Kimkim Trip Reviews

We only spent one night here on our way from the airport out of town. It was fine, nothing outstanding.

Nice bungalow in a resort 8 km or so from the main town. We had a premium room which included a jacuzzi tub (which was awkward to use when taking a shower) and a large patio with rocking chairs and hammock! It was quiet and private even though we shared a wall with one other unit.

We had a large room overlooking the Pacific. Unfortunately it was located right next to one of the bars that played music all day, but luckily went quiet by 6:00 pm. Since we were on the west side of the hotel, mornings were enjoyable sitting on our private patio, but by later in the day, it was way too hot to be outside. Breakfast buffet was good, nothing outstanding. The staff was friendly and helpful.

One of our favorite places so far in Costa Rica. The house was beautiful, with art relating to the area and with a beautiful garden with many fruits, herbs, and local plants. The staff were friendly and cooked amazing meals for us! We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and would highly recommend spending as long as you can here!

Fun experience on the tour owners farm. There were only 4 of us on this tour so everyone got the chance to dice the veggies and stir the pots! Delicious food and we were given the recipes at the end!! It was fun to get out of town and see some of the countryside.

There were several large hot spring pools cascading down a hillside with smaller, warmer pools scattered around. The dinner buffet was pretty good.

I'm not sure if we were expecting too much from this tour or it just wasn't the right one for us. I think it didn't help that they were late picking us up, the 12 passenger van was full and it took 45 minutes to get to the actual tour location. The "traditional dinner" consisted of rice, beans and meat so overcooked it was impossible to eat. Our guide was knowledgeable, but really into frogs... we saw a lot of frogs.

This is a fantastic tour IF you have a guide! It makes the whole experience so worthwhile if you have someone who can not only find the wildlife you've come so far to see, but also the history of the park. Our guide was another gem who could spot wildlife and zero in on them with his telescope! We got some fantastic pictures of sloths and one Toucan!

Floating down a river in Costa Rica is a not to be missed experience! We had an excellent guide, Chris, and another couple in our raft who were fun to talk with. While we did float downriver a bit, there was also quite a bit of paddling to be done. Th raft was ok the first hour, but by the end of the second, we were all sore and anxious to get off the raft.

We had a fantastic guide, Bernardo, who could spot a monkey high up in the treetops! He was great at answering our many questions about the area and wildlife. We were fortunate to see not only Capuchin but also howler and spider monkeys.

Our guide was informative, but unfortunately it poured the entire time we were there which made it difficult to see the site fully.

We had a very informative tour of the coffee plantation and the process from planting to roasting the beans! Manuel was our guide and he did a great job explaining why their coffee is so good!!

The room itself is average but it is what you expect from this type of hotel. The pool is really nice and the fact that we could return our rental car at the hotel (enterprise) was a definite plus, along with the free shuttle to the airport which made our return stress free. The breakfast as included and was surprisingly good, including buffet and an omelette station!

We had a junior suite, it was immaculate, the shower was roomy, very comfortable beds, and a dehumidifier in the room which is a plus in the rain forest! They provide robe and you can make a reservation to use the private jacuzzi at the spa at no extra charge. They also have hot tubs and a large pool. This hotel is in the clouds, you have a wonderful view from the dining room and the bedrooms. The staff is friendly and helpful and the food is good.

The staff was friendly and helpful. We did a bird-watching tour with Victor who is very knowledgeable and saw many birds and even sloths on the property! We stayed in one of the glass bungalows. They have AC and are very quiet and comfortable but a little dark since they are in the jungle, The walk to the restaurant is a little tiring after a long day, bring comfy shoes!

For being so close to the business of Tamarindo, being on-site was relaxed and we didn't feel the bustle. Our room was tucked away and private, though the walls were a bit thin for us to hear the family next door. The resident cats were entertaining and we had to stop to offer pets a number of times. Access to the beach was quite nice, and easy to stroll down from there towards Tamarindo Beach, and into town.

This is an absolute gem of a location and a must-stay recommendation. We had our own spacious casita, with a deck overlooking the nearby valley and we were just surrounded by trees. The site has access to walking paths, which can get you right on down to the Rio Celeste if you're bold enough to take a dip. (just be careful of the current). We felt like we had our own private space with this location, and it was comfortable and relaxing. Woke up one morning to Howler monkeys nearby, and came back from a tour one evening to see a sloth in one of the trees. Of course, plenty of birds and other beings to entertain nature watchers as well... the dining area even has koi pond with an island in which birds will pop down and take up a branch or two. A great addition to the dining experience.

We had a beautiful room overlooking the gardens and a direct view towards Arenal. It was a joy to look for the resident Great Currasow each day, and the many other birds. We were extremely comfortable and felt quite pampered in the space, and the staff were quite friendly. Particularly the gentlemen working the front gate were always quite friendly and happy to greet us. Easy access to their sister site with hot springs, and quick drive in to La Fortuna as well... really easy to access, but keep your eyes out for the signage coming back from La Fortuna, because you can miss it. ;)

We had an incredible few days at the Cloud Forest Lodge, and the surrounding areas. Everyone was engaging and quite helpful. They even fixed my flat tire for me while I was off on an excursion!! The grounds are beautiful and it is convenient a few small walking paths are onsite, to enjoy at your leisure. The rooms are expansive, and they provide heaters which I do recommend using at night. We had wildlife coming almost up to our deck… and plenty of it around. The onsite restaurant has amazing cuisine as well, and you won’t be disappointed staying and eating there... Endemica provided us one of our most memorable meals from our trip.

This was a hard to beat first spot to stay on our travel through Costa Rica. It was relatively easy to locate, and a good location to get to Manuel Antonio, or drive down to Quepos. Had a beautiful room overlooking Manuel Antonio and the bay, and the sunset views from the restaurant were amazing. Staff are super friendly and accommodating. Are willing to work with my basic Spanish, and also English.

This was a great opportunity to witness quite a unique animal up close.

A definite must for the animal lovers out there. Seeing a mother come up out of the ocean, across the beach, digging her nest, and laying her eggs... it is just absolutely next level.

A great experience, for folks wanting to learn a bit more about how coffee is made... its history, and the basics of beans, roasting, brewing, etc.

This was a great trip out on the lake, and it gave us the best view we had across all our four days, of Arenal. Abel was a fantastic guide and helped us find cranes, kingfishers, and more. We had single kayaks (big plus!), and while it was windy, were really comfortable out on the water.

It's an experience that is definitely about the food more than anything. The concept of the treetop dining seemed great, but in practice by the time we got there, it was dark and we were just looking out on the lights of the town. While it was a novelty to have our own private dining room up high... the highlight was definitely the food. We did have a bit of a communication issue and had to engage with Wilman and Serendipity to straighten out that our drinks had been paid for, with the food. And on that... definitely a great tasting sampling of regional-inspired dishes. It felt to me a lot like what deconstruction and reconstruction of food concepts might be with fancy restaurants. The wine pairings were good. Not to say the food was not delicious... it absolutely was! My own personal dining preferences, though, would have wanted more of it, and maybe less focused on reinventing foods that are already great.

Our second guide named Andres, and another one who had a wealth of information to share. He was kind to pick us up from our hotel (as we had a flat tire), and we headed over to the Cloud Forest reserve. Started things out with the hummingbird area, and also saw a motmot up close. From there, we hiked around and enjoyed the beauty of the forest. We were introduced to stingless bees and the value of their honey, and were introduced to a lot of the plant species in the forest.

This was nice to get out on the water and see Manuel Antonio from a different view point. We had sunshine the whole time, but the waves were quite choppy. And our previous experiences had always been single kayaks on the ocean while this one we were put into a double kayak. Snorkeling was lower visibility due to the choppiness... and while I could confidently go at it, my wife was new to the activity and did not get much in the way of instruction as to how to use the mask and snorkel. Also, my history of snorkeling in various out places, I've always had fins.

We had Andres as a guide and he was amazing... he found us two toed and three toed sloths, insects, frogs, iguanas, howler monkeys, and more. He had a wealth of information about everything we saw and shared a lot of great details. The park is a must-see for Costa Rica, and the guided experience is a must-do.

a much easier hike than Laguna de los tres, but a bit longer. this trek requires clearer skies to see the Torre as it sits much further away in the mountain range than some others. we didn't have perfect weather but we can't really complain considering how variable the weather is from day to day in Patagonia.

This is a great hike and a must do in El Chalten. We got lucky with the weather which was a bit touch and go over the week. Our guide (Lihue) supplied by Walk Patagonia was excellent. She was knowledgeable, personably, great at setting an appropriate pace and keeping us hydrated and fueled. Great experience.

Loved seeing the castle, the grounds and the chapel

The tour was informative and hit all the important and interesting spots

This was a lovely space and despite the terrible weather of our first day (pouring an inch of rain) it was a dream! We arrived in the middle of said rainstorm and waited for the boat (SPBE) to unload our bags. We got a lift from Ramon's team and needed to stop at a pharmacy -- no problem. Took us to the check in and then to our rooms. sigh.... Needed dinner that night -- Pineapples on the Beach had an amazing menu! We went back 2 nights later because it was so good! Only concern was the final morning had to get the 0600 boat to get to Belize city for our international flight. We checked out night before and porters said they'd meet us at our rooms at 0540. But they didn't show up... got the night watch to wake up the driver and left at 0555. We made it, no problem. But we're no good at "island time."

We had a really short stay -- arrived around 9 pm and departed for our morning tour at 0400. We came back for breakfast and were on the road by 10:30 am. Breakfast was quite tasty but they were out of a few things. We note there was a hostel there but didn't explore that area. Visited the pool for pictures, but didn't get in because it was rainy that day. Property is dark at night, and with the rain, the sidewalks were quite slippery. Our daughter slipped by the plantings at the main entrance and ended up with a significant number of thorns in her arm and back.

Old Town Outfitters campsite on the side of Acatenango -- camping/glamping on the side of a mountain with unobstructed views of Fuego blowing its top. Meals provided by our guide, Rudy were excellent -- they were substantially better than what we saw the other families being served by their guides. Sleeping bags could have been a bit warmer.

Beautiful hotel, near -- but not too near -- the mix of things. Allowed us to have a walkable experience in Antigua. Rooms were comfortable, filtered water prevented us from needing to but bottled water. Breakfast was divine! Every day there was live music and great atmosphere. The lobby is nice and the public spaces are generally quite nice. All the staff are first rate. Warning -- they have a LOUD New Year's eve party with live and DJ music until 1:30 am and the rooms couldn't insulate against this kind of noise. Don't expect early check in to be an option.

No question, it is a magical experience. You walk through the park in the dark, surrounded by nothing but darkness (and some jumping spiders). You climb to the top of temple IV and sit in the dark (others arrive, but it's pitch). Then around 5:38 am, the howler monkey's start up, and it's surreal. Unfortunately, no sunrise for us, just the lifting of the fog. Pictures at the top and then a descent and tour of the grounds.

Again, our guide made this so amazing. Despite having to escort one of our party back to base camp, Rudy got the rest of us to the summit in plenty of time for sunrise. Unfortunately it was crowded, but there was plenty of space to see and get some pictures of the sunrise and the volcano. We met others on our way that were turning back and some didn't get to summit because of their party splitting up. Rudy was able to safely manage our group.

Rudy, our guide was absolutely the reason for our enjoyable trip. He engaged with our kids and took care of our needs. He's a budding chef and made remarkably tasting and filling meals for us on the mountain. Even when we had one member have to turn back for altitude sickness, he made sure the rest of us had a stellar time.

Just do it. We had arranged for the full "superman" experience for the kids and we were planning to just enjoy ourselves at the cafe. But then Rudy and the kids encouraged us, and we said "why not?" Don't look down during the ladder climb. Do look down during the superman flight. Just amazing.

Pousada Arte da Natureza in Bonito was the perfect blend of comfort and convenience. Right after arrival, we could unwind easily with an on-site restaurant offering delicious meals and drinks. This setup allowed us to relax without any hassle when we first got there. A short distance from the downtown area, it provided a sense of peaceful seclusion. Our guide, Gabby, was phenomenal! On our trips, especially during the snorkeling activity, she took care of us like family, making the entire experience even more special.

Staying at the Belmond Hotel das Cataratas was an extraordinary experience. It's the only hotel located inside the national park on the Brazilian side of Iguazu Falls. Despite the high cost, it was worth every penny for the convenience and the magical proximity to the falls. By residing here, we saved hours we would have spent commuting, avoiding lines and crowds. The ability to step out and walk the uninterrupted pathways directly to the falls was incomparable. Waking up and enjoying breakfast with the astonishing view from the hotel tower was an experience I'll never forget. It's definitely worth considering if you're planning a once-in-a-lifetime trip.

At Pousada Aguape, I had an amazing time on the photo safari. Initially, birds weren't a particular interest, but the experience was illuminating! Guided by an expert, we encountered a plethora of birds and other wildlife in their natural habitat. It became a beautiful and informative experience with unforgettable close encounters with nature in the Pantanal of South Pantanal region. We had a fantastic time with the friendly travelers we met there, making it truly memorable.

Our experience was good because our guide tailored it to our needs and preferences on that day.

Parque des Aves is such a special place. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and appreciated the opportunity to learn more about the Atlantic rainforest.

Fantastic! Not to be missed.

It made such a difference to have a personal guide. Diego knew where to take us so we could get the best views, and also enabled us to avoid crowds to the extent possible.

Beautiful place. Our guide Lillian is an amazing naturalist, so knowledgeable and a wonderful teacher.

Bonito is a lovely idyllic place! Our guide Gabby was absolutely fantastic, so knowledgeable about the flora and fauna, and the conservation efforts in the region. Buraco das Araras is not to be missed and the snorkeling is amazing!

This was our favorite hotel on our trip. I was blown away by the ocean views when we arrived and were taken up to the lobby. The property is stunning and cozy. The entire staff is amazing and by the time we left we were sad to go. They had great amenities, the food was excellent, the views were incredible, and they have their own private beach access. It was a perfect mix of luxury but also felt intimate and familiar. We saw so many wild animals on the property and the staff went out of their way to make sure we got a chance to witness the wild life. We did yoga which was amazing, and when we called for a ride, the response was almost immediate. We cannot recommend this property enough.

This was our favorite activity on our trip. Potentially because it was our first, however it's still stands out as one of the best experiences. Our tour guides were super friendly and knowledgeable and I felt with them the entire time. They made the experience personal and special and guided us to jump off the cliffs in a once in a lifetime experience. Cannot recommend enough.

Excellent experience

Convenient location, friendly and attentive staff, solid service.

Right on the beach. Walk to the ocean and take a swim.

Excellent, serene environment in the heart of metro Chiang Mai. Thoughtful, friendly staff, great food, and a great location. Highly recommended.

This excursion is for a younger crowd who doesn't mind loud, overcrowded excursions. Not recommended for seniors.

Easily the highlight of our trip to Thailand. Worth the trip if we did nothing else. Thrilling and informative, I'll never forget it.

Loved this excursion. Great tour guide and loved interacting with the animals.

The views from the room was amazing and we enjoyed the trails on the hotel grounds. However, the overall amenities of the hotel (like breakfast) was just average (when compared to other places that we have stayed).

The hotel was not close to the beach but was conveniently located near many restaurants and shops. The hotel grounds attracted birds and monkeys, making for some very entertaining wildlife watching. Manuel Antonio and the beach were just a short drive away. Breakfast was made-to-order, which often took 20-30 minutes after ordering our food, so we had to plan accordingly.

We loved staying here. The staff were attentive and the thermal hot springs were beautiful. Breakfast had some gluten-free options.

This is a low key resort with easy walks to the pool and beach. The beach is quite nice and the water great to swim in.

This hotel has great views of the sea from ocean villas. Ours had an amazing pool, giant bath tub and great deck with amazing views from everywhere in the villa. The villa was large and very comfortable. Service was excellent and the morning buffet may the best. The hotel has a few downsides, but still is a great boutique facility to stay. The first is that since it is on the side of steep hill getting to the pool or restaurants is a strenuous walk. They do have buggies which cart you around when easily requested and supplied. The other is that the beach is just adequate. However, the overall facility is great. In addition, they provide a shuttle service to a large mall about 29 minutes away. Otherwise restaurants require a cab ride.

This hotel has an amazing vibe and is highly stylistic. Staff is extremely helpful and courteous. Rooms are extremely comfortable and easy to live in. Great location to walk into numerous restaurants.

Great place to stay along the river with shuttle boats available. Upper floor rooms with river view are spectacular. Rooms are very spacious, comfortable, and well equipped.

Excellent location, great service, and very comfortable room meticulously cared for.

This is the finest hotel in over 40 years of travel I have stayed. The service and friendliness of the staff couldn't be higher. They anticipated our needs and were ready to help in any way. The hotel's bungalows were spacious, well equipped with huge patios and the largest bed I have ever seen. They have the largest infinity pool I have ever seen with many chairs. They also have a premier beach with great service and comfortable chaises which are set up with multiple towels. They also have kayaks and other equipment free of charge. The included brunch was outstanding and overall the food was of the highest quality. It is a place I would like to return even though it is over 15k miles from my home. The resort is set on over 25 acres and in the jungle. We saw monkeys every day and a large monitor lizard. They have a great application that allows you to call for buggies to transport you if you wish around the facility and essentially accomplish anything you need. It is easy to easy to walk to local stores in Railey and to the pier for pickup for tours.

Can't say enough about this. Loved the elephants and the people running the sanctuary who were informed and dedicated. Butterfly and orchid farm were outstanding.

Well worth the experience exploring the forest, rice fields, waterfall, and learning about the variety of plant life and trees and how it is incorporated into the lives of those living there. It is a special area.

Visiting the Grand Palace and the various buildings surrounding it was excellent. There were many tourists but manageable. Also seeing it at night is a must. We would like to spend more time in Bangkok as there way too much to explore.

The visit to China town, the best one I have ever been to, was exciting, delicious, and not to be missed. There is plenty of walking and we also got a chance to visit a local nightclub and the flower warehouse district. A great night.

This is a must do and see experience. There is significant walking involved and climbing up stairs. Visiting Angkor Wat is one of the greatest experiences of my life. It is breathtaking in scope, scale, and detail. It is hard to imagine that is was created when it was.

Parts of the trip were great. Other parts were ho hum. It seemed like they added things to just take up time. There were lots of obvious explanations. There is plenty of walking and it was hot. While I got a sense of the delta I felt like I wanted to learn more. Also the trip by boat was quite annoying as the river is filled with floating plant material which constantly clogged the propeller and required stopping and reversing the engine to go forward again. The river is quite dirty.

This experience is not to be missed. The ingenuity of the Viet Cong and the guerilla tactics is scary. The dedication of the these guerilla fighters and how they lived is unimaginable.

Couldn't be more fun, interesting, with delicious food and a great guide. Riding on the back of a moped where traffic is scary is awesome.

This is well worth the day on a comfortable boat with adequate space for the many passengers. The staff were excellent. The buffet lunch while extensive was not particularly tasty.

The half day tour was excellent. The train experience was okay. I would have rather spent more time discovering Hanoi.