Kimkim Trip Reviews

Our trip was amazing! Our primary guide, Vinicio, was the best guide ever. He was knowledgeable, very friendly, well spoken and made sure we were happy at all times. The entire trip was extremely well planned and organized. Our transportation was always on time and our drivers were professional and courteous. The entire team worked seamlessly together and we're very attuned to the details. I would highly recommend Alex and his group to anyone traveling in the area.

Such an amazing experience in NZ! 18 days of complete beauty. We loved everything our agent booked for us, all the hotels & excursions were fantastic. Our Clearwater experience was beautiful , we even saw a penguin! We especially loved our small plane ride to Milford Sound, & the steamboat cruise ship dinner. We loved everything about Queenstown. Such a cool place. Mount Cook was beautiful, we did 4 different hikes, all amazing. Wellington is a beautiful city, do not miss the botanical garden. Breathtaking. Lake Tekapo is so blue, & a cute little town to visit. We especially loved the kayaking to the natural hot springs & then to the glow worm caves…. So fun. Our guides were phenomenal. Such cute guys! The night sky while we kayaked back was the prettiest I’ve ever seen. We also loved exploring waimangu volcanic valley with the cruise. So interesting, our boat guide was awesome. Hobbiton was fun, don’t miss even if you don’t love the LOTR movies, it’s really interesting to learn about. All in all we loved our vacation & would highly recommend working with Michelle.

Hotel Reviews

The Great Ponsonby ArtHotel

Auckland

Very unique hotel if you are looking for something different. Clean & good location. Late 1800’s vibe.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was clean, but no AC in our room. It was very hot & humid.

Millennium Rotorua

Rotorua 3040

Great hotel, clean & spacious, great location, beautiful private deck

Authenticity & Character

Very nice lobby, room was perfect & spacious

Location

Walkable to everything

Staff

Super friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean

Kaitahi Lodge

Palmerston North

Cannot recommend this hotel enough. Amazing owner, the accommodations are incredible. Beautiful, spacious, unforgettable

Authenticity & Character

So unique, beautiful in every way

Location

Close to the city, but far enough away to feel secluded

Staff

Jazz was INCREDIBLE

Cleanliness & Comfort

So clean, honestly seemed to be brand new

Bolton Hotel

Wellington

Perfect location, beautiful hotel, super friendly staff, highly recommend Very spacious suites Our suite also had a washer & dryer which was awesome!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Walk to most things, super close to the botanical garden

Staff

So friendly!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean

The Gables

7220

Darling little cottage! We had amazing service & the cottage was perfect for our needs. Very spacious, charming & unique.

Authenticity & Character

Super charming!

Location

Easy to walk to everything in Picton

Staff

Amazing service, so friendly & helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean. Did not have AC though

Fable Christchurch

Christchurch

Beautiful hotel, spacious rooms

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean & comfortable

Mt Cook Lodge & Motels

Canterbury

Super private, clean, all the amenities Restaurant was really good Easy to access washer & dryer Beauty at every turn

Authenticity & Character

Such cute little apartment style rooms!

Location

Staff

Staff was always so friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ramada Suites Queenstown

Queenstown

Great location, clean & updated Just beware that parking can be tricky unless you pay for hotel parking. We parked on the roads but often times it was a few blocks away.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Distinction Dunedin Hotel

Dunedin

Beautiful hotel, very clean. Great location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to the octagon

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean! Beautiful furnishings.

Activity Reviews

Big Sky Stargazing -outdoor stargazing tour

Aoraki / Mount Cook Village

Super knowledgeable guides Well worth staying up so late! The moon was bright so it wasn’t as spectacular as we’d hoped, but no fault of the company. Just the luck of the draw. Pick up was easy, the entire staff was awesome.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Historic Steamship Cruise to Walter Peak Farm + BBQ Dinner

Queenstown (NZ)

Steamship ride was super fun, the boat is super unique. The sheep sheering & the sheep dog experience was awesome! Food was so so.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fly Cruise Fly – Queenstown to Milford Sound by scenic flight

Queenstown (NZ)

Cannot recommend this enough. The flight was amazing, our pilot was amazing, it was unforgettable.

Quality of Experience

So great to work with

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Everyone we worked with was fantastic

Transport

Clearwater Wildlife Tours- 'Wild One' Tour

Dunedin

Such an amazing afternoon! Loved our guide, super knowledgeable. We even saw a penguin!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Marcela was an absolute angel! This trip would not have happened without her. I picked places I wanted to see, things I wanted to do, set a budget and let her pick the rest. All the transportation was on time and professional. All the hotels were beautiful with wonderful service. This was the trip of a lifetime seeing things I’ve only ever dreamed about. If I could do it over, I would spend more time in puerto natales and Torres del Paine as well as spend time in el Chalten instead of el calafate! The communication that Marcela provided from start to finish was amazing. I had never booked with a travel company before and this experience won’t be able to be topped. My guides in Puerto Natales were one of my favorite parts of the trip. Both through Patagonia Planet. Jhon on the all day bus tour through Torres del Paine was phenomenal! Paz on the lago Sarmiento hike in the park was incredible. You could tell they love what they do and love to share the area with people who appreciate it!

From the initial trip consult with Shirley to the final airport drop off by our driver/guide, Logan, the experience was top notch.
Our trip to Taiwan was to experience the culture and people first hand, not just form opinions from the news. Based on my input to Shirley an itinerary was planned that exceeded our expectations. We are avid travelers and have been many places around the world - each experience we had in Taiwan was unique and memorable. Logan was a wealth of information and a pleasure to spend the days with. He listened well and anticipated our needs without being prompted. Shirley kept in touch throughout and behind the scenes worked with Logan on adjusting our itinerary (added a Kavalan Whiskey Distillery Tour) when a casual discussion with my husband revealed his interest in whiskey! We loved the country and have only the best things to say. Don't hesitate to book!

Hotel Reviews

Amba Hotel Taipei Songshan

Taipei

Tingtau Garden

Roaming Cloud

Nantou County

HOTEL ROYAL CHIAO HSI

Yilan

Activity Reviews

A Day in Taipei: Taiwanese Brunch and Yangmingshan

Taipei City

Ivy's Kitchen (4-hour cooking class)

Taipei City

Best of Taipei – A Day Tour You Can't Miss

Taipei City

Gold Rush Town – Jiufen & Yehliu & Shifen Day Tour

Taiwan

Sun Link Sea Day Tour

Taiwan

Highlights in Sun Moon Lake

Taiwan

TSMC Museum of Innovation & Chung Tai Chan Monastery

Yuchi, Nantou

Yilan's Tasty Escape with hands on food experiences

Yilan

We had a wonderful time on our honeymoon to New Zealand.
Monika, our travel agent put a lot of effort into creating an enjoyable and memorable itinerary of activities, even managing to secure a visit to Hobbiton despite very limited availability for our dates (a must have experience for us)
She organised a great range of activities throughout the trip and was always responsive and helpful whenever we had questions. Her support made the whole experience feel stress-free, and we’re very grateful for all her efforts.

Activity Reviews

Coach and Cruise to Milford Sound / Piopiotahi

Queenstown (NZ)

We didn't really know what to expect with this tour going in but it was definitely one of our highlights. Photos truly cannot capture the beauty of the place.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Te Pā Tū - Maori Cultural Experience

Rotorua

Very interesting learning more about Maori culture.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hell's Gate Experience (Geothermal site and Mud Bath and Sulphur Spa)

Rotorua

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Glowworm Kayak Tour

Rotorua

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hobbiton Movie Set Tour

New Zealand

Amazing place even for people who've never watched Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Let me begin with Emerson. The first night we were in Helsinki, getting ready to fly to Kittila the next day, when we received the info that the flight had been cancelled due to the weather (-35 degrees...). Emerson jumped into action and communicated with me throughout the night, rescheduled our flights to Oulu where a bus then took us to Kittila. He also reached out to the Northern Lights Ranch, where we were expected, to notify them of our delay and to arrange for food to be available to us when we arrived late at night at our cabin. He also cancelled our aurora tours and rescheduled it for the day after. In a sentence: we were facing a potential major hiccup with our trip, and Emerson took charge, and solved every single issue. I was greatly impressed and very grateful.

Now on to the trip. Magnificent, unforgettable, spectacular. The first night in Kittila we took the aurora tour that Emerson had rescheduled with Lazy Santa Safaris (guided by Lauri), and it was absolutely stunning. Lauri drove us to the bank of a huge frozen river and we then walked through the snow and onto the river. In the middle of the darkness we were treated to an absolutely unbelievable natural show. We have some amazing pictures that will forever remind us of that night. Early that morning we also had a wonderful snowmobile tour, also with Lazy Santa. Driving the snowmobiles was a lot of fun and we were provided with suitable clothing to protect us from the incredible cold.

We also had a splendid experience with Bearhill Huskies Tours. Wow...driving the sled with those dogs was another splendid adventure. The symbiotic relation between humans and dogs was quite moving, and I will personally always remember that. Lots of fun as well at the Reindeer Farm, where we were taken around by those gentle animals. A beautiful experience;

Accomodations: The Northern Lights Ranch is an experience not to be missed. The rooms with glass ceilings, the wonderful restaurant, and the reindeers feeding experience, all conjured to give us two wonderful nights. We are planning to go back in the summer and experience a different aspect of Finland. The Arctic Hotel in Ravaniemi (sp?) was also very good. Outstanding service and great location, that allowed us to tour the very nice city of Ravaniemi (and the Santa Village). Finally the Ice Hotel...not for the faint of heart. It is an experience I am happy we did, but the night in the ice-cold rooms is definitely something that maybe you don't want to repeat :). The sauna at the hotel, on the other hand, is a must-do, with the three steps: hot sauna, ice-cave sauna, and then hot tub. My kids and I really enjoyed that.

In conclusion, I think the travel was perfectly organized, with every supplier well chosen, and everything worked like clockwork. We also had two nights at the Fabian Hotel in Helsinki, a beautiful city that is definitely work visiting. We had two lovely dinners there, including one at the Finland Caviar Shop and Restaurant, that we recommend heartily as a great conclusion.

I would definitely consider using KimKim again for my travels. We were completely satisfied and impressed.

My wife and I had an amazing two weeks in Thailand! Huge thanks to Hoa for putting together a smooth, well-balanced itinerary that made everything effortless. Pom, our Bangkok guide, was fantastic — energetic, knowledgeable, and really helped us get the most out of the city. Bammie, our Chiang Mai guide, was also excellent — friendly, attentive, and made the experience feel special. We also had a great time in Ko Yao Noi and Phuket; the beaches were incredible. Overall this was one of the best trips we’ve ever taken, and we highly recommend this team for anyone planning a Thailand trip.

We have nothing but praise and thanks to Camila and the onsite travel agencies. We had a few glitches along the way but overall it was a wonderful trip. We are grateful for Camila's flexibility and the ability to craft a trip that checked all of our boxes. In reviewing all of the activities that were planned, we would offer the following reviews.
The Jewish tour was frankly disappointing. The guide we had was apparently a replacement and we saw very little during our excursion. The highlight was going to the famous bookstore, which really has nothing to do with Jewish heritage. In all honesty, we received feedback from other travelers who took a similar tour and were equally disappointed, so perhaps overall the Jewish tour needs to be revised in some way.

We loved the tango dinner. We enjoyed our time at El Fogon. Our visit to Mendoza was amazing and the highlight-was lunch at Catena which was off the chart! The wineries that were selected were all terrific and we loved where we stayed at Casa Glebinas. We really loved the guides that we had in Mendoza. One comment that is important to mention, we really should have been told that nothing is open on Sundays in Mendoza so we really should have planned better around that information.
All of our in country flights were fine. We did have a bit of anxiety on the return from Puerto Madryn as our connecting flight was shortly after our arrival.
We loved our time in Puerto Madryn. One comment to share is that the local guides would inform us of a pick up time and then we would be waiting up to an hour for them to arrive, typically a result of their needing to pick up other guests. We would have appreciated a heads-up. The penquin trip and swimming with Sea Lion experiences were awesome.
Upon our return to Buenos Aires-the tour company was wonderful. Cecilia was a wonderful guide/host. The city tour was great-which included leather shopping. The trip down the Tiger was quite nice as well. Overall we were extremely happy with all of the plans and our time in the country. Thank you again!

Activity Reviews

Uco Valley Wine Country

Mendoza

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lunch at Catena Zapata

Argentina

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We could not have put together this experience on our own. I had a general idea of what I wanted and you guys delivered an exceptional itinerary. I was grateful for the thought put into the locations and for our driver/guide Khalid who was responsive, attentive, accommodating and calm. I didn’t know what to expect having an escort over the span of 9 days but it was comforting. We felt safe. I will say that the tours we had were thorough and informative but could feel a little less like planned shopping trips. We appreciated being directed to reputable vendors but after a while it was a bit overwhelming and repetitive. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed the trip and felt that it gave us a great overview of the country. We would’ve liked to have a bit more time in Casablanca and Tangier but realize we were limited by our time in the country. We would certainly use kimkim again.

Hotel Reviews

Elegancia Riad Boutique & SPA

Marrakech

The room was a little small. The porter escorted us to and from dinner which we were thankful for given it was a bit of a maze. Upon arrival, our driver was not allowed parking even though there were available spots because we were told the owner/mgr said not to use his spot. We enjoyed our hammam experience but it felt a bit rushed.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hôtel & Spa Le Doge

Casablanca

This hotel felt very French. We liked their rooftop bar and the room was very nicely appointed.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Salam Fes

Fes

This riad was stunning; however, the room smelled like sewage.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

THE ORION DOME AGAFAY MARRAKACH

Marrakech

This was a definite highlight. The dinner performance was a nice touch. The bar could have more options. We appreciated the robes in the domes.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palais Sebban

Marrakech

This riad was beautifully captivating. Attentive staff. The room could use a bit of an update.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lina Ryad & Spa

Chefchaouen

We loved this road. The location and rooftop accommodations were spectacular. The indoor heated pool area was very nice.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Tour of Tangier

Tangier

We would have liked to have more time here.

Quality of Experience

Transfer to Fes, Volubilis & Meknes

Morocco

It was just a long day in the car. I truly appreciated the stops we made as the countryside is beautiful.

Fez Walking Tour

Fes

The souk wasn’t busy due to a Jewish holy day which made it easier for us to navigate. Our guide took us to a lovely restaurant. He was very patient with us as we shopped in the tannery area.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Dinner with a Local Family and Henna Party

Fes

Quality of Experience

Food

Hammam & Spa Session 5 Pm at your Riad Accommodation .

Morocco

It felt rushed and it wasn’t as relaxing as we were expecting

Guided Tour of Volubilis

Morocco

Explore the Blue City

Chefchaouen

Dinner at Rick's Café Casablanca

Morocco

Evening in Casablanca with your driver/guide.

Casablanca

We would have liked more time here.

Architectural Elegance: A Journey through the Hassan II Mosque

Morocco

Agafay Desert Marrakech Overnight,Plus Romantic Dinner.

Marrakesh

Walking guided tour of Marrakesh- camel ride night at Agafay

Marrakesh

Dinner at Dar Salam Marrakech

Marrakesh

We didn’t have this experience because it was not available

Dinner at Restaurant La Maison Arabe.

Marrakesh

Beautiful location. Great food. Our server was a little less attentive than expected, I guess because the dinner was being billed to kimkim.

Quality of Experience

Evrything was super easy and Lucy was the vest, always quick to respond and helpful.

What a relief it was to have someone or an agency helping us with the snafus that cropped up during the trip. KimKim was responsive, helpful, and exceeded my expectations in terms of rectifying issues

I am already in touch with KIMKIM about a trip to Egypt and Africa in May. Given my experience with Siena and the KIMKIM team for the trip to Australia, I know I will be in good hands on yet another continent.

Thank you SO much for all your excellent planning and responsiveness.

Sincerely,

Linnaea

Hotel Review

The Langham, Sydney

Sydney

Unfortunatley, we stayed at this over-priced hotel during a time it was undergoing dining room renovations. But, even with that, the hotel is EXTREMELY expensive. And I mean expensive. We paid $230.00 for an uncomfortable dinner in a bar that consisted of two sandwiches, a quesadilla, dinner salad, and dessert. No desert. Fortunately, the travel agency we worked with reimbursed us for some of that exorbitant cost. Breakfast is $30.00 a person. It is a VERY GOOD buffet breakfast, but pricey. It is not near any restaurants, so we used Uber Eats to have meals delivered. The hotel did its best to address our dissatisfaction by comping us with one free breakfast and a room "gift" of two bottles of sparkling water and apples... But, they were patient, kind, and opened doors for us. The room was beautiful, large, and the deep soaking bathtub divine.

Authenticity & Character

Since it is a five-star hotel, the accommodations were very nice.

Location

closer to easy access to restaurants

Staff

We were high-maintenance guests.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Other than the challenges in eating, the hotel was very clean, elegant, and comfortable. But, again, it is for rich folks...

Activity Reviews

Northern Beaches & Ku-ring-gai Chase Day Trip

Sydney

What was amazing about this excurion was the Ku-ring-gai Chase Forest trip. The trip to the beaches was okay, but with rain, the experiences were "dampened." But the forest? Beautiful. Unusual, Interesting insight into the Aboriginal people who once populated the land.

Sydney Opera House Visit

Sydney

The one hour tour covered a lot of territory about this incredible architectural and musical masterpiece.

Blue Mountains Day Trip

Sydney

The stop at the farm on the way to the mountains was fun. Not much food, just beverages and cookies, but the animals like goats, kangaroos, wombat and lizards. The mountains were beautiful! Sort of like a green Grand Canyon. The lunch was good.

Taronga Zoo Wild Australia Experience

Sydney

Our travel agency booked us for a two-hour private tour of the zoo. We didn't see much of the entire zoo, but what we did see was phenomenal. Experiences we simply cannot have in the United States. We got up close and personal with koala bears, Kangaroos, dingos, wallabies, and bilbies, as well as Penguins, exotic birds, capybaras, and baby meerkats. Our senior guide was passionate and interesting. We were thrilled with our experience.

Half Day Highlights of Sydney

Sydney

The driver did not take us back to our hotel as the reservations indicated....we had to spend $58.00 on a cab fare, for which our travel agency helped defray the cost. The tour itself was okay.

We had the most incredible trip and felt like royalty from beginning to end! All details and booking were handled by Shawna from KimKim in advance with a full itinerary so we didn’t have to coordinate anything. Once we arrived, Cesar (private tour guide) and Odi (private driver) from Peruvian Soul were by our side every step of the way with fun anecdotes, interesting historical facts, and amazing interactions with locals. They had lots of little surprises for us like an interactive art experience, side tours, and more. It was truly a once in a lifetime trip and I would recommend KimKim and Peruvian Soul to anyone in a heartbeat (and already have)!

Hotel Reviews

Antigua Casona San Blas

Cusco

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sonesta Posada del Inca

Urubamba

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Free day in Cusco

Cusco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain Tour

Cusco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cusco Walking City Tour: San Pedro Market, San Francisco Church & Koricancha

Peru

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Journey to Cusco: Visiting Maras & Moray

Peru

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Maras & Moray

Peru

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discovering Machu Picchu from the Sacred Valley

Peru

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Free day at the Sacred Valley

Sacred Valley

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pachamanca: Traditional Andean Underground Cooking

Peru

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Morning Visit to Ollantaytambo

Peru

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pass by Pisac Market & an Andean camelid Farms

Sacred Valley

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Transfer to the Sacred Valley of the Incas

Peru

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Olman was very responsive and professional in making the arrangements for our trip. It was a relatively short notice trip which made it more difficult for him to arrange. We were able to accomplish all that we’d hoped to on our trip, and more, without much help from the Kim Kim team once we arrived.
We did have one snag in our itinerary due to us following the printed version rather than an on-line version in that the details of a tour we were to take did not print. We therefore went to the activity expecting our tour guide to be there for us, but the guide actually went to our hotel to pick us up. After much confusion at the event we were eventually let in but had to hire our own guide for the nature hike. We were not compensated for this.

My 18-year-old daughter and I planned a long-awaited bucket-list trip to Egypt over winter break. The ancient history lived up to every hope: standing beneath the pyramids, visiting the Valley of the Kings, sailing the Nile, and seeing temples thousands of years old was genuinely awe-inspiring. Egypt’s monuments are unlike anything else in the world.

Unfortunately, much of the experience outside the sites themselves was uncomfortable. With the notable exception of our Cairo guide, Mary—who was warm, knowledgeable, and consistently professional—we experienced repeated boundary-crossing behavior from multiple male guides. Two different guides showed us shirtless photos of themselves without prompting. Another explained women’s dress codes by comparing women to uncovered chocolate bars melting in the sun, then laughed when asked about men. These moments were jarring and far from isolated.

There was also frequent miscommunication and poor planning: very early wake-ups followed by long waits, delayed flights and ships, missed evening tours, and vague or misleading information about schedules and amenities. Aggressive sales tactics were constant, from shops to boats pulling alongside our cabin windows on the Nile. Even while dressed conservatively, we experienced intense staring and persistent discomfort in public spaces. My daughter summed it up as “belittling vibes and patronizing energy.”

We understand that our guides are shaped by their own society and circumstances, and we recognize that tourism is complicated in a country facing economic and political strain. Still, the lack of professionalism, cultural sensitivity, and care—particularly toward female travelers—was disappointing. We came to Egypt to stand in awe of its ancient past, and we did. I would strongly recommend that KimKim reconsider its local tour partner and invest in clearer communication and more rigorous guide training, especially around professionalism and respectful conduct.

Hotel Reviews

Pyramids Resort by Jaz

Cairo

We spent very little time here but it was beautiful, comfortable and clean with delicious breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Far from everything!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

M/S Semiramis III

Aswan

The Semiramis III is an older Nile cruise ship that shows its age, but it was generally clean and comfortable. Our cabin was surprisingly spacious and one of the nicer aspects of the experience. The food was consistently good, and the housekeeping staff was kind and attentive—creating lovely towel sculptures each day that genuinely made us smile. That said, there were several drawbacks. The ship smelled strongly of cigarette smoke in many common areas. Wifi was repeatedly promised but never worked. While docked in Aswan and Luxor, dozens of ships were packed together, so our “river view” was directly into another cabin window. Once underway, the experience improved, but scheduling was unreliable. We were told departure and arrival times that turned out to be hours off, which caused us to miss anticipated evening temple visits. While sailing, vendors in small boats approached the ship and shouted into cabin windows—even while we were sleeping—which was jarring and disruptive. The sundeck itself was lovely, but swimming and sunbathing felt uncomfortable, as very few passengers used the pool and there was intense staring from men on staff, even while dressed conservatively. Despite these issues, cruising the Nile itself was genuinely special, and traveling together along the river was a highlight of our trip. With better communication, stricter policies around vendors, and improvements to onboard amenities, the experience could be much stronger.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It's on the Nile! However, the ships are all packed together.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Royal Great Pyramid INN

Giza

The Great Pyramids Inn is a clean, basic hotel with an unbeatable rooftop view of the pyramids—but otherwise, it fell short for us. Our room was simple and comfortable enough, with very comfortable beds, but several things were broken, including the bathroom door and the shower waterproofing. Breakfast was disappointing and limited. The rooftop restaurant offered a stunning view and good food, but it was noticeably overpriced for what it was. The hotel’s location is also a drawback. It’s not in a walkable neighborhood, and there isn’t much to explore nearby on foot. It’s also very far from the airport, which made late-night and early-morning transfers especially tiring. Overall, it was fine for a short stay focused on pyramid views, but given the condition of the room, food quality, and location, I would likely choose a different hotel next time.

Authenticity & Character

It's just basic. Nothing wrong.

Location

There is no walkability. It's on a highway. However, it is across the street from the GEM and has a (polluted) view of the pyramids.

Staff

The staff of the rooftop restaurant ignored us; it was hard to get their attention.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean. Just broken doors and flooding shower.

Activity Reviews

Tour to Citadel, and Coptic Cairo

Cairo

This was another excellent experience thanks to Mary. The Citadel offered fascinating insight into medieval Cairo, and learning about the Mamluk massacre was chilling and memorable. Touring Coptic Cairo—the churches and synagogue—was deeply interesting and meaningful. As an AP World History teacher, I especially appreciated Mary’s ability to connect these sites to broader historical themes. She handled sensitive topics with care and clarity. This tour felt thoughtful, educational, and well paced.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cairo food and walking tour and khan elkhalili bazaar

Egypt

The food itself was delicious. Koshary Abu Tarek was a highlight, and wandering through the streets and Khan el-Khalili was colorful and lively. However, the tour was uncomfortable in several ways. The guide, Hani, made inappropriate and misogynistic comments, including comparing women to uncovered chocolate bars melting in the sun when explaining why women should cover themselves. When asked how men fit into this analogy, he laughed and refused to answer. He also showed us shirtless photos of himself and bragged about working out. He offered little explanation about the food or its cultural context. Aggressive sales tactics in the bazaar were relentless, and the overall experience felt more awkward than enjoyable.

Quality of Experience

Food

The Koshary and the juice at Fishaway were highlights

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traffic made this tour soooooo long. I would say to make it a walking tour all centered in one spot.

Check out to Luxor West Bank

Luxor

The West Bank tour was incredible in terms of content. The Colossi of Memnon were striking, and the Valley of the Kings was unforgettable. The tomb artwork was astonishingly well preserved. Guides are not allowed inside the tombs, but Ahmed explained the history beforehand, which helped us appreciate what we were seeing. Seeing King Tut’s tomb—his mummy still inside—was a powerful experience, and we appreciated that the ticket was included. Lunch afterward at Oriental House was excellent and easily the best meal we had in Egypt. While the sites themselves carried the day, the guiding was competent but not especially engaging.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trip Hot Air Balloon Ride in Luxor, Egypt cruise

Luxor

This was absolutely worth it. Despite the very early wake-up, the hot air balloon ride over the Valley of the Kings was flawlessly organized. The crew and pilot were professional, calm, and safety-focused, and we felt secure throughout. Floating above the temples and farmland at sunrise was breathtaking and one of the most awe-inspiring moments of the entire trip. This experience exceeded expectations and was a clear standout.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

There was no communication about what to expect.

Transport

There was no communication about what to expect.

Luxor East Bank

Luxor

Karnak and Luxor temples were breathtaking in scale and preservation. Walking through these massive complexes gave a real sense of ancient grandeur. Unfortunately, we arrived much later than expected—after 8 p.m.—and missed the anticipated evening experience and light show because of delays earlier in the day. The sites themselves were extraordinary, but poor timing and communication diminished what could have been an even more memorable visit.

Quality of Experience

Food

Ahmed took us to Oriental House, where we paid for our own lunch. It was really good!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Travel from Aswan to Luxor via kombo and Edfu

Egypt

The concept of traveling the Nile between Aswan and Luxor was magical and a highlight of the trip. However, communication around timing was consistently inaccurate. We were told specific departure and arrival times that were hours off, which resulted in missed evening temple visits we had been looking forward to and super early wake up times. The promised "gym" did not exist, and sunbathing or swimming on deck was not appropriate or comfortable for women. While sailing, vendors in small boats pulled alongside the ship and shouted into cabin windows, even while we were sleeping. Despite the logistical frustrations, being on the Nile together was genuinely special and memorable.

Quality of Experience

Food

The food aboard the Semiramis III was delicious but the beverages were insanely overpriced.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

kom Ombo, and edfu Temples

Egypt

Kom Ombo Temple was interesting and lovely to see in the dark. We especially enjoyed the crocodile mummy museum. Again, the visit felt rushed. Our guide, Ahmed, seemed frustrated by crowds and eager to finish quickly. On the walk back, vendors aggressively accosted us, throwing items at us as we said no. Edfu Temple was visually stunning and historically rich, but the experience was dampened by logistics. We were required to wake at 4:30 a.m. for a carriage ride, only to arrive with thousands of other visitors already present. Our guide again seemed impatient and disengaged. We stayed positive and enjoyed the site, but the guiding did little to elevate the experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

There was no food on this tour.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ahmed was rushed and grumpy. His English was unclear, and he didn't make the sites more interesting than, say, reading the plaques at each place would have been. I'm a history teacher and I didn't learn much that I didn't already know.

Transport

Tour to High Dam, Philae Temple, and Obelisk

Aswan

Philae Temple was truly spectacular and one of the most beautiful sites we visited. Learning about its relocation and seeing it by boat was fascinating, and Ahmed provided helpful historical context once we were on-site. However, the overall day felt disengaged. After arriving in Aswan during a sandstorm, Ahmed was reluctant to help us plan alternative afternoon activities and instead lingered in the souk smoking. We were taken to a spice shop with extreme overpricing and very pushy sales tactics. While the sites themselves were impressive, the guiding felt uneven and lacked initiative.

Quality of Experience

Visiting Philae Temple itself was spectacular and seeing the High Dam by boat (on day 2 because it was obscured on day 1 by a sandstorm) was cool.

Food

There was no food on this tour.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ahmed was rushed and grumpy. His English was unclear, and he didn't make the sites more interesting than, say, reading the plaques at each place would have been. I'm a history teacher and I didn't learn much that I didn't already know.

Transport

The Nubian boatman who took us to Philae was iconic.

Giza Pyramids with a camel ride & the Grand Egyptian Museum

Cairo

This was an outstanding first day in Egypt, largely due to our guide, Mary. She was warm, knowledgeable, and consistently professional. She navigated the massive Giza complex smoothly, chose engaging stories that brought the pyramids and Sphinx to life, and never rushed us. The camel ride was touristy but fun, and Mary helped us avoid unnecessary hassle. The Grand Egyptian Museum was a highlight. Mary guided us through about 20 pristine galleries, helping us make sense of the scale and significance without overwhelming us. She also brought us to a papyrus “museum” where sales pressure was noticeably lower than elsewhere. This day set a very high bar and showed what excellent guiding in Egypt can be.

Quality of Experience

The incredible sites and the excellent guide, Mary

Food

Lunch was at a touristy buffet with only other travelers. A more local restaurant would have been much better.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mary was open-minded, chatty, knowledgeable and sweet

Transport

Cairo has some serious traffic but our driver navigated it well

We had a truly wonderful experience using KimKim for our trip to Italy and enjoyed the trip immensely overall. The organization was excellent from start to finish, and the hotels exceeded our expectations in terms of comfort, location, and overall experience.

We especially loved our time in Rome. Everything there was very well planned, and our Rome tour guide—unfortunately we don’t recall her name—was extremely knowledgeable and demonstrated a very high level of expertise. We spent multiple days with her at the Vatican, the Roman Forum, and the Colosseum, and her depth of historical knowledge really stood out. That said, her accent was fairly strong, and a couple of members of our group occasionally had difficulty understanding her. Even so, the quality and substance of her tours were excellent and greatly enhanced our time in Rome.

In Florence, our guide—whose name we also unfortunately don’t remember—was also knowledgeable and professional. While her expertise didn’t feel quite as in-depth as our Rome guide’s, she was easier to understand, which made the tours very comfortable and accessible for everyone in our group.

The train ride from Rome to Florence was smooth, pleasant, and very well organized. While based in Florence, we enjoyed the day trips to Lucca, Pisa, San Gimignano, and Siena, as well as the cooking experience and wine tasting in the Chianti countryside, which was a definite highlight of the trip.

In hindsight, we think some of the day trips outside of Florence might have been even more enjoyable with more time and with local guides in each destination. Andreas and Enne were helpful, friendly, and cordial, but they did not have the level of historical or local expertise that a dedicated guide would provide. For example, having a guided walking tour of Siena would have been very interesting and valuable in retrospect. Similarly, in Lucca and San Gimignano, spending more time with a local guide rather than just walking through on our own could have added a deeper understanding of the towns.

We also found that trying to visit multiple destinations in a single day sometimes limited the experience. For instance, we arrived in Pisa later in the afternoon and only had time to walk around. We didn’t realize in advance that climbing the Leaning Tower requires advance tickets, and by the time we learned this it was too late in the day to make it work without returning to Florence very late. In retrospect, choosing just one destination for the day—or pairing it with a guided experience—might have made those visits more rewarding.

We would also like to specifically thank Fabio, who did an excellent job planning the trip and was always available to answer questions. We especially appreciated his help toward the end of the trip when my mother’s passport and bag were stolen—his support during a stressful situation made a big difference.

Overall, this was a very pleasant and memorable trip. We made great memories, felt well taken care of, and truly appreciate all the effort that went into planning and organizing this experience. We would absolutely recommend KimKim and would gladly use them again for future travel.

Our entire experience was amazing. From our drivers, to the activities and the choice of accommodations!
We had a holiday we will never forget!
I/We were highly satisfied with Gustavo and KimKim.......I will recommend them over and over again!

Hotel Reviews

Occidental Tamarindo All Inclusive

Tamarindo

Second stay here - highly recommend for family holiday

Authenticity & Character

We like the charm of a smaller area

Location

We were happy with the location. A simple Uber ride into Tamarindo when we wanted to head out. We had a variety of animals that we saw right on site which was a thrill...monkeys, racoons, iguanas, and a large variety of birds

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our room was taken care of every day early. We had 3 rooms between the family, and the other 2 mentioned that there rooms could have been cleaned more often, or earlier. The sliding doors on the bathrooms do not slide well. Ours was particularly loud and difficult to close. One other room had the same issue.

Arenal Paraíso Resort, Spa & Hot Springs

La Fortuna

Highly recommend! The rooms were great - each family with our own bungalow was wonderful. The spring fed pools were very enjoyable. The food was good (in some cases a little pricey) but not having to leave resort to eat is a bonus. The Uber to La Fortuna was a great option. Definitely recommend Restaurante Fortuneno.....we spent New Years Eve with them for dinner and it was amazing! Tomahawk steak was a highlight.

Authenticity & Character

Authenticity & Character

Location

Location

Staff

Great service for meals......as in many swim up bar situations.....the bartenders OFTEN pretended not to see you, so service there was sub-par

Staff

Great service for meals......as in many swim up bar situations.....the bartenders OFTEN pretended not to see you, so service there was sub-par

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hilton Garden Inn Guanacaste Airport

Liberia

The check in time was quite lengthy, but the accommodations were great

Authenticity & Character

Location

One night stay near the airport...had a great location

Staff

Only issue was time to check in .....well over half an hour....even if they had offered a complimentary drink while in line, or a "sorry for the wait" would have been nice

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Self-Guided Visit to the Tamarindo Market

Tamarindo

We went to the food truck area and enjoyed different meals before heading out on a nigh walk about. Friendly and safe town for the whole family

Quality of Experience

Self-Guided Snorkeling Day

Tamarindo

We used this as a free day and a couple went to town, 4 went deep sea fishing, and we took a estuary tour on a boat to see monkeys and crocodiles

Self-Guided Beach Day from Tamarindo

Tamarindo

We walked along the beach - it does go into Tamarindo that way, we did not go all the way this time, we had on a previous trip and it is great. Taking an Uber into Tamarindo was inexpensive and very convenient. There is much to see there

Quality of Experience

Self-Guided Hike to La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

Our family enjoyed this very much!! Swimming at the bottom of the waterfall was unforgettable!

Quality of Experience

Sky Tram, Ziplines & Sky Walk Adventure

Arenal/La Fortuna

Amazing for 10 y/o to 60 y/o. Quite an adventure. The length and heights were thrilling!! Our granddaughter (15) was feeling ill at the beginning of the adventure. Light headed and faint (found out during holiday she had pneumonia)! The first aid care there was top notch. Our daughter is a nurse and she said they were absolutely professional and spot on with care. They took her aside, gave her juice and chocolate, and kept her until vitals were all regulated. She was an amazing trooper and was able to finish all of the ziplines and the walking tour after. They allowed us to carry on even though this made us a bit later than scheduled. The walking tour afterwards was supreme!! Our guide was so knowledgeable and we found many, many animals and plants. Eyebrow snakes, monkeys, tarantulas, bat falcon and more!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We waited a while longer than we would have liked for return transport. Minor inconvenience, so no real issue

Transport

Lost Canyon Waterfalls & Rappelling Adventure

Arenal/La Fortuna

Adventurous and soo much fun! A treat from 10 y/o to 60 y/o

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We traveled as a group of three adults aged 60–71 and the experience was truly outstanding. The trip was carefully organized and executed flawlessly at every stage, without delays or unexpected issues, and included a wonderful balance of both cultural and natural sightseeing. The only challenge for us was that much of the food, even when described as “not spicy,” was still too picante for our taste. Traveling in Sri Lanka also involves long hours on the road, but Ajith, our guide-driver, is an excellent and very safe driver and always took care to plan regular and comfortable stops.
From the very first day, Ajith made us feel completely taken care of. Every step of the journey was thoughtfully planned and continuously adjusted to our needs and wishes — from food preferences and meal timing to sightseeing pace, personal interests, and engaging conversations along the way. In several places, he paid for tickets in advance using his own money, ensuring smooth entry, saving us time, and eliminating any waiting. At restaurants, he consistently arranged tables with the best views. What truly set Ajith apart was his care and responsibility in an unexpected medical situation. When one of us experienced an acute health issue, Ajith handled everything calmly and professionally, accompanied us to the hospital, and ensured we received proper care. Overall, the journey was not only enjoyable but deeply memorable. We wholeheartedly recommend this experience to anyone looking for a guided tour in Sri Lanka.

Activity Reviews

Relax in Negombo

Negombo

Galle Dutch Fort Visit

Sri Lanka

Interesting historical place

Quality of Experience

Yala National Park Jeep Safari

Sri Lanka

The Yala National Park jeep safari was very interesting, and seeing such a wide variety of animals was beyond our expectations. Unfortunately, we were not lucky enough to spot leopards. Their sighting did not seem realistic to us, as these cats are extremely cautious and naturally tend to move away when many jeeps gather together.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our jeep driver was so special

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

Kandy

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage was an amazing place and well worth the long journey. Seeing the young elephants playing and watching dozens of elephants bathing and interacting with one another was a truly special and unforgettable experience

Discover Kandy: Temple of the Sacred Tooth visit

Kandy

The experience was beyond expectations. We were fortunate to visit at a time when it was not crowded, yet a donation ceremony was taking place. Seeing a place of faith filled with people dressed in white and surrounded by flowers was truly moving and felt like a rare and special experience.

Quality of Experience

The atmosphere of the temple was unique

Visit Sigiriya Rock Fortress

Sri Lanka

We could not go up due to a leg still recovering from injury, but our guide thoughtfully arranged a ride around by tuk-tuk.

Quality of Experience

Wonderful views!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tuk-tuk guide

Rural Village Trail in Habarana (Cycling, Boat Trip & Lunch)

Sri Lanka

We explored the village by tractor, continued by boat on the lake, and returned by tuk-tuk, as cycling was not possible due to a leg still recovering from an injury. Communication with the local guide was somewhat difficult, and we would have appreciated more explanations. It was also not entirely clear to us how the lake ride related to the rural village experience.

Quality of Experience

More explanation from our English-speaking guide prior to the experience would have been helpful.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The possibility of communication with the local person on the tractor through mediation by the English-speaking guide

Transport

Discover Ancient Polonnaruwa

Sri Lanka

Amazing historical evidence. Unusual for a European culture tourist.

Quality of Experience

The place is maintained in a good condition, the complex is huge, but mostly ruins, you need the story behind to get impressed.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide of the place was very clear and knowledgeable

Explore the Dambulla Cave Temple Complex

Sri Lanka

Very special place, great explanation about Buddhism.

Quality of Experience

We had a great trip thanks to Siena's expertise. She had tips for every part of the trip and when we did have a small snafu, kimkim was so helpful and accommodating. Would recommend if you need help planning an Australian adventure!

God suggestions, and good planning, great hotels, cool activities, good communication. The kimkim was very patient with me as it took me 5 years to finally get to Costa Rica.

I am so happy we booked our Thailand trip with KimKim! From the start, Tina was amazing—patient, flexible, and always willing to answer our many questions and make changes until everything felt just right for us.

What truly made the trip special were the wonderful local guides and drivers. Bee, our driver in Bangkok, and Cherry, our tour guide, welcomed us with such kindness and genuine warmth—we felt comfortable the moment we met them. Our Phuket driver was just as friendly, and every transfer was smooth and stress-free. It really felt like we were being cared for by friends.

We visited Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket during the busy holiday season, and every hotel exceeded our expectations. Each were the perfect location to experience the uniqueness of the region. The Sri Pawna in Phuket was spectacular!!! (FYI, the 2 room villa, second room is not connected to the villa which was odd). One of the most memorable experiences was our day at the Orchid Elephant Sanctuary in Chiang Mai, with our personal guide Tatoo.

This was a trip of a lifetime! Highly recommend KimKim to anyone planning a visit to Thailand!