Kimkim Trip Reviews

The Évora Olive Hotel was a fantastic experience. Although it's officially a four-star hotel, it felt just as magnificent as the others and was beautiful and comfortable. The only minor issue was the lack of tissues in the room, but the front desk provided them when asked. The staff was wonderful, and overall, it was a delightful stay despite that very trivial concern.

The Fado dinner experience was a mix of impressive Fado singing and a somewhat routine meal. The performance was wonderful and engaging, but the meal seemed a bit rushed. Overall, it's clear that the focus is on the singing rather than the food.

Our Lisbon wine tasting was enjoyable, but with similar activities on consecutive days in other locations, it felt a bit redundant. It was good, but considering the subsequent experiences in other locations, it wasn't necessary.

The private Douro River escape was truly special. The guides were fantastic, making the tour both informative and enjoyable. One guide was generous with his time, extending our tour significantly beyond what was planned, which added to the personal touch of this unforgettable experience.

The guided winery tour with tastings and a delicious lunch in Douro was a highlight of our trip! The meal we had was one of the best we experienced in Portugal. The staff was incredibly friendly and informative, and the overall experience was both elegant and memorable.

Metropolitan Hotel Bologna is a small boutique hotel off a side alley in the middle of town. Staff were friendly and helpful with restaurant suggestions. Rooms were stark but spacious and clean. The shower was very tiny (a large person would not be able to close the shower door. Breakfast was very good with many food options.

Hotel The Square Milano Duomo is a beautiful, modern hotel in the heart of the city. The rooms are large and beautifully decorated. Breakfast was outstanding and the staff went above and beyond to be accommodating. The hotel is within walking distance to the Duomo, La Scala, and the Galleria.

Attending a mosaic workshop with visual artist Luca Barberini in Ravenna was truly an unforgettable experience. From the moment we arrived, Luca welcomed us with warmth, and a genuine enthusiasm that immediately set a relaxed and inspiring tone for the day. His passion for the ancient art of mosaics is contagious, and he generously shared not just his technical knowledge, but also his personal artistic vision — one that beautifully blends tradition with a contemporary, playful edge. Luca took the time to introduce us to the materials and methods in a hands-on, approachable way, making even beginners feel confident. By the end, each of us had crafted our own small mosaic — a unique souvenir and a tangible memory of the experience. If you’re in Ravenna and want to do something immersive, creative, and take with you a piece of the city’s artistic heritage, I can’t recommend Luca’s workshop enough. It’s not just about making a mosaic — it’s about seeing the world through the eyes of an artist who truly loves what he does and wants to share that joy with others.

Our Food Valley experience with Ricardo was an unforgettable day filled with incredible flavors, fascinating stories, and a deep appreciation for Italy’s most iconic culinary treasures. From start to finish, Ricardo was a knowledgeable and engaging guide who brought each stop to life with his passion for the region’s food culture. We began our day in Castelfranco Emilia at Caseificio Bio Reggiani, a family-run dairy farm where we got an up-close look at the traditional process of making Parmigiano Reggiano. Watching the cheese masters at work was fascinating, and the tour gave us a true appreciation for the craftsmanship and time involved. The visit ended with a delicious tasting of Parmigiano aged at different stages, along with the creamiest fresh ricotta—a perfect start to the day. Next, we headed to Modena to visit Leonardi Aceto Balsamico di Modena, a family-owned balsamic vinegar producer with over 150 years of history. We toured the vineyard and aging rooms, learning about the long and meticulous process that goes into making true Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale. The tasting was a standout moment, sampling aged vinegars paired with local cheeses, cured meats, and a glass of wine really highlighted the complexity and depth of flavor in each bottle. Our final stop took us to Parma/Langhirano, where we visited the Conti Prosciutto Factory, another inspiring, family-run business led by a mother and her three daughters. The tour walked us through the detailed process of curing prosciutto di Parma. It ended, of course, with another generous tasting that confirmed why this region is so celebrated for its culinary excellence. If you love Italian food and want a behind-the-scenes look at how the very best is made, this tour is an absolute must. A perfect day for food lovers looking to connect more deeply with the traditions and people behind Italy’s most beloved ingredients.

Our sunset foodie walking experience in Bologna with Federica was absolutely fantastic—one of those tours that leaves you full, happy, and completely in love with the city. We explored the Quadrilatero district, surrounded by colorful markets brimming with fresh produce, meats, cheeses, and the unmistakable aroma of authentic Italian cuisine. Federica was a phenomenal guide, warm, passionate, and full of fascinating stories about each little shop and food tradition we encountered. Our journey began at a local bakery, where we picked up fresh bread, followed by a visit to a pasta and pastry shop, where we tasted a delicious slice of torta di riso (a sweet rice cake unique to the region). From there, we visited a classic Salumeria and picked up a spread of prosciutto, mortadella, and Parmigiano Reggiano. As we walked through vegetable markets and narrow alleyways, Federica shared the rich history behind each family-run business, making the experience feel personal and connected to the heart of Bologna. The highlight of the evening was arriving at the Osteria del Sole—a charming, no-frills wine bar where you bring your own food. We laid out our spread, added Federica’s special touches like fig and onion spreads and an aged balsamic vinegar, and enjoyed a true Bolognese feast paired with local wine. The atmosphere was lively and authentic exactly the kind of experience you hope for in Italy. And just when we thought we couldn’t eat another bite, we continued to O’ Fiore Mio Pizzeria, where we sampled four different square pan pizzas, each with unique and delicious toppings. Finally, we ended the evening on a sweet note at Maritozzi & Gelato, where we indulged in two flavors of gelato of our choice. By the end, we were absolutely stuffed but thrilled. This tour was the perfect combination of food, culture, and local charm. Federica made the experience truly special, and we’d recommend it to anyone wanting to taste the soul of Bologna in just one magical evening.

Our day trip to Lake Como with our guide Simone was a mix of beautiful sights and a few unexpected challenges. The original plan included visits to the well-known towns of Bellagio and Varenna, but unfortunately, all the ferry tickets to those destinations were sold out when we arrived. This was disappointing, and it felt like there wasn’t a clear backup plan in place. At first, there was a lot of waiting around in Como city, which led to some understandable frustration. It wasn’t until we expressed our concern that Simone pivoted and suggested visiting alternative towns on the lake. Thankfully, this turned out to be a positive turn in the day. We ended up exploring Maltrasio, Torno, and Cernobbio—all charming, less touristy towns with beautiful views, peaceful streets, and rich local history. Simone was very knowledgeable and shared interesting details about each place we visited, which helped us appreciate these hidden gems. However, we were a bit surprised to find out that we were expected to cover Simone’s ferry tickets and his lunch during the tour—this was not clearly communicated beforehand and felt a little unprofessional for a guided excursion. Overall, while the day didn’t go as planned, we did enjoy discovering some lesser-known parts of Lake Como. With better organization and clearer expectations, this tour could have been much smoother. The towns we visited were truly lovely, and Simone’s historical insights were appreciated once the day found its rhythm.

Our private cooking class at the home of Sylvia and Antonio in Milan was truly one of the most memorable experiences of our trip. From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed like family, with genuine hospitality that made us feel instantly at home. We began the evening with a delightful aperitivo, complete with Prosecco and a delicious spread of focaccia, pizza, cheeses, and other savory bites—all homemade and beautifully presented. The cooking portion of the evening was hands-on, fun, and filled with laughter. Under Antonio’s expert (and very patient!) guidance, we prepared fresh tagliatelle, delicate ravioli, and a classic tiramisu from scratch. They both made the entire process feel approachable and enjoyable, whether we were rolling dough or perfecting our layers of dessert. By the end of the evening, we didn’t just learn how to cook; we felt like we had spent a beautiful evening with dear friends. If you’re in Milan and looking for an authentic, intimate, and unforgettable culinary experience, this is it. Highly, highly recommended!

Our Best of Milan and Duomo Walking Tour with Francesco was an incredible look into the rich history, art, and architecture of this magnificent city. Francesco was an outstanding guide—knowledgeable, engaging, and full of fascinating stories that brought each stop to life. We began by exploring some of Milan’s most iconic landmarks, including the Royal Palace and the statue of Vittorio Emmanuel II, the first king of Italy. Walking through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II was like stepping into a museum, with its elegant high-end boutiques and stunning mosaic floors. Francesco also took us to the famed Teatro alla Scala, sharing its history and importance in the world of opera. A special highlight was the Church of Santa Maria Presso San Satiro, where the illusion of a cross-shaped interior was created by the use of perspective was amazing. Of course, the crown jewel of the tour was the Duomo di Milano. Climbing the 250 steps to the rooftop terraces was absolutely worth it to be able to walk among the 3,400 statues and spires which gave us breathtaking views of the city and a close-up look at the cathedral’s remarkable detail. The interior of the Duomo was just as spectacular. This tour was the perfect way to experience the best of Milan in just a few hours. We highly recommend this tour for first-time visitors and returning travelers to beautiful Milano!

Our Evening Aperitivo Street Food Tour with Marco was an unforgettable experience that beautifully blended Milan's rich history with its vibrant food culture. Marco was a fantastic guide, warm, knowledgeable and passionate about his city. He brought the Navigli district to life, sharing stories that gave us a deeper appreciation of the area's architecture and hidden gems. The food stops were absolute standouts. Our first tasting was at Blue M, La Bottega, a cozy, family run spot where we sampled an amazing selection of Italian hams, cheese, and spreads, all served with fresh warm breads. The flavors were perfectly paired with a unique wine made from rare native grapes. Next we visited Materia Pizzeria, another family owned gem known for it exceptional dough made with specialty flour and their own house pressed olive oil. We sampled the Montanarina, a light crispy baked pizza dough topped with an array of fresh flavorful ingredients. We highly recommend this tour for anyone wanting to discover a more authentic side of Milano while enjoying some truly incredible local food.

Facilities were great a varied from top end rooms to camping spots.

One of the hotels I will book for trip number five.

Good hotel in a central location.

Loved this place.

I would never recommend this place or stay in it again. Dangerous facilities and the most unfriendly people we encountered in Iceland

Plenty of better options in Reykjavik.

Would definitely be on the next trip.

After getting a room change, the one night we spent was fine

I was skeptical of this experience but ended up loving it.

In spite of the challenging weather I loved this activity. As a former horse guy, it was great to get to ride an Icelandic horse. I would do a longer ride next time in Iceland.

Incredivle location, view and service. The breakfasts were amazing and plentiful as well.

Incredible. The Roman and religious history and the spread of the empire was not at all k own to me. The tour guide showed us all the nooks and crannies in the many archeological sites during the tour. Highly advised to go 1-1 with a private tour.

Our Tour Guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. She also got us around easily the large crowds that unfortunately can slow one down or make one uncomfortable.

Very informative and knowledgeable guide. Especially around the city center and the earthquake issues during covid and the main church reconstruction. There were some amazing events that day around farmers markets and football too.

Good location but hotel old and little cramped

Very spacious and beautiful hotel, our room was cold and we were told there was no heat in the hotel at that time

Interesting building

Great location

Tour guide was knowledgeable and friendly but 5 hour tour with no stops for bathroom or food until we requested the bathroom. We spent far too long at the outdoor museum and not enough time in the old town. Not great use of time always.

We arrived back two hours later than originally planned, the time at certain places was too long and too short at others. The guide was knowledgeable and interesting but again the management of the day was not great.

Guide did a good job with the market and the tour - knowledgeable.

Good driver, stopped when we wanted to

Beautiful part of the country - guide was a little dull and hard to hear in back of van and also did not give us enough instructions about where to meet when he sent us off on our own. Lunch was not organized before hand and so we had to sit outside in the rain (sort of under umbrella) as the other place was full that he wanted to go to.

Guide was good but a little rushed and we would have liked to spend different times at certain things. Needs to explain where we are going better

Good guide - very knowledgeable and stopped for WC and drinks at appropriate time

This is an odd collection of buildings scattered about. We had to change from the first room because it was so small and it didn't even have a door on the bathroom. The manager was kind enough to put us in a larger room with a bathroom that had a door and it was at a pool which was nice BUT the view was of an dilapidated building and there was a lot of construction at the road. Not relaxing nor beautiful....

Lovely view room

We left this hotel ....the room was like a youth hostel ...very small and cramped. Front desk staff was pleasant and apologized they didn't have a better room for us. My husband is very tall and he couldn't even fit in the shower.

Front desk staff helpful, breakfast good, room quiet and clean

Boat ride was fun ....getting to the dock was a bit tricky because Google map link sent us to a different vendor. We missed our timed slot because the bridge opening wouldn't allow us to pass, but the vendor that was coordinated for us was very accommodating and took us a long with one other couple out 20 minutes later.

This was a nice walk along the coast with some highlights described.

Vasco was a charming young man with a huge passion for wine and his home countryside of D'ouro Valley.

Guise Alex was not only well informed about the craft of making port wine he was thoroughly entertaining. He was very invested in making sure everyone had a good time and had a chance to mingle.

The visit to the market was interesting but a bit rushed, but there was time to go back later. The class was a bit disjointed. She had every body doing different tasks which was fine but the equipment was poor and not serviceable for skinning and deboning fish. The instructor offered no assistance. The ultimate meal was fine but I only was able to pay attention to the fish which took the longest and then we were not given the recipes for the dishes. Also our names were not on the reservation so there was confusion as to if we were going to be part of the class.

Rodrigo was a very well informed guide. He made sure we were comfortable and gave us a lot of interesting conversation. We had lunch at a great restaurant and overall enjoyed our time with Rodrigo.

Beautiful sunset cruise....staff was very hospitable.

The private tour of the Monestary was very good ..The tower was a waste of time since it's covered in scaffolding.

Guide Luis was excellent and very informative. Grateful he had access to private path in because the lines were very long. I wish we had more than a half day because with the crowds there was no time to see the town other than a 10 minute peak.

The best hotel in the trip!! Amazing

Todo bien, buena ubicación y buena atención.

Nice hotel. Close to Lake Zurich and we loved walking there.

Excellent breakfast! Fabulous view from the balcony!!

Excellent restaurant! Wish we could have used the balcony, but there was too much cigarette smoke-

What a great way to end our trip to Switzerland! City tour was very interesting, Lindt factory was totally incredible, and a quaint fondue dinner at Felsenegg with great views and fun servers was nice.

Beautiful Lake, amazing scenery! And we even got to swim in the water. Very glad the staff had us wear wet suits.

Loved the forest feel and walking around Hotel Geissbach. Trummelbach Falls was magnificent! Our guide, Richard, recommended a lovely restaurant in Lauterbrunnen, and also helped us find a church we had been looking for there.

We hiked to the 360 degree view after getting to the top. Amazing!!

It snowed in early September while we were at the top - Cool!! Enjoyed the majesty of the mountain!

This was a beautiful relaxing place to stay. Friendly and helpful staff with yummy food and nice hot springs. You can walk around the property and see beautiful colored plants and critters running around. I will definitely be back.

Was fun different to do a night tour! There were lots frogs and other things out and about!! I think this is a must for everyone to do. The food that was made at family home was incredible. I loved the farm to table Experience

Lovely room with an expresso machine. Very clean facility, near beach. Helpful staff.

Fun location, nice breakfast and nice room. Pleasant and helpful staff.

So convenient to Krka. A good hotel all around.

We loved staying at Zrinka house. The room was great and the staff was outstanding.

Nice hotel, pleasant staff and a good breakfast buffet.

Mirta was very friendly, polite and knowledgeable.

Nice scenic drive and we enjoyed our wine-tasting. Ston is a quaint historic village we enjoyed walking around

This was fine but it's the one thing if we returned we wouldn't do again. Nothing wrong happened, it just wasn't our thing.

We had a lot of fun going to the marketing and making a great meal. Staff was great.

If you like waterfalls, you'll like Krka. Beautiful sites.

Beautiful setting

We stayed in one of the cottages three nights. The cottage was very comfortable. Being two individuals who appreciate country settings, enjoyed seeing horses and sheep from our window. On our way to breakfast, found two sheep on the lawn peacefully munching on greens. Bonus was seeing a border collie on the lawn playing with a soccer ball. Made us think lovingly of our own dog at home. Would definitely stay here again.

Got to see several humpback whales which was way cool

This was a very awesome experience! The guides did a great job instructing everyone in safety. It was pretty cool to kayak amongst numerous icebergs/chunks of ice of various sizes. Heartily recommend.

This was our favorite experience of our 14-day Iceland trip. Our guide "Magnificent" (Magnus?) was pretty awesome. The experience itself of walking up a glacier and into the cave was an experience we had never had before. Would strongly recommend for all. The one suggestion I have, being 5'2" and in my 60s, please provide a stool for stepping up in the tour vehicle.

Loved this location. It was a great hotel for a big city. All the.amenities. Every detail was considered, including.the young men managing the doors were above and beyond in their friendliness and helpfulness.

The drone and light show was very entertaining and educational and was high-quality

I really liked the small group size and the short hike through the gorge was incredible The sunset breakfast was one of the best meals we had on the tours

The drive around the rock and the opportunities for several short walks was just a perfect fit

I didn’t realize how well prepared and user friendly this day would be. You needed no experience and even those with some physical limitations could easily participate

Everyone participating in the tour was friendly and made it an enjoyable day despite the weather which obviously nobody can control

We also went to the butterfly museum before getting on the sky rail. The scenery was incredible on the sky rail and well worth making this stop.

The blue Mountains are beautiful and we were able to have several stop.s to do different activities. I would’ve liked more self guided time to explore on our own when walking in the rainforest

That building is amazing and the tour guide was knowledgeable and clearly enthusiastic about the subject matter

The reception desk was hard to find. The vibe was for a much younger crowd than us. We had room 16. The lampshade was broken. The lights weren't dimmable so they flickered. One of the chairs had a broken bottom. The mini-bar was ridiculous. And worst of all, we were charged double for our stay. This was the only hotel I wouldn't stay at again. The high points were the breakfast staff, housekeeping, and the bartender.

This one was my favorite. We had a suite and our windows in the sitting room looked out on High Street while the windows in the bedroom looked on the castle and the old church. Lots of stairs, be warned. 100% worth every bit of it. We were here for 4 days; I wanted to move in permanently.

We had one night here. I would've liked more. It's directly in the city center, right off the river. You can walk to lots of things and the train is an easy walk.

Parking was incredibly difficult but worth it. They did an amazing job with the remodel. Again, you're going to have stairs and there's no getting around that. The food was fantastic, so make reservations for dinner ahead of time.

We had only 1 night here. I wish we'd had more. We had room 3, on the corner with the most amazing view. Do check out Highland Pottery just up the hill.

I felt like I was staying with friends. The Hawthornes are incredibly kind and welcoming people. Please do ask to meet the canine family members. They're lovely.

It's a great old house with a wing where you can get a ground floor room-- no stairs! The real jewel here is the staff. They are warm, lovely people who make you feel very welcome.

There will be stairs. You can't get around them but they're worth it for the excellent service and great food. The location is directly across the street from the steam engine trip and within walking distance of everything.

We had fun on this one. Our tour guide, Veni, was great. After 2.5 weeks of tromping up and down castle stairs and hills and so forth, I was able to keep up. I'm definitely in better shape now than I was before this trip.

This was not exactly what I thought. I thought we'd be going to the top of yr Wyddfa, but this was a van ride around the area, hitting 4 castles along the way. By this time, I was pretty much castled out, having realized that unless you were into castle design, one castle was pretty much the same as another. However, this one had a Welsh designed castle which was very different and the guide was very nice.

Scotland is just a ridiculously beautiful country. Point your camera anywhere and you'll get a beautiful photo. Loch Lomond was no exception. We went to the church yard to see the Viking burial. That was very cool.

I like whiskey so I truly enjoyed this. My husband is more a rum drinker. Our tour guide was great, I loved the look behind the scenes, and the whiskey was good.

We missed the Summer Islands. A road closure/construction in Castletown made us look for an alternate route. The GPS, bless it, sent us down a two-way one lane road for 80mi. One we realized we weren't going to make it, we called and canceled (no refund) and relaxed and took our time. We ended up at Dunrobin castle in Goldspie. Sometimes going off script is better. Once you get to Ullapool, check out Highland Pottery.

See the Welcome to Orkney review.

Christina: Kieran was an amazingly knowledgeable and personable guide. I can't recommend him enough. There was so much here! Skara Brea was closed for high winds so we went to Gurness instead and I'm glad for it. We saw the Italian cathedral which showed the incredible talent of the Italian prisoners of war, and this is where I saw the Highland cows in person. We went to St Magnus Cathedral and it's as fine as any other I've seen anywhere.

We got there late for our original boat ride so the folks there worked out something better. We did the cruise and then got tickets for the castle at our own pace. It took of all of the pressure to do the castle within the time allotted.

It's a necessary trip. Consider it a a pilgrimage, even if it is sad. It's a beautiful field watered with a lot of blood over a family feud between cousins.

Lots of narrow spiral stairs. Beautiful view of Stirling Castle and the river.

This was a great way to start our trip.

A very nice hotel located just outside the town of Tavira. They have a shuttle to town but if you have a car it is a 5 minute drive. Rooms and breakfast were excellent.