Kimkim Trip Reviews

Thank you so much to Alex for planning such a great trip for me. He was able to plan a trip for me in a short period of time to Belize and Guatemala. The guides and the accommodations were amazing and I am so happy that I was able to participate in this trip. I would recommend Alex to plan your next trip to Guatemala.

We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Uganda, Tanzania and Zanzibar. However, we would not recommend using Peter from Umoja African Journeys as we had too many issues on our trip to mention.

We had two outstanding guides on our trip. Moses in Uganda and Isaiah in Tanzania. They were fantastic taking the time to tell us about the country, animals, food, life in both countries. Isaiah is contracted from Watatu Tours in Arusha, Tanzania and would use him again.

When planning a trip to multiple countries, utilize an expert in that country as I would have used an expert in Tanzania and one in Uganda and Zanzibar. Find locals in that country.

We had an absolutely amazing trip to Costa Rica. Holden was great from the start and listened to all of our desires and built us a dream trip. This was my second trip with KimKim and I would highly recommend them. They are an outstanding travel partner and saved me so much time in researching, booking and confirming our adventures! I will use them again for future adventures. Thank You, Holden. I appreciate all your hard work and organization.

Our driver (Hemedi) was outstanding! Very experienced and knowledgeable about the tours and accommodations. Clearly made a point to understand our itinerary in detail, and made himself available to us whenever needed. Made suggestions about some activities to fill out our time. Was genuinely interested in our experience with our tour guides. He is proud of his country, and an excellent representative of Morocco and his tour company! We felt like we made a friend in him. We would highly recommend him to others!
The accommodations were excellent. We really enjoyed the location and character of the riads. In particular, we really enjoyed the staff at Riad El Yacout in Fes.
All of our tour guides were great. We felt like there was a lot of value in the information we got from them...great perspective on history and culture that we would otherwise not have gotten. We considered eliminating some of the private tours when we were developing the itinerary/trip cost...but in retrospect we would recommend that they be included. In particular we appreciated interactions with our guide in Fes (Reda) and food tour guide (Hanyn). We also enjoyed our guides in Merrakech and Imlil. One suggestion would be to utilize more female tour guides. Our female guides in Rabat and Meknes provided some cultural insights that Americans would probably find particularly valuable.
One recommendation we would make to others developing itineraries would be to include a second night in the Sahara. It is a long trip to get there.

We had a great trip, and it was only possible through Leny's help! She recommended places and activities, like the Takayama and the Nakasendo Trail hike which was amazing. She hooked us up with some great guides for food and sake tours and temple/shrine tours that exceed our expectations. We couldn't have done so much in the time we had without Leny's help, and the airport pick-ups and city transfers were especially appreciated, especially when the roads and most of the rail lines were closed because of heavy snowfall, but she instantly had a plan and we were able to continue our trip with an alternative route. Thanks Leny!

Hotel Review

Tsutaya Tokinoyado Kazari

Great ryokan experience! First off the meals were absolutely incredible! The onsen was nice and hot, the scenery from the large windows was beautiful, and the staff were also excellent. We really enjoyed it.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable, unless you need a soft bed (they are futons).

Activity Reviews

Kyoto Sake Brewery Tour (Adults only)

Kyoto

Great way to learn about how sake is made and the range of flavors it encompasses. We tasted at three different breweries including a good lunch at one. Our guide was knowledgable and friendly. Thanks!

Relax and Savor Dinner in the Ryokan

Kiso-Fukushima

We had the most amazing dinners and breakfasts at this ryokan! So many different dishes and flavors: some slightly more than a thimble full, some you grill yourself at the table, some prepared table-side by the chef, but always 10-15 things to taste and enjoy. Truly amazing. And the staff is really great.

Hidden charms of Arashiyama

Kyoto

This was a great tour! Some of the smaller shrines/temples so it's more intimate. Our guide, Keith, was amazing in his knowledge and nuance of Japanese history and culture (and restaurants and nightlife), after living there for 25 years.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Esther was great to work with and organized a very customized trip for us that included lots of time with our local family while we were in South Africa, while also suggesting places to stay or visit that we wouldn't have known about. She helped find accommodations that our family of 6 were comfortable in and was super responsive and accessible throughout the planning process and the trip itself. She managed to keep us within budget, and when there were small hiccups a few places we went, her team was able to troubleshoot to get us the best outcome possible.

We had a magical experience with our family of 4 teen and pre-teen boys, and I know it was in no small part due to Esther's help, ideas, creativity, and resourcefulness.

The good
The hotels were top notch (although having an add on breakfast on the day we had a 6 am train seems like poor planning)
Las Alpujarras Village tour was fantastic. The guide realized early in that shopping and lunch were not really of interest and changed things up to include a hike. One of the highlights.
Kayaking in Costa Brava was fantastic and the other high point
Our kimkim trip planner worked with us and did a great job hearing what we wanted and booking the things we wanted to do. Kimkim is not responsible for the poor service we received from some of the guides

The really really bad
Rides -
our train driver in barcelona was in the wrong place and we spent over an hour trying to find him
Our driver to the train in Granada never showed up. He eventually called 30 minutes late to say he was on his way but by then we paid for a taxi and barely caught our train

Wine tasting in Granada
The guide went into a monologue about how wonderful it was that the jews and Muslims were chased out of the country by the great queen Isabelle. While there is historical accuracy (ham was adopted as a national dish in part to drive out certain cultures) having the guide extoll the virtues of racism, and explain to us that we were wrong in being appalled because it was wonderful to have certain cultures driven out l those cultures were removed from the country came across as racist, offensive, and disgusting.
The bar tender also made a big deal about one member of the group who only wanted to taste the wine, telling her she has to drink, insulting her, and not allowing anybody else to try the next one until her glass was empty.

The rest of it was okay but the wine tasting was offensive on many levels and overshadowed much of the trip.

Hotel Review

Hotel NH Collection Granada Victoria

Granada

Gorgeous room. Breakfast was amazing

Authenticity & Character

Location

Walking distance to everything

Staff

Suggestions on where to eat, what to see. Help with taxis when our ride service did not show up

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Private La Alpujarra Villages Day Trip

Granada

The guide had a set itinerary based on what most groups want (shopping and lunch) but switched it on the fly to include hiking down to a waterfall when we showed no interest in the quaint shops.

Quality of Experience

8

Transport

Good company on the drive, pointed out landmarks and helped me practice spanish

Great trip!! It was our first time in Australia and New Zealand and both countries were spectacular! Spending 5 days in Sydney was just perfect. We went on a bike tour (on our own) with Bonzo Bike Tours, located in the Rocks area. It was 5 hours of seeing all the best sights and absolutely perfect! I would also recommend seeing the opera at the Sydney Opera house, which we organized on our own. The only negative experience was the Blue Mountains Day tour. While the sights were beautiful and scenic, our guide/driver was constantly speeding and ended up getting a ticket. At times, we felt rushed and unsafe. He tried arguing with the police officer and spoke very negatively about police, construction workers, and others. After the ticket, he was not in a good mood and begged for a positive google review. The Outer Barrier Reef Cruise with Quicksilver was fantastic and we are so glad we added that to our plans. The best experience was the Milford Sound Fly, Cruise, Fly tour. Absolutely breathtaking reviews and the tour company was so professional and experienced in taking care of us. I would delete the stop in Dunedin, if I had do to do the trip again, the wildlife tour there was not much different than we already experienced and the town of Dunedin was not as vibrant as Queenstown.
The only other tour I would change was the 12 hour rail trip on the Northern Explorer Scenic Train from Wellington to Auckland. I would just get a flight to Auckland. We absolutely loved the food tour in Wellington, our guide was awesome and the Waiheke Wine tour was beautiful and fun for our last full day in New Zealand.

Hotel Reviews

City Life Auckland

Auckland

The hotel in Auckland was great. It had a fantastic location, and we enjoyed walking around and exploring the area. The hotel added to the whole Auckland experience.

Cairns Colonial Club Resort

Cairns

The Cairns Colonial Club Resort was a wonderful place to stay. They even upgraded us, providing a nice view and lots of room space. Having laundry facilities was a great plus, especially for a long trip.

Activity Reviews

Skyline Queenstown - Gondola and Buffet Dinner

Queenstown (NZ)

The Skyline Queenstown Gondola and Buffet Dinner was a highlight of our trip. The food was high-quality and abundant, far exceeding our expectations for a buffet. The views from the gondola were simply stunning.

Wellington Food Tour

Wellington

The Wellington Food Tour was fantastic. It ended up being a private tour as we were the only participants, and the guide was very passionate and added his personal touch, making it a memorable experience.

Auckland City & Waitakere Ranges

Auckland

The Auckland City & Waitakere Ranges tour was fantastic! The rainforest, the bush, and the beach were beautiful. Our guide was wonderful and made the experience really special.

The Essence of Waiheke Wine Tour

New Zealand

The Essence of Waiheke Wine Tour was fantastic. We really enjoyed the tour and the wine experience. It was a wonderful way to spend the day and a highlight of the trip.

Great Ocean Road Adventure

Melbourne

The Great Ocean Road Adventure had a bit of a hiccup due to our guide, who was not very friendly and even got a speeding ticket during the tour. It was not as enjoyable as we had hoped.

Quicksilver Outer Barrier Reef Cruise

Australia

The Quicksilver Outer Barrier Reef Cruise was absolutely fantastic. It was a very safe and well-planned tour that was both educational and visually stunning. I highly recommend this if you're visiting Cairns.

Day Trip to the Blue Mountains

Sydney

The day trip to the Blue Mountains was incredibly nice. We got to see some amazing wildlife and the natural beauty of the area was breathtaking. It's a must-do activity if you're in Sydney.

Our recent trip to Sri Lanka was nothing short of spectacular, thanks to the exceptional hospitality and professionalism of our driver/tour guide, Anura Kumar, and the outstanding service at Hilton Resort Yala – Safari Ranger, where Sanka made our stay truly memorable.

From the moment we arrived, Anura Kumar ensured that our journey was smooth, comfortable, and packed with insightful experiences. His deep knowledge of Sri Lanka’s history, culture, and hidden gems added immense value to our trip. Whether it was exploring ancient ruins, enjoying scenic coastal drives, or discovering local delicacies, Anura’s warm personality and expertise made every moment special. He went above and beyond to accommodate our requests, making sure we had a seamless and enjoyable experience throughout.

Our stay at Hilton Resort Yala – Safari Range was the perfect retreat after days of adventure. Nestled close to Yala National Park, the resort offers breathtaking views, luxurious comfort, and world-class service. Sanka, in particular, stood out with his exceptional attentiveness and dedication. His personalized service, attention to detail, and genuine hospitality made our stay extra special.

The Yala safari itself was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We were fortunate to witness incredible wildlife, including leopards, elephants, and exotic birds, all while being guided by expert ranger who ensured a responsible and respectful wildlife experience.

Overall, this trip exceeded all expectations. Sri Lanka’s natural beauty is breathtaking, but it’s the people—like Anura Kumar and Sanka—who make the experience truly unforgettable. If you’re planning a visit, I highly recommend both Anura as your tour guide and Hilton Resort Yala for a luxurious yet immersive adventure.

Hotel Review

Hilton Yala Resort

Yala

The Hilton Yala Resort was simply incredible. The hospitality, food, location, and service were all exceptional. The resort's location in the forest allowed us to see elephants, monkeys, and even a crocodile right from the property. The newness of the resort added to its charm, making it my preferred choice over other accommodations during our trip.

Activity Reviews

Kanneliya Rainforest with a lunch by the stream

Sri Lanka

Visiting the Kanneliya Rainforest was a highlight of our trip. The early morning hike was perfectly organized with a knowledgeable guide, allowing us to explore various plant species and see snakes. The walk to the waterfalls was breathtaking, and we captured some beautiful photos there.

Afternoon Safari at Yala National Park

Sri Lanka

The afternoon safari at Yala National Park was unforgettable. We had almost given up hope of seeing a leopard when, just fifteen minutes before leaving, we spotted a huge one lying on the ground, staring right at us. Capturing that moment was magical and a testament to the wonders of Yala.

Morning Safari in Yala National Park

Yala National Park

The morning safari in Yala National Park was a beautiful experience even though we didn't see everything we hoped for. We saw elephants, buffalo, and some amazing birds, which were fantastic.

Fantastic trip!

Doris was great. Excellent planning for us and she checked in to see how things were going.

Guides were good. Drivers were excellent!

Hotels were excellent. Only exception was in HCMC the Muong Tranh hotel is more for business people not tourists. Should use a better more character option there.

Fantastic trip. Thank-you KimKim and Doris!

Hotel Reviews

The Anam Mui Ne

Mui Ne

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hoi An Delicacy Hotel & Spa

Hoi An

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Sai Gon city sightseeing

Ho Chi Minh City

Visit Hoi An Ancient Town

Hoi An

Hue: Thuy Bieu Ecovillage, Cooking Class & Imperial Citadel

Hue

Hanoi city sightseeing

Hanoi

Explore Ha Long Bay - Overnight on Cruise

Vietnam

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mekong Delta - Overnight on board

Vietnam

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a wonderful trip. Everything was well planned and laid out.

Hotel Reviews

Skuggi Hotel Reykjavík by Keahotels

Reykjavík

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Katla by Keahotels

Vík

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Gullfoss

Tungufell

Charming hotel! Friendly staff l.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Northern Lights and Stargazing

Reykjavík

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sólheimajökull Glacier Walk

Iceland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Glacier Ice Cave Experience

Iceland

It was cold and rainy yet a wonderful experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This trip to Chile was for four of us. We are experienced travelers (including two prior trips to Argentina) and it is from that perspective that we have unqualified praise for Lorena and her team. We provided a general idea of what we wanted to do, she provided options and then helped us make final decisions. With only minor exceptions, (which we have already told her about) everything she booked for us was perfect--the lodging, the tours, the boat trip and the transfers. We had one transfer fail to show at the Balmaceda airport, but she had us rebooked with someone else within 30 minutes. Also, we had some itinerary adjustments along the way, including adding a land transfer to Argentina.
Lorena was just super helpful with everything
Other Highlights:
-- Soledad, our guide in Santiago and Valparaiso was top notch. We really enjoyed the two days we spent with her.
--Dinner with Gloria: We felt so fortunate to be able to enjoy a home cooked meal in Glorias home. This feels like a special touch that most travelers don't get.
--The Skorpios Cruise: The perfect way to experience the fjords and archipelago of southern Chile. The crew and program on the ship was very high quality.
--Vicente Perez National Park Tour: Our guide Christian was excellent and proved invaluable in solving a minor medical issue one of us had in Puerto Varas
--Transfers: We had a lot of them and with the one exception noted above, they were perfect. The drivers were on time, interesting to talk with and helpful

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Wyndham Puerto Varas Pettra

Puerto Varas

Great location with great views. We had two separate one night stays during our trip

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

M/V Skorpios II Cruise

Santiago

Incredible cruise. The archipelago is stunningly beautiful and the San Rafael glacier was amazing. Highly recommend it. The crew is knowledgeable and helpful Everything is well organized. The food was really good.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Don Luis

Puerto Montt

Do not recommend. Conveyed this to Lorena earlier

Hotel NOI Blend Colchagua

Santa Cruz, O'Higgins

Set among the vinyards and close to many excellent wineries.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Boutique Le Reve

Santiago

Great location, lovely garden for breakfast, friendly staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Skorpios II - 6 days/5 nights Cruise

Puerto Montt

The Skorpios II cruise was absolutely fabulous. It was easily one of the highlights of our trip. Everything about it was just incredible. Highly recommend it!

We had a great experience planning our Costa Rica honeymoon. Holden provided several options and curated an itinerary based on our preferences. Serendipity Adventures was the local tour operator and Wilman was fantastic. He was extremely attentive to any questions with a speedy response time. We LOVED the Manoa Hot Springs Resort and experiences we did in La Fortuna. We did the coffee, chocolate and sugarcane farm tour and the organic farm and cooking class. We would definitely book with Kim Kim for future trips.

Hotel Reviews

Papagayo Golden Palms

Guanacaste

This property sufficient but nothing exceptional. The restaurant did serve good lunch and dinner. The pizza was a miss, but everything else was fine. The hot tub was not working during our stay, but the pool was nice and the bartender was attentive.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

We loved this hotel! The view from our room was incredible and looked like a postcard. The on-property shuttle made getting around very convenient as the property is quite large. The breakfast included was very good and the sushi restaurant and pizza restaurant were both very good. The property was in pristine condition. The hot spring and swim up bar was amazing.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Safari Float on the Peñas Blancas River

Arenal/La Fortuna

The Safari Float on the Peñas Blancas River was really good. However, the description mentioned 'small groups', but our group had about forty people, which I wouldn't consider small. This might affect others' expectations.

Coffee, Chocolate and Sugar Cane Farm Tour

Arenal/La Fortuna

We loved the Coffee, Chocolate, and Sugar Cane Farm Tour. The format was great, the group size was manageable, and the facility was fantastic at explaining things and keeping everyone engaged. It was one of the highlights of our trip!

Private Organic Cooking Class

Arenal/La Fortuna

Loved Huberth and his lovely family. Their farm was beautiful and such a special place. It was the exact experience we had hoped for and we will be cooking that Costa Rican meal at home with our family. Huberth spoke English and his mother spoke only Spanish. We had no trouble following her instruction and the meal was delicious.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to Morocco was a great experience. Yassine helped us put together an itinerary in less than 2 weeks to departure date since we got a very late start to planning. Everything was taken care of as per our expectations. We were assigned a personal car & driver Said who was with us for all 9 days right from pick up to drop off at the Casablanca airport. Said was a fantastic driver and guide and we truly had a great time because of him.

Hotel Reviews

Riad Sayeda Alhora

Fes

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Jona

Marrakesh

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kasbah Isfoula

Ait Ben Haddou

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful hotel. I wish we could have stayed an additional night.

Location

Staff

Very attentive and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Extremely clean and beautiful room

Luxury Camp Chebbi

Merzouga

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dar Meziana

Chefchaouene

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was clean but small. My husband and me had 2 large suitcases with very little room to move around. The bathroom too was very small.

Riad Kalaa 2

Rabat

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Overnight in the Sahara Desert

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hammam Visit: Traditional Body Scrub

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My sister-in-law, Mindy, and I recently returned from an amazing trip to New Zealand. It was a once-in-a-lifetime trip, filled with adventures, new experiences, and unparalleled beauty. I believe it was all of that because Uma from KimKim helped us every step of the way, from ideas, to planning, to reservations, to support while we were there.

Mindy and I started talking about going to New Zealand about a year ago. We knew where it was, and had heard lots of rave reviews about how gorgeous it is, but not much else. When we got more serious about making it happen, we didn’t know where to start.

While searching online for some ideas, I came across the website for KimKim. I liked that the person who would be helping us actually lives in New Zealand. I decided to give them a try.

We communicated with Uma via messages on their site. She gathered lots of information from us via a detailed questionnaire – length of stay, whether or not we wanted to drive, how strenuous we wanted the activities to be, and our interest in many things, such as tours, hiking, biking, bungee jumping, city vs. nature, budget vs. average vs. luxury accommodations, and so much more.

With that information, Uma suggested that we would enjoy touring the beauty on the southern island. Two islands? Who knew?! She sent us a preliminary itinerary including lots of details and asked for feedback. Over the next couple of weeks, communicating back and forth, we had our plan in place. Uma set everything up for us – booked all the hotels, transfers, tours, and activities.

Uma stayed in touch with us as the date of our trip approached, making sure we had the correct documentation and travel visas in place, correct clothing for the weather and sun protection, travel vouchers, and anything else we needed.

Every day of the trip was filled with fun and adventurous activities. The most memorable was Mount Cook National Park. We spent an hour and a half hiking up Mount Cook on well-kept gravel paths and steps and across a long, moving (& scary for me) suspension bridge. The area was absolutely stunning! The bridge spanned over a small river of runoff from a glacier at the base of the mountain. Mindy and I couldn’t believe how lucky we were to be experiencing this!

Another favorite was taking a cruise from Queenstown across Lake Whakatipu on the TSS Earnslaw steamship. The scenery on the cruise was amazing! It took us to the gorgeous Walter Peak Farm, which is a real working farm. They served us a bountiful, delicious meal and then taught us about sheep shearing and sheepdogs. Afterward, we cruised back to Queenstown. A most enjoyable experience!

Another highlight was the drive from Queenstown to remote Milford Sound and the cruise around the sound. This was another amazing experience with sights so breathtaking, I had to pinch myself to make sure it was real. We decided to take a small plane back to Queenstown – another first for us, and it was worth the price being able to see the beauty from above.

We had many more memorable experiences on our trip to New Zealand. There were only a couple of “hiccups” in transfers, and Uma was just a text or phone call away to take care of it. I truly believe we couldn’t have fit in so much wonderfulness if we had planned it ourselves. We highly recommend visiting New Zealand and using KimKim to expertly craft the perfect itinerary for you.

Hotel Reviews

Te Waonui Forest Retreat

Franz Josef Westland

Loved the foresty setting and vibe. Upscale and beautiful, great restaurant!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

We were treated like royalty!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Couldn't have been better!

Millennium Hotel Queenstown

Queenstown

Beautiful and upscale. Had everything we needed.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very helpful and accommodating!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rydges Latimer Christchurch

Christchurch

Not fancy, but a nice hotel and very clean. Their restaurant, Bloody Mary's, has fabulous food and service.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very conveniently located for our tour.

Staff

We were very well taken care of!

Cleanliness & Comfort

We were pleased with the comfort and cleanliness.

Activity Reviews

Milford Sound Coach - Cruise from Queenstown

Queenstown (NZ)

The Milford Sound tour was incredibly beautiful and impeccably organized. It was a smooth experience with no issues, and the stunning landscape was like something out of a dream.

TSS Earnslaw Cruise to Walter Peak, BBQ Dinner, Farm Tour

Queenstown (NZ)

The TSS Earnslaw Cruise to Walter Peak was remarkable! The cruise itself was excellent, and the visit to the farm was surprisingly wonderful. We had a delightful meal and really enjoyed the sheep farming demonstration. It was a unique and memorable experience.

Christchurch to Queenstown Via Mt Cook & Tekapo Small-Group Tour (One Way)

Christchurch

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The only part of this trip I didn't like was not being in Costa Rica longer! What a beautiful country and the wildlife lives up to all the hype without question!
Randall was extremely helpful and responsive in planning this trip for us and all of our guides were fantastic, especially Alan at Manuel Antonio. Our accomodations were beautiful and we saw just about all the animals we had hoped to, including 2 momma sloths with their babies- talk about cuteness overload! Besides the animals, the landscape is epic and Baldi hot springs was hands down the most incredible facility of that type I imagine there is in the world! Definitely will be returning and hopefully will have even more time for my next trip. Big thanks to all our drivers, guides and to Randall for the wonderful experience! Pura vida 😊

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Costa Verde

Manuel Antonio

This facility is very large with many different parts to it. It was perfectly inlaid in to the jungle and seeing all the converted planes was surreal feeling. We also wound up seeing just as much if not more wildlife on the property than we did at any of the parks we visited, which was amazing! The food was great, rooms were clean and beds were comfy. The views from the pool and restaurants can't be beat either- definitely a great place to stay!

Authenticity & Character

I mean, all the converted planes... If that doesn't scream unique/character I don't know what does!

Location

Very close to Manuel Antonio park with stunning views and tons of wildlife everywhere you look

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Arenal Montechiari

La Fortuna

This hotel was absolutely beautiful! The landscaping and all the birds and sloths on the property were so incredibly captivating and the food for breakfast was delicious as well. Highly recommend staying here 100%

Authenticity & Character

Adorable wood cabins with some of the most beautiful tropical landscaping on the grounds I have ever seen!

Location

Walking distance to the town plaza yet removed enough to be able to see a ton of wildlife all around the grounds of the property

Staff

Very kind and personable

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Manuel Antonio - Jungle Night Walk

Manuel Antonio

This was a small group and we saw quite a variety of animals in a relatively short time span. It was really neat as we all took turns finding then sharing with the others in our group the animals we discovered.

Quality of Experience

It was awesome seeing the different animals in the night time jungle!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was very good and showed us a lot of things we would not have seen without him.

Transport

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike

Manuel Antonio

I loved our experience in the park! The park is incredibly beautiful with a wide range of different views/animals/flora & fauna. Our guide was not only kind and knowledgeable but also had a great sense of humor + tried his best to give us space from other groups so that we could see more wildlife. The only feedback/suggestion I have (which may really be the park's policy so I'm not sure if anything can be done) is that it seems silly and not ideal having all of the guided group tours arriving at the same time i the morning as it makes a big line to get in and then it is harder to experience the park without being surrounded by a large crowd (though again, kudos to our guide Alan for doing his best in mitigating this for us).

Quality of Experience

The animals and location are unbeatable

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our drive was not very long and our guide was very nice, funny and not only pointed things out we never would have seen on our own but also was a great advocate for the wildlife (he had to scold some people that were getting too close to some animals and intimidating them)

Transport

Arenal Volcano Hike & Baldi Hot Springs & Dinner

Arenal/La Fortuna

I absolutely loved this experience and it was quite the full day! The volcano was beautiful and the hot springs were absolutely epic!!

Quality of Experience

The nature of Costa Rica alone makes any experience like this amazing but add on friendly, knowledgeable guides and good, safe drives = perfection!

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very kind and amazing qt providing information and pointing things out to us.

Transport

Our driver was very nice and I felt comfortable and safe

Hiking Waterfalls & River Swimming in La Fortuna

Arenal/La Fortuna

This was the rainiest day of our trip so the waterfall was a little chilly BUT so worth it! Not only was it extremely beautiful but our guide was amazing at pointing out things the entire time (I was so impressed he even saw some things like the toucans in a tree on the drive there when he suddenly told the driver to pull over).

Quality of Experience

It was about as much activity as you could possibly ask for in a relatively short excursion and every bit of it was enjoyable!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Both our driver and guide were very kind and our guide was very knowledgeable and fantastic at spotting and pointing things out to us from the moment we met him until the moment we parted ways.

Transport

Relatively short drive with no issues and a kind, safe driver.

We found the guides such as Indran and Nantha very helpful, personable and open to our questions and queries. Overall the trip met our expectations. The Oriental Village in Langkawi wasn't interesting though and some of the historical sites were only 100 years old which weren't that interesting. Kuala Lumpur was interesting, Penang was nice, the Cameron Highlands was good although our hotel could do with a revamp (the swimming pool was less than inviting). Langkawi was great especially the islands trip and cooking class, which was great fun. Pia, the chef from the cooking class, is a great character.

Hotel Review

Strawberry Park Resort

The Strawberry Park Resort in Cameron Highlands was okay, but it definitely showed its age. The indoor swimming pool looked rundown and in need of a makeover, which wasn't very inviting. The hotel was located at a higher altitude, so it was a bit chilly, especially since there was no heating in the rooms. Despite that, the food at the hotel was very good, and we enjoyed our meals there.

Activity Review

Half Day Langkawi Island Hopping

Langkawi Island

The Half Day Langkawi Island Hopping tour was really nice. The guide we had was very friendly and informative, sharing a lot of history with us. We were pleased with the experience overall, aside from minor scheduling confusion.

Working with Angel to plan our trip to Chile ( Patagonia, Santiago/Valparaiso, Easter Island, Atacama) was a smooth experience, Angel was very flexible, reactive and helpful to plan a trip with plenty of extra ideas and wishes which turned out into a fantastic trip making outstanding memories.

We fell in love with Costa Rica after joining a G Adventures tour in 2024. We wanted to return, but wanted to visit different areas, with the focus on wildlife, birds and experiencing the forests/jungles/wetlands/national parks. We did not want 5*, all inclusive or private travel where shared travel options were available.
Olman understood our requirements and crafted a wonderful 2 week itinerary for us, and we enjoyed every second of every day - wishing we had arranged a longer visit as our time to depart arrived all too soon.
Our pick up at the airport was perfect, and our overnight accommodation at the Park Inn Hotel was comfortable. Shared transport to Tortuguero was fine, and we thoroughly enjoyed our 2 nights at Pachira Lodge, including the wonderful early morning boat tour. (We would not have wanted to stay in Anhinga lodge, the sister to Pachira). The buffet breakfasts, lunch and dinner were all very tasty with plenty of choices. Lunches at El Ceibo were fine.
The transfer to Sarapiqui Rainforest Lodge was very comfortable, in shared transport (often we were the only 2 passengers when using shared transport). The Lodge was particularly beautiful with a very picturesque 'wild' pool. The location was perfect for our trip to La Selva Biological Station and, of all our drivers and transport, the lady who collected and drove us was absolutely wonderful. She was full of knowledge, information and very charming and so kind and helpful, she was the best, I am just sorry that I don't recall her name. La Selva is a fascinating place - we barely scratched the surface of all there is is to see and do there. Whilst staying at The Sarapiquis Rainforest Lodge we were able to walk to 'Dave and Dave's' to watch birdlife very close up in a perfect natural setting. Highlights included the hundreds of hummingbirds feeding on Heliconia flowers, within feet of us. Dave Jnr, the host is a fountain of knowledge and no more than 6 people can visit at a time (pre-booking essential) so a very individual experience. We would definitely revisit this place. We were also able to walk to the Tirimbina Biological reserve and enjoy a night frog hike which was another amazing experience, seeing night birds and so many frogs with our knowledgeable guide. We loved how accessible Sarapiquis Rainforest Lodge was to all these experiences - perfect for us.
Our transport to Hotel Lavas Tacotal in La Fortuna was excellent and we were blessed with good views of Arenal. Our stay here was fine - as we were out most of the time. Our day trip to Rio Celeste and Tenorio Volcano National Park was fabulous. En route we stopped to rescue a sloth that was trying to cross the busy highway - our guide picked it up and carried it to safety, placing it on a tree on the other side of the road. We ended up with a bonus visit to a chocolate/coffee farm and a sloth farm where we came across a tapir. We also came across 3 eyelash pit vipers - our guide was able to share the importance of safe distance.
The drive to Natural Canon Negro Lodge was private transport, and very comfortable. The lodge itself is in a lovely location and we ended up doing a second boat trip in the afternoon to a different section of the wetlands - what a treat. We would love to return to explore more of the wetlands at Cano Negro, as the map indicates the wetlands cover a very large area.
Our trip to Rincon, again private, took longer as the more direct road was impassable and we were advised to go via La Fortuna, making it a long drive. Buena Vista Lodge was excellent, and again the location of our room with unspoilt views over the valley was perfect. There were many trails we could walk ourselves and we thoroughly enjoyed with hot springs. Again birds, wildlife, sunrises and sunsets could not be beaten. The buffet breakfasts were excellent.
Our drive to Tamarindo was on time, and comfortable, as was the hotel. The Wyndham Hotel had wonderful sunrise and sunset views with a regular shuttle bus to and from town, though we discovered a dusty track through the dry forest down to town where we could enjoy the amazing bird life, monkeys and even a Grey Fox. We enjoyed a roof top meal in Tamorindo as the sun went down and another on the beach where we were treated to a fire show. The Sunset catamaran tour was great, though snorkelling was curtailed by our guide due to an excess of jelly fish in the sea at that time - however we enjoyed spectacular views of a jumping hump back whale and calf, on both the sail out and return. Quite unbelievable.
We were glad to have had an extra day in Tamarindo, and could have had 3 nights in all our locations (except La Fortuna)!
Our hotels were excellent and all transport was comfortable and reliable (one of our unfounded worries!).
The flight down from Tamarindo to San Jose was perfect, and an interesting experience.

Thank you Olman, we are already planning a return visit in March 2026!!

This was our first trip to Costa Rica and we wanted to sample both the volcanic/rainforest interior and Pacific coastline on a self-drive family vacation. Kimkim were impressive - responsive, knowledgeable and well-connected. Serendipity Adventures were also responsive and deeply knowledgeable. The combination of the two saved us many hours of internet research to jump straight to the best accommodation (that we would likely never have found), what to spend time on and setting up a wonderful, tailored itinerary.
Our 'small group' adventure day in the Arenal volcano area turned out to be a private tour for just our family with a superb guide, Mariano, who was full of information and insights that really enhanced our experience.
What made the experience really special is that we didn't just get an itinerary with vehicle, activity and accommodations, we got one on one support throughout our trip. Our advisor, Elena, was incredibly responsive and followed up to make sure that everything was going well. This personal support took a lot of potential stress and uncertainty away. We stayed in three different resort-style hotels that were all fantastic, allowing us to sample different areas, but also to relax and spend quality time together as a family.
For anyone not looking for package tours, but also not wanting to go it completely alone, with some local guidance and expertise, Kimkim and Serendipity are great.