Adam Gomez

I've travelled to other Central and Latin American countries, and Costa Rica was by far the easiest and friendliest. All the moving parts of the trip that kim kim set up worked smoothly (except one that was quickly fixed).

Ride CR transportation was prompt, friendly and scenic. The drivers gave us multiple rest stop opportunities that we usually didn't take, and also pointed out sights and scenic/photo opportunities that we did take. The best ride was between Monteverde and Arenal on a somewhat stormy day that made for great views passing over the mountains and across the lake. The hugely time saving and beautiful option to cross the lake instead of driving around it was brilliant!

Accommodations at the Cloud Forest Lodge and the Arenal Manoa were comfortable and convenient in a way that was very appropriate for the location. Very friendly and helpful staff certainly helps, but the addition of monkeys and toucans in the trees around the hotels was a wonderful surprise. Our favorite moment in Arenal was when the woman checking us in asked if there was anything more she could do, and we jokingly said we were really hoping to see a sloth. She turned to a young staff member nearby and said "Kevin, can you please show them the sloth", so he walked us across the parking lot, gave us his binoculars, and pointed to the sloth moving through the tree twenty feet away. We also especially enjoyed the trails available at the Lodge in Monteverde. Both places had good restaurants with amazing views and plenty of dining options that highlighted Costa Rica (but also played American/British instrumental pop music covers, aka elevator music, that was distractingly un-Costa Rican). It wasn't on the itinerary, but the San Lucas Treetop Dining Experience in Monteverde was one of the most enjoyable meals we've ever had.

All of the guides were knowledgable and excited about their work, balancing detailed wildlife information with local history and culture. Surprisingly consistent considering there is no formal training. The guide at the Hanging Bridges in Arenal was pretty quiet, but that was a much more commercial venue and it was pouring rain most of the time. If we were doing it all again, we would ask for longer tours. Our last day there, the tour company had our reservation, but didn't put us on their operations schedule, so no one picked us up. Since everyone else had been so prompt, I called after about 10 minutes, and they quickly got a driver and guide out to us and added a trip to some nice hot springs to the tour. The important thing was the guide offered us the option to take a much longer trail than normal, and that was a more thorough and satisfying experience.

We certainly enjoyed the lower stress and workload of having kim kim take care of all the arrangements. We're looking forward to using your service again, especially for trips like this where the area is unfamiliar and there are a lot of moving parts. Thanks!

Spain Trip over 12 days, Madrid, Seville, Granada, Cordoba, Toledo. The scheduling and guided tours were very good. The local guides were generally very knowledgeable.
Make sure your mobile phone is connected to cellular, one would be completely lost without it!! Any changes or updates are communicated thru the KimKim App, and your travel advisors keep it well updated.
During our trip, the train system in the whole of Southern Spain was shut down due to train derailment. All our train travels from one city to another were cancelled. KimKim arranged for private car transportation so not to interrupt our schedule. Although they could have asked us to reimburse the much higher cost of chauffeured private transportation, using the excuse of Force Majeure or Act of God, they did not, and they absorbed the costs, and I give them lots of credit for that.
Overall, very satisfied with the service I got on this trip. Special thanks mostly to Summer, but also to Adam, Alejandra, Olivia.

Hotel Reviews

Parador de Granada

Granada

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Only YOU Boutique Hotel

Madrid

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Boutique Casa del Poeta Sevilla

Sevilla

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Balcón de Córdoba Hotel

Córdoba

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Abad Toledo

Toledo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Short Prado Museum Visit with Skip-the-Line Ticket

Madrid

Excellent guide, art historian, very knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private City Walk & Royal Palace Experience

Madrid

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Historic Landmarks Walk

Seville

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Flamenco Show & Museum Visit

Seville

Not a good experience, worse activity of the whole trip. Too loud (almost 100 Decibels by my Apple Watch, can be damaging to your hearing, had to plug my ears!) the place too crowded, very touristy, would have easily skipped, plus not sure about the artistic quality. Had seen much better performances on YouTube!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Visit to Seville’s Cathedral & Alcázar

Seville

Unfortunately, we were booked with a Spanish only guide, so could not understand the tour. KimKim corrected the problem by re-booking it the next day with an English speaker guide. Delayed our travel. Otherwise tour and guide were very good.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Alhambra & Generalife Gardens with a Historian

Granada

Really amazing!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Highlights of Toledo Walk

Toledo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Taste of Granada Walking Food Tour

Granada

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Hands-On Cooking Class in Córdoba: Master Paella and Salmorejo

Córdoba

Quality of Experience

Transport

Old Town Walking Tour

Córdoba

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My wife and I had a great trip to Costa Rica -- we didn't have time to plan it, but had some ideas. Adam was very attentive and had great suggestions as starting points and adjusted the plan to our desires. Kimkim's communication with us was just right -- not too much but just enough. Once we were in Costa Rica and had travelled some, we realized we needed to instead rent a car and drive ourselves (my wife suffers from motion sickness, but if she drives it's much better) -- Kimkim came through for us with the adjustment and got us a car for the rest of our trip. We enjoyed all of the guided trips we went on and saw lots of Costa Rican wildlife and birds. Overall, Kimkim was responsive and helpful before and during our trip and we had a wonderful first trip to Costa Rica. Thanks Kimkim!!

Our trip was amazing from start to finish. The whole team helped make our dream vacation come true. We ran into unforeseen circumstances before our scheduled departure and everyone did everything they could to help us move things around so we could still do the trip. Once in Costa Rica every transfer was on time and every hotel was perfect. rideCR drivers were particularly great, they were more like tour guides than transfer drivers. The agent recommended tours were the highlights of each location. Would definitely recommend using KimKim!

Hotel Reviews

Karahé Beach Hotel

Manuel Antonio

We loved Karahe! We saw more wildlife on the property of this hotel than in the national park. We stayed on the beach side of the property and I would recommend that. The beach was incredible and the staff were very helpful and friendly. Would 100% stay here again if we ever come back to Manuel Antonio!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Only steps from a perfect beach!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Volcano Lodge, Hotel & Thermal Experience

San Carlos, Alajuela

This hotel had a lot to offer. The hot springs pools were incredible and the included breakfast was the best we had anywhere in Costa Rica! The only downfall was the lack of activity, we never saw anyone else in the hot springs pools or at the bar.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Lost Canyon Waterfalls & Rappelling Adventure

Arenal/La Fortuna

This was the highlight of our trip! The guides were so much fun and super helpful. Rappelling was incredible and the journey traveling between waterfalls was just as action packed. We didn’t stop smiling the whole time!

Quality of Experience

Better than expected!

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Thank you for all the help and making this trip unique for our second trip. Really helped curate a special itinerary.

Hotel Reviews

Ti-fakara Boutique Hotel

La Fortuna

Amazing location near the waterfall great customer service and very cute boutique hotel room rooms

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Boutique Lagarta Lodge

Nosara

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

EcoTermales Hot Springs Experience with Meal

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunset Party Catamaran Sailing

Nosara

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Río Balsa Whitewater Rafting Adventure (Class II-III)

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Isla Chora Private Boat & Snorkeling

Nosara

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Adam (and team) was an amazing, thoughtful and thorough local specialist. He listened attentively to our goals & expectations and executed planning with precision.
We had hiccups with the car rental- overall probably the most disappointing/disruptive part. Ti-Fakara (waterfall) lodging was “ON POINT!” Second lodging was memorable for phenomenal(!!!) restaurant and grounds- room was “meh.” Last hotel was, “eek 😬… “ I think we were looking for a more authentic and intimate experience (like Ti-Fakara)- maybe hard to do at this location? However, feedback is not to throw shade at the hard working people who are employed there- they were wonderful with what they have to work with.
The ADVENTURES were STANDOUTS! 💖Consistently Adam booked us with BEST outfits and guides- this was a steady experience across the various areas we traveled in Costa Rica. Quality guides, educated, committed, engaging and enthusiastic- the guides were overall just BEAUTIFUL people, inside and out- people who will not be forgotten, who genuinely love their jobs. The logistics were timed perfectly, managed and communicated seamlessly. As a family, the adventures of hiking in various areas, bird spotting, animal, botanical, frog, insect identification, zip lining, white water rafting, whale/dolphin watching, snorkeling, beach frolicking, sunset/moon/ star gazing, photography … are memories forever seared into our individual and collective hearts and minds. We desperately needed this time to reconnect and recalibrate within ourselves, each other and with the naturaleza.

Hotel Reviews

Ti-fakara Boutique Hotel

La Fortuna

Beautiful up to date inspiring room, quaint, secluded, with rainforest experience- lots of birds, sloth and monkey spotting. LOVELY breakfast dining, nice dinner experience- service staff had warm and kind hospitality. Awesome night time guided walk, attentive staff. Walking distance to Fortuna Waterfall. Overall, BEST lodging experience.

Authenticity & Character

Small, quaint, simple, attentive, good attention to detail, good quality of facilities and grounds! Ti-Fakara seems to understand what they have to offer and embrace it with simplicity and authenticity- not over-reaching- trying to be something they can’t, understanding there is a lot of competition and they offer a unique slice of experience.

Location

Away from downtown, walkable distance to Fortuna Waterfall, surrounded by rainforest.

Staff

Reception staff (Esther), wait staff (Antonio), electricians/maintenance and cleaning staff were particular standouts.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were so thoughtfully cleaned! So appreciative of the care put into the rooms.

Cloud Forest Lodge

Monteverde

This hotel stood out with its hiking grounds on site and its PHENOMENAL dining experience- breakfast and dinner. I am not a vegetarian or vegan and their menu was so inclusive and inspiring, I chose a vegetarian option one of the nights- probably my most memorable vacation meal.

Authenticity & Character

Room felt like a slightly upgraded dorm room. With limited toilet paper, and wanting us to throw toilet paper in trash, access to a bidet would be a thoughtful touch. I desperately wanted a more “Tico” experience- traditional rocking chairs would be a beautiful touch to the sprawling deck.

Location

Remote- limited opportunity to explore the town- almost required dine-in at restaurant (which wasn’t a “bad thing,” just got “spendy,” but worth it!) However, great opportunity for rooftop bonfire, landscape views, sunset and star gazing!

Staff

Addressed above. Wait and Restaurant staff was top-notch.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Chillier than expected- no heater- limited blankets. Traveled with carry-on, limited space for warm clothing, had to get creative. It was fine. Curious toilet paper practices, could be cozier. BEAUTIFUL soaps and lotion. We upgraded room, in exchange we received a massively huge bathroom with vapid space- it was really “strange,” design-wise. Deck/Patio could embrace more ambiance as it is stunning and has amazing potential- it does have a coziness, which could inspire guests to linger with morning coffee, etc. In room coffee access was also very limited/scarce.

Leyenda Boutique Hotel and Spa

Hojancha Guanacaste

Needs an update and a thorough cleaning.

Authenticity & Character

I absolutely adored the Christmas entertainment- almost all Spanish songs. Beautiful musical entertainment the instrument playing and singing. Really special/unique. Songs bellowed into the rooms/suites/outdoor patios, drowning out road traffic. I felt this hotel was very tailored to the American traveler, I felt sad/disappointed as I really wanted to feel more “Costa Rica” and less of an American experience. Felt like a mainstream cheap American hotel, copy and pasted in Costa Rica. It was a cheaper version (in all ways) of the bougie resort down the street, which neither experience was wanted by our family.

Location

Location is physically right on main road. One can hear road traffic and smell gas/exhaust even at the back of the hotel.

Staff

Great restaurant staff. Evening night staff was particularly kind.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Trash from former occupants was left in room. Bathroom was not clean with thoroughness/care. Felt creepy/weird. Chose to wear sandals in shower and opted out of using jacuzzi. Patio was so beautiful- and once again under amplified with cheap, uncomfortable, faded (old) plastic table and chairs. It was such a STUNNING patio and to look out on the beautifully kept grounds watching and listening to the birds could have been even more memorable, cozy, authentic. It was challenging to get enough coffee stocked in room. Zero privacy from other guests. Rooms and patios echoed with various aged human activity.

Activity Reviews

Arenal Volcano Hike & EcoTermales Hot Springs Visit with Meal

Arenal/La Fortuna

Herson was just the BEST guide. We saw so much and were provided so much knowledge and wisdom of the land. Beautiful views. Great exercise. Ecotermales was nice. Super touristy- as was everything in Fortuna. Glad we went in the evening. Meal was delicious. Staff seemed somewhat annoyed/exhausted of tourists. 😂

Quality of Experience

The hike of Arenal with Herson.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Knowledgeable and Engaging. Wanting to teach.

Transport

Nice vehicle, knowledge of roads, safe driving.

Río Balsa Whitewater Rafting Adventure

Arenal/La Fortuna

Maybe our best/most fond Costa Rica adventure… on par with the Arenal hike.

Quality of Experience

Food

LOVED the family style (all guides, all tourists and restaurant together as one) feel of this TRADITIONAL Costa Rican meal after whitewater rafting. A special memory!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We especially loved that Jorge was with us from pick up to drop off, meaning he was ALSO our white water rafting rover guide. He was spectacular! 🌟 Driver was knowledgeable of roads and very safe. Vehicle was comfortable.

Transport

Teamwork between drive and guide. Good knowledge of roads.

Self-Guided Hike to La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

Go early. Huge amounts of tourists. Staff seemed annoyed.

Quality of Experience

The beauty and power of waterfall and walk down and up masked any other “curiosity.”

Werner Sauter Biological Reserve Hike

Sámara

Christopher was a great guide. Great to be exposed to the land/botanical landscape of the “dry side” of the rainforest. Fun to get out, exercise, break a sweat and to be taught local knowledge.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the Beaches Around Sámara

Sámara

Really beautiful tropical experience. So many tourists. 😂

Quality of Experience

Setting. Landscape.

Private Boat Seaside Adventure (Seasonal)

Sámara

Ok- next to the white water rafting… this experience might take the “gold star.” We were SO FORTUNATE to have Christopher as our guide once again, so he knew our family. He had a lovely crew. Josué and Yosuel (sp?). We had the most BEAUTIFUL experience and hands-down the best Christmas day of my life. Dolphins, whales, sea turtles, fish, invertebrates, coral reef. Snorkeling was top-notch and we tried out different locations.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

TreeTram, Hanging Bridges & Zipline Adventure

Monteverde

Everyone was very friendly and the views were beautiful. Also, a very informative nature walk with Alex. Would visit again.

Quality of Experience

See above

Guides, Drivers and Staff

See above

Transport

Adam (and Team) did a terrific job helping us plan our vacation to Costa Rica. We had a great visit! Better than expected frankly and already thinking of another visit next year. Highly recommend working with KimKim to plan your trip. We visited Playa Hermosa for a relaxing few days at the beach while staying at the memorable Hotel Bosque del Mar (the staff were so friendly and accommodating and we loved every meal!) . Then on to Hotel Arenal Lodge where we traveled into La Fortuna to join a cooking class and prepare and eat an authentic Costa Rican meal, followed the next day with a hiking tour of Arenal volcano (amazing to think the land you're walking on has only existed for ~57 years!) and a trip to the hot springs. Our last day we visited the La Fortuna waterfall down almost 500 stairs. Amazing to swim in the water with the powerful falls just a few meters away. The last few days of our visit were spent near Rincon at Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin. Great accommodations with delicious food and drinks at the restaurants. But the best part was the outdoor adventure activities - horseback riding, tubing down rapids (one time isn't enough) and ziplining through the canopy. Each of these really exceeded expectations. KimKim made everything much easier and less stressful. Thank you for all your efforts to make this a fun and memorable vacation!