Kimkim Trip Reviews

In short, this hotel had us wanting to go home. We had requested a LUXURY trip, and as part of this, we expected an excellent and comfortable hotel in Rome. We wanted to be well taken care of, and were paying for this experience. Our agent picked Eitch Borromini. When looking at the photos, we were pleasantly surprised. However, the reality did not match what we saw online. The one and possibly the only thing we appreciated was the location. The hotel was in Piazza Navona, and walkable to many of Rome’s fantastic attractions. We did not get to have the breakfast, but the boxed breakfast provided to us could have been a lot better. We were given crackers, jam, Nutella, and a packaged croissant. I’ve had the privilege of being at several high end hotels and asking for boxed breakfasts in various countries (including our phenomenal accommodation in Tuscany), and they were all far more nutritious, fresh, and enjoyable. However, I cannot speak to what breakfast at the hotel would have been like. Our biggest gripe was the room. The room was not very clean, it appeared dated, and unkempt. There was a lot of dirt and dust on the floor, and there was a bug problem. We killed some in the shower room, and there were flies around the room as well. The room with the toilet smelled badly as well. We were supposed to be in a luxury suite, and there was really nothing luxury regarding it. We didn’t even have any proper windows to look out of, and the iron didn’t work. Perhaps we were supremely unlucky with the room. While I understand Eitch Borromini is an old palace and has character and charm, the issues we encountered were not secondary to it being an old palace. Also, an odd thing, but in the room with the shower (the toilet/sink and shower were in different rooms), there was a locked glass door and a dark staircase that could be seen. It was quite disconcerting and as a trio of three women, we didn’t feel very comfortable. I know I would not want to stay in that room alone. Finally, the hospitality wasn’t great either. We requested some water in the evening, as they provide a complementary bottle, which we finished after a long day walking around Rome, and were told to drink the ones in the mini fridge…which they would then charge us for. We had to call twice and explain that we would not be paying for the mini fridge water, and finally about 30 minutes later, someone came with the provided complementary water. When we asked for help with luggage in the morning of our departure, they told us to bring it to the elevator first (which wasn’t that close to our room). I’ve had less “luxurious” hotels send people to help with luggage’s, or deliver a luggage cart. We were shocked that there would be no help. For a hotel that claims it’s a 5-star luxury hotel, there was nothing 5-star or luxury about it, and we should not have paid the price for staying here (assuming they were luxury prices as we did not see the breakdown when we paid kimkim). I will be coming back to Rome, and I will not be picking this hotel again.

Incredible incredible incredible experience! We learned so much, and Massimo and his family were extremely welcoming. The meal with this tour was the best we had in Italy’

Amazing views of Val D’Orcia and a wonderful guide. Would absolutely do this tour again! It was our favorite experience.

Phenomenal private tour and cooking experience. What a unique tour! We loved it.

Great experience, we just wish we had an English speaking group. Our tour guide spent a lot of her time speaking to the Italian group before us, and we felt we were losing a lot of information when she translated.

Great location and very enjoyable stay for us.

It was nice to have two nights in a regular hotel as a contrast to the lovely riads other nights. This was a lovely property.

An oasis of quiet in a bustling medina.

The location was first rate. It helped to be close to the gate and also close to access the medina which was much easier to manage than some of the larger city's medinas.

We wished we could have spent more time here. Our dinner was the best of our entire vacation. It was indeed a wonderful experience.

Very nice hotel. Very clean. Loved the view and the balcony window. Very nice staff

We stayed here on our final night before departing. The hotel was beautiful, and the room was spacious and very accommodating. I especially loved the large bathtub, which was a wonderful treat after a two‑week trip. We spent our last day relaxing by the pool after touring the incredible mosque, which was a perfect way to unwind. While the pool service could have been a bit quicker and our dining experience at the outdoor restaurant was average, the stay overall was comfortable and a nice way to end our journey.

I wish I could remember the name of the manager who was so kind, friendly, and genuinely welcoming, he truly made breakfasts and dinners feel special. Every member of the staff was fantastic, and the meals were absolutely amazing. I especially loved taking a few peaceful walks behind the hotel along the river. Seeing the locals tending to their gardens and graciously welcoming me as I strolled through was a truly memorable and authentic experience.

The staff here were so friendly! Everyone that we encountered truly wanted to make our experience special and memorable. So many smiles!! Our tent/room was comfortable and beautiful. I highly recommend staying 2 nights. The guided day trip in the area to visit with Nomads and look for fossils was a highlight of the trip.

Highlight of my trip!

Ilyace was hands down one of the highlights of my entire trip! Having a private driver for nearly two weeks was such a treat. From beginning to end, he was incredibly helpful, informative, fun, and genuinely engaging. His 12 years of experience really showed and made me feel completely at ease on the road. We traveled more than 1,650 miles together! I would highly recommend specifically requesting Ilyace as your driver for your Morocco adventure. Saying goodbye at the end was truly hard, as it felt like I had made a new friend.

A unique and quirky hotel that is very well located, with a tremendous staff that is quick and eager to please, and support its guests. Accommodations were clean and comfortable, breakfast was good, and the hotel itself is historic, with a great vibe.

Very clean and excellent customer service.

Tiny rooms and dated.

It was ok - it was picked for its convenience to the airport.

The driver dropped us off about 1/2 a block away from the station and we had to lug our luggage and walk the rest of the way which was tedious for my parents.

Always awesome to see Stonehenge. Plan to return during the solstice when one is allowed to be up close and personal and partake celebrating the solstices with the Druids.

Chris was great!! He was very informative. Initially we had a hard time following his accent but then we got the hang of it and he used the Mike on the second day so that my parents could hear him better in the back.

Once again, Sebastian and Vijay made a great team!!!

Sebastian our guide was beyond excellent!!

Stately Venetian mansion tastefully turned into a 15 room hotel. Interesting details such as indoor pool, glass floor in entry to showcase remains found and excavated below, incredibly high ceilings in gigantic bedroom - might be hot in the heat of summer (too many active pigeons outside to leave windows open for air)

Prime location with beautiful views, hospitable staff and great service; preordered breakfast delivered to our doorstep each morning. As with much of Oía, steps are everywhere and very steep. The dark cavern of the bath which featured black lava rock, black commode, and minimal lighting was less than desirable BUT it gave insight into layout of old cave houses that are sprinkled about the island. We were surprised we had to climb 3 steps to get onto the foot of the bed which was elevated quite high off the floor (to accommodate a view to the caldera if one chose to sleep with open window?). It was a once in a lifetime stay here but we wouldn’t choose to stay here again…not a negative, just not a repeat for us.

Friendly staff, great old town location for walking about, and over-the-top breakfast buffet in a modern hotel with nice amenities

Very informative tour of Minoan settlement, great guide again

Weather was the only disappointment and that can;t be controlled

Mike exhibited great energy and enthusiasm in leading us about the island and sharing his depth of knowledge

Long drive for a short tour of Corinth’s ruins although the guide was a gem and very knowledgeable. Napflio featured lots of shops on pretty streets, many still closed early in the season but we don’t have an interest in shopping so seemed a waste of time for us. Lunch at a seaside restaurant was okay (delivered there by driver who seemed friendly with management/staff). One and only snafu of the entire trip on details in Napflio that the driver said he was unaware of, we added a tour of the fortification atop the city to use up some slack time there, KimKim quickly refunded our unexpected out of pocket expense to tour the fortification (somewhat hazardous walking - not recommended)

This is definitely a 5 Star Hotel! We loved everything from the character of the hotel, to the room we stayed in, all the staff we came into contact with, the coffee shop attached to the hotel. We will absolutely be coming back to this hotel.

The Views Of this Hotel are absolutely stunning! Who would not Love waking up to this beautiful hotel . This is a must stay hotel in Douro Valley.

Angela and the staff was absolutely amazing. We met some amazing people from all different places as we were cooking together. All the dishes that we cooked were delicious, and we were able to get the recipes to take home. This is a must do when in Lisbon Portugal.

This hotel was a bit of a mixed bag. The front desk service and the breakfast quality and experience were top notch. The exterior and neighborhood are a bit cold and unwelcoming at first, but after a couple of days we realized that it is very well located with ez access to the train lines which is important in Berlin. The rooms were tight, and the lobby area was not comfortable. They do have what could be a very nice open air courtyard, but we found it a bit dirty and unattended by hotel staff-a potentially nice space that seems to be utilized as a place to smoke.

Clean, updated, spacious and bright. Great view from our window of plaza below. Service was very good, breakfast was very good, very well located!

Excellent service, very clean and well appointed with an excellent breakfast in a nice dining room. The rooms were on the small side, especially the bathrooms. The location across from the main train station-which is undergrowing significant construction- was very convenient, but is in a bit of a gritty area (were were a bit surprised in general of the level of graffitti and litter in both Munich and Berlin.

high energy tour guide Maggie did a great job, and mixed in some of her personal political feelings. We had a large group of 20+ and so the tour path followed a standard route and felt a bit touristy, but were did feel like we got great interaction with the tour guide between stops.

This was cancelled at last minute. We do not know what we missed. But had a great experience in Leipzig on our own. Kimkim came up with alternatives and gave us a great refund.

The drive through the countryside and side visits to a local villages were the best part. Boris seemed to specifically travel on secondary roads for a good portion of the trip. The trip to the castle itself was very good, but definitely touristy. I would still recommend it, but the side trips were essential, otherwise the 9 hour day is not worth it just to visit Neuschwanstein.

Our guide Boris was excellent. We had plenty of time the afternoon prior to explore the City and did, but Boris was able to make sure we saw some nooks and crannies that we missed, and add the historical and cultural context

Quiet and personal, this is the perfect setting for contemplative enjoyment of Ait Ben-Haddou.

Beautiful site on top of a hill overlooking the blue city of Chef. . Wish we had stayed longer to use all the amenities and take in the beauty of the area. * one should know there are a mandatory 159 steps to the reception area of the hotel. We have heard a rumour that the staff will carry chairs of less able walkers.

Our room was authentic yet unique. The riad and pool added such a gorgeous flavor. Service was above any expectations and we were so pleased.

The views are outstanding. The hotel is conveniently located and has an attached shopping mall. The hotel restaurants have delicious food and the breakfast buffet is outstanding.

This resort offers a unique setting and overall experience. The restaurants and breakfast buffet are excellent. The suites are spacious and beautifully appointed. The staff is helpful and thoughtful. I highly recommend this experience!

This resort setting is beautiful. There are great restaurants and walking paths. The sunset celebration is also amazing.

Great location and the views are spectacular!!!

This hotel is in a good location with nearby restaurants.

This hotel is conveniently located and offers excellent dining as well as large and comfortable accommodations. In addition, there are luxury shops and a nice area to work out or swim.

There is nothing like Hong Kong!

We enjoyed this ancient water town but there were lots of crowds due to the holiday.

Lots to see in the Yu Garden. The Jade Buddha is impressive and the French Concession is lively and fun.

Beautiful setting, especially at sunset!

We did a bike ride which was very fun.

A fun way to experience the river.

We enjoyed the bike ride as well as the rafting.

I would give this performance more than 5 stars. I have never seen such a fantastic performance in such a lovely setting anywhere!!!

The boat ride is very relaxing and provides amazing views of these gorgeous mountains.

Beautiful views on the hillside. We especially enjoyed walking down the hill after riding the tram cart up the hill.

Beautiful setting!

Amazing!! I highly recommend this activity. The exhibits are very well done.

We found this area to be very impressive with new buildings that are built in the old style and lots of beautiful lighting and other features. We enjoyed the Hanfu Experience and found that local people to be enthusiastic about our participation.

We enjoyed wandering around this area and looking at the art!

This is a unique dining experience!

Very impressive. Linda did a great job!

The Great Wall experience is a must! The area is very well organized especially considering the number of visitors who attend. Linda did a great job!

Great views and enjoyable boat ride at the Summer Palace. Linda did a wonderful job!

The Forbidden City and Hutong area were great experiences. The overall size of the Forbidden city is mind boggling! The Hutong area is very interesting and colorful. We enjoyed the riskshaw ride! Linda did a great job!

Great hotel with a terrific staff. Very clean throughout.

Perfect hotel and very friendly staff. Great location for all we wanted to see in Prague.

Love the one on one with our guide...no crowds.

Our local guide was so kind! The only thing I would change would be to go to different places, maybe on the road less traveled that way the experience feels a pit more genuine.

I enjoyed this hike more than anything else we did on Santorini! Lilly was a wonderful guide, and I really enjoyed talking to her about how Santorini's history and how tourism has impacted the island. And the hike itself was a wonderful way to see "behind the scenes" of Santorini. For someone like me easily overwhelmed by Fira and Oia, getting outside of the towns was a welcome change. Walking through a volcanic landscape is a very cool experience, and I'm grateful that I got to see a different side (sometimes quite literally) of the island. With the right shoes and plenty of water, I found the level of physical activity very doable. It felt good to do something so active.

I very much appreciate this tour — I learned a great deal that provided context for the rest of my time on Santorini, and our guides brought us to places on the island I would not have visited otherwise. In my opinion, the villages we visited were more beautiful than Oia, and we had the space to actually enjoy them. The only reason I didn't give this tour five stars is because it felt a little bit like our guides were trying to sell us on Santorini. They'd guide us to different picture spots and ask if we liked them, for instance, and it felt a little bit like we were on the spot to have a particular reaction. There wasn't really an attempt to find out what we were most interested in or what we already knew; there was a script, and they were sticking to it. It just made me feel a little conflicted to see how much the tour pandered to the social media influencer from abroad. I'm pretty sure our guide convinced the staff at Akrotiri to stay open a little late for us, for instance, which I felt horrible about when I realized it. Like I said, I'm so glad we had this tour, and I would definitely recommend it. I just left it feeling a little bit sad and kind of guilty about how my presence impacted these traditional villages and archeological sites.

This was another highlight for me — I enjoyed this class so much. My family is Greek, so learning how to make some of the food I grew up with — especially in this setting — felt really special. Vivian, Abdul, and Thanos were wonderful teachers and facilitators. They were kind and engaging and, before I knew it, had guided us through making a multi-course meal. This is an experience that I'll remember for a long time to come.

Our food tour with Katerina was one of the highlights of the trip for me. I think the guide makes a big difference on food tours, and Katerina was wonderful. She was just a joy to spend time with — she was warm and curious and happy to share, and I could see the same held true for her relationships with the restaurant owners, as well. And we tried so much food! Katerina picked out great spots — everything we tried was excellent.

This was a fantastic tour, and I'm so glad it came at the beginning of our trip. Our guide, Sofia (sorry if I'm spelling her name incorrectly) was absolutely wonderful. Not only was she incredibly knowledgeable, but she was a pro at pacing — she navigated us to spots with shade and places to sit while she talked to us, and I was really impressed with how she structured the information. We never got too much at once, and she built on her explanations throughout the tour to connect all the dots. I was so impressed, and I learned a ton. Would highly recommend this tour as a way to understand not just the Acropolis, but the ancient city-state of Athens and its golden age.

We had a great spacious two bedroom and two bathroom room with views of the pool and beach. It was a little strange to have a kitchenette but nothing in there to use except drinks in fridge and coffee. We couldn't even find a bottle opener to open the beer. The staff were all super friendly and we enjoyed being able to use the resort facilities but also walk into town to explore. The staff worked hard to clean the beach of the seaweed each day and their efforts are to be commended!

The room had bugs (mosquitos at night, and found several dead bees on the floor), the bathroom was in need of a refresh and had a sewerage smell, and overall the room was a tight space for a family of 5. The included breakfast only started at 7:30 and wasn't actually part of the hotel, the options were extremely limited - with the restaurant wanting to charge more for coffee with milk (only black coffee was "included"). We only went there once for the 3 nights we stayed and made alternate arrangements on the other days. The pool looked quite green & cloudy, and not safe to swim in, it often had trash floating on top.

The hotels location was apparently right on a red-light district street, and the family room we were in had no natural light. The in-room spa was cool though - the kids enjoyed that. The breakfast was average.

This was a really delightful tour - we saw turtles, a stingray, an octopus and several fish.

The guide was fantastic and really helped make the tour of Teotihuacan interesting for the kids - they even got to try doing some art with local flowers/plants that created the color. They also bought crickets for the kids to try and took us to some local spots to see the crafts and sample the food.

Thankfully we managed to find a bike that our youngest could dink on the back of as most of the bikes were too big for her to ride. We visited four cenotes in all and the guide was terrific and everything felt quite relaxed. This was a semi-private tour as there was another group that joined us. It was also great that they offered for us to buy a simple lunch afterwards too as that helped fuel us for our next activity.

We had been given a list of restaurants to try in the town and on one afternoon we decided to check out the town and take advantage of one of those recommendations. It was terrific - right on the water and food was delicious.

The kids were able to help make the tortillas and really enjoyed doing this and then eating what they had made. Seeing how it was cooked was also great. We were so happy that we were able to do the lunch in the community first prior to visiting the cenote as otherwise it would have made for a much longer/harder day with the kids.

Our guide was very thoughtful and clear with their explanations. It worked well as it was hot for our family touring this site but we covered a lot of ground in the hour. It was useful to hear the explanations.

This was really fun. Isaac was fantastic and very knowledgeable.

Uxmal is a wonderful site but unfortunately the guide we had for that was not a great fit for our family. They didn't engage the kids as well as other guides during our time in Mexico. Thankfully when we went to the chocolate museum they switched up to an english speaking guide rather than Spanish which is what had previously been arranged. The kids were more engaged here and enjoyed seeing the different huts with information about the cacao beans, the mayan experience and also the animals.

So many great restaurants were recommended for us to try in our free time - we selected a couple and they did not disappoint.

Unfortunately our free day was on a Monday so many of the museums we had hoped to visit were closed. The team put together a great alternative self guided itinerary and we thoroughly enjoyed walking through the town and going up the tower and savoring the food at one of the restaurants that was recommended.

Chef Miriam was terrific. She was knowledgeable, friendly and engaging.