Rene Rodarte

He was accommodating to the individual changes and requests that we made in the planning process. He seemed genuinely focussed on the type of trip we wanted and worked with us on a very short time frame which was great. read more

He was accommodating to the individual changes and requests that we made in the planning process. He seemed genuinely focussed on the type of trip we wanted and worked with us on a very short time frame which was great.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Punto Mx

Mexico City

Authenticity & Character

It was a great hotel but didn't feel authentically Mexican.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tamara Hotel

Puebla

Authenticity & Character

It did not have a lot of "character" there was nothing wrong with it but it didn't exactly show off the country we were visiting.

Location

Walking distance to the main town centre and the view from the rooftop is amazing.

Staff

Everyone on reception was incredibly helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

El Diablo y la Sandia Boca del Monte

Authenticity & Character

The open kitchen and connection between yourself and other guests and the staff.

Location

A short walk to the town square.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

El Peregrino

Merida

Authenticity & Character

Location

It was further from the city centre than we would have liked.

Staff

The receptionist was very helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

El Mesón del Marqués

Valladolid

Authenticity & Character

It was not particularly "mexican" feeling

Location

Staff

The communication was very poor, we had medication that needed to be stored in a fridge and as there wasn't a fridge in the room and we had to ask several times for the medicine to be located. Often parts of our orders were missed at meal times.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The bathroom needed upgrading of facilities. It did not feel like the 5 star hotel it is listed as.

Activity Reviews

Biking in Teotihuacán "The City of the Gods" & Overnight in Puebla

Mexico

This tour was incredible, the guide was super knowledgable and very personable with us.

Quality of Experience

Even when one of the bikes had a flat tire, the guide was very quick to resolve the problem and was solution focussed.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Incredibly knowledgeable and friendly.

Sweets & streets! Family-Friendly Historic Center Tour

Mexico City

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Clara was INCREDIBLE and really paid attention to our family and adjusted the tour accordingly. We loved our time with her.

See Teotihuacan by Hot Air Balloon

Mexico City

The hot air balloon experience was great, our issues with this trip was the bad organisation of transport and the conflicting reasons we were given for a pick up that happened over an hour late. It was a shame that such an amazing opportunity was tainted by poor communication and service to start our day.

Transport

Our collection in the morning was a complete disaster, we were told we would be picked up at 4.30 am and no one showed up until 5.40am (after the time we should have arrived at our experience). We were given 3 different stories about what happened that morning which left us feeling disappointed in the experience and unsure of who was truly at fault in the process.

Rural cooking workshop in Oaxaca

Oaxaca

The market was incredible and we learned a lot. During the actual cooking time everyone was so attentive to us and got our daughter involved in everything demonstrating incredible patience and care for her.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

He was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable

Transport

Great vehicle and knowledgeable and friendly guide

Monte Albán and the alebrijes workshop: an unforgettable experience

Oaxaca

Monte Alban surpassed all our expectations of a historic site and we loved the chance to explore it. The quiet afternoon painting was a great family friendly moment

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Uxmal, a city with Puuc style

Mexico

A not to be missed site.

Kabah Archaeological Sites

Uxmal

A quiet site with a genuine opportunity to see the archaeological and restorative process

Explore Chichén Itzá: A Wonder of the Mayan World

Mexico

The site itself is an incredible experience. The only downside was that our guide, although knowledgable was not particularly personable and did not cater his "speech" to us as a group or take into account information about previous trips that he had asked us about.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

He needed to be more responsive to the answers we gave following his questions about what we had seen and done already rather than being so scripted.

Immerse Yourself in the Peaceful Yokdzonot Cenote

Mexico

Ek Balam Archaeological Site, Xcanche Cenote & Village Tour

Valladolid

The archaeological highlight of our trip, it was increblie to see something still being restored and be part of that time. The cenote was incredible.

the whole trip was excellent
read more

the whole trip was excellent

Activity Reviews

Tour of historic Mexico City with street food tasting

Mexico City

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Be amazed by the pre-hispanic beauty of the chinampas in Xochimilco

Mexico City

loved the private and quiet tour of the farm- we could have never found a spot like this on our own.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the Casa Azul Museum

Mexico City

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover the flavors and colors of the exotic San Juan Market

Mexico City

Clara was our favorite guide of the whole trip.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Oaxacan Markets: A Culinary Journey through Colors and Flavors

Oaxaca

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Experience the culture of Oaxaca: discover textile art, ceramics and mezcal

Oaxaca

the ceramics workshop was the highlight of our whole trip!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Monte Albán and the alebrijes workshop: an unforgettable experience

Oaxaca

could have painted alebrijes for hours. monte alban was very hot, and a little too long.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dining recommendations in Tulum

Tulum

Criollo was one of the best restaurants weve ever been to. Loved Casa Oaxaca as well.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

all walkable from hotel!

Adventure in Tulum

Tulum

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Chichén Itzá: A Wonder of the Mayan World

Mexico

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit a peaceful cenote and enjoy traditional mayan food

Mexico

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Alex was a pleasant and respectful guide. He gave us a lot of information in all our trips. My only comment is he needs to be more clear in his announcements - where we're headed for the day, how long is expected stay, announce when we arrive at destination, and remind us when to get back to the van. His microphone was not in full blast because half of us in the van could not hear him.

The guide must be aware that restroom stops are necessary. There were a few seniors in the group & I am... read more

Alex was a pleasant and respectful guide. He gave us a lot of information in all our trips. My only comment is he needs to be more clear in his announcements - where we're headed for the day, how long is expected stay, announce when we arrive at destination, and remind us when to get back to the van. His microphone was not in full blast because half of us in the van could not hear him.

The guide must be aware that restroom stops are necessary. There were a few seniors in the group & I am handicapped which require a stop after 3 hours. I had to request him a few times on different days. Other than that, he was a good guide. Our driver drove us safely. I don't recall Alex mentioning his name but maybe I was not around when he did.

Maybe provide complimentary water bottles in the van. Most tour groups do this.

All in all, we are satisfied with Kimkim.

Our guides in Oaxaca, Alex and Anna from Etnoturistica, were beyond amazing. This was a family trip for 3 generations - ranging from 14 to 76 years old. Thanks to our knowledgeable and engaging guides and Kimkim's itinerary, this was a true cultural immersion trip. We loved the city tour, the gastronomical feast day, the cooking class, the visit to Las Mujeres de Barro Roja, the archeological sites of Mitla and Monte Alban, the pools and hiking at Hierve de Agua... and every stop in between.... read more

Our guides in Oaxaca, Alex and Anna from Etnoturistica, were beyond amazing. This was a family trip for 3 generations - ranging from 14 to 76 years old. Thanks to our knowledgeable and engaging guides and Kimkim's itinerary, this was a true cultural immersion trip. We loved the city tour, the gastronomical feast day, the cooking class, the visit to Las Mujeres de Barro Roja, the archeological sites of Mitla and Monte Alban, the pools and hiking at Hierve de Agua... and every stop in between. The staff at Hotel Tabaa Oaxaca was gracious and professional. It became our home for the week. Thank you, Rene and Lizbeth from Kimkim, for helping us make unforgettable memories together with this incredible vacation. We are most grateful for the kindness and hospitality shown by all.

Our family trip to Oaxaca was INCREDIBLE! From start to finish- Kimkim, Rene & Lizbeth of Rutopia & Alex our local guide of Etnotouristica made our vacation memorable and stress free! We were a large group of 19 and the communication before and during our trip was smooth. Rene even checked out our hotel before we arrived to let us know if it would accommodate us! He could not have picked a better hotel. Hotel Tabaa was beautiful and very comfortable. The owners & staff were very friendly and... read more

Our family trip to Oaxaca was INCREDIBLE! From start to finish- Kimkim, Rene & Lizbeth of Rutopia & Alex our local guide of Etnotouristica made our vacation memorable and stress free! We were a large group of 19 and the communication before and during our trip was smooth. Rene even checked out our hotel before we arrived to let us know if it would accommodate us! He could not have picked a better hotel. Hotel Tabaa was beautiful and very comfortable. The owners & staff were very friendly and helpful. We don’t normally use tour groups, but after this experience- I would definitely consider using Kimkim for our next family vacation abroad!!

Hotel Review

Hotel Tabáa Oaxaca

Oaxaca

Hotel Tabaa Oaxaca is a beautiful hotel! Located in a nice part of town and an easy walk to the main sites of city. We were a large family of 19 who traveled to Oaxaca for a reunion and the owners and staff made our stay so comfortable- like staying at a friends house! The outdoor courtyard was a great place to relax and hang out after a long day of touring. They made great recommendations for restaurants and things to do. They helped make our vacation enjoyable and stress free!

Authenticity & Character

Beautifully designed! Outdoor courtyard with tables and lounge chairs throughout for unwinding after a long day of touring. Rooms are very comfortable size with all the necessary items needed.

Location

Great part of town. Easy walk to sites.

Staff

FANTASTIC owners and staff!! Very accommodating and helpful!

Cleanliness & Comfort

The hotel is spotless!

Activity Reviews

Walk through Oaxaca's colourful streets

Oaxaca

Alex our local guide from Etnotouristica, was AMAZING! He walked us through the city giving us a great history lesson!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Oaxacan Markets: A Culinary Journey through Colors and Flavors

Oaxaca

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Oaxacan Cooking Workshop

Oaxaca

This was one of the highlights of our vacation! DO NOT MISS THIS EXPERIENCE! So much fun! We were a large group of 19 (various ages) and EVERYONE loved it!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Visit Mitla, the Tule Tree, a Mezcal Distillery & Teotitlán del Valle

Oaxaca

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Monte Albán and the alebrijes workshop: an unforgettable experience

Oaxaca

INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Experience the culture of Oaxaca: discover textile art, ceramics and mezcal

Oaxaca

Macrina’s pottery is beautiful and her story is inspirational! Such a great experience. The wool artisans are also amazing! Again- do not miss this tour!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip was incredible. Rene helped us put together an outstanding itinerary with excellent recommendations for excursions and lodging. We worked with Lizbeth from Rutopia during the trip and she was also fantastic. Both Rene and Lizbeth were responsive, helpful, and truly dedicated to making this a really special experience for our family.

We are keen on adventure, so we wanted to do some tours that were a little off the beaten path and removed from the more "touristy" places (of... read more

Our trip was incredible. Rene helped us put together an outstanding itinerary with excellent recommendations for excursions and lodging. We worked with Lizbeth from Rutopia during the trip and she was also fantastic. Both Rene and Lizbeth were responsive, helpful, and truly dedicated to making this a really special experience for our family.

We are keen on adventure, so we wanted to do some tours that were a little off the beaten path and removed from the more "touristy" places (of which there are many). We are so glad KimKim and Rutopia were able to accommodate us. We got to spend time with local Maya families and guides; ate traditional home-cooked meals; and contributed directly, sustainably, and positively to the communities we visited. Our guides were all highly knowledgeable and conscientious.

In addition to our visits to the extraordinary ruins and archeological zones of the region, one highlight of the trip was spending a day with a local Maya community exploring a stunning cenote and learning to make tortillas by hand over an open fire. The entire trip felt very authentic and connected to the local cultures, rather than the commercialized theme parks and tourist traps. Our kids our probably too young to realize how special this vacation was, but I am confident they will remember it forever!!

Hotel Reviews

Fairmont Mayacobá Rivera Maya

Quintana Roo

This was a luxurious hotel with beautiful pools and good restaurants. It was a nice place to relax and pamper ourselves after more adventurous days. However, it felt more commercial compared to the more authentic experiences we had during our trip.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa Don Diego

Tulum

Casa Don Diego was small, private, and gave us the authentic experience we were looking for. We loved how it was tucked away in Tulum and offered a quiet and unassuming atmosphere. The staff was really nice and made us feel like family. We even had the chance to see their beehives and learn about a specific type of bee that doesn't sting, but produces fantastic honey. The hotel has around six rooms and an outdoor kitchen for families to use which added to the home-like feel. It was a wonderful place to stay and we really missed it when we moved to a larger resort later in our trip.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Float in the Muyil Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve with transportation from Cancun.

Cancún

This was an absolute highlight of our trip! We got there early, before the crowds and it was just our family and our guide. We floated down the river, surrounded by stunning nature, in crystal clear water. Our guide taught us about the jungle and let us enjoy some quiet moments just floating. We didn't do any snorkeling, but it was still an amazing experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mayan jungle, culture, cenotes and lunch in Yalcobá

Mexico

This was one of the most special days of our trip. We got to spend time with a Mayan community and learn about their traditional ways of life. Our children even made tortillas by hand with Maya women — an unforgettable experience. We also visited a hidden cenote, which was an adventurous and stunning experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rio Secreto: The Mayan underworld

Cancún

This was a commercial but fun experience. We went into the caves with a guide and a group, which felt a bit rushed and less personal than our other adventures. Still, it was beautiful and interesting.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coba and the sacred Mayan roads

Cobá

The tours of the ruins, including Coba and the sacred Mayan roads, were stunning. All of our guides were well informed and we learned a lot about the culture and history. It was wonderful to meet the people and know that the money from our tours was going directly into the local community. It was fantastic to see the ruins and spend time with Mayan families.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Such a wonderful trip! Rene was super helpful in putting together our itinerary. Lizbeth was responsive to questions the entire week (answers within minutes!) and proactive about notifying us of any changes and updates. We never had to stress about anything (other than what yummy food we wanted for dinner ;) ). Every place we went was a new adventure, and we even got a whole gorgeous cenote to ourselves - clearly a place somewhat off the beaten path. Thank you to the whole team for... read more

Such a wonderful trip! Rene was super helpful in putting together our itinerary. Lizbeth was responsive to questions the entire week (answers within minutes!) and proactive about notifying us of any changes and updates. We never had to stress about anything (other than what yummy food we wanted for dinner ;) ). Every place we went was a new adventure, and we even got a whole gorgeous cenote to ourselves - clearly a place somewhat off the beaten path. Thank you to the whole team for helping us through this adventure!

Hotel Reviews

Casa Jacinta Guest House

Del Carmen, Coyoacán, Ciudad de México

Short walk from the main square of Coyoacan. Homemade, authentic breakfast every morning. Friendly, helpful staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Villas H2O Tulum

Short walk to shops and restaurants. The pool is an excellent reprieve from the hot Tulum days. Staff making breakfast every morning are friendly and helpful, breakfast is simple - fruit, cereal, eggs, and pancakes (the pancakes are deliciously fluffy). Rooms are comfortable and clean, if somewhat sparsely decorated. The courtyard is lush - a little oasis.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Be amazed by the pre-hispanic beauty of the chinampas in Xochimilco

Mexico City

Interesting to see a smaller farm operation. Our guide let us stop for fresh tamales, which are my absolute favorite Mexican food, and I was super excited to get them from an authentic source. There was some confusion over whether we had a row boat or a motor boat, so double check if you wanted a more leisurely paddle through the canals. This is a beautiful ecological tour, not a party tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour the famous and picturesque neighborhood of Coyoacán.

Mexico City

We were staying near the center, so we had walked around the area before, but our guide was able to give us some history and point out local food spots and photo ops that we wouldn't have seen walking around on our own.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the archaeological site of Teotihuacan

Mexico City

Very friendly and engaged guide. He was excited to teach everything he knew and gave us plenty of time to walk around and enjoy ourselves. Learned more history on this tour than almost any others.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover the flavors and colors of the exotic San Juan Market

Mexico City

One of the best tours we went on. The guide was personable, and we learned a lot about how the downtown markets developed. Don't eat too much beforehand because you will eat a LOT - and you won't want to miss a single bite!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Chichén Itzá: A Wonder of the Mayan World

Mexico

This is a more restored site and felt somewhat more "touristy" than Teotihuacan. The more restored state means some great photo ops.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Immerse Yourself in the Peaceful Yokdzonot Cenote

Mexico

Absolutely the best cenote we got to visit. Seemed like it was somewhat off the beaten path because we had it entirely to ourselves. Probably the most beautiful place we visited, with birds flying overhead and the walls of the cenote towering above us as we laid back in the water and just took in the view.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rio Secreto: The Mayan underworld

Cancún

The caves are gorgeous and the guides were knowledgeable. Our guide, Felipe, made the experience entertaining for everyone. The only drawback is that it's more tourist-y than some other tours and the photos are waaay too expensive (and they don't let you bring in your own cameras). Had some trouble with the download link for the photo I purchased and had to reach out to customer support.

Quality of Experience

Great experience in the caves. Photos were too expensive and had trouble with the download link (customer service was helpful and responsive in fixing it, though)

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Adventure in Tulum

Tulum

The Tulum ruins were beautiful, overlooking the sea (and there were iguanas hanging out everywhere!). The ziplines and jumping into cenotes were a fun diversion at the end of our trip. Definitely snorkel in the Cenote Azul - there's a chance to see turtles. We also saw a bat hanging out in a cave at the end of another cenote. Be brave and do the zipline jump into the cenote when you get the chance - so fun!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had wonderful trip which was arranged by the KimKim team in Mexico. From the start to the finish the arrangements were flawless. The tour guides that took us around were very informative, kind and patient. We were very impressed with Pablo Yuchi for his detailed knowledge of Mexican history, anthropology and culture. Jorge for his boundless enthusiasm and spirit. Both guides in San Miguel de Allende and Gabriella in Puebla also needs special mention. In Oaxaca Senor Jose proved to be... read more

We had wonderful trip which was arranged by the KimKim team in Mexico. From the start to the finish the arrangements were flawless. The tour guides that took us around were very informative, kind and patient. We were very impressed with Pablo Yuchi for his detailed knowledge of Mexican history, anthropology and culture. Jorge for his boundless enthusiasm and spirit. Both guides in San Miguel de Allende and Gabriella in Puebla also needs special mention. In Oaxaca Senor Jose proved to be extremely kind and informative. On the whole we could not have enjoyed Mexico more without your planning and guidance. I will certainly recommend your team to my friends and acquaintances. Thank you very much.

Hotel Reviews

Zócalo Central

Mexico City

Very well located. The restaurant on 6 th floor had amazing with an amazing view.

Authenticity & Character

Location

That it was in historical center of Mexico city

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The free food and drinks at the coffee shop is an added bonus.

La Morada Hotel

San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato

The hotel is well located and has great character. The only drawback was that there was no air conditioning as the weather was extremely warm in June. However they provided us with a cooler which at night was very pleasent since the ambient temperature had cooled down.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

CARTESIANO URBAN WELLNESS CENTER

Puebla

Authenticity & Character

Location

The hotel is at the edge of the centro historico. So everything is in walking distance. Loved the luxury and the cutting edge design of the hotel.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The beds were very comfortable.

Hotel Tabáa Oaxaca

Oaxaca

The hotel is pleasent but does not provide for any breakfast options. However the management and staff went out of their way to accommodate all our requests.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Visit to the National Museum of Anthropology

Mexico City

One of the best. Well worth the visit. To have an understanding of the pre Columbian era of Mexico this checks all the boxes.

Quality of Experience

Our guide Pablo Yuchi

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Before my trip, many friends asked me not to visit Mexico for fear of safety. My 10 days visit was awesome. We spent 5 nights at mexico city, 3 at Merida and 2 at Cancun. Surprised Mexico city is so clean in the old town where we stayed. Streets are always clean, and people are friendly and do not pose any danger to tourists. Hardly see people smoking or getting drunk on streets.

Our ite was well organised by Kimkim and Mr Rene. everyday is not tiring , giving us ample time to explore... read more

Before my trip, many friends asked me not to visit Mexico for fear of safety. My 10 days visit was awesome. We spent 5 nights at mexico city, 3 at Merida and 2 at Cancun. Surprised Mexico city is so clean in the old town where we stayed. Streets are always clean, and people are friendly and do not pose any danger to tourists. Hardly see people smoking or getting drunk on streets.

Our ite was well organised by Kimkim and Mr Rene. everyday is not tiring , giving us ample time to explore on our own. The visits to tourists spots were well guided by professional guides and we were particularly impressed with Mr Pablo. George is also another guide who gave us good information of the sites we toured. Hotels chosen were pleasant and well located for us to walk around the old city .

Thanks to the Trip Sapp set up which is a group chat involving the group of 4 of us and the persons in charge of our tour. Special thanks to Liz for the daily update, advise and recommendations of what we can do. A very innovative way to assist tourists who will find such support assistance highly appreciated.

We have no hesitation to recommend our friends to visit Mexico and to use kimkim to ensure a memorable trip.

Thanks for a memorable visit to Mexico.

Hello : Overall our trip was a great success and we would love to visit Mexico again We would also love to use Kim Kim again for other countries or trips in the future. It was a big investment for us but well worth it for the marvelous experiences provided by Kim KIm.

The wonderful parts: We were so stress -free on this vacation. Having a cheerful and courteous guide pick us up each day was a joy. We enjoyed meeting Jose, Liliane, Luis, the driver Giovanni, and the guide from Puebla... read more

Hello : Overall our trip was a great success and we would love to visit Mexico again We would also love to use Kim Kim again for other countries or trips in the future. It was a big investment for us but well worth it for the marvelous experiences provided by Kim KIm.

The wonderful parts: We were so stress -free on this vacation. Having a cheerful and courteous guide pick us up each day was a joy. We enjoyed meeting Jose, Liliane, Luis, the driver Giovanni, and the guide from Puebla (Ayleen??) I misunderstood her name, but she was delightful. They were excellent ambassadors of their countries. We will treasure our memories of the floating gardens, the beautiful energy of central Mexico City (my kids enjoyed the free concert of the Fabulous Cadillacs in the center of the city), and the stunning food. As urbanists, we were impressed by the streetscape and landscaping throughout the city - especially the plantings along the high traffic railroads in the city! Even in less trafficked and poorer areas we noticed the effort of plantings. Also - holy moly the murals ! No one told us we would see such remarkable street art.
We immensely enjoyed our stay at the Historic Central Hotel and would absolutely stay there again if we were ever to return. We so appreciated the complimentary water bottles. The seating areas were so welcoming that (particularly with jet lag issues) various members of my family left their rooms to just sit in the gorgeous atrium at various points. The breakfasts there were terrific, and the concierge and wait staff there were charming, interesting people who seemed happy to be encountering and welcoming visitors to their country. Visiting the Casa Azul was sensational - how many museums in the world are dedicated to female artists? It felt really special. The pyramids were, of course, stunning. Most of all, what we enjoyed was meeting people and seeing our teenagers try out their beginning Spanish with patient, friendly, and proud people who made them feel like welcomed neighbors to a beautiful and special country.

The not-so-wonderful parts: Our hotel in Puebla was clean and centrally located. However, when we ran into difficulties with the AC, we had a series of increasingly unpleasant interactions with the front desk and the staff member who assured us that they had AC. They told us there were no other free rooms, they told us things would be fixed the next day, etc, etc...it was pretty miserable. If they could have simply agreed with us that it was broken and apologized, and moved us to an open window room, we could have been far less frustrated. Thanks to Kim Kim, things were partly rectified (we moved into a room with windows that opened), but I still don't think that hotel Diana was ready for international travelers who expect more straightforward dealings (and perhaps a modicum of English from the front desk).

The things that could be better for future travelers:
1) We were a bit frustrated to run into so many places (with Liliana) that were closed to the public on Saturday and that we couldn't visit. Similarly, Puebla is not best explored on a Monday, as we found out.....almost all the museums
and the central cathedrals were closed! So I don't know if it would have been possible, but in retrospect, perhaps those issues could be part of a plan.
2) Direct folks to a different hotel in Puebla

Thank you for all your excellent work! I can tell it is a business for you all but a business with a heart.

Cannot recommend the kimkim platform and the team at Rutopia (the travel agent we were connected with) enough. We're a family of four after a customised tour of Mexico (Oaxaca, Puebla and CDMX) that don't have Spanish so was important that we would have support while we were away. This is exactly what we received.
From the initial response to my enquiry from Rene at Rutopia via kimkim that was within 24-48 hours (as compared to another travel company we have used before for South America... read more

Cannot recommend the kimkim platform and the team at Rutopia (the travel agent we were connected with) enough. We're a family of four after a customised tour of Mexico (Oaxaca, Puebla and CDMX) that don't have Spanish so was important that we would have support while we were away. This is exactly what we received.
From the initial response to my enquiry from Rene at Rutopia via kimkim that was within 24-48 hours (as compared to another travel company we have used before for South America that said it would take them 6 weeks to have someone contact me about customised tour) to the thorough planning with me and advice through to the support we received from Lisbeth while we were "on tour" was amazing. Thank you for making our trip a safe and memorable one that was stress free.

Ana from Mexico a pié was our best guide overall but Adrian (on the food tour), Guadalupe in Puebla, and Alan in the mole poblano class were all very good. Ximena was always just a WhatsApp text away and very helpful. All in all we had a great time on this tour and would highly recommend it.

We really liked Anna and Leonadro. ( I did not go to Monte Alban < weloved staying at Parador San Miguel, Modrian and Hotel Maria Cristina. Lizbeth and Rena were very helpful

Guide in Oaxaca was knowledgeable.
In Oaxaca, the hotel was not in good condition, no amenities and a bit run down.
Service was basic, breakfast was included and not great.
We got 6 nights in nice, outstanding hotels - we paid for 5 star hotels, the one in Oaxaca was NOT.

During the trip we contacted Ximena a day in advance to have our dinner reservations (included in the tour) changed to a later time. She was inflexible and had to rush to get to the restaurant. Upon arrival the... read more

Guide in Oaxaca was knowledgeable.
In Oaxaca, the hotel was not in good condition, no amenities and a bit run down.
Service was basic, breakfast was included and not great.
We got 6 nights in nice, outstanding hotels - we paid for 5 star hotels, the one in Oaxaca was NOT.

During the trip we contacted Ximena a day in advance to have our dinner reservations (included in the tour) changed to a later time. She was inflexible and had to rush to get to the restaurant. Upon arrival the restaurant was full and were seated in a service area, not a place to enjoy a meal.
TOTALLY disappointed with the tour planner after the trip began and after payment was received.

Arriving to our hotel in Puebla we were told that the reservation had not been paid by the tour operator. It took hours before this was sorted and we were a room.

Hotel Reviews

Mondrian Mexico City Condesa

Mexico City

New hotel and great service

Authenticity & Character

new luxury hotel

Location

easy walking area to restaurants

Staff

very helpful and service oriented

Cleanliness & Comfort

tidy and clean - new feel

La Catrina de Alcalá

basic service towels were worn out and had to keep asking for soap and towels. not modern, mold around the shower.

Authenticity & Character

Location

within the historic center

Staff

need to be more attentive. basic service

Cleanliness & Comfort

need to clean the shower and bathroom, black mold visible bed was comfortable

Quinta Real Puebla

good place and great location. enjoy the historic building

Authenticity & Character

previous a convent. well appointed rooms

Location

in historic center, walking distance to most places I wanted to visit.

Staff

very attentive and willing to help

Cleanliness & Comfort

comfy and spacious room.

Activity Reviews

Walk through Oaxaca's colourful streets

Oaxaca

Guide is knowledgeable of the area. Enjoyable walking tour around the city, highlighted with history and local information.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

our guide double as our driver. he was knowledgeable, answered many questions.

Transport

comfortable car

Gastronomic Indigenous Roots

Oaxaca

did not stay. restaurant did not have a dining area appropriate to enjoy a meal. table was dirty, one chair for a party of two. area was facing the garbage cans. we were refused to be seated in a nicer, cleaner area. also did not cooperate in changing our dining scheduled for a later time when better and appropriate seating would be available. restaurant is not a conducive to enjoy and appreciate a good meal.

Quality of Experience

customer service needs to be improved 100% very negative experience. DO NOT GO!

Monte Albán and the alebrijes workshop: an unforgettable experience

Oaxaca

Monte Alban a lot of walking and enjoy learning the history of the area. Great time painting our own Alebrije and lots of enjoyment to meet the family that owns the "taller" Lunch was basic and very local cuisine --- chapulines tacos (40 percent protein, 43 percent fat, and 13 percent dietary fiber)

Quality of Experience

history and local chapulines

Guides, Drivers and Staff

excellent guide, provided excellent explanation and is knowledgeable of the area as well as the local customs

Transport

comfortable

Experience the culture of Oaxaca: discover textile art, ceramics and mezcal

Oaxaca

1st day of our tour we covered a lot . Interesting to experience the Barro Rojo and Textile family business. Mezcal place was not too interesting. It was just a lunch stop and the basic mezcal tasting.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

informative

Transport

comfortable ride

Gastronomic tour in Puebla

Puebla

Great variety of delicious food around Puebla. Incredible tour of the market tasting everything as we walked. La Calle de Dulces was amazing and Maria provided the history of the area.

Quality of Experience

lots of food!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Maria gave extensive explanation on everywhere we went

Transport

we walked and experienced all kinds of flavors.