Kimkim Trip Reviews

Overall excellent trip

Nara did an excellent job and was always present and very responsive.

The staff at the hotel patagonia pristine was excellent

the guide Armand and driver. Juan in Patagonia were excellent too.

Instead of booking a large, generic group tour with fixed dates, rushed schedules, and little flexibility, I wanted something more personal for my first solo trip to Japan—and Kimkim delivered exactly that. Being able to choose my own dates and have a completely customized itinerary was exactly what I was looking for.

My local specialist, Leny, really took the time to understand who I am and what I wanted out of this trip. Over several weeks, we worked together to create a thoughtful, well-paced daily itinerary. I could choose from hotels that matched my style and budget, a mix of private and small-group tours in areas I wanted to explore, the foods I was excited to eat, and the sights I didn’t want to miss. Everything was well organized, including realistic travel time between locations, which made the trip feel smooth and stress-free.

Leny’s expertise, planning, recommendations, and patience made this trip truly exceptional and memorable. Every tour she arranged was fantastic—none were canceled, and all of the guides were knowledgeable, friendly, and genuinely enthusiastic. Some personal highlights included the 5-hour Tsukiji, Akihabara & Asakusa Highlights Tour, Best of Shibuya Food Tour, Dinner with a Maiko in Kyoto (which unexpectedly turned into a private dinner with a Geisha!), the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest & Garden walking tour, Kyoto’s Nijo Castle and Imperial Palace tour, and the All-Star Food Tour in Ginza.

One of the most valuable parts of the experience was knowing that Leny or someone on her team was always available if I needed help. I received daily reminders of the next day’s plans along with any tickets or vouchers, which was reassuring. Her real-time communication and spot-on recommendations for restaurants, shops, souvenirs, and museums were invaluable. Even when something didn’t go as planned, Leny and her team jumped into action, kept me informed, and resolved the issue with a solution that ended up being even better than the original plan. And when I got lost in Japan’s train stations many times, her team’s patience and guidance made all the difference.

Even though this was a solo trip, I felt like I had a supportive team behind me. Next time, I plan to bring my two teenage daughters to Japan, and I will absolutely be using Kimkim again to plan that trip.

As someone who usually researches and plans their own trips and sets up all the things (hotels, day trip passes, transportation, sightseeing itinerary), this was a different approach for me but one for which I am very thankful. Brazil is an incredible country, but as a tourist, there are safety issues to be aware of in some places and the language barrier is real (Google translate helps, sure, but there is nothing like an actual local guide who doubles as a translator).

I went "hybrid" with this Kim Kim experience: I researched what we wanted to see, then handed it off to Federico to bring it to fruition. He did all the itinerary plans and reservations, including setting up the day trips we wanted - some of a quality we could not have set up on our own (historic coffee farm tour, for one - which you can do through day trip companies but are better with genuine local connections). We still got to weigh in on what we wanted to do, but not getting in the weeds with reservations and the itinerary was heaven for a busy professional (or others short on time) and was very reasonable for the level of care and service provided.

We had a local guide with us every day (Alberto was amazing in Rio and Joao Luiz in Foz was great!), along with reliable drivers and a couple of other guides who were all wonderful. Kim Kim works with a local tour agency there, and they were always a text away if we had questions. The only snafu we had was a driver who was late picking us up for dinner and a show, but the local tour company owner showed up in person to apologize and bring us some bubbly to make good :) Noting, it was great to not be with a large tour group the whole trip; the only time we were with others was on a boat excursion, which made it fun in that case.

Going back to Alberto, what a fascinating, knowledgeable man! We loved his level of historical and local knowledge - made the trip so educational - and he has the patience of Job when you are out with him. Appreciated his being attentive to our needs and safety but allowing us to meander around shopping and seeing the sites at our own speed. Top notch! Likewise, Joao Luiz is so kind and attentive - he's a speed warrior, so we had to slow him down at times, but thanks to him we saw more of Iguazu Falls than we would have ever seen otherwise, and we loved that he pointed out all the birds, animals, and best views! He made going from Brazil to Argentina and back so easy - even walked us up to the counter at the airport on the way back to Rio - and was very accomodating in moving activities around to maximize the weather (as were Alberto and Benni in Rio!).

That is another win for KimKim, by the way. Rio's weather is fickle, but because the guides have vouchers rather than hard tickets like we would have purchased for specific times/dates, we were able to flex days around the best times to see Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf, the Bird Park in Foz, etc. and go to the Botanical Gardens and other activities the days when it was overcast, foggy or drizzly. HUGE perk and one that allowed us to see everything we wanted!

Federico was good to work with me on hotels. He provided suggestions, some of which we took, but also booked the other hotels we requested. Same with working around a couple of other activities we booked directly (like a cooking class and beach day). Again, Kim Kim is good to accomodate and work with you, and I found it very reasonable for the service and level of attention you receive. Our many thanks to Federico and Kim Kim, their local partner tour company in Brazil, and our wonderful drivers (we loved Ricardo!) and outstanding tour guides (Alberto, Joao Luiz, Benni!) for making the trip such a terrific experience! I will definitely use KimKim again!

Our bucket list trip to Morocco ranks as one of our best vacations ever,
thanks in large part to kimkim’s impeccable planning and attention to detail.
After choosing kimkim from a wide field based on their highly favorable
reviews and reasonable rates, we exchanged several messages that
culminated in a Zoom call to discuss our interests and personalize our
travel plans. Our expert travel consultants Maryem and Habiba drafted and
then modified our Imperial City tour several times to meet our specific
desires. The entire trip went off smoothly, starting from our pickup at the
airport to the dropoff at our final hotel nine days later. Our driver Omar
exceeded our expectations. We spent a week with him traversing Morocco
and parted as good friends by the trip’s end. Omar was an excellent guide,
as well as an experienced driver. He was very knowledgeable about the
history of his country and great at taking us to many of the under-the-radar
spots that were not overrun with tour buses. Omar was very polite and
gracious and attentive to our needs. He is a great conversationalist but
would also allow us quiet time to relax and nap, as we spent many hours in
the van with him. The hotels we stayed in were top end, some oozing old
world-charm and others worthy of a spread in Architectural Digest. Our
local guides in Fes, Rabat, and Marrakech provided excellent insider tours
both within and outside of Morocco’s ancient medinas.

This was a fantastic trip and a great introduction to Mexico. Our initial trip plan from Charlotte was full of great activities and suggestions as a way to get to know Mexico City and Oaxaca and every activity built on the other to learn the culture and history.

Each day had a thoughtful activity or plan, but it was never overwhelming. The walking tours with private guides helped illuminate more of the history and gave us a different perspective on the rich culture of Mexico City and Oaxaca. Our Mexico City driver, Sr. Roberto, had a great sense of humor and patience as he helped get us around a large and overwhelming city. Some other highlights of our tour were our bicycle ride through Mexico City with our guide Raul, tasting different foods and seeing new neighborhoods on two wheels; visiting the Museum of Archaeology; the hot air balloon ride and visiting the pyramids of Teotihuacan; kayaking the canals in Xochimilco; and this was just in Mexico City!

Oaxaca was also a gem and one of the highlights was the day spent doing a cooking class with our chef Gerardo. He picked us up, took us to a local market, where we learned about the food and bought what was needed to cook a delicious authentic meal, and then spent the afternoon at his kitchen preparing and eating a delicious meal. We also enjoyed the two days of historical tours with our drivers and guide Ede, where we saw other historical and archaeological treasures of the Oaxaca region. We enjoyed visiting the various artisans, including the painters, the potters, and weavers who all used unique methods to make beautiful treasures.

KimKim and Charlotte did a great job of selecting hotels that were unique (especially the Sauve Casa Boutique in Oaxaca--what a great place!) and putting us in locations where we could also go on walks without needing to get in a car. We got good recommendations for meals and food, things to do, and the whole trip was seamless. We felt completely safe and taken care of and had such a good time. Thank you for a memorable vacation!

Hotel Reviews

Sauvé Casa Boutique

Oaxaca

Great central location; amazingly clean; unique room; lovely central courtyard; delicious complementary breakfast. It was also very loud at this hotel, but no surprise given the central location. They did acknowledge the noise with the included ear plugs. :)

Authenticity & Character

Historical and lovely representation of Oaxacan architecture.

Location

Central and easy to get everywhere.

Staff

Super helpful, friendly, went out of their way to help us feel welcome.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean, lovely, smelled fresh and so beautiful

Casa Decu

Mexico City

Convenient and lovely location in the historic Condesa neighborhood. The bathroom was a bit small, and the hotel was on a noisy street, but that seems to be an unavoidable part of Mexico City. We loved the Art Deco neighborhood and style of the hotel. It was very comfortable and we would stay there again!

Authenticity & Character

Art deco style and rooftop terrace that felt tucked away yet in the middle of everything

Location

So convenient and easy to just go outside and walk around.

Staff

The front desk folks were amazing and the doorman was so congenial.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The bed was a little uncomfortable and the bathroom sink was so small! Otherwise, clean and lovely.

Activity Reviews

Hierve el Agua – Mitla – Teotitlán del Valle - Tule Tree - Mezcal Testing

Oaxaca

Guide Ede was fantastic. Seeing the different locations on this day was a great way to end the trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Monte Alban - San Antonio Arrazola - Cuilapam de Guerrero - San Bartolo Coyotepec

Oaxaca

Monte Alban was a complete surprise and lovely. Not a site we knew we would visit, but even more meaningful after seeing the other ruins and sites. Our driver was awesome, and our guide Ede was captivating and engaging.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cooking Class - Oaxaca

Oaxaca

Absolutely a highlight. The market was a unique experience that would have been very intimidating without a guide. We tried and made foods that were authentic and delicious. Chef Gerardo's house/kitchen was so inviting and lovely. We really enjoyed our day!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Oaxaca (city tour)

Oaxaca

The tour guide gave us so much insight into the history of the area. He was energetic and a lot of fun. We liked learning about the ancient water systems, the cathedrals and history of the Catholic church in Mexico, and trying Oaxacan ice creams/ices.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour Tacos & Cantinas

Mexico City

Tried a variety of different tacos in places we would have never experienced.

Quality of Experience

Food

Trying things we would have never thought to try (tripe, cheek, ear!, those fried cheese tacos that were awesome)

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Teotihuacan site with and English speaking guide

Mexico

Our guide Isabel was so knowledgeable and helpful and really brought the site to life. The pyramids and ruins were overwhelming, but we got a history that made it attainable. Definitely bring a hat! I forgot to do that and it was very bright.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hot air balloon ride over Teotihuacan

Mexico City

Magical and such a unique experience. Yes, it was touristy, but I can see why. Our balloon pilot was so skilled and it felt like we were in great hands.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lucha libre in Mexico city

Mexico City

Super fun, great seats, and a really unique experience. I would have never picked this activity but am so glad we got to go! What a spectacle!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bike Tour : Mexico Is Not Only Tacos

Mexico City

Our guide Raul was amazing! He was everybody's friend and knew the side streets, street vendors, and best places to try different food. We covered a ton of ground and got to see so much of the Condesa and Roma North neighborhoods. This day was definitely a highlight!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kayak tour in the canals of Xochimilco (Sunrise or Sunset)

Mexico

Magical experience. Our driver/kayak guide was fantastic and so energetic. We got to see things I would have never seen on this trip. What a surprising experience, delicious breakfast, and really interesting.

Quality of Experience

Absolutely the guide. He was awesome. So fun, great information, and a real sense of adventure.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private car with driver (Spanish speaking ) and english speaking guide

Mexico City

The driver and the guide were both fantastic! The driver knew Mexico City well and made it a real adventure getting around. Our guide had so much knowledge and information.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

City walking tour and National Museum of Anthropology

Mexico City

Our guide was amazing. He was so knowledgeable! My only complaint was that it just wasn't enough time to see the whole Museum. We need five days to really see everything, and so much would have been good to revisit after the trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Driver was patient, skilled, and really got us around!

Transport

I am a planner at my core and it was a huge leap of faith to trust someone else to plan the details of my solo trip. Cory exceeded my expectations and delivered an amazing experience in Japan. Cory optimized my long wish list of to dos with enough structure and flexibility to accommodate the unexpected. It was in that flexibility that provide me the opportunity to linger in a bookstore just a little bit longer, or pop into a small local coffee roaster and chat with the owner and learn about the beans he roasted on site and even met his mother who popped in - magic truly occurs in the moments between breaths. And the guides Cory partners with are such amazing people, each of them made the trip so special.

Cory’s in country support continued to provide the level of attention and care that she is known for. No trip or event is flawless but knowing that Cory was there to help solve for those unplanned situations made the trip so much better. I ended up having a few questions and a late train change request that Cory quickly responded to and managed for me - allowing for a seamless experience.

I absolutely cannot wait to go back with my family and work with Cory again. I recommend Cory, with absolute confidence, to partner with you on your trip to Japan.

Costa Rica is an interesting country. We stayed in Nayara, Hotel Belmar and Cala Luna resorts so we experienced rainforests, cloud forests and the Pacific. Kat organized a trip around our interests, but driving from point A to point B was only for locals - the roads were typically in poor shape, two lanes and lots of ruts, so we were glad we had a driver instead of our own car. We also enjoyed the transfer time by observing the countryside that we wouldn't normally have seen. Miguel drove us to Nayara, a 3 hr + ride and he handled a detour skillfully while answering the many questions I had about the country. Nayara is so verdant and brimming with natural elements_ pools, natural springs and wildlife. A coati visited us on our patio one afternoon! First-class rooms, amenities and food. Every restaurant showed careful consideration of my food allergies. Massages by Alejandra and Erika were excellent. We would return to Nayara!
Hotel Belmont in the cloud forest (ironically, sunny every day!). The main part of the hotel was old but updated. We had a great view of the Pacific nearly 40 miles away. We enjoyed the cuisine at their restaurant and ate every meal there to be assured we had potable food and water. We shopped at many quaint shops in the town area with regional handmade items. At night we chose the guided Children's Eternal Rainforest walk. Our guide, Alum pointed out many nocturnal animals, birds and insects. Cala Luna resort in Tamarindo was next. While we were very near the Pacific we couldn't see it. The beach was full of enormous, slippery rocks making walking impossible. The nearby public beach (a drive) was crowded, so we stayed away. A shout out to Harvey and Carla at the restaurant, and the masseuses Caroleena and Silbeea, although the spa was near the road, so we heard traffic. The pool was lovely and void of guests, although my chair broke and fell to the ground and no employee noticed. Since we booked late, Kat was told the only room available was a three-bedroom home which was very expensive and it wasn't special at all. Tamarindo is very hot and humid. Kat only contacted us once during the trip...we've had Kim Kim guides text daily. Costa Rica is a mixed bag, but the people we encountered were lovely and appreciated us trying our very limited Spanish.

We just got back from a trip to SE Asia that Doris planned for us, and honestly, everything was amazing. If you’re looking for a travel planner, I can’t recommend her enough!

She was so easy to work with and was always available whenever we had a question. What I loved most was how she actually listened to what we wanted. She put together a trip that was the perfect mix of fun and educational, without it ever feeling like a 'cookie-cutter' tour.

We absolutely loved the energy in Chiang Mai and Luang Prabang, but the real highlight for us was Ninh Binh. We had an incredible day hiking through the countryside and meeting the White Thai people—it was such a cool, interesting experience. Plus, getting to do the elephant experience was a dream come true.

She made the whole process stress-free and handled all the details so we could just enjoy the trip. If you want someone who is thoughtful, responsive, and creates a truly personal itinerary, definitely reach out to her!"

Hotel Review

Raffles Hotel Le Royal

Phnom Penh

We loved our stay at the Raffles in Phnom Penh. The whole place is so elegant and full of history—the valets in traditional dress were such a wonderful touch. The Elephant Bar was a highlight, and the pool area was stunning. I especially loved that every lounge chair had its own fan and a local flower. It was a lovely, thoughtful, and classic experience.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Sai Gon Sightseeing - XO Saigon by Night - Experience Vietnam on Two Wheels (Group tour)

Ho Chi Minh City

This was super fun! The gals that drove us around couldn't be nicer and concerned with our safety. They were competent drivers who made the outing fun. We loved that they took us to visit Uncle T to experience a real local's apartment. The foods we ate were great too!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanoi - Mai Chau, Explore Valley of White Thai People

Vietnam

We loved hiking through the villages and seeing the authentic, native way of the friendly White Thai people.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I thought I would try the travel platform of KimKim for a trip with three couples. We ended up with an amazing local travel agency called Avellera in Austria.
Clemens and Kamilla along with their experienced staff at Avellera Travel Agency in Austria were excellent. We had a few issues in the beginning due to KimKim NOT Clemens, but everything worked out. Every tour they suggested we loved
( and they didn't even know our travel style) All price points were spot on, all transfers from hotels and trains were on time and other suggestions made our trip seamless. We were able to contact them easily while on our trip for questions or concerns. Thank you Clemens and Kamilla.

My review of Kimkim is different. I found they charged much more than a 20% for commission and they are not always helpful when an issue occurs. Kimkim is just adverting tool on the internet. We were lucky to get a wonderful agent for our trip to Austria.
I will never use Kimkim again to book a trip.

Hotel Reviews

Platzl Hotel - Superior

München

comfortable and clean. Super English friendly. Centrally located near the Hoffbrau House.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Zugspitze

Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Beautiful hotel with wonderful breakfast included. Staff was excellent. Walkable to the city.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Boutique Hotel Auersperg

Salzburg

We were only there one night

Authenticity & Character

nice room with character

Location

walkable

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Sans Souci Wien

Vienna

Beautiful hotel and centrally located. The breakfast included started our day and accommodations were perfect.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easily walkable to many Platz.

Staff

everyone was helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Viennese Culinary Experience at its best: Schnitzel & Strudel Workshop

Vienna

Loved Nabeil . He was funny and informative. The recipes are easy to read and make. He makes the evening so fun and interesting. It was a small hands on experience so you really got to understand the cooking techniques.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My husband and I visited Patagonia in late November, early December for about a week. Erin, our trip specialist, did a wonderful job in helping us organize this trip. She provided great recommendations, was very communicative and responsive, and had really good advice and insights which gave us a lot of comfort and peace of mind. She organized a wonderful itinerary, interspersed with all the kinds of activities we were most interested in doing. We especially enjoyed the day trip at the estancia (La Peninsula) and the stay and activities at EcoCamp Patagonia. Overall, I highly recommend Erin and Kimkim!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Albatros

Punta Arenas

Conveniently located and very helpful staff!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

EcoCamp Patagonia

Torres del Paine

Very unique experience! The place truly helps you disconnect and instead connect with so many interesting people from around the world. Everything from the trips/activities to the camp itself is very well organized. The activity guides are fun and very knowledgeable and we had a great time!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pristine Patagonia Hotel

Puerto Natales

We enjoyed our stay at this hotel very much. The location of the hotel was really nice...close to the water and lots of restaurants. The staff, Vanessa and Dani, were so incredibly helpful! We shared a list of local dishes and drinks that we were keen on trying out and they went out of their way to help us find restaurants that would serve these. They also gave us great tips during our stay and helped arrange taxis when we needed them. One of the best stay experiences for sure!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Vanessa and Dani were amazing!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Eco Camp Wildlife Safari Program

Torres del Paine

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to a Patagonian Estancia

Patagonia

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Grey Glacier Boat Tour (round-trip)

Patagonia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit the Isla Magdalena Penguin Colony

Punta Arenas

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Torres del Paine Private Wildlife Tour

Patagonia

This was a nice activity, and we enjoyed seeing the national park from different viewpoints. However, the tour felt less focused on wildlife and more on covering a wide expanse of the national park. So, you could get lucky with regard to the wildlife while driving around the park, but you won't necessarily go searching for wildlife.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Absolutely 5 star experience, starting with Noemie. She was so great to work with, carefully taking into account various details to plan a wonderful trip across North and South islands of New Zealand- not only what we wanted to see and do, but also logistical needs noting we were traveling with our 2 year old, wanted accommodations that offered laundry, did not want to rent a car/bring our car seat, etc. She also noted it was my wife's birthday and added a few special surprises for it. Noemie was so patient, revising different details during the planning process to accommodate budget and even taking the time to jump on a Zoom call with us to say hello and make sure we did not have any questions before our trip. All arrangements worked out perfectly- transports, accommodations, experiences. Even when weather forced a couple of changes, Noemie and her team, as well as the provider, quickly communicated and processed refunds. A few of our favorites: (1l Queenstown gondola for spectacular views, (2) steamboat cruise to a working sheep farm and fantastic lunch, (3) dolphin cruise from Akaroa where we saw dolphins, penguins and seals, (4) geothermal park in Rotorua, (5) Lord of the Rings movie set in Hobbiton. Overall incredible scenery throughout the trip, especially considering it was the start of summer. The colors- greens and turquoise blues were amazing. We definitely want to go back and will plan in working with Noemie and team again. Highly recommend!!

Hotel Reviews

Sudima Lake Rotorua

Rotorua

Comfortable hotel. Good lakefront location walkable to town. We were prepared for a bit of the sulfur smell from the proximity to the lake, but it wasn't bad at all and we couldn't really smell it from town anyway.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sudima

Christchurch

Walkable to various areas. Wonderful staff that gave our daughter a stuffed animal at check in!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Woolshed Suites Tekapo

Tekapo

Spacious with alot of natural light. Walkable to shops/restaurants within small village. Nice view of church and Lake.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ramada Suites Queenstown

Queenstown

Walkable to town and child friendly park. Great little cafe for breakfast and other meals. Very family friendly and wondeful staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Adina City Life Auckland

Auckland

Great location, spacious apartment with laundry. Good gym and pool. Exactly what we needed.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Wai-O-Tapu

New Zealand

Also a must see if you are in the area! The geyser experience is underwhelming because the eruption is manufactured, but the geothermal park afterward exceeded our expectations. A very pleasant walk around the park at your own pace. Amazing colors and fascinating formations. We were there for about 90 minutes and were able to do the walk with our 2 year old in a stroller.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our transport company from our hotel to the park and back was ReadytoRoll Shuttles- the owner was our driver and he was awesome- funny, friendly, knowledgeable.

Akaroa Dolphins Cruise

New Zealand

We enjoyed the bus ride to Akaroa and stopping in a village on the way. As for Akaroa, what a beautiful, quaint harbortown. The cruise was great- we saw dolphins, seals, and penguins. Fun staff too. Highly recommend!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Historic Steamship Cruise to Walter Peak Farm + Lunch BBQ

Queenstown (NZ)

We loved this experience as did our 2 year old! Riding a coal powered steamboat was a unique experience! Beautiful scenery- the water, mountains, but most of all the farm. We really enjoyed getting to see the demonstration of a sheepdog rounding up sheep. Wonderful buffet lunch too. Highly recommend.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hien was the best travel specialist I've ever worked with, and I travel a lot. To start, out of many local operators I reached out to at different companies, Hien was the only one who truly listened to what I and my family wanted out of our Vietnam trip -- we didn't want a standard itinterary that everyone goes to, and she got that from the very beginning (which is why we ended up working with her!). I only had to give limited feedback up front from her first itinerary to where our itinerary ended up, and she answered all my questions along the way as well with incredible speed, honesty, and clear understanding of what we were hoping to get from the experience/trip.
Once we had our custom itinerary all set, she was communicative and clear about when we'd hear from her again closer to our trip, and she even reached out to double-check our visas for us to ensure we wouldn't have any problems entering Vietnam and getting our trip started.
Then, once we were actually on the trip, it was extremely easy to communicate with Hien whenever needed -- she reached out regularly to ensure everything was going smoothly, let us know who would be picking us up and when each day, and when things (only once!) were a little confusing or off track, it was simple and clear on how to connect with her through WhatsApp and she got things resolved quickly (for reference, it was just that we couldn't find our driver at one of our airport connections, and she immediately called the company and got the driver to meet us in the place she'd told us he'd be initially). Additionally, it was my mother's birthday during the trip, and she was amazingly great at providing a lovely surprise for my mother - just more proof of how fantastic Hien was at her job and also the level of service she provided across every single element of the trip.
If/when I take another trip to Vietnam or Southeast Asia, I will most certainly hope to work with Hien again, as our trip and service were seamless and exactly what we were hoping for from all our activities, lodgings, and opportunities along the way. Thank you so much, Hien!!

It is a genuine pleasure to review our Kim Kim experience in Morocco. We worked directly with Sharon of Immersion Travel whose choice of our guide, Omar, could not have been a more fortuitous choice.

From the moment we saw Omar’s smiling face to the moment we were dropped off for our return flight, Omar’s professional attitude and friendly vibes were a delight to behold. What a gem!

Our first day there was also very successfully managed by our capable city guide, Hameed, who was kind enough to navigate a rainy day throughout the winding Medina alleyways. He was patient with all our interests and allowed for an impromptu lamb barbecue lunch to beat the band. We were satiated and satisfied at day’s end for sure.

Once acclimated, on Wednesday, we toured Marrakesh’s Majorelle and Anima Gardens with Omar ably driving us. On Thursday, we enjoyed a real treat as we grocery shopped and cooked in a traditional Moroccan home. Narwal was a welcoming hostess/chef as she knowingly picked out produce and showed us how to prepare our delicious lunch. Even her daughters participated with the youngest delightfully suggesting we wear the traditional Kaftan. “Dressing up” truly enhanced our delicious tagine chicken lunch accompanied by vegetables, homemade bread and mandarin oranges for dessert. The spicy cooking lessons we learnt will certainly enhance our meals back home.

Omar’s guidance throughout our final days lead us to experience a majestic camel ride that included a wonderful evening meal along with musical performances. The sunset could not have been more beautiful as golden light bounced off the dunes. Remarkable pictures taken by our happy guide will be forever memories.

The final day of our stay was an outdoor adventure as we drove into the Orika Valley. We were stunned by the beauty there as a recent snowfall had dusted the mountains and water gushed through the main river. Omar was kind enough to arrange for our hiking guide, Mohammed, to take us up a mountainside to see a stunningly raging waterfall. Although the terrain got step and slippery, Mohammed’s steady hand was like an angel. His expertise was certainly what kept me balanced as some of the rocky paths appeared too dangerous to pass. An achievement to have accomplished and worthy of our delicious riverbank lunch afterwards.

If Morocco’s Berber culture could be reflected in one person it would be in our guide, Omar. Friendly and available for any question or concern (even brought an extra jacket for hiking) we could not have been luckier to have his extensive guidance on this first time experience. Shout out to Hameed as well.

Kudos to everyone at Kim Kim and Immersion travel. Morocco was an adventure we will not soon forget!

Kimkim was very easy to work with. Yuliana put together a. Very memorable trip meeting our requirements - budget and adventure and cultural experiences. Thank you!

Our trip to Thailand was amazing! Kien did a great job of planning really interesting tours and fantastic hotels. He responded very quickly and took care of all our questions and concerns. I will absolutely use Kimkim again for our next trips. I could not have planned a better trip- perfect blend of activities and relaxation.

We had the greatest time in Italy, It started way before arriving. Anita and Rita both help us pick the right places based on what we like (food, culture, cooking classes & local experience) We had several conversation that made our trip unforgettable, down to helping my wife with travel accommodations for her disability and managing a balance between her health issues and allowing us time time to enjoy Italy. They help us with the bringing our daughter from LA and getting her home since she was only able to stay for 2/3 of our trip. All of the tors they set up through LivTours were OUTSTANDING. The tour guides were all scholars of the history of Rome from the tours we took at the Coliseum to the tour of the Vatican. Our Tours were in small groups of no more than 8 people and we moved through security and the long lines with ease. It was worth the money to have these private tour and able to enjoy the sights and not be caught up in lines of tourist, I highly recommend it. We visited Rome, Florence, Levanto, Alba, Milan & Venice. In Alba we had the best personal driver from the area to take us to two well know wine vineyards for wine sampling. There was no worries about driving but just to enjoy the whole day. We also had a tour of the chestnut family who 1st invented what is now know as Nuttelle, which was such a fascinating day. All hotels we stayed at were outstanding. The schedule was even flexible for us to cancel one tour in Milano so we could meet up with my wife's cousin for the day. The train rides were all prepaid for and tickets already validated so there was no panic for us when going from place to place.
I can't thank the experts at KimKim enough for a great trip that we will never forget.

Our trip to Lisbon, Portugal, as arranged by Anita of Kim Kim travels, was excellent and we enjoyed ourselves immensely due to all the advanced planning and guidance we received.

Some highlights included:

On our first day in Lisbon, we had a lovely stroll with our guide Zee who was personable and walked us around the winding streets of the Alfama neighborhood. He was eager to answer any questions and whet our appetites with the number one place for Pastéis de Belém. Yum.

The rest of our trip was as equally successful. Our next day’s outing to Sintra was on a rainy day. Still, our thoughtful and, again, personable guide Nuno drove without hesitation to our various planned itinerary spots. He guided us effortlessly as we navigated the sites we visited — including a modest and tasty lunch place. During our first morning stop in Belem he wisely recommended we eat our pastry warm. Nuno was a pleasure to meet and we appreciated his insights into Portugal’s history and culture.

We also enjoyed two days with Luis who wowed us with his perspective and nimble mind. Quick to anticipate our needs, and answer any questions, he accompanied us on two days travel that included a marvelous winery called Mainova. We really enjoyed the hospitality there. Our charcuterie and wine snack truly satisfied after a morning of site seeing the property and learning about the process of wine making. Luis took our tired but satiated minds back to Lisbon. We couldn’t have been more thankful for his assistance in introducing us to the world surrounding this marvelous city, which included everything from the wind swept peninsula of Arrábida Park to the beauty of Évora’s cathedral, as well as, the spectral Chapel of Bones.

Thank you Kim Kim for this wonderful adventure!

This was the second trip I used KimKim for and I was thrilled again! Monika was super responsive and even called to check in when we arrived. She planned an amazing trip, bringing us to places we probably would have missed if we planned on our own but loved. I will definitely be using KimKim again!!

Hotel Reviews

M Social

Auckland

A great big city hotel with good amenities

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Hana Lodge

Rotorua

This renovated mansion is beautiful! The grounds are awesome with some amazing art and even a bamboo forest.

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Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tongariro Lodge

Turangi

This classic fishing lodge is awesome! The staff was super nice and responsive and the food and drinks were amazing. You can’t beat the location for fly fishing or golf.

Authenticity & Character

The fireplaces and decor made for a lovely homey feel

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QT Wellington

Wellington

This hotel is awesome. Eccentric and quirky art, amazing service and food.

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Activity Reviews

Ahi Restaurant - 4 snacks and 4 courses

Auckland

I don’t think I’ve ever had a better meal. It was a culinary trip through New Zealand. We did the blind tasting and tried so many new things.

Quality of Experience

Our waiter was amazing

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Wai Ariki Spa "Chiefly Waters" restorative experience

New Zealand

I wasn’t sure what to expect but this experience was incredible. Relaxing and self paced.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Te Pā Tū - Maori Cultural Experience

Rotorua

What an amazing was to authentically learn about Māori culture.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Super knowledgeable and friendly

Transport

Electric Bays guided E-bike tour of Wellington (includes cycle hire and guide)

Wellington

So much fun! Lots of great info and incredible views. Our guide (Tara?) was super! I was nervous about being able to do the ride as I’m not in the greatest shape but the e-bike solved that problem.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Monika was excellent in helping us to plan our trip! She had great suggestions and was very responsive and proactive in the few cases where things had to change last minute.

We really liked using Kim Kim for the expertise and the ease of planning the perfect trip. I built off one of the preplanned itineraries and customized it a fair amount for our desires, which included animals, surfing, beach time, and finding the right balance with a five-year-old in tow. The hotel choices were all very nice and I felt like the quality of the tours that Kim Kim and Amazalia selected were unique and beyond what I could’ve done on my own. (There are so many operators in Costa Rica! On one hand, this would seem to make it easy to do it all yourself. However, there is a difference in quality at least in the number of people on other tours where we had smaller groups). I wish I could’ve understood the pricing of Kim Kim a bit more. That was my only slight irritation. But, I did feel like the overall experience was well worth it, and I would like to book a trip through them elsewhere in the future. The itineraries, tour options, ease, and helping us do everything without a hitch was well worth it to me!

Hotel Reviews

Tamarindo Diria Beach Resort

Tamarindo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Los Lagos Spa & Resort

La Fortuna

Authenticity & Character

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Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Heliconia

Monteverde

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Olas Verdes Hotel

Nosara

Loved this hotel!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Activity Reviews

Tamarindo Kayak Estuary Tour

Tamarindo

It was neat to paddle up the estuary. It wasn’t very easy to see much wildlife, so I wouldn’t choose this activity if that’s your main goal. However, it was nice to get on the water and experience it at that level. Much better than going on a boat, in my opinion. There had been some miscommunication and they didn’t have a PFD the right size for our daughter.

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Catamaran Sailing Excursion

Costa Rica

Well run and fun experience. We weren’t sure if this was a good fit for doing with our 5 yo, but she had a great time. The food, drinks, dancing, views, swimming, and staff were all wonderful.

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Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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El Silencio Volcano Hike & Visit to La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Peñas Blancas River Floating Safari Adventure by Raft

Arenal/La Fortuna

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Guided Hike

Monteverde

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I

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Night Excursion at the Wildlife Refuge in Monteverde

Monteverde

We saw so many animals! Well run tour.

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport