Beautifully Planned, Wonderfully Experienced - Sister Trip to Portugal
Portugal
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Jul 27 - Aug 2, 2025
I wanted to treat my sister to our first European vacation, and I’m so glad I chose KimKim to help make it unforgettable!
We decided on Portugal but weren’t sure where to begin—thankfully, our travel specialist Helena made the process seamless. She listened closely to how we like to travel, accommodated our dietary needs, and crafted an itinerary that perfectly suited us. Every hotel was well-located, and each experience felt personal and thoughtful.
We split our time between Porto and Lisbon, starting with a walking tour in Porto led by the amazing Elena. She was warm, knowledgeable, and made our first day so memorable—snapping great photos and sharing local insights. Helena also planned a food tour that introduced us to authentic Porto cuisine we’d never have found on our own. Unfortunately, I can't remember our tour guide's name for the food tour, but he also did a great job.
One of the absolute highlights was our trip to the Douro Valley with João, our incredible driver. I think he has to be one of the loveliest people I’ve ever met. I really could go on and on about how wonderful he was, but I’ll just say that our trip with João was a top highlight of the whole vacation. We learned so much about Portugal chatting with him and we were treated with such kindness. We really felt welcome, like we were family. I could not have asked for a better person to help us explore Porto. He also drove us from Porto to Lisbon, making amazing stops in Aveiro and Nazaré—where he got us local pastries, espresso, and secured a table at Pangeia by the Sea, our best meal of the trip.
In Lisbon, we had a fantastic tour with José, who not only showed us hidden photo spots but went the extra mile by walking us to a special lunch spot, recommending a great dish and wine, and ensuring the staff took excellent care of us. So thoughtful and above and beyond!
When nearby fires forced an itinerary change, communication through the travel app was prompt and seamless. Our hiking guide, Sonia, quickly adjusted our last day, turning it into a rich experience. She took us to Sintra, arranged castle tickets, introduced us to local treats, and even made brownies for my sister’s birthday! She ended the day by driving us to the famous Pastéis de Belém so we wouldn’t miss out on the locals’ favorite.
Every moment felt curated with care. My sister absolutely loved her birthday trip, and I’m so grateful to Helena, Elena, João, José, and Sonia for making it so special. We’ll definitely use KimKim again!
Activity Reviews
. Our tour guide, Elena, was wonderful! Not only was she knowledgeable, and we learned a lot but we also had fun and she took so many memorable pics for us. She made our first day in Porto a great one!
The tour was a fantastic experience, that exposed us to the wonderful world of Porto cuisine. We were shown classic restaurant locations, that we certainly wouldn’t have been about to find on our own. So much fun, and a unique experience. Unfortunately, I can't remember our tour guides name but he was great!
Our driver, João, was incredible! Traveling with him was the highlight of the trip. He even talked about the NBA with my sister, which is one of her favorite things to chat about! Also, we enjoyed meeting Carla who gave us a tour of the Quinta Da Pacheca winery. She was fantastic and also had us laughing the whole time :)
This day was the one I was most concerned about (just because it would be a long day on the road) and it turned out to be a highlight of the trip! Nazaré was absolutely beautiful and Aveiro was lovely as well. But mostly it was chatting with João, understanding more about Portugal and seeing how we are all connected no matter where we grew up, that made the day special for my sister and I.
José was a fantastic tour guide. He found some special and unique spots for us to take pictures while also sharing the rich history of Lisbon. The highlight was a small lunch spot he recommended for the Red Vinho Verde that is a unique experience in Lisbon. José could have just pointed us in the right direction for the restaurant, but no, he took it a step further and walked us over to the restaurant, gave us the best recommendation to order and actually spoke to the staff to make sure they took care of us and we had the best experience. Just above and beyond what we could have expected.
Sonia was a fanstic tour guide! She shaped a comprehensive experience to make up for a minor change in the itinerary. While in Sintra, she bought us tickets to the National Castle there, she took us to get a classic pastry and latte (which is always a plus), and she showed us other beautiful parts of Lisbon. She even made my sister brownies because she knew it was her birthday! So kind! She even heard me talking about where to get the best Pastel de Nata and let me know that the locals prefer the Pastéis de Belém, so she drove us to the location where they are made to make sure we tried it before we left. It turned out to be such a great day, even with the minor hiccup in the schedule.
Hi Eden,
Thank you so much for your lovely feedback!
I am delighted that your trip with your sister turned into such a special adventure. It is wonderful to hear how Elena, João, José, and Sonia made your experience personal and memorable—I will make sure they hear your kind words.
I am also glad we could keep things smooth when plans had to change, and that your sister’s birthday was celebrated with care.
I would love to help you plan your next trip whenever you are ready. 🤩
Warmest regards,
Helena