Kimkim Trip Reviews

So glad we found KimKim and Gummi. Gummi put together a great trip and added a restaurant we requested at the last minute. He kept in touch with us when we were on our trip to make sure we didn’t miss the Northern Lights. Our trip to the ice cave was for just the two of us- we wound up in the cave with no other people for a good period of time. Our guide said that is nearly impossible. Our guide was local and could get much closer to the entrance of the cave. Making it a half hour hike each way rather than an hour each way.
Each waterfall was more spectacular than the next.
Each hotel was beautiful and cozy.
The only less than stellar experience was the Lava Show- that may have been because we were thrown into a time slot with a school group.

Activity Review

Icelandic Food Walk

Reykjavík

We had Hilda as our guide, she was a wonderful guide to have. The portions were huge!

Quality of Experience

Huge portions

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hilda was a great guide, personality plus!

She's on her game!!!! I'm planning for a return trip 2027 to China.

I was a passionate adventure seeking traveler when I was younger.
Now that I am older but still have the same excitement about travel without tours for senior adults in cruise ships or totally planned tours for groups , I reached out to KimKim as a way to have "customized planned travel" without the stress involved with planning it on my own.
The trip to Portugal was developed brilliantly after I was able to work with Janelle to customize our itinerary. I could include time on our own to explore while she included other days with a guide. She also included areas of interest to my travel partner and I.
While in areas of Portugal that needed transport, we had very interesting local people who were extremely knowledgable and at the end of our time together, we considered them friends.
I wouldn't hesitate to contact KimKim when I plan my next trip!
Cheers, Jana King

The entire package was well-planned and carried out. Every driver/guide was excellent. Olivier was very gracious to take us to all the little towns, villages and farms in the countryside. Paulina knew the wine route well as well as the winery owners we visited. In Caen, our guide was very flexible when rain interrupted our plans and we needed to reschedule. Very knowledgeable about the history of Caen. Our guide to Omaha Beach Tristan, was extremely knowledgeable of the history and the area as well as a great guide through the Airborne Museum. Our driver/guide Rose was an excellent resource to Mont St. Michel. The drivers that took from train station to train station and to the airport were on time and got us where we needed to be easily. Every driver/guide was friendly, had a sense of humor and was very professional and courteous. Having train tickets and museum entry in advance was very helpful. Kim Kim made our trip very low stress and enjoyable. Well worth the cost to have everything taken care of for us. I would use KimKim, specifically Nathalie again to plan future trips.

Hotel Review

Best Western Royal Hotel

Caen

Kept having issue of our keys not working, but it was resolved easily each time. Great location and gracious staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

In

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

D-Day U.S beaches tour

France

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Guided Tour of Mont Saint Michel

France

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Caen: Capital city of the Basse Normandie region

Caen

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Caen!

France

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sydney and her team planned a fabulous 19-day trip to Greece for my husband and I. We flew into Athens where we explored the ancient sections of the city and the Psyrri neighborhood. Highlights were the Acropolis and Museum, the Ancient Agora, the Central Market, and frolicking around the Plaka. Next up was Mykonos where we stayed above Old Town in the beautiful Vencia Hotel with stunning views overlooking the town. We explored the labyrinthine Old Town and enjoyed cocktails and mezze plate by the harbor while watching the sunset. One afternoon was spent "Off the Beaten Path" hiking with a guide in the rural countryside, visiting a farm, seeing wild goats on a hike to the beach, and swimming in the beautiful Aegean with Yummy Pedals and our excellent guide Demetra. It was amazing to get away from the tourists and see a bit about rural like in Mykonos. Our cruise to Delos and Rhenia was such fun with the opportunity to do some swimming/snorkeling in the Aegean and to tour the ancient ruins of Delos. Our third destination was Naxos where we stayed in the Melidron Hotel and Suites with ocean views in Agios Procopios south of Old Town. The little town was cute and the beach was phenomenal! The highlight for us in Naxos was our e-bike tour that took us up into the mountains to a goat/sheep/cheese farm, an olive mill, and lunch at family-run taverna. Santorini was our next stop in Greece where we stayed in aptly named Absolute Bliss hotel located in Imerovigli north of Fira. This hotel is located right along the Fira to Oia caldera trail and overlooked the caldera with mind-blowing views of sunsets. Early cold weather and crazier than usual winds kept us from going on a scheduled catamaran cruise, but we hiked and explored Oia, Fira and the caldera trail with the quintessential views of the caldera hillside and the towns. A second day took us on a privately guided tour of three wineries on Santorini with Santorini Experts. Our final destination was Crete where we spent a day in Heraklion visiting the Knossos Palace (site of the ancient Minoan civilization) and the Archeological Museum with a private guide. Very interesting and memorable! We also took time to explore the Heraklion Venetian Harbor and the Venetian fortress. In the evening, central Heraklion comes alive with restaurants, gelato stands, and street performers! Our next stop in Crete was in Chania where we stayed in the very historic Porto Del Colombo right in the heart of the old city. Chania is exceptionally charming, sort of Venice without the canals! We enjoyed exploring the old town especially with the help of our local guide, Goldy, who couldn't be more charming. The different cultural influences on the city was fascinating to learn about and to see first-hand. Viewing stunning sunsets across the harbor will be a forever memory. Foodies will not suffer here. So many options and with fresh fish everywhere! Our last day in Chania was spent on a semi-private guided tour with Chania Adventures up into the White Mountains where we stopped for a wine tasting and a delicious taverna lunch overlooking the Samaria Gorge. What a serene spot to listen to the wild goats on the hillside and take in the views of the mountains! Our last day in Greece was spent on the Athenian Coast at the lovely Azur Hotel. We had just enough time to walk along the waterfront, get one last gelato, and have a lovely sunset view from a seafood restaurant before we had to head back home.

Sydney and team did a fantastic job of setting up all hotels, transfers, and excursions which made getting around seamless and practically effortless!

Hotel Reviews

Ivis 4 Boutique Hotel

Athens

Ultra modern hotel in the Psyrri neighborhood, five minutes from Monastiraki Square and the Ancient Agora, but not in an area overrun by tourists. The neighborhood is "up-and coming", with some popular restaurants, and near the interesting Central Market. Some streets near the hotel were a little bit more grungy, but we never felt unsafe. The staff was extremely kind and the included breakfast delicious!

Authenticity & Character

Unique area. Hotel is too modern to be called authentic.

Location

Close to Monastiraki Square and the Ancient Agora.

Staff

Welcoming, helpful, friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room size was generous for two people. Bed was comfortable and amenities well maintained.

Vencia Boutique Hotel

Mykonos

This hotel is located above Old Town but a short 5-10 minute walk gets you into the heart of Mykonos Town. The views from the hotel restaurant and pool are incredible as are the sunset views! The restaurant is pricey but delicious. Staff was so friendly and helpful.

Authenticity & Character

View, architecture, rooms each had own terrace or balcony.

Location

If someone is looking to be right in the middle of Old Town, they will not be as happy about this location as it requires a short, steep walk down (and back up!) from the hotel. We loved that it was NOT in the middle of the Old Town since the noise late at night would likely have been annoying.

Staff

Friendly, helpful, welcoming.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms, the grounds, the pool.

Melidron Hotel & Suites

Naxos

Situated on the main road coming into the beach town of Agios Procopios, it is a charming hotel with rooms arranged like little villas, each with their own private balcony. Our room did have a view of the beach which was a 10 minute walk away. It was in easy walking distance into the little beach town with the numerous restaurants and tiny shops and the beachfront with abundant beach chairs. Since we were there during shoulder season, our beach chair rental was front row and paid for with one set of drinks from the adjacent bar. What a bargain! Incredible views of the sunset from the beach!

Authenticity & Character

We felt like we were in our own little villa. Breakfast was homemade cakes, pastries in addition to a variety of other yummy foods.

Location

Loved its location near a beach town, but not within easy walking distance to Old Town Naxos, so we didn't really explore Old Town as much.

Staff

Efficient and informative.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Their beds were the hardest beds we ever slept on! We also noticed that hot water ran out quickly during showering.

Absolute Bliss

Santorini

The views from our room's balcony was just jaw-droppingly beautiful. The room/suite had a circular bed with canopy, a large living room with indoor jacuzzi, an outdoor terrace with lounge chairs and an outdoor hot tub. You should expect to have to walk up/down a LOT of steps, so this would not be an ideal place for someone with mobility issues. The hotel is located right on the infamous Fira to Oia caldera trail but also near a number of charming in-town and caldera-view restaurants and a few shops in Imerovigli. Be aware that getting anywhere else (Oia, Fira, southern beaches, Akrotiri, or wineries) requires an expensive taxi ride unless you are willing to hike the caldera trail or walk down to the main road to catch a local bus. We loved the quieter location compared to the more touristy Oia or Fira locations.

Authenticity & Character

We couldn't have been happier about the ambience and the view overlooking the caldera without being in the middle of suffocating crowds.

Location

We loved the location between Fira and Oia, but it is a bit harder to get to other parts of the island without some effort.

Staff

Super helpful! Because of the number of steps up/down to our room, they assisted us with our bags on arrival and departure. Our breakfast was delivered to our room each day!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Super clean and comfortable. Bathrobes and beach towels provided.

DOM Boutique Hotel

Heraklion

Centrally located in Heraklion, sophisticated and modern vibe, with a lovely, abundant buffet breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Seems like this hotel could be located in any cosmopolitan city. Very urban and modern.

Location

Close to center part of city and walkable to most points of interest.

Staff

The breakfast waiter was particularly helpful and attentive.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Comfy and clean. Room was the smallest room we had on the trip. Our bathroom had an awkward door that blocked the toilet, but we worked around that.

Porto Del Colombo Traditional Boutique Hotel

Chania

What an interesting, historic, old hotel! It is so deep in the historic area that there is no street that runs near it. Our transport had to drop us off down at the harbor and we walked about 5-6 blocks through charming, cobblestone streets to find the hotel tucked into the heart of the historic Venetian section of Chania. It is a very old hotel with furnishings that match the architecture. Our hotel room was three flights up (no elevator) and the room itself was two stories! 10/10 for character for sure!

Authenticity & Character

I can't imagine a hotel with more authenticity or character. What a treat!

Location

Loved that it was in the heart of the historic district and within walking distance of so much to see! If someone has mobility issues, this would not be the easiest hotel to stay in.

Staff

We met three staff persons who all seemed to work together to run the hotel. Front desk staff (and also breakfast attendants) were super friendly and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

An older hotel with limited staff is likely going to be a bit harder to keep super clean and fixed up. Despite that, we found the room to be very comfortable for sleeping.

Azur Hotel

Vouliagmeni

Situated within walking distance of the waterfront, this hotel is a converted apartment complex with a beautiful, modern aesthetic. Our room was a nice size with a beautiful balcony and comfortable bedding. Since we had to leave so early in the morning for our flight home, we did not have a chance to try their breakfast, but they provided us with a boxed breakfast which was delicious.

Authenticity & Character

It was a beautiful hotel with very little aesthetic that said "Greece" other than nearness to the Athenian "Riviera".

Location

Within a 15 minute walk down to the waterfront. With more time, we could have enjoyed the public beach park but arrived with just enough time to walk along the waterfront to find a restaurant with a sunset view.

Staff

Super friendly and welcoming. Provided a boxed breakfast for our early departure.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pristine and comfortable.

Activity Reviews

Self-Guided Museum Visits in Athens

Athens

The Acropolis Museum was absolutely amazing! Highly recommend using the audio tour as you go through the museum. We went through the museum before visiting the Acropolis which was helped us understand better what we were seeing when we toured the Acropolis. Do not forget to tour the ruins underneath the museum!

Quality of Experience

Ancient Athens Acropolis & Mythology Walk

Athens

A lifelong dream to see the Acropolis in person! Our tour guide was personable and knowledgable. The day started off rainy but ended up beautifully sunny, so be prepared by wearing comfortable footwear (no sandals) and raingear if rains is forecasted. Be prepared for A LOT of tourists, especially if the tour is in the late morning.

Quality of Experience

The Acropolis!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Knowledgable and friendly.

Off-the-Beaten-Path Island Hike

Mykonos

Privately guided 6 mile walk in rural Mykonos that took us to a farm with animals, past hillsides with wild goats, to a bay where we swam in the Aegean and took underwater photos, and then hiked backed along a donkey trail to the farm. Our guide, Demitra, of Yummy Pedals was so personable, fun and informative.

Quality of Experience

Got away from touristy areas and out into a rural area to see how rural families live.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Prompt, good driving, pointed out interesting places

Transport

Prompt and comfortable drive

Delos & Rhenia Sailing Cruise & Lunch

Mykonos

Lovely cruise out to Delos and Rhenia along with a delicious fresh lunch and a swim in the sea. I would have liked just a little bit more time on Delos (1hour).

Quality of Experience

Delos, swimming in crystal clear water, friendly staff and passengers

Food

Freshly prepared traditional Greek fare

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Naxos

While Mykonos Old Town is fascinating, it is filled with tourists. This activity was a nice opportunity to get out of the crowds and walk along quiet, rural goat paths and swim in an isolated bay in northern Mykonos. Our guide, Demetra, was personable, fun and funny telling us stories about the area and what life is like for the rural Greek family.

Quality of Experience

Hiking, animals, ocean swimming, great guide.

Food

Lemonade and snack provided were yummy.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Friendly, knowledgable, interested in us too.

Transport

Demetra picked us up promptly and told us what we were seeing along the way.

Self Guided Beach Time

Naxos

After days of racing around, we took a day to just sit on the gorgeous beach in Agios Procopios. Since it was shoulder season, it was not difficult to snag front row lounge chairs for the price of a couple of lemonades. The view was incredible and we stayed until the sunset.

Quality of Experience

Sunset Caldera Catamaran Cruise

Santorini

Due to unseasonably cold and windy weather the day we were scheduled to do this activity, we cancelled and spent the day exploring Oia and Fira instead. October may not be the ideal time to do an 8-hour cruise until 9 pm unless you know that the weather is warm!

Self Guided Museums of Chania

Chania

Exploring Chania is an amazing experience. Wandering through the cobblestone streets, stopping for a drink along the harborfront, and visiting some of the historical sites was a feast for the eyes, ears, and taste buds! Calling this activity Self-Guided Museums of Chania is a bit misleading since there was very little guidance about what to visit in Chania. A bit more information and/or a suggested walking tour with map would have made this a bit more instructive.

White Mountains Excursion with Wine & Olive Oil Tastings

Chania

The owner of Chania Adventures picked us and another couple up for a trip up into the White Mountains where we visited an olive farm and did a wine tasting at a winery overlooking hillsides filled with olive trees. As we drove, our guide entertained us with multiple stories about himself and life in Crete. Along the way we learned about beekeeping and saw numerous hillside beehives, paused for goats crossing the road, and ended up high in the mountains near the trailhead for Samaria Gorge where we enjoyed a substantial, delicious lunch in the traditional Greek taverna style.

Quality of Experience

Our guide was very knowledgable and we were given red carpet treatment all along the way!

Food

Delicious and plentiful!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Excellent guide!

Transport

Range Rover comfort.

Private Excursion to Minoan Palace

Heraklion

10/10 experience to tour this ancient ruin from the Minoan era. Our guide was incredibly knowledgable and led us on a pace that enabled us to fully appreciate the activity. I did not know that much about the Minoan civilization, but I was fascinated by the culture revealed.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Great van driver!

Traditional Vineyards & Wine Tasting Experience

Santorini

This was a private tour with a very personable guide who picked us up and drove us to three very different wineries to learn more about how grapes are grown in Greece and how wine is made. The first winery, in Megalochuri, exhibited a smaller, family-run, intimate winery with a tasting of five wines. The second winery was a much larger and more modern operation where we tasted three wines along with a few other tourists. The last winery was tucked away in the hillside with a romantic, garden vibe where we gobbled up delicious dips, cheeses and more incredible wine!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Self-Guided Local Markets Visit

Athens

We had a fascinating visit to the Central Market in Athens with its meat and fish market and the nearby spice, honey, olive, and deli shops. We also wandered through a lot of Athen's Plaka with its winding cobblestone streets, tourist shops, restaurants all with a view of the Acropolis above.

Quality of Experience

Evening Neighborhood Food Walk

Athens

Our guide was superb taking us on a three hour walk through interesting neighborhoods to have us stop to taste some of the more unique food and drink of Athens. Cheeses, olives, wines, meats, honey, bougatsa, gyros, loukoumades, gelato, and a final stop to sip raki, ouzo, and mastiha. Oof! Our guide patiently gave us a lesson on the Greek alphabet which we promptly forgot after drinking the wine and ouzo!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Self-Guided Mykonos Town Walk

Mykonos

We followed the Rick Steve's recommended walking tour for Old Town and learned so much about this unique town. Getting lost and wandering aimlessly was also a wonderful part of the experience! With the white buildings and blue accents, you truly explore this picture postcard town that is filled with sights, sounds, and smells never to forget!

Quality of Experience

Self-Guided Local Markets Visit

Naxos

Due to the timing of when our ferry arrived in Naxos, and the distance our hotel was from the Old Town Naxos, we never had a chance to truly explore Old Town.

Quality of Experience

Timing the arrival and other activities so that there is time to explore Old Town

Self-Guided Exploration of Santorini's Towns & Villages

Santorini

Photographs do not do justice to the absolute beauty of Santorini. To truly take it in, we felt that we needed to walk the village streets, the caldera trail, and ride the buses. The clifftop towns and villages with their white buildings clinging to the hillside, the blue church domes, the views of the caldera were a photographer's dream.

Quality of Experience

Self-Guided Heraklion Town Walk

Greece

The center of Heraklion is busy with tourists, vendors, street performers, and native Greek folk going about their lives. The history of Heraklion with its multiple historical/cultural influences is on display in the architecture and foods. Learning about the Minoan civilization was priceless and seeing the remnants of the presence of the Romans, Byzantines, Venetians, and the Ottomans was interesting. We spent a couple of hours exploring the Rocca a Mare Fortress or Koules which is a large harborfront fortress built by the Venetians in the 13th century.

Quality of Experience

Self Guided: Sunset Dinner Overlooking the Horizon

Athenian Riviera

Beautiful dinner on our last night in Greece overlooking the ocean as the sun set. A nice way to say our thanks and goodbyes to Greece for 19 wonderful days.

Quality of Experience

Private Guided Walk Through Old Town Chania

Chania

We met our guide, Goldy, a young Greek artist living in Chania for a three hour evening walk around the old part of Chania. Goldy brought the rich history of Chania alive as we walked and talked. She took us to an amazing spot to watch the sunset over Chania harbor and we ended up munching on delicious gyros at a family-run restaurant.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Goldy was a delight!

The country is fantastic
The driver was superb
He was intelligent and drove carefully

He was very helpful
And knowledgeable and enjoyable to be with
He was a real asset and made the trip even better
Richard Bassin MD
Jean Bassin

Our guide Giulia was very attentive. Monitored train schedules and provided alternative routes. Drivers for more complex routes were excellent. Driving is Rome is especially challenging, so always use a driver of taxi service. Travel in Italy is stress free with Giulia.

This was our first experience working with Kim Kim. We are usually 'do-it-yourselfers' kind of planners and actually enjoy that part of it. But, wanted to give this a try as we really wanted to experience our first visit to Croatia with an eye to 'local' favorites. Sara exceeded all our expectations. We felt like we had an angel on our shoulders (and whispering in our ears) the entire time. Not only did she identify a nice blend of places to visit - from heavily visited to off-the-beaten-path, we really felt like the trip was curated for our own unique interests. The service was over-the-top comfortable, which took so much stress out of things like hotel bookings, transport and timelines. Sara had it all mapped out. Another big highlight were the local guides along the way. Each were so wonderful and informative. I do want to give a BIG shout out to our favorite guide, in Zagreb: Josipa (Jo). She is knowledgeable, passionate, funny and filled with SO much information that she connected locally, globally and personally with stories, legends and humor. Fantastic!

Hotel Reviews

Amadria Park Hotel Capital

Zagreb

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Adriatic

Rovinj

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bastion Heritage Hotel—Relais & Châteaux

Zadar

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Piazza Heritage Hotel

Split

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Heritage Villa Nobile

Dubrovnik

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

House Flora

Rastovača

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Walking Tour of Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Konavle Region Culinary Experience (small group)

Croatia

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Walking Tour of Split

Croatia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hvar Day Trip from Split

Croatia

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Walking Tour of Zagreb

Zagreb

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Walking Tour of Plitvice Lakes National Park

Croatia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I had a great experience overall.
The Tupana Lodge in Amazonas was terrific - wonderful activities and outstanding guides and staff.
The guide arranged for me in Salvador - Felipe Leal - was fantastic: informed, smart, friendly, thoughtful.
Camille did an incredible job planning and organizing and curating the trip that I has hoping for.
Just an excellent adventure all around.
Thank you to all involved!
Warmly,
Phillip Walzak

Hotel Reviews

Casa do Bispo

Manaus

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Amazon Tupana Lodge

Manaus

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pousada da Mangueira

Salvador

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Transfer & immersion at the rainforest

Brazil

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Salvador Market Tour, Cooking Demonstration & lunch

Salvador

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walking Tour of Pelourinho

Salvador

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day 2 – Deep Jungle Exploration & River Adventures (Tupana Lodge)

Brazil

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day 3 – Sunrise Wildlife & Survival Experience in the Jungle (Tupana Lodge)

The Amazon

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Farewell to the Amazon - Return to Manaus

Brazil

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day 1 – Journey into the Heart of the Amazon Rainforest (Tupana Lodge)

Brazil

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kim Kim is a trusted outfitter that we have used a number of times for our trips in Europe. We use them mostly for our transfers and they have reliably moved us from point A ro point B on planes, trains, and ferrys. Our specialist Chris was also very helpful in choosing some outings along the way, although the main point of emphasis for us has always and will always be our transfers. Again, a trusted partner in European travel!

It was fine, but one of the lodging selections was terrible. The Desert Camp did not have consistent power, showers or align with our dietary needs. The team was flexible to change another trip element on the fly. The local guides for tours were informative and friendly. Our driver Hicham was especially wonderful.

The trip overall was very great! We had a rough start, not being able to check in early was not ideal would want to look at different options if we travel again and arrive early would want to get into a room and then with first tour being canceled and the rebooked on a different tour and then could not find that tour, eventually we did find them half way thru . All he other tours were good but I would say the Cheese Experience and Syrup Walffle factory are more tours for families with kids to enjoy! Zaanse Schans was great as well as Kimderdijk and our private tours in Delft and Antwerp were great also in Haage the Mauritshuis was very good but If there is captions in English we would not need the audio for those tours, overall a very great experience of a trip loved having the app was very helpful with the links with the maps I will definitely use Kimkim in the future thank you Matilde

Hotel Review

Hotel Mai Amsterdam

Amsterdam

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to the train station and easy to see sights

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Zaanse Schans Small-Group Half-Day Tour from Amsterdam

Amsterdam

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Antwerp!

Antwerp

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Delft!

Delft

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Antwerp Private Historical Tour

Antwerp

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Rotterdam!

Rotterdam

Private walking tour of Delft & Highlights of the City

Delft

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

M

Transport

An unforgettable French adventure thanks in large part to Caroline's efforts in setting up all our transfers, train trips and tours. We started in Paris where we visited many of the iconic sites... Notre Dame, Eiffel Tower, Versailles ,Le Louvre and many more. A quick side trip to Strasbourg where I met my wife (Pam) over 50 years ago! Afterwards we took the TGV train to Nice... thanks to Caroline for setting up the Acces Plus since Pam is in a wheelchair. The service is invaluable for people with mobility issues or disabilities. We were met by Gilles Bertrand our chauffer/guide in Nice... one of the best tour guides we've ever had anywhere in the world! After Nice we travelled to Aix-en-Provence and spent several days there visiting the quaint towns. Another comfortable train ride from Marseille to Bordeaux where we spent 3 days sightseeing and visiting several chateaus in Medoc and St. Julien. The last leg was a comfortable train ride back to Paris. A trip of a lifetime.

Activity Reviews

Louvre Museum in Paris: entrance tickets & audioguides

Paris

Skip the line Eiffel Tower Tickets - 2nd floor with audioguide

Paris

Versailles in Comfort: Palace & Gardens by Golf Cart

Paris

Riviera Gems: Èze, Monaco, Monte-Carlo & Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild

Nice

Full Day Exploration of Antibes, St-Paul-de-Vence and Cannes

Nice

Luberon Markets & Villages Day Trip

Aix-en-Provence

Le Pont du Gard & Avignon with a private driver from Aix en Provence

Aix-en-Provence

Seine River Gourmet Dinner Cruise - Privilege Service 6:15 pm

Paris

This is hard to write succinctly but I will try, Kimkim is great. I highly recommend working with them. Our local specialist Anita and team did a stellar job connecting us with local guides and smaller tours. Our stand out tour guide was Nuno from Get Lost Go Local. We could have talked to him all day. Nuno has a way of making you feel like a friend and really listens to understand and shares from the heart. We didn't have a single bad guide and so appreciate that they all shared their lived experiences.

Now for Anita, what a star, I feel like we asked so many questions had changes here and there and she was so helpful every step of the way. My sister recommended connecting with Kimkim and I am so glad she did.

Thanks so much!

The pre trip calls were unorganized and although we were requested to answer questions of most wanted to see the entire list of options was reviewed. More communication could have been completed via messages prior to travel.

The Sake tasting was disappointing. The tasting was in a small gift store/eatery. There was no real description on how sake was made and only a very quick description of what the color dots meant when given our 30 min (with a timer) to self serve for tasting. Taking us to a place that was a sit down and the host served you while giving a description of the process and what/why we should take or smell the certain aroma base on processing or area of the country it was made.

During the trip there we to many forms of communication and groups made. Karen touched on this during the trip, messages would get lost. Maybe make a WhatsAPP group for each day or tour guide - there would be information about Hiroshima in the HIroshima group but the tickets were sent to the main Karen group. Then you couldn't remember where everything was.

If Google maps is the recommended way to get around as it was then please automatically include a pin for the location.

We were very descriptive on the amount of luggage we would be carrying. We each had a roll carry on and one soft shell carry on. The driver to Mt Fuji was very surprised by this. He was very kind and informative

When scheduling tours please take better consideration of you group traveling and the distance between stops. For Tokyo and Kyoto I feel as these city's could have been better grouped to see things in closer proximity to each other vs trekking back and forth across the city.

10-22-26 A better understanding of the hotel and what we paid for. Breakfast was included. We felt rushed to complete breakfast and not miss/delay the driver. Meals at this location took 45-60 minutes.

Arriving in Nara - I was surprised the temple tickets were not included in out tour.

The cooking class with Majical tours was a flop. The host appears flustered and as if he had not done this prior. Items that were needed were not on location. The recipe for octopus balls was entirely too salty to eat.

The driver to the airport was falling asleep driving. This gave me very high anxiety and was very unsafe.

Hotel Reviews

Almont Hotel Nippori

Tokyo

Friendly, great location, and clean.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hakone Hoshi no Akari

Hakone

Staff was great and friendly. Enjoyed the traditional room. The bathroom was not clean, recommend removing the carpet from the toilet area to remove some of the urine smell.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fujisan Onsen Bessho SASA

Fujiyoshida

This place is absolutely amazing. Wish we had more time to spend here.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo

Kyoto

Location was the best feature. The rooms are outdated and dingy. We left without paying for our laundry service (yes our fault) and it was hard to communicate to get this paid for. A hotel this large and upto date technologically a payment link is recommended to send invoices to customers vs having to give the credit card number over the phone. With a language barrier many it removes the concerns and reduces risks of fraud.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

update rooms, dingy feel

Osaka Excel Hotel Tokyu

Osaka

A little far from the station to jump on the bullet train but shopping was right next door!! Enjoyed the bar area and room was very clean.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Watch Morning Practice at a Sumo Stable (Small Group Tour)

Tokyo

Wished it was an actual event vs training session but still loved it. Would have been great to get pictures with wrestlers at the end

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walking. we struggled to find meeting place

PRIVATE Kimono Tea Ceremony Gion Kiyomizu – at the Registered Cultural Property

Kyoto

This is a MUST do. I was expecting a little longer ceremony but that was my own preconceived notion.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Taxi

Best of Mt. Fuji Private Tour: Highlights & Hidden Gems (English)

Japan

I don't have enough great things to say about Lewis!!. His knowledge of the area, culture, and honestly all things was enjoyable. His waterfall surprise was a highlight for the waterfall chaser I am. Lunch was fantastic. Having an actual local give this tour was such a delight.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Osaka Cooking Class and Sake Tasting with Local Supermarket Visit

Osaka

This was very disorganized and being in a group with ladies that can and do cook often I was expected more of professional CHEF demonstration.

Quality of Experience

Food

to much salt

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Taxi

Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide

Tokyo

Our guide did great. He is so very kind and patient.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tokyo to Hakone Transfer: Mt. Fuji and Hakone Full-Day Tour with English-Speaking Driver

Japan

The guide was great once we got him talking!! Had lots of fun events lined up for us around Mt. Fuji.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Relax in Your Private Onsen and Savor the Dinner at the Hotel

Fujikawaguchiko

This place is heaven. The staff was kind and welcoming. The gardens - you need a half day to explore and soak up the amount of peacefulness that is around you. The beauty. The foot soak. I would return 100% and having the private onsen was delightful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Absolutely phenomenal trip from start to
Finish. Everything was thought of and well planned out. The choices were on point. I appreciate the local considerations in planning the trip and Cannon was fantastic throughout the planning and trip itself.

Hotel Reviews

Tokyo Dome Hotel

Tokyo

Great location and amenities. Really good area of Tokyo and hotel was spacious. Great morning breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Accommodating to all visitors

Location

Lots around it so made a lot within walking distance

Staff

Very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Well maintained hotel

SAKURA TERRACE THE GALLERY

Kyoto

Loved this hotel - great location to many things and the amenities are great. The breakfast was awesome and loved the vibe of the lobby area around the fire pits.

Authenticity & Character

Felt a part of the area; loved the onsen

Location

Close to train station and two malls

Staff

Super friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Amenities like onsen, bar area, and gym are great

Hotel Hankyu RESPIRE OSAKA

Osaka

Hotel was well situated and very modern. Close to the train station.

Authenticity & Character

Didn’t feel like a big hotel but had relaxing vibe

Location

By trains

Staff

Very helpful and friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Excellent common areas and room

Activity Reviews

Osaka: Guided Walking Tour with a Native Expert – Top Sights

Osaka

Quality of Experience

Liked it was a group tour

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was super knowledgeable

Transport

Meiji Jingu Cultural Walk with Tsukiji Market

Tokyo

Excellent day seeing sights and hearing all the history. It was very comprehensive in nature. The guide really infused history and culture in the whole walk and we carried that thru our whole trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

She was excellent and gave us many other recommendations for the city

Transport

Helpful to learn the transportation with guide there

Mount Fuji Day Trip: Adventure around Lake Kawaguchiko

Tokyo

Really nice to spend the day out and about the area. Guide was very informative.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Excellent

Transport

Kyoto’s Cultural Treasures: Fushimi Inari-Taisha, Kiyomizu-dera & Gion District

Japan

An entire day learning the history and seeing many sights. Really enjoyed the time with the guide as we went thru the city. It was good to learn to navigate the buses. Guide is flexible to time and interests too. We packed in a lot in a day!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Excellent

Transport

Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

This was super fun to dress up and learn the history of the team ceremony. We really enjoyed this cultural immersion.

Quality of Experience

Fantastic

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Nara City Tour, Overnight in Osaka

Japan

We really enjoyed the day in Nara both for the sites, the deer and the restaurant we stopped at. It was a great place to spend time.

Quality of Experience

lol

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great driver and comfortable ride

Transport

Excellent

A Wonderful Paris Experience with KimKim Travel – Liz and Her Team Had Our Back!

KimKim Travel really shone from the very beginning of planning our visit to Paris. Liz was incredibly helpful and patient as we worked together to create an itinerary that reflected our interests, preferences, and travel style.

I had some very specific requests: transportation from the airport to our hotel; a hotel in Paris with a kitchen; days with little or no scheduled activity after full-day excursions; a hotel near Disneyland Paris; and transportation to the airport for our flight to Venice.

After much back-and-forth, we finally agreed on an itinerary. A few months later, my travel partner reviewed the plans and had some additional questions. Liz patiently scheduled a call with us, and we spent nearly an hour rearranging activities and clarifying transportation details—including when we would have door-to-door transfers and when we would use the Metro, Uber, or taxis.

A few days later, Liz sent us a video walking us through the entire itinerary in detail, complete with suggestions and helpful hints to make our trip as enjoyable as possible. That level of attention and support was outstanding.

And the outcome? A fantastic Paris adventure!

Our Paris Highlights

Arrival in Paris - KimKim arranged a private transfer from Charles de Gaulle Airport to our Citadines Bastille Marais hotel. That went flawlessly. Importantly, Liz respected our request to keep arrival day unscheduled. After a long flight from Los Angeles, we were grateful for the opportunity to settle in and relax.

A Gourmet Introduction to Paris

Our first activity was A Gourmet Voyage Through Paris: Lunch Experience on a Double-Decker Bus. It was a wonderful introduction to Paris's highlights while we enjoyed a delicious gourmet lunch. We even had our first up-close experience with the Arc de Triomphe!

Remembering D-Day in Normandy

KimKim arranged a full-day excursion from Paris to Normandy, visiting several significant D-Day sites. There was plenty of walking, but the experience was deeply meaningful and memorable.

Liz and her team absolutely hit it out of the ballpark with what was scheduled for us the following day. Knowing we didn't want another activity after our long day in Normandy, they arranged an early-evening Seine River gourmet dinner cruise. Wow.

We had premium seats, which I am certain didn't happen by accident! As we cruised along the Seine, we enjoyed fabulous food, a breathtaking sunset, and the beauty of Paris as it transitioned into night.

We also shared a photograph of ourselves with the KimKim team. They were genuinely interested in hearing about our experiences, and their enthusiastic responses made us feel as though we were sharing our journey with friends.

The Opéra Garnier

Our private exploration of the Opéra Garnier was another highlight. Our kind, patient, and handsome guide escorted us through the highlights of this magnificent historic building during a fascinating 90-minute tour. As we requested, we left the rest of the day unplanned so we could explore on our own.

Giverny and the Palace of Versailles

KimKim arranged our Giverny & Palace of Versailles: Art, Royalty & Gardens excursion.
This was a delightful surprise. I had visited Versailles in 2000, but I had never explored the gardens. The extensive gardens were absolutely amazing, and I actually enjoyed them more than the crowded Palace itself.

Our guide also took us to Marie-Antoinette's estate, specifically the Queen's Hamlet. That experience was, well, mind-blowingly fascinating. Such wealth!

A great excursion, for sure.

Père Lachaise Cemetery

Our two-hour private walk through Père Lachaise Cemetery was splendid.

This cemetery was one of my most memorable experiences during my 2000 trip to Paris, and returning did not disappoint. Our guide, Audrey, was delightful. We felt as though we had known her for years.

The Louvre

KimKim also arranged a private two-and-a-half-hour tour of the Louvre. This was one experience that didn't quite meet our expectations—not through any fault of KimKim. I had naively expected a general overview of the ENTIRE museum, not realizing it takes much more than two hours to cover it. So, a well-informed guide escorted us through one particular era within the museum and shared lots of historical details about the paintings.

It wasn't quite what we had envisioned. We made the best of it and were certainly impressed by the knowledge shared and the artwork we visited.

Disneyland Paris

Kim Kim arranged a private transfer from our Paris hotel to the Disneyland Paris Cheyenne Hotel. That went flawlessly.

However, we did encounter some accessibility challenges at the hotel. No porters and no luggage carts. As seniors, we were surprised to find no stairs providing access to the second floor. We also had to carry our luggage a considerable distance to reach our reassigned ground-floor room.

We shared our concerns and photographs with the KimKim team, and they were genuinely grateful for the information. It was clear that they wanted to learn from our experience to better serve future travelers - especially seniors.

Aside from the hotel accommodation issues, our visit to Disneyland Paris was splendid!

The KimKim Difference

Overall, we felt as though we were working with friends who were cheering us on throughout our journey.

We were even inspired to send Liz and her team photographs of ourselves enjoying the sights along the way. Their enthusiastic responses made the experience feel personal, and we appreciated knowing that they were genuinely interested in how our trip was unfolding.

This was my second trip planned with Kim Kim—the first was a five-day visit to Australia—and I remain impressed by the level of support they provide, especially while you are actually traveling.

Liz and her team were there for us when we had questions, when misunderstandings arose, and when we simply wanted to share the fun of our adventures.

Travel planning is one thing. Having a team that genuinely cares about your experience is something else entirely.

Thank you, Liz, and the entire Kim Kim team, for helping make our Paris adventure so memorable. I would absolutely recommend Kim Kim Travel to anyone looking for a thoughtfully planned, personalized trip with outstanding support along the way.

Hotel Reviews

Disney's Hotel Cheyenne

Coupvray

We did encounter some accessibility challenges at the hotel. As seniors, we were surprised to find no stairs providing access to the second floor. We also had to carry our luggage a considerable distance to reach our reassigned ground-floor room. Additionally, our room was cold and we were unable to get heat.

Authenticity & Character

It is decorated after the famed Disneyland Movie Toy Story

Location

The bus shuttle ride to and from Disneyland Paris was really handy - and never long waits between rides.

Cleanliness & Comfort

A wonderful gentleman gave us until 1:00 to check out instead of 11:00. That was so incredibly helpful for us as we prepared to travel to Venice.

Novotel Suites Paris CDG Airport

Roissy-en-France

A basic hotel. Clean, comfortable.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Citadines Bastille Marais Paris

Paris

It was a bit farther from Paris's highlights than we expected, but it met our needs and was comfortable. Having a full kitchen is a real bonus. Judging by the amount of activity, this is a popular stay for travelers. We wished the hotel staff were a bit more accommodating in servicing our room. It was clear that it had to be done on THEIR schedule, not ours. So, subsequently, for two consecutive days, the room was not attended. We were provided ice, towels, and trash removal, which were promptly provided.

Activity Reviews

Graves & Greats: Père Lachaise Private Walk

Paris

Our two-hour private walk through Père Lachaise Cemetery was splendid. This cemetery was one of my most memorable experiences during my 2000 trip to Paris, and returning did not disappoint. Our guide, Audrey, was delightful. We felt as though we had known her for years. As a photographer and lover of old cemeteries, I found that the two hours flew by as we visited amazing graves, including Jim Morrison, Orson Welles, and Chopin. The cemetery is HUGE; no one can see the entire cemetery in two hours. But the two hours we visited were plenty to fill our cameras with delightful old graves.

Paris to Normandy: Remembering D-Day

Paris

Wonderful recap of the historic D-Day. Felt the tour was complete in the historic recount and sites of D-Day

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Giverny & Palace of Versailles: Art, Royalty & Gardens

Paris

KimKim arranged our Giverny & Palace of Versailles: Art, Royalty & Gardens excursion. This was a delightful surprise. I had visited Versailles in 2000, but I had never explored the gardens. The extensive gardens were absolutely amazing, and I actually enjoyed them more than the crowded Palace itself. Our guide also took us to Marie-Antoinette's estate, specifically the Queen's Hamlet. That experience was, well, mind-blowingly fascinating. Such wealth! A great visit, for sure.

Private Louvre Museum Visit

Paris

This was one experience that didn't quite meet our expectations—not through any fault of KimKim. I naively expected a general overview of the ENTIRE museum, not realizing it takes much more than two hours to cover it. So, a well-informed guide escorted us through one particular era within the museum and shared lots of historical details about the paintings. It wasn't quite what we had envisioned. We made the best of it and were certainly impressed by the knowledge shared and the artwork we visited.

A Gourmet Voyage Through Paris: Lunch Experience on a Double-Decker Bus

Paris

It was a wonderful introduction to Paris's highlights, paired with a delicious fine-dining lunch. There is no narration. Just dining and enjoying the sights.

Early Seine River Gourmet Dinner Cruise

Paris

One highlight of our visit. As we cruised along the Seine, we enjoyed fabulous food, a breathtaking sunset, and the beauty of Paris as it transitioned into night.

Private Exploration of the Opera Garnier

Paris

The Opera Garnier is an incredibly beautiful historical site. How can one not be awed and inspired by its beauty? We had a private tour lasting 90 minutes, which seemed ample time to see the Opera Garnier gems.

We had an amazing trip to Japan! We visited Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. Our guides Eric, Eiichi and Hiroshi were all knowledgeable, passionate, and highly accommodating to all of our needs. The sites we saw, activities we did, and food we ate, were all fantastic....it's hard to pick out the highlights.

The best part of working with kimkim was our specialist, Ben. If we could give him 6 stars, we would. Ben started with a great itinerary, gracefully answered our many, many questions and changes, and was incredibly responsive. We'd never been to Japan before, so we had tons of questions and details we wanted to understand. Ben answered them quickly, and thoroughly. We felt very assured prior to, and during our trip, that everything was covered, and we were hitting all the highlights we were most interested in. We can’t say enough good things about Ben. He was fantastic to work with.

We will definitely use kimkim again, and when we do, we’ll ask for Ben.

Our trip to Bhutan was one of our best ever. From exploring Bhutan’s Buddhist culture to challenging hikes and exploring stunning scenery, the trip was amazing from start to finish. Vishal organized every aspect of the trip, including exceptional hotels with kind staff throughout. We also really enjoyed our guides, Jimmy and Jumple, who went to great lengths to meet our every need. Seeing Everest on a clear day on our flight home was very special. We would work with Vishal and his team again in a heartbeat. Thank for a great adventure!

Overall
This was our first time working directly with a travel agent to arrange a personal trip, and it worked quite well. We really appreciated not having to make all of the arrangements ourselves without any personal knowledge of the country. Siena crafted a very nice trip for us in Greece. Communication with her and the team was good both before the trip and during it, and she took our input and preferences into account. The app provided the information we needed about the trip.

There was one hiccup regarding communicating about the Likinia Hotel in Monemvasia. In a message, information was provided on calling the hotel to get someone to help with our bags since it was some distance from where cars could go to the hotel over rough walkways. Unfortunately, that info was in a message rather than the information about the hotel itself, so we did not see it until days later. Info of that type should go into the main part of the app so that we are sure to see it. It would have saved us a fair bit of inconvenience that day.

The itinerary would have benefitted from a map showing where things are located. One of the suggested sites to visit was Mystra, which would have been a short detour from our route the first day. Not realizing that, we first drove to our hotel, then discovered that Mystra was over an hour back along our route to the hotel.

One minor usability suggestion for the app is that it would make sense to have it open at the current day rather than always opening at the beginning of the trip.

Shuttles
We appreciated having transportation already arranged, especially to pick us up from the Athens airport since we were very tired. It felt a bit odd to have just the two of us in a mini-bus, though.

The only slight hiccup came when on our ride to the airport. Because of a road closure for construction near our hotel, it was more difficult to reach. We messaged the company about the road closure, and they acknowledged it. Unfortunately, this information didn’t make it to the driver, so it took him an extra 15 minutes to reach us.

Hotels
All of the hotels were excellent, and we enjoyed staying at each of them. We would return to all of them.

Tours
We enjoyed all of the tours that were arranged for us, and the guides and drivers were all professional and prompt. I would recommend all of them, though I’m not sure I have their names except Hercules was our guide for the hike to the monastery.

Our visit to Liotrivi Mansion was, overall, very nice. We appreciated learning about the harvesting of olives and the making of olive oil. The pairing of their wines with individual small snacks added to the experience. The lunch was also quite nice. However, while the olive oil tasting sounded like something fun to do, I don’t think it is something we would do again. The Greeks might be that into olive oil, but I doubt most others are!

The hike to the Avgou Monastery was, perhaps, not adequately described. The scenery during the hike and, especially, from the Monastery were wonderful. However, the hike was more than one of us could handle due to a sore knee developed from climbing around Monemvasia and Mystra, so only one of us made it to the Monastery. While the hike was described as “invigorating” and the tour is listed as lasting 8.5 hours, it didn’t say the distance (8 miles or so) or the elevation gain/loss (maybe 1200 feet). I think both of us could have made the trip were it not for the sore knee, but having that information about the hike ahead of time would have helped us make a judgement on how suitable it was.

Visiting the Acropolis was a must-do for us during our visit to Athens. However, the crowds there made it less enchanting than it would be otherwise. I don’t know if there’s anything that can be done to have it be less crowded (e.g. different time to visit), though we understand it is probably the most-visited thing in all of Greece. It might have been a bit of a help to have a guide for just the two of us rather than being a part of a group since there would be fewer troubles in keeping the group together and ensuring everyone can hear. On the other hand, we did enjoy talking to the others on the tour, so there are some nice social aspects to being part of the group.