Kimkim Trip Reviews

When we were planning we changed our minds a lot about what we wanted to do and more importantly what we thought we could cope with due to medical conditions. Berat was very patient with us and helped us to plan the best itinerary. Our local guide Volkan was brilliant and we enjoyed our time with him. He was very knowledgeable and also kind and happy to go at our pace. He also made some excellent recommendations for places to eat which meant we had some very tasty food and a stunning view from the restaurant on our last night. Overall, really happy with the experience and glad we decided to book with Kimkim.

Kim Kim provided a memorable family experience in Spain. The tours provided beautiful views, historical insight, & immersed us into the culture!

The hotels were excellent. Fantastic guides Brian and Debbie. Wonderful opportunities to explore and see penguins, ostriches, baboons and meerkats. Beautiful country and people.

Hotel Reviews

Pezula Magic

Cozy Air BNB

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pezula Nature Retreat

Knysna

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hlangana Lodge

Oudtshoorn

Gardens were lovely Rooms were ok

Authenticity & Character

Location

Near busy road

Staff

Staff were very friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Abalone Guest Lodge

Hermanus

Beautifully decorated Lovely scenery and views

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Winchester Hotel

Western Cape

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Victoria & Alfred Hotel

Cape Town

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Safari Ostrich Farm Tour

South Africa

it was fun to learn about the different types of ostriches and feed them. We also had lunch there. It was delicious.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Brian our guide and driver was fantastic!

Featherbed Eco Experience including Lunch

South Africa

The food was wonderful. But the trip was over booked. We had middle seats at the front of the bus. We couldn't see or hear the guide and smelled diesel. The Featherbed staff paid better attention to the visitors who had tour guides with them. We couldn't hike because of rain.

Quality of Experience

Food

food was delicious

Guides, Drivers and Staff

guides at Featherbed - looked after those with tour guides

Transport

bus too many people

Full day touring Boulders Beach and Kirstenbosch Gardens

Cape Town

Loved seeing the Penguins. We also visited Table Mountain that day so didn't get to Gardens

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day City Tour, Robben Island & Table Mountain

South Africa

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Debbie was driver. Guides and drivers on Island all personal connection

Transport

We added this French Basque experience on to a cruise and was so glad we did. We had always heard of Biarritz, the resort of royalty and also the Basque region with its intriguing culture and language. Working with Emma was a pleasure. She recommended staying in Bayonne as our base and it was a delightful choice and so convenient to take the train for all day trips. Hotel Koegui in Bayonne was so nice to come back to each night. We liked the room, breakfast and staff. The artwork was a beautiful touch. Our St Jean de Luz tour was unfortunately canceled but we enjoyed the town on our own. Lauren in Cambo les Bains and Espelette was a great guide. Being Basque, she explained the culture and sites very well. She was very conscious of our time so we made our return train but we did not feel rushed. Vicky in Biarritz was marvelous. We immediately felt a connection and enjoyed our tour immensely. Wish it could have been longer. The Quality Hotel in Bordeaux for our last night was a great location but not very special. It was adequate. We did not have a room as pictured in their online site. The driver to the airport was punctual and a delight to talk with on our drive. Kimkim has again given us the trip we hoped for. Thank you.

Hotel Reviews

Quality Hotel Bordeaux Centre 3*

Bordeaux

Great location. Adequate room and good breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Nothing special

Location

In the heart of old town

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything in our room was very clean

Villa Koegui

Bayonne

Great location in a wonderful town. Our room was spacious with a nice bathroom. Breakfast was delicious and varied. The staff was very helpful and courteous. Highly recommend if in Bayonne.

Authenticity & Character

Location and artwork

Location

Walkable to train and all restaurants

Staff

Very helpful with restaurant advice

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Biarritz Walking Historical Tour

France

Same as Biarritz train station

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Biarritz

France

We loved Vicky. She met us at the train station where we were going to take a taxi or bus into town but instead her husband was with her to take us. So nice. We had a great walking tour of Biarritz with plenty of history and culture explained. Wish it could have been longer but we had 2 hours and the afternoon to explore on our own.

Quality of Experience

Vicky

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Vicky

Transport

Espelette guided Tour

France

Lauren also guided us to Espelette which we really enjoyed. It was an even more submersion into the Basque culture. The final tasting of some pepper products was a nice way to end this tour.

Quality of Experience

Lauren was great

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Good driver

Transport

Villa Arnaga

France

Lauren was a very good guide for this chateau. Being Basque, she knew the reasons for much of the architecture and decorations. It was a fascinating home with all the wall paintings.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walking Tour in St Jean de Luz

France

Unfortunately cancelled at last moment

Quality of Experience

Canceled

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Canceled

Transport

Canceled

The hotels selected and the daily schedule were great. All four of us had a great time and it was nice to have it all planned for us.

A wonderfully coordinated trip from KimKim, our advisor Winnie, and our various local guides and drivers from the in-country agency. The trip was fast-paced in order to see as much of our selected cities as possible - Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka. We found the Pirate Ship Boat Ride on Lake Ashi in Hakone to be a bit gimmicky, but other than that everything was wonderful.

Anita did a fantastic job at planning and arranging our trip to Italy! It has been a lifelong dream for my Mom and I to visit where my grandfather was born in Italy. Everything went amazingly from the private drivers to the incredible guides throughout Naples, Sorrento, and Rossano. Our day on a private boat on the Amalfi coast was one of the highlights with the gorgeous views of the cliffs and swimming in beautiful blue waters. Spending the day with our private guide, Enza, in Scala Coeli was so special. We were able to see original documents of my grandfather's birth certificate and my great grandparents' marriage certificate. We also had a local person show us around the village including where my grandfather was born. The places we stayed were perfect with beautiful views in Sorrento and Rossano. We had a private large balcony on Sorrento with views of the mountains all around. This was such a meaningful experience for me and my Mom that we will carry with us for a lifetime. This was also the second time I have used Kim Kim to create a great trip from me, and I could not more highly recommend them!

Hotel Reviews

Naplesuite B&B

Naples

Great location! Staff was very helpful and the room was clean and very comfortable!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tenuta Ciminata Greco

Rossano

Located in the mountains overlooking Sorrento and the coast! A beautiful and serene location with historic grounds where they press their own olive oil! What a special place to stay!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Maison Kalea

Sorrento

Beautiful room with a private and spacious balcony! Breakfast was delicious and fresh! Views from our balcony were absolutely stunning!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rinuccini Relais Hotel

Naples

Nice, spacious rooms! Delicious breakfast! Staff was very helpful!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

The Royal Palace of Caserta: Italy’s Hidden Gem

Naples

Had a great tour through the palace learning the history of this magnificent structure!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trace Your Roots: Personalized Ancestry Journey

Italy

Special and memorable day with our private guide through my grandfather's village, Scala Coeli in Calabria. It was an emotional experience seeing original documents of my ancestors and walking the streets they had once walked. I had no idea how beautiful it was there! We then had a delectable lunch at a seaside resort with the best seafood I have ever had! My Mom and I will never forget this day!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sailing the Amalfi Coast: From Sorrento to Amalfi & Positano

Italy

An awesome day cruising the coast on a private boat! Absolutely stunning views and so fun to swim him the crystal blue waters!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Pearl of the Mediterranean: A Day on Capri Island & Anacapri

Italy

Seeing the Blue Grotto and walking around he beautiful and picturesque Capri Island!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cook with a Local Chef in Sorrento

Italy

Such a unique and personal experience! Our chef welcomed me and my Mom into her home to prepare an authentic and delicious meal. It was a wonderful time!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our taxi got a little lost, but we were able to call the Chef's home and get helpful directions.

A Journey Through Pompeii & Mt Vesuvius

Naples

Such a great day with a private guide in Pompeii, delicious lunch, and a hike to the top of Mt. Vesuvius!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Antonio was the best!

Transport

My wife and I visited Turkey in May 2026 having planned and booked the trip in two weeks, thanks to the team at Corciebo Travel, but special mention goes to Buse. We had the pleasure of working with Buse who was very eager to help us plan our vacation and immediately arranged a call to discuss our needs, where we would like to visit and also recommended some tours to consider. We visited Istanbul, where we were met by Ishmail (our guide for our time in the city). Ishmail's knowledge of Istanbul knew no bounds and we had a wonderful time touring the city and learning about the culture, history and food. Following Istanbul, we arrived in Bodrum, where Buse surprised us by securing an all-inclusive resort stay - perfect for us to unwind after 4 days of touring in Istanbul. We really wanted to sail the Turkish Riviera and this is where Buse's agility really helped in securing a gullet stay which my wife and I will remember for the rest of our lives. We sailed with FarOut Turkey, captained by Ahmet and his wonderful crew. My wife had done her own research and Buse was open to using a service provider we preferred, making the booking process so smooth. We wrapped up our Turkish adventure in Antalya and left Turkey with a full and happy heart. Thank you to Buse, Corciebo Travel, all the drivers who supported with transfers and the wonderful crew aboard Cheers (FarOut Turkey). We are already planning our next vacation in the beautiful Turkey.

Leny did an amazing job from start to finish. She helped us find activities catered to our children's interests and everything on our itinerary was truly a wonderful time. We were frankly nervous as we do not speak the language of our destination and we had never ventured out on a trip this far from home. But Leny made the planning process way less stressful and opened our eyes to a few adventures we hadn't even considered.

Activity Reviews

Afternoon Bamboo Forest & Monkey Bike Tour

Kyoto

Very exciting experience. We had a wonderful time and really enjoyed getting to see a side of Kyoto we couldn't have otherwise. It was so helpful to have a guide lead the way from the money park and the bamboo forest so we could simply enjoy the experience and not worry about navigating.

Quality of Experience

really cool to see the city by bike and from the monkey park

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Don was fantastic - very knowledgeable and committed to safety

Transport

easy to find - we met outside of the train station to it was very convenient

Kyoto Ramen & Gyoza Cooking Class with Professional Chefs

Kyoto

We all had a really wonderful time and would happily come back to this experience again if we are back in Kyoto.

Quality of Experience

The staff truly made the experience a fun and engaging time

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The staff truly made the experience a fun and engaging time

Transport

we met at a clearly designated meeting point and our guide brought is to the nearby kitchen. very easy to find and very clearly marked.

My family of four (2 adults and 2 adult children (ages 21 and 18) spent 10 days in France. We had six days in Paris and 4 in Nice. When we decided to go to France, I was overwhelmed with all there was to see and do. Not know where to stay or which tours were best for our family, I turned to KimKim for help. Liz took the time to understand what we wanted to see and do on our trip ensuring everyone got to do something they really wanted. The tours were a amazing. An especially memorable tour was the the VIP tour of the Louvre - First to see the Mona Lisa. Adam was our tour guide and he was amazing. He not only was entertaining, he knew exactly how to get to the Mona Lisa before everyone else. We had a few minutes alone to look at the painting and got a family photo. But all our tour guides were fantastic. The people of France were fantastic. We enjoyed eating at the many boulangerie's, learning the subway and just taking in all the architecture. Nice was gorgeous as well. So much history and culture and we had a beautiful view of the Mediterranean. We will remember this trip forever and can't wait to return.

Hotel Reviews

Hôtel Suisse

Nice

Hotel Suisse was a top notch location and had an excellent view. The complimentary breakfast was also very good and appreciated. The beds were comfortable and the AC worked well. The bathrooms felt a little old and were quite tiny. Some of the hotel staff outshined others. Overall, they were nice and accommodating as we had a bit of a snafu when we first arrived. The location was the best part of this hotel. The value wasn't great given the price we paid, however.

Authenticity & Character

Fit the area but not the price point.

Location

Perfect spot with a view of the Mediterranean. Walking distance to a many restaurants and shops.

Staff

Some staff were nice than others.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were clean. Bathrooms felt really small.

Hôtel Adèle & Jules Paris

Paris

This hotel was really pretty and quaint. The only reason I gave this four stars and not five is that there were some hidden fees we were not aware of and the two single beds we requested were smashed together as one bed. But the location was great. Access to many nearby restaurants and boulangeries as well as the train. The hotel had AC (which is not common in Paris) and was quiet so we were able to get rest. The bathrooms were updated and very nice as well.

Authenticity & Character

It felt Parisian

Location

Access to all the nearby restaurants and the subway.

Staff

Staff was nice. They didn't necessarily go out of their way to greet us but they were nice and accomodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable beds.

Activity Reviews

First to the Mona Lisa: VIP Louvre Experience

Paris

Our tour guide, Adam was simply amazing. We were the first family to reach the Mona Lisa. Adam was so much fun and taught us a lot in a short time. I would highly recommend requesting Adam. Go Team Adam!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Notre-Dame & Sainte-Chapelle Visit with Priority Access

Paris

Ed was fantastic at sharing with us the details of Sainte-Chapelle and the Notre Dame. We learned a great deal about both locations and he shared other information for us as well. He was incredibly nice and took his time to explain the culture and meaning behind these buildings. He also was patient with us as we were still dealing with jet lag from arriving the previous day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

🔸 Eiffel Tower : Reserved Access to the Summit + Audio guide

Paris

Loved seeing the Eiffel Tower at sunset. The tour guide was great but the tower was packed with people making it difficult to fully enjoy.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The trip planning and recommendations by Ben were superb. The local guides (Yo, Roy and Ricky) were very friendly and went out of their way to ensure we say everything. 10/10.

Hotel Reviews

Candeo Hotels Osaka The Tower

Osaka

Incredible views from the Onsen.

Hotel Vischio Kyoto by GRANVIA

Kyoto

Mercure Hida Takayama

Takayama

Laforet Club Hakone Gora Yunosumika

Hakone

Asakusa View Hotel Annex Rokku

Tokyo

Unbeatable location. The breakfast, while good, was not at the same level as the other hotels we stayed at and there are no public baths.

Activity Reviews

Osaka Exploration: Castle, Cuisine (Ramen Included), and Sky-high Views (Private Guide & Public Transportation

Osaka

Day in Arashiyama: Rickshaw Rides, Bamboo Strolls, Serenity at Three Temples, & Delightful Encounters at the Monkey Park with Tea Ceremony with Public Transportation

Kyoto

Day Trip Itinerary to Shirakawa-go from Takayama with Public Transportation

Takayama

Shirakawa-go is incredibly beautiful and it was a nice change from the big cities.

Private transfer from Tokyo to Hakone via Mt. Fuji

Japan

Tokyo Skytree, Sumo Experience & Michelin Tempura Tour with Public Transportation

Tokyo

Tokyo One-Day Public Transport Tour: Tokyo City Exploration: Tsukiji, Shibuya & Afternoon Independent Leisure

Tokyo

We loved that, Gummy, being a local, shared his passion for Iceland. The information and insights he provided were excellent. He recognized and catered to our interests and needs. We enjoyed all of our activities - it’s hard to pick a favorite.

Moonika did a wonderful job planning our trip. It was an experience me and my children will cherish forever. We particularly enjoyed our bike tour of Helsinki and walking tour of Tallinn. Thanks, Moonika!

We loved working with Kim Kim. Sydney was excellent in creating an itinerary that fit three generations of interests including the mythology tour of the Acropolis, the food tour in Athens, the day trip to Delphi, and our farm visit/cooking class in Naxos which was our favorite. The experience so relaxed having every transportation connection pre-still planned, organized and payed for. Thanks Kim Kim.

While our guide changed several times, there seemed to be a smooth transition to the next person. When we had questions or needed assistance the guides were quick to reply, and helpful. Setting up our rental car and accommodations was excellent. We didn't use the service for too many excursions other than a guided bike and hike which were both excellent. We stayed in three different places over just over two weeks. Accommodations were all excellent. We didn't really care for our first town, Lake Garda but enjoyed Lake Iseo, and loved the Dolomites.

Hotel Reviews

Waldrast - Forestside Living

Siusi (BZ)

Beautiful hotel set within walking distance to the trails and Gondala ride. They include guided cycling and hiking day adventures which was really nice. While several hotels participate in this shared offering, there was only one other couple for our bike day.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Romantik Hotel Relais Mirabella Iseo

Clusane Iseo (BS)

Loved this hotel up on the hillside. Beautiful surroundings and lovely staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Piccola Vela

Desenzano del Garda

Wonderful hotel with great service. All people were very friendly and the food was excellent. We had a wonderful dinner. The grounds of the hotel were relaxing and peaceful, out of the business of the town.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Walking the Dolomites: Guided Hike on Alpe di Siusi

Italy

The guide was absolutely excellent. We had a very full day on Alpe di Siusi and it was one of the highlights of our trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Loved our trip and it was well planned. Any questions or problems were answered quickly and resolved quickly.

Hotel Reviews

The Roseate Villa

Bath

Nice hotel but no lounge areas to congregate

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Slaughters Manor House

Lower Slaughter

Great hotel and great staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easy drive to towns

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Hidcote Manor Gardens

England

Beautiful even in the rain

We had a 2 week trip in Greece visiting Athens, Mykonos, Paros, Naxos and Santorini. From the moment we asked the Kim Kim team to help us plan our holiday they were very helpful and took into consideration our families preferences and what we wanted out of the holiday. It is too difficult to choose our best destination as all the destinations offered something unique. The assistance whilst we were on holiday was amazing, and the app is a great feature so we could access trip details at any time. Everything went smoothly and we had a great balance of free time and excusrions to fill our holiday with great memories. Thank you to Marianna and the Kim Kim team!!

Hotel Reviews

Blue Dolphins Hotels & Villas

Firostefani, Santorini

Lovely hotel with amazing views and a great sized room and balcony. Shame there wasn't a pool but still loved this place!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lagos Mare

Naxos

Nice hotel, good location and good sized pool

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Paliomylos Spa Hotel

Naoussa

Beautiful views from the hotel, very cute and quaint accommodation with really helpful staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The George Hotel

Mykonos

Favourite hotel for pool and outdoor space with a 9 year old. Really close to the beach and very friendly staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Amalia Hotel Athens

Athens

Great location, nice size room, with beautiful views

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Diamond Caldera Morning Cruise

Santorini

Great trip and lots of opportunities to swim. The food was delicious and service was amazing.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Daily Traditional Boat Tour

Paros

This was a lovely trip, but unfortunately the weather wasn't very good on the day so we didn't get to do much off the boat which was a shame.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Delos & Rhenia Morning Sailing Yacht Cruise

Mykonos

We loved this tour, great team, good amount of time on the island and great amount of time moored with the ability to swim and fish and delicious food.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nikola meticulously planned our 2-week Croatia/Montenegro tour. We were able to tailor the trip to our needs, and it had a good mix of free time as well as tours organised by Kimkim. We were informed daily as to what was happening via WhatsApp.
The accommodation was superb. We had a variety of hotels, boutique hotels, villas and apartments. Their location was perfect and convenient in the town which we were staying.
The local guides and drivers were friendly, informative & professional.
It was great not having to think about transport whether it was by car or boat.
Our entire trip was exceptionally smooth and would highly recommend Kimkim for travel planning.
Thank you

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Neptun Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik

Got an upgrade to Royal Blue. Lovely view from our room. Lots of facilities. A short bus ride to the Old Town.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Korcula Hill

Korčula

Apartment living. Very relaxing. A short drive to the centre of town.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Villa Nora Hvar

Hvar

Lovely villa. Restaurant amazing.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Heritage Hotel Fermai

Split

Beautiful hotel - a short walk to the centre of the city

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Teatro Verdi Boutique Hotel

Zadar

Lovely boutique hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Dubrovnik

Zagreb

Convenient location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to the centre of city.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Day Trip to Montenegro - Perast & Kotor

Dubrovnik

Driver very good. Local guide very friendly & informative.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Walking Tour of Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik

Local Guide very friendly and informative.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Full Day Boat Tour to Blue Cave & Pakleni Islands

Croatia

Did get to the Blue Cave due to tides so had to go other places.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Walking Tour of Split

Croatia

Local guide very informative.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Walking Tour of Plitvice Lakes National Park

Croatia

Local guide very informative.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Using KimKim was one of the best decisions I made when planning a trip to Japan for my son and I. It was so nice to not have to agonize over which hotel to stay at, which train to take, which sites I should go see, and many other very important/stressful things I didn’t have to worry about since Bella ( my trip planner at KimKim) had already taken care of it. She was wonderful to work with the entire way through my trip. She was super flexible when I realized my 15 year old son and I needed more flexibility than having an actual guide with us everyday midway through our trip, she pivoted and was able to give us all the reservations for us to explore alone, rather than with a guide. They booked so many cool experiences for us that I wouldn’t even know existed ( kimono wearing tea ceremony, monkey park, romantic train, water front shrine in Hakone). We loved our guides we did have- big thank you’s to Yo and Frank for making our trip stress free, informative, and lots of fun. Bella, Yo, and Frank made my son’s and my trip to Japan so much fun and not at all stressful, and for that I cannot thank them enough! I would use kimkim again in a heartbeat!

Hotel Reviews

Citadines Namba Osaka

Osaka

Great location and had bigger rooms. Only downside is you could hear trains when they were rubbubg ( like 5am on) nice bright room with all the amenities.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Vischio Kyoto by GRANVIA

Kyoto

Great location, next to train stations, but no amenities and a little far from the sights.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Walking distance to Kyoto train station, but farther from sites.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

No ameneties ( qtips, razors, etc)

Hakone Hotel Kowakien Tenyu

Hakone

The VIEW! And the baths. Wish I stayed here a couple more nights. Absolutely beautiful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro

Tokyo

Breakfast was so good! Hotel was a little out of the tourist area, which we found to be nice and relaxing.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hidden Paths of Arashiyama: River Journey, Moss Temples & Bamboo Whispers（Private Guide, Public Transportation）

Kyoto

The boat was shut down due to high/ rough water, so we did monkey park and romantic train instead. So much fin and absolutely beautiful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day tour by public transport in Kyoto: Fushimi Inari Shrine, Nikishi Market, Converyor belt Sushi , Samurai and Ninja Museum and Tea Ceremony

Kyoto

The shrine is beautiful- go early for less crowds. The tea ceremony was amazing. You get to dress up in beautiful kimono and learn about why they have tea ceremony then make your own matcha tea. So fun, so worth it!

Quality of Experience

C

Guides, Drivers and Staff

R

Transport

Fuji Five Lakes Tour, Transfer to Hakone

Japan

The sites are beautiful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Yo and driver were wonderful

Transport

Half-Day Tokyo Tour by Public Transport：Tsukiji Outer Market, Sushi-making class and Free Afternoon

Tokyo

So fun. Sushi making was hands on and so tasty?

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The trip was well conceived and coordinated. The level of reliability was very high for on time meetings, timely information, and delivery as promised (sometimes more than promised).
Heidi did a great job of creating the itinerary and coordinating every single detail including help with the visa process.
Amongst the guides, the standout guides were Justin (zhangjiajie) and Rose (Shanghai). They went beyond their brief, were very flexible and quick in adapting to our requirements, and went out of their way to make us feel comfortable.
The quality of the hotels that we stayed in was excellent. The cars provided in all locations (except Beijing) were comfortable and the drivers very good. The car in Beijing could have been bigger - it was too cramped especially for my daughters who were sitting in the third row.

What could have been better? We would have liked to receive more proactive suggestions from our local guides on what places to visit after our day with them was over. Only when we questioned the guides intensely, did they come up with suggestions. I am surprised that places like Datang Everbright in Xian were not on our itinerary or even suggested. There are so many places in each city that are worth visiting and should have been a part of the suggested list.

Activity Review

Dujiangyan Panda Base Volunteering Day Trip

Chengdu

I did not like this activity. The volunteering work isn't much really and feels very inconsequential. Much ado about nothing.

Quality of Experience

Food

Quality of food here was very average. We did not like the lunch served at the Panda base.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport