Kimkim Trip Reviews for Scotland

We had a wonderful trip! Aleksandra took care of every detail and was available the whole time! We are a family of 4, 2 adults and two young kids. Scotland was so beautiful and we can't wait to go back!

Hotel Reviews

The Clermont London, Charing Cross

London

I want to go back. Ending here at this hotel was amazing because it was the best one of the whole trip. Location is stellar. We walked everywhere. Staff was amazing. Breakfast was great and dinner as well!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

AC Hotel by Marriott Glasgow

Glasgow

Great location. My only complaint was that the family room we booked didn't have air conditioning and was on a high floor, so we were sweltering. The staff helped with some fans but I would not suggest staying here.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Air conditioning needed there desperately

Inverlochy Castle Hotel

Fort William

This was hands down amazing. I wish we had more nights there. My kids were treated like royalty! The grounds are stunning. We did falconry with them and it was a one of a kind experience.

Authenticity & Character

The history was spectacular

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our room was the top floor and got very hot. The staff helped with fans but would have preferred a lower floor with more air flow.

Newhall Mains

Inverness

Beautiful, amazing staff. Full kitchen and laundry but not near anything you are pretty stuck at the hotel if you don't have a car. We made due with taxi services. Meals are pretty set time wise so I would make sure you have snacks etc for kids to have on hand.

Location

Remote and beautiful

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Virgin Hotels Edinburgh

Edinburgh

Location is amazing. Close to everything and walkable. I will say the "family" room was actually two hotel rooms next to each other that didn't physically connect, so my husband and I each split with a kid. For 3 nights this was no big deal and we were so close to everything it was worth it. I will say although friendly to kids here I wouldn't bring any kid less than 4 years old

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Heathrow Airport Transfer

London

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Transfer from Glasgow to Glasgow Airport

Glasgow

Leave earlier than you think. We nearly missed our flight due to the security line was so long.

Taxi to Your Glasgow Hotel

Glasgow

Our hotel was about 1 block away which we didn't realize. But the ride was fine.

Jacobite Steam Train

Scotland

Of course we had to do this as Harry Potter fans! It's a lot of riding but beautiful views! It was HOT. There is no AC on the train. Bring lots of water and a fan if possible.

Quality of Experience

Taxi to the Bus Station

Inverness

Isle of Skye Tour including the Eilean Donan Castle, Portree and other attractions

Inverness

Great day. Our driver was very flexible and we let him make suggestions of what to do and where to go!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hairy Coo Safari

Inverness

Worth it for sure. Up close and personal with the coos! Felt very intimate because they only take 8 guests at a time.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Taxi

Scotland

Taxi to Your Hotel

Inverness

Alnwick Castle Tour – The Real Hogwarts from Harry Potter

Edinburgh

Loved this. It was a bit far from Edinburgh. Unfortunately we didn't get to do broomstick flying due to weather. I also highly recommend Lillidorei playground which is attached on the grounds. My kids would have stayed there an entire day

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tatiana was my agent and she did an outstanding job planning and executing my trip to Scotland. It was everything I could have wished for. I loved the train rides and the Rabbies tours were exceptional. David, Claire, Mick and George were my tour guide and they were great. My driver, John was awesome. The hotels were great. I have run out of words to describe my trip. Thank you to Tatiana for make my dream of Scotland come true.

Hotel Reviews

Maldron Hotel Glasgow City

Glasgow

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Garrison

Fort William

Authenticity & Character

Loved the Jail house effect. very fun

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palace Hotel & Spa - Best Western Inverness

Inverness

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Kind and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Indigo Edinburgh Princes street - an IHG Hotel

Edinburgh

Room was very nice. Staff was amazing.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

They were kind and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

A Day on the Isle of Arran

Glasgow

The Rabbies bus was very comfortable and George was great. The Ferry ride was worth the trip. We got to go the Castle and the gardens were magnificent. It was a long day but very interesting and enjoyable. The Isle of Arran is beautiful

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jacobite Steam Train

Scotland

Got to take 3 train rides while in Scotland. This one was really nice. Enjoyed it a lot.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Seal Spotting Loch Linnhe Cruise

Scotland

This was so much fun even though it was windy and rainy. We saw several seals. The boat captain was very knowledgeable about the area. A great trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Ultimate Isle of Skye Tour from Inverness

Inverness

This was another Rabbies tour and Mick was great. He is a great storyteller and knew all about the Isle of Skye. Loved the Old Man of Storr.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Glen Affric, Culloden, and Clava Cairns Tour

Inverness

This was a great tour with Claire. I loved the peace and quiet of Glen Affric. The Clava Cairns were amazing. Culloden was great. The visitor center was so well done and very informative. This would be on the top of my list to do again.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hairy Coo Safari

Inverness

I got to ride with the farm hand to see the coos. She was very knowldgeable and interesting to talk too.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Balmoral tour from Inverness

Inverness

This was so interesting and the gardens were beautiful. John was amazing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Your Stirling Castle and Loch Lomond Tour

Edinburgh

Rabbies tour driver was David and he was awesome. Stirling castle was so interesting

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Edinburgh Cab City Tour

Edinburgh

Mariusz was great on this tour. We got to see a lot of places and let me get my bearings on the Royal Mile. We would park and take a walk and it was great. I loved the private car and driver.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kate did an awesome job tailoring our trip around Scotland with a wonderful balance of scheduled activities, suggested daily itineraries that still left us lots of flexibility to be spontaneous and explore. The accommodations were a range from 5 star resort to lovely B&B and all places I would have never found or booked myself. We made adjustments to meet budget requirements without sacrificing amenities.

Hotel Reviews

Moness Resort & Spa

Aberfeldy

Slightly away from downtown, lovely grounds, Rooms are a bit dated.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ullinish House

Isle of Skye

Loved this was private and off the beaten path from the main busy tourist areas

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Isle of Mull Hotel and Spa

Isle of Mull

Beautiful views, nice restaurant, good amenities

Authenticity & Character

Location

very convenient to ferry

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dungallan Country House

Oban

Lovely B&B a quick walk up the hill from downtown Oban. Historic charm but still very comfortable

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

put together to go lunches last minute for us and breakfast was wonderful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cameron house

Gorgeous grounds and property. Multiple restaurant options, Great location. First class amenities

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Loch Ness and Caledonian Canal Cruise

Inverness

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Inverness Walking Tour

Scotland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Edinburgh Old Town Tour

Edinburgh

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We loved our trip to Ireland/Scotland. Aleksandra was very responsive to our questions and receptive to our suggestions and requests. We especially enjoyed the accommodations, which were all so different but equally impressive. We would not have been able to create this bucket-list experience on our own! We have already decided to use kimkim the next time we travel! Thank you so much for facilitating a great trip.

Hotel Reviews

Iveagh Gardens Hotel

Dublin

I wish we had gotten to stay here longer. We flew in a bit later than expected and just stayed one night. But we really enjoyed our rooms, the lobby, the bar and the breakfast. It was fun to stroll the neighborhood, too!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Virgin Hotels Edinburgh

Edinburgh

This was the first time we have stayed at a Virgin hotel, but it will not be the last! The three nights we spent in Edinburgh were top notch, and the hotel had a lot to do with it. The beautiful rooms made us feel very pampered, and it was as though the owners thought of every little detail. We also frequented the bar and got to know the friendly staff there.

Authenticity & Character

Location

In the middle of everything!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms were fabulous down to every little detail.

Another Place, The Machrie

Port Ellen

We couldn't believe how gorgeous this place was! Seeing and hearing the sheep when we woke up was magical -- as was the expansive and private beach. Loved the restaurant and the hot tub as well as the beautiful rooms and lobby. The only downside of the community was a lack of transportation, but that is not the fault of this hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Corriegour Lodge Hotel

By Fort William, Letterfinlay

Of all our accommodations, this felt most like home. Other hotels were more updated in decor and amenities, but this one exuded local character. The owners interacted with us as though we were friends, and the location could not have been more beautiful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Scotch Whisky & Artisan Food Tasting Tour

Edinburgh

This tour was just as good as the Old Town tour. Our guide was also great at adapting to last-minute changes in the restaurants we visited. The food was very tasty, and we loved all the backstory about the whiskey. I would recommend this tour and our guide wholeheartedly.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Edinburgh Old Town Tour

Edinburgh

This tour was amazing and what we SHOULD have had in Belfast. We learned so much about Edinburgh -- all the statues, history, interesting side stories and more. I would definitely recommend this tour and our guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wildlife Tour

Scotland

This experience was way better than expected! We had requested an alternative to the three distilleries tour, and the wildlife tour did not disappoint. We were able to see dolphin, stags and birds, etc., and chat with the knowledgeable crew on the boat. The setup with tables and stools made it very comfortable, and it was not crowded at all.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Belfast Food Tour

Belfast

Very disappointing. It was as if the guide were a last-minute substitute for the real guide. He had nothing planned really (the restaurant he suggested for burgers was closed) and mostly chatted in general about stuff we already knew. The only good part was a seafood soup we had at a pub. Wish we had seen the Titanic museum instead.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dublin Private Walking Tour

Dublin

I reviewed by accident. Sorry! Please delete. We were not able to take this tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Appreciated the trip set up, but disappointed with ongoing communications, including travel issues. Also, terribly disappointed that they could not adjust my schedule outside of a 400£ additional charge, which according to my calculations should have been minimal as my travel itinerary was right on the way.

We thoroughly enjoyed all the excursions that were planned for us. Phil from Ollies tour was super funny and informative. The other guides were very informative and knowledgeable. Ireland was our favorite country and the scenery was amazing.
I would not recommend driving to the Isle of Skye if you are self driving. It is a very long ride there and back and in my opinion not worth the time.
Enjoyed Scotland scenery and excursion on the Outlander tour.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel du Vin & Bistro Edinburgh

Edinburgh

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easy to find and convenient to hop on hop off

Staff

Everyone was very friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was very comfortable and clean

Bunchrew House Hotel

Bunchrew

Very authentic hotel on beautiful grounds.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful hotel and surroundings.

Location

Staff

They were very nice and accommodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

We got there a day early and we were able to stay in the same room.

Kilmuir Park B&B

Isle of Skye

Isle of Skye was our least favorite places. The drive was too long to get there and back. You were asked to remove your shoes upon entering the house. Even though they had sufficient room for a dining area, you were put into your own dining area to eat. You were separated from other guests. Food was premade in the morning and was cold and tasteless. We left a day early because we did not feel comfortable and did not want to drive for long periods to see anything.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

It was very clean.

No.26 By The Sea

PA34 5AQ

Hotel was a converted home. Room was the smallest of all we stayed in. No where to put things in the room. Would definitely upgrade the room. Breakfast was the BEST of all the hotels we stayed at. Made to order. Always hot. Chef was amazing and friendly.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Within walking distance to Oban and right on the water

Staff

Everyone was super friendly and nice. Chef was the best

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was to small

Trinity Townhouse

Dublin

Very nice hotel. A little trouble parking to unload Streets are very narrow.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Within walking distance to hop on hop off bus.

Staff

Very friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was very clean and comfortable

Cahernane House Manor Hotel

Killarney

Beautiful old home refurbished into a hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Everything about it is authentic looking.

Location

Easy to get to town. Very safe feeling

Staff

Staff was very nice.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pax Guest House

Dingle

Amazing bed and breakfast. Had a gorgeous room with awesome views.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful BnB. Very nicely decorated and homey feeling

Location

The location was good. Close to town and easy to get to.

Staff

Five stars isn’t enough for the staff. They were awesome. Loved Susan. Super friendly staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.

Harbour Hotel

Galway

Very friendly staff and accommodations were very good. Breakfast was good

Authenticity & Character

Good value. Food and breakfast was good

Location

Convenient.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was very clean.

Activity Reviews

Welcome to Alnwick!

Alnwick

We did this all on our own.

Royal Edinburgh Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour

Edinburgh

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Loch Ness Cruise, Outlander & Whisky Tour

Inverness

The tour and boat ride were very good.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Both guides were awesome and a lot of fun

Transport

City Highlights Walking Tour of Inverness

Inverness

Did not take the walking tour.

Talisker distillery Tour

Scotland

Was unable to take tour since we left that morning

Private transfer

Dublin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trinity College Library : The Book of Kells Experience

Dublin

Was unable to attend.

Roaming the Ring of Kerry: Portmagee & Skellig Ring Small Group Tour

Killarney

We were the only two people on this tour. The tour guide was a local who was able to give us a lot of history.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Killarney Jaunt & Afternoon Tea

Killarney

The ride was ok.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Driver was nice.

Transport

Archaeological Tour of the Dingle Peninsula

Scotland

I love the small guided tours. It was very fun and informative

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cliffs of Moher Visitor Center tickets

Wales

We did not go to the visitors center.

Irish Dancing Show

Galway

Show was very entertaining

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Took our own taxi

Transport

Aran Island Tour - Day Trip to Inisheer from Galway

Galway

Tour and tour guide was amazing. Very accommodating

Quality of Experience

Food

The food was not included

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ollies tours was amazing and Phil was great

Transport

Welcome to Galway Walking Tour

Galway

Was unable to take the walking tour. Arrived to late

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I told my guides what we were most interested in doing and seeing, so having them send an initial plan that I could customize was great. Our accommodations were fantastic and met all of our needs above and beyond. My husband has been a reluctant traveler and he is already discussing going back. I believe the well planned details helped to make it not stressful. Additionally, having a one on one video call with Jane prior to our departure allowed for questions and additional information.

Hotel Reviews

Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club

Kirknewton

Such a fun experience to stay in a castle like accommodation. We enjoyed the golf, spa, onsite bars and restaurants. It was located so close to the airport yet you felt remote in a beautiful country setting.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

LOCH LOMOND HOTEL

Balloch

Wonderful family room with plenty of room for us. The staff that checked us in were so welcoming and helpful. The breakfast each morning was delicious and our service was great.

The Bracken Hide

Portree

This was our favorite accommodation of the entire trip. The cabins were so cozy and the remote area added to the unique experience The sauna and plunge pool were a great way to end a long day of hikes.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Beautiful grounds and views. The restaurant on site and full bar lounge offered amazing food and drinks. Some of the best of our trip.

Staff

Our bartender was so helpful in choosing a local whisky to try. The gentleman who seated us for dinner and breakfast was wonderful. He offered tips of things to see during our visit.

Palace Hotel & Spa - Best Western Inverness

Inverness

This hotel came along in our itinerary right when we needed the extra pampering Our room was spacious and comfortable. The welcome gifts were unexpected and extra special. The tea cakes at check in were a delicious treat and introduced us to this Scottish treat.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Walkable to key points. Easy to navigate to Ness Island

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cairngorm Hotel

Aviemore

We enjoyed the rustic character of this hotel. Located perfectly to the train station and walkable to restaurants/shopping. Breakfast was very good, staff was courteous. Buffet had a nice variety for starting our day.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Courtyard By Marriott Edinburgh

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND

Great location to the tram and within walking distance to key points of interest. Quiet retreat at night. Very good breakfast. Staff was pleasant and helpful. Room was clean and offered everything we needed for our stay.

Activity Reviews

Hill Trips Cairngorm Reindeer Herd

Scotland

Very fun and unique experience. Beautiful area and lovely views. Walk to and from the reindeer was more uphill than I expected but the guides were great in not making you feel rushed.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Edinburgh Castle Tickets

Edinburgh

We would definitely recommend kimkim to anyone looking for a customized experience. We were able to provide input and feedback during the planning/booking process so that we were able to check a lot of our boxes in Scotland in less time than if we were on our own, or piecing together separate tours. Special thanks to our guides and drivers along the way...Natalie, John, and Marcin.

Hotel Reviews

The Ranald

OBAN

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Royston Guest House Inverness

Inverness

Authenticity & Character

Location

Not as close to Inverness city center as we would have liked

Staff

Ross was a wonderful host and makes a mean breakfast

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Isle of Skye Tour including the Eilean Donan Castle, Portree and other attractions

Inverness

Great tour with a lot of ground and sites covered. It's a long day with a lot of riding but the sights and scenery make it all worthwhile.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Natalie was great!

Transport

Passenger van was comfortable

Loch Ness and Caledonian Canal Cruise

Inverness

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We started our trip in Edinburgh. We had an amazing guide Zander who guided us through the old town and Edinburgh Castle. All the history between Scotland and England was fascinating. We also did the Vaults Tour. This was great as well, learning about how people lived in the bridge and even as recently as 2014 the use by a Wiccan coven to practice their witchcraft.

The next day we headed off on our road trip.
Scotland Highlights:
1. Scone Palace which was the first castle we saw that wasn’t a ruin and is still occupied by the current Earl of Mansfield and his family.
2. Loch Ness cruise which was fun. We thought we caught something on video but now realise it was a seal 😬
3. TheHighland Coo Tour. Loved this. We had the best time visiting the coos and feeding the baby sheep they had.
4. Eilean Donan Castle was different being surrounded by water.
5. Isle of Skye. It’s all about the scenery. Absolutely beautiful countryside. The good thing about the Quiraing is you can see everything from the car park or a short walk. You don’t have to do the hikes to see the views
Ireland highlights:
1. Cobh. Beautiful seaside village
2. Ring of Kerry.
a. We absolutely loved exploring Muckross Abbey ruins. So many nooks and crannies.
b. Torc Falls. Something different and beautiful. 10min walk if fit but if you’re like me it’s a hard 20min walk back up but worth it.
c. Ladies View. We had lunch here and admired the view.
d. Derryanne Beach. Just to see a beach was worth it but it has nothing on Australian beaches.
e. Geokaun Mountain
3. Leap Castle - fascinating listening to the owner about how he rebuilt part of the castle to live in.
4. Guinness store - interesting but lots of walking!

Things to note:
1. You have to pay for parking everywhere and card isn’t always catered for so you need coins! So be prepared otherwise you waste a lot of time.
2. Portree was a pretty town but very busy being the main stop for hikers and travellers. So book dinner in advance or be prepared to eat at 5.30.
3. You need to book the ferry in advance to get off Isle of Skye if you want to go to Glenfinnan Viaduct. We missed out on this which was disappointing.
4. Ross Castle only does guided tours and you should book in advance. We got to look through their information room and it was very interesting so would have been good to have done the tour.

Our trip to Scotland was a great experience. Starting with the planning with Aleksandra all the way to Edinburgh. Aleksandra was wonderful to work. We really liked experiencing things that we would not have found on our own, such as the ferry from Ballycastle or the Corriegour hotel near Fort Williams. We also very much appreciated that anytime we were scheduled for a driver, the driver was there, on time, and knowledgable.

Dublin: Our flights were delayed into Dublin, so we missed the Dublin walking tour. The Dublin Castle was interesting, but not a highlight of the trip. Iveagh Garden Hotel is somewhere we'd be happy to return to.

Belfast: Driver on time and ready. Arrived in Belfast at the Rooms2 Belfast Hometel. The low point of the trip was the food tour in Belfast. First, there was only one dish served and then ice cream at a convenience store. The guide, Conar, was a bit self-absorbed (we heard several stories about his family thinking he was the black sheep). Would not recommend this one again.

Ballycastle to Port Ellen: Ferry was great (a 38 ft vessel) and we were the only passengers. Arrived in Port Ellen and driver was waiting. Another Place, The Machrie was as good as it gets. The experiences at Laphraoig, Ardbeg, and Lagavulin was a great experience. And the part of our group that went on the wildlife tour said it exceeded there expectations. Islay overall was a highlight of the trip.

Fort Williams: Corriegour hotel was a pleasantly unique experience. Christian (mom), Ian (son), and grandaughter were great hosts - and the food was superb. In town, Grog & Gruel was a nice casual place. We enjoyed being in town. Ben Nevis was another opportunity for a good whiskey. Unfortunately we missed eating a Crannog Seafood - we were enjoying our time at Corriegour a bit too much.

Isle of Skye: What a dramatic landscape and interesting drive. The drive was a bit too long, but we felt like we saw a lot.

Inverness: The Hootenany music, food, and hotel was a unique (all positive) experience. Our one night in Inverness will be remembered fondly.

Edinburg: Train ride through the countryside. Arrive in Edinburgh. Virgin Hotel was perfect. Edinburgh Old Town Tour was perfect. Witchery was a fantastic experience. The castle is always interesting. And to finish it off, the Private Scotch Whisky & Artisan Food Tasting Tour was a highlight. We really enjoyed Edinburgh.

Simply put, we will never travel abroad again without using KimKim. Aleksandra was extremely helpful in the planning of the trip, coordination of everything and even during the trip when we had questions. Once you try KimKim you will never travel any other way.

Hotel Reviews

Virgin Hotels Edinburgh

Edinburgh

Never stayed in a Virgin hotel in the past. Will seek them out going forward. Perfect room. Perfect service. Perfect location. Perfect bar.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hootananny

Inverness

Rooms were very nice and clean. Checking in was a bit strange, not real front desk, etc. Many other hotels in same area that I would probably opt for if I went back to Inverness.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Corriegour Lodge Hotel

By Fort William, Letterfinlay

Absolutely love this place. Former hunting lodge turned boutique hotel run by a mother and son duo. If you stay here, do not dine anywhere else other than at the lodge. The food was not only the best meal we had in Scotland, but one of the best I have had in the last year, and we dine at many high-end restaurants.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Another Place, The Machrie

Port Ellen

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room2 Belfast Hometel

Belfast

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Iveagh Gardens Hotel

Dublin

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Scotch Whisky & Artisan Food Tasting Tour

Edinburgh

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Edinburgh Old Town Tour

Edinburgh

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Belfast Food Tour

Belfast

Just not what it was described. Guide was interesting but showed up with very little planned. Led with well this restaurant is closed, and that one is closed. Kind of like he was winging it as we went along. Told us we were ending with ice cream which I envisioned would be in a nice shop/creamery. Literally went into a convenience store where we got scoops from the attendant. Ice cream was fine, just not what you would expect on a "Food Tour".

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Review and comments on trip to Scotland May 2025
From Donald Hamburg and Jan Prokop
May 28, 2025
Dear Kim and Alex:
From our very first correspondence and in all our contacts with you, we advised you that the principal purpose of this trip was landscape photography, generally in the Highlands. That goal was often repeated. As it turned out, the very first landscape photo was taken on day 7 on the Isle of Skye. Poor planning on your part and our inadequate review of the itinerary you proposed created unnecessary problems with our trip. Comments below:
Day 1 and Day 2 in Edinburgh were sufficient. Day 3 not necessary at all. The Bonham was very good.
Day 4 Allen, our driver/guide was very good. The tour of St Andrews golf course was very intersting and the guide was excellent. Pine Trees hotel in Pitlochry was very good. The manager was very helpful and a delight. He offered to drive us to the restaurant, but said it would be a hike to walk back to the hotel. Had to cancel the dinner reservation as there was no transportation from the restaurant. We dined at the hotel. What was your reasoning for us to stay in Pitlochry? We could have taken the train from St. Andrews straight to Kyle.
Day 5 the train to Inverness was ok but the first-class tickets and reserved seats were not honored. The conductor told us our seats were taken and that there were no seats in Coach A. We managed to get seats in Coach C. We will send you the reserved seat tickets if you need them to get a refund for the first-class seats.
The two nights in Inverness were totally wasted. No need to go there at all. The Lock Ness cruise and visit to Urquhart Castle were an unnecessary diversion. We could have travelled from St Andrews straight through to Kyle. The Kitchen restaurant was very good in Inverness, tho service was very slow.
Day 7 the train to Skye was fine. The Marmalade Hotel was too far from town and there were NO taxis. We could not keep the dinner reservation because there was no transportation.
Days 8 and 9 were basically the whole trip. The guide, Neil MacLeod, was fabulous. The Talisker tour was a waste of time. It was all about getting us into the gift shop. The trip through Trossachs National Park became redundant. Neil tried to make it as interesting as he could, but mile after mile of barren hills with not much to photograph was a disappointment. Day 9 should not have ended in Loch Lomond. Another 32 miles and we would have been in Glasgow. Why did you make a dinner reservation the Cameron Grill 17 miles away from the hotel when there was no transportation and after we had spent 8 hours in a car with Neil? Neil could have taken us to Glasgow or he could have left us off in the village of Luss and a new driver could have taken us to Glasgow. No need to stay at the Loch Lomond Arms hotel. We dined at the hotel – again.
Day 10. The Kimpton hotel was fine. We spent the day on a sightseeing bus and got to see a lot of Glasgow.
Since we knew very little about the geography of the Scottish Highlands, we had no knowledge of the distance between towns or the distance between our hotels, the restaurants, and the towns. In all, much too much down time and the purpose of the trip (landscape photography of Scotland’s fabulous scenery) was not fulfilled.
Donald and Jan

Rachel was so helpful in curating our Scottish Highlands tour! She was very responsive and addressed all concerns we had. From transportation and hotel check-in as well as local guides, logistics went smoothly and we had some excellent guides explaining the history and landscapes. Will definitely use KimKim again in future trip planning and High Point Holidays for UK travel.

Hotel Reviews

Perle Oban Hotel & Spa

Oban

Great location right in the midst of all activity in Oban. Rooms are smaller but clean. Good view of the harbor.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

House Of Juniper

Broadford

Cabins were perfect for an extended stay. Bed wasn't the most comfortable but cabin was clean and kitchen had all appliances that were needed.

Authenticity & Character

Location

More outside of center of Portree but worth the trek to be in a location that is more peaceful with better views.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Blackfriars Hotel

Inverness

In an older building but has lots of character and unique decor in each room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Market Street Hotel

Edinburgh

Very clean and spacious room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Oban Distillery Tour

Oban

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cruise of Mull, Iona and Staffa Islands

Scotland

We missed the ferry from Mull to Iona and Staffa as directions were not clear on what bus to get onto when we got off the ferry at Mull. We ended up on the opposite side of Mull in Tobermoray but it was a pleasant day regardless.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Transfer

Scotland

Seamless airport pick-up and friendly driver.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private guided tour with driver/guide in Skye

Scotland

Keith was a very knowledgable driver and friendly.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We just returned from our trip to the Isle of Skye arranged by Kateryna. I was having trouble finding transportation from Ft Williams (where we ended our West Highland Way walk) to the Isle of Skye. I also wanted a driver/guide for our 3 days there. I contacted KimKim and Kateryna responded promptly. She was able to arrange a driver to pick us up in Ft Williams and drive us to Isle of Skye. The drivers (Brian and his son Ian) were excellent. They were prompt, friendly and very knowledgeable about the area. We lucked out with perfect weather to enjoy the beautiful scenery. Highly recommend Kateryna to plan a trip to Scotland.

Pauline was a dream to work with. Helping us revise and squeeze in destinations we were interested in.
Holister who picked us up at the airport after a delay was informative and very professional
Our trip around Skye was amazing and Stewart was a fabulous driver— he managed our trip expertly and avoided crowds. Timberbush Tours

The sequencing of our self guided yours allowed us ample time to fit everything in

The hotels and our rooms were fabulous

None of the above would have happened without Paulines attention yo our needs and attention to detail

Hotel Reviews

Mercure Inverness hotel

Inverness

Centrally located

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Oban Bay Hotel

Oban

Great location- cute bar overlooking the bay

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel du Vin & Bistro Edinburgh

Edinburgh

Great hotel. Cute and charming

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

P

Rusacks St Andrews

St Andrews

Perfect location — roof top nar exceptional— pub and dinning was awesome

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Colessio

Stirling

Great location great amenities

Authenticity & Character

Location

O

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Stirling Castle Tickets

Scotland

Oban Distillery Tour

Oban

Boat tour from Oban - see the coast of Mull

Oban

Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre tickets

Inverness

Boat Ride Around the Canal & Loch Ness including a Visit to Urquhart Castle

Scotland

Blair Atholl Tour at Blair Atholl Distillery

Pitlochry

Edinburgh Castle Tickets

Edinburgh

Isle of Skye Daytrip from Inverness

Inverness

So much easier to have a driver for the day so we both could enjoy the amazing island

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Stewart was amaxing

Transport

Stewart was a great driver

Tatiana was fantastic - very responsive and able to help with issues that came up during the trip. Would recommend her and KimKim to everyon

We just returned from an amazing trip to Scotland. Pauline, from KimKim travel was very helpful, patient, flexible, and she listened to our wants. She helped us immensely to craft a plan that hit all the key spots we wanted, and also included open blocks of time on most days for us to just wander and explore. The hotels were all in perfect locations and were wonderful. We liked the suggestions for restaurants in each area and we enjoyed those a lot. Also helpful were suggestions on sites, hikes, and other places of interest to consider in each area… that turned out to be a nice pick list.
Of course we had a hitch in our trip, as our flight to Scotland arrived over 4 hours late. Not a problem to coordinate with Pauline for a revised airport pickup time, and she also was able to reschedule a time sensitive tour. Very much appreciated.
We gladly recommend KimKim, and of course Pauline or one of her colleagues.

Initially, I was a bit hesitant to use an online travel planner, but after working with Tania, I’m completely converted—she’ll be my go-to for any future trips to Europe. From the very beginning, she made the process smooth and personal. We had several detailed conversations where she really listened to what I wanted, and then she presented thoughtful, well-researched options for each of the towns we wanted to visit.

Tetiana handled all the logistics, booking five great hotels, several activities, and providing us with a thorough outline of things to do and places to see. Every recommendation hit the mark. Some of our highlights included a fantastic guided tour of Edinburgh, visiting Holyrood Palace, and hiking up Arthur’s Seat. The Isle of Skye was another standout with its breathtaking scenery and incredible hikes.

What really set Tetiana apart was her support during the inevitable travel hiccups—lost luggage, a flat tire, and other minor issues. She was just a message away and always ready with helpful advice and calm reassurance. It made such a difference to know we had someone in our corner throughout the trip.

I can’t recommend Tetiana highly enough. She made our Scotland trip not just easier, but better in every way.

Hotel Review

Apex Waterloo Place

Edinburgh

Great location, nice hotel.

Activity Review

Edinburgh Castle & Old Town Private Tour

Edinburgh

Shanna was great. Perfect for the first day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our recent trip to Scotland was an absolute dream come true, and a huge part of that is owed to the exceptional service we received from KimKim, and especially our travel agent, Tetiana. From the very beginning of the planning process, Tetiana was incredibly responsive, always getting back to our questions and requests promptly and with detailed, helpful information. It was clear that she was dedicated to creating the perfect trip for us.

The itinerary Tetiana put together was truly outstanding. She listened carefully to what we wanted to experience in Scotland, and she crafted a journey that perfectly captured the essence of the country. We were able to see stunning landscapes, explore historic castles, and immerse ourselves in the vibrant Scottish culture, all thanks to her expertise. It was evident that she has in-depth knowledge of Scotland and a real passion for sharing its beauty with others.

The KimKim website itself was also a pleasure to use. The entire process, from the initial inquiry to booking our trip, was extremely easy and seamless. The platform is user-friendly, intuitive, and well-organized, which made planning our vacation stress-free and enjoyable. We felt supported and well-informed every step of the way.

We are beyond satisfied with our experience with KimKim, and we will definitely be using their services again for our next vacation. Tetiana's dedication, responsiveness, and expertly crafted itinerary, combined with KimKim's user-friendly website, made this trip to Scotland an unforgettable adventure. We highly recommend KimKim to anyone looking for a personalized and exceptional travel experience.

Pauline asked all the right questions to give us options for a perfect trip to Scotland. We loved all the tours and especially our Ecoventure boat tour in Cromarty.