Kimkim Trip Reviews for Ireland

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

Enjoy a Traditional Afternoon Tea at Lough Eske

Donegal town

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Bluestack mountains guided walks ( Moderate difficulty )

Ireland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Giant's Causeway Clifftop Experience

Ireland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Belfast Political Taxi Tour

Belfast

Quality of Experience

Transport

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

Galway Theatre and literature walking tour

Galway

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cliffs of Moher Cruise from Doolin ( 50 min)

Doolin

Quality of Experience

Traditional working sheep farm and Sheepdog demonstration

Ireland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Activity Reviews

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

Activity Reviews

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.

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.

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

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

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!

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

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.

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.

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.

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

Wicklow Mountains, Glendalough & Kilkenny Tour

Dublin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cliffs of Moher Small Group Tour

Dublin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Blarney Castle and Cork City Private 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

Dublin Private Walking Tour

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

The Guinness Brewery Experience

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

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

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

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

Activity Reviews

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

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

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

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

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

Portmeirion Village

Ireland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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

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

Conwy Castle

Ireland

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

Guinness Storehouse Tour

Dublin

Quality of Experience

Dublin Group Walking Tour

Dublin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

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

Everyone was very nice! I just wish the weather was nicer. We could’ve had a better bus service. The drivers were just so nice 👍
I wish the payments could’ve been spread out more. I wish we’d could’ve had more time to spend on our own. Overall it was excellent. I told Mary I will be going next year 🥳

Hotel Reviews

Novotel Edinburgh Park

Edinburgh

Their menu could use some more variety

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fisher's Hotel

Perthshire

The hotel was right in the middle of everything !

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clachaig Inn

Glencoe

This place was better than the Golden Lion.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Their WiFi service needs tweaking

Golden Lion Hotel

Stirling

We should’ve been able to see the places before we got there

Cleanliness & Comfort

Just about all steps

Castleknock Hotel

Dublin 15

They could have offered a bus service to the area. We found our way there. The mall was better than the one here 😊 I would go back there too stay 👍

Authenticity & Character

Location

Busy road

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lahinch Coast Hotel

Dough, Lahinch, Co. Clare

I like the fact that you could walk around and we did go out and had a great time!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Maldron Hotel Smithfield

Co. Dublin, Ireland

I like the fact that you can walk around to see different places! The room was very good 😊

Authenticity & Character

Location

They could have a map in the room.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Stirling Castle

Stirling

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Well, since our flight was delayed that night and we arrived at the hotel around 1:30-2:00 am, then had to be up at 7:00 am only had to rush to get to the bus, just to drive 10 minutes to his destination 😫

Discover The Kelpies

Ireland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kells Sheepdog Experience

Ireland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traditional Dance, Music & Dinner

Dublin

Very cool place

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Book of Kells & Old Library

Dublin

Very interesting and interesting

Quality of Experience

Just to see all the books

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour of Dublin

Dublin

Very scary because driving through the countryside was very dangerous

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Different routes

Wild Atlantic Seaweed Baths

Ireland

Allergic to iodine

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The bus driver, Tracey was very pleasant!

Svetlana was amazingly responsive to all my change requests and sudden needs. The sites that she suggested were all wonderful and the vouchers worked without fail. I would use her again in a heartbeat.

Hotel Reviews

Menlo Hotel

Galway

a very nice hotel, just not located near downtown so you have to drive to get anywhere. it was a 30 min walk to downtown. Nice restaurant.

Authenticity & Character

Location

not near downtown

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Perryville House

County Cork

an amazing old building right in the town of kinsale. A delightful room with amazing breakfasts and a lounge for alcohol in the afternoon. The staff were all very helpful although they did want a time for arrival for breakfast since the hotel was full. There is very limited parking but the porter was great at helping secure a spot the next morning when a space opened up.

Authenticity & Character

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Green

Dublin

nice hotel with good breakfasts. Very responsive. Quirky room set up as we had to use two elevators to get to room as it has incorporated two distinct buildings.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

they have an executive lounge but it is not like what you find in other hilton or marriott lounges

Activity Reviews

Waterford Crystal

Waterford

wonderful 50 minute tour

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Traditional Dance, Music & Dinner

Dublin

we had read that the would be a "tourist trap" "poor ventilation", and was "packed like sardines" We really enjoyed it and never felt locked into our seats. the attitude was great of all the staff and the food was wonderful. the entertainment was really fun

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

What should have been my first clue, I got a call from a hotel in Dublin at 2 AM in the morning trying to confirm our stay for a day before we even left Canada.

Second. The final e-mail outlining our details of the trip was addressed to someone else and it created a lot of
confusion.

The info from the service provider was very awkward to use and it took some time to sort it all out.
The information we needed access at least once every day of our trip was a royal pain to get to.
It involved many hidden steps every time.
The process is listed below….
1) Find the email containing the trip info
2) Find where it says read more.
3)Open trip summary.
4) Locate view details.
5) Scroll to. The current day.
6) Then open show details.
It shouldn’t have involved all those steps every time.
Our excursion to an abandon village never listed a time for our private tour. Luckily we decided to just go there and we arrived at the correct time. Lucky.
The distillery tour indicated that we needed a voucher for the tour. Wrong. They had quit giving tours last year. Fortunately we did get a self guided look at their equipment and had a tasting that is always free.
We booked a this trip to Ireland because of the wonderful experience we had with your company with our trip to Croatia two years ago.
To put it succinctly, if this was our first experience with KimKim Travel it would have been our last.

Hotel Reviews

Crowne Plaza Dublin Airport

,Santry, Dublin 9

Authenticity & Character

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Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Radisson Blu Hotel Athlone

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Glasha Meadows BnB

Doolin

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kylemore Pass Hotel

Co. Galway

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Stuart made the stay very enjoyable. Hated to leave. Very friendly atmosphere.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Óstán Oileán Acla

Achill Sound

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tara Hotel

Killibegs

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Causeway Hotel

Bushmills

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Staff

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Enniskeen Country House Hotel

Newcastle

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Staff

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Activity Reviews

Guided Kayak Tour in Strangford Lough

Ireland

It is a good tour of the lake but be prepared to get wet.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Orchard/ Cider tour with Tasting at an apple Farm in Armagh ( 2 hours)

Ireland

Very informative tour. They do more than just cider.

Quality of Experience

Our overall trip and experience was phenomenal. We saw quite a lot of the country in the seven days that we spent and had time to visited family. There were no glitches, no issues, eerything went smooth. We did have one question while on our trip and it was very easily clarified by chatting with Claire. She was fantastic and did an awesome job.

Hotel Reviews

Carton House

Co. Kildare

Amazing staff and stunning property

Authenticity & Character

Every detail is looked at

Location

Beautiful property

Staff

More staff seeing to your needs than you know what to do with

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean old estate with charm and history around every corner

Salthill Hotel

galway

Great location

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right in the beach

Staff

Very friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Meadowlands Hotel

Tralee, Kerry

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Kind of cranky

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pax Guest House

Dingle

Fantastic location what you close your eyes and see when you think about Ireland

Authenticity & Character

Amazing staff and feels like a peaceful retreat

Location

Stunning

Staff

John was very attentive and spot on with every detail

Cleanliness & Comfort

Just wow

The River Lee Hotel

Cork

Hotel was great easy to navigate Cork.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very friendly and accomplished

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and out together

Activity Reviews

Cliffs of Moher Visitor Center tickets

Ireland

This was great. We went at the end of the day right as they were about to be done so there weren’t as many people. I guess there can be quite a few. We were able to walk around after driving in the car for a long distance. It was great to stretch your legs. Many pictures cows right up against the barrier very charming.

Afternoon Tea in The Gallery at Adare Manor

Ireland

This was a treat. The estate is absolutely gorgeous the history was interesting. You felt like you were and an old Irish nobleman’s house having tea. The staff was very attentive and friendly the food unexpectedly delicious with such charm put into the desserts.

Blasket Wildlife Eco Tour

Dingle Town

This was an unexpected delight We had a great tour guide from the local area told us all the ins and outs were able to see some seals playing in the water the puffins and the sea birds diving for fish plus the scenery was amazing.

Visit Blarney Castle and Kiss the Stone

Ireland

This is a great experience. I think everyone should do it. The grounds are what makes this experience. The castle itself is like many other castles, but the history and the grounds with their gardens and pathways just stunning.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Welcome to Galway Walking Tour

Galway

John was amazing and a delight m, full of all the side knowledge you want to hear and great wit included

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Traditional Irish Homemade Baking Scones and Bread (Kilcolgan)

Ireland

Kate is a delight.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Aleksandra was amazing! The amount of time and effort she put into making this itinerary and trip special for me was above and beyond what I expected. She was open to making adjustments to my trip itinerary based on my interests. She had good, timely communication and was kind and cooperative throughout this entire process. Her knowledge of Ireland was very impressive as I felt the itinerary she planned for me allowed me to do so much in only 10 days time. This trip was my first solo trip and first trip outside of the country and it has been the most memorable, amazing experience for me. Thank you so much, Aleksandra!

Hotel Reviews

Redclyffe Guesthouse

Cork

Staff was very friendly and welcoming. My host prepared a great Irish breakfast in the morning. Solid location just a 10-15 minute walk from the downtown Cork area.

Authenticity & Character

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Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Killarney Heights Hotel

Killarney

Great stay! Very nice hotel a couple of miles from the town center. Good breakfast in the morning although they seemed a little short staffed. Room was very nice and clean! They use a system where the room key goes in a slot to conserve energy, so make sure the switches are adjusted appropriately at night. Motion sensored so my TV and lights in the room came on during the middle of the night with movement in the hallway.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

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O'Connors Guesthouse

Faha

I was only here for one night. Minimal interaction with staff but they were welcoming upon check in. Room was clean and meet my needs. It was fun having a bar connected to the guesthouse although life music lasted until midnight.

Authenticity & Character

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Ash Grove House

galway

One of my favorite stays on my 10 day Ireland trip. The host was so kind and made a wonderful Irish breakfast. Rooms were clean and comfortable. An ideal location in Galway as it only took me 10 minutes to walk from the Latin Quarter and Cross street!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Waterloo Lodge

Dublin

Great location! The townhomes were very clean and comfy. The staff was very nice and helpful. They even made a bag breakfast for me for an early morning flight from Dublin back to the United States.

Authenticity & Character

They were very welcoming and even provided me with a bag breakfast for my early morning flight home!

Location

Only 15 minute cab ride from the main bars/restaurants in Dublin.

Staff

Yes! There was a woman who's name I do not remember. However, she packed me a bag breakfast for my early morning flight home!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dunaree Bed and Breakfast

Bunratty

My host, Penny, was incredible. She was very welcoming upon my arrival. She was kind and made sure I had everything I needed during my stay. She also had great suggestions for local restaurants to try out. The BnB was cozy and just down the road from Bunratty castle!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Just down the road from Bunratty castle!

Staff

Very kind and helpful. Offered great suggestions for seeing Bunratty and Limerick!

Cleanliness & Comfort

My room was serviced each day and my host was very welcoming.

Activity Reviews

The Guinness Brewery Experience

Dublin

I had a great time touring the Guinness Storehouse! The exhibits were fun and informational. It was self guided so I felt I could take my time moving from floor to floor. The taste testing and the free pint of Guinness on the 7th floor were definitely highlights!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dublin Private Walking Tour

Dublin

I really liked my tour guide, Mydie! She was very kind and welcoming upon my arrival to Ireland. She was willing to take pictures of me during the tour. She had great knowledge of Dublin city and was able to provide me with great recommendations for bars and restaurants to check out. I was a little bummed that we couldn't go inside Trinity college to see the Book of Kells. Mydie said the police in Ireland don't like when smaller tours or 1:1 tours go inside the Book of Kells. I wish they would let her more freely take small tours inside the college! Overall though, Mydie was awesome and I really enjoyed walking around Dublin with her for a few hours learning about the city.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip was amazing however there were some issues.
- originally our hotel in Glasgow was booked 2.5 hours away from the center of Glasgow. We noticed it and the specializes fixed it
- we scheduled a walking tour in Dublin. We waited 45 minutes and no n one showed up, so we thought. Apparently the guide was there but there was no sign or way to recognize her. When we spoke to our specialist later she said she was wearing a pink sweater. No on told us what she would be wearing
- KIMKIM did not refund us the entire amount
- when we arrived at our first hotel they charged us for the stay which we had already paid for. So essentially we paid for the hotel twice. KIMKIM refunded us, not sure now if is is the correct amount since we are still on our trip. In addition KIMKIM refunded the wrong credit card and would not correct it.
-When we arrived at one of our hotels, they on l y had a booking for one person. Fortunately the hotel had a room for 2.

Hotel Reviews

Barberstown Castle Hotel

Straffan, Co. Kildare

Authenticity & Character

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Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Maldron Hotel

Galway

Authenticity & Character

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Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Spencer Hotel

Dublin 1

Authenticity & Character

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Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Connemara National Park & Kylemore Abbey Day Tour

Galway

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cliffs of Moher Half Day Trip

Galway

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jameson Distillery Bow St. Dublin Tour

Dublin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dublin Private Walking Tour

Dublin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Alex and Kim – our time in Ireland was wonderful. That was largely due to the trip planning and you guys were awesome as you navigated through our wish list and put together something that no standard tour could provide. I know we were probably more challenging – me with my photography habit and Ruth’s knee issues. Although she greatly surprised me with her mobility during this trip.
I must say that the self-driving was quite the challenge. I was mostly terrified during the first 2 or 3 days of the trip, but I gradually came to feel more confident. Part of it may be that North Ireland, where we spent the first part of the trip is more challenging with the lack of road signs and amazingly narrow and curvy roads. Once we got into Ireland, things were a lot easier – less curvy roads, a lot more road signs, and what not. The M and N designated roads were a joy to drive.
The details are already starting to blur a little, so many interactions with great Irish people who were kind and thoughtful to help us on our way. And just plain engaging and friendly enough to explain some of the more mystifying reasons for why some customs were the way they were.
And the hotels! All of them were so quaint and well cared for. We enjoyed all of them and for different reasons at each place. When we made the decision to self-drive, selecting the right hotels was one of the more challenging things for me and one I gladly turned over to you guys. And I must say, y’all hit it out of the park! We felt so pampered and the inclusive breakfasts were amazing at each location.
Ireland is beautiful. Personally, I struggled with the light – either too much sun or dreary clouds (mostly North Ireland), but that is how photography is. Finding the right light and conditions is largely dependent on luck when you are on a pre-planed trip and my luck was not with me when I needed it. But I did get some stuff that I think will come out nicely and when I find time to process my images from the trip, I will be sure to send y’all a link to them.
We saw a lot. And yet we now realize that we only scratched the surface. Much more to see. I don’t know what the future holds, but a return is not out of the question. Y’all will be number one on my short list.

Dean did an outstanding job developing our Ireland itinerary and finding great places to stay (with excellent breakfasts!). I loved having the various options laid out for each section of our trip. No glitches except the weather- which we were well prepared for and was quite normal for the Irish springtime. When my husband needed a doctor visit Dean’s team quickly gave us options for urgent care near our hotel and that worked very well.

Hotel Reviews

The Galmont Hotel & Spa

Galway

Apparently the spa is great, but we didn’t use those amenities. Our room was a tiring trek from the lobby, using two elevators, and difficult to drag our luggage on carpets. We asked to switch rooms because the first one had opaque windows that when opened looked out on a garbage area. The breakfast was good and the location was good.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Vaughans Lodge Lahinch

This hotel was good, with a comfortable bed. The tub was so narrow it was hard to get out of it. The restaurant was closed one night. We had a bit of trouble getting the heat turned down. Nice staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Great Southern Killarney

Killarney

Best hotel on our trip. Very elegant, with a spacious room . We loved the separate tub and shower and having two bathroom sinks. Lovely view of the springtime garden and terrific breakfast. Plus it’s in a great location and the National Park is stunning. The hotel restaurant was also great.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The River Lee Hotel

Cork

Excellent location, excellent breakfast, and quiet and comfortable room.

Authenticity & Character

Elegant and modern

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ashling Hotel Dublin

Dublin

Great hotel, comfortable and very happy with breakfast included. Right by tram line, railway station, and hop on- hop off bus stop.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Cliffs of Moher Cruise

Ireland

Nice one hour boat tour along the Cliffs of Mohr.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Crowded tour