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Maria Shephard

Travel has always been the most inspiring thing for me, getting to know other cultures, places, landscapes has a huge impact on me.
For me, traveling is not visiting, is LIVING that place as your own.
Let me help you live the unexpected.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"Road Trips, Nature, Food "

How did you get involved in travel?

"When i was 16 years i made a onboard year far from home, that was the first time i was truly in touch and living other cultures and traditions. From that time i haven´t stop traveling any chance i have, this curiosity has taken me to extraordinary places and people. "

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"One of the things my family enjoys the most is traveling together; we love road trips, it make us so close, full of different memories. We made a road trip from Mexico City to New Orleans for New Year, It took us 2 weeks but we saw incredible places, had amazing meals, chats and photos.
The phrase "It´s not the ending it´s the journey" never made so much sense. "

Top itineraries and travel advice
Family itineraries
Road trip itineraries

Recent trip reviews for Maria

The tour guides were very good! Most hotels w...
Denmark | Sep 14 - Sep 27, 2026

N
Nick L.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Oct 20, 2026
The tour guides were very good! Most hotels were good: location and service.
The Spar Hotel Gårda (Gothenburg) location was too far from Center of town.
The Transportation arrangement was very good.
The wrong location was given to us for the food tour meeting point in Stockholm. We have to run around to get to the correct location. The phone assist team during the trip was very helpful.
Maria did a great job organizing the trip.
We had a very good time!
Read more

The tour guides were very good! Most hotels were good: location and service.
The Spar Hotel Gårda (Gothenburg) location was too far from Center of town.
The Transportation arrangement was very good.
The wrong location was given to us for the food tour meeting point in Stockholm. We have to run around to get to the correct location. The phone assist team during the trip was very helpful.
Maria did a great job organizing the trip.
We had a very good time!

Hotel Reviews
Scandic Torget
Bergen
Hotell Bondeheimen
Oslo
Spar Hotel Gårda
Gothenburg
Location
Comfort Hotel Vesterbro
Copenhagen
Hotel Lilla Rådmannen
Stockholm
Activity Reviews
Luggage Transfer Service
Luggage Transfer Service
Norway
Food & Culture Walk
Food & Culture Walk
Bergen
Private City Walk
Private City Walk
Oslo
Private tour Copenhagen Walking Tour & Canal Cruise
Private tour Copenhagen Walking Tour & Canal Cruise
Copenhagen
Archipelago Tour with Guide
Archipelago Tour with Guide
Gothenburg
Food tour Stockholm
Food tour Stockholm
Stockholm
Walking Tour Stockholm
Walking Tour Stockholm
Stockholm
Mostraumen Fjord Cruise
Mostraumen Fjord Cruise
Bergen
Private Viking Heritage Tour to Roskilde & Viking Ship Museum Experience
Private Viking Heritage Tour to Roskilde & Viking Ship Museum Experience
Copenhagen
Guided Gothenburg City Tour
Gothenburg
Fjord Cruise & Seafood Dining Experience
Fjord Cruise & Seafood Dining Experience
Bergen
Local specialist: Maria Shephard
Maria
Maria Shephard
Local specialist in Kristiansand | Replied on Oct 22, 2026

Hello Nick!

Thank you for your feedback I am happy you get to enjoy your time around here and ofcourse I appreciate your valuable comments that will help me to foture travelers.

I hope you have lovely and safe travels back home !

Once in a lifetime adventure!
Norway | Sep 14 - Sep 23, 2026

Lisa
Lisa T.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Sep 27, 2026
Our trip was really wonderful. Maria was so easy to work with and she planned our activities perfectly after we told her what we really wanted to see and do, and then her own suggestions added excitement and fun to the trip. We loved having all our tickets/passes/bookings right at hand in the app. But even better was all the addresses, suggestions for what to wear or to bring to an activity were right at our fingertips and so helpful. We smoothly moved from one place to another and never... Read more

Our trip was really wonderful. Maria was so easy to work with and she planned our activities perfectly after we told her what we really wanted to see and do, and then her own suggestions added excitement and fun to the trip. We loved having all our tickets/passes/bookings right at hand in the app. But even better was all the addresses, suggestions for what to wear or to bring to an activity were right at our fingertips and so helpful. We smoothly moved from one place to another and never had a problem with any of our plans. So thoughtfully detailed and planned out!

In Oslo, we explored based n the suggestions Maria gave us and enjoyed, parks, gardens, museums and the palace and opera house. Our guide on a nature tour, Giovanni, gave us ides for where to go after our tour and even helped us find the best way to get where we wanted to go. Our time in Oslo was so much fun.

My biggest “want” was to see the fjords. Maria set us up for a really amazing experience in the Sognefjord and surrounding fjords. We had a lovely train ride from Oslo to Flǎm and we stayed in Aurlandsfjord that night which was was the most magical place. We did the sauna there and jumped into the fjord which is a must do while in Norway. Our hotel there was lovely and we woke up to such beautiful views it was breathtaking. We had a RIB boat tour with Inge, who was a fabulous guide and delighted us with some fun history of the area as we cruised the lovely fjords. We ferried to Balestrand after that and spent two days in that part of the fjord. We went to see the Glacier Museum in Faerlandsfjord aboard a vintage ferry with our guide Guya (sp?) who shared his own history of watching the glacier change over time having lived in the area all his life. It was a beautiful thing to see and learn about.

We left by ferry for Bergen after that and spent our last 3 days discovering the fascinating area that my family are from. We kayaked in the North Sea with Iris as our guide and she knew much about the region and its history and she showed us some beautiful parts of Bergen we would not have otherwise seen. We went to the Troll Museum and the University of Bergen Museum and enjoyed both. A trip up the funicular with tickets that were flexible allowed us to do that on a day when the rain stayed away. We enjoyed the ride and found ourselves wandering a troll forest at the top and then hiking a bit to a pretty lake. All of this right above Bergen yet we felt miles away from the noise of the city. We shopped, tried local foods and even got a have a beer in a wine cellar built in the Middle Ages.

The peace of mind knowing everything was in place and easily accessible within the KimKim app, made this trip so hassle free we were able to enjoy every moment. I could not have planned a trip in a place I have never been to before and not had a lot of stress. KimKim made it possible without the stress. The support staff even checked in with us to make sure we were happy. Maria and her team did such a wonderful job helping us have a memorable, everything we wanted it to be trip - we can’t thank you enough!

Hotel Review
Hotel Aurlandsfjord
Aurland

We enjoyed our stay at this hotel so much. The staff were not just welcoming and friendly, they went out of their way to make our stay amazing. The food was fantastic and the location is just delightful.

Authenticity & Character
So much charm and nicely appointed rooms.
Location
The views are incredible
Staff
They were just delightful!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
 Øygarden Islets Kayaking Excursion
Øygarden Islets Kayaking Excursion
Bergen

Iris was a wonderful guide and the equipment and instruction were all spot on. We had a lovely time exploring the islands.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Oslofjord Island Hopping Nature Walk
Oslofjord Island Hopping Nature Walk
Oslo

Giovanni was a wonderful guide for our tour and so helpful with suggestions of others things to do and try.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Fjærlandsfjord Cruise & Bøyabreen Glacier Visit
Fjærlandsfjord Cruise & Bøyabreen Glacier Visit
Balestrand

The boat was so much fun - it was a vintage ferry with friendly staff and it made the trip seem so very Norwegian. Our guide was amazing, the museum is very interesting and had so many hands on exhibits, we really learned a lot. The glacier visit was very memorable and scenic.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Mostraumen Fjord Safari by Premium RIB
Mostraumen Fjord Safari by Premium RIB
Bergen

This is a high speed adventure ride from Bergen to the fjord. It was exciting and beautiful.

Quality of Experience
The ride was exhilarating and the scenery was beautiful.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our driver/guide was great. The staff helping us gear up were rushed, but helpful
Transport
Food & Culture Walk
Food & Culture Walk
Bergen

We very much enjoyed walking the Bergen and Brggyn area to learn more about the history and culture. The food was great and we learned so much.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Fjord Safari by RIB
Fjord Safari by RIB
Flåm

Inge gave us a wonderful view of the fjord near Flåm. The ride was smooth and comfortable and she gave us great photo opportunities, entertained us with stories of the area and its history in a witty and fun way.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Shared Fjord Sauna Experience - Flåm
Shared Fjord Sauna Experience - Flåm
Flåm

This was our favorite activity. While the guide/concierge was just ok, the sauna itself, the facility, location and amenities were wonderful. We had so much fun that evening we will never forget it.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Maria Shephard
Maria
Maria Shephard
Local specialist in Kristiansand | Replied on Oct 01, 2026

Thank you so much for your beautiful review! It was such a pleasure planning this trip with you, and I really enjoyed our calls and seeing all the photos and ideas you shared along the way.

I’m so happy that the trip turned out to be everything you hoped for, especially your time in the fjords, It sounds like you had some truly special moments!

Thank you for trusting me with such an important trip. It was wonderful to be a small part of your Norwegian adventure, and I hope you’ll come back to Norway someday! ❤️

Denmark last minute trip from San Diego...
Denmark | Sep 2 - Sep 11, 2026

J
John B.
San Diego, CA, USA | Reviewed on Sep 18, 2026
I typically plan all our vacations but in this instance i needed the help of a local expert due to the last minute nature of our trip. Maria was excellent and jumping in and providing options on accommodations, activities and the logistics. She had to work around the first few days we spent in Copenhagen at a wedding but it was not an issue for Maria. She helped us plan day trips from Copenhagen as well as visit two other cities in Denmark. Everything went as planned and when i had... Read more

I typically plan all our vacations but in this instance i needed the help of a local expert due to the last minute nature of our trip. Maria was excellent and jumping in and providing options on accommodations, activities and the logistics. She had to work around the first few days we spent in Copenhagen at a wedding but it was not an issue for Maria. She helped us plan day trips from Copenhagen as well as visit two other cities in Denmark. Everything went as planned and when i had questions along the way, there was a WhatsApp support to get questions addressed or resolved as they arose.

Hotel Reviews
Axel Guldsmeden
Copenhagen
Authenticity & Character
Location
walking distance, 1 block, to the central train station and metro.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The bathtub near the bed with the brick border became a small trip hazard through our days in the first room. I would say it could use a rethink on the layout. Other than that, the hotel was clean, safe and roomy. We enjoyed our stay!
Comwell H C Andersen Dolce by Wyndham
Odense
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
SOFS Boutique Hotel
Aarhus C
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
My only concern with this hotel and the room we booked was the lack of lift to get our luggage up and down the narrow staircase. As we were traveling for an extended period, we had to big pieces of luggage to carry up the 2 flights of stairs. It is probably a non issue for those with carry on luggage or minimal luggage.
Local specialist: Maria Shephard
Maria
Maria Shephard
Local specialist in Kristiansand | Replied on Sep 21, 2026
John! Thank you so much for taking the time to share your feedback! It was truly a pleasure helping you plan your trip to Denmark, especially with such a short timeframe. I’m so glad I could make the planning process easier and help you explore beyond Copenhagen with the day trips and visits to other cities. I’m also very happy to hear that everything went smoothly and according to plan! And thank you for your feedback about the hotel. Your comments are incredibly helpful for future... Read more

John!

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your feedback! It was truly a pleasure helping you plan your trip to Denmark, especially with such a short timeframe.

I’m so glad I could make the planning process easier and help you explore beyond Copenhagen with the day trips and visits to other cities. I’m also very happy to hear that everything went smoothly and according to plan!

And thank you for your feedback about the hotel. Your comments are incredibly helpful for future travelers and for us when selecting accommodations.

Thank you again for trusting me with your trip.

Warm regards,
Maria

Kimkim planned our trip to Norway for us as i...
Norway | Aug 3 - Aug 11, 2026

P
Philip B.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Aug 19, 2026
Kimkim planned our trip to Norway for us as it was our first trip there. They chose great cities and amazing excursions. We had a wonderful time. We were very impressed with the itinerary, including the hotels and events. We ran into a hiccup with a hotel and Kimkim was very responsive in addressing the issues. We highly recommend Kimkim for your travel needs. Read more

Kimkim planned our trip to Norway for us as it was our first trip there. They chose great cities and amazing excursions. We had a wonderful time. We were very impressed with the itinerary, including the hotels and events. We ran into a hiccup with a hotel and Kimkim was very responsive in addressing the issues. We highly recommend Kimkim for your travel needs.

Activity Reviews
Finnafjord Safari by RIB
Finnafjord Safari by RIB
Balestrand
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Mostraumen Fjord Safari by Premium RIB
Mostraumen Fjord Safari by Premium RIB
Bergen
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Kayaking & Hiking Excursion
Kayaking & Hiking Excursion
Ålesund
Quality of Experience
Food
We loved our guide.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Floating Sauna Experience in Ålesund
Floating Sauna Experience in Ålesund
Ålesund
Quality of Experience
Local specialist: Maria Shephard
Maria
Maria Shephard
Local specialist in Kristiansand | Replied on Aug 20, 2026

Hi Philip..!

I am so happy you enjoyed all the activities we planned together!

Our trip to Norway was absolutely spectacular...
Norway | Jun 6 - Jun 20, 2026

R
Ryan W.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Jun 23, 2026
Our trip to Norway was absolutely spectacular. We created memories that will last a lifetime. The highlights of the trip were our stay in Balestrand and our entire time in Svolvaer. Balestrand was such a charming, peaceful town. The hotel was beautiful and the breakfast was very fun. Our favorite things there were the e-bike tour and a local hike to a beautiful lookout point over the fjord. Cider tasting was also an unexpected highlight. We were especially glad we were able to do the e-bikes... Read more

Our trip to Norway was absolutely spectacular. We created memories that will last a lifetime. The highlights of the trip were our stay in Balestrand and our entire time in Svolvaer. Balestrand was such a charming, peaceful town. The hotel was beautiful and the breakfast was very fun. Our favorite things there were the e-bike tour and a local hike to a beautiful lookout point over the fjord. Cider tasting was also an unexpected highlight. We were especially glad we were able to do the e-bikes after some confusion during the booking process.

Svolvaer was almost indescribable. The pictures all looked like a green screen or AI. We loved our floating sauna experience and our hike to Reinebringen. Hikes around Svolvaer were also stunningly gorgeous. The Sea Eagle safari was also an unexpected highlight. We did not expect to get so close to the eagles! Our stops in Bergen, Bleik/Andenes, and Oslo were also very fun.

Horseback riding was fun, but again the confusion about the event left a bit of a sour taste in our mouths. We feel we should have been told in advance that due to the ages of our children we could not do the half day tour. The two hour tour was fine, we just feel we could have been guided better by our "local specialist." When we heard about the issue, we then waited nearly 3 weeks, despite several inquiries, to hear any updates. Our vacation had started before anything was resolved. We still have not been reimbursed the difference in cost (from the half day tour to the two hour tour) nor have we heard any updates.

We had one other issue with a link to our bus tickets early on in our trip. The link provided thru the kimkim app had expired. Fortunately, we had printed out the QR code in advance and were able to use it. Overall, our only disappointment in the trip was the poor service from our local specialist. Communication was (and continues to be) poor and we did not get helpful insights or feel that we were a priority. We have booked trips through kimkim in the past and had much better experiences.

Overall, the trip was everything we dreamed it would be. We were able to do everything we had hoped and were even fortunate to have good weather. We'll never forget our Norwegian adventure!

Hotel Review
Kviknes Hotel
Balestrand

Charming hotel with spectacular views. The breakfast was also very nice.

Authenticity & Character
Historic charm
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
We particularly loved the balcony and the beautiful views
Activity Reviews
Trollfjord Sea Eagle Safari by RIB
Trollfjord Sea Eagle Safari by RIB
Norway

Very fun tour and the scenery was unmatched. We had no idea we would see so many eagles and that we would be so close to them!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Not much dialogue. They were direct and to-the-point without a lot of enthusiasm
Midnight Sun Kayaking Excursion
Midnight Sun Kayaking Excursion
Norway

This was an unexpected highlight. The trip was beautiful with an almost surreal aspect to it. The landscape was so unique and the midnight sun so cool. It was physically challenging, a bit cold, but very fun and memorable.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guides actually apologized to us at the end. They were nervous that our large group, including children, would be difficult. But they were surprised to learn that we were all up to the challenge!
Guided Whale Watching RIB-Tour Andenes (Summer)
Guided Whale Watching RIB-Tour Andenes (Summer)
Andenes

Our initial time was canceled due to high winds, but they were kind in rescheduling us. Our rescheduled time felt a little overbooked and the check in process was a little rushed and hectic. The tour was fun. We saw pilot whales but were disappointed not to see any large whales.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Horsebackriding on Icelandic Horses in Lofoten (half day tour)
Horsebackriding on Icelandic Horses in Lofoten (half day tour)
Norway

The experience itself was nice. The guides were good. The scenery was beautiful. One person in our party had a saddle slide off the horse and she fell off her horse. The saddle was a bit of a problem during the tour. Our main complaint with this excursion was poor communication with our kimkiim local specialist. We had initially booked the half day tour and lunch. We booked the event nearly a year in advance. About a week before the trip we were notified that because we had two riders under age 14 that we could not do the tour we booked. We felt our "local specialist" should have known this from the beginning. We were able to rebook a different, much shorter tour, but we had very poor communication from kimkim and our vacation had already started by the time we got it resolved. We were also told we'd be reimbursed the difference in cost, but are still waiting for that issue to be resolved. This issue was the most negative experience of our trip.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guided Bike Rental Balestrand
Guided Bike Rental Balestrand
Balestrand

This was a highlight of the trip. We did it all on our own, however. We booked this tour nearly a year in advance only to be informed a week or so before our trip that kimkim could no longer book this for us. We just paid privately for the tour and were fortunate they had enough bikes on the spot for our large group. Hopefully the "local specialists" will be better informed and better able to help people in the future.

Quality of Experience
Cider Tasting with Food Pairing
Cider Tasting with Food Pairing
Norway

Unexpectedly fun. The tour guide was so passionate about apples and his enthusiasm was contagious. The food pairings with the delicious juices was an exceptional experience for our entire party (ranging in age from under 10 to around 70 years old)

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
 Øygarden Islets Kayaking Excursion
Øygarden Islets Kayaking Excursion
Bergen

Our guides were great and the experience was worth it. There were a bunch of oil rigs in the area there for cleaning or repairs or something that distracted from the beauty a little bit. Our guides for this excursion, especially Simon, were particularly good.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Lofoten Floating Sauna Experience
Private Lofoten Floating Sauna Experience
Svolvær

So much fun. Some in our large group were nervous about this activity. Some were nervous about the heat of the sauna, others were nervous about feeling pressure to jump into the water, but we all had a great time. One of our favorite experiences.

Quality of Experience
Summer RIB-boat Tour in Balestrand
Summer RIB-boat Tour in Balestrand
Balestrand

The fjords and scenery around Balestrand are beautiful. But compared to our other RIB boat excursions, this one was a bit bland. We only did it as a substitute for our e-biking excursion which we had initially booked through kimkim but were later told we had to book on our own.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Luggage Transfer Service
Luggage Transfer Service
Norway

This was a lifesaver on our "Norway in a Nutshell" tour. The porters were also very kind in making an exception in delivering our luggage to an Air BNB with no front desk. Our major complaint is that we nearly lost this porter service due to our "local expert" nearly canceling this service a week before our trip (despite booking almost a year in advance) due to the lack of a hotel reception. Surely, our "local expert" could have identified this problem much sooner and handled it much better.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Maria Shephard
Maria
Maria Shephard
Local specialist in Kristiansand | Replied on Jul 01, 2026
Dear Ryan! Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughtful review of your Norwegian trip! We are absolutely delighted to hear that the trip created lifelong memories for your family. We also appreciate you sharing your feedback regarding the horseback riding reservation, the reimbursement process, and the bus ticket link. We sincerely apologize for the frustration these situations caused. While we are pleased that these operational issues did not prevent you from enjoying the... Read more

Dear Ryan!

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughtful review of your Norwegian trip! We are absolutely delighted to hear that the trip created lifelong memories for your family.

We also appreciate you sharing your feedback regarding the horseback riding reservation, the reimbursement process, and the bus ticket link. We sincerely apologize for the frustration these situations caused. While we are pleased that these operational issues did not prevent you from enjoying the experiences themselves, we understand that delays in communication and reservation follow-up impacted your overall impression. Your comments have been shared with our reservations and operations team so we can improve our coordination and ensure these matters are handled more proactively in the future.

It means a great deal to us that, despite these inconveniences, your trip was everything you had dreamed of and that you were able to experience Norway in such a meaningful way—helped along by some wonderful weather!

Thank you again for your valuable feedback and for trusting us with your journey. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure in the future, with an even smoother experience from start to finish.

Overall, fantastic trip!
Norway | May 24 - May 29, 2026

M
Maria O.
Atlanta, GA | Reviewed on May 30, 2026
The trip was great! The chosen activities were all good and I was very glad to have used Kimkim for the most part. I don’t like giving up control so much (control freak, obviously), but I only truly regretted it twice and kind of rolled my eyes once. They were not quick enough on getting us train tickets and we lost the opportunity for the original timing altogether (which I ended up being really glad for) and still weren’t able to get us seats together on the later time (which was not... Read more

The trip was great! The chosen activities were all good and I was very glad to have used Kimkim for the most part. I don’t like giving up control so much (control freak, obviously), but I only truly regretted it twice and kind of rolled my eyes once. They were not quick enough on getting us train tickets and we lost the opportunity for the original timing altogether (which I ended up being really glad for) and still weren’t able to get us seats together on the later time (which was not pleasant- not only was it annoying to not be next to my family, but also none of us had windows). The second thing I regretted was the first hotel- but it’s hard to say if I could have done significantly better - I did do way better on the last hotel 😮‍💨. That said- without them I would have likely not done three things that were the true highlight of the trip: one was a cruising sauna (in the end I booked this outside the Kim Kim portion of my trip myself, because due to the train timing issue they had to cancel the floating sauna they had intended for us- but I wouldn’t have booked at all probably without them putting it in my itinerary originally! The second was the Flåm train ride- what a treat! And thanks to the awful seats on the first leg of the train journey, we ended up having probably the best seats in this ‘free seating’ portion- so that worked out and was a true treat. The third was the fjord safari- super highly recommend!! It was wonderful, and we ended up having a private tour which was great. The one activity that was eye roll worthy and I regret on so many levels was the ‘dinner cruise’ in Bergen. For one, I’m sure it was unnecessarily expensive, two: at this point we had seen the fjord several times and it is definitely way prettier by Flåm and Balestrand, and three: the meal was waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too long. My 16yo was jumping out of his skin and frankly so was I- it’s just that as an adult I could hide it better. Even my husband, who does like relaxing in beautiful scenery way longer than us, was not pleased with the overly drawn out meal. I wish I had asked more about this, I would have likely taken it out. To me, dinner cruise means you’re on a boat that has food- so it was also a case of wrong interpretation by me. Overall- the trip was amazing and I’m glad I used Kimkim, but I will ask more questions next time.

Hotel Reviews
Hotell Bondeheimen
Oslo

It was ok- pretty cramped (we were three, so our chair bed was opened), very hot (zero control over temperature- can’t even ‘turn it off’). However, very well located and the staff were very friendly- they got us two fans to help with the heat. The shower is open- the glass that is there doesn’t even reach the floor, so water goes everywhere, very literally everywhere. Important to note that most European hotels have zero A/C (although I can usually at least turn off the heat!), are usually tiny, and the showers tend to be tiny and uncomfortable- so the downsides here weren’t exactly abnormal, but with careful researching I’ve successfully avoided all of these in the past, and did so in Bergen. Last thing- the breakfast was amazing! And again: the staff is outstanding and delivered good service despite an ongoing strike that affected their staff.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Clean yes! Comfort so-so
Flåmsbrygga Apartments
Flåm

Super spacious! Very clean, lots of doors to open (important because I could not turn off the heat). However- the birds are LOUD, so theres a downside to open doors. Despite the great amount of space there aren’t enough surfaces for luggage. They have maybe one that is supposedly for luggage, but it’s so narrow we couldn’t even successfully use it for backpacks, let alone carry-on size luggage. So then we used the chairs to open up our backpacks, because the couch needed to be opened for our third person (our son), so then we had nowhere to sit. Thus, despite the huge size of this place, it was not comfortable to hang out in. This extended to the ginormous ballroom size bathroom which contained one of those ridiculously tiny round door showers. Good luck washing your feet without fancy acrobatics or opening the round doors thus creating an even bigger mess of water. They could have simply strung a curtain in a larger area and it would have likely been cheaper (presumably why they used the round doors instead of actual glass that created a bigger footprint). They have shelves, but are the cheap, plastic, wobbly kind, so you can’t use them for anything other than their towels. At least the sink counter is spacious though. All in all- I was very pleased with how clean and well kept it was, but wow what a waste of space that ultimately made it exactly as comfortable as a cramped hotel room.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Theres no staff- but check in and out were easy
Cleanliness & Comfort
Clean yes! Comfort- half yes half no per review
Activity Reviews
Past & Present City Walk
Past & Present City Walk
Bergen

Excellent tour- Erik was a great guide and quite entertaining. We learned a lot and had a lovely walk around the city, surely we wouod have missed some things if it hadn’t been for this tour!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Fjord Cruise & Seafood Dining Experience
Fjord Cruise & Seafood Dining Experience
Bergen

Ok- it wasn’t- it just wasn’t worth it for us. We had come to Bergen by ferry from Balestrand- so a nice four hour tour of the fjords. Zero upside to the boat ride required to get to the restaurant. The dinner itself was three long hours long- waaaaaaaaaay too long. It was solidly good, but nothing out of this world and because it’s strictly seafood, people who don’t love seafood won’t have as great a time. Also- I’m sure it was ridiculously expensive in a city area where you can get great fresh seafood without even trying. The location is very nice with a great view of the water, and the service is excellent. So again: not bad, just not worth it IMO. For us it was a waste of five hours for something we could have accomplished in one anf slept earlier 😂 but it may very well be something you love if you love spending hours on dinner and want to feel extra fancy.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Fjord Safari by RIB
Fjord Safari by RIB
Flåm

It was an amazing way to experience the fjords up close and personal! Our driver/tour guide , Anton I believe, was great- caring, entertaining and friendly. I would highly recommend this!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Maria Shephard
Maria
Maria Shephard
Local specialist in Kristiansand | Replied on May 30, 2026
Hi Maria, Thank you so much for your honest and detailed review. Feedback like yours is incredibly valuable and helps me continue improving both the travel planning process and communication with my travelers. I'm sorry that some aspects of the trip did not fully meet your expectations, particularly regarding the train seating and the first hotel. While some of these situations are influenced by availability and factors outside our control, I completely understand how they can affect the... Read more

Hi Maria,

Thank you so much for your honest and detailed review. Feedback like yours is incredibly valuable and helps me continue improving both the travel planning process and communication with my travelers.

I'm sorry that some aspects of the trip did not fully meet your expectations, particularly regarding the train seating and the first hotel. While some of these situations are influenced by availability and factors outside our control, I completely understand how they can affect the overall experience.

At the same time, I was delighted to read that you and your family had such memorable experiences in Norway. Knowing that the Fjord Safari, the Flåm Railway, and even the floating sauna became some of the highlights of your trip is wonderful to hear.

I also appreciate your comments about the dinner cruise in Bergen. Feedback like this helps me better communicate the nature and pace of certain experiences so they align more closely with travelers' expectations.

Most importantly, I'm very happy to know that, overall, the trip was a great experience and that you created lasting memories with your family. Thank you again for your trust and for taking the time to share such thoughtful feedback.

Warm regards,

Maria

I planned my trip to Norway wanting to see th...
Norway | Dec 30 - Jan 6, 2026

Kate
Kate S.
Denver, CO | Reviewed on Jan 20, 2026
I planned my trip to Norway wanting to see the Northern Lights. Working with kimkim, I found it the easiest way to not only go over my ideas, but have ideas that I wouldn't have any thought of. I started my trip in Oslo and was able to experience the last Christmas Market of my Christmas Market hopping I had done. The hotel I stayed out was perfectly situated and made it very easy to walk to the train station, and the park where the Market was held, when I left the next day to head towards... Read more

I planned my trip to Norway wanting to see the Northern Lights. Working with kimkim, I found it the easiest way to not only go over my ideas, but have ideas that I wouldn't have any thought of. I started my trip in Oslo and was able to experience the last Christmas Market of my Christmas Market hopping I had done. The hotel I stayed out was perfectly situated and made it very easy to walk to the train station, and the park where the Market was held, when I left the next day to head towards Bergen. When I was planning my trip, I thought I was going to just take the train directly to Bergen; however, with the advice of kimkim I actually stayed a night Flam. To make sure the night wasn't boring, they arranged for me to go on a hike in the mountains. It turns out, I was the only one who signed up for the hike. My guide, Bjorn, still took me out for the hike. It was definitely worth the stop in Flam to go on the hike and see the fjord. Bjorn was so knowledgeable about the flora and fauna of the mountain and you could tell he really respected the Norwegian way of life when it comes to outdoor adventures and respecting the land and personal property. After my night in Flam, I headed on the train towards Bergen. That is where there were problems. It turns out when we arrived in Bergen, someone had taken my luggage! I waited at the train station, with their luggage, for over 3.5 hours to see if they would notice and be able come back to the train station. If this isn't a perfect reason to have a luggage tracker when else would be the perfect reason. Because I was in the train station for so long, I didn't get to go out and see Bergen at night. I then woke up the next day to find out my flight to Tromso was cancelled and I was rebooked on a flight that leaves 2 hours earlier. It was a scramble, but I got there. My time in Tromso was great. Overall, my trip was very good and the planning time put in by everyone made it a memorable experience.

Hotel Reviews
Radisson Blu Airport Hotel, Oslo Gardemoen
Gardemoen

Perfect place to stay when you have a really early morning flight and just need a place to relax the night before.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Quality Hotel Grand Tromso
Tromsø

Was in a great location to downtown. Easy to pick up public transport or go to the meeting places for any activities.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Scandic Torget
Bergen
Flåmsbrygga Hotel
Flåm

Cute little hotel closer to the water. It seems like a lot of travelers use this hotel. I did get an "upgrade" to have a balcony. I was still on the main floor, so it ended up being a patio. The room was spacious though and worked well.

Hotell Bondeheimen
Oslo

Perfect location to train station and park when the Christmas Market was.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Staff wasn't as friendly as you would expect from a hotel that sees a lot of international travelers.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Snowshoe Trek
Snowshoe Trek
Flåm

Bjorn was an amazing guide and definitely enjoyed it. As it ended up being just us--definitely appreciated that they didn't cancel because not enough people signed up--it was more special. When we went to the bridge to overlook the fjord, there was no one on the bridge, so Bjorn could take lots of pictures of me, which was nice. During the hike, Bjorn pointed out flora that was typical in the area and at the top, we stopped for some hot berry juice and Norway's version of a Kit Kat bar. We had a wonderful discussion during the hike and even though it wasn't a snowshoe one, I had a good time.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Arctic Fjord Cruise & Fishing Excursion
Arctic Fjord Cruise & Fishing Excursion
Tromsø

I had researched do an arctic fjord cruise with fishing as an option. I wish I would have known, even though it stated lunch was included, all they had was coffee, tea, cocoa, and cookies. I don't know if I would recommend this company for the fishing excursion again, but I would try another one. The captain did try to take us to multiple spots to try to catch fish, so that was appreciated. Overall, I wasn't a fan of the experience and would be a skip.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Reindeer Sledding, Northern Lights & Sámi Culture Experience
Reindeer Sledding, Northern Lights & Sámi Culture Experience
Tromsø

On our way out of Tromso and just a quick 10 minutes from the camp, a car accident happened. We were stuck in line waiting for EMS to get to the occupants to get them to the hospital for easily over an hour. When we finally arrived at the camp, they were able to have us do the sleigh ride and feed the reindeer, but we weren't able to eat the dinner due to time constraints. The people were definitely wonderful, took good care of the reindeer, and did the best they could within the time. We did end up getting a refund, which was appreciated. If you are able to have a full time with the experience, I would say that it would be quite amazing.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Northern Lights Hunt by Minibus
Northern Lights Hunt by Minibus
Tromsø

The guide was really great about hunting for areas where you could see the Northern Lights, even though the night was very cloudy. He ended up having us see the northern lights twice that night. They weren't extremely active, but we were still able to see them. The guide was wonderful and making sure everyone was having a good experience.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Northern Lights Husky Experience with Dinner
Northern Lights Husky Experience with Dinner
Tromsø

The people there really cared about the dogs and were knowledgeable about each one. The food for dinner was good and they even catered to a couple who were vegetarians. We closed the night with mattress sledding and roasted marshmallows. It would have been 5 stars if I would have been able to go on the husky sled ride.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Maria Shephard
Maria
Maria Shephard
Local specialist in Kristiansand | Replied on Jan 20, 2026

Dear Kate!

It was an absolute pleasure to help you build this trip! I am more than happy to read that most of it was smooth and perfect besides the luggage but I am sure this will be a great story to tell !

Thank you for letting me be part of this!
-Maria

The purpose of my trip was aurora photography...
Norway | Dec 21 - Dec 30, 2025

R
Rachmat G.
Singapore | Reviewed on Jan 01, 2026
The purpose of my trip was aurora photography hunting in small group (5-6 people). I expect the local specialist can arrange as I have explained at the beginning. In fact she arranged 2 (two) session aurora chasing which very similar and it's not a photography session. It's just for tourist who want to see aurora. However, to be fair, the hotel was good, other excursions also good, apart of sudden cancelation of an excursion from the operator. Read more

The purpose of my trip was aurora photography hunting in small group (5-6 people). I expect the local specialist can arrange as I have explained at the beginning. In fact she arranged 2 (two) session aurora chasing which very similar and it's not a photography session. It's just for tourist who want to see aurora. However, to be fair, the hotel was good, other excursions also good, apart of sudden cancelation of an excursion from the operator.

Hotel Review
Clarion Hotel the Edge
Tromsø

the breakfast is very good

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Maria Shephard
Maria
Maria Shephard
Local specialist in Kristiansand | Replied on Jan 02, 2026

Dear Rachmat.

Thank you for your feedback! We are glad you had a good experience

An Outstanding experince
Norway | Aug 16 - Aug 31, 2025

P
paolo c.
Italy | Reviewed on Sep 01, 2025

thanks to the team we have enjoyed an outstanding experience. the specialist were always ready to answer question, and to assists and support. furthermore more, both le location that have been selected and the initiatives proposed has been consistent with our high expectations. a particular mention to the Oslo guided tour, that, thanks to the assistance and contribution of our fantastic guide (Lina) we enjoyed a very lively and interesting morning. we definitely plan to use kim kim service again and again.

thank you so much

Local specialist: Maria Shephard
Maria
Maria Shephard
Local specialist in Kristiansand | Replied on Sep 21, 2025

Dear Paolo!

We are so glad to read that you have enjoy our beautiful country and all the proposed initiatives we have had for you! Thats what we are here for !!

We truly appreciate your kind words about the Oslo guided tour — Lina will be thrilled to hear them when we tell her :D

For the whole team has been a pleasure to make this happen for you!
Be

Best regards!

Highly recommend Kimkim to create a perfect trip customized just for you
Norway | May 29 - Jun 24, 2025

Rita
Rita R.
Denver, CO | Reviewed on Jun 25, 2025
The whole experience from planning with Maria and then traveling with the help of the rest of the team was absolutely perfect. We felt completely supported throughout the trip. We made a few last minute changes and the team was there for us every step of the way. It’s so relaxing to have that kind of immediate help while traveling. We didn’t have to worry about anything. We just got to enjoy the incredible beauty of Norway. And I will add that the experiences that Maria chose for us were... Read more

The whole experience from planning with Maria and then traveling with the help of the rest of the team was absolutely perfect. We felt completely supported throughout the trip. We made a few last minute changes and the team was there for us every step of the way. It’s so relaxing to have that kind of immediate help while traveling. We didn’t have to worry about anything. We just got to enjoy the incredible beauty of Norway.

And I will add that the experiences that Maria chose for us were customized for our pace and our interests. And we were very happy with the accommodations that were booked for us. So overall, I would highly recommend Kimkim for making your trip to Norway memorable!

Hotel Reviews
Amerikalinjen
Oslo

Located right in the center of town, the hotel has a great history and character. Service was awesome, especially the bartender where you will have some amazing unusual cocktail!

Radisson Blu Royal Hotel
Bergen

Perfect location. Quiet. Spacious rooms. A great base camp for exploring downtown Bergen.

Heimly Pensjonat
Flåm

The rooms are very small without a lot of room to put your stuff. But the view is incredible, the service is awesome and the meals were great!

Scandic Royal Stavanger
Stavanger

It’s a little far from the center of town but quiet. No views. But comfortable.

Thon Hotel Kirkenes
Kirkenes

Great views of the harbor. Good food. Comfortable rooms.

Activity Review
Private City Walk
Private City Walk
Oslo

There is nothing like a local to share their understanding of a place. And our guide gave us tips to explore things we never would have been able to do on our own!

Local specialist: Maria Shephard
Maria
Maria Shephard
Local specialist in Kristiansand | Replied on Jun 26, 2025

Dear Rita.!

Once again, I can only said what a great experience helping you to create this trip.! Having you experiencing Norway like you did is our main and only goal!

We are so glad you had great chances to relax, to enjoy great food and to meet great guides and people from Norway!

Your feedback is a valuable as your beautiful words to our team.!
-Maria