Kimkim Trip Reviews

My 13 year old granddaughter and I returned 2 days ago from a once in a lifetime trip that Vicky orchestrated for us in Australia. We started our trip in Sydney, then Cairns and finished in Melbourne. Each of our destinations were unique and magical in their own way. In Sydney we toured the Opera House, enjoyed a wonderful tour of the Darling Harbor area and finished with an outstanding tour in the Blue Mountains with Kat through Anderson Tours. Kat was truly amazing - she was full of information and history and told us entertaining stories and facts all day long - she was truly awesome. We then proceeded to Cairns where we did a tour in the Kuranda, visited the Great Barrier Reef and had a wonderful Daintree and Cape Tribulation tour, even a swim in the Mossman River! Our last leg was the fascinating city of Melbourne where we had a superb Yarra Valley Local Produce tour with Bree from Go West tours - another fabulous guide with lots of information and made each person feel very special. The next day we went to Phillip Island and saw the Penguin Parade - it makes for a long and late day but was so worth it when the Penguins came flocking in from the sea! Our last day was a walking tour in the Laneways of Melbourne - so interesting to see the local art and eateries in the downtown alleys of Melbourne. We had a limited amount of time for this trip and Vicky maximized our experience - she listened and orchestrated everything that we wanted to see and accomplish in the timeframe that we had. Vicky had all of our private airport transfers, domestic flights, hotels and tours lined up perfectly with walking directions to meet our tours and restaurant suggestions. She checked in on us regularly during the trip as well to make sure everything was going as expected. We did have a fabulous dinner on our last night in Melbourne at the Rare Steakhouse Midtown where we dined on a Kangaroo skewer, wonderful filet mignon and creme brûlée! This was a truly special experience for my granddaughter and me. I can't recommend both Australia and Vicky's travel services highly enough!

Hotel Reviews

Rydges Melbourne Hotel

Melbourne

This hotel was in a great location for navigating Melbourne. The staff were awesome and very helpful The breakfast was good but could use a bit more variety. I did upgrade to a larger room at this hotel. I would definitely stay here again.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Crystalbrook Riley

Cairns

This hotel is in an excellent location for navigating tours and walking in Cairns. The breakfast was great and the staff was friendly and helpful. I would upgrade my room the next time I stayed here - fairly small, overlooking rooftops - would have been nicer to have a slightly larger room with a view of the lovely pool area.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Novotel Sydney on Darling Harbour

Pyrmont

Nice hotel in good area for navigating tour and ferry's. The breakfast was excellent.

Location

Staff

The front desk people were very helpful and accommodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Laneways of Melbourne

Melbourne

I wasn't sure what this tour actually entailed but am very happy we did it - it's all about the art and eateries that are in the alley ways of Melbourne - very interesting.

Phillip Island Penguin Parade Small Group Eco Tour

Melbourne

It is a very long and late day and worth it to see the Penguin Parade - wonderful.

Yarra Valley Grazing Tour

Melbourne

The Yarra Valley is incredibly beautiful and interesting. Loved this tour with Bree of Go West Tours - it was inclusive of wine, coffee, cheese, gin distillery and a chocolate factory!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Premium Daintree & Cape Tribulation Day Tour

Australia

Very interesting tour and a great experience to see the crocodiles that live on the Daintree River banks. The rainforest is an amazing place.

Sunlover Reef Cruises Cairns Great Barrier Reef Experience (departs Cairns)

Australia

The Great Barrier Reef is always amazing. Although we were not seasick getting there, may people did - highly recommend taking Ginger pills before and during this trip. I also recommend taking the private snorkeling tour that they have available - great opportunity to see and learn more than if you snorkel on your own.

Classic Kuranda

Cairns

This was a good tour and we are happy we did it.

Blue Mountains All-Inclusive Small Group Day Tour

Sydney

Kat with Anderson Tours was amazing - fun, entertaining and full of information about everything that we saw and visited! Highly recommend this tour.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Panoramic Sydney Sights - Half Day Tour

Sydney

Good tour and information about the history of Sydney and the neighborhoods. We enjoyed Karyn and the information that she shared with us.

Sydney Opera House Tour

Sydney

This is a good and comprehensive tour of the Opera House.

Trip originally planned by Anna and executed to perfection by Yuqqa and Laura. Easy WhatsApp communication and all members of the team very helpful. Trip organisation was brilliant. Given WhatsApp contact of drivers and tour operators which made it a streamlined experience.

Joao did an amazing job planning our two week adventure and was very patient and accommodating of all our requests and revisions. While we were sad not to meet him in person, he was great about checking in with us throughout our trip.
Highlights in Lisbon were Casa Balthazar, dinner with locals, cooking class and shopping the open air market on Avenida da Liberdade.
Highlights in Porto were dinner at Cantinha de Avillez, the food tour and gelato! Unfortunately we didn't have the intel that we needed to purchase tickets to the Lello bookstore way in advance, and Cafe Magnifico had too long a line to wait.
We had high expectations for Nazare and Obidos, and sadly, because of the number of tourists and a Renaissance Fair, respectively, these two stops were the most disappointing of the trip.
Highlights in Monsaraz were the beautiful Montimerso Skyscape (though we were there when the famed restaurant was closed) and the cork tour. The olive oil tour was good, but not exceptional because the oil wasn't being produced at that time, and the ceramics class was good but frustrating, for we couldn't take home our creations.
The Algarve highlight was by far the sailing excursion with Skipper Rob and spending time in Lagos. The Aldeia de Pedralva is great for a family with children, but not super conducive for a couple looking for privacy and quiet.
We visited a friend in Setubal and getting there by ferry was an awesome suggestion. The 34 Guest House was lovely.

We learned some important things to consider when planning our next trip:
1. We were interested in learning about the Portuguese culture overall, but many of the recommended stops and sights centered on visiting castles, palaces, monasteries, convents and fortresses. While we understand that they are deeply rooted in the history of the country, we completely tired of them mid-trip. We found out during our ceramics class, for example, that that part of the country is famous for making pottery, with many, many pottery shops. We would have loved to explore those, but found out about them too late.
2. When renting a car, we need to request a mid-size vehicle since my husband is very tall and could barely fold himself in and out of the Kia Stonic.
Overall, we had an amazing adventure and certainly plan to use Kim Kim again in the future.

Hotel Reviews

34 Guesthouse Setúbal

Setúbal

Great hotel with very accommodating staff. Parking was difficult.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Aldeia da Pedralva - Slow Village

Vila do Bispo

This was an interesting choice for a couple, as this village is more geared to families with children that stay up late and are very loud. There is no privacy - the windows need to stay open for air circulation (no AC) but the windows, including in the bedroom, are at eye level, so passers by can look straight into the bedroom and living area! The restaurants in the village are good, but breakfast was not - it was cold and they did not replenish the food during serving hours, so we were frequently left with very few choices.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our room was never cleaned during our stay and there is a severe lack of lighting.

Montimerso SkyScape

Monsaraz​

Beautiful location and accommodations. We would have loved to try their famed restaurant, but sadly it was closed during our stay. Good breakfast!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pousada Castelo de Óbidos

Óbidos

Dark, dingy room with musty, mildew smell and a terrible, cold breakfast. Accessibility and parking were very difficult, especially in the middle of a Renaissance Fair.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Tomas and Pedro went above and beyond. If it weren't for them, we wouldn't have ended up staying there.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Maintenance, updating and a more comfortable bed. Serve pancakes and waffles hot, rather than ice cold.

Torel Palace Porto

Porto

Over the top hotel in a great location with a good breakfast. Our room had some maintenance issues: broken lamp and towel bar and electrical sockets falling off the wall in the bathroom. Surprisingly they updated us to a room with jacuzzi on the balcony, which we definitely took advantage of, but could not figure out how to drain

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Thomar Boutique Hotel

Tomar

Great hotel and location. Loved the free parking and the roof deck.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa Balthazar

Lisbon

Fantastic hotel and the most delicious breakfast of the trip. Concierge Ruth went above and beyond and was amazing.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Half Day Sailing Tour

Portugal

Skipper Rob and first mate Anatoli were incredible! They made this trip an absolute pleasure, and even served us tapas! A true highlight of our two week vacation.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Gorgeous, beautifully maintained boat!

Pottery Workshop

Portugal

This was a fun activity with an awesome instructor, but we couldn't take home our creations.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Olive Oil Tasting

Monsaraz

We learned a lot about olive oil and had even more fun tasting it! Unfortunately they weren't producing the oil when we visited.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cork Farm Visit

Portugal

We learned so much about this local resource and it was super interesting to visit and learn about the forest and estate.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

He was very knowledgeable but a bit pompous.

Transport

Food Tour - OPTIONAL

Porto

Loved beginning at the market and having the opportunity to walk the city and sample such a great variety of food typical to the region. Ricardo was exceptional about his knowledge of the region and the food/wine. Very highly recommend!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Dinner With Locals

Portugal

Sofia and her husband Carlos welcomed us into their home with warmth and grace and served us a deliciously authentic meal, from appetizers to dessert with wine pairings throughout. We had a wonderful meal with awesome people who we can now call friends!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Market Visit & Cooking Class

Lisbon

A great way to learn about the local cuisine and meet others!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The chef ended up being great, but he started off surly and nasty

Kristina was fantastic to work with! We bounced ideas and thoughts aback and forth and she came back with an itinerary that met 100% of our expectations…. Even more importantly, it provided us an amazing experience during our trip. Her suggestions for activities were outstanding and provided us alternatives to work around weather or time of day. Her app recommendations for EV network, parking, etc etc. made the trip seamless. Jacob supported with all of the bookings and prearranged activities - hotels were incredible, the activities were built around missing the “cruise ship crowds”, and as I mentioned earlier - proved to be seamless in execution during our trip. We worked with them to stay 2 nights in each hotel/location which was perfect for blending hiking, activities, and relaxation. The room selection/class was top notch.

Overall - first time user of Kimkim… didn’t disappoint and will certainly use them for future trips!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Brosundet

Ålesund

Old whse converted to boutique family owned hotel…. AAA+++. Rooms were comfortable & well appointed. The staff was incredibly friendly, helpful, and there to meet any need or question. Great location to explore Alesund

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right on canal, easy walking to all the attractions, activities, restaurants

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Alexandra

Gorgeous facility, restaurant was excellent, views were stunning - highly recommended upgrading to the deluxe 7 rooms (a little extra cost, but worth every penny)

Authenticity & Character

Location

Views of the fjord and valley were incredible

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clarion Hotel Admiral

Bergen

Stately hotel right on the harbor across from Bryggen. Bed was amazingly comfortable, service was great. Well positioned to hit all that Bergen has to offer

Authenticity & Character

Location

Directly across from Bryggen

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Flåm Railway & Cycling Adventure

Norway

It was amazing … what topped it off was there was not a cruise ship in Flam when we did the train, hike, & bike

Quality of Experience

Views, quality of bikes,

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Limited interaction with people… pretty much on your on pace and pleasure. The bike pick up was easy and efficient.

Transport

Our Summer trip to Costa Rica in 2025 was truly amazing. I took my two adult kids as a celebration for them graduating high school and moving on to the next chapters in their lives. We made amazing memories and had 10 days of bonding time. Holden, Wilman, Nancy and the whole KimKim and Serendipity Adventures team were helpful from start to finish...beginning with the first day I started planning this trip a full year ago. Their attention to detail, patience with my endless questions and quick responses put my mind at ease and made planning and ultimately enjoying the trip totally seamless. Once in Costa Rica, any questions or needs we had were met promptly. Communication while there was a breeze. We even ended up adding some last minute excursions and they did all the leg work and set everything up. Everything we did was so fun!!! We visited La Fotuna/Arenal, Tamarindo and Manuel Antonio. Each place we equally amazing with a totally different experience

Hotel Reviews

The Falls at Manuel Antonio

Manuel Antonio

We liked this place. We stayed in the "apartment" and it was nice to have so much extra room and two full bathrooms. The only thing we missed about this room was having a patio where we could sit and enjoy the beautiful grounds and listen to the rain. We did see a group of squirrel monkeys out our window one morning though! The food at the Medusa restaurant is AMAZING! We loved the breakfast (free) and ate lunch and dinner there several times. The staff went above and beyond, everyone is so friendly and helpful. Finally, the location is good. Walking distance to a couple close restaurants and a quick bus or shuttle ride to the beach, Manuel Antonio park or in to town in Quepos.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Luna Llena

Tamarindo

This was a quirky place. We didn't hate it but we didn't love it. Pros: The bungalows were cute and funky and clean, and it was nice to have a full kitchen. And the extra space was for nice for our family. The complimentary breakfast was good and staff was very friendly. Also, you can't beat the location...a quick, easy walk to the fun town of Tamarindo and the main beach. Cons: Pool is kinda dirty and the hot tub isn't functioning. Also, the appearance of a swim up bar was a sad tease...as there is no poolside service at all, and the 'bar' is non-functioning. The worst part was the water pressure in the room. This was a strange one...it was truly hit or miss if any water would come out of the faucet at any given time. There were times the pressure was great, and other times literally nothing came out and we couldn't shower, wash our hands or flush the toilet. Every time we asked about it we got a different answer about what the issue was. A couple times in the 3 nights we were there, we had to use the pool to get clean.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

This was our favorite hotel of the trip. Everything was really amazing. Top notch staff and service, gorgeous grounds, a couple great restaurant options, two large pools with swim up bar and SEVERAL private smaller hot spring tubs. Quick taxi ride in to town for shopping and other restaurant options and close to lots of great excursions.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Canopy Zipline Tour

Costa Rica

This was super fun! Not real challenging but a fun adventure. Loved propelling down the little waterfall, and we even saw a sloth! Staff is super friendly too!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Catamaran Sailing Adventure with Barbecue

Costa Rica

This was a favorite activity of the whole trip. Everything from the staff, the drinks, the food, the VIEWS! and just the whole vibe.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Hanging Bridges & La Fortuna Waterfall Guided Hikes

Arenal/La Fortuna

This was REALLY a cool experience. We enjoyed every minute. The lush rain forest is breathtaking and filled with wildlife. The bridges are so cool with spectacular views. And walking across and see the Arenal volcano was truly magical.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a wonderful trip to Norway! Krista was a fabulous trip planner, who helped us figure out a great itinerary, and made really helpful suggestions. It would have been very time-consuming and complicated for us to book all our transportation, activity vouchers, and hotels ourselves. Krista, and the Booking Team, made it easy for us, and everything went off very smoothly. We're happy to recommend KimKim and Krista!

Activity Review

Stegastein Viewpoint by Bus

Norway

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to England, Scotland, and Wales could not have been better! The itinerary, lodging, and activities that Tetiana planned were perfect for us as a group including a mom and dad, 2 children 7 and 12, and a grandmother.
We enjoyed all the tours Tetiana booked for us, but especially the private tours in Oxford with Samuel, in Cardiff with Dylan, in Edinburgh with Zander, and the world of sheepdogs demonstration outside Edinburgh with Julie Hill.
The group tour in Liverpool about Beatles history was also outstanding.
Our lodgings were all wonderful,, but I think our overall favorite was the Bear and Ragged Staff near Oxford.
Tetiana was also available for us the entire time we were there. She helped with navigating the tube lines in London to get to Starlight Express and to reschedule a lake cruise in Windermere when a flat tire forced us to miss the originally scheduled one. Thanks, Tetiana!!
Marsha Ramey

Hotel Review

Bear and Ragged Staff

Oxford

The Bear and Ragged Staff was my absolute favorite accommodation during our trip. It was such a unique experience staying above a pub in the countryside. All the accommodations on our trip were outstanding, but this one stood out because it was so different and felt like a more immersive experience.

Activity Reviews

World of Sheepdogs

Edinburgh

The World of Sheepdogs experience near Edinburgh was incredible. Having the place to ourselves and seeing those amazing dogs was a perfect way to wind up our trip. It was absolutely outstanding.

Brecon Beacons National Park

United Kingdom

Our visit to Brecon Beacons National Park in Wales was great! It was something that Tatiana helped us add to our itinerary, and I'm so glad we did it. The scenery was beautiful and it was such a wonderful experience.

Beatles and History Guided Walking Tour

Liverpool

The Beatles and History Guided Walking Tour in Liverpool was outstanding. The guide was incredibly knowledgeable and shared amazing insights into the Beatles' history. It was really interesting and made me appreciate the Beatles even more. A definite highlight of our trip!

Starlight Express

London

Starlight Express was a fantastic highlight of our trip! Starting in London and seeing this show was amazing. It's one of those experiences that really stands out because it was just so much fun.

Katie did a fantastic job of organizing and coordinating our trip -if we could give more than a 5 star rating, we would! In the past we have planned trips on our own -Australia (trips to Tasmania and to the main island), New Zealand, Canada, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, and England, but we could never have managed as complex of an literary as this in a non-English speaking country without Katie's expertise, guidance, and attention to detail. She listened, she heard us, and planned accordingly and created a custom experience we will never forget.

Every new place we visited seemed to be our favorite, but we think Geiranger will be the place we remember most fondly for its amazing beauty, raging waterfalls, fine dining, and views of the fjord.

If we ever return, we would choose Katie again. She has our lasting gratitude for a wonderful trip and for taking such good care of us!

All the tour guides were excellent and the family enjoyed the tours and other activities related to this visit. One tour guide we would like to highlight was Marta, the tour guide for the Alhambra. She took the time to answer all the questions my two little grandchildren had. It was a four hour class for them. The transportation services were excellent, always on time, and very courteous driver. Special kudos to the driver that took us to Malpica de Tajo. This was a four hours excursion in this little town we thought was the birthplace for our family name. There was nothing to do there except to look at a castle. We asked the driver to see if it was possible to go to Toledo. He called the company and accommodated us to this excursion that was not planned. The hotel locations and facilities were superb. We enjoyed all three cities visited, but Malaga was our favorite. We might return again.

He or provided excellent services throughout the planning process. We are extremely happy with him. He is a keeper for our next big family vacation.

We had a wonderful vacation! Our daughter commented several times that this was her favorite trip. All of the accommodations that were reserved for us were great and in ideal locations where we were able to easily walk to everything we wanted to see and do. All of our transportation connections between our different stops were seamless and the instructions and maps provided made it easy to make those connections. Katie’s communication and assistance along the way was awesome and very helpful. We would definitely recommend Katie to others as a travel specialist to use when planning trips. Thank you for everything!

The trip was enjoyable. The guides were ok,

It was an amazing trip! So well coordinated, times were lined up so well, fit so much in and saw so many amazing places. All of the tour guides were great, friendly, knowledgeable and just good to talk to.

Activity Review

One Day on the Amalfi Coast with driver (Amalfi, Positano, Ravello)

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Every guide we had was very informative and super friendly and felt like we became friends

Transport

Every transport was on time

This was our third trip organized through Kimkim, and once again, it was absolutely flawless. This time, we traveled from the French Riviera to Milan, and everything—from start to finish—was perfectly arranged.

A special thank you to our wonderful agent, Arianna, who once again delivered an exceptional experience. She selected the best hotel accommodations, secured our train tickets, and arranged private cars for all airport transfers. Every detail was taken care of with care and professionalism.

Having a 24-hour contact number for emergencies provided peace of mind, though we never had to use it—everything went so smoothly. Everyone we interacted with was friendly, helpful, and a pleasure to work with.

We’re so grateful to Kimkim and Arianna for consistently delivering such high-quality, stress-free travel experiences. We can’t wait to plan our next adventure with you!

Activity Reviews

Unforgettable Adventure: Cruise the Lake Como on a Full Day Tour from Milan

Italy

We had a fantastic experience on our Lake Como tour, and want to thank our guide Emilio,for making the day so special. We spent almost the whole day exploring—traveling by train and boat—and it was truly unforgettable. The scenery was absolutely stunning, and our guide enriched the experience with fascinating stories and historical insights about the towns, villas, and landmarks along the way. Every stop felt meaningful, and the pace of the tour was just right. It was a perfect combination of breathtaking views, cultural discovery, and relaxing travel. A truly memorable day—thank you for sharing your knowledge and making it such a great experience!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Grand Riviera Journey: Eze, Monaco, Antibes & Cannes Excursion

Nice

We had a wonderful experience with our tour guide and driver, Fred, during our stay in Nice and the French Riviera. Fred was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and professional throughout the entire tour. He shared so much insight into the region’s history, culture, and hidden gems, which made our visit even more special. His communication skills were excellent—he was clear, engaging, and always made sure we were comfortable and informed. Fred was also an excellent driver, navigating the scenic roads with ease and making us feel safe and relaxed the entire time. Thank you, Fred, for making our time in the South of France so enjoyable and memorable!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Turin Food Tour Gourmet

Italy

A highlight of our stay in Turin was a fantastic food tour with Anna. She was knowledgeable, engaging, and passionate about the region’s food, culture, and history. Thanks to her, we discovered fascinating facts about pasta, gelato, wine, and local traditions, along with visiting some of Turin’s most historic and charming spots. It was a truly enriching experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Everything

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nadine did a fabulous job finding the right mix of activities for our family of four. Canoeing, castles, and canals - she had all the information at hand and was very quick to respond and adjust. Home Run!

Hotel Review

Eric Vökel Boutique Apartments - Amsterdam Suites

Amsterdam

Extremely convenient location, good amenities and friendly staff. Rooms somewhat compact.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Amsterdam - Explore wetlands by canoe (5hr)

The Netherlands

Great trip! Majel was a dream guide, and our kids enjoyed every minute.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This was our first experience with Kim Kim and we were delighted with the results. The process of working with them to envision our dream trip was fun and engaging and Krista and Fenne were excellent to work and very responsive. We had a wonderful experience and they picked a great mix of activities. We loved the areas we visited and the hotels they picked were fabulous, especially the Kviknis in Balestrand and the view at Wanger Apts was incredible. We especially liked the hotels, the kayaking, the fjord and glacier tours and the sauna experience. ETours private tour to Stegastein Viewpoint and Stave Church was awesome. Aurland was a great place to stay also and so nice to get away from the often crowded hustle and bustle of Flam. Highly recommend the Aegis Brewery. in Flam for dinner The day trip to Rosendal was amazing (check out the Stone Park) and I would have liked to spend a night or at least more time there. Beautiful. When we had a cancelled fjord tour due to the breakdown of the electric boat and 450 people suddenly were in Flam trying to change plans! KimKim staff handled the crisis and were super responsive for us via WhatsAp to solve our problems. Overall, it was a nicely designed itinerary with a good mix of things but not too hectic or overbooked. We will consider using Kim Kim again!

While not knowing the cost of individual aspects of the trip is a "calming notion", it would be preferable to have a more detailed cost breakdown provided so we could chose between some activities. For example, the boat ride and gourmet meal to the Cornelious seafood restaurant was very over hyped and the food was not that great but I have a feeling it was very expensive.

Hotel Reviews

Det Hanseatiske Hotel

Bergen

Very nice hotel with amazing staff, incredible breakfast and a great location. Can be a bit noisy at night.

Authenticity & Character

Wish the rooms were a bit more historic in nature.

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kviknes Hotel

Balestrand

This is an absolutely beautiful old historic grant hotel. Views and staff are amazing. Decent comfortable rooms but nothing fancy. If you miss the buffet dinner you are really missing something.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Needed a fan for the room. West facing was kind of stuffy

Wangen Apartments by Fjord Resort

Aurland

Very nice accomodations and the view from the apt was impossible to beat. They really need better signage though for the new part. We spent over 30 min trying to figure out where we were going when we arrived and we helped direct numerous others during our stay who were very confused and wandering about after reception had closed..

Authenticity & Character

Location

Quiet beautiful town with convenient restaurant, coffee shop, grocery, etc.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Fjærlandsfjord Cruise & Bøyabreen Glacier Visit

Balestrand

This was an incredible trip on a small boat. It was a little bit crowded on the boat but still highly comfortable. The trip was very well run and we had just the right amount of time to spend. The Glacier trip and museum were awesome.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Summer Kayaking Excursion

Norway

Very nice paddle with a delightful guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tour to Borgund Stave Church & Stegastein Viewpoint

Norway

ETours were great and we had a great fun local guide from Aurland. These are not to be missed activities. The drive over the summit above tree line was an unexpected treat.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Floating Sauna Experience

Norway

Beautiful sauna and with a dip in the fjord, it was a once in a lifetime experience. Highly recommend Aurland for this. The view is spectacular!

Quality of Experience

Round Trip Fjord Cruise & Bus Transfer via Gudvangen

Norway

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Electric boat is incredible way to see the fjord.

Fjord Cruise & Seafood Dining Experience

Bergen

I thought this was over hyped and the food was not that great. Each of the 5 courses seemed to be more focused on artful presentation rather than taste. It also was a very long dining experience over 3+ hours to finish when it would have been nicer to relax with a drink and enjoy some of the location.

Quality of Experience

Food and efficiency

Food

Lacking in taste and quantity and highly overpriced.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mr. Quyet Dang was our guide and was a wealth of knowledge about the culture and history of Vietnam. He and our driver took us to many fun and interesting events and places. We left feeling like we had seen some special places and had genuine experiences that we would not have been able to find without him, and they also set it up so it was very convenient and pretty frictionless. They arranged beautiful lodgings, were very informative about what to expect, were quick and easy to communicate with, and then got us everywhere we needed to go, including transport to and from the airport.
This trip was amazing, gave us lifelong memories, and I highly recommend the team and Mr. Dang in particular!

Hotel Reviews

Paradise Elegance Cruise

This really is a fine hotel on the water, and was a unique experience from spending time on the ship itself to all the activities they arrange on the cruise.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Unbelievable beauty of Ha Long bay is experienced from a private cabin

Staff

The crew were exceptional and provided everything you would want, as well as making everyone feel comfortable and safe

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms were spotless clean and surprisingly large for a ship’s cabin.

Emeralda Tam Coc Resort

Beautiful resort immediately next to the lake. Very beautiful grounds, high quality food, and excellent staff

Authenticity & Character

Beautifully appointed rooms

Location

Natural surroundings very beautiful, with caves, river, and plenty to do in area

Staff

Everyone went out of their way to welcome us and make sure we had what we needed

Cleanliness & Comfort

Every area was spotless clean, with plenty of room to spread out

Peridot Grand Luxury Boutique Hotel

Hanoi

Amazing service and beautiful hotel in busy downtown Hanoi! The staff go out of their way to provide excellent service and they were all gracious and warm. The amenities were as you would expect for a luxury hotel, including a buffet breakfast that doesn’t leave anything out.

Authenticity & Character

Location, with beautiful rooftop bar

Location

Central to many things in the Old Quarter. It is very busy and there is lots of foot, motorbike, and car traffic.

Staff

Unbelievable service

Cleanliness & Comfort

Spotless clean room, bedding, restaurant

Activity Reviews

Ninh Binh - Cuc Phuong National Park - Ninh Binh

Ninh Binh

Beautiful hike in the jungle. If you enjoy hiking, don’t miss this!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanoi Cooking Class - Afternoon free

Hanoi

Authentic experience in a Hanoi suburb where we went to the market, learned about how food is prepared and then got to do some of it ourselves. Lots of fun!

Quality of Experience

Food

Some of the most delicious food we tasted in Vietnam

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanoi City Tour & Half-day Sightseeing by Legendary Russian Jeep GAZ69 Or USA Army Jeep (VBTJ1)

Hanoi

Open air tour through Hanoi with a really fun and knowledgeable guide!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to Egypt included time in Cairo, Luxor, and Hurghada. All of which offered a different and memorable aspect of Egypt. Everyone from Aya, who coordinated and arranged our to trip, to all of our guides were very kind, helpful, and welcoming. Its hard to pick one thing we liked the most. In Cairo, you have to visit the pyramids, try as much food as you can, and take a little ride on a camel. In Luxor, the historic sites and the hot air balloon ride at sunrise were wonderful. And in Hurghada, snorkeling in the Red Sea was amazing. I'd highly recommend visiting Egypt and working with this team on any plans when doing so.

Activity Reviews

Luxor West Bank

Luxor

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Trip Hot Air Balloon Ride in Luxor, Egypt

Luxor

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Luxor East bank.

Luxor

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our Guide was very knowledgeable and did a great job fielding all of my questions.

Transport

Trip to Pyramids, Memphis, and Sakkara with riding a camel

Egypt

Quality of Experience

Food

When stopping for lunch, would be nice to know you have to pay for your drinks.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Snorkeling at Mahmya Island from Hurghada

Egypt

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a phenomenal trip to the Lofoton Islands! I don't usually work with travel agents to plan trips, but I am so glad that I found KimKim and Alex and Nick. Alex had traveled there extensively and he listened carefully to the kind of trip we wanted and made perfect suggestions. He figured out quickly that we would prefer rorbuers to traditional hotels and they were perfect. Our 16 year old grandson brought his fishing rod and would fish until midnight after returning from our day's activities. We even spotted a pod of orcas on our midnight sun kayak tour. Our transportation worked like clockwork and when our flight was delayed the travel agent was in touch to let us know. If you had a question, KimKim would get back to you immediately. I would not hesitate to use them again. Their personalization and responsiveness were truly outstanding. You work with a real person who knows the location well and not an AI bot. Thank you KimKim, Alex and Nick for a fabulous trip.

Hotel Reviews

Clarion Hotel Bergen Airport Terminal

Bergen

Perfect place to stay if you have an early morning flight! Restaurant was great and it couldn't have been easier to walk to the airport.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sakrisøy Rorbuer

Reine

This was charming. I loved being in Sakrisoy, but only minutes from Reine which is a more touristy town. Anita's was right across the street and we ate there twice. Don't miss the cod burger! We loved the quietness of Sakisroy yet we were less than 10 minutes from Reine where we met our guide for our midnight kayak adventure. It's a perfect location to explore the southern part of the Lofotons, do the Reinebringen Hike, hire a fishing guide in A or do other hikes in the area. If you have forgotten any outdoor gear, there is a good shop in Reine.

Authenticity & Character

You felt like you were truly in a fisherman's cabin. Loved the ambiance and decor.

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds were super comfortable!

Grand Hotel Terminus

Bergen

Loved the location and the architectural details from the early part of the 20th century. It was an easy walk to the fish market, funicular and you were right across the street from the train station. There was a wonderful restaurant in the hotel, but you were within walking distance to many fabulous places to eat.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Trollfjord Cruise by Electric Boat

Svolvær

Not only will you travel down a beautiful fjord with waterfalls, but you will see sea eagles up close and personal. You glide along silently as you enjoy the mountains and wildlife.

Midnight Sun Kayaking Excursion

Reine

Monica was a terrific guide and the change in light on the mountains was magical! We were lucky in that we spotted a pod of orcas which Monica said was unusual. This is a trip for beginners to experienced kayakers.

Fjord Cruise to Rosendal

Bergen

It was wonderful to be on the water, but this is not one of the narrow fjord cruises. We loved getting to Rosendal and hiking to the waterfall. We had a wonderful lunch at Gjoa and caught the boat back to Bergen.

Fløibanen Funicular Ticket

Bergen

This is a must do especially on a clear day! We did not explore the hiking trails, but you could spend hours up here. We particularly loved the cashmere goats who keep the area trimmed up. This would be a great place to sit, have a drink and gaze at the Bergen harbor and the mountain. Get one of the adirondack chairs and enjoy the view.

Quality of Experience

My recent trip to Victoria Falls and the Western Cape was a great success, and one of my best vacations. This was mainly due to the excellent itinerary and arrangements suggested and finalized by the folks at Kimkim. They also selected all the lodgings, which were unique, perfect locations, and fun.

Starting in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe I toured the incredible Falls. I visited a local Matabele village, Mpisi, where I leaned how people live and work. They were so friendly and inviting, it deepened my knowledge of the place and was one of the highlights of my visit to Vic Falls. I also went on a sunset cruise of the Zambezi River. Outstandingly beautiful, and the boat, the Zambezi Vista, was superbly outfitted and the crew informative and fun.

In Cape Town I enjoyed a private tour with guide Zaki Harris of the Bo-Kaap neighborhood. Having grown up there, his insights and knowledge enriched my time there. Of course I visited Table Mountain, with its beautiful views.

Another highlight for me was my private tour of the Cape Peninsula. Rochelle, my guide and driver, was first-rate and made the whole experience rewarding. Her enthusiasm, knowledge and joy of showing me South Africia’s Western Cape was infectious, and the best part of my entire trip. The scenery was stunning, and one of the most beautiful places I’ve seen.

We ventured to wine country, where Rochelle took me to a winey outside of Stellenbosch, where I sampled superb wines. With each wine, the staff provided with informative explanations of the grapes used and wine making process.

Another stop was Babylonstoren Farm. I toured the large establishment where various food and other products are produced. It was fun to wonder over the grounds and buildings, and taste the local specialities.

The day ended at Franschhoek, where I stayed in another marvelous property. Utilizing the easy to use Wine Tram I visited two stellar wineries and enjoyed some lovely wines and learned why South Africa produces exceptional wines.

My next and final stop was Hermanus on the coast, where I boarded a boat in the hope of seeing whales. To my delight we saw many in the Bay. It was very exciting to have the whales break the surface right by the boat.

Staying near Hermanus at a fantastic place overlooking the Klein River Lagoon. A local guide, Vitalis, took me on a nature walk and a water bird sightseeing trip by boat. Both informative and entertaining.

All the transfers went smoothly, with amicable and professional. The lodgings were excellent, as were the meals. Thanks to the great endeavors of Anna-marie and Deb and all their team members this first class trip was memorable.

Please, please take this as constructive criticize, as we had a great time. The two issues we had were communication and flight timing. Whats Apps is a great tool and you are dealing with remote locations. Best you make sure traveler have international plans on their phones. Doing this with WiFi only will catch up at some point. The flight timing in any airport is a challenge I would suggest no flights later that 2 pm in the future.

Activity Reviews

Self guided tour to Machu Picchu: Circuit 1 (High season)

Peru

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Machu Picchu Tour (Private Guided Tour) PM/M

Aguas Calientes/ Machu Picchu

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Explore Ollantaytambo & Shared Pachamanca Lunch Farm Tour

Sacred Valley

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Shared tour to Pisac & Ollantaytambo tour

Peru

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Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Shared Cooking Classes Ivanna Lescano (18:00 - 19:30)

Cusco

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

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