Kimkim Trip Reviews for France

My son and I traveled around France for 2 weeks. I was anxious about planning the trip but Valentine made it stress free. She was easily accessible and answered all my concerns very timely, making changes I requested, listening to what we wanted and arranging the trip perfectly! The accommodations and tours she arranged were better than expected. I would definitely recommend her and use the services for any future travel.

Great trip planned by Josee! Josee had been great since day 1, she made sure to address any issue simple or complicated. There was some medical & religious issue that she patiently took into consideration in planing this trip. All chauffers & guides used were professional & attentive. Special mention to lady Chauffer Naila, guide Philippe & Julienne. We enjoyed a slow paced relaxing vacation. We felt we’re well taken care of. Josee did a good job!

Hotel Review

Hôtel La Comtesse 4*

Paris

Great location accessible to restaurants, grocery & transportation! Staff are attentive especially Emily!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Shout out to Emily, Jonalyn, William

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

2CV Private Tour Paris Highlights

Paris

Worth doing it! Nicolas was a great guide & photographer!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Eiffel Tower Summit Ticket

Paris

The tower & view is great. Except that it’s too crowded but it’s August peak season of tourist.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Seine Cruise with Commentary

Paris

Quality of Experience

The boat used was huge and filled to full capacity. There are cruise company on other docks of smaller boat less people capacity.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tour ended 30 mins earlier then it rained. Supposed puck up was 7pm the transport is condiderate enough to allow an earlier pick up. Amazing Naila looked for us patiently since we ended up at different location to be picked up.

Transport

Murders and Mysteries of the Louvre

Paris

So much to see & learn from history. Guide is very knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

There should be at least 30 mind to 1hr allowance from the time the tour ends until pick up. The tour supposed to end at 4pm yet pick up time is also 4pm. The tour ended at 4:15 without seeing MonaLisa the room to see it us full of people almost impossible to get close to it & took longer time. After seeing it, you need longer time to exit not even enough time to eat/drink, go to bathroom, or took one last picture. If you have mobility issue the walk time is longer. To reschedule pick up time cost us extra money it could have bedn avoided if at the begining there’s an hour allowance for crowd, bathroom, walk time, or getting lost finding the exit.

Notre Dame and Sainte Chapelle

Paris

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Saint Germain des Près Food Tour

Paris

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Philippe is the best of all the guides! He dealt the challenge of most restaurants being closed in August with creativity & patience. He went above & beyond of taking us to different location from the itinerary do that we get to try different foods.

Transport

Naila us gracious & considerate to pick us up where the tour ended instead of the set pick up location.

We had an absolutely amazing trip to France using KimKim! We started in Paris, then headed to Reims, followed by Annecy and Chamonix. All of our hotels were fantastic and all of our guides were outstanding. Josée was great to work with - we only had a few issues that were dealt with quickly and corrected. This is the second time we’ve used kimkim in the past 12 months and it’s been nothing but fabulous. Highly recommending using them - we certainly will in the future!

Hotel Reviews

Hôtel du Rond-point des Champs-Élysées - Esprit de France

Paris

Great location, great breakfast included and the staff was great!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Best Western Premier Hôtel de la Paix

Reims

Loved this hotel! Rooms were super nice, breakfast was great, room service and the bar were awesome. Staff was super friendly and you can’t beat the location!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rivage Hôtel & Spa Annecy

Annecy

What an incredible property! We had a junior suite that was perfect for our family of four. It was huge! Everything about the hotel is top notch. The views and location cannot be best. The staff was super! We loved every second of our stay there!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Chalet Hotel le Prieure

CHAMONIX MONT BLANC

THE VIEWS!! Absolutely stunning! The location is perfect. We had a suite that was perfect for our family of four. Everyone had their space. The two bathrooms/showers was awesome. Everything was super nice and newly renovated. The spa is a really nice touch.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Eiffel Tower Summit Ticket and Commented Seine cruise

Paris

Would have been awesome but it was pouring and cold so it was not a great experience.

Orsay Museum with audioguide (tickets only)

Paris

Loved loved loved this! My kids really enjoyed having the audio guides. It provided us with more appreciation for what we were looking at. And you controlled what pieces you wanted to lean more about. Super easy to use as well.

Quality of Experience

Montmartre & Sacré-Coeur Walking Tour

Paris

It was great - we learned so much about the area that we otherwise would not have ever discovered. It’s a really great excursion. Mathias was great!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mathias was super knowledgeable and friendly!

Saint-Germain-des-Prés Pastry and Chocolate Tour

Paris

This was a super fun experience! It was great to get to sample all of the fun foods! My kids loved it!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Luis was great!

Famous Champagne Houses & Sightseeing in Reims- Private group

Reims

This tour exceeded our expectations by a lot! Wow - we learned so very much about Teims from an historic context. We visited several amazing churches as well. Rafa knows a lot and was just great to spend the day with!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private cruise & Cheese Fondue on Annecy Lake

Annecy

Wow was this amazing! The weather was perfect, the food was fantastic and Roy was super sweet! He even took my son over so he could jump off a ledge into the water. He had blankets to keep us warm as the sun was setting. It was great!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Confusing as to where we were supposed to meet him.

Aiguille du Midi, hike in balcony and Mer de Glace with picnic lunch

France

EPIC I’m every way! LOVED LOVED LOVES this so much. The weather was perfect, the views were to die for and the getting to experience the hike and see the stuff that we did was like nothing we’d ever done. Alban was the NICEST guy - he was just awesome!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Roadbook & Support Service

France

Not super helpful to only receive this a week or two before trip. Should be provided sooner.

Quality of Experience

We were completely overwhelmed as to how to book our trip to France. We had never been to this beautiful country. The itinerary that was suggested and eventually booked for us was wonderful! It was a great mix of history, culture, sightseeing and VIP treatment.

We had three guides, Raphelle F and Mathias and Raphelle S. They were all so outstanding! Very personable, passionate, well informed and answered all our questions in such a passionate way. It was mostly just the three of us so it was very personalized and private to us. They moved us through with expediency and sensitivity, especially to me who is almost 83 and recovering from a stroke. In museums, they took elevators, saving me from stairs and also found places for us to sit while they gave us talked.
The planning of our time and the the sites were wonderful and the uber drivers were never more than 1-3 minutes away from picking us up! Transportation with them was a dream!
We will recommend KIMKIM to any of our friends! Thank you for making our stay in Paris a delight!!
Sharon Schuh

Hotel Review

Hôtel du Rond-point des Champs-Élysées - Esprit de France

Paris

Very pleasant staff and centrally located. They helped us with restaurant referrals. They were on a quieter street. It was a very quiet place to sleep. They had delicious breakfasts and took orders if we wanted something hot and specially made. We were very happy there. A good place to come and go during the day.

Authenticity & Character

Location

As above written.

Staff

Very helpful for referrals and very friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was cleaned with fresh water bottles and no personal items disturbed.

Activity Reviews

Back to Medieval Paris with Notre Dame, St Chapelle & Conciergerie

Paris

Our guide Raphelle F was marvelous and passionate and had so much information! She beautifully explained the stain glass and very dramatically told us the history of the Conceirgerie. She took her time to answer all questions and was very personal! We loved the dramatic way she told the history. History can be boring but she made it very alive and interesting! She even walked us to a restaurant that she recommended! We adored her!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Eiffel Tower Summit Ticket

Paris

This is a very historic site and a must see in Paris. Because of the lines and wait, we will only do it once. But it was necessary to do!!

Quality of Experience

Seine Cruise with Commentary

Paris

We took the cruise right at sunset before dark and it was perfect! As the cruise came back we saw Paris and bridges lit up! It was a beautiful time to go. As we landed the Eiffel Tower was lit up and blinking.

Quality of Experience

The time of day and the lights of Paris and bridges. Also the people on the bank were dancing and playing bands and twirling and also just waving. A fun experience.

Saint Germain des Prés Food Tour

Paris

Mathias was our personal guide and he was wonderful. Very passionate about the food we tasted or saved for a wonderful picnic at Luxembourg Park. We stopped in many food, cheese, wine, candy shops and he gave an excellent history of the process of each food. He helped us be aware of the "palate" of good French food, its history and its process. He was very friendly and passionate and personable to us. He did not rush us in eating or talking.

Quality of Experience

Le Louvre Private Tour

Paris

Raphaelle S. gave us a wonderful, informative personal tour! We loved her and all the information. She knew what and where to take us in such a huge museum. We totally trusted her choices and information. One of our favorite tours. She was very sensitive to us and answered many questions.

Quality of Experience

Montmartre & Sacré-Coeur Walking Tour

Paris

I did not go on this tour because of the stairs and amount of walking. Plus it was the last day and at 83 I just didn't have the energy! I hated to miss it and know Mathias did a great job.

I want to say thank you to Mathilde and her team for helping me create memories that will last me a lifetime and beyond. I can't rave enough about the exceptional services provided by Mathilde. She was patient, accommodating, flexible, and always available. Every single guide Mathilde paired me with was incredibly kind, generous and knowledgeable. My vacation in France far exceeded my high expectations. I will not hesitate to enlist Mathilde's help again if I ever travel to France or Switzerland for that matter. She is remarkably excellent and I would highly recommend her to anyone. Mathilde, merci beaucoup.

We used Kim Kim to plan a self-guided trek on the Tour du Mont Blanc. Words can't express how amazing hiking the TMB was. Thomas crafted an unforgettable trip for us. He was responsive to our questions and designed a trip ideal for our budget, hiking capabilities, and desired experiences. The 52 page packet of instructions, maps, emergency contact numbers, tips and descriptions of each day made way-finding super easy, helped to control expectations, and ensure we were ready for each day's adventure. The hospitality at all of our accomodations was superb. We truly appreciate the time it took Thomas to design a trip tailored just for us.

We had a wonderful trip to France, traveling to Normandy, Paris and Loire Valley. Every segment of the trip was planned well and even though our plane was delayed en route for three hours, we found our driver waiting for us at the airport, and our itinerary wasn't affected at all. We had a zoom call with Lise at the start so she could understand our preferences and she made all the right calls in booking really charming hotels, scheduling excellent guides and pacing the trip. I didn't have to do any of the work and could just follow the itinerary. She was very thorough--we were provided all the information we needed in a very well organized manner. We enjoyed all of our interactions with the guides and it was really the best way to get to know the French culture. I look forward to another trip to France in the future and am very grateful to Lise for all of her hard work.

Justine planned exactly the trip we asked for, and we had an amazing time. With hindsight I would have done a bit less and not tried to cover as much for a more relaxing trip, but that’s just us. We did catch a couple of mistakes so I would encourage people to carefully review all the materials before leaving. Out of five hotels, three were really great and two were not. We had fabulous food everywhere we went, and two guided tours that were excellent. We saw so much beauty, culture and history. Overall an amazing trip!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Duo

Paris

This is closer to Les Halles and in a bustling busy area. Room was fine. Food not great. We didn’t love it.

Authenticity & Character

Location

For us it was too busy and crowded on the street outside

Staff

Staff were kind and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Baronnie

Saint-Martin-de-Ré

This is a lovely and charming place. Everything was perfect

Authenticity & Character

Lovely old building with gardens. Full of charm and character

Location

Right by the port at St Martin but on a quiet street.

Staff

Knowledgeable about the area, kind and helpful, but discreet.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was so pretty, clean and comfortable. Not super modern but we loved it

Le Donjon – Cœur de La Cité Médiévale

Carcassonne

This hotel is inside the walled city so it’s not easy to get in and out. You have to pay to park outside the walls and get driven up there. Its dark and outdated “medieval” theme could do with an update. We had to switch rooms as the first one was so dark and sad. Not touched since the 90’s. The walled garden is lovely though, and great breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Great old building but the rooms need to be updated.

Location

If you like being inside the city it’s OK

Staff

Staff were nice

Cleanliness & Comfort

It was OK

La maison Bakea

Cordes-sur-Ciel

Not really a hotel, more of a guest house, but so gorgeous. A beautifully restored 13th century house with fabulous rooms and amazing views over the surrounding countryside. The owner showed us around, and was so helpful, kind and knowledgeable. The breakfast was amazing, on the terrace looking over the hills. Loved it!

Authenticity & Character

An incredible restored antique house with stone spiral staircase and an inner courtyard. Beautifully kept and decorated

Location

On the edge of Cordes sur Ciel village, with amazing views. Easy walking distance to the shops, galleries and restaurants.

Staff

Marie the owner is wonderful and makes each guest feel welcome

Cleanliness & Comfort

The bed was super comfortable, nice towels and products in the bathroom.

Hotel d'Orsay

Paris

Nice hotel with an amazing location right by the Musee D’orsay and the seine.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Staff were super helpful when we needed to find our taxi in the midst of bastille day celebrations. They were great - generous and welcoming.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The breakfast room was light and airy, super clean, great food.

Activity Review

Walking tour of Carcassonne

France

Our guide was great. She tailored her info to interests was very flexible, answered our questions so well, and we learned so much from her about this ancient city.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had the most amazing trip and hike of the Tour Du Mont Blanc. Everything was expertly planned by Stephen Molloy. We started planning this trip of a lifetime almost a year before. We knew we needed experts to help us plan our hike, book our refuges and help us to transfer our bags. We were in touch with several organizations and realized quickly, Kimkim and Stephen were the right fit to help us plan and execute the perfect vacation. Stephen was most responsive and attentive and helped us with all the details of an over seas trip. He also planned the perfect day in Chamonix for us at the start of our hike and the perfect day in Annecy at the end of our hike. All of our accommodations were great. We highly recommend using Kimkim and we are already planning our vacation for next year and will definitely use Kimkim and Stephen Molloy at High Point Holidays to make it happen.

Hotel Review

Boutik Hotel 3*

Annecy

Excellent accommodations! Clean and vintage fun decor. Friendly staff too. Loved our stay!

Authenticity & Character

Cool vintage decor!

Location

Close to everything

Staff

So friendly and helpful!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Super clean and comfortable!

Activity Review

Day 4: Hike from the Chapieux to Val Veny

France

Wow is all we can say!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mathilde and her team at KimKim were instrumental in creating a wonderful relaxed road trip in France for our family. We are time-poor professionals with little room for research into the lead-up of our holiday. Mathilde and the team in France created an itinerary which included our must-see sites in Normandy, Loire and Bordeaux; and plenty more we had not thought of. She was thorough and the attention to detail was superb. Her accommodation choices pleasantly surprised us at every location. We could not have possibly have chosen better ourselves. Travelling with a toddler was factored in. Mathilde liaised with the hotel and found us a babysitter in Bordeaux. The itinerary was not rushed but still allowed us to make the most of our 2-week stay. We highly recommend KimKim to any busy professionals and families, or simply anyone who desires a stress-free and incredible holiday.

I really appreciated the efficiency and thoughtfulness of the recommendations for our family of 4. We were traveling with our young boys ages 8 and 11 and Audrey and team helped with booking tickets to sites, lunch and transfer.

Activity Reviews

Rodin museum

Paris

A must see for its gardens alone.

Quality of Experience

Lunch at Madame Brasserie Eiffel Tower with Paris view

Paris

We were not sure if this meal would be worth the investment but we have to say, absolutely! Post Pandemic, a visitor cannot even stand under the base of the tower without a ticket, and the whole place was mobbed. Luckily, with our tickets to lunch and level 1, we were able to go through expedited lines. Must do this if in Paris!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Had a great trip in the mountains of Savoie ! Every place of accommodation that I stayed at were great (food is always great anywhere in France). The itinerary made sense and was well calculated. Thomas was always there when I had questions or needed more information. We had plenty of email exchanged and one Zoom called that reassured me on everything.

We had a most amazing trip for approximately 30 days in France. We started our trip in Marseilles and ended in Fontainebleau just south of Paris. We travelled via train so we could watch the beautiful, changing countryside out the train windows.

We worked with Amandine and she organized an amazing itinerary for us. At the start, I had an idea of what cities / villages we wanted to visit but I needed assistance on where to stay and more importantly, how to get from Point A to Point B. Amandine made additional city / village suggestions and helped improve the routing. But more importantly, she helped to find and suggest things to do, places to see, day trips to take, and ensured we knew what was not to miss.

Amandine set us up with private walking tours to introduce us to new cities. Specifically, Valarie in Marseilles, Lucy in Arles, Marine in Toulouse, Agathe in Lyon and another woman in Angers. She also set us up on a small group tour from Marseille with a company A La Francaise where 5 of us plus our guide Nicholas went to several small villages in Provence and experienced lavender fields, ochre buildings, a large natural spring and a Sunday market. Not to mention our private tours to multiple villages from multiple other cities we visited - thank you Thomas, Rachel, Sebastian, Alex, Demitri, and Raphael.

On our own, there is no way we'd have found such small group tours with such knowledgeable guides full of history and fun facts. Nor would we have had such centrally located hotels, museum tickets, train tickets, etc. We were clearly well taken care of and in good hands with Amandine.

In general, the trip was very pleasant and navigating to each location was fairly easy. I do think the day to day activities in Bordeaux could have been better, and I don't think I'd go to Sarlat again without a car. The hotel in Sarlat was pretty basic...I wish we would have stayed somewhere nicer and in town (but we were trying to budget). Bordeaux hotel experience was exceptional.

Hotel Reviews

La Maison Fernand B&B

Bordeaux

Wonderful hotel! Ahmed is the owner and he keeps his place clean, comfortable, and chic, with the most welcome personal touches. His communication is excellent and strives to be helpful in any way possible – from making restaurant reservations and booking taxis on our behalf. The hotel is also in a superb location. When we visit Bordeaux again, we'll choose this hotel 100%.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Bon Encontre

Sarlat

Clean rooms/common area and very kind staff. But a bit too out the way from the town (12 minute downhill/uphill walk on dirt paths full of bugs) and the A/C isn't strong at all. We got so many bug bites!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel CitizenM CDG

Roissy

Blah - fine hotel if you have to spend the night before a flight...but the FOOD IS TERRIBLE. Honestly, if you have to spend the night before a flight, go to the Hilton.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easy to access terminals.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

E-bike wine tour of Saint-Emilion from Bordeaux

France

Our guide, Isabelle, was terrible. She spent no effort educating us on the wine/experience. She biked meters ahead of everyone, no effort to interact with the others. We also only spent 45 minutes in Saint-Emillion...I would have preferred to spend a whole day there, with a lunch at a restaurant. And then at the end of the trip the guide had the audacity to mention giving a good tip (FOR NOTHING!). I was infuriated. Oh, and the lunch we were given at a tiny chateaux was sandwich meat with a small salad and bread. Not what I was expecting given the location where we were...should have been more chic and we should have been able to have more wine to drink! We were only given scant pours for 'tasting'. I've been to better experiences in Burgundy.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Beach and Wine full day tour from Bordeaux

France

Our guide, Khloe, was wonderful. She was knowledgeable and actually cared to engage with the group. I do think the Sand Dune experience itself was very nice and unique, but it's a bit out of the way and could have been broken out as it's own experience vs. combined with the afternoon of wine tours. This would have given my husband and I time to explore Bordeaux city more.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private tour The Vezere Valley

France

Sandra and her husband, Francis, were wonderful. So knowledgeable, very kind, and engaging. We saw a lot and learned a lot.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

1/2 Day Cookery Course including lunch & wines in Dordogne

Sarlat

Incredibly fun! Good group, engaging instructor, yummy food. Would absolutely recommend.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vaseem was great. We particularly loved Sandrine (Louvre treasure hunt) and Regis (Normandy DDay beaches). Making macarons in Montmartre was lots of fun. Timed tickets were a good idea, but, given the time, I would have booked them myself. Eiffel Tower visit was chaotic, but I wouldn't attribute that to Vaseem. The Seine cruise wasn't worth the time and money spent.
Problematically, Kimkim doesn't break down the costs of each item, which doesn't allow users to decide if they want to spend money on each activity. But I can't fault Vaseem for anything. He was more than patient and accommodating.

I usually like to plan my own trips, but this time I just didn't have the extra time on hand to do the research. David helped us plan exactly the type of trip we were looking for in South France. I couldn't have done it better!

We had a wonderful trip to Paris, Avignon and Nice, thanks to Lucie. She was very responsive to our ideas and requests as we planned the trip and she was available if we had questions during the trip. She helped us schedule all the activities we wanted, including dinner at the Eiffel Tower, a sunset cruise on the Seine, and our favorite, a group cooking class in Avignon. We loved all the hotels, but we especially loved the hotel in Nice, which was just across the street from the Mediterranean Sea.

Audrey was awesome to work with! She was extremely responsive and helped us adapt plans when needed while in France. Maca’rong in Paris was a delicious experience. I strongly recommend for anyone looking for a baking experience especially if you have kids. We spent 2 amazing days with Manon in Normandy. I thought the kids (6 & 8) would not be very interested in the D-day tour. She explained things directly to them in a way they would understand and got them engaged. Both girls still talk about Manon and touring the bunkers is in both of their top 3 things they did in France. Our tour with Laurianne was cut short due to the riots in Marseille. However, we appreciated that instead of cancelling she took us to local shops and made sure we had food to eat before everything closed down. We wouldn’t have known what was going on if it wasn’t for her. Inés was very friendly and knowledgeable. She took us to multiple spots, a highlight being a local farmers market where we purchased delicious local goods. Maria was great, she took us to Monaco and made sure we were able to experience the changing of the guards. Overall, I was very pleased with our entire experience and look forward to planning another trip with KimKim.

We had a wonderful time traveling through France on a jam-packed itinerary. We are itching to do so again.

Some thoughts on our 7 night trip:
Day 1) The first day in Paris was great with a museum because we had some time to relax after the flight and get recuperated. We finished the evening with some local friends at a bar which was nice to catch up after many years apart.
Day 2) The walking tour of Montmarte was amazing. Our guide, Sonali, was really kind and helpful. We wished it was about an hour longer so we could see and sample a few of the best cafes but we spent some time afterwards sitting down with a cappuccino. We enjoyed the free time in the afternoon and night to explore and meet up with friends.
Day 3) The train was simple and went on without a hitch. We were lucky enough that our hotel was ready when we arrived an hour or so early. We loved having the afternoon to explore Aix-en-Provence and the hotel was in a great location that made it very easy for us.
Day 4) This was my favorite day in France. Gilles was an amazing guide and we had such a good time. Our cooking class ended up being about 7 hours. We toured two markets in Aix, plus got to stop at the fish monger, bakery, and butcher, where he showed us what to look for in all the specialty items. The wine tasting was also great, especially since we got to pick out the wine we shared during the meal. The cooking was amazing being in his home in the hills. Such an amazing experience and I would 100% recommend everyone do it. We were slightly full for dinner, but it worked out as we could eat a little less but still be fully satisfied.
Day 5) The train was good, if possible, I would book on the opposite side of where we sat so you have ocean views. Kind of tough since the train turns around after leaving Aix. Hotel was nice but we had to wait to check in, so we dropped off our bags and walked the city.
Day 6) The van tour was good to get out, but there were issues with communications between the company and Kim Kim. It was ultimately resolved so no big deal. The tour guide Alex was a bit mean to some of the people on the tour, and it was a little tense to start. The locations were great and we liked seeing the different areas nearby.
Day 7) Nothing too eventful. We were able to do an hour late checkout so we could go to the beach in the morning and freshen up for the afternoon.
Day 8) Another amazing walking tour with Faye. The food was really great! The wine was really great, and the small group made it really fun. Timing was a bit tight with our departing flights but everything worked out really well.

So things that weren't the best:
- Our driver in Paris, Thanusan, sent other drivers a few times with not super nice cars. It was kind of odd, especially on the last day.
- The van tour in Nice had a few hiccups, but turned out okay.
- My fault, but I would probably do a town other than Nice. We really enjoyed the city but it was a bit touristy for our taste (even if the tourists were mainly from Paris).

Overall, we had a great first time in France and learned a lot about what we should do in the future! Thanks Kim Kim team for helping set everything up and we can't wait to be back!

Hotel Reviews

Hôtel A la Villa des Artistes

Paris

It was a cute hotel and in a great location. The beds were uncomfortable but everything else was great.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hôtel Rotonde

Aix-en-Provence

Great hotel with a good breakfast. Perfect location for Aix. Beware that the A/C sometimes doesn't work.

Authenticity & Character

This is not really what I would consider an authentic French hotel in my opinion.

Location

5 minutes from the main square, but in a quiet location.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Villa Nice Victor Hugo

Nice

Really great location, 5 minute from the beach, 10 from Old Town. Free beach towels. Good A/C and dehumidifier in the room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Jardins Eiffel 3*

Paris

This was a great little hotel. The location is quiet, although we would have liked more things to do in the neighborhood.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Comfy beds!

Activity Reviews

Full-day excursion to Cannes, Antibes and Saint-Paul-de-Vence

Nice

It was great to go to the other towns, we enjoyed being able to get out and explore. The guide, Alex, was a little bit cranky and it made for some awkward engagements, especially at the beginning of the tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Provençal Market visit and Cooking Class in Aix-en-Provence

Aix-en-Provence

This was our favorite experience and we 100% recommend it for everybody. It is about 6-7 hours long. Includes visits to the markets and local shops to pick up fresh food and ingredients. Then a visit to the winery for a tasting and purchasing a few bottles for the lunch. Finally you travel to the chef's home and cook for 2 hours and finally get to eat and drink wine with your new friends. Gilles is an amazing host and so friendly, we will be back.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cheese and wine tour in Le Marais

Paris

Our guide, Faye, was fantastic. The shops we visited were some of our favorites in Paris. The Boulangerie was amazing and we are still dreaming of the baugettes. The wine shop and tasting was the best part, and we had a lot of fun with our new friends and eating the cheese and charcuterie while sipping on French wines. A perfect way to end the trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff