Kimkim Trip Reviews

Ruth helped us with our trip. I already had some things organized and wanted to include my son who is on vacation work visa. It was not easy to cobble around all of that. But she was patient and it all worked out brilliantly. Every tour we went on was a unique experience and we enjoyed them all tremendously. The bike tour of Sydney was fantastic, the nightime glow worm adventure in Byron bay was amazing and so was kayaking with dolphins. Another fabulous experience was the river float on Mossman river up by Port Douglas. I never thought I would enjoy tours so much.
Cheers to Ruth! Thank you for making that all possible. We would have missed so much without your guidance.

Paula planned the perfect trip for our family to see a little bit of everything that we asked to do! We made wonderful memories that I will cherish forever!

Hotel Reviews

Novotel Newcastle Beach

Newcastle

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Ibis World Square

Sydney

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very friendly and helpful!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mercure Welcome Melbourne

Melbourne

It is tucked away in the middle of Chinatown- fun location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pacific Hotel Cairns

Cairns

Loved the location and style- great place to stay!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Sydney Opera House Tour

Sydney

the perfect length- 1 hour- to get a lot of fascinating information.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Outer Barrier Reef Cruise (Snorkeler)

Australia

This whole excursion was such a well organized, planned out trip. The boat ride over had a very informative talk given by one of the marine biologists and the staff was all positive and happy. The lunch was great. While on the floating station, not crowded, and again the staff was helpful and informative, The views underneath of the coral reef were beautiful and stunning.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Great Ocean Road Tour with Lunch

Melbourne

A long day, but completely worth the views and the walk through the rainforest. A bonus stop at a little chocolate shop along the way with beautiful choices.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cairns Private Transfer Airport to Cairns Hotel

Australia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Best of Fitzroy Island

Cairns

It was not a crowded excursion which was nice. I think going in winter helped! Felt like we were on our own private beach at Nudey Beach

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cairns Private Transfer Cairns Hotel to Airport

Australia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Phillip Island & Moonlit + Penguin Plus with Dinner

Australia

Highlight of our time in Melbourne! There is nothing cuter than watching these little penguins come in! The animal sanctuary was fantastic as well- we pet so many kangaroos and wallabies.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunset Dinner Cruise Window Seat (from Circular Quay Wharf)

Sydney

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Melbourne Private Transfer Airport to Hotel

Australia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Blue Mountains Deluxe Day

Sydney

Loved the farm visit along with the gorgeous views up in the mountains. The Botanical Garden was a nice way to end the day as well.

Quality of Experience

Food

My husband loved the meat pie he ordered for lunch!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was a perfect mix of info and a funny character!

Transport

Sydney Private Transfer Hotel to Airport

Australia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Melbourne Private Transfer Hotel to Airport

Australia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip planned with Ruth was perfect! Queenstown was a beautiful city and the excursions that we went on were just right! The gondola and luge tickets were just right for the day we arrived. The Milford Sound day tour was amazing- it is a long day but so worth it!! It was a bright sunny day and our tour guide was informative and fun! The Walters Peak Farm and BBQ lunch was a great way to spend our last afternoon- leaving room for some last minute shopping in town and enjoying the beautiful weather!

Hotel Review

Millennium Hotel Queenstown

queesntown

Authenticity & Character

Location

It is up on a steep hill so easy to walk down to town (~10minutes), but a tougher walk home up the hill.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full Day Milford Sound Glass Roof Van/CruiseVan

Queenstown (NZ)

Breathtaking!

Quality of Experience

Our driver, Tommy! He was awesome! And we really lucked out with beautiful weather.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Van was perfect size- loved the small group verses a large bus group.

Walter Peak Farm and Gourmet Barbecue Lunch

New Zealand

BBQ Lunch was great- so many options and loved some of the unique offerings. The farm setting is just quaint and beautiful!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Queenstown Private Transfer Airport to Hotel

New Zealand

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Queenstown Private Transfer Hotel to Airport

New Zealand

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The entire trip was amazing. The itinerary set up very well. All of the tours and guides were fantastic. The glacier walk was very interesting and the kayaking beautiful. We especially enjoyed the whale watching trip. The guide and Captain were both exceptional and made it very fun. We loved how close we were able to get to the whales We were lucky to enjoy good weather on all the tour days as well. One of our favorite spots was the Við Lónið Guesthouse, and the town of Seyðisfjörður.

The only issue we encountered was the Torg GuestHouse. Once we got it, the room was so small that there was barely any space for our luggage or to walk around. There was also construction going on around the square so it just didn't have a good feel.

All the other hotels were great to nice and we enjoyed our stay at each - especially the ones that had pools to lounge in.

We just returned from an amazing 10 days in Japan to celebrate our daughter's high school graduation. From our first contact with KimKim and Greg, our trip planner, the process was smooth and efficient. Greg asked great questions and listened to our wishes to plan our itinerary. His knowledge of Japan helped us immensely! He took care of so many things for us - airport pickups, Wifi devices delivered to our outstanding hotels, train tickets with “Fuji view” seats and reservations for dinners and experiences. Some of our favorites were small group activities to make our own chopsticks, learn calligraphy from an expert, eat new foods with a local guide and participate in a tea ceremony in kimonos. His guidance was invaluable and his communication was thorough and timely. When we had an issue with tickets for an event, it was solved within 10 minutes of sending a WhatsApp message. We would definitely use KimKim and Greg if we are ever lucky enough to visit Japan again!

We had used Kim Kim lin 2024 for the tour of Brazil so we used KimKim again in June 2025 to experience the incredible diversity of African wildlife in their natural habitats in Kenya and Tanzania. The itinerary included visit to Amboseli National park with Majestic snow capped Mount kilamanjaro in the background and Maasai Mara reserve, Nakuru Reserve and Lake Naivasha in Kenya and world famous Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Caldera in Tanzania. To rest and recharge, we stayed at beautiful lake Victoria in Tanzania. Jospeh worked very well with us to complete the itinerary to our satisfaction.

This is a truly an unforgettable trip of lifetime. June weather was perfect with cool breeze, and partly cloudy conditions helped us throughout our tour. Our Tanzanian guides Festo and Godbless and Kenyan guides George and Sano ( Stanley)
were so special that they made the entire trip an informative and fun. The places to see picked were unique and gave greater insight first hand to life of many beautiful animals in their natural habits to find food and survive in the wildlife . Kudos to KimKim for making the itinerary so that we could see lions, lionesses , and their cubs, cheetahs, leopard, elephants, Buffaloes , giraffes, Rhinos, Hoppos, gazelles, impalas, Zeebras, wothhogs . Despite the change in the rain patterns, we did see a part of Wildebeests migration in Serengeti . Hot Balloon ride over Masai Mara Reserve was awesome.

The sound smells, and the side of African bush will stay with us forever, along with amazing people with the warm and open hearts. Spending a night at the Maji Moto Maasai Cultural camp (Kenya), on traditional leafy beds under the stars in sleeping bags (provided), with the protection of warriors throughout the night is a once in a life time experience.

The range of emotions that we experienced in Safari has always been refreshing for me and to witness as well as share the emotions that are being exhibited by others in the safari vehicle is satisfying to me. Being out in nature for hours, watching raw African wildlife as it unfold in front of our eyes, unedited unscripted unplanned can never be replicated anywhere else. A place where mother nature plays for her role in every outcome.

Only blemish we experiennced in the tour was no hotwater in Serengeti Heritage Luxury Tented Camp. It was challenging to navigate two nights without running hot water or flushable toilets. KimKim should work with Heritage Camp to resolve these issues so that the future traverls will not have challening experiences.

Thank you KimKim for our making dream come through. We are using Kim Kim for our next tour of New Zealand.

Marur Dev,

Robert did an excellent job of organizing this trip and was always very prompt with responses to questions and issues we raised. All the guides and drivers were very timely, came to our assistance very effectively, despite the crowds and our limited knowledge of travel practices and helpful with expected activities. The assistance was always friendly and knowledgeable. The facilities and associated activities we were always top notch, with appropriate support information.
Reservations were timely and modified as required.

Alex and Nick planned a great trip. Communication was easy, timely, and useful. Only minor hiccups, but they were handled quickly. The next time I need travel booking help, I will use kimkim.

Hotel Reviews

Scandic Grand Tromsø

Tromsø

Hotel offered exactly what we needed.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nordis Suites

Svolvær

Beautiful view of the harbor.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Be sure to have the taxi drop you off near the Nordis restaurant. We were dropped off at the wrong location, but it was only a short walk to the correct place. Building is close to everything in town.

Staff

We did not interact with staff except to call and get our apartment code. It would be helpful if they had What'sApp.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Radisson Blu Airport Hotel, Oslo Gardemoen

Gardemoen

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Welcome to Tromsø

Tromsø

Tromsø is a wonderful small city. Beautiful views. Very easy to each airport bus to city center.

Quality of Experience

Midnight Sun Cruise

Tromsø

Beautiful views. The guide on the boat was really funny and knowledgeable about the local area. She was great.

Quality of Experience

Locals Guide to Svolvær

Svolvær

Small town, but one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen.

Quality of Experience

Husky Puppy Training Visit

Tromsø

So much fun. Really nice facility. Beautiful views on hike.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Self-Guided Arctic Cathedral Visit

Tromsø

Such a beautiful church.

Quality of Experience

Explore Tromsø

Norway

Nice, walkable city.

Quality of Experience

Private Lofoten Floating Sauna Experience

Svolvær

Really nice sauna. Try the polar plunge at least once.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We walked and did not use transport. It is a short walk from the main harbor area.

Trollfjord Cruise by Electric Boat

Svolvær

Incredibly beautiful even though it was raining and cold. Guides were very knowledgeable, friendly, and nice.

Quality of Experience

Our trip to Norway was planned out in steps with Alex who asked us questions and planned a trip tailored to our likes.
The trip was stress free! It was all planned with some down time in between the bigger events.
The app was easy to use and we enjoyed our tour of Norway!
I would highly recommend using KimKim!

Had a lovely 2-week vacation in The Netherlands, primarily in Haarlem and The Hague. This was my second trip to the Netherlands and my husband's first. Every time I go, I fall more in love with the Dutch way of living! Our travel specialists, Nadine and Bas, were amazing and always helpful when we needed them. I would definitely recommend them whether you want a very organized, fully packed trip or a more laid back, open ended one. They really take good care of you!

Hotel Reviews

Boutiquehotel Staats

Haarlem

My favorite hotel in all of The Netherlands! Each room is unique and fanciful. The breakfast is delicious and the staff could not be more friendly and welcoming.

Authenticity & Character

Creative and unique

Location

Just 2 blocks from the train station and 3 blocks to the historic district

Staff

Kind and welcoming

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel des Arts

Amsterdam-Centrum

Building dates back to the 1700s. Charming and quaint, it is in a great location. About one block from the (spotless) metro. Convenient to seeing many sites in Amsterdam. Friendly staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Mai Amsterdam

Amsterdam

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Beijers

Utrecht

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful! Each room is unique in it's own way.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Due to the historic nature of the hotel, there is no AC. Probably not an issue for some, but just know this when you are making your plans.

Activity Reviews

Public Transport Pass Amsterdam

The Netherlands

Can't live without this! Makes travel within the country so easy!

Haarlem - cycling to the beach

The Netherlands

The bike culture in the The Netherlands is the envy of the world and for a good reason!

Quality of Experience

Our interactions with the team including Cathy and Stephen were most positive. Stephen provided wonderful support in the planning and he and Cathy were most helpful in trouble shooting when we had issues.
Our walking tours were exceptional in Dublin, Kinsale and on Achill Island. The tour guides were extremely open to questions and in engaging with us. We learned so much from them.

Luis was exceptional. He gave us his undivided attention every moment of every day we were with him. His knowledge of the history and culture of the Cusco/Sacred Valley region facilitated extremely education experiences, and his energy kept us active and ensured days full of adventure. Though we spent less time with them, our guides in Lima and the Altiplano were wonderful too.

Hotel Reviews

Terra Andina Mansion Colonial

Cusco

The breakfasts and staff were very good. Unfortunately, the accommodations left quite a lot to be desired. The room was very cramped, had no windows or other means of ventilation, and was way too warm at night. There was no room for unpacking luggage. The bathroom smelled of sewage. The hot water was unreliable. And, the soap and shampoo dispensers remained empty, despite our requests that they be refilled. The building has a beautiful interior, but we would opt for a Motel 6 over such an uncomfortable facility.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful colonial interior

Location

Close to main square, market, and other attractions

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cramped. Sewage smell. Hot at night. No window or other means of ventilation.

Urubamba Ava Valle Sagrado Spot

Urubamba

Beautiful rustic hotel with great staff. Unreliable hot water and no bathroom ventilation.

Authenticity & Character

Pleasantly rustic

Location

Close to town and restaurants

Staff

Great staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very comfortable except for lack of hot water and bathroom ventilation

Sonesta Posadas del Inca Puno

Puno

Beautiful view, great staff, good restaurant, comfortable room. More modern than our other accommodations while in Peru.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Lakefront with mountain view

Staff

Very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tierra Viva Miraflores Larco

Lima

The accommodations were comfortable, and the locations was convenient. There was no electricity or hot water the first night.

Authenticity & Character

I'm not sure what's meant here by authenticity. This is a modern boutique hotel without a lot of character, but it was comfortable. The breakfast was good.

Location

Close to restaurants and a short drive to Barranco.

Staff

The staff were courteous.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was comfortable, but the lack of electricity the first night was a little inconvenient. The room was clean.

Tierra Viva Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu

Beautiful hotel in a great location. Close to all the in-town attractions. Very friendly staff.

Authenticity & Character

Modern but with a lot of character. Spacious room. Welcoming entrance atrium with an interesting glass door elevator.

Location

Close to everything in Aguas Calientes.

Staff

The staff were very helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The accommodations were clean and comfortable.

Activity Review

Walking food tour at Barranco

Lima

Ceci was a great guide. The tour was very informative, and we got to try quite a lot of different foods. Most of the food was prepared in front of us with the chefs explaining the process as they went. Barranco is beautiful. A must-do tour.

Quality of Experience

Great guide, beautiful area, great food, and helpful demonstrations and explanations.

Food

All the food was great.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ceci told us about her and her families experiences and customs with particular foods and drinks. This helped us to understand the food within the greater context of the local culture. All the chefs and hosts were courteous and eager to provide detailed explanation.

Transport

It was a walking tour, which suited us and made for a more relaxing experience.

Athens- problems w Gatsby hotel but kimkim issues a partial refund which was great. Mythology tour of acropolis with Michael was stellar. Hotel in chania was so unique, great hospitality and delicious breakfast. Cretan cooking class was way too long and food not so tasty. Samaria gorge and guide was fantastic. Should have told us to bring flip flops for beach at the end because sand was very hot. Knossos and guide fantastic. Added wine tasting since not much else to do in Archanes. Loved hotel and the restaurant below in Naxos. Loved e-bike tour. Overall loved this trip.

Hotel Reviews

Manili Boutique Suites & Villas

Archanes

Nice rooms but the ones facing the street are loud.

Authenticity & Character

Pool nice but not enough seats

Location

Not much in town or nearby.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Domus Renier Boutique Hotel

Chania, Crete

Great view and amazing breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Historical

Location

View

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Avgoustos Suites

Naxos

Amazing room and deck with daybed and chairs. Hot tub was too hot for the weather.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Near beach and restaurant below was great

Staff

Got chairs on the beach. Prompt service.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Hike to Samaria Gorge

Chania

Challenging but well worth it! One of our best days.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ancient Athens Acropolis & Mythology Walk

Athens

Loved it! Guide was fun and sang for us.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traditional Cretan Cooking Experience

Chania

6 hours and not much cooking. Wine tasting was a few sips of wine and no details. Hosts were charming but food was bland. We had to sit through 45 min history lesson. I was a bit perplexed.

Best trip of our life!
Sarah was thoughtful, responsive, and thorough. With only a few brief conversations, she totally nailed planning the perfect, customized trip for my husband and I. I’d you are headed to Croatia, you need to talk to Sarah!

Hotel Reviews

Villa Split Heritage Hotel

Split

The feel of a bnb at a hotel. Everything was clean, updated, and the staff went above and beyond. Highly recommend!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Neptun Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik

If you are looking for an over the top resort, this is it.

Authenticity & Character

Big, resort style feel. Not friendly and warm like every other place we stayed in Croatia.

Location

3.5 mile walk into the old town and far from any local shops or restaurants.

Staff

Unfriendly and boarder line rude. Our key did not work multiple times and we continued to have it replaced. They dismissed our concerns and said it was because we put it next to our cell phone (we didn’t.) The ATM in their lobby stole €50 from us and they were unhelpful. They did not greet us or smile and seemed constantly annoyed if we had questions.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and full of anything you could possibly need. You can certainly find anything your heart desires at the breakfast, as well.

Heritage Hotel Dea

Hvar

Everything was just perfect about this place! The staff were kind, the breakfast was delicious, the amenities were beautiful, and it was so clean! We can’t wait to return.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Korsal

Korčula

Excellent stay here while we were in our honeymoon. The staff was so kind, the location is an easy walk to the downtown, and the view was lovely. The amenities were clean and updated.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Motor Boat Excursion to Brač & the Pakleni Islands (end in Hvar)

Split

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Kayaking Excursion

Korčula

Boris was amazing!!

Korcula to Dubrovnik (via the Peljesac Peninsula & Ston for wine and oysters!)

Korčula

Our driver, George, Dobo the oyster man, and the vineyard family were some of our favorite people on the trip. So kind, we learned so much, and enjoyed each experience. **I would not recommend this for anyone that gets car sick.

What an amazing trip! Martina worked closely with me to plan our trip to Italy, from Rome to Santa Margherita, to Cinque Terre, to our villa, and ending in Florence. She gave great ideas and scheduled wonderful drivers like Ileana and Simone to get us from the train station to our hotels. When our train cancelled in Pisa, Lorenzo at KimKim made sure we got picked up and got us to our hotel in Santa Margherita. We had the most amazing tour guide, Elisabetta, in Santa Margherita take us on a beautiful walk to Portofino. And Martina's suggestion of an evening trip to Camogli was spot on. We loved watching the sunset there. Our boat tour in Cinque Terre was fabulous with Fish and Chill and the list goes on and on. Everything was thoughtfully planned and well executed. I will use KimKim again for sure.

Our family had a fabulous trip to Greece! Erica took time with us to discuss what we were looking to do and created an amazing itinerary! Everything was perfectly planned from the activities to the shuttles. Thank you Erica and Lea for helping us take this wonderful vacation!

Hotel Reviews

Aloni Hotel

Paros

Wonderful location and amazing staff!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Irida Luxury Apartments

Naxos

Great location, close to the sea and great restaurants, very clean, and a fabulous staff!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Elia Ermou Athens Hotel

Athens

Great location in downtown Athens. Fabulous and very helpful staff!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Marble Carving Workshop

Paros

This was a really fun activity for our teenagers! Very memorable and we each left with a unique piece!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kolymbithres Beach E-Bike Excursion with Picnic

Paros

This was a great activity for our family! Ages 11,14 and 16. Biking the backroads of this Greek Island was very fun for all of us. The beach time and picnic were amazing. Would definitely recommend!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Old Town Food Walk

Naxos

This was really fun for our family! Even the teenagers had a good time. Our guide Natasha provided an amazing walking tour of the town’s history and food and the samples and dinner were fabulous!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ancient Athens Acropolis & Mythology Walk

Athens

Great historical walking tour! Would definitely recommend!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to Iceland was incredible. We were 6 adults who travelled the Ring Road, 2550kms in total! We were fortunate to have Gummi as our travel advisor and local fixer. From start to finish, Gummi was a great help. WE had only two issues during our entire trip and Gummi was very quick to respond and to smooth out the problems. He picked some wonderful hotels for us to stay in. Our favourites were the Hotel Ranga, Hotel Jokulsarlon, and the Hotel Husafell. He arranged for us to drive a Toyota Proace via Blue Car Rentals, which was perfect for the group. It was quite easy on fuel too. Our tours were also quite good, although the Katla ice cave is less of a cave and ore of a smaller hole due to ice melting and deterioration. All of our small tour guides were terrific. The lava cave experience in Vidgelmir was particularly fantastic. Also important were the detailed notes that Gummi provided about parking, facilities at the places we visited, and other relevant information. Our days were quite filled, and we mostly felt like we saw the main highlights of Iceland, and a bit more. That said, by the latter part of our trip, we opted not to drive around the entire Snaefellnes peninsula in order to enjoy a more leisurely day. Gummi arranged for us to experience four of the famous Iceland thermal baths. I added two more: the Secret Lagoon and the Lysulauger algae bath. For some of the group, it was their first and only trip to Iceland; for others, we will return again!

Overall it was a good experience. All the logistics of moving us from place to place and all the tours were well executed. the hotels, except for one was very nice. Miragem in Cascais was great, except the pool was freezing. Liberdade Porto Bay in Lisbon was excellent. Conde Azevedo Palace, a very rustic location, was not up to our standards and when I complained to Across Portugal, the provider, there was not much they could do that would not cost me an arm and a leg. I was a touch offended that the young lady said it was the 2nd best hotel in Porto. I can guarantee that the second best hotel in Porto does not have creaky floors, smelly refrigerator, dirty walls and insufficient hot water to fill a tub. It also had its share of bugs including a spider in our bed. it made our 3 days in Porto unpleasant to say the least and no compensation was offered or considered. Places worth seeing, Obidos, The Pacheca winery, Duoro valley, Nazare, Cascais. Places that underwhelmed, Pena Palace and the adjacent town.

The entire Kym Kim team did a great job. The things that really stood out for me personally are as follows:

1. Helen, who was one of the guides at the canopy tour did an excellent job of hanging back at the end of the line where I was struggling along because of my Parkinson’s disease. She was very encouraging and supportive, but did not attempt to push me ass doing something I didn’t want to do or wasn’t comfortable. As it turns out I did in fact cross all of the bridges on the canopy tour and it was amazing. On our way back we had a really good personal discussion about Parkinson’s disease, it turns out that Helen‘s mother has Parkinson’s disease as well. So we ended up talking about all of the work that the caregivers have to do to support a Parkinson’s patient in the family. It was a very real and touching discussion. I appreciated her honesty and her wellness to share.

2, on a lighter note, Layne provided a great experience of buying all the ingredients for lunch at the market and then taking him home for her and her mother with the help of several other people made us this fabulous lunch. But it was the richness of the discussion, especially with lanes, mother, who clearly is the matriarch of the family that made much so special.

3. By far, Sylvester was the biggest highlight of them all. When it was clear that I had a serious medical condition in my left eye that required immediate attention. He was on top of the situation from the beginning to the end and stayed with me and my wife, every step of the way. I especially appreciate his support from my wife. I’m not sure if she would’ve held it together if it hadn’t been for Sylvester. He made it quite clear that he was there to remove any barriers and help us get to Singapore to get medical help as soon as possible. He helped us understand, not only the policies and procedures but at times also the politics around how to get things done in the Malaysian system. He was excellent at offering a third alternatives that might help us achieve our goals quicker and better but he also let us make the final decisions. It was clear that he had management support this endeavor as no obstacle was too big for him to tackle. We will be indebted to him for the rest of our lives. As it turned out, I had a very successful surgery and the doctors expect I will recover to 90% of my vision in my left eye. Without his help, it could’ve easily been an entirely different outcome. And lastly, I want to thank Nick for developing such a caring culture in his organization and other senior leaders as well or their critical role in the behind the scenes Support of all the help that Sylvester provided to us. Of course the help was not limited to Sylvester, we got support from the office staff. The on-site staff, etc., if you ever need someone to talk about what a caring culture looks like in the action and how Kym Kym exemplified carrying culture, I would be happy to share my story and experiences with others. do some, it may not seem like that big of a deal. But letme insure you that when you lose virtually 100% of the vision in one eye and you’re not sure if it’s gonna be permanent or not. You are so preoccupied with worry and fear about the loss of your vision, that it is hard to focus on solving the immediate problems at hand to enable you to get the medical care you need. So the role that Sylvester played is not only essential because we were in a foreign land far away from home. But it was also essential because we were not in the best mental frame of mind to sort things out and make the best decisions on our own. I will be forever grateful to you and your team for the support we received which was certainly way beyond the minimum that could be expected. Please share as you see it. Thanks for everything, Byron.

My daughter found KimKim when she started planning our trip to Scotland. Kate worked very well with our requests, the changes while planning our 2 week trip. The accommodations were excellent in every area we visited, along with scheduling the visits to the castles, dining and transportation on the ferries. I highly recommend Kate and Kim Kim for travel planning.