Pintxos, Basilicas, and Pilota - Oh My!
Spain | Oct 12 - Oct 23, 2022

Joel
Joel S.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Nov 17, 2022

Very satisfying experience with our specialist Marta. She made sure to understand our goals and wishes for the trip, and was very accommodating in assisting us in fine tuning the itinerary so that we got the most of the trip. We were so happy with kimkim’s process that we’ve already scheduled another trip with them! Moreover, we have recommended kimkim to friends, and will continue to do so.

The kimkim process was simple yet thorough, and working with Marta was rewarding. We enjoyed the flexibility of being given suggestions, then identifying which components of the itinerary were most appealing. She helped us pick activities we might not have thought of on our own, and was great to communicate with during our time in country. If we had planned the entire trip ourselves, the amount of choices about what to do and where to stay would have been overwhelming. Using Marta, Espiritu, and kimkim, we had an excellent set of experiences and will look back fondly on this trip for many years to come.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel España Ramblas
Barcelona

The hotel itself is stunning in its preservation of historical detail. The beds and pillows were very good, supportive and comfortable without being too soft or too firm. The modern sinks and faucets can be a challenge, depending on your room. The auto shutoff was an irritant regardless. Breakfast was excellent, and in an absolutely beautiful space. The staff were attentive, but not oppressive, and seemed truly happy to be of service. One criticism would be the difficulty of vehicles getting to the hotel entrance -- taxis had the proper transponders to lower the bollards to access the street, while private drivers did not.

Authenticity & Character
One of the oldest hotels in Barcelona, and tastefully updated rooms without losing old world charm in the common areas.
Location
Central without being obnoxiously loud.
Staff
Friendly and helpful.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Comfort and style.
NH Ciudad de Zaragoza
Zaragoza

This hotel was in a *perfect* location for exploring Old Town Zaragoza, enjoying views over the river (sunrises, sunsets, and fireworks at the close of the Festival de Pilar), and gave easy access to shopping, dining, transit, and major attractions. While the building lacked the historical appeal of other accommodations, the room itself was extremely comfortable, well appointed, and clean. We ate one dinner and two breakfasts at the hotel restaurant; the meals were good, but did not stand out as exceptional when compared to virtually any other meals we enjoyed in Spain. The staff were capable and friendly.

Authenticity & Character
Authenticity and character are not what NH is known for. The hotel was nice.
Location
Perfect central location.
Staff
No problems to report. Bartender was friendly. Front desk staff were helpful. Breakfast staff was adequate, friendly but not always attentive.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Clean and very comfortable.
Hotel Ercilla de Bilbao
Bilbao, Bizkaia

Our room was large, the staff were helpful and professional and friendly, and the breakfast offerings were superior in both quality and variety. This hotel is in an excellent location and is of very high quality.

Location
Easy access to the metro and in a very walkable area.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Villa Soro
Donostia - San Sebastián (Gipuzkoa)

This felt like a private villa, which it used to be. The staff were impeccable and our room was lovely. The grounds and meals were also above-par.

Authenticity & Character
Location
This is not the closest location for people who want to be walking to the beach all the time or who require restaurants and shops directly across the street. We found it easy enough to walk 15 minutes into the heart of the city, and we were less than 10 minutes from plenty of dining and drinking establishments. Taxis had no problem finding it, and we felt completely safe exploring on foot from here.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Private Tour of Barcelona & La Sagrada Familia
Private Tour of Barcelona & La Sagrada Familia
Barcelona

Daniel (Dani) was knowledgeable and a joy to spend our time with. He patiently answered our questions and enthusiastically shared stories of the history and culture we were seeing. Exploring the Gothic Quarter with him was a true joy, and his insider knowledge of La Sagrada Familia was outstanding.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Day Trip to Montserrat & Penedès Region Wine Tasting
Day Trip to Montserrat & Penedès Region Wine Tasting
Barcelona

Montserrat is worth visiting, especially the museum there. Standing outside the church and waiting to see if you can get inside for a singing performance is not worth it. We strongly recommend spending that time in the museum or riding the funicular or pursuing some other interests. The museum is outstanding, as are the views from the top of the funicular. The quality of your guide will strongly influence your enjoyment of this experience. The winery stop was a lovely way to end the day.

Quality of Experience
Guests on this tour should not be pressured by their guide, but should be allowed to experience Montserrat in their own preferred manner.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
We had several misfortunes that day, and they were compounded by our guide, who did not seem terribly interested in giving us the best possible tour. We provided detailed feedback and half our tour cost was refunded, along with sincere apologies from our travel specialist. Lesson learned: a great guide makes a world of difference!
Transport
Tapas Culinary Experience
Tapas Culinary Experience
Barcelona

We rescheduled this tour in the city of Zaragoza, rather than in Barcelona. Our experience was mind-blowing and our guide was exceptional.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Privately Guided Visit of Zaragoza
Privately Guided Visit of Zaragoza
Zaragoza

We didn't know until we arrived that we would be in Zaragoza for the last two days of the city's primary festival, the Festival de Pilar. This made the experience so much more special! Despite the huge crowds, our guide did a wonderful job of sharing with us her love of the city, its history, the two primary churches in the old town, and the nature of the festival itself. We would recommend this tour without hesitation!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The Best of Pintxos Gastronomy Experience
The Best of Pintxos Gastronomy Experience
Bilbao

The nature of this experience is likely to feel chaotic, especially when you have 10-12 people and half of them have some form of dietary restriction. Having said that, the foods we sampled were incredible and our guide did an impressive job of ensuring that everyone would have something to sample at each of the many stops we made. We had a lot of fun and were glad we had this tour on our itinerary.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Hiking Gorbeia Mountain
Hiking Gorbeia Mountain
Bilbao

Our day changed up a bit, so that instead of simply hiking, we also got to forage for mushrooms, visit a small chapel and beautiful overlook, and enjoy some time driving in the area and visiting multiple forests. This was necessitated when one member of our party was unable to safely complete the hike, and our guide was simple wonderful about falling back on an alternate itinerary for us. This area was stunning in every way, and completely worth visiting no matter which activities you choose.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Diego was, hands down, the best guide either of us has had. We would hire him again in a heartbeat.
Transport
Modern, clean, and comfortable van.
Private Transfer  {{start_location}} to {{end_location}} via Coastal Route
Private Transfer {{start_location}} to {{end_location}} via Coastal Route
Spain

Between Bilbao and San Sebastián, you can choose to go by bus, taxi, or private guide. Going on a highway may be fast and efficient, but it doesn't give any context to the area. By hiring a private guide, we got to stop in numerous small towns, including Guernica, where we visited the site of the Basque council's seat of government. We took short hikes, saw sites and sights all along the coast, enjoyed an excellent lunch in the town where Balenciaga is from, and learned SO MUCH about the history of the area, the Basque people, the cultural traditions, the landscape and geography, and what keeps these small seaside communities thriving today.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Diego can't be beat.
Transport
E-Bike Guided Visit of San Sebastian
E-Bike Guided Visit of San Sebastian
San Sebastián

What a fantastic way to get to see more of San Sebastián than just the beach and central area! We stopped in several areas, learned about the town and the architecture, the university, the local sports, the history of royalty visiting the area, and even got to stop and play a tiny bit of Basque handball! Very cool, lots of fun.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Marta Trzeciakowska
Marta
Marta Trzeciakowska
Local specialist in Madrid, Spain | Replied on Nov 18, 2022

Hi Joel, thank you for taking the time to submit the review. It was a pleasure to organize this trip for you and Natalie, and I am thrilled that you had a great time exploring the must-sees and other hidden spots in our beloved country. If you consider a trip to Portugal or Spain in the future, let me know and I will be happy to help. Have fun on your new adventure! Best, Marta