Perfect trip with two granddaughters in Budapest and Austria
Austria | Jun 19 - Jul 5, 2026

Elaine
Elaine B.
San Jose, CA | Reviewed on Jul 07, 2026

We took two granddaughters with us to Hungary and Austria (girls were 12 and 16). Our trip included four cities: Budapest, Graz (Austria), Salzburg, and Vienna. The planning was stellar, with tours and events that each of us loved. The guides in each city were excellent. Of special note: in Budapest: Zoltan Bosnyak went out of his way to show us where scenes from "Gloomy Sunday" were filmed. In Salzburg: Ben Aouicha took great care of us, and became like family. We even took a picture with him, and he texted to ask us how we liked Vienna (where we went after Salzburg). In Vienna: Roland Zucker was incredibly knowledgable, and took us on the "Third Man" tour. He was able to explain all about the Habsburg dynasty and who was who in the lineage. kimkim support was excellent. The few times that something was unclear, or a small problem arose, they responded immediately and made it right. We would recommend kimkim for anyone looking for a special vacation, with fine hotels, great sightseeing, and fun special events. Highlights included: dinner boat tour on the Danube in Budapest, dinner concert of Mozart's operas in Salzburg, Vivaldi concert in Vienna, and adequate time for the Prater Amusement Park in Vienna.

Activity Reviews
🎬 The Sound of Music: Private Salzburg Experience 🎶
🎬 The Sound of Music: Private Salzburg Experience 🎶
Salzburg

Our guide, Ben Aouicha, was very personable, and very knowledgable. He showed us the locations, and where the best camera angles were. His driving was careful and competent.

“The Third Man” Filming Locations Tour
“The Third Man” Filming Locations Tour
Vienna

Our guide, Roland Zucker, had an annotated book of the Third Man, and he showed us filming locations all over central Vienna. We did a lot of walking. Very interesting.

Half day Retro museum + Palatinus Baths Margaret Island
Half day Retro museum + Palatinus Baths Margaret Island
Budapest

The Retro museum was fun. I was not prepared for the baths, and we didn't really have enough time, since there was a long walk to get to and from the baths. Lunch options were poor, and took time away from the baths themselves. I didn't realize until too late that the different pools were different temperatures, so I didn't make full use of the experience. More preparatory information would have helped.

Private Guided Visit — Austrian National Library (State Hall)
Private Guided Visit — Austrian National Library (State Hall)
Vienna

This is the most beautiful library. Our guide, Roland Zucker, knew everything, like who were depicted in each statute, and the ceiling frescoes, he pointed out the coats of arms. He also described how the library came into being, and the ages of the books. I would highly recommend this visit. It is really an amazing experience.

Evening Cruise and Dinner with Champagne
Evening Cruise and Dinner with Champagne
Budapest

This may have been our favorite event. The food on the cruise was excellent, and floating down the river was delightful. It was spectacularly beautiful as it got dark, and the lights on the buildings were turned on. Just magical. And we had great weather for this tour.

Discover Culinary Diversity @ Naschmark Food Tour
Discover Culinary Diversity @ Naschmark Food Tour
Vienna

Perfect for "Foodies". The tour gave us a chance to see and taste lots of international specialties, dried fruit, nuts, spices, falafel, cold cuts. We didn't need any lunch after this tour.

Local specialist: Clemens Sengwein
Clemens
Clemens Sengwein
Local specialist in Vienna | Replied on Jul 07, 2026
Thank you so much, Elaine, for taking the time to write such a thoughtful review. It was truly a pleasure helping you create this journey for you and your granddaughters. I loved putting together an itinerary that balanced history, music, local culture, and fun experiences for every generation. Knowing that each of you found something special to enjoy is exactly what I hope for when designing a trip. I'm especially happy to hear your wonderful feedback about Zoltan, Ben, and Roland. They... Read more

Thank you so much, Elaine, for taking the time to write such a thoughtful review.

It was truly a pleasure helping you create this journey for you and your granddaughters. I loved putting together an itinerary that balanced history, music, local culture, and fun experiences for every generation. Knowing that each of you found something special to enjoy is exactly what I hope for when designing a trip.

I'm especially happy to hear your wonderful feedback about Zoltan, Ben, and Roland. They are exceptional guides, and I'll make sure your kind words reach each of them. I'm sure they'll be delighted to know they made such a lasting impression.

Thank you as well for your constructive feedback about the Retro Museum and Palatinus Baths. That is incredibly valuable, and I'll update our pre arrival information so future travelers are better prepared to make the most of the experience.

Reading that the Danube dinner cruise, the Mozart Dinner Concert, the Vivaldi concert, and your time at the Prater became such memorable highlights truly made my day.

It was an absolute pleasure being your local travel specialist, and I hope this was just the first of many adventures together. Whenever your travels bring you back to Europe, I'd be delighted to help create another unforgettable journey.

My warmest wishes to you and both of your granddaughters, and thank you again for placing your trust in me and the Avellera team. Safe travels until we meet again!

Best,

Clemens