Kimkim Trip Reviews for Portugal

This was the first time we have traveled to Portugal and Spain and we wanted to have a very happy experience. We researched the Internet and various other travel documents and we found the tour company KimKim and how they focus on private tours that are tailor-made, and they use expertise and knowledge of people who actually live and work within the respective Countries. This was most important to us. A simple email initiated the process and we were delighted to make contact with Pedro our Portugal contact. Wow, how fun to have someone who listens, provides immediate responses and recommendations, and develops a plan that can be shared and discussed with travel companions. There were four people in our group and we all felt ownership in the travel plan that was developed. We booked a 21 day trip to Portugal that included a 3 day adventure to Seville, Spain.

Pedro and his working associates took the stress out of travel and provided us with opportunities to stay in Hotels that were centrally located, to have historical walking tours, to witness a Fado and Flamenco Dinner and Show, to have private wine tastings, to have Private Drivers that enabled us to visit wonderful locations throughout Portugal, to be on excursions of the Douro river and Lagos Grottos, and to have Portuguese foods at very nice restaurants. The weather was perfect and this really enhanced our trip of a lifetime!

Pedro always remained in constant communication with us using the electronic application called ‘WhatsApp’. This enabled us to always know the current plan; everything (and I do mean everything) was meticulously identified and always implemented to perfection. Our trip was a ‘5+ Star Day’ every day with many surprises along the way. Pedro made us feel welcome surprising us with a box of treats with a bottle of Port Wine at the hotel. Kind words were always expressed with immediate feedback which made every day special, and of course the use of knowledgeable people that really wanted to make our trip the best ever. Pedro and his associates did this to perfection!

Our Hotel accommodations were excellent. We stayed in Lisbon, Porto, Evora, Seville, and Lagos. Each stay included a very nice room, excellent breakfast, onsite bar and restaurant, and very professional staff.

Thank you goes to the many people we met along the way, who we now consider our Portugal Friends; private drivers, hotel staff, walking tour guides, Belem Tuk-Tuk driver, boat captains, and of course the wine tasting experts. A noteworthy ‘Job Well Done’ goes to Private Drivers Pepe and Helder; both really went out of their way to create lifetime memories. Also, a very special ‘Thank You and Job Well Done’ goes to Pedro, Joao, and their associated staff; YOU ARE THE BEST.

Your friends,
Greg & Nancy Hanson

Hotel Reviews

Tivoli Oriente Hotel

Lisbon

Great restaurant and close to the Lisbon Airport

Authenticity & Character

Very modern and terrific top floor bar

Location

Close to the Lisbon Airport

Staff

Polite and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable

Lagos Avenida Hotel

Lagos

Great location within walking distance of all key things to see and do

Authenticity & Character

Roof top bar was a great place to hangout and socialize with friends

Location

Within walking distance of restaurants, bars, and excursions

Staff

Polite and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean and comfortable

H10 Casa de la Plata

Sevilla

Great location and within walking distance of key things to see and do

Authenticity & Character

Very nice with character

Location

Terrific location within walking distance of key things to see and do

Staff

Polite and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean and comfortable

Évora Olive Hotel

Évora

The best of Evora. Very nice and within walking distance of all key locations.

Authenticity & Character

The best of Evora

Location

Within walking distance of all key locations and restaurants

Staff

Polite and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

The hotel is clean and comfortable. Great breakfast

PortoBay Teatro

Porto

Perfect location with terrific hotel staff and accommodations.

Authenticity & Character

Very nice

Location

Great location within walking distance to all key parts of the City

Staff

Polite, helpful, and knowledgeable

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean room and very comfortable

Corpo Santo Lisbon Historical Hotel

Lisboa

Perfect location with terrific hotel staff and accommodations.

Authenticity & Character

The best with character and charm

Location

Perfect location within easy walking distance major attractions

Staff

Very polite and most helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable

Activity Reviews

To Eat Suggestion: Tábua & Barro do Naldo

Évora

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exclusive Panoramic Boat Tour to the Ponta da Piedade Caves

Portugal

Exceptional experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dinner with Flamenco Show in Seville

Seville

Amazing. Great food with a terrific Flamenco Show

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Scenic Voyage along the Douro River aboard an Exclusive Boat

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Flavors of Port Wine - Sip & Discover

Porto

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

Beautiful place with fast shuttle service from parking area

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Belém on a Scenic 2-Hour Tuk Tuk Tour

Lisbon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Immerse Yourself in the Portuguese Culture by Experiencing a Fado Dinner

Lisbon

Simple amazing experience and dinner. A must do.

Quality of Experience

Amazing 5 Star experience

Food

Very good food and Wine.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Easy Taxi ride from Hotel

Transport

Easy Taxi ride from Hotel

Lisbon's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour & Tastings

Lisbon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This was an absolutely fantastic experience, from top to bottom with KimKim. Patricia kept in touch ahead of our trip to make sure that the itinerary met our needs and to ensure we had all the connections noted. Everything was seamless and that attention to detail and staying in touch with us continued throughout the trip. We were a group of eight friends each couple arriving at different times and our transfers from the airport all went beautifully. We had a half day tour of Lisbon shortly after we arrived with Claudia. Claudia came with the highest certification and credentials, and she was clearly a skilled guide, but it was also her warmth and desire to provide us with a terrific experience that really stood out. She packed into the afternoon a wonderful tour that oriented us to the city and gave us a taste of what was to come. Claudia again accompanied us on a day trip to Sintra providing us with a fantastic experience. Our driver Vasco likewise was an utter delight making the trip easy and efficient. Our food tour the following day in Lisbon was led by Ricardo who took us off the beaten track and introduced us to typical Portuguese food and some new foods brought to Portugal from the cultures that make it a city of diversity. The following day it was off to Porto and again Claudia and Vasco made the drive and day special. We stopped in Obidos along the way, one of my favorite small villages with white washed buildings, cute shops and a medieval castle. Once in Porto, our guide Lucia oriented us on the layout of the city and gave us great restaurant suggestions. The walking tour included a stop at the famous bookstore that inspired JK Rowling and the Jewish quarter with fascinating history. Lucia also accompanied us the next day to the Douro Valley where we had an experience of a lifetime visiting two wineries, one being the winery of our guide Lucia’s husband. Lucia’s knowledge of the winery added to the depth of our experience and gave us unique access to the vineyard. We then proceeded to the second winery and dined at the home of the wine owner tasting some amazing wines, eating delicious and authentic Portuguese dishes and having wonderful conversation. A unique and intimate experience. From there we headed to the Algarve and again the transfer to and from the airport and to our hotel were all seamless. The next day our sailboat tour along the Algarve coast provided stunning views and scenery. Then it was back to Lisbon stopping in Lagos along the way where Carla was our guide. Carla is not only a local who gave us a wonderful tour of her city, but an accomplished guide who has worked frequently with Rick Steves. Vasco was again our driver getting us back to Lisbon safely and with a warm smile. Kim Kim put together an amazing trip with wonderful guides and a fabulous itinerary. They were recommended to us by friends and I absolutely give them our highest recommendation as well. Top to bottom, fantastic. Thank you for a fabulous experience.

Hotel Review

Cascade Wellness Resort

Lagos

Relaxing spot with wonderful walking paths along the coast for stunning views. Spa experience was a nice way to end our trip. Dining options on site limited and had a long wait, but good restaurants available in town.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Appliances in the apartment were not working, but staff helpful.

Activity Reviews

Private Tour of Sintra Castles & the Lisbon Coast

Lisbon

Fascinating history and stunning scenery. Claudia our guide did a great job navigating lines and timing so we did not wait, and provided a wonderful experience.

Quality of Experience

Our guide and scenic area

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Claudia and Vasco were amazing

Transport

Timing and efficiency

Douro Valley Tour

Portugal

Our guide Lucia provided us with an intimate and memorable experience. Highly recommend her and this tour. Stunning views and absolutely fantastic wines.

Pedro and his team did a remarkable job in the design and execution of our approximate 3 week trip to Portugal which included a 3 day stay in Seville Spain. In the beginning stages of planning last autumn Pedro listened to us and set up an itinerary that included walking guides, knowledgable drivers, and free days that allowed us to explore on or own. I believe that the outline of our travels will be a template for future customers. Having personal drivers to get us from city to city was also a key attribute that allowed us to remain worry free. No rental cars or public transportation other than a cab now and then worked very very well. The drivers were always on time and polite. The hotels were also top notch. Almost all of the scheduled tours were set aside for the 4 of us exclusively. We were able to interact with our drivers and guides on a personal level. Speaking of a personal level, it was my 75th birthday on May 4th and Pedro arranged a boat trip for the four of us to the grottos of Lagos that included champagne. When we returned to the hotel a bottle of wine and a personal note from Pedro were the proverbial icing on the cake. Pedro communicated with us via WhatsApp on a daily basis to make sure we knew the next day's itinerary and to simply check in. We would recommend KimKim and Pedro to anyone traveling to Portugal. It just doesn't get any better.

Steve and Karen Clemens

Our visit to Portugal was wonderful. Rita arranged good hotels and tours for our group and was responsive to group members that had travel challenges that included cancelled flights, late arrivals and missing luggage.
I encourage anyone that is traveling to be proactive on your own behalf and not expect a travel agent to make all the decisions regarding where you'll go and when. The more input you provide about your interests and preferences the better your trip will be. Rita arranged several tours for us. Sintra is a good side trip that included Cascais, a thriving little beach town (also a short train ride away) . We had a private 3 hour walking tour of the city that really added to our
background info and enjoyment of the city. The history of the small country of Portugal is amazing. We went to
St Jorge's castle on our own, Time Out Food Market was a big food hall; skip it. Pick a nice sidewalk cafe instead.

We tweeked little things along the way, such as the timing for our stay at Nazare, Rita was great at responding and facilitating that. Don't miss Porto & Gaia; our group loved the smaller city and Duoro River region.

The customs process for international travelers arriving in Lisbon is messy if several planes arrive at the same time.
Global Entry doesn't do a thing for you in Europe; it's only for the U.S. entry. Unless you have a new electronic chip passport, be prepared for long lines. I'm getting one this year even though my passport is good for two more years. The airport pick up & transport system is also convoluted with a long walk to the pick up area.
Once we were in the hotel it was beautiful. I'd return to the scenic, not-too-large country and its welcoming people.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Praia

Nazaré

Good location near the beach. Modern hotel. Rooms have views. Breakfast included. The roof top pool should stay open later

H10 Duque de Loule

Lisboa

Lovely boutique hotel, completely renovated. Included breakfast was expansive. Welcoming staff and quiet area. It's an easy walk to the center of the city down a nice leafy boulevard .

Authenticity & Character

Completely remodeled solid old building. There's a lot of urban renewal going on all over te city

Location

I'm glad we weren't in the busy tourist city center but close enough to walk or Uber is super-cheap & fast

Staff

thoughful & responsive

Cleanliness & Comfort

Spotless & hygenic

Activity Reviews

Private Day Excursion: Sintra, Cascais & Estoril

Portugal

We toured Sintra on a Monday. It was a busy place! Perhaps it's just the way it is in Portugal right now because it's a great tourist destination but we were also told tat Mondays can be busy because some museums places in Lisbon are closed on Mondays. We had a short and interesting walking tour around Sintra then did more driving around the area. I would have appreciated going into the large palace that dominated the central square in Sintra or any other large building in the town but we moved on. We did go to an amazing place outside Sintra called Montserrate with a colorful history and chain of ownership, had a simple meaty Barbeque lunch at a Refugio Biciclet on top of a mountain overlooking the area and circled back toward Lisbon along the coastline stopping at the Roca and Cascais along the way. Manu, our guide, was well infirmed about the places we visited and history of his country. He made things interesting.

Quality of Experience

I think our guide may have added te Roca stop to the drive back because Sintra itself was crowded. He wanted to ensure our satisfaction with the experience. We truly appreciated that.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Manu really wanted us to enjoy the tour and get a lot out of it.

Transport

Nice van with room for 8 and windows that opened

Get to Know Lisbon with a Local

Lisbon

Our walking tour was very interesting. Our guide Rita provided a lot of background and navigated us around the center of Lisbon and the hilly streets. We sampled some local specialties such as Castro's custard tarts and ginjen, a local cherry liquor ( be sure to order it with the cherries in your shot) while we walked. When te tour was completed she gave us a dinner suggestion for a local restaurant down a side street that had the best roasted spit chicken you could ask for.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The tour guide was well educated and informed

Lisbon Fado Dinner Experience

Portugal

Food was good, we enjoyed the entertainment. The location was a well established venue. The format was two dining rooms with several Fado singers and musicians that moved from room to room every twenty minutes. This was good because you had a break for going to the restroom and servers to refresh food and drink. When the fado groups were performing they commanded the room's attention.

Quality of Experience

The setting and experience was unique to Lisbon

Food

It was all very good, made well and good portions; I didn't click 5 stars simply because "amazing" is a whole different level.

Dear Kim Kim team.
Thank you very much for your arrangments during our trip and being immadiately reachable at every moment when we have needed your assistance.
We are very much delighted with our trip and arranging this trip over Kim Kim. Thank you.

The itinerary that Paty Marques created for our group of 8 was awesome! We will not soon forget the time we spent exploring Lisbon, Porto and Lagos. Most of us had never heard of kimkim. A friend of one of our travelers had a good experience with the company, and suggested we consider using it. The takeaway from my very first phone conversation with Paty was that she’s highly confident in her ability to create itineraries consistent with the travel objectives of her clients. She listened closely to what we wanted to see and delivered a travel experience that was truly memorable. The contrast between the three areas that we visited added immeasurably to our time in Portugal. Each of the guides that Paty utilized was excellent, but Claudia in Lisbon and Lucia in Porto definitely are superstars. The Douro Valley wine tour that Lucia led was fabulous and will not soon be forgotten, in large part due to the relationships that she has forged with the families that own the two wineries that we toured. We were treated like longtime friends at both places. The lunch at Maos e Irmaos was very special. The food served was delicious and authentic to the region. All of the transfers were handled without issue. The drivers were on time and highly professional. Safe transport was clearly a top priority. Our sincere thanks to Vasco and the others.

In summary, Paty Marques is the travel coordinator that you should use if you are considering a trip to the region. You will not regret the choice.

Marisa was incredible to work with! We really appreciated how thoughtfully and intentionally she planned our stays at three different hotels across the island. She recommended delicious restaurants and beautiful hotels. Also, she quickly rescheduled one of our excursions at the last minute due to my screw-up. Marisa and her team sent a bottle of champagne and dessert to our hotel room after dinner on our anniversary! I couldn't recommend her more. Thank you so much, Marisa!

Hotel Reviews

Terra Nostra Garden Hotel

Furnas

Authenticity & Character

Location

The hotel backs up to the Parque Terra Nostra and all hotel guests have free access to visit the park and hot springs. It was beautiful!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Octant Ponta Delgada

Ponta Delgada

I LOVED this hotel! Beautiful modern interiors, Class A amenities, friendly staff, gorgeous views, large and comfortable rooms, delicious food and wine, etc. We enjoyed getting drinks at the rooftop bar by the pool and had a great experience at the luxury spa. 12/10 would recommend.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Caloura Hotel Resort

The front desk staff was not friendly or welcoming, and the hotel was very hot, humid, and outdated. However, the views were beautiful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Exploring the Majesty of the Seas on a Group Whale Watching Experience

São Miguel Island

So glad we booked a whale watching trip! We saw dolphins, orcas, and 3 giant Sei whales. So cool!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

To Eat Suggestion: Tã Gente

the Azores

Good food and fun drinks with outdoor seating downtown.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

To Eat Suggestion: Santa Barbara Eco Resort

the Azores

The food was phenomenal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our trip was amazing . Our guide in Marrakech took excellent care of us in our tour and during our short visit to the clinic.

A few suggestions:
1. Find a better hotel in Casablanca. There was black mold in the shower, light bulbs out in the room, a broken lamp , no towels , drinking glasses or Kleenex tissue. We asked twice for these items . We got towels and 2 glasses the first night; nothing the 2nd night.
2. Our route should have been planned better and I should have caught this error. We should have gone to Madrid LAST and then flew direct to Marrakech instead of being in Granada and then having to take 2 flights to get to Marrakech.
Avoid Iberia Airlines and go with Air Arabia. They are friendly, accommodating and have much better service and planes. The Iberia jets don't have seats that move. They are in a permanent position. They never offered us anything after a 2 hr delay, gate and plane change. Upon asking them what they were going to do to compensate the passengers for this delay they stated , "this is Iberia airlines ". My response was : "and your point is? They are an international airline." We got nothing !!

The guide in Madrid for the walking tour was so so. When he finished with us he didn't return us to our starting point. We had to figure out where we were and how to get back to the hotel.

We highly recommend the Barcelona Hotel Catedral for Barcelona. Excellent breakfast , room, location and a free happy hour daily.

The other hotels, guides, transfers were excellent.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Regina

Barcelona

Very expensive for a bare bones "superior" room Breakfast was very good

Authenticity & Character

Hang a picture; Make the room feel warm with some color

Location

Staff

Friwndly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean

Hotel Barcelona Catedral

Barcelona

Excellent location and breakfast. Room was very clean and comfortable. Love the free happy hour

Authenticity & Character

Comfortable

Location

Easy access

Staff

Friendly and accommodating

Cleanliness & Comfort

Excellent room

Hotel NH Collection Granada Victoria

Granada

Clean and good breakfast

Authenticity & Character

Pretty

Location

Far from the sights. We walked a lot of miles. Street signs. It well marked

Staff

Very friendly and accommodating

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean!

Palais Sebban

Marrakech

Beautiful venue Older but authentic feeling It is down a few alleys and without a guide we couldn't find our way out

Authenticity & Character

Authentic. It felt Moroccan

Location

Street signs !!!

Staff

Friendly and accommodating. Extremely helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean!

Petit Palace Puerta de Triana

Seville

Great location Great breakfast

Authenticity & Character

Boutique hotel

Location

Close to the sights. Easy walking distance to most of the sights

Staff

Friendly and accommodating

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean

Petit Palace Posada del Peine

Madrid

Great location. Small but pretty room

Authenticity & Character

Location , breakfast

Location

Not far from the main square and shop

Staff

Friendly and accommodating

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean!!

Hotel Odyssee Center

Casablanca

Black mold in the shower ; light bulbs burned out ; a broken lamp; no towels or water glasses. Nice location but the room wasn't good

Authenticity & Character

Location

Read what I wrote

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Attention to details

Activity Reviews

Full Day Excursion to Cádiz - Europe's Oldest City

Seville

Lovely tour and stop at. Local winery. Lots of knowledge and information.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Excursion to Ronda & White Villages

Seville

Good your company

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Visit: Alhambra & Generalife Gardens

Granada

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Privately Guided Visit of Marrakech & Bahia Palace

Marrakesh

We walked through the market after the palace. The market repeated itself over and over again. We didn't need to see every corner of the market. Lots and lots of walking

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour of Hassan II Mosque

Casablanca

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Visit of Barcelona & Sagrada Familia

Barcelona

Guide was very knowledgeable and thorough

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tapas Walk in Barcelona

Barcelona

Excellent tour!!

Quality of Experience

Specific for the area

Food

A large variety

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Flamenco Experience

Portugal

1 hour show. No explanation as to how, why they did what they did.

Quality of Experience

Highlights of Old Madrid Walk

Madrid

Only 1 hour. Saw the cathedral and palace from a distance. should have walked to it

Quality of Experience

A different guide

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Explore Casablanca

Casablanca

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Claudia, Lucia and Carla were terrific! They each brought their knowledge and passion to our tours. We enjoyed all our time with them and would highly recommend them for other travelers. The transportation arrangements were excellent. The drivers were punctual, friendly and helpful. The vehicles were spotless and comfortable.

Two recommendations if I may: 1) Depending on where the pickup spot is for the walking tour of Lisbon, I would offer transportation back from the farthest point. The last 20 minutes or so of walking back was a lot for us older travelers. 😀. 2) If a train is available with good seating, it might be more time effective from Porto to Faro. At least offer the option.

Patricia was fantastic, responsive and attentive!

Hotel Review

Cascade Wellness Resort

Lagos

The location was lovely, the spa was terrific. Our experience at the Bistropub was mixed since no reservations are available. The wait was long and the service was very slow.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to the boardwalk/ cliffs. Quiet, natural surroundings and beauty.

Staff

Extremely attentive to all our concerns. Special kudos to the spa therapists who were excellent.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The apartments are very clean, however the appliances including the wash machine/dryer and iron did not work properly. Only one hair dryer was provided for two rooms/bathrooms.

Activity Reviews

Transfer from Lisbon to Porto stopping in Obidos & Aveiro

Portugal

Claudia chose beautiful spots to enjoy the transfer between the two cities; Obidos and Navare. She consistently chose authentic Portuguese goods and cuisine at terrific stores that we would not have been able to discern.

Quality of Experience

The restaurant in Navare, Pangeia, was outstanding. The food was superb and we had a beautiful view of the coast. I highly recommend the restaurant.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Vasco, our driver, was such a kind man. He gave my husband a gift for his birthday! Claudia brought candles and arranged for a special dessert for my husband. They could not have been nicer.

Transport

Comfortable, clean and timely.

Douro Valley Tour

Portugal

Our guide Lucia made the trip even more special by sharing her family winery estate with us. We were thrilled to see the entire Douro valley from the top point of the mountain. We also loved having a family style lunch at the other local winery.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Lucia was excellent. We also loved Alda and Lionel, our drivers.

Transport

Private Sailing Experience in the Algarve Coast

Portugal

The sailing was fantastic- the boat was terrific with a very friendly and capable crew. I would highly recommend this experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Well organized and very professional,
Patricia was very responsive.
transportation vehicles were first class as were the drivers.. Claudia was a great guide in Lisbon. Lucia in Porto and Carla in Lagos also, we’re fantastic.
1st class trip

Our contact and specialist on the team was Catarina Cotrim.
From the initial contact our trip was designed with our personal preferences and specific choices in mind. We gave Catarina our absolute must see list and she offered other possibilities as well. She put together a trip that had the perfect balance of "tour time" and "our free time."
All our hotels were wonderful and perfectly located for our visits.
Our drivers and tour guides were exceptional, their knowledge of the history of the area was so very much appreciated, not to mention the amazing restaurants they recommended.
The communication with Catarina before and during our trip was one of the aspects of this trip that made it stress free, affording us the maximum amount of enjoyment during our visit to Portugal.
If we were asked to pick a favorite place during our journey, well, we can't. Each city, town, and site we visited had its own charm and beauty. We can easily recommend The Host Portugal to create an amazing trip.

Activity Reviews

Delicious TukTuk Tour

Portugal

There was some overlap between food we tasted in the morning on our walking tour and the Delicious TukTuk tour. We did visit a small restaurant that was thru a very Moorish patio garden which was very beautiful, there we sample three different dishes all of which were tasty. The best thing about the tour was the little restaurant and sitting still for a bit. I am glad we took the TukTuk tour because it was a memorable experience bouncing along the tram tracks , an unusual way to see the city.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our TukTuk driver was very friendly and his choice of the little restaurant was excellent

Transport

I don't think there is any improvement to a TukTuk, it is what it is, a TukTuk.

HD Tour in Sintra - Moorish Castle & Monserrate Palace

Sintra

Walking up to and through the Moorish Castle there was fog rolling up the mountain, which just cleared as we hit the highest parts. It was very breezy making the flags on the battlements flutter. Mother nature was helping us appreciate the ruins with dramatic mystery! From the top you can see Pena Palace which is a stark contrast in time and history. Afterwards we explored Monserrate Palace whose gardens were a tremendous achievement, aside from being beautiful. There was the fern forest, the desert garden filled with cactus, a small lake right in front of the house and a few perfect specimens of immense trees from different continents. Out through the back of the palace were patio areas with pergolas dripping with wisterias all in bloom. The palace itself has no more furnishings, but the architecture is uniquely awe inspiring.

Quality of Experience

Mother nature helped make the day magical, but even without it both places are Portuguese treasures.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had Sandra only for half a day, but when we said goodbye she left us with two other palace/villas to visit if we chose. We did visit one Biester palace which was from more recent history and had been kept in private hands until recently, the majority of the furnishings are still there and wonderfully maintained.

Transport

FD Tour of Sintra

Portugal

This day we explored Pena Palace and Regaleira. Both of these places are not like anything I have ever seen before, both uniquely stunning and beautiful, rich in history. We both appreciated having sufficient time to take everything in. The tour of Pena had time slots, which was a brilliant way to ensure that the palace was not just swamped with visitors. The palace is meticulously maintained and just a marvel to see as well as the vistas it affords. Regaleira is an architectural masterpiece in both the structures and gardens and while there were plenty of visitors, the grounds have a quality of peaceful solitude.

Quality of Experience

It was all stunning

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sandra was our guide and Leonardo our driver. I don't know if having the same driver and guide is the norm, but we felt very lucky.

Transport

Transfer from Lisbon to Sintra

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had the same driver, Leonardo and guide Sandra. We knew we were in good hands!

Transport

FD Tour to Batalha, Nazaré & Óbidos

Portugal

This was a marvelous day. We visited Fatima and Batalha in the morning, had lunch in Nazare and drove up above to some amazing vistas, wandering through fun street vendors (The ladies with all the skirts!). On our way back to Lisbon we stopped for a brief stroll through Obidos. The religious art and architecture of both Fatima and Batalha were stunning. Fatima was populated by the faithful, as a mass was about to start in the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity and we watched the procession bringing a statue of Mary from her chapel to the modern cathedral. In contrast was Batalha, which was quiet and frozen in time, home to the faithful of Monarchs of the past, the architecture was impressive even with the unfinished section being weathered by time and the elements. Nazare is not a large beach community and the day we were there the surf was very calm, but the restaurant we ate at played the surfing competitions on large screens showing a very different surf at Nazare. I can honestly say I ate the best seared tuna there I have ever eaten in my life. It was served with sautéed turnip greens and new potatoes. Absolutely delicious! After lunch we drove up to the part of the beach community on the top of the cliffs, the view was spectacular as it was a perfectly clear day. Our guide led us thru the street vendors to a small chapel that was completely done in tile and told us the story of how this chapel came to be on the cliff. Finally on our way back we stopped in the little historic town of Obidos and slowly wandered as our guide told of the history.

Quality of Experience

Firstly the areas themselves, secondly Sandra our tour guide added to each location with history and local stories.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sandra our guide was exceptional in how and when she gave information always leaving us with time to just absorb our surroundings in silence. She was also quite brilliant in having bathroom breaks and coffee breaks, both essential for us. Lunch was our drivers recommendation so Leonardo gets all the credit there and Sandra did say she believed the drivers new all the best places to eat. Leonardo was an amazing driver, very competent and knowledge in all the areas he drove us to.

Transport

The vehicles used by this company, clean and comfortable.

Best of Lisbon on foot

Lisbon

Our guide, Guilherme was marvelous, he took us through Lisbon and showed us short cuts for getting up to either side of the city, ie Chiado. As we walked he gave us the history of Lisbon, pointing out events that left its mark on the city, for example the earthquake and subsequent tsunami, which destroyed the city and who was responsible for it being rebuilt. We stopped along the way to sample cod cakes and beer, he showed us where to get the best bifana as we walked over to the Alfama section with its quiet narrow streets. We ended our tour in commerce square and under the archway to the city. By taking us up one side of the city and then across to the other side we enjoyed amazing vistas of the city. I was a bit sad when our tour was done, it was an amazing morning.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guilherme was not just knowledgeable in the history of Lisbon. His guided walk was like being shown the city by a friend, he was so natural and friendly, he didn't just dole out facts, he told a story and we listened wanting to hear it all.

Dinner & Fado Show in Lisbon

Portugal

The music was wonderful, the food was not as good as other restaurants we ate at in Lisbon.

Quality of Experience

Food

Difficult to say, we were very tired and I don't remember any of it, apologies.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver was the one who made our first few days in Portugal stress free. Leonardo was easy to talk to and ask questions. He was confident, yet soft spoken. He made us feel safe and at ease in a new city and country

Transport

The vehicles from this company were exceptional comfortable, pristine clean and the bottle of water in the vehicles was very much appreciated.

Our travel agent Rita did a fabulous job helping us plan our trip with a good balance of culture, history and experiences.
We arrived in Lisbon in the morning and had an afternoon Walking food tour with our guide Daniel. What a great way to get familiar with the city, the foods from the area and to quickly get set to local time. We spent a full day tour traveling to Sintra and surrounding areas. Our guide Paulo was fabulous! The history as well as his personal experiences growing up in Portugal was great. We also got the opportunity to eat at his wife's restaurant in Sintra. The food was really great. Loved the cod dish! In the Algarve, our guide Roy took us up the mountain to experience the rural area. You could tell Roy really loved sharing his stories about growing up in the area. The accommodations were perfect! I highly recommend working with Rita and team!

Our itinerary provided us with a good overview of Portugal. The cities that we visited were all interesting. The guides did a nice job of explaining the history of the country.

We provided Pedro with the name of a driver and guide that we particularly enjoyed. However, I wish to especially praise Pedro for the service that he provided to us. When we needed help, he was instantly there. He gets 6 stars from us.

What an incredible journey for the four of us exploring Lisbon and Porto! We indulged in private history and culinary tours, embarked on exciting day trips, and even delved into a delightful cooking class. Our stay at a charming waterfront hotel in Porto added an extra touch of magic to our experience. Catarina and her team were readily available and instrumental in crafting an unforgettable trip for us!

Hotel Review

Smy Lisboa

Lisboa

Despite the fantastic rooftop bar, the attentive staff, and the convenient location, we found the rooms to be a bit worn out, and it felt like the hotel caters primarily to large bus tours.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private FullDay Tour to the Historic Douro

Portugal

Manuel picked us up for a drive to Douro valley to Quinta do Val Moreira. Wine tour and tasting followed by some amazing valley view finding then back to the winery for lunch. After that we had a boat tour before heading back to Porto via scenic valleys and hills.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Portuguese Seafood Cataplana & Cooking Class

Porto

What an amazing experience- getting to learn to make a delicious seafood dish in this delightful kitchen. Highly recommended for local and visiting friends!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Half Day Porto City Tour

Porto

we met back up with Manuel again and met Tania (our guide for the morning). We had a whirlwind drive to see the coast and city center of Porto before crossing the Douro river to Gaia for a visit at Ferreira Port Caves for a tour and tasting. Then up to Miradouro da Serra do Pilar for a view of Porto and the wall. Back over the river for some additional driving views around the city

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer from Lisbon to Porto via Óbidos & Nazaré

Portugal

Manuel picked us up and drove us to Porto with long stops at the medieval Óbidos and coastal Nazaré. Phenomenal Seafood lunch with wine in Nazaré.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

FD Tour in Sintra with Visit to San Michel Winery

Lisbon

we were picked up by Vanessa (guide) and Samir (driver) and taken to the eclectic Pena Palace, where every texture and design and style and culture meet. Then a dive into the winding streets of Sintra for shopping and lunch where Vanessa also surprised us with a birthday treat for mom! Followed up with a trip to the beach. Then a private tour of the family owned Quinta De San Michel winery

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Delicious TukTuk Tour

Portugal

a tuktuk with Hugo! All over the city with a focus in old town and view points and stops to try more food and drinks

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

HD Private Tour in Lisbon

Portugal

Wonderful history tour with Alexandra (guide) and João (driver) with a Jerónimos Monastery visit, Belem tower, Pastel de nata tasting and more

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a great trip to Lisbon and Porto. Pedro was great at helping us plan and available for questions in advance of the trip. 5 star private group experience. We left time to explore on our own as well,

Tiago and his team were excellent guides and advisors about the best things to do in and around Lisbon. We recommend this team highly and will certainly make use of them on our next trip to Portugal. We loved the insider views of the Alfama district and the Fado evening was especially fantastic. We also appreciated the restaurant recommendations and amazing parking skills. Thanks everyone!

Hotel Review

Dom Carlos Liberty

Very comfortable, great staff and good location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Cascais & Sintra Guided Visit

Portugal

Very crowded. Had to leave to meet our guide before we got inside.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guided Tour of Lisbon

Lisbon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lisbon Market, Food and Cultural Walk (morning)

Lisbon

This was a FANTASTIC food tour--possibly the best ever! It was great to visit a less touristy area and nibble the day away.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Enjoy Dinner with Live Fado Music

Lisbon

A remarkable evening with a very authentic feel. Highly recommend!

Quality of Experience

Food

Nothing--all part of the experience.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Restaurant staff were great. We didn't have a guide and took a taxi to the restaurant.

We love the approach KimKim takes of surveying interests and travel styles and creating a custom trip that fits. The local guides were top-notch, and the activities aligned well with our interests. Especially the cooking class we took and the dinner we had in someone’s home. It was a nice change from a restaurant to be able to have a relaxing meal in a
“homey” environment and get to know some new people.

The other positive of Helena (our trip lanner) was the regular communication about trip details both before and while we were away, as well as that from the tour guides. There was very little to fret over while we were on vacation – and we got updates throughout our tour.

The only bit of advice I have is that you should take time to research your destination fully. This was the 1st time I did not plan every aspect of our trip (book hotels, Viator tours, etc.), and I should have better researched Lisbon (and Porto) to fully appreciate what we did and what we missed. I felt a little disconnected following a plan that was built for me rather than one I built. This is nothing against KimKim – I 100% recommend them; just advice as you begin to plan your next destination.

We will definitely use KimKim when we plan our next trip!

The KimKim team, especially Pedro, made our trip to Portugal smooth, exciting, and fulfilling. We especially loved our walking tour guide in Porto (Bernardo - amazing) and our drivers (Miguel from Lisbon to Sintra + Porto & Pedro to the Douro Valley). Every location we saw was wonderful for its own reasons. Thank you for organizing a great trip with our group and making adjustments when we asked!

We are very glad that we used kimkim for our first time to Portugal! kimkim connected us to João, and kimkim's platform made it very easy to communicate with him as he assisted and advised on the itinerary for our trip. João was fantastic - very prompt in answering our many questions, provided options to accommodate our specific requests, and was all around super pleasant and friendly. We also didn't feel like he gave us any pressure, which was really appreciated.

After we decided to go with kimkim, we trusted João to arrange and book everything for us. He made everything super easy! While we were in the country, João set up a WhatsApp chat and sent daily check-ins with the plans for the next day. It was reassuring to know we always had a lifeline in case there were any issues (and there really weren't any - except for rare bad weather which is NOT in their control of course!). João's network of private transportation and guides were top notch - everyone was prompt, super friendly, knowledgeable, and very willing to share their personal/local experiences and opinions. That really made a huge difference in terms of our overall experience. Special shout out to our drivers - André, Ivo, Ricardo, and Fernando!

We loved our Portugal trip and went everywhere we wanted to go: Lisbon/Sintra, Porto, Douro Valley, and the Algarve. We highly recommend João and his team without hesitation!

A comment about the price - yes, you will probably pay more with kimkim than if you were to book everything on your own, but we felt it was worth it for the convenience, flexibility for 100% customization, level of service, and the high quality of the experiences.

João contacted both of us once or twice daily on Whats App. He sent a schedule for the next day on the prior evening. All communication was detailed and very helpful. Any questions we had were answered quickly. We were never without support, if we needed it. As it was, everyone in the schedule was on time, completed their roles very professionally and went above and beyond our expectations! "Pepe" picked us up from the airport and was our driver and tour guide for the first part of our trip. Ivo carried on with driving for the next couple days and finally Sandre (sp) drove us back to the airport. All drivers were excellent as they provided comprehensive information on each place that we passed or stopped at. Without their expertise we would be looking at places and have no real understanding of the history or what we were seeing and experiencing. A big thanks goes to all three!

We took walking tours with Margareta (sp), Bernardo and Daniel. We learned of history, architecture, culture, politics and social norms. All guides were very well educated and readily shared their knowledge and enthusiasm for their local areas. We came away inspired and awed by how much we had learned! We recommend that everyone who goes to Portugal tries to get a walking tour with one of these guides!

We had two winery tours and 3 tastings from which we learned a lot about the individual winery and we developed an appreciation for the excellent wines and ports in Portugal. Another truly wonderful experience!

Our hotels were all wonderful and unique in their styles and architecture. João picked excellent places to stay and recommended wonderful restaurants close by. Every detail was anticipated and planned for by João.

We rented a car for 3 days and both the pick up and return was smooth and had wonderful service. The vehicle was so much better than anything we expected to find as a rental! Thanks to Marta who was especially wonderful! Everyone assured us that driving in Portugal was easy and we found it to be true. Of course we did not challenge rush hour in Lisbon!

We hope that we did not miss thanking anyone for their excellent services for indeed everyone did an excellent job! The people of Portugal were kind, courteous and we highly recommend having João and the whole team set up your vacation experience! Thank you!

We had 3 nights in Lisbon, 3 in Porto, 2 in Evora and 1 in Cascais. We travelled to Sintra and toured the Pena Palace and Park, Obidos, and their walled medieval town, Nazare, Porto with a walking tour and a tour of Sandeman Winery, Douro Valley and Quinta da Pacheca (both restaurant and winery), Coimbra, Fatima, Evora (walking tour).