Kimkim Trip Reviews for Ireland

Jane planned a fantastic and thorough trip of the highlights of London, Edinburgh, and Ireland. Each city received the perfect amount of time with appropriate rest and active days. Fantastic experience overall!

Activity Review

A Literary Pub Tour of Dublin

Ireland

Fantastic tour! Guides were extremely knowledgeable and talented, so engaging!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Well, I have to say your team at KimKim is by far the absolute best!!!!You were there for us 24/7 . I only needed you a couple of times, but you were only a call away and never left me waiting. Thank you from all of us for that. Our seats at the tattoo were awesome, as were the dinner show tickets at the Merry Ploughboy. Our tour guide, Robert , on the walking tour of Edinburgh Was informative and entertaining. Our stay at The Fraser House in Inverness was by far the favorite of everyone in my group. The rooms all faced the river, so we all had a view, at the cost of our hostess, Leah giving up her own room. She was absolutely amazing, and went far above her duties by even giving some of us a ride to the train station in lieu of ordering another taxi. She prepared a delicious breakfast each morning, even on a day we had to leave super early. So very friendly and accommodating. we would recommend her Fraser House 200%.

On the downside, the Jacobite train ride was not worth the trip. It took too long to get there for a 2 hour ride in a train that was way too hot( unseasonably arm weather) no air conditioning and no open windows. The attendants went up and down the isles wit a hand held fan with water spray. But we still had fun. We also did not get to do the afternoon tea at Edinburgh castle. They claim they sent an email, however, I did not receive it. It wouldn't have mattered, we were still in flight, and trying to get to the hotel. They said last seating was 12noon due to the tattoo, we were there about 12:05, but they wouldn't seat us. They said she would check to see if anyone read the email, and if not they, would issue a refund. I would appreciate if you would follow up on that, please.

Hotel Reviews

Castle Hotel

Dublin

Staff was very helpful, but the elevator was out of service when we checked in, but the staff carried our luggage up for us. Rooms were good, plenty of room, but the tub was very high to get into and out of (no separate shower) Maybe take age into consideration when assigning rooms. The elevator was working when we left. Breakfast was great, and they offered a buffet other than full Irish breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clontarf Castle Hotel

Dublin 3

We were impressed with this hotel. Was not what we expected as a haunted hotel, but, it had air conditioning, still gave a castle feel, and the food was delicious. Other than it's location to city center, we loved this hotel, and would have stayed the entire time.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fraser House Inverness

Inverness

AMAZING!!!!!!!! Location was perfect. Leah, the owner was extraordinary. She accommodated our schedule, even though it was earlier than her normal hours, she helped us with reservations, recommended laces to eat and see, and even used her own vehicle to get some of us to the train station. If there is a higher than 5 * rating she deserves it....

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Royal Scots Club

Edinburgh

Authenticity & Character

Gave us a feel of history.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Cliff of Moher tour from Dublin

Dublin

Amazing views. Quite windy.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Blarney Castle, Rock of Cashel & Cork Tour from Dublin

Dublin

I've been to Blarney before, but the Rock of Cashel and Cork were new to me and I absolutely loved it. Lunch in Cork was coordinated perfectly which gave us ample time to return to the bus.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Gerry with a G was a fun driver, intent on getting everyone to the bus on time.

Transport

Guinness & Jameson Irish Experience Tour

Dublin

Tour and tasting was great.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Night out at the Merry Ploughboy + Transport, show and a meal

Dublin

Show was awesome, and everyone in the group loved it. Food was good and a great ending to a great trip.Great transportation, even dropped us off at our hotel, saving us a walk.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dublin: Afternoon Tea Vintage Bus Trip

Dublin

So much fun, we all enjoyed the food and ride. Reese, Adam, Nicole and Pat were at our beck and call.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dublin Private Walking Tour

Dublin

Ian our guide was informative and friendly

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Day out on the Jacobite Train (of Harry Potter fame)

Scotland

Too long a drive to get to for a 2 hour train ride with no air conditioning and no open windows. Mallaig would have been fun if we had more time there.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tourkl was fun and gave us a good ride.

Transport

The Isle of Skye & Eilean Donan Castle

Inverness

The Isle of Skye was beautiful, and we got to see the fairy pool, also stopped at Talisker distillery, where we had a drink and purchased some whiskey..we stopped at Dunvegan castle instead of Eileen Donan although I don't remember why. and I think another stop was changed, one of my passengers mentioned disappointment.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Loch Lomond, Kelpies & Stirling Castle Tour

Edinburgh

Loved the Kelpies and Sterling Castle, and Loch Lomond. Full day, lots to see.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Walking Tour of Edinburgh with a Top Local Guide

Edinburgh

Robert was great, dressed in authentic kilt, made him super easy to find at the meeting point. Very informative and entertaining. Loved him.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I planned our family trip to Ireland with Claire and from day one she realized all our needs and standards, and made sure to tick all the boxes. All the guides and drivers we had were brilliant, friendly and timely!

The places and activities Claire suggested were just the right ones to give us an incredible and unforgettable memories.

Everything was well organized and went smoothly, and even when we needed to add a last minute activity she was very accommodating and made sure it was all organized.

I will always highly recommend planning your trips with the Kim Kim team to be able to get the most of your travels.

Hotel Reviews

Powerscourt Hotel, Autograph Collection

Enniskerry

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Armada Hotel

Spanish Point

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Glenlo Abbey

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private transfer for 3 travelers to Dublin Airport on August 15th

Dublin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Free time in Dublin

Dublin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Irish National Stud & Gardens : The Irish Racehorse Experience

Ireland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Free time in Dublin

Dublin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Free time at Powerscourt Hotel

Enniskerry

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Adventure in Kilrush ( Cliff and Coast Safari or Scattery Island)

Ireland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Galway

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cliffs of Moher Cruise from Doolin ( 50 min)

Doolin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Doolin

Doolin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traditional Irish Homemade Baking Scones and Bread (Kilcolgan)

Ireland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Transfer/Taxi

Ireland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Galway Food Tour

Galway

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trinity College Library : The Book of Kells Experience

Dublin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dublin Private Walking Tour

Dublin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private transfer for 3 travelers on July 31st

Dublin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Svetlana, my family and I would like to thank you for sharing your wonderful country with us and planning an amazing journey we will never forget. You were absolutely incredible in helping us plan the vacation we desired. You were so intuitive to our wants. Every step of the trip fulfilled everyone’s dream. All the way from Dublin across the country, up north and back again. Many amazing places and beautiful views. Many thanks.

So happy with our experience in Ireland! With so many potential options and itineraries it was so helpful to have local recommendations and options to consider. I even threw a curveball when I wanted to focus our trip in the west but adjusted my trip to catch the All Ireland final in Dublin, but the itinerary was adjusted to make it happen. Definitely recommend Achill Island and a hike in Connemara National Park! Locations of all our lodging were great and the local guide’s phone app provided many options to visit with driving directions and access to bookings, making getting around so much easier. Finally, Nenad checked in with me regularly to see if there were any questions or challenges so I knew I could always get support when I needed. I’d recommend the experience to anyone!

Hotel Reviews

The Galmont Hotel & Spa

Galway

The Galmont Hotel & Spa had a fabulous location and was great for our itinerary in Galway. However, it was quite loud at night due to a live music pub nearby. Though we couldn't enjoy the pub since my son was underage, we could hear the music just fine in our room. Despite the noise, the hotel itself was decent, and the staff were very accommodating.

Ashling Hotel Dublin

Dublin

The Ashling Hotel Dublin was our top pick during the trip. Its location was outstanding, being near a major transportation hub which was perfect for our travel needs. The breakfast was great, the beds were exceptionally comfortable, and the staff was very welcoming and attentive. Overall, we had a fantastic experience here.

Activity Review

Explore Achill Island

Ireland

Exploring Achill Island was an unexpected delight! I didn't know much about it beforehand, but it quickly became one of our favorites. The island's beauty was breathtaking, and I wish we had more time to spend there. It's a spot I'd highly recommend to anyone visiting that area.

Rachel was a delight to work with in planning our trip. She listened to what we wanted to do and made it happen along with offering suggestions that were some of the highlights of our travels. We had a wonderful time in Ireland because of the careful planning that took the stress out of any details. Our trip plan not only included some great places to stay and wonderful experiences, it also included directions with time of travel.

Hotel Reviews

Titanic Hotel

A great stay at this historic hotel. It is even included as part of a tour from the Titanic museum across the street. Hallways were rather dark giving off the vibe of a dark ship. Room was beautiful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lough Eske Castle Hotel

Loved our stay in the castle. The staff were attentive and unpretentious. Our room was well appointed and comfortable. The grounds were very beautiful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Monks Ballyvaughan

County Clare

Oh my, what a beautiful setting. Hotel was a great place to stay. Recommend the restaurant too.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Wilder Townhouse

Dublin

Great boutique hotel out of the hustle and bustle of Dublin but also within walking distance of all the attractions. Lovely staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Connemara Sheepdog Demonstration

Ireland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kylemore Abbey

Ireland

Quality of Experience

Cliffs of Moher Cruise from Doolin ( 50 min)

Doolin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trinity Trails & Book of Kells Guided Tour

Dublin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Dublin Food and Drink tour

Dublin

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had a wonderful experience with KimKim and Svetlana. She offered many different options for us as well as finding accommodations for us that were spacious and convenient. The excursions were fun and educational.

Hotel Reviews

Ballymascanlon House Hotel & Spa

Dundalk

very lovely and a bit formal. Make sure you reserve in ahead for dinner. The breakfast was very nice.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

family room we had was very spacious.

Sea Side Getaway

Portstewart

We loved how close it was to the city center. We were able to walk to dinner as well as coffee shops. The host was so nice and had coffee, wine and tea in the townhouse. There was shampoo and conditioner, as well as paper towels. As with all locations- no central AC- bring a portable fan if you need air circulation.

Authenticity & Character

Location

5 min to city center

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Trim Castle Hotel

Trim

Such a lovely hotel, right across the street from Trim Castle. The family room was spacious. If traveling in the summer, be aware that there is no central air or fans- make sure to bring your own portable one!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Black Cab Tour

Belfast

Our driver was very knowledgeable

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Royal Hillsborough Castle and Gardens

Hillsborough

I had no idea this was a "working" royal residence before we went on our tour. So much history! The grounds were lovely!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Prehistoric Newgrange & Knowth

Ireland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Crafted a good first-order itinerary tailored to our interests with an efficient plan of travel. Documentation was easy to follow.

Utilized local knowledge to select well-located and pleasant accommodations. This provided value to us as we were not familiar with many of the locally branded hotels.

Communication during trip was spot-on: Kimkim let us know one or two times that they were there if we had any issues but did not over-communicate as some might do. In the end, did not require any assistance while traveling. Communication responsiveness during planning phase could be improved as client was required to reach out during several extended periods of “radio silence”.

Greater attention (QA/QC) required as critical review of final agenda and vouchers caught numerous errors/omissions (e.g. incorrect ferry tickets, missing vouchers, accommodations lacking confirmation numbers).

Would have appreciated advice or suggested booking of activity for a 4.5-hour visit to Aran Islands (Inis Mór). We identified gap and pre-booked in-demand tour prior to sell-out. Also added stop at Rock of Cashel that provided a nice visit and break in a 3 hour drive from Dublin to Cork.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Riu Plaza The Gresham Dublin

Dublin

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Inconvenient parking (public garage 2 blocks away). AC inadequate to maintain comfortable temperature.

Salthill Hotel

galway

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dingle Harbour Lodge B&B

Dingle Town, Co. Kerry

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lacks lifts to 2nd floor (luggage) and AC

Brook Lodge Boutique Hotel

Killarney, Co. Kerry

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Blarney Woolen Mills Hotel

Blarney, Ireland

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hyatt Centric The Liberties Dublin

Dublin

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Irish Dancing Show

Galway

Quality of Experience

Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher Day Cruise sailing from Galway

Ireland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Self-booked off-road tour

Transport

Self-booked off-road tour

Guided Visit of Cork city Gaol ( Former Prison in Ireland)

Cork

Quality of Experience

Guinness & Jameson Irish Experience Tour

Dublin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tickets for St Patrick Cathedral, Dublin

Dublin

Quality of Experience

Trinity Trails & Book of Kells Guided Tour

Dublin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Dublin Highlights and Hidden Gems Walking Tour

Dublin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a wonderful family trip to Ireland, guided by Eleanor. Our favorite hotels were Lough Eske near Donegal, which I highly recommend. We hit the jackpot on weather except for the Aran Island day, but honestly, it was so full of tourists, I'm not sure I'd enjoy that anyway. If I had to do it over again, I would stay in a hotel closer to Galway city center so we could walk to dinner and the bars. Galway is magical and loved the people and energy. The sights are amazing, but the reason to go is for the people!

Hotel Reviews

Carlton Hotel Dublin Airport

cloghran

The Carlton Hotel Dublin Airport was not very nice. It felt dirty and less than welcoming. However, it served its purpose as a place to stay before departure, but I wouldn't stay there again for other parts of a trip.

The Lodge at Ashford Castle

Cong

The Lodge at Ashford Castle was nice with lovely breakfast, but the lodge rooms weren't as good compared to Lough Eske. We were disappointed that even as guests, we couldn't tour the main castle unless we booked a meal there. The amenities on the property were wonderful, including falconry and archery, but the approach regarding castle access left me a bit dissatisfied.

Lough Eske Castle Hotel

Lough Eske Castle Hotel was our favorite. The garden suites were amazing, almost as big as my daughter's apartment! The grounds were beautiful, and the staff was wonderful. They had a great cab service that made it easier to explore. Just be mindful about the distance from towns, which was challenging for nighttime driving.

Bushmills Inn

Bushmills

Bushmills Inn was beautiful, like a little fairy tale. The staff were amazing, and everything was super nice. The only downside was the lack of AC during a heatwave, which made it a bit uncomfortable despite having a fan in the room. The food, people, and overall experience were great.

The Grafton Hotel

Dublin 2

The Grafton Hotel in Dublin was terrific. It was in a great location, allowing us to walk everywhere without needing an Uber or cab. The hotel was very clean, and the staff were super nice. I would say it's a wonderful hotel for being centrally located and to easily explore the area.

Activity Reviews

Slieve League Cliffs

Donegal

The boat cruise by Slieve League Cliffs was a fantastic experience. It was very neat, and we had a lot of fun seeing the cliffs from the water.

Rosapenna Golf Resort - St Patrick's Links

Donegal

The boys enjoyed playing golf at Rosapenna Golf Resort. They loved the experience and had a great time on the course.

Glenveagh National Park and Castle

Donegal

The visit to Glenveagh National Park and Castle was enjoyable. The natural surroundings were breathtaking, making for a peaceful and refreshing experience.

Carrick-a-Rede Bridge

Ireland

Carrick-a-Rede Bridge and Dunluce Castle were beyond anything we imagined. It was some of the coolest things we saw during our trip.

Carrick-a-Rede Bridge

Ireland

The Carrick-a-Rede Bridge experience was beyond our expectations, offering stunning views and a thrilling walk. Truly one of the standout highlights of our trip.

Guinness Storehouse Tour

Dublin

The Guinness Storehouse Tour and visiting Trinity College in Dublin were perfect ways to start the trip.

Guinness Storehouse Tour

Dublin

The Guinness Storehouse Tour was exciting and well-organized. We loved it as part of our first-day Dublin activities, pairing perfectly with the visit to Trinity College.

Traditional Sheep Farm Tour

Ireland

The Traditional Sheep Farm Tour at Killary Sheep Farm was super fun! We enjoyed the sheep herding demonstration, and watching the sheep shearing process was fascinating. The views from the farm were gorgeous, and both my kids got to hold a sheep. It was a delightful experience for everyone.

Surfing Lessons in County Sligo

Ireland

The surfing lessons in County Sligo were fun, but compared to Bundoran, the waves were not as good. I would recommend going to Bundoran for a better surfing experience and setting.

Highlights of the Wicklow Mountains National Park

Ireland

The tour of Wicklow Mountains National Park was terrific. Our guide was personable and took us to see extra locations like the forty foot from the show 'Bad Sisters'. We had a really nice time visiting the mountains and Glendale Monastery, capped off with a delightful lunch.

Aleksandra planned an incredible trip to Ireland for my father and me, and we couldn’t be happier with the experience. From the very beginning, she was professional, attentive, and thoughtful in curating an itinerary that suited both our interests and pace.

What really stood out was her responsiveness, not just during the planning phase, but throughout our actual trip. When a few last-minute changes came up, she handled them quickly and efficiently, taking the stress out of the situation entirely.

Thanks to Aleksandra, we had a seamless, memorable journey through Ireland. I highly recommend her and Kim Kim to anyone looking for to plan their next trip!

Alex did an amazing job helping us organize the trip agenda. I liked all the hotels you arranged. All the tour guides and drivers were great. Being able to get us tickets to tour Gilhaman prison was a real feather in your cap as we understood they are hard to get. Job well done! Thanks

Hotel Review

Casey's Hotel Baltimore

What a charming, country inn. Pleasant breeze off the bay was invigorating. View from beer garden porch and restaurant were outstanding along with the food. The staff were friendly and helpful. Great pic!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Dublin Private Walking Tour

Dublin

Very informative, I was interested in the historic locations of the Easter 1916 uprising and I appreciated the guides knowledge of the history.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

All good except the cab's air conditioning was not working on the trip from Galway to Dublin.

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.

Hotel Reviews

7 Cross Street Boutique Hotel

Galway

This was a bad experience. When we were shown the room I noticed ear plugs and when I asked about the noise issue the response was that it should be ok for a Wednesday night. The yelling on the street and the music was so loud and did not end until after2. The street cleaners started at 5:45 AM

Authenticity & Character

The rooms were so tiny and uncomfortable

Location

Do not book a room

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cleanliness fine- lacked comfort

Wyatt Hotel Westport

Westport

Great location in the center of town. Easy to walk to the Westport house

Authenticity & Character

Well run , comfortable rooms

Location

Staff

Front desk staff. Very short stay for ud

Cleanliness & Comfort

Foley's Townhouse Killarney

Killarney

Great location, comfortable room and friendly staff

Authenticity & Character

Location

You can walk to restaurants and music. Great parking on premises

Staff

The people were helpful and friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Montenotte

Cork

The hotel looks wonderful. When we arrived we were welcomed by staff. However the room was a disappointment. We could hear the band playing and I called the desk after 11 and they responded in a way that was not very helpful. Also the room was obviously a smoking room and had a strong cigarette smell. We were moved the second night

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Designate smoking rooms, deal with the noise from the music late at night

Granville Hotel

Lovely older hotel

Authenticity & Character

Nice older hotel. Large rooms and very comfortable

Location

Close to everything we planned to explore

Staff

One of the managers went out of his way to help

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very comfortable

Castle Hotel

Dublin

This hotel was more than adequate and in a great location. The breakfasts were amazing and the staff helpful

Authenticity & Character

Older hotel but well preserved

Location

Easy to walk around the city

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was a little crowded and warm but we had a fan.

Activity Review

The Colony Tour on Achill Island

Ireland

The Colony Tour on Achill Island was excellent. However, it was scheduled for two hours but ended up taking over three, which was longer than anticipated. Nonetheless, the experience on the island was great, and we appreciated the depth of the tour.

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

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

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

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

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

Activity Reviews

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.

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).

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.

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.

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

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.

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 !

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 !!

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

Activity Reviews

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

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 !!!

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!!

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!

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 !!

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

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 !!

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

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 !!!!

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!