Vio Travel

Planning my Thailand trip became so overwhelming that I looked for a professional travel planner to guide me. I am so very happy that KimKim matched me with Jeab, my local specialist. Jeab is an excellent communicator, and she is knowledgeable and flexible, adjusting the itinerary multiple times to accommodate my requests. Jeab is also extremely patient and polite. While I was in Thailand and had questions, she was quick to respond and help me with what I needed. I am a solo traveler. Jeab's knowledge was superb when it came to choosing hotels and finding me local guides and small group tours. Top recommendation for Jeab and KimKim!

Jeab was great to work with.
Key attributes:
- She was very responsive especially since we were 12 hours apart when planning the trip.
- She was knowledgeable of the places we wanted to go and did a good job of setting up the activities that showcased the stops.
- We really appreciated her collaborative approach of listening to our input and responding with suggestions and alternatives where appropriate.
-She subcontracted with Vio Travel in Thailand to handle the logistics and they were great, drivers and transportation elements of the trip were seamless.

Stops -
Phuket - stayed at the Kaththani Beach resort - Its a 4 star resort - nice beach and town was interesting. Its a long trip from the airport with traffic and going anywhere you have to deal with traffic. Did Hong Island by Starlight on first full day - took an 1.5 hours to get to dock because of traffic. Boat trip was fun and nice to meet fellow travelers. Boat staff did the Kayaking, but were very knowledgeable about the area and the stops so that made it fun.

Krabi - stayed at that Tubkaak Boutique resort - Its a 5 star resort. Nice beach and the rooms were very nice and had a lot of free activities we took advantage of including a Thai boxing lesson and guided hike in the national park. We went on a four island tour by longtail. We stopped at each beach for about 30 minutes and all were beautiful though fairly crowded. The next day we did the resort hike and then a Sunset Kayaking Ao Thalane tour. This was another highlight of our trip and guide did a great job of taking some of the best picture of us on the trip. Sunset was amazing.

Phi Phi - Stayed at the SAii Phi Phi Island Village. Its a 4 start resort. Nice beach. Its not located in the main town but there were good restaurants off property. Did a snorkeling tour the next day that we arranged on our own in the village based on Google reviews (Mr. Chet). which we would recommend. It was amazing to swim with the turtles and see so many the fish. That tour also went to Maya beach, which was fun but too crowded.

Khoa Sok - Stayed at the Khoasok Boutique Camps. This was not Jeab's first choice but we were late deciding so this was the next best place she recommended. We stayed in a tent but it was Glamping (Bathroom was in fixed structure attached to the tent) and was fine. For activities we did the bamboo rafting followed by a Bamboo cooking lesson. This was a low point in the trip. Both were terrible. Raft trip was constantly interrupted by power rafts dragging rafts up river - very loud. Plus there were lots of other rafts going down the river - kind of like Bangkok traffic on the river. The guide was nice but not very engaging. Bamboo cooking class was just giving us food cooked in a bamboo shoot. No talking or demonstration - just here is your food. Next day we did full day Cheow Lan Lake Adventure. This was a nice trip and our guide was fun as were the other travelers ( small group - 11 other travelers).

Chiang Mai - stayed at the Rati Lanna Riverside Resort - 5 star resort. It's just outside the old city but is a great location as many day trips involve going out that side of Chiang Mai. First evening we did the Doi Suthep, Wat Pha Lat and Michelin Food experience. The guide was great and very personable. Second day we did a half day at the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary and that was a highlight. Elephants are rescue elephants and are treated very well. They had a baby elephant so that was a lucky bonus. That night we did a Thai Family Hosting Experience. That was also a highlight as we learned about the local Lanna people and got to cook some traditional Northern Thai food. Next day we did a Chiang Rai tour of White and Blue Temples as well as the Black House Museum. Temples were amazing but because of construction it took 3.5 hours each way to travel. Last day we did a Sticky Waterfall and mountain biking trip. Sticky Waterfalls was very fun and we wish we could have spent a little more time there. The mountain biking was good but the jungle did not seem particularly unique.

In sum - Good to great hotels, great transportation, and fun activities and feel that we have now "done Thailand".

Hotel Reviews

Rati Lanna Riverside Resort and Spa

Just a beautiful hotel. Room was very nice as were staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

in in the old town but located close enough.

Staff

Everyone was very nice and went out of their way to help

Cleanliness & Comfort

Khaosok Boutique Camps

Stayed in a tend but attached bathroom was fixed structure so it worked nicely.

Authenticity & Character

beautiful location, mountains all around

Location

It was a bit of a trip to get anywhere.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

There were a fair number of little ants that got into our luggage.

SAii Phi Phi Island Village

Authenticity & Character

Location

Not in the main town on the island, but had a little village which had good places to eat behind the resort

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Tubkaak Krabi Boutique Resort

Krabi

Great Beach and had a lot of nice amenities - morning palates classes, Thai boxing, and guided hiking.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Beach and near national Park

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Katathani Phuket Beach Resort

Muang Phuket

Nice place for Sunset over the beach. Breakfast's were good.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Sticky Waterfall Cross Country Ride - Small Group Tour

Chiang Mai

Waterfall was very fun and biking was nothing special.

Quality of Experience

Food

Stopped at roadside restaurant on way back into town and I thought it was some of the beat food we had had.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was very good

Transport

Full Day Chiang Rai tour from Chiang Mai

Thailand

Glad we did it. Temples and Black museum were amazing - But because of instruction it was a long day 3.5 hours each way.

Quality of Experience

Food

Average

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was knowledgeable but didn't engage with us that much,. Didn't sit with us at lunch and spend time talking to office .

Transport

Once Construction on highway is finished then trip is worthwhile.

Thai Family Experience Home Host Tour

Chiang Mai

It was great to learn about the local Lanna peoples. Good a good over view of their culture and family dynamics and well as food.

Quality of Experience

Really felt like you were welcomed. And Food was great - even if we made it under their instruction.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Experience at Elephant Jungle Sanctuary

Chiang Mai

Elephants seems to be treated very well and they had a baby elephant at this camp.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Its 1.5 hours out of Chiang Mai

Doi Suthep, Wat Pha Lat and Michelin Food Experience with Local

Chiang Mai

Very good guide and food was great.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Cheow Lan Lake Adventure

Thailand

fun activity for the day. Went to the bat cave and did a short informative hike before lunch and swim. Guide was energetic and other tourist on trip were fun.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bamboo Cooking – Jungle Dinner

Thailand

Waste of time and money - we were dropped off at camp site. Food was already cooked and they gave it to us with minimal interaction and then took us back to hotel when we were done. should have just gone to local restaurant

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Interact with clients - actually talk about how to select bamboo and how its cooked - like the description says.

Transport

Khao Sok Bamboo Rafting

Thailand

Did not come close to the experience as was described before the trip - no coffee stop and river was crowed and noisey

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunset Kayaking Ao Thalane with BBQ

Krabi

Guide was great, he even took some amazing picture for us. Sun Set was beautiful. Low tide meant we couldn't go through the mangroves but really didnt need to as we went thgouh part of them and it would have been more of the same. Went to san bar for Sunset

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

4 Islands by Luxury Longtail

Krabi

Stopped at each island for about 30 minutes except a little longer for lunch - beaches were getting crowded.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hong by Starlight

Phuket

Was fun and guide was good. Guide did the kayaking but that was fine.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

From hotel to dock was 1.5 hours.

I presented KimKim with a unique challenge which they were able to respond to. I was interested in traveling to Thailand which is on the other side of the world for me, not so much for a destination trip of a lifetime, but to meet someone in person who had captured my heart. However, I had reservations about undertaking this endeavor on my own, so I reached out to KimKim and they put me in contact with Jook. Jook understood my concerns and unique requirements for this trip and was able to think outside the box of the more traditional type of trip plans and customize the itinerary to suit our specific needs. Jook created a perfect balance of free time and tour itinerary that allowed us to both get to know each other, and to allow me to get to know her homeland and its customs. Jook’s itinerary included a wonderful blend of hotel accommodation from elegant and classy, to remote and exotic with a splash of contemporary and modern mixed in. From the time I arrived in Thailand until the time I departed, I was completely at ease and comfortable in this foreign land so far away from home because I knew I had the KimKim Team with me. The scheduling and transportation arrangements were flawless and the food outstanding every step of the way. A must see for those that like isolation and remote wilderness were the float houses on the River Kwai, perhaps our favorite stop of the entire trip and our only regret was we only had one night there. If your interest is in the islands to the south a must is the James Bond Island tour provided by one of KimKim’s travel partners Sawanu Travel and a special thanks to our guide that day, Tee. I must say this trip ended up bringing two people from different cultures on opposite sides of the world closer together then ever could be imagined and felt much more like a honeymoon to both of us than a destination trip. We would not hesitate again to travel with the KimKim Team and a special thanks to Jook our local trip specialist for the personal touch and incredible effort in the arrangements.

Steve and Joonjing

Hotel Review

The FloatHouse River Kwai

Chang Wat Kanchanaburi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

James Bond (One - Day Trip)

Phuket

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We just returned from a fabulous holiday to Australia and New Zealand. Vicky our travel specialist and kimkim were extraordinary in accommodating our travel goals and needs. We wanted to make the most of our special holiday and therefore had a very busy trip with lots of different locations, tours, and internal flights, etc. Vicky took our ideas of what we wanted to do and accomplish and turned them into a reality. Throughout our planning and travels, the kimkim site was easy to use and Vicky was very knowledgeable and responsive. Changes in plans and schedule were managed seamlessly. We requested two bedroom three bed apartments and the lodging recommended by Vicky exceeded our expectations. Tour operators were top notch. Everything was perfect and we were glad we had Vicky and kimkim as our travel experts/consultants

Hotel Reviews

Swiss-Belsuites Victoria Park Auckland

Auckland

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Beacon - 2 Bedroom Luxe Apartment

Queenstown

Wonderful views of the lake and mountains

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Adina Apartment Hotel Melbourne Southbank

Melbourne

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mandalay Luxury Beachfront Apartments

Port Douglas

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

It was during holidays and most of the time there was no staff to assist except for emergencies

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Sebel Quay West Suites

The Rocks

Best view ever

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Penguins, Koalas and Wildlife (Phillip Island) from Melbourne

Melbourne

The penguin stole the show. Well worth the long day.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Long drive heavy traffic. 11 hour day

Daintree Rainforest,Cape Tribulation,Mossman Gorge -PRIVATE TOUR from Port Douglas

Port Douglas

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

ABC Reef Safaris - Port Douglas Snorkelling max 12 passengers

Australia

Best tour hands down

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Blue Mountains Wildlife Full-Day Sights and Hiking from Sydney

Sydney

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sydney Sights 4 hours - Private Tour

Sydney

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sydney Opera House Tour

Sydney

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff