Amazing trip without having to think about a thing!
Galapagos Islands | Mar 17 - Mar 27, 2023

Lourdes
Lourdes P.
Flagami, FL | Reviewed on Apr 02, 2023

Now I understand why they say Galapagos is the trip of a lifetime. It would be hard to go there under any circumstances and NOT have an amazing time, but arranging it through KimKim and specifically with our local expert Tamer made it a breeze. Tamer is a great listener and incredibly responsive and caring. He worked with me to ensure this trip for myself, my teenage daughter, and my elderly aunt with some health issues would be incredible for each of us, all the way down to the itinerary that would include seeing specific animals, making sure the ship's crew was aware of my aunt's food allergy, and having wetsuits reserved in case the water temp for snorkeling wasn't comfortable. Here's why I'll happily book through KimKim again in the future: 1. They arrange exactly the trip I want without my having to spend any time researching, 2. I don't have to think about a thing from start to finish, because transfers, accomodations, and tours are all arranged, 3. As a woman traveling with her daughter, I feel safe knowing drivers, guides, etc. are vetted, and 4. I get all that for a few hundred dollars more than if I planned the trip myself. What's not to love?

Hotel Reviews
Patio Andaluz
Quito

Loved staying here. Very charming hotel conveniently located in the colonial heart of the city, and the staff couldn't have been more pleasant and helpful.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean and comfortable, but there's no elevator, the hotel has multiple floors, and our room had two levels. Not an issue for us, but something to note for anyone with accessibility issues or for whom altitude sickness (Quito is way up there!) could be a problem.
Hotel Solymar
Galápagos

Wonderful view, great location, clean room, friendly staff, very good buffet breakfast.

Authenticity & Character
Simple, authentic, and right next to the water, which was nice, but also in need of updating
Location
Walking distance to Darwin Center, dock, plenty of places to eat, etc.
Staff
Super friendly and helpful but could have been more informed on specifics tourists would need (Darwin center hours, boat schedules, etc.)
Cleanliness & Comfort
Cleanliness was fine. Mattresses are HARD. I like them that way and am not picky, so the fact that I noticed is telling. There was also an issue with the water boiler, and we didn't have hot water for two days. There was no attempt to so much as communicate about the problem (I got the details when I asked the front desk about it), much less compensate us for it, or at the very least apologize.
M/C Millennium
Ecuadors, Galágados, Peru

This was the perfect size boat from which to explore the Galapagos, and the staff was fantastic. Food left a lot to be desired. "Premium" classification I guess is because there is hot water, private bathrooms... ? Not a lot felt premium about it, but that didn't detract from the experience, which the staff made incredible.

Authenticity & Character
The staff provided this
Location
Access to numerous islands, and our entire group was able to disembark from just two dingys
Staff
Helpful, friendly, genuine, entertaining
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Tamer Obeid
Tamer
Tamer Obeid
Local specialist in Quito, Ecuador | Replied on Apr 02, 2023
Hi Lourdes,
We can't be grateful enough for your review and kind words, it really helps our future travelers know more about the level of services we offer here at KimKim, and for that, I am very thankful.
It was a great honor being able to meet you and Gaby in person and share a cup of coffee with you- Sebastian says hi by the way :) I am extremely happy that you've enjoyed your trip with us, especially the Galapagos cruise portion which was the highlight of this tour :) I'm sorry though for...
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Hi Lourdes,
We can't be grateful enough for your review and kind words, it really helps our future travelers know more about the level of services we offer here at KimKim, and for that, I am very thankful.
It was a great honor being able to meet you and Gaby in person and share a cup of coffee with you- Sebastian says hi by the way :) I am extremely happy that you've enjoyed your trip with us, especially the Galapagos cruise portion which was the highlight of this tour :) I'm sorry though for the inconvenience that occurred at Sol Y Mar regarding the hot water, as I explained, it was a huge and unexpected plumbing problem that they faced during your stay! As for the Millennium, I'm getting to the bottom of what happened with their chef!! I'll make sure to convey your feedback to all hotels and providers, the good ones and the not-so-good ones :)
I honestly hope to see you again here in Ecuador, it still has a lot to offer!
Yours, Tamer