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Jessica Soenandar

I love going to places that only locals go to, eating local foods that are not standardized to foreigners' tastebuds and participating in their traditional rituals. As a proud Indonesian, I would love to showcase our natural and cultural heritage. Seeing travellers enjoying their trips in Indonesia makes me really happy! Consider me your local friend :)

How did you get involved in travel?

"Cultural differences have been my #1 interest and I guess that's why I've always been compelled to live in different places for several months so that I can really immerse myself in the local cultures, making new friends along the way, and leave my heart in each place. One thing I notice when I travel is that, when people asked me where I was from, they didn't know where Indonesia was. All they knew was Bali. That's why I really want to share how beautiful Indonesia is and that this archipelagic country has everything, be it for adventure, wildlife, cultural excursions, or even for a week of relaxing in a secluded island!"

Jessica is part of the following groups: Indonesia Travel Agents
Top itineraries and travel advice

Recent trip reviews for Jessica

Great time
Indonesia | Jun 29 - Jul 20, 2024

R
Robert F.
Allentown, PA | Reviewed on Jul 28, 2024
We had lots of "moving parts" in our custom vacation that was well coordinated with only some minor glitches. I don't think anyone could have done it better. Read more

We had lots of "moving parts" in our custom vacation that was well coordinated with only some minor glitches. I don't think anyone could have done it better.

Hotel Reviews
Santika Premiere Dyandra Hotel & Convention - Medan - CHSE Certified
Medan

Centrally located. Large functional rooms. Great breakfast with the best coffee in our 22 day Indonesian trip.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Terrario Tangkahan
North Sumatra

Best in the area, at least according to our trusted guide.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Food was made locally. Very authetic but a little sparse for us.
Camping Tent Bukit Lawang
Sumatera Utara
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Its camping.
Ecolodge Bukit Lawang
Bukit Lawang
Authenticity & Character
Seemed like production line for European visitors.
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Small room. With such a modern design, one would expect air conditioning.
Sinabung Hills Berastagi
Berastagi
Authenticity & Character
Resort for Indonesian travellers. Good place to relax. We did not use its potential, so probably not the best for an intermediate stop betweem Bukit Luwang and Lake Toba.
Location
Staff
Lack of English made getting meals challenging.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Tabo Cottages
Sumatera Utara

Wanted to stay another day to unwind.

Authenticity & Character
Well balanced clients
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Anara Kualanamu
Sumatera Utara

Marginal airport hotel

Authenticity & Character
Meals boring.
Location
In the airport, fine. I would have preferred a nicer hotel 10-20 away.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Loud airline announcements through the night.
Meliá Purosani Yogyakarta
Authenticity & Character
Location
Wish that we could have walked around. I think that it is in a good location, but not sure.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Great restaurants.
Ndalem Kartowikoro 1835 Coffee & Eatery Hotel
Jawa Tengah

Why is this a "Coffee" place? My wife had to specially ask for a cup of coffee.

Authenticity & Character
Nice to get away from the hustle of the big hotels.
Location
Staff
Manager did not speak any English.
Cleanliness & Comfort
One of the few places with good TV and working WIFI.
Jiwa Jawa Bromo

It gets cold up there.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Close to Bromo
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Kunang Kunang Tent Resort
Banyuwangi

For Glampers. Not a real outdoor experience.

Authenticity & Character
Location
A hotel in town would be better. This is hidden down some backroad. Only thing close is a mosque that loudly plays prayers at 4:30 in the morning. Ruins any outdoor vibe.
Staff
Room check when leaving took way too long.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Air conditioning good. Good amount of mosquitos. Restaurant food was surprisingly good, but the humid outdoor air and mosquitos detracted from the experience.
Mimpi Resort Menjangan - CHSE Certified
Pejarakan

Hot springs are a nice twist to the resort experience. Went on the Menjangan snorkel tour from their dive shop. A bit disappointed how short it was with no visit to the island. I would pick another resort that is closer to the island with a better tour.

Authenticity & Character
The cleanest (and probably best) way to do hotsprings in Indonesia.
Location
Felt isolated. Everything onsite so that is okay.
Staff
Restaurant is very well managed with great food.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Large room with semi-outdoor bathroom was the best setup that we experienced. Complements to the archetect.
Adiwana Bisma
Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali

Centally located. With our program, a driver picked us up and its location was a negative. Traffic in Ubud was terrible, so a hotwl outside of town would be better.

Authenticity & Character
No charm. Confusing room layout.
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hilton Garden Inn Bali Ngurah Rai Airport
Denpasar

Predictable quality.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Sudamala Resort, Komodo, Labuan Bajo
Labuan Bajo

A bit isolated on the south side of town with very little withing walking distance. Needed to take the hotel shuttle to the downtown area. If you want to stay at a resort (with a respectable restaurant) and only go on day trips to the island, it is fine. I would have preferred a hotel in town to get more variety in restaurant options and have some shopping opportunities.

Authenticity & Character
Solid resort.
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Take A Jungle Taxi in Bohorok River
Take A Jungle Taxi in Bohorok River
Bukit Lawang, North Sumatra

A much better tubing experience. The rapids were perfect: fun but not really dangerous.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Visit Lumbhini Park
Visit Lumbhini Park
Berastagi, North Sumatra

Beautiful. Worth an hour visit

Visit Gundaling Hill
Visit Gundaling Hill
Berastagi, North Sumatra

Nice view. We had lunch at Acala Adhum Cafe on hill which was a very nice restaurant and good place to take in the view.

Visit Fruit Market
Visit Fruit Market
Berastagi, North Sumatra

Did not do this. Annual Flower festival in town clogged all the roads. We got stuck in traffic and did not have time.

Sunrise Hike to Sibayak Volcano and Debuk Hot Spring
Sunrise Hike to Sibayak Volcano and Debuk Hot Spring
Berastagi, North Sumatra

Nice relatively easy hike. Sunrise and view was okay. A bit crowded.

Visit Sipisopiso Waterfall
Visit Sipisopiso Waterfall
Indonesia

Great looking waterfall and the most iconic ones in Indonesia. We went only halfway down since it was the afternoon and very hot. We don't know if it would be worth it going to the bottom because there are alot of steps and he view halfway is magnificent. Lots a tourist shops and the touristy selfie stations.

Visit Ulun Danu Beratan Temple
Visit Ulun Danu Beratan Temple
Indonesia

Like a Disney Epcot site which is interesting, but is polished ultra-clean. Very kid friendly. Lots of places to take selfies. Temple is seen on all the Bali brochures.

Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guide took us to Mentari Buffet Restaurant. It seems that all the tourists go there for an efficiently run generic lunch. There must be more interesting places to eat.
Transport
Kuala Namu International Airport (KNO) Arrival Airport Assistance
Kuala Namu International Airport (KNO) Arrival Airport Assistance
Indonesia

Airport arrival was pretty obvious, so help was probably not needed.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Visit Tjong A Fie Mansion
Visit Tjong A Fie Mansion
Medan, North Sumatra

Great place to visit. Moderate crowds,

Quality of Experience
Visit State Museum of North Sumatra
Visit State Museum of North Sumatra
Medan, North Sumatra

Not very crowded but definitely worthwhile. Great overview of the cultures in Sumatra. Our guide was a great compliment.

Quality of Experience
Visit Maimun Palace
Visit Maimun Palace
Medan, North Sumatra

Building is obviously important. Important site with many Indonesian visitors. Throne room was crowded and main thing to see inside with not much more.

Visit Al-Mashun Mosque
Visit Al-Mashun Mosque
Medan, North Sumatra

Went early in morning and pretty much only visitors. Only mosque that we saw from the inside in all on Indonesia, so important because of that, but most mosques are usually empty inside. The burial area was a nice plus. Glad that we went.

Visit Chinese Temple
Visit Chinese Temple
Medan, North Sumatra

Interesting, but small.

Visit the Elephant Sanctuary
Visit the Elephant Sanctuary
Tangkahan, North Sumatra

Fun washing the elephants and then going on a short trek through the jungle. The reason to go to Tangkahan.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Great local guide
Experience Tubing and Visit the Buluh Waterfall
Experience Tubing and Visit the Buluh Waterfall
Tangkahan, North Sumatra

Saw a small waterfall near the river before having lunch on the river. Waterfall was okay but loaded with visitors, so not so special. Tubing ride on river was boring because the river was slow.

Jungle Trekking in Bukit Lawang National Park
Jungle Trekking in Bukit Lawang National Park
Bukit Lawang, North Sumatra

Orantatangs. Park guides are top notch and lead you straight to the wildlife.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Very helpful and knowledgeable.
Overnight in A Camping Tent in Bukit Lawang National Park
Overnight in A Camping Tent in Bukit Lawang National Park
Bukit Lawang, North Sumatra

Camping was great experience.

Quality of Experience
Visit Efrata Waterfall
Visit Efrata Waterfall
Indonesia

Saw this from the distance. Looked okay. We wished that the driver stopped to get a nice view of Lake Toba. Seeing the Patung Yesus statue would have been nice. We saw it only from a distance.

Visit The Execution Site of Ambarita
Visit The Execution Site of Ambarita
Samosir Island

Saw the Batak houses several places. This site was the most touristy and was fairly crowded. Guide showed the execution area was very knowledgeable. Other tourists listened in.

Guides, Drivers and Staff
Having our personal guide made a big difference.
Watch Sigalegale Puppet Dance
Watch Sigalegale Puppet Dance
Samosir Island

Very touristy, but very entertaining. Seeing Indonesian tourists dancing with the puppets is priceless. Only one puppet was working, the other just shaked with no arm motions, so a minor let down. Everybody posing for selfies at the two puppets before the dance detracted from the overall vibe. They needed more puppets for selfies.

Visit the Ancient Tomb in Tomok
Visit the Ancient Tomb in Tomok
Samosir Island

Nice tomb. Guide also went to another tomb on the island (Museum Huta Bolon Simanindo) which was nice

Guides, Drivers and Staff
Adding a little more makes a big difference.
Visit Silimalombu Eco Village
Visit Silimalombu Eco Village
Samosir Island

Did not go to this place. Read about it online: it was a farm, mostly selling stuff with a tourist (Western food) buffet. We went to Sigurgur Beach for a nice relaxing lunch instead.

Visit Borobudur Temple
Visit Borobudur Temple
Indonesia

One of the big 3 must-sees in Jogja. Climbing up the temple is a must. The flow of people was well managed and you could get some alone time with the temple.

Guides, Drivers and Staff
Park guide was fine, but then we got lost from the group when climbing up. Maybe that was the point to explore on your own.
Free Time in Menjangan
Free Time in Menjangan
Indonesia

Stuck at the Mimpi resort. Nice place to relax. Not really a place to explore like a local beach would be.

Visit Pawon Temple
Visit Pawon Temple
Yogyakarta

Did not go. Driver did not take us there. Went to Medut Temple instead. Did not have enough time to do everything on itinerary.

Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Mendut Buddhist Monastery
Visit Mendut Buddhist Monastery
Indonesia

A great complement to Borobudur temple. Mendut temple is smaller but the environment and statue inside was nicer.

Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guide took us there but was hurried. He always felt like he was checking the box. Friendly and professional, though.
Transport
Visit Keraton Yogyakarta (Yogyakarta's Palace)
Visit Keraton Yogyakarta (Yogyakarta's Palace)
Indonesia

A must see. Park guide was awesome.

Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide was knowledgeable, but very slow moving and tired. Later we had health concerns about him.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide was knowledgeable, but very slow moving and tired. Later we had health concerns about him.
Visit Taman Sari Water Palace
Visit Taman Sari Water Palace
Yogyakarta

Part of the Joyja palace area. Probably the best part. See palace review for more details.

Snorkeling in Menjangan
Snorkeling in Menjangan
Indonesia

Snorkeling was great but it was a short tour (9am-3pm). Only two snorkeling events, which was plenty for the day, lasting 30-45 minutes each. Lunch on boat, boring. A much better tour would have include an island visit to stretch our legs and have lunch. Make it an 8am-4pm tour or start the tour from a closer hotel.

Guides, Drivers and Staff
Nice folks. Prefitting the equipment the day before was a nice, well organized, touch.
Transport
Start tour closer, or get a bigger and faster boat.
Visit Madakaripura Waterfall
Visit Madakaripura Waterfall
Indonesia

Motocycle ride to site was fun. The hiking past the splashing water of the falls was unique (at least for our trip). The 360 degree waterfall canyon makes it impossible to capture the awesome experience with a camera.

Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local guides great.
Kota Gede Walking Tour
Kota Gede Walking Tour
Yogyakarta

Went to burial area, but it was closed. Put on traditional clothes just to see the few (very average) things that were open. Stetched out to 30 minutes with no real walking. Waste of time.

Guides, Drivers and Staff
I think we stopped here so the guide could drop us off and rest.
Visit Prambanan Temple
Visit Prambanan Temple
Indonesia

Like this even better than Borobodur.

Go to Mountain Pananjakan Point
Go to Mountain Pananjakan Point
Indonesia

Did not do this at sunrise. There was a traffic jam going to the site and the jeeps were not moving. Instead, we went to King Kong hill later in the morning to see the panarama view. With only a few people on the platform it was much more personal. Worked for us and view still awesome.

Guides, Drivers and Staff
Driver/Guide was flexible. Definitely motivated to give us the best experience.
See Caldera of Semeru Tengger
See Caldera of Semeru Tengger
Indonesia

Went here in the dark to see the sunrise. Only a few people on the rim, so very nice. Since it was dark, we could see the red glow on the lava.

Guides, Drivers and Staff
I think it was his plan to switch the order. Great move. I would formalize this order as a tour option.
Witness the Blue Flame of Ijen Crater
Witness the Blue Flame of Ijen Crater
Indonesia

Ijen was closed. Driving there the day before, it was impressive to see from a distance. Driving through the coffee plantation on mountain was fun. You need a tour of a coffee plantation in the area (or just a stop at a very nice coffee resto). Make sure people have a backup plan for sites to see that day.

Visit Banyu Wana Amertha Waterfall
Visit Banyu Wana Amertha Waterfall
Indonesia

Did not go here. Went to Labuhan Kebo Waterfall instead which was awesome and was 5 stars. Less crowded, not touristy and you could go swimming. More famous Red Coral waterfall nearby (but didnt see). I recommend getting a hotel in the area and spending an entire day hiking the Munduk waterfalls and the surrounding clove farms.

Guides, Drivers and Staff
He was flexible enough to change to this excellent choice.
Experience Coffee Plantation Tour
Experience Coffee Plantation Tour
Indonesia

Cancelled this.

Visit Ubud Palace
Visit Ubud Palace
Indonesia

Interesting but the Jogya palace was better

Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Agung Rai Museum of Art
Visit Agung Rai Museum of Art
Ubud, Bali

Nice restful museum with some local and european transplants artists. Owner was there and was very passionate adding interesting stories. Grounds were nice too.

Visit Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary
Visit Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary
Indonesia

If you want to see monkeys, go here. They are well fed, so not really very aggressive. Grounds and temples created a nice scene. Touristy, but worth it and definitely a highlight.

Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guide really made it easy for us. So many people there.
Visit Tegallalang Rice Terrace
Visit Tegallalang Rice Terrace
Indonesia

If you like a manicured garden trails, ziplines and selfies, this place is for you. Not a realistic coffee plantation or a rice terrace farm. Go to a real rice terrace and coffee plantation and avoid this overly crowded place. Doesn't check any of my boxes.

Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guide should have known we would not have liked it.
Watch the Sunset at Tanah Lot Temple
Watch the Sunset at Tanah Lot Temple
Indonesia

Did not go since it would be high tide for our visit. Instead went to Goa Gajah Temple which was very interesting.

Guides, Drivers and Staff
Flexibity and knowledge.
Visit Mirror Stone Cave
Visit Mirror Stone Cave
Indonesia

Great dry cave. Its a small cave but fun since you need to put on a helmet and crawl a little. The local guide made it extra special.

Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local guide made it a custom experience.
Visit Amelia Sea View
Visit Amelia Sea View
Indonesia

Good if you are a goat and love to climb every hill that you see. Very windy and dry. View was nice but nothing compared to the Komodo island views. I would skip unless you want to see a sunset.

Guides, Drivers and Staff
Nice guy. Drove very slow making this seem even more like a waste of time. Driver did take us to the seafood restaurant which was excellent choice.
Visit Rangko Cave
Visit Rangko Cave
Indonesia

More of a beach destination that is great for kids. Local boat ride takes you to the dock and a nice small beach with a stand selling food. Nice to hang out there and have a picnic. Going to the cave was pleasant, but an average experience. Its a short hike with sandals. Cave floor has been changed to "an ampitheater" with steps so that everyone (it was crowded) has space to leave their towels and shoes. Kids love it and splash around constantly in the salty water. The entrance is large enough that the cave pool is adquately lit. Humid and stuffy air. We limited ourselves to a 5 min swim but could not get a cave picture without a kid or a swimmer trying to get a selfie.

Sunset in Kalong Island
Sunset in Kalong Island
Indonesia

Millions of boats waiting for the bats to come out. A party atmosphere.

Visit Pink Beach
Visit Pink Beach
Indonesia

Really pink. Your photos will appear photoshopped.

Trekking at Rinca Island
Trekking at Rinca Island
Indonesia

Best place for dragons. We went in late afternoon and they were active. Watchout.

Visit Komodo Island
Visit Komodo Island
Indonesia

We went two days to the islands at various stops. Nonstop A+ sites. Everybody is going out to the same places so get a big boat that is fast to allow you to spend more time at each site. The group from your boat will be mixed with 100 people from other boats when snorkeling, on the beach. Still it is possible to get a personal experience.

Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our DTour guide was the best. Everyone on our 25 people boat felt special.
I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) Departure Meet and Greet
I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) Departure Meet and Greet
Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS)

Very crowded airport. Took us straight to correct areas.

Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Jessica Soenandar
Jessica
Jessica Soenandar
Local specialist in Jakarta | Replied on Jul 29, 2024
Hi Bob, Thank you so much for taking the time to write us a very detailed feedback, it is highly appreciated! It is unfortunate that in remote parts (or less visited areas) of the country, lodgings are still very basic and the use of English is limited, even for people working in the hospitality sector. To answer your question about the Ndalem Kartowikoro Hotel in Solo, it is a local bed and breakfast (or in this case, cafe) type of lodging, where you didn't have to order a coffee. Perhaps... Read more

Hi Bob,

Thank you so much for taking the time to write us a very detailed feedback, it is highly appreciated!

It is unfortunate that in remote parts (or less visited areas) of the country, lodgings are still very basic and the use of English is limited, even for people working in the hospitality sector. To answer your question about the Ndalem Kartowikoro Hotel in Solo, it is a local bed and breakfast (or in this case, cafe) type of lodging, where you didn't have to order a coffee. Perhaps the lack of English skills that the manager had made it confusing. I had initially offered you another hotel as I was concerned, but it didn't give the Javanese vibe and architecture that you wanted. However, I'm glad that you enjoyed the authenticity and the quietness of the area.

I would like to thank you once again for trusting us and kimkim for your trip to Indonesia, I hope you had a great trip throughout :) We hope to meet you again some time in the future!

Warm regards,

Jessica

Bali adventure with family of 8
Indonesia | Jun 21 - Jul 2, 2024

D
December G.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Jul 05, 2024
We had a great guide with Waylan throughout Bali. He made our experiences personal and emphasized the cultural perspective of the Balinese. Our car and drivers were always on time and new where to go. Having a family group of 8 was never challenging for our planners and we were able to be flexible with adding things in our itinerary like coffee tasting, plowing the rice fields and elephant rides. Read more

We had a great guide with Waylan throughout Bali. He made our experiences personal and emphasized the cultural perspective of the Balinese. Our car and drivers were always on time and new where to go. Having a family group of 8 was never challenging for our planners and we were able to be flexible with adding things in our itinerary like coffee tasting, plowing the rice fields and elephant rides.

Hotel Review
The Melaya Villas
Bali

A beautiful, private resort. The villas were gorgeous, large and very private. One of the best beaches we saw on Bali!

Authenticity & Character
Location
A remote area that offered a chance to relax away from crowds.
Staff
Very attentive staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Telaga Waja Rafting
Telaga Waja Rafting
Indonesia

It was beautiful and the guides were very experienced. We did not paddle once, which was a disappointment for our family.

Quality of Experience
Would like more participation from the attendees
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Experience Cooking Class
Experience Cooking Class
Indonesia

This was an amazing experience with our large family. The food was top notch and the location and beauty of the resort was amazing. We even hiked to a rice field and plowed a field with some oxen. A highlight of our entire trip!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Snorkeling in Menjangan
Snorkeling in Menjangan
Indonesia

Our best snorkeling adventure. We felt very safe with a mix of swimming expertise in our family group. The guide was fantastic with doing small training swims first. Excellent!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Island Hopping in Komodo Island
Island Hopping in Komodo Island
Indonesia

We felt that the beauty of the islands was amazing. The island hopping and snorkeling wasn’t communicated as well as it could have been. And the snorkeling was dangerous and not safely led.

Quality of Experience
Better trained guides for snorkeling
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Jessica Soenandar
Jessica
Jessica Soenandar
Local specialist in Jakarta | Replied on Jul 08, 2024

Hi December,

Thank you so much for taking the time to give us a thorough feedback, it is highly appreciated! As we strive to improve our products and services, we will take your feedback on the snorkeling in Komodo Island and Telaga Waja rafting into account. I'm glad that you had a great time throughout and we would also like to thank you for trusting us with your big family's trip to Bali and Komodo Island. It had been a pleasure to work with you :)

I hope you are all settled back home and we hope to see you again in Indonesia!

Warm regards,

Jessica

Bali: Better experience and time than I ever expected!
Indonesia | May 17 - Jun 1, 2024

Jay
Jay L.
New York, NY | Reviewed on Jun 18, 2024
I want thank Jessica, Janice, Wayan, Oki and Asink enough for making it such a great trip!
Firstly, Jessica for organising my itinerary, took onboard everything I wanted and was patient with me as I decided on what I wanted to do and experience on my trip to Bali, my first time in there!! She was absolutely briliant, as we say in East London the Dog's Bollocks! ( meaning GREAT!!)
Janice my on the ground contact, always checking in on me every so often, making sure I was enjoying my time... Read more

I want thank Jessica, Janice, Wayan, Oki and Asink enough for making it such a great trip!
Firstly, Jessica for organising my itinerary, took onboard everything I wanted and was patient with me as I decided on what I wanted to do and experience on my trip to Bali, my first time in there!! She was absolutely briliant, as we say in East London the Dog's Bollocks! ( meaning GREAT!!)

Janice my on the ground contact, always checking in on me every so often, making sure I was enjoying my time in Bali and having a great time and experience!!

NOW, Oki and Wayan, my guide and driver. Think I've made mates for life!! same goes for Jessica and Janice! I spent most of the time with these two geezas! Diamond Geezas! Great chats while driving to places and joking me around constantly, with my dark British humor! HA!!

Every place I went was great, time in Ubud, tours of the Hindu temples, waterfalls, experience Sebatu Soul
purification ritual. The best and toughest was Hike to Mount Agung to see the sunrise! Absolutely breathtaking!! Learning about Bamboo construction and visiting the Green Village, as a part-time woodworker, this was especially great to see!!
Cycling tour in Kintamani was great as I got to visit local villages, this felt a little awkward as I felt like the western tourist, gawping... but being of Indian decent I was aware enough to take too many photos.

Lombok was very chill compared to Bali, slower pace which was nice, mount Rinjani was beautiful even though I had to cancel the hike as my legs and knees were a bit messed up from the Agung hike. The Gili Island, were beautiful, did some
snorkeling, my first time!

Coming back to Bali and spending a night in Menjangan, in hotel in the forest was well deserved rest!! Watching the sunset from the Bali Tower from the hotel lobby! Brilliant!! No matter where I was the sunset were just unreal! No building impending the view, just nature, tree, mountains and hills.

My last few days were in Seminyak and a day visit to Nusa Penida Island, again breathtaking views! Waves crashing into cliffs, out of this world but not!! Seminyak is a lot more busier than Ubud, great shops and restaurants. Like any other small city which is also a tourist attractions.

Overall, I had a better time than I ever expected!!! And this alldue to Jessica, Janice, Oki and Wayan! AND all the hotel staff along the way, 5 hotels in all! I'll chat to anyone, more of those peeps! HA!

Hotel Reviews
Adiwana Svarga Loka
Ubud

Great location and staff!! Friendly staff!

Authenticity & Character
overall feel, very welcoming!
Location
Close to main streets on Ubud.
Staff
Friendly, able to answer any questions I had.
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Menjangan - CHSE Certified
Pejarakan

Secluded! Away from all the hustle and bustle, tucked away in the forest!! Great for a peaceful, chill getaway

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
IZE Seminyak by LifestyleRetreats
Bali

Amazing staff! Clean, had a gym and pool.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Sheraton Senggigi Beach Resort
Lombok

What a location, very close the beach!

Authenticity & Character
Location
What a location, very close the beach! Nightly walks along the beach and having drinks at the hotel bar. Watching the sun set while enjoying it. What I liked the most was there were local and tourist on the beach!
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Hike to Mount Agung
Hike to Mount Agung
Indonesia

It was a tough hike and ultimately worth it to watch the sunrise!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Jessica Soenandar
Jessica
Jessica Soenandar
Local specialist in Jakarta | Replied on Jun 19, 2024

Hi Jay,

Glad to see that you are all well rested and settled back home! Thank you so much for your time to write such a thorough review. Your kind words and appreciation to the whole team made my day and I will pass it on to everyone :)

All in all we are grateful that you had a great time in Bali and Lombok, and we are looking forward to welcoming you back for a proper vacation to relax hahaha! Your energy and warmth is surely missed by the whole team and we wish you all the best in everything you do!!

Warm regards,

Jessica

Amazing trip!
Indonesia | Mar 1 - Mar 13, 2024

Z
Zhenya S.
Bulgaria | Reviewed on Mar 20, 2024

Dear KimKim Team,

I would like to thank you for the amazing experience! The whole team who took care of us was more than great. Jessica made the whole program due to all our needs and expectations. The whole trip - transfers, hotels, excursions were more than well organised. It is not our first time travelling with KimKim and definitely will not be the last!

Thank you, Team! You are amazing!

Local specialist: Jessica Soenandar
Jessica
Jessica Soenandar
Local specialist in Jakarta | Replied on Mar 20, 2024

Dear Zhenya,

I'm grateful for the chance to show your parents-in-law, Mariana and Georgi, our beautiful country and would love to thank you for trusting us with your trip to Indonesia! We are happy to hear that they had an amazing experience throughout and were well taken care of :)

It was awesome to work with you and we are looking forward to meeting you again some time in the future! We wish you and your family all the best!

Warm regards,

Jessica

another fantastic trip with Kim Kim
Indonesia | Dec 5 - Dec 11, 2023

S
sam j.
Grant, NE | Reviewed on Dec 18, 2023
this is the second time I have used KimKim and have been impressed both times. One n South America and now this one in Asia. Jessica was very good at finding nice boutique hotels and unusual excursions. Her local contact in Bali was equally amazing. We had the same driver and guild for the entire week and they were also very good. Our guide Budiada was very knowledgeable and easy to understand. Our amazing driver Navya was adapt at navigating the crowed streets and always got us there... Read more

this is the second time I have used KimKim and have been impressed both times. One n South America and now this one in Asia. Jessica was very good at finding nice boutique hotels and unusual excursions. Her local contact in Bali was equally amazing. We had the same driver and guild for the entire week and they were also very good. Our guide Budiada was very knowledgeable and easy to understand. Our amazing driver Navya was adapt at navigating the crowed streets and always got us there safely. Thanks for an amazing trip and we will use you again.
Sam and Teressa

Hotel Reviews
The Kalyana Ubud
Ubud

Staff was extremely friendly and accomadating, The Included breakfast was good and the grounds were parklike and well maintained. Perfect little hotel.

Authenticity & Character
have kept the charm of Bali
Location
Quiet setting and on site spa was great.
Staff
very eager to provide whatever was requested
Cleanliness & Comfort
Spotless grounds
Montigo Resorts Seminyak
Badung

Great pool areas, great breakfast and very helpful staff.

Authenticity & Character
Location
short walk to beach and shopping
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) Departure Meet and Greet
I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) Departure Meet and Greet
Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS)

meet at curb and escorted right through check in to security gate, very helpful

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Tirta Gangga Water Palace
Visit Tirta Gangga Water Palace
Indonesia

nice maintained spot

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Experience Cooking and Arak-Making Class
Experience Cooking and Arak-Making Class
Indonesia

fun experience to see how some dishes were made

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Trunyan Village
Visit Trunyan Village
Indonesia

very unique village with unique cemetery.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit A Mask Maker
Visit A Mask Maker
Indonesia

I was impressed by mask maker skill and preserving old method of making mask,

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Home of Local Blacksmith (Keris) Crafting
Visit Home of Local Blacksmith (Keris) Crafting
Ubud, Bali

amazing skill to make the kris daggers with minimal tools doing it the traditional way

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Tenganan Bali Aga Village
Visit Tenganan Bali Aga Village
Indonesia

nice little village with glimpses of how it used to be.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Tegallalang Rice Terrace
Visit Tegallalang Rice Terrace
Indonesia

beautiful and well managed fields, amazing

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Experience Sebatu Soul Purification Ritual
Experience Sebatu Soul Purification Ritual
Indonesia

very special visit that is worth the many slippery steps to experience.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary
Visit Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary
Indonesia

interesting but a bit of a tourist trap, but well maintained and worth the visit.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Angel Billabong
Visit Angel Billabong
Indonesia

skipped this one

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Kelingking Beach
Visit Kelingking Beach
Indonesia

skipped this one as well, I am checking amazing as all tours have beet to this point but can't continue without checking boxes

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit the Mother Temple of Besakih
Visit the Mother Temple of Besakih
Indonesia

quite a large complex

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Jessica Soenandar
Jessica
Jessica Soenandar
Local specialist in Jakarta | Replied on Jan 02, 2024

Hi Sam and Teresa,

Thank you so much for taking the time out to write such a thorough review! We are very happy that you had a great time in Bali and that you could experience the unique cultural side of Bali that is lesser known to tourists :)

You two had been great to work with and we are looking forward to welcoming you back to Indonesia in another opportunity. Wishing you all the best for you two!

Warm regards,

Jessica

Incredible Experience in Indonesia thanks to Jessica!
Indonesia | Oct 1 - Oct 8, 2023

Neha
Neha H.
Canada | Reviewed on Nov 17, 2023

Our local specialist, Jessica was incredible. She gave great suggestions, booked all the right spots, and took into account our feedback too. Our trip to Indonesia was one for the books and would highly recommend booking through KimKim and Jessica for trips to Indonesia!

Local specialist: Jessica Soenandar
Jessica
Jessica Soenandar
Local specialist in Jakarta | Replied on Nov 20, 2023

Hi Neha,

Thank you so much for your kind words! We are glad that you had a fantastic trip in Indonesia and we are grateful to be a part of your trip :) We look forward to welcoming you again to Indonesia and wishing you all the best for you and your family!

Warm regards,

Jessica

Bali review
Indonesia | Oct 18 - Oct 28, 2023

Vlad
Vlad J.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Nov 02, 2023

Our local guides on the trip ( Wayan , kutuk, adit, etc) were all incredible and shared their vast breath of knowledge about the country in their own unique ways. One of my favorite parts about the trio was visiting the Uluwatu temple. This temple had one of the most gorgeous views at sunset and flooded with naughty monkeys which made the trip fun. Ending it with a fire dance and dinner at rock bar was incredible.

Local specialist: Jessica Soenandar
Jessica
Jessica Soenandar
Local specialist in Jakarta | Replied on Nov 03, 2023

Hi Vlad,
I'm very happy to hear that you and Rebecca had a great time in Bali and I highly appreciate the time you took to share the highlights of your trip to Bali with us :) Thank you for letting us to be a part of this trip and it was great working with you two!

We look forward to another opportunity to show you the rest of the country and wishing you all the best!

Warm regards,
Jessica

Fabulous time in indonesia
Indonesia | Sep 22 - Sep 30, 2023

Isabelle
Isabelle M.
Canada | Reviewed on Oct 06, 2023
Jessica, was always available throughout the planing and execution of the trip .She made sure she understood my needs and expectations and crafted an itinerary that meet them all. once arrived at destination my local specialist was making sure all war as expected , the drivers and guides were professional and reliable. all my guides were very knowledgeable and shared a lot of details about the places we visited , the culture, history etc. it goes without saying that I had a... Read more

Jessica, was always available throughout the planing and execution of the trip .She made sure she understood my needs and expectations and crafted an itinerary that meet them all.

once arrived at destination my local specialist was making sure all war as expected , the drivers and guides were professional and reliable. all my guides were very knowledgeable and shared a lot of details about the places we visited , the culture, history etc.

it goes without saying that I had a lovely time and as a solo traveler always felt safe . Traveling solo allows for beautiful encounters and flexibility

Hotel Reviews
Adiwana Svarga Loka
Ubud

beautiful hotel ideally located close to everything yet far from the noise . all the staff was helpful and nice room was clean . I loved that there was a temple on site .

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Tropical Beach House
Seminyak
Authenticity & Character
Location
right by the ocean and action yet calm and quiet place
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Phoenix Hotel Yogyakarta - MGallery Collection
Yogyakarta
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) Domestic Arrival Airport Meet and Greet
I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) Domestic Arrival Airport Meet and Greet
Indonesia

amazing was right there to welcome and assisted me . very professional

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Cycling in Kintamani
Cycling in Kintamani
Indonesia

This activity was lots of fun and allows to interract with real people

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Tegallalang Rice Terrace
Visit Tegallalang Rice Terrace
Indonesia

nice rice field and fun to be able to walk all over

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Alas Harum
Visit Alas Harum
Indonesia

the place is beautiful it is just not my thing highly touristy and all man made infrastructure

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
guide was super
Transport
Visit Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary
Visit Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary
Indonesia

beautiful place can walk lots of shade

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Lempuyang Temple
Visit Lempuyang Temple
Indonesia

Even though this is highly touristic I think a trip to Bali is not complete without a stop here

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Tirta Gangga Water Palace
Visit Tirta Gangga Water Palace
Indonesia

beautiful set up !

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Ubud Art Market
Visit Ubud Art Market
Indonesia

nice market just way to much tourist trap for me

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Ulun Danu Beratan Temple
Visit Ulun Danu Beratan Temple
Indonesia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Uluwatu Temple
Visit Uluwatu Temple
Indonesia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Watch Kecak Dance Performance
Watch Kecak Dance Performance
Indonesia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Rock Bar
Rock Bar
Indonesia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Angel Billabong
Visit Angel Billabong
Indonesia

nice place just a lot of traffic to see a beach just for the photo

Local specialist: Jessica Soenandar
Jessica
Jessica Soenandar
Local specialist in Jakarta | Replied on Oct 06, 2023

Hi Isabelle,

Thank you so much for your thorough feedback on the activities, hotels, and surely your experience throughout! This is a very valuable insight for my team and I :)

You have been awesome to work with and I would like to thank you once again for choosing us to be your local specialist and operator! We look forward to welcoming you again in Indonesia in another opportunity and wishing you and your family all the best!

Warm regards,

Jessica

My trip to Indonesia was absolutely amazing. ...
Indonesia | Sep 12 - Sep 20, 2023

Biagio
Biagio R.
Norwood, MA | Reviewed on Sep 27, 2023
My trip to Indonesia was absolutely amazing. Incredibly well organized and extremely versatile. Every day drivers and guides were punctual. Everything was smooth, and I was also able to change or revise plans in real time by interacting with my local guide based on the weather or my personal interests. Guides were knowledgeable and very professional. Everyone made this trip a memorable experience. 100% recommended!! Read more

My trip to Indonesia was absolutely amazing. Incredibly well organized and extremely versatile. Every day drivers and guides were punctual. Everything was smooth, and I was also able to change or revise plans in real time by interacting with my local guide based on the weather or my personal interests. Guides were knowledgeable and very professional. Everyone made this trip a memorable experience. 100% recommended!!

Hotel Reviews
Villa Nini
Bali
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Bintang Flores Hotel
Labuan Bajo
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Greenhost Boutique Hotel
Kota Yogyakarta
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Visit Banyu Wana Amertha Waterfall
Visit Banyu Wana Amertha Waterfall
Indonesia
Visit Tanah Lot
Visit Tanah Lot
Indonesia
Island Hopping in Komodo Island
Island Hopping in Komodo Island
Indonesia
Snorkeling and Trekking in Komodo Island
Snorkeling and Trekking in Komodo Island
Indonesia
Visit Borobudur Temple
Visit Borobudur Temple
Indonesia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Keraton Yogyakarta (Yogyakarta's Palace)
Visit Keraton Yogyakarta (Yogyakarta's Palace)
Indonesia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Batik Workshop
Batik Workshop
Indonesia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Free Time in Yogyakarta
Free Time in Yogyakarta
Yogyakarta
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Pottery Village Tour
Pottery Village Tour
Indonesia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Prambanan Temple
Visit Prambanan Temple
Indonesia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Jatiluwih Rice Terrace
Visit Jatiluwih Rice Terrace
Indonesia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Ulun Danu Beratan Temple
Visit Ulun Danu Beratan Temple
Indonesia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Jessica Soenandar
Jessica
Jessica Soenandar
Local specialist in Jakarta | Replied on Sep 27, 2023

Hi Biagio,

I sincerely appreciate the time you took to share your travel experience to Indonesia with us :) Thank you for letting us to be a part of this trip and you have been a pleasure to work with!

We are very happy and grateful that you had a great trip throughout and your positive feedback truly motivates my team and I to further maintain and improve our services!

We look forward to another opportunity to show you the rest of the country and wishing you all the best!

Warm regards,

Jessica

Terrible and a total rip off. No more Kim Kim.
Indonesia | Sep 6 - Sep 15, 2023

Kishore
Kishore M.
Manhattan, NY | Reviewed on Sep 23, 2023
However I do not believe that this trip was value for money. I believe I was cheated and the trip was overpriced. I only realized this after being there that the quality of service was sub par for the money I paid. The hotel in Jakarta was terrible, small room and poor quality. My primary reason for the trip was for scuba diving, I was made to believe that there was no availablity except the 2 dives which were booked . This was not true, once there I made arrangements on my own to add further... Read more

However I do not believe that this trip was value for money. I believe I was cheated and the trip was overpriced. I only realized this after being there that the quality of service was sub par for the money I paid. The hotel in Jakarta was terrible, small room and poor quality. My primary reason for the trip was for scuba diving, I was made to believe that there was no availablity except the 2 dives which were booked . This was not true, once there I made arrangements on my own to add further dives. I was misinformed.
Very disappointed with Kim Kim. This is going to be my last trip with Kim Kim. Prices are over inflated with the trip not curated to meet my needs.
I expect Kim Kim to refund part of the cost of the trip as based on my calculations of the cost of the trip I was upcharged a 100%.

Hotel Review
Pullman Jakarta Thamrin CBD
Jakarta

Terrible rooms, small and dingy. Thanks to Kim Kim for booking this for me and charging an arm and a leg. Big no no Never coming back or booking with Kim Kim ever again.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Jessica Soenandar
Jessica
Jessica Soenandar
Local specialist in Jakarta | Replied on Sep 26, 2023
Hi Kishore, Thank you for your honest feedback as we continuously strive to improve our services. I truly understand the bitterness that tainted the whole experience. As we talked about during our meeting at the end of your trip, organizing diving trips in Komodo can be a bit challenging. Due to the minimum number of participants required, it would incur an even higher cost if we pursued this option as you would have to pay for the rest of the cover (if the boat only has 1 participant).... Read more

Hi Kishore,

Thank you for your honest feedback as we continuously strive to improve our services. I truly understand the bitterness that tainted the whole experience.

As we talked about during our meeting at the end of your trip, organizing diving trips in Komodo can be a bit challenging. Due to the minimum number of participants required, it would incur an even higher cost if we pursued this option as you would have to pay for the rest of the cover (if the boat only has 1 participant). This is where the learning curve came in for me as apparently the dive centre at the resort could find a 3rd party boat that has a minimum participants covered on that day. I will make sure that our dive centre partner could provide the same standard of service.

As for the Pullman Thamrin Jakarta, thank you for showing me how cramped the room was; I will make sure to provide more options during the discussion and presenting the pros and cons.

I hope that you got some great pictures as it was one of your trip objectives and we genuinely appreciate your decision to travel with us and highly value the input and suggestions you’ve shared.

Warm regards,

Jessica