Kimkim Trip Reviews for Ireland

Our interactions with the team including Cathy and Stephen were most positive. Stephen provided wonderful support in the planning and he and Cathy were most helpful in trouble shooting when we had issues.
Our walking tours were exceptional in Dublin, Kinsale and on Achill Island. The tour guides were extremely open to questions and in engaging with us. We learned so much from them.

We had a great trip! We got to see a lot of different parts of Ireland and enjoy a good range of experiences. The itinerary that was planned for us gave us a good day-by-day framework that also allowed us some flexibility to add in additional activities and be a little spontaneous. The highlights were the interactive experiences - the falconry lesson and the sheepdog demonstration - as well as the opportunities to get away from the tourist crowds. We didn't love every activity that was included in the itinerary or every hotel we stayed in, and we would have done some things differently if we were to do it all over again, but that's just the nature of traveling and it wouldn't necessarily have been any different had we planned the trip ourselves. Overall we had a lovely time and appreciated all the planning and organization that went into the trip.

Hotel Reviews

Temple Bar hotel

Dublin

I would give this hotel zero stars if I could. It's perfectly comfortable from the perspective of the room size, beds, etc. but there is a bar inside the hotel that plays loud music until midnight or later, and you can hear it from every part of the hotel. It's especially bad in the rooms closer to the street but we switched to a room in the back of the hotel for our second night and although the music was quieter, we could still hear it. We were unable to sleep and it affected our ability to enjoy the days we were in Dublin because we were so exhausted. I guess this hotel might be all right for young people who want to stay up partying until 3am, but for a family with a young child it was not suitable at all. The one positive I can say is that the location is great for walking around. The breakfast was good but not amazing.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Conveniently located for walking around Dublin, but in a noisy location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Shandon Bell's BnB

Cork

This hotel was fine but not great. It's pretty shabby and the room was very small. There was no air conditioning so we had to sleep with the window open, which let in street noise. We could walk to central Cork but it wasn't particularly close or convenient to do so. However, the bed was comfortable and the breakfast was cooked to order.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cahernane House Manor Hotel

Killarney

By far the best place we stayed. We loved it so much we didn't want to leave. Wonderful service, amazing breakfast, our room was luxurious, the common rooms of the historic hotel are beautiful, the grounds are stunning. 10/10 would absolutely return if we were ever in Ireland again.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Leonardo Hotel Dublin Christchurch

Dublin 8

Fantastic location across from Christ Church (walkable to the major sights, while avoiding the loud noise of Temple Bar) and the room was comfortable. Service was friendly and helpful, and the breakfast buffet was one of the best we enjoyed on our trip. The major downside was that there was no air conditioning and we were uncomfortably hot, even with the windows open. However, the hotel was in the process of installing air conditioning so future guests might not have to deal with this problem.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Victoria Hotel

Galway

We enjoyed our stay at this hotel for three nights. The family room was spacious and very comfortable for the three of us. The location was very convenient to central Galway as well as to the ferry docks - we walked everywhere. Service was very friendly and helpful. There were only two negatives - the rooms lack air conditioning and can be uncomfortably warm depending on the weather, and the breakfast buffet was not the best with no variation from day to day. Overall though we would recommend staying here when in Galway.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Falconry Adventures

Killarney

We loved this experience! It was wonderful to chat with the guide, learn about falconry, and interact with the birds. We didn't get to see them do all they're capable of because it was raining, but we had a great time nonetheless. We liked that it was a personal experience and not part of a group tour. We would definitely recommend this.

Self-Guided Guinness Storehouse Experience

Dublin

This was fun, even for kids. It was great enjoying a pint of Guinness from the rooftop bar and enjoying the view of Dublin. The one downside is that considering it's a brewery tour, you don't get to see any part of the actual brewing process - it must all be in a separate building or something.

Traditional working sheep farm and Sheepdog demonstration

Ireland

This was really lovely, even in the rain. The dog demonstration was extremely impressive and then we got to watch a sheep being sheared and help feed the babies! Our daughter loved all of it. The location/scenery is also stunning.

Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher Day Cruise sailing from Galway

Ireland

We all got very seasick over on the ferry from Galway - this is probably unavoidable, but in the future we think travelers should be advised that the crossing is very rough before signing them up for this tour, because some people might not want to risk it. So many people on the boat were throwing up, it was awful. However, the ferry was on time and we did enjoy sailing past the cliffs of Moher on the way back (which was not as rough).

Guided tour of the island of Inishmore ( Aran Islands)

Ireland

The Aran Islands are incredible and we ultimately had a good time, but there were a couple things about this tour that we didn't love. We were put into a group tour in which we were crowded into a small bus, it was a pretty impersonal experience. And because of the schedule of the group tour, which didn't start right away when our ferry docked, we wasted a bunch of time on the front end and then had to rush to get back on the ferry at the end - because most of the other people in the group were on a different ferry schedule. I would not recommend that Kimkim put travelers into a group tour like this in the future, it is worth a small extra expense to get a private tour of the island that is more comfortable and allows more time to actually see the sights instead of waiting around.

1st thank you for planning an amazing trip for my family !! Words can’t express how incredible our vacation was. 1st it was a gift from my daughter and son in law for my Birthday!! I’ve been so many wonderful places but have never experienced such beauty and the most friendliest caring people in my life. Also, being handicapped and using a scooter they planned sight seeing around it! Couple things I couldn’t do but OMG I went and saw everything scheduled for us and more! Every driver was amazing. Each one was our little tour guide. Make sure you bring rain coat for sure and layers but the weather was actually pretty good !! Just one little glitch which was our fault after coming out of the Guinness factory we decided to give our granddaughter a horse and carriage ride. Nope, we didn’t check them out unfortunately and even thought “their” sign said 50.00 for 4 when we got to our hotel at tried to charge us 300.00 for 6 of us!!!! The hotel checked them out after we got there and said they had horrible ratings just for that reason and reported them to the police. Lesson learned. So if you want a horse and buggy ride ask your hotel and check them out. BUT…. It didn’t ruin this amazing trip. We are at all amazing restaurants and drank in every pub we could hit!!! WE can’t wait to go back !! Thank you so much Kim Kim for one heck of a lovey vacation 💚🍀☘️ Ireland is forever in our hearts!!

Hotel Reviews

Clayton Hotel Cardiff Lane

Beautiful hotel. Great accommodation! Super awesome people !

Authenticity & Character

Very clean. Cute and family friendly !

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms, lobby all very nice

Mount Juliet Estate

Thomastown

Beyond beautiful! Property and gulf corse are breathtaking. Wonderful food and the nicest people. The rooms were definitely 5 stars plus. Beds were amazing!! 1st class all the way.

Authenticity & Character

Classy charming and #1 on our list.

Location

Not far from all our adventures.

Staff

Super helpful and so nice

Cleanliness & Comfort

The best !!

Scott's Hotel Killarney

Killarney, Co. Kerry

People were wonderful. But no air conditioning! And right outside our window was a carnival !!!! Even though they closed 10:00 and having to keep our windows open, it was very loud with screaming! Beds were very hard. But very clean

Authenticity & Character

Cute

Location

Perfect for our adventures

Staff

Always willing to help and very nice

Cleanliness & Comfort

very clean

Drury Court Hotel

Dublin

Very please. Close to everything. Wonderful restaurant and bar !! Great food !!

Authenticity & Character

Small lobby. But cute. Those awesome girls handle all our luggage for 6 people.

Location

perfect spot for everything.

Staff

Went beyond the call of duty. Had a bad experience with getting a horse and buggy coming from Guinness factory. They lied, WAY over charged. Totally ripped us off. My little granddaughter was devastated. Crying so bad !!! The girls at the front desk were so concerned. They called the police. They were so upset for my granddaughter they gave her a box of chocolates. They felt so bad for us having such a bad experience on our last day. They truly went beyond the call of duty !!!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Super clean and comfy !

Leonardo Hotel Galway

Galway

Great location. Rooms were small but nice.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Local was great for getting around to so many places.

Staff

Excellent!!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Super clean. Beds a little hard and pillows.

Activity Reviews

Private Galway Food Tour

Galway

WOW….. loved our tour guide. She was amazing!!! What a doll filled with so much knowledge!! All our stops were great. Food was wonderful. I highly recommend this for anyone going to Ireland ! Galway is top on my list. Thank you

Quality of Experience

5 ⭐️ star

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Best people ever !! Everyone we had was great !

Transport

The drivers !!!!

Irish Dancing Show

Galway

So amazing !!!! Love 🍀love 🍀love 🍀would go again !!

Quality of Experience

So friendly and accommodating!!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Wonderful people. So knowledgeable and kind !!

Transport

The best

Free time in Dublin

Dublin

Wondered, shopped, ate, drink-pups…. Repeated !!! Learned how to love Guinness!! :)

Quality of Experience

We actually went to his home. Had a lot of surprises and amazing birds. So much knowledge !! Wonderful people !!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The best !!!

Transport

We felt like friends. So nice and concerned that our time with him was great. Which it was !!

Galway Cathedral

Galway

Very cool. Pretty grounds

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Awesome

Transport

Best driver. We learned so much just from the driver on so much

Private tour of Connemara (Sky Road, Kylemore Abbey and a Sheep dog Farm experience)

Galway

The absolute best !! Wow

Quality of Experience

So many things made this experience amazing!!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Outstanding !!

Transport

The best !!

Falconry Adventures

Killarney

You can’t miss this !! One of our very favs ! You pull up to the gentleman’s house and he brings out amazing birds. So knowledgeable and entertaining!! The birds are so beautiful. We learned so much !!!!

Quality of Experience

The best !!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

So amazing !!

Transport

Our driver was incredible!! So much info we learned!

Welcome to Doolin

Doolin

So sweet ! Had a wonderful lunch at the cutest little restaurant!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Outstanding driver.

Transport

The driver was great!! The vehicle was spotless and water always available!! So knowledgeable!!

Cliffs of Moher Cruise from Doolin ( 50 min)

Doolin

Truly beautiful!!!! . The captain was amazing and his hands really helped everyone. So thoughtful. We learned so much.

Quality of Experience

Don’t miss it.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Outstanding !!

Transport

Out driver was amazing !!!

Private Transfer/Taxi

Ireland

Outstanding. All 6 of us we very comfortable in such a beautiful, clean vehicle. And plenty of water. So pleased with our driver

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I highly recommend Cathy and the team at Kimkim. We needed help crafting a family itinerary for Ireland in a tight turnaround and she was exceptional with communication and the activity planning. What a relief to have so many activities already booked when you arrive in the country and you can just relax and have fun family time. I will absolutely use Kimkim again!

Cathy was very responsive and sensitive to our travel needs. She took a great amount of care and fine tuning of our itinerary. Cathy heard our needs and made an itinerary that met them! All of our accommodations were lovely and in country travel was easy because of Cathy! Cathy is going to take a lot of the cognitive and emotional labor that goes into planning a trip and we're so glad we booked with her! You can trust her to plan a wonderful trip.

Trip was amazing, starting with our short stay at the Ashling Hotel when we first landed in Dublin. The hotel is beautiful, the food delicious and service outstanding. Two of us had a date at the Ink Factory for Tattoos, where we had some of the nicest artist who made our touchdown welcoming.
Our next day took us to Cork, stating at the Clayton Hotel. We did a tour of the Killarney Castle and Middleton's Jameson Distillery. I would recommend they be done on separate days but we made a day of it. When touring the Castle don't skip exploring the property... what finds there are! The people at Jamison were outstanding; such knowledge and made you feel immersed in the process. We were happily surprised to do a premium tasting, which was a wonderful treat...took home one of those premium whiskeys.
My nephew feels Killarney is the place for him...we spent three nights at the Randall's, which I would recommend everyone stay! The staff, rooms and food is amazing. Plus they have a covered patio with blankets and heaters to sit and wind down from a long day. While there plan on. A trip to Faha Falconry; we had a private visit and it was amazing! Expect a road trip that is something itself to talk about.
Galway is the place to eat! Our food tour had me trying dishes that I never would have. Have a love raspberry croissants and clams now. So much to eat!
There was so much we did... such a horseback riding, sailing and a jaunty ride, that i could talk forever about. Kimkim did an amazing job on helping us plan a family trip of a lifetime to see where my grandmother was born and raised. Thank you, Claire and the Kim Kim team!

We had an effortless 2 weeks in Ireland and did the whole Isle with the help of Kim Kim and local agent (Ireland Walk, Hike, Bike) Joe. Joe listened to our needs of having a mix of 3-4 star places with some unique nice properties blended in. The things to do they suggest in each location were wonderful. Literally, the only thing we did not find very good was ‘EPIC’ tour in Dublin.
We made so many wonderful memories with the suggested routes they provided, everywhere we stayed was nice and included breakfast. They provide dinner, cafes, and places to see.
For someone who usually plans every vacation, this was complicated since we only stayed a few places 2 nights and most were 1 night. So I appreciated turning over the planning. I was apprehensive, but once we were a few days in and the recommendations and tickets to things were seamless - I realized the great value of using Kim Kim. I highly recommend!!

My family had a wonderful 10 day trip to Ireland, thanks to kimkim and our travel specialist, Claire. We were a group of 7 adults. We told her our interests/what we would for sure like to see and do. Claire came up with a detailed itinerary for us that made perfect sense. She was extremely prompt in the planning process and met with us via video chat to discuss details of our trip.

Our first stop was Galway. We landed in Dublin and took a bus to Galway upon arrival. We stayed at the Connacht Hotel. The hotel was very nice. The only thing was it was a little far from the city centre so we did end up paying for many ubers (about 15 euro each time) to get to the main area. Otherwise it was about a 30 minute walk. This wasn't ideal for our group but our accommodations at the hotel were very nice and we made it work. When we arrived in Galway we explored the city and went to dinner and pubs of course.

Our second day in Galway we had a private tour to Connemara. Our tour guide, Colleen was excellent. She picked us up first thing in the morning. We stopped in the city of Cong, where The Quiet Man was filmed. We then went to a sheep show in the beautiful mountains. We had so much fun at the Killary Sheep Farm! It was a trip favorite. We also toured a castle along with stopping at many other sites/landmarks. We loved Colleen as she told us interesting information throughout the day and was very knowledgable.

The next day we took a bus to board a ferry to travel to the island of Inishmore (Aran Island). Some of us got a little quesy on the ferry ride! It is about 45 minutes to the island. The island was absolutely beautiful! We opted out of renting bikes. However, if we were to do it again we would definitely rent the bikes. If you want to see the island, bikes are totally the way to go! We bought Aran Islands famous wool sweaters and had delicious fish & chips. We took a very long hike and were able to see beautiful views!

The next day we had a private driver transport us to Killarney and on the way we stopped at the Cliffs of Moher. We did the Cliffs of Moher cruise, which was so much fun! A couple of us were a little nervous for the cruise after the tumultuous ferry ride previously. However, the cruise was all open air which really helped. We had a blast! After the cruise, we walked around the Cliffs of Moher. We ate lunch in Doolin and went to a couple shops!

Next, we arrived in Killarney at the Scott's Hotel. We all loved the Scott's Hotel. The rooms were very spacious and the location was ideal. We were right in the middle of pubs and shops! The hotel had a fabulous pub in the lower level with live music every night. The next day was a free day in Killarney. We all sort of did our own thing- a couple of us went golfing and some went shopping. In the afternoon, we did an "Afternoon Tea" at a nearby hotel which really looked like a castle. We loved this. The food and drink was delicious. It was the perfect way to spend the afternoon. We had a delicious dinner at Hilliard's. We had made a reservation prior. Would highly recommend dining here.

The next day, we had a private guided tour of the Ring of Kerry. This was through The Killarney Touring Co. Our tour guide was Aodan Griffin. We could not recommend him more- he was amazing! This day was the group's favorite day of our entire trip. Aodan brought us to many stops along the Ring of Kerry including wonderful spots for Irish coffee, an old Irish village, a museum about Skellig Islands, and Skellig's Chocolate Factory. He brought us to Valentia island where he spent summers growing up and where his grandfather lived and worked as a principal of the school. We also stopped at a golf course with breathtaking views for lunch. We ended the tour at the Torc Waterfall (Killarney National Park). Aodan truly made this experience wonderful due to his vast knowledge of the Ring of Kerry and hospitality.

The next day we had a private driver transport us to Dublin. We stayed at the Ashling Hotel. The hotel was very nice however we may have liked to be a little closer to the city center. Claire arranged for us to get bus passes, which made is very easy to get around the city. We explored the city and that night we went to a Celtic dinner and show. We enjoyed seeing the Irish dancers and listening to the music.

The next day we did a private walking tour. We loved our tour guide, Pascuale. He provided us with information about the history of Dublin and also provided us with wonderful dining recommendations. We ate lunch at his favorite Italian restaurant, it was delicious. Later that day we did the Guinness Storehouse tour and the Jameson Distillery. The group really enjoyed both of these tours. Later that night we went to Temple Bar, Bambino Pizza, The Hairy Lemon, and many other pubs we found along the way!

Overall, we are very pleased with Kimkim and the structure of our trip. We had a wonderful time, and all plans went smoothly! Thank you for everything !!!

Clair was absolutely fantastic in planning our trip! She took the time to truly listen to our concerns and expectations, ensuring every detail was thoughtfully arranged. Her patience and dedication in arranging and rearranging plans made the entire experience seamless and stress-free. Thanks to her expertise and commitment, we had a truly wonderful trip. We couldn’t have asked for a better planner—highly recommend Clair for anyone looking for a perfectly curated travel experience!

Ken West of Kerry Coaches did a fantastic job guiding and driving us. One thing that could have been better was we were never quite sure what specific activities we had paid for, and whether that included Ken's lodging. It was a pleasure planning the trip with Joe, though we know he is no longer with kim kim
Mike & Stacy O'Rourke

We recently traveled with KimKim on a trip through Ireland, and overall it was a wonderful experience. The itinerary included unique and memorable activities — the Tea Bus tour around Belfast was such a highlight! It offered a fun way to see the city, and the guide was both knowledgeable and had a great sense of humor. Our accommodations at Belvedere and Kilmorey Arms were comfortable, and the staff at both were friendly and helpful. We especially appreciated the Kilmorey Arms’ thoughtful offer of scones and beverages before our early departure.

Our private chauffeurs were courteous and well-informed, making the journeys enjoyable and educational. Trevor, one of our drivers, went out of his way to personalize our stops, ensuring we had time for photos and even walking us to spots he thought we’d like after tours ended. We also enjoyed the Riverdance show — though we would have preferred to have the ticket details a bit earlier to plan around it better.

There were a few areas where things could be improved. We had mentioned needing accommodations suitable for older travelers, so staying at a hotel without an elevator was challenging. Also, clearer instructions for the self-check-in hotel would have helped reduce confusion. The roadmap provided by KimKim was very useful, but navigating between some sites required more walking or bus transfers than expected, so we found ourselves relying on Uber at times.

All in all, we’re grateful for the memorable trip that KimKim arranged for us. With a few adjustments, it could have been truly seamless. We appreciate the care that went into the planning and look forward to using KimKim again!

This photography trip to England and Ireland was our third personalized trip arranged by the KimKim Team, which speaks to our satisfaction with their service. The KimKim Team was extremely accommodating and their local agent, Svetlana Frolova, worked with us for a customized trip that met or exceeded our expectations. Together we agreed on the itinerary , dates and days for each leg of the trip, types of hotels and B&Bs we wanted to stay at, special options to experience the local culture, and the best photographic scenery to see. She arranged for us to have a car and driver for the Ireland portion of the trip. We experienced the best Irish music in Ireland today, visited an oyster fam and ate fresh oysters right out of the sea, and rode through the Gap of Dunloe in an open horse-pulled cart, during which we were regaled with local lore and stories by the cart driver. The boutique hotels either were of interesting historical importance or were long-time family-run businesses that added a personal touch to their hospitality. Our driver, Roger O’Connor, was a real professional, who had driven the highways and byways of Ireland for years from Dublin to Galway and North. He was a wonderful conversationalist, knowledgeable in the area’s hidden charms, small out of the way beautiful sights, and best restaurants and pubs in each town or city. We are sure to be traveling again in the future with KimKim.

Our sister adventure to Ireland was special in every way. Our specialist Claire, listened to our interests and packed in so many things we loved. We loved the independent driving and free time we had to explore, along with very well-planned and well-timed booked experiences. The flow of the itinerary and timing was amazing---so we were always able to arrive in destinations on time and explore. We loved our drive around Dingle with Aodan, and our drive in northern Ireland with James, who even "went off course" at our request to go find ancestors in rural Derry. Also, the cab tour in Belfast was eye-opening and had so many personal touches and stories to bring it to life. And the weather was so perfect to top it all off.

Hotel Review

The Pipers Rest

Doolin

Authenticity & Character

Location

only steps to the pubs and village, yet quiet and country setting.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Welcome to Doolin

Doolin

A perfect start to our trip. One of our favorite spots. We had delicious meals, and amazing music both nights.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traditional working sheep farm and Sheepdog demonstration

Ireland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cliffs of Moher Cruise from Doolin ( 50 min)

Doolin

Quality of Experience

Galway Theatre and literature walking tour

Galway

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guided Killarney National Park Walking Tour

Killarney

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A Private Day Tour of the Dingle Peninsula

Ireland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Belfast Political Taxi Tour

Belfast

Quality of Experience

Transport

Giant's Causeway Clifftop Experience

Ireland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bluestack mountains guided walks ( Moderate difficulty )

Ireland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Enjoy a Traditional Afternoon Tea at Lough Eske

Donegal town

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Svetlana was amazing to work with and planned the most perfect Ireland vacation for us. We were there to celebrate my mom's retirement from teaching (40 years in education!) and we got a taste of everything! There were so many places that we never would have thought to even check out and because of Svetlana's expertise, we were able to experience them. Our daughter's (3 & 5) had the best time at the beaches. Inchydoney beach was one of their favorites. We got so lucky with a beautiful day and they had so much fun playing in the sand. She also booked us a visit to a Pet farm where we got to see baby goats and other animals. One of our highlights was going to see a Sheep dog and Sheering demonstration. The guide was so great with our girls and he even brought out a special baby sheep for out daughters to bottle feed, they loved it!

All of the accommodations that Svetlana booked for us were wonderful. We absolutely loved the Cahernane house, the staff there was wonderful and the breakfast was delicious. It wasn't too far from town and an easy walk to restaurants and shopping. Our other favorite was the Lodge at Ashford Castle. We loved walking the grounds and enjoying the beauty around us. The staff was very welcoming and again, the breakfast was top notch.

I can go on and on and on about how wonderful our vacation was and how beyond helpful Svetlana was before and during our trip. We were nervous to do such a big trip in a foreign country with our young daughters, but working with Svetlana made it so easy. She took care of everything and even my husband said how nice it was to have everything taken care of before we got there. We just showed up to our hotels or to our excursions with our confirmation numbers and never had a problem. It honestly made things so easy.

We are so grateful and will be talking about this trip for years to come!

Hotel Reviews

Davenport Hotel

Dublin

The area was great and walkable. The staff was friendly and the breakfast was delicious.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms were very spacious. Plenty of room for all of your things

Clayton Hotel Cork City

cork

The rooms were nothing special, just a regular room. Our girls did love that they each got their own twin bed. The location was amazing with the pubs and restaurants right around the corner. Very easy to walk. The staff was nice and the breakfast was decent.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cahernane House Manor Hotel

Killarney

Absolutely loved this hotel! The rooms were gorgeous and the staff was beyond amazing and they were so friendly to our girls. The breakfast was delicious and we loved that we got to order something hot to go along with the yogurt and baked goods. Our girls loved running around on the grounds and seeing the deer that were just hanging around right by. It was an easy 20 minute walk into town.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Lodge at Ashford Castle

Cong

This hotel was simply amazing. The location is gorgeous and the staff is very welcoming and helpful. We stayed in a Junior suit that was two stories and it was the best for a family. The breakfast was one of the best we had while on our vacation in Ireland. I wish we would have known more about the hotel before our trip and would have booked an extra day just to enjoy all the the hotel has to offer.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Samuel Hotel

Dublin

It was a good hotel and a great place for a night. It was nice that the local transit had a stop right behind it which made it easy to get to and from without having to move our car. The parking for the car was a bit out of the way and took a while to get too and from. The elevators were not so convenient. You needed your room key to activate it each and every time and if you got in without using it, there were not buttons to get you to the floor you needed to go. The staff was friendly and helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Sheep Dog & Shearing

Ireland

I can't remember his name, but the owner of the farm was so welcoming and informative. He was so great with our girls as well. They loved getting to bottle feed the baby sheep and had so much fun walking around with them in the little area we were in. The setting is absolutely beautiful as well.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traditional Dance, Music & Dinner

Dublin

Not sure how we got so lucky, but we were seated right up front against the stage. We were a little worried that it was going to be too late or too long for our girls, but they wanted to stay the whole time and loved watching the dancers. It was a great way to end our trip.

Quality of Experience

Food

Nothing special, but it was nice that they had a kids menu.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This was an amazing trip with my husband to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary, and it did not disappoint. After raising children for 28 years, this was the first true vacation that we had taken together that was more than a long weekend. We had a delay in our arrival flight to Dublin which affected our scheduled time at the Guinness Storehouse. As soon as we landed, we had a message telling us that our schedule had been adjusted to accommodate everything we had planned for our first day. It took away all the stress and worry over the possibility of missing something.

That was the overarching theme for the whole trip, which was a dream, truly. Of course there were some hiccups along the way, but you learn to anticipate that when travelling internationally. Having our transportation arranged for all of our major events made each day a breeze. We simply had to show up!

Highly recommend Galway in a day! Phil, our tour guide, was so much fun and he provided a lot of historical context for what we were seeing and doing. The Cliffs of Moher were stunning, and I loved the experience from the water.

Tea at Dromoland Castle made us feel like we were part of the “upstairs” people at Downton Abbey! It was a lovely experience! Blarney Castle and kissing the stone was another wonderful day. Highly encourage allowing at least two hours to explore the grounds at the castle as they were absolutely gorgeous. So many blooming flowers!! Live music at Sin é was worth the crowded space!

Also highly recommend the 10 Tastings of Dublin Tour with Ruairi. He was such an engaging host and guide, sharing so many historical tidbits and stories. I think we found the best falafel in the world on this tour, not to mention the fish at chips at Leo’s!

Michael with Elegant Irish Tours to see the Giant’s Causeway was such a lovely man. He told us so many stories and facts about the Causeway, Northern Ireland, “the Troubles”, and the landscape. As part of this day, we took part in the Black Taxi Tour which took us into the part of the city where you can see the political murals, memorials, and the wall erected as a peacekeeping measure during “the Troubles”. Definitely a tour worth taking.

All in all, this trip only served to kindle our desire to one day return to the Emerald Isle. It truly was an amazing trip that celebrated our 30 years! Thank you, kimkim!

Hotel Reviews

Randles Hotel Killarney

Co. Kerry

Such a beautiful hotel with a top notch breakfast. By far my favorite hotel from all our travels!

Authenticity & Character

Wonderful renovation and use of an established home in Killarney.

Location

Close to everything!

Staff

Very welcoming, helpful, courteous.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was beautiful, attention to detail amazing. Even had a plug that was compatible for American travelers! The bed was so comfortable! The bath and amenities were exactly what we needed.

Clayton Hotel Cork City

cork

Our stay at the Clayton Hotel Cork City was really pleasant. They allowed an early check-in, which was a huge relief, especially after our travel schedule. Emma at the front desk was absolutely lovely and helpful, making us feel welcome right away.

Castle Hotel

Dublin

The Castle Hotel in Dublin was not as welcoming as I would have liked. The staff weren't as friendly as in other places we stayed, which was a little disappointing. It might not be my first choice if I return.

Activity Reviews

Visit Blarney castle and kiss the stone

Ireland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The 10 Tastings of Dublin Private Food Tour

Dublin

Ruairi was a wonderful guide and host with an extensive knowledge of the food offerings of Dublin. Quite possibly the best falafel I have ever had!! Nothing like a Guinness, but even better when you have some history of Michael Collins, local lore, etc! Highly recommend this event!

Quality of Experience

Just such fun and so different from any other tour we did!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ruairi was so warm and engaging!

Transport

All within walking distance, which we loved!

Small Group Giant's Causeway Tour from Dublin

Dublin

Bucket list item done! Truly breathtaking to see in person. Needed another hour or two for more exploring!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Michael with Elegant Tours was so warm and engaging. He shared the stories, tales and music that fits a trip to the Causeway! Highly recommend his group!

Transport

A lovely Mercedes coach that was very comfortable

A Full-Day Tour: Cliffs of Moher Cruise, the Aran Islands, South Connemara and the Burren

Galway

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Phil was a load of fun!

Transport

The English Market

Cork

The English Market in Cork was a bit disappointing due to timing issues. Many of the stalls start closing down earlier than the stated hours, and we got there late, missing the opportunity to see most of the market. It would have been helpful to know the real closing times.

Irish Traditional Live music session at Sin é

Cork

The Irish Traditional Live music session at Síne was one of our favorite parts of the trip. It was just so much fun, and we had a great time experiencing live music in such a lively atmosphere.

Svetlana was excellent to work with, she planned a wonderful trip providing highlights of important areas to see in both Ireland and Scotland, while tailoring to our needs and request making it affordable and exciting at the same time.
The hotels, meals were excellent with pools to help us stretch out our muscles and revitalize.
In addition the bus drivers and guides she provided were outstanding!

Overall, I thought Svetlana did a great job of pointing us in the right direction for attractions and restaurants. She gave us realistic expectations and insight. Communication was a little delayed which was sometimes frustrating since we were planning the trip in 6 weeks. Every message took about 24 hours to respond to, but I think she did the best she could with her availability. We really loved our trip and would only change one or two things in hindsight.

Activity Reviews

Titanic Experience

Belfast

The Genie Johnston Museum in Dublin turned out to be one of our favorite things on the trip. I wasn't sure about it at first, but it ended up being a fantastic experience. It was really interesting and something I wouldn't have necessarily chosen on my own, but I'm so glad Svetlana recommended it.

Black Cab Tour

Belfast

The Black Cab Tour in Belfast was another unexpectedly memorable experience. I wasn't sure if I'd really want to do it at first, but it was fantastic. It's one of those things that really stuck with us, and I'm grateful that it was suggested.

Guided Tour of Dublin

Dublin

We had a private walking tour in Dublin, which honestly wasn't the best fit for our group. The guide was lovely and tried her best to accommodate us, especially the kids, but it felt mismatched. The tour wasn't as engaging as we'd hoped, and it was quite the ordeal with the kids.

Aleksandra was always available to answer my questions when asked.

We got picked up by a normal taxi service at the airport. I was very concerned because was not normal based on my previous travels with KimKim travel and based on what I requested. The driver told us we need to pay for toll or go the long way. We went the long way because we did not have a clue what was happening. On our return home, we opt to pay the toll because it was quicker. The taxi picked us up and did mention we had to pay it if we wanted to get to the airport on time. I was not expecting a normal taxi to be my means of transportation for this trip.

My driver Mick that drove us to the cliffs of Moher was phenomenal. He came to get us with the preferred car service we expected from Kimkim. He was very informative and gave turn by turn commentary of the city of Dublin. Hene, we requested him for a second tour.

Mydie was good and then some. I would suggest she used a company owned vehicle instead of her persona car to take tourist on a trip. The car smelled of cigars which made it hard to breath. Considering the drive was over 4 hours each way, it caused us to feel sick, and the ride was overall uncomfortable. Mydie is really nice and would make this trip even better only if she has a better means of transportation.

The hotel was amazing, the safe was great, the restaurant was good, and I would go back to this hotel or recommend it to anyone traveling to Dublin.

Overall, great trip love Dublin.

Hotel Review

The Leinster

Dublin

Best hotel, great staff, the bar was good, and the cocktail were good

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Blarney Castle and Cork City Private Tour

Dublin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Guinness Brewery Experience

Dublin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit the EPIC Interactive Museum & Jeanie Johnson Famine Ship

Dublin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dublin Private Walking Tour

Dublin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Howth Coastal Half-Day Bus Tour from Dublin with Live Guide

Dublin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cliffs of Moher Small Group Tour

Dublin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wicklow Mountains, Glendalough & Kilkenny Tour

Dublin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guys,
The trip was great for the most part.
The driver that met us at the Dublin Airport was super, even though the plane was 2.5 hours late.
All the hotels were wonderful! Very high marks indeed!
Now some bad news:
The black taxi tour in Belfast was not in a black taxi but a giant van.
The tour guide, Tony was awesome, but in your itinerary, it was stated to be a three-hour tour. It was only 40 minutes and was rushed as Tony had another tour immediately after us.
Now the really bad part: I will NEVER EVER rent a car from Europcar again! I strongly hope you consider your relationship with them. First, the agent at the Dublin center at the pier, did not speak English very well, he was eastern European we believe, and would not let us talk to someone else. All he did from the moment we walked in the door, was try to upsell us to a luxury car. And the then through intimidation, he tried to upsell us on added insurance. (Had I fell for it the added insurance it would have added more than 1000 Euros to the bill.)
After that he would not help connect my iPhone to the on-board nav, I had to fine a Europcar maintenance guy to help us. (He was nice.) The car we ended up was fine, but we needed to stop EVERY day to fill the tires with air, all four were leaking. We stopped at the Europcar agency in LetterKenny (They were closed, everyone was out for lunch) and Sligo, at least they sent us to a local tire shop that was too busy to work on the car that day, so we took a chance and keep filling the tires. Frankly, Europcar service was totally unacceptable.
All and all a very good trip and we certainly will use Kimkim again.
Thank you so much for a great vacation.
Larry and Pam

As soon as we made the decision to visit Europe (Ireland, Wales and England), I realized there was no way we could plan the trip on our own, including transportation, lodging and all the event and site tickets. From the very first time I contacted Routescape, I knew I had found the right team to help us plan our dream trip. Throughout the process, they were responsive and completely focused on listened intently to our likes and dislikes. We love the fact that Routescape partners with historic and unique properties for accommodations. The Wilder Townhouse in Dublin, Bodysgallen Hall in Wales and 11 Cadogan Gardens in London were all charming and very comfortable. They also helped us navigate all the various forms of public transportation (trains, ferry, taxis and private drivers) so we got a true picture of life in Ireland and the United Kingdom. Many thanks go to Nic, Nathan, Kim, Tom and Sue for their excellent customer service as well as the other members of the Routescape team that we didn't talk to but were working behind the scenes. We 100% recommend Routescape to anyone who is considering a travel planning service. We truly could not have done this trip without them!

Hotel Reviews

Wilder Townhouse

Dublin

We loved our stay at the Wilder Townhouse. Our room was very comfortable and the staff was courteous and helpful. The daily breakfast was also delicious and convenient. Thanks so much for being a part of our stay in Dublin!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bodysgallen Hall & Spa

Llandudno

This property is absolutely beautiful and is in such an amazing location. It's so nice and quiet, but a quick drive back into Conwy. It was an honor to have stayed in a National Trust property and to be able to enjoy the restoration and preservation that has been done.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

11 Cadogan Gardens Hotel & Apartments

London

We truly loved our stay at 11 Cadogan Gardens. It was nice to come back to a quieter area (Chelsea) at night after long hours of touring during the day. Being there during the Chelsea Flower Show was an unexpected bonus. Our room was comfortable and well appointed, as was the bathroom. The daily breakfast in Han's was delicious and convenient as well. Thanks so much for a wonderful stay!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Cliffs of Moher experience

Ireland

We were blessed with warm weather and clear skies so the Cliffs were absolutely stunning. It's a great way to spend a few hours.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tower of London

London

This was a much bigger site than we expected! There are three separate audio guides, but the Highlights guide is the best overall. There was so much to see and read about. One suggestion...get there very early as the lines to get into see the Crown Jewels got very long very quickly!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Half Day Driver Guide

Ireland

What an amazing tour! We not only went to the Cliffs of Moher, but we saw so much of the local countryside that we would have never discovered on our own.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dublin Group Walking Tour

Dublin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guinness Storehouse Tour

Dublin

Quality of Experience

Trinity Trails & Book of Kells

Dublin

This was absolutely amazing. We're so glad we got to see it considering it will be closing later this year for restoration.

Quality of Experience

Conwy Castle

Ireland

Quality of Experience

The Churchill War Rooms

London

This should be on the list of every visitor to London. It's very well done with excellent displays and information. We spend two hours here and could have stayed longer.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Afternoon Tea at Fortnum & Mason

London

Shopping at Fortnum & Mason and having afternoon tea at the Diamond Jubilee Tea Room was a bucket list item for me and it did not disappoint. Be sure to get reservations for the tea and give yourself plenty of time to shop. F&M is truly a quintessential London experience!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Windsor Castle & Windsor by Train

Ireland

We spent the entire day at Windsor. Being able to take the train to Windsor and back to London at our convenience was very nice. The train service is quick and easy to navigate.

Quality of Experience

Transport

Group Tour of Blenheim Palace, Bampton, and the Cotswolds

London

We wanted a chance to see the Cotswolds and Blenheim Palace and, coming from London, this was the best option. The day was very long and included a lot of driving, but the guide was very informative and entertaining.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Portmeirion Village

Ireland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Westminster Abbey with a Blue Badge Guide

London

Westminster Abbey is stunning and we enjoyed our time there. Our guide was very good and helped us navigate watching the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace and the Horse Guards at St. James Palace. He knew exactly where to watch from for the best view and explained the process to us.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Irish House Party (Traditional Evening)

Dublin

We did not enjoy this. The dinner service was painfully slow (more than an hour to get our simple meals) and the food was average at best. The staff seemed to be uninformed about basic requests. We actually left before the music even started. We would not recommend this activity.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff