Kimkim Trip Reviews

When I started planning my husband and I ‘s trip to South America, I was looking at various destinations and was getting very overwhelmed. As a result,I decided to use a travel company and randomly found KimKim. I was connected to Paul. From the first conversation with Paul, he made me feel like he was there to plan a dream trip with my ideas, his input and he really worked to get to know what my husband and I wanted to do in Ecuador. Paul and I exchanged emails and even spoke on the phone planning the trip to Quito and the Galápagos Islands for about 4 weeks. From the day before we left for our trip, Paul was in daily contact with us and even when we flew home. Paul came personally to our hotel when American Airlines left our luggage in the USA and we worked with his contacts and American Airlines to get the luggage to our hotel quickly. Paul’s actions demonstrate first class service. The printout of our itinerary was very detailed with locations of places we would visit, hotels and the phone number of his team that would be part our trip. Using Paul as our travel planner was THE best money ever spent, because his involvement in our vacation journey made it the best trip for us and we have been to Asia, Africa and Europe. We are from the USA. Along with Paul, our guide in Quito was Cristobal. Cristobal is a very educated, kind person who took the extra time to teach us about the beauty of Ecuador and share his love for his country with us. We even feel like he is more than our guide but now we can call him our friend.. Some of experiences with Cristóbal involved learning about wildlife, flowers, plants and visiting the countryside and old town of Quito. Cristóbal went the extra mile by taking us to unique places like a small ice cream business where ice cream is made fresh with fruit as we were watching and taking us to the MegaMax to buy a suitcase. Cristóbal deserves the credit in making our trip in Quito so special and unique. The Galapagos Islands were beautiful and we loved the sea lions, other wildlife and our boutique hotels, but the trip would have been better if we had Cristóbal with us. Paul, and Cristóbal are definitely amazing gentlemen who care 💯 about giving first class service and we highly recommend them to other.

Jenny couldn't have been easier to work with and the accommodations were grwat, just what we asked for a little off the path.

I would definitely recommend using Kimkim to plan a vacation. Everyone who interacted with us was helpful and were able to plan activities that would not have been accessible to us otherwise, such as private horseback riding and fishing excursions. Matij and Beni were our points of contact for while we were in the country and were crucially in their assistance!

Robi was our local travel planner. He is amazing - kept us informed every day. He would let us know what time and where our guide/driver would meet us. The itinerary delivered. I was very thankful for all the little details - for example the electric golf cart to take us from the ferry port to our hotel in Korcula. His recommendations for places to eat - were spot on. He sent pins on maps for places to visit and also where to meet the guide/driver. He even sent us photos and pins for the ferry port so that we would not miss the catamaran.. Such attention to detail. Also there were a couple of occasions where we deviated from the original planned itinerary but Robi was gracious and took care of everything!

We had two separate pick-ups and drop-off for airport. He coordinated that well - informed us where we would be picked up. We were worried for our daughters are their pick up time was very very early. But he told us the make, model, license plate number, name of driver and driver's phone number. He understood our concern! Thank you!

Mario - our driver/guide for the first half of our trip was very good. He guided us and shared interesting facts. On the hike around Plitivice Lakes he was patient and guided us to better photo spots.
For Krka National Park we changed our minds about exploring the upper part of the park, the Robi worked with the guide in coordinating our last minute desire to go the monastery! It was smoothly handled.
I forget the name of the driver who took us from Krka to Split. Since we had time he offered to take us on a detour to see Trigor! What a delight!

So a big THANK YOU to Robi for putting together a memorable trip - all the hotels, drivers, guides and places we visited were just amazing.

This was my first time using KimKim. I've visited about 50% of countries in the world so I've used hundreds of travel agencies. KimKim is the perfect way to organize a trip. I knew exactly which cities I wanted to visit in France and worked with Sophie who was based in Lyon. She organized hotels, car transportation, trains and tours that she recommended. We worked together providing each other feedback until we came up with a final plan. I was a solo traveler for this trip, so knowing I could rely on Sophie for advice was very reassuring. Sophie stayed on top of any changes that were outside of our control and was quick to problem-solve when any snags were encountered. KimKim had a very user friendly app that made everything so clear and accessible. I would highly recommend KimKim and Sophie for your next travel plan.

We had the best honeymoon thanks to Cannon, we would definitely recommend Kim Kim!

Hotel Reviews

Odakyu Hotel Century Southern Tower

Hakone Hotel Kajikaso

Hakone

SAKURA TERRACE THE GALLERY

Kyoto

Hotel Hankyu RESPIRE OSAKA

Osaka

Hotel Granvia Hiroshima South Gate

Hiroshima

Activity Reviews

Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

Feed Deer At Nara Park

Japan

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

1-Day Hiroshima & Miyajima Tour

Hiroshima

Our guide Miki was absolutely exceptional! We had the best day ever.

The trip was fantastic and captured everything we wanted to experience within the 10 days. Our guides were fantastic, but our most favorite guide was Christos for day trip to Delos who made the visit fun and engaging, even for the kids. The hotels were all perfect as well. The Foundry was in a great location, close to the Acropolis and nearby to some superb restaurants. However, we really enjoyed staying at the Mojo Suites on Naxos - it was roomy for the four of us and the breakfast was outstanding. We even enjoyed afternoon drinks in the courtyard on our last day and chatted with the owner. We would definitely go back to Naxos!

Hotel Reviews

Majo Suites Hotel

Naxos

Fabulous accommodations, authentic homemade breakfast in the mornings. Our suite was perfect for the four of us and the location and access to beach and restaurants was perfect.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very welcoming and accommodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Anemomylos Residence Paros

Naousa

Great location - able to walk downtown. Pool was very pleasant and the courtyard was quiet.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Foundry Suites

Athens

Great location

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Afternoon Old Town Walk with Portara Sunset

Naxos

Our guide was personable and knowledgeable. We were so glad that we took the time to acquaint ourselves with Naxos and its history when we arrived.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Full-day Sailing to Blue Lagoon

Paros

This was by far our best experience of our trip! The four of us were spoiled for the entire cruis - the food was abundant and excellent; the service was beyond expectation. We had so much fun swimming, cliff diving and relaxing. I highly recommend Glaraki.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Delos & Mykonos Day Trip with Expert Guide

Greece

Delos was amazing! However, I would have skipped the excursion to Mykonos afterwards as there were three large cruise ships docked in the port and the town was swarming.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Christos, our guide for Delos was great!

Transport

Where to start: the guides, Gareth in Edinburgh, William and Dr Murray in Stirling, and Nathan in Glencoe were all amazing. They were quite knowledgeable in their fields , full of funny and interesting stories and set their pace so Grandma could keep up,

Favorite large city Stirling was the best. We were lucky enough to be touring on Armed Forces Day. Not only did we have Stirling Castle and Wallace Monument but the joy of the marching soldiers, bagpipes and dancers. It was wonderful. We also had a great meal at the Allen Park. Almost forgot, we also had a fun evening at a pub with many sailors who were heading out to sea the next day.

Accommodations; loved them all but one. Inverness hotel was not our favorite. No parking except a couple of blocks away. Our family room was not in the main building. We had to walk upstairs into the building then downstairs to our basement room. Not the best situation. We really liked the No 17 Promenade in Plockton. Nice rooms, great meal, pretty town to walk about.

Best Day: Isle of Mull. As you know our search for the “hairy coos” was not going well. The girls kept doing internet searches and found the beach for swimming and coos roaming about. Love Scotlands right to roam because that’s what we did. We were on roads that were nothing more than cow paths but finally arrived and were rewarded with lots of coos. Jennifer headed to the Laggnan (sp) beach and swam in the Irish Sea. Carol Ann and I spent lots of time communing with the coos. Such gentle, curious animals. We then joined Jen on the beach and the coos followed us. The babies played then they all laid down for a rest. It was perfect . After so much time there, We only had time to visit the weavers on Mull and spend lots of money. Never even made it to Iona

The Tallisker distillery tour was not very good. The guide spoke too fast and was quite hard to understand.

We did all the hikes. I had some difficulty at the end of Arthur’s Seat and old man of Stor and didn’t quite make it to the top. The girls did though. The downhills were very hard on my old knees. The Fairy Pools were rushing with water. We never saw Divitch (sp) falls but we hiked to the top and down for 6 miles. Loved the gentle stroll with Nathan in Glencoe and the hike we did near Luss and Loch Lomond.

Greatest disappointment other than leaving Scotland was the lack of time we had walking around all the little towns we stayed in. We were always exhausted at the end of our day.
We wish we had more time at Culloden and Cawder Castle. One hour at each was not enough time.

I’m sure I have missed something but I think you get the idea it was a wonderful holiday for all of us. Your team did a great job helping us plan this marvelous visit to Scotland. So much so, we want to come back. Thank you.

Now for the business end. Can I get an itemized account of our trip? Also, since we didn’t do the Jacobite Train do we get a refund? Will definitely use KimKim again. Rosemary Carrico

We had great guides, Amanda, Trevor and Jim. It was a real treat spending time with each of them. We happened to be in Wales during the heatwave, but that didn't detract from the wonderful sites and people we met.

Incredible. Every single part. We can’t thank Mathilde enough for planning the most perfect trip to Switzerland ever. She thought of every little detail and was there to guide us along the way. The hotels were AMAZING and we appreciate all of the efforts to make sure our rooms had stunning views. It was a seamless process. To touch on the cost- it may be more expensive than planning it yourself but we were happy to pay for the service and expertise that we received from Mathilde. She is incredible! We hope to plan our next big trip with her in the future.

Hotel Reviews

Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic, Autograph Collection

Montreux

What a stunning location and view. It was so easy to get to and from the train station. The view and room we had were positively stunning.

Authenticity & Character

It was luxurious!

Location

Amazing location!!!! So peaceful and serene and the hotel itself is gorgeous!

Staff

The desk gentleman (curly hair) was so kind and welcoming. Everyone truly was kind and helpful!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Spectacularly clean and comfortable!

Alpenhotel Fleurs de Zermatt

Zermatt

Hotel was slightly removed from the Main Street which was so nice to be out of the hustle and bustle. It was super clean and the view of the Matterhorn was amazing from our balcony. We also received a room upgrade which was lovely.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Spinne Grindelwald

Grindelwald

This hotel had the most stunning views of Eiger North Face in all of its glory!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Loved the location - relatively easy to find! Its view is the star of the show.

Staff

Staff was helpful in all regards.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel was clean and had everything we needed.

Romantik Hotel Wilden Mann

Lucerne

A stunning location. Immaculately maintained. Friendly and completely lovely!

Authenticity & Character

It reflects of the ambiance of the city and all of its charm

Location

It was in quaint area of the city

Staff

Friendly and helpful!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Immaculately maintained.

Activity Reviews

Chillon Castle (Entrance tickets)

Switzerland

Very interesting and nice it was included with our Swiss Travel Pass

Quality of Experience

Transport

Swiss Travel Pass

Switzerland

Easy and so convenient at every location. Mathilde made sure we had easy access to the train locations. Once we figured it out it was definitely the way to travel around. Only one big problem was storage for luggage. There was never enough space and often we had to take ours to our seats or stand with it. But that’s not something you can control.

Quality of Experience

Transport

Cheese, Chocolate & Wine tour with Gruyères town, Maison Cailler factory & Lavaux vineyards

Montreux

This experience was incredible. Our guide - Emmanuel - provided as every authentic experience we could ask for. The authentic cheese making he added was the highlight of this trip. Plus he made so many additional lovely stops to show us different views and explained so much of the countryside! It was magical!

Quality of Experience

Emmanuel was the best and made the experience much more lovely and fun!! Love him!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transport was so comfortable, air conditioned, had water and supplies for us to keep us comfortable!

Gornergrat panoramic train (return day-ticket & Priority boarding)

Switzerland

This was a good excursion. At the top we found the views not as beautiful as some of the other stops. However- we took a hike down to the mirror lake which the hike was rocky. We hopped onto the train however and got off one stop down and had the most incredible hike through the forest to Zermatt! THAT WAS AN EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME!

Quality of Experience

Transport

Not enough seating for everyone. We were lucky to have had seats

E-bike tour Lauterbrunnen & Valley of 72 Waterfalls

Switzerland

Our guide was incredible, gave us tons of information at each stop and took us to amazing sites while keeping everyone safe throughout

Quality of Experience

Food

We liked the authentic food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Summer Kayak Tour Lake Brienz

Switzerland

It was gorgeous the water was stunning and so cold and refreshing and the equipment was top notch!

Quality of Experience

Our guide was super friendly and nice

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Self-guided day to Mount Rigi, the Queen of Mountains

Lucerne

It was spectacular! Hiking and views were stunning! We loved all of it!

Quality of Experience

The views!!

Transport

We were so impressed with our trip with KimKim. For the amazing communication from Bella, and the amazingly knowledgeable guides of Marty, A, and Lena, our awesome drivers, Mr T, Ms Pound and everyone at all the hotels, were were so impressed! Everything was easy and stress-free, from transferring from one part of the country to another, we didn’t have to worry about anything! Everyone was so thoughtful and kind and we have been singing everyone’s praises to our friends back home.

The experiences we selected were all fantastic, from temples and Buddhist monks, to cooking classes and water sports they have something for everyone! This trip was so special for my son and I and we will remember our time in Thailand fondly for years to come.

Hotel Reviews

Katathani Phuket Beach Resort

Phuket

Loved this hotel so much! Stunning suite overlooking the property and ocean made it near impossible to leave. The grounds has literally any and everything you could want or need but so close to a lot of things as well. We will be back!

Authenticity & Character

Location

The resort has everything you could want or need but close to things too!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

99 Heritage Hotel

Chiang Mai

The best boutique hotel we’ve ever stayed at. Amazing staff, stunning grounds and well appointed rooms. The vibe was very 1940 age NYC meets Thailand and it was absolutely stunning. Loved the outdoor indoor concept so much.

Authenticity & Character

My favorite boutique hotel ever

Location

Near everything even two amazing temples across the street!

Staff

So kind and willing to help

Cleanliness & Comfort

Perfection

Nysa Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 11

Bangkok

Fantastic derive, great location and the hotel restaurant was phenomenal. Loved our time here.

Authenticity & Character

So lovely

Location

Close to everything we wanted

Staff

Kind and swift

Cleanliness & Comfort

Felt like New

Activity Reviews

Chiang Mai Cooking Class Experience-Small Group

Chiang Mai

A was the best teacher! She was so patient and kind and gave great tips for being able to recreate our dishes in America. Loved the cookbook we got too!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Elephant Jungle Sanctuary in Chiang Mai-Half Day

Chiang Mai

The best part of our entire trip!!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome and Temple Treasures of Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai

Our guide, Lena, was amazing and gave us so much history and knowledge! So cool to see something so unique to Thailand.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A visit to Mae Klong Railway market and Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, explore the famous weekend Chatuchak market

Bangkok

Our guide, Lena, was amazing and gave us so much history and knowledge! So cool to see something so unique to Thailand.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide, Lena, was amazing and gave us so much history and knowledge! So cool to see something so unique to Thailand.

Transport

Our driver was fantastic!

We had a great time in France. Amandine was great to work with. It felt like 2 trips: first Paris and Normandy, and then Provence and Nice in the South. Luckily we just missed the extreme heat wave.
The following guides really made the experience exceptional:
Juliette - guide for Mont Saint-Michel was fantastic
Stefan - guide for Normandy beaches was fantastic
Tomas - guide for Avignon and Les Baux was fantastic
Jesse - guide for Luberon villages was fantastic, and was substituted at last minute as someone was sick
Nora - guide for Monaco and Monte Carlo was fantastic.

Hotel Reviews

Aparthotel Adagio Nice Promenade des Anglais

Nice

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right next to the beach.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Saint Christophe

Aix-en-Provence

Authenticity & Character

Location

close to the Aix tour center

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Le Bayeux

Bayeux

Should not offer 3 people in single room. Not enough room

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Don't put 3 people in a room

Citadines Bastille Marais Paris

Paris

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

The Louvre Skip-the-line tour: greatest masterpieces small group guided tour (Max. 6 persons)

Paris

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Paris: Illuminations Seine River Cruise

Paris

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

From Grasse to Paris, Fragonard Perfume Workshop & Museum

Paris

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Nora was fantastic. The tour guide at Fragonard was great.

Transport

Full-day excursion to Monaco, Monte-Carlo & Eze

France

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Nora was fantastic. Learned a lot with her commentary during the drive.

Transport

Private transfer - Excursion from Aix-en-Provence to Nice

France

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Alicia was prompt and took us to some great vantage points for photos.

Transport

Luberon Markets and Villages small-group guided tour

Aix-en-Provence

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Jesse was outstanding.

Transport

Full-day from Aix to Les Baux, Avignon, The Pont du Gard & Chateauneuf du Pape

Aix-en-Provence

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tomas was outstanding

Transport

From Aix - Full-day catamaran tour in the Calanques National Park

France

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Know the location of the dropoff

Full-day Tour of D-Day Sites

Bayeux

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tomas was excellent

Transport

Full-day guided tour from Bayeux to the Mont-Saint-Michel

France

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chauffeured Tour of Paris in a Vintage Car

Paris

Stoyan did a great job with his 1970 Mercedes trip through the city.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I can't praise the work enough that KimKim did in putting together an amazing trip for my husband and me to Norway. From the private car pick up service when we landed in Oslo, to the early morning pick up in Bergen to get us on time to our flight at the end of our trip, all the details were taken care. The KimKim app that contains the daily itinerary, tickets, information on the region (including recommendations of other things to do/sites to see) and maps was incredible. Taylor, Marie and Nick responded to questions within minutes. When we had an issue with train seats from Oslo to Flam, Chinh responded quickly and all was well with our journey. Flam was magical, and I would not have included this location if I had planned the trip myself. I will definitely work with KimKim again in the future on another trip. Already thinking of where we will go next.

Hotel Reviews

Home Hotel Bryggen

Bergen

No room service for the time we were there. I guess you need to ask for it.

Authenticity & Character

Daily, breakfast, snack and dinner were served and included in the price of the room.

Location

So close to the harbor and the UNESCO World Heritage Site Bryggen, yet very quiet and away from all the harbor traffic.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Flåm Marina

Flåm

A modest hotel with the best location in the town. Our room was very spacious, and the view from our room's deck down the fjord was indescribably beautiful.

Authenticity & Character

Very simple accommodations but quite roomy, great location and an amazing view down the fjord.

Location

Staff

Kind and helpful staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very comfortable bed

Karl Johan Hotel

Oslo

Great location and comfortable room although quite small.

Authenticity & Character

Location

In the center of or close to the sites we wanted to see.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Self-Guided Oslo Exploration

Oslo

Several sites to visit were suggested. Also suggest the floating saunas and the Vigeland Sculpture Park.

Quality of Experience

Fjord Cruise to Rosendal

Bergen

A nice town with lots of hiking.

Quality of Experience

Hike Up, Ride Down: Mt. Fløyen

Bergen

Loved the walk through the forested mountain. It was rainy that day and very cloudy. I wish we would have had better weather to explore more hiking on the mountain.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Edvard Munch Museum in Oslo

Oslo

Great museum that is well laid out on several floors that are well marked with what you will find in each gallery.

Quality of Experience

Fjord Safari by RIB

Flåm

Best view of the fjords we had during our entire Norway trip, and we were on a lot of ferries in a lot of fjords. The guide was fantastic with great stories told with humor.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a fantastic time with all the local guides in and around Bergen. Each was incredibly knowledgeable and very kind. The tours were incredibly well organized, and everything flowed like clockwork.

Hotel Review

Hotel Park Bergen

Bergen

A beautiful hotel with lots of old-world charm. The rooms were always clean and we loved the afternoon tea and brownies.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Fjord Cruise & Seafood Dining Experience

Bergen

Quality of Experience

Food

The service was very slow, which detracted from the overall experience.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The home of Edvard Grieg with Summer Concert

Bergen

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Nærøyfjord Cruise & Flåm Railway Day Trip

Bergen

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Food & Culture Walk

Bergen

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Diana has been really wonderful from the planning stage, all the way to the end of the trip. The itinerary she made for us was great and my friend and I really enjoyed the activities. I highly recommend Kim Kim travel!

We wanted a once-in-a-lifetime trip to
France to focus on history, culture, wine and food, and Liz and Diliana at kimkim delivered!
In Paris, we particularly enjoyed the fabulous lunch at the Jules Verne restaurant on the Eiffel Tower, viewing a beautiful sunset from the Arc de Triomphe, touring the magnificent Paris Opera, and the incredible show at the Moulin Rouge.
Diliana helped us plan to avoid the crowds of soccer fans taking over the Champs Elysees and other areas of the city during the Champions League final between Paris St. Germain and Arsenal and victory celebrations the next day.
The Hotel College de France was a boutique hotel in the Latin Quarter with a very nice staff and easy access to shops, restaurants, Notre Dame and the Luxembourg Gardens.
Guide Sylvanie did a lovely job explaining Sainte-Chapelle and Notre Dame’s religious history, architecture and art, along with modern changes at the cathedral since the 2019 fire.
Transfers to and from the airport, train stations and accommodations went smoothly and were one of the reasons we used kimkim in the first place. We wanted a curated trip that wasn’t a large group tour and didn’t involve renting a car, and this worked very well.

Our next move was to the Hotel Central in Avignon, which, true to its name, was very centrally located on the main shopping and dining street. No laundry service despite it being advertised, but the night staff arranged to have some of our clothes washed with hotel laundry. Came back damp and wrinkled, but clean. Not ideal, but kind of them and inexpensive.

Les Palais du Papes was within walking distance and so was the carousel. We also enjoyed a day trip to two wineries in Chateau-neuf-du-Pape with guide Adam and visited the photogenic ruins of an early castle of the Avignon popes. Well-preserved Roman amphitheaters, a temple, an arena and the magnificent Pont du Gard aqueduct/bridge were highlights of day trip with knowledgeable guide Florian. Guide Matilde took us to St. Remy and Arles for Van Gogh memories, to the walled medieval city of Augues-Morte, and to the Parc Ornithologique to see flamingos and other protected birds in the Camargue, a large, protected wetlands area with its own culture. Matilde went above and beyond to accommodate our needs. Then an interesting trip in a 4x4 with guide Joe to see the Carmague’s special white horses and bulls and its pink salt marshes.

Nice was our next stop, where we stayed at the Best Western Lakmi, the hotel we liked best. The staff was super helpful and friendly. However, laundry service was available only through an outside company which was insanely expensive, so we spent three hours in a laundromat.
From Nice, we explored Antibes, Cap d’Antibes and the hill with commanding views of the bay and city, where once stood a castle called La Colline du Chateau. Guide Pierre was terrific about finding great photo spots; he also took us to Eze and Monaco the next day for a fun look at Monte Carlo’s casino and opera house, giant yachts, royal gardens and the changing of the palace guard.
For our trip to Mentón from Nice, guide Cyril was incredible about helping us get to the station and find seats on a very crowded train. A highlight was artist Marc Chagall’s
Wedding room in City Hall, followed by a lot of lemoncello tastings in the home of exceptionally sweet lemons.
Marseille’s highlights were mostly outside town, in beautiful lavender fields, the charming city of Aix and the high limestone cliffs and turquoise waters of the Calanques. Guide Tomas found the right fields for perfect lavender photos early in the season.
We ended our trip with a relaxing, special night at the Chateau de la Tour in Chantilly, about 40 minutes from the airport in Paris. Great food and wine, a pool and lovely grounds were an inspired way to end our trip and rest up for the flight home.
Merci, Liz, Diliana, and kimkim!

I can’t even begin to express what an incredible experience it wad working with Kim Kim and all of the associated vendors who facilitated our trip to the Azores. During the trip planning process, Marina was incredibly knowledgeable, supportive, and flexible with all customizations to the itinerary that we required, including cost adjustments based on our financial priorities. She had great communication with us throughout the planning process. The travel app utilized by Kim Kim is also extremely convenient and easy to use both prior to during your trip. For too busy full-time workers with two little children at home, it was so great not having to worry about planning the nitty-gritty of everything required for international travel.

Our tour guide, Vasco, knew everything about everything related to the Azores and did an amazing job touring us around. He was able to pivot beautifully when weather prohibited us from following one of our original day itineraries and created an amazing new plan.

Also, the Azores is literally the most beautiful place I’ve ever been. Please go!

Hotel Review

Hotel Do Colégio

Ponta Delgada

We arrived early and they were unable to accommodate our room until the standard afternoon time. Otherwise, they were wonderful! Location, hard to beat, views from the terrace gorgeous.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Furnas Valley Excursion: Crater Lake, Hot Springs & Tea Plantation

São Miguel Island

The weather unfortunately prohibited us from hiking Furnas safely, however our guide Vasco pivoted to starting the day at Che Gorreana to hike the tea fields and going to furnas later in the day. This worked out beautifully, the tea fields are stunning and a quite vigorous height to the peak. Gorreana was much more interesting than I anticipated- definitely a must see. Furnas is such an amazingly unique experience- definitely can’t be missed!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Whale & Dolphin Watching in the Azore with Marine Biologists

the Azores

Tour itself was great, but sadly we didn’t see any whales.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sete Cidades Full Day Experience: Ferraria Springs & Volcano Rims

São Miguel Island

This day was incredible. Sete Cidades is the most beautiful place I have ever seen- takes your breath away! And the hot springs under the ocean are so unique, an amazing way to start your morning!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Vasco is amazing- best tour guide I’ve ever had. So knowledgeable and makes you feel so comfortable immediately.

Transport

This is the kind of review that would be incredibly valuable to future travelers. I’ve tightened it up while keeping your enthusiasm and adding a polished flow.

Our family recently returned from an incredible trip to Spain, and I can’t recommend kimkim enough! From the very beginning, the experience was professional, personalized, and completely stress-free.

Anna took the time to truly understand what kind of vacation our family wanted. Through emails and phone calls, she listened to what was important to us and helped curate the perfect itinerary. We stayed busy every day without ever feeling rushed or overbooked—a balance that is much harder to achieve than I realized.

Our trip included walking and driving city tours, kayaking and snorkeling, a cooking class, family bike rides, a catamaran cruise, and more. Every activity was booked and paid for in advance, so all we had to do was show up and enjoy ourselves.

The kimkim app was one of the MVPs of our trip. I honestly think I had it open almost as much as my camera! Every activity included a Google Maps link to exactly where we needed to be, detailed descriptions of what was included (food, transportation, etc.), what we needed to bring, and a great synopsis of what to expect that day. It even worked offline, which was incredibly helpful while traveling internationally.

The tour guides were outstanding. Each one reached out beforehand to introduce themselves, confirm meeting locations, and provide a point of contact. The experiences felt intimate rather than touristy, and every guide was knowledgeable and engaging. Extra love for Girona Experience, Carol and Pau were amazing tour guides! These tours were absolute highlights of our trip! Chef Matthias and his paella 🥘 was the best in Spain.

Anna also included restaurant recommendations for each area we visited, complete with estimated price ranges. Those suggestions ended up being some of our favorite meals.

The hotels were another pleasant surprise. They were places I never would have found on my own—small boutique properties that perfectly matched the character of each stop. We started in a beautiful spa hotel tucked away in rural northern Spain, perfect for relaxing, before transitioning to a modern, eclectic hotel right on the beach. During the planning process I asked to change one of the hotels because I couldn’t quite articulate why it didn’t feel like the right fit. Anna listened, made the change without hesitation, and the final choice ended up being absolutely perfect.

We also had extended family traveling on a separate itinerary with some overlapping activities, which caused a little confusion one day. I contacted kimkim, and they responded almost immediately, clarified everything, and got us back on track. They checked in with us several times throughout the trip and even accommodated itinerary adjustments while we were already traveling without any issues.

Planning an international family vacation can feel overwhelming, but Anna and kimkim made it feel effortless. Their attention to detail, communication, thoughtful planning, and genuine care for our experience were exceptional.

I would recommend kimkim—and especially Anna—to anyone looking for a customized, seamless travel experience. We made memories that will last a lifetime, and we’ll absolutely be using kimkim again for future adventures.

Hotel Reviews

Cosmopolita Hotel Boutique & Spa

Platja d'Aro, Girona

Sallés Hotel Mas Tapiolas

Santa Cristina de Aro

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay! The hotel was quiet, quaint, and the perfect place to relax. Breakfast was outstanding every morning, with a great selection and delicious food. Dinner reservations were required, but we had no trouble making them the morning of. The evening meal was excellent, and the live music created a wonderful atmosphere. We’d happily stay here again!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Wonders of Girona Guided Walk

Girona

The Wonders of Girona walking tour was one of the highlights of our trip! Carol was incredibly knowledgeable, professional, and friendly, bringing the city’s history and culture to life in an engaging way. She did a fantastic job keeping everyone interested—even our kids (ages 10 and 11) genuinely enjoyed the tour. We learned so much and would highly recommend this experience to anyone visiting Girona!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Carol!

A friend and I had a very enjoyable time during our visit to Turkey. We were both surprised by the modernity of the country as a whole, but in particular Istanbul. The people we met on the street were always very friendly. we felt safe. Kimkim and Unison did not let us down. Our local specialist, Burcu, could not have been nicer or more helpful. She promptly answered many questions from us, made reservations and was just very responsive and helpful no matter what the issue was. We had three guides that were all very knowledgeable of their areas and were with us the whole time each day. Our favorite place that we spent time in was Cappadocia. It was fascinating to see how people created by hand their cave homes and lived successfully for millennia in the area. My overall impression of the trip was that it was enjoyable well executed and memorable. Highly recommend Kimkim and Unison for travel to Turkey.

We had such a wonderful time on our trip to Greece! From the beautiful hotels selected for us in Athens, Mykonos and Santorini, to the personalized tours we did in each location, everything was top notch! Athens was our first stop and we were well taken care of by the staff at the Niche Hotel. The location was perfect for exploring the neighborhoods of Plaka, Monastiraki, and Psyri, where the shopping and the food were plentiful. We really enjoyed our food tour, and our guide, Fotis, was knowledgable and fun! We got lucky and had excellent weather for our tour of the Akropolis and the Agora, and Athena did a wonderful job of covering centuries of history to help us better understand how ancient history shaped the city and the citizens of Athens. Our next stop was Mykonos, which we traveled to via ferry. While we were a bit nervous to take the ferry ride, everything went well and was relatively easy, and we were there in about three hours. Mykonos was everything we hoped for and more, including our home for the next three days, The George Hotel. We loved our hotel - the breakfast was amazing, the staff was helpful, the rooms and pools and sundecks were beautiful, and we were surprised to find out we had access to sunbeds directly on the beach through a sister hotel a five minute walk away. It was a relaxing three days of beautiful scenery, sunning, and some fun at SantAnna Beach Club! From there we took another ferry to Santorini, whose beauty was just unmatched. Anteliz Suites was the PERFECT location to make our base from, and ALL of the staff there really outdid themselves in taking care of us. We really enjoyed exploring the area and checking out the restaurants and shopping. We did a private tour with Sabine and she took us to some really off the beaten path places in Santorini, while giving us an excellent overview of both the history of the islands as well as the current industries, and our favorite stop was Emporio where we explored the mazes of the Castelli, which was purely magical. Overall, this was such a once in a lifetime trip and Sydney and the folks at KimKim really came through in planning exerything perfectly!