Kimkim Trip Reviews

We wanted a trip where we could see much of the country side of Morocco as well as the cities and medinas. We decided to have a driver for our whole trip who knew the country and the roads. Over ten days, we travelled with Hamza who was a personable young man who knew instinctively what we needed to see. We also took private tours of the Mosque and the Medinas. Highlights for us were dinners in the Medina in Essouira, riding camels in the Agafay, and hiking in the Atlas Mountains. Hamza stopped whenever we had a photo op or whenever we needed a roadside coffee. We travel a lot and this trip will rank right up there as a special one. Thanks to Hamza and to Original Travels and Kim Kim.

Hotel Reviews

Palais des Princesses

Marrakech

Old Medina riad but nicely redone, funky access to rooms but again you feel like you are in a different world

Authenticity & Character

Very authentic

Location

Nice but deep in the Medina

Staff

Efficient reception, fun food servers

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Mimouna

Essaouira

Amazing views, clean and great location.

Authenticity & Character

Classic Medina Riad, with old stair case and location on the water.

Location

This hotel is deep in the old city and requires a fairly long walk just to enter, however the walk past the souks is interesting and the hotel moves your luggage.

Staff

Fun at reception

Cleanliness & Comfort

Old but comfortable

Barceló Casablanca

Casablanca

Good location in central district, clean and organized.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Atlas Mountains, Agafay Adventure & Camel ride.

Marrakesh

Riding camels is a once in lifetime experience

Quality of Experience

Food

Nice dinner at the camel camp with fun entertainment

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pop

Marrakech Evening Food Tour

Marrakesh

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

Nicely done, good way to experience the Medina

Quality of Experience

Stop for lamb at the hole in the ground oven, eat with your fingers

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A Day Trip from Essaouira to Agadir with a Guided Tour

Essaouira

Agadir is a large city and unless you stay there not worth exploring for a short visit. Not a great Medina

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-Day Experience in Taghazout Beach

Essaouira

Surprised to see surging community, great beachside lunch

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Self-Guided Exploration of Essaouira Medina

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour of Hassan II Mosque

Morocco

As expected, interesting, crowded

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guides English was hard to hear

Transport

Quick Tour of Casablanca with your Driver-Guide

Morocco

Hamza was great, he knew his way around and was good about reading our needs and expectations

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The trip was seamless from planning through departure. We had a great time and would highly recommend using KimKim for a China trip. Our guide, Alan, met us at the airport, even after our flight was delayed 5 hours. We needed to take a sick child to get medicine at the hospital, and he helped navigate and translate the whole time. Alan and our KimKim Planner, Heidi, mentioned they always support the human needs of their clients first. Because of this, help at the beginning of the rest of our trip was a breeze. We were able to change the date of our rest day to make up for the late arrival. We thoroughly enjoyed the rest of our activity, including the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Hutongs, and the Vegetable market. Because of our schedule change, we had a second guide, Jim, who was helpful for our last day of exploring. We had full service the entire time, from lunches curated to our needs, to pickup and dropoff at the airport. This experience was a truly all-inclusive easy way to relax into China!

Winnie was very professional and responsive at all times. There is a time difference of 7 hours between us and it never felt like it.

We had a lot of issues with rescheduling and postponing the trip due the war in Iran.

We finally decided to take the trip and therefore the team of Odynovo and Winnie only had a week to plan our trip (since it was initially postponed).

They delivered a great full private tour that respected our requests and real time modifications.

All the guides and drivers were very responsive, kind and respectful.

I would highly recommend working with Odynovo Tours and specifically Winnie.

Amazing itinerary. Seamless trip. I did not have to worry about a thing since all preplanned and our driver was great and punctual. Tours pre-planned. Flexible times for longer car trips with lovely rest stops with food and playgrounds for the kids. Thank you, Yassine and our driver Farid. Such a memorable trip and beautiful country. Will gladly use kimkim again.

Hotel Reviews

Dar Nafoura Mogador

Essaouira

Exceptionally kind hosts and staff. Beautiful rooftop breakfast. In the heart of the town.

Authenticity & Character

Gorgeously decorated riad

Location

Staff

Went above and beyond with kindness and understanding

Cleanliness & Comfort

Great temperature, beautiful appointed rooms. Overly kind and empathetic housekeeping staff (and staff in general)

Kal Tenere Agafay Luxury Camp

Agafay

Loved the live entertainment at night. Beautiful glamping tents and pool

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Exploring the Medina and Historical Sites Of Marrakesh

Marrakesh

Achmed was great and tailored the tour length to what our kids (6 and 7) could handle on a warm day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Farid was the kindest and best driver

Transport

Achmed was great at navigating the busy, narrow streets on foot

This was a very easy process. I sent a few details of things I would like to do to Roy, my local specialist, and then had a call with him where he asked my preferences, including what I liked to do, how busy I wanted to be, etc. He came up with a perfect trip! The website had very easy to navigate information about the trip, including information on the tours and places I was going to sea, tickets for entry, details on where to meet, and an emergency contact number in case of any issue. Camila was also helpful in providing any updates or changes to my itinerary. For me, I said I was interested in outdoors-y type activities, I liked animals and art, and really wanted to see the Northern Lights. I was scheduled for an afternoon on an ice breaker that included a swim in the water in a survival suit, chasing northern lights in Lapland that including a fire with roasted marshmallows, warm blueberry juice, and salmon soup, a visit to the Arctic museum, and to the Wildlife Park. Unfortunately, the weather got too warm in Finland to go snowshoeing or ice fishing, but the team offered alternatives (I was too jet lagged to take it so took the day off!) Overall, I highly recommend. Easy to book, easy to follow, great people.

Amazing trip - everything was seamless with informative and friendly guides and expert coordination by Aya ! Hany was especially great during our visits to Aswan, Luxor, and Nile cruise!

We really enjoyed our trip to Japan. The planning and service from Winnie was excellent.
Even there were some issues, Winnie resolved it very professional and quick and they even offered us a nice lunch as excuse for it.
The booked drivers were always in time and the cars in very good shape. Most of the hotels we liked. The guided tours were interesting and the guides friendly and knowable.
We saw really a lot. It was high saison, so too many people which made the trip a little stressful, but the rides in in Shinkansen were peaceful.
We saw Tokio, Hakone, Kyoto, Hiroshima and Osaka. We skipped the trip from Osaka to Nara, because it was to much and we enjoyed a free last day in Osaka with a little shopping.
Thank you very much, we would highly recommend the KimKim service.

Justine Edelin did a splendid job of arranging our visit to our compete satisfaction. She found destinations that we were unaware of that were perfect for us. She responded promptly to my concerns during the trip. Justine provided us with a trip that was much better than I could have arranged by myself. Splendid job !

Hotel Reviews

Best Western Plus Hotel Divona Cahors

Cahors

Modern hotel right on the River Lot. The balcony was perfect for drying the clothes we had washed in the sink. Free parking on site. A walking trail along then river is just below the hotel grounds. Very good breakfast buffet.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mercure Figeac Viguier du Roy

46100

A very modern interior concealed within a very old building on a narrow street in the heart of Figeac. Free parking is several blocks up hill. Spacious comfortable room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Montaigne

Sarlat-la-Caneda

Very noce hotel on tnę edge of the old quarter of Sarlat. Spacious comfortable room. Parking can be a problem. A free parking lot is 20 minutes walk up the hill.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hôtel Parc Saint Séverin

Paris

A sweet small hotel in the Latin Quarter. Close to the Isle de La Cité and to Shakespeare and Company.

Authenticity & Character

Location

in the Latin Quarter. Close to the Isle de La Cité and to Shakespeare and Company.

Staff

welcoming and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided tour of Figeac

Figeac

Our guide knows everything about local history. She pointed out the fascinating museum of J-F Champollion, who used the Rosetta Sone to learn to read Egyptian hieroglyphics for the first time.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Excursion to Rocamadour and Padirac chasm

France

Or driver / guide was very informative and a safe driver.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Paleolithic art in the Dordogne and truffle farm

Sarlat

Lascaux IV and the Museum in Les Eyzies are not to be missed. The guides were very good.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Informative and a safe driver.

Transport

Sarlat Market & Dordogne Culinary Tour : A Taste of Local Flavors

France

Our ,local guide was informative and helpful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our trip was amazing. I was really impressed with the coordination by the driver and all of the local guides, hotels and lunches. Everything was seamless.
Reda, our driver was exceptional. He had a great sense of humor and I especially enjoyed his deep ha ha ha laugh. He was very knowledgeable and qued us in on things to do on our own, ie. Restaurants and events. He went out of his way to help us find wine, which wasn’t easy!!
The hotels were perfect, always in the middle of the action. We really enjoyed our interaction with the local people in their homes and shared meals. Of course the desert was our favorite- a real camel ride and the camp was charming.
I appreciated the coordination between KimKim and the local tour company Original Travel. Said did a great job of coordinating the driver, hotels, guides, etc.
My only recommendation would be to have a larger vehicle. 7 persons in a 8 person van was too tight, considering that we spent hours every other day traveling. We would have paid for a larger vehicle and I failed to inquire as to the size that was provided.
This was my first trip with KimKim and I will definitely use them again.

Activity Reviews

Day Trip from Marrakech to Essaouira

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Three Hour Cooking Workshop at La Maison Arabe

Marrakesh

One of our favorite events! Super fun and informative .

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride in Marrakech

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Majorelle Gardens

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Imlil Valley Walk - Toubkal NP

Imlil

This should have been a longer hike. There was not enough to do in this small village

Quality of Experience

Food

Tagine, tagine tagine.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was mediocre and there was no real interaction with the Berber as scheduled.

Transport

Explore the Heart of Skoura: Pottery, Palm Groves & Local Life

Skoura

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Morocco Last Nomads Experience: Tea, Tales & Desert Adventures

Merzouga

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-day guided tour in Fes

Fes

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Exploration of the "Blue City" Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour of Tangier

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer from Fes to Merzouga via Erfoud & Camel Ride

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wow - what an incredible trip to Mongolia! We (my friend and I - two women in our late 20s) had a phenomenal time exploring the diverse landscapes of Mongolia and the incredible hospitality of locals. We had Zaya as our tour guide and she was amazing at her role. We felt safe and well taken care of the entire time. Her knowledge is unmatched and she is a very talented translator. Our drivers (Mogi and I apologise but I am forgetting the name of the second equally amazing driver) were both wonderful and went above and beyond expectations to look after us (lots of photo stops, toilet stops, joined us horse riding, played card games with us, cooked for us etc.).

I feel so lucky to have experienced two weeks (15 days) in this country, exploring the north, central and south. We went horse riding to the west taiga tribe, visited Gobi Dessert, went camel riding, attended Nadam festival, visited Hutsai National Park and saw so many Przewalski's horses, milked horses, goats and yaks, visited a stunning waterfall and stayed in the ger's of many welcoming locals.

Thank you thank you thank you for such a fantastic trip!

Paola helped us plan one of our most incredible family trips! She was very attentive and responsive to our questions and preferences, and helped curate a trip that every single person in the family loved from the parents and high school students down to the elementary school-aged child.

Our primary in-country guide Jose was amazing! Beyond just helping us appreciate the areas and sites we saw, he went out of his way to give us extensive local insight and was always happy to answer our many questions.

Based on this experience, we will definitely be planning another trip with KimKim

Activity Reviews

Papallacta Hot Springs & Spa

Ecuador

Discover Isla Pinzón & Playa La Fé

Puerto Ayora

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Excursion to an uninhabited island

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station

Puerto Ayora

Quality of Experience

Lo

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer to Quito Airport, Arrival to Galapagos & Highlands of Santa Cruz

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit the Pailón del Diablo Waterfall, Explore Baños

Baños

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Quito - Cotopaxi National Park - Baños

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Quito City Tour - Middle of the World

Quito

Traveling through England with a personal tour arranged by KimKim was truly an unforgettable experience. From the moment we arrived, every detail was thoughtfully planned, allowing us to fully relax and enjoy each destination without stress.

A huge thank you to Aleksandra, who did an outstanding job organizing our trip. She carefully arranged our hotels, tours, car services, and even an incredible food tour that was a true highlight. Everything was seamless, perfectly timed, and tailored to our interests—it made the entire experience feel effortless.

Our journey took us through some of the most beautiful and historic places, including London and Bath, where we explored iconic landmarks, charming streets, and hidden gems we never would have found on our own. The itinerary struck the perfect balance between guided experiences and free time, giving us the chance to soak in the culture at our own pace.

A special highlight was our time in Bath, where our guide, Adge, brought the city to life with his knowledge, humor, and warmth. It felt like we were exploring with a friend rather than being on a typical tour.

The accommodations were excellent, comfortable, and perfectly located, making it easy to explore each area. Every transfer and experience was smooth and well-coordinated thanks to Aleksandra’s thoughtful planning.

KimKim made planning international travel effortless and enjoyable. I would absolutely use them again and highly recommend them to anyone looking for a personalized, stress-free travel experience.

This trip wasn’t just a vacation—it was a collection of memories we’ll cherish forever.

Hotel Reviews

The Harcourt Arms

The Harcourt Arms is an absolute standout in the English countryside. Nestled in the quiet village of Stanton Harcourt, it has that perfect mix of rustic charm and upscale comfort.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Far from the city and University of Oxford

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Kennard

Bath

We had a wonderful stay at The Kennard during our visit to Bath. This beautiful Georgian guesthouse perfectly blends historic charm with modern comfort. The location is ideal—just a short walk to all the main attractions, yet tucked away on a quiet street, making it peaceful at night.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Leonardo Royal London St Paul's

London

We had a fantastic stay at a Leonardo Royal Hotel London City during our trip to London. The location couldn’t have been better. The room was spacious, clean, and very comfortable, with a great bed and everything we needed for a relaxing stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Bath Walking Tour

Bath

What could have been just another historical walking tour turned into something engaging, fun, and memorable. Adge is incredibly knowledgeable, but presents everything in such an easygoing and entertaining way. His storytelling brought Bath’s history to life, and he shared so many interesting details you wouldn’t get just walking around on your own.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Twilight Soho Food & Drinks Tour

London

We had the best time with Nile. He was super friendly and knowledgeable about SoHo.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Nile was a fantastic food tour guide!

Exclusive Guided Tour in Buckingham Palace

London

We could only see the carriage house but the walk around the palace was beautiful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Royal London Tour

London

Dave gave a wonderful and informative tour. He is incredibly knowledgeable and super friendly. We enjoyed every minute.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mieke was amazing to work with! She helped us every step of the way. Ruben, our driver was wonderful! He was friendly, prompt and informative. A true professional! Our boat driver Hans in Hoorn was delightful. Also fun and filled with information! Thank you KimKim we had a stress free trip!

Had a fantastic time experiencing beautiful Snowdonia National Park and coastal Wales, which we could not have done without the expertise of our specialist Rachel. Many fond memories and great photos to share with friends and family. Thank you for a great trip!

Diane and Alfred Padden

This family heritage trip to Ireland trip exceeded our expectations. From the pick ups to the tour guides everything went perfectly. Carolina from Silverbus was our driver throughout the trip. From Waterford to Doolin to Dingle to Dublin her driving was phenomenal, she was on time and she was very respectful of our needs. She took us to a beautiful church and took some wonderful pictures for our family. She was very accommodating when we asked her to stop at the Cliffs of Mohr because our boat trip to the cliffs was cancelled due to the weather. She was polite and conscientious to all our needs

The walking tour of Waterford was wonderful. I think is name was Sean was knowledgeable and witty. The private Waterford Crystal tour was something we would have never done on our own, but it was amazing. One of the carvers took the time and explained to my daughter-in-law his craft on a personal level. There was also just enough free time to explore the museums in the Viking triangle and make it personal for everyone.

Dingle was a magical experience for us because of our Slea Head private tour with Dora as our guide. It was a cold and rainy day. Dora was so positive and so invested in making our experience special. I told her my husbands grandmother was from Dingle. I showed her the house, the cemetery and her name. By the end of the day, using her contacts, asking around in the Blasket Island museum and the pub she took us for lunch, we were at his grandmothers family homestead. We met distant cousins and she created a day we will cherish forever!!

In Doolin We took an Aran Island tour with Ollie’s Tours. Simon and Cearbhuil were our guides. Simon’s history and archeological knowledge were amazing. Cearbhiul’s person-ability and humble nature made us feel welcomed and warm. We were a bit disappointed because we couldn’t see the Cliffs of Mohr by boat due to the storming weather but we enjoyed the entire day. The tea and scone portion was great. We were able to chat with a local and get a glimpse of what life is like on the island.

Dublin was great too. Although a big city, the planned activities were great. The Epic museum was great. The planned appointment with the genealogist was a unique and fascinating part of the trip. Maura was excellent. She was fully invested in helping us find info about my husbands grandmotherWe probably would not have chosen Guinness but enjoyed the tour. St. Patrick’s tour was great. We loved doing it on our own while using the audio tour as our guide. The Landsdown Dinner Theater was great. I love how it was not only music and dance, but it incorporated the history of music and dance in the show. Our only complaint was it was 20 min. From our hotel and transportation was not factored in.

All in all, our experience with Kimkim was amazing. I would highly recommend their expert staff. Cathy was in total contact with us the entire time before we left. She assured us that everything would run smoothly. She is an asset to your company and I would definitely refer your company to anyone who is looking for a unique and private vacation. A++ to everyone involved in making this trip possible!!!

Hotel Reviews

Ashling Hotel Dublin

Dublin

Beautiful hotel but location a little far our

Authenticity & Character

Location

A little bit of a walk to sights and needed a taxi for almost everything

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Doolin Inn

Doolin, Co. Clare

Great location and very clean

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dingle Bay Hotel

Dingle

Love this hotel. Sharon was wonderful checking us in and Carolina was so friendly and accommodating

Authenticity & Character

So cute

Location

Staff

Accommodating

Cleanliness & Comfort

So cute and comfortable

Waterford Marina Hotel

WATERFORD

Perfect location. Staff was extremely accommodating.

Authenticity & Character

Very quaint

Location

Beautiful rooms right on the harbor

Staff

Went above and beyond when we left our voucher at the front desk someone brought it to the restaurant for us

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Irish Dancing - The Irish House Party (Dinner & Show)

Dublin

I loved the music history and the dancing

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tickets for St Patrick Cathedral, Dublin

Dublin

Loved doing the audio tour

Quality of Experience

Consultation with a Genealogist at EPIC Museum

Dublin

So interesting. Maura was totally invested in finding our family heritage

Quality of Experience

Entry into the Emigration Museum EPIC

Dublin

I loved this museum. Totally self guided but so well done!

Quality of Experience

Self-Guided Guinness Storehouse Experience

Dublin

Good self guided tour

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Aran Island Tour - Day Trip to Inisheer from Doolin

Ireland

Simon and Cearbhuil were amazing tour guides. We loved doing the tea and scone portion with a local

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Doolin

Doolin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Guided Tour of Dingle and Slea Head

Ireland

Dora went above and beyond to personalize this day for us

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Killarney National Park Jaunt - From Park to Castle

Ireland

Thought it would be a little more through woodsy area. Too short to see the castle Ross

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

An Epic Walking Tour of the Viking Triangle

Waterford

Very informative great guide

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Waterford Crystal Factory Tour Private Tour

Waterford

Highly recommend a private tour. Exceptional experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Everett's : Michelin Recommended dining

Waterford

Nice atmosphere. Great food

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We worked with Gummi to create an amazing itinerary, tailored for our family, and we had the BEST week in Iceland!! It is hard to choose a favorite spot because we saw so many beautiful things! It checked all of our boxes for what we wanted to see and do, from exploring waterfalls to seeing puffins to climbing a glacier and experiencing an ice cave and a lava tunnel. We feel like we have a true sense of what Iceland is like, from its land to its people...and we loved it! Gummi was very responsive in answering our questions and he chose activities and hotels that worked really well for our family of 4. This was our first time using Kimkim and we have already recommended it others!

Hotel Reviews

Old Charm Reykjavík Apartments

Reykjavík

This "hotel" is a collection of different apartments across a few different streets in the area. The unit we had was a 3 bedroom upstairs apartment. in a really great location except that it was a very busy street in the shopping district. We had the windows open to keep the apartment cool and it was very loud. We could also hear the downstairs neighbors/tenants (and smell their cooking). While the apartment had been renovated and had a lot of charm, the age of the building also showed through in several places (very squeaky floors, low ceilings, finicky hot water), and the outside seemed run down. It was very nice to have off-street parking included behind the building, as it would have been hard to find other parking in this area. Walking distance to MANY restaurants and shops.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to shopping and restaurants, parking included, not far from the waterfront.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Could have been cleaner, appliances were old and well-used, wished for extra pillows, hot water was finicky.

Vík Apartments

Vik I Myrdal

This apartment is managed by the nearby hotel and was a great layout for our family with two bedrooms and even an in-unit (2-in-1) washer/dryer machine and dishwasher. Location couldn't be better for Vik, with a grocery store and several restaurants across the street. We enjoyed having the extra space to spread out a bit after some smaller rooms earlier in our trip.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Not much interaction with staff beyond the check-in reception desk, but they were very friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Stracta Hotel

Hella

We had one of the 2-bedroom "houses" at this location (there are several different types of rooms available), complete with it's own hot tub. This layout worked great with our two teenage kids as they had their own room. The kitchenette was nice but not necessary for the one night we stayed there, as the on-site hotel bistro/restaurant had lots of good options too. The included breakfast was very good and had something for everyone. My wife with celiac was comfortable eating here and did not get sick.

Authenticity & Character

Location

This was a convenient location to stay after our "Golden Circle" day before we continued on to Vik.

Staff

We forgot something in the room after we checked out and the front desk staff happily walked with us back to get it.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Comfortable beds, nice amenities included, able to park right outside the "house".

Reykjavík Marina - Berjaya Iceland Hotels

Reykjavík

This was a very nice boutique hotel, located right next to the marina. Really cute decor and friendly staff. Well-located for whale watching and close to several restaurants. Our room had king-sized bunk beds, which our teenagers really enjoyed and thought were awesome. Everything was clean and well-thought out. Included breakfast buffet was excellent. My wife has celiac and was comfortable with the choices as long as we got to the breakfast early before anything was cross-contaminated with gluten. We would definitely return!

Authenticity & Character

Cool decor and little sitting rooms.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Faxaflói Bay Whale Watching Excursion

Reykjavík

We had a great experience on the Elding Whale Tour. The weather ended up being perfect, and although they can't guarantee that you will see whales at all, we ended up seeing LOTS of humpback and minke whales surfacing and breaching! The guide and the captain were both clearly experienced and knowledgeable and knew exactly where to go. At one point we had so many whales alongside the boat that we had to stop and wait for them to leave before we could head back to the docks. We saw a number of seabirds as well, including Atlantic puffins which was a highlight for our kids.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lava Tunnel Activity

Iceland

This was a great experience from start to finish. The guide was very laid back but full of information and humor. The lava tunnel itself was very impressive and well-lit, and held a few surprises that none of us expected (I won't spoil it here!). We learned a lot about how the lava tunnels are formed (and found) and it changed the way we looked at the Icelandic landscape for the rest of our trip!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

After the "tour" the guide let us stay and explore, answered lots of questions, and offered to take photos of us in different parts of the tunnel.

Glacier Ice Cave Experience

Iceland

Our guide Kamil was very knowledgeable about the glacier, the caves and the surrounding areas. We spent an amazing afternoon with a small group of people traversing the lava fields in an offroad van, hiking up the glacier, and exploring the ice cave.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was very personable and shared a lot of information about Iceland and geology in general.

Transport

The offroading experience across the lava fields could have been it's own adventure! Very fun!

Laugarás Lagoon - Ösp

Iceland

This place is beautiful and very relaxing and not touristy (like Blue Lagoon is). We really enjoyed the lagoon itself, which feels very natural and part of the landscape. If we were to do this again, we would skip the package that includes the meal, because the timing constraints of the restaurant interrupted our flow at the spa (the food was delicious though, and on the fancier side - our children struggled finding something). The locker room was very clean and nice. The staff was not particularly friendly but it didn't bother us. Overall a very nice experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had the perfect trip to Greece, great weather, no crowds and the trip was seamlessly planned. It was so amazing to have a driver pick us up from each drop off location. We had plenty of time in each location and loved all the excursions that were planned for us!

Hotel Reviews

NLH Monastiraki

Athens

Very nice staff and great location to walk to everything in Athens!

Authenticity & Character

It was clean and nice!

Location

Great location, easy to walk to everything!

Staff

Very helpful and welcoming

Cleanliness & Comfort

small, but modern and clean!

Above Blue Suites

Santorini

The view was breathtaking, but it did lack in a few areas. The shower was darling, but we were never able to get the water to be anything but scalding or freezing. The hot tub on the deck, was cute, but only luke warm, and the pool was freezing. The pool chairs were comfortable, but old and beat up.

Authenticity & Character

The gorgeous views

Location

It was easy to walk to good restaurants and to great hikes!

Staff

The staff was so sweet, we really like Mena at the front desk, so welcoming and sweet!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Water temps, and better towels, deck furniture could be improved!

Santana Beach Suites

Naxos

The view was gorgeous and the staff was so nice! The breakfast was so delicious!

Authenticity & Character

Great views!

Location

Beautiful view, but you did have to take a rather expensive cab ride to town!

Staff

They were so helpful, when we were having trouble with the internet!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nice and clean!

Athenian Riviera

Vouliagmeni

It was perfect for one night in Athens, clean and in a good area to walk to restaurants!

Authenticity & Character

It had a very nice breakfast buffet!

Location

It was easy to walk to nice restaurants!

Staff

They were very helpful!

Cleanliness & Comfort

The beds were comfy!

Activity Reviews

Acropolis Beat-the-Crowds Discovery Walk

Athens

It was nice to have a guide to learn about all the history at the Acropolis! It was a tiny bit to understand where to meet, but not a huge problem as they were very responsive on What's app!

Quality of Experience

She was very nice and easy to understand!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Her knowledge!

Transport

Sunset Caldera Catamaran Cruise

Santorini

It was fun to be on a boat and the food was very good! We had a fun time talking to other guests. You could tell that the guides do lots of boat trips a day and were a little systematic in all there interactions with us!

Quality of Experience

It was an awesome place to watch the sunset!

Food

Good food and plenty of it, for our teen boys!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

They were okay, not very personable!

Transport

It was a very nice bus, just a scary ride!

Private Island Villages & Akrotiri Day Trip

Santorini

We loved getting to see so many things on the island so quickly! Our guide was a local, so he was very knowledgeable about everything on the island!

Quality of Experience

The local guide

Guides, Drivers and Staff

He was passionate about his job!

Transport

Nice clean big van!

Self-Guided Hike From Fira to Oia

Santorini

Gorgeous!

Quality of Experience

Naxos Sea Cave Kayaking Adventure with Transfers

Naxos

We had so much fun on this excursion! The guides were awesome and we had a great day!

Quality of Experience

The guides were awesome!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very nice, knowledgeable and welcoming!

Transport

Niktarous was so nice and fun to talk to on the ride over!

Self-Guided Apeiranthos Trip

Naxos

Quality of Experience

Self Guided Beach Time in Naxos

Naxos

We rented a car and drove all around the island we had a fun day exploring the island

Quality of Experience

It was nice to have a free day to just explore the island!

Private Culture Walk with Food Tastings & Tavern Meal

Naxos

Our guide was so knowledgeable and kind, we had fun learning about the history of Naxos and eating the traditional foods!

Quality of Experience

Our guide was so nice, personable and knowledgeable!

Food

We liked the local cheese, the Orange Cake, and the traditional dishes!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

She was used to dealing with kids!

Transport

Kimkim helped us pack in great sites, great bites, and eclectic shopping areas into this 8-night trip! Ben worked with me throughout the planning process, and together we were able to curate a trip that would be memorable for our family of four, including a 16 and 18-year old. We were even able to make some tweaks based on areas my son wanted to see.

Our first full day in Tokyo, we were greeted by our guide, Peter. After handing out our Pasmo cards and train tickets for the trip, we set off at a quick clip to see different areas of Tokyo and learn to navigate the transit system. Peter took time to talk with each of us as we set out, and our son particularly enjoyed talking with him. We checked out a food market, then went to a sushi-making class! We all enjoyed that. We went to a beautiful shrine, and then to Harajuku to visit Pokemon Center and explore secondhand stores. He even took us to Shimokitazawa, which we'd had scheduled for Day 3! We finished up in Shinjuku. By the end of that day, we all felt so tired, but confident we could navigate the transit system!

Peter met us on our second day as well, and we drove out to the Mt Fuji / Five Lakes region for a day trip. The private car was incredibly comfortable, and we enjoyed watching the city fade away and the hills dotted with blooming cherry trees roll in. We were incredibly lucky to see Mt Fuji! We climbed up many stairs at a park for iconic views of Mt Fuji and Chureito Pagoda and peak cherry blossoms! Peter was fantastic to snap photos of us often--I really appreciated that! He also managed to secure the last 4 seats for us for a short boat cruise on Lake Kawaguchi. We also went to a museum where we could learn more about the history of Mt Fuji and the Five Lakes region and how it has formed over the millennia. We then enjoyed a lunch from a spot Peter mentioned was more like "Japanese fast food." While we did receive it quickly, it reminded me in no way of American fast food! Delicious.

After bidding farewell to Peter, we explored other parts of Tokyo, including Akihabara. Our hotel was in Ginza, and it was quite easy to get anywhere from the train lines close to us.

We had no problem navigating to Tokyo Station to catch the Shinkansen to Kyoto, and our hotel was just a few minutes away. We enjoyed visiting the Fushimi Inari Shrine, and found a hiking trail to enjoy some time up there without the crowds. Amanda was our guide here . Though very quiet, she is very easy to talk with and is very informative. She took us to Arashiyama, where we went to the bamboo park and walked around the area. Our family rented bikes for a bit and enjoyed a bike ride by the river, then we met up for lunch. Amanda then took us to the Monkey Park where we could observe Japanese Macaques. Amanda was great at taking a manageable pace up the mountain, and offered breaks at regular intervals. It was very crowded, but we enjoyed seeing these animals up close. We headed back to Kyoto and Amanda guided us into Gion and explained geisha culture to us.

Amanda was also our guide for our second Kyoto day, which I called Temple day. We were able to visit Kinkaku-ji Temple and marvel at the gardens and the golden temple, then went to Ryoan-ji Temple to appreciate minimalist beauty. It was truly quite a contrast. We took a train to Nara, where we visited Todai-ji Temple. We were absolutely blown away by this temple, its construction, its massive size, and the stunning larger-than-life Buddha inside. I was so glad to have included this in our trip!

We got to Osaka, and Ursula met us to go explore Himeji Castle. We had the opportunity to tour the grounds with a volunteer who spoke English, and he told us so much more about the castle's history that we would not have gotten on our own. It was really quite a treat to explore this historic site. Ursula was a great guide, and helped us find a delicious food spot before touring the Kokoen Garden. We explored the area around our hotel on our last evening in Japan.

I cannot thank Kimkim enough for helping to make this such a memorable trip for our family!

We were in Brazil for a wedding and Federico helped us plan our post wedding trip to Iguacu Falls and then to Rio de Janiero. Our guide, Flavio, in Iguacu falls was terrific. He knew all the birds and plants and had good restaurant recommendations .

We arrived in Rio De Janiero and I was going back and forth with Federico about decompressing our trip since it was very busy. While he was flexible in the end we decided to continue as planned. Our guide, Alberto, was terrific. Really informative above and beyond as well as being mindful of the fact that we were 5 people of different levels of fitness.
During the trip all of our guides and drivers were where they were supposed to be and moving around was seamless. I think it was the right itinerary for the time allowed and our interests. If we go back to Brazil I would add a few things to our Rio trip but I think I would spend more time in nature. All told the trip was well planned and we felt well supported by the team on the ground . Thank you!

Hotel Reviews

Windsor California Copacabana Hotel

Rio de Janeiro

Comfortable, good breakfast and good dinner. Great location and great view and pool area .

Authenticity & Character

It is a tourist hotel. It is an authentic Rio experience for a tourist.

Location

Easy to the beach and other sites

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms are clean and the bed is comfortable if a bit firm. Shower is excellent

Nadai Confort Hotel

Foz do Iguacu

This was a business hotel. It was comfortable . Breakfast was good. We ate dinner in the hotel our first night and it wasn’t terribly good

Authenticity & Character

It is what it is and it was fine

Location

It was easy to get around

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Rio Green Tour: Into the Tropical Urban Forest and Among the Imperial Palms'

Rio de Janeiro

We only had time to see the botanic garden and only a small piece of it. That said, Alberto smartly had us rent a golf cart and a guide for an hour so I felt like we really learned something.

Day visit to Royal Petropolis'

Rio de Janeiro

At first I was not up for this trip because it is a long way in a lot of traffic but in the end I am glad we went. The city is beautiful and different than Rio. The fact that there is a Bavarian styled restaurant on the way there is hilarious and the apple strudel (according to our friends) was quite tasty. The palace tour was informative but the highlight was the Santos Dumont home and the square where a replica of the airplane is placed. We have read about Santos Dumont but did not connect him to Brazil or Petropolis so that was a treat.

Rio in a Day: Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf, Selarón Steps and More'

Rio de Janeiro

This was a great day with a great guide, Alberto. It was a good call to make it for 7 am because we missed some of the traffic. Every site was really interesting and the guide was really informative. We spent a lot of time in the Saint Sebastian Church and it was really unlike anything we have ever seen.

Quality of Experience

Food

I felt like I was eating like a local sort of which was fun

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I thought Alberto was really interesting and clearly loves showing off his city

Transport

It was a comfortable car and I am really glad I didn't ever have to drive :)

Santa Teresa & Rio Antigo'

Rio de Janeiro

This was actually the least of the tours. In part because we arrived at 1:30. We were picked up around 2 so we had a late start. So it was kind of rushed. That said, we ate at a Belle Epoque restaurant , took a detour to see a building designed by Calatrava and were able to get to the top of the Santa Teresa neighborhood before the house museum closed.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Roger was interesting even though I wasn't that interested in what I was seeing ( the churches) . This is on me, not him

Transport

It was comfortable

Full-Day Argentinian Side of the Falls

Foz do Iguaçu

This is a unique opportunity to be on top of the falls rather than seeing them at a distance. It can be a long day because customs is not the most efficient process on the planet.

Quality of Experience

We were fortunate to turn a corner and get very close to a group of vultures just off the trail.

Food

The buffet at the Falls was particularly good.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Flavio was really knowledgeable and really had a love for showing people the Falls and the bird park

Transport

The mini bus was very comfortable.

Half-Day Tour – Brazilian Side of the Iguaçu Falls + Bird Park (Parque das Aves)'

Foz do Iguaçu

The bird park is a must see and was a highlight of our trip. Flavio was knowledgeable about plants and birds and has a deep love the sanctuary.

Quality of Experience

I thought it was interesting that it is a privately owned bird sanctuary. It made me appreciate it even more.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Flavio was really knowledgeable and his love for the Park was obvious

Transport

The passenger van was comfortable

We had an absolutely amazing trip!!! Every detail was meticulously planned by Ben. From our great drivers and guides to having the last seat of the bullet train reserved for our extra luggage. I never would have thought of doing that but it was a huge help since we bought a lot of souvenirs! Peter was our guide in Tokyo and Mt Fuji and he took the most beautiful photos of my daughter and I. It was so nice to be in the pictures instead of behind the camera and I am so thankful for those memories.
We ate at several local restaurants that were fantastic and we were the only tourists there. I would never have found these places without my guides Peter and Takizawa.
Peter and Takizawa went above and beyond my expectations as guides and Ben was so accommodating to my teenage daughters many requests and planned everything out so perfectly. The drivers were always on time and let me know their plate numbers and names on WhatsApp. They always offered to carry our luggage and were very polite. The cars were always clean and they drove safely. I was so happy that I didn't have to drive in that insane traffic!
I could never have planned this on my own and I am so happy that I chose KimKim!