Kimkim Trip Reviews for Spain

Janelle thank you. Thank your team too!
Our trip throughout Madrid, Porto and Northern Spain was better than we could have imagined.

Every hotel was amazing. The meals and restaurantrecommendations were spot on. Add in the unique private experiences (fun sidecar) and small tours, and all of that adds up to a very special trip.

Janelle and her Team went above and beyond in a multitude of ways. Here is just one example:
Day one I left/lost my glasses 🤓 n my inbound flight. They immediately reached out to the airline, our driver and the airport to initiate a search. They followed up a number of times-alas they were truly lost. BUT they also located an optometrist that could have glasses made, onsite, within an hour. Plus they made the appointment and sent me directions.

We would not have seen or done so many things. We were prepared for every day and knew what awaited us even if we ventured just outside of our hotel!we rented a car and flew to a destination and also had a few private drivers! When WE drove we received ideas where to stop along the way. It really was about the journey AND the destination!

Their app was so cool! No maps or books or notepads. Everything was right in our phones. And more.

I did not know what to see or where to stop and stay at all. Initially Janell asked lots of questions and learned about us first. Then we talked about general destinations and such. She created an itinerary we could see and understand. The hotel website and photos were there. We made a couple of adjustments and damn-she created a plan and trip
I had been struggling with for months

Every question we had was answered quickly and I have now learned a truth: using a travel Agent like Janelle made planning for the trip almost as easy and enjoyable as the trip itself.

We spent 7 days in Madrid and we could have stayed another 7 days. Julie and her team curated an incredible experience for my family. From the beginning, Julie listened and asked lots of questions about what we wanted from our trip. She then put together a detailed itinerary that hit all of our wants. From our perfectly situated hotel, to off the beaten path walking tours, amazing day trips, all while still getting in all the “must do” sights, Julie made our trip unforgettable. The best part was we were not over scheduled. We were able to enjoy time on our own to explore the city. We meet so many wonderful people on our tours and all of the tour operators were top notch. We are so happy to have had the opportunity to work with Julie and her team at KimKim. We can’t wait to book our next trip. Hasta luego.

Hotel Review

Hotel Regina

Madrid

Perfect location. Staff was amazing. Hotel is so clean. We loved our room, nice sitting area to spread out and relax after walking all day. Hotel has a nice rooftop lounge that is a little oasis. No bar, just shaded lounges and conversation areas and a water feature to just get a little peace and quiet.

Authenticity & Character

Very clean, modern design,

Location

City center near Puerta del Sol. Walking distance to all Madrid sites.

Staff

Staff were nice, helpful and patient with our Spanish.

Cleanliness & Comfort

So clean. It was impressive how clean it was.

Activity Reviews

Royal Palace Visit

Madrid

Great tour of this incredible palace.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Toledo Cathedral Visit, History Walk and Self-Guided Experience by Train

Madrid

We took the high speed rail to Toledo. This is a must do. Don’t skip this tour. We learned so much. I would have liked more time on our own to explore the city itself after the guided tour finished. Pictures don’t do it justice.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Paella Cooking Class with Market Visit

Madrid

This was one of the best cooking classes we have ever taken. Loved this class! Chef was enthusiastic and so funny. Tour of the local markets was fantastic. Highly recommend this class.

Quality of Experience

Quality of Experience

Food

We made sangria, gazpacho and paella

Food

We made sangria, gazpacho and paella

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Flamenco & Tapas Night

Madrid

A must do in Madrid. Dancers are amazing.

Quality of Experience

Private Chueca Neighborhood Walk

Madrid

Our tour guide JC gave us a real locals tour of this interesting area of Madrid.

Quality of Experience

Great tour. Local guide was so engaging. Took us through some hidden gems of the neighborhood and gave a great history lesson on the area.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Madrid Wineries

Madrid

Wow! What a great way to learn about the history of wine making in Spain, met incredible people and drink some fantastic wine.

Quality of Experience

Loved to tour.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great tor guide

Transport

Easy bus ride to the bodegas. We visited three. One was in a 15th century converted monastery.

Evening Tapas, Taverns & History Walk

Madrid

Our tour guide Samantha was fantastic. We stopped at 4 incredibly unique tapas restaurants. Our tour group was great we continued the party after the tour and hit a few more bars.

Quality of Experience

Great way to learn about tapas and the culinary culture of Spain

Food

All the tapas were delicious. So many great stops on this tour.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tour was amazing.

Prado Museum & Cultural Walk with Lunch at Botín

Madrid

Tour was good. Lots of information in a short amount of time. We went back on our own to explore more of the museum. The tour gives you about 90 minutes. No photos allowed in The Prado. Botin,is a must do. Pictures don’t do it justice, wine cellar alone is a marvel.

Quality of Experience

Tour was good. It hits the highlights, but it is short.

Food

Botin food was delicious. Definitely a once in a lifetime experience.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tour guide was great. She definitely keeps you on task.

Self-Guided El Centro Walk

Madrid

Great way to introduce yourself to the city. We grabbed coffee and walked to Plaza Mayor and just wondered around. So much to see in the area around the plaza.

Quality of Experience

Loved just walking around with no real goal, just exploring to area.

Fantastic trip to Spain with our young boys. We can not have chosen better accommodations ourselves. The Palacio solecio and Casa de las Artes were amazing and we would happily stay there again. The day trips to Granada and Ronda were incredible and made more so by our guides Ruth and Carlos.
We would have liked to have had the visits to the palace and cathedral in Sevilla organised for us. We were told by everyone in Sevilla it is a must visit so we were surprised these were not included. But the walking tour was fantastic. We enjoyed exploring the old city and learning about the quirks and stories of this beautiful city. Our accommodation in Sevilla was lovely and Ana looked after us very well. We were however swamped by crowds and noise outside of the apartment by a Netflix premiere which was being set up across the road from our apartment which made getting in and out a bit tricky and kept us up at night.
We organised our own additional jamon excursion to Jabugo which we loved. Such an amazing day in the countryside tasting very high quality jamon.
Overall, a fantastic trip and we would love to return to Spain soon!

Nacho - Alhambra: informative, engaging, enthusiastic about the history and culture, warm and welcoming
Sonia - Mijas basketweaving - informative, engaging, enthusiastic about the history and culture, warm and welcoming
Sofia - Malaga Picasso museum - informative, engaging, enthusiastic about the history and culture, warm and welcoming

Nadia and Daniela, our trip specialists, were a great team. In January, Nadia helped us plan our trip to Spain, and she and her colleagues created an itinerary that took our particular wishes and requirements into account. The trip was a good balance of guided tours and free time to explore. Logistical support through the app was excellent — chat replies were prompt and responsive, all our tickets were available on my phone, so I didn't need to carry a lot of paper, and the app updated when there were changes.
The hotels were all well chosen — good locations, comfortable and clean.
We were particularly pleased with our guides, who were knowledgeable about their cities, history, and art history, and very personable. Mario, our tuk-tuk driver in Madrid, was charming — he told us he was training to be a museum curator. He will be good at it. Although our Prado tour was cancelled for some reason, Daniela advised us to buy the three-museum Art Walk ticket, which worked out well since we didn't have to specify a time to visit. Manuel Salinero, our guide in Toledo, was terrific — and on top of a great tour, he knew the best places to take our photo, a nice bonus. In Seville, our guide Ferran was a trained archaeologist and history teacher, patient and engaging. Our Córdoba guide David was knowledgeable and thorough, and seemed as impressed and delighted by the Mezquita as we were. In Granada, Nacho took us on a fabulous tour of the magnificent Alhambra. It is hard to believe he could give the same tour ten times in a week, and still make it feel so fresh and personal. In Málaga, Gloria showed us the city she clearly loved, which was preparing for Noche en Blanco, a night of concerts and free museums.
The next day's tour of megalithic dolmens and the otherworldly landscape of El Torcal, guided by Justine, was a high point among many high points. She was passionate about prehistory and nature, charming company, and sensitive to our capabilities — the hike was fun but not exhausting. She suggested we stop for lunch at Art of Tapas in Antequera. So good.
We only had an afternoon in Barcelona, and it was raining, but Mari made it worthwhile. So many things I'd like to see again. She was the perfect guide for the Sagrada Familia — a place she clearly loves and knows deeply.
Thank you for all your good work and planning. It was an unforgettable trip.

Alfonso was responsive and helpful with planning the trips. Gabriella a d Marta, the guides for the Alhambra and Ronda respectively, were really fantastic. There was some contradictory and outdated information in some descriptions in our final itinerary that led to some confusion while on the trip, but Alfonso and his team were responsive in answering our questions and providing clarity.

Activity Reviews

Private Walk in Ronda

Ronda

Marta, the tour guide, was fantastic!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guided Alhambra & Generalife Visit

Granada

Gabriella, the tour guide, was really great!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

This review comes a year post trip but it was an unforgettable experience in that it was my husband's and my 70th Birthday celebration vacation. Helena, our KimKim coordinator was fantastic. We made 6 major changes in our plans and she was patient and perfect throughout. The trip was very customized in that my son traveled with us through Spain- Madrid, San Sebastian and Barcelona-and then it was just my husband and me in Portugal (Porto, Lisbon & Lagos). The domestic transportation, international connections, tours (cultural, food & wine) were amazing with no glitches whatsoever. We not only traveled to the major cities, listed above, but also small neighboring fishing villages, monasteries, walled cities with palaces, wineries and churches. Antoni Gaudi"s Basilica de la Sagrada Familia has got to be my favorite church of all that I've visited.

Hotel Reviews

Portugal Boutique City Hotel

Lisbon

A lovely , clean and spacious centrally-located hotel. We were given pasteis de nata the evening before we checked out!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Praktik Bakery

Barcelona

The highlights of this hotel were the amazing early morning aromas of baking breads and pastries and the breakfasts served. The negative is the teeny, tiny rooms with no place to put clothes.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hooks or racks to put clothes

Zenit Convento San Martin

San Sebastián

The Zenit Convento San Martin was one of our favorite hotels- a remodeled convent-spacious, good breakfast, bar and was 2 blocks away from La Concha Beach and about 10-15 min away from the Old Town where delicious pintxos abound.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Douro Valley Highlights: Wine, Olive Oil & River Cruise

Porto

More beautiful blue tiled buildings in Pinhao, a winery tour and tasting at Croft, a panoramic river cruise topped off by a delicious traditional Portuguese lunch of cured meats and cheeses, grilled fish, and a moist, multilayered cake with a light syrup sauce....and, of course, wine! Oh and then there was another wine tour at Veira de Sousa and another Pastel de Nata before calling it a day.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dinner With Locals: A Homemade Portuguese Experience

Lisbon

This experience was cancelled and replaced with a dinner at a restaurant that had several Prado singers. The dinner was great and the music was wonderful. We never figured our why the dinner with locals was cancelled but we made the best of what we were given.

Food

Explore Porto’s Hidden Gems with a Local Guide

Porto

Porto has a lot of hills so my favorite part of this tour was the boat ride on the Douro River, a good way to get a perspective of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia. In the evening that we had to ourselves we had reservations to dine at Tapa Bento, in the train station. The tapas were fantastic especially the oxtail dumplings and steamed clams. On the way we stopped for another Pastel de Nata.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Taylor’s Port Wine Experience with Tasting

Porto

The morning before the tour we had some time to ourselves and went to a second breakfast at the majestic Majestic Cafe. Beautiful restaurant with lots of mirrors, glass, marble and a French toast treat called a Torrija. Crispy, sweet, eggy and delicious. After walking in the neighborhoods we stopped to try Ginjinha, a cherry liqueur in a dark chocolate cup. Yummm! The lady helping us was so friendly. For lunch we tried the soft and tasty pork sandwich, the Bifana at Conga, Casa das Bifanas. So we were prepared, somewhat ,for our Port tasting experience... Man did we drink a lot of Port at Sandeman! Our server served us 5 types of port and I could not finish most of them. Possibly because port tends to be sweet and has a higher alcohol content but, technicalities aside, the wines were delicious and she was very informative about the process of making Port wine.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Inside Benagil Caves by Boat

Portugal

It was fun sitting on the saddle-like seats on the speed boat and seeing the coast from the water side.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hike Montserrat Mountain & Explore Penedès Wineries

Barcelona

Beautiful drive through vineyards. Our tour of Albet i Noya Penedes winery was perfect. Delicious wines, tasty charcuterie plate and gorgeous green hillside vistas. The Montserrat Monastery was imposingly perched on the side of the mountain and the views into the nearby valleys were spectacular. Although we did not get to see the Black Madonna up close, she was still beautiful from afar.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

From Market to Table: Cook Authentic Spanish Dishes

Barcelona

Visiting market places is one of my favorite things to do to really see how the locals live and eat. The chef who toured us through the market and then brought us to her kitchen, overlooking the plaza was a well-prepared and knowledgable cook. We made a Spanish tortilla, seafood paella and creme catalan. The wine flowed freely and there were snacks of meats and cheeses to keep us student cooks fortified.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

My adult son is a quiet person and the chef kept trying to draw him out, to the point where she was a bit obnoxious. Some people just aren't comfortable yakking it up and after 1 or 2 attempts at getting him to open up, she should've let him be.

Barcelona Highlights: Guided Walk & Iconic Sagrada Família

Barcelona

I had read about the history of Antoni Gaudi's Basilica de la Sagrada Familia before coming to Barcelona but to see it in person...whoa!...It was an experience of a lifetime. The sculptures and decorative detail both inside and out, the way it was positioned to use the rise and fall of the sun to create sunrise and sunset colors within the church. What an amazing sight!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Visit of San Sebastian

San Sebastián

The guided visit of San Sebastian was helpful in that it made getting around San Sebastian easier so that we could spend our free time sightseeing and visiting our favorite Pintxo bars with confidence. We especially enjoyed the views of the bay, central San Sebastian and the tour of the Church of St Vicente Martir.

Quality of Experience

The Pintxos

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guides and staff were very knowledgable, accommodating and friendly.d

Transport

Toledo Highlights Day Excursion

Madrid

I thought the train ride to Toledo from Madrid was a nice way to travel. Our guide was born and raised there and was very proud of "his town." The small alley ways, stone streets, the expansive courtyards were very visually appealing. The ornate and imposing Cathedral of St Mary of Toledo stood out in my mind because there were burial sites with the bronze plaques on the floor for several Cardinals and suspended above each of the sites was the cardinal's hat.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walking Madrid’s Old Town

Madrid

I think visiting the central market was eye-opening with all of the meats, cheeses and fresh shell fish. There's so much history compared to our homeland, the US. Even the restaurants that have lasted more than 100 yrs are commemorated with bronze plaques in the sidewalk.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Zarautz, Getaria & Zumaia: A Basque Coastal Excursion

San Sebastián

Zarautz had gently rolling hills and lush green vineyards, overlooking the ocean. Getaria was also covered with green farmlands as well as having a busy port city with lots of boats. Zumaia had tall cliffs facing the ocean.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

San Sebastian Pintxo Experience

San Sebastián

I ate and loved things I didn't think I would ever like- anchovies. Also the foods I love were only made more fantastic by the presentation and accompanying ingredients. Bar Sport was my favorite with their Gildas and Foie Gras over veal toasts. I would go back to San Sebastian in a heartbeat.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I think we walked to the meeting place.

Tapas & Tradition: A Madrileño Evening

Madrid

It was wonderful starting our Spain vacation with a tapas food tour. Between the wines, vermouth, Spanish tortilla, jamon, sausages and peppers, our guide was enthusiastic, informative and friendly. A truly wonderful welcome to Spain

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I can’t say enough about how fantastic our trip was. Giorgia was our travel agent and she was great. We had absolutely no complaints at all. She set up our trip so well and it was so organized. I loved how our tour guides reached out to us the day before also. It was so reassuring. I’ve recommended her to all my friends and family. I love Spain and want to go back. This is definitely my choice to plan future trips. Maybe I can get Giorgia again to plan for a Portugal trip😁. Thank you again❤️❤️❤️❤️Michelle Gauldin

I enjoyed three very full days in Madrid and four mofe relaxing days in Barcelona arranged by Hector Molina at Espiritu Travel. The hotel in Madrid, las Meninas, was small and very attentive, located in the center of the historic sector. I had excellent guides, Geza for a walking tour of the historic sector, who was very well-informed about history and current affairs in Spain, and Linda for the Prado, who did an amazing job of structuring our time in this extensive collection to cover my interests, making sure to bring me to Velazquez’ Las Meninas, and pointing out that Picasso, whose museum I visited later in Barcelona, spent several months deconstructing this painting. The hotel in Barcelona , Hotel Regina, was even more apt, being off the Placa Catalyuna at the top of las Ramblas, and close to transportation to all parts of the city. The guide, Adrian, drove a small group of us around the city, including the 1930s Olympic venue at Montjuic, a very informative stop at the Gothic cathedral (whose elaborate front was actually added in the 1900s), and arranging for us to have audio guides to the Sagrada Familia.

We had an incredible first trip to Spain, thanks to kimkim! They took the guess work out of the trip. Our specialist, Dalia, was knowledgeable, attentive, and accommodating to all our requests. From the hotels to the private tours, nothing disappointed—everyone was exceptional and kind. We appreciated the unique perspectives and personalities each of our tour guides brought to our experiences. Hotels were centrally located and within walking distance to a multitude of historic landmarks. The hotels were comfortable, clean and spacious, and they had amazing breakfast options. Our private driver, Marin, was friendly and provided a layer of history while on our drives. kimkim took care of us every step of the way, exceeding our expectations for our first trip to Europe. Highly recommended!

A great trip that mixes both history and nature. Thanks for putting it together for me Adam.

Hotel Reviews

MYR Palacio Vallier

Valencia

Outstanding location — directly off the main Cathedral square. You step out of the hotel and the Cathedral is right in front of you. Many rooms have a balcony with a direct view of the Cathedral — this is the defining feature of the property. The building looks historic from the outside. The interior is a complete contrast: glass, steel, mirrors, and marble throughout — very modern and grand. The entrance is impressive: a large glass door opens into a marble and glass lobby, leading to double marble staircases that rise to the upper levels.

Authenticity & Character

Location

From your window you can see the cathedral

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Marqués House

Valencia

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right next to the main street and around the corner from the cathedral.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Noise was an issue for me. I could hear people coming in at night when they closed their doors, and in the morning I could hear the trucks on the street.

Hotel Helen Berger

Valencia

I stayed at Hotel Helen Bergen at a recent kimkim work trip. Lovely hotel, in a great location. The hotel is only a few block away from the main old town/cathedral, and also just a few steps from the main shopping districts, but is set away far enough such that it feels like you are in the neighborhood. The hotel is very understated, actually looks more like a restaurant at first glance. In fact most of the ground floor is the hotel restaurant, which seems to be busy for afternoon coffees, pre-dinner drinks and dinners. When ever I walked by, there were people there. The rooms were modern, and well setup. The desk is a good size to work from if you are there to work. The only complaint I would have is that the room is a bit on the small side. The other thing I really appreciate is the care the hotel put into ensuring the noise from the outside streets is well insulated. When the windows were closed, you didn't hear anything from the streets. Bed was comfortable and the team were very friendly.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Between the old town and the new area. But walkable to both.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Old Town Walk with Wine & Tapas Experience

Valencia

Beautiful experience. I felt it was just the right mix of guided walk around the old town and relaxing at the venue. The venue was in a very unique location, and the team there provided a lovely set of tapas.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Albufera Trip with Tapas & Wine

Valencia

Very relaxing, and a beautiful way to see the lagoon. The trip for us was all about the sunset, they put us in a small boat with a bottle of wine, and tapas, and took us into the middle of the lagoon, we were able to just relax and enjoy the view and the food & wine.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Paella Cooking Class & Shopping at Mercat Central

Valencia

What a fun experience! Our guide/master chef Juan was super fun. He was able to keep it easy to follow, and also helped the group really get to know each other. The Paella was delicious, I can't want to try this with my family.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Super friendly.

Beatriz at Espiritu Travel put together a wonderful trip and itinerary for our trip to Tangier and Andalucia in Spain. The selection of hotels was amazing and exactly what we were expecting. The hotels were always in the city center close to touristic attractions and dining. Our guide and drivers were friendly and helpful, our guide Delfina at the Alhambra was very sweet, knowledgeable and accommodating as we couldn't find a taxi in the pouring rain and arrived late. The Caminito del Rey hike through the gorge was the highlight of our trip.
Our only complaints were the noise outside our hotel in Tangier, our room was on the first floor overlooking the Petite Socco and the noise level kept us up during the night. This is a busy section of the Medina in Tangier and would have preferred a room away from the street. However, the room was authentic and very pretty. These was also a little confusion regarding our rental car access to the historic district of Grenada, we would have appreciated more details regarding getting through the check points. Overall the itinerary and activities were well planned and thought-out, thank you to Beatriz and her team for putting together a great trip, we would consider using KimKim and their specialists for our future travels. Thank you.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Palacete de Alamos

Málaga

Beautiful and spacious room very close to the touristic center of Malaga. The breakfasts were amazing and the staff was friendly and accommodating.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very close to the touristic center of Malaga.

Staff

very friendly and accommodating staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean

Parador de Cádiz

Cádiz

Beautiful and spacious hotel, our room was facing the water with a beautiful view. Unfortunately we were only there for one night.

Authenticity & Character

The hotel appeared to be recently renovated.

Location

Waterfront view

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

A Night of Flamenco in a Sacromonte Cave

Granada

A thrilling experience, we loved being introduced to Flamenco dancing in an authentic Sacromonte location.

Quality of Experience

Discover Granada’s Iconic Alhambra & Generalife Gardens

Spain

The Alhambra is an amazing place and a not to be missed site in Granada, unfortunately it was raining the day we were there so it made the visit less than ideal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Above the Gorge: Walk the Caminito del Rey

Spain

Tapeo Like a Local: A Tapas Walk Through Málaga

Málaga

Our guide Milady was friendly and knowledgeable, she ran a great tapas tour through Madrid

Quality of Experience

We enjoyed the selection of tapas and wines at each of our stops.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

My family of 5 had a magical week in Barcelona thanks to the Kimkim team!! All of our travel logistics were well planned and thoughtful, with plenty of details that answered any questions that came up for us along the way. Our accommodations were perfect for our family and the staff there so kind and helpful. We loved all of our tours, but Julie with our kid centered tour of the Gothic Neighborhood was the star of the week. She really connected with our girls and made exploring the city so fun for them.
Julia planned tours that really fit our vibe as a family and our goals for the week. We got to sail along the coast, tour Park Guell, La Sagrada Família, and ended our trip with a grand finale tour of Casa Batllo with music and drinks/snacks on the rooftop terrace! I’m so happy to have found Kimkim. We would have loved Barcelona regardless, but we wouldn’t have been able to experience everything we did (with no planning stress!!!!) without Kimkim.

Hotel Review

Midtown Apartments

Barcelona

Great location, friendly and helpful staff, beautiful accommodations. My family of 5 loved our stay here! The rooftop pool was the best bonus for a midday respite.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Private Kid-Friendly Gothic Quarter Walk

Barcelona

Our guide really connected with our 3 girls and encouraged them to lead a bit of the tour. Julie played games with them, answered all of their many questions, let them try local candies, and shared local history and traditions with them in a way they really connected with.

Quality of Experience

We learned history, local traditions, and got to really connect with Barcelona. My girls referenced things they learned from this tour the rest of the trip!!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Julie really catered our tour to my girls. She shared stories and facts and traditions, all in ways that drew them in and connected them to the experience.

Transport

We easily walked from our accommodations

We had a lovely experience with visiting 4 cities in southern Spain: Madrid, Granada, Seville and Cordoba. We had tours and tickets arranged for key sites like the Alhambra in Granada, the King's Palace in Madrid and audio guides for The Prado Museum (Madrid), the Alcazar and Seville Cathedral in Seville. Our driver Joan and guide Angel in Cordoba were wonderful. Otherwise, we did a lot of reading up on what to see and do on free days so we could wander at our own pace. All of our guides were so knowledgable, fun and were so patient with all of our questions. Yassime was wonderful planning the trip with us and finding hotels that were right in the heart of old towns and so close to walk to everything. They worked with MOBT Global to make a seamless travel experience. Anna was our go to person and was so helpful and checked in with us often, keeping us up to date for transfers and driver information. When we traveled in Marrakech and Fes, we had the nicest driver Said who became our friend immediately! He was such a good conversationist that our drives would fly by and we learned so much about each other's cultures. Our guide, Ahmed, in Marrakesh was awesome. He really took care of us, going at a slower pace, getting a tuk-tuk for farther distances. Sahara was our amazing guide in Fes and was so full of energy, smiles and so much history. We traveled the souks on a Friday when almost everything was closed and there were hardly any tourists around. We got to hear about the real Fes, culture and people.

Hotel Reviews

Petit Palace Preciados

Madrid

The location is great, just a minutes walk to Puerta del Sol. It's in a pedestrian only area so we figured out quickly where the drivers can pick you up and drop you off. The place has a small lobby, just for saying hello to the friendly staff and a tiny elevator, perfect for our needs. The breakfast room upstairs was bright and the food wonderful. Everything was clean and we had all the amenities needed.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Hotel Comfort Dauro 2

Granada

What a wonderful location on Calle Nava, filled with restaurants and lovely ambiance, pedestrian only. The place was clean and bright and the employees wonderfully friendly. We stored our luggage both coming and going and there was a nice room to take a break next to the lobby. There's an elevator! The breakfast was wonderful. Walk south and immediately find some quiet plazas and a huge church. Walk the other direction and within 5 minutes you're at Plaza Bib-Rambla, shopping, Cathedral and more!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Rey Alfonso X

Sevilla

The location was wonderful, right in the heart of the old town and about 5 minutes walk to the Cathedral and main square. We saw a band and singers, 100's of people and a holy relic being pulled by 2 oxen right out of our balcony! We were told it was the beginning of a Festival. The only thing that I was disappointed with was that it felt a little modern and sleek when I was looking for old world charm, tiles and plants and fountains. The employees were very helpful and friendly and the breakfast was wonderful. It was very clean. There were a lot of places to sit in the lobby if you didn't want to sit in your room. It had an elevator and a rooftop area to explore.

Authenticity & Character

Sleek and modern feel overall.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Clement Barajas

Madrid

This is just a few minutes drive from the airport but it's in a neighborhood, filled with all sorts of restaurants. What a nice find! Nice staff, rooms are super nice and comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

The lobby led to some high top tables for getting a drink and relaxing and had its own restaurant.

Location

We needed a place near the airport for a night and this was perfectly located in a quiet neighborhood.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Joy

Fes

Wow, this riad is a palace and we felt a little like country bumpkins who wandered into the wrong kingdom. It's truly beautiful and the architecture, tile work, fountain, lighting and everything about the courtyard was spectacular. Just-WOW! They greeted us with mint tea and some nibbles and told us all about the riad. Our room was also elegant, comfortable and overlooking the courtyard. All the personel were so nice and really wanted to make our stay a wonderful experience. We saw the same staff often so we got to see familiar faces. Breakfast was delicious and on the rooftop so we had nice views afterwards.

Authenticity & Character

This is a remarkable find, just opened 5 months ago. A truly lovely experience.

Location

They met us both coming and going to help us with our luggage at the main street and it was a short walk through a few of the narrow lanes. Safe and easy to navigate, even at night.

Staff

So many friendly faces! When they saw I was trying to say some things in their language, they taught me a few easy words.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean, super comfortable and had all the amenities.

Riad AWA Marrakech

marrakech

This riad was our first experience so we were a little new as to how a "guest house" worked. It was charming. The courtyard was filled with comfy couches with big pillows, tables and plants. My sister had a moment of anxiety at first seeing just one bed for the 2 of us and made a few comments. It was totally fine and she would have been ok with it but they heard her complaint and brought a 2nd bed downstairs for us! They went above and beyond to make her comfortable and we so appreciated that. The only thing that was off putting to me was the big step down into the toilet room and the big step down into the shower, something to think about with my arthritic knees but workable. The breakfast was wonderful and all the staff were so nice and always greeted us with smiles and hellos.

Authenticity & Character

What a nice first impression of the courtyard and sitting area! They even have a bird that comes in to get crumbs and keep watch over his domain.

Location

We had to walk just a few steps from the main, busy street so thought it may be noisy. It was quiet and calm, a little oasis.

Staff

They were so welcoming and went above and beyond to make our stay comfortable.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and safe.

Activity Reviews

Exploring the Imperial City and Medieval Medina of Fes

Fes

We had our wonderful driver Said take us on parts of our tour with our guide, Sahara. She was so lovely, energetic, informative and guided us through the narrow alleys with ease. It was a Friday so almost everything was closed. It was a little disappointing not to see the hustle and bustle of all the shops and people BUT we got to walk without every step avoiding people and heard what life is like for the people who live there. There were only locals around, very few tourists. The ancient Fes we were exploring with intertwining alleyways is so huge that at one point I asked how far of a walk our Riad was and she said 35-45 minutes, knowing the exact route.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exploring the Medina and Historical Sites Of Marrakesh

Marrakesh

We walked a lot to see some of the main things to experience and had our guide Ahmed lead the way. He was very knowledgeable and gave us the history and information on his culture and the country. He was aware that long walks were difficult for us due to arthritis and had a tuk-tuk take us to places a little further away. He had us eat lunch at a small place that had the best food! We enjoyed this tour and would recommend it rather than just wandering around on your own.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Córdoba Day Trip from Seville

Seville

We had an engaging and charming driver, Joan, who was so fun to talk with about life in Spain, culture, music, etc. from Seville to Cordoba and back. Once we were in Cordoba, our wonderful guide for the Mosque-Cathedral was Angel. It was really helpful to have him as a guide to this amazing place as there were so many additions and such an interesting history of how these 2 religions meshed together in one place. This is a do not miss place to see and on my travels through southern Spain, I never saw anything like this. We didn't see anything else major on this trip, just some of the pretty, pedestrian streets, lunch and the Roman gate and bridge. Some places were closed that day that we would normally have enjoyed seeing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Alhambra & Generalife Visit

Granada

This is a long but wonderful experience and having a guide to tell us the history was very helpful. For someone with arthritis that was flaring up already, the hills and stairs were a challange. There were so many beautiful rooms, views and architectual details that it was photo heaven and well worth the effort.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Royal Palace Visit

Madrid

What an opulent and lovely palace! Don't skip this. It was so hard to figure out what to look at first as the paintings on the ceilings, chandeliers, tile work and furniture are all spectacular! We had a young but very experienced guide for just my sister and myself and she was filled with great stories about the people who lived there and the history. I loved that we are now allowed to take photos inside.

Quality of Experience

First off, I want to appreciate our agent, Coraima. She planned a terrific trip! Sh was very knowledgeable and really took great care of us through out the journey. Our Spain trip included three locations, Barcelona, Valencia and Madrid. Through it all, Kimkim was there for us and really made the journey easy. The Kimkim AP is a bit of a work in progress, but the key to what make this group work is how responsive the whole team was when we needed them. 24/7 they all seemed to be there for us.

Hotels? Good solid choices with central locations, good breakfasts and very helpful concierge.

Travel was easy. Either drivers, uber, or trains were all accessible and simply laid out in our schedule.

Tours were all a little crowded, but we’re not really “crowd” people. The one thing I will say is that across the board we met the nicest people! The leaders of the tours were all very knowledgeable and engaging. “Just enough” is how I would describe them all.

Favorite experiences…probably “paella cooking lessons.” Shout out to our chef who was SO entertaining and dynamic! Personally, I could have lived without the flamingo dancing and tapas evening. Not that it wasn’t entertaining (and this is subjective)… but the tapas were just ok and the performance was just a little cheesy.

Extra note…both my wife and I caught colds. The hotel in Barcelona sent us a doctor who was amazing and the medical system in Spain was really remarkable. Easy access pharmacies and educated help.

Bottom line, we just had a sensational time!!

It was more than a trip it was an experience. The sights,sounds and food were amazing. Spain was a bucket list destination and was a blessing. There are not enough words to express how grateful I am for the experience and for Giorgia and KimKim who did an amazing job for our group

Hotel Review

Hotel & Spa Plaza Mercado

Valencia

The rooms are comfortable and the staff was courteous and very accommodating. Excellent

Authenticity & Character

Location

The shops were within walking distance of hotel

Staff

So accommodating and polite

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very accommodating and polite

Activity Reviews

An Evening of Flamenco

Madrid

The culture of Madrid flamenco was amazing

Quality of Experience

The culture of the dance and seeing it live was amazing

Transport

Went by cab during rush hour so give yourself time

Cook Paella like a Valenciano

Valencia

This was amazing. From shopping in the market to cooking. Truly an amazing experience. Highly recommend i

Quality of Experience

The staff at this class is so warm and friendly that we were sad to say goodbye

Food

The paella that we made was awesome as were the appetizers they were so kind to provide

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Professional, polite and engaging

Transport

Not applicable as we went by cab

Mediterranean Sailing Experience & Live Spanish Guitar Music

Barcelona

It was beautiful. I’ve been on similar excursions in other areas I traveled but this was the best. Intimate and beautiful

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The captain of the boat was engaging and friendly

Transport

We took cans there so not applicable

Barcelona in Bites: Tapas as Local

Barcelona

This was so amazing. Learning the history of specific tapas and culture was great. The tapas were amazing

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was awesome

Transport

We walked to meet the guide

Our family trip to Barcelona, Valencia and Madrid was amazing and memorable. The hotels accommodation were fabulous, clean and the staff were welcoming and helpful. We treated with respect and kindness. Our tour guide on our first night was warm, welcoming, informative and super helpful. Our tapas crawl was just fantastic, the history of the restaurant and food was amazing and so informative about the region. Our train experience from one city to the next was different full of culture and the sites were spectacular. Giorgio our travel agent made certain that our group experience the best of every region and the accommodation were one of my best experiences thus far. Thank you Giorgia 👍 I would absolutely recommend Kimkim.

Hotel Reviews

H10 Puerta de Alcalá

Madrid

I would have loved to have extend our stay to an extra day to absorb and see more of the sites but beautiful city

Authenticity & Character

staff

Location

Proximity

Staff

Amazing staff were informative attentive and extremely supportive and supportive

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean

Hotel & Spa Plaza Mercado

Valencia

This hotel was stunning the room staff proximity to different shops restaurants and culture.

Authenticity & Character

Staff .

Location

Close proximity to shops, restaurants cultural sites.

Staff

Every one from front desk to the cleaning crew and restaurant members

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room

H10 Racó del Pi

Barcelona

The hotel accommodation and staff were so accommodating, friendly and welcoming. Would definitely recommend this hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Staff

Location

Proximity , food, shopping

Staff

Absolutely welcoming informative

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was on point

Activity Reviews

An Evening of Flamenco

Madrid

Overall experience was breathtaking.

Quality of Experience

Performance and culture surrounding the music and origins of the dance

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Available access to cabs and buses

Cook Paella like a Valenciano

Valencia

It was interactive enlightening informative and so much fun.

Quality of Experience

Staff the food. Great experience

Food

Preparing and enjoying the fruits of our labor.😂

Guides, Drivers and Staff

There hospitality

Transport

Viewing the sites

Mediterranean Sailing Experience & Live Spanish Guitar Music

Barcelona

Amazing the staff was warming and welcoming

Quality of Experience

Staff

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Staff views

Transport

Barcelona in Bites: Tapas as Local

Barcelona

The tour guide was informative, friendly and knowledgeable. Enjoyed his presentation and discussion

Quality of Experience

Food and tour guide

Food

Tapas

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hospitality

Transport

Easy access to transportation

Hector and his colleagues put together a very high quality experience for the four of us. There are several components to a great visit anywhere and to the Pais Vasco in particular.

The Guides: We like to get to know a place through the experiences of the people who live there. We had two exceptional individuals who taught us so much about the places and people of this region. Both were intensely proud of their Basque heritage and region. Irena in Bilbao led us on an amazing Pintxos tour through the Casco Viejo (old city). Outstanding quality and lots of variety. The next day she also took us on a tour focused on the history of the City. Super knowledgeable. Our next guide was Jaime Izquierdo. We spent three days with him which included the trip from Bilbao to San Sebastián, a tour of San Sebastián and a tour of the region north of San Sebastián. One advantage of a private tour is the ability to make changes to the proposed itinerary. When we mentioned our interest in visiting Gernika (not on the original itinerary but an important place in Basque history) he was excited to make that change. And he also suggested visiting Biarritz nearby in France which was not part of the original plan.Again, super knowledgeable and just a real pleasure to spend three days with.

The Transfers: Every airport/hotel transfer was on time with great communication in advance from the driver

Lodging: The hotels in both San Sebastián and Bilbao were well located and high quality and the rooms were fine, with one exception that was quickly remedied by the local staff.

Support from the in-country agency: Espiritu Travel uses a great app—Trip Plan—that had our itinerary and suggestions for activities and restaurants. It also has a chat feature which we used several times to ask questions. It is staffed continually and their staff responded promptly.

Cost: We have traveled in Spain many times. The cost of this trip was expensive relative to our prior experiences. But it was worth every Euro.

Hector and his team have our gratitude for creating a great experience for us.

We had a great trip. The pace was perfect as were the activities. We very much enjoyed both the guides we had (Irene in Bilbao and Jaime in San Sebastian). They were knowledgeable and flexible (we asked Jaimie to move around our schedule on the day we drove to San Sebastian and he easily pivoted to meet our needs). I think it was particularly useful to have the same guide for each city so as to minimize repetition.

My only constructive criticism is that our hotels in Bilbao and San Sebastian were booked in the name of one of the members of one of the couples (David Knowles). We got into Bilbao before they did so when we tried to check into our room, it was a bit confusing as they did not have our names. It worked out fine, but it would be much easier if the rooms could be booked individually.

Hotel Reviews

Zenit Convento San Martin

San Sebastián

Authenticity & Character

the lobby was lovely but the rooms were small and felt very institutional

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Worst pillows ever (but I appreciate that's a very particular thing)

Hotel Ercilla de Bilbao

Bilbao, Bizkaia

Great location, clean and spacious

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

A Day in Basque Country: Hondarribia, Pasai Donibane & Txakoli Wine

San Sebastián

We ended up changing the itinerary at the last minute and it was seamless. It was a great day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A Guided Walk though San Sebastian

San Sebastián

This was a good trip, but we got side-tracked by some things (our fault) so I don't know that we saw everything. Nonetheless, Jaime pivoted so gracefully

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

From Market to Table: A Basque Cooking Experience

San Sebastián

Guide was great and very knowledgeable. Particularly appreciated the trip to the market. The amount of hands-on work was just right.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hiking Excursion  St.James way, famous «Camino de Santiago»

San Sebastián

This did not happen. It was not on our itinerary like this -- there were just a few hikes we could pick (all of which said "High difficulty" and no options for transport to the remote starting places. We were all pretty tired and appreciated a break, but it was a disappointment

Discover Bilbao with a Local

Bilbao

Bilbao Pintxos Experience: Tapas of the Basque Country

Bilbao

Terrific food and wine - great suggestions and great knowledge. Very good that it was only 4 people. This would not have been much fun if we were any more people

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Madrid/Seville/Lagos/Lisbon trip was well planned and well executed, nice whether helped as well.
Madrid transfers and guides were on time and professional, hotel was good, a bit noisy. Tuk-Tuk tour has room for improvement like better vehicles suspension and adding display with city map and interactive vehicle location.
Train ride was a pleasant experience.
Seville transfer to the hotel was OK, driver could use some training. Seville hotel should not be allowed to operate until underground comprehensively marked. Seville guide was on time, extremely knowledgeable and likable.
For transfer to Lagos was planned Tesla Y, instead was used Toyota Prius, substitution luxury car with economy car is not an acceptable practice, money back should be considered.
Lagos food tour guide was excellent. Lagos hotel was great, unconventional shower/toilet design would benefit by addition to toilet bidet and waste bucket. Lagos water tour was 30 minutes late, boat driver could be more respectful.
Transfer to Lisbon was good. Lisbon hotel was great, Lisbon tour guide was amazing. Tuk-Tuk tour had the same issues as Madrid one. Transfer to the Airport was seamless.

Hotel Reviews

Heritage Avenida Liberdade

Lisboa

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lagos Avenida Hotel

Lagos

Unconventional shower/toilet design would greatly benefit by adding to toilet bidet and waste bucket.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Las Casas de la Judería

Seville

Hotel should not allowed to operate until underground comprehensively marked, for example; every part has its own color code, similarly to marking trails in a forest.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room Mate Alba

Madrid

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Tuk-Tuk Experience Along the 28 Tram Route

Lisbon

Similar to Madrid, vehicle suspension is not adequate. Display with city map and interactive vehicle location should be added.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Pena Palace & Sintra Village Half-Day Trip

Lisbon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ponta da Piedade by Boat Excursion

Lagos (Algarve)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lagos Evening Food Walk

Lagos (Algarve)

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Visit to Seville's Cathedral & Alcázar

Seville

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Flamenco Show & Museum Visit

Seville

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Short Prado Museum Visit with Skip-the-Line Ticket

Madrid

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Electric Tuk-Tuk Adventure

Madrid

Vehicle suspension is not adequate. Display with city map and interactive vehicle location should be added.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private City Walk & Royal Palace Experience

Madrid

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport