Kimkim Trip Reviews

Overall we were happy with the experiences we had on our trip. During the planning process, Nihad was receptive to my ideas and answered my questions. Our driver/tour manager Mo was very professional, punctual (other than when first picking us up from the airport, but that was because he was not provided the most up to date arrival time), and knowledgeable.

1. The hotel stays that Nihad booked us in were below our expectations. I suspect though, that there are not a lot of options for stays outside of Marrakesch. Each hotel was clean and staff were very hospitable and friendly, and so we very much appreciated those positive attributes. Many of the stays did not have basics such as shampoo or shower soap, including the "luxury desert camp" that we stayed in. Since we pack light, we don't travel with our own shampoo or soap, so not having it available in the hotel is a disappointment.

2. We did not find out until the end of the trip how extraordinarily expensive the taxi ride from the airport to our first hotel was. Nihad arranged a taxi ride (it ended up being our trip driver/trip manager) that would cost $50 USD. Well, at the end of the trip from the same area in the medina, we booked our ride through our hotel to the airport and it was only $20 USD. I eventually saw on social media afterwards that a reasonable price is 100 Dirhams (equivalent to $10 USD). Therefore, the $50 USD we were charged was exceptionally more expensive. If Nihad does not know this, please let her know so that future guests are not charged that much.

3. Our city tour/food tour with Hussein was a nice overview of the city, visiting a lot of the highlights of the city. The food part of the tour was not enjoyable, but understandably authentic. The last restaurant served us dirty utensils to eat with so that left us with a bad taste with regards to the food part of the trip. Hussein though was very friendly and knowledgeable. I would just suggest perhaps cleaner restaurant options if possible.

4. For tours driving to different cities, drive time estimates ahead of time would be nice (could just include that on the itinerary shared with the guest ahead of time) so we can be prepared.

5. Slightly disappointed we could not do the camel ride on the way back from our desert camp. According to the camp, we were supposed to have "reserved " it when we started the camel ride to the desert camp but we were never told that when we took that camel ride- it would have been nice to have known that up front.

Again, overall, it was a wonderful cultural experience. In retrospect knowing what I know now, I would probably book my own hotels and ask more questions before the trip. It's hard to know though when one has never been to a country to know what questions to ask.

We had an amazing trip to Patagonia!! HIGHLY recommend this trip! Incredible nature, mountains, rivers, lakes, hiking, kayaking, wonderful accommodations, food and wine, and lovely people!

Andrea did an outstanding job crafting a personalized tour of Sicily for us. He met with us via Zoom before the trip and answered all our questions in detail. He assisted us in getting our seat selections for our connecting ITA flights between Roma and Palermo. He was readily available and responsive during the trip when we had questions. We would definitely work with Andrea on any future trips to Italy.

All hotels were unique and wonderful - Palazzo Balsamo (Palermo), Villa Fiorita (Taormina), Asmundo di Gisira (Catania), Palazzo Artemide (Syracusa - Ortigia), Villa Athena Resort (Agrigento) and Palazzo Natoli (Palermo). The staff at all the hotels were very friendly and helpful.

All the guides - Chiara (Palermo), Giuseppe "Pepe" (Taormina), Aureliano (Catania, Syracusa - Ortigia), Francesco (Mt. Etna), Ivana (Ragusa) and Marco (Valle dei Templi Agrigento) were professional, deeply knowledgeable, passionate, and fluent in English. We highly recommend all of them to anyone seeking a personalized tour with a subject matter expert.

The owner of the chocolate laboratory in Modica (I believe her name is Sara) was also very knowledgeable and patient with us!

Our two dedicated drivers, Giovanni and Salvatore were critical to the success of our visit. Both these young men are excellent, safe drivers. They were always punctual and professional in their dealings with us. They coordinated all our trips with our guides and hotels. They represented their companies and their country flawlessly. We highly recommend them and would gladly ride with them again!

Hotel Reviews

Palazzo Natoli Boutique Hotel

Palermo

Neoclassical palazzo located right off Via Vittorio Emmanuelle, near the Duomo di Palermo, Palazzo Reale and Quattro Canti.

Authenticity & Character

Renovated neoclassic palazzo.

Location

Neoclassical palazzo located right off Via Vittorio Emmanuelle, near the Duomo di Palermo, Palazzo Reale and Quattro Canti.

Staff

Very friendly and accommodating

Cleanliness & Comfort

Large clean room. Large, clean, modern bathroom

Hotel Villa Athena

Agrigento

The hotel is located inside the archaeological park and has stunning views of the Greek temples. It has an elegant 1950 vibe. I expected to see Gina Lollobrigida and Sophia Loren in the lobby! Restaurant staff wear white tuxedos and bow ties for breakfast and lunch. They change into dark suits for dinner. Grounds are immaculate. Ready access to the park.

Authenticity & Character

It has an elegant 1950 vibe. I expected to see Gina Lollobrigida and Sophia Loren in the lobby! Restaurant staff wear white tuxedos and bow ties for breakfast and lunch. They change into dark suits for dinner. Grounds are immaculate.

Location

The hotel is located inside the archaeological park and has stunning views of the Greek temples.

Staff

The staff all were very friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean with well-maintained grounds. The bed was very comfortable. The bathroom was modern, and the room had air-conditioning.

Palazzo Artemide

Pristine hotel located right next to piazza and the Duomo San Lucia. Excellent restaurant.

Authenticity & Character

Neoclassical building surrounded by other neoclassical and baroque buildings

Location

Located right next to piazza and the Duomo San Lucia

Staff

The front desk staff was very helpful. Restaurant staff Stefano, Chiara, and Lorenzo were excellent.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Air-conditioned, clean, modern bathroom

Asmundo di Gisira

Catania

This was the most unique hotel we stayed in. The hotel is also an art gallery!

Authenticity & Character

Neoclassic palazzo with artwork in rooms and all common areas! Weirdly wonderful, over-the-top Italian!

Location

Centrally located with easy access to the piazza and Duomo di San Agarta.

Staff

The breakfast room staff are very professional and accommodating. The manager was actively engaged andcharming.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean and well maintained

Boutique Hotel Villa Fiorita

Taormina

Pristine, chic, with stunning views of the sea and cliffs. Breakfast/lunch room staff Marija and Ettore were excellent. Front desk staff Annalisa and Francesco were very helpful in setting up dinner reservations.

Authenticity & Character

This place was pristine and offered excellent views.

Location

Stunning views of the sea and cliffs. Easy access to Taormina center

Staff

Marija and Ettore

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bed mattress was excellent. The room, bathroom, and terrace were immaculate

Palazzo Balsamo

Palermo

All the front desk, restaurant, and housekeeping staff were very helpful. The hotel is well-positioned in the historic center of Palermo. The hotel is elegant and clean. We would definitely stay there again.

Authenticity & Character

Retained its neoclassic style with modern ammenities

Location

Right off Via Maqueda in the historic center of Palermo

Staff

Fluent in English, friendly, and very accommodating

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pristine, with a modern bathroom and air conditioning. The mattress was excellent, too!

Activity Reviews

Palermo time at your leisure

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ragusa guided visit

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Entrance ticket to Temple Valley

Italy

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Modica chocolate laboratory

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Syracuse Guided Walk - Private Guide

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Syracuse Neapolis Archaeological Park - private guide

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mount Etna expedition - Private

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Food walk in Catania (private guide)

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ancient Theater of Taormina entrance ticket

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided visit to the Ancient Theatre of Taormina (private guide)

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Temple valley guided visit

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Monreale Cathedral tickets

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Monreale Cathedral Guided visit

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Palermo guided walk insight on the anti-mafia movement and street food tour (private guide)

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kimkim was recommended to me by my brother and I’m so glad I used this service.
Everything was planned perfectly in country from the moment we were picked at the Istanbul airport to the drop off at the end.
We had 3 different engaging, knowledgeable guides over the course of 9 days. They all spoke excellent English and accommodated our every need. Hotels were well-located and at our comfort level.
Zehra planned and executed this trip exactly as we wanted it. Much appreciated and well-done!

The trip took us to good locations and we saw what we came to see. However, much of the best parts of the trip were without the guides provided. Only two guides out of the many we had were memorable. The others were so-so or poor. In some cases, proficiency with English was insufficient to have meaningful conversation. On the trips, the food was commonly not great. In some cases, no choice about the specific meal was provided. In other cases, the meals were up to us to find with no particular guidance. The foodie night in Osaka led us to mediocre quality street food. The plan had problems. The plan had us go to a restaurant in Kyoto that was closed on that day. The plan scheduled us to go to the same temple on both of the first two days. We asked for a change ahead of time but that change was not communicated to the guide before we got there (or at least, she was unaware of the change). In one case, the plan sent us to a destination that intended us to climb many stairs but no notice of that was communicated in the plan. Given our age, that was a potential problem. Fortunately, we were with one of the good guides who noticed this and was able to take us to an alternative destination. The hotels were largely fine, although the ryokan in Hakone felt more like a commercial hotel than an inn. There was no indication in the guide that the train trip from Osaka to Kanazawa started with a local train and then transferred to a bullet train. Given the expense, I would not use kim kim again, but would pick local guides via Get your guide or equivalent.

My friend and I just returned from a trip to Chile (Patagonia region). It was an amazing trip and unforgettable experience! We are both very seasoned travelers but decided to use KimKim to help plan as we were very unfamiliar with the area and not sure where to start. From the beginning Jimena and Jessica were very helpful. We changed several days of the trip and they were able to help out and accommodate our requests. The entire trip was done thoughtfully and we were never bored but had some downtime to explore and do some shopping on our own. Jessica was willing to see us several hours early for our local briefing and arranged for us to have hiking poles for all our hikes.

Highlights:
We really enjoyed spending a night in Torres del Paine park. It was a amazing being so close to all the trails and being able to stay at the Refugio Paine Grande was a highlight. Great food and a great place to rest up between hikes.
We absolutely loved the Kayaking tour in Eberhard Fjord. It was a perfect way to adventure while resting our legs. Our guide Vincenzo was so kind and patient. He inspired us to paddle hard and brave the strong winds. Being invited into Alecia's home was also and unexpected but amazing gift. She severed us fresh sopapillas and jam after kayaking. It was such a special day.

There were several minor hiccups with timing. I think it was due to the approaching winter season and tour times seem to change with the later sunrise. Overall, we would highly recommend KimKim. We would also strongly recommend Patagonia as a destination if you love nature, hiking and challenging yourself. Thank you!
Amber

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Vendaval

Puerto Natales

Very charming hotel. Clean and comfortable rooms. The decorations were modern and well thought out. Staff was very helpful storing our bags and answering questions. We loved the location as it was very close to the city square where there were so many restaurants and shopping. The breakfasts were very good. My favorites were the scrambled eggs, the coffee machine, and the calafate jam with local breads.

Authenticity & Character

Charming and clean.

Location

Very close to restaurants and shopping.

Staff

Helpful and kind.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Refugio Paine Grande

Puerto Natales, Chile

This was a very pleasant surprise. Our room was ready when we got off the boat. Food was amazing and served up buffet style. They also provide packed lunch for to take hiking for lunch. There are wood burning stoves located through out that offer some much needed dry heat. We got there late so seating by the fires was taken but it seemed like a great place to hang out after a long day hiking. Rooms are small but beds comfortable and clean. There is a shared shower / bathroom that is basic. We also used the Refugio after we checked out while we waited for our boat. They provide bathrooms, a mini mart, hot water and shelter for hikers passing through. A cup of ramen never tasked so good! They give each person 30 minutes of free internet and after that you can purchase more time based on needs.

Authenticity & Character

Location

The views from this hotel are insanely beautiful.

Staff

Very helpful and accommodating to both guests and day hikers.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean and well maintained. Everything was freshly painted.

Pristine Patagonia Hotel

Puerto Natales

Clean and close to many restaurants. They provided an extra early breakfast for us when we had to leave at 5am. Rooms are small but comfortable and clean.

Authenticity & Character

Interesting decorations.

Location

Located on the edge of the city but within walking distance to restaurants and shopping.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Comfortable beds.

Activity Reviews

Kayak the Eberhard Fjord

Puerto Natales

This was one of the highlights of our trip. We were not sure what to expect and were so tired but from the very beginning our guide Vincenzo was amazing. He stopped along our journey out to the fjord to identify birds and let us get some pictures. We arrived at Alecia's home on the Eberhard Fjord and she welcomed us in to get changed. We were given ALL the gear from dry suits, to booties, to gloves for our hands. We were given some quick tips and set out in the sunny but very gusty water adventure. Our guide was so encouraging and patient. He made us feel so empowered and inspired us to kayak around the entire island, only getting snagged up once. We made two stops on the islands to stretch our legs. Vincenzo also took our camera and got some great pictures and videos of us in action. After the kayaking, Alecia invited us in for homemade sopapillas and calafate jam. She talked about her family and home and even took pictures with us. We felt very special and was a great way to end our tour.

Quality of Experience

It was so fun and unique.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Vincenzo was amazing! So patient and kind.

Transport

Boat Tour to Bernardo O Higgins National Park, Serrano & Balmaceda Glaciers

Puerto Natales

We were told to walk down and be a the office of this tour by 7am. When we arrived it was not open. I tried to call several numbers with no luck. We saw a note on the door that said something about winter hours. We were about to leave when two others arrived. We all waited until someone came to open the office at 7:30. This was our first tour after returning to Puerto Natales the previous evening at 22:30 so having an extra hour to sleep in would have been nice. We eventually were transferred to a boat and waited another hour for the boat to fill with other guests. The journey to the glacier was very beautiful. We saw some smaller glaciers, waterfalls, and sea lions. The hike to the Serrano glacier was easy and scenic. Guides there were helpful and answered questions about park and glacier. On the way back we stopped and and had lunch at a ranch. The food there was good. The boat serves coffee, snacks and whiskey with glacial ice cubes.

Quality of Experience

This is a larger group so things move a bit slower. It is an all day tour but they do a nice job of showing people lot of sights on the way and then offering a unique lunch.

Food

Glacial ice drinks were a nice touch. The lunch was unique and very good.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Check hours of operation especially in the fall and winter months.

Transport

Views from boat are impressive. There is so much to see.

Guided Hike to "Mirador Base Las Torres"

Puerto Natales

This hike! Wow. We were very limited with time for the hike as we needed to be back at trailhead by 16:00. We had a super early pickup of 5:00. We started the hike by 7:15. It was dark and raining / sleeting. The trail conditions started out quite muddy but improved over the next few hours. The sunset views were so amazing, even in the rain. We moved at a very good pace with no stops but after arriving at the Chilean Refugio our guide advised us that we should reconsider climbing the final rocks as it was snowing quite hard up there, he talked with others that were there and there was no view of the towers plus the snowy conditions would make the rocks very slippery and also make it so that we would really have to rush through the hike. We agreed to go to the alternative lookout spot and from that point stopped and took lots of pictures and soaked up the beauty of the hike. It is such an amazing hike with so many different perspectives from mountains, to rivers, to forests, to rocky cliffs. We really enjoyed the changing weather from rain to snow then back to sun. We made it down by 1530 and did not feel rushed at all. We missed the last scramble but feel like due to conditions, we made a good choice to slow down and enjoy. We ended up going to the alternative lookout but were not able to see the towers at all.

Quality of Experience

So worth the effort!

Food

Sack lunch from Refugio was nice.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide took many nature bathroom breaks to the point we wondered what he was doing (vaping?). He seemed knowledgable about the trail and suggested alternatives to keep us safe and to make it enjoyable for us.

Transport

Condor Watching

Puerto Natales

We really didn't know what to expect for this but were hoping to see some Condors. We saw one but very far away. We were told it was an easy hike which turned out to be an hour hike straight up a mountain side. We climbed 1750 feet in 1.49 miles. It was manageable but we were not prepared for that type of activity. On a positive note, the views from above were stunning and our guide was energetic and fun. Biggest disappointment was not seeing condors!

Quality of Experience

More information about what to expect.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trip Briefing at Dittmar Adventures

Puerto Natales

We arrived for our briefing early and Jessica was able to adjust to this. We had been traveling for 24 hours straight and wanted to get to bed early that evening. Jessica went through our itinerary and helped to plan through issues like transferring bags from one hotel to the other. She gave tips on the trails and what to expect for the meals.

Quality of Experience

Welcoming and helpful with questions.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our airport transfer was 30 minutes late and we were told the wrong starting time for our Serrano Glacier.

Transport

I had an amazing time in Chile and Marcela was the one that set up the trip for me. She was extremely helpful and patient with me setting the trip up for my preferences even with the short notice I gave. I had a once in a lifetime trip filled with amazing memories. From seeing the most stars I've ever seen with my eyes to riding a hot air balloon in San Pedro. To having unbelievable views from a volcanic hot spring near Santiago. And exploring the entirety of Easter Island with very friendly locals with a crystal clear beach! This trip was fantastic from start to finish and was made to be completely worry free for me, every pick up drop off and destination was set up was organized so I didn't have worry about it. Shout out to all the people that helped organized the trip. Manuel and Alex in San Pedro with their very funny and friendly ways of talking and explaining everything. Sebastian in Santiago who was unbelievably knowledgeable and was able to give loads of information about Santiago and Valparaíso and knew the hidden spots for the best stores and restaurants. Luis a local of Easter Island who gave an entire history of the people of the island. Finally Marcela who set up everything for me and was even available to meet up in person, going above and beyond!

Activity Reviews

Cajón del Maipo & Hot Springs

Santiago

If you are in Santiago this is one of the things you have to do. The views to and from the location itself are breath taking, let alone that you can see them while sitting in a a relaxing hot spring. There are seven pools with varying temperatures so you don't need to worry about any of them being too hot or cold.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Atacama Ballooning - Experience another world

San Pedro de Atacama

Never done a hot air balloon but seeing it as an option I had to try it. Even with having a bit of a love/hate relationship with heights it was an unbelievable experience. For anyone wondering the basket is very secure and solid feeling if you have any fear and it even has seats you can sit down in if you don't want to stand. The views and descriptions were very informative and the guide even let us control the fire for a little bit!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Stargazing Experience

San Pedro de Atacama

This was one of the things I especially wanted to do. Chile has a lot of other countries observatories in it because of how clear the sky is and the topography is perfect for it. Boy was I not disappointed being able to see the most stars i'll probably ever see with the naked eye. The guide was very informative and gave very cool descriptions and explanations of the various nebulas and stars we were seeing. It was really cool seeing Jupiter as well with its red stripes!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

emily was wonderful. made sure i had all the information in a timely fashion and kept me on task during the entire time. events were planned perfectly and all went on with no issues. a great trip!

Activity Review

Backroads of Cascais & Sintra on E-Bike

Cascais

this is a true bike ride. even with an e- bike- be prepared to work, navigate some interesting terrain and gates- and have the time of your life. it's a long trip with lots of hills, traffic and animals. not for the faint of heart. a great ride!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

more communication

Transport

picked up at hotel

Adrian is an excellent tour guide to work with, he is very knowledgeable of his country and shows his pride and love for Ireland through his meticulous and carefully curated work! He was very accommodating and was able to answer all of our questions (we had a lot of questions lol) to achieve our dream of doing a backpacking trip cycling County Claire, and enjoy everything this beautiful country has to offer. He also had great restaurant recommendations that were accommodating to various dietary needs!

We would certainly recommend him for anyone who wants to travel to Ireland and would love to work with him again in the future!!

Hotel Reviews

Cullinan's Guesthouse

Doolin

Kinvara Guesthouse

Kinvarra

Hazelwood Lodge

Ballyvaughan

The rooms were very well decorated and very clean. The breakfast offered were excellent, and the owners were super friendly and accommodating with helping us store our bicycles safely for our cycling trip. Would highly recommend staying here if you are visiting Ballyvaughan!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Westwinds B&B Guesthouse

Galway

This was a lovely bed-and-breakfast and the owner Shauna was very helpful with answering questions and even gave us great advice about where to eat and visit while we spent a few days in Galway. The breakfasts were excellent and there were many options to accommodate for gluten-free or dairy-free needs. Furthermore, the rooms were very clean the queen Neighbourhood of salt Hill in Galway is certainly a sight to see and would recommend this to anyone who wants to visit Galway!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Welcome to Doolin

Doolin

What to do in Ballyvaughan!

Ballyvaughan

Bus from Galway Bus Station to Shannon Airport

Ireland

Cliffs of Moher Visitor Center tickets

Ireland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bike Rental From Galway

Galway

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walk with Wolfhounds in Lisdoonvarna

Ireland

This experience with walking with Irish wolf hounds at the cliffs of Dune was very unique and something I will never forget! The owners Alan and Lisa were very friendly and knowledgeable of the history of the cliffs and it was interesting and educational to listen to. The dogs they brought were very friendly, majestic, and well-behaved and were certainly popular with everyone at the park lol (lots of pictures from other people, you feel like a celebrity!). I would highly recommend this to anyone who loves dogs and wants to learn more about the captivating history of the Irish Wolfhound and their importance in Ireland’s history!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I had a wonderful time on our trip. Alexia delivered the perfect combination of excursions and down time so that my daughter an I could explore on our own. Our Via Ferrata experience was beautiful and challenging and a definite highlight of our trip. The E bike tour of Marseille is a must and the guide was very knowledgeable and friendly, switching easily between French and English. Our only regret is that we could not stay longer! We look forward to visiting France and using Alexia again!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Florence Nice

Nice

This hotel was perfect for our stay in Nice. It was close to the old city and the waterfront and had a great petit dejunier.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa Ortega

Marseille

This little bed and breakfast is a gem. My room was sparkling clean and the bathroom was updated. The breakfast was good and had a typical selection. The owner of the hotel was as nice as she could be and was very helpful giving me directions and suggestions for my time in Marseille.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It is close to the train station which is perfect but is a slight hike through a few sketchy streets to the waterfront.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Riviera Discovery Cruise: Mala Cave to Villefranche

Nice

Aperitif Cruise with Champagne

Paris

This was a very crowded cruise and all drinks must be paid for. From the description it made it sound like there was a free drink but there was no. That said, it is always nice to take a trip along the Seine and this was a small thing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Via Ferrata Experience

France

Jordi our guide was calm and steady. He was very knowledgeable and comfortable in his guiding and made our experience wonderful. He always knew we could do it! This is a beautiful view and trip in nature for the day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Morning food and wine tour

France

Nadia, our guide, was lovely. She was so knowledgeable and made sure that we sampled every food that we were interested in. She was very tuned in to our personal needs ( need a coffee, or bathroom break) and we never felt rushed or that we were getting a "canned" experience. It felt fresh and new, just for us.

Quality of Experience

Food

Everywhere we went we had samples!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

City Excursion by E-Bike

Marseille

What a great family and cafe. The owner and his wife Helen were so friendly and helpful during my stay.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an amazing experience planning our Costa Rica trip with KimKim, and the trip itself was absolutely amazing! As far as planning, KimKim responded promptly to any questions and did an amazing job planning our destinations and trip activities based on what we were looking for. All transports to our hotels and planned activities went extremely smoothly, without any hiccups. We traveled to 3 different locations in Costa Rica: San Jose, La Fortuna, and Monteverde. Our favorite destination was La Fortuna. We spend the most time there (3 nights), and I'm so glad we did! The Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs resort was STUNNING and an amazing place to stay- I would definitely stay there again. We had a beautiful view of the Arenal volcano outside of our room, and the resort itself was beautiful- lots of amazing plants and wildlife. We sat outside very morning and enjoyed watching all the birds (the first morning a Toucan visited us!). A sloth also lived in a tree next door to our accommodation. The resort has two pools and several hot springs. It never felt crowded- it was very peaceful and relaxing when we had some down time. All of the activites we did on our trip were amazing. My personal favorite was the Coffee with a Sloth tour we did at the Toucan Rescue Center in San Jose. We had a private tour, got to meet 7 sloths, and we helped make their lunches and got to watch them eat! It was a once-in-a-lifetme, incredible experience we will never forget. Part of our travel from La Fortuna to Monteverde included a boat ride on the lake (I can't remember the name of the lake). This might have been my favorite part of the trip. The views were surreal- it was absolutely beautiful. Another memorable excursion was a hike to the La Fortuna Waterfall, where we hiked down to the waterful and swam at the fall. The hanging bridges tour in La Fortuna was also amazing- we spent a couple hours hiking through the lush rainforest and the guide was very knowledgeable and spotted some cool wildlife. We also did a river safari float near La Fortuna- we booked this one on our own sort of last-minute, but I highly recommend this experience. We saw a crocodile and a lot of howler monkeys. We had a short time in Monteverde, and this was the end of our trip so we were quite exhausted. We did a hike in the Santa Elena cloud forest, which was beautiful. The town of Santa Elana was very cute, with lots of shops and restaurants. The only thing I would have changed, is I honestly could have stayed in La Fortuna for the entire 2nd half of the trip- mainly because we loved the resort, and there are plenty of activities in that area. Overall, the trip was amazing, and we will defiitely be contacting KimKim for our next adventure.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel & Spa Poco a Poco

Monteverde

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very close to all the shops and restaurants

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

Absolutely stunning hotel. The grounds are lush and beautiful- so many plants and wildlife in the resort. Stunning views of the Arenal volcano. It never felt crowded. The pools and hot springs were fantastic, and the wait staff extremely friendly. Was also very clean. Wished we could have stayed longer!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Not close to downtown or any of the activities we did, but it was easy to get a taxi.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grano de Oro Hotel

San José

The hotel was very nice, quaint and small. They had really good food at their restaurant. Giving 4 stars only because we wished they had a pool. Overall great experience here. Great location- walking distance to downtown and close to many restaurants and shops.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve Guided Hike

Monteverde

The cloud forest was beautiful. We spent a lot of time waiting for Quetzal birds in a couple different spots, and when we were hiking, we moved a little fast. Would have liked to see a little more wildlife- our guide was very focused on finding the Quetzal birds. Still a beautiful hike with stunning scenery.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Hanging Bridges Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

Stunning scenery, saw and learned a lot about the wildlife. Highly recommend!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Self-Guided Hike to La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

The waterfall was beautiful... just be prepared to walk up and down a LOT of stairs. Definitely worth it.

Quality of Experience

Coffee with a Sloth at Toucan Rescue Center

San José

We had a private tour, and we got to meet the 7 sloths that live at the sanctuary. We also got to help make them lunch and watched them all eat. It was an incredible experience I will never forget!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The only complaint is there was too much commute time on this trip.

I cannot imagine a better series of memorable adventures than the ones planned for us by KimKim/France by Locals and our consultant Amandine ... nor can I imagine that I could have had the same results trying to plan on my own. I selected the town of St Jean PIed de Port just based on having seen a Rick Steves video about it, but their choice of Hotel des Pyrenees was ideally located, exceptionally appointed and comfortable, and featured a Michelin Guide restaurant where, on a rainy night, we enjoyed the best meal of our lives as the only guests. Yannick was our maitre'd, our waiter for dinner and breakfasts, and our guide to travel around the area. When we arrived on Saturday night, Sondrien helped us to find the parking garage and came out in the rain to assist with luggage. The hotel looks like a place Cervantes might have visited, but the rooms have all been redone and are modern, spacious and comfortable with wonderful baths.

I have a vivid imagination, but when I asked for a Bordeaux vineyard experience I could not have adequately envisioned the magical medieval town of St. Emilion, rising up in the middle of vineyards dotted with magnificent chateaux, nor that we would be staying in a former chateau turned comfortable and welcoming B&B LaGomerie, with host Jean-Francois and Jessica and the sweet beagle Paco to greet us and see to our every comfort. From there we walked through newly blooming vineyards to the town, enjoyed two fantastic dinners in restaurants there, but the real highlight was our 5-hour e-bike tour of the vineyards and wine tasting at two chateaux with Rustic Vines. Our guide, Pauline, a trained sommelier, became a friend as she led us on a sunny day I hope I'll never forget and tutored us in everything from vines to wines, answering our thousand questions with patience and charm. The picnic under the trees at Chateau Moncet was a pinnacle experience.

Then, Brittany! The whole point of returning to France was to see St. Malo and Mont St-Michele, and Amandine wisely lodged us in the magnificent Royal Emeraude Hotel in Dinard, just across the bay from St. Malo. We were steps to the sandy ocean beach, the fantastic shops, the market and restaurants, and a quick drive to St. Malo (or you can take a boat across). We loved St Malo, but agreed that Dinard was the better choice for exploring the region, and I would not have known that, but Amandine did.

I read the reviews from people who thought it was expensive to use local experts, but I disagree. I would have used up hours exploring the plethora of choices on the internet, and I would never have known to select the locations, or the properties, that made for a perfect experience. And once we landed we had support every step of the way, via text, whatsapp, and phone (and I used all 3). I had one chance to see the south and west of France, and I am so glad I found KimKim, and they found France by Locals. Merci beau coup, Amandine! A bientot!

Activity Review

Half-day wine and bike guided tour

Saint Emilion

Our visit to Japan was amazing from beginning to end. Our guides Nao and Yuki were wonderful. Nao was so happy for us to view Mt. Fuji and the beautiful cherry trees which were in peak form that day. She was happy to bring us shopping for some specific things and picked a great lunch spot on our Mt. Fuji day.
Yuki was especially concerned with us understanding him and even brought visual aids with him. He was constantly concerned with our comfort and happiness. He made time for us to stop for ice cream and shopping, brought us to my favorite lunch spot with the conveyor belts delivering our food and was very patient with our group of 8 women. He was a great translator during our tie dye experience and seemed to really enjoy showing us around.
We loved the first and last hotels, as they were a bit smaller and gave more personal service. The Kyoto Tokyu Hotel was very nice but maybe a little big and touristy for my liking, although they had a lovely gift shop.
I enjoyed Tokyo and Osaka as cities and also the surrounding areas. In Kyoto, maybe because of where we stayed I did not get a good feel for the city itself. However, we loved the tea ceremony, day in Miyama and the Philosopher’s Path, which we did from Kyoto.
All of our activities were so well planned and we enjoyed them all. Thanks to Sandy for the arrangements and for including everything we asked for.
Japan was so clean and beautiful. The people we met were gentle and polite. The food was delicious. The public transportation was easy to navigate. The bullet train was clean and comfortable. We even got lucky with the weather. Our only rain was during a travel day and our day at Mt. Fuji was sunny and clear.
Thank you, Sandy, for putting together a trip that I will remember fondly forever.
I will go to Kim.Kim again when planning my next adventure.
Marianne O’Shaughnessy

The planning and service provided by Paola was excellent. She got us a fantastic trip and assisted during the trip with additional information and suggestions. She did a great job with the tours, pick ups, transportation, etc.
All of our guides on the trip were very good but Milton in Quito was excellent; he provided history , stories and insights to our tour.

Had the trip ended before the last few days our rating would be higher. While we learned early on in our travels that we were often overscheduled for our taste, we consign some of that fact to our inexperience as travelers on such a complicated and lengthy itinerary. But toward he end, scheduling of trains and advice about luggage that produced a very compressed day in beautiful Hakone, and that cut short our stay at a ryokan that kept us from fully enjoying what we'd paid handsomely for, really hurt our experience. That same scheduling issue rushed us to Tokyo so that we could sit around with nothing to do while we waited for our hotel room to become available. As noted, we're not experienced enough travelers to have picked up on these shortcomings before they happened but, to Cory's credit, in the times when we did request revisions to other trip plans she responded quickly and effectively.

I also give her credit for easing the concerns I felt about having received a diagnosis of gluten intolerance in the weeks before the trip began. Cory was very helpful in finding places that could accommodate my restrictions--something that isn't necessarily easy in Japan given the predominance in its cuisine of gluten-containing soy sauce.

All in, while we had a great time overall in lovely Japan we were disappointed by plans made toward the end of the trip that wasted our money and hurt our experience in what should have been a highlight of the experience.

Chris did a wonderful job planning our Greece vacation, as well as ensuring our trip was going as planned while we were enjoying it! We were in good hands and would recommend Chris for future trips!

Hotel Reviews

Blue Dolphins Hotels & Villas

Firostefani, Santorini

The views the views the views!! The room was great with the master bed facing out to the beautiful views! The staff was very friendly and the breakfast brought to your room was phenomenal!

Authenticity & Character

The hotel was exactly the feel I was looking for!

Location

Walkable to town and food, right on the cliff with amazing views

Staff

Very helpful and friendly!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Princess of Naxos

Naxos

The staff were very friendly and accommodating - they wanted to make sure we had a good trip and offered great suggestions and help if needed.

Authenticity & Character

Location

15-20 min walk to town, but right on the beach

Staff

Very helpful and engaging! Offered great suggestions for what to do including renting cars, driver service and booking tours.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Achilleas Hotel

Athens

It was within walking distance to all of the Athens adventures, shopping and food that we wanted.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Walkable to all the things we wanted to do - food, tours and shopping

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

All Time Classic Santorini

Santorini

I felt like we got to see so much on this tour!

Quality of Experience

Such a variety - different beaches, great views, amazing food adventure!

Food

Exceptional!!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Both our driver and guide were just as wonderful on day 2!

Transport

Perfect

We Guide You In The Past

Santorini

This was so cool and I knew nothing about this prior to coming! Our guide knew lots of great details

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Both the driver and guide were great!!

Transport

Perfect for our family

Naxos Old Town, Castle & Portara Sunset Tour

Naxos

I loved this tour because there was so much more to the city than I would have realized on my own! It was great to learn the history of the town and see the different architecture and history.

Quality of Experience

Tour guide was great and very knowledgeable

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was very friendly and knowledgeable

Transport

This was a walking tour and felt very doable even for my two kids - ages 6 &7

Naxos Villages Food Tour

Naxos

I loved that this tour went inland to the small villages, we got to see so much more than the “tourist” perspective, as well as meet great people and try delicious food!

Quality of Experience

Felt very authentic from the locations we went to, the information we were provided, the people we met and the food we ate.

Food

So great to try so many delicious things! A great variety!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver and guide were both great!

Transport

The transport van was perfect

Mythology for Families

Athens

Our tour guide was wonderful - she was so engaging with the kids and brought different activities for them to do too!

Quality of Experience

The tour guide! She was knowledgeable and very kid / cat friendly!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Best part was our guide

We had a wonderful time in Vietnam and will definitely be back to explore more of the beautiful country! Stephen Long was very attentive and made sure that everything was perfect. All of our tour guides were knowledgeable and professional & our drivers were prompt and courteous. Thank you for making our trip one that we will never forget!

Hotel Reviews

The Saga Hotel Hoi An

Hoi An

Staff was very attentive and offered to let us use the showers in the spa when he had to check out 7 hours before being picked up for our flight. We were able to spend the day at the beach.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

White Lotus Hue Hotel

Hue

This is a beautiful hotel in a great location

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

They do a great job with our laundry

Cleanliness & Comfort

Milalux Cruise

Ha Long

Authenticity & Character

I’m

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our boat was a bit run down. The a/c in our room was freezing (even when we turned it up) and made a loud noise when it kicked on

Hanoi Allure Hotel

They were very kind to hold our luggage when we checked out and were gone overnight on a Ha Long Bay cruise

Authenticity & Character

Location

We walked everywhere

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Onboarding Mila Cruise - Ha Long Bay

Ha Long Bay

I think this is just for the drive from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay.Very comfortable transportation

Quality of Experience

Food

There was no food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanoi Half Day History & Food Tour

Hanoi

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Both of our guides were good. One we were with shortly and was a more focused day of getting to many places. He did a good job of coming up with some additional day of options and a great lunch rec. Young we had for 4 days and we really liked her. She was a bit soft spoken /quiet but very nice and knowledgeable and we found if we asked lots of questions we got lots of history and current info about not only the places she took us but also modern Japan life. Really enhanced our trip to learn about the history, shrines and temples. Getting around by train /bus was great for us and she had to work harder than if we had driver to navigate public transport for sure. Hotels were all nice. It was great. The only note is to warn guides we will want lots of restaurant recs (as where we’ll be is not always areas they’ve eaten. We had good luck using tablelog and AI ) and the food at the Hakone onsen was not very good. But we went out for great meals nearby.

Our trip to Torres del Paine/Puerto Natales was spectacular! It was a VERY active trip, which is what we were looking for! It was fun to see our guides underestimate us (49 and 56 year old nurses!)!

Our planner was very responsive and helpful in picking activities that suited us! Trekking poles were provided for all the hikes which was great not to have to pack any.

We were a little disappointed that our Condor watching involved no Condors. Our guide had let us know that the time of year for them was not unusual to not see them. Such information would have been appreciated ahead of time. Nonetheless it was a beautiful day and our guide took spectacular pictures for us on a very vertical hike! He also brought tea and granola bars for a break at the summit. If your itinerary states that you will be getting a meal, be sure to verify what it will be.

We wanted to do the Torres Base hike and also the ferry on Pehoe Lake, which was a lot to do in one day, but our planners at Kim Kim made sure they worked it out for us. We left our hotel in Puerto Natales at 5am, snoozed during the two hour ride to the park and hiked the first section mostly in the dark with headlamps. The sunrise was a spectacular unexpected benefit of leaving so early. The hike was heart rate raising but very doable. Hiking boots, trekking poles, rain gear, water and layers are essential. We had rain, sleet, snow and sunshine throughout the day. I am dairy free and was glad to pack some dairy free snacks but options are available at the midpoint central Refugio too. Due to cloudy conditions we couldn’t see the peaks clearly so our guide recommended not to hike the last section and we did the alternative lookout instead because of our time crunch, but honestly we could have made it. Which brings us to our guide - he said he was going to the “natures bathroom” often because he was on blood pressure medication which caused this need. We actually figured out he was sneaking off to vape. I suspect he wanted to finish the hike to vape at the end because he was in a huge rush to get back and we had quite a bit of time to spare. He was not nearly as informative nor helpful as the guide we had our first day (Paulo Angel). We mentioned several times we wished he had been with us. Nonetheless, we had a spectacular day and Kim Kim did a great job planning the timing for us.

The ferry to Lake Pehoe provides amazing views, especially on a sunny day. The Refugio Grande was much better than we expected - the meals were buffet style and we had many options that were very well prepared!!

We very much enjoyed the Glacier Grey hike that we did on our own. It allowed for us to speak freely between ourselves, go at our own pace and stop for pictures and lunch (arranged by Kim Kim and provided by the Refugio) when we wanted. Relaxing at the Refugio before going back to PN via the ferry and a bus was easy and comfortable. Information from Kim Kim on the bus departure timing was incorrect, probably because of being the shoulder season, but I feel this could have been anticipated and communicated better. A taxi from the bus terminal to our hotel was $5ish. Kimkim arranged for our luggage to be transferred to our second hotel which was seamless! Hotel Vandaval was fantastic and very responsive.

After two days of active hiking we had a day of a boat ride to Serrano glacier and an estancia for lunch. It was a relaxing day, which was needed but it wasn’t a highlight of the trip.

The last day was THE BEST. As we were pretty tired from all our activity we considered skipping it and were so glad we didn’t!! Vincenzo was a top notch top tier tour guide - friendly, immensely knowledgeable and extremely positive and patient. It was a very gusty and windy day and his tips, attitude and assistance was the difference between a good day and an unforgettable one! To say we had fun would be an extreme understatement! He stopped on the way to Puerto Prat when we wanted to see the birds along the way or to take pictures of the breathtaking scenery. I cannot say enough good things about this young man!!! After our kayaking around the fjords we had lunch with a very sweet woman, Alicia, from Puerto Prat in her home, which we had no idea we were going to do - which was an extremely pleasant surprise! The hospitality of this day well represented Pantagonia hospitality and was the crown jewel of our trip!!!

All in all, our trip was well planned and the execution was great. Travelers to Pantagonia should be aware of the weather, rugged conditions and remoteness of Puerto Natales - which we were. With such an attitude, you are pleasantly surprised with the comforts and hospitality that do pop up.

A note about diet concerns: I have a severe intolerance to milk products and communicated this to KimKim. They did the best they could to communicate this need to all the vendors. I was amazed at the availability of vegan protein bars and food products in the park, at restaurants in town and at stores. Our favorite: Patagonia Dulce, which has amazing chocolate, coffees and pastries, as well as sandwiches. Soy and almond milk was available for all drinks.

We can’t wait to come back with our spouses on another trip!