Kimkim Trip Reviews

We had an incredible time visiting Chile and experiencing the country. Marcela did a wonderful job accommodating all the things we wanted to do with all the places we wanted to visit. It entailed a lot of moving parts and everything fell into place. Thank you Gaboo for coordinating all the domestic air tickets. The hotels we stayed in were very nice, comfortable and centrally located to restaurants and shops within walking distance. Our driver in Santiago, Eliseo Albornoz, was outstanding. We so much enjoyed talking to him each time he picked us up from the airport and during our time in Santiago. We enjoyed all the activities and the sights at the Atacama desert, Santiago, Patagonia and Rapa Nui! But I leave most impressed with the young men and women who were our guides in San Pedro de Atacama and Patagonia. These guides were so pleasant and upbeat working in areas of extreme weather conditions. They are so knowledgeable in all that pertains to the native wildlife, plants, vegetation, and even geology! Its was truly a pleasure to learn about Chile through them.

Hein was wonderful to work with. Hue was flooded & Hoi A was as well. Hein quickly made arrangements for us to go to Denang. She found a a great hotel, guide & Driver.

From the start working with Julia on our ideal trip was flawless. She paid attention to our needs, made suggestions when asked, and was always available to us. Alejandra was also amazing and was able to assist us as things changed at times and she was on top of all of it. This included getting us a private tour at the last minute. Your team and service was top notch and we will surely use you again on future trips and recommend you to friends and family. What a wonderful vacation to Barcelona and we have you all to thank for it.

Entire trip was flawless, great plans, communication and help the entire time. Will definitely be using KimKim again and thankful for an unforgettable family vacation in Mexico.

Hotel Reviews

The Fives Oceanfront Puerto Morelos

Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo

Everything was amazing from time we stepped out of our ride. Will definitely be going back!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Beautiful beach and easy walk to stores and restaurants.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Fontan Reforma Mexico

Mexico City

Great location, most staff very friendly and helpful, but we were placed on a noisy floor with the rooftop bar club music blaring very late and sometimes did not have hot water.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Visit a peaceful cenote and enjoy traditional mayan food

Yokdzonot

Beautiful, accessible, and amazing lunch here too!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Chichén Itzá: A Wonder of the Mayan World

Mexico

Amazing tour and great to have a personal guide to help provide a lot more details!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very enjoyable long ride due to our great driver David! Also had a very knowledgeable guide during tour.

Transport

Be amazed by the pre-hispanic beauty of the chinampas in Xochimilco

Mexico City

Surprised me about how much I enjoyed it and learned.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Both guides were very educational and helpful

Transport

Museum Palacio de Bellas Artes

Mexico City

Very beautiful inside and out but if you aren't a visual arts person, this may not be the best activity for you.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hector was a great guide and very knowledgeable about the pieces and location.

Transport

Tour of historic Mexico City with street food tasting

Mexico City

Daniela waa very friendly and knowledgeable. Got to see a lot of downtown at a manageable pace.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The trip started out a little bit rocky. We landed early and got through customs early so our transportation to the hotel was not there yet. Due to construction at the airport, it was unclear where to connect with him since he wasn't there when we arrived but once we found him we were whisked off in a beautiful Mercedes S class car to our hotel. Christoff, our driver pointed out some sights along the way. In Munich, we stayed in the Platz Hotel which was very nice and comfortable and offered amazing breakfasts and was well located near Marienplatz and Vktualienmarkt. There was a mix up with the private walking tour and so we just wandered around on our own but the team gave us a good list of things to see and do. The next day was a tour of Dachau with InMunich Tours. That was an excellent tour and our tour guide, Marcin, was so knowledgeable. It was a sobering experience but very important to see. The next day, we rented a car from Avis which went smoothly and drove to Garmisch. What a beautiful drive! The fall foliage was in full bloom! We stayed at the Hotel Zugspitze which was another very nice hotel with a spa, swimming pool, sauna, Michelin restaurant and lovely breakfast. It was well situated in town and had a view of Zugspitze. The cog train and cable car ride were very picturesque although a little scary for me since I have a fear of heights! The view from the top made it all worth it though! The next day we drove through the beautiful countryside to Neuschwanstein. I wish we had known ahead of time about the climb up the hill. It took longer to get up there than we had anticipated. We almost didn't make it to the tour but it was worth the run up the hill! We visited Linderhof Castle the next day and it was beautiful as well! Onward to Salzburg. The train ride was comfortable and uneventful. Our hotel Dorint was an easy walk from the train station and close to the old town of Salzburg. We walked through the old town and took the funicular up to the fortress where we had excellent views of the city. The following day we had a tour with Fritz from Edelweiss Tours to The Lake District and Hallstatt. He was excellent showing us all the sights along the way to Hallstatt and pointing out things we should do while we were there with our free time. The museum there is very interesting. The following day we toured also with Edelweiss but this time, our guide was Shiva. He took us to Durrbeerg Salt Mine, Berchtsgaden and King's Lake. A great tour to learn about salt mining! Then we headed to Salzburg which was a little confusing because we started on a train then transferred to a but for a couple of hours and then back to the train but finally made it to our next hotel The Archibald at the Charles Bridge.
Another well located and comfortable hotel. We had a Prague city tour with Miriam from Insight Cities where she pointed out all the highlights of the Old Town and New Town. She gave restaurant recommendations, told us of tourist traps to avoid and gave us a good explanation of how to tell time with the astronomical clock. The next day we went to the Clementium and Baroque Library. Really interesting but beware, there are A LOT of stairs! We went on a Prague food tour with Klara from Taste of Prague where she took us all around New and Old Town where we tasted local food and drinks as well as some from other parts of the world. Klara was very passionate about food and drinks! We had a driver take us back to Munich because the train tracks were under construction. It was a very pleasant drive with our driver Joseph. For our last leg, we stayed at Hotel Torbrau. Also well located and comfortable! We did a Munich walking tour with Elisabeth of Discover Munich.She did a great job showing us her favorite places and passageways through the Old Town. We had another beautiful S class Mercedes to take us to the airport the next day for our flight home!

Leny and her team put together a fantastic two-week trip, let alone the destination itself was terrific.
Tokyo-->Hakone-->Kyoto-->Osaka-->Hiroshima-->Tokyo.
She listened to our particular tastes and gave us a first draft itinerary that was almost perfect. As the trip neared, she was able to accommodate last minute requests and re-jig some of the activities.
In our case, there were Foodie Tours in every city, accompanied by some local morning tours of different neighborhoods, walking paths, and major attractions such as shrines, temples and bamboo forests. We had plenty of our own free time to go deep in neighborhoods and activities without the pace of a private guide.
The guides themselves were indeed great--they all spoke English well and were extremely polite and approachable.
All intra-Japan movement was either on private car, bullet train "Shinkansen", or the excellent metro system in Tokyo and Osaka.
Leny's team was with us 24/7 via a whatsapp group. We didn't really need any major correction during the trip, but they made sure that there was CONSTANT communication between them, our tour guides and drivers, and any were quick to ensure we had all vouchers and passes.
Highlights of the trip itself? Walking the neighborhoods of Tokyo--Shibuya is a must, Tsukiji Fish market for uber-fresh Sushi, Street aka Mario Karting in Akihabara, and Sumo exhibition. In Hakone, we spent a night in a quaint mountainside Honten, with our own private hot springs. Note that the food here is VERY local, so don't expect toast and eggs for breakfast. Kyoto is much more touristy, but also smaller and more intimate. A great walking city and of course the amazing Fushimi inari Taisha shrine is a must see.
In vibrant Osaka, another great food tour. It's also the jumping off point for a day-trip to Hiroshima.

Leny's team gave us GREAT hotels in each city, including a boutique hotel in Kyoto that used the be Nintendo's HQ--the Marufukuro.

With KimKim, everything is paid for in advance--all I needed was metro and spending money. And, of course, any meals not included.
Kudos Leny and KimKim. A great, in-depth experience in Japan where you will be captivated by the wonderful people, the collective culture, great food scene and rich history.

Hotel Reviews

InterContinental Osaka, an IHG Hotel

Osaka

This is also a five star hotel located in the city of Osaka. Right on the subway line, connected to lots of shopping and restaurants so you don't even need to go outside.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right next to shopping, the subway, restos.

Staff

They will even call and HOLD the elevator for you, with a polite "Arigato"!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds were very comfortable; the room was cleaned daily. Super luxe and well appointed.

The Okura Tokyo

Tokyo

This is a SIX star hotel, really. Located in the heart of Tokyo, across from the US Embassy. Walking distance to the Metro as well. It's uber luxe to the max.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to Metro

Staff

They greet you everywhere, super polite and accommodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

It's a luxury hotel--of course it will be clean and immaculate.

Matsuzakaya Honten

Kanagawa

Very authentic--you are asked to wear your Kimono everywhere, including meals in the dining room. We had a private hot spring right in our backyard off the room. Sleeping on a mattress on the floor, the wonderful smell of incense everywhere, and a private garden are all part of the experience. The food is genuine Japan, fixed menu (at least it was for us). So make sure you are good with that.

Authenticity & Character

Up a mountain, nature all around, quiet, hot springs right on site.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Marufukuro

Charming and original. A great boutique hotel located in a quiet neighborhood yet close to the riverbed and major restos and shopping. The staff is extremely friendly and attentive. Good, simple breakfast included, and very well appointed rooms. The Nintendo-history lounge is a must visit!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms, the beds, all the grounds.

Activity Reviews

Explore Hiroshima & Miyajima in a Day: Private Bullet Train Adventure from Osaka

Osaka

A smooth bullet train from Osaka gets you here, to witness the history of the A-bomb. It's a must see, if only to understand the scale and impact that this had. Our guide was knowledgeable, and spoke great English.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tokyo Tsukiji Fish Market Food Walking Tour

Tokyo

Authentic, and fresh! This market is so much fun...lots of people, animation, and food to try!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Osaka Local Foodie Tour in Dotonbori and Shinsekai

Japan

Great foodie tour, centralized in one main area so not a ton of walking if that is a concern. Our guide was terrific and knowledgeable. Great foods as well, especially okonomiyaki.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Relaxing Evening: Private Onsen and Kaiseki Dinner

Hakone

Very authentic mountainside hotel. Private garden, hotspring in our garden, sleeping on the floor and they give you a kimono to wear the entire time--even at dinner and breakfast!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exclusive Sumo Practice Tour: Unveil Japan’s National Sport

Tokyo

Great guide who kept us informed about the history of Sumo, as well as how the practice was evolving during the course of the morning. We got a great seat if you get there early.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great english, very nice and knowledgeable

Transport

Best Of Shibuya Food Private Tour - Evening

Tokyo

You'll be tasting best of Japan in off-the beat and path locales. Sushi is at a small place where you stand and the chef makes it right there for you. All the prices for food were included in our tour. Plus--you get a general tour of Shibuya as well. This is a MUST SEE neighborhood. The throngs of young people are amazing, and of course the famous scramble!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had 11 days to tour 7 cities in Morocco. Winnie and Megan organized everything from hotels to drivers and guides to a T. Mohamed (Momo) our driver (now adopted nephew), took spectacular care of us, answering all our questions and sharing his love and knowledge of his beautiful country. The people in Morocco are all so kind and lovely, the food was wonderful, the cities vibrant and exotic, the countryside diverse and beautiful. If you are curious at all, GO VISIT MOROCCO and ask for Momo at Wanderlust! He’ll take good care of you!

Hotel Reviews

Barcelo Tanger

Tangier

Probably the most modern of the places we stayed in while in Morocco. Nice views of the ocean, on a well travelled street, close to lots of dining options.

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dar Jasmine

Chefchaouen

Gorgeous!! Fantastic view of Chefchaouen - such beautiful grounds! Love!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Maison Bleue And Spa

Fes

Really beautiful riad, super spacious and well appointed.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right in the Fes Medina. Close to anything you could want! This place had a bar/restaurant on site, of which bars are harder to come by in Morocco, so that was nice.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kasbah Mohayut

Merzouga

Super spacious room, beautiful facility and grounds.

Authenticity & Character

Staff

Moha was especially personable and kind. Such a sweet young man - will remember this kasbah because of him!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Luxury Oasis Camp Merzouga

Taouz

The space here was amazing - huge tent, 2 king beds in ours and full bathroom plus sitting area. The camp was beautifully laid out. No complaints other than it was difficult to tell who, if anyone, was in charge there.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tin Joseph

Ouarzazate

This place is so charming! The owner especially was so kind! We could not stop admiring the decor and artful displays (love the musical instruments in the dining room!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Touda

Marrakech

Really beautiful riad… staff took great care of us there. It was clean, well kept, nicely located near center of Medina but quiet. Mini-mart 50 feet away was great for water and other necessities!

Authenticity & Character

It was stunning - every detail felt exotic and special. Love!

Location

Not far from center of Medina but quiet.

Staff

So kind and polite - extremely responsive!

Cleanliness & Comfort

This place is lovely!

Activity Review

Tour Fes with a Private Guide

Fes

Kamal was extremely knowledgeable! Felt like we had a master class on Moroccan culture, history, and linguistics! Fantastic guide!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

So kind, patient, knowable, proud - rightfully so! Beautiful country! They have it all!!

Transport

This has been an overall very positive experience. Christine was very helpful. The interaction was great and she always was able to adjust & finetune our wishes. We changed the itinerary a few times, but she always stayed friendly & professional. Even when we made a mistake, they were able to correct it last minjte.
In the excursions, the cooking class in Seoul was a great experience. In Jeju, the driver & guid Mr. Jimmi Koh has been truly wonderful, friendly & knowledgeable.

Thank You for a good cooperation !

Activity Reviews

Discover Jeju with Seongsan Ilchulbong and Seongeup Folk Village

Jeju Island

Guides, Drivers and Staff

the guide & driver Mr. Jimmie Koh was wonderful

Transport

Korean Full-Course Meal Cooking Class at Local Home with Local Market Experience

Seoul

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Thanks, Bella! My trip was unforgettable, especially as a solo female traveler. I sincerely appreciate your efforts to make me feel safe, which allowed me to enjoy and create memories that will last forever. The calmness of Koh Samet's quiet, clean, and stunning beaches, the breathtaking temples in Bangkok, and the elephant sanctuary all left a lasting impression.

Hotel Reviews

Le Vimarn Cottages & Spa

Rayong

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riva Arun Bangkok

Bangkok

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Bangkok Temple Visit

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Leena was excellent. Also would highly recommend her to anyone!

Transport

A visit to Elephant Jungle Sanctuary in Pattaya

Thailand

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Went above and beyond to make my experience engaging as a solo traveler - one of the staff members held on to my phone for a while and took all my photos!

Transport

Mr. Chin was excellent. I would highly recommend him to others!

We love KimKim travel. Have used for a few trips now. We worked wtih Tasos on our Italy trip and he was easy to work with and very accomodating. We had a couple of snafus on our trip (our fault, we left a couple of items in the hotel room) and the hotel reached out to KimKim who contacted us and all was remedied. All the hotels, transfers, tours were wonderful. We had the best family trip!!

Hien provided a great plan and was willing and able to accommodate our many suggestions and changes to the itinerary. We ended up with a wonderful 10 days in Vietnam, traveling from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay to Hue and Ho Chi Minh City. Our guides at each step of the way were really knowledgeable and able to explain everything in excellent English. Our hotels were all top quality and the transportation was very safe and reliable. The sites we saw were beautiful and very memorable.

One unusual thing for our trip was that we were stuck in a very significant flood 8n Hue for a few days. This caused us to need to change a lot of our plans, nd to stay extra days in Hue. Hien was a huge help, orchestrating all of these changes and ensuring that we could stay in our beautiful hotel - the Silk Path Grand Hue - for two extra nights. Without Hien we would probably have never been in such a great hotel and wouldn’t have known what do when the rain started. Having the support of Kim Kim was perfect for this situation.

Hotel Reviews

Silk Path Grand Hue

We were stranded here for 4 days in a major flood. The staff were fantastic and kept us feeling safe and secure in spite of a serious situation in Hue. Thank you!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Hotel nd restaurant staff took wonderful care of us under very trying circumstances.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our room was wonderfully clean and comfortable.

Orchid Premium Cruise

Incredible food, accommodation, and service. The crew and staff were amazing, especially the chef and manager, Bang.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

A O Traditional Vietnamese Culture Show with Dinner

Ho Chi Minh City

Fun and interesting albeit a bit touristy.

Cu Chi Tunnels & Half Day City Tour

Ho Chi Minh City

Very educational. Phil was a great guide.

Hue Evening Foodie Cyclo Tour

Hue

Food

The restaurant was delicious.

Hue Half Day Sightseeing

Hue

Interesting but curtailed by bad weather.

Day Trip to the Mekong Delta (Ben Tre)

Ho Chi Minh City

Amazing and unique.

Kayaking in Ao Ech Area - Disembark Cruise (Orchid Cruise)

Ha Long Bay

Fun kayaking experience.

Onboarding Cruise To Lan Ha Bay (Orchid Cruise)

Ha Long Bay

One of the top activities on our trip. Bang and the staff were awesome.

Food

Some of the best food we had in Vietnam!

Day trip to Hoa Lu & Tam Coc (Ninh Binh)

Hanoi

It’s a long trip but really fun and interesting.

Ha Long Bay Scenic Plane

Vietnam

Dinner at Ly Club Restaurant

Hanoi

Food was fine, but a little dull compared to the other places we ate. 100% of the other patrons were also tourists.

Hanoi Sightseeing Fullday Tour with Train Track Coffee

Hanoi

VIP Fast Track Service

Vietnam

Great to have this assistance after a long flight.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

KC was great and knew the best places for us to go.

Transport

Safe and reliable b

I cannot be thankful enough for all the patience, ideas, support and recommendation shown by Jessica and the team.
The experience and vacation turned out to be the most memorable and joyful ones for me and my wife.
Words cannot express what a lovely time we had and we will definitely re visit South Korea again :)

On the whole this was a memorable trip but on this occasion although the logistics and planning of tours and day trips were taken care of, we felt it was a little too expensive, especially given other Kimkim trips which felt more value add. We ended up booking all our own accommodation and flights, so really we were just paying for the things to do in Japan, and it was an awful lot. We therefore expected a little bit more than what we got.

Kimkim arranged:
- A seamless day at Disney - great.
- A visit to Nara was fun, with a reasonable guide who showed some interest.
- A Mt Fuji day trip. Weather was foggy. Couldn't see anything. This happens and was a shame. But tour guide first of all didn't cancel knowing we'd see nothing (and had said as much) but then also didn't really know how to make the day enjoyable. He just took us from view point to view point in the fog. He didn't recommend anything else. Eventually I just cut the day short because we didn't the point of going to another tourist hot spot to look at nothing. Honestly this was a poor day as a private guide should have a plan B if there's bad weather and if you have a private car you should be able to get off the beaten track at points and pivot your day trip.
- Kyoto samurai experience (see below) and tea ceremony (great).
- Transport. All transport in Tokyo was great. Kyoto was average. Our first driver didn't speak English, didn't really know where we were going, dropped us off at the wrong place when we went for a samurai experience (which means we missed half the experience) and when he picked us up at 8pm made a nice gesture I guess, but had brought us all coffee. But it was 8pm and two of us were young children... It was a nice but strange thing to do.
- Our representative made good by providing transport to the train station the next day, but we did feel this transport should have been in place anyway.

We fully understand the bespoke nature of the service and have used and will use Kimkim again. But ultimately on this occasion as we'd ended up sorting most things ourselves, for the cost of the trip we probably would have expected better guides and better logistics in Kyoto. It was therefore a good trip but not a great one.

Our Kimkim representative was responsive and friendly.

Hotel Reviews

The Strings by InterContinental, Tokyo, an IHG Hotel

Tokyo

A very good business hotel, though the suite was rather tired and needs a serious upgrade. It's well located, food is nice and it's a good stop over when you have a business meeting or an early connection.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Ritz Carlton

Kyoto

Great hotel, very family friendly and exceptionally welcoming of children with activities for them from arrival onwards. Wonderful aesthetic that matches the vibe of a Kyoto, if a touch on the dark side at breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Tokyo EDITION, Toranomon

Tokyo

Great hotel. Amazing staff. We arrived at 8am and they even gave us a spare room for the kids to rest in until check in time. It's a superb hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Kids Friendly Day Trip to Nara and Uji

Kyoto

Nice to see the deer but it does get crowded. It's not that picturesque and in fact nicer and more peaceful around the back.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Samurai Ninja Museum and Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

Our driver meant we missed half the samurai experience, but from what we did do it was great. Super friendly teacher, great English and funny. Very kid friendly. Tremendous fun. Tea ceremony is a wonderful experience too. Concerns over appropriation, but actually you don't feel it, instead you enjoy and learn. It's a really nice thing to do for all the family or a couple or a sol traveller.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Full Day Mt.Fuji and Chureito Pagoda Tour From Tokyo

Tokyo

It was a foggy day. Couldn't see anything - happens, but tour guide didn't pivot or provide alternate experience, also didn't talk to us much. Every stop was very tourist heavy. It did not feel special, it felt like a waste of time.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Driver fine, expected more from private guide.

Transport

Overall the experience was positive although the logistics associated with 4 nights in Quito proved to be a problem with much time wasted getting in and out of the city. Two nights in Quito would have been plenty. Two extra nights out of Quito would have allowed more time to explore areas out of the city.

Our trip to Costa Rica was amazing because of kimkim! We met so many friendly guides and drivers, saw so many incredible things, and went to so many gorgeous places. La Fortuna was our favorite place! There was a wide variety of tours, hikes & activities around the area and soooo much good food. We really appreciated our local guide’s suggestions & enjoyed every activity we did. Definitely a trip to remember!

Activity Reviews

Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar Cane Experience

Monteverde

Our guide was so sweet!!! He was extremely knowledgeable and made the tour fun. We learned a lot about the coffee and chocolate-making processes from seed to cup. And to top it all off, they give you free coffee & hot chocolate :) they also have a great shop there with tons of coffee to buy, and cute souvenirs!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sloth & Bird Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

Our guide was SO knowledgeable and hilarious! He pointed out lots of animals and had a monocular for us to view everything through. Definitely recommend this!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Doris was exceptional. She remained the center of our wheel throughout our trip. She checked in and made sure all the moving parts were cohesive. Her kindness and clear investment in our experience made everything magical!

Overall we had a wonderful trip. There were several miscues regarding accommodations and one attraction but Said addressed them quickly. Our driver, Tayeb, was wonderful. Could not have asked for anyone to be more attentive to our needs. Offered terrific restaurant suggestions and was very knowledgeable about various attractions. Enjoyed all of our tour guides -Mohammed and Sharif and another person in Marrakech. My only complaint was that Mohammed decided we would rather end the tour than try the last two places. I would have appreciated being asked. Special shout out to Sharif for helping me avoid being overcharged for an item.

Hotel Reviews

Chez Ichou

Dades Gorge

Lovely view and surroundings; delicious meals. Only downside was the small rooms especially the bathroom.

Authenticity & Character

Design

Location

View and landscaping were amazing

Staff

Attentive and engaging

Cleanliness & Comfort

Barcelo Tanger

Tangier

Loved everything about this hotel from its location, to its well stocked bathroom and delicious breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Very clean and modern

Location

Right on the water

Staff

Aside from our server in the upstairs bar, people were attentive and friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bed

Activity Reviews

Transfer from Marrakech to Boumalne Dades: Through Atlas Mountains, Aït Benhaddou & Rose Valley

Morocco

Wonderful to see the different topographies and learn about the Berber’s and life outside of the bigger cities.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A Relaxing Hammam Experience: The Art of Moroccan Wellness

Morocco

Great experience. Staff was terrific.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Visit Majorelle Gardens

Morocco

It was on our itinerary but we didn’t get tickets. That was very disappointing since we confirmed our trip months in advance.

Half-Day Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

Overall, great survey of the city.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Marrakech Evening Food Tour

Marrakesh

Very knowledgeable guide Good sampling of things to eat and see Wish we were given the option to continue or end. Mentioned we were full so the tour ended. Also not sure why a pharmacy was included on the tour except for shopping.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tayeb was amazing

Transport

Tayeb

Karlita (Karla) was very easy to work with. She listened to my needs and addressed them quickly. One example was my request to have lunch menu selections done ahead of time.

Hotel Reviews

Villa Laguna hotel

Santa Cruz

Clean, cute and breakfast server was very nice. I liked that we were able to utilize the pool area and 2nd floor balcony for our group gatherings. Kitchen noise (talking and chopping) were easily heard in the rooms above. One key is not enough. Two should be available. Offer wine in addition to beer. An elevator is needed. It was difficult for two of our travelers. There should be a Do Not Disturb sign for when you don't want your room cleaned. The window above the patio door emitted light because there was no way to cover it up. Thus causing us to wake sooner than desired.

Authenticity & Character

It was cute and the pool area was very nice.

Location

Walking distance to restaurants and the main street.

Staff

Breakfast staff were great.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Wyndham Guayaquil, Puerto Santa Ana

Guayaquil

It was fine for one night. I appreciate that they accommodated our need for box breakfasts.

Hotel Oro Verde Cuenca

Cuenca

Nice facility and rooms. The coffee pot was not plugged in and I could not get to the plug without pulling the refrigerator away from the wall and fishing out the cord. I liked that there was a Bistro as part of the hotel.

Mercure Alameda Quito

Quito

The common areas and restaurant were good. The breakfast buffet was good. The restaurant wait staff were a bit slow and forgot about my wine one night. My room was cold - no thermostat - though it was fine for sleeping. The room looked worn. Lighting was poor. There needed to be more coffee in the room. We asked Housekeeping for 2 packets and they brought one. I called Housekeeping the next night and they never answered. I called the front desk and they said they would get some coffee sent up - never happened.

Activity Reviews

Experience the Pristine Beauty of Galápagos Islands: Discovering an Uninhabited Island

Puerto Ayora

What diverse beauty! Snorckling was great - so many different and colorful fish. A sea lion swam right next to us. Seeing the Blue Footed Boobie was a highlight!!

Quality of Experience

Food

From appetizers to dessert and snacks in between - 100% tasty!!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We felt very safe and cared for.

Transport

The vents need to be fixed. It was either too cold or too warm because the vent open/close toggles were broken. The boat was clean, nice size with many options to hang out.

Kayaking on Tortuga Bay

Puerto Ayora

The water isn't clear so it was difficult to see anything under the water. Some of us were able to make out a shark and we could see sea turtles only when they popped their head out. Still, it was fun to kayak and to see the pelicans. The walk was very enjoyable stopping to learn about the area, see the fauna, marine iguanas and the mocking birds. The white sand is beautiful and a delight to walk on.

Quality of Experience

We somehow lost a towel and had to pay for it. That was sad. Nice having the boat and walking option.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ramiro and Vivianna are so knowledgeable and fun.

Transport

The vents need to be fixed. It was either too cold or too warm because the vent open/close toggles were broken.

Reforestation Program in Galapagos Islands : Rancho Primicias

Puerto Ayora

We enjoyed planting the trees and were ready to work even harder.

Quality of Experience

Food

So nice that everything is fresh from the area. Fun to have guava right from the pod!!!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Juan was a knowledgeable and funny guide

Transport

The vents need to be fixed. It was either too cold or too warm because the vent open/close toggles were broken.

Welcome to Santa Cruz Island: Visit Highlands & Charles Darwin Research Station In Style

Puerto Ayora

No one can describe how exciting it is to see these tortoises!

Quality of Experience

Very fun and educational.

Food

The trout was exceptional. It was nice having the yucca fries ahead of the meal and they were tasty!!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ramiro and Vivianna were patient with us, were knowledgeable and you could tell they love the Galapagos.

Transport

The vents need to be fixed. It was either too cold or too warm because the vent open/close toggles were broken.

From the Highlands to the Coast: Cajas National Park to Guayaquil

Ecuador

It was beautiful scenery even with the rain.

Quality of Experience

The hike

Food

Food was very tasty. Waiting for specialty coffees after the meal took too long because there was only one person and we had a large group.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Flavio was a great hike leader and overall guide

Transport

The bus was clean and mechanically sound. One of the tires picked up a nail but our driver had it taken care of quickly while we had lunch.

Arrival to Cuenca - City Tour

Cuenca

I am selecting "amazing" but it was raining and we decided to go to the hotel. But pictures from one of our group that braved the weather showed us much of what we missed. The Panama hat tour was fun and many of us made purchases!

Quality of Experience

Only 4 stars because the restaurant wasn't ready for us (not sure of the reason) BUT they recovered well and gave it their best. For that, I appreciate them.

Food

The food was good with the exception of the savory plantains. They could not be cut even with a knife. The good news is the restaurant provided alternatives that were tasty.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was very helpful. But as a last minute stand - in (beyond anyone's control) he didn't understand our lunch payment situation and pre-order situation. He was extremely patient and accommodating.

Transport

Clean and mechanically sound

Mindo Cloud Forest

Ecuador

Hummingbird experience was out of this world. The Equator Museum is another must-do!

Quality of Experience

Fun and educational

Food

It worked well that the food came on separate plates. This made it easier to identify who ordered what. The Ceviche was fabulous!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very knowledgeable and helpful

Transport

Clean and mechanically sound

Welcome to Ecuador: Let Your Adventure Begin! (Transportation Service)

Ecuador

We had 3 airport pick ups so we appreciate that. Especially the one very late at night.

Quality of Experience

It was a drive from the airport to the hotel and we didn't have to wait or walk a long distance

Guides, Drivers and Staff

It was easy to spot our contact at the airport

Transport

Clean and mechanically sound

Melanie listened to our entire wish list and produced an incredible two weeks in Italy.

Hotel Reviews

Parlamento Boutique Hotel

Rome

If you love boutique hotels you will love the Parlamento Boutique Hotel. Located on the 4th floor of a 500 year old building, the hotel is perfect for visiting all the old sites of Rome.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The small staff was amazing and very kind in guiding us to restaurants and local sites in Rome.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Caution to those who are unable to use stairs. The building has elevator service but not to all rooms from the 4th floor lobby.

Villa del Sole, Siena

Siena

Lovely hotel inside the old gates of Siena.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palazzo Castri 1874

Florence

Beautiful oasis in Florence.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Antica Locanda dei Mercanti Milan

Milan

Very fun hotel with a great location in Milan for tourists.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very helpful team of professionals who took the time to help us plan our day in Milan.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palace Hotel Lake Como

Como

Beautiful hotel, perfect location and a very welcoming team of professionals. Room very spacious for Europe and comfortable in every way.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Everyone was very welcoming and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Colosseo and Roman forums adventure

Rome

Excellent morning walking through 2000 years of history.

Quality of Experience

Was looking forward to this morning and it met all expectations.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was fantastic. Knew how to navigate the crowds and provided us a well balanced view of ancient Rome.

Vatican & Sistine Chapel Tour

Rome

A must afternoon while in Rome. Tour was full of information with an expert navigator of history.

Quality of Experience

A private tour enhanced the experience of visiting the Vatican.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Excellent guide. Very knowledgeable of history and the significance of the artifacts we were looking at.

Cooking class in Siena

Siena

A must in Tuscany. We had a great evening of cooking, drinking and eating!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Dennis could not have been more fun with his sarcastic touches and warm heart.

Guided Walking tour of Siena with Cathedral

Siena

This was a surprise gem of a morning. Loved the local lore and the cathedral is spectacular. Guide was fantastic.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was fantastic. Loved all the local lore she knew of the city.

Transport

Tuscany wine and Hills

Siena

A very fun day. Balance between winery and local villages. Would suggest a change in the second Winery. After visiting Talosa another top rated winery would have been preferred.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was so much fun and the driver was an expert navigating the sharp turns in the countryside.

Transport

very comfortable van.

Cinque Terre and Pisa Day Trip

Florence

Beautiful day with our private guide. She made the entire day so much fun.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was very fun and full of energy. Loved the day because of her.

Transport

Very comfortable van.

Milan last supper tour with skip the line tickets

Milan

Our private tour guide was full of information and very friendly. The extra effort in walking us back to our hotel through the ancient sites of Milan was a real treat.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was extremely knowledgeable and loved Milan. We fell in love with Milan during our time with him.

Transport

Lake Como Boat tour

Lake Como

Guide was amazing. Very friendly and full of fun facts and local lore.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide/captain was amazing.

Transport

Lake Como is beautiful!

We had a great time. Guomundur Òli was great. He helped us navigate some pretty crazy weather and kept the trip fun. His suggestions were great and helpful.