Kimkim Trip Reviews

Lisa took all of the suggestions we provided and truly tailored an itinerary that matched our travel priorities perfectly. The instructions were detailed and told us exactly what to expect regarding logistics. The pace was at the level we expected with room to seek our own adventure when it made sense to. I would highly recommend working with Lisa and Beat the Dutch travel.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Beijers

Utrecht

Quaint and centrally located. Staff was friendly and acommodating.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grand Café Hotel Kruller

Otterlo

Conveniently located. Clean, restaurant and exceptional as was the breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel de Hallen

Amsterdam

Breakfast was top notch. Room was small, yet clean and comfortable. Hotel was in a convenient area of the city!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Centrally located

Staff

We had a mix up with getting out chip card and they never found it. Lisa dropped off a new one for us.

Activity Reviews

Amsterdam - Anne Frank House

The Netherlands

A must see for anyone going to Amsterdam. Book early it is popular. We are glad we went.

Quality of Experience

Transport

Utrecht - Centraal Museum

Utrecht

We thought the museum was okay but would have enjoyed the music museum more.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Close to the hotel

Amsterdam - STRAAT Museum

The Netherlands

Museum is fantastic. One of our favorite things we did!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Amsterdam - Canal cruise (join-in)

The Netherlands

Intimate tour with only 7-8 other guests. Our tour guide was friendly, engaging and informative. Would do again!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Amsterdam - Day trip to Volendam and Marken by public transport

Amsterdam

Quaint towns and fun to stroll the streets.

Quality of Experience

Transport

Utrecht - Climbing the Dom Tower

The Netherlands

Very challenging but worth the climb. For anyone who has a good fitness level, this is a must do. The restaurant next door was a great place to go afterwards as well.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Otterlo - Explore De Hoge Veluwe National Park on foot

The Netherlands

Hiking was fantastic and trails were easy to follow.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Haarlem - Self-guided cycling route to the beach of Bloemendaal

The Netherlands

INcredible bike ride and views! Loved it! Bike rental was easy as well.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Amsterdam - NDSM wharf

The Netherlands

Amazing museum and a pleasant surprise. We loved the young, vibrant area as well. Highly recommend!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Loved the ferry.

Transport

Amsterdam - Rijksmuseum

The Netherlands

Great overview of Dutch artists.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Public transport pass the Netherlands (OV chip card)

The Netherlands

A must for anyone traveling in the Netherlands. So easy!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Utrecht - Self-guided cycling route to De Haar Castle

Utrecht

The 40 mile bike route was stunning! The castle and grounds is a must see!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Otterlo - Explore De Hoge Veluwe National Park by bicycle and visit the Kröller Müller Museum

The Netherlands

Incredible park and experience. We could have used another day!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Loved the free bikes!

Amsterdam - Day trip to Haarlem by public transport

Amsterdam

beautiful town. We enjoyed walking the streets and taking in the lovely views.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Amsterdam - Van Gogh Museum

The Netherlands

Amazing museum. A must see!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Easy to get there

Amsterdam - Half-day trip to Zaanse Schans by public transport

The Netherlands

Touristy but worth the visit. We loved learning about the history of windmills and the influence on industry in Amsterdam.

Quality of Experience

Transport

Easy to get there by public transport

Amsterdam - Private guided historic city walk

The Netherlands

Rudolph, our guide was friendly and engaging. Wonderful person!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We loved the Flam Railway, the fjords, and the Lofoten islands. All our accommodations were great, but our favorites were in Aurland and Svolvær.

Porto was by far my favorite place. Our driver, Ivo, was entertaining and seemed to enjoy showing off his beloved Porto. The hotel, Porto Bay Flores, was especially wonderful - right in the middle of the action (no cars, just pedestrians) with a lovely outdoor seating area to sit and people watch. An easy walk to shops and food as well. The trip to the Douro Valley was interesting and I would have loved a longer boat ride. The stops at Navarre and Obidos on the way to Lisbon were also very enjoyable and added dimension to the experience..

Lisbon is a busy city! Our driver, Hugo, did an excellent job driving us to Sintra, Cabo de Roca, and Cascais allowing wonderful stops along the way. He was exceptionally engaged - found us a lovely lunch stop overlooking the ocean. The Valverde Hotel turned out to be a solid choice - offering a sip of Port at night in the library! It was also on a street with shops and restaurants but busy with traffic. The tuk-tuk ride to Belem was entertaining.

The stop in Evora on the way to the Algarve was interesting but since it was a Sunday not everything was open and the town was pretty quiet - were hoping to have an opportunity to learn more about cork but the factory was closed. The Pine Cliffs Resort was beautiful but not a perfect fit. A quieter less family oriented place might have been preferable. Also, I had a very negative experience with the management which completely soured my experience there.
The excursion to Lagos and boat ride to Ponta da Piedade Caves was a good contrast to the Pine Cliffs Resort.

Hotel Reviews

Valverde Lisboa Hotel & Garden

Lisbon

The front desk staff and welcomers at the front door were exceptional. I loved the library and servings of Port. The restaurant was a bit slow on service but the sommelier was very good.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Busy street but shops and restaurant accessible.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Pine Cliffs Resort

Apartado, Albufeira

I was treated poorly by the manager on staff at check out which soured my experience. Lots of babies, toddlers and kids so if you are looking for a quiet place, this is not it. Beach is not handicap accessible.

Authenticity & Character

A huge resort - would be good for large family gatherings or golfers

Location

You are isolated once there.

Staff

Front desk staff customer service lacking.

Cleanliness & Comfort

I loved the room and especially the very private balcony

PortoBay Flores

Porto

I loved the location. Also, the amenities - sauna, steam room, and warm pool, were included. The outdoor breakfast seating was lovely - complete with champagne!

Authenticity & Character

Surrounded by beautiful, classic old buildings

Location

Great for people watching

Staff

They were all so good!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Discover Porto on a Private 4-Hour Historic Center Driver Tour

Porto

Fun to see other parts of the city - crossing the bridge to the Villa de Gaia side and tasting port at Sandemans. Would have perhaps preferred an additional tasting at a smaller establishment.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Unveil the Fairytale Villa of Sintra with a Private Driver Service

Portugal

Adding a visit to the town of Sintra, lunch on a hilltop overlooking the ocean and stops at Cabo de Roca and Cacais made the trip to the Villa even more exceptional.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I think our driver, Hugo, made all the differnence.

Transport

Comfortable ride and Hugo was a very careful driver.

Uncover Porto's Hidden Coastal Gems on a Private Driver Tour

Porto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Essence of Douro - A River, Wine, and Gastronomy Experience with a Private Driver

Portugal

The drive was long but a great way to see the countryside. I would have enjoyed a longer boat ride on the Douro.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Had a great time in Ireland. Loved Kinsale the most! The hotel there was the best of the trip and the vibe of the town is exactly what we love.

Hotel Reviews

Ashling Hotel Dublin

Dublin

This hotel is close to the train station and the zoo, but it's far from shops and restaurants. The room was well appointed and clean. Ours was overlooking the HVAC units for the hotel so it wasn't quiet. Our room wasn't ready when we arrived, which is no big deal, but their luggage storage is in the basement of the parking deck and doesn't feel safe or secure. The breakfast was nice.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Galmont Hotel & Spa

Galway

The lobby and main part of this hotel is very nice, including the restaurant but it is the newer wing of the hotel. Our room was in the older wing of the hotel, it was a hike and two elevator rides to get there, and that part of the hotel smelled old and moldy. Additionally, anytime a room door shuts in that part of the hotel, it slams, even if you try to close it gently. So you can hear everyone coming and going all night. The room itself was nice.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Killarney Riverside Hotel

Killarney

This hotel felt very odd. The first night we were there we had several spiders in our room and someone on staff came and cleaned them up. Other than the spiders, it was clean but did not feel like a 4 star hotel. It was very sterile and lacked basic amenities. The beds were terrible, they felt very cheap and made our backs hurt every night. Everyone we talked to (Drivers, Guides, etc) while we were in town gave us strange looks and wondered why we were staying there. Turns out, until recently this hotel was used to house displaced Ukrainians. There was one lady at the front desk that was very kind but the other front desk people weren't very engaging and the restaurant and breakfasts were terrible. It was also a bit of a far walk into town.

Authenticity & Character

This is not a 4 star hotel. Its very sterile and basic.

Location

Staff

Only giving three stars becauase the guy who came to clean the spiders was kind and one of the front desk ladies was kind. Everyone else we ran into wasn't particularly friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Was clean (other than the spiders) but it was not comfortable.

Perryville House

County Cork

This was our favorite hotel of the trip! The staff were very attentive and friendly. The beds were very comfortable, and our room had a beautiful garden view.. This hotel has the BEST breakfasts!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right across from the water

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Stauntons on the Green

Dublin

This hotel was nice. The room was clean, the beds were comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Older hotel, but well maintained.

Location

Right across the street from the park and walking distance to great shops and restaurants.

Staff

The staff were kind.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Killarney National Park Walking Tour

Killarney

Our guide, Mike, was wonderful. But this activity felt underwhelming. It mostly felt like a stroll through the park with a friend.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Galway Private Walking tour

Galway

Our guide was very kind and personable, however, she is the daughter of the company owner, she is in college and not really a knowledgable guide. We didn't really learn much. She also said she usually only does 1 hour group tours so she didn't know what to do with us for 3 hours on a private tour. We ended up letting her go early bc it felt like a waste of time.

Quality of Experience

Guide was not very knowledgeable

Guides, Drivers and Staff

She was very kind and personable

Kinsale Private Walking Food Tour

Ireland

We enjoyed this! Our guide, Adrian, was wonderful. We had 5 stops and our guide directed us to other places we should try during our time there.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Noga and the team were fantastic — top‑tier service from start to finish.

Overall, the planning and execution of the trip was excellent. Eduardo was a fantastic coordinator and was always ready to help. Gerbreth in Lima and Andres in Cuzco were also excellent coordinators and very helpful, always on time and polite. The itinerary was great, but we would have done some things differently if we had known. The initial stay in Lima was too long and we could have skipped the Danza show (which was very nice but not essential) and the gastronomic tour (also very nice but not essential). Instead, we would have preferred to stay an extra day in Cuzco which is more interesting to us. Rolando in the Amazon jungle tour was great and very knowledgeable. In Cuzco we enjoyed the visits to the various ruins and Machu Picchu. Julio was a good guide but his English was hard to understand at times and he always seemed in a rush. The city tour of Cuzco was not really a city tour as much as a tour of the cathedral and a convent that contained some Inca temple ruins. The Cathedral and convent tours were far too long and very boring to us. The guide, Emil, was enthusiastic and polite, but his English was very hard to understand. He also seemed in a rush all the time and we did not have time to stop to buy snacks or drinks. The latter part of the tour to the ruins on the outskirts of the city were interesting but were quite rushed and again hard to follow Emil's English. We were hungry most of the time and there was no chance to get a snack along the way. Overall we'd prefer a bit slower pace with a bit more free time to visit markets and try food on our own.

Hotel Reviews

Holiday Inn Lima Airport

Lima

Good airport hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Inside the hotel it is clean and safe, all modern and up to date.

Location

Good for next day air travel. However, even being so close to the airport we needed 20-30 minutes to get to the terminal due to traffic and construction. The surrounding area is unpleasant and not walkable.

Staff

They were all friendly and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

No issues at all.

Sonesta Hotel Cusco

Cusco

Excellent hotel and location. Excellent breakfast. Staff were all great.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Corto Maltes Amazon Lodge

Puerto Maldonado

Excellent lodge in a primitive setting. Staff are friendly and helpful. Food is simple but good.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

There was no hot water for showers in our cabin and overall it was a bit too rustic for our taste.

Dazzler Miraflores by Wyndham

Lima

Very nice hotel but a bit out of the way for walking around Lima.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Cusco city tour & nearby Archeological Sites (Small Group)

Cusco

Need to allow more time and have better a English speaking guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exquisito Peru - Gastronomic tour and local market visit. - Private

Lima

Not very interesting to us but should appeal to many others.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lima: Colonial city tour & Larco Museum

Lima

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Corto Maltés 3D/2N (day 2)

Puerto Maldonado

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full day Machu Picchu (Group)

Peru

Need to allow more time and have better a English speaking guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sacred Valley Tour - Shared Services

Peru

Need to allow more time and have better a English speaking guide.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip was really wonderful. Maria was so easy to work with and she planned our activities perfectly after we told her what we really wanted to see and do, and then her own suggestions added excitement and fun to the trip. We loved having all our tickets/passes/bookings right at hand in the app. But even better was all the addresses, suggestions for what to wear or to bring to an activity were right at our fingertips and so helpful. We smoothly moved from one place to another and never had a problem with any of our plans. So thoughtfully detailed and planned out!

In Oslo, we explored based n the suggestions Maria gave us and enjoyed, parks, gardens, museums and the palace and opera house. Our guide on a nature tour, Giovanni, gave us ides for where to go after our tour and even helped us find the best way to get where we wanted to go. Our time in Oslo was so much fun.

My biggest “want” was to see the fjords. Maria set us up for a really amazing experience in the Sognefjord and surrounding fjords. We had a lovely train ride from Oslo to Flǎm and we stayed in Aurlandsfjord that night which was was the most magical place. We did the sauna there and jumped into the fjord which is a must do while in Norway. Our hotel there was lovely and we woke up to such beautiful views it was breathtaking. We had a RIB boat tour with Inge, who was a fabulous guide and delighted us with some fun history of the area as we cruised the lovely fjords. We ferried to Balestrand after that and spent two days in that part of the fjord. We went to see the Glacier Museum in Faerlandsfjord aboard a vintage ferry with our guide Guya (sp?) who shared his own history of watching the glacier change over time having lived in the area all his life. It was a beautiful thing to see and learn about.

We left by ferry for Bergen after that and spent our last 3 days discovering the fascinating area that my family are from. We kayaked in the North Sea with Iris as our guide and she knew much about the region and its history and she showed us some beautiful parts of Bergen we would not have otherwise seen. We went to the Troll Museum and the University of Bergen Museum and enjoyed both. A trip up the funicular with tickets that were flexible allowed us to do that on a day when the rain stayed away. We enjoyed the ride and found ourselves wandering a troll forest at the top and then hiking a bit to a pretty lake. All of this right above Bergen yet we felt miles away from the noise of the city. We shopped, tried local foods and even got a have a beer in a wine cellar built in the Middle Ages.

The peace of mind knowing everything was in place and easily accessible within the KimKim app, made this trip so hassle free we were able to enjoy every moment. I could not have planned a trip in a place I have never been to before and not had a lot of stress. KimKim made it possible without the stress. The support staff even checked in with us to make sure we were happy. Maria and her team did such a wonderful job helping us have a memorable, everything we wanted it to be trip - we can’t thank you enough!

Hotel Review

Hotel Aurlandsfjord

Aurland

We enjoyed our stay at this hotel so much. The staff were not just welcoming and friendly, they went out of their way to make our stay amazing. The food was fantastic and the location is just delightful.

Authenticity & Character

So much charm and nicely appointed rooms.

Location

The views are incredible

Staff

They were just delightful!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Shared Fjord Sauna Experience - Flåm

Flåm

This was our favorite activity. While the guide/concierge was just ok, the sauna itself, the facility, location and amenities were wonderful. We had so much fun that evening we will never forget it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fjord Safari by RIB

Flåm

Inge gave us a wonderful view of the fjord near Flåm. The ride was smooth and comfortable and she gave us great photo opportunities, entertained us with stories of the area and its history in a witty and fun way.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Food & Culture Walk

Bergen

We very much enjoyed walking the Bergen and Brggyn area to learn more about the history and culture. The food was great and we learned so much.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mostraumen Fjord Safari by Premium RIB

Bergen

This is a high speed adventure ride from Bergen to the fjord. It was exciting and beautiful.

Quality of Experience

The ride was exhilarating and the scenery was beautiful.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver/guide was great. The staff helping us gear up were rushed, but helpful

Transport

Øygarden Islets Kayaking Excursion

Bergen

Iris was a wonderful guide and the equipment and instruction were all spot on. We had a lovely time exploring the islands.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fjærlandsfjord Cruise & Bøyabreen Glacier Visit

Balestrand

The boat was so much fun - it was a vintage ferry with friendly staff and it made the trip seem so very Norwegian. Our guide was amazing, the museum is very interesting and had so many hands on exhibits, we really learned a lot. The glacier visit was very memorable and scenic.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Oslofjord Island Hopping Nature Walk

Oslo

Giovanni was a wonderful guide for our tour and so helpful with suggestions of others things to do and try.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The entire trip was AMAZING! Our accommodations (except for the Pavillion Arms) were great! I especially enjoyed the Old Vine Inn in Winchester- GREAT location, GREAT restaurant challenging stairwell. Our tour guide in Winchester (David?) was perfect for us - good historical knowledge, and wonderful overview of beautiful old city! The Lodge in Newquay was lovely with a nice restaurant! Tour guides in France were excellent - great tour of St. Malo and Mount Michel with Samuel was perfect. Nina and Lucy were also great for our food tour and D-Day beaches. All were prompt and very professional. We were able to see and do far more than we would have been able to with our excellent guides! I also appreciate that they offered my husband a more gentle pace - helpful for aging folks! I would LOVE to go back soon!

Wonderful everything was wonderful. Thanks for your help you made our trip a great success!

Hotel Reviews

Svinøya Rorbuer

Svolvær

Best place we stayed on the whole trip on a stormy day we could see the weather and on a clear day we could walk where we wanted and the food was amazing!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Vangsgaarden Gjestgiveri

Aurland

Location was perfect, Quiet great food a stay of a lifetime! Thanks.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The desk clerk was amazing!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Svalbard hotel | The Vault

Longyearbyen

Perfect location!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Glacier Safari

Svalbard

Our guide was a perfect gentleman when we were at the glacier he would us let enjoy the quiet and the calfing of the glacier. It was the most peaceful and full of awe trip. Hard to explain but just perfect!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Just was so nice and we just enjoyed him and the trip.

Transport

It’s a long way and felt like a big adventure.

City Walk

Norway

This was the best our guide was perfect and I would go with her anywhere!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was the best ever!

Transport

This was the most stress-free vacation, thanks to Valeria and Lucrezia. A lot of credit to Cristian, our local concierge in Italy. Transfers to and from the airports and train stations made the trip smooth. My wife and I didn't have to navigate any unfamiliar procedures because the support we recieved from the drivers and the concierge team walked us through everything.

Our days did not feel rushed, because the tours were spaced out, allowing us free time to roam when we had the energy, or rest up when we were tired.

Our trip was beyond outstanding! Everything was planned to perfection. The excursions were well-curated, and the coordination of the car service to all locations made life so easy. When we had an unexpected delay in our travels, the local agent, Diliana was very quick to help us change our train reservation, without any delay. The app was simple to navigate and the team was very responsive and receptive. We loved all of the hotels we stayed at, and we know that without a doubt, we will be using kimkim for future travels! Would recommend without hesitation!

Hotel Reviews

Eitch Borromini Palazzo Pamphilj

Rome

We were only there briefly (26 hours) but the time we were there, we appreciated that this is a very nice hotel, with all of the amenities, and outstanding service. Would highly recommend!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria

Sorrento

The most amazing hotel we have ever stayed in! Service was exceptional, the views were unparalleled, the breakfast was outstanding, and this place cannot be beat. The live music at sunset and breakfast added to the joy at every turn. The pool was also a fun and beautiful place to spend the day!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Oltrarno Splendid

Florence

Amazing and unique hotel. Amazing staff. Yummy breakfast. Loved the living room area. Amazing location. Would go back!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Welcome to Italy

Italy

Quality of Experience

Evening Trastevere & Jewish Ghetto Culinary Walk

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Free Evening in Florence

Florence

Quality of Experience

Day Trip to Positano & Amalfi by Boat

Sorrento

A fun afternoon seeing the Amalfi coast from the water! The best way to avoid the crowds but still get the scenery!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Depart Italy

Italy

Quality of Experience

Seafood Cooking Experience

Sorrento

A fun afternoon cooking and eating local seafood!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Capri Island by Boat

Sorrento

A perfect way to experience Capri - from the water, with swimming, but then also heading up to Anacapri and Capri for drinks with a view!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Three Tuscan Wineries with Lunch

Florence

Such a fun way to see Tuscany! The variety at the vineyards made for a truly memorable afternoon!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private City Walk with Michelangelo's David

Florence

The perfect walking tour, complete with just the right amount of information and history, and time to experience Florence.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Justine created a brilliant trip for us to the west of England and the North of France. Our guides were knowledgable and our accomodations were always good, some exceptional. I might have been able to build a similar trip from the States but it would not have been nearly as good as this one.

Our guides were great. Nicole was really amazing and fun to be with on our tour of the Fortress in Suwon. We wanted to detour to Osan to take some pics of my old base but wasn’t able to do so but everything else went well. Billy our guide for our trip from Seoul to Gwangju, Daegu, Cheongju, and Pusan was extremely well versed in the history of the different dynasties and period of Korean history. He did everything to ensure we had a great time as we journeyed through the land of South Korea. Christine was always available to help and to fix anything that went wrong or keep us informed of any changes or updates to our itinerary. We love the Hotel arrangements and the food offerings at each location. Our tour in Daegu and Cheongju as well as Pusan were great. The people we met were so warm and attentive to our being able to have a wonderful experience in South Korea. We were able to visit the Language Institute in Seoul and Pusan and attended church on two Sabbaths and met some wonderful people of our faith. We enjoyed the spiritual fellowship with them and great food as well. Our trip to Jeju had a small hiccup with airport security but Christine came to the rescue and remedied the situation. Thanks for all your help Christine. You were great. We plan to visit again in 2030. Hope to stay in touch with Billy(Lee Kyung Jong), so we can see him again soon. Thanks to everyone involved in making our trip to South Korea so enjoyable and such a memorable success.

The hotels were fantastic, the itinerary was well thought out and organized, and Anita and the whole KimKim team were very responsive. Could not have planned it this well by myself. The other plus is that KimKim and Anita struck the right balance between organized excursions and free time so that we did not feel like we always had to be somewhere at a certain time. Highly recommended.

Don't waste your time on Zagreb, two days max. Korcula!!!!

Hotel Reviews

Villa Bonaca

Skradin

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Valamar Collection Dubrovnik President Hotel

Dubrovnik

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Aminess Liburna Hotel

Korčula

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Corner

Split

OK for short stay

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

OPTIONAL : Oyster tasting in Mali Ston

Croatia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

If I could give KimKim 10 stars (instead of 5) I would. Seamless trip planning from start to finish. Every private transfer, tour, and experience were amazing and all of the people we interacted with both at KimKim and on the ground during our trip were fantastic. The choice of hotels was impeccable, meeting our desire for small boutique options and 5 star luxury throughout our trip. We had a travel delay due to weather and the team helped us rebook train tickets twice in the same day… all I had to do was send them a text. Cannot recommend KimKim highly enough.

Hotel Reviews

Eitch Borromini Palazzo Pamphilj

Rome

Spacious room, excellent location. Great spot and very walkable to most of the big sites.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria

Sorrento

True luxury. If you have been to a 5 star hotel in the US, this is easily a 6!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Oltrarno Splendid

Florence

Authenticity & Character

Location

Loved the more quiet but still lively and lovely Oltrarno neighborhood

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Welcome to Italy

Italy

Quality of Experience

Evening Trastevere & Jewish Ghetto Culinary Walk

Rome

Essentially a 5 course progressive meal. Beer, wine, and gelato included. What could be better?

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Free Evening in Florence

Florence

Quality of Experience

Day Trip to Positano & Amalfi by Boat

Sorrento

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Depart Italy

Italy

Quality of Experience

Seafood Cooking Experience

Sorrento

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Capri Island by Boat

Sorrento

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Three Tuscan Wineries with Lunch

Florence

3 vineyards, each offering something different from the others. Great day trip with a small group who quickly became good friends.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private City Walk with Michelangelo's David

Florence

Knowledgeable guide, great pace. Wonderful introduction to Florence on our first day there.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

KimKim arranged an 8 day trip to Florence and Rome in September for me and my husband. We knew we were interested in science/engineering and food, and asked for a "mid-range, upscale" plan. KimKim quickly connected us with a local "travel designer" in Italy at a company called My Custom Journey. We were assigned to Valeria (and assisted by Lucrezia) who worked with us over the next few days to arrange a plan that gave us exactly what we wanted. The plan included an activity or two each day, with a free day in each city for us to manage on our own. The plan came in about 30% over the range I had selected, but it included everything we wanted, with excellent hotels (four star, centrally located, comfortable size and amenities) + private transfers and drivers for all the on ground travel in Italy. That means we were met at the airport by a guide, driven to our hotel, driven from our hotel to the train station and personally guided to the train, with the same level of service when it was time to head home. This made our trip completely stress free and luxurious feeling - well worth the extra cost. I'm sure they would have adjusted to fit into our range if we balked at the upgrades.

For one of our free days, we found an underground labyrinth tour that was a bit out of town, and Valeria was able to secure a car to take us to and from. She also contacted the labyrinth company directly when it didn't look like there would be an English tour on the day we were free. They were able to get us a private tour last minute! They were also very responsive about any questions we had about shopping areas, art galleries, appropriate attire, and scheduling.

On the ground in Italy we were supported by Daniela who we were able to contact easily on WhatsApp. She was quick to respond and great at addressing any issues that came up (e.g., there was a flood in Florence that affected a tour we had planned and she was able to adjust our day). The best tour Valeria and team arranged for us in Rome was an all day tour down Appian Way to see catacombs, mausoleums, and the ancient aqueduct. Our tour guide for that day was Maria Teresa and she was so knowledgeable! In Florence, we had the same guide for all our activities - Valentina - who was an art historian but was also able to speak knowledgably about the science museums we visited. She also arranged for us to skip the line at All'Antico Vinaio ;-)

The only thing we didn't love about KimKim is the fact that they use their own app to deliver the travel plans. It does a great job of collecting all the activities plus the tickets, addresses, and details we needed. So, on its own it's fine. The challenge is that we use TripIt for all our travel tracking and planning and there's no way to import the KimKim content in TripIt. Since TripIt is where we keep our flight info and restaurant reservations, it would be wonderful if we could have incorporated the KimKim stuff into the app we already use for all our other travel stuff.

Rachel went above and beyond. Was such a great trip.

We will never travel to Europe any other way, now that we have experienced such wonderful personalized service. My friend and I are, (dare I say?), senior travelers and are now ready to dial back our expectations of catching trains, hiking to subway stops and trying to figure out the mysteries of urban and country travel. We no longer feel comfortable driving, so having drivers and guides to show the way made all the difference. A trip that could have become burdensome became easy and relaxing, as Anita laying the ground work meant that we never had to worry about what's next. We both were impressed at how quickly our guides were prepared to pivot to accommodate my mobility challenges allowing us to truly enjoy our surroundings. Not a small thing in a country of hills and more hills, chunky cobblestone and uneven curbs,

Portugal was packed with adventure, beauty, wonderful food and wonderful people. Taking this personal approach also meant that we felt that we made personal connections with real Portuguese. Sharing personal stories about children, families and pride of culture is the reward of travel, not just checking off boxes of attractions. We savored every minute of this trip!

Thanks to all of out drivers and guides and to Sofia, our host for a lovely dinner in her home in Lisbon. All were exceptional: Lino, Nuno 1, Nelson, Tiago, Nuno 2, Paulo and even the cork farmer, whose name I do not know.

We will be back!

Hotel Reviews

MouraSuites Hotel

Largo da Porta de Moura, 7000-647 Évora, Portugal

Elegant boutique hotel with modern aesthetic. Small, intimate dining facility used for breakfast and dinner. All were exceptional, in fact, I wish I lived there! Small inner courtyard pool perfect for relaxing after a hot sunny day. Rooms were every comfortable, providing black out curtains, sophisticated shower, cushy bed. Evora was the perfect way to end out tour!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Editory Garden Porto Hotel

Porto

This hotel was adequate, but a little disappointing. It seems to be affiliated with a hospitality training school, so the staff (students?) seemed to be spread too thin. Everyone was multitasking , and no one was particularly focused at the task at hand. It felt as though there were no systems in place and no mechanism to problem solve. Not sure if I ever saw a manager. The staff were, however, unfailingly nice and hospitable. Greatly appreciated!

Authenticity & Character

Location

A little outside central areas, but close to the subway.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

BessaHotel Liberdade

Lisbon

Lovely boutique hotel in a great location. Staff was very attentive. There is a restaurant and room service. Rooms were delightful and very comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Rooms were quiet and bed was relaxing.

Location

On Liberty Ave . Near public transport and a tuktuk on every corner!

Staff

Came to my rescue!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Well maintained. Super clean.

Activity Reviews

Portugal - Important Trip Information: Please Review Before Departure

Portugal

Dinner With Locals: A Homemade Portuguese Experience

Lisbon

Cork Experience with Wine & Lunch

Évora

Private Day Excursion: Sintra, Cascais & Estoril

Portugal

Douro Valley Highlights: Wine, Olive Oil & River Cruise

Porto

Évora Through the Ages: Guided Walk

Portugal

Porto Up Close: A Private Walking Experience

Porto

Get to Know Lisbon with a Local

Lisbon

Awesome introduction to Lisbon. Great food and great company!

Anna did a phenomenal job coordinating our last-minute trip to Greece. She built us a custom itinerary based on our travel style and thoughtfully positioned our hotels in spots that optimized our trip.

Along the way we had some exceptional tour guides - notably Grigori in Heraklion on the private Minoan Tour of Knossos & Archaeological Museum tour, Christina in Athens on the small group Acropolis & Old Athens walking tour, and Vasiis in Santorini on the private Traditional Villages tour. Something to note with morning tours, in Greece hotel breakfasts are served later than in the USA so have an alternate plan for breakfast if you venture out before 8:30 AM. Our hotel in Crete did offer an early continental breakfast if coordinated the day before which was really helpful.

We had a great experience with kimkim and will definitely consider using them for future trips.