Kimkim Trip Reviews for Thailand

I explained that I was most interested in nature and cuisine. Tina came back with amazing suggestions which evolved only slightly before finalizing the itinerary. The hotels were outstanding, and most important the activities were amazing. Absolutely beyond my expectations.
Excursion 1: John Gray's Sea Canoe - Hong by Starlight. There were 20 tourists, and 10 staff to help us kayak in these amazing islands with internal lagoons. There are only a few hours per day when you can kayak through caves into the lagoons. The boating around the islands was amazing. Also, I had my best meals of the entire trip. The boat has a full kitchen and great chefs.
Excursion 2: Elephant Jungle Sanctuary in Phuket. We spent 1/2 day taking care of these beautiful rescue elephants. We fed them, and bathed with them, and scrubbed them -- anyone who wanted to (including me) was covered with mud in union with the elephants. I made a new best friend through sharing this experience. We met there, and then again during my last day in Phuket.
Excursion 3: Pileh Lagoon & Bamboo Island. While the elephant experience was my favorite excursion, this was the most dramatically beautiful. A small selection of photos can be found on instagram,
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C1G6YKbuX3U/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D

The views of the islands was amazing. But most incredible was the snorkeling. I followed a massive purple moray eel for 30 minutes in amazement.

Excursion 4: Muay Thai in Phuket (Thai boxing). When this was proposed, I responded "why??" My guide Tina as well as a friend from Thailand told me I should check it out. It was amazing! Like everything on the trip, it was VIP all the way. Special box seats with the best views. There were five matches: including a pair of teenagers, a pair of woman to start. They blew our minds, and the best was at the end with two Thai masters. Yes, some parts were a bit uncomfortable when someone got hurt, but the artistry was fantastic.

99% of the trip was flawless. When I needed a ride, a driver was there! The two times when there were minor issues I contacted Tina and all was resolved.

Hotel Reviews

Phi Phi CoCo Beach Resort

Krabi

I love this hotel. You stay in elegant elevated huts. The breakfasts are outstanding, with the best fresh fruit. Parts of Phi Phi can be a bit congested. Here you are completely sheltered from any noise. I have the feeling that every hotel has outstanding personal service. This was the best.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Patong Paragon Resort & Spa

I stayed here at the start of the trip, and at the end. The rooms are spacious and luxurious -- I was so happy to see that bathtub after a long trip! Location can't be beat in this area: by the beach, but far enough away from the big crowds. Breakfasts are great, except I suggest you avoid the coffee. I was unlucky with this hotel. The A/C wasn't working, and they didn't respond to my request for a repair until Tina (my kimkim contact) called them. It turned out to be a simple reboot. On my return to the hotel they acknowledged their failure, and gave me an upgrade -- a massive suite! I preferred my previous room that overlooked the pool. To all: do not accept a room overlooking the busy road! It gets noisy!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

John Gray's Sea Canoe - Hong by Starlight

Phuket

There were 20 tourists, and 10 staff to help us kayak in these amazing islands with internal lagoons. There are only a few hours per day when you can kayak through caves into the lagoons. The boating around the islands was amazing. Also, I had my best meals of the entire trip. The boat has a full kitchen and great chefs.

Quality of Experience

Food

So many delicious Thai dishes!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A visit to Elephant Jungle Sanctuary in Phuket

Phuket

We spent 1/2 day taking care of these beautiful rescue elephants. We fed them, and bathed with them, and scrubbed them -- anyone who wanted to (including me) was covered with mud in union with the elephants. I made a new best friend through sharing this experience. We met there, and then again during my last day in Phuket. The staff seem so committed to the elephants. And each elephant has their special Thai human to take care of them throughout the year. Just amazing.

Quality of Experience

Food

We had a pad thai cooking class at the end! They asked for four volunteers, and I jumped in. My best pad thai of the trip (not the dish I prepared, of course)

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunrise Glory visit to Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon & Bamboo Island

Ko Phi Phi

While the elephant experience was my favorite excursion, this was the most dramatically beautiful. A small selection of photos can be found on instagram, https://www.instagram.com/reel/C1G6YKbuX3U/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D The views of the islands was amazing. But most incredible was the snorkeling. I followed a massive purple moray eel for 30 minutes in amazement. The staff were incredible! Helpful, and *fun*!! They playfulness was fantastic along with being awestruck with the natural beauty.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kien provided an initial schedule for our family trip to Thailand which we adapted to include some other points of interest. After we set the schedule I was prepared to underwhelmed due to the logistics nightmare that I thought we had created.
From our arrival in Bangkok, where we were met at the jetway by a golf cart that whisked us through customs, to the remote aerie house overlooking the ocean with its infinity pool where we spent our final few days, everything was spectacularly coordinated.
Great accommodations, wonderful guides (Annie in Bangkok, and Noe in Chang Mai), safe and courteous drivers with their spacious and luxurious vans.
We took four internal flights over our 2.5 weeks, multiple ferry or long boat trips....there is no way we could have done this with no stress, but with Kiens expert connections it was a trip of a lifetime for our family. One could purchase our vacation cheaper by doing it ourselves, but that comes with all the stress, language barriers, logistics, it just isn't worth it......just call Kien at Kim Kim

Hotel Review

Aksara Heritage

Chiang Mai

Tucked away in a side street in Old Town, Chang Mai this hotel epitomizes comfort. The staff is very attentive and welcoming. The rooms are spacious and the beds are extremely comfortable. The breakfast offers a wide selection of western and Asian options. There was a nice touch of free neck and shoulder massages being offered each afternoon for a few hours.

Authenticity & Character

Although its a relatively new hotel it exudes the comfort of a well worn arm chair

Location

A short tuktuk to the night markets and restaurants of Old Town

Staff

Greeted by everyone, even in passing by. Polite and sincerely looking to ensure you have everything you need

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Bangkok Symbolic Temples

Bangkok

Having a guide makes a tremendous difference to the experience. All the official guides have to do extensive courses before they are allowed to "guide" and so one gets to hear the history of the various buildings and their significance of their time

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Annie was great and well informed

Transport

AD was great navigating the mass of traffic and yet somehow always dropped us off very close to the attractions and very quick to pick us up at the end of the tour

Night Street Food Tour After Dark by Tuk Tuk

Bangkok

Until one goes to Bangkok you cannot describe the night scene. We toured by the flower market which operates only at night, passing by multiple street vendors selling their wares or food offerings.The food is diverse and interesting predominantly chicken.

Railway Market & Floating Market

Bangkok

Organized chaos! Take a long boat through the narrow waterways bordered by vendors in boats along the banks, and more vendors on the sides of the waterways.

Quality of Experience

Very uniques experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Love Chiang Mai cooking experience (Morning session)

Chiang Mai

Lynn met us at the local market, which is an experience in itself, where she/we purchased the products for the meals that we would be making. Then we went off to her house which had a kitchen area set up with multiple cooking stations. Lynn talked us through the cooking process which entailed making predominately local delicacies. Unfortunately for us westerners this included offal , water buffalo blood, and other "delicacies" us westerners are not used to.....but we gave it all a try.

Quality of Experience

Monk Blessing at Doi Suthep

Chiang Mai

Perched atop nearby mountain accessible by cable car one has panoramic views to the valley below. The buildings lends one to wonder how they built these amazing structures in such a remote area. Some very intricate carvings on site

Quality of Experience

Elephant Jungle Sanctuary (Morning session)

Chiang Mai

This is a refuge for elephants. They are treated with kindness and respect by the staff. A wonderful experience to interact up close with these amazing animals

Quality of Experience

Half Day - Half Night Hike at Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok

Our guide, Man, used to live in the jungle and has an amazing ability to know where various species would be. We were fortunate enough to see monkeys, snakes, tarantulas, a plethora of spiders and other creepy crawlers. once we got to the half way point Man cut down some large bamboo proceeded to fashion some plates and cups, and went to work making a delicious curry dinner all cooked inside some bamboo, over a fire. While Man was cooking we took advantage of jumping in the nearby river to cool down. On the return trip to the hotel night had fallen; however, with the powerful LED lights provided, it was easy to pick up the reflection in the eyes of various creatures in the jungle canopy.

Quality of Experience

Food

Khao Sok - Transfer to 500 Rai Floating Resort - Leisure Time

Khao Sok

A remote paradise. After jumping on the "hotel provided" long boat one waves through spectacular waterways, ending up at this lovely private get away in the middle of nowhere. Greeted by friendly staff one is invited to relax and decompress. Cool off by diving from your rooms deck, or take your assigned kayak for an explore around the quiet waters. One can take a sunset cruise in their long boat and see some of the nearby waterways.

Quality of Experience

Hong Islands Discovery with Snorkeling by Private Premium Long-tail Boat

Krabi

An opportunity to visit some of the islands within the national park. Jump off the long tailed boat and relax on the white sand beaches. Climb the 450 steps up to a lookout where one gets a wonderful view of the islands from above. On to another very small island where our guide cooked up a lovely lunch on the beach. Then off to monkey island where we were able to tempt some of these monkeys to swim (yes.... swim) out to our boat to feed on fresh fruit we fed them.

Quality of Experience

Tina planned an absolutely incredible trip for us to Thailand (Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Koh Yao Noi), Cambodia (Siem Reap), and Vietnam (Hanoi, Halong Bay, Saigon). During the planning process, Tina provided an itinerary that would take us through all three countries in two weeks, including flights, hotels, and activities. She then adapted the schedule to our every preference, including flights with particular airlines and activities that better suited our specific interests. She provided thorough and timely responses to every question that I had prior to our trip. When we were on our trip, Tina responded within minutes to the few questions that we had, such as when we had difficulty locating our driver in the airport or when the flight app would not let us check in to our flight ahead of time. Each issue was fully resolved immediately, which made our trip seamless in every way.

In regard to our hotels, we were impressed with all of the hotels that were selected. They were clean, comfortable, and located in downtown areas that were perfect for exploring the nightlife of the city. Complementary breakfast was always included and our rooms were often upgraded to have a view or balcony.

At each destination, we were assigned a driver and an English-speaking guide, who picked us up at the airport and took us on our guided tours each day. All of our guides were incredibly informative. We’d like to particularly thank Ms. Leena in Bangkok and Mr. Chhay in Siem Reap for going above and beyond with our tours. Our visit to the elephant sanctuary and our Thai cooking class in Chiang Mai were truly amazing experiences as well.

Tina and the KimKim team made sure that every detail of our trip was taken care of and that we had an incredible experience learning about the history and culture of each place that we visited. We had an unforgettable trip and would highly recommend working with Tina to plan your Southeast Asia trip!

Hotel Reviews

Aurora Premium Hotel & Spa

This hotel was perfectly situated to enjoy the nightlife in Hanoi! It was so clean and comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Paradise Koh Yao Resort

Paradise Koh Yao Noi was truly a 5-star experience. Our villa was nestled into the hills and overlooking the ocean and the jungle. Our room was incredibly clean, comfortable, and functional. Breakfast and dinner were delicious, and it was wonderful to eat at tables on the beach in the sand. The live music was the perfect ambiance. This was the most relaxing resort we have ever been to!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Phka Chan Hotel

Siem Reap

This hotel was perfectly located to enjoy the nightlife of Siem Reap on Pub Street! It was so clean and comfortable. The complementary breakfast was absolutely delicious.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kingston Suites Bangkok

Bangkok

The hotel was located in the heart of Bangkok's nightlife, though it was on a block that was off the main boulevard. The room was functional, though the bed was very stiff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sabai Sabai Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai

The hotel was located in an excellent location to explore Chiang Mai's nightlife, though it was on a block that was off the main boulevard. The room was clean and comfortable, and we enjoyed having a balcony.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cochin Sang Hotel

This hotel was perfectly situated to enjoy Saigon! It was one block from Ben Thanh market and easily walkable to the city center. It was so clean and comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Halong Aquamarine Cruise

Ha Long

Our room was clean and comfortable, and we enjoyed having a balcony to overlook Halong Bay.

Authenticity & Character

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Half-Day Eco Elephant Care!

Chiang Mai

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Back to the Nature on Koh Yao Noi

Ko Yao Noi

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bangkok's Temples Tour

Bangkok

Our guide, Ms. Leena, did an incredible job showing us the temples and highlights of 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

Transport

Chiang Mai Cooking Class Experience

Chiang Mai

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exploring the Famous Angkor Wat

Siem Reap

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Evening Street Food Tour

Ho Chi Minh City

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Temples, Tradition and Cultural Traces of Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Halong on Cruise!

Thailand

Quality of Experience

It was wonderful to see Ha Long Bay, though the journey was very long from Hanoi (3 hours each way). The cruise took us to a cave for one hour and a beach for one hour.

Food

Food on the cruise was average. We stopped at a rest stop for lunch on the way back to Hanoi which was aimed at tourists.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The experience with KimKim was great except for two things. Most important to me was having a smooth arrival - transfer-to-hotel experience as I was traveling alone and arriving about 1am in a foreign country. Unfortunately the locating the individual responsible for the car service to take me to the hotel was not smooth at all. After traveling for 24 hours, I just wanted to get to the hotel and get to bed. This set a bad tone for the trip. After that everything was smooth sailing with KimKim, but the communication on detail about each day could have been more clear and a check in on how we were doing and whether we needed anything would have been nice. We did not hear from our rep unless we had a question.

Hotel Review

Hilton Sukhumvit Bangkok

Bangkok

The staff at this hotel are amazing! The hotel is beautiful and amenities fantastic (especially if you are a Diamond member) Small thing: the pool was not in the sun any time we went up (mostly in shade) and the leaf chairs - while lovely - are not ideal for comfort.

Authenticity & Character

The hotel is beautiful, my room was fantastic and the staff are great

Location

Although not really a walkable area, there are a lot of restaurants and shopping and massages nearby

Staff

LOVE the staff!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lovely

Activity Reviews

Enjoy Food Tasting in Chinatown!

Bangkok

There were many things I dared not eat, but that is on me.

Quality of Experience

Food

pad thai!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide - Betty - was fantastic

Transport

Our driver was great, very reliable

Exploring the Ancient Ayutthaya

Thailand

This was a good day, but very hot as we were outside the whole day. It should be more clear that the whole thing is outside. It would have been nice if our rep told us about apparel requirements at the palace grounds and various temples. We could have packed more accordingly in advance. our guide told us the day before, but what if this was our first excursion and we did not have our guide to tell us that

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Betty was fantastic

Transport

Car is air conditioned and driver is very reliable

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

Bangkok

Super fun day!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Out guide - Betty - is fantastic!

Transport

A visit to Elephant Jungle Sanctuary in Pattaya

Thailand

The drive from Bangkok (and home same day) was 2.5 hours so it is a long way to go, but worth it. It was fantastic

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

no guide - just driver. The guides at the sanctuary were great

Transport

Longtail Boat Bangkok Canaling Tour!

Bangkok

Lovely, fun, comfortable

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We did arrive 1.5 hours early, which was way too early, but KimKim rep told us they had to account for traffice. They should have known it was a holiday and that business traffic was low that day

Bangkok City Tour with Museum Visit

Bangkok

By this time I was a bit tempeled out - but it was lovely. The museum was disturbing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our expectations were exceeded on this trip! I have never used KimKim before but was so impressed with the service. Elena, our agent put together a wonderful itinerary! Her selection of hotels was incredible, especially the hotel Na Niranda in Chiang Mai. We loved that place!

Our guide in Bangkok was Toto and he was a very attentive, fun, knowledgeable guide. We enjoyed having Toto as our guide and had a great time visiting the temples, train market and floating markets as well as a night out visiting street vendors by tuk tuk.

Chiang Mai was lovely and our guide Pookie took good care of us. The Elephant Nature Center was a great excursion. To see the elephants happy and taken such good care of after being abused was heartwarming for sure.

Phuket hotel was my least favorite. We stayed at the Avani + hotel and it felt more like a chain resort and didn't have the charm of previous hotel stays on the trip and it was heavily programmed for kids, which we don't have. Overall a nice hotel but would have preferred something with a little more charm and less family friendly. If you are a traveling family, then this is a great hotel for you!

The sunrise boat excursion was a blast! Enjoyed the whole day! Visited Phi Phi Island and had a great time seeing some beautiful scenery above and below water! ;)

I will definitely use KimKim again. I like how you can completely customize your trip. We usually wing our trips and head out on our own, but this trip spoiled us and we will look forward to having them help us with our next trip.

Thank you, Namaste, Mahalo, Khob khun ka!
Heather Stevens

Hotel Reviews

Ariyasom Villa

Bangkok

Charming hotel! Small, family owned hotel. You get very good service and the food was very good too! We enjoyed hanging by the pool and the outdoor courtyard. If you are looking to stay at a place that isn't a chain and feels more authentic and local, this is a great choice. Rooms were very spacious and had good amenities.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Na Nirand Resort

Chiang Mai

This hotel is gorgeous! Such an amazing place and the staff was terrific! We were upgraded upon our arrival to a suite and all's I can say is WOW! The Burmese Suite was gorgeous! The bathroom is so luxurious with a shower as big as a walk in closet. It was a decadent stay and we didn't want to leave. Staff was very welcoming and helpful. The breakfast buffet was so good, we loved it! The pool area is the centerpiece of the outdoor area and you can't wait to just sit in a lounger and soak it all up. The Lomi Lomi massage that I received was probably one of the best ever. I can't say enough about this place...I hope to come back again soon! Thank you for making this part of our trip very memorable. Heather Stevens

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Avani+ Mai Khao Phuket Suites

Phuket

Pleasant, clean resort. No complaints. Staff was very helpful and friendly. It is a very family oriented hotel, so if you have kids traveling with you, this is a great spot. Lot of family activities. I was not traveling with family so would have preferred a more adults only type of place.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to the beach and a shopping center across the street.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Na Nirand Romantic Boutique Resort

This hotel is gorgeous! Such an amazing place and the staff was terrific! We were upgraded upon our arrival to a suite and all's I can say is WOW! The Burmese Suite was gorgeous! The bathroom is so luxurious with a shower as big as a walk in closet. It was a decadent stay and we didn't want to leave. Staff was very welcoming and helpful. The breakfast buffet was so good, we loved it! The pool area is the centerpiece of the outdoor area and you can't wait to just sit in a lounger and soak it all up. The Lomi Lomi massage that I received was probably one of the best ever. I can't say enough about this place...I hope to come back again soon! Thank you for making this part of our trip very memorable. Heather Stevens

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Khantoke dinner at traditional Lanna family

Chiang Mai

Wasn't sure what to expect but enjoyed the experience. You visit a local house and learn the customs of the Lanna people and their traditions. You tour the property and gardens and then you feast! The food was delicious with ample appetizers and a big variety to try. The food is delivered Khantoke style (on the floor on a tray). The family leaves you to enjoy your dinner and then you get access to some of their recipes. I will definitely try to make the coconut/banana dessert drink that was served. Yum. Thank you for a wonderful, unique experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The second day at Elephant Nature Park - Elephant interaction (join-in activity)

Chiang Mai

The second day we got to feed the elephants, which will be a highlight to remember forever! These animals are amazing! I'm so glad that they have this sanctuary to live in after the abuse they have suffered. Wonderful day! **Our guide Chi-Chi acted like a horny teenager and despite his lack of professionalism and the fact that he ignored any guest that wasn't in his age group (20's), we had a lovely time.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Except for Chi-Chi, staff was Wonderful!

Transport

Bangkok Symbolic Temples

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Toto was great!

Transport

Night Street Food Tour After Dark by Tuk Tuk

Bangkok

I enjoyed the experience even though I wasn't very adventurous. Didn't try any scorpions or weird dishes, just a sample of some more tame, local dishes. Fun evening

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Railway Market & Floating Market

Bangkok

Such unique experiences! Both the Railway market and Floating markets should not be missed.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Toto was our guide and he was excellent!

Transport

Sunrise Phi Phi Island Joining Tour

Phuket

Wow! I had no idea how beautiful the islands are out here! Stunning! Great excursion to view sunrise from the boat and the beauty of Phi Phi Island. Fun day to be on a boat in the sun in Thailand! Highly recommend! Staff was great too! Very attentive to the guests.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I don’t know where to start…..from the first message from Lacey, our KimKim travel agent for Thailand, to the last pickup from our resort to go to the airport to fly home, it was truly an unbelievably amazing experience.
Lacey was attentive to what we wanted to experience and super responsive. She made me feel at ease for the whole trip.
Every guide, driver, and activity director were exactly where she scheduled them to be for us and on time or even early. We even had an unexpected emergency and had to return home early and Lacey re-arranged everything.
Our Bangkok guide, Pom, was fantastic. Very friendly and knowledgeable. We adored him!
We went to the railway market and the floating market which I recommend doing both! So fun.
Our hotel in Bangkok, Galleria 10, was clean and spacious and the breakfast was good. We felt safe to walk everywhere.
Our stay at Zeavola resort in Koh Phi Phi was the highlight of our trip. Simply amazing! It’s a more secluded eco-resort which is exactly what we wanted. The breakfast is incredible! We took a long boat tour of the islands booked through the resort. Snorkeling was great.
Unfortunately we had to leave before our three nights in Phuket but did get to visit The Slate resort and the beach right by it for a few hours. In just that small amount of time spent there, we knew that Phi Phi was more our style for vacation but the Slate was a beautiful resort.
Overall, I would highly recommend booking through KimKim and especially Lacey! We want to return to Thailand for a longer stay sometime and will definitely use them again.
Everything went smoothly and stress-free.

I don't know where to start but I will say this. If you are on the fence about using a service like this to help you put together an amazing and memorable trip, I'm here to tell you to just book it!! Let all your worries be taken care of from beginning to end for you by this incredible team. This was me and my husband's first trip to Asia so we wanted some assistance in putting together an itinerary as opposed to doing it all ourselves. We had an idea of the parts of Thailand we wanted to go but as far as hotels, excursions and inter-Thailand flights we were a bit overwhelmed by the idea of doing all of that ourselves. Kelly was our trip planner and I have to say she exceeded expectations by a landslide. From the start, her response time was so fast once we filled out the shell of what we wanted, she had an itinerary back to us within days. Within a few tweaks, per our request we had everything buttoned up and done within a week in terms of the trip plan. My husband is very tall so we had a couple requests with regards to leg room on the flights within Thailand and she took care of that no problem, we were in the front of the plan on all our flights she booked. Once we were in Thailand we had guides that picked us up at the airports and took us to our hotels as well certain excursions. Our favorite guide was in Chiang Mai and her name was "Toy: Tantawan". She took us on our journey to the elephant sanctuary and stayed there all day with just just taking photos and videos of the day which we did not expect at all. The next day she took us to the most beautiful temples and took so many more pictures and we learned so much history about Thailand. She was such an amazing person, we truly enjoyed our time with her. All of our guides were amazing - Golf was our guide in Bangkok and he was so great as he picked us up super late at the airport with no issue once we arrived from the states and he also took us on a tour of the Grand Palace and taught us so much as well - we were a bit jetlagged so we didn't get to do all the things he recommended but he was so personable. Honestly I could go on and on about the entire team at KimKim, but I will say the excursions and the memories we created were because we did these things with the help of this service. Thank you for a wonderful wonderful time KimKim! Can't wait to use you again!

Our guides and driver were great!

A++ - A Trip Beyond Expectation... We owe a heartfelt 'Thank You" to KimKim & Ms. Kelly Lu our coordinator and specially to our many local expert tour guides in Thailand and Japan:

Our recent three-week trip to Thailand and Japan, was planned and executed flawlessly by KimKim and Ms. Kelly Lu, and exceeded every expectation at very reasonable price. From the initial consultation to the final farewell, the experience of visiting multiple cities in each country was flawless and fun and a testament to KimKim's professionalism and Kelly's exceptional attention to detail and responsiveness to our last second changes during out trip.

Kelly listened carefully to our desires, and the places we wanted to visit and why.... She then crafted different distinct itineraries that captured the essence of our interests. Her knowledge of both countries and ability to hire exceptional local tour guides was impressive, and her suggestions were invaluable in shaping what turned out to be an almost perfect adventure that my daughter and I will never forget.

Once we chose our itinerary, Kelly took care of everything. All you need to do is arrange your plane fare there and back. They tale care on everything else. For example, plane and train tickets inside Thailand & Japan that she seamlessly coordinated, Kelly, thru the local agent Kate, secured access to sold-out events like the enchanting Chiang Mai Light Festival, which my daughter will remember all her life adding magical moments to our trip.

Kelly meticulously curated a complex comprehensive timetable, including hotels, transportation, and chose exceptionally talented local guides local guides. like "Kate" (Whose Thai name is Por-kaew Limlimtrakul) in Chiang Mai who was able to get tickets to the sold out and coveted Chiang Mai Light Festival. Kate also arranged for a private visit to an elephant sanctuary where my daughter interacted with the rescued elephants and their keepers. Lastly Kate arranged for my daughter to take a Thai cooking class from a respected Thai chef. Mr. Luk in Phuket who took us in one of his new speedboats to dive, snorkel and tour the PiPi Islands where many scenes in the James Bond films were shot. Each guide was a delight: knowledgeable, engaging, and passionate about their respective fields, be it sushi-making or history of their country or religion, local customs, local delicacies, out of the way restaurants where we had exquisite meals. The drivers were also talented and we felt very safe in their large new vans that we were transported in. They enriched our experience with fascinating insights and genuine hospitality. I wont forget any guide; Kate in Chiang Mai, Mr. Noon in Bangkok, Ryoji in Tokyo who took us on a wonderful all day trip to Mt. Fuji and found a tiny country restaurant with only four tables, run by an elderly local grandma, who prepared an exquisite "Hoto" pot for our lunch, Yakuso Nagal who found out of the way shops, with unique, fascinating clothing for my daughter to sample and buy, The knowledgeable and funny Mr. Son in Kyoto who was a senior executive at a large hotel chain before retiring and becoming a guide, Ms. Yumi Takahasiin in Tokyo who knew the lay of the Tokyo extremely well and was flexible and fun to be with, Hiroko in Kyoto, who was knowledgeable and explained things extremely well and last but not least, Mr. Patrick Noon in Bangkok, who taught us much about the history of the many temples we visited and the history and customs of Thailand.

Throughout the trip, Kelly remained a constant presence, via email or text, ensuring our comfort and satisfaction. Her responsiveness and proactive approach were truly remarkable. She anticipated our needs and addressed any concerns promptly and efficiently.

The trip itself was a journey into wonder. We explored bustling cities, serene temples, and breathtaking landscapes, all with a sense of ease and enjoyment. KimKim and Kelly's meticulous planning, and their indispensable local guides, ensured that we didn't miss a single beat, maximizing our time and allowing us to truly immerse ourselves in the local culture.

Beyond the impeccable logistics, the most significant impact was the genuine care and dedication Kelly demonstrated throughout the process. She treated us not just as clients but as valued guests, crafting a personalized experience that we will cherish forever.

We wholeheartedly recommend KimKim and Ms. Kelly Lu and the guides mentioned (and any I may have forgot to mention) above to anyone seeking an exceptional and unique travel experience. Their expertise, professionalism, and genuine warmth transformed our dream vacation into an unforgettable reality.

Our first guide was Ping. Loved his enthusiasm and knowledge. I enjoyed the hotel in Bangkok definitely a 5 star place. Did not enjoy the Tree House place. I have issues with my knees so climbing once into the room was it. The room itself was fine and I was brought dinner. Enjoyed the National Park Lake and the bungalow. Got to see an elephant in the wild. Great spotting by our guide. Koh Phi Phi was nice place and enjoyed it. Boats were a challenge again due to my knees Phuket was hot. There were a lot of walking tours so didn’t do them. Did visit some of the Buddahs. The Boathouse Hotel was great. Wonderful food. Saw a show “FantaSea” and had a great time there. The star of the trip however, was Chaing Mai. That city wss great. Saw the city gates and all the prep for their festival of lanterns and lights. Visited a silk factory and learned a lot as well as buying some silk. I think the best thing in Chaing Mai was Happy Elephant Home. Helping with and feeding the elephants was great. I would like to go back to Chaing Mai aagain.

Hotel Reviews

Chatrium Hotel Riverside Bangkok

Bangkok

Beautiful place. Friendly helpful people. Super great food buffet. Close walking distance to city. Right on the river so able to watch the river traffic

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our Jungle Camp - Eco Resort

Tambon Klongsok, Ampur Panom, Suratthani

If you’re fit and able to climb stairs to your room it is great. We had asked for a lower room as I can’t climb stairs well. We ended up with a flight of stairs. I stayed in the room until the next day when we left for the National Park Service lake.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

When asked for a room with zero to few stairs would appreciate compliance with request

Lanta Casa Blanca

Ko Lanta, Krabi

This place had beautiful rooms. The food was great. The sea was right there or the pool if preferred. The food was a buffet and delicious. The evening event was spectacular

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Phi Phi The Beach Resort

Krabi

I enjoyed staying here. It was basically a rest break without a lot of dight seeing. Beach was great

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Boathouse Phuket

Phuket

Beautiful hotel. Wonderful food. The chef would come out to see if all was to expectation and just talk for a bit. No other hotel had this during our stay They gave us a tour of the hotel amenities as well. Also a first for us. Breakfast watching the beach day begin and supper watching people walk the beach.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bodhi Serene Chiang Mai Hotel (SHA Extra Plus)

Chiang Mai

Very quiet hotel with outdoor space to just sit relax and congregate as a group for planning group activities. Within the old city walls. Everyplace was walkable if you wanted or you could get a taxi, tuk tuk or uber like taxi. Right outside the doors there were shops. restaurants and massage places.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Canals of Bangkok & Temple Delight

Bangkok

Saw many temples, a native craft center and all mostly by boat. Boats for me were a challenge but it was a fun day

Quality of Experience

Food

Small restaurant but quick service

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ping was great

Transport

Not a fan of boats but all were helpful getting me in and out without falling

Ayutthaya Historical City

Bangkok

We arrived about noon so those that rode bikes got them. I rode in a motor tuk tuk. As it was noon we asked the guide to feed us before going to the old city. He complied and took us to a wonderful restaurant (Trip review rated) Then we went yo the old city. A lot of ruins but still had a reclining Buddah.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cheow Lan Lake Explorer

Khao Sok National Park

Saw a wild elephant! A highlight for the trip. Also saw some birds

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Spend a Day with Elephants in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai

A great day spent with the elephants. We fed, washed, mudded and played with the elephants. All the elephants were rescues but the only eay to describe them is as gentle loving giants.

Quality of Experience

The elephants themselves

Food

Made our own soup with a little instruction

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Omo was great

Transport

Took a van from hotel to Happy Elephant Home

Welcome to Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park

Beautiful park and lake. The boat tide takes you through and around the lake.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The trip itself was very good.we got to get the highlights of all places we visited.lily and Ning were spectacular.their knowledge of the area and history of the places we visited,their communication ,recommendations everything was spectacular. The few things that could have been better are ondays when we had just the driver with no guide, and the trip was lo g,we wished they could communicate in english.im sure that would have made the trip more enjoyable. We chose hotels in the 3 and 4 star categories. All hotels were decent but for the one in kanchanaburi. The walls and bathtub were all breaking apart. The hotel looks good in the reception area but really bad and dingy rooms. The lantern festival was awesome and what an experience! Tiger kingdom was not our cup of tea as it was difficult to see large tigers in small enclosures.on the whole we had a very good trip.Tina took care of all the needs and bookings for us accurately. The communicated regularly and checked in often to keep us posted of the schedule for next day etc.the local guides did that as well.

Our trip to Thailand was spectacular. First, huge kudos to Lacey from Exotic Voyages who planned our two-week stay. She understood exactly the trip I was hoping for, and planned hotels and experiences that exceeded my already high expectations. I planned the trip for me and my adult daughter, and both of us loved every day of the trip. In a heartbeat, I will recommend Exotic Voyages and Lacey in particular to any friends going to Thailand - or Vietnam, Cambodia, etc.

In part, what made the trip so special were our guides (Ms. Oh in Bangkok, Ms. Parn in the Golden Triangle, and Ms. Mona in Chaing Mai). All of them were warm and friendly, taking the time to share Thai culture with us, answering our many questions and showing us their beautiful and serene country.

Beyond our guides, the experiences that Lacey planned for us were fantastic. Highlights included gorgeous temples, delicious food tours, walking with elephants, a wonderful cooking class (5-course meal!), snorkeling at Phi Phi Island, and because we were there for the holiday, Loy Krathong, lighting and releasing lanterns. We also really appreciated learning more about Buddhism and its meaning.

All of our hotels were top tier, with beautiful accommodations, friendly service, and delicious food.

Thank you again, Lacey, and to our guides (and drivers} who created memories that will last a lifetime.

Hotel Reviews

Ariyasom Villa

Bangkok

A lovely oasis in the middle of bustling Bangkok, Ariyasom Villa is a beautiful, quiet property with lush greenery, a nice swimming pool, really nice rooms, and excellent service. The restaurant is also very good, with a vegetarian focus. Breakfast was a highlight; homemade bread and muffins accompanied delicious Thai food. Location also good, close to the skytrain (if interested).

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Na Nirand Resort

Chiang Mai

The highlight of our stay at NaNirand was the Loy Krathong gala dinner. There was a delicious buffet, krathongs to put in the river, Thai entertainment, a professional photographer who subsequently sent us excellent photos, and someone to teach us how to make krathongs. It was a fantastic evening. Note - your materials called the evening "compulsory", but I think a better word would be "complimentary". Compulsory means we HAVE to go, which isn't what was meant, I believe. The room and property was also very nice, generally well located, etc.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort

Enchanting! All of the rooms face the valley where the elephants roam, and the view is spectacular. The prettiest picture I took from our entire vacation was from the deck of our room at Anantara. The spa is also excellent; I loved the massage from Poy, and even went back to her a second time. The highlight of course is the elephants, though. It was a wonderful experience to walk the grounds with a small group, guide, and 3 elephants. No riding or petting allowed, which was good; the animals are very well protected and cared for. The only disappointment at Anantara was the Mekong River boat cruise. We were on a boat with a guide who spoke no English, so we weren't able to learn what we'd hoped to. The dining and property in general are top tier. The service at the restaurant - particularly by Kat and Morn - was excellent, and the food at every meal delicious. The infinity pool overlooks the valley with the elephants, an unbeatable view. p.s. let me know if you'd like me to email you the picture from our room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas

Phuket

This is an incredible property outside of busier Phuket, but still very well located. Our villa was incredible, large and comfortable with our own private pool! We also enjoyed the beach and pool area, including complimentary stand-up paddleboarding, kayaks, etc. Dining was great too. We found ourselves staying on the property to enjoy the restaurants there. I'm sure there's great dining nearby, but we didn't discover it ourselves. I would definitely recommend this hotel for couples and families. If someone wants to be closer to Phuket itself, they may want to choose a different property.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Half Day Bang Krachao Cycling Tour

Bangkok

Loved the cycling and seeing the Bang Krachao area - a great way to get energized on our first day in Bangkok. Rating a 3 instead of 5 only because the guide didn't speak English, so our Exotic Voyages guide (Ms. Oh) was forced to come with us. Ms. Oh does not like cycling and ended up falling and hurting herself. In the future, it would be ideal for the guide to speak English to prevent an accident like this. Besides this, however, the ride was beautiful and relaxing and a wonderful introduction to Bangkok.

Quality of Experience

Food

Loved stopping along the way for local food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

As described above

Transport

Bangkok Symbolic Temples

Bangkok

The Golden Palace and Wat Phraw Kaew were both spectactular.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Railway Market & Floating Market

Bangkok

They were a bit touristy, but still really fun to see.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Night Street Food Tour After Dark by Tuk Tuk

Bangkok

Great experience! Great food and fun exploring the city at night.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Anantara Golden Triangle - Day of exploration and relaxation

Chiang Rai

The property is spectacular, and what a privilege it was to spend time with the elephants. We signed up for two activities: 1) Walking with Elephants 2) Boat trip on Mekong River Walking with the elephants was moving and beautiful - I highly recommend it for any visitors. I don't think I'd recommend the Mekong River ride, however. We were on a boat with a captain who spoke no English, so we learned nothing except that we could see Myannmar, Thailand, and Laos from the boat. I would have liked to learn more about the Golden Triangle generally, and wasn't able to from this excursion. Instead, I'd recommend your guests sign up for a spa treatment instead. They have a beautiful spa which would be a much better choice than the river boat.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Monk Blessing at Doi Suthep

Chiang Mai

This was one of the best activities we did. Amazing to be at the temple before sunrise, with no crowds at all, so we were able to appreciate the beauty and serenity of the temple. Watching the sunrise was beautiful too, and then being blessed by the monks is something I'll always remember. This is a must-do activity for anyone up for an early start to the day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Compulsory Krathong Theme Dinner at the hotel

Chiang Mai

I really think the name of this needs to be changed. Compulsory suggests it's mandatory. Really, it was a "complimentary" - i.e., the dinner was included for all guests. And it was excellent! They had a delicious buffet, entertainment, krathongs to put in the river, someone to show us how to make the krathongs. It was truly a gala evening and a joy to attend.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Love Chiang Mai cooking experience (Morning session)

Chiang Mai

Highly recommend! We loved going to the market to get the food to prepare, and then we spent several hours cooking five different courses. We loved learning about the ingredients and preparations, and then we loved eating what we'd prepared. Absolutely wonderful day!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lantern Festival with local guide

Chiang Mai

We explored Chaing Mai a little saw the huge parade for Loy Krathong, and then drove outside the city to launch a lantern. It was a beautiful and memorable experience!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traditional Khantoke Dinner

Chiang Mai

It was really nice to learn more about the Lanna culture, and to meet the family who provided the meal. It felt very authentic, which we appreciated.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Chiang Mai by tuk tuk

Chiang Mai

It was a wonderful way to end our stay in Chiang Mai. We saw another beautiful temple, which was peacefully quiet in the morning when we went, and then we visited a food market, which I loved. The visit was made all the better by our wonderful guide, Mona, who patiently explained Thai history and Buddhism to us.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our Thailand journey was truly incredible! I'm unsure where to begin in expressing what a wonderful experience it turned out to be. Lacey played an exceptional role, making our trip special from the planning stage to our time in the country. She demonstrated professionalism, an understanding of personal preferences, and constant availability for support.

Although it was my first time using KimKim and I was initially skeptical about managing everything online without personal interaction, everything proceeded so smoothly that I am certain I will use it again in the future!

Our trip was tailored to meet both my husband's and my preferences, featuring a diverse range of activities throughout our stay. The activity pace struck a perfect balance—providing ample opportunities for enjoyment without becoming overwhelming. We received a comprehensive information package before our arrival, ensuring everything was crystal clear. We encountered no issues and always felt well taken care of, which was especially appreciated given the exhaustion from the past couple of months.

In addition to the fantastic excursions, we were fortunate to meet Toto, our local guide for almost a week. Toto undoubtedly stands out as one of the highlights of our trip! Traveling with him felt like exploring with a local friend, and we genuinely hope to reunite with him soon. His vibrant and considerate nature ensures you have the best possible local experience.

All in all, this was our most memorable trip ever! Thailand is a phenomenal country, and Lacey played a pivotal role in enabling us to savor every moment to the fullest.

Hotel Reviews

Galleria 10 Sukhumvit Bangkok

Bangkok

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Thai Akara - Lanna Boutique Hotel

Chiang Mai

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The FloatHouse River Kwai

Chang Wat Kanchanaburi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Devasom Khao Lak Beach Resort & Villas

Phang Nga

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Bangkok - Erawan Waterfall - River Kwai Float House

Thailand

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bangkok Symbolic Temples

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Night Street Food Tour After Dark by Tuk Tuk

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kanchanaburi - Ayutthaya sightseeing - night train to Chiang Mai

Thailand

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

OFFROAD Safari – Fullday tour with lunch

Khao Lak

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Devasom Khao Lak - Romantic dinner for two

Khao Lak

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Railway market & Amphawa floating market

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wat Umong & monk blessing

Chiang Mai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Bang Krachao Cycling Tour

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Baan Chang Elephant Park - Half day joining tour

Chiang Mai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Surin Island Joining Tour by Speedboat

Khao Lak

The Island is very nice and all in all we appreciated the day trip. However, it was with a very big group and especially in the way there, with high waves, we were all crunched against each other. I could barely move my legs for +1hour.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A Day Trekking in National Park, Lahu Village & Bamboo Rafting private tour

Chiang Mai

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We decided to squeeze in as much variety as possible in our 9 days in Thailand, hitting city, beach and jungle! In Bangkok, our awesome guide Mr Sam was very experienced and knowledgeable as he took us around the city and ensured all our activities went smoothly. We loved our Bangkok bike tour - great way to adjust to jet lag by getting outside and moving. The Floating market was fun and we also loved visiting a coconut farm and seeing the beautiful temples and Thai palace. In Phuket, we had a fun day island hopping. We stayed at Patong Beach, which was fine, although maybe not particularly “family-friendly” (nothing crazy it just seems Patong Beach was more of a party beach) - that said, we spent most of our time out on a speedboat and were happy with our island excursions. The highlight of the week was our jungle experience - so amazing to stay in a treetop lodge followed by a raft house lodge! Khao Sok National Park was beautiful. Our guide, “O” was so upbeat, flexible and just great with our family. We felt so lucky to have him! In retrospect, I probably could have upgraded our accommodations a bit in Khao Sok, but the setting was so beautiful that we spent most time outside anyway. Our kimkim travel specialist - Ha - just absolutely nailed this trip planning for our family (2 adults, then 17 and 12 year old children). Thank you Ha for putting together and amazing experience and for ensuring it went so smoothly! Thailand was worth the 21 hour flight time from the US and we made memories to last a lifetime.

Hotel Reviews

The Laguna Chiewlarn

Surat Thani

This was the first raft house stay for our family of 4 (2 adults, 2 teens). The raft house experience and location were incredible and the highlight of our week in Thailand. The food was great at this location. However, if I were to return I would stay at a different property. It may be that we should have adjusted our expectations for a raft house stay - but the bedding was very minimal/basic, and the bathrooms somewhat rustic. If I compare it to camping, I’d consider it “glamping” but if I compare it to a hotel, it was a bit more rustic than we expected. Our guide said this property is “middle” in terms of raft houses on Cheow Larn Lake - if I went back I’d go with the higher grade ones. That said, amazing experience!

Authenticity & Character

Very cool to be ON the lake in every direction - lovely at night

Location

Beautiful!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bedding and bathrooms were more basic

Novotel Bangkok Ploenchit Sukhumvit

Our family of 4 (2 adults and 2 teens) stayed here. Overall, we were pleased with the hotel. Gym was well-equipped, breakfast was good, and services (laundry, etc) were fine. It is near some shops, a metro stop, and a 7-11 which is useful.

Authenticity & Character

It is a modern hotel so has all the amenities but no particularly notable character

Location

Near metro and 7-11

Staff

They were responsive and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cleanliness was good and as expected.

Novotel Phuket Resort

Patong

Our family of 4 (2 adults, 2 teens) enjoyed this resort. Location is convenient to Patong Beach - within walking distance although down a reel hill and maybe 200 yards to walk along the street. We appreciated the onsite restaurants. We didn’t have time to use the pool but it looked nice. The gym was adequate.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Near Patong Beach and walking distance to restaurants etc

Staff

Very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Damnern Saduak Floating Market Tour Grand Palace and Wat Po

Bangkok

Very cool - didn’t really understand this experience until we did it! But so glad we did it. The market was crowded but amazing images to see how canal life works.

Quality of Experience

Very unusual!

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mr Sam was great!

Transport

Bangkok bike tour 5 hours - Joint in tour

Bangkok

Perfect first activity for our family of 4 after arrival. The pace intensity was fine for our 12 yo and the guides easily helped us navigate all the nooks and crannies of Bangkok!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

They helped us navigate small areas and arranged for fun snacks and a great lunch.

Transport

Swimming & Snorkeling on the Phi Phi Islands (Join speedboat)

Phuket

We enjoyed the snorkeling and swimming the best! We had sufficient time at each stop and a great lunch.

Quality of Experience

Food

Lunch buffet was lovely and the setting on the beach was beautiful

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our boat guide Cooper was great!

Transport

Jungle Trekking - Cheow Larn Lake Visiting by long tail boat

Khao Sok National Park

Our Jungle Trek was so cool - our guide spotted lots of animals and plants along the way.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our trek guide (Aim?) was terrific. Our overall guide “O” was wonderful!

Transport

Experience Elephant Bathing Program & Canoe in Khao Sok River

Khao Sok National Park

Seeing the elephants was a trip highlight - we had read a lot about responsible elephant tourism and this location seemed, overall, humane and respectful, with the “retired” elephants well-cared for. The canoing was great fun - we wore bathing suits and had fun swimming along the way!

Quality of Experience

Incredible scenery, easy to navigate, fun to swim! Our kids loved the Monkey Temple visit too!

Food

They made us coffee and tea in bamboo cups to keep!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tina was able to create a personalized experience interacting through an initial recommendation she shared with us. We were treated in a VIP fashion and felt safe throughout all the trip. The guides in Bangkok (Raya), Chaing Mai (Pair) and the tours in Phuket were memorable. They introduced us to their culture and treated us like family always looking for opportunities to surprise us with new fruits, food, and snacks! Thailand will remain in our trip memories as a top destination. And KimKim tours a reliable agency that we will definitely recommend to our friends and relatives.

Activity Review

Phi Phi island, Khai island, Pi Leh lagoon & Maya bay by speed boat

Phuket

The high speed boat was crowded and the guide had limited English which made the experience not optimal. No life jackets were handed to us at the boat for a 1 hr ocean ride (they did have life vests, but were stored). Time was lost a couple of times which made us have limited enjoyment time at a couple of beaches. Snorkeling gear was very basic without fins. They tried, but it was not the best experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our guide in Chiang Mai, Dare was extremely helpful, knowledgeable and with a good sense of humour

Hotel Reviews

Royal Princess Larn Luang Bangkok

Decent breakfast and large room but bathroom needed refresher

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Concierge good bar staff disinterested

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bodhi Serene Chiang Mai Hotel (SHA Extra Plus)

Chiang Mai

Good location and a real oasis. Breakfast could have been better but room was superb

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Katathani Phuket Beach Resort

Phuket

Lovely location with a lot of choice

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Half day Chiang Mai Elephant Jungle Sanctuary - Join tour

Chiang Mai

Great experience with the elephants. Only gripe was there were a lot of us there

Quality of Experience

Food

Simple but just what you need

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bangkok evening Yaowarat Street Food Tour (KT)

Bangkok

Perfect after the long flight. Short but gets you into your holiday experience straight away

Quality of Experience

Food

Very simple but good

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Loved the tuk tuk

Bangkok City Tour Full Day (KT)

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trip on the long tail boat was nice but a little long

Salt Farm – Train Market – Coconut Sugar Farm - Damnoen Saduak Floating Market (Half Day Tour KT)

Bangkok

Loved the train and the train market. Salt farm was a little disappointing but the trip to the floating market was a great way to end.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a great trip and would definitely recommend Kimkim's service. Our coordinator Tina was very thorough at putting together a custom itinerary based on our specific interests from the available pre-packaged tours. She was very responsive in the planning stage as well as during our trip and kept us up to date with details and changes.

All through our trip everything went as planned (with the exception of one tour pick-up time that was listed incorrectly, but it did not negatively impact anything else). It was great to have drivers and guides arranged each day, and a clear schedule laid out ahead of time. Great experience and we will very likely use Kimkim's service again in the future.

Hotel Reviews

Silom Serene Hotel

Bangkok

Very comfortable and clean. Had the best sleep of our trip here. Location is conveniently near BTS and some small shops to get a good breakfast.

Boutique Raft Resort River Kwai

Kanchanaburi

Amazing location right on the river! The scenery is beautiful and it was great to sit on our porch and put our feet in the water. Staff was very attentive and friendly. They helped us arrange a driver to take us to Erawan National Park and to take us back to the airport after checkout. The beds were not the most comfortable and it was difficult to get the room temperature ideal (the air conditioner could only go down to 23C to avoid overloading it). We didn't get the best sleep, but it was overall worth it for the location and memorable experience.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Transfer from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi via Mae Klong market and Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

Thailand

The Maeklong Railway Market was a really fun experience. It's amazing to see the dense and varied shops and how smoothly they function around the arriving and departing train. Despite being a tourist attraction, it felt like an authentic local market with lots of interesting produce, meats, and crafts. The Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, on the other hand, felt much more like a tourist trap. It was fun to ride around on the canals, but it was crowded and the vendors are all selling the same items with high pressure sales tactics on a (literally) captive audience. We wouldn't recommend this one. Overall the day was very nice. Shoutout to our guide Betty for being super fun and energetic! We got to see a lot of fun things and had a smooth ride from our hotel to our next destination.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

John Gray's Sea Canoe - Hong by Starlight

Phuket

This was among the best activities on our trip. The full day experience was really well organized from the transportation to the food and the scenery was beautiful. The staff at John Gray's Sea Canoe really went out of their way to make the experience full and memorable. We got 2 full meals plus a coffee & snack break in between travel segments, and we did multiple outings in the canoe to visit some really breathtaking sights around the sea caves. They even gave us some time to swim in the water and try paddling the canoe ourselves. In the evening each guide helped their 2-3 patrons create a beautiful krathong made from banana tree and leaves to set afloat after dark. It was a fun interactive experience and it was amazing to see the skill and variety in all the different krathong designs. After dinner we brought our krathong out on the water and got to enjoy it in the darkness of the cave. When it was extinguished we got to see the bioluminescent plankton up close! This was a great experience and we highly recommend it to anyone visiting Phuket.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Longtail Boat Bangkok Canaling Tour!

Bangkok

Fun excursion! We learned a bit about Thailand and Bangkok's history and we got to see a part of the city outside of the standard tourist spots. It was cool to see the variety of longtail boats and some of the culture around the canals. The tour is only a couple hours so it was easy to fit into our schedule.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our local guide Reya was incredibly helpful and was awesome in explaining the history of the many sites we visited. She was great and super hardworking. Tina was very responsive and helpful in planning our itinerary. During our trip she was great in answering our questions and helping reconfirm our transportation and events so our trip ran smoothly. Will definitely use them again for the next time we visit Thailand.

Kelly was an amazing trip specialist, she was very easy to work with and easy to communicate with. She was patient with us and helped us choose the right itinerary for us prior to booking. Once we booked the trip, she even made sure that our accomodations, meal preferences and transportation were all set up. We did a 8 night stay in Thailand. We visited Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket. Once we were on the trip, she was easy to communicate with and she was flexible and helped change our itinerary as needed. Our local guide in Bangkok was Amy. She was phenomenal. Amy is by far the best tour guide we have ever had. She was so friendly, knowledgeable and very flexible. We traveled with our two children. Amy was immensely considerate of our children and built the day around the kids schedules and made sure the kids were doing well while on the day tours. She was so kind that she even volunteered to come into our apartment and help put our daughter to sleep for a nap. Nanzy was our tour guide in Chiang Mai, she was also incredibly helpful and fun. She took us to all the right places in Chiang Mai and also found some amazingly tasty local eateries that she picked out just for us. Fai Fhai was our guide in Phuket. She was really helpful and punctual and she really helped us make sure we made it onto our flights back home. She stayed at the airport until we crossed through security and passport control to make sure everything was ok and that we would be boarding our flight back home just fine. Overall we were satisfied with KimKim and will definitely book our next international vacation through them.

I worked with Kelly for about a month as we collaboratively designed our trip to Thailand. I found her very respectful, flexible, responsive, and helpful. Kelly was always happy to make changes as we honed our trip. She also caught a few oversights/mistakes in our planning. Prior to departure, I felt as though Kelly prepared us well for our trip.

Once we started our trip all aspects were of high quality and very satisfactory. For example, all our hotel accommodations were up to our standards, 4-star +. Each activity was run well. We especially liked all the private events that we planned. Every guide and event occurred as planned and on time -- so smooth, no real hiccups on a complex trip -- very impressive.

Tammy was the first guide we interacted with. She met us in Bangkok right on time and was a wealth of knowledge. She brought us all around Bangkok, viewing many palaces and temples. She also brought us around food tasting. Every step of the way she was extremely responsive and helpful. She helped us get to the airport and send us on our way to Kaoh Sok.

Once we landed in Surat Thani our next guide, Mr. Por was waiting for us. We boarded the van and headed to Kaoh Sok National Park. We boarded our private longtail with James at the helm. We all headed for hotel over the water. Por was a great guide for the 2 day one night trip on the lake. He was very motivated to help us have the best experience. In particular he worked hard to expose us to monkeys of the forest, a family of elephants along the lake's edge and numerous birds, spiders, lizards, etc. His enthusiasm was infectious. He and James were just so much appreciated.

We departed and headed to Phuket where we checked into our Sunwing Bangtao hotel which was stunning. Our excursions to Phi Phi for snorkeling was amazing. The 1/2 day at the elephant sanctuary was just so enjoyable and fun.

Then, sadly we were met at our hotel by ?Niki? and she ensured that we were all set to travel back to Bangkok.

I cannot say enough about how well this trip was run. All aspects were delivered at or above expectations. All drivers and guides showed up on time and were excellent.

I would not hesitate to go with KimKim again; knocked it out of the park!!!

Hotel Reviews

Sunwing Bangtao Beach

Phuket

It is a "family hotel" and there is a slant towards young ones and teens, but that was not really a negative for us. Hotel rooms, very very nice. Location exceptional. Pools amazing. Breakfast was really great, but lunch and dinner, not that great.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The grounds were kept perfect

Maitria Hotel Sukhumvit 18

Bankok

Solid hotel for city. We didn't spend much time in Bangkok

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Panvaree Resort

Khao Sok

Stunning place, you will not be disappointed -- just book this!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

nestled among cliffs with incredible views

Staff

Very sweet, helpful, etc.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Night Food tour with TukTuk with car and guide pick-up at hotel

Bangkok

Lots of fun. Tammy provided lots of history. Toured palaces and temples. Great overall night.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

3-Day Khao Sok Cheow Lan Lake tour (private-day1)

Khao Sok

Mr. Por was an excellent guide. This place is stunning A must do if you are into nature and beauty.

Quality of Experience

Guide was good at getting us close to nature, i.e. elephants, several types of monkeys, birds, etc.

Food

Food was provided, no decisions. Plenty of food and nice variety.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mr. Por was the best.

Transport

nice quality van. Good longtail

Half day tour with Elephant Jungle Sanctuary(join-in)

Phuket

This was done so well and a blast. Definitely book this one!!!!

Quality of Experience

Nice program with meaningful activities

Guides, Drivers and Staff

genuine people

Transport

nice van and not too crowded.

Tour in Khao Sok National Park（Day 2）

Khao Sok

Second day as good as the first.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Phi Phi Island & Khai Island by Speed Boat Tour(Join-in)

Phuket

Had a great time, but just too crowded and chaotic.

Quality of Experience

less crowded in all respects

Food

buffet lunch was quite good

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Kwa was great.

Transport

boat over crowded