Kimkim Trip Reviews

Patagonia was a trip of a lifetime. My husband and I decided to celebrate our 50th Anniversary with a trip to Patagonia. We were interested in the beautiful landscapes; Patagonia and Erin did not disappoint. An important detail that was so crucial to us was the land transportation. Transportation to and from airports, hotel, excursions etc. was all arranged in advance. Dittmar Adventures provided "coupons" for each transport, hotel, excursion etc. These coupons were very helpful as many taxi drivers did not understand my level 3 Duolingo Spanish *). I could verify with them that we were going to right place by handing them the coupon with hotel address. etc. I learned to have these coupons at hand, and then it was always clear which excursion we were to be on. We started in Puerto Varas with a private tour to Mt Osorno. Loved the private tours we took through out as they allowed us to go at our own pace. Each tour guide was very knowledgeable about the flowers, trees and birds of the area. We loved hanging back and letting a tour bus load of people go in front of us, then we could just enjoying the trails and views to ourselves with our guide, staying as long as we liked drinking in the gorgeous scenery. I had two favorite places. Pumalin National Park was the 1st. We were blessed to stay in one of the very few cottages at the park. Our guide Marco was amazing. I loved touring the garden and information center at the park. Marco also arranged for a private boat up the "fiord" past sea lion colonies that was very interesting. Pumalin is a rain forest, so had those amazing giant rainforest ferns and trees. Trees, some of which are older than the Giant Sequoias in California. Marco pointed out the differences in the trees of Pumalin to the pines of North America. He also shared Mate with us at lunch, what an interesting tradition! I regret that we did not have more time on the trails at Pumalin. Punta Arenas was our next stop. Erin arranged a private tour out to the Nao Victoria Museum that has a replica of Magellan's ship, and a replica of the Beagle, the ship that Darwin was on, as well as other replicas. You can climb up into the ships and get a sense of the size and understand the bravery of the men that sailed the world in such vessels. There was time for a brief stop at the cemetery in Punta Arenas. I did not realize that it was so beautiful, and would have planned for more time there. On to Puerto Natales and the Bernardo O Higgins National Park and Torres del Paine Park, Stunning, breathtaking... words cannot describe. We stayed at Hotel Lago Grey. Our room had an incredible view!! This area is exactly what we came to Patagonia to see, it was my most favorite favorite place. Next was El Chaltén and then Laguna Condor Lodge. There are plenty of hiking trails right from town in El Chaltén. The Laguna Condor Lodge is a ways out of town with cute little cabins. Mt FitzRoy dominates the view from the lodge at breakfast. We enjoyed a couple of days rest away from hustle of travel and just relaxed or walked along the glacial river. The last days were spent in Terra Del Fuego, then home. Erin and her staff were very responsive to our wishes. Penguins? Yes. Hikes requiring tents? No. Large cities, museums, wine tastings? No. Outdoors, mountains, lakes, waterfalls, glaciers? Yes, yes, yes! Tour buses? No. Private tours? Yes!!! Chain hotels? No. Boutique hotels and cabins? Yes. The only things I would change is more time on the trails at Pumalin and another hour at the Punta Arenas cemetery. Dittmar Adventures included with their very detailed itinerary, maps of each town marking location of lodging and nearby restaurants. There was a very nice mix of cute little downtown hotels for exploring the locale to upscale hotels with stunning views. We have not traveled extensively outside the English speaking world, so I was very worried about taking taxis with my poor Spanish capabilities. Dittmar arranged prepaid taxi drivers who had my name on a card, to and from every airport. Sometimes this transportation was 20 minutes. Sometimes it was closer to 3 hours. The team was responsive to my questions. Checked with drivers then changed times when I was worried about connection time. Checked with tour guides when I had not checked the What's App and did not realize the tour time had been changed by half and hour. Airline strike in Buenos Aires... Ack!! They said they would keep tabs on that and help me where needed. (Strike was avoided at the last minute) The tour that Erin and Nara planned was exactly what we wanted. The trip went as planned. Thank you Erin, Nara and Dittmar Adventures!!!!

Hotel Reviews

Lodge Caleta Gonzalo

Staying at the Lodge Caleta Gonzalo was wonderful. The cabins were cozy and fit perfectly with the surroundings of Pumalín National Park. The hospitality and location added greatly to the experience of being in the stunning natural landscape.

Hotel Lago Grey

Torres del Paine

Hotel Lago Grey was simply fantastic. Our room had a breathtaking view of the water, glacier, and mountains. Even though I missed out on the glacier tour due to being sick, sitting and enjoying the view was a perfect experience. The setting in Torres del Paine is exactly why we came to Patagonia.

Hotel Albatros

Punta Arenas

Our stay at Hotel Albatros was disrupted by noise from construction work. In the windy city of Punta Arenas, the noise from corrugated metal roofing kept us up at night. Though I appreciate that they were working on it the next day, the timing was unfortunate as it hindered our nap to make for the sleep lost the night before. Once the construction is completed, I'm sure the experience would be better.

Laguna Condor Mountain Lodge

El Chalten

Laguna Condor Mountain Lodge in El Chaltén was simply beautiful. The lodge was perfectly situated and elegantly designed, offering a serene and stunning mountain retreat.

Activity Review

Multi-day Fly-in Hiking Tour of Pumalín National Park

Pumalín National Park

I absolutely loved the multi-day hiking tour at Pumalín National Park. The little cabin we stayed in was fantastic, and Marco, our guide, was amazing. We explored a small activity center about the volcano and the history of the area, which was fascinating. This part of the trip was truly one of my favorites.

Marina was very responsive and had an amazing itinerary for us. We had young kids and this was very kid friendly. Our guides were great with kids. Our accommodations were very comfortable and nice, and close to all the destinations. We walked to most places. Highly recommend Marina and kimkim.

It was amazing trip and they listened. I would have changed a few things but they always kept me up to date on last minute changes or train missed they booked next one. Hotels were great! I highly recommend booking with them.

My daughter Alayne and I had a wonderful memorable winter trip to Madrid and Barcelona, all thanks to the meticulous planning and care from Beatriz and her amazing team at Espiritu Travel. The Trip Plans App made the experience seamless, with all the information, instructions, guides' names and meeting points and times, tickets for events and train travel, maps, suggestions for restaurants and other interesting sites, events or areas to explore, are all included on the app.

Our guides were professional, timely, personable and truly knowledgeable.

The hotels were beautiful, well-managed, accommodating and so very helpful with directions, taxis or any questions we had about getting around in the city.

Thank you again!
Patti and Alayne S

Hotel Reviews

7 Islas Hotel

Madrid

modern hotel with all amenities, amazing, helpful, attentive staff. Delicious breakfast and dinner service

Authenticity & Character

lots of amenities - great bathrooms stocked with toiletries, plush towels and bathrobes, a tub!

Location

right off Gran Via and in the heart of both Malasaña and Chueca, both very cool neighborhoods. Easy access to Metro station.

Staff

The front desk was so very accommodating with helping get taxis, information about metro cards, directions around town.

Cleanliness & Comfort

everything was so clean and comfortable

Hotel Astoria

Barcelona

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful building - loved watching local people come in to dine in the restaurant

Location

great location, close to Avenue Diagonal and major shopping and metro stations. Loved the little tapas bar, Bar Paris around the corner - sat at tables outside with the locals. So Fun

Staff

Helpful, professional and so very accommodating with questions, directions, taxis, etc...

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Visit of Madrid: History, Culture & Architecture of the Capital of Spain

Madrid

Our guide Geze, was so friendly and knowledgeable - the day was actually quite cold and drizzly, but he kept it moving along and it was quite enjoyable. Had lots of tips for hidden restaurants, bars, etc... we took his advice on a few of them! Funny to see how the guides from different tours all know one another and greet each other

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Geze was very friendly knowledgeable, spoke so many languages, had so many friends greet him along the way, not just fellow tour guides, but neighborhood people, too.

Guided Visit of Museo del Prado with Art Historian

Madrid

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Lina is a great art history guide; my daughter loved talking to her about the finer points of the art work, being an AH minor

Barcelona & Gaudí: An Architecture Walk

Barcelona

Didn't know much about Gaudí prior to this trip, but have come away with a new found appreciation for his genius

Quality of Experience

The Sagrada Familia was such a moving experience, both artistically and spiritually. The sheer genius of the intention and artistry and engineering is awe-inspiring. I couldn't appreciate it until I saw it in person

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Catalina was an excellent guide

Tapas Culinary Experience

Madrid

great way to meet other fellow travelers and have a good time, make some new friends, go out for a drink afterwards. It was so much fun. Our guide was so enthusiastic and knowledgeable

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Jimena helped us to make true our dreamt honeymoon. She helped us to make the most of our days in the region based on our preferences and requests. We did not have to worry about anything during those days, just being on time. Special shout out to Rodrigo our guide in Ushuaia who made those days extra special.

Karlita did a fabulous job planning our unforgettable trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos. She accommodated all our family group's interests and abilities (ages 30- 65+). I appreciate that she advised us thoughtfully and raised the right questions to help us make the right choices. For example, she worked with the local guide Sebastian in Quito to provide suggestions like flipping the order of certain activities to make more sense and allow us to fit more things in a logical way. Another example was how she had hotel rooms conveniently arranged for us on the day we returned from the Amazon, so we didn't have to hang around the airport for 12 hours until our international flights home from Quito. She did not simply say yes to everything we asked for without thinking - she genuinely guided us, which is what we needed. No detail was left unthought of! Including special surprises for the special occasions on the trip.

Highlights: The GO Hotel in Quito was amazing! We especially loved our guide in Quito, Sebastian. He is extremely knowledgable and passionate about Ecuador, plus personable, friendly and fun! We also loved the staff and our local guide Cheyanne at the NAPO Cultural Center eco-lodge. Overall, Karlita was able to fit such a diverse mix of activities and parts of Ecuador into our 15-day trip without it feeling totally exhausting.

My only point of feedback: We were probably limited by our budget and availability by the time we booked (last-minute), but the only thing I would have appreciated is being offered more tiered options / operator choices for the cruise in Galapagos and eco-lodge in the Amazon, so that we could have understood the differences and chosen to upgrade to something higher-end if we wanted.

Again, working with KimKim was a fun and rewarding experience. Planning the trip went well as great help was provided in selecting hotels and an itinerary. The hotels we stayed in were beautiful with excellent service and beautiful unique environments. We planned a number of day trips. In each case, the guides were friendly, knowledgeable and excellent. This includes a river trip, nature walk and snorkeling trip. Each guide was great, making each trip fun and memorable. We also received daily interactions with KimKim overseeing that everything went well.

Hotel Reviews

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

We had a room with an unobstructed view of the volcano. Very cool. Everyone we interacted with was very friendly and knowledgeable. Food was good.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to restaurants and events.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

W Costa Rica - Reserva Conchal

Guanacaste

Cool hotel. Great vibe. Areas for adults only. Great view of bay. Relaxing room geared for a fun time. Food was very good

Authenticity & Character

Location

Somewhat of a pain driving in and out of the area. But close to treat restaurants and beaches.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Coffee & Chocolate Tour

Costa Rica

Very informative and fun. Better than I expected. Great guide. Funny and energetic.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guanacaste Snorkel Adventure

Costa Rica

Great guides. Very focused on our comfort and safety.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Safari Float on the Peñas Blancas River

Arenal/La Fortuna

Fun morning floating down river. Nice snacks. Great guide. Amazon big how they can Find animals and birds

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Nature Walk at Ecological Park & Butterfly Garden Danaus

Arenal/La Fortuna

Very interesting. Great knowledgeable guide

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My son and I truly enjoyed our adventure in Costa Rica. Olman put together a nice trip plan for us, and we appreciated his flexibility in changing the itinerary to better suit our needs. When all was said and done, we did hiking, hot springs, kayaking, lake crossing on a boat, and ziplining. We also squeezed in our own visit to the waterfall. All of our drivers were on time and, aside from one packed and stuffy ride heading to the lake crossing, the vans were comfy, especially Interbus. The tour guides were knowledgeable, and everyone whom we interacted with was friendly. It was great having breakfast included at each accommodation, and having all the hotels be so different enriched the experience. We loved glamping in Arenal, the mountain hotel in Monteverde, and the small hotel near the beach - what a cool combination it provided, and ending at the beach was perfect. Even though we didn't see many animals up close (aside from a capuchin monkey and a caiman), it was interesting to hear what the guides had to say about the animals, and seeing the sloth from the binoculars was cool. Finally, everyone in the office was so responsive - whether speaking with Graciela or Adriana at dawn regarding our lost luggage or communicating with Olman to clarify with one of our hotels that breakfast was indeed included - we couldn't have been more pleased. We didn't have to worry about a thing, and everyone associated with our trip knew how to get a hold of us via Whatsapp to provide excellent communication along the way. Thank you, Olman and KimKim!

I really enjoyed the trip to Colombia. I visited Medellin and Cartagena and had a good time. After visiting Colombia did not want to leave and hope to go back in the future. The guides were great and very helpful and informative I really had a good time visiting Colombia. I had the guides speak to me in Spanish so that it can help me improve my Spanish. Michael and the team were very helpful with their explanations on everything and Colombia is a great place with great people to the point where like how I said before I'm definitely going to visit again.

Hotel Reviews

14 Urban Hotel

Medellin

The hotel was great the staff was friendly I would stay here again in the future. I checked out the areas near the hotel in El poblado to experience the nightlife and the area was very safe.

Authenticity & Character

I like the place where the hotel was located and the view from the top floor was great.

Location

Staff

The staff was very helpful and friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms looked very nice

Hotel Casa Tere

Cartagena

I like this hotel it was great the staff was very professional and helpful and informative. When visiting Cartagena I would recommend people to stay at this hotel and I will look to stay here in the future.

Authenticity & Character

I like the hotels location and the rooftop views it was great.

Location

The location was convenient and it was safe in an area where there was a lot of people

Staff

The staff were professional and I really enjoyed talking to them.

Cleanliness & Comfort

I like the rooms they looked good.

Activity Reviews

Medellín Day Tour: Nature, Culture, and Urban History

Medellín

I really enjoyed the tour it was great I learned about the history of Medellin and how Medellin still continues to improve itself with safety. I enjoyed communa 13, parque arvi, Plaza botero, and seeing the biblioteca españa. Medellin is just a great city overall.

Quality of Experience

I got to learn a lot about how Medellin changed from the past to the present and I love how nice the people were whom I met.

Food

I enjoyed trying the different foods that was delicious.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was very helpful she was informative

Transport

Well I got to experience riding the metro and the metrocable and was great.

Tour Peñol & Guatapé

Medellín

I enjoyed the tour to Guatape and I took the tour with the Spanish speaking guide to help me improve my Spanish and Guatape was amazing. I would go back again. The guides were helpful with taking me to the moto chivito ride in Guatape and where to meet. I really enjoyed this tour was so much fun and I met great people.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guides were very good and helpful I hope to see them again someday.

Transport

The transport was good I had a good time

Medellín Day Tour: City + Street Food

Medellín

I loved trying the different foods in Medellin and seeing the different attractions such as Botanical Gardens and Parque Explora and parque rio and then saw the planetarium but I wish I had more time to see Puebilito Paisa and will look to go again in the future.

Quality of Experience

Overall I had a good experience Puebilito Paisa was fun but wanted more time to explore more.

Food

I loved the different foods I tried such as chicken sancocho and the empanadas and all in all different dishes in Medellin.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

My guide was helpful and she gave good explanations and helped me with my Spanish.

Transport

The transport was good along with the driver I invited him to lunch too.

Walking tour in Cartagena's Historic Center

Cartagena

I enjoyed seeing the beaches and the different historical sights in Cartagena and definitely want to come back again in the future my tour guide she was very helpful and answered questions and gave God explanations I really appreciate her.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Beach Day - Isla del Encanto (Barú)

Cartagena

What a good way to to end my last day in Colombia I took the tour in Spanish and I really admired the hospitality of the staff at the islands they were very friendly and the place was very peaceful want to come back again for sure.

Quality of Experience

Food

I love eating the fish

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boquilla Mangrove Tour

Cartagena

The ride down the mangrove was peaceful and very enjoyable I was able to experience a bit of how people live in the village and when coming to Cartagena will highly recommend Boquilla.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cartagena City Tour

Cartagena

I got to see pope de la cruz and the view was great and I enjoyed seeing San Felipe and the Bocagrande neighborhood and Getsmani area overall was just a great experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip planner is Karlita
I have nothing but praises for the planning and attention to detail for this trip to Ecuador. I have such great memories. It was a fantastic vacation! Thank you Karlita. You listened and delivered. You also told us when we suggested something and you said it was too much. The trip was a great combination of history and nature. Our guide Sebastian (in Quito) was absolutely amazing. He was knowledgeable, fun and loved to share his country’s history as well as personal. He took good care of my sisters when hiking in Antisana. He bought some local snacks for us so we could enjoy them along the drives.
In Galapagos I have no complaints about the crew, the activities or the guides. The cabins on Coral 1 are a little old and definitely use updating. A big complaint is that when the boat sailed during the night the noise from the engines was very loud in the cabins. We could not sleep. I think the ship can do something to mitigate the noise. Or for future planning we would request higher level cabins.
In the Amazon the Napo Culture Lodge was an amazing experience. I loved being in the community and watching the people. Our community guide Cheyenne was excellent - he knew the animals and spotted so many things for us.
Overall - Karlita thank you for putting together this amazing trip for us. I have no hesitation in recommending your company to my friends and family.
Thank you!

Hotel Reviews

Napo Cultural Center

NAPO

It was just lovely to be in the Amazon within a community. The lodge is well designed and comfortable. Simple but clean and comfortable. I was not expecting to get an WiFi - I was pleasantly surprised! They provided water bottles that could be refilled from the water filter stations. Liked that they are conscious of reducing plastic waste.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Wyndham Quito Airport

Quito

Nice hotel close to Quito airport. The shuttle service to and from the airport terminals is quick and easy. The staff at every level deliver excellent service. Being close to the airport it was still surprisingly quiet and very little airplane noise was heard in the rooms.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

M/Y Coral I & II

The crew and activities are faultless. The cabins in the lower deck near the engine can get noisy. So request a cabin on higher level

Ikala Quito Hotel

Quito

The hotel is modern , the staff attentive, the breakfast selection amazing. The rooftop restaurant (where breakfast is also served) simply beautiful. The only complaint is the noise from the traffic if you have a room on the road side. Also despite the power cuts in Quito the hotel maintained enough power through its own generators to keep the elevators working, some hallway lights and room lights. The air conditioning would cut out but come back as soon as the power was restored. This is not the fault of the hotel but the dire power shortage in the country overall.

Staff

Everyone was helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Exploring Antisana Ecological Reserve: Hiking to Laguna de la Mica

Quito

The hike to Laguna de la Mica in the Antisana Ecological Reserve was one of the highlights of our trip. The natural beauty of the area was breathtaking, and it offered a great balance of adventure and serenity. I really enjoyed exploring and soaking in the incredible views.

Transfer from Quito to Mindo - Free Afternoon

Mindo

Our drive to the Mindo Cloud Forest was great, showcasing the diverse landscapes of Ecuador. Seeing how the scenery changed from dry to wet as we transitioned to the lush cloud forest was fascinating. It's a nice journey, especially if you appreciate nature and scenic drives.

We had the best trip in Vietnam for two weeks with Trang's expert help and guidance. She gave us many great options and clearly understood the pace we needed and wanted while also traveling with a 6 yo and 7 yo. Our tour guides were great--Chung, Dat, and Loan. Each one had their own special personalities and interests that added to our trip in a unique way.

I'm so glad we found Trang on KimKim; I can't imagine a better trip and truly credit her with the large success of our adventure. She was so easy to communicate with and very responsive, even with our crazy 13 hour time difference! She has a real gift for suggesting an itinerary that is exciting, fresh, and seamless.

This was my first time using a travel agency and I am so glad I did!!

Hotel Reviews

San Premium Hotel

Excellent breakfast with a wide spread. The triple room was comfy and just what we needed after a 24 hour trip to get to Hanoi. The location was also very convenient and we felt comfortable walking around on our own right away. Also, this hotel had the best pricing for laundry services of all the places we stayed at. ***there is no pool here, though. It's a little hard to tell from the website but the hotel itself is perfect if you dont care about a pool.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hoi An Garden Palace & Spa

I loved this place!! It's so quiet and charming and a perfect place to recharge from the constant hustle and bustle of the streets of Hoi An. The beds were comfy and our kids loved the spacious pool and the plentiful breakfast buffet.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Elios Saigon Hotel

This place is fine; it just wasn't as nice as other places we'd stayed at but it served its purpose in a clean and safe way. I did like being close to the park and being able to people watch from our triple room. It was also close to several great spots to eat and we felt safe to walk around without any issues.

Authenticity & Character

It felt pretty generic--couldve been any hotel anywhere.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bamboo Village Resort

Bamboo Village has now been added to my mental list of "happy places" when I need a break and want to picture a place I love. So much thought went into its development and the grounds and pools are gorgeous and the rooms sumptuous. The beach was also wonderful and we loved being able to play in the waves so easily. Everything smells so nice there, too. The breakfast buffet was also nothing short of fabulous; it had lots of Vietnamese options as well as Korean fare and Russian fare (Mui Ne attracts a lot of Russians, which we hadn't known).

Authenticity & Character

Location

It was close enough to Phun Thiet that we went there for Vietnamese food a couple of times.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Indochine Grand Cruise

Quang Ninh

wonderful ship! it needs more Vietnamese food but otherwise everything was great. I loved the Tai Chi on the bow in the morning.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cicilia Danang Hotel & Spa

Two pools and conveniently located to go out and get food or look around. The bed was also very comfy as were the pillows!

Authenticity & Character

Location

It was easy to get a massage or barber shop visit as well as different types of food and coffees.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Ho Chi Minh City - Mui Ne Beach

Mui Ne

Quality of Experience

this was a perfect beach spot to relax and enjoy the sun and ocean.

Hanoi - Bat Trang Ceramic Village & Hanoi City Tour

Hanoi

This was an a fun excursion and I enjoyed being able to point out Bat Trang pottery on the rest of our trip!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Chung was very eager to share info with us and took us to a real authentic spot for pho when we asked to have lunch.

Transport

Explore Lan Ha Bay, Indochine Lan Ha Cruise

Vietnam

Lan Ha Bay is beautiful and going to Cat Ba Island and riding bikes was one of my favorite days there.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Karlita was absolutely wonderful to work with! She did a fantastic job planning this and working with us to help create an unforgettable and truly magical trip! From the get go she did a great job asking questions and listening to what we wanted and really got to know what kind of activities we would like as a family. We loved our guide in Quito, Sebastian, he was very knowledgeable and easy to work with. In the Galapagos, we saw great wildlife. The boat was quite loud and hard to sleep in the bottom area so in the future would prefer the option to have the top floor rooms but otherwise was a good experience. We ended in the Amazon and appreciated being at a lodge which was started by the community. Our local guide, Cheyenne, was fantastic and great at spotting animals and we saw a lot of incredible wildlife. We appreciated the care taken when planning and all the helpful information given in advance, especially about appropriate tipping amount as the amounts given by Karla were reasonable compared to the somewhat outrageous suggested tips given by the Galapagos. Finally, Karla went above and beyond in arranging little surprises for a family member birthday and anniversary which absolutely made our day! We had a great time and would definitely use Karla and team again for any other planned trips in the future! And will definitely recommend Karla and team to all our friends and family who are planning to visit.

Kelly did an outstanding job of planning our trip, answering questions, offering suggestions, and resolving problems. She adeptly stayed on top of all details and kept us well informed of our daily itinerary. We truly appreciate her efforts and responsiveness and helping make our trip hassle free and an unforgettable experience.

Hotel Reviews

Maitria Hotel Sukhumvit 18

Bankok

Hotel was nothing special. Breakfast was subpar compared to other hotels we stayed at in Thailand. Good location but rooms are small. Mini kitchen is nice along with complimentary beverages. Couldn't properly control air conditioning. But staff was pleasant.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Couldn't properly control air conditioner.

Smile Lanna Hotel Chiang Mai

Great place! Highly recommended!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Panan Krabi Resort

Krabi

Excellent stay. Great location!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beverages should be complimentary in room as with other hotels.

Grand Mercure Phuket Patong

Phuket

Grat location. Excellent stay. Great breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full day Bangkok City Tour with Canal tour

Bangkok

Great way to see Bangkok.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

It's a lot of driving.

Transport

Luxury Cruise with Dinner on Chao Phraya River in Bangkok

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Maeklong Railway Market and Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

Bangkok

Long drive. Probably not worth seeing Railway market. But floating market was fun.

Quality of Experience

Food

Need better options.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Long, long drive.

I found Kim Kim on Google after a search and I’m glad I went with them. Traveling with a family of 8 poses challenges and I didn’t want to participate in a tour group together with 15 other people going to the same touristy spots and following a tight schedule. Kim Kim uses local people in the country to suggest and plan an itinerary based on your preferences and comfort level. Tom was our specialist and our first trip to Norway was enjoyable and manageable on days we had to take public transportation ourselves. Some days the apartments we had were far apart ( 15 min) but that was also due to the big group size we were in and it was difficult to secure housing of that size. Most of the times, the accommodation we were given was amazing. When we needed assistance, the team was responsive via the email chat. Perhaps the only gripe was that I didn’t know the breakdown of the costs I was paying for. Only a lump sum was charged. If you want a customised itinerary with suggestions from locals and don’t want to fret over planning of all your days overseas, then give Kim Kim a try.

Hotel Reviews

Sommarøy Arctic Hotel

Sommarøy

Lovely red house by the sea. Big enough for 10 people and there were toilets in every room. The restaurant served amazing reindeer meat as well. We tried the outdoor jacuzzi and it was an unforgettable/challenging moment to do this in winter when we were all so accustomed to tropical climates.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Near the Northern lights park

Staff

Waitress in restaurant constantly checked on us to see if we needed anything else

Cleanliness & Comfort

Wangen Apartments by Fjord Resort

Aurland

Loved the penthouse. Cosy and big enough for family of 8. Kitchen was well equipped and we had a great time cooking our dinner with the kids. Only gripe was that there are no lifts and we had to lug our luggage up several flights of steps to reach the top level. Otherwise we had a memorable time there

Authenticity & Character

Loved the sea view

Location

Near to a supermarket and next to the harbour

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Northern Lights Sailing Cruise

Tromsø

The ship was lovely! If it weren’t so cold, in sure it would be even more enjoyable. Nevertheless kenett and sachi kept us occupied with delicious reindeer stew and games within the insides of the ship. There was also a hot tub experience outdoor but we skipped that one as my husband was having a flu that day.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Husky Dog Sledding

Tromsø

Loved the dogs. They were very friendly and enthusiastic. The ride through the beautiful snowscape was breathtaking and our guide was patient and constantly turned back to resolve any issues we might have with the dogs or the sled. Definitely something all must try in tromso!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Northern Lights Park

Sommarøy

The park was the place we had an amazing display of the northern lights. We were lucky enough that day and it was cloudless. The guides were very patient and the sky was littered with stars and because there was little light pollution, we could see the milky way and the Big Dipper. Great place just to chill and play with snow as well.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Incredible time in Bolivia! We had a jam packed 4-5 days in Bolivia seeing everything from the desert 🌵 & salt flats to La Paz and lake Titicaca. Our first guides - Al & Johnny (driver) were absolutely amazing in the south! We had so much fun with them & learned so much about the country. Our second guide, David was also amazing - and he showed us around La Paz & lake titicaca. Overall a 11/10 trip! 🙏 Thank you to Camilla for being an incredible organizer / especially when events in the country come up and we needed to divert.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel de Sal Luna Salada

Uyuni

One of the most unique hotels we’ve ever stayed at. Pool, spa, beautiful facilities on site. Would be nice to have a gym there too!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Casona

La Paz

Authenticity & Character

No no

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Rosario Lago Titicaca

Copacabana

Great location and big rooms!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Explore the amazing Uyuni Salt Flats!

Bolivia

Incredible.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Raquel was excellent! We loved our trip, she did such a fantastic job. The tours she selected for us were perfect. The catamaran was a highlight for sure!

Activity Reviews

Douro Valley Excursion with Wine & Olive Oil Tastings & River Cruise

Porto

This was a perfect day! The guide was excellent and we the scenery was stunning.

Catamaran Cruise to Benagil & Carvoeiro w/Snorkeling & SUP

Portugal

This could not have been more perfect! The group was small and the guides were fun. We loved this experience.

Amazing Vietnam and Cambodia mother/daughter adventure. Highlights included Temple of Literature (Hanoi), kayaking and views of Ha Long Bay, our fave Hoi An (bamboo boats, best guide-Thu, Memories show, cooking class, tailored dresses in one day and more), beautiful temples at Angkor Wat & Siem Reap fun, final stop: Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)-super local food tour at night on scooters with excellent guides-Phat and Nguyen. Appreciated having Huyen on the ground as a resource pre-planning and in country. Wonderful memories made-highly recommend!

Activity Review

Saigon By Night Food Tour - Experience Vietnam on Two Wheels (Small Group tour)

Ho Chi Minh City

So much fun to eat local foods (tailored to our diets/preferences) and ride on scooters at night in Saigon. Phat and Nguyen were fantastic guides, so personable and added to our experience. Fave tour of our trip-highly recommend!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I've never enlisted the help of a travel planner/agent and generally enjoy the process of researching and planning trips myself, but this trip has made me a believer! Steve was phenomenal from start to finish, and took all the stress off of us--from arrival at the airport to drop off at the end of the trip, I felt that everything was handled and we could just enjoy ourselves. He planned an itinerary with events that we would never have been able to find on our own and was consistently available to answer questions and help us made adjustments before and during our trip. Our tour guides were incredible--knowledgeable, courteous, flexible, and very proud to show us around their amazing country and teach us about its history and culture. Cambodia is a remarkable place and I'm so happy that we made the choice to visit--I'm recommending it to everyone I know.

We had the most incredible time in Argentina! We’re a group of three girls who wanted to explore all the must-see places of Argentina, from the vibrant Buenos Aires to the mountains in Patagonia.
Kimkim planned for us an amazing itinerary meeting all our requests, suggesting a lot of fun activities (including a nice shower in the Iguazu waterfalls) and relieving us of the stress of planning a complex trip throughout such a big country like Argentina.
We had a stay of about 16 days during which we visited Buenos Aires, Iguazu, El Chalten, El Calafate and Ushuaia. All places amazed us with their peculiarities, with the most unforgettable experience being the excursion at the Perito Moreno glacier. Be sure not to miss this when planning to travel Argentina! If you enjoy hiking, plan to spend a few nights in El Chalten. You can climb the mountains and enjoy the incredible view of Fitz Roy!
Ana and Anahí from Kimkim were very helpful during the planning process. They made sure we had all the info we needed and the team also answered our questions during the trip.
All in all: it was a looooovely experience, with a great and flexible service. Would 100% do this again
🧚🏻🧚🏻🧚🏻

Hotel Reviews

Rochester Calafate

El Calafate

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Las Lengas Hotel

Ushuaia

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Milhouse Hostel

Buenos Aires

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hosteria El Paraiso

El Chalten

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Aldea De La Selva Lodge

Puerto Iguazú

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Brazilian Falls - Half day

Puerto Iguazú

It would have been interesting to have an overview of the available activities at the park (e.g. we saw there was an activity with bikes)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Parque Das Aves

Puerto Iguazú

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Argentinean Falls - Full day

Puerto Iguazú

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Perito Moreno Glacier Excursion 🗻

El Calafate

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

🔎 General Information about Ushuaia 🔎

Ushuaia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pick up from the local agency was once late and once they probably forgot to pick us up and only arrived 15 minutes after we contacted them

Tierra del Fuego National Park (Half day visit) 🌲🌿

Ushuaia

Quality of Experience

The tour of the park was very simple, it would have been better to include some walks or short hikes in the park

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Train of the End of the World 🚂

Ushuaia

Quality of Experience

The train ride was very short and not so special

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Navigation Tour - Native fauna!

Ushuaia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Great Adventure - Boat trip

Puerto Iguazú

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nautical Safari

El Calafate

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip was mixed; some parts were great while others less so. Our hotel in Buenos Aires was hosting a loud party and it was impossible to sleep. The front desk said the noise would stop at 10:30 pm, but it did not. We messaged KimKim and Camila was polite but not helpful. We asked for a refund (this was not offered) and she said we would get one, but then offered an upgrade, which we took. We did not care for the location of the upgrade. We stayed for three nights in Iguazu, but felt two would have been better. There was also unclear communication about one of our internal flights, for which we were told there would be a two hour layover, which was in fact over four hours. Flights are what they are, but we would have preferred to have accurate information. This flight was nonstop but we were told there would be a stop, however I believe this information was in reference to a flight that we had ended up changing. The End of the World train ride in Ushuaia was not at all worthwhile and on one of our guided trips (through Canal Tours in Ushuaia) we waited around for hours due to poor communication about activity levels (we were very specific about limitations due to a back injury) and a lack of available options. On the positive side, Sonia, our guide in Buenos Aires, was wonderful and we really enjoyed the food tour. Pilar, our guide in Iguazu, was fantastic, the hotel was great, and we recommend seeing both the Argentinian and Brazilian sides of the falls. We liked our hotel in Ushuaia, which had a wonderful view and helpful staff. We had used KimKim for a trip to Thailand that was fantastic and we felt there was a lot of added value with that trip, but that was not the case for Argentina. I could have easily planned this trip myself, it may have cost less (although hard to tell since Kim Kim does not provide a breakdown), and I think we would have enjoyed it more. On the whole, the KimKim experience depends on the travel agent you work with. In this case, we felt our travel agent lacked experience and our trip could have been planned better.