Jessica Wang

Our trip was amazing and everything went according to plan.
We interacted first with Jones with whom we spent 11 days from Seoul to Gwangju. Jones is very reliable and has a very good knowledge about his country. If he does not know the response to a question, he will make sure to look for it. He advised us about good places to eat. We definitely recommend him especially for several days like we did with Jones.
Luke in Busan was very nice and very open about the culture of Busan.
Christine is very professional and though we spent only one day with her, it was very interesting to discuss about the past and the present of Korea. She has a lot of knowledge and experience.

Hotel Reviews

NINE TREE BY PARNAS SEOUL MYEONDONG 2

Seoul

Nicely situated. Has a business feel. It was very busy during stay with students groups . Very good breakfast.

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Sea Cruise Hotel

Sokcho

Cold atmosphere and huge hotel

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Rakkojae Hahoe Hanok Hotel

Andong

Best hotel we stay in during our 5 weeks trips. Everything was perfect and we wish we could have stayed longer.

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The Seaes Hotel & Resort

Very nice and relaxing resort. A nice place to discover the south of Jeju Island and to enjoy nuit the view on the sea. Definitely recommend it.

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Skybay Gyeongpo

Gangneung

We did not go to this hotel as the program was changed. We were instead, in Itaewon in Seoul in the Hamilton Hotel. Though noisy because of it’s proximity with the Main Street of Itaewon, We recommended this hotel for its convenience location.

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Golgulsa Temple Stay

Gyeongju

The accommodation is so-do especially because it was raining during our stay.

Authenticity & Character

For the authenticity and character , we gave 4 , not for the accommodation but for the atmosphere and the activities the temple stay offer. It was an experience for us.

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HanokInn

Very well situated but the owner is not very talkative and and at ease with guests. The room , we had would not suit everyone as it was very very small with the bed in a mezzanine with a difficult staircase. Not a problem for us though but just mentioning . The breakfast, which is very light as announced, was kit to our taste. We had to have breakfast outside.

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Samlockhon

jeonju

Great place to stay with very very nice people to welcome us. The top was very spacious and authentic. It was the best Hanok atmosphere wise with very kind owners would love to intersect with guests. The breakfast is home made cooking and everything is delicious. We definitely recommend recommend this Hanok beautifully situated in the center of Jeonju

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Stanford Hotel and Resort Tongyeong

Cold atmosphere. Nice and big room and view on the sea.

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Songjukheon Pension

We arrived late at this place and it is in the middle of nowhere . Si, we did not have the chance to meet the owners who live in another house. No breakfast which is a problem, the room, which is more of an apartment was c very clean but we think this place is better for a long stay and not for a one night stay.

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Holiday Inn Gwangju

Nothing special to say

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Jeju Sun Hotel and Casino

Well situated as it is a good base ro discover Jeju city in a Jeju Island. Good breakfast. Nice room.

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Shilla Stay Yeosu Expo Station

Yeosu

Though big and not traditional, this hotel has a great view on the harbor . It is clean and modern. We enjoy our stay.

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Lavalse Hotel

Very well situated near the older part of Busan. The view is spectacular when you face the bay. Though not an authentic hotel, ew definitely recommend this hotel for its convenience, view.

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Hanok Hotel Daam Seoul

Beautiful hotel: Beautiful authentic room, Delicious breakfast. Very nice staff. Very well situated, this Hanok has it all. One of the best of our trip.

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Activity Reviews

Full Day Gyeongbokgung Hanbok Dressing & Namsan Tower

Seoul

Full Day Korean DMZ and Hongdae Shopping Street Tour

Seoul

Half Day Golgulsa Temple Stay

Gyeongju

Half Day Golgulsa Temple Stay-D2

Gyeongju

Half Day Gyeongju National Museum and Tumuli Park Tour with Night View

Gyeongju

Visit Gayasan National Park and Haeinsa Temple

Daegu

Explore Nature on the Way to Sokcho: Garden of Morning Calm, Nami Island, Gangchon Rail Park

South Korea

Taste of Korea, Authentic Home-Style Cooking Class

Seoul

Go on a Hiking Tour of Bukhansan and Ancient Seunggasa Temple

Seoul

Hiking in Seoraksan National Park - Gwongeumseong Fortress Course

Sokcho

Because of the rainy weather

Half Day Andong Hahoe Folk Village and Byeongsan Seowon Tour

Andong

Gyeongju Cultural Heritage Discovery: Yangdong Village and Oksan Seowon

Gyeongju

Jeonju Nambu Traditional Market Tour

Jeonju

Culinary Experience in Korea's Food Capital

Jeonju

K-drama Filming Spots in Jeonju - Jeonju Hanok Village and Gyeonggijeon

Jeonju

Full Day Naejangsan National Park Hiking - Baekyangsa and Sangwangbong

Gwangju

Sunchang Gochujang Village, Damyan Bamboo Forest and 5.18 Memorial Park

Gwangju

The Healing Tour of Suncheon Bay National Garden and Wetland Reserve

Suncheon

Full Day Cicadas Castle and Haegeumgang Island Tour

South Korea

Korean Folk Village and Suwon Hwaseong Fortress Tour

South Korea

Discover the Culture of Busan with Haedong Yonggungsa Temple

Busan

Jessica created a wonderful tour for us in Korea. We were met at the airport and guided throughout our stay which made this so very easy and not the least bit stressful. This was our first time having a private tour and I highly recommend it. One guide we had, Michael was especially impressive. He took us to visit historical sights, villages and the must see street food markets in Seoul. Jessica arranged our transportation on the high speed train to Busan for a few nights and that was amazing as well. I would not hesitate to use Kimkim travel in the future, they truly make touring a seamless experience, well worth the cost!

I cannot be thankful enough for all the patience, ideas, support and recommendation shown by Jessica and the team.
The experience and vacation turned out to be the most memorable and joyful ones for me and my wife.
Words cannot express what a lovely time we had and we will definitely re visit South Korea again :)

Jessica was very accommodating and helpful in setting up our visit, our itinerary, and adapting to changes that we threw her way. We had a wonderful experience on our first vacation in South Korea. There were no logistical problems with any of the hotels, transportation or guides. Everything went very smoothly. This was our first time planning a vacation this way and we really enjoyed not having to worry about logistics.

My recent trip to Korea was a trip of a lifetime! I enjoyed every moment of my trip and will always remember all of the places I visited along with all of the incredible tour guides that made the tours so memorable. Jessica, our travel specialist, was very detailed and responsive to all of our questions and requests. She was very professional and courteous and gave me peace of mind for our tours in Korea. Our tour guides were excellent in so many ways. I loved that they had a back-up plan whenever the weather changed. They were flexible but made sure that we visited all the places on our itinerary. I enjoyed many of the tours and appreciated their expertise on the history and culture at each attraction/location. They are very well informed and provided great summaries for us. They even offered to take photos of our group and did an exceptional job at taking memorable group photos at each site. Lastly, I appreciated all of their food and shopping recommendations for us to try during our "free" days. In summary, I had an epic trip to South Korea and will definitely come back for a return visit in the future. Many, many thanks, KimKim.

We had a wonderful trip to South Korea. With the help of our local specialist, Jessica, we planned an itinerary to Seoul, Gyeongju, Busan and Jeju Island that was filled with K-Drama locations and other must-see Korean sites.

Our drivers were all very kind and strong (they had to lift very heavy luggages)!

Our guides Taylor, Luke and Clover were kind, friendly, knowledgeable, and excellent photographers. When it rained they were readily prepared with a Plan B. And they even went out of their way to help us check off many bucket list items that weren’t necessarily part of our itinerary. We loved the time we spent with each and every one of them!

Our 13-day trip to South Korea was amazing!

Jessica did a great job organizing activities for the entire family; we are a diverse group with varied interests. My child loved the National Palace Museum of Korea, the Gyeongju National Museum, and the National Museum of Korea. My spouse loved the art exhibits: Sculpted Céladon of the Goryeo Dynasty - Gyeongju National Museum and the Arte Museum in Jeju. I loved the varied and yummy food. The highlight of my trip was the cooking class with Seoul Foodventure!

All of our guides were lovely and flexible, and helped us pivot when the weather wasn't cooperating or we needed some time to be more still. I would especially recommend Mr. William Jang. He is knowledgeable and kind - it was a real cultural exchange, which is what travel is all about.

We will return to South Korea.

Thank you, Jessica. Thank you, Kimkim.

We really enjoyed the tours provided by our local guides in Japan. Our first guide Nick came very well prepared to provide current and historical information on the sites we visited which included the Meiji Jingu Shrine, and the Sensoji Temple. At lunch time, he navigated the crowded Tsukiji Outer Fish Market to lead us to a restaurant with delicious sushi: Sushizanmai Honten.

Zumi was our guide in Osaka who took us to see the impressive Umeda Sky Building along with the Osaka Castle. The day ended with a visit to Nara Park. Zumi was very kind and easygoing; our family connected with him over our shared love of baseball. Both guides were considerate of the high temperature and humidity and provided breaks to rest and hydrate which we really appreciated.

Clover, our guide in Jeju, was a joy. Among many of the sites, she took us to see Jeju's beautiful beaches on differing sides of the island: Woljeongri Beach and Hyeopjae Beach. Throughout both tour days, she displayed thoughtfulness and consideration of everyone in our family such as helping my elderly mother navigate Dongmun Traditional Market and carrying all of her purchases. She even helped by providing tips for our self guided day on Udo Island.

This kindness and consideration were further extended by Jones, our guide in Seoul. My husband and I had visited Gyeongbokgung Palace before but we learned so much more about its history and architectural symbolism from Jones. We mentioned our impromptu interest in visiting a bookstore in Seoul and Jones gladly accommodated our wish; while at the bookstore he helped our family find the topics of books we were searching for.

Though it was our first time meeting each of our guides, upon arriving in Japan and Korea, we felt like we had friends waiting for us to show us hospitality. Our family left Japan and Korea with so many amazing memories thanks to our guides.

Hotel Review

Jeju Sun Hotel and Casino

Please note that I provided the following review on TripAdvisor as well: My family and I enjoyed a five night stay at Jeju Sun Hotel and Casino and loved our experience there. The staff were so warm and welcoming each time we arrived back at the hotel from an excursion. Special shout out to Ahn Tae Young who went out of his way to help our family find a delicious naengmyeon (cold noodle) restaurant! The location of the hotel is conveniently located to bustling shops and restaurants all within walking distance. There is nearby bank where you can convert your currency. There was even a nearby park that held a free concert featuring young Korean artists on a Friday night. The hotel boasts a beautiful, bright and open lobby area which lifts your spirits after a long day of sightseeing. If you view other nearby hotel lobbies on the same street, they are rather bleak and bare. There’s really no comparison to Jeju Sun’s lobby and reception area. To the right of the lobby, you will find the Garden Buffet which served the most delicious breakfast buffet offering both Western style breakfast (eggs, sausage, bacon) and Korean cuisine. The freshness, quality and presentation of the food shows how much effort the chefs and staff put into the food. There was a green fruit compete dressing that I couldn’t get enough of; I wish I could get the recipe to make at home. Our room consisted of a spacious two bedroom, two bathroom suite that fit five people. After five days in cramped hotel rooms in Tokyo and Osaka, our room at Jeju Sun provided room to breathe. It was clean and comfortable and great for spending time together. One recommendation I would make is for the hotel to offer beach towels for guests who plan to visit Jeju’s beautiful beaches. I saw that most other Asian tourists spent the day at the beach dressed up to take pictures. We came to Jeju to actually swim in its lovely waters.

Authenticity & Character

Bright and inviting lobby area, decor, fixtures.

Location

Nearby shops and restaurants within walking distance.

Staff

One staff member went out of his way to make sure we found a delicious cold noodle restaurant.

Cleanliness & Comfort

I appreciate how clean the bathrooms were on a daily basis.

Activity Reviews

Half Day Horseback Riding and Kayaking Experience

Jeju Island

Our itinerary was adjusted so that horseback riding and kayaking were split into two separate days but I would say these were my favorite activities. The first day we rode horses in light rainfall crossing the street to reach a UNESCO site - a beach that had the most stunning views. The rain, the clacking of the horses as they walked, and the views made it a special experience. Kayaking was great exercise! It was fun to be out on the water with your family. I enjoyed the clear kayak where you should fish swimming beneath you!

Quality of Experience

Stunning views of the landscape near the horseback riding business are priceless!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Staff at the horseback riding business were considerate; they offered to take family photos while on horses.

Transport

Comfortable, clean air-conditioned van. Clover brought us water to ensure we were all hydrated.

Osaka-Nara day trip with Osaka Castle

Osaka

We loved Nara deer park. We fell asleep on the way to Nara and when we arrived, we were surprised to see so many deer frolocking about. The Todaiji Temple was set in a beautiful and serene setting. And having Zumi guiding us along the way was a treat!

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Explore Seoul Highlights

Seoul

We really appreciate the tour of Kwangjang market. While we're not hungry to eat because of lunch, high temperatures and upcoming dinner, we enjoyed seeing all of the delicious street food options. We have this market bookmarked to re-visit on our next trip to Korea.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Jones broke up the market into separate sections (seafood, pancake area, textiles).

Transport

This was my second trip to Seoul and second time working with Jessica…and both of exceeded my expectations. The only part I would advise to pass is on the DMZ experience which was underwhelming. Head to the Gamaksan suspension bridge and unification park, grad Korean BBQ in Pagu, then head back to Seoul.

Hotel Review

JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul

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Activity Review

Full Day Korean DMZ and Hongdae Shopping Street Tour

Seoul

Avoid the full tour and enjoy the suspension bridge and Pagu instead.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport