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Mathilde Dubuisson

After having wonderful opportunities of trips in Europe, I really became passionate about traveling ✈️

My name is Mathilde, I am 25 years old and I grew up in Troyes, in the Champagne region 🍾 It made me develop an interest for sharing my beautiful culture whenever I have the chance (but don't worry, I won't force you to eat snails!)

How did you get involved in travel?

"I had the chance to travel many times with school, so I consider myself lucky to travel to Ireland or even to Latvia or Turkey when I was young. Then, while I was studying at university, I spend some time abroad: in England, Scotland and Spain. I loved spending my week ends hopping on a train and exploring these beautiful countries!"

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"Being a huge Harry Potter fan, I will never forget the breathtaking views of the Harry Potter Bridge and the Black Lake."

Top itineraries and travel advice
Family itineraries
Road trip itineraries

Recent trip reviews for Mathilde

Mathilde was excellent in responding promptly...
France | Sep 22 - Sep 29, 2023

Andrew
Andrew G.
Canada | Reviewed on Oct 31, 2023
Mathilde was excellent in responding promptly and revising the trip as we expressed our wishes in terms of the locations we wanted to visit and budget as well. When Mathilde was away, Kevin stepped in and was very helpful as well. In one situation when we needed help, Valentine also stepped in and offered to switch our hotel but we did not need to move, although the offer was very nice.
We had a fantastic time, sometimes challenging but very satisfying overall. For further commentary see a...
Read more

Mathilde was excellent in responding promptly and revising the trip as we expressed our wishes in terms of the locations we wanted to visit and budget as well. When Mathilde was away, Kevin stepped in and was very helpful as well. In one situation when we needed help, Valentine also stepped in and offered to switch our hotel but we did not need to move, although the offer was very nice.
We had a fantastic time, sometimes challenging but very satisfying overall. For further commentary see a couple of my blogs below, and you can see all my blogs on the time we spent in France at andrasthehun.blog on wordpress or click on and-r-as-the-hun.ca. I copied two of the blogs below describing our unique experiences in Aix-en-Provence.

Finding Our hotel in Aix-en-Provence, France (blog published at andrasthehun.blog)

The travel agent reserved a place for us in Aix-en-Provence and the GPS in the Peugeot 208 indicated a map showing how to get there. The rush-hour traffic engulfed Kathy driving the car and I assisted navigating the road. Crowds of people walking across the street made driving more challenging. And the roundabouts, of which there were more than traffic lights, complicated driving by sprouting many exits and lanes that we had to assess in trying to find the right exit.
Some exits were just lanes. Once the GPS directed us to take the next right, which was a lane that took us into an underground parking that we toured searching for the exit. On exiting, the inserted ticket triggered the gate to open, and we sped out.
The car rental agent switched the GPS to English from French and a serious-sounding, deep-voiced female directed us to our destination with a UK accent. We learned some new expressions such as “bear right” which means to turn right.
The rush of traffic, the crisscrossing pedestrians, and listening to the deep UK-accented voice combined to make us highly nervous driving in a town new to us, and we wanted to get to our place fast. But that was not to be.
With the hotel address typed into the GPS, the GPS directed us to turn left into a lane right after going around the Rotunda, a central square in Aix. In the fast-moving traffic, we did not notice the small lane quickly enough and missed our turn in the rush-hour traffic. We were frustrated and used some words not appropriate in a blog. After recalculating, the GPS moved us around a few kilometers to come back to the Rotunda again. By that time with our nerves frazzled, we missed the turn lane yet again, being pushed by the cars behind us on our tail.
The third time around Kathy slowed down ignoring the honking behind us and we entered the single lane promising to lead us to our hotel. The next left turn ordered by the GPS left us facing a few bollards not allowing us into the single lane. Stumped, we stopped trying to analyze the situation before the honking became overbearing and people yelling at us to get a move on. We had no choice. We moved on while Kathy, in her utter frustration showed a finger to the woman driver behind us shouting at us.
At this point, having driven around for over an hour and a half, I said, hell with the hotel reservation, let’s take another hotel anywhere in Aix. Then we realized that we needed gas to continue our search. I clicked on Waze on my cellphone and looked for the nearest gas station. Still, in rush-hour traffic, we missed a few gas stations because we could not get to the right lane from the middle lanes fast enough. We filled up at the gas station that we finally reached, where a friendly soul directed us to a suburban hotel twenty minutes away. We were happy though with a full tank of gas and redirected the GPS to find the hotel.
Khalid, the hotel receptionist, was sorry but said his hotel was full and he came with me to two adjacent hotels to speak French to the other receptionists, which he said would help us, poor Canadians, find a place to sleep. Walking back and forth among the hotels afforded me time to discover that Khalid came from Tunisia and he became excited to hear that I loved Tajine.
The horrible option of sleeping in the car came to my mind, should we not find a hotel. But that idea also created a problem; where to find a place to park? Parking in Aix seemed nonexistent. When I shared this idea with Khaled, he would not hear of it, he said he would make sure to find a place for us.
But the nearby hotels were full as well. Khalid called another ten hotels to no avail. By this time, it was dark, and we were totally tired out and the impossible scenario of finding a quiet spot to park and sleep in the car has become a real option. Instead, Khalid suggested we leave the car at his hotel’s parking garage and take a taxi to our hotel, wherever it was. Since it was an offer to park free in the garage, and we were too tired to think, we accepted his offer. We took our overnight bags and waited for the taxi he called.
The taxi followed the route we had taken previously around the Rotunda, but instead of going off to the left where we had gone three times, the driver took the next right which was Cours Mirabeau where our hotel was. When confronted with bollards at the entrance – Cours Mirabeau is closed to traffic except for delivery vehicles and taxis – the driver inserted a card into a slot on a post next to him to make the bollards sink into the ground. And then we drove onto rue Mirabeau and found our hotel.
The next morning, after surveying where we were, we took a taxi to retrieve our car and returned to park it in the nearby parking garage. The instructions to our hotel would have been clearer if instructed to seek a garage, and not the hotel, which was inaccessible by car. But since the hotel has a street address, the GPS took us on a futile trip.
In retrospect, the travel agent should have told us to park first with an address for a garage and instructions on how to reach the hotel next. Instead, the address to the hotel was provided with the suggestion that we park in the nearest parking garage. But we were happy just to find the hotel located along a wide sidewalk full of outdoor cafes with crowds of people. Nobody paid attention to us entering the hotel.

Entering Our Apartment in Aix-en-Provence, France (blog published under andrasthehun.blog)

Talk about security! I thought we would get a key from a receptionist and go to our room in a hotel. Not so. We were registered at Les Suites Du Cours in Aix-en-Provence, which we thought was a hotel – but discovered later that in Aix, at least, a hotel is a type of townhouse in the center of the old city, they used to be houses of the wealthy. Our hotel room turned out to be an apartment.
Let me start in the beginning when we received instructions on how to access our “self-registration” where we would be staying tonight. Although we had the street address, the instructions on how to enter our accommodation from the travel agent came the day Kathy drove from St. Remy to Aix-en-Provence, about an hour’s drive.
I was surprised; I expected a hotel with a lobby and a receptionist. Not so. We received an algorithm on how to enter this place via ten successive emails that mirrored a five-page manual on entering this place, the latter also sent via email!
Challenged by digital codes and fobs and keys in the instructions, I was apprehensive about our arrival; what if we could not follow the instructions and were left on the street with no receptionist? Although we had a phone number, what if they do not work at night or not at home? And would my French be good enough to communicate with them?
When we arrived at the address with two backpacks, after being lost for three hours, we faced a large, ornamental door, shown in a picture on the five-page instruction manual. The door at our address was in the middle of outdoor cafes, with people occupying all the tables, oblivious to the new arrivals.
So, we started by punching in the four-digit code to open the ten-foot-high historical, ornamental, heavy door; it clicked and we pushed it inwards. The door was very heavy with springs so strong that I had to lean into it to keep it open. Total darkness awaited us inside the twenty-foot-long vestibule, and I fumbled to find a light switch, indicated by three lighted dots on the wall ten feet away from us. We searched for the mailboxes, as instructed, opened the door, and looked up the next code to open the number 5 mailbox, our apartment number. We punched another four-digit code a few times with no success until I realized that the star after the four digits was part of the code and not the end of the instructions. Two sets of keys fell out of the mailbox for our next set of doors.
A fob was attached to both sets of keys and one of the fobs opened the next door, leading to the staircase and the elevator. This part of the building was also totally in darkness but by now we knew to look for the light switch. With only our backpacks, we decided to walk up the stairs instead of using the elevator even though the twenty-foot ceiling made the stairs long. The instructions were that only one person and a suitcase could be in the elevator at one time, and yet another key to use it. At any rate, our apartment was only on the second floor, we reasoned, and Kathy was worried she might get stuck in the ancient elevator.
Having reached the second floor, we tried to use the old-fashioned elaborately molded key to open the large, ten-foot-high ornamental door. We were tired and the key was obstreperous, it would not work. I was unsure whether I put it in the right manner and twisted it around in all directions. Finally, I banged on the door in frustration, expecting someone to be around to help us or tell us to get out of there but nothing happened.
Then the realization struck us that in France, the second floor is actually on the third level. The ground or first floor is the “rez-de-chaussee”. So, we hauled our baggage up to the next floor in the dark again since the lights worked for a short time only and we had to find the next switch on the next level. This time the old key worked. Finally, we arrived in our “hallway”, but it was pitch black again, and fumbled in the dark to find a switch.
In this hallway, several double doors faced us which, I thought would lead us to the kitchen, bedroom, etc. I heard voices behind one of the doors so I went there and burst in to let the intruders know that we reserved this unit. American voices greeted us in a friendly tone, and they said that they had reserved this unit for five days and our apartment must be behind another door opening from the “hallway”.
Three apartment units opened from this hallway and we, apparently, reserved one of these but we did not see numbers to indicate which one. Each unit had a set of double doors in front of the locked door units themselves – the unit number itself was a small number on the inner door, not visible from the hallway. The ornamental double doors, we speculated, were probably the original doors to be kept for historical purposes, and the inner doors, where our keys worked, were modern, lockable ones.
I was embarrassed for bursting in on the American visitors, apologized, and went to another door in the hallway where one of the keys on the second set of keys worked. Finally, we arrived at our apartment. The “hallway” served three apartments; I mistook the word hallway for our apartment’s lobby.
Once we settled into our bright place, we engaged in a friendly discussion with the neighbors and imbibed a glass of wine to calm our frazzled nerves, I reflected on the amount of security installed here. We needed two digital codes, a fob, and two keys to enter our apartment! Was this necessary? Is this overkill? Is the crime rate in France high? I did not know. But I thought the five barriers to mount to enter an apartment were beyond the pale. But perhaps when you get used to this system, it becomes simple. At any rate, we felt secure to leave our passports in the room when venturing outside.
Now you might think this entrance to occupy your hotel/apartment was frustrating, irritating and unnecessary. It was. But at the same time, to me, it was a puzzle to solve. It was fun. I used to do sudoku and now I do wordle. The satisfaction of solving puzzles was similar to solving this real-life puzzle to get into our accommodation.

Local specialist: Mathilde Dubuisson
Mathilde
Mathilde Dubuisson
Local specialist in Villefranche-sur-Saône | Replied on Nov 09, 2023

Bonjour Andrew, thank you for your review about your experience in Provence, this is very helpful for us!
I am sorry you experienced some issue to find your hotel in Aix-en-Provence. After checking, it seems like my colleague sent you a message with the information about where to park near your hotel with several options. In the future, I'll make sure this info appears in the travel book and not in the messages for better communication.
I wish you all the best in your future travels,
Mathilde

MATHILDE WAS AWESOME, EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT AND COULD NOT HAVE BEEN BETTER!!!!
France | Sep 16 - Oct 6, 2023

B
Bryan T.
Canada | Reviewed on Oct 16, 2023
Contacting KimKim and especially Mathilde was the best decision my wife and myself made for our 3 week trip to France. We had never used a travel specialist to organize an entire vacation in the past but now realize it will be the only way we will travel in the future. Mathilde was assigned to our initial request and she was extremely fast at getting back to us with a suggested itinerary. We told her that we wanted to start in Paris for 3-4 days and then end up in southern France for the... Read more

Contacting KimKim and especially Mathilde was the best decision my wife and myself made for our 3 week trip to France. We had never used a travel specialist to organize an entire vacation in the past but now realize it will be the only way we will travel in the future. Mathilde was assigned to our initial request and she was extremely fast at getting back to us with a suggested itinerary. We told her that we wanted to start in Paris for 3-4 days and then end up in southern France for the last week of our holiday. We are quite active and wanted to see as much as possible during our stay and asked her for some information walking tours, wine and e bike tours as well as many other things. Our stays during the 3 weeks were in Paris, Normandy, Mont St. Michel, Loire Valley, Bordeaux, Aix en Provence and Nice. WIth regards to transportation, she handled the private transfers to and from the airport in Paris and everything in between which was a combination of train and car rental. All of the hotels that she booked were fabulous!!! Where Mathilde really excelled was all of the tours that she organized and arranged on our behalf. From the full day small group tours in travel vans or e bikes to the 1/2 day private historical tours. She booked 2 private boat tours, one in Paris and the other on the Mediterranean in Nice. Some of the tours we drove to ourselves in the beautiful French countryside which was great as well!!! All of the guides were very friendly, knowledgable and a lot of fun. Additionally, they spoke very good English. As we reflect on our holiday, we both feel it could not have been any better than what Mathilde put together for us. We will always treasure our very special trip to France because of you!!! Merci, merci, merci.

Local specialist: Mathilde Dubuisson
Mathilde
Mathilde Dubuisson
Local specialist in Villefranche-sur-Saône | Replied on Oct 17, 2023

Bonjour Bryan and Jill! Thank you so much for your amazing review, I'm so happy to read you enjoyed your trip :) It was a pleasure organizing your holiday and making it memorable!
I wish you all the best in your future travels!
Mathilde

Unforgettable Experiences in Alpine France and Switzerland
France | Sep 26 - Oct 5, 2023

Emily
Emily C.
Brookfield, IL | Reviewed on Oct 09, 2023
We truly enjoyed our trip to Geneva, Switzerland and Chamonix, Annecy, and Lyon, France. Mathilde, our local specialist did a fine job planning just the right mix of activities with down time to relax. The hotels she chose for us were conveniently located to the attractions we wanted to visit, and all featured comfortable rooms, and wonderful breakfasts. The Edelweiss Hotel in Geneva was filled with local color, including rustic Swiss mountain lodge decor and a musician in its restaurant who... Read more

We truly enjoyed our trip to Geneva, Switzerland and Chamonix, Annecy, and Lyon, France. Mathilde, our local specialist did a fine job planning just the right mix of activities with down time to relax. The hotels she chose for us were conveniently located to the attractions we wanted to visit, and all featured comfortable rooms, and wonderful breakfasts. The Edelweiss Hotel in Geneva was filled with local color, including rustic Swiss mountain lodge decor and a musician in its restaurant who sang, yodeled, played the accordion and the long mountain horn of the region. What fun! A friendly driver picked us up at the hotel and drove us to our next destination, Chamonix.
We loved Chamonix! It's a very picturesque town, where we were guided by the excellent Aude, who helped us to understand the rich heritage of the town. We were in awe of the jaw-dropping vistas seen from l'Aiguille du Midi. Guide Armony accompanied us up the mountain on the cable car, and showed us the various levels and viewing points along the way. Without her guidance, we wouldn't have experienced half of the sights from the mountain. She was wonderful! In Chamonix, a driver picked us up and took us to Annecy, about an hour away. Going by car was super convenient.
In Annecy, we were reunited with Aude, who had shown us around Chamonix. Again, she was friendly and informative. It was Sunday, a beautiful day, and the streets of the town were packed! Aude knew how to negotiate the narrow streets and get us samples of local foods so that we could experience the tastes as well as the ambiance of this very charming town. In our free time, we took boat tours of both Lake Geneva and Lake Annecy, both incredibly picturesque. We were blessed the whole time with sunny skies and mild temperatures.
We left Annecy and took the train to Lyon. From the station, we took a taxi to the meeting point where we joined a group to take the Beaujolais Golden Stones tour. There were 2 vans, each with 8 tourists and a guide. We rode for about 40 minutes through beautiful hills and picturesque towns, then stopped at a lovely overlook where our guides Clémence and Agathe told the story of the area's heritage in wine production, and poured samples of white, rosé and red wines of the region. The served delicious croissants and pastries to accompany the wine. We then proceeded to a gorgeous village called Oingt that dated from the Middle Ages, and on to Domaine de fond-Vieille, vineyards and winery. The proprietor, Dominique showed us his vines and explained how the wine is produced. We then sampled his wines, white, rosé and red along with delicious cheeses and charcuterie of the region. We had plenty of time in the vans to chat with our fellow tourists, and enjoyed getting to know people from the Netherlands, Japan, New Zealand, the UK, and Canada.
The next day we wandered Lyon, taking the funicular up to the high town, visiting the Basilica at the top, and the Roman ruins of Lugundum. A delicious déjeuner at the Rooftop restaurant of Christian Tetedoie overlooking Lyon way was the perfect way to end our visit.
Thank you to Mathilde for all your hard work, and to Amandine for helping when Mathilde was on vacation. The next time we travel to Europe, we will definitely use Kimkim to help plan our adventure!

Local specialist: Mathilde Dubuisson
Mathilde
Mathilde Dubuisson
Local specialist in Villefranche-sur-Saône | Replied on Oct 10, 2023

Hi Emily and Chris!
I'm so happy you enjoyed your stay in France and I'll make sure Amandine and the providers hear about your feedback too. I hope you made it back home safely with plenty of memories!!!
I wish you all the best in your future travels!
Mathilde

50th Anniversary Paris Trip
France | Sep 7 - Sep 12, 2023

Jim
Jim V.
Morristown, NJ | Reviewed on Sep 13, 2023
Mathilde's knowledgeable and instantly responsive communications and advice during the planning, adjustments and coordination of our itinerary and logistics was awesome leading up to and throughout our five day anniversary trip. The kimkim site paired us with the perfect travel professional for Paris and, undoubtedly, anywhere in France. Everyone on the staff of the "boutique" Hotel Baume where we stayed in the Latin Quarter catered to our every need with amazingly friendly, accommodating... Read more

Mathilde's knowledgeable and instantly responsive communications and advice during the planning, adjustments and coordination of our itinerary and logistics was awesome leading up to and throughout our five day anniversary trip. The kimkim site paired us with the perfect travel professional for Paris and, undoubtedly, anywhere in France.

Everyone on the staff of the "boutique" Hotel Baume where we stayed in the Latin Quarter catered to our every need with amazingly friendly, accommodating and professional service. We couldn't be happier with how this most memorable trip worked out for us and high recommend the kimkim online platform for staging a similar travel experience!

Hotel Review
Hôtel Baume
Paris

For us, this was the perfect and friendly "boutique" hotel in the Latin Quarter which catered to our every need almost always before we thought of it!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Mathilde Dubuisson
Mathilde
Mathilde Dubuisson
Local specialist in Villefranche-sur-Saône | Replied on Sep 14, 2023

Hi Jim and Vicki!
Thank you so much for your kind review, I'm happy you enjoyed your trip to France and I hope it was the perfect celebration for your 50th anniversary! I wish you all the best in your future travels!
Kind regards,
Mathilde

Great Experience!
France | Aug 17 - Aug 24, 2023

A
Ariel P.
North Stamford, CT | Reviewed on Aug 26, 2023
This was our first time booking a trip through Kimkim and we definitely plan to book with them again! Our guide, Mathilde, was very knowledgable and helpful and worked through several iterations of the vacation itinerary with us until it was perfect. Our daughters (8 & 11) loved all the activities she planned as well as the private tours she set up for us which kept them excited and engaged throughout our time in Paris. The itinerary could have been a bit more detailed (e.g. how long a tour... Read more

This was our first time booking a trip through Kimkim and we definitely plan to book with them again! Our guide, Mathilde, was very knowledgable and helpful and worked through several iterations of the vacation itinerary with us until it was perfect. Our daughters (8 & 11) loved all the activities she planned as well as the private tours she set up for us which kept them excited and engaged throughout our time in Paris. The itinerary could have been a bit more detailed (e.g. how long a tour would last so we could plan out the rest of our day once there) but that was just a minor thing and overall everything was fantastic. The hotel was also in a perfect location, close to local restaurants, shopping, the Metro and the Eiffel Tower. We had the absolute best time and have told our friends and family about Kimkim who plan to use them in the future as well!

Hotel Reviews
Hôtel Gustave
Paris

Excellent location, close to everything!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Les Quais de Lutèce 4*
Plailly

The hotel itself was amazing as it was a short walk to the park and the buffet breakfast and dinner were wonderful for our family of four. The only thing we didn’t love was that there was a late check in on our first day of arrival - 5pm, so we had to kill several hours before being able to access our room. The restaurants and bar were closed during this time so there wasn’t much to do. Other than that, it was a great experience and we highly recommend visiting Asterix Park and staying at this hotel.

Authenticity & Character
They had a special meet and greet with the Asterix characters.
Location
So close to the park!
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Mathilde Dubuisson
Mathilde
Mathilde Dubuisson
Local specialist in Villefranche-sur-Saône | Replied on Aug 29, 2023

Hello Ariel,
Merci beaucoup for your kind review, I'm happy you had a fantastic trip! We'll make sure we write the total duration of the tours from now, this kind of feedback helps a lot! I wish you all the best in your future travels!
Kind regards,
Mathilde

A trip that I am going to remember for years to come.
France | May 31 - Jul 26, 2023

Kidianga
Kidianga T.
Biggs, CA | Reviewed on Aug 09, 2023
I want to say thank you to Mathilde and her team for helping me create memories that will last me a lifetime and beyond. I can't rave enough about the exceptional services provided by Mathilde. She was patient, accommodating, flexible, and always available. Every single guide Mathilde paired me with was incredibly kind, generous and knowledgeable. My vacation in France far exceeded my high expectations. I will not hesitate to enlist Mathilde's help again if I ever travel to France or... Read more

I want to say thank you to Mathilde and her team for helping me create memories that will last me a lifetime and beyond. I can't rave enough about the exceptional services provided by Mathilde. She was patient, accommodating, flexible, and always available. Every single guide Mathilde paired me with was incredibly kind, generous and knowledgeable. My vacation in France far exceeded my high expectations. I will not hesitate to enlist Mathilde's help again if I ever travel to France or Switzerland for that matter. She is remarkably excellent and I would highly recommend her to anyone. Mathilde, merci beaucoup.

Hotel Reviews
La Villa Nice Promenade
Nice

The staff at this hotel were so friendly and helpful. They made my stay so enjoyable and comfortable. The location was perfect, close to La Promenade des Anglais. The breakfast was delicious and had a great variety of options. My room was a little small but still incredibly comfortable.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Collège Hotel
Lyon

I didn't like it at all. I believe that it was a former dormitory that has been transformed into a hotel. The inside decor was not very inviting. I was extremely disappointed that Mathilde chose this hotel for me, especially given the fact that I was travelling all the way from the United States. My stay here was one of the low point of my vacation in Europe. I would never recommend anyone to stay here.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Novotel Annecy Centre Atria Hôtel
Annecy

Exceptional hotel, very clean, with a first rate staff.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Mathilde Dubuisson
Mathilde
Mathilde Dubuisson
Local specialist in Villefranche-sur-Saône | Replied on Aug 17, 2023

Hello Kidianga,
Thanks for this amazing review! I'm happy you enjoyed your trip, it would be a pleasure to organize your future trips in the future!
All the best,
Mathilde

Everything made easy
France | Jul 16 - Jul 26, 2023

Queenie
Queenie C.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Jul 27, 2023
Mathilde and her team at KimKim were instrumental in creating a wonderful relaxed road trip in France for our family. We are time-poor professionals with little room for research into the lead-up of our holiday. Mathilde and the team in France created an itinerary which included our must-see sites in Normandy, Loire and Bordeaux; and plenty more we had not thought of. She was thorough and the attention to detail was superb. Her accommodation choices pleasantly surprised us at every location.... Read more

Mathilde and her team at KimKim were instrumental in creating a wonderful relaxed road trip in France for our family. We are time-poor professionals with little room for research into the lead-up of our holiday. Mathilde and the team in France created an itinerary which included our must-see sites in Normandy, Loire and Bordeaux; and plenty more we had not thought of. She was thorough and the attention to detail was superb. Her accommodation choices pleasantly surprised us at every location. We could not have possibly have chosen better ourselves. Travelling with a toddler was factored in. Mathilde liaised with the hotel and found us a babysitter in Bordeaux. The itinerary was not rushed but still allowed us to make the most of our 2-week stay. We highly recommend KimKim to any busy professionals and families, or simply anyone who desires a stress-free and incredible holiday.

Local specialist: Mathilde Dubuisson
Mathilde
Mathilde Dubuisson
Local specialist in Villefranche-sur-Saône | Replied on Aug 02, 2023

Bonjour Queenie for your kind review! I'm happy you enjoyed your trip and I hope you went back home with many memories!

All the best in your future travels!
Mathilde

Wonderful Trip to France!
France | May 3 - May 11, 2023

L
Lisa C.
San Francisco, CA | Reviewed on Jun 22, 2023
After a few days of getting lost in all the beautiful pictures of different hotels, we decided it might be best to look for a travel agent. We first considered using Kim Kim less than two weeks before our trip, and we already had an idea of what we wanted to do, so we were surprised when we were advised against it. Bastien, the travel agent, took the time to explain why our plan might be improved (the sheer amount of travel time alone was enough for us) by a few places we hadn't previously... Read more

After a few days of getting lost in all the beautiful pictures of different hotels, we decided it might be best to look for a travel agent. We first considered using Kim Kim less than two weeks before our trip, and we already had an idea of what we wanted to do, so we were surprised when we were advised against it. Bastien, the travel agent, took the time to explain why our plan might be improved (the sheer amount of travel time alone was enough for us) by a few places we hadn't previously considered. We took his advice, tweaked the itinerary, talked it through him, and decided this was the way to go! He had a surprisingly quick turnaround and even mentioned an item that might be easier to get on our own rather than through him, which I appreciated since it didn't feel like he was trying to upsell anything. We asked for nicer/posher accommodations (and he delivered).

Once we were there, Mathilde took over as our primary contact and took the time to check in. She was readily available for our few questions and checked on us to ensure everything went smoothly.

The tours were fabulous, and the ONLY thing that made this less than perfect was one tour that offered lunch and champagne tasting. The champagne-tasting part was great, but there was no lunch (pairings only, and the tour guide indicated that she had already informed the agencies). Needless to say, after the hours-long tour, we were starving.

Everything else was spectacular. Highly recommend!

Hotel Review
Divine Comédie B&B Private house & Spa
AVIGNON

This place was gorgeous. The staff was excellent. The breakfast was terrific. The location is super-convenient and private enough to make you feel far away from everything. My kids loved the pictures we sent home - the decor gave the place character. Our new favorite place. Recommend!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Mathilde Dubuisson
Mathilde
Mathilde Dubuisson
Local specialist in Villefranche-sur-Saône | Replied on Jul 07, 2023

Hi Lisa!

Thank you for this amazing review, I am happy you had such a nice experience and that you enjoyed your trip! I take note of your remarks about the Champagne lunch, it helps us a lot!

All the best in your future travels,
Mathilde

France - Bayeaux, Amboise, Paris
France | May 24 - May 31, 2023

Judith
Judith P.
Marco Island, FL | Reviewed on Jun 05, 2023
We had a wonderful trip to France! Mathilde worked diligently to fit everything we wanted into our ambitious schedule. There was not one glitch, it was effortless and totally enjoyable which is what we wanted. Mathilde handled all the minute details and all we had to do was follow her directions. Every guide, tour, hotel, driver was vetted by Mathilde and they all get 5 stars. We traveled in France to Bayeaux, Amboise and Paris and had a trip of a lifetime! Read more

We had a wonderful trip to France! Mathilde worked diligently to fit everything we wanted into our ambitious schedule. There was not one glitch, it was effortless and totally enjoyable which is what we wanted. Mathilde handled all the minute details and all we had to do was follow her directions. Every guide, tour, hotel, driver was vetted by Mathilde and they all get 5 stars. We traveled in France to Bayeaux, Amboise and Paris and had a trip of a lifetime!

Hotel Review
Villa Lara Hôtel
Bayeux

Right in the center of Bayeux and around the corner from the cathedral and famous tapestry. The bed was luxurious and the room very comfortable. The breakfast was delicious as well.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Private Guided tour of Mont-Saint-Michel and entrance tickets to the Abbey
Private Guided tour of Mont-Saint-Michel and entrance tickets to the Abbey
France

Mont Saint Michel was amazing to experience. Our guide Samuel had extensive knowledge of the area, the history and the tides to explain about what makes Mont Saint Michel so special.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Mathilde Dubuisson
Mathilde
Mathilde Dubuisson
Local specialist in Villefranche-sur-Saône | Replied on Jun 13, 2023

Bonjour Judith and Tony!
Thank you for your kind words, I am happy you enjoyed your trip! I hope you went back home with a lot of amazing memories and I wish you all the best in your future travels!
Mathilde

Great service!
France | May 2 - May 21, 2023

Karen
Karen W.
San Leandro, CA | Reviewed on May 25, 2023
Mathilde was very helpful with planning for the France portion of our 3 week France and Italy adventure. She made excellent choices with the hotels and tours she booked for us. And it was a real boon to have hotel and airport transfer during key points on our journey. It was a luxury to have this kind of assistance with travel planning as we typically do it all ourselves. Glad we made the investment for this first big post-retirement adventure. Read more

Mathilde was very helpful with planning for the France portion of our 3 week France and Italy adventure. She made excellent choices with the hotels and tours she booked for us. And it was a real boon to have hotel and airport transfer during key points on our journey. It was a luxury to have this kind of assistance with travel planning as we typically do it all ourselves. Glad we made the investment for this first big post-retirement adventure.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Escaletto
Aix-en-Provence

Well situated and beautifully appointed hotel with fabulous breakfast and a super-attentive and caring staff. Rooms are small but bed very comfortable and everything has been updated. The location in Aix is great and right in the older part of the city.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Elise was amazing and provided superlative service. But all the staff were good and truly friendly and kind.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Beds great.
Palm Hotel
Nice

We were lucky enough to get the family suite which was really like a great small apartment. Sweet outdoor probate rooftop deck and tons of room very comfortable bed and well appointed. Perfect for our 3-night stay.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Close to everything!
Staff
Karine was super and really helped out. Enjoyed speaking with her and she made good suggestions. Also the owner was helpful.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
A Day Trip from Aix en Provence to Cassis Village, Calanques Boat Ride & Provence Wines
A Day Trip from Aix en Provence to Cassis Village, Calanques Boat Ride & Provence Wines
Aix-en-Provence

Gorgeous views and lovely boat ride. Cassis is a sweet small town and it’s truly amazing to see the beautiful blue water and breathtaking vistas from the hilltop park above the city.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Comfortable van with plenty of room for our small group. Good driver.
Latin Quarter Gourmet Tour
Latin Quarter Gourmet Tour
Paris

This tour with Akiko from Meeting the French was a memorable highlight of our trip. She was an outstanding guide who truly knows all the shops and many of the shop owners in the Latin Quarter. She introduced us to her favorite artisan vendors then selected fabulous cheeses, pates and bread for the picnic lunch we had at our wine tasting location. She also knew so much history and of the area and we really felt like we got to dive in depth into not just the food and market culture but architecture and history.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Stayed above.
Cannes, Antibes, & Saint-Paul de Vence
Cannes, Antibes, & Saint-Paul de Vence
France

This driving tour was a lot of in-car time and while the guide was knowledgeable and we learned - great deal, I’m not sure that seeing Cannes was so worthwhile if you aren’t into the glitz of the film fest. Best part was the time in Saint-Paul de Vence. This is a gorgeous medieval village with stunning views.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Driver seemed a bit stressed out. She talked nonstop and could have been a bit more interactive rather than lecturing.
Transport
Local specialist: Mathilde Dubuisson
Mathilde
Mathilde Dubuisson
Local specialist in Villefranche-sur-Saône | Replied on May 26, 2023

Hello Karen!
Thank you so much for your amazing review, I'm happy to see that you enjoyed your trip to France and Italy! I hope you got back home with a lot of amazing memories :)
All the best in your future travels,
Mathilde

We loved working with Mathilde! I would highl...
France | Apr 26 - May 6, 2023

jane
jane p.
Minneapolis, MN | Reviewed on May 08, 2023
We loved working with Mathilde! I would highly recommend her to all of my friends. She was so personable and put together the perfect itinerary for us. I loved ending our trip in Nice and really enjoyed the cooking class. I want to go back and visit more of the French Riviera and part of Italy next time. I loved the experience traveling first class on the high speed train! Better than flying! Thank you Mathilde for planning such a great experience! Read more

We loved working with Mathilde! I would highly recommend her to all of my friends. She was so personable and put together the perfect itinerary for us. I loved ending our trip in Nice and really enjoyed the cooking class. I want to go back and visit more of the French Riviera and part of Italy next time. I loved the experience traveling first class on the high speed train! Better than flying! Thank you Mathilde for planning such a great experience!

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Escaletto
Aix-en-Provence

Great location, easy to walk to the central areas in Aix. Room basic but perfectly fine. My only suggestion would be to have a few snack options available at the bar for us late night munchers! Staff was terrific!

Authenticity & Character
More readily available items like snacks and water in the evening.
Location
Staff
So nice! I enjoyed chatting with one of the staff in the evening while having a night cap.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Room clean and comfortable
Hôtel de l’Horloge
Avignon

Nice clean room with good location. I loved our view of the center square.

Authenticity & Character
Felt very French!
Location
Right in the center of the square
Staff
Helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
Daily service was nice
Suisse Hotel
Nice

Loved our view of the water and loved sitting on our balcony to soak up late afternoon sun. Walking distance to the market, restaurants. Great place!

Authenticity & Character
Elevator sort of small. Bar:lounging area not very good.
Location
Walking distance to water, restaurants, shops
Staff
Staff fine just not as warm as the staff at the other hotels we stayed, but fine.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean and comfortable
Activity Reviews
A Private Half Day Trip from Aix en Provence to Luberon Villages
A Private Half Day Trip from Aix en Provence to Luberon Villages
Aix-en-Provence

Lucille was an excellent guide and gave us a terrific experience

Quality of Experience
We loved our tour guide’s presentation and communication style.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local knowledge and personal passion for area.
Transport
We loved the comfortable vehicle and the microphone so we could hear guide
Roman Sites & Historical Places
Roman Sites & Historical Places
Avignon

Very educational overview. Thought our guide Bastion was terrific!

Quality of Experience
Less time at coliseum, first stop, one hour too much
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Loved Bastions friendly style and he was very knowledgeable about the various sites and encouraged questions.
Transport
Loved the nice vehicle and use of the microphone
Market tour, cooking class & lunch
Market tour, cooking class & lunch
Nice

Rosa our chef was wonderful! I learned so much about Nice cooking and culture. Loved the market tour and the cooking class was so enjoyable! Was so nice to have our meal together with such a nice group. I highly recommend this!

Quality of Experience
Rosa gave us a great tour in the market and I loved her overview of nice style cooking as we prepared our meal.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Rosa great
Transport
Walked!
A day in Monaco via Eze and la Turbie
A day in Monaco via Eze and la Turbie
France

This was my least favorite experience. Too much time in the car which made me nauseous. Seemed a bit rushed and I don’t think our guide was very good.

Quality of Experience
Felt rushed
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Driver did not use microphone so we missed a lot of what she was saying
Transport
A bit crowded
Local specialist: Mathilde Dubuisson
Mathilde
Mathilde Dubuisson
Local specialist in Villefranche-sur-Saône | Replied on May 18, 2023

Hi Jane and Cindy!
Thank you for this amazing review, I'm so happy you enjoyed your trip to France. Unfortunately, the French Riviera is often crowded and the traffic is dense, I hope you still enjoyed your day and have a lot of memories! :)
All the best,
Mathilde

Perfect customized family trip
France | Apr 6 - Apr 16, 2023

Brian
Brian G.
Kensington, NY | Reviewed on Apr 17, 2023
Mathilde did a phenomenal job of customizing our trip exactly how we envisioned it, especially by getting us hard to get tickets, including the Vermeer exhibit which was nearly a miracle. The pacing of the trip and quality of the stops was perfect no complaints Read more

Mathilde did a phenomenal job of customizing our trip exactly how we envisioned it, especially by getting us hard to get tickets, including the Vermeer exhibit which was nearly a miracle. The pacing of the trip and quality of the stops was perfect no complaints

Hotel Reviews
Hôtel Lorette—Astotel
Paris
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Rooms were small, hit my head on ceiling, showers weren’t comfortable
The Times Hotel
Amsterdam
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Citadines Sainte Catherine Brussels
Brussels
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Mathilde Dubuisson
Mathilde
Mathilde Dubuisson
Local specialist in Villefranche-sur-Saône | Replied on Apr 17, 2023

Bonjour Brian,

Thank you for your kind words, I'm happy you and your family enjoyed your trip! I hope that you came back home with a lot of memories of French food, Belgian chocolate and Amsterdam museums!

I wish you all the best in your future travels!
Mathilde