plan finalized. She is very professional and details oriented. Everything is perfect. The locations of the hotel at Paris and Nice are great Both are in the center of cities and close to metro stations. The day trips are well planned and they are small group tour which is about 8-9 people. The drivers are very nice and always on time. We had a great time in Paris and Nice. Thank you Josee!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Amiral Fondary

Paris

Nice and clean. Great location!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Feel Home Assalit

Nice

In the center of Nice. Close to grocery stores.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Day-trip to Versailles: Palace & Gardens with audioguide + Round-trip transfers

Paris

This is the only big group tour, but we don’t mind.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Skip the line visit of the Louvre with audioguide (tickets only)

Paris

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Eiffel Tower Summit Ticket

Paris

Very crowded.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Best of the French Riviera

Nice

Small group tour and you got to see a little bit of everything.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Gorges of Verdon and Fields of Lavender Tour

Nice

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boat to Sainte Marguerite Island (îles de Lérin)

France

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

While the rooms were fine, I never received from Isabel a list of what it was we paid for. The total bill was $1785. I would appreciate your company sending me an itemization of charges.

We used kimkim to travel to Croatia, Greece, and Italy (separate times), prior to using kimkim for a 12-day trip with family to France. Isabelle had positive reviews, so we started our booking processes with her. We were traveling with a 14-year-old, 87-year-old on a walker, and three relatively spry adults and so I made sure to carefully articulate that with Isabelle up front and reiterate often. We were also spending four days with family, requiring no hotels or scheduling on her part for that time.

We gave her maximum flexibility to use trains, planes and suggest hotels and tours based on the broad interests of our group. We started planning 6 months in advance to give us the best schedules and options. Our budget began at $200 p/p p/day, but we increased it to $250 p/p p/day at her urging. She was very patient with my father-in-law, who struggled to understand and use kimkim successfully; we had several last minute requests. My pre-travel experience with Isabelle was positive, save for about 10 days when she was completely non-responsive. Then, about a week before our trip was scheduled to start, she let us know she was leaving the company and someone else would be assigned to support us. No one contacted me proactively, so right before we were scheduled to arrive I contacted kimkim customer service...

Upon arriving in Nice, everything went very smoothly and we had a nice hotel and excellent tour driver who took us through Eze at sunset, which I recommend.

We originally asked for the most direct train from Nice to Pau upon departure, as we had a family reunion scheduled that night. During our planning, Isabelle insisted that our best option was to fly from Nice to Toulouse, then take a train from Toulouse to Tarbes. We agreed. When the tickets came (often during planning, only sample schedules are offered) it had us waiting in Toulouse for 4.5 hours. When asked about the schedule, Isabelle insisted it was still the best option and that we could also "enjoy Toulouse" before taking a train to our family. We believed Isabelle when she said taking the plane and train were the fastest option... but wish I had checked. There were several direct routes she could have selected, with far better schedules, that would have allowed us to spend far fewer than eleven hours in transit. Our flight was at 7:20AM, meaning leaving our hotel in Nice at 4:30. When we arrived at the airport in Toulouse, our transportation wasn't there. We couldn't get in touch with the driver or our replacement support servicer from kimkim (it was 8:20AM on Saturday). We finally got a response from the driver who had forgotten about us. After waiting an hour, we were druven by a very kind gentleman to the Toulouse Gare. Unfortunately, contrary to Isabelle's suggestion, there was no way to "enjoy Toulouse", because the Gare (train station) had no place to stow luggage. Isabelle hadn't coordinated for a driver or tour, so lugging bags through the cobblestone streets for 4 hours after being up since 3:40AM, didn't seem like a great option.. So we were stuck in the train station that was under serious construction for a whole morning and didn't arrive in Tarbes until 15:10.

If you visit the south central area of France I highly recommend a trip to the Grottes de Bettharam; especially with children. It is not fir the mobility-challenged, because you will do an hour of walking and stair climbings in wet, uneven conditions, followed by a boat and train through the most unbelievable natural caves, lit using electricity in a beautifully artistic manner. It is truly an eartly and manmade marvel all-in-one.

Leaving our family near Pau, we were supposed to take a train to Biarritz. The original proposed schedule on the trip summary wasn't the same as what was actually reserved. Our family was shocked by the train schedule and connection, since it had us going from Pau to Bayonne and then waiting in Bayonne an hour before heading to Biarritz. Biarritz is only a ten minute train ride from Bayonne and there were more direct trains available on that specific date that she didn't choose. So rather than lug suitcases around two stations and have another long layover that made no sense, my in-laws extended the rental car they were using when we visted family and we drove to Biarritz in an hour. When I shared the concerns with kimkim about the train schedule and our decision to drive, Isabelle's replacement (Valentine) agreed that the schedule made no sense and that driving was a good option. We lost the money we'd paid for the trains and the private transportation from the station, had to pay for gas, and two more days of the rental.

On arriving in Biarritz, we were astonished to learn that the hotel Isabelle booked us all into had no lift. We contacted kimkim and were told this was a historic property and couldn't have a lift, but hotel staff would help with bags. The hotel staff did not help with the bags, but the point is that an 87-year-old with two knee replacements and a recently-shattered ankle, on a walker, cannot go up and down three flights of stairs! Well, there was absolutely no real sense of urgency about the situation at all and no alternative hotel offered. We struggled to get him and our bags up (and for him, the going down was even harder). There was also no parking at the hotel, and there is not even a drop-off area at the front. Very important things to disclose. The suggestion Valentine offered when I explained how difficult the parking situation was (street parking several blocks away and lugging the luggage with my father-in-law on a walker), was to park in public garage even farther away... We spent over $130 Euros on parking before being able to return the car. The Hotel Edouard VII is a lovely property and had kind staff with a beautiful breakfast. But it is absolutely not appropriate for anyone with limited mobility. Biarritz is by far one of our favorite places: Le Sin in the Cite de l'Ocean is not to be missed! What a fantastic restaurant. And Petit Place, right on the water with your feet in the sand (inside the restaurant!) is the best place to watch the sunset.

After Biarritz was Paris, where Isabelle booked us in separate hotels. My in-laws were concerned about some reviews of the Off Seine where we were staying (lots of entertainment and right on the Seine, so can be loud), so Isabelle offered to put them "right across the river" in a quieter hotel. Well, they ended up being a half-hour walk away. Their hotel had no AC (something that should also be disclosed). We could take the metro 5 stops to visit, but they had to get taxis to meet us for our tours which were scheduled from our hotel and other activities that were planned. Isable booked us for the catacombs on our first full-day in Paris, but did not schedule transportation there or back. It is not easy to get taxis that can accommodate five people, and it was very expensive, so if you have a larger party and taking the metro is not a good option, make sure kimkim handles transportation well ahead of time. Taxis and private cars (Serge and Tony reserved by kimkim both had problems) have a hard time finding the Off Seine hotel and getting down to entrance (which is blocked on one side by a gate and the other by barriers). A visit to the catacombs is a perfect way to spend a couple hours, although another tour that is not appropriate for anyone with mobility challenges. If you're there on a weekend, you get spit out into a nice street market and area with good restaurants.

If you stay at the Off Seine over a Sunday, be sure to reserve for brunch well in advance. It's wonderful. I would also recommend scheduling a boat tour to the Eiffel Tower through the Off Seine (they have a relationship with a nice boat operator). We went in the morning and it was cool and a lovely way to see Paris. The Off Seine is a great property, generally, but we had no AC our first 30 hours and the electricity kept shorting out, affecting our lights.

Upon departing to the CDG airport, Isabelle booked us a private driver. As mentioned above, the hotel Off Seine is apparently very difficult to access, so he was 30 minutes late picking us up meaning a bit of a scramble at the airport.

In the end, Joel (my France kimkim support) and Mariana (general kimkim customer support) tried diligently to find solutions and ways to compensate us for the impacts of Isabelle's poor planning and selections. As she is no longer with the company, I fear we were just the unfortunate recipients of a lack of care/concern, knowing there would be no consequences to her professionally. My previous experiences with kimkim have been completely different and almost exclusively positive.

We really appreciated the care and attention that Valentine took to listen to our wants for a family trip to France and make it a reality. The experiences and accommodations were wonderful and we'll have many memories from this trip. We will definitely suggest kimkim to friends and family to book their next international trip!

We loved our guide (Julie) in Normandy (both for the D-Day beach guided tour and the Mont St. Michele guided tour. She was young, fun, energetic, knowledgeable and personable and we all enjoyed our time with her.

Our hotel in Bayeux (Hotel Villa Lara) was also terrific, the staff was friendly and welcoming, the rooms were spacious, and the lobby was quaint and nice with a fun little bar for wine and snacks.

We did not care for the "scavenger hunt" activity in Paris and would not recommend that activity for other visitors to Paris.

Our hotel in Paris (Pavillon Faubourg Saint-Germain) was also excellent, in a great location, with very nice amenities, although the rooms were slightly on the small side (not much room to move around).

Eiffel tower was a fun adventure

Our bike ride tour of Versaille and the Versaille Castle and property was also very fun, and our guide (Rachel) was pleasant and knowledgeable.

Really enjoyed our brief tour of the Louvre with Melanie..she was very energetic and knowledgeable and focused on some of her favorite areas which we enjoyed.

In Avignon, we did not enjoy our first night at our N15 B&B (we didn't find the host to be very warm and welcoming, and the hot water broke mid shower and they were not anticipating hot water through the weekend), and were much happier after moving to the Hotel Cloitre Saint Lous. Air conditioning didn't seem to keep pace with the higher outside temperatures, but it was a very neat place to stay, with access (literally outside our bedroom door) to the old Chapel. It also had a neat rooftop pool which was great for cooling off after a hot day.

We loved our cooking class (small group) with Chef Jean Marc..such a neat experience being in his personal home vs. taking a cooking class in a commercial kitchen.

As for Nice..beautiful place, great hotel (La Perouse), great location, great staff, loved the extra space in our room (one of the large suites with nice outdoor patio/terrace). "Food" tour guide was knowledgeable and friendly, but it was more of a general walking tour and not so much a food tour, so that was a little off from expectations.

All of the scheduled transportation (private drivers, trains) was terrific and so nice for us to not have to worry with any of those logistics.

Overall, we had a fabulous trip and everything was well coordinated by Laurence..we would definitely consider using KimKim again for future international travel.

Thank you Manon! You created the most amazing tour of France for my family! We arrived in Nice, then ventured to Provence and ended in Paris over 10 days. Incredible activities and hotels with transportation to the activities and arrangements to take the train with transportation as I had requested. Electric bike tour through the French countryside, walking tour of a Parisian neighborhood, private tour of Versailles, tickets to the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower...and the list goes on. It was exceptional and in the midst of staffing shortages across the world, it was amazing to see how reliable and professional all of your various contacts were on every stop of our vacation. We will use Kim Kim for our next trip for sure! Merci Manon!!

Overall, Joel was very helpful, responsive, kind and excellent in helping us put together the perfect trip in France. There were several times that details were missed - for example, I was going to the airport home by myself (on the last day) without my family, which I mentioned several times leading up to our trip. When the airport transport came to my hotel, he had a large truck for all of our luggage and for the three of us. It was only me. I wondered if I paid more for that type of vehicle because of this missed detail. In the end, I couldn't have asked for a better trip.

Hotel Reviews

L'Hôtel Particulier

Bordeaux

Excellent location!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hôtel Lorette - Astotel

Paris

Excellent place and great customer service. A little further away from the main sights than we would have liked.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Wine in the City (Private Tour)

Bordeaux

We had SO MUCH FUN on this wine tour and we learned so much! Our guide was EXCELLENT!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided wine and Bike Tour in St Emilion (small groupe -09h)

France

It was fun, but it was raining throughout the day. We experienced a variety of chateaus and wines.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Murders and Mysteries of the Louvre

Paris

We had an excellent guide - Stephanie (?). She made this tour so much fun and so interesting.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Stephanie has a Ph.D in Art history and she knew how to make the tour fun and meaningful.

Transport

Half day guided tour of the Palace of Versailles with priority access in a small group (1 to 15 people)

Paris

I thought our guide rushed us through and didn't really tell stories that made knowing the history fun.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Montmartre Local Gastronomy Tour

Paris

Our guide was super knowledgable about the history of food in Paris and clearly has a passion for great food. She was very talkative, delightful and intelligent. We had a very fun time.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Joel did a great job helping us plan our trip to France in early June. We were a little late getting started and had a number of changes and complications on our end (adding my son and his friend to the trip mid-way through) and Joel was very helpful and patient with us. We hade great experiences in Paris, Bordeaux and Cassis. Joel arranged great guides and experiences and arranged the travel in a manner that worked perfectly. He seemed to think of everything and made the trip stress free and wonderful!
Thanks to Kim Kim and especially to Joel!
Mark and Debi

Hotel Reviews

Best Western Aramis Saint Germain

Paris

Great location! Very helpful people at the front desk! Comfortable and they provide a very nice breakfast. Just steps away from the Metro stop and an easy walk to the Luxembourg Gardens (and just a little further to the river and Notre Dame.

Authenticity & Character

We had a small balcony where we could sit and watch people coming and going to work and school. Charming!

Location

Easy access to the Metro, and within walking distance of a lot of downtown Paris.

Staff

The people working at the hotel seemed very happy to be helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Met or exceeded our expectations

Hôtel Majestic

Bordeaux

Great location, very nice rooms and a great breakfast. You really felt you were somewhere else while you were staying there (it was much more authentic that being at a standard chain-hotel). The room was very comfortable and just a short walk from the main square area of the town.

Authenticity & Character

Its not a chain-style place. The rooms have character and our was very large!

Location

Its just around the corner from the Opera House square - easy walk to the main parts of the town and the riverfront and the metro line.

Staff

Everyone was so friendly and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Met or exceeded our expectations

Une Terrasse sur la Mer

Cassis

Fantastic view! This is a private apartment, not a hotel, but the main room has fantastic views of the bay.

Tips for future travelers

It is located on a hillside above the town - which results in fantastic views but also some significant stairs/hillside walks.

Location

The views of the bay.

Activity Reviews

Paris Macaron Baking Class

Paris

Just a fantastic experience! Fun, and instructive, and the other participants were all so friendly!

Quality of Experience

A nice break from the usual activities of a Paris vacation.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very friendly and also very informative!

Sainte Chapelle and Notre-Dame

Paris

Our guide was very pleasant and knowledgeable, and seemed very interested in sharing what she knew about the locations we visited.

Quality of Experience

We saw a number of things we would otherwise have missed, and learned a lot!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was very knowledgeable and friendly.

Skip the line visit of the Louvre with audioguide (tickets only)

Paris

Obviously any trip to the Louvre is fantastic, but calling this a "skip the line" visit is a bit of an overstatement. Even with these tickets there was a significant line, but it was much better that if we just tried to get tickets that day. We found the audio guide to be cumbersome at first, but that may just be our inexperience with this type of technology.

Landmarks of Bordeaux - Private Walking Tour

Bordeaux

Very pleasant and informative. Our guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. In just a few hours we learned so much about the city and its history! It really improved our whole stay in Bordeaux!

Quality of Experience

Our guide so knowledgeable and nice, and provided so much information on the city and its history.

Saint-Emilion Afternoon Wine Tour

France

A wonderful tour of the Sant Emilion city and the surrounding vineyards and very nice stops at two Chateaus/wineries! Travel in a comfortable van with a very friendly and knowledgeable guide.

A kayak trip in the Calanques (inlets)

France

Beautify location! The experience of paddling into the calanques and taking a little swim in one of them was great!

Great hotel locations and suggestions — looking forward to the next one!

We had an amazing trip to France and are so glad we used KimKim to help plan. Joel took into account everything that we wanted to try to do while we were in France and planned a truly incredible trip for us. While we lost a day due to flight delays on the front end of our trip, we were able to get a wonderful taste of Paris and Versailles. Our favorite tour while in Paris was the Murders and Mysteries of the Louvre tour with David. The next stop was the Alsace region and we can’t stop telling people about how much we enjoyed the area. With Ana and Erik of Alsace Safari, we toured the adorable towns in the region along the wine road, tried some wine at a couple wineries, visited a castle, and drove up into the Vosges mountain range. The Alsace region is a must see! Dijon and Beaune were our next stops and we enjoyed trying the wines in the region, seeing the vineyards, and taking in the beauty of the area. Our final stop was Aix en Provence where we took part in an amazing cooking class experience with Gilles of Provence Gourmet and have been sold on trying cooking classes whenever we travel from here on out. We also loved seeing the villages and countryside in the Luberon region near France. This trip was filled with so many positive memories and we will not hesitate to use KimKim in the future.

Hotel Reviews

Hôtel Le Saint-Grégoire

Paris

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

James Boutique Hôtel

Colmar

The breakfast was excellent. The room was modern and comfortable. The hotel was walking distance to quite a bit in Colmar.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Philippe Le Bon

Dijon

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Boutique Hotel Cezanne

Aix-en-Provence

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Montmartre & Sacré-Coeur Walking Tour

Paris

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Nighttime Seine River Cruise with Dining Experience

Paris

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half day guided tour of the Palace of Versailles with priority access in a small group (1 to 15 people)

Paris

We got stuck in traffic on the way there, so our half day was rushed. We also expected the tour to be a small group but it was more like 30 people. I enjoyed our guide. Knowing what I know now, I’d rather have done a full day at Versailles so that we could take our time on the grounds and in the town.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Murders and Mysteries of the Louvre

Paris

This was such a fun tour. David was an excellent guide. It was definitely a fast walking tour to the various spots within the museum, but we got to see a lot and David provided us with a lot of interesting and cool information.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Walking tour in the old town of Strasbourg

France

I enjoyed our walking tour of Strasbourg and we really were able to make the tour our own since it was just us and our guide. I enjoyed learning the history of Strasbourg.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Iconic Full day Tour in Alsace from Colmar

Colmar

Loved, loved, loved this tour. The towns along the wine road were incredible. I’d never seen a stork until we traveled to the Alsace region and they were everywhere. The castle was incredible and the wine tasting was fabulous. Highly recommend.

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Munster Valley Full-Day Tour

Colmar

Fun day in the Vosges mountain range. We got to see the villagers in the area herd the cows up the roads of the Vosges Mountains. We enjoyed tasting wine and having cheese from the region.

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Exceptional wines & a stroll through Beaune (Passion Day)

France

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Picturesque Villages & Countryside in Burgundy

Dijon

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Cooking Class, Provencal Lunch and Local Market Tour in the Alpilles

France

Such a fun experience and I highly recommend it.

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Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Luberon Markets & Villages

France

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had the most amazing trip to France because of Simon. He helped us plan out every detail. We enjoyed fantastic excursions, our favorites being a wine tour in Bandol & Cassis and a cooking course in Provence that was absolutely incredible in a Michelin starred kitchen! Simon was also available and incredibly responsive when I had a couple questions during our trip. I cannot say enough good things about Simon and the unforgettable trip he helped design for my family. Merci beaucoup Simon!!!!!!!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Capelongue Bonnieux

Bonnieux

This hotel is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Le Parisis Paris Tour Eiffel

Paris

We loved the location and our view of the Eiffel tower, the rooms are quite small and the bathrooms left a little to be desired (paint chipping in showers, a little unsightly).

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Restaurant | Welcome gastronomic dinner in Aix en Provence

Aix-en-Provence

Of all of the restaurants we enjoyed on our trip, this one was one of our least favorites.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Full-day Private Cassis & Bandol Rosé Wine Tour

France

So fun! Great trip and beautiful views! Our guide was fantastic.

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private exclusive cooking class, Spa and Dinner in Joucas

France

This was our favorite excursion. We couldnt believe how hands on the chefs were and how much time they spent with us! Unfortunately there wasn’t enough time to use the spa, but the 7 course meal was amazing!!

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

(DU) Evening Eiffel Tower Private Tour + tickets

Paris

Wow! The eiffel tower at sunset was unbelievable! It is a MUST DO!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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

France

On time and pleasant! Also were prepared with car seats for our children which was very appreciated!

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I worked with Isabelle on a 5 day trip to Cognac & Épernay, France for me, my husband, and two friends. I was confident in her planning until we arrived in France. Based on my experience, I would not recommend booking a trip through kimkim and here's why:

Sloppy planning: Three of the five nights of the trip, we discovered that we'd paid for a hotel room that should not have been booked. Initially five of us were traveling, but a couple of weeks before departure one person in our group dropped out of the trip. Isabelle should have canceled his hotel rooms. She didn't.
The itinerary also left too much wasted time. We found ourselves having to "figure out what to do" to stay occupied. Well that's the point for me of using a service like kimkim. I expect them to figure it out for me.
Then the day we visited Épernay, Isabelle suggested we visit the Mercier house. It was closed. How did she not know that?

Using questionable vendors: We had three drivers for our various transfers between airports and hotels. Two of them were great: Aimee in Bordeaux and Moh in Paris, but then there was Claude. He drove us from Cognac to Bordeaux (2 hrs). He didn't speak any English. We don't speak any French. When he arrived at our hotel, he didn't even come inside to alert us that he'd arrived. A half hour after he was supposed to pick us up, my friend walked outside, saw him and asked him if he was there for us. Then he wasn't a very good driver. At one point he slammed on brakes so hard it sent all of us flying forward in the van. Not the way you want to wake up.

Poor choice of accommodations: I was disappointed with the hotel options. When we arrived it was obvious that there were probably better choices that could have been made. I had communicated to Isabelle that price was not a concern. I'd rather she'd put us in better hotels as opposed to having us pay for rooms we didn't need . In Paris we stayed at Hotel Bellechasse. I don't recommend it. The rooms are trash. They're entirely too small for two people to be inside at the same time. There's no where to plug up anything. And I actually got sick after eating the breakfast there. The hotel in Cognac, Hotel Chais Monnet was wonderful. I highly recommend that one. La Briqueterie in Épernay was ok. I think we ended up there because other hotels in the area were booked. The restaurant was very good.

I will not work with kimkim again. I would not recommend them to anyone. We have always worked with a travel agency for travel to Europe and I've never had such a poor experience before.

Isabelle put together a fantastic trip for us. It was a great mix of guided tours and museum visits on our own. The accomidations selected were nice and centrally located to each of the city centers of Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam. While we are usually a Hilton family, it was nice to stay in two boutique properties and then one hilton property on our trip. Great variety.
Our guides Gregori and Sarah were amazing. Gregori expertly guided us around Versailles and Sarah showed us Brussels' city center and many hidden gems along the way. The day trip to Bruges and Ghent was a great experience when in Belgium.
We did experience an issue where our guide canceled on us for a day trip in Amsterdam. While we were disappointed, the guide woke up ill and tried everything to rearrange our trip with another guide, although unsucessful. Life happens. The guide refunded our money immediately and Isabelle worked hard to ensure that we were still all set for our airpirt transfer two days later with the same guide. Everything ran smooth thanks to great planning and immediate assistnace when needed.
This was my second trip planned with kimkim. I have used another, similar travel agency in the past for three trips as well, but kimkim surpasses everyone else with value and personalization. We will be back for our next adventure and our trip left us wanting to explore more of France.
Thank you Isabelle.

Our trip to France was over 2 years in the making due to COVID delays. The wait was totally worth it. Joel curated our trip to our exact specifications. We visited 3 regions - Normandy, Alsace and Provence. In each of these locations he chose the accommodations, tour company’s, organized rental cars, train tickets and most of our transfers. I was grateful for his expertise in planning what was reasonable and what was not. There is absolute value for dollar in the expertise Joel provided to us.

We planned 3 days in Avignon and 3 days in Aix-en-Provence. Simon prepared a perfect itinerary and we made the most of our limited time in each city. We flew into Paris, took the train to Avignon and rented a car. In Avignon, we visited the oldest winery (La Nerthe) at Chateauneuf du Pape, took a gourmet walking tour of the city with Julian and had time to explore the beautiful city on our own. On our way to Aix, we stopped in St. Remy and took an e-bike tour through the Alpilles natural park and road to Les Baux de Provence. It was spectacular! In Aix, we spent the day with Nathalie, starting with a winery tour in the morning and touring the beautiful small towns in Luberon (Lourmarin, Roussilon and Gordes) in the afternoon. We finished our time in Aix with a cooking class that started with buying the ingredients in the local market, choosing a wine from a local winery and preparing the meal at our guide, Gilles, home. My daughter and I had the BEST time!

Simon included lots of great (very helpful) information in the travelbook, restaurant recommendations as well suggestions on sites to see in each town. It was a trip of a lifetime!!

Hotel Reviews

La Mirande

Avignon

Amazing experience for a mom-daughter stay. The hotel is centrally located, but as other travelers have noted, driving can be a harrowing experience. We couldn't figure out how to get through the pop up metal barriers when we arrived. After driving in circles through VERY narrow streets, we got through only because the barrier was down for the person in front of us. When we drove out the next day to visit a winery, we encountered the barrier at the bottom of the hill. Still unaware how to get past, we backed up the hill, inevitably scraping the side of a wall. When we walked back up to ask for help, the valet graciously walked us down and explained how to use the call box. That aside, the hotel property is spectacular and the staff were wonderful. Our room was spacious, very traditional French country decor. We were greeted with chocolate and fruit basket. No detail was spared! Breakfast in the morning was wonderful and lunch in the restaurant on the patio is a must! Highly recommend!

Authenticity & Character

Traditional French country

Location

Centrally located

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Le Pigonnet

Aix-en-Provence

Amazing! The hotel is a 15 minute walk from the city center, however, the property is spectacular with beautiful gardens and fountains and pool. Our room was spacious and well appointed, breakfast in the garden was delightful and the staff were wonderful.

Authenticity & Character

The grounds are beautiful - nice relaxing breakfast in the morning and great to sit outside for a nightcap.

Location

Great location, but a bit far from the city center.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Bistronomic diner in Avignon

Avignon

Visit of Chateauneuf du Pape - Nerthe Estate Tasting

France

Camille was delightful! She was very knowledgeable about the history of the winery and explained the winery's AOC designation. Camille walked us through the cellar and explained the aging process for different wines. We concludes with a sampling of 7 different wines. Overall great experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Gourmet tour of Avignon - Shared activity

Avignon

Julian was a wonderful guide, very knowledgeable about the history of Avignon and local culture. We thoroughly enjoyed walking through the city sampling different foods and wines from the region.

Quality of Experience

Perfect amount of time and stops

Food

Visiting local shops and sampling different food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ebike tour in the Alpilles from St Remy

France

We arrived at the bike shop and met our guide who set us up on our ebikes. We biked through the beautiful hillside; the pedal assist was perfect and we had no problem biking up steep hills. Our first stop was to see the view of Les Baux-de-Provence and then we road down town and walked around for ~30 minutes. The ride back was beautiful with water/snack stops on the way back. Overall, it was ~4 hours and ~30 miles. One of our favorite tours on our trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Wine Tour in the Luberon Nature Park

Aix-en-Provence

Initially we did not anticipate a full day tour, but realized it was broken down into two parts. Wine tasting in the morning and a tour of small towns in Luberon (Lourmarin, Roussillon and Gordes). It was a long day, but we absolutely loved see the beautiful villages. our guide, Nathalie was wonderful and we had ample time to walk around at each stop.

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Provençal Cooking Class in Aix-en-Provence

Aix-en-Provence

The day started in the morning, walking through the local market and buying fresh produce, cheese and meat that we would use in our recipe. We then stopped at a local winery before making our way to our host/guides home. Gilles was a wonderful host, very knowledgeable about the local market, and regional cuisine. We had a great group and all worked together to prepare our meal.

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Food

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Restaurant | Welcome gastronomic dinner in Aix en Provence

Aix-en-Provence

Unfortunately, we did not have a great experience at this restaurant. While my daughter and I are pretty adventurous eaters, we did not enjoy this meal. The restaurant itself was beautiful and the staff were very attentive, but overall, I would not go back.

Quality of Experience

Food

We had a wonderful trip. Planning a multi-generational trip for 5 seemed daunting, but KimKim hooked us up with Joel and he worked tirelessly with us to plan the trip of a lifetime. We appreciate all he did and the knowledge he provided was invaluable.

Hotel Review

Hotel La Villefromoy 4*

Saint Malo

The staff and concierge were extremely helpful! They really understand the hospitality business much more than American staff.

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Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Cooking class in Tours

France

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Guided Tour of Mont Saint Michel

France

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Overall, the trip was good. We enjoyed the wine experience, the cooking class was very good and Narde was a good guide. Our disappointment was the guide, Christian. He was charming, but his English was terrible. He is more of a driver than a guide. We had him for two days and did not learn a thing. In fact, I had to google things to try and understand what he was saying. Other than pointing out houses of famous people, such as eeljun (his version of Elton John) and hotels, which had signs anyway, he had nothing to contribute. Really disappointing. He should NOT be guiding an English speaking tour.

Valentine was amazing at planning our trip. She took our suggestions and provided us with activities catered to our wishes.
From the food tours, the hotels, the city tours, the chauffeurs, everything was planned perfectly.
Valentine remained accessible and responded quickly to our inquiries throughout the trip.

I would 100% recommend to book with them if you are planning to visit a country that you are not familiar with.

Hotel Reviews

Hôtel Lorette - Astotel

Paris

The hotel was placed closed to several cafes and restaurant and far enough from the noise of the city to enjoy our sleep. The breakfasts were to die for!! from the croissants to the cheese, it was a good way to start our days! The hotel was clean and the staff was very attentive to our needs. Our room was small but we wanted to cut the costs of trip - so no reason to complain!

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Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Yelo Hotel

Nice

Such a beautiful hotel! It was a bit hard to find but once we got in, we were in awe of the setup. The hotel is located walking distance from the old city and the beach. The room was just beautiful and great color scheme. The staff was very nice and welcoming. The morning breakfast was delicious and the dinning room was a beautiful as the rest of the hotel. I would recommend anyone going to Nice to stay at this hotel!!

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Staff

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Activity Reviews

Eiffel Tower Summit Ticket

Paris

It was cold and rainy but the view was worth it.

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Transport

We commuted but it was not hard to get there

Marais Pastry and Chocolate Tour

Paris

AMAZING! You get wayyyy more than worth the price of the activity. The tour guide (Thibault) was very knowledgeable and gave us a tour of the area as well as the allowing us to try the best pastries in the city. By the end of the tour our bellies were full and we were very satisfied. For any lovers of pastries, I would recommend this tour.

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Biking Day Trip Through Historic Versailles

France

It was a great was to see Versailles! The tour guide was not going to fast which made it easier for older travelers. We had an amazing group and bonded throughout the day. We first stopped at the market where we were able to get provisions for our picnic and see local vendors. Overall, the activity is a must if you like to know history and visit beautiful landmarks. The picnic was also a great addition to the activity and a great way to get to know the other travelers better. We ended the day at the Chateau the Versailles where we had the freedom to visit at our own pace. I wish I remembered the name of our guide but she was amazing and easy-going!

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Uncover the Gastronomic Treasures of Nice

Nice

Once again you get wayyy more than your money's worth. The food was divine and guide was so knowledgeable (unfortunately I forgot her name!). The guide gave us a tour of the area an it's history and made us taste the local delicacies. The tour ended with a generous meal that allowed to keep leftovers! Our group was so friendly and even with the rain everyone kept a positive and were willing to continue with the tour!

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Journey into the Heart of the French Riviera: Eze, Monaco & Monte Carlo

France

Monaco is beautiful! Our guide was knowledgeable of the area and stopped at the right locations to admire the view. The city was in preparation for the Grand Prix so we had the chance to see the buzzing city and admire beautiful cars! We also stopped at the parfum factory were we got to learn about the process of making parfum, sample several scents and visit the small village nearby where we found the most beautiful antique jewelry store. We had time to stop to eat were we enjoyed a delicious lunch under the warm sun! I would recommend to anyone who like me dreamed of going to Monaco one day.

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Half-Day Excursion to Cannes, Antibes & St Paul de Vence

France

We visited Cannes during the festival but unfortunately did not see any celebrities (!) However, were not disappointed by the view at the beach and being so close to the red carpet. St-Paul de Vence allowed us to see one of the most beautiful views in this calm neighborhood. We got to see several art galleries and many boutiques. The driver/guide was very knowledgeable of the area and very friendly.

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport