Kimkim Trip Reviews for Portugal

Our trip to Portugal to celebrate 15th wedding anniversary was well planned with in-depth conversation with Joao from Across Portugal. With ongoing conversation we were able to settle on points of interest and hotel arrangements efficiently and we really appreciated timely responses from Joao, which made us feel more comfortable in dealing with a travel agency we were not familiar with.

Even before our arrival, Joao texted and guided us, laid out detailed information on what to expect at the airport upon arrival. Upon arrival we were greeted with a Welcome Package of bottles of Porto and cookies and champagne! Each day he checked on us and reminded us of our upcoming schedule for the next day. Our drivers were on time and drove us in clean cars and Nelson, the driver we had the most, even got us a bouquet of flowers and a box of delicious chocolates on our anniversary date! Every hotel we stayed at also welcomed us with a celebratory bottle of champagne and fruit to help celebrate our wedding anniversary. What a way to make you feel special!

Our walking tour guides were also excellent too! Thank you to Margarida and Andre (Porto guide) were fantastic, engaging and very informative.

Thank you to Joao and his team at Across Portugal! We have travelled extensively around the world but Across Portugal's personal touch and services left us with wonderful memories of Portugal and unforgettable experiences throughout our journey across Portugal! Muito Obrigada!

Hotel Reviews

Grande Real Villa Italia

Cascais

Beautifully decorated hotel with large rooms. Needs slight updates but otherwise, excellent location and quiet.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very responsive to requests. Thank you.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was clean and tidy. The bed was so big :)

Cascade Wellness Resort

Lagos

It's location was amazing! Close vicinity to walks around the cliff side...very quiet. If you wanted to go into town then you had to take an Uber but otherwise, excellent location for hiking and long walks.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

NH Collection Porto Batalha

Porto

Amazing location, clean but the room could have been slightly bigger.

Authenticity & Character

Nice boutique hotel but it uses strong fragrance in common areas.

Location

Walkabout distance to all areas. Fantastic location.

Staff

Staff working the breakfast was very efficient and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean and well kept hotel

Heritage Avenida Liberdade

Lisboa

Great location, clean and quiet. Breakfast could have more variety; otherwise, service was fantastic!

Authenticity & Character

Clean boutique hotel

Location

A short distance to the major tourist sites and restaurants.

Staff

Very responsive to our requests and questions. Very helpful!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nice firm bed. No odours. Very clean!

Activity Reviews

Exclusive Panoramic Boat Tour to the Ponta da Piedade Caves

Portugal

It was a private boat tour so we had ample space to relax and enjoy the ride. Also we felt safe and well protected.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Portugal

Driving through Douro valley to look at it's unique scenery was great.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Flavors of Port Wine - Sip & Discover

Porto

Always interesting to try sip and discover tours of a well known winery. Wine tasting afterwards with cheese board made the experience even more memorable!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Farewell

Lisbon Int. Airport (LIS)

We were picked up and dropped off at the airport without any delay or issues. Much appreciated ample space in the car.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Portugal

Excellent private tour and delicious lunch at the restaurant. The food was delicious and the service was spectacular! What a beautiful winery!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Porto's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour

Porto

Our guide, Andre, was very proud of Porto. As we walked through this beautiful town he explained the history and its different areas.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Unveil the Fairytale Villa of Sintra with a Private Driver Service

Portugal

The villa was beautiful and very interesting on the exterior, especially when the fog rolled in and covered the whole villa. The village around the villa was also very quaint and interesting but what we enjoyed the most was the services provided by our private driver, Nelson. We had the opportunity to ask Nelson questions about Portugal and what it is to be a Portuguese and he also provided a lot of interesting information about Sintra. Thank you Nelson!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to Portugal was a special vacation for us. Since we don't like planned tours or large tour groups, it was important to be able to design an agenda that appealed to things we liked to do. Typically I do all of the planning, but after coming across kimkim, we thought that a local person who is familiar with the places we wanted to go would be even better. Helena did a great job of putting together a plan for us. She was open to making changes as we went along, and gave good suggestions. Her choice of hotels was fabulous! They were all of high quality, provided good service, and gave us a luxury environment. Having Helena take care of our train tickets and our rental car made it so easy for us.

Despite one "blip" with a pick-up from the train to the hotel, our transports were excellent. It was tricky to find our driver at the airport, but once we did, we were pleased. The issue we had was difficulty getting in touch with the company after our driver had left us at the station due to our train arriving late. The phone number we were given had been changed, and the automated message letting us know the new number was so fast that it took us listening to it three times before we could catch all of the numbers. When we called the new number, we were told that someone would be coming for us in 15 minutes and to wait inside of the station. We split up so as to not miss the driver, but nobody came. After yet another call, we were told that a black car would be there shortly; however, someone in a light colored vehicle showed up and then didn't know where we were going nor where the hotel was located. After speeding down narrow streets, we were finally let off at the top of a steep cobblestone street where we had to drag our suitcases down two blocks to our hotel. Later we learned that transportation companies and taxis are permitted to access the pedestrian street in front of our hotel. We were just grateful that none of us fell down the hill or were injured, but that was completely ridiculous! After being told on the phone by a kimkim representative, Carin that the company is one that is often used and the disbelief that the phone number had changed, I sincerely hope that kimkim reconsiders using the company in the future.

The tours and tour guides that were set up for us were very good. The guide to the Douro Valley, Joao Campos, was friendly, interesting and accommodating. We really enjoyed the boat ride, visits to a winery, and lunch at a quinto was a highlight for us. Out 3 hour tour in Porto with Sandra Tavares was not exactly what we expected. Sandra was energetic and knowledgeable, however, we walked for 80% of the tour. The classic car picked us up near the end of the tour which lasted almost 6 hours. We were able to see a lot of Porto, but at the end were left far from our next tour without transportation. The amount of walking was also very difficult for some of us to handle, and did result in soreness the next day. Right after the first tour, we had a walking food tour. Fortunately, when we told the guide that we were exhausted and not up for a lot more walking, she was able to accommodate us by using streets that were less steep. The places we visited were definitely off of the beaten path and the food was eclectic from wine and cheese to beer and dessert. We had a great time with the others on the tour who were from various countries. Driving to Evora, Lagos and back to Lisbon was very easy. We were sad that our balloon ride was canceled due to the weather, but that is out of our control. Evora was very interesting, and the hotel there was outstanding. We didn't stop at Coimbra, but opted to relax at the hotel instead. We enjoyed the tour with Jones. He was also personable and knowledgeable. Our only concern was that his vehicle was small for all of us and not very comfortable. He showed us the cork factory and an old town with a former palace that had wonderful views. In Lagos, our tour to see the sunset at St. Vincent's Cape in Sagres wasn't exactly as written. Pedro was not our guide, Miguel was. His vehicle was a loud jeep-like truck that didn't have seatbelts that worked consistently. He would drop us off and then go off to smoke. He had some crazy stories and really couldn't answer some of our questions. He was a nice guy, but we felt unsafe driving with him. He brought wine to the sunset, but no binoculars or chorizo, as promised. We did enjoy lunch at Morgado Do Quinto that we drove ourselves to. The hostess served plenty of food and wine, and gave everyone a tour of the property. She also told us about the grape vines, almonds and cacao trees. It was very good. In Lisbon, our guide, Jose Antunes, was very good. He knew a lot about the city and walked us to see sights without going into a lot of buildings. Our day was a bit hectic after that because we had to travel by Uber across the city to paint tiles with Ana which was very cool! After leaving there, we met Mariana who gave us a tour at the tile museum in Lisbon. She was excellent. She was well prepared and really knew about tile history. After that, we were back across the city to the Earthquake Museum which was so-so. I think we call were less impressed with that. Following the Earthquake Museum was the Banksy "Museum". We found it interesting to review his work over time, but it was a tiring day. Our final day we toured with Marta to Sintra and Cascais. She was friendly and also very knowledgeable about the area from a resident's perspective. We went to a park to see the palace there which was spectacular, but involved a lot of trail walking. Then we had lunch at a local restaurant where we tasted all types of meat. That was also interesting.

Our trip exceeded our expectations. We loved Portugal: the people, the food, the history and the scenery. The one thing that was a bit concerning was being given all of the options for our trip but not knowing how much each item cost separately. In some ways, it was good because we got to do what we wanted and had the experiences without worrying about the cost. In other ways, it would have been nice to have some choices that may have saved some money.

Raquel was flexible, organized and quite responsive to our changing needs. She selected city tours, food tours in Porto, Evora and Lisbon that steeped us in culture and history.

Portugal: History, Wine, and Sun-Soaked Coasts
Portugal offered a fantastic mix of historical exploration, delicious food, and stunning scenery. Here's a breakdown of my trip:

Porto: A guided tour with Tania provided a solid introduction to Porto's rich history and architectural beauty. We explored the Ribeira district and learned about the city's connection to Port wine.

Douro Valley: Nelson, our knowledgeable guide, led us through the stunning Douro Valley. We visited a family-owned winery for a personalized experience, learning about traditional Port production and enjoying a delicious home-cooked meal paired with their wines.

Matosinhos: This coastal town lived up to the hype. We indulged in some of the freshest seafood I've ever had – a must for any seafood lover.

Via Comburia & Évora: A day trip took us to these contrasting destinations. Via Comburia offered a glimpse into cork production, a significant aspect of Portugal's economy. Évora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, impressed with its Roman Temple and the haunting Capela dos Ossos.

Algarve & Benagil Caves: A trip to the southern Algarve region wasn't complete without a visit to the incredible Benagil Caves. The boat tour provided stunning views of these natural wonders. The region's abundance of fresh fruit, especially oranges, was a delightful treat.

Évora & Paulo's Pastéis: A day trip with Paulo included exploring Évora's castles and learning about their historical significance. The highlight was visiting his family's bakery in the old town for some truly phenomenal pastries – a perfect way to end the day.

Lisbon: We finished the trip in Lisbon, allowing time to explore the city at our own pace.

Overall: Portugal exceeded expectations. The combination of informative tours, delicious food and wine experiences, and breathtaking scenery made it a memorable trip. The hospitality of the locals, especially Tania, Nelson, and Paulo, added a personal touch that truly enhanced the experience.

Hotel Reviews

Cascade Wellness Resort

Lagos

Top-notch breakfast buffet

Authenticity & Character

Location

Need to have a car, which we did

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lovely view and very spacious

Portugal Boutique City Hotel

Lisbon

Not easy to get to by car but a lovely hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

It was the largest hotel room that I have ever had in Europe, very nice and comfortable

Évora Olive Hotel

Évora

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bed was very hard

Flores Boutique Hotel

Porto

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Day Excursion: Sintra, Cascais & Estoril

Portugal

Pauolo was great, very informative and friendly. We enjoyed spending time with him and meeting his wife at their shop in town. Castles we great as well as the Well of Initiation which I had always wanted to see. Unfortunately the weather was not very cooperative and it rained a fair bit of the time

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very friendly and fun to talk to

Transport

Loved the Tesla, roomy and comfortable

4X4 Algarve Sunset Experience

Portugal

We weren't quite sure what to expect with this tour. It had been cloudy all day so we were afraid that we would not see the sunset, but in the end it cleared up and we were able to see it. Our guide was fun and showed us some out-of-the-way places you would never know to see. Our dinner was very good, some of the best chicken we had the entire trip

Quality of Experience

Sipping sparkling wine and watching the sunset was lovely

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Funny and gregarious

Transport

Old truck, a bit uncomfortable and difficult to see out of if you are in the back

Historic Coimbra Highlights: University, Chapel, & Old Town

Portugal

We were slightly late due to our navigation system messing up. Nuno was very patient with us. He was extremely knowledgeable about the university and surrounding area. Interesting tour

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Inside Benagil Caves by Boat

Portugal

Amazing view of the coastline and caves. Cool to go inside and see first hand. Well worth it

Quality of Experience

Very cool

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Fun staff & captain

Transport

Boat is a little uncomfortable after a while

Peneda-Gerês National Park Experience: Easy Hike & Cultural Experience

Porto

There were some interesting aspects to this trip, it was a bit more strenuous than we expected. I honestly enjoyed walking around in the Palacio Nacional da Pena (Pena Palace) in Evora far more. Rafael was a lovely guide and a very nice person. He showed us around the villages that still exist within the park which was interesting

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Very rough ride along the fire roads inside the park

Exploring the Cork Tradition of the Alentejo

Portugal

Interesting. I did not know that there is so much to know about cork or how many places it is used

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bohemian Lisbon: Food & Culture Walk

Lisbon

Filipa was lovely and we enjoyed some of the food along the tour. However, the final restaurant she left us at for our meal was terrible. It was loud, and packed and the food was just not good. We ended up leaving because we didn't want to insult the owners by not eating what they were bringing out

Quality of Experience

Food

Final restaurant was just not a good experience for us

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Day Excursion to Douro Valley: Wine Tasting & River Cruise

Porto

Because of the weather Nelson offered to take us to a Port winery vs doing the open River Cruise and we were glad we did. It was a lovely location and the port was excellent. The private tour of the family winery we went to was wonderful, really got to see and learned about how they produced their wines. Topped off with a private traditional lunch they made just for us. A lovely day

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Nelson was great, really enjoyed talking with him

Transport

Nice relaxing ride

Private Guided Visit of Porto

Porto

Tania did a great job showing us the highlights of the city. But it was also done in a logical manner such that weren't constantly going up and down hill the whole time. She dropped us off near the river and suggested a place for lunch and called ahead for us to get us a table. She was very friendly and knowledgeable and gave us some unique insights into different aspects of the city

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Culinary Highlights of Porto: Food Delights & Bolhão Market

Porto

This was a fun intro to the food and wine of Porto

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Lisbon Food Experience by Tuk-Tuk

Lisbon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Raquel did an amazing job booking our trip! We were impressed with the quality and efficiency of the hotels and outings booked. All went smoothly and we were delighted with all of our guides. It was a perfect trip!

Raquel and the entire KimKim team made our trip to Portugal perfectly unique to us and so seamless as we traveled across the entire country! Everything and more that we needed for our trip was provided and was extremely easy to use and follow. We have never used a travel planning service before, but we will for sure be recommending and using KimKim again to plan future trips!

Activity Reviews

Tour & Tasting at Taylor’s Port Cellar

Porto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Excursion to Douro Valley: Wine Tasting & River Cruise

Porto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Lisbon by Electric Tuk-Tuk

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Peneda-Gerês National Park Experience: Easy Hike & Cultural Experience

Porto

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Super friendly guide!

Transport

Lisbon Local Food Walk: Petiscos & Wine Walk

Lisbon

This was an amazing tour! We ate at small, local restaurants we never would have found on our own. Everything we tired was absolutely amazing and was some of our favorite food on out trip!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

No single word can adequately describe our recent Portugal trip unless that word is "Perfect"! Raquel planned informative, historic, scenic, and entertaining tours using outstanding guides. She attended to every detail so that we could relax and enjoy our vacation. The Kim Kim team gets my vote!

PORTO
Hotel Pur Oporto.
I rate this hotel 3 stars.
•When we walked into the hotel and to the reception, the staff did not smile or say hello. I had to smile & say hello first.
•The room looked fabulous when we first walked in.
•Thank you for the red rose & the champagne.
•The veranda was great.
•The room needs more hooks.
•The bathroom was awkward and it was dangerous stepping out of the bathtub because the bidet was in the way.
•The cold breakfast was excellent, the hot breakfast looked & tasted like it had been there for a long time, it was not pleasant to eat.
•Staff warmed up but would only say hello and smile if I said hello first.
•Position of the hotel was excellent for us because we like to walk everywhere.
Local Guides & Tours
•Porto Food Tour- can't remember the guides name, just that he was a magician.
This tour was lots of fun & excellent. 5 stars.
•Miguel - Day on the Doura. Excellent guide & excellent tour. 5 stars.
EVORA
Hotel: Albergaria Do Calvārio - 3 stars.
•Our room was very big, it was downstairs, the bathroom was okay but had lots of ants in it. Bed was comfortable.
•Breakfast: Was very simple and the 'freshly' cooked breakfast tasted like it had been sitting in the pan for a long time.
•Staff: All staff were excellent
Tours
Convento de Christi
Excellent - 5 stars
Tour of Evora
•Guide: Telma - walking tour of the old town was excellent, Telma was so good, funny and lovely to be will. 5 stars.
ALGARVE
•Lunch at Morgado do Quintāo
The lunch was delicious.
The short tour of the vines was excellent due to our Guide Candy. She was passionate about the area and her knowledge was excellent. Her voice is soft and gentle. She is the reason we are giving this tour 5 stars.
The 4,000 year old olive tree is amazing.
LAGOS
Hotel: Lagos Avenida
•As soon as you walk in the doors you are greeted by a smile and amazing decor. This hotel is 5 stars plus!!!
•All the areas of the hotel are immaculate.
The staff are really friendly and they smile and chat to you.
•Local Guides and Tours
Kayaking trip to Benagil Caves
Guide: Zac
•This tour was excellent - tho you do need to fit and be able to kayak as the ocean was very bumpy with natural waves but also waves from all the other tourist boats.
•The caves are magnificent.
5 stars for the tour and for Zac, he was excellent.
Bike Tour to Ria Formosa
Guide: Goncalo
•Excellent day riding the boardwalks through the wetlands and then out to the beach. Loved every second of this ride. Coffee and pastel de natas on the beach was wonderful.
5 stars for our wonderful guide Concalo and the bike ride.
LISBON
Hotel: PortoBay Liberdade
•Walked in to the hotel and received a wonderful welcome of smiles and hellos.
• Staff were friendly and said hello.
• The in house restaurant is excellent, we had an amazing dinner on our first night!
• Restaurant staff were excellent, special mention to Ciro, Cleo & Beatrice.
•The stand out staff member was Sophie Mello- great personality, beautiful smile, great sense of humour, we could not fault her!!!
Local Tours & Guides
• Tuk Tuk of Old City
•Guide: Arthur
• A great tour of the old town. Arthur eas great, good sense of humour and knowledgeable.
5 stars for the tour & Arthur.
FADO
•The good was average and the staff not that pleasant..but the Fado singers and accompanying guitar players were amazing.
•Very emotional and so amazing to listen to, the projection of their voices was truly magnificent.
5 stars for the performance
3 stars for the dinner.
•Sintra Heritage Hike
•Guida: Susana
•An amazing day in the mountains. Loved the Moorish Castle, and the surrounding gardens, so beautifully designed.
•The Penna Palace was incredible with it's architecture and bright colours of red & yellow.
•The tour to go into the palace was not that good, due to too many people. It was interesting but took too long because of the amount of people.
•We ended the day with a great cup of coffee in the Sintra Village.
10 stars for the tour
10 stars for Susana
•Day Tour to Setubal & Arrābida
•Tour Guide: Raul
•The XV11 Century Fortress is really boring. The view is nice. The only thing that made this worthwhile was the church.
• We did not go Cabo Espichel to see the giant waves crash against the rocks. This was the main reason we booked this tour. Very disappointed.
• The visit to the vineyard, saved the day.
Phillipa was excellent, Her knowledge about the vineyards, the area and the wines was excellent, she also had a great personality and was funny.
•The wines were delicious and so easy the tasting plate.
•The lunch we had with our guide was excellent, Raul warmed up and was excellent company.
•I am only giving this tour 2 stars because of the boring Fortress and not going into the natural park of Arrābida
• The wine tasting tour with Phillipa - 5 stars .
Hi Rita,
I know this is really long but I hope you read this and take note.
We have thoroughly enjoyed working with you and your company.
Kind regards
Anna & Bob Tait

Hotel Reviews

PortoBay Liberdade

Lisbon

Excellent welcome as soon as you walk in the door from reception and floor staff. Great location and if you enjoy walking is not too far to the beginning of the old town. Restaurant for breakfast was excellent. Excellent service from Sophia, she is very professional, and has a great sense of humour, we really enjoyed her at breakfast time! Restaurant for dinner is exceptional!!! Excellent service from Ciro, Cleo & Beatrice. Rooms are clean & tidy but need to be refurbished. The house keepers were very friendly and well and made up the rooms beautifully. We had an excellent stay at this hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Sophia was the stand out of all the staff!!!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lagos Avenida Hotel

Lagos

This hotel is fabulous. As soon as you walk in you are greeted with a lovely smile from the girls on reception. The hotel is beautifully designed & styled in every way. Excellent pieces of wooden art are a real feature in the hotel. Our room was fabulous. We had a balcony overlooking looking the marina. The room service staff were lovely too. Breakfast was incredible!!!!! Wait staff were very friendly and professional. The restaurant is a Michelin Star Restaurant!!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Albergaria do Calvário

Évora

This was a perfectly placed hotel at the beginning of the old village. The hotel also had parking which is a huge bonus as there is almost no parking in the old village. The staff are excellent and are happy to speak with you. The decor is wonderful, a warm and inviting feel in the lounge, bar area and the outside courtyard. Breakfast is very mediocre, unfortunately the cooked breakfast didn't seem to be freshly cooked. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed staying here.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful decor.

Location

Close to the old town

Staff

Always said hello and smiled.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pur Oporto Boutique Hotel by Actahotels

Porto

I rated this hotel 3 stars. •When we walked into the hotel and to the reception, the staff did not smile or say hello. I had to smile & say hello first. •The room looked fabulous when we first walked in. •Thank you for the red rose & the champagne. •The veranda was great. •The room needs more hooks. •The bathroom was awkward and it was dangerous stepping out of the bathtub because the bidet was in the way. •The cold breakfast was excellent, the hot breakfast looked & tasted like it had been there for a long time, it was not pleasant to eat. •Staff warmed up but would only say hello and smile if I said hello first. •Position of the hotel was excellent for us because we like to walk everywhere

Authenticity & Character

The hotel has a great ambience when you first walk in. Funky furniture and good styling. Very neat and tidy.

Location

Good walking distance from to most areas

Staff

They need to learn how to smile and say hello to their guests.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was excellent when you first walk in, but needed more hooks. Bathroom was too crowded with the bidet too close to the shower in the bath. Slippery and dangerous when stepping down to the floor.

Activity Review

Foodie Experience in Porto

Porto

This was a great and fun night out. I can't remember our guides name, but he is a magician as well as being an excellent guide. We went to about 4 different and excellent venues, trying the local beers, wines and tasting plates. A must do when in Porto!

Quality of Experience

Our guide!

Food

Everything

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nothing, it was a walking tour.

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

Discovering Belém's Charm on a Tuk-Tuk Ride

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

The Soul of 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

Walk 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

Ronda & the White Villages: A Journey Through Andalucía

Portugal

Good your company

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Visit: Alhambra & Generalife Gardens

Granada

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Essential Marrakech & Palais Bahia: Explore the Red City on Foot

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

Inside Casablanca’s Iconic Hassan II Mosque

Casablanca

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Barcelona Highlights: Montjuïc, Gothic Quarter & Sagrada Familia

Barcelona

Guide was very knowledgeable and thorough

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Taste Barcelona: Authentic Tapas & Neighborhood Walk

Barcelona

Excellent tour!!

Quality of Experience

Specific for the area

Food

A large variety

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

An Evening of Flamenco

Seville

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

Quality of Experience

Highlights Walk of Old Madrid

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!