Kimkim Trip Reviews

We had a terrific experience planning our trip through KimKim. Our agent, Leny, was fantastic to work with. She provided excellent hotel and travel suggestions and helped us design a wonderful itinerary. When we needed to make changes to our trip, she handled everything quickly and smoothly, which made the process stress-free.

One highlight was our stay at the FuFu resort in Hakone. It was absolutely amazing. The food and the onsen were 5 stars! The private driver and guide Lenu arranged were also delightful and made exploring easy and enjoyable.

We would definitely use KimKim again for future travel.

Activity Review

Day Trip from Osaka to Hiroshima with Bullet Train

Osaka

We used kimkim to book our honeymoon. We cannot recommend it enough.

It was an incredible trip and everyone made sure to make us feel so special! We went to Tokyo, Atami, Hakone, Kyoto, Osaka, and Nagano — and honestly it exceeded every expectation we had. From setting up accommodation, travel and guides, it was worth every penny! The communication was smooth through the planning process. The platform on Kimkim made it super easy to connect.

We were matched with Oshinobi Travel, and worked with Hiroshi and Emi. From the start, they were courteous and careful in planning everything for us. From taking our desires into consideration to recommending specific excursions throughout our trip, they went above and beyond to make sure that we had the most amazing trip we could have hoped for. Our guides on the ground were just as amazing — Hiro took care of us in Tokyo and Hakone, Sally was our guide through Osaka and Kyoto, and Ryoma led us on the Fushimi Inari hike. Every single one of them was knowledgeable, warm, and genuinely made the trip so much better. They brought the history and culture to life at every shrine and temple we visited and we came home knowing so much more about Japan than we ever expected.

The food alone was worth the trip. We did a sushi making class and an Osaka-style Okonomiyaki class at CFlat which were both so fun — highly recommend! And the restaurants throughout were just outstanding. Our guides helped us with recommendations in each area, making sure we had the best experience and that we tried every lasty local dish.

We also got to snowboard and soak in some onsens up in Nagano which was the perfect way to wind down. The whole trip felt so well-balanced between culture, food, adventure, and just enjoying the scenery.

Can't recommend it enough. Already thinking about our next trip back!

Hotel Reviews

The Okura Tokyo

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Shunran no Yado Sakaeya

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hakuba Yamano Hotel

Hakuba

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Osaka Marriott Miyako Hotel

Osaka

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cross Hotel Kyoto

Kyoto

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Shin Kado Ya

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Asakusa View Hotel Annex Rokku

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

A Day to Unwind and Relax in Tokyo

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Relax in onsen hot spring

Yudanaka Onsen

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

★Savor Japan: homely experience of cooking okonomiyaki with a japanese grandmother (Private Experience)

Osaka

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

★Paths of Japan: Osaka Private Guided Tour: Castle, Street Eats & Local Energy

Osaka

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

★Private tea ceremony experience with a tea master

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

★Paths of Japan: go on a hike and Take a closer look into the depths of fushimi inari

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

★Unfold japan: get immersed in a full course interaction with a maiko

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

★ Guided Tour of Kyoto: Timeless Beauty & Cultural Highlights

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Scenic Hakone Adventures and Transfer to Kyoto

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

★Paths of Japan: Hakone Private Guided Tour: Discover Nature & Art

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Luggage transfer service

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

★Experience a Sushi Making Class in a Sushi Restaurant

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

★Tsukiji and Toyosu Fish Market Walking Tour

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

★Full-Day Guided Tour of Tokyo: Iconic Sights, Culture & City Vibes

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My husband had reviewed this, but coming back to the KimKim site I realized I had not.

We had a fabulous trip to Croatia. We were lucky that the weather mostly cooperated, but the little rain we got din't hamper our activities.

The boutique hotels we stayed in where in interesting areas close to restaurants and very safe to wonder around. We loved all of them,

The activities Nicola booked matched what we were looking for and at times exceeded expectations.

We have enjoyed the trips we have taken so much we have two planned with KimKim.

Thanks for everything!!

Activity Reviews

Private Guided Hike of Plitvice Lakes National Park - (Lower & Upper Lakes)

Croatia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Awesome guide

Transport

Truffle Lunch with Presentation at Local Family Estate

Croatia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Half Day Tour to Klis Fortress & Trogir

Croatia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Island of Hvar E-Bikes Cycling Tour

Croatia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Walking Tour of Zagreb

Zagreb

Tour guide was amazing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

n/a

Half Day Korčula E-Bike & Food Tour

Korčula

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Walking Tour of Split

Croatia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Boat Tour to Blue Cave & Pakleni Islands

Croatia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sea Kayak Tour on Korčula

Korčula

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Elafiti Islands - Private Half Day Speedboat Tour

Dubrovnik

Fabulous!!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day E-Bike Tour in the Konavle Region

Croatia

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Walking Tour of Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We just finished a two week private tour of Hanoi, Chiang Mai and Bangkok with kimkim. He had two planners based out of Hanoi: Hien, who curated the trip for us, listened to our preferences and thoughtfully suggested activities. We knew this was going to be special. And Stephen, who took over from Hien to handle our needs pre-trip and during the trip. Both were amazing, and Stephen was always available, I don't think he ever sleeps!

Upon arrival, the first representative took our photo and then everyone after that had our photo and recognized us so it felt like a friend was waiting for us at each destination. Each of the tour guides brought something special to the trip. In Hanoi, Cuong is so passionate about his country and its rich history that it is hard not to appreciate it as well. He even offered to meet us before our official tour started to take us for our first street lunch.

In Chiang Mai we couldn’t have asked for a sweeter guide in Amie, whose knowledge of the customs and culture was very much appreciated. While in Chiang Mai we had to rearrange plans due to a medical emergency and Amie was in constant communication with us and really made us feel like we weren’t alone under not the best circumstances. We loved the video collage of photos she had taken of our time together and set to music. What a treat!

By the time we got to Bangkok, we needed a little more rest time than the itinerary allowed for but Jo Jo made it happen by abbreviating some of the stops while still ensuring we got to see and experience everything we wanted to. His extensive knowledge of Thailand is quite impressive. And through it all, Stephen was in contact with us to ensure there were no issues or to resolve anything that did come up. Overall, a fantastic experience and we would not hesitate to use kimkim for future trips.

Hotel Reviews

Tirant Hotel

Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

Quaint hotel in the old quarter - of course the street noise can't be avoided, but it does quiet down at night. Great location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Ivy in the restaurant was fabulous! She spoke to us each morning and on our last day even brought us treats she had bought at the market the night before especially for us!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Na Nirand Romantic Boutique Resort

Chiang Mai

Beautiful property, expected high Thai service standards, and outstanding buffet breakfasts.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to the night market and downtown.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

VIP Fast Track Service

Vietnam

Super helpful to be taken through customs and immigration processing like a VIP, especially late at night after a long trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Superb, wonderful, well planned and just what we had requested.
The one "hiccup" (delayed flight) was handled quickly and efficiently by Joaquina Alvarez. She provided responsive feedback during the trip.
The guides were excellent especially Claudio in Buenos Aires.
The drivers were all on time and helpful.

The hotels were all very good as expected but the Iguazu Pristine Luxury Camp was incredible.
The food was spectacular and the service was wonderful.
The surprise to me was how interesting Salta was. The hotel was pleasant but the manager Petal was particularly lovely and helpful.
Some wonderful dinners in the Balcarce area.

Our last night was spent at the Argentine Diner Experience and was an excellent cap to the vacation. In the future one could consider that as a beginning and save the Tango night towards the end.

Communication with Say Hueque was responsive and many of our questions would have been answered if we opened the Vamoos app sooner. I suggest making it very clear to new clients how important and comprehensive the app is.

Activity Reviews

Full-Day Cafayate

Salta

We shortened the drive as we left one of our party behind with a cold but it was excellent and the guide was wonderful. }Stopping for lunch at a local roadside restaurant was excellent.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Humahuaca Gorge - return to Salta

Purmamarca

Around the Clouds Program (02 Days / 01 Night)

Salta

Hair raisin g trip thru tight curves in the mountains but spectacular views and wonderful experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day at leisure in Salta

Salta

Lovely town

Full Day MAYO SPIRIT TREK

El Calafate

The second hike was more unstable and the guide should have been more aware that some were not keeping up.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day Nativo Experience

El Calafate

The guide was interesting and the dinner in the cave was excellent. we were there at night and the view of the sky was incredible.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day Buenos Aires City Tour

Buenos Aires

Claudio was a perfect guide, informative and entertaining with great insight.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Dinner & Tango Show with Lesson included

Buenos Aires

Fun with great show and the food was good

We had a wonderful trip, and loved every minute. Thank you KimKim Team and especially Sandi for making our trip truly exciting and memorable. Everything worked smoothly, without one worry or issue. Planning with Sandi was really fun. She was extremely patient with my questions and changes. She listened to our concerns and planned accordingly. She was communicative throughout the planning and also while we were in Thailand. I couldn't have asked for a better trip planner. I would recommend Sandi highly to anyone!

We had fantastic tour guides. It was not possible to get one tour guide for all days in each location, so we had a different guide each day. And that proved to be fantastic! Each guide was different, and each offered terrific insights and details about everything we were seeing and experiencing. Special side trips and tastes in the markets were included!

Our guides in Bangkok, Leena and, sadly, please forgive me, I am forgetting the name of the lovely and fun guide we had on the second day, were amazing. Loved the Temples, the Palace, the Jim Thompson Museum, and on day two, the Railway Market and the Floating market were great, the guide full of personal and descriptive details, and the trip to the coconut farm much fun. We loved our visit to Chinatown and lunch with our guide in a very local and delicious restaurant.

Then in Chiang Mai, we had the guides Q and Faan, both of whom were amazing. SO much fun! Loved the first day Tuk Tuk tour of the Temples and the markets. Q showed us a very local food market in the morning, and told us a lot about the habits of the people, which was so memorable. The Khaos Soi lunch, the mango and sticky rice delicious, and being blessed by a Buddhist Monk was unforgettable. The next day trip to Lamphun with Faan was also fantastic. Blessed again by another Monk and saw exquisite temples. Very worth the day trip out of the city. Rich with history and beauty.

Finally, the trip to the ethical elephant preserve was a highlight. The guide we had there was so much fun and we learned so much, and enjoyed every minute. Wow, what an experience.

I can't say enough about the tour. From the planning with Sandi, to the logistics--communications from the local coordinator each day before to confirm the details of the next day, perfect pickups and no waiting-- to the really intelligent and interesting guides. I will recommend KimKim to anyone, and plan to use them for our next trip, wherever that may be!

Activity Reviews

Elephant Nature Park Visit

Chiang Mai

Day Trip to a Hidden Gem of Chaing Mai, Lamphun

Chiang Mai

Half day City Temple tour by Tuk Tuk with Khao Soi Lunch

Chiang Mai

Visit Jing Jai Market and Chiang Mai Night Bazaar

Chiang Mai

Chinatown visit

Bangkok

A visit to Mae Klong Railway market and Damnoen Saduak Floating Market!

Bangkok

Bangkok by local transfers and temple visit

Bangkok

Ruth was great answering our questions about the trip and helped us prepare well for the trip.
Your company did a great job planning the trip and we were generally pleased with the accommodations and travel arrangements.

However, our accommodation in Sydney was not as good as the rest of the trip.Also, no travel arrangements were made from the hotel to our activities while in Sydney, either. It could have been better if our hotel had a better location or close to Sydney harbor.

Hotel Reviews

Adina Apartment Hotel Brisbane

Brisbane

Great location, beautiful city views.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to market, shopping areas,great views

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Freestyle Resort Port Douglas

Port Douglas

Authenticity & Character

Location

Walkable distance, close to amenities.

Staff

Very helpful staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean rooms with adequate supplies.

Oaks Sydney Goldsbrough Suites

Pyrmont

Nice but older property, not close to the harbor or where most activities were.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Not close to Sydney harbor, center of the city or other prominent areas of the city.

Staff

Check in staff not helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms and bathroom were old and not well kept.

Adina Apartment Hotel Melbourne on Queen

Melbourne

Great location. Close to lot of activities, shopping areas etc.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Proximity to Center of the city.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Newer hotel, clean and comfortable

Activity Reviews

Morning or Afternoon Best of Brisbane Walking Tour - Private

Brisbane

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Brisbane Private Transfer Airport to Hotel

Brisbane

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Brisbane

Brisbane

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Port Douglas Private Transfer Port Douglas Hotel to Airport

Australia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Mossman Gorge Adventure Day

Australia

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Outer Reef Mackay Coral Cay (from Port Douglas Hotel)

Port Douglas

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Port Douglas Private Transfer Airport to Port Douglas Hotel

Australia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Port Douglas

Port Douglas

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sydney Private Transfer Hotel to Airport

Australia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Summit by Day, Bridgeclimb

Sydney

Great experience, must do activity in Sydney.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

No transport provided.

Half Day Sydney Classic Tour - E-Bike

Sydney

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sydney Opera House Tour

Sydney

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Afternoon Sydney Harbour Sightseeing Cruise

Sydney

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Botanic Gardens Indigenous Bush Tucker Walk

Sydney

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sydney Private Transfer Airport to Hotel

Australia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Melbourne Private Transfer Hotel to Airport

Australia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Yarra Valley Wine & Sparkling Wine

Melbourne

Include fewer wineries so that we have a little bit more time at each location.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Phillip Island Tour with "Penguins Plus" Viewing

Melbourne

Unique experience, must do activity when visiting Melbourne. Wish Great ocean road was also part of the experience while visiting Melbourne. At least it should be offered as a possible suggestion.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great guide and driver. Very courteous and explained things very well.

Transport

Timely explanations and commentary.

Afternoon Lanes and Arcades Tour

Melbourne

Our guide was amazing,very informed about the city and local cuisine. She made some great recommendations.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Melbourne Private Transfer Airport to Hotel

Australia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Brisbane Private Transfer Gold Coast Hotel to Airport

Australia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Brisbane Private Transfer Airport to Gold Coast Hotel

Australia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Clean comfortable car and courteous drivers.

The itinerary developed by Alfonso was excellent! He & his partner communicated constantly before & during our trip. All of our activities from arrival to departure were flawlessly executed.
We spent 6 days with our fantastic guide, Jose’. He came to our AirBnb each day & took care of all of our needs. He was extremely knowledgeable (especially on art history) & personable. He had a passion for the history & culture of Spain which he shared with us. Our tours of Toledo & Segovia were great day trips. We had one day with another guide, Maria who was also fantastic!

Activity Reviews

Private Reina Sofía Museum Visit with a Historian

Madrid

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Day Trip to Ávila or Segovia

Madrid

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private City Walk & Royal Palace Experience

Madrid

Quality of Experience

I

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Prado Museum Private Visit with an Art Historian

Madrid

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Toledo

Madrid

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Electric Tuk-Tuk Adventure

Madrid

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private City Highlights Walk

Madrid

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Evening Tapas Stroll with Locals

Madrid

We moved this activity to the afternoon and it was a great introduction to our neighborhood.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

All our guides were excellent. They were knowledgeable and really brought Mexican culture alive - walking Tours in CDMX, SAN Miguel de Allende and tours to vineyards, tequila distillery and Whale watching - all were top notch!

Hotel Reviews

San Trópico Boutique Hotel & Peaceful Escape

Puerto Vallarta

We loved this space!!! The room was large, 2 sides opened up to enjoy all the amazing weather of Puerto Vallarta. The bathroom was outside and incredibly spacious.

Authenticity & Character

Location

In the marina district

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Morada Hotel

San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato

The room was large and the bathroom huge and Liberia’s but there were no windows that could open. Additionally, the listing said there was a pool and a roof deck with a hot tub. There was none of this

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right next to the cathedral

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

No windows. The existing windows were frosted and did not open.

Zócalo Central

Mexico City

Clean, wonderful location and the extra amenities were exceptional.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Half a block from the zocala

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Thank you!

Puerto Vallarta

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Humpback whales’ season in Bahía de Banderas, Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta

The activity began with an educational overview of humpback Whales which we thought set a nice Tone For The 3 h boat tour of the bay. Awesome!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

City tour & Tequila Tasting

Puerto Vallarta

The tequila tasting and tour were great. We are the the on site restaurant which was really excellent,

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walking tour through the historical center

San Miguel de Allende

We enjoyed our walking tour in St-Miguel. The guide, (whose name I do not remember), was thoughtful, interesting and attentive.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guides’ effort to educate us.

Transport

The tours

Wine tasting at San Lucas Vineyard

San Miguel de Allende

We learned so much from the vineyard host, including Mexican wine and all wine in general. The wine pairing was exceptional.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour of historic Mexico City with street food tasting

Mexico City

The variet of the food was exceptional and our guide Mar’ knowledge of all things related to CDMX was extraordinary.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Free time in Mexico City and Ballet in Bellas Artes

Mexico City

Bellas rates and ballet florique was magical and really provided a rich exploration of Mexico culture

Quality of Experience

Mexico City: Xochimilco, Casa Azul Museum & Museo Casa de León Trotsky

Mexico City

The variety of the 3 activities and the timing were exceptional.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Mexico City

Mexico City

The guide was remarkably knowledgeable and approachable

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to Mexico City and Puebla planned through Kimkim was absolutely fantastic. Every detail was thoughtfully arranged, from the smooth private transfers to the knowledgeable guides and unique cultural experiences. The itinerary struck the perfect balance between structured tours and free time to explore, and we especially loved the food tour in Puebla and the visits to the museums in Mexico City. The accommodations were well-located, making it easy to enjoy each destination. Communication with the Kimkim team was seamless throughout the process, Luz with Rutopia was especially helpful. It was a memorable, stress-free trip, and we would happily use Kimkim again for future travels.

Our local specialist checked in often to make sure we were where we were supposed to be and that everything was running smoothly.

Hotel Reviews

Heritage Rutherford Hotel Nelson

Nelson

Beautiful old time classic hotel right around the corner from Trafalger Street. We ate at a great restaurant with a fun vibe, Hawker House about 5 minutes walk away.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beachfront Hotel

Hokitika

Looked like all the rooms had a view and is right on the ocean. They get big bus tours that take over the restaurant (that has a great view) Should hold out some tables for independent travelers.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Watched the sunset from our room.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Heartland Hotel Queenstown

Queenstown

Quirky fun hotel. A-frame rooms with exposed beams. If you get a room with a view it's amazing. Not sure what the experience would be like without one. Was at the top of a steep hill so anyone going into downtown like we did a couple times a day would need to walk up that. We were fine with it but we did see a lot of winded people slowly walking up to the hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Quirky a-frame style rooms.

Location

Top of steep hill. Makes great views but a harder walk up.

Staff

There was a guy at the concierge desk that we asked for a restaurant reco and his response was "I don't know, I never eat out here." I suspect he was just a valet sitting where the concierge should sit though.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Seemed clean and well appointed

Te Waonui Forest Retreat

Franz Josef Westland

Beautiful hotel tucked in the trees. Everything was amazing. The restaurant was excellent. But they had two large bus tours come in and take over. It was super loud and the independent travelers were complaining. We sat outside to get away from it a bit. Would reco holding out some seats in a quieter place for independent travelers. Only other hitch was that the bartender had no idea how to make a manhattan.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Could see the mountains from our window.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

3 Day Kayak & Walk - Day 1 - Nelson/Motueka to Awaroa via Totaranui

New Zealand

There was a lot of angst and confusion to start about what to bring and wear on this first day. We weren't aware that we were doing the trip backwards so we'd planned to hike, which was usually the way day 1 started but we started kayaking. Had to quickly unpack and repack on the floor of the tour company and the change. Feel like that could have been better communicated before so we could have planned better. Not a great start to the trip. We started a bit later so the winds had whipped the waves up (as they do most afternoons). We wound up bikin g the last sector because the guide said the next leg was going to have waves 3 times as big.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Milford Track Guided Walk - Day 5

New Zealand

Easy day on a boat tour and bus back to Queenstown

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Milford Track Guided Walk - Day 3

New Zealand

This was a tough day of hiking. We had prepared for the uphill over the pass. It was tough but the path was generally well taken care of. The downhill side of the pass was way tougher than we expected. Endless large rock steps were tough on the muscles and joints. My wife fell a few times and this is where most of the injuries occur. The first 1/3 is above the tree line so can be windy. Once into the forest it gets steep and rocky. There are stairs around the waterfall to start but the the trail descends into miles of rocky steps. If you wear knee braces then put them on for this one. Springs and wet trails just add a slipping factor to the fun.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Milford Track Guided Walk - Day 4

New Zealand

This was the longest day of hiking. Started out with more of the same rocky downhill then leveled off more to a wider path downhill. Was pouring rain to start so tough going and had to cross some knee deep water crossing the path. Got back wet and soggy but not as tough a day as the one before.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Milford Track Guided Walk - Day 2

New Zealand

This was easily the most beautiful hike we've ever been on. We had the benefit of great weather. It felt warm but like we were hiking in air conditioning. And the moss covered forest was unlike anything we'd seen in our lives. Sounded like this was the dryer side of the hike but still must get a lot of rain. Something like 200-300 inches/yr and 200 days annually of rain. The grade is slowly uphill with a little difficult rock scrambled caused by a slip near the end. Marking the trail across the slip was a little tricky but they had a guide posted to show us the way. Hidden Lake off-shoot was OK but the Prairie Lake swim was great. Take the plunge and swim quickly under the waterfall. Then swim back quickly before your limbs go numb from the cold!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Milford Track Guided Walk - Day 1

New Zealand

An easy day with a bus ride from Queenstown to Lake Te Anau. Then an hour boat ride to the start of the trail. Less than a mile hike to the lodge. After dinner they offered an easy nature hike behind the lodge which was a great basis for everything we'd be seeing in the next couple of days.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Onsen Hot Pools - The Ultimate Relaxation Experience

Queenstown (NZ)

This was the perfect thing to do after hiking the Milford Track. My wife and I are both not huge massage people but after this experience we might be converts. I think the hiking tour companies would be smart to sell this as a package with their hiking tours.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Paula with KimKim set us up with an amazing trip in New Zealand. She recommended the Rees Hotel which was a fantastic spot. We were a bit out of town, but they have a shuttle running all the time and the location on the lake was gorgeous. Having our own apartment was great and even better was the laundry set up in our apartment which helped a lot for our long trip. All our excursions were fantastic. I can’t even pick a favorite. I highly recommend the half day bike trip for Arrowtown, the Milford Sound excursion, the one day Routeburn Track hike (13 miles so long but totally worth it!), and the jet boats out on the Dart River. Angelo was our guide on the hike and he was so entertaining and informative. All of it was amazing and I would happily do it all over again. One last thing - we were supposed to take a flight back from Milford Sound and that got canceled due to wind. It ends up being a LONG day with a lot of time on a bus when you have to take it back, and yet I would still do it. The sound is gorgeous. Thanks Paula!

Let's start with what Kimkim did wrong because it may help you. First, a little background - my wife and I are in our 50's and are likely two of the oldest digital nomads there are lol. In other words, we travel for 7 - 8 months per year while we run a small business remotely. We usually book our own tours / travel, but we have started to use Kimkim when we are too busy or need an expert. We booked a short tour with Kimkim (Ali) recently and in our opinion, Kimkim's only mistake was that they didn't fully prepare us for the beauty we actually experienced. I'm not kidding here - going into this short tour from Marrakech to the desert, all four of us expected (our daughter and mother-in-law came with us) that the tour would be nice, but it turned out to be superb. Ali's guidance and Said's booking was flawless and they were very responsive, Farid the driver was excellent, kind and understanding (he even welcomed us into his mother's home to break fast during Ramadan). As excellent as the Kimkim team was, the actual tour was fantastic - the beautiful landscapes we experienced on our way to the desert, the desert experience itself, the hotel selections, the food, the guide in the desert (Ibrahim) who drove us though the desert in his 4 x 4, it was all much better than we expected before we left Marrakech. Thank you for a wonderful experience! Paul & Erika Montague (Canada).

We just completed a wonderful trip to Vietnam, including Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An, and Hanoi.
The highlight for us was a “village tour” during our stay in Hoi An. Our local tour guide, Trinh, introduced us to our village with a very personal itinerary, including visits to several homes in the community for food and chats.

The hotels that were selected for us were all outstanding. Our favorites were Nikko Saigon in Ho Chi Minh City and Allegro in Hoi An.

A very special thanks to our host, Trang. She made the planning so easy and (other than some minor communication gaps due to the time change) she was remarkably responsive and flexible. Trang literally saved our vacation. When checking in to our Korean Airlines flight in Boston, the airline’s crew noted an error in my visa for Vietnam - basically there was, in error, and extra “s” listed in my name on the Visa. After a long and stressful hour, in which it was clear that I would ultimately not be able to board the flight from Seoul to Ho Chi Minh City with this Visa, Trang saved the day! By the time our flight landed in Seoul, she had arranged for a “rush” replacement visa and I was able to complete travel as planned. I cannot thank Trang enough!

This was our second KimKim experience, as we traveled to Japan with the entire family this past summer. Both experiences were excellent and I will certainly use KimKim again.

Hotel Review

Allegro Hoian

A great boutique hotel with charm and a super-attentive staff. Great location and an even greater breakfast buffet! “Nancy” from the staff was warm and welcoming and made it a point to chat daily and even remembered our names throughout our stay.

Authenticity & Character

Charming feel

Location

Short walk to Old Town

Staff

Nancy was amazing

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Hoi An - biking Go Noi Village - Hoi An

Hoi An

Our favorite activity of the trip. Trinh, our local tour guide, gave an amazing introduction to her home village. We learned to prepare several dishes and enjoyed a great lunch at a family’s home. Riding around the village on bicycles was a blast!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Best driver ever!

The Kim Kim experience was very good and the local specialist Ravi was excellent in handling the itinerary (which we had to modify a number of times), maintained excellent communication prior and throughout the trip.

Hotel Reviews

Fishtail lodge

Pokhara

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Dwarika’s Hotel

Kathmandu

Hotel, Staff and food were excellent

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Kathmandu Free Day

Kathmandu

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Annapurna Foothills Trek & Cultural Village Experience!

Pokhara

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunrise from Sarangkot!

Pokhara

Unfortunately, beyond anyone's control it was a foggy morning so views of nice sunrise and the Himalayas were non existent

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day Pokhara sightseeing!

Pokhara

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kathmandu - Nagarkot via Bhaktapur

India

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kathmandu Full Day Sightseeing!

Kathmandu

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mt Everest Flight!

Kathmandu

We had better views travelling out of Kathmandu on air India.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Shree was excellent, very knowledgeable and always very punctual and our drivers both in Kathmandu and Pakhora were exceptional.

Transport

Drivers were always on time, vehicles were very comfortable and the driver had to negotiate some very difficult driving conditions

The planning process was overall positive. We ultimately had three specialists due to staff transitions but the running dialogue was in tact so I think the continuity was preserved. I was new to the Kimkim process and would be a more effective communicator next time. When asked to provide feedback I wasn’t always sure what to say or what alternatives to consider.

Having Omar for the duration of our trip was extremely valuable - both in theory and in practice. I am contrasting that with our current time in Egypt where there have been handoffs. Of course, that only works with a skilled guide. Omar was open, a good listener and engaging. He found a great balance being personal and professional. He was open, educational without being overwhelming. We would welcome him in our home if he ever gets to the states. He even introduced us to his mother! He accommodated special requests.

Hotel Reviews

Riad Kalaa

Rabat

Palais Faraj Suites & Spa

Fès

Really enjoyed our time here. Authentic and comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ksar Timnay Hotel

Midelt

Riad Madu Premium Camp

Merzouga

Fun experience. Well appointed, especially given its location.

Authenticity & Character

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hôtel & Ryads Barrière Le Naoura

Marrakech

Solid western style, resort style accommodation. Nice pool.

Eden Boutique Hotel

Boumalne Dades

Absolutely amazing! This place is beautiful. Staff is attentive. Food is outstanding. Leadership is present and engaged. Eden is right up there with the very best places we have ever stayed.

Authenticity & Character

Next level

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Tour of Fes

Fes

Syed was fantastic. He is a knowledgeable and clear communicator. Really enjoyed our time with him.

Arrive in Casablanca & Transfer to Rabat

Morocco

Thanks for the heads up about our guide needing to canvass two terminals. That was helpful to know when he wasn’t there at our arrival. Otherwise we may have worried a bit.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our Driver for Sikkim Sonam Sherpa was outstanding. He also served as a guide for places where we did not need a senior Guide.
Our Guide for Tsomgo Lake trip ( RUBINA) was excellent and went beyond her responsibilities to guide and assist us in difficult terrain over 12,500 feet. The driver was also skilled in navigating difficult high altitude roads.

The overall support provided by the local agency (Rajat and Santosh Gupta) was very good and they showed flexibility to adjust to our needs.

Hotel Review

The Elgin, Darjeeling Heritage Resort & Spa

Darjeeling

Great experiencing at this authentic boutique property.

Authenticity & Character

Old palace converted into a boutique property.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Darjeeling – Tiger Hill Sunrise, Toy Train Ride & Sightseeing

Darjeeling

We covered all the traditional tourist and world heritage sites. One full day was good.

Quality of Experience

Very please and customer centric people

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Customer service

Transport

We can’t say enough wonderful things about the trip to Finland (with a side trip to Estonia) that Emerson organized for our family. Simply put, Emerson was the hero of our trip. Our flight to Helsinki was cancelled, and then our return flight home was delayed by a blizzard in the U.S., but Emerson immediately sprang into action. He quickly reworked our itinerary and helped minimize the additional costs caused by the delays, turning what could have been a very stressful situation into something completely manageable.

Emerson's communication was outstanding from start to finish. He responded quickly to every message and always provided thoughtful, detailed answers to our (sometimes silly!) questions during the planning process. When our flights were cancelled and we were sending panicked WhatsApp messages, he stayed calm, responsive, and incredibly helpful. We truly can’t thank him enough for his professionalism, competence, and kindness; he was an absolute pleasure to work with and genuinely saved the trip (and our sanity!).

The trip itself was fantastic. The hotels Emerson selected were perfect for our family, including a “bonus hotel” (Home Hotel Jugend) that we needed during our unexpected extended stay. The tours were excellent -- especially the dogsledding and Northern Lights tour led by Niko from Johka.fi, which were both truly unforgettable. All of the transfers were smooth and perfectly on time. My husband wasn’t the biggest fan of the overnight train to Kemijärvi, but the kids thought it was a great adventure.

Our hotel in Pyhä (Kurula’s Resort) was wonderful. While the walk into town was a bit long, the weather was beautiful and the road passed a public sledding hill that quickly became a highlight for our family. The warming hut at the base made it extra special because we had fun roasting hot dogs and marshmallows over the fire.

The kids also loved visiting the amethyst mine, and the dinner after our snowmobiling tour was outstanding—especially the moose soup. Estonia was a fantastic addition as well: the ferry ride was relaxing, the tour of Tallinn with Jonas from Estadventures was fascinating, and the city itself is absolutely gorgeous.

This was truly an unforgettable trip for our family, and Emerson played a huge role in making it such a success. We recommend kimkim and Emerson wholeheartedly to anyone planning a trip to the region.

Hotel Reviews

Posti Boutique Hotel Rovaniemi

Rovaniemi

Nice and quiet, quick walk to town, excellent breakfast

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kurula's Resort

Pyhätunturi

The rooms are fantastic! Sledding right outside the front door of the rooms (on the provided sleds) is fun. It would be nice to have a shuttle to town since there are functionally no ubers/taxis and bus is very infrequent & expensive.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Overnight Train

Kids thought it was the greatest thing ever! One adult found it interesting but had some trouble sleeping. The other adult couldn't sleep at all and was fairly grumpy.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Paasi

Helsinki

Quiet, friendly, great breakfast

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Group Reindeer Safari and Farm Visit

Rovaniemi

Since we were in Lapland it's only proper to see some reindeer, and we saw some. This was a well-organized tour. Unfortunately, the other guests in our group tour were talking/translating over the tour guide and interrupting her constantly. She seemed really exasperated and I felt bad for her.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Flexible Northern Lights Hunting

Finland

This was awesome! We saw the most amazing lights - it was otherworldly. Our tour guide (Niko who works with the company Johka) was a man on a mission to get us to see some lights. He drove so far to get away from the clouds, and we had brilliant success. While I know that we were lucky, I have to give some credit to Niko's very intense reading of his solar activity apps and knowledge of the area. He's also very chatty, funny, and pleasant.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Evening Snowmobile Safari with Dinner

Pyhä

It was very very cold and I am not sure that we are natural-born snowmobilers. The dinner afterwards was fantastic and cozy. There were some northern lights above the lake & the proprietor came and got us from dinner to look at the lights, letting us stay a bit late. Excellent hospitality

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Short Husky Safari and Farm Visit

Pyhä

This was awesome! The dogs are very high energy. Strongly recommended.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Amethyst Mine Tour with the Pendolino - Snow Train

Pyhä

The kids really liked this activity. The Pendolino was fun & the scenery was amazing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Helsinki City Walking Tour (3h)

Helsinki

Enjoyed the tour - it was a nice way to orient ourselves.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tallinn Day Trip

Helsinki

The city tour with Jonas with Estadventures was fantastic, we learned a lot! We enjoyed traveling on the giant ferry through the partially frozen sea - it was like traveling through a slurpee.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Priscilla and the team at MyTripology created an excellent two week end-to-end visit to Indonesia, handling every in-country arrangement with private cars, drivers, and guides. She added things I did not even know about. The cultural diversity in the experiences was wonderful. The attention to detail was perfect. Every airport arrival, hotel transfer, guide pickup, etc. was seamless. She even secured a complimentary couples spa package in Bali and and an upgrade to a suite in Labuan Bajo. Items like the Raffles LiveAboard boat stay and Ceci dancing were unknown to me at the start of planning. The guides were all very good an a couple were excellent.

An important part of the success was having a constant WhatsApp contact "handler" named Deta. Deta sent updates, photos of pickup assistants, flight check-in links, and answered all tour questions. When there was a port closure threatening our ship sailing she created alternate plans, sending updates as needed (but the weather improved just in time to go back to original plan!). When our flight home (which they had not booked) was cancelled I asked the Indonesia team to find us alternate flights as I was having difficulty working 12 hours away from my home agency. They booked us avoiding the closed airports and got us home under difficult circumstances. Much appreciated.

I look forward to exploring another tour in the future with MyTripology.

Karim was a fantastic guide! We went as a group of five and he welcomed us with open arms from start to finish. We loved all of the experiences, especially being in the Sahara. Would recommend to everyone!