Kimkim Trip Reviews

Turkey is working to make the country a welcoming place for tourists. Kim Kim asked if as a couple what we wanted to do. They were responsive to changes we requested as we jointly planned this 7 day trip. The cost was reasonable and highly personalized. Our guides were flexible, well educated about Turkey, with adjusting scheduled activities and daily itinerary. That meant a lot to us both. Could not have been a better trip!

This is my third time using kimkim. I've been happy with each experience.

I was originally planning to visit Vietnam (Hoi An and Hanoi) in November 2025. I was connected with Lucy who put together a great itinerary for me in the limited amount of time I had. We made a few changes to match my interests…and then I cancelled fairly last minute for work related reasons. This ended up being a blessing as Hoi An had some bad flooding around that time, which Lucy had warned me about (and I basically disregarded - so you should always listen to your TA because they know what they are talking about!)

Kimkim makes it easy to reschedule and I moved my trip to May 2026. I was able to add on dates and make additional tweaks to my itinerary. As my travel date came closer, she made sure I had my visa and all other travel information needed. Lucy also checked up on me throughout the trip and made sure I was doing okay.

I like to travel alone and heard that Vietnam was a safe place for a solo female traveler. I otherwise didn't know what to expect visiting the country. The guides I had helped make me feel comfortable and provided a great education about the country. Specifically, my primary guide in Hoi An was Huan who took me to My Son Sanctuary as well as a tour of Hoi An's Old Town. He was very informative and was also very accommodating of my slow pace. I also had guide Chay in Hoi An, who was flexible in changing my scheduled tour for that day. In Hanoi, Trung took me to a village in Ba Vi Hill area where I met several fascinating people. Finally, I had guide Quoc in Pu Luong, whom everyone we passed in the villages seemed to know! I finished my trip with a two night cruise in the Ha Long Bay. Every day was one great experience after another - from the lanterns in Hoi An to the tiered rice fields to the iconic limestone rocks reaching up from beneath the water. And all these great experiences were made more memorable by the welcoming people I met. A truly great trip!

I loved all of my hotels. However, my Hoi An hotel was between the Old Town and the beach. I would recommend that if you want to be closer to Old Town, that you should mention that when planning. I used Grab and the cost to Old Town was minimal and didn't take that long.

Our 15-day trip to Japan was incredible, and Marii made the entire planning process easy and stress-free. She provided great suggestions that we incorporated into our itinerary, and we loved how the trip included a little bit of everything—from traditional cultural experiences to modern attractions.

The tours were fantastic and gave us a well-rounded experience of Japan. Highlights included a tea ceremony, a food tour, and exploring different regions and aspects of Japanese culture. We also appreciated having free time built into the itinerary, along with Marii's excellent recommendations for places to visit, restaurants to try, and activities to enjoy on our own.

I would also like to recognize the wonderful guides we had throughout our trip. Every guide was knowledgeable, engaging, and welcoming. They made us feel comfortable from the start and helped create memorable experiences in each destination.

One of the highlights of our trip was our tour of Hakone and Mt. Fuji with Masashige. He took us to several beautiful viewpoints to see Mt. Fuji and shared fascinating information along the way. Seeing Mt. Fuji from these locations was truly unforgettable and one of the biggest highlights of our trip.

We were also pleasantly surprised by Kanazawa and Hiroshima. These destinations offered a different pace and were less crowded, allowing us to experience another side of Japan. Yoshiko, our guide in Kanazawa, and Lisa, our guide in Hiroshima, made these tours especially meaningful through their knowledge, storytelling, and passion for the local history and culture.

Another guide who left a lasting impression was Moeka during our Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and Garden Tour. She had such wonderful energy and thoughtfully took us to quieter locations before visiting the bamboo forest. One of the most memorable parts of the tour was learning traditional calligraphy. She wrote our names in Katakana and guided us as we practiced writing them ourselves. It was a relaxing, unique, and unforgettable experience.

Hakone also deserves a special mention. The scenery was absolutely beautiful, and being surrounded by mountains and nature was the perfect way to slow down, disconnect, and appreciate Japan's natural beauty. It quickly became one of our favorite places on the trip.

All hotel, transportation, and activity information was easy to access. We experienced a couple of minor issues with Shinkansen tickets and a chopstick-making reservation, but Marii and her team responded immediately and resolved everything quickly. Their communication throughout the trip was excellent, including helpful reminders and detailed instructions before each tour, which made navigating Japan much easier.

Everyone we worked with was kind, knowledgeable, and professional. It was clear that a lot of care and attention went into planning our trip. Thanks to Marii and her team, our trip was smooth, well-organized, and truly unforgettable. We enjoyed every minute of it and highly recommend Marii and her team to anyone planning a trip to Japan.

We had a very flexible itinerary with one pre-arranged event and it worked out really well for us as we could adjust as we needed to to fit our schedule and energy level (after having just come off an organized tour). Rita did a great job putting it all together. We didn't get to stay in one hotel location but the team was proactive in quickly getting us another accommodation before our arrival. We were especially appreciative of having contacts while we traveled to address things or answer questions if needed. We were also very appreciative of parking suggestions and mapped locations for the towns we visited.

Activity Review

Puglia’s Liquid Gold: Olive Oil Experience and Lunch at a Historic Masseria

Italy

Beautiful location and knowledgeable employee who gave us some good understanding of the olive trees. The olive oil tasting and lunch were very nice.

Adam was fantastic to work with in developing our itinerary, and Adam was in contact throughout the trip to ensure we were supported. The trip was spectacularly memorable. Such a great balance of planned and free time that we were hoping for. This is the second time we’ve used kimkim, and we will use them again!

Hotel Reviews

Las Casas de la Judería

Seville

The hotel was in a great location.

Authenticity & Character

A bit awkward to get around. The piano bar player didn’t seem to play that much. The pool was handy on a very hot day.

Location

Great location for walking to the heart of Sevilla.

Staff

The staff were very attentive.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms were graciously sized.

Hotel Alhambra Palace

Granada

The grand dame hotel of Granada!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Perfect to walk the park and to get to Alhambra.

Staff

Super friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

CoolRooms Palacio de Atocha

Madrid

Loved this hotel! I wish we were staying longer.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful room and rear courtyard with dining.

Location

Easy to watch places.

Staff

Super friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Excellent cleanliness

Activity Reviews

Private La Alpujarra Villages Day Trip

Granada

Fascinating history of this region! Loved this day trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Alhambra & Generalife Gardens with a Historian

Granada

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Cádiz & Jerez Day Trip with Sherry Tasting

Seville

This was an awesome tour of Bodega Lustau! So delicious and informative.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Visit to Seville's Cathedral & Alcázar

Seville

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Flamenco, City & Tapas Experience

Seville

Great history of Flamenco and an awesome show.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Historic Landmarks Walk

Seville

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

From the beginning of our planning stages, Krista was amazing. We had a broad idea of what we wanted to do and where we wanted to go, which of course was probably a bit grand for our available time, and budget. Krista was great in helping us to navigate what we could reasonably get in and do in the time alloted. During our trip, we ran into a few issues that needed to be addressed, and the customer service team took care of all of them! I would not hesitate to recommend Krista and NORD/KimKim for anyone wanting to visit Scandinavia!

Long curated an incredible itinerary to Vietnam and Thailand for our family of 5. Every schedule pick up was on time, guides were great and all bookings were smooth and problem free. We will recommend Long at Realistic Asia to any friends traveling to Asia in the future. Thank you for everything!!

Activity Reviews

Half Day tour to Elephant Jungle Sanctuary

Phuket

Incredible!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ba Vi Eco Tour - Visit the Countryside of Hanoi

Hanoi

Our countryside visit was extremely intimate and memorable. Both hosts were so kind and gracious. Our guide Dung was fantastic.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My KimKim team in Spain — Alfonso & Uhaina — could not have been better. Immediately responsive to any and every question or need that I had. I was ill in Sevilla for several days. They coordinated with my hotel staff to ensure I had all the care and attention I needed. Being sick in a foreign land is uncomfortable to say the least. The help and reassurance they provided was invaluable. When my plans changed because of the illness, they rearranged everything with professionalism and kindness. I cannot recommend KimKim more highly. I will use KimKim for every trip f rom now on.

Katie was very easy to work with and extremely knowledgeable about the areas we were visiting. We had a fantastic time and the guides we interacted with both did a very good job. Aspan, our driver, was very knowledgeable about the area and took us on a beautiful scenic drive along the edges of the fjords and to many scenic waterfalls and other spots. We also really enjoyed our day with Elin, she is a sweetheart and made sure that we were all having a great time and she was full of fun stories and knowledge as well. The only “glitch“ was on the morning that it was pouring rain and we decided to not go on the guided E bike tour. As Katie was on her maternity leave we were working with Tom and that communication wasn’t as fluid. I assumed we would be refunded the money we paid for the tour but Tom said we had to cancel within 72 hours but I do not believe that any bike tours took place that morning due to the heavy rain so it was probably cancelled by the company anyways. We asked for a couple of other options to do that morning and one of the options he gave us was closed and the other one was an outdoor museum. But we figured out a fun activity for that morning, regardless. At the last minute, I wanted to have the experience to ride a Norwegian fjord horse and asked the kimkim team if they could arrange for that at a farm, Øvre-Eide Gård. I was told by kimkim they had nothing available, but when I emailed them they were able to accommodate us, and it was one of the highlights of our trip! Overall, we had a phenomenal time in Norway and are looking forward to hopefully being able to go back in the future. This was a bucket list trip for me and it fulfilled my heart, as well as my soul to visit the land of my ancestors!

Hotel Reviews

Thon Hotel Opera

Oslo

A beautiful hotel with wonderful staff. The balcony overlooking the harbor was great and the breakfast buffet was amazing. Just like the other two hotels, the lack of air-conditioning was a bit of a problem for us. We would highly suggest that the hotels install ceiling fans or fans for those of us who like to sleep in cooler rooms. We had to sleep with all the windows open, and it was a bit noisy since it was right in the hub of the downtown activities. But the location was great with lots of walking activities nearby, and easy access to public transportation.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Vangsgaarden Gjestgiveri

Aurland

The view of the fjord from our room was spectacular. We were not expecting the dock to be right in front of our room, though, and sometimes made it a little awkward when people were out on the dock looking into our room. The room was absolutely beautifully appointed, but the only thing it was lacking was a place to put our luggage. Due to lack of air-conditioning the room did get a bit warm so I would suggest a fan or a ceiling fan.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grand Hotel Terminus

Bergen

The room was very comfortable and spacious. Although it got very hot due to lack of air-conditioning. The bathroom did not have an electrical plug so that made getting ready in the morning a bit tricky. Even though it was right next to the train station the noise was not really a problem. We ate dinner in the restaurant on the first night and we’re not overly impressed, but it’s a fantastic location, and they have an amazing breakfast buffet.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Waterfall Hike & Stegastein Viewpoint

Norway

Our guide, Elin, is who made the day as amazing as it was. The drive up to the viewpoint was windy and twisty but once we got there, it was amazing. And I am very glad that we got there first thing in the morning as it got very crowded and when we arrived, we were the only ones there. The waterfall hike was fine, it really wasn’t a hike that we needed a “guide“ for, but what made it so fun was Elin’s enthusiasm and fun stories.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fjordcruise on UNESCO Nærøyfjord

Norway

Another amazing day out on the fjords. Again, spectacular views, and this time it was not pouring rain so we were able to enjoy without getting soaking wet, although it was a bit chilly.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mostraumen Fjord Cruise from Bergen

Bergen

This was amazing! Even though it was raining and very cold, it was well worth it. One of the highlights of our trip!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Oh

Transport

Guided Bike Tour: See the City Like a Local

Bergen

We did not go on this activity as it was pouring rain that morning. We contacted Tom and he said that we could not be refunded our money for the tour as we did not cancel 72 hours in advance. I highly doubt the company even had the bike tours that morning, as it was raining so hard. But we were never offered a refund.

Our trip to Kenya and Uganda checked all of the boxes. Stephan was good to work with and did a nice job of customizing the trip for a great wildlife and cultural experience. Our drivers, Stephan and guide Dannie in Uganda and John in Kenya were the best parts. They went out of their ways to make our trip great. To be clear, the trip was an adventure. One suggestion that challenged us is that we should have been alerted to the East Africa Visa that covers both countries. Applying for both visas created some significant challenges that I must comment Stephan and Dannie for working out for us in record time. Shake downs by police of our drivers was common, but handled without any incidents on our part, all part of the adventure. Overall, the accommodations exceeded my expectations and food was great. I went two weeks with no heartburn and zero issues for all four of us. Water was always available. While we did not see the migration, we were able to check off nearly every animal in the area with a few extras that were not normal, like the African Wild Cat, not even in the books! The Gorillas in Bwindi were amazing. When we first saw them, I nearly cried with excitement, a feeling I have not had since my kids were born.

Although all of the guides and drivers were good, the driver for Nafplio to Athens and Athens to Delphi stood out. She arranged a luncheon at a gorgeous restaurant overlooking the valley in Delphi. The guide who really stood out was the one who led the mythology and Acropolis walking tour. The strong accents of some of the guides caused issues in understanding, but we all professional and well informed. We appreciate the way Kimkim worked with us to create the kind of trip we wanted for our 12-year-old grandson.

Hotel Reviews

Amalia Hotel Athens

Athens

Great location. Very good breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Adiandi and Amymone Hotel

Nafplio

Great location and friendly people, but pretty basic accommodations and a couple of floors of steep steps.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Activity Reviews

Private Delphi Day Trip

Athens

The site is amazing and our driver really went out of her way to help make the trip a memorable experience. The restaurant she set up for a late lunch was the best view of the trip and one of the best quality meals.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunset Cape Sounio & Temple of Poseidon Experience

Athens

Not worth the trouble. We stopped in a beach town for 90 minutes which seemed to be included only so the company could have a tour with more than the temple. There was almost no information about Poseidon's Temple. And to cap it off there was basically no sunset. I would forget the sunset and go to the temple with a real guide during the day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ancient Athens Acropolis & Mythology Walk

Athens

Fantastic and highly knowledgeable guide! One of the two outstanding highlights of the trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private transfer from {{start_location}} to {{end_location}} with stop in Corinth

Greece

Helpful driver who also gave us a view of the Corinthian canal from the lower bridge.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Drove conservatively and safely. Always on time.

Private Exploration of Mystras & the Olive Oil Museum in Sparta

Nafplio

Amazing addition to the trip even if it stems from Byzantine times and not from ancient Greece. To see a town that continued to be inhabited into the 1950s was a special experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Mycenae & Epidaurus Day Trip

Nafplio

Certainly a highlight of the whole trip. Nobody should miss this in Greece. Very good guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Old Town Walk & Palamidi Fortress Visit

Nafplio

Only time where the guide had directions to go to a different hotel than where we were staying.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Robi planned a wonderful itinerary for us, advising on how to cover everything we wanted in the most logical way without over-extending ourselves.
He also messaged us every day throughout our trip to see how we were doing and share updates & recommendations for the next day, which we appreciated.

Highlights included:
- Plitviča Lakes - our guide Mario was great, he & Robi planned it perfectly to avoid the busiest and hottest times, and break up the drive with charming stops including Rastoke.
- Hvar - beautiful newly renovated hotel, walking distance to the best restaurants, shopping and of course beach/water access, but away from the main noisy street.

Our only minor notes, if we were going to do it again:
- Accommodations - all were great overall and in their lobby / common amenity spaces. Some of the rooms (Skradin, Split, Korčula) would have been nicer if they didn’t have carpet. Not really in Robin’s control.
- Korčula - could have been a day trip, though it was relaxing to spend a full night there as Robi advised instead. It might also have been a different experience if it wasn’t a public holiday with many shops & businesses closed on our day there.

Robi clearly has many years of experience and respected relationships with his local contacts & vendors. Everywhere we went, we received great service and experience. If you want a well-coordinated trip with local expertise and excellent communication throughout, look no further than Robi! 10/10 would trust him again for planning another trip to Croatia (or Slovenia next) in the future.

Sienna and staff were extremely helpful. When there was a situation it was taken care of
The team went up an above solving situations
Would definitely use Kim Kim for future trips

Hotel Reviews

Sofitel Athens Airport

Athens

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Monastery Estate Venetian Harbor

Chania

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

DOM Boutique Hotel

Heraklion

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Liana Beach Hotel & Spa

Naxos

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ducato di Oia Boutique Hotel

Santorini

The room was like a cave. Access to room and hotel was extremely difficult. Staff was helpful There was no central location for breakfast

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Villages Exploration with Independent Akrotiri Visit

Santorini

George our driver and guide was exceptioal

E-Bike Experience with Olive Mill & Farm Visit with Lunch

Naxos

I was unable to control the e bike. Our guide took us instead on same tour using her own car. This was above what she had to do

Knossos Palace Experience

Greece

Out guide was very interesting and informative

Private Guided Walk Through Old Town Chania

Chania

Goldy was informative and interesting. Great guide

Private Acropolis Discovery Walk

Athens

Our guide was informative. She was easy to understand and explained everything in detail

My friend and I recently used Kimkim to plan our trip to Italy, and we could not be happier with the experience. From start to finish, the process was seamless, personalized, and completely stress-free. What we loved most about Kimkim was how easy it made the planning process. The platform connected us with a local expert who actually knows the region, which is a massive upgrade from trying to piece together an itinerary through random blogs and booking sites. Every single ticket was booked for us ahead of time, making the logistics completely effortless on our end.

A huge, special shoutout goes to Leslie, our local specialist! Leslie was absolute pleasure to work with. Leslie took the time to understand what my friend and I were looking for—balancing our budget, pacing, and must-see sights. One of the best parts of the experience was the dedicated WhatsApp group chat they set up for us. It was incredibly helpful for getting prompt, quick responses to our questions from pre-trip planning all the way through the trip itself. Every evening, we received a daily reminder in the chat detailing the plan and schedule for the next day, which kept us organized and totally relaxed.

If you are looking to take a trip either alone or with family/friends, but don't want the headache of spending dozens of hours planning it, use Kimkim and ask for Leslie. Knowing we had a direct line of communication and that all of our logistics were handled gave us ultimate peace of mind. We will absolutely be using this service for our next adventure!

Hotel Reviews

Boutique Hotel Galatea

Rome

Convenient location to easily walk to the famous sights. Great for a short stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Florida

Sorrento

Great view from the balcony! Quiet and cosy surrounding.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Modigliani

Roma

Short walk from the train station, super convenient. Just be prepared for an uphill climb with luggage!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Olimpia

Venice

Short walk from the train station, good breakfast options and helpful staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

7Florence B&B

Florence

Great location, convenient and good options for when you are likely to spend most of your time walking around the city. Clean and comfortable place to get a good night's rest!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Just opposite the train station

Staff

Very friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Storywalking Experience: Full Day Tour of Positano, Amalfi and Ravello with Limoncello Tour & Tasting

Italy

Such a fun experience driving through Amalfi, making limoncello and being entertained by the guide. He definitely scaled up the experience a lot.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Transfer from Naples to Amalfi Coast with Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius en route - Self Guided

Italy

Super convenient to be driven around and shown all the sights. Guide was great and very friendly.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Highlights of the Vatican & Sistine Chapel Tour

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Colosseum & Ancient Rome Tour with Roman Forum

Rome

Guide was so so good at explaining everything slowly and allowing us to really experience the whole tour!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Pantheon Guided Tour

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Venice to Dolomites and Cortina Day Trip

Venice

Despite the weather, the guide made the trip really fun and memorable for us.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Venice Shared Walking Tour with St. Marks Basilica & Doge's Palace

Italy

Wonderful guide who was so patient and knew so much about the history and sights and was willing to share with us. She even gave us tips on what dishes we must have and where to find it!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Train Tickets Florence > Pisa and viceversa

Italy

Great to have all the bookings made for us

Quality of Experience

Pisa Leaning Tower Tickets & Square of Miracles Monuments - Only Tickets

Italy

Hand-made Pasta & Typical Dessert Cooking Class*

Florence

Loved the experience. Great for beginners. The chefs took their time to show us how its done and made the class really fun!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This was my first time using Kimkim and I highly recommend it. Accommodations were nice, the one in Balestrand was exceptional, with a gorgeous view.
I love the way Alex and Maria were so accessible and knowledgeable.
I would absolutely recommend!

I cannot adequately put into words how fantastic our 12 Day Moroccan trip was for my daughter, 23, and me, from the planning stage with Maryem to being dropped off at the Casablanca airport by Ziad at the end. We ventured to Rabat, Tangier, Chefchouen, Fez, Merzouga, Ait Ouffi, Marrakech, and Casablanca, and even with all of that, it was not enough; I need to go back and explore even more of this wonderful country.
It all started when I stumbled across the Kim Kim site while attempting to plan the trip on my own. My daughter created a profile, and the next thing I knew, Maryem was assigned as our travel planner. She put together an outstanding package for us, capturing everything we wanted and making the process so much fun! She encouraged feedback and changes and gave advice when solicited. We changed a couple of the riads to ones we found, and I regret not using the one she originally selected for us in Marrakech.
Maryem built an incredible journey for us through Morocco, allowing us to experience the diversity of the country; my daughter and I felt the love she poured into designing our adventure. After everything was planned, she provided tips to help us, and then we kept in contact with her throughout the trip. She is a sweet and amazing lady who stole a piece of our hearts.
Ziad, our driver & travel manager! Oh my goodness, he made this trip spectacular for us, and we will forever be grateful to have him assigned to take us on this grand adventure. He was so much more than a driver for us; he was our protector, translator, storyteller, and ultimately, our friend. Ziad was a true professional as he navigated the roads, arranged meetups with our tour guides in various cities, made suggestions for stops along the way based on our conversations, and helped us get situated at our riads. We absolutely adore Ziad!
We stayed in 6 riads, 1 hotel, and a luxury camp. Our #1 rated lodging was Dar Rihana Dades in Ait Ouffi in Dades Gorge. It was the perfect setting with an amazing view, a beautiful and spacious room and bathroom, a comfortable bed, delicious dinner and breakfast, and a very welcoming and personable host. Our next favorite riad was the stunning Riad Nila in Chefchouen, and our 3rd was Riad Kalaa in Rabat, with a beautiful courtyard and delicious food.
The Tiziri Luxury Camp in the Sahara Desert was a wonderful experience with a camel ride, stopping to watch the sunset, dinner, and traditional music afterwards.
We had two amazing and passionate tour guides during our journey: Othman in Rabat, who has never met a stranger, and then Mountain (Mohamed), our hiking guide in Dades Valley, who welcomed us into his home for a meal with his family.

Hotel Reviews

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

What a fun experience to camp out in the Sahara Desert! We were offered the choice of riding on a camel out to the camp or riding in a vehicle. We chose the camel, and it took about two hours, with a stop to watch the sunset. We arrived and had a delicious dinner, followed by traditional music afterwards around a fire. The tent was very spacious, and the bathroom was much more than what I expected for tent life. The staff was fantastic! We met with them down at the bottom before our ride up to the camp, and then they fed and entertained us into the night.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casablanca Marriott Hotel

Casablanca

This is a beautiful new hotel with very comfy bedding. The staff were very friendly, and we enjoyed our stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palais Zahia

Old Medina, Tangier

This riad was in the middle of the medina, a perfect location for exploring the town. It had lots of character and charm.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ryad Salama

Fes

What a beautiful riad in Fez! The hosts were very welcoming, and the courtyard was gorgeous with lush vegetation, a fountain, and a pool. The room was huge with beautiful stained glass windows.

Authenticity & Character

We loved the stained glass windows in our room and bathroom, and it was the most beautiful courtyard of all the ones we stayed in over 12 days there. The bathroom had an incredible sunken tub & shower.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

This riad was so very clean and lovely and served amazing food. My only complaint is that these were the hardest beds during our trip. I probably could have asked for a mattress topper, but I didn't even think about it at the time. I found an extra blanket in the closet and used that as a mattress pad for two nights.

Riad Kalaa

Rabat

This was our first experience staying in a riad, and we loved it. The staff were very friendly and gave us our first mint tea and cookies in Morocco, which I came to love. The room we stayed in was beautiful, as was the courtyard and patio on the roof. The food was exceptional at dinner and lovely at breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Nila

Chefchaouen

This riad was simply stunning with its elegance, neutral color patterns, and numerous nooks and crannies to explore, including multiple patio levels overlooking the gorgeous town; I would recommend it to anyone staying in Chefchouen.

Authenticity & Character

The design of the hotel is spectacular and simply beautiful.

Location

Very easy to get to and the views from the room and the patio were wonderful.

Staff

Everyone we encountered was very nice.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dar Rihana Dades

Douar Aït Ouffi

Of the 8 places we stayed in during our 12-day adventure, this was our favorite one. It is located in the perfect setting with an amazing view, and it was so calm and peaceful; I could have stayed there for much longer and was sad to leave the area. The room was beautifully appointed, serene and spacious, had very comfortable beds and a large and lovely bathroom. Dar Rihana Dades provided delicious breakfasts and dinners in a lovely dining room, with quantities of food that made you groan, but you kept eating because it was so good. And as wonderful as all of this was, it was made even better by the very welcoming and personable host, who also served our meals and entertained all the guests with his charm and wit.

Authenticity & Character

The colors throughout the riad are simple and elegant, and the walls are adorned with captivating portraits. The rooms and bathrooms are beautifully designed, the patio areas have lovely wrought iron railings and spiral stairs. The pool is a stunning blue, very clean and the lounge area around it is large and well laid out.

Location

The riad is located in the lush, green Dades Valley, surrounded by terracotta colored hills. The view here was by far the best one we had. I fell in love with the serenity of the area, and we went hiking with a guide while there.

Staff

Everyone at Dar Rihana Dades was very welcoming and happy, but none more so than Mohamed. He greeted us with a huge smile when we arrived, brought our luggage to our rooms, and served us breakfast and dinner; I'm not sure when he sleeps! As he moved around the dining room, he easily conversed with all of the guests, making everyone comfortable with his wit and charm, making us smile and laugh. I had gotten hurt before arriving at the riad, and during dinner I asked if we could move to a table near the window because I was starting to feel light-headed. He quickly moved us and opened the windows on both sides of the room for a cross breeze. He checked on me repeatedly to ensure I was okay, and at the end of the meal he brought me ice for my swollen lip. In addition, each day he would check in with the guests to see if we slept well and if there was anything we needed. While the quality of the Dar was outstanding, Mohamed's attention to the guests made it an even better experience. Oh, and whenever we were out on the main patio, he would bring us refreshing ginger and orange juice drinks.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Not only was the riad very clean and beautifully decorated, it smelled so good in the lobby/lounge area; I commented on it to my daughter each time we passed through it. As for the beds, of the 8 places we stayed in while venturing around Morocco, these were the most cozy and comfortable. It turns out Moroccans like their beds more firm than I'm used to, so it was very pleasant to fall deeply asleep in a nice cozy and comfortable bed.

Activity Reviews

Tangier to Chefchaouen: Hercules Caves, Tetouan & the Rif Mountains

Morocco

It was a beautiful drive from Tangier to Chefchouen! We made numerous stops along the way with our phenomenal driver/travel manager, Ziad. We had fun at the Hercules Caves, getting dressed up in traditional clothing.

Guided Tour of Tangier

Tangier

We liked our guide, Kalid, a.k.a. Columbo. He was very nice, but I would have liked to explore more of Tangier and not just the medina. He was very sweet and did take us to a nice restaurant to grab a bite to eat because we were so hungry; maybe this took away from our tour time and from exploring more with him.

Rabat to Tangier with Guided Tour in Both Cities

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ziad, our driver & travel manager! Oh my goodness, he made this trip spectacular for us, and we will forever be grateful to have him assigned to take us on this grand adventure. He was so much more than a driver for us; he was our protector, translator, storyteller, and ultimately, our friend. Ziad was a true professional as he navigated the roads, arranged meetups with our tour guides in various cities, made suggestions for stops along the way based on our conversations, and helped us get situated at our riads. We absolutely adore Ziad!

Transport

Half-Day Private Sightseeing Tour in Rabat

Rabat

Osman (Othman) was our tour guide, and we loved him! He was so personable and knowledgeable about the history of Rabat. He smiled, laughed, knew everyone throughout the city, and shared his passion for his town with us. I highly recommend him to anyone visiting Rabat.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our personal driver and travel manager, Ziad, made the trip throughout Morocco amazing.

All the guides and drivers in Japan and South Korea were amazing. We saw many incredible sights that we would never been able to negotiate without professional guides and drivers.
All of the guides were very knowledgeable on all the historical and religious sites. All were fluent in English as well as many other languages.
They were able to add local perspectives which was very informative.

Activity Reviews

The Alluring Nami Island (Private)

Seoul

Such a beautiful peaceful place. The ferry was fun and fast. Our guide was very knowledgeable and treated to a wonderful Korean donut . Great day

Full Day Kamakura with English Speaking Guide and Vehicle (Private)

Tokyo

Amazing!

Seoul Adventures: DMZ Tour, Korean Cuisine, And More of the City (Private)

Seoul

The DMZ was fascinating. Well worth touring, excellent guide, super knowledgeable

Best of Shibuya Food Tour

Tokyo

Our tour guide was amazing. All of the food delicious and the restaurants super authentic.

Leny was phenomenal. I’m so gappy we trusted her to plan our honeymoon. This was the best trip my wife and I have ever taken.

Every single person that worked at our resort, Aquas Claras, was wonderful. We loved Dani & Jose at the front desk. The people at the restaurants & bars were awesome too. (Jazmin, Ariet, Jefferson, Fray, Leandro) Our resort offered yoga & massages. It was all so amazing! The house where we stayed was private & beautiful!

We recently returned from an amazing trip to Greece planned through Kimkim, and I can't recommend them highly enough.

First, the app was fantastic. I'll admit, I was hesitant about downloading "yet another app," but it ended up being one of the most valuable parts of the trip. Everything was incredibly well organized and easy to navigate. Having the itinerary broken down day by day took all the stress out of travel. There was no constant checking, verifying, or figuring out logistics. Each evening, I could simply open the app and immediately see what the next day held—activities, times, transportation details, and recommendations. It made traveling feel effortless.

The hotels selected for us were excellent throughout the trip. Our favorite hotel was in Naxos, which offered a wonderful combination of comfort, location, and hospitality. As for the islands themselves, Milos was our favorite destination. Its stunning scenery, unique beaches, and laid-back atmosphere made it unforgettable.

One thing that really stood out was how often fellow travelers asked about our itinerary and how organized everything seemed. I ended up telling several people about Kimkim and even showed them the app. Every one of them said they would definitely check it out for future travel planning.

Overall, Kimkim made our Greece trip smooth, stress-free, and memorable. I would absolutely use them again and 100% recommend them to anyone planning a trip.

Hotel Reviews

Melagrana

Milos

Very nice hotel with a small kitchen in the room. Our room had a HUGE covered porch with outdoor furniture. Very private space, quiet. The decor is simple and modern, all very clean lines.

Authenticity & Character

The decor was clean and simple. Very comfortable, with everything we needed.

Location

We could walk to the port and all of the stores in 3 minutes, but it was quiet and peaceful.

Staff

Friendly and accommodating. We chatted with the front desk folks and had a nice conversation with them.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Extremely clean, even our private outdoor space was swept each day. The room was very comfortable.

Apollon Boutique Hotel

Paroikia

The hotel is very nice. The lobby is a bit tired, but I think having everything white makes keeping it looking 100% nearly impossible. While the staff were all nice, the vibe was kind of "trying to be more cosmopolitan that we really are". While there were common areas for guests the gather, there were signs like "no eating or drinking here", which kind of makes you not want to hang out and talk to people!

Authenticity & Character

The hotel has kind of a "stuffy" or unwelcoming vibe. The lobby area is pretty, but a little tired. The breakfast area and seating is also very nice, but the overall feeling is "don't hang out here".

Location

The location is good, a little noisy as it's on a busy side road - we had a balcony on the street side, and I'm betting that the Garden side is much quieter. The garden is lovely - quiet, peaceful, clean, with tables and seating. There are nice beaches and many restaurants all very close by, as well as grocery stores, and it's a 10 minute walk to the port/ferry/bus area.

Staff

Hard to explain. The staff is nice, but not engaging. They answer questions but don't offer up anything additional.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The cleaning crew is present all the time, and they keep the place top notch.

Hotel Grotta

Naxos

FANTASTIC from the moment we stepped in the door. Super friendly, like visiting friends. The entire staff went out of the their way to provide excellent service and whatever level of interaction you preferred was matched. The breakfast is SO much food - all prepared fresh each day. Baked goods, sweets, savory, cereals...literally SO much to choose from. The porch on our room overlooked the natural field next door and the sea below - stunning, peaceful, safe - perfect. The hot tub and heated pool that we could reserve for private use was fantastic after our long days of sight-seeing, walking, hiking and exploring.

Authenticity & Character

The architecture is perfect, what you think of when you think "Greek island". The interior spaces are gorgeous - everything is so well-thought out and in theme. They did an amazing job with the decor.

Location

Gorgeous views very close walk to town and so quiet.

Staff

Every single person we interacted with was friendly, happy, helpful and kind.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean doesn't even begin to tell the story - immaculate is a better description. Every surface is washed every day. Literally. Floors, porches, chairs, tables, windows - this hotel is amazing.

NLH Monastiraki

Athens

Nice hotel. Excellent location for "seeing the sights", but because of that, it's in a crowded, bustling area. Our room was also right next to the elevator, which didn't help with noise. Spacious room, comfy bed, a nice little balcony - overall, a good experience. The breakfast buffet was extensive and fresh each day. And they staff were all helpful and pleasant. Noise is the reason for the 4 and not a 5.

Authenticity & Character

Very comfortable. More modern than "authentic" in design.

Location

Only a few blocks to the "main attractions" of Athens and very walkable to many neighborhoods and ruins.

Staff

helpful, friendly, nice to chat with.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean, just a little "worn around the edges", ie - frayed towels and curtains.

Activity Reviews

Sailing into the Sunset: Kleftiko Catamaran Adventure

Milos

We didn't do this - due to weather (wind) they requested that we switch to a morning activity rather than sunset. We declined as we had already made other plans. We really wanted to do this one, too!

Sunset Horseback Ride

Paros

We did not do this activity - the company apparently forgot to contact us that it was cancelled. We waited in the lobby for 30 minutes, then reached out to Kimkim. It was resolved quickly and easily.

Acropolis Beat-the-Crowds Discovery Walk

Athens

Our guide was above and beyond - he knew everything, was engaging, gave us so much information!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Self-Guided Museum Visits in Athens

Athens

We skipped the museums and wandered outdoors more so we could experience more of the quaint. twisting streets, cats, antiquities and people-watching.

Quality of Experience

Self-Guided Neighborhoods Walk

Athens

Clear instructions and we got to see a lot. We were a bit wiped out from traveling all night, but we really enjoyed the areas we saw.

Quality of Experience

Naxos Sea Cave Kayaking Adventure with Transfers

Naxos

This was cancelled due to the change to a pickup time 2 hours earlier than we were informed. This would have meant no breakfast or coffee, and a very long drive each way. Not what we had anticipated.