Trip to Costa Rica
Costa Rica | Sep 21 - Sep 29, 2019

C
Christopher C.
Bloomington, IN | Reviewed on Oct 03, 2019

We are very disappointed with our experience with KimKim on what should have been a great trip. Randall was helpful in laying out an itinerary that suited our needs. The quoted price seem quite a bit higher relative to the experience of friends and family who have been to Costa Rica, which prompted us to ask about any included fees. Randall said that all contracts with tour operators were "confidential" and that "all benefits are passed along to you." He insisted that there were no added fees beyond what was shown at the end.

The tours and experiences that Randall had booked for us were actually prominently advertised with their prices in every hotel we visited. All the hotels themselves also had their rates prominently displayed. Once we added it all up, we realized that KimKim had charged us more than a 30% premium on every activity and hotel as well as added on the fee at the end. Given the price, the lack of unique experiences that we all readily bookable everywhere, we would never use this service again. If you like the convenience and are willing to pay the huge premium, this is a great service. However, be aware that there is no transparency with regards to this premium and you can probably do just as well booking with your local reputable hotel from one of the major sites.

Local specialist: Randall Jiménez
Randall
Randall Jiménez
Local specialist in San José, Costa Rica | Replied on Oct 04, 2019
Hi Christopher, I am sorry to hear about the feeling that you have after the vacation that we organize for you. We always try to provide the best value for your trip taking into account the time and research we've done to ensure your trip runs smoothly, organize all the reservations, provide on-the-ground support, and, most importantly, to ensure that the experience is great. The people, who make a decision of doing their own arrangements directly, take all the risks that are involved... Read more

Hi Christopher,

I am sorry to hear about the feeling that you have after the vacation that we organize for you.

We always try to provide the best value for your trip taking into account the time and research we've done to ensure your trip runs smoothly, organize all the reservations, provide on-the-ground support, and, most importantly, to ensure that the experience is great.

The people, who make a decision of doing their own arrangements directly, take all the risks that are involved with that. It may be that they believe they would be getting the trip for a cheaper price, but it is likely that in the end, it could cost them more. By booking with KIMKIM & Coast to Coast Adventures, as the tour operator in Costa Rica, you would have the assurance that you are dealing with a well-established company within Costa Rica. You are given emergency numbers to contact in the event of problems and I have every confidence in our staff to be able to deal with all situations.

We believe our prices are fair based on this, and many of our travelers agree, leaving great reviews but I understand and respect your point of view.

Best,
Randall