Kimkim Trip Reviews for Norway

We had a wonderful time celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary in Norway. Alex planned a perfect trip that included Bergan, Flåm, Geiranger, and Alesund. The Bergen city tour set the stage for our immersion into Norway. We had the right balance of planned and free time each day. We loved the boat ride to Flåm from Gudvagen in a spectacular Fjord, the Flåm tour and the train to Myrdal were highlights. The city of Alesund was a nice surprise with another spectacular fjord cruise to Geiranger. We were able to do many hikes, took a plunge in Alesund and enjoyed our Seafood Tower at the Cornelius Restaurant on our Anniversary. Alex and Nick were ready to lend assistance if needed but everything was planned so well we didn’t need any help. Timing was spot on for connections and next event timing. Thanks for a very memorable experience in Norway.

Activity Reviews

Fløibanen Funicular Ride

Bergen

We checked the radar to for this activity in. We had a 2 hour break in the clouds which gave us the opportunity to ride the vernicular, hike the area and have a drink at the restaurant on top. If it had been a sunset type of day we may have had dinner, however the sunsets are around 11:00 at night.

Quality of Experience

Cultural Walk with a Local

Bergen

Thomas did a great job explaining the long history of Bergen. The big take away was the number of fires and rebuilds that were done and the power struggles throughout history.

Quality of Experience

Guide was extremely knowledgeable and excited about Bergen’s histort

Self-Guided Bergen Exploration

Bergen

We had just arrived from an overnight flight. It was raining. We did the easiest thing and walked to the fish market, had a couple beers and had dinner. We noticed the locals ignored the weather so we did too and just dressed accordingly and carried our umbrella.

The whole experience from planning with Maria and then traveling with the help of the rest of the team was absolutely perfect. We felt completely supported throughout the trip. We made a few last minute changes and the team was there for us every step of the way. It’s so relaxing to have that kind of immediate help while traveling. We didn’t have to worry about anything. We just got to enjoy the incredible beauty of Norway.

And I will add that the experiences that Maria chose for us were customized for our pace and our interests. And we were very happy with the accommodations that were booked for us. So overall, I would highly recommend Kimkim for making your trip to Norway memorable!

Hotel Reviews

Thon Hotel Kirkenes

Kirkenes

Great views of the harbor. Good food. Comfortable rooms.

Scandic Royal Stavanger

Stavanger

It’s a little far from the center of town but quiet. No views. But comfortable.

Radisson Blu Royal Hotel

Bergen

Perfect location. Quiet. Spacious rooms. A great base camp for exploring downtown Bergen.

Heimly Pensjonat

Flåm

The rooms are very small without a lot of room to put your stuff. But the view is incredible, the service is awesome and the meals were great!

Amerikalinjen

Oslo

Located right in the center of town, the hotel has a great history and character. Service was awesome, especially the bartender where you will have some amazing unusual cocktail!

Activity Review

Private City Walk

Oslo

There is nothing like a local to share their understanding of a place. And our guide gave us tips to explore things we never would have been able to do on our own!

Alesund was an amazing town to slowly start the trip. Gorgeous views. Lovely town to walk around in and get rid of jet lag!! We drive to Runde Island for a do it yourself hike. We saw puffins on the hillside in flight and in the water from afar. That was amazing!

A quick trip up the Atlantic Ocean road to Kristiansund was “okay”. The weather was rainy and windy and we more or less missed the highlights bc of weather. We thought the road would be miles and miles of bridges but was actually quite short. The city offered a few areas to walk around and a little hike up in a park area but one night there would have been better skipped and added into Oye (see below) IMO.

Andalsnes the lodging at Rosvang Gard w Otto and Albert was incredible. Food to die for. Again scenery was awesome. We drove over to the Stave church across the fjord. The Golden Train and Gondola were wonderful to see and do! Eating at Eggen was dreamt as well!

Geiranger was a stunning site! Kayaking w Martina (from Argentina) was fantastic. The Four Sisters didn’t disappoint.

Oye was the most perfect pristine town ever. Kayaking with Jorge from Baja was very enjoyable. A lovely quiet fjord to paddle in and a few easier trails to explore the hillside was a great way to wind down the week. Would have loved to be there two nights

Last night near Alesund at Storfjord hotel. Also would have loved two nights there. Or at least a later flight to take in the breakfast there. Oh well!

What a great trip, Katie was beyond helpful from where to go, lunch spots, plus what is special in each of our locations. Overall, KimKim and Katie made our family trip to Norway one that we will remember forever.

Had a wonderful
Kimkim planned a well thought out trip
Thank you team

Professional, enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and the pride of Norwegians!

We had a wonderful visit to Norway and Denmark, made easy, fluid, enjoyable and more personal working with Kadri via kimkim. Our hotel in Bergen, Oslo XVI, was perfect for location, comfort and quality. The food and culture tour we took was just what we wanted to start out with, to get to know the city more intimately and Diane was a great guide around the city to food stops we may not have found on our own, and she treated us to stories and tastes that made us feel so good and grounded in the city. The Fjordrive tour we booked on our own was also wonderful with such a warm welcome from our driver/guide Bjarte. His lux van, warm nature and expertise in all things Norwegian coupled with the exquisite beauty of Norway itself made the all-day tour to fjord and viewpoints wonderful. Kadri gave us all the information we needed to make the city of Bergen our own -- we loved it! Bergen is an incredible place to visit -- so much to do. so walkable, so beautiful, so friendly, and with Kadri and Kimkim team's help we were able to be in city for the first time as if we knew what we were doing. The transfers to airport and hotel were also lovely and stress-relieving for us. The only trouble we had was due to my lack of preparedness. Our phone service isn't perfect when traveling abroad and when we encountered a flight delay, I struggled to know how to reach the driver picking us up in Copenhagen. The best I could do was alert the kimkim team by email -- it was all I could think of to do. While the team (Kadri) responded quickly, they were not able to alert the driver in time to save us an unexpected fee. If I had a do-over, I would make certain I had all contact numbers and means of contacting support more at my fingertips. Everything had gone so smoothly the whole trip that we weren't ready for the flight delay when it happened. Overall, what I appreciated most from Kadri and kimkim was the access to local knowledge and expert choices/information so kindly shared with us, that made this first visit to Norway, 2nd visit to Denmark, really special from beginning to end.

Hotel Reviews

Copenhagen Admiral Hotel

Copenhagen

This beautiful hotel may still be finishing up its renovation. It is ideally situated close to the water for easy, beautiful walks, but our access to our room was strangely blocked by large covered carts containing supplies (?) maybe? So our first encounter with the floor we were on and getting to our room felt strange -- as if we were on a storage floor rather than a floor occupied by hotel customers. Otherwise, all else was nice -- nice aesthetic, clean room, comfortable bed. Just not outstanding, yet.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Opus XVI

Bergen

This hotel is perfectly situated in a beautiful, bustling part of Bergen making walking or access to trains, tours, and funicular easy. Though there can be a lot going on around there, our room overlooking the square was quiet and comfortable. Breakfasts in the morning are lovely as well, and the staff are welcoming and helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to Bryggen and starting point for many tours, close to everything actually.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Food & Culture Walk

Bergen

I felt as though this was the best thing we could have done to start out our wonderful time in Bergen. Our guide, Diane, was friendly and kind and knowledgeable, and she helped us feel at home in the city, taking us to places we wouldn't have found on our own and introducing us to foods we may not have tried. She took us through the big, wonderful fish market (incredible) and we tried a warm fish cake unlike anything we'd ever had before that was so much fun to eat. She gave us bites of dried cod to try. She walked us up and down and around the old parts of the city and told us interesting stories as she popped us into a cool coffee shop and a wonderful old bathhouse now local hangout and a cool pub. This tour was great from beginning to end and gave us a welcoming, wonderful introduction to the city.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

There were no places we didn't love. Mathia was an indispensable before during and after our trip. He made the the absolute best itinerary.

Hotel Reviews

Amerikalinjen

Oslo

Another upscale big city hotel. Absolutely has the biggest breakfast offerings.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Again, right next to the train station in city center.

Staff

Concierge very helpful in planning our half day in Oslo.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Vangsgaarden Gjestgiveri

Aurland

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very welcoming.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Visnes Hotel Stryn

Stryn

Right on the water in the village center.

Authenticity & Character

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bestebakken

Hafslo

Very quaint and the owner was more than helpful in planning our local day trips.

Authenticity & Character

Staff

Breakfast and dinner were near gormet quality.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Strand Fjordhotel

Ulvik

Small but clean and in the center of the village.

Authenticity & Character

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Norge by Scandic

Bergen

Great location in the middle of the city. Walking close to everything.

Authenticity & Character

Much more upscale than we're used to.

Location

Central to all the best Bergen sites.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Nærøyfjord Cruise & Viking Valley Tour

Norway

Great ferry cruise to the valley. The captain ever went near shore so we could get close to a large waterfall.

Quality of Experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transport

Round Trip on the Flåm Railway: Flåm - Myrdal

Norway

The views were phenomenal.

Quality of Experience

Transport

Visit Stegastein Viewpoint

Norway

We drove up the one lane road. Not for the faint of heart. There is also a bus.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I was the driver.

Transport

Explore a Cider Farm in Hardanger

Ulvik

Only a short walk to the farms. We didn't think we'd like cider, but now we're big fans.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Bergen Walking Tour With a Local Guide

Bergen

Quality of Experience

The scenery and the people.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cider farm guide was local and was actually part owner of our hotel.

Transport

We had a fantastic time. Highlights were the two day kayaking trip and the overnight Trolltunga hike. We were also very impressed with the transportation throughout. Seamless transfers and really nice trains and busses. We walked around Oslo and Bergen and enjoyed our urban experience. Great time all around.

Linda's guidance before and during the trip was very helpful. She and her team were very attentive while we were traveling and offered excellent insights.

Alex put together a great trip for me and my daughter on short notice! First time to Norway for both of us! We will definitely have to come back. Nick and Alejendra were very helpful after the trip was booked and helped adjust some last minute timing changes.

Hotel Review

Home Hotel Bryggen

Bergen

Very convenient location just off the harbor. Our room on the 6th floor was huge. The style and finishes are a bit dated, which on the plus side helps create the feeling that you are in a historic building. The small gym in the basement is nice, with a great sauna, which i used twice. We were positively surprised to learn that the hotel offers a complimentary fika (sweets & tea) in the afternoon and even a buffet style dinner for all guests at 6pm. We used this to our advantage by having an early dinner and then go out into the bright summer evening to eat some more fish and desert near the harbor. The breakfast buffet was great with lots of fresh choices, but quite crowded when it opened at 8. On Saturday night the bar across the street was very noisy with locals partying until 3am, which affected my sleep a little, but then again i was happy to see the Norwegians celebrating the nice summer weather. Overall a very solid hotel with character at a perfect location.

Authenticity & Character

Rooms feel a bit dated, but that only adds to the authentic character of this historic building. Great photos on the wall everywhere

Location

2 minutes from the harbor.

Staff

Staff was friendly and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms and bathrooms are clean and comfortable but quite basic for this type of hotel.

Activity Reviews

Fløibanen Funicular Ride

Bergen

Cool experience. We took the funicular to the top and then did a challenging hike to the top of the Gondola via steep and remote trails.

Quality of Experience

Food & Culture Walk

Bergen

Great overview of the history of Bergen by our guide Serena. She was very engaging and kept our group of 8 interested for the full 3 hours. I highly recommend this walk as we learned a lot of details about Bergen's history we would otherwise be unaware off.

Quality of Experience

Great overview of Bergen's history and some nice food stops

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Serena was excellent and fun to chat with

Mar listened to all my thoughts and desires. She gave suggestions and feedback which was very much appreciated. Starting in Copenhagen: we had a terrific guide, So drs, who really explained to us the Hygge life. The ferry to Oslo was really terrific and a great way to relax and enjoy the next destination. The food on the ferry in the “ special” restaurant was quite good. We adored our hotel in Oslo. Great location … great rooms. Have to admit…. We were shocked at prices of food, alcohol and Ubers in Norway. Our guide was quite good but as many Norwegians… a bit stoic. Loved the Munch Museum and enjoyed the Norse Folksmuseum body’s 1 $ 2.
The train ride of 7 hours to Bergen was truly a highlight. Absolutely great, fun hotel in Bergen: Charmaine. Away from maddening crowds. A bit if a mixup with tour guide… but all handled beautifully and added Furnicularvtude was included. Would suggest shorter boat ride seeing the fjords and skip visiting Rosendal. The Kode Museums somewhat meaningless but enjoyed the town overall.
Mars planning was spot on. Would highly recommend her and Kim Kim..

Hotel Reviews

Hôtel Charmante

Bergen

We adored this hotel… a cross between Maxims in Oaris and a French bordelli… it was kitschy, cozy… lots of lively private spaces to enjoy. Staff were si terrific and mindful. Had a terrific” private” room for cocktails. Restaurant was also quite good. Well-served breakfast. Quiet… chic rooms.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Karl Johan Hotel

Oslo

Could not have been better. Great location. Staff professional, kind and extremely helpful. Loved the spacious lively room. Breakfast was terrific

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

DFDS overnight cruise

We had fun. Paid for a terrific meal in steakhouse as opposed to the buffet. Quite goid. Sang at cocktail lounge for hours. Room was small but comfortable enough. Loved seeing Znirwegian coastline in morning.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Axel Guldsmeden

Copenhagen

Relaxed. Comfortable. Good size room and clean. Right near both train station and two blocks from Tivoli Gardens.

Authenticity & Character

Just a bit informal and relaxed . Young staff

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Cultural Walk with a Local

Bergen

I felt it was important to take this tour but our guide was a bit odd. He spoke of the many languages he knew… and pointed out artisans etc.just a bit if an @ odd@ msn.but nice!

Quality of Experience

Maybe a more personable guide who emoted a bit more humor and history

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private City Walk

Oslo

Bjorn was a lovely older gentleman who knew his history. He was a bit dry and stoic… very few funny stories and a bit lacking in humor. He didn’t try to I get to know us nor did we really get to know more about him.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hygge Tour Copenhagen

Copenhagen

Sondra was fabulous. It absolutely pored in us the whole time and we didn’t care. She made it such fun. We stopped along the way for Danishvtreats and conversation was great. Learned soooo much.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We thouroughly enjoyed our trip to Norway. The itinerary put together by Kimkim allowed us to have both planned excursions to the best sights, but also gave us time to explore on our own. When things unexpected happend, our Kimkim team of Alex and Nick stepped in to help out. We started in Bergen at the Raddison Blu. Rooms were simple but confortable and the breakfast was wonderful. We stopped by Flam on our way to Oslo. In Flam we enjoyed wonderful hking and a cruise thru the fjords with our charming guide Nathan. Alex and Nick made the trip easy to plan and the itinerary had all the details needed to make transfers easily. Thank you Kimkin for a great trip.

I enjoyed having kimkim as a partner on our family trip to Norway. From the early planning provided by Anders to the actual booking and logistics provided by Fenne, the operations and support team were excellent. I also appreciated Riccardo's proactive intervention to advise on a dinner reservation in Solvorn. Norway is a beautiful country and kimkim handled all of the legwork and coordination to make this a smooth and delightful experience.

Hotel Reviews

Hotell Utsikten

Geiranger

It gets 4 stars primarily due to location, but other wise I was not real impressed with the hotel. Again we stayed only one night. No elevators and only one e-car charger was working.

Authenticity & Character

This is an older hotel and it exudes a charm all its own.

Location

Proximity to views of Geiranger.

Staff

Everyone was friendly and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The bathrooms were small but adequate.

Walaker Hotel

Solvorn

Walaker is deep in history and tradition. My family had the pleasure to meet the owner and he took us on a brief tour of the original hotel building. We loved its beautiful location, but unfortunately could not stay long enough to see the historic church that is a ferry ride away. We also experienced a wonderful four-course dinner and the room was relatively secluded and private.

Authenticity & Character

You can feel the history!

Location

Nestled down a hill on the shores of Lustrafjord. Charming community with lots of history. Hiking nearby.

Staff

Everyone was very friendly and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Quality Hotel Ålesund

Ålesund

We only stayed one night and found the hotel to be clean and comfortable. Staff could have been a little more proactive by informing kimkim (or me) in advance that on the day of departure a marathon was being held which would shut down several roads in the city, including the road the hotel is on. Making our way to the airport was a mini-adventure.

Authenticity & Character

Location and layout of the common areas (reception, dining room, sitting rooms, etc.) contributed to the charm of the hotel.

Location

Enjoyed the location on the bay and found it was well positioned within a fun part of the city, close to restaurants and shopping. Would like to point out that in very close walking distance to the hotel there was a Chinese restaurant called HK. My family thought it was the best Chinese restaurant we ever ate in. The food was fresh, excellently prepared and tasted wonderful. This is saying a lot because we have dined in countless Chinese restaurants back home.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Radisson Blu Royal Hotel

Bergen

Stayed only one night. Staff are friendly. The elevators did not work properly the day we were there and appeared to be undergoing maintenance, probably not a big deal. However, worth noting is the elevator does not go down to the parking garage so bags needed to be brought in through the 1st floor lobby. Hotel room was clean and comfortable. What we really like about this hotel was its location. Bergen is a beautiful city and we were in walking distance of restaurants, shops, fun stores, and the harbor. We were also close to a funicular train that takes you up a hill for great views of the city.

Authenticity & Character

I think you could learn to love this hotel just based on its location.

Location

Great location with lots to do and see. Bergen is a completely charming city, and like all of Norway, everyone was quite friendly.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Art Nouveau Discovery by E-Bike

Ålesund

Had to cancel due to a misunderstanding on the departure time.

Geraingerfjord Safari by RIB

Geiranger

Great views of Geiranger. Informative and entertaining ride.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

All the guides and tours were fantastic. Donna and I had no issues except more rain than needed and a boat cancellation. All in all, the trip was fantastic to match the scenery. We were especially happy to complete our trip in Oslo and the hotel room(Karl Johan) and location in Oslo were fantastic.

All the information was informative and accurate with the phone app.

Congrats to Alex and Nick for planning a wonderful experience.

Warm regards, Floyd and Donna Del Muro

While "amazing" is a very high bar, kimkim and our local specialist Mar definitely deserve a solid "very good" rating. Mar was highly responsive and provided useful insights into Norway. We appreciate that she was open to our suggestions to book Oslo and Bergen hotels that met our high standards. I love that kimkim's technology allowed us to see all communications and provided pictures and commentary about where we were going and a detailed itinerary.

What worked perfectly were all hotel, train, funicular and cruise bookings and drivers meeting us at the Oslo airport and our Kirkenes hotel. Bjorn, our excellent Oslo tour guide, was engaging and knowledgeable. We really liked our Bergen Food & Culture Walk and the King Crab Safari in Kirkenes.

As 2 members of our group of 4 have mobility issues, it was challenging to change in Myrdal to the Flam train and to negotiate the ferries between Flam and Balestrand and Balestrand to Bergen. Perhaps because our group has taken luxury cruises in the past, we were somewhat disappointed in the Havila cruise. That said, we recognize that Havila and Hurtigruten are the primary operators for coastal voyages, and I don't believe either are noted for fine dining and highly personalized service.

While not at the level of the "bespoke" trips we've taken in the past, we enjoyed working with Mar and appreciated her insights and suggestions and willingness to accept feedback. I have a feeling that kimkim's ideal client is a younger, more active traveler than our group of 74 to 80 year olds, but I would definitely consider kimkim for future travel.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Continental

Oslo

The Hotel Continental in Oslo was quite lovely and met our expectations for comfort and service.

Kviknes Hotel

Balestrand

The Kviknes Hotel in Balestrand was quite underwhelming. It felt like we were in the middle of nowhere, and the hotel itself wasn't impressive. The cappuccino I ordered was overpriced, and there seemed to be unnecessary charges for things that are usually complimentary in other hotels.

Amerikalinjen

Oslo

On every level, this is a standout hotel! To start, it's located a short walk from the Central Train Station, making it convenient for travel to/from the airport and other Norwegian cities. The staff is exceptional - helpful, knowledgeable and fluent in English. When I told the front desk person that we had to leave early to catch the 5:40 am train to the airport, she said the hotel would prepare a takeout breakfast for us. That breakfast included juice, fruit, cookies, a veggie bagel for me and a smoked salmon bagel for my husband, utensils and napkins. Our room had a comfortable king size bed and beautiful bathroom with large towels and bathrobes. As someone who has to go to the bathroom during the night, I so appreciated the light that goes on automatically under the sink. Breakfast is exceptional, with considerable variety and high quality choices. Lastly, we enjoyed drinks at the bar expertly prepared by a bartender who is actually a Greek doctor. If you want a superbly staffed and located hotel in Oslo, look no further than the Amerikalinjen.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

King Crab Safari

Kirkenes

The King Crab Safari in Kirkenes was a lot of fun. It was one of the highlights of our trip, offering a unique experience that we truly enjoyed.

From the very first glimpse, Norway's natural splendor and majestic landscapes, we were captivated. We were particularly awestruck by the thunderous waterfalls, plummeting hundreds of feet from snow-capped mountains into the icy fjords—a humbling display of nature's power. The grandeur of these sights will forever be etched in our memories.
The transportation arrangements were seamless, allowing us to fully immerse ourselves in the ever-changing scenery. The train journey offered unparalleled views, winding through some of the most beautiful landscapes on the planet. Equally memorable was the opportunity to bike along the Rallarvegen, a truly exhilarating way to experience the wild beauty of the region up close.
We were especially touched by the profound sense of place, feeling as though we stood in a valley carved by ancient forces, a testament to the myths and legends that permeate the Norwegian landscape. It was a journey that stimulated not only the senses but also the imagination.
While my own adventure concluded with a rather ungraceful dismount from my bike (a minor anecdote that only adds to the charm of the memory!), it did nothing to diminish the profound wonder and appreciation for this incredible trip.
We highly recommend this trip to anyone seeking an immersive encounter with some of the world's most spectacular natural beauty and rich cultural heritage.

Our consultant, Tom Christer, planned a remarkable trip for us. From start to finish, we travelled by bus, boat, train and car taking in Norway’s special grandeur of mountains, fjords and seascapes.
We arrived in time for National Day and thoroughly enjoyed being part of the celebration.
A real highlight was our time in the Lofoten Islands and then going up to Andenes. Puffins, sea eagles and orcas plus the scenic fishing villages provided daily delight.
I can’t say enough good things about Tom, who is so responsive and helpful.
I’ve travelled widely and this trip exceeded my expectations.

Hotel Reviews

Vangsgaarden Gjestgiveri

Aurland

A view to die for. Helpful staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Radisson Blu Airport Hotel, Oslo Gardemoen

Gardemoen

Great option for staying at the airport.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Proximity to airport.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Marmelkroken

Risøyhamn

A beautiful location with grand ocean views. Comfortable room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Skagakaia

Bø

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Svinøya Rorbuer

Svolvær

Beautiful location. Great food. Our two story cottage with a comfy living room was great.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Reine Rorbuer

Reine

The location and charm were perfect. Very good dining but I wish they would take whale meat off the menu.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Havet

Bodø

A good place to stay before heading to Lofoten. Hotel restaurant had an excellent server and quite good food.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Britannia Hotel

Trondheim

A truly grand old hotel. Famed for their breakfast buffet and rightly so.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Brosundet

Ålesund

Wonderful location, staff, food. All first rate.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grand Hotel Terminus

Bergen

Excellent location . Historic charm. Helpful staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Oslo Guldsmeden

Oslo

Absolutely charming. Excellent breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Summer Whale Watching in Andenes

Norway

Trollfjord & Eagle Boat Tour

Norway

Full Day Geiranger Fjord Cruise

Ålesund

Fjordcruise on UNESCO Nærøyfjord

Norway

We loved the entire country of Norway. It was a pleasure to have secured our hotels, train tickets, ferry tickets and two events (a dinner cruise and a kayaking expedition) . Kimkim provided excellent service and went out of their way to help me retrieve a wind jacket that I inadvertently left on a train; they were able to get it to the train station in my subsequent city. Amazing. They were very responsive to any questions we had and resolved everything quickly.

We loved the three cities: Oslo, Balestrand and Bergen. The train(s) and ferry ride to Balestrand were simply amazing scenery including going through some pretty deep snow (on the train). We truly fell in love with the peacefulness in Balestrand and hated to leave it. We even enjoyed a sauna and plunge into the fjord.

Bergen: I would not recommend the dinner cruise we took from Bergen; the boat ride through the fjord was beautiful, but the meal seemed interminable (4+ hours) and I felt the food was a letdown. The kayak trip was not through fjords but was no less beautiful; the guides made it fun and educational.

Hotel Reviews

Thon Hotel Cecil

Oslo

Good location to the waterfront and Opera House, plus the Eye of Oslo and restaurants.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Thon Hotel Opera

Oslo

Great location for walking everywhere. Our stay overlapped constitution day and it was a great place to be. Very convenient to the train station.

Authenticity & Character

Add more "Norway"

Location

Proximity to train station and many other sites

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grand Hotel Terminus

Bergen

3 stars from its website. Recently renovated. Amazing breakfast buffet and very helpful front desk staff. No AC but we didn't need it once we opened windows. Location is excellent.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Balestrand Hotel

Balestrand

This hotel was cozy and inviting. The walk to a nearby hotel for breakfast was no problem and the breakfast buffet was extensive. The view from our rooms was breathtaking as we could watch the moon rise over the snowcapped mountains and shining into the fjord all the while sitting comfortably on our balcony.

Authenticity & Character

It was not pretentious.

Location

It was easy to walk everywhere. It was high enough to have a magnificent view of the fjord.

Staff

They were all extremely friendly and sincere. None of them were Norwegian but all loved Norway and had great enthusiasm (and great English) for the area.

Cleanliness & Comfort

There is a lot of art work to admire on the walls, It is not super luxurious but we had not requested luxury. We would stay there again.

Activity Reviews

Fjord Cruise & Seafood Dining Experience

Bergen

We had no trouble locating the starting off place and enjoyed the cruise part very much. Personally, I would not recommend this experience because the meal seemed interminable. The food was interesting and was freshly prepared for each course, but it took 4 hours as we waited a long time between courses. It wasn't made clear that the welcome sparkling wine was not included. Selecting the wine flight that accompanied each course was an extra 100 USD just for 4 glasses of wine.

Quality of Experience

Food

Timing. Better explanation of each course.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided kayak tour

Bergen

The guides made this a wonderful experience. The day was beautiful and everyone on the trip enjoyed paddling around the islands.

Quality of Experience

Food

We were SO hungry when we got back! Everything tasted wonderful!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mar was great until we were unfortunately changed specialist. The issue we had was we relied on the specialist to plan things based on timing and organization. However, there were multiple times where I had to review the itinerary and make them aware that it was physically impossible to do all the excursions because of time.

For example - We were told we'd be leaving camp and would have time to do an activity before our dinner. Once looking at the full detailed itinerary, I noticed that we'd be getting back to town only 30 minutes before our dinner and would not have time for the activity. They took note of this and adjusted but it was still an inconvenience for me to have to look at all the details and correct the mistake. This included also KimKim attaching the wrong tickets for certain excursions.

The communication while on our trip was GREAT. At one point our coinlocker would not open and the team was very helpful in communicating with the driver that it was causing us to be a few minutes late. The tours and excursions recommended by KimKim were all fantastic and we had a wonderful time. It would just have been nice to have a specialist who took into consideration timing a little better.