Kimkim Trip Reviews for Portugal

All four of us loved the trip. What a wonderful country. I previously complimented the drivers and guides so l won't repeat myself. The best restaurant was at the winery in the Douro Valley. Second was Luca in Lagos. Hotels were uniformly excellent. Only two petty
comments: the light switches seemed to have no system in most of the hotels. Even the hotel staff couldn't figure them out. The Évora Olive didn't put tissues in the room. Petty but needed. The wine tasting in Lisbon was enjoyable but unnecessary because we had two tasting on the following days in Porto. The fado entertainment was very enjoyable, but the meal was rather perfunctory. If I did this again I would need another week so there would be more time in Lisbon and Porto. To sum up this was a wonderful trip. I have recommended Portugal to everyone. And I will recommend Kimkim to anyone who asks. Thanks for everything.
Regards, Steve, Marilyn, Linda and Rich.

Hotel Review

Évora Olive Hotel

Évora

The Évora Olive Hotel was a fantastic experience. Although it's officially a four-star hotel, it felt just as magnificent as the others and was beautiful and comfortable. The only minor issue was the lack of tissues in the room, but the front desk provided them when asked. The staff was wonderful, and overall, it was a delightful stay despite that very trivial concern.

Activity Reviews

Immerse Yourself in the Portuguese Culture by Experiencing a Fado Dinner

Portugal

The Fado dinner experience was a mix of impressive Fado singing and a somewhat routine meal. The performance was wonderful and engaging, but the meal seemed a bit rushed. Overall, it's clear that the focus is on the singing rather than the food.

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

Lisbon

Our Lisbon wine tasting was enjoyable, but with similar activities on consecutive days in other locations, it felt a bit redundant. It was good, but considering the subsequent experiences in other locations, it wasn't necessary.

Private Douro River Escape: 1-Hour Exclusive Cruise

Portugal

The private Douro River escape was truly special. The guides were fantastic, making the tour both informative and enjoyable. One guide was generous with his time, extending our tour significantly beyond what was planned, which added to the personal touch of this unforgettable experience.

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

Portugal

The guided winery tour with tastings and a delicious lunch in Douro was a highlight of our trip! The meal we had was one of the best we experienced in Portugal. The staff was incredibly friendly and informative, and the overall experience was both elegant and memorable.

The guides and transfers were all excellent. We only had one issue with not realizing we had tickets in our itinerary that we needed to print in order to gain access to the Monestary in Belem and therefore had to purchase again.
Two of our hotels were less than expected.... substandard. One we left and booked a different hotel and KimKim was kind enough to take care of the cost. The other hotel in Lagos we asked for a larger room and with a door on the bathroom and the management was kind enough to accommodate us. It was an ok hotel but I wouldn't book it again. We were told that KimKim booked the hotels through Expedia which I found very strange. I could have done that myself.

Hotel Reviews

Costa D’Oiro Ambiance Village

8600-544

This is an odd collection of buildings scattered about. We had to change from the first room because it was so small and it didn't even have a door on the bathroom. The manager was kind enough to put us in a larger room with a bathroom that had a door and it was at a pool which was nice BUT the view was of an dilapidated building and there was a lot of construction at the road. Not relaxing nor beautiful....

Authenticity & Character

Location

Have it not be adjacent to a dilapidated building nor on a road under construction.

Staff

The manager Manuel was very accommodating

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and tidy

Casa de São Domingos

Peso da Régua

Lovely view room

Authenticity & Character

Nice home with antiques and pretty views of hillsides in one direction

Location

A bit of a walk to get to town on a busy road... especially at night

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa dos Lóios by Shiadu

Porto

We left this hotel ....the room was like a youth hostel ...very small and cramped. Front desk staff was pleasant and apologized they didn't have a better room for us. My husband is very tall and he couldn't even fit in the shower.

Authenticity & Character

Maybe other rooms are authentic but the room they gave us was a closet they added to accommodate more guests.

Location

Noisy

Staff

Empathetic

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very difficult to get in and out ...tiny elevator and up and down stairs with luggage made it very difficult to navigate.

Hotel da Baixa

Lisbon

Front desk staff helpful, breakfast good, room quiet and clean

Authenticity & Character

Location

Lots of construction going in

Staff

Front desk staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

One of the elevators was out of service the whole time and caused for lots of delays

Activity Reviews

Ponta da Piedade by Boat Excursion

Lagos (Algarve)

Boat ride was fun ....getting to the dock was a bit tricky because Google map link sent us to a different vendor. We missed our timed slot because the bridge opening wouldn't allow us to pass, but the vendor that was coordinated for us was very accommodating and took us a long with one other couple out 20 minutes later.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

🥾 Self-Guided Coastal Hike: Lagos Old Town to Ponta da Piedade

Lagos (Algarve)

This was a nice walk along the coast with some highlights described.

Private Half-Day Douro DOC & Vinho Verde Wine Tasting

Portugal

Vasco was a charming young man with a huge passion for wine and his home countryside of D'ouro Valley.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Vasco is proud of his family, his country and his faith....a rare combination.

Transport

Gaia Port Tasting Walk

Portugal

Guise Alex was not only well informed about the craft of making port wine he was thoroughly entertaining. He was very invested in making sure everyone had a good time and had a chance to mingle.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Alex made this experience

Bolhao Market Tour and Hands-On Cooking Class

Porto

The visit to the market was interesting but a bit rushed, but there was time to go back later. The class was a bit disjointed. She had every body doing different tasks which was fine but the equipment was poor and not serviceable for skinning and deboning fish. The instructor offered no assistance. The ultimate meal was fine but I only was able to pay attention to the fish which took the longest and then we were not given the recipes for the dishes. Also our names were not on the reservation so there was confusion as to if we were going to be part of the class.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Transfer from Lisbon to Porto With Stops In Óbidos, Nazaré, Fátima, Coimbra, Aveiro

Portugal

Rodrigo was a very well informed guide. He made sure we were comfortable and gave us a lot of interesting conversation. We had lunch at a great restaurant and overall enjoyed our time with Rodrigo.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rio Tejo Sunset Cruise

Lisbon

Beautiful sunset cruise....staff was very hospitable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Belém Walk

Lisbon

The private tour of the Monestary was very good ..The tower was a waste of time since it's covered in scaffolding.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Pena Palace & Sintra Village Half Day Trip

Lisbon

Guide Luis was excellent and very informative. Grateful he had access to private path in because the lines were very long. I wish we had more than a half day because with the crowds there was no time to see the town other than a 10 minute peak.

Quality of Experience

Less crowds and more time in the town

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Luis was very attentive and well informed

Transport

Luis knew his way expertly

This trip was an awesome experience. The planning stage was conducted by Thiago with a professional and flexible approach until we ended up with the right plan. His input and suggestions were invaluable. Once on the trip everything went extremely smoothly with every booking arranged perfectly. The 3 hotels Thiago arranged were excellent in every respect. The eat walk tour in Porto was excellent as was our guide Flavi. Our private drivers between Porto and the Douro Valley and then on to Lisbon were great.

I would not hesitate to book and plan another trip using KimKim and would thoroughly recommend them to any of my friends who travel overseas.

Hotel Review

Ozadi Tavira Hotel

Tavira

A very nice hotel located just outside the town of Tavira. They have a shuttle to town but if you have a car it is a 5 minute drive. Rooms and breakfast were excellent.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Algarve Caves Boat Tour

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We started our trip in Porto with a fantastic walking food tour provided by Taste Porto guide Flavi (not sure of spelling). The following day we continued to the Douro Valley with our driver, Joel, who was amazing. He transported us punctually and with ease and minded our discomfort on the narrow and steep valley roads. We spent 2 nights in a beautiful hotel on the Kopke Winery with sweeping views of the river, simply spectacular! We then traveled to Lisbon with a stop in Coimbra and lunch in Nazare. Arrived in Lisbon to another beautiful hotel. Next morning we were meet by our tour guide/driver for the next 2 days. We had a tour of old Lisbon and in the evening we took a sunset cruise. It was a beautiful cruise on a sailboat but the description did list snacks and drinks. There were no snacks, only one free drink and could purchase more. Also when we returned there were no staff and office was closed and we had a difficult time finding a taxi back to the hotel. The following day we visited Sintra, Cascais and Cabo de Roca and finished the evening at a Fado dinner. The dinner was a treat getting to listen to such beautiful music and singing, although, not knowing the language, we did not know what the songs were about. It is a beautiful country and the food is delicious. We did not have a bad meal. The hotels Kimkim reserved were top notch and they all provided huge breakfasts.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Britania Art Deco

Lisbon

Beautiful old world charm hotel! Room was amazing and I felt like I stepped back in time but with all the modern comforts.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Everyone went out of their way to help us.

Cleanliness & Comfort

NH Collection Porto Batalha

Porto

Hotel was nice. Lobby was comfortable and breakfast was plentiful. The room, however, while very comfortable and well appointed was very tight and there was no room to open large suitcases. Also lacking was USB ports and bedside outlets.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

clean but small space as noted in main review.

Activity Reviews

Enjoy Dinner with Live Fado Music

Lisbon

The experience as a whole was incredibly enjoyable and unique. The singing and instruments where amazing. Two minor comments: Food was served cold and due to not understanding Portuguese we had no idea what the songs were about. A small description would have been appreciated.

Quality of Experience

Food

Tasty but cold and they way the serving and singing goes too difficult to send back.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sunset Cruise of Lisbon

Lisbon

The cruise was on a sailboat and the trip was smooth and informative. Beautiful views of Lisbon. The description from Kimkim stated snacks included and there were none. Also, when we returned to dock the office was closed and it was very difficult to find a cab back to hotel.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guided Tour of Lisbon

Lisbon

Tour got off to bumpy start because there was a marathon our guide was unaware of that had closed many streets. A lot of time wasted working around closed roads. Guide was helpful in getting us up to castle via lifts instead of walking.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wine Estate Visit in the Douro Valley

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Rabelo Boat Tour

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Port Wine Cellars & Tasting Experience

Porto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Food Tour

Porto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our entire trip was fantastic. We loved Porto and our stay at Casa Da Compendia. Perfect location and beautiful room (balcony). My only negative feedback about this place was their food was not great. And we ate at some fantastic places while we were in Portugal. The walking tour with Porto Walkers was terrific. We don't usually like organized tours and we were pleasantly surprised by how much we enjoyed this. Alex our tour guide was excellent. We did use our free day to tour other port cellars.

Staying in the Wine Barrel room at Quinta da Pacheca absolutely incredible. We loved our time in the Duoro. Our wine tour with Vasco was excellent. Leaving a a free meant that we were able to do a boat tour on the Pacheca boat and go to their sister property for an incredible lunch overlooking the river. The food at this hotel was incredible.

Lisbon was amazing. Loved the hotel The One Palacio da Anunciada. Great location and it made for easy (hilly) walking. The food here was also incredible. Our tour to Sintra, Cascais etc with Filipa was a highlight. She was amazing. Our free day meant we could do another boat cruise as well as eat lots of pastel de nata.

All of our private drivers were amazing. The trip was totally seamless and stress free. Our takeaway was that we got a great introduction to Portugal and cannot wait to go back.

Hotel Reviews

The One Palácio da Anunciada

Lisbon

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Wine House Hotel - Quinta da Pacheca

Lamego

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa da Companhia - Vignette Collection

Porto

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Pena Palace & Sintra Village Half Day Trip

Lisbon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Half-Day Douro DOC & Vinho Verde Wine Tasting

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Gaia Port Tasting Walk

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Of all the places we visited in Portugal, Madeira was definitely the highlight—a must-visit destination. The island’s beauty left us in awe, and having such wonderful guides there made the experience even more memorable. They went out of their way to ensure we saw the most breathtaking sights and views.

In Porto, we were fortunate to have Jelena as our guide, and she was truly one of the best I’ve ever had. She was incredibly informative, knowledgeable, and thoroughly prepared, which made exploring the city an absolute pleasure.

We also loved our time in the stunning Douro Valley, where we enjoyed a peaceful boat trip along the river—a perfect way to take in the scenery.

I left all the hotel suggestions up to João and the ones he booked were all well located.

Our recent trip to Portugal was amazing. We visited 3 locations that were all different but equally incredible. Each and every one of our guides was knowledgeable and friendly. Coraima did an incredible job of mixing up the excursions to be both interesting, relaxing and exciting. All our transfer drivers were on time and professional. I'm not sure how KimKim vets all these people but they have yet to disappoint. The hotels were beautiful and very clean. Hotel Farol in Cascais was exceptionally beautiful sitting on the edge of the Atlantic. Stunning! And when we did have a question, reaching out to KimKim via the chat was so easy and the response so quick. It is very reassuring knowing you have someone to help you if you run into any issues while abroad. This is my 4th time using KimKim and I won't plan a trip abroad without them.

Thanks for an amazing and memorable vacation!!!

Hotel Reviews

MouraSuites Hotel

Largo da Porta de Moura, 7000-647 Évora, Portugal

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Costa D’Oiro Ambiance Village

8600-544

Authenticity & Character

Location

The only negative of this hotel was there was a very large ugly abandoned hotel very close to ours and we could see if from the pool. Not KimKim's fault but it was an eyesore.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Farol Hotel

Cascais

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Day Trip to Cork Country & Castelo de Evoramonte

Évora

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private City Walk & Wine Experience

Évora

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sagres & Sunset Off-Road Adventure

Lagos (Algarve)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Baia de Lagos Sailboat Cruise

Lagos (Algarve)

Food

Lagos Evening Food Walk

Lagos (Algarve)

Private Day Trip to Sintra & the Edge with Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira

Cascais

Private Sailing Experience

Cascais

The caption and first mate were great, very friendly and knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Pedro was great! My trip was planned perfectly for my daughter and I! Hotels locations and tours were great!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Cascais Miragem

Cascais

Great pool and view

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa Mãe Lagos

Lagos

Nice pools and great healthy breakfast

Authenticity & Character

Modern, clean and healthy

Location

Walking distance to downtown

Staff

Could be friendlier

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds aren’t comfortable

PortoBay Liberdade

Lisbon

Nice location

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close attractions

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

To Eat Suggestion: Luca´s Rooftop Restaurant

Portugal

Spectacular view Food was good Staff very efficient and accommodating

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exclusive Boat Tour to Ponta da Piedade Grottoes with Swimming Stop

Portugal

Great private tour Knowledgeable captain Beautiful views Relaxing 😎

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Authentic Portuguese Cooking Class – 3-Hour Small Group Experience in Lisbon

Portugal

Chef wasn’t engaging Unorganized and late starting

Flavors of Lisbon in a Premium & Gastronomic Private Walking Tour

Lisbon

Great guide and fun day exploring the culture Make sure to be hungry

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

To Eat Suggestion: Pinóquio

Lisbon

Food was ok Service slow

Unveil the Fairytale Villa of Sintra with a Private Driver Service

Portugal

Magical experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We planned a last minute trip to Portugal and it was our 1st time using the Kimkim service. We were most impressed with the ease of booking and the excellent personal service we received from Coraima.
Once in Portugal, we realized that she listened to what we wanted. The accommodations, the excursions and our specific itinerary were tailored made just for us!
We will definitely be booking our next vacation through kimkim!

Hotel Reviews

Estoril Vintage Hotel

Estoril

Overlooking the Atlantic Sea, Estoril Vintage Hotel is a place where every guest is treated royally! Every detail for the guests comfort is tended to thoughtfully.

Authenticity & Character

Well preserved fretwork, antiques and relaxing outdoor spaces would draw us back when next in Portugal.

Location

Staff

The front desk attendant was most welcoming and projected sincerity upon our arrival. Maria, the owner made a pint of speaking to each guests both at dinner and at breakfast.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Crisp linens, thirsty towels and beautiful china,,,the Royal Treatment!

Sintra Marmoris Palace

Sintra

A former summer “palace” this small boutique hotel, located in Sintra, had amazing views. Its fusion of old with modern decor was thoughtfully curated. Very quaint and quiet away from the bustle of the tourism centre.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It’s hillside location gave some beautiful views!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sapientia Boutique Hotel

Coimbra

This UNESCO Heritage site is situated on the campus of the Unibwdaory of Coimbra. Centrally located swhixh made walking around to sites very easy.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Torel Quinta da Vacaria - Douro Valley

Peso da Régua, Vila Real District

This hotel on the vineyard is very new at 13 mos when we stayed there but you would think they’d been in business for years. Their attention to detail, impeccable service, exquisite food and stunning views made it a most memorable experience! This boutique hotel also has a beautiful spa with relaxing experiences. Imagine a jacuzzi filled with wine? Amazing!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Overlooking the Douro Valley, the views are breathtaking!

Staff

Everyone was attentive but not imposing.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean rooms. Turn down service…with chocolate!

Activity Reviews

Private Sailing Experience

Cascais

Because it was a rainy morning, the crew accommodated the weather and suggested we go check into our hotel and come back in the afternoon for a better sailing experience. Miguel & Luis really made the 4h tour, fun and enjoyable. They allowed for some hands-on experiences and treated us like old friends!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I could write a book about how wonderful Miguel & Luis are! From the moment we shook hands, we were fast friends. They were the experience, without them it would’ve just been a boat ride.

Transport

Due to the inclement weather, they were quick to change their plans so we could cast off later in the day, providing us a better experience. They are seasoned sailors and cared about our safety.

Portugal’s Little Venice: A Day in Aveiro & the Colorful Coast

Coimbra

We very much enjoyed this half day excursion. Eva has a Masters in History and was knowledgeable in all things Portuguese. We certainly learned a lot. She took us to a market in Aveiro and we felt very much like a local. She had arranged for us to have a traditional lunch of suckling pig on a bun in an open air market.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Eva was a safe driver. She was very personable, keeping the conversation going with her knowledge of the area as well as local anecdotes. By the end of the day, we had made a new friend!

Transport

Private Douro Valley Hike

Portugal

What could be better than hiking the mountain overlooking the vineyards of the Douro Valley? Our guide was knowledge about the area’s history and very amicable.

Quality of Experience

I’m just

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Half-Day Douro DOC & Vinho Verde Wine Tasting

Portugal

We were picked up at our hotel by Vasco, the son of the owner of the small family run vineyard, Salta Cao. He took the time to stop to along the way to take photos of us with the most beautiful backdrops and explained the region we were passing by.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to Portugal was incredible. We loved the walking tour, led by Alex who was well informed on the history of Lisbon. He spent extra time with us and also introduced us to Ginja.
All of our preset pickups were punctual and the boutique type hotels were in great locations.

Miguel, our guide on the tour to the Douro wine region was very knowledgeable of the area and a great historian. The area and views of the wineries were absolutely stunning. Miguel introduced us to ‘green wine’ and he knew a tremendous amount about US history, so he was prepared to engage with the Americans, as well.

Our drive to Nazaré and Obidos then back to Lisbon from Porto was a fantastic day of learning and traveling the countryside. Nuno was our driver, he was prompt and allowed us to spend as much time as we wanted in both cities. Both cities are worth taking the time to see.

We traveled throughout Portugal for 14 days visiting Lisbon, Sintra, Obidos, Nazare, Porto, Evora, Lagos and Cascais in celebration of our 2nd wedding anniversary. Across Portugal and Joao were amazing to work with from planning through navigation during our two-week visit. Joao (and Diana) checked in with us daily via WhatsApp to provide a daily itinerary (even though we also had access via the portal). We've worked with other agencies through KimKim and Across Portugal was the first to check in on a daily basis. They seemed very much invested in our experience and provided excellence customer services. We received a wonderful welcome box with local Portuguese treats!

Joao worked with us to customize our trip to fit our interests and made tweaks along the way. We were also able to add a last-minute experience during our last couple of days of the trip. The trip was the perfect balance of excursion/experiences and rest/relaxation. All of the tour guides and drivers were very kind and both knowledgeable and proud of their country's history and heritage. Claudia (Lisbon) and Sara (Porto) were very knowledgeable and provided us with a wealth of information during our walking tours. L

In particular, Evo (and Ricardo) who was our guide/driver for several days in Porto and beyond, was particularly exceptional! He loves his city of Porto and Portugal and became like family by the end of the trip. Our experience to the Douro Valley (so unlike any other wine territory I've visited) was amazing an Evo was able to truly personalize the experience for us. Dinner with Locals was also a highlight for us as we were able to share an amazing meal prepared by Evo's mother. The food was amazing and the company even better! Porto was amazing and would recommend any trip to Portugal include 3-4 days in Porto. Luis- driver in Lisbon was also very friendly and accommodating.

Some highlights include: (1) Day trip to Sintra (Pena Palace was beautiful) (2) Fado dinner in Lisbon was such uniquely intimate and amazing experience. Despite some previous reviews, we thought the food was very good and the Port freely flowing! The Fado music was dramatic and moving. We loved it (3) Lisbon Winery (Vinho Verde) (4) Sandemann Port Tasting Tour was amazing (Joao even surprised us with a charcuterie board to the envy of other attendees- we shared with the table (5) Douro Valley day trip (6) Dinner with Locals in Porto (6) Lagos boat tour Ponta da Piedade and the boardwalk views along the coastline an (6) Comporta horseback riding day trip. Obidos was also lovely--loved the Ginjinha!

Food was amazing. Cataplana was incredible, sea bass and other fresh fish....and my new favorite pastry the Pastel de Nata (I may be having withdrawals)

All in all, it was an amazing trip and experience! Thanks to Joao and team for making it so personal!

Angela and Douglas

From the start to finish the entire trip was incredible! This was our first KimKim planned trip. We found the app very intuitive and user friendly. All accommodations and excursions were as stated and we had no issues with timing or execution. The tours and guides were very friendly, professional, knowledgeable and thorough. It is very apparent the KimKim team had an in depth knowledge of Portugal and ensured our experience was exactly what we asked for.

We will definitely use KimKim for future travels.

Hotel Reviews

Estoril Vintage Hotel

Estoril

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sintra Marmoris Palace

Sintra

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sapientia Boutique Hotel

Coimbra

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Torel Quinta da Vacaria - Douro Valley

Peso da Régua, Vila Real District

5* all the way! You’ve gotta stay here!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Private Sailing Experience

Cascais

What a day! The weather wasn’t perfect for sailing but the crew made the day amazing! Highly recommend!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Everything occurred as promised and planned. Our guide in Lisbon, Philip and our guide in Porto, Celia, were both fantastic. They were knowledgeable and answered all our questions. Our excursions in Lisbon to Sintra and the Pena palace were also terrifically guided. Our unexpected favorite was the Taste Porto tour with Miguel! His enthusiasm and choices for us made the experience deliciously delightful!

Hotel Reviews

The Editory Garden Porto Hotel

Porto

Location

Walkable but out of the hubbub of the central city.

Staff

They added balloons and cake to our room for my birthday! The pastel de nata at check in were yummy!

Cleanliness & Comfort

MeraPrime Gold Design Hotel

Lisbon

Great location. Friendly staff. Great breakfasts.

Location

Walkable to all the old town areas.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Day Excursion to Braga & Guimarães

Porto

Guide was just ok compared to other guides we had. It also felt a little rushed in the towns.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

6 Bridges Cruise

Porto

Relaxing way to see the river coastline. It not very exciting.

Quality of Experience

Private Guided Visit of Porto

Porto

Quality of Experience

Culinary Highlights of Porto: Food Delights & Bolhão Market

Porto

Our favorite excursion.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Discover Sintra: Quinta da Regaleira & Coastal Views

Lisbon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Go West to Belém TukTuk Tour

Lisbon

Very fun. Personable driver. Also flexible but able to make suggestions.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Get to Know Lisbon with a Local

Lisbon

Our guide was open to what we wanted to see but also willing to take the lead when we wanted her to.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Lisbon Fado Dinner Experience

Portugal

We were very happy with the fact that for the most part we had private tours in Lisbon, Centra, Porto. The tour person in Porto was at best adequate as we really didn’t see a whole lot of interesting areas. However, the tours in Lisbon were very good. For the most part, the drivers for the transfers between cities and areas were acceptable. The driver from Argave to Lisbon at the end of our trip, seemed a bit distracted, which did not make us very comfortable. As for the hotels, as you were aware, the Tivoli was not consistent with our expectations. The other hotels were acceptable. However, if we took another trip, we would probably ask for an upgrade on the quality of the hotels, including size of rooms. You may wish to consider when speaking to your clients and planning the trip discussing the quality of the hotels in more detail and finding out if they would want to pay additional monies for a better quality hotel.

Hotel Reviews

Meliá Lisboa Aeroporto

Lisbon

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tivoli Lagos

Lagos

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Quinta de Casaldronho Wine Hotel

Lamego

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Exe Almada Porto

Porto

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Lisboa Plaza

Lisbon

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Algarve Kayaking Trip to Benagil Caves

Portugal

Canceled

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Visit of Historic Coimbra

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

River Boat Experience in Douro Valley

Douro Valley

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wine Cellar Guided Visit with Lunch

Douro Valley

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Visit to Porto

Porto

Did not see enough of Porto. Guide essentially showed us some rundown areas of Porto, which had some historical significance but needed less of and more of other areas.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Small Group Excursion to Sintra & Pena Palace

Lisbon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Get to Know Lisbon with a Local

Lisbon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lisbon Roots: A Walk Through Flavors & Tradition

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

João was wonderful to work with, he was extremely knowledgeable and helped steer us in the right direction in terms of tours and main attractions. He was also very responsive and helpful whenever I had any questions or comments both prior to the trip and during the trip, which was much appreciated! He provided a clear and transparent Road Book that listed all the activities with guide names and contact information, which made it very easy to find the right people (in a foreign country) and helped us plan out our day. Lastly, he personally drove from Lisbon to Lagos to pick us up, which we greatly appreciated and helped us maximize our time in Lagos stress-free. It was a pleasure working with him and I would reach out to him again the next I'm in Portugal.

We worked with very knowledgeable guides in each city, which helped us feel more connected to the people and culture of Portugal. Francisco in Lisbon was a great guide who was very knowledgeable about the history of the city and provided useful tips to help us avoid major tourist lines and optimize our time. He also recommended a wonderful restaurant that turned out to be our favorite meal of the trip. He accompanied us to Sintra and was a huge asset in helping us navigate crowded sites and optimize our day. He provided a ton of interesting background information on Pena Palance and Quinta de Regalaeria, which helped us appreciate the experience much more. He also insisted we try the local pastries in Sintra (which was a highlight of the day) and advised us to tour the National Palace of Sintra, which is a must-see and not too crowded.

In Porto, we worked with Manuel, who was very passionate about Porto and very eager to show us his home city. He gave us great advice on what to see or do in our down time and is very knowledgeable of the history of Porto. We felt very comfortable with and thought he was very patient with us as we took our multiple photos! He even gave me a small token to remember my trip, which I greatly appreciated the thought and gesture. In Porto, we did a Duorro Valley wine tour and had the best driver/guide Andres. He had such great energy, and was funny, lively, and passionate about the port wine industry! He gave us great tips of what to see and overall made our Duorro Valley experience more enjoyable!

Overall, we had a great time booking with Kim Kim, which allowed us to work with local experts on planning a customized action-packed itinerary. Kim Kim also took care of most of our transportation needs to and from the airport, train station, and hotels, which made our vacation much more enjoyable and comfortable. Lastly, all the guides were very knowledgeable, professional, and passionate about their job, which added to our overall experience! We would definitely work with Kim Kim again.

We really enjoyed our trip to Portugal. I was a little leary about using a travel agency but the planning was made very easy by Marta and Beatriz. We were able to taylor make our trip to our interests. We scheduled phone calls to discuss some of the details. Before we departed our entire schedule was on an app that we could download and refer to during the entire trip. We could refer to our schedule daily with the times and drivers names and contacts locally.

Hotel Reviews

Meliá Lisboa Aeroporto

Lisbon

Super convenient, across from airport, breakfast service begins at 4:30 am if you have an early flight. Complimentary cookies at check in, rooms were clean and contemporary.

Authenticity & Character

Location

If you have a flight to catch pick this!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean, contemporary design, great plug ins for devices, extra pillows

Tivoli Lagos

Lagos

Not the best hotel, dated and not so clean. Rooms were difficult to get to with a lot of stairs to navigate with suitcases, no elevator access.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms are in need of updating, musty smell, view of roof adajacent to hotel

Quinta de Casaldronho Wine Hotel

Lamego

Everything about this place was unique. Staff was polite and accomodating. Views from the rooftop pool were of vinyards into a valley, the grapes were plump and all over the vines just getting ready for the season. We ate in the restaurant not wanting to venture out too far at night. Food was freshy, adequate and tasty. We had fresh fish and of course sangria!

Authenticity & Character

There is an old church on the grounds which belonged to the family

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were clean, view of vinyards was amazing to wake up to!

Exe Almada Porto

Porto

Nice hotel, clean, small rooms, great breakfasts with many options

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Lisboa Plaza

Lisbon

This hotel was slightly off the beaten path off of Place De Liberdad street. This made it tucked away and quiet. The rooms were a little small but probably normal by European standards. The breakfast buffet was amazing! Pastry, fruit, eggs, cheese, fresh coffee...you will be stuffed for the day!

Authenticity & Character

Location

A quiet street

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Algarve Kayaking Trip to Benagil Caves

Portugal

this trip was cancelled due to storm and wind conditions

Guided Visit of Historic Coimbra

Portugal

Thomas picked us up in Duoro at the Casalhandro Wine hotel in a nice large van. After 1.5 hours we reached Coimbra where our guide met us for a tour of the city and University. Thomas was polite and a great driver!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

River Boat Experience in Douro Valley

Douro Valley

This could easily be the highlight of the Portugal trip. We were dropped at a dock and unsure of where to go but the boat owners called for us and helped us so kindly. We found our tour guide Sylvia who could not have been more accomodating to us. We took off on a small wooden boat on the Duoro River and were promptly served charcuterie and 4 bottles of wine! She was lovely and so hospitable. She imparted information on all the vineyards we passed on the Duoro River

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wine Cellar Guided Visit with Lunch

Douro Valley

This was just amazing! We did arrive late to the tour but they accomodated us very nicely. The food was spectacular, steak paired with several wines...it was more like a dinner! The vineyard was beautiful and the tour was interesting to learn about all the varities of grapes here. Well worth the trip!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Visit to Porto

Porto

I think this tour was secrets of Porto so we saw the grittier sides of the city. The guide was knowledgable and did not rush us through the tour. Would have appreciated some of the other more popular sites on this tour, ie the shopping district and the port wine area

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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

Portugal

This tour was exceptional in the guide Marta was a wealth of information. We were picked up on time at hotel and driven to Obios and Nazare. She recommended a nice restaurant where we dined on grilled octopus and seabass and sangria. We continued on to Porto. This was a long day and we arrived at 7 pm. Marta was well versed in all aspects of Portugal. She explained many topics including cost of living, government, etc...

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Small Group Excursion to Sintra & Pena Palace

Lisbon

This trip was ok with some exceptions. First, we rushed through breakfast to meet the guide a 10 min walk away. After 15-20 mins we called the travel agency who reached out and informed us the guide was held up picking up cruise passengers. After a 45 min delay we were off to Pena Palace. The guide brought us to the entrance and instructed us to meet up after our self guided tour. She provided very minimal information but did an adequate job. Sintra and Pena Palace are not to be missed!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

It would be nice if the guide had walked us through the palace to explain the history more as other groups had

Transport

Get to Know Lisbon with a Local

Lisbon

This was a thorough 3 hour walking tour. The guide was on time and we met up at a square onlly 10 min walk from our hotel. We saw the Rossio Train Station, Baixa, Chiado neighborhoods, Arc de Triumph. We had fun afterwards shopping at a street market just in back of our hotel on Place de Liberdad.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Lisbon Roots: A Walk Through Flavors & Tradition

Portugal

We really enjoyed this after just arriving in country. We had time to check into our hotel and then rest and had an amazing food tour. We tried pork sandwiches, cheeses, cod cakes, somosas and the traditional custard of Portugal. After feeling very full we walked back to our hotel. Great tour and guide!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

João planned an amazing trip for my group for our first time to Portugal! Originally we were supposed to be 2 people, but then added my mom halfway through the planning process and he was very accommodating in adjusting the reservations. He kept in contact with us the entire time we were there and was very knowledgeable everywhere we went. The excursions were perfect for our group and a great balance between activity/free time enjoying the cities we were in. We can’t wait to go back and thank you again to João for making our first trip to Portugal unforgettable!

Hotel Reviews

Eurostars das Artes

Porto

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Lisboa Plaza

Lisbon

Authenticity & Character

Location

No

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Villa Zawaia B&B

Lagos

Beautiful hotel but staff wasn’t consistently there to assist.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Someone being present more often throughout the day

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Cave Boat Tour

Portugal

Nice easy way to see the beautiful caves in Lagos! Not too long of a tour so you still have the rest of your day to explore!

Quality of Experience

No

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an amazing time visiting Portugal! Our travel Guide, João was the best and helped us plan the perfect trip! He was very knowledgeable and helpful in all our planning and was very accessible via text to answer any questions throughout our trip.
He was also our guide in Lisbon which was wonderful!
We couldn’t have had a better experience!

Hotel Reviews

Belmar Spa & Beach Resort

Lagos

Great resort with beautiful rooms, 3 pools , a nice gym, and beach access! Breakfast was great! Very friendly and helpful staff. Would definitely stay there again!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Lisboa Plaza

Lisbon

Located in the center close to shopping, and most of the sights you would want to see in Lisbon. Staff was friendly and helpful. Great breakfast!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa dos Lóios by Shiadu

Porto

Very nice boutique hotel. The staff was very friendly and helpful, and spoke English which was a plus!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Within walking distance to most everything!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Algarve Caves Boat Tour

Portugal

A must when you are in Lagos! Loved it!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cascais & Sintra Guided Visit

Portugal

Our guide João drive us out to Cascais and Sinatra and even booked a lunch for us at this very quaint restaurant on the beach! It was amazing! The beaches in Cascais are beautiful!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dinner with Live Fado Music

Lisbon

João planned this for us and it was a great experience! The food was authentic Portuguese food that was delicious! The Fado was amazing!

Quality of Experience

K

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day Guided Tour of Lisbon

Lisbon

João our guide was excellent! Got a very nice tour of the city, and a lot of the history of Lisbon.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Port Wine Tasting Tour

Porto

Visited Ferreira winery and loved it! The Port wine tasting was excellent and brought a bottle home!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Six Bridges Douro Cruise

Porto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Food Tour

Porto

Our guide Andre was great! Very knowledgeable and did a great job explaining the history of Porto and the wine and food we tried! Loved it!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tiago was the best travel agent to make my trip come to fruition! Tiago and I spent several months planning for my trip to Portugal with two friends. Overall, he was very responsive and accommodating. At one of our hotels, our room was not ready and he immediately reached out to the hotel to resolve. He also consistently communicated via WhatsApp to ensure our itinerary was going smoothly. I would 100% recommend Tiago to other travelers, as well as the itinerary that he thoughtfully curated for us.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Lisboa Plaza

Lisbon

This hotel was great overall. The location and staff were amazing and the breakfast buffet was nice. However, I would not recommend room service for dinner. The quality of the food was not so good.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Restrooms in the room could use a little updating. The shower curtains were not the length of the tub, so water would splash and the paper was behind the toilet so it was difficult to reach.

Mercure Porto Centro Aliados

Porto

Absolutely loved this hotel! The location, staff, and accommodations were spectacular. Just one hiccup was that our room was not ready upon arrival even though in their system it said it was. The hotel held our luggage while we walked around and the room was ready within the hour.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Portuguese Cooking Lesson

Portugal

Cooking classes are a special way to immerse yourself into culture. Everywhere I travel, I like to take one and this was a great experience. Chef Gui knows how to host and make everyone feel comfortable. We started with an overview of the 9 dishes while drinking wine and eating Couvert then everyone chose which dish they wanted to prepare. All of the dishes tasted spectacular and the company of others was great too. I would highly recommend to other travelers!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Chef Gui was amazing!

Transport

We walked 15-20 mins from our hotel.

Wine Estate Visit in the Douro Valley

Portugal

My friends and I decided to rent a car this day and it was spectacular driving ourselves! However, if you don’t prefer driving, getting a private car would have been a good option too. The wine tasting was about 45 minutes of information throughout the tour then ended with a tasting and a very nice view! I would definitely recommend this day trip from Porto!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We rented a car.

Culinary Tour of Porto

Porto

We loved this experience! We really like self-paced tours so this was perfect for my group. At the pastry shop, they ran out of the Jesuita, because those sell out by early morning. Therefore, they gave us a tasting of other pastries from the storefront. The only hiccup was that one of the restaurants was closed for holiday, so we got to experience 4 out of 5 restaurants on this activity. However, we were very full by the end!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We guided ourselves.

Transport

We walked on foot to eat restaurant.

Super pleased with the level of detail and care given. in fact we’ll use Kim Kim again because of Tiago. Thank you so much!