Kimkim Trip Reviews

My daughter and I spent two weeks making memories for a lifetime in Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands. The folks at Kimkim provided a fabulous itinerary that allowed us to experience so many different aspects of this wonderful country and its people. Perhaps the best thing they did for us was to find a superb driver and guide, Cristobal Cabezas, who accompanied us throughout our journey and offered valuable historical and cultural insights along the way. He introduced us to many gastronomical specialties--such as guinea pig (cuy), and (more to our taste) local ice cream and chocolate. Cristobal took us places that most tourists would never see, and helped us appreciate the many beautiful and interesting places we went in Ecuador. Some highlights included taking a cable car up to Pichincha, one of the volcanoes that surround the capital city of Quito. The views from the top are spectacular, and it was fun to dangle over the valley on a swing that is a short way up the mountain, available to all who are willing to climb a bit in the oxygen-depleted air. Another highlight was the cooking class that was arranged for us. We tasted fruits that we didn't know existed and learned how to make some traditional--and delicious--food that we can enjoy again back at home with the recipes from our meal. One of our favorite spots was Maquipucuna Reserve, a lush, verdant, privately controlled preserve in the cloud forest that made us feel like we were in a different world. Our only regret was that we were able to spend so little time there--it would have been nice to be able to explore the maze of pathways longer and relax in the beautiful lodge. We got to bird watch in Mindo, where we caught glimpses of toucans, parrots, and many other brightly colored species of birds. In Mindo we also went on a night hike with a knowledgeable guide who pointed out numerous critters of various shapes and sizes and genuses--scorpions and fireflies and other insects, as well as nocturnal birds and mammals. After spending a couple of days in the cloud forest, we spent a morning at the vibrant, colorful market in Otavalo, which featured every indigenous handicraft imaginable of exquisite quality--blankets, scarves, jewelry, ponchos, tablecloths, clothing, and more. Again, we wished we had had more time to spend there. We easily could have spent a full day wandering the stalls and inspecting the artisanship and skill of the artists and vendors there. As wonderful as all of our excursions in Ecuador were, the Galápagos Islands offered an entirely different and even more spectacular adventure. On our various expeditions we learned about the blue-footed boobies, frigate birds, penguins, sharks, sea turtles, iguanas, sea lions, and of course, the giant tortoises that inhabit the islands. The islands abound in wildlife of countless varieties, and none of the amazing creatures that we saw seemed to be afraid of humans. We were cautioned to not touch, but they paid little attention to us as we gawked and marveled at the abundant flora and fauna on these amazing islands. Overall, we had a fabulous adventure, thanks to the excellent care of our Kimkim hosts!

Hotel Reviews

Vieja Cuba

Quito

Pleasant and clean, although the rooms were quite small (cozy). Very friendly staff.

Sisakuna Lodge

Mindo

The rooms were spacious, but the shower was not even lukewarm, and I don't think the sheets were clean.

Hotel Acoma

Otavalo

Small room and bathroom with the worst shower imaginable, alternating scalding and frigid water. One plus was that it was very quiet.

Capitan Max B&B

Puerto Ayora

Lovely rooms and host. Clean, comfortable, and great location.

Hotel La Laguna

Puerto Villamil

Located right across from a lagoon where flamingoes hang out, it is a lovely, comfortable, clean hotel with a friendly, helpful staff. Enjoyed this hotel more than any other on our trip!

Activity Reviews

Kayaking & Snorkeling at Las Tintoreras

Galapagos Islands

There was no kayaking, but the snorkeling was interesting, and we saw some beautiful and fascinating animals.

Papallacta Hot Springs & Spa

Ecuador

The hot springs are great, but the best part of this excursion was walking one of the beautiful paths up to a waterfall, through some of the most stunning landscape imaginable. Lovely!

Quito Cooking Class

Galapagos Islands

Our cook and teacher, Dennis, was fabulous. We loved the food, which was plentiful, and the instruction was accessible and fun. One of our favorite activities!

Ride the Cable Car to Pichincha Volcano

Quito

Wonderful view of Quito and beautiful trail up to the volcano (although we didn't go the whole way). Loved swinging on the swing at the top!

Maquipucuna Reserve

Ecuador

Paradise on Earth. Not to be missed! Such a beautiful place! The trails were delightful, the lodge was gorgeous, the food was delicious, but the best part is the story of the couple who started acquiring land for this exquisite preserve. One of the most beautiful and tranquil places we have experienced anywhere.

Transfer to Quito Airport, Arrival to Galapagos & Highlands of Santa Cruz

Galapagos Islands

Daniela, our guide, was so kind and informative. The tortoises were everything we had imagined they would be! A fascinating excursion that brought to life everything we had read about the Galápagos.

Excursion to an uninhabited island

Galapagos Islands

Nesting season for the blue-footed boobies--they were everywhere! We were able to get quite close to them, and they seemed quite unbothered by our presence. Amazing!

Snorkel at Los Túneles

Ecuador

Wow! Otherworldly terrain and extraordinary access to amazing sealife while snorkeling. Definitely a highlight of our trip!

Night Walk in the Cloud Forest

Ecuador

We had an excellent guide who could find nocturnal critters in the darkness that were absolutely amazing!

Our trip was amazing! Start to finish. Kate was super helpful and enthusiastic. Great network of guides and drivers. The ability to personalize our trip was key. Will use Kim Kim again!

We had a wonderful experience with Kimkim and Travel12. Tasos was exceptional and insured all details for the trip were meticulously planned. Everything was run professionally and couldn’t have been smoother. Valentina was the best way to start on the golf cart tour of Rome. She is terrific. The colosseum and forum tour with Giuseppe was great with a ton of information. Every driver we had took great care of us all around Italy. The highlight of the trip was a tour of Cinque Terre with Elisabetta, the best guide we’ve experienced! It was entertaining watching the glass blowing in Murano and the tour of Venice and St. Marks with Nico was a perfect ending to our trip. Would certainly recommend each of these excursions and the overall experience. Thanks

The trip was amazing! All pick-ups, train tickets, excursions, worked like clockwork. The city tours were awesome. Both guides were very knowledgeable. The only item I would have changed was the seafood dinner in Bergen. The restaurant offered either a 5-course seafood meal or shellfish extravaganza. If given a choice I would have preferred the shellfish.
Thank you KIMKIM and Alex, Nick, and your whole team.

Hotel Review

Karl Johan Hotel

Oslo

My stay at the last hotel in Oslo was initially concerning due to my claustrophobia and the room's location deep within the hotel. However, the staff was understanding and moved me to a beautiful space with high ceilings and lovely windows near the stairs on the second floor. Despite the initial discomfort, the staff's accommodation merits praise.

Activity Reviews

Fjord RIB Safari & Undredal Cheese Tasting

Norway

The Flåm Fjord RIB Safari and Undredal Cheese Tasting were amazing! Inga, our tour guide, was fantastic. The tour was quick, fun, and the cheese tasting in Undredal was delightful. It was one of my favorite experiences in Norway.

Private City Walk

Oslo

Our Private City Walk in Oslo was incredible. Our guide tailored the tour to our interests post visiting the typical sites like the palace and the opera house the day before. I got an outstanding, personalized experience with additional unique sights. She even recommended her favorite ice cream spot. It was an incredibly personal and enriching tour!

Explore Bergen

Bergen

The city tour in Bergen was fantastic! The guide, though Australian, had immense knowledge about Bergen's history, such as the thirteen houses and the German influence over centuries. She was entertaining and knowledgeable. Post-tour, her recommendation to take the Fløibanen Funicular was spot on. I loved Bergen and definitely want to return!

The food tour in Porto was amazing and the CoolTours Sintra day trip is a must do. Kim Kim plans a great trip!

Hotel Reviews

Casa dos Lóios by Shiadu

Porto

Great service, clean and excellent location. They also had an amazing breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

You can walk to many of the main sights and there are plenty of places to eat within walking distance also.

Staff

Everyone was very friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Costa D’Oiro Ambiance Village

8600-544

Love the location and the very spacious rooms.

Authenticity & Character

Location

We could walk to the main plaza with many shops and restaurants.

Staff

Everyone was very friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

MeraPrime Gold Design Hotel

Lisbon

Great location but small rooms.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easy walking distance to many sights, hotels, and shops.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms are the typically smaller size rooms in the older areas of Europe. It was safe and clean.

Activity Reviews

Explore Porto's Culinary Scene and Bolhao Market

Porto

One of favorite tours ever! We loved everything we tried and the guide was great.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover Sintra and Quinta de Regaleira

Lisbon

An amazing tour and amazing sights. I would recommend this tour to anyone. Rui was our guide and he was phenomenal.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Going to Costa Rica has always been a dream trip. Serendipity not only made that dream come true- they created the perfect trip for us. The entire trip was smooth as glass.

My husband and I are very independent travelers, so handing our travel reins over to Serendipity was a leap of faith. They came through in every way. Every hotel, meal, activity was carefully curated & fined-tuned to suit us perfectly. Thank you Bryan from kimkim! We had a busy schedule but it was paced intelligently, and every activity and hotel stay was easy and effortless. Wilman from Serendipity was accessible always- responsive, cheerful, professional, and thoughtful. I would not only recommend Serendipity to anyone considering Costa Rica, but we will definitely use them again. I am impressed by the friendliness and professionalism of this company.

I cannot say enough positive things about Serendipity. They made our trip perfect and effortless, and it the most fun, perfect week.

Learning about and experiencing all things Costa Rica is something every adventurer should consider. When you go, you'll love it even more by using Serendipity's team.

Barb in Austin

Hotel Reviews

Lomas del Volcán

Fortuna

A private bungalow, in Paradise. Right under a volcano. What's not to love! The best b'fast, quiet and beautiful.

Authenticity & Character

Very Costa Rican!

Location

Easy access to everything.

Staff

Over and above, every one!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Immaculate

El Mangroove, Autograph Collection

Playa Hermosa

Very comfortable but elite, in a good way. Perfect pool. Perfect food.

Authenticity & Character

Everything is gorgeous

Location

Right on the BEACH!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Immaculate!

Celeste Mountain Lodge

Bijagua

The best views. Ever. No comparison- from anywhere we've stayed. Beautiful!

Authenticity & Character

Very Costa Rican!

Location

Perfect, close to everything

Staff

Professional, friendly, helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

EcoTermales Hot Springs & Meal

Arenal/La Fortuna

Very fun, clean, relaxing. Unique!

Quality of Experience

Food

Very delicious and traditional CR food!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tapir Valley Nature Reserve Night Walk

Bijagua / Rio Celeste

We saw Tapirs! Very unique trip. So much to see!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was amazing- very passionate about all things Costa Rica.

Rio Celeste & Tenorio Volcano Private Hike

Bijagua / Rio Celeste

This place is stunning. Stunning!

Quality of Experience

We saw fascinating things all along this hike!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was intelligent and so interesting!

Wetlands Boat Ride and Rum Tasting at Hacienda El Viejo

Costa Rica

Fascinating experience! It took our trip to CR up to the next level of interesting facts.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

So informative! He spied things we never would have seen!

Morning Sailing and Snorkeling Adventure

Costa Rica

This sailing trip was superb! My husband went snorkeling and they took me ashore to the gorgeous beach. Sand soft, water perfection!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had an absolutely amazing time in Greece! Erica helped tailor the trip to just what we wanted--splitting our time equally in Athens, Naxos, and Santorini. The food tour in Athens was especially enjoyable as was the sunset Acropolis tour. (I highly recommend the sunset tour if you go in the summer--otherwise, it's a bit hot! : ) ) Naxos was perfect--our favorites included the hike up Mount Zas, the e-bike village tour, and watching the sunset at the Temple of Apollo. Of course, Santorini was beautiful, but it was a bit crowded for our taste. Still, we really loved the kayak adventure--and the sunset over the white domes is something we'll never forget. We've worked with KimKim before (on a trip to Brazil) and will certainly work with them again--everything went so smoothly. Thanks, Erica!

If your going to Iceland, using KimKim ask for Guðmundur Óli . He was great to work with.... had all our MUST HAVES... and the just all the extras.

It was an AWSOME 9 days in Iceland.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Holt—The Art Hotel

Reykjavík

Room was fully carpet.... had stains.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hótel Húsafell

Húsafell, Borgarbyggð

What a RESTURANT!!!!! hotel and food were spectacular.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Secluded

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Vík í Mýrdal

Vík

Rooms and bathrooms were tiny.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Glacier Ice Cave Experience

Iceland

Cave tour was 3 minutes... To expensive, to far to drive. Wasn't impressed

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Old truck..... not in good condition

Our trip to Morocco was even more than I could have imagined. The food was fantastic, the landscapes, the smaller and larger towns, the mountains, Roman ruins and, of course, the camel ride and camping in the desert - all of which far exceeded our expectations. What made our trip so special though was not just these places...it was our driver, Tayeb. He expertly navigated mountain roads, through villages to the desert and back and, throughout our journey found the perfect stops for coffee and great lunch stops. He also made terrific dinner recommendations and always made sure we knew about the towns we were staying in. Above and beyond that, Tayeb was great company and made even the longest of our drives between cities go very quickly with his easy-to-get-along-with personality. If you have a driver as great as Tayeb, you'll have an amazing time exploring Morocco! I should also add that we had guides in both Fes and Marrakech...which are essential. The complex alleys and small roads makes it impossible for a visitor to navigate without expert guidance. Sharif was our guide in Fes and he was extremely knowledgeable about how to navigate the streets of Fes' marketplace. Mohammed was our guide in Marrakech and he, too, was an expert navigator and guide. Also, Said from Original Travel was extremely responsive throughout our journeys in Morocco...and we would not have had our amazing driver Tayeb or our amazing guides without him.

Hotel Reviews

Dar Rihana Dades

Douar Aït Ouffi

This Riad is in a very small town that we probably would not have stopped at on our own if we had designed every element of our itinerary by ourselves. I'm so glad our travel agent included this stop. The Riad looks unassuming on the outside (as most do) but there was a lovely pool, gardens to walk through in the back and the food was truly gourmet. It's decorated in a more modern way, and it was, overall, a lovely place to spend a night in between long travels between 2 larger cities.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

This camp is definitely GLAMPING! Very clean and cozy with Moroccan rugs covering the floors, our own personal shower and bathroom...and a wonderful king-size bed. The food was more than I could have thought possible in the middle of the desert...and the service was great.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Ghita

Fes

The hosts at this Riad were extremely kind and welcoming. The atrium in the middle was beautiful, as was our room. Extremely clean. We chose to eat dinner here on one of our nights and the food was amazing!

Authenticity & Character

The atrium had all 4 markings of an authentic Riad: Plasterwork, Woodwork, Marble and Fes Tilework. Amazing!

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Quick Tour of Casablanca with your Driver-Guide: The Economic Heart of Morocco

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer from Fes to Merzouga via Erfoud & Camel Ride

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour of Fez Medina: Journey Through the World's Living Medieval City

Fes

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chefchaoeun to Fez via Volubilis, Moulay Idriss & Meknes

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hi everyone and Coraima,
Our trip through Spain was amazing and wonderful. All the tour guides were excellent, except for the Picasso tour, where the guide seemed to be in a rush and I didnt provide enough explanation. We felt we needed to do it again on our own to fully enjoy it.
In SA Sebastián, both the Chef and the Sailing tour were spectacular. My wife and I had never had such an unforgettable experience. It’s a trip we’ll always remember fondly.

This once-in-a-life time adventure far exceeded my expectations! All 7 of us had a wonderful trip, thanks to Sebastian and his kind and accommodating willingness to work with Pat K.
Every driver and/or guide was prompt, friendly, knowledgeable, and interested in knowing about us. Marlene gave us an interesting and efficient tour of Versailles. She was a hoot--what fun we had! We went through the streets of Montmartre with Sensei (sp?) who showed us all the hidden gems with lots of patience because it was crowded, noisy, and hot. He sprinkled his guidance with a sense of humor that was much appreciated. After leaving Paris for the Loire Valley, we were treated to 2 wonderful days at Domaine de la Tortiniere--what a gorgeous chateau where the breakfast buffet was outstanding! Camille was our guide at Tours, first to beautiful Chenonceau, then to wine-tasting at Clos de la Richardière. Camille made this day wonderful! She was a delight! On to Le Bayeux (room for 3 was too tight), where we self-toured a beautiful city and enjoyed the Bayeux Tapestry. Normandy, guided by excellent, knowledgeable, and friendly Emma was another highlight. It was an emotional visit and too much to write about here. A day and a half at Mont-St-Michel was overwhelmingly amazing, too! The Hôtel Lorette-Astotel is a beautiful hotel, though we couldn't take advantage of it because we were caught in the terrible storm as soon as we descended the Eiffel Tower. It took 1 1/2 hours to find our way back, but the staff gave us plastic bags for our soaking wet clothing. All transports--the Metro, trains, vans--were great throughout our entire time in France. Very impressive! Thank you so much for everything!

Hotel Reviews

Domaine de la Tortinière

Veigne

What character this chateau has! Friendly staff and an excellent breakfast buffet. It was a treat to have the pool to ourselves for some time because it was so hot.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Le Bayeux

Bayeux

I can't give it 5 stars because 3 grownups were squeezed into a very small room. The beds were fine, but there was not enough space for our bags or enough room to move at all

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Auberge Saint-Pierre

LE MONT-SAINT-MICHEL

Wow! The history alone makes staying here worthwhile. It was kind of noisy, and there are no screens to keep out the bugs (or pigeons!) One night was enough, but I'm very happy that we stayed overnight.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hôtel Lorette - Astotel

Paris

I wish we could have taken advantage of the amenities here, but we were caught in a storm. By the time we got back, to the hotel, we were sopping wet and just wanted warm showers and comfortable beds. We had both before we needed to be up at 4:15 AM to catch our ride to the airport.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

They were so helpful when we returned, dripping wet from the storm.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Transfer from Paris hotel to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG)

France

The driver navigated the streets well after the previous night's terrible storm and destruction. He was the only driver who did not speak English. He did his job.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-day Versailles & Gardens private tour

France

The Half-day Versailles & Gardens private tour with Marlene was amazing. We all loved it and the experience was truly enriching. The beauty of Versailles, combined with Marlene's insights, made it one of the highlights of our trip.

Guided Family Tour of Montmartre

Paris

The Guided Family Tour of Montmartre with Sensei was great. Despite the heat and crowds that day, Sensei used humor to guide us through Montmartre and made the experience enjoyable. His levity turned potential stress into a memorable outing.

Chateaux Day Tour: Chambord and Chenonceau - Full-day

Tours

The Chateaux Day Tour to Chambord and Chenonceau was fantastic. Although there was a scheduling glitch initially, the staff at the winery where we had the wine tasting went above and beyond to accommodate us. The wine tasting was delightful, and we even ended up buying wine glasses to take back home.

Overall it is an excellent trip. Airport pickup and drop off services were great, but there were some issues with hotel reservations. The hotels in Lima and Cusco booked 2 rooms with 4 travelers, but we had 5 travelers. KimKim was able to solve the issue immediately with minimal delay.
In detail:
The Posada Amazonas Lodge experience is excellent. All the people from Posada Amazonas are super friendly and helpful. We lost 1 luggage on the trip from Lima to Puerto Maldonado. The manager of Posada Amazonas was able to locate our luggage and deliver to the lodge the next day. Our guide, Freet, is very knowledgeable and accommodating.
In Cusco, our guide, Sonia, was very nice and experienced and took us to see many amazing places, from Machu Picchu to Rainbow Mountain. She provided great advice along the way and we learned a lot from her, especially the Inka history.

Hotel Reviews

Abittare Hotels

Cusco

This hotel is OK. We understand this is the backup choice since we could not et Palacio del Inka. As 3 stars hotel, it is a place to sleep. This location is not bad, next to Palacio del Inka.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Las Qolqas EcoResort Ollantaytambo

Ollantaytambo

This hotel experience is far beyond our expectations. if possible, we would give 6 stars.

Authenticity & Character

We love this hotel and can stay here longer if the trip is allowed.

Location

Even this hotel is not in the main square of Ollantaytambo, but the facility and environment are much better. It is quite, air is fresh, food is great.

Staff

The staff is friendly and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

very clean and comfortable

Palacio del Inka Cusco

Cusco

This hotel is very nice. Both breakfast and dinner are excellent.

Authenticity & Character

This hotel choice fit the Cusco history very nicely.

Location

close to the historical site. very good.

Staff

The staff is very friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

5 star hotel

Posada Amazonas Lodge

Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios

The Posada Amazonas Lodge experience is excellent. The rooms is very nature. Food and staff are excellent. Our guide is super good.

Authenticity & Character

Location

great

Staff

Very friendly and help.

Cleanliness & Comfort

very clean

Costa del Sol Wyndham Lima Airport

Lima

good hotel, a little far from airport.

Authenticity & Character

Location

This airport hotel is next to the OLD Lima airport. Even the hotel provide shuttle, due to the traffic, it will take good 20 minutes from airport to hotel

Staff

Due to the reservation issue, we waited more than half hour to have KimKim solve the issues.

Cleanliness & Comfort

pretty clean

Activity Reviews

Depart Puerto Maldonado to Cusco

Peru

Departure arrangement is customed based on the flight. All the staff is professional, friendly.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Posada Amazonas Excursions

Puerto Maldonado

All the activities are arranged based on your own preference and capabilities. The activities we choose are excellent and fit our expectation.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Posada Amazonas Excursions

Puerto Maldonado

hotel, food, staff and guide are all excellent.

Quality of Experience

Food

All the food are local, fresh and cooked with very healthy way.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide 'Freet' and driver are excellent.

Transport

good boat trip experience

Puerto Maldonado to Posada Amazonas

Puerto Maldonado

good experience. The guide was able to point out the various animals on the side of the river.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I will contact Salomé and Kimkim to plan and prepare future trips. They were easy to work with and provided assistance from start to finish. Salomé helped us plan a two week driving trip in Scotland. Working with her was great. She put together a wonderful itinerary based on our interests. Even though I had done a lot of preliminary planning, she suggested terrific activities that I wasn’t aware of that really enhanced our tour. Salomé did all the leg work in booking hotels, ferry tickets, and attraction and tour tickets, a huge job! I truly appreciated her efforts when I asked her to rebooked all the hotels to reduce the overall trip budget. She provided an accurate and detailed itinerary with everything we needed for each day. She was always a responsive communicator during trip planning and during the trip . We had a couple glitches while in Scotland and Salomé was always available to assist. Planning in-depth international travel can be intimidating but Salomé and Kimkim made it easy. If you want international travel that includes more than the tourists highlights Kimkim and Salomé can help plan this type of trip.

Hotel Reviews

Leonardo City Edinburgh

Edinburgh

Leonardo City Edinburgh was in a convenient location, as we could easily walk or Uber to the old town. The building was previously used as a maternity hospital, which I loved very much. However, the hotel itself was a bit on the dirty side, which was a little bit disappointing.

Knipoch Hotel

Oban Argyll & Bute

Knipoch Hotel was one of our favorite accommodations. Located outside Oban, it perfectly captured the essence of the place. The dining experience at the hotel was excellent, with lovely meals and a great breakfast. It provided a splendid sense of comfort after long drives during our trip.

Balmoral Arms

Ballater

We were very pleased with Balmoral Arms. The hotel had a charming sense of the local culture and offered excellent dining options. It was a nice place to relax after a day of exploration.

Coolin View

Portree

The Coolin View in Portree on the Isle of Skye did not meet our expectations. Although the view from the hotel was stunning, with picturesque views of colorful buildings on the water, the room itself was lacking. The bathroom was small, with a loud on-demand hot water system that was quite disruptive. It was not as comfortable as we had hoped.

Isles Of Glencoe Hotel

Ballachulish

The Isles Of Glencoe Hotel was nice and modern, and though our stay was short, it was quite enjoyable. It seemed like a great spot for those into outdoor activities, with bikes and kayaks available for rent.

Cairngorm Hotel

Aviemore

We had a wonderful stay at the Cairngorm Hotel in Aviemore. The room was fine, but what really made our stay memorable was the bar with live music almost every night. We really enjoyed ourselves, especially because we stayed there for a couple of nights.

Activity Reviews

Oban Distillery Tour

Oban

The Oban Distillery Tour was a lovely experience. As someone who only wanted to visit one distillery, Oban was a perfect choice given its history. It was educational and enjoyable, and one distillery tour was just right for us.

Orkney Food & Drink Tour

Scotland

The Orkney Food & Drink Tour was interesting, but perhaps not the best choice for Orkney itself due to its small size. Our guide tried her best, and we did sample some local goods like soup and crackers, but it might have been better to focus on Orkney's history tours instead.

History Lovers Old Town Walking Tour

Edinburgh

The History Lovers Old Town Walking Tour in Edinburgh was really enjoyable. Our guide, possibly named Shannon, did an excellent job, and we learned so much. It was a great experience.

Afternoon Tea at the Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh

Afternoon Tea at Edinburgh Castle was such a special experience. We enjoyed it immensely, probably even more than the castle tour itself. It was a delightful treat!

Stirling Castle Tickets

Scotland

The tour at Stirling Castle was fantastic. We loved the historical aspect and the richness of the castle itself. I only wish we had stayed in Stirling to explore the town more. It's definitely a place worth spending more time in.

Cruise of Mull, Iona and Staffa Islands

Scotland

We absolutely loved the visit to Fingal's Cave! Although the journey was long with bus and ferry rides, the hour we spent at the cave was well worth it. The columnar basalts were stunning, and seeing the puffins was an incredible bonus. This was the highlight of the day, despite traveling to other locations.

From the moment we decided to book a tour of Morocco with KimKim, we were met with excellent customer care. The KimKim team, especially Said, was quick to respond and patiently answered our many questions and requests for customization. The website was great to use and served us well throughout the planning and during the trip.
Even before we embarked on our journey from Denver to Casablanca, Oussama, our driver/guide, was in contact with us and as soon as we touched down he efficiently navigated us towards him and the very comfortable van we would call ours for the next ten days. There was no doubt that we were in the best hands possible. Aside from being a kind and patient human, Oussama organically shared his love and knowledge of his beautiful country with us throughout the trip. He patiently accommodated our schedules and needs and answered a million questions. We added several excursions and each was superb. He matched us with Mohammed for a most insightful and delicious city and food tour in Marrakech; the next morning, we dove into a Hammam experience that my daughter called the absolute best thing that has ever happened to her, while my husband played golf at the oldest golf club in Morocco. We left Marrakech after three nights, following the lush green river valley to the striking peaks of the Atlas mountains to Imlil for one nicht. Again we were met by a knowledgeable guide who exposed us to the culture of his people and kindly opened up his house for a traditional lunch before continuing our hike to a waterfall through narrow, steep paths with amazing views. After a comfortable night at what seemed like our own private hotel (with pool), we left the peaks for the desert for two nights. Who thought we would be greeted with such comfort - the clamping in Agafay, as everything, exceeded our expectations. So did the ATV tour and Camel ride (with a baby camel in tow), followed by surfing and another Hammam in Essaouira… too many highlights to list. Every accomodation was great (with the Riad Le Pelerin in Marrakech being the most beautiful and special place we have ever stayed at), every restaurant recommendation, every place to stop to take in the sights - even when pressed, I could not come up with a ‘complaint’. This trip was the most memorable vacation we have ever taken with our family and the sounds, sights and tastes will be with us forever. We are already thinking about where we can go next and KimKim is on top of our list to guide us on our next adventure. Highly, highly recommend the company and their fantastic local partners. Again, big shout-out to Said and Oussama for a trip of a lifetime to North Africa.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Le Medina Essaouira Thalassa Sea & Spa MGallery

Essaouira

Very comfortable, clean in great location. Only hotel on our trip where we were more surrounded with other tourists (not a problem, just mentioning).

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Yes We Camps

Marrakech

Great "camp", gorgous common places, sparkling pool, attentive staff and tasty food. And, for all those teens out there, better cell service than in downtown Denver plus AC - for me, not expected in the middle of the stone desert.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dar Imlil

Imlil

Authenctic berber home (from what I could gather), gorgous pool, great views, comfortable and clean.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Barceló Casablanca

Casablanca

Great hotel in the buzzling and hectic town of Casablanca.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Le Pèlerin

Marrakech

This Riad is an oasis in the middle of the beautiful Marrakech medina. The tranquility, comfort and sheer beauty is hard to put into words. Beyond gorgous. Staff so kind and helpful. Just amazing.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

A Relaxing Hammam Experience: The Art of Moroccan Wellness

Morocco

The Hammam Oussama took us to was a life altering experience - so relaxing, so comfortable, so different. We were treated with the utmost patience and kindness and left feeling not only rejuvenated but elevated.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Marrakech Evening Food Tour: A Feast for All the Senses

Marrakesh

Mohammed provided us with an amazing tour of not only the finished dishes, but also how and where it is prepared.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

Mohammed did an amazing job of guiding us through town, answering our many questions and sharing his vast knowledge of the city, culture and history.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We were welcomed to and shown all around northern Thailand by our amazing guide Nuii and our driver Mr. Kai. Their preparedness, professionalism, and thoughtfulness made the trip exceptional! The van was clean, stocked with water and fresh fruit as snacks, and we expertly navigated the winding mountains between Chiang Rai, Pai, and Chiang Mai. The most memorable stops were the Kho Ku So bamboo bridge in Pai and the Chai Lai Orchid elephant sanctuary (with wonderful guide Tatu) in Chiang Mai! (The transportation to and from the elephant sanctuary from the Aksara Heritage hotel got messed up, which was the only stressful error / issue of the trip. Kien from Kim Kim, Nuii, and the lovely staff at the Aksara all tried to help us sort out the problem.)
We would highly recommend Nuii and Mr. Kai for your trip! They went above and beyond to ensure we were comfortable, cared for, and they were flexible to pivot the itinerary around our energy levels and changes in the weather. This was a truly an unforgettable trip made more special by the lovely and warm accompaniment of Nuii and Mr. Kai!

Tshepo was wonderful in helping us plan and keeping us updated on changes to the itinerary for our trip. The accommodations she chose were great, the Lebo tour of Soweto was also an amazing experience.
The people throughout our trip were very knowledgable and helpful, including:
Nokuthula - she was very kind and helpful in guiding us to the hotel and welcoming us after a long flight
Nadine - Our greeter at Kariega was very helpful and made us feel at home.
Osmond - Our ranger at the Kariega reserve, he was very personable, funny and extremely knowledgeable. We were excited and did 4 game rides with him.
The staff at Kariega was great as well and gave us a evening campfire barbecue meal which was tasty.
In Oceana, Max and Zed were great and helpful in answering all of our questions. They helped us arrange a short visit to Bathurst to see The Pineapple museum and Pig n Whistle bar. Luke was very knowledgeable and friendly.
FInally, our Soweto Tuk-Tuk tour guide Tami was kind-hearted and energetic and gave us a final tour of Soweto and took us to Mandela House.
All in all , it was a great first experience to South Africa - and has inspired us to consider future visits!

Hotel Reviews

Kariega River Lodge

Great Lodge, staff is kind and helpful. Osmond was a great ranger , knowledgeable and funny.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Osmond was personable , friendly and had a great sense of humor. He was also very knowledgeable

Cleanliness & Comfort

Oceana Beach and Wildlife Reserve

Wonderful resort, beautiful views of Indian Ocean

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

All the staff was kind and helpful. Max and Zed were in constant communication helping us plan out our day and activities.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Tuk-Tuk Tour

Johannesburg

Tami was a great host and driver, he explained to us the history of Soweto and had a great smile and sense of humor. It was a great pleasure to learn about Soweto from him.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to Croatia with KimKim was wonderful from start to finish, and working with Anna-Maria was a pleasure. Every detail of the trip, from transfers everywhere to the selection of hotels, made the trip easy and enjoyable for us. Our guides were all helpful and interesting, with special kudos to Ante in Dubrovnik, Antonio on Korcula, and Dario in Split. They were all knowledgeable and friendly and really helped us understand where we were both geographically and historically. When last we decided to explore a location new to us, with a language barrier but about which we wanted to know more, we booked a Viking River cruise. A KimKim tour offers all the benefits and conveniences of Viking, with the added advantages of choosing our own restaurants, smaller groups on tours, and not having to eat/socialize with the same people every day. And all the hotels offered more than the boat lodgings did. Next time we decide to go to parts unknown to us, we will definitely contact KimKim.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Kompas

Dubrovnik

Beautiful and comfortable. One cannot really find an upscale hotel in Dubrovnik itself, but this place in nearby Lapad Beach was worthwhile.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Korsal

Korčula

Lovely hotel. While the driveway to the hotel was very narrow, our guides could always find us. This was my favorite hotel of the trip.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beach Bay Hvar

Hvar

Beautiful place, with a small pebble beach right outside the door. Walkable to many things in Hvar.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Splendida Palace

Split

Lovely old and comfortable boutique hotel, with AMAZING breakfasts. We were taken aback at first by the lack of an elevator (or room was on the third floor), but the staff moved everything for us without being asked. The hotel is on some kind of historic register which prohibits renovations to the lovely old structure. The "plunge pool" in the garden was a real plus in the scorching weather we had. The staff her was exceptional in every way,

Authenticity & Character

Beautifully renovated historic hotel.

Location

Nice to be walking distance to the Palace.

Staff

The staff was warm and willing to help with anything and everything. Super friendly. I felt very well cared for.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

The best of Dubrovnik in a tuk tuk

Dubrovnik

Great overview of the city with a friendly and knowledgeable guide, Ante.

Quality of Experience

Transport

I had never traveled in a tuktuk before, and it can go where buses and cars cannot.

Sea kayaking Lokrum island

Dubrovnik

This was difficult for me. I hadn't kayaed in years, which made the activity hard for me. Part of the problem was that we arrived late for our group, even though we met out driver on time. Morning traffic in Dubrovnik is really terrible, and getting there late while our group was already in the water was embarrassing. I think you need to re-calibrate the travel time to the group meeting here.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Korčula snorkelling safari

Korčula

This full-day snorkeling and sailing adventure was my favor of all our excursions. We were alone with our terrific guide Antonio, who explained much about the history and the culture including a lot of cool stops. like one on the island of Badija, where we saw interesting historic sites and fed the small wild deer. We snorkeled and sailed, stopping occasionally to swim. Lunch at a seaside restaurant was excellent. This was a really great day, and because we were on the water mostly, the oppressive hear didn't matter. Antonio and his partner Penelope were welcoming. helpful, and totally charming to be sith.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tastes of Korčula island

Croatia

I loved the first part of this experience, about the honey and olive oil production. The host was truly informative and also hilarious. The lunch part was harder to enjoy. The people on the organic farm were interesting and the food was good, but the day was too terribly hot to fully enjoy an outdoor meal.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private tour of Split

Split

Another favorite activity, owing primarily to our incredible guide Darko. A native of Split and a historian, he knows SO MUCH about Split. We are both well educated in history, and Dark was able to pick this up early in the adventure and tailor his comments to our level of interest and experience. He is an engaging guide and a war, humorous person, all of which added up to a first-rate tour experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We walked from the lovely hotel.

Blue and Green Caves Speedboat Tour

Hvar

Another nice day on the water, this time with a charming family of 5 and two good guides. The Blue Cave is breathtaking. We never made it to the green cave, but the guides took us to another spot preferred by locals. Speed boats are cool--and so was the water!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Krka National Park with wine tasting

Croatia

Incredible waterfalls. Got crowded at the end. Wine tasting was also interesting and delicious. Croatia has excellent wines!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wonderful trip! Sara was an excellent communicator and planner and we found the itinerary to be interesting and fun, and I thought the price was fair, especially considering the fact that it included transportation, lodging and meals (*there was a daily budget per meal we did not know about, so ask your guide) across a vast area. We did see many jaguars- which is a thrill with Noor and Pedro Paulo from the UESO chalana. We saw the beautiful rocks and waterfalls of Chapada dos Guimaraes and learned about the flora and fauna from our guide, Yann. Yann also introduced us to "pizza pantaneira" which was probably some of my favorite food on the trip. *Pro tip: ask your guide to tell you when you will need your bathing suit- you can swim in some of the waterfalls, but some are only to look at.* It was of course, hot, but that is what was expected. We enjoyed swimming in the beautiful clear streams of Nobres. We did get to see anteaters, lobete (little foxlike animals), bats, rhea, lots of caiman and capybara. We had a good trip. You may want to clarify what to bring and when you are meeting, just to ensure no miscommunications for your trips. The service was good overall and people were kind.

Hotel Reviews

UeSo Pantanal Lodge

Very nice little lodge with resident blue macaw and capybara family as well as many green parrots. It seems to mainly cater to German speaking tourists, but they did have 2 guides that spoke English. Roxy at reception is very nice. The breakfast is plentiful and the serving staff from the kitchen also seem very pleasant. The wifi works and the price is reasonable. You will have to buy your water/drinks. They offer coffee and juice at breakfast, but not other times. They have tea at times. I bought postcards from them, and it seemed pretty reasonable, but they do not have stamps. The laundry service is good but be careful about humidity and rain. One thing I did not know prior to going is that although the Pantanal is swamp, all the non-water areas seem very dry and dusty. It looked smoggy coming into the Pantanal area because of the dust of the road and other motorists. We enjoyed the activities that were based from there: walking around the area, the lookouts they have built to look into the canopy, the jaguar tour, and paddling. Not high-octane, but doable for multiple ages and ability levels. The horseback riding was a little different from other rides I have done. I was really hoping to see more animals on it because of the decreased threat of being on a horse, but we did not see many.

Reino Encantado Pousada

Nobres - MT

This place is beautiful. I loved the wooden ceilings and architecture of the main area. We had our first cachaca here. They have burrowing owls everywhere and resident monkeys (variable visibility).

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cantos da Mata

Chapada dos Guimarães

We had a lovely time. Sandra is a very gracious hostess. We enjoyed breakfast and her beautiful garden as well as the coffee tree by our door.

Authenticity & Character

The plants she has chosen to plant on her property are so beautiful.

Location

I liked feeling like we were in the forest. I heard the Howler monkeys in the morning, which I thought was great.

Staff

They were very nice at breakfast. Sandra is very kind. She made us feel welcome and gave us ice when one of our group pulled a muscle on the hike.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Probably would have been a 5/5 if there had only been 2 people, but we squeezed 3 in and it was a little tight (less comfortable.)

Activity Reviews

Welcome to Nobres - tours

Mato Grosso Norte

This was an absolutely charming place to stay and base from. The water is so clear and beautiful. The ranch was pretty.

Quality of Experience

Food

Passionfruit mousse/ice cream was delicious! We enjoyed the different flavors.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discovering the Chapada dos Guimarães full day

Chapada dos Guimarães

Very nice hike, and our guide was flexible with our party having variable hiking tolerances.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to the Chapada dos Guimarães! First tour

Chapada dos Guimarães

Had a good first day with timely pick up. Ride was comfortable, and our guide, Yann was friendly.

Quality of Experience

Food

Plenty of meat and veggies. All you can eat.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to Lithuania was perfect. Everything was arranged perfectly and Moonika was able to really provide us with an experience in every city that was tailored so well to our preferences. Our transportation was always punctual and very friendly. Our tours were amazing. Virginija gave us an amazing history lesson while showing us all the sites in Old Town Vilnius that were absolutely beautiful and so full of history and meaning. Beatrice was so delightful during our beer tour of Vilnius. She has so much knowledge of the local beer scene and all the different breweries. She was an absolute delight. Jolanda gave as such a great history lesson about Trakia castle along with a delightful boat ride around the lake. The kibiniai were so tasty. The history of the Karaitis people who were invited to live in the town and practice their own language and religion was fascinating. The hill of crosses was so beautiful and Kestutis did a great job of giving us the best plan of viewing everything along with a great ride from Vilnius to Sauliai in his new car - gorgeous. Mindaugas in Klaipeda and in the Curonian spit was a font of knowledge and so interesting. Neringa rounded off the trip by giving us such an amazing look into the history and culture in Kaunas on an amazing walking tour for the ages. Truly, truly enjoyed everything and everything was a well oiled machine. All of our transportation was spot on!!

Being that this was my first trip to Brazil, I wasn't sure what to expect. But while all the sights were most gorgeous and fascinating, the most overwhelmingly and welcome aspect was the organization and work Sara did in the organization of all the parts, of which there were many. She planned this trip and all its myriad details so that I didn't have to think of anything - except, of course, the time changes. The guides always arrived to pick me up for a tour way before the scheduled time. They were always where they needed to be. They were kind, polite, and respectful but most of all knew English! Probably the best moment ever was being just about 10 feet away from a jaguar in the Pantanal. He/she acted as if we weren't even there in the boat following him/her. To this lover of all things feline, it was a most spectacular moment. We saw four different jaguars that day along with capybaras, monkeys, caimans and many, many birds there and on the Rio Negro in the Amazon. While I would definitely advocate for someone who loves to watch wildlife take this tour, I would also advocate their visitation to places like Rio, Salvador and Iguassu Falls. Thank you, Sara and the entire KimKim team for these good memories of the beautiful Brazil country.

Hotel Reviews

Bahiacafe Hotel

Salvador

This was the very best of the hotels for the trip. The staff was super friendly and helpful. The rooms were spotless and well-lit. Their bar offered the tastiest pina coladas! Located in the center of the action and at night (except for the holiday being celebrated at the time) it was very quiet and good for sleeping.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Amazon Turtle Lodge

Middle of the road lodge. Food was good and adequate and staff very friendly and accommodating. However, there wasn't any hot water and no place to wash clothes. This became very problematic when I began to get numerous bug bites and I think the bugs infiltrated my luggage because I was getting bitten even on the plane returning home. I couldn't wash the clothes because there was no hot water and the humidity kept them wet. We were touring when a huge rainstorm completely soaked us and the clothes never dried. This one wasn't the greatest experience and next time I would upgrade to better accommodations.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

UeSo Pantanal Lodge

Needs renovation; rather run down. The air conditioner was located right above the bed and the cold air blew on me all night long and made it hard to sleep. Food was pretty good and always enough to eat. The horses looked a little thin, but it might be because the "grass" doesn't seem to be anything but weeds and they need some more nutritious supplementation.

Authenticity & Character

What is authentic for that part of the world?

Location

I don't know whether it was a worse or better location than anywhere else. I've never been there. It took a while to get there.

Staff

They were very pleasant and caring.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Windsor Palace

Rio de Janeiro

Hotel was clean and comfortable with varying degrees of accommodation by hotel staff (mostly good).

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

A regular hotel, but I thought there should have been bottled water available that didn't cost so much.

Activity Reviews

Half-Day Tour – Brazilian Side of the Iguaçu Falls + Bird Park (Parque das Aves)

Foz do Iguaçu

Full-Day Argentinian Side of the Falls

Foz do Iguaçu

Tour guide was great!

Behind the scenes of the carnival

Rio de Janeiro

Lots of fun! We were able to try on some of the headpieces worn in the Carnaval and tried our legs at dancing the samba.

Day 3 at the Turtle Lodge in the Amazon rainforest

The Amazon

Somehow, I was being bitten up by bugs; 20-30 bites. They itched like crazy and there was nowhere to buy anything (finally got to a drugstore in Iguassu) I ran out of shampoo and was using soap in the cold shower. We didn't have any hot water which made it a problem because the bugs had somehow made a nest in my suitcase, infecting all the clothes. With no hot water and no way to wash the clothes free of whatever bugs they were and no way to dry the clothes even if I had had the means to wash them, I had to wait until I got home for some relief. While I wore long pants and long-sleeved shirt, they still got onto my skin.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Last day at Ueso Pantanal Lodge

North Pantanal

Day 1 at the Turtle Lodge in the Amazon rainforest

The Amazon

First day at the Ueso Pantanal Lodge

North Pantanal

Rio Green Tour: in the tropical urban forest and among imperial palms

Rio de Janeiro

Would have liked to spend a little more time there.

Santa Teresa & Rio Antigo

Rio de Janeiro

All the must-sees of Rio in one day: Christ, Sugarloaf, Staircase and city tour

Rio de Janeiro

Jaguar full day safari - from Ueso Pantanal

North Pantanal