Kimkim Trip Reviews for Portugal

Our trip was amazing. Easy transfers, communication. Guides were awesome. Excursions were great!
2nd time using Kim Kim. Would definitely use them again.

Hotel Reviews

Pátio do Tijolo

Lisbon

It was a very nice boutique hotel. Good location. Steep hill to get to. You get used to it.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Quinta do Vallado

Peso da Regua

One of the nicest hotels I've stayed in. Absolutely beautiful. Lots of small touches that made it so nice. Views were amazing

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

PortoBay Flores

Porto

Perfect location. Updated and beautiful

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Douro & Vinho Verde Wine Tasting

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Sintra & Cascais Day Trip with Pena Palace & Quinta da Regaleira Visit

Lisbon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Tuk-Tuk Experience Along the 28 Tram Route

Lisbon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Food Walk

Porto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

From start to finish, this has been a superb experience. Marisa was attentive to our needs, very approachable and friendly, and highly professional in putting together our itinerary, suggesting options, answering questions, reserving hotels and rental cars, arranging tours and tickets as requested, leaving opportunities for us to undertake additional activities, and staying in touch with us during and after our travels. A tour of northern Portugal had long been on our bucket list and came with high expectations. Thanks to Marisa, these were more than met, and the result was an amazingly rich, rewarding, and smooth vacation.

Hotel Reviews

Vila Galé Collection Braga

Braga

This hotel is part of a chain, but is located in an historic building near to the old core of the city. It boasts several swimming pools.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Vila Galé Douro Vineyards

Armamar

This hotel is beautifully situated; has fantastic views, welcome swimming pools, and a wine cellar; and is conveniently located for visiting the winelands

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sapientia Boutique Hotel

Coimbra

This is a charming hotel, with sweeping views, ready access to the university and old town, and a lovely courtyard.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

NH Hotel Porto Jardim

Porto

This is a comfortable and conveniently located hotel, and the staff are wonderfully helpful and informative.

Authenticity & Character

This is part of a chain, but it is comfortable and does have a garden and pool.

Location

Very convenient to the old city and the main bridge across the Douro. Getting to the sites across the river is an easy walk.

Staff

Incredibly friendly and helpful staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Indulge in Elegance on a Guided Winery Tour Infused with Tastings and a Delicious Lunch

Portugal

This was an amazing experience. The meal was great, the staff exceptionally friendly and funny, and the wine tasting was most informative and enjoyable.

Quality of Experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transport

Scenic Voyage along the Douro River aboard an Exclusive Boat

Portugal

This is a short but worthwhile experience. Our young guide was enormously knowledgeable about the history of the area as well as about viticulture, wines, and the local economy.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had no problem in getting to our rendezvous by car and had been given good instructions beforehand about parking.

The Flavors of Port Wine - Sip & Discover

Porto

The Sandeman cellars are a short walk from the hotel, and the tour and tasting were both engaging and very informative. We had an excellent guide in James.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

You get there and back on foot. The walk is steep, but quite manageable.

Porto's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour

Porto

Pedro was amazingly knowledgeable and engaging and expertly tailored his comments to our particular interests.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Every thing was done on foot.

Everyone was amazing and showed up on time. The trip went perfectly! It really allowed us to get some local experiences that we would not have been able to do on our own. This saved us so much frustrations. I am not sure what they put on top of everything but whatever it is worth it.

My husband, Steve, and I were interested in visiting Portugal to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary. We began our research by watching YouTube videos, and one host kept showing up—Pedro Luis. I googled him and discovered that he was affiliated with KimKim. We reached out to Pedro, shared our interests, and from the very beginning, he was wonderful to work with.

Pedro put together an amazing trip for us that was perfectly suited to what we wanted to experience. It turned out to be a truly wonderful and memorable anniversary adventure, and we couldn’t have been happier with how everything came together.We started our adventure in Lisbon and then traveled to the Algarve, Évora, Alcobaça, and Porto, rounding out our time in Portugal. We asked Pedro to add a few days in Barcelona at the end of our trip, which turned out to be a fantastic way to finish our anniversary celebration.
Our itinerary included airport transfers, walking tours, a Fado experience with dinner, e-bike and boat tours, cooking classes, tickets to UNESCO World Heritage sites, and so much more! Every guide we had was knowledgeable, personable, and well informed, making each guided activity that much more enjoyable. Both Steve and I are absolutely horrible with names, so the fact that we can't mention everyone by name is in no way a reflection of the wonderful time we spent with each of them.

We also really appreciated the balance Pedro built into our itinerary. In addition to all of the scheduled tours and activities, we had plenty of time to explore on our own, wander through the cities, and simply enjoy being there without feeling rushed.

I would give each of the tours and activities five stars. There were, however, two that stood out as 5+++: the cooking class at The Paella Club in Barcelona and the Sail Tour, also in Barcelona. Both were exceptional experiences.

The Sail Tour was scheduled for our last day, and it was the perfect way to end our trip. Relaxing on the water, taking in the beautiful surroundings, and reflecting on everything we had experienced made for a truly memorable final day.

We hope to return to Portugal someday, and if we do, there is no question that we will reach out to Pedro again. We would wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone looking for a thoughtful, knowledgeable, and attentive travel planner who can turn a trip into an unforgettable experience.

Hotel Reviews

The One Barcelona

Barcelona

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The staff is eager to help in any way they can.

Cleanliness & Comfort

PortoBay Flores

Porto

Montebelo Mosteiro de Alcobaça Historic Hotel

Alcobaça

This is a very large hotel! Only a few minutes walk to the main square. The only odd thing was if you wanted to go to the pool -- even just to sit -- you had to wear a swiming cap.

M'ar de Ar Aqueduto

Évora

Casa Mãe Lagos

Lagos

This is a lovely hotel, but driving there can be tricky! Look for the parking lot that's actually behind the hotel rather than driving to the hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

PortoBay Liberdade

Lisbon

This was our favorite hotel! Perfect location and really friendly staff. We had breakfast each morning and also ate dinner here one night.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It's right in the middle of things.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

To Eat Suggestion: Luca´s Rooftop Restaurant (Lagos)

Portugal

Luca's is a wonderful restaurant with interesting cocktails and menu.

Premium Dinner Accompanied by Authentic Fado Performance

Lisbon

Authentic Small Group Portuguese Cooking Class in Lisbon

Portugal

Paella Cooking Experience

Barcelona

So much fun! It was like being caught up in a broadway production. High energy, and tasty recipes.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Flavors of Port Wine - Sip & Discover

Porto

Private Transfer from your hotel to a unique Fado Experience

Portugal

2h Small Group Classic Sail Tour in Barcelona

Barcelona

This was one of our favorites!

The Essence of Douro - A River, Wine, and Gastronomy Experience with a Private Driver

Portugal

Porto's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour

Porto

Step Back in Time with a Private Guided Tour of Évora and the Bones Chapel!

Portugal

Exclusive Boat Tour to Ponta da Piedade Grottoes with a Swimming Stop

Portugal

The rock formations are amazing.

Explore Sintra's Fairytale Villa with a Private Driver and Pena Palace Tickets

Portugal

Exploring Lisbon's Riverside on an Exclusive E-Bike Adventure to Belém

Lisbon

Super fun!

Lisbon's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour with Ginjinha & Pastel de Nata

Lisbon

This was our second trip with kimkim and just as amazing as the first. The team does a great job customizing your itinerary to meet your travel habits and desires while offering up recommendations themselves based on local experience. It’s convenient and comfortable to have them by your side while traveling, making themselves available all throughout your trip when needed. I highly recommend their services and will use them again in the future.

This was the first time we used KimKim for a family trip to Portugal. We worked with Emily to plan a trip that would work for everyone. Emily was very patience as we changed the plan a few times. She was very knowledgeable and advised activities based on our interests. There was an incident from a local vendor during the trip but we were able to contact KimKim and they addressed it timely to our satisfaction. Overall, it was a great trip. We will definitely use KimKim again for our future trips.

Hotel Reviews

Jardim da Batalha Boutique Hotel by Shiadu

Porto

Great location. Easy walk to shopping, restaurants and interesting landmarks, Very quaint hotel. Staffs are very friendly and helpful. Great breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean. However, we had some ants issues the last few days of our stay but the staffs addressed it quickly.

Nicola Rossio Hotel

Lisbon

Great central location. Very friendly staffs. Great services.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Central to everything

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Self-Guided Local Markets

Porto

We walked to the market after check-in to our hotel. It was an easy walk from our hotel. Market was clean and had everything you could want. Great food options, local gifts, fruits and vegetables. We ended up bought some local treats and took it back to our hotel for dinner that night as it started to rain and we didn't want to walk in the rain that night for dinner.

Quality of Experience

Private Day Trip to Braga & Guimarães

Porto

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Porto’s Harry Potter Legends: Fact, Fiction & Inspiration

Porto

We actually didn't have the Harry Potter legends walk as my husband and daughter said they weren't big on HP. However, our local guide was flexible enough to give us a tour of the city instead which was great. Afterward, we did get into the famous bookstore which was worth seeing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Alfama Walk & Fado Dinner Performance

Lisbon

While the Fado dinner performance was great, the guide experience was not for us. We booked a private dinner but somehow, another couple joined us for dinner. The guide did not know where we stayed to pick us up nor he was aware of the number of people in our group so all of us didn't fit in the car. We ended up had to walk to the restaurant which we didn't have a change to explore the Alfama neighborhood. Also, we arrived late so the show already started. Because the group is larger than expected, we all share a table in a corner which then was very hot. Then after dinner, the guide told the group that we had to decide which group will leave first as his car doesn't fit everyone.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Fish Market Visit with Seafood Lunch

Porto

This was our favorite activity of the trip! We started the day with a little car trouble but our guide used her personal car to take us on the trip so we don't get stuck in traffic. The fishing village was where she grew up so the tour was very intimate. We had an amazing seafood lunch in the local market. Everything was fresh and delicious! We were able to pick out our own fish from the market and the restaurant grilled it for us. We enjoyed this experience very much!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Would give it a 5 if it wasn't for the car trouble initially

Local Secrets Excursion by Van

Lisbon

It was a good exposure to everything Lisbon on our second day. Marta, our local guide, drove us to places that we would not know or be able to explore on our own. Since she was born and raised in Lisbon, her perspective and knowledge was greatly valuable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Transfer From {{start_location}} to {{end_location}} via Óbidos & Nazaré

Portugal

It was one of our favorite days seeing Obidoas and Nazare on our way to Porto. Obidos was a charming medieval village and worth a stop to see. Nazare was a little busier and a surfing city so it was nice to see but we didn't spend much time there. Our driver was very pleasant and knowledgeable of the areas.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Sintra & Cascais Day Trip with Pena Palace & Quinta da Regaleira Visit

Lisbon

The private trip to Sintra & Cascais Day trip was fabulous. We were able to bypass the long line and get in to the park as soon as we get there. It made the visit more enjoyable. Pena Palace was amazing and worth the visit. Our local guide, Louis, was very pleasant and knowledgeable. We enjoyed his company and learned much about Portugal culture and history from this trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Louis was awesome!

Transport

MY sister and I had the most incredible visit to this magnificent country and I could not have experienced this without the superior planning and assistance from Pedro! My visit to Portugal went above and beyond my expectations, which were already pretty high. Our itinerary was built specifically for us and it met every one of my requests and more. I could never have experienced the true closeness we received from our guides, our drivers, our hotels, the sites we visited and the knowledge of Portugal's history without the professional and caring assistance of Pedro and the people he sent to guide us and help us fulfill all our hopes & expectations. Every one the people we interacted with over our 10 days in Portugal were WONDERFUL. We became close to each one of them and they gave us a new found admiration and respect for Portugal and the cities we visited. Lisboa, Porto, and Cascais were the major cities, but we visited so much more. Our driver for most of the time there, Rui, was very special to us. His knowledge and assistance in all of our travels was amazing and we were sad to leave him, We insisted on learning proper pronunciation and all the history he could share. Ricardo was our second driver and he was wonderful, too. We asked for the same with him and learned so much. Our Historic guides were so knowledgeable! Our first one in Lisboa, Marguerite was overwhelming in her understanding of the history of this country and her manner of telling the stories were moving and beautiful. What an incredible woman ... she brought us to tears (hidden to her I hope) in the descriptions of the dictatorship and the revolution. Ana, our guide in Porto, was truly a walking encyclopedia of the country's history and Porto's history! Our heads were spinning with knowledge. Our culinary class with Chef Pedro was absolutely wonderful. We loved it!
I could go on and on about this trip, but I want to thank Pedro for the amazing job he did with my itinerary and the people he matched us with. I felt that we were so well cared for and all our needs were met in every possible way. Our hotels were beautiful, intimate, with wonderful staff in each. To say we made many friends along the way is an understatement. Knowing that each day Pedro would check in on us as well as Diana and Marisa answering any questions we may have was quite helpful and special. We knew we were in excellent hands. My sister and I have already shared much of our trip with family and friends and KimKim is truly at the top of our suggestions for any future trips.
I feel like there is so much more I want to share, but for now ... thank you from the bottom of our hearts for making this a trip of a lifetime. You truly are the best in the travel industry! I must add one more important note. Along with all the culture, history, and incredible sites & food, it's not complete until I add this, "We had SO SO SO MUCH FUN!"

Hotel Review

Montebelo Vista Alegre Lisboa Chiado Hotel

Lisboa

The Hotel is magnificent and intimate. The staff is truly wonderful! We loved all of them! The food is absolutely amazing. I would definitely return to this hotel!

Authenticity & Character

Location

In the heart of Lisboa!

Staff

Everyone was kind, helpful, charming, and deeply cared for us!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Indulge in Elegance on a Guided Winery Tour Infused with Tastings and a Delicious Lunch

Portugal

This was by far the most amazing meal and the wine tasting was excellent. Sara was our private guide. We learned so much!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Flavors of Port Wine - Sip & Discover

Porto

Claudia was our guide and she was wonderful!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Immerse Yourself in the Portuguese Culture by Experiencing a Fado Dinner

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exploring the Art of Pastel de Nata on a A Hands-On Culinary Group Experience

Portugal

Chef Pedro was incredible. We loved this!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Seamless Discovery - The Ultimate Douro Valley Experience with Private Driver Service

Portugal

Breathtaking sites and beauty.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Porto's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour

Porto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Unveil the Fairytale Villa of Sintra with a Private Driver Service

Portugal

The palace and gardens were incredible. We loved this!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lisbon's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour with Ginjinha & Pastel de Nata

Lisbon

Truly an amazing educational tour of Lisboa. Our guide was incredible and lovely!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Everything! Rui was wonderful!

Transport

We learned so much just from our drivers and their knowledge of Portugal!

Scenic Voyage along the Douro River aboard an Exclusive Boat

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Despite the short notice for our Portugal trip, João executed everything flawlessly. He was incredibly responsive, took the time to understand our wishes and preferences, and organized every detail beautifully. Everything was thoughtfully planned, making our trip smooth and enjoyable from start to finish.

He even surprised us by showing up in person to guide us on one of our day trips! That level of dedication and personal attention went above and beyond our expectations.

We highly recommend João to anyone looking for a knowledgeable, responsive and thoughtful travel agent. He made our Portugal trip truly special, and we would definitely work with him again!

Our trip to Portugal was fantastic from beginning to end. Everything that was promised was delivered, and the entire experience felt seamless, thoughtful, and very well executed.

I work in the travel industry for a company that provides luxury travel services (Nothing to do with Portugual or Europe), so I’ll admit that I have fairly high standards and can be a little skeptical about turning over the planning of our own family vacation to someone else. Joao very quickly put those concerns to rest.

From the initial contact, he was responsive, thorough, and understood what would make the trip right for our family. Traveling with a 14-year-old, an 18-year-old, and two parents isn’t necessarily an easy audience to please, but Joao created an itinerary that was remarkably well balanced. There was enough planned to make each day interesting and memorable without ever making the trip feel over-scheduled. Everyone had something to enjoy, which is no small accomplishment!

Joao’s attention to detail continued well beyond the planning stage. He checked in with us just before we left, throughout the trip, and again after we returned home. He also remembered that we were celebrating our 31st anniversary, and that personal touch ( with flowers and treates) meant a great deal to us.

Our accommodations were wonderful, well chosen, and very well located. Condes de Azevedo Palace in Porto was a particular highlight and such a memorable place to stay. The locations of all the hotels made exploring easy, whether on foot or using Uber.

Our driver/guides in each city were personable, punctual, friendly and gave us a deeper understanding of the region. The vehicles were immaculate and comfortable.

Perhaps what I appreciated most, especially given my own background in travel, was how effortless the trip felt. I know that “effortless” travel usually means someone has done a great deal of work behind the scenes. Joao clearly had. We were able to simply enjoy Portugal, enjoy our family, and celebrate 31 years together without worrying about the details.

We came home with wonderful memories and an enormous appreciation for Joao and the care he put into our trip. I would absolutely use KimKim again and would recommend Joao without hesitation.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Cascais Miragem

Cascais

Very spacious. The hotel is being renoveated in two months so any review seems irrelevant but it was great for near term travelers.

Authenticity & Character

Authenticity & Character

Location

Location

Staff

Especially wonderful, knowing the hotel was dosing soon.

Staff

Especially wonderful, knowing the hotel was dosing soon.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cleanliness & Comfort

Condes de Azevedo Palace

Porto

Beautifullly restored. Loved it.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It wasm very convienent that it had a small parking lot that allowed pick up/dropoff/

Staff

The Manager on Duty was from a sister hotel but but he carried our luggage and went out of his way to get ice for my husbands knee and provide restaurant recommendations.

Cleanliness & Comfort

They don't provide daily housekeeping unless you request. This is fine, we requested and received but I do like to have my room made up daily without any additional effort.

PortoBay Marquês

Lisbon

Comfortable and well located for easy transportation.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

To Eat Suggestion: Brasão - Coliseu

Porto

Although we had a reservation we had to wait. Confusion about our order.

Quality of Experience

Immerse Yourself in the Portuguese Culture by Experiencing a Fado Dinner

Portugal

Performance was good. Service was terrible, Food was mediocre, Didn't like that the performer came around to sell his CDs.

Quality of Experience

Food

Tickets to Lello Bookshop

Porto

It was good but would have benefited from clearer understanding of how the tickets work. The guide for the walking tour didn't seem to know we had tickets and didn't give us clear understanding of how the ticketing system worked.

Quality of Experience

Porto's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour

Porto

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The Essence of Douro - A River, Wine, and Gastronomy Experience with a Private Driver

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Sintra's Fairytale Villa with a Private Driver and Pena Palace Tickets

Portugal

Discover Lisbon’s Historic Center & Belém in a 3-Hour Tuk Tuk Adventure

Lisbon

Emily helped us to plan a terrific vacation in Portugal. We knew little about Portugal, and it was so wonderful to have her expertise to plan a trip that was truly enjoyable and memorable. The guided tours she arranged for us were superb and the guides were excellent.

Hotel Reviews

Flores Boutique Hotel

Porto

This one had plusses and minuses. When we arrived at 1 pm they had apparently decided that was the time to repaint the front desk. There was not an obvious warning sign until I had approached the desk, and by that time my shirt was destroyed. It was oil-based paint. The shirt was a goner. They seemed less than sympathetic about it. Oh, well. The location was terrific. The room itself was kind of neat, and yet there was only one bedside light, no luggage racks or place to put luggage except the floor. My daughter's room had two lamps and a luggage rack. I asked if I could get even one luggage rack for our two-person room. I did not get one. The bathroom was ok, but the tub floor was 6 inches above the bathroom floor, so hazardous to get in for a shower. The breakfast was terrific. And the staff when we checked out at 5:30 am went out of their way to be helpful to us.

Authenticity & Character

But needed improvement to be more comfortable.

Location

Very centrally located for our activities, with lots of nearby shopping.

Staff

Some were amazing, some were adequate.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Better lighting, luggage racks, updated bathroom.

CBR Boutique Hotel

Coimbra

I loved this book/library-themed hotel. It was right up my alley. The bathroom was so cool!

Authenticity & Character

So cool and unique! Loved the decor! And it was quite comfortable.

Location

It was easy to get from there to wherever we wanted to go, with plenty of restaurants nearby.

Cleanliness & Comfort

All great.

Pátio do Tijolo

Lisbon

We were very happy with this hotel. It was located in a busy, popular area, but because of its setting it was a quiet oasis in a bustling area. The staff were friendly and helpful. The food was good. Our only complaint would be that the room had few surfaces on which to place our things. Still, I would stay here again.

Authenticity & Character

It was clean and comfortable but with unique art and a relaxing vibe.

Location

We could walk to many of the things we wanted to see and do, but once you went through the hotel gates, you were suddenly in a calm, quiet, private space. I loved that.

Staff

They made a great effort to help with any questions we asked.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The cleaning staff did an excellent job every day.

Activity Reviews

Gaia Port Tasting Walk

Portugal

What a great tour! Our guide Alexandre was terrific! He mad the tour fun, informative, interesting, and something I would happily do again.

Quality of Experience

Alexandre - a primo guide!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

He was funny without making anyone uncomfortable. He built rapport in the group. He was patient and relaxed.

Douro River Sailing Trip

Porto

It was so nice to have a relaxing afternoon cruise.

Quality of Experience

The kindness of the staff

Guides, Drivers and Staff

They were so friendly and nice. And they gave us a nice drink and snack !

Transport

I lived that we ere on a small boat with only 2 other passengers,

Private Joanina Library & University of Coimbra Visit

Coimbra

WE really enjoyed this. Our guide was fantastic and everything she showed us and told us about was so interesting.

Quality of Experience

THe guide was great.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

She was friendly, interesting, and knew everything about the university.

Lisbon to Coimbra with Stop in Fátima

Portugal

I would not have thought of visiting Fatima, but I am so glad I did. It was a fascinating visit to a holy place that is very important to Roman Catholics.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The driver was friendly and told us about things we passed along the way.

Transport

There was plenty of room.

Private Sintra & Cascais Day Trip with Pena Palace & Quinta da Regaleira Visit

Lisbon

Pena Palace was great, but it became outstanding when we were able to get a private tour with an official palace guide. We had access to all kinds of spaces that people normally cannot enter. Our palace guide was superb. What a fantastic experience. At our guide, Louis', suggestion, we did not visit the second palace. He advised it was too much to fit in and would require much strenuous walking. He disapproves of trying to visit these two palaces in one day. Instead, after a walk and lunch in Sintra, he took us to Cabo Da Roca, to a beach, and then dropped us off in Cascais.

Quality of Experience

The private guide at Pena Palace and the wonderful tour she gave.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Louis was knowledgeable (and opinionated). He was pleasant to be with.

Transport

The car was comfortable.

Evening Fado Show

Lisbon

The location was amazing, but very difficult to find. We made it into our seats moments before the show began. The address took us to a building across from a park, but the location was actually a cistern underneath the center of the park. If the directions had told us it was actually in the park, that would have been immensely helpful. That being said, the look and sound in the cistern was amazing. (Unfortunately, it was also quite warm.) The musicians were terrific an the singer was amazing. I got less education about Fado than I expected, but I loved the music.

Quality of Experience

The location, the music. Wow!

Private Belém Walk with Jerónimos Monastery & Riverside Monuments

Lisbon

I am glad we did this, but it was a very hot day and that impacted the experience. The monastery was lovely to visit. The riverside monuments were really interesting. Our guide was friendly and knowledgeable. It was a mistake to book this on the same day as the food tour. The food tour ran a little long, and it was a more than 30 minute cab ride to this tour. We barely made it, got no chance for water, bathroom, or any real lunch food.

Quality of Experience

When it is so hot, we needed more time in the shade and also water.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

She was knowledgeable and friendly, but didn't engage on as personal a level as other guides we had.

Flavours & Stories of Porto: Private Walking Tour & Mercado do Bolhão Visit

Porto

Our guide, Francisco, was wonderful -- the things and places he showed us, and the history and information he gave us were so engaging. The amount of food was enormous! And it was all delicious! I would totally do this again.

Quality of Experience

The tour, the food, and the guide. 5 stars!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Francisco was a great guide - willing to share himself and his life while showing us the city and teaching us its history.

Traditional Portuguese Food Walk

Lisbon

Our guide, Daniel, was wonderful. He was funny, well-informed, and made both the food and the city come alive. This was a great way to spend the morning.

Quality of Experience

The tour, the food, and the guide. 5 stars!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Daniel was a great guide - willing to share himself and his life while showing us the city and teaching us its history.

I heard about KimKim through a friend who frequently uses the service. I decided to take a chance and use the services for my upcoming trip to Portugal with my boyfriend. Beatriz was super easy to work with and made adjustments based off of my input. It was very easy to approve the final itinerary and was stress free since all I had to do was make final payment. Our flight was cancelled and we were rebooked and I was able to reach out to have our driver pickup updated. I was very happy they were able to accommodate us. One first tour was scheduled on the date we landed. We met at the meeting point but there was no tour. We learned the tour was accidentally booked for the wrong day. I was able to reach out to get help and the agent I spoke to was very apologetic. She refunded the tour costs and double checked to make sure everything else was booked correctly. That incident put us a little on guard but the rest of the trip went perfectly! All of our tours went as promised and our drivers were all on time (early). We especially loved our day tour to Sintra. Our tour guide, Teresa, was very pleasant and super knowledgeable. It rained early that morning and she had extra umbrellas for us. For lunch, she took us to a local spot and we enjoyed being able to eat some authentic Portugese food. We were very happy with how everything went minus the one tour hiccup. I would def recommend and use again.

Hotel Review

Exe Almada Porto

Porto

Great location! This hotel was like a Portugese hotel with American amenities. Hotel staff was friendly and I loved how clean everything was. The location is perfect and we were able to walk just about everywhere. I'd recommend and stay there again when in Porto!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Discover Sintra & Wines of the Old World

Portugal

Across Portugal, along with Joao and his team, planned an amazing trip to Portugal for us! Beginning with the initial planning, Joao was attentive and receptive to what we were looking for in our vacation, and willing to update the details as we shifted our ideas of what we wanted. We loved the hotels and the tours he recommended and then booked for us (which made things so easy!). Probably the thing that stood out the most for us is that his job didn’t end once we paid for the trip. He and his team were readily available throughout the trip via a WhatsApp chat group for any questions or concerns we had. They responded quickly to our questions and checked in with us frequently.
We highly recommend Across Portugal to others who are planning to visit!!

The BEST!
I have never had better customer service from a travel agency ... ever! Diana sent a note every evening detailing what we would be doing the next day that included links as well as the driver's names, times, etc. She also sent a note every day asking how our day went.
My cousin cut his hand and she was gave us all our options from hospitals, to doctors to everything we would need to get it handled.
I was so impressed and will be sure to recommend her to anyone I know going to Portugal.
Thank you to Kimkim to find us such a gem to work with - I will definitely be recommending them as well.

The hotel in Lisbon was nice and no elevator and difficult stairs. The hotel in Cascais was wonderful and Porto’s was great location. The cooking class and dinner with locals were the best planned parts of the trip. The tour guide in Lisbon was a little boring. Overall it was a very smooth experience.

Activity Reviews

Private Day Excursion: Sintra, Cascais & Estoril

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Douro Valley Highlights: Wine, Olive Oil & River Cruise

Porto

Really nice day and lunch with good wine. I expected a little more of a boat excursion and maybe a smaller boat but it was nice. It is a lot of time in a van. The guide was very good.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Petiscos Brunch & Market Experience in Porto

Porto

Really good food and wine. The guide was very pleasant. Only negative was maybe spending so much time within the market and not exploring Porto more.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Dinner With Locals: A Homemade Portuguese Experience

Lisbon

Lovely and welcoming couple. Great food. One of the best meals we had in Portugal.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tracing Lisbon’s Jewish History: A Guided Experience

Lisbon

A little dull

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hands-On Cooking Class with a Local Chef

Porto

Excellent chef especially with our kids. This was our favorite night.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

This was an AMAZING trip,
From start to finish everything was perfect.
All the hotels were stylish, well equipped, functional, staff very accommodating.
Breakfast was delicious everywhere, and just got better at each location.
The intimate feel of a boutique hotel is very welcoming.
The excursions were so well coordinated, our guides were very knowledgeable about the country’s history, the landscape, food, wine, and we appreciated the fun Lisbon/ Porto rivalry…
Dennis from the kayaking tour was great, he made us all feel safe and included,
I even did the cliff jump for the first time ever! So exhilarating.
I loved tea and biscuits on the beach, it sounds strange but very necessary after being in the frigid waters,
The caves felt mystical, and the religious structure that was built, was unbelievable…
The e-bikes and chartered boat ride were both a fun and exciting way to see the city,
The train ride was a first for the family, it was comfortable and scenic,
Our private driver Filipe, did many of our transfers, he was very personable, gave great recommendations- for food, scenery. We went to Sintra which was stunning, every step worth it.
The beaches were fun, we did a public beach, then found a little hidden inlet in/ on the rocks, , small amount of people, lovely afternoon lounging.
The destinations are all beautiful, and offer a different vibe, loved them all.
Definitely return trip.
Food was amazing, loved the culinary tour, we were able to do some tastings in the Balhoa market, girls experienced oysters for the first time.,
Lots of first on this trip..
We met some very cool and interesting people, 2 airline pilots, students, and another lovely family.
The birthday dinner at during sunset was spectacular . Great food, nice atmosphere.
We went to a restaurant on the beach Zephyr, also spectacular food and great sunset.
We did a lot of walking, the hills were my cardio for the day, also didn’t feel so guilty about all the tasty desserts we consumed along the way.
We tasted many of the famous pastry, we didn’t get to sample the one in Belim, short on time, but it was fun sampling the different bakeries…in all the cities.

Trip planning this way is highly recommended… most of the work is planned, and space is left for one’s own curiosity or lounging.

Will definitely use the service again and recommend it to friends and family.
Thank you Emily for all your time and effort,
You helped to make my sweet girls 16th bday a lifetime memory.🥰

Joao D. and the My Lisbon Holidays team are absolutely amazing. Joao is incredibly knowledgeable, resourceful, easygoing, funny and just an all-around pleasure to work with.

With only about three weeks’ notice, he planned an unforgettable nine-day trip to Portugal for me, my wife, and our teenage daughter, including stops in Madeira, Porto, and Lisbon. Everything was incredibly well thought out. The hotels were perfect, the details were thoughtful, and every experience and restaurant he recommended was right on point.

One of the absolute highlights was our day trip to Sintra. We had asked Joao to arrange a local guide for us, and we were so pleasantly surprised when Joao himself showed up to be our guide! He knows the area incredibly well, and hearing his personal stories about growing up there, along with the history and local insights he shared throughout the day, made the experience truly special. The whole family agrees he made the difference from a great trip to a spectacular one.

From start to finish, the entire trip was seamless, thoughtful, and memorable. We can’t recommend Joao and My Lisbon Holidays highly enough, and we will absolutely be working with him again the next time we return to Portugal.

We travelled Portugal from Porto to the Algarve and back to Lisbon between 7 and 24 August 2026 — eighteen days, eleven hotels, and a route that took us from the vineyards of the Douro to the cliffs at Cabo de São Vicente and the vast headlands of Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of continental Europe. It was a birthday gift for my partner, which meant the pressure to get it right was entirely self-inflicted and entirely real :). João and the KimKim team delivered something better than we'd imagined.

On João
What sets João apart is that he plans like someone who actually knows the country rather than someone reading it off a map. The roadbooks weren't generic — they were routed with real thought about where the light falls, where the crowds are at 9am versus 3pm, and where you should slow down. The N222 between Régua and Pinhão came with a simple instruction: take it slowly and stop often. He was right. Small notes like that appeared throughout, and they were consistently correct.
He was also honest in a way that's rare in travel planning. When something in the Arrábida was likely to be chaotic in August, he said so and suggested skipping it. When a stop was worth an extra hour of driving, he explained why. That kind of candour builds trust fast.

The hotels — and three in particular
The accommodation selection was the strongest part of the trip. Every single property was chosen with a clear reason behind it, and several were genuinely extraordinary.
Quinta de la Rosa in the Douro was the emotional heart of the trip. Two nights on a working family estate that's been in the same hands since 1906, perched above the river, with the pool looking out across terraced vineyards. It doesn't feel like a hotel — it feels like being let into somewhere private.
Heritage Avenida Liberdade gave us central Lisbon done properly — an 18th-century townhouse on the grandest boulevard in the city, with Bairro Alto and Chiado on foot. The Petite Pool and a perfect gym after a long day of walking Belém was a small mercy we appreciated more than expected.
Santiago de Alfama was the perfect final night. A restored 15th-century building tucked into Alfama's cobbled lanes, eight minutes from São Jorge Castle, with the Tagus in view. After two and a half weeks of driving, arriving somewhere that quiet and that beautiful for the last night was exactly the right note to end on.
Special mention about: Montebelo Mosteiro de Alcobaça, a five-star hotel built inside a UNESCO monastery, with an indoor pool set among original medieval pillars — surreal and wonderful. Fortaleza do Guincho, a 17th-century cliffside fortress with the Atlantic crashing below and a Michelin-starred kitchen. Pousada Sagres, positioned on Ponta da Atalaia with sunsets that genuinely stopped any conversation.

The activities - perfectly planned and flexible.
The Douro day was close to perfect: a tasting and picnic at Quinta da Rôeda in the morning, then a private boat out of Pinhão in the late afternoon. Our skipper was wonderful — he found us a quiet stretch of river and let us swim right there, surrounded by terraced vineyards rising on both sides and the light going gold on the water. Floating in the middle of that landscape is the single image we'll carry longest from the whole trip.
The Lagos coastal cave tour with BlueFleet was the other. Threading through the grottoes at Ponta da Piedade in the morning, the golden cliffs and the water impossibly clear. Worth every minute of the early start.

The logistics
Airport transfers at both ends, every hotel confirmed, parking notes for each stop — including which car parks to use and roughly what they'd cost. The trip ran without a single logistical problem across eighteen days and eleven properties. That is not luck.

Would we book again?
Without hesitation. We layered our own restaurant bookings on top of KimKim's framework, and having that framework solid meant we could spend our energy on the fun decisions rather than the boring ones. João built us a route that was ambitious without being exhausting, and beautiful without being too obvious. And gave us a true taste pf Portugal from north to the south and back.
If you're planning Portugal — particularly if you want the Douro and the southwest coast done properly as well as all super tips on Lisbon and Porto — talk to João. And we are looking froward to the next one :)

Hotel Reviews

Santiago de Alfama - Boutique Hotel

Lisbon

Santiago de Alfama was the perfect final night. A restored 15th-century building tucked into Alfama's cobbled lanes, eight minutes from São Jorge Castle, with the Tagus in view. After two and a half weeks of driving, arriving somewhere that quiet and that beautiful for the last night was exactly the right note to end on.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Heritage Avenida Liberdade

Lisboa

Heritage Avenida Liberdade gave us central Lisbon done properly — an 18th-century townhouse on the grandest boulevard in the city, with Bairro Alto and Chiado on foot. The Petite Pool after a long day of walking Belém was a small mercy we appreciated more than expected.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Quinta de la Rosa

Pinhão

Quinta de la Rosa in the Douro was the emotional heart of the trip. Two nights on a working family estate that's been in the same hands since 1906, perched above the river, with the pool looking out across terraced vineyards. It doesn't feel like a hotel — it feels like being let into somewhere private. Dinner at Cozinha da Clara on the estate was one of our best meals of the eighteen days.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Private Boat Tour in the Douro River

Portugal

The Douro day was close to perfect: a tasting and picnic at Quinta da Rôeda in the morning, then a private boat out of Pinhão in the late afternoon. Our skipper was wonderful — he found us a quiet stretch of river and let us swim right there, surrounded by terraced vineyards rising on both sides and the light going gold on the water. Floating in the middle of that landscape is the single image we'll carry longest from the whole trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

From start to finish Pedro was amazing. Very responsive and accessible. He tailored our trip perfectly to fit our family and to accommodate my 4 year old grand daughter. The hotels were amazing and the local guides extremely knowledgable. The price was excellent for the value we received. The drivers were excellent as well as being knowledgable about the local areas.

On top of exceeding my expectations for the trip, Pedro and his team went above and beyond to assist our family after the completion of the trip when our flight was unexpectedly cancelled due to maintenance issues. While all passengers were scrambling to find accommodations for the night I reached out to the team and they promptly responded and arranged wonderful and close accommodations for the night and even assisted my daughter-in-law the next day since our group had been split up and she was traveling alone with a four year old. I will choose this company again in the future.

Janelle and the KimKim team provided an amazing experience for my parents. They were extremely satisfied with the accommodations, itinerary, drivers and guides.

Thank you, Janelle for your patience and help for organizing! They can’t wait for their next adventure.

I chose KimKim for a large moment in my life: my second time overseas, my first time in Portugal, and the only time I'll be proposing. For years I had hoped to travel to Portugal, and over time it became apparent that this was where I should propose to my (previously known as) girlfriend. I count myself BLESSED to have been matched with Tiago, almost as if destiny was pulling the strings. After a few messages back and forth, I could feel the warmth and kindness, and knew I was in good hands. Tiago listened to how we liked to travel and created a plan with me that would hit all the requirements and create a perfect space for the proposal. In Lisboa, we experienced a sunset cruise with the coolest crew you could meet, experienced a traditional Fado performance in one of the oldest Fado houses, and explored old palaces and beautiful parks with Francisco (also the coolest and kindest guy you could meet). We spent 3 hours driving to Porto with Pedro, and we did not stop talking once. Conversation flowed like honey and the hours blew by. In Porto we had a private cooking lesson with the funniest and coolest chef, Sara Verde, and got to literally get our hands on authentic food (we cut up our own squid). We chose to go in August due to the eclipse passing through, and Porto was the perfect setting for the proposal (it was amazing and she said yes). Last on my bucket list for Portugal was the Azores, and Tiago started us off the first morning with a whale watching tour where we got to see multiple species of dolphins and multiple whales. The rest of the time on the island Tiago really let us explore: each day he had a full itinerary written up that we could pick and choose from. We got to experience beautiful lagoon views from the tops of mountains and beach swimming like we had never experienced: surrounded by cliffs and in the clearest water you've seen. Throughout the trip Tiago was just a message away, and had an arsenal of other helpers that were also invested in us having a great time. We had an amazing trip and loved all the people involved. Thank you, Tiago. And Francisco and Pedro too 😉