Anna Grindevoll Strønstad

At first the planning went well. As we got closer to trip time and our agent went on leave, we had no responses to messages and had to call the emergency line for someone to be assigned to us.

We did like the Bergen lodging, though the washer dryer wasn’t in room, as promised. The Fjærland stay was excellent, but it would be great to know there were only three restaurants in town.

Some of the trip planning made no sense. We were originally scheduled to be in a town two hours from the airport which needed ferries that stopped at 11 pm.

It wasn’t the same as my other kimkim trips.

Hotel Reviews

Thon Hotel Ålesund

Ålesund

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sagafjord Hotel

Sæbø

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fjærland Fjordstove Hotell & Restaurant

Fjærland

Great experience!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Vander Apartments

Oslo

Great location. Note that washer and dryer isn’t in the room. And one in basement is always busy.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Floating Sauna

Norway

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Food & Culture Walk

Bergen

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guidet Hike to Blåbærstølen

Fjærland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Anna found just the right amount of planned activities balanced with the right amount of free time for us. We had lovely hotels, and really enjoyed the Avila cruise up the coast. I only wish we had a few more days to go all the way north. Food was very good, lodging was great, and our emergency changes (thanks to Tom scheduling us to fly out from Sveringen and not Svolvaer. The hotel Christina found for us was very nice, and we had our best meal there, in fact.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Victoria

Stavanger

We unexpectedly found ourselves in town due to a one letter error in airport codes and needed to fly there and stay the night with one day’s notice. The hotel is about a half hour drive from the airport, it’s only weakness. The bistro in the hotel is superb with a great menu of classics expertly prepared. The ambiance is classy but casual., and very comfortable. If you stay here you need to plan a great dinner there too.

Authenticity & Character

Fine old hotel well maintained, the rooms were comfortable, the dining room for breakfast is a lovely room and the breakfast excellent.

Location

We did not stay long enough to judge. For our purpose - getting to the airport by 10:00, it was good, but a 25-30 minute taxi ride.

Staff

I had very little contact, though the desk agent when we checked in was welcoming and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

It was all clean and comfortable.

Scandic Havet

Bodø

We had a 14th floor room with a view to die for! The hotel was down by the waterfront but not much was happening in the area. There were several dining options in easy walking distance. Breakfast buffet was great.

Authenticity & Character

Modern Scandinavian design, it is a nice hotel.

Location

It isn’t a happening area of town but it is convenient to the airport and the seaport. It

Staff

they seemed good; we had little direct interaction.

Cleanliness & Comfort

It was all clean and comfortable.

Havila Cruise

Fosnavåg

If you go to Norway, this trip up the west coast is a must. The accommodations are vvery nice, the food is excellent, and the excursions on shore were interesting by and large.

Authenticity & Character

Comfortable. Cabins

Location

The ship stops in most major ports on the west coast.

Staff

The staff were very approachable and helpful. The only concern was that our bathroom light was out, and though we reported it day 1, nobody came to fix it.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Every place on board was clean.

Grand Hotel Terminus

Bergen

Perfectly located across from the train station in downtown Bergen, the hotel features old world charm with modern amenities. It needs more electric outlets near the bed, however, so bring an extension core.

Authenticity & Character

Old world charm with real furniture and great buffet breakfast.

Location

Near waterfront and across the street from the train station, it is easy to find food, shopping, museums and nice parks.

Staff

All were friendly and helpfil

Cleanliness & Comfort

The bathroom was tiny but efficient

Activity Review

Bergen Walking Tour With a Local Guide

Bergen

Jon was knowledgeable and a good communicator. It was very worth doing.

Quality of Experience

We had a great tour of Norway.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The bus tour excursions from the cruise boat were fair, but the more participatory excursions were a better use of time and money.

Transport

Loved the cruise ship (not too big), and Norway’s rail system is great.

Anna did a wonderful job of helping us plan and arrange our trip to Norway! With her very helpful insights and suggestions, she helped us create exactly the kind of trip we were looking for. Anna and her team were responsive and helpful whenever we had questions, both before and during our trip. I would highly recommend Anna and KimKim!

This was a great trip. First of all, I'm sure we were lucky by having sunny or "almost sunny" weather for 7 days. My husband and I were thrilled with Anna's responsiveness and ability to modify our trip as a few unforeseen things such as a strike at KLM for baggage handling that changed our inbound flight. It really is worth it to have local expertise that can arrange hotels and transport in Norway. Also, it is important that you do your own research before reaching out to KimKim so that they can know what exactly you want to see and where to go. Norway is beautiful, the people are friendly, and the accommodations and transport are excellent. Again, the experience using KimKim, especially with Anna, was excellent. Bergen was lovely, Balestrand and Flåm railway breathtaking, Oslo is a fascinating city. Our guide, Stig, in Oslo, took us for an unbeatable off the main path tour - great! So much to see - we hope to go back to see even more of Norway.
Go and see the fjords for yourself!

I had not heard of kimkim before starting to plan for our trip to Norway, so I was a little apprehensive. My experience could not have been better and it exceeded my expectations by far. I found the website online and after reading some of the good reviews (and endorsements by familiar companies), I typed in general thoughts about what kind of travel we enjoy, and some of the things we wanted to do. Anna, our specialist, sent back an itinerary that was a great first start, and within a week or so, we had it almost finalized. I was able to talk with her a couple of times to go through the plan carefully, and she tweaked some things based on feedback. I never felt like I was being forced to pick the most expensive choices, rather Anna was able to point out value where appropriate. She also responded to concerns and adjusted our plans accordingly (where I felt we might benefit from a car service, rather than public transportation, as an example).

Our trip had a few twists and turns, and was not straightforward (one person had to leave early), and we added one person after the trip had been planned, and Anna handled it with grace and a bit of humor. She went above and beyond to help me make it work within my budget, and we wound up with a spectacular experience all around.

The price of our trip did adjust upwards a couple of times, and while it was likely due to adding some things, I would make sure to make sure I know the final cost (and what is included) before I finalize a trip in the future. I will definitely plan on using kim kim in the future, though!

Hotel Reviews

Thon Hotel Oslo Airport

Gardermoen

Typical airport hotel. It was a bit worn, and could use a bit of a fresh coat of paint and carpet repair.

Authenticity & Character

It's a hotel airport

Location

Staff

Nothing lacking, but nothing beyond basic service.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds were comfortable, and room was clean.

Svinøya Rorbuer

Svolvær

Very spacious, comfortable, beautiful views, great location.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful cabin in traditional style.

Location

Just a few minutes walk to town. Great location on the water.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Manshausen

Leinesfjord

Simply amazing! Breathtaking views and totally worth taking a detour to stay there. Everyone was very accommodating and because our unit wasn't rented, they were happy to let us have a late check out, so that we could explore the island until time for our ferry ride.

Authenticity & Character

Unique and wonderful.

Location

Breathtaking.

Staff

Very accommodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

lovely all around.

Hotel Norge by Scandic

Bergen

Loved the upbeat atmosphere, and the rooms were very comfortable and relatively spacious. The breakfast was amazing - it would be impossible to try everything!

Authenticity & Character

Nice vibe - dj in the lobby was fun.

Location

Great location in the middle of everything.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

very clean and comfortable

Highland Lodge

Geilo

Very comfortable and clean. Small rooms, but nice to have common area, and the bakery was great!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Nice lake and hiking in the area.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Continental

Oslo

5 star hotel with all of the expected amenities. Beds and rooms were very comfortable (but small). Breakfast was a highlight!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

One of them took the time to walk us to the train station so we wouldn't miss it.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Lofoten Sightseeing Trip

Svolvær

Andrea was a highlight of our trip. We spent a full day touring with him, and we could have spent another day with him! He went out of his way to show us things. It was clear he loves the islands, and sharing his love of the area with others.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Andrea had a delightful personality, and clearly loves the out of doors and the environment.

Transport

Comfortable car.

Explore Bergen with a Local

Bergen

John was a great guide. He was very knowledgeable about Bergen, and took the time to explain the history and to make sure we got a chance to see things that were of interest to us.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Not applicable - we walked, but it was a good pace.

Explore Oslo's Hidden Gems with a Local Expert

Oslo

Loved Stig - very knowledgeable, and we really enjoyed our time with him.

Quality of Experience

Very knowledgeable, and he was very engaging and cared about our time in Oslo.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Not applicable - we walked, but it was a fun walk.

Anna was so helpful and communicative in planning my trip. Usually, I plan all of my own travel, but this trip included my mother and was during a pretty busy time of year for me, so the help was invaluable and Anna was incredibly easy (and kind!) to work with.

We absolutely loved this short trip through Northern Norway and Lapland and Estonia. Mathias was a pleasure to deal with and got back to us with any of our queries immediately. All the day tours were fantastic and I would recommend (as always) kimkim to organise further trips.

Hotel Reviews

Scandic Ishavshotel

Tromsø

The hotel is in an excellent location with most things nearby. It is well kept and the rooms were comfortable.

Santa Claus Holiday Village

Rovaniemi

The hotel seemed central for most tours outside the village and is placed in a good location. The staff seem respectful but not overly helpful or knowledgeable. The rooms are adequate but lack heating, which was definitely felt in the Rovaniemi winter. We used the sauna with the door open to help heat the room. The restaurants provide plain fare with a five star price. Everything closes way too early making a rushed feeling to get around if excursions are organised during the day.

Authenticity & Character

Certainly delivers on its marketed character

Location

Excellent central location

Staff

A lot needed to exhibit more enthusiasm and knowledge of the area and facilities.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our room definitely needed better heating as the floors and room temperature were too cold to walk around comfortably and relaxed inside without keeping socks and warm clothing on.

Hotel Fabian

Helsinki

The hotel is close to everything and our room was excellent. The staff were amazing and prepared early breakfasts for us on 2 days which was exceptional, considering our early schedules. I would recommend this place to anyone staying in Helsinki.

Authenticity & Character

The hotel felt extremely comfortable and homely.

Location

It was close to everything even the Xmas Market.

Staff

Everybztaff member we dealt with was extremely helpful and polite with their advice on things to do and see and in making our stay feel very personal.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms were very clean and tidy and well set out.

Santa's Igloos Arctic Circle

Rovaniemi

The hot tub room was sublime. We spied the northern lights and a colourful meteor shower after being notified by alarm through the hotel to the room. The staff at reception were extremely helpful and polite and I would recommend staying here to anyone if in the Santa Claus Village area.

Authenticity & Character

We’ll set out rooms for viewing the sky and the hot tub was amazing in the cold snow.

Location

Located quietly away from the main village area making it feel more intimate.

Staff

Staff were extremely polite helpful and professional.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms are exceptionally well kept and set out.

Activity Reviews

Silent eSnowmobile Safari

Rovaniemi

This was great fun and went for a really good amount of time. Loved the countryside and the overall experience.

Quality of Experience

What a great bit of fun

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was really enjoyable to be around and made everything seem easy, smooth and relaxing.

Transport

Northern Lights Hunting in Santas Village

Rovaniemi

We only just saw lights far in the distance through the camera for a second, however the overall experience out in the quiet with the staff made for an exceptional night.

Quality of Experience

The staff made the night really enjoyable.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

They kept us entertained all through the night when we had a distinct lack of Aurora watching to help fill in the time. The staff really were great company.

Transport

Reindeer Safari & Farm Visit

Rovaniemi

It feels very touristy which it is, but we had great fun and the staff were all lovely.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

If you took the time to talk with the staff and ask them all about the reindeer, they were fantastic and really informative about how they look after them.

Transport

Day Trip To Tallinn

Helsinki

This is a great day trip and old Tallinn is a beautiful area to spend the day.

Dog Sledding

Tromsø

This was our favourite tour. It was great fun and really interactive. The staff were all fantastic and made it feel really authentic and not touristy. The dogs looked well cared for and it was great to be able to interact with them before and after the sledding without feeling pressured to move on.

Quality of Experience

Something very different and fun.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

All the staff we met were really enthusiastic about the dogs.

Transport

On time, comfortable and our driver was pleasant.

Historical City Walk

Tromsø

Astrid was a brilliant guide with a pleasant and knowledgable character. Her stories were captivating and we loved the tour she provided.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Astrid was a wonderful guide for this tour.

We had the most fantastic trip to Norway! Anna made the planning process so easy and when it came time to travel, everything was seamless with all of our booking information in one place. Anna gave great suggestions and advice for our trip!

Oslo was such a neat city and we loved everything we did there! We visited Stavanger which was such a unique and cozy city. The fjord cruise was absolutely beautiful.

In Bergen, we did a walking tour with a local, John, who was phenomenal. He was informative and continually checked that we were okay to keep going. John asked about our interests and gave us suggestions of places to visit. This walking tour was easily the most memorable part of the trip!

Our train ride to Flåm and our fjord cruise to the Viking Valley were breathtakingly beautiful! We enjoyed the Viking Valley, however due to being the off season, there was a 3 hour gap between the closing time of the valley and the shuttle ride back to Flåm.

We created memories to last a lifetime and I’ve already recommended KimKim to numerous friends and family! Thank you!!

Hotel Reviews

Zander K Hotel

Bergen

Zander K Hotel in Bergen was fantastic. The location was very walkable, and the flexibility and service were great.

Scandic Stavanger Park

Stavanger

Scandic Stavanger Park was decent. We initially didn't have towels in our room, but the staff quickly resolved the issue. The location was great, which made up for any minor inconveniences.

Clarion Hotel The Hub

Oslo

The Clarion Hotel The Hub in Oslo was fantastic. Everything was great, and it was definitely my favorite hotel during the trip. The location was perfect, making it easy to explore Oslo.

Activity Reviews

Fjord Cruise to Lysefjord & Pulpit Rock

Stavanger

The Fjord Cruise to Lysefjord and Pulpit Rock was beautiful. Despite being a bit tired from the overnight train, the cruise itself was an amazing experience.

Nærøyfjord Cruise & Viking Valley Tour

Norway

The fjord cruise was absolutely breathtaking. The Viking Valley was interesting and I’m glad we visited.

Quality of Experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A shuttle near closing time of the valley

Transport

Explore Bergen with a Local

Bergen

This was easily the most memorable part of our trip. John was informative and knowledgeable about the city and gave us great suggestions based on our interests. We thoroughly enjoyed our time with John!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff