Justine Edelin

We had an incredible trip to Paris and London! Justine provided an itinerary that gave us the perfect balance of privately guided tours, cultural experiences, and downtime to explore on our own. Our boutique hotels were located in beautiful areas that were walking distance to sightseeing, restaurants, and shopping. The drivers for our private transfers were professional and courteous. I would highly recommend KimKim and Justine in particular for any travel planning! I will go into detail below, providing names of individuals that deserve recognition and highlighting the wonderful experiences we had.

Day One: We checked into Hotel Parc Saint Severin! Ludovic welcomed us with champagne, ensured our comfort throughout our stay, and provided exceptional service. He helped us learn how to navigate the city and provided many recommendations for restaurants and sightseeing in the area. If we return to Paris, I will stay here again! Our first booked activity was a 2CV private car tour to explore Paris. I highly recommend this car tour as an introduction to Paris - we were able to see all of the Parisian highlights. It gave us a feel for where everything was located, gave us ideas for our free time and showed us areas we wanted to explore. The driver was knowledgeable and informative about the city. He was engaged in the history of this beautiful city and shared his excitement with us!

Day Two: We enjoyed a wine and cheese tasting in a Parisian cellar at Musee Vivant du fromage. This activity took us into a quaint Parisian neighborhood we would not have otherwise explored. We were able to taste a selection of French cheeses and wine and learn about the geographical regions of France.

Day Three: We began with a privately guided tour at the Louvre. This was the best way to explore the museum! Our guide Pat was booked through Toorers. She was fluent in English and loved the history of the museum. She was able to take us to unique parts of the Louvre - her ability to navigate the museum and show us the highlights, all while engaging us in the history of France, was incredible. We followed the Louvre with a walking tour of Montmartre guided by Mathias, also booked through Toorers. We are glad Justine encouraged us to explore this part of France as we might not have otherwise experienced this area. Mathias was very well informed and tied history to engaging stories as we walked this beautiful area and learned more about the country of France. Our tour ended at Moulin Rouge! What a fun experience and a great way to wrap up our day! A must see for anyone visiting Paris!! Justine booked us at the best table - we had front row seats to the show. The acrobatics and entertainment are unmatched! Our experience was wonderful - she reserved champagne with the meal and the service was exceptional.

Day Four: We had a macaron cooking class at La Cuisine de Paris - it was such a fun and cultural experience to make a favorite Parisian treat from scratch! We were sent home with plenty of macarons to enjoy for the rest of our trip. We then had free time to explore the city followed by our night time Seine River Cruise with dining. We arrived early to get daytime pictures near the Eiffel Tower before making our way to the river. This was a top favorite experience! We were able to see all of the historical buildings and museums from the river, while enjoying champagne, dinner, and live music. The food was delicious, service excellent, and Justine again booked us with a window table with the very best views! The cruise ended with us watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle at night!

Day Five: Gigi, our tour guide picked us up at our hotel for the drive to Giverny. He was an incredible conversationalist and the car time flew by as we talked about the country and history of France on our drive. He stopped at a quaint bakery on our drive for coffee and croissants - we loved the cafe so much that he stopped for us again on our drive back so we could have freshly baked bread and sandwiches for lunch. Monet's gardens were breathtaking. Gigi knew so much about the life of Monet that he made history come alive for us on the tour. We were in awe of the beauty and preservation of Monet's inspiration. Following this tour we drove to Versailles, still with Gigi. He did an excellent job navigating the grounds, bypassing the lines, and giving us historical stories and information about the beauty of Versailles and the surrounding gardens. We wrapped up the day by watching the sunset from the top of the Eiffel Tower. Paris is a beautiful city. We had such a wonderful time and would love to return.

Day Six: Transfer day! Again, our drivers were professional and timely. They helped with our luggage and took us right to where we needed to check in for our first class seats on the Eurostar. Justine took care of every detail for us. We checked into Montague On The Gardens for our stay in London. It is a beautiful hotel, a great location, and very attentive and helpful staff. Justine ensured that all of the stay included breakfast - which consisted of fresh bakery, eggs, a selection of cheeses, and fruit.

Day Seven: We enjoyed free time exploring London before our afternoon tea at the Shard! The Shard is the tallest building in London offering beautiful views of the city. The tea includes unlimited sampling of the best teas England has to offer along with a delicious array of tea sandwiches, finger foods, and delectable desserts.

Day Eight: One of our favorite days! We felt very fortunate to have David Mildon as our blue badge guide for the day. He met us at our hotel and we embarked on a day-long adventure exploring the best of London. He was engaging, knowledgeable, entertaining, and flexible in his desire to give us the best possible experience. We took the Underground to Buckingham Palace, but due to a garden party we were not able to get close or see the changing of the guard. David quickly pivoted, took us to see King Charles' home and while walking with us through the park realized that if we detoured we would be able to watch the Trouping of the Color rehearsal for King Charles' birthday. It was one of the neatest experiences on our trip and so unexpected. We then toured Westminster Abbey and learned so much! From there we took a sightseeing river cruise on the Thames, and disembarked at the Tower of London. David knew how to best use our time so that we did not wait in line at all to see the Crown Jewels. He was delightful to spend the day with and unbelievably well informed! We ended our day with a sunset visit on the London Eye! What a neat experience and the best way to take in the beauty of London.

Day Nine: We met our blue badge guide, Alexandre Davy, early in the morning for our drive to Windsor Castle. I would highly recommend a privately guided tour of Windsor Castle and St. George's Chapel following the Best of London walking tour. This tied all of the history of England and the monarchy together. The stories Alexandre told and the historical knowledge he provided perfectly complemented what we had learned the prior day from David. We ended the day feeling like we had truly learned about London and had such a renewed appreciation for the history of the monarchy.

Our final day ended in the very best way! We saw The Devil Wears Prada in the West End. It was the best musical I have ever seen - we absolutely loved it!! The cast was perfect, the music incredible, and the performance as a whole was highly entertaining. Justine again got front row tickets for us, so we had an unobstructed view.

We had the best trip of our lives and are so grateful for everything Justine/KimKim did to put it together for us. You thought of every detail: we had the best guides, the best seats, and simply the best experience. Thank you.

Hotel Reviews

Hôtel Parc Saint Séverin

Paris

I highly recommend this pristine boutique hotel! It is located in a beautiful area that is walking distance to sightseeing, restaurants, and shopping. Ludovic welcomed us with champagne, ensured our comfort throughout our stay, and provided exceptional service. He helped us learn how to navigate the city and provided many recommendations for restaurants and sightseeing in the area. Although, I mention Ludovic specifically because his service was truly outstanding, all of the front desk staff were kind and helpful. If we return to Paris, I will stay here again! The hotel was clean and well cared for. The daily breakfast included fresh bakery, fruit, a selection of yogurts and cheeses, eggs, and sausage/bacon. The chef and staff were polite and the service was excellent. Our rooms were clean. The hotel was very safe and the staff attentive to everyone who entered.

Authenticity & Character

It is a beautifully authentic Parisian boutique hotel.

Location

Walking distance to historical attractions, such as Notre Dame, shopping, restaurants, and markets. Also walking distance to public transportation.

Staff

The staff was kind and helpful, service was excellent. They gave every client who walked through the door a personalized greeting and ensured their happiness and comfort.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The hotel was clean and comfortable.

The Montague On The Gardens

London

The hotel was located in a great area. It was walking distance to shopping, restaurants, public transportation, parks, and in a beautiful neighborhood. The staff was kind and helpful, the service excellent. The concierge was able to help navigate public transportation and provide recommendations. We enjoyed the Leopard Bar many evenings and found the staff to be delightful! The head bartender took pride in a wide selection of craft cocktails that were uniquely delicious!

Authenticity & Character

Each room was unique. They offered many seating areas, had a beautiful breakfast room overlooking the gardens, a leopard bar with a few different separate seating areas, and a fun outdoor tiki bar/beach area!

Location

Beautiful neighborhood, safe and walking distance to dining, shopping, public transportation, and tourist destinations.

Staff

Everyone was kind and helpful and ensured our needs were not only met but exceeded expectations.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

2CV Private Tour Paris Highlights

Paris

Our first activity was a 2CV private car tour to explore Paris. I highly recommend this car tour as an introduction to Paris - we were able to see all of the Parisian highlights. It gave us a feel for where everything was located, gave us ideas for our free time and showed us areas we wanted to explore. The driver was knowledgeable and informative about the city. He was engaged in the history of this beautiful city and shared his excitement with us!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cheese and wine tasting in a Parisian cellar in the Marais

Paris

We enjoyed a wine and cheese tasting in a Parisian cellar at Musee Vivant du fromage. This activity took us into a quaint Parisian neighborhood we would not have otherwise explored. We were able to taste a selection of French cheeses and wine and learn about the geographical regions of France.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Louvre Museum Private Tour

Paris

We had a privately guided tour at the Louvre. This was the best way to explore the museum! Our guide Pat was booked through Toorers. She was fluent in English and loved the history of the museum. She was able to take us to unique parts of the Louvre - her ability to navigate the museum and show us the highlights, all while engaging us in the history of France, was incredible.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dinner show at the Moulin Rouge

Paris

What a fun experience and a great way to wrap up our day! A must see for anyone visiting Paris!! Justine booked us at the best table - we had front row seats to the show. The acrobatics and entertainment are unmatched! Our experience was wonderful - she reserved champagne with the meal and the service was exceptional.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nighttime Seine River Cruise with Dining Experience

Paris

We arrived early to get daytime pictures near the Eiffel Tower before making our way to the river. This was a top favorite experience! We were able to see all of the historical buildings and museums from the river, while enjoying champagne, dinner, and live music. The food was delicious, service excellent, and Justine again booked us with a window table with the very best views! The cruise ended with us watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle at night!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Paris Macaron Baking Class

Paris

We had a macaron cooking class at La Cuisine de Paris - it was such a fun and cultural experience to make a favorite Parian treat from scratch! We were sent home with plenty of macarons to enjoy for the rest of our trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Giverny and Versailles from Paris

France

Gigi, our tour guide picked us up at our hotel for the drive to Giverny. He was an incredible conversationalist and the car time flew by as we talked about the country and history of France on our drive. He stopped at a quaint bakery on our drive for coffee and croissants - we loved the cafe so much that he stopped for us again on our drive back so we could have freshly baked bread and sandwiches for lunch. Monet's gardens were breathtaking. Gigi knew so much about the life of Monet that he made history come alive for us on the tour. We were in awe of the beauty and preservation of Monet's inspiration. Following this tour we drove to Versailles, still with Gigi. He did an excellent job navigating the grounds, bypassing the lines, and giving us historical stories and information about the beauty of Versailles and the surrounding gardens.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Best of London Walking tour

London

One of our favorite days! We felt very fortunate to have David Mildon as our blue badge guide for the day. He met us at our hotel and we embarked on a day-long adventure exploring the best of London. He was engaging, knowledgeable, entertaining, and flexible in his desire to give us the best possible experience. We took the Underground to Buckingham Palace, but due to a garden party we were not able to get close or see the changing of the guard. David quickly pivoted, took us to see King Charles home and while walking with us through the park realized that if we detoured we would be able to watch the Trouping of the Color rehearsal for King Charles' birthday. It was one of the neatest experiences on our trip and so unexpected. We then toured Westminster Abbey and learned so much! From there we took a sightseeing river cruise on the Thames, and disembarked at the Tower of London. David knew how to best use our time so that we did not wait in line at all to see the Crown Jewels. He was delightful to spend the day with and unbelievably well informed!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Excursion to Windsor Castle

London

We met our blue badge guide, Alexandre Davy, early in the morning for our drive to Windsor Castle. I would highly recommend a privately guided tour of Windsor Castle and St George's Chapel following the best of London walking tour. This tied all of the history of England and the monarchy together. The stories Alexandre told and the historical knowledge he provided perfectly complemented what we had learned the prior day from David. We ended the day feeling like we had truly learned about London and had such a renewed appreciation for the history of the monarchy.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Montmartre & Sacré-Coeur walking tour

Paris

We followed the Louvre with a walking tour of Montmartre guided by Mathias, also booked through Toorers. We are glad Justine encouraged us to explore this part of France as we might not have otherwise experienced this area. Mathias was very well informed and tied history to engaging stories as we walked this beautiful area and learned more about the country of France.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Justine Edelin did a splendid job of arranging our visit to our compete satisfaction. She found destinations that we were unaware of that were perfect for us. She responded promptly to my concerns during the trip. Justine provided us with a trip that was much better than I could have arranged by myself. Splendid job !

Hotel Reviews

Hôtel Parc Saint Séverin

Paris

A sweet small hotel in the Latin Quarter. Close to the Isle de La Cité and to Shakespeare and Company.

Authenticity & Character

Location

in the Latin Quarter. Close to the Isle de La Cité and to Shakespeare and Company.

Staff

welcoming and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Montaigne

Sarlat-la-Caneda

Very noce hotel on tnę edge of the old quarter of Sarlat. Spacious comfortable room. Parking can be a problem. A free parking lot is 20 minutes walk up the hill.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mercure Figeac Viguier du Roy

46100

A very modern interior concealed within a very old building on a narrow street in the heart of Figeac. Free parking is several blocks up hill. Spacious comfortable room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Best Western Plus Hotel Divona Cahors

Cahors

Modern hotel right on the River Lot. The balcony was perfect for drying the clothes we had washed in the sink. Free parking on site. A walking trail along then river is just below the hotel grounds. Very good breakfast buffet.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Sarlat Market & Dordogne Culinary Tour : A Taste of Local Flavors

France

Our ,local guide was informative and helpful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Paleolithic art in the Dordogne and truffle farm

Sarlat

Lascaux IV and the Museum in Les Eyzies are not to be missed. The guides were very good.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Informative and a safe driver.

Transport

Excursion to Rocamadour and Padirac chasm

France

Or driver / guide was very informative and a safe driver.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided tour of Figeac

Figeac

Our guide knows everything about local history. She pointed out the fascinating museum of J-F Champollion, who used the Rosetta Sone to learn to read Egyptian hieroglyphics for the first time.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff