Kimkim Trip Reviews

Amazing Norway trip! Would definitely use KimKim again. They (Taylor, Nick, and Maria) helped us plan with excellent recommendations, executed the bookings to perfection, provided a detailed itinerary on an easy-to-use app, checked in with us frequently to ensure our satisfaction, and issued a refund promptly when a tour had to cancel because of the weather. Both the Thon Hotel Rosenkrantz in Bergen and the Scandic Ishavshotel in Tromso were clean, centrally located, and offered excellent breakfast buffets. Our Bergen highlight was the "Norway in a Nutshell Day Trip" operated by Fjord Tours. A wonderful way to see the varied Norway scenery; the cruise thru the Naeroyfjord was jaw-dropping. Our time in Tromso was jam-packed with dogsledding, Northern Lights cruising, reindeer feeding, and Lyngen Alps snowmobiling. The weather cooperated one day; we saw a beautiful Northern Lights display. While we would do all of these activities again, two of the vendors (Tromso Villmarkssenter-Kvaleya Husky Sledding Excursion and Best Arctic-Snowmobile Excursion) really went above and beyond to meet the mobility issues within our group.

Our best trip! Elena really put together an incredible itinerary. Great connections with real people, hotels were superb, guides were excellent, food was outstanding, logistics were perfect (highly recommend the fast track through customs and the airport and the guides were extremely helpful here too). The Monk Chat was life changing. Highly recommend.

From the start of me arranging KimKim didn’t mind how many alterations/changes made, so in end got exactly what wanted. Not cheap but when have short time-well worth it. Our personal guide was exceptional -informative, perceptive and perfect. The 2 local guides used were very well selected for us-we loved them too. Whole trip smooth, slick, personal and just what wanted.

Hotel Review

Masferré Country Inn

Sagada

Local hosts and good food!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Activity Reviews

Banaue + Sagada + Batad 4D/3N Tour (Day 3)

Philippines

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Banaue + Sagada + Batad 4D/3N Tour (Day 2)

Philippines

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Banaue + Batad Rice Terraces (Day 1: Manila-Banaue)

Philippines

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Banaue + Sagada + Batad 4D/3N Tour Description

Philippines

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Monika planned the most amazing trip for us! It’s our first time using KimKim and her local knowledge really showed! She definitely nailed our taste in hotels and activities that would appeal to us! Everything from the first taxi pick up to the events we attended went smoothly. Can’t say enough and would highly recommend!!
Thanks so much!

Hotel Reviews

On The Point

Rotorua

Loved this hotel and setting! Beautiful views overlooking Lake Rotorua and the staff was so friendly and helpful. Added bonus was their adorable mini ponies and donkeys!!

Authenticity & Character

Felt like a European hotel!

Location

Such a pretty setting overlooking Lake Rotorua

Staff

All were so friendly and helpful!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beautiful room!!!

PurePod Karangaheke Gorge, Coromandel (Ruru)

Coolest place ever! It was our first PurePod experience and we absolutely loved it! They had provisioned us with breakfast and dinner as well and they were delicious!

Authenticity & Character

So well thought out and lovely!

Location

Beautiful view!!!!

Staff

Fantastic food!

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Hotel Britomart

Auckland

The service, location and food were all excellent! Would highly recommend staying here!

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful restaurant and rooms.

Location

Right in the heart of shopping and restaurants.

Staff

Friendly and helpful!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Visit the National Kiwi Hatchery

Rotorua

Really enjoyed learning more about Kiwi birds and seeing them!

Quality of Experience

Seeing the birds

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had a very enthusiastic guide that was very knowledgeable.

Transport

We drove ourselves.

Te Pā Tū - Maori Cultural Experience

Rotorua

Such an interactive and fun evening!

Quality of Experience

The food and interaction with the staff were great!

Food

So much yummy food!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Denis was a hoot!

Transport

Buses were easy and clean

Scenic Helicopter flight to Mt Tarawera Crater with landing

Rotorua

Wow, so worth doing as the views from the helicopter were so gorgeous!!!!

Quality of Experience

Such a great way to see all of the lakes around Rotorua!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Easy check in and we had a great pilot!

Transport

We drove ourselves

Glowworm Kayak Tour

Rotorua

This was such a fun evening despite the rain! The caves are so beautiful!

Quality of Experience

So much fun!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The staff was so friendly and they had all the extra gear we needed.

Transport

They were on time and easy to find.

Hiking in and Around the Coromandel Peninsula

Coromandel

Sadly we had a lot of rain while we were out on the peninsula, but did have a great time on the train ride and shopping around town.

Quality of Experience

The views!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We drove ourselves

Transport

We drove ourselves.

America's Cup Yacht experience

Auckland

Such a perfect way to start our trip and such pretty views of the city and surrounding areas!

Quality of Experience

Staff was friendly!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

So nice!

Transport

Didn’t need transport as we could walk from our hotel.

This is my third trip to Japan but my second time utilizing Kimkim. Wanted to try them again to see if there are improvements if I were to go Kyushu. So I booked a trip with them to head to Kyushu, Chugoku and then Osaka.

So my journey was Fukuoka, Kagoshima, Miyazaki, Kumamoto, Hiroshima and then Osaka.
Lets start with the positives.

The journey itinerary was mostly planned well, activities had somewhat sufficient time for most locations. Shona had made a sturdy plan in theory. And had hired a good team of guides to show me around.

My favorite would be the boat ride in Takachiho Gorge followed by the Food tour in Hiroshima. That was amazing.

Now on small things to work on. This is alot better than when I used them for the first time.
Firstly, for locations that require longer travel distance by public transport, do either make sure the guide is hired for sufficient time, sometimes, 8 hours in insufficient to cover 4 locations.

For me specifically, Miyazaki, it is a location far and also public transport has an interval of 1 hour and 30 mins. There was a rush between Aoshima Shrine and Udo Shrine. And also the guide could only cover 2 out of 4 locations. I personally could not cover Haniwa Garden within the time limit before it closed.
Do try to check in during the planning stage on potential transport requirements due to this

Lastly for Kumamoto, I was not able to go to Mt Aso, but its understandable due to the weather and the recent tragic accident on the crater. But even if we had tried to go, the time is quite tight and within the day period, we could cover only 3/4 theoretically speaking.

Overall to help with feedback, my advice is to understand the distance between locations and reserve the guide and drivers for the right amount of time. This is of course best done in the planning stage given the months to do so

But overall, it was an amazing trip, Shona did try to be as helpful as possible to alleviate the trip needs which I do feel is commendable. Thank you for the improvement from my previous engagement with you.

Looking forward to utilizing them again should the need arise.

Hotel Reviews

Citadines Namba Osaka

Osaka

This is my most favourite hotel in Namba. If you are staying in Namba, this is a good place to stay especially for anime fans

Authenticity & Character

You really feel like you are in your own apartment rather than a hotel. Thats my feeling on its character

Location

it is just a few minutes walk away from Namba station and the closest to DenDen Town.

Staff

super helpful staff. Or maybe my minimum japanese did help make conversations more fun haha

Cleanliness & Comfort

No doubt, its like you have a clean house

The Royal Park Hotel Hiroshima Riverside

The name is quite royal but the place is alright. The rooms are quite small. Luggage wise you will need to have a think fo where to set up. It is abit of walking distance from Hiroshima Station but with that, reasonably price. TV options are its weakpoint when you are chilling. Not much channels and also the VOD card is more for... special viewings...

Authenticity & Character

it has that hotel look in the USA.

Location

alittle bit of walk to Hiroshima station but you walk past a very nice river.

Staff

Very polite and friendly helpful staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

it is clean thought abit squeezy potentially

THE BLOSSOM KUMAMOTO

Very very easy to access as its just infront of Kumamoto station. The rooms are super nice similar to Solaria Nishitetsu series. They have a public bath for guests to use. but with that being said, your room doesnt have a bathtub for you to soak privately

Authenticity & Character

Maintains its high profile look

Location

Just beside Kumamoto Station. Easy to access Train, buses and Trams

Staff

Polite and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Its very comfortable

JR Kyushu Hotel Miyazaki

The hotel is easily accessible from the Train station and located at the main bus terminal, ease of access around the City. You can also walk about maximum 20 minutes to core food and nightlife areas

Authenticity & Character

Good for quick, easy movment. Nothing too fancy

Location

its in the heart of the transport system. Eae of access around the city

Staff

Helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

abit more smaller than nishitetsu. Definitely made to just stay for sleep without anything too fancy

Solaria Nishitetsu hotel Kagoshima

Again Solaria Nishitetsu, you cant go wrong with this choice

Authenticity & Character

It incorporates the Yatai village for people who want a quick Yatai feel and has that professional feel

Location

Near the train and bus services. Ease of access around the city and alittle outside

Staff

Helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

It is comfortable for solo travellers. Maybe huge travellers might find it uncomfortable to walk through room with a corridor. It is comfy for asians like me

Solaria Nishitetsu Hotel Fukuoka

Fukuoka

The Solaria Nishitetsu is a hotel chain that you cant go wrong with. Accessibility is good to public transportation. Rooms are super clean and have sufficient space for solo travellers

Authenticity & Character

Its standardized service and professional style

Location

Near subways and trains. Ease of access

Staff

Helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Its clean and has the needed amenities. Enough said

Activity Reviews

Miyajima Half-day Trip Historical Walking Tour

Hiroshima

Hiro was a great guide and has excellent english to guide

Quality of Experience

Miyajima is a great sight with very cute deers

Food

momiji manju is yum. It goes well with Georgia Sarutahiko coffee

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hiro is excellent at guiding

Transport

easy enough to take the ferry

Hiroshima Bar Hopping Food Tour

Hiroshima

this is a definite must for first timers. To try all types of food. And with the friendly company of Kensuke. Its great

Quality of Experience

The food was great. amazing variety

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Kensuke was friendly and engaging.

Transport

Easy enough to chill and walk around

Shrine and Takachiho Gorge 1 Day Highlights Tour From Kumamoto

Kumamoto

Takachiho Gorge and Amanoyasugawara are great sights to go to. Couldn't go to Mt Aso but its weather and road conditions and also accident so it cant be helped

Quality of Experience

Takachiho and Amanoyasugawara made it worth

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Zeal was an understanding and good planner

Transport

Ride was comfy to get from point to point

A Journey Through Myth and Nature

Miyazaki

Miyazaki was almost perfect. What was lacking is the realization that public transport intervals are horrendous. But Aoshima and Udo Shrine are definitely breathtaking places

Quality of Experience

Everything was great except for transport. Made me rush at Aoshima

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Elvis was great at managing as best given the situation

Transport

The buses are bad. Intervals horrendous. Would have liked transport

Full day to Kagoshima with Sakurajima

Kagoshima

Sakurajima and Sengan-en and ending with the sunset at Shiroyama. Amazing planning by Eve

Quality of Experience

Sengan-en and Sakurajima is a must to go and see

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Eve is superb at planning. Everything fell into place

Transport

ease of transport as long as you plan

Full Day Nagasaki Peace Park and Glover Garden Tour

Fukuoka

A great day trip here. Loving the peace and zen fo the park and some understanding on the history of the bobing

Quality of Experience

Nagasaki is a good experience outside of the bustle

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Jyo plans the route well

Transport

ease of access around the area. just need to take the right train to Nagasaki

Full Day Fukuoka Castle Ruins ,Hakata Folk Museum,and Canal City Tour

Fukuoka

Had Jyo for my guide. she is a vert smart guide and knowledgeable. And she had good planning for the flow of the itinerary

Quality of Experience

The vibes of the place

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Jyo is a good planner

Transport

easy access to the locations

We had such a wonderful experience in Morocco! The planning with Megan was both efficient and fun; she was super responsive and worked with me to design what turned out to be the perfect trip for us! Mohamed met us at our hotel and drove us all over the country for 9 days. He was fun, friendly and a very good driver even for this nervous passenger. The roads are crazy with sheep, donkeys, mudslides and motorbikes everywhere, but he did a great job navigating it all and explaining things along the way. The local guides were all terrific as well, and so were the hotels. We especially loved the desert camp and the riads in the cities. On the last day Mohamed took us to his Uncle’s house for lunch - we really enjoyed meeting them and seeing real Moroccan domestic life.

Despite the 42° temperature, the 12 km hike around Uluru was great. From the guide, we learned about the aboriginal legends associated with Uluru.
Had great day sailing out to the Great Barrier Reef from Port Douglas.
In Sydney, we enjoyed a tour of the Opera House where we peeked in on a rehersal for the ballet, Sleeping Beauty. On a tip from the guide, we were able to get tickets to the afternoon performance and got a discount by showing the tickets for the guided tour.

In Sydney, we had a couple of lovely meals at Love.Fish and Fish at the Rocks. On our last day, we really enjoyed our walking tour of Sydney. Just the two of us and our guide.

Hotel Reviews

Peninsula Boutique Hotel

Port Douglas

Small boutique hotel. Comfortable room which included a fridge, dishwasher, and microwave. Quiet location with views of the beach. Nice breakfast in the morning. During our visit, the restaurant was undergoing a change in management so they were only serving the included breakfast but there are lots of places to eat out or you can buy food at the supermarket.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to the main street with lots of eateries and a supermarket.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sails In The Desert

Yulara

Authenticity & Character

Very modern decor with a large patio and swimming pool

Location

Located in a complex only a few minutes from the airport. Close by to a coffee shop and restaurant as well as a small grocery store. A few gift shops to pick up gifts and souvenirs.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Shangri-La Sydney

The Rocks

Great Service, good locationand quick check in process. Amazing buffet breakfast but can be busy on the weekend.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very helpful. Took care of our luggage while we were away for a few days

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

SEIT Uluru Trek

Uluru

Up at 4:45 a.m. so as to arrive at Uluru before sunrise to avoid the heat.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Learned a lot about stories and legends of the aboriginal people from a very knowledgeable guide

Classic Kuranda - Ex Port Douglas

Port Douglas

Unfortunately, the company that was supposed to pick us up that morning failed to show up because they made an error in the date. However, it was probably for the better as the area was hit by torrential rains and strong winds. We learned later that the cable car ride and train ride were cancelled that day because of the inclement weather. After a quick Whatsapp message to Vicky, everything was sorted and a refund was issued.

Outback Sky Journeys - Astro Tour

Uluru

Unfortunately, the tour was cancelled due to cloudy skies but the costs were reimbursed quickly.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sydney Opera House Tour

Sydney

Learned a lot about the history of the construction of the opera house and the unique material and engineering that was used.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Nick and Maria were super responsive during planning and while on trip making last minutes changes.

Like the Amazigh expression, that he is more like a brother than a friend, Ahmed was more than just a driver. He was a great travel companion! All of our local guides where top notch (Hishim, Hasania, Rashid). Our lunch at Said's, and visit in the apple orchard, were wonderful and we loved the cooking class with Nawal and Habiba. Sharon did a great job suggesting itineraries and listening to what we were interested in. I also appreciated doing the Zooms with her.

Hotel Reviews

Riad La Croix Berbère

Marrakech

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Kalaa 2

Rabat

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Farouzi Fes

Fes

Authenticity & Character

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Merzouga Dunes

Merzouga

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kasbah Tiziri

Kelaat Mgouna

Authenticity & Character

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Nesma Suites & SPA

Medina, Marrakech

Location

Activity Reviews

Fes to Rabat via Volubilis and Meknes

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Merzouga to Fes via Midelt, Azrou, & Ifraine

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dades Valley to Merzouga via Todgha Gorge & Tinghir

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Marrakech to Dades Valley via Ait Ben Haddou

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Afternoon Guided Tour of Rabat

Rabat

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour of Fes

Fes

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Cooking Class w/ Souk Tour

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wow! What an incredible adventure into the rainforest and beautiful Pacific coast. Holden planned our trip with so many amazing experiences: Safari float down a river in the rainforest, night hike to see cool frogs, the most unusual snakes and a sloth, a cooking class, a hike in the Arenal Volcano area and hike through the Hanging Bridges. Our guide from Serendipity was a local named Mariono. He was amazing! Shared so much of what we were seeing on our hikes, the history, culture and so much fun. The logistics were smooth with no problems. What a great way to see a country and experience its treasures without wasting time on logistics of where to go or where to have dinner. Our hotels were fantastic. The Arenal Manoa Hotel hot spring pools were beautiful and fun to relax in. The lushness of the vegetation around our rooms were also unique and cozy. The Bosque del Mar hotel at Playa Hermosa was beautiful and right on the beach. Our drivers got us everywhere we needed to be on time. I am so impressed with the trip this team put together for us! Thank you!!!!

Amazing loop tour of Morocco. The country, it"s history, culture, tradition and the people just to name a few. Our Planner Nihad from Immersion Tour was spot on. I love all the incredible sites from the moment we landed in Casablanca, on around to Rabat, Chefchaouen Volubilis just to name a few. Our Tour manager Omar Doudi, was also great and hospitable enough to invite us to his home and prepared home cooked Tajine and Cuscous, I love spending a day in his village too, to see the local market, bakery and farms. The other guides were also very informative like Hshania in Rabat, Khlafa in Fes, Hicham in Marakkech, and the gentleman in Volubilis . We had a fantastic travel and time in Morocco. In summary, the tour was well planned, organized, have great Tour manager, and exdperienced knowledgeable guides. Without hesitation I recommend to anyone Immersion Tour if you are planning to see Morocco. Lastly before I go, our Camel ride in the Sahara desert was beyond my expectation. Thank you Nihad, and your crew. Great Job.

Hotel Reviews

Kasbah Tiziri

Kelaat Mgouna

This is a beautifully restored Kasbah perched on a hill overlooking the valley. You will see the sunrise in your balcony. and the Snowy Atlas mountain on the rooftop. Home cooked meal.

Authenticity & Character

Centuries Old and fully restored by the Owner who is also an Architect.

Location

Amazing View of the Valley and Atlas Mountain

Staff

Nice, Helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean

Hotel des Oudaias

Rabat

The staff are friendly, location looks good, quiet, safe

Authenticity & Character

very authentic inside

Location

Nice quiet neighborhood, accessible to transportation, close to town

Staff

friendly, helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

very clean, everything, bathroom, bed, sheets etc.

Activity Review

Day with the Locals in the Valley of Roses

Morocco

This is fantastic, because this reminded me of my childhood living in village back in the Philippines. Going to the local butcher buying meat, to the market indoor and outdoor, bakery, the sound of people in the market, walking in the fields and of course the delicious home cooking by our tour manager (Omar's mother) at their home.

Quality of Experience

Delicious food

Food

Delicious

Guides, Drivers and Staff

very nice

Transport

confort

We just returned from an exceptional trip to Vietnam and Cambodia and we were so thankful for Kimkim every step of the way. Ashley, our travel consultant from Realistic Asia, was a godsend. She was so patient and helpful in the planning process - we wondered if she ever slept because her responses were so immediate. Once we were in SE Asia, she assisted us in every way and kept the lines of communication consistently open. Mind you, everything went so smoothly that there were practically no issues to resolve. Highlights of our trip were: day trip to Ninh Binh, food tours in Hanoi and Siem Reap, Hoi An, home dining in Hue, Mekong Delta tour, our stay in Phu Quoc, temples in Siem Reap. As a former global studies teacher, I also greatly appreciated the many connections to the Vietnam War and Cambodian Khmer Rouge era. Our expert guides throughout taught us a great deal about the history and culture of these beautiful countries, but we especially enjoyed learning about their lives and the everyday lives of people there. This trip was so memorable and well planned. Hats off to Ashley and Kimkim.

Hotel Reviews

Saem Siem Reap Hotel

Siem Reap

Excellent staff, room and pool.

Thanh Kieu Beach resort

Kien Gianh

We really loved our stay here.

Odys Boutique Hotel

Ho Chi Minh City

Great place - beautiful rooftop restaurant/bar.

Cherish Hue

Cozy An Boutique Hotel Hoian

Hoi An

So much character!!

Doria Cruise

Really liked the accommodations, staff and food.

MK Premier Boutique hotel

Hanoi

Liked the rooftop restaurant.

Activity Reviews

Visiting the Floating Villages on Tonle Sap Lake

Siem Reap

Full day Banteay Srei, the gem of Yajnavaraha

Siem Reap

Siem Reap Evening Street Food Tour by tuk tuk

Siem Reap

Really fun. Interesting food! Again, loved our guide Phirob.

Full day Temples Sightseeing (Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom & Ta Prohm)

Siem Reap

Loved our guide. Temples were amazing

Experience Island Life Trip

Phu Quoc

Great snorkeling and fun fishing. The meal was yummy too. This excursion was a bit different than how it was described.

Cu Chi Tunnels Half Day Tour - Joint in tour

Ho Chi Minh City

Very interesting half day tour!

Day Trip to the Mekong Delta (Ben Tre)

Ho Chi Minh City

This was a good day - nice to get out of the city and see the countryside. Really good guide too.

Ho Chi Minh City Full Day

Ho Chi Minh City

Our guide was a last-minute replacement for the original guide assigned. He was underwhelming. We all had problems understanding him and he was a bit disorganized. Very sweet though. The Imperial Palace and the War Remnants Museum were the best parts of the tour.

Touch the History of Former Imperial Capital - Hue Full Day Sightseeing

Hue

Our guide was very knowledgeable, but we had to cut this tour short because of illness.

Authentic Home Dining - Enjoy a traditional Hue dinner

Hue

Loved this activity so much. Our hosts were wonderful and our guide was excellent.

Visit Marble Mountain

Vietnam

Really liked our guide on this excursion.

Hoi An Walking Tour & Making Lantern - Joint in tour

Hoi An

Great guide - fun half day tour.

Boarding cruise in Ha Long Bay

Ha Long Bay

Boarding and disembarking were fine. Cave excursion was okay. Ha Long Bay is beautiful, but you're basically looking at a bunch of other cruise ships. Also, the water was visibly polluted so swimming was out of the question. We did appreciate the ship we were on - very nice.

Hanoi City tour - Joint in tour

Hanoi

Especially liked the Ho Chi Minh complex and Hoa Lo Prison Museum

Day trip to Ninh Binh (Cycling – Local family - Bich Dong Pagoda - Trang An)

Vietnam

Great guide, super fun group. We really had a great day.

Hanoi Street food walking tour (S)

Hanoi

Our guide T was very helpful on our first day there.

Planning this trip was seamless! We were able to schedule based on our preferences and saw everything that we hoped to. Bella was our contact and was amazing. Everything went exactly as she planned and she was immediately available for any questions. We will continue to use Kimkim for all of our vacations

Hotel Reviews

Sri Panwa Phuket Luxury Pool Villa Hotel

Phuket

Authenticity & Character

Location

A bit far from everything

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Centara Grand at Central World

Bangkok

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Inside House

Chiang Mai

Our favorite hotel of the trip. Service, food and accommodations were superb

Authenticity & Character

Location

In the middle of everything

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Phuket Half-Day City Tour

Phuket

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

SIMILAN SNORKELING - Similan Island

Phuket

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

John Gray's - Hong by Starlight

Phuket

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Enjoy Food Tasting in Chinatown!

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A visit to Mae Klong Railway market and Damnoen Saduak Floating Market!

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bird Watching Tour neaby Bangkok

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Temples, Market and Nightlife in Bangkok

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Temple and Hill tribes in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Elephant Nature Park Visit

Chiang Mai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chiang Mai Temple Tour with Market Visit!

Chiang Mai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had such an incredible time on our trip to Greece! Angela (Aggeliki) was incredible to work with. We were nervous having never used KimKim before, but it turned out to be a great decision for us. Angela helped us create a great itinerary, was always available and responsive if we had questions or changes during the trip, and ensured everything was easy and streamlined. All our transportation drop-offs and pickups were on time and easy to navigate. She sent us all our ferry tickets in advance. All the tours were incredible - especially the individual tour in Tinos and the small group tour in Santorini. We loved the hotels she picked for their unique features and charms. Overall we had a blast!!

Hotel Reviews

14 Reasons Why

Athens

Excellent breakfast, centrally located, perfect home-base for a few days in Athens!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Infinity View Hotel Tinos

Tinos

LOVED this hotel. Views were incredible. Make sure to use the bug deterrent thing on the wall, though, if you're going to keep your windows open!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Athens Highlights Mythology Tour

Greece

Great tour, considering how crowded this area of Athens is! Very informative, great guide, good equipment so we could hear.

Naxos Town Food Tour - afternoon with dinner

Naxos

I thought this was a good tour. However, such a large group was a bit trickier to navigate. And Naxos is so small that we ended up visiting several places that I had already visited in my first day of sightseeing the area.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Athens Wine Tasting Tour & Nightlife

Athens

Fotis was a lovely guide, we learned a lot about local food and liquors - such a fun start to our Athens visit!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Panoramic Tour 2025

Santorini

Great tour - Maria was a lovely guide! I was a little bummed that our itinerary had initially included Oja but then the tour didn't go there - but regardless, we still had a fantastic time on this tour! Highly recommend.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tinos Full Day Tour

Tinos

Tour guide was wonderful - love how the tour was so individualized and took us to lots of unique locations all across Tinos. One of my favorite parts of our Greece trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The overall trip was amazing. Borinquen was fun. We loved our hotel. The ziplining was truly fun. Monteverde was beautiful, with our hike being a highlight. The guide, Andy was VERY amazing and super fun. The dinner in the glass room was one of the best food experiences we have ever done. The waiter was amazing :). Finally, Tamarindo was warm, relaxing, and a great way to end our trip. The only thing we would say is for the Panache catamaran dinner cruise, be sure to let everyone know that pickup was 12:45 (on time), but you do not return until 7pm or later. The schedule said 12:45-4:45.

Hotel Reviews

Capitán Suizo Beachfront Boutique Hotel

Tamarindo

Great location, right at the beach.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Koora Hotel

Monteverde

Beautiful area. It was peaceful and serene. Staff very friendly

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Borinquen Thermal Resort

Guanacaste

Great place, enjoyed the hot springs, ziplining, and food was amazing.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Sunset Catamaran Tour

Costa Rica

Really fun, great food, great staff.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

San Lucas Treetop Dining Experience - Wine Pairing

Monteverde

One of the top food experiences EVER. Beautiful, food amazing, our waiting was amazing.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cloud Forest Reserve Privately Guided Hike

Monteverde

Andy was so well educated on the plants, area, and animals. We learned so much from him. We even had lunch with him at the end.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Canopy Tour at Borinquen Thermal Resort

Rincón de la Vieja

Super fun, our guides were amazing, fun, and full of life

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Natural High Expedition Tour at Borinquen

Rincón de la Vieja

Great hike, saw lots of birds and enjoyed our guide, Oskar.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Introduction to Rincón de la Vieja

Rincón de la Vieja

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a fantastic trip to Kerala, visiting Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady, and Alappuzha. Everything was very well organised by Wind Horse Tours / Rajat, and the itinerary flowed smoothly.

We really appreciated how flexible and responsive they were—when we requested a guide, they quickly arranged one for us, which made the experience even better.

Special mention to our driver Jibbin, who was extremely accommodating, calm, and great with our two youngest boys—he made the long drives very comfortable and stress-free.

Overall, it was a relaxing and memorable trip. Would definitely recommend Wind Horse Tours / Rajat for a well-planned and family-friendly Kerala holiday

Our trip was so so SO amazing! We loved NZ so much and never wanted to leave. Monika was wonderful throughout the trip building process, booking, and during our trip of any needs came about. We had a few activities her shuffled due to weather and Monika was greatly supportive in getting things arranged and figured out appropriately! We are so grateful for her guidance and support.

Hotel Reviews

Ramada Suites Queenstown

Queenstown

Loved the walkability to anywhere! Centrally located but away from the crowds and so quiet.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Wonderful experience with super kind and helpful staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Housekeeping did make the bed one night but left dirty cups and towels not replaced. Left used towel on top of made bed, odd housekeeping experience.

Peppers Bluewater Resort

Lake Tekapo

Lovely stay! A bit busy and crowded but overall wonderful location, walkable, and the laundry was really nice to have.

Authenticity & Character

Location

No

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

PurePod Greta Valley (Korimako)

Canterbury

We had a lovely stay in the purepod once we found it. The instructions to find it from where you part need to be updated as we had a hard time finding it for a bit. There is no sign for the car park as listed in the instructions and the directions for the track point you downhill when you really need to go uphill. The track should itself is overgrown to chin height so we were covered in grasses and very itchy by the time we found our way to the purepod itself. There was also a cannon (for birds in the vineyard is my guess) going off every few minutes until 9pm and starting again at 6am which makes the environment slightly less tranquil. The purepod itself is a dream, the food was amazing, and we had a lovely night, just a few details that were a surprise disappointment.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Picton Beachcomber Inn

Picton

Loved this location, views, and walkability to everything!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pear Orchard Lodge

Nelson

Lovely, quiet spot on a pear farm. It’s warm and charming with a beautiful view. Hosts are attentive and kind.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Not walkable but beautiful location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

You can hear other guests through you walls, otherwise lovely

Activity Reviews

Dart River Funyak Safari

New Zealand

No kayaking due to river level being too high but they quickly rearranged our trip and did the jet boat portion for us instead. This was a super fun a beautiful experience and we are very grateful they were able to accommodate some adventure for us despite the weather not working for kayaking.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Skyline Gondola transport Including 3 rides on the Luge

Queenstown (NZ)

Beautiful views. Luge is very crowded, recommend going at a weird time to avoid crowds and lines. Staff were unfortunately cranky and rude.

Milford Sound - Coach, Cruise and FLY

New Zealand

Incredible experience. On the first leg piece driver was so fun and knowledgeable. He made the 4.5 hour drive pass by so easily and was a joy to spend time with. Cruise and fly were equally amazing and it was so cool to see the national park from so many different angles.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tekapo Springs - StarGazing

Lake Tekapo

Didn’t have a clear night unfortunately so did virtual reality experience. Still learned a lot but different than authentic experience. Can’t control the weather so no one’s fault!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Abel Tasman - Sail , Seals and walk

New Zealand

Had to be rescheduled due to storm but reschedule was smooth and efficient and we had a wonderful time both on the boat and hike back!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Great Taste Trail (self-guided cycle ride with E-bike Option) - Kaiteriteri to Mapua (43km)

New Zealand

So fun! And Nikki was great to work with. She loved the route she scoped for us and really showed us so much character of the area from the rolling hills to the beaches.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Absolutely the trip of a lifetime. This review is tardy because we've been distracted, but no less heartfelt. Hien was such a wonderful help to us in every aspect of this trip from planning to execution, including some itinerary changes on the fly. Our trip included modern and ancient history, lots of time outdoors, lots of shopping and a visit to an amazing animal sanctuary.

We deliberately planned to learn about the Khmer Rouge era at the beginning of the trip so as to have time to process and discuss. It is amazing to think this period was only four years of an otherwise inspiring and majestic culture. We thoroughly enjoyed our time in this beautiful country.

This was our second time using Kimkim, every bit as worthwhile as the first. We now have a third data point for this experience, as a dear friend used Kimkim on her trip (at our suggestion) at the same time we were in Cambodia. We really appreciate the assistance with internal travel and the connection to knowledgeable local guides.

Hotel Reviews

Tara Angkor Hotel

Siem Reap

One of the nicer hotels we've stayed in anywhere. Beautiful and comfortable.

Cambana La Riviere Hotel

This is a good hotel. The food is limited for vegetarians, but no more so than the rest of the country. Staff are friendly and responsive.

Anik Palace Hotel

Wonderful hotel with a friendly and attentive staff. We loved the rooftop bar and spent our downtime there just chatting and enjoying the beatiful view at sunset.

Authenticity & Character

Location

central location made it convenient to find restaurants within walking distance.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Visiting the Floating Villages on Tonle Sap Lake

Siem Reap

Time on the water was a really nice experience.

Phare Ponleu Selpak Circus Show

Siem Reap

Siem Reap - Kulen Mountain - Banteay Srei - Khmer architecture sculptures - Banteay Samre

Siem Reap

Bantay Srei might be our favorite temple. It is breathtaking. Kulen Mountain was a late addition to our itinerary as we had read about it. When we saw the "River of 1,000 Lingas," we realized that what we had in mind a different part of the river and asked our guide. Sure enough, what we had hoped to see was a short hike away and after a quick exchange with Hien, we drove to the trail head. The hike itself was strenuous (though short) but the carvings at the top were breathtaking. I know I'm using that word too much but... everything was truly amazing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide and driver were so wonderful -- knowledgable, friendly, and accommodating.

Transport

Explore the Complex of Angkor

Siem Reap

There aren't words to match the majesty of these sites. sunrise at Angkor Wat is not to be missed.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide helped us to position ourselves in the best place to see the sunrise, and the directed us to the best place for a family photo, which is one of the more precious keepsakes from this trip.

Traditional Apsara show with dinner

Siem Reap

this was a fun evening. The dinner was surprisingly good and the venue was quite nice.

Explore Roluos Group

Siem Reap

Same comment for all of Siem Reap -- these are sights that defy description. The human ingenuity they represent is staggering and humbling.

Visit Temples, Markets & Sacred Mountain - Tour By Tuk Tuk

Battambang

The sacred mountain was beautiful and terrible all at once, as it is the site of one of the many killing fields in the country. The exit of the thousands (millions?) of bats from the cave in the sacred mountain was breathtaking -- highly recommend this activity.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our Tuktuk drivers were so friendly and helpful.

Phnom Penh - Silversmith village - Battambang

Battambang

Our drive through the countryside was beautiful and we had a lot of fun shopping for the handcrafted silver items. At the end of our trip, (after the time in Siem Reap) we asked to add an outing to an animal sanctuary. Hien pulled it together with our same guide, and we were able to end our trip with this wonderful activity.

Visit Royal Palace - Silver Pagoda - Tuol Sleng Museum - Russian Market

Phnom Penh

Wonderful day of sightseeing with our friendly guide providing the historical context for everything we see. The Tuol Sleng museum is a must-see, though it is difficult to process the horror that took place there.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide and driver were both so friendly and accomodating.

Transport

Hien planned a mini-bus for our family of six. It was so comfortable, and became our refuge from the heat throughout our trip.

Our trip was amazing! We felt confident that all of the planning had been taken care of and the detailed itinerary provided helped us feel like we had all of the information we would need. Everything went according to plan, and all of the guides and hotel staff were great communicators. We felt as though we could ask questions and problem solve if we needed to thanks to the contacts and travel info we were provided. Both of our boat trips were incredible and would highly recommend them to anyone staying near El Nido. The team for the Sibaltan tour was especially generous with their time and helpful during the duration of our trip to that side of the island. Considering how far we traveled I would have expected to feel out of place or confused about what to do when we arrived but our Kim Kim planner helped us fill our days with great recommendations which made the trip feel easy and fun. I would highly recommend this trip as well as Kim Kim in general to anyone planning a trip somewhere they have never been.

Hotel Reviews

Bayleaf Intramuros

Metro Manila

Great value for the price! Location is great in Intramuros with many things within walking distance. The hotel felt very clean and luxurious with great breakfast and restaurants. Staff were very kind and quick to help!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Isla Amara Boutique Resort

El Nido

Beautiful hotel with a luxury vibe to it. Small enough for personalized attention, but large enough to have the amenities we wanted. Breakfast every morning was fantastic! The rooms were clean and felt secure, as well. Isla Amara felt like a very good value for money and we would recommend it for anyone staying in Lio Beach!

Authenticity & Character

Clean, sharp architecture with style

Location

Close enough to walk everywhere we wanted to go at Lio Beach without being noisy

Staff

Very friendly and quick to help

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean rooms, very nice air conditioning

Activity Reviews

Sibaltan Day Tour

El Nido

Fantastic tour! The team picked us up from Lio Beach and drove us to Sibaltan which was super helpful. The whole team was so friendly and helpful throughout the whole trip. It was very cool to see the island that the guide lived on since he knew his way around. It felt like we were able to see a personal view into life on the islands near Sibaltan. Also the crew went above and beyond with all of the food preparations throughout the day. We ate incredibly well, especially for being on a boat in the middle of the ocean!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Island hopping in El Nido - Tour D

El Nido

Unreal! This tour was amazing and our guide was knowledgeable and thoughtful. We managed to see most of the stops with only a few other boats and had them mostly to ourself as a result. One of the best possible ways to see the islands around El Nido.

Quality of Experience

Food

Highly impressed, especially since it was all cooked on the boat

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our group of 4, thoroughly enjoyed our 10 day trip to Costa Rica. Holden did an excellent job helping us plan a memorable trip. He was always quick to respond to questions during the planning phase as well as during the trip itself. I can't say enough good things about how everything was organized from the drivers being on time, the tour guides being informative and fun to be around and the activities we participated in.
We flew into Liberia and were driven to La Fortuna. The driver was so kind and informative and provided us with bottled water and chips. He stopped in order for us to take photos of beautiful areas. We checked into the Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs Resort. The grounds and hot springs are exceptional. The rooms are ok. There is no chairs to sit in and it's a bit dated. The resort staff are welcoming and helpful. The breakfast buffet is huge and I appreciated the gluten free designated section.
We did the coffee, chocolate and sugar cane tour. The tastings were delicious and we learned a lot. Later, we had a guide, Mariano, give us a private tour of the Arenal Volcano and The La Fortuna Waterfall. The waterfall was beautiful even though we had to climb over 500 stairs each way. You are allowed to swim at the bottom by the waterfall but it is very rocky and would be hard to navigate your way to get into the water. Mariano did a great job on our Arenal Volcano hike and taught us a lot about the area. Mariano was also our guide for the Arenal Hanging Bridges Tour. It was fun and it's a very pretty area. Mariano was always on the look out for wildlife and even found some sloths and toucans for us to see. Mariano had a great sense of humor and we enjoyed his tours. One person in our group doesn't like heights so skipped the Hanging Bridges and went on a sloth tour. He loved it and got some amazing pictures.
We had a blast Whitewater Rafting and our guide Axel was great. It's exhilarating but be prepared to get wet which was part of the fun.
The boat ride and transfer to Monteverde was a beautiful way to see that area. It's a gorgeous area and our guide, Andy, was so informative and knowledgeable as he guided us through the cloud forest. The Cloud Forest Lodge was our favorite hotel. Everything was recently renovated. The rooms and bathroom are large and comfortable. The restaurant is delicious and has beautiful views. We saw some amazing birds during our stay there.
Upon arrival to the Wyndham Hotel in Tamarindo the lobby and views of the Pacific Ocean are stunning. The pool area and restaurant are very nice and also provide excellent views. The rooms were a bit run down and the bathroom incredibly small. The balcony however was great. While in Tamarindo we did a Wetlands Boat Tour. This was excellent and our first opportunity to see monkeys. The guide, Henry, did a wonderful job getting us as close as possible to see the wildlife. The beaches in Tamarindo are beautiful and we appreciated the free shuttle from the hotel to the beach and downtown area.
Overall the trip was excellent and we truly appreciated everything Holden, Nancy and Adrian did from KimKim and Serendipity Adventures. It was well planned and everything went great. I can't say enough positive things about everyone involved in planning a very memorable trip!

Hotel Reviews

Wyndham

Tamarindo

The lobby, views of the Pacific Ocean, pool, and restaurant are all wonderful. The rooms could use a fresh coat of paint as they are a bit scraped up. The bathroom is incredibly small. You can hardly move in there it is so tight. The balcony and views of ocean are beautiful.

Location

Beautiful views and shuttle service to town and beach.

Staff

Some staff were awesome and some were aloof. When we checked in we were on a floor that was only accessed by climbing a staircase. No-one mentioned that and no-one helped us carry all our luggage upstairs. Most rooms are accessed by elevator but ours was not.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms need improvement and some of the common areas could be cleaned up better.

Cloud Forest Lodge

Monteverde

The rooms have been renovated. Everything is new and well maintained. Large room, large bathroom and large deck. The views from the restaurant are gorgeous and attracts a lot of different birds.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It's elevation is very high so the views are awesome.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

The Hot Springs, Pool and Resort grounds are beautiful and well maintained. The hotel room is a bit dated and it would be nice to have a chair in the room to sit on. The patio is very nice and the views of the volcano are beautiful. The breakfast buffet offers a huge selection and a made to order omelet station. I appreciated the designated gluten free section.

Authenticity & Character

Resort is beautiful. Landscaping, pool and hot springs are great.

Location

Close to the activities we chose to participate in.

Staff

Everyone was kind, helpful and more than willing to assist with anything. We appreciated the staff giving us rides in the resort area as it is quite large.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms could use some updating. The mattress was lumpy and chair in the room would be helpful. It is very clean and the resort area is beautiful and well maintained.

Activity Reviews

Sloth Observation - Day or Night Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

The guide was knowledgeable and they had a system for identifying where the sloths were located. They also used a telescope for spotting the sloths and allowing tourists to take pictures through the scope to get some awesome pictures.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunset Catamaran Tour

Costa Rica

It was a beautiful day to be on the catamaran. They don't allow shoes on the boat but the floor is very hot on your feet. It was smooth sailing and stopped to swim which was refreshing. The open bar was nice and the dinner was decent. I was impressed they had a separate box with a gluten free meal which I'm sure KimKim and Serendipity Adventures arranged for.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wetlands Boat Ride and Rum Tasting at Hacienda El Viejo

Costa Rica

The Wetlands Boat Ride is where we finally saw monkeys. Henry, the guide, and the boat driver were great at spotting wildlife. They made the effort to get us as close as possible. Henry also helped people take better photographs. We also saw crocodiles and various birds.

Quality of Experience

The boat ride was the highlight

Food

The cook grilled me a separate chicken breast since I am gluten free.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Henry was great and very helpful.

Transport

We had a private driver transport us from the hotel to this tour.

Cloud Forest Reserve Privately Guided Hike

Monteverde

Andy, our guide was extremely knowledgeable and an awesome tour guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Whitewater Rafting on the Balsa River

Arenal/La Fortuna

Loved this activity. So much fun and our guide Axel was great!

Quality of Experience

It was a level 2-3 rafting trip and it was fun

Food

Half way through the rafting we stopped to take a break and all the guides cut up fresh fruit for the attendees, which was great. We had lunch afterwards at a local restaurant and the food was very good.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Axel had a good sense of humor and great leader/navigator down the river

Transport

Private Organic Cooking Class

Arenal/La Fortuna

First we got a tour of the organic farm and the history behind it which was interesting. We picked ingredients that was to be used in our cooking class. Our host, Uber, made us 2 non-alcoholic drinks using sugar cane and sugar cane with various fresh spices and veggies that were delicious. We worked together to make dinner with Uber's mother. It was also delicious and a good way to learn about local cuisine and local culture.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mariano switched to a van so it was much more comfortable.

Private Arenal Hanging Bridges Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

It's a beautiful well maintained area. The paths are in great shape. There is a good amount of hiking up and down. If you do not like heights then you probably should skip this tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mariano was great guide and very knowledgeable.

Arenal Volcano Hike & La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mariano was a lot of fun. He was very knowledgeable and gave us a wonderful tour.

Transport

Mariano was on time and drove us everywhere we needed to go. His jeep was a bit tight for 5 people, especially for the person who sat in the middle of the back seat.

Coffee, Chocolate and Sugar Cane Farm Tour

Arenal/La Fortuna

Well done, learned a lot and thoroughly enjoyed the coffee and chocolate tastings.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport