Beyond Happy and Satisfied with our trip to Portugal
Portugal
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Aug 25 - Sep 1, 2026
Our trip to Portugal was fantastic from beginning to end. Everything that was promised was delivered, and the entire experience felt seamless, thoughtful, and very well executed.
I work in the travel industry for a company that provides luxury travel services (Nothing to do with Portugual or Europe), so I’ll admit that I have fairly high standards and can be a little skeptical about turning over the planning of our own family vacation to someone else. Joao very quickly put those concerns to rest.
From the initial contact, he was responsive, thorough, and understood what would make the trip right for our family. Traveling with a 14-year-old, an 18-year-old, and two parents isn’t necessarily an easy audience to please, but Joao created an itinerary that was remarkably well balanced. There was enough planned to make each day interesting and memorable without ever making the trip feel over-scheduled. Everyone had something to enjoy, which is no small accomplishment!
Joao’s attention to detail continued well beyond the planning stage. He checked in with us just before we left, throughout the trip, and again after we returned home. He also remembered that we were celebrating our 31st anniversary, and that personal touch ( with flowers and treates) meant a great deal to us.
Our accommodations were wonderful, well chosen, and very well located. Condes de Azevedo Palace in Porto was a particular highlight and such a memorable place to stay. The locations of all the hotels made exploring easy, whether on foot or using Uber.
Our driver/guides in each city were personable, punctual, friendly and gave us a deeper understanding of the region. The vehicles were immaculate and comfortable.
Perhaps what I appreciated most, especially given my own background in travel, was how effortless the trip felt. I know that “effortless” travel usually means someone has done a great deal of work behind the scenes. Joao clearly had. We were able to simply enjoy Portugal, enjoy our family, and celebrate 31 years together without worrying about the details.
We came home with wonderful memories and an enormous appreciation for Joao and the care he put into our trip. I would absolutely use KimKim again and would recommend Joao without hesitation.
Hotel Reviews
Comfortable and well located for easy transportation.
Beautifullly restored. Loved it.
Very spacious. The hotel is being renoveated in two months so any review seems irrelevant but it was great for near term travelers.
Activity Reviews
It was good but would have benefited from clearer understanding of how the tickets work. The guide for the walking tour didn't seem to know we had tickets and didn't give us clear understanding of how the ticketing system worked.
Performance was good. Service was terrible, Food was mediocre, Didn't like that the performer came around to sell his CDs.
Although we had a reservation we had to wait. Confusion about our order.
Dear Patti,
Thank you so much for your incredibly kind words! It was truly a pleasure planning your family’s journey through Portugal and being part of such a special celebration.
I’m so happy to hear that everyone enjoyed the trip and that everything felt seamless from beginning to end. It was a pleasure having you here, and I hope Portugal will always hold a special place in your family’s memories.
Wishing you all many more wonderful adventures together!
Your friend in Portugal - João