Kimkim Trip Reviews for Norway

The trip was just ok. The hike at Besseggen was a disaster because Christina failed to mention the necessary ferry. She only offered a guide (which you totally do not need and was $800, just needed info on the ferry - trust me you don’t need a guide, just the knowledge to catch the ferry). This ruined several days of our trip and almost ended up with physical harm. When questioned the next day I was told only by Christina had she mentioned it (when, I have no idea). But it was not anywhere in the final itinerary. Riddergarten was a lame town with little food choices. Like really bad food choices. Bestebakken in Hafslo was nice but definitely didn’t need 3 nights there. 2 would have been sufficient. Food here was quite good and we liked this place a lot. Loften Ullensvang had good bike ride but absolutely nothing to do second day. Did not need 3 nights here. 2 nights would have been more than enough. The food here was horrendous. Literally only the (very) overpriced mediocre hotel buffet or a pizza shop. I had wanted to go to Bergen and Lofoten but was told Bergen was boring and not enough time to go to Lofoten. I’m used to planning my own trips but ran out of time. I’m sworn off travel agents. I was not impressed with the final itinerary.

Hotel Reviews

Bestebakken

Hafslo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riddergården

Beitostølen

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotell Bondeheimen

Oslo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Noisy at night with bar across the street open very late otherwise this hotel was fine

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Ullensvang

Lofthus Hardanger

Food was very expensive (about $60 per person without drinks for a mediocre buffet), and only other open restaurant was a pizza shop. We ate here two nights but kind of sad to have to do that on vacation

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Kayaking Adventure in Gudvangen

Gudvangen

Basic kayaking trip, was nice but spent most of the trip just sitting there waiting for 2 people who couldn’t keep up with the other 10 people in the group. Not that the rest of the group was fast.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tailor-Made Activity on Lustrafjorden

Hafslo

E-bike ride was very nice

Quality of Experience

From the beginning, Ezdi was always available to help with the organisation of this trip then Fenne took over and also did an amazing job. Every aspect of the trip went very smoothly and this mustn’t have been easy as I had told them from the beginning that I wanted to see everything Norway had to offer. The guides and I kept communicating back and forth up to the very end. No other company could offer me an all encompassed tour of Norway and such good service as Kim Kim did. My travelling companion and I liked and enjoyed every step of this trip. Norway is such a beautiful and amazing country and Kim Kim helped make my dream come true. Thank you so much!!!!
I also have to mention Iggy ([email protected]) who brought us on a 12 hour Geiranger tour. It was incredible, we made so many stops along the way from the very top of the mountains to the deepest valleys so we could take in the views. He is very knowledgeable and has a very good sense of humor, We highly recommend this tour, it’s a long day of travelling but wouldn’t have missed a second of it. Anita

Activity Reviews

Private Tour to Geiranger

Ålesund

Already did in the general comments. We highly recommend this tour.

Quality of Experience

The planning team were all very helpful.

Food

Loved the seafood everywhere we went.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

They were anlways available and ready to help.

Transport

we always felt very safe.

Norway in a Nutshell Tour

Norway

Everything was great.

Quality of Experience

Good organisation from start to finish

Quality of Experience

Good organisation from start to finish

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transport

A belated Thank You to Tom and the Norway crew at kimkim!

Back in the cold days of February this year, my spouse and I had the wonderful opportunity to visit Norway for a short time - and on short notice. Not being good at quickly making detailed plans to visit a new country for the first time without a car in the winter, we went with a recommendation to try kimkim. We are soooo glad that we did!

Tom transformed our desires for beautiful fjords, train travels, and a chance or two at northern lights into a fantastic itinerary of unique memorable experiences and splendid overnight stays in towns rich with history.

The arranged tours, travel, and lodging were all top-notch. Communication was great! The availability of the team's 24/7 phone assistance really helped put our minds at ease with the travel connections.

Kadri did a great job planning and organizing our trip thru the southern fjords of norway. She picked excellent hotels and scenic spots and active activities to do. We did want to ride the Rallervegan (sp?) bike trail which ahe thought started near Voss but actually started about 100 kilometers from Voss so that part of the trip didnt work out unfortunately as where our bikes were reserved and where the trail started were not even close at all.
We also had a major medical problem as i slipped on some rocks mountain biking and broke my leg but Rofu helped us make some changes on our remaining itinerary and we were able to “limp” along the rest of our trip. A little more knowledge and understanding of more adventurous activities like Via Ferratas and paragliding and hiking would have been helpful not to mention the Extreme sports festival in Vass in june would have been great to know about in advance.
Also a heads up to the Parking laws and heavy fines for violations and even minor speeding Violations would have been good as well.
Other than those issues we had a great trip and appreciate kimkims services
We’ll definitely use them again and recommend them to others

Mathia planned a trip that fit perfectly with our time. We saw city sights, village charm, and natural wonders. The hired guides were engaging and knowledgeable.

The selected Hotels were incredible - all of them. They were all at good locations, easy to walk to and from train, bus, ferry locations and easy to walk to other arranged excursions and centrally located near other attractions, restaurants and transportation, Thank you for considering my interests.

The arranged excursions were appropriate for each of the cities where I stayed.

Of particular note was the Sanden Pensonjat in Laerdal. The room was very nice, the host was very gracious, the breakfast was great and the quiet location was only 75 m from the bus stop. The small town did not have many amenities but was very enjoyable and suitable for overnight.

Also, to note, the taxi from the Ferry Terminal outside Stavanger was very expensive ($689 NOK), but it was appropriate for me since I was tired from the ferry and it was raining. There was a public bus that most travelers took to the city but it left later and only went as far at the bus terminal, so I would have had to walk in the rain or take a taxi to the hotel, So, your itinerary suggested the taxi from the Ferry Terminal to the hotel and that was the right choice for me, Thanks

Also, to note, The weather in Tromso was cold. I was prepared because I checked the weather conditions and brought warm clothes and rain gear (I have travelled the Canadian North!). I know the weather is not your responsibility but a advance notice of possible weather might be helpful to other travelers.

Thanks for everything, I am already planning another trip with KimKim

Adele

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Christiania Teater

Oslo

Very good location, permitted early check in, friendly and helpful staff. Rooms a bit small.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Good bedding

Scandic Ishavshotel

Tromsø

Great room with large windows and overlooking harbour

Authenticity & Character

Interesting architecture

Location

Close to everything, easy to walk everywhere - even to the bus stop to catch the bus to the cable car

Staff

Helpful, allowed early check in

Cleanliness & Comfort

Large room, comfortable bed

SANDEN PENSJONAT

Lærdal

Very gracious host met me on my way from the bus station and showed me to my room in the Pensjonat,. The bus station was about 75 m from the Pensjonat. The breakfast was superb. The restaurant suggestion for dinner was great. The room was nicely decorated and the bedding was wonderful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Near the bus station, near restaurants, near local walking trails

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Stavanger City

Stavanger

Authenticity & Character

Location

close to city attractions

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Norge by Scandic

Bergen

Room with lots of natural light

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Front desk staff were helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Oslofjord Sightseeing Cruise

Oslo

Easy to find starting point, good alternatives for weather. It was raining during some parts of the trip and there were locations on board to sit out of the rain, or to sit in the sun and out of the wind,

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mostraumen Fjord Cruise

Bergen

|This trip was very very crowded and by the time I boarded there was very limited seating. There was some confusion about a second boat that I was waiting for but a the last minute it did not go and every one had to board the first boat.Ge

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Midnight Sun Cruise

Tromsø

Very very good, even though it was raining and there was no sun.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very friendly and helpful and knowledgable

Transport

Polaria Arctic Museum & Aquarium Visit

Tromsø

Good information local sea life

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fjellheisen Cable Car Experience

Tromsø

Dress warm

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Elise made planning the trip so easy. She gave us great suggestions and was happy to make any tweaks that we wanted. All the excursions that she arranged we wonderful and all the hotels booked were good and were always close to our arrival/departure point which minimised the dragging of luggage. The itinerary provided was very clear and easy to follow. The guides for the excursions were very informative. Overall I would have no hesitation in recommending Kimkim. Thank you Elise for everything

Hotel Reviews

Zander K Hotel

Bergen

Very comfortable centrally located hotel. Good sized rooms and excellent breakfast

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to station and centre

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Large rooms. Coffee machine in room

Kviknes Hotel

Balestrand

Gorgeous hotel overlooking the fjord. Comfortable rooms and great food.

Authenticity & Character

Lots rooms to sit and overlook the water

Location

Right by the fjords and close to the boat

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Heimen Hotel

Bergen

Centrally located hotel near the harbour. Good breakfast although it does get crowded. Rooms are very very small. Not much in the way of public areas. Unfortunately there is building work right next to the hotel so woken at 7 am each day

Authenticity & Character

Not much in the way of character- lots of grey

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ventilation system was noisy

Activity Reviews

Cider Tasting with Food Pairing

Balestrand

Fabulous experience. Very interesting introduction to apple growing and cider making by the owner followed by a cider tasting and wonderful lunch. Would highly recommend

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Gondola Ride in Voss

Voss

Gondola to the mountains above Voss. Lots of hikes once up there and great views. There is a restaurant at the top

Quality of Experience

Transport

Great Summer Waterfall and Fjord Tour

Voss

Day long waterfall and fjords tour. Part was guided and was very interesting and informative. The end part of the tour - returning via Bergen to Voss was on the long side bus and train taking 2.5 hours

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Knut - the guide was excellent

Transport

It was overlong at the end

Tricia was crucial to the success of our trip in Norway. She was always available to tweak things to make them perfect, was a dream to work with and her suggestions for what to do on our own were perfect!

Every aspect from planning to the trip itself was incredible! Our trip planner, Christina, asked questions and got to know our family and what was important to us before planning. She then prepared an initial plan and asked for comments. She worked with us to meet our price point and then made many revisions and offered advice throughout the whole planning period. She planned so perfectly that our trip went amazingly smooth. It was such a nice convenience to have all of the accommodations and transportation booked in advance, and Christina put a lot of thought into our accommodations and their proximity to our modes of transportation, making our travel very easy. This trip was done solely on planes, trains, ferries, buses and a couple taxis. The tours she booked for us allowed us to see everything we wanted. Everyone from our tour guides to taxi drivers were so nice, accommodating and very knowledgeable. Our itinerary included Oslo, Aurland, Bergin, Alesund, Andalsnes and Trondheim as the main hubs, with cruises on the UNESCO fjords, trips on the Flam and Rauma railroads, and private tours to other destinations with many waterfall stops along the way. Although it was all wonderful, one highlight was the gondola ride in Andalsnes and dinner at Eggen restaurant at the top. Norway is a very beautiful country with diverse areas, awesome hikes, excellent art installations, living history museums, excellent restaurants, wonderful fjords and really nice people. We are very thankful to Christina for making this trip so amazing, comfortable and perfect for our family. We highly recommend using Christina and KimKim as a trip planner.

Hello, I will be honest in my review, and hopefully not too critical.
Overall our trip was fine but not outstanding. Part of that may be that we have always been fit and healthy, and now in our mid 70's we not as energetic or willing to accept annoyances.
Hotels....the 3 hotels we stayed in were nice hotels in general, and all had friendly, professional, and helpful staff. All breakfasts were good as well.
Our first hotel experience though, was challenging. Our assigned room at the Norge was the smallest room I can ever remember, and we were there for 5 nights. Our only other choice, which we opted for, was a much larger room with a pleasant view. This was in a handicap accessible wing on the ground floor with wide hallways which were used to store extra furniture. This, combined with food smells from the restaurant, and the stained carpet made for a less than appealing sense of arrival each time we came to our room. In addition, we had to pay $470 CAD extra to the hotel for the room.
It seems that all our hotels in Norway used the same company for interior room design. All were minimalist, with zero or only one drawer for clothes. This is unacceptable for stays of several days....no place for socks, underwear, PJ's, dirty clothes etc. It ends up with shoes and clothes strewn all over the place.
Regarding the guided tours, we were pleased,
Although we recognize much of Norway is about the water, we spent too much time on boats, even considering the one we missed. The ferry from Bergen to Stavanger was very nice. We went to the oil and gas museum in Stavanger, which was very interesting.
regarding you contact people, we started with Kristina, then over to Fenne, then to Rufo. Rufo was helpful in last-minute rescheduling of our Cornelius dinner.
I sent 2 messages requesting light bedding in our rooms. None of the hotels had the requests on file when we checked in, so we had to deal with that in various ways. The bedding issue was important to us, especially sing none of the hotel have air conditioning.
Thank you,
Randy Byrne

Activity Reviews

Oslofjord Dinner Cruise

Oslo

Food & Culture Walk

Bergen

Nina is very good

Great Summer Waterfall and Fjord Tour

Bergen

A bit too long

Fjord Cruise & Seafood Dining Experince

Bergen

Private Oslofjord Island Hopping Nature Walk

Oslo

Full-Day Private City Excursion

Oslo

Mariann was very good

Pre trip planning was excellent. Mar and Fenne were responsive to all my questions and made adjustments based on my needs.

Hotel Reviews

Scandic Torget

Bergen

Great hotel right in the center of everything which allowed for walking. Would have been helpful to know where to park before arriving.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very central

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Flåmsbrygga Hotel

Flåm

The hotel and room was very nice. I just happened to have a cruise ship directly out the window which ruined the view.

Authenticity & Character

Liked the rustic feel

Location

Easy walk to train and harbor

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fjærland Fjordstove Hotell & Restaurant

Fjærland

The view from my window was spectacular. Dinner with the wine pairing was great.

Authenticity & Character

Loved the old house

Location

Most remote location I stayed but by far my favorite.

Staff

Very knowledgeable and friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Loenfjord hotel

Loen

The hotel was nice but full of very large tourist groups coming in on buses. It made finding a time for breakfast a little difficult.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotell Utsikten

Geiranger

First rate food and meal. A bit of a hike from the town

Authenticity & Character

Location

Outstanding view but have to drive everywhere from here.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Quality Hotel Ålesund

Ålesund

Decent hotel within walking distance of everything. Again it would have been good to know about the parking situation before arrival.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Summer Fjord RIB Safari & Undredal Cheese Tasting

Flåm

The boat tour guide was very fun and knowledgeable. The cheese tasting was underwhelming, not bad just wasn’t as involved as I expected.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

It was a much more intimate experience in a small boat as we were able to get up closer to the sites.

Ulriken Cable Car

Bergen

The walk from the center of town to the cable car was very nice. I took the ride up and walked down which I definitely felt for the next two days.

Quality of Experience

Luckily I had good weather. This probably isn’t worth it if it rainy and foggy.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Past & Present City Walk

Bergen

Fabiola did great job of weaving history and modern culture into her tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Flåm Railway, Zipline & Cycling Adventure

Flåm

Although the weather was a little rainy I was still able to zip line. I got wet on the bike ride back into town but it was still worth it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fjord Cruise Between Geiranger & Hellesylt

Norway

While you can get to Geiranger by car, the ferry trip is worth it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover Kayaking Geirangerfjord

Geiranger

Because it was cold, rainy and windy we weren’t able to get as far as I would have liked. It was fun and the guide was great but the weather was a damper.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The whole team at Kimkim was amazing. Krista, Fenne and Olivia worked with us at the planning stage, and David and Rufo helped us out while in Norway. All interactions with all of the members were very helpful. All the planned activities were excellent, and so were the private guides. The car transfers between airport and hotels were on time and very good. We had a plane cancelation during the last leg of our trip, but we got immediate help and reassurance on what to do and expect from the Norway airlines.
We will use Kimkim again for our future trips.

Hotel Reviews

Scandic Oslo City

Oslo

Friendly staff, great location for taking earlier trains, a little noisy Great breakfast

Authenticity & Character

Location

close to the train station

Staff

Very helpful and friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kviknes Hotel

Balestrand

Friendly service, great rooms, great views, great location Both buffet and a la carte dinner available

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Heimly Pensjonat

Flåm

Good and friendly service. Good breakfast and dinner

Authenticity & Character

Location

Fabulous view. A bit away from the main street which was good for us

Staff

Friendly staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Neptun

Bergen

We had a renovated room which made it good, but not a good view. The hotel was a bit too big for our liking.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Brosundet

Ålesund

A very nice boutique hotel! Great breakfast! Excellent a la carte restaurant within the hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Svolvær

Svolvær

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Oslo Airport

Gardermoen

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Oslo private tour

Oslo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Oslofjord Sightseeing Cruise

Oslo

A must for any visitor to Oslo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cider Tasting with Food Pairing

Balestrand

Really enjoyed this activity - Great hosts

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Explore Bergen with a local

Bergen

Despite the rain and cold, we had a great experience. Synnøve, the guide was so friendly and knowledgeable

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Synnøve was great!

Fløibanen Funicular Experience

Bergen

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Very modern funicular

Geirangerfjord Cruise & Day Trip

Norway

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trollfjord Cruise by Electric Boat

Svolvær

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a fabulous trip to Norway and it was in no small part due to using KimKim. The entire trip was very well planned out and every single activity, excursion and hotel was exceptional. BUT the biggest bonus was having a KimKim rep available to make any changes or answer questions during the trip. I can not understate how valuable this was for our entire trip. Through text with KimKim rep I was able to make changes to a few excursions due to weather. Response was quick and my requests were taken care very quickly. Excursion highlights were kayaking in Bergen and all of our fjord tours. The train to flam in unreal and dinner cruise and Cornelius restaurant were home runs. Whole trip was awesome!

Hotel Review

Hotel Christiania Teater

Oslo

Great hotel great location loved it!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right in city center

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Øygarden Kayaking Excursion with Island Lunch

Bergen

One of the best activities of our trip - Lena is the best guide ever.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Oslo private tour

Oslo

Bjorn is incredible guide

Quality of Experience

Y

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Past & Present City Walk

Bergen

Very informative

Quality of Experience

Y

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fjord Cruise to Rosendal

Bergen

Unbelievable and do the hike to waterfall at hardanger

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fjord Cruise & Seafood Dining Experince

Bergen

The best dining experience ever

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fløibanen Funicular Experience

Bergen

Fun and great views

Electric Dinner cruise on the Oslo Fjord

Oslo

Don’t miss great evening

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mostraumen Fjord Cruise

Bergen

Awesome cruise great views

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The itinerary planned for us by Elise was great. We never had to travel too far to.our hotel from.the train or Ferry. We woukd not have known about some of the activities e.g the cider tasting with fantastic food at Balestrand.

Hotel Reviews

Kviknes Hotel

Balestrand

Gorgeous views, the most peaceful place I have ever been. Good breakfast, nice staff

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Heimen Hotel

Bergen

This is a fairly basic hotel but is very central. Decor is grey, very narrow corridors, some rooms are very small.The ventilation is noisy so.i could not sleep.the first night. However the staff were very responsive when I.mentioned this and they gave me a new room which was quieter.

Authenticity & Character

Everything is Grey..walls and, carpet

Location

Cental

Staff

Responsive

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms small

Zander K Hotel

Bergen

Good location, central. Pool and Sauna

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Cider Tasting with Food Pairing

Balestrand

The cider and the food were lovely, and interesting talk re history of cider making in Norway

Quality of Experience

Food

Great Summer Waterfall and Fjord Tour

Voss

The waterfalls were fantastic, and I really enjoyed the film at the nature centre. However there was no time for lunch built into the day and there was a lot of travelling. I suggest cutting some activities out and including tome for lunch as it was a very long day with very little food!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Grest to.hear background on Norway

Transport

Very long day with many changes of Bost, bus and train

Gondola Ride in Voss

Voss

Great views from the top and lots of hiking trails

Quality of Experience

Transport

Anna created an amazing Trip for us. She listened to what we liked and put together a trip that met all my requirements. She was super flexible, and had many great ideas. She thought of everything - trains, buses and even taxis. All the hotels were close to transport so we didn't have to carry bags too far.

Tricia took over just before the trip and was super helpful - she responded quickly to all my questions on the trip.

The trip itself was everything we could have asked for - some great walks and plenty of fjords!

This was our first trip planned with Kimkim. I was a bit hesitant at first, but I am so glad we had them help us! Christina was very knowledgeable and listened to what we were looking for and made recommendations based on this - it felt personalized. We customized our week and ended up spending more time in Balestrand (highly recommend if it's not raining) rather than Bergen in order to enjoy more hiking. All of the hotels were exactly or better than expected. The detailed itinerary included tickets, and when we weren't able to open them during our trip, Christina very quickly sent us the PDF attachments. 10/10 recommend and will use Kimkim for future travel.

Activity Review

Explore Oslo's Hidden Gems with a Local Expert

Oslo

Stig was so fun! We found that we had a lot of interests in common, so it was really great to hear his insights on food, music and architecture, along with all the historical aspects of Oslo that we wouldn't have known just from reading and walking by ourselves.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Kadri arranged a great trip and was able to tailor it to our preferences. Moreover, she was able to change the itinerary for us during the trip because of weather issues. We plan on using kimkim again.

Hotel Reviews

Scandic Svolvær

Svolvær

Not as nice as hotels we are used to staying.

Authenticity & Character

It felt like a budget hotel.

Location

Staff

Initial staff member difficult but the rest very good.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Small room.

Reine Rorbuer

Reine

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Brosundet

Ålesund

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotell Utsikten

Geiranger

Authenticity & Character

Tiny room. Tough to move around.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Again, tiny room/bathroom.

Fossheim Hotel Lom

Lom

Authenticity & Character

I bit run down.

Location

Staff

Not friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Big bus tour groups staying at hotel made experience terrible.

Kviknes Hotel

Balestrand

Authenticity & Character

Was told by staff we would stay in "modern part of hotel" but room was small and felt like a budget room.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Small room,

Flåmsbrygga Hotel

Flåm

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Hanseatic Hotel

Bergen

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Most staff great but one staff terrible and ignored our concerns. Otherwise this hotel would have been 5/5

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Lofoten Floating Sauna Experience

Svolvær

Good to do what locals do but not our cup of tea.

Quality of Experience

Rent e-mountian bike

Geiranger

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fjordcruise Geiranger

Geiranger

Crowded. Very inactive as expected. Better views on hikes.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bike Rental Balestrand

Balestrand

Riding was fantastic. Exceeded our expectations.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Took forever to get started.

Fjord Cruise & Seafood Dining Experince

Bergen

Quality of Experience

Food good but not great. Everything else was fantastic.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Flåm Railway & Cycling Adventure

Norway

Although supposed to be a "must", train was super crowded with cruise passengers and could not really see. Biking was a better experience but should not be done unless you are comfortable on steep gravel descents.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our time in Norway was so amazing that we’re both suffering from post-vacation sadness. We miss Norway! Family and friends always ask us after a trip, “what was your favorite part?” Every part of Norway was a highlight. As I’m writing this I’m drinking a cup of Friele. When we go back we will be using KimKim again. Julia was excellent in her recommendations as they matched perfectly what we wanted to see and experience. Everything on our itinerary I would consider a “must do” for anyone planning a visit. The gondolas, RIB tours, driving routes, hikes, viewpoints…everything including the ferry system was incredible. We experienced a roundabout inside a tunnel! I would be remiss not to mention the people. Norwegians all speak fluent English, are friendly and very helpful.

Hotel Reviews

Loenfjord hotel

Loen

Good location for a one night stay. Clean and along a river. If I had to stay again I would skip the restaurant. We found a few pizza places a short drive away.

Authenticity & Character

80’s decor. Definitely a bus tour stop.

Location

En route to our next stop. Along a river.

Staff

Waitress and chef could use additional training.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Comfy beds, two big windows we could open, TV.

Scandic Torget

Bergen

Great character, location and amenities. A minute walk from the harbor and city center.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right in the heart of Bergen.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ingrids Apartments

Eidfjord

I loved this spot.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

We didn’t have much interaction which is not always a bad thing.

Cleanliness & Comfort

They were undergoing needed renovations.

Dragsvik Fjordhotell

Balestrand

Character, location, views, clean and great restaurant.

Authenticity & Character

Amazing

Location

Right off the ferry on a fjord with fjord views.

Staff

Welcoming

Cleanliness & Comfort

I would almost ding one star for no TV, but the views are the award winning show.

Rosvang Gaard

Afarnes, Norway

Albert and Otto felt like friends…great conversation and incredible meals.

Authenticity & Character

Converted farmhouse with great history.

Location

Breathtaking views.

Staff

Special place full of life from special people.

Cleanliness & Comfort

They have impeccable taste in decor and finishes. Well done!

Grand Hotel Bellevue

ÅNDALSNES

Speechless. Our room was a corner with a huge balcony…the best corner. I wished we would have stayed three nights instead of one!

Authenticity & Character

This Grand Hotel was absolutely grand.

Location

We could see the town center, residential areas. Short walk to an amazing, unforgettable gondola with fjiord views. Do not miss the gondola.

Staff

Good restaurant.

Cleanliness & Comfort

We had dual aspect windows, a coffee bar and huge balcony. With their large smart TV we could enjoy some comfort shows at night.

Hotel Britannia

Trondheim

High end city hotel in the heart of Trondheim with hotel parking. Pro tip: park at the entrance on the street and they will park your car and secure it during your stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Heart of the city

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room had a smart controller.

Svinøya Rorbuer

Svolvær

We had our own fisherman cabin!

Authenticity & Character

Eat at the restaurant and use the floating sauna.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Had our own kitchen where I enjoyed coffee each morning while walking along the adjacent water inlet

Senja Fjordhotell

Stonglandseidet

One of my favorite stays and another corner room with dual aspect windows both with outstanding views!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Day trip to Devil’s Jaw viewpoint is a must.

Staff

Might be a cultural thing, but staff might ask what our plans are and make recommendations on things to do/see during your stay.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Amazing building and rooms that were impeccably furnished. Again, one of my favorite stays.

Thon Hotel Bergen Airport

Bergen

Location close to the airport.

Authenticity & Character

Functional for our return home.

Location

Close to airport, staff got us a taxi no problem.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Not the cleanest and the decor could use an update.

Activity Reviews

Finnafjord Safari by RIB

Balestrand

Amazing tour with a great tour guide. This is a must do experience.

Quality of Experience

Safe and fun. Our guide was very knowledgeable and even pointed out his farm!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Perfect for first timer introduction to RIB.

Transport

Lofoten Floating Sauna Experience

Svolvær

Clean, huge and private (for our visit anyway).

Quality of Experience

Therapeutic after a long drive.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Not applicable

Transport

Not applicable

Trollfjord and The White-Tailed Sea Eagles

Svolvær

Another excellent guide. We saw tens of eagles in natural habitat and witnessed them feeding from the fish the guide baited them with.

Quality of Experience

Not just eagles, but fjord tour as well. Excellent guide.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Top notch captain!

Transport

Guided Whale Watching RIB-Tour Andenes

Norway

We saw schools of pilot whales! Erin got sea sick as this was more open sea. They didn’t seem as organized as the first two RIB tour companies. I got the impression the guide and the boat captain might have been new, but their passion for what they were doing was clear. They will be great.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My friend and I had the greatest trip to Norway! Tricia, our local specialist, really worked with us to understand our travel style and put together an itinerary that fit in everything we wanted to do.

We covered an incredible amount of ground in the Western Fjords and got to do some really cool things. My personal highlights were our food tour of Oslo with Stig and our visit to the Mollfarm in Geiranger. That was truly special. Those experiences gave me the opportunity to learn so much more than I could have in a museum. And, of course, the fjords were absolutely stunning.

All in all, I have never stressed out about a trip less. That in and of itself was a gift, but Tricia did such a great job putting together our itinerary. My friend and I said several times, "I think she's magic."

Thank you for a great trip. Now to come back in winter to see the Northern Lights...

Hotel Review

Hotel Union

Geiranger

Hotel Union in Geiranger was absolutely phenomenal. The views were breathtaking, and the staff was incredibly kind and welcoming. The restaurant and breakfast were top-notch as well. It was easily my favorite accommodation of the trip. The surprise spa access was a wonderful touch that made the stay even more special.

Activity Reviews

A Taste of Norway's Culture and Cuisine

Oslo

The food tour in Oslo was incredible! We got to spend time with locals and learn about Norwegian culture through its cuisine. While we didn't try anything too exotic, we did have fish sticks, which was probably the most unusual item on the menu. The guide was extremely knowledgeable and made the experience both educational and fun. I wouldn't recommend it to extremely picky eaters, but there are different tour variations that might suit different tastes. Overall, it was a memorable and enriching experience.

Home visit at the Møllfarm

Geiranger

The farm visit in Geirangerfjord was one of the highlights of the trip. We got to interact with locals and learn about their way of life, which was fascinating. This experience gave us a deeper understanding and appreciation of Norwegian culture that we wouldn't have gotten from just visiting museums. It was truly special and added so much value to our trip.

Geirangerfjord Kayak Tour - Seven Sisters Waterfall

Geiranger

The kayak tour was quite the adventure! Unfortunately, we had terrible weather, which made the conditions really tough. Our guide was fantastic, though, and made sure we felt safe the entire time. Despite the rough conditions, it was an experience we laughed about afterward and had no regrets doing. It was a lot of work and maybe not ideal for everyone, but it gave us some great stories to tell.

We just returned from an amazing vacation to Norway planned by Linda. She incorporated all of my requests -to be away from crowds, on the water, and to be active both hiking and on the water. We travelled to Bergen, Fjaerland, Vaerlandet, and Lofoten and each offered stunning views and landscapes. The accommodations were perfect as well - quaint and personal. I would not have been able to organize such a trip myself or find such gems to stay. LInda was such a pleasure to work with. She was responsive both before and during the vacation to questions and requests. It was comforting to have that local person in country when we had a question. Again - fabulous trip. I would use KimKim again in the future!