Kimkim Trip Reviews

We were connected with Lise to start working through itineraries and ultimately landed on a plan that we were really happy with. The actual trip was even more spectacular than how it looked on paper and we were very satisfied with the quality of locations, hotel and excursions. The pace and adventure was what we were looking for and Lise nailed it for us. Thank you again for working with us on a tight timeline and within our budget! Much appreciated.

We are very happy with kimkim's help on our recent Australia vacation. Connie was super helpful in helping me to arrange a fairly last-minute trip to Sydney and Melbourne. She is incredibly responsive and knowledgeable, and the tours she arranged were top notch! We enjoyed every aspect, including the Blue Mountains, Opera House, Great Ocean Road and wildlife park visits. While we had reasonably good insights into what Sydney might offer from my earlier visit some years ago, our tour guide Judy in Melbourne truly familiarized that wonderful city to us in a way that we would have missed had we just wandered about on our own.

Hotel Reviews

Furama Darling Harbour

Haymarket

Clean spacious rooms; wonderful breakfast, friendly helpful staff.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Batman's Hill On Collins

Melbourne, VIC

Very nice and clean accommodation. Our room was quite small and looked into a nearby wall, but we were mostly gone. The breakfast was quite good and friendly helpful staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Afternoon Lanes & Arcades Walk

Melbourne

We had our guide Judy all to ourselves, and spent three hours getting to know wonderful Melbourne and her. It was like visiting with a local friend - we loved it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sydney Opera House Tour

Sydney

What a story! Our guide Michael was knowledgeable and an excellent presenter.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Full Day Blue Mountains Deluxe Day

Sydney

Karyn is super knowledgeable and made us feel extremely comfortable. Great stories about the mountains and the towns within them.

Quality of Experience

Food

Excellent lunch stop!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-Day Great Ocean Road Trip

Melbourne

Well worth the time and money. The Great Ocean Road is awesome and our guide Bluey was very personable and entertaining! A few points for improvement for a kimkim customer: 1. Our pickup at the Great Southern Hotel was one of the very last meaning we had no choice but to be at the very back of the bus. We were concerned that the winding roads might be uncomfortable from there but that aspect turned out okay. 2. The meal stops were too rushed.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Phillip Island Penguin Parade Ultimate Eco Tour

Melbourne

We loved it. An easier pace than the Great Ocean Road and more relaxing stops, especially at the Wildlife Park. Graeme was another wonderful guide! Like the Great Ocean Road, our Great southern Hotel pickup spot was one of the last, so we did not sit together. But we were more up front on the single side, which was better.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Planning and booking was a breeze. I only had to agree to pay and the whole program was set up for us. All guides and hotels except for Lima were great. They were knowledgeable and explained the history very well. The hotels were also very beautiful. However in Lima, the hotel was next to a club and the loud music was on until 1-2 AM so that was very disturbing. Also the guide in Lima spoke 80% of the time in Spanish since we had Spanish speaking people in the group. And it seemed like she was giving us a very shortened form of explanation in English. It was also a waste of our time waiting for her to finish her Spanish explanation.
Once in Peru, I started noticing that hotels and guides, and transportation was not that expensive. So it made me feel that kimkim was charging double the price of the total expenses, possibly more. Also, we had to cancel a part of a trip to Puno because of health issues, and there was no refund from that part of the trip. I had to actually pay additionally from my pocket for extra two nights. The travel agent's network should have more flexibility in canceling and getting refunds than an individual traveler would.

Hotel Reviews

Del Pilar Miraflores Hotel

Lima

Very loud club next building. Too loud till 2-3 am

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Corto Maltes Amazon Lodge

Puerto Maldonado

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

El Albergue Ollantaytambo Boutique Hotel

Cusco

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Inti Punku MachuPicchu Hotel & Suites

Machu Picchu, Aguas Calientes

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa San Blas Boutique

Cusco

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hacienda Plaza de Armas

Puno

we cancelled the trip to puno and wished we got refunded for this. whether this is the problem of the hotel or kimkim we will not know.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Flight to {{end_location}} & Corto Maltes Lodge 1/3 (Sandoval Lake Program)

Peru

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Corto Maltes Lodge 2/3 (Sandoval Lake Program)

Puerto Maldonado

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Corto Maltes Lodge 3/3 (Sandoval Lake Program), Flight to Cusco & Transfer to {{end_location}}

Peru

Llama Farm & Weaving Demonstration

Sacred Valley

Shared Quad bikes tour in Moray & Maras

Sacred Valley

this was a highlight for my 10 year old.

Explore Ollantaytambo, Pachamanca Farm Tour & Train to Machu Picchu town

Peru

Explore Machu Picchu & Return to Cusco (Private Guided tour in Machu Picchu) SV

Peru

Private Walking tour to Sacsayhuaman, Cusco city & San Pedro Market

Cusco

On your Terms! Shared Rainbow Mountain Tour: Small Group

Cusco

The Route of The Sun: {{start_location}} - {{end_location}}

Peru

cancelled this part of the trip. We would like to be re-imbursed.

Shared Kayaking to Uros & Taquile Floating Islands tour

Puno

cancelled this trip. Please re-imburse us.

Shared Lima City Tour & San Francisco Catacombs

Lima

Our family vacation to Sweden was the BEST! The Ice Hotel in south Sweden was incredible as well as learning about the Sami culture (Natives to Sweden). Stockholm was filled with beautiful waterways and museums and old-world architecture. Helsingborg was a picturesque seaside city, Thank you Migle for planning a most mememorable family vacation.

João provided detailed information and options for each of my stops in Portugal. He also provided historical and cultural context, which helped me dive deeper into locations of interest. He was always available, and all logistics were flawless. I arrived; someone was waiting to pick me up and take me to the first hotel. The hotels were top-notch. They were also centrally located. I could just walk out and enjoy each location I visited. The rental car experience was fine as well. The tours that João organized for me in Porto were excellent. I enjoyed my trip (8 days in Portugal), and will use Kim Kim as I make plans to visit new places.

Hotel Reviews

NH Collection Porto Batalha

Porto

Super place... in a historic square. Lots to do right outside the door; food, shopping, drinks.

Authenticity & Character

It's a super nice place. There's a gym and Turkish bath on site.

Location

In Plaza Batalah

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Heritage Avenida Liberdade

Lisboa

Excellent location, great staff and very good breakfast spread.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Vila Gale Ericeira

Mafra

It is a very traditional and classy hotel with a superb location. Wonderful views from the room. I drove there, and there was parking available.

Authenticity & Character

Historic and classy

Location

Right on the water.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa dos Ofícios Hotel

Tomar

An amazing location, beatiful facility and great service. The staff was awesome.

Authenticity & Character

Super clean and unique.

Location

Right in the heart of Tomar.

Staff

A joy to be there. The staff was friendly and super helpful with recommendations.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Top notch.

Aveiro Palace

Aveiro

Right in the middle of the square and with great views from the room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Dinner with Live Fado Music

Lisbon

This part of the trip did not happen. There was an error on the booking. I had to find a place myself.

Quality of Experience

Not relevant.

Lisbon Food tour

Lisbon

Super good tour... full of culture and a well-curated experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The tour guide as awesome.

Transport

walking tour

Explore Porto (Half-Day Guided Walking Tour)

Porto

What a joy to walk Porto! The tour guide, Henrique, was so knowledgeable and witty.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Henrique is a must guide.

Transport

All walking.

Six Bridges Douro Cruise

Porto

Not a tour I took.

Port Wine Cellars Visit with Tasting

Porto

What a delightful tour. I learned a lot.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walking.

This was such a great find. All the activities that were booked were incredible - we kept waiting for one bad meal or one bad experience but each one was truly better than the last!

Hotel Review

Palazzo del Capitano – Wellness & Relais - Luxury Borgo Capitano Collection

San Quirico d'Orcia

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Private transfer to Tuscany via Chianti wine area

Italy

This was such an amazing day. Our driver was incredible. We arrived too early for an activity and our driver pivoted and last minute found us a something else to do prior to our planned wine tasting. That was the best day!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Esther was very helpful and very easy to liaise with. Great communication, before and during our travels.

Hotel Review

Radisson Red Rosebank

Johannesburg

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Soweto Cycling Tour

South Africa

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Johannesburg Jazz Safari

Johannesburg

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

All our drivers and guides were excellent. First class. The hotel in Bayeux was top notch and in a great location as was the one in Lyon. The only suggestion I have would be to offer an option for a room with a view at the hotel in Lyon. The room had one awkwardly placed window looking out onto what they called a courtyard but which was more like a silo. The view you had was into other people’s windows across this square opening in the middle of the building. The building was quite tall so it was not well lit in this “courtyard.”The room was dark and actually sort of depressing. I inquired about an upgrade with a view outside but they were fully booked. The staff and breakfast were very nice though. My wife and I were impressed with the arrangements made by Kimkim and will definitely use your service again.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Le Lion d'Or et restaurant la Table du Lion

Bayeux

Very nice hotel and staff in a great location.

Authenticity & Character

Lovely hotel.

Location

Right in town near everything.

Staff

Very nice staff.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable.

Hotel Bayard Bellecour 3*

Lyon

Nice hotel in an excellent location. Make sure you request a room with a view. Do not get a “courtyard view” room.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful old building.

Location

Great location.

Staff

Very nice people.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean in an old building with a lot of character.

Activity Reviews

Mont-Saint-Michel day Tour

France

A fun trip we took with one other couple.

Quality of Experience

Everything was first class.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Nice, knowledgeable guide.

Transport

Clean and new.

Full Day Tour of Omaha and Utah Beaches & Normandy Landings Sites

Bayeux

Wonderful tour.

Quality of Experience

Well thought out by the tour operator.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ellen was our guide and she was amazing. So friendly and knowledgeable. Excellent.

Transport

Clean and new looking vehicle. Ellen was a very good driver.

We had a great experience with all our guides; they were knowledgeable and friendly. However, our food tour could have focused more on the food rather than the history. Despite this, the guides were excellent.

It would have been more convenient to stay in Pueblo and Cholula instead of making the 2-3 hour drive back and forth in a day. Additionally, the transportation to and from the airport could have been better. While the pickup at the airport was pleasant, the ride back was a bit cramped with three passengers and three pieces of luggage in a Prius.

Overall, it was a good trip, but a few adjustments could have made it even better.

Hotel Review

Casa Decu

Mexico City

We arrived super early at 4 am. The hotel had the room we were going to stay in for the rest of our trip available, but they wouldn’t let us check in early without charging us for an entire night, even though the room was sitting empty and their early check-in policy starts at 8 am. This left a bad taste in our mouths. It took the front desk person an hour or so to get approval from her boss to let us into the room we were going to stay in. We were super annoyed because we were charged for an entire night and had to wait around for approval.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cleaning agents that were used to clean the room gave us headache. Needed to air out the room for hours.

Activity Reviews

Be amazed by the pre-hispanic beauty of the chinampas in Xochimilco

Mexico City

Our guide made this trip enjoyable. Pamela was so knowledgeable!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

a bigger car

Walking tour of the historic center of Puebla

Puebla

Our guide Lupita was great!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover the Magical town of Cholula

Mexico

Lupita was great!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mar and Fenne were fabulous to work with, very communicative and the itineraries were just perfect!

Hotel Reviews

Hotell Bondeheimen

Oslo

The location of this hotel is amazing! Close enough to city center to do it all but just out of the way enough to not be too noisy. The staff was lovely and the rooms were fine

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Flåmsbrygga Hotel

Flåm

This hotel was just lovely. The rooms were better then I expected the views were unparalleled and the food options were quite good - especially the ice cream!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Thon Hotel Bristol

Bergen

This was a very nice hotel in a great location. One word of warning to others - while there are elevators, we still had to go up some stairs to get to our rooms. Not that good for someone like me who packed too much!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Luggage Transfer Service

Norway

This was a super smart and very necessary service offered. I would highly recommend people take advantage of it!

Summer Fjord RIB Safari & Undredal Cheese Tasting

Flåm

This was a highlight of our time in. Way it was a fantastic experience!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The staff was super friendly and knowledgeable of the fjord and all the folksy tales along the way

Transport

Stegastein Viewpoint by Bus

Norway

This was nice, but to be honest not all that. Probably would have preferred to go on a longer hike. Perfect for folks not interested in hiking

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Food and Culture walk in Bergen

Bergen

This was very nice and informative. The whole group was a perfect size and we enjoyed the other people on the tour as well as the tour itself

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ulriken Cable Car

Bergen

To tell the truth we ended up going on a funicular to a closer mountain instead of the cable car - it was too far away. But the concept was the same and very much a fantastic thing to do!

Quality of Experience

I did not feel Eric was as easy to work with as Mar who I was working with at the same time planning the first part of the trip in Norway.

I found Eric’s 100% reliance on technology, specifically google maps, and not providing a backup - specifically names or addresses prohibited me from experiencing as much as I would have hoped.

At one point google maps completely failed - I was in my way to a planned and paid for experience car and it told me to do u-turn. It was unable to course correct and I missed the 5 hour glacier hike (I would like to discuss a refund for that please).

The few links I tried for the optional additional activities either did not work at all for me, or I were things I tried too late since I was too far away. Had his directions been more clear, such as where within the route the add one made sense, I could and would have seen and done far more.

When food options s are far away, it would have been appreciated if that could have been shared up front. One night we were left with no option for food other than a gas station. Finally at one location the itinerary said breakfast was included, but it made no sense to me so I sent a note asking - granted it was late. I received a response well after we had left and while food was supposed to be delivered for breakfast (makes no sense to me since food preferences were not asked) we had a long drive ahead and left before that happened (between 7:30 and 8 am).

Overall I enjoyed Iceland but know that I missed a lot that I did not have to miss. So I am disappointed but still enjoyed the trip

Activity Reviews

Katla Ice Cave Superjeep tour

Iceland

This was absolutely fantastic and Avi was an amazing guide. I would so highly recommend this activity!!!

Quality of Experience

It was an easy hike and gave a fantastic experience for all

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Avi was fantastic!

Transport

It did the job but was only ok

The Geothermal Vok Baths

Iceland

This was a lovely experience at the end of the day. The facilities were clean and it was lovelt

Quality of Experience

Whale Watching in Akureyri

Iceland

The crew was absolutely fabulous and constantly made sure we knew that their focus was not disturbing the whales.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I had an exceptional time in Barcelona and will not hesitate for a second to hire KimKim if I ever visit the region again. Every single tour was well organized and fun. The tour guides were so incredibly knowledgeable and more importantly so personable and easy to talk to. I only have one complaint, is the fact that I had to leave and return to the United States. I want to thank everyone involved in planning my trip. I was able to create indelible memories that are going to stay with me forever. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

We absolutely loved our 10-day vacation to Slovenia. Nikola and team did a fantastic job of arranging our trip - from suggesting an itinerary to recommending activities and arranging accommodations - they really set us up for an easy, stress-free vacation.

Hotel Reviews

Veldes B&B

Bled

Very charming little B&B that was a short walk from town. The rooms were clean, spacious, and comfortable and the included breakfast was fresh and plentiful. They had bikes to rent at a very reasonable price, though we just walked everywhere. Would definitely stay here again.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It was in a quiet part of town that was a short walk to restaurants and the town center, but our room offered a lovely view of the Alps

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Gredič

Dobrovo v Brdih

Lovely little hotel nestled among the grapevines of the Goriska Brda wine region. So close to so many wineries, we wished we had stayed more than 1 night. We really liked soaking in the pool, which had a panoramic view of the hills.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Beautiful location, just a short drive to restaurants and wineries

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Cubo

Ljubljana

Authenticity & Character

Very modern decor, the bed was large and comfy

Location

So close to the city center and many restaurant options

Staff

One of the best features of the hotel, the staff was super helpful and very welcoming

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Discover Bled Town and Enjoy Pletna Boat Ride

Bled

Fantastic tour, our guide gave us a great overview of Bled and its history. She was very friendly and personable, and offered such great context for the sights we visited.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Traditional Slovenian Culinary Class in Bled

Slovenia

This felt like a very authentic experience, and we really appreciated visiting Petra and Niko in their home. They food they taught us how to make was really good and I can't wait to try it out here at home

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Rafting Experience on Soča River

Slovenia

The water level was quite low, leaving many rocks exposed which required quite a bit of technical maneuvering. Our guide was great at that, but we still got quite the workout! It was such a great way to experience the beauty of the Bovec area. We couldn't get over how clear and clean the water was.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was clearly knowledgeable about rafting, but not very talkative. We would've loved to hear more about the nature we were passing through

Transport

Canyoning Experience in Slovenia

Bovec

This was our first time doing "wet" canyoning and it was really fun! The climb uphill was no joke though.

Quality of Experience

We would've liked to go through the canyon at a slower pace - not only to catch our breath, but also to more fully enjoy the experience. But all in all, it was super fun

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guides seem to rush us along. At one point, one guide demonstrated how to climb down the rock with a rope... and then just left me to figure it out for myself while he went ahead. I was a little shaky at this point, and would've appreciated some extra support

Visit Idrija Mercury Mine

Slovenia

Our private tour guide was great, she knew so much about the history of the mine.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Wine Tasting at Local Winery in Goriška Brda Region

Slovenia

Excellent tour of the winery and tastings. Our host was super knowledgeable and we loved the introduction to Slovenian wines.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Postojna Cave Tour

Slovenia

This was rather touristy, especially compared to Skojan Caves, but the sheer size of it was so impressive. So despite it feeling touristy, I'd still recommend it as a stop

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The groups were huge and they relied only on an audio tour. I would've liked to have had a smaller group with an in-person guide explaining everything

Transport

The train into the cave was fun

Private Walking Tour of Ljubljana

Slovenia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was fantastic - super knowledgeable, great to chat with, and he had some great stories about the history of the areas

Visit Lipica Stud Farm

Slovenia

This was nice. I wouldn't go out of the way to visit, but I'm glad we stopped here. We're not really horse people, but I did feel like I learned a bit during the tour

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Kimkim helped make our 2-week trip to Scandinavia truly unforgettable. Our agent, Veronika, genuinely and patiently worked with us so she could craft a fantastic, customized adventure that exceeded our expectations. Her intricate knowledge of travel in Sweden and Norway and her ability to recommend sites, hotels, food, and activities that aligned with our interests was exceedingly helpful, while leaving us flexibility to find some really unique experiences. Her instincts about what we'd like were spot on.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel C Stockholm

Stockholm

Perfect location near train stations, very well run and comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Royal

Gothenburg

Unexpected charm and character, a treat!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Grensen

Oslo

Functional

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Zander K Hotel

Bergen

Very unique, beautiful interior

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Voss Scandic

Voss

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kviknes Hotel

Balestrand

Lived up to very high expectations, stunning views of the fjord from our room, the restaurant, and all the public spaces. Can we go back already?

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Moxy

Bergen

Trying to hard to be hip.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Stockholm's Gems Tour with a Private Guide

Stockholm

Excellent tour with Zenid, a former journalist and good storyteller.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Archipelago Dinner Cruise Aboard the S/S Stockholm

Stockholm

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Oslo with a Local

Oslo

Nice intro to Oslo. Our guide was very nice, but a relative newcomer herself to the city and Norway's customs.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The National Museum - Oslo

Oslo

Loved this! Wish we'd had an entire day here -- or more.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Voss Gondola - the largest modern gondola in Northern Europe!

Voss

Fun! Nice to get above the city for the views, and the landscape and scenery on our hike were really interesting.

Quality of Experience

Fjærlandsfjord cruise and glacier tour

Balestrand

Stunning views, and really interesting to see how people were living up the fjords. The ship staff and tour guides were very fun, polite, and professional.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

KimKim were very good at communicating and organizing with us a holiday in Slovenia at relatively short notice. Antonia was always friendly and quick to respond and booked extras at our request for us such as restaurants which was really great.
Alenka a tour guide took us on two walking tours, she was excellent, funny, kind, knowledgeable and a brilliant tour guide we loved her.
Liza took us mountain hiking she was exceptional, she knew so much about the local environment, flowers, plants and so on. She had so many good and funny stories to share she was a fabulous tour guide.
Slovenia is a beautiful country we were able to explore most of it in 10 days.
The company tried to secure good accommodation for us but at times, ‘resort’ hotels were not really what we wanted in such a culturally rich and beautiful country, as we wanted to explore not sit sunbathing when there were amazing historical and natural places to explore. Maybe we should have communicated that better at the time of booking.

Everyone was helpful and mostly worked out really well but there were some days where the schedule was very packed and we spent too long driving not enjoying the places for long enough, being on a tight itinerary determined by the slightly inflexible driver at times was not so relaxing and could have been improved. This could have been more tailored. For example at one historical site we were told to take only ten mins and get back to the car. This wasn’t necessarily our idea of tourism.

Hotel Reviews

Zlata Ladjica Boutique Hotel

Ljubljana

A gorgeous hotel right in the city centre. Staff were exceptional, the food was amazing, the room was beautiful. We couldn’t fault this hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Historical building.

Location

Right in the centre of the old city on the river.

Staff

Friendly, intelligent, knowledgeable and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean and eco friendly

Hotel Bled Rose

Bled

A good location, nice staff but a resort hotel with lots of pink themed things around, a pink biclyce, pink artwork (maybe the colour was rose- the hotel name) the hotel glowed pink at night, which was a little odd and maybe retro tacky? I guess Lake Bled is a resort for many however so maybe we were missing the point. The advertising was odd, a video on loop as you entered, looking like a hen weekend sort of place. The rooms and facilities were really good and comfortable however. As was the breakfast and helpfulness of the staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kempinski Palace Portoroz

Piran

Authenticity & Character

It was a beautiful building

Location

Too far from the old town. By a beach not really walkable to the old town so we needed taxis, if you wanted to sit on a sun bed on the hotel beach and not leave the actual hotel, it would have been very nice

Staff

Great staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Large room very comfortable

Residence Soča

Soča

Great accommodation, beautiful rooms and very spacious and near a few walking trails. Other guests were noisy outside until quite late but it was a place for families and holiday season. We enjoyed the breakfast basket which was wonderful. We were a bit confused about the hot tub and sauna procedures on site as there was no shower for either or a changing room and when we booked it for the next day the hot tub water was cold. Also it wasn’t private they could be looked straight into from other people’s accommodations. Nobody was on site to help in the evenings at reception. Maybe we missed a point here.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Plesnik

Solčava

Great food for dinner and a lovely view from the hotel outside. The room was comfortable and it was a great location for hiking. Unfortunately lots of smoking outside at breakfast from other tables whilst eating but that just seems to be the case in Slovenia not the fault of the hotel. Didn’t see the point in a swimming pool and sun loungers in this beautiful setting but other guest seemed to enjoy that.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Kayak on Soča River

Bovec

The team were very professional and safe and we felt very looked after. We were not aware that we were going to kayak on rapids however our tour company who booked this communicated and calm and relaxing time kayaking on the river. It was not calm and required some skill so not suitable for beginners we think.

Quality of Experience

I’m

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traditional Slovenian Culinary Class in Bled

Slovenia

We had a wonderful time enjoying food preparation and eating lunch. It was amazing to be part of a family to enjoy such delicious food.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover Bled Town and Enjoy Pletna Boat Ride

Bled

Alenka was an amazing tour guide, she was so knowledgeable and interesting and could answer any question. It was a top notch experience. 10/10.

Quality of Experience

I

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Walking Tour of Ljubljana

Slovenia

Alenka was amazing. Truly the best. Intelligent, knowledgeable and kind we loved her tours. She even took us to her favourite local cake and gelato place we wouldn’t have stumbled upon otherwise as she grew up in the area. Amazing!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hot Air Balloon Flight Over the Bled Lake

Slovenia

An amazing experience I couldn’t fault it, very professional and funny we felt part of the experience and helped dismantle the balloon at the end. The views were amazing.

Quality of Experience

I’m

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hike to Debela Peč Mountain

Slovenia

Liza the hiking guide was fantastic. She was so experienced and a real inspiration. She was funny and so knowledgeable. We were so happy to have her expert knowledge. It was an amazing day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Postojna Cave Tour

Slovenia

Such an amazing place. It was very popular with lots of people but we still really enjoyed this natural wonder. Breathtakingly beautiful caves.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Everything about the trip was amazing! All our guides were so helpful! They went out of their way to help us with all our questions. We had a flawless 9 adventure!

KimKim team along with Serendipity adventures did a fantastic job in making our vacation a memorable one. We had very little time to plan our trip and they provided several options for itineraries. We ended up picking the one that covered Manuel Antonio and La Fortuna. Both were awesome destinations and offered plenty to explore. All the hikes, horse back rides, beaches, coffee tours, volcano tours, zip lines, thermal springs, are all really enjoyable.

Hotel La mariposa was awesome. It's location and views are out of this world. We got one of the corner sunset suites and it's amazing. Buffet Breakfast (includes omelette station) was fantastic and helped us get our early on time and get on the road. The restaurant is on a terrace with the most beautiful view of the beach and national park. Town of Quepos is a beautiful place. We wish we kept a free day for our selves to explore more of this town. Most of our time was taken by the planned activities/tours. You can walk to many restaurants and coffee shops from hotel, which was wonderful.

Hotel Arenal Kioro suites and spa is an amazing place. Situated close to the volcano with views of it from almost every room. This hotel also has breakfast buffet which was fantastic. This hotel has it's own hot springs. Property is very well designed and provides a lot to explore. Keep in mind that the hotel is about 10 minutes car ride to the town of La Fortuna. Town offers several restaurants and coffee shops etc.

All in all we had a wonderful experience and we will definitely use KimKim and Serendipity again.

Hotel Reviews

La Mariposa Hotel

Manuel Antonio

Authenticity & Character

Location

Views from the hotel and ability to walk into town.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa

Fortuna

Authenticity & Character

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rainmaker Conservation Park Excursion

Manuel Antonio

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Horseback Riding to the Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Organic Cooking Class

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sky Tram, Ziplines & Sky Walk Adventure

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private: Arenal Volcano & 1968 Reserve Guided Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee & Chocolate Tour

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Michael, our advisor and chief planner was excellent throughout the process. Thank you.

Each of our guides and drivers chosen by Chaska tours was excellent. They were efficient and did more than was needed without hesitation.

Sandra in Cartahena, and Claudia, in Medellin were both excellent. Claudia warm, shared many stories and the history of Medellin, and we enjoyed her company.

One of us felt tired on our hike in Tayrona. Our guide helped us back via a short cut when we needed to come back.

Hotel Review

Villa Maria Tayrona, a Kali Hotels

Los Naranjos

Authenticity & Character

Constructed from locally sourced material, the cottages blend in.

Location

In the jungle.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Medellín Transformation Tour (Public Transportation)

Medellín

We used public transportation for this tour. It was a transformative experience. Medellin and Communa 13 was a highlight of our trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nicholas was the perfect local specialist, planner, driver, game spotter, and friend! My daughter (16) and I had a wonderful trip!
After telling Nicholas a little bit about what we wanted, he put together a draft of a trip that we then went through, asked questions, and made some changes. I’d been to Kenya 43 years ago and wanted to stay at one of the same hotels I’d stayed at all those years ago, and Nicholas had no problem accommodating my request. I had also been to Zanzibar before so wanted to revisit that island, which again Nicholas had no problem arranging.
Once the trip started, Nicholas continued to be able to accommodate us as needed. Our arrival was delayed by a day, but we were still met at the airport at the new arrival time and given options on how to try to make up for the lost time. Additionally there were times when my older body needed a little extra rest, so we could decide on the fly to start a game drive later or finish early. When I struggled with getting in and out of the truck, Nicholas got a milk crate step to help me and always was near by in case I needed an extra hand. A truly personalized experience that I appreciate so much!
The hotels that were picked out for us were wonderful. We particularly enjoyed the Ashnil camps (Masai Mara and Samburu). On top of that, Nicholas made sure our rooms/tents were located perfectly. At Ashnil Samburu, we looked out on the river where elephants gathered - what a way to wake up! At Ashnil Masai Mara, he got us a table that looked out at the river where the hippos would climb in and out.
Nicholas also has a great sense of humor and is easy to talk to. My normally shy teenager was joking with him and asking questions right away. He even let her use his personal camera to take photos and she now wants to take photography classes thanks to Nicholas.
Across our game drives, we saw not only the big 5, but a plethora of birds and animals. Cerval cats playing, a cheetah, black rhino, and baby leopard were some of the more special sites . What I enjoyed the most was finding a quiet corner of the park with no other trucks around, turning off the truck and watching a herd of elephant pass right in front of us. I can’t even imagine going on one of those big group trips now!
I plan to use a local specialist for any future trips from now on, and to anyone going to Kenya, highly recommend Nicholas of Animal Kingdom Safaris.

We had a fantastic time in South Africa!

Lucy, our local specialist, was fantastic with planning - despite us having postponed the trip last year (very last minute), she was always helpful and managed to negotiate the best possible trip for us. She kept in touch with us during the trip too, promptly answering our questions on flight bookings even at 8pm, which was lovely of her.

In Cape Town, our guide was Henrich at Capey Tours. He was a fabulous guide - knowledgable, candid, open and with a great sense of humour. He showed us so many lovely local joints, from coffee to Cape Malay cuisine, and was always flexible to accommodate our convenience. He went above and beyond to make sure we saw some of the gems Cape Town has to offer, from the Cape of Good Hope, to Table Mountain / Lion's Head, and the surrounding wine regions.

We then spent some time in Kruger National Park, where we stayed at Hoyo Hoyo Safari Lodge. I highly highly recommend - I do not think I have ever encountered such warm, genuine hospitality! The staff were ever-present to help us out, always smiling and made evenings in the Bush a true delight. Our safari guide, Pharence, was a delight - witty, knowledgeable about the animals, receptive to what we wanted to see and fun to chat with.

We highly highly recommend a similar trip to South Africa - our only advice is, stay longer!!!