Beau Voyage

We wanted a very specific type of trip. Kayaking some calm rivers in France, going from town to town and staying in luxury accomodations and having everyting taken care of for us. All we wanted to do was get placed in a kayak and paddle and enjoy the peace and beauty of a river, and for others to take care of the rest.
I called a lot of places- and the ONLY one who could do anyting was Amadine.
She took care of everything, a remarkable two week adventure. 5 days on the rivers, and the rest visiting the sites of a beautiful part of the world.
They kayaking was just as we wanted, the accomodations best available, drivers spot on and timely.
I could not have asked for better.
I would suggest Kimkim for very specific bespoke touring.

Alexia was responsive in handling the logistics of our trip. However, I substantially designed the itinerary myself, so my feedback relates to the execution rather than the planning.

My primary disappointment was the selection and oversight of the local guide. For a premium private travel experience, I expected much stronger vetting and quality control. When concerns arose, I did not feel that my interests as the client were the primary focus. Instead, I often felt that the priority was accommodating the local vendors.

I also would have appreciated more proactive advocacy on our behalf once it became clear that the guide was not meeting expectations. Ultimately, the execution fell well short of the premium experience we were expecting.

Activity Reviews

Towers of Notre-Dame Before Hours

Paris

This was, without question, the highlight of our trip to Paris and exceeded every expectation. Having access to Notre-Dame before it opened to the public made the experience incredibly special. The peaceful atmosphere allowed us to fully appreciate the beauty, history, and significance of this remarkable cathedral without the crowds. What truly made the experience exceptional, however, was our guide. She was engaging, exceptionally knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and wonderfully prepared. Every moment was filled with fascinating history, architectural details, and stories that brought Notre-Dame to life. She had an incredible ability to answer questions, adapt the conversation to our interests, and make the experience feel personal rather than scripted. If you have any interest in history, architecture, or French culture, this experience is absolutely worth adding to your itinerary. It was the finest guided experience of our trip and one we will remember for years to come.

Quality of Experience

The exclusive early access transformed the entire visit. Being able to experience Notre-Dame in a quiet, uncrowded setting made it feel far more meaningful. Combined with an outstanding guide who continuously shared fascinating history and architectural insights, the experience felt immersive, educational, and truly memorable.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was exceptional—engaging, highly knowledgeable, enthusiastic, well prepared, and genuinely passionate about Notre-Dame. She made every moment interesting and brought the cathedral's history to life

Transport

Transportation and logistics were seamless. Everything ran on time, allowing us to focus entirely on enjoying the experience.

Private Paris Fashion Experience & Immersive Store Visits - Day 1

Paris

This was, unfortunately, the most disappointing experience of our trip. We booked a private experience expecting a highly personalized, engaging, and seamless day. Instead, the tour felt unprepared, disjointed, and largely unengaging. There were extended periods of silence with very little historical context, conversation, or storytelling, and much of the day felt like simply walking from one location to another without the added value that a private guide should provide. The guide's attention frequently seemed divided by coordinating other tours and promoting her own book, leaving us with the impression that our experience was not her primary focus. There were also unnecessary delays and awkward lulls caused by transportation and logistical coordination that should have been anticipated in advance. Additionally, portions of our itinerary were changed without consulting us, and I found the guide's communication style to be abrupt at times. I was also uncomfortable with the repeated insistence on handling my personal phone after I had declined. In contrast, our private guide at Notre Dame was exceptionally engaging, knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and well prepared. That experience demonstrated exactly what we expect from a premium private guide and made the shortcomings of this experience even more apparent. My advice to future travelers is to confirm who your guide will be in advance and ensure your expectations for the style of the experience are clearly communicated. A great guide can make a private tour unforgettable; unfortunately, this guide made what should have been a highlight of our trip the most disappointing part of it.

Quality of Experience

The experience would benefit from being far more engaging and personalized. There were extended periods of silence, very little storytelling, and limited historical or cultural context. A private guide should provide insights, conversation, and perspective that guests could not easily obtain on their own. The tour often felt like simply walking between locations rather than a thoughtfully curated private experience.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide should be more attentive to the guests and less focused on other responsibilities during the tour. Throughout the experience there were frequent phone calls and messages coordinating other tours, as well as discussion promoting her own book, which made us feel that our tour was not her primary focus. I also believe guests' personal boundaries should be respected. I was uncomfortable with the repeated insistence on handling my personal phone, and my decision to decline should have been accepted without question. Finally, I would recommend stronger vetting to ensure guides are engaging, enthusiastic, well prepared, and professional in both their communication and demeanor.

Transport

Transportation logistics should be much better coordinated. There were unnecessary delays and idle periods while transportation was being arranged, which interrupted the flow of the day and contributed to long stretches where nothing was happening. A private guide should anticipate these logistics in advance so transitions feel seamless and guests remain engaged rather than waiting while arrangements are made.

The trip to hike along the Brittany coast from Port de le Duc to Saint Malo was a treat. The transfers were mostly flawless. The hotels were nice and well situated Watching the Eiffel tower sparkle through you hotel room window is quite the treat as is listening to the crashing waves on the beach in Dinard. The only feedback that would keep it from a 5 star was no map was provided for the route the travel adviser expected us to take. Perhaps I should have done that ahead of time instead of spending 45 minutes to an hour each evening reviewing the route and finding the location of the hotel etc etc. Once there was a surprise but it was sorted out and a great alternative was found. The written description of the route, the time estimates and the location of the hotels did not always match up perfectly. Fortunately the GR 34 is easy to follow and can be found on many hiking sites as a GPX file. The extra day in St Malo was a good idea but another day of walking would have been appreciated as well. The Brittany coast is stunning.

Hotel Reviews

Hôtel Les Charmettes

Saint-Malo

Fun hotel on the St Malo beach. A 20 minute walk from the walled city. The beach is fun with water and wind sports abounding. Lots of happy noise.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Le Port-Jacquet

Saint-Briac-sur-Mer, Ille-et-Vilaine

I would have slept on the floor in a closet to get at the breakfast! so good. so friendly.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Day Trip to Cancale & Mont-Saint-Michel

Saint-Malo

Mt St Michelle is very nice. We skipped the Cancale portion as we had each day been in a nice town along the coast and wanted to spend more time in St Malo. We stayed an extra day in St malo to enjoy the city but would not have had any real time there had we spent 3 hours in Cancale.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a great time. All the connections between stops worked out just fine. The guides were wonderful. Enjoyed our time there very much.

Lucie was instrumental in setting up a fun and realistic itinerary for our trip to France. She was very responsive to all of our inquiries both before and during the trip and managed many important details for us. Chloe was great on our walking tour of Aix en Provence. Greg was an informative guide for our trip to the Luberon Villages. Thank you for your support and would definitely use your service again.

Our experience with KimKim was outstanding from start to finish. As first-time international travelers, we were a bit nervous about planning a 40th birthday trip abroad, but Alexia, our travel specialist based in Montpellier, made the entire process completely stress-free.

Alexia listened carefully to what we wanted, created a perfectly tailored itinerary, and handled every detail with professionalism and care. From accommodations and transportation to activities and local recommendations, everything was thoughtfully arranged and seamless. Her communication was excellent throughout the planning process, and she was always quick to answer questions and provide guidance.

Because of Alexia’s expertise and attention to detail, we were able to relax and fully enjoy our trip without worrying about logistics. She turned what could have been an overwhelming experience into an unforgettable adventure. We started our trip in Paris, then traveled to the medieval Provincial town of TourTour, and finished our stay in Nice. Every part of the journey was an absolute dream!

We are incredibly grateful for Alexia’s help and would highly recommend KimKim—and especially Alexia—to anyone planning a trip abroad.