Kimkim Trip Reviews

We arrived at this hotel before check-in, and the staff were able to hold our luggage for us until check-in time. The hotel staff were very hospitable and helpful. There was a Lawson convenience store connected straight to the hotel, which was, of course, convenient. This hotel is also conveniently located about a 5 minute walk from Hiroshima station, which is huge and has a nice shopping mall attached to it. The amenities the hotel offered were nice. The breakfast was a good combination of Japanese-style and western-style. They had many local delicacies from Hiroshima, including rice, which was very good. We had a connecting room for our last few nights in Japan, in Hiroshima, which was nice, except for the fact that the double-sized bed took up most of the room, with not much room to move around the bed. The connecting room had two twin-sized beds, and ample room to move around. The bathroom was very small and had an actual bathtub with a showerhead included.

The hotel staff was wonderful, and the amenities were great. This hotel is conveniently located very close to Dotonbori, Namba station, and Shinsaibashi Station. It was very easy to walk around Osaka near Namba to many different shopping areas, shrines, and restaurants. We appreciated the rainfall showerhead on the ceiling of the shower. The daily snack and drinks available were a good supplement after returning to the hotel from our day's adventures. The breakfast had good food, especially the takoyaki (Octopus balls), but we would've liked to see more Japanese style breakfast than the western-style that was the majority of what was offered. The chicken karaage was also delicious and the western-style foods were tasty, but left something to be desired. We felt frustrated with only having two washing/drying machines for the whole hotel and had to try to time out doing our laundry perfectly to make sure we had access to the limited machines.

We arrived at the Richmond hotel mid-afternoon before check-in time, and the staff was still able to accommodate us and check us in early, as we had a scheduled reservation to get to soon after. Our hotel room was comfortable with the separated toilet from a Japanese style shower/bath. What made Richmond stand out was their social hour in the evening during which time they provided snacks and alcoholic and soft drinks. Their snacks were delicious and a nice reprieve after a long day of exploring. Their breakfast was also versatile, with a great mix of Japanese style and western-style breakfasts. Their Japanese curry, especially was so good and having made-to-order shabu-shabu was a great start to ours days. They also had make-your-own sushi bowls, which we took advantage of every day. They offered wonderful amenities, including two floors of Laundry available with a television channel that showed available washer/dryer machines. They also offered a tatami-mat coaster workshop, which my mother was able to take advantage of. It was conveniently located close to Kyoto station, which has many different restaurants available, depending on what kind of mood you're in for food, and of course access to the subway station.

We didn't know what to expect when we checked into our hotel in Hakone after a long day of adventuring through the mountains, but our expectations were exceeded. The staff were patient and gracious. The hotel room was beautiful and the private bathtub on the balcony was such a wonderful retreat after a long day, despite the mosquitoes outside. My mom took advantage of the private bath on another level and enjoyed it. The free alcoholic and soft drinks offered were next level, and it was a great opportunity to try their plum wine, local beer, sparkling wine, and sake, as well as the delicious, different flavors of sodas and soft drinks. They also offered free coffee, tea, and matcha lattes; all of which were delicious. The hotel is also about a 15 minute walk to the Hakone Yumoto Station. Yukata was provided for all guests, and guests were encouraged to wear them and slippers around the hotel, however, for taller or plus-sized people, and with bigger feet, the fit might be tight. We had a combo package that included dinner and breakfast, both of which were incredible multi-course and beautiful Japanese-style meals. For dinner, it was a set-menu 7 course meal with appetizers, sushi, sashima, shabu-shabu, and other local delicacies, all of which were intriguing, beautifully displayed, and delicious. The menu was in Japanese on beautiful washi paper with hand calligraphy. Breakfast was fairly similar in grandiosity with another set-menu and beautifully displayed dishes and a delicious meal. If you are adventurous and enjoy Japanese food, this is a perfect stay.

This hotel was conveniently located, right near Asakusa shopping, Sensoji Temple, and the subway stations. Their staff were so patient and helpful, and allowed us to check in very early in the morning when we arrived in Japan. Their breakfast buffet was the perfect combination of Japanese and Western-style foods, and every day it was so delicious. The made-to-order onigiri and egg dishes were wonderful. The hotel room was nice, including the separated toilet and the Japanese-style shower. The beds and pillows were very comfortable.

Our tour-guide met us in the morning at our hotel and took us on a bus to the Peace Memorial Park. We started at the Peace Museum, where we watched a half-hour long film, documenting the experiences and voices of survivors of the nuclear bomb in Hiroshima. The film and museum were difficult to witness, however, we think everyone visiting Japan should have a human obligation to visit Hiroshima and/or Nagasaki to understand the scale and aftermath of the nuclear destruction. The museum and Peace Park were thoughtfully designed and shared the real human impacts as a reminder of the horror of war. Going through the museum does not require a tour guide, and is likely a better experience to go through at your own pace. Later in the afternoon, we took a 45-minute ferry from the riverbank to Miyajima Island with our tour-guide. There, we visited the 50 foot tall Torii Gate, guiding travelers from the sea to the magnificent Istukushima shrine behind it. From the shrine, we climbed the mountain, visiting the Daisho-in Temple, a beautiful Tibetan temple, admiring the sea and mountains around and below. We explored several Buddhist temples up the mountain and one space where we were able to visit 88 different Buddhist Temples from all over Asia by just standing on a tile from each. The small town on the island had several different shops and restaurants. We were able to try matcha ice cream, coffee ice cream, honey-lemon ice, and tornado potatoes, all of which were fun and delicious.

Our travel agent Sandy, did a fantastic job giving us directions to the place, as it was not apparent from the street or GPS, but we were able to find it because of her support. Kasa-San and Mari-San (not completely sure of her name) were fantastic instructors and walked us through every step. They had already prepared the workstations before we arrived. They had started the fish dashi and chicken dashi, but we were given clear instructions in English for every other step. We made our own noodles from scratch and were even shown a special technique for kneading the dough. The instructors were fun, funny, and informative about the ingredients we used. They took their time explaining each step to us and also provided printed recipes for each part. The gyoza we made was a delicious appetizer and the ramen was incredible. We will definitely be bringing these tips and tricks to our cooking at home.

When we arrived for the tea ceremony, we were taken to dressing rooms, where employees allowed us to choose our own kimono, obi, and floral ornaments for our (the ladies) hair. The employees helped us get dressed, and braided/styled our (the ladies') hair. My husband was also dressed in kimono, as well. We were then given opportunities to take pictures using their gardens as beautiful backgrounds. We were then led into the tea room with fellow tourists. Our tea ceremony host, Dodo-San was patient, kind, and incredibly hospitable, as she showed us and explained the tea ceremony and making matcha tea, which we were all able to do ourselves. She walked us through all of the customs, and encouraged us to be in the moment with her and our fellow guests. The sweets that were provided were also delicious, especially the red bean paste sweet, and the tea was delicious, as well. The whole tea ceremony experience was an incredible glimpse into traditional Japanese culture. The Ninja museum was interesting, well-constructed, and informative. We would have preferred to walk through at our own pace without a guide, albeit, some information they gave was useful. The shuriken (ninja star) throwing was fun.

We took at least 5 forms of transportation to and through Hakone, moving between modes seamlessly. The train, rail-car, cable car, gondola, pirate ship, and bus were each so easy to use, and provided beautiful and unique views. Our guide was fantastic in showing us and explaining the sulfur springs and its surroundings, as well as sharing with us the Black hot spring eggs, and the summit of Mt. Fuji. The open-air museum was so cool, however, we would've liked to have spent more time there without having to rush. We weren't expecting to go on a pirate ship across Lake Ashi, but it was such a beautiful ride with an interesting background into the Dragon deities that are said to reside there. Gorgeous landscapes, wonderful art, and interesting history and explanations. The restaurant at the top of Mt. Hakone had absolutely delicious Japanese curry that we're still dreaming of.

Without a tour guide explaining the imperial family and the grounds, this would have been a lot less interesting. The garden is beautiful, but the historical sight leaves something to be desired. As the royal family resides in the actual palace, it is not accessible to tourists at all; only the gardens and grounds can be visited. There is a lot of walking through the grounds, including several steep hills. The view of the outside of the concert hall is beautiful and the smaller buildings, as well as the history of building the walls is very interesting.

Our tour guide Taka-San, messaged me several days before we were scheduled to meet with him, asking about our preferences and needs, and if he could reserve lunch for all of us at a local sushi restaurant. He was wonderful at communicating before, during, and after our day tour around Tokyo. He met with us at our hotel that morning, showed us how to use the subway station, answered all of our questions throughout the day, and imparted his extensive knowledge upon us. He took us to Meiji-Jingu Shrine, explained the Torii gates to us, the cultural practices, and taught us about the differences between Shinto and Buddhist shrines in Japan. Then, he took us to Tsukiji outer fish market, and was able to talk with local vendors on our behalf, allowing us to buy and experience delicious samples of wagyu beef and grapes. We also had lunch at a delicious sushi bar.

The restaurants and food choices were great, but there was too much food! We would have enjoyed sampling food more than full meals at each stop. We were so full that by the 3 stop that we could hardly finish!!!

I asked to change rooms so that we could have a view of the water. Our room was small, but the view was exceptional. They had two chairs in front of the window that were quite comfortable to sit and look out. The location on the water was what made this hotel special to me.

We were upgraded to a very large room, which was nice. The buffet was great. The staff was quite helpful.

The location is good. The room was clean and neat and adequate in size. The buffet breakfast at all of our hotels were excellent, but this one was especially good.

Initially, we were placed in a suite room in the historic section. We had to change rooms because that room had a steep wooden staircase from the bathroom up to the sleeping area. I would not recommend that room. The à la carte restaurant was excellent and we enjoyed two lovely meals there. Salmon was cooked excellently and the chicken in Norway is so tender.

Nice but crowded

Seeing the fjords from the water is quite different than from our land. It is more dramatic. The guide on the boat was quite informative and great to listen to.

We did the Sugar top hike. It was quite difficult, but I felt worth it to see the 360° views at the top.

it was a lovely day, but it was not a unique Norway experience.

we walked up instead of taking the Funicular up. We did write it down. The restaurant at the top was very nice. We did eat dinner there at sunset which was lovely.

Bergan is not on a fjord. It is one of the larger cities in Norway so I guess seeing it is part of the experience of Norway. I did not find it particularly interesting. We did eat dinner at the restaurant at the top of the funicular at sunset. It was lovely.

Loved the rib Safari trip.

It was a very hazy day, but still enjoyable to see the view

I did not enjoy the city of Flam. Alesund is a much prettier area without the cruise ship. We also took a very short hike and I would’ve enjoyed a longer one. Fjord Safari is an excellent organization and their guides are informative and fun.

I don’t believe we used this information. We had Reed on our own about Oslo and chose to do some things

Parlamento Boutique Hotel is in a good location. It was a little difficult to find the entrance but we found our way. The walls of the hotel are a little thin. We could hear water running between the walls. We figured someone had showered and the water was running down the pipes. The room was roomy and very clean. They even had a small refrigerator in the room which was really nice. They serve breakfast every day but we did not eat at the hotelt because one day our tour started early & there was a strike happening that day so we had to leave early. And the other day we wanted to get to the Trevi Fountain early. Andreo, worked the front desk for like 2 days straight, was a wonderful person. If we needed anything he took care of it!! He can help you find a restaurant, convenience store, liquor store. Anything you need. Very nice and happy to help the guests staying at the Parlamento. I don't know how much they charged for the room because our travel agent booked our rooms, train tickets & tours. I should ask for an itemized bill LOL.

This is a very unique hotel. The room we had was small but it had a queen sized bed and the room had everything we needed. One is not going to spend that much time in your hotel room. The patio where they serve a delicious breakfast and has a beautiful view of the ocean was incredible. They offer several choices for breakfast, coffee and Prosecco. The patio is a lovely place to enjoy your happy hour. They also have a hot tub for the use for guests. You will enjoy this after all the walking you will do. It is also a small hotel, maybe 14 rooms but they offer all you will need. We enjoyed being guests at La Torretta!

A bit out of the way, but otherwise just fine.

Our original room had absolutely no view, so we asked if there was a room available with a view. The staff kindly changed our room to the front of the hotel and we then had a delightful view of Bergen! It was lovely to see all of the activities below.

Lovely ride on the ferry and a beautiful walk to the waterfall. That’s about all we had time for.

Driver was friendly and prompt.

Not our cup of tea.

It was raining and there was no view. The ride was fun. Once up, once down!

The young lady who was our guide was friendly and knowledgeable. Food was good.

It was raining so we had no view. What can you say; it was Norway!

Great rib boat ride! Beautiful scenery, knowledgeable and friendly guide. Cheese tasting with the history was great!

Beautiful hike! Well worth the 500 + stone steps if you aren’t in a hurry.

Food was delicious and interesting. Service was friendly and pleasant.

Since we were not interested in a city experience, an afternoon was long enough for us to see the sights.

This was a lovely last night in Dublin. I was actually coming down with something and the comfort and luxury of the castle was a relief and relaxing. We normally try to eat away from our hotels, but enjoyed the Knight's Bar. Very cool vibe.

Liked the location in the center of Killarney - breakfasts were fantastic!

Liked the location near city center, but having to take two elevators and walk to our room was a little inconvenient. It was a little on the corporate side for my taste.

Great location in Dublin city center. Comfortable and top notch!

Our driver was highly entertaining - we thought this might be a little too hokey touristy, but we learned a lot from the driver and enjoyed the entire experience. Beautiful day!

It rained like crazy but we enjoyed biking on the island despite the weather. Beautiful experience

Lime the room design, otherwise just ok. Staff friendliness varied. Also no a/c despite being a newer build. Had to sleep with window/door open. Would go for a higher floor, a room ending in 02 or 03 on Matterhorn side Has saunas and small outdoor whirlpool. But not open until 4 pm..d then only until 9. Breakfast here was the least elaborate.

At first booked a Spa room. Huge. Modern decor. But no a/c. Also a long walk from main part of hotel. Then there was loud music from next door. They accommodated a room switch to first floor front of main building. Much better. Though older, had central a/c and a view across park to mountains.

Had great views, room with a whirlpool on balcony. Has own funicular as also on hill.

Beautiful view, very large room. Best we stayed in during trip. Only issues are that it's up a big hill from town so going out, coming back takes time. Car back up at least. The one star Michelin restaurant there was bad. They emphasized things like table side prep of beef tartare (which we didn't order), slat baked fish for two....portions small and nothing tasted especially good. One fish dish was overwhelmingly funky.

Good location. We stayed there first and last night. Had 508 first night. Small "family" room meaning a bed and pull out couch. 408 last night, much bigger.

Some very nice views going up and back. Unfortunately, again, we had a cloudy, rainy day, obscuring views at top

Bad weather made the rides up and down the best part as there was no view at all from top. Very touristy at top--exit through the gift shop type place. Went to Lauterbrunnen on way down. Could be cute but the one main street is mostly tourist-oriented shops

Very crowded. Hard to get a place to sit. 2hrs+ with maybe 10 stops between Interlaken and Thun. Thun not that special. Good view from castle/church.

We didn't get to Murren. Took 2 hrs to get to Thun (skip), not enoufh time left to then also go to Murren. Would take cable car from midway up Jungfrau if you want to go

Mountain itself would be 4 starts. Getting there takes a 1+ hr ferry ride which was very crowded.

Essential if using train system. Can be confusing as for some things like the panoramic trains to Gornegrat and Jungfrauloch you need a separate tickets and another for a reservation. One had assigned seats, one didn't. Trains were fairly crowded. Always able to get a seat but not always easy. This pass also works for ferry boats.

great staff and attention to detail!

the tour itself in the air is very long and was a bit too much with all the flying back and forth for each side

natural, whole foods served. large apartment with outdoor terrace. Quiet and restful. Had to depart early one morning and the staff made sure we had breakfast to take with us.

walk to everything--water taxi stand close by.

just as described, well located. Amazing breakfast and helpful staff.

Fun and challenging -- even for experienced kayakers. equipment was well maintained. Loved the authentic home-baked travel snacks and the beverages at the stops. Nothing like seeing an island from the water and the beach!

A highlight of our vacation. Adored the cozy dinner at the Konoba--excellent food and choice of location near the water.

Learned a lot. really experienced the history of the island. Gentle walking and safe.

Tin was a helpful and enjoyable guide. If you like to see more--take this bike tour. Much culture and scenery. I injured my elbow while biking, my fault; he took care of everything. Quite safe and enjoyable.

A short great historical walk to St. James and for a zillion options for food. Give the historical hotel, we figured out how to use the elevators after a day of being the maze!

We were right there for near waterfront views and fun.

Rooms were great and the location with walks in either direction were a delight.

Transport contractors dropped the ball 3 times and we alternatively took taxis that kimkim reimbursed us for. May had been better just to use taxis in the first place.

My favorite little town by far. Brightly lit streets (we went for a walk late at night and had no concerns). Quaint little fishing village. Everyone we met was super friendly. I had a smile on my face the whole time I was here - and the hotel personifies this town. Wonderful spa. Great food. Nice rooms. They seemed to pamper us for our short stay. If I go back to Iceland, I just may spend my whole time here!

Guide was educational and lots of fun. Amazing underground formations.

RATS - due to 10 foot waves, this was cancelled. Only flaw (beyond anyone's control) of out whoel trip. Did get a prompt refund.

LOVED this hotel! We LOVE LOVE LOVED the breakfasts and dinner we had here- we are actually still talking about the food daily and we have been home for a few weeks. This hotel is outside of the 5 villages of Cinque Terre but let me tell you its OK. This is kind of what makes it better and more relaxing. It is quiet there with beautiful views. There is a quick walk you can make to the train station- it is kind of like a nature trail, so might not be the best options for strollers or luggage. They also have a shuttle that is easy to take. Then its a quick few minute train ride to the other towns you will want to visit. We enjoyed having a drink while relaxing at the pool. The service was great. Again - the food was AMAZING!

Updated rooms. Great location. Nice breakfast options.

Great service. Quaint little hotel, central to so much. Delicious breakfast. Private rooftop deck in the penthouse was amazing and one of my favorite parts of the trip.

LOVED this! We had spent a few days hiking and walking through Cinque Terre. Seeing it all from the boat tour was extra special. We have the most amazing pictures from this trip. We enjoyed the wine and food on the boat. And even took a swim!

We LOVED this tour. It was great to see different wineries. We learned so much, drank amazing wine, enjoyed a delicious lunch and even met some new friends on our tour.

Our guide was great! He was entertaining, informative and fun to spend the day with.

There are so many tour companies when you visit the Vatican. I really liked how our tour guide pulled us off to the side when she gave us information instead of some who kind of rudely stop in the center of everything. This was one of my most favorite parts of our trip!

We stayed here for about 8 days. They allowed us to get into our rorbu as soon as it was ready even if was before check in. I really appreciated this after so much travel. The help at the office was exceptional!!! We absolutely loved Alexandra and Alejandro who we were consulting for everything. They truly love their jobs. We couldn't thank them enough. They helped make our time in Norway so special!!!

Our room was clean and the view across the harbor was beautiful. The staff were super nice and helpful. The breakfast was awesome!

This based solely on my husband's view as he is a fisherman. I was sea sick. Lol. Too short of a trip for him.

Our guide, photographer Geir Notnes, took every measure to make sure our group saw the Northern Lights. He helped us with our cameras and/phone cameras to take the best pics as possible. We stopped in three or four different locations to see this amazing phenomenon in different landscapes. He also gave us a lesson on why is happens and how to recognize them.

It was a long day but so worth it! It was just the right fitness level for everyone in our group. It was an experience I'll never forget. Our guide was fit, knowledgeable, and took our safety as top priority. We felt a little rushed on the Glacier but still managed to get some great pics.

It was a great way to start the trip. We wanted to familiarize ourselves with Bergen and some of its history before walking around ourselves. Eirik who was our guide was fun and so knowledgeable on everything about Bergen. We loved him!

Beautiful location and the beach is amazing. Need to be aware of the additional taxes and charges levied by the government. This was unexpected and took us by surprise when we were checking out.

Hard to beat the proximity the airport - very walkable to terminal 1 - though a free shuttle to the airport is provided.

Great location in terms access to the beach. A bit of a walk (not quite 2k) into town, but the walk is beautiful along the beach walkway. A large facility built to accommodate large touring groups and the summer throngs of visitors to the Algarve. The hotel lacks the cozy feel that boutique hotels have - but the pool and beach access are hard to beat. Food was so-so - especially the buffet-style dining built to for the masses. The smaller two non-buffet restaurants were better both for food and ambience.

Located in the university area - very walkable to many of the sites of Porto. Highly recommend for this alone, but all other aspects of this hotel were excellent.

Great location in all respects - sites, restaurants, guides and other supporting providers. Many are easily walked to while others are just a short ride. Staff was very friendly and helpful - well-versed in English! (Thank you!)

We ended up not doing this excursion, but Jaoa did give us an abbreviated driving tour of Lisbon! Thank you Jaoa!

A short excursion that is well worth the trip. The cliffs and caves were gorgeous from a distance and from within!

A must-do for anyone visiting Portugal. Beautiful valley, great port wine and meet/visit wonderful places and people along the way.

Eat very lightly for this food tour - plenty of food and beverage along the way. Be prepared to walk a bit, but not excessive as a fair portion of the tour is at one market.

The #1 best thing about this trip was our guide. Thoughtful, informative, flexible to our needs, fluent in English and friendly.

Our stay at Hotel Jeanne D’Arc Le Marais was fantastic. The hotel is in a prime location – close to everything, including metro stations, making it super easy to get around Paris. There are plenty of lovely restaurants and cafés nearby, adding to the charm of the area. We stayed in a family room, which was spacious, clean, and very comfortable. The staff were friendly and welcoming, making us feel right at home. It was the perfect base for exploring the city!