Kimkim Trip Reviews

We really enjoyed our trip to Portugal. I was a little leary about using a travel agency but the planning was made very easy by Marta and Beatriz. We were able to taylor make our trip to our interests. We scheduled phone calls to discuss some of the details. Before we departed our entire schedule was on an app that we could download and refer to during the entire trip. We could refer to our schedule daily with the times and drivers names and contacts locally.

Hotel Reviews

Meliá Lisboa Aeroporto

Lisbon

Super convenient, across from airport, breakfast service begins at 4:30 am if you have an early flight. Complimentary cookies at check in, rooms were clean and contemporary.

Authenticity & Character

Location

If you have a flight to catch pick this!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean, contemporary design, great plug ins for devices, extra pillows

Tivoli Lagos

Lagos

Not the best hotel, dated and not so clean. Rooms were difficult to get to with a lot of stairs to navigate with suitcases, no elevator access.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms are in need of updating, musty smell, view of roof adajacent to hotel

Quinta de Casaldronho Wine Hotel

Lamego

Everything about this place was unique. Staff was polite and accomodating. Views from the rooftop pool were of vinyards into a valley, the grapes were plump and all over the vines just getting ready for the season. We ate in the restaurant not wanting to venture out too far at night. Food was freshy, adequate and tasty. We had fresh fish and of course sangria!

Authenticity & Character

There is an old church on the grounds which belonged to the family

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were clean, view of vinyards was amazing to wake up to!

Exe Almada Porto

Porto

Nice hotel, clean, small rooms, great breakfasts with many options

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Lisboa Plaza

Lisbon

This hotel was slightly off the beaten path off of Place De Liberdad street. This made it tucked away and quiet. The rooms were a little small but probably normal by European standards. The breakfast buffet was amazing! Pastry, fruit, eggs, cheese, fresh coffee...you will be stuffed for the day!

Authenticity & Character

Location

A quiet street

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Kayaking the Algarve: Discover the Benagil Caves

Portugal

this trip was cancelled due to storm and wind conditions

Historic Coimbra Highlights: University, Chapel, & Old Town

Portugal

Thomas picked us up in Duoro at the Casalhandro Wine hotel in a nice large van. After 1.5 hours we reached Coimbra where our guide met us for a tour of the city and University. Thomas was polite and a great driver!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

River Boat Experience in Douro Valley

Douro Valley

This could easily be the highlight of the Portugal trip. We were dropped at a dock and unsure of where to go but the boat owners called for us and helped us so kindly. We found our tour guide Sylvia who could not have been more accomodating to us. We took off on a small wooden boat on the Duoro River and were promptly served charcuterie and 4 bottles of wine! She was lovely and so hospitable. She imparted information on all the vineyards we passed on the Duoro River

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wine Cellar Guided Visit with Lunch

Douro Valley

This was just amazing! We did arrive late to the tour but they accomodated us very nicely. The food was spectacular, steak paired with several wines...it was more like a dinner! The vineyard was beautiful and the tour was interesting to learn about all the varities of grapes here. Well worth the trip!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Walk of Porto’s Historic Center

Porto

I think this tour was secrets of Porto so we saw the grittier sides of the city. The guide was knowledgable and did not rush us through the tour. Would have appreciated some of the other more popular sites on this tour, ie the shopping district and the port wine area

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Transfer {{start_location}} to {{end_location}} via Nazaré & Óbidos

Portugal

This tour was exceptional in the guide Marta was a wealth of information. We were picked up on time at hotel and driven to Obios and Nazare. She recommended a nice restaurant where we dined on grilled octopus and seabass and sangria. We continued on to Porto. This was a long day and we arrived at 7 pm. Marta was well versed in all aspects of Portugal. She explained many topics including cost of living, government, etc...

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exploring Sintra & Cascais: Palaces, Cliffs & Coastline

Lisbon

This trip was ok with some exceptions. First, we rushed through breakfast to meet the guide a 10 min walk away. After 15-20 mins we called the travel agency who reached out and informed us the guide was held up picking up cruise passengers. After a 45 min delay we were off to Pena Palace. The guide brought us to the entrance and instructed us to meet up after our self guided tour. She provided very minimal information but did an adequate job. Sintra and Pena Palace are not to be missed!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

It would be nice if the guide had walked us through the palace to explain the history more as other groups had

Transport

Get to Know Lisbon with a Local

Lisbon

This was a thorough 3 hour walking tour. The guide was on time and we met up at a square onlly 10 min walk from our hotel. We saw the Rossio Train Station, Baixa, Chiado neighborhoods, Arc de Triumph. We had fun afterwards shopping at a street market just in back of our hotel on Place de Liberdad.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Lisbon Roots: A Food & Cultural Walk

Portugal

We really enjoyed this after just arriving in country. We had time to check into our hotel and then rest and had an amazing food tour. We tried pork sandwiches, cheeses, cod cakes, somosas and the traditional custard of Portugal. After feeling very full we walked back to our hotel. Great tour and guide!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The immersion tour was that and much more. The selection of cities provided the spectrum of diversity and beauty of Morocco. Each accommodation was immaculate, comfortable, and unique. The Hotel Club Val d'Anfa in Casablanca was my least favorite and Hôtel & Ryads Barrière Le Naoura in Marrakech by far the best. Mohamed is a superior and knowledgeable guide but each guide we met for specific tours were also knowledgeable, shared their passion for their country, and welcomed us with authenticity. Closing the tour with the cooking class was the bow on a lavish, gorgeous gift touring amazing Morocco.

Where to begin-Jimena was AMAZING in helping my friend and I plan our Peru trip!!! We were not very familiar with the country and felt a travel advisor would be the best way to nail down an itinerary that would suit what we were looking for. She was so thorough and quick in putting a schedule together, helping with any changes, and most importantly, she and Jesus (also equally as helpful and responsive) were so accessible WHILE we were in Peru. We had a contact in each city, who were the best-shoutout Bosco in Lima who did everything from give us recos, take us through the airport all the way to security, and ensure we got to where we needed to go efficiently, Robinzon in Cusco who helped us navigate the town and translate during our cooking class, and Alverro who drove us from Lima to Paracus, stopping in his home town for a local brunch, and giving the best energy as we had fun on the sand dunes. Not only were everyone great, but we were also able to easily contact them easily on WhatsApp to coordinate. KimKim just made is SO EASY that we could show up and have fun. We had a lot of transportation needs, and that would have been so stressful to navigate by ourselves. I've raved about our trip and told them one of the best things we did was use KimKim to book an amazing Peru trip. THANK YOU to everyone who helped make our first trip to South America great!!!

Vietnam was amazing. I loved the people, the food, the culture and history. Our guide was very pleasant and knowledable.

Our trip to Greece was outstanding. I especially appreciate Irene’s recommendations on visiting the smaller islands of Tinos and Naxos. It was a highlight of my trip to meet Marinos and experience his inn and style of fish aging. Both dinners we enjoyed there were delightful and I would come back to Tinos and Marathia first chance.

All of the guides Irene recommended were top notch. I especially enjoyed Antigoni who shared a few of the neighborhoods of Athens. She was adorable and full of information and insight into the city and its culture. Matina was full of passion and enthusiasm in taking us through Nafplio and I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about Greek history.

The accommodations were perfect, the drivers were on time and full of information as well. I cannot tell you how impressed I am with the knowledge of everyone we met - guides as well as drivers and the people of Greece.

This was the second trip Irene helped me plan - I appreciate her so much and cannot praise her abilities enough!

João planned an amazing trip for my group for our first time to Portugal! Originally we were supposed to be 2 people, but then added my mom halfway through the planning process and he was very accommodating in adjusting the reservations. He kept in contact with us the entire time we were there and was very knowledgeable everywhere we went. The excursions were perfect for our group and a great balance between activity/free time enjoying the cities we were in. We can’t wait to go back and thank you again to João for making our first trip to Portugal unforgettable!

Hotel Reviews

Eurostars das Artes

Porto

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Lisboa Plaza

Lisbon

Authenticity & Character

Location

No

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Villa Zawaia B&B

Lagos

Beautiful hotel but staff wasn’t consistently there to assist.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Someone being present more often throughout the day

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Cave Boat Tour

Portugal

Nice easy way to see the beautiful caves in Lagos! Not too long of a tour so you still have the rest of your day to explore!

Quality of Experience

No

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our family recently had the privilege of working with Valdis as both our travel planner and guide for what became the most significant, symbolic, and memorable trip of our lives—a family heritage discovery journey through Latvia. Valdis brought Latvia to life for our family in a way we will never forget.

From the very beginning, he thoughtfully prepared an itinerary that balanced cultural highlights with deeply personal experiences. He went out of his way to make phone calls and track down historical places in the countryside—sites that were far off the beaten path—so we could walk the same roads our ancestors once did. Because of his dedication, we were able to visit the towns our relatives grew up in, stand in the schools they attended, and step into the very churches where they were married. These moments were profoundly moving and would not have been possible without his diligence and care.

Beyond the heritage aspect, Valdis ensured that every detail of our journey was seamless. He arranged impeccable accommodations, comfortable transport, and found us the most wonderful driver, Aldis, whose skill, kindness, and courtesy elevated the entire experience. Both Valdis and Aldis were not only professional, conscientious, and gracious at every turn, but they quickly became trusted companions—friends we now consider part of our extended family.

We could not recommend Valdis more highly. For anyone seeking assistance or guidance in their travels to Latvia or across the Baltics, we would absolutely recommend him, I would choose him 100 times over. His passion, knowledge, and personal touch transformed our trip into something truly unforgettable.

Hotel Reviews

Promenade Hotel

Liepaja

Eclectic building and rooms. Incredible location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grand Hotel Kempinski Riga

Riga

Simply outstanding

Authenticity & Character

Stunning building, inside and out.

Location

Central and close to everything!

Staff

Impeccable service!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Perfection

Activity Reviews

Visit Dzukste

Džūkstes pagasts

Once again, Valdis took the time early on in our planning of the trip to map out and research important areas of our families history and places locally to visit. We were able to walk the grounds and see the church my grandparents were married in, the post office my great grandfather worked in, and the town my grandmother grew up in. This was the last bit of our journey together.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Departure from Riga | Private transfer to the airport

Riga Int. Airport (RIX)

The hardest part of our trip was saying goodbye to Latvia, Valdis and Aldis.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Riga

Riga

Valdis greeted us at the airport and he and Aldis swiftly transported us to our hotel. Valdis gave us insights on the way, reviewed our week ahead, escorted us into our hotel for registration, made sure we were comfortable and allowed us to get settled in.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Aizpute and Pērbone

Aizpute

Valdis took time and researched for us and made phone calls ahead of time so we were able to visit the cemetery our family is in, near my grandfathers home site, visit and stand in the school my grandfather attended, and see the town he grew up in.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private transport

Latvia

Aldis is the best!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunset Sailboat trip on a real Fisher's Ship and Fish Grill Bar with dinner

Liepaja

This was such a thoughtful and most impactful experience we shared in Latvia. To sail the waters our family did, and to watch the most beautiful sunset was emotional and moving in a way we will never forget. So happy to have shared the experience with Valdis and Aldis, and thank you to Janis and the crew for the most unforgettable night of our lives :)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Liepaja city sighseeing tour

Liepaja

It was so thoughtful of Valdis to include this tour for our visit to Liepaja. It helped set the stage for a better understanding of its place in history and enjoying its beauty and all it has to offer today.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private transport

Latvia

Aldis was nothing short of amazing. He and Valdis are quite the team!! They truly made magic happen for our family.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Gauja National Park Tour

Latvia

Such a beautiful part of Latvia - not to be missed. We had time and were able to experience the Latvian Bobsled Track as well, in addition to the Sigulda Castle Complex, Turaida Castle and Gutmann Cave.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Museum of the Occupation of Latvia Tour

Riga

This was a very thoughtful and moving experience for our family since it relates to our family history. So grateful Valdis included this in our itinerary.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Historical Canal Boat Tour

Riga

Riga walking tour

Riga

We saw and learned about everything from architecture to museums to everything in between that makes Riga the vibrant gem of a city it is. Topped it off with a historical boat ride on the canal through the city.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

JOHN Restaurant

Riga

A must do in Riga. Staff was superb!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Free day in Riga

Riga

Old Town is a gem of an area to explore and get to know. We also enjoyed a drive to Valguma Pasquale to experience the Barefoot Trail, a quaint lunch and exploring Jūrmala on the drive back to Riga - with a walk on the beach!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We just returned from 8 days in Iceland that blew us away with the beauty of the country. We did many activities - lava tunnel tour, ice cave tour, whale watching, boating among the glaciers, helicopter tour. Each one was so exciting and elevated our experience with the “fire and ice” that is Iceland.
Emanuela at Arctic Travel put the whole trip together for us and was endlessly patient as we tried to plan the perfect trip. It worked! We started the trip with a visit to the blue lagoon and ended with a visit to the sky lagoon. Both great and would do it the same way again. Perhaps one of the biggest thrills was seeing the northern lights which we hadn’t expected as it was only end of Aug. but Sept 1 the lights were out in full and it was just the icing on a delicious cake.
Emanuela stayed in touch with us the whole trip and quickly dealt with a couple small issues so so could keep the trip going with just positive vibes.
Thomas was our tour guide and driver and he went out of his way many times to make our experience the best it could be. I would definitely recommend Kim Kim , Emanuela and Thomas. Perfect combination.

Activity Reviews

Private transfer to the airport

Reykjavík

Thomas - our guide and driver for the entire trip, picked us up for the return trip to the airport. He was very personable and flexible. He made sure that we got there on time every time.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Helicopter tour- waterfalls and valleys

Reykjavík

We got so lucky today. The sun was shining and not many cloud in the sky. Perfect day for a helicopter ride.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lava Cave Explorer Tour- Private

Iceland

So interesting and informative. Well worth doing and seeing this lava tunnel.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Katla Glacier Ice Cave Private Tour

Iceland

This tour deserves 10 stars. Our guide Rafal did an awesome job to plan the whole experience. We loved it but must admit that it was a private tour which I think was the right choice. If you are going to splurge on a tour, this is the one I would do private.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My daughter and I just returned from our trip to Croatia. This is the first time I used a local travel agency to plan out trip. I am so glad that I did. Robi was more than excellent-he communicated with us daily and was able to make last-minute adjustments to our itinerary based on our preferences. His choice of hotels, guides, and restaurants was superb. I would highly recommend him and will do so to all of my friends traveling to Croatia. I only wish that we had more time to spend in this beautiful country.

All Guides in Helsinki and Estonia perfect. Enjoyed the hotel but stuffy! Breaky and dinner appreciated. Porvoo was lovely with Maria. Turku hotel amazing…. We were better on our own there. Guide not the best. Train fun and we did sleep! Enjoyed the museums in Turku. Art gallery special . Rovaniemi, hotel excellent with friendly staff, room abit dramatic though! Our tours 100% wonderful. Saw lights thanks to Ryan and cannon hike guide a very nice person, Martin. Santa land very commercial. Reindeers farm was an unexpected highlight! A very impressive young man. Excellent and comfortable trip to Inari. There the trip went down hill. Resort atmosphere quite cold, dull staff and accomodation quite uncomfortable. Too hot! Highlight was the beauty of the lake and fabulous museum. Lilla is a delight and meeting her was a bonus. Well done Kim Kim

Hotel Reviews

Comfort Hotel Helsinki Airport

Vantaa

We were in the room for four hours….quiet and a comfy bed

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Wilderness Hotel Inari & Igloos

Inari

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arctic Light Hotel

Rovaniemi

Authenticity & Character

But over the top in decorations

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Overnight Train

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lots of fun

Solo Sokos Hotel Turun Seurahuone

Turku

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Gorgeous bed

Home Hotel Jugend

Helsinki

Bit stuffy again

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Northern Lights Tour with Professional Photos

Finland

Nice guy but no luck….

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Reindeer Farm Visit (No Safari)

Rovaniemi

A very intelligent enthusiastic young man we wish him well in the future

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Flexible Northern Lights Hunting

Finland

Ryan brilliant

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Korouoma Canyon & Auttiköngäs Waterfalls Adventure

Rovaniemi

Special time in our holiday

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Turku City Walking Tour

Turku

Quality of Experience

Porvoo Private Day Tour

Helsinki

Maria delightful

Quality of Experience

Transport

Tallinn Day Trip

Helsinki

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Helsinki and Suomenlinna Private Tour

Helsinki

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Nokothula did a fantastic job of designing our adventure and then assisting in ensuring it went smoothly and was most enjoyable. I can certainly say the same thing for Lucy who was always available if we had questions or issues. I can definitely recommend Kimkim to my family and friends as a trusted travel coordinator.

Hotel Review

Mjejane River Lodge

Hectorspruit

Very attentive staff ensured a most enjoyable stay and our excellent game guide gave us an unforgettable wildlife experience. Highly recommend Mjejane River Lodge.

Authenticity & Character

Location

The natural scenery and wildlife right on the Lodge's grounds were outstanding.

Staff

Very attentive care to our needs. Cannot say too much about the staff and their service!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

A Day on Safari

South Africa

Amazing wildlife experience!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Staff and guide were excellent!

Transport

I want to express my deep dissatisfaction with the service I received during my recent trip to France, which was planned through The KimKim.

In the past, I had a truly amazing experience with Jennifer when I traveled solo to South Korea, which is why I confidently chose KimKim again. Unfortunately, this time was the complete opposite. From the beginning, communication with my assigned travel specialist, Liz, was frustrating and unproductive. Despite my efforts, she did not seem to understand my needs, and I even had to call customer service to escalate my concerns. I was later contacted by Ashley, who listened to my frustrations, and eventually, Greg was added to the planning process. Greg was pleasant to work with, but by then, much of the planning process had already been difficult and discouraging.

When the trip finally came, we encountered multiple issues that caused unnecessary stress. Meeting points and car services were not arranged properly, and despite my repeated requests for tour pickups, we were forced to use Uber to reach multiple meeting points. The times and logistics were complicated, leading to more confusion. Instead of a seamless and enjoyable vacation, my trip was filled with frustration and stressful moments. This was absolutely not the experience I paid for, nor the quality I expected.

Even my father, who accompanied me, remarked on how poorly planned the trip was and how overpriced it felt compared to the exceptional service I experienced with KimKim in South Korea.

I am traveling again early next year, and while I had planned to use KimKim, after this experience, I will be seriously evaluating other companies. I am very disappointed that a brand I once trusted delivered such an unsatisfactory and stressful experience, especially given the high cost.

Sincerely,
Michelle Brown

Activity Reviews

Monaco, Monte Carlo & Eze Morning Excursion

Nice

Caroline was wonderful—she is very nice, fun, and knowledgeable. Unfortunately, the logistics managed by Le Franchaise once again fell short. We ran into heavy traffic entering our first stop, Eze. While the visit there was interesting, we ended up spending too much time in Eze, which forced us to rush through Monaco. We had only about 30 minutes to explore, which was definitely not enough. In fact, one of the guests on the tour was so disappointed by the limited time that she chose to return on her own via Uber just to see more of Monaco. Our stop in Monte Carlo was even shorter, lasting only 15–20 minutes. The constant rushing to make up time and get to meeting points created a stressful atmosphere, which took away from the enjoyment of the day. I had been very excited for this tour, but once again, Le Franchaise’s poor logistics and inadequate time management turned what should have been a highlight into a frustrating experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Antibes Heritage & Cannes Highlights Afternoon Adventure

Nice

We had a new tour guide, Valentine, and it was his very first tour after only two days of training. Valentine is a kind young man—eager to learn and clearly motivated to do well—but he understandably lacked the knowledge and experience to guide us with confidence. Everyone has to start their career somewhere, and we support people beginning in their roles, but Le Franchaise should be doing much more to properly prepare their guides before sending them out with paying customers. On top of that, logistics once again fell short. Our driver arrived 25 minutes late due to traffic and unclear meeting point instructions, which only added to the frustration. While Valentine showed promise, the lack of preparation and poor coordination from the company left us with a subpar experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Saint-Tropez & Grimaud Day Trip

France

Theo was excellent and very engaging; however, he did not have all the necessary details about our tour. He seemed unaware of certain inclusions, and when I asked about our visit to Grimaud, he was taken by surprise, as it was not part of the information he had been given. While he managed to adjust the schedule and fit in a quick stop—giving us only a brief glimpse—it was not the complete experience we expected. This once again highlighted the poor logistics and lack of coordination on the part of Le Franchaise.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Gourmet Food & History Walk

Aix-en-Provence

Rafael was an excellent tour guide—knowledgeable, engaging, and a true pleasure to spend time with. We genuinely enjoyed our experience with him. Unfortunately, due to time constraints, we were unable to complete everything that had been planned on the tour. As a result, we had to visit some of the remaining spots on our own, which took away from the seamless experience we were expecting.

Quality of Experience

time logistics and meeting points.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an amazing time visiting Portugal! Our travel Guide, João was the best and helped us plan the perfect trip! He was very knowledgeable and helpful in all our planning and was very accessible via text to answer any questions throughout our trip.
He was also our guide in Lisbon which was wonderful!
We couldn’t have had a better experience!

Hotel Reviews

Belmar Spa & Beach Resort

Lagos

Great resort with beautiful rooms, 3 pools , a nice gym, and beach access! Breakfast was great! Very friendly and helpful staff. Would definitely stay there again!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Lisboa Plaza

Lisbon

Located in the center close to shopping, and most of the sights you would want to see in Lisbon. Staff was friendly and helpful. Great breakfast!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa dos Lóios by Shiadu

Porto

Very nice boutique hotel. The staff was very friendly and helpful, and spoke English which was a plus!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Within walking distance to most everything!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Algarve Caves Boat Tour

Portugal

A must when you are in Lagos! Loved it!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cascais & Sintra Guided Visit

Portugal

Our guide João drive us out to Cascais and Sinatra and even booked a lunch for us at this very quaint restaurant on the beach! It was amazing! The beaches in Cascais are beautiful!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dinner with Live Fado Music

Lisbon

João planned this for us and it was a great experience! The food was authentic Portuguese food that was delicious! The Fado was amazing!

Quality of Experience

K

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day Guided Tour of Lisbon

Lisbon

João our guide was excellent! Got a very nice tour of the city, and a lot of the history of Lisbon.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Port Wine Tasting Tour

Porto

Visited Ferreira winery and loved it! The Port wine tasting was excellent and brought a bottle home!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Six Bridges Douro Cruise

Porto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Food Tour - OPTIONAL (not included in the price)

Porto

Our guide Andre was great! Very knowledgeable and did a great job explaining the history of Porto and the wine and food we tried! Loved it!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Amazing trip to discover Brazil. Bruno was extremely helpful during the trip to accommodate last minute requests. We especially loved our guide Ed in Iguazú Falls.

Some of the providers seem to lack communication with you. Some arrive late with a car that didn’t meet the expectations.

On the other hand, every time we complaint about something, you replied and solved the issue rapidly.

Our trip to Iceland was absolutely wonderful. Our excursions which included snorkeling, the Zodiac boat trip, white water rafting and the geothermal baths were all absolutely incredible! All of the excursion instructors were amazing!! Our trip planner, Othman was wonderful in seeing to all of our needs and interests!! Kim Kim was very good!! I will definitely use Kim Kim’s service again! We were extremely pleased!

We were very pleased with the itinerary, which allowed us to experience adventure and local culture on a pace that worked for us. Gummi was extremely responsive to all questions and made us feel valued, not only as customers but as individuals. We loved this trip so much, that we would contemplate returning and we would use Gummi’s advice again when we do so.

It was a pleasure working with Pushpak in planning our trip to Gotland. He was extremely helpful and receptive to our needs and took care of all our questions promptly.
I would highly recommend and work with him in future.

Tina did a great job first collecting what memories and experiences would make up the ideal vacation for my husband and I. She helped us plan a curated agenda across different cities in Croatia and also Montenegro.

The itinerary was a combination of fan favorites like Diocletian's Palace in Split, the new-ish cable car in Kotor, and old town Dubrovnik walking tours. During high season she made personalized transfers (drivers and even a customized high-speed boat ride where we were the only ones in charge!). These transfers offered really nice downtime for us, a welcome break from navigating the busy streets and overcrowded attractions. Plus they were SEAMLESS - I didn't have any difficulties finding the people and getting transported to the next place. Overall we went to Zagreb, Plitvice Lakes/Split, Korcula, Kotor (Montenegro), and Dubrovnik over 2 weeks. The pacing was great, we didn't feel rushed and got a sense of each location before moving on. We also didn't feel like we wasted a ton of time just getting from place to place - there was plenty of downtime to just let things happen.

Swimming around the Peljesac peninsula the morning of our journey from Split to the island Korcula was a top experience for me - it was so quiet and our guide, Dino, was very open about sharing his experience growing up in a family of olive growers/olive oil producers. Our walking tour guide, Albert, in Dubrovnik did the best job explaining the complexities of living in Croatia, the politics of relatively new countries, and the impact of tourism. All of the hotels selected were boutique in nature and had great amenities - my favorite was the Villa Filaus in Dubrovnik, though! Great location and such character plus the woman running the boutique hotel, Anita, was a DELIGHT to welcome us.

Tina, thank you for planning a wonderful trip! Supremely enjoyable, relaxing, and informative this trip was indulgent and we will remember it for a long, long time! You really thought of EVERYTHING. You curated the best people to help us along our way - so courteous, knowledgeable, and helpful!

Hotel Reviews

Amadria Park Hotel Capital

Zagreb

The most gorgeous dining room with high wooden ceilings and nice decorations, plus the buffet was the best out of all the places we stayed in Croatia. The staff were very helpful, pointing us in directions of places we wanted to go.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The odd shape of the room gave a nice view out the window, but also a strangely designed (tiny) bathroom.

Aminess Korčula Heritage Hotel

Korčula

Stunning water front location convenient to every shop and restaurant you could want. This hotel has a majestic air and there are a lot of pictures of it from the past as a kind of waterfront legacy. It is a great place for people watching.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The world's smallest bathroom which is odd considering how abundant the rest of the hotel felt - my knees hit the towel warmer/rack and I'm not a tall person (5'5") - hopefully it was just the room we had, ocean view suite. Stunning view, but tiniest bathroom.

Villa Filaus

A beautiful villa (and hopefully you get a balcony) plopped right in the middle of a great location, easy walking distance to the beach via the promenade full of casual restaurants. I loved the hotel manager, Anita, who warmly greeted us and showed us where to go with a prepared map. She is so sweet and kind - you can tell she loves her job! This place has big rooms, good air conditioning, and is quiet given there are only a few units. The small pool and loungers are all you need for sunbathing and reading a good book outside. The espresso machines (with bottomless pods) were a nice way to start each day, too!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

I loved loved loved the hotel manager, Anita, who warmly greeted us and showed us where to go with a prepared map. She is so sweet and kind - you can tell she loves her job!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms are super clean, plenty of fresh towels including beach/pool towels already in each room and a dry rack on the balcony with clothes clips for bathing suits to dry. Every detail is thought of ahead of time!

Activity Reviews

Orjen Hiking Tour with Food Tasting in a Stone Village

Montenegro

I liked the hotel pickup especially considering that Kotor is such a busy place with crowds of people, our guide, Igor, was easy to find.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We did get off the trail a few times having to double back when we were hiking Orjen. If I had known it was such a strenuous hike I might have either selected an easier one or skipped it entirely / asked to modify it down, because I was wearing sneakers but even the sneakers were not adequate for the rockiness (true hiking boots would have been better and there was no way I was going to take up luggage space in my suitcase for one outing).

Transport

Private Guided Walking Tour of Dubrovnik Old Town

Dubrovnik

The flow of the places we visited with the educational pieces was done very well. We covered a ton of topics in a short period of time. I loved going to the hidden spots and the quieter spots away from the main areas. Our guide, Albert, had a very eloquent and beautiful way of speaking that drew us in completely! Having grown up in the area he was able to share all the changes he experienced and I appreciated how honest and thorough his answers were to all of our many questions.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Korčula island Food & Drink Tasting Tour

Korčula

Loved Rachael and this tour - she took her time with each stop and we filled an afternoon! She had developed deep relationships with each of the business owners at the honey shop, Bire winery, and the homestead. The best was these places were not SALESY at all. Sometimes as a tourist you just want a little space to enjoy the experience and the moment. I could tell Rachael, our guide, has a genuine appreciation for the culture of the place especially as an expat.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

First off, everyone we dealt with were super friendly and professional. Our accommodations, including meals and local staff, were 100% incredible. This was a bucket list trip and it did not disappoint in that department. Where things went a little sideways, was Liz got our travel dates confused from the onset. We looked to travel in September, however were advised that was not available, so we changed our dates to early mid August. As it turns out all the reservations were made for us in September. Liz called just days prior to our departure date recognizing their error. This caused us to make many changes in other trips to work around new dates for Africa. KimKim covered any out of pocket expenses we incurred, but it was a headache to change. During our trip we ran into three other problems. The resort we were at did not have us scheduled for a hot air balloon ride, which we had scheduled through KimKim, we had a tour of Stone Town in Zanzibar that included lunch, however the guides directions is that we did not have a lunch included. We ended up paying out of pocket for that. Lastly, when we departed Zanzibar for Dar es Salaam, we arrived in Terminal 3. International departures are Terminal 1, which was 3 to 4 kilometers away. Other families had rides waiting, we did not. So it was either walk with our bags or get hustled by the taxis there. I paid out of pocket again. Maybe these oversights are part of big packages, but, for the cost of the entire trip, these would be expected to come off like clock work.

Liz was very apologetic in her dealings with us. The trip dates and hot air balloon ride issues were remedied quickly. The other two were not. We love the KimKim service and our trip was tailored exactly to our wishes. I just wish it was a little more seamless in its execution. Things we had to worry about, should have been managed well in advance of our arrival.