Kimkim Trip Reviews for Turkey

Let's begin with the positives. Berat was prompt in her communication throughout the planning process. All scheduled transfers went off without a hitch, which we appreciate.

A special shoutout to our guides—Irfan in Cappadocia and Ozan in Izmir—for their deep knowledge, enthusiasm, and patience as they walked us through incredible sights. They were the highlight of the trip. On the other hand, Emir in Istanbul took a more by-the-book approach. His style felt rigid and lacked the warmth and flexibility we experienced with the other guides.

That said, I rarely write negative reviews—but our experience with Trail Travel (via Berat through Kimkim) was so egregiously underwhelming and overpriced that I feel compelled to warn fellow travelers. We paid an astronomical $$$$ for what was marketed as a premium 9-day private tour of Turkey, and what we got was mediocrity at prices that would make even luxury brands blush.

It all started when I realized our itinerary originated from Istanbul and ended in Izmir, despite clearly sharing that our international return flight was from Istanbul. This left us to book and pay for our own return. Having traveled widely across Europe and Asia, I expected more foresight—especially at this price point.

I first used Kimkim back in 2018. Now, at 60 and retired, I value ease and peace of mind while traveling, so my wife Sangeetha and I returned to the platform. Trusting Berat's 4.9-star reviews, I paid the quoted amount without hesitation. But after that Izmir-to-Istanbul surprise, I started scrutinizing the package—and realized we were charged approximately 1.5 times the market rate. My independent estimate was based on the premium rates for the same accommodations and services included in our package based on reputed travel portals and discussions with tour operators.

When I politely requested clarification about this price mismatch, instead of transparency, I received corporate doublespeak about "bundled services" and "personalized planning." Unprompted, a Kimkim rep was brought in to convince me about the professional planning, time savings, and support throughout the journey.

For our three nights in Istanbul, we followed an itinerary that involved walking in circles around Sultanahmet. The program conveniently avoided attractions requiring car transportation despite the premium we paid for a "private tour." A car service in Istanbul was too expensive to be included in our $$$$ package.

The hotels where we stayed were barely of 3-star quality:

The Istanbul Armada Hotel featured birds eating from the breakfast buffet (enjoy avian flu with your morning coffee!)
Our room at Kale Konak smelled of sewage
Basic, disappointing breakfasts throughout

The most detailed communication we received during the entire trip was a lengthy message about how much we should tip the guides and drivers, which we honored to the best of our abilities.

Turkey is a beautiful country. Hopefully, other reputable tour operators in Turkey will not treat your vacation budget like their personal ATM.
One star is too generous, but it's the minimum the review system allows.
A friend familiar with Turkish travel commented, "For this amount, you could have been chauffeured in a Rolls-Royce and stayed in a palace once owned by the Sultans."

Hotel Reviews

Kordon Hotel Çankaya

Çankaya, Konak, Izmir

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Armada Hotel

Istanbul

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kale Konak Hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Avanos: Discover the Centuries-Old Ceramic Tradition

Cappadocia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the Sultanahmet Square, Blue Mosque + Hagia Sophia

İstanbul

Discover the Historical Bazaars in Istanbul

İstanbul

Highly touristy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the heritage of the wonderful Topkapi Palace

İstanbul

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit to Ephesus Archaeological Museum + House of Virgin Mary

Turkey

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kaymaklı Underground City

Cappadocia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the Basilica Cistern

İstanbul

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Public Boat Tour on the Bosphorus

İstanbul

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hot Air Balloon Tour at Sunrise

Cappadocia

Weather Gods were not kind to us

Visiting Göreme Open Air Museum (UNESCO World Heritage)

Cappadocia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Whirling Dervish Ceremony at Saruhan Caravansarai

Turkey

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover the Volcanic Valleys of Cappadocia: Zelve, Pasabag, and Avcılar

Cappadocia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the Ancient City of Ephesus

Turkey

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Berat was outstanding! Very professional and timely with her responses. She gave excellent recommendations and provided alternative solutions that we enjoyed.

A whirlwind five day trip to Turkey made possible by the organisational efforts of Berat and company. All activities and transfers went smoothly and the accomodation was of a high standard. The highlight was the Hot AirBalloons over Cappadocia, a magical experience and a definite bucket list tick. Shout out to our guides, Hatice in Cappadocia and Volkan in Istanbul, for the depth of their knowledge and patience in guiding us through the wonderful sights. We really wish we had more days to explore this beautiful country and are grateful for an introduction, hopefully we can see more in the future. Tesekkur 🙏

We recently returned from an incredible trip to Turkey, organized by Kimkim, and it’s safe to say it was a journey we will cherish forever. We traveled as a family—my parents, my sister, her husband, and myself—and explored the rich history and vibrant culture of Turkey, visiting Cappadocia, Bodrum, Pamukkale, and Istanbul.

Cappadocia: A Historical Wonderland
Our adventure began in Cappadocia, a region known for its surreal landscapes and rich history. Unfortunately, due to weather conditions, we couldn’t experience the famous hot air balloon ride, which was disappointing. However, the historical sites more than made up for it. The highlight here was a visit to the underground city, an architectural marvel. While my dad and sister, feeling a bit claustrophobic, opted to return after exploring the second floor, the rest of us continued the guided tour. The guide provided by Kimkim (Sumer) was exceptional—knowledgeable and passionate, making the experience both informative and enjoyable.

Bodrum: Relaxation and Pamukkale’s Surreal Beauty
Next, we headed to Bodrum, where we had some free time to relax and explore at our own pace. On our final day there, we embarked on a day trip to Pamukkale before flying to Istanbul. Pamukkale was mesmerizing, especially the Hierapolis ruins and the stunning white travertine terraces. Walking through the ancient city felt surreal, and once again, Kimkim’s guide impressed us with their depth of knowledge and insights.

Istanbul: The Crown Jewel of Our Trip
Our final destination, Istanbul, was undoubtedly the highlight of our journey. We spent five incredible nights exploring this vibrant city that seamlessly blends history and modernity. The energy, culture, and sheer beauty of Istanbul left us spellbound.

What truly elevated our experience, however, was our guide, Oze. His deep knowledge of the city’s history and culture brought every site to life. From the Hagia Sophia to the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, the Grand Bazaar, and a delightful food tour on Istanbul’s Asian side, Oze curated an unforgettable itinerary that captured the essence of this magnificent city. Beyond being a guide, he felt like a friend, sharing personal insights and stories that made our time even more special.

Oze also went above and beyond, recommending excellent dining spots and local hangouts, and even joining us for an evening of fun and conversation. His warmth, professionalism, and passion for Istanbul made our experience truly unique. We found ourselves wishing we had more time to soak in the magic of this city, and much of that credit goes to Oze, who made Istanbul feel like home.

A Few Challenges
While the trip was fantastic overall, one downside was the amount of walking involved, which proved challenging for my parents, who are in their 60s. A bit more consideration for mobility needs would have made the experience even better for them.

Final Thoughts
Kimkim did an excellent job organizing our trip, and the knowledgeable guides played a significant role in making it a memorable experience. Despite a few challenges, Turkey’s history, culture, and warm hospitality won us over. We hope to return someday, especially to spend more time in Istanbul!

The trip to Turkey was such an amazing trip and exceeded all my expectation. My initial planning was with Murat. He was very patient and responsive to all my questions. My dates had not finalized yet and he was very patient throughout the process. I then got a chance to work with Berat who was amazing with all her recommendations and planning. She was very responsive to all my questions and was very accommodating. There was an issue with travel plans but she was very patient and made all the necessary changes needed which was greatly appreciated. While in Turkey, all the suggested tours, guides and drivers were amazing. The hotels were great and I feel like the itinerary showed the best of Turkey. Special shout out to both Hatice and Oguzhan who were both great guides and very informative as well as very attentive. The trip was so amazing because of this. Thank you so much. I would highly recommend Berat and her team to anyone.

This was my second booking with KIMKIM and it didn't disappoint. Both times I have used this service I have been blown away. Our guide was amazing (I must start there). Hatice traveled with us for the entire 11 days and she was absolutely fabulous. She was knowledgeable, friendly and wonderful. She was like part of the family before we left. We shared meals, met her family and had just an incredible time. She made reservations at restaurants, knew the best times to visit each attraction and treated us like she knew us forever. It was an incredible experience. Of course, Berat and her team did an amazing job with all the arrangements. The hotels, food and locations were exactly what we wanted and needed for our vacation. Turkey is a magical safe place that everyone should enjoy at least once in their life. You will see amazing historical places, eat too much (watch the ice cream) and love living life there.

Berat was very available for any changes that we made along the way. She was easy to contact and always followed up in a timely manner. I t was a very good expereince. Thank you
Gina Suozzi

Wow! Kimkim did a wonderful job putting together a trip tailored to our specific interests and needs. The guides made Turkey’s fascinating history come alive and exciting. Kimkin’s accommodating our last minute requests for a hot air balloon ride and cooking class was especially appreciated.
The only suggestion I have is to rethink the “sunset wine tasting.” Because it was too cold, we had to move that activity indoors. Rather than the alternate location chosen you might consider a venue other than an enclosed space without windows. Maybe the courtyard of Murat’s hotel?
Overall, Kimkim made this a great vacation and provided seamless service. Thank you!

Basat at museum was amazing , started us planning next year in Turkey from Troy down coastline.
Erat in cappadoncia was excellent; so knowledgeable and adjusted tour to our every need.
The last hotel in Istanbul was not up to standard, service was sub par and any questions asked we got different answers from each staff.
Their first response was no to most everything.
Check in was unnecessarily long , crowded and we were told to sit , and then forgotten while they checked in a group that arrived after us
The wine tasting was also a disappointment, we did not have sunset due to windy conditions but then we did it in a lobby with no view no explanation of the wines, the woman conducting the tasting poured and disappeared.
Only 2 wines poured . For this we could have ordered at our hotel with a spectacular view and had a bartender explain the wine

KimKim and Berat provided an outstanding vacation in Turkey for us. It was particularly helpful that whenever we had a question or needed a suggested activity, we could always contact Berat. She always promptly responded, often with specific suggestions such as excellent dining choices and places to go.

When there were huge lines for the mosques in Istanbul, KimKim's guide suggested an alternative, the cisterns, as a place to start. Not only did that provide an memorable sight, by the time we finished, the mosque lines were completely gone allowing us to walk right in.

All the travel logistics were in place -- people to pick up us and reservations in place.

For anyone considering a vacation in Turkey, we highly recommend booking it through KimKim. This was our second KimKim vacation. Now that we're back, time to start thinking about the next trip with them.

Hotel Reviews

Pera Palace

Istanbul

Charming, well located, hotel responsive to some plumbing issues.

Authenticity & Character

Oldest elevator in the country.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kayakapi Premium Caves

Urgup / Cappadocia

Restaurants were amazing, especially the vegetarian tasting meal. Friendly waitstaff.

Akra Antalya Hotel

Antalya

Hotel was fine. Blaring music in one of the restaurants but the next night it was quieter.

Doğa Thermal Hotel & Spa

Denizli

Weird environment; smell from thermal waters. Only buffet dinner available which was just adequate. Not up to the standards of the other hotels on the trip.

Nisanyan Houses

Selçuk

Huge accessibility issues for anyone over 30 years old. Very rocky road from the reception desk to the room making the walk to meals treacherous. Layout of the rooms not idea with bathroom on a different level from the bedroom -- again an issue for older travelers. On the other hand, the staff were over the top friendly and accommodating. Meals, once you got the the dining room were very good.

Swissôtel The Bosphorus Istanbul

ISTANBUL

Excellent location looking out over the Bosphorus, walking distance to many of the key sites, tasty Indian restaurant on site.

Activity Review

Hot Air Balloon Tour at Sunrise

Cappadocia

Beautiful views, magical scenery, felt perfectly safe

I decided to use Kimkim in searching for itineraries to visit Turkey, after our plan for Greece was completed. From the very start, Berat scheduled every single aspect of our journey with care and detail, starting with Istambul, then Capadocia, Sirince, Pamukkale and finally Izmir. The itinerary was perfect, highlighting the very best that great country has to offer, amazing hotels, transfers and activities of the most gorgeous places on earth. Thank you Berat and your team of guides: Volkan, Harun and Fatma, so knowledgeable and kind sharing the best information and companionship throughout all our travels. We also had the fortune to meet Berat personally when passing through Capadocia, that was so incredible! Talking to her personally and sharing our experiences with her was so nice. This whole trip was an unforgettable experience, that otherwise would not have been possible, so for sure we will plan any other journey with Kimkim in the future!! Thanks to all! We loved Turkiye🇹🇷 ♥️ and we hope we come back and visit some more of this gorgeous country!

Hotel Reviews

Armada Hotel

Istanbul

Very nice traditional hotel in The old city near the best attractions -Hagia Sohia, Blue Mosqud and Topkaki Palace. Breakfast was absolutely delicious

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kale Konak Hotel

This is an absolutely beautiful cave hotel right in front of the Uchisar Castle, staff is so friendly and the hotel outside areas are beautiful

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nisanyan Houses

Selçuk

There are not enough words to say how amazing is this place, the views, the room, the food and staff are absolutely wonderful!!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Doğa Thermal Hotel & Spa

Denizli

This hotel was great, specially for its thermal waters; the food is also very good!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kordon Hotel Çankaya

Çankaya, Konak, Izmir

Well located, nice and clean rooms

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Discover Byzantine + Ottoman Istanbul

İstanbul

During our (4) days in Istanbul, we were lucky to have Volkan as our guide, he gave us all historic background of every attraction in the city, while enjoying his company and conversations throughout our journeys. It was a pleasure spending all these days in his company, and made our experience unforgettable!!!,

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the historical + modern hub: Pera, Karaköy and Beyond

İstanbul

During our (4) days in Istanbul, we were lucky to have Volkan as our guide, he gave us all historic background of every attraction in the city, while enjoying his company and conversations throughout our journeys. It was a pleasure spending all these days in his company, and made our experience unforgettable!!!,

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Public Boat Tour on the Bosphorus

İstanbul

This Bosphorus boat trip was beautiful watching the Palaces over the waterfront. The Asian coast of Istanbul is vibrant.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

H

Transport

Urban Hiking Tour: Strolling around Old City Walls, Fener + Balat

İstanbul

During our (4) days in Istanbul, we were lucky to have Volkan as our guide, he gave us all historic background of every attraction in the city, while enjoying his company and conversations throughout our journeys. It was a pleasure spending all these days in his company, and made our experience unforgettable!!!,

Quality of Experience

H

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an amazing time in Turkey. From start to finish our 10 days were well planned, with fantastic guides, and comfortable and safe drivers. We even had the opportunity to meet with our local travel planner, Berat. We made changes once we were in country that Berat handled seamlessly, easily taking care of each. We were also given fast recommendations when we had a need for medication due to an illness. Berat listened to our desires and needs, and planned accordingly.
Some suggestions:
- Make sure your personal email and phone number are included on all airline reservations that are made for you that you will need to check in for during your travels.
- Perhaps the guides could send a brief summary of each site visited, providing the history and culture in a written format.
We will be using KimKim again!

This was a memorable trip of a lifetime. Berat took care of the minute details while planning the trip for us and took into account all the places we wanted to visit
The hotels were amazing and all restaurant suggestions simply sumptuous.
We have to give our guide Volkan 5 shining stars. Not only was he well read and learned about the history of Turkey but took the pains to answer all our questions and went the extra step in making sure we were comfortable and had excellent food suggestions .
The drivers were safe on the roads and immaculate condition of the luxury cars were provided
Would use kim kim in a heart beat and would highly recommend Berat, Murat Volkan and their team to our friends and family
Gulle Gulle and Tesekkurler

The Trip was just Amazing!Berat and our Guide Volkan were very accommodating and helpful.
All the Hotels were very Comfortable .Transportation provided was A+.Dinners provided by the Company were outstanding and at beautiful locations.I felt completely safe in the hands of this Company.
Berat was very responsive and helped us with every little thing we asked for.She Surprised me with a birthday Cake on the boat in Istanbul which was so thoughtful!Would love to go back to Turkey 🇹🇷 again.

From the moment we stepped off the plane, until our last day, we felt special and well taken care of. Our guides were all simply excellent in both knowledge and personalty. We were able to shift times around to avoid long lines, and our guides always knew how to maximize our time.
All of our activities and hotel's were exactly as described, certainly above our expectations a few times!
As always, we cannot praise Kimkim and the local agents enough. Thank you for another wonderful holiday. We are traveling with you to India in February 2025, and cannot wait!

Mi guía fue muy buena, visitamos lugares de forma exhaustiva y completa. Turquía es un país maravilloso. El hotel fue muy bien elegido, nos encantó!!! El trato fue maravilllso!!

Our trip to Turkey was absolutely amazing and so memorable! Everything was planned so perfectly when it came to the private transfers and the guides and tours. Our guides Emre in Istanbul and Effe in Cappadocia were amazing and did a wonderful job at making sure we got the full experience in both places. Our driver Mustafa also was great and very timely.
Our travel agent Berat curated such a nice trip for us and was always available when needed.
KimKim once again has been an amazing experience for us and we will definitely be using this agency again for our next adventure.
Thank you all!

Earlier this year, I had read an article about how İstanbul, Türkiye was the world’s most visited city last year in 2023 and it got me very intrigued! I started watching videos and did some research as to what there is to see and do. Both my hubby and I love to travel but have not ventured towards this part of the world yet so we thought we’d give it a go. We immediately turned our attention to KimKim for guidance. We were assigned with Berat who has been such a troOper for helping us plan the perfect itinerary. She was able to tweak the details in a timely manner and made the planning process so seamless. Our hotels were all centrally located with so much history and amazing architecture. Once our trip was finalized, she assigned us our drivers and guides, and then the fun begins!

Since we had some very early and long travel days, we were either yawning or dozing off in the car, our tireless drivers were able to get us from point A to point B safely and on time, not to mention the crazy terrain they had to endure. Hubby and I don’t like to drive and so we tend to take ride share more than necessary. Please note your efforts were most certainly not unnoticed.

We have a lot of praise for our guides. We had a handful of days when we were on our own and would tell each other how nice it was not having to wait in line for anything.

Our first guide was Mr. Şafak Emre Kılıç. He was able to squeeze all the major attractions in one day even tho we ran into some major downpour. He was very considerate and only proceeded with the tour once we were comfortable so that we wouldn’t get sick from the rain. It was a great balance of time with him as well as giving us space to stroll around on our own. What a great introduction to our trip.

Our next guide was Mr. İrfan Olmez. He was super helpful and offered additional sightseeing options during our road trip. We didn’t partake at the time because we were still pretty jet lagged but I think it’s important to point out his thoughtfulness on sharing new sights with us. Whenever we take road trips ourselves, we do enjoy making multiple stops to break up the drive so we do appreciate him for sharing those options. We really enjoyed talking with him during our rest stops. Learned a new perspective regarding the industry of tourism which was very eye-opening. It was so wholesome when he pointed out his village home where he grew up. We were trying to squeeze another activity into our two-day trip at the last minute and he was very accommodating in helping us make it happen.

Our last guide was Mr. Ozan Tokcan. We were with him for three days so you can only imagine I have quite a bit to share. He started off by mentioning we should get a hat and I’m so glad I did because hubby was a mess by the end of each day, haha. He also reminded us the importance of staying hydrated before each tour which we didn’t always follow; we really go to town on our beverages at the end. He was also very caring in making sure we were standing in shade since it can be brutally hot during the summer season. He shared with us local cuisine which is something we strongly support back home. At one point, the restaurant owners even asked my hubby to try making the foOd with them. Can’t beat that. I noticed he will sometimes touch the historical sights to be in sync with history which is just such a fun idea as I found myself (and my hubby) doing it as well. My hubby would ask a question and then he would check if his question was answered which I found very appreciative. You can tell he’s passionate about his career and loves his home. He’s willing to learn from us as well, such as finding out the water in a Şirince town can be drinkable. His upbeat personality is infectious and we feel truly honored to have crossed paths with him. Such a beam of light. He will go far in life.

This has been the trip of a lifetime. We only visited for two weeks and still got to see so much and yet have barely scratched the surface of what this country can offer. There are excavations still ongoing which means future generations can see even more. The people of Türkiye are insanely hospitable and we want to thank each and every one of them for making this trip a success. Hoping more and more people can take time to visit this beautiful country and experience the wonderful culture <3

Hotel Reviews

Nisanyan Houses

Selçuk

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kale Konak Hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Armada Hotel

Istanbul

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Doğa Thermal Hotel & Spa

Denizli

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Marmara Pera

Istanbul

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Explore the Ancient City of Ephesus

Turkey

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover Byzantine + Ottoman Istanbul

İstanbul

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Public Boat Tour on the Bosphorus

İstanbul

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Flight from Istanbul to Ankara + Road trip to Cappadocia via Lake Tuz

Turkey

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sightseeing Around Uçhisar and Discovering the Cappadocian Valleys

Cappadocia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit to Ephesus Archaeological Museum

Turkey

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Şirince: A Guided Stroll in a beautiful Aegean Village

Şirince

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover Priene: A beautiful ancient Ionian town

Turkey

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pamukkale and Hierapolis

Pamukkale

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Turkey honeymoon we planned through Kimkim was exceptional!

Berat was a wonderful coordinator who met all of our needs, adjusting the schedule to fit our preferences. All the while, Berat was prompt in responding, pleasant to speak to, and professional.

We'd also like to give a special shout out to our guide Ozz. Ozz is an exceptionally knowledgeable tour guide, and truly passionate about ancient history. He showed us many amazing sites with great enthusiasm and his unique personal charm!

We loved all of our service providers we came into contact with during our Turkey trip. We highly recommend it, without qualification!

Excellent trip. Our guides were great, informed, took questions, etc. Our guide for Istanbul Safak Emre Kilic was +++excellent. 2 suggestions:
1. The rooms at Rose Mansions Sinasos were very good. However our room only had 2 small windows. It was hot sleeping. I would suggest they provide a fan in the room to at least get some air circulation. Also a small refrigerator would be nice to be able to have some cold water.
2. The room at our shortened night in Istanbul was also very good. However it is above a Pub and was very difficult to get to sleep with the loud music, etc. both inside and outside in the street. The activity in the street was still going on when we left the hotel at 2:35AM. Great room but poor location especially since we tried to get to bed early because of our early departure.