Kimkim Trip Reviews

The trip set up through KimKim was amazing. They really made the trip feel seamless. We started in Lisbon and moved to Algarve and then to Cascais. The part of the trip I really want to emphasize is the private driver/transfers. Rui was our main driver and he was absolutely wonderful. they were always right on time and it made enjoying the trip much easier when not worried about getting from place to place. All the Hotels were as advertised and I would absolutely stay in any of them again . I cant say enough good things about how well the trip was coordinated. For background we have a 3 kids ages 6-11 and the rooms were all sufficiently large and spacious for each of us. Well done Pedro.

Guido was an amazing guide, he gave us so much value able information and excellent recommendations!!! He had so much knowledge about everything!!! The whole family loved him! We all had a great experience with the travel agency and all the communications!!!

From start of planning to even beyond trip’s end, Felipe and his Aracanto team associated with KimKim were nothing short of amazing in planning and implementing our foursome Colombian adventure. Felipe promised to be with us via Whatsapp and/or the KimKim chat every step of the way; this was more than a sincere pledge. Without exception, responses to questions or concerns were always timely, if not unbelievably immediate. No matter a simple request or out-of-the-box queries, everything was dealt with in a kind and effective manner. (Aside: a reservation was made by Aracanto at my request for someone we met in the Amazon and not even traveling with us!)
Of note: We were grateful for airport assistance. Rides were not just arranged to various airports, but also help guiding us through unfamiliar mazes and a foreign language to get us and our luggage safely delivered and on to our next location. Very helpful!
Pre-arranged guides at every stop were, without exception, qualified and eager to help to provide the best experience possible. For me, our Amazon guide, Ramiro, was a favorite, impressive in his sincere attitude as well as his knowledge of the Amazon area; his self-taught English was equally amazing. He was so unassuming, so thoughtful. Other guides (and drivers) throughout our journey were kind and well informed. How in the world drivers knew routes on the mountainous windy, narrow roads is a wonder (without GPS assistance for the most part). Alex, in the Pereira coffee region, was the standout driver!
As a sort of downside, tour timing may have been underestimated in terms of hours spent. This, due mainly to road and weather conditions. Some days got a little long. On the other hand, when will be here again? Guides wanted us to see and do as much as possible.
Our overview of Colombia began in Cartagena where we were housed in a beautiful boutique hotel, as I initially indicated to Felipe that we enjoy during travels. Spending three nights gave us the opportunity for enough exploration (as well as to fully realize the heat and humidity that is Cartagena). These outsiders are not used to that!
On to Bogota, a massive city sprawled far and wide as well as scrunched against and up the eastern range of the Colombian Andes. We found the weather gods with us, experiencing and appreciating the high-altitude coolness with, miraculously, little rain and nice sunshine. As arranged by Aracanto/KimKim, in addition to several tours of interest, we found Bogota dining exceptional. Of the several places we visited this trip, Bogota takes the cake in gastronomy. Delish! For a memorably unique dining experience, we especially recommend Prudencia for a late lunch. After that, no need for dinner! For the best lemon pie ever, it’s Armadillo.
On to the Amazon by way of the border (Brazil, Peru and Colombia) city of Leticia. Back to hot and humid, but if you want see the Amazon, this is the deal. Staying at what is perhaps the nicest accommodation on the Colombian Amazon was an experience to remember. We were booked for 4 nights. Having now been there, 2 days (so maybe 3 nights) would suffice. We had a nice (rustic) hut, king-size bed with mosquito netting, indoor plumbing, an outdoor porch with a hammock and stunning view of the Amazon flowing by before our eyes. Downside: no hot water equals cold showers. (We did not know this ahead of time.) That said, if you have no hot water, the Amazon might be the place where it’s at least semi-ok! Hot, hot, hot and humid.
Outings: pink and gray dolphins performed as promised, jungle tours by hiking and boating, piranha fishing. Not included in our particular tour was an early-morning outing to particularly see parrots. Three in our group signed up in addition to what had been scheduled; I regret that I did not. Parrots and other birds were seen as promised, but the highlight was saving a momma sloth and her baby, stranded on a fallen floating tree. Spotted by the boat driver, guide Ramiro knew how to handle the situation and the pair were carefully rescued from sure drowning and taken by boat to another tree rooted on land down river. Wow!
And, actually, one of the very best things about this camp, like so many times on travels, was meeting folks from around the world: people from Europe, Dubai, Africa, USA and probably other origins populated our camp. There was even a Montana/Kenya connection that may blossom further – the small world thing!
Downside: On checking out, we were informed cash was much preferred, which we did not know ahead of time (or had forgotten). Not everyone had enough COPs and/or other currency that could later be exchanged in Leticia. Credit cards could probably be dealt with, but definitely not preferred and, I believe, a service charge would be added. Also, on our arrival, the camp manager asked us what we would like to do. I, for one, was sort of taken aback at the statement, as I thought it was more or less laid out what the itinerary would be, weather dependent. Odd. It all worked out!
Next, the coffee region. Down the Amazon we went, back by way of Leticia to Bogota for just a night in order to catch an onward flight the following day. Once there, did we learn about coffee! The landscape here (and, really, throughout this lovely country) is stunning. Along with the spectacular scenery, though, is a study in inconvenient living. Steep! Mountains and valleys galore, with any cleared space planted for coffee production and other crops. All this with most everything from planting to harvest done by hand. (Coffee beans are picked one by one by one by one…). The entire agricultural economy is extremely labor intensive. For sure going forward, we will more fully appreciate our cups of coffee!
The Corcora Valley was also something to see with its unique wax palms (Colombia’s national tree) soaring up to 200 feet in the air, the tallest palms in the world; slow growing, and made to last 100 to 200 years!
Horseback riding was on the docket in this area as well. Again, the weather gods accommodated, giving us a wonderfully sunshiny day amidst a spectacular Colombian ranch backdrop. I asked for an authentic ride with good stock. Aracanto saw to it! New for us in riding in various places around the world was to include our guide. Jorge, who was with us throughout the coffee region, provided welcome translation along the way. Our llano leader, Victor, had no English and we had no Spanish. While we can always make do, it is helpful to have a translator.
Next, from Pereira in the coffee region, it was on to Medellin, formerly a city of drug lords (particularly, Pablo Escobar) and extreme violence transformed into a progressive city of appeal that we were happy to see. Besides a city tour, we had a treat outside of Medellin to visit an extensive hobby orchid collection along with its accompanying hydrangea farm. Each hydrangea is planted and picked by hand. Some 8,000 highly perishable stems are picked and packed for air transport, mostly to the USA, daily, year-round, from this one farm. What a process – by hand.
And not so far from Medellin, a final stop by way of the colorful city of Guatape and Marinilla, we spent 2 nights digesting this fine Colombian excursion at a lodge with more wonderful meals and final views of the lush green that is Colombia. As a bonus (at my last-minute request) laid out before us was a surprise celebration for the April birthday guys, complete with a private dinner and concert!
All this ably arranged through Felipe and the Aracanto/KimKim team. Impressive. We four have traveled the world extensively. We offer only praise for this team of travel planners, and heartily recommend their service should you be traveling to the beautiful country of Colombia.

photo: https://imemories.us/3RW2ShJ

Andes Travel planned a great trip for us. We had excellent guides, cars and support while traveling. There were a few of hiccups (confusion of breakfast inclusion at our first hotel, a flight schedule change - not their fault but some communication would have been useful, and an unnecessary baggage fee), all other aspects of the trip were wonderful.

Our trip to Costa Rica with Kim Kim was amazing! Everything was done exactly as it was described. All the transportation arrived as expected exactly on time. We stayed at four different hotels or resorts. Each one was unique, beautiful and comfortable, even luxurious in the case of the resort -Manao- we stayed at in La Fortuna, under the Arenal volcano. There we watched hundreds of egrets roosting in the trees across from our dinner table and relaxed in a few of the many hot spring pools located on site. The nature tour we took just outside the town was the best among all the many excellent opportunities we were booked into. The guide was super knowledgeable and helped us get fantastic pictures of sloths, birds and crocodiles with his spotting scope. We even got to spot a gorgeous trogan which was the bird my husband had hoped to see. The cooking class and tour of the organic farm was also so much fun and educational and both our tour guide and cooking instructor were full of fascinating info about plants and the locale cuisine which was even more delicious because we helped prepare it. I loved making tortillas!
All that being said, my favorite place was Sarapiqui. We stayed at a marvelous gem of a resort called Ambigua, which is surrounded by a jungle like garden. In the evening the red eyed tree frogs come out all around the dining area providing me with amazing photos. The night hike we were booked into on the grounds was magical. The guide, Tavo , went out of his way to make our time with him full of glimpses of all sorts of night creatures from bulletin ants to kinkajous. The pool was lovely and refreshing and the reflexology in their spa was the best I have ever had. Our nature tour at a local ecological institute was full of toucan and parrot sightings as well as many other birds and sloths. The guide was most excellent.
Our stay at Tortuguero was awesome as well with special kudos to our two day guide there- Raymond, who clearly knows his stuff and has a great affinity for the natural bounty of his country as well as a great sense of humor. The only disappointment was that an optional hike was too rigorous for me to attempt and we wished there was an alternative choice.
A huge thanks to Kim Kim, Olman and the team in Costa Rica (Aleska Tours I think was the name and they were able to change our airport pickup time with one phone call), for creating and managing our unforgettable and magical visit to Costa Rica ! Everyone and everyplace was no less than fantastic!

Hotel Reviews

Pachira Lodge

Tortuguero

Our first encounter with the natural wonders of Costa Rica. When we arrived we were all greeted with a refreshing drink and welcoming faces. Considering it is located very remotely, the resort has the routine well organized but still feels relaxed. Service at the desk was excellent and always cheerful. The hotel is nestled within the jungle and has a few trails right around itself., but it carries off a luxurious feel as well with a lovely pool and bar and patios right on the river. All personnel were lovely and our guides were exceptional. Food was similar from meal to meal but always fresh and tasty.

Authenticity & Character

Jungle canopy and location

Location

Very near to National Park and preserve and within an actual jungle complete with howler monkeys

Staff

Our guide Raymond

Cleanliness & Comfort

Spa was squeaky clean as was everything (except the nationwide toilet paper disposal system which was never explained adequately in terms of how to properly handle toilet paper in a sanitary manner and was cause for smells in the room)

Auténtico Hotel

San José

Beautiful pool and dining area. Outstanding service and exceptional food. Lobby a bit small and room adequate.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful garden around pool and delicious typical dishes.

Location

Close to airport but far from other sights

Staff

Service outstanding even gave us a box breakfast when we left too early for dining room to be open.

Cleanliness & Comfort

all was clean and adequately comfortable

Ara Ambigua

Heredia

This hotel is the home of our fondest memories of Costa Rica and a prime example of Pura Vida! Surrounded by beautiful gardens blooming vegetation, and much wildlife. This is a magical place! We watched red eyed tree frogs come out at night while we ate dinner and were able to experience a night hike right on the grounds. This unforgettable trek with Tavo gave us a sneak peek at many nocturnal creatures we would never see on our own. The pool was lovely and relaxing, the spa provided me with the best reflexology I have ever had and the staff was exceptional in helpfulness. Highlights were the frogs, birds , iguanas, and basilisk lizards, and lovely murals.

Authenticity & Character

Nature, architecture and delicious food

Location

Close to chocolate factory and nature preserve. Quiet set back from road.

Staff

Friendly , patient, helpful, speak excellent English

Cleanliness & Comfort

All was clean and comfortable

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

This place is awesome! It sits back well off the main road which provides the guests with an amazing view of the volcano, and also some exquisite natural settings all around. Our first dinner there we were seated where we could see hundreds of egrets roasting in the trees for the night, which was unforgettable. The front desk was quite helpful in managing our connections with our tours that we were taking in the area. our room was absolutely perfect and unique. We could see Arenal volcano from our patio and at the same time experience the natural beauty of the area and local vegetation. The bathroom of the room was most amazing with a tropical plant in the floor and a luxurious shower. During the day when we weren’t taking a tour, we were relaxing in the many beautifully designed thermal springs on site. The pools are phenomenal and one day we had lunch served at the bar actually on the edge of the pool . The restaurant is pricy but the food is excellent. The included breakfast was a huge buffet with more choices than can be named- all fresh and tasty. The only downside is that the lobby is not very comfortable and there was no way to get any forgotten toiletries at the resort.

Authenticity & Character

Natural setting, architecture,food

Location

As I said great view of volcano and access to hot springs. Downside was that it was far from town and there is no shuttle, so without a car we were unable to see the town unless we wanted to pay dearly for taxi ride.

Staff

Everyone tried to be helpful but service wasn’t quite as personal as elsewhere. Quickly rectified problem with laundry, though and cleaning staff did amazing job on room.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fantastic level of cleanliness- not sure how they do it in such a big place

Activity Reviews

Birdwatching Tour at La Selva Biological Station

Sarapiquí

Guide was exceptional knowledgeable and well spoken. The center was fascinating-I especially enjoyed seeing toucans and walking on the bridge across the river and seeing the nesting birds there.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver was a woman with a kind and relaxed manner who made us feel welcome. She even presented us with little souvenirs of Costa Rica!

Transport

Always on time and courteous

Guided Nature Walk at Danaus Ecological Park

Arenal/La Fortuna

This was our favorite guided hike and preserve. The guide had exceptional knowledge and great enthusiasm for what he was doing. He helped us take pictures using his spotting scope and found many birds. He was never in a hurry and told us one of the most memorable stories we heard on our trip. The preserve is outstanding with so much to see from alligators to shunting and so many birds!

Quality of Experience

We were delighted to be served fresh fruit and water at the end of the hike. Also loved the native craft area and learning about the art and the people who craft it.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

So much enthusiasm and knowledge

Transport

On time comfortable communicative

Traditional Cooking Class - Dinner

Arenal/La Fortuna

Fantastic way to get closer to the people, food and customs of Costa Rica. Also delicious! We also got unexpected presentation on sugar cane which was fascinating!

Quality of Experience

The cook was a lively woman who did not speak much English but managed to communicate with us well enough and with enthusiasm. She had so much energy and skill!

Food

Loved eating what we had a part in preparing.everything was so fresh and very delicious and all typically prepared.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We learned so much from our guide about the plants. Our favorite part was his humorous presentation about sugar cane!

Transport

Enjoy the Beauty of Tortuguero National Park

Tortuguero

Absolutely amazing! Raymond our guide . Was extremely competent and patient as our leader for three days. He made every effort to provide us with knowledge and opportunities to see even rare wildlife. His affinity and understanding of the natural wonders of his country and his sense of humor made it all very special. His command of English is also quite impressive. Ray is a great example of Pura Vida and a Costa Rican we won’t forget!

Quality of Experience

Ray and jungle location

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Always eager to help, friendly and cheerful. Captains of boats went out of their way to show wildlife.

Transport

Always on time. Captains and Drivers were friendly and communicated well. Vans and buses and boats were clean and comfortable with the exception of life preservers which were bulky and hot.

Mint put together a great itinerary. Leena was punctual and very knowledgeable. We really enjoyed the whole trip. The cooking class might have been the highlight of the visit. The only suggestion would be during the tasting event in Chinatown that Leena would have provided tastes of several dishes. Instead she would ask if we wanted to try this booth or that booth. Once we had a dish it represented the whole meal and we had very little room for other foods.

Activity Review

Authentic Thai Cooking Class in a Traditional House!

Bangkok

This was probably the highlight of the trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Prompt and safe.

We had an amazing time. All drivers & guides were perfectly on time. The acommodations were exactly what we expected.
Louis, our Guatemala Guide was fantastic. He gave us a great understanding of the Maya and Highland cultures.
Oliverio, our guide in Tikal and Yaxha had an immense amount of knowledge and experience. Our various activities were perfectly planned and executed.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Posada del Angel

Antigua Guatemala

Great place to stay in Antigua. Amazing Staff, everyone was so friendly Breakfast was fantastic.

Authenticity & Character

Location

A little away from the main traffic and downtown craziness.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Fortuna Atitlan

Santa Cruz la Laguna

Wonderful place to explore Lake Attitlan Everyone is so helpful and friendly

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Black Rock Lodge

San Ignacio

Amazing food and super helpful staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Way out in the jungle. Beautiful setting along the river

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Explore Tikal National Park

Guatemala

Fantastic place and Oliverio was a great guide. Start early before all the busses from Flores arrive.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Day Hike to Pacaya Volcano

Guatemala

Luis was a fantastic guide. Perfect for a one-day hike.

Quality of Experience

Food

Perfect little lunch on the volcano

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sip n' Cycle - Bike/Coffee Combo Tour

Antigua

Traffic was a bit scary when you are on a bike. Perfect amount of exercise. Not too strenuous.

Quality of Experience

Fantastic experience on the Coffee farm. The owner was so enthusiastic and friendly.

Food

Fantastic home cooked lunch and the best coffee.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Boat Tour of Lake Atitlán Villages

Guatemala

Great tour of two of the villages around the lake. We should have done two days to get to see more than two villages. Luis was the perfect guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The boat ride can get a bit bumpy at times.

Tour the famous Chichicastenango Market

Guatemala

Great market, a bit overrun by tourists. Little side trip to the cemetery was great.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Car was "OK"

Tour Yaxhá Maya Ruins

Guatemala

What a fantastic place away from the main tourist path. We felt like we were the only ones there. Very well maintained.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Oliverio was fantastic

Transport

Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) caves day tour

San Ignacio

The most amazing place. A MUST see.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zip Line at Calico Jack's Village

Guatemala

Great experience, felt safe at all times. Very well maintained. Great rides through the jungle.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cacao Farm & Chocolate Making Tour

San Ignacio

The farm visit was great.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The planning process was painless. Some back and forth with the consultant Long, based in Hanoi. We had to cancel the original trip in 2023 due to our other tour in SE Asia being cancelled. Kimkim held our deposit to be applied to future travel, with no time restrictions. We reactivated the itinerary for 2025 with the expected price increases.

We were provided details for pickup at BKK airport which was seamless. Our guide Eddie met us at the airport and transferred us to our hotel in Rangnam district. The next three days included a floating market, the River Kwai bridge and railroad, Erawan waterfall trek and the temples at Auytthaya. The final day in Bangkok was self guided. We used it to relax after 23 days in Vietnam and Cambodia, and tour the Rangnam district. We were assigned a room at the hotel that we felt was not up to the expectations based on the hotel website. Long made arrangement and we changed rooms. The hotel and staff were perfect for our stay.

Day 6 was a flight to Chiang Rai. Airport transfers were seamless, as well as the flight arrangements. The next day we met our guide Mai and driver. The day included the “Black House”, Long Neck Village, royal gardens at Doitung. We then Mae Sai market at the border with Myanmar. A stop at Sop Ruak “golden triangle” included a long boat cruise of the Mekong River which splits Thailand, Myanmar and Laos. The day ended at the Blue Temple. Next day was a stop at the White Temple and a scenic drive the Chiang Mai. The hotel in Chiang Rai was not in the city centre, but there were several options for local Thai Food. The hotel was clean and comfortable.

Day 9 was an early start with a visit to the Kanta Elephant Sanctuary. We met our guide Nan and driver at 06:30. It was great to see how rescued domestic elephants are treated and not used for entertainment. We interacted with the animals in feeding and bathing. The next stop was an orchid display. Orchids are everywhere in SE Asia, wish we could grow them like that in Canada. After lunch visited “workshops of craftsmen”. This was a disappointment as it was nothing but high pressure sales, very little about the production of the products.

Day 10 was an almost 2 hour trip to Doi Inthanon National Park which is the highest point in Thailand at over 2,500 metres. We were supposed to do a trek on the Ban Mae Klang Luang nature trail. It would have been after a late lunch and was approximately 2 hours. This should have been first in the itinerary in order to do it while the temperature was still lower, and not on a full stomach. The hotel was in “old town” Chiang Mai, inside the moat. Lots of food options available.

Day 11 the transfer back to Bangkok was seamless, including the flight. The hotel was the same as at the start of the trip. Rangnam is walkable, with lots of food options. Next day was a seamless transfer to BKK for our trip home.

Communication with our consultant Long during the trip was via WhatsApp. He checked with us on each change of location, and quite often after business hours. Over all a seamless worry-free experience. I had some reluctance at the start of planning for this trip on using Thai ULCC airlines. Long reassured me that there should be no problems, including no baggage charges. I will now recommend Thai AirAisa to friends and family. The drivers were professional, and the vehicles were clean and comfortable.

Hotel Reviews

True Siam Rangnam Hotel

Phayathai, Rajthevee, Province

The True Siam Rangnam Hotel in Bangkok was generally good but had its hiccups. Initially, the room we got was in their secondary building and didn't match the pictures. However, after reaching out to Long, we got moved to the main building, and it matched our expectations. The internet was even better there. The location is a bit away from the city center, so dining options were somewhat limited, but overall, it was a decent stay.

Khamthana the Colonial Hotel Chiangrai

Chiang Rai

Khamthana the Colonial Hotel Chiangrai was wonderful. It was located in the old city inside the moat, which made it easily accessible to various activities and good restaurants. We really enjoyed the convenience this hotel offered during our stay.

Activity Review

Kanta Elephant Sanctuary & Handicraft villages

Chiang Mai

Visiting the Kanta Elephant Sanctuary was a highlight of our trip. We were moved by how well the elephants are treated. They've have been rescued and are now living comfortably. It was a heartwarming experience, and I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting.

We were hesitant to let someone else plan our trip to Spain/Portugal, but Bea was amazing! She took what little info I gave her (not into wine tasting, love cooking classes, etc) and she absolutely gave us exactly what we wanted. The hotels were perfect (with the exception of Seville, the H10 Casa de la Plaza?) was not a good choice for us as we were unable to drive our rental car to the hotel and drop our many bags before parking...it took us over an hour to figure out the GPS wasn't accurate and we were not at our destination...the crowds, scooters, pedestrians were overwhelming for us senior citizens! Had we known we could not drive to the hotel and needed to just park and walk with all our bags over 10 minutes, we would have requested something easier. That was the only bad choice (just due to logistics's - the hotel was fine once we got there). The private drivers were amazing, the train travel was so easy and comfortable - thank you for arranging all that! Next time, we would not get a car, but have drivers and use the trains. It was so easy to have all our activities booked and paid for in advance...thank you for that as well!

We want to thank Bea, and the support team for helping us have the best trip to Spain we could have wanted...we will 100% use Bea and/or KimKim for any future travel...thank you again for making it so special!

Hotel Reviews

H10 Madison Hotel

Barcelona

Very nice hotel in perfect location as we were able to walk nearly everywhere! Breakfast was plentiful and delicious...the room was spacious and quiet.

Authenticity & Character

Lovely!

Location

walkable to wonderful restaurants and shopping!

Staff

helpful and very accommodating

Cleanliness & Comfort

Catalonia Donosti

San Sebastián

This was our favorite hotel....we had a room with a terrace and sea views...it was fabulous! Walked everywhere and the elevator to the street helped immensely!!

Location

walkable and easy to navigate

Catalonia Ronda

Ronda

This hotel was nice, but right on the street so a little noisier than we had wanted...the parking was expensive and a few blocks away making it less than ideal for our needs.

H10 Casa de la Plata

Sevilla

Hotel was fine, the fact you can't drive to it was disappointing, especially since we were not advised to drive straight to the parking (very expensive and not convenient)...carrying all our large luggage was NOT what we wanted.

PortoBay Falésia

Albufeira

Pretty view of the sea...the hotel experienced a power outage for hours one day and we were told no access to our rooms...we come to find out, there was access to our rooms the whole time. Staff was not well informed and rudely told us to just sit and wait.

Catalonia Las Cortes

Madrid

We loved this hotel as we were able to walk everywhere and the room was quiet and spacious!

Sercotel Ayala Bilbao

Bilbao

This seemed like a business hotel and was not super convenient to Guggenheim (20 minute walk)...very spacious room though so it was fine!

Activity Reviews

Boat Excursion Inside Benagil Caves

Spain

We loved being able to see the Benagil Caves...absolutely stunning!

Quality of Experience

the experience of seeing the caves was amazing...the boat ride, not as much..

Transport

Tapas Walk in Barcelona

Barcelona

We loved the tapas walk! We never would have gone into these four places and the food was delicious!! Highly recommend!

Quality of Experience

Brais, our tour guide, was great!!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

very knowledgeable

Guided Visit: Alhambra & Generalife Gardens

Granada

It was so nice to have our private guide show us around! We would not have known what we were even looking at without him!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Traditional Andalusian Market Visit & Cooking Class

Seville

Dom, our chef, was terrific! We made the most delicious paella I've ever had...we loved this class!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Amazing trip! Serendipity guides were above amazing! Thank-you so much for an amazing trip and experience!

Hotel Reviews

Studio Hotel

San José

Only there for a quick night, but comfortable, and walking distance to restaurants and bars.

Authenticity & Character

Super!

Location

Close to lots of food/bars

Staff

So friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Wonderful

Casa Corcovado Jungle Lodge

Attention to customer service was above and beyond. They even cut fresh aloe for our sunburn from snorkeling.

Authenticity & Character

Really cared about guests

Location

Beautiful!

Staff

Always remembered names, and was so personal!

Cleanliness & Comfort

So clean and ready for our arrival!

Hotel Los Lagos Spa & Resort

La Fortuna

Beautiful view! Staff was always pleasant and helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Great personal attention

Location

Beautiful views, and close to town!

Staff

Friendly service.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Comfortable and clean!

Activity Reviews

Guided Tour to San Pedrillo (Corcovado National Park Station Ranger Station)

Corcovado National Park

Amazing everything!

Quality of Experience

Great guide

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Wonderful!

Transport

We walked

Private Sloth Discovery Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

Great guide and view of sloths!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our guide Samud, was fantastic and really made the trip memorable. I really liked all the accommodations and food. Glamping was fun once - best part was seeing all the French, Brazilian and non-American tourists there.

Hotel Reviews

Riad Kalaa

Rabat

Great location and atmosphere. Good service. Room a little small for my 6"5" husband.

Authenticity & Character

Opened onto courtyard, could hear birds in the AM.

Location

Near souk.

Staff

Very responsive and friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bed was made every day.

Riad Al Makan

Fès

Lovely building, very atmospheric.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Relaxing Desert Camp - Royal Bivouac

Merzouga

I'm glad I did it once but the drive to was long and exhausting.

Authenticity & Character

I didn't expect a score of tents lined up.

Location

Seven hour drive was bone-jarring and exhausting. By the time we got there it was already sundown.

Staff

Attentive, helpful and happy.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Inside tent was rather sterile so easy to clean.

Kasbah Tiziri

Kelaat Mgouna

Who would expect a riad owned by a Canadian in Morocco? Fantastic views, service, interesting other guests, manicured room, delicious food, great hospitality.

Authenticity & Character

Elegantly restored building combined Moroccan motifs with Western comforts.

Location

Great to have an overnight stop between the desert and Marrakech. Beautiful rooftop. Who would expect a riad owned by a Canadian in Morocco? Fantastic views, service, interesting other guests, manicured room, delicious food, great hospitality.

Staff

The owner herself chatted with us for several minutes - intriguing and hospitable lady!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was delightful.

Riad Nesma Suites & SPA

Medina, Marrakech

It's well located, just a few steps from the souk. Rooftop breakfast was nice. Room was a little small but expected in a big city. Staff very helpful in giving directions for dinner, sites.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

A little hard to walk up and down spiral staircase. Hot and cold water in shower was challenging to operate. Otherwise, great.

Activity Reviews

Rabat to Fes via Volubilis and Meknes

Morocco

A long drive but interesting.

Quality of Experience

Volubilis was a good stop; a shame it's not maintained better.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

good to have a guide to direct us through the ruins.

Transport

Samad was cheerful, prompt and professional, as always.

Arrive in Casablanca & Transfer to Rabat

Morocco

Our driver was enthusiastic, prompt and knowledgeable. Airport arrivals and tranfers are never great, so as well as could be expected.

Quality of Experience

Not sure how to improve what is always a confusing and exhausting process.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver, Samud, was enthusiastic, prompt, knowledgeable and cheerful during the entire trip. Give him a raise.

Transport

see above.

Dades Valley to Marrakech via Ait Ben Haddou

Morocco

Fantastic views.

Afternoon Guided Tour of Rabat

Rabat

Knowledgeable guide with excellent English.

Quality of Experience

see above

Guides, Drivers and Staff

See comments above

Transport

Samud was reliable, personable and professional, as always.

Guided Tour of Fes

Fes

This was the best experience of the trip, for me. Crowded, complex alleyways crammed with shops of all kinds, tourists, locals and omnipresent motorbikes; diverse and distinctive smells (incense, bakery, fruit, motorbike exhaust, screaming kids and bleating animals. Reminded me of India, but less crowded and fewer people.

Quality of Experience

See above.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was really knowledgeable and exceptional at directing us around the hamster maze. I would have been utterly lost on my own.

Transport

Samud was professional, prompt and cheerful, as always.

Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

Guide was knowledgeable and easy to understand. Marrakech - especially main market - is an exotic swirl of color, sounds, smells, clash of eastern/western.

Quality of Experience

See above.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Samud was professional, prompt and cheerful, as always.

Transport

See above.

Fes to Merzouga via Ifraine and Azrou - Camel Trek to Desert Camp

Morocco

We arrived later than expected so didn't take camel trek. No problem - I've ridden camels before.

Quality of Experience

Glad I went once but not sure it's worth the drive. I was exhausted from drive to the site and slept through the sunrise.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Energy and enthusiasm.

Transport

Samud was prompt, professional ad cheerful as always.

Merzouga to Dades Valley Via Todgha Gorge

Morocco

Wonderful views and good road negotiation by driver.

Day Excursion to Ourika Valley

Morocco

Great views! Climbing to the top without tripping over vendors was a little challenging but worth it.

Quality of Experience

See above.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Samud prompt, professional and cheery as usual.

Transport

See above.

I think my only "complaint" were our hotels in Paris as far as their location to the events that we had planned. Even though it was my responsibility to select the hotels (which were all excellent), I would have appreciated being told about the distance to the events that we were to participate in, especially in the mornings. I may have chosen differently so that we would not have had to get up as early or take a taxi.

Other than that annoyance, we had a fabulous time. Megan's favorites were Les Baux des Provence and Giverney. My most memorable was St. Remy and Amboise.

Of the cooking class, the one in Paris w/ Marthe was our favorite. The one in Aix was not prepared for us (I believe there was information we were to complete to help her in the menu.)

We had an amazing trip. Everything was well-planned and the tours were small group and gave us an authentic experience. Kimkim check in on us during the trip to make sure we were comfortable and that everything was proceeding smoothly. Highly recommend!

Hotel Reviews

Navona Colors Hotel

Very centrally located. Took off 1 star because the room was small and the bathroom was small and difficult to navigate.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very centrally located to main sites.

Staff

Very helpful and accomodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean, room size was small and bathroom storage not set up great.

Hotel Palazzo Vitturi

Venice

Great location; could use updating.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very centrally located.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

No hot water for showers on last day. Could use updating, power outlets, safe was broken, remote was broken.

Hotel Glance

Firenze

centrally located and very hip and clean.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very close to all main sites.

Staff

Everyone was hugely helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

very clean and spacious.

Activity Reviews

Venice Old Taverns and Rialto Market Food Tour

Venice

Excellent small group tour. Lots of fun, food and wine.

Welcome to Rome!

Rome

Tour guide did a great job. Very informative and fun.

Early Access Tour of the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel

Rome

Excellent tour and tour guide.

Guided Visit to the Colosseum, Palatin Hill and Roman Forum

Rome

Loved the tour and the tour guide.

Welcome to Florence!

Italy

Very helpful

Guided Walking Tour of Rome

Rome

Great tour and tour guide.

Chianti Wine Tour

Italy

So much fun. Tour leader was great. Vineyards were great. Super time.

Tuscany Day Trip: Siena, San Gimignano, Monteriggioni, & Chianti

Florence

Weakest tour. Too many people.

Food & artisans tour of Florence

Italy

This was an amazing tour. Highly recommend. Great shops and food.

Welcome to Venice!

Venice

Good set up.

Private Gondola Ride

Venice

Skip if you have already done this.

Let's begin with the positives. Berat was prompt in her communication throughout the planning process. All scheduled transfers went off without a hitch, which we appreciate.

A special shoutout to our guides—Irfan in Cappadocia and Ozan in Izmir—for their deep knowledge, enthusiasm, and patience as they walked us through incredible sights. They were the highlight of the trip. On the other hand, Emir in Istanbul took a more by-the-book approach. His style felt rigid and lacked the warmth and flexibility we experienced with the other guides.

That said, I rarely write negative reviews—but our experience with Trail Travel (via Berat through Kimkim) was so egregiously underwhelming and overpriced that I feel compelled to warn fellow travelers. We paid an astronomical $$$$ for what was marketed as a premium 9-day private tour of Turkey, and what we got was mediocrity at prices that would make even luxury brands blush.

It all started when I realized our itinerary originated from Istanbul and ended in Izmir, despite clearly sharing that our international return flight was from Istanbul. This left us to book and pay for our own return. Having traveled widely across Europe and Asia, I expected more foresight—especially at this price point.

I first used Kimkim back in 2018. Now, at 60 and retired, I value ease and peace of mind while traveling, so my wife Sangeetha and I returned to the platform. Trusting Berat's 4.9-star reviews, I paid the quoted amount without hesitation. But after that Izmir-to-Istanbul surprise, I started scrutinizing the package—and realized we were charged approximately 1.5 times the market rate. My independent estimate was based on the premium rates for the same accommodations and services included in our package based on reputed travel portals and discussions with tour operators.

When I politely requested clarification about this price mismatch, instead of transparency, I received corporate doublespeak about "bundled services" and "personalized planning." Unprompted, a Kimkim rep was brought in to convince me about the professional planning, time savings, and support throughout the journey.

For our three nights in Istanbul, we followed an itinerary that involved walking in circles around Sultanahmet. The program conveniently avoided attractions requiring car transportation despite the premium we paid for a "private tour." A car service in Istanbul was too expensive to be included in our $$$$ package.

The hotels where we stayed were barely of 3-star quality:

The Istanbul Armada Hotel featured birds eating from the breakfast buffet (enjoy avian flu with your morning coffee!)
Our room at Kale Konak smelled of sewage
Basic, disappointing breakfasts throughout

The most detailed communication we received during the entire trip was a lengthy message about how much we should tip the guides and drivers, which we honored to the best of our abilities.

Turkey is a beautiful country. Hopefully, other reputable tour operators in Turkey will not treat your vacation budget like their personal ATM.
One star is too generous, but it's the minimum the review system allows.
A friend familiar with Turkish travel commented, "For this amount, you could have been chauffeured in a Rolls-Royce and stayed in a palace once owned by the Sultans."

Hotel Reviews

Kordon Hotel Çankaya

Çankaya, Konak, Izmir

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Armada Hotel

Istanbul

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kale Konak Hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Avanos: Discover the Centuries-Old Ceramic Tradition

Cappadocia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the Sultanahmet Square, Blue Mosque + Hagia Sophia

İstanbul

Discover the Historical Bazaars in Istanbul

İstanbul

Highly touristy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the heritage of the wonderful Topkapi Palace

İstanbul

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit to Ephesus Archaeological Museum + House of Virgin Mary

Turkey

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kaymaklı Underground City

Cappadocia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the Basilica Cistern

İstanbul

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Public Boat Tour on the Bosphorus

İstanbul

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hot Air Balloon Tour at Sunrise

Cappadocia

Weather Gods were not kind to us

Visiting Göreme Open Air Museum (UNESCO World Heritage)

Cappadocia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Whirling Dervish Ceremony at Saruhan Caravansarai

Turkey

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover the Volcanic Valleys of Cappadocia: Zelve, Pasabag, and Avcılar

Cappadocia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the Ancient City of Ephesus

Turkey

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Thanos stood by us in the planning stages and all the way through, making sure all went as planned. He choose excellent accommodations, guides, and places to visit. The guides responded to our questions and showed a mastery of their training. An amazing gift to on visit was our driver Mr. Yannis. He truly understood our interests and needs. He accommodated everything and even went far beyond. We learned so much from him.

Hotel Reviews

Elena Hotel Mykonos

Mykonos

A small quaint hotel located an easy walk to the sea and to the downtown harbor. Excellent breakfast and very helpful staff. Part of the neighborhood.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Xenon Inn Nafplio

Nafplio

The hotel is located in the middle of things. The cafe serves a great breakfast. We enjoyed watching the kids on the square play games and run about. It’s close to the harbor. The room was nice.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Bold Type Hotel

Patra, Greece

A quirky former mansion with beautifully renovated rooms, a large garden in the back and a staff that cares. A bit of a hike down to the square and shops and restaurants. It’s a college town and it’s interesting to watch student interactions.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Acropolis & Acropolis Museum Guided Tour

Athens

A very special visit for us, made even more so by our excellent guide, Theano Pappaeoannou. She was so knowledgeable and enthusiastic. We really enjoyed our interaction with her.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We really enjoyed the warmth of our interactions with the people, whether in restaurants, public places, hotels. We were surprised to find that some amount of English is almost universal.

Transport

Delphi Guided Tour

Greece

Fascinating visit. Mr Georgiu was an excellent guide. We employed visiting the beautiful museum and the oracle grounds.

The KimKim Team were all very good. Everyone showed up on time and took good care to make sure everything was right and I enjoyed my time. I did get very sick, however, but the KimKim Team took care of me and got me to appropriate medical care etc. I needed that as I would not have been able to navigate on my own.

I would use KimKim again in a minute for another trip. Hopefully one where I do not become ill. Well worth the $$ to use them as they coordinated everything! Special thanks to Eddy my guide in Cisco and Machu Picchu. He was very helpful and knowledgeable.

We liked the agenda and all the places that were arranged to see and do. We loved Morocco, people were great and food was good too. Our guide/driver, Ilyace, was excellent and he had very good command of English language which we greatly appreciated. We strongly recommend his services. All other guides were good too, Hamid at Volubilis and Sharif in Fez were really knowledgeable and informative. Saleh (Marrakech), Ashraf (food tour) and Hassan (Essaouira) were also good. We were sorry we had too many samples before we got the main course and we could not enjoy it as much, but it was very good food tour. We also enjoyed the visit to Yasmin’s family and dinner. As for the tour of Hassan II Mosque, group tour guide was not really that good, they need better tour guides. As for the hotels, I assume they were amongst the best for their locations! Our favorites were Hotel Le Medina (Essaouira) and Lina (Chefchaouen) very high standards, we also liked Palais Sebban. The rest were acceptable but could make some minor improvements to the details. Our favorite city was Chefchaouen. In summary the trip a was very good experience and we appreciate all the help and planning by the team.

Hotel Reviews

Barceló Casablanca

Casablanca

Good hotel for one night stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Mokhtar Tanger

Tangier

Very comfortable and roomy. Nice location and some views. Close to shops and restaurants.

Authenticity & Character

Great set up with a sitting room.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lina Ryad & Spa

Chefchaouen

Amazing place, great location, great dinner.

Authenticity & Character

Location

In the heart of activities.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Braya

Fes Medina

I would give it 3.5 stars. It was comfortable, the A/C did not work and it was not fixed. Bath tub was deep and tall and challenging to get in and out.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Not really convenient to local market.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kasbah Hôtel Xaluca Arfoud

Erfoud

Excellent set up, beautiful garden, pool, restaurant and bar, it was an amazing place in the area. Unfortunately the shower did not have any warm water or water pressure.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

It was very clean, could not take a shower due to lack of water.

Riad Ksar Ighnda

Ait Benhaddou

Nice place, the only problem was the A/C remote did not work, needed battery, they eventually found some.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palais Sebban

Marrakech

Nice hotel great location, very good restaurant.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Le Medina Essaouira Thalassa Sea & Spa MGallery

Essaouira

5+++ stars, beautiful set up, awesome location, beautiful architecture, great restaurant for breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Great architecture.

Location

By the ocean and close to all activities.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Tour of Fez Medina

Fes

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide in Fez, Sharif was excellent. He was very knowledgeable and informative.

Transport

Private Transfer from Marrakech to Enchanting Essaouira

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Not applicable.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Quick Tour of Casablanca with your Driver-guide

Morocco

Need better group tour guides at Hassan iI mosque.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver Ilyace was great and his command of English was vey helpful.

Transport

Guided tour of Hassan II Mosque

Morocco

Liked the mosque but the tour guide was very poor and uninformative.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Driver was great, mosque group tour guide was poor.

Transport

Drive from Tangier to Chefchaouen via Hercules Caves, Tetouan & the Rif Mountains

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chefchaoeun to Fez via Volubilis, Moulay Idriss & Meknes

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The local guide Hamid was very knowledgeable.

Transport

Dine with a local family

Morocco

Yassin and family were very nice, and we enjoyed our visit very much, the food was unbelievable.

Quality of Experience

The family was very friendly and very very nice. Appreciate their time and hospitality.

Food

Excellent food and company.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ait Benhaddou to Marrakech via Tizi N'Tichka pass

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The local guide Saleh was very good.

Transport

Guided Tour of Majorelle Garden

Marrakesh

It was ok.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

No local guide. Did not need one.

Transport

Marrakesh Evening Food Tour

Marrakesh

The tour was excellent, even with the rain. Had too many samples before the main course.

Quality of Experience

Food

All the food presented dusting the tour.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ashraf (aka H) was very good and informative.

Transport

Guided Tour of Essaouira

Essaouira

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hassan did a great job.

Transport

Essaouira to Casablanca via Eljadida & Safi Coastal Route

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This was our first trip to Vietnam, and we were incredibly fortunate to work with Hien. From the start, she was attentive, responsive, and genuinely helpful in planning our itinerary, taking into account all our requests and the places we wanted to visit. She even assisted us with booking our international flight from PEN to SGN, which made things so much easier.

Hien’s communication was outstanding—she consistently responded quickly and thoroughly to all our questions, offering top-notch service that truly stands out. Her dedication made a huge difference in our experience.

We highly recommend Hien of Realistic Asia and KimKim. Thanks to her, our trip became a beautiful and lasting memory. We’re already looking forward to visiting Vietnam again in 2027!

We’ve just returned home from our trip to India under the care of Active India Tours (booked via Kim Kim,) and have nothing but positive things to report. My husband and I are usually backpackers who arrange all our own travel, but because we had no idea what to expect of our 1st trip to India, we opted for a more guided experience. Ravi and his team at Active India DELIVERED. From the moment we landed at Delhi airport, we were constantly given guidance and clear expectations of what was to come. Each city guide was kind, capable, and communicative. Misters Singh in Delhi (Ardesh and Dharmendra), Mr. Ronit in Agra, Mr. Sanjay in Jaipur, and our faithful driver Mr. Ajay all took incredible care in hosting us in their cities. The hotels selected for our stays were all spectacular, and were the mix of historical, cultural, and luxury value that I asked of Ravi and kimkim. I wouldn’t hesitate to book a tour to India with Ravi and his team again, and highly recommend it to others, as well.

Activity Reviews

Old Delhi Sightseeing

Delhi

Great walking tour, got to try jalebi for the first time! Was charmed by the spice market in particular.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Taj Mahal Sunrise Visit

Agra

Sunrise is absolutely the best time to see the Taj, no question. Better weather, fewer people, amazing views!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My Santorini experience was awesome including one of the best accommodation experiences I have ever had and a really good tour. My Crete experience was okay at best. My accommodation was fine. But the timeframe I had available made Crete a poor recommendation as an island to visit. The pick ups and drop offs at all locations were very good

Hotel Reviews

Olive Green Hotel

Heraklion

A nice hotel with pleasant front desk staff. Unfortunately, there is no concierge so difficult to get 'help' in planning any excursion. Also, the shower leaked very badly - they had maintenance fix it, but it was no better.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Villa Renos Hotel

Santorini

Maybe the best hotel experience in my life. Beautiful view from my balcony. Excellent breakfast. Such attentive, kind staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

So kind, so helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Panoramic Tour

Greece