Kimkim Trip Reviews

It was the trip of a lifetime. My wife and I were taken care of from the minute we landed in Naples, Italy till the minute we boarded our return flight home. The drivers, guides, excursions, line free admissions and experiences were 100% first rate. Chris and Maria put together a vacation that was completely worry and question free. We were informed in advance who, what and where we were going to experience each day to come. The drivers and guides were native of each city and area we visited and were incredibly personable and knowledgeable about the history and shorter routes. They gave us wonderful recommendations on additional places to visit or eat and even set up reservations where applicable. I learned about kimkim from a friend. Now, I will be the friend who tells others about kimkim for their travel plans. If another travel destination is in future, we will most certainly reach out to kimkim to see if that location is in their planning abilities.

Tours were excellent and guides knowledgeable. Debra on the Kent trip was especially good.

Review of KimKim trip for Henry Newman and Lisa Belvito France October 2026

Overall review – the trip was excellent. Most things went smoothly and were as planned, with a few exceptions that will be detailed following.
The process of working with Sebastian was good. It took a couple of calls for him to understand that we did not want to spend time in Paris. Once that was resolved he was very responsive to our interest, made good suggestions and replied in a timely manner.
We did have some trouble getting English tours for Mont St Michel and the oyster tour in Cancale. It seemed like we had to press a few times before getting alternatives. In the end it worked out fine.
Properties – all the hotels were lovely, well located for our needs and the staff was very helpful.
We did request at least a queen bed in each. In St. Malo and Bordeaux, we did not have queens – they seemed to be doubles. We would have preferred to discuss this in advance and explore the options (location, pricing etc) of upgrading to determine ourselves if we wanted to upgrade.
Note for people driving – we rented a car for the trip and needed parking. I believe Sebastian made sure that all the hotels had parking available. The location he gave us in St. Malo was especially well done since he kept us outside the old city where there is no parking but close enough to walk.
However – it is critical that guests contact each hotel well in advance to arrange for parking. The spaces are limited and if we had not reached out to each hotel early, we would not have gotten a parking space. You can assist future guests by advising them to make parking arrangement in advance.
Day by Day
We made a lovely stop at Giverny on the way to Bayeux – a nice alternative for those interested.
Villa Lara , a family-run hotel, was great. Paul and Julian were very fun and accommodating for our evening cocktails.
D-Day Sites Tour was very well done. Our guide Violine (??) did a great job giving is the history and creating a sense of what was happening during this period in history. She answered all our questions and accommodated our needs given a rather rainy day. The Airborne museum was also a highlight.
Sadly, the tapestry was on display in Britian, but we enjoyed a quiet day exploring Bayeux.
Mont Saint Michel - easy to get to and the directions look us right to the parking lot. Although it was a bit crowded the process was smooth and the walk to the Abbey was nice.
We ended up with an audio guide due to lack of an English tour. This was the best audio guide we have ever seen! It really provided excellent information and perspectives across the centuries. Perfect if there is not a tour in your language or for anyone who prefers self-guided option.
Saint Malo As mentioned – the hotel location was just the right place for access to parking and access to the intra muros district. We spent a nice day discovering the old town of St. Malo.
The suggestion to visit Cancale on our own since we could not get an English tour of the oyster farms was a great idea. We spent time at Pointe du Grouin and then visited Cancale. Lots of fun sitting by the water eating oysters and watching the oyster farming.
Due to rainy weather, chilly we didn’t drive as much of the coast as suggested.
Bordeaux – another lovely hotel centrally located for everything we wanted to enjoy. Excellent staff – very helpful especially since we were there when some of the riots occurred. They ensured that everyone was informed and safe, so we had no issues.
We had some mix up with our market tour which we have shared with Sebastian.
The itinerary said - Marché des Capucins Lénaïc, a local passionate wine-lover, is your guide to this emblematic Bordeaux neighborhood. You'll learn about its fascinating history while exploring the colorful market. You will stop at three different stalls to hear artisan producers explain their work and techniques and to sample local wines and season products, which could include cheese, oysters, stuffed cod, and more.
Your tour ends in a nearby wine cellar for brunch, enjoying wine and other local specialties. You will have the opportunity to taste six different wines matched with food purchased at the markets. This is a friendly and relaxed experience away from the hustle and bustle of the city above!
Unfortunately, this is not the experience we got. We stayed in the main area, visited 4 local shops for small tastes. There was no market and no brunch or food and wine pairing. It seems the local tour company switched out our planned tour for a different experience which was disappointing.
We did, however, visit Marché des Capucins on our own.
Sauternes Wine and Medoc Wine tours The next two days of touring Sauternes Wine and Medoc Wine were excellent. Ugo our guide was knowledgeable, engaging, informative and a great driver. We learned a lot about wine and life in the area.
Wine Tasting in St. Emilion Our guide for this tour (she did not tell us her name) was pleasant but not very engaging. We were in a rather noisy van with 4 other people, and it was impossible to hear what she was explaining in the back of the van. We did ask her to speak up a few times but to no avail. For small groups in a van, you might consider using a mike so everyone can hear.
The location and tasting were was enjoyable.
Le Monastère de Saint-Mont this was an amazing property with such a lovely family running it. Beatrice arranged a full day tour of the region with Armagnac and wine tastings and lunch with a local guide. KimKim might want to coordinate with these people for others who want Armagnac experiences as you didn’t seem to know anyone in the region.

Had a great time, Sophie made everything super easy and smooth throughout my trip to the UK. Would definitely recommend!

There not enough words to convey the absolutely phenomenal job Leny and her team did for our first trip to Japan. From the hotels to the tours and tour guides Mitsu Kumiko, Rio Suzuki, Claire, and all the rest whom I wish i had written their names down as well were amazing, so friendly and knowledgeable. The level of care each tour guide gave was unmatched in any other tours I've taken in my travels. Our itinerary was seamless and Lenys team went above and beyond with little extras that were so appreciated! The ability to be able to contact a team if we were running late or if a situation arises made for such a secure feeling. The hotels picked were stellar. Simply put i will now need Leny and her team to assist with every future international trip I take in the future as well as a 2nd trip back to Japan.

Hotel Reviews

Kinnotake Tonosawa

Hakone

The location, food, room and amenities experienced were unmatched.

Authenticity & Character

The hotels attention to detail, the robes and slippers for comfortability

Location

Surrounded by nature yet accessibility to the village below was perfect

Staff

Our welcome to the hotel was incredible and assistance with our luggage to our next hotel

Cleanliness & Comfort

The robes and rooms made us never want to leave

Shiba Park Hotel

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

The library

Location

So central to so many great areas to visit in walking distance

Staff

All the staff was amazing

Cleanliness & Comfort

All the room amenities

Hotel Resol Kyoto Shijo Muromachi

kyoto

Loved the accesible washers

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mitsui Garden Hotel Ginza gochome

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

This was one of the most western style hotels we stated in but it still kept so much of what I love about japan hotels I stayed in. The public bath, the amazing staff

Location

So close to so many stores, restaurants

Staff

So helpful with our bags as we arrived well before check in and left after check out but we're able to enjoy our days knowing our bags were safe and waiting

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room and downstairs

SOKI KANAZAWA

Kanazawa

Authenticity & Character

Location

Literally right across from the market and so close to the

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

HOTEL AMANEK HidaTakayama

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Experience Old and Nostalgic Tokyo: Yanaka Walking Tour

Tokyo

Amazing attention to our interest in the route, knowledge of the subject matter

Quality of Experience

The level of attention to how we were and what we wanted to see

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was so kind and genuinely wanted to ensure we had a wonderful time

This trip was a wonderful experience. Kim Kim was so good at tailoring it to what we wished to see and experience, making suggestions and allowing us to choose among options. Their representative was always in communication with us, was easy to reach and ask questions. During the trip we received messages making sure that everything was going well. Once when we didn't see the person we were supposed to meet at the airport, a message to them got an immediate response and clarification on the meeting point. This is our fourth time using Kim Kim and we have never been disappointed. The drivers and guides have all been excellent. Finn, our guide in Ho Chi Minh City was absolutely wonderful - so full of history, information and answers to our questions. We would recommend him to anyone! The drivers were always on time (early actually), safe and courteous. It is so nice to arrive in a country and not have to worry about where we need to go, how we get there or will the accommodations be acceptable. Kim Kim is outstanding!

From the planning of our trip through to the final days on the trip, everything was effortless. Nikola listened to our requests, made suggestions/recommendations and we were all thrilled with the experiences we had. This was my second trip with Kimkim and I would highly recommend them. We will continue to use Kimkim for future trips.

We had an amazing 10days visiting 4 islands. All our guides were amazing. We saw so much it’s hard to imagine. Many thanks to the Kim Kim team especially Tamar.

Activity Reviews

Transfer Baltra Airport - Puerto Ayora with visit to the highlands of Santa Cruz

Galapagos Islands

Lots of fun exploring with the turtles and iguanas

Quality of Experience

K

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Excursion to an uninhabited island

Galapagos Islands

Saw the blue footed bookie hatching her two eggs. Amazing

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Snorkel at Los Túneles

Galapagos Islands

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Snorkel at Kicker Rock (Leon Dormido)

Galapagos Islands

The water was too rough for swimming. No fish to see and a General disappointment. El Niño was a problem.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The trip was planned well and we had a lot of input throughout the process. Caroline, Kate, and Diliana were quick to respond to our questions before, during, and after the trip. When we had an issue they were able to help resolve it quickly and with little friction.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Byakko Nice

Nice

Odd layout made getting around a bit tough. Older hotel with some sewage issues in parts of the hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easy to get everywhere with reasonable walk times

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sewage issues with some smelly areas

Escale Oceania Aix-en-Provence

Aix-en-Provence

Not the best location, but clean and friendly

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very far from where most of the activities are in this area.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Central Hotel

Avignon

Great location, but older hotel with some issues. Lots of stairs, can be buggy

Authenticity & Character

Location

Great location with easy access to most activities in the area

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

A bit buggy and poor room layout

Hotel Duette Paris

Paris

Nice hotel, clean, solid amenities and great location

Authenticity & Character

Location

Although not as close to many of the activities we had, it was close to the metro and made getting around very easy

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Provençal Market Visit & Cooking Workshop

Aix-en-Provence

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Morning in Antibes & Cap d’Antibes

Nice

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nice Old Town Food Walk

Nice

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cassis Village, Calanques Boat Ride & Provence Wines Day Trip

Aix-en-Provence

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Self Guided NIGHT Experience of the Louvre Museum (Entrance Tickets Included)

Paris

Still very packed and hard to get into certain areas, even in the evening

Quality of Experience

Private Exterior Notre-Dame & Sainte-Chapelle Visit with Priority Access

Paris

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Roman Highlights: Nîmes, Orange & Pont du Gard

Avignon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Afternoon Wine Tour

Avignon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

7th District Gourmet Food Walk

Paris

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

She was very helpful in planning and executing our budget and desires. Will definitely recommend!

Hotel Reviews

Riad La Croix Berbère

Marrakech

People were sooo friendly.

Authenticity & Character

Lovely charm. By no means a five star hotel by typical standards but lovely and authentic.

Location

Right in the center of the hustle and bustle.

Staff

Soooo friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds a bit hard

Riad Kafila

Essaouira

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right in the center of the hustle and bustle

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

Very informative! Our guide was personable, knowledgeable, and kind.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Excursion to Ourika Valley

Morocco

Beautiful part of the country to see.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Judy and her team did an awesome job working with my sister and me. Kimkim took the budget and time schedule my sister and I had and was able to put together a memorable trip that took us from Tokyo to Hakone to Kyoto.

The tour guide who took us from Tokyo to Hakone was very knowledgeable in history and gave us a rundown of the history of Japan from the warring states period (and the moving of the capital from Kyoto to Tokyo) up to the end of the Meiji restoration. I enjoy learning about history; listening to his explanations was a fun way to fill the silence during our travel time between Tokyo and Hakone.

While our tour in Hakone was mainly riding vehicles (we took a car, a cable car, and later a boat), our trip in Kyoto was a lot more walking (especially uphill). Our tour guide in Kyoto I felt was very considerate on maintaining a pace that wasn't too strenuous with all the inclines. She would make sure to suggest a short break if anyone seemed winded, which I appreciated. The last place she took us to was the 1000 torii gate shrine, which we arrived around 4PM (I'll explain why I included this later). We all walked up probably about 20% up the mountain, past most of the notable gates and the shrine that sells charms/personal sized gates. By this point, the tour guide mentioned that the rest of the mountain is pretty much just more stairs and gates and not much more to see. She asked if we wanted to keep going or if we had seen enough and wanted to turn back around. My sister asked to go a little farther, and the tour guide took us another 5 minutes before my sister and I agreed that we were good with turning back and ending our tour. While we were walking back to the car, I asked our tour guide how long it takes to get to the top and if any groups ever ask her to go all the way to the top with them. She replied that it takes about 2 hours round trip and that earlier this year she had gone to the top with 2 separate groups. I honestly feel like if my sister and I wanted to climb all the way to the top, our guide would have accompanied us, which I appreciate because she never mentioned anything about the time and how it would be at least 6PM if we did the whole mountain. (Side note: the guide told us that the shrine doesn't have a closing time and my sister and I could come back later in the evening if we really wanted to get to the summit. We did.)

Overall, I really enjoyed our trip to Japan and would like to thank Judy and her team once again for the wonderful time they planned for me and my sister. Besides the wonderful guides I mentioned above, the logistics behind the trip were equally well thought out. The hotels they picked for us were fantastic and the transportation between each city were seamless.

Thank you again Kimkim for an awesome trip!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Keihan Tsukiji Ginza Grande

Tokyo

The hotel is very clean and provide complimentary toiletries at the front desk. The staff were very friendly. The breakfast (which I'm not sure if is normally included or was paid through our tour guide) was always well laid out with a good selection to choose from.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tokinoyu Setsugetsuka

Hakone-machi

The hotel is very clean and provide complimentary pajamas you can wear during your stay. They also give you the option to borrow yukatas (free of charge) if you want instead of using their pajamas. The staff were very friendly (although our server during dinner did seem very stressed). The highlight of this hotel/inn is that you can try out their onsen.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Royal Park Hotel Kyoto Sanjo

Kyoto

The hotel is very clean. The staff were very friendly. The breakfast (which I'm not sure if is normally included or was paid through our tour guide) was always well laid out with a good selection to choose from. The location of the hotel is very good. Once you leave the main entrance, if you go one way, you're a minute walk from the main street with lots of different stores/restaurants to choose from. (There's also a great currency exchange place at the corner of the street for foreigners.) If you go the other way, you're 5 minutes walk away from the metro station. There's also a river you can walk alongside, giving you an alternate path if you don't want to have to walk next to noisy streets.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Half Day Bamboo Grove and Monkey Park Tour

Kyoto

The monkeys were very cute. I can tell the staff there really care about the wellbeing of the monkeys because they make sure to sell only 1 bag of snacks to feed the monkeys per group (to ensure no overfeeding).

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Mt. Fuji and Lake Ashi Tour

Hakone

My sister and I were very lucky to be able to see the top of Mt Fuji. Our tour guide said normally (unless you go during the winter) the mountain is often hidden behind clouds/fog. Going to the top of Mt. Hakone using the cable car and getting to see the Hakone shrine at the summit of the mountain was very cool. Although it wasn't as flashy as some other shrines we saw later in the trip, it was the most memorable shrine for me since it was the first one on our trip/my first Shinto shrine I've been to. The lake tour was nice, but without our tour guide pointing out the historical checkpoint between Kyoto/Tokyo and explaining the significance of it, I would have probably missed it. Did enjoy sailing past the floating torii gate and seeing the many couples trying to take a picture (apparently if you take a picture with your partner at that gate it will bring good luck to your relationship).

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fushimi Inari Taisha and Kinkakuji Temple

Kyoto

Kinkakuji Temple is very pretty. Sad to hear that the original burned down due to arson. Fushimi Inari Taisha was good cardio.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I would have given 5 stars if it wasn't for a couple things that happened on the trip, but I won't mention them here.
My husband and I were in Morocco for 14 days. We had one driver for the entire time. Youssef was there for us day and night. He got to know us and we truly enjoyed him. He always made sure we went to clean bathrooms, stopped for good food along the way, and was very knowledgeable about the places we visited.
Most of the guides and experiences were wonderful. The highlight was the desert camp and riding the camels to see the sunset.

Hotel Reviews

Barceló Anfa Casablanca

Casablanca

We only stayed for two nights. The hotel was clean and comfortable. The only strange thing was that the bathroom sink was in the bedroom. So if you needed to use it in the middle of the night, there was no way not to disturb your partner.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palais Amani

Fès

This was a beautiful true Riad. All the rooms opened to a beautiful garden area.

Authenticity & Character

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Desert Luxury Camp Erg Chebbi

Merzouga

The highlight of my Moroccan trip was the desert camp. The tent was comfortable with air conditioning. The surroundings were incredibly beautiful with the endless sand dunes. The food was good. The people were friendly and welcoming. The evening music under the stars was wonderful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dar Rihana Dades

Douar Aït Ouffi

Even though the room was very small, it was cozy. The shower had hot water. The bed was comfortable. The breakfast was delicious. We also ate dinner there. The food was good. The people were very friendly and attentive.

Authenticity & Character

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Maison Arabe

Marrakech

This hotel was the perfect place to end our trip. It was beautiful. The breakfast was served in a beautiful garden area. There were people preparing fresh bread, and eggs. The room was very comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Explore Chefchaouen with your local guide

Chefchaouen

Our guide Hasim was the nicest and very knowledgeable. He knew everyone and showed us all the authentic places. He was very knowledgeable about the history of the city.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fes: Exploring the Imperial City

Fes

We liked walking around the city. Tasting the food. It's so colorful. Everyone was very friendly. We ate a delicious meal at a family's home. They were so kind and hospitable.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer to Merzouga via Erfoud, Saharan Camel Ride

Morocco

This was definitely the highlight of the trip. We stayed at a luxury desert tent. Gorgeous views. We experienced a nomad village. Rode camels to watch the sunset. Lifetime memories!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Camel trek to your luxury camp

Merzouga

Architectural Elegance: A Journey through the Hassan II Mosque

Morocco

Half-Day Private Sightseeing Tour in Rabat

Rabat

Beautiful architecture.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Explore the Blue City

Chefchaouen

Dinner with a Local Family and Henna Party

Fes

We had a delicious meal with a wonderful family. I had fun getting the henna.

Quality of Experience

Food

What a great adventure! Lucie planned the perfect Bavaria road trip. We experienced Eagles Nest, Zugspitze and a couple castles. The hotels were clean and comfortable. The documents center at Eagles Nest was very interesting way to learn the history.
We toured the Porsche factory and museum, this was probably my favorite part of the trip.
It took a minute to understand the app but once I figured it out I was pleasantly surprised how well organized it made the trip.

Kimkim arranged our two week itinerary from Marseille north to Dijon. They arranged our rental car, and we visited many lovely towns and cities through Provence and Burgundy. Kimkim set up private or group tours for us in several places, and Liz gave us good ideas for driving and stopping to visit memorable sites we might have missed. We had visited most of the towns on this itinerary many years ago, but the suggestions that Liz made for tours were not what we had done before. Kimkim made our hotel reservations in each destination. During the planning stage, we looked at the hotels suggested and they took our feedback and made modifications based on location and price. With only couple of exceptions, the hotels were unique, in a great location, and very comfortable. The tours were outstanding. We loved visiting and swimming in the Calanques National Park. We had a beautiful day with a gregarious and knowledgeable guide in the wine region of Bandol and Cassis. Our tour guide in Aix-en-Provence was lovely and smart. We spent a day visiting the extraordinary Roman ruins of Nimes, Orange, and Pont du Gard with a terrific guide. Kimkim arranged several tasty culinary and wine tasting experiences in Avignon, Lyon, and Dijon. In sum, we were very satisfied with our experience with kimkim's planning advisor, Liz, and those who make all of their arrangements, particularly Kate. We have to add one extra thank you. We were originally scheduled to travel in June, but my husband's brother died. Kimkim kindly and quickly took all of their arrangements and rescheduled our trip for September.

Majo was extremely responsive and provided excellent advice while planning our Mother-in-Law/ Daughters-in-Law trip for 4. She revised the itinerary until we had exactly what we wanted and to fit within our budget. A few highlights to note/share: El Barranco hotel was wonderful, couldn't recommend enough, will stay there when I return. Great location right by the pier near tons of shops and restaurants, wonderful staff, great food and drinks too! North Seymour Island on the Finch Bay yacht was probably my favorite day. The yacht was gorgeous, our guide was great, we saw so much wildlife and it welcomed us with a wow day for sure! The morning bay tour was pretty good, less fancy, but still a wonderful day, and it allowed us to splurge a few other days/times. The walk down to Las Grietas was on lava rocks so comfortable shoes are necessary. Trapiche and Garrapatero Beach with kayak was another awesome day. Our guide for the day, Erickita, was my favorite guide of the trip. She was extremely friendly and knowledgeable. Trapiche was a cool stop and the owner of the farm, Adriano, was kind and funny! Garrapatero Beach was beautiful and we kayaked a bit there. The snorkel experience in Punta Cormorant/ Champions Islet on Floreana was amazing. A sea lion was swimming in circles around and with us. This wasn't as fancy of a yacht but I was told only certain boats/yachts had permits for specific places. It was fine, just not as luxurious. It was a rough 2.5 hour ride there then also back. My party did fine with it but numerous others on the boat did get sea sick so while the destination was definitely worth it for our group, don't add it if someone in your group easily gets sea sick. The best place to sit is the middle of the boat so you can get some fresh air and don't smell the bathrooms or kitchen but also so you're not in the back baking in the sun getting sprayed by water. We spent our final day doing the Santa Cruz Highlands, an artisan woodworking visit, and a cooking class. Our family always adds some kind of art/craft and also some kind of cooking class on our trips so I'm glad they were added but the cooking class did go rather long (numerous hours) and the craft class wasn't really a full class and I don't think they're setup to accommodate that. Majo did deliver on all of our requests and planned a wonderful farewell dinner at Eloise, a cool waterfront restaurant you take a brief water taxi to and see lots of little white tip Galapagos sharks at the dock and along the journey. A few of my favorite restaurants were Bahia Mar, Midori, and Art Coffee. Darwin + Wolf was my favorite shop. We went to the Darwin Research Station on our own and I suggest doing the same because they have their own tour guides anyway. The wildlife was amazing and the animals get so close to you because they're protected so nobody bothers them and they aren't scared of us. It was beyond crazy how much we saw and how common it was. I'll definitely go back when my son is old enough to snorkel because he would love the wildlife. We also visited Siluet Derm Spa on our own and if you like massages, you should definitely fit that into your Santa Cruz visit! Our guides were all wonderful. The communication was immediate. Thoughtful extras were included like assistance in airports, etc. HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU BOOK THIS!

We spent a truly memorable week recently in Portugal. Portugal is a country that we have wanted to visit for quite some time ever since we were unable to do so on a trip we made to Spain approximately 10 years ago. The 10 year wait was rewarded because Portugal is a beautiful country with amazing scenery and very friendly people. Perhaps the highlight of our trip which involved stops in Porto, Lisbon and the Douro Valley was the time we spent at the port winery and surrounding area in the Douro Valley. This part of Portugal reminded me of Tuscany in Italy with its beautifully landscape and terraced vineyards in a micro climate that is truly unique on the Earth. Our trip organizer João was amazing in his desire and ability to craft many activities and tours that we enjoyed immensely. Our driver Eduardo was full of good and useful information about his beloved country and made our time traveling around Portugal, enjoyable and informative. The lunch that we had at the Quinta de Pacheca winery was truly a highlight, and the 20 year old Port wine that we were served was exceptional. All in all, this was a trip that we thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated the efforts that so wow and Kim Kim went to make it the success that it was.

I had a fabulous 6 day road trip in Kenya, starting in Nairobi and traveling to Lake Nukuru and the Maasai Mara with a friend and our guide Dan. Lake Nukuru was absolutely beautiful - so many areas and scenes we saw looked like something right out of Lion King - zebras with giraffes, water buffaloes and impalas all together. We even saw flamingoes! On our way to the Maasai Mara we stopped and spent an overnight at a Maasai Cultural camp called Maji Moto. Hosted by a Maasai warrior (Stanley) , we got a rich immersion in the Maasai cuture, including their schools, their homes, and learning about their guiding philosophies, which really helped us also appreciate the Mara once we arrived at the park. The balloon safari was also amazing - it really gave you a sense for how vast the savannah really is.

Hotel Reviews

Acacia Tree Lodge

We arrived very late and the night manager had a hot meal waiting for us. The room was well stocked and the shower was great.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge

The Lodge is in the national park and the views are absolutely amazing. The food is served buffet style, there is a wide variety and very tasty. My friend celebrated her birthday during our stay and they celebrated her with a beautiful cake and a birthday song. It was great!

Authenticity & Character

The views of the park, the rooms

Location

In the national park - amazing views of the lake

Staff

Huangalu, who checked us in was wonderful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

One thing to perhaps add - consider included ample access to water as part of the base package.

Maji Moto Maasai Cultural Camp

Maji Moto

Maji Moto was a highlight of my trip in Kenya. The Camp itself was lovely - modern amenities in the bush, including coffee for our early morning and a beautiful bathroom that was open to the stars.

Authenticity & Character

A modern twist on the traditional Maasai home

Location

Located on a conservation land, it connects to Maasai land

Staff

Our host, Stanley was incredible, along with 5-10 additional Maasai that we interacted with

Cleanliness & Comfort

Royal Zebra River Safari Lodge.

Narok County

The Royal Zebra River Safari Lodge was the perfect place to wind up a 3 week trip in Africa. The staff were all incredibly friendly, and the food was wonderful. Our room was spacious and welcoming, giving us room to relax and rest up before starting our trek home. The complementary massages were also amazing.

Authenticity & Character

very easy to relax

Location

Located across from the Maasai Mara National park - you can view animals from your room

Staff

Everyone was attentive, friendly and curious

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Balloon safari in Masai Mara

Masai Mara

This balloon ride was magical - the captain was very knowledgeable and communicated everything clearly, starting with the safety brief, sharing insights of the Mara as we were in the air, and also ensuring that our group was taken care of at the breakfast after the flight. The balloon ride itself was really cool - gave us a totally different view of the Mara after being on jeep game drives for a day and a half prior. The breakfast was also lovely - we watched Zebras migrating back to the Serengeti as a backdrop to our meal.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Rodrigo (our captain) was incredibley knowledgeable.

Transport

Iltalala Community Visit & overnight

Maji Moto

The illtalala Community visit was incredible and a highlight of our time in Kenya. Our host, Stanley (a Maasai warrior), along with several more warriors welcomed us with a traditional greeting and song and presented us with our very own Shuka (a traditional wrap worn by the Maasai). We had a wonderful lunch in the bush and then visited the local school, learning about the progress the children are making and opportunities to continue strengthening their opportunities. We also visitied a Maasai homestead, learning how they live and support their families, as well as how the Maasai Tribe functions. We ended the day with a Nature Walk and dinner in the bush, meeting many Maasai along the way. It was a wonderful experience and gave me an opportunity to quickly immerse in the elements that are the Maasai people

Quality of Experience

Everything about our visit was authentic, not staged.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

our host, Stanley was wonderful - he answered any question we had and loves his tribe.

Transport

I must say that Ecuador has been one of my most memorable experiences in my travels. Kimkim taylored the trip in such a way that it exceeded my expectations. In working with Ariel on the specifics of my desire have cultural experiences was the beginning of my amazing journey. My tour guide Jeannin made it the most safe and enlightening glimpse of Ecuador. I am physically challenged and did my 1st solo trip with KimKim. The country was breathtaking, the indigenous communities in Quito, San Antonio, Otavalo, Cuenca and their free expression of their artistic expressions through murals, music, hat making, wood carving, weaving traditions of wool and alpaca created masterpieces were just a few of my awesome experiences. As an African American, it was important for me spending a day of having lunch with a successful Afro Ecuadorian female artist and goat farmer from the Afro Ecuadorian community in Mascarilla. I learned how they live as African descendants in the area using the fruit of the land, goats farming and artistic creativity to create carve out a living in the middle of the mountains. I went to Mindi, the mountains in the clouds, and I fed hummingbirds and butterflies! I learn about the Amazon! Kimkim heard my heart and delivered a safe and unforgettably rich week in Ecuador from the moment I landed until my departure. Jeannin, thank you! I will be back. Ecuador- One of the most beautiful places in the world!

Hotel Reviews

Ikala Quito Hotel

Quito

This hotel was so very clean, warm, cozy and hospitable in every way. From the security to the front desk. I loved my time in this place tucked away in the city of Quito.

Authenticity & Character

The decor is very authentic and each room has its own personality.

Location

It’s in the heart of the city. You have access to the city amenities and there is a fantastic restaurant right next door!

Staff

The staff are very accommodating and thoughtful in servicing your needs without you having to ask for assistance. As a physically challenged person, I appreciated that more than anything.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and cozy room and sitting areas!

Hotel Otavalo

Otavalo

This hotel is stunning!!!! The hidden paradise in plan view is how I can best describe it. The wall art and statue pieces along with interesting relics will have you awestruck if you love art and museums. The music and onsite very exquisite atmosphere along with the hotel restaurant will leave you feeling the taste of luxury intended.

Authenticity & Character

From the service to the architectural design inside out, this hotel has character and is indeed very authentic. It’s like a hidden treasure tucked away in a vibrant community with tons of personality!

Location

I have never experienced something like this before and I travel luxury on vacation. This place is an experience!

Staff

The staff is amazing from the front desk to the restaurant waiters. Everyone is committed to giving guests a superb experience.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The place is immaculate!

Activity Reviews

Visit an Indigenous Comunity and a Traditional Botanical Garden

Ecuador

I learned so very much and loved the tour! She was wonderful and well informed. John was great also assisting Jeanin who was also well informed on botanical garden items introduced.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour Cultural Afro Mascarilla

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Food

Oatmeal soup! Never experienced that before. I loved sitting in Betty’s kitchen eating what she prepared for us. It was an honor.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Quito City Tour

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

The huge statue of Mary with wings stood out to me and the Spanish’s reasoning for creating the statue in that location at that magnitude overlooking the 4 corners of Quito.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Leaning was well informed and taught me a great deal about Equador, it’s history and the driving factors behind the eye witness of its beauty and progress.

Transport

Jeanin was great company and ever teaching about what was before me.

What an amazing way to experience Africa! I spent 2 weeks with my daughter, niece and friend in Zambia traveling between 4 different Green Safari properties in Kafue, South Luangwa, Lower Zambezi & Livingstone and had a wonderful time in each - game drives, sundowners and special touches that celebrated the uniqueness of each location: Ile Safari Lodge set the tone with a tremendous staff that made us feel right at home & we were very sad to leave. Our guide, Allie was phenomenal - knowledgeable, funny and so personable. - soo many animals, and great night drives. Shawa Bush Camp welcomed us with a song & kept celebrating for our entire visit, including an amazing dinner of local food/singing. Sebastian got us up close and personal to lions, giraffes and so many Ellies! Walking safari was incredible. Potato Bush Camp was incredibly beautiful, and their events celebrating the river & the bush were top notch. Finishing up at Tongabezi was a wonderful way to end our adventure - Koffi helped us see Victoria Falls from all vantage points (Zimbabwe, zambia, and Devils Pool), some White Rhinos, and do a bit of shopping all in one day and still have some time to relax and enjoy the beautiful property.

Hotel Reviews

Ila Safari Lodge

Kafue

Ila was my favorite lodge on this trip. The entire staff made us feel welcome and looked after from the moment we stepped off the plane. Located right on the Kafue River, the Lodge is integrated into the landscape and allows you to experience the bush intimately: From waking to Hippos "singing", to sighting an elephant or bushback near our cabin, I was at ease the entire visit. The staff was tremendous - always anticipating any need we may have, and genuienlty curious about getting to know us and sharing themselves as well. The chef was tremendous!

Authenticity & Character

Fit in with the environment, including a fabulous infinity pool and awesome food.

Location

On the river, lots of wildlife nearby

Staff

Every person took the time to meet us and ask how we were doing. They were kind and helpful. I was sad to leave them.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Shawa Luangwa Camp

Lusaka

Shawa Luangwa Camp delivered the most amazing hospitality on our trip, starting with the staff greeting us with a celebratory song. The manager, Kufa was incredible - friendly, caring and aware of the little details that made our stay wonderful. Our valet, Amos was also wonderful - he always had a smile on his face and very quickly got to know us. The rooms have an amazing view, and we loved the "easy breeze" cooling that provided a comfortable nights sleep on the hotter days of our visit. They also hosted a communal dinner that shared the local food and customs with us one night and it was great.

Authenticity & Character

The level of hospitality provided and felt here was top notch.

Location

Located right on the river, so many animals to see & hear

Staff

Friendly, personable and genuinely engaged - they all clearly love what they do and show up as a family.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Potato Bush Camp

Lower Zambezi

Potato Bush has an absolutely beautiful setting to leverage - located on a small channel off the Lower Zambezi River, we had breakfast every morning with Hippos waking up right in front of us and Elephants crossing the river to snack on grasses at a nearby island. Game drives took on a different "tone" here - celebrating the river a bit more with boat cruises. The water lunch (lunch on a sandbar) was out of this world, as was the bush dinner.

Authenticity & Character

Built right on the river, you get to experience all of the wildlife around you

Location

Lower Zambezi is breathtaking - the prettiest location we stayed

Staff

The Chef was very personable - one member of our party was having stomach issues and he made her food that settled her stomach and kept checking in on her.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tongabezi Lodge

Livingstone

Tongabezi Lodge was a wonderful way to end our 12 day trip in Zambia, partifularly after spending 9 days in the bush. This is really a resort, and the amenities are top notch - we even splurged on airconditioning. The food was fantastic and the houses we stayed in were luxurious - several of us took a bath out on the very private veranda, while others enjoyed the plunge pool. We stayed 2 nights, but honestly I could've stayed on more day and just hung out at the hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Morning and Afternoon Game Drives in South Luangwa National Park

South Luangwa National Park

The Game Drives in South Luangwa were incredible. Over the 2 days, we saw sooo many hippos, elephants, giraffes, water buffalo, lions, wild dogs and so much more. Our guide, Sebastian knew the park incredibly well and got us up close and personal with a pride of lions (spectacular), as well as a tower of giraffes.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sebastian clearly knew the park well and cued in quickly that we preferred to be a bit more remote when on a drive.

Transport

Electric jeeps let us get very close to many animals without disturbing them

Guided Walks in South Luangwa National Park

South Luangwa National Park

The walking safari was a highlight for South Luangwa. Our Ranger, Nyundo, was amazing - we learned a lot about the local landscape, but also about the role the Park Rangers play in preventing poaching and contributing to the conservation of the parks and their animals. After being on multiple game drives in the jeep, seeing the park from the ground gave a totally different perspective - we got close to giraffes snacking on a nearby tree and saw a large herd of elephants cross the river for the night.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Nyongo, the ranger added another dimension to the drive. Sebastian, our guide was very knowledgeable.

Transport

A day in Kafue with Two Safari Activities

Kafue

Our guide, Allie was tremendous - over the 2 1/2 days we spent in Kafue, we saw over 20 different types of animals, including two leopards, a civet, a Serval, and a pride of 17 lions. We also got up close and personal with several elephants and saw over 25+ different types of birds. We quickly shifted into watching the animals behaviors as well, with the highlight being watching a pride of lions on a kill for at least 30 minutes.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Allie was an amazing tracker & guide - his ability to spot animals, particularly at night was tremendous.

Transport

Morning and Afternoon Safari Activity

Lower Zambezi National Park

Highlight of Lower Zambezi was the Water Lunch. The set up was incredible - full tent and tables on a sand bar. We had the good fortune to witness 2 elephants cross the river to a nearby island and then walk right behind us while we were eating. It was very special.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A day at Tongabezi Lodge

Livingstone

As we only had one full day at Tonabezi, we had a list of things we wanted to do and our guide Koffi helped us accomplish all of them. We started out seeing Victoria Falls from the Zambezi side, then headed to Devlls Pool, which was a highlight of the trip for me and my group. The staff at Livingstone Island was top notch - all four of us swam out to the pool, even though originally only 2 of us wanted to go. It was fabulous. We followed up with a trip to view White Rhino and also the Zambia side of Victoria Falls and then some local shopping for fabrics. Every step of the day was smooth and unhurried. We got back to the lodge with plenty of time to enjoy our houses and relax before dinner.

Quality of Experience

Fit many things in one day without feeling rushed

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Koffi never made us feel rushed.

Transport

Loved the airconditioned van

As this was our first trip with Kimkim we were not sure what to expect in terms of service and quality of experiences and accommodations. After completing our two-week trip to Morocco though, we were in large part exceptionally pleased with the entire trip experience, although a couple of the accommodations might have been less than advertised. However, this was Africa, so our expectations were mostly commensurate with our locale. From the very beginning of the planning and all through the time we were in-country, our local specialist Majid was always available and checked in with us almost every day to make sure we were enjoying our trip and to offer advice and assistance whenever needed. We made a few on-the-spot changes to our schedule, and he was always accommodating. While we actually never met with Majid in-person, we spent considerable time every day with our driver Yosef. As it turned out, Yosef was probably the most impressive aspect of the entire trip insofar as he made everything run seamless, all the while being a perfect host, ambassador and overall delightful! He truly made us feel as though we were long-time friends, and his warmth and hospitality shone through as bright as the Saharan desert sun! We give him 6 stars for his effort and strongly recommend you request him if you have the opportunity.
We did have one problem that arose regarding a hike Kimkim arranged in Dades that was labelled an "easy" walk. It was anything but, with treacherous rocky and slippery terrain at every step. One of us suffered a serious fall and incurred an unfortunate injury as a result. The lesson here was to be more informed about such outings, and also for Kimkim to be more accurate about the level of a walk they arrange for their senior citizen customers. Aside from this unfortunate accident though, the rest of the trip was fantastic, and we will not hesitate in using Kimkim for our future travels.