Espíritu Travel

Marina - Trip Advisor - special thanks for making this first experience to Europe and Mallorca so memorable. The patience she showed me with all of my asks, changes, and delays was so appreciated. Everything recommended was spot on for what I (and my husband) needed for this vacation. We did find ourselves a little frustrated with driving to Palma due to the distance, but on our last day we found the Port of Pollença so we were able to enjoy an easy dinner and night out without commuting. I realize the great, talked about restaurants were near Palma but they were some fine options in Pollença too!

Hoposa Niu - loved the staff (special thanks to Xisca, Veronica, Paola), the complimentary breakfast, the restaurant, and Cala Barques. The rooms were a bit small (maybe it is Europe style since we didn't have anything to compare it too) but it was great.

Sail Palma - loved our captain and Patricia. Overall great experience to see that side of Palma.

Wine Tasting - it was a lovely experience. The group being small, the knowledge shared, the friendliness was amazing. Where we thought we were going to go to like a vineyard, the small winery style was great. Downside was the hot/humid status in the building but survivable.

Hotel Review

Hoposa Niu

Pollensa

Great location in Pollença with Cala Barques steps away. The rooms were a bit small (maybe European style since I am limited on my points of reference). The staff are fabulous and super welcoming and friendly. We enjoyed the complimentary breakfast as well as the restaurant for lunches. It was quiet all around, even with babies present, and made for a relaxing trip.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Great for Pollença and exploring the Northeast side of the island. The commute to other locations (Palma/Soller) is pretty far.

Staff

Xisca, Paola, Veronica, housekeepers, everyone was pleasant, welcoming, helpful, and responded promptly to any needs we had.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Spain Important Trip Information: Please Review Before Departure

Spain

Mallorca Wine Tasting Experience in Palma

Mallorca

Such a great experience with a knowledgeable owner who gave a lot of history and general understanding for everything tasted and more. I hate I am forgetting his name, but he was so sweet and made our 2 turned to 3 hour experience a memorable time.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mallorca by Sea: A Boutique Sailing, Tapas & Snorkeling Experience

Spain

The description of the activity provided was spot on. What we were told to expect was exactly what we got. We enjoyed the crew from the moment we entered the gates. The time out at sea was perfect.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Patricia was so sweet and a great bartender.

Transport

A huge shout out to Anita who made our voyage absolutely amazing and unforgettable. She listened carefully to our needs as we tweaked the itinerary. This was not only a vacation, but a reconnaissance trip to determine if we want to spend more time in Milan. Anita and set us up with a local private guide (Marco) who literally led us by the hand on walking tours, day trips to Lake Como, and even took us on the metro to our date night! In addition, the location of the apartment could not have been better. Right on Mercato (market) street; restaurants and groceries within a block, two blocks from Sforza Castle and Parco Sempione, and around the corner from a metro line. Our private guides, tours, and pasta-making night at Chef Rapheal's place were pitch perfect. It could not have worked out any better.

In short, you're the best, Anita!! GRAZIE MILLE!!

My local specialist, Anita arranged terrific experiences for us in the Lisbon and Lagos areas. Upon arrival we were met by a local who brought us to our hotel. The hotel was in a really good location. It was in walking distance to many of the sights that you want to see. It was also close to an area with a great selection of restaurants and shops. In the Lisbon area I went on Bird & Dolphin watching trip. It was a really good time where we saw about a dozen pods of dolphins, plenty of birds, and a blue shark. Another activity we did was a 3 hour walking tour to see some of the historical sites & monuments in Lisbon. The advantage of seeing the sites with a guide is they know the history of the sites and the significance of them. After Lisbon I headed to Lagos for a few days. The hotel Anita helped me find was excellent, the Lagos Avenida Hotel. While in the Lagos area I did a few really enjoyable things. One was the Golden Coast Catamaran Boat Tour. It was a really relaxing trip along the coast where we saw some of the beautiful natural coast and we had a chance to swim. The trip included a bar and food. Another enjoyable time was a trip outside of Lagos in the countryside & Silves. We stopped at a vineyard/winery where we toured the wine making facilities and were able to have a wine tasting. For a little adventure I went one an Algarve Countryside Quad Experience. This was a great way to see a remote castle some small towns, farms, and a lot of nature. One of the last adventures I had in the Lagos area was a guided E-bike excursion on the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail. This was an easy way to explore some of the beautiful coastal areas. The scenery was stunning. All of the activities were a great way to experience some of what Portugal has. The companies who Anita booked with were all well run and every one have terrific guides. The guides were friendly and knowledgeable about the areas and the history. KimKim was the right company to help me arrange my time in Portugal. Anita was very communicative, found activities to match what I was looking to do. A+

Hotel Review

Lagos Avenida Hotel

Lagos

I stayed at the Laos Avenida Hotel while in Lagos. The hotel is in an excellent location. It is within walking distance of the restaurants, shopping, historical sites, the beach and the marina. While in walking distance of everything you may want to do it is not in the thick of it all so it feels on the quiet side. The room was large with a nice large shower and patio. The staff was friendly and helpful when I had an any questions. There is a nice lobby with comfortable seats and a nice atmosphere. The hotel has a rooftop pool and bar for relaxing. The hotel is kept clean throughout. I found this a terrific hotel which helped make my time in Lagos even better.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Within walking distance of everything you want to see and do.

Staff

Friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Every part of the hotel is clean and offers comfortable seating in the lobby and roof

Activity Reviews

Algarve Countryside Quad Experience

Portugal

If you enjoy a little adventure and being out in nature you'll enjoy the Quad experience. The company is really well organized making it an easy check-in etc. At check-in you get a pair of googles and a helmet. When everyone in the group arrives the guide gives you a tutorial on the controls to run the quad. Then it's off to the adventure. I was lucky as it was only myself and a woman and her son. (and of course the guide) We headed out in nature and visited a castle, a farm, etc. It's primarily dirt roads out in hills, farmland, and small towns. It was a lot of fun and we saw a lot of nature. We did stop in a small town and were able to grab a small bite to eat and grab something to drink. (our guide did have water for us while out on the adventure) Be aware that you're going to be on a lot of dirt roads etc. so your clothes are going to get dusty. Wear a t-shirt and gym shorts type of clothing. It was a lot of fun and def recommend it.

Golden Coast Catamaran Boat

Portugal

This was a really enjoyable and relaxing trip. It's a nice sized boat with both shaded areas and areas to be out in the sun. There is a full bar available and they put out food while on the water. The views along the coast are beautiful. When we reached the half way point we dropped anchor and had time to swim, snorkel (you have to have your own snorkel equipment), or SUP. The total trip time is about 3 hours. Def recommend if you want a relaxing way to see some of the coastline.

Algarve Countryside, Wine Tasting & Silves

Portugal

This was a really good way to see some of the countryside and learn about making wine. The driver/guide arrived right on time. We picked up a few more people and we were off on the adventure. We made a couple of stops before arriving at the vineyard. The stop includes a castle and nice town to walk around. The streets are from a long ago time. There are some nice shops to check out. The vineyard was really nice.... a nice outside area with tables to have a bit to eat and enjoy the wine. We were given a tour of the wine making process and then had our wine tasting. Afterwards we made our back to Lagos. It was a really enjoyable and relaxing time.

From Lisbon to the Ocean: Bird & Dolphin Watching Experience

Lisbon

I went on this adventure and had a really good time. Shortly after taking off from the dock we passed a big monument that is right along the shore. As we came to the end of the river before the Atlantic Ocean we saw a shark. We then headed out into the ocean for a bit before seeing our first pod of dolphins. By the time we started heading back we must have seen 10 pods of dolphins. A lot of the dolphins seem to like playing with the boat so they kept swimming under and around the boat. It was a lot of fun to watch them. We also saw some fish and plenty of birds. After a while we made the trip back in and learned about the land point that we come upon at the mouth of the river. We were also able to get fairly close to the slope of land and see some dinosaur paw/foot prints. Before going back to the dock we learned about the two monuments by the shore and traveled under their "Golden Gate Bridge." This was a fun way to spend half a day. The dock is easy to find, they set you up with the PFD pretty quickly, and the activity begins. I'd recommend bringing some water as you're out there for a few hours. Bear in mind that it is a fairly small boat in the ocean so it's a bit bumpy when you're heading in and out from the river.

Explore Lisbon with a Local

Lisbon

This was a really good way to explore the history of Lisbon. Our guide knew the history of the city and the significance of the sites we saw. Our tour was in the morning so we finished at lunch time. We saw some beautiful sites that helped define the history of Portugal. The meeting place was easy to find and the first site is within a 2 minute walk. While you'll walk by some shops etc. I recommend bringing water with you.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I will speak of the planning side - Hector was great in helping us plan a family trip. We told him the area's we wanted to visit in Portugal and he was able to elaborate and make our trip memorable. He was prompt in responding to questions in we had, making adjustments when needed, setting up tours and drivers. Unfortunately, due to a medical emergency half our party had to drop out, and he worked with me to get refunds and still make the other half a wonderful trip. Thank you Hector. Sheri Torres

The highlights of the trip were the cooking class and the wine tasting. The hosts were very knowledgeable and went above and beyond to make our experience enjoyable.
The olive oil tasting was a bit difficult to follow. The host didn’t speak English but there was a translator. The issue was that the host would speak for long periods before the translator would translate. I would suggest having the host speak only a minute or two and then have it translated .
The day in Sorrento and the Amalfi coast met with some difficulties with land slides. We had about 1 hour at each location which gave us little opportunity to explore. I’m not sure if there would have been more guidance on what to see had more time. The driver was great with dealing with the issues though getting us around road closures.
The Naples food experience was disappointing. There was no pizza! The food choices were fair with the exception of the dessert. The wait was long at some places. Although I appreciated the host I wish there were more details about Naples and the food keeping us engaged while we waited.
All of the hotels were in great locations making it easy for us to explore.

Hotel Reviews

Palazzo Alabardieri

Naples

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Trulli Holiday Albergo Diffuso

Alberobello

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dimore di Brando

Polignano a Mare

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

From Market Stalls to Street Food: Discovering Naples

Naples

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hands On: Cook Like a Neapolitan

Naples

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Organic Winery Experience in the Apulian Countryside

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The hotels were fantastic, the itinerary was well thought out and organized, and Anita and the whole KimKim team were very responsive. Could not have planned it this well by myself. The other plus is that KimKim and Anita struck the right balance between organized excursions and free time so that we did not feel like we always had to be somewhere at a certain time. Highly recommended.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Relais Montemarino

Borgomale (CN)

Well kept, wonderful views, pool and nice clean rooms. Room was not as thoughtfully laid out as the Hotel Svizzero and our window looked out right on the well trodden path where lots of guests were walking, so privacy was an issue. Breakfast buffet options not as varied as those of Hotel Svizzero. Also, pool was nice but mostly inside so not ideal for lounging around it. Finally, meal options not as good as restaurants in town. All in all, a very good hotel but these issues prevent me from giving it 5 stars.

Authenticity & Character

Location

On a hill so great views yet close enough to town.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

See above comments.

Hotel Chalet Svizzero

Courmayeur

Small but very well appointed rooms making full use of the space, with ample closet space, a couch, small fridge and balcony

Authenticity & Character

Location

5 minute walk to town center

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Turin Palace Hotel

Turin

First class rooms and service

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Upgraded to a room with a balcony

Activity Reviews

Italy -Important Trip Information: Please Review Before Departure

Italy

Good tips. Would recommend more information about the autostrada and payment techniques.

Quality of Experience

Ape Calessino Experience with Tastings

Italy

The views from the Ape tour were amazing as we toured the Barolo countryside. Driver also was informative. The description referenced a stop for "local delicacies" but that was a little misleading: while we did stop at the entrance to a vineyard, I expected we would go inside and sample the wine and some snacks. Instead, we were sat down at a picnic table and given hazelnuts, some hard crackers, and some wine. The snack stop could be improved and should, in my opinion, include sampling at an actual vineyard. By the way, not sure whether this is the place for this comment, but we discovered that the recommended walking tour of the vineyards for the following day was an almost exact duplicate of what we saw on the Ape, so we of course varied from the recommendation. Would suggest including the Castle of Count Covour and the nocciola sculptor (Pine?). Thanks.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide enthusiastic but not a great mastery of English.

Transport

Ape was not in the greatest shape -- had some gearing issues.

Exploring Rural Farms in Alta Langa

Italy

Nocciola producer was a fantastic experience. Lovely family and great products. Highly recommended. Would have liked at least a quick tour of the trees / orchard but otherwise great. The cheese producer was very quaint, polite and excellent selection of cheeses. Nice family and informative lecture. Would have appreciated a closer view of the sheep (which were very far) or the goats (which were in a field that was not visible) but this is a nit. Ran into the producers in the Alba Farmers Market on Saturday also.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We will never travel to Europe any other way, now that we have experienced such wonderful personalized service. My friend and I are, (dare I say?), senior travelers and are now ready to dial back our expectations of catching trains, hiking to subway stops and trying to figure out the mysteries of urban and country travel. We no longer feel comfortable driving, so having drivers and guides to show the way made all the difference. A trip that could have become burdensome became easy and relaxing, as Anita laying the ground work meant that we never had to worry about what's next. We both were impressed at how quickly our guides were prepared to pivot to accommodate my mobility challenges allowing us to truly enjoy our surroundings. Not a small thing in a country of hills and more hills, chunky cobblestone and uneven curbs,

Portugal was packed with adventure, beauty, wonderful food and wonderful people. Taking this personal approach also meant that we felt that we made personal connections with real Portuguese. Sharing personal stories about children, families and pride of culture is the reward of travel, not just checking off boxes of attractions. We savored every minute of this trip!

Thanks to all of out drivers and guides and to Sofia, our host for a lovely dinner in her home in Lisbon. All were exceptional: Lino, Nuno 1, Nelson, Tiago, Nuno 2, Paulo and even the cork farmer, whose name I do not know.

We will be back!

Hotel Reviews

MouraSuites Hotel

Largo da Porta de Moura, 7000-647 Évora, Portugal

Elegant boutique hotel with modern aesthetic. Small, intimate dining facility used for breakfast and dinner. All were exceptional, in fact, I wish I lived there! Small inner courtyard pool perfect for relaxing after a hot sunny day. Rooms were every comfortable, providing black out curtains, sophisticated shower, cushy bed. Evora was the perfect way to end out tour!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Editory Garden Porto Hotel

Porto

This hotel was adequate, but a little disappointing. It seems to be affiliated with a hospitality training school, so the staff (students?) seemed to be spread too thin. Everyone was multitasking , and no one was particularly focused at the task at hand. It felt as though there were no systems in place and no mechanism to problem solve. Not sure if I ever saw a manager. The staff were, however, unfailingly nice and hospitable. Greatly appreciated!

Authenticity & Character

Location

A little outside central areas, but close to the subway.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

BessaHotel Liberdade

Lisbon

Lovely boutique hotel in a great location. Staff was very attentive. There is a restaurant and room service. Rooms were delightful and very comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Rooms were quiet and bed was relaxing.

Location

On Liberty Ave . Near public transport and a tuktuk on every corner!

Staff

Came to my rescue!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Well maintained. Super clean.

Activity Reviews

Portugal - Important Trip Information: Please Review Before Departure

Portugal

Dinner With Locals: A Homemade Portuguese Experience

Lisbon

Cork Experience with Wine & Lunch

Évora

Private Day Excursion: Sintra, Cascais & Estoril

Portugal

Douro Valley Highlights: Wine, Olive Oil & River Cruise

Porto

Évora Through the Ages: Guided Walk

Portugal

Porto Up Close: A Private Walking Experience

Porto

Get to Know Lisbon with a Local

Lisbon

Awesome introduction to Lisbon. Great food and great company!

Janelle was very helpful in planning our trip. Nadia was very responsive to our questions during the trip with revisions forced due to weather.

Hotel Review

Hotel Albergaria do Calvário

Évora

The staff was exceptional and jumped at the chance to exceed our every whim. The rooms were very spacious and clean. The bar, parking, patio, and bicycles made the time spent there just perfect. Great location making it an easy walk to local shops and restaurants.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Culinary Highlights of Porto: Food Delights & Bolhão Market

Porto

A nice overview of the wine and food. Lacked context about locations, route, and selections.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hot Air Balloon Flight Over Évora

Portugal

Exceptional guides who enjoyed the ride as much as us and explained every step and detail. The certificate and toast after made it that much more special.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover Peneda-Gerês National Park by Mountain Bike

Porto

A do it yourself tour with a provided route and phone. Yet the app is in Portugese.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Douro Valley Highlights: Wine, Olive Oil & River Cruise

Porto

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Kimkim website we used to book our trip to Italy was the first time we have used a travel service to plan such a trip. Every detail was arranged and planned out. Anita, our original coordinator who planned this trip to Italy covered not only the typical logistics, hotel, transportation, etc.. but was able to accommodate the most off the beaten path request to visit Giardini Di Pomona including arrangements to meet the owner Paolo Belloni, and arrange for a translator for our time at the gardens. We are delighted with how the trip was planned, leaving nothing to chance, and look forward to working with the Kimkim team in the future for other excursions we are planning to take. Thanks to everyone involved for all the planning and effort to make our trip such a success. Mark and Claudia

Overall, the trip was great and Hector planned it well. The guides were good, the country was beautiful and we were happy with the itinerary. Below is some feedback to help with future trips:
1. The driver to pick us up at the airport was not on time and not where he was expected to be. After a half-hour of waiting, I called Hector and he responded within 5 minutes, which was good. Hector reached the driver and redirected us to meet him at the Starbucks and the driver arrived there within a few minutes. In total, it delayed us about 45 minutes. More importantly, it made us nervous that we may have problems with other drivers or tour guides being late, but fortunately that didn't happen.
2. The food tour was good, but the guide talked way too much about every detail. However, it was fun with the other couples.
3. The other tour guides, particularly Carlotta and Simon, were very good and we enjoyed those tours very much. Alex was good, just a bit intense (he scolded me for taking pictures while he was talking} Otherwise, he did a good job.
4. There was some confusion as to when we were going to be picked up for the Sintra Tour, since it was scheduled for 8:00am and then changed in the app the day before to 9:30. I would suggest that when that happens, you send an email to confirm the time change, in addition to changing it in the app, because I almost didn't look at it again.
4. It messed up our schedule a little, when our Catamaran trip was moved from 10:00 to 3:30, which prevented us from doing the 7 Hanging Valley hike. We did the other hike instead, and it was good.
5. The emergency number provided didn't answer a few times when I called it.
I did appreciate that your staff's email responses were very good and generally quick, and that Hector didn't mind me calling him in the evening when I needed help. We also appreciated that there was flexibility from the driver regarding the time to pick us up to go from the Algarve to Lisbon. We really did enjoy the planning process and the trip and will recommend Kim Kim to friends. We would use your services again. Thank you for everything.

Hotel Reviews

Costa D'Oiro Ambiance Village

8600-544

The hotel was fine, but it was a longer than preferred walk from our room to the restaurant and reception.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

PortoBay Marquês

Lisbon

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dorma Almada Porto

Porto

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Get to Know Lisbon with a Local

Lisbon

Foodie Experience in Porto

Porto

Portugal - Important Trip Information: Please Review Before Departure

Portugal

Catamaran Boat to Benagil Cave & Carvoeiro Beach

Portugal

Exploring Sintra & Cascais: Palaces, Cliffs & Coastline

Lisbon

Explore Porto’s Hidden Gems with a Local Guide

Porto