Kimkim Trip Reviews

We really enjoyed our 6 day trip to Santiago, the Atacama Desert, and Mendoza, Argentina. All the hotels we stayed in were wonderful, all of the guides were great. In Atacama, we really enjoyed seeing volcanoes, geysers, beautiful mountains. We had a private Astrology tour of the heavens, absolutely amazing. Our guide, Katrina, was so knowledgeable and excited to share her knowledge and interest in the stars. Now I can find Scorpio and the Southern Cross! Just be sure to bring really warm clothes. The desert gets very cold at night. Our driver and guide, Cote, actually gave me the coat off his back when he saw how cold I was, and had me keep it for a day before he picked it up at our hotel. So kind!
Francisco and Pam were great at helping us pick from all the great tours, since we had limited time. They reminded us of when we would be picked up, made suggestions for restaurants, picked great neighborhoods for hotels, and lined up all of our transportation needs. Definitely a start to finish complete package. I just wish we had planned a longer trip, Next time!

Caterina did a great job with the planning of our trip. I had to make many changes along the way due to constantly changing family schedules, etc, and she was very flexible. all of our drivers for our excursions and transfers were great and communicated really well with us. This is our 4th time using Kimkim and we have referred many friends to your company who have in turn been happy with their trips. We will definitely use Kimkim again for our future travel!

My husband and I just returned from a 12 day trip to France, booked by Kimkim local specialist, Liz. Our trip was amazing! We have been to Europe several times and normally book most of it ourselves, but this time, we wanted to take a bit of the stress out of the planning and reached out to Kimkim. What a great decision that was! Our trip started in Paris where we took in the Eiffel Tower, a wine and cheese tasting, a dinner cruise along the Seine River and a Louvre Tour (our guide was fantastic!!). We stayed at a cute boutique hotel near a metro stop which was perfect for us to get around without relying on taxis for the most part. From there we took the train to Leon where we took in an amazing culinary tour with another fantastic guide. We moved on to Avignon from there and had an amazing experience of a tour of the vinyards and wine and olive oil tasting at the nearby Château d'Estoublon (maybe my favorite experience of all!). We ended our trip in Nice. All of our hotel stays were wonderful with free breakfasts to die for! Transfers to and from airport and trains were booked for us so we didn't have to arrange any of that ourselves. We had one tour in Nice that we weren't happy with and Kimkim immediately responded and refunded part of our payment. I can't say enough about how professional our specialist, Liz and her team were, and how responsive they were to whatever questions we had before and during our trip. We will book again with Kimkim without hesitation!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel West End

Nice

This hotel was lovely and overlooking the Riviera next to the famous Hotel Negresco. It was in a great location near restaurants and shopping. The hotel is beautiful with a red carpet leading from the outside in. Our staff was friendly and helpful and greeted us at our car to help take our bags to our room and recommended a wonderful place to eat as we were hungry when we arrived. Our room was beautiful with a convenient bathroom and nice tub/shower, however, the tub was very high to step in to and my husband has some physical limitations due to an accident a few years ago. He had a bit of trouble stepping into the tub but we managed ok. We did not ask about changing rooms. The hair dryer was a bit different and got very hot as I was drying my hair due to the way it was made so that was a bit inconvenient. Also, we noticed several times when we were in the lobby that there were times that there was no bellhop to help people with luggage as they were getting out of the car and they were lugging it up the stairs themselves.

Authenticity & Character

This hotel is beautiful with a red carpet leading in. The lobby is large and has several nice sitting areas with coffee and water most always available.

Location

Across the street is the promenade by the Riviera. Walking distance to restaurants and attractions.

Staff

Staff was very friendly and helpful although we noticed no bellhop on duty at times when people were arriving.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our room was clean and beautiful. Tub was a bit high to step into and hair dryer was awkward and got hot when drying my hair. Bed was comfortable and the breakfast was amazing!!

Hôtel de l’Horloge

Avignon

This hotel was adorable and couldn't be any more central in the heart of Avignon. It is basically near anything you want to see! The staff was friendly and helpful and spoke English with us. Our room was small but fine for the two of us and the bathroom was convenient. The only issue we had was that there were two steps leading down to the bedroom as you walk through the door. My husband has some physical limitations due to an accident a few years ago and found it a bit difficult to navigate those steps. The staff immediately responded and said they would change our room, if needed. We decided that since our stay was short we would stay in the room we were in but appreciated their immediate response to our concern. The buffet breakfast was amazing!! Would definitely stay here again!

Authenticity & Character

Cute hotel with lots of character! Nice breakfast area with amazing breakfast!

Location

You can't get more central than this hotel!

Staff

Friendly, helpful and responsive!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean!

Hotel Carlton Lyon - MGallery Hotel Collection

Lyon

This hotel was absolutely beautiful, clean, and in a perfect location! The staff was friendly and spoke English and gave us recommendations for dining along with a helpful map. Our room was beautiful with a large bathroom and huge shower. It was within walking distance of the Old City which is where we spent most of our time. We would definitely book here again!

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful hotel! Lovely bar and cute elevator leading to all the floors.

Location

Near the Old City and lots of great restaurants!

Staff

Friendly and helpful and spoke English with us.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nice large standard room with beautiful bathroom and large shower!

Hôtel Joe M

Paris

This hotel was adorable and in a great location near a convenient metro stop. The staff was welcoming, friendly and helpful and spoke English. The buffet breakfast was amazing with most anything we wanted! The hotel was very clean and within walking distance to the Grand Boulevards metro stop as well as several good restaurants. My only complaint was that our standard room was a bit small and difficult to organize with our luggage. The shower stall in the bathroom was almost too small for my husband who is 5'10" to comfortably shower and wash his hair. And I found the hair dryer very inconvenient as a button had to constantly be pressed for it to work.

Authenticity & Character

Cute and authentically Parisian!

Location

Near a convient metro stop

Staff

Friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean but a bit small. Would have to upgrade to a larger room next time!

Activity Reviews

Monaco Day Trip via Èze & La Turbie

France

This was a truly disappointing experience. The description we were given said we would have a guide that would take us around Monaco to see the sights, including the Prince's Palace and the casino. We basically had a driver that dropped us off in Monaco and told us he would pick us up in 1 1/2 hours. We had no idea where to go or what to do and didn't have time to get on a tour bus. We went to the casino, saw a small harbor and walked back to the van. Very disappointing as this was something we were really looking forward to. I don't even know what La Turbie is because we didn't actually go there. We went to a perfume factory and had a very quick tour then the driver took us to Èze, dropped us off, and said he would pick us up in 40 minutes. We barely had time to walk up the hill and back down. Not sure what happened here but it was definitely a waste of time and left us very disappointed.

Quality of Experience

Not what was advertised

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Driver gave no information, dropping us off without any direction of what we could see.

Transport

Driver sped along curvy roads which felt a bit unnerving.

Private Château Wine & Seasonal Food Pairing

France

My husband and I were on a 12 day tour of France with Avignon being one of the cities we visited. This chateau was about 30 minutes away by taxi. It was one of the best and most memorable activities of our trip! We went in mid-May which was before wedding and high tourist season started so the chateau and gardens were open to us. Normally, they are closed off if someone has the chateau booked for a wedding event so I would recommend going during low-tourist times. Our guide took us all around the gardens, olive groves and vineyards and gave us some history. She was wonderful! We then went into the chateau for our wine and olive oil tastings. This was a beautiful experience! We decided to stay for lunch which was outside under a magnificent, old tree and the food was excellent, definitely worth the splurge! I would recommend this tour for sure and would do it again!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Culinary Walk in Lyon Old Town

Lyon

This activity was a favorite of our 12 day tour of France! Our guide, Shirine, was excellent and took great care of our 10 person group. The stops we made throughout the tour were perfect. The meats and wine, followed by the cheese and wine, amazing! Shirine told us a lot of history of Leon throughout the tour. Three hours passed by very quickly! I would definitely recommend this tour!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Dinner Cruise in Lyon: A Culinary Journey

Lyon

This experience was ok but we would rather have had dinner at one of the wonderful Leon restaurants in town. The food was only ok and the wait staff seemed inexperienced. We had a difficult time even finding the boat as there was nothing really to show where we were supposed to meet. The greeting on board was lukewarm and the narration throughout the boat ride was muffled and hard to hear. I would unfortunately not recommend this tour.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Seine River Gourmet Dinner Cruise with Live Music

Paris

This experience was truly amazing! From the time we stepped on board, we were taken care of. We were handed champagne, dinner orders were taken, and wine was poured. The wait staff was obviously experienced and checked on us frequently to make sure our experience was going well. The singer on board was wonderful and really added to the ambiance and the food was excellent! We loved it start to finish!

Quality of Experience

Food, service and entertainment were wonderful and the sights along the river were amazing!

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Wine & Cheese Tasting Experience

Paris

Something got mixed up with our tour so we were expecting something else so this was a bit less than what we expected but still enjoyable. We tasted three Parisian wines and two cheeses with one other couple which we enjoyed. This was held in a wine shop so our host was also the owner and had to stop to wait on customers during our experience. However, we took this time to get to know the other couple we met and enjoy the wine and cheese. If you are looking for a serious wine and cheese tasting experience this may not be your ticket, however, if you want to relax and enjoy good wine and cheese with other tourists, this one was nice.

Small Group Guided Tour of the Louvre

Paris

This was a perfect tour for my husband and I on our trip to Paris. We only had 3 days in Paris before moving on to another place in France so we needed something that was fairly brief but gave us a good overview of some of the best things to see in the Louvre. Our guide was Anaïs and she was perfect! My husband has some physical limitations due to an accident a few years ago and she was most attentive to his needs while directing our small group of 8 to some favorite sights. Would definitely recommend and do this one again!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Rachel was so helpful in curating our Scottish Highlands tour! She was very responsive and addressed all concerns we had. From transportation and hotel check-in as well as local guides, logistics went smoothly and we had some excellent guides explaining the history and landscapes. Will definitely use KimKim again in future trip planning and High Point Holidays for UK travel.

Hotel Reviews

Perle Oban Hotel & Spa

Oban

Great location right in the midst of all activity in Oban. Rooms are smaller but clean. Good view of the harbor.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

House Of Juniper

Broadford

Cabins were perfect for an extended stay. Bed wasn't the most comfortable but cabin was clean and kitchen had all appliances that were needed.

Authenticity & Character

Location

More outside of center of Portree but worth the trek to be in a location that is more peaceful with better views.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Blackfriars Hotel

Inverness

In an older building but has lots of character and unique decor in each room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Market Street Hotel

Edinburgh

Very clean and spacious room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Oban Distillery Tour

Oban

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cruise of Mull, Iona and Staffa Islands

Scotland

We missed the ferry from Mull to Iona and Staffa as directions were not clear on what bus to get onto when we got off the ferry at Mull. We ended up on the opposite side of Mull in Tobermoray but it was a pleasant day regardless.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Transfer

Scotland

Seamless airport pick-up and friendly driver.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private guided tour with driver/guide in Skye

Scotland

Keith was a very knowledgable driver and friendly.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fantastic trip to Morocco!

Had a really great experience with Sharon and her team. As an overall experience, I would say she listened to my wants and needs, and planned our trip accordingly. She was also amendable to working with our pre existing accommodations and tailoring the tour around that. From start to finish, everything ran smoothly. Her hotel recommendations were spot on.., perfectly located and really luxurious! I also felt that the nights and times she recommend were perfect.

Our driver, Rachid, was outstanding and provided excellent service. He was never late and kept us on a perfect schedule. Most of our private tours were great and I really enjoyed them….

I previously was working with another planner for this trip and I felt he didn’t understand my style of travel. After switching to sharon, the trip really came together.

All of the guides were very professional, prompt and helpful. The accommodations were great. The app was very helpful for reference and we loved the itinerary that was exclusively made for us from our interests.

Hotel Reviews

Room Mate Alba

Madrid

Authenticity & Character

Unique decore

Location

Close to everything

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Villa Oniria

Granada

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms needed repairs and deep cleaning

H10 Corregidor Boutique Hotel

Sevilla

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cascade Wellness Resort

Lagos

Authenticity & Character

Location

Amazing views from the cliffs

Staff

Very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

PortoBay Marquês

Lisbon

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Tapas Culinary Experience

Madrid

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was great!!

Transport

Guided Visit of Alhambra & Generalife Gardens

Spain

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Transfer {{start_location}} to {{end_location}}, Hike the Caminito del Rey

Spain

Loved the hike thru the canyon!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was exceptional! He grew up in the canyon and gave wonderful insight to his experiences.

Transport

Seville City Bike Visit

Seville

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traditional Andalusian Market Visit & Cooking Class

Seville

Loved the cooking class and enjoyed the authentic paella!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Flamenco Experience

Spain

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

4X4 Algarve Sunset Experience

Spain

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Catamaran Excursion to Benagil Caves & Carvoeiro Beach

Spain

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lagos & Ponta da Piedade Bike Tour

Spain

Views were amazing!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Half Day Excursion to Nazaré

Lisbon

Our driver was very knowledgeable and also took us to another stop on the way back to Lisbon. He was very accommodating.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sintra Heritage Hike: Hidden Secrets

Spain

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lisbon Culinary Food Experience

Lisbon

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tuk-Tuk Tour

Spain

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Milos guide Michael was fabulous as was our kayak guide (husband and wife) on Naxos. It was a rescheduled kayak tour and I am so grateful we were scheduled for this one.
Angela is a must and the best!! Always emanating kindness she went above and beyond each and every time.
From her patience as we changed our trip around in initial stages to last minute changes, she was there and a lifeline. The bonus of checking in for our ferry trips was also such an added touch and I know she cares and loves her work.
Honestly, it was a dream holiday and one we will not forget, in part by Angela's confidence and trustworthiness. The experience allowed my stress levels the stay low and just enjoy!
Because Greece...we will be back!

Hotel Reviews

14 Reasons Why

Athens

We were actually only in this hotel for about 6 hours as we had an early flight. It had character, but was too small for us to want to stay there for multiple days.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Blue Dolphins Hotels & Villas

Firostefani, Santorini

We had a private patio and jacuzzi and oh my goodness the view!! Loved that is was in a smaller town and quiet. Good breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Antony Suites

Naxos

My favorite of them all. Great room, absolutely best breakfast. Anna goes above and beyond.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Santa Maria Village Resort and Spa

Milos

Great room, beautiful breakfast. Walking distance to the beach and downtown restaurants.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Belle Epoque Suites

Athens

This was a fun and quaint hotel. Close to everything you need and still quiet at night. The elevator is a must!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Kayaking Kalandos – Rina Cave / Day Trip

Naxos

We ended up on a shorter kayak trip due to the winds, and it was the best experience I could of asked for. The husband and wife team were precious and made all of our experiences personal. They love what they do and they will make sure everyone is safe and having a great time.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Naxos Old Town, Castle & Portara Sunset Walking Tour

Naxos

This was a great and short historical tour that gave some fabulous history of the island. Learned so much.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Best of Milos half-day tour

Greece

Michael was the best and I fell in love with Milos after learning so much of their history. It was great to be able to ask questions and talk with a local. Loved that it was a private tour also.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Athens Highlights Mythology Tour

Greece

This tour was so informative. The pace was comfortable and next thing you know you were standing at the Parthenon! We enjoyed all the history we learned without spending all day on an excursion.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We found Kimkim's travel planning to be very helpful with regard to finding the hotels and arranging transportation during our stay. Jane was very patient and responsive during the planning process, and we were always able to reach either Jane or Pauline when we needed assistance during the trip.
The hotels were all very nice and unique. We especially liked the White Hart Royal hotel in Moreton-in-Marsh, as well as the afternoon tea there, which was lovely. We had no problem carrying our bags, but some people might need to know that there are no elevators in the first two hotels. The Park Plaza hotel in London was excellent, too, and the location was great. The drivers were all very prompt and courteous, and their vehicles were in great condition.
Regarding the road book, we have a few comments / suggestions:
- The book listed a specific time to go to Stonehenge (2 p.m.) and did not clarify that we could go at any time or that it would be better to go in the morning (10 a.m.), especially when the day's itinerary was revised to include Salisbury cathedral that afternoon.
- The staff at Salisbury cathedral said we did not need the "all-in-one" Stonehenge + cathedral ticket and that it should be refunded because the regular cathedral tour was unavailable during the flower festival. (We realize that Kimkim had to buy a special ticket for entry during the festival.)
- We did not realize there was a Stonehenge bus stop about one block from our hotel; the instructions sent us to the stop at the train station, a 15 to 20-minute walk.
- The book did not clarify the class of train ticket for the Oxford trip, coach or first. Fortunately, we sat in coach; for the price, first would have been a nice touch.
- Pauline provided very useful directions for taking the Underground from Paddington station to our hotel in London. Perhaps this could have been included in the road book, along with a one-day Underground pass, as well as information on how to pay for additional tickets (with a simple credit card swipe). We had no problem taking the Underground.
We will definitely consider using Kimkim for future travels!

Activity Reviews

Stonehenge tour from Salisbury

Salisbury

It's always gratifying to see such a famous sight up close, in person. We enjoyed the walk through the field to get there.

Entry into the Roman Baths

Bath

The museum at the baths is very extensive and well worth the visit.

Full day in the Cotswolds with small group and driver/guide

England

Jason, our driver, was the best! He conveyed a lot of information in a relaxed and entertaining manner. This was a good introduction to a very large area.

Harry Potter Walking Tour in London

London

Alex, our guide, was full of enthusiasm and made the tour fun even for those of us who weren't Harry Potter superfans. We discovered some new parts of London and enjoyed the walk very much as we learned a lot of new things.

Oxford: University and City Walking Tour

Oxford

This was one of our favorite activities. We enjoyed seeing the architecture and learning the history of the university. The walking tour was a good length, the student guide was very informative, and we got to go inside Trinity College. It happened to be graduation day, so the town was extremely crowded, but on the plus side, we got to see the students in their graduation gowns, and the atmosphere was happy and festive.

My husband and I decided to use KimKim to help plan our honeymoon to Chile, and we are glad we did! We have never used a service like this before, and with all of the tasks of wedding planning figured it would be very helpful. Camilla was wonderful in helping us to plan the itinerary, including hotels, excursions, and drivers. We loved the initial questionnaire where we gave some guidance on what we were looking for (adventure, seeing many parts of the country, the types of hotels we were looking for etc.), and we were able to communicate over several weeks with some changes that created the best personalized itinerary for us. Camilla was helpful, responsive, and patient through it all. One of the most helpful parts of KimKim was the whatsapp group that was created the day before our trip, where we could message anytime with questions/ changes, and we got a response within minutes. This was particularly helpful when we inevitably had some flight delays (12 flights total!) that impacted our next stop, and Camilla and associates were able to make the changes quickly. We also loved the travel voucher (itinerary) that was sent to us with all of our excursions, hotels, dates, and flights that we are able to pass on to family members who were curious about where we were/ what we were up to. Having shuttles/ private drivers arranged through KimKim was so useful, making us feel safe that it was pre-arranged through a reputable company. As it was our honeymood, Camilla and her team planned a couple of special things for us that we really appreciated! We would absolutely use KimKim again and recommend it to others.

There are very little changes we would make, after now going through it all, to the itinerary, and here are our reviews:

San Pedro de Atacama (3 nights):
Hotel Domos San Pedro - quiet, safe, welcoming, unique place to stay, had all of your basic needs. A short 10 minute walk to "downtown"
Tours - Astronomical tour, Valle de la luna, Tatio Geysers, Salt flats (would recommend them all)

Punta Arenas (1 night):
Hotel Boutique La Yegua Loca - the CUTEST hotel there is. Friendly, welcoming staff, this place has tons of character, beautiful rooms, and the best breakfast we had the whole trip.

Puerto Natalas (2 nights):
AKA Patagonia (hotel) - this was a unique place to stay 10 minute drive outside of the town. We would only recommend with a rental car as the hotel is out of the catchment of tour pick ups, and there are no staff on site to support with calling taxis.
Tours - grey glacier, Torres del Paine national park panoramic tour (would recommend both)
Local Guide: Jose Luis - Jose was perhaps the best part of booking through KimKim. He was a fantastic tour guide, very knowledgeable on our private Torres del Paine tour, very kind and welcoming, and went out of his way to support us through our time here. We arrived to AKA Patagonia and the hotel staff had not sent us our check in code (no staff on site/ they sent it 4 hours after check in time), but Jose was able to call them and support with our check in. He went out of his way to help us call taxis at all hours (as we do not speak Spanish), and gave incredible recommendations for places to eat. Thank you Jose! You have made our trip so memorable.

Santiago (2 nights):
Hotel Eco Boutique Bidasoa - our favourite hotel... the location, dining, character was all fantastic! even the smell of the hotel was amazing! This is where we would stay if we went back to Santiago
Tours: food tour, winery tour/ Valpariso with our fantastic guide Angel and his wife/ driver Jenny who made accessing all of the stops on the food tour seamless. Angel was knowledgeable and very friendly, thank you!

Rapa Nui (3 nights):
Hotel Gomero - very friendly, safe, loved the pool, a short 10-15 minute walk to downtown that did not feel too far
Tours - Full day Rano Raraku and Anakena beach (would recommend), half day Orongo Volcano (would recommend), half day Ahu Akivi and Tahai tour (felt it was not needed with the other two tours, and would have preferred a half day at the beach instead)

Santiago (1 night):
Hotel NH Santiago - comfortable, clean, good food however we loved our other hotel in Santiago so much we had wished we went back there (Camilla did recommend this however we asked to switch to be in walking distance of the Cerro San Cristobal, which we did appreciate when we were there).

Thank you for a fantastic trip KimKim!

Hotel Reviews

NH Ciudad de Santiago

Santiago

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Gomero

Hanga Roa

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Eco Boutique Bidasoa

Santiago

5 stars all around! Fantastic restaurant and breakfast (included), amazing character and room size. Great location. The place even smelled great!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

AKA Patagonia

Puerto Natales

Unique stay and experience. There are no staff on site, they provide check in codes via WhatsApp. Our was not sent until 4 hours after check in/ there was no response from staff until this time, however our local guide (not through the hotel) was able to contact the staff to get us checked in. Would recommend only with a rental car as it is out of catchment for tour pick ups, and we did not speak spanish for calling taxis. Taxis were quite quick and reliable though!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Boutique La Yegua Loca

Punta Arenas

The cutest hotel we have ever been to! So much character, great view, the best breakfast we had on our whole trip!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Domos San Pedro

San Pedro de Atacama

Friendly + welcoming, has basic needs. Not luxury but quite comfortable. Breakfast was good! About a 10 minute walk to the main street

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Magdalena Island - Penguin Encounter Half Day Tour

Chile

N/A - excursion was cancelled but wished we could do it!

Good Bye Easter Island - Flight to Santiago

Chile

Driver was 30 minutes late, but KimKim staff were great at helping us get in contact with him! And the delay did not impact our travels. Thank you!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ahu Akivi & Tahai - Visit a Ceremonial Site

Easter Island

Fantastic tour, but felt it was not necessary with the other 2 amazing ones we did. Wished we spent a half day at the beach instead

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Tour Orongo Volcano

Easter Island

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rano Raraku Volcano & Anakena White Sand Beach

Easter Island

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Easter Island! - Transfer to the hotel

Chile

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wine Tasting, Valparaiso and Viña del Mar- Private Tour

Chile

Would absolutely recommend travelers get out of Santiago to see the wine region. We wish we did more of this!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chilean Food Tour & Picnic with a View of Santiago

Santiago

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Grey Glacier Round Trip Navigation

Chile

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Torres del Paine National Park - Panoramic Tour

Chile

Our guide, Jose Luis, was incredible! Request to book with him!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Afternoon Visit to "Valle de La luna "

Chile

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit the Tatio Geysers - Morning Tour

San Pedro de Atacama

An early start but worth it!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Laguna Cejar, Ojos del Salar y Laguna Tebiquinche

Chile

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Astronomical Tour - Atacama Desert

San Pedro de Atacama

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a great trip to Greece with the help of Aggeliki. She really took our plans to heart and built a trip that maximized our time there! We wanted to make sure we saw as much as we could and our private tours were great. Maybe I should have even trusted her when she said we should plan another half day on our own but we loved what we saw. One addition we would add is to hike up Filapappous Hill and see the city and the Acropolis from another perspective. It was a great trip.

Hotel Reviews

Bohemian Suites Athens

Athens

This was probably in a nicer location than our first hotel but was totally different. A bit more authentic/quaint but also a more like a VRBO

Authenticity & Character

Location

Didn’t get to know the area well

Staff

Staff not as available but very nice.

Cleanliness & Comfort

New bathrooms

Heavens Edge

Santorini

Heaven’s Edge is just a truly unique setting. Our apartment was in the middle of the terraced rooms and included 2 full bedrooms and a jacuzzi that overlooked the sea. Super clean and wonderful people.

Authenticity & Character

Location

There’s not a lot like this location nestled in the side of the mountain of Santorini. Be aware that you will have to walk up and down LOTS of stairs. It was fine for us but we reminded ourselves not to bring our 85y/o parents.

Staff

Staff was wonderful. LOVED the breakfast each morning and they really helped us with anything we needed.

Cleanliness & Comfort

O&B Athens Boutique Hotel

Athens

O&B was great for traveling with our 2 adult kids. We liked its convenience to everything and especially Psirri where we thought the restaurants were great and more authentic than in the city center. The surrounding area is not top end but the accommodations were super updated and they had superb free breakfast each morning. I would stay here again!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Great location to Psirri and other parts of the city

Staff

Their staff was superb!!! Both the front desk and breakfast servers !!!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Really updated rooms and bathrooms

Activity Reviews

Panoramic Tour 2025

Santorini

Private Sunset Tour of Cape Sounion, Temple of Poseidon & Athens Riviera

Athens

Full-Day Tour of Mycenae, Nafplio, Epidaurus & Isthmus Canal

Athens

This was a very long day (and our last) and at first we were concerned about the amount of time, but in the end it was very interesting. Where possible do the museums attached to the sites to learn more.

Catamaran Sunset Cruise 2025

Santorini

Great trip despite being a bit windy and cooler than expected. Very nice crew who were entertaining and gave us lots of good information. That was really important that they did share information about the island and area and I could have even used more.

Reservation at Oia Gefsis (no meal included - only a reserved table)

Greece

It was a beautiful view but we may have been better off just eating at the restaurant near our accomodations. It was VERY expensive.

Private Jeep Tour to Delphi, Mount Parnassus, and Arachova

Athens

Even with a rainy day, this was still excellent. One note: DO THE MUSEUM BEFORE you do the walk up Delphi. Our private guide knew a lot but I think the museum is well worth it.

Athens Highlights Mythology Tour

Greece

Our guide was wonderful but I wasn’t as interested in the mythology as the real history. She did a good job making sure that happened. She also gave us the recommendation to go to Fillapappous Hill which we really enjoyed.

My wife and I went to Italy, Vatican & Switzerland. We used the high speed trains to go between cities and regions which was exciting and clean. We both wanted a custom trip tailored to what we wanted to do, see and experience. KimKim took all our ideas and they suggested a few more. They checked-up on us with What’s App text each day. They put the trip all together with our train tickets, private drivers/transfers, clean 4 star boutique hotels that were within walking distance of must-see’s. They don’t do air travel. They suggest restaurants or you find your own. We had cooking class and dinner in people’s homes because we wanted to learn their culture and dishes. We had an experienced as a couple, and not the cookie-cutter herd feeling. We were not listening to other Americans, we were hearing locals speak different languages and we had fun trying to communicate and thankfully most know some English. Our trip was seamless and our drivers were always there to pick us up and our tours were all private as we requested. Let your travel budget be your guide. We saw more places and did more things than we could have using the”package” deals. Hats off to them; I have to recommend them because they deserve it!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Steffani

St. Moritz

Swiss feel with a close view of the Matterhorn out of your balcony!

Authenticity & Character

Very Swiss

Location

Close to everything, we took the gondola up to the top of the mountain, had lunch and came back down!

Staff

Always available

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very good

Casa Montani Hotel

Rome

Andrea was incredibly helpful. His restaurant suggestions are the best. It’s within steps of everything important to see.

Authenticity & Character

It doesn’t look like a hotel. It’s got eight rooms that are well kept and a little turn of the century looking elevator I loved.

Location

Centrally located, quiet and very clean.

Staff

Andrea makes the stay great!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Not your regular hotel. You get a key to a large front door where there are little offices and you walk to the elevator and up to your room. Simple,clean, smart location in a good area.

Agriturismo Il Colle

Bellagio

We had a veranda view of Lake Como that wowed us. The veranda was big. We loved the room and service.

Authenticity & Character

The view and service. Breakfast is great. It’s on a hill so walking is challenging. You might want a cab to restaurants.

Location

It is near the Gardens of Villa Melzi.

Staff

Mary was attentive to our needs

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean, roomy, The big windows and doors open for fantastic views. Also has a small washing machine and veranda dry rack.

Activity Reviews

Tour of the Villas with local guide from Bellagio

Lake Como

Fantastic guide, we saw more views and sites on this one trip than several put together.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Tour: Positano, Amalfi & Ravello

Italy

Our private driver Francisco knew the area and all the views. We would get spots and no one else was around. That meant he had greater knowledge and gave us an extra advantage. He brought us to an incredible restaurant with the best water view.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

All Rome in one day: Golf cart, Colosseum & Vatican Private guided tour

Rome

This is how you see it all and save your feet! Jacomo put us in the right spot everytime.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dinner Experience in a Local Home Restaurant

Rome

We can’t say enough about going to these people’s homes and making pasta,cooking it including tiramisu!

Quality of Experience

Wonderful people

Food

Authentic homemade food!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My daughter and I traveled to Denmark and Norway to celebrate my 75th birthday. We started the trip in Copenhagen and ended in Oslo so we had city experiences on both ends. In between, we explored Bergen and Flam, enjoyed outdoor activities and spectacular landscapes. All the hotels were excellent choices and we used public transport to an from airports, except on the last morning when an early taxi took us to airport with our bags.

Having never been to either country, we relied on Kadri to arrange the itinerary and special excursions. She was incredibly attuned to our interests. Our Huggae tour in Copenhagen was a wonderful introduction and we enjoyed the guided bike food tour as well. We had plenty of time to explore museums and arrange delicious dinners--what a special food scene. I arranged the "scaffolding of the trip" and my daughter did extensive research on museums and restaurants. We especially loved the Louisiana modern art museum a little ways out of town.

Bergen is a special place and our hotel was located in the heart of the Unesco area. The ferry on the fjord to Cornelius restaurant was such a special experience that Kadri arranged for us, and we enjoyed meeting the owner, Oyster Dundee, and his stories about the film, The Menu, inspired by the writers dinner there. Kayaking was a highlight and our guide was wonderful. While expecting rain, I think we brought the California sunshine with us and had perfect weather the entire trip. Norway in a Nutshell travel from Bergen to Flam is not to be missed and we especially loved the ferry on the fjords--what a blissful sail on the upper deck.

Flam was super fun, we hiked on our own the first day and enjoyed a guided hike the next day. Cycling along the fjords is majestic. Thankfully, we were leaving Flam the day the big cruise ship pulled in, not sure how Kadri arranged that or if it was coincidence but it worked for us.

Our final stop was Oslo, with lots of walking, shopping, eating and museums. Outdoor sculpture park, the Folk Museum (not to be missed) and the Munch museum were all easily accessible--public transport in Oslo is wonderful and easy to navigate, but we also walked a lot which allowed us to see lots of details. On our final day, we booked a floating sauna on the fjord which was so much fun.

Kadri, thank you for the memories!

We had a wonderful 9-day trip to Turkey thanks to the efforts of Berat at Kimkim travel, and the knowledgeable guides she arranged, Volkan and Ozan, in Istanbul and Izmir.

My son and I wanted to do a history focused tour for this first trip to Turkey and with just that high level guidance, Berat produced an itinerary that covered successive periods all the way from Ancient Greek and Roman sites (Pirene, Ephesus) to Istanbul’s layers of empires (Roman to the Ottoman) and the after effects of the Turkish-Greek population exchange in Cyprus in 1923. We saw the main sights (Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque etc), but also some unexpected gems with interesting side stories (observed Sunday mass at the seat of the Orthodox Church near Balat).

(It turns out tour-guiding is a major in college in Turkey, combining history, geography, art history, communication, archaeology and more. It totally makes sense: the serious focus produces high quality guides who lead tours for visitors to Turkey as well as Turkish groups visiting other countries.)

Towards the end of our trip, we wanted to see more modern art and our guide helped us fit in the Istanbul Modern, various artsy places in Kadikoy (Asian side) and art galleries back on the European side.

Hotels, planes, taxis and even metro rides were included in the trip cost, but lunch/dinner and guide tips were not paid ahead.

The trip was on the expensive side, but this was a solid introduction to Turkey and we left wanting to come back soon.

Thank you Berat for this memorable trip.

This trip was one for the books! Words cannot even describe how great Croatia was. Bruno - what a guy! he did an amazing job catering the trip to exactly what we wanted - he was on overall amazing guide. He checked in with us every single day and that really reassured us in navigating a new country. Mario/Matej were so kind, we spent the day with Mario and I really felt like he was a friend of mine. The cooking class and walking tour in Split were experiences we will never forget. All in all - this was a perfectly planned trip. The airline lost our bags on the way in and Bruno even helped us track them down! I am still in awe of how great this trip was.

Ioannis helped cater and develop an amazing itinerary for our honeymoon. Our itinerary incorporated equal parts of relaxation and exploration. Having these activities really helped my husband and I get a feel for the Greek culture. It was also very nice having constant communication with Lea throughout our trip as well when questions did arise.

Hotel Reviews

Volcano View Hotel

Santorini

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Verina Astra Hotel

Sifnos

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Eden Beachfront Residences and Suites

Naxos

The location is very isolated, however, it was perfect for relaxing at the beach - which is what we wanted. The hotel staff was very friendly and helpful - especially Nicholas. Our compliments to the chef who stayed and prepared breakfast and a traditional Greek dish every evening from local ingredients.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Paros Agnanti Resort & Spa

Paros

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

A for Athens

Athens

When we arrived, we were told by reception that A for Athens was under construction. We were taken to a sister hotel - Hotel 360 - across the street. It was a little confusing trying to figure out where breakfast was held (across the square at another sister hotel) but otherwise, the room was comfortable for our 2 night stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Morning Caldera Catamaran Cruise

Santorini

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traditional Cooking Experience at Village Farm

Naxos

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunset & Wine Tasting Experience

Santorini

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Small Cyclades Sailing Day Trip

Paros

This was a very intimate cruise with only 6 people total - which made it more enjoyable. Bastian and Cristos were exceptional.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We simply had a wonderful time. Major highlights include Ivan's tour of Pompeii and Elisabetta's cooking class, although the other tours and the mosaic class were also very good. It would have been helpful to know in advance which tours were large groups and which were private, but all worked out very well. We would use Kimkim again.

Hotel Reviews

Navona Colors Hotel

The room was on the small side, but I didn't spend any time in there, so no problem. Service was great, breakfast buffet was very good.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Piazza Bellini & Apartments

Naples

Huge room, charming place, good service. The piazza and balconies offered ways to be outside if the mood struck. I recommend the place.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Welcome to Rome!

Rome

We had no problem meeting our driver and getting to the hotel.

Private Neapolitan Cooking Class

Naples

This is an activity not to be missed. Elisabetta shared produce and olive oil directly from her farm so we could make a delicious, authentic meal. Also, the setting for this class is gorgeous.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guided tour of Pompeii and Bosco Reale

Italy

Ivan was an exceptionally good guide. He modified where we went based on our interests and answered a whole slew of questions.

Guided Visit to the Colosseum, Palatin Hill and Roman Forum

Rome

The guide was good, but she was hard to keep up with. I felt like she could have stopped to count us more often. Also, a small thing, but her stick was hard to follow--instead of a flag or scarf, she just had a tiny stuffed animal on the end of it and it was hard to see in the crowd.

Mosaic workshop with a local micro-mosaic artisan

Rome

Good experience. She didn't seem to mind that we ran overtime.

Private guided tour of Haercolanum

Italy

Anna was knowledgeable and fun.

Early entrance tour of Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter Basilica

Rome

Beautiful, but we needed a lot more time.

Julius Caesar & the Emperors’ Stories private walking tour

Rome

Guide was knowledgeable. Peace altar was the most memorable part of the tour. Overall, very good experience.

Capuchins Crypt: Sacred Music in the Heart of Rome

Rome

This activity was so-so. Could be a one night thing, but the soloist was not into performing.

This was our second trip to Spain, and we wished to visit several regions that we had not previously visited, including Madrid, La Rioja, the Basque region and Valencia. This required a bit a logistical planning. The planning process with Coraima was a pleasure, as she arranged multiple separate travel arrangements and connections for us. Coraima found lodging for us in wonderdful, walkable neighborhoods as we requested. She also arranged several private and small group tours for us. The highlights were the wine tours in Rioja, and the walking tours in Bilbao. We had the pleasure of meeting with Beatriz twice in Bilbao, once for a walking tour of the Old Town, and a second time for an eating tour. She was a delightful guide who had a wealth of information that she related in a relaxed and enjoyable manner. Our driver/guide in Rioja was also personable, relating lots of information as he drove us to the wineries. The two wineries we visited were a terrific choice, with one demonstrating more classic caves, and the other a more modern process. All in all, I highly recommend KimKim for planning your next trip.

We worked with Jasmine and Hiroshi of Oshinobi Travel, and regret the decision.

Although their service did provide several memorable experiences (Miyokaiku carpentry tour, Yoko the guide for Nikko, Emi's help in coordinating connections), these were overshadowed by repeated disappointments:

The wrong ryokan was booked for the Nakasendo trail, and this was a major disappointment. But even more upsetting was the lack of response to making any correction or taking any responsibility for the oversight. Instead, fault was seemingly placed on us (via the Kim Kim dialog). I requested a refund, and was denied.

Even when we cancelled planned arrangements--such as a guide we no longer needed--no compensation was offered. We enjoyed most of their guides, but some did not have the requisite knowledge / experience of the places we visited (temples, gardens, etc.)

The hotels they selected on their own were standard Western rooms, except for specific requests we had made. We did enjoy the ryokan they booked in Kyoto. The places you stay matter in terms of the experience you have.

The train bookings were also standard / basic, and could have easily been upgraded, given the cost of the trip.

Overall, for the ~$30,000.00 we spent for 10 days, we felt we had an average experience. We had booked with Esprit Travel in the past--and for less--and had trip experiences that were exceptional. We will book with Esprit next time we visit.

Hotel Reviews

The Tokyo Station Hotel

Tokyo

Simply a Wonderful hotel... With History, a Soul, and wonderful staff and food.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Okunoin Hotel Tokugawa

Nikko

Also sterile, western experience.

Hatago Tawaraya Ryokan

Nakatsugawa

The Wrong ryokan, and hence our disappointment. Not much of a Soul, but clean.

Kyoto Yuzuya Ryokan

Kyoto

Loved this place, and its location. We will return.

Authenticity & Character

A true ryokan experience.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Shourekiji Temple Stay

Ayabe

Enjoyed the interactions with the hosts, especially the participation in the Buddhist traditions.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very remote--1.5 hours from Kyoto

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Leisure Time at Nikko

Nikko

Our guide, Yoko, did an amazing job here. Although she had been told we were planning to hike, we went to Nikko for the temples and World Heritage Sites. This took some adjustment on her part, which she did artfully, and took us on an amazing tour. At the end of the tour--which included almost Everything at a leisurely pace--she even sent us off by taking us to various food spots (including saki) for the train ride home.

Embark a Special Himeji Miyadaiku Carpentry Tour and Castle Exploration

Japan

Our best arranged experience, overall. We met the master carpenter at his shop, where he educated us about joinery and various techniques. And then the carpenter himself took us on the tour of the Himeji castle, which he himself had restored 10 years earlier. The guide / translator also did an exceptional job.

Private Transportation Service

Japan

The private transportation was very expensive. We requested a car after we cancelled a previous arrangement, and Hiroshi gave me a price of $350-400 for the morning of the request. We walked instead, had immersive experiences in Kyoto, and then simply took a cab back to the ryokan for a total cost of $8.00.

Svetlana was amazingly responsive to all my change requests and sudden needs. The sites that she suggested were all wonderful and the vouchers worked without fail. I would use her again in a heartbeat.

Hotel Reviews

Menlo Hotel

Galway

a very nice hotel, just not located near downtown so you have to drive to get anywhere. it was a 30 min walk to downtown. Nice restaurant.

Authenticity & Character

Location

not near downtown

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Perryville House

County Cork

an amazing old building right in the town of kinsale. A delightful room with amazing breakfasts and a lounge for alcohol in the afternoon. The staff were all very helpful although they did want a time for arrival for breakfast since the hotel was full. There is very limited parking but the porter was great at helping secure a spot the next morning when a space opened up.

Authenticity & Character

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Green

Dublin

nice hotel with good breakfasts. Very responsive. Quirky room set up as we had to use two elevators to get to room as it has incorporated two distinct buildings.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

they have an executive lounge but it is not like what you find in other hilton or marriott lounges

Activity Reviews

Waterford Crystal

Waterford

wonderful 50 minute tour

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Traditional Dance, Music & Dinner

Dublin

we had read that the would be a "tourist trap" "poor ventilation", and was "packed like sardines" We really enjoyed it and never felt locked into our seats. the attitude was great of all the staff and the food was wonderful. the entertainment was really fun

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

My wife and I just returned from a self drive trip to Croatia, Montenegro and Bosnia. We worked with Nikola and could not have had a more pleasant experience. He crafted our trip exactly to our interests. He is super patient, because I made many changes along the way. He is from Croatia, and is an expert. During our trip he kept up with me everyday via WhatsApp and was available to us the entire way. He responded promptly via WhatsApp to the few questions I had along the way. His choice of hotels were fantastic, and the order in which he booked our trip provided for the most time in each city. ‘Also, he sent me an APP for my phone prior to departure which detailed our trip, and sights along the drive that we could stop to visit if we wanted. It covered every detail, even how to park at each hotel. We literally felt as if he were with us the entire trip. Having his help immediately along the way, if needed, was priceless. We do not like group tours, so this option is the best for us. This is our 3rd KimKim trip, and I no longer try to plan independent trips myself anymore. I will only use KimKim as they vet out local agencies who are superb in their product. ‘Thank you Nikola. We will speak again when we return to the Balkans.