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active 4 hours ago

Raquel Aceituno

The eternal question ... where to next?

I live for my passion: travelling. I aim to travel to every country in the world and inspire you to do the sam. Nature, learning about new cultures, speaking several languages & blending in with locals, are my key drivers! During my trips, I seek adventures. I always put myself out of my comfort zone and have never regretted it! I am also an advocate of preserving and protecting our planet.

We are a project from travellers to travellers and we can't wait to take you on the best adventure ever!
I am from a wee town in Badajoz, Portugal borders. However, I consider myself a world citizen.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"Spain and Portugal"

How did you get involved in travel?

"In 2014 I decided to grab my suitcase and moved to Scotland seeking for new challenges. I have been based up there for 8 years working on Tourism and at the same time traveling the world whenever I had the opportunity.

I combine my knowledge and background in Tourism with my personal vision of the world, to share with you my travel experiences in the most genuine and honest way possible."

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"mmm .... tough question!
Spain is the land of contrast and my very own place in the world, but If I had to name a feeling that would be called Granada. The scent of incense, Arabian flavours from ancient cultures and Alhambra became the most spectacular scenario to enjoy over and over again."

Raquel is part of the following groups: Portugal Travel Agents, Spain Travel Agents
Top itineraries and travel advice
Family itineraries
Road trip itineraries

Recent trip reviews for Raquel

The whole trip was very enjoyable. ...
Portugal | Oct 20 - Oct 27, 2024

Barbara Carolyn
Barbara Carolyn G.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Nov 07, 2024
The whole trip was very enjoyable. One of the issues we had was communicating with you from, and in, Portugal. Before we left London we gave you a new phone number to use to reach Jeffrey but I don't think that was noted. We provided my phone number which was confusing. Both flights to and from Portugal were on time. We did not find our transport on arrival in Porto because of the mix-up with phone numbers. But Jeffrey called your head office and we were able to sort it out.
...
Read more

The whole trip was very enjoyable. One of the issues we had was communicating with you from, and in, Portugal. Before we left London we gave you a new phone number to use to reach Jeffrey but I don't think that was noted. We provided my phone number which was confusing. Both flights to and from Portugal were on time. We did not find our transport on arrival in Porto because of the mix-up with phone numbers. But Jeffrey called your head office and we were able to sort it out.
When it came to our hotels they were fine, but we would have preferred rooms that were not almost underground at both. The room at Pestana Pousado Porto was very small but it was directly on the street so we needed to have the shutters closed at all times. We had a similar experience in Lisbon, at Hotel H10 Duque de Loule. Our room looked out on an air shaft. We were disappointed at both because we were paying premium rates.
All of our guides were excellent. The Food Tour on our first night was very good. We got an education about food and drink in Portugal. Very enjoyable, and the guide was lively and knowledgeable. Silvia in Porto showed us as much as was possible of Jewish history because there's nothing to see. But, she taught us a lot about Porto and the treatment of Jews. Jose Antunes of Lisbon Walker in Lisbon gave us a wonderful tour and education about Jewish life in Portugal. Teresa in Lisbon was a lively and interesting guide to Sintra and a local vineyard. We felt like all of our guides became a friend.
Fado & Food was enormous fun - great music, club and restaurant. They got a taxi for us at the end of the evening.
The Tile Museum, which we did by ourselves, was spectacular. It was a revelation to see so much amazing tilework.
The day we left the clocks were set back an hour. The hotel gave us good warning and our transfer to the airport was there at the correct time, 5:00am. The flight into Heathrow was fine.
One thing that would have made our trip much better was more information about getting tickets for every site we wanted to see. We were not able to see anything at the University in Coimbra, particularly the library, because we did not have tickets and could not purchase them there. In Lisbon we stood in line for well over an hour at The Monastery only to find when we got to the entrance we found out we needed tickets. The only way you could get them was online. All of this information would have been invaluable, and made our trip that much more enjoyable.

Hotel Reviews
Pousada Porto—Rua das Flores
Porto

We did not like having to keep the shutters closed in our room because it was on the street. Other than that, it was fine.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
H10 Duque de Loule
Lisboa

We would have preferred to have a room that did not look out onto an air shaft. Very claustrophobic.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Raquel Aceituno
Raquel
Raquel Aceituno
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Nov 13, 2024
Hi Barbara, Thanks so much for taking the time to share the feeback highlights of your trip to Portugal. I'm so pleased that you had a nice trip overall! I will pass your words on to our local guides Silvia, Jose, Teresa ... who will love to hear that they have contributed to a memorable trip. I am sad to hear that you were not be able to enter the University of Coimbra. I would I been happy to purchase the tickets in advance for you as I did with the Tile Museum. Nevetheess, me and my team... Read more

Hi Barbara, Thanks so much for taking the time to share the feeback highlights of your trip to Portugal. I'm so pleased that you had a nice trip overall! I will pass your words on to our local guides Silvia, Jose, Teresa ... who will love to hear that they have contributed to a memorable trip. I am sad to hear that you were not be able to enter the University of Coimbra. I would I been happy to purchase the tickets in advance for you as I did with the Tile Museum. Nevetheess, me and my team will take it into consideration for our future travellers to avoid this inconvenient. I wish you and Jeffrey all the best and hopefully, we can plan another adventure together in the future . Best, Raquel

Karin and Raquel did a great job putting toge...
Portugal | Oct 17 - Oct 26, 2024

Deborah
Deborah B.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Nov 02, 2024
Karin and Raquel did a great job putting together an amazing itinerary for our trip to Portugal. I tweaked it a couple of times and they were so accommodating and helpful. All of our drivers and guides were amazing. Fernando showed us around Braga and Guimaraes, we had an amazing lunch and he showed us some local shops.
Nuno was a wealth of information as he showed us around Coimbra and the University. We then spent a day in the beautiful towns of Sintra and Cascais as we explored...
Read more

Karin and Raquel did a great job putting together an amazing itinerary for our trip to Portugal. I tweaked it a couple of times and they were so accommodating and helpful. All of our drivers and guides were amazing.

Fernando showed us around Braga and Guimaraes, we had an amazing lunch and he showed us some local shops.
Nuno was a wealth of information as he showed us around Coimbra and the University. We then spent a day in the beautiful towns of Sintra and Cascais as we explored the gardens and Palace of Monserrate with our guide Nuno.
Next we were off to Nazare and Obidos with Paulo. What an amazing day! Obidos was incredibly beautiful with all of the blooming bougainvillea and quaint alleys and doorways. We had lunch in Nazare and went down to see the beach and waves. We met a local vendor and got some yummy treats and then continued exploring the coast.
Perfect day and Paulo is like family now :)

We also rented a car to drive down to Lagos to do some exploring on our own. There was a bit of a mix up with this but Paulo helped us out and got things squared away.

All of the accommodations were perfect.

We will definitely use KimKim again.

Hotel Reviews
H10 Duque de Loule
Lisboa

Absolutely loved this hotel! Great service and wonderful breakfast. Vera greeted us every morning for breakfast and was the sweetest.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Close to everything.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Star Inn Lisbon Aeroporto
Lisboa

Great location to fly out the next day. Dining was nice and staff was very friendly.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Close to airport
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Cascade Wellness
Lagos

Front desk staff was great and always very friendly. Breakfast was good and staff was very accommodating to an allergy.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Private Day Excursion to Nazaré & Óbidos
Private Day Excursion to Nazaré & Óbidos
Lisbon

Paulo was the absolute best! We had a wonderful day. Paulo is very knowledgeable about his beautiful country, fun to be with and so gracious.

Quality of Experience
Perfect!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Paulo is the absolute best!
Transport
Beautiful clean car.
Private Excursion: Braga & Guimarães
Private Excursion: Braga & Guimarães
Porto

Our guide was Fernando and we had a great day with him. Beautiful part of the country, fun stories and yummy food.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Super friendly and knowledgeable.
Transport
Private Day Excursion: Sintra, Cascais & Estoril
Private Day Excursion: Sintra, Cascais & Estoril
Portugal

Loved the town of Sintra! and then we visited the Monserrate Palace with its beautiful gardens. Could have spent the whole day here, beautiful and not a lot of people which made it even better.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Nuno did a great job
Transport
Local specialist: Raquel Aceituno
Raquel
Raquel Aceituno
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Nov 04, 2024

Hi Deborah, thanks so much for your kind words and for taking the time to share your feedback, I love your pictures!🤩 I'm so pleased that you had a wonderful trip! I will pass your words onto Karin and guides who will love to hear that she has contributed to a memorable trip. I wish you all the best and hopefully, we can plan another adventure together in the future x Raquel

The trip to Portugal was extremely well plann...
Portugal | Oct 15 - Oct 25, 2024

M
Mark B.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Oct 27, 2024
The trip to Portugal was extremely well planned and coordinated by Raquel…. The hotels were terrific and the guides were nothing less than excellent. Totally enjoyed the trip Read more

The trip to Portugal was extremely well planned and coordinated by Raquel…. The hotels were terrific and the guides were nothing less than excellent. Totally enjoyed the trip

Hotel Reviews
H10 Duque de Loule
Lisboa

Beautiful hotel…excellent location and great breakfast

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Cascade Wellness
Lagos

Cascade Wellness in Algarve was truly a special place. It stood out among the accommodations for its exceptional atmosphere and amenities.

Pestana Porto - A Brasileira
Porto

Pestana Porto - A Brasileira had a fantastic location, allowing easy exploration of Porto. The rooms were a bit small, but overall it was a nice and convenient place to stay.

Activity Reviews
Private Day Excursion: Sintra, Cascais & Estoril
Private Day Excursion: Sintra, Cascais & Estoril
Portugal

The Private Day Excursion to Sintra, Cascais, and Estoril was absolutely fantastic. Our guide, Paulo, was outstanding - one of the best I've ever had. He was knowledgeable, fun, and made the long day an enjoyable experience. I highly recommend this tour and Paulo as a guide!

Private Transfer {{start_location}} to {{end_location}} via Coimbra
Private Transfer {{start_location}} to {{end_location}} via Coimbra
Portugal

The drive from Lisbon to Porto via Coimbra was a bit disappointing. We arrived and found that we couldn't enter the famous library as all tickets were sold out for the day due to other tour groups. It would've been helpful to know in advance or have prebooked tickets. Nonetheless, we enjoyed visiting the castle in the area.

Local specialist: Raquel Aceituno
Raquel
Raquel Aceituno
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Nov 04, 2024

Hello Mark! Thank you so much for taking the time to share the feedback of your trip to Portugal, much appreciated!
I am glad to hear you and Katherine had a wonderful time exploring the country and that you liked the accomodation offered. Sad to hear that you were not able to visit the library, it is a very popular attraction and always has long lines.
I hope we will work together in the future to plan your next adventure😊 All the best , Raquel

Unbelievable Experience with KimKim!
Spain | Sep 7 - Sep 20, 2024

Steven
Steven M.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Sep 21, 2024
I was initially referred to KimKim by a family friend who had a great experience. Due to my work schedule and never traveling abroad before, I needed a company I could trust to set my trip up the right way. Raquel was not only super responsive and helpful, but she also listened to everything I wanted out of a trip to Spain and Portugal and custom created a trip beyond what I could imagine. This trip was 5 cities over 2 weeks. 5 hotels, 2 train transfers, and multiple flights (not counting... Read more

I was initially referred to KimKim by a family friend who had a great experience. Due to my work schedule and never traveling abroad before, I needed a company I could trust to set my trip up the right way. Raquel was not only super responsive and helpful, but she also listened to everything I wanted out of a trip to Spain and Portugal and custom created a trip beyond what I could imagine. This trip was 5 cities over 2 weeks. 5 hotels, 2 train transfers, and multiple flights (not counting getting to and from the EU from the US) and she made it as clear and easy to follow as absolutely possible. I do not speak Spanish or Portuguese for reference, and yes it was still extremely easy to follow. Each activity that was arranged was an incredible and memorable experience with a guide who was a true local with local experience and connections. Writing this, I honestly can’t think of a critique I could even give. My expectations were met within the first couple days, then exceeded at about half way through the trip. The rest was all a bonus. If you are reading this review because you might be skeptical or questioning whether or not to use KimKim or Raquel, just know I had my concerns as well. I am now 2 days back and wrote this review and I cannot recommend this service enough if you want a truly memorable experience.

Hotel Reviews
NH Collection Barcelona Pódium
Barcelona
Authenticity & Character
Did not feel out of place and it felt like you were a part of the city
Location
Great location for activities and rich in culture
Staff
Incredibly nice and helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
Intelier Victoria
San Sebastian
Authenticity & Character
Great rooftop views, incredible breakfast, very clean
Location
Great central location to the old town and everything is accessible by foot
Staff
So incredibly nice and helpful. Everyone seems truly happy to work there.
Cleanliness & Comfort
EVERYTHING was very clean. From the lobby to the showers to even the elevator
H10 Puerta de Alcalá
Madrid
Authenticity & Character
The hotel was just remodeled so it had a very cool and “swank” design
Location
In a VERY nice part of town and was centrally located to many great restaurants
Staff
Everyone involved was very helpful. This was one of 5 hotels we stayed at so unfortunately I do not have any names to mention
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very comfy beds and clean all around from the lobby to breakfast bar to the hotel bar to our room
Catalonia Porto
Porto
Authenticity & Character
Blends in great to surrounding areas and retains a Portugal charm. Also truly an amazing breakfast
Location
Excellent location to city center and the river
Staff
Not only was the staff very friendly to deal with but also happy to help at a moments notice
Cleanliness & Comfort
EVERYTHING was clean all the way down to the inside of the mini fridge
Dear Lisbon - Gallery House
Lisbon
Authenticity & Character
This hotel was clearly renovated from a traditional Lisbon apartment building and gives you a traditional feel with modern amenities. Very very cool place to stay
Location
Very nice area located and very close to amazing restaurants but not so centrally located that it is loud at night from street activity
Staff
Super welcoming and always helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
Despite being a traditional building, the carpets and rugs do not even have stains on them. The “mini-split” AC units were fantastic
Activity Reviews
Tapas Walk in Barcelona
Tapas Walk in Barcelona
Barcelona

This was our first activity coming off a 9 hour red eye flight being abroad from the US for the first time just to set the scenario. Boris (our guide) welcomed us to the city in the most impressive way possible. I normally cringe at the idea of a “tour”. This isn’t your traditional tour guide walking and shouting to keep everyone together with a giant sign and whistle giving you the cliff notes of generic “authentic” foods. This is a local guided, off the beaten path, “locals only” known with history and culture. Each location is unique and purposefully selected to give you an authentic experience. The group is not more than 8-10 and you start as strangers and end as friends taking pictures to remember the experience. Boris was an awesome guide with amazing taste.

Quality of Experience
Boris was an incredible guide and you eat at places you are not going to find on a local yelp page.
Food
The authenticity of the meals were great and unlike anything I ever had before
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Boris was fun, friendly, experienced, knowledgeable and the places you go to are welcoming and happy you are there.
Transport
We walked and met at a location that was easy to find
Private Tour of Barcelona & La Sagrada Familia
Private Tour of Barcelona & La Sagrada Familia
Barcelona

We met Albert who was our guide and he was incredible. I could not believe how much this man knew about Barcelona. This man had binders of pictures of what the city used to look like and how it has changed over centuries. I walked away from this tour amazed at the education I was provided along with local tips for how to navigate around Barcelona that you would never find even online. You will get a college semesters worth of education in 4 hours and the best part about Albert, you can tell he was excited and passionate about the city’s history and excited to share it with you.

Quality of Experience
Albert (our guide)
San Sebastian Pintxo Experience
San Sebastian Pintxo Experience
San Sebastián

This was an incredible experience with fantastic food all put together by my guide, Felix. Felix is a local and has grown up in San Sebastián so his selection and taste was spot on. He provided an incredible tour and by the end, became a friend. I mean this in the most professional way possible. The selections he picked were unique to San Sebastián and even gave more suggestions for meals during your stay that couldn’t be included in the tour because time wouldn’t allow.

Quality of Experience
Felix and his knowledge
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Incredibly friendly and knowledgeable and the food was nothing short of amazing
Guided Visit of Madrid:  History, Culture & Architecture of the Capital of Spain
Guided Visit of Madrid: History, Culture & Architecture of the Capital of Spain
Madrid

When first getting into Madrid, I wasn’t sure how much I would love the city. Just coming from Barcelona and San Sebastián, Madrid was massive and had a different vibe all together (not bad or dangerous, just very different than the other 2). Sean (our guide) was the game changer for my impression of the city. He showed us the real Madrid that I’m sure not a lot of tourists get to see or understand. If it wasn’t for Sean, I don’t know if I would have enjoyed Madrid as much as I did. He has an awesome local knowledge base of the city and helped us navigate the city much better. By the end, Sean became a friend we met along the way through our journey and I mean that in the most professional way possible.

Quality of Experience
Sean. He was welcoming and extremely knowledgeable
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Sean truly loves the city and understands it so well
Foodie Experience in Porto
Foodie Experience in Porto
Porto

This was one of many food tours we took on this trip and we had Jon (Jean) as our guide. This man was incredible. Not only was Jon a knowledgeable local guide who knows the city well, he was also a chef. So all meals were expertly picked with a chefs taste and Jon was about as entertaining and knowledgeable guide as you could ask for. Meals ranged from local meats and cheeses with authentic port wine to local hot spots with authentic dishes

Quality of Experience
Wide variety and incredible guidance
Food
Absolutely everything
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Jon (Jean) was amazing and a local expert.
Privately Guided Visit of Porto
Privately Guided Visit of Porto
Porto

Emanuel is a local expert and was such an amazing guide to have. His knowledge of the city and its history is so vast you were getting a college semesters worth of history in a 3 hour tour. He loves the city and gets you to love it too.

Quality of Experience
Emanuel’s knowledge and expertise
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Emanuel’s enthusiasm and attention to city detail along with local pointers for things to do later
Go West to Belém TukTuk Tour
Go West to Belém TukTuk Tour
Lisbon

This was my first time on a Tuk Tuk and Catalina provided a great knowledge base of the city. She took us to great places and gave us exclusive access to some things that made the city so great.

Quality of Experience
Great knowledge from Catalina
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Catalina’s enthusiasm for the city of Lisbon
Sintra Heritage Hike: Hidden Secrets
Sintra Heritage Hike: Hidden Secrets
Portugal

Initially, we had a hike planned that unfortunately got cancelled due to the tragic wildfires that happened in Portugal at this time. Our hike got rescheduled to another area along the Sintra Coast. We got paired with Falis, and this might have been the best highlight of an already incredible trip. Falis prepared the hike according to us and what WE felt comfortable with. I am a 30 year old and I am in good shape. We did a roughly 15 km hike that was unlike anything I could have imagined. This was a private costal hike to a private beach and through small costal towns that was beyond anything I could have imagined. The terrain was tough but I can personally handle it. Felis was 100% prepared for anything and knew all the best routes that were the opposite of any “tourist” walk. I will never forget this experience. Felis is now a true friend after my experience. He even personally selected food for lunch and provided it to us. Unbelievably beyond my expectations.

Quality of Experience
Felis and the views. I knew nothing of what the Portugal coast had to offer and was completely blown away
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Felis is truly one of the most welcoming guys I have ever met that you could tell, this is what he loves to do and he loves giving you a memorable experience.
Transport
Felis met us at the hotel and transported us to the hiking destination. As easy as absolutely possible.
Visit Traditional Basque Coastal Towns & a Txakolli  Winery Visit
Visit Traditional Basque Coastal Towns & a Txakolli Winery Visit
San Sebastián
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Raquel Aceituno
Raquel
Raquel Aceituno
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Sep 23, 2024

Hola Steve! Thanks so much for taking the time to write this wonderful and detailed review. I am glad to know that you and David had a great time discovering Spain and Portugal and that everything I planned go beyond your expectations! 🤩 It has been a real pleasure working together creating this experience and hopefully, we get in touch again for future adventures x All the best, Raquel

All of the hotels in 4 cities were first clas...
Spain | Sep 6 - Sep 16, 2024

K
keith m.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Sep 19, 2024
All of the hotels in 4 cities were first class and in great locations for walking and sightseeing. Transportation was seamless. All of the guides were fantastic, and seemed to really enjoy their jobs.
Our tour operator Raquel was very helpful and patient. Highly recommended.
Read more

All of the hotels in 4 cities were first class and in great locations for walking and sightseeing. Transportation was seamless. All of the guides were fantastic, and seemed to really enjoy their jobs.
Our tour operator Raquel was very helpful and patient. Highly recommended.

Activity Reviews
Wine & Gourmet Tapas Tour
Wine & Gourmet Tapas Tour
Barcelona
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Tour of Barcelona & La Sagrada Familia
Private Tour of Barcelona & La Sagrada Familia
Barcelona
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Flamenco Show in a Sacromonte Cave
Flamenco Show in a Sacromonte Cave
Granada
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guided Visit:  Alhambra & Generalife Gardens
Guided Visit: Alhambra & Generalife Gardens
Granada

Our guide was very informative.

Quality of Experience
Tapas Culinary Experience
Tapas Culinary Experience
Madrid
Guided Visit of Madrid:  History, Culture & Architecture of the Capital of Spain
Guided Visit of Madrid: History, Culture & Architecture of the Capital of Spain
Madrid

We actually asked for guided tour of the Prado and he happily obliged. Graduate level tour ensued.

Local specialist: Raquel Aceituno
Raquel
Raquel Aceituno
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Sep 19, 2024

Hola Keith, thanks so much for taking the time to write this fantastic review! I am very happy to hear that you had a great time in Spain and that you were comfortable at all your accomodations, which is an important part of the experience. I will pass your words to our guides, specially to Geza! 😊
Hopefully, we get in touch again for future adventures .All the best, Raquel

Well tailored to my needs
Spain | Sep 6 - Sep 16, 2024

Lucien
Lucien M.
Canada | Reviewed on Sep 17, 2024
The hotel selections were extremely well planned out, and positioned giving you access to a lot of the areas that you were visiting the itineraries as far as tours, exhibitions, museums was very well laid out. The entire trip was very interesting and met all my expectations and more. Read more

The hotel selections were extremely well planned out, and positioned giving you access to a lot of the areas that you were visiting the itineraries as far as tours, exhibitions, museums was very well laid out. The entire trip was very interesting and met all my expectations and more.

Hotel Reviews
Catalonia Gran Vía
Madrid
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Molina Lario Hotel
Málaga
Authenticity & Character
Location
Cleanliness & Comfort
Casa Bonay
Barcelona
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Áurea Catedral Hotel
Granada
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Tapas Culinary Experience
Tapas Culinary Experience
Madrid

Our tour guide was excellent, engaging, entertaining and keep the group energized. Highly recommended.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Flamenco Show in a Sacromonte Cave
Flamenco Show in a Sacromonte Cave
Granada

Great place in the atmosphere was fantastic. Something I’ve always wanted to see and I was more than satisfied. It was a great experience and I would highly recommend it as a must for anybody’s trip.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Guided Visit:  Alhambra & Generalife Gardens
Guided Visit: Alhambra & Generalife Gardens
Granada

But all my expectations. To have a tour guide is a must so much to see so much to learn what a great experience.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Raquel Aceituno
Raquel
Raquel Aceituno
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Sep 19, 2024

Hi Lucien! Thank you so much for taking the time to share the feedback of your trip to Spain. I am glad to know that you had a great time and that the trip exceeded your expectations😊 . It was a pleasure creating this experience for you and Keith and hopefully, we get in touch again for future adventures. All the best, Raquel

Great trip to Portugal and Mallorca
Spain | Jul 9 - Jul 22, 2024

A
Alyssa F.
Mundelein, IL | Reviewed on Jul 29, 2024
All of our excursions were excellent. Our guide Celia for our Porto walking tour was so knowledge and had great recommendations. Pedro organized a private tour of the vineyard for us in the Douro Valley. Alex was an excellent walking tour guide, being flexing and showing us sights of Lisbon we would have missed on our own. Mannu gave us a great outing to Sintra and Cascais, even making a special stop on the way back for us to take an extra photo. The recommendations of places to eat and... Read more

All of our excursions were excellent. Our guide Celia for our Porto walking tour was so knowledge and had great recommendations. Pedro organized a private tour of the vineyard for us in the Douro Valley. Alex was an excellent walking tour guide, being flexing and showing us sights of Lisbon we would have missed on our own. Mannu gave us a great outing to Sintra and Cascais, even making a special stop on the way back for us to take an extra photo. The recommendations of places to eat and beaches from Kim Kim were very helpful. The hotels were all beautiful and centrally located.

Hotel Reviews
PortoBay Hotel Teatro
Porto

The location of this hotel was fantastic. Very walkable, safe. The room was comfortable and had everything we needed

Location
Cleanliness & Comfort
Portugal Boutique Hotel
Lisbon

This hotel was top of the line. The service was excellent, the room impressive. The location was great too.

Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Lagos Avenida Hotel
Lagos

The hotel has a great view of the marina. The room was nice, had everything we needed. We loved the rooftop pool.

Location
Staff
Meliá Lisboa Aeroporto
Lisbon

This hotel was great, free shuttle to the airport was helpful. Room was nice, clean, and spacious.

Location
Cleanliness & Comfort
Puro Hotel Palma
Palma de Mallorca

This hotel was crazy. The room was so big! It had a tub and a shower. Location was great. Staff was great at providing recommendations and transportation options. We did not utilize the beach club but if we had an extra day we would’ve liked to try it.

Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Privately Guided Visit of Porto
Privately Guided Visit of Porto
Porto

Celia was fantastic. Learned so much and one of the highlights of our trip. I recommend this to everyone.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Day Excursion to Douro Valley, Wine Tasting & River Cruise
Day Excursion to Douro Valley, Wine Tasting & River Cruise
Porto

Our guide was great, the views are incredible. He even arranged a private vineyard tour for us.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Get to Know Lisbon with a Local
Get to Know Lisbon with a Local
Lisbon

Alex was great. He was so knowledgeable and we learned so much of portugals history. He was flexible and adapted the tour to show us things we would never have found on our own.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Private Day Excursion: Sintra, Cascais & Estoril
Private Day Excursion: Sintra, Cascais & Estoril
Spain

Mannu was great. Full of knowledge about Portugal, cares about responsible tourism and wants to show travelers the real Portugal. We would definitely recommend.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Bike Excursion along the Beautiful Ria Formosa
Bike Excursion along the Beautiful Ria Formosa
Spain
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Catamaran Trip around Mallorca with Snorkeling, Kayaking or Paddleboarding
Catamaran Trip around Mallorca with Snorkeling, Kayaking or Paddleboarding
Mallorca

Definitely better than some of the other boats we saw where they pack the boats full of travelers. The views were incredible. The staff were not the friendliest, and I understand they turn over the boat and work with the public all the time. I might opt for an even smaller, more intimate boat next time. There were about 50 people on the boat with us many off the cruise ship.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Raquel Aceituno
Raquel
Raquel Aceituno
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Jul 30, 2024

Hi Alyssa! thanks so much for taking the time to write this wonderful and detailed review. I am glad to know that you and Bradley had a great time discovering Portugal and Mallorca and that everything we planned met your expectations 🤩 I have noted your feedback about the catamarran in Mallorca and me and the team will search for a reduced people experience to make it more memorable for our travellers. Thanks again! It was a pleasure working with you and hopefully, we get in touch again for future adventures x All the best, Raquel

Raquel is Amazing!!
Spain | Jul 16 - Jul 24, 2024

Pat
Pat M.
Dallas, TX | Reviewed on Jul 25, 2024
Raquel was amazing to work with. I'm an 'in the details' travel planner myself but was going to Spain for the first time and needed a TON of help. I loved working with her and her recommendations were fantastic. It was also very easy to go back and forth on alterations ahead of the trip and everything was super smooth during. Read more

Raquel was amazing to work with. I'm an 'in the details' travel planner myself but was going to Spain for the first time and needed a TON of help. I loved working with her and her recommendations were fantastic. It was also very easy to go back and forth on alterations ahead of the trip and everything was super smooth during.

Hotel Reviews
Pestana Plaza Mayor Madrid
Madrid

We loved the hotel and the location. It felt like a super cool boutique hotel, very bright and vibrant, great little pool area, loved the beautiful restaurant.

Authenticity & Character
Very cool, charming, boutique hotel.
Location
Seemed very central to everything, train was easy to use, and seemed like every taxi was 10 euros or less.
Staff
Super nice and helpful.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Beautiful overall. Very clean.
Hotel España Ramblas
Barcelona

The one part of our trip that we didn't LOVE was this hotel. It is in a good location in terms of being very central to everything but the area around it felt a bit sketchy. Our original room felt like a small, dingy hotel room but we upgraded to a suite and the room felt better. The hotel was very dark overall but not in a great moody kind of way. It wasn't terrible or anything, we just didn't love it.

Authenticity & Character
It is nice but a bit dark and gloomy.
Location
Central but felt like it could be a little sketchy. For example, everyone told us "don't go left after midnight...."
Staff
They were nice but not happy-nice.
Cleanliness & Comfort
It was "clean" but didn't feel "super clean". Also they use a really strong aroma in the rooms, like really strong.
Activity Reviews
Train Madrid to Toledo, Guided Visit of Toledo,  Train Toledo to Madrid
Train Madrid to Toledo, Guided Visit of Toledo, Train Toledo to Madrid
Madrid
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Gastronomy & Wine Tour with a Sommelier
Gastronomy & Wine Tour with a Sommelier
Barcelona
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Barcelona & Gaudí:  An Architecture Walk
Barcelona & Gaudí: An Architecture Walk
Barcelona
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Boquería Market Visit & Cooking Class
Boquería Market Visit & Cooking Class
Barcelona
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Jámon & Wine Experience in Madrid
Jámon & Wine Experience in Madrid
Madrid
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Guided Visit of Madrid:  History, Culture & Architecture of the Capital of Spain
Guided Visit of Madrid: History, Culture & Architecture of the Capital of Spain
Madrid
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Flamenco Night
Flamenco Night
Madrid
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Coastal Hike, Kayaking & Lagoon Dipping in Costa Brava
Coastal Hike, Kayaking & Lagoon Dipping in Costa Brava
Spain
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Raquel Aceituno
Raquel
Raquel Aceituno
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Jul 26, 2024

Hola Pat! I really appreciate your feedback and taking the time to share the highlights of your trip to Spain. I'm so pleased that you and Haley had a great experience!😍 I am happy to hear that you got a nicer room at your hotel in Barcelona and noted your feedback for our future trips ;)
All the best, It has been a pleasure! x Raquel

Portugal and Spain
Spain | Jul 2 - Jul 15, 2024

A
Amy F.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Jul 16, 2024
Raquel did an amazing job organizing a trip that met all of our desires. Flawless transportation arrangements, wonderful hotel accommodations, guided tours. She found remote locations not travelled by most into the most beautiful places, esp the Picos de Europa national park in the Asturian mountains. Memorable to say the least! She kept to our budget overall, was responsive to inquiries leading up to the trip. My friend had used KimKim to travel to Europe with her wiener dog, and had such a... Read more

Raquel did an amazing job organizing a trip that met all of our desires. Flawless transportation arrangements, wonderful hotel accommodations, guided tours. She found remote locations not travelled by most into the most beautiful places, esp the Picos de Europa national park in the Asturian mountains. Memorable to say the least! She kept to our budget overall, was responsive to inquiries leading up to the trip. My friend had used KimKim to travel to Europe with her wiener dog, and had such a wonderful experience she recommended them to me for my trip with my children to Portugal and Spain. No regrets!! Will definitely recommend them to anyone!!

Thank you Raquel and KimKim!!

Amy F., Montana

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Borges Chiado
Lisbon
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
The staff member checking us in was a bit rude. Maybe seemed more so as we were jet lagged and she seemed less than accommodating.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Legendary Porto Hotel
Porto
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Eurostars Araguaney
Santiago de Compostela
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Puebloastur Eco-Resort Wellness & Spa
Cofiño, Parres
Authenticity & Character
Outside absolutely beautiful, inside modern.
Location
The views were spectacular!! Location off of challenging narrow road for those driving if not used to this! Beautiful drive!!
Staff
Waiters seemed put off if we didn't finish our meals, offended? Lack of English skills may have interfered with communication. Came off a bit rude to us.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Soho BOutique Oviedo
Oviedo
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Catalonia Donosti
San Sebastián
Authenticity & Character
Fairly modern hotel. If expecting old world charm, may be a bit disappointed.
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Intur Palacio San Martin
Madrid
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Lisbon Petiscos & Wine Tour
Lisbon Petiscos & Wine Tour
Lisbon

Guide was very fun, energetic. Took us to great places in Lisbon to get a taste of the local cuisine. We were paired with a fun group of fellow Americans that enhanced the experience as well!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guided Tuk-Tuk Tour
Guided Tuk-Tuk Tour
Spain

Saw highlights of Lisbon that would have otherwise been hard to see with limited time in the city. Very friendly and knowledgable guide!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Get to know Porto by E-bike
Get to know Porto by E-bike
Porto

Flexible guide, originally booked for tour involving more hills. It was a very hot day and we opted to stay along the beach with tour thru largest park, etc. Very knowledgable guide, fun. Beautiful city. Wish we could have spent more time in Porto!

Quality of Experience
Guide, beauty of Porto.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Douro Valley Excursion with Wine & Olive Oil Tastings & River Cruise
Douro Valley Excursion with Wine & Olive Oil Tastings & River Cruise
Porto

A must do! Guide was super fun, knowledgable. Great wines, Ports in authentic locations. Wonderful lunch with a view! Duoro Valley extremely beautiful!!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Pedro Sousa made this experience very fun!! Knowledgable, fun guide!! Good photographer of all clients!!
Transport
Privately Guided Visit of Santiago de Compostela
Privately Guided Visit of Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela

Guide very enthusiastic/ passionate about the city and it's history! Beautiful!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Discover Biarritz &. French Basque Country
Discover Biarritz &. French Basque Country
Spain

Saw alot of the Basque countryside, learned alot about it's history. Guide very knowledgable, fun. Gorgeous, wonderful food!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Day Excursion to Covadonga Lakes
Day Excursion to Covadonga Lakes
Spain

Amazing!! From the views to our guide, to a wonderful lunch!. The 3 mile hike was a must! Walked amongst all the cows with cow bells, the sound!!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
San Sebastian Pintxo Experience
San Sebastian Pintxo Experience
San Sebastián

Our guide, Esther, took us to the most amazing restaurants! Got to sample a wide variety of Pintxos, wines. She is very fun, knowledgable, made sure we had seats available for our excursion. Fun group of Australians enhanced our fun!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Raquel Aceituno
Raquel
Raquel Aceituno
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Jul 18, 2024

Hola Amy! Thank you so much for your detailed feedback and kind words 😍
It's amazing to hear you had a wonderful time with your family
I will pass your words onto to our local guides as they will be so happy to hear that they have contributed to a wonderful adventure. It was a real pleasure working with you making this possible and that it met your expectations 😊All the best , Raquel

Our trip was absolutely amazing! 5 star across the board!
Spain | Jun 4 - Jun 10, 2024

Julie
Julie M.
Denver, CO | Reviewed on Jul 01, 2024
Our trip was absolutely amazing! Thank you so much for your thoughtful itinerary- the hotels, transport, food suggestions were fabulous and the addition of the sunset cruise with Captain Guillermo and guitarist Alvaro was perfect! Every excursion was fabulous! The Biking tour of Barcelona with Corentin hit all of the historical marks and taught us about culture, art and architecture while we pedaled and got the lay of the land! Touring and hiking in Montserrat with Ramon and being able to... Read more

Our trip was absolutely amazing! Thank you so much for your thoughtful itinerary- the hotels, transport, food suggestions were fabulous and the addition of the sunset cruise with Captain Guillermo and guitarist Alvaro was perfect! Every excursion was fabulous! The Biking tour of Barcelona with Corentin hit all of the historical marks and taught us about culture, art and architecture while we pedaled and got the lay of the land! Touring and hiking in Montserrat with Ramon and being able to customize our experience to our family was amazing- He is an expert on the history, lore and the hiking area- we escaped the crowds and got some amazing views! Costa Brava is gorgeous and our adventure with Stepan, despite the cloudy and slightly rough day at sea- was great! Every detail of our kayak, snorkel, swim, walk-was planned out and executed perfectly. Without exception- lovely people, great communicators, professional and fun and ready to adapt to our wishes and needs. Can't say enough great things!

Hotel Review
Hotel Aigua Blava
Costa Brava · Girona

Absolutely gorgeous grounds, airy rooms, restaurant breakfast is excellent, staff very pleasant, attentive and helpful!

Authenticity & Character
paradise!
Location
Staff
reception was particularly helpful with reservations in local towns and modes of transport
Cleanliness & Comfort
everything was immaculate
Activity Reviews
Tapas Walk in Barcelona
Tapas Walk in Barcelona
Barcelona

Jeanne was so fun! She asked great questions, engaged the entire group. We had a great group, tried all types of tapas in different neighborhoods. my 16 and 13 year olds enjoyed it and felt very comfortable in the mix! Try the cava!

Quality of Experience
Food
We tried it all- snails, fried sardines, meatballs, desserts- vermouth of course and cava! be adventurous!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Flamenco Night
Flamenco Night
Barcelona

We all enjoyed the flamenco- it seemed the crowd was quite reserved and didn't know if they should cheer or watch quietly or get up and participate. Since the large majority re: ALL of the patrons are tourists- maybe an introduction that talks about the history and the crowds expected response would enhance the experience. We had tapas at the expat next door and would highly recommend!

Quality of Experience
Guided Visit of Barcelona by Bike
Guided Visit of Barcelona by Bike
Barcelona

Great way to cover a lot of ground, see a lot of the cities highlights and get some history as well. Corentin was our guide and was excellent.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Family Visit Montserrat & Hiking
Family Visit Montserrat & Hiking
Barcelona

Ramon is a pro. We were able to customize our visit to focus most of our time on the hiking around Montserrat. We steered clear of the crowds and had some marvelous views while Ramon taught us the lore and history of the area ( as well as a geology lesson ) ! Highly recommend!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Coastal Hike, Kayaking & Lagoon Dipping in Costa Brava
Coastal Hike, Kayaking & Lagoon Dipping in Costa Brava
Spain

Stepan was amazing! Every detail of our walk, kayak, swim/snorkel was well planned and executed. We had a wonderful day despite the imperfect weather and learned a lot about proper technique for kayaking as well as environmental conservation efforts in the area.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Raquel Aceituno
Raquel
Raquel Aceituno
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Jul 04, 2024

Hello Julie! Thank you for your wonderful review and kind words 😍
It's amazing to hear you had a wonderful time with your family, specially for your bitrthday! which is the greatest reward for us.
I will pass your words onto to our local guides as they will be so happy to hear that they have contributed to a wonderful adventure. I hope we will work together in the future to plan your next adventure. All the best , Raquel