Kimkim Trip Reviews for France

Aline was terrific. She was able to plan a trip for my wife and I that was just wonderful. We saw a lot of south of France, our hotels were small boutique, hotels that were closer to town than a larger hotel might’ve been. The travel was all arranged for us, with only a tiny glitch or two, which were easily resolved.

The Eiffel Tower tour was really wonderful and learned a lot and had fun simultaneously. The activities were just right. Not too much not too little and we were able to relax and have a great time seeing new places and meeting some new people.

We also really enjoyed the cooking class and a free day in Antibes. Overall a really great trip. Thanks to Aline.

Guides were all excellent and knowledgeable

Hotel Reviews

Hôtel de l’Horloge

Avignon

Location was excellent, as was the breakfast

Authenticity & Character

Location was in the center of everything we needed

Location

Staff

Extremely helpful with all needs including setting up dinner reservations

Cleanliness & Comfort

Suisse Hotel

Nice

Location and view was perfect

Authenticity & Character

Location

View

Staff

Staff was very helpful with all needs

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hôtel Jardin de Cluny

Paris

Room was comfortable, clean and quiet

Authenticity & Character

Breakfast was excellent

Location

No cars on street in front of the hotel

Staff

Most of staff was excellent, check in staff not so much

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Nighttime Seine River Cruise with Dining Experience

Paris

Exceeded all our expectations

Food

Food was beyond better than we expected

Monaco, Eze and La Turbie Tour small group tour

France

Guide was excellent. Wish we had more time to see the Casino area.

Cannes, Antibes and St Paul de Vence Small Group Tour (Full day)

France

Guide was excellent

Eiffel Tower Summit Ticket

Paris

Amazing but weather was a challenge

Medieval Paris - St Chapelle, Notre Dame & Conciergerie

Paris

Guide was extremely knowledgeable and enjoyable to be with

Saint Germain des Près Food Tour

Paris

Weather was terrible. Did not seem well planned.

Giverny and Versailles from Paris

France

Guide was excellent and took the time to drive to our hotel the next day after we left glasses in his van

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Murders and Mysteries of the Louvre

Paris

Guide was excellent

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Discover Villages in Luberon

France

Guide was excellent

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Van Gogh in Arles, Saint Rémy de Provence & Chateauneuf du Pape

France

Guide was excellent

Saint Remy, les Baux de Provence and Pont du Gard

Avignon

Guide was excellent

Nathalie did a phenomenal job planning our trip and attending to all the details. She was extremely attentive, responsive, knowledgeable, and an absolute joy to work with. (And to meet in person!)

Our hotels were comfortable and well-located and met our specifications. The day trips were perfect with well-chosen local guides and a variety of activities. Our drivers were always punctual, pleasant, and communicative. Nathalie did a great job of balancing scheduled activities with free time so that we had time to explore on our own and catch our breath when needed. There was not a single glitch which is amazing for a three-week trip!

I highly recommend Nathalie and would use her again in a heartbeat!

Great option for first time travelers to France for sure! Amandine and team were extremely responsive before and during our trip. Having all hotel and train bookings in advance were super helpful and put us at ease. Also having a detailed itinerary with Google map links was incredible and felt like over and above service. We specifically appreciated having a life line to call for help when we were put in an uncomfortable situation with one of our hotels.

We had a really great experience planning our trip with Bastien at KimKim. I like how the entire process was handled online through the chat in the KimKim website. We bounced ideas back and forth until we found the perfect blend of tours and transportation that fit our schedule and budget. Bastien was very knowledgeable about the areas we visited in London and in France. He was never pushy or trying to sell us anything we didn’t have an interest in. We really appreciated that.

We loved our guided “tour with a local” with Chris in London. Even our teens ages 13 & 19 enjoyed jesting about the history of the city during our 1.5 hour walk. Our favorite tour was the one to Versailles in Paris.

The best part for me was all of the train tickets that Bastien booked for us. He was very helpful in purchasing all the tickets and worked with me in deciding what times we wanted to leave, first class vs. coach, etc. Sure it’s something that I could have maybe figured out but he really saved me time and did a great job. The BEST part was when we had the unfortunate experience of all the trains in Paris being cancelled one day due to weather- we would have had NO CLUE how to find an alternative way to our south destination without Bastien to call!! Having someone who knows the language, and what options- he helped us look into flights, hotels, car rentals, and navigated the whole stressful situation for us!! We would have never survived without his help!! That alone would make me use him again on our next adventure!! Top notch service and he really cared to help us out!

I highly recommend Bastien and hope you give him the opportunity to plan your next adventure! I know we definitely will!

Activity Review

City Kickstart Tour: London with a Local (Private/1.5Hours)

London

Chris was our tour guide. He was a historian and knew fun and interesting facts about London. He was able to keep out teens interested too! Fun experience!

Quality of Experience

Fun day outside exploring London with local historian!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Loved walking outdoors, we met outside the Tube and was easy to find our guide.

It was a pleasure to work with Bastien and Ailene on our road-trip from Avignon to St. Remy, Aix en Provence, St. Tropez, and Cap D’Antibes. They were responsive, helpful and provided great guidance on structuring and scheduling our itinerary. We enjoyed the charming hotels suggested; and their help with train tickets, transfers and car rental made our journey seamless.

Activity Review

A Day Trip from Aix en Provence to Cassis Village, Calanques Boat Ride & Provence Wines (Small Group Tour/8Hours)

Aix-en-Provence

Our guide, Alex, we knowledgeable and entertaining. He relied on our group to determine the trajectory of our tour - within the general parameters set by the tour company - and made our day fee “custom-designed”.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We used Sarah and Fanny from the Kim Kim agency to plan our trip to France and they were wonderful! They are vey professional, knowledgeable and helpful throughout the whole process. It made our trip so much more enjoyable to have all the details sorted out and planned in advance. The guides were also very friendly and accommodating to our needs and wants.

Activity Reviews

Montmartre Walking Tour

Paris

Our tour guide, Emily, was wonderful! She was very knowledgeable and gave us very interesting information about the area and its history. We loved it!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private tour of the Louvre

Paris

Our tour guide was very good! She was efficient in the presentation of the things we wanted to see and I loved all the knowledge she shared about the art and the museum overall. We really enjoyed our time with her.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Dinner Cruise in a Michelin restaurant

Paris

We were nervous about this as we did not want to have "touristy" experience and the meal and the experience in the boat were amazing. One of our most memorable dinners and experience in Paris!

Quality of Experience

Food

Provencal cooking class in a local's home

France

Loved our chef Gil! We had a great time with him and it was an excellent way to spend time in Provence. We highly recommend this!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

A day with a sommelier around the Rhone Valley

Avignon

Loved the time spent with Kelly. He was so knowledgeable and fun! Would do it again!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I'm a Kimkim staff member, and I was on a work trip to Nice, Marseille, Aix-En-Provonce, Lyon, and Paris. I stayed in wonderful hotels; my favorite was Globe et Cecil Hôtel in the heart of Lyon, the Inwood La Bourdonnais, where I was in close proximity to the Eiffel Tower, and Hotel Des Grands Hommes in Paris, where I looked directly at the Pantheon and was blocks away from the Luxembourg Gardens. The hotels each left their personal touch on my stay and made sure every need was met.

I enjoyed the day trip from Aix-en-Provence to the beach village Cassis, where I took a boat to see the cliffs (falaises) and the sheltered inlets called calanques. The bike tour through the Luberon Valley, where we visited villages and vineyards, was beautiful, with the most enjoyable Caesar salad in Ménerbes at Bistrot le 5 overlooking the grape vines in the valley below. In Paris, Les Caves du Louvre wine and cheese tasting was very informative and a great sampling of the cheeses and wines that were available at the time of year I was there. I enjoyed the Pastry and Chocolate tour of the Sainte Germain the Chocolate, where we walked in the Sainte Germain neighborhood and visited shops specializing in all the desserts and breads I could have dreamed about. The guide also provided a great deal of information about the history of the neighborhood, France, and the contemporary Parisian culture.

The various tours I took were a perfect mix of activity, culture, and visiting key landmarks. I left feeling very fulfilled and wishing I had more time to explore the other regions of France. Until next time..... Au revoir! 🇫🇷🥖🥂🙌🏼

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Florence Nice

Nice

I am a kimkim staff member, and I was on a work trip when I stayed at the Hotel Florence in Nice. This hotel has 2 restaurants below it and is close to the main shopping street of Av. Jean Medecin, which also leads directly to the promenade and Plague Beau Rivage Beach. Accommodations were cozy and functional.

Authenticity & Character

The dinning room is a little dated but offered a nice breakfast.

Location

Close to everything.

Staff

The staff made baggage storage easy and secure.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nice clean bathroom.

NH Collection Marseille

Marseille

I am a kimkim staff member, and I was on a work trip when I stayed at the NH Collection Marseille is a very nice hotel with great staff members.

Authenticity & Character

Welcoming lobby with a bar and restaurant offering a nice breakfast.

Location

Situated right along the Rue De La Republique and a quick taxi ride from the train station.

Staff

Very helpful and attentive.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was of reasonable size with an up-to-date bathroom.

The Originals Résidence Aix Schuman

Aix-en-Provence

This hotel offers a kitchenette for travelers who would like to eat in their rooms. A hot breakfast is also provided in the lobby restaurant.

Authenticity & Character

The character was a little stoic but provided the functional needs for me.

Location

It's a 10-15 minute walk from the city center.

Staff

I didn't interact much with the staff, but my needs were met.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The hotels and space were well maintained and clean.

Hotel Bastille Spéria

Paris

This hotel is located right off the Bastille Monument. The decor was nice, with a cozy lobby and a large bathroom. The breakfast was fulfilling, and the staff even provided fruit for me when I was leaving before the breakfast was open.

Authenticity & Character

This hotel felt very authentic, with an excellent selection of color combinations in the wallpaper decorations. The bathroom was large.

Location

This hotel is located right off the Bastille monument, surrounded by restaurants and shopping. It is a 20-minute walk from the Louvre and the Seine River.

Staff

The staff went above and beyond to fulfill our needs and was welcoming and kind.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was clean and comfortable.

Hotel La Bourdonnais - Tour Eiffel

Paris

This hotel allowed me to leave my bags at 6:00 am the day I checked in so I could go on a tour. When I arrived, my bags were in my room with a personalized note followed up by a phone call once I was settled in my room, making sure I had everything I needed.

Authenticity & Character

The decor was functional as the couch was a pull-out if needed in the junior suite, and the room had plenty of space. The bathroom was in its own closet, separate from the shower and vanity, so numerous people could use the facilities.

Location

This hotel is 10 minutes from the Eiffel Tower. It made it easy to come back after touring all day to freshen up, head back out for dinner, and see the Eiffel Tower light up at night. There are plenty of restaurants and shops right around the hotel.

Staff

The staff did a great job meeting my needs and went above and beyond to get me a Coke even though the bar was closed.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nothing was left un attended to, great hotel.

Hôtel des Grands Hommes

Paris

This hotel has a spectacular view of the Pantheon, which is right across the street. The location is close to Notre Dame and Sainte Germain and has a great view of Sacre Cure across the city. I would recommend the top-floor suites, which include a balcony with a spectacular view and a nice sitting area. When you leave the hotel and turn the corner, the Eiffel Tower is in plain view. If you climb the Pantheon Tower, you'll see one of the city's best views.

Authenticity & Character

The room had a lovely sitting room with a desk and a small couch and another room with a bed. The decor was charming and offered an authentic feel to complete our stay.

Location

It's an excellent location for the landmarks on the eastern side of the city. It's close to Disneyland Paris while still being close to the city center attractions. There's a good creperie right around the corner, and the best Croque Madame is at the Comptoir Du Pantheon, one block away. It's also three blocks from the Luxembourg Gardens.

Staff

The staff was very aware of each guest, and the night before I left, they asked if they could help me with my departure the following morning.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was clean and comfortable.

Le Globe et Cecil

Lyon

This hotel was a boutique hotel with lots of character and a location in the city center. Excellent access to shopping, old town, and landmark

Authenticity & Character

Very cozy rooms.

Location

Located in the city center of Lyon, close to the old town, the river, and the funicular to the Notre Dame Church overlooking the city.

Staff

Tended to every need I had and provided a substantial breakfast.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Due to the age of the building, the bath tub had some marks on it but it was not dirty just indicative of it's age, it was part of the charm.

Activity Reviews

Boat tour Nice/Monaco (Speedboat)

Nice

The description of this activity isn't accurate. It isn't meant for travelers with physical sensitivities or who have endured recent or ongoing injuries due to the possibility of rough seas on a boat going at a high rate of speed. The excursion takes you to Monocao and lets travelers see super yachts from the water level. Travelers can swim in a cove with a cave and drive past other villages along the French Riviera. Things you see are spectacular, but the possible harm to one's body needs to be considered when booking this trip. The tour operators did not go out of their way to interact with guests or solve problems.

Quality of Experience

Communication about the possibilities of rough pounding seas in the write up for travelers.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

No effort to solve problems or desire to interact with guests. The language barrier was ever present, and no effort was put into trying to decipher what guests were trying to say in French.

Transport

Nice new boat.

Explore Nice by E-Bike

Nice

This activity took riders to spectacular views that are not easily accessible and around town for a city tour.

Quality of Experience

Nice way to see a lot of the city in a short amount of time.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was knowledgeable and took care of the group.

Transport

The bikes were in good working condition.

Monaco Day Trip via Èze & La Turbie with Optional Beach Time

France

This tour takes travelers to the coast of the French Riviera, Monaco, a perfume factory, and the village ofÈzee. Beach time was not an option, and we were not gone for 10 hours, but still worth it.

Quality of Experience

It's nice to see all the sites at each location.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was knowledgeable and got us to all the sites.

Transport

Pick up and drop off at the hotel in an excellent vehicle.

Old Town Food Walk

Nice

This is a very informative tour and would be a great activity upon arrival. The socca that we got to eat was great, and the guide did a great job sharing historical and cultural information.

Quality of Experience

The guide did a great job connecting with me and sharing information I was interested in.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Knowledgable guide.

Transport

No transport was needed

City Discovery Walk

Marseille

This tour was informative and enjoyable to see Le Panier neighborhood, the old port, and the Bonne Mère.

Quality of Experience

I enjoyed seeing the fish market and the old mills in Le Panier.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was knowledgeable.

Full Day Luberon E-Bike Adventure

France

I loved riding bikes through the Luberon Valley and visiting the little villages. The e-bikes made the trip easy and fun.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide made sure everyone was ok on the bike ride and told us a bit of history on the drive there.

Transport

The minivan was clean and well-maintained.

Private City Walk

Aix-en-Provence

Erin Jordan, the guide in Aix-En-Provence, was excellent! She was knowledgeable and provided history, information on architecture, and insight into the city's economic evolution. She did a wonderful job.

Quality of Experience

She provided information on food, where to get the best pastries and chocolates, and great restaurant options.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Half Day Cassis Trip

Aix-en-Provence

This half-day tour went too fast; if I were to say anything, it would be to allow yourself the full-day tour so you can enjoy all that Cassis has to offer. We took the boat to see the Parc National des Calanques. The blue water was so striking. The village had a great market and neat eateries. We were also taken to the Cap Canaille overlook to see the cove and city and admire the steep drop-off.

Quality of Experience

The natural environment and village were memorable and a place I would like to go back to.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private War History & Traboules Walk

Lyon

The guide was knowledgeable, showed me all the passages or Traboules that made up the city of Lyon, and earned it the UNESCO classification. We talked little about World War II but focused more on the city and the silk industry.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Gones Tour, 2-hour e-bike Guided Tour

Lyon

Biking along the Rhône's banks was a treat. This path took the tour along the Rhône River to the Golden Head Park, where there's a free zoo and open space for city dwellers to enjoy.

Quality of Experience

The guide added history and pointed out key points of the city.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide did a great job of explaining how to use the e-bike and setting expectations for how to ride safely as a group.

Seine River Gourmet Dinner Cruise with Live Music

Paris

The experience on the boat provided a great vantage point to see all the buildings along the shore of the Seine River lite up. The food was good, and the live singer created a nice ambience.

Quality of Experience

Food

The food was good and paired with flavorful wine.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Louvre Museum Visit

Paris

Our guide led us through the Sully and Denon wings, seeing all the masterpiece artwork.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Wine and cheese tasting in Paris

Paris

This was one of my favorite activities in Paris. The sommelier explained why the wines and cheese come from the different regions in France.

Quality of Experience

The wine and cheese was excellent.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The sommelier shared so much information with us while we enjoyed the pairings.

Saint-Germain-des-Prés Pastry & Chocolate Walk

Paris

This was a great tour, introducing me to the essential things about the chocolates and pastries in France. The Guide did a great job leading us to all the different locations to taste the other foods. He included things about history, guided us through a church, and shared historical information about the area.

Quality of Experience

He was a great guide and great food.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Latin Quarter Gourmet Food Walk

Paris

It was fun to stop at different shops and pick up items for our picnic in the park. We visited a fromagerie, a market for fresh produce, a pâtisserie, a charcuterie, and a wine shop with red and white wine ready to sample.

Quality of Experience

Excellent food products with history mixed in.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide knew much about the food, the neighborhood's history, and the Notre Dame Cathedral. She did a great job providing up-to-date information on the rebuilding of Notre Dame.

Palace of Versailles & Giverny Day Trip with Gourmet Lunch

Paris

Monet's paintings come alive when you visit his gardens. I highly recommend this tour to see the flowers and other inspirations in his paintings. The guide did a great job sharing his life story on the bus ride to Giverny. Lunch and the Palace of Versailles were great stops. The guide did well keeping the group on time and ensuring we saw everything necessary.

Quality of Experience

The prime time to go to Givery would be July and August, but it is still well worth the visit through September to see all the flowers in bloom. The house is interesting to see at all times of the year, and the souvenir shop, his workshop, was full of Monet items for everyone. Versaille is amazing to visit any time of the year, but the gardens and fountains are spectacular when in bloom, and the water is flowing.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide used the time on the way to Giverny to provide us with his life story so we knew his history before arriving.

Transport

It is well worth it to get to visit these top locations in one day.

Private Montmartre Art & Culture Walk

Paris

This tour will take you up the hill step by step to where the Sacre Cure is located. It's interesting to hear the cultural stories of the artists who have lived here in the past. The final stop is the highlight of the tour. It's either the Cathedral or the view of Paris- probably both!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Burgundy Wine Tasting Day Trip

Paris

This was a day well spent in Chablis. Our guide did a great job taking us to three different wineries to taste the wines each location produced. We learned about the numerous ways to make wines. It was nice to meander through Chablis, pick a restaurant of our choice for lunch, and, of course, a bakery for dessert.

Quality of Experience

Beautiful scenerey

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was Italian and had a great sense of humor and lots of information regarding wine.

Transport

Nathalie did a great job planning out our trip. The river cruise our first night in Paris was an exceptional suggestion and the tour guide for the Louvre was amazing.

The team was very accommodating as we had to make some very last minute adjustments to the schedule - while we were in France. They happily worked everything out for us.

Hotel Reviews

Hôtel Parc Saint Séverin

Paris

The hotel was clean and the location was great but there are very few amenities and seems to attract older clientele. The rooms and bathrooms are very small.

Authenticity & Character

Location

You could walk to everything!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very small rooms and bathrooms.

Aquabella Hotel & Spa

Aix en Provence

This is a great hotel - location is perfect, staff are amazing and it has everything you would need.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pullman Paris Roissy Cdg Airport

Roissy-en-France

Activity Reviews

Nighttime Seine River Cruise with Dining Experience

Paris

This was a great introduction to Paris and was a great event on the first day we arrived in Paris.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Dinner show at the Moulin Rouge

Paris

Montmartre & Sacré-Coeur walking tour

Paris

The guide did not appear all that interested in giving a tour and did not appear to be very knowledgeable which was disappointing. It is such a neat area.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Le Louvre Private Tour

Paris

Victor was amazing. Very passionate about The Louvre and his knowledge was through the roof. Very, very good guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Eiffel Tower Summit Ticket

Paris

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Wine tour in Cezanne countryside

Aix-en-Provence

Our guide was very good. She really knew the area and understood vineyards and winemaking.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

She planned every detail of our trip. Transport drivers, train tickets, airport transportation etc. I enjoyed all of the day trip guides and the cooking class was my favorite!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel la Flore

Villefranche Sur Mer

Ask for a room with a view of the sea. It’s beautiful to watch the sun rise & set. Breakfast was plentiful & delicious! Convenient location so that most places were within walking distance.

Authenticity & Character

The views are nice.

Location

Easy walking distance to most places - to the town, restaurants, the beach & the train station. Also the Rothschild mansion. That’s more of a hike, but it’s a lovely walk.

Staff

Everyone was kind & helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean, nice modern rooms with a patio, lovely large bath & bathroom. & view

Aparthotel Adagio Aix en Provence Centre

Aix-en-Provence

Good location. Delicious breakfast. Small rooms. No decks unless you get room 404 upstairs. Otherwise it’s a tiny room but a good location.

Authenticity & Character

A modern hotel with very good WiFi. Not known tor its character. But a good solid business type hotel.

Location

Most things were within walking distance

Staff

All were helpful & kind.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean & comfortable but small

Activity Review

Provençal Market Visit & Cooking Workshop

France

My favorite activity on the itinerary. Loved our visit to the Farmer’s market & how we brought home our provisions & he directed our cooking. Delicious!!

Quality of Experience

Enjoyed all.

Food

Loved all the food!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

They spoke honestly & directly with me.

Transport

All drivers were nice, friendly, knowledgeable, helpful.

Paris, France was everything I wished for and so much more. It was my Eat, Pray and Love experience. Enjoyed every corner and every bit as much as I could. Itinerary was perfect and planned nicely, day by day with the essencial spots and meeting points needed. Amandine left everything very clear and understandable. I did this trip solo and never felt unsafe. Everything she sent me was by the book and on paper. Very thankful for this experience, and definitely looking forward to visiting France again in the future.

Hotel Review

La Maison Eugénie

Paris

The hotel was beautiful, very parisian and great spot by the metro!

Authenticity & Character

Very Parisian

Location

Its right next to the Pont Cardinet station

Staff

Very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean

Activity Reviews

Baking Class in a French Bakery

Paris

Didier was absolutely wonderful as well as his translator. Learned sooo much from him, tried the baguettes and took the hotel baguettes as well. He also gave us the recipes to make at home!

Quality of Experience

Very authentic!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Felt safe!

Transport

Learned the metro pretty quick!

French Conversation & Coffee at Café De Flore

Paris

It was also very authentic, wonderful, helpful!!

Quality of Experience

Guide was helpful and authentic!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sebastian put together a wonderful first time visit to France! I really liked the neighborhood of our hotel in Paris, where it was easy to walk to nice eating and shopping places and it felt safe and clean. Our tour guide Sabine was kind, patient, and knowledgeable on our guided fashion/shopping experience. Harry, who was our guide for Palace of Versailles, was knowledgeable and had a good sense of humor. The hotel was nice with good food. In Marseille, my favorite was the guided walking tour, a self walking tour the local African/French markets, and our gourmet restaurant meal. Ezekial was our walking tour guide and was so patient with my mom and Susan as they needed to end the walking tour early; he helped them get a ride back to the hotel. The hotel in Marseille was my favorite with the decor, food, and lovely kitchen and home-style way of serving breakfast. Nice was great as well and we enjoyed our full day tour to Monte Carlo, Eze, and Monaco with our guide (unfortunately I did not record his name in my notes; he lives very close to the hotel we stayed in in Nice). He shared a lot of knowledge with us and drove safely. The hotel in Nice was not quyite as nice as the ones in Paris and Marseille but everyone was friendly and the location was very close to attractions in the Old Town and shopping, which we all enjoyed. We did have a few small challenges knowing when to get off of the trains to Nice and Marseille as the announcements were difficult to understand (we are not fluent in French) and finding elevators/escalators for painful arthritic knees in metro stations was tricky. The boat ride in Marseille for the Calanques National Park was a bit rougher and more wet than we anticipated. I think we all thought the boat would be larger and a smooth laid back ride, but the sea cliffs were lovely. All in all, I really enjoyed the trip and would love to visit all of these areas again and many more in France in the near future. Thank you!

Activity Reviews

Paris: Illuminations River Cruise

Paris

So fun and pretty to experience. We were able to go around 8:30 pm which was great timing to catch the Eiffel Tower light up around 8:45-9pm. I kind of wish we could have arrived a day or 2 earlier before doing this as we were very sleepy during the tour since it was our first day in Paris.

Quality of Experience

relaxing and lovely sights to see

Guides, Drivers and Staff

the guide was funny and had humor in providing the history of the bridges sights along the tour.

French Fashion, Fragrance and Fun in the Marais

Paris

I loved going into French based fragrance and jewelry stores where we made some purchases. I'm not sure I learned any specifics of French fashion which I kind of though I would but I liked our guide Sabine and how she was told us about the area and the unique shops. She was able to arrange an chocolate demonstration and tasting for us which was very cool.

Quality of Experience

Found some places to discover that we probalby never would have known but we got some unique gifts for ourselves and loved ones.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very friendly and easy to talk to; very patient and not pushy or loud in her demeanor.

The Tour du Mont Blanc trip was spectacular! The hikes were strenuous but all had amazing beauty. KimKim worked well with the local tour company, Altitude Mont Blanc, to arrange accommodations that worked well with the hikes. When the hotels were off the route, they provided transportation. Marion provided extra electronic maps which ensured that we did not get lost. She also researched other forms of transportation when some of the gondolas and such were closed for the season. Everything with accommodations and transport went exactly as planned. We enjoyed the other activities beyond the hiking trip as well including a trip to the Mer de Glace and ice cave.

I loved visiting the Calanques, Verdon canyon, and Marie-Moustiers. Highly recommend staying in Aix-en-Provence! Working with Amandine made planning this trip so easy. So grateful :)

Hotel Review

Odalys City Aix en Provence Les Floridianes

Aix-en-Provence

Authenticity & Character

The room smelled like smoke

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room smelled like smoke, otherwise it was good! It also was not cleaned every day

Activity Reviews

Cassis Village, Calanques Boat Ride & Provence Wines Day Trip

Aix-en-Provence

Cassis and the Calanques were great! I also really enjoyed tasting the Cassis wines.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Verdon Canyon & Moustiers Sainte Marie Day Trip

Aix-en-Provence

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Marion guided us through the planning process for our self-guided trip of Tour du Mount Blanc. She patiently answered all of our questions and gave us additional maps which were invaluable in keeping us on track. Everything went according to plan. She accommodated our requests for adjustments.

Margaux laid out everything we asked for and more. She was fantastic to work with and we had the trip of a lifetime.
Margaux was always available during the planning and the trip. Her colleague Amandine was available if Margaux was not. I could not be happier with the service we received.
My wife became ill during the last leg of our tour, I could not have made it without the Kimkim team, they helped save my wife’s life. No joke

Hotel Review

Lagrange apart'HOTEL Lyon Lumière

Lyon

I didn't quite enjoy the Lagrange apart'HOTEL. It felt more like an extended stay place for students or nurses, which was a stark contrast to the beautiful B&Bs we had been staying in. The carpets were stained, and it just didn't match the charm of our other accommodations. Plus, being right in the middle of downtown was a bit overwhelming.

Activity Review

Guided Tour of Annecy

Annecy

Annecy was absolutely beautiful. Even though my wife was feeling unwell and it was raining, we still managed to enjoy most of our walking tour. The guide was great, and the town itself is picturesque. We could have easily stayed there for several more days. It was just that charming.

Thank you, Thomas and Rashi, for a wonderful trip. They took care of all of the details, and then were really responsive before the trip, when I had some clarifying questions, and during the trip, whenever anything came up. This trip was on our bucket list, and I'm so glad I trusted it to KimKim.

For those considering the trip, I would say that the hiking was more grueling than I expected, and the weather is so variable, you have to be prepared for anything. But if you're up for the challenge, it was the trip of a lifetime.

Aline and Bastien planned a wonderful trip for us to Paris and Normandy! This is our second trip utilizing KimKim and we find their model very good for our needs. I appreciated how accessible they were for questions on the What's App when we arrived and throughout our visit. We began trip by flying to Paris, then "trained" to Bayeux for several days in the French countryside visiting Mt. St. Michelle one day and then Normandy. The local tour guides they arranged for us were ALL terrific! Charles gave us a wonderful experience at Mt. St. Michelle and we appreciated all his shared knowledge, sense of humor and even his singing:-). Jonathan (Normandy) gave us a very enlightening and enjoyable D-Day experience despite the pouring rain! He was energetic and so fascinatingly full of history about this important place. Aline and Bastien had arranged lovely chateau accommodations near Bayeux that were so gorgeous and restful. Excellent restaurant and bar on site, even a sweet set of donkeys grazing peacefully in field. The staff at our chateau were all delightful! Our final day we returned to Paris by smooth, quiet train. We then packed two days worth of touring into one as our airline had canceled our flight at beginning of our trip (after we waited 7 hours through repeated delays in Boston). Thus, since we lost our first day in Paris, we strove to pack everything in on our last day. Remarkably it all worked! Trained 2.5 hrs early AM, brought bags to hotel near Notre Dame, walked to Louvre, toured there (Mona Lisa! I had just read The Davinci Code which begins in the Louvre and discusses some fascinating details about the Mona Lisa...as well as The Divine Feminine...) taxied to Montmartre where we enjoyed a Gastronomy tour with Aude, a delightful and very informative young lady tour guide sharing about the amazing delicacies and history of the area, taxied to Eiffel Tower to meet Anna for our graciously rescheduled tour from Monday She was remarkably prepared with much to share and good visual aids to emphasize our learning as we traveled up to the top and visited stops on way down. Fully enjoyed Anna and her thorough tour! We added our Siene commented cruise back on to close our touring which was very fun and finally had a late Italian meal back near our hotel. A comfortable sleep, a surprisingly efficient and delicious breakfast at cafe nearby and then the transfer service Bastien arranged arrived in timely manner to return us to Charles DeGaulle Airport. If only our air travel had gone more smoothly on both ends, but this was the airlines and not a KimKim responsibility. We look forward to arranging future travel with KimKim. Thank you again Aline and Bastien!

Bon jour! Our trip to France planned by Lise was all that we imagined it to be. We visited three places Paris, Aix en Provence and Nice. Although it felt like a whirlwind everything went smoothly as far as transfers, hotels, guides and the sights that were selected for us. In Paris we had 4 amazing guides and tours. Our guides Raphaelle, Emilie, Agathe and Gil in Paris were truly experts at their craft. We learned things we had never expected and were so impressed with their enthusiasm and kindness towards us. Between the cafes and the tours we definitely feel another trip is in order as this was just a taste.
Aix en Provence was our favorite I think overall. The four villages we visited in Luberon with our guide Carolina were absolutely a feast for the eyes and the senses. Magnificent views, great food, and of course the smell of lavender. It was a carefree day of taking this all in and meandering through the shops nestled in the mountains. Truly another place to return to.. two days was not enough. Carolina was well informed and gave us the freedom to enjoy a relaxing day of leisure.
And then finally Nice, Eze and Monaco. What can I say about these place except beautiful beaches, beautiful views and delicious food and wine. What a great way to end our trip and say goodbye to France. This is not goodbye though it is au revoir for now.
From not knowing anything but Paris, Lise took what I had asked for and made it a reality.. I am truly grateful for her assistance and recommend this service to everyone. Merci Beaucoup! Annamarie Aigotti

Sebastian was very helpful in answering all our questions and creating a trip that met our needs. We had an amazing experience in France and learned so much thanks to him. He also was so patient with us during the planning process, much appreciated.
All of our accommodations were convenient and accessible by walking or train to attractions in Paris, Marseilles and Nice. We especially enjoyed our Maison du Monde hotel in Marseilles, the breakfast there was excellent. We also loved our Paris hotel Hotel Lorette and the lovely local neighborhood it was in.

All of our outings were very fun, educational, and the transportation and guides were prompt and friendly. Ezekiel in Marseille made special accommodations for our walking tour to meet the needs of our group and took extra time to assist us.

We all want to come back and learn more about France given such a wonderful trip KimKim provided for us