Lucie Rousseau

Our guide the first day was very good and responsive to our requests, however she said that we could not go to Sacre Coeur as it was too far out for that tour. She did help us buy our passes for public transportation that day which was helpful and took us to a very nice ice cream place near Notre Dame for scrumptious ice cream before heading out to our hotel. The luncheon cruise on the Seine was very nice. The later visit to the Eiffel Tour was set for 6:30 pm and probably could have been made for an earlier time as the luncheon cruise was over about 3:30 pm. We were not allowed to enter the tower until our time, and it was cold and windy that day with not many options for waiting inside in a warmer place. We did not spend much time at the tower once it was our turn to go up. Wednesday was a tour to Giverny and Versailles with lunch included. I do not know much about what might be available to book from where we were staying at the Marriott Village Disney, but it seems it would have made more sense to book us a tour that left from near our hotel rather than one leaving from Paris at 8:15 am requesting us to be there 15 minutes early. We decided we needed a driver to pick us up at 6 am from our hotel rather than using the public transportation to get there on time. He got us there in plenty of time. We even had time to go to a nearby cafe and have a drink and some food. The booking place was not too impressive. No one was there even after our cafe visit, and we had to stand around on the sidewalk until someone got there who unlocked the door. There were several people also waiting, and each group was given a different color card to designate what van they would take. Our driver was OK, but we encountered a detour that went quite a bit out of the way, so we were late to the restaurant for lunch, and the food (chicken) was very dry. Then the van did not start right away after lunch, but he got it going and we headed to Versailles. The tour of the palace was OK but lots of other tourists and crowded. He told us some things different from what our tour guide three years ago told us. The afternoon was rainy and cold, so we did not go into the gardens. There was not much of a place to get a warm drink and wait out the time until we were to meet at the van. Then we got back to the booking company (Paris Trip, I think was the name. It was located in a small store front.) and no driver to take us back to our hotel was waiting. We had thought we had booked a driver for to and from the hotel, but evidently that is not what Lucie had understood, so my niece got us an Uber which was 100 Euros. Thankfully he was close and got there quickly. Overall, it seemed that Lucie and her colleagues were not as responsive to our needs as the KimKim representative we had 3 years ago was when my sister and I visited Paris.

The pleasures of Provence are legendary, and the Kimkim team was instrumental in helping us to delight in them. Our guides were interesting people in their own right, affable, informed, humorous, efficient and invariably reliable. I’m quite old and I have my share of infirmities—but the guides, Adie and Greg, were alert to these and truly helpful in accommodating my needs. To Lucie we owe the wonderful idea of cooking a meal in a chef’s kitchen, for me the high point of the trip, including as it did a trip to the market for the ingredients of our meal. (Special praise is due to the chef, who said, after our trip to the market, “For this afternoon, my kitchen is your home.”) Lucie also accommodated us when we needed to make changes in our arrangements and was, from the first, always accessible. The drivers from and to the airport in Nice were on time and very helpful, though there was some confusion about the dropoff in Nice, which I attribute to the hotel. I couldn’t have made this trip without the Kimkim team.

Hotel Review

Grand Hôtel Roi René Aix-en-Provence Centre – MGallery

Aix-en-Provence

Entirely comfortable and adequate, though the open shower was a bit hard to manage. Breakfasts were quite ample and quite good.

Authenticity & Character

Location

A bit distant from the center of activity in Aix, but not a problem for a good walker.

Staff

Very pleasant and helpful, but could do better in helping us to change large Euros

Cleanliness & Comfort

very clean, beds very comfortable, shower a bit hard to manage

Activity Reviews

Private Provençale Cooking Class & Lunch

Aix-en-Provence

I have commented on this in my written review. It was, for me, the high point of the trip, and Emma, the chef, was wonderful: I’ll never forget her welcome to her kitchen and the pleasure of shopping for, cooking and eating a meal with her.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour of the Bastide du Jas de Bouffan

Aix-en-Provence

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

ignore—we had no Kimkim driver or fuide for this event

Transport

ignore—we furnished our own transport

Lucie and Slimane from Kim Kim planned a fantastic trip for our family to Aix-En-Provence. The companies that they connected us to were all top-notch. The guides from A la Francais couldn't have been better. We spent 4 days with Adrien and 1 day with Greg. They were passionate about the experiences they provided to us, were well versed in history and regional information and were kind and accommodating throughout.

Our cooking class with Emmy who runs La Cuisine De Leki was magical. Her intent is not to have a technical cooking class, but to let you experience what it's like to be invited to a French home for a home cooked meal with friends or family, and she certainly succeeded.

Lucie and Slimane made this happen over months of planning with my Mom, with frequent changes and updates, but their patience and knowledge certainly turned this into a memorable trip.

We thoroughly enjoyed our 10 day trip to Paris and Provence. We chose to use the KimKim service because we had never planned a trip like this before and did not know what to expect or how to navigate the planning process. We also do not speak French. Lucie was amazing in working out all of the details and activities once I told her what we would like to experience. The days were packed and we enjoyed all of our tours. If I were to do it again, I may allow a little more free time, even though we enjoyed everything that we did. Some of the highlights were the Moulin Rouge, the food tour in Paris with Laure as well as the tour with Remy in Provence to the three villages. We also loved, loved, loved seeing Cassis with our tour guide Coco. Our train travel between Paris and Provence was seamless, and all the transfers were on time and as planned. The hotels were fine; comfortable and we really enjoyed having breakfast available, but I would have liked being closer to the main attractions in Paris and a slightly more elevated experience. I should have communicated this more effectively. Be sure to review all the details of the trip before your go. We had one minor glitch that I noticed last minute and Lucie did make the adjustment that was needed promptly so there were no issues. All in all our trip to France was magical, memorable and way more than I could’ve expected or could’ve planned all on my own.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Jeanne D'Arc Le Marais

Paris

We only stayed here one night. It was very comfortable and staff friendly and accommodating. We needed our breakfast a little earlier and they were great. Very close to a square with lots of restaurants. Was a tad noisy due to this but we weren’t bothered. Elevator functional but very small. Common areas a bit worn.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Escaletto

Aix-en-Provence

Opt for a twin room (2 twin beds pushed together) as double room was very small. Enjoyed the rooftop deck and location close to the heart of the city. Friendly staff and lovely breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Location is great, there is a lot of construction nearby right now.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Le 9Hotel Opera

Paris

Hotel is in the Opera District, some attractions close by, but not in the heart of the city. Rooms were comfortable and was staff friendly (limited English speakers). Also offered a great breakfast! We had 2 adjoining rooms which was great but 1 room had a large tub/shower with high sides which was VERY difficult to climb in and out of.

Authenticity & Character

Nothing special

Location

Closer to heart of city and more restaurants/shopping close by

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Excursion to Cassis

Aix-en-Provence

We loved both the area and our guide. She could not have been more attentive and accommodating. Cassis is just gorgeous and quaint. We absolutely loved it!!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I cannot say enough good things about our guide!!!

Transport

Provence Wines and Luberon Villages

Aix-en-Provence

This was really 2 tours in 1 day with the same guide. The morning wine tour was enjoyable with stops at 2 different wineries. They were very different, with the 2nd being our favorite. We then returned to Ax-en-Provence for lunch on our own and headed back out for a very long afternoon at 3 different Luberon villages. The were all lovely.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide came off as a bit arrogant. He spent a lot of time giving his opinions about why France is better than US/Canada rather than providing historical/factual information.

Transport

Excursion to Arles, Les Baux and Saint-Remy de Provence

France

This was one of the highlights of our trip. The guide was amazing! He was super knowledgeable, easy to understand and made sure we saw everything. He answered every question and we could tell he really enjoys what he does.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cabaret show at the Moulin Rouge at 9 PM

Paris

Loved it!!!

Quality of Experience

Day Trip to Loire Valley Châteaux

Paris

The castles were beautiful and the driver/guide was friendly and accommodating. There is LOTS of walking and stairs on this trip, so just be prepared. Would have appreciated just a bit more information at each stop about where to go and what we were seeing. We got a brief overview and then we were on our own.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Gourmet food tour in Saint-Germain-des-Prés

Paris

Loved our guide and everything we saw, tasted and experienced.

Quality of Experience

High quality tastings!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

So knowledgeable and friendly!

Seine River Cruise

Paris

Tour was great. It was cool and rainy when we went, but we still enjoyed it. The guide was wonderful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Visit of Orsay Museum

Paris

Loved this museum! Skip the audio tour, it’s not necessary. Enjoyed lunch in the fancy restaurant as well.

Quality of Experience

We had an absolutely wonderful trip to France, beautifully organized by Lucie. She was incredibly helpful, always reachable, and very knowledgeable. Every detail was thoughtfully arranged, and all our transportation was seamless, making the entire experience smooth and stress-free.
In Paris, we enjoyed a magical Seine River cruise and a fabulous vintage car tour (2cv Paris Authentic) with John, who was not only knowledgeable but also helped us capture stunning photos at iconic Paris landmarks. Our stay at Hotel Jeanne D’Arc Le Marais was delightful – the hotel was clean, charming, and staffed by friendly, welcoming people.
In Aix-en-Provence, we had an amazing time wine tasting and exploring the Luberon villages with Greg – truly the best tour guide! He was incredibly knowledgeable about the region’s history, culture, and hidden gems. The views were absolutely breathtaking, and every moment felt special.
We loved every part of this trip – from the vibrant city life in Paris to the serene beauty of Provence. Huge thanks to Lucie, John, and Greg for making it so memorable!

We had a great trip to Paris for adults and kids. The vintage car ride around Paris was great for the adults, the kids didn't find that as exciting. The Lourve and Eiffel tower were great and tickets were easy to use. Versailles tickets were great as well. We had to Uber there as the train was shut down that day so be sure to have a backup plan. My kids especially loved the Evolution museum and zoo. Overall, great trip and planning.

Our trip to Paris was absolutely incredible, and all of the arrangements that kimkim made for us were seamless. That said, we definitely felt the schedule was overly jam-packed toward the end, and if we could do it over we would *not* have tried to do The Louvre and the Jardin de Plantes (which included the Managerie *and* the Grande Galerie de l'Evolution) in the same day. It was an incredible amount of walking, crowding, and stimulation for the kids all in one day. As a result, we decided to skip all of the scheduled activities on the last day so that we could instead enjoy the day at our own pace. All in all, however, it was the trip of a lifetime, and all of the activities we did do were spectacular. The only additional note I'll make is that we tried for nearly an hour to find access to the RER C (which would have taken us from Paris to Versailles) only to find out some or all of it is currently closed for maintenance. Had we known, we would have just taken an Uber straight from the hotel, which is what we ended up doing in the end. As it was my first time taking my girls overseas, a lot of travel lessons were learned, but overall it was a genuinely wonderful vacation and an experience they will never forget.

Hotel Review

Hotel Jeanne D'Arc Le Marais

Paris

The Hotel Jeanne D'Arc Le Marais was really nice, with its best feature being its location. The Marais district is absolutely to die for and was centrally located for access to most of our activities. All of the staff were amazing and accommodating. I acknowledge it's a three-star hotel because of my tight budget, but the breakfast, "bar," and lack of central air took some getting used to. But otherwise, we really enjoyed it. We even found the beds to be unbelievably comfortable. If you do stay here, I recommend staying on the 2nd floor or above (which in France is the 1st floor or above) so that you can open the windows; the rooms on the bottom floor (Floor 0) have a large protective barrier over the window, so opening it doesn't help much.

Authenticity & Character

Because of its location, you can enjoy all of the rich, authentic charm and culture of Paris.

Location

Le Marais is where to be in Paris! It was my favorite part!

Staff

Amine!

Cleanliness & Comfort

The beds really were unbelievably comfortable (at least in room 15).

Activity Reviews

Visit of the Menagerie, the zoo of the Jardin des Plantes & and the Great Gallery of Evolution

Paris

Quality of Experience

Unveiling Masterpieces at the Louvre Museum

Paris

Quality of Experience

French macaron bakery class for families

Paris

If I'm honest, the best part of this experience was its location inside the Galeries Lafayette, which we spent *hours* shopping in after the baking class was over. The chef was about twenty minutes late getting started, after we had arrived about 15 minutes early, so we ended up sitting on the 3rd floor near the Concierge for more than 30 minutes. That said, the kids really enjoyed the class, and the parents were all relieved it was straightforward and not terribly involved.

Quality of Experience

Self-guided Visit of Versailles Castle (Entrance tickets)

France

Quality of Experience

Visit of the Eiffel Tower with access to the summit

Paris

We loved it! We also appreciated going in the evening so we could see the light show.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We took an Uber to and from.

Discovery tour of Paris by vintage 2CV car

Paris

This was one of my personal favorite activities and was a great orientation/introduction to Paris on our first day, but others in my group had varying experiences.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our AMAZING family trip to France was impeccably planned by Lucie. She was exemplary in her help and dedication to provide a beautiful and unique trip for us. We had the best time...and still wish we were in France. Family memories for a lifetime.
Let me get one tiny negative experience out of the way ..the Chocolate Museum -workshop in Paris... it is a **tourist trap and only for little kids (5 year olds) & has horrible chocolate. AVOID!
We have now erased that from our memory. On to the highlights...and SO SO many.
Our guided tour (by Afsaneh) ) of the Louvre was arranged last minute by the amazing Lucie...our tour guide was absolutely the very BEST. Afsaneh is a teacher and a true lover of the arts. She brought the Louvre to life for us and expertly maneuvered us around the extensive crowds. Our experience would have been very very poor without her. A HIGHLIGHT of our entire trip. We requested this add on at the last minute....and Lucie was a miracle worker to arrange it.
We probably should have requested a tour guide for Versailles.
Our La Marais pastry tour was also a huge highlight. My kids and I absolutely loved our tour guide....she was chic, fun, upbeat, outgoing, and engaged my kids (13 and 17 yrs of age). Rachelle. Request her! The pastries we tasted were mouth watering and uniquely delicious.
Our walking food tour of Nice was also a huge highlight. Our guide, Nadia, was so kind, friendly, knowledgeable, and gave us a great overview of Nice and SO SO SO MUCH delicious food. Do not eat breakfast before this tour. She gave us helpful hints to see Castle Hill, take the train up and walk down for beautiful views. We did that the next day.
We loved the fresh market in Nice, that Nadia showed us, and we even went back the next day. The chocolate shop we visited, again, on the tour with Nadia, is a beautiful shop with chandeliers that started in 1820 and the chocolate we tasted (and purchased there) was exceptional, mouth watering, and superior in every way. It puts our chocolate in the United States to shame.
Our hotel in Paris...Le Basile....beautiful. Delicious breakfast every morning. SUPER Friendly and helpful front desk available 24/7. Highly recommend.
I could go on and on but I touched on the major highlights. I hope they are helpful to other fellow travelers.
Traveling with my family, making lifetime core memories with my children is incalculable. Merci Beaucoup to Lucie and Kimkim travel.

Hotel Reviews

AC Hotel by Marriott

Nice

Clean spacious rooms. The shower is very bad. Restaurant on the roof is beautiful and delicious. A little far from the market and most of the activities in Nice.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Le Basile Hôtel

Paris

Delicious breakfast every day. Beautiful room. Not overcrowded. Front desk person available 24/7

Authenticity & Character

Location

Little far from some activities

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Giverny and Versailles Visits with Private Transfers

Paris

This was a highlight of our trip. Having a driver for the day, was very very helpful. We LOVED Monet's garden. Absolutely beautiful. Definitely worth seeing, especially if you love gardens, flowers, and art. We wish we had a tour guide for Versailles. Having had a tour guide for the Louvre, we saw how much of a difference it made for our experience. With that being said, Versailles is a must to visit.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Adventure aboard an authentic sidecar to uncover Paris

Paris

This was a really fun unique activity. They took us to Montmartre, which was lovely to see. A bunch of streets were closed due to it being very close to Bastille Day. Driving around in the open air to get up close to things was a lot of fun. They picked us up from the hotel, and offered to drop us off wherever we liked at the end of the tour. A really fun tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Seine river dinner cruise

Paris

Review the menu before booking to be sure you like the offerings. It was a bit touristy, and had a lounge type singer for entertainment. I thought it would be a more informational tour. But still a nice introduction to Paris and from the unique vantage point of the Seine River. We did enjoy the activity. After the cruise, we walked to the Eiffel Tower and it was beautifully lit up at night.

Quality of Experience

Food

Showing the menu to the guests before booking.

Morning food and wine tour

France

Nadia was absolutely wonderful. She showed us all around Nice. We ate and ate and ate. Do not eat breakfast before this tour. BRING WATER! This tour was a highlight of our trip. We loved it.

Quality of Experience

Food

The huge variety of tastings was wonderful.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Pastry Tour of Le Marais

Paris

Rachelle was fun, chic, hip, and gave us insight into French life and fed us the most amazing delicious pastries. A favorite tour of our trip. We wish we had more tours with Rachelle.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Visit of the chocolate museum and chocolate workshop!

Paris

This was the worst activity of our trip. A tourist trap.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Overall, this trip was amazing. There were a few issues with tickets, but it was handled efficiently so that we did not lose any time on our trip. They tailored our trip to the desires and needs of all the people going so that everyone has an amazing time. This was an amazing experience that I enjoyed thoroughly.