Kimkim Trip Reviews

Norway was one of those delayed-by-the-pandemic trips for us. We were childless when we first planned to go a few years ago. When we finally got around to going, we had a two-year-old and vastly different ambitions for what we might see and do while in the country. Booking through Kim Kim turned out to be a great way to square our past and present selves. With local expertise from Christina, Katie, and Tom, we still got deep into the country and saw amazing sights -- but weren't burdened by an overly ambitious itinerary that would have burned out our toddler (and us, frankly). They never pressured us to do and add more to our days, which was much appreciated.

Norway is a great place to travel with kids and our son had a great time on the trains, trams, and boats. It was so easy to get around on our own in between scheduled stops and we were never short on ideas for quick things to do, thanks to our guides. We were especially grateful for their help once we were in the country and needed to change one of our accommodations and add an unexpected outing -- and another time when we needed help reaching a taxi driver who didn't arrive to pick us up on time. They were very prompt to reply and put us totally at ease. I highly recommend this group to anyone traveling to Norway!

A well-organized compact trip to Patagonia and Santiago. Fransisco, our tour organizer's arrangements were detailed and his instructions were accurate. His and local support along the trip whenever we had hiccups was particularly impressive. Our activities were great, and the local guides were wonderful. We particularly enjoyed Nicholas for our Punta Arenas tour and Jorge for the kayak from Puerto Prat. They were both knowledgeable and their enthusiasm and love for the land was infectious.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Sheuen Patagonia

Puerto Natales

Great hotel catering exactly for adventure travel. Staff was awesome. Beds were somewhat worn, but still recommend.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Alma Sur

Punta Arenas

Mid hotel. Hotel rooms were small, dinner and breakfast were mediocre and payment arrangements were messed up for us. The hotel was very busy with a lot of Antarctica tourists.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Director Vitacura

Santiago, Vitacura, Región Metropolitana

Excellent location, staff and breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Torres del Paine National Park - Panoramic Tour

Chile

Tour is amazing, lunch was a bit chaotic.

Full Day Valparaiso & Viña del Mar - Group Tour

Santiago

Tour guide was good, but the stops for food were poor.

Eberhard Fjord Kayak Adventure!

Chile

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a wonderful trip to Thailand and Laos! The local guides were generally attentive and informative and communication between Kelly and them was quite good. The bookings for activities and accommodations were, with one exception, very good. Logistics were handled professionally and were generally seamless .

Activity Reviews

Kaeng Krachan National Park to Bangkrang Camp Ground area - Day 3

Kaeng Krachan National Park

Saw A scopes owl and a family of gibbons!!

Quality of Experience

Kaeng Krachan National Park - the summit area of Panoen Thung- Day 2

Kaeng Krachan National Park

Great birding

Quality of Experience

Bangkok - Khokkham - Laem Pakpia - Kaeng Krachan -Day 1

Kaeng Krachan National Park

Long day; excellent birding. Knowledgeable. Guide

Half day Local Farm Visit and Kuang Si Waterfall

Luang Prabang

Half Day Lao Cooking Class

Luang Prabang

Fun, we prepared a great lunch

Full Day Wat Xieng Thong and Night Market Tour

Luang Prabang

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Attentive, knowledgeable , friendly

Take the Mekong River Cruise to Luang Prabang (Join-in)

Thailand

Relaxing and beautiful . The food was great, too

Half Day Fun Cooking Experience With a Local Lanna Family

Chiang Mai

Lots of fun, informative and delicious

Full Day Chiang Rai Tour with White Temple & Karen Hill Tribe

Chiang Rai

I think the visit to the Karen. Village was exploitative and would not recommend it’ll

The guides from Kawen and trips in bariloche were great. 10/10 there

The planning in el calafate was not as good. The tour the first day spent way too much time on the boat and we barely got to see the glacier. And they failed to tell us that the tour the second day was at night (even though the schedule implied it would be during the day) until the day before when it was too late to make any other plans, and since it was Christmas Day there was literally nothing to do in town. This was disappointing because we asked if there were any issues with our tour being on Christmas and they said none at all.

Also the travel company failed to tell us to bring $100 bills so we could exchange money and that it was very difficult to get pesos without a $100 bill.

Overall we liked most of the activities but there could have been much better planning and communication and information sharing.

Activity Reviews

Half-Day Brazo Tristeza Navigation

Bariloche

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day Nativo Experience

El Calafate

Very fun and interesting

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-Day Mayo Spirit Trek

El Calafate

The sights were cool but there was way too much time on the boat. We spent more time on the boat than off it and only got to spend 35 minutes at the glacier. There are definitely better tours of the glaciers.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Too much time on the boat

Full-Day Kayak & Trekking at Lake Mascardi

Bariloche

Guide was great, activity was fun. I couldn’t recommend this more

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tom has been very helpful and patient with our inquiries. The trip was tailor-made to suit our needs, and it has been a very pleasant experience. We will definitely consider KimKim for our future trips.

We recently returned from an incredible trip to Turkey, organized by Kimkim, and it’s safe to say it was a journey we will cherish forever. We traveled as a family—my parents, my sister, her husband, and myself—and explored the rich history and vibrant culture of Turkey, visiting Cappadocia, Bodrum, Pamukkale, and Istanbul.

Cappadocia: A Historical Wonderland
Our adventure began in Cappadocia, a region known for its surreal landscapes and rich history. Unfortunately, due to weather conditions, we couldn’t experience the famous hot air balloon ride, which was disappointing. However, the historical sites more than made up for it. The highlight here was a visit to the underground city, an architectural marvel. While my dad and sister, feeling a bit claustrophobic, opted to return after exploring the second floor, the rest of us continued the guided tour. The guide provided by Kimkim (Sumer) was exceptional—knowledgeable and passionate, making the experience both informative and enjoyable.

Bodrum: Relaxation and Pamukkale’s Surreal Beauty
Next, we headed to Bodrum, where we had some free time to relax and explore at our own pace. On our final day there, we embarked on a day trip to Pamukkale before flying to Istanbul. Pamukkale was mesmerizing, especially the Hierapolis ruins and the stunning white travertine terraces. Walking through the ancient city felt surreal, and once again, Kimkim’s guide impressed us with their depth of knowledge and insights.

Istanbul: The Crown Jewel of Our Trip
Our final destination, Istanbul, was undoubtedly the highlight of our journey. We spent five incredible nights exploring this vibrant city that seamlessly blends history and modernity. The energy, culture, and sheer beauty of Istanbul left us spellbound.

What truly elevated our experience, however, was our guide, Oze. His deep knowledge of the city’s history and culture brought every site to life. From the Hagia Sophia to the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, the Grand Bazaar, and a delightful food tour on Istanbul’s Asian side, Oze curated an unforgettable itinerary that captured the essence of this magnificent city. Beyond being a guide, he felt like a friend, sharing personal insights and stories that made our time even more special.

Oze also went above and beyond, recommending excellent dining spots and local hangouts, and even joining us for an evening of fun and conversation. His warmth, professionalism, and passion for Istanbul made our experience truly unique. We found ourselves wishing we had more time to soak in the magic of this city, and much of that credit goes to Oze, who made Istanbul feel like home.

A Few Challenges
While the trip was fantastic overall, one downside was the amount of walking involved, which proved challenging for my parents, who are in their 60s. A bit more consideration for mobility needs would have made the experience even better for them.

Final Thoughts
Kimkim did an excellent job organizing our trip, and the knowledgeable guides played a significant role in making it a memorable experience. Despite a few challenges, Turkey’s history, culture, and warm hospitality won us over. We hope to return someday, especially to spend more time in Istanbul!

Overall it’s a great trip experience. We appreciate Anahi for her service and help.

We had a fantastic family trip to China this December 2024 with our 2 teenage children. Kimkim and Odynovo tours in China made everything so easy for us!

Heidi was really helpful and managed to get all our ambitious itinerary to work in the rather short time we had. She was very helpful with sorting out our China visas from the UK which initially sounded rather daunting!
All the guides we had were brilliant, they all rated 5 star! We were met at every airport and train station by smiling faces even very late at night, and helped to navigate restaurant ordering, which local dishes to try, and help get us on the correct train when we moved to the next city. They were all incredibly knowledgeable and taught us so much about Chinese culture and history. Tracy in Beijing was great fun, and very kind, she made our time in Beijing so enjoyable. Candy in Xi'an made the the terracotta warriors come alive, Kevin in Chengdu was brilliant helping my daughter learn Mandarin characters, Fei in Guilin was great too.

Overall the Panda breeding centre in Chengdu was our biggest highlight, but the Forbidden City in Beijing, the Great Wall, the terracotta warriors and cycling Xi'an city walls, and the scenery around the Li river were all wonderful and unforgettable. The food was fantastic - especially we loved comparing the hotpots in Sichuan and Beijing. My children have definitely come back with a new appreciation for tea.

We will certainly use Kimkim again to organise our next big adventure.

All of the tours and guides were very good. There was a mix-up with the pick-up time for one tours, which was very frustrating and quite an inconvenience on the day of. To her credit Graciela got it sorted out for us.
The horseback riding tour to La Fortuna Falls was good, however they should allow an additional 30 minutes at the falls. We barely had any time to see the falls and swim before it was time to go. Otherwise, it was a good tour.
Also, we would suggest booking the catamaran out of Tamarindo instead of a marina one hour drive away. There were catamarans sailing right off the beach in Tamarindo. The long drive each way added an additional two hours round trip.

Hotel Reviews

Wyndham

Tamarindo

Gorgeous view, beautiful pool area.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Magic Mountain

Fortuna

Beautiful view of the volcano. Lovely grounds. Good breakfast. Nice pool area.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

William at the front desk was very helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Park Inn San José by Radisson

San José

The pool area was under construction, so it was not available for our enjoyment.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Catamaran Sailing Excursion & Snorkeling

Costa Rica

The catamaran tour was excellent. Good drinks, food, music and service. The only downside was the drive (almost an hour each was from Tamarindo). Suggest booking a catamaran tour closer to Tamarindo.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

El Silencio Hike & Visit to Ecotermales Hot Springs

Arenal/La Fortuna

Guide (Monica) for the hike was excellent. The hot springs were amazing.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Horseback Riding to La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

This tour has the potential to be excellent with a few modifications. The guides were supposed to point out sites along the ride which, they did not. One guide could not speak any English at all. Also, we did not have enough time at the Falls. The time should be extended by about 20-30 minutes. Also - very important ! - tell people to bring water shoes as it hard to walk around in the water around the falls without water shoes. On a positive note, the pineapple after the falls was a nice bonus. The guide that did speak English was very young (only 15) and was trying very hard. With some training, he could be very good.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge Boat Safari

Arenal/La Fortuna

It was our guide's first time on her own and she did a great job. Guide and the boat driver worked very hard to spot animals.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Whitewater Rafting on the Pacuare River

Costa Rica

Amazing experience from beginning to end. Great guides, great food, great service.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Paul from Calafate is an excellent guide. Besides his English is excellent and no communication issue, his caring and attentiveness to the group is perfect.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Poincenot

El Chalten

Location is excellent for some of us wanted to hike at Lago. Plus easy to walk to the supermarket and restaurants. We had the downstairs room and it faced the parking lot. Think it feels safer if there’s a fence built in between. We had to have the shade down and the window closed for the entire time. The breakfast was good. Staff was nice. We got to leave early like 430am and thanks for the breakfast last to take care of us before leaving. Big thanks

Authenticity & Character

Location

Convenient

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Weskar Lodge

Puerto Natales

Good location has good views from each room. We ate in the Resturant twice and one night was good and one night was bad, so inconsistent. Wonder if there were different chefs! The waiter/waitress in the Resturant need to have more training. Room is clean and bed is comfy. Each room has different unique design as I compared the rooms with other people in my group.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Sierra Nevada

El Calafate

The location of the hotel is very convenient. The room needs to be remodel or upgrade a bit. It was a warm days when we stayed in the hotel so we tried to open windows to get some fresh air. There were no screens for the window and lots of mosquitoes came in. We ended up with closing all windows and it was hard to sleep. And the breakfast did not have good selection. Very little choice. We stayed for dinner for the first night and the food was not good, needs improvement

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Lago Grey

Torres del Paine

The room view was spectacular. Room was clean and bed was comfortable. All staffs including front desk, housekeeper, bell boy and the Resturant staff were wonderful and friendly and courteous. Love the Resturant food and services. Lots of wine selection. The only complaint is no WiFi in the room and we all need to go to the lobby area to get WiFi, but then there’s an opportunity to meet and chat with other hotel guests

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Explore the La Leona Petrified Forest, Transfer to El Chalten

Argentina

We didn’t think watching the stones can be so informative and interesting. Thanks to our tour guide Paul is an experienced and excellent tour guide. He brings the tour very interesting. Kudos to him.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit the Isla Magdalena Penguin Colony

Punta Arenas

Just okay. We basically just arrived to the island and walked in the circle to look at all these penguins in the island. Not much action

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the Wildlife of the Magellan Strait

Punta Arenas

Love the breakfast Resturant environment. Suggest they should reduce the limit of people in the boat. We have over 20 people in the boat and not much room to move around. 15/16 CAP based on the boat size. The boat ride was very rough that day and hardly saw any creatures. Everyone was all wet and some got seasick. Special kudos to the owner to make a stop for bathroom run. It wasn’t easy to park on shores and we were appreciated

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I had an absolutely fantastic experience with this trip and the tour operator, Mint. The booking platform was exceptional—intuitive, seamless, and incredibly helpful at every step. It made the entire process of booking, communicating, and checking details so easy, which really set the tone for a stress-free trip.

What I appreciated most was how they took the time to understand exactly what I wanted to do. They used that as the foundation to design an itinerary that perfectly brought my vision to life. The attention to detail and thoughtfulness in planning made the entire experience feel tailored and personal.

The detailed notes provided were incredibly helpful, making it simple to know exactly where to be and what to expect throughout the journey. I truly appreciated how organized and thoughtful everything was.

The trip itself was incredible, and all the guides and drivers were absolutely wonderful. They went above and beyond to ensure I was comfortable and well taken care of at all times. Their professionalism and friendliness really enhanced the experience.

Although I didn’t meet Mint personally, the coordination and effort behind the scenes were outstanding. If I’m ever in Southeast Asia again, I wouldn’t hesitate to book with them. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a smooth, well-organized, and unforgettable adventure!

Hotel Reviews

Wienglakor Hotel

Very very tired hotel on the edge of a main road. Needs some TLC. Good size room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

De Chai The Deco Hotel

Great location, massive room, great staff service, very clean and modern. Basic gym, but still usable..

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Wa Lee Phuchifa

No heater which was a shame in winter, also leaking shower. No toilet paper either.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nak Nakara Hotel

Chiang Rai

Brilliant location, massive room, great service and good gym & pool.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Lampang City & Temples Trip!

Lampang

This was an experience...

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Temple and Hill tribes in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai

Trip was a little rushed... But fine.... could have done with more knowledge on the history of the hill tribes etc.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chiang Mai Cooking Class Experience-Small Group

Chiang Mai

Very skeptical about doing a cooking class, but 100% totally worth it! Brilliant teacher and small group.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day Eco Elephant Care!

Chiang Mai

One of the best experiences of my life. Will never ever forget it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome and Temple Treasures of Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hiking to Phu Chi Fa Mountain!

Chiang Rai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide made the trip what it was, I will never forget him.

Transport

Visit Hot Spring, White Temple and Blue Temple!

Chiang Rai

White Temple totally worth it!.even men the artist which was extraordinary.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was the best!

Transport

Explore Phimai Historical Park!

Nakhon Ratchasima

Totally worth going off the beaten track to learn about this site.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Bangkok!

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

The guide was amazing, she was friendly, knowledgeable and attentive.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

From the beginning to the end the planning and execution of our trip exceeded expectations. Our local specialist Renata was responsive and very helpful. Our guide, Felipe, was very thoughtful and very knowledgeable. He took care of the smallest details (booster seat for a child) and personalized the tour with our interests in mind. He was very responsive and quickly changed plans after an unexpected schedule change. Our favorite stops - Samba School, Christ the Redeemer, and the Botanical Garden. We also enjoyed Little Africa and the Selaron steps.

We visited three cities in Thailand and the Kimkim team did a great job with accommodation, transportation and tour guides. The drivers and guides were professional and friendly, and showed us the key spots that we had time for. We were able to adjust the tour planning to see what we wanted to and also stay in the hotels that we wanted. Our short vacation in Thailand was great largely due to our Kimkim team.

Our driver and guides throughout were great. Very knowledgeable and open and kind. Gave us a true glimpse into Morocco and its history and the culture everywhere we went.

Ana helped us plan the perfect adventure in Indonesia. Originally, we had only planned to visit Bali but after discovering our love of wildlife and nature, she recommended a stop in Flores and a boat trip to Komodo Island. Hiking Komodo island with a private guide right as the park opened allowed us to beat the big tourist groups and see eight dragons! We snorkeled with 6 ft manta rays and watched thousands of bats leave 'Bat Island' at sunset. Tony was an excellent guide and the crew on our private boat shepherded us safely from island to island as well as fed us well! In Bali, our driver Tut was the best. He patiently and safely drove us to our many adventures - white water rafting, Mt. Batu hike, hot springs, coffee plantation, beaches. Our one day convertible VW safari with Putu exploring the temples and waterfalls around Ubud was a fun way to see the area. KimKim was easy to work with, exceeded our expectations and provided great value for the money. We are traveling to Singapore for business this spring and plan to use thier services to plan a side trip to Borneo!

Had a great experience booking the trip with Kim Kim. Yuliana was amazing to work with. She was very patient as we planned with various options and extremely prompt in responding to our queries.

Our trip was very memorable. Kim Kim travel transportation partners were always on time and the guides were knowledgeable and ever so friendly.

Thanks to Kim Kim and the entire staff in making the trip memorable that we will cherish forever.

Also want to thank Graciela who responded promptly my questions during the trip and especially to accommodate our request to go to San Jose airport earlier to enable us to return back a day earlier.

Only feedback is to to set expectations for waiting for checkin at the hotels as 2 of the 3 hotels we reached earlier than 3 pm check in time and had to wait in the lobby and store our bags with reception.

Thanks again!

Hotel Reviews

Volcano Lodge, Hotel & Thermal Experience

San Carlos, Alajuela

Very good premises and restaurant was excellent. Loved the thermal pool. Staff was very attentive and friendly

Authenticity & Character

Location

Secluded quiet rooms

Staff

Friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Slightly dated

Hotel San Bada Resort & Spa

Manuel Antonio

A little dated hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ac was very good

Hotel & Spa Poco a Poco

Monteverde

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to restaurants and shopping.

Staff

Some were friendly but some not so much.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean, comfortable rooms

Activity Reviews

Damas Island Boat Tour

Manuel Antonio

Quality of Experience

T

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Guided Hike

Monteverde

Liked that the guide took the time to show the wildlife

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar Cane Experience

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zip Lining - Hanging Bridges & Aerial Tram

Arenal/La Fortuna

Excellent experience. Was comforted with safety aspects

Quality of Experience

Food

The include lunch was very basic

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Hike in Arenal Volcano Park 1968

Arenal/La Fortuna

Excellent entertaining guide

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a great trip to Mexico , Charlotte did a splendid job of organizing everything given the short notice of 4-5 days to plan & book our itinerary.

On arrival in Mexico City , our car with a driver was waiting for us at the appointed location, next day we took in the sights around the main square and cathedral with our guide, who had very in depth knowledge of area. In the afternoon we visited the

Almost everything was perfect with the trip, all the hotels were great. Enjoyed all the tours we went on except the kayaking, the guide was only ok

Activity Reviews

Whitewater Rafting on the Pacuare River - Transfer to La Fortuna

Costa Rica

Guide was excellent the instructions we get were very helpful.the trip was a blast!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Hanging Bridges & Hike to La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

The guide was very good and the tour was interesting, my only complaint was it rained the whole time

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Damas Island Mangrove Kayaking

Costa Rica

The guide was not that good, he did not give us clear instructions were we were going and what we wanted to see. There was just me and my partner so there was no excuse for him not paying attention to us.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

All were great except the kayaking one

Transport

They came on time and got us to where we needed to go

Flor was great about helping us narrow the immense list of options in Patagonia to give us the trip we were looking for. She suggested many different types of hotels and helped us find really unique and fun places to stay that were off the beaten trail that helped us have a truly authentic trip. Her team arranged all transfers, gave guidance about places to eat and excursions, and even made dinner reservations for us while we were in country. Throughout, she was responsive, supportive, and accommodating as we changed our minds many times and moved around our budgets and dates. We would happily work with her again.

Guides were all extremely friendly and helpful, helping tailor or experience to make it impactful and comfortable. An added bonus was having a coffee with Chris after our arrival. We always felt very well taken care of. One example - we had some motion sickness due to the windy roads. Hilberto took us to a pharmacy. Two pills and two quetzales later we were back on our adventure. Without exception, knowledgeable and friendly guides and rides showed up on time ready to make our day the best. Activities were well tailored to our desires and abilities.