Diana Mota

We had such a wonderful trip to Portugal! Exploring and eating our way from Lisbon to Porto to the Algarve, and finishing in Cascais! All in all it was the perfect break from work & school.

Diana was a joy to work with from the start; she took the effort to understand what we were looking for, the types of experiences we enjoy, and made many spot-on recommendations for things for us to check-out during our days without any activities scheduled. She booked us unique, lovely places to stay that were in the heart of the experiences we were after which made getting out super convenient. And she and the team checked-in every day to make sure the trip was proceeding well, and that we had whatever we needed when it came to transfers, activities, etc.

Throughout, our guides and drivers were knowledgeable, friendly, and very steeped in the local culture & scene, resulting in a trip that was very unique and full of color. We felt safe and welcome everywhere we went, and I really appreciated the efforts they each took to provide us options and tailor the experience to something that worked for me and my kids (17 & 14). Specifically there were two drivers who really stood out for myself and my kids; Ricardo (who drove us to/about Douro Valley, as well as our transfer down to Lagos), and Duarte (who brought us from the Algarve to Cascais, as well as our day touring Sintra, and to our very special dinner) — they were exceptional. Both went out of their way to ensure our respective trips and tours really accommodated us, and they created a fun atmosphere, and provided a lot of fantastic recommendations and tips for our trip.

The KimKim team & all of their contacts really contributed to making this a magical & unforgettable first visit to Portugal!

Hotel Reviews

PortoBay Liberdade

Lisbon

Fabulous hotel! Great service staff from the front desk, to the bar(s), to the restaurant. We thought the hotel was in a good location, a quieter neighborhood but easy to walk to downtown or the highlight spots. Breakfasts were some of the best of the trip, and we enjoyed hanging out on the rooftop bar for a late day snack & a refreshing drink. We didn’t get a chance to use the spa, but it looked quite well done and appropriate to the setting. Rooms were clean, moderately elegant, but the beds were fantastic!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Infante Sagres

Porto

Gorgeous hotel in a great urban environment; steps from fantastic restaurants, and a short jaunt to shopping. The interior of the hotel offered a lot of grand character, from the sweeping staircase to the decorated, comfortable rooms. The staff were welcoming and provided great service throughout our stay. The breakfast palette was solid, but the staff was especially attentive and gracious.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cascade Wellness Resort

Lagos

Excellent if remote resort, with stunning cliffside views, wonderful swimming pool, and welcoming staff. The rooms were comfortable, with firm bedding, and spacious seating. The ability to walk out cliffside in the morning or evening was a big plus. The resort is located an easy 10 minute ride to the quaint shopping / restaurants of old town Lagos. The gym was very serviceable, with plenty of equipment for a handful of users at a given time.

Location

Really loved being able to walk along the cliffs early in the morning.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Cascais Miragem

Cascais

Excellent hotel with top-notch service. Beautiful vistas, with very clean rooms, excellent beds, and a delicious breakfast service. Hotel staff were very welcoming, and table staff for dinner, breakfasts, and poolside were always gracious, warm, and very attentive. It’s a lovely sea-side walk from the hotel to downtown Cascais for shopping, dining, etc. The gym (managed by Holmes Place) is a top notch gym with tons of equipment (many multiples of treadmills, stepping machines, bikes, etc.), plenty of free weight, dumbbells, kettlebells, etc. We really enjoyed the splurge of having a private seaside balcony where we could relax and watch the ships go by in the afternoon before dinner.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Exploring Porto's Rich History on an Exclusive Gastronomic Tour Through Time

Porto

What a wonderful exploration this was! Our guide was fantastic, offering plenty of historical and contemporary pieces of color that informed our view of the city, while also offering plenty of tips and suggestions for things for us to check out during our down time in Porto. Each place we visited along the tour was wonderful; the hosts were always warm and gracious, and the food was a unique and fun (and filling!) peak into Porto culture. Meia.Duzia was a very unique stop we enjoyed. We were truly stuffed with delicious foods and wine by the time we made it to the final destination for ice cream (Chocolataria Equador), but that’s probably for the best since if I’d had any more room, I would have gotten another round of ice cream — I had the basil & lemon with sea salt and olive oil which was phenomenal!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our Portugal trip was better than expected and we are looking forward to another visit to explore more. Margarida (spelling ?) was our walking tour guide in Lisbon and she was knowledgeable, friendly, and fun. She helped provide a balanced welcome into Portugal's history, culture, and food that made us appreciate our surroundings and the country.

Duarte was a friendly and knowledgeable driver/guide for Sintra and to/from Lagos. His unique background being a race car driver living in the Unite States and personal history and experiences made our time in the car feel special. He was safe, friendly and went above and beyond to ensure our comfort and a positive experience.

Rodrigo drove us for a day in Lagos and Algarve and introduced us to some of the most beautiful beaches we've been to! He was friendly and easy to communicate with.

Marcos was our friendly driver to and from the Afronation concert and he made sure we got to and from safely.

Hotel Reviews

Lagos Avenida Hotel

Lagos

I loved the decor and views at this hotel. It was very easy to walk to the shops, marina, and restaurants nearby.

Authenticity & Character

The modern beachy but laid back vibes. The style was great at the hotel overall although the bathroom/room combo with the curtain for privacy was a tad tricky and less practical at times.

Location

Staff

Breakfast staff was very friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was clean and breakfast was superb.

Vila Galé Cascais

Cascais

The hotel was clean, large, and had a beautiful outdoor and pool area. It was located across from the water with easy walking access to the town for restaurants and shopping which was great. It was a bit dark in the hallways of the hotel leading to our room and the hotel is due for some updates overall, particularly in the rooms.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was clean and comfortable with ample space in the room to spread out. I liked the balcony/terrace; it was very relaxing and quiet.

Hotel Britania Art Deco

Lisbon

I really liked the Art Deco decor and history of the hotel. The staff was very friendly and breakfast was delicious. The hotel was clean, quiet, easily walkable to local restaurants and shopping. I enjoyed the bath/body products in the hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Staff was kind and personable with good recommendations for food nearby.

Cleanliness & Comfort

I liked the robe and slippers.

Activity Reviews

Lisbon's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour & Tastings

Lisbon

I liked the food tastings. Our guide was very knowledgeable and friendly (Margarida). We handled the walking okay but the hills would have been very challenging if I came with my parents or other family members.

Quality of Experience

a nice mix of food, culture, history and lifestyle.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

a good walk but not easy in the heat or if hills or stairs are challenging.

Exclusive Panoramic Boat Tour to the Ponta da Piedade Caves

Portugal

I liked how it was personal. Jorge was knowledgeable with a good sense of humor. He made the ride feel more safe and calm even with the waters being rough that day. Loved the fresh fruit; it was sweet and refreshing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

To Eat Suggestion: Honest Greens (Avenida)

Lisbon

Delicious healthy food that was less than 2 blocks from our hotel. the staff was friendly and the atmosphere was fresh, spacious, and comfortable.

Quality of Experience

Unveil the Fairytale Villa of Sintra with a Private Driver Service

Portugal

Sintra and the Villa/castle was beautful to see although it was very slow due to crowds. We stood a lot moving slowly through the property. A heads up on the microclimate could have been helpful as it was chilly at times.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver Duarte was friendly and knowledgeable throughout the tour. He also recommended a great seafood restaurant and pastries which we enjoyed. Glad we passed through Cascais on the way back to Lisbon as it was beautiful and sunny.

Transport

the care was clean, modern, comfortable and we felt safe. Thankful for the bottled water.

Diana did a wonderful job planning our Portugal trip. From the moment that we were picked up at the aiport in Lisbon to the day that we were dropped off at the Porto airport, everything was seamless. Our first driver, Carlos, went out of his way to make sure that everything was perfect. Our driver in Porto, Ricardo, was equally as wonderful. They even set up dinner with locals at their home. Having all of this arranged made this a true vacation!!! I would highly recommend using KimKim to plan your next vacation!

We had Kim Kim Plan a trip to Portugal for us. It was excellent. I answered the questionnaire. I got everything I asked for private drivers, private tours, beautiful hotels. Every driver we had was accommodating and showed us extra little secret places to visit and took us. It was absolutely amazing and it was totally hasslefree. They texted us every day with an itinerary and always checked in on if we needed anything
I would totally use them over and over

Diana helped us develop a perfect itinerary. Our drivers, Samir Costa, Ricardo, and Ivo were professional and gave us so much information about the area. Bernardo gave an excellent walking tour in Porto. Margarida was a wonderful food tour guide in Lisbon. Highly recommend!

Hotel Review

Hotel Cascais Miragem

Cascais

Beautiful setting. Prime location. Five stars all around!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Porto's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour

Porto

Bernardo was excellent!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Unveil the Fairytale Villa of Sintra with a Private Driver Service

Portugal

Samir Costa was an excellent tour guide. He went above and beyond to meet our needs.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Le

Transport

Flavors of Lisbon in a Premium & Gastronomic Private Walking Tour

Lisbon

Margarida made this tour so fun and interesting!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Seamless Discovery - The Ultimate Douro Valley Experience with Private Driver Service

Portugal

Ricardo was such an excellent driver and tour guide!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

If you are looking for a company to plan and orchestrate a perfect vacation, Kimkim is the way to go. Diana was amazing in planning a fantastic trip for us in Portugal. The choice of hotels, tour guides and activities was spot on. We thoroughly enjoyed our car trips with Carlos, who was so informative, professional, courteous and fun. We were in Cascáis during the power outage and the staff at Hotel Miragem was unbelievably helpful. Dinner with the locals in Porto was intimate and we had one of the most delicious meals cooked by Vito The trip to Douro Valley was the icing on the cake. We were extremely impressed by how Diana and her team kept checking and updating us with the daily plans throughout the trip. Thanks everyone who made this trip so special for us!!

This was our second KimKim adventure. Everything went smoothly from the moment Paulo gathered us at the Lisbon airport and on. The hotels were wonderful and the breakfasts had everything imaginable. Lisbon is a hilly city but we trekked on guided by Marina to learn a lot about the city and the country that we would not have without a guide. Also Marina showed us where to get the best Nata. Later we experienced a Fado music dinner which gave us a glimpse of local culture. We were back with Paulo the next day on a trip to Sintra to see the winter palace and there we bought sardines! On the way there we stopped in Obidos and sampled cherry liquor in a chocolate cup. Then on to Porto where we checked into another great hotel and another hilly walking tour culminating with a tour of the Sandeman Port winery. Fantastic! And the port tasting was splendid! The next day we had a driving tour around Porto with Ricardo. We experienced the Douro Valley and saw other towns and cites. We really liked Cascais. The next trip was from Porto to Lagos in the Algarve region stopping for lunch in Evora and the food was fantastic. I had not tried Vino Verde before and drank it at most meals! We were all amazed at the expanse of vineyards, some dating back to Roman times. Another wine tasting and a boat ride on the Douro completed the day. In Lagos, we were greeted at the hotel with beautiful views and learned we were at the most western point in continental Europe! We were there during the power outage but were still able to tour around and have a great dinner. Last trip, up to Cascais and driving along the coast through Estoril and Cascais to see the beautiful beaches. As "foodies" we ate a lot of incredible meals. Cataplana, whole dorado, octopus, a mountain of olives, Portuguese fish soups, and the list goes on. Go to dinner hungry and with an open mind!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Cascais Miragem

Cascais

The hotel itself is spectacular! The rooms are spacious and our only regret is that we did not have more time to spend there.

Location

An easy walk to town

Cleanliness & Comfort

Spacious rooms, well appointed bathroom, great breakfast buffet.

Hotel Britania Art Deco

Lisboa

Very nice accommodations. A good location to start walking tours. If you need a coffee and delightful pastry, try Bom Gusto around the corner.

Authenticity & Character

The old world character and history of this hotel was wonderful. The marble floors and the cork floors of the suites were something I had not seen. There was a decanter of port wine in the room for complimentary tasting!

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

NH Collection Porto Batalha

Porto

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cascade Wellness Resort

Lagos

Terrific views from nearly everywhere in the hotel. A nice pool although a bit cool. Will be nice in warmer weather.

Authenticity & Character

Very luxurious! A large building that keeps a cozy appearance.

Location

Close to the old town and to nice restaurants. Try O Antonio!

Staff

The front desk folks were very helpful. Our waiter Mario was excellent. Even during the crush of patrons during the power outage the service was uncrushed and the food was terrific!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was great! Carob candy on the pillow every night!

Activity Reviews

Unveil the Fairytale Villa of Sintra with a Private Driver Service

Portugal

We had fun looking at the sardine store! The palace was wonderful, the amount of workmanship and tile was extraordinary!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nice large comfy Mercedes van!

To Eat Suggestion: Brasão - Coliseu

Porto

We called to make reservations but nobody answers. Then we had the hotel call for reservations and nobody answered them either.

To Eat Suggestion: Terra Nova

Porto

After seeing the photo of the seats by the round window we were all excited to have dinner. We actually got that table!

Quality of Experience

Great food and wine!

Transport

Uber

Private Douro River Escape: 1-Hour Exclusive Cruise

Portugal

It was OK but not up to the rest of the trip. Half our up river, half hour back down river.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was a nice girl.

Transport

Indulge in Elegance on a Guided Winery Tour Infused with Tastings and a Delicious Lunch

Portugal

Very interesting tour of the vineyard area.

To Eat Suggestion: Cervejaria Trindade

Lisbon

We got there on the early side an were just about the only people there. By the time dinner was over the place was full and there was a waiting line out the door. We had cataplana, a seafood dish with shellfish and fin fish. Along with the crusty bread and olives it made for a memorable meal.

Quality of Experience

food quality

Transport

we took Uber and found it to be very easy to use

Exclusive Panoramic Boat Tour to the Ponta da Piedade Caves

Portugal

Weather prevented us from taking this tour. Sadly it would have been fun

Lisbon's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour & Tastings

Lisbon

Marina was terrific. She was very knowledgeable and covered a lot of topics.

Quality of Experience

Marina guides us to great sights and fresh Nata.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Marina was very easy to understand and she was very knowledgeable.

The Flavors of Port Wine - Sip & Discover

Porto

A very educational hour at the Sandeman port winery. We loved learning about the history and tasting the various types of port wine.

Quality of Experience

Small tour group

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The Gide inside the Sandeman was very good

Transport

we took Uber

Working with Diana to plan our Portugal trip was such a pleasure!! She and her awesome team have made our 30th anniversary celebration a memorable one.
I really don't know how we could have managed such a wonderful vacation so easily if I hadn't contacted her via KimKim. She and her colleagues took care of every single, minute detail during our 5 day trip. Right from the very first call to the time we boarded our flights out of Lisbon, she was w/ us via What'sApp, checking-in at regular intervals, giving a heads-up regarding the next day expectations.
I also have to give special thanks to our drivers and guides Rafael and Ricardo. They have made our day trips to Sintra, drive around Lisbon, drive to Porto a breeze and such an informative trip - stopping at all the right places and being the best local guides :)
Overall, I would highly recommend Diana and her team to anyone who is planning a trip to Portugal. You will be doing yourselves a favor :)

Activity Reviews

Unveil the Fairytale Villa of Sintra with a Private Driver Service

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver plus guide for the day , Rafhael, was very friendly, punctual and ensured we did not miss any important/interesting spot.

Transport

Very punctual pickup/drop; clean vehicle

Porto's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour

Porto

Ana was our walking tour guide for the day. She was very pleasant, friendly and easy to talk to, has a good understanding of local history. 3.5 hrs just flew by going around this historic town w/ Ana. I would recommend this walking tour to folks who are able to comfortably walk around - esp hilly ups/downs.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This was my first experience using kimkim and their local agent, Diana, in Portugal, and I will not travel again without contacting them! It was the most seamless, wonderful trip I have experienced. Every detail of the trip was arranged prior to our departure, all with our feedback and suggestions, as needed. Having never been to Portugal, we were grateful for Diana's suggestions on locations to visit and the amount of time allotted for each. I am a female who was traveling with my sister-in-law and 27 year old daughter, and we all agreed it was the most amazing experience.

The private driver service was a game changer! Prior to our travel, we had suggested to Diana that we may not need a private driver; however, she responded that this was the best way to travel without stress and enjoy local knowledge as we traveled. Our main driver, Costa, was beyond amazing. He was professional, polite, kind, attentive, and always receptive to our requests to stay longer in a location or move on. It was like traveling in a high-end van with a tour guide and secret service (no safety concerns, but Costa watched our every move)! Costa helped arrange for restaurants during several stops, and we were treated like royalty by the staff. We had our most amazing meal overlooking the ocean in a restaurant in Cascais on Costa's recommendation.

The hotels arranged by Diana were amazing. We were pleasantly surprised at each of our three accommodations, but especially overwhelmed in Lisbon and Cascais. The staff at the hotels were professional and kind, and the breakfast options that were included were excellent.

We also took advantage of a few walking tours and excursions recommended by Diana. Each of the tour guides seemed very concerned at our satisfaction level, and we enjoyed the private aspect of the tours in giving us a chance to ask questions and take detours at our discretion.

In every piece of our travel, we felt that we were offered higher levels of accommodations and service based on the service providers' desire to keep good standing with Diana and Across Portugal. Diana was quick to respond when we had questions, and there were no unpleasant surprises along the way. Many thanks to kimkim and Diana at Across Portugal for the trip of a lifetime!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Britania Art Deco

Lisboa

The hotel location, decor, rooms, and service were exceptional. We were on a quiet street, yet only blocks from the high end district. The rooms were beautiful and well-appointed.

Authenticity & Character

Amazing that they were able to bring an historic building up to current and exceptional comforts.

Location

The hotel is on a quiet street, yet only a block or two from city center.

Staff

All of the front desk staff were amazing. The bartender was exceptional, as well.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The beds were amazing, as well as the bathroom.

Condes de Azevedo Palace

Porto

The hotel was beautiful and nice that the apartment offered separate bedrooms and a common area, dining table, and kitchen. It was on a very busy and noisy street, and the bedrooms were up a flight of narrow stairs with a tight turn, making luggage a bit of a challenge.

Authenticity & Character

Location

The hotel provided easy access to the river as well as central Porto.

Staff

At check-in, we were offered a quick tour of the apartment, but no assistance with getting our luggage up the stairs to the bedroom. We also asked for a recommendation for wine and pizza and were directed to a hotel that did not serve pizza (which seems trivial, but we were very specific in our request).

Cleanliness & Comfort

The apartment was very clean, but there were no extra amenities such as extra towels or pillows.

Hotel Cascais Miragem

Cascais

Every aspect of this hotel was amazing. It was one of the nicest hotels experienced by anyone in our group. We did not want to leave!

Authenticity & Character

The hotel is spacious and well designed. The fresh floral arrangements and design were impeccable.

Location

The oceanfront location cannot be beat. The restaurant, bar, pool, and balconies all have amazing views of the ocean.

Staff

The cleaning staff offered turndown service, fresh towels throughout the day, pillow options, etc. and were so kind and professional.

Cleanliness & Comfort

This hotel offers every amenity. It is exceptional.

Activity Reviews

Lisbon's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour & Tastings

Lisbon

The private tour of Lisbon offered just the right level of detail on the history and current state of Lisbon. Our tour guide was kind, fun, knowledgeable and professional.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We felt that we would have liked to have our guide as a friend. She was kind and fun.

Transport

This was a walking tour that was just the right level of challenge and comfort.

Unveil the Fairytale Villa of Sintra with a Private Driver Service

Portugal

Our driver was beyond amazing in his professionalism and knowledge of the area. We enjoyed Pena Palace but especially enjoyed Sintra and the brief tour of Cascais.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We cannot say enough good things about our driver. He was extremely professional, kind, attentive, and helpful. We loved Costa!

Transport

The high end van and private driver offered a wonderful way to see the area.

Immerse Yourself in the Portuguese Culture by Experiencing a Fado Dinner

Lisbon

The atmosphere and music offered great insight into the Portuguese culture. We appreciated how much all native Portuguese love the Fado music. It is beautiful.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Porto's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour

Porto

Porto is beautiful and we walked through some amazing locations. Our guide offered an extensive history of Porto and Portugal as a country - perhaps a little too extensive, at times. We would have preferred to cover a little more ground and see more sights.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was very kind and knowledgeable. He could benefit from being a little more aware of the attention level of his visitors. To his credit, he is very passionate about the history of Portugal and the style of buildings, etc.

Transport

We would have preferred more walking and less standing and talking.

The Flavors of Port Wine - Sip & Discover

Porto

Beautiful location and interesting tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Seamless Discovery - The Ultimate Douro Valley Experience with Private Driver Service

Portugal

The Douro Valley is amazing and beautiful. We enjoyed the views and the winery tour; however, the time spent in the car seemed a bit excessive.

Quality of Experience

Having been on vineyard tours in other countries, we would have foregone this experience due to the travel time to and from the area.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Douro River Escape: 1-Hour Exclusive Cruise

Portugal

The guides on the boat were wonderful; however, the boat tour was a bit underwhelming. We traveled a short distance down the river and back and really did not see anything overwhelming - perhaps because we live in a part of the world that also has beautiful rivers and hills :)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Indulge in Elegance on a Guided Winery Tour Infused with Tastings and a Delicious Lunch

Portugal

The lunch was wonderful. We did enjoy the tour of the vineyards, but having been to other vineyards, we would have opted not to do this experience.

Quality of Experience

Lunch was exceptional!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cascais-Sintra Exclusive E-Bike Adventure

Portugal

The weather was not conducive to a bike tour that day, yet the guide suggested we continue. We thought we would be transported to the park by car, but we left the hotel on bike after only a brief introduction to the e-bikes and traveled on side walks and through the narrow city streets. Due to the wet tiles on the street, one member of our party wrecked their bike after two previous near falls. Thankfully, she wasn't seriously hurt, but had a large bruise on her cheek and a sizeable scrape on her knee. We returned to the hotel without seeing the park. Our travel agent, Diana, was exceptionally concerned about the injury and make sure our injured traveler did not need additional care. Diana also immediately refunded our fees for the tour.

Quality of Experience

I am an experienced biker; however, I was very uncomfortable following our guide through city streets with pedestrians. The workings of the e-bike deserve more than a brief introduction.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport