Kimkim Trip Reviews for Greece

We had a wonderful two-week trip through Greece with my two boys, combining Athens, Delphi, Olympia, the Peloponnese, Costa Navarino, Nafplio and Mycenae. Overall, the itinerary was very well designed: it gave the children a real sense of Greek history while leaving enough time for swimming, boating and simply enjoying the country.

Some of the highlights were the guided visits to Delphi, Olympia and Mycenae, as well as our day on the water with Andrea / Mani. Guides in Delphi and Olympia were amazing. From our discussion and written descriptions, it seemed that it’d be more interactive / digital but in practice none of this - that being said worked really well with paper bc my kids are used to this but for other families that could be a surprise. Costa Navarino was also a great choice with children and gave us a very welcome few days to slow down after the more active part of the trip. But some recommendations & conditioning could have been done. The balance between cultural visits and downtime worked particularly well for a family trip.

Anna was very responsive and helpful throughout the planning process and while we were in Greece. She was also flexible when we wanted to adjust a visit on our last day.

Where the experience was less strong was in the overall value added by booking through Kimkim. For a fairly high-end trip, I still found myself managing or researching quite a few details during the vacation — restaurants, activities, some logistics and what to do in our free time. A few more tailored recommendations and arrangements could also have been more proactive or more carefully tailored to traveling with two young children. At times, it felt more like a collection of well-booked components than a fully curated trip where everything had been anticipated for us. A good example are the stops on the road which felt generic to anyone vs to us. So, magnitude of markup from Kimkim I don’t think is justified and for this reason I’m not sure I’d book again with kimkim.

That said, the core itinerary was excellent, the local guides and experiences were very good, and most importantly my boys and I came home having had a fantastic and very memorable trip to Greece.

Hotel Reviews

Nafplia Palace Hotel & Villas

Nafplio

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Looks old - was modern 20yeara ago. There were ants in our bedroom.

Costa Navarino The Westin Resort

Messinia

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Europa Hotel Olympia

Olympia

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Amalia Hotel Delphi

Delphi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Restaurant staff was ok but not so accommodating. Food was average, subpar to what one may expect

Cleanliness & Comfort

Electra Metropolis

Athens

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Acropolis & Acropolis Museum For Families

Athens

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Delphi Guided Tour

Greece

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mycenae Guided Tour

Greece

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Boat Trip Adventure to Limeni

Pylos

Skipper had to bring the boat full speed an hour away and bring it back in the evening. That probably increase the cost significantly. Having this discussion may have helped reduce cost and find an alternative

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ancient Olympia Guided Tour

Greece

Guides, Drivers and Staff

All guides and drivers were great as we have become to expect from Kimkim.

Hotel Review

Electra Palace Athens

Athens

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Free Afternoon in Athens

Athens

Quality of Experience

Y

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Acropolis Museum Private Guided Tour

Athens

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Athens Highlights Private Guided Driving Tour with Jewish Heritage

Athens

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Guided Athens Food Tour

Athens

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

National Archaeological Museum Private Guided Tour

Athens

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Acropolis Private Guided Tour

Athens

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This trip was amazing! Chris booked eight of us according to our needs, and also provided a wonderfully eclectic experience! We chose to break up into two groups of four so we could see different places, and the timing of the split was perfect. It was wonderful to see so much of Athens, staying in three different hotels, and all were unique in their own ways. The car rentals went very smoothly too. We talked the whole trip about how wonderful Chris' arrangements were, and how much we appreciated the recommendations and free time. He was also very responsive whenever we had questions while on the trip.

My only recommendation is for the car rental: the Nissan Qashqai, while very comfortable, would not allow for turning off driver assist. This meant if I hugged the shoulder to let cars pass, the wheel would automatically and immediately move the car back into the center of the lane. It pinged whenever I drove 1kph over the speed limit. Not ideal for local driving behavior! The rental agency contact said, "this is a good car, but not a good car for Greece." The Ibiza SEAT was perfect though!

Please know the tour guides were wonderful. Irene at the Acropolis group tour and Penny at the Delphi private tour had us laughing, taught us a great deal, were very caring about the heat and shade, and thorough in where to go at the end of the tour. Experiencing two different styles of tours was also very thoughtful! Penny was delightful, and we still quote her.

Thanks for all your help with this trip. Apart from a few hiccups all went as planned and we loved Greece.

Hotel Review

Paros Agnanti Resort & Spa

Paros

Beautiful food, service and surrounds.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to town but away from the bustle

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Sunset & Wine Tasting Experience

Santorini

Lovely experience and evening.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Acropolis Beat-the-Crowds Discovery Walk

Athens

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I literally googled travel agency and found KimKim, read the reviews and gave it a shot. Pretty risky but worth the gamble. Erika was knowledgeable and accessible. She listened to what we wanted from our vacation and delivered an itinerary that matched our needs. Each stop along the way was planned out perfectly. All travel accommodations between islands and for our excursions were seamless. We enjoyed the local tour guides that we were set up with and just had the most memorable time. Everything was planned in the app and just made it easy for us to relax and enjoy. I never leave reviews. If you’re on the fence about booking your trip with KimKim just do it.

Both hotels were amazing, especially the Limeni Village Hotel, that was just fabulous! I could spend the rest of my life there!

The Athens Manor Houses were also super nice, but it was a bit of a shame that the breakfast room is downstairs without any windows. The breakfast was great, though, they even had all the ingredients for pancakes with bacon and maple syrup :)

And the guide of the food tour was really great, I forgot his name unfortunately, but he is a great guide, very fun, knowledgeable, and really good in getting warm with a group of people :)

Hotel Reviews

Athens Manor Houses

Athens

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Limeni Village Mani

Lakonia

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Evening Neighborhood Food Walk

Athens

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I worked with Penny initially to coordinate the trip and she was absolutely wonderful. The week before we were to leave, I wrote to Penny to set up a call only to learn she had left the company. This was quite unsettling to me. Penny told me she personally would pick us up at Athens airport when we arrived and help get us settled at our hotel. I am an older woman and was with my 12 year old granddaughter (who is very tall and appears to look 17-18 years old). I suffer from a serious medical condition causes me to lose consciousness under certain circumstances.

First day we were picked up a hotel for a “walking tour” in Athens, The driver dropped us off on a corner, told us to go under the street and meet somewhere for group. Very unclear where to go. The What’s App only worked with WiFi connection that we did not have. It took us several minutes to connect with anyone, and finally met up with the group. The tour guide walked extremely fast and combined with extended periods of just standing was more than I could do. I had to stop and sit down. We gave back the devices and went on our own after that point. It was not a pleasant experience at all and very confusing as to where to be and when.

The day continued with several issues including the curtain holder in our hotel room falling off the window on my head. Jet lag did not help us at all either.

Our honeymoon in Greece was absolutely unforgettable\!

After all the stress of planning our wedding, we decided to use a travel agency to take the pressure off planning our honeymoon, and it was one of the best decisions we made\. Everything was thoughtfully planned for us\. All we had to do was book our flights and show up\!

Our trip was the perfect balance of adventure and relaxation\. We enjoyed incredible excursions while still having plenty of time to unwind and soak in the beauty around us\. Every part of our honeymoon was memorable, from taking a cooking class to swimming in the crystal\-clear Aegean Sea\. We were completely in awe of the beauty of both Crete and Santorini\. The food in Crete was some of the freshest and most flavorful we’ve ever had\!

The special touches throughout our trip made it even more magical\. Walking into a room filled with roses and ending our honeymoon in Santorini with flower petals and candles waiting for us was so thoughtful and romantic\.

We also loved the photo book, and it arrived on my birthday, which made it feel like such a special birthday gift\! Receiving a birthday card and a welcome\-home card afterward was another thoughtful surprise\. It’s those little personal touches that truly set Kimkim apart\.

We can’t stop recommending Kimkim to our friends and family, and we already can’t wait to book our next adventure with them\. A million stars\! ⭐️

Anna was a helpful and attentive specialist and was in touch with me before and during the trip. Our transportation was smooth and she was quick to resolve any issues. I hadn't know that one of our hotels would be quite far from the sightseeing spots or that the local transportation was infrequent and unreliable (no Lyft/Uber on Paros, and private transfers are 50 Euro one way) so at the last minute I rented a car so that we could explore the island. Anna was helpful at finding what seemed like the last available automatic car on the island.

Chris was absolutely amazing and set up the trip of a lifetime for us! I would definitely use kimkim again!!!

Hotel Reviews

Elena Hotel Mykonos

Mykonos

Very pretty hotel! Be prepared to carry your luggage up and down a steep hill.

Authenticity & Character

The private terrace off our room.

Location

Short walk to the harbor from the hotel. Be sure to use your GPS to navigate the windy alleys. It is easy to get turned around here.

Staff

Very helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean.

Princess Mare Hotel

Naxos

This a beautiful hotel but not close to the city center. Requires transportation to and from the hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Pretty location but not within walking distance to the city.

Staff

The staff was very pleasant and helped arrange transportation to and from the city.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our room was very clean.

Hotel Keti

Santorini

This hotel was amazing!! Spectacular views overlooking the old harbor.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful hotel and amenities. We had a terrace off our room with beautiful views. The sunsets were gorgeous!

Location

It is centrally located in Fira.

Staff

So lovely and polite and extremely helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our room was very clean.

DOM Boutique Hotel

Heraklion

Good location and easy to explore Heraklion.

Samaria Hotel

Chania Town

Great location which allowed us to explore Chania on foot and really see the city.

Achilleas Hotel

Athens

Great location. It was easy to navigate the city on foot.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It was centrally located and so easy to explore Athens on foot.

Staff

They were all very helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our room and bathroom were very clean.

Activity Reviews

Naxos Wine & Mythology Sunset Tour

Naxos

This was one of my favorite experiences. Our guide was amazing and the food and wine tasting was really fun!!

Quality of Experience

The wine and food tasting was really fun!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was really nice and knowledgable.

Transport

We walked and saw a lot of the island.

Pathways & picnics

Mykonos

We traveled from Naxos to Mykonos and our ferry was over half an hour late departing Naxos. We arrived on Mykonos late and missed our tour by 10 minutes. Our tour coordinator on Mykonos refused to drop a pin or give us directions on how to meet up with the group. She said it would be impossible for us to find them because of the windy alleys of Mykonos. Even when our desk clerk at the hotel offered to bring us she refused. To make matters worse she refused to refund our money and marked us down as no-shows. She did send a driver to take us to another area but hardly anything was open and there wasn't much to see. I didn't understand why if she was able to send a driver to take us to see another area why she wasn't able to allow us to join the group. Very disappointing!!!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Afternoon Labyrinth: The Legendary Palace of Knossos & Myths from Heraklion

Heraklion

We had a private tour and our guide was fantastic! He was very knowledgable and we had a great discussion and learned a lot!!

Quality of Experience

Walking the ruins of Knossos. It was amazing to soak up the history of this site.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was amazing!

Transport

Delos & Rhenia Morning Sailing Yacht Cruise

Mykonos

I am a fan of day sailing trips. They are a great way to see the island from the water and experience the beautiful Aegean Sea!

Quality of Experience

The areas where we stopped to snorkel and swim.

Food

Great food!!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Super friendly and fun!

Transport

Gems Morning Caldera Cruise

Santorini

Really fun day spent on the water! The crew was so friendly and we had a great group of people on board.

Quality of Experience

Beautiful area to sightsee.

Food

Wonderful!!!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The crew was amazing and so friendly! They served an amazing lunch!

Transport

Sunset Cheers & Dine

Santorini

Very fun and the views were beautiful!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Naxos Day Cruise

Naxos

This was a great way to spend the day soaking up the island views!

Quality of Experience

The crew was so friendly and fun and waited on us hand and foot!

Food

The crew cooked for us and it was delicious!!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The 7 Villages of Apokoronas Tour

Greece

This was a fun day spent driving the island of Crete and exploring seven picturesque villages.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Acropolis Guided Tour

Athens

Our guide picked us up at our hotel and shared a bit about the history of Athens on our walk up to the Acropolis. The tour was fantastic and she was very knowledgable! After the tour she gave us suggestions of what to do to explore the city.

Quality of Experience

The history and story of the Acropolis were amazing.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was fantastic.

Transport

We walked to the Acropolis from our hotel and got a mini tour of the city on the way.

I have been recommending KimKim to all of my friends since returning from Greece! Two girlfriends and I traveled to Athens, Mykonos, Paros and Santorini. Erica and Lea were so helpful every step of the way, and our accomodations were perfect. Everything went so smoothly with meeting our drivers and ferries, etc. One of the unexpected highlights was a day trip to Antiparos. We shopped in the morning and spent the afternoon at Fanari Beach Club. It was the perfect day. Another highlight was the day cruise from Paros. The swimming, sights, the staff and the lovely authentic Greek lunch made for a truly memorable day. We also loved our walking tour in Mykonos with Pako. He was an absolute delight! I could go on and on. I will definitely be using KimKim for my next trip :)

Activity Reviews

Day Cruise Sailing

Paros

Loved all of it! The staff were fantastic, views were awesome. Authentic barbecue lunch was amazing :))

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Self-Guided Day Trip to Antiparos

Greece

This was an awesome suggestion. We spend the afternoon at Fanari Beach Club. Highly recommend!

Quality of Experience

Chora Food & Culture Walk

Mykonos

We loved this tour! Pako was an absolute delight!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide, Penny, in Delphi was the most amazing and charming woman. From the beginning to the end, the guide was less a lecture and more of a discussion. She was amazingly knowledgeable not only on the history, but the relationship between the people, cultures, religions, and happenings of ancient Greece to the modern climate.

Our travel guide Chris was phenomenally receptive, quick to respond, and brilliantly knowledgeable about our travel plans. He was always so quick to help us out at any point of the day. We were very lucky to have him planning out our trip for us.

We had a great time. Our travel specialist connected us with all the "must-see" items on our list. He coordinated our flights and transfers and made it so easy for us to follow in the kim-kim app. We had great hotel staff, friendly drivers, and excellent guides.

Hotel Reviews

Skala Hotel

Patmos

Excellent accomodations right where we needed to be!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Heliotrope Hotels

Lesvos

Excellent hotel, fantastic breakfast and dining menu options, and friendly staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

NLH Monastiraki

Athens

Great staff and unique accomodations in the heart of Monastiraki... Close to everywhere we needed to be.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Classic Monastery Tour

Patmos

This was a beautiful and emotional experience. I only wished we had more time there!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Acropolis Of Athens Afternoon Walking Tour

Athens

Our tour guide was knowledgeable and entertaining. She managed to guide us to the top without exhaustion for those who were out of shape.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our trip was FANTASTIC! All of our guides were absolutely fabulous and every driver was on time (usually early) to pick us up. We especially loved Dora from our Acropolis tour and Katarina from our e-bike tour in Santorini. Really, every guide was FANTASTIC! We loved the catamaran tour in Milos (the captains/guides were great - I know one is named George) and our Greek Cooking class in Paros (so much fun)! We really had so much fun doing everything we planned.

We absolutely LOVED Senia Hotel in Paros. The staff was exceptional, the views and pool amazing, the food and service were top-notch, the location perfect and overall staying there was absolutely fantastic!

We also really loved our hotel in Santorini, Agali Houses. The accommodations were spacious and very nice, we had another amazing view and the location was fantastic. Whew those steps - you really can't be out of shape to climb those! We felt bad for the porters carrying our bags.

We also really liked Niche hotel in Athens. The rooftop was great, location perfect and the breakfast was one of our favorites of all the hotels we stayed at. The only negative was the rooms were small (but very nice) - but I guess that is to to be expected in a big city.

We had the absolute BEST time and loved meeting so many amazing people from Greece and other travelers from around the world and eating the most amazing food. The only thing I would have done differently is possibly added a day to each island (we did 2 nights Athens, and 3 islands, 3 nights each) so we had more time to relax and explore or only go to two islands and stay at each one for 4-5 days. With the travel it just cut into our time at each island and we were all a little tiered those days. Thank you so much for all the planning! We would highly recommend KimKim to anyone planning a trip.

Hotel Reviews

Agali Houses

Firostefani 00

Beautiful hotel in a great setting. Hotel steps are steep and there are lots of them so just be aware of that. The views from our room were AMAZING and we were in a fantastic location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very nice staff - just not as many staff. The pool bar was not at the pool (you had to walk up a level) and they stopped serving food at 4:00 pm (not a huge deal).

Cleanliness & Comfort

Olea Bay Hotel

Milos

Authenticity & Character

Location

We had two rooms in two different buildings which was fine but not idea. Just not as nice of a view as we had at other hotels and a little further of walk to shopping/restaurants, but not terrible.

Staff

The staff was great - they just had less staff but everyone we interacted with was very kind and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean, spacious and comfortable

Senia Hotel

Paros

Our absolute FAVORITE hotel of our trip! The staff was incredible, perfect location, amazing view, great food/drinks and a beautiful rooftop pool.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The staff was absolutely the BEST here.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Niche Hotel

Athens

Great hotel, perfect location, beautiful rooftop restaurant, great breakfast. Only negative was the rooms were pretty small so made it tight with our luggage.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Self-guided Exploration of Milos Highlights

Milos

We rented a car which made it easy to see various beaches/sights, sometimes parking was difficult because it was quite busy and the roads are quite narrow so you have to be especially careful of buses and other vehicles.

Quality of Experience

Private Evening Neighborhood Walk

Athens

Our guide was great and it was the first thing we did upon arriving in Athens. He introduced to the amazing Greek gelato and we loved seeing the old neighborhoods and some historical sights. We ended at dinner where he made some great recommendations.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traditional Greek Cooking Experience in a Hotel Garden

Paros

SO MUCH FUN! Our chef and all her staff were fantastic. The food we made was delicious, and we loved meeting so many other people at the class. There was also a plentiful supply of Greek wine. This was my favorite activity.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

South Coast E-Bike Adventure

Santorini

We absolutely LOVED Katarina. She was so knowledgeable, and it was great to see another part of Santorini. We made some great stops along the way. She was also did a fantastic job of making sure we were all well-hydrated and changed our route a bit when my daughters didn't love going downhill.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Kleftiko Catamaran Adventure

Milos

LOVED this so much! Absolutely beautiful. We did the half-day tour which was plenty for us. The lunch they served onboard was fantastic! Our guides were great and so much fun!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Morning Horseback Ride

Paros

We really enjoyed this activity but for some reason we thought it was on a beach and it definitely was not - but we could see the sea. Since we are not experienced riders some of the fear we had was due to our inexperience - we didn't do anything too hard but we just weren't used to riding horses and we did have to ride up some narrow spaces and we did have to navigate around some cars. But the guides and horses lead the way and everything was very safe and it was a great way to see a different view of Paros.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Acropolis & Acropolis Museum Experience

Athens

Dora our guide was amazing. A little long for our teenage daughters but we were also jet-lagged and it was very hot even in the morning.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an amazing experience working with Eirini to plan our trip to Greece! We told her we wanted to visit Athens and Santorini, see the major historical sites, and stay somewhere close to everything—and she executed our vision perfectly.

From the detailed pickup directions, to the seamless transportation, to the wonderful tour guides, every part of our trip was thoughtfully planned and completely stress-free. Everything ran smoothly, allowing us to simply enjoy the experience without worrying about logistics.

Her attention to detail, organization, and local knowledge made all the difference. We felt taken care of every step of the way, and it truly made our vacation unforgettable. We highly recommend Eirini to anyone planning a trip to Greece. Thank you for making our dream vacation such an incredible experience!

I used the kimkim app frequently during our stay. It was a great reference filled with so much information. Chris placed us at all the hotels where we needed to be. He was quick to respond to all my questions and was soo helpful and courteous. We could not have had a better experience. For hotels, our favorites were Monisteraki and Heliotrope. Monisteraki breakfast was so fresh and delicious. We loked the layout of the rooms with the loft. Heliotrope had such variety and their restaurant was excellent. Balcony rooms overlooking the pool and water were memorable. Skala was lovely on Patmos, within walking distance of shops and the marina. We were not at Avra long enough to appreciate it. The restaurant food was very good and it was ×within walking distance from the beach. Least favorite? Federalis due to mold in the shower and Achilles which had the least of accommodations. The driver who took us from Athens airport twice was not only a driver but a guide as well. He was very courteous and a patient driver. We had him twice for sure. I know he drove us to Achilles hotel. Again, I must say thank you, thank you to Chris who made it easy for this old lady to return to her roots. If you need a review about anything else, just reach out. I will be happy to help the next traveler.

Hotel Reviews

Heliotrope Hotels

Lesvos

Close to the airport, beaches, marina and shops. Balcony rooms overlook pool and water. Restaurant is delicious. Staff is very friendly.

Authenticity & Character

Authenticity & Character

Location

Location

Staff

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cleanliness & Comfort

Skala Hotel

Patmos

Within walking distance of the Marina, shops and restaurants.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

NLH Monastiraki

Athens

Perfect place to be if you want to be where it is at in Athens. Loved the family loft suites.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Classic Monastery Tour

Patmos

This was truly an experience to remember. The guide was very informative. I could have spent more time there for sure.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Acropolis Of Athens Afternoon Walking Tour

Athens

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was very informative and kept us in conversation

I cannot say enough good things about KimKim and our team at Be A Greek for our recent trip! I have been raving about my experience to anyone who will listen, seriously. We were heading to Greece for a wedding, we had flights and the wedding, and a big dream of building an unforgettable trip around it. This was my first time using KimKim, but i saw the company mentioned in the mags and newspapers i trust (can’t recall if it was NYT and Travel and Leisure, but most likely). The process of getting started was so easy, and within hours I was connected with Marianna at Be A Greek. Ok, the coolest thing about this KimKim process was the access to local experts. She listed to what we wanted, and was so patient with my sometimes inconsistent time to be able to plan. She did it all. She really listened. I wanted to stay away from big groups, no crazy instagram only spots. We wanted history, activity, food, we wanted to be immersed, but also luxurious and romantic. She nailed it. She booked a great semi-private tour guide at Naxos Cultural Tours, she found a private guide who was just as passionate about history and mythology as I am for Delphi, and a delightfully hilarious private guide for the Acropolis. Lovely hotels. And DAILY communication from the KimKim team with reminders about our itinerary for the next day, times, pdf copies our flights or boats, every detail was seen to. For example, when we landed in Athens we had a few hours to kill at the airport before our connecting flight to Naxos. Marianna had a delightful guide meet us at the airport, and Bianca told us stories, took us for coffee, and helped ease us into Greek life all in a layover. That little detail was incredible. I will 100% be using KimKim again, and highly recommend you do too!! Epharisto to Marianna and the KimKim team!

The team at KimKim provided a detailed itinerary including links, whatsApp phone numbers and specific instructions for each destination. After arriving in Athens and boarding our flight to Chania, Crete we were greeted by our transport driver who took us to the old port in Chania. As mentioned in our itinerary, we were not able to be dropped off at our hotel, the walk was pretty easy overall, lots of steps to navigate but the views and the area were gorgeous. Our boutique hotel was the Porto Del Columbo, which as it turns out was built during the Venetian occupation of Crete and also served as the French Embassy at one time as well as the Political office for the Greek Prime Minister Venizelos. The property was charming and comfortable. Our daily breakfasts were delicious and exactly what was needed to start the day. Everyone at the hotel was helpful, polite and always willing to assist in any way INCLUDING providing bagged breakfasts if you had an excursion or flight that put you out of the hotel before breakfast service. While in Chania we enjoyed the "Ultimate Food Tour of Chania" which took us to an olive oil mill, a distillery, a cheese factory and a bakery. Our guide Yiannis was knowledgeable and charming and really made the tour feel as if we were out with friends instead of on a tour. We also did a private sunset cruise that was SPECTACULAR! Jumping into the Aegean Sea just before sunset is something you just have to experience in person. The water is sparkling and clear (and so SALTY!). Our captain Mano was so chill and so much fun. He made the experience extremely memorable. One item of note regarding this tour, the photo of the boat that was sent to us by the tour company (not by KimKim) was NOT the boat we were ultimately on, we were in the right place at the right time, but were looking for the wrong boat. It was a minor issue but it did make us late for our pick up, so if you take this tour, ask for the exact boat you will be on. We ate on the waterfront each day and night - the food was all very good, but one restaurant in particular stood out enough that we visited it 3 times, La Bodega - every dish we ordered was spectacular! The owner even had cocktails with us our last night there.
After Crete we traveled to Santorini by SeaJets high speed Ferry. Great experience. The ferry's are well organized, very comfortable and easy to navigate.
While in Santorini we stayed at the Blue Dolphins hotel in Firastefani, the view was spectacular, the rooms were comfortable, well appointed and very clean. Christina on the front desk spoiled us and took care of our every need. Upon arrival, we were advised that we owed a very large balance for the rooms we had booked, which of course wasn't expected. One quick call and text to KimKim and it was all sorted out very quickly. Christina was very accommodating and extremely patient while getting our room situation sorted. A full breakfast was brought to our rooms each day, more than you could eat, eggs, meat, cheese, fruits, juice, coffee, tea, croissants, breads, spreads and honey.
While in Santorini we did a wine tour. Our guide Sabine, was very easy to work with, extremely knowledgeable and generally just fun to be around. She knew the area very well and gave us great recommendations for meals. All were on point. Of course no trip to the islands would complete without a day out on the sea! Our catamaran trip was beautiful, relaxing and again we were doted on and spoiled by the crew. The transport drivers on Santorini are AMAZINGLY talented drivers, navigating the narrow roads, sharp turns and tight spaces. Every transport driver we had was beyond impressive! We visited the capital Fira and enjoyed a lovely meal complete with a spectacular sunset in Oia. There is NOT an unpleasant view anywhere on Santorini but be prepared to walk and climb steps. Our average daily steps were 15-18K. After Santorini we ferried to Mykonos. Wow... Mykonos is a gorgeous island. Our hotel Vencia was my favorite of all the hotels we stayed in. The beds were like clouds, the infinity pool was stunning and the restaurant not only offered spectacular views, but live music through the sunset. On our second day there we participated in a "Chora Food and Culture Walk" our guide Paco was vivacious, funny and really offered a great experience at each of our stops. He just went above and beyond and made our day with him incredible! There are so many shops, restaurants and bars in Mykonos it would take a year to experience them all! The waterfront / harbor is beautiful and being able to sit down for a beverage or meal and stare out at the crystal blue sea was magical on every level. Mykonos was another walk centric location 15K - 18K steps every day!
After Mykonos we were off to Athens, this time by plane. Once in Athens we checked into the Athens Manor Houses. The property is spread out throughout the downtown, but the accomodations were comfortable and secure. Athens is like any other metropolitan city - busy, chaotic and full of anything and everything you could want. We spent our next day exploring the Acropolis and the antiquities of Athens. It is a workout to navigate all the way up to the ruins but well worth it. It is a marvel that ruins of that age coexist in a modern city like Athens. We also took a "neighborhood food walk" while in Athens, I cannot remember our guides name unfortunately (maybe Christine?) but she was super sweet, knew her way around, took the time to show us and share with us so many small details about Greek culture that again, it felt more like a day out with a friend than a tour with a guide. She had a great rapport with all the bakeries, sweet shops, taverns, delis and restaurants that we visited, you could tell she was well liked. We found a really cute "watering hole" in Athens called Louis Bistrot where we visited multiple times for beverages and snacks. The staff was great and by the second time we were there they acted as if we were regulars. I can't list all the restaurants, cafe's and taverns that we patronized but I will say ALL of them were fantastic, from the "holes in the wall" to the extravagant; we didnt have a bad meal or experience.,. Gyros are different all of Greece and should be experienced everywhere you go - in my opinion at least lol. Sardines and fresh fish are also a great dining experience overall everywhere in Greece. In conclusion, KimKim took out all the legwork, guesswork and pressure of planning - our vacation was truly all we hoped for and more. I will most definitely be using Erica and the KimKim team again in the future.

Hotel Reviews

Athens Manor Houses

Athens

In the heart of the city, close to most everything, very secure, modern and comfortable.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Vencia Boutique Hotel

Mykonos

Beautiful property overall with everything you would need right there at your fingertips, from a restaurant to spa services.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Blue Dolphins Hotels & Villas

Firostefani, Santorini

The views alone from this property would rate it a 5! The rooms were nicely laid out, comfortable and modern. The in room breakfasts were a real treat and more than you could eat!

Authenticity & Character

Location

You are away from the cruise ship crowds in Fira and able to see for miles

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Porto Del Colombo Traditional Boutique Hotel

Chania

The hotel is both historic and gorgeous. The staff are all friendly and accommodating, the breakfast is delightful and the rooms are comfortable with nice views. One item of note, there are no elevators, and LOTS of stairs! Be prepared to climb.

Authenticity & Character

It is a historical spot and a good bit of its original charm has been maintained.

Location

Staff

Everyone was helpful, cheerful and went above and beyond.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

The Ultimate Food Tour of Chania

Chania

Visiting these stops was both educational and enjoyable. We were given hands on, behind the scenes tours of the locations we visited. The pride and professionalism of each business was displayed in not only the products being presented but in the representatives who greeted, guided and welcomed us.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kimkim did a wonderful job planning our family trip to Greece. During the early stages, Erica talked with me at length about what kind of trip we were looking for and what types of activities we'd be interested in (understanding and taking into account that we were not all interested in the same things!). She chose two Greek islands (Naxos and Milos) that were less touristy and more authentic but still offered both cultural/historical and more active/outdoorsy activities and organized all our hotels and transfers to make the experience seamless. The kimkim team was available during the trip to answer any questions and handle hiccups (which only occurred once!). I would highly recommend this booking agency!

Activity Reviews

Private Hike to the Mountain of Zeus

Naxos

I loved climbing Mt. Zeus but wasn't thrilled to have a guide that talked the whole time (while his stories were interested, we really just wanted to enjoy the landscape and views)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Acropolis Beat-the-Crowds Discovery Walk

Athens

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

E-Bike Exploration of Milos Highlights and Beaches

Milos

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This was the first time I have ever had the assistance of a travel agent/company planning a trip-- but I would highly recommend. Minimizing the planning time was a real goal at this busy moment in life and allowed us to maximize the time doing fun stuff/relaxing on our trip and minimized the downtime! Having the transfers coordinated in advance made it feel luxurious. We had amazing guides (Anghela for a Percy Jackson tour in Athens was amazing--- and Stratos for kayaking to Poseidons temple and George for hiking/natural history in Kourtaliotiko gorge in Crete). We all loved the Olympic stadium tour and practicing the olympic events. The itinerary was a fabulous mix of historical tours and adventure activities and relaxation. It worked great for our 3 generation family!

Hotel Reviews

Porto Del Colombo Traditional Boutique Hotel

Chania

Porto Del Colombo Traditional Boutique Hotel in Chania had a different ambiance with a Turkish influence, which was interesting. However, there was a small issue with breakfast as we had paid for it but couldn't enjoy it due to early departures for activities. It would have been better if the breakfast arrangements matched our schedule. Other than that, the hotel was great.

Ippokampos Beachfront Hotel

Naxos

Ippokampos Beachfront Hotel in Naxos was nice and right on the beach, which was very convenient as we stayed there for beach time and explored the charming village nearby. The hotel was whitewashed, airy, and open, but it wasn't as memorable or special as some of the other accommodations. Still, it was a pleasant place to stay.

Electra Palace Athens

Athens

Electra Palace Athens was a great hotel, especially for the swimming pool which was a lifesaver for my grandson during the hot afternoons. The breakfast was unbelievable and the hotel had a city vibe, less Greek but very comfortable and enjoyable. The location was excellent for walking to many interesting places, so we didn't need to use public transportation.

Villa Archanes

Heraklion, Crete

We loved this one! Super quaint town and awesome little hotel. Nicest host and HUGE breakfast

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Kourtaliotiko Gorge Hidden Waterfall & River Trek

Chania

Our guide George was seriously the best, couldn't have been better. He made opportunities to make sure our 10 year old got his energy out and adrenaline pumping! We loved this activity for our group

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Morning or Evening Sea Kayaking to Temple of Poseidon

Athens

Stratos was fabulous guide. This was a great way to experience the temple

Morning Catamaran Cruise

Greece

Recommend the 6hr option vs the 4hr! There were many boats doing the same trip but after 4 hours all the other boats left and we had the whole bay to ourselves-- which was amazing! The boat, food, staff and whole experience were excellent

Knossos Palace Experience

Greece

This one didn't keep our 10 year old particularly engaged unfortunately.

Percy Jackson-Inspired Acropolis & Museum Experience

Athens

Our guide (Anghela) did an amazing job keeping our 10 year old engaged in 4 hours of historical exploration with a deep knowledge of Percy Jackson books and a fabulous approach to interacting with all of us.

Olympic Games Workout

Athens