Planning a trip should be exciting, not stressful! I love helping travelers discover Spain and Portugal through curated itineraries that blend iconic highlights, like La Sagrada FamΓlia in Barcelona, with authentic local experiences, such as sharing dinner at a family-run farm in the Algarve. Every trip I design is tailored to your travel style, with trusted local partners, thoughtful logistics, and recommendations that help you travel confidently every step of the way.
Whether you're celebrating a milestone, traveling with family, or finally taking the trip you've dreamed about for years, I'll help you create an itinerary that reflects your interests while helping you connect with Spain, Portugal, or both in a way that's meaningful to you. πͺπΈ π΅πΉ
How did you get involved in travel?
"My love of travel started when I was born and raised in Hong Kong, a foreign country to my family and me. Growing up in a different culture profoundly shaped how I see the world and sparked an interest in our shared interconnectedness. As a naturally curious, outgoing, and open-minded individual, I gravitate toward travel experiences that allow me to deepen cross-cultural connections with others. I have had opportunities to live and travel in Central and South America, Southeast Asia, Europe, and parts of Africa. Traveling to other places is more than seeing the highlights. I want to immerse myself in the cultures and traditions of the countries I visit."
Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.
"A travel experience I'll never forget was meeting my high school pen pal from Seville in person during one of Spainβs most iconic celebrations, Semana Santa, or Holy Week, during Easter. Having the opportunity to connect with someone from another country and experience her culture and traditions firsthand was genuinely life-changing. From dressing up in traditional Semana Santa attire to having late-night dinners with her family, I knew then that I was hooked on Spanish culture, its deep-rooted traditions, incredible cuisine, and, of course, the warmth of its people!"
Julia's favorite itineraries and travel advice
Top itineraries and travel advice
Family itineraries
Road trip itineraries
Recent trip reviews for Julia
Our trip to Portugal was fantastic!
Portugal
|
Oct 15 - Oct 29, 2026
Patricia N.
Denver, CO
| Reviewed on Nov 09, 2026
Our trip to Portugal was fantastic! Julia and Summer did a great job setting everything up and communicating throughout the process. Everything flowed smoothly, and we had the nicest people as tour guides and drivers. I have already highly recommended Kimkimβs to a few people, and will continue to do so. Thank you all for a wonderful experience.
Local specialist: Julia Reed
trip to Portugal
Portugal
|
Oct 20 - Nov 2, 2026
Mary Lynn O.
Chicago, IL
| Reviewed on Nov 05, 2026
Julia and her colleagues were very helpful in ensuring we had a good trip / they listened to our ideas , adjusted plans accordingly. The tour partners they used were all professional and knowledgeable.
I appreciated the check ins both prior to, and while we were traveling .
Highly recommend Julia and Kim Kim
Local specialist: Julia Reed
Julia Reed
Local specialist in kimkim HQ
| Replied on Nov 08, 2026
Thank you so much for such a lovely review, Mary Lynn! It means a lot to hear that you felt supported throughout the process and that everything came together so well during your travels. I appreciate your kind words about my colleagues and our local partners. I'll be sure to share your feedback with the team! Wishing you both many more wonderful adventures ahead! π
Working with kimkim and our Julia travel spec...
Portugal
|
Oct 21 - Oct 31, 2026
Emily D.
Columbus, OH
| Reviewed on Nov 04, 2026
Working with kimkim and our Julia travel specialist was great! She was extremely knowledgeable, kind, and helpful. We had planned exploring southern Spain/Portugal, and Madeira into 11 days. The first travel agent group we reached out to tried to inform us we had planned to do too much and should focus on only one location which was a bit disheartening. They would not even entertain an itinerary for us. When we reached out to Julia, explained we were young, loved adventure, were okay with...
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Working with kimkim and our Julia travel specialist was great! She was extremely knowledgeable, kind, and helpful. We had planned exploring southern Spain/Portugal, and Madeira into 11 days. The first travel agent group we reached out to tried to inform us we had planned to do too much and should focus on only one location which was a bit disheartening. They would not even entertain an itinerary for us. When we reached out to Julia, explained we were young, loved adventure, were okay with living out of a suitcase, willing to drive a rental car, and wanting to see as much as possible she was so encouraging! She gave great recommendations on where to spend our time in terms of what to see at each location and took care of booking our flights and rental cars. Summer the operations specialist was also great! Both Julia and Summer were quick to respond to any questions we had through the Kim Kim app, we felt very well taken care of through the planning process and during the trip as well. We also used KimKim for a previous trip to Iceland which went great. We plan to do more traveling over the next few years and will definitely be looking at using KimKim again in the future!
Local specialist: Julia Reed
Julia Reed
Local specialist in kimkim HQ
| Replied on Nov 05, 2026
Thank you so much for your kind words and thoughtful review, Emily! π
Iβm so glad to hear that you and Jake had such a fantastic time on your road trip adventure! I remember when we first chatted, and you described the type of travelers you are, and Iβm so happy we were able to create an itinerary that felt like the right fit for you both. It was such a pleasure working with you and Jake, and my team and I are so happy that you felt well taken care of throughout the planning process and...
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Thank you so much for your kind words and thoughtful review, Emily! π
Iβm so glad to hear that you and Jake had such a fantastic time on your road trip adventure! I remember when we first chatted, and you described the type of travelers you are, and Iβm so happy we were able to create an itinerary that felt like the right fit for you both. It was such a pleasure working with you and Jake, and my team and I are so happy that you felt well taken care of throughout the planning process and during your trip.
We canβt wait to see where your next adventures take you, and I hope we get to help plan another one in the future! π
Julia
Highest Praise for a Wonderful Trip
Spain
|
Oct 8 - Oct 21, 2026
Lucy R.
Boston, MA
| Reviewed on Oct 28, 2026
This was one of the best trips weβve ever taken. Julia, Summer, and the Kimkim group tailored our experiences to our needs. We moved at our pace, and never felt overwhelmed or rushed. Most of our tours were private; and, were with very knowledgeable and experienced guides. Our transfers were all premium, and first class. All our tours were personal, informative, and high end! Kimkim went above and beyond more than once, when there were unexpected events. We communicated easily by...
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This was one of the best trips weβve ever taken. Julia, Summer, and the Kimkim group tailored our experiences to our needs. We moved at our pace, and never felt overwhelmed or rushed. Most of our tours were private; and, were with very knowledgeable and experienced guides. Our transfers were all premium, and first class. All our tours were personal, informative, and high end! Kimkim went above and beyond more than once, when there were unexpected events. We communicated easily by WhatsApp, text, and phone. Kimkim responded quickly to all questions, and accommodated us expertly. We will recommend them to anyone; and, look forward to travel with them again soon.
Hotel Reviews
Hotel Villa Emilia
Barcelona
Centrally located. High end
Great location. Cozy boutique feel.
Room Mate Macarena
Madrid
Fantastic location, great breakfast, nice rooftop bar and pool.
Las Casas de la JuderΓa
Seville
Our favorite hotel of all. Great atmosphere. Historic. Beautiful nooks and mysterious tunnels!
Hotel Casa Morisca
Granada
Not our favorite. Great location. Dated rooms that werenβt the cleanest. No shampoo or conditioner. Threadbare towels.
Activity Reviews
Private Alhambra & Generalife Gardens with a Historian
Granada
Good enough! Due to a tour company mistake, our tour was rushed and cut short.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Tapas & Flamenco Experience in Seville
Seville
Maria la Serrana, our private guide, is a legend in Flamenco circles! She travelled the world dancing Flamenco! We were super lucky to have her as a guide.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Best guide ever for this experience!
Private Gothic Quarter Walk
Barcelona
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Expert guide. Super nice
Park GΓΌell & La Sagrada FamΓlia Experience
Barcelona
I would suggest a smaller group
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Paella Cooking Class with Mercat Central Visit
Valencia
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Private City Highlights Walk
Madrid
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Short Prado Museum Visit with Skip-the-Line Ticket
Madrid
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Private Visit to Seville's Cathedral & AlcΓ‘zar
Seville
After a little mishap in the time of the tour, had a great experience.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Ronda & White Villages Day Trip
Seville
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Evening Tour of the AlbaicΓn in Granada
Granada
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Marcel was our favorite
Self-Guided Local Markets Trip
Barcelona
Private Valencia Old Town Walk
Valencia
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Self-Guided Retiro Park Walk
Madrid
Perfect location for a self-guided tour
Self-Guided Visit of Madrid's Renowned Museums
Madrid
Local specialist: Julia Reed
Julia Reed
Local specialist in kimkim HQ
| Replied on Oct 29, 2026
Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful review, Lucy and Michael! I loved seeing all of the pictures you shared, it really looks like the two of you had an amazing time in Spain! We're so glad you enjoyed your guides, tours, and transfers, and I truly appreciate your kind words about our team's support in navigating a few unexpected hiccups along the way. π
Your feedback means so much to us, and we can't wait to work with you again to help plan your next dream trip!
All the best,
Julia π«Ά
We were very happy everything that Kimkim org...
Spain
|
Oct 11 - Oct 20, 2026
Kim C.
Jacksonville, FL
| Reviewed on Oct 26, 2026
We were very happy everything that Kimkim organized for us. The group tours, hotels and transfers went perfectly. The Kimkim app listed all daily activities in detail. We never felt rushed or over scheduled. All drivers arrived early, and communicated with us through whats app. The guided walking tours were a great way to see the cities we visited.
Local specialist: Julia Reed
Julia Reed
Local specialist in kimkim HQ
| Replied on Oct 26, 2026
Thank you so much for your kind review, Kim and George! I'm so glad to hear you were happy with everything we planned and that the tours, hotels, and transfers all went smoothly! It's great to hear that the app and communication helped make everything easy and that you had time to enjoy each destination without feeling rushed.
Hopefully George has more business trips in the future that give you both another fun excuse to travel! π If you ever want help planning another getaway, please don't hesitate to reach out! Have a wonderful rest of your week! π
All our guides were great.all very knowledgea...
Spain
|
Oct 5 - Oct 12, 2026
Anthony M.
Port Richmond, NY
| Reviewed on Oct 15, 2026
All our guides were great.all very knowledgeable friendly and outgoing
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All our guides were great.all very knowledgeable friendly and outgoing
Hotel Reviews
Beautiful boutique hotel located in great area.loved the rooftop.nicely decorated room comfortable bed .items in mini bar were complimentary.staff were friendly and helpful
Location
Walk to everything
Staff
Helpful recommended great places to eat
Cleanliness & Comfort
Bathroom bedroom immaculate
Hotel NH Collection Granada Victoria
Granada
Loved the shower great location.could hear the church bells
Location
Central location near restaurants and bars
Cleanliness & Comfort
There is a bit of street noise as there is a night club across the street open until six AM
Activity Reviews
Private Visit to Seville's Cathedral & AlcΓ‘zar
Seville
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Private History & Culture Walk
Seville
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Julia Reed
Julia Reed
Local specialist in kimkim HQ
| Replied on Oct 22, 2026
I'm so glad to hear that, and thank you so much for your feedback. Itβs wonderful to know you both loved your guides throughout the trip! π
Thanks again, and we can't wait to see where you both go next!
All the best,
Julia
We had a great time in Barcelona and Madrid! ...
Spain
|
Sep 30 - Oct 6, 2026
Patti Z.
Seattle, WA
| Reviewed on Oct 13, 2026
We had a great time in Barcelona and Madrid! Great tapas tours in both cities! The hotels were located in convenient places and were great. The only snafu was we lost contact with a driver. Turned out it was my fault because didnβt have internet, but when I called Kimkim they were very helpful. ( please note that whatβs app does indeed require internet to get messages!)
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We had a great time in Barcelona and Madrid! Great tapas tours in both cities! The hotels were located in convenient places and were great. The only snafu was we lost contact with a driver. Turned out it was my fault because didnβt have internet, but when I called Kimkim they were very helpful. ( please note that whatβs app does indeed require internet to get messages!)
Hotel Reviews
Very helpful staff. A wonderful buffet breakfast.
Location
It was close enough to walk to most of the places we went!
Hotel Principe Pio
Madrid
Activity Reviews
Short Prado Museum Visit with Skip-the-Line Ticket
Madrid
The short visit was perfect for us
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Private Extended Visit to Sagrada FamΓlia
Barcelona
Gothic Quarter Tapas Walk
Barcelona
Sailing Trip with Winery Visit & Tasting
Barcelona
It poured down rain while we were sailing so it wasnβt βperfectβ , but it couldnβt be helped.
The winery visit was underwhelming. We thought the person who spoke with us about the wine was aloof and didnβt engage well With the group . Kind of felt pushed out at the end because they had a large group coming in. The tour company was open and under standing about the wet sailing experience.
Evening Tapas, Taverns & History Walk
Madrid
Private City Walk & Royal Palace Experience
Madrid
Local specialist: Julia Reed
Julia Reed
Local specialist in kimkim HQ
| Replied on Oct 13, 2026
Hi Patti,
Thank you so much for your thoughtful review! I really appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback. I'm so glad you and Dan enjoyed your time in Barcelona and Madrid, from the hotels to the foodie tours in each city! I'm also happy to hear my Operations Team was able to help when you needed them. π
It was a pleasure planning your trip with you, and I hope you and Dan had a wonderful time in Morocco as well!
All the best,
Julia
Unforgettable Spain
Spain
|
Sep 24 - Oct 6, 2026
Susie K.
San Jose, CA
| Reviewed on Oct 13, 2026
From the very first interaction, the people at KimKim were extremely helpful. Julia spent a lot of time with me - helping me plan the trip I wanted to take. She listened to my interests and then crafted an incredible trip for us. Choices of hotels, information on what to do in each city, tours, self-guided walks etc. With KimKim the trip felt seamless; there were people to fetch us and return us to the airports or train stations. The hotels were great, centrally located and the people who...
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From the very first interaction, the people at KimKim were extremely helpful. Julia spent a lot of time with me - helping me plan the trip I wanted to take. She listened to my interests and then crafted an incredible trip for us. Choices of hotels, information on what to do in each city, tours, self-guided walks etc. With KimKim the trip felt seamless; there were people to fetch us and return us to the airports or train stations. The hotels were great, centrally located and the people who worked at them were also extremely helpful. We had several private tours which were beyond our expectations: Carlos at the Prado in Madrid (who by the way suggested places to visit or eat in the other cities as well.) Took us through the museum showing us the highlights but also gleaning our interests and making sure we some of those as well. Then a different Carlos led us through the Alhambra β incredibly knowledgeable about the history, art and architecture of the incredible building and its surrounding, Finally, Ann-Marie our guide through the Sagrada -also so knowledgeable bringing that structure to life for us. (she was even able to talk the ticket people to let us in as we were late due to the torrential downpours. But most impressive of all was how incredibly responsive everyone at KimKim was to our needs. If I texted with a question β I got an answer within minutes. Thank you KimKim for helping us have the trip of a lifetime. You will definitely be hearing from us again.
Hotel Reviews
Hotel Hospes Puerta de AlcalΓ‘
Madrid
Nice big room. Good location
Γurea Catedral Hotel
Granada
Las Casas de la JuderΓa
Seville
Fun hotel. Good luck finding your room but that became part of the challenge each night
H10 Madison Hotel
Barcelona
Activity Reviews
Private Alhambra & Generalife Gardens with a Historian
Granada
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Self-Guided Walk in AlbaicΓn District
Granada
Self-Guided Visit of Madrid's Renowned Museums
Madrid
Prado was amazing Really enjoyed the Reina Sofia on our own. Retriro Park also had a guest artist whose work was very interestng
Private Extended Visit to Sagrada FamΓlia
Barcelona
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Private Prado Museum Visit with an Art Historian
Madrid
The guide was fabulous. Really glad to have had him to help us through this immense museum
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Summer Magic Nights at Casa BatllΓ³
Barcelona
Local specialist: Julia Reed
Julia Reed
Local specialist in kimkim HQ
| Replied on Nov 01, 2026
Thank you so much for your kind words, Susie! I just read your review, and my cheeks hurt from smiling! I truly appreciate you taking the time to share such thoughtful feedback. I'm so glad to hear how much you and Brandt enjoyed your guides in each city. We'll absolutely pass along your kind words to them!
Itβs been such a pleasure working with you both, and Iβm so glad you both enjoyed your time in Spain so much. Weβd love to help you plan your next adventure whenever you're ready! π
All the best,
Julia
Perfect two days in Madrid
Spain
|
Aug 6 - Aug 8, 2026
Megan H.
Ashburn, VA
| Reviewed on Aug 09, 2026
Julia planned an amazing two days in Madrid for us. Everything was great starting on day one with our airport pick up, followed by a self- guided and self-paced walking tour of La Latina , and ending the day with the super fun Tapas and Tavernas history food tour with Daniel from Devour Tours. On day two we were so fortunate to have the amazing Maria guide us at both The Prado Museum and the Royal Palace . She really made the art come alive for us. It was an amazing experience. We learned so...
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Julia planned an amazing two days in Madrid for us. Everything was great starting on day one with our airport pick up, followed by a self- guided and self-paced walking tour of La Latina , and ending the day with the super fun Tapas and Tavernas history food tour with Daniel from Devour Tours. On day two we were so fortunate to have the amazing Maria guide us at both The Prado Museum and the Royal Palace . She really made the art come alive for us. It was an amazing experience. We learned so much and really were able to make the most of our visit. We also had plenty of time for needed siestas and a long visit with friends. We loved staying at the Pestana Collection Plaza Mayor β a cool hotel with a perfect central location. We will definitely return to Madrid!
Hotel Review
Pestana Collection Plaza Mayor
Madrid
Great central location. We were a 20-minute walk or less from everywhere we wanted to go. The staff was wonderful. The room was cool. Delicious breakfast. A lovely calm oasis in the city.
Authenticity & Character
Near rooms, lovely decor, great staff, nice breakfast
Location
Central to everywhere we wanted to visit. Very walkable
Staff
Couldnβt be nicer or more helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
Daily run cleaning and turn down service with a chocolate treat included!
Activity Reviews
Short Prado Museum Visit with Skip-the-Line Ticket
Madrid
The guided tour was amazing. Maria knew so much and we experienced the art in ways I never have. I would do this again!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Self-Guided El Centro Walk
Madrid
This was a great activity for our first day. It got us into diverse neighborhoods of the city, with special stops alongtheu way. We loved Churreria Santa Ana. We enjoyed popping into Ramirez and also found it worthwhile to lok around in Parroquia de San Millan y San Cayetano. We enjoyed all of the amazing street art, particularly in La Latina. And the Real Basilica de San Francisco el Grande was a highlight. We made it as far as the really cool Viaducto de Segovia, but at that point headed back to our hotel for a rest.
Quality of Experience
Self-paced exploration with guidance.
Royal Palace Visit
Madrid
We were thrilled to find we had the same amazing guide, Maria, from our Prado tour. She is so knowledgeable and personable. It made for a delightful tour. The palace is beautiful and fascinating to tour. I am d=so glad we did this.
Quality of Experience
The palace is opulent and enormous. Definitely happy to have had an interpretive guide.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Maria is the best!
Evening Tapas, Taverns & History Walk
Madrid
Wow! What a fantastic experience. Daniel was so fun and informative and entertaining. I learned a lot, ate wonderful food, and throughly enjoyed every minute of this experience.
Quality of Experience
The walking, the food, the stories, the company. It was a terrific evening!
Food
Loved the cod, the cheese, the vermouth, the Spanish omelet, the shishito peppers....
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Daniel was a 5-star guide!
Local specialist: Julia Reed
Julia Reed
Local specialist in kimkim HQ
| Replied on Sep 02, 2026
Hi Megan and Andy,
Thank you so much for your kind words and feedback! Iβm so happy to hear how much you enjoyed Madrid and especially that you had such a great experience with our guides, Daniel and Maria. Madrid is such a cool city, and Iβm glad you were able to explore it for a few days while still having time for a siesta and seeing friends! π
Safe travels through Extremadura and Portugal! It was such a pleasure meeting you and working with you. Your feedback means a lot to my team and...
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Hi Megan and Andy,
Thank you so much for your kind words and feedback! Iβm so happy to hear how much you enjoyed Madrid and especially that you had such a great experience with our guides, Daniel and Maria. Madrid is such a cool city, and Iβm glad you were able to explore it for a few days while still having time for a siesta and seeing friends! π
Safe travels through Extremadura and Portugal! It was such a pleasure meeting you and working with you. Your feedback means a lot to my team and me, and thank you again for trusting me to help plan the first few days of your amazing Spain-Portugal trip! π
All the best,
Julia
Excellent Trip!
Spain
|
Jul 9 - Jul 15, 2026
Michael Z.
Chicago, IL
| Reviewed on Jul 24, 2026
Our trip to Barcelona and Madrid was wonderful. The itinerary was perfect for what we were looking for. The hotels and transport were great, and we were in perfect locations for everything we wanted to do. Our tour guides and excursions were all wonderful.
Local specialist: Julia Reed
Julia Reed
Local specialist in kimkim HQ
| Replied on Aug 10, 2026
Welcome home, Michael!
I hope you and Abby's adventure in Spain was an absolute blast! πͺπΈπ I just wanted to take a moment to thank you again for trusting our team at kimkim to help plan your trip to Barcelona and Madrid. It was such a pleasure meeting you and working with you throughout the planning process!
Thank you so much for your kind review of your trip. I'm so happy to hear how much you enjoyed the activities and your accommodations, and that all your transportation went smoothly!
I...
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Welcome home, Michael!
I hope you and Abby's adventure in Spain was an absolute blast! πͺπΈπ I just wanted to take a moment to thank you again for trusting our team at kimkim to help plan your trip to Barcelona and Madrid. It was such a pleasure meeting you and working with you throughout the planning process!
Thank you so much for your kind review of your trip. I'm so happy to hear how much you enjoyed the activities and your accommodations, and that all your transportation went smoothly!
I hope you returned home with amazing memories and are already dreaming about your next international adventure together. We'd love to help you plan it whenever the time comes! π
Best,
Julia