Kimkim Trip Reviews for Spain

Yuri. We have now reached home and I want to thank you for organizing the best trip we have had as a family to Spain. Everything was just right and even though we had the minor change at Granada, you sorted that out immediately and it was all good in the end. :) We will definitely be using Kimkim again and I hope to work with you personally again as well. Once again, thanks a million for a memorable holiday!!!

What began as panic and inability to plan our family vacation in a timely manner, turned into a great blessing. Bea was so helpful and easy to work with, she helped us create a trip to remember! In Portugal, we started with a great tuk tuk tour and then Elsa, who showed us local treats! Our most favorite was touring Sintra with Nuno who was a perfect mix of guide and friend and we had the most wonderful lunch and day of exploring. In Barcelona, Dani was amazing- took us all by surprise with his knowledge and love for the city and sport, Camp Nou was even amazing for our son who cares nothing about soccer! But really, every guide and activity planned were fantastic. On our last day, Nuria was kind and flexible and able to change our tour plan without any sign of concern. We had a wonderful day to Girona and Tossa de Mar. Whatever hiccups occurred were easily solved by Bea and Marta. Our accommodations were great and conveniently located, though having now seen the city, I will opt to stay closer to Gothic area In Barcelona in the future. We had a great mix of activity and downtime with suggestions to fill in the gaps. I have already recommended to friends and will continue for many years to come. Very sincere thanks from our entire family.

Hotel Reviews

Vincci Baixa

Lisbon

Unassuming and lovely. Modern accommodation very well located. Excellent breakfast

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Regina

Barcelona

The lobby area especially roomy and beautiful. Rooms are modern and simple. Lovely staff and breakfast

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Day Excursion: Sintra, Cascais & Estoril

Spain

The whole day was perfect and a real highlight. Beautiful sights and Nuno was wonderful to spend the day with ensuring we got the best of the best!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Nuno was incredible

Transport

Privately Guided Visit of Gothic Quarter, F.C. Barcelona & Camp Nou Stadium

Barcelona

What an amazing way to better understand the heart and spirit of the city. Even if you are not a soccer fan, seeing the history of this team and it's detriment to the people was beautiful. Truly more than a team.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Dani was amazing. My 17 year was stuck to his side the whole time.

Transport

Private Lisbon Roots, Food & Cultural Walk

Lisbon

A schedule misunderstanding changed our restaurant options, but Elsa was great and we had a lovely evening together.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Elsa was fantastic! Lovely and very knowledgeable

Transport

Day Excursion to La Garrotxa & Besalú

Spain

We did not take this trip- instead to Girona and Tossa de Mar. Ultimately we did not want to spend this much time in the car on our last day and right before a 9 hour plane trip the following morning. Recommend for sure, but better to have a free day afterwards.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Nuria was lovely and her flexibility was much appreciated!

Transport

Joel put together the most amazing trip through Spain for me and my two teen daughters. We had a healthy mix of sight seeing, local gastronomy, beach time and hiking/biking. We loved the variety of cities we visited and the mix of driving, trains, and flying. Joel was attentive and offered additional suggestions throughout our trip, making it even more special. The local guides we met for walking tours were knowledgeable and flexible to our needs. The cooking class in Barcelona was a favorite for all of us. The detailed itinerary and plan made it easy to navigate and we felt like we saw it all! It made it really easy on us to have Joel helping us at every step, allowing us to focus on enjoying our vacation! We cannot say enough good things about our experience and can't wait to use kimkim again!

Our family had an amazing trip to Spain! It was so well organized and everything went very smoothly. We have never had a travel agent plan a trip and I am so glad we did. It will be hard to travel any other way especially for a long trip in another country. I really felt like I was on vacation as all of the details of planning were taken care of and the itinerary was easily referenced in the app. All of our transportation and transfers were prearranged which was so helpful since we were a party of 5. Our rooms were always very close to one another which was so helpful for our family. We are a family of 7 and have always struggled with getting adjacent rooms. All of our hotels were in great locations to see the cities. The breakfasts were a real help to get us out in the mornings. The guides were really fantastic! I wasn’t sure how it would be to have a guide accompanying us for half a day or more. They were so kind and accommodating and gave us our family time without being overly intrusive yet they were so knowledgeable and really gave us a great tour.
Everything in this trip was just perfect! Having Marta from kimkim available to us by phone was so reassuring. We called a few times with questions and she was always so kind and helpful. This trip will be a highlight of our family’s vacations. Thank you Marta! Thank you Kimkim!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Cortezo

Madrid

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easy to walk to sites or metro

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Acta Splendid

Barcelona

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Palacio de Santa Inés

Granada

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Petit Palace Marqués Santa Ana

Seville

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Rector

Salamanca

This hotel was the best of our trip. It is beautifully furnished and spacious. The staff went above and beyond to welcome and assist us!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Every member that we encountered was so welcoming and helpful. Really one of the best experiences in a hotel ever!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beautifully appointed rooms, wonderful bedding, spacious bathrooms and amazing hospitality! This is a top notch hotel!

Activity Reviews

Private Tapas Experience in Madrid

Madrid

This was a great experience. The guides were friendly, enthusiastic and knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guided Visit of Madrid: History, Culture & Architecture of the Capital of Spain

Madrid

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hector was very knowledgeable and friendly. Great tour!

Private Tour of Barcelona & La Sagrada Familia

Barcelona

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Day Excursion to Roman Tarragona & Sitges

Barcelona

While our guide was wonderful we had asked to go to the beach as well as your Taragona. In retrospect I would have skipped time in the beach. I was surprised that there were no bathrooms or changing stalls. We had to change in the van.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Visit: Alhambra & Generalife Gardens

Granada

Loved this tour!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hiking Excursion in the Andalusia Countryside

Spain

This was a great get away from the city! Our guide Michael was a true outdoorsman and was knowledgeable and fun. Realize that to get to the mountains there are many winding and corkscrew roads. It was worth it for us as the views and experience on the mountains and in the small white villages was awesome. If you are very sensitive to motion sickness be aware and maybe tell your driver as there may be alternative routes.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tapas & Flamenco Experience

Seville

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Guided Visit of Seville

Seville

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Teresa had some cards that she brought with the royal lineage that was very helpful!

Guided Visit of Salamanca

Spain

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our family of 4 took this trip for 8 days in Southern Spain in mid-June. Patricia was very helpful in planning a trip to our timeline and interests. We ended up spending 3 nights in Seville (with a day trip to Cadiz/Vejer) , one night in Ronda, and then 2 nights in Granada. Between Rhonda and Granda we did a half day of hiking in the Caminito Del Ray gorge. We enjoyed all the stops. It was a good mix of culture, history and recreation. Rhonda and the Caminito Del Ray were especially beautiful areas. Our guides and drivers were all friendly, on time and knowledgable. We especially enjoyed Aldara's tour in Triana area, Maria's tour of Cadiz/Vejer, and Blanca's tour of Alhambra. Hotels were all centrally located, of good quality, and had plenty of food for breakfast. Overall the trip was worth the extra expense in planning and logistics for this special occasion trip (our 25th Wedding Anniversary). Thanks Patricia and KimKim.

Hotel Reviews

Catalonia Ronda

Ronda

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Legado Alcázar Hotel

Seville

This was a beautiful hotel within a short walk to the cathedral and the alcazar. The breakfast food was fresh and plentiful. Three courses everyday with a wide selection of breakfast items. We also enjoyed tea in the afternoon. the staff was helpful and attentive at all times.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Casa 1800

Granada

Authenticity & Character

This was a beautiful hotel with a lot of character. We loved the tea time in the afternoon.

Location

The hotel was in a great location, very shaded area. Easy to walk to everything from our hotel.

Staff

Ivan was quick to help us out whenever we had a question or needed help with our bags.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Eurostars Madrid Gran Vía

Madrid

Authenticity & Character

This was a very nice hotel in Madrid. Very modern facility.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private guided biking tour of Seville Old Quarter

Seville

The biking tour in between the tours of the Alcazar and Cathedral was fun. I really enjoyed seeing Spain Square.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cristina was very knowledgeable and pleasant.

Transport

Seville Flamenco & Tapas Experience

Seville

Aldara was great. Loved the character and food from small restaurants that she chose.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Southernmost Spain's beaches, villages and delicacies!

Spain

Quality of Experience

We could see Cadiz and Vejer through our guides eyes. You could tell how proud she was of this part of Apain.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The drivers throughout the entire trip were pleasant and knowledgeable of the area. We never needed to worry about the drivers on the entire trip as they were always where we needed them at the time we needed them.

Transport

The cars were always clean and air conditioned and very comfortable for the rides between cities.

Ronda - Hiking of El Caminito del Rey - Granada

Ronda

We love hiking. We never have hiked on a trail like this. Spectacular scenery.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ian was entertaining throughout with his knowledge of the area. He made the hike fun.

Transport

Private guided tour of the Alhambra Palace and Generalife Gardens

Granada

Blanca was a wonderful guide. She knew the history of the Alhambra. She made the tour fun and interactive.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a great time. The hotels were wonderful and our guides were professional and fun. Luis was very responsive and communicative. The trip was well planned and we loved our trip.

Hotel Reviews

Catalonia Donosti

San Sebastián

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easy access to town.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Carlton

Bilbao

Excellent location

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Áurea Convento Capuchinos by Eurostars Hotel Company

Segovia

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Michelin starred restaurant

Spain

Excellent food

Quality of Experience

A bit loud as it is a smaller restaurant; it has two loud parties the night we were there.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

From San Sebastián to Bilbao (or viceversa) along the Basque Coast

Spain

A beautiful trip and the guide was wonderful

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Airport transfer (return)

Spain

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Free Time

San Sebastián

Lovely place to just walk around and do people watch

Quality of Experience

Cooking class

Spain

Our Chef took us to the market and helped us cook. Have never cooked Basque food before. It was different and I would do another cooking class again in the future.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hiking the Camino de Santiago Trail

San Sebastián

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rioja Premium Wine Tour

Spain

A bit too much wine for me (not for my husband though). The picnic was lovely.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

It was wonderful working with Bea. She was thorough and helpful all along the way. I loved the Trip Plans app that we could use for the Spain portion of the trip! So easy and helpful! I loved every single thing we did. We especially loved the organic olive oil farm, the Flamenco dance, and our hotel was fantastic!

Hotel Review

Dear Hotel Madrid

Madrid

Great location. Fabulous customer service. The rooftop bar was amazing. The breakfast was extraordinary!

Tips for future travelers

I can't recommend this hotel highly enough!

Authenticity & Character

The rooftop bar! The breakfast!

Location

It was easy walking distance to everything.

Staff

Excellent customer service all around

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Tapas Culinary Experience

Madrid

We had so much fun on the Tapas experience. We went to restaurants that take time to make every item homemade. Our guides were excellent!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Flamenco Night

Madrid

Loved hearing about the history of Flamenco and also seeing the amazing talented dancers.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Train Madrid to Toledo, Guided Visit of Toledo, Train Toledo to Madrid

Madrid

It was a very fun trip and excellent history lesson! The only thing we didn't love was our guide. While he was very nice, he never ever stopped talking about whatever was on his mind.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit a Family Owned Olive Grove & Tasting

Spain

Loved coming to this biodynamic, organic farm and learning about olive growing and doing olive oil tasting. The olive grove owner is very lovely and passionate about what she does. It was so wonderful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

All of our guides were knowledgeable and accommodating. The guided tours and activities were enlightening and delightful. The arranged transportation and the helpful drivers complemented the excellent itinerary prepared by Patricia. Patricia made sure we thoroughly enjoyed our vacation from start to finish!

Luis worked with us extensively to craft a trip that met our unique needs – in terms of the cities we wanted to visit, the activities & sites we wanted to see, and modes of transportation. He was incredibly responsive throughout the entire planning process, and and while we were in Spain, he called us several times to check in, and was there if we had any questions at all! On the itinerary itself, we certainly were able to have the local experience – both the sites we saw, and the guides that Luis connected us with. A lot of the tours were private which was great, though the group ones were always with a lovely crowd. The quality of the tours / guides sometimes was better than others, and for non-Spanish speakers I think language barrier was a challenge sometimes, but nevertheless we had a great experience on all. One thing to note is that when booking, an itemized price breakdown is not available for hotels, activities, etc – but Luis will work with you to make sure the trip is within your budget. Overall, I would absolutely recommend using Luis and Hidden in Spain for any future travels – his thoughtful touches certainly made for an unforgettable experience!

Hotel Reviews

Barceló Raval

Barcelona

Casa Romana Hotel Boutique

Sevilla

Parador de Ronda

Ronda

Hotel Palacio de Santa Inés

Granada

Hotel Regina

Madrid

Activity Reviews

Half day Gaudi tour (SF & PG)

Barcelona

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Montserrat Tour & Boy's Choir (escolanía) & Light Hike

Barcelona

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Off-the-beaten-path City Tour

Seville

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day tour: Ronda & White villages

Spain

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tapas in Malasaña

Madrid

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

How lucky we were to find Marina!!! I was not familiar with kimkim prior to this trip but it was a blessing to find and work with Marina. She has a lot of first hand knowledge of both cities and she was patient as we worked through organizing various groups of family members in both places.

Our time in Paris was exceptional. In addition to seeing the usual sites we had a day trip to Versailles and Giverny. The tour guide was wonderful and the driver gave us a nice stress-free ride during a very busy traffic time. Our accommodations were fun and different - the hotel was actually a barge on the Seine River. We would not have found that ourselves.

The bullet train to Barcelona was fantastic - totally the way to go. It was comfortable and a good way to see the countryside. Our accommodations just off Las Ramblas were top notch and the tapas tour for our group of eight was delicious and fun.

Thank you, Marina!! We look forward to many more trips in the future and will look first to kimkim for planning.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel España Ramblas

Barcelona

Very comfortable rooms, excellent breakfast and terrific location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel OFF Paris Seine 4*

Paris

Comfortable accommodations and convenient location. It was a fun place to stay and very different from the large impersonal hotels.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Seine Cruise

Paris

Marina suggested taking this tour around sunset, 10 PM when we were there, and I concur. To see the Eiffel Tower lit up a night is fantastic!!!

Private Walking Tour of Paris

Paris

Highly recommend a guided tour of the area surrounding Notre Dame. We learned a lot about the history of Paris and saw parts of the city we would not have seen on our own.

Guided tour of Montmartre

Paris

Terrific tour and wonderful guide. There was a mix-up on the timing and she ended up coming back later in the day. Recommend having a guide for the section of Paris - so much history around the artists and of course the beautiful Sacre Coeur!!

Day Trip to Versailles & Giverny

Paris

Wonderful guide and terrific driver. Perfect day for our group of four. Loved both Giverny - truly a highlight for Monet admirers - and, of course, Versailles is amazing. Many of the fountains were running and the palace was crowded but beautiful. Our guide navigated us through expertly!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tapas Walk in Barcelona

Barcelona

Wonderful three hour tour with four stops. The food was fabulous, the restaurants all had a different ambiance and no one left hungry!!! Highly recommend.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Patricia put together an amazing trip! Everything was literally perfect. Every hotel was amazing, every guide was polite, knowledgeable, and punctual, and every excursion was an awesome experience.

I cannot give a stronger recommendation for her services.

What a trip!

My mother wanted to see the Rolling Stones in Madrid. I stumbled upon kimkim online trying to figure out how many days to spend in Madrid if we decided to go. I was feeling overwhelmed with work and other commitments and did feel like I had time to plan a trip. I looked at the reviews and thought this sounds a little too good to be true. Then I looked at reviews of kimkim overall. I thought I'll fill out this questionnaire and see. Much to my surprise I got an immediate response from Marina.
I appreciated Marina setting up 2 calls prior to the trip to discuss the itinerary and make some slight adjustments. The calls also helped clarify a couple of potential mistakes we might have made with regards to pick up points, trains, etc.
Our driver, Ivan reached out to me before we left the U.S. with details on where he would be in the airport to pick us up. I thought that was very nice.
We arrived at Hotel Oscar and the staff was so friendly and helpful. The hotel room was much larger than we expected. It was clean. The breakfasts were wonderful. It seemed to be in a great location. It was perfect for us.
We did a Tapa's tour the first evening. We had a bit of trouble getting to the meeting location. However, it was our first time in Madrid and in hindsight we should have taken a taxi. We were late, but between Marina and our fabulous guide, Lindsey we caught right up with the group. We had such a fun group. It was the perfect introduction to Madrid. Not only did we enjoy great tapas and drinks we got to visit with other tourists. Lindsey was full of useful information about Madrid. I feel like she really went out of her way to show everyone a good time.
We had the good fortune of being in Madrid the night Real Madrid became the champions!!!
The following day we had a walking tour of Madrid with Geza. Geza was outstanding. He was exceptionally knowledgeable and such a wonderful person. He told us about Saint Isidro, the Patron Saint of Madrid. Since it was a Jubilee Year marking the 400th anniversary of the canonization of the patron saint of Madrid his remains were on display in the Collegiate Church.
He said the lines to see him would be long, but he checked on them anyway. Much to our surprise the line was not bad, and we decided to go into the Cathedral and see him. This was such a treat and the last day he was to be on display. Later we walked upon a breathtaking procession for St. Isidro. It was something special. Geza suggested a restaurant for us that was wonderful at the end of the tour. Later that afternoon we were lucky enough to see The Real Madrid show the winning cup at Plaza Mayor. Geza told us they would be there later in the day. We did not think we would make it back there, but when we got out of Mass we were in the heart of the celebrations. It was very exciting.
The next day was our day trip to Toledo. We fell in love with our guide, Manuel. He was a wealth of information. Having grown up in Toledo he added a personal touch. I am glad we toured the Royal Palace and went to the Prado later in the week because Manuel’s history made those come to life when we went there. We did the zip line which I highly recommend.
We went to an olive grove for an olive oil tasting. Honestly, I expected this to be a small store with them “selling us” superior olive oils. The olive grove excursion could not have been more different. This is a truly authentic experience. Laura is amazing and we certainly have a greater appreciation for good olive oil now.
I sound like a broken record when it comes to our guides, but they were truly incredible.
Unfortunately, we could not make our trip to Segovia. We let Marina know and she invited us to a rooftop bar for a drink for my mother’s birthday. It was a beautiful evening, and we appreciate Marina’s thoughtful gesture. Marina also assisted us in insuring we got the right Covid tests to return to the U.S.
I could continue, but I will never get this posted.
I have recommended kimkim to friends and family. I look forward to returning to Spain and hopefully Portugal using kimkim.

Hotel Review

7 Islas Hotel

Madrid

We stayed at Roommate Oscar.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Visit of Toledo

Spain

We had a wonderful day. Lunch was delicious. The Cathedral is a must if you are anywhere close to Toledo. See my full review for more commentary.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Manuel is the best!!!

Transport

Private Tapas Experience in Madrid

Madrid

Fun night out and great start to trip. Enjoyed learning about the different tapas and how to order them.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guided Visit of Madrid: History, Culture & Architecture of the Capital of Spain

Madrid

Geza was a delight! He is extremely intelligent and fun.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Visit a Family Owned Olive Grove & Tasting

Spain

This is an authentic working olive grove. We found it very interesting. We have a whole new respect for quality olive oil.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We did a 15 day tour of Spain:
Madrid- The Hotel Regina was well located, had a pleasant room, and great staff. They were very friendly and helpful to new tourists.
May 16: Arantxa -tour of Prada and Madrid- Prada was rushed- it needs a tour by itself. The stroll and food part of the tour was very good, especially the stop for Vermouth and Tapas. Arantxa is very personable and down to earth. She was willing to answer any questions and was excited to see us when we ran into her a few days later.
May 17: Beatrice- guided walking tour of Madrid- was very good, the pace was good and she was flexible to our needs and wants. She explained lots and answered questions well.
The evening of Flamenco was not as good as we hoped for; while enjoyable to some degree, it felt like an amateur production.
May 18: we had a free day to explore on our own and we enjoyed the break and some down time. It's a good idea to work some down time into the tour.
May 19: David, who drove us from Madrid to Segovia and then Salamanca, then to Burgos the next day, was very good, he showed us some good sights along the way and was very personable and answered questions well.
Elena in Segovia was also good and very thorough, she didn't hurry us and again answered questions well. The restaurant Meson de Candido was very good, and the view of the aqueduct was spectacular.
The NH Palacio de Castellanos was very good with good rooms, great location, and a nice restaurant on the patio.
May 20: Carmen's tour of Salamanca was mixed- parts of it were very good, such as the glimpses into the university grounds and cloisters, but she seemed distracted and spent a lot of time checking her phone.
The NH Palacio de Burgos was outstanding, with a large room, beautiful eating area next to an old cloister, comfortable lobby, and a great location.
May 21: Johan the young driver to Atapeurca was very sweet even with limited English. He did a great job.
Atapuerca was a highlight- it was fascinating and the archeologist who gave us the tour was really interesting.
The tour of Burgos with Rosalia was also fascinating- she showed us many highlight of the city's interesting history and was very engaging, asking us question and checking our knowledge.
May 22: The transfer to Bilbao was quiet and good.
The Hotel Sercotel Coliseo was good, with a good location and nice rooms.
Tour of Bilbao and Guggenheim with Ana was also good- she explained the museum well and her walking tour of the old city was interesting but not very comprehensive. It did feel rushed at the end. She did suggest a very good restaurant, though, which we really enjoyed. It was unfortunate that the tour was later in the day and we didn't get a chance to go back to Guggenheim on our own. It would have warranted a whole day just for that.
May 23: Diego won all our hearts- he was down to earth; he didn't know all the historical details, but he knew the local area and great places to take us. He took his time with us, let us explore at our own pace, and showed us all kinds of local spots. He joined us at meals and got to know us and let us get to know him and his perspectives on the local culture and history. His input was very valuable.
Patxi the sheep farmer (and his sheep dogs) were a highlight for us.
May 24: Diego took us to San Sebastian through the coastal route which was again spectacular.
The Hotel Zenit San Sebastian had great staff and a good restaurant, but was in a bad location for tourists on foot (especially an older lady) - it was a half hour brisk walk to the old town where our tours started, and also where the sights and good eating places are.
May 25: The e-bike tour was fun with a great guide, Pelayo. It's a great way to see different aspects of a good sized city.
The evening food tour with Imano was good, but felt abbreviated- we stopped for 4 Pintxos which were very good, but it felt like Imano was in a hurry and he didn't give a lot of detail about the history of the area and the food.
May 26: This was another good day with Diego exploring the local area- Pasai Donibane was a highlight, even in the rain. Diego picked out a good lunch of Pintxos for us in Hondarribia. We then went to the winery Hiruzta, which had lovely Txakolli wine.
May 27: The train from San Sebastian to Barcelona was lovely- the train was comfortable, had good coffee and tea, and the scenery was gorgeous. The transfer to the hotel was prompt and courteous.
The Hotel Ciutat de Barcelona was not good- it felt more like a North American college dorm room than a nice hotel- the rooms were small, there was no kettle, cups, or fridge, the safe was difficult to use and on the floor so hard to get to, the bathroom was outdated with a very slippery shower. The bed was uncomfortable and the mattress felt like it was covered in rubber. There were only sheets and no blankets on the bed. While we expect some street noise, the building itself was noisy and it felt like there was a youth party going on. Any one of these things would have been tolerable, but the accumulation of them was too much. In addition, there was no restaurant and the provided breakfast was not good- with little selection in food. By then we had decided to move and were glad we did.
The Hotel Icon BCN (Petit Palace) was very nice- the room was small but pleasant, with the expected amenities such as a kettle, tea, coffee, and cups. The staff (including Alicia the manager) were very pleasant and the lobby and restaurant were excellent with good food and drinks. The breakfast was very good with lots of variety and eggs cooked to order.
May 28: The Barcelona city tour with Gemma was interesting with some good insights into history of the area and we got see parts of the city we would never have found ourselves. However, it did feel rushed, especially around the churches downtown and when we got to La Sagrada Familia.
May 29: La Costa Brava was gorgeous where Shilo took us along a path on the shore which was lovely. He adapted his plans to accommodate Aunt Mary's abilities. The tour of Girona was also very enjoyable and Shilo shared some good insights with us.
May 30: Guy took us to Montserrat which was spectacular. He was both informative and very nicely easy-going, allowing us to tour the church on our own while he took Mary up the funicular. (My fear of heights prevented me from going). Then we went to Felix winery, which was another highlight for us. Christina, the owner (with Felix of course) was delightful, and explained the wine making process in wonderful detail. Their wine is very good! Guy also took us to one of their vineyards with its gorgeous old grape vines. We would highly recommend this winery for future tours.
This was really the end of our tour, although we stayed in Barcelona for three more days, which was a pleasant end to the holiday. One improvement i would suggest is a day with no tours in the middle of the trip, just to provide some rest. We were tired from learning so much by that time!
Thank you, Karin, it was a great trip.

I could not have asked for a better expert than Patricia to help me plan an amazingly memorable and fun trip. She perfectly balanced our itinerary to include activities and busy time, while balancing down time and travel time to keep us energized for a whirlwind two-week trip. Every aspect of our itinerary went exactly as planned, and every single person with whom we interacted locally was a joy to be around.

All guides were incredibly knowledgeable as well as courteous and helpful.

Our trip to Spain was amazing! Our hotels were lovely. The travel within Spain was convenient and efficient. We loved all of our guided tours and activities. The absolute highlights of our trip were:
1. Private tour of Cordoba with our tour guide Guido. Guido was so knowledgeable, well mannered, and kind. We felt as if he really listened to what we were interested in, and adjusted his tour accordingly. We loved the Mosque Cathedral and the Jewish Quarter and synogogue. He recommended a great Moroccan restaurant.
2. Private tour of Ronda with Manuel. Manuel was also very knowledgeable and really fun. He gave us the right balance of guided tour and free time. We loved the Natural Park Sierra de Grazalema and Ronda.
3. Tour of Caminito del Rey. This hike was amazing. It was challenging enough (but not too hard) and the views were spectacular.
4. La Alhambra is a must-see. Absolutely breathtaking!
5. We loved the e-bike tour in Madrid. It was really fun, and a great way to see the city.
6. We really enjoyed our museum day - the Reina Sofia and the Prado.
7. Our wine and tapas tour in Malasana was amazing! Amy was a great guide who curated the food and drink of the area perfectly. The 3+ hours went by so quickly. She was fantastic.
The only negative was the written materials we were given. There were a lot of inaccuracies in our itinerary (times, activities, items included, pick-up and drop-off points), and many of the recommendations were outdated (several restaurants were no longer in business, hours listed for sites and businesses were incorrect). That was disappointing and not what we've come to expect from kim kim vacations.

Hotel Reviews

H10 Casa de la Plata

Sevilla

Lovely, well located hotel. Helpful staff. Great breakfast.

Tips for future travelers

There is a pool. Bring a bathing suit.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Palacio de Santa Inés

Granada

Friendly staff. Well located. Charming, but a little older and less amenities than the other hotels on our itinerary.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our shower was broken, but they fixed it right away.

Eurostars Hotel Plaza Mayor

Madrid

Very nice and clean hotel with a friendly staff. It is located in a high-traffic, tourist neighborhood and maybe we would have preferred staying somewhere in Madrid with more character.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Off-the-beaten-path City Tour

Seville

This was a lovely introduction to Seville on our first night.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tapas & Flamenco night

Seville

It was not clear from our itinerary, but this was the same thing as the walking tour. It was listed as two things, but it was really one and the same.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Day tour to Córdoba

Seville

This tour was a highlight. We loved our guide Guido.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day tour: Ronda & White villages

Spain

This tour was a highlight. We loved our guide Manuel.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Caminito del Rey

Seville

This hike was one of the best activities we did on the whole trip. Beautiful views, challenging hike, and knowledgable and fun tour guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The bus was very comfortable.

Sacromonte and Albayzin tour

Granada

This was a very interesting way to see the city on our first night. The guide was very nice.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Alhambra Tour

Granada

The Alhambra is a must see! This was a great day!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Essential Madrid bike tour

Madrid

This tour was so much fun! A great way to see the city!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Day Trip to Toledo

Madrid

Not applicable. This activity was eliminated from our itinerary. We would have loved to do it, but we ran out of time.

Tickets for museums & monuments

Madrid

The timed tickets were helpful. A private guide was recommended, and we declined. Once there we felt validated in that decision because a private guide was not necessary.

Quality of Experience

Tapas in Malasaña

Madrid

This tour was one of our favorite things about our trip. It was absolutely the best food we ate the whole time we were in Spain. Our tour guide Amy was so lovely, knowledgeable, and personable. She curated a beautifully diverse menu and drink selection. Absolutely top notch!

Quality of Experience

Food

Our tour guide Amy was spectacular!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Airport transfer (return)

Spain

Our driver was on time and very efficient.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The whole experience was easy and the perfect blend of activity and relaxation . Beatriz worked with us the entire time to ensure we had the perfect honeymoon. From the guides at La sagrada familia, el real Alcázar, and the Alhambra to the romantic winery picnic or sailboat experience with Spanish guitar it was all perfect and beautiful. Bea would send us messages and check in with us, and also give us local recommendations along the way. She even told all of the event planners it was our honeymoon so we had extra surprises along the way, like champagne when we checked into our hotel. All in all, would definitely recommend using Kim Kim and especially Bea. Thank you so much!!!

We had an amazing trip. The whole experience from initial contact to the return flight home was memorable. Working with Marina was easy and quick. She is very knowledgeable and listens very well to what her customers want. She was very responsive and the tours, hotels and trip planning were fantastic. The first night stay in Obidos in the Castle was an unforgettable experience. The next day our guide Sandra in Portal was really good. Deep knowledge of the city and region and fun and full of energy. Recommend her to everyone. The next day tour and river cruise on the Douro River was great. Such a beautiful area and Rui our guide was very flexible and accommodating as well as knowledgeable. The drive to Lisbon was nice and Marinas suggested stops were great. Lisbon was wonderful and our guide Jose was again knowledgeable and very nice. Our cooking class with Lucilla was one of the high points of our Portugal experience. So much fun. The next day trip to Cascais, Sinatra and Estoril was very beautiful and nicely done. Our guide Paulo was fun and knowledgeable and was an excellent driver as well. The trip to Lagos was also beautiful and the caves and grottos incredible. The next part of the trip into Spain was also perfect. The flight to Bilbao was as planned and Bilbao was a very nice surprise! The area is beautiful and lush and green. The Guggenheim did not disappoint and the Food and wine tour with Ellie was great! The drive to Pamplona was again beautiful and the city was great. Then in to Magical Madrid. Our hotel was right on the Plaza Mayor and could not have been better. Geza our guide was very good and showed us all around the old city and Royal Palace including the changing of the guard. Our side trip to Segovia was very nice and the day trip to Toledo by train and our guide was very good as well.
We really enjoyed the trip, the food, the wine, the hotels and the guides. Congrats to Marina and her team.

Dalia is the best trip coordinator that we have ever worked with. A true all-star in her profession. We were trying to give our sons a 10-day overview of the south of Spain. We told her that we were going to have an aggressive schedule and that we wanted to cover as much as possible. From zip lining in Toledo to riding camels in Tangiers, Morrocco; from hot air ballooning in Cordoba to olive oil tastings and wine tastings in Montilla.....Dalia had us covered every step of the way. The lodging she recommended was exceptional. Every apartment and hotel exceeded expectations. And what can we say about the tour guides? Daniel in Toledo was like a long-lost older brother to our sons. Juan brought royal Madrid to life. And there was Said in Tangiers.....making certain that the city was magical and going the extra mile to ensure we did not miss our ferry home. We cannot wait to come back to explore in greater detail. I would recommend working with Dalia to anyone looking to visit the region.

Activity Reviews

Day trip to Tangiers

Spain

First and foremost, Said and Said (our Moroccan host and guide) made certain that we filled every minute of our day trip to Tangiers. The driving tour of the city was breathtaking. RIding camels on the beach was a once in a lifetime experience. The lunch in the old city was off the charts (don't miss the soup....even on a hot day!!!). Walking the markets, the spice stores, the synagogues of the old city was magical. My younger son had lots of questions and Said answered everything. We can't wait to explore Morocco further.

Quality of Experience

Everything

Food

The soup, the soup, the soup!!!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Said was the omniscient guru of Morocco!!!

Transport

Comfortable ride

Madrid Guided Tour with Royal Palace

Madrid

Juan was unbelievably knowledgeable and engaging. His passion for Madrid is worn on his proverbial sleeve. He recounted the history of bullfighting to my teenage boys and took them to the Madrid bullring. The tour of the royal palace was spectacular. But best of all was walking the streets and asking questions. Juan is a one-man encyclopedia. He took us to a special market that locals frequent for lunch. So much fun!!! He even helped us set up our own walking tour back to the hotel once our tour was over. Juan is an all-star guide and an all-star person!!

Quality of Experience

Juan Juan Juan

Guides, Drivers and Staff

As I said above, Juan was an all-star. His knowledge and passion is unmatched

Transport

Juan got us a comfortable taxi to ride around in

Toledo Day Trip with Private City Tour & ziplining (Self-drive)

Madrid

Is there a more energetic and passionate guide than Daniel? He is charisma personified. If so, I need to see it to believe it. By the end of the tour my teenage boys thought he was their long-lost older brother that we never told them about. His love for his hometown of Toledo is worn on his sleeve. The walking tour of the old city was a true walk through history. We loved every step. If you are coming to Toledo, Daniel is your guy hands down!!!!!

Quality of Experience

Daniel is the gold standard for all future guides!!!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

What I said about.....Daniel is a rock star!!!

Day trip: Montilla Hot air Balloon, Olive Oil & Wine Region Day Trip

Spain

What a day!!!! I always say that the people you meet and the experiences that you allow yourself to have are what make trips memorable. This will be a day that will stay with my kids forever. From our hot air balloon captain to our friends at Juan Colin (the kings of olive oil) to the winemakers at Montilla Moriles...you won't encounter finer people. And to top it off, you get to spend time with one of nicest people walking the earth in Dalia.....who opens this world of sensory experiences to all.

Quality of Experience

An experience that we will remember forever. A true sensory experience!!!!

Food

Olive oil, wine, Iberico ham........do I need to say more. Mind blowing!!!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Dalia is the nicest, kindest person that we encountered on our trip. I cannot wait to come back to Spain and work with her again

Transport

The van was extremely comfortable!!!!

We had a fantastic mother/daughter trip to Spain. Marina and Kim Kim arrangements made it most enjoyable.

Tapas tour was great. Our guide Lindsey was accommodating, engaging and lots of fun!

Geza (our walking tour guide in Madrid) was terrific! We were on this tour the day after Real Madrid won the European championship —so excitement was in the air. He explained many historical facts and interesting nuggets of information we would have never known about on our own.

We took a train to Toledo for a city tour and zip line experience. Manolo, our guide, was also exceptional! City and cathedral were beautiful! He seemed to know almost everyone in the streets of Toledo. We especially enjoyed the many insights he had about the overwhelming artistry of the cathedral.
Our olive oil tasting gave us the opportunity to meet Laura (one of the most hard working moms in Spain😊). She and her husband work the olive grove that’s been in her family for many, many years. They’ve transitioned to organic and how “hands on” the complex process is to make organic Extra virgin olive oil.
I could go on and on it those are a few highlights of our 5-6 day tour.

Thank you Marina for all your patience, many helpful suggestions and tips.

Hotel Review

7 Islas Hotel

Madrid

We stayed at roommate Oscar Nice large clean room Great breakfast Friendly accommodating staff Someone at front desk was fluent in English

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Guided Visit of Toledo

Spain

Quality of Experience

Most everything

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Previously mentioned

Transport

Prompt and pleasant