Spectacular level of planning, flexibility and in-trip service! We had a fabulous time.
Spain | Aug 30 - Sep 5, 2026

T
Thomas B.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Sep 06, 2026

kimkim and Hector did a fantastic job organizing our trip to Barcelona and Madrid. My wife has some medical issues that made her extremely anxious about such a long (11 day) trip. So a big thanks to kimkim and their local partners for being so good about crafting schedules for trips, tours and meals that did not overwhelm our schedule. Your flexibility in trip planning, easily usable website, detailed instructions and, most importantly, your regular communications while were were on the trip were greatly appreciated. It all made my wife and able to relax and really enjoy such a beautiful country.

So many things to comment on
1. Ticketing for trains and site visits. These were all done clearly and correctly. It was great to have them all easily available on the kimkim app. And, when we decided to take an earlier train back from Toledo to Barcelona (temperatures neared 40 degrees C in the afternoon!), it was no problem because kimkim bought the tickets directly from the train system, not through a third party and Natalia worked it out with the station agent.

2. The hotels in Barcelona and Madrid were well chosen, given the price range and interests we identified on your app. Great locations and very welcoming staff. We spent the longest time at Hotel Meninas in Madrid, and would particularly recommend that anyone.

3. The Tapas & Tradition tours was so much fun. And delicious. We were part of a group seven, plus our guide Andres. Andres had chosen and prepared the 3+ restaurants well. So we enjoyed the tapas, drinks and learning about the traditions around this wonderful way of eating with friends. It helped a lot that everyone in the group was wonderful and fun to hang out with. What a great start to our first night in Madrid. Thank you Andres!

2. Walking tours of Madrid old town and Toledo. On separate days, two engaging and extremely knowledgeable guides really gave us a sense of the history, beauty and life in these two very different cities. Because it was a private tour (just me and my wife), Geza (Madrid) and Natalia (Toledo) made sure to build in plenty of stops along the tour so my wife could rest her legs and still enjoy the trip. I think both of them know the location of every bench along the tour route! That would not have been possible if we were in a larger tour group that we would have had to keep up with.

Thank you Geza and Natalia!

And it was funny to run into Geza leading a larger group two days later near our hotel! And a special thanks to Natalia for thinking to thoroughly explain El Greco's painting The Burial of the Count of Orgaz, initially using a picture on her phone, while my wife could remain seated at the back of the room and then later go up to look at it closely. Very thoughtful guide work.

Hotel Reviews
H10 Art Gallery
Barcelona

Beautiful artwork in a modern setting. Love the patio area out the back of the lobby and the included breakfast. The staff were very welcoming and helpful. Great location in central Barcelona.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Nice neighborhood to walk around in. Easy cab ride to El Sagrada Familia, Gothic Quarter, the beach and all the other sites. I like the pool and exercise room as well.
Staff
Super friendly and helpful with anything we asked for like taxi arrangements, dinner recommendations, etc.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very modern feel, but also welcoming and comfortable.
Hotel Meninas
Madrid
Authenticity & Character
The hotel and street seemed very much a part of and older area of Madrid, which we liked very much. We felt very much in the middle of the city, but on a quiet street.
Location
Easy walk to the Royal Palace, Plaza Major and the Opera. Interesting neighborhood to walk around. As it was on a small, narrow street, but super easy to get to the places we wanted to visit.
Staff
Oh, the staff here were so nice, helpful and welcoming. And no-one laughed at my poor attempts at Spanish (just kidding, they would never do that). We felt very much at home here.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very well designed and maintained. The lobby was comfortable to hang out in. And the breakfast on floor -1 was delicious.
Activity Reviews
Tapas & Tradition: A Madrileño Evening
Tapas & Tradition: A Madrileño Evening
Madrid

I shared to details of this on the first page of this review. Andres, the restaurants and the whole group were great.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
As I said in the first page of the review, Andres was a perfect person to learn from and share tapas with.
Transport
We took a taxi to the meeting point
Walking Madrid’s Old Town
Walking Madrid’s Old Town
Madrid

I didn't know these individual pages were coming, so I put my details on the first page. Geza was fantastic.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
An Excursion to Toledo by Train, Guided Walk
An Excursion to Toledo by Train, Guided Walk
Madrid

Natalia was the best! I gave details earlier, but we really did learn a lot and enjoyed her company around this amazing city.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Spain Important Trip Information: Please Review Before Departure
Spain Important Trip Information: Please Review Before Departure
Spain

As we noted earlier, the H10 Art Gallery was a great choice. We loved the amenities, patio, art, lobby, but especially the helpful staff.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
We arranged for a private care to the airport and that worked out seamlessly.
Local specialist: Hector Molina
Hector
Hector Molina
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Sep 07, 2026
Hi Thomas,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a thoughtful review. It truly means a lot to the entire team and to me.
It was a pleasure helping you and your wife plan your trip to Spain, and I’m especially happy to hear that the pacing, flexibility, and personal attention helped you both relax and fully enjoy the experience. I’m also glad that everything came together smoothly, from the hotels and train tickets to the tours. I’ll be sure to share your kind words with... Read more

Hi Thomas,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a thoughtful review. It truly means a lot to the entire team and to me.

It was a pleasure helping you and your wife plan your trip to Spain, and I’m especially happy to hear that the pacing, flexibility, and personal attention helped you both relax and fully enjoy the experience.

I’m also glad that everything came together smoothly, from the hotels and train tickets to the tours. I’ll be sure to share your kind words with Andrés, Geza, and Natalia—they will be delighted to hear how much you enjoyed their work.

Thank you again for trusting me with your trip. It was a pleasure having you in Spain, and I hope you take home many wonderful memories!

Warm regards,
Hector