Kimkim Trip Reviews

We did a 10-day circular tour of Morocco via KimKim as planned and booked by Majid. It was an amazing experience to see the VAST beauty of the country and experience the hospitality of the people. Ismail, our driver, performed an outstanding job, driving what seemed like endless hours, all over the country, and brought us safely and in one piece to our intended destinations. Besides, the amazing views, Ismail was also a highlight of the trip, with his professional service and local knowledge; his humor was well appreciated, but his taste for music in the van, perhaps needs to be adjusted. Overall, we really enjoyed the trip, but looking back at the number of hours on the road, we perhaps would have liked to have been given some options. We just never thought Morocco was so vast, but the changing landscapes were amazing and certain made for some amazing photo opportunities. The blue city was awesome with its tight alleyways and shopping, but it was certainly the trek and camel ride across the desert and the camping in the desert that were the top highlights that will stay happy and long in our hearts and minds. My friends were literally blown away by the stars that they saw that night in the desert. The accommodation in the desert was also one of the best and it was greatly beyond our expectations. The other accommodations in the tour need some reviewing: access to the hotels were very limited, some of the rooms were awkwardly laid out, some with washrooms but without doors, or showers that sat behind the bed, but worst was that some did not offer enough drinking waters in the room and told us to buy our own water? Certainly, nowhere near the service we expected. Better hotel choices would have made the trip 10 out of 10. Finally, the dinner at a local home at Fes, was the best Morocco meal we tasted. The granny who cooked us that fabulous dinner will stay in our heart for a very long time. p.s. it was too bad that we did not get to meet Majid himself, and some of the other local tour guides can perhaps lighten up on the local history which were too too long and took away the time to explore the sites.

My husband and I traveled from the US to Japan over the course of ten days in December 2024. We are fairly well traveled but felt like navigating Japan on our own was over our heads. There were no fully guided tours for the dates we were traveling and we'd heard about Kimkim and decided to give it a try. We are SO glad we did!

Leny was very responsive the entire planning process but even more so when we go to Japan. When we landed we were greeted by our private driver -just as Leny had arranged! This was so comforting as we were jet-lagged, unsure of cultural customs and hoping that all would go smoothly once arriving in Japan.

Without question, having Leny and the Kimkim team readily available for us made our amazing trip even more enjoyable. Leny took the time to really learn what we wanted from our trip-both in terms of sights and financially. The hotels were what we were expecting if not nicer and it was fantastic not having to worry about payments/reservations/check-outs as kimkim had taken care of it.

Activities were also well suited to our interests, although we may have chosen to go at a slower pace, we did feel like we got good value for the money we spent. Probably the most valuable for us was support navigating the bullet train and mass transit across the country and especaially the subway system within Tokyo. The support Leny gave us with transporation was worth it!

Looking online at the hotels, activities and transportation, we would have paid less coordinating the trip on our own. The additional amount spent to have kimkim work out the itinerary -which seemed to be an additional 20% - was well worth it in our minds.

We LOVED Japan and can't wait to go back again. Had we not had the support of Leny and the Kimkim team we surely would have found the trip less enjoyable and much more anxiety filled. Thank you!!

Hotel Reviews

the b ginza

the b ginza was a nice hotel for our last night in Japan as the subway option to get to Haneda Airport the next day was very straight-forward. We appreciated the location, the quietness and the welcome beverage upon check in. The shower in the room was amazing and we were able to figure out all the shower instructions quickly. Beds were comfortable and pillows were soft and so comfortable. The layout of the room meant that one person did not have acess to a bedside table and we were surprised that there was no phone to call reception in the room. We did not have breakfast as we don't love pancakes which seemed to be the only complimentary breakfast item. Overall, location is nice, but we may choose to stay somewhere else if we return to Ginza, Tokyo again.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Subway station was very close

Staff

staff seemed a little overwhelmed and weren't quick to greet us when we came to the desk

Cleanliness & Comfort

Great shower and beds

Vessel Inn Shinsaibashi

If you like to be in the middle of the action, this is an excellent hotel for you! We were happy with the location, but it was a bit noisy and smaller than many small rooms we stayed at in Japan. We had a corner room which seemed larger than other rooms, but the bed by the window was cool and drafty in the winter and the curtain blew on you when sleeping. The bathroom and amenities were very nice. No breakfast was included which was okay, but would have been nice. Location was very good for us as there were a ton of dining and shopping options nearby, as well as a quick walk to Namba station (which also has fantastic shopping) - including Don Quijote, but otherwise we might plan to stay somewhere else next time we are in Osaka.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Namba station, Don Quijote

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

drafty near the window

Koyasan Syukubo Ekoin

Wakayama-ken

This hotel was nice, but not ideal for us. It was the most expensive of our trip and although it was quite large, all the modern amenities and lack of clear information on how to use them was dissappointing. The private bath looked so lovely in the pictures, but was too difficult and frustrating to use in real life. We also did not realize we could have eaten breakfast and dinner in our room- whcih did have a lovely table and full dining area. So instead we ate in the main lodge - May not have been a problem in summer or spring, but in December it was quite cold in the lodge and uncomfortalble. Finally, the room has in floor heating as well as furnace heating. It was around 28 Celsius in our room all night as we could not find clear instructions to cool down the room. This is likely one of the nicer accomodations in Koyasan, but we would not choose to go back as the price was quite high and we were not able to use the ammenities offered as instructions in English wer unavaible or were unclear.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room amenities need clearer instructions in English. Thermostat very difficult to use.

Hotel Resol Trinity Kyoto

Kyoto

This is such a classy hotel! The restaurant and breakfast were outstanding! Could not have had a nicer spot to dine nor better food for breakfast. Very well done! The room clean, the beds very comfortable and the shower hot and easy to use. Loved the windows in the room. Gave light without compromising privacy. The front desk folks were exceptional, including the woman who helped forward our bags on to Osaka and the young gentleman who suggested Yonefuku for dinner the night of Dec 21, 24, when we were very tired and very hungry (and the restaurant was hosting a performer). THANK YOU! Excellent staff, comfort and good location. We would stay again!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Referral to Yonefuku on 12/21/24, help with shipping luggage to Osaka

Cleanliness & Comfort

beds were very comfortable, heating was accurate, shower was nice

THE KANZASHI TOKYO ASAKUSA

We loved this hotel. The room was small as we expected, but well appointed and everything we needed was in the room, including a hair dryer :) The bathroom was spotless and the shower was wonderful. We also felt the location was great for first time sight seeing and ideal for the first few nights in Tokyo as it was not noisy or overly crowded in the surrounding areas. Breakfast was also very good. We would stay here agian.

Authenticity & Character

Location

So close to Senso-ji temple and shrine and good food!

Staff

checkin, check out and breakfast were all fast and efficient. Staff were friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

cleanliness was fantastic. The only complaint was that the pillows were quite hard.

Activity Reviews

Sayonara Japan!

Japan

We loved being back in Tokyo and Ginza was a nice last stop, although we liked other areas of Tokyo better - including Asakusa, Shibuya, Rippongi. Being fairly independent travelers, we liked not having something specific planned for us and were happy to walk to a well reputed sushi restaurant for our last night in Tokyo. Our favorite spots were Asakusa, Cappiness Cafe in Tokyo, All things Kyoto including Hotel Resol Trinity, Arashiyama and the amazing sushi lunch we had there. Highlights for us were the lovely Japaneese people and culture of walking, cleanliness, efficiency, quiet, and a sense of gratitude and respect for others. THIS is what makes us want to return, not to mention the food! Amazing quality and diversity of food was so fun for us!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Koyasan!

Koyasan

Sadly, this was our least favorite activity. We wish we would have had more time in Tokyo, Kyoto or Osaka instaed of the journey to and from Koyasan. We also felt that the trip between kyoto and koyosan back to osaka was a lot and made the time at Koyasan feel rushed. The staff and amenities at Syukubo Ekoin were okay, but we felt staff were a little young and unclear about where different activities were located, how dinner and breakfast were typically done and how to use amenites. Overall, we felt that the length of the journey to and from Koyosan wasn't worth what we missed in other parts of Japan that we liked better. We recognize that we had asked for a temple stay and probably should have done more research before committing to this particular activity/trip. We appreciated seeing traditional buddhist practices, but would have skipped it knowing how much of the trip it would use up.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Staff at Temple seemed unorganized. There was no specific person to ask so we interrupted the office staff often to get infomation

Transport

Interesting to take the Furnicular to Koyasan and all mass transport staff were helpful. Overall, too much travel for this activity

Full Day Kyoto and Nara Tour with English-Speaking Guide

Japan

Mana was a lovely guide for our full day tour. Knowing that we were quick walkers and liked to see as much as we could, she paced the day very well for us. We feel like we got to see a lot this day! We also appreciated Mana's help navigating the travel to and from Nara as well as the other sights in Kyoto. The temples and shrines we saw that day were incredible. We particularly apprecitated Nara, not only because of the cute deer, but the temple and the HUGE buddha and gate were stunning. One of the things we most appreciated was Mana teaching us basic phrases and numbers in Japaneese. We used these things a ton on our trip and her presentation of them was fantastic. You can tell she's been a teacher before and we learned so much from her! Finally, we apprectiated Mana walking us back to our hotel.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Taxiing help us see the most. The train ride was nice

Sushi making class in Tsukiji fish market with Pro sushi chef

Tokyo

Fuka Fuji was fantastic and her English and understanding of both Japaneese and USA culture was so helpful. We really enjoyed going grocery shopping with her and learning how to get the best items for our meal. The meal was also excellent and LOTS of food. Sake tasting was fun, but wasn't necessary for this class. We very much enjoyed our time with Fuka- We do think the class could be done in three hours. Four was maybe too long for what we did, but we were lucky that it was just the three of us

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We walked which we like, so no tranport needed

Hidden Gem Food & Whiskey Night Tour near Roppongi

Tokyo

This tour was fun and Ellen was a great tour guide, but it was a little long for us- especially on the first day of our tour after another 4 hour guided tour. We apprecitated trying Wagyu beef (and did not need to eat it again as it was not our favorite). We loved talking to the chef and appreciated Ellen's interpreting for us. The whiskey spot was super fun and nice to try the japaneese whisky. The most fun was meeting Ellen's older lady restaurant owner and watching her cook for us and explain how she makes her food.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We like to walk, but may have been okay to use taxi for some of the walking after a long day of tours.

Half Day Tokyo Tour with a Multilingual Guide by Public Transportation (Private)

Tokyo

Shino greeted us promptly in the morning and was very kind and friendly. We appreciated her welcome gift the night before as well. This tour was our first of the trip and her English skills were put to the test with our many questions about culture, education, politics and religion. We so appreciated her helping us navigae the subway system and showing us the highlights of Tokyo. A four hour guided tour was plenty for our first day in Tokyo and gave us the confidence to try to navigate on our own a little more. Thank you, Shino for your patience, knowledge and guidance AND for the great pictures you took! The one thing we may suggest is adding a small stop for a snack or drink as we were famished by the time the tour was done at 1300.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

So helpful to use the subway with someone on the first day of our trip

Our Nepal trip was amazing, Sangita planned everything very well to the last detail, and customized the itinerary exactly to our preferences. She's very knowledgeable and we learned so much from her. Walking with her while she expertly navigates the narrow streets of Kathmandu was so much fun, and we saw parts of the city few travellers get to see.
Our trek with Mitra was carefully thought out, we felt in very good hands as he did this route many times.
Sangita organized two Newari cooking classes for us which was both very exciting and tasty, and we got to learn from Nepali expert homemakers.
Sanit took us on a journey through Buddhist and Hindu temples and rituals, and gave us a very in-depth explanation of eastern philosophy.

Sangita was always on top of things, gave us constant support whenever we contacted her, and welcomed us into Nepal <3

Hotel Reviews

Traditional Stay

Mangalbazar, Kathmandu

The Traditional Stay in Patan offered very clean rooms, but the room configurations were quite strange. We had to change rooms a few times because each had a separate issue. The accommodation was cold with no proper heating in the rooms, which was a bit uncomfortable.

Hotel WoodApple

Thamel

Hotel WoodApple was okay but not quite up to our expectations. The room felt very cold and dark, unfortunately. However, the breakfast was okay. The hotel itself seemed pretty empty during our stay.

Aabas Pokhara

Pokhara

We really enjoyed our stay as Aabas, the breakfast was great, shower, bed and amenities were above our expectations, the view from the rooftop pool is awe inspiring.

Authenticity & Character

Good room designs, awesome rooftop, very warm lobby and restaurant

Location

Very close to the Lakeside road

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Local Cooking Class (2-3 hrs)

Kathmandu

We had so much fun learning from Rita and Sangita the art of making MoMo. Ours weren't particularly perfect, but with the help of our teachers we got to enjoy a great meal of our making. The food came out amazing and since we made everything from scratch we can now make it to our friends back home.

Quality of Experience

Very personal experience

Food

Our trip to Costa Rica was excellent. I do want to mention that our lodging at the Karahe Hotel in Quepos was our only glitch. We loved the hotel, the people, and the beach. But the one room up the stairs was problematic ... maybe not for young people who don't mind the many steps to their room, but for us, the nuisance of the climb to the small room (limited hot water) was not worth the gorgeous view. But we cannot say enough about Olman... and we ran into another family who had booked through him who also were extremely happy. So, we will return to KimKim for future trips, and if/when we return to Costa Rica, we want Olman to be our travel agent.
Thank you so much, and to Olman, Pura Vida!
Betsy

The pre-planning of the trip and the tours that were set up were all excellent. Our guide in Tokyo and to Mt. Fuji - Allen - was wonderful. The only complaint I have is that our hotel check-ins took more than half and hour each time because the names for who would be occupying the rooms were completely screwed up. This caused quite a bit of confusion at check in. Kim Kim had all of our families names and knew who should be sharing rooms but somehow the room assignments were somewhat random.

We loved our guides :: Mohammed who kindly picked us up and dropped us off at the airport in Cairo , Muhmood was our tour guide in Cairo very knowledgeable and so sweet and fun to be with. Both Yusefs on our final day with the tour and drop off at airport were equally amazing! All these men were wonderful, accommodating, smart, and had great personalities - they really made our trip to Egypt special!
Our trip on the Nile was amazing and our guide was very knowledgeable! However, , he lacked a fun and outgoing personality, He only spoke when he was informing us about the sites. This was a let down after our Cairo guides!

Mohammed, our trip manager was amazing and easy to work with. His recommendations were great! We loved all our accommodations and transportation ran very smoothly for us!
I would definitely recommend KimKim and Mohammed to help plan an amazing trip to Egypt!

Hotel Reviews

Jaz Casa Del Mar Beach

hurghada

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms seemed a bit outdated. The lobby needs new furniture and more areas to sit and relax inside the hotel since it was cold at night,

Jaz Viceroy Nile Cruise

Aswan

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fairmont Nile city

cairo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Tour to Khan El Khalili Bazaar and Dinner in Hilltop restaurant

Cairo

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Luxor West Bank to Hurghada

Luxor

Tour was great but Luxor to Hurghada Long ride- we would have preferred to fly,

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Luxor East Bank

Luxor

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

kom Ombo, and edfu Temples

Aswan

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour to High Dam, Philae Temple, and Obelisk

Aswan

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour to Egyptian Museum, Citadel, and Coptic Cairo

Cairo

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Giza Pyramids with a camel ride & the Grand Egyptian Museum

Cairo

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

All guides good. All drivers good. Hanging Bridges guide exceptional; named Gabby.
Catamaran guides exceptional; saw whales!

Would recommend more hotel options be given rather than only one within the overall plan so customers can have flexibility in choosing given amenities and price range (we just took what was offered due to lateness of planning our trip; however we would have liked to have had different choices for our stays in San Jose and Samara).

Hotel Reviews

Montelaguna Boutique Hotel

Samara

Simple place. Nice enough.

Authenticity & Character

Building ok. Could provide foldable chairs and hammocks to take to the beach.

Location

Close to beautiful Carrillo Beach but have to walk on narrow busy road and cross road to get to beach. Would be nice if road had shoulders.

Staff

Conversational and friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Best they can do for hotel age.

Baldi Hot Springs Resort, Hotel & Spa

Fortuna

Nice and comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Choice of hot springs.

Location

Good for being picked up for tours; but not that close to towns restaurants etc.

Staff

Front desk

Cleanliness & Comfort

They say they make sure hot spring waters and pools are kept clean and safe for people.

Cariblue Beach & Jungle Resort

South Puerto Viejo

Ok place, but too musty for me. Make sure room is accommodating for your age and physical needs. We had two stories with very steep stairs. Restaurant ok.

Authenticity & Character

Hotel should remodel.

Location

Too close to busy main road. Beach across busy road. Nice beach.

Staff

Attentive

Cleanliness & Comfort

They do the best they can inside of room given the age of the structure.

Pachira Lodge

Tortuguero

For being in an isolated area, very nice. When not touring one has few options. Lodge could provide more activities, especially due to rainy weather, (when the swimming pool was not always suitable) and an ‘iffy’ internet connection in the rooms. In the public areas of the lodge, internet was ok if not always at its best, but then, one is in the isolated tropical forest, We enjoyed lying in hammocks under a covered, open space while it rained. Some tourists brought cards and games with them, which was a great idea for the free times.

Authenticity & Character

Nice lodge feeling. Nice wood architecture. One drawback, was that one can hear human neighbors due to open layouts. Saw monkeys, and sloths in trees at the lodge. Always had hot water, which was pleasant… and food was good.

Location

For the park and tours.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Auténtico Hotel

San José

First night poor, no air conditioning, mechanical building noise and outside noises that of course the hotel cannot control. 2nd night good enough.

Authenticity & Character

No comment

Location

Let customer know location. This hotel was not in a good location for walking to see any central areas.

Staff

The men were friendlier at the reception than the women. Welcoming treat was awful, but nice to be offered one.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Overall ok

Activity Reviews

Catamaran Ocean Safari & Snorkel Trip

Sámara

Saw Whales! Extra special guides as hosts who kept us safe and provided levity!!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Hanging Bridges Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

Despite the rain which fortunately let up, wonderful experience. Friendly knowledgeable guide!!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Pura Vida in practice!!!

Transport

Maleku Cultural Immersion Day Trip

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Enjoy the Beauty of Tortuguero National Park

Tortuguero

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

San Jose - Tortuguero

Costa Rica

Long trip. Food stop area pleasant. Transfer point from bus to boat is rustic, including bathrooms. Final boat trip to park is fun!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cahuita National Park Snorkel & Rainforest Hike

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Loved!

Quality of Experience

Beauty and friendly guides

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a fantastic trip to Costa Rica thanks to Kimkim and serendipity team. We were warmly received by Alex Quiros from serendipity travels who drove us to Manuel Antonio. He gave us a beautiful overview of Costa Rica and helped us see some great wildlife Enroute. Throughout the trip we had an amazing time, transport was well organized and on time. The staff were extremely polite and professional and went over and beyond for us. We will use definitely use kimkim and serendipity again!

Hotel Reviews

Studio Hotel

San José

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bathroom was not squeaky clean

Arenal Springs Resort

La Fortuna

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lighting in the rooms was very dull. Bathroom was slightly tight. Can be improved.

Arenas del Mar Resort

Manuel Antonio

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Coffee & Chocolate Tour

Costa Rica

Arenal Volcano & 1968 Reserve Guided Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit to Maleku Indigenous Reserve

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Catamaran Tour with Meal

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike

Manuel Antonio

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Emanuela was so amazing to work with! We could reach out to her with any questions and she got right back to us. I told her what we were hoping to do and see during our trip to Iceland, and she planned a perfect vacation full of waterfalls and hot springs, and even a glacier hike. We were able to print out everything before our trip, including the tickets that she booked to the hot springs and for our snorkeling tours. Everthing that we need to know was on the pdf files that we printed out. It just made packing and planning so easy and stress free. The driver that she booked for us was such a nice guy. He was able to tell us so much about his beautiful country. And he was super helpful with everything. We had a wonderful trip and would absolutely use Kimkim again for future trips. Thank you Emanuela!

Emma’s recommendations and trip-planning made this the trip of a lifetime for our family, ages 22 to 77. She thought of every detail, from train tickets and schedules to finding great restaurants and making reservations, to researching specific things we were hoping to see and experience in Holland. She is friendly, thoughtful, and was readily available and quick to respond to questions through the entire process. The KimKim team gave us the ability to ask for help or with questions while we were traveling. We also very much appreciated the transport drivers Maarten, Reuben, and Ibo who were prompt and made airport and Christmas Day transport so easy. Many THANKS from our whole family!

Hotel Review

Accommodation booked by traveler

Activity Reviews

Haarlem - City escape tour

The Netherlands

We ran out of time to play this tour escape game. However, I know we would’ve liked to play it as it’s a great multi-age group game and a fun way to discover new places in Haarlem! We will do this next time for sure.

Quality of Experience

Gouda - Day trip to Rotterdam

Gouda

Kinderdijk windmills, water taxi to the windmills, Cube Houses, and Markthal for dinner were terrific! Markthal closed at 6:00 pm, which ended up being just enough time to get and eat dinner for us.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Haarlem canal cruise

The Netherlands

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Haarlem - Corrie ten Boom museum

The Netherlands

Be on time! The reservations tell you this, but you must be waiting in the alley at your ticket time or they will give your place away to others waiting. We had a late train because of a prior train accident, which forced us to run to the museum to make it just in time!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Gouda - Day trip to Haarlem

Gouda

We liked the city of Haarlem very much! We purchased tickets for the Corrie ten Boom museum on our own after reading her book The Hiding Place and really enjoyed the 50 min. tour. We liked the canal cruise very much. Shopping was fun by all, and we sampled and enjoyed the street food vendors. Emma planned an Escape Tour and made dinner reservations for us also, but we had one person in our group who wasn’t feeling well, so we went back early for the day.

Quality of Experience

Transport

Gouda - Cheese Experience

The Netherlands

Place is great! 22 year old son said the cheese-tasting was his favorite thing of the week. Liked the cafe for lunch afterwards, and we bought cheese and souvenirs to take home before we left.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Utrecht - De Haar Castle

The Netherlands

Booked this on our own without KimKim. Was a fun event to soon Christmas Day since most things are closed. Emma arranged transport and we were so thankful we had drivers Reuben and Ibo!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

No English- speaking tour guides or audio tours available on Christmas Day.

Transport

Amsterdam - Private canal cruise

The Netherlands

Our tiny boat’s propeller quit working and we were close to having to abandon ship during the cruise. The driver June was hanging over the side repairing it in the dark. Would probably suggest another boat company or bigger boat for future groups. The lights in the canal were pretty. June packed hot water bottles to keep our laps warm which was nice.

Amsterdam - Rijksmuseum

The Netherlands

Was an extremely packed place on 12/23, likely lots of families visiting because of the holiday week-

Quality of Experience

Transport

Train transport to/from Gouda was pretty easy all week

Explore Rotterdam and Kinderdijk windmills

The Netherlands

Quality of Experience

A Mesmerizing Journey Through Morocco: From Coastal Cities to Saharan Sands
Our driver and guide Hassan Amraoui was the best part of the trip.
Our 10-day Moroccan adventure was made exceptional by our remarkable driver, Hassan Amraoui, whose expertise and patience transformed our journey into something truly special. His responsible driving and intimate knowledge of Morocco's roads ensured we traveled safely between destinations while experiencing the country's diverse landscapes.
In Casablanca, we admired the Hassan II Mosque's architectural grandeur before heading to Rabat, where the blue-walled Kasbah des Oudaias offered stunning coastal views. Hassan's local insights added depth to each location we visited.
Fes immersed us in history with its UNESCO-listed medina. Navigating the labyrinthine alleys, we watched skilled artisans work in the tanneries and crafts quarters. The sensory overload of spices, leather, and metalwork created an unforgettable atmosphere.
The journey's highlight was undoubtedly Merzouga and the Sahara Desert. Riding ATVs across towering sand dunes delivered pure adrenaline-pumping excitement. The golden dunes stretched endlessly, creating a surreal landscape that felt otherworldly. Hassan's expert navigation through the desert roads made this remote adventure possible.
Marrakech provided the perfect finale. The famous Djemaa el-Fna square pulsed with energy as snake charmers, storytellers, and food vendors created a carnival-like atmosphere. A food tour revealed the depths of Moroccan cuisine, from tender tagines to delicate pastries.
The aerial adventures in Marrakech – hot air ballooning at sunrise and paragliding over the landscape – offered breathtaking perspectives of the Red City and Atlas Mountains. Watching the morning light paint the city gold while floating silently overhead was simply magical.
Throughout our journey, Hassan's professionalism, friendly demeanor, and deep understanding of Morocco's culture and geography enhanced every aspect of our trip. His careful planning and flexible approach ensured we could fully immerse ourselves in each experience while maintaining a comfortable pace. Having such a reliable and knowledgeable driver made our Moroccan adventure not just a series of destinations, but a seamless journey through this captivating country.

Activity Reviews

Hassan II Mosque

Morocco

Beautiful!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride over Marrakech

Marrakesh

Amazing amazing amazing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Paragliding

Marrakesh

Superb experience!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Food Tour

Marrakesh

This is a must do! food was amazing and the guide will know exactly where to take you. Food was simply superb!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ouarzazate to Marrakech via Aït Benhaddou

Morocco

Beautiful drive!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sahara to Ouarzazate via Todra Gorge

Morocco

very long drive but our driver was just excellent and he would stop in many beautiful places and at the end we didnt even feel the long drive

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Camel Trek into Luxury Sahara Camp

Morocco

It was a 4 km long camel ride but worth it. Beautiful dunes and unbelievable experience! I would do a 2km ha ha...my behind was crying.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Merzouga Oasis and Family Lunch

Morocco

Berber Pizza was the best! Amazing hospitality and loved it.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

ATV / Dune Buggy Adventure in the Sahara Desert

Morocco

This is a must do. Adventurous and my kids and I loved every bit of it. The ATV guy was very experienced and very resposible. I highly recommend this activity.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

From Fes to Merzouga via the Atlas Mountains (Ifrane, Azrou and Zaida)

Morocco

Long journey but worth every bit of it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour Fes with a Private Guide

Fes

Kamal took us to tour the medina and overall Fes tour was very interesting and beautiful

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sand Boarding

Morocco

Amazing - My kids and I loved it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an amazing time on our 9-day trip exploring all the major highlights of Morocco! Huge shoutout to our incredible local private driver for the whole trip, Lahcen, who was truly the best - not only very knowledgeable but also a really great guy who always went above and beyond to ensure we were having the best time possible. The rest of the local specialists / Original Travels team were also great throughout the planning process. The best part of booking with kimkim is that the itinerary is fully customizable to your preferences and you don't have to worry about transport or booking hotels / activities during your trip so you can fully enjoy the experience. Highly recommend visiting this beautiful and unique country with so many diverse landscapes and interesting cities to explore, and doing so with kimkim / Original Travels (and if you're lucky, Lahcen)!

Yasser was the best guide / driver we could have hoped for, so warm and welcoming. Highly recommend him

Hotel Reviews

Le Casablanca Hotel

Casablanca

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Salam Fes

Fes

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Les Jardins De La Koutoubia

Marrakech

Perfect location and great staff… spa is awesome

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to souk

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Marrakech Evening Food Tour

Marrakesh

Quality of Experience

Food

Great insight into local cuisine

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ibrahim was well organized and always on time. The private guides for Marrakesh (Yassine ) and Fez (Kamal) were knowledgeable and interesting.

The local roadside restaurants were absolutely fantastic and probably the best food in Morocco.

The Sahara excursion is a must!

Hotel Reviews

Riad Madu Luxury Camp

Merzouga

This is a must!!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

The camp is located furthest into the Sahara. All you can see are dunes and the mountains in the distance.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Les Jardins de Skoura

Skoura

Authenticity & Character

Location

It’s a bit out of the way, but worth the extra drive. The property is beautiful

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel & Ryad Art Place Marrakech

Marrakech

Beautiful Riyad. Gorgeous rooms and very centrally located.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Tea with a local family

Morocco

We did not enjoy this. It felt staged and unnecessary

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The trip was amazing for the most part. Our guide and our driver (Ibrahim and Hassan) went
out of their way to accommodate us; they were patient and fun and met all our needs and
requests. We had a thoroughly enjoyable time with them and would definitely recommend them or use them again ourselves. They made the trip more than enjoyable, and we had a lot of fun with them during our drive times. We stopped for coffee, stopped and bought oranges, stopped to get wine for the desert camp.... They were fantastic. Our biggest issue, we feel, involved communication with our specialist, Megan, and the communication between her and the guide and driver. To begin, none of us like "tour" vacations but with the language barrier in Morocco, especially, we opted to use Kimkim/Wanderlust. We made it clear - we thought - to Megan that we did not want a "package" vacation and that we wanted free time to explore on our own, flexibility to change plans, and did not want to frequent the "tourist trap" spots of the region. When we arrived and were taken to our transport vehicle by our guide, we were introduced to our driver - a surprise to us as we thought we had a driver/guide in the form of one person. Our vehicle was a large 15 passenger tourist van/bus, with curtains on the windows, wifi onboard, etc.; possibly because there were 5 of us and our luggage, and we also needed room for any purchases, but still seemed like overkill and something that definitely didn’t blend in. We thought maybe it was also the reason for the separate driver, since it wasn't a standard car. We shrugged it off - and it did make for lots of space - went to our beautiful hotel and settled in. The food tour that night was perfect. The next day, during the Marrakech city tour with our local guide, we were taken to specific shops, even in the souk, to shop and make purchases. This was *exactly* what we had been concerned about and didn't want; we
were pretty turned off. Besides that, the guide was very informative and knowledgeable. Our schedule said we had free time the next morning, so we figured we'd go back to the market on our own; however, on returning to the hotel, we found out there was NO free time the next morning. (We did go back that night for some more food and a bit of browsing.) The next day we went to Ait BenHaddou, which was one of our highly anticipated stops. We again felt that
we were rushed through, in order to get us to the hotel..... which we arrived at with hours to spare before dinner and bed, feeling very disappointed in the day’s activities. Those activities had included the argan oil stop, which we could have skipped, was supposedly optional, and which we thought we had also said we were not interested in. This was when we first clued in that we were basically on a scripted tour and would have to be pretty vocal in communicating our desires to our guide since they had not been communicated by our advisor. (Our daughter messaged Megan about
it, and that was also her reply). From that point on, we did so and, while he seemed surprised at some of our choices (not dressing up and having our picture taken in caftans and turbans, for example), the rest of the trip seemed to go more smoothly. I’m still disappointed in the Ait BenHaddou stop, as I felt I saw nothing but some red walls. We had also expressed to Megan our daughter's desire to be able to take a short 'hike' while in the mountains, but the itinerary left no time to fit that in even though we'd been told we would be able to. We could have gone to the gorge after leaving Quarzazate, but our guide told us we'd have to leave at least an hour earlier in the morning, basically drive an hour, have time to stop and get a picture, and then drive the other way for hours to the camel trek; we opted to skip it. All to say that, even tho we felt we had communicated our wishes to Megan, they were not passed on and the trip did not seem very personal. We felt that either she didn't have a good grasp of distances and travel time, or just placated us with telling us that we would be able to do all the things we wanted. We would have made adjustments (e.g. skipped Rabat).... we relied on her 'expertise' rather than doing the homework ourselves - the main reason to hire a travel specialist - and were disappointed. There were a couple other small requests that were also not communicated to our guide. Basically, it felt that once we booked the trip, the cookie cutter parts were pieced together to hit our high points and the personal adjustments were ignored, as were realistic time frames. Still, we had a wonderful trip, thanks to Ibrahim and Hassan. Our guide in Fes, Kamal, was superb. The services provided by the Moroccan people to those who are traveling is so accommodating and hospitable, as they work to make you comfortable and welcome….something you don’t always find in areas heavily frequented by tourists. If we were to do it again, we decided we would skip Kimkim/Wanderlust, or any other travel service, find and hire a driver/guide via recommendation, and build our own trip from scratch - basically go back to what we have always done. We also feel that would allow more flexibility in stops…. there are lots of places along the way that we would have stopped and explored were we not on the ‘tour’, and others we would have skipped. Overall a fantastic trip, though.... it all worked out in the end.

Hotel Reviews

Riad & Spa Bahia Salam

Marrakech

Authenticity & Character

Great hammam!!

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dar Kika Salam

Rabat

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Mosaic Chefchaouen

Chefchouen

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very personal and helpful. He is from Chefchaouen and obviously loves it. The only person who refused a tip and helped just because it's what you do.

Cleanliness & Comfort

I loved the hotel, but unfortunately our room was right on the corridor ("street") and noisy... people, dogs, etc. Probably wouldn't matter if we lived in a city where one is used to it, but we live very rurally and nights are really quiet (except for crickets and frogs in the spring and summer).

Riad Al Makan

Fès

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Madu Luxury Camp

Merzouga

So much fun to be in the desert and pretend to live in a tent!

Authenticity & Character

Location

It's the Sahara.... what more needs to be said?

Staff

So much fun.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Ksar Ighnda

Asfalou

Wonderful accomodations, large rooms, fantastic views

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palais Sebban

Marrakech

Probably my favorite hotel of the trip. So much fun to explore, amazing mosaic and plaster work, beautiful rooms. Wonderful breakfast. Fantastic.

Authenticity & Character

rooms, mosaic, plasterwork, courtyard/garden, pools, food......

Location

Close to everything we wanted to do.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hassan II Mosque

Morocco

Amazing architecture, but by this point of the trip we had seen so much that it was almost overwhelming. In hindsight, I think we may have rather used the time for something else, thereby skipping Casablanca and allowing more time for other parts of the trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The tour was a fairly large group of people, and there were several occurring concurrently. I know this can't be helped, but it does make it difficult to hear sometimes, especially when the guide is not speaking in his primary language.

Transport

En Route stop at Volubilis

Morocco

It was raining, so it wasn't a very leisurely exploration of the ruins, but it was truly beautiful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour Fes with a Private Guide

Fes

I think Fes was one of the best parts of the trip.... so much to see and do.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Kamal was outstanding. So very knowledgeable. Lots of insightfulness and philosophical tidbits.

Transport

Erg Chebbi to Fes by way of the Atlas Mountains

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Camel Trek into a Luxury Sahara Camp

Morocco

So fun, so amazing

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

It was a camel!

Ouarzazate to Erg Chebbi

Morocco

Beautiful drive, could have skipped the Argan oil stop. Would have greatly appreciated more time at Ben AitHaddou

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

This was the only disappointing day... just seemed to be a little rushed.

Transport

I can't imagine driving in Morocco, but Hassan never made me feel unsafe.

Tour Marrakech with a private guide

Marrakesh

The guide was very informative, but took us only to certain shops for shopping, rather than just letting us walk the souk and do our thing. Some of these shops seemed somewhat "high end" and specifically for tourists and travelers.

Quality of Experience

Just seemed a bit too scripted and planned out. Obviously made for tourists.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mohammed was very knowledgeable. Appreciated his insight at the Bahia Palace and the mosque.

Transport

Food Tour

Marrakesh

Our favorite food is street food and the souk did not disappoint!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

we walked

This trip to Kenya 12/20-12/29/2024, was the trip of a lifetime. My kids ages 10 and 13 came with us which made it all the more special. The wildlife was surreal. We had a new stop each couple days that offered great diversity. Stanley was our driver and he has the perfect personality for the job. We found the people to be very genuine in Kenya and Stanley epitomizes that. The Maasai cultural experience is not one to skip. The 18 hours there was seriously life changing for my family.

The dog sledding in Alta was a highlight!!! I would love to go back and actually stay there. The outings for the northern lights were a bust until Tromso mini van trip. Kinga was excellent and the lights put on not only one show but two! Also very much enjoyed the reindeer. The snow mobiling was OK but I much prefer to be with animals more than motors. That is a personal preference. There were problems with the trip. Sometimes it took over 24 hours to get a response from anyone at KimKim. Also, several different people so there was no continuity. In Tromso we were given the wrong meeting place on the printed schedule which made us miss a half a day of our vacation and got up extra early. That was really sloppy. I would like to be reimbursed for this expense since we lost a half day and had to be rescheduled to another company. (Not as good as the Alta experience.)

This was a trip of a lifetime, allowing us to see the most we could in the time we had. Angel did a great job of getting everything in that we wanted to see and setting up the travel between all of the locations. Yumi was a great guide in Tokyo and adjusted our itinerary on the fly to make sure we saw all of the relevant attractions. Chizuko (Chi) was great for the 3 days we spent with her. She was very informative and had specific things she showed us as we went along. All of the hotels where excellent, and Angel piked well for us. We had an issue with a missed train connection, due to a blockage on the track, and Ms. Heidi was quick to help and even offered to pay the difference if we got charged for a change to the next train, which we did not. This is the 3rd time we have used KimKim and will absolutely use them again!

Activity Reviews

Half Day Fushimi Inari Taisha and Kinkakuji Temple

Kyoto

This was quit the experience, and would strongly recommend this and getting to see the culture aspects of Kyoto.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tokyo Highlights Day Tour - East & West

Tokyo

Our guide did a great job of showing us all of the important things to see in Tokyo. Yumi was quick to adjust our itinerary to ensure we saw some of the historical aspects of Tokyo, which where close to our hotel.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Samurai Ninja Museum and Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

The Samurai Museum will seem very touristy, BUT we found ourselves referencing the information we learned the rest of the trip. You really do learn about the Samurai and the history of them in Japan. The Tea Ceremony really got you the experience of seeing it in person and the opportunity to dress for it. Strongly suggest this tour, if this is your first trip to Japan.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Katana Sword Making in Kyoto

Kyoto

You get to learn about the history of swords as well as how they made. You end up with your own take home knife, that you helped craft, which really brings this home.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A fantastic tour put together by Mathias! Every detail was thought out carefully and planned for our group of 4 adults and 5 children aged between 4-9. All we did was show up and the airport, and everything else was handled for the rest of the trip until we got back to the airport. Mathias was very responsive through the planning phase and always answered my multiple questions with consideration of my family and the needs of the kids and what we would all enjoy. All allergies and dietary restrictions were conveyed to everyone involved and all restaurants we ate at, so we never had to worry. When anything unexpected came up, our guide Mishell was quick to make changes on the fly and make sure everything was handled. She would always help watch out for our family and kids and watched their reactions at certain points ... She would then make suggestions on making any changes to future plans based on what she thought they would like. We had a great time in Quito and Otavalo seeing all the sights, the old town, the market, crater lake, the teleferiqo cable car, and so much more. Our time in the rainforest at was very different than other trips we have taken, but we thoroughly enjoyed our time visiting the Amazon and learning about the culture and people that call it home, including a boat ride down the river looking out for animals, and hiking through the forest. To end it all, we stopped (as planned by Mathias) for a few hours at the Papallacta hot springs to recover and relax after all the days of activities and excursions. Overall, the planning and execution by Mathias and the Authentic Ecuador team, as well as constant communication thought the trip between Mathias and Mishell, and with us... Was unmatched and unbeatable. Would highly recommend to anyone considering this tour or this company! Ask for Mathias, and you will not regret it and will have the time of your life in beautiful Ecuador! We are already thinking about a return trip in a couple years to the Galapagos!

Hotel Reviews

Hakuna Matata Lodge

Archidona

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Swissotel Quito

Quito

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Archidona - Papallacta Hot Springs - Quito

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Amazon Safari

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chocolate Session

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jungle Hike

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Otavalo Market & Cuicocha Crater Lake

Quito

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Quito Cooking Class

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit the "Middle of the World"

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Quito City Tour

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip was absolutely wonderful! All the hotels were excellent and very helpful with maps and recommendations! In Madrid our first tour guide Alfonso for Prado museum and royal palace was exceptional. The King of Spain was in residence for Christmas so palace was closed to public. They made last minute change to Almudena cathedral which was great last minute alternate! Alfonso was so passionate about the art and history of Madrid. He took us for chocolate and churros where we can see them making the churros in business since 1902. This tour was fantastic and especially with our guide Alfonso. He pointed out and explained so many historical monuments. He was also the best possible guide for Prado museum! His passion was magnifico! Then on to San Sebastián where we had recommendations from hotel Room Mate Gorka for Narru restaurant where the food was wonderful! Thanks to Alba at Kim Kim we also had the best possible Christmas dinner in San Sebastián with music, food and wine! We had 2 food tours of the wine (rioja) country with pinxtos lunch and medieval village of LaGuardia. The wine caves were amazing. Then another day to a wonderful family owned farm with a fantastic meal we won’t forget! Our hostess was wonderful to walk us around her farm and serve us a delicious home made meal with Txakoli wine. Stop in Tolosa was beautiful! Last stop Bilbao and the Guggenheim. Hotel recommended restaurant Serantes. We had the best scallops I have ever had! Thank you Alba for a most wonderful trip with everything and more than we could have dreamed! I would recommend Alba for anyone who wants to see Spain as she was the best and always checking to make sure we were doing well. All hotels, transfers and tours were fantastic! I would not change anything!
I have so many photos and memories for a lifetime!
Thank you Alba!
Maisa and Robert

Hotel Reviews

Catalonia Gran Vía Bilbao

Bilbao

Comfortable and clean with great sleep and wonderful breakfast included. Room service was very good also

Authenticity & Character

Staff were helpful and packed us to go box meal for early flight departure!

Location

Very nice location

Staff

Wake up call and to go box meal for early flight departure was much appreciated!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable!

Gorka Room Mate

San Sebastián

Breakfast was wonderful and so were recommendations for shopping and food. Comfortable and quiet sleep

Authenticity & Character

This was great hotel!

Location

Great location

Staff

Good recommendation for food and ahopping

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very comfortable and excellent breakfast included

H10 Villa de la Reina

Madrid

Wonderful room with view of Gran Via and very comfortable! Staff was helpful with recommendations for late breakfast. Room was clean and very comfortable for great night sleep. Big plus for the balcony view!!!

Authenticity & Character

Lovely staff and very central location in city

Location

Central location with comfortable room and great balcony view. Quiet and comfortable

Staff

Mara at front desk was especially helpful with recommendations

Cleanliness & Comfort

Great room and very comfortable sleep

Activity Reviews

Private Basque Countryside Foodie Day Trip

San Sebastián

This tour was so much fun to meet the people who work and care for the animals and prepare the food. Beautiful countryside! No idea how you would find this without a guide. We had a wonderful meal and lovely experience with kind and generous people!

Quality of Experience

The food was excellent and our hostess was lovely

Food

Wonderful food and wonderful hostess

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great trip

Transport

Tour of Tolosa was very nice. The farm was a hidden gem

Private Tour in la Rioja- Wine&History

Spain

We loved the tours of rioja country. Our guide Iker took us to 2 wineries where we were welcomed and shown around and explained the production and had tastings. The wine caves were incredible and we enjoyed this tour and the people who we met that were so friendly and welcoming. Easy to fall in love with the kind people we met in Spain.

Quality of Experience

Wonderful people! Beautiful country!

Food

Everything was good!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Welcoming, friendly and fun

Transport

Iker was good host and driver

Madrid at a Glance, Culture, Royal Palace and El Prado

Madrid

We had the best tour guide! Alfonso was incredible with history and art in Madrid! We were fortunate to have Alfonso as our guide and had the most wonderful tour of Madrid with the Prado museum. He engaged with everyone and his knowledge and passion for Madrid was contagious!

Quality of Experience

Our guide Alfonso was exceptional

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The history and art in Madrid with our guide Alfonso made this tour special.

Transport

We could have walked but taxi was easier for us as we were not familiar with the streets and very busy time in streets at Christmas