Kimkim Trip Reviews for Scotland

4.7
Based on 171 ratings
Read 171 verified reviews by travelers who booked their trip to Scotland on kimkim. You can also read reviews about kimkim on 3rd party sites including Google, TrustPilot and Yelp.

Scotland is beautiful. KimKim made planning easy.
Scotland | Sep 3 - Sep 11, 2025

Jack
Jack B.
Boston, MA | Reviewed on Sep 16, 2025
Jane was an excellent resource. She really made the planning of our trip easy from start to finish. Jane was always available to make changes and help us make the most of our time. We made a few adjustments to our plans while in Scotland and Jane and KimKim were always available and happy to help.
This was a Perfect 10 trip.
Thanks Jane!!
We will definitely use KimKim when planning our next trip.
Read more

Jane was an excellent resource. She really made the planning of our trip easy from start to finish. Jane was always available to make changes and help us make the most of our time. We made a few adjustments to our plans while in Scotland and Jane and KimKim were always available and happy to help.
This was a Perfect 10 trip.
Thanks Jane!!
We will definitely use KimKim when planning our next trip.

Hotel Reviews
Clayton Hotel
Glasgow

This is fantastic hotel. It blends the best of the old world charm with New world amenities and modern features. Excellent new large elevators. Great view from the higher floors. Clean and comfortable rooms that felt newly remodeled. Friendly helpful staff. Excellent Bar and restaurant with a great complimentary breakfast.

Authenticity & Character
Great blend of old world charm and elegance with model features and new world amenities.
Location
Really good location to get around Glasgow.
Staff
The staff could not have been any nicer or more helpful.
Cleanliness & Comfort
The room 1108 was immaculate, comfortable, well stocked. The view was beautiful from our room.
Glenmoriston Townhouse Hotel
Inverness

Wonderful staff in a great location. Rooms are very inconsistent and some are really rundown. The location is very nice but the hotel rooms need to be completely redone. There is no AC and our room was damp and very musty. There are No lifts, porters and it’s a 3 story hotel with no handicap accessibility.

Authenticity & Character
Older hotel that needs a major refresh.
Location
Excellent location
Staff
The staff could not have been nicer or more accommodating.
Cleanliness & Comfort
The staff did as best as they could but they can’t make the old carpet better or dry rooms that are humid and musty. This is no place for people with limited motility or asthma.
The Scotsman Hotel
Edinburgh

Scotsman is in a perfect location to the Royal Mile and the train station. The stay was fantastic and very helpful. They provided great recommendations and service. The breakfast was good and the room was very clean and comfortable. Don’t bring oversized bags the lifts are typical small European lifts. Overall a very nice hotel

Authenticity & Character
Great location with old world charm.
Location
Great location very nice hotel
Staff
The staff is the best in Edinburgh.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean room with very comfortable beds.
Activity Reviews
A Fully Bespoke Tour Day with a Private Driver Guide
A Fully Bespoke Tour Day with a Private Driver Guide
Scotland

Glasgow is a wonderful city with a tremendous amount to see. Our driver Robert changed our tour to a full day in Glasgow and we were happy he did. We saw Glasgow Cathedral, the burial grounds and he took us all around town. We ended the day at the Kelvingrove Museum. You could kill 4 hours there easy.

Quality of Experience
Our driver Robert was a wonderful part of our trip . We could not have asked for a more Authentic Scot to help us experience Glasgow.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Robert was a true professional showing us the best of Glasgow!
Transport
Robert helped us see the best of Glasgow.
The Isle of Skye & Eilean Donan Castle
The Isle of Skye & Eilean Donan Castle
Inverness

Isle of Skye was amazing. Donnan Castle is a Must see Castle. The scenery and castle are fabulous. I would highly recommend a private tour with a small group in a Sprinter Van. This is a trip that is far better with the visibility you get in a smaller van without worrying about driving

Quality of Experience
Donan Castle was incredible. They did an amazing job rebuilding it .
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Keith made a few u planned stops that made our visit even better.
Transport
Keith was a very knowledgeable, organized and patient guide.
Outlander tour from Edinburgh
Outlander tour from Edinburgh
Edinburgh

Great tour with lots to see and do. Castle, Coos, Sheep and Hay bales!

Quality of Experience
Great day.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Derek was a real authentic Scot. Hard to understand at times but truly excellent guide.
Transport
Great driver and a wonderful private Sprinter van. I highly recommend small group tours.
Uilebheist Distillery Discovery Tour
Uilebheist Distillery Discovery Tour
Inverness

Nice spot for a drink. No need for the tour.

Quality of Experience
Not awesome but a nice spot for drink or /
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Nice staff. We walked there.
Transport
We walked there
Boat Ride Around the Canal & Loch Ness including a Visit to Urquhart Castle
Boat Ride Around the Canal & Loch Ness including a Visit to Urquhart Castle
Scotland

Beautiful views. Urquhart Castle is not a must see. Loch Ness is a nice Lake but also not a must see in my opinion. Spend the day in Stirling or St Andrews. Watch Rick Steve’s episode and skip this if you’re strapped for time. We would skip it had we known.

Quality of Experience
Just not a must see.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Typical bus tour. Nothing special, too many people.
Transport
Typical bus tour. Nothing special
Fishing Villages of Fife & St Andrews from Edinburgh
Fishing Villages of Fife & St Andrews from Edinburgh
Edinburgh

Great trip. I would tell anyone to spend 1 Full day in St Andrews. There is too much to see in a few hours. The day was great. Fife and the Castles and site are a must see.

Quality of Experience
Great Day
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Derek was a fantastic Driver and made our trip special.
Transport
Derek was our driver. Fantastic guy.
Edinburgh Castle Tickets
Edinburgh Castle Tickets
Edinburgh

It’s a fantastic castle with incredible history. Our guide was awesome.

Quality of Experience
All good
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The guide makes the most of the Castle visit.
Transport
We walked to the Castle from the Scotsman Hotel.
Local specialist: Jane Davey
Jane
Jane Davey
Local specialist in United Kingdom | Replied on Sep 16, 2025

Hi Jack

Thank you for sharing your insightful feedback for your trip. This is super helpful for the team and I for future travel planning. Very much appreciated.

I LOVE LOVE the photos. There is a really special one of Christ, that I sat in front of in Kelvingrove. Special memories.

It has been an absolute pleasure working with you all.

May you treasure your memories a lifetime and we look forward to working with you in the future.

All the best, Jane, Flore & The Team

Butler and Insani trip to Scotland 2025
Scotland | Sep 3 - Sep 11, 2025

R
Ray I.
Brazil | Reviewed on Sep 15, 2025
There were so many amazing sites that it would take all morning to name them all. The trip was incredible. We felt that we really got a taste of what Scotland is all about. Museums, pubs, restaurants, history, cities, magnificent landscapes, and so much more. Everything went off perfectly from the person who met us at the airport, to the person that dropped us off at the airport for our return home. We were lucky to have 3 great drivers/guides. Derek, Keith, and Robert were extremely... Read more

There were so many amazing sites that it would take all morning to name them all. The trip was incredible. We felt that we really got a taste of what Scotland is all about. Museums, pubs, restaurants, history, cities, magnificent landscapes, and so much more. Everything went off perfectly from the person who met us at the airport, to the person that dropped us off at the airport for our return home. We were lucky to have 3 great drivers/guides. Derek, Keith, and Robert were extremely knowledgeable, pleasant and professional. They made stops, and ad-libbed for us because they had a feel for what we would appreciate seeing. We had quite a few laughs with them. I thought the hotels were all very nice. We were able to check in early, every staff member that we encountered was really nice, the breakfasts were all very good and the rooms, with the exception of the Glen Morriston, were nice. The Glen Morriston doesn't have a lift. I had to drag our heavy suitcases up 40 stairs which wasn't much of an issue for me, but if you have older clients, it would be very difficult. The hotel room was small but I suspect that is true with most of the hotels. The location of our hotels were very convenient. Every time we called Jane for advice or to make a change, she was very accessible and very helpful.
I would absolutely, highly recommend the Kim Kim agency to any of my friends or relatives. (I already have!) We hope to plan a trip to Ireland next year and you will be hearing from us. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. 508 626-5373. Also, we appreciate you trying to help us with Scotsrail.
Thank you for planning a magnificent trip for us!!

Sincerely,
Ray and Mary Insani

Hotel Reviews
Clayton Hotel
Glasgow

Nice room. Nice staff. Good location. Very good breakfast. Cool bar.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Glenmoriston Townhouse Hotel
Inverness

Rooms were a bit small. There is no lift. Friendly, helpful staff. Nice bar and great location.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Close to town. Right across from the river
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Scotsman Hotel
Edinburgh

Great location. Helpful, pleasant, nice staff. Good breakfast. Great location

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
A Fully Bespoke Tour Day with a Private Driver Guide
A Fully Bespoke Tour Day with a Private Driver Guide
Scotland

Robert took us to wherever we wanted to go. Very professional. Dressed in an incredible kilt. Very pleasant. Very knowledgable.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Beautiful, brand new Mercedes van. Very comfortable.
The Isle of Skye & Eilean Donan Castle
The Isle of Skye & Eilean Donan Castle
Inverness

Amazing sites. Keith was a great driver and an exceptional guide.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Uilebheist Distillery Discovery Tour
Uilebheist Distillery Discovery Tour
Inverness

We skipped this but stopped in for a drink. It was the best beer we had on the trip.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Boat Ride Around the Canal & Loch Ness including a Visit to Urquhart Castle
Boat Ride Around the Canal & Loch Ness including a Visit to Urquhart Castle
Scotland

Very organized amazing trip our driver, Linda was an extremely funny, knowledgeable guide.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Bus was a bit hot on the return trip
Outlander tour from Edinburgh
Outlander tour from Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Fishing Villages of Fife & St Andrews from Edinburgh
Fishing Villages of Fife & St Andrews from Edinburgh
Edinburgh

We had an incredible guide . Derek was very knowledgable and extremely pleasant. Couldn't have been better.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Beautiful, clean Mercedes van. Great driver.
Edinburgh Castle Tickets
Edinburgh Castle Tickets
Edinburgh

So much history

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Jane Davey
Jane
Jane Davey
Local specialist in United Kingdom | Replied on Sep 15, 2025
Hi Ray and Mary Thank you so much for taking the time to review your awesome trip with us. It is so helpful to read your feedback. This is great for the team when planning future trips, especially the impact of the lack of stairs at one of the hotels. Noted!!! It has been an absolute pleasure working with you both and we are delighted to see you had an amazing time, making memories. Looking to travel to Ireland then the team and I would love to assist, so please reach out to me on the... Read more

Hi Ray and Mary

Thank you so much for taking the time to review your awesome trip with us. It is so helpful to read your feedback. This is great for the team when planning future trips, especially the impact of the lack of stairs at one of the hotels. Noted!!!

It has been an absolute pleasure working with you both and we are delighted to see you had an amazing time, making memories.

Looking to travel to Ireland then the team and I would love to assist, so please reach out to me on the same chat we have so far, and we can start the ball rolling.

Wishing you both the very best, Jane & The Team

First off I need to brag about Salome and how...
Scotland | Sep 1 - Sep 10, 2025

Nolan
Nolan W.
Canada | Reviewed on Sep 11, 2025
First off I need to brag about Salome and how well she put the trip together. The hotels were great choices with great locations that met our needs. The Tigerlily was our start and was located close to the castle at Edinburgh which was also a short walk to the train station, a mall, the car rental (Europcar), restaurants and coffee houses. The breakfast at Tigerlily and so was the dinner. We did eat at some other places but Tigerlily was our first choice. Driving in Scotland was a new... Read more

First off I need to brag about Salome and how well she put the trip together. The hotels were great choices with great locations that met our needs. The Tigerlily was our start and was located close to the castle at Edinburgh which was also a short walk to the train station, a mall, the car rental (Europcar), restaurants and coffee houses. The breakfast at Tigerlily and so was the dinner. We did eat at some other places but Tigerlily was our first choice. Driving in Scotland was a new and quasi difficult experience but getting the car was a breeze. Even the rental agent bragged on how well prepared our advanced booking had been done. One note was that all the hotels with the exception of the Tigerlily did not have air conditioning. The Guardian in Ft William did have a fan which was a great asset. The vast majority of the time it did not matter since the nights were cool. The one down side (and somewhat comical) was the 5AM very loud argument by some sea gulls outside our window . All of our guides were so friendly and informative. If I had one problem is that at Dunbar we saw very very little of where the battle took place. It is not a national park but we did not get to visit Doon hill and only found at single monument along side the road that marked a spot. It was my hope to have had a much more detailed review but it would have required driving outside the town and that seemed to be beyond the scope of what our guides offered. All other places we visited were exceptional for the depth of our tours. Durham Cathedral, Hadrian's Wall, Bannockburn, and Culloden were so well performed by every guide. Absolutely no regrets on any aspect of the trip. Something out of control of KIMKIM was the trains. Every single train was PACKED. Struggled to find seats at times and finding space for the luggage was a constant problem. But it is hypocritical for a tourist to complain about tourist.

Hotel Reviews
Pine Trees Hotel
Pitlochry

Quite an uphill walk with bags. The site was easily one of the most handsome hotels we stayed in. wonderful little nice things like candy bars, chips, flavored water, etc in the common area of the four rooms. VERY comfortable beds and space. One thing that surprised us about ALL the hotels we stayed in....no USB ports for charging phones. Seems odd since cell phones are so ubiquitous that there are no ports on lamps/tables/wall that we are used to seeing in the USA and other destinations. This hotel also had an excellent restaurant.

Authenticity & Character
The seclusion, quality of the hotel and grounds. very good beds and amenities.
Location
a semi private heavily wooded tree lined road. Separate buildings and each divided up into 4 or so rooms.
Staff
What you would expect from a place of this caliber.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very much liked the comfort of this place. VERY clean and inviting .
Maldron Hotel Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne

Parking was a pain. The walk to the garage was not a big issue but driving to the garage was a challenges with google maps. It was just weird. The umbrella rental stand was very welcome. It really came in handy. Room was comfortable. But the restaurant in the hotel was not their strong point.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
very helpful in any way.
Cleanliness & Comfort
very comfortable.
Tigerlily
Edinburgh

Staff was amazing and easily had one of, if not the best, breakfast and dinners. Great beds. Wonderful rooms

Authenticity & Character
Stylish hotel and blended in with the surroundings.
Location
close to everything we wanted to do.
Staff
Always very friendly. Always.
Cleanliness & Comfort
always looked immaculate .
Local specialist: Salomé Deroyer
Salomé
Salomé Deroyer
Local specialist in Lyon | Replied on Sep 11, 2025

Hi Nolan,
Thank you so much for your thoughtful and detailed review!
I am very pleased to hear that you and Mason had such a great time in Scotland discovering all the historic sites with your amazing guides! 😊
I appreciate your feedback regarding the tour of Dunbar and transportation in Scotland, it is always helpful to hear these reviews for future trips.
Once again, thank you for traveling with us, and I do hope we get to hear from you for your future trips! 😊
All the best,
Salomé & the High Point Holidays Team

Excellent First Experience with KimKim
Scotland | Aug 30 - Sep 8, 2025

Mary
Mary G.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Sep 10, 2025
This was the first time I booked with KimKim-so there was a learning curve. But once I figured it out-it was great. All of the drivers were fantastic! The guides were amazing-special shout out to Catherine in Inverness, who had a boundless knowledge of the area, as well as stories of growing up there. She was a true gem. Also, Brian who took us to Skye was just wonderful. The extra stop at the Quarngs will never be forgotten. The most beautiful scenery imagined. Katrina, the... Read more

This was the first time I booked with KimKim-so there was a learning curve. But once I figured it out-it was great. All of the drivers were fantastic! The guides were amazing-special shout out to Catherine in Inverness, who had a boundless knowledge of the area, as well as stories of growing up there. She was a true gem. Also, Brian who took us to Skye was just wonderful. The extra stop at the Quarngs will never be forgotten. The most beautiful scenery imagined. Katrina, the organizer from KimKim was also amazing. She was so responsive, I couldn’t believe it. I think, the one thing that might have been slightly better were some of the hotels. Since we didn’t have a car and there is not a lot of public transport in some for the places, I would have asked for places closer to town, and also maybe a little nicer. Although all off the hotels were fine and clean, Greenaces in Portree, had very poor communication and no breakfast, (unless you walked a mile) even though it is billed as a B&B. On the other hand The Corrie’s in Lake Lomond was absolutely fantastic. It also had the best porridge of the whole trip. Brodie, the proprietor there, was the nicest man, he even drove us into town in the rain so we didn’t have to wait for the bus. I think the thing I would do next time is be more specific about want I wanted the trip to be, and do more research on the hotels. I did also check into some other private tours and this one was much more reasonable. Over all, it was a great experience and I will definitely book again.

Hotel Reviews
Rocpool Reserve Hotel
Inverness

Just a beautiful comfortable luxury hotel. This was so welcome after the last experience. Beautiful big comfortable soundproof rooms. Breakfast was great, staff very accessible. Would stay there again and again .

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Greenacres Greenacres
Portree

The B&B is in a beautiful setting with wonderful views. If not for that, I would 1 star it. When you walk in, the foyer smells of damp and mold and there is no information on what to do. When we booked, we received a confirmation email that told us very little. When we arrived we had no idea what to do as there was no one on site. The first number we called went to automatron hell and we got no where. We finally called the emergency number (and got scolded) but he begrudgingly gave us our room number and the lock box code for our key. You would have thought that he might have given us some more info as we told him our email said basically nothing. The next crisis was arranging breakfast-again calling numbers that sent us into VM cyclones. Once we did reach someone, the only times left for the breakfast were after 9am. Since we are early risers so we walked the mile to town to get coffee and pastries from the bakery(which was amazing) and then the mile back for our actual breakfast, only to find out that, breakfast is not served at Greenacres, but at The Rosedale, a hotel, a mile back into town. The second morning, we could not have breakfast until 9:30 but our ride was scheduled to pick us up at 9. So we walked to the bakery again, but it was Sunday and there were closed, So I went to the Rosedale and explained our situation and asked it we could eat early- it was about 8am. We still had walk the 20 minutes back to the B&B to meet our driver. They did let us eat, but again, they were not very nice about it, as if we had upset their whole day. There were about 4 other patrons in the restaurant at the time, so I’m unsure why we were so hard to accommodate. At any rate, other than the beautiful view of the sea, the place was run down and not pretty. The room was fine, clean, but there was about a 2 foot clearance around each side of the bed. It was just not a great place to stay. I would avoid at all costs. I think, if the people had been nice to us, I don’t think I would have been so negative. But their attitude was not at all service oriented, as if we were asking for so much. A key to our room and breakfast at time we were able to make it should not be seen as demanding. Overall, a big thumbs down to Greenacres! Oh and if you don’t ask for a seaview room, it could be even more horrible, because that was the only thing that made it bearable to stay there. The rooms facing the road looked abysmal.

Authenticity & Character
Rooms were clean, but so tiny. The rest of the hotel common spaces including outside terrace, were rundown and trashy.
Location
Nice views
Staff
What staff? Any accessible staff would be an improvement….0 stars is the real rating
Cleanliness & Comfort
Room was nice-make sure you get one with a view, otherwise, all bets are off.
The Garrison Hotel
Fort William

This hotel was fine. Good location and the accommodations were clean and nice. The breakfasts were also great. But it was just like a strip hotel without any real character. We were in a “suite” that was in a separate building. The room looked out over the parking lot and the back of the other part of the hotel, so you basically had to keep the curtains shut the whole time, or the guests of the hotel were looking directly into your room. You also had to walk outside to get into the main hotel and drag your suitcase up a pretty big set of cement stairs to get to the room. Thank goodness we were on the 2nd floor and not the 3rd. Location was good. Staff were ok, although not anxious to do anything extra. It was a nice functional, clean hotel, but not memorable.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Corries B&B
Luss

Small 4 room B&B. The owner Brodie, was great-very helpful and friendly. The only thing here is thst it is far from all but 1 restaurant and you need transport to go anywhere. We were only them for a day, and he dropped us at a trailhead so we could have a lovely hill walk, but then we walked the 3 miles back to the B&B, which was fine for us, but might not be for others. Luckily, the only close restaurant-Loch Lomand Inn- had great food and wine and we ate there both nights. But overall, it would be best if you had a car in this region. The B&B is so pretty, with nice comfortable rooms and amazing breakfasts. Highly recommend staying here.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Wish I could give him 10 stars
Cleanliness & Comfort
VOCO Grand Central Glasgow
Glasgow

Pretty hotel, nice breakfast, great location. VERY small room with terrible view.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Glen Affric, Cawdor Castle, Culloden & Clava Cairns
Glen Affric, Cawdor Castle, Culloden & Clava Cairns
Inverness

The best and most personal tour of the trip. I wish I could give Catherine 10 stars. She was energetic and amazing. Took us to the best places and knew all the local characters. The best

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The absolute best!
Transport
Private Inverness Walking Tour
Private Inverness Walking Tour
Scotland

Nice little tour of Inverness. Funny guy, not amazing, but good enough.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Driver from Fort William to Skye was amazing-Brian. Took us many more and better places than we’re on the tour. Great knowledge of the area and funny nice guy with great stories.
Transport
Drivers were great and knowledgeable. Also prompt cars were were really nice.
Jacobite Steam Train
Jacobite Steam Train
Scotland

We found out 30 inures before the scheduled departure thst the train was not running due to repairs on the track. This was planned in advance. I guess the Jacobite people didn’t tell out tour company who kept trying to get us tickets. This was a little bit of a big deal, because if we had know in advance, we prob could have skipped Fort William, or at least,planned other things in advance, like a distillery tour. We were lucky and had great weather and went on a nice hike, but if given the choice in advance would have probably chosen to spend more time in Skye.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The only bad this here, is thst our driver who took us from Glasgow to Loch Lomand was supposed to,give us a 2 hour tour of Tossahchs National Park which did not happen. He just drove,us to our B&B and left. We should have had a guide on our day in Loch Lomand. We were lucky the B&B guy took us to a trial head, but we still had to walk 3 mile back.
Transport
Just clear expectations about if you have a driver or a guide.and what to,expect.
Seal Spotting Loch Linnhe Cruise
Seal Spotting Loch Linnhe Cruise
Scotland

It was a nice boat and the guide was funny and informative. It was good to get in to the harbor to be able to really see Ben Nevis, but it was a little bit of a time filler. The eventual destination of “seal Island” was a tiny rock with about w0 seals laying on it. A little underwhelming. If you had kids it would be fun I guess.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
We walked
Private Glasgow Essentials Tour
Private Glasgow Essentials Tour
Scotland

Great walk and I formative guide.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Very nice and knowledgeable.
Transport
We walked which was great. No transport involved.
Local specialist: Kateryna Garkavenko

We had excellent guides for our excursions.
Scotland | Aug 13 - Aug 25, 2025

Jeanne
Jeanne L.
Flagami, FL | Reviewed on Sep 01, 2025
We had excellent guides for our excursions. They were all knowledgeable, enthusiastic and personable. We especially enjoyed our Beatles tour. With Paul T. Jack, who took us on a walking tour of Smithfield was very knowledgeable and engaging. Grace took us on a walking tour focused on Shakespeare and I learned a lot (maybe more than I needed to know ). I did enjoy the town it was Stratford on Avon. Scotland was beautiful and we had great weather! Visiting St. Andrew’s was a dream of a... Read more

We had excellent guides for our excursions. They were all knowledgeable, enthusiastic and personable. We especially enjoyed our Beatles tour. With Paul T. Jack, who took us on a walking tour of Smithfield was very knowledgeable and engaging. Grace took us on a walking tour focused on Shakespeare and I learned a lot (maybe more than I needed to know ). I did enjoy the town it was Stratford on Avon. Scotland was beautiful and we had great weather! Visiting St. Andrew’s was a dream of a lifetime. We were busy with all the things that were planned for us and felt like we covered a lot of ground.

Hotel Reviews
Eden Locke
Edinburgh

This hotel was the best out of all eight we stayed in. It was roomy and they had a nice fan. Big bathroom. Elevator! The only bad thing was we arrived at night and it was not clearly marked. The sign had the name on the same color of brick and it was not illuminated. After going around the block a few times one of our passengers got out and walked to the area where we thought it should be and confirmed we were at the right place.

Authenticity & Character
Very modern and well appointed.
Location
Centrally located in Edinburgh.
Staff
Very informative and thorough.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Clean and comfortable. Enjoyed a large bathroom and shower.
Redcliffe Hotel
Inverness

Hotel was nice in an older building with a nice restaurant. This time we had to lug our luggage downstairs. The room was nice but small. The bathroom and shower were extremely small.

Authenticity & Character
It had an old time charm look.
Location
It was in a town and we were able to walk to get dinner and do a little souvenir shopping.
Staff
The lady who checked us in and waited on us for breakfast was very friendly and nice.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Clean and comfortable but the bathroom and shower were very small.
Balmacara Hotel
Ross-Shire

Nice hotel with a view of the lake across the street. Second floor with lots of steps to lug luggage. No elevator.

Authenticity & Character
Location
It was located near to some excursions we were visiting.
Staff
I became ill and my husband went to the desk and they offered some remedies that may aid in my comfort.
Cleanliness & Comfort
The room was clean and comfortable.
Loch Leven Hotel
Glencoe

Hotel was nice but once again involved lugging luggage up steps. Only staying one night I don’t recall specifics of this room. There was a lake nearby that we walked down to see.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Pretty surroundings, don’t remember seeing anything nearby to explore.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The White Lion Hotel
Ambleside, Cumbria

The hotel was nice but the logistics were strange. We came in the back door from the parking lot. We had to walk through the restaurant with our luggage. We had to carry our luggage up many steps and that was laborious. The restaurant had a Sunday roast that looked good on line but the roast was dry, overcooked and tough. The potatoes could barely be cut with a knife they were hard as rocks (over-baked).

Authenticity & Character
It was in an attractive older building.
Location
It was in the middle of the town and close to walk around the town even though it was Sunday evening and most things were closed.
Staff
They had a menu on the table and you were instructed to place your order on line and it was cumbersome. Upon seeking help from a server he told us we did not have to order on line but we were done by that point.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Room was clean and comfortable.
Hard Days Night Hotel
Liverpool

This was a nice hotel. One downfall was that there was no parking and there was no where to unload the luggage due to restricted parking for cabs. There was a policeman out front when we arrived and he let us pull up and unload quickly. When you went in the front doors there were several steps that we had to lug our luggage up. Nice on the main level there was an elevator to take us up to the 2nd floor. The hotel room was roomy and had air conditioning that was a welcome feature!

Authenticity & Character
Beatles theme.
Authenticity & Character
Beatles theme.
Location
Close to the Cavern Club and had Beatles theme with interesting decor around the hotel.
Location
Close to the Cavern Club and had Beatles theme with interesting decor around the hotel.
Staff
We had a tour scheduled the day we were checking out and we were able to get a later check out.
Staff
We had a tour scheduled the day we were checking out and we were able to get a later check out.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Cleanliness & Comfort
The White Hart Royal Hotel, Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire

A nice hotel with a nice size room and on the first floor. We really weren’t here very long, arrived early evening and left early the next morning.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
ibis Styles London Southwark – near Borough Market
London

This hotel was in an area where we could walk to find a variety of restaurants that were close by. The room was warm and had trouble adjusting the temperature to cool the room. The included breakfast bar was nicely stocked with a variety of food.

Authenticity & Character
It was a theater themed decorated style.
Location
Near a variety of restaurants and close enough to walk to other activities.
Staff
Staff was helpful when interacted with.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Room was clean and lobby and dining area were clean
Local specialist: Stephen Molloy
Stephen
Stephen Molloy
Local specialist in Dorset and Lyon | Replied on Sep 01, 2025
Hi Jeanne and Carl That's so cool that you took the time to do this review - cheers! Thank you so much for sharing this with me. I’m delighted to hear you had such excellent guides and that the Beatles tour was a highlight. The weather has just turned for the worse last week so you missed the storm. I’m so glad that visiting St. Andrew’s was everything you hoped for - as I say to folks, it is not just about golf! Wonderful to know you felt the trip was full and rewarding. We would be... Read more

Hi Jeanne and Carl

That's so cool that you took the time to do this review - cheers!

Thank you so much for sharing this with me. I’m delighted to hear you had such excellent guides and that the Beatles tour was a highlight. The weather has just turned for the worse last week so you missed the storm. I’m so glad that visiting St. Andrew’s was everything you hoped for - as I say to folks, it is not just about golf! Wonderful to know you felt the trip was full and rewarding.

We would be happy to have you again, perhaps travelling in France, Ireland or Wales next time!

Regards, thanks
Stephen Molloy
HIGH POINT HOLIDAYS

Overall, the trip to Scotland was very successful
Scotland | Aug 12 - Aug 24, 2025

A
Angela W.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Aug 27, 2025
Overall, the trip to Scotland was very successful. It was our first time cruising and we took our 20-something kids. While there were bumps in the road, the most important matters were attended to. It was great to have an agency taking care of all the transport transfers, and obtaining tix for various sightseeing. They also researched and booked the cruise. I'm not sure if our agent had much experience with cruises, and we certainly didn't, so we didn't know what questions to ask.
There was...
Read more

Overall, the trip to Scotland was very successful. It was our first time cruising and we took our 20-something kids. While there were bumps in the road, the most important matters were attended to. It was great to have an agency taking care of all the transport transfers, and obtaining tix for various sightseeing. They also researched and booked the cruise. I'm not sure if our agent had much experience with cruises, and we certainly didn't, so we didn't know what questions to ask.
There was a lot of confusion about the travel insurance that the boat required, and I ended up having coverage from three different sources (admittedly, I was not willing to risk showing up at the boat and being turned away because we didn't have the proper coverage). We didn't know that there was a choice before arriving to the boat of an all inclusive alcohol package, which was more expensive if we obtained in on the boat. We didn't know that there was a lottery on double beds in our cabin level, so my husband and I ended up with single beds, which would not have been an acceptable risk had we known in advance. To their credit, Kim-Kim refunded us 300GBP for this oversight. Also, our cabin reservation and our kids were not linked so we were assigned different dining room tables, which then had to be sorted on the boat. Regarding the choice of Fred Olson cruise line for our group, it wasn't a good fit. The clientele on the ship was 90% UK residents and 90% over 70 years old. Thus, everything from the music, comedy and other entertainment like trivia quizzes were focused on a very different demographic than our crew. Perhaps this is inevitable with a Scotland cruise? Another hiccup was that I had researched the kind of adaptor we needed for Scotland, which we used for our three days in Edinburgh, but we had no idea that the adaptors on the cruise were the different, European kind. Next, I believe our agent made a mistake in not giving us access to our cruise accounts until very close to the cruise date, and many of the onshore tours were sold out by the time we got access. Our agent gave us a referral to a private tour company in Kirkwall--Venture Ashore. We were very disappointed with the tour. We booked a 4 hour private tour for 4 people for $850. Our tour guide was a cabbie, Kevin. We were picked up in a cab, which wouldn’t have been a problem except that Kevin had just moved to Scotland in Nov (it was now August) and didn’t know much except how to get us to the places, where he dropped us off and then sat in his cab until we returned!? He didn’t even have enough knowledge to fill the time while we were driving from place to place, and he often repeated himself. Kevin was a very nice man. I’m just shocked that the tour company considered this to be an $850 level private tour. I will not take a Venture Ashore tour again.
Some comments about the Fred Olson cruise itself (besides the cautions I mentioned above): There was no shampoo and conditioner in cabins--you had to go purchase it in the onboard store if you didn't bring it. There were upsells everywhere you turn. The kids were woken up many days by multiple (hourly!) announcements into their cabin that they didn’t need to know, and this was after the cruise director had said that announcements would only be outside cabins.
Having said all of that, Aleksandra was very responsive, very organized. She seemed to be working weekends. She picked up the phone when we were struggling to connect with one of our transfers. I could tell she was trying very hard and maybe just didn't have the experience yet to foresee all of these subtleties. I would use Kim-Kim again, but I would be more on top of some of these issues, having gotten more experience myself.

Hotel Review
Apex Waterloo Place
Edinburgh
Activity Reviews
Private Transfer from Edinburgh to Edinburgh Airport
Private Transfer from Edinburgh to Edinburgh Airport
Edinburgh
Edinburgh Old Town Tour
Edinburgh Old Town Tour
Edinburgh
Local specialist: Aleksandra Shebaltseva
Aleksandra
Aleksandra Shebaltseva
Local specialist in England | Replied on Sep 01, 2025
Hi Ange, Thank you so much for taking the time to review your trip. I truly appreciate your sincere feedback. You are absolutely right, KimKim and we, as local specialists, don’t usually arrange long cruises. Since you entrusted us with your trip, I felt honored to help make it happen and was glad to find a cruise that suited your requirements. I’m happy to hear that your overall impression was positive, though I’m sorry that some parts of the experience did not go as smoothly as we had... Read more

Hi Ange,

Thank you so much for taking the time to review your trip. I truly appreciate your sincere feedback.

You are absolutely right, KimKim and we, as local specialists, don’t usually arrange long cruises. Since you entrusted us with your trip, I felt honored to help make it happen and was glad to find a cruise that suited your requirements. I’m happy to hear that your overall impression was positive, though I’m sorry that some parts of the experience did not go as smoothly as we had hoped.

Regarding the insurance, I highlighted the requirements for you right after booking and tried to make the process easier by negotiating with the cruise company to accept your usual policy. When that wasn’t possible, I even offered you a discount, although the issue was beyond my control.

As for the shore excursion, the operator you booked directly was one provided through the cruise company. I only shared the link after you requested information about shore tours, but I did not work with those guides directly and therefore cannot take responsibility for their service. That said, I will be sure to share your feedback with the cruise company to help them improve.

I completely agree that managing these details directly within your account would have given you more flexibility to arrange everything exactly to your preferences. I also acknowledge that it was my mistake to connect you a bit later, and I apologize for any inconvenience this caused.

Thank you again for your trust and for sharing your experience—it helps us continue to improve.

Warm regards,
Aleksandra

Wanted to stay longer…
Scotland | Aug 18 - Aug 25, 2025

Hildegard
Hildegard V.
Panama | Reviewed on Aug 26, 2025
Aleksandra was a wonderful guide, always responsive and flexible. She helped us with everything and was always available during the trip for any last minute changes. Read more

Aleksandra was a wonderful guide, always responsive and flexible. She helped us with everything and was always available during the trip for any last minute changes.

Hotel Reviews
River Ness Hotel, a member of Radisson Individuals
Inverness

The River Ness Hotel was okay, but it felt a bit on the shabby side compared to the other accommodations. It was a last-minute arrangement, so I understand these things happen. However, it wasn't as impressive as the other places we stayed.

Clan Macduff Hotel
Fort William

Unfortunately, the Clan Macduff Hotel in Fort William was my least favorite. It felt more like a motel, and the location wasn't ideal for exploring Glencoe, which we missed out on. It was a last-minute addition to our itinerary, and I wish we had stayed somewhere further into Glencoe to better enjoy the area.

The Alamo Guest House
Glasgow

The Alamo Guest House in Glasgow was another highlight of our trip. The accommodation was cozy and beautifully decorated. The service was outstanding, and the staff made us feel right at home. I would definitely recommend it to anyone visiting Glasgow.

The Bracken Hide
Portree

Right expérience hôtel for location

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Aleksandra Shebaltseva

So pleased and thankful!
Scotland | May 16 - May 26, 2025

Lyndsay
Lyndsay C.
Canada | Reviewed on Aug 25, 2025
If you’re looking for an incredible trip, we can’t reccomend Kimkim enough! This was our first time using a travel planner, and it was the best decision we have ever made. We booked a 10 day Scotland honeymoon, and Salome took care of Eid everything. From thoughtful notes and upgrades, to taking the time to listen to exactly what experiences would make our time away perfect, to being available while we were away, we couldn’t not be more pleased. We will definitely be repeat customers! Read more

If you’re looking for an incredible trip, we can’t reccomend Kimkim enough! This was our first time using a travel planner, and it was the best decision we have ever made. We booked a 10 day Scotland honeymoon, and Salome took care of Eid everything. From thoughtful notes and upgrades, to taking the time to listen to exactly what experiences would make our time away perfect, to being available while we were away, we couldn’t not be more pleased. We will definitely be repeat customers!

Hotel Reviews
Angel's Share Hotel
New Town, Edinburgh

This hotel felt so upscale in downtown Edinburgh! We loved the chemex coffee in the room, the high ceilings, comfortable bed, and the restaurant downstairs was so lovely!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Lawriestone Guest House
Fort William

This was one of our all time favourite places to stay on our holiday. The view from the chairs in our room will forever live in our memories as one of our favorite spots in Scotland. Our hosts were so friendly and had great recommendations of places to visit and a great hike. We cannot recommend this guest house strongly enough!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Bosville Hotel
Portree

The food was absolutely incredible- location was perfect, and our accommodations were great!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Druid House B & B
Inverness

Our accommodations were amazing!! We loved the space, the big beautiful room and bathroom, and our host was so thoughtful! The on site massage was a lovely added touch!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Cairngorm Hotel
Aviemore
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Leonardo City Edinburgh
Edinburgh

Excellent accommodations, attentive staff, delicious breakfast!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Boat Ride Around the Canal & Loch Ness including a Visit to Urquhart Castle
Boat Ride Around the Canal & Loch Ness including a Visit to Urquhart Castle
Scotland

We loved the boat ride, the guide and information about the loch, and the time on the shore exploring the castle is highly recommended!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Edinburgh Castle Tickets
Edinburgh Castle Tickets
Edinburgh
Quality of Experience
Rothiemurchus by Horseback Trek
Rothiemurchus by Horseback Trek
Aviemore
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Salomé Deroyer
Salomé
Salomé Deroyer
Local specialist in Lyon | Replied on Aug 26, 2025

Hi Lyndsay,
Thank you so much for your heartfelt review!
I'm so happy to hear that you and Michaela had such a lovely time celebrating your honeymoon in Scotland! 🤩
I love the photos you've shared, it's always such a pleasure for us to see trips turning to reality!
Thank you again so much for traveling with us, and I do look forward to working with you for future trips! 😊
All the best,
Salomé & the High Point Holidays Team

Scotland and Northern England Tour
Scotland | Aug 11 - Aug 20, 2025

Phil
Phil D.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Aug 24, 2025
We planned a 10-day (9 days + 1 flight day) self-drive tour in Scotland and Northern England with our two boys, 13 and 9. The planning experience with Stephen was great; the interactions were easy and he heard and adjusted with our feedback, though the changes were minimal given that the initial itinerary was close to spot on from our initial input. We really appreciated walking through the entire trip the week before departure and getting a few tips. We had a variety of accommodations, and... Read more

We planned a 10-day (9 days + 1 flight day) self-drive tour in Scotland and Northern England with our two boys, 13 and 9. The planning experience with Stephen was great; the interactions were easy and he heard and adjusted with our feedback, though the changes were minimal given that the initial itinerary was close to spot on from our initial input. We really appreciated walking through the entire trip the week before departure and getting a few tips. We had a variety of accommodations, and especially enjoyed the setting of the Bracken Hide Hotel in the highlands and the historic Ballaculich House apartment near Fort William. Having many breakfasts included along the way was much appreciated, as were the combination of self guided days, private tours, Castle tickets and free time. The brief guides of each area were truly helpful and our Edinburgh tour guide Gareth (EdinburghExpert) and Steve (Highland Wildlife & Birdwatch Safaris) in Aviemore were both standouts.

Local specialist: Stephen Molloy
Stephen
Stephen Molloy
Local specialist in Dorset and Lyon | Replied on Aug 26, 2025

Hi Phil,

Thank you so much for your thoughtful review — I really appreciate it. We love working with the same guides you mentioned, and we try to use them as often as we can, so I’m delighted they stood out for you as well.

For me, one of the best parts of planning your trip was having our pre-trip video calls. They really helped me understand your needs perfectly and make sure the itinerary felt right for your family from the very start.

Please pass on my thanks also to your wife and the boys — cheers J, J and P as well!

Warm regards,
Stephen Molloy
HIGH POINT HOLIDAYS

A trip we could only pull-off with KimKim's help
Scotland | Jul 26 - Aug 2, 2025

Mary Sue
Mary Sue H.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Aug 12, 2025
Our tour of Ireland for our family of 11 was everything I hoped it would be and more. Our specialist Salome, and local specialist Marine-Heloise, were wonderful at helping us plan everything and then troubleshooting when we had to change some plans. I was able to be in touch with Kimkim while in Ireland to help us change some times and rearrange activities on the fly. We just couldn't have coordinated everything on our own, so it was so wonderful to have their knowledge, expertise, and local... Read more

Our tour of Ireland for our family of 11 was everything I hoped it would be and more. Our specialist Salome, and local specialist Marine-Heloise, were wonderful at helping us plan everything and then troubleshooting when we had to change some plans. I was able to be in touch with Kimkim while in Ireland to help us change some times and rearrange activities on the fly. We just couldn't have coordinated everything on our own, so it was so wonderful to have their knowledge, expertise, and local contacts to rely on.

Hotel Reviews
The Belvedere Hotel
Dublin

Very comfortable and spacious rooms. It's a bit far away from some of the main tourist sites but we were able to walk everywhere. Breakfast was good. Bar was ok. One of the bartenders was rude and refused to make us a martini. The next night the bar manager was there and did make us one, but would not do so according to our specifications. He insisted he had his own secret recipe and that we would love. But we really didn't love it and would have preferred the simpler version that we requested.

Authenticity & Character
It was nice enough but really didn't have any character
Location
Staff
less than helpful when asked to recommend dining locations, and one of the bartenders was rude.
Cleanliness & Comfort
It was fine. Big rooms but tight bathrooms.
Clayton Hotel Cork City
cork

Convenient location right on the edge of the tourist section. We experienced some problems though - including sidewalk and road work happening right outside the front door, which made foot and car traffic tricky. The air conditioning in the hotel rooms couldn't keep up with the summer heat, so two of our 4 rooms were unbearably hot at night. Also, two of our rooms on the back side of the hotel experienced terrible noise all night long from the homeless population that were camped out behind their rooms. They got no sleep! We were told at the front desk that they had security who would run off the homeless people if they bothered anyone, but we didn't know to ask them to do that until it was too late. Seems like if they know it's a problem for guests they would take care of it proactively. We would not stay there again and would not recommend it to anyone.

Authenticity & Character
It's just a big hotel
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
AC not working properly - hot rooms. Loud noises at night preventing sleep,
Randles Hotel Killarney
Co. Kerry

We loved this hotel and was within walking distance of most things in Killarney. It was beautifully appointed and so comfortable. Staff were gracious and so helpful. We loved the restaurant and especially the bar. They made the best martinis we had in Ireland.

Authenticity & Character
Very European in style and beautifully appointed
Location
convenient to everything with free parking underneath the hotel
Staff
Courteous and helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
No complaints
Activity Reviews
Falconry Adventures
Falconry Adventures
Killarney

This was a great activity for our family of 11, ranging in age from 73 to 7. Everyone got to handle the birds, and we learned so much about them.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Kinsale Private Walking Food Tour
Kinsale Private Walking Food Tour
Kinsale

Our guide, Amanda, went above and beyond. We were not expecting her beautiful musical performance, but enjoyed it so much.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Private Guided Tour of The Ring of Kerry
Private Guided Tour of The Ring of Kerry
Scotland

Our driver, Steven, was outstanding. He tailored the tour to suit our family so well. We couldn't have been happier.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Booster seats were provided for the young children in our group.
Local specialist: Salomé Deroyer
Salomé
Salomé Deroyer
Local specialist in Lyon | Replied on Aug 14, 2025

Hi Mary Sue,
Thank you so much for your review and sharing some photos, I especially love the ones at the falconry! 😊
I had a great time planning this trip for you and your family, and I do hope you will remember it for a long time! I'm also thrilled you had such an amazing time with your different guides!
Thank you again so much for traveling with us, and I really hope that we will be able to work together again for future trips!
All the best,
Salomé & the High Point Holidays Team

Scotland 2025
Scotland | Jul 24 - Aug 6, 2025

Annette
Annette F.
New Zealand | Reviewed on Aug 07, 2025
Tania was so very efficient and made great recommendations for activities and accommodation. She always replied quickly to any questions we had . We would certainly recommend her for travel advice Read more

Tania was so very efficient and made great recommendations for activities and accommodation. She always replied quickly to any questions we had . We would certainly recommend her for travel advice

Hotel Reviews
The Lodge On Loch Lomond Hotel
Luss

Really modern, great location right beside the Loch with a private beach

Authenticity & Character
Really modern, lovely deck outside our room
Location
Right beside the loch
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Lovely room, great bed and bathroom. Good food and bar
Lime Tree An Ealdhain
Fort William

Helpful staff and a great location

Authenticity & Character
Old but renovated, lovely bedroom overlooking the Loch
Location
Walking distance into town
Staff
Helpful and friendly
Cleanliness & Comfort
Bed was comfortable, very clean. Good sized room with a great view
Bracken Hide Hotel
Portree

Good location with excellent views

Authenticity & Character
The chalets are really cute, bathroom is small but very nice. The buggy rides up the hill are really appreciated
Location
Great view and located pretty much in the middle of Skye
Staff
Always available and nothing too much trouble
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean and warm. Bed was very comfortable
Ferry Inn
Stromness

We arrived at the end of shopping week in Stromness and had a good time mingling with the locals

Authenticity & Character
But watch for the stairs!
Location
So close to the ferry terminal
Staff
Always helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
The bedroom had been refurbished so we were very happy
Glenmoriston Townhouse Hotel
Inverness

Hotel and staff were great. Location was excellent for getting in and out of the city

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Private Walking Kirkwall Tour
Private Walking Kirkwall Tour
Scotland

We had a tour with Ebenezar to Skara Brae, it was incredible. . The best thing was his knowledge and passion of the area. Cannot recommend him highly enough

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Ebenezars knowledge and passion
Transport
Very comfortable van with a very safe driver
Local specialist: Tetiana Smal
Tetiana
Tetiana Smal
Local specialist in London | Replied on Aug 12, 2025

Dear Annette,

Thank you kindly for your thoughtful feedback! I’m so pleased to know you enjoyed the recommendations and felt supported throughout your planning. It was a real joy to work with you, and I’m grateful for your trust in me.

I truly appreciate your recommendation and hope our paths cross again for another wonderful journey in the future.

Best wishes,
Tania

Scotland 2025..
Scotland | Jul 7 - Jul 12, 2025

Wayne
Wayne P.
San Jose, CA | Reviewed on Jul 21, 2025
Kate did an excellent job planning our trip for us. The hotels were beautiful! The guides that she set us up with in Scotland were very knowledgeable, friendly, and fun to be with. Read more

Kate did an excellent job planning our trip for us. The hotels were beautiful! The guides that she set us up with in Scotland were very knowledgeable, friendly, and fun to be with.

Hotel Reviews
Rocpool Reserve Hotel
Inverness
Virgin Hotels Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Cameron house
VOCO Grand Central Glasgow
Glasgow
Activity Reviews
Edinburgh Old Town Tour
Edinburgh Old Town Tour
Edinburgh
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Private Inverness Walking Tour
Private Inverness Walking Tour
Scotland
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Kateryna Garkavenko
Kateryna
Kateryna Garkavenko
Local specialist in London | Replied on Jul 28, 2025
Hi Wayne, Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm absolutely thrilled to hear that you and your group had such a wonderful time in Scotland. It was my pleasure to plan your trip, and I'm so glad the hotels and guides lived up to your expectations. I know how important it is to have knowledgeable and friendly guides, and I’m so happy that they contributed to your amazing experience. It’s always such a joy to hear that our clients had such a fantastic time. Thank you for sharing your... Read more

Hi Wayne,

Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm absolutely thrilled to hear that you and your group had such a wonderful time in Scotland. It was my pleasure to plan your trip, and I'm so glad the hotels and guides lived up to your expectations. I know how important it is to have knowledgeable and friendly guides, and I’m so happy that they contributed to your amazing experience.

It’s always such a joy to hear that our clients had such a fantastic time. Thank you for sharing your feedback—it truly means a lot. I hope the memories from your trip will stay with you for many years to come.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you’re planning another adventure in the UK. I’d love to help make it just as special!

Warmest regards,
Kate

Svetlana was excellent & Robert was amazing!!
Scotland | Jul 4 - Jul 13, 2025

Rena
Rena D.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Jul 20, 2025
Svetlana was excellent; responsive, knowledgeable, flexible and very easy to work with. There were 6 of us traveling, coming from 3 continents and Svetlana took everyone's requests into consideration when planning our trip and was very helpful overall. Our tour guide, Robert was extraordinary! Prompt (always early), knowledgeable (like an encyclopedia), courteous, professional, flexible and very easy to be with. He really made the trip for us all! Read more

Svetlana was excellent; responsive, knowledgeable, flexible and very easy to work with. There were 6 of us traveling, coming from 3 continents and Svetlana took everyone's requests into consideration when planning our trip and was very helpful overall. Our tour guide, Robert was extraordinary! Prompt (always early), knowledgeable (like an encyclopedia), courteous, professional, flexible and very easy to be with. He really made the trip for us all!

Hotel Reviews
Apex City of Glasgow Hotel
Glasgow

Nice big room and bathroom. Very good location and nice breakfast. Very friendly and helpful staff. Good value.

Glenmoriston Townhouse Hotel
Inverness

We were on the top floor from what appears to be a transformed attic. No elevator, but we got help with luggage. The ceilings in the room were sloped on both sides so you really had to watch out to bump your head everywhere. No shower, no hot water. For Ireland, very weak breakfast

Toravaig House Hotel
Isle of Skye

Nice large room and bathroom. Good breakfast. The front desk woman was not friendly or helpful. No elevator and no one to assist getting luggage up a flight and a half of stairs. The breakfast was good and the waiter was very friendly. Note: there isn't any dinner options at the hotel. You need to go to the sister hotel, where they provide transportation (about a 10 min drive). The meal and service is excellent but it is a prefix menu and it's pricey (about 100 pounds per person with drinks).

The Bruntsfield

Nice hotel, good location. There were elevators but you still had to take stairs which defeated the purpose of having an elevator for luggage. Also, it wasn't obvious that there was a ramp to enter the hotel so we also took a flight of stairs with the luggage...and there wasn't anyone to help. Breakfast was good, with a made to order hot entree.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Tomatin Whisky Distillery
Tomatin Whisky Distillery
Scotland

We aren't whisky drinkers but "when in Scotland" we really wanted to have a tour and not just a tasting. Our guide was excellent, the tour was really interesting, the facilities very nice and the tasting (which was the minor part of the excursion) was very nicely done. This is a boutique distillery and it was a curated experience, which we loved.

Highland Sheepdog Experience
Highland Sheepdog Experience
Scotland

This is such a unique experience and it's really worth it. The man who owns the dogs was super nice and patient. He also had some "hairy coos" which was a bonus. We all really had fun.

Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh

It's a self guided excursion but well worth the visit. I've been to a lot of castles but nothing like Edinburgh. It's basically a city vs a single building.

Local specialist: Svetlana Frolova

The guide and driver Robert was fantastic. He...
Scotland | Jul 4 - Jul 13, 2025

C
Clara D.
France | Reviewed on Jul 20, 2025
The guide and driver Robert was fantastic. He shows great knoledge as a guide, great driver and a very nice person.
We enjoy all the beautiful places and the trip plan was perfect.
Also very good hotels.
Read more

The guide and driver Robert was fantastic. He shows great knoledge as a guide, great driver and a very nice person.
We enjoy all the beautiful places and the trip plan was perfect.
Also very good hotels.

Hotel Reviews
Toravaig House Hotel
Isle of Skye
Authenticity & Character
Location
The place is nice but nothing around.
Staff
The reception girl was not very friendly but did her job.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Glenmoriston Townhouse Hotel
Inverness
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh

It is wonderful. It is a must place to visit in Edinburgh

Tomatin Whisky Distillery
Tomatin Whisky Distillery
Scotland

Very interesting . The guide was very good.

Quality of Experience
Highland Sheepdog Experience
Highland Sheepdog Experience
Scotland

I loved it. Highly recommended

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Svetlana Frolova

Personalized Scotland Adventure
Scotland | Jul 10 - Jul 16, 2025

Rae
Rae E.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Jul 18, 2025
Thanks to Pauline and team for helping us create an amazing trip. It was a great combination of their expert recommendations and our personal requests with enough freedom to discover new places along the way.
Highlights include Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace, and too many places to mention in the Highlands! We loved Inverness and the surrounding area. History, beauty, nature, and everyone is friendly and helpful. Shout outs to our hosts I. Edinburgh and Inverness, to Izzie at Tomatin...
Read more

Thanks to Pauline and team for helping us create an amazing trip. It was a great combination of their expert recommendations and our personal requests with enough freedom to discover new places along the way.
Highlights include Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace, and too many places to mention in the Highlands! We loved Inverness and the surrounding area. History, beauty, nature, and everyone is friendly and helpful. Shout outs to our hosts I. Edinburgh and Inverness, to Izzie at Tomatin (what a genuinely kind and knowledgeable person)!

Activity Reviews
Glenlivet - The Original Tasting
Glenlivet - The Original Tasting
Scotland

Rick was a wonderful guide. We had a great time.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Tomatin Distillery Tour
Tomatin Distillery Tour
Inverness

Terrific experience learning about Scotch whiskey production. Izzie is a great guide!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre tickets
Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre tickets
Inverness

Our guide was knowledgeable and complete!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Edinburgh Castle Tickets
Edinburgh Castle Tickets
Edinburgh

We loved that we could skipthe line because we had tickets and the guidebook is a great souvenir!

Quality of Experience
Local specialist: Pauline Mathieu
Pauline
Pauline Mathieu
Local specialist in UK & France | Replied on Jul 21, 2025

Thank you so much for your kind words! 🧡

It was truly a pleasure helping you plan your trip, and we're thrilled to hear it was such a memorable experience. We’re so glad our recommendations, combined with your own ideas, gave you the perfect mix of structure and freedom to explore.

Thank you again for traveling with us. We hope Scotland continues to hold a special place in your hearts and that you'll be back for more adventures someday!

Can’t wait to create other memorable trip for you !

Pauline and Célina

Amazing Family Trip to Scotland! ...
Scotland | Jun 18 - Jun 25, 2025

Melinda
Melinda L.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Jul 14, 2025
Amazing Family Trip to Scotland! This is my second trip that was planned by the Kim Kim team and I was very happy with the itinerary and accommodations. The hotels were all centrally located and met our budget. The Three Mile Island tour was fantastic and we also loved the Isle of Skye tour. Read more

Amazing Family Trip to Scotland! This is my second trip that was planned by the Kim Kim team and I was very happy with the itinerary and accommodations. The hotels were all centrally located and met our budget. The Three Mile Island tour was fantastic and we also loved the Isle of Skye tour.

Hotel Reviews
Rusacks St Andrews

Amazing hotel! Beautiful rooms and perfect location. The breakfast was fantastic.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Glen Mhor Hotel
Inverness

Loved this hotel, but had to walk up several flights of stairs, which was a bit difficult for my Mom, who is 88. Otherwise, beautiful location, clean, updated, great breakfast.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Perfect location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
beautiful rooms, updated bathrooms
The Great Western Hotel
Oban

The location was amazing. The hotel was old and in need of some updates, but it was clean and worked out well for us. The breakfast was mediocre, but we loved the sitting room in the front of the hotel which overlooked the water.

Authenticity & Character
hotel dated and needs an update
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Uilebheist Distillery Discovery Tour
Uilebheist Distillery Discovery Tour
Inverness

Nice tour...a little too long and the Scotch as not as good as others we tried.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Canal and Loch - Loch Ness Tour with Urquhart Castle included & Bus from Inverness
Canal and Loch - Loch Ness Tour with Urquhart Castle included & Bus from Inverness
Inverness

This was a bit commercial. The castle was very nice.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
The Isle of Skye & Eilean Donan Castle
The Isle of Skye & Eilean Donan Castle
Inverness

Amazing tour. Beautiful scenery.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Three Isles Tour – Mull, Iona & Staffa
Three Isles Tour – Mull, Iona & Staffa
Oban

Wonderful tour! The highlight of our trip. Well organized, beautiful views.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Jane Davey
Jane
Jane Davey
Local specialist in United Kingdom | Replied on Jul 15, 2025

HI Melinda

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts of your recent travel experience, as we really value your opinion, which assists us to improve our travel services.

It was an absolute pleasure working with you to craft a memorable itinerary and we love that you had the most amazing time. Sounds like Rucksacks, Isle of Skye and the Three Isles Tour were top of the list.

We would be delighted to work again with you on future trips and we thank you for traveling with us.

Wishing you safe and happy future travels.

Best, Jane & The Team

Another fantastic Kimkim journey
Scotland | Jul 7 - Jul 11, 2025

Drew
Drew M.
Spartanburg, SC | Reviewed on Jul 13, 2025
We are about to board the plane to leave beautiful Scotland, where we had our third Kimkim-planned adventure and as before, it was another fantastic journey! It met and even exceeded our high expectations! Aleksandra did our trip plan and thanks to her hard work planning, and her attention to detail and ongoing coordination, everything went off without a single hitch or problem (and there were lots of moving parts!). Our local Scottish guides, especially John and Alistair, were just great... Read more

We are about to board the plane to leave beautiful Scotland, where we had our third Kimkim-planned adventure and as before, it was another fantastic journey! It met and even exceeded our high expectations! Aleksandra did our trip plan and thanks to her hard work planning, and her attention to detail and ongoing coordination, everything went off without a single hitch or problem (and there were lots of moving parts!). Our local Scottish guides, especially John and Alistair, were just great and we loved getting to know them and learning about the history and culture of this beautiful country. My wife, my son and I will forever have wonderful memories of our Scotland journey so thanks again Kimkim!

Local specialist: Aleksandra Shebaltseva
Aleksandra
Aleksandra Shebaltseva
Local specialist in England | Replied on Jul 22, 2025

Dear John, Barbara, and Vince,

It was my absolute pleasure working with you to make your trip unforgettable! Thank you so much for the lovely review—it truly means a lot to me.

I’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to John and Alistair as well — they will be delighted to know they made your experience even more special.

Wishing you a smooth transition back to your routine, with lots of beautiful memories from Scotland to carry with you. Thank you again for letting me be a part of your journey!

Sincerely,
Aleksandra

Amazing 12 person family trip to Scotland
Scotland | Jun 22 - Jun 30, 2025

A
Anne W.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Jul 08, 2025

Our 12 person family trip to Scotland was amazing! A trip of a lifetime! And Kateryna our travel agent was incredible! She helped us plan a trip for 12 to 5 different towns and cities, starting in Edinburgh, and ending in Glasgow. We had two amazing drivers, Marco and Eri, who helped make the trip and excursions seem less. From the Inns to the restaurant suggestions, tours and hikes we couldn’t have asked for a better trip. I highly recommend visiting The isle of Skye, hiking its magical hills and mountains and its small towns like Portree. We will definitely use Kimkim and Katyrina again!

Local specialist: Kateryna Garkavenko
Kateryna
Kateryna Garkavenko
Local specialist in London | Replied on Jul 11, 2025
Thank you so much for your kind words! 😊 It truly was a pleasure working with your wonderful group, and I’m so glad to hear that your family trip to Scotland was a trip of a lifetime! From Edinburgh to Glasgow and all the magical spots in between, it sounds like everything came together perfectly. Your photos filled me with so much joy, and I’ll be carrying that happiness with me for the year ahead 😁 I’m so glad that Marco, Eri, and I could help make your journey smooth and memorable, and... Read more

Thank you so much for your kind words! 😊 It truly was a pleasure working with your wonderful group, and I’m so glad to hear that your family trip to Scotland was a trip of a lifetime! From Edinburgh to Glasgow and all the magical spots in between, it sounds like everything came together perfectly.

Your photos filled me with so much joy, and I’ll be carrying that happiness with me for the year ahead 😁

I’m so glad that Marco, Eri, and I could help make your journey smooth and memorable, and that you enjoyed exploring places like the Isle of Skye and Portree!

I can’t wait for the opportunity to help plan your next adventure – I’ll be here whenever you’re ready!

Warmest wishes,
Kateryna 🌟

We had a wonderful time on our recent self-dr...
Scotland | Jun 20 - Jun 28, 2025

K
Kathleen E.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Jul 07, 2025

We had a wonderful time on our recent self-driving tour of Scotland and Shetland! Aleksandra was incredibly responsive and worked with me to create a trip that worked with our budget. Adding the extra trip to Shetland made this a unique experience for us and having someone that helped with the planning and deciding where to stay was really helpful.

Local specialist: Aleksandra Shebaltseva
Aleksandra
Aleksandra Shebaltseva
Local specialist in England | Replied on Jul 08, 2025

Dear Kathleen,

Oh, what a joy to read this! 🥰
Thank you so much for trusting me with your adventure and for letting me play a small part in your beautiful story. Wishing you many more journeys just as memorable — and if the road ever winds back this way, you know where to find me!

Warmly,
Aleksandra

An unforgettable trip to Northern Ireland and Scotland thanks to Salome and kimkim!
Scotland | Jun 22 - Jul 5, 2025

J
John C.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA | Reviewed on Jul 06, 2025
We had an absolutely wonderful time on this trip to Northern Ireland and Scotland! Salome did an extraordinary job planning the trip, and patiently took into account our many updates and requests. We ran into just a couple of minor hiccups during the trip, but Salome and kimkim were instantly reachable and quickly (within minutes) resolved them. I would highly recommend kimkim to anyone, and will definitely use them again in the future. During this trip, we visited Belfast, Glasgow,... Read more

We had an absolutely wonderful time on this trip to Northern Ireland and Scotland! Salome did an extraordinary job planning the trip, and patiently took into account our many updates and requests. We ran into just a couple of minor hiccups during the trip, but Salome and kimkim were instantly reachable and quickly (within minutes) resolved them. I would highly recommend kimkim to anyone, and will definitely use them again in the future.

During this trip, we visited Belfast, Glasgow, Inverness, Isle of Skye, and Edinburgh. Kimkim reserved excellent hotels for us at each location, with the highlight being the Tigerlily in Edinburgh. Of these locations, Isle of the Skye was the only one where we ran into any difficulties. Not only is Isle of Skye out of the way, it is also not equipped for the large number of tourists it receives. We stayed in Portree, the largest town on the Isle, and found it very difficult to find restaurants with availabilities for dinner. Most restaurants and shops there close relatively early. Private transportation and taxi service is difficult to arrange as well.

One other note is that while kimkim arranged for private transportation for most transition points, we did have to move our own luggage to and from the train stations to our local hotels. This was typically a 10 to 20 minute walk that could be uphill over ragged streets. We probably would have chosen this over any additional expense, but others may feel differently.

Hotel Review
Tigerlily
Edinburgh

This is a truly exceptional hotel! The lobby is absolutely gorgeous, the room was massive and elegant, and the hotel and wait staff could not have been more gracious and helpful. I could not give a higher recommendation for this hotel!

Authenticity & Character
Very modern and elegant boutique hotel
Location
Great location in the newer part of Edinburgh near many shops, restaurants, and pubs.
Staff
I have never felt more welcomed than by Tigerlily's hotel and wait staff. They were incredible!
Cleanliness & Comfort
A true 5-star experience!
Activity Review
Eat Walk Glasgow
Eat Walk Glasgow
Glasgow

The food and drinks on this tour were fabulous, and each stop presented a unique view of Glasgow. However, the true highlight of the tour was Megan, our tour guide. Megan was full of personality and highly knowledgeable about the venues, the food, and Glasgow in general. She made the tour a very enjoyable experience for all of us.

Quality of Experience
Great choice of venues
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Megan was exceptional. She was so fun to talk to and had an impressive knowledge of Glasgow.
Local specialist: Salomé Deroyer
Salomé
Salomé Deroyer
Local specialist in Lyon | Replied on Jul 07, 2025

Hi John,
Thank you so much for your heartfelt review. It was a pleasure to create such a memorable trip for all 6 of you!
I'm especially glad you liked the Tigerlily hotel, it is one of the team's favorite in Edinburgh!
Thank you again for traveling with us, and I do hope to hear from you soon for future trips! 😊
All the best,
Salomé & the High Point Holidays Team

Why travelers love kimkim

Custom trips for independent travelers who are too busy to plan
Customize your trip with the help of a local travel specialist

Kimkim has handpicked the world’s top local travel specialists so you will have peace of mind and an unforgettable trip that meets your exact requirements.

Authentic travel experiences

Kimkim’s local specialists ensure that you will have the best experience based on up-to-date local insights. On top of that, the vast majority of your money will go straight to support and grow local economies.

Secure & easy booking

Once you are happy with the trip, you can easily book via kimkim’s secure payment platform.

Local support during your trip

You can always reach your local specialist with a quick message or call in case you hit a snag during your trip, or simply want some great local recommendations.