Kimkim Trip Reviews

Knowing that Alex was a phone call away, even though the planning was air tight, was a comfort to me.

Again, the planning was air tight including vital times, mode of transportation and what to expect. If you have something go wrong, chances are...you were not paying attention. There was plenty of time to explore and decide what you wanted to do and when to do it. The meal at the taproom was a nice touch with the paring of a variety of dishes with different beers.

Diana

Could rave about Nikola for hours. Truly amazing and made for the most relaxed trip. Next level service!

Everything worked perfectly as planned The accomdations exceeded expectation The variety of food in Scotlant leases something to be desired.

Tetiana, thanks for everything,. You are very good . Russ

We loved our trip!
We would 100% recommend Kimkim and Ashley.

Ashley was in contact with us every step of the way, always providing just the right amount of information, and she was incredibly quick to make adjustments when we decided to add two extra tours.

Our tour guide Bao in Sapa was our favorite, though each guide we met was unique and shared not only details about the sights but also insights into the Vietnamese way of life and thinking. The rice fields, Fansipan, and the waterfalls were breathtaking. However, the Ecolodge (our hotel in Sapa) was a bit disappointing—there was a lot of humidity and an unpleasant smell in the rooms.

In contrast, the hotel in Hanoi was fantastic! The rooms were wonderful, and the staff were extremely helpful and welcoming. We also loved the Jeep tour—it was such fun! The only thing we would have added was a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

The cruise in Ha Long Bay was perfect! The crew made everything fun and easy-going while still being very professional. The rooms were absolutely dreamy.

A special thank you to Ashley for immediately rearranging our bus when we mentioned it wasn’t convenient—she made everything so smooth.

Da Nang wasn’t our favorite stop. While the hotel was excellent and the spa there was amazing, we felt the city itself didn’t have as much to offer. We’d recommend staying two days in Da Nang and adding one more day in Hoi An instead, which was lovely. Our guide in Hoi An did a fantastic job, listened to our needs, and tailored the experience perfectly.

Saigon was a revelation! The Vespa tour was one of the absolute highlights of our trip—the guides there spoke the best English of all and made the experience unforgettable. All the tours and guides in Saigon were excellent.

Overall, every airport transfer was on time and seamless, all the hotels were in great locations, and thanks to Kimkim and Ashley, the only thing we had to worry about was having fun!

Hotel Review

La Casta Cruise

Halong

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Saigon By Night - Street Food Tour By Vespa (Updated)

Ho Chi Minh City

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ivan and Sarah were very responsive throughout the planning and during our vacation. Our drivers and guides at all locations were timely, professional, and very engaging. The hotels in Split, Korcula and Dubrovnik were very good for the price we paid. The hotel in Hvar was massive with no character, problems with bathrooms in both rooms, smaller rooms than in the other three locations, and people were not nearly as friendly as in the other three hotels. Miko Ivanisevic who lead the bike tour on Hvar, and Donko who took us on the island boating and swimming excursion, were tremendous. George who drove us from Dubrovnik to Split and then again around Dubroknik later in our trip was superb. The tour with Dubravka Radis was excellent.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Lero

Dubrovnik

About 20-min walk to old town. can take #4 bus from just across street. Spacious rooms. Nice staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Korsal

Korčula

Good location, nice staff, clean room with nice view.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Amfora Hvar Grand Beach Resort

Hvar

No character. People not friendly. Bathrooms had leaky showers, hand-helds that did not work. Rooms were small.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bathroom fixtures were not functioning. Water leaked all over.

Time Boutique Hotel

Split

Excellent for price. About 15-20 minute walk into the old town. Nice small spa area with pool, sauna and steam room. Good breakfast. Very nice people (and bartender!)

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Tour Dubrovnik's Old Town

Croatia

Dubravka was a tremendous tour guide. Personable, proud of the culture, and patient with us as we had many questions!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hvar - Island Bike Tour with Local Food and Drink Tastings

Croatia

Miko our tour guide was awesome. He is so proud of the local culture where he grew up. Could be doing anything he's so bright and personable, and chooses to give these tours. It was an awesome experience capped off with unexpected wine tasting at a small private winery.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Split

Donko our boat captain was fabulous. Swim, and stops at two islands, were great.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Plitvice Lakes National Park

Split

great walk. we diecided not to wait in line for boat to cross back across a lake (long line would have taken an hour to board) and instead walked. This was a grest decision. Hardly saw any other people on this segment and really enjoyed it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I will not travel to a new place without KimKim.
This was the most incredible, authentic, and convenient independent travel experience I have ever had. Nikola made a trip for 3 women to Croatia the most delightful experience. Every detail was taken care of. From planning months ahead to departure travel to the airport. Truly a great experience that we can’t wait to try again with KimKim.

Hotel Reviews

Balatura Split Luxury Rooms

Split

The most convenient location, clean, safe and amazing staff. Perfect for 3 traveling independent ladies. Could not recommend more.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel A'mare

Zadar

Perfect for 3 lady independent travelers. Very safe, comfortable and convenient.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Day Trip to Mostar & Kravice Waterfalls

Split

This side trip from Croatia was very worthwhile. Visiting Mostar was impressive and the Genocide/war museum a humbling reminder. Kravice waterfalls were great , but not as impressive as Krka.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hvar Day Trip from Split

Croatia

My guide Miko was so knowledgeable and enthusiastic. Off the beaten path and a wealth of information. Lunch was possibly the best of the whole trip!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Walking Tour of Split

Croatia

Our guide was a knowledgeable delight. She met us in our hotel lobby, answered all our questions and taught us so much!

Quality of Experience

We

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

What a great experience working with KimKim and Sara. The private transfers at each location and help with luggage made us feel special. All the drivers were pleasant and got us to our destinations on time and safe. It was my first time using a travel agency for a long trip. KimKim exceeded our expectations. Great job. Sara was always responsive to our questions and was able to offer suggestions when needed. Great customer support. We will definitely contact KimKim for future travel needs and recommend KimKim to other potential travelers.

Activity Reviews

Hvar Day Trip from Split

Croatia

We had a wonderful driver/guide who grew up and still lives on Hvar so he provided great insight to the islands history. We had a stop at a family farm where we were provided some great appetizers and several wines in one of the most beautiful settings. Then another trip to see a beautiful small town on the water for a great lunch. We ended the trip with some time left to get a swim in at one of the beaches near the ferry dock. We definitely enjoyed our day trip to Hvar.

Quality of Experience

Food

Great wine, great food in great atmospheres.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ston Oysters Experience

Croatia

This experience couldn’t have been any better for our group. We happened to be the only four people on the water for the two hour experience. Our Captain/Chef explained the process well and provided a fabulous meal. Great grappa, wine, fresh, fresh oysters and mussels. Great sunny and warm day. What could get any better?

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Walking Tour of Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik

Very knowledgeable guide who actually grew up within the city walls and went to grade school in the old town. She provided personal and interesting facts of the town. A great walking tour.

Quality of Experience

Personal touch from someone who grew up in the old town.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Nadine asked great questions to figure out what my version of an ideal vacation is. She worked to meet my budget needs and had great suggestions.

Hotel Review

Boutiquehotel Staats

Haarlem

The rooms are a nice size, clean, and well-appointed. The lounge/eating area was comfortable and available at all hours. There’s a secluded patio out back. The staff were uniformly friendly and helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

O

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Amsterdam - Private guided historic city walk

The Netherlands

My guide was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. She also gave lots of suggestions on local places to shop and dine.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The best part of this trip was Dalia. She was on top of things with a positive attitude. She helped us quickly and took care of the few issues that popped up.
Recommendations were very good. The kids and the older folks enjoyed the trip.
Choice of hotels also was excellent.
Except for one driver, they were all quite accommodating . The tour guides were informative and also nice with the kids.
Thanks for helping us create memories.
Now let’s plan for the next trip

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Pintor El Greco

Toledo

Great ambience Great breakfast

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Becquer Hotel

Seville

Family accommodation was great Breakfast quite good

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Catalonia Plaza Mayor

Madrid

Great breakfast Great service

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

CATALONIA EIXAMPLE 1864

Barcelona

Comfort and great location

Authenticity & Character

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Toledo City Tour

Toledo

Tour a little short

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sevilla Guided Tour

Seville

A little longer tour

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Madrid Panoramic Guided Tour

Madrid

Need an another day in Madrid

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Free time in Toledo

Toledo

For the older folks would consider transportation Would add a little more free time or increase tour time to see more stuff

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Prado guided visit for Kids!

Madrid

Great but kids weee a little bored

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private transfer : {{start_location}} to {{end_location}} with day trip to Zaragoza

Spain

Driver friendly and accomodating

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Barcelona Panoramic city tour with Sagrada Familia tour + Parc Guell

Barcelona

Guide was excellent

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ronda day trip with Exciting Buggy experience

Spain

Kids really enjoyed it

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trip to Greece was amazing! Perfectly planned out, rides were spot on time and accommodations were wonderful!! Anytime I had a question, the travel team replied immediately. Just fantastic service from KimKim team! Irene was amazing in planning the trip, I couldn't ask for anything more or better!

Hotel Reviews

La Divina

Athens

Wonderful hotel, amazing bathroom...great location to view and see the Acropolis and Parthenon . Amazing staff

Authenticity & Character

Location

Could see the Acropolis out the window...

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Athina Studios & Suites

Naxos

Great location, short walk to the sea, and wonderful restaurant in the back..Just amazing

Authenticity & Character

Location

Across the road to the sea, simply amazing view at dinner at the restaurant

Staff

So friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lithies Traditional Homes

Thíra

Stunning views, amazing accommodations and service was excellent and so friendly.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Beautiful view.

Staff

So friendly, caries our luggage up amd down the many stairs.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean , roomy, just wonderful!

Mythic Valley Boutique

Litochoro Village

Super clean and cute, perfect location and service!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Just off the main road, ear the restaurants and shops.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Boat Trip to Mykonos & Delos

Naxos

Delos was awesome.....Mykonos, was not as enjoyable. Felt we were dumped at a tourist trap.. Should have had more time here to get outside the market.

Quality of Experience

Again, mykonos we wished we could have seen more than the tourist trap.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Local Transfer in Naxos

Naxos

On time, all the time...amd super friendly

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fantastic trip. Hotels were great, booked trips/tours were uniformly excellent, Nikola was easy to contact to sort out minor issues / questions.
We wanted an active trip with cycling, boating, kayaking, hiking and that’s what we received.

Hotel Reviews

Amadria Park Hotel Capital

Zagreb

High end end hotel, former bank building. Service as you’d expect from high end hotel. A little difficult to get to in rental car ( nowhere to stop or park, except on sidewalk ). Was good to have rental car picked up right there. Good location near old town.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Boutique Villa Pearl of Plitvice

Beautiful small B&B Self checkin needs PIN code, we didn’t have. Would have saved messaging Nikola ( but her answered instantly and called owner

Authenticity & Character

Location

Beautiful area, remote though

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Teatro Verdi Boutique Hotel

Zadar

Good location. Modern rooms. Very friendly and helpful staff. Parking was saved for us.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Great very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Makarun Heritage Rooms

Split

Good location. Room was modern more than quaint. Everything worked though, and breakfast was very good.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Devecchi rooms

Hvar

Great location, good breakfast. Only issue was no elevator to top floor

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Zuviteo Residence

Korčula

Right in the fortress, great location, close to ferries

Authenticity & Character

Location

No

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Heritage Villa Nobile

Dubrovnik

Great location. Good breakfast

Authenticity & Character

Ok

Location

Outside old city so easy to access with luggage but very close to entrance

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Spirito Santo Palazzo Storico

Rovinj

Elevator directly to room, need I say more? Best hotel on trip. Special.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Convenient to walk Rovinj. In old city but baggage support was great

Staff

Very friendly and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Truffle Lunch with Presentation at Local Family Estate

Croatia

We were dubious about this but in fact was very good. Shouid probably have done the cooking class too.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rental car..

Full Day Boat Tour to Blue Cave & Pakleni Islands

Croatia

Missed Blue Cave due to weather, but visited submarine pen on Vis instead, which was maybe even more interesting. Green Cave was great.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nice boat

Sea Kayak Tour on Korčula

Korčula

A lot of fun, despite windy conditions to start. Kayaks are actually very stable. Maybe best beach we’ve ever seen was one stop. Very good and interesting guides

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Good kayaks.stable in rougher water

Private Island of Hvar E-Bikes Cycling Tour

Croatia

Tons of fun, longer cycle than others, but easy on E-bike. Great guide. Excellent wine and food after your.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Good E-bikes

Private Walking Tour of Split

Croatia

Excellent professional guide, highly knowledgeable and flexible about what we wanted to see and do.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walking tour

Private Half Day Tour to Klis Fortress & Trogir

Croatia

Excellent. Same guide as for Split. She was highly professional and knew * everything*

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Comfortable vehicle

Half Day Korčula E-Bike & Food Tour

Korčula

Very good guide. We would have been happy to cycle a bit more but meeting the locals was great, wine was great

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Good E-bikes.

Private Guided Hike of Plitvice Lakes National Park - (Lower & Upper Lakes)

Croatia

Spectacular. Worth having guide - we learned about geology and would have missed some things on our own.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Excellevt guide

Transport

Walking tour no transport

Full Day Biking Tour in Istra - Parenzana Trail

Croatia

Canceled due to weather

Elafiti Islands - Private Half Day Speedboat Tour

Dubrovnik

You need to get out on water in Dubrovnik ! Private tour is the way to go.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Very nice boat

Full Day E-Bike Tour in the Konavle Region

Croatia

Great guide. Spectacular views, and lunch at a restaurant in the middle of a creek

Quality of Experience

Food

Restaurant venue

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Walking Tour of Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik

Very good guide, learned a lot

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walking tour so no transport ..

Private Walking Tour of Zagreb

Zagreb

Excellent guide

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Well was walking tour so no transport

Anthony put together a once in a lifetime experience for me. He covered it all with carefully thought out detail and stayed diligent in communicating with great frequency. Anthony’s knowledge of the Galapagos was amazing. Both land and underwater, everything was perfect.
Arriving for an overnight stay in Guayaquil and then the next morning off Santa Cruz was simple. Jorge with Link greeted me on my arrival at the airport, escorted me to the hotel, picked me up the next morning and escorted me back to the airport. Jorge stayed with me through the many steps required to gain proper entry to the Galapagos. Upon my return to Guayaquil, Jorge was right there waiting for me. Again, back to the hotel and a pick up the next morning for my final journey back to the USA.
On my arrival to the Galapagos, I was greeted by Rubin with Link. Once through baggage check, a short bus ride and water taxi, we arrived on Santa Cruz Island. A taxi transport and we were off to the Highlands for lunch, that was followed by an incredible tour through the national park that protects the giant tortoises. Rubin, a biologist and naturalist, narrated the incredible history of how the these gentle giants arrived in the Galapagos.. His knowledge was endless, I felt like I was back in college with an inspiring professor. Back to the taxi for our trip to my hotel, but Rubin wasn’t done as he guided me up to the tortoise Darwin research foundation center where my education continued. If you have chance to ask for Rubin, don’t think thing twice, just do it.
Next was my dive experience, all set up by Anthony with Scuba Iguana. I went the morning before my first dive to be outfitted with all my dive gear. Conveniently located , a short 45 second walk from my hotel, Blu Galapagos. The staff was excellent, quickly checked me in and fitted me with all the equipment I needed for the next five days of diving.
The next morning I arrived at 7 AM for a daily briefing and met dive master Santiago Insuasti who would be my guide for 5 consecutive days of 2 dives per day.
Then a taxi to the dive boat where we met the captain and crew. Each dive had its own unique personality and variety of sea creatures that makes the Galapagos a very special place. Sticking with Santiago was a sure thing, as he was first to notice sharks, sea turtles, stingrays, schools of barracuda, octopus, eels and heavy schools of colorful small fish. Videos captured all the days treasures. Everyday underwater can be a good day. Luckily, we had an outstanding dive on Friday, Our dive at Daphne was the best I’ve had in 20 years. It started with 2 white tip sharks laying at the bottom, quickly followed by 2 playful sea lions zooming around us starring in our mask then flipping around and taking off. Then turtles and stingrays, to many to count. An octopus tucked in a rock opening and a green eel sticking his head out. The grand finale was a huge very dense school of small fish, so thick you couldn’t see through them. The kind of dive you didn’t want to end. After all our dives, Santiago patiently helped transfer numerous videos to our phones. Honestly, I’ve never had a master diver like him.
The next morning, it was time to say good bye to Santa Cruz and Galapagos. I was greeted by Gandhi with Link who escorted me via taxi back the airport and made sure all my details were correct for my return to the Ecuador mainland, Guayaquil.
Finally, Anthony with KimKim set all this in motion and it was a flawless execution, exceeding all my expectations.
Thank you Anthony with KimKim and the Link organization.
A special thank you to Santiago Insuasti with Scuba Iguana, who made my underwater experience so captivating.

This was our first time using kimkim and were referred to them by a colleague. Highly recommended! Our trip was the best experience, everything suggested by our agent (Helena is the best!) was perfect. The carefully crafted itinerary ensured we had amazing experiences, food, sights, etc. Access to the trip plan app while away proved to be a massive bonus, having our agent at our fingertips while traveling was such a nice touch. Everything was perfect, we are already looking to plan our next trip and will be using kimkim 100%

Hotel Reviews

Évora Olive Hotel

Évora

The Évora Olive Hotel was another great spot and probably my second favorite. Its central location was a big plus. The variety of kinds of hotels we stayed in was something we really enjoyed, as each offered a unique experience.

Dear Lisbon - Gallery House

Lisbon

Our stay at the hotel in Lisbon was a bit odd due to a no-food-or-drink policy in the rooms right after they had shampooed the carpets. This policy was strictly enforced, which was inconvenient as we like to relax with a drink in the room after a long day. While the location was convenient, the restriction dampened the experience a little.

Quinta de Casaldronho Wine Hotel

Lamego

The wine hotel in the Douro Valley was truly a standout accommodation. The views were absolutely breathtaking, nestled among the vineyards. The amenities offered were top-notch, and the overall vibe of the place was just incredibly cool. It was definitely one of my favorite spots on the trip.

Activity Reviews

Wine and Gourmet Experience in Alentejo

Portugal

The Wine and Gourmet Experience in Alentejo was a bit of a mixed bag. While the vineyard tour and grape stomping were fun and the wine tasting was excellent with more varieties than expected, the following harvest dinner was underwhelming. The wines were the same as the tasting, and the food was not particularly impressive. Plus, there was confusion over payment which had to be sorted out afterwards.

River Boat Experience in Douro Valley

Douro Valley

The River Boat Experience in the Douro Valley was another favorite. We had a private little wooden speedboat, and even though our captain didn't speak much English, she was fantastic. She celebrated our honeymoon with us by opening a bottle of wine and taking lots of pictures. It was a lovely personal touch.

Hiking & Cultural Excursion in Peneda-Gerês National Park

Porto

The Hiking & Cultural Excursion in Peneda-Gerês National Park was phenomenal. Our guide was amazing, which really enhanced the experience. The beautiful nature spots, like waterfalls in the mountains, and visiting a small village were highlights. It was very nature-focused and eye-opening.

Our custom trip was everything we hoped for and more. The accomodations were well located, charming and intimate (sometimes only three rooms for whole hotel). We frequently had balconies and outdoor spaces in our hotels. The support crew was excellent, vehicles new and well kept and response time from Robert during the trip was excellent. Arrangements were made for interesting side trips, and the selected bike routes offered stunning views. All in all a top notch experience.

I am going to be as fair and balanced with this review as possible.

Kimkim connected us with Miski Travel for our trip to Peru. Here are the things Miski did really well. The hotels, restaurants, and tour guides they set us up with were really superb and top notch for our budget. Cusco and Lima were amazing times. They upgraded my 2-day Lares hike to a private tour (more on this later); which was a wonderful experience. 5 stars for Cusi Travels. 5 stars for my driver, Alex. 5 stars for my Cusco and trekking guide, Sonia. 5 stars for my Lima guide, Valeria. The biggest thing: when local protests shut down the route to Machu Picchu, they went above and beyond and did everything they could to find an alternate route for me and even covered the additional costs, which were substantial for me.

Where they came up short; and this is something I unfortunately and absolutely cannot overlook or understate... I came to them last NOVEMBER. My very explicit and primary objective for this trip was to hike the FULL INCA TRAIL and see Inca ruins (especially The Sun Gate). They told me this was something they could book for me. So I put a down payment and officially booked with them in FEBRUARY, for a trip in SEPTEMBER.

Come JUNE, 3 months before our trip; they tell me they failed to book the Full Inca Trail for me and that it is now sold out and impossible to join. As I understand it, 7 months is more than sufficient time to book the trail and double-triple check it's been secured. I would be fired for a mistake of this magnitude anywhere I've worked. What I found especially infuriating was they initially downplayed it as a simple mistake and "inconvenience".

At this point in time, there are too many things set in motion for me to simply cancel my trip. This is when they offer to put me on an upgraded Lares trail for 2 days and then do 1 day on the final leg of the Inca Trail. Not at all what I want. Not at all ideal. But my only option.

To be fair, the Lares trail was lovely. I had a great time on it. But still, it wasn't what I wanted. There were NO Inca Ruins on that trail. I do love hiking, but I didn't come to Peru to hike for the sake of hiking. The goal from the very beginning was to hike to SEE RUINS.

After Lares, local protests made it impossible to transfer to the part of the Inca Trail I was supposed to do and cut short the time I could spend at Machu Picchu. The big frustration was I did not get to visit the Sun Gate as I was very heavily and excitedly anticipating. Now of course, I'm not blaming Miski for the protests; and I absolutely give them credit for navigating the situation and finding a way for me to get to Machu Picchu. However, you can't ignore the fact that had they put me on the Full Inca Trail, as originally planned and paid for; my time at Machu Picchu would not have been cut as short and I would've seen the Sun Gate.

So my experienced is mixed, and that's honestly the best I can say about it. I did have a good time. But it also was not what I wanted. I did have a good trip, but I cannot say that I am 100% satisfied. And I definitely cannot say Kimkim can guarantee 100% satisfaction as they state. My 3 stars are generous. The one big failing was really threatening a 1 star.

Because of everything Miski did manage to get right, I imagine had they actually booked the Full Inca Trail for me, this trip would've exceeded perfection. And I see that they do get really good reviews, so maybe my experience with them was a fluke? They tried, but unfortunately, I'm left feeling really iffy about them and Kimkim as well. Your mileage may vary. Maybe I'll peruse Kimkim again? I don't know. I had booked another trip through Kimkim years ago (Nepal/Bhutan) that was absolutely perfect; but this one fell quite short. I'll definitely be exploring other options for my next trip.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Antigua Miraflores

Lima

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa Andina Standard Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu, Cusco

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lares Valley Camping

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Abittare Hotels

Cusco

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Lares Trek Day 1: Sacred Valley to Lares Hot Springs & Wacawasi

Peru

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Cusco Tour

Peru

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lares Trek Day 3: Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu via Sun Gate

Peru

Was supposed to do it but didn't get to!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Historic Center & Larco Museum

Peru

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lares Trek Day 2: Ipsayjassa Pass, Patacancha Village & Pumamarca Ruins

Peru

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Working with Sienna and Lea to plan our trip was just the beginning of our fun adventure in Greece. All of the activities they coordinated with the local vendors were stupendous. The lodging was quite nice in every place we stayed. I especially liked staying in the inn overlooking the water in charming, old town Chania. Our guides Vas in Chania and Ronia in Sifnos made for the most meaningful experiences. They were both very informative about the history, culture, traditions and local sites.

Starting our trip in the the bustling city of Athens was perfect. We of course enjoyed the historic sites and the evening night life of the city. The day trip to Delphi and lunch overlooking the huge olive grove were worth the drive. It was nice to slow the pace in Chania. Though busy, it was less hectic and made experiencing Crete very relaxing and pleasant. Our visit to Milos was too short as we spent half a day flying back to Athens from Crete to connect with a flight to Milos. The only activity we were able to experience was the sailboat trip. Despite the rough water due to high winds, Captain Black and George assured us of a memorable ride around the south side of the island. My favorite place to visit was Sifnos. I especially loved the visiting the quaint villiages and beach areas and only wished we had more time to hike the many trails.

The clear, blue waters of Greece are too beautiful to describe and capture in photographs. The food is outrageously delicious (and I am not even a foodie). Most every local person was so friendly and helpful.

We are glad that we chose to travel in September as it was less crowded than the high summer peak season. Except for one rainy day, the weather was perfect; not too hot.

Hotel Reviews

Avra Hotel

Rafina, Attica

Close to airport. Convenient hotel shuttle. Good customer service.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nival Boutique Hotel

Sifnos

Gorgeous hill top inn overlooking the other villages. Convenient to shopping and restaurants.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The best customer service!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Phos Milos

Pollonia

Beautiful inn, close to town restaurants.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Elia Zampeliou Hotel

Chania

Great location in old town, Chania, convenient to food and activities. Oh so charming. Despite the poor customer service of the one female receptionist, this was my favorite place to stay,

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The one female receptionist was not warm and welcoming and often curt. All of the other staff provided great customer service.

Cleanliness & Comfort

NLH Monastiraki

Athens

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Half-Day Private Hidden Gems Exploration

Sifnos

Because we spent the previous evening with Ronia, she had already shared much of the same information. We did get to visit a pottery locale which was fascinating. The owner was especially kind and fun to talk with. Unfortunately by the time arrived at the church at the top of the mountain, we missed the sunset.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Self-Guided Beach Time

Sifnos

Needed another day to hike all the places we would have liked. Beautiful views, easy to navigate.

Quality of Experience

Taste of Sifnos: Food, Culture & Village Life

Sifnos

Yum, with a capital Y! It was fun to visit the local shops and meet the families that run them. A wonderful variety of foods though of course, I over ate.

Quality of Experience

Learning about the culture of the area through food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

As someone who grew up on Sifnos, Ronia was so informative (history, culture, traditions, etc.)

Transport

Full-Day Sailing Cruise with Lunch

Milos

Despite the windy weather, Captain Black and George still made this a fun and safe experience. Nothing could be better that to experience the gorgeous water up close than this day sailing trip.

Quality of Experience

Food

outstanding, gourmet lunch

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Self-Guided Hiking in Milos

Milos

Did not have time due to half day travel day.

Quality of Experience

Private Imbros Gorge Hiking Day Trip

Chania

It is understandable that this hike is so popular because of its beauty.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Theo was very informative and helpful.

Transport

White Mountains Excursion with Wine & Olive Oil Tastings

Chania

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Balos Lagoon & Falassarna Beach 4WD Day Trip & Lunch

Chania

Both of these places offer views of the unbelievably beautiful sea waters.

Quality of Experience

Food

Some of the best we experienced on our 2 week trip

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Vas is a seasoned guide that shared not only the history of Crete, but also local folk lore. His laid back, fun attitude made the two days we spent with him some of the most memorable of our trip.

Transport

Private Delphi Day Trip

Athens

The drive to Delphi was beautiful and the museum tour was fabulous.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ancient Athens Acropolis & Mythology Walk

Athens

Although crowded with other tourists, the mythology walk is a must see while in Athens.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Theodore was VERY informative.

Transport

NA

Giorgia was fabulous to work with and set us up with a great itinerary. We particularly enjoyed our private tour with Celia in Porto, small group tour of Douro Valley with Pedro, and private tours around Sao Miguel island with Natasha and Vasco. The hotels were excellent and in great locations with nice rooms and amenities. The experience from start to finish was excellent.

Hotel Reviews

Senhora da Rosa: Tradition & Nature Hotel

Ponta Delgada

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Heritage Avenida Liberdade

Lisboa

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pousada Porto - Rua das Flores

Porto

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Douro Valley Highlights: Wine, Olive Oil & River Cruise

Porto

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Guided Visit of Porto

Porto

CELIA WAS INCREDIBLE!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Celia was the best guide, so authentic and fun to navigate the city with

Transport

Walking only

What an amazing trip! We stayed at beautiful Riads within walking distance to markets that were open night and day and had many, many restaurant from which we could eat (all with great food). We visited a mosaic factory and purchased beautiful keepsakes. We stayed at a camp on the outskirts of the Sahara desert where we rode camels into the desert at sunset and hunted for fossils (found many). We were invited to visit a local home where a delicious dinner of local foods was prepared and served to us and we had the opportunity to talk about life in Morocco. Our driver and guides were very knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. The souks were exciting but unlike other countries, no one hassled you to buy.
I strongly recommend taking Kimkim tours as they are well organized, the lodging is remarkable, and the sightseeing is superb. You won't be disappointed!

Thanks a lot. You guys were amazing. we all had a wonderful time with unique experiences.
Your team was wonderful. We did not have any issue... there was minor breakdown but your guide Eddie was on top of it. he arranged back up very fast and everything was just perfect. Eddie was very informative and very nice..
Again thanks to you Michael and Kimkim.. Michael you always answered any of our question/concern with utmost urgency and respect. Thanks for your guidance. We look forward for another trip with you guys in the future.
Cheers,
On behalf of our group many many thanks.
pankaj

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Caribe Faranda

Cartagena

I had a very bad experience. The AC was not working. At late night I was going for a food to 24 hour restaurant and they would not put a tab on my room. I had to pay cash or credit card... I had to husstle.. It was not nice.

Authenticity & Character

Location

very old property.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Park 10

Medellin

OK. not the best.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

I was expecting modern hotel in spirit of modern Columbiam style...

Activity Reviews

Sunset Drum & Dance Safari at the Beach of La Boquilla

Colombia

amazing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boquilla Mangrove Tour

Cartagena

amazing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Salsa Experience

Cartagena

amazing..

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Boat Trip to Rosario Islands

Colombia

Really nice.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walking Tour & Street Food

Cartagena

nice. Learned about the history and transformation was amazing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Peñol Boulder & Guatapé Boat Trip

Medellín

really woth it.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Paragliding in Medellín

Medellín

It was very nice however we had to climb a lot before we can reach for paragliding. As I mentioned few guys had trouble walking. And when we finished we saw a second spot very close in walking distance had the same service but one did not have to climb. I wish other guys would have enjoyed this spot.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Medellín Transformation Tour

Medellín

very nice.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a wonderful trip. Pedro provided us with a true experience of Portugal. A beautiful country based on their history and kindness of their people. A people who respect each other and love their country. From Lisboa spending time with Sandra in her TukTuk to Carlos taking us to the Peña Castle, we began to learn about the richness of the Portuguese country. Then off to Sintra and Nazare with a stop for a Portuguese cocktail. Our Carlos 2 showed us a part of Portugal that wasn’t on our radar. It was delightful. Next to Porto and a walking tour with Eduardo. That was a learning experience with built in exercise and shopping. He provided us with the insight of how passionate the Portuguese people are about their country and their faith. Then off to the Duoro River rise and wine tasting. Ricardo was so fun and contributed to our understanding of the wine country. Then down to the Algarve in a rented car that Pedro had set up for us. We stayed at an historic monastery, stopped at Fatima and spent a number of days on the beaches of the Algarve. All our reservations and arrangements that Pedro made for us provided us with a REAL vacation. We had no worries. Pedro and his team were always at a text away to ensure our enjoyable trip. From the accommodations, food, tours and services organized by Pedro were all amazing. This was a an amazing trip. Thanks Pedro