Kimkim Trip Reviews for Thailand

Overall: Our trip to Thailand was an incredible experience with many once-in-a-lifetime experiences. I gave the trip 4 stars out of 5 mainly because the Ko Phi Phi portion wasn’t for us and if we had it to do over again we would have spent time at a different location. This is not a reflection of KimKim and the outstanding service provided, but our lack of research. We would use KimKim again and highly recommend KimKim without hesitation. KimKim did an excellent job coordinating a great itinerary and logistics were excellent with a couple of minor issues - one pickup was delayed substantially and required calling KimKim. Tina, our itinerary coordinator was exceptional - always available to answer questions and help with any issues that came our way. We will definitely use KimKim for future trips.

This review will cover each of the itinerary items in detail. But overall the itinerary was a great collection of activities. We really appreciated having all the airport transfers organized ahead of time-this relieved a lot of stress. A couple of issues to point out: the itinerary was probably too fast paced for us - in one case we had to cancel an activity because we needed a bit more leisure time to recover from travel. Also, scheduling a 3 hour tour of temples, in the heat of the day, immediately after arriving at our hotel after a morning of travel was not desirable. We understand there is a desire by KimKim to fit in as many activities as possible.

Day 1 - Arrival in Bangkok
Pickup at the airport was without issue. The airport was quite busy (as expected!) with many groups being picked up. However, we were connected with KimKim and transported to our hotel relatively quickly. Our hotel, the Quarter Ari, was quite nice and our suite fit our family well. Pickup required meeting multiple family members at the airport at different times and KimKim’s flexibility in supporting multiple pickups was nice.

Day 2 - Walking Tour of Bangkok
We were greeted by our tour guide, Betty, in the morning (right on time). Betty was fantastic, one of the best tour guides we’ve had, not only on this tour but any. Betty took us on tours of temples, the recently opened Grand Palace, and the flower market and weekend market. The tours were great and Betty was a fount of knowledge, explaining many historical and contemporary facts relating to Bangkok and Thailand.

Day 3 - Floating Market, Railway Market, and Chinatown
We met Betty and our driver in the lobby of our hotel in the morning right on time to drive to the Floating Market and Railway Market. The Floating Market was great. The Railway Market was a bit cramped for what we wanted at the time.

One note: with Floating Market and Railway Markets back-to-back we didn’t have time for lunch so got a late lunch (~3:00pm) when we were back at the hotel. However, when it came time to eat in China town we weren’t hungry - fitting in time for a lunch meal earlier would have been better.

China town was very interesting, but probably too crowded for us after a long day (and the day before), and as mentioned we weren’t hungry for the dinner Betty bought for us. We got our first taste of mango sticky rice which was delicious!

Day 4 - Travel to Chiang Mai and Temple Tours and Flower Market
Travel to Chiang Mai went perfectly. Our driver met us at the hotel and transported us to the airport on time. Pick up at the Chiang Mai airport was also seamless. However, when we arrived at our hotel we were immediately greeted by our guide to take us on tours of the historic Chiang Mai temples. It would have been much better to provide an open afternoon after our arrival to adjust to Chiang Mai and our hotel the Phra Singh - which was excellent (probably the best hotel of all that we stayed at). One of our group decided to skip the tour because they needed to rest. Also, to be honest our guide was not good for the temple tour. He was a very nice man, but his English was difficult to understand, and he often didn’t respond to our questions because it seemed he had difficulty understanding us. The Flower Market was nice, but not much compared to the one in Bangkok, so maybe this could have been skipped.

Overall, Chiang Mai was incredible. Great laid back vibe, with a lot of art and culture. Could have stayed an extra day.

Day 5 - Grandma’s Cooking Class

Met our driver and departed for the cooking class on time. Grandma’s cooking class was excellent. The Chef/Instructor was great - spoke great english and was very enthusiastic and effective at managing and teaching the class. When my daughter burned her finger he was very attentive. Highly recommended.

In the afternoon, because we were quite tired we canceled the Temple and Hill Tribes tour.

Day 6 - Elephant Sanctuary

Met our driver on time for a nice drive to the Elephant Sanctuary. The tour of the sanctuary was great. The guide was excellent, introducing us to the elephants, their behavior, and the philosophy of the sanctuary. Recommended.
In the afternoon, several of us had wonderful massages at the spa across from the hotel.

Day 7 - Travel to Phuket

Travel to the Chiang Mai airport for our flight to Phuket was uneventful. Tina helped us check in to our flight and provided all necessary booking information. Pickup at the Phuket airport was a bit delayed requiring us to call Tina to inquire about who would be meeting us. The Novotel Hotel was nice. It would have been nicer had we requested a room with a view. We also would consider upgrading hotels in the future.

Day 8 - John Gray’s - Hong By Starlight

To be honest we were dreading the fact that this event was scheduled to go from 10:00a - 9:00p. But this activity was fantastic - probably the highlight of our trip. The islands were incredible, John Gray’s did an outstanding job as tour guides and navigating the sea kayak’s. Food was some of the best on the trip, and the sunset, starlight tour with bioluminescence was absolutely magical. Highly, highly recommended.

Day 9 - Leisure day

It was great to have a leisure day.

Day 10 - 12 Ko Phi Phi

I’ll review Ko Phi Phi overall as there weren’t many separate activities other than the Scuba Diving which was excellent. Although, to be honest other than the diving, Ko Phi Phi wasn’t really for us as we were looking for more of a beach experience.

Travel to Phi Phi via ferry was on time. Tina provided us with the booking information, check in and travel went without incident with our hotel reps picking us up at the pier. ChaoKo PhiPhi had a couple of issues. While the hotel grounds and facilities were nice if spartan, our rooms faced trashy alleyways and one room smelled to the point that we needed to change rooms, which took over a day. It didn’t appear there were any hotels on the island that were any better - so were we to do it again we would probably find an alternate destination rather than Phi Phi.

The scuba diving was exceptional. Blue Water Divers was excellent, friendly, safe, thorough. Highly recommended.

Day 13 - Travel to Bangkok

Travel on day 13 was long - speed boat to Phuket pier, pier to airport, flight to bangkok, ride to Hotel, all of which took the entire day. Travel was uneventful and well coordinated by Tina. One note: we took a speed boat from Phi Phi to Phuket which was very rough (in part due to the weather). But the speed boat might not be for everyone, especially those who get sea sick.

Day 14 - Shopping in Bangkok, Traveling back to the U.S.

It was nice to explore Bangkok a bit more and do some shopping. Travel to the airport was uneventful. The departing flight was on time.

Hotel Reviews

ChaoKoh Phi Phi Hotel and Resort

Krabi

Nice hotel in a great location. However our room had a view of a trashy alleyway and our second room had a smell that required moving rooms. Staff was not particularly friendly.

Authenticity & Character

Reflected the culture of Phi Phi

Location

Right in the center of Ko Phi Phi

Staff

Could have been nicely and more responsive, required two days and multiple complaints about a bad smelling room for any response.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean except for the smell.

Novotel Phuket Kamala Beach

Phuket

Very nice hotel on a great beach location. Great service, in hotel restaurant. But we would have liked a room with a view.

Authenticity & Character

Seemed to capture Phuket nicely.

Location

Great beach, not too far from shopping.

Staff

Friendly, attentive

Cleanliness & Comfort

We would have liked a room with a view.

Phra Singh Village

Chiang Mai

We loved this hotel. Great staff and service, great location. Tucked away in a private alley for privacy.

Authenticity & Character

Historic character

Location

Right in the heart of old town Chiang Mai

Staff

Very friendly and attentive.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean

The Quarter Ari by UHG

Bangkok

This was a great hotel in a great location. Very friendly service.

Authenticity & Character

Great modern Thai character.

Location

Great shopping and restaurants in vicinity

Staff

Very friendly and attentive.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean

Activity Reviews

2 Fun Dives for Certified Divers

Ko Phi Phi

The diving was amazing and diving company and divemaster/guide was amazing. Unfortunately one of the two diver opted not to dive. Also, there was no need to pay for the park fees ahead of time.

Quality of Experience

Amazing diver with a great diving company

Food

Great lunch of fried rice.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Staff was very friendly. Divemaster was great. Orientation was thorough.

Transport

Great boat ride out to dive site.

John Gray's - Hong by Starlight

Phuket

This was the highlight of our entire trip to Thailand.

Quality of Experience

Amazing experience - staff and guides were amazing. Food was equally good.

Food

Some of the best Thai food we had during our entire Trip.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Amazing guides.

Transport

Perfect

Elephant Nature Park Visit

Chiang Mai

Great visit to the Elephant Nature Park. It was amazing to interact with the Elephants.

Quality of Experience

Elephant guide/driver was great. Interacting with the elephants and learning about the nature park was amazing.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was great, communicated well

Transport

Perfect

Grandma's Home Cooking School

Chiang Mai

This was an amazing experience. Cooking class was great with a great chef/instructor at a very nice farm. The only unfortunate thing was my daughter burning her finger during the cooking class - the instructor was very attentive.

Quality of Experience

Aside from the finger burning the class was perfect!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Chef was great!

Transport

Perfect

Welcome and Temple Treasures of Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai

The temples were incredible. But it was very difficult to go on this tour immediately after traveling from Bangkok to Chiang Mai in the heat of the day. Our guide was not good and transport was delayed.

Quality of Experience

Better guide and transport, not scheduling it right after arrival in Chiang Mai

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide did not speak English well enough to communicate.

Transport

Pickup was delayed by about a half hour.

Enjoy Food Tasting in Chinatown!

Bangkok

Very interesting but crowded.

Quality of Experience

Very interesting - eating bugs!!

Food

Bugs were a bit over the top. Other food was amazing especially the Mango Sticky Rice.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Amazing guide

Transport

Perfect

A visit to Mae Klong Railway market and Damnoen Saduak Floating Market!

Bangkok

The floating market was amazing. The Railway market was a bit crowded and hot.

Quality of Experience

Great experience.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tour guide was incredible.

Transport

Perfect

Exploring Bangkok by local transfers and walking tour

Bangkok

Great tour of historic temples and sites was the perfect start to our vacation.

Quality of Experience

Historic sites

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tour guide was one of the best we've had.

Transport

Perfect

First-time KimKim customer. Won't be my last. Organizer Tina with CK41 Tours From Thailand handled everything efficiently and perfectly. She was very patient with our many questions. Great communication throughout the process. During the trip, everyone showed up as promised (guides & drivers). No problems at the hotels. This allowed us to relax and enjoy our vacation to Thailand, Vietnam, & Cambodia. We packed a lot of activities & major sites into our 17-day trip; everything went smoothly.

Our Thailand trip was absolutely amazing! We visited Bangkok, Krabi, Phi Phi Island, and Phuket, and every stop was unforgettable.

In Bangkok, our guide Annie (Wat Arun) was incredible. She was knowledgeable, friendly, and made the experience so special.

In Krabi, we also had Jo Pur as a guide and she was amazing. The Koh Klan cultural tour was a highlight — engaging, authentic, and so much fun.

In Phi Phi Island, we did the Sunrise Tour with Simba Sea Trips, and our guides Joseph, Ann, and Film were phenomenal. Their energy, hospitality, and attention to detail made the day perfect.

Thailand itself is breathtaking — beautiful places, amazing food, and some of the most polite and accommodating people we’ve ever met.

A special thank you to Sunny from Kim Kim, who curated our entire trip. Sunny checked in with us throughout our stay to make sure everything was going smoothly. Sunny did an excellent job!

Hotel Reviews

My Beach Resort

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Varana Krabi Hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mode Sathorn Hotel Bangkok

Bangkok

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Sunrise Phi Phi Island Joining Tour

Phuket

Food

Everything was great. Had accommodated my allergies in the meals. Very thoughtful

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Joseph, Film and Ann from Simba Sea Trips were amazing guides

Transport

Discover Local Island Life: Koh Klang Culture

Krabi

My friends and I had an amazing trip to Southeast Asia. AE was our guide in Bangkok. She was so kind, helpful, and knowledgeable. With AE we visited beautiful temples, lively markets, and ate some delicious street food. In Chiang Mai, our guide Pong took us to a monk blessing ceremony and an elephant sanctuary. She was wonderful. Again we ate delicious food and visited museums and temples. Cambodia and Vietnam were equally fun, beautiful, and fascinating. Our guide in Siem Reap was Set. He did a great job of explaining the history of Angkor Wat and the surrounding Temples. The hotels we stayed at were all comfortable and gorgeous with excellent food options. Thanks to Hoa who arranged this trip for us. It truly was a trip of a life time.

We feel so fortunate to have had Hoa as our agent/specialist for our Thailand trip! First of all, Hoa contacted us several times before our trip to determine the activities we would be interested in and our overall preferences for accommodations and locations. She also tried to understand the levels of activity we would prefer to make sure the plans met our expectations. Because of her interest in getting it right for us, we went through several iterations of our planned trip and we also made some unusual requests that were not typical. The end result: we were blown away by the final trip that she put together for us. In addition, during our trip, we were very impressed with all of the local guides that were assigned to us in the four cities/areas that we visited. Each guide was so dedicated to making sure that we learned about Thai culture and the overall history of each area - they went out of their way to ensure we were happy and got the experience that we hoped for. They also were very patient and thorough in answering all of our questions about each area (and we had a lot of questions), and spent as much time as necessary depending on our interests. A guide has a difficult job as they have to deal with all kinds of people with varying interests, and all of our guides were so professional yet so personal and friendly. We also felt very safe with all of the drivers and tour boat operators that we had - they were all very polite and engaging. Hoa also booked us at hotels and resorts that were 1st class. We are not party people, so we were very happy to stay at quiet, yet very comfortable and classy locations. The workers and staff at each of these locations were so friendly and accommodating that we felt so comfortable and taken care of. The food served at each of these locations was fantastic and also went beyond our expectations. There were so many personalized details provided, such as making sure our meals accommodated our dietary needs (we are vegetarian), ensuring that our plane seats were near the front of the plane when available to get on and off easily, having our guides assist us through the airports (we had three in-country flights and they even helped us through check-in), having our guides walk us through the local markets and show us the lay of the land so that we felt comfortable buying food and gifts when we had free time, etc. Hoa also kept in contact with us during the trip to remind us of pickup and meeting times as well as to ensure that were were happy throughout.

We were so happy during our trip and we would not hesitate to recommend Kim Kim to anyone considering a trip to Thailand or southeast Asia.

Hotel Reviews

Hyatt Regency Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport

Samut Prakan

After a long trip in Thailand, we flew from Phuket to Bangkok the night before leaving Thailand. Our international flight home was set for 7 am, and we were so tired from a great vacation, that we were a bit down on energy. However, upon walking into the hotel, our spirits picked up immediately! This hotel is absolutely gorgeous! It is modern, beautiful, clean and so comfortable. After staying in several locations throughout the country for a long time, we were not looking forward to checking in to one more hotel. However, our attitude changed right away, as the check in process was a breeze and very fast, and the accommodations are so very nice. The hotel is very large, but is it also very peaceful and comforting. The breakfast buffet starts at 3 am for travelers who have early flights out, so we were able to have an absolutely wonderful breakfast buffet before catching an early flight. In addition, after a long vacation, we were able to use the hotel gym to stretch out and recoup from a physically demanding vacation, not to mention to reset the body before getting on a very long international flight. The gym and locker room are so very nice and spacious, with fantastic gym equipment and amenities. Oh yeah, the hotel is essentially right across the street from the airport, but you wouldn't know it as it is so quiet and comfortable. Likewise, it is so convenient - it was so nice knowing we were so close to the airport that it took stress away from worrying about packing up and getting to the airport on time. The hotel shuttle immediately brought us to the hotel from the airport the night before with zero wait time, and in the morning, the hotel shuttle immediately brought us to the airport with zero wait time, and the shuttle ride is only about 5 minutes total - so convenient! This was a wonderful hotel and experience.

Authenticity & Character

The hotel is big and beautiful and modern and nice, but it is also so comfortable and quiet.

Location

The hotel is so close to the airport, but you wouldn't know it as it is so quiet and peaceful. Bangkok is so big and loud and busy, so having a beautiful and comfortable hotel so close to the airport just takes stress away from traveling in and out of the airport. The shuttle immediately took us to the hotel from the airport the night before our flight, and in the morning it immediately took us to the airport to catch our flight. There was no stress as you are only a 5 minute drive away.

Staff

The hotel desk staff are used to dealing with tired travelers, and they were so efficient and nice that checking in and out was a breeze. The shuttle drivers and baggage handlers were so friendly and nice and efficient, and we had zero wait time. They take all the stress of getting to and from an airport away.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The hotel is very clean, modern and comfortable. The room was very nice and quiet. The gym and locker rooms were clean, spacious, and quiet. It is a great hotel so close to the airport, yet quiet and comfortable.

Dewa Phuket Resort & Villas

Phuket

The hotel is located close to the airport and is so convenient to traveling in and out of Phuket. In addition, it is located across the street from a most lovely beach, and it is essentially located inside the national park, so it is a very quiet and beautiful location. Despite it being located in a quiet area, there are plenty of restaurants and shops within easy walking distance, and it must be repeated that a most beautiful and quiet beach is just across the street! The breakfast buffet is absolutely wonderful and first class, but the restaurant also serves 1st class food that is so fresh and delicious. The hotel staff are so friendly and accommodating and make sure that you are taken are of. The hotel provides nice touches like flip flops, beach towels, a carry bag for the beach or shopping, and umbrellas to use. So nice! We found all of the staff to be so friendly, from the maintenance workers to cleaning staff as well as the restaurant and pool/bar workers. The hotel offers a complimentary yoga class several days of the week, and our instructor was so sweet and nice. And of course the desk staff (Vicky and Jib especially) and bell people were really, very nice and attentive, that they all really made our stay such a nice experience.

Authenticity & Character

The hotel is located in a very quiet part of the island, yet it is close to the airport which makes traveling in and out so easy. The hotel is quite nice, and our room was very quiet, yet spacious and comfortable. The hotel is located ((essentially) inside a national park and Nai Yang beach is right across the street. The beach is so lovely - beautiful sand beach with calm water and beautiful views. You can watch the planes coming in for landing in the distance - this just adds to the setting.

Location

It is located very close to the airport, but it is so quiet and relaxed (you can hear planes in the distance periodically, but they add to the atmosphere as you can observe them coming in over the water in the distance). The hotel is essentially located within the national park, and it is right across the street from Nai Yang beach, which is very quiet and has such lovely sand. Phuket can be so loud and chaotic with tourism, but this hotel is located in a beautiful and quit=et area of the island.

Staff

All of the staff, and we mean all of them, were so very kind and attentive. Even the maintenance workers were very friendly and would stop to say hello. The desk staff, especially Vicky and Jib were so so nice and friendly, yet professional and competent. We cannot say enough about the staff of the hotel -obviously they made a point to ensure that we and all the guests were comfortable and happy, and it worked!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our hotel room was always clean and comfortable. The pool area looked so nice (we did not use it because the beautiful beach was across the street, but if we were pool people we would be very happy). The hotel is beautiful and in an idyllic setting, that you don't want to leave the area. In addition, the breakfast buffet and restaurant offers food that is so delicious it is easy to want to eat there every day and night. This was the last stop on our trip to Thailand, and it just capped off our great experience.

De Chai The Colonial

The hotel is a boutique hotel with a lovely atmosphere. Our room was very clean and quiet, but also large and comfortable. The location is perfect - it is on a quiet street but a very close walking distance to many restaurants and bars inside the old town. The breakfast buffet is very nice and we looked forward to eating at the restaurant every day. The hotel staff were so friendly and accommodating. During one of our activities in Chiang Mai, we got bitten by ants and other insects and had such itchy skin that there was no way we would be able to sleep. We asked the staff for directions to a pharmacy, but did not need to visit the pharmacy as the desk staff had extra ointment that they offered us to try. It worked, and it saved us time trying to find the pharmacy, etc., and we were able to sleep that night. Such nice people and so accommodating.

Authenticity & Character

It is a beautiful boutique hotel with a lot of character. We loved the Koi pond in front of the hotel, and it is very quiet and comfortable.

Location

The hotel is located inside the old town gates, but it is on a very quiet street. However, you are only a block away in most directions to busier areas with a variety of restaurants, shops, etc. And it is close to temples (one right down the street) and other tourist attractions.

Staff

The desk staff was so nice - they provided free of charge some ointment to soothe our itchy skin from bug bites. Also, the breakfast staff was so very nice and attentive - they were all such lovely people.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The hotel is very clean and has many staff working at all times. Our room was always clean and comfortable.

The Xcape River Kwai

Kanchanaburi

Our room was spectacular, but it seems that every room is also. The hotel is very modern yet charming and clean. The pool is beautiful and clean, and the views are simply amazing. We watched a distant thunderstorm over the mountains off our balcony one night, and it was lovely. We also kayaked on the river using the complimentary kayaks. Also, the restaurant is very nice with a fantastic menu and the food was delicious. All of the staff were very friendly and accommodating, and went out of their way to make sure we were comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

It is a very modern design, yet also functional and comfortable. And beautiful!

Location

It is located in a quiet and rural setting not too far from town but right on the river - the views are amazing.

Staff

All of the staff were so friendly and accommodating - so welcoming.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The pool is beautiful and pristine. Each room is modern and the views are amazing.

Solitaire Bangkok Sukhumvit 11

Bangkok

We got in very late on our first night in country after a long international flight, so we were tired and not very alert. However, the hotel staff made check in easy for us and made sure that we were comfortable right away. The breakfast buffet was a highlight of the stay - the food was outstanding and fresh and delicious, but the accommodations were also comfortable and quiet. After a long flight, it was nice to have access to a gym so as to stretch out and get a workout in to feel more normal. This is such nice hotel and all of the staff were very friendly and helpful.

Authenticity & Character

The breakfast buffet was so fresh and there was a variety of foods to try and to satisfy any diet.

Location

Bangkok is such a big city, but we were very close to the subway stations and elevated train lines, so getting around the city was convenient. Also, we had so many options for food and activities just outside the door.

Staff

All of the staff were very friendly and courteous.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was very quiet and comfortable and clean. The gym and locker room were also very clean and nice.

Activity Review

Bangkok Symbolic Temples

Bangkok

Elena was amazing throughout the whole planning process. She was able to incorporate everything we wanted out of the trip into well planned itinerary and made sure we got the most out of our stay in each city. Provided insight guides and made sure everything was smooth for us along the way. Will definitely book through them again when the opportunity arises. A big thanks to Elena and her team for an amazing vacation!

Loved the kayaking in Puket. Would suggest to stay at a hotel closer to where you get the boat. Driving way down to the party town of Puket doesn't appeal to older tourists. All of our guides were outstanding. Was amazed at how everyone showed up on time and always welcomed us at the airport with our name on a sign. Providing bottled water and cool towels on our van rides were greatly appreciated. May want to communicate that bottled water is provided and only 1 type of outlet C is in all the hotels and a converter will be needed.All the temples and Halong Bay were amazing. There were a few details lacking for the guides that we had in our trip itinerary. Overall this was a fantastic trip for us and we would use KimKim again!

I had a 14 day tour with Jeab as our tour planner
Jeab was very friendly and helpful, I could contact her anytime for assistance, she included all of the activities I was interested in, it did not dissapoint
My trip was fantastic I travelled all over Thailand and everything went like clockwork.
I liked The tour with a local guide in Kanchanaburi where we went to Erawan waterfall and Hellfire pass was my favourite places
The Thai people are very friendly, considerateand beautiful.
Jeab our

Jehab arranged wonderful hotels. She was with us all the way, communicating rapidly to any questions we had. She spoke with us to review details before our departure. First class service

Hoa's planning of our trip was exceptional. Truly wonderful in every way - her patience, knowledge, kindness, recommendations and attention to detail were beyond five stars, for sure. The hotels chosen for us were all exceptional and the staff in them were amazing. The guides, too, were almost always wonderful -- kind, knowledgeable, flexible and easy to be with. We covered so much ground in our 2.5 weeks - three countries! -- and got to see so much thanks to the flawless planning not just ahead of our trip but as we were there. Our guides -- in particular, Ae, Mu and Pong (Thailand), Set and Rit (Cambodia), and Huang (Vietnam) -- deserves special shout-outs for their hard work, knowledge and humor! As do our drivers along the way, who safely navigated us through some crazy traffic! The staff on Orchid Cruises for our cruise on Ha Long Bay were also really wonderful. The trip of a lifetime with too many highlights to mention. Couldn't recommend this more. The only thing I would do differently is perhaps travel not so close to the end of the rainy season, as we did experience rain and very high humidity for much of the trip and build in a couple of days of downtime because we saw so much (which is what we asked for).

Hotel Reviews

Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra

So elegant and beautiful. Staff were lovely, as were the rooms, pool, restaurants (amazing pizza!), and just a great experience staying here, though too brief!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Shintamani Angkor

One of my favorites! Just a gorgeous hotel with amazing staff (especially Kim at the front desk, but everyone was great). Great location near to Pub Street and the market, good food (both restaurant and breakfast). Room was gorgeous and so clean and beautifully appointed. I wanted to stay forever!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Apricot Hotel

Hanoi

Very elegant and seems to be in a very central part of town - lots of things nearby if you want to shop or eat nearby, both street food and restaurants. Nice location right by the lake. Very helpful staff. Gorgeous rooms

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort

Wonderful staff, beautiful rooms. Large resort-style hotel. Amazing breakfast spread and wonderful pool. We took the boat at the pier down the river, which is a wonderful amenity offered by the Anantara. Also nice to have the little mall connected to the hotel for other eating options and if you need to pick up something.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

They were wonderful!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hôtel des Arts Saigon - MGallery Collection

Ho Chi Minh City

Seems to be right in the heart of things. Beautiful design, friendly staff. Wonderful breakfast spread and they offer high tea.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Orchid Classic Cruise

Hai Phong

Staff could not have been nicer or more helpful. Rooms were very clean and well-appointed and we had a deck! Small boat made it feel intimate and not crowded. No rocking, so no sea sickness. Food was very good as well.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Really wonderful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean!

Rachamankha Boutique Hotel

Chiang Mai

Truly beautiful and special in every way. Small, intimate, elegant. The perfect hotel, IMO. Wonderful staff, gorgeous restaurant.

Authenticity & Character

Just a gorgeous design in the rooms and in the hotel and its grounds. Everything was so simply and beautifully elegant.

Location

Lots nearby that's walkable.

Staff

Kind, attentive, helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Perfectly appointed.

Activity Reviews

Shopping at Chatuchak Weekend Market

Bangkok

Ae did a great job showing us Chatuchak, which is vast and easy to feel overwhelmed by.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ae was wonderful!

Transport

Night Street Food After Dark by Vespa

Ho Chi Minh City

This was a real highlight of our trip. Seeing Saigon at night by motor scooter was such a treat and we had some amazing food, listened to wonderful live music and had some great cocktails with stunning views of the city.

Quality of Experience

Food

Such good street food!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Evelyn was a great guide and our drivers were wonderful!

Transport

Elena was very attentive and very quick to respond. The planning was impeccable and we had a great experience. She was with us all the way through planning and all the way through our trip, which was truly appreciated. The guides and the experiences were exactly what we were looking for.

I've used KimKim twice now and they are excellent. Bella created a fantastic itinerary with the perfect blend of relaxation, local experiences and sightseeing. She was truly great to work with and very supportive. All of our guides were prompt, friendly and knowledgeable. My husband and I had an amazing time from start to finish. I will be using KimKim again for my next vacation. Five stars all around.

Planning a trip with KimKim was such a good decision. From our very first interaction, the process was incredibly personalized and geared to our interests and budget. Our planner Hoa was detailed and patient as she curated the perfect trip for us.

The trip itself was truly amazing, and several aspects stood out.
Pom—our local guide in Bangkok—was exceptional. He met us at the airport and accompanied us for much of our time in the city. His knowledge of Thailand’s culture and history added so much depth to every stop, and he somehow always knew the hidden spots we never would’ve found on our own.

The temple visits were unforgettable: stunning, peaceful, and a powerful way to immerse ourselves in Thai culture. The food tours in both Bangkok and Phuket were another highlight, giving us a chance to try local flavors we probably never would’ve discovered without guidance. Both guides ability to lead us to tiny eateries and help us order the best dishes made those tours truly special.

We also loved the floating market, the James Bond-style boat ride, and the train market—each one fun, colorful, and although some were very tourist oriented, uniquely Thai. And the Bangkok night market delivered all the energy, sights, and food we could’ve hoped for.

The only things we would change would be to allow ourselves a little more time. Even 1 extra day would have allowed us to have a less tiring pace, at least in Bangkok. We are also seasoned travelers so we felt that some parts could have been more on our own with just transportation provided. For a less experienced traveler, the personalized guides that are provided would probably be a godsend as they make sure every detail is taken care of so we didn't have to navigate language barriers or be worried about instructions, even at the airport.

Lastly, we want to give a big thank-you to Hoa for all the work she put into planning this trip. She helped us build an incredible itinerary, checked in with us daily, and was always ready to assist with anything we needed. Her attention and care made the trip the success it was, and we’re grateful for everything she did to make it unforgettable.

Overall, our experience was exceptional, and we would definitely use KimKim again.

Hotel Review

The Surin Phuket

Phuket

The Surin is incredible. The amazing staff anticipated our every need. They made our stay one of the most remarkable hotel stays ever!

Authenticity & Character

Location

A beautiful location, private beach and lovely individual cottages.

Staff

All the staff were amazing. they were always there to make everything perfect.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Phuket Elephant Sanctuary Morning Visit (Joining Activity)

Phuket

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide is not needed. Simply having a driver is all that is needed.

Transport

Night Food Tasting & Old Town's Magical Lights

Phuket

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Night Street Food Tour After Dark by Tuk Tuk

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Railway Market & Floating Market

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bangkok Symbolic Temples

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private dinner at The Treepods

Phuket

We would not recommend the Tripods experience. The food was good but not exceptional. The portions were huge (8 egg roles for 2 people as a part of a six part appetizer). We could have easily had half the food and still have been very well feed. We would recommend a very nice dinner at a high end hotel restaurant rather than Treepods.

Quality of Experience

The location is wonderful but see above for details.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Driver and guide were fine but the guide is probably not needed.

Transport

We can't share enough compliments about the amazing experience we had with Kimkim travel and our specialist, Elena. We decided to visit Thailand for our 25th anniversary at the end of October. We had never been before, so we weren't sure what activities to do. Elena made it so easy, providing tons of great options. She arranged everything (air and ground transportation in country, gorgeous hotels, tickets, guides) -- we just needed to show up, and the rest was handled. She was so patient and helpful as we finalized our plans, communicating with us regularly and checking in during our trip.

All of our guides and transportation were outstanding! We absolutely adored our guide, Khun Ae, in Bangkok. She was with us for three days, and she showed us so many wonderful sites. She shared history and stories, and bought us little gifts and food that we would never think of trying. Wherever we went, tables magically became available for us. She knew the best spots for photos and the best menu items. She was tireless and so proud of her country. We are incredibly grateful to her for sharing her enthusiasm with us. My husband and I agreed it was the best trip we ever took, and we've taken many.

In Phuket, we went on John Gray's Ocean Canoe trip, and our guide, Wooddy was the absolute best! He went out of his way to show us all of the beautiful sites, taking photos of us, and helping us to create the most gorgeous Loy Krathong (a floating flower arrangement). We also had an amazing guide on our private longtail boat tour named Nut. He was so accommodating, making sure we were comfortable and setting out a wonderful beach picnic for us. It was such a special experience.

We expect to use Kimkim again for our next international trip -- we highly recommend them!

Hotel Reviews

The Slate Phuket

Phuket

This resort was gorgeous! We had a pool villa that was just fantastic. The grounds were well maintained with lots of tropical flowers. It was right on the beach and had plenty of restaurants within walking distance as well as on site. The Black Ginger restaurant was an amazing experience. We loved it!

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful -- very modern industrial decor with the right amount of authenticity.

Location

Right next to the beach with security at the property entrances

Staff

Everyone was so kind!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kudos to the housekeeping staff and the groundskeepers -- they made sure everything was immaculate.

Avani+ Riverside Bangkok Hotel

Bangkok

The Avani+ Riverside in Bangkok was a great location for those seeking a quieter experience in Bangkok (like us). It was right on the river and provided a free water taxi to three different stops close to Iconsiam Mall and public transportation. The room was comfortable -- we especially enjoyed the breakfast buffet, with just about any food you could want.

Authenticity & Character

No improvements needed -- it was a modern hotel.

Location

Love that it had a free water taxi to explore and take public transportation to other areas of Bangkok.

Staff

All staff were very kind and welcoming.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our housekeeping staff was outstanding!

Activity Reviews

Kai Islands Half-Day Luxury Longtail Boat Tour

Phuket

We loved this experience! It was a private tour, and we enjoyed spending time out on the water cruising around the islands.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide, Nut, was amazing! He made sure we had everything we needed. The boat was stocked with snacks and drinks. He even set up the best beach picnic for us and took tons of photos. Excellent excursion!

Transport

Blue Elephant Cooking class (Morning Session)

Phuket

We had THE BEST time at this class! We met four other tourists and learned how to cook four delicious Thai dishes (not the usual ones, like Pad Thai either). It was one of our favorite parts of the whole trip!

Quality of Experience

Food

So, so good!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Chef Paul was patient and showed us how to cook the best food. He gave us tips about each dish and provided a recipe book for us to take home. Fantastic experience!

Transport

Phuket Elephant Sanctuary Morning Visit (Joining Activity)

Phuket

Definitely one of our favorite experiences of our trip! I loved that the elephants were able to live at this sanctuary undisturbed. These gentle creatures were rescued from tourist shows where they were sick or injured. We were able to feed them and learn all about their behavior.

Quality of Experience

Food

A fantastic buffet!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide, Tour, was excellent...he clearly cared very much for all the elephants in the sanctuary.

Transport

Relaxing Time at Oasis Spa - Sukhumvit 31

Bangkok

This spa was absolutely phenomenal. We were greeting with cool towels, and our room had a shower so that we could get cleaned up after a day of tours before our massage. Afterward, we had tea. Just lovely!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Railway Market & Floating Market

Bangkok

This was probably one of our favorite excursions. We loved taking it all in. The train ride to the railway market was such an adventure...the train gets so close to the people and vendor booths!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Night Street Food Tour After Dark by Tuk Tuk

Bangkok

We happened to be here on the first night of the Chinese Vegetarian Festival, so there was a lot going on. Fun to watch the revelers!

Quality of Experience

Food

Outstanding food!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Kuhn Ae was our guide and helped us sample so many delicious dishes from the street vendors. We then took an exciting tuk tuk ride back to our hotel...it was an experience!

Transport

Our driver for the few days we were in Bangkok, Whit, was wonderful.

Bangkok Symbolic Temples

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

We saw several beautiful temples and learned so much about Buddhism.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Kuhn Ae was the absolute best guide -- so friendly and happy to share information about her country and its culture. We loved her!

Transport

Always comfortable and on time.

John Gray's sea canoe - Hong by Starlight - Joining excursion

Phuket

Quality of Experience

Very well organized with funny guides! The canoe trip into the limestone caves and the lagoons in the middle was breathtaking.

Food

Outstanding food -- amazing that they prepared it all on the boat!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Wooddy was great! He went above and beyond to show us beautiful sites. The Loy Krathong he helped us create was the most beautiful and artistic arrangement. He was just awesome!

Transport

Nice, clean, and comfortable

Thanks, Bella! My trip was unforgettable, especially as a solo female traveler. I sincerely appreciate your efforts to make me feel safe, which allowed me to enjoy and create memories that will last forever. The calmness of Koh Samet's quiet, clean, and stunning beaches, the breathtaking temples in Bangkok, and the elephant sanctuary all left a lasting impression.

Hotel Reviews

Le Vimarn Cottages & Spa

Rayong

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riva Arun Bangkok

Bangkok

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Bangkok Temple Visit

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A visit to Mae Klong Railway market and Damnoen Saduak Floating Market!

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Leena was excellent. Also would highly recommend her to anyone!

Transport

A visit to Elephant Jungle Sanctuary in Pattaya

Thailand

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Went above and beyond to make my experience engaging as a solo traveler - one of the staff members held on to my phone for a while and took all my photos!

Transport

Mr. Chin was excellent. I would highly recommend him to others!

Bella was very nice, easy to communicate with, and she always made herself available for questions before and throughout our trip. If we had any issues or miscommunication with the hotel or guide, she was on top of it! We were so lucky to find her for to help plan our adventure ❤️. Our guides were also great, Nina was very fluent in English so that made everything go smoothly. She kept us on schedule and was very knowledgeable about the city and history. Ben was our final guide for the last day and she was very sweet. She made sure that we made enjoyed the short time we had for our last tour in Phuket. I would definitely us this company again and recommend to everyone.

We booked our honeymoon through Kimkim, and it was honestly the trip of a lifetime. Everything was seamless from start to finish. Every transfer, flight, and tour was perfectly coordinated, and we never had to worry about a thing. Huge thanks to Mint, Tina, and the local team for planning such an incredible experience and making it completely stress-free.

We started in Bangkok. Our guide, Ms. Anita, was amazing and so was our driver, Poo. She took us through the city’s most iconic temples, a local ferry ride, and even a food tour through Chinatown that was one of our favorite experiences. The next day’s visit to the Railway Market and Floating Market was such a unique, local highlight. Next stop was Chiang Mai. The temples were beautiful, but the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary was easily one of the best experiences of our entire trip. We also had a blast during our Thai cooking class and came home with new recipes and a deeper appreciation for Thai food. We ended our trip in Phuket. We loved our Phi Phi Islands tour and relaxing at the pools and beaches. It was the perfect mix of adventure and downtime.

Every hotel, guide, and experience exceeded expectations. Kimkim made this trip completely stress-free and truly unforgettable. Highly recommend for anyone planning a honeymoon or bucket-list vacation!

Hotel Reviews

The Shore at Katathani - Adults only

phuket

Authenticity & Character

Location

Beautiful location but just about as far from everything in Phuket as possible. Not a big issue, just be prepared to drive long to see the locations highlights and excursions.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

InterContinental Chiang Mai The Mae Ping

Chiang Mai

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort

Bangkok

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Phuket Half-Day City Tour

Phuket

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

John Gray's - Hong by Starlight

Phuket

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Phi Phi island, Bamboo Island, Pi Leh lagoon & Maya bay by speedboat

Phuket

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chiang Mai Cooking Class Experience-Small Group

Chiang Mai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

This was one of the most unexpectedly awesome parts of the trip. Loved our chef, kitchen, and process. Would highly recommend.

Transport

Elephant Jungle Sanctuary in Chiang Mai-Half Day

Chiang Mai

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome and Temple Treasures of Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A visit to Mae Klong Railway market and Damnoen Saduak Floating Market!

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

5 stars for Ms. Anita and Poo

Transport

Bangkok city tour with a food tasting at Chinatown!

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Love Ms. Anita and Poo. They made us feel so welcomed

Transport

Our trip was truly wonderful and unforgettable! Everything was perfectly arranged, and we couldn’t have asked for a better experience.

A big thank you to Nina, who was so helpful and thoughtful in coordinating the entire tour. She made sure that all our activities were well organized and that we could do everything we wanted within our limited time. Her attention to detail and care made the whole experience smooth and enjoyable.

Lily was an amazing guide — she took us through all the vibrant local markets and even brought us to the best coffee shop in the area. Her knowledge and enthusiasm made every stop special, and we really appreciated how she showed us the local gems that we might have otherwise missed.

And special thanks to Ben, who did her absolute best in Phuket. Even though the tour was only two hours long, she managed to take us everywhere we needed to go. Thanks to her, we were able to visit all the right places and get most of the gifts we wanted to bring home.

Overall, it was an incredible experience filled with great people, beautiful places, and thoughtful touches. Highly recommended for anyone visiting — truly a memorable and well-coordinated tour!

Our trip was absolutely incredible, thanks to Bella, our wonderful tour specialist! She did a truly outstanding job planning and organizing everything to perfectly match our preferences. From the very beginning, Bella listened carefully to what we wanted and made sure every detail was tailored to our liking.

Her professionalism, attention to detail, and thoughtful recommendations made the entire experience smooth and stress-free. Every activity, stop, and experience felt perfectly timed and well-coordinated. It was clear that she put a lot of care and effort into making sure we had the best possible trip.

Thanks to Bella, our journey was enjoyable, seamless, and unforgettable. We couldn’t have asked for a better planner — highly recommended for anyone looking for a personalized and perfectly organized travel experience!

Hotel Reviews

Paradise Koh Yao Resort

Really a paradise to escape stress

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Na Nirand Romantic Boutique Resort

Chiang Mai

Peaceful

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riva Surya Bangkok

Bangkok

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Eco-Elephant Care Full Day

Chiang Mai

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A visit to Mae Klong Railway market and Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, explore the famous weekend Chatuchak market

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Thanks so much to Bella for taking care of every detail of our trip. First time to Thailand so it was nice to have someone holding our hand through the whole thing. Bella and everyone she worked with went the extra mile to make sure everything went smoothly. Would recommend her to and KimKim to anyone heading to Thailand...especially if its your first time there.

Everything was amazing, special Thanks to Amy for her knowledge and help.
Thanks to all the drivers that had patience to deal with each one in our group.
Wonderful experience.

Thank you,
Mirna

Hotel Reviews

Kata Palm Resort & Spa

Phuket

Beautiful

Authenticity & Character

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

At Pingnakorn Nimman Hotel

Chiang Mai

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mandarin Hotel Bangkok, managed by Centre Point

Authenticity & Character

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Chiang Mai – Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Tour

Chiang Mai

Amazing

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

White temple, Blue Temple, Black Museum and Long Neck Karen Village.

Thailand

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Bangkok Floating Market and Temple Tour

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff