Kimkim Trip Reviews

To celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary, we wanted our trip to Germany, Austria and northern Italy to be completely seamless and memorable. A friend recommended KimKim, and working with Lucie turned out to be the best decision we made.
Lucie listened closely to our goals and brought genuine local insight that automated travel tools simply cannot replicate. She eliminated the stress of coordinating logistics—handling all hotel bookings, private transfers, and tours with precision. Our itinerary was logically organized, with direct links to every confirmation and travel document we needed in one place.
Every accommodation and excursion exceeded expectations, especially arranging bike rentals to visit local wineries and a lake which was not available by train. Lucie’s restaurant recommendations were spot-on as well. When a minor question arose regarding one of our train tickets, Lucie and the KimKim team responded immediately to sort it out.
Thanks to Lucie, we were able to fully immerse ourselves in celebrating our milestone without any travel anxiety. We cannot recommend Lucie and KimKim highly enough and will definitely work with them on our next journey abroad.

Hotel Reviews

BioHotel Garmischer Hof

Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Staff were incredibly helpful!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Goldener Adler, BW Signature Collection

Innsbruck

Excellent location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Greif, a Member of Design Hotels

Bolzano

Excellent location and we loved the bar at the sister hotel Hotel Laurin!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Leon D'Oro

Mori

Excellent hotel and superb service by the staff!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Casanova Venice

Venezia

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel location was excellent but the room was quite small. The closet was located at the foot of the bed and you could not get to the bathroom if the closet was open. Most other hotels had at least 2 seating options like chairs or a bench and chair. This room only had 1 chair. Granted we were not in the room much so in the grand scheme of things, it is not a huge deal.

Activity Reviews

Zugspitze round-trip tickets

Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Experience was great but unfortunately, it was extremely cloudy/foggy so we were unable to see anything. Was a cool experience though!

Quality of Experience

Transport

St. Mark’s Basilica with Terrace Access & Doge’s Palace | Semi-Private Tour

Venice

Excellent tour guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Murano & Burano Islands Fully Guided with Private Boat (group/5h)

Venice

Seemed the trip was coordinated with the Glassblower's shop, Lace maker's shop & Pastry shop to promote purchasing from these vendors. Other than coordinating the travel and directing us to these shops and providing recommendations for restaurants for lunch, the guide did not add much to the excursion, although she was very pleasant.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Evening Gondola Ride Venice & City Stroll

Venice

Really enjoyed our city walking tour and evening gondola ride. Our guide Pamela was excellent and pivoted quickly when we advised we had toured the Doges Palace and St. Mark's Basillica earlier that day. She also recommended a restaurant for dinner and we ate there our last night and it was the best meal of our trip!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nordkette - Top of Innsbruck

Innsbruck

Thankfully, we had a beautiful day and had beautiful views!

Quality of Experience

I had 3 guides:
1) Sophia Kim: An absolutely incredible guide. Helpful, knowledgeable, supportive, funny. Her only weak spot was a lack of knowledge of wildlife, which was the entire focus for this portion of the trip. She did the absolute best she could, calling experts, checking the internet for good spots, so she made the best of it. But do try and pick a wildlife expert next time a client requests a wildlife tour.

2) Danny Kim: He put up with the chaos of our group very well. He was patient, and thoughtful and helpful and accommodating. When people didn't want to do a particular event, he made sure we were safe and entertained while the rest of the group went off with him. Other than 4 of us catching the flu, we had a very fun time with Danny.

3) Mickey Park: We only had 1 day with him, and with the typhoon weather we had to drastically change the itinerary, but he handled it like a pro, and made sure we did cool indoor stuff the whole day, even as several of us were succumbing to the flu exhaustion.

Favorite parts:
* Walking amongst the farm fields with Sophia Kim spotting spoon bills and geese and storks and praying mantises.
* Solo walking through Seoul Forest Park and spotting all the birds and bugs
* Being introduced to Tteokbokki by Sophia Kim and wanting to eat it every day now
* Experiencing the underground market on Jeju and eating black pork.
* Having the best burger of my life at Welcome Burger on Jeju Island.

Least Favorite Parts:
* Not focusing on wildlife at the DMZ the first day.
* Discovering that the giant park west of the hotel was entirely walled off by the US government.
* Being told that the hike for Ancient Seunggasa Temple was "Easy". NOTHING about that was easy. That is an advanced, all uphill hike. OMG exhausting!
* Getting rained out of all the outdoor activities on Jeju

All in all it was a fantastic experience and I am very thankful to Christine for organizing it all and making run as smoothly as she could.

Next time, I need to return to Jeju when it's sunny, and experience Busan as well!

My husband and I wanted to take a trip to Greece to celebrate our anniversary but we weren't sure exactly where we wanted to go. We worked with Sydney and from the beginning she was professional, knowledgeable and informative. We had a few ideas about what things we wanted to see and do and she planned an amazing trip with multiple private excursions that exceeded our expectations. The hotels were all wonderful, all the transports were on time and the tours were wonderful. We had to switch a few things due to weather and KimKim was available and helped us change some itinerary details at the last minute. Overall the trip and the planning were 5 stars. Thank you!!

The itinerary that was proposed for our three weeks in Vietnam and Thailand was ingeniously crafted for inclusion of a great variety of meaningful experiences and interactions with people. Hien was delightful to work with and very responsive to our questions as they came up during our travels.

All of our guides, Dung Jun in Hanoi, Quoc in Ninh Binh, Finn in Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong, delta and Kat in Bangkok we’re very personable, knowledgeable, responsible, and willing to adapt our itinerary to maximize our learning and needs. A special mention of Finn, who was very thoughtful in providing a birthday cake for Marty and taking my wife on a motor scooter when her knees would not allow for her to ride bicycle.

Would highly recommend Coco Riverside Lodge, and their concept of community tourism. This place is off the beaten path but very worthwhile making the effort to get there. Such a beautiful relaxing setting with a very engaging owner and excellent staff. The community programming that they offer to visitors is amazing and comprehensive.

Our four days at Rocky’s resort in Koh Samui was such a fitting place to end our three week trip. The general manager talked with us numerous times, the staff were so attentive . The grounds were beautiful and well maintained. The programming with traditional, live Thai music and dancing, as well as the fire dance show provided excellent entertainment and education.

Everywhere we went the food was of exceptional quality, and quantity. The street food tour in Hanoi our first night was a wonderful way to start the trip. Two cooking classes were also memorable.

All of our van drivers were punctual and safe. They helped us to feel relaxed in the midst of very chaotic traffic.

At the end of our travels, we commented that there was nothing that we would change about this trip. It was obvious that Realistic Asia and Hien had understood our priorities for travel: people, culture, nature, and education.

Would highly recommend Realistic Asia and their talented team to craft a Southeast Asia trip.

The itinerary and our travel experiences were outstanding in every way. From the drivers who met us with punctuality, to our local guides, and all the people we interacted with at our places of lodging, we were treated with utmost kindness, respect, and friendliness. Everyone was very professional, and seemed to have our best interest at heart.
Our guides were skilled, knowledgeable, efficient, interactive, friendly, and very supportive. Jun in Hanoi. Quoc in Ninh Binh. Fin in Hochi Minh City and the Mekong Delta. Kat in Bang Kok. Every one of them, stellar guides.
In every instance, our lodging was comfortable, and offered an excellent accommodation for overnight stays.
I especially enjoyed Coco Riverside Lodge. What a beautiful place along the river in a lovely tropical setting!
I also loved Rocky’s in Koh Samui. The staff were excellent. At Coco Riverside and Rocky’s we had the priviledge of interacting with the owner (Coco Riverside) and the General Manager (Rocky’s). Many personal touches made our visit at these places memorable.
I’ll mention again that the itinerary was very well planned and included many places of interest. Spending the final four days of our trip on Koh Samui was an excellent plan!! Being able to get out into the villages and interact with people and their culture was a highlight for me.
All the 26 modes of transportation made the experience enjoyable and quite varied!!
The food was amazing!!! Always ample. In fact, at times there was too much food and it made me sad to think it might be wasted.
The vans offered very comfortable travel and always had cold water available and often cold wipes. (It was very hot and humid!!) The drivers were always on time or early and safe.
Honestly, I wouldn’t change anything about our itinerary. I enjoyed every thing we did! The pacing was good for me. The time spend at each place seemed just about right!!
I would highly recommend this trip to anyone!! I’m not sure what would have made it better. We learned a lot. Ate the best food. Had the best accommodations, Had knowledgeable and experienced guides. I’ll be thinking about this experience for a long time. Our group of four made many wonderful memories.
Kimkim and Realistic Asia are top notch travel experts and planners. I felt well supported and was glad to know that we had someone to contact if necessary. Would highly recommend!!
Thank you. Thank you, for this unforgettable travel experience.

Hotel Reviews

Hong Ngoc Dynastie Hotel & Spa

Hanoi

Comfortable. Great buffet breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

In the middle of old town Hanoi.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Gateway Inn Pu Luong

Great views from the hotel balcony and our room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Amour Cruise

A fun way to see more of VietNam.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Acnos Grand Hotel

Ho Chi Minh

Great location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Coco Riverside Lodge

Don’t miss staying at this place!!! What a beautiful, delightful location and fantastic staff. Enjoyed ALL the experiences we had starting our from this hotel. The grounds are so lovely. Peaceful. Quiet. Great staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Located along the river in a well cared for tropical environment.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Silom Serene Hotel

Bangkok

Great location. Large comfortable rooms. Professional, accommodating staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rocky's Boutique Resort

Amphur Koh Samui, Suratthani

The food was fabulous. The pools were great. A fantastic location right at the waters of the Gulf of Thailand. The staff were outstanding and very professional. Had several lovely conversations with the hotel General Manager. So happy to have four nights here!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hanoi Evening Walking Street Food Tour

Hanoi

We dove right into the food scene. What a great way to begin the trip with this excellent introduction to the food. A highlight.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanoi Fullday City Tour with Train Track Coffee Enjoying

Hanoi

Informative. Exciting.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boat Trip Exploring The Natural Beauty of Trang An & Visit Hoa Lu Ancient Capital

Vietnam

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pu Luong Full Day Easy Rider - Caving | Riding | Swimming

Pu Luong Nature Reserve

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Pu Luong Iconic Rice Terrace & Local Brocade (Excursions)

Vietnam

It was wonderful to see the countryside up close. Learned a lot about local culture.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the Cu Chi Tunnels

Ho Chi Minh City

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Samui Elephant Home

Vietnam

This was a highlight and so worth the time!! Inspiring to see the way the elephants were cared for! The lunch they served was unexpected and was wonderful!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore The Lush Countryside Of The Mekong Delta (3D2N)

Vietnam

A highlight. Biking….Such a great way to experience the countryside.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our trip was smooth in every way. Antonia did a great job of helping us plan the trip. Prior to leaving for our trip Antonia had her colleague Nikola work with us to finalize all the details and make sure we understood each day on the trip. He answered all our questions, and we felt comfortable knowing what to expect.

While on the trip, Nikola send us a What'sApp message every evening with all the details for the following day. Towards the end of the trip we decided we wanted to cancel one of our tours. We contact Nikola and he took care of it immediately. Due to weather, we also thought it might be best to change plans for a walking tour. Nikola agreed and made it all happen. Many of our guides and drivers commented on how great Nikola and Antonia are to work with.

All of our drivers and guides were outstanding. There are several that really stood out. Zenko who drove us to and around Rovinj. Rosanna who was our tour guide at Brijuni National Park. Ivanka who guided us at Plitvice National Park.
Salvador who toured us around Split. Pietra who guided us around Montengro. Maria who toured us in old town Dubrovnik.

This was our second trip with KimKim and bravo for another seemless and wonderful journey. Once we decide when and where to go next we will not hesitate to contact KimKim.

Blessings,
Elizabeth and Robert Sawyer

Hotel Reviews

Manda Heritage Hotel

Zagreb

Authenticity & Character

Location

near downtown

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Adriatic

Rovinj

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

16 Lakes Hotel

Rakovica

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cornaro Hotel

Split

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel More

Dubrovnik

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Walking Tour of Rovinj

Croatia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Brijuni National Park

Croatia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Walking Tour of Plitvice Lakes National Park

Croatia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Walking Tour of Split

Croatia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hvar Day Trip from Split

Croatia

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Walking Tour of Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Day Trip to Montenegro - Perast & Kotor

Dubrovnik

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Truffle Lunch with Presentation at Local Family Estate

Croatia

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Gourmet Experience at Local Winery

Croatia

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wine Tasting at Local Winery on Pelješac Peninsula

Croatia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We appreciated Kimkim's hotel choices- always in great locations. We especially liked staying in Monterosso at Hotel Marina, where the staff was amazingly friendly and helpful. The 2 Liv tours were excellent ( Florence city tour and accademia) and Venice ( basilica and Doge's palace)-

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Gran Duca di York

Milan

Good location- we could walk to all the major tourist sites.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Marina

Monterosso al Mare

Low key, very friendly staff, great location

Authenticity & Character

Location

walk to train, walk to hiking paths

Staff

front desk staff, especially the guy who also works at Da Eraldo, who even let us use the shower many flights of stairs up in the Lemon Garden after we had hiked but already checked out.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Il Guelfo Bianco

Florence

Location close to train station and all major sites

Authenticity & Character

Location

nice, old fashioned feel in character with Florence

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ca' Pozzo Inn

Venice

Although the location was pretty good ( a bit hard to find, as many hotels in Venice are), I didn't like the modern, sparse feel. The hotel is at the end of a narrow alley and was gated at night, which made me feel a bit claustophobic ( but my husband was fine with all of that) Staff was great, including the wonderful woman who helped with breakfast and the front desk. We had to leave early the last day and staff out-did themselves packing us a breakfast to go.

Authenticity & Character

this is a matter of taste- too modern for me, but clean

Location

walkable to train and other sites

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Florence on Foot: Michelangelo’s David & Duomo

Italy

excellent guide from Liv Tours. Even though we didn't sign up for the tour of the Brunelleschi dome, I wish we had in advance. There was a good amount of time at the Accademia Gallery

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The Liv tour guide was friendly and had lots of good info

Discover Venice: From St. Mark's Basilica to the Doge’s Palace with Terrace Access

Italy

Our Liv tours guide was very knowledgeable. I wish there was more time at the Palace than at the Basilica- we skipped a lot and the Basilica was not as interesting

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Italy -Important Trip Information: Please Review Before Departure

Italy

the most helpful information was on tipping

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover the City by Gondola

Venice

We would have been fine in a shared gondola to save the money and the gondolier was not particularly interested or interactive. It was too hard to hear what little information he offered.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

My husband and I, along with two close friends, spent 2 weeks traveling around Argentina. The trip was curated through KimKim, and directly curated by MacDermott’s, based in Buenos Aires. We were in Buenos Aires, Patagonia (Bariloche and Villa Angustora in the Lake District) and Mendoza. Everything was perfectly planned and coordinated, and based on what we had requested and the kind of traveling we wanted.

We spent 3 days in BA with a guide named Emilia who took us on a wonderful city tour where she showed us all of the major historical and cultural sights and was flexible about taking us to places we requested that weren’t on the itinerary. Emilia answered all of our many questions about BA and Argentina in general and was very warm, friendly and knowledgeable. She also took us on a culinary tour which was a lot of fun and also introduced us to several of BA’s colorful and interesting neighborhoods.

From BA we flew to Bariloche in Patagonia where our guide was Facundo (“Facu””). We spent 3 days with him exploring the town and surrounding area around the Lake District and did some hiking and sightseeing. A particular highlight was spending a day with Facu on a private boat ride from Bariloche to the other end of the lake up to Villa Angustora. Our captain was a young man named Luca who was terrific. The scenery was spectacular- with the Andes all around us and beautiful islands in the lake. We stopped a few times to get off the boat and so some hiking. Facu had prepared a wonderful lunch for us which we had while riding up the lake to our destination. We stayed 2 nights in Angustora.

We can’t say enough about Facu. He was an amazing guide. So personable, knowledgeable, warm and flexible with our activities. We loved our time with him.

We flew from Bariloche to Mendoza (via BA) and spent 4 days in the wine country. Again, the scenery was splendid. Our guide for this portion of the trip was Marcos, who was very good - knowledgeable and flexible about our activities. We went to several wineries and had terrific experiences learning about wine making in Argentina. On one day we were driven to an estancia in the foothills of the Andes - about 90 minutes west of where we weee staying- and spent a day with Juan.- a gaucho who owns the ranch which has been in his family since his great grandmother. He has a wonderful restaurant in the ranch where we had a private cooking class with his chef Maxie. We learned how to make empanadas. Juan took us on a hike up into the hills on his ranch where he talked about his life as a gaucho and raising horses and growing crops. He was terrific and we learned so much from him. He was so friendly and funny and made us feel we were at home. We then had a delicious lunch at his restaurant, including the empanadas we had made earlier.

From Mendoza we flew back to BA where we had 2 days on our own to go back to the neighborhoods Emilia had shown us. A particular highlight of the whole trip was being hosted by Paolo and Hugh (who own and run MacDermott’s) on our final night in their lovely home for an evening that included a tango demonstration and a delicious dinner. They couldn’t have been more gracious, friendly and warm hosts. We had great conversations about life in Argentina.

The accommodations in every place we stayed were beautiful and totally top notch. Staff, food and amenities were terrific. All of the details of our itinerary worked out perfectly including pick ups and transfers.

All in all, our trip to Argentina, thanks largely to KimKim and MacDermott’s, was one of the very best travel experiences we’ve ever had in over 40 years of world traveling. We hope to work with them again on another South American adventure.

We were very happy everything that Kimkim organized for us. The group tours, hotels and transfers went perfectly. The Kimkim app listed all daily activities in detail. We never felt rushed or over scheduled. All drivers arrived early, and communicated with us through whats app. The guided walking tours were a great way to see the cities we visited.

My impression of the kimkim website and the way they handle private information such as passport numbers, and other identifying pieces of information is poor. Secondly, I did not find Nick to be reachable through much of the planning process, and he did not follow through with promised links for payment, corrections to information for reservations etc. in the timeframe he indicated he would do so, leaving us wondering if he were going to take care of it at all. This lack of communication led us to hold off on making flight reservations until we could be certain we were actually properly registered for the trip. At one point, we heard nothing from Nick for nearly three weeks. So the initial impression of kimkim 's and Nick's services were not highly favorable. However, the trip itself, the guides and drivers we encountered along the way, and the planned experiences were amazing. We agreed it was one of the best travel experiences we've had. The Malaysian people, the varied locations and planned experiences through islands, mountains, rainforests and cities had a lot to do with it! We are grateful for our travel pal, Aur, who visited Malaysia twice before to scope out the areas in order to plan a perfect experience for us. We will definitely be back, but we would not use kimkim's services again due to poor communication and inadequate measures for ensuring the privacy of personal identifying information.

Hotel Reviews

The Rock Resort

Aur Island

Offered all the best of island living. A wonderful retreat!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Waterfront Hotel

Kuching

AMAZING! Good location, beautiful accommodations, helpful staff and a robust breakfast bar that is beyond description!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa Del Rio Hotel Melaka

Lovely location and accommodations.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Verdant Hill Hotel

Clean, comfortable, good location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Grandis Kota Kinabalu

Kota Kinabalu

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Kuala Lumpur Walking City Tour

Kuala Lumpur

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Vincent was knowledgeable, interesting, and fun!

Transport

Van's are older, in disrepair. Air conditioning not great.

Kuala Selangor Fireflies Cruise & Dinner

Kuala Lumpur

Food was not very good. Cruise itself was not spectacular, the water was very dirty, and the area was very sketchy.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kuching City Tour

Kuching

Amen was a terrific guide, very knowledgable and humorous. We enjoyed spending the day with him.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Semenggoh Orangutan, Lunch & Sarawak Cultural Village

Kuching

It was a very short experiences, and felt more like a visit to the zoo.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coral Island & Snorkeling Excursion

Kota Kinabalu

Very dirty water. Couldn't snorkel in coral areas due to this being planned at low tide.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kinabalu Park & Poring Hot Springs

Malaysia

A climbing event had been planned for the same day, so we diverted to the hot springs first. The botanical gardens were nice, but the hot springs were more like sitting in a hot tub at a cheap hotel. By the time we were able to go back to the mountain, we could barely see it, as significant fog settled in, and we had very little time to enjoy the experience. This was one of the primary activities I had really been looking forward to, so it was a bit of a let down. Zee, our guide, was fabulous however.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

What a memorable trip all around Japan! We honestly couldn’t have done it without Cannon. He went above and beyond from start to finish, helping us plan our trip, answering any questions we had while we were there, and making sure we had great recommendations for places to visit, eat, and explore.

Tokyo was an absolute highlight, especially getting to experience Akihabara and all the amazing things to see and do in Asakusa. Having Cannon’s guidance made the entire trip so much easier and allowed us to enjoy our time without worrying about all the little details.

We had an incredible experience exploring Japan and made memories we’ll never forget. We’re already talking about going back, and we would absolutely recommend Cannon to anyone planning a trip to Japan. His help and dedication truly made a difference in our experience!

Hotel Reviews

the b asakusa

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

Location

So close to a train station and being a easy place to get into festivities

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Park Hotel Kyoto

Kyoto

Authenticity & Character

Location

A great little coffee shop beside it and also close to a train station

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Osaka & Nara Day Trip with Osaka Castle and Minoh Park

Japan

The highlight of this trip was definitely getting to check out Osaka Castle. You really need a full day to see everything there but it was still a great time. Nara was great too just have to be careful with the deer because they will check every pocket to see if you have snacks.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a wonderful trip to Japan and enjoyed all the hotels and restaurants that were selected by our kimkim travel agent, Ben. All the train arrangements, which were many, were seamless. Communication both during the planning process and during the trip was excellent. We felt well supported. We particularly enjoyed our guide in Kanazawa "Guchi". We originally planned for full day guides because we felt intimidated by the language barrier. In retrospect, we would go with a less arduous 1/2 day guides for a better and more relaxed pacing. The two places in Japan we enjoyed the most were off the beaten track of most Japan tours. Also, exploring "less" touristy areas is where the kimkim services are the most useful. We loved Kanazawa as a mellow and smaller introduction to Japan and we very much enjoyed Naoshima (stay at "the Lodge") and we managed very well without a guide. We were very happy that we decided to travel solo rather than going with a group and feel that kim kim generally, and Ben specifically, made this possible for us.

Hotel Reviews

Mitsui Garden Hotel Kanazawa

Kanazawa

The hotel is centrally located . You can walk from the train station and it is on a main street that has good bus service. The breakfast was five stars.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

You can't walk through the lobby without someone asking you if they can help!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Shiraume

If you are going to Kyoto, you must stay at this Ryokan located in a former Geisha house in the Gion district of Kyoto. The accomodations, meals, and level of service was like anything you would experience in a top tier hotel. The experience is unforgettable, worth the cost. and gives great insights into the Japanese culture. Okuda-san, proprietor and host, was very gracious and spoke excellent english. Oh, and there is a couples hot tub to die for.

Authenticity & Character

This is a great way to get introducted to why Japan is so special.

Location

Right in the Geisha district.

Staff

Everyone spoke excellent english, were very attentive, and were able to provide good context about the Japanese culture

Cleanliness & Comfort

Japan is super focused on cleanliness. You will not be disappointed with any place in Japan when it comes to cleanliness. Shiraume provided chairs etc so we didn't have to sit on the floor.

Dhawa Yura Kyoto

Kyoto

This hotel caters to western tastes. They were very accomodating but you are not getting the full Japanese experience. Very good location- right on the river and a five minute walk to Gion.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Onyado Nono Namba Natural Hot Spring

Osaka

Very traditional Japanese experience with a Japanese Onsen in an urban setting. For Osaka, this is a good pick as it right near the main shopping areas. If you are not familiar with the Japanese Onsen bath experience, this is a good place to be initiated. It will be worth it. The breakfast was 5 star.

Authenticity & Character

For a westerner, you first few moments might be a little shocking. Hang in there and enjoy the Japanese experience.

Location

Close to food markets and covered shopping promenade.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

MY LODGE Naoshima

This place is a gem. Get to breakfast and dinner plan because there are few easily accessible locations for dinner. Its a short walk to town but not ideal at night time. Super service, food and nice outdoor areas. Rooms are simple but most have if not all have a small seating area. Naoshima is a pretty island with great vistas. We saw the Benessee house, which is where most people like to stay, but we think this is a bette option.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mandarin Oriental

Tokyo

This is a five star bucket list hotel. You pay the prices but you get an astounding level of service in a hotel that caters to westerners. Tokyo is a big place but this hotel was well located for our purposes and near some main subway lines. Good wind down for us at the end of our trip to Japan.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Quiet neighborhood close to two Japanese department stores and a handful of neighborhood restaurants.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

One-Day Classic Tokyo Public Transport Itinerary: Sensoji · Kappabashi · Harajuku Meiji Shrine · Japanese Tasting Dinner

Tokyo

Dinner at Otari was a highlight of our trip.

Tokyo Culinary Journey with Private transportation– Sake Brewery Experience

Tokyo

The Sake tour was not in English and they discouraged translating by our guide. The tasting seemed brief and seemed like an after thought. The day did include a lunch at a Tofu focused Japanese restaurant which was one of the highlights of our trip and located on the side of a beautiful rural setting. Consider this if you can do it by public transportation.

Full Day Guided Kanazawa Cultural Tour by Public Transport – Gardens, Historic Districts & Local Market

Kanazawa

It is possible to see the major historical sites in Kanazawa in one long day. Our excellent guide, "Guchi" was well versed in in the history and culture of the area. In addition, she took us to some unique artisan shops. Definately ask for her.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had a great 8 days in Iceland. The app was perfect. The room selection was excellent. We were a family of 13 including 4 kids under the age of 6. I think I made the right choice picking your service. Luka did a great job putting it all together for us Thank you again for the help

John

Our first trip to China was an unforgettable delight, exceeding every expectation. It felt as though we had discovered a travel secret too good not to share.
Heidi was responsive, flexible, and attentive to our wishes throughout the planning process. Scheduling conflicts and unexpected visa requirements ultimately reduced our travel party to just my sister and me, but what began as a scouting trip became a wonderful adventure.
Each city captivated us with its distinct history, culture, and character. We encountered extraordinary kindness, and our Muslim dietary requirements were thoughtfully accommodated. Everywhere we went left us eager to return and explore more.
Our guides—George, Sue, Iris, and Ren—made the experience especially memorable. George’s relaxed manner and thoughtful perspectives brought Chinese history and contemporary life into focus. In Xi’an, Sue went above and beyond to make us feel at home, becoming more like family than a guide. Iris’s cheerful energy and thoughtful gifts made our visit to Chengdu and its delightful pandas even more special. Ren helped us experience Shanghai’s vibrant character despite our brief stay.
Transfers were seamless, the hotels offered excellent amenities, and we felt safe and well cared for throughout. Heidi quickly resolved the few unexpected hiccups along the way.
We returned deeply impressed and eager to visit again with our extended families to share the wonders of China.

Back from a wonderful trip in Morocco with a great group of friends. We were told we would love our driver/guide Mustapha and we did! He was an amazing driver and we always felt comfortable and safe. He is a very caring person and was fun to be with. He often went out of his way to make sure our needs were met. We especially liked our accommodations in Chefchaouen (pool was amazing) and Fes (breakfast was fantastic); and everyone was very accommodating. The camel ride in the Sahara and the hammam experience were new highlights for us. Thanks again to everyone involved in our trip, from Imane and Said in helping the 6 of us plan our itinerary, our driver Mustapha as mentioned and all our local guides who shared the history of Morocco with us.

Our driver/guide,Andi, was great. He was very knowledgeable not only about the history of each place we visited but had lots of suggestions for places of interest or places to eat that we’d might like. He took our interests into consideration and tailored his suggestions to fit them. We can’t say enough good things about his professionalism and his facility with English.
We particularly loved Theth ( but not the guesthouse), Gjirokaster (great hotel, our favorite ), and Lazarat ( the community working together to change its reputation was inspiring).

We had a excellent experience with KimKim and our local specialist Eleanor.
Eleanor listened carefully to our ideas and interests. She was also very considerate of our medical needs. Our local guides Yumi, Yasuko, Mayumi, and Natsu were all experts! They were extremely kind, knowledgeable, considerate and time sensitive. They expertly showed us the history and beauty of each location, and kept us on schedule without rushing us.
Eleanor provided excellent suggestions for activities and locations for us to visit on our days without guides
Our whole experience was seamless and well managed. Thank you!

Gustavo was very helpful in guiding our trip planning and suggesting tours. We spent several days in Athens, a couple of days in Meteora, 2 days in Parga, and 4 days in Corfu. All the guides were friendly and informative, making the excursions very enjoyable. The highlight was the Meteora via ferrata scramble with Costas (Visit Meteora) up the Great Saint. Parga was also enjoyable, with its sea views and beach! All the hotel accommodations were very nice, with all but one being within walking distance of local sites and restaurants. Our favorite hotel was Somnus Suites in Parga! However, the staff and accommodations were great at The Dellas Boutique near Meteora. The Dellas, located between Kastraki and Kalambaka, give you a wide variety of options for dining and shopping all within walking distance. We stayed in Eleas outside of Corfu. the hotel is clean, staff were very helpful, and breakfast is delicious. However, you do need to take the bus or taxi everywhere.
The rain in Athens didn't slow us down or change our planned tours. There are plenty of historic sites, museums, and shops to visit on rainy days. We spent a wonderful day with Katarina, (Greek Travel Tellers) touring Petrolona. Athena, (Alternative Athens) also gave us a very detailed and informative tour of the Acropolis. Greece in October provided mild temperatures, rain showers, and cooler evenings. Plan to layer clothes! We had a planned transfer and hike of the Archeon River. The October weather was too cold for this activity. It is probably best in the summer. The river is very cold, so our delightful guide George, from Epirius Adventures, took us on a short hike near the river, taught us about Olive harvesting, and we went to visit the Nekromanteion of Archeron. The stormy weather significantly altered our plans in Corfu. Unfortunately, we had to cancel or scale back outdoor excursions, sailing, and kayaking because of the weather. George (Corfu Outdoor Activities) took us on a short hike when we could not go kayaking. He was very flexible, informative, gave us great restaurant recommendations and information for our next trip. Our final day in Corfu, the sun came out and we went on the Jeep Safari Tour with Yainis (Xadventure Club). Yainis is very entertaining and talented! He took us off-roading through the mountains, to tour or Enotis Olive Groves, and visiting other sites in Northern Corfu.

Hotel Reviews

Dellas Boutique Hotel

Meteora, Kalambaka

Nice hotel, great balcony view, helpful staff, delicious breakfast, Location is perfect for walking to Kalambaka or Kastraki. The privacy lock on the door did not work, and showers are on the small side, soap the walls and spin!

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful views, bar, and room decor!

Location

Great for views and walking to local restaurants/hikes.

Staff

Front desk very helpful!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Showers were small and privacy lock did not work. There was also an incident with the door keys not working.

Somnus Suites

Parga

Wonderful views, very helpful staff, breakfast served in the room. The rooms are spacious and well appointed. Hotel balcony is great for lounging, views, soaking in the pool, and dining. Location convenient for walking to the beach and local restaurants/sites.

Authenticity & Character

Great asthetic and comfortable rooms.

Location

Close to everything but just on the edge of town so very quiet.

Staff

Very helpful with directions and special arrangements

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very comfortable and clean!

ELEALS Boutique Hotel

Perama

Very nice staff, comfortable room, nice view. Breakfast was delicious and evening bar options were amazing. Dinner is also available onsite.

Authenticity & Character

Very appealing decor!

Location

On a busy street. You need a bus or taxi to go anywhere.

Staff

Helpful staff and informative. Great food and bar service!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Safe didn't work. But everything else in the room seemed very clean.

Activity Reviews

Self-Guided Exploration of the Venetian Castle & Short Walk

Parga

Easy experience to do on our own. The Venetian castle was a short walk from our hotel.

Quality of Experience

Authentic Athens Awaits: The Petralona Experience

Athens

Very nice walking tour with Katrina. It felt like we were spending the day with a friend who lived in Greece. She shared stories about the area and the history. Took us to a quaint coffee house for Greek Coffee. We also went to lunch and explored a wide range of Greek Cuisine. This is perfect for anyone who wants to get away from the crowded tourists sites and enjoy the local culture!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

It was a wonderful and relaxed day with Katrina.

Truffle Hunting & Mushroom Museum with Lunch

Meteora

Our driver picked us up and we met our tour guide at the Mushroom Museum. Then we followed the guide to the truffle hunting area. We met the handler for Lara the Italian Water dog/truffle hunting dog, and the chef, Alexandria. Lara demonstrated her amazing skill at finding truffles. Alexandria had prepared three different types of mushrooms for appetizers. Alexandria cooked mushrooms and pasta over an open flame. We enjoyed a delicious lunch and wine on a beautiful sunny day. We also enjoyed some time at the Mushroom Museum and Natural History Museum.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Self-Guided Beach Day

Parga

Great day relaxing on the beach and walking the town.

Private Jeep Safari Adventure in Corfu

Corfu

Great adventure, food, coffee, and wonderful sites. Love the Olive Oil Mill tour. Our driver Yainis, was entertaining, informative, and a talented singer. The lunch views are beautiful.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Meteora Great Saint Rock Hiking & Scramble Experience

Meteora

Wonderful day climbing with Costas! It was great to try something new with someone so experienced and safety conscious! We loved this activity!

Quality of Experience

Very memorable!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Excellent and informative

Transport

Acropolis Beat-the-Crowds Discovery Walk

Athens

Great tour guide! Very informative! Wear good walking shoes and be prepared for uneven paths/stairs. It was a bit windy then day we toured Acropolis/Parthenon.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunset Monasteries & Hermit Caves Excursion

Meteora

Small van tour. It was very nice being picked up and dropped off at our hotels. Very busy tourist site. Informative information about the area and history. Amazing views and sunset!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Just back from an incredible trip to France. Many thanks to Liz and the KimKim team who designed a wonderful itinerary and taking care of all the details hitting the must-sees in Paris, Normandy, Loire Valley and Burgundy. Liz was wonderful to work with sharing creative suggestions and understanding just what we were looking for on our first visit to France. Paris highlights included a visit to the Louvre, Musée d' Orsay, Notre Dame Cathedral, Luxembourg Gardens, Hôtel des Invalides Napoleon's Tomb & War Museum and of course the Eiffel Tower. Montmartre was especially enjoyable with great dining options , street musicians, and an unexpected harvest wine festival on the hilltop steps of the Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur. In Normandy, visits to D-Day sites with Malcom as our guide were definitely memorable and impactful. Other trip highlights included a visit to Giverny (Monet's Gardens), coffee in the shadow of the Bayeaux Cathedral, biking the grounds of grand Chateaus in Loire Valley, walking the streets in charming Burgundy village of Beaune with a moving visit to the Hospices of Beaune. We so enjoyed our experience in France.

Hotel Reviews

L'Hôtel de Beaune

Beaune

Our Favorite Hotel of the trip! Located in the heart of the charming Village of Beaune. L'Hôtel de Beaune was comfortable, beautifully appointed with a lovely restaurant, and friendly attentive staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Brighton

Paris

Our room was spacious and well appointed with views of the Louvre, Musee d' Orsay, Hotel Invalides and the Eiffel Tower. Perfect location for sightseeing in Paris.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Le Clos d'Amboise

Amboise

Charming historic hotel with a lovely courtyard for relaxing. Easy walk to restaurants and castle through the charming streets of Amboise.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Courtyard by Marriott Paris Roissy Charles de Gaulle Airport

Roissy-en-France

Courtyard is reliable and comfortable. Located close to Charles de Gaulle airport, this hotel is a great pick for the final night before a long flight home.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Belle Normandy

Bayeux

Our apartment was in an annex building across street, so we don't feel we experienced the charm of this hotel as The apartment was spacious with 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and a full kitchen. Yet, the decor appeared to be a mixture of used furniture and IKEA. Not sure how we ended up in this room. We feel a room in the former school overlooking the courtyard, would have given us the charming Normandy feel. We did enjoy the spaciousness, but it felt more like an Air B&B than a quaint historic hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Location of the Hotel was great, but the location of our room was away from the hotel not what we were expecting.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Explore Mont Saint-Michel on your way from Bayeux to Amboise

France

We enjoyed a countryside drive from Bayeux to Amboise with a must-see stop at Mont Saint-Michel. Our guide, Theo, gave an informative tour of this amazing site, efficiently navigating us around the crowds and through the corridors. We enjoyed some generous free time allowing for a relaxing lunch and a walk through the charming village. We walked through a sheep filled pasture with amazing views of Mont Saint-Michel on our way back to the van. From there. we continue on to Amboise.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Palace of Versailles Day Trip with Lunch

Paris

The Palace of Versailles is an amazing place. The opulence is over the top even off putting but pretty incredible. The history of the palace is an interesting tale. Highlights were the Hall of Mirrors, the Gallery of Battles, Petit Trianon (Marie Antoinette's Private Residence), and the Queen's Hamlet (portrayal of an English village). We met our guide and fellow tour guests, a friendly group, at the TRIP office and travelled together to Versailles. Our guide was a wealth of information but a but dry and a little curt. We were not impressed with the Versailles gardens, not as pictured in brochures. They seemed a bit tired and needing TLC. The fountains were not running either (possible because of a summer drought). Glad we visited Versailles.

Quality of Experience

Food

Possibly due to shoulder season but just one option for food with space seating. The food was decent quality, yet limited in options.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer from Paris to Bayeux With a Stop at Monet Gardens

France

Monet's Gardens and Giverny was a wonderful stop on our way from Paris to Bayeux. The garden's are amazing. Wonderful to see the inspiration for many of Claude Monet's paintings. We thoroughly enjoyed walking through the colorful gardens, with Dalias aplenty, and to the Lilly pad ponds and Japanese bridge. The surrounding countryside made for a very enjoyable drive.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was personable and knowledgeable of the gardens, the village, and the surrounding area.

Transport

Private Honfleur, Beuvron & Calvados Tasting Day Trip

Bayeux

Honfleur is a delightful port village with so much interesting history. Our guide navigated us to some hidden gardens, shared some town highlights as we toured. We especially enjoyed free time for lunch and coffee. Beuvron was a charming stop, brief (as it's tiny) but worth the stop. A nice surprise was how thoroughly enjoyed the Calvados tasting tour, a wonderful tour of the Calvados distillery on palace grounds. Calvados, however, is a bit strong for our tastes. Our driver & guide was friendly and conversational. We enjoyed experiencing the charm and traditions of Normandy.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Driving a bit erratic.

Private Guided Walking Tour of Medieval Bayeux

Bayeux

The guide shared some interesting facts about Bayeux. However, I think we would have preferred exploring Bayeux on our own also allowing for more time to visit the Museum of the Battle of Normandy. The Bayuex Tapestry was in London at the time of our visit. When it returns an the remodeled Bauex Museum is complete, The Tapestry would be a must-see.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Exterior Notre-Dame & Sainte-Chapelle Visit with Priority Access

Paris

Our guide was knowledgeable and passionate about Paris and the religious history. We probably didn't need a guide to visit the Exterior Notre-Dame & Sainte-Chapelle. Our guide shared interesting facts about Sainte-Chapelle but really shared very little about Notre Dame (maybe because he knew we had already walked through the inside). He walked us through the Latin Quarter and gave us context about the area. The Latin Quarter is where our tour ended (30 minutes early ??), a perfect place to explore. From there we enjoyed walking by the Pantheon and wandering to Luxembourg Palace & Gardens. The gardens are magnificent. So enjoyed relaxing in the gardens watching families enjoy a Saturday morning launching mini boats in the sailboat pond.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Seine River Cruise

Paris

A Seine River Cruise was a great intro to Paris. Our guide highlighted the many landmarks along the Seine. The weather was a bit misty, so not the ideallic setting we had hoped for, but alt least it didn't pour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We arrived at the meeting point 10 minutes in advance of the meeting time. Although we were at the correct spot, our guide did not find us, called saying that we might have to cancel if we are late to the boat. We were exactly where instructed under a statue. Guide was around the corner of the bridge, but never looked to where we were. Sort of an uncomfortable start, but it all worked out.

Self-Guided Visit of Orsay Museum: Entrance Tickets & Audio guide included

Paris

We loved this museum and a self-guided tour with audio is the perfect way to visit this museum. Timed entry is key as well. We enjoyed a wonderful lunch in Cafe Company under the iconic clock.

Quality of Experience

Self-Guided Audio tour. Going at our own pace.

Invalides : Army museum and Napoleon's Tomb : Entrance Tickets included

Paris

Hôtel des Invalides was a great stop. Self-guided with audio was perfect for us. Napoleon's tomb and the surrounding rooms were an impressive display, one of a kind for sure. The cathedral is beautiful, too. Gardens are quite nice. We spent more time in the war museum than we had expected. The collection of weapons and armour were remarkable. The 20th century wars were presented very well, a great lead in to our upcoming D-Day tours.

Quality of Experience

Private Château Chenonceau & River Cruise Escape

Amboise

Château Chenonceau is an amazing Château. The grounds are stunning. Lord that fresh flowers from the grounds adored many of rooms. What a beautiful way to bring an ancient structure to life bringing warmth and color whereas many old structures are drab and cold. Built across the river makes Château Chenonceau so unique. The Corridor served as a hospital during WWI, and we had recently learned that a relative of ours worked in the hospital at that time. We loved the river cruise seeing the château from this unique vantage point. Would highly recommend for others to add the boat ride to this tour. Our guide was excellent & informative. Afterward we were dropped at a 5 star hotel restaurant for lunch. Atmosphere was lovely, food was great, but extremely expensive (most expensive meal of our entire trip), unnecessary for afternoon meal.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

WWII Paris Uncovered – Private Experience

Paris

We enjoyed this tour and a chance to experience the Jewish Quarter on a lively Saturday afternoon. Our guide was a wealth of information. She shared the awful plight of the Jewish people during the time of German occupation. and took us past several historical landmarks honoring those who perished or acted heroically. This was a simple tour. In some respect, not much to it, bot on the other hand, this was information we would not have happened upon on our own. So we were glad we dd this tour. This tour was 30 minutes shorter than listed in description.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private British Sector D-Day Experience with Local Guide Malcom

Bayeux

Malcom is a passionate historian and war enthusiast. We could not image a better guide. He was amazing, a wealth of knowledge and wonderful storyteller. we were fortunate to spend two full days with Malcom, visiting the British and Canadian Sector one day and the US Sector on the second day. The flow was brilliant as we were able to explore the full 50 miles of D-Day operations. Malcom made the D-Day story come to life as he shared personal accounts , described the difficult conditions, and highlighted failures and successes of that fateful day. A powerful and moving experience. We wish we would have scheduled a third day in order to visit a few museums.

Quality of Experience

Malcom's knowledge and artful delivery made this experience amazing.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Malcom's car was very comfortable ad well appointed.

Private D-Day War Strategy Experience in the American Sector

Bayeux

Malcom is a passionate historian and war enthusiast. We could not image a better guide. He was amazing, a wealth of knowledge and wonderful storyteller. We were fortunate to spend two full days with Malcom, visiting the British and Canadian Sector one day and the US Sector on the second day. The flow was brilliant as we were able to explore the full 50 miles of D-Day operations. Malcom made the D-Day story come to life as he shared personal accounts , described the difficult conditions, and highlighted failures and successes of that fateful day. A powerful and moving experience. We wish we would have scheduled a third day in order to visit a few museums. As Americans, this day was especially powerful. In additional Omaha, Point du Hoc, and Utah Beach, we visited the US National Cemetery, a beautiful resting place and memorial for all who gave their lives for freedom sake. We were privleged to witness the daily ceremony singing of the US , playing of taps, and the laying of flowers at the foot of the statue :"The Spirit of the American Youth Rising from the Waves". Very powerful ceremony & honored to witness.

Quality of Experience

The monuments and markers are so well done with bits of history preserved

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Malcom is the best of the best! A terrific guide!

Transport

Malcom's car is quite comfortable and well appointed.

Private Stroll Through Beaune’s Medieval Heart

Beaune

This tour was cancelled, without opportunity to reschedule. This was probably for the best as this allowed us time to explore Beaune on our own. Most especially, this enabled us to visit the Hospices de Beaune, very impressive and well preserved. Had we done the walking tour. We do enjoy some unstructured time, so this worked out well. We do anticipate a refund for this cancelled tour.

Private Loire Valley E-Bike Tour: Château de Chambord & Biscuiterie Tasting

Amboise

Château de Chambord is an incredible structure. The stuff of fairy tails. Crazy, the opulence of the Kings and Queens of the day, for a hunting lodge no less. E-Bikes added a little something extra and was a great way to experience the grounds and nearby forest. Lunch was lovely though a four course meal was a bit much for lunchtime. The tour was not as describe. We expected to go to a Biscuiterie tasting. That did not happen. Maybe they were closed that day? Something that we would expect the guide or Kimkim to know in advance. There was not really an explanation. Our just asked if we would like to ride bikes a bit longer before returning to the van. We didn't understand until after the tour that the extra bike time was instead of the tasting.

Quality of Experience

Part of the tour was skipped with out explanation

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Louvre Museum Visit

Paris

Laura , our guide, was wonderful. The Louvre is an incredible space. House within this amazing palace is the most extensive collection in the world. Loved that our tour was at night when the crowds were fewer. The place is massive, yet our guide helped us navigate through seamlessly. Laura brought the art to life with stories of their relevance. From Roman ruins discovered underneath to the modern pyramid entrance, and everything contained therein, the Louvre is a must-see. Very glad we had a guide for this one! At the end of our tour, Laura helped us make dinner reservations and even walked us to the restaurant.

Quality of Experience

Our guide, Laura, helped us navigate and highlighted a great variety of artwork, including The Mona Lisa, of course.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Montmartre

Paris

We enjoyed a leisurely, unstructured afternoon exploring Montmartre. At the base, Montmartre was so peaceful and quiet. We started to explore by ascending the steps to the Bascilica du Cacré-Coœur for what we thought would be a quiet time overlooking Paris from the Basilica steps. Once we reached the top, it was as if we had entered a time warp. The top was abuzz with throngs of people celebrating grape harvest with a wine festival. The Basilica steps were packed with everybody enjoying the beautiful afternoon with a glass of wine in hand. So festive. Everyone was having a great time, so we join in for a glass on the steps as well. Just a short walk from the crowds in a quiet courtyard, we were entertained by a young singer and the onlookers danced. Our evening culminated with a delicious dinner at historic La Maison Rose. A wonderful day!

Quality of Experience

Private Discovery of Auxois: Burgundy’s Historic Villages

Dijon

The tour was fine, just not necessary at this point in our trip. After 17 days, we could have done without a final day of visits to small villages (Mostly empty and shuttered due to off season). We did enjoy a unique lunch experience at a farmers co-op restaurant. The town was literally desolate with shutter buildings and empty streets. Then we opened the restaurant doors and it was absolutely packed inside, with locals and families on school break. A delightful experience. We also visited a large Abbey which was interesting. However, for this, our last day after many, many tours, I think we would have preferred a leisurely day experiencing charming Beaune visiting shops, tasting some cheese and enjoying a leisurely lunch before transporting to Dijon to catch the train to Paris.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Both were friendly and engaging. Our guide was knowledgeable and informative. Driver info in next section

Transport

Drove very fast on wet hilly and curvy roads making for an uncomfortable drive. Also at beginning of tour, we requested to KimKim and also to our driver that we wanted to arrive at the dijon train station by 5:00. We remind the driver several times throughout the day as well. Driver assured us that she was in control of the schedule, yet we arrived in Dijon at 5:30. Still needing to grab dinner (station restaurants were closing), use the restrooms, an find our way to our train, we were a bit short on time.

Sidecar Through the Legendary Côte Beaune

Beaune

This sidecar tour was a fun way to see the Burgundy landscape up close learning a bit about the region along the way. Gilles, a retired air traffic controller, was a splendid host treating us to his family Sunday drink, Chardonnay with Black Currant and his wife's homemade cheesecake puffs. Winding our way past vineyards and nearby villages, the weather threatened our day but we enjoyed our time even with mist and sprinkles.

Quality of Experience

Riding amongst the vineyards.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Gilles is a great host for this unique tour.

Transport

What's more fun than riding in a retro sidecar!

Grand & Premier Cru : An Intimate Wine Tasting

Beaune

Nicoli was so engaging and knowledgeable. This was wine tasting experience interesting for us as Nicoli talked more about the region and the subtleties in climate and soil that make each wine unique. Wine tastings we've done in California focused more on the grapes and the barrels. We were fascinated how different the wine can be from plots so close in proximity to each other with just a small elevation, tempera or soil difference. We enjoyed learning about the process to become a Sommelier. We know very little about wine, yet thoroughly enjoyed this experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Nicoli was excellent

Paris - Mgallery Echiquier Paris Opera - paid ourselves ~$475 Euro/night)-4 nights. Nice, tiny, but just okay.

Seine River Dinner cruise - excellent first day tour, food was good, singer for entertainment. It would have been better to have had window table for better view.
Louvre - self guided with headphones was great
Versailles - Impressive tour, October was not great time of year for the gardens
Moulin Rouge - did not attend (poor reviews from others); attended Paradis Latin Show - was excellent and food was very good.
Pastry Tour - Fantastic!!
Side Car ride around Paris to Sacre Coeur Montmartre. Excellent.
Wine tasting at Louvre Cellars . Wine was not great for Paris.
Reims, Champagne (2 nights) - B&B Le Clos Corbier - very nice, large room. Lively and quiet. Too isolated and no restaurant/food within walking distance, uber was $60 euro into Reims for dinner! After a day of Champagne tasting, I did not wish to drive.

Champagne wine tour w/Thomas (3 wineries) - 1) Veuve Clicquot 5*, 2) Collard-Milesi w/ lunch 3.5* 3) Lancelot-Royer 4*

Strasbourg, Alsace (2 nights) - Hotel Du Dragon (good hotel, central). Great city! Great spatzle! Nice wine bar (Terres a Vin)

wine tour with Jerome (3 wineries) - 1) Wach winery - good wine, mediocre tour 4*, 2) Gilg- not great wine, poor tasting 3*, 3) Louis Sipp - good wine, good story

Beaune - (5 nights) (Ermitage de Corton, Chorey-Les-Beaune, Bourgogne, France - very nice B&B, large suite. Outskirts of Beaune (10km) and getting a taxi or Uber required a reservation or a potentially long wait. Other than the included breakfast, there was no food service other than full meal dinner and lunch. No coffee machine available in room.

Burgundy Wine Region Tour Operator: ( Emanuel ) France Intense tour company

Wineries: 1) Domaine Comte Senard Aloxe-Corton (8 tastings) 4*; 2) Maillard-Grivot (12 tastings) 5*;
Wine store - (5 tastings)
*** plus shared a bottle of wine at lunch and dinner
Great tour! A daunting number of wines tasted. Excellent quality!

Tours:
Hospices de Beaune - great private tour!
Mustard factory (on own) and could not gain access to the factory, only the store.

Side car tour - this was fun. Rode through the vineyards and had a glass of Kir Royal w/ gougeres!
Burgundy Cooking Experience - Fantastic day of cooking!! Made several dishes, then enjoyed a wonderful lunch. Great class! Highly recommend this class.

Dinner at La Table Du Square… Amazing!
Excellent Wine Bars: Le bout du monde (wine bar), L’arche des vins
Dinner at L’Ecrit Vin Beaune… great dinner.

Lyon (Le Phenix Hotel) 2 nights

Dinner at Le Boeuf d’Argent - great dinner and food presentation!
Beautiful historic centre
Secrets of Lyon’s Gastronomy food walking tour (good tour, just okay charcuterie, but excellent brioche dessert with red candy covered almonds), okay wine pairings

Bordeaux (Hotel Indigo Bordeaux) - 4 nights Oct 13-17
decent hotel, rooftop restaurant; awesome buffet breakfast!!

Discovered 2 great bars - Le Sobre, Bar de Vin

Chartrons, Bordeaux wine walking district food tour (3hrs) - tasted coffee, pastry, and something else; was not a great tour ☹️.
Saint-Emilion wine region tour 7 hr tour small group (incl picnic (mini van tour) - Ended up being a private tour! Went to 3 wineries, and had a lovely picnic lunch in the yard of one winery.
Day trip to Arcachon Bassin and Dune du Pilat. Was not a great tour. Sand dunes were pretty cool though . Went to an oyster restaurant and had disappointing wine ☹️.

River cruise - Would not recommend . Ambiance was rather cold (like a cafeteria), food was lousy, and the wine was just okay. The cruise in Paris was far better!

Madrid (Hotel Emperador) - 3 nights - very nice hotel, great lobby bar, nice rooftop bar/restaurant. Breakfast was included, and very good. A large hotel with some large tour groups which can make for morning elevator access waits and checkout chaos. Clearly they handle large groups frequently as it was very organized chaos at peak times.

Tapas Tour Oct 17 (really good, food was really good and plentiful); wine was just okay.
Private Madrid Winery tour (10-4pm) - Excellent tour, guide was amazing, winery tours were fantastic, and wine and snacks were great!
Royal Palace guided visit - great tour! Guide was excellent!
Flamenco and Tapas night - Great show!, but would not recommend the tapas.

Barcelona (4 nights) - Serras Barcelona Hotel - Magnificent in every way!!! The staff, the food, the bar, the restaurant, the service… all exceeding expectations! Very intimate hotel. The VERY best hotel!!!

Barcelona Market Tapas dinner Tour - Really good tour, food and wine were very good, food was plentiful.
Catamaran sunset dinner cruise - great cruise with live music ( guitar player) and very good food (intimate dinner on board)
Day trip to Montserrat and the Penedes region wine tasting region - Wonderful tour of Montserrat, and very nice winery Llopart Family Estates tour and tasting! Our tour guide was terrific! We were able to have lunch away from the crowds.

Transfers between airports and hotels were much appreciated. Drivers were competent and helpful with our luggage.

Alexia was instrumental in coordinating our travel and was attentive to our concerns and requests.