Kimkim Trip Reviews for Norway

Overall we had a nice trip,

We were only disappointed by the room grades in some of the stays, they seemed secondary to what was available.
A few times when I asked to upgrade to better room the hotel staff told me this was not doable because of the booking grade that was made by Kimkim?

Mar was pretty much non communicative once the payment for the trip was made, and she never responded to my last message while on the trip?
Jacob on the other hand did an outstanding job at customer service and always responsive and available!

The first hotel drive from Oslo was extremely long (8 hours, 10 with rest stops and fueling ) I feel should be shortened since it was just driving not very scenic at all, or maybe train to Bergen from Oslo to begin the road trip would be a lot more relaxing ? ( electric vehicle charging proved to extremely difficult to get to work with American credit cards until finally the car rental company explained the situation) might want to alert your staff?

The silent cruise trip in Oslo was boring and the food quality was not great, I would eliminate this unless you are looking for a senior night out?

On the positive side overall hotel choices and locations were outstanding!

The itinerary itself was very nice and made for a wonderful trip

Thank you for the trip and we will give Kimkim another try for a upcoming trip I’ll just be more specific about the room locations.

Hotel Reviews

Radisson Blu Airport Hotel, Oslo Gardemoen

Gardemoen

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grand Hotel

ÅNDALSNES

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotell Utsikten

Geiranger

The best hotel of the stay- charm, Amazing views, great restaurant, and friendly staff!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Loenfjord hotel

Loen

Authenticity & Character

Pretty vanilla

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nice river view

Hofslund Fjorhotel

Sogndal

Terrible hot upper attic room that felt dated and weird!! Top attic floor rooms were extremely hot as well! Couldn’t wait to leave

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Not very flexible about room change, I feel they very pretty much rude , I also noticed other guests complained about some conditions

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Aurlandsfjord

Aurland

Great food, we had an attic room that was very hot and with a view of the backyard with a house overlooking you, nice hotel but only if you have the lake view!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Det Hanseatiske Hotel

Bergen

Wonderful and outstanding location

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Victoria

Stavanger

Horrible room condition initially with views of a construction site that started working very early

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Christiania Teater

Oslo

Loved it!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Romsdalsgondolen - Romsdalen Cable Car (round-trip)

Åndalsnes

Short and sweet! Nice hike ontop

Quality of Experience

Transport

Geiranger Skywalk Visit

Geiranger

Quality of Experience

Geraingerfjord Safari by RIB

Geiranger

Fun !

Quality of Experience

Faster!!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cider Tasting with Food Pairing

Balestrand

Quality of Experience

Food

Amazing

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Summer Kayaking Excursion

Norway

Did not provide supports for seating so whole time your back is being dug into by rim of kayak, at least three people were complaining and guide never took breaks. Very uncomfortable experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Equipment

Transport

Na

Flåm Railway Round-Trip Experience

Flåm

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Floating Sauna Experience

Norway

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Food & Culture Walk

Bergen

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Preikestolen cruise & hike - Summer

Stavanger

Outstanding

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Oslofjord Dinner Cruise

Oslo

Boring and couldn’t wait to get off!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Alex did a fabulous job and had been to the places he recommended so he could give inside info. Loved this trip!!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Victoria

Stavanger

Loved this classic beautiful elegant hotel right on the water!

Authenticity & Character

Lovely old beautiful hotel

Location

Right on water, watched boats come and go from window, walkable to museums and food

Staff

Front desk lady was lovely

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nice bedding!

Hotel Norge by Scandic

Bergen

Oh my word we loved this nice hotel with a view of the Ferris wheel and garden and the location was fantastic- we walked everywhere and saw so much! We walked to the fish market and wharf and around the beautiful lake and gardens as well as to the floyen funicular which is a must! But- one of my favorite things about this hotel is the breakfast buffet, 3 rooms of food- it was spectacular! I would stay here over and over again, and the rooms were spacious too!

Authenticity & Character

Loved it

Location

Amazing

Staff

Friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Spacious plus amazing buffet

Activity Reviews

Depart Norway

Norway

Prompt reliable transport

Quality of Experience

Sør-Hidle Island Gardens Visit & Dinner

Stavanger

Wow!! A must see for anyone remotely interested in gardening and landscape- can’t believe these are all annuals! Loved the gardens and the dinner was great too. What an amazing story

Quality of Experience

Loved these gardens so much!

Food

Beautiful tasty dinner

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lysefjord Safari by RIB

Stavanger

This was a fun couple hours but the view is much better from the top 🤩

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Preikestolen Hidden Trail Hike & Canoeing Adventure

Stavanger

OMG the highlight of the entire trip! We did the hidden trail tour with guide that included canoeing and although it was longer we did not see ONE other person on the hike! We joined the main trail for last mile and that was a steady stream of people so less enjoyable. The hike was challenging at a few points (scrambling up rocks) and was about 6 hrs total but the VIEW! One of top 3 hikes in world that we have ever done

Quality of Experience

Stephen was amazing

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Stavanger like a Local

Stavanger

Fabulous location of hotel, walkable to all activities

Quality of Experience

The canning museum was actually pretty interesting

Fjord Cruise to Rosendal

Bergen

Nice day trip, we hiked to the waterfall! Hiked through pastures of sheep, was delightful. Steep hills at times during hike that were good workout for cardio (not leisurely easy stroll at times)

Quality of Experience

Explore Bergen

Bergen

Went on funicular to floyen, explored area, hiked up mt ulrichen

Quality of Experience

Quality of Experience

Great hotel choices, memorable activities, and good pacing with some busy days and some very relaxing days.

Highly recommend kimkim for their personalised trip planning service, as you get to collaborate on accommodation options, activities, transport and destinations. Krista offered recommendations/suggestions and I was able to tweak the itinerary to my liking! Fenne from the booking team was fabulous as everything was booked accurately, and logistics wise, all ran smoothly. Understandably there was one hiccup, the 9am Naeroyfjord cruise got cancelled last minute on the morning of (we only found out when we arrived at the wharf). It was cancelled due to operational issues - being an electric boat there was a mechanical issue, however the booking team worked their magic and simply rebooked us on the 5pm cruise later that day (luckily it was fixed by then)!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Victoria

Stavanger

Hands down best accom in my itinerary, the best buffet breakfast - so much variety, and in the best location!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Trolltunga Hotel

Odda

The only confusing thing was trying to figure out how to turn the tv on (its not as straightforward/easy). We thought the tv didn't work at first, and had to get staff into the room to show us! My only suggestion is in the future, for staff to point this out and show guests! The positives - gorgeous location, boutique style decor and the most friendly happy waitress at the restaurant!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Just be mindful there is no airconditioning if that is something you expect. However opening the window for the natural breeze is fine when you're out most of the day anyway, and only return when its cooler later in the evening.

Wangen Apartments by Fjord Resort

Aurland

Super clean, new apartments, with lux furnishings and fjord views

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hardangerfjord RIB Safari & Dinner Experience

Norway

Hardangerfjord RIB Safari was more like a transport option, to get you to the Siderhuset Ola K restaurant - just don't expect a tour with detailed commentary! Its a fun, fast option to speed your way to your dinner destination. The restaurant's food and ciders were amazing.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lysefjord Safari by RIB

Stavanger

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-Day Summer Hike to Trolltunga

Norway

Just be wiling to wait up to 2 hours as there is a longgg line for the trolltunga photo!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kjerag Hike with Lunch

Stavanger

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Njardarheimr Viking Village Day Trip with Nærøyfjord Cruise & Bus Transfer

Norway

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Flåm Railway, Zipline & Cycling Adventure

Norway

Dont do the return flam railway, do this option instead - blown away by the scenery when you get to cycle at your own pace down the valley back to Flam. This option gives you a good variety, an experience from all angles!

Quality of Experience

Kristina was fantastic to work with! We bounced ideas and thoughts aback and forth and she came back with an itinerary that met 100% of our expectations…. Even more importantly, it provided us an amazing experience during our trip. Her suggestions for activities were outstanding and provided us alternatives to work around weather or time of day. Her app recommendations for EV network, parking, etc etc. made the trip seamless. Jacob supported with all of the bookings and prearranged activities - hotels were incredible, the activities were built around missing the “cruise ship crowds”, and as I mentioned earlier - proved to be seamless in execution during our trip. We worked with them to stay 2 nights in each hotel/location which was perfect for blending hiking, activities, and relaxation. The room selection/class was top notch.

Overall - first time user of Kimkim… didn’t disappoint and will certainly use them for future trips!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Brosundet

Ålesund

Old whse converted to boutique family owned hotel…. AAA+++. Rooms were comfortable & well appointed. The staff was incredibly friendly, helpful, and there to meet any need or question. Great location to explore Alesund

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right on canal, easy walking to all the attractions, activities, restaurants

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Alexandra

Gorgeous facility, restaurant was excellent, views were stunning - highly recommended upgrading to the deluxe 7 rooms (a little extra cost, but worth every penny)

Authenticity & Character

Location

Views of the fjord and valley were incredible

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clarion Hotel Admiral

Bergen

Stately hotel right on the harbor across from Bryggen. Bed was amazingly comfortable, service was great. Well positioned to hit all that Bergen has to offer

Authenticity & Character

Location

Directly across from Bryggen

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Flåm Railway & Cycling Adventure

Norway

It was amazing … what topped it off was there was not a cruise ship in Flam when we did the train, hike, & bike

Quality of Experience

Views, quality of bikes,

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Limited interaction with people… pretty much on your on pace and pleasure. The bike pick up was easy and efficient.

Transport

We had a wonderful trip to Norway! Krista was a fabulous trip planner, who helped us figure out a great itinerary, and made really helpful suggestions. It would have been very time-consuming and complicated for us to book all our transportation, activity vouchers, and hotels ourselves. Krista, and the Booking Team, made it easy for us, and everything went off very smoothly. We're happy to recommend KimKim and Krista!

Activity Review

Stegastein Viewpoint by Bus

Norway

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Katie did a fantastic job of organizing and coordinating our trip -if we could give more than a 5 star rating, we would! In the past we have planned trips on our own -Australia (trips to Tasmania and to the main island), New Zealand, Canada, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, and England, but we could never have managed as complex of an literary as this in a non-English speaking country without Katie's expertise, guidance, and attention to detail. She listened, she heard us, and planned accordingly and created a custom experience we will never forget.

Every new place we visited seemed to be our favorite, but we think Geiranger will be the place we remember most fondly for its amazing beauty, raging waterfalls, fine dining, and views of the fjord.

If we ever return, we would choose Katie again. She has our lasting gratitude for a wonderful trip and for taking such good care of us!

We had a wonderful vacation! Our daughter commented several times that this was her favorite trip. All of the accommodations that were reserved for us were great and in ideal locations where we were able to easily walk to everything we wanted to see and do. All of our transportation connections between our different stops were seamless and the instructions and maps provided made it easy to make those connections. Katie’s communication and assistance along the way was awesome and very helpful. We would definitely recommend Katie to others as a travel specialist to use when planning trips. Thank you for everything!

This was our first experience with Kim Kim and we were delighted with the results. The process of working with them to envision our dream trip was fun and engaging and Krista and Fenne were excellent to work and very responsive. We had a wonderful experience and they picked a great mix of activities. We loved the areas we visited and the hotels they picked were fabulous, especially the Kviknis in Balestrand and the view at Wanger Apts was incredible. We especially liked the hotels, the kayaking, the fjord and glacier tours and the sauna experience. ETours private tour to Stegastein Viewpoint and Stave Church was awesome. Aurland was a great place to stay also and so nice to get away from the often crowded hustle and bustle of Flam. Highly recommend the Aegis Brewery. in Flam for dinner The day trip to Rosendal was amazing (check out the Stone Park) and I would have liked to spend a night or at least more time there. Beautiful. When we had a cancelled fjord tour due to the breakdown of the electric boat and 450 people suddenly were in Flam trying to change plans! KimKim staff handled the crisis and were super responsive for us via WhatsAp to solve our problems. Overall, it was a nicely designed itinerary with a good mix of things but not too hectic or overbooked. We will consider using Kim Kim again!

While not knowing the cost of individual aspects of the trip is a "calming notion", it would be preferable to have a more detailed cost breakdown provided so we could chose between some activities. For example, the boat ride and gourmet meal to the Cornelious seafood restaurant was very over hyped and the food was not that great but I have a feeling it was very expensive.

Hotel Reviews

Det Hanseatiske Hotel

Bergen

Very nice hotel with amazing staff, incredible breakfast and a great location. Can be a bit noisy at night.

Authenticity & Character

Wish the rooms were a bit more historic in nature.

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kviknes Hotel

Balestrand

This is an absolutely beautiful old historic grant hotel. Views and staff are amazing. Decent comfortable rooms but nothing fancy. If you miss the buffet dinner you are really missing something.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Needed a fan for the room. West facing was kind of stuffy

Wangen Apartments by Fjord Resort

Aurland

Very nice accomodations and the view from the apt was impossible to beat. They really need better signage though for the new part. We spent over 30 min trying to figure out where we were going when we arrived and we helped direct numerous others during our stay who were very confused and wandering about after reception had closed..

Authenticity & Character

Location

Quiet beautiful town with convenient restaurant, coffee shop, grocery, etc.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Fjærlandsfjord Cruise & Bøyabreen Glacier Visit

Balestrand

This was an incredible trip on a small boat. It was a little bit crowded on the boat but still highly comfortable. The trip was very well run and we had just the right amount of time to spend. The Glacier trip and museum were awesome.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Summer Kayaking Excursion

Norway

Very nice paddle with a delightful guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tour to Borgund Stave Church & Stegastein Viewpoint

Norway

ETours were great and we had a great fun local guide from Aurland. These are not to be missed activities. The drive over the summit above tree line was an unexpected treat.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Floating Sauna Experience

Norway

Beautiful sauna and with a dip in the fjord, it was a once in a lifetime experience. Highly recommend Aurland for this. The view is spectacular!

Quality of Experience

Round Trip Fjord Cruise & Bus Transfer via Gudvangen

Norway

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Electric boat is incredible way to see the fjord.

Fjord Cruise & Seafood Dining Experience

Bergen

I thought this was over hyped and the food was not that great. Each of the 5 courses seemed to be more focused on artful presentation rather than taste. It also was a very long dining experience over 3+ hours to finish when it would have been nicer to relax with a drink and enjoy some of the location.

Quality of Experience

Food and efficiency

Food

Lacking in taste and quantity and highly overpriced.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a phenomenal trip to the Lofoton Islands! I don't usually work with travel agents to plan trips, but I am so glad that I found KimKim and Alex and Nick. Alex had traveled there extensively and he listened carefully to the kind of trip we wanted and made perfect suggestions. He figured out quickly that we would prefer rorbuers to traditional hotels and they were perfect. Our 16 year old grandson brought his fishing rod and would fish until midnight after returning from our day's activities. We even spotted a pod of orcas on our midnight sun kayak tour. Our transportation worked like clockwork and when our flight was delayed the travel agent was in touch to let us know. If you had a question, KimKim would get back to you immediately. I would not hesitate to use them again. Their personalization and responsiveness were truly outstanding. You work with a real person who knows the location well and not an AI bot. Thank you KimKim, Alex and Nick for a fabulous trip.

Hotel Reviews

Clarion Hotel Bergen Airport Terminal

Bergen

Perfect place to stay if you have an early morning flight! Restaurant was great and it couldn't have been easier to walk to the airport.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sakrisøy Rorbuer

Reine

This was charming. I loved being in Sakrisoy, but only minutes from Reine which is a more touristy town. Anita's was right across the street and we ate there twice. Don't miss the cod burger! We loved the quietness of Sakisroy yet we were less than 10 minutes from Reine where we met our guide for our midnight kayak adventure. It's a perfect location to explore the southern part of the Lofotons, do the Reinebringen Hike, hire a fishing guide in A or do other hikes in the area. If you have forgotten any outdoor gear, there is a good shop in Reine.

Authenticity & Character

You felt like you were truly in a fisherman's cabin. Loved the ambiance and decor.

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds were super comfortable!

Grand Hotel Terminus

Bergen

Loved the location and the architectural details from the early part of the 20th century. It was an easy walk to the fish market, funicular and you were right across the street from the train station. There was a wonderful restaurant in the hotel, but you were within walking distance to many fabulous places to eat.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Trollfjord Cruise by Electric Boat

Svolvær

Not only will you travel down a beautiful fjord with waterfalls, but you will see sea eagles up close and personal. You glide along silently as you enjoy the mountains and wildlife.

Midnight Sun Kayaking Excursion

Reine

Monica was a terrific guide and the change in light on the mountains was magical! We were lucky in that we spotted a pod of orcas which Monica said was unusual. This is a trip for beginners to experienced kayakers.

Fjord Cruise to Rosendal

Bergen

It was wonderful to be on the water, but this is not one of the narrow fjord cruises. We loved getting to Rosendal and hiking to the waterfall. We had a wonderful lunch at Gjoa and caught the boat back to Bergen.

Fløibanen Funicular Ticket

Bergen

This is a must do especially on a clear day! We did not explore the hiking trails, but you could spend hours up here. We particularly loved the cashmere goats who keep the area trimmed up. This would be a great place to sit, have a drink and gaze at the Bergen harbor and the mountain. Get one of the adirondack chairs and enjoy the view.

Quality of Experience

An amazing 10 day road trip up the stunning Norwegian scenic coastal route - Trondheim to Bodo. Tom chose some fabulous, out-of-the-way places for us to go which were would never have found on our own! Each stop was different and unique in its own way. Vega was a real highlight - both the natural beauty, the activities to do and the amazing accomodation (and fabulous dinner suggested by Tom!) The whole process of planning and booking the trip was super easy, and our guide, Tom, continued to check in with us along the route, making the whole experience feel personal and well-curated. Thankyou so much Tom and the Kim Kim team for a fabulous adventure. :)

Hotel Review

Vega Havhotell

Vega

Gorgeous hotel! Very peaceful and private, in a good location, with good facilities like kayaks etc. The 5 course dinner was a spectacular bonus which we didnt expect in such a remote beautiful place. Would highly recommend.

Authenticity & Character

Loved the grass on the roof.

Location

Quiet and peaceful

Staff

Very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Spacious room overlooking the pond with our own deck chairs.

Activity Review

Træna Sauna

Træna

Great to be able to have an authentic sauna in this gorgeous location. Helps having a great pub right next door too! 😁

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Norway and Sweden are both fabulous travel destinations and the trip we planned with Julia's assistance was absolutely wonderful! Despite having a great time in both countries, I regret that, aside from Julia, who was a delight to work with, our experience with Kimkim was less than positive. At times it was extremely frustrating, not to mention that the service you provide is quite expensive and more time-consuming than if we had booked the entire vacation on our own.

First and foremost, I disagree with your business philosophy. Julia was wonderful. I gave her clear cut direction regarding the vacation experience I wanted, and she provided me with guidance and advice as to how my expectations could easily be achieved. Based on how well we worked together, I asked her to give me a quote, which she did. The price was high, much higher than I expected. I then took the time to price the trip myself, and discovered that Kimkim's mark-up was approximately 20-25% higher than if I booked everything on my own. Yet, I wanted to work with Julia. I felt she put time and effort into planning our vacation. I wanted her to get some remuneration, so I asked her to provide a quote, just for the transfers and tours, to which she agreed.

Even though it was still high, I accepted the revised quote because I wanted Julia to get credit for the booking. Then after paying a non-refundable deposit, Julia told me that she only worked as a travel planner. Since the planning process was now complete, one of her colleagues , a woman named Fenne, was now in charge of booking our trip. After a brief introduction, I never heard from Fenne again.

Five months later a new person, Jacob, pops up in the chat. He told me he was taking over for Fenne. Frankly, at this time I was somewhat worried that over five months had elapsed since my last conversation with Julia, and I had yet to hear from anyone at Kimkim confirming that our tours and transfers had been booked. I was concerned that we wouldn’t be able to obtain the tour guides we previously had requested from Julia, despite having paid a deposit months earlier. Unfortunately, this delay created some problems. In both Oslo and Stockholm, the most knowledgeable and professional tour guides had already been booked.

In Oslo, Jacob booked a private guide for us. Her name was Ana Maria. Abby and I have visited more than 60 countries in the world. Never have we ever experienced a guide who was so incompetent. First of all, we never asked for a private guide. A group tour would have been fine. Secondly, Ana Maria was not Norwegian. She was an unemployed free-lance publisher from Columbia, South America who had lived in Norway for less than two years; only because her husband got a job in Oslo.

Our tour documents said we should meet Ana Maria at Jembanetorget, but we couldn’t find her phone number on the voucher. Jembanetorget is a main square in Oslo with lots of people milling around. Another tour guide was standing at the tiger statue holding a sign up for a walking tour, but our name wasn’t on his list. He phoned Oslo Walking tours on our behalf and was told that the meeting place was Oslo’s National Theater. Since we didn’t have time to walk there, he was kind of enough to ask us to join his tour, which we did. Ten minutes into the tour, my phone rang. It was Ana Maria calling to find out where we were. As things turned out, she had been at Jembanetorget all along, but she didn’t carry a sign with our name on it, so we could find her. BIG MISTAKE! We finally connected at the Oslo Opera House.

While Ana Maria is a lovely lady, she was the worst tour guide I ever had. She had no plan regarding what we should see, nor did she have any experience other than referring to a guidebook and then reciting what she had read, back to us. Fortunately, we were able to see the Opera House as well as Oslo’s new library right next door, but nothing else. As our travel agent, Kimkim made absolutely no effort to use tour guides with five-star reviews from other travelers. They simply subcontracted all of our tours to Nord DMC or to some other some other Destination Management company.

We also never requested a private tour guide in Oslo, especially a guide as inexperienced as Ana Maria. In our case, a group tour would have been far preferable. I blame this solely on Kimkim, as we were traveling during the peak season, and Kimkim waited five months before starting the booking process. Our tour guide in Stockholm, who also was booked through Nord DMC, was equally incompetent. I believe his name was Daniel, but I’m not sure.

There were two reasons for my dissatisfaction with the Stockholm guide. First and foremost, he was not as prepared nor was he as thorough as other tour guides who we observed walking a group of tourists through the Old City to the same sites. Other guides spent 2-3 times longer at each site than our guide and the information he dispensed was superficial at best. The other guides also provided their visitors with an audio headset to block out street noise so visitors, who were not standing right next to them, could hear every word they had to say. Our guide also seemed to be more interested in talking about us, who we were and where we came from, as opposed to engaging in an in-depth conversation regarding the history of Sweden and Stockholm in particular.

Unlike Visby and Bergen where we did have excellent guides, our guides in both Oslo and Stockholm were a total disappointment. Visby, on the other hand, was fantastic! But, I think this may have been a stroke of luck! Our guide’s name was Ronny Larsson, a retired Swedish Army Colonel, who commanded the last regiment on Gotland Island, before it was disbanded in 2005. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide. Not only was Ronny "au currant" on foreign affairs and Sweden’s current role in NATO, he also was a fountain of information about the historic role of the Hanseatic League during the medieval period, when Gotland’s many churches were being constructed. We had a great time with Ronny during the two days we spent together touring Visby as well as the surrounding north island vicinity.

However, the reason I say Ronny was a “stroke of luck” is I don’t think Kimkim had anything to do with assigning him to us. The reason I say this is according to Kimkim’s trip plan and tour documentation, Gunilla Laustrøm was assigned as our guide for both tours. Ronny Larsson was a last-minute substitution. We just lucked out!

While overall, we had a wonderful experience touring Scandinavia, I can’t really say that our experience with Kimkim measured up. At the beginning of my review, I said that I disagreed with your business philosophy, namely, having a person other than the trip planner with whom you were used to working, book our tours. The booking person, in our case Jacob, had no idea as to our likes, dislikes and travel interests. He simply dumped our tour requests over to a Destination Management Company, Nord DMC, and let a third party do the heavy lifting. Then Nord DMC selected various tour operators located in each city visited to assign our guides. (i.e. Oslo - Fjord Tours, Oslo Walking tours; Balestrand – Glacier Tours; Bergen – I Love Bergen Walking Tours; Visby – Gotland Guide Service; Stockholm – Tours of Stockholm)

I was under the impression that Kimkim would book our guides directly, based on the information I previously had given to Julia. Obviously, this was not the case. For this reason, I cannot give Kimkim a five-star review. Aside from the information Julia provided while we were planning our trip, I don’t see any added benefit to using Kimkim as a travel agent. I also suspect that Julia Mattos is actually an employee of Nord DMC, and not Kimkim. Julia lives in Kristiansand, a city in southern Norway where Nord DMC has their home office. However, this could just be a coincidence.

Kimkim is also not the first time Abby, and I have used an online travel agent. Last year we booked a 4-week safari vacation, visiting three countries in Africa: Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana. The agency we used was “go2africa”, one of Africa’s leading safari destination companies. Our travel arrangements were extremely complex, involving multiple countries, hotels, plus internal flights between six different safari camps using scheduled plus non-scheduled private airlines where we were the only passengers. Our entire vacation was booked electronically, and all services were personally handled by “go2africa” employees. Nothing was subcontracted as is the case with Kimkim. Similar to our Scandinavian trip, this also was an unescorted private tour. I think Kimkim could learn a lot from them.

Sincerely,

Jim Brown and Abby Everson

Activity Reviews

Stockholm Archipelago Tour with Guide

Stockholm

The scenery was gorgeous. I was under the impression that lunch was included when we booked this tour. Other passengers had lunch. We didn't. Big disappointment! I thought we paid for lunch.

Quality of Experience

Transport

We booked this because it was a luncheon cruise. Somehow Kimkim dropped the ball regarding this. That's a problem when you have someone other than a travel planner book your itinerary.

Walking Tour Stockholm

Stockholm

Our tour guide was not very knowledgeable regarding the sites we visited.

Quality of Experience

Provide headsets to all participants

Welcome to Visby

Visby

Excellent transfer. Our driver was a retired Olympic athlete.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Tour of Gotland

Visby

Ronny Larsson was our guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walking Tour of Visby

Visby

Ronny Larsson was one of the best guides we have ever had.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Past & Present City Walk

Bergen

Excellent tour guide but too many people were booked on the tour. Future tours should be limited to 15 passengers, maximum. As a tour guide we had in Amsterdam once said, "any tour over 15 people is not a tour; it's a parade. Headsets should also be provided, so you can enjoy the experience without being immediately next to the guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The tour guides knowledge, what I could hear of it.

Fjærlandsfjord Cruise & Bøyabreen Glacier Visit

Balestrand

This was an excellent tour but should be expanded to a full-day program. We didn't have enough time to thoroughly explore the Glacier Museum and also see the film.

Quality of Experience

You don't get to see a glacier in most parts of the world. However, you need a full day to really make this tour worthwhile.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was more of an escort than a knowledgeable guide.

Transport

The boat to the glacier could have more amenities.

Grand Tour and Fjord Cruise

Oslo

Our tour guide was excellent. We especially enjoyed our stops at both the Fram museum as well as the Norsk Folk Museum. However, the downside was traveling on a bus with a large group of cruise passengers having so many people on the bus, not only slowed things down, it made it impossible to hear the tour guide where we did stop unless we stood right next to her which was not always possible. Vigeland Park is a perfect example. Our guide had lots of interesting information to convey, but because of the size of the group, most of the time we couldn't hear her. Knowing our interests, Kimkim should have recommended we take a private tour instead of booking us on a bus tour where the majority of passengers were part of a cruise shore excursion. We also lost half an hour picking up passengers at the port of Oslo. The fjord cruise portion of the tour was a complete waste of time. A recorded explanation of all the sites we passed was not what we expected. This was a big disappointment compared to the Archipelago Cruise we took in Stockholm.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Knowledgeable and interesting guide. With a group this large, headsets should have been provided.

Transport

Get rid of the cruise passengers. Charge more and use a small van. Delete the fjord cruise and spend more time at the Folk Museum as well as the Fram museum.

Essential Oslo Walking Tour

Oslo

Ana Maria, our so-called private tour guide which we never requested was the most unknowledgeable guide I have ever experienced. (see my general write up for more detailed information.

Quality of Experience

Our Walking Tour Guide was a complete waste of time.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ana Maria, our guide, added absolutely nothing to our experience in Oslo.

Our initial KimKim contact, Kadri, was extremely knowledgeable and amazingly responsive to our general Scandinavia trip interests. With just a bit of feedback, Kadri quickly proposed our ideal trip at a fair price.

Our KimKim itinerary, easily accessible online, was comprehensive - photos, descriptions, pre-booked tickets and reference numbers. A true one-stop shop. We were extremely pleased to encounter no disconnects as we dealt with multiple trains, ferries, and hotels while on our trip.

KimKim offers ongoing support during trips. We encountered one unexpected issue (a potential industrial action in Finland disrupting air travel) that appeared to require us force us to change our itinerary. Our only small complaint with KimKim is that they were not particularly was proactive by text or WhatsApp in sharing details on how they were handling this issue over the course of a few days. However, they were extremely responsive and courteous when contacted by phone - they knew instantly who we were and why we were calling.

Hopefully KimKim can improve in this one area of written in-trip communications. Otherwise, they are a dream to work with. We definitely plan to use KimKim on our next trip.

Hotel Review

Kviknes Hotel

Balestrand

Gorgeous hotel with breathtaking views. Fully lives up to its reputation.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Visit Löyly Sauna

Helsinki

Authentic sauna experience. Highly recommended.

Anna was so helpful and communicative in planning my trip. Usually, I plan all of my own travel, but this trip included my mother and was during a pretty busy time of year for me, so the help was invaluable and Anna was incredibly easy (and kind!) to work with.

Excellent trip to Norway. Alex and team made everything easy for us, including rescheduling at the last minute to account for a canceled flight. Kayaking the fjord and seeing the glacier from the train were a highlight.

Hotel Review

Bergen Børs Hotel

Bergen

Lovely old building in the center of Bergen. Large and modern rooms. Excellent restaurant.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Fjord Cruise to Rosendal

Bergen

Fast and modern boat. Great view the whole way. I’d recommend taking a jacket if you want to sit outside on the boat. Even on a warm day it’s cool in the breeze.

Quality of Experience

Summer Kayaking Excursion

Norway

We were lucky enough to be the only folks on the tour the afternoon we did it. The guide let us take as slow or as fast as we wanted to and was very knowledgeable about the fjord and answered all my kids questions!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Self-Guided Hike to Brekkefossen

Flåm

It’s only an hour round trip from Flåm if you walk at a decent pace. The uphill piece is no joke with 697 steps to the viewing point but worth the effort.

Quality of Experience

Family adventure Norway!! From Oslo to 20+miles above the Arctic circle in Lofoten islands . Katie at Kim Kim took our research and worked out a fantastic game plan. We needed help - never been to Norway. It was amazing !! Katie had great recommendations for hotels and sightseeing. We were rarely in one spot for more than 1 night and she booked trains , overnight boat etc. From oslo to Flåm/ Bergen/alesund to fijords, pristine Arctic beaches & jaw dropping waterfalls . And the food!!! Norways amazing! Explord with KimKim help !

Hotel Reviews

Hotell Bondeheimen

Oslo

Most comfortable bed, great central location, no air conditioning if there in July it was Hot(30). If open windows loud motor cycles zooming past . Apart from that outstanding

Authenticity & Character

Historic hotel.

Location

Very short walk to paradox museum and other shops cafe etc

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Reine Rorbuer

Reine

It was a dream come true ! Had the 3 bedroom cabin right on the water. Incredible views of midnight sun lighting over harbour and jagged cliffs . Didn’t want to leave. Bring your own shampoo/soap etc it’s like glamping with the best view on the planet! People speak enough English to get by.. easy if self driving

Authenticity & Character

Just like in photo but better!!

Location

Incredible views. Comfy beds, cafe onsite

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very comfortable beds good black out curtains

Quality Hotel Ålesund

Ålesund

One of top 2 hotel/accommodation of the 2 week trip !! Go stay here!!!!!! Gorgeous hotel, loved it . Right beside water. Central to shops and via ferrata

Authenticity & Character

Loved the style and location on water and easy for shops

Location

Easy walk from where overnight ferry dropped us beautiful outdoor deck and tables/seats

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bed so nice. I room Fridge in 2 rooms not working

MS Havila Polaris

Fosnavåg

Had inside cabins with bunk beds .. rooms were well thought out even though very small . Dinner was excellent We only stayed on overnight so didn’t get full experience. Hot tub was nice but only 1 of 2 working when onboard.

Authenticity & Character

Nice seating areas

Location

Donate when arrive by cab could be better

Staff

Helpful for minor in room issues

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grand Hotel Terminus

Bergen

Loved being so central to trains but without downtown noises if window open .

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Comfy bed zero noise at night

Hotel Aurlandsfjord

Aurland

Loved the older charm of the place, great spot away from crowds. Authentic food . Only negative is 2 floors and no elevator if have mobility issues

Authenticity & Character

Small intimate and comfortable

Location

Gorgeous tiny town and real character with wood building.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Thon Hotel Opera

Oslo

Great central location, sorry we didn’t have a second night there to take full advantage.

Authenticity & Character

Cool decor, quiet

Location

Easy to get to food within walking distance. Close to train cool decor

Staff

Very nice front desk when jet lagged Easy check-in/out

Cleanliness & Comfort

Comfortable bed

Activity Reviews

Flåm Zipline

Norway

My Husband, 18 and 20 yr old did it and loved it. Zipline is fast but you are in a seated harness - fun going over the valley. Did bike down after

Quality of Experience

Unique beautiful bike down approx 2 hrs biking

Flåm Railway: Flåm - Myrdal

Norway

Gorgeous train route . Valleys/waterfalls rushing streams

Quality of Experience

So pretty

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Train leaves on time! Great relaxed way to travel

Full Day Geiranger Fjord Cruise

Ålesund

Do Not miss this. Well worth every penny. Incredible day out on the water so many waterfalls. Great views all Ali g not just 7 sisters falls.

Quality of Experience

Just stunning huge cliffs coming right into water. Mountains in distance .

Guides, Drivers and Staff

M

Transport

Lots of seating windows if inside

Visit Stegastein Viewpoint

Norway

So easy to get to and simply stunning views. Our 18-20 yr old kids loved it too.

Quality of Experience

We had a clear day and views of fijords breathtaking. I have a bad knee and was able to manage easily

Guides, Drivers and Staff

On time good safe driver

Transport

Pu from 5 min walk from our little hotel

We loved our trip to Norway - Oslo, Flam, Bergen, Alesund, and then our add on to the Lofoten Islands. Alex did a great job laying out an itinerary that took into account all the things we wanted to see. He provided alternative suggestions when my ideas weren't the most practical and was open to feedback about our preferences. All our lodging was top-notch and conveniently located. The trip logistics couldn't have gone any smoother.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Brosundet

Ålesund

Another perfectly located hotel, with lots of charm. The large gas fireplace in the center of the lobby, surrounded by lots of comfy couches and chairs, couldn't have been more welcoming. This hotel was just a 10 minute walk from where we met the day long fjord cruise to Geiranger trip and 15 minute walk from the Aksla trail.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Det Hanseatiske Hotel

Bergen

This hotel was perfectly located in Bergen! Just a stones throw away from the famous Bryggen buildings. While we loved the location and being on the upper floor, the one downside was we had to carry our luggage up one extra flight of stairs for our "attic" room. The room was spacious, with a HUGE bathroom - which had both a shower and a tub.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Heimly Pensjonat

Flåm

We had a fabulous view of the fjord from our room at this simple but welcoming and low key hotel where dinner is included as part of the stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fretheim Hotel

Flåm

Right in the heart of Flam, this hotel feels grand but in a low key accessible way. The room was purposely designed to feel old, including a claw foot tub. Great breakfast too.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Karl Johan Hotel

Oslo

This hotel is in the PERFECT location to explore Oslo. The rooms are modern and reasonably sized. Their Norwegian breakfast was one of the best of our trip.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Hop, skip and a jump away from everything.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Geirangerfjord Cruise & Day Trip

Norway

The day trip to Geiranger turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip. Not only was it a sunny day which made for extra special views of the fjord, one of the crew on the cruise was very friendly and shared helpful information throughout the journey, from the history of individual villages or homes we passed along the way, to things to do once we got to Geiranger, including to rent a mini Geiranger electric car, which had a GPS inside to direct you to a fabulous overlook just 15 minutes away. Once we got to the overlook for our perfect top of a fjord picture, we hiked a short bit in along a marked path and quickly got a way from most of the other tourists. We also enjoyed lunch and an ice-cream in town.

Quality of Experience

Walk up to Aksla Viewpoint

Ålesund

Enjoyed our walk up to the viewpoint. Great views of the city.

Quality of Experience

Fløibanen Funicular Ticket

Bergen

Great way to get to the top of Mount Floyen! Fun seeing the goats grazing amongst the visitors. We walked down on our own, which was fun but it does take a while to traverse all those switchbacks!

Quality of Experience

Explore Bergen

Bergen

Throughly enjoyed exploring Bergen on our own. We made it to the Fantoft Stave Church, which I'd recommend.

Quality of Experience

Ægir Viking Meal Experience

Flåm

This meal exceeded our expectations! Not only was the food very tasty and the beers perfectly matched, the atmosphere was fun and lively. We are not beer drinkers but couldn't believe how well each beer went with the corresponding dish.

Quality of Experience

Summer Kayaking Excursion

Norway

This was the one activity of the trip that I would definitely skip. There was nothing wrong with the excursion. The vendor did a fine job. But since we got to see the fjord from the water two other times as part of the RIB excursion later that day and then the next day from the "Norway in a Nutshell" ferry, I would have rather used that half day to go to the famous Stegastein overlook, walk to the Flam church, or go on another hike.

Quality of Experience

Not worth the time. Do something else instead.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Explore Flåm

Flåm

Enjoyed walking around and exploring Flam, including a hike to the nearby falls. That was a highlight.

Quality of Experience

Full-Day Private City Excursion

Oslo

Our guide and driver helped create a convenient and efficient way to learn about and see Oslo.

Quality of Experience

Would have rated it a 5 but felt a little rushed.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Oslo

Oslo

Loved having a half day of free time once we arrived to explore the city on our own.

Quality of Experience

Krista put together a fabulous itinerary for our family! We enjoyed the range of activities, locations we visited. We enjoyed the variety of transportation modes from train to ferry, to bus. The entire process was easy, our itinerary was clear, and we had backup suggestions at each location.
The Norway in a Nutshell tour was especially wonderful, because it included a leisurely pace from Voss to Gudvangen to Flam, and glorious views while on the fjord cruise.
I was thrilled that we could spend the night in Voss and Flam, so that we could experience all the activities in each town, while also enjoying a stroll around the water.

Hotel Reviews

Fretheim Hotel

Flåm

Location and views were amazing! Close to the dock, activities, hiking and biking trails, while maintaining a private feel. Breakfast was fantastic. We loved the lobby area. There was plenty of space to relax and enjoy the view. The gym on site was a plus. We also enjoyed our small balcony in our room. Rooms were clean, beds were comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Food and drinks were authentic. Elegant hotel.

Location

Everything we needed was across the street or in the hotel. We didn’t have to go far, but the hotel still felt private.

Staff

Very helpful staff at check in and at breakfast.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms felt clean and open. Beds were comfortable. Great to have blackout curtains. Would have been nice to have a fan in each room in the summer and more surface area in bathrooms to put toiletries.

Fleischer's Hotel

Voss

Excellent location! Close to transportation, activities. Lovely views. We enjoyed the indoor pool. It’s the only recreation on -site. It is super hot in the pool area though, so it is better for the winter time. Dinner at the restaurant was authentic Norwegian food, but small portions and limited menu.

Authenticity & Character

Lovely view, fantastic location and terrace. But, it was a bit outdated.

Location

Close to everything, fantastic views of the lake. Loved being able to walk a few steps to the Voss Gondola, train station.

Staff

Very friendly and helpful staff. Everyone was attentive and informative.

Cleanliness & Comfort

No air conditioning, which is common, but would have been nice to have a fan in each room for the summer. Lots of extra stairs! It would have been ideal to have a small refrigerator in each room.

Scandic Torget

Bergen

The location was fantastic. Breakfast buffet was wonderful. But, the lack of air-conditioning, which is common, resulted in us having to open our hotel room windows to the very loud street noise. I would have liked to have had fans in each room for the summer when it is hot. I would have liked to have had a gym on the property, too.

Authenticity & Character

Rooms were bare, very little storage space, and the style was quite dull.

Location

Close to every transportation pickup point, activities, and restaurants.

Staff

Friendly, had to deal with some unhappy customers who had a hard time dealing with a little bit of heat.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean, but unfortunately not very comfortable.

Activity Reviews

Rental Bike Excursion

Norway

We rented the e-bikes and we were glad we did. We could go further than regular mountain bikes would have allowed. As a result, we saw breathtaking waterfalls, the historic Otteren farm, and enjoyed a relaxing lunch in town. The process was easy. The bike quality was superb.

Quality of Experience

High quality bikes, easy process, and close proximity between bike pickup point and hotel.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We didn’t use a guide, but the person checking us in and preparing our bikes was very helpful.

Fjord Safari by RIB

Flåm

The equipment provided was fantastic. Made the trip very comfortable. We enjoyed our guide, Erwin’s stories, and the places he took us. It was very relaxing. However, we saw no wildlife as we had hoped. Contrary to what is advertised, it is not a high adrenaline tour. No waves, we didn’t get wet (it was not windy that day). Just a nice cruise on the water.

Quality of Experience

Very relaxing.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was informative, relaxed and somewhat entertaining. It would have been good to have him encourage more interaction with the passengers.

Transport

Lovely scenery, very comfortable and safe experience. Easy to get to, easy to get ready.

Our trip through the northern islands of Norway was perfect. From start to finish, Mathia provided expert advice. I almost always plan trips on my own and I was a little nervous to use this service without a personal recommendation, but after using Kim Kim and Mathia for this trip, I may never plan on my own again. Each place we stayed was unique and I feel like we got a good feeling for the different areas in the islands. All the activities planned were exactly what our family enjoy, and we especially loved the excellent whale watching experience, biking, and midnight sun kayaking. We had no hiccups during the trip, but Mathia was always quick to respond with any questions I had about hike or restaurant suggestions. Would highly recommend Kim Kim and Mathia!

Hotel Reviews

Reine Rorbuer

Reine

Our favorite place we stayed! We had cabin 21, which was the last one on the road. Very authentic, beautiful views.

Authenticity & Character

Old fishing cabin-very cool!

Location

Could walk to everywhere in Reine

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

So much space

Nordis Suites

Svolvær

Loved the location. Right on the harbor.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

No AC, so was pretty warm at night.

Quality Hotel Richard With

Stokmarknes

Great location. Close to sauna. Easy to walk around town. Large rooms. Loved the shuffleboard downstairs. Very large, wonderful breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Thon hotel Andrikken

Andenes

Good location in Andenes.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Skagakaia

Bø

Very special locally-owned guest house. We had the apartment, which was perfect for our family of four. Lone’s dinners were delicious.

Authenticity & Character

Location

The views of the water were beautiful!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Thon Hotel Oslo Airport

Gardermoen

Easy bus trip from the airport. Comfortable rooms. Large buffet breakfast. Good place to stay if heading back to the airport, but would stay closer to downtown if wanting to spend time in Oslo.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Good place to stay if heading to the airport

Staff

Friendly and efficient

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Midnight Sun Kayak Tour

Norway

Beautiful evening. We couldn’t go into the fjords because of the wind, but it was still a great experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Bike Trip Around Hadseløya

Stokmarknes

What a great day! We loved spending the day with Robin and exploring the island. The biking was not too strenuous, and we were able to see so much.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Meet our Local Guide - Hike and Explore beautiful Hadseløya

Norway

Loved meeting Mathia and learning about life in Vesterålen.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tour with Skagakaia Guide

Norway

Beautiful evening hike. Loved talking to Katie and getting insights on life in Norway

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Summer Whale Watching in Andenes

Norway

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Great to have it all planned out including roads to take and the extras were so much fun! Kimkim was responsive to questions and easy to interact with. As we were planning we were able to request and make modifications with ease.