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Carmen Herranz

I love to travel and I got in love with every single place I go! Every country and site has a special charm to discover and enjoy. I am a madrileña that have lived in Tenerife in the Canary Islands, in London, and Frankfurt, and returned to trendy, vibrant and welcoming Madrid.
Nature, landscapes, people, culture, food, art, architecture, sensations, and emotions arise when traveling. I am a nomad in love with my Spanish roots, so I love creating itineraries for travelers in Spain and Portugal wishing they feel this exciting destination as their own.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"Nature, art and culture, history, street life.
"

How did you get involved in travel?

"Since I was very little, when travelling with my parents, by car or by train, I wished that our trips never end.
All the family enjoyed the special moment of discovery a new corner, a new dish, a new landscape, new people and new emotions. Since then, when I was asked what I wanted to be as grown up I always said, an explorer. Exploring and travelling and sharing this passion made my vocation in tourism.

I love researching, exploring, connecting with locals, and finding spectacular spots you can't read about in guidebooks. I cherish travel for the unexpected moments, the art, the people, the landscapes, the stories, and, wow!, the food."

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"Each trip is unique and different, even if I go to the same place I always find something that enhances the previous experience.
Since very little, we used to travel in Spain discovering wonderful beaches, mountaineering in the Pyrenees, and other mountain systems in Spain and Portugal, enjoying the taste of local food in small villages and we walked and trekking in summer school holidays. This contact with Nature and the richness of the Iberian peninsula on its variety, diversity, and fascinating history become a motto for Life and allows me to share it with the world! Welcome!
"

Carmen is part of the following groups: the Azores Travel Agents, Portugal Travel Agents, Spain Travel Agents
Top itineraries and travel advice
Family itineraries
Luxury itineraries
Road trip itineraries

Recent trip reviews for Carmen

Outstanding service and support from KimKim
Portugal | Oct 9 - Oct 21, 2023

Lesley
Lesley S.
San Diego, CA | Reviewed on Nov 03, 2023
As an overall comment I have to say that working with KimKim and its agents, Carmen and her colleagues, was outstanding. Not only were they able to suggest and arrange a fabulous trip in foreign lands for us, but they were extremely flexible and helpful during our planning process, which required many changes due to family circumstances, time constraints and specific criteria that we specified. In addition, with the App that they supplied, along with a detailed daily trip plan they... Read more

As an overall comment I have to say that working with KimKim and its agents, Carmen and her colleagues, was outstanding. Not only were they able to suggest and arrange a fabulous trip in foreign lands for us, but they were extremely flexible and helpful during our planning process, which required many changes due to family circumstances, time constraints and specific criteria that we specified.

In addition, with the App that they supplied, along with a detailed daily trip plan they provided a very useful chat program that allowed us to request assistance and to change plans on the fly when encountering the inevitable issues that arise during any trip. We were able to get quick and successful resolution to several matters thanks to their friendly and effective attention.

We were so impressed that we recommended KimKim to several fellow tourists that we met along our way. We have no hesitation in recommending KimKim and will be sure to use them again if we make another tour. Thank you for everything, KimKim team!

Sincerely,
Paul and Lesley Sagar,
San Diego, California

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Regina
Barcelona

Excellent location. However, this hotel did not come up to the same standard as the others. Perhaps it was due to being in a big city, but while the room was large the furniture was very sparse, and there was no cupboard space. The lobby staff were very friendly and helpful, but the ambiance left something to be desired.

Pestana Vintage Porto Hotel & World Heritage Site
Porto

Excellent choice in a perfect location.

Location
Hotel Hospes Palacio San Esteban
Salamanca

Excellent choice in a perfect location, again

Hotel Palacio de Valderrábanos
Ávila

Excellent choice in a perfect location, yet again.

PortoBay Marquês
Lisbon

Excellent choice in a perfect location between uptown and older downtown

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Carmen Herranz
Carmen
Carmen Herranz
Local specialist in Madrid, Spain | Replied on Nov 06, 2023
Hi Lesley and Paul, Thank you so much for this beautiful and detailed review. Your feedback is important to us in the Espíritu Travel Team and I am happy that you enjoyed our country by experiencing the authentic atmosphere and local flavors with your adventurous spirit and willing to enjoy the country. It has been an absolute pleasure having you as guests as you make it even more pleasant to design special trips for travelers who enjoy and value local culture, and you did so many things!... Read more

Hi Lesley and Paul,

Thank you so much for this beautiful and detailed review. Your feedback is important to us in the Espíritu Travel Team and I am happy that you enjoyed our country by experiencing the authentic atmosphere and local flavors with your adventurous spirit and willing to enjoy the country.

It has been an absolute pleasure having you as guests as you make it even more pleasant to design special trips for travelers who enjoy and value local culture, and you did so many things! Even driving from Salamanca to Madrid!

Once again, thank you very much for your special words. We will be waiting for you with open arms when you want to return and visit other areas of Spain or Portugal.

More history, art and food are waiting for you ;)

Muchas gracias. Un abrazo =)
Carmen

Spain trip...
Spain | Sep 3 - Sep 16, 2023

H
Holly S.
Lawrence, IN | Reviewed on Oct 03, 2023
Carmen put together a fabulous trip for us. The hotels were great with really good locations. The tours she booked for us were really nice as well. Everything went smoothly the whole time we were there. I would certainly recommend Carmen to anyone who was looking to put together a trip to Spain. It’s a great country and I’d like to visit there again Read more

Carmen put together a fabulous trip for us. The hotels were great with really good locations. The tours she booked for us were really nice as well. Everything went smoothly the whole time we were there. I would certainly recommend Carmen to anyone who was looking to put together a trip to Spain. It’s a great country and I’d like to visit there again

Hotel Reviews
Parador de Ronda
Ronda
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Boutique Teatro Romano
Malaga
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
7 Islas Hotel
Madrid
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
H10 Art Gallery
Barcelona
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
O
Cleanliness & Comfort
H10 Casa de la Plata
Sevilla
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Private Tour of Barcelona & La Sagrada Familia
Private Tour of Barcelona & La Sagrada Familia
Barcelona
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guided Visit of Seville
Guided Visit of Seville
Seville
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Flamenco Experience
Flamenco Experience
Spain
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Train Seville to Córdoba, Self Guided Visit of Córdoba, Train Córdoba to Seville
Train Seville to Córdoba, Self Guided Visit of Córdoba, Train Córdoba to Seville
Spain
Quality of Experience
Transport
Ronda Wine Experience
Ronda Wine Experience
Spain
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Tapas Culinary Experience
Tapas Culinary Experience
Barcelona
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Day trip to Medieval Girona and Costa Brava
Day trip to Medieval Girona and Costa Brava
Barcelona
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Traditional Andalusian Market Visit & Cooking Class
Traditional Andalusian Market Visit & Cooking Class
Seville
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Free Day to Explore Málaga
Free Day to Explore Málaga
Málaga
Quality of Experience
Self Guided Day Trip to Marbella
Self Guided Day Trip to Marbella
Spain
Quality of Experience
Local specialist: Carmen Herranz
Carmen
Carmen Herranz
Local specialist in Madrid, Spain | Replied on Oct 03, 2023

Hi Holly,

thanks so much for taking the time to write this wonderful review.

I am glad to know that you and Mike had a great time in Spain and that everything we planned met your expectations. I will pass your words on to our local guides, they will be happy to know that they have contributed to your special trip.

It was a pleasure creating this experience with you and Mike, and hopefully, we get in touch again for future adventures :)

All the best,
Carmen

Unforgettable trip to Portugal
Portugal | Sep 23 - Sep 30, 2023

Stephanie
Stephanie N.
Huntington Beach, CA | Reviewed on Oct 02, 2023
Carmen thinks of everything when she arrange our trip to Portugal. We especially love the private trip to Sintra and the Douro Valley. The lunch at the winery is exceptional and we so glad we get to experience the hospitality. Every activity was wonderful and we enjoyed our time in Portugal. Highly recommend Carmen and the Kimkim team for your planning to Portugal. Read more

Carmen thinks of everything when she arrange our trip to Portugal. We especially love the private trip to Sintra and the Douro Valley. The lunch at the winery is exceptional and we so glad we get to experience the hospitality. Every activity was wonderful and we enjoyed our time in Portugal. Highly recommend Carmen and the Kimkim team for your planning to Portugal.

Activity Reviews
Private Porto Cooking Class
Private Porto Cooking Class
Porto

Victor is wonderful and we learned a few tricks in cooking that we definitely used in cooking at home. Excellent activity.

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

The farm to table lunch at the winery is excellent. We really had the best food wine experience. The host is amazing and the food is so delicious.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Fernando is very knowledgeable and friendly. He really great and our conversation help us learned more about wine and the Douro valley region
Private Day Excursion to Sintra, Cascais & Estoril
Private Day Excursion to Sintra, Cascais & Estoril
Portugal

What can I say about Paulo? He make our trip to Sinatra exceptional. He thinks of everything and let us throughly enjoy our day with visiting the most beautiful places and recommend exceptional food. We are very thankful to have Paulo as our guide and highly recommended him to our friends and family.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Carmen Herranz
Carmen
Carmen Herranz
Local specialist in Madrid, Spain | Replied on Nov 25, 2023

Hi Stephanie & Benjamin!

I am so happy to receive your detailed review! All your kind words are much appreciated, and I will forward this praises to all the guides and organizers that we work alongside, so they keep up the great work. Victor will be very glad if you continue experimenting at home with Portuguese cuisine!

It was my pleasure working with you, so kind and enthusiastic travelers.

I wish you can visit us in the future to discover new destinations, such as the North of Spain, the spanish Islands, the Azores or Morocco. I will be pleased to help :)

Warmest regards,
Carmen

Amazing service from Carmen..
Spain | Sep 7 - Sep 13, 2023

A
Aparna S.
Frisco, TX | Reviewed on Sep 14, 2023
From the time I looked up Kimkim and reached out to find out some details on Spain, to the final day of our amazing trip - everything was done so professionally by our assigned travel expert, Carmen and the team! Sincere thanks from our family and Kimkim has acquired a loyal customer going forward :)
Carmen has worked w/ me from the day 1, understanding our needs and expectations and planning the trip w/ us. I have to say I did go back and forth quite a few times, but she and her colleagues...
Read more

From the time I looked up Kimkim and reached out to find out some details on Spain, to the final day of our amazing trip - everything was done so professionally by our assigned travel expert, Carmen and the team! Sincere thanks from our family and Kimkim has acquired a loyal customer going forward :)
Carmen has worked w/ me from the day 1, understanding our needs and expectations and planning the trip w/ us. I have to say I did go back and forth quite a few times, but she and her colleagues were very patient w/ us and answered every question/concern.
The final payment mechanism was smooth and as soon as the payment was done, the trip details were loaded into the 'trip plans' app and all of us in our family had access to the itinerary, tickets, schedules and names/numbers of local guides in Madrid, Toledo, Barcelona.
Overall, I can't thank Carmen enough for the lovely trip she put together for our family!! Highly recommend her services!!

Hotel Reviews
7 Islas Hotel
Madrid
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Gran Hotel Havana
Barcelona
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Tapas Culinary Experience
Tapas Culinary Experience
Madrid

Everything was great.. wish there were more options for vegetarians though!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Train Madrid to Toledo, Guided Visit of Toledo, Train Toledo to Madrid
Train Madrid to Toledo, Guided Visit of Toledo, Train Toledo to Madrid
Madrid
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Flamenco Night
Flamenco Night
Madrid
Quality of Experience
Barcelona & Gaudí;  An Architecture Walk
Barcelona & Gaudí; An Architecture Walk
Barcelona
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
our guide took us on local metro from one place to another - we all liked this small exposure to local transport :)
Half-Day Excursion to Montserrat
Half-Day Excursion to Montserrat
Barcelona
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Coastal Hike, Kayaking & Lagoon Dipping in Costa Brava
Coastal Hike, Kayaking & Lagoon Dipping in Costa Brava
Spain
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Carmen Herranz
Carmen
Carmen Herranz
Local specialist in Madrid, Spain | Replied on Sep 21, 2023

Hi Aparna & Family!
Thank you so much for making this wonderful review! I'm very thrilled to know you had such a great time in Spain. Your family's happiness is what makes my work worth it!! I will make sure to forward your feedback to all the local guides who will surely appreciate your kind words, and we strive for adding more dishes for vegetarians!
It was a real pleasure for me to be a small part of your journey to Spain. I look forward to helping you plan your next trip :)
Again, a huge thank you from me and the Espíritu Travel family!
All best,
Carmen

Fantastic trip of a lifetime!
Portugal | Aug 28 - Sep 3, 2023

N
Nikita B.
Edison, NJ | Reviewed on Sep 08, 2023
Carmen is FANTASTIC! My sister and I had so much fun on our Portugal trip. The excursions she had planned for us were phenomenal. All the guides were friendly and experts in their field which gave us a well-rounded experience. Carmen also checked on us from time to time via text messages and answered all our questions with patience and kindness. She was also able to make a last-minute change in our itinerary and handled it efficiently. All the hotels we stayed at were gorgeous and the staff... Read more

Carmen is FANTASTIC! My sister and I had so much fun on our Portugal trip. The excursions she had planned for us were phenomenal. All the guides were friendly and experts in their field which gave us a well-rounded experience. Carmen also checked on us from time to time via text messages and answered all our questions with patience and kindness. She was also able to make a last-minute change in our itinerary and handled it efficiently. All the hotels we stayed at were gorgeous and the staff were super helpful.

Hotel Reviews
Lisboa Prata Boutique Hotel
Lisboa

Central location with amazing history in the hotel itself. The staff is super helpful and kind. Loved the breakfast and the concept that it doesn't have specific timings like other hotels. You just let the staff know when to expect you in the mornings for breakfast and what you want, and they handle the rest.

Authenticity & Character
The archeological floor in the hotel is very nice- don't miss out!
Location
Very quick walk from the town center and right next to lot of good restaurants.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Évora Olive Hotel
Evora

Comfy and spacious rooms. Walking distance from must see attractions of Evora. There is a pool (ice cold so beware!) and free parking in the underground section which is very convenient. Staff was very nice and accommodating.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Marina Rio
Lagos

Convenient location, very walkable to number of activities. Extremely clean and spacious rooms. Staff is super friendly and helpful. Make sure to get a room facing the Marina!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
 Lisbon Roots, Food & Cultural Walk
Lisbon Roots, Food & Cultural Walk
Portugal

one word--- AMAZING!!! Our guide, Sophia was fantastic, she gave us insides of the history and introduced us to amazing food. It is a walking tour so make sure you have comfortable footwear and water.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Go West to Belém TukTuk Tour
Go West to Belém TukTuk Tour
Lisbon

Very fun and a must do in Lisbon! Our guide was funny and very informative.

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

Fantastic food and atmosphere. Great evening spent with authentic Fado. Must do!

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

Get ready for a full day! it is a must do. Our guide Bernard was kind, patient and very knowledgeable. The transport vehicle is comfortable and even has Wi-Fi. 10/10 recommend!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Tour of Évora
Private Tour of Évora
Portugal

Very informative tour of Evora! a must do. The chapel of bones is a must see. Beautiful town with lots of Gothic and Roman history.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Walking tour so make sure you have good shoes.
Algarve Kayaking Trip to Benagil Caves
Algarve Kayaking Trip to Benagil Caves
Portugal

A must do fun activity on the water!! Benagil Caves is magnificent. The guides Patrick and Sam were great. If you can't kayak don't worry you have a small lesson before going out on the water and there are always two guides with the group. The tour guides give you a brief history of the caves and how they were formed. They take you to other smaller caves as well, that's what sets this tour apart from the rest.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Carmen Herranz
Carmen
Carmen Herranz
Local specialist in Madrid, Spain | Replied on Sep 08, 2023

Hi Nikita!
I am so happy to receive your detailed review! All your kind words are much appreciated, and I will pass to all in the Espríitu Travel team, the guides and all that we work alongside. It was such a pleasure working with you and Ankita on this special trip!

I wish you can visit us in the future to discover new destinations, such as the North of Spain, Morocco or Italy :)

Warmest regards,
Carmen

Lovely Family Trip to Portugal
Portugal | Aug 18 - Aug 27, 2023

Sarah
Sarah S.
North Salt Lake, UT | Reviewed on Sep 05, 2023
Lovely Family Trip to Portugal Carmen helped us arrange a 10 day, 3 city trip to Portugal that encompassed everything we wanted to see within the country. We got to do wine tasting, a food tour, day trips to historic places of interest, and a had time by the ocean. It was a great mix of activities and relaxation. I appreciated having the planning all squared away and taken care of for us. (We even had the additional challenge of having English and Spanish speakers in our group and... Read more

Lovely Family Trip to Portugal

Carmen helped us arrange a 10 day, 3 city trip to Portugal that encompassed everything we wanted to see within the country.

We got to do wine tasting, a food tour, day trips to historic places of interest, and a had time by the ocean. It was a great mix of activities and relaxation.

I appreciated having the planning all squared away and taken care of for us. (We even had the additional challenge of having English and Spanish speakers in our group and that was no problem to accommodate.) I would absolutely recommend both the destination and trip planning experience!

Hotel Review
H10 Duque de Loule
Lisboa

Spacious and airy rooms in a boutique hotel + a great rooftop bar. Super lovely and would be booking here for any return trips to Lisbon!

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

Best tour we did on our trip to Portugal. Our guide Joao was informative and friendly.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Carmen Herranz
Carmen
Carmen Herranz
Local specialist in Madrid, Spain | Replied on Sep 06, 2023

Hi Sara!,

I am so happy to receive your review! All your kind words are much appreciated, and I will forward this praises to the guides and organizers and we, the Espíritu Travel team, that work alongside, so they keep up the great work.

It has been so nice working for this trip for you and your family, such a charming travelers! I wish you can visit us in the future to discover new destinations, such as Spain, or Morocco, or Portugal again. I will be pleased to help :)

Warmest regards,
Carmen

Fantastic Family Trip!
Spain | Jul 19 - Jul 30, 2023

M
Magdalena C.
Riverside, CA | Reviewed on Aug 04, 2023

The guides and tours set up by Carmen were fantastic. The tour guides were knowledgeable, friendly and tailored there information to the interests of myself and my children!

Local specialist: Carmen Herranz
Carmen
Carmen Herranz
Local specialist in Madrid, Spain | Replied on Aug 07, 2023

Hi Magdalena!

Thank you very much for your nice words and for taking the time to write this review.
It was a real pleasure to plan this trip with you, getting always your positive feedback, so, it was easy and fun, as it is when there are children or teenagers.

I am glad that your overall feeling was good and that you had a freat family time creating nice memories of Spain for a lifetime.

I will pass your words to our guides and we wish to see you again on board!

Warmest regards,
Carmen & the Espíritu Travel team!

Another amazing KimKim adventure in Portugal!...
Portugal | Jun 25 - Jul 4, 2023

Celeste
Celeste H.
Tustin, CA | Reviewed on Jul 11, 2023
Another amazing KimKim adventure in Portugal! This is my third time using KimKim to book travel for myself and my 7 year old son who has Autism. We’ve done Colombia, India and now Portugal! Our trip specialist for Portugal Carmen helped put together an incredible itinerary for us covering Porto, Douro Valley, Coimbra, Lisbon & Lagos. We saw a lot in a short amount of time but the the pace of the trip flowed well and we never felt rushed. We also appreciated some of the special... Read more

Another amazing KimKim adventure in Portugal!

This is my third time using KimKim to book travel for myself and my 7 year old son who has Autism. We’ve done Colombia, India and now Portugal!

Our trip specialist for Portugal Carmen helped put together an incredible itinerary for us covering Porto, Douro Valley, Coimbra, Lisbon & Lagos. We saw a lot in a short amount of time but the the pace of the trip flowed well and we never felt rushed. We also appreciated some of the special kid-friendly activities suggested by Carmen including tile painting in Porto and the Hippo bus in Lisbon! Secret Algarve kayaking at Benegil Cave was also amazing! There were a few things about our itinerary that we needed to modify in real time and Carmen was able to help us seamlessly manage it all. The guides were wonderful, and the drivers very courteous and safe as well. Will definitely book with KimKim again, so convenient and so worth it every time! Can’t wait for the next one!

Activity Reviews
Create Your Own Tiles
Create Your Own Tiles
Porto

This was phenomenal, the lady who ran it has amazing energy and was so wonderful with my son who was feeling a bit off from jet lag! She also personally delivered our tiles to our hotel to help us out which was much appreciated.

Lisbon Hippo Tour
Lisbon Hippo Tour
Lisbon

This was so fun!!! Even as an adult there is novelty to it when you go splashing into the water, plus the guides are hilarious!

Private Excursion to Sintra for Young Explorers
Private Excursion to Sintra for Young Explorers
Lisbon

Our driver/guide was really nice and took us to a few different extra sights which was much appreciated. Knowledge level for guiding was lower, perhaps he was just a driver? If so he went way above and beyond as a driver, but for this one would have appreciated more of a guide especially at Sintra. I thought this was going to be a “kid” tour, definitely wasn’t tailored to kids, but we still enjoyed it.

Day Excursion to Douro Valley, Olive Oil & River Cruise
Day Excursion to Douro Valley, Olive Oil & River Cruise
Porto

Driver/guide and car excellent! Might have preferred a smaller boat ride (with less people) if that was an option, but still enjoyed. Winery was awesome to allow my 7 year old to come with me.

Private Transfer {{start_location}} to {{end_location}} via Coimbra
Private Transfer {{start_location}} to {{end_location}} via Coimbra
Portugal

One of my favorite stops on the trip! Our driver made amazing recommendations for kids and gave us extra time than originally planned so we could do everything we wanted !

Get to Know Lisbon with a Local
Get to Know Lisbon with a Local
Lisbon

Excellent guide who tailored a fabulous itinerary for us! Great info and selection of stops to see. Enjoyed personalization of tour.

Local specialist: Carmen Herranz
Carmen
Carmen Herranz
Local specialist in Madrid, Spain | Replied on Jul 11, 2023

Hi Celeste,
Thanks so much for taking the time to write this wonderful review.
I am glad to know that you and Kaylan had a great time in Portugal and that everything we planned met your expectations.
I will pass your words on to our local guides, they will be happy to know that they have contributed to your special trip.
It was a pleasure creating this experience with you and I enjoyed working in this trip for you and your son to have a lovely time together in Portuga, and hopefully, we get in touch again for future adventures :)
All the best,
Carmen

Carmen is fabulous! A truly special experience
Spain | Jun 18 - Jun 26, 2023

Ashley
Ashley D.
Smyrna, GA | Reviewed on Jun 28, 2023
Carmen is fabulous! She created a truly special experience for my niece and I. She asked about what I enjoy and also what my niece enjoys and built the perfect itinerary for us. Carmen also made sure transportation was scheduled for when we arrived at the airport and scheduled a rental car for us to drive to Costa Brava. She really thought of everything.
Having our own personal tour guide, Mark, for La Sagrada Familia and the Gaudi house was amazing! We learned so much about Gaudi, his...
Read more

Carmen is fabulous! She created a truly special experience for my niece and I. She asked about what I enjoy and also what my niece enjoys and built the perfect itinerary for us. Carmen also made sure transportation was scheduled for when we arrived at the airport and scheduled a rental car for us to drive to Costa Brava. She really thought of everything.
Having our own personal tour guide, Mark, for La Sagrada Familia and the Gaudi house was amazing! We learned so much about Gaudi, his work, and the history of the area all without having to compete with a group of other people for the best views or the spot closest to the guide so we could hear. Mark made sure to include my 11 year old niece in the conversation as well, which was really wonderful! It made her much more engaged and was very enjoyable for her. Mark also provided incredible recommendations of restaurants and cafes. Carmen also booked a local cooking class for us! We LOVED it! It was so much fun and the instructors were such a delight. Our trip also included snorkeling and an incredibly special flamenco experience. This is one trip i will never forget.
I highly recommend Carmen and the Kimkim team to everyone!

Activity Reviews
Flamenco Night
Flamenco Night
Barcelona

This was such a special experience! We felt truly immersed in the culture and enjoyed every second of it!

Quality of Experience
It was an intimate setting. Perfection
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Private Tour of Barcelona & La Sagrada Familia
Private Tour of Barcelona & La Sagrada Familia
Barcelona

Mark was wonderful and it was such a pleasure touring the city and learning from him. La Sagarada Familia is a must for anyone traveling to Barcelona! I highly recommend Mark as a tour guide!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Mark is incredibly knowledgeable and very easy to talk to
Transport
Snorkeling in the Mediterranean
Snorkeling in the Mediterranean
Spain
Boquería Market Visit & Cooking Class
Boquería Market Visit & Cooking Class
Barcelona
Local specialist: Carmen Herranz
Carmen
Carmen Herranz
Local specialist in Madrid, Spain | Replied on Jul 02, 2023

Hi Ashley, thank you for your kind words and the thorough feedback!
I am so happy to hear you had a wonderful time with your niece during your time in Spain and you will have wonderful memories together that will last a lifetime!
I will pass on your kind words to Mark specially and all the team.
It's been a pleasure to work with you on this amazing trip :)
Best regards, Carmen

Carmen was an outstanding specialist! The act...
Portugal | May 27 - Jun 10, 2023

M
Megan H.
Manhattan, NY | Reviewed on Jun 12, 2023
Carmen was an outstanding specialist! The activities she planned, hotels she booked, and recommendations she provided were terrific. We ended up having some complications during our trip that were entirely unrelated to Carmen's planning, and she went above and beyond to help us navigate a difficult situation. I highly recommend Carmen and kimkim! Read more

Carmen was an outstanding specialist! The activities she planned, hotels she booked, and recommendations she provided were terrific. We ended up having some complications during our trip that were entirely unrelated to Carmen's planning, and she went above and beyond to help us navigate a difficult situation.

I highly recommend Carmen and kimkim!

Hotel Reviews
PortoBay Marquês
Lisbon
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Editory House Ribeira
Porto
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The air conditioning didn't work, and it was very hot.
Hotel Virxe da Cerca by Pousadas de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Palacio de Luces
Luces
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
One Shot Tabakalera House
San Sebastian

This hotel is a distance from the old town. The staff were not very knowledgeable or helpful.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel España Ramblas
Barcelona
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Private Lisbon Market, Food and Cultural Walk
Private Lisbon Market, Food and Cultural Walk
Lisbon

We did a cooking class instead of this. It was fun, but it was a Michelin secret's course. We didn't actually cook that much. Something more traditional would have been better.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Evening of Fado
Evening of Fado
Lisbon
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Private Day Excursion to Sintra, Cascais & Estoril
Private Day Excursion to Sintra, Cascais & Estoril
Portugal
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Day Excursion to Douro Valley, Wine Tasting & River Cruise
Day Excursion to Douro Valley, Wine Tasting & River Cruise
Porto
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
San Sebastian Pintxo Experience
San Sebastian Pintxo Experience
San Sebastián
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Carmen Herranz
Carmen
Carmen Herranz
Local specialist in Madrid, Spain | Replied on Jun 13, 2023
Hi Megan, Thanks so much for taking the time to write this wonderful review. I am glad to know that you and Lucas had a great time in Portugal and Spain, despite the complicated situation and that everything we planned met your expectations. I will pass your words on to our local guides, they will be happy to know that they have contributed to your special trip, also, I note all your comments about the hotels and activities to enhance the experiences. It was a pleasure creating this... Read more

Hi Megan,

Thanks so much for taking the time to write this wonderful review.

I am glad to know that you and Lucas had a great time in Portugal and Spain, despite the complicated situation and that everything we planned met your expectations.

I will pass your words on to our local guides, they will be happy to know that they have contributed to your special trip, also, I note all your comments about the hotels and activities to enhance the experiences.

It was a pleasure creating this experience with you and I missed that Ruth could have done it as well. Hopefully, we get in touch again for future adventures :)

All the best,
Carmen