Katie Acheson-Gray

We loved the entire country of Norway. It was a pleasure to have secured our hotels, train tickets, ferry tickets and two events (a dinner cruise and a kayaking expedition) . Kimkim provided excellent service and went out of their way to help me retrieve a wind jacket that I inadvertently left on a train; they were able to get it to the train station in my subsequent city. Amazing. They were very responsive to any questions we had and resolved everything quickly.

We loved the three cities: Oslo, Balestrand and Bergen. The train(s) and ferry ride to Balestrand were simply amazing scenery including going through some pretty deep snow (on the train). We truly fell in love with the peacefulness in Balestrand and hated to leave it. We even enjoyed a sauna and plunge into the fjord.

Bergen: I would not recommend the dinner cruise we took from Bergen; the boat ride through the fjord was beautiful, but the meal seemed interminable (4+ hours) and I felt the food was a letdown. The kayak trip was not through fjords but was no less beautiful; the guides made it fun and educational.

Hotel Reviews

Balestrand Hotel

Balestrand

This hotel was cozy and inviting. The walk to a nearby hotel for breakfast was no problem and the breakfast buffet was extensive. The view from our rooms was breathtaking as we could watch the moon rise over the snowcapped mountains and shining into the fjord all the while sitting comfortably on our balcony.

Authenticity & Character

It was not pretentious.

Location

It was easy to walk everywhere. It was high enough to have a magnificent view of the fjord.

Staff

They were all extremely friendly and sincere. None of them were Norwegian but all loved Norway and had great enthusiasm (and great English) for the area.

Cleanliness & Comfort

There is a lot of art work to admire on the walls, It is not super luxurious but we had not requested luxury. We would stay there again.

Grand Hotel Terminus

Bergen

3 stars from its website. Recently renovated. Amazing breakfast buffet and very helpful front desk staff. No AC but we didn't need it once we opened windows. Location is excellent.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Thon Hotel Opera

Oslo

Great location for walking everywhere. Our stay overlapped constitution day and it was a great place to be. Very convenient to the train station.

Authenticity & Character

Add more "Norway"

Location

Proximity to train station and many other sites

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Thon Hotel Cecil

Oslo

Good location to the waterfront and Opera House, plus the Eye of Oslo and restaurants.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided kayak tour

Bergen

The guides made this a wonderful experience. The day was beautiful and everyone on the trip enjoyed paddling around the islands.

Quality of Experience

Food

We were SO hungry when we got back! Everything tasted wonderful!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fjord Cruise & Seafood Dining Experience

Bergen

We had no trouble locating the starting off place and enjoyed the cruise part very much. Personally, I would not recommend this experience because the meal seemed interminable. The food was interesting and was freshly prepared for each course, but it took 4 hours as we waited a long time between courses. It wasn't made clear that the welcome sparkling wine was not included. Selecting the wine flight that accompanied each course was an extra 100 USD just for 4 glasses of wine.

Quality of Experience

Food

Timing. Better explanation of each course.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Katie was excellent in recommending where to go - we enjoyed the locations and the hotel picks and would recommend working with her.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Aurlandsfjord

Aurland

Excellent room and food and the staff were so attentive with our baby. Would love to return.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grand Hotel Terminus

Bergen

Activity Review

Nærøyfjord Cruise & Viking Valley Tour

Norway

Quality of Experience

Transport

Kimkim enabled a memorable and family vacation to Oslo, Balestrand, and Bergen!

Hotel Reviews

Thon Hotel Cecil

Oslo

Excellent breakfast, very well located, expansive room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Balestrand Hotel

Balestrand

Absolutely charming and authentic hotel, just a short walk from the 'center' of the town. Beautiful views from the fjord side of the hotel. Quirky and helpful staff who were warm and friendly, made us feel at home.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Well positioned near the center of the town and also to hiking trail heads.

Staff

We loved the staff! They were so warm and friendly, very thoughtful and kind.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grand Hotel Terminus

Bergen

Older hotel which was comfortable and well positioned near the train station.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Some staff was wonderful (front desk especially), others were quite rushed/hurried in their service approach (restaurant/bar, morning meal, etc.) - a bit impersonal.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean and expansive rooms, just might need to be updated.

Thon Hotel Opera

Oslo

Lovely hotel with nice and expansive rooms. Some street noise with proximity to train station and busy streets.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Front desk staff were excellent - very helpful. Bar staff could learn a lot regarding customer service, especially for a hotel of this caliber. The bar staff appeared busy, didn't bring what was ordered, and made excuses.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided kayak tour

Bergen

Highly recommended! Excellent guides, and it was the appropriate amount of time for being on the water.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fjord Cruise & Seafood Dining Experience

Bergen

Incredible experience, would highly recommend for lovers of fine dining!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We have traveled all over the world using various travel companies, and this was by far one of the best! Katie was wonderful in helping us plan a trip that fit our needs and continued to “be at our side” during the trip as well., She was professional, accessible and passionate about getting everything perfect- from the itinerary, to the hotels and even fabulous restaurant suggestions. All our connections from air to sea to rail went off without a glitch. I would not hesitate to use Kim Kim again to book our next trip!

I was daunted by the idea of planning my first international trip to Norway with our 4 year old and 5-month old sons, so we reached out to KimKim for help. I am SO glad I did! Katie planned the perfect trip that balanced the needs of our kids with our wishlist of things to see. Everything was seamless on the trip and I'm so glad I didn't have to spend my energy managing logistics and could enjoy our time as a family instead. When our hotel forgot to deliver a crib, Katie had it resolved right away while we unpacked. I would absolutely work with KimKim again!

Thank you to Katie and KimKim for a great unstressful trip to Norway. The private transfer vehicles were always on time. All the drivers/guides were very pleasant and knowledgeable. I think the fjord cruise and the farm tour were my favorite experiences. I loved the apartment in Aurland! I could have stayed longer. I wish I had booked a sauna experience. Next trip!

Thanks to Katie, we had such an amazing trip that we will remember forever. My mom always wanted to see Norway, her father’s home, and Katie made it possible. She created a plan that accommodated our different ages, needs and desires for the trip. We had a busy season prior to the trip and I would not have had the time or knowledge to plan this myself. Communication was great and the process was collaborative, in that we were asked about our preference every step of the way. We received a detailed plan, including ready-to-print/save tickets, itineraries, and essential information. Everything went smoothly and we really enjoyed all of the activities planned as well as the selected accommodations. It was also nice knowing that there was a local contact person in case something went wrong. We are grateful to Katie and KimKim for such an unforgettable experience.

Katie and all who had a hand in our adventure....

Karen, Chris and I thoroughly enjoyed our two-week odyssey from one end of Norway to the other. While I was not involved in the planning of the trip, I commend you for the selections of hotels and travel arrangements throughout. Well-situated for our purposes, clean... and the laundry facilities in Bergen a real plus! I personally appreciate your extra effort to add this 3rd traveler in an efficient and economically viable program. The detailed itinerary you prepared was VERY essential to the smooth transitions from one locale to the next (and for accessing travel tickets AND local bus/museum pass in Oslo!); we referred to it daily. The suggested restaurants were spot on for those we tried - as much for a taste of the local culture as for a wide range of food options. The couple who welcomed us on Senia, John and Stiig were all as personally engaging as they were knowledgeable about their cities... and also honest about recommendations about how to use our remaining time in Bergen and Oslo, respectively. Plus.... we got a real feel for each city with the walking we did.... a joy! The extras.... a short snowshoe test, the aurora cabin experience, a floating sauna with dip into a fjord, and the open-air fjord tour in Senia (replete with a short hailstorm) allowed us to experience the real environment of Norway, replete with sea eagle sitings while hunting and nesting. Grateful for the dry suits provided for this expedition.... fun! Finally, my gratitude for the pre-trip conference call to review and finalize details of the trip shortly before departure. The nuances of your scheduling after we hung up were icing on the cake. And it was credit card ONLY throughout the trip.... (with exception of tips to the guides) just as you said. Many, many thanks for excellent service throughout.

A couple of personal observations and a question:
1. It would be helpful if all the information re each step of the itinerary (hotel, tour guides, schedule (arrival/departure) and transportation logistics, city background info, suggested sites to visit) info could be summarized chronologically for easier referral. We got lost in looking for info in a city as pieces appeared in different sections of the itinerary.
2. In Senia... it would have been helpful to know about the dry suits in advance. We dressed in layers for the anticipated cold .... and it took time to remove all the clothes to suit up as others waited for us to finish. Might also avoid packing unnecessary clothing.
3. A single guest is often assigned a room no bigger than a closet.... with a bed to match the dimensions. Almost like sleeping in a coffin. I encourage you to do all you can to ensure that this does not happen to one of your clients. It was miserable in Oslo in particular.

And my question:
I was felled by a virus upon our arrival in Senia. I missed the Northern Lights tour (and never had a chance to see them again as I was still sick as we moved to the second location in Senia). Is it possible I could receive a reimbursement for this activity due to my illness? Such a disappointment to miss this AND to lose my day of outside exploration before traveling to Bergen.

Hotel Review

Grand Hotel Terminus

Bergen

The hotel is very well located for easy movement around Bergen, especially of traveling by train. The hotel was clean, the staff friendly and accommodating, and the availability of coffee and tea in the reception area a welcome gift after hours of touring. A special kudos to the hotel for making laundry facilities available - at no cost to guests - on a 24/7 basis. Customer-friendly doesn't get better! The restaurant facilities are very nice and the ability to use this space outside of formal service hours was a plus..... especially due to the small size of the single guest room (a little bigger than a coffin). My only complaint is that while people around us received a generous glass of wine when ordered, we received a MUCH smaller quantity in the same size glass. NOT an optical illusion. I reported this at the reception desk as we departed... it was noticeable and questionable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

As a single guest, I was assigned to a very, very small room. Almost a coffin. Very uncofortable.

Activity Review

Arctic Boat Safari in Senja

Senja

I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to experience Norway up close through this time on the open water. The provision of the dry suits was unexpected and MUCH appreciated.... made this tip entirely do-able. The boat's captain was an experienced sailor and kept a watchful eye at all times for any opportunity to see wildlife in air or in the water. The only "needs improving" for this event would be more guidance regarding what we are seeing or stories about the area as we are passing through it for the entire group. The tour manager spoke to smaller groups at times, but there was no real tour information provided at any time during the excursion.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

As noted, the boat's captain kept a watchful eye out for any opportunity to see wildlife throughout the cruise. He made the difference.

Transport

I appreciated the opportunity to be able to remain outside throughout the excursion, even when water was choppy or weather uncooperative.

This is the best planned trip I have ever been on. Katie’s help was beyond expectations! The itinerary was seamless and easy to follow! Senja was my favorite place on the trip. It is the most beautiful place on earth. The fjord trip from Flan was another favorite. The guided city tours were exceptional giving a good overview and local content about history and the people. I love Norway and what it stands for: protection of the environment , free education and healthcare, low crime, emphasis on healthy living, recycling, electric transportation, care for its people. It was a spectacular vacation and I was sad to leave. The glaciated peaks and arctic air and water will be forever in my mind. Thank you so much for a beautiful trip! And Katie you were wonderful! I have never experienced the kind and thoughtful connection you provided on any tour I have taken. You are one of a kind. I would definitely book with you again.

Hotel Reviews

Norwegian Wild

Vangsvik

Authenticity & Character

Location location location

Location

This hotel is across the street from a national park. The views from the cabins are breath taking across the fjord.

Staff

They went the extra mile.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Thon Hotel Opera

Oslo

Easy access to train to the airport. There was a fire alarm at 2 am that had us leave the hotel and stand in the cold for about 1/2 hour .

Location

I liked the location. It was easy to use the buses and train

Staff

The staff was excellent. They helped me locate my iPad at the airport . A lady was on the phone quite awhile to ID my iPad . I took the express train in picked up my iPad and came back in an hour.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mefjord Brygge

Mefjordvær, Senjahopen

We had a house so we each had our own bedroom. That was nice for Chris because I snore. It was comfortable, local and not fancy.

Authenticity & Character

Location

The snow capped mountains and fjords were breathtaking

Staff

Everyone was helpful and guides were entertaining. However, they were not up on the geology of the area.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Not much really. It was an authentic local wood house.

Grand Hotel Terminus

Bergen

Nice hotel centrally located. The down comforters are too hot.

Staff

Staff was helpful and answered all of out questions

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean

Flåmsbrygga Hotel

Flåm

Room was right next to breakfast area. Very convenient.

Location

Staff

Didn’t use the staff much. Just to check in

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Northern Lights Safari

Senja

It’s hit or miss to see the northern lights but our guide made them available to see

Quality of Experience

Good informative guide

Discover Senja

Senja

It was a blustery day with high winds. We did see a lot but it was very cloudy and overcast. The tour guides did a fair job considering the conditions.

Arctic Boat Safari in Senja

Senja

Best part was watching the sea eagles and seagulls dive for fish. We got a really good show. Pictures were hard to get.

Bergen Walking Tour With a Local Guide

Bergen

The guide was well informed and gave us lots of history. The only improvement would be to not talk while walking . It was hard for me to hear everything. If the guide stopped and faced us while talking it would have been alot better.

Free day in Senja

Senja

Went for a walk in the national park. There was fresh powder and it was beautiful. We didn’t need snow shoes so that was nice.

Mostraumen Fjord Cruise from Bergen

Bergen

Lots of waterfalls!

Fjordcruise on UNESCO Nærøyfjord

Norway

This fjord was very special . I think all people visiting Norway should experience it. Pictures don’t do it justice.

Quality of Experience

Felt like I was in a National Geographic video! The beauty was overwhelming!

Transport

The ferry was perfect! Comfortable and easy to view surroundings!

Explore Oslo's Hidden Gems with a Local Expert

Oslo

Guide was good. Probably walked 10 miles that day. I loved walking thru the different neighborhoods. We got a museum pass for use after the tour and the next day. Put in a lot of walking. Plus learned how to use the busses!

Flight from Southern Norway to Tromsø

Norway

Flight was a normal flight. Got this picture out the window

It was a fantastic 2 weeks in Norway! Thanks for the itinerary, and to Katie for the great help when we had questions, and the follow-ups, before and during the trip, together with her colleagues, Tom and Matthia, who stood in for her over the weekends in Norway. The places we went were great, and we particularly loved Sommaroy, which Katie suggested. It was a great winter wonderland, peaceful and so beautiful, and yes, we got to experience faint northern lights just above our cabin, though it was cloudy. We were initially upset about the interior of the Cabin we had, which did not look any like the image we saw, but the beautiful place just compensated the initial disappointment. The view was awesome! Overall, it was all great and awesome! We knew we were paying a bit more for the whole trip compare to if we were to prepare our itinerary and make our own bookings, but its all worth it, as it has been so seamless and saved us a lot of headache planning and all the hassles, and has assured us that there is someone to reach out to when we needed help. Thanks Katie and team! Bravo to Kimkim for the group of professional planners and guide!