Kimkim Trip Reviews for Norway

Our group of 6 couldn't be happier with our Kimkim Norway experience. Your service and recommendations were spot on. All hotels were great locations, close to transportation and dining. Oslo: Our guide Daniel made Oslo come alive. So very knowledgeable about Amundsen's expedition, folk history, Stave churches, Vigeland sculpture park and Oslo in general. He pointed out other areas to explore on our own... like City Hall, the Library, the History Museum... all great ideas. *Sorry to miss the Viking Museum which was closed. Flaum: Train ride to Myrdal was just breathtaking and the forest spirit at the waterfall was unexpected. Our kayak adventure was perfect...just the right amount of time on the water. Again - our guide Greg shared so much information about the area and really made the experience much more interesting. Great hike in Flaum ... though my calves are still sore. Hotel and Food in Flam were very good. Baden: *I would have liked a tour of Bergen. While we enjoyed the Viking Village, it was a little too much time and effort. Hiking was nice. Added the Leprosy Museum which was fascinating. Needed more time at Rosendal. Rock Park was so interesting. Disappointed that our tour of the Manor didn't include inside spaces... we didn't have time to see it all. Overall just a wonderful trip. Thanks again for all of your guidance and support. Jo

Thank you Kimkim for five days of vacationing in Norway around Bergen and Oslo. The hotels were great, the scenery beyond belief, and the rain did not dampen our enthusiasm. We missed the tour of Bergen on the first day for reasons unclear to us, but the rest of the tour was impeccable.

Hotel Reviews

Thon Hotel Europa

Oslo

A little cramped

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Radisson Blu Royal Hotel

Bergen

Great breakfasts and meticulous service.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Minibus Tour with Local Guide & Photostops

Bergen

It was cancelled without notice to us, and so far, no reason for the cancellation has been given.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Luggage Transfer Service

Norway

Quality of Experience

Ww1

Private Hardangerfjord & Waterfalls Day Trip

Bergen

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Overall the trip was very good and Kim Kim was helpful. We had to know what we wanted to do. If we did not, i do not know whether we would have been told what to do. I came to Kim Kim because i did not know anything and wanted a lot of guidance. In the end, I had to say what we wanted. After we gave Krista parameters of what we wanted she came up with a good plan.

Planning
Airport private transfer were set up. About 2.5 time smore expensive than just Uber to hotel. Luckily at the last moment we asked and canceled the airport transfers. Our specialist, Krusta, should have asked us whether we were comfortable with Uber or wanted a private car.
We never got itemized costs of the trip so we could make decisions on whether we wanted to do all the activities. I had to ask 3 times for itemized costs and only got it after trip was done. That is NOT very transparent. A safari and a kayaking trip was suggested for out time at Geiranger. I assumed we would see different places. We saw the same fjord when we kayaked, and when we did the Safari and took the ferry from Geiranger to Alesund ( you will see the same fjord in any ferry route out of Geiranger). As such the Safari was completely unnecessary and for us a waste of money. Either the safari or kayak would have been enough.
We had Kim Kim get us all tickets to activities. In one way that was good. I do not know whether the cost was lower with Kim Kim. From what I see it was at best the same or higher. I think you are better off asking Kim Kim what activities to do and book them yourself unless money is not a concern.

Due to rail construction the train was changed to bus. The tickets issued still mentioned train and the bus information was hidden. Instructions on how to get to bus stops were not clear. Luckily i asked about it ahead of time and clarified where to go etc or we may have gone to the wrong place.

Experience and Service
With the exception of not telling us somethings to make our trip even better the service and communication were good. They had a support team (Matijs and Beni) who responded quickly on what's app as well as on the app. If we really needed something they were there. They told us that the bus stop in Alesund was changing due to road closures.
Krista, teh booking team (Jacob) and support team were polite and quick to be helpful.

Fees
Kim Kim never disclosed what their fees were and how they charged. In the end there is a service fee and an admin fee. I do not know whether it is a Percentage of what we bought through Kim Kim. Mine ended up being close to 20%. I expected that I would have higher costs for the great/extra service we received from Kim Kim (vs doing it all ourselves) but I thought it would be 10% but 20% for me seemed high. Thinking back had they told me it was 20% I would have likely agreed. But i was not told anything and then told this was my cost without any breakdown - which to be fair I accepted. I think it is better for the costs itemized to be shared before they take payment.

Overall
Loved Norway. Linked Kim. Great service. Service fee the high side.
Wil never go back again as Immigration in Oslo was the worst of any country i have been to ( I've been to over 30 countries). This has nothing to do with a strike - i kept being told this was because of air controller strike. Any non-EU passport holder has to wait for 3-4 hours to get into Norway. To leave Norway we waited 2 hours (there was no strike at that time). We were USA passport holders. They only have one person processing 90% of passengers arriving into Norway.

Hotel Reviews

Scandic Torget

Bergen

Right in town. Windows face the street with cars and bars. NOISY all night Would be fantastic if they had A/C. Without A/C, we have to open windows to be cool and give up on sleep.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Great location if they had A/C. Without A/c have to open windows to be cool and sacrifice sleeping.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grande Fjordhotel

Geiranger

Resort. Expensive but spacious rooms and beautiful. Not convenient to get to the town as it is a 2KM walk. Shuttle service is there bit frequency is not 24/7. Restaurant and Breakfast buffet is very good.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Need shuttle service to get to town. otherwise very quiet and beautiful. If you have your own car, FANTASTIC location.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grand Hotel

ÅNDALSNES

Nice. Fantastic Staff. Breakfast buffet good. Very costly relative to room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Marcus and Inka(Inga) were so helpful, polite and helpful. They made restaurant reservations for us. Let us store our food in hotel refrigerator.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotell Bondeheimen

Oslo

Good value for money. No A/C. Packed breakfast was basic.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Discover Kayaking Geirangerfjord

Geiranger

Great staff

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

N/A we did not use transport

Romsdalseggen Guided Hike

Åndalsnes

Great guide. Fun. Knowledgeable. Great for active fit people.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Geraingerfjord Safari by RIB

Geiranger

Very expensive. Not worth the cost. do not see anything that you cannot see from the ferry ride/cruise ship ride into port or Kayaking.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mathia was fantastic at setting up the 9 day trip for my wife and I to Norway...Oslo, Bergen, Aurland ,Oslo. We are both 80 and the trip was perfect in every way. That rarely happens to us. Everything eent right as planned. Often Mathia anticipated issues and contacted me...I didn't have to contact him. There was an air traffic controllers strike in Norway as well as the death of the King of Norway. We were kept informed throughout. Even when Matthia was away for a couple of days his backup couldn't have been more helpful. Every question I asked was answered almost immediately by Mathia or his backup. The quick replies by Mathia gave us peace of mind throughout the trip. We really liked Bergen, the Flam Railway, and of course the Fjord cruise. Thanks for a great trip.

Hotel Reviews

Radisson Blu Airport Hotel, Oslo Gardemoen

Gardemoen

Right at the airport. Simple walk through a covered sidewalk to airport.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Aurlandsfjord

Aurland

Great view from our second floor balcony. Quiet. Elevator only goes to 2nd floor. Breakfast was perfect. Room included dinner for our 2 nights. My wife is Vegetarian. I am not. The dinners were not to our liking. Options were available for an additional payment. Staff was super polite and helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Great view of the fjord from 2nd floor balcony.

Staff

Very helpful and polite.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Ørnen

Bergen

Great location near train station and Opera House.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Thon Hotel Terminus

Oslo

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

I

Activity Reviews

Stegastein and Borgund Stave Church

Norway

Quality of Experience

Nærøyfjord Cruise & Viking Valley Tour

Norway

Viking Valley Tour was better than expected. Included horse shoes, archery, axe throwing and other games.

Quality of Experience

Bergen Walking Tour With a Local Guide

Bergen

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Explore Oslo's Hidden Gems with a Local Expert

Oslo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Kadri was lovely and amazing in every way, and, we had an absolutely fabulous trip! Thank you.

We had a very good trip! Thanks, Julia and team for putting it together and making sure it all ran smoothly. When we needed to change rooms to ensure we had two beds, the team was very responsive. Appreciate it!

Our trip to Norway was absolutely magical! Kadri from kimkim was wonderful to work with—knowledgeable, responsive, and attentive to our needs. We were a group of 14, ranging from a 1-year-old to our parents in their 80s, and she did an amazing job finding the perfect accommodations and arranging transportation for our large family.

Our stay in Svinøya was a highlight, giving us the chance to soak in the breathtaking beauty of Lofoten while enjoying quality family time together. Everything was well organized, with tickets and travel details easily accessible through the app.

Kadri made planning such a special family trip feel seamless. We’re so grateful for her help and would highly recommend her and the kimkim team for anyone planning a well-organized, unforgettable trip.

Kimkim planned our trip to Norway for us as it was our first trip there. They chose great cities and amazing excursions. We had a wonderful time. We were very impressed with the itinerary, including the hotels and events. We ran into a hiccup with a hotel and Kimkim was very responsive in addressing the issues. We highly recommend Kimkim for your travel needs.

Activity Reviews

Floating Sauna Experience in Ålesund

Ålesund

Quality of Experience

Kayaking & Hiking Excursion

Ålesund

Quality of Experience

Food

We loved our guide.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mostraumen Fjord Safari by Premium RIB

Bergen

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Finnafjord Safari by RIB

Balestrand

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The trip was memorable and adventurous in every way. The detail timing of the taxis, cruises, and tours was perfect for us to have personal time as well. Taylor was accommodating and helpful in choices to make our tailor-made trip perfect. Aselund in the Lofoten Islands was the highlight of the Norwegian region with the majestic mountains, lakes, rivers and Fjords. The city tours in each region were helpful and educational to understand the history and culture of Norwegian heritage.
One Negative...The "Norway In A Nutshell" day tour was a disaster with the distance that had to partake to get to the Fjord over 12 hours in trains (3), busses, and a ferry. The day in Flam was a tourist trap with souvenir shops everywhere. However, we captured a waterfall hike in Flam that overshadowed the transportation distance to get there.
The Norwegian trip overall was a bucket list expedition of nature, cultural presence, adventurous Fjords that will be memorable forever.
KimKim will be used in future regions that we are not familiar in travels going forward. Thank you for your knowledge, experience, and support to make this a comfortable, relaxing, adventurous holiday for our 45th Anniversary celebration!

Hotel Reviews

Grand Hotel Oslo

Oslo

Excellent location to Old Town, Galma Stand of Stockholm. Nostalgic hotel by the waterside with immediate access to Palace, ferries, and activities.

Authenticity & Character

Everything...the room was fabulous with 3 bay windows facing water.

Location

close to Galma Stand, Old Town.

Staff

Great people who were accommodating to our needs.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Large spacious room

Bergen Børs Hotel

Bergen

The room is not comfortable as it was 2 levels with an upper bedroom loft with stairways, a living area with crossing wooden beams throughout the room that we hit repeatedly and one small window looking out to the courtyard and market. We asked for another room but they said they were fully booked and did not accommodate us.

Authenticity & Character

Accessibility

Location

In Old Town where all the action was in the city

Staff

Very cold appearance when we arrived with no alternative to change room. The temperature of room was cold and room heaters had to be brought in.

Cleanliness & Comfort

With multiple step down levels, crossing wooden roof beams, stairs to bedroom, no heat, bathroom was open shower with no tub (requested), etc

Nordis Suites

Svolvær

Views looking out were fabulous. Cleanliness good but service poor as this is an apartment complex.

Authenticity & Character

Service

Location

Staff

To have service....This was an apartment so they did not have immediate service attendents.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Door glass to balcony shattered...more shelving for luggage.

Hotel 1904

Ålesund

Historical Elevator is very small. Breakfast is great. People were hospitable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Depart Norway

Norway

Too early to airport as it was a very small airport and waited 3.5 hours.

Evening Kayaking Excursion

Svolvær

Excellent tour guide and experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cultural Walk with a Local

Bergen

Somewhat knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Explore Ålesund

Norway

Quality of Experience

Self-Guided Svolvær Exploration

Norway

We did this on our own.

Private Lofoten Floating Sauna Experience

Svolvær

Excellent Experience especially when diving into the cold 46 degree Farenheit water temps.

Quality of Experience

Oslofjord Dinner Cruise

Oslo

It was the same cruise area region we did earlier in the day. We did not like the food quality and service. Taylor was adamant on doing this tour after I told her we prefer personal foodie restaurants.

Quality of Experience

Quality and Service of Food; No selection of wines.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private City Walk

Oslo

Good, personable, knowledgeable, kind.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Fjord Cruise to Rosendal

Bergen

We never went as we were Fjorded out!

Oslofjord Sightseeing Cruise by Traditional Boat

Oslo

Excellent tour of the entire area.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Norway in a Nutshell Day Trip

Bergen

I should get a credit on this trip as it was too long in distance with 3 trains, 1 bus, and cruise over 12 hours. Refer to clients next time private tour to the same cruise.

Quality of Experience

Geirangerfjord Cruise & Day Trip

Norway

It was the best Fjord we saw! No changes to God's world.

Quality of Experience

Private Lofoten Sightseeing Trip

Svolvær

He was excellent to take us to the majestic mountains of the Lofoten region. His knowledge and experience on the island was very good to give us a pleasurable time seeing nature at its best.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mathia provided knowledgable and professional consultation and coordination to create a customized itinerary for our trip to Stavanger to experience the fjords in this area. He arranged our hotel and tours and provided valuable recommendations for restaurants and things to do. Mathia was very responsive and attentive to our needs and interests. He checked in during our trip and was extremely helpful in making last minute adjustments we requested to ensure our holiday was all we dreamed it to be. We would be very happy to work with Mathia again in the future.

Anders put together a wonderful trip that included Denmark, Sweden and Norway!
We had a lot of questions about lodging, tours, transportation, and the most spectacular things to visit.
Anders answered every one of them.
Transportation in Scandinavia is clean, on-time, and reliable.
We loved the combination of old historic architecture and new innovative architecture.
The highlights were the fjord cruises, Flam, Alesund and Oslo.
But truly, everything was great.
Everything and everyone is green and earth-friendly. The water in Scandinavia is great!

We feel like we saw all of the must-see places and we look forward to visiting again!
Thanks Anders!

Hotel Reviews

Quality Hotel Ålesund

Ålesund

wonderful view!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Amerikalinjen

Oslo

great location wonderful room!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Axel Guldsmeden

Copenhagen

wonderful breakfasts

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fretheim Hotel

Flåm

wonderful meals

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Flåm Railway Round-Trip Experience

Norway

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Njardarheimr Viking Village Day Trip with Nærøyfjord Cruise & Bus Transfer

Norway

tour guide was authentic!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My dad worked with Katie to plan this trip, and it turned out great! I really appreciated the balance between guided/scheduled events and free time. It gave us the freedom to explore while also participating in some extremely interesting tours. At one point, we had a small issue with our tour guide not showing up. Mathia at KimKim, however, was able to rebook us for a tour for later in the day. It is really nice to know that KimKim has someone available if anything goes wrong! This trip was also a great balance between city and nature. Bergen and Balestrand were the perfect places to stay. I would definitely recommend this trip!

From a planning and booking standpoint Katie did a great job taking my family's feedback into account and suggesting options for activities based on that combined with her knowledge of Norway. We had a group of six with ages ranging from 11 to 70, and everyone had a great time! There was a minor hiccup when our guide for a walking tour of Bergen did not arrive on time, but that got worked out in short order after I posted a message in the Kim Kim app. Delaying that activity to the afternoon actually ended up being better for us because the weather improved and we got an awesome guide named Thomas. We particularly enjoyed our time in Balestrand in the middle of the trip with the highlight being a private sightseeing tour via boat of the surrounding fjords. Our guide, Thor, did an amazing job tailoring that experience so everyone in our family found it enjoyable despite the "hyper-nature" conditions (it rained most of the time). For the most part, everything related to transportation and lodging went smoothly. I will certainly consider engaging Kim Kim again for trips in the future.

Hotel Reviews

Zander K Hotel

Bergen

Everything seemed cramped throughout the hotel with rooms and bathrooms being extremely tight on space. It was tolerable, though, considering we only stayed for one night.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kviknes Hotel

Balestrand

Beautiful hotel located in a beautiful area and a charming town.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grand Hotel Terminus

Bergen

This hotel is easy to get to when taking the light rail from the airport, and it's within walking distance of the shops and restaurants surrounding the harbor. Rooms are nice, clean, and spacious. Bathrooms are a bit tight with tub/shower entry/exit requiring a bit of athleticism. Restaurant menu wasn't child-friendly but the single dinner we had there was excellent. I would stay here again in the future.

Authenticity & Character

Charming with ornate woodwork.

Location

It's close to a stop on the light rail, the train station is right across the street, attractions in the city center are within walking distance.

Staff

Everyone was friendly and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Viking Heritage Walk with a Local

Bergen

There was some sort of misunderstanding between Kim Kim and the local provider of the service which resulted in no guide showing up at our hotel at the designated time. Upon posting a message in the Kim Kim chat to report that, someone from Kim Kim worked with the local provider to arrange a meetup later in the day. That ended up working out better in the end because the weather was better in the afternoon than it was in the morning. Thomas was a great guide and we really enjoyed the history, knowledge, and cultural insights that he shared.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Øvre-Eide Gård Farm Visit

Bergen

This was a hit with the kids! They got to brush and ride a horse, cuddle sheep and rabbits, hold a chicken, and eat some tasty treats.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

It was a bit difficult for taxi drivers to find.

Scenic Boat Trip to Fjærland

Norway

Thor made this a great experience for our family despite the "hyper-nature" conditions (it rained almost the entire time).

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Although there were a couple mixups in the booking process, our trip was flawless. Roy gave me sightseeing options I would never have thought of doing myself, such as the Flam rail tour which was one of the highlights of our trip. Jacob covered our itinerary changes and mixups very conscientiously and professionally. Our food tour in Oslo was wonderful . Having luggage transported from hotel in Bergen to Oslo hotel was a life saver.

The only thing I would offer to have made this trip planning go a bit smoother is to have booking and planning be more simultaneous during the extremely busy tourist season. We would be going with one plan and later find out the hotel or transportation was not available. This was an experience that I encountered during a Kimkim trip to Croatia also, so is not unique to this tour company.

All in all, we had a fabulous trip and it was made much better by booking with Kimkim rather than the plans I had originally made on my own.

Hotel Reviews

Radisson RED Hotel, Oslo Airport

Ullensaker

We were only in this hotel one short night and I can barely remember it being anything but very nice

Authenticity & Character

Nicely decorated

Location

Easy walk from train and airport. We had a family visit and it was an convenient pickup and drop-off with their car.

Staff

friendly and helpful staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable like all hotels we were booked in.

Comfort Hotel Karl Johan

Oslo

Location, meals, cleanliness and staff were very excellent

Authenticity & Character

Typical Comfort Hotel. Clean, efficient and friendly staff

Location

Short walk from train station was much appreciated. Not too far to walk to ferries, restaurants, and sightseeing

Staff

Always happy to please, never too busy

Cleanliness & Comfort

Flåmsbrygga Hotel

Flåm

Beautiful furnishings and comfortable beds. It's definitely a nice hotel but I'd never pay the going rate (thank you Kimkim for covering this)

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful furnishings

Location

Located right by the train station in the heart of Flam

Staff

very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

beds and bedding were top notch. There was a terrible smell coming from the shower drain but once we took a shower, it faded a bit

Comfort Hotel Bergen

Bergen

Our first introduction to the fact that hotels in Norway are very efficient, not big on space, and have fabulous breakfasts included. This hotel was very clean, everything was in working order and the checkin/check out process went very smoothly.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Good location near all the sights we ere hoping to see

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Nærøyfjord Round-Trip: Fjord Cruise & Scenic Shuttle

Flåm

I'm not sure what the scenic shuttle is all about. We never found the bus we were supposed to get on but a driver who thought we needed a shuttle to our hotel found us and drove us to the Viking Village. That ride is mostly through tunnels so it's not very scenic. The Viking Village is very interesting but we didn't really need that much time there, so I got a tattoo from the tattoo artist in residence. The Fjord cruise was wonderful. It's a very comfortable boat and the scenery is spectacular. We were very lucky with the weather being clear and relatively warm.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The driver that was hired to take us to the hotel that we no longer needed was very informative, efficient and friendly.

Dinner recommendation: Olivia Tjuvholmen

Oslo

We didn't get there

Luggage Transfer Service

Norway

This was SOOOO helpful. We were in Norway for a wedding in Oslo and had brought a gift that required a large piece of luggage. There was no way we could have managed it on the Flam Railway. I had put the wrong hotel name on our paperwork (Karl Johan Hotel instead of Comfort Hotel at Karl Johan). They got it right and I was so happy to see it when we arrived Oslo.

Quality of Experience

We didn't have to be responsible for our luggage.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Never met them but they got the hotel name changed to the correct one

Transport

It arrived at the right location!!!!!

Street Food Tour Oslo

Oslo

This tour involves a lot of walking in a somewhat out of the way area, so we saw a bit of Oslo that we would not have otherwise seen. The group size was a reasonable size, it didn't feel like we were being herded around. The food samples were interesting, delicious and generous. As a side note, Jay Ternaven of JayWay Travel, was taking this tour with us, considering it as an offering for his tours. So the guide was probably trying very hard to impress.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

knowledgeable, answered all questions politely, considerate of special diets in each location

Transport

It was a walking tour and everyone walked quite well

Our trip to Norway, organized by Taylor, was fantastic. The logistics were flawless, which I have come to expect from KimKim (our second trip organized by them). The recommended itinerary had us see essential Oslo, the beautiful train to Myrdal and then down to Flam. We then spent a few days on ships in the fjords with the Kvikness Hotel in Balestrand as our base camp (which was lovely - by the way the views from the mountain facing rooms are just as beautiful if not more so than the Fjord facing ones). After that we took the ferry to Bergen and enjoyed a couple of days enjoying the local culture, crafts and learning about its history. All told a great trip. Thanks Taylor!

My KimKim team to Norway was comprised of Taylor (my initial contact and overall trip designer) and Maria and Nick (who promptly addressed my questions, my issues and any changes I needed). It was comforting to know I had such an efficient team.
It's hard for me to say which aspect of the trip was most memorable. Was it seeing in person the World Heritage fjords (something I had on my bucket list) or was it the experience of driving Lofoten where I had no prior vision of how spectacular that actually was. Or, was it the architecture of Alesund and their 148 steps vista. Norway is just one visual gift after another.

Hotel Reviews

Radisson Blu Airport Hotel, Oslo Gardemoen

Gardemoen

For someone needing to catch an early morning flight, you couldn't have chosen a better hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Quality Hotel Ålesund

Ålesund

I loved everything about Alesund including this hotel. The rooms were uniquely laid out. Their restaurant was full service. Their staff was both knowledgeable and helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

As it turned out, they were exactly where I wanted them to be in relation to resturants and sites.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Tide Rorbuer

Sørvågen

This hotel was a little confusing, as I was assigned a cabin instead of a room. Finding this cabin was not clearly explained, but eventually I did. But this was after a day's drive, so it added a level of frustration to what was an amazing area. The cabin was ok, but I didn't need a kitchenette as I was not planning on making my own meals. I would have requested a change if I had known this was the choice KimKim made. Would recommend KimKim explain the options before booking.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

As a solo traveler I am keenly aware of how I am treated by hotels and restaurants. I felt I was not particularly appreciated as a guest - especially in their restaurant.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Svolvær

Svolvær

At this point I had a rental car; however, the hotel did not provide parking nor any assistance in explaining how to pay for parking. I managed to figure it out, but that fact tainted my feeling about the hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Fine but nothing special.

Location

This was my first exposure to Lofoten and I was so impressed by how nature surrounded the area.

Staff

When you're in a foreign place you want greater assistance regarding unfamilar things ie: paying for parking.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Thon Hotel Opera

Oslo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Heimly Pensjonat

Flåm

Of all the hotels I stayed in during this trip, I was least impressed by this guesthouse.

Authenticity & Character

I suspect the reason for KimKim chosing this guesthouse was its view of the fjord. However, that view is somewhat blocked by trees.

Location

Getting to it was both confusing and uphill.. both from the dock and then the steep driveway and staircase you needed to climb. With 2 suitcases, this 78 year old was not happy. Given there is a hotel close to where you dock, I would have appreciated that convenience. Also, the hotel provides dinner, but it does not provide choices.

Staff

Having to ring a bell in order to have someone assist or answer questions, is just not classy

Cleanliness & Comfort

I felt like I was in a dormitory room.

Home Hotel Bryggen

Bergen

Ideally located within walking distance of everything you want to see.

Authenticity & Character

While an historic building, it amenities were sufficiently upgraded

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Self-Guided Oslo Exploration

Oslo

Walk up to Aksla Viewpoint

Ålesund

Self-Guided Bergen Exploration

Bergen

Self-Drive Exploration of Moskenesøya

Norway

Self-Guided Flåm Exploration

Flåm

There's a wonderful walking/biking path that leads you along the fjord.

Explore Ålesund

Norway

See my earlier comments re Alesund. I loved it.

Self-Guided Svolvær Exploration

Norway

Solvaer is the great place to start the Lofoten experience. While stunningly beautiful, it just keeps getting better as you drive away from it.

Edvard Munch Museum in Oslo (Tickets not included)

Oslo

Enjoyed learning more about Munch than just his 'The Scream". That said, the museum has a dedicated room for the 3 versions of The Scream.

Fjord RIB Safari & Undredal Cheese Tasting

Norway

The speed boat ride was the experience, but the stop to taste the local cheese was a nice touch.

Depart Norway

Norway

Geirangerfjord Cruise & Day Trip

Norway

The boat ride took special care to slow down (and in some instances, stop altogether) to explain what we were seeing and provide anecdotal stories related to the series of waterfalls. Time at the end of the fjord was just long enough to let you refresh, eat lunch or just walk around. It was an extremely pleasant day.

Quality of Experience

Visit Henningsvær

Svolvær

Since the drive from Solvaer to Reine is relatively short, I enjoyed getting off the main road and visiting as many of the towns along the way (Henningsvaer being one). Each is uniquely placed, so each offers a different view. What I also found, is this helped slow me down vs racing to Reine.

Quality of Experience

Reinebringen Hike

Norway

This is not a hike for the faint of heart. The steps are huge chunks of rock requiring much effort everytime. The climb is very vertical, so if you have any fear of heights, you might want to reconsider this choice. There is no railing (and there are sections where a misstep could be serious). The climb up is the climb down, so crowds going both ways can be a challenge. In retrospect, I wondered if I had made a bad choice (but the view WAS spectacular and no point in crying over spilt milk!) Although my 78 year old body had a very different point of view.

Quality of Experience

Although the reward is spectacular, I was more scared descending than going up.

Driving the Lofoten Islands: Nature Stops Along the Way

Norway

Lofoten is one amazing site after another. Even with the summer traffic that gave me more reasons to stop and take in the views.

Quality of Experience

Visit the Gol Stave Church (Norwegian Museum of Cultural History)

Oslo

For me, architecture is important, so this visit may be more personal than necessary for most. However, getting to the church required a short ferry ride which added a pleasant element to the experience.

Quality of Experience

Cultural Walk with a Local

Bergen

The guide was genuine, knowledgeable and flexible. I felt like I was walking around with a friend.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This was a walking tour.

We had a great trip to Norway and the help with knowing where to go and where to stay - was amazing. I took parents in their 80s and my teenagers on a family trip and I am not sure we could have pulled off a trip that was exciting for everyone without KimKim.

Hotel Reviews

Karl Johan Hotel

Oslo

Karl Johan Hotel in Oslo was well located right on the main street, which was very convenient. The only minor issue was that the walk from the Oslo train station to the hotel was bit of a walk with luggage, which could be challenging for some travelers, but it was manageable for us.

Thon Hotel Rosenkrantz

Bergen

Thon Hotel Rosenkrantz in Bergen was great and very well located in the middle of the tourist area, which was perfect for us as tourists. The hotel was nice and convenient for exploring the city.

Flåm Marina

Flåm

Our favorite hotel was Flåm Marina in Flåm. The location was perfect, slightly out of the main town, which meant we avoided the large crowds when cruise ships were in town. The hotel overlooked the water and was beautiful. The location and setting made it our top choice.

Activity Reviews

Cultural Walk with a Local

Bergen

The Cultural Walk with a Local in Bergen was interesting, especially for my wife who loved it. However, the teenagers found the history a bit heavy, and some parts of the walks in Bergen and Oslo felt a bit repetitive.

Oslofjord Dinner Cruise

Oslo

The Oslofjord Dinner Cruise on our last night was amazing. It turned out to be perfect for everyone to relax, look around, and enjoy our last evening together. It was a wonderful way to end the trip.

Our Norway trip was a magical adventure. KimKim and Tom Christer specifically made sure that every question was answered and every detail meticulously attended to. I recommend this trip highly!

The railroad from Flam was one of my favorites! Nice surprise to have Nora come out of the waterfall singing. The transportation and hotel arrangements were well organized.

Taylor was awesome. When we’re planning the trip at one point we lost a hotel room for a night she sent us from Flåm to Balestrand and it was one of the best nights we had on the whole trip. Short stay but one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. In addition, she was so attentive to our needs and the hotels were in the perfect location that adventures and tours were set up perfectly. I will definitely definitely use this group again because they know what they’re doing.