Kimkim Trip Reviews for Scotland

We enjoyed our travels in England, Scotland, &
Ireland. We appreciated that the hotels were very nice and comfortable. The breakfasts were all delicious & amazing. We appreciated the guides and drivers - they were very knowledgeable and worked with us regarding our interests, the weather, and timing of travels. When we stayed in smaller towns, they were located in convenient locations to other sites we were interested. We were able to go on some nice walks, see brilliant landscapes, and have adventures in the cities. The pace of the trip was good for us, just the right amount of things to do and time to relax.

Hotel Reviews

Monks Ballyvaughan

County Clare

Monks Ballyvaughan was really nice, with a lovely staff and a great location. It made our stay in County Clare very pleasant.

Dakota Glasgow

Glasgow

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kingsmills Hotel

Inverness

Enjoyed the comfort of the hotel and central location where we Could walk into town. The breakfasts and drinks were amazing, the dinner was ok, not great. Perhaps it was what we ordered…. Nice bar and amazing drinks!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easy to walk into town yet quiet and set apart with beautiful landscaping.

Staff

I asked for unsmoked fish for breakfast and got it! We asked for silverware for our room and they lent it to us for our stay.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very nice

Activity Reviews

The Real Mary Kings Close Tour

Edinburgh

The Real Mary Kings Close was interesting from a historical viewpoint, but it didn't quite live up to my expectations. While visiting Edinburgh for the third time, I decided to try out more touristy activities, but this one felt a bit lackluster. I wouldn't recommend it to others and felt it could be skipped.

Royal Lochnagar Distillery - Essence Tour

Scotland

The Royal Lochnagar Distillery tour was an enjoyable experience, even for someone who isn't a whiskey drinker. It was a well-organized tour and we appreciated the opportunity to learn more about the distillery.

Group Food and Drink Tour of Edinburgh

Edinburgh

The Group Food and Drink Tour of Edinburgh was good and certainly worthwhile. We enjoyed the experience, and it was a nice way to explore the culinary scene of the city.

Booking my mom’s 70th birthday trip to Scotland through Kimkim was one of the best travel decisions I’ve ever made. Stephen planned a truly beautiful journey from the moment we landed in Edinburgh until our plane took off nine days later. Every detail was thoughtfully arranged, allowing us to experience both the iconic highlights of Scotland and deeply personal moments tied to our family history.

Of course, even the best travel plans can encounter unexpected changes. When our itinerary was suddenly disrupted, Stephen and his team stepped in immediately and seamlessly organized a last-minute hotel stay in London along with train transportation to Edinburgh. What could have been a stressful situation turned into just another memorable part of the adventure thanks to their calm professionalism and quick problem-solving.

Throughout the trip we were able to visit our ancestral home and explore so many unforgettable places: Scone Palace, Blair Atholl Castle, the breathtaking Isle of Skye, and a captivating boat tour in Oban where dolphins followed alongside our boat. Every stop felt meaningful, magical, and perfectly paced.

This trip gave my mother memories she will cherish for the rest of her life, and I am incredibly grateful to Stephen and the Kimkim team for making her milestone birthday so special. I cannot recommend them highly enough for anyone planning a personalized and unforgettable journey through Scotland.

Allie, our guide from Inverness Tours, was excellent. Very knowledgeable, but not overwhelming, She was upbeat and accommodating to our wants/needs.

Our 12-hour bus trip to Isle of Skye featured one-of-a-kind beauty that I’m grateful we were able to see. I wish we could have stayed in some of the quaint towns longer. It was a tight schedule.

Overall, we were happy with the hotels and excursions. It was nice to have our trip well planned so we could enjoy the highlights of Scotland.

My clients had a WONDERFUL time on their trip.....

I do feel the communication portal could use a little work....... And I'm not a big fan of the final docs, Seems it could be easier to access and perhaps a little earlier than you provide them. (Minor details) (I tend to be old school and like physical docs)

Stephen was a pleasure to work with!

Transportation - 5-star between hotels and Isle of Skye. Vans fit 2 couples comfortably. Otherwise taxis were expensive.
Accommodations - No11 & Haar had small rooms but comfortable and clean. No elevator up the stairs was difficult. Inverlochey and Cameron House were over the top swank! Food and service at all places was great. The Michelin experience at Haar was a combo of art and culinary skills, expensive but a bucket list.
Meals - all breakfasts were outstanding. Hootenanny was a disappointment. Witchery was expensive, fish was good but steak for two was gristly.
Golf - tee time, buggies, caddies planned perfectly. Thank you Kate for changing Carnostie for Jubilee.
Itinerary - there was not enough time for the golfers to make the tours. These need to remain separate. The tours were wonderful. Only improvement was that the driver did not know anything about stops lists on the drive from St.A to Inverness. Loch Ness tour was exceptional.
Guides - all guides were top notch. Kerian at Edin. Sandy at Inverness and Isle of Skye. Secret food tour of Edin. Only negative was Richard on the St.A tour was overly politically bias and affected the experience.
Kate was very supportive throughout the planning, and during the trip. Great communication skills, very timely with responses and took action to help us out. Thank you very much Kate!

Hotel Reviews

Cameron house

Cameron House was over the top. It felt like a full resort with a huge pool, hot tub, sauna, steam room, and five restaurants. It was the perfect way to end the trip.

Inverlochy Castle Hotel

Fort William

Inverlochy Castle Hotel was incredible. Our view from the walled garden was exceptional, with Ben Nevis in the background. It was breathtaking.

Ness Walk

Inverness

Ness Walk in Inverness was a beautiful place with great rooms.

Haar Hotel

ST ANDREWS

The Haar Hotel in St Andrews had a more comfortable room with a bigger bed and walk-in shower. The staff was exceptional, and the Michelin dinner experience was well worth the price.

N°11 Boutique Restaurant and Rooms Hotel

Edinburgh

N°11 Boutique Restaurant and Rooms Hotel in Edinburgh had pretty small rooms, but the staff was fantastic, and the food was awesome, especially the Scottish breakfast. The location was great, allowing us to walk to most places.

Activity Reviews

Edinburgh Old Town Tour

Edinburgh

The Edinburgh Old Town Tour was really good. Our guide, Kieran, was one of the best guides we've ever had. He was incredibly knowledgeable and shared facts you wouldn't know without someone like him. It was interesting and engaging.

The Ultimate Isle of Skye Tour from Inverness with Talisker Distillery Visit

Inverness

The Ultimate Isle of Skye Tour was spectacular. Having a driver was incredibly helpful because the roads were quite narrow. It was a great way to see the island without the hassle of a big tour bus. The Talisker Distillery visit was a highlight as well.

Private Inverness Walking Tour

Scotland

The Private Inverness Walking Tour with Sandy was excellent. Sandy was a fantastic guide, knowledgeable and easy to talk to, making the experience very enjoyable.

Loch Ness Cruise and Urquhart Castle

Scotland

Although I didn't go on the Loch Ness Cruise as I was golfing, my wife enjoyed it. It's unfortunate I missed it, but it seemed like a great experience.

Edinburgh Secret Walking Food Tour

Edinburgh

My wife and her friend absolutely loved the Edinburgh Secret Walking Food Tour. They couldn't stop talking about it, saying it was really good and enjoyable.

Tetiana was wonderful!! And the trip was even better! Tetiana was phenomenal in custom planning our trip and was SO responsive in getting back to us quickly and arranging every detail. Every hotel, guide and driver was awesome and every experience perfect for the trip of a lifetime!!! I adamantly recommend Tetiana and KimKim!!!

Hotel Reviews

Tullie Inn

Balloch

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

House Of Juniper

Broadford

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

PALM COURT HOTEL

ABERDEEN

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Bruntsfield

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Skye’s Castles & Clifftops: A Day of Highland Majesty

Scotland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Aberdeenshire Castle & Historic Building Private Tour

Aberdeen

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Transfer from Edinburgh Airport to Edinburgh

Edinburgh

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Thank you for a beautiful & memorable trip! We started out with a flight delay & missed flight connection, so we lost our first day in Edinburgh. Thank you for booking the room in London & a train to Edinburgh the next day. Loved the Edinburgh Castle(quite the uphill hike) and high tea for my birthday. Toured 4 amazing castles, saw 2 castle ruins, boat trip on Loch Ness, boat trip in Oban. We hiked to the fairy pools-gorgeous! All accommodations were comfortable with kind & efficient staff. Everything was organized & easy to follow on your app. Thank you for making my birthday trip special.

Hotel Reviews

Clayton Hotel

Glasgow

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Perle Oban Hotel & Spa

Oban

Nice old hotel on the harbor. Friendly staff & comfortable room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

On the harbor

Staff

Friendly & helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Skeabost House Hotel

Portree

Very nice location & comfortable accommodation. Friendly & helpful staff.

Authenticity & Character

Lovely hotel

Location

Perfect location for touring the isle of skye

Staff

Always attentive & helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rokeby Manor

Invergarry

Quaint & comfortable. Friendly staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Townhouse Hotel

Arbroath

Drop off luggage then park your car.

Authenticity & Character

A room above a pub-charming.

Location

Only problem was parking-we had to find a place to park then walk with luggage to hotel.

Staff

Very friendly staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Seagulls were noisy but they gave us complementary earplugs & they worked like a charm!

Market Street Hotel

Edinburgh

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to train station & Edinburgh castle

Staff

Friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very nice room, comfortable beds

Activity Reviews

Boat tour from Oban - see the coast of Mull

Oban

Loved this boat tour! The guide was funny & very informative. We saw an eagle, dolphins, & seals! Beautiful!

Quality of Experience

Excellent

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guides were very helpful in pointing out wildlife.

Transport

We had a beautiful sunny day though chilly., dress warm.

Visit the Glenfinnan Monument

Scotland

We arrived after tower was closed for the day due to a flat tire on route but were able to walk around.

Quality of Experience

Lovely location, tower & viaduct

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Friendly

Transport

We drove

Blair Atholl Castle Entrance tickets (Reopens 1st April)

Scotland

Loved this castle. Very helpful & knowledgable staff

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Edinburgh Castle Tickets

Edinburgh

Beautiful old castle, heck of a climb for this out of shape old lady but worth the effort!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Walking Tour of Edinburgh with a Top Local Guide

Edinburgh

Unable to go on this tour due to flight delay

For our honeymoon, Cathy planned us a trip to Scotland through Glasgow, Oban, Inverness, Isle of Skye, and Edinburgh. Over 10 days we enjoyed a little bit of everything! We saw amazing views traveling by train, experienced fun and educational walking tours (Glasgow and Edinburgh), a delicious food tour in Glasgow, and had an amazing stay at No. 17 Promenade during our visit to Oban. Never were we bored and never were we too overloaded with activities. Using Kim Kim really helped us focus on the details after the stays, activities, and travel between cities were taken off our plate by Cathy. Would highly recommend!

Other amazing things we did:
Isle of Skye day tour by bus
Islander Bag Workshop (Edinburgh)
Clydeside Distillery Tour (Glasgow)
Johnny Walker Distillery Tour (Edinburgh)
Edinburgh castle tour with a guide

(We had a three isle tour that was canceled two days before but we were able to find a shorter excursion on our own and are being refunded for the canceled one- the team was great with communication!)

Hotel Reviews

B&B HOTEL Inverness

Inverness

This hotel was recently updated and they made great changes from previous reviews and pictures!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

ibis Edinburgh Centre South Bridge - Royal Mile

Edinburgh

Good breakfast, clean, and very kind about holding luggage. More functional than comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

More clean than comfortable.

No 17 The Promenade

Oban

Absolutely amazing stay. Would change nothing and wanted to stay longer!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Point A Hotel

Glasgow

The room was clean and breakfast was good! This was a more functional hotel than comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Authenticity & Character

Location

Great location to train station

Location

Great location to train station

Staff

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Definitely more clean than comfortable- more functional

Cleanliness & Comfort

Definitely more clean than comfortable- more functional

Activity Reviews

Small Group Walking Tour of Glasgow

Glasgow

Guide was great! This was a larger group.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Isle of Skye Daytrip from Inverness

Inverness

One of my favorite parts of our trip!! So beautiful. Our guide Karen was hilarious and super helpful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Edinburgh Castle Tickets

Edinburgh

I wish this was longer! But overall a good experience with a guide leading our group.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The Clydeside Distillery Tour

Glasgow

We enjoyed this tour! We got to learn the history, understand the process, and tasted 3 whiskeys.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Walking Tour of Edinburgh with a Top Local Guide

Edinburgh

Our guide was so fantastic! Super knowledgeable, manageable walking pace, and asked us about our own interests to help guide the tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Johnnie Walker Tasting Experience - Whisky Explorers

Edinburgh

This was so fun! The guide was very knowledgeable and it was really an engaging experience. Plus, you get to have 3 drinks during the tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Make your own bag Workshop

Scotland

I’ve been wanting to do this for years! It was worth the wait.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Eat Walk Glasgow

Glasgow

We had such a great time with James! It was fun walking around the city and having a taste of several delicious dishes.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

In the summer of 2025, we decided to make a trip to Scotland to experience the culture, visit historical sites, and explore the country. After seeing a review for KimKim trip planning service, I messaged them about assistance with our planning, and I was soon contacted by Tatiana. Tatiana worked with me over the months that followed to build a plan that we felt would touch upon all our key desires for the trip. I can’t offer enough praise and gratitude for all the wonderful help we received from Tatiana; especially including when we requested her help to make changes in the middle of the trip.

Our trip then was from 6-16 March 2026, and we began our visit in Edinburgh, which included tours of Edinburgh castle, Rosslyn chapel, St Giles cathedral, and Old Town. We also included Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral and a side trip to Kircaldy for a Fife Flyers hockey game (for several years we have been acquainted with an American player on the team). All these activities were truly wonderful and memorable. Stuart was our Old Town guide and he was excellent. Especially memorable though was our tour to Rosslyn chapel with Rafal, who was a truly amazing guide.

We next went to Stirling and visited Stirling castle. We took the tour with the castle guide, and that was fascinating and wonderful. Then after visiting the castle we moved on to Loch Lomond for a night at the Cameron House. Due to a satnav (GPS) miscue on my part, we didn’t drive through as much of the Trossachs National Park as I had planned, but the views we did see were marvelous. Also, the Cameron House is a fantastic property and superb place to visit, with some local sites and sights to explore as well, and we would probably want to stay there again (and a bit longer) if we ever returned.

Our next adventure was to travel north along Loch Lomond and then head west to Oban. The A82 roadway along Loch Lomond is truly an experience, with breath taking views and also sometimes some heart stopping sections of narrow, winding roadway. Turning west onto the A85 roadway to Oban featured more spectacular views, and a very scenic and peaceful drive without the occasional frights of the A82. Our arrival in Oban was just in time for a walking tour, and our guide David was excellent, sharing the history of the town and taking us to several sites of special interest.

We stayed several days in Oban, and this was truly the highlight of our time in Scotland. As we visited in mid-March, there were no crowds and so the town was very peaceful and calm. We ended up with a room looking out on the bay, and we actually spent quite a bit of time just relaxing and enjoying the beautiful view. We did miss our planned Isle of Mull tour, but we made up for it with a tour of the Oban distillery, home of Oban whisky, and as well visiting some other local castle and scenic viewpoints. Additionally, the No17 Promenade hotel we stayed at was truly a gem, including simply outstanding personal connections with the staff and a superb restaurant. We didn’t want to leave.

We decided to modify the final days of our journey, for a variety of reasons, so we didn’t visit Glasgow or Kirkcudbright as we had originally planned. Instead, we ended our journey in Edinburgh and caught up on a few of the things we didn’t see at the outset of the trip, including some sites and sights around Old Town and Victoria Street; the latter being the area said to be the inspiration for Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter series by author JK Rowling.

We are very grateful for everything we experienced and for all the opportunities to meet wonderful people in Scotland. Likewise, all the help and support from Tatiana and KimKim. This was a tremendously fulfilling experience and we have lifelong memories of our wonderful adventures in Scotland.

Hotel Reviews

Virgin Hotels Edinburgh

Edinburgh

This hotel offers a more modern vibe, despite its location practically in the heart of Old Town. The exterior retains the historic look of 100-200 year old architecture, but the inside is generally done in a well-appointed and modern look. The rooms took a bit of getting used to, as they are organized a little differently from other hotels, but the design actually works extremely well. The rooms are all white, which seemed a bit sterile in appearance, but that didn't ruin what was otherwise a very comfortable room. The staff was superb, and extremely friendly, professional, and responsive to guest needs.

Authenticity & Character

The exterior retains the Old Town character, while the inside blends old and new without becoming garish or awkward.

Location

If you want to be in the heart of Old Town Edinburgh, this hotel is the perfect location. A relatively easy walk to the train station as well as most of the big attractions.

Staff

The staff were just wonderful. My wife was not feeling well, and the staff helped us without exception. They even remembered me well enough to ask me how she was doing whenever they saw me, and they asked her directly as soon as she was moving around again. Very personal attention that is hard to beat.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The hotel is kept very clean, and the accommodations were very comfortable. Our room did not have a good lounge chair however. There was something of a lounger extending off the side of the bed, but it was a little awkward and not especially comfortable. It was very comfortable to just sit on the bed however, due to a large, padded backboard on the wall.

No17 The Promenade Hotel

Oban

This hotel was the highlight of our accommodations in Scotland. Initially we were in a smaller room toward the back of the property, but as fortune would have it, we were able to move to one of the largest rooms in the front, with spectacular views. The staff here is simply amazing; very personal, attentive, and capable. We didn't want to leave this hotel.

Authenticity & Character

They have done a superb job with setting a cozy, comfortable, yet stylish, perhaps even a little quirky, character to this property. We found it incredibly charming, calming and peaceful.

Location

The hotel is just outside of the town center, along the boardwalk of the bay. This makes it within walking distance of the town but still away from the hustle and bustle of even this smaller town. The views of the bay from the property were simply marvelous.

Staff

5+ stars for this staff. They were simply the friendliest, most personal, attentive, and capable staff we encountered. It was just a pleasure to even stop by and chat with them for a moment or two each day.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The property is exceptionally well maintained, and accommodations are very clean and comfortable. Our first room was quite cramped unfortunately, but more fortunately we were able to upgrade to perhaps the best room in the hotel. That room was simply oustanding; a mix of old and new style that harmonized perfectly, extremely comfortable, and with a bay view that was perfect.

Cameron house

This is a gorgeous property in a very scenic setting. The staff are simply marvelous and were above and beyond any expectations.

Authenticity & Character

The original areas of the property have the old, grand feeling of being in almost a palace like setting. Very beautiful in every aspect. The rooms were simply amazing.

Location

This is a very beautiful property, and it is situated in a very scenic area. It may be better suited for golf enthusiasts, due to what I was given to understand is the fine golfing nearby. Nevertheless, the local scenery is plenty good enough reason to want to stay here.

Staff

The staff were extremely friendly, professional and helpful. They offered plenty of good insight into the area and sites or sights that were worthwhile. Simple excellent.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The hotel was kept impeccably clean, and everything was extremely comfortable. The room was very luxurious.

Apex Waterloo Place

Edinburgh

We liked this hotel quite a lot. It was in a good location to walk around the center of Edinburgh. It's a short walk to the train station, for those that use the railways. The staff were very friendly and helpful, and they take excellent care of guests and the facility itself. We were also very grateful for the wonderful morning breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

It retains the charm of being in a historic area of Edinburgh, with updates that keep it fresh but without ruining the authenticity.

Location

The hotel is very well located for walking around to many of the major attractions in the Old Town and New Town areas of Edinburgh.

Staff

The staff were friendly, personal and professional.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cleanliness was superb. Overall comfort was excellent. I regret I have to say that the bed was too hard, and it made for uncomfortable sleeping for my wife.

Activity Reviews

Edinburgh Old Town Tour

Edinburgh

The Old Town private tour by Stuart was excellent. He was extremely knowledgeable and expertly guided us through the area to be sure we saw little details we never would have experienced on our own. Stuart was very personable and his commentaries ensured we learned so much more about this historic part of Edinburgh.

Oban Guided Town Walking Tour

Oban

Our guide David did a wonderful job walking us through the small town and taking us to a few sites of special interest. We enjoyed learning more about this little port town. Overall, Oban was the highlight of our trip to Scotland due to the peaceful environment. We were told it's extremely busy and crowded in the summer however, so that might be a planning consideration.

Private Tour to Rosslyn Chapel and Castle

Edinburgh

This site is wonderful, and our tour guide Rafal was amazing. He picked us up and drove us to the site, and then walked us through all the important sights, with tremendously good commentaries on it all. 5+ stars. He also took us to a couple spots along the way that weren't originally planned. The Rosslyn chapel and castle is a wonderful bit of history, and with the amusing connection to the movie the DaVinci Code.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Rafal was amazing. We would have been pleased to have him with us for every tour.

Transport

It was simply nice to have the guide drive us, rather than try to drive, park, etc, on our own.

Edinburgh Castle & Old Town Private Tour

Edinburgh

The Edinburgh castle is a wonderful historic site. Unfortunately, we did this tour almost immediately after we arrived in Scotland, and we were very tired from traveling. We probably didn't get as much out of the visit as we could have. Because of a flight delay we didn't arrive in time for our scheduled Old Town private tour; however, we made it up later in our trip (and it is reviewed separately).

Kateryna planned an amazing vacation in Scotland! She was super responsive at all times. She planned the trip according to all my must sees and helped me keep it within the budget I had planned. We had what could have been a disaster while on our flight to Scotland from the US our hotel canceled us for our first three nights. Kateryna had us rebooked into a new, and better, hotel and had our airport transfers adjusted before we even landed. I would recommend Kateryna to everyone I know and hope to plan a future trip with her some day.

Hotel Reviews

Ness Walk

Inverness

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cuillin Hills Hotel

Portree

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cameron house

Activity Reviews

Holyrood Distillery Tour

Edinburgh

Outlander Castle Tour

Edinburgh

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kate was wonderful,,, very responsive and a delight to work with. She tied up almost every loose end, went above and beyond on a couple of occasions and when she didn’t know an answer to our questions, she quickly found the answer and provided it right away.
I do want to provide feedback on a couple of things,,, fist the positive,,,,, the itinerary was fine, maybe a little too aggressive for people in their 70s but that was more our responsibility than Kimkims. We made changes on the spot and that was fine. It did result in our not taking a number of tours that we prepaid for.
Transportation was fine, both private cars and trains.
Accommodation’s were of mixed quality. In Edinburgh we enjoyed the Glasshouse Hotel but we wished that our hotel could have been more centrally located and if not in the old city, maybe closer to it. The Leonardo In Glasgow, we would never stay in that prearranged hotel and it should not be used as a choice in the future; out of the way, old and dated, heat didn’t work in our room and not a friendly staff.

Hotel Reviews

Leonardo Royal Hotel Glasgow

Terrible experience here, you should not offer this hotel in the future

Authenticity & Character

Hotel was dated, needed a renovation, dingy and sparse,,,, our room had no functions heat,,,,, they had to improvise and moved a space heated in for our stay

Location

Out of the way, don’t feel particularly safe walking around neighborhood

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Don’t use this hotel,,,,, it was at the end of our trip and did not leave a positive last impression

AC Hotel by Marriott Inverness

Inverness

Clean, efficient, tiny rooms

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Glasshouse, Autograph Collection

Edinburgh

Nice hotel, accommodations were clean and comfortable

Authenticity & Character

Location

Move the hotel choice closer to the old city

Staff

Guest Services/ concierge were great

Cleanliness & Comfort

Had a number of problems in the bathroom,,,, first arrives, no heat in the room, thermostat needed to be replaced; show door did not close, could not be fixed so bathroom floor flooded everyday; temperature control on shower was broken and needed to be replaced. Too many mishaps for one stay

Activity Reviews

The Kelpies Guided Tour

Scotland

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Erie from Executuve Private transfers was a terrific driver. We used him twice on long distance drive….. A real gem and great representative for the company

Transport

Edinburgh Castle & Old Town Private Tour

Edinburgh

Guide was warn and very knowledgeable but provided tooooo much info, couldn’t absorb it all. Appealed tha she had a set program and couldn’t deviate,,, tooo much and too deep of detail

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I have been a huge cheerleader for KimKim, having taken a trip to Slovenia which was stellar in every way. So I did not hesitate to come back to KimKim again for a special birthday week in Scotland. Unfortunately, it was a trip that I could have planned on my own fairly easily for far less cost. I am at a loss to understand the value of KimKim for this trip. All in all, it was an uninspired, off-the-shelf undertaking with our specialist Stephen who I wasn’t convinced knew the area well when all was said and done. Never felt the enthusiasm I had in the past, but more of a bit of phoning it in and taking dictation. And through the process I did some push back (should have done more) but it never seemed to result in upping his game.

What I had loved about my past experience with KimKim was the surprise and delight of things to do or see that I would not have found or thought of myself. None of that was the case on this trip.

The itinerary for Glasgow turned out to be ho-hum at best. Lots of go to museum self-guided recos. The private walking tour that was booked was quite lovely and we thoroughly enjoyed it. BUT this came as a result of MY request for it, not the specialist’s recommendation (and a supplemental charge was added to do so). Ultimately, we were looking for some inspiration on things to do in Glasgow besides wandering around museums. I had requested a private Whiskey tasting several times which he said he was working on but never got back to me. Not one suggestion for something inspired.

Unlike our Slovenia trip, transfers to the stations, hotels etc. beyond airport drop off and pick up were not included and left to us to navigate via Uber and local taxis which were not included in the price.

Oban and the Highlands: I requested a castle and got a long in the tooth Isle of Eriska manor house that needs a whole lot of upgrades. And not being familiar with the logistics, it was a 38 pound taxi ride of at least a half hour to get into the town. And Oban area was the only recommendation that was offered. The 3 Isle tour day was fine. But again, I could have booked this on my own directly. It was full of tour groups on a crowded boat and on a coach. The islands, however, were lovely and once on them it was very nice. Our last day was the best day. Our private guide Campbell Cameron was sensational and the highlight of our trip. Kudos to Tartan Tours. THIS was the kind of experience I was hoping for the entire trip.

And the insult to injury is that when I voiced my complaint to KimKim requesting multiple times why this trip that cost me $11K actually would have cost approximately $6700 if I planned it myself, they never had an answer (and because it was so off the shelf it was easy to break out the costs). That is one big mark up for service. Other than just making reservations for things that I could have easily found myself, the value of KimKim for this trip is still a mystery to me. And to add insult to injury their recompense was to refund me a mere $500! Insulting at best to a good customer who has recommended KimKim multiple times to many others. Not only will I never use KimKim again, I will be sure to let all my travel friends know not to use them again and advise others to look elsewhere for a bespoke trip.

Activity Reviews

Full day in Glencoe and the Trossachs

Scotland

Saved our trip on our last day in the Highlands. Our guide Campbell Cameron was sensational and the highlight of our trip. Kudos to Tartan Tours. THIS was the kind of experience I was hoping for the entire trip. The scenery was breathtaking and his intimate knowledge of the place as in his bones. The loch ride was lovely and he drove us through all the nooks and crannies of Glencoe.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Walking Tour of Glasgow

Glasgow

Lovely guide who was very knowledgable and lovely. I had to request this be added to the itinerary as our "specialist" never offered anything of the kind. Oh yeah, and of course this was supplemental. While on the walking tour our guide took us by the council building where she told us there are tours of the interior, but only on weekdays. Our tour being on Saturday, we could not do it. This is something we would never have known about independently and could perhaps have been something for our specialist Stephen to suggest for our Friday itinerary.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Three Isles Tour – Mull, Iona & Staffa

Oban

Once at the islands it was great. But a crowded boat and coach trip. Could have booked this myself.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private transfer in town

Scotland

If we actually had any I would be happy to review them. But other than one trip from the train to our hotel when we arrived, we were on our own

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

University of Glasgow Tour

Glasgow

Don't bother. Given by an undwhelming student who could care less. We left early

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We have such an amazing trip. Stephen did an excellent job planning a fun filled trip. Our local tours were so so wonderful! We loved it all! Some days were over booked ,because the places we stayed alone were something to just enjoy!
Thanks
We will use KimKin again when traveling for sure!

My daughter and I wanted to plan a trip to Scotland. We generally knew what we wanted to see but felt we needed some local expertise to help us plan and make sure we weren’t missing anything. Jane Davey through Kimkim was an absolute delight to work with. Her personal knowledge of Scotland and genuine interest in creating a memorable and personalized experience for us made for an outstanding mother/daughter adventure. Despite the online Kimkim model - there was a lot of personal interaction with Jane - including video calls with us to go over the details of our itinerary. She and her team built an online road book with every detail of our itinerary included that we were able to reference throughout the trip. Plus - she and her team were available by phone 24/7 to help with any questions.

We loved every aspect of our trip. Scotland is magical and her people are warm and welcoming. We especially enjoyed the historic city of Edinburgh and visiting the Isle of Skye and Lewis/Harris in the Hebrides. We saw gorgeous landscapes, hauntingly beautiful castle ruins, ancient landmarks and charming towns. We did a fair bit of driving - which was an adventure in itself since we weren’t used to left-side driving. We loved it all!

Recently retired and wanting to travel to Scotland, but where to start? Hearing about KimKim from my sister-in-law we contacted them and them and Pauline was our personal agent and advocate! We had appointments regularly so she could glean what were our goals and desires. She listened, then researched and advised. She was SPOT ON! We wanted to experience as much as we could in the 10 day trip and looking back I would not have changed a thing!
Pauline and the team at KimKim made sure to book our hotels close to the train connections and local travel options. My husband and I along with his sister and husband traveled with ease knowing we were backed by the whole group. It made us feel more at ease when questions arose.
We were picked up at the airport and delivered to our first hotel in London for a couple of days starting with the Tower of London and a on a whim the Winston Churchill War Room exhibits. Both were AMAZING! The following day we took infamous Westminster Chapel, which left us breathless.
Off to Edinburgh by train to see the country in comfort! One of our goals was to learn about my husband's Scottish heritage. KimKim connected us to a guide who was such a gem, Alister, who gave a a driving tour of Edinburgh first and then to the family town and castle! Although the castle was in ruins, it was truly remarkable. Alister headed our wish to visits the less busy parts of Scotland and our day along the coastal towns and local cafe's made it all the more memorable.
Then Inverness the trip would not be complete without the castle tours, historical sites with fantastic guides and stories told with their delightful accent! A 12 hour bus tour to the Isle of Skye with photo stops and entertaining and historical stories from our guide, Carin, made the trip a real winner.
The last stop in the quaint town of Sterling staying in a truly landmark hotel, the Golden Lion, and the Sterling castle (which is a MUST see).
KimKim had a driver deliver us to the airport, (another Alister) who was the kindest gentleman, who navigated morning traffic through the backroads with ease to deliver us to the airport.
ALL the details matter and Pauline and her crew hit it out of the park. We are so grateful to have had them in our back pocket!

Activity Reviews

Stirling Castle Tickets

Scotland

This was the castle to see! Where Scotland has so much history.

Quality of Experience

The Isle of Skye & Eilean Donan Castle

Inverness

Edinburgh Castle Tickets

Edinburgh

Such a treat to experience REAL history.

Quality of Experience

Private day dedicated to the Lumsden Clan

Inverness

Honestly I cannot say enough about our guide, Alister. He was thorough and oh so thoughtful. His research on our family heritage and then driving us to the specific locations was so valuable. We were able to see, walk, read and touch where our family lived hundreds of years ago. We have memories that will be with us forever. Thank you Alistor and KimKim!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tickets to Westminster Abbey

London

Truly breath taking. Majestic, solemn, and facsinating. I need a full day!

Quality of Experience

Tower of London Timed Entry Tickets

London

Easy to tour on your own, they have personal audio players so you can spend as little or as much time as you like.

Although we livwd wvwrywhwre we went Isle of Sky and the coastal towns of the East Neuk were magical! We could not have had a more perfect trip! Our travel agent Tatiana was superb, “shadowing” us every day to make sure everything was right.

Hotel Review

The Dowans Hotel of Speyside

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Bespoke Private Isle of Skye Tour

Scotland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Honestly, I would not change one thing that Aleksandra set up for us. The trip was perfect and all the accommodations and tours were great.

Hello Tetiana,

Thank you for putting together this overall very memorable and satisfying trip through Scotland. We had a wonderful time and left feeling that we got a thorough impression of Scotland’s cities and breathtaking landscapes. Everything worked out perfectly, and we truly appreciated the attention to detail throughout the itinerary.

We do have a few minor comments and recommendations:

First, we were unable to go inside Edinburgh Castle because our flight delay made it too stressful on the day of arrival. However, we thoroughly enjoyed the recommended city tour and even stumbled upon Greyfriars Bobby’s grave, which was a lovely surprise for us as dog lovers. That would be a wonderful addition to your list of sightseeing recommendations.

Second, on the third day, we left Stirling Castle and drove north to the Culloden Battlefield. The drive took over three hours due to road construction and traffic, which caused us to miss our 2 p.m. tour. Fortunately, we were able to join the 3 p.m. session instead, though this meant we missed visiting Urquhart Castle that afternoon. That turned out just fine, as we later saw the castle from the Loch Ness Canal Tour the next day.

Isle of Skye was the absolute highlight of our trip. We loved Portree, the Storr hike, and the scenery filled with sheep—it all felt wonderfully authentic. We decided to skip the Quiraing hike to keep the day more relaxed and ensure we had time for the Talisker tour, which was a great decision.

On the sixth day, driving from Portree to Glencoe, we came across the Highland Soap Company and decided to stop. We recognized the brand from the products used in all our hotels—from Edinburgh to Inverness to Portree—and enjoyed shopping there tremendously. It would be a fantastic addition to future itineraries.

Overall, the trip was beautifully arranged, and we’re so grateful for your excellent planning and thoughtful touches. Thank you again for helping us experience Scotland in such a memorable and personal way.

Hotel Review

Bracken Hide Hotel

Portree

This was the best hotel on the trip, and we were so happy to be able to stay there for two nights. This hotel, and the Isle of Skye in general, was so beautiful that we could have stayed there the full week as well.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Sea Breezes Restaurant

Scotland

This restaurant was sadly closed during our stay on the Isle of Skye, so we cannot leave a proper review.

This was a dream trip for us to get a good look at the Scottish Highlands, Orkney Islands, the Outer Hebredes (Lewis and Harris) and Skye as well as a caste of the Fringe in Edinburgh and a chance to discover Glasgow. Jane and Marine-Heloise were very adaptable in their planning and set it up for a smooth experience. Well, except for driving on the opposite side of the road, which was both exciting and terrifying.
We were able to enjoy some of the Fringe activities in Edinburgh once we figured out how it all worked. Then drove north thru the Highlands for Scotch whiskey, historical sites and geologic wonders. All the while staying at a variety of lodging and enjoying the fabulous weather (clouds, rain, sun and rainbows). They really put together a great trip.

Hotel Review

Harbour House

Ullapool

This was a spectacular location on the water in a separate cottage. It was my wife's absolute favorite of the trip. It was an easy walk into town, had plenty of parking and breakfast was great. The unit was recently built and very modern inside but the view from the front patio (and large windows) was wonderful. We hope to stay there again.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Welcome to the Orkney Islands

Scotland

Head immediately out for the Stenness Stone Circle and the Barnhouse Settlement, then head to the Ring of Brodgar. You will want to see them multiple times: in morning light and late afternoon to sunset. Also the village at Skara Brae. In Stromness, we ate at the Ferry Inn twice, good food, nice staff and good conversation. If you get to Kirkwall, eat at Lucano. Best Italian food on our trip and a good wine selection. Next trip we are likely to head on to the Shetland Islands for more exploring.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Breakfast/service at Stromness Hotel was only OK

Transport

Ferries were great, we were driving a rental car.

Three Isles Tour – Mull, Iona & Staffa

Oban

Beautiful trip out of Oban. We enjoyed the ferry crossing and bus trip across Mull - great scenery from the upper level! The ride out to visit Fingal's Cave was pretty choppy and the wave action was too strong for us to put ashore and walk to the cave. But staying safe was the first priority. Visiting Iona was the best part of the trip. Walking out and exploring the Abbey then stopping for a hand pie at St. Columba Larder was an unexpected treat. Finished with a glass of wine looking out over the water to Mull on a sunny afternoon. Here's another location we will plan for visiting again.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great bus driver!

Transport

Our trip to Scotland was magical. Kate was very attentive, always quick to respond with questions and to offer alternatives to the itinerary. The pace was perfect and we hit every sight we wanted to see, with the exception of Nessie, she was not in view the day we were at Loch Ness!

Eridon was exceptional as a driver/guide. He drove us to Portree and made a few stops en route that were not on the itinerary, places that he thought we'd like, and we did! It was a long day, but one of the best ones. He was lovely and very knowledgable.

All the hotels were great, but Taransay House stood out. Our stay there included breakfast and dinner each night and the food was delicious. The rooms were immaculate and very spacious and comfortable but what stood out the most is how hospitable Murdo and his family are, he was there at the door to greet us upon arrival and we immediately felt like old friends. He helped us with mapping out routes, and finding a driver for us, by calling in a favor, when he learned that we had no transportation reserved.

As a note - in many of the more remote places in Scotland, Uber is not available and taxis need to be reserved (well) in advance. We didn't understand this and were caught out more than once when there was no transportation available. It would have been better (and easier) for us to have that done in advance, whether by Kate or on our own, as it was a bit stressful on the day to learn that we couldn't move forward with our plans due to lack of transportation.

Hotel Reviews

Prestonfield House

Edinburgh

What a special experience! We felt like we had stepped back in time to another, more civilized, era, but with all the modern amenities and comforts.

Authenticity & Character

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Taransay House, Small Hotel

Portree

Taransay House is a gem. Only four rooms, run by a family, includes breakfast and dinner. We have stayed at 5 star resorts all over the world, and Taransay House is on par. The rooms are immaculate, large and very comfortable, and the food is wonderful. The family that runs it are very special, we felt welcome immediately and when our stay was over, I didn't want to leave. It was one of the highlights of our trip.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Walking distance to the center of Portree, overlooking a waterway.

Staff

Murdo and Scott are fantastic!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Virgin Hotels Edinburgh

Edinburgh

Fabulous location, right on "Diagon Alley" and walking distance to everything in Edinburgh. The staff was very helpful and very welcoming. Rooms were comfortable and clean.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Edinburgh: Harry Potter Magical Guided Walking Tour

Edinburgh

Even my husband, who is not a Potter fan, thought this was so much fun.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff