Kimkim Trip Reviews for Indonesia

My experience with Alisha was top notch. She provided constant communication with ideas and input for months prior to booking my trip. She helped with so many questions and adjustments, it was so appreciated. Then prior to the trip she provided great information wth contacts, itinerary, phone numbers, etc to ensure I had a smooth trip. After arrival, she kept in continuous contact and made sure our driver was working out and the plans. I had to cancel a couple items and it was a breeze. Cant say enough how helpful she was - Highly recommend using Kim Kim for trip planning.

Great times in Bali/Lombok with the local driver and guide services helping us make the most of it.

Our Specialist: Theresa
Theresa was so awesome from the beginning! As someone who lives in Bali herself, she was able to give us honest opinion on what the places are about and how long the wait time would be for pictures, and from there we were able to easily determine if it's worth our time. She created a perfect itinerary exactly what we wanted and covers all the things we wanted to see, even planned a small secret birthday celebration and massage for my gf and her best friend. Throughout the trip she always check up on us to make sure the trip is going as planned and that we're satisfied with everything! She is definitely the best specialist we could ask for on this Bali trip!

Our Driver: Agung
Agung from the very first time we met him, he's always with a smile. Despite driving us all day he never says no to any of our request if we all of a sudden need to go somewhere. No matter how early how late, he's always at the spot way early ready to take us on our everyday journey. He used to be a tour guide, so that's a huge bonus! He was able to suggest us different hidden spots and other things to explore on the go, but at the same time totally respect what we want. And that really made our already perfect trip even more perfect!! Not only that, he genuinely cares about us. In the middle one of us not feeling well he would go out of his way to find medicine for us, with his own money! Or provide whatever he had on him, like vitamins or cough drops. He was like a Bali dad to us taking care of us for 7 day straight which made this trip that much more special! We would always ask him to eat lunch and dinner with us, he didn't even try to take advantage, hed always say he's full or that's too expensive he doesn't want us to treat. We always have to force him haha. When we arrive at airport on departure day, we all even teared up a little that our journey with Agung came to an end. He is such a special driver that I'll never forget!

Theresa and Agung are both amazing that made our trip so wonderful!! I would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for an unforgettable Bali trip!!!

Theresa was fantastic! We only started planning this trip about 3 weeks before we planned to go, and she made it happen. She gave us a great first draft of our itinerary based on the online survey we took, and then helped us to fine tune it until our trip was exactly what we wanted. She understood the vibe we were going for, the mix of activities, and then when we were in Bali, she checked on us almost every day. We loved the cultural experience in Sideman, the sunrise hike up Mount Batur, the scuba diving in Gili Air, and the beach hopping around Bukit Peninsula. She also surprised us with massages at two of our hotels! Also, a big shout out to our driver Bagus - he was always on time and very fun to get to know! He answered all our questions about Bali and Indonesia and even taught us some phrases in both languages. After this trip, we want to go back! And would definitely want to work with Theresa and Bagus again if we could :)

Ana and the team at Shanti helped us plan and book a phenomenal trip through Bali! She had all the local knowledge needed to help us customize our itinerary to our interests and prioritize activities that worked for us. She set us up with amazing local guides, including our driver for the week (Rusna!), a trail guide on Mt. Batur, and a guide through the highlights of Ubud. Most importantly, she was an on the ground, local contact available throughout our trip to answer questions and help us with any changes. Highly recommend the KimKim custom planning experience broadly and Ana and her Shanti team specifically!

Hotel Reviews

De Moksha Eco Friendly Boutique Resort

Tabanan

Gorgeous grounds, great food, and exceptional staff. Loved it!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Beautiful, scenic grounds but not located near other amenities. Felt isolated.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arkamara Dijiwa Ubud

Bali

Beautiful grounds, super helpful staff, and comfortable room. They provided a shuttle to central Ubud during regular hours and had special agreements with approved taxis that they could book on our behalf in off hours. The front desk was always accessible via WhatsApp.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Joya Biu Biu Resort

Jimbaran

Gorgeous, cliff side location. Drinks and extra amenities were a bit expensive compared to other places, but overall experience was positive.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

A/C in our room was hit and miss and the room was definitely "rustic."

Activity Reviews

Experience Ubud VW Safari Car Tour

Ubud, Bali

Superb driver who customized the day trip to our interests...and also took fantastic photos (an unexpected bonus!)!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunrise trek to Mount Batur

Indonesia

Tough climb with gorgeous views!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Goa Gajah Cave

Indonesia

This was a super super touristy place. As one of our first popular temple visits we did, we weren't aware and equipped to stop a guy from coercing us into a tour and insisting on payment at the end. We felt trapped in a guided tour we didn't actually ask for and in a show of performative religion that didn't feel respectful to the actual roots of the place.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Visit the UNESCO Jatiluwih Ricefield

Indonesia

One of our favorite stops on the trip! An absolutely gorgeous walk through rice terraces with scenic mountain views beyond. We would have loved to spend more time enjoying this place!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to Indonesia was a true reprieve from the stresses of regular life, a perfect vacation. Our KimKim specialist Ana organized several lovely events for us but also maintained a comfortable flexibility, listening well and helping us refund things when our energy wasn't up to the big tasks. In particular, our driver throughout the trip, Parma, was one of the kindest, most splendid humans we have ever met and want him to get as much praise possible for hosting us so well. The Komodo Island boat cruise stood out as a spectacular highlight of the trip (we saw Komodo dragons, Mantas, turtles, soft coral, and unreal sunsets). Our guide Tony also stood out as a spectacular and knowledgable friend.

Our driver Komang was always very helpful and professional

Ana was outstanding. While planning, she listened to us and what we had research and helped us with local knowledge. Despite the 15 hour time difference, she was quick to respond.
Once we arrived, she met us at our hotel to welcome us and confirm our schedule. She was available during our whole trip for random questions, even as small as bug spray brand.
She was kind and communicative. Our trip was much richer because of her help.

Our trip was based on Sumatra, Java and Bali. The organisation was impeccable, everything worked very well. We felt safe, treated well and we knew the plan well. All the guides we had were very friendly, competent and knowledgeable. We had many activities and everything was done in details. We enjoyed every single day. A special thank you to Myriam that organised an incredible trip and she has been always available and caring. This is an highly recommended trip.

Our honeymoon was amazing due to the amazing services that were provided by Kim Kim and their services held by Alisha. She was able to answer all of our questions and provide us with a driver that made our experience very comfortable. Our driver and contact always made us feel comfortable and allowed to relax and enjoy our honeymoon.

Hotel Reviews

Adiwana Arya Villas Ubud - CHSE Certified

Ubud

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Angkal Resort Nusa Penida Bali

Bali

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Puri Santrian

Denpasar

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Monkey Forest, Goa Gajah Cave and Sacred Springs of Tirta Empul

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Experience Balinese day in Sidemen

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Family excursion to the most beautiful beaches of West Nusa Penida

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Family Adventure: Spot manta rays on a snorkeling trip in Nusa Penida

Nusa Penida

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bukit Beach Tour & Ketcak Dance Show

Sanur, Bali

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a fantastic time on out rip to Bali. The plan that was put together by Marc at KimKim, allowed us to do everything on our wish list (Haige a volcano at sunrise, white water rafting, great bike ride with a local guide, snorkeling and many cultural activities). Our driver that was with use throughout the trip was exceptional and all the activities were well coordinated.
Thank You for n amazing experience.

A 'must go back soon' experience! From the moment we sent the initial enquiry to KimKim, through to the final drop off at the departure airport, we knew we had made the right decision!
Theresa (and rest of team in Bali when she was on vacation) made us feel 'at home', relaxed and confident we would enjoy the trip.
Our driver/guide Padma was amazing; we got to know him very well. Polite, safe driver and respectful of our privacy if we just wanted to wander by ourselves
Highlights...many...but highly recommend the Morning Sunrise Trek (awesome guide from #ikakomangfrombali (on IG)); jungle trek to the eco-cafe, where you can grind and roast your own coffee beans in front of spectacular waterfall!; the Monkey Forest is a must...yes it may be a little touristy, but you have to go. Amazing creatures!; Bali cooking class was exceptional...we had private class (Vegan) and was superb host. Not just the cooking but history and culture of Balinese family and house (#ubadubudbali); and then the rice fields...so many to see and you get to walk around (short or long walk) one of the most spectacular in the country; temples! do not be surprised with how many temples there are...we spent quality time at probably 4 or 5 and each had a different history...make sure you have someone like Padma to make sense of it all!
Plenty of other things to see...even the beaches in Santur are nice; peaceful and great for kids/families...we didn't go to the other side to see the surfers!
So, all in all best experience we can remember AND the Balinese are just so sincerely friendly

Activity Review

Climb Mount Batur at Sunrise

Indonesia

Excellent...our tour guide was amazing. She was attentive, gauged our ability to hike and adjusted pace accordingly! #ikakomangfrombali

Quality of Experience

We had an amazing time in Bali. Marc helped me plan a custom trip at exactly the pace and level of investment we were looking for. The hotels he suggested were just perfection. Tejaprana in Ubud was absolutely phenomenal. I wish we could have stayed another week in that hotel alone- exactly what you picture when you think Bali and the food and staff were just beyond. Taman Sari in Pemuteran and our snorkel trip with Nyoman on West Bali Extreme were wonderful. We saw on a ton of unique things thanks to his keen eye. Marc’s suggestion of Setia for dinner was a win, best food we had on the island. And finally staying at Wapa De Ume in Sidemen left us feeling we were in a dream. Everyday our amazing driver Edi got us safely and quickly to our destinations with a smile and some insight on local culture. He got us to each ticket booth and stop we wanted to make sure we were in the right place. We spent a lot of time in his Van and it was always comfy, clean and cool with water and umbrellas if we needed. Thank you for giving us this taste of Indonesia, we know who to call when we are ready to come back!

We did a 10 day Java trip and it was amazing. Marc organized our drivers and hotels and activities and we loved all of it! Our drivers, Purwol and Sholi were excellent and very safe. We were well looked after and the hotels we stayed at were lovely. We climbed Mt. Ijen, Mt. Bromo and visited numerous temples. We went bike riding, experienced waterfalls and had a really fun time. Marc was excellent at helping plan and we can't say enough about how helpful he was on our trip with getting back to us with any questions we had. He even arranged for a doctor to come to our hotel when we needed to see one. We can highly recommend Marc and Kimkim Travel. They make going on trips easy and fun!!

Marc was great to work with in our trip planning. He was open to providing more options for tours or lodging if anything was not a best fit. Additionally he answered lots of questions we had about itineraries, cultural norms, and made sure we knew who would be meeting at each trip stage and provided contact information for all drivers, and hotels, etc. I would highly recommend his services to others as his Bali knowledge was extremely helpful.

Our driver Jerry was was kind and helpful and was flexible to adding or changing any stops or plans we had made. He was open to answering lots of questions about Bali and made us feel welcome and safe at all times.

Thank you!

We have only amazing things to say about our experience with Alisha and the trip she planned for us. We first started planning our honeymoon by ourselves and quickly got overwhelmed by planning a 3 week trip to the south or southeast pacific having no experience in the region. We reached out to KimKim and Alisha had an incredible 3 week itinerary across Java, Bali, and the Komodo Islands to us in a week or less. She was super responsive to our requests for changes or alternatives and came up with so many wonderful options. To put the icing on Alisha and KimKim's cake, they were able to rebook our entire trip for two weeks later after me and my new wife contracted COVID after our wedding.

We ended up with the most magical trip including exploring millennia-old temples, climbing a volcano, snorkeling some of the most incredible reefs we've ever seen, surfing a few outstanding breaks, exploring some amazing waterfalls, racing buggies through the jungle, cooking authentic Indonesian food, and cruising an island archipelago to see Komodo dragons. They hit some of the popular highlights but also found some fantastic lesser-known and less crowded places for us to really soak in the local scenery, food, and culture. At every place they had us staying at the most incredible hotels and it all cost less than expected, even with KimKim's service charges. They even arranged for drivers for us throughout the trip across three different islands and English-speaking guides where it counted.

Especially for a honeymoon, KimKim was worth the money and so much more. If you're questioning whether or not KimKim is worth it, don't. IT IS!

Hotel Reviews

Puri Dajuma Beach Eco-Resort & Spa - CHSE Certified

Pekutatan

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nadira Bali Resort & Villa

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Joya Biu Biu Resort

Jimbaran

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Private cruise trip in Komodo National Park

Labuan Bajo, Indonesia

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Experience Snorkeling in Menjangan

Pemuteran, Bali

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Experience Balinese Cooking Class

Ubud, Bali

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Haunted Valley Waterfall Expedition

Munduk, Bali

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My husband had the most amazing time in Indonesia. We got to go on so many different adventures! I will never forget the Ijen Volcano hike to the elusive blue flame. And our boat cruise around Komoda National Park to see Komodo dragons was unforgettable! We seriously did things that most people never even dream of.... And our tour guides, as always, were fabulous!

Hotel Reviews

Plataran Bromo

Wonokitri

Absolutely incredible hotel and ride to the top of the mountain. I'll never forget our breakfast above the clouds. The views were insane. I wish we had more time there!

Authenticity & Character

Location

You can't even begin to realize where you're going until you get there!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ijen Resort and Villas

Banyuwangi

Incredible hotel and incredible views. Staff and food was amazing. I wish we had more time there!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Wapa di Ume Ubud

Ubud, Gianyar, Bali

We had the best NYE here! The NYE party at the hotel was so fun and so authentic. And we even had our own private pool in our villa. The resort grounds are to die for. Staff was amazing. Get the bubur ayam for breakfast! Best stay ever!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Private cruise trip in Komodo National Park

Labuan Bajo, Indonesia

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Gending Kedis

Jimbaran

Gorgeous resort. We had a two-story villa with a private pool! I wish we had more time there!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Explore Mount Bromo

Mount Bromo, East Java

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hike to the Top of Mount Ijen Volcano

Ijen, East Java

Nothing like I anticipated but worth every moment!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer to Ubud

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Liveaboard Cruise: Discover Flores & Komodo

Komodo Island

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Liveaboard Cruise: Komodo dragons, beaches, snorkelling and manta rays

Komodo Island

The park is incredibly beautiful! Snorkeling was awesome.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Liveaboard Cruise - Departure Day

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This was an amazing adventure! We especially enjoyed all the interesting hotels we stayed along the way. A highlight to the trip was exploring the Ijen Crater and seeing Komodo dragons. The food experience was wonderful! All our guides were helpful.

Hotel Reviews

Plataran Bromo

Wonokitri

Incredible place! Would like to spend more time here.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ijen Resort and Villas

Banyuwangi

Amazing place! Would like to spend more time here

Authenticity & Character

Location

I’m

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hike to the Top of Mount Ijen Volcano

Ijen, East Java

This was a highlight. Great guide! Excellent hike and got to see the blue flame

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Liveaboard Cruise: Komodo dragons, beaches, snorkelling and manta rays

Komodo Island

This was another highlight to our trip! Great crew on the boat!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

When thinking back on our adventures in Indonesia only superlatives come to my mind.
First attempts to make the itinerary were done via local Belgian travel agents. Very soon I found out that these lead to the same things over and over again. But then after googling some more I found KimKim. Never heard of them before but as huge US travel fans attracted by the fact they are HQ-ed in Chicago. after indicating our preferred destination and wishes we came in contact with Marc. oh gosh, this was a winner!! From the first moment Marc "listened" to our wishes and was thinking with us. The connection was there from the beginning and step by step he managed to set out the lines for our itinerary. I suppose there were times when he was pulling his hair because we wanted another change, another hotel ..... He never gave us the idea he was done with it, always there to adapt and to help.
We could reach him at any time before, during and after the trip. He is a true diamond for any organization so KimKim I can only advise you to take care of this one! Good team members don't come in easily and frequently.
along our trip we were in contact and taken care of by many locals. We have talked to them for hours as we love to meet the true culture and spirit of a country. They were all good and very helpful. the most knowledgeable was definitely Lucy how thought us many things and was always a nice company.
One person stood out of the many! Jerry, our guide and driver in Bali definitely deserves to be mentioned in person. He is a true jewel to the world. To us he was one of the reasons that our time in Bali will never be forgotten! He pampered us as if he knew us for years! He was always there to lean a helping hand and go the extra mile. He handled according to every of our wishes. Even after getting back home, he asked if we arrived safely. I'm sure we will stay in contact with him and hear about his lovely family.
Reflecting today there were so many things that stood out. Our main focus was nature. We were impressed every day by what each island has to offer. from Oeran-outangs over elephants to stunning sunrises, pink beaches and sunset dances by flying foxes!
We are more than grateful that we were among the happy people having the chance in life to discover this true paradise on earth.
Though our eyes and ears were spoiled on a daily basis what will stay forever as the deepest impression was the friendliness and kindness of the Indonesian people. No matter the island, no matter the religion .... they can teach the world on how to live together. We will never forget those smiles and helping hands.
Thanks to all that made this trip a memory for life!
For those that would love to see some pictures feel free to look on instagram/ judithdebrus

Overall, I really enjoyed my visit to Indonesia. Being a first time visitor, I thought I saw a good intersection of the country. My favorite places were the jungles of Sumatra, seeing the volcanoes around Mt. Bromo and just relaxing at the beach.

What I would improve is some of the sequencing. The first half of the trip was pretty aggressive, with early wake ups at 1-3AM to get a sunrise. With varying weather conditions, some of this was less than ideal. I also had some flight cancellations causing a lot of last minute running around. Marc was great at changing the schedule for the latter half of the trip to accomodate though.

In addition, some hotels although listed as 4 star, were definitely not as great. Definitely do your research if you're looking for better accommodations.

Hotel Reviews

Ecolodge Bukit Lawang

Bukit Lawang

Great experience and food!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

FM7 Resort Hotel Jakarta

Tangerang, Banten

The hotel had a lot of guests that were knocking on people's doors late in the night. The food was sub-par with no real Indonesian food in the hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Phoenix Hotel Yogyakarta - MGallery Collection

Yogyakarta

Food at breakfast was great. The location was also great, however the hotel quality was lacking. The couches were stained and the bathroom had a lot of black grout.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Plataran Bromo

Wonokitri

Loved this hotel. The overall space was beautiful. Service was incredible and it was easy to arrange services.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mimpi Resort Menjangan - CHSE Certified

Pejarakan

I loved Mimpi. The rooms were really unique. The food was great and the location for snorkeling was also amazing.

Bangsring Breeze

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Sun of Granary

Gianyar – Bali

I had an ant infestation in this hotel and had to get things cleaned and my room moved. It was also off of Ubud center.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Joya Biu Biu Resort

Jimbaran

Overall great stay. The food was catered to more of a western audience though.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Trek in the jungle - Meet the Orangutans

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Borobudur Temple

Yogyakarta

Couldn't go to the top. I wish we knew this ahead of the trip!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Visit Prambanan Temple Complex

Yogyakarta

Couldn't go to the top, I wish I knew this ahead of the trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Mount Bromo

Mount Bromo, East Java

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hike to the Top of Mount Ijen Volcano

Ijen, East Java

Got rained out although we hiked to the top. It was the right decision to turn around, but a bit of a shame.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Snorkeling around Menjangan Island

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Transfer to Ubud

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit a local market & enjoy a cooking class

Ubud, Bali

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Cultural Immersion and traditions at Rumah Desa

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport