High Point Holidays and Randonnees Outre-Manche

In general, the platform is very good for information, reserving and paying.
There was however, the issue that the information always referred to 6 persons, so it was unclear even after opening the link that indeed there were 7 of us taking for example, the group walking tour in Nürnberg. There was also a delay in your responses before and during the trip.

I only joined the group from Munich to Nürnberg. Normally, I would have never paid 1000,00 Euro + for a weekend in Nürnberg - since the price only included train from Munich to Nürnberg (price is about 30 Euro), the hotel which included breakfast for 2 nights and a short walking tour. I went thru your platform so that I could be with the group, but the price performance was poor.

The group was disappointed that there was no transfer service from the Nürnberg train station to the hotel. It was not a long distance, but with luggage, and walking thru cobble streets and a crowd one day after the majority landed from the USA was to tiring for them.

Your proposal for the 1 Michelin star restaurant was not appropriate. Apparently the group was not familiar with Michelin restaurants. We ended up eating at a restaurant very close to the hotel where we made the reservation, and we were all very happy with the service, and the food.

Hope my constructive criticism is helpful.

Wishing you all a Happy Holidays,
Susan

The Local guide, Natasha(?), in Nuremberg was excellent.
The local guide, (?), in Lucerne was excellent.

Hotels were all nice and staff were friendly.

Tickets issues with train from Basel to Lucerne, boat ride in Lucerne, and maybe others. Kathleen has details. KimKim staff helped to address issues.

The cities we visited were wonderful and the Christmas markets were beautiful.

I think there was a lack of communication once our trip plan was transferred to Emmanuelle.

Hotel Reviews

Cascada Boutique Hotel

Lucerne

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hôtel Tandem Strasbourg

Strasbourg

Great location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our room was very small. It seems it might have been the smallest room in the hotel.

Karl August - a Neighborhood Hotel

Nürnberg

Wonderful Hotel. Great Staff. Excellent location!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Size if the rooms were good. Separate toilet room was a plus!

Activity Reviews

Private transfer to Airport

Lucerne

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

History Walking Tour w/ Chocolate & Cheese Tastings

Lucerne

What a wonderful experience!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private day tour of Alsace

France

This was a disappointment. I don't think it was the guide's fault. I think there was miscommunication between what was originally told to us by Fanny and the tour that was excecuted. We thought we would be touring a Vineyard Estate and instead ended up in yet another town with a Christmas Market. The castle tour was wonderful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private tour of Strasbourg

Strasbourg

Very knowledgeable guide!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Privately Guided Walking Tour of Nuremberg

Nuremberg

Our guide was very knowledgeable and showed us interesting things in Nuremburg.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I have been a huge cheerleader for KimKim, having taken a trip to Slovenia which was stellar in every way. So I did not hesitate to come back to KimKim again for a special birthday week in Scotland. Unfortunately, it was a trip that I could have planned on my own fairly easily for far less cost. I am at a loss to understand the value of KimKim for this trip. All in all, it was an uninspired, off-the-shelf undertaking with our specialist Stephen who I wasn’t convinced knew the area well when all was said and done. Never felt the enthusiasm I had in the past, but more of a bit of phoning it in and taking dictation. And through the process I did some push back (should have done more) but it never seemed to result in upping his game.

What I had loved about my past experience with KimKim was the surprise and delight of things to do or see that I would not have found or thought of myself. None of that was the case on this trip.

The itinerary for Glasgow turned out to be ho-hum at best. Lots of go to museum self-guided recos. The private walking tour that was booked was quite lovely and we thoroughly enjoyed it. BUT this came as a result of MY request for it, not the specialist’s recommendation (and a supplemental charge was added to do so). Ultimately, we were looking for some inspiration on things to do in Glasgow besides wandering around museums. I had requested a private Whiskey tasting several times which he said he was working on but never got back to me. Not one suggestion for something inspired.

Unlike our Slovenia trip, transfers to the stations, hotels etc. beyond airport drop off and pick up were not included and left to us to navigate via Uber and local taxis which were not included in the price.

Oban and the Highlands: I requested a castle and got a long in the tooth Isle of Eriska manor house that needs a whole lot of upgrades. And not being familiar with the logistics, it was a 38 pound taxi ride of at least a half hour to get into the town. And Oban area was the only recommendation that was offered. The 3 Isle tour day was fine. But again, I could have booked this on my own directly. It was full of tour groups on a crowded boat and on a coach. The islands, however, were lovely and once on them it was very nice. Our last day was the best day. Our private guide Campbell Cameron was sensational and the highlight of our trip. Kudos to Tartan Tours. THIS was the kind of experience I was hoping for the entire trip.

And the insult to injury is that when I voiced my complaint to KimKim requesting multiple times why this trip that cost me $11K actually would have cost approximately $6700 if I planned it myself, they never had an answer (and because it was so off the shelf it was easy to break out the costs). That is one big mark up for service. Other than just making reservations for things that I could have easily found myself, the value of KimKim for this trip is still a mystery to me. And to add insult to injury their recompense was to refund me a mere $500! Insulting at best to a good customer who has recommended KimKim multiple times to many others. Not only will I never use KimKim again, I will be sure to let all my travel friends know not to use them again and advise others to look elsewhere for a bespoke trip.

Activity Reviews

Full day in Glencoe and the Trossachs

Scotland

Saved our trip on our last day in the Highlands. Our guide Campbell Cameron was sensational and the highlight of our trip. Kudos to Tartan Tours. THIS was the kind of experience I was hoping for the entire trip. The scenery was breathtaking and his intimate knowledge of the place as in his bones. The loch ride was lovely and he drove us through all the nooks and crannies of Glencoe.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Walking Tour of Glasgow

Glasgow

Lovely guide who was very knowledgable and lovely. I had to request this be added to the itinerary as our "specialist" never offered anything of the kind. Oh yeah, and of course this was supplemental. While on the walking tour our guide took us by the council building where she told us there are tours of the interior, but only on weekdays. Our tour being on Saturday, we could not do it. This is something we would never have known about independently and could perhaps have been something for our specialist Stephen to suggest for our Friday itinerary.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Three Isles Tour – Mull, Iona & Staffa

Oban

Once at the islands it was great. But a crowded boat and coach trip. Could have booked this myself.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private transfer in town

Scotland

If we actually had any I would be happy to review them. But other than one trip from the train to our hotel when we arrived, we were on our own

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

University of Glasgow Tour

Glasgow

Don't bother. Given by an undwhelming student who could care less. We left early

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We have such an amazing trip. Stephen did an excellent job planning a fun filled trip. Our local tours were so so wonderful! We loved it all! Some days were over booked ,because the places we stayed alone were something to just enjoy!
Thanks
We will use KimKin again when traveling for sure!