Memorable "First" to France
France | Sep 25 - Oct 4, 2025

Susan
Susan W.
Hanover, MA | Reviewed on Nov 10, 2025

Liz and the KimKim team did a fabulous job planning our first trip to France. Liz worked with me through several iterations and connected my phone to ensure she was providing the experience we were looking for. She helped develop a very diverse 10-day trip throughout France, ensuring the places we wanted to hit - Nice, Paris, Normandy - where included and then some! Liz was always so responsive - even after our return when I had a question! She even sent some goodies - stickers and a water bottle, after I booked as the trip was a gift. She even sent a hand written thank you card upon our return, such a nice touch especially when things feel so automated or less personalized.
The trip was wonderful. We especially enjoyed Champagne country, Giverny and seeing Monet's breathtaking gardens, paying our respect and learning more about history on the Normandy trip/tour, and really enjoyed the dinner cruise on the Seine. Southern France was great and so different than the north and Paris. We especially enjoyed the private tour guide we had with Lucy to see Antibes, Cannes and more. We're glad one of our day excursions also included Monaco - although that day felt more rushed and more checking in quickly to Ez, Monaco, etc - it was very brief in each area - 1 hour is all. The hotel in Nice as nice as well as Paris; however in hindsight, given where our meeting locations were in Paris for the various excursions, we wish we had a hotel that was closer to the meeting locations - especially when several days called for 6:30/6:45 am meet ups. With our hotel not being near the metro and such early times, we ended up using cabs and probably added another $250 to our trip in all the cab rides - including from the Paris hotel to the airport , which wasn't included in our other transportation. The cost for the Versailles and Giverny excursion was very expensive and wouldn't do it again, but glad we got to see the area. Our favorite excursions was the Champagne country, Normandy, private tour guide in Nice, Antibes and Cannes and the Seine dinner cruise. We were disappointed in the Notre Dame tour - the tour guide was lovely and we learned a lot, but for the money and time, all we did was walk around the exterior....it noted a tour and we were so happy given that Notre Dame had just reopened , then to find out that if we wanted to go inside we'd have to get in line which was wrapping around and a few miles long.
We enjoyed France and found everyone very kind and welcoming. Thank you for helping to create such a memorable experience!

Activity Reviews
Champagne Region Day Trip with Tastings
Champagne Region Day Trip with Tastings
Paris
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Louvre Murders & Mysteries Experience
Louvre Murders & Mysteries Experience
Paris
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Jet lagged and new to Paris, would have been preferred to have a cab or transport lined up for ease and to reduce some stress - the hotel staff was helpful and helped us secure a cab
Private Notre-Dame & Sainte-Chapelle Visit
Private Notre-Dame & Sainte-Chapelle Visit
Paris

Expected a bit more - travel guide was wonderful and enjoyed Sainte Chapelle, but Notre Dame was underwhelming and disapointing to not see anything but the outside (not a lot of value as we could have just walked there and saw it on our own and saved hundreds of dollars, frankly).

Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
None and had to navigate on our own, not horrible
Seine River Gourmet Dinner Cruise with Live Music
Seine River Gourmet Dinner Cruise with Live Music
Paris
Quality of Experience
Transport
Really a neat experience!
Giverny & Palace of Versailles: Art, Royalty & Gardens
Giverny & Palace of Versailles: Art, Royalty & Gardens
Paris
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Driver was more of a driver and didn't go into too much until we got to Versailles
Transport
Private French Riviera Sunset Electric Cruise (with private transfer)
Nice
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full-Day Tour from Paris: D-Day Beaches Exploration
Full-Day Tour from Paris: D-Day Beaches Exploration
Paris
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Grand Riviera Journey: Eze, Monaco, Antibes & Cannes Excursion
Grand Riviera Journey: Eze, Monaco, Antibes & Cannes Excursion
Nice
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Exploration of Antibes, St-Paul-de-Vence and Cannes
Full Day Exploration of Antibes, St-Paul-de-Vence and Cannes
Nice
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Lucy was great!!!
Transport
loved having a private excursion - able to customize and really learn more about the area
Self-Guided Beach Day
Self-Guided Beach Day
Nice

we needed a "free day" :)

Quality of Experience
Local specialist: Liz Chreist
Liz
Liz Chreist
Local specialist in Kimkim HQ | Replied on Nov 10, 2025
Susan-
Thank you so much for your incredibly detailed and thoughtful review — it was a true pleasure to help craft your first journey through France! I’m thrilled to hear that you enjoyed such a diverse and enriching itinerary, from the elegance of Champagne country to the history of Normandy and the charm of southern France.
It was a joy collaborating with you through each iteration of the trip, and I’m glad the personal touches — from the goodies to the handwritten card — helped make the... Read more

Susan-
Thank you so much for your incredibly detailed and thoughtful review — it was a true pleasure to help craft your first journey through France! I’m thrilled to hear that you enjoyed such a diverse and enriching itinerary, from the elegance of Champagne country to the history of Normandy and the charm of southern France.

It was a joy collaborating with you through each iteration of the trip, and I’m glad the personal touches — from the goodies to the handwritten card — helped make the experience feel special. Your feedback about the excursions and logistics is invaluable. I truly appreciate your insights on the timing in Monaco and the hotel location in Paris; these are exactly the kinds of details that help us refine future trips for you and others.

I’m especially happy to hear that your favorite moments included the private tour with Lucy, the Seine dinner cruise, and the moving experience in Normandy. Your reflections on Giverny and Monet’s gardens are beautiful — it’s such a magical place, and I’m glad it resonated with you.

Thank you again for trusting me and the KimKim team with your travel dreams. It means the world to us to know we helped create lasting memories. I’d love to help you plan your next adventure whenever you’re ready — France still has so much more to offer, and beyond that, the world is waiting!

Warmest regards,
Liz Travel Specialist, and the rest of the KimKim team