Profile photo for Josee Legrand
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active 12 hours ago

Josee Legrand

My name is Josée, Im a bilingual Canadian. Sixteen years ago, I attended a wedding in France and it changed my destiny! I fell in love with this magnificent country and never left! Its charm, its culture, its history and its people have inspired me to stay.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"France is my adopted country and I’ve gotten to know it well! It has so many spectacular places to visit that I’ve been travelling as much as possible from East to West, stopping to enjoy the scenery as much as possible, tasting specialties and admiring the beauty of the landscape. I have often fell upon magical sights just by driving with the top rolled down on a countryside road, sometimes following « La Route du Vin » or « La route des Chateaux » ! I love to organize romantic getaways or trips with character such as visiting castles that bring you back to archaic times. "

How did you get involved in travel?

"Being an Anglophone and loving to travel, it was obvious for me to want to get involved in tourism when I settled down in France. Even though it’s been quite a few years, I continue to be amazed by this country and want to share my enthusiasm! I wish to create memorable trips for others as I have done for me and my family. It is so rewarding to learn about other cultures, their language, their traditions, their culinary specialties, ... It then makes for great conversation, meaningful memories and beautiful dreamy pictures! "

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"My favorite stop has to be in Carcassone in the South of France, a citadel medieval village with its castle of 52 towers, a horse-drawned carriage ride through the ramparts and its culinary specialties such as cassoulet. Also, I can’t forget the wine tasting in a typical winery and the backdrop of magnificent vines in full bloom!"

Josee is part of the following groups: France Travel Agents, France Family Travel Agents
Top itineraries and travel advice
Family itineraries
Road trip itineraries

Recent trip reviews for Josee

Another perfect trip arranged by Josee! This...
France | Apr 28 - May 4, 2024

Carla
Carla W.
Canada | Reviewed on May 11, 2024
Another perfect trip arranged by Josee!
This was my second trip to France arranged with KimKim - the support and service have been so remarkable we already have a third trip planned.
The selection of accommodations are excellent. In Paris with so many beautiful boutique options, Josee provided a select few to choose from all perfect for my identified needs and wants. So perfect it’s hard to pick but you cannot go wrong in the end.
The reliability and security of the arranged...
Read more

Another perfect trip arranged by Josee!
This was my second trip to France arranged with KimKim - the support and service have been so remarkable we already have a third trip planned.
The selection of accommodations are excellent. In Paris with so many beautiful boutique options, Josee provided a select few to choose from all perfect for my identified needs and wants. So perfect it’s hard to pick but you cannot go wrong in the end.
The reliability and security of the arranged transportation is my favourite feature.
On this trip we had a chocolate and pastry tour of Saint Germain des Pres- which was so much fun. The pastries featured were outstanding! So much so my daughter went back the following day to try some treats again! We lucked out and were the only two in our group which made it feel like we were walking around with a friend not a guide!
We spent a lovely rainy day in touring Reims and the Champagne region! Despite the downpour all day it was so much fun.
The hand selected activities offered to us by Josee were perfect for our trip. This was my daughter’s first trip to Paris… and will not be her last.. she fell in love with Paris… with a large part of that reason due to the perfect itinerary arranged for her! It was a perfect trip, thanks so much for them memories KimKim!

Hotel Review
Hotel La Bourdonnais - Tour Eiffel
Paris

Great location… a few minutes walk to the Eiffel Tower but tucked away so you were not in the chaos of the Eiffel Tower.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Saint-Germain-des-Prés Pastry and Chocolate Tour
Saint-Germain-des-Prés Pastry and Chocolate Tour
Paris

This was perfect! Lovely tour guide, the pastures and chocolate tasted far exceed our expectations and I think we had 9 stops! Everything was the best ever! Our biggest surprise treat was Aux Merveilleux… this is a must try!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Nighttime Seine River Cruise with Dining Experience
Nighttime Seine River Cruise with Dining Experience
Paris

We enjoyed this experience so much last year - was a highlight of last years trip.. I wanted to share with my daughter on this year’s trip. Unfortunately, while still enjoyable I would say the food quality was less than last year, the live entertainment was good- but so loud. It was a struggle to hear my daughter across our small table for two.. and she struggled to hear me so it was not just my aging ears! Service was fast.. and efficient but not as pleasant than last year. When we arrived back at the dock there was approximately 25 people hovering around the door to waiting to disembark, we were 2 of them. This was not the case last July when we took the same cruise. The boat is comfortable and enjoyable to be on.. and the cruise in the evening is a beautiful ride.

Quality of Experience
Food
It was obvious food had been plated hours before, you could see a change in colour and skin on outside of cold food as if it had been exposed to the air for sometime. I had the veal as a main, which was cold.. cold to the touch even. I did not send back as our waiter never returned.
Local specialist: Josee Legrand
Josee
Josee Legrand
Local specialist in Lacenas | Replied on May 13, 2024

BonjourCarla!

I really appreciate you taking the time to send your feedback! It seems as though you made wonderful memories here in France!
It was a delight to organize your itinerary and I look forward to meeting you in the Beaujolais region on your next adventure! We will cheer to Canada Day in the middle of the vineyards! :-)
Merci encore for your feedback on the organization of your trip. Your comments are very important to us as they help to control, maintain, and improve the quality of our services and those of our local partners.

Best regards,
Josée

All the tour guides were VERY knowledgeable a...
France | Jan 16 - Jan 30, 2024

Derina
Derina P.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Feb 06, 2024
All the tour guides were VERY knowledgeable and super friendly.
We especially enjoyed the Nice part of our tour and Xavier as our guide.
Resihome in Nice was not as nice as we hoped.
Marriot was nice and the staff very friendly.
Train ride was ok. Difficult to navigate due to our large luggage and inexperience traveling on trains. Would prob prefer not to travel via train in the future.
Read more

All the tour guides were VERY knowledgeable and super friendly.
We especially enjoyed the Nice part of our tour and Xavier as our guide.
Resihome in Nice was not as nice as we hoped.
Marriot was nice and the staff very friendly.
Train ride was ok. Difficult to navigate due to our large luggage and inexperience traveling on trains. Would prob prefer not to travel via train in the future.

Hotel Reviews
Residence Inn by Marriott Paris Didot Montparnasse
Paris

Very friendly staff. Rooms clean and updated.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
We had a lot of questions in general and everyone very willing to help.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Large Updated TV’s room cleaned daily
Ibis Paris Roissy CDG 3*
Tremblay en France

Very bare bones type hotel. Shower was weird set up. Clean, restaurant and bar very nice option as we got in late and were flying out in the a.m. ok with staying here due to the fact that we really only needed a place to sleep. Would def not to want an extended stay here.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Great location by airport
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Not really comfortable but clean.
Residhome Nice Promenade
Nice

Hotel needs updating. Some cleanliness issues due to mostly age. Sun deck very worn and aged, Not really a nice feature.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Close to beach and street with lots of restaurants.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Please see comments in the review section.
Local specialist: Josee Legrand
Josee
Josee Legrand
Local specialist in Lacenas | Replied on Feb 13, 2024
Dear Derina, I would like to thank you for giving us your feedback on your trip to France! Your kind words and positive review are really appreciated. I appreciate your comments on both the highlights and the negative experience. I wanted to let you know that I did follow up on the issue of the hotel in Nice and the hotel assures us they will be renovating soon. I apologize for that inconvenience. I strive to provide the best experience for my travelers and your comments allow us to... Read more

Dear Derina,

I would like to thank you for giving us your feedback on your trip to France! Your kind words and positive review are really appreciated.

I appreciate your comments on both the highlights and the negative experience. I wanted to let you know that I did follow up on the issue of the hotel in Nice and the hotel assures us they will be renovating soon. I apologize for that inconvenience.

I strive to provide the best experience for my travelers and your comments allow us to improve.
So thank you for taking the time to share your feedback as they are very important to us. You help us to control, maintain, and improve the quality of our services and those of our local partners. I hope you will travel with us again.

Thanks again for your trust in Kim Kim and in our team !

Respectfully,
Josée

Our vacation in Paris, Versailles and Giverny
France | Sep 1 - Sep 6, 2023

Claudio
Claudio A.
Woodrow, NY | Reviewed on Sep 13, 2023
Our vacation in Paris, Versailles and Giverny was wonderful. So much history, so many beautiful sights, and everyone we met was friendly and polite.
Beginning with Thomas, who picked us up at the airport and gave us a mini-lesson in French language and culture, on the way to the hotel. He also gave us the first views of the Arc De Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower. We later visited both sites for some amazing views. We were lucky enough to also have Thomas as the driver to pick us up from...
Read more

Our vacation in Paris, Versailles and Giverny was wonderful. So much history, so many beautiful sights, and everyone we met was friendly and polite.
Beginning with Thomas, who picked us up at the airport and gave us a mini-lesson in French language and culture, on the way to the hotel. He also gave us the first views of the Arc De Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower. We later visited both sites for some amazing views. We were lucky enough to also have Thomas as the driver to pick us up from the hotel for our trip back to the airport.
The Hotel La Bourdonnais was elegant, clean, in a very nice and convenient location. The staff were very polite and attentive. The only problem we experienced was when the air conditioning system broke down on one or more floors, including ours, before our last night there. The staff provided us with a fan which made the room comfortable just the same.
Our private guides, Karim for Versailles, Robert for the Louvre and Alex for Giverny were extremely knowledgeable and also attentive to our needs.
The show at the Moulin Rouge was really entertaining and done in good taste.
Finally, the dinner cruise was unbelievable. The food was excellent, the service was very attentive, the live band was exciting and enthusiastic, and the views were unforgettable.
A big thank you to the staff at KimKim for being so helpful and flexible with our needs and preferences.
Hope to visit other parts of France in the future.
Regards,
Claudio

Hotel Review
Hotel La Bourdonnais - Tour Eiffel
Paris

The Hotel La Bourdonnais was elegant, clean, in a very nice and convenient location. The staff were very polite and attentive.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Lots of nice eateries nearby, but the best part was that it's only a 10 -15 minute walk to the Eiffel Tower.
Staff
The staff were very polite and attentive.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Half day guided tour of the Palace of Versailles with priority access in a small group (1 to 15 people)
Half day guided tour of the Palace of Versailles with priority access in a small group (1 to 15 people)
Paris

Karim, our private tour guide for Versailles was extremely knowledgeable and also attentive to our needs.

Quality of Experience
The gardens and the artwork in Versailles are amazing.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Karim, out private tour guide, was exceptionally knowledgeable of Versailles. His English vocabulary is extensive and his pronunciation is superb. Always point out good spots for photo taking and volunteering to take the photos.
Transport
Vehicle was clean and comfortable. Karim, the private tour guide, gave us quite a bit of info about French culture and language along the way.
Eiffel Tower Summit Ticket
Eiffel Tower Summit Ticket
Paris

The Eiffel Tower itself is pretty awesome, also when seen with a miniature of the Statue of Liberty in the foreground. The views from the top are spectacular.

Quality of Experience
Hop-on Hop-off Bus Paris
Hop-on Hop-off Bus Paris
Paris

The Hop-on Hop-off Buses offer a really good introduction to Paris. Stop or pass by many of the main sights in Paris. Buses run frequently which makes it a very good way to get around. The issue we had was that there was no clear end-time for the buses. Seems that each driver decides when his shift is ending and ends his route at whichever stop is next at that time. So, two drivers could stop working at different times, at different stops.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Murders and Mysteries of the Louvre
Murders and Mysteries of the Louvre
Paris

The Louvre museum is one of the foremost museums in the world. It is immense, with 9 miles of corridors. You could spend days, actually weeks, admiring the artwork. Robert, our guide, was a wealth of information. He guided us through several sections of the museum, all amazing. The only let-down was the crowd at the Mona Lisa. You almost have to elbow your way through, in order to get to the front. I wish the curators would take a cue from the curators of The Last Supper in Milan, where only a small number of visitors is allowed to see the painting for a set number of minutes, then they're ushered out and the next small number of visitors is allowed in. That avoid the crowds and everyone has a front row view of the masterpiece.

Quality of Experience
The Louvre museum is like a whole world of masterpieces.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Dinner show at the Moulin Rouge
Dinner show at the Moulin Rouge
Paris

The show at the Moulin Rouge was really entertaining and done in good taste. Several "circus" acts along with a lot of dance numbers with many glamorous dancers. The show was really entertaining and done in good taste.

Quality of Experience
Half-day tour to Giverny from Paris
Half-day tour to Giverny from Paris
Paris

Alex, our private guide, just like the other private guides, was extremely knowledgeable and also attentive to our needs.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Nighttime Seine River Cruise with Dining Experience
Nighttime Seine River Cruise with Dining Experience
Paris

Finally, the dinner cruise was unbelievable. The food was excellent, the service was very attentive, the live band was exciting and enthusiastic, and the views were unforgettable.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Josee Legrand
Josee
Josee Legrand
Local specialist in Lacenas | Replied on Sep 15, 2023

Bonjour Claudio!

What beautiful pictures! I relly appreciate you sending them! It seems as though you made wonderful memories here in France!
It was a delight to organize your itinerary and I hope you will come back to see us again. You still have the Beaujolais region to see :-) Merci for your feedback on the organization of your trip. Your comments are very important to us as they help to control, maintain, and improve the quality of our services and those of our local partners.
Thanks again for your trust in Kim Kim and in our team !

Josée

Perfect 5-day Tour in Marseille and Provence
France | Aug 31 - Sep 5, 2023

Gregory
Gregory C.
Italy | Reviewed on Sep 10, 2023
*Wonderful cruise in the Calanques - our skipper Kristoph was great, very friendly, skilled and informative
*Our cooking class with Gille in Marseille was fun and we learned a lot from him, getting fresh fish/produce to make Boullibaise, etc., working as a team with 4 other couples
*Our 2 days Provence excursions with Robin Soulier were wonderful..... the wineries we visited and the wines tasted were all unique. Robin took us to several Roman ruins and Medieval castles, towns and...
Read more

*Wonderful cruise in the Calanques - our skipper Kristoph was great, very friendly, skilled and informative
*Our cooking class with Gille in Marseille was fun and we learned a lot from him, getting fresh fish/produce to make Boullibaise, etc., working as a team with 4 other couples
*Our 2 days Provence excursions with Robin Soulier were wonderful..... the wineries we visited and the wines tasted were all unique. Robin took us to several Roman ruins and Medieval castles, towns and theater/coliseums. He is very friendly and we learned so much from him about Provence and France as a country. We would definitely recommend him for others in the future. He went out of his way to have us follow him to Avignon to find our hotel, which was in the inner, older part of town. We would have had difficulty finding it our own.
*The Luminaries of Vincent Van Gogh and other artists on the famous cave walls was a tru highlight of the trip for us.
*We enjoyed each of our hotels. They were all distinctively unique and the staffs in each were very welcoming and helpful!
** Our one suggested would have been to include directions in our Roadbook regarding finding the underground parking lot closest to our hotel in Avignon as we had no idea where it was located, that there would be no parking nearby and ended up parking in underground parking far way from the hotel, making in difficult with our luggage to navigate the busy
inner pedestrian walkway of old town.

Thank you Josee for making this a beautiful, unique and memorable trip that really exceeded our expectations!
We are very, very grateful!!!!!!!

Hotel Reviews
Hôtel Carré Vieux Port
Marseille

Parking nearby was difficult! Everything else was wonderful!!! GREAT Location!!!!

Hotel des Augustins
Aix en Provence

Other than walking 350 meters to parking, it was amazing to be in a 1500 yr. old monastery turned elegant hotel with the BEST French breakfast!

Le Mas des Tourterelles

Loved the feel of the old farmhouse turned hotel........ had some issues with the toilet and very small space, but wonderful breakfast in the a.m.!

Hotel de Cambis
Avignon

Pay parking is a ways away. Be prepared to walk with your luggage from the pay for parking lot. Hotel is on the busy main, old town pedestrian walk way. Lots of people watching from your balcony if it faces to the front. Front desk employees friendly and helpful. Breakfast was comparable to other Hotels in Provence.

Authenticity & Character
Older, reburbished building in the old town inside the original Avignon stone walls.
Location
Staff
Friendly and helpful with showing us the parking garage that would have been closer to the hotel.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Welcome to Marseille
Welcome to Marseille
France

An exciting, vibrant city. Hundreds of choices for wonderful places to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner, all within a 5 to 10 minute walk. Walking at night is an amazing experience, especially along Vieux Port. Great people-watching, people from all over the world living and touring in this city.

Quality of Experience
Cruise in the Calanques - Max 12 people on board
Cruise in the Calanques - Max 12 people on board
France

This was in the top 2 experiences in our trip throughout Marseille and Provence. These islands are uniquely beautiful. Going in a pontoon boat can be a little bumpy but you have the opportunity to get much closer to the unique land, beaches and especially, being able to go into the caves along the coastlines. Bleu Evasion was a great cruise company. The employees are efficient, safety oriented and our boat captain, Christoph (spelling?) was very experienced, knowledgeable, friendly and engaging.......... all the attributes you want for an beautiful excursion like this!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Felt very safe at all times.
Cooking class, Provencal lunch and local market tour in Aix-en-Provence
Cooking class, Provencal lunch and local market tour in Aix-en-Provence
Aix-en-Provence

Gille is a very talented chef who is able to share his knowledge of cooking with our group of 10 in a way that ALL of us learned SO much, from the experienced to the very inexperienced, like my husband. He came away so excited to try some of the techniques he learned from Gille. It was a great experience walking with Gille to look for the fresh fish at the Vieux Port and the fresh produce in a small square, a few blocks away and then walk to his mother's beautiful home to prepare our French meal. Wonderful experience~~~

Quality of Experience
Tour in the Alpilles, Les Baux de Provence and Saint Remy de Provence
Tour in the Alpilles, Les Baux de Provence and Saint Remy de Provence
France

One of our top 2 excursions in Marseille/Provence. Our driver, Robin, took us to a wonderful winery and then to Chateau des Baux-de-Provence where we saw the Luminaire exhibit in the caves of the Alpilles. Then lunch in the medieval town nearby, with a tour of the old castle after, with an amazing view of the beautiful vineyards and olive groves in the Baux Valley below....... a truly memorable day.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Robin was very knowledgeable, always on time to pick up and drop us off and stopped at the lookouts so we could take pictures.
Transport
Robin is a very safe and thoughtful driver.
Culture and Wine in Chateauneuf du Pape
Culture and Wine in Chateauneuf du Pape
France

It was a wonderful area to visit with a lot of Roman and Medieval history and 2 different UNESCO world heritage sites to visit and walk through. Robin shared a lot of the history he was familiar with and we took a tour of the large amphitheater which has been re - done yet keeping the original structure intact so that concerts/performances are still held there today. Our only downside of the day, and which couldn't have been helped, was the high temperature the day we visited this area. Due to the sites all being outside, we weren't able to truly appreciate all that we saw that day.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Robin, again, was on time, always thoughtful and shared a lot of extra information and answered questions while on our drive.
Local specialist: Josee Legrand
Josee
Josee Legrand
Local specialist in Lacenas | Replied on Sep 14, 2023
Bonjour ! Thank you so much for sharing your comments and your enthusiastic feedback on your trip to France! It was a delight to organize your itinerary and I hope you went back home with lots of great memories! Your comments are very important to us as they help to control, maintain, and improve the quality of our services and those of our local partners. Do not hesitate to reach out again for your trip next year! Id be happy to help organise another quality trip and would love to meet you... Read more

Bonjour !

Thank you so much for sharing your comments and your enthusiastic feedback on your trip to France! It was a delight to organize your itinerary and I hope you went back home with lots of great memories! Your comments are very important to us as they help to control, maintain, and improve the quality of our services and those of our local partners.

Do not hesitate to reach out again for your trip next year! Id be happy to help organise another quality trip and would love to meet you in person in our part of France ! (I am in the Beaujolais region)

Thanks again for your trust in Kim Kim and in our team !

Josée

Great trip planned by Josee!
France | Aug 10 - Aug 15, 2023

Theresa
Theresa R.
Woodside, NY | Reviewed on Aug 17, 2023
Great trip planned by Josee! Josee had been great since day 1, she made sure to address any issue simple or complicated. There was some medical & religious issue that she patiently took into consideration in planing this trip. All chauffers & guides used were professional & attentive. Special mention to lady Chauffer Naila, guide Philippe & Julienne. We enjoyed a slow paced relaxing vacation. We felt we’re well taken care of. Josee did a good job! Read more

Great trip planned by Josee! Josee had been great since day 1, she made sure to address any issue simple or complicated. There was some medical & religious issue that she patiently took into consideration in planing this trip. All chauffers & guides used were professional & attentive. Special mention to lady Chauffer Naila, guide Philippe & Julienne. We enjoyed a slow paced relaxing vacation. We felt we’re well taken care of. Josee did a good job!

Hotel Review
Hôtel La Comtesse 4*
Paris

Great location accessible to restaurants, grocery & transportation! Staff are attentive especially Emily!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Shout out to Emily, Jonalyn, William
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
2CV Private Tour Paris  Highlights
2CV Private Tour Paris Highlights
Paris

Worth doing it! Nicolas was a great guide & photographer!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Eiffel Tower Summit Ticket
Eiffel Tower Summit Ticket
Paris

The tower & view is great. Except that it’s too crowded but it’s August peak season of tourist.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Seine Cruise with Commentary
Seine Cruise with Commentary
Paris
Quality of Experience
The boat used was huge and filled to full capacity. There are cruise company on other docks of smaller boat less people capacity.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Tour ended 30 mins earlier then it rained. Supposed puck up was 7pm the transport is condiderate enough to allow an earlier pick up. Amazing Naila looked for us patiently since we ended up at different location to be picked up.
Transport
Murders and Mysteries of the Louvre
Murders and Mysteries of the Louvre
Paris

So much to see & learn from history. Guide is very knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
There should be at least 30 mind to 1hr allowance from the time the tour ends until pick up. The tour supposed to end at 4pm yet pick up time is also 4pm. The tour ended at 4:15 without seeing MonaLisa the room to see it us full of people almost impossible to get close to it & took longer time. After seeing it, you need longer time to exit not even enough time to eat/drink, go to bathroom, or took one last picture. If you have mobility issue the walk time is longer. To reschedule pick up time cost us extra money it could have bedn avoided if at the begining there’s an hour allowance for crowd, bathroom, walk time, or getting lost finding the exit.
Notre Dame and Sainte Chapelle
Notre Dame and Sainte Chapelle
Paris
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Saint Germain des Près Food Tour
Saint Germain des Près Food Tour
Paris
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Philippe is the best of all the guides! He dealt the challenge of most restaurants being closed in August with creativity & patience. He went above & beyond of taking us to different location from the itinerary do that we get to try different foods.
Transport
Naila us gracious & considerate to pick us up where the tour ended instead of the set pick up location.
Local specialist: Josee Legrand
Josee
Josee Legrand
Local specialist in Lacenas | Replied on Aug 18, 2023

Bonjour ladies!

Thank you so much for your kind words and for taking the time to share your feedback with us and with Kim Kim! It was a true pleasure to design your France trip! I am so happy that our guides, hoteliers and myself were able to make your trip a memorable experience! Your comments are very important to us as they help to control, maintain, and improve the quality of our services and those of our local partners.

Thanks again for your trust in Kim Kim and in our team !
Take care,
Josée

Best early 50th birthday trip! .
France | Aug 3 - Aug 11, 2023

A
Aimee D.
Minnetonka, MN | Reviewed on Aug 14, 2023
We had an absolutely amazing trip to France using KimKim! We started in Paris, then headed to Reims, followed by Annecy and Chamonix. All of our hotels were fantastic and all of our guides were outstanding. Josée was great to work with - we only had a few issues that were dealt with quickly and corrected. This is the second time we’ve used kimkim in the past 12 months and it’s been nothing but fabulous. Highly recommending using them - we certainly will in the future! Read more

We had an absolutely amazing trip to France using KimKim! We started in Paris, then headed to Reims, followed by Annecy and Chamonix. All of our hotels were fantastic and all of our guides were outstanding. Josée was great to work with - we only had a few issues that were dealt with quickly and corrected. This is the second time we’ve used kimkim in the past 12 months and it’s been nothing but fabulous. Highly recommending using them - we certainly will in the future!

Hotel Reviews
Hôtel du Rond-point des Champs-Élysées - Esprit de France
Paris

Great location, great breakfast included and the staff was great!!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Best Western Premier Hôtel de la Paix
Reims

Loved this hotel! Rooms were super nice, breakfast was great, room service and the bar were awesome. Staff was super friendly and you can’t beat the location!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Rivage Hôtel & Spa Annecy
Annecy

What an incredible property! We had a junior suite that was perfect for our family of four. It was huge! Everything about the hotel is top notch. The views and location cannot be best. The staff was super! We loved every second of our stay there!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Chalet Hotel le Prieuré
CHAMONIX MONT BLANC

THE VIEWS!! Absolutely stunning! The location is perfect. We had a suite that was perfect for our family of four. Everyone had their space. The two bathrooms/showers was awesome. Everything was super nice and newly renovated. The spa is a really nice touch.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Eiffel Tower Summit Ticket and Commented Seine cruise
Eiffel Tower Summit Ticket and Commented Seine cruise
Paris

Would have been awesome but it was pouring and cold so it was not a great experience.

Orsay Museum with audioguide  (tickets only)
Orsay Museum with audioguide (tickets only)
Paris

Loved loved loved this! My kids really enjoyed having the audio guides. It provided us with more appreciation for what we were looking at. And you controlled what pieces you wanted to lean more about. Super easy to use as well.

Quality of Experience
Montmartre & Sacré-Coeur Walking Tour
Montmartre & Sacré-Coeur Walking Tour
Paris

It was great - we learned so much about the area that we otherwise would not have ever discovered. It’s a really great excursion. Mathias was great!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Mathias was super knowledgeable and friendly!
Saint-Germain-des-Prés Pastry and Chocolate Tour
Saint-Germain-des-Prés Pastry and Chocolate Tour
Paris

This was a super fun experience! It was great to get to sample all of the fun foods! My kids loved it!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Luis was great!
Famous Champagne Houses & Sightseeing in Reims- Private group
Famous Champagne Houses & Sightseeing in Reims- Private group
Reims

This tour exceeded our expectations by a lot! Wow - we learned so very much about Teims from an historic context. We visited several amazing churches as well. Rafa knows a lot and was just great to spend the day with!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private cruise & Cheese Fondue on Annecy Lake
Private cruise & Cheese Fondue on Annecy Lake
Annecy

Wow was this amazing! The weather was perfect, the food was fantastic and Roy was super sweet! He even took my son over so he could jump off a ledge into the water. He had blankets to keep us warm as the sun was setting. It was great!!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Confusing as to where we were supposed to meet him.
Aiguille du Midi, balcony hiking and Mer de Glace
Aiguille du Midi, balcony hiking and Mer de Glace
France

EPIC I’m every way! LOVED LOVED LOVES this so much. The weather was perfect, the views were to die for and the getting to experience the hike and see the stuff that we did was like nothing we’d ever done. Alban was the NICEST guy - he was just awesome!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Roadbook & Support Service
Roadbook & Support Service
France

Not super helpful to only receive this a week or two before trip. Should be provided sooner.

Quality of Experience
Local specialist: Josee Legrand
Josee
Josee Legrand
Local specialist in Lacenas | Replied on Aug 18, 2023

Bonjour Aimee and family!
Thank you so much for sharing your comments and your enthusiastic feedback on your family trip to France! It was a delight to organize your itinerary and I hope you went back home with lots of great memories!
Your comments are very important to us as they help to control, maintain, and improve the quality of our services and those of our local partners.
Thanks again for your trust in Kim Kim and in our team !
Josée

Mark was great on the first 2 days of private...
France | Jun 23 - Jul 1, 2023

N
Nicholas Y.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Jul 06, 2023

Mark was great on the first 2 days of private tour.

The first driver on pick up was late but our flight was also late so maybe not his fault. Also not too personable but also maybe not his fault due to flight being late so maybe he's in hurry.

The cooking class was great.

Also the train stop and transfer was a bit tight for novice train riders like us. 10 minute window was stressful but we made it.

Rest of transfers and tours were great. Everything very smooth.

Local specialist: Josee Legrand
Josee
Josee Legrand
Local specialist in Lacenas | Replied on Jul 12, 2023

Bonjour Nicholas!
Thank you for sending us your feedback! It was a real pleasure to organize this trip for your family and Im glad you made wonderful memories in our country! Do not hesitate to contact us again if you would like to come back to France!
I wish you all the best.
Sincerely,
Josée

Exceptional!
France | Jun 18 - Jun 30, 2023

Carla
Carla W.
Canada | Reviewed on Jul 04, 2023
This was the first time I used a company such as KimKim to help plan our holiday. - it will not be our last!! I had a family member use another agency for a trip to France (same region I travelled to) who suggested I look into it - I contacted her recommended agency and after a few correspondence and Zoom calls - I felt more confused and unheard.
I reached out to KimKim just so see what the experience was like... I was connected with Josee, who after a couple of correspondence, sent me...
Read more

This was the first time I used a company such as KimKim to help plan our holiday. - it will not be our last!! I had a family member use another agency for a trip to France (same region I travelled to) who suggested I look into it - I contacted her recommended agency and after a few correspondence and Zoom calls - I felt more confused and unheard.
I reached out to KimKim just so see what the experience was like... I was connected with Josee, who after a couple of correspondence, sent me suggestions and recommendations tailored exactly to what I shared with her.
Josee arrived private car service between hotels and train stations - this is a must! Her hotel suggestions were fantastic.
Highlights were our Segway tour in Nice, such a fun way to explore.
In Avignon, we lucked out with no one else on our tour for the morning - Josee had us with the company, A La Francaise Provence, the Highlights of Provence: Les Baux & Chateuxneuf du Pape tours. - the best day. In the quarry - Carrieres des Lumieres - unforgettable!!
Hotel in Avignon.. Hotel de l'Europe - unbelievable! gorgeous!
In Paris, at Josee's recommendation we had a guided wine and cheese tasting workshop - at La Ferme du Faubourg - on our own, we would never have booked this - it was one of the best things we have done!!!
While in France... I already started plotting my return trip next year with the help of Josee and KimKim.
A service highlight of KimKim was - initially I had shared a budget that I wanted to fall into - along the way.. my wishes got more and more grand.. and Josee always insured that we stayed within... delicately she kept on budget!

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Villa Victoria
Nice

Very good location - courtyard is beautiful. Lovely to have breakfast in! Sadly the room was a little bit of a let down. Granted, size wise for Europe it was a good size! Bathroom was also very sizable. But the room itself was not comfortable. The location is very good - close to Old Town, train station and the waterfront! All walkable within 10 mins.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hôtel d’Europe
Avignon

Loved everything about this hotel. It was gorgeous. Room was inviting, comfortable and sizable! Our room had a small balcony overlooking the courtyard.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
La Maison Favart
Paris

After figuring out the Metro - this hotel is perfectly situated. Close enough to access everything by a short Metro ride. Room was small - smaller than expected for Paris. But beautifully decorated and fully of character. The small Wellness Centre in the basement is a gem!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Tour of Nice on a Segway!
Tour of Nice on a Segway!
Nice
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Monaco, Eze and La Turbie Tour Private Tour
Monaco, Eze and La Turbie Tour Private Tour
France

This was not our favorite - we changed the private tour to be Eze and Menton - this was prearranged with KimKim and the travel company. When we were driving to Eze the driver was talking about a perfume tour that EVERYBODY loves... so he dropped us off there - with many other large coach buses. He said he would wait for us and then we would go to Eze. We decided not to do the tour and when to carry on to find the driver. We looked for over 20 mins for him. When we located him - we started on our trek to Eze. With the tour we had tickets for the gardens at the top. - so our tour guide walked us directly up there - it was a step trek.... we walked around the gardens (while he waited for us) we then walked straight down. - we did not see Eze.. it was a mission to the top then to the bottom. When we arrived in Menton - the driver parked close to the old town area and said we had 10-12 mins... once my husband and I headed into the old town - we decided that we wanted to stay - and had the driver leave us there. We spent the afternoon strolling around and took the train home.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Nighttime Seine River Cruise with Dining Experience
Nighttime Seine River Cruise with Dining Experience
Paris

This exceeded our expectations - it was a fabulous way to end our holiday. The food was delicious, wine even better... service was superb!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
A full day Tour in the Alpilles : Les Baux & Châteauneuf du Pape
A full day Tour in the Alpilles : Les Baux & Châteauneuf du Pape
France

My favorite day of the trip!!! Loved everything about it! Les Baux and Carrieres des Lumieres - unforgettable! In the afternoon we had the wine tour of Chateauneuf du Pape - we visited two wineries, both delicious wines.. but educational. The second winery was were we had a little wine class.. learnt so much!!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
We had the same guide in the morning and afternoon - he was very very kind. Knowledgeable, attentive - excellent.
Transport
Local specialist: Josee Legrand
Josee
Josee Legrand
Local specialist in Lacenas | Replied on Jul 05, 2023
Bonjour Carla!
Thank you so much for sharing your comments and your enthusiastic feedback on your trip to France! It was a delight to organize your itinerary and I hope you went back home with lots of great memories! Your comments are very important to us as they help to control, maintain, and improve the quality of our services and those of our local partners.
Do not hesitate to reach out again for your trip next year! Id be happy to help organise another quality trip and would love to...
Read more

Bonjour Carla!
Thank you so much for sharing your comments and your enthusiastic feedback on your trip to France! It was a delight to organize your itinerary and I hope you went back home with lots of great memories! Your comments are very important to us as they help to control, maintain, and improve the quality of our services and those of our local partners.
Do not hesitate to reach out again for your trip next year! Id be happy to help organise another quality trip and would love to meet you in person in our part of France ! (I am in the Beaujolais region)
Thanks again for your trust in Kim Kim and in our team !
Josée

A dream-come-true heritage trip to France with my dad
France | Apr 22 - Apr 30, 2023

Megan
Megan S.
Amherst, MA | Reviewed on May 02, 2023
On Christmas Day 2019, I told my then-82-year-old father that I was going to take him to France in 2020 to visit the places our ancestors lived in the 17th century before immigrating to La Nouvelle France (present-day Quebec and Nova Scotia). Dad is the family historian and an accomplished genealogist, so this was my effort to make a dream come true for him, though it turned out to be a tremendous gift for myself. The pandemic delayed our plans, but our trip to France in April 2023 ended up... Read more

On Christmas Day 2019, I told my then-82-year-old father that I was going to take him to France in 2020 to visit the places our ancestors lived in the 17th century before immigrating to La Nouvelle France (present-day Quebec and Nova Scotia). Dad is the family historian and an accomplished genealogist, so this was my effort to make a dream come true for him, though it turned out to be a tremendous gift for myself. The pandemic delayed our plans, but our trip to France in April 2023 ended up being both worth the wait and worth every penny/euro spent. The return on our investment was remarkable, with quality accommodations, expert guides, wonderful assistance from our private driver, and some delicious meals included. Truly, this trip was among the very best experiences of my life, and I will be forever grateful for it.

We started to plan by highlighting the locales we most wished to visit, and then Josee, our local specialist, recommended excursions, secured expert guides, and made arrangements for accommodations. At every step she was professional, helpful, and encouraging. My father is in good health, but he has some stamina/mobility issues, so I wanted to establish some safeguards to ensure his comfort and access to all we wished to see. Josee could not have been more helpful! Not only did she help me prioritize places to visit, she also made sure that we had private guides, a driver with a wheelchair in his van for my dad to use as needed, and an emergency number to call in case of any glitches. We only had to use the emergency number once when plans for one night's accommodations fell through; in a matter of minutes, Josee helped us secure an alternate place to stay, at no extra charge to us.

It's hard to express how meaningful this trip was for my father and me. Our time in Paris was nothing short of magical, with a lovely stay at Les Villas des Artistes, in walking distance to wonderful restaurants, bookshops, Les Jardins de Luxembourg, and more. A luncheon river cruise on the Seine was the perfect way for Dad to see the sights of the city, and we enjoyed a marvelous tour of Sainte Chapelle with an expert guide, who also walked us over to see Notre Dame from the outside, and the Parisian Flower Market. An excursion to Monet's gardens in Giverny with another guide, Paul, was absolutely wonderful. He was a font of knowledge about Monet's life and art, and he also was able to tell us a lot about the surrounding areas and their history as we drove between Paris and Giverny.

Our driver, Christophe, who would stay with us for 6 of our 9 days in France once we left Paris, picked us up and brought us to Chartres for the next leg of our journey. He was courteous, attentive, professional, and helpful. Chartres is a lovely, walkable town, with the Chemin de Memoire offering great opportunities for exploration and reflection. Our guide for a tour of the Chartres Cathedral and the surrounding medieval town, Claire, was incredibly kind and knowledgeable, and the sights we saw were breathtaking.

We ended up staying in a small town in Perche, L'Aigle, for the next stop, in a community near to the village where the first ancestor of our family name came from, Tourouvre. We enjoyed exploring L'Aigle (look for the beautiful "Remarkable Trees of France," and the small Eglise Saint Martin), but the highlight was when our driver took us to Tourourve, where we went to the church where our ancestor was baptized and saw his name on a plaque. The church is called L'Eglise Saint-Aubin, and it includes stained glass windows commemorating the immigration of many people from Perche to Quebec in the 17th century. It is a must-see for Franco-American and Quebecois visitors with roots in the area. A nearby museum, Les Museales de Tourouvre, has a permanent exhibition devoted to these immigrants, and we stumbled upon it in a stroke of good luck. The person at the admissions desk even gave us a printout of the materials they had in their digital archive about our ancestor. I should add that our driver wasn't expecting this side trip, and he was very understanding and patient during what turned out to be the most personally meaningful day of our trip.

We next spent two nights in Bayeux in order to tour sites associated with D-Day: Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery, Pointe de Hoc, and a drive by the British Cemetery. Our guide, Stephane, was brilliant, and I only wish we'd had more time to spend with him! He even followed up with additional photos and resources for us to peruse at our leisure. On our own, we also managed to squeeze a visit to the Bayeux Tapestry museum to see the famed 11th-century tapestries commissioned by William the Conqueror to document and celebrate his conquest of England. This was an unexpected addition to our itinerary, and we felt so fortunate to be able to see it. Our stay in Bayeux at L'Hotel Lion D'Or was spectacular, and the Bayeux Cathedral was another special stop.

Finally, we went to Liseux to celebrate the centenary of the beatification of St. Therese de Liseux, an important figure in our Franco American family's Catholic faith tradition. It was sheer luck that our visit coincided with this celebration, though when I said so to our wonderful guide, Ria, she said that it was, "providence." In any case, it was an event never to be forgotten, and the tours of the visitor's center and the basilica were moving and informative. The Mass itself, led by the Cardinal, and attended by over 1,000 people, including many members of the clergy, was beautiful.

I will recommend KimKim to anyone planning a trip abraod, and especially to those travelling with or as elderly people who next a little extra tlc. I know that I will turn to KimKim again in the future, and I am so very grateful for this trip.

Megan St. Marie
President, Modern Memoirs, Inc.
www.modernmemoirs.com

Hotel Reviews
Hôtel A la Villa des Artistes
Paris

A lovely boutique hotel, with excellent continental breakfast. The surrounding neighborhood includes terrific restaurants (La Closerie des Lilas, Le Dome Montparnasse, creperies near la rue Montparnasse) and not-to-be-missed bookstores, Tschann Librarie and Tschann Jeunesse, and the Jardin des Grands-Explorateurs and Les Jardins du Luxembourg are less than a 1/2 mile away on foot.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hôtel Mercure Chartres Centre Cathédrale
Chartres

We were very happy with this hotel. It was comfortable, and there were restaurants within walking distance. We also had time to explore the surrounding area and visit the Chemin de Memoire.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Au Petit Paradis
Sainte-Gauburge-Sainte-Colombe

We had a mix-up with our reservation, but the innkeeper was understanding and recommended another hotel nearby. This place would be great for people with their own car who want to stay in the countryside.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Le Cosy Bayeux
Bayeux
Hotel Le Lion d'Or et restaurant la Table du Lion
Bayeux

A fancy and special hotel with beautiful rooms but no elevator. Such a great way to cap our trip.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Kyriad Lisieux
Lisieux

This was our least favorite among all the hotels due to its location and lack of things to do in the area.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Back to Medieval Paris with Notre Dame, St Chapelle & Conciergerie
Back to Medieval Paris with Notre Dame, St Chapelle & Conciergerie
Paris

Our guide was knowledgeable, and we enjoyed the tour of St Chapelle. Unfortunately, the Conciergerie was closed early, but the company said they would credit our account. We also visited Notre Dame but couldn't tour it.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Lunch cruise on the Seine (Premier Service included)
Lunch cruise on the Seine (Premier Service included)
Paris

The lunch cruise was fabulous, with delicious food and great views of the city. It was an excellent way for my dad to see parts of the city without having to walk too much.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Half-day tour to Giverny from Paris
Half-day tour to Giverny from Paris
Paris

Our guide, Paul, was knowledgeable and friendly. Monet's gardens were spectacular, and we had a fantastic time.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private tour of Chartres (2-hours)
Private tour of Chartres (2-hours)
Chartres

Our guide, Claire, was wonderful and knowledgeable. The tour of the medieval part of the town and the Chartres Cathedral was breathtaking and moving.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
D-Day U.S beaches tour
D-Day U.S beaches tour
France

We had a guide named Stefan, who had spent 40 years studying the history of the battles of Normandy. The tour started with a visit to the British cemetery, followed by a trip to Omaha Beach, the American Cemetery, and the visitor center. We also visited Pointe du Hoc.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Private tour of Lisieux (2-hours)
Private tour of Lisieux (2-hours)
France

The private tour of Lisieux was a serendipitous experience. The tour guide, Maria, was a devout Catholic with extensive knowledge of the saint's life and the memorial site

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Josee Legrand
Josee
Josee Legrand
Local specialist in Lacenas | Replied on May 12, 2023

Bonjour Megan!

Thank you so much for your kind words and for taking the time to share your feedback with us and with Kim Kim! It was a true pleasure to design your France trip on the Road to your ancestors! I am touched by your compliments and am so happy that our guides, hoteliers and myself were able to make your trip a memorable experience! Your comments are very important to us as they help to control, maintain, and improve the quality of our services and those of our local partners.

Thanks again for your trust in Kim Kim and in our team !
Take care,
Josée

Josee took great care of us!
France | Mar 18 - Mar 25, 2023

Kathryne
Kathryne M.
Junction City, KS | Reviewed on Apr 07, 2023
We had wonderful, caring, knowledgable guides. Josee did a wonderful job in planning our perfect trip. It was amazing. Read more

We had wonderful, caring, knowledgable guides. Josee did a wonderful job in planning our perfect trip. It was amazing.

Hotel Reviews
Villa Madame
Paris

My sister & I love to walk and this was located so that we could walk almost everywhere. We could enjoy the flavor of Paris, the city of light!

Authenticity & Character
Quiet room, uniquely Parisan - modern but homey
Location
Very central to lots of attractions
Staff
Great breakfast service & food
Cleanliness & Comfort
Le Churchill 3*
Bayeux

The place is fun and a good location to places to see. One drawback - no elevator & some trouble accessing internet connection while we were there.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Nice buffet breakfast
Pullman Paris Roissy Cdg Airport
Roissy-en-France

Good location to airport and had a business center with computers that worked

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Eiffel Tower Summit Ticket
Eiffel Tower Summit Ticket
Paris
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
When we lost a package we had purchased they tried to help us.
Murders and Mysteries of the Louvre
Murders and Mysteries of the Louvre
Paris

We could take our time to see things we wanted to see. The Lourve couls use some easier, more user friendly signage. The lockers were great!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Lunch cruise on the Seine (Premier Service included)
Lunch cruise on the Seine (Premier Service included)
Paris

It was pricy, but worth it. The food was gormet, which was not really what we are used to, but interesting.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Half day guided tour of Versailles with private transfers
Half day guided tour of Versailles with private transfers
Paris

Our guide was super! It was an unbelievable place.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Mont-Saint-Michel day Tour
Mont-Saint-Michel day Tour
France

Our guide was great and we had nice people in our small group. The van was comfortable for travel. Pack a lunch and get there early.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Tour of Omaha and Utah Beaches & Normandy Landings Sites
Full Day Tour of Omaha and Utah Beaches & Normandy Landings Sites
Bayeux

The guide was very good. He had heart wrenching and miraculous stories of events most of us had never heard before. The museums were very well done & interactive.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Josee Legrand
Josee
Josee Legrand
Local specialist in Lacenas | Replied on Apr 11, 2023

Bonjour ladies!
Thank you so much for sharing your pictures and your feedback on the hotels and places you've experienced during your trip to beautiful France! Your comments are very important to us as they help to control, maintain, and improve the quality of our services and those of our local partners.
It was pleasure to organize your outings and to secure centrally located and fabulous accommodations. You sure had alot of adventures (gotta love the trains!!) I hope you went back home with lots of great memories!
Thanks again for your trust in Kim Kim and in our team !
Josée