Kimkim Trip Reviews

Terry did a great job of managing things we wanted to see, downtime and our route. We enjoyed having a couple things planned the first few days then relaxed into our own schedule and our own pace for a few days. It was perfect!

Sonia helped us plan a wonderful, personalized trip to Italy. Our itinerary was full, but everything went smoothly. From driver’s meeting us at the airport, to train stations etc - everything was wonderful. She also provided us with a concierge who took care of us during our trip when we had any questions or concerns. All the hotels and excursions booked were great! I would highly recommend booking your dream vacation through KimKim and using Sonia’s services. She was terrific.

Norway is such a magical place, and this trip allowed us to burrow in further than our previous trip. Our trip had a nice flow, and our accommodations were excellent. We stayed in both an incredible boutique style hotel suite, and a fishing cabin in the Lofotens. Our overnight on the Hurtigruten Ferry gave us a taste of cruising and allowed us to take a RIB trip to the Saltstraumen Strait. We liked having 2 nights at our hotels so we could get there, explore and relax. Linda was attentive to... read more

Norway is such a magical place, and this trip allowed us to burrow in further than our previous trip. Our trip had a nice flow, and our accommodations were excellent. We stayed in both an incredible boutique style hotel suite, and a fishing cabin in the Lofotens. Our overnight on the Hurtigruten Ferry gave us a taste of cruising and allowed us to take a RIB trip to the Saltstraumen Strait. We liked having 2 nights at our hotels so we could get there, explore and relax. Linda was attentive to our needs with many great suggestions. Thank you for your organization and ease of planning.

Audrey and I planned this trip together over a period of a couple of months. She was responsive to my questions and requests in a timely and intelligent manner.
All arrivals and departures were handled with lovely attentive drivers.
We were traveling for 11 days in Barcelona and Marseilles with a 1 day stop in Sete, France.
In Barcelona we went on a tour of Montserrat with Vincent. He was a wonderful tour guide. Friendly , personable attentive, aware of the differences in his group of... read more

Audrey and I planned this trip together over a period of a couple of months. She was responsive to my questions and requests in a timely and intelligent manner.
All arrivals and departures were handled with lovely attentive drivers.
We were traveling for 11 days in Barcelona and Marseilles with a 1 day stop in Sete, France.
In Barcelona we went on a tour of Montserrat with Vincent. He was a wonderful tour guide. Friendly , personable attentive, aware of the differences in his group of people. We had a wonderful day with a group of people from many different places because Vincent made it enjoyable and informative.
In Sete we met Marc for a private food tour. It was one of the highlights of our trip. Marc was knowledgeable, informative and extremely personable.
On the whole this trip worked for two older women exploring 2cities in Europe.
We thank Audrey for assisting us in this adventure.

Nadia did a fabulous job of planning our vacation for us. Everything was on point and on schedule from the hotels, transfers and excursions. read more

Nadia did a fabulous job of planning our vacation for us. Everything was on point and on schedule from the hotels, transfers and excursions.

THE BEST TRIP !! Every aspect was top notch. All of our drivers were wonderful very nice, friendly and leaving us with so much information and history. So many great moments.
Thank you! read more

THE BEST TRIP !! Every aspect was top notch. All of our drivers were wonderful very nice, friendly and leaving us with so much information and history. So many great moments.
Thank you!

First of all, the trip exceeded our expectations by a long ways! Thank you so much Chris for all your help in the planning and execution!
Our first stop was in Athens, where we stayed in the plako district in a very cute suite in a perfect location. The hostess there [named Magna, I believe] was super helpful in every way.
We were met at the hotel and taken to the fast ferry by an individual whose name I cannot remember. In fact we were always met on time in each location but the names... read more

First of all, the trip exceeded our expectations by a long ways! Thank you so much Chris for all your help in the planning and execution!
Our first stop was in Athens, where we stayed in the plako district in a very cute suite in a perfect location. The hostess there [named Magna, I believe] was super helpful in every way.
We were met at the hotel and taken to the fast ferry by an individual whose name I cannot remember. In fact we were always met on time in each location but the names of the driver's escape me. Nonetheless they were all punctual and most pleasant.
Our next stop was Cyros, where he stayed as an unbelievably amazing suite with a beautiful large deck overlooking the ocean! The proprietor [Doddy] and her daughter were most gracious and helpful. The breakfasts they provided were outstanding.
Our next stop was Naxos, and it was the least favorite places on the trip. The room we stayed in was somewhat dark, and although it did have a view of the ocean, between us and the ocean was a parking lot and a field. The breakfast was outstanding but not in the building we were staying in, Although the location was not bad, it was not great either. We would not recomend this hotel. The highlight of the island was the car rental [which I would highly recommend for both islands] and our tourof the Island.
The final stop was the highlight of the trip which was Santorini. The accomodationds were unbelieveable, as was the hostess, Again great breakfasts. We took a guided tour of the Island ending in a wine tasting location, and we probably no more about Santorini than we do about Victoria where we live. The guide on the tour was the key reason that it was such a success. We are uncertain about his name but believe it was Bosnos, or something similar. Most informative and entertaining as well! On the last day we went on a sunset cruise on a catamaran, and although the sea was quite rough, it was well worth taking gravol and enjoying the scenery and company. The staff on the boat were most gracious, serving beer, wine and a very good dinner. It was a nice way to finish off our visit to Greece.

Hotel Reviews

Lithies Traditional Homes

Thíra

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kyria Boutique House

Plaka, Athens

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cyano Suites

Naxos

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arion Syros

Hermoupolis, Syros

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Santorini Highlights Tour and Wine Tasting

Greece

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Catamaran Cruise in the Caldera Lagoon

Santorini

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Location: Rome, Florence, Venice, Athens, Mykonos, Santorini
Duration: 2 weeks
Travel Agent: Ina

The two weeks that he had organized through kimkim was a terrific travel experience! We will first start of by saying that they do a wonderful job on working with a set budget. Ina was our travel agent for our excursion in Italy and the Mediterranean and was able to provide a very detailed itinerary, then amend it based on our thoughts, prioritization and budget. Each of our destination... read more

Location: Rome, Florence, Venice, Athens, Mykonos, Santorini
Duration: 2 weeks
Travel Agent: Ina

The two weeks that he had organized through kimkim was a terrific travel experience! We will first start of by saying that they do a wonderful job on working with a set budget. Ina was our travel agent for our excursion in Italy and the Mediterranean and was able to provide a very detailed itinerary, then amend it based on our thoughts, prioritization and budget. Each of our destination locations were roughly 2 days, which gave us time to experience pre-set tours, walking around the locations, eat out and allow us to have a "free day" to explore.

It was incredibly convenient to have Ina email us the itinerary prior, with all the tickets, tour info, must see hot spots, and have ALL the intricate travel taken care of. We appreciated the recommended sights to see as well as cafes/restaurants/bars to visit. We had never seen such a detailed itinerary and were very appreciative of all the insights. Car services and water taxis were very punctual (sometimes early) when picking us from the hotels and taking us to the next destination on the itinerary. How to get from point A to B to C was something we were initially stressed about. Kimkim does an excellent job at taking care of all the travel plans while you are in a foreign country. We had minimal issues with moving to and from locations due to the detailed itinerary and punctual aspect of the car services.

Restaurant reservations were even made by her after our input on food preferences.
Every now and then, we would need to reach out to kimkim on Whatapp via mobile if we were in a bind for some details, but kimkim was prompt and handled the situation without any major issues.

The only recommendation we have is to provide different options for the local tours. We overall were happy with the tours Ina set up! For example, we are very interested in Greek mythology and there was an option to do a Greek mythology based tour of the Acropolis. We did the architectural based tour which was good but would have liked to have the mythology incorporated into the tour.

Overall, this trip was incredible, and it went by so fast for how busy we kept. We took this opportunity to do as much as possible in the 2 weeks we had. Ina made sure to be very detailed in the planning.

Kimkim wiped away so much stress, made travel easier and provided an insight into the Italian and Greek culture that we would not have gathered with self-planned travel.

We can't speak highly enough of kimkim and look forward to our next adventure with these folks the next time we choose to travel internationally!

We loved the itinerary that Robi put together for us, particularly the whole area of Istria, the Plitvice lakes and Krka National Park. We had visited Split and Dubrovnik previously and it was interesting to see how they had become so much more 'touristy'. We were pleased that the visit to Mostar was included too. All our accommodation was excellent, welcoming staff, good food and well situated. A minor criticism..the air conditioning in the vehicle could have been more efficient for those... read more

We loved the itinerary that Robi put together for us, particularly the whole area of Istria, the Plitvice lakes and Krka National Park. We had visited Split and Dubrovnik previously and it was interesting to see how they had become so much more 'touristy'. We were pleased that the visit to Mostar was included too. All our accommodation was excellent, welcoming staff, good food and well situated. A minor criticism..the air conditioning in the vehicle could have been more efficient for those in the back!!
Bruno was an exceptional guide! He had patience, was courteous and had a great sense of humour! His knowledge was excellent and we would have no hesitation in recommending Robi and Bruno ( and Goran, Robi's cousin, who took us on an exciting boat trip!) for their expertise and care... nothing was too much trouble. A truly memorable trip to Croatia, Thank you All!

Audrey did a phenomenal job planning our week in France. We were concerned that attempting to do Paris and the Provence region would be too ambitious, but it was not! Audrey truly listened to our desires and managed to plan a trip that was the perfect mix of seeing all the major landmarks, to small intimate tours that really captured the culture and flavor of Paris and Marseille. We had plenty of time to sit at cafes sipping some lovely French wine and taking it all in!
Another perk of... read more

Audrey did a phenomenal job planning our week in France. We were concerned that attempting to do Paris and the Provence region would be too ambitious, but it was not! Audrey truly listened to our desires and managed to plan a trip that was the perfect mix of seeing all the major landmarks, to small intimate tours that really captured the culture and flavor of Paris and Marseille. We had plenty of time to sit at cafes sipping some lovely French wine and taking it all in!
Another perk of doing travel this way was having all of our tickets in hand. No waiting to go to the summit of the Eiffel Tower, into the Louvre, or the Palace of Versailles. It was apparent that many spent hours in line at these key sights.
All of our travel guides were timely, professional, fluent in English and SO knowledgeable about the history of the areas we visited. A special thank you to Florence and LuLu who made our time in Marseille so perfect and customized! The food and wines we sampled, along with the breathtaking sights will never be forgotten!

Hotel Reviews

Hôtel Jardin de Cluny

Paris

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Maisons du Monde Hôtel & Suites - Marseille Vieux Port

Marseille

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Discovery tour of Paris by vintage 2CV

Paris

Such a fun way to see the major landmarks, however our guide was not fluent in English and struggled to relay much information or history of what we were seeing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dinner at the Ciel de Paris restaurant

Paris

Quality of Experience

G

Food

Transport

Seine river cruise

Paris

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Food tour in Montmartre

Paris

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Marseille food tour

Marseille

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cassis & Bandol Rosé Wine Tour

Marseille

Cassis was so charming! We had a wonderful tasting experience at two wineries!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Florence is so knowledgeable about the region.

Transport

Visit of Luberon & the hilltop villages

France

Each village was so unique and so beautiful. We truly felt like we understood how people have lives and worked in these villages for centuries. Amazing experience!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Florence is top notch! She truly got to know us and customized the experience for us!

Transport

The trip was amazing. All of the transfers came off smoothly and the hotels were great.
The first night dinner at the Ergon was fabulous, we could not eat all of it. What an array of foods! Pavlina Snoblova <pavlina@alternative-athens.com> was a great tour guide for the Athens food tour, a real must for those seeking some authentic Greek food and coffee. We really liked Efyenyi's guided tour of the acropolis area. Being an archeologist, she had some good in-depth knowledge.
Antonio on... read more

The trip was amazing. All of the transfers came off smoothly and the hotels were great.
The first night dinner at the Ergon was fabulous, we could not eat all of it. What an array of foods! Pavlina Snoblova was a great tour guide for the Athens food tour, a real must for those seeking some authentic Greek food and coffee. We really liked Efyenyi's guided tour of the acropolis area. Being an archeologist, she had some good in-depth knowledge.
Antonio on Syros went above and beyond with his tour. It was the "white glove" treatment. I recommend him. The Akron Hotel was beautiful and the view from our window spectacular.
On to Naxos - we would have liked being closer to the beach but everything was very good. The second day was very windy so we shifted great and toured the marble city instead of Plaka Beach. Our driver spoke no English so it was a quiet ride, We toured the Kastelo and the next day on the food tour with Kyriaki we visited all but 2 of the stops we went to the day before. Glad to see our choices validated!
Then to Santorini; what a beautiful place! the room was exquisite. our favorite right after the Akron. We would recommend room 22b at the Makris Beach hotel! Bello was our tour guide for the trip to Oia, he was excellent, keep him. Our day trip on the catamaran was stunning. We were on the Time Out. The captain and crew we competent and hard working, seeing the city of Oia and the beaches from the water was a unique perspective. Snorkling was lovely as was the on-baord food. The icing on the cake was when the captain stopped the boat so we could all see the sun go down into the Agean sea. Truly memorable. The only thing I would have wanted was late check out from the Makris Beach Hotel, we could have enjoyed the beach one more time.

What a wonderful trip to Iceland!

It’s hard to believe how effortless it was - my group of friends regularly commented on how well thought out our days were and we can’t thank Lisbet enough for her expertise and patience.

Overall, I found the KimKim site & service modern, simple and extremely convenient. It was just so easy to plan and communicate with our agent, Lisbet.

Lisbet is an Iceland guru. Beyond the detailed itinerary, pre-planned Google Map and reservation documents, she... read more

What a wonderful trip to Iceland!

It’s hard to believe how effortless it was - my group of friends regularly commented on how well thought out our days were and we can’t thank Lisbet enough for her expertise and patience.

Overall, I found the KimKim site & service modern, simple and extremely convenient. It was just so easy to plan and communicate with our agent, Lisbet.

Lisbet is an Iceland guru. Beyond the detailed itinerary, pre-planned Google Map and reservation documents, she had some seriously amazing recommendations on where to eat in Iceland. Our favorite was the Tapas restaurant in Reykjavik - moody, vibrant and some of the best tapas I’ve had in the world. Our favorite activity was the glacier hike near Vik -the expert guides helped us feel confident so we could take the full experience in!

Because the service was so magnificent, our group we were able to focus on connecting and build ing our friendships - thank you Lisbet & KimKim

This has been an amazing trip, Duncan has been extremely efficient in always providing responses very quickly and in great detail. I would not hesitate to work with Kimkim again!!! Special thanks to Duncan for all the support he has provided to us.

This was just a spectacular experience and Bruno was so helpful and responsive. He did an outstanding job of making our trip enjoyable and smooth. read more

This was just a spectacular experience and Bruno was so helpful and responsive. He did an outstanding job of making our trip enjoyable and smooth.

Activity Reviews

Mljet National Park Day Trip

Croatia

Explore Split and Diocletians palace

Split

Dubrovnik - Departure day

Croatia

I think everyone (Francisco, Ricardo, Andre, Nelson, Diego, another Andre, Joao (and Daniel) and Claudia - all of whom were phenomenal in their treatment of 3 ladies visiting Portugal for the first time. Each and every one of them engaged in thorough and pleasant conversations teaching us about their country and sharing stories of great interest to us all.
History lessons accompanied by a genuine desire to let us learn about Portugal and its peoples were carefully and easily given.
I cannot... read more

I think everyone (Francisco, Ricardo, Andre, Nelson, Diego, another Andre, Joao (and Daniel) and Claudia - all of whom were phenomenal in their treatment of 3 ladies visiting Portugal for the first time. Each and every one of them engaged in thorough and pleasant conversations teaching us about their country and sharing stories of great interest to us all.
History lessons accompanied by a genuine desire to let us learn about Portugal and its peoples were carefully and easily given.
I cannot say enough about the welcomeness felt by all and the easiness to get around with help from our Portuguese guides.
It was a trip we will recommend to many of our friends. Pedro listened to all of our needs and fulfilled them all. His constant check-in of how things were going made us all very cared for! Thank you so much and we look forward to visiting your beautiful country with beautiful people once again.

Hotel Reviews

Madalena by The Beautique Hotels

Lisbon

Small but unique in all its lovely working personnel. We were welcomed with open arms and always being accompanied with directions, our personal needs, restaurant suggestions and information etc. Truly a home away from home......Helpful in every way! Breakfast crews were delightful...... We would recommend Madalena highly....also location was perfect!

Authenticity & Character

Attention to detail.....

Location

Easy to walk everywhere from there!

Staff

All of them.....so very willing to help in any way.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Comfortable rooms and clean!

Pestana Porto - A Brasileira

Porto

Great location and lovely rooms. Dining on the sidewalk or inside had an interesting menu and staff was extremely cordial.

Authenticity & Character

Feeling of old and new.

Location

Easy walk to the river and train station.

Staff

Attentive!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Easy access to amenities and bar...plenty of room for two.

The Noble House

Evora

Architecturally magnificent with an antiquated feel. Plenty of room to relax in a somewhat small setting. It has a lovely small courtyard in front to sit and breakfast can also be taken outside on the deck. Very quiet!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pestana Cidadela Cascais

Cascais

Magnificent art work in large open lobby with a library to sit and ponder how they made this fortress into lovely rooms with outside sky views. Very interesting and easy walk to the beach and town . Hard not to like Cascais and where it is but the fortress sealed our fondness.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Exclusive Driver Tour in the Douro Valley

Portugal

The views, the driver, the winery and wine! A relaxing day in the vineyards of Douro cannot be missed.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ability to talk to the driver and hear easily the stories of Duoro Valley.

Our trip was amazing! We saw 3 cities, Rome, Florence, and Venice and each one was just as amazing as the others. All of our transfers went smooth, our hotels were fabulous, and our tours were great. It was the perfect balance between scheduled tours and time to explore on our own. One tour guide in Venice named Valerio Coppo was phenomenal. He went above and beyond. His tour of the islands of Murano and Burano were exceptional. So personal! Could not recommend more. Livtours also... read more

Our trip was amazing! We saw 3 cities, Rome, Florence, and Venice and each one was just as amazing as the others. All of our transfers went smooth, our hotels were fabulous, and our tours were great. It was the perfect balance between scheduled tours and time to explore on our own. One tour guide in Venice named Valerio Coppo was phenomenal. He went above and beyond. His tour of the islands of Murano and Burano were exceptional. So personal! Could not recommend more. Livtours also did a fantastic job. We had one of the Colosseum in Rome and one in Florence (which was a food and wine tour ) which happened to be just my husband, myself, and the tour guide.
Our other tours were great as well. Evyenia and Harris did an excellent job with our itinerary. Would highly recommend. We were so pleased we are going to start planning next years trip with the KimKim agency.

Activity Reviews

Colosseum & Roman Forum Tour

Rome

Pasta & Gelato Or Tiramisu Making Class

Rome

This was fun! If you already know alot about cooking and baking, you might be a tad disappointed but all in all it was a fun experience.

Florence Food & Wine Tour

Florence

Had our very own private tour guide, just my husband and I. It was very nice! Tour guide was great.

Half-Day Murano & Burano Islands

Venice

Wonderful! Valerio Coppo could not recommend more.

Local transfer in Florence

Florence

Private Sunset & Aperitivo Gondola Ride

Venice

We could not be more pleased with the trip that Marta arranged for us to visit Portugal. From our time in Lisbon, our spectacular hike along the coast in the Sintra Region and our final days in Porto, we were consistently impressed with the high levels of service, the lovely accommodations and the ease of executing the trip as planned via the travel App. We were able to stay in touch with Marta the entire time and she was always available to connect with us if we had any questions. We... read more

We could not be more pleased with the trip that Marta arranged for us to visit Portugal. From our time in Lisbon, our spectacular hike along the coast in the Sintra Region and our final days in Porto, we were consistently impressed with the high levels of service, the lovely accommodations and the ease of executing the trip as planned via the travel App. We were able to stay in touch with Marta the entire time and she was always available to connect with us if we had any questions. We found the Tour group for our hike to be exceptionally kind and flexible. We had a possibility of poor weather and every day; the team was willing to reschedule pick up's and or modify our trek so we could avoid any issues. The GPS App for the treks was very easy to use and we were able to follow along the paths with confidence. We want to say a special thanks to Marta as she was EXTREMELY helpful to us as we had to delay our trip slightly. She graciously helped us to reschedule all of our plans and we could not have been more grateful for her patience. We have used KimKim in the past and we will absolutely use them for our next trip.

We were impressed and very pleased with each contact we made ...The trip was planned beautifully. We loved our hotel accomodations. We were so impressed with Portugal as a whole. The country works so well...health care, environmentally sustainable, education...a relaxed friendly affordable country read more

We were impressed and very pleased with each contact we made ...The trip was planned beautifully. We loved our hotel accomodations. We were so impressed with Portugal as a whole. The country works so well...health care, environmentally sustainable, education...a relaxed friendly affordable country

Hotel Reviews

Madalena by The Beautique Hotels

Lisbon

excellent location...excellent service..delicious breakfast...lovely room

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pestana Porto - A Brasileira

Porto

Great location...excellent breakfast

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Noble House

Evora

Pestana Cidadela Cascais

Cascais

Wow..What a beautiful hotel Great location..modern and cool

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Cultural Walking Tour in Lisbon

Lisbon

We loved it and our guide was excellent

Quality of Experience

Dinner with a Fado Performance

Lisbon

It was wonderful...the music was beautiful

Quality of Experience

Food

Private Driver to Sintra with Tickets to Pena Palace

Sintra

We loved our driver Nelson..we enjoyed the entire day with him. He was excellent...great smooth ride..relaxed..beautiful playlist of music

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Guided Cultural Walking Tour in Porto

Porto

Andre was very nice and informative

Quality of Experience

Port Wine Cellar Visit with Tastings

Porto

We were surprised it was private tour...It was wonderful...and tasting was great..served with delicious cheese

Quality of Experience

Exclusive Driver Tour in the Douro Valley

Portugal

I was concerned at first that Andre had a cold but he explained it was just an allergy. He was a fast driver but drove well. He was very engaging and gave us an excellent all day tour. We enjoyed getting to know him and share stories

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Winery Tour & Wine Tasting

Douro Valley

We were again surprised it was a private tour...It was excellent. What a beautiful vineyard and winery....so beautiful. We LOVED our lunch

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Boat Trip in the Douro River on a Traditional Rabelo Boat

Douro Valley

It was beautiful..hot and just beautiful country

Quality of Experience

Private History & Cultural Guided Tour in Évora

Évora

It was a beautiful town and our guide was calm and interesting We had a little mix up in the chapel of Bones..too crowded for us...and we lost our guide for a while..waited outside..It was nice

Overall we had an amazing experience planning and participating in our trip to Morocco where we visited Rabat, Chefchaouen, Fes, Merzouga, Boumalne Dades, Marrakech, Essaouira, and Casablanca. From start to finish KimKim and it’s affiliate Original Travels accommodated our wishes and succeeded in meeting our expectations.

This was the first time that we used a travel agency to plan a trip and relinquished the planning process to another. It was really nice to not worry about anything.... read more

Overall we had an amazing experience planning and participating in our trip to Morocco where we visited Rabat, Chefchaouen, Fes, Merzouga, Boumalne Dades, Marrakech, Essaouira, and Casablanca. From start to finish KimKim and it’s affiliate Original Travels accommodated our wishes and succeeded in meeting our expectations.

This was the first time that we used a travel agency to plan a trip and relinquished the planning process to another. It was really nice to not worry about anything. Our trip was 16 days long, with 8 different accommodations, 6 different tour guides, 8 different major stops (not including all the wonderful places in between), 1 amazing driver (Karim), and an impromptu neighborhood get together. Each place was completely different and exciting. Having never been to Morocco, we were blown away with the kindness of the people and the beauty of the country.

Our accommodations were 5 star hotels, luxury tent, guest houses, or riads with delicious breakfasts that met or exceeded our assumptions with one exception. Riad Perle D'Eau in Essaouira was clean and the rooms were large but overall the hotel is aging and was not on par with the rest of our accommodations. Once you’ve stayed in amazing places you definitely can feel the difference. The breakfast was mediocre too. It would have gone a long way if our rooms overlooked the ocean instead of a staircase and another room.

In Fes we stayed in a beautiful Riad where the shear beauty of the open air lobby meets you at the door. The stage is definitely set when you arrive to a traditional tea service. Upon showing us to our room we were overjoyed with my sisters room and were told that the hotel had “upgraded” us to an upper floor. There was no comparison to how much nicer her room was. If we had not seen her room we would have been happy in our accommodations but her experience was definitely different. We asked to be moved and they were unable to accommodate us. When traveling with others, you want the rooms to be the same not glaringly different.

We signed up for many workshops and truly loved learning how to make the many exports Morocco is known for. We walked away from each experience appreciating the amount of time, effort, and skill put into each piece of pottery, leather goods, food, brass and copper, blanket, and rug.

The only one that did not meet our expectations was the babouche shoe workshop in Marrakech. We were supposed to fully make a pair of shoes to take with us. Even though we learned the steps to making a puff puff and shoes, we were unable to make our own. At least 3 hours need to be set aside to accommodate this class. Originally we were scheduled to do this in the morning followed by a food tour. Both the food tour and the workshop were rushed and therefore not as we had anticipated.

I would not recommend the winery tour outside of Essaouira. (we were scheduled to tour the facility, wine taste and luncheon there). We chose to continue on to Essaouira and Original Travels took us to a wonderful restaurant on the beach where we enjoyed a glass of wine and a delicious seafood meal.

We rode a camel, sand surfed, took a kite surfing class and a cooking class, had a message, a facial, 2 Hammams, hiked in the Atlas Mountains, and participated in a balloon ascension over Marrakech. These activities enhanced our overall experience.

Each stop we made, each place we visited, each person we met left us with a true appreciation for Morocco. Thank you KimKim and Original Travels for an exceptional once in a lifetime experience.

Hotel Reviews

The View Hotel

Rabat

Wonderful first stop. Enjoyed the treats awaiting our arrival from the airport. Breakfast was delicious!

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful new hotel

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Maison Arabe Hotel

Marrakech

My favorite! Enjoyed the 1946 hotel steeped in history. If it’s good enough for Winston Churchill it’s definitely good enough for me. Afternoon tea and cookies is a wonderful way to end your day.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful hotel and delicious food

Location

The neighborhood was a little run down but a quick walk to the square.

Staff

Remembered our name every time and was genuinely happy to see us each afternoon

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lina Ryad & Spa

Chefchaouene

Riad was perfectly located. Simple accommodations with a very helpful staff. Breakfast was delicious. Tried our first Hammam here and the private pool. The Hammam is not a luxurious spa like experience but definitely an eye opener and my skin never looked better.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palais Amani

Fès

Upon checking in the staff showed us to our rooms. My sister’s room was on the main floor with a beautiful open floor plan overlooking the Riad’s open space. We were told that we were upgraded to another room. Unfortunately this room didn’t feel like an upgrade but of a switch to accommodate another. Our room felt dark where the bathroom was separated between the bathing area and facilities right between the seating area making the room feel cramped. To be fair we probably would have been happy with the accommodations if we hadn’t seen the other beautiful room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

Loved visiting the Sahara Desert. I would recommend visiting for only one day since there isn’t enough to do for 2 days. I would not take guests to a pool that isn’t up to the same standard as the camp. The pool where we were dropped off at was still under construction and shouldn’t be used.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dar Rihana Dades

Douar Ait Ouffi

Loved our stay here. The hospitality and food was superb.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Perle D'Eau

Essaouira

The rooms were large and clean, unfortunately they looked into someone else’s room and a stairway. The Riad is dated with a mediocre breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms do not have airconditioning so having to close the drapes to preserve our privacy made the rooms uncomfortable.

Hôtel & Spa Le Doge

Casablanca

The Art Deco hotel takes a minute to get used to. My sister’s room was so outlandish that they moved her to a different room where she was very comfortable. The staff was fabulous and the breakfast was delicious.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Marrakech to Essaouira - Argan Oil

Morocco

Enjoyed the demonstration and walked away with a better understanding on how the oil is made. More of a stop to purchase quality products.

Quality of Experience

Half-Day Private Sightseeing Tour in Rabat

Rabat

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Sightseeing in Chefchaoeun

Chefchaouen

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very informative

Transport

Chefchaouen to Fes via Volubilis, Moulay Idriss & Meknes

Morocco

Loved all of our stops and really enjoyed our stop at Volubilis.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Karim did a great job getting making stops and adding adventure throughout the day.

Hike and lunch with a local family in Dades Valley

Morocco

Loved spending time with our guide and his lovely wife. They were incredibly welcoming!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Taxi was definitely an adventure on its own.

Dinner with a Local Family

Morocco

The dinner was delicious! Unfortunately, the wife was so tired that we felt like we were an inconvenience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pottery & Mosaïc workshop

Morocco

We loved this activity! We really gained an appreciation for all the work that goes into the art of mosaics and pottery.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traditional Henna party

Morocco

The artist was extremely talented in her craft.

Quality of Experience

Transport

Brass Etching Workshop in Fes

Fes

We didn’t have a workshop but we did take a tour of the brass making area and saw the experts at work.

Quality of Experience

Fes to Merzouga Sunset Camel Ride via Midelt & Erfoud

Morocco

Wonderful day! Lamb lunch was an adventure and loved meeting the monkeys! Riding a camel was an experience in itself. Two hours with rain, wind and sand felt like authentic once in a lifetime ride.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ensemble Artisanal (Handicraft Centre) in Marrakech

Marrakech

Highly recommend a visit. Quality merchandise priced reasonably without the stress of bargaining!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Full-Day Guided Sightseeing in Fes

Fes

Loved our guide Hafid! We felt like we were in great hands from start to finish. When bargaining let him help you. We overpaid at the leather store because we tried to do it ourselves. We learned a valuable lesson and got much better as our trip progressed. He spent two full days with us and we enjoyed it immensely.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boumalne Dades to Marrakech via Ouarzazate & Aït Benhaddou

Morocco

I loved all of our stops… it’s a long day!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Desert Adventures in Erg Chebbi

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Desert adventures, exploring Nomadic life

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Merzouga to Boumalne Dades via Tinghir & Todra Gorge

Morocco

Guided tour of the secret gardens

Marrakech

We ate lunch her which was a beautiful spot to take a break!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Full-Day private tour of Marrakech

Marrakech

Great job acclimating us to the city and giving us wonderful history information.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride over Marrakech

Marrakech

What a wonderful way to see Morocco! This was my sister’s first ascension and our 3rd.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traditional Cooking Class at La Maison Arabe

Marrakech

Great class start to finish! My husband that doesn’t cook loved it as well. We ate the food that we prepared and it was delicious.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Food Tour in Marrakech

Marrakech

Unfortunately this was at the end of the day and we felt rushed. We did enjoy the main meal but could have gone with Karim and had the same experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Create your family's 'Babouche

Morocco

We only had 40 minutes to have a small demonstration about puffs and Babouche shoes. While informative, it was not what we expected.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Traditional carpet weaving with Berber women

Morocco

Demonstration and 5 mins each weaving.

Quality of Experience

Hammam La Mamounia

Marrakech

Excellent!

Quality of Experience

Wine Tasting at Domaine Val d'Argan

Essaouira

They didn’t know we were coming so we moved on to Essaouira where we had a lovely lunch on the beach.

Quality of Experience

Private Kitesurfing Lesson

Essaouira

Our instructor was thorough and knowledgeable. We ended our lesson with a better understanding of the sport and a desire to continue with lessons.

Quality of Experience

Essaouira to Casablanca via Eljadida Coastal Route

Morocco

Uneventful drive. Seeing a sheep on top of a car being transported and a camel along the road was our highlight.

Guided Tour of Hassan II Mosque

Morocco

Beautiful Mosque and a must see since it’s the only one in the country that you can go in.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our experience of using KimKim was excellent from start to finish. Everything was planned according to what we wanted. There are things that we have learnt from the experience and would ask for differently when we plan a holiday using KimKim again (which will most definitely do).
Thomas was always on hand and responded positively.
Le Clos des Pommiers Guest House - this was a beautiful guest house and ideal for our first night's stay. Although the hosts spoke little English they were... read more

Our experience of using KimKim was excellent from start to finish. Everything was planned according to what we wanted. There are things that we have learnt from the experience and would ask for differently when we plan a holiday using KimKim again (which will most definitely do).
Thomas was always on hand and responded positively.
Le Clos des Pommiers Guest House - this was a beautiful guest house and ideal for our first night's stay. Although the hosts spoke little English they were extremely welcoming and went out of their way to secure us a reservation for dinner.
Hotel Le Relais Saint Michel - although not the best hotel we can understand why it was chosen with its vicinity to Mont Saint Michel. Mont Saint Michel was certainly an experience not to be missed, if a bit touristy! The guided tour with Samuel was informative and he was extremely knowledgeable about the area. (It would have been useful to know that you needed a pin number to gain access to the hotel).
Hotel Le Sozo - this was a quirky hotel close to the centre of Nantes, which was a lovely town.
Hotel Anne d'Anjou - this was a lovely hotel in an excellent location. Saumur was an interesting town. The tour of the vineyards with Amelie was fascinating and it was definitely worth doing.
Le Folie Saint Julien Guest House - this was a lovely guest house and the hosts were welcoming, although the location was not ideal as going anywhere involved driving. The tour of the vineyards was not as interesting as the previous one, it felt more like an opportunity for selling wine.
Chateau Tour - this was one of the highlights of our tour. The tour guide Nicolas really made the tour come alive, he was one of the best tour guides I have ever come across.
Hotel Le Pommerais - this was the least favourite of our stays. The hotel wasn't great and nowhere near anywhere to either eat or have a stroll. Although the Le Folie Saint Julien wasn't in the best location, the charm of the accommodation made it worth it, Le Pommerais didn't have this. Also we visited Le Mans on a Monday and virtually everything was shut (not KimKim's fault as this is typical of French regional towns).
Grand Hotel Luxembourg - a great hotel in a perfect location. The tour of the Omaha Beach was inspirational, our only criticism was that it was geared towards Americans, but nonetheless we certainly learned a lot.
Overall this was an experience not to missed, ,the travel plan met what we had asked for (which was sketchy). In the future we will know to be more specific about our requirements.

Activity Review

Loire Valley: Châteaus de Chambord & Chenonceau

Amboise

The was the highlight of our tour of the Loire Valley. Our guide Nicolas really made the tour come alive. He was the best tour guide we have ever had the pleasure of meeting.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Enthusiasm and knowledge of his subject

Transport

Thanks so much to Randall and team for designing our holiday to Costa Rica, and being so responsive to any requests or changes we had. It was our first time using Kimkim and they were very patient and understanding. They recommended a great mix of locations and activities for us and we managed to fit a lot into 2 weeks. All of the transfers went really smoothly and we felt really well supported throughout the whole trip. Pura Vida!! read more

Thanks so much to Randall and team for designing our holiday to Costa Rica, and being so responsive to any requests or changes we had. It was our first time using Kimkim and they were very patient and understanding. They recommended a great mix of locations and activities for us and we managed to fit a lot into 2 weeks. All of the transfers went really smoothly and we felt really well supported throughout the whole trip. Pura Vida!!

Hotel Reviews

Jaguarundi Lodge

Monteverde

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

Activity Reviews

Monteverde - Hanging Bridges Guided Hike & Zip-lining tour

Monteverde

Guided Hike in Arenal Volcano Park 1968

Arenal/La Fortuna

Canyoning Tour

Arenal/La Fortuna

This was my first time using KimKim and was phenomenal in many ways. It was like having a personal guide with me and my group of 8 friends throughout my entire birthday celebration.

They set up a personal chef, photographer, five days of transportation and excursions.

The only thing that I am not totally favorable about is the lack of transparency in the pricing model. I had a friend to cancel and hike I understand the no refund policy after thirty days, we all know that all... read more

This was my first time using KimKim and was phenomenal in many ways. It was like having a personal guide with me and my group of 8 friends throughout my entire birthday celebration.

They set up a personal chef, photographer, five days of transportation and excursions.

The only thing that I am not totally favorable about is the lack of transparency in the pricing model. I had a friend to cancel and hike I understand the no refund policy after thirty days, we all know that all excursions can be cancelled and refunded up until
About 48 hours before the trip.

But, I will let that go because everything was planned out perfectly and took allllllllllll the stress away from me. Any issues that we had Ximena and Melina were only a WhatsApp chat away. I honestly rate these ladies 7 stars!!!!!!

Leslie did great on the planning but was often slower for someone who lacks patience (me), but once the trip was handed over the Ximena and Melina the responses were within seconds. This brought me so much comfort and my group was amazed at how responsive they were at all hours!!!

Activity Reviews

Mexican Dinner Party!

Nuevo Vallarta

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunset in a Sailing Boat

Mexico

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

City Tour and Tequila Tasting!

Mexico

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

from organizing to the real trip, everything is going smoothly read more

from organizing to the real trip, everything is going smoothly

Every guide we had was special, as was each of the tours we partook in. We especially enjoyed boat ride to the Zingaro Reserve. Boat company the Lionel Ritchie was great!
We thought Lorenzo Capraro delivered a wonderful guided tour of Agrigento.
We loved Professor Onofrio Prestifilippo at the Casale of Villa Romana.
Our tour of Ortigia and the Neapolis Archaeological Park with was amazing with Fausto Mignelo
Our tour with Marco Saprenza was awesome on Mt. Etna.
We enjoyed the energy of... read more

Every guide we had was special, as was each of the tours we partook in. We especially enjoyed boat ride to the Zingaro Reserve. Boat company the Lionel Ritchie was great!
We thought Lorenzo Capraro delivered a wonderful guided tour of Agrigento.
We loved Professor Onofrio Prestifilippo at the Casale of Villa Romana.
Our tour of Ortigia and the Neapolis Archaeological Park with was amazing with Fausto Mignelo
Our tour with Marco Saprenza was awesome on Mt. Etna.
We enjoyed the energy of Lara Guida Turistica on our very rainy excursion through Palermo.
All of our Hotel professionals were very capable, we especially loved Hotel Failla’s accommodation.
Overall we were very pleased with all the arrangements that were made by Marianne. It was especially comforting to be able to reach out to her whenever we were not sure of a given situation. Of course our drivers were timely and very professional as well.
We will definitely recommend Kim Kim and hope to do another excursion in the future ourselves.

Our trip planned by Johanna was fantastic! The hotels were all lovely, the food tour in Lima led by Amy was lots of fun and our drivers were all friendly and safe drivers. The highlight of our trip was our guide for Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley and Cusco. Flor was an amazing guide-knowledgeable, resourceful, accommodating, considerate, and fun! Without a doubt she made our trip an experience of a lifetime! I have already recommended Kimkim to family and friends planning adventures around the world!

We had an amazing trip to Italy and Greece thanks to the help of KimKim and our specialist Harris.

Starting in Sorrento we had a peaceful stay right along the bay. Enjoyed wine and pizza and the local beaches.

Next we traveled to Athens where we had an amazing staying in Plaka District. We then finished the trip in Santorini where we enjoyed days by the pool and amazing Greek cuisine.

I would recommend KimKim to anyone looking to travel abroad and see the world in more detail! read more

We had an amazing trip to Italy and Greece thanks to the help of KimKim and our specialist Harris.

Starting in Sorrento we had a peaceful stay right along the bay. Enjoyed wine and pizza and the local beaches.

Next we traveled to Athens where we had an amazing staying in Plaka District. We then finished the trip in Santorini where we enjoyed days by the pool and amazing Greek cuisine.

I would recommend KimKim to anyone looking to travel abroad and see the world in more detail!

Our guide Dennis, and our driver Surya were excellent. Also, at Ecolodge in Bukit Lawang, our guide Zul and the assistant, Jat were a very good team for finding orangutans and birds.
The trip overall was exciting and mind-broadening. read more

Our guide Dennis, and our driver Surya were excellent. Also, at Ecolodge in Bukit Lawang, our guide Zul and the assistant, Jat were a very good team for finding orangutans and birds.
The trip overall was exciting and mind-broadening.

Hotel Reviews

Ecolodge Bukit Lawang

Bukit Lawang

Hotel rooms very basic, not in a bad way, but because the hotel is ecologically -oriented, some features, such as no hot water for the showers, may not be good for everyone. It was fine for us.

Authenticity & Character

Very committed to the environment

Location

Great place for orangutans

Staff

Friendliness, and helpfulness

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Emerald Garden

Clean, decent pool, good breakfast buffet.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Closer to airport if just staying there for the convenience before flying out.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sinabung Hills Berastagi

Berastagi

Very short stay so hard to say, but was very clean and nice.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tabo Cottages

Sumatera Utara

Nice location, nice rooms, good food, staff very friendly and helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Trek Leuser Park

Bukit Lawang, North Sumatra

Orangutans very easily seen. Our guide and assistant very good at spotting and identifying birds, which is not usual for them, we felt, but they were very open to helping with the birds.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trek Leuser Park - Day 2

Bukit Lawang, North Sumatra

same as day 1

Trek Leuser Park - Day 3

Bukit Lawang, North Sumatra

same as day 1

Quality of Experience

Travel from Berastagi to Samosir via trek Siabayak Mount

Indonesia

Long drive but good driver, good sights.

Travel from Bukit Lawang to Berastagi

Indonesia

Good driver, interesting sights.

Travel from Samosir to Medan Airport via Pematang Siantar

Indonesia

Long but good driver, interesting sights.

Amazing! It was our first time going with kimkim… was a little nervous, having never used a travel consultant online to do our bookings before. But every little detail was well thought out and paced out. We had a great balance of activity and relaxation. Norway is spectacular… Flam is a must see.
I would totally recommend KimKim… thanks so much Julia for planning the perfect holiday.

Tomaz worked tirelessly to organize our trip the way we wanted and Grand Cuvee Tours managed it. Given the complexity of the trip for 3 countries over more than 2 weeks there were a few snafus which were well managed by the GCT team, but in all everything went extremely well. Italy was awesome and some of the hotels we stayed at were fantastic. In particular, the guide we had at the Uffizi gallery was very helpful and knowledgeable and the lady who guided us around Salzburg easily adapted to... read more

Tomaz worked tirelessly to organize our trip the way we wanted and Grand Cuvee Tours managed it. Given the complexity of the trip for 3 countries over more than 2 weeks there were a few snafus which were well managed by the GCT team, but in all everything went extremely well. Italy was awesome and some of the hotels we stayed at were fantastic. In particular, the guide we had at the Uffizi gallery was very helpful and knowledgeable and the lady who guided us around Salzburg easily adapted to what we wanted to see and went out of her way to ensure we managed our way through the atrocious weather. We also had some great drivers, including Vincenzo who managed our visit to Pompeii and had an infectious sense of humor. This was the first time my adopted daughter visited Europe and she loved every day of it. Thank you everyone who helped make this a memorable vacation.

Greece was so amazing that I really do not know where to begin. First, KimKim and Chris were incredible. Chris took the time to talk to me and my wife and really try to understand the type of trip we were after - we wanted to explore on our own, sail on a small boat and see all the sights but not be with a big group.

He put together an 18 day extravaganza that included local guides in Athens (Thanks Apollo !), a car rental with us driving around Greece to Delphi, Olympia, Nafplio and all... read more

Greece was so amazing that I really do not know where to begin. First, KimKim and Chris were incredible. Chris took the time to talk to me and my wife and really try to understand the type of trip we were after - we wanted to explore on our own, sail on a small boat and see all the sights but not be with a big group.

He put together an 18 day extravaganza that included local guides in Athens (Thanks Apollo !), a car rental with us driving around Greece to Delphi, Olympia, Nafplio and all the amazing sites in between. We had lunch with an amazing family of olive oil makers, we toured a winery (that our local guide in Athens suggested), incredible accommodations at each city (we stayed in Galaxidi, Katakolo and Nafplio). The driving was easy and fun and gave us the flexibility to do what we wanted. We made a circle around the Bay of Corinth, returned to Athens and flew to Mykonos. In Mykonos we hopped on a 40 foot sailboat.

We sailed with naxos-yachting.com and had an incredible crew - shout out to Akis and Anna. They took us to Delos, Paros, Naxos, Schinousa and Santorini. Each port was mind blowing and after 4 days of sailing, they are friends for life. They had so much local knowledge and got us off the beaten path - we hit restaurants that only the locals use, we jumped off cliffs, we swam in caves and at one point we found ourselves sitting on the front porch of an old couple's house, laughing and drinking some homemade liquor with them - us not speaking a lick of Greek and them not speaking a lick of English - amazing.

We ended the trip with a few restful days on Santorini - we had wine tour, a boat ride through the caldera and more amazing accommodations - Santorini is like a movie set.

We travel a lot and expect small things/inconveniences to pop up. Honestly, did not have a single one. Every time Chris had planned a driver - they were there on time and professional. Every flight - we had our tickets, transfer etc. Every hotel, they were waiting for us. Unreal.

All in all, one of the best trips of my life.

Hotel Reviews

Athens Manor Houses

Athens

The accommodations are great, the staff super nice and the breakfast was spot on. The location is perfect as we could walk to everything. The only negative for me was the street noise in Athens but even with that, it was great.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

As an American who lives in the South, I was wishing for stronger AC.

Ganimede Hotel

Galaxidi

Beautiful place. My wife and I ended up with a very large room that had a kitchen, bath and upstairs loft. The Breakfast in this place is crazy good. Staff was super. I honestly felt like I was staying in someone's house.

Authenticity & Character

Felt like someone's home - in a good way.

Location

Town is small but we could walk to both harbors in less than 3 minutes. The town is wonderful to walk around.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Orizontes View Hotel

Pyrgos Ilia

Clean, crisp, modern, spacious, great AC - oh, and the view !!!!!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

3Sixty Hotel & Suites

Nafplio

Nafplio is a must see. While I tell everyone that the people I met in Greece were the nicest people in the world, the staff at this hotel topped the list. The young ladies that worked the desk and the breakfast area were delights. They were super helpful, took care of getting our laundry done, hooked us up with suggested beach spots and kept the ice buckets full (which in Europe is amazing). The rooms were large, big ceilings and great. The food at the restaurant (breakfast was included) was great, so good that we stayed for dinner one night.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Small beautiful town and this place is right in the middle of it all.

Staff

THE MOST HELPFUL

Cleanliness & Comfort

Great rooms and great AC

Activity Reviews

Acropolis & Flavors of Athens

Athens

Apollo was our guide and he did a great job answering 1,000 questions, giving us insight into the ruins and, best of all, giving us tips for the rest of the trip. At his suggestion we hit a winery "Up in the Clouds" and had one of those unexpected great days.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traditional Lunch at an Olive Oil Producer

Delphi

This was an "optional" but suggested event. We had a group of 6, I called on our way out of Delphi and they said just swing by. HOLY COW - we had one of the best meals, olive oil tasting, discussions with locals on the whole trip. 6 people 4 bottles of wine and all the food you can eat - $140.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

At sea in the Aegean

Greece

Naxos Yachting - Akis and Anna were our crew and they were wonderful.

Quality of Experience

Local folks with local knowledge.

Private Santorini Wine Tour

Santorini

Great tour of a couple of wineries - pretty standard stuff. Our guide Elsa was very sweet and knowledgeable. The dinner after was great food but we were the only people in the place so the atmosphere was a lacking.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Quality vehicles - very comfortable.

We had an amazing trip! With Deborah's coordination, expertise and knowledge, she blended our request for traditional African cultural experiences and off the beaten path adventures. We visited Johannesburg (Soweto, Cradle of Humankind, Sterkfontein Caves), Safari in Kruger Bush, Cape Town coastal tours (including lunch with Nicky Gibbs!), Paternoster (Penguins, lunch at Wolfgat), Cederberg, (Rock Art), Franschhoek (Wine Country), National Parks (both Western & Fossil), Victoria Falls, then... read more

We had an amazing trip! With Deborah's coordination, expertise and knowledge, she blended our request for traditional African cultural experiences and off the beaten path adventures. We visited Johannesburg (Soweto, Cradle of Humankind, Sterkfontein Caves), Safari in Kruger Bush, Cape Town coastal tours (including lunch with Nicky Gibbs!), Paternoster (Penguins, lunch at Wolfgat), Cederberg, (Rock Art), Franschhoek (Wine Country), National Parks (both Western & Fossil), Victoria Falls, then onto the Grand Finale on the Chobe River Boat. Transfers went smoothly, as with every hand-off to a new wonderful Tour Guide. Would highly recommend her to personalize your next adventure. We can’t thank her enough!

We were late getting started on planning our trip to Turkey, but Berat stepped right up and got us all squared away in just a few days. We had some ideas about what we wanted to see and she put them together in an itinerary that made sense, with a good balance of travel and sight seeing each day. We had been warned away from Troy, but our guide, Erdem Keseli, did a great job of interpreting the site and the museum, as he did for the other sights we visited (Gallipoli, Assos, Pergamon,... read more

We were late getting started on planning our trip to Turkey, but Berat stepped right up and got us all squared away in just a few days. We had some ideas about what we wanted to see and she put them together in an itinerary that made sense, with a good balance of travel and sight seeing each day. We had been warned away from Troy, but our guide, Erdem Keseli, did a great job of interpreting the site and the museum, as he did for the other sights we visited (Gallipoli, Assos, Pergamon, Asclepion, and Ephesus). We enjoyed the hotels Berat selected, especially the Sunset Boutique Hotel in Assos where we had a great view and the best breakfast! The last night of our trip in Sirince at the Hotel Manolian was disturbed by the loud barking of the street dogs, though there's little the hotel could do to prevent that. It was otherwise comfortable and well located for wandering the streets of the village. Overall, everyone we interacted with on our trip, guide, driver and hotel staff were warm and welcoming and we are already dreaming of our next trip to Turkey!

Hotel Reviews

Sirkeci Mansion Hotel

Istanbul

This is a charming hotel in a wonderful location for exploring the sights of Sultanahmet in Istanbul. The staff were very kind and helpful and breakfast was delicious. The view from the rooftop terrace at night is magical.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Doubletree by Hilton Çanakkale

Çanakkale

While clearly a chain hotel, this hotel is well located and clean and has all the amenities one might want. The staff were very friendly and breakfast was good. The bed was very comfortable. It is outside the central part of Cannakale, but is along the water with good restaurants in walking distance.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Assos Sunset Boutique Hotel

Çanakkale

We loved this hotel. The room was charming and the staff were wonderful. The view from the terrace was spectacular. Breakfast was the best of the whole trip - a whole selection of traditional Turkish breakfast foods.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Hera

Bergama

This is a charming hotel in walking distance from the commercial center of Bergama. It was quiet and comfortable and the staff were very welcoming. Breakfast was good, but since it was the day after our spectacular Assos Sunset Boutique Hotel breakfast, it wasn't quite the same. There is a charming courtyard where you can relax with a drink any time of day.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Byzantine + Ottoman Istanbul: Song of All Songs and Splendor of All Splendors

Istanbul

We enjoyed all the sights on this tour. It was great to have a guide who was able to get priority entrance for the Palace and the Cistern so we didn't have to waste time waiting in lines.

The entire trip went very smoothly. Our guides and flights were on time, and our experiences were amazing. My favorite was the sunset cruise in Santorini and the all day sailing trip In Santa Maria di Leuce! I couple disappointments was where we went on the bike tout and the cooking class. Was a total different than what the agenda said. The guides were still wonderful and Chef Livio was an absolute charm. We thought we were going into he countryside but apparently the Italy organizer was... read more

The entire trip went very smoothly. Our guides and flights were on time, and our experiences were amazing. My favorite was the sunset cruise in Santorini and the all day sailing trip In Santa Maria di Leuce! I couple disappointments was where we went on the bike tout and the cooking class. Was a total different than what the agenda said. The guides were still wonderful and Chef Livio was an absolute charm. We thought we were going into he countryside but apparently the Italy organizer was under the impression we were adamant about keeping it personal just for us. If we were asked we all agreed that we would have preferred the original pan even if it meant we would be with other people. One other drawback was the accommodations in Naples. The place itself was fine it was the dreadful neighborhood! We tried to venture out and each time went back to the hotel to eat both lunch and dinner! Pretty scary in that area.

Hotel Reviews

Santo Miramare Resort

Santorini

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Philippos Hotel

Athens

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palazzo Caracciolo Napoli - MGallery

Naples

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Posia Luxury Retreat & Spa

San Foca LE, Italy

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Genova Roma

Rome

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Welcome to Santorini

Santorini

Free time in Santorini

Santorini

Sunset Catamaran Caldera Cruise

Santorini

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

WE were dropped off at a location by our hotel and our drop off after he cruise was an hour away from our hotel so we returned quite late and our driver was a maniac returning us.

Welcome to Athens!

Athens

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Restaurant Suggestions in Athens

Athens

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The local restaurants were the best!

Acropolis Guided Tour

Athens

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Naples

Naples

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pompei & Vesuvius private excursion (Self-drive)

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Lecce

Lecce

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bike & Cooking excursion in Gallipoli

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Street Food Walking tour in Lecce

Lecce

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Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Full day sailing trip in south coast of Apulia

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Restaurant Suggestions in Rome

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Departure day

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

MHammed was an excellent driver and provided delightful conversation and interesting information about Morocco's culture, people, and places to see. He was flexible with changes in itinerary and available whenever needed. Every day was a highlight so it is impossible to choose! Kamal, our guide in Fez was a fount of history, culture, and insight. The kindness in Merzouga when I became sick was remarkable and the flexibility to stay an additional night allowed me time to recover. The... read more

MHammed was an excellent driver and provided delightful conversation and interesting information about Morocco's culture, people, and places to see. He was flexible with changes in itinerary and available whenever needed. Every day was a highlight so it is impossible to choose! Kamal, our guide in Fez was a fount of history, culture, and insight. The kindness in Merzouga when I became sick was remarkable and the flexibility to stay an additional night allowed me time to recover. The moments of a lifetime were the night in the Sahara dunes, a camel ride, walking up the dunes, and dinner under the stars. We enjoyed driving through the Atlas mountains and seeing the mountain cities. Mustafa was our guide in Marrakech and he expertly navigated the historic inner city and provided insight and information. We made new friends and fell in love with Morocco!

Hotel Reviews

Riad Maison Bleue And Spa

Fes

Beautiful hotel, excellent staff, delicious food, perfect location, need I say more?

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kasbah Mohayut

Merzouga

Comfortable and easy going. Walking distance to the dunes with great views of the Sahara from the upper balcony. The staff is great. They were very helpful when I was having a medical issue and graciously arranged our ability to stay an extra day to recover.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Paradis Du Sahara

Merzouga

A modern and comfortable tent at the edge of the dunes with running water, bathroom, and shower. Dinner was excellent and drumming after dinner was great fun.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Ksar Ighnda

Asfalou

The Riad is nestled in a smaller town in the Atlas mountains. The room, food, and staff were all excellent.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Almaha Marrakech

Marrakech

The hotel is luxurious and is located within the Medina, walking distance from the central marketplace. With help from our guide we learned how to navigate the winding walkways to the market ourselves. Breakfast on the upper terrace is elegant and the food is excellent.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Cooking Class

Morocco

I loved having a personal opportunity to cook Moroccan Tangine with a chef. It was great fun and enjoyed eating the results of my cooking! I came home with recipes that I plan to use.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tour Fes with a Private Guide

Fes

Kamal was an excellent guide. He provided a wide array of knowledge of the history, culture, architecture, and artisans of Fez. Our time with him was a highlight of the trip and we learned a great deal. I wouldn't have missed having the expertise of a guide like Kamal.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tour Marrakech with a private guide

Marrakech

Mustafa was an excellent guide with knowledge of the city, culture and history. He provided insight into the city, culture and history that was invaluable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Overall our trip was amazing. Huyen provided a fantastic itinerary, & our guide Trung went above & beyond. They all went out of their way to ensure our trip lived up to expectations, and it certainly did. We were particularly fond of Ha Long bay & our overnight boat experience, we also loved the activities set up for us in Hanoi.
Our only negative is we would have preferred to have stayed in some more accessible locations when staying outside of the major cities (with walking access to... read more

Overall our trip was amazing. Huyen provided a fantastic itinerary, & our guide Trung went above & beyond. They all went out of their way to ensure our trip lived up to expectations, and it certainly did. We were particularly fond of Ha Long bay & our overnight boat experience, we also loved the activities set up for us in Hanoi.
Our only negative is we would have preferred to have stayed in some more accessible locations when staying outside of the major cities (with walking access to shops, restaurants etc., rather than just the resort). However, this may have been our error as we were unsure of exactly what we were looking for when booking.
All in all, we absolutely loved this experience & would not hesitate to book again with Huyen.

Our trip was great. We had some luggage snags and they were so helpful and rearranged the itinerary. Our guides in each area were so good. Great English. Lots of history and interesting information shared. Taking us to great places. Navigating everything.
Karim was a fabulous driver. His English is phenomenal. He is personable and easy to be with. We really enjoyed him.

We had a wonderful time in Morocco, and really loved the itinerary that kimkim put together for our two week tour. Soufiane, our driver, was definitely the hero of the trip. He was so friendly and accommodating, and really went out of his way to make us feel like his guests. We had excellent experiences with all of our guides: Mustapha in Chefchaouen, Hasan in Fes, Hamid in Sefrou, Said in Marrakesh, and Hussein in Ourika valley. Would definitely recommend our experience to friends and family!

Our trip with Egypt Promotion Travel was the experience of a lifetime. Although some of the accommodation was changed at short notice, it was generally for an upgrade. The guides, company representatives and drivers we had throughout the trip were always friendly and helpful.
Our guide Mohamed Jamal in particular was exceptional: extremely knowledgeable, enthusiastic, patient, and always going the extra mile to take us to the best sites and at the best times. If and when we ever come back,... read more

Our trip with Egypt Promotion Travel was the experience of a lifetime. Although some of the accommodation was changed at short notice, it was generally for an upgrade. The guides, company representatives and drivers we had throughout the trip were always friendly and helpful.
Our guide Mohamed Jamal in particular was exceptional: extremely knowledgeable, enthusiastic, patient, and always going the extra mile to take us to the best sites and at the best times. If and when we ever come back, we’ll make sure to do it through the same organiser.

Activity Reviews

Aswan

Aswan

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Abu Simbel temple and Kom Ombo temple

Aswan

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Visit Edfou temple & Luxor temple and Karnak temple

Egypt

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Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Dendarah temple and Abydos temple

Luxor

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Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Visit Valley of the Kings and Hatchepsut temple -Hurghada

Hurghada

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Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Hurghada

Hurghada

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Pyramids, Sphinx, Sakkara & Memphis

Cairo

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Food

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Day tour to visit Old Egyptian Museum & Citadel of Salah El-Din & Old Cairo & Civilization Museum and Khan Khalili market

Cairo

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Food

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Daniel was a phenomenal specialist. He went above and beyond to make our trip to Ecuador's city of Quito and the Amazon Rainforest a once-in-a-lifetime trip. Not only did using kimkim service provide a meaningful experience it packed more into our trip than we could have done on our own with our limited Spanish and knowledge of the region. read more

Daniel was a phenomenal specialist. He went above and beyond to make our trip to Ecuador's city of Quito and the Amazon Rainforest a once-in-a-lifetime trip. Not only did using kimkim service provide a meaningful experience it packed more into our trip than we could have done on our own with our limited Spanish and knowledge of the region.