Kimkim Trip Reviews for Spain

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

Hotel Regina

Madrid

Hotel Palacio de Santa Inés

Granada

Parador de Ronda

Ronda

Casa Romana Hotel Boutique

Sevilla

Barceló Raval

Barcelona

Activity Reviews

Tapas in Malasaña

Madrid

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day tour: Ronda & White villages

Spain

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Off-the-beaten-path City Tour

Seville

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Barcelona

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half day Gaudi tour (SF & PG)

Barcelona

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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

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

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

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!!

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.

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!!!

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

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

Walking Madrid’s Old Town

Madrid

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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 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

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

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

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.

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

Activity Reviews

Airport transfer (return)

Spain

Our driver was on time and very efficient.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

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

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.

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

Alhambra Tour

Granada

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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

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.

Day tour: Ronda & White villages

Spain

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day tour to Córdoba

Seville

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

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

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: 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!!!!

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!!!

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

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

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

My husband and I can’t say enough wonderful things about our KimKim experience in the south of Spain. From the planning stages with James who helped us create a personalized, exciting adventure, to the moment we were picked up by our driver Pepe in Malaga our Kim Kim experience far exceeded our expectations! We loved all our guides; Paco in Granada, Julian in Malaga, Juan in Ronda, Carlos on our day trip from Ronda to Seville, and Ana in Seville. Our favourite tours were when we had meals with our guides, Julian, Carlos and Ana. It was such a fun and enriching experience for us to learn the history and wonders of southern Spain through the eyes of our local and very knowledgeable guides. Thank you for helping us make memories we will cherish. Diane and Stephen.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Gravina 51

Sevilla

This was one of our favourite hotels on our Southern Spain trip. We loved the quiet location but within easy walking distance to all the important city sites. The decor was beautiful, the staff so helpful and friendly, the rooms were gorgeous and the welcoming bottle of cava a sparkling surprise, and the breakfast was absolutely the best we had on our trip!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Catalonia Ronda

Ronda

This hotel was in a fabulous location over looking the bull ring and valley in the beautiful town of Ronda. The room was spacious and updated decor lovely. The staff friendly and breakfast good. The one thing I did not like about this hotel was the cleanliness of the floor in the bathroom. It was noticeably dirty and when I wiped it with a white washcloth the cloth was black with dirt. I asked the front desk to clean the floor but don’t think they did as the floor remained dirty. For me this was a real turn off! I was grateful they provided slippers as I would not want to walk on the floor in bare feet.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The bathroom floor was dirty!!!

Hotel Palacio de Santa Paula

Granada

This was a wonderful hotel close to city Center and walking distance to a large selection of restaurants and shops.

Authenticity & Character

This hotel had a modern exterior but well preserved interior. We were in a room with a view of the courtyard which was a converted convent. Our room had an original wood ceiling that had high slopes that made the spacious room feel bigger.

Location

Staff

The check in staff and the wait staff at breakfast were all friendly and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The bed was comfortable and room clean. The only thing I did not like was the strong scents the hotel used to perfume the.lobby. I found it very overpowering.

Activity Reviews

Complete Tour of Seville! On Segway and on foot

Seville

Wow, what a great day we had in Seville. We first did a walking tour of the old city center with Ana and then a Segway tour of the gardens, exposition grounds and La Taberna area with Miguel. Both guides were so friendly and fun to spend time with learning about this beautiful city.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Flamenco & Tapas Tour

Seville

Ana made our evening in Seville magical! Her choices of Flamenco venue and the two tapas bars were authentic and fun. It was a pleasure spending time with you Ana.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to the White Villages and Sierra de Grazalema

Spain

Our guide Carlos and our driver made this day special. We first visited the cork forest where we learned all about how to make corks for wine, we then had walking tours of two white towns, a olive oil tasting and a fantastic lunch before being dropped of in Seville. Thank you for the fantastic day!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Tour of Ronda

Ronda

Juan was a wonderful guide to explore Ronda with. Ronda is such an ancient and well preserved city high on a gorge with the most beautiful views. We particularly loved touring the hamman and the oldest bull ring in Spain!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Visit La Pileta Cave and a Local Winery in Ronda with a Special Lunch! (with Driver)

Ronda

Our driver was great, he was on time and the vehicle was clean and very comfortable. The experience of going into a cave with 40,000+ year old drawings was one of the highlights of our trip! The private lunch at the organic vineyard of Vertas with the personal tour and explanation of their wine making gave us a much better understanding of just how complicated and delicate this process is and the lunch and wines were delicious.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Tour of the Alhambra and Generalife Gardens

Granada

Our tour of Alhambra couldn’t have been more enjoyable or interesting. Our Guide Paco was extremely knowledgeable about the history of Granada and the architectural style of Alhambra. At the end of the tour he also recommended one of our favourite restaurants for lunch.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Guided Tour of the Malaga & the Picasso Museum with Light Tapas

Spain

The transfer from Granada to Malaga then Ronda was in a lovely Mercedes van. Our walk around Malaga which included a detailed tour of the Piccaso museum with Julian and our tapa lunch was great!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Amazing trip. Patricia got everything perfect. She listened to our style of travel and totally deliver. She was available through the whole trip and was a great help when we had a minor accident with our rental car.

We’ve never had one on one tour guides before but it really made the trip special. In each new location we had a guide for a major museum or palace tour and they gave us the inside perspective you could never get without them. And the food tour in Madrid is a must. Can’t wait for our next trip yo Spain

Hi Sam. I know Judy has already sent her review. We had a marvellous trip and very much appreciated having KimKim work with Tailormade Andalucia to make our wonderful itinerary. We also appreciated all the planning and organizing done by you with regards to all the details of the trip. On a scale of 1-10 I would give our KimKim experience a 10+++ and on that scale I would give our experience with you and Tailormade Andalucia a 10+++ too. The trip was a perfect blend of sightseeing and free time. All of the stresses of planning such a trip were assumed by KimKim and by you which reflected the benefits of working with someone who lives in the region and has the benefit of planning trips for tourists. Rocia from KimKim was in contact with us regularly during the trip to make sure everything was going well and she responded quickly any time we had a question. We thoroughly enjoyed all of our tours and found the guides to be exceptionally knowledgeable ( Ana, Filippo, Diego, Maria, Jose, Joaquin and Teresa). It was great to meet you and we loved the tapas tour with you in Sevilla. All of the hotels were fabulous and each unique in their own way. The Hotel H10s were great (centrally located and spacious) and we really enjoyed our stay in Ronda at the Hotel La Fuente de la Higuera and at the Hotel Fuerte Conil in Conil de la Frontera. The hike with Filippo in Costa Brava was a highlight as was the gorge walkway in Caminito Del Rey. Touring the Alhambra in Granada and the Alcazar in Cordoba were definitely take-away memories. If you ever took a big trip as a kid and your parents did all the planning and organizing and you got to go and have fun and just enjoy the trip, that would be how working with you and KimKim worked for us. I know we will plan future trips with KimKim and I have certainly recommended them to friends who are thinking about travelling. I would definitely recommend Tailormade Andalucia to anyone planning a trip to southern Spain. You will not be disappointed. Thank you Sam for planning our amazing trip.

We had a wonderful experience on our trip to Spain. It was great to experience the culture, language and diverse history of various locations in Spain. Marina was very patient and helpful during the booking process. She was able to quickly give advice when we missed our train in Madrid. I'd also like to recognize the efforts of Vanessa at the Petit Palace Puerta del Sol for her repeated efforts to find us dinner reservations. We had personal guides in each city and all added tremendous insight and knowledge to what we were seeing. Special mention to Linda in Madrid, Yolanda in Toledo, Elena in Segovia, Ferran in Sevilla, and Sergio, who spent all day driving us around Andalusia, on our day trip to Ronda.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Trip!

Planning was meticulous and recommend trips were awesome.

James and the team at KimKim were absolutely spectacular in putting together a family vacation for us to Spain and Portugal. James listened to our goals for the trip and planned out an exceptional itinerary that fit every need from transportation every step of the way, to fantastic hotel selections, both in quality and location, to perfect excursions each day. He found a perfect balance of finding the right experiences for us at every stop while not trying to cram so much in that we felt rushed. In Barcelona, we had a fantastic bike tour with Olga, walking tour with Eli and amazing private cooking class with Rosa. Each representative was exceptional. Victor gave us a wonderful hiking tour around Palamos on the Costa Brava and Margeurida and Peter were awesome in showing us the beauty and history of Lisbon. If we could give more than 5 stars for the trip coordination, we would. My best recommendation would be we would use this team 100% again in the future. Thank you!!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Aigua Blava

Costa Brava · Girona

This hotel location was amazing, right on the water and cliffs of Fornells just outside the town of Begur. The views were incredible as was the service of the staff. The rooms and everything about the hotel were spot on. We would stay there again every time. My only very minor nitpick is the need for some type of casual dining. We had dinner there one evening and it was great, like a high end restaurant. But on other days after a busy day exploring the area, unless you have a car or take a taxi into Begur, you need to have a fine dining experience on site. Again, very minor and overall this hotel is awesome.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

H10 Madison Hotel

Barcelona

James at KimKim booked us at the Madison and it was perfect for our needs. The location was fantastic, just a block from the Gothic historic district and easy walking to all the sites and restaurants. The staff was very gracious, warm and helpful and all spoke very good English which made it easy on us. We would stay there again in a heartbeat.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

PortoBay Marquês

Lisbon

A perfect balance of a nice hotel well situated in Lisbon but affordable and not over the top 5 star where you feel you want to stay there to enjoy all the amenities vs. explore Lisbon. The staff was very helpful, suggesting restaurants and helping us access and print all our Covid test results so we could get back to the U.S.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Lisbon Riverside Bike Tour

Lisbon

If you want a great history lesson of Portugal while taking in the sites of the riverfront area of Lisbon, take a bike tour with Peter. He's exceptional, gave us a great tour, is very outgoing and knows EVERYTHING about Portugal. All from someone who was born in England from Portugese parents and has returned to his family's homeland to teach others about the country. It was a fantastic day and great experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Make sure to ask for Peter and get ready to learn things about Portugal you never knew.

Transport

Experience Lisbon Walking Tour

Lisbon

Marguerida led us on a half day walking, eating tour of Lisbon and it was a lot of fun. It was our first experience in Lisbon so it was fun to begin to get a little immersion into the area. She did a great job of showing us around despite being rushed by our need to squeeze in Covid tests to be able to return to the U.S. Marguerida is studying tourism in college and will do great in the field. Very personable and knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A Cooking Class of Spanish Cuisine

Barcelona

After 2 days of seeing Barcelona, it was a ton of fun to relax for a few hours in a private cooking class with Rosa. She was tremendous, highly engaging, obviously incredibly knowledgeable about cooking, and it would be hard to not think she was an American, her English is flawless which made communication excellent. She found the right balance of getting everyone involved to their level of experience and interest and was a treat to be with for 4 hours. A big hit on our trip.

Quality of Experience

Food

We picked the menu but the food was so unique and different. A ton of fun.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

If you can arrange for a private cooking class with Rosa, make it happen. Well worth it.

Transport

Private Tour of Park Güell & Sagrada Família

Barcelona

Eli (Elisabeth) was great to be with, giving us an in-depth tour into 2 of Barcelona's most famous landmarks, the Park Guell and Sagrada Familia. Both were amazing and Eli is an encyclopedia of knowledge of the sites. Even in times of stress when we couldn't find taxis to the sites (due to a Formula One race being in town), Eli ran all over to get transportation and make our trip a memorable one.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ask for Eli, she's super.

Transport

Private Bike Tour of Barcelona

Barcelona

Olga welcomed us to Barcelona with our first experience in Spain. She gave a great tour, was very knowledgeable, incredibly friendly and spoke great English. It was a perfect way to begin our immersion into the city.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Olga was tremendous. Ask for her.

Transport

Our recent family trip to Madrid and Northern Spain was my husband and daughter's first visit to the country, although I had been several times before. Despite this difficult-to-please audience—veteran Spanish traveller mixed with newbies, not to mention the short attention span of a 9 year old—James planned a wonderful trip to Madrid, Oviedo, Santander and Bilbao, complete with personalized walking and museum tours, a car for flexibility, and comfortable hotels. He was very receptive to my feedback along the way and organized just the right balance of free time to planned activities, and each of the walking tours planned was engaging. Highlights included a tour of Madrid's markets and tapas with Melinda (she was accommodating of our slower speed due to jet lag and connected well with our daughter); a private walking tour of the city and the Prado with Cristina (who tailored the activity to exclude sites we'd already visited and opened our eyes even to secrets of familiar Prado masterpieces); and an architecture- and art-focused walking tour of Bilbao with Esther (who was patient enough to allow for playground and snack stops).

The only activity that I would offer feedback on would be the tuk tuk tour in Madrid, which could have been more impactful (and less grueling than a walking tour!) if it was scheduled as an initiation to the city, the day we arrived/after an overnight flight.

We also appreciated having the help of Rocio while in Spain as our in-country concierge whenever we had questions during the trip.

We thoroughly enjoyed our Spain trip, have recommended Kimkim to our family and friends, and we're already thinking about the next trip they can help us plan!

Hotel Reviews

Eurostars Hotel Real

Santander

We only stayed for a night; the room temperature was hard to control and the minibar options were lacking, though the breakfast buffet was impressive.

Tips for future travelers

Probably not the best fit for families with kids.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right near the beach

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Miró

Bilbao

Centrally located near the Guggenheim, welcoming and helpful staff, and great breakfast options.

Authenticity & Character

We didn't make use of them, but they even had bikes & helmets available for use.

Location

Across from the Guggenheim

Staff

The concierge recommended a great pintxos bar and drew us a map.

Cleanliness & Comfort

They even offered kid-sized slippers and a robe for our daughter

Princesa Munia Hotel & Spa

Oviedo, Asturias

We received a smoking room, despite being non-smokers, and our clothes smelled of stale smoke for days after. Breakfast buffet was good though.

Iberostar Las Letras Gran Via

Madrid

This artsy hotel is very comfortable, has good breakfast included, and offers very helpful desk staff. Also very centrally-located.

Authenticity & Character

The literature quotes on the walls

Location

Gran Via, right in the middle of the city

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Private Walking Tour of Madrid & the Prado Museum

Madrid

Cristina tailored her walking tour to accommodate (and omit) the sites we'd already seen. She offered countless historical facts and trivia, and opened our eyes to even familiar works of art at the Prado.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cristina is a fluent english speaker and offered a wealth of historical knowledge

Transport

She included a short cab ride so we could have more time at the Prado

Working with James over the past two years (thanks to Covid!) was wonderful! He worked with us to plan a trip for our 8th wedding anniversary to Begur and Barcelona in May 2020, which we ended up postponing for two years, and turned into a 10th wedding anniversary trip! The accommodations he recommended and activities planned were perfect for what we like to do when we travel. We particularly enjoyed our time with Olga in Barcelona - she spoke perfect English, was entertaining and knowledgeable, and was very personable. Thank you, James, for a wonderful trip!