Kimkim Trip Reviews

Adeline was a fantastic trip planner! She had so much patience as we moved our schedule around. The guides and drivers she found for us were great and the hotels were super convenient. She explained everything to us so we were able to take the subway, hail cabs, and use Uber in Japan. Favorite activities were driving street carts in Shabuya, tea with a Maiko in Kyoto, and Teamlabs. We scheduled three activities a day and got them all in!

Federico was excellent and very accommodating. He delivered a first-class trip itinerary and experience for our family trip to Brazil. I recommend him to anyone wishing to organize a Brazilian holiday. Mike

Hotel Reviews

Boutique Hotel Carpe Diem

Paraty

This hotel is exceptional. Charming with a first class and very accommodating and welcoming staff. We recommend it and if we return to Paraty will plan to stay there again. Mike B.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Windsor California Copacabana Hotel

Rio de Janeiro

Great location, service and accommodations at a reasonable price

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Green Paraty PRIVATE tour: waterfalls, forest and distillery'

Paraty

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private transfer from Rio to Paraty with stop in Angra for PRIVATE boat tour '

Brazil

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Santa Teresa & Rio Antigo'

Rio de Janeiro

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rio de Janeiro – Boteco: A Journey Through Carioca Flavors'

Rio de Janeiro

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Rio de Janeiro

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our experience booking through KimKim was exceptional from start to finish. The initial planning process was highly collaborative, and our coordinator, Zehra, was incredibly experienced, providing fantastic tips and suggestions. She went above and beyond by staying in constant communication throughout our trip, even checking in at odd hours to ensure everything was seamless. Zehra knew exactly how to structure our days to avoid the heavy crowds, and she ensured our family's allergen requirements were completely taken care of at every step.

The on-the-ground execution was flawless. We were met in person by a representative right at the airport when we landed, which made our arrival stress-free. Our daily guides—Eda in Istanbul and Kezban in Cappadocia—were absolutely fantastic. They knew wonderful tricks to keep our young children engaged throughout the tours, and they generously offered to let us contact them with questions even when they were off the clock. We highly recommend this team for anyone planning a family adventure!

Our trip to South Korea exceeded every expectation, and the people who guided us are the reason it's now one of our favorite countries we've visited in Asia.
From the very start, Christine handled all the logistics flawlessly. Everything ran smoothly and on time, and she anticipated needs before we even thought to ask. That kind of seamless planning is rare, and it let us relax and actually enjoy the trip instead of worrying about the details.
Our guides, Jinny and Heather, were simply outstanding — among the best we've ever had anywhere in the world. Both were warm, endlessly patient, and genuinely sweet to be around. They had a real gift for sharing Korea's culture, food, and history in a way that felt personal rather than rehearsed, and their enthusiasm was contagious. They made us feel less like tourists and more like welcomed guests.
We came home with not just incredible memories of the palaces, the food, and the neighborhoods, but with real affection for the people who showed us their country. Christine, Jinny, and Heather turned a great itinerary into an unforgettable experience. We can't recommend them highly enough.

Our grandmother's/granddaughters trip to Italy exceeded expectations. All elements of the plan curated and refined by Erica and Diliana flowed smoothly without any major glitches. Our guide for the Coliseum, Mirta, was knowledgeable and provided a lot of background. Oksana, our Vatican guide, had lots of inside info, although I feel we literally ran thru the Vatican museum. I somehow thought we were going to St. Peter's Basilica, but it was not part of the tour.
The train rides were supremely comfortable and we had no problems finding our car and seats due to the detailed info Kimkim provided.
Our Pompei excursion with Vincenzo was particularly fun for me because so much more has been unearthed since my last visit.
Our cooking classes with Lily in Rome and Leonardo in Florence were particularly fun for the girls. They learned a lot and we had delicious meals to boot.
Daniela, our guide in Florence, was excellent and highlighted and explained some of the pertinent history that makes Florence so unique.
Rita guided us in Venice, a magical city if there ever was one. She made the narrow passageways seem not so daunting and definitely hit the highlights. Gianmarco took us to Burano and Murano and explained why these islands are so special. He was patient and kind even when we were late getting back to the boat.
All our accomodations were clean, safe, and very well located. It made getting around these crowded places pretty easy to navigate especially with the embedded links to maps.
Diliana, Erica, and Grant all checked in during the trip to see if things were going smoothly and it was comforting to know they were only a text away and response time was almost instantaneous.
I must say I was quite nervous before the trip that all guides and drivers were where they should be at the right time and I shouldn't have worried.
Thanks, Kimkim for your attention to detail and excellent and thoughtful planning. I have already been recommending Kimkim to others and will continue to do so. You have provided my granddaughters with fantastic memories.

Every part of the trip was amazing and well organized, from our trip planner Paola, to our local guide Danny. The entire experience was A+!

Every guided tour was excellent. Every transfer was on time with helpful & courteous people. Everything was as planned; expectations met and exceeded.

Anna did a wonderful job of helping us plan and arrange our trip to Norway! With her very helpful insights and suggestions, she helped us create exactly the kind of trip we were looking for. Anna and her team were responsive and helpful whenever we had questions, both before and during our trip. I would highly recommend Anna and KimKim!

Our family of four had a fantastic 10 day June trip to Morocco in large part due to the planning assistance of kimkim (Abdel and Said) and the reliability, good cheer and guidance of our wonderful driver, Mustapha. The accommodations and activities/excursions were as described (or better!) and our local guides were knowledgable and friendly. We especially enjoyed our Sahara camel riding experience, our cooking class in Marrakech, our various kasbah visits and our time in Essaouria. We had some long travel days (as planned), but the multiple cultural pit stops along the way made the travel time much more manageable and interesting.

I do not write reviews usually but this one is well deserved.
Interacting with Mr. Long in preparation for our trip was very efficient, professional and well done. Everything during our 12 day trip was executed to the minute and as per our correspondences.
Mr. Long was in touch with us with instructions and checking that all went well contacting us few times a day.
Reminders were sent prior to arrival making sure visas were done. At every pickup point ( Airport arrivals, immigration procedures, drivers, guides and transfers ) we were greeted either prior to time planned or on time. One time that driver was late due to traffic ( 10 minutes ! ) we were notified prior. For every flight there were notices sent in advance.
As for guides and drivers as well as their vehicles they were all perfect as promised. However I have to commend specially the guide and driver in Angkor Wat ( 3 days ) It was very humid, every time we entered the vehicle driver had super cold small towels to refresh ( from ice box, 10 pieces in one day ) and in humidity it was great. Very nice guide in Ninh Binh. All drivers and guides were very attentative, polite and never experienced anything but careful driving. The cars were nice as stated prior.
Honestly, never gotten so much attention and sincere interest to make sure all is going well.
We want to thank Mr. Long and his choices of drivers and English language guides for making our stay and travels withing the country easy, pleasant and amazing!

Tetiana was very attentive in the planning stage and throughout our travels. She was always quick to respond and ready to provide solutions to our questions.

Caroline took an outline of a trip we wanted to take to Switzerland and completely filled it in for us from beginning to end.

The itinerary details were impeccable, the optional activities were extremely helpful.

All of our vouchers were provided so ticketing for trains and gondolas was taken care of.

Hotel check-in went seamlessly.

In addition, Caroline was an absolute delight to work with. She truly seemed to care that my son and I had the trip of a lifetime.

I would recommend kimkim And Caroline to anyone with my highest confidence.

I found kimkim after a frustrating and disappointing experience with a local "luxury" travel agent. From the first trip survey and timely assignment to a local expert, I knew immediately I had found a fit.

I feel so fortunate that Ben was responsible for planning our trip because he clearly wanted to create a truly customized trip for my family - not regurgitate or cobble together other itineraries he'd already planned.

In our initial planning stage, Ben made sure to keep a momentum in our communication to ensure that we could secure any necessary activities or experiences in plenty of time. He also asked detailed questions and always took feedback to heart so that we could fine tune our overall plan and the activities for each day.

The kimkim itinerary system lists each part of the trip (transportation, hotel stay, experience, etc.) separately so it's very easy to do your own research of whether or not it's a fit for your needs and then provide your feedback and thoughts.

There were some very specific things that I wanted to include in the trip for our family that weren't typical and Ben found structured classes or local neighborhoods to explore for each one.

As the departure date for our trip approached, Ben made sure to provide all the necessary details and confirmation numbers we would need and the kimkim app made information easy to find whenever we wanted to check on specific details.

The guides that Ben assigned to us for each activity seemed hand-picked for the timing of the trip and specific goal.

Peter-san was calm and collected in the chaos of someone's first day in Tokyo as we moved through the city using public transportation.

Hitoshi-san took great care in mapping out a half-day bike tour through Takayama that allowed us to visit landmarks that would have otherwise taken a couple of days to see.

Amanda-san clearly loves sharing her vast knowledge of Kyoto along with accommodating some quick shopping requests since we had some extra time in our day.

At the end of our trip, Miki-san helped us navigate parts of Tokyo we hadn’t seen and shared daily trips and tricks that helped us enjoy the area like locals.

Akiko-san, our translator for the tofu making class, ensured we had clear instructions along with some added humor along the way. She also took the extra time we had after finishing class early to provide a quick walking tour of the area since she is an expert in that neighborhood.

Each person we interacted with was helpful, kind, and clearly enjoyed their role in the process.

Throughout the trip, Ben was in touch so even a minor hiccup could be addressed in a timely manner.

I highly recommend both kimkim and Ben!

Hotel Reviews

Karaksa Hotel Tokyo Station

Tokyo

This hotel is the perfect final destination in Tokyo because of its location and wonderful staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sotetsu Fresa Inn Kyoto-Kiyomizu Gojo

kyoto

This room was well appointed, had comfortable beds, and even had a bathtub!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Takayama Ouan Hotel

This was the only hotel that didn't seem in the same class as the others. Not only was the room an awkward layout, but it was well-worn and even a little dusty. It may be that we just got a room that needed a little TLC compared to the others,

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Onyado Yuinoshou

At first, I wasn't sure that we needed to spend the night in Shirakawa-go, but once we arrived at the hotel, we knew it was worth it. Since we stayed here at the midpoint of our trip, it slowed things down in a way that we didn't feel we had to be moving all the time. The property is gorgeous and the views of the valley, soothing. Everything you need to enjoy the baths is provided and they even have a variety of special pillows you can take to get a great night's sleep.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Onyado Nono Kanazawa Natural Hot Spring

Kanazawa

Not only was the location just what we needed to explore the sights of Kanazawa, but the room was a great size for a family of four. Our room even had a little sitting area which allowed us to organize and coordinate our plans and our packing. This hotel had a breakfast buffet instead of a standard meal so we were able to try a variety of freshly prepared dishes. After the hustle and bustle of Tokyo - both Kanazawa and this hotel provided a wonderful opportunity to slow down a little bit.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The TOURIST HOTEL AND CAFE AKIHABARA

Tokyo

This hotel was a great fit for us because we could enjoy the high energy of the Akihabara area then return to a quiet street and neighborhood to decompress after a long day. The rooms were designed to use space efficiently and had all the necessary amenities. The breakfast options provided something for everyone and since they were freshly prepared for each person, they provided a great start to our day.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

⚾️ Afternoon Baseball Game at Meiji Jingu Stadium

Tokyo

If you are a baseball fan, a game in Japan is a must! It's easy to take public transportation, but make sure to wear comfortable walking shoes. You can bring food into the game so feel free to purchase some snacks while walking to the stadium. Or, there are plenty of food options once you arrive if you prefer.

Quality of Experience

🌿 Traditions in Tokyo: A Day of Tofu & Indigo Dyeing Experience

Tokyo

It's always fun to learn from experts. Kai-san's tofu workshop gave us the skills to make tofu at home. Akiko-san was the interpreter and the two worked so well together that it was seamless communication. Miki-san was our guide and she made sure to provide details about the area/neighborhood while helping us get to these smaller workshops located in places we may not have visited otherwise.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

🏯🍜 Kyoto Culture & Culinary Day: Kinkaku-ji, Nanzen-ji & Ramen Workshop

Kyoto

It was a great day in Kyoto with typical sightseeing and a quick food focus . Amanda-san is a highly knowledgeable guide who helped us navigate the Kyoto bus system while seeing the sights. We also got to make ramen noodles with Momo who clearly loves sharing the craft with anyone hoping to learn more. The ramen workshop also included lunch, so make sure to arrive hungry!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Cycling in Takayama

Takayama

Our guide, Hitoshi-san, took the time to hand-draw a map of our route and clearly explained it to us before we left. After all the walking we had done on the first part of the trip, it was nice to cover more ground on a bike and to experience Takayama in a different way.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The public transportation from Shirakawa-go to Takayama

Japan

A beautiful ride through the hills.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Really enjoyed planning this amazing first trip to Japan. Marii listened to all of my requirements and helped me put together a trip that was memorable for all. We did encounter some glitches, but she rectified them and in the end everything worked out well
Tokyo stay at the Indigo Shibuya was amazing. The meiji shrine shinto ritual tour is highly recommended. We toured Tokyo on the east side with Molly and Yuri and had a great time exploring all the food choices and getting their recs for shopping and dining places in Asakusa and Akihabara. The sumo wrestling is just a fun family event so would rec.
Hakone Ryokan was superb and relaxing as an in between city stay
Kyoto was a favorite and we enjoyed our Tea Ceremony the most. The Gion tour was not necessary as we could have done on our own. The Thousands Tokyo is very well situated near the station allowing us quick in and out for exploration.
Hiroshima/Miyajima tour was well executed by our personal tour guide yuko who kept us on track but never made us feel rushed.
All of our train tickets were purchased ahead of time and we used our suica card for metro and short travel distances which worked great. Our guides were a big help in helping us navigate all this when asked.
I highly rec Kim Kim for those travelers that need some help with coordinating hotels, transfers and ideas for tours. I was fully involved in all the decision making with Marii guiding me along the way.
I really enjoyed our 2 main chats to put together all the days and tours which helped personalize our trip.
We were exhausted at the end of the day but really enjoyed the whole trip and will be back to Japan to enjoy at a bit of leisure. Awesome country with amazing people who were very welcoming.
We returned back to Tokyo for another day and loved the Wagyu beef and sake tasting tour. Probably should have done earlier in our tour so we could enjoy the correct sake for the rest of the trip!

Hotel Reviews

Daiwa Roynet Hotel Ginza PREMIER

Tokyo

After our other two hotels, this one is mediocre. But pricing of hotels in ginza are astronomical so this was more of a budget hotel, with a comfortable room. Breakfast was okay but not as nice as the other stays in Shibuya and Kyoto

Authenticity & Character

very basic

Location

Staff

helpful when needed but didn't go out of the way

Cleanliness & Comfort

clean but no real ambience

The Thousand Kyoto

Kyoto

Great location and the staff is very helpful with navigating the area and trains. Make sure to come out the central hall at the station to get to the hotel. We went out the wrong way. They were very helpful in transferring our bags back to Tokyo and it only took a few minutes on our end.

Authenticity & Character

beautiful lobby

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

room was big enough for the 3 of us

HAKONE GORA BYAKUDAN

Hakone-machi

A must for a first time traveler. But one night is enough.

Authenticity & Character

the decor in the room was amazing

Location

one with nature

Staff

treated us like royalty with great attention to detail

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Indigo Tokyo Shibuya

Shibuya

Decent size room for 3 people. Well situated near Shibuya station but quiet. Breakfast was amazing and service excellent

Authenticity & Character

the decor

Location

Staff

everyone was very kind

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Kimono Tea Ceremony Gion Kiyomizu (Private)

Japan

One of our favorite experiences. Very authentic and full of detail and beauty. She was so knowledgeable of the customs and rituals. They use excellent matcha so enjoy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tokyo to Hakone Transfer: Mt. Fuji and Hakone Full-Day Tour with English-Speaking Driver

Japan

Our driver Gary was committed on getting us a view of Fuji which we somehow did for 15 min before the cloud cover came back. Took us to some amazing view points and never rushed us. Was a great resource on culture in Japan and ways to navigate the other cities. Spoke excellent English

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bring your music and enjoy on the drive!

Master Tokyo's Must-Sees: 5-hour Tsukiji, Akihabara & Asakusa Highlights Tour

Tokyo

Great way to get an understanding of the fish market and the offerings. It is overwhelming with instagram influencers swaying you to go to certain vendors. Our guides knew where to go for the best offerings and introduced us to so many dishes which helped with our choices later in the trip

Quality of Experience

Food

so many varieties to sample.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

navigating the metro/subway for the first time so it was helpful

Special Access: Join a Traditional Shinto Ritual at Meiji Shrine

Tokyo

Highly recommend to immerse yourself in to the shinto culture and get an inside peak at the shrine

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had 4 guides Dolly, Hiroshi, Taka and Pete. All of them excellent guides and we had a great time with them.
Japan is a amazing place and the experience during this trip exceeds our expectations starting with the planning by Bella , the sightseeing and the hotels.
We loved all but we enjoy the most Kyoto and Hiroshima.

Hotel Reviews

Onyado Nono Kanazawa Natural Hot Spring

Kanazawa

Good tradition Japanese Hotel but also adapted to western clients

Authenticity & Character

Walking without shoes and quimono made our stay special. Also the public bath was vrry well equiped

Location

Near to a lot of restaurants

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Public bath

THE KNOT HIROSHIMA

Hiroshima

Great location and very comfortable room

Authenticity & Character

The variety of food in the breakfast

Location

Central place very near to the locations we visited

Staff

The staff was nice and the restaurant food and service were excellent

Cleanliness & Comfort

All

Activity Reviews

Family-Friendly Day Trip Itinerary: Hakone – Lake Ashi – Kawaguchiko – Tokyo (Guide, Private Transfer)

Japan

Fantastic. Beautiful sightseeing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Public transport very well planned

Hiroshima's Legacy: Peace Memorial & Okonomiyaki（public transport）

Hiroshima

Very emotional and must to see the Peace Memorial Museum and Park

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Robi and his team planned the most wonderful trip for my family. He was even able to manage a last minute pivot . Fantastic guides and customer service!!

Activity Reviews

Oyster tasting in Mali Ston

Croatia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Ston

Croatia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Truffle hunting experience in Istria

Croatia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Great experience from start to finish. The itinerary was well thought out, the local guides and city managers were excellent, and everything ran smoothly.

A special thanks to Shahd and Ahmed, who were incredibly attentive throughout the trip and always quick to answer questions. They did a great job helping us navigate the uncertainty when the conflict with Iran started and worked with us on itinerary adjustments as things evolved.

Would absolutely recommend them and would use them again.

I gave them a budget and they hit it to the dollar. Good follow up and check ins throughout the trip.

My favorite activities were the knife making and the gold leaf chopsticks. I really liked all the wood I saw in Japan. Tons of the signage is just a large slab with their name on it. I did bonk my head fairly hard by looking down at the floor construction while walking through a samurai house, the wood working was fascinating. The ceiling height not so much. 4 out of the 5 places we stayed were absolutely incredible, top notch. The hyatt in kanizawa, was not bad by any means. It's just the other 4 were much better.

Everything tour wise went great, each guide met us in our lobby and had local/native knowledge of the areas we toured. I asked each day if the driver would eat lunch with us, and was told no, and that I should not get him a lunch from the restaurant. That felt strange to me.

So much of the history has burned down and been rebuilt, but it was neat to see things that had survived

We had the most amazing trip organised by Caterina and the KimKim team, highlights were Lake Garda, Bologna and Sorrento, however the entire trip was fantastic.

Hotel Reviews

Kolbe Hotel Rome

Rome

Really clean and comfortable with a great outdoor garden area to relax in.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Central to the main attractions and the resturant district.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rosso 23

Florence

Neat and tidy Hotel, staff weren't as friendly as all other stops and not as helpful, and the breakfast was just ok.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Good location out of the hussle and bussle and only a couple minute walk to the centre of town.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

I Portici Hotel

Bologna

Very upmarket Hotel and quote luxurious, on the main street and a short walk to the sqaure.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Césa Tyrol

Canazei

Very helpful staff and only a short stroll to town, and nicely renovated.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Caesius Thermae & Spa Resort

Bardolino

Great location and really lovely Hotel, the staff were helpful and friendly, and had great ammentities.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very central.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Exceptional clean and great size rooms.

Activity Reviews

Cycle the Appian Way - Bike or e-Bike tour

Rome

We didnt do it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private e-bike tour in Florence with Gelato

Florence

Fantastic trip and the guide was sensational, a lovely family business.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pizza and Gelato making Class (group tour)

Italy

This was ok, the quality of the pizzas were just ok, it is obviously hard to make dough and have it cure in the short time we were there, so maybe they could teach how to make the dough and go through the process however have some other bases there that were made the day before to make the end eating experience a bit better.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Self explore Bardolino

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private excursion to Lucca and Pisa - access to the Leaning Tower included

Florence

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Verona Day Trip

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half day foodie tour in Bologna

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport