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Beatriz De Pablo Rocha

The combination of the two places where I grew up (Madrid and a small village in Badajoz, Extremadura) has made me a passionate traveler almost from birth. Unknown destinations visited by travelers who ran away from clichés and unusual places have always caught my attention, and from my point of view, these are the places that best allow you to get to know a culture and its traditions.

I firmly believe that each of the trips we make changes our life (even just a little), and that is why I rely on experiences when I have to choose a new destination and the activities to enjoy there. I had the opportunity to spend a couple of weeks in a favela in Cape Town and listening to the real stories of the people living there absolutely changed my mind. Since I started traveling (through most of Europe and several destinations in Africa), I have felt the need to share these amazing and very diverse experiences with all the people who allow me to do it and create in them a memory for a lifetime.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"Custom-made itineraries and unique trips based in local experiences and the culture of Spain, Portugal and Morocco."

How did you get involved in travel?

"As I had to travel a lot between Madrid and Badajoz as a child, I started to get curious about all the places I passed by. That curiosity grew and over the time I began to take trips that allowed me to know different destinations and cultures. I decided to guide my career in the world of tourism, and for 5 years I have turned my passion into my job, organizing trips that create memories in the lives of others."

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"It’s really difficult for me to choose just one experience, but as we are talking about unique experiences probably I have to talk about the first time I lived a Flamenco show at a private and really small Sacromonte Cave, in Granada. Flamenco has always been special for me and could sound like “a cliché” in our country, but to watch a live show in such a magical and familiar place was absolutely memorable. "

Top itineraries and travel advice
Family itineraries
Honeymoon itineraries

Recent trip reviews for Beatriz

No matter what time or day, we were able to g...
Spain | Sep 10 - Sep 17, 2023

M
Maggie F.
Indian Trail, NC | Reviewed on Sep 18, 2023

No matter what time or day, we were able to get in contact pretty quickly for recommendations or transportation questions. Overall, would definitely use Kim Kim again! read more

No matter what time or day, we were able to get in contact pretty quickly for recommendations or transportation questions. Overall, would definitely use Kim Kim again!

Activity Reviews
Tapas Culinary Experience
Madrid
Quality of Experience
The guide and the food!!
Barcelona Sailboat Experience & Spanish Guitar Concert
Barcelona

Overall, we enjoyed the sailboat experience; however, the boat itself was not very clean nor the bathrooms - there was no toilet paper. The staff and the other people on board were friendly, but the cleanliness and food were fair. Beau offered to pay for the food since it was our last night, and she even mentioned that the food might not be that great/overpriced. We enjoyed how fast her responses were and her honest opinions!! Definitely recommend her!

Guided Visit of Madrid: History, Culture & Architecture of the Capital of Spain
Madrid

This was our favorite walking tour - they were all great! The guide was phenomenal

Guided Visit of Seville
Seville
Visit an Andalusian Olive Oil Estate
Seville
Flamenco Experience
Spain

Super fun experience!

Day trip to Córdoba
Seville

We LOVED Córdoba! This was such a cute city and easy trip since we took the train and back to Barcelona same day!!

Private Tour of Barcelona & La Sagrada Familia
Barcelona
Private Day Excursion to Local Winery & Tasting
Barcelona

This was such a cool experience! I love that it was a smaller winery and the people were so friendly! Such a cute town!

Local specialist: Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Beatriz
Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Sep 18, 2023

Hi Maggie & Michelle, thank you so much for this detailed review! We always try to be as helpful as we can before, during, and after your trip, so I'm so glad this helped you have a great experience discovering our country! :) It's been truly a pleasure to work with you during the entire process of creating this lovely trip. Warm regards, Bea.

This was our most amazing trip yet. Beatriz ...
Portugal | Aug 30 - Sep 13, 2023

Tom
Tom K.
Rockville, MD | Reviewed on Sep 17, 2023

This was our most amazing trip yet. Beatriz of Espiritu Travel was with us every step of the way. She sent the most amazing app we've ever seen and updated it as the trip went on. Everything was on there--our guides' phone numbers, when they would pick us up, what restaurants to go to, everything. She also found things for us to do which we would never have found on our own. For instance, we had seen a large quinta in Bon Appetit which we really wanted to visit for lunch. We asked our... read more

This was our most amazing trip yet. Beatriz of Espiritu Travel was with us every step of the way. She sent the most amazing app we've ever seen and updated it as the trip went on. Everything was on there--our guides' phone numbers, when they would pick us up, what restaurants to go to, everything. She also found things for us to do which we would never have found on our own. For instance, we had seen a large quinta in Bon Appetit which we really wanted to visit for lunch. We asked our local guide, Pepe, if we should go there or to the one Bea had picked out. He pointed out that the one Bea had picked out was a local farmer in the Duoro Valley and told us the entire experience would be better. He was right!
She also found a local olive grower in the Evora region w had us at his home for olive oil tasting and then a lunch (just the four of us)! We would never have found these people by ourselves. Paolo, our favorite guide, took us on an unscheduled stop to a hill town which would put the famous hill towns in Tuscany to shame. These are just some examples of why we are going to make every trip a kimkim trip.

Hotel Reviews
Pousada Convento De Belmonte
Belmonte

They upgraded us to the best room in the hotel.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Albergaria do Calvário
Évora
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
One guy spoke no Portuguese and the breakfast staff spoke no English, making breakfast a disaster. They were constantly behind, with no bowls, no glasses and no way to ask for them. At the end, the guy wanted to charge us for some things which the staff had told us were free. We even talked to other staff members who agreed it would be free.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Avenida Palace
Lisboa

This was the best hotel of our entire Portugal trip. It was worth the extra money we paid (not that much money) and more in the service they gave us. The breakfast was stunning.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Right in the middle of downtown district, close to everywhere.
Staff
The staff was the very best of the many times we've been to Europe. They left us some kind of present every night when they turned down the beds.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Lisbon Market, Food and Cultural Walk
Lisbon

This was a wonderful side trip.

Quality of Experience
Food
Everything!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Jewish Heritage Walking Experience
Lisbon

She knew her stuff and was very, very nice.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Evening of Fado
Lisbon

We enjoyed the evening. The dinner was just good. The male singer was excellent; the woman was good. It would have been nice to know what the songs were about..

Quality of Experience
Food
Private Day Excursion to Sintra, Cascais & Estoril
Lisbon

Our favorite guide. Paolo was amazing. He first took us to his wife's cafe, very well situated. Out came the coffee and pastries, until we could eat no more. He was a font of knowledge.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Transfer {{start_location}} to {{end_location}} via Alcobaça & Batalha
Portugal

The highlight of the day was a walled hill town which wasn't even on the schedule!!! By the time we got to Fatima, we could have gone 1/2 an hour to an hour less.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The guide was excellent. He knew everything.
Transport
Porto Jewish Heritage Tour
Porto

Very nice guide who really knew her stuff. She took us to a local cafe when we were lagging and even paid for it.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Day Excursion to Douro Valley, Wine Tasting & River Cruise
Porto

Very real experience in the quinta which was a highlight of our trip.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Jeep Safari through a Cork Fork & Visit to an Olive Oil Estate
Portugal

How did Bea find these people? Amazing day!!!

Quality of Experience
Food
What a great home cooked meal the wife made for us.
Local specialist: Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Beatriz
Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Sep 18, 2023

Hi Tom! Wow!!! Where to start? Thank you so, so much for your kind words, I feel so grateful I could be a little part of your most amazing trip yet! (such a responsibility!). We always work along with our local guides to try to create unforgettable memories for our travelers while discovering the country in the most honest and close way, as in the end, those experiences will be the most special ones, so I'm so, so happy to know you had an amazing time around Portugal. It was truly a pleasure to work with you throughout the entire process. Sending you my best regards! Bea

Beatriz was great! She helped us plan trip to...
Spain | Aug 4 - Aug 13, 2023

N
Nina S.
Bethesda, MD | Reviewed on Aug 20, 2023

Beatriz was great! She helped us plan trip to Barcelona and Mallorca. She gave us great options for tours to choose from, things we wouldn’t have though about. Our favorite one was tapas tasting walking tour - so fun, and our guide was amazing, we learned so much about food and traditions and got to taste a lot of tapas and drinks too. I highly recommend this tour and thankful to Bea for suggesting it. Another great suggestion was a tour of Montserrat - it was out of the busy city and very... read more

Beatriz was great! She helped us plan trip to Barcelona and Mallorca. She gave us great options for tours to choose from, things we wouldn’t have though about. Our favorite one was tapas tasting walking tour - so fun, and our guide was amazing, we learned so much about food and traditions and got to taste a lot of tapas and drinks too. I highly recommend this tour and thankful to Bea for suggesting it. Another great suggestion was a tour of Montserrat - it was out of the busy city and very beautiful. Every guide Bea booked for us was a top notch - very knowledgeable, informative, always on time. All our transfers were on time with nice vans to fit our family of 5. Another great part is that Bea was using the Trip Plans app. I never used this app before. It was so convenient - all details of our itinerary were in the app, with our guides contact numbers just in case, as well as restaurant suggestions and tours and sites description. Also, Bea was responding immediately to any questions via the app. It was so easy and convenient to follow. Thank you Bea!

Local specialist: Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Beatriz
Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Aug 23, 2023

Hi Nina! Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm so glad you enjoyed your time here discovering the Mediterranean with your guides and hope you have created lovely family memories :) It was so easy to work with you and truly a pleasure. Sending you my best regards! Bea

Spain and Portugal trip for one month
Spain | Jul 2 - Aug 1, 2023

Raj
Raj K.
| Reviewed on Aug 02, 2023

Beatriz did an outstanding job in planning our trip. Her suggestions for various activities including planning many cultural experiences were exactly what we wanted. She was very responsive and met our needs on budget and what we wanted to see and do on our trip. All the day tours were small group and very personalized. The app is very effective and the train tickets, plane tickets etc. provided was very convenient. The guides were excellent - very authentic and knowledgeable and truly... read more

Beatriz did an outstanding job in planning our trip. Her suggestions for various activities including planning many cultural experiences were exactly what we wanted. She was very responsive and met our needs on budget and what we wanted to see and do on our trip. All the day tours were small group and very personalized. The app is very effective and the train tickets, plane tickets etc. provided was very convenient. The guides were excellent - very authentic and knowledgeable and truly interested in ensuring that we got teh best experience possible.
San Sebastien: Amaia was a wonderful guide for the walking tour. Very knowledgeable and gave us a lot of background.
The Pinto tasting tour was very good too (sorry can't remember the name of the guide)
La Rioja wine tour was great. Our guides were Joseglu and Arriving (a new trainee) . Both were knowledgeable about the history of the country and the wine region.
Bilbao (Guggenhiem) and Gaztelugatxe tour was also guided by Joseglu and Arri and was very good. We felt that perhaps we could have spent more time at Gugenheim - we got only 1 hour 15 mins - and less time at Gaztelugatxe and walking around Bilbao.
Pamplona: Diego was fantastic. He is a proud Basque and gave us a lot fo history and information about the region and a great view of the running of the bulls. A once in a lifetime experience - very exciting.
The choice of Zinema7 hotel in San Sebastien was excellent. Probably the best on the whole trip.
Granada: The Alhambra tour was also very good. Our guide (forget his name) Small group and we learned a lot of the history. Hotel (Palacio De Santa Ines) was also good.
We saw on our own a flamenco show in Sacramonte - again a great cultural experience.
Granada to Malaga: The choice fo rent a car company (Sixt) was good too. The people there were very helpful.
Great idea by Beatriz to stop at Frigiliana and Nerja - small towns that give a close up at the Spanish countryside and people.
Malaga is a great spot and we saw it mostly on our own. The sunset cruise arranged by Beatriz was very good.
Malaga to Seville: Nice drive with a stop at Ronda. a good place to visit.
Seville: Pablo was the guide for the walking tour of Seville. He was also very good. The hotel - H10 Corregidor was good.
Cordoba: The train trip was convenient. We found Cordoba to be the most be the most beautiful mosque/cathedral. Our guide was Saray although the app said it would be Enrique. She did a good job.
Lisbon: Filipa Santos gave us the walking tour of Lisbon. She was excellent - and also very knowledgeable. We got a great understanding of Portugal history.
For the Belem tour by tuk-tuk our guide was Davide. It was a good experience.
Lisbon Roots, Food and Cultural Walk: Sofia was the guide - and amongst all the guides we had - she was the best. She taught us so much and she did it in such a personal way it was outstanding. The food choices and her tour of the neighborhoods was wonderful.
Sintra, Cascais tour: Paulo Pires was our driver and guide for the day. He is excellent - so personally committed to providing the best service. He also gave us such great information and made us feel special.
We saw a Fado show on our own and that was a great cultural experience.
Lisbon to Porto via Obidos and Nazare: Nuno was our driver and guide for the day. He was also very caring and knowledgeable. Had a wonderful day.
The hotel room in Lisbon - Madalena - was good. However the breakfast was lacking in quality compared to the Spain hotels.
Porto: Pedro Nelson was our guide. We liked Porto also and Pedro gave us a good walking tour.
Douro Valley: Gustavo was our driver and guide for the day. He also was excellent. The winery selected (Maos) was truly a unique personal experience. It was unique because we met the owner and shared a meal with him. We have seen wineries in many regions around the world but the tour here was so personal.
Madrid: Walking tour with Hector

Hotel Reviews
Palacio de Santa Inés Hotel
Granada

Very nice hotel in the central part of Granada. Its a heritage building and unique. The staff was very helpful.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Molina Lario Hotel
Málaga

The hotel is excellent and the staff helpful. The breakfast included was very high quality. The car access to the hotel is not the best and this will only impact people driving.

Authenticity & Character
Very new
Location
Centrally located.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
H10 Corregidor Boutique Hotel
Sevilla

Good hotel. Room was tiny. Nicely located. Breakfast was good. Staff is very helpful.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Tiny room.
Madalena by The Beautique Hotels
Lisbon

Location is great. Hotel looks renovated - in a unique style. Breakfast was below average. Food quality and variety was limited.

Authenticity & Character
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Breakfast quality is average at best.
Porto Charming Hotel
Porto

Hotel is very basic - and did not fit the quality fo the other hotels on the trip. Room was tiny with very basic amenities. Almost like a hostel. Breakfast was limited in quality and variety. One day they were 30 minutes late in opening and our tour got a bit delayed.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
7 Islas Hotel
Madrid

Nice hotel - rooms are good size and comfortable. Breakfast was good. Location is excellent.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Zinema7
San Sebastian (Guipuzcoa)

Probably teh best hotel choice on the trip. Excellent room, great service, very nice restaurant and wonderful staff.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Guided Visit of San Sebastian
San Sebastián

Very good tour. Great views of the city. However, the walking was a bit much. The walk back from the hill (with the funicular) back to Old Town seemed repetitive and if possible could be avoided.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Amaia was excellent. She is so knowledgeable and authentic. she was truly caring about our needs adn questions.
San Sebastian Pintxo Experience
San Sebastián

Great exposure to the pinto culture of San Sebastien. Good choice of restaurants. Food was great and so were the choice of wines.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Rioja Wine Tour from San Sebastián
San Sebastián

Excellent tour of Rioja wine country. Choice of wineries was good. Laguardia was also good.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Joseglu (driving) and Arri (trainee) were the guides. Both were genuinely interested in showing us and giving us a lot of information . They did a great job. Very personable.
Transport
Bilbao, Guggenheim and Gaztelugatxe from San Sebastian
San Sebastián

We had a great time on this tour with the same guides as for Rioja. Gaztelugatxe was excellent. The walking tour of Bilbao was also good. However, I think the tour can be modified to allow for more time at teh Guggenheim. We got only 1 hour and 15 minutes which was not really enough. Some time could have been reduced at both Bilbao and Gaztelugatxe to allow more time at Guggenheim.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Again, Joeglu and Arri did a great job. They were great hosts and guides.
Transport
Day trip to Pamplona
San Sebastián

One of the highlights of the entire trip! The experience of seeing the "running of the bulls" was exhilarating. IT was short trip since we had to return to San Sebastien to catch a flight. But we were able to see the running of the bulls from a balcony. The hosts were very nice and provided us with a basic breakfast. After the running, we walked the entire route and got a good look at the town of Pamplona. There was an amazing party atmosphere with thousands of people attending the festival.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Diego is an excellent guide. He is so committed to making sure his guests have a good time. HE told us a lot about Basque history, the history of bull fighting and ensured that we got a good view. He took pictures and sent them to us - to add to what pictures we took.
Transport
Even with a tight timeline, Diego was able to get us back in good time for our flight.
Tour of the Alhambra and Generalife Gardens
Spain

Alhambra is fantastic. The history, architecture and the way it has been maintained is wonderful. The tour was well conducted by our guide.

Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide was very good. Sorry I forget his name. I think it was Nacho.
Flamenco Show in a Sacromonte Cave
Granada

This flamenco performance is different (in a good way) from the typical flamenco dances one sees in restaurants and other places. The ladies are not dressed in the fancy clothes, they dont use castanets for sound of the beat. Instead they are dressed in plain dress that perhaps were the type won by the people in teh villages who danced flamenco. It felt very authentic and original.

Quality of Experience
Sunset Málaga Cruise
Málaga

Cruise around the port of Malaga was good. Compared to all the other activities that were in small groups, this tour was on a large boat which was quite full and crowded. However, people were having a good time. We enjoyed it for teh views of the Mediterranean sea, and the city and its surroundings.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Staff on teh boat were helpful
Transport
Boat itself was good.
Guided Visit of Seville
Seville

Beautiful city walking tour with Pedro. Seville has a beautiful town center. Alcazar has some similarities with Alhambra in Granada but has its own charm. Again, great history. We had a nice lunch in town before walking back to our hotel.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Pablo did a great job in explaining the history of the town in the context fo Spain's history.
Day trip to Córdoba
Seville

After seeing Alhambra (Granada) and Alcazar (Seville) and Alcazaba (Malaga) we thought Cordoba might be similar. But as we stepped into the mosque/cathedral in Cordoba we were awe-struck. This place is perhaps the most beautiful historical site in all of Spain. The beauty of the architecture fo the building and the combination of the mosque and cathedral is just magnificent.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Saray was our guide for Cordoba. She did a great job in walking us thru the town including the Jewish Quarter and the mosque/cathedral.
Transport
The train ride back and forth from Seville was easy and very convenient.
Get to Know Lisbon with a Local
Lisbon

Lisbon is a beautiful city and very walkable. This tour is a must do when in Lisbon. Our guide, Filipa Santos, did a great job in explaining the history of Lisbon and some fun facts like how Ian Fleming was inspired to create James Bond while in Lisbon. Seeing the different neighborhoods and their unique characters was very interesting.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Filipa Santos was our guide - she is excellent and very knowledgeable about the history of Lisbon. She gave us a ton of information about Lisbon which added a lot of context to what we were seeing in the city.
Transport
It was a walking tour so one needs to be ready for a long walk. Lisbon is also hilly so there are some fairly steep slopes.
Go West to Belém TukTuk Tour
Lisbon

Riding in a tuk-tuk was fun - a bit touristy but worth it. The highlights of the tour was the Belem tour (a must see in Lisbon) adn tasting the pastels in the 1837 bakery that makes and sells them. It would have been better to spend a few more minutes at the monastery which has some amazing architecture rather than at the shops in the converted factory.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Davide was our guide and driver of the tun-tuk. He did a good job explaining what we were seeing along the way.
Transport
Tuk-tuk is a fun experience.
Lisbon Roots, Food & Cultural Walk
Portugal

This walking tour was one of the highlights of our trip to Portugal. The food and tour of the neighborhoods was so educational. Lisbon has a great history with the intermingling of so many cultures. The food on the tour reflected that history and heritage.

Quality of Experience
Food
The selections of all the food and more importantly Sofia's explanations to what she chose them and the relationship with Lisbon was fantastic.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide was Sofia. While all our guides were great, Sofia was outstanding. She loves what she does and so proud of the heritage of Lisbon. She explained all the history adn took care to respond to all our questions. She showed us so many corners of Lisbon. Thank you Sofia.
Transport
Its a walking tour. great exercise especially when one is eating all along teh way.
Private Day Excursion to Sintra, Cascais & Estoril
Lisbon

Definitely worth doing this trip to Sintra and Cascais. Sintra ia a beautiful town in the hills. The weather was lovely. The beaches near Sintra were also beautiful. Cascais was more like a beach resort town and somewhat touristy. We had a nice lunch at a local spot in the hills that Paolo, our guide. knew. The food was fantastic there.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Paolo was with us for the whole day. He did a great job showing us the area adn giving us a lot of information. HE also introduced us to his wife who runs her own coffee shop in Sintra. That was a special treat.
Transport
Private Transfer {{start_location}} to {{end_location}} via Nazaré & Óbidos
Portugal

Obidos is a cool medieval town. We had a nice walk thru the town, stopping at some of the small shops along the main street. The views from the ramparts fo the fort were beautiful as we looked out on green farms all around. Nazare' is a very nice beach town that is known for its wide and long beach. In winter, the waves are ideal for surfing although at this time in teh summer the Atlantic was very calm. We had a nice lunch along the beach and then got some good views from the top of the cliff looking down on the beach.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Nuno was our driver and guide for the day. He did a great job of driving us to Porto adn stopping at Obidos and Nazare. He is very knowledgeable about the country and was happy to share his thoughts on many aspects of life in Portugal.
Transport
Comfortable car.
Privately Guided Visit of Porto
Porto

Porto is a beautiful small town. We had a good walking tour of the city ending near the river. We then had lunch at a restaurant along the river and visited one of the tasting centers for port wine. As teh gateway o Douro valley its a must see town in Portugal.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Pedro Nelson was our guide. He told us a lot of great stories about life in Porto and pointed out many interesting spots in the city.
Transport
The walking tour was very good.
Day Excursion to Douro Valley, Wine Tasting & River Cruise
Porto

Douro Valley is an amazing place to grow grapes for wine. It is a large valley with the Douro river flowing through it. Very picturesque. Vines are planted all the way to the top of the hills. The river cruise was beautiful - very peaceful. The best part of the day was the wine tasting. We were taken to a small privately owned winery. Our host treated us to the wines from his estate which were excellent and also to a homemade lunch which was also excellent. We then took a short walk through his vineyard to get a first hand look at how they grow grapes and some of the challenges they face.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Gustavo was our driver and guide for the day. He did a great job driving us and also telling us a lot about wine making in the region. He is an excellent guide.
Transport
The trip was safe and comfortable.
Tapas Culinary Experience
Madrid

We went to 4 different tapas restaurants and tasted their specialty tapas in each. From garlic shrimp to tuna on toast and many other delicacies we got to taste some excellent tapas and drink some wonderful wine. A great ecperteince because these were not the typical tourney places.

Quality of Experience
Food
The tapas was fantastic!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide was Noemi and she did a great job of taking us to all these places and explaining the different dishes.
Transport
It was walking tour and we got a great look at Madrid centro
Guided Visit of Madrid: History, Culture & Architecture of the Capital of Spain
Madrid

A very nice walking tour of the center of Madrid. An educational trip to learn about the history of the city and its evolution. We saw teh palace from outside) adn various neighborhoods.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide was Hector. He is very knowledgeable about Madrid and all of Spain from a historical perspective. He was able to tell us a lot about the city and country and also the neighborhoods of the city.
Transport
It was a great walking tour.
Local specialist: Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Beatriz
Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Aug 04, 2023

Hi Raj! Wow!!! Thank you so, so much for your super detailed feedback! I'm sure you already did, but I will make sure I share all your comments with your guides both in Spain and Portugal :) Being a small part of such a special trip around both countries it's been truly a pleasure, and I hope you created lovely memories during this month discovering the Iberian Peninsula. Sending you my best regards! Bea.

Loved everything. Thank you for making our Ma...
Spain | Jul 17 - Jul 23, 2023

S
Stephanie W.
Commack, NY | Reviewed on Jul 25, 2023

Loved everything. Thank you for making our Mallorca trip unforgettable read more

Loved everything. Thank you for making our Mallorca trip unforgettable

Hotel Review
Melia Palma Bay
Palma de Mallorca
Authenticity & Character
Beautiful
Location
Staff
AWESOME!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Beautiful
Local specialist: Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Beatriz
Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Jul 26, 2023

Hi Stephanie! You can't imagine how happy it makes me know that you had an unforgettable trip! :) Hope you created lovely memories while discovering Mallorca, it was truly a pleasure being a small part of this! Best regards, Bea.

Bea did a wonderful job planning my trip to P...
Portugal | Jul 12 - Jul 20, 2023

Judith
Judith F.
Columbus, OH | Reviewed on Jul 21, 2023

Bea did a wonderful job planning my trip to Portugal. All the drivers arrived promptly and were professional and friendly. The hotels were in perfect locations and the staff very helpful and hospitable. read more

Bea did a wonderful job planning my trip to Portugal. All the drivers arrived promptly and were professional and friendly. The hotels were in perfect locations and the staff very helpful and hospitable.

Hotel Reviews
Palácio Ludovice Wine Experience Hotel
Lisboa

Beautiful hotel with a roll out the red carpet staff. Perfect location to walk for walking.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The towels were extra big and bed so comfortable.
Se Catedral Hotel Porto, Tapestry Collection By Hilton
Porto

Perfect location. The breakfast was excellent. Needs a full length mirror in the room.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
A great lounge area and bright colorful decorations in the lobby.
Quinta de la Rosa
Pinhão

The Quinta overlooks the river and the views are spectacular. The restaurant is amazing and the wine tour on the property very informative.

Authenticity & Character
Family owned hotel and staff very kind.
Location
The scenery and the beauty.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Guided Tuk-Tuk Tour
Portugal

A definite plus and fun way to see Lisbon.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Excursion to Sintra & Sailing Experience: Cascais to Lisbon
Lisbon

A definite must. Wear your walking shoes as it is hilly to climb to the palace.

Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Lisbon Roots, Food & Cultural Walk
Portugal

Small group. We enjoyed tasting the foods in the market and going to 2 restaurants.we

Quality of Experience
I
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Private Transfer {{start_location}} to {{end_location}} via Coimbra
Portugal

Driver was great. Coumbra is a small area to visit and enjoyed the shopping.

Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Foodie Experience in Porto
Porto

The food is excellent and many restaurants.The

Quality of Experience
Many steps and hills. Funicular is a must.
Wine Cellar Guided Visit with Lunch
Douro Valley

The owner Pablo took the time to show us his family's winery and lunch in their beautiful home.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Wine and Sail in the Douro Valley
Douro Valley

Perfect and relaxing boat ride.

Quality of Experience
J9
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Beatriz
Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Jul 24, 2023

Hi Judith! Thank you so much for your feedback! :) Ensuring that our travelers are having a great time and creating lovely memories while discovering new places is always our priority (especially when celebrating special occasions!). It was a pleasure working with you all along the way! Best regards, Bea.

We loved our trip to Portugal! Booking throug...
Portugal | Jul 1 - Jul 10, 2023

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Nina G.
Herndon, VA | Reviewed on Jul 17, 2023

We loved our trip to Portugal! Booking through KimKim made everything so easy, and Bea was incredibly responsive both during the planning phase and for questions that came up when we were traveling. Would 100% recommend the trip and Bea!!! read more

We loved our trip to Portugal! Booking through KimKim made everything so easy, and Bea was incredibly responsive both during the planning phase and for questions that came up when we were traveling. Would 100% recommend the trip and Bea!!!

Hotel Reviews
PortoBay Hotel Teatro
Porto

Location was perfect and breakfast was great!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Do Colégio
Ponta Delgada

Location was perfect - we could walk to lots of great restaurants and the marina. Hotel even decorated our bed with rose petals for our honeymoon. The front desk was very helpful - they called taxis for us, made recommendations, and lent us towels for all of our day trips. We also had the best meal of our lives at Otaka, not to be missed!!! The pizza place right next door was also great. The hotel breakfast here was only okay, but it was nice to have somewhere to grab a quick bite before leaving for the day.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Be Poet Baixa Hotel
Lisbon

This place is right in the heart of a million restaurants, shops, street performers, etc. This was perfect for us, but also meant the rooms were a bit smaller, and there was sometimes a bit of noise outside. It didn't keep us up, but others may be bothered by it. Front desk was very helpful, and they greeted us with wine and pastries! Breakfast was only okay. Totally fine for a quick bite before tours, but we sometimes opted to venture off for a coffee at a cafe somewhere else.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Foodie Experience in Porto
Porto

We had a lot of fun doing this on our first night! Only thing that could have been better is if we had known what all of the tastings were going to be in advance. We started out finishing the wine they provided at the first stop only to find out there were ~4 more glasses of wine coming!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Privately Guided Visit of Porto
Porto

We loved walking the city with a private guide. Meant we got to break for a while and sit at a cafe while hearing about life in Porto. He also adapted the tour so we could end at the book shop we wanted to see! Walking tour was especially great in Porto because we really felt like we saw all of the city highlights. We ended up taking the guide's recommendation and taking an uber/spending the rest of the day along the beach starting at Praia da Luz and walking toward Matosinhos. So many fun beachfront restaurants for drinks and food!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Sete Ciudades Jeep & Hike Adventure Full Day
São Miguel Island

Really beautiful, just wished we had gotten to do more hiking rather than jumping in and out of the car at the lookout points!

Volcanic Experience in Furnas Full Day
São Miguel Island

We really liked this day - we requested that we start with a hike so we did a ~2 hour walk around the whole body of water which meant we could take in the beautiful scenery!

Get to Know Lisbon with a Local
Lisbon
Cooking Class with Market Visit
Lisbon

We had lots of fun making the delicious food, but be warned that this was supposed to take 3 hours and ended up being a 6 hour activity instead! That being said, the market visit was great and was basically a tasting before the whole thing started. We just wish we had known how long everything was going to take!

Private Day Excursion to Sintra, Cascais & Estoril
Lisbon

We had lots of fun, and this was our last day of vacation! Be warned that the guide will not come into Pena Palace with you, so if you want to learn more about the rooms while you're walking through, you need to make sure you either have a guide inside or download an audio app for a self-guided tour. This didn't end up taking away from our experience, but we didn't realize that other groups would have tour guides leading them, so we were a little taken aback at first. As we kept walking though, we didn't feel like we really needed it. The town of Sintra was also very cute. We wish we had just been able to get lunch there rather than the designated spot which was tasty, but was essentially a food truck in a parking lot. Cascais was also gorgeous, and we probably could have spent a full day there lounging at the beach instead of just a few hours!

Local specialist: Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Beatriz
Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Jul 18, 2023

Hi Nina! Thank you so much for your super detailed feedback! I'm so happy to have been a small part of this special trip and really glad you enjoyed your Honeymoon while discovering Portugal, that's definitely our best reward! It's been a pleasure helping you with this adventure. Best regards, Bea.

The hotels and the activities provided were e...
Spain | Jun 30 - Jul 15, 2023

S
Sean S.
Aloha, OR | Reviewed on Jul 16, 2023

The hotels and the activities provided were excellent. Maybe because of our age but I thought the trip had too many activities planned without enough time between. There was no way we could have made the trip from Vigo to the boat trip on the River Sal.
I thought San Sebastián was a Zoo and very hard to drive. I would skip that City and use the time for a more leisurely drive through the rest of the trip.
Everyone is different but apart from the above comments everything else was great. No... read more

The hotels and the activities provided were excellent. Maybe because of our age but I thought the trip had too many activities planned without enough time between. There was no way we could have made the trip from Vigo to the boat trip on the River Sal.
I thought San Sebastián was a Zoo and very hard to drive. I would skip that City and use the time for a more leisurely drive through the rest of the trip.
Everyone is different but apart from the above comments everything else was great. No complaints about Bea, the hotels or the places visited. We will use Kimkim again!!

Hotel Reviews
7 Islas Hotel
Madrid
Authenticity & Character
It was just a nice hotel
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
San Francisco Hotel Monumento
Santiago de Compostela

An excellent historical hotel.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Very close to the Cathedral of Santiago.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
NH Collection Vigo
Vigo
Authenticity & Character
A nice hotel but obviously part of the tourist bus tours
Location
Staff
I can’t remember his name but one of the guest services person was very good.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Parador de Monforte de Lemos
Monforte de Lemos
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Princesa Munia Hotel & Spa
Oviedo, Asturias

Compared with some of the other hotels it couldn’t quite compete. Not a bad hotel but we were not interested in any of the Spa services and maybe a less pretentious hotel in Oviedo would’ve been better.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Puebloastur Eco-Resort Wellness & Spa
Cofiño, Parres

Great place. Amazing views, tranquility and excellent service and food.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Petit Palace Arana
Bilbao

Adequate but below the standards of all the hotels. Unclear instructions about arrival at the hotel. The car park is conveniently located but in practical terms you need to park the car before checking in. There is absolutely no space to park in front of the hotel.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
One Shot Tabakalera House
San Sebastian

Great hotel and the lunch at the Basque Culinary School next door was our best meal in Spain.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Tapas Culinary Experience
Madrid

Never happened because our flight to Madrid was delayed.

Privately Guided Visit of Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela

The guide was excellent

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Boat Tour of Ribeira Sacra
Spain

I was not feeling well that day and so we canceled the boat trip on the River Sil. However when the time was changed to be an hour earlier than originally scheduled it would have been almost impossible to get there on time. Unless you set off from the hotel at 8 am and that would have been typical because of coach tours checking out at that time and you would still need someone to get the car (front desk in our case). Completely impractical for a relaxing holiday.

Gastronomic Experience in Oviedo
Oviedo

A very good tour with some unique features of the tour, such as the cider tasting.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Day Excursion to Covadonga Lakes (Family Friendly)
Spain

The guide was excellent. Even though the most was so dense that it was hard to see the lakes, it was still a good tour with an excellent guide.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Guided Visit of San Sebastian
San Sebastián

Excellent tour

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
San Sebastian Pintxo Experience
San Sebastián

We tasted Pintxo that we never tasted before or after this tour. The guide chose excellent places to sample the Pintxos.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Beatriz
Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Jul 23, 2023

Hi Sean, thank you so much for your feedback! I'm glad you enjoyed your road trip around the North of Spain, passing by along truly beautiful locations for sure :) By traveling during the high season some cities could be more packed than others (especially notably when coming from more off-the-beaten-path locations), but I'm glad you enjoyed our country during summer! :) Sending you my best regards, Bea.

So glad we did this!
Spain | Jun 16 - Jun 27, 2023

J
Jon S.
Columbia, MD | Reviewed on Jul 08, 2023

A mere two decades after my wife told me on our first date that she always wanted to go to Spain, we decided to make it happen for her birthday - with our daughters in tow. For the first time, we sought help arranging an itinerary and found Kimkim online. We saw that Beatriz, a travel consultant in Spain, had off-the-charts customer reviews.

They didn't do her justice.

We contacted Bea initially just to explore options. We told her our interests, intent, and party make up. Bea... read more

A mere two decades after my wife told me on our first date that she always wanted to go to Spain, we decided to make it happen for her birthday - with our daughters in tow. For the first time, we sought help arranging an itinerary and found Kimkim online. We saw that Beatriz, a travel consultant in Spain, had off-the-charts customer reviews.

They didn't do her justice.

We contacted Bea initially just to explore options. We told her our interests, intent, and party make up. Bea continuously offered us modified options until we locked in a plan. Nothing she offered was cookie cutter and we developed a truly specialized itinerary. From Madrid, to Granada, to Cordoba, Sevilla and Barcelona, we had an incredible trip. Bea looked into every detail and found us gems at every stop. We enjoyed multiple private walking tours (including in most cities, at the Alhambra, and a chocolate walking tour in Barcelona - crazy good), flamenco, a cooking class, an Andalusian equestrian show, fantastic hikes and a kayak trip, hotels that fit our needs perfectly, and easy, organized trips by truly professional drivers to and from every train station where Bea booked our passages. She even contacted us before the trip when she saw how hot it was going to be in Sevilla and asked if we might prefer an private river tour to our planned walking tour. We took her up on it, which was a Good Thing as it was pushing 100 degrees and our littles were about to revolt. Bea and her colleagues were available throughout the trip, which added additional support and comfort.

This was a truly memorable trip and Bea/Kimkim are owed considerable thanks for it. Next time we head out on such an adventure, we will certainly contact them again. Thank you, Bea!

Local specialist: Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Beatriz
Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Jul 11, 2023

Hi Jon! Wow, where to start? Thank you so, so much for your kind words, I feel so grateful I could be a little part of such a special family trip to Spain! It was truly a pleasure to work with you throughout the entire process and I'm so happy to know you created lovely memories in our country. Sending you my best regards! Bea

A fantastic experience from start to finish
Portugal | Jun 13 - Jun 23, 2023

B
Becca B.
Abington, PA | Reviewed on Jun 27, 2023

What a fantastic experience from start to finish! Bea planned a perfectly paced trip for our family of three and was incredibly responsive to questions, suggested itinerary changes etc. We got to experience so much while still having plenty of down time to wander.
The guides she arranged were excellent- friendly and so knowledgeable. Tiago provided an unforgettable day in Sintra and Emanuel was the perfect guide for the national park.
Bea (and when she was away her colleague Helena) were... read more

What a fantastic experience from start to finish! Bea planned a perfectly paced trip for our family of three and was incredibly responsive to questions, suggested itinerary changes etc. We got to experience so much while still having plenty of down time to wander.
The guides she arranged were excellent- friendly and so knowledgeable. Tiago provided an unforgettable day in Sintra and Emanuel was the perfect guide for the national park.
Bea (and when she was away her colleague Helena) were very helpful and flexible when I had an unexpected medical issue, which changed our itinerary a bit.
All in all a fabulous trip!

Hotel Review
PortoBay Marquês
Lisbon

The staff here is out of this world. So warm and welcoming! they really went above and beyond

Local specialist: Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Beatriz
Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Jun 27, 2023

Hi Becca! Thank you so much for your feedback! I'm so glad to know that you have had a great time while discovering Portugal as a family, that's always our best reward :) It's been a pleasure to work with you all along the way! Best regards, Bea.

Portugal summer 2023
Portugal | Jun 4 - Jun 11, 2023

C
Chris M.
Seven Oaks, SC | Reviewed on Jun 12, 2023

The overall tour experience and planning were impeccable! Could not have asked for a better Portugal experience! read more

The overall tour experience and planning were impeccable! Could not have asked for a better Portugal experience!

Hotel Reviews
The Pine Cliffs Resort
Albufeira

Beautiful family friendly large resort directly on the beach

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
H10 Duque de Loule
Lisboa

Beautiful hotel. A 20 minute or so walk from the main tourist areas.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Casa Balthazar
Lisbon

Really nice and unique hotel

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Get to Know Lisbon with a Local
Lisbon

Excellent pace and tour breadth

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Lisbon Roots, Food & Cultural Walk
Portugal

One of the best food tours I’ve ever been on!!!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Private Yacht Charter to Benagil Caves
Portugal

Perfect day on the water

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Wine Tasting & Lunch at a Portuguese Quinta
Portugal
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Evening of Fado
Lisbon

Very cool experience and the food was 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍. Very intimated and well done

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Beatriz
Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Jun 12, 2023

Chris!!! What GREAT family photos from your trip!!! I'm so glad you had a great time discovering Lisbon and the Algarve region with your beloved ones :) Once again, thank you so much for trusting us for your vacation, it's always a pleasure to work with you. Hope to do it again in the future!!! Sending you my best regards, Bea.

Thanks for amazing week in Portugal!
Portugal | May 13 - May 20, 2023

Melissa
Melissa S.
Galena, IL | Reviewed on May 24, 2023

This was such an amazing trip!

We really enjoyed the hotels in both Lisbon and Evora. The staff in each were friendly and accommodating.

Every tour guide was incredible. They were all willing to share about themselves and their culture, making each one truly special.

We had Gisella for the walking tour. We really connected with her, and she showed us a TON of Lisbon. She gave us tips and ideas for food and drink that we used during our free time. She was friendly, and easy to... read more

This was such an amazing trip!

We really enjoyed the hotels in both Lisbon and Evora. The staff in each were friendly and accommodating.

Every tour guide was incredible. They were all willing to share about themselves and their culture, making each one truly special.

We had Gisella for the walking tour. We really connected with her, and she showed us a TON of Lisbon. She gave us tips and ideas for food and drink that we used during our free time. She was friendly, and easy to understand.

On Monday, we had Vitor for the day. He added a lot of personal details, and took us to some of his favorite spots near Setubal. He gave us a great intro to Evora as well. He was super friendly and accommodating.

Telma gave us a very informative walking tour through Évora. She really knew her stuff, and it was wonderful to learn about the area through her knowledge and experience.

Daniella on the Food Tour in Lisbon was captivating. She has such a way about her, and gave us so much more info and history about the area AND the food/drink. We wish we had more time with her. She made a small group tour seem super friendly, and encouraged connection between the other guests.

We really enjoyed getting to know Nuno on our Sintra/Cascais day trip. He was so much fun, and shared not only info about the amazing areas we were visiting, but about himself and his family. There was a great connection there as well. He was a lot of fun, and gave us great suggestions.

We spent our last night in the home of Sofia and Carlos in Lisbon. That was such a fantastic way to end this trip. They were warm, funny, and the food/drink was incredible as well. While it’s hard to pick a favorite thing for the week, getting to spend time with them in their home was something we will never forget.

Beatriz was very easy to work with through all of it, and super responsive. We always felt like we had our own, personal team working to make this trip a fantastic experience before and during the week. She planned such great things for us, we would absolutely use the service again.

Hotel Review
Dear Lisbon - Gallery House
Lisbon

Great location, amazing stuff, comfortable rooms, delicious breakfasts. We stayed at the hotel for 4 nights total, 2 blocks of 2 nights, 2 separate rooms. The rooms are comfortable and clean, maybe a bit beat up here and there (walls, corners), but that wasn’t an issue. About the only thing I’d want would be a bit more light in the bathrooms of both rooms. A makeup mirror/lamp would take care of that. The staff was friendly and helpful, making it easy for us to enjoy our time there. The breakfasts were delicious, and I’m missing them now that I’m at home. The location is great - you can walk a lot of places quite quickly, or you have a tram stop right by the hotel. We’d absolutely stay here again.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Close to most everything, easy access to transport.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Beatriz
Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on May 25, 2023

Hi Melissa! Thank you so much for your amazing feedback! I'm so happy to know you really enjoyed the time with your guides showing you around the different locations and sharing amazing stories. I hope you created lovely memories for a lifetime discovering Portugal, its gastronomy, and its people! It's been a pleasure to work with you on this amazing trip :) Best regards, Bea.

Spain : Planning, Organization and Communication Perfected thanks to KimKim
Spain | May 1 - May 16, 2023

Lori
Lori W.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on May 23, 2023

My husband and I could never have planned this vacation without KimKim-specifically Beatriz De Pablo from Espiritu Travel. At the outset, I tried organizing the trip myself utilizing online services but I instinctively knew professional help was needed to maximize this travel experience.
Our 16-day trip began in Barcelona with travel to Girona, Tarragona ending in Madrid. KimKim arranged all of our train tickets, hotel stays, and tours and provided background support via the Trip Plans... read more

My husband and I could never have planned this vacation without KimKim-specifically Beatriz De Pablo from Espiritu Travel. At the outset, I tried organizing the trip myself utilizing online services but I instinctively knew professional help was needed to maximize this travel experience.
Our 16-day trip began in Barcelona with travel to Girona, Tarragona ending in Madrid. KimKim arranged all of our train tickets, hotel stays, and tours and provided background support via the Trip Plans App which placed all information at our fingertips and access to support from Beatriz's team 24/7. Initially, I was skeptical but now I would not plan such an ambitious trip without relying on KimKim.
All of the hotels we stayed at were well-located smaller boutique properties with top-notch service that frankly exceeded the service levels we have experienced in large name-brand luxury hotels. And I fully admit I would never have selected these hotels on my own just by reading reviews on the internet--that is the value added provided by KimKim.
The Petit Palace Icon Barcelona was well located. It was extremely clean, and comfortable, with nice amenities in the well-appointed rooms. The breakfasts (included) were very good. They also offered food service with a bar. Everything was within easy walking distance and more importantly, it was quiet--Barcelona can get noisy! In Girona we stayed at the Carlemany which again was a very nice and well-located hotel; it was newer and more modern but the rooms were very comfortable (the bed was exceptionally comfortable!). We could quickly walk over the bridge to the old Girona or to the Plaza Independencia. Our hotel in Tarragona was more spectacular in terms of views-we stayed at the H10 Imperial Tarraco and had a view of the ocean/beach and the Roman Amphitheatre. Again, the property was very nice with a good restaurant and bar. By far our favorite hotel was the Hotel Catalonia Las Cortes in Madrid. You would never know it was there! Again, the location was perfect for tourists like us. The staff was very friendly and attentive, the room was very nice, quiet, and spacious again with great amenities. The breakfast at Hotel Catalonia Las Cortes was probably the best of all of the properties we stayed at plus in the afternoons they offered complimentary snacks, and coffee which was very welcomed after a long day of sightseeing.
As for guides and tours:
Barcelona
On our first night of the trip, we had the best Tapas Tour imaginable. It was a small group led by Bryan, a food critic who knew and understood the food scene in Barcelona and graciously shared his wealth of experience. We visited 3 restaurants and enjoyed great food and wine plus met some interesting people.
Day 2 : Dani (Gaudi Tour)
Dani was so knowledgeable about Gaudi and the overall history of Barcelona and its unique architecture. We learned so much from this walking tour.
Day 3: Montserrat & Penedes Tour (Joan & Roger from Llopart Winery)
We wished we had more time in Montserrat; what a spectacular site. I would definitely revisit this site. After Montserrat, we visited Llopart Winery and received quite a comprehensive lesson on wines in the region and tasted exceptional wine.
We spent days 4/5 doing self-guided tours using the wealth of information provided by Beatriz. What a great city to explore.
Girona (GUIDE: Laura)
Once again we were lucky to have such a knowledgeable and friendly guide. She really explained the overall history of the area and shared her academic expertise. We really appreciated Laura's tour of Girona. In fact, if we were to return to Girona/Barcelona we would definitely want to arrange tours with her.
Tarragona (GUIDE: Carmen)
Another friendly expert. We enjoyed our afternoon with Carmen and appreciated her suggestions for other things to see in the area.
Tarragona (Priorat Wine Tour-)
Our private driver took us to two wineries. At the first winery, Mervm Priorati, we were lucky to have Ania guide us through the wines and provide a tour of the property and wine-making operation. The wines were very good. In fact, we shipped some home! The second winery was also nice although I cannot recall the name of the guide. But we did prefer the first winery.
Madrid ( Madrid Walking Tour/ Toldedo)
Brad was such a charming and friendly guide. We really enjoyed the walking tour which proved to be very helpful over the duration of our stay in Madrid. Toledo was an unexpected surprise! Our guide Victor Rodriguez was excellent and really shared his deep knowledge of this incredible UNESCO site.

No review of this trip would be complete without acknowledging the value of the direct communication with KimKim afforded by the App. We used this so much. With a click of a button and you are sending a message to your travel consultant and receiving a reply immediately. We received confirmations for all of our guides, and excursions through the App. When we were considering additional excursions or purchasing tickets for a museum we communicated through the App and everything was arranged. When we decided we wanted to leave on an earlier train from Toledo (on a Sunday of a holiday weekend) we utilized the App and were told how to exchange our train tickets. Beatriz advised us who would be our contact on her days off. It was fabulous! We always felt like we had someone to reach out to if necessary.

Hotel Reviews
ICON BCN by Petit Palace
Barcelona

The Icon is a lovely boutique hotel in a perfect location. Its small size allows the staff to provide excellent service. The rooms and the entire property are VERY clean. Breakfast is extremely good. Nothing like the typical fare at a Hampton Inn in the USA. The hotel also has a nice little bar that serves food plus a charming outdoor space with a pool. Right across the street is a 5-star hotel--go ahead and enjoy the rooftop bar on that property but I doubt the experience of staying there would exceed the service we received at the intimate and quiet Icon.

Authenticity & Character
Old architecture; the rooms were not overly huge but they were very comfortable. Did not feel like cookie-cutter brand hotel rooms
Location
We liked the fact it was off the main street but close enough to get where you wanted to go fast. Restaurants etc nearby
Staff
The staff knew who you were by name and what room you were in;
Cleanliness & Comfort
Nice amenities (Molton & Brown); comfortable bed; very prompt cleaning your room each day
Hotel Carlemany Girona
Girona

Nice location ; easy access to the old part of Girona

Authenticity & Character
Very nice clean and modern
Location
quick walk to the bridges to the old city and to the main square
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
best mattress!
H10 Imperial Tarraco
Tarragona
Authenticity & Character
Modern hotel but very nice
Location
The view from this hotel was stunning; Overlooking the beach and the Roman ruins; Easy to walk to restaurants
Staff
The gentleman who was at the front desk was so nice and helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
Clean, comfortable...the only minus was that the shower (which was clearly remodeled) got the floor really wet everytime you used it but other than that it was great
Catalonia Las Cortes
Madrid

What a delightful property; Loved the location and the rooms. It was charming...the people who worked there were so nice and helpful. The breakfast service was excellent; nice buffet but you could also get made-to-order omelets, eggs etc. In the afternoon, they have snacks (finger sandwiches, coffee, and other items)

Authenticity & Character
Just a charming property with charming rooms. They have maintained the character of the original building while incorporating the hotel function.
Location
Hidden gem; You would not know this hotel was even there...but it was right off of Santa Ana Square and easy to get to everywhere you wanted to go
Staff
The staff was friendly and attentive
Cleanliness & Comfort
The entire property was very clean; Best towels ever!
Activity Reviews
Tapas Culinary Experience
Barcelona

Our first night in Barcelona we were guided on a tapas adventure with a true expert, Bryan, a food critic and so knowledgeable about the food scene in Barcelona. Besides taking us to 3 great restaurants he also provided recommendations we utilized for our entire stay in the city. He is a great conversationalist and really engaged with the group. So much fun

Quality of Experience
Bryan the guide!
Food
Everything!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Bryan facilitated spirited conversation among our small diverse group. Very fun
Barcelona & Gaudí; An Architecture Walk
Barcelona

Dani really shared his depth of knowledge which reflected years of experience

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Dani was so friendly and nice
Day Trip to Montserrat & Penedès Region Wine Tasting
Barcelona

Montserrat probably deserves a day on its own. So fascinating and spectacular; The trip to Llopart winery was also exceptional;

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Joan our guide at Montserrat clearly had great affection for the monastery. Roger at Llopart was excellent.
Transport
A larger van is needed for the 6 tour participants plus a driver. It was very cramped
Privately Guided Tour of Girona
Girona

An expert/academic tour guide is really a benefit for this site; There is so much history here. I would revisit Girona again

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Laura was fantastic; her academic background really helped
Guided Visit of Museo del Prado with Art Historian
Madrid

This is not a place to miss. You could spend a number of days here taking all of it in.

Quality of Experience
Our guide
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Linda our guide really focused on the Spanish Masters and gave us quite an Art History course. We were able to use our new found knowledge of the Spanish painters when visiting Toledo!
Insider's Old Madrid Tour
Madrid

It is always nice to take a walking tour when you first get to a city to get the lay of the land and understand where everything is in relation to where you are staying. Our guide was very personable and very helpful

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Brian, was very insightful and shared the interesting history of Madrid on our walking tour
Train Madrid to Toledo, Guided Visit of Toledo, Train Toledo to Madrid
Madrid

Toledo was a surprise; So much to see and so much history. The basilica was beyond expectation

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide Victor Rodriguez was excellent
Transport
Easy train trip from Madrid to Toledo.
Local specialist: Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Beatriz
Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on May 24, 2023

Lori! Wow!!!! Thank you, so, so much for your kind words to the entire team! As I have mentioned to you before, we always do our best for all of our travelers to have a great time while traveling so it's been truly a pleasure to work with you before and during your trip. We always try to work with hotels that can make you feel like you are at home, so I'm so happy to know we made a great selection :) Again, thank you SO much for this impressive feedback on your trip, I will be more than happy to work with you again in the future for the next adventure! Best regards, Bea.

Perfection!
Portugal | Apr 28 - May 13, 2023

Michele
Michele R.
Plainfield, NJ | Reviewed on May 22, 2023

We loved traveling with KimKim. It was the perfect combination of recommended itineraries and personal flexibility in creating our ideal vacation. The guides were excellent and communication with Bea (aka KimKim) was easy and accessible. We would totally travel with them again. read more

We loved traveling with KimKim. It was the perfect combination of recommended itineraries and personal flexibility in creating our ideal vacation. The guides were excellent and communication with Bea (aka KimKim) was easy and accessible. We would totally travel with them again.

Hotel Reviews
The Noble House
Evora
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Dos Templarios
Tomar
Authenticity & Character
Location
Jo
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Beatriz
Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on May 24, 2023

Hi Carol & Michele! Thank you so much for leaving your review here! What awesome photos of your trip!!! I hope you had the chance to create lovely memories while traveling around Portugal and reaching Madeira :) We will be in touch, and thank you so much for trusting us for your vacation! Best regards, Bea.

Epic Portugal- Lisbon to the Algarve
Portugal | May 1 - May 15, 2023

L
Linda B.
Tampa, FL | Reviewed on May 21, 2023

Our 14 day vacation to Portugal was absolutely fantastic and exceeded our expectations!! All of the tour guides were excellent in their knowledge of the most notable sites as well as the history and culture of the area. Their vast amount of knowledge together with their friendliness made each and every tour a very informative, enjoyable and memorable experience. In addition, each tour guide was very accommodating to our requests to see specific monuments and attractions.

The drivers... read more

Our 14 day vacation to Portugal was absolutely fantastic and exceeded our expectations!! All of the tour guides were excellent in their knowledge of the most notable sites as well as the history and culture of the area. Their vast amount of knowledge together with their friendliness made each and every tour a very informative, enjoyable and memorable experience. In addition, each tour guide was very accommodating to our requests to see specific monuments and attractions.

The drivers were punctual and polite. Whenever there was a slight language barrier it was never a problem as they used Google Translate. They were very forgiving of us with our lack of understanding of the Portuguese language.

Our travel specialist Beatriz (Bea) was incredibly dedicated and ensured that we visited the cities in Portugal that were most appealing to us. Her responsiveness was exceptional throughout the planning and booking of our customized itinerary. In addition, her colleagues were also very responsive and replied quickly to our questions during our time in Portugal.

Being able to customize the itinerary is very important to us. Our experience with kimkim has been wonderful 😊. We will use kimkim in planning and booking our future vacations.

Activity Reviews
Sunset Sailing Cruise
Lisbon

Thoroughly enjoyed this 2 hour cruise. Saw many amazing sites up and down the river. Cruise guides were very pleasant and informative.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Evening of Fado
Lisbon

We enjoyed the very emotional and melancholy Fado music. The musicians and singers expressed so much emotion. Noted that the singers usually had their eyes closed while performing. Their emotion was unlike anything we have seen before. The food was very delicious at this Fado restaurant.

Quality of Experience
See above.
Food
Local specialist: Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Beatriz
Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on May 23, 2023

Hi Linda & Brad! Thank you so much for your kind words to our entire team and all of your guides :) Ensuring that our travelers are having a great time and creating lovely memories while discovering new places is always our priority, so I'm so happy to know you enjoyed your time in Portugal! Best regards, Bea.

Amazing honeymoon experience in Portugal!
Portugal | Apr 18 - Apr 27, 2023

J
Jessica S.
Manhattan, NY | Reviewed on May 17, 2023

Our honeymoon trip to Portugal was absolutely amazing! I'm an event/travel planner in my day job, so I know I could've planned the trip on my own, but working with Kimkim and our specialist Beatriz made the planning experience SO much quicker and I appreciate all the time they saved me! I loved how we were able to customize our itinerary, ask specific questions, and tailor the whole experience to our interests + Beatriz was super responsive during our travels in case we had questions or last... read more

Our honeymoon trip to Portugal was absolutely amazing! I'm an event/travel planner in my day job, so I know I could've planned the trip on my own, but working with Kimkim and our specialist Beatriz made the planning experience SO much quicker and I appreciate all the time they saved me! I loved how we were able to customize our itinerary, ask specific questions, and tailor the whole experience to our interests + Beatriz was super responsive during our travels in case we had questions or last minute change requests (which was super reassuring). All of our onsite tour guides were all so friendly, knowledgeable, and passionate about making sure we had the best time. A few stand out experiences that we highly recommend: Duomo valley tour (100% ask to book a Quintas lunch experience!!!), our private cooking class in Porto (huge shout out to Vitor!) , and our kayaking excursion to the Bengali caves in Algarves. The hotel recommendations were fantastic as well - all located in convenient, central locations and were usually walking distance to our tours. Thank you kimkim and Beatriz for an amazing experience and we look forward to planning our next trip with you soon!

Hotel Reviews
Vivenda Miranda
Lagos

Stunning views, convenient location! The decor has a bit of quirkiness to it, but still felt high end!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Octant Évora
Évora

Absolutely stunning resort property - we just wish we had more time to spend there since there is so much to do! Multiple pools, planned activities, onsite restaurant, farm/garden, hikes, the spa, etc.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
We were late to the breakfast buffet and they had already cleaned it up, but their staff went above and beyond to fetch us two plates from the kitchen!
Cleanliness & Comfort
PortoBay Marquês
Lisbon

Great location and clean rooms!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
We had some issues with our wifi device being delivered and they were so helpful in rescheduling our delivery!
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Editory House Ribeira
Porto

AMAZING location and great breakfast! Appreciated the complimentary port glass upon check in. Rooms are a bit smaller, but didn't matter too much since we didn't spend much time there besides sleeping!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Private Porto Cooking Class
Porto

Vitor was the best! Amazing company, laughs, and food. We have a new friend for life :)

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Day Excursion to Sintra, Cascais & Estoril
Lisbon

Marta was absolutely amazing and beyond accommodating! She really knew all the secret back roads, local spots, and most interesting facts about all the locations we visited. We appreciated that we didn't have to wait in any lines and chose some of the "off the beaten path" places to visit - just our style! :)

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Day Excursion to Douro Valley, Wine Tasting & River Cruise
Porto

Rui was an amazing guide and really hooked us up with such a special, delicious lunch/wine tasting experience at a local quinta. A highlight of the trip!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Beatriz
Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on May 18, 2023

Hi Jessica! Thank you, so SO much for taking the time to write such a detailed review and for your kind words!!! I'm so glad to know you have had a great time discovering Portugal on such a special trip. It's been truly a pleasure to work with you during the entire process, and I look forward to working with you again in the future on your next adventure :) Best regards, Bea.

Algarve
Portugal | May 8 - May 13, 2023

Kenneth
Kenneth D.
Houston, TX | Reviewed on May 16, 2023

Trip was well organized. Transit from Lisbon to Carvoeiro via coast & Sagres was good. Carvoeira hotel & location was great. Caves boat tour was spectacular . Monchique/Foia was not very interesting. Day trip to Silves & Lagos was great. Same local guide for most of the local tours - good guide & flexibility (e.g, changed Tavira walking tour to trip to Castro Marim & across border to Spain to Ayamonte). Rio Fomosa boat tour - would have done the shorter excursion option . The only issue was... read more

Trip was well organized. Transit from Lisbon to Carvoeiro via coast & Sagres was good. Carvoeira hotel & location was great. Caves boat tour was spectacular . Monchique/Foia was not very interesting. Day trip to Silves & Lagos was great. Same local guide for most of the local tours - good guide & flexibility (e.g, changed Tavira walking tour to trip to Castro Marim & across border to Spain to Ayamonte). Rio Fomosa boat tour - would have done the shorter excursion option . The only issue was the transit from Tavira to Lisbon. The driver was one hour late, as he was given the wrong hotel location.

The trip plan app was great for providing information

Hotel Review
Tivoli Carvoeiro
Lagoa

Great hotel & amenities. Great location: good views of coast, easy walk to town/restaurants

Authenticity & Character
Good amenities, Good breakfast
Location
Good location with beach/cave views
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Beatriz
Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on May 16, 2023

Hi Kenneth, thank you so much for your feedback! All your comments will be definitely really helpful to keep improving our adventures in the Algarve in the future :) Also, thank you so much for your patience on your departure day, we are already reviewing everything with our drivers to see where the communication issue was. Hope you enjoyed Portugal! Best regards, Bea.

Our trip to the AZores was everything that we...
the Azores | Apr 22 - Apr 30, 2023

Rachel
Rachel G.
Middletown, RI | Reviewed on May 08, 2023

Our trip to the AZores was everything that we had hoped for. What a truly beautiful part of the world. Beatriz was wonderful and responsive as we tweaked the itinerary together. She found us lovely hotels and had great suggestions for the things we should see.
Once again, Kimkim took very good care of us and made planning this trip easy and seamless! read more

Our trip to the AZores was everything that we had hoped for. What a truly beautiful part of the world. Beatriz was wonderful and responsive as we tweaked the itinerary together. She found us lovely hotels and had great suggestions for the things we should see.
Once again, Kimkim took very good care of us and made planning this trip easy and seamless!

Hotel Review
Terceira Mar Hotel
Angra do Heroismo
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Wine and Food Evening Walking Tour in Ponta Delgada
the Azores

What a wonderful way to experience some of the AZores delicious food and wine. We had a terrific guide who had some good stories to tell as we strolled through Punta Delgada.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Beatriz
Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on May 08, 2023

Hi Rachel, thank you so much for your kind words! I'm so happy to know that you enjoyed the paradise that the Azores Islands are, hopefully, next time you come to visit us the weather will be nicer!!! Sending you my best regards, Bea.

Pascu Robredo gastronomic tour in Balboa was ...
Spain | Apr 24 - May 1, 2023

C
Chris M.
Seven Oaks, SC | Reviewed on May 02, 2023

Pascu Robredo gastronomic tour in Balboa was excellent

Gastronomy tour in Oviedo was not what we expected. Noella was a lovely guide and taught us so much about the city. She gave us a history tour, not a food tour we were expecting.
She walked us around the city for two hours and showed us pictures of food on her before she took us to eat.
This would have been wonderful if we had not expected a food tour. read more

Pascu Robredo gastronomic tour in Balboa was excellent

Gastronomy tour in Oviedo was not what we expected. Noella was a lovely guide and taught us so much about the city. She gave us a history tour, not a food tour we were expecting.
She walked us around the city for two hours and showed us pictures of food on her before she took us to eat.
This would have been wonderful if we had not expected a food tour.

Hotel Review
Puebloastur Eco-Resort Wellness & Spa
Cofiño, Parres
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
The Best of Pintxos Gastronomy Experience
Bilbao
Local specialist: Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Beatriz
Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on May 04, 2023

Hi Chris! Thank you so, so much for your feedback! The Gastronomy tour in Oviedo was something that we created along with our local guides for you so it's really helpful for us to have this detailed feedback so we can improve the activity for our future travelers, so I really appreciate it. Thank you so much again for trusting us for your new vacation in Spain! We'll be in touch :) Best regards, Bea.

Beatriz was awesome to work with and made our...
Spain | Apr 14 - Apr 22, 2023

Charles
Charles B.
Lafayette, LA | Reviewed on Apr 27, 2023

Beatriz was awesome to work with and made our trip smooth sailing. Teresa in Sevilla was very congenial and informative. we enjoyed her company and insights on our tour . unfortunately i have lost the name of the lady who took us to the flamenco show but she was delighful and showed great enthusiasm for the dance and explained some of the intricacies of the dance. Our tour of Cadiz was also exemplary and Adriana did a great and energetic presentation of the sights. i would say, in... read more

Beatriz was awesome to work with and made our trip smooth sailing. Teresa in Sevilla was very congenial and informative. we enjoyed her company and insights on our tour . unfortunately i have lost the name of the lady who took us to the flamenco show but she was delighful and showed great enthusiasm for the dance and explained some of the intricacies of the dance. Our tour of Cadiz was also exemplary and Adriana did a great and energetic presentation of the sights. i would say, in retropect, that i would have taken only one day in Cadiz and added it to either Sevilla, Ronda or Malaga. These three cities were the best.

Hotel Review
Hotel Gran Hotel Miramar
Málaga

Beautiful; the staff was amazing . the food was great. The room was awesome.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Tapas & Flamenco Experience
Seville
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Spanish Guitar Experience
Ronda
Local specialist: Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Beatriz
Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on May 04, 2023

Hi Charles! Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm so happy to know that you enjoyed your time with your guides discovering the south of Spain :) It's been a pleasure helping you along the way! Best regards, Bea