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Fast Facts

Rating:	based on 37 reviews
Full name:	João Daniel
Destinations:	Portugal, the Azores
Lives in:	Lisbon
Experience:	3 years
Company:	My Lisbon Holidays
Specialties:	Outdoors, Nature, Culture, History, Sports

Born and raised in Lisbon, I was five when my parents took me and my brother on a camping trip to Southwest coast of Portugal. That summer, I spent my birthday camping under pine trees close to the beach. Throughout the years I’ve been collecting memories like this and they always put a smile on my face. My goal is to help you do the same – make you a smile whenever you remember your trip to Portugal.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"Everything Portugal!!! Including Azores and Madeira islands. With a little brainstorm we’ll find a nice set of cultural, gastronomic, and outdoor activities to make your trip memorable."

How did you get involved in travel?

"A while back I was planning a big bicycle tour around Europe; and to work-out the details of my plan I started hosting cyclists travelling through Portugal. We spent hours looking through maps and sharing tips about places we went and loved. What to see, what to eat… From there I guess things just moved to where I am now."

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"So hard to choose one. For me, it’s always about the little details: the first slice of pizza ever eaten (on the shores of Lake de Garda in Italy); buying food on a Sri Lank train crossing the tea plantations; bodysurfing on an empty beach in Northern Spain; deep conversations on Alpine trails; a crowded cinema in Köln; running in Central Park…"

João is part of the following groups: Portugal Travel Agents, the Azores Travel Agents, Portugal Luxury Travel Agents

João's favorite itineraries and travel advice

Recent trip reviews for João

Our journey of castles, food and charm throughout Portugal!
Portugal | Apr 7 - Apr 20, 2026

James H.

Atlanta, GA | Reviewed on Jun 03, 2026

Where do I begin? Thanks to all of our amazing guides and hosts of every boutique hotel in which we stayed! Our trip organizer Joāo used the suggestion we provided to create the perfect itinerary allowing us to experience the culture, history, food and wine at every turn. We started in Madeira with a half day walking tour. The young lady was very friendly and knowledgeable providing an informative tour through the rich history of the island, food and gardens. We finished our remaining day 4x4... Read more

Local specialist: João Daniel

João Daniel

Local specialist in Lisbon | Replied on Jun 04, 2026

I'l be here for your second coming :)
See you soon.

Exceeded our Expectations!
the Azores | Apr 2 - Apr 12, 2026

Jo R.

Athol, MA, USA | Reviewed on May 30, 2026

Exceeded our Expectations! Our initial interactions with Joao were easy -- his responsiveness to our wishes was prompt and thorough. Each guide on the various islands Pico, São Jorge, Terceira, and Faial knew their territory and shared so much expertise with us. They flexed when asked and went out of their way to accommodate us, adding side trips as time allowed. Even our driver Jorge surprised us with hand-wrapped souvenirs! Would use Kim-kim again in a heartbeat. Thank you so much. Read more

Exceeded our Expectations!

Our initial interactions with Joao were easy -- his responsiveness to our wishes was prompt and thorough. Each guide on the various islands Pico, São Jorge, Terceira, and Faial knew their territory and shared so much expertise with us. They flexed when asked and went out of their way to accommodate us, adding side trips as time allowed. Even our driver Jorge surprised us with hand-wrapped souvenirs! Would use Kim-kim again in a heartbeat. Thank you so much.

Hotel Reviews

As Casas da Riberia Grande

Ribeira Grande

Definitely liked this locale. It was a bit challenging to get responses since the main hotel was in another spot and the corner apartment was noisy. It was clean and spacious enough for a couple.

Authenticity & Character

The nearby square was charming, and it was near places where we could eat and walk.

Location

Noisy corner

Staff

Didn't really have much interaction since the main hotel was in another place.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Comfortable and clean. Some of the kitchen amenities were not there, although there were instructions that they were. Notheing major.

Pico Studios

Madalena

Well-located, relatively quiet, and clean.

Authenticity & Character

It was fine. There is a problem with the name of one of the rooms, which could be offensive to some people.

Location

Liked the proximity to the ferry, the square, restaurants, and coffee shop.

Staff

Not much interaction with staff.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean and comfortable overall. We had lots of extra space. The fan in the bathroom was very annoying, and it was attached to the light switch.

Azores Book Hotel

Angra do Heroísmo

This was the winner hotel of our trip! It was very interesting and just an enjoyable place to stay!

Authenticity & Character

Great character with the book theme.

Location

Ok, down the hill from the town -- in walking distance though.

Staff

Staff was very accommodating. A young waitress in the kitchen, having been asked for non-dairy options for coffee, proactively brought out some when we got to breakfast! Lots of people, but she remembered. Impressive. The breakfast buffet was great!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean and very comfy.

Hotel Do Colégio

Ponta Delgada

Nice to see a different side of the island. Like all our stays, this was clean and comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Great locale. Fun place to walk around and great restaurants.

Staff

Informative, respectful, and, of course, kind.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean and comfortable.

Activity Reviews

In the Shadow of the Giant: A Half-Day Guided Tour of Pico

the Azores

This one was difficult. In hindsight, going from the airport to a tour was not the best call. It was windy and cold, and I personally wasn't dressed warmly enough, so I spent more time in the van than outside looking at things. Our guide was very good and tried to be as accommodating as possible.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

He was kind, respectful and very knowledgable.

Transport

Roomy van and our guide was a safe driver.

Faial from Coast to Crater: A Full-Day Guided Discovery

Portugal

Our guide Pedro was exceptional! He was a great fit for our group since we shared many perspectives on ecology and the environment. He gave us a bonus experience to meet his mother and see her garden and the project he was working on. It totally enriched our trip!

Quality of Experience

Pedro's passion for the environment and for his work.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Safe driver and seeing his home project and meeting his mother was such a bonus.

Transport

We saw a lot and it definitely felt like a perspective that was real. . .not a canned tour.

São Jorge Flexible Explorer - Full-Day Guided Tour

Portugal

Once again, as with the previous tours, we had a guide who was passionate and knowledgeable about the environment and the history. He kept us engaged the entire trip.

Quality of Experience

It was a diverse tour, we again were invited into our guide's home to sample liqueurs made by his wife. A sense of being truly welcomed.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Knowledgeable, with a great sense of humor and clear pride in his work.

Transport

Safe and easy.

Between the Lava and the Sea - A Half-Day Guided Wine Experience on Pico

Pico Island

Weather-wise, Pico was a bit more welcoming on this half-day tour. We had the same guide as on our first half-day and we had a good sense of his style. The tour was not private, however, and it seemed a bit awkward for the man who did not know us or the guide. Our guide handled things really well in any case.

Quality of Experience

Some of this was repetitive, but we enjoyed the wine tasting.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

He was very adept at creating cohesion in the group.

Transport

Good driving.

Half-Day Hiking Activity in Terceira

Portugal

This was by far the most physical day of the trip. Our guide was so responsive and good overall that we gladly hired him on for the rest of the day.

Quality of Experience

What a treat, he really knew what he was doing, appreciated the varied flora and paid good attention to our comfort/safety while hiking.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great guide!!

Transport

Safe and took us to varied terrain.

Local specialist: João Daniel

João Daniel

Local specialist in Lisbon | Replied on May 31, 2026

Hi Jo. Thank you so much :)

Read all the Azores reviews

The Azores are spectacular and KimKim made it easy to explore!
the Azores | Apr 2 - Apr 12, 2026

Catherine H.

Harrison, NJ | Reviewed on Apr 17, 2026

Joao did a great job responding to our feedback and creating a trip that met all of our hopes and expectations. The four guides that we worked with provided high quality tours and their depth of knowledge was remarkable. Pedro with Our Island assessed what our interests were and then provided us a tour of Faial focusing on the plants, helping us understand how the ecosystem was built with endemic plants, plants brought in by the ocean and then those brought by people. His passion for his island and culture stood out. John from Sao Jorge Island Tours was our guide on Sao Jorge and again, his knowledge and passion for his island made us fall in love with all we saw. Matthew with Tripix guided us around Pico Island and his understanding of the history and development of the wine culture helped us appreciate this rugged island. Our final tour was Andres with Green Generation on Terceira and his desire to get people out into the countryside and hiking shone through and he provided us an excellent experience. All of these tours were impressive with the guides being experienced professionals with so much knowledge.
Joao provided us with road books to guide our explorations on Sao Miguel and these were excellent with clear descriptions of areas to explore and good directions to get us there. The rental company that they linked us with provided good service and a solid car for our explorations. The studios and hotels that Joao reserved for us were comfortable and convenient.
The Azores were spectacular - the dramatic landscapes, wonderful food, and kind people made this an exceptional vacation.

Hotel Reviews

As Casas da Riberia Grande

Ribeira Grande

Wonderful location - this was a studio and the kitchen was fully outfitted. The bed was comfortable and the parking made it easy to have a car in Riberia Grande. They provided a wash basin and clothesline!

Authenticity & Character

This was a modern studio but nicely decorated and very comfortable

Location

Our room overlooked a small church and the river

Staff

We didn't have staff on site but the individual who oriented us came from the hotel and was very thorough. They were also responsive to all of our questions.

Cleanliness & Comfort

No complaints what so ever

Pico Studios

Madalena

Comfortable and an excellent location but the theme of the room was off-putting and the kitchen was not as well equipped as I would have liked. Loved that they provided a laundry facility with laundry soap.

Authenticity & Character

The theme of our room was grey and too modern and plastic for my taste. This was a studio.

Location

Walking distance to restaurants and the ferry.

Staff

We interacted with the staff person when we arrived and she was helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The studio was very clean and the bed was comfortable. We ran out of hot water one night as we didn't realize it was such a small tank.

Azores Book Hotel

Angra do Heroísmo

Beautiful, comfortable, a delicious breakfast, and overall excellent.

Authenticity & Character

The book theme was well done and carried out throughout the hotel. The public areas were nicely set up and very comfortable. The room itself was ordinary but quiet and comfortable.

Location

The hotel was quiet as it was a bit outside of the main town which did mean we had a bit of a walk to explore Angra.

Staff

always polite and pleasant. Happy to answer any questions and were very accomodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean, the beds were comfortable, and it was quiet!

Hotel Do Colégio

Ponta Delgada

This hotel was well located, provided a delicious breakfast with brewed tea, the staff were lovely, and the rooms were comfortable though a bit noisy. And the rooms had bathtubs!!

Authenticity & Character

The public spaces were well laid out and attractive. The rooms themselves were ordinary seeming hotel rooms.

Location

Great location, short walk to the waterfront and the restaurants.

Staff

Nice, responsive staff, very pleasant and accommodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room and all of the public space was very clean, the beds were comfortable, and the bathtubs such a treat. The only drawback was that it was a bit noisy.

Activity Reviews

In the Shadow of the Giant: A Half-Day Guided Tour of Pico

the Azores

It was a cold, windy day and we were picked up from the airport to begin the tour. Matthew was excellent and did what he could to accommodate us given the weather. He provided a good overview of the history and ecology of the island.

Quality of Experience

Matthew's voice was a little quiet and so it was difficult to hear him at times. The second time we toured with him we asked him to speak up and he was much easier to understand.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Matthew was knowledgeable and accommodating.

Transport

The van was comfortable.

Faial from Coast to Crater: A Full-Day Guided Discovery

Portugal

Pedro was a remarkable guide who catered our day together based on our interests. Our understanding of the ecosystem of Faial and especially of the plants that found their way to being established in the Azores was increased. His passion for his island and it's history stood out in many positive ways.

Quality of Experience

Pedro!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Pedro was knowledgeable and engaging throughout. He clearly loves being a guide!

Transport

pick up and drop off at the ferry went smoothly

São Jorge Flexible Explorer - Full-Day Guided Tour

Portugal

John was a pleasure to spend the day with. We saw many beautiful views, learned about the volcanic formation of the island, how the culture particular to Sao Jorge developed, and the unique coffee culture of the island.

Quality of Experience

John was such an excellent guide and there was so much rugged beauty on Sao Jorge

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Yet another guide who loved his work!

Transport

Pick up and drop off at the ferry went smoothly, car was comfortable.

Between the Lava and the Sea - A Half-Day Guided Wine Experience on Pico

Pico Island

We had been with Matthew two days previously so it was great that the company sent us the same guide so we did not repeat any of the previous sites/information. The wine tasting was excellent and was a great finish to learning about grape culture on Pico.

Quality of Experience

Matthew truly admired the persistence and courage of the early Pico settlers and what it took to establish vineyards.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Matthew spoke up for this tour and it made a big difference for our understanding him. He clearly loves being a guide and is very professional.

Transport

The Transport was a comfortable van

Half-Day Hiking Activity in Terceira

Portugal

Andre picked a fabulous hike for us that we were all able to complete despite one of us having a knee injury. He was solicitous and helpful throughout. We appreciated his knowledge and we ended up having him provide us with a full day experience as there was still so much to see!

Quality of Experience

Andre was great!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

knowledgeable, engaging, and professional

Transport

comfortable car - pick up and drop off went smoothly.

Local specialist: João Daniel

Show 122 more photos

João Daniel

Local specialist in Lisbon | Replied on Apr 24, 2026

Thanks Catherine. I’m glad everyone liked the trip. I’ll forward your review to the guides in the Azores.

Read all the Azores reviews

The Algarve and two Women
Portugal | Feb 18 - Feb 25, 2026

Paula S.

Minneapolis, MN | Reviewed on Feb 28, 2026

Our trip to the Algarve as fabulous. Joao was wonderful in planning out trip for two solo women travelers. We are experienced travelers so Joao planned the trip in a way that suited our requests. I know he had no control over the weather… but he did an amazing job. We traveled in February and risked the rainy season. We were so lucky to have spectacular weather the entire week….. thank you Joao! Read more

Hotel Reviews

Pousada Sagres

Sagres

Authenticity & Character

The view

Location

The Pousada in Sagres is a beautiful boutique hotel with an amazing view. Breakfast was lovely. Dinner a bit slow

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palacio de Tavira

Tavira

This hotel was in a perfect location walkable to a lot. Unfortunately if you have a rental car, there is no parking . We stayed there 3 nights and needed assistance by the hotel staff to find parking many blocks away.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Meliá Lisboa Aeroporto

Lisbon

A quick stay before the flight. Did use the were sauna and that was a nice experience. Breakfast was served early so we were able to have some before an early flight. Airport transportation was good but the van for the early am flights filled fast so give yourself some extra time

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Cooking Class in Lagos

Portugal

So much fun and the owners delightful . Highly recommend

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

E-Bike Tour in Lagos - Fun Tour to Luz

Portugal

We were two women and the only cyclists that day. One of us an experienced cyclist and the other a beginner. She was very nervous and it was a challenging ride for her… even on an e bike. I think the ride leader could have been more attentive to her abilities and needs. But this was a great way to see the area in the first couple days of our trip to the Algarve.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Local specialist: João Daniel

João Daniel

Local specialist in Lisbon | Replied on Feb 28, 2026

Who said I didn’t have control of the weather :p I’m happy you and Melanie had a good time here :)

Read all Portugal reviews

Eight days in Portugal
Portugal | Nov 18 - Nov 25, 2025

Ed N.

Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Dec 05, 2025

We had a wonderful journey through central Portugal. Our guide, Joao was helpful and personable. He managed to massage our available days into an interesting and active, yet relaxing itinerary. His hotel choices and transportation facilitation really made the trip easy. He is a font of local knowledge, and his command of Portuguese history, geography and culture made our trip even more rewarding. He was always ready to help with suggestions on WhatsApp when not available in person. We... Read more

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Baia

Cascais

The location of this hotel is outstanding. There were two issues, one was a noise problem due to the city's scheduling of the holiday festivities around the hotel, I talked to the owner about it and he was very apologetic but there was nothing he could have done to fix it. The other issue was the construction going on in the lobby but it did not really inconvenience us. The breakfast buffet was fine, the room was well appointed and had nice views.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Albergaria do Calvário

Évora

Stay here if you can, it's excellent. Staff were very helpful, room was cleand and cozy and the location was perfect for exploring the old town.

Hotel República

Tomar

Great location, we did not have a view but it didn't matter, we spent the whole time exploring the lovely town. The breakfast was super.

Eurostars Áurea Museum

Lisbon

This hotel was very comfortable and quiet. We had an interior room looking out on a plain courtyard. We were only there for a night because it was our last night and we had to transfer to the airport early so we missed breakfast, but the staff provided a nice breakfast in a bag to go. I loved this neighborhood, and would definitely stay here again.

Activity Review

Winery Visit with Wine Tasting

Portugal

Fascinating property. We enjoyed the tour and it was a good introduction to Portugal's Antejo wine region.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our travel advisor Joao selected, scheduled and provided transportation to the winery.

Local specialist: João Daniel

João Daniel

Local specialist in Lisbon | Replied on Dec 05, 2025

Thanks Ed! I had a great time with you too.
Hope to see you soon in the Bay Area :)

Read all Portugal reviews

We had an oustading two week trip In Portugal...
Portugal | Oct 1 - Oct 14, 2025

John S.

Columbus, OH | Reviewed on Oct 30, 2025

We had an oustading two week trip In Portugal & Madeira! (Five days in Lisbon with various tours; 3 days to Algarve with a rental car, 1 day in Evora & 3 days to Madeira. This is want we wanted and may be very different from others.) Joao fully customized our long awaited trip to Portugal based on our wishes and particular needs. He did an outstanding job, was very patient, detailed, and provided excellent communication along the way. In addition to several guided tours, Joao provided... Read more

We think the Kimkim model of working with local tour groups who deeply know the area is great; meaning whether you need a cutomized package for Portugal, Iceland, or xxxx, you will work with the local experts! Also you can do as much or as little on your own as you want; knowing the overall framework of your trip (hotels, airport pickup, guded tours, and rental car) has been assembled by people who have done it many times before. (Our hotel in Madeira was OUTSTANDING!!)

Thank you Joao & Joel!!

Hotel Reviews

Vila Gale Evora

Evora

Very good hotel, excelent breakfast; good facilities and grounds. Good central location. Helpful staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Porto Mare

Funchal

One of the best hotels we've stayed in around the world! Excellent room with Outstanding views, private patio, endless breakfast buffet. Excellent chpice of onsite restauramts. very helpful staff.

Authenticity & Character

Outstanding!

Location

Right on coast, execellent views, central location for day trips. Palm trees and pools.

Staff

very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

everything tip top!

Lagos Avenida Hotel

Lagos

Good room and GREAT breakfast. Good central location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

central area

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

HF Fénix Urban

Lisbon

Good room, great breakfast, helpful staff.

Authenticity & Character

Good functional hotel

Location

relatively central area; close to airport

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Cascais & Sintra Guided Visit

Portugal

The highlight of our time in Lisboa. Great full day with wonderful sights, great lunch restaurant, and great guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great guide (Joel)!

Transport

comrtable Mercedes van

Dinner with Live Fado Music

Lisbon

This is a cannot miss activity for Posrtugal! Good food and woderful music!

Quality of Experience

Food

good variety of food and plenty of it!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Algarve Caves Boat Tour

Portugal

Highlight of our aalgarve trip. This was Outstanding!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day Guided Tour of Lisbon

Lisbon

Joel is an excellent guide with thorough knowledge of Lisboa. Always helpful

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Execcelny guide (Joel)!

Transport

Mercedes van; very comfortable

Local specialist: João Daniel

João Daniel

Local specialist in Lisbon | Replied on Oct 30, 2025

Thanks, John! You just made my day.
I'm glad you had a good time here.

Everyone at Kimkim will be happy to read your review as well.
I'll pass along your kind words to Joel :)

Wish you all the best.

Joao's experience and advise were invaluable ...
Portugal | Sep 15 - Sep 24, 2025

Brian M.

Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Sep 25, 2025

Joao's experience and advise were invaluable - guiding my wife and I through the planning process as well as while we were on the trip. All were glitch-free - quite important for us first-timers to Portugal. Traveling in the cities and in the regions we were in - as well as traveling to them/and through the country - was simple and stress-free. Of particular note are the service providers - transport and local guides - Joao used. They were knowledgeable, friendly, and engaging - well done to all. We began our trip in Lisbon, then on to Porto via high-speed rail, then to Lagos via rented car and finished our trip for our flight home back in Lisbon. Doing so allowed us to see a great deal of this beautiful country. Like many others before us - allowing 2 weeks would have been better than our 10 days, but maybe another trip sometime!

Hotel Reviews

Meliá Lisboa Aeroporto

Lisbon

Hard to beat the proximity the airport - very walkable to terminal 1 - though a free shuttle to the airport is provided.

Authenticity & Character

Location

If you want close to the airport this one is for you.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Vila Galé Lagos

Lagos

Great location in terms access to the beach. A bit of a walk (not quite 2k) into town, but the walk is beautiful along the beach walkway. A large facility built to accommodate large touring groups and the summer throngs of visitors to the Algarve. The hotel lacks the cozy feel that boutique hotels have - but the pool and beach access are hard to beat. Food was so-so - especially the buffet-style dining built to for the masses. The smaller two non-buffet restaurants were better both for food and ambience.

Authenticity & Character

Large facility built to handle large numbers of guests.

Location

If you want the beach - hard to beat!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Exe Almada Porto

Porto

Located in the university area - very walkable to many of the sites of Porto. Highly recommend for this alone, but all other aspects of this hotel were excellent.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Located in the university area - very walkable to many of the sites of Porto.

Staff

While all of the places we stayed at had helpful, friendly staff - this one really stood out. Whether questions about laundry service, places to eat, getting around town, etc - staff was fantastic .

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Lisboa Plaza

Lisbon

Great location in all respects - sites, restaurants, guides and other supporting providers. Many are easily walked to while others are just a short ride. Staff was very friendly and helpful - well-versed in English! (Thank you!)

Authenticity & Character

Boutique in nature, very much portrays the Portuguese culture.

Location

Great location in all respects - sites, restaurants, guides and other supporting providers.

Staff

With our limited knowledge of Portuguese - their English language skills were welcoming and welcome.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Half-Day Guided Tour of Lisbon

Lisbon

We ended up not doing this excursion, but Jaoa did give us an abbreviated driving tour of Lisbon! Thank you Jaoa!

Cave Boat Tour

Portugal

A short excursion that is well worth the trip. The cliffs and caves were gorgeous from a distance and from within!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Funny, engaging and safe!

Transport

Guided Day Trip to the Douro Valley with Visit to Wineries, Lunch, and Rabelo Boat River Cruise

Portugal

A must-do for anyone visiting Portugal. Beautiful valley, great port wine and meet/visit wonderful places and people along the way.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Pedro was energetic, engaging and an encyclopedia of all-things Portugal.

Transport

Food Tour - OPTIONAL (not included in the price)

Porto

Eat very lightly for this food tour - plenty of food and beverage along the way. Be prepared to walk a bit, but not excessive as a fair portion of the tour is at one market.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Pedro is a great ambassador for Portugal!

Transport

All walking' of course, but not overly hilly or lengthy, Short distance between stops.

Full-Day Guided Tour of Cascais & Sintra

Portugal

The #1 best thing about this trip was our guide. Thoughtful, informative, flexible to our needs, fluent in English and friendly.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Local specialist: João Daniel

Show 34 more photos

João Daniel

Local specialist in Lisbon | Replied on Sep 25, 2025

Thanks for your review, Brian!
It was nice meeting you and Victoria.
You'll have to come back for a second round, so I can finish showing you all the sites :)

Madeira was the highlight
Portugal | Sep 1 - Sep 19, 2025

Terri J.

Canada | Reviewed on Sep 20, 2025

Of all the places we visited in Portugal, Madeira was definitely the highlight—a must-visit destination. The island’s beauty left us in awe, and having such wonderful guides there made the experience even more memorable. They went out of their way to ensure we saw the most breathtaking sights and views. In Porto, we were fortunate to have Jelena as our guide, and she was truly one of the best I’ve ever had. She was incredibly informative, knowledgeable, and thoroughly prepared, which made... Read more

Local specialist: João Daniel

João Daniel

Local specialist in Lisbon | Replied on Sep 21, 2025

Thanks Terri. If you decide to move to Madeira, don't forget to invite me for a visit :)
I'll pass on your nice words to Sarah and Jelena - they will be glad to read them.

Amazing Trip to Portugal!
Portugal | Aug 24 - Sep 2, 2025

Shivani M.

Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Sep 09, 2025

João was wonderful to work with, he was extremely knowledgeable and helped steer us in the right direction in terms of tours and main attractions. He was also very responsive and helpful whenever I had any questions or comments both prior to the trip and during the trip, which was much appreciated! He provided a clear and transparent Road Book that listed all the activities with guide names and contact information, which made it very easy to find the right people (in a foreign country) and helped us plan out our day. Lastly, he personally drove from Lisbon to Lagos to pick us up, which we greatly appreciated and helped us maximize our time in Lagos stress-free. It was a pleasure working with him and I would reach out to him again the next I'm in Portugal.

We worked with very knowledgeable guides in each city, which helped us feel more connected to the people and culture of Portugal. Francisco in Lisbon was a great guide who was very knowledgeable about the history of the city and provided useful tips to help us avoid major tourist lines and optimize our time. He also recommended a wonderful restaurant that turned out to be our favorite meal of the trip. He accompanied us to Sintra and was a huge asset in helping us navigate crowded sites and optimize our day. He provided a ton of interesting background information on Pena Palance and Quinta de Regalaeria, which helped us appreciate the experience much more. He also insisted we try the local pastries in Sintra (which was a highlight of the day) and advised us to tour the National Palace of Sintra, which is a must-see and not too crowded.

In Porto, we worked with Manuel, who was very passionate about Porto and very eager to show us his home city. He gave us great advice on what to see or do in our down time and is very knowledgeable of the history of Porto. We felt very comfortable with and thought he was very patient with us as we took our multiple photos! He even gave me a small token to remember my trip, which I greatly appreciated the thought and gesture. In Porto, we did a Duorro Valley wine tour and had the best driver/guide Andres. He had such great energy, and was funny, lively, and passionate about the port wine industry! He gave us great tips of what to see and overall made our Duorro Valley experience more enjoyable!

Overall, we had a great time booking with Kim Kim, which allowed us to work with local experts on planning a customized action-packed itinerary. Kim Kim also took care of most of our transportation needs to and from the airport, train station, and hotels, which made our vacation much more enjoyable and comfortable. Lastly, all the guides were very knowledgeable, professional, and passionate about their job, which added to our overall experience! We would definitely work with Kim Kim again.

Local specialist: João Daniel

João Daniel

Local specialist in Lisbon | Replied on Sep 09, 2025

Hi Shivani, thank you so much for your detailed review! I’ll reach out to Francisco, Manuel, and André and share your words with them - they will be happy.
I really enjoyed our trip together to Lisbon - it was fun to pick your father’s brain on all energy related topics.
Hope to see you again :)

5 star trip to Portugal!
Portugal | Aug 21 - Aug 30, 2025

Kimberly A.

Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Sep 08, 2025

João planned an amazing trip for my group for our first time to Portugal! Originally we were supposed to be 2 people, but then added my mom halfway through the planning process and he was very accommodating in adjusting the reservations. He kept in contact with us the entire time we were there and was very knowledgeable everywhere we went. The excursions were perfect for our group and a great balance between activity/free time enjoying the cities we were in. We can’t wait to go back and thank... Read more

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Beautiful hotel but staff wasn’t consistently there to assist.

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Someone being present more often throughout the day

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Nice easy way to see the beautiful caves in Lagos! Not too long of a tour so you still have the rest of your day to explore!

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Local specialist: João Daniel

João Daniel

Local specialist in Lisbon | Replied on Sep 08, 2025

Hi Kimberly, glad you, your sister, and your mother enjoyed the trip. I'm also glad that you wrote "our first trip to Portugal"!
We'll be here waiting for your second trip :)

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