Isabelle Voute

Having never been to the French Alps before, our KimKim specialist helped put together an itinerary that matched our interests and desire to be more active. The mountains of Chamonix are absolutely stunning and we very much enjoyed this mountain town that is easy to walk around for food, shopping, and staging our adventures without a rental car.

The two-day pass for the gondolas allowed us to quickly on day one enjoy the striking beauty of the mountains and how awe-inspiring the views are... read more

Having never been to the French Alps before, our KimKim specialist helped put together an itinerary that matched our interests and desire to be more active. The mountains of Chamonix are absolutely stunning and we very much enjoyed this mountain town that is easy to walk around for food, shopping, and staging our adventures without a rental car.

The two-day pass for the gondolas allowed us to quickly on day one enjoy the striking beauty of the mountains and how awe-inspiring the views are from high above. We loved seeing para-gliders dot the sky and appreciated the countless views we felt deserved a picture to capture the moment.

We were positively surprised by all the things to do and see at the top of Aiguille du Midi. And getting out to walk around the mid-station was a fantastic complement to being at the top. For my 13 and 15 year old children this part of the trip was one they loved the most.

We mountain biked with e-bikes as a family with four others (brothers) and our guide was very nice and good. It was a bit too long (mileage) for my wife and kids but we enjoyed everything we did and saw. The logistics weren't ideal: our meetup time moved up which we didn't see until it was right upon us (but we acted fast and made it) and the bus ride back from Houches was hot, very crowded and felt like over 30 minutes.

The hike with Yannik was amazing and he was fantastic. He took us a less-traveled way up to the glacial lake and offered a lot of information about the mountains, region and Chamonix. He helped us get extra water, let us borrow his hiking poles, and offered us his picnic food -- I would absolutely recommend him to anyone as a guide and hiking companion. Before the hike we were concerned it might be too ambitious since we aren't frequent hikers. Yannik coordinated with us to make it a little shorter by taking a lift up for the first part. From there it was a beautiful, long hike up to the lake and it was amazing. We hiked down and it ended up taking us to our limit physically getting to the bottom. He was always positive and was terrific. I didn't realize it would be as long of a day and I'd recommend for future hikers surveying them for expected timing, mileage and some way to figure out how to assess where their limits might be. This is an experience to absolutely recommend to others.

Things that went well and above our expectation:
- Meeting our transfer in Geneva: this was very easy and convenient and it was a nice, large vehicle to take us up to Chamonix.
- The hotel breakfast was very nice and a great way to start each day. Great food and service!
- Isabelle had recommended a couple restaurants those were very good.
- The train from Geneva to Paris was great, and Isabelle had set us up in first class so we could sit together. It had a table and was perfect...we played cards and chatted facing each other. So great!
- Overall, we loved everything about Chamonix and would recommend it to anyone!

Things that didn't go as planned:
- The hotel surprisingly didn't have record of our requested early check-in when we arrived. I believe KimKim had made that request on our behalf so I am unsure where the communication within the hotel had broken down. We knew traveling overnight from the U.S. to Geneva and landing at 7:30am had us expecting to be tired and nervous about when our room would be ready. With the early check-in request we felt we could wait until 12:00pm when we thought we'd most likely get into our room (and not need to pay for an entire night prior). As the trip came closer we even asked if we should just purchase the additional night...but there was not availability at the hotel to do so. We knew it wouldn't be exact timing, so when we arrived at the hotel to drop off our bags and check when we could get into our room they said they didn't have any information or request for an early check in and that we should expect a 3:00pm check-in at the very earliest. It was a very distressing moment for my wife at 9:00am who was tired and wasn't sure how she'd make it the additional 3 hours to 3:00pm (or even later). They stored our bags and alerted the cleaning crew to prioritize, but it was a difficult moment to be tired and uncertain of when it would actually be ready. I asked them to call me when it was ready and hoped for the best but was concerning to know this was something we communicated being anxious about, and for the hotel to tell us they didn't have the request. We ended up getting the call that our room was ready at 12:30pm so it worked out to get in a bit early but it was not a great way to start our time in Chamonix.
- Our transfer from Chamonix to Geneva. We were about 10-15 minutes late for getting out of the hotel and downstairs to our transfer on check-out. It was our fault and I felt badly for our driver who was stressed and unhappy we were so late. He said he was trying to call us and that we almost got left. Turns out he had mistakenly thought our pick up was the day prior, so for him it was his second time coming up to Chamonix to get us. He also had another pickup tightly after ours so he was stressed about making it to that next pickup. It was a fast but quiet/tense ride to the train station, of which we arrived WELL ahead of when our train departed (about 45 minutes). It was our fault to be a bit late but it was his next appointment that seemed to trigger his stress. Maybe consider not having the transfer company book trips so tightly together.

All in all, our trip to the French Alps was really spectacular. We loved it. We also appreciated all Isabelle had done to set us up for a great time and for Joel just before we arrived. Thank you!

Hotel Review

Chalet Hotel le Prieure

CHAMONIX MONT BLANC

Great location, great breakfast! Very helpful front desk staff for the most part. Rooms don't have air conditioning so for those in the U.S. it is something to consider.

Authenticity & Character

Location

We could walk to everything

Staff

Helpful, but not having our early check-in request was very stressful and disappointing

Cleanliness & Comfort

Family room was good for our family of four with younger kids

Activity Reviews

Chamonix : to the Aiguille du Midi

France

I put these in my other comments.

Quality of Experience

Electric Mountain Bike in Chamonix

France

I put these in my other comments.

Quality of Experience

Guides, drivers and staff

Transport

Hiking in the French Alps

France

I put these in my other comments.

Quality of Experience

Guides, drivers and staff

Transport

We had a terrific time in France thanks to kimkim!

Isabelle was terrific to work with in the planning phase of the trip, and Joel helped us finalize details and offered us valuable on-the-ground support when we needed it. We loved our stay in Paris at the Baum Hotel that Isabelle recommended. It was in a great location, the breakfasts were delicious, and the staff was tip-top. Our excursions were excellent -- though the heat caused some members of our party to pass on a few of the planned... read more

We had a terrific time in France thanks to kimkim!

Isabelle was terrific to work with in the planning phase of the trip, and Joel helped us finalize details and offered us valuable on-the-ground support when we needed it. We loved our stay in Paris at the Baum Hotel that Isabelle recommended. It was in a great location, the breakfasts were delicious, and the staff was tip-top. Our excursions were excellent -- though the heat caused some members of our party to pass on a few of the planned outdoor activities. The catacombs and Louvre were wildly different, but equally intriguing. Everyone appreciated tasting the sweets on our Paris tasting tour. We were especially grateful for evening tickets to visit the Eiffel Tower -- not only because it was cooler, but also because we got to see the magic of the lights of Paris. A few of us braved the heat to see Versailles, and we won the jackpot with our Fat Tire guide, Nick. He was deeply knowledgeable about French history and culture, very clever and entertaining, and his positive energy and enthusiasm kept the group from flagging in the 100+ F temps.

After our stay in Paris, we journeyed south to explore some historic towns and our own family history near Loudon. The place we stayed, Domaine de Roiffe, was a spacious, albeit quirky place with an "old school" country club vibe that took us back at least half a century. The restaurant offered something for everyone, and we enjoyed excellent local wines at our family dinner.

Further south in Bergerac we stayed at an incredible accommodation -- Clos d'Argenson -- for five fabulous nights. Our hosts Francois and Ann Marie were wonderful, the three-story building was beautifully appointed and full of interesting art, we enjoyed spacious common areas to read, play billiards, and eat scrumptious breakfasts with homemade delights on the balcony. The grounds were beautiful and quiet, with a peaceful swimming pool we used each day of our stay. In addition to enjoying the charming city and local village connected with another side of our family tree, we took advantage of the excursions Isabelle recommended: canoeing on the Dordogne with spectacular views of castles and chateaus, visiting the site of the Lasceaux caves, and dining at a Michelin starred-restaurant in St. Émilion. A small group of us even ventured a couple hours away to see a French cyclist win Stage 19 of the Tour de France in Cahors. Worth the 2-hour scenic drive!

Our time in Bordeaux exceeded our expectations -- it's a spectacular city with so much to see and do, and the FOOD was fabulous everywhere we went. Because of road closures due to wildfires, the crew that wanted to visit the Dune of Pilat had to make alternative plans. Our place in Bordeaux, Maison Bordeaux, was in a great location and was quite nice, though my parents encountered a few minor issues that did not get resolved during their stay (e.g. their door did not lock).

It was too sad to say goodbye, so we decided to go with, "See you next time!" Thank you, kimkim, for helping us put together our itinerary, figure out the lodging, arrange for our three separate car rentals, the various transfers, and all the local tours/activities that made our time in France an unforgettable experience. We're proud of our French heritage and connecting with it together as a family was a true gift.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Baume

Paris

We loved our stay in Paris at the Baum Hotel that Isabelle recommended. It was in a great location, the breakfasts were delicious, and the staff was tip-top.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Professional, responsive, friendly, and competent.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bathrooms were especially bright and sparkling clean.

Domaine de Roiffé

Roiffe

Domaine de Roiffe was a spacious, albeit quirky place with an "old school" country club vibe that took us back at least half a century. The llama and sheep grazing on the property were entertaining, and the horses were beautiful to visit on an early morning walk. The restaurant offered something for everyone, and we enjoyed excellent local wines at our family dinner. The breakfast buffet was also really good, and we enjoyed the outdoor eating option. If we'd had more time, some of our party would have enjoyed playing some golf, but we had to set out for our adventures in the south. The location was really great for us since we went to visit the Maison de l'Acadie in La Chaussée.

Authenticity & Character

The rustic charm was appreciated by many in our group, but others were concerned that we didn't have air conditioning.

Location

Very close to one of our family heritage sites.

Staff

Everyone was really helpful. Wait staff and front desk especially!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Same as above: The rustic charm was appreciated by many in our group, but others were concerned that we didn't have air conditioning.

Clos d'Argenson

Bergerac

We HIGHLY recommend this incredible accommodation. Our hosts Francois and Ann Marie were wonderful, the three-story building was beautifully appointed and full of interesting art, we enjoyed spacious common areas to read, play billiards, and eat scrumptious breakfasts with homemade delights on the balcony. The grounds were beautiful and quiet, with a peaceful swimming pool we used each day of our stay. In addition to enjoying the charming city, a local village connected with another side of our family tree. It was a perfect place for us to stay.

Authenticity & Character

The space and decor was both comfortable and interesting -- very tasteful without being pretentious.

Location

In the heart of the city center, but not noisy.

Staff

Perfect hosts!

Cleanliness & Comfort

The air conditioning was great. The bathrooms were sparkly clean, the linens and towels changed as we requested.

La Maison Bord'eaux

Bordeaux

Maison Bordeaux was in a great location and was quite nice, though my parents encountered a few minor issues that did not get resolved during their stay (e.g. their door did not lock). The parking on the premise was a tad clunky to manage (e.g. needed some help a few times with the gate).

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Sweetside Food Tour of Paris

Paris

We ALL looked forward to this tour. Our guide was really friendly and easy-going, and she took us to some of the best locations for delicious treats. At our first stop, for eclairs, we asked about the history of the eclair and our guide was stumped -- which seemed a bit odd since she has no doubt been there many times. With the help of the internet we looked up the answer to our question. Problem solved. Later on in the tour, our guide had more of a handle on the history of specific sweet delicacies, which made the entire experience more interesting. Because it was a Monday, and nearing the start of the summer holiday for the French, a few places we would have stopped at were closed. It was not a big deal, but if I had been leading the tour, I might have called ahead to the places I planned to go to confirm whether they would be open or not. Despite a few places with locked doors, we got to see and taste a lot of excellent tidbits. The tour provided a wonderful orientation/welcome for our trip to France. And since it was a really hot afternoon, I would recommend including a place for ice cream or sorbet tasting. Lucky for us the tour ended near where we were staying!

Quality of Experience

I liked the fact that it was a private walking tour for our family group. We got to try lots of goodies and everyone was quite pleased.

Guides, drivers and staff

Barbara was easy-going and friendly. And she had great recommendations for what to try.

Eiffel Tower Summit Ticket

Paris

We were glad we did this in the evening when the temperature was cooler. Our guide was really good, sharing history of the tower with us as we looked up at it from various vantage points. It was especially useful having him guide us around the different directional sections of the tower pointing out key sites below.

Quality of Experience

Guides, drivers and staff

Transport

It was nice having the option to walk the stairs.

Versailles Full Day bike tour

France

This was fabulous!

Quality of Experience

Overall a 10 out of 10!

Guides, drivers and staff

We won the jackpot with our Fat Tire guide, Nick! He was deeply knowledgeable about French history and culture, very clever and entertaining, and his positive energy and enthusiasm kept the group from flagging in the 100+ F temps. He was also extremely helpful. When a member of our group had difficulty with her bike, he rode it back while we were getting our picnic items and brought her a new one. When the store we were shopping at lost electricity, he helped us get to the best places for alternatives.

Transport

When we got there the train that departs from our meet up location was not operating, so we had to get on the metro for a few stops and take a different regional train. The 3-speed bikes worked well for the flat terrain we had that included some gravel.

Canoeing in Dordogne

France

This was a winning excursion among all members of the family. The biggest surprise to our group was how MANY canoes were on the river at the same time -- it was not as crowded as "bumper cars" but you were never on a stretch of river when you were alone among your party.

Quality of Experience

Stunning scenery. Lovely way to spend a summer day. Three folks in our party of eight dared to jump from the rock ledge after seeing some other people do it without hurting themselves. Very exciting!

Guides, drivers and staff

The staff were really helpful at the point of set up and departure. It's just that we were surprised that no one shared more about the history of the river or offered any details about the specific sites we anticipated seeing along the way. It would be handy to have a printed guide with some interesting facts, or a basic orientation -- perhaps akin to what we heard guides sharing on the motorized tour boats along the river -- that would give us a bit more context to the region.

Transport

The equipment was good and the bus rides to the launch and from the end point were excellent. It was helpful that they provided each boat with containers to keep your stuff dry in the event of a capsize.

The Vezere Valley and Lascaux IV

Sarlat

Two of us eight had been to Lascaux II back in 1998, and we were impressed with the improvements afforded by Lascaux IV. Having the audio transmitter/headsets made listening quite easy. And the new space created as a replica to the original cave gives visitors more opportunity to get close to the cave paintings.

Quality of Experience

It's a powerful learning opportunity!

Guides, drivers and staff

Our guide was quite good and the exhibition floor guides were also very knowledgable and friendly.

Transport

Parking was not completely full, but quite crowded. As mentioned above, give yourself time to park and walk from further away than you might have anticipated.

Absolutely had a great trip, from the moment we arrived in Paris we were on the move. Paris was great and we got to see everything on our itinerary (Catacombs, Eiffel Tower, Seine Cruise). Seine Cruise was highlight of the first day as we took the boat in the evening and got to see all the local Parisians out on the banks enjoying a chat as well as the restaurants and bars going live. Veronique, our host in the Loire Valley B&B LeMoulin du Bourg, doubled as our tour guide as well, she was... read more

Absolutely had a great trip, from the moment we arrived in Paris we were on the move. Paris was great and we got to see everything on our itinerary (Catacombs, Eiffel Tower, Seine Cruise). Seine Cruise was highlight of the first day as we took the boat in the evening and got to see all the local Parisians out on the banks enjoying a chat as well as the restaurants and bars going live. Veronique, our host in the Loire Valley B&B LeMoulin du Bourg, doubled as our tour guide as well, she was an awesome host and the B&B was lovely. We were able to experience a local Bastille Day festival in the town which was a once in a lifetime experience we won’t forget. Mt. St Michele was amazing to see as we made our way to the Normandy Region. The Normandy region was the highlight of our trip, we absolutely loved to countryside there and the horses abound. The Omaha Beach tour from Overland Tours was great, we only did the half day tour but would recommend a full day or even two days as there’s just so much to take in. Sidecar tour on the Cider Road was a fun trip, only thing that would’ve been better would’ve been to have it on a cooler day Lol as it was the hottest day in history. The La Cour Sainte Catherine B&B was a very nice B&B with a great location in Honfleur close to everything and easy to get in and out of town. We were able to do a boat tour to see the Cliffs of Etretat which was beautiful and the beach in Fercamp was a welcome solution to the second day of the heat wave. When we got back to Paris I was most appreciative of the accommodations made to make it easy to get to the hotel, return the car and be able to hop on the train to downtown and to the airport terminal the next day. It made it very easy on the last day, and helped with the trip home. Jose was helpful and very responsive with helping us to book the boat tour on last minutes notice, really appreciated it. Looking forward to our next trip.

The whole team was very cooperative and great Always got back to me in time to renegotiate certain things I wanted to adjust in the trip (not that there were many) the whole plans were done beautifully. I would definitely work with them again because there’s more to see!!

Thanks again for a lovely time Joel and Isabelle

While the rooms were fine, I never received from Isabel a list of what it was we paid for. The total bill was $1785. I would appreciate your company sending me an itemization of charges. read more

While the rooms were fine, I never received from Isabel a list of what it was we paid for. The total bill was $1785. I would appreciate your company sending me an itemization of charges.

We used kimkim to travel to Croatia, Greece, and Italy (separate times), prior to using kimkim for a 12-day trip with family to France. Isabelle had positive reviews, so we started our booking processes with her. We were traveling with a 14-year-old, 87-year-old on a walker, and three relatively spry adults and so I made sure to carefully articulate that with Isabelle up front and reiterate often. We were also spending four days with family, requiring no hotels or scheduling on her part for... read more

We used kimkim to travel to Croatia, Greece, and Italy (separate times), prior to using kimkim for a 12-day trip with family to France. Isabelle had positive reviews, so we started our booking processes with her. We were traveling with a 14-year-old, 87-year-old on a walker, and three relatively spry adults and so I made sure to carefully articulate that with Isabelle up front and reiterate often. We were also spending four days with family, requiring no hotels or scheduling on her part for that time.

We gave her maximum flexibility to use trains, planes and suggest hotels and tours based on the broad interests of our group. We started planning 6 months in advance to give us the best schedules and options. Our budget began at $200 p/p p/day, but we increased it to $250 p/p p/day at her urging. She was very patient with my father-in-law, who struggled to understand and use kimkim successfully; we had several last minute requests. My pre-travel experience with Isabelle was positive, save for about 10 days when she was completely non-responsive. Then, about a week before our trip was scheduled to start, she let us know she was leaving the company and someone else would be assigned to support us. No one contacted me proactively, so right before we were scheduled to arrive I contacted kimkim customer service...

Upon arriving in Nice, everything went very smoothly and we had a nice hotel and excellent tour driver who took us through Eze at sunset, which I recommend.

We originally asked for the most direct train from Nice to Pau upon departure, as we had a family reunion scheduled that night. During our planning, Isabelle insisted that our best option was to fly from Nice to Toulouse, then take a train from Toulouse to Tarbes. We agreed. When the tickets came (often during planning, only sample schedules are offered) it had us waiting in Toulouse for 4.5 hours. When asked about the schedule, Isabelle insisted it was still the best option and that we could also "enjoy Toulouse" before taking a train to our family. We believed Isabelle when she said taking the plane and train were the fastest option... but wish I had checked. There were several direct routes she could have selected, with far better schedules, that would have allowed us to spend far fewer than eleven hours in transit. Our flight was at 7:20AM, meaning leaving our hotel in Nice at 4:30. When we arrived at the airport in Toulouse, our transportation wasn't there. We couldn't get in touch with the driver or our replacement support servicer from kimkim (it was 8:20AM on Saturday). We finally got a response from the driver who had forgotten about us. After waiting an hour, we were druven by a very kind gentleman to the Toulouse Gare. Unfortunately, contrary to Isabelle's suggestion, there was no way to "enjoy Toulouse", because the Gare (train station) had no place to stow luggage. Isabelle hadn't coordinated for a driver or tour, so lugging bags through the cobblestone streets for 4 hours after being up since 3:40AM, didn't seem like a great option.. So we were stuck in the train station that was under serious construction for a whole morning and didn't arrive in Tarbes until 15:10.

If you visit the south central area of France I highly recommend a trip to the Grottes de Bettharam; especially with children. It is not fir the mobility-challenged, because you will do an hour of walking and stair climbings in wet, uneven conditions, followed by a boat and train through the most unbelievable natural caves, lit using electricity in a beautifully artistic manner. It is truly an eartly and manmade marvel all-in-one.

Leaving our family near Pau, we were supposed to take a train to Biarritz. The original proposed schedule on the trip summary wasn't the same as what was actually reserved. Our family was shocked by the train schedule and connection, since it had us going from Pau to Bayonne and then waiting in Bayonne an hour before heading to Biarritz. Biarritz is only a ten minute train ride from Bayonne and there were more direct trains available on that specific date that she didn't choose. So rather than lug suitcases around two stations and have another long layover that made no sense, my in-laws extended the rental car they were using when we visted family and we drove to Biarritz in an hour. When I shared the concerns with kimkim about the train schedule and our decision to drive, Isabelle's replacement (Valentine) agreed that the schedule made no sense and that driving was a good option. We lost the money we'd paid for the trains and the private transportation from the station, had to pay for gas, and two more days of the rental.

On arriving in Biarritz, we were astonished to learn that the hotel Isabelle booked us all into had no lift. We contacted kimkim and were told this was a historic property and couldn't have a lift, but hotel staff would help with bags. The hotel staff did not help with the bags, but the point is that an 87-year-old with two knee replacements and a recently-shattered ankle, on a walker, cannot go up and down three flights of stairs! Well, there was absolutely no real sense of urgency about the situation at all and no alternative hotel offered. We struggled to get him and our bags up (and for him, the going down was even harder). There was also no parking at the hotel, and there is not even a drop-off area at the front. Very important things to disclose. The suggestion Valentine offered when I explained how difficult the parking situation was (street parking several blocks away and lugging the luggage with my father-in-law on a walker), was to park in public garage even farther away... We spent over $130 Euros on parking before being able to return the car. The Hotel Edouard VII is a lovely property and had kind staff with a beautiful breakfast. But it is absolutely not appropriate for anyone with limited mobility. Biarritz is by far one of our favorite places: Le Sin in the Cite de l'Ocean is not to be missed! What a fantastic restaurant. And Petit Place, right on the water with your feet in the sand (inside the restaurant!) is the best place to watch the sunset.

After Biarritz was Paris, where Isabelle booked us in separate hotels. My in-laws were concerned about some reviews of the Off Seine where we were staying (lots of entertainment and right on the Seine, so can be loud), so Isabelle offered to put them "right across the river" in a quieter hotel. Well, they ended up being a half-hour walk away. Their hotel had no AC (something that should also be disclosed). We could take the metro 5 stops to visit, but they had to get taxis to meet us for our tours which were scheduled from our hotel and other activities that were planned. Isable booked us for the catacombs on our first full-day in Paris, but did not schedule transportation there or back. It is not easy to get taxis that can accommodate five people, and it was very expensive, so if you have a larger party and taking the metro is not a good option, make sure kimkim handles transportation well ahead of time. Taxis and private cars (Serge and Tony reserved by kimkim both had problems) have a hard time finding the Off Seine hotel and getting down to entrance (which is blocked on one side by a gate and the other by barriers). A visit to the catacombs is a perfect way to spend a couple hours, although another tour that is not appropriate for anyone with mobility challenges. If you're there on a weekend, you get spit out into a nice street market and area with good restaurants.

If you stay at the Off Seine over a Sunday, be sure to reserve for brunch well in advance. It's wonderful. I would also recommend scheduling a boat tour to the Eiffel Tower through the Off Seine (they have a relationship with a nice boat operator). We went in the morning and it was cool and a lovely way to see Paris. The Off Seine is a great property, generally, but we had no AC our first 30 hours and the electricity kept shorting out, affecting our lights.

Upon departing to the CDG airport, Isabelle booked us a private driver. As mentioned above, the hotel Off Seine is apparently very difficult to access, so he was 30 minutes late picking us up meaning a bit of a scramble at the airport.

In the end, Joel (my France kimkim support) and Mariana (general kimkim customer support) tried diligently to find solutions and ways to compensate us for the impacts of Isabelle's poor planning and selections. As she is no longer with the company, I fear we were just the unfortunate recipients of a lack of care/concern, knowing there would be no consequences to her professionally. My previous experiences with kimkim have been completely different and almost exclusively positive.

I worked with Isabelle on a 5 day trip to Cognac & Épernay, France for me, my husband, and two friends. I was confident in her planning until we arrived in France. Based on my experience, I would not recommend booking a trip through kimkim and here's why:

Sloppy planning: Three of the five nights of the trip, we discovered that we'd paid for a hotel room that should not have been booked. Initially five of us were traveling, but a couple of weeks before departure one person in our group... read more

I worked with Isabelle on a 5 day trip to Cognac & Épernay, France for me, my husband, and two friends. I was confident in her planning until we arrived in France. Based on my experience, I would not recommend booking a trip through kimkim and here's why:

Sloppy planning: Three of the five nights of the trip, we discovered that we'd paid for a hotel room that should not have been booked. Initially five of us were traveling, but a couple of weeks before departure one person in our group dropped out of the trip. Isabelle should have canceled his hotel rooms. She didn't.
The itinerary also left too much wasted time. We found ourselves having to "figure out what to do" to stay occupied. Well that's the point for me of using a service like kimkim. I expect them to figure it out for me.
Then the day we visited Épernay, Isabelle suggested we visit the Mercier house. It was closed. How did she not know that?

Using questionable vendors: We had three drivers for our various transfers between airports and hotels. Two of them were great: Aimee in Bordeaux and Moh in Paris, but then there was Claude. He drove us from Cognac to Bordeaux (2 hrs). He didn't speak any English. We don't speak any French. When he arrived at our hotel, he didn't even come inside to alert us that he'd arrived. A half hour after he was supposed to pick us up, my friend walked outside, saw him and asked him if he was there for us. Then he wasn't a very good driver. At one point he slammed on brakes so hard it sent all of us flying forward in the van. Not the way you want to wake up.

Poor choice of accommodations: I was disappointed with the hotel options. When we arrived it was obvious that there were probably better choices that could have been made. I had communicated to Isabelle that price was not a concern. I'd rather she'd put us in better hotels as opposed to having us pay for rooms we didn't need . In Paris we stayed at Hotel Bellechasse. I don't recommend it. The rooms are trash. They're entirely too small for two people to be inside at the same time. There's no where to plug up anything. And I actually got sick after eating the breakfast there. The hotel in Cognac, Hotel Chais Monnet was wonderful. I highly recommend that one. La Briqueterie in Épernay was ok. I think we ended up there because other hotels in the area were booked. The restaurant was very good.

I will not work with kimkim again. I would not recommend them to anyone. We have always worked with a travel agency for travel to Europe and I've never had such a poor experience before.

Isabelle put together a fantastic trip for us. It was a great mix of guided tours and museum visits on our own. The accomidations selected were nice and centrally located to each of the city centers of Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam. While we are usually a Hilton family, it was nice to stay in two boutique properties and then one hilton property on our trip. Great variety.
Our guides Gregori and Sarah were amazing. Gregori expertly guided us around Versailles and Sarah showed us... read more

Isabelle put together a fantastic trip for us. It was a great mix of guided tours and museum visits on our own. The accomidations selected were nice and centrally located to each of the city centers of Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam. While we are usually a Hilton family, it was nice to stay in two boutique properties and then one hilton property on our trip. Great variety.
Our guides Gregori and Sarah were amazing. Gregori expertly guided us around Versailles and Sarah showed us Brussels' city center and many hidden gems along the way. The day trip to Bruges and Ghent was a great experience when in Belgium.
We did experience an issue where our guide canceled on us for a day trip in Amsterdam. While we were disappointed, the guide woke up ill and tried everything to rearrange our trip with another guide, although unsucessful. Life happens. The guide refunded our money immediately and Isabelle worked hard to ensure that we were still all set for our airpirt transfer two days later with the same guide. Everything ran smooth thanks to great planning and immediate assistnace when needed.
This was my second trip planned with kimkim. I have used another, similar travel agency in the past for three trips as well, but kimkim surpasses everyone else with value and personalization. We will be back for our next adventure and our trip left us wanting to explore more of France.
Thank you Isabelle.

The perfect 40th wedding anniversary trip to France!

Isabelle was incredible - patient with us as we worked through every detail of our trip, responsive when we ran into a snag, thoughtful in arranging both transportation and hotels that exceeded our expectations. Every request was met! At the end of a long day how wonderful it was to seamlessly check in to our hotel or walk to a fabulous restaurant all arranged in advance by Isabelle.

We thoroughly enjoyed an emotionally moving tour... read more

The perfect 40th wedding anniversary trip to France!

Isabelle was incredible - patient with us as we worked through every detail of our trip, responsive when we ran into a snag, thoughtful in arranging both transportation and hotels that exceeded our expectations. Every request was met! At the end of a long day how wonderful it was to seamlessly check in to our hotel or walk to a fabulous restaurant all arranged in advance by Isabelle.

We thoroughly enjoyed an emotionally moving tour of the D Day beaches in Normandy led by our private guide Valentin. On another day, a precious young man from Bretagne met us at Mont St Michel and kept us out of the crowds for an excellent tour leading up to the abbey.

From small group tours in Champagne with Thomas to biking through the vineyards of St Emilion with Remy, every day was an adventure. We saw the sunset over the Seine in Paris, the full moon rise over Le Marais, dined on a four course luncheon at LaCaronne in Rouen, gathered sand on the hallowed beaches of Normandy, tasted Grand Cru Classe A St Emilion wines, strolled the Blvd St Germaine, rode the metro in Paris to the St Ouen flea market, rented a car, rode the train, toured and tasted champagne from a boutique family vineyard. Just one fabulous moment after another!

Thank you, Isabelle, for taking care of each detail so we had no stress. You made this 40th anniversary trip one of a lifetime!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel D'Argouges 3*

Bayeux

A little bit rustic but with charming and entertaining hosts.

Relais & Châteaux Hostellerie La Briqueterie

Vinay

Well appointed with an extremely attentive staff.

Château Belmont Tours by The Crest Collection

Tours

Spacious and modern. What a treat! The staff was friendly and so kind!

Logis de la Cadène

Saint-Émilion

Spacious and historic. Beautiful view over St Emilion. The staff could not have been more accommodating and personal. We were very pampered!

Hôtel des Saints-Pères

Paris

Fabulous location. Attentive and personable staff.

Activity Reviews

Tour of D-Day Sites

Bayeux

Valentin gave us an excellent tour!

Quality of Experience

Guides, drivers and staff

Transport

Mont-Saint-Michel Full day Tour

France

Our guide kept us out of the crowds. He was with us for the first two hours. Guided us up to the abbey. From there we had a self guided audio tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, drivers and staff

Day-trip to Champagne: Family Growers & traditional Lunch

France

Thomas was the most easy going guide. Super knowledgeable. Let us go at our own pace. We were never rushed.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, drivers and staff

Transport

Self-guided visit of Chateau de Chenonceau

France

Guided Wine and Bike Tour in Saint-Emilion

France

Absolutely the most fun! Thomas was exceptional. Our group of international guests was delightful. Thomas made sure we were ok on the bikes as we rode from one vineyard to another. He never hurried us along. So relaxed and so so much fun!

Quality of Experience

Guides, drivers and staff

We had such an incredible time in France. Isabelle was highly accommodating in our booking needs and we ended up with a near perfect itinerary. Every excursion was something we had no idea of what to expect, and we always left feeling quite impressed. We had just the right amount of time of self-exploration and leisure time with structured activities. My wife and I could simply focus on ourselves. It was much needed and want to thank Isabelle and rest of the kimkim team for the... read more

We had such an incredible time in France. Isabelle was highly accommodating in our booking needs and we ended up with a near perfect itinerary. Every excursion was something we had no idea of what to expect, and we always left feeling quite impressed. We had just the right amount of time of self-exploration and leisure time with structured activities. My wife and I could simply focus on ourselves. It was much needed and want to thank Isabelle and rest of the kimkim team for the experience.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Baume

Paris

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Aquabella 4*

Aix en Provence

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Althoff Hotel Villa Belrose 5*

Gassin

Just stunning, the view, the service, the pool. Best hotel we've stayed at so far.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

4* Hotel West End

Nice

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Art and Architecture tour in Chic Vineyard

Aix-en-Provence

Quality of Experience

Guides, drivers and staff

Transport

Monaco, Eze and La Turbie Tour

France

Quality of Experience

We wish we had more time in Monaco and Eze (vs 30/40 mins). Maybe reduce by one stop to spend more time in the other areas?

Guides, drivers and staff

Transport

Isabella was 1000% spot on with every detail planned. I traveled with my mom and daughter to Paris and every day was perfectly planned. Isabella went above and beyond to make sure everything went smoothly. An example...we went to a wine and cheese pairing at a cheese shop. I briefly mentioned I was curious the wines they would be pairing cheese with as I am a wine enthusiast. I didnt make a big thing of it but was curious. When we arrived to the event, the host handed me a paper with the... read more

Isabella was 1000% spot on with every detail planned. I traveled with my mom and daughter to Paris and every day was perfectly planned. Isabella went above and beyond to make sure everything went smoothly. An example...we went to a wine and cheese pairing at a cheese shop. I briefly mentioned I was curious the wines they would be pairing cheese with as I am a wine enthusiast. I didnt make a big thing of it but was curious. When we arrived to the event, the host handed me a paper with the details of each wine, specifically saying it was for me because I had inquired. Every detail was perfect... I would absolutely use kimkim again, especially Isabella.

Hotel Review

Hôtel Edouard 7 Paris Opéra

Paris

Every single employee of the hotel was accommodating and on point with every detail. One day we had an early train out and they opened the restaurant for us in the morning about 45 minutes early just for us. The room was great. Not every outlet worked but I can deal with that....there were plenty.

Tips for future travelers

i have recommended to friends.

Authenticity & Character

service was top notch

Location

great shops and restaurants

Staff

service was top notch

Cleanliness & Comfort

service was top notch

Activity Reviews

Day-trip to Champagne: Family Growers & traditional Lunch

France

Cheese and wine tasting in a Parisian cellar in the Marais

Paris

Le Louvre Private Tour

Paris

excellent tour guide

The "Pletzl" the Jewish District

Paris

excellent tur guide

2CV Private Tour Paris Highlights (Private - 1h)

Paris

fun experience. Hard to hear the driver.

Seine Cruise with Commentary

Paris

good first day being tired!

Its been 2 weeks since we have got home from our holiday in France and we are both still on cloud 9 from our experience there. The whole trip seemed to strike a perfect balance seeing a little from different areas. A little of the mediterranean, a little country in the medieval town of Avignon to ending in Paris. Dream trip and we couldn't be happier. Isabelle was great and so easy to work with. She's responsive and knows how to navigate around budgets and individual tastes with grace and patience.
We will be dreaming of this trip for YEARS to come!!

many many thanks
M&S Morneau

Our trip from Brussels to France was terrific. The itinerary was very doable with different things and tours each day and attention to helping us get from train to hotel and to place as well as to care rental. We thoroughly enjoyed the trip and the advice we received from Isabelle. The guides and transfers were handled by folks that Isabelle knew and had worked with previously so we were very comfortable with each.

Our only suggestion is to have a bit more information on the road book... read more

Our trip from Brussels to France was terrific. The itinerary was very doable with different things and tours each day and attention to helping us get from train to hotel and to place as well as to care rental. We thoroughly enjoyed the trip and the advice we received from Isabelle. The guides and transfers were handled by folks that Isabelle knew and had worked with previously so we were very comfortable with each.

Our only suggestion is to have a bit more information on the road book instead of relying on "see voucher" as not all vouchers provided the same level of detail. In particular - in a city where there are multiple train stations, indicate which station the ticket ends in - we had confusion with one situation where our train made an unexpected change.

Otherwise -- I would highly recommend Isabelle in particular and Kimkim in general.

Thanks for a great time.

Activity Review

Contemporary Food Tour in the Marais & Beyond

Paris

Guide was terrific and the experience was unique - great job Phillippe.

Quality of Experience

Guides, drivers and staff

Enjoyed our small group tours that were set up for us by Isabelle with the Local independent tour guides

Isabelle did an amazing job at putting a memorable trip together for us. Everything went so smooth. The hotels were excellent everywhere. Can't say enough about the wonderful private tours, all the guides were 1st class.
Isabelle took all our requests, wishes and even apprehensions into account when helping us plan the trip. Everything was well timed, we never felt rushed and had plenty of time to really experience the places we visited.
Had the trip of our dreams. Merci Beaucoup!

Such an amazing thing to get to take in some of the most famous places and experiences in Paris! We spent 10 whirlwind but incredible days exploring all that Paris has to offer! Absolutely loved the Seine dinner cruise, Monets Garden, Versailles, the Louvre, Sacre Couer, Montmartre was an adorable village, and so much more! The food, pastries and wine and pretty much everything we ate and drank was amazing! Even at the tiny sidewalk cafes. We did a walking food tour that was a blast and... read more

Such an amazing thing to get to take in some of the most famous places and experiences in Paris! We spent 10 whirlwind but incredible days exploring all that Paris has to offer! Absolutely loved the Seine dinner cruise, Monets Garden, Versailles, the Louvre, Sacre Couer, Montmartre was an adorable village, and so much more! The food, pastries and wine and pretty much everything we ate and drank was amazing! Even at the tiny sidewalk cafes. We did a walking food tour that was a blast and really enjoyed all of the open air food markets.
The metro has an app and was very easy and affordable to use. The Catacombs was a mind blowing experience but not for those that are claustrophobic! We ended up at the large famous flea market on the north end of Paris on a Monday but half the vendors were closed, so not a highlight. Many things can be touted yourself instead of having a guide - like the covered passages of Paris or your own audio guide of the Louvre if you’re looking to cut costs, but the guides with the tours were all highly knowledgeable and professional and we learned a lot from them.
The hotel staff was friendly but the beds and pillows were extremely uncomfortable and the hotel, while in a great neighborhood was a ways away from the Eiffel Tower and some of the more visited places. (Mercure)
Altogether however, with transportation covered from airport and back and reservations made for us by Isabelle for tours and some dinners, it was a very stress free trip of a lifetime!

This was a great trip! Isabelle was able to pull this together for us very last minute and she did not disappoint! We loved the itinerary and thought it the perfect getaway! Thank you!