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active 11 hours ago

Valentine Julien

Valentine is the girl from the French Alps!

She grew up between the French & Swiss Alps, worked as a tailor-made trip planner in Sri Lanka & Maldives, and was an event organizer for extreme sports competition in Switzerland. She finally settled down in the Beaujolais wine region two years ago, to share her expertise about France & Switzerland.

She has good taste especially when it comes to accommodation:
she loves charming boutique hotels and gives attention to the greatest details. In her free time, she loves searching for new gems to visit.

Si prefieres, yo hablo tambien español :)

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"Everywhere in France: Paris, French Riviera, wine regions (Burgundy, Bordeaux, Sancerre...), French Alps, Loire Valley, Normandy, Alsace, and other hidden treasures.

Switzerland : Obernese Alps, Ticino, Bern, Interlaken, Zermatt, Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, Montreux, Gruyères. You will fall in love with Switzerland!

I specialize in honeymoons, family trips, celebration trips (wedding anniversaries, birthdays), epicurian getaways, and so on!
"

How did you get involved in travel?

"Travelling opens your mind. I always loved to offer memorable experiences to my travelers. They become even more knowledgeable when they come back home! "

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"On the way to Brittany on a family trip, I crossed the doors of Villandry Castle. I will never forget its magical gardens made of flowers and vegetables! I felt like Alice in the Wonderland trying to escape from the maze!
(Trust me, the experience is even better if you fly over the Loire Valley Castles in a hot air balloon)."

Valentine is part of the following groups: Germany Travel Agents, Switzerland Travel Agents, France Travel Agents
Top itineraries and travel advice
Road trip itineraries

Favorite experiences

Cycle & Hot Air Balloon Ride at Château de Chenonceau

Spend the day gliding through the countryside, starting with a guided bike tour on the Loire à Velo paths in the beautiful country. You'll continue riding along the Loire River, then explore the area around Chenonceau Castle, built on a bridge over the Cher River.Also known as the "Ladies...

Provençal Cooking Class & Markets of Aix-en-Provence

The southeastern French region of Provence is one of the most scenic in the country. It's the land of the Riveria, medieval villages, lavender fields, and endless olive groves and vineyards. But Provence is as much a way of life as it is a point on a map. Today you'll experience Provence's...

Treasure Hunt at the Louvre in Paris

The Louvre in Paris may seem like just a tourist's obligation, just as much as the Eiffel Tower, yet this palace of 35,000 pieces of art is certainly worth a visit! Henri Loyrette, former director of the Louvre, said that 80 percent of visitors see the Mona Lisa and then simply leave. In his...

Tour the D-Day Sites of Normandy

Normandy is well-known for its important war sites from WWII. Spend an emotional day touring some of the most important areas, discovering the powerful legacy of D-Day on Normandy's landscape, as well as its effect on the world. A local specialist will lead you across Normandy's coast, and as an...

Mediterranean Sunset Cruise from Nice

No visit to the French Riviera is complete without a legendary sunset, so why not take a cruise along the Mediterranean coast to make it even more special? Nice and its coastal neighbors offer beautiful postcard landscapes, enhanced by the unique colors of sunset. Combine the experience with a...

Wine Tour of the Luberon Region

Enjoy a day spent savoring the famed countryside of Aix-en-Provence, starting with views of the Sainte-Victoire Mountains, a source of inspiration for the famous painter Cézanne. Your first destination is the Côtes de Provence Sainte-Victoire vineyards, set just east of the city of...

Recent trip reviews for Valentine

Wonderful France Trip to France 🇫🇷 for my husband and I
France | Jun 10 - Jun 22, 2024

Lynn
Lynn M.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Jun 26, 2024
I really appreciated the assistance KimKim and our specialist Valentine provided me while planning our trip. Because of busy work/class schedules, it was too overwhelming to do on my own. Valentine had great recommendations for activities and accommodations based on how my husband and I like to travel. She got back to me in a timely matter with answers to my questions before and during the trip. I especially liked how the hotels she chose were located near the activities we participated in.... Read more

I really appreciated the assistance KimKim and our specialist Valentine provided me while planning our trip. Because of busy work/class schedules, it was too overwhelming to do on my own. Valentine had great recommendations for activities and accommodations based on how my husband and I like to travel. She got back to me in a timely matter with answers to my questions before and during the trip. I especially liked how the hotels she chose were located near the activities we participated in. The hotels were also the boutique hotels we prefer. She also got us from point A to B with good timing and clear instructions. Thank you Valentine!

We enjoyed the many tours we had in France. Our tour guides were all great! Celine’s tour of Montmarte was one of our 1st tours. Her knowledge of the area is impressive. She was very patient with us as we navigated some traffic and weather issues. We especially enjoyed our Versailles bike tour with Michael ( his passion for history shows , we learned a lot) , recommend this full day tour! A great way to see most of Versailles. A special shout out to Sebastian on our Gourmet stopovers tour in Marseille. We had so much fun learning about the food, wine, chocolates, soaps, olive oils there. We did not want the tour to end. We also enjoyed our cooking class in Nice. We have new techniques and recipes to take home with us.

Hotel Reviews
Hôtel Des Grands Hommes
Paris

Beautiful room, clean. Nice breakfast area downstairs. Nice location in the Latin Quarter. Good service!

Authenticity & Character
Beautiful decoration
Location
Staff
Someone at the desk 24/7 , friendly, helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
Les Ormes (Bed & Breakfast)
Saint Rémy de Provence

G

Authenticity & Character
Upstairs over a bakery/restaurant, very clean, newly remodeled room, large bathroom.
Location
Central St Remy location, parking a little tricky but manageable
Staff
Not really a breakfast- one day so busy, we ended up somewhere else. Another day just bread, service lacking
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean . Double vanity in room
Hotel Particulier Le 28
Aix en Provence

Beautiful hotel, great customer service.

Authenticity & Character
Beautiful art, has a cool vibe combined with a classic mansion. Charming courtyard for breakfast
Location
Staff
Lovely breakfast, wonderful servers. Helpful at check-in , accomadated laundry request.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Mattress ( a bit worn) towels ( dingy ,thin) can use improvement
Les Terrasses d'Eze 4*
Eze

Gorgeous view! Accommodating staff, amazing restaurant

Authenticity & Character
Location
Good location to drive to Nice, Monaco
Staff
All very attentive .
Cleanliness & Comfort
4* Hilton Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport
Tremblay-en-France

A very nice airport hotel, good breakfast

Authenticity & Character
Location
Great location. Recommend to give clients notice it is a bit of a walk from terminal 2 to 3 with heavy bags.. , doable but a little far. once to terminal 3, Hôtel directly outside, 3 min walk.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Gourmet stopovers in Marseille
Gourmet stopovers in Marseille
France
Paris Dinner Cruise
Paris Dinner Cruise
Paris
Skip the line Eiffel Tower Summit Tickets
Skip the line Eiffel Tower Summit Tickets
Paris
Murders and Mysteries of the Louvre
Murders and Mysteries of the Louvre
Paris
Montmartre Artistic & Picturesque Life (private/2hours)
Montmartre Artistic & Picturesque Life (private/2hours)
Paris
Lavender afternoon tour
Lavender afternoon tour
Aix-en-Provence
Latin Quarter Gourmet Tour
Latin Quarter Gourmet Tour
Paris
Versailles Bike Tour
Versailles Bike Tour
France
Baux de Provence Castle & Quarries  of Lights (Combined ticket)
Baux de Provence Castle & Quarries of Lights (Combined ticket)
France
Half-day Calanques tour from Marseille (small group tour)
Half-day Calanques tour from Marseille (small group tour)
Marseille

Beautiful area , we had a VERY windy day. Water is cold, but there are wetsuits available Choppy boat ride . Our boat captain, Mike was great. He did have necessary rain jackets to provide us from the spray of the waves.

Local specialist: Valentine Julien
Valentine
Valentine Julien
Local specialist in Lausanne | Replied on Jul 02, 2024

Hello Lynn,
Thank you so much for your detailed review! Your feedbacks are very important to us in order to improve our services.
We hope you had a great time and cameback home with a lot of souvenirs in mind!
It was very exciting to organize your beautiful anniversary trip,
See you soon in Europe,
Valentine

Highlights of our trip
Germany | Jun 10 - Jun 24, 2024

Joseph
Joseph S.
Flagami, FL | Reviewed on Jun 25, 2024

Our favorite guide was set up for us in Vienna. We had him for 2 days and he was an incredible wealth of knowledge re; the city and its history. Also since he’s. Art history major, the knowledge at Schönbrunne palace was extensive.

Valentine was also very accommodating with regards to rescheduling one of our tours very last minute. We needed to push a bike tour in Munich by one day and she was on top of it.

Overall another great experience using Kimkim and its network of guides.

Local specialist: Valentine Julien
Valentine
Valentine Julien
Local specialist in Lausanne | Replied on Jul 02, 2024

Hello Joseph,
Thank you very much for your review!
It was a pleasure to organize your excursions during your Europe trip.
Your feedbacks are important to us in order to improve our services.
We hope you got back home with a lot of souvenirs in mind.
Have a lovely Summer,
Valentine

Valentine curated the most amazing experience!
France | Jun 4 - Jun 17, 2024

M
Mike R.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Jun 20, 2024
Valentine curated the most amazing experience! Best of all, she and the KimKim team were available throughout the trip to address any issues we had. I will definitely be booking another KimKim experience! Read more

Valentine curated the most amazing experience! Best of all, she and the KimKim team were available throughout the trip to address any issues we had. I will definitely be booking another KimKim experience!

Activity Review
Treasure Hunt at the Louvre
Treasure Hunt at the Louvre
Paris

Alexandra was awesome. She was the perfect tour guide for our family and so wonderful with the kids. The amount of info was perfect to keep their attention and the game she created kept them engaged.

Local specialist: Valentine Julien
Valentine
Valentine Julien
Local specialist in Lausanne | Replied on Jun 28, 2024

Bonjour Mike,
Thank you so much for your kind review!
It was a pleasure to organize your trip to France for your lovely family.
I hope you cameback home with a lot of memories in mind,
See you soon in Europe & have a great Summer,
Valentine

Very enjoyable week in Provence!
France | May 24 - May 30, 2024

David
David S.
San Jose, CA | Reviewed on Jun 06, 2024
Valentine did a great job in planning our visit. The two hotels she found for us were superb as was our tour guide in Marseille (Sebastian), and the cooking class with Yvan and Edward. We would say that the work done by Valentine exceeded our expectations. In addition, we really enjoyed Baux en Provence and especially St. Remy en Provence. Both towns were both scenic as well as culturally interesting. Due to an illness we were not able to do the bicycle tour in the Luberon, but I’m sure... Read more

Valentine did a great job in planning our visit. The two hotels she found for us were superb as was our tour guide in Marseille (Sebastian), and the cooking class with Yvan and Edward. We would say that the work done by Valentine exceeded our expectations. In addition, we really enjoyed Baux en Provence and especially St. Remy en Provence. Both towns were both scenic as well as culturally interesting. Due to an illness we were not able to do the bicycle tour in the Luberon, but I’m sure that would have been great fun. Valentine also helped us in both recommending restaurants as well as booking tables for us. This too made our trip more enjoyable and reduce any angst about restaurants. During our trip Valentine was mostly available and when she wasn’t able to respond quickly, her backup Mathilde was always there to answer questions and help with our visit. We would definitely use KimKim in the future. Thanks Valentine for a great time!

Hotel Reviews
Villa Saint Ange
Aix-en-Provence

This hotel was perfect in terms of location, facilities, room, etc. Couldn’t have been more enjoyable and comfortable. The staff were extremely professional and helpful. Great hotel!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Book this hotel without hesitation. Only mistake we made was not booking a table at the hotel’s restaurant
Le Saint Remy 5*
St.-Remy-de-Provence

Right in the heart of St. Remy. The location couldn’t have been better. Everyone at the hotel were extremely friendly, professional and helpful. Our room was fantastic as well.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Everything to see and experience in St. Remy is within 10 minute walk of the hotel. Great location to do the Van Gogh walk to St. Paul’s Hospital.
Staff
Staff genuinely makes you feel welcome and went out of their way to ensure we had a very pleasant stay
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Gourmet stopovers in Marseille
Gourmet stopovers in Marseille
France

Sebastian is the best! He clearly knew Marseille, its history and culture, and especially the wine and food tour we took with him. Great stops and met fabulous people along the way. Highly recommend touring with Sebastian

Quality of Experience
The shops he took us to were first rate and the merchants most welcoming.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Baux de Provence Castle & Quarries  of Lights (Combined ticket)
Baux de Provence Castle & Quarries of Lights (Combined ticket)
France

We had lunch and an enjoyable experience in Baux de Provence. Unfortunately I became ill and we never got to the Quarries of Lights but everyone at the hotel and in Baux told us that it was a great experience. Next time….

Quality of Experience
Cooking Class & more in St Remy de Provence
Cooking Class & more in St Remy de Provence
Saint-Rémy-de-Provence

Fantastic experience with Edward and Yvan. The visits to the olive oil producer, goat farm, butcher and vegetable shops were all informative and most enjoyable. Yvan is a terrific cook and very good teacher. Learned a lot and ate well!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
24/7 assistance in case of emergency
24/7 assistance in case of emergency
France

Fortunately there were no emergencies, but we did have contact with Valentine and Mathilda during our visit. They always responded quickly and were helpful.

Quality of Experience
Local specialist: Valentine Julien
Valentine
Valentine Julien
Local specialist in Lausanne | Replied on Jun 08, 2024

Bonjour David,
Thank you so much for your kind review!
It was a real pleasure to organize your relaxing getaway to Provence and select great charming hotels & activities that will live long in your memory.
Have a lovely Summer and see you soon in Europe,
"à bientôt"
Valentine

Switzerland Trip
Switzerland | May 2 - May 10, 2024

Brenda
Brenda B.
Abilene, TX | Reviewed on May 28, 2024
Switzerland was beautiful and the trip was great. Overall we enjoyed using the Swiss Pass and traveling by train. The trip felt a bit rushed and may have been my fault as I worked with Valentine to set it up. We got to Montreaux too late to see the castle or anything else, so it would have been nice to bypass Montreaux and spent the night in Zermatt. It was a little confusing when we were trying to check in to ride the train to the Matterhorn. We didn't realize there were two sets of tickets... Read more

Switzerland was beautiful and the trip was great. Overall we enjoyed using the Swiss Pass and traveling by train. The trip felt a bit rushed and may have been my fault as I worked with Valentine to set it up. We got to Montreaux too late to see the castle or anything else, so it would have been nice to bypass Montreaux and spent the night in Zermatt. It was a little confusing when we were trying to check in to ride the train to the Matterhorn. We didn't realize there were two sets of tickets per person and the operator was getting a little flustered with us. We had a great time once we were able to get on the Matterhorn Railway. Grindelwald was beautiful and amazing. We loved, loved the Schilthorn-Piz Gloria. So beautiful! We loved riding the cable cars. The little village of Thun was okay but we could have skipped this visit. It would have been nice to visit Jungfraujoch as well, now that I know more about this area. Also, we missed seeing the Trummelbach Falls because of all the excitement of Schilthorn. Maybe the Falls could have been part of the trip details when going to/from Schilthorn. Luzern was nice but we were there less than 18 hours. Our tour guide (Adrian) was very enjoyable, likable, and knew the city. He was an okay guide. Lugano was beautiful and our tour guide (Patricia) was amazing and incredible. She recommended a small village, Ascona, for us to visit on the second day and it was perfect! We loved Patricia! Zurich was nice but we were there less than 14 hours. It would have been nice to spend an extra night there. Our tour guide was nice and had interesting facts about the city. Also, Valentine put together a nice trip for our family. She was very responsive on all our questions. If she was not available someone else assisted us.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Excelsior
Zermatt

Quaint hotel with a view of the Matterhorn.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Great view of the Matterhorn.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Hirschen - Grindelwald
Grindelwald

Beautiful, quaint hotel. Loved our room! Beautiful view of the mountains from our balcony.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Wonderful location. Beautiful view of the mountains.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean.
Hotel Felix
Zürich

Very nice, but the rooms were just a little too small.

Authenticity & Character
Felt like a hotel in America.
Location
Location was good; 5 or so minutes from the train and close to cute stores and shops.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Rebstock
Luzern

Did not care for this hotel. It was confusing to find the room, the room felt dark and victorian, and had to use an actual key to lock and unlock the door.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Private Walking Tour - History & Mystery of Zurich
Private Walking Tour - History & Mystery of Zurich
Zürich
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Swiss Travel Pass
Swiss Travel Pass
Switzerland
Gornergrat panoramic train (return day-ticket)
Gornergrat panoramic train (return day-ticket)
Switzerland
Schilthorn - Piz Gloria
Schilthorn - Piz Gloria
Switzerland
Bellinzona – Castelgrande, Montebello, Sasso Corbaro (private tour)
Bellinzona – Castelgrande, Montebello, Sasso Corbaro (private tour)
Lugano
Guides, Drivers and Staff
 Luzern City Tour Private Walking Tour with Lake Cruise
Luzern City Tour Private Walking Tour with Lake Cruise
Lucerne
Boat Cruise to Gandria & return by walking
Boat Cruise to Gandria & return by walking
Lugano
Local specialist: Valentine Julien
Valentine
Valentine Julien
Local specialist in Lausanne | Replied on May 30, 2024

Hello Brenda,
Thank you very much for your kind and detailed review about your trip!
It was a real pleasure to organize your trip to Switzerland, I really wish you had more time to visit each area, it is true that it was a rapid pace in order to fit all the places :)
Well-noted for all your feedbacks on each activity, it is very important for us to improve our services and offer quality experiences.
Have a great Summer,
Valentine

Switzerland & Italy- Valentine
Switzerland | May 10 - May 26, 2024

Eric
Eric T.
Singapore | Reviewed on May 27, 2024
Valentine did the planning of my trip and everything goes well. Top of Europe, Mt Rigi, Oeschinensee lake, Lavaux vineyard, burano island are excellent recommendations to visit /hike. Valentine and her team also track and follow through my journey. Very responsible team. Read more

Valentine did the planning of my trip and everything goes well. Top of Europe, Mt Rigi, Oeschinensee lake, Lavaux vineyard, burano island are excellent recommendations to visit /hike. Valentine and her team also track and follow through my journey. Very responsible team.

Hotel Reviews
Romantik Hotel Wilden Mann
Lucerne
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Metropole Hotel Interlaken
Interlaken
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel La Rouvenaz
Montreux
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Liassidi Palace
VENEZIA
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Relais Sul Mare Boutique Hotel
Naples
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Marcella Royal Hotel
Rome
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Self-guided day to Mount Rigi, the Queen of Mountains
Self-guided day to Mount Rigi, the Queen of Mountains
Switzerland
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Panorama Hike from Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg
Panorama Hike from Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg
Switzerland
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Jungfraujoch, Top of Europe (tickets and seat reservation)
Jungfraujoch, Top of Europe (tickets and seat reservation)
Switzerland
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Early Morning Access Vatican Tour  (small group tour/3,5 hours)
Early Morning Access Vatican Tour (small group tour/3,5 hours)
Rome
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Doge's Palace & St Marks Basilica Tour at Night (Small Group/3,5hours)
Doge's Palace & St Marks Basilica Tour at Night (Small Group/3,5hours)
Switzerland
Quality of Experience
Pop
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
The Best of Colosseum & Ancient Rome With Exclusive Arena Access | Semi-Private Tour
The Best of Colosseum & Ancient Rome With Exclusive Arena Access | Semi-Private Tour
Rome
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Valentine Julien
Valentine
Valentine Julien
Local specialist in Villefranche sur Saône | Replied on May 29, 2024

Hello Eric,
Thank you so much for your kind review!
We hope you enjoyed the mix of breathtaking sceneries and beautiful Italian Architecture.
Your feedbacks are every important to us, in order to improve our services.
Have a nice Summer and see you soon in Europe,
Valentine

Switzerland was fantastic. Thanks KimKim and Valentine!
Switzerland | May 5 - May 13, 2024

Bo
Bo K.
Wade Hampton, SC | Reviewed on May 22, 2024
We loved our trip to Switzerland and Valentine did a fantastic job planning the trip and supporting us. Our favorite was a six hour e-bike trip from Interlaken to the Lauterbrunnen Valley known as the valley of 72 waterfalls. Effortless pedaling and non stop beautiful scenery. Also Grindelwald was amazingly beautiful. The country is so clean and the engineering is incredible. Swiss buildings actually enhance not detract from the natural beauty of the country. Read more

We loved our trip to Switzerland and Valentine did a fantastic job planning the trip and supporting us.

Our favorite was a six hour e-bike trip from Interlaken to the Lauterbrunnen Valley known as the valley of 72 waterfalls. Effortless pedaling and non stop beautiful scenery.

Also Grindelwald was amazingly beautiful. The country is so clean and the engineering is incredible. Swiss buildings actually enhance not detract from the natural beauty of the country.

Activity Review
E-bike tour Lauterbrunnen & Valley of 72 Waterfalls (small group/6 hours)
E-bike tour Lauterbrunnen & Valley of 72 Waterfalls (small group/6 hours)
Switzerland

Do this for sure!!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Valentine Julien
Valentine
Valentine Julien
Local specialist in Villefranche sur Saône | Replied on May 23, 2024

Hello Bo,
Thank you so much for your kind feedback,
It was a real pleasure to organize your trip to Switzerland and make you discover our beautiful mountains and Swiss culture :)
I am glad you liked the e-bike, this is definitely one of our favorite activity 😍
See you soon,
Valentine

Switzerland is Amazing!
Switzerland | Mar 26 - Apr 9, 2024

Glen
Glen P.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Apr 13, 2024
My wife and I had round trip plane tickets to Geneva with no particular plans. KimKim put us in touch with Valentine who knows all about Switzerland first hand. She asked us a few questions about our budget and what we liked to do and see. Valentine put together an incredible itinerary covering Geneva, Zermatt, Interlaken, Lugano, Luzern, Bern, and Montreux. All hotels were within walking distance of train stations, and getting around with the handy Swiss Travel Pass was no... Read more

My wife and I had round trip plane tickets to Geneva with no particular plans. KimKim put us in touch with Valentine who knows all about Switzerland first hand. She asked us a few questions about our budget and what we liked to do and see. Valentine put together an incredible itinerary covering Geneva, Zermatt, Interlaken, Lugano, Luzern, Bern, and Montreux. All hotels were within walking distance of train stations, and getting around with the handy Swiss Travel Pass was no problem.

Switzerland is such a diverse and beautiful country. The Swiss Alps are breathtaking. Especially memorable was our view of the Matterhorn in Zermatt. Valentine set us up with a private guide, Patricia, in Lugano. Patricia put together a food tour highlighting the local Italian cuisine. The next day, she took us on a hike along the shore of Lake Lugano to Gandria, a charming little village, followed by lunch at one of the grottoes across the lake (Grotto Descanso) where we had an amazing meal with a stunning view.

All of these cities were wonderful in their own unique ways. This trip far exceeded our expectations. Thank you, Valentine!

Local specialist: Valentine Julien
Valentine
Valentine Julien
Local specialist in Villefranche sur Saône | Replied on Apr 23, 2024

Hello Glen,
Thank you very much for your kind review!
It was a real pleasure to organize your trip to Switzerland, we hope that you came back home with a lot of memories in mind.
See you soon in Europe,
Best,
Valentine

Our trip to Paris
France | Apr 4 - Apr 12, 2024

T
Tammy S.
Atlanta, GA | Reviewed on Apr 13, 2024
We were extremely impressed how everything went so smoothly. Valentine was extremely helpful and communicative throughout the process. The only complaint was not getting our final itinerary with the final times so close to our departure was concerning since this was the first time we used Kimkim. I like to know everything is set a lot earlier to our trips and this made me uncomfortable, but everything went as planned, so very happy with the service. All the people to pick us up or tours... Read more

We were extremely impressed how everything went so smoothly. Valentine was extremely helpful and communicative throughout the process. The only complaint was not getting our final itinerary with the final times so close to our departure was concerning since this was the first time we used Kimkim. I like to know everything is set a lot earlier to our trips and this made me uncomfortable, but everything went as planned, so very happy with the service.

All the people to pick us up or tours were on time. It was nice to receive messages from the drivers the night before letting us know they would be picking us up and where to meet them. Our drivers Michael and Thomas in Paris were exceptional.

Our guide Celine, for the Louvre and walking tour of Montmarte was excellent. We wished we had her for all our tours, She provided so much details about the paintings, sculptures, and history at both the Louvre and as we walked through the Montmarte area.

Our guide Alex with Alla la France tours in Amboise and Loire Valley was very informative and we really enjoyed the tours of all of the Chateau ‘s.

The Hôtel Le Manoir Les Minimes in Amboise was a beautiful hotel and located close to all the restaurants and shops in Amboise. The woman in the morning at the reception desk, we forgot to get new name, was extremely helpful and made our stay exceptional. We would definitely recommend this hotel.

We would definitely use Kimkim again for other travels.

Hotel Review
Manoir Les Minimes
Amboise

This hotel was perfect. Located closed to restaurants and shops. The woman at the hotel desk was extremely helpful and made our stay exceptional. Breakfast was great. All the staff were friendly and helpful. Highly recommend this hotel.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Private tour of the Louvre
Private tour of the Louvre
Paris

Our guide Celine was amazing and provided such great details that we have never experienced on a museum tour before. She provided so much details about the history and things about the paintings or sculptures that we would have never heard from an audio guide. Highly recommend Celine!! We wished we had her on our tour for Versailles.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Exceptional guide!!
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

This was a great tour. We took a train from Paris to Mont Saint Michel and our driver, Samuel was our guide as well. He communicated with use the night before to let us know where to meet him at the train station and confirmed the time. He was great. He provided information about the towns as we drove through them. Provided great details about the people, island and Abbey. We would not have gotten the same experience from an audio guide. This was probably our favorite place. Wish we could have stayed to see the tide come in. Maybe next time!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Chambord, Chenonceau & Lunch at the château
Chambord, Chenonceau & Lunch at the château
France

Our guide, Alex was excellent. She was very informative and it was nice the tour was a small group. The lunch at the private Chateau was nice and helped to understand what owners have to go through to live in one. We enjoyed all the chateau’s and all are different. Only complaint was the meeting point information on the vouchers was a little confusing, because it showed two different meeting points on it, because they picked up people at two different locations. I should have confirmed earlier with our agent. Suggestion for Kimkim if the meeting point on the itinerary or vouchers actually said meeting point at the Office of Tourism with the address, instead just a street name.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Alex was awesome!
Transport
Villandry Castle, Azay-le-Rideau and Vouvray Vineyards
Villandry Castle, Azay-le-Rideau and Vouvray Vineyards
France

This tour was ok, probably not the best of all our tours. Kimmy, our guide was good. We were with a small group, all french speaking people, except us, so felt a little left out in conversations. There was a lot of driving, but our guide did not provide information about the towns we were driving through. A lot of quiet time in the van. These chateau’s are beautiful, both Azay-de-Rideau and Villandry Castle. We would have liked to been able to actually toured the inside of the Villandry Castle, not just the gardens. Maybe three hours at this location, since we must do lunch on your own or given the option. The gardens were spectacular and you definitely can spend a hour in the gardens. The Vouvray Vineyards tour was good, we enjoyed the detailed about the winery and how they make their wine. Wine was excellent. We enjoyed this tour except we think driving out to see the grape vines could be skipped.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Paris Dinner Cruise
Paris Dinner Cruise
Paris

A little disappointing, not really impressed. We did not get to see all the river scenes due to the river high. Also the dress attire. Everything stated formal attire, not jeans, tennis shoes, base caps, but that was not the case. We were over dressed. Majority of people were wearing tennis shoes, jeans, and baseball caps. It was a very casual dining and not formal. The food was ok, we did not receive what we actually ordered. The music was great. The singer was excellent.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The staff did not check with us that we got what we ordered, just drop it off and then gone.
Transport
Taxis are charged $10 to get in the gate to drop you off and then you have to pay that, which is ridiculous! Should be a place for taxis to drop off or pick up without this additional charge to the people. Our charges with taxi when leaving.
Montmartre Artistic & Picturesque Life (private/2hours)
Montmartre Artistic & Picturesque Life (private/2hours)
Paris

Excellent guide, Celine. Highly recommend her for tours. She provides such insight on the history and art. She was good about making sure we did not over do with the hills, so it was a nice and slow walk through the district to the top to see the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris. We really enjoyed the walk with Celine!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Celine was awesome!!
Skip the line Eiffel Tower Summit Tickets
Skip the line Eiffel Tower Summit Tickets
Paris

This tour we were on our own, but the instructions and skip the line was fantastic and everything went smoothly. Definitely recommend the summit to the top and skip the line!!

Quality of Experience
Local specialist: Valentine Julien
Valentine
Valentine Julien
Local specialist in Lausanne | Replied on Apr 23, 2024

Hello Tammy,
Thank you very much for your detailed review.
We noted all your feedbacks on the tours. It will help us to improve our services and refine our selection of activities.
It was a real pleasure to organize your trip to France, we hope that you came back home with a lot of memories in mind.
See you soon in Europe,
Best,
Valentine

Our trip was very well organized with every detail attended to...
Switzerland | Aug 29 - Sep 25, 2023

Karen
Karen R.
Scottsdale, AZ | Reviewed on Oct 06, 2023
Our trip was very well organized and the attention to detail helped us every step of the way. We contacted KimKim with a request and a general outline of the places we'd like to see and the length of time we intended to spend traveling. Our specialist worked with us to refine the details, arranged our accommodations, our travel and numerous tours at each stop. She also made suggestions about places of interest and restaurants at the spots where we didn't book a guided tour. We climbed, hiked,... Read more

Our trip was very well organized and the attention to detail helped us every step of the way. We contacted KimKim with a request and a general outline of the places we'd like to see and the length of time we intended to spend traveling. Our specialist worked with us to refine the details, arranged our accommodations, our travel and numerous tours at each stop. She also made suggestions about places of interest and restaurants at the spots where we didn't book a guided tour. We climbed, hiked, kayaked, cycled and sampled local cuisine. Our hike to Kliene Scheidegg and the bike tour of Lauterbrunnen were lovely. It was our first taste of wild garlic and we loved it! We traveled through Switzerland and Northern France ending in Paris. Kimkim made it the trip of a lifetime.

Activity Reviews
Swiss Travel Pass
Swiss Travel Pass
Switzerland

This was genius! It allows you to travel everywhere using any means of transportation. It seemed a little pricey at first until you realize everything it does for you. Highly recommend!

Panorama Hike from Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg
Panorama Hike from Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg
Switzerland

The views available on this walk are amazing, the trail is uncrowded and the air is pristine. So much fun!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Valentine Julien
Valentine
Valentine Julien
Local specialist in Villefranche sur Saône | Replied on Oct 07, 2023

Bonjour Karen,
Thank you so much for your lovely feedback, it was a real pleasure to organize your 25-day combined trip to Switzerland & France! I hope you had a great time!
See you soon in Europe,
Valentine