Kimkim Trip Reviews

What an amazing trip!
Trying to arrange a memorable family trip to include my teen and college kid over the New Year's holiday, I reached out to Kimkim. They took the reins and did us a solid!
First, travel over the holiday is busy; second, it is expensive; third, schedules are tight. Chris at Old Town Adventures was our local arranger and helped manage all of the challenges with grace.

Hotel Reviews

Ramon's Village Resort

San Pedro

This was a lovely space and despite the terrible weather of our first day (pouring an inch of rain) it was a dream! We arrived in the middle of said rainstorm and waited for the boat (SPBE) to unload our bags. We got a lift from Ramon's team and needed to stop at a pharmacy -- no problem. Took us to the check in and then to our rooms. sigh.... Needed dinner that night -- Pineapples on the Beach had an amazing menu! We went back 2 nights later because it was so good! Only concern was the final morning had to get the 0600 boat to get to Belize city for our international flight. We checked out night before and porters said they'd meet us at our rooms at 0540. But they didn't show up... got the night watch to wake up the driver and left at 0555. We made it, no problem. But we're no good at "island time."

Authenticity & Character

Well, I don't know if it was authentic (authentic Polynesian maybe?) but loads of character!!

Location

Walking to town and everywhere else!

Staff

Front desk staff, coffee bar and restaurant wait staff were all excellent. But by far our favorite was Leroy at the front desk!!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds were perhaps in need of an update and our shower had low pressure (they came and repaired the second day and it improved). The only real challenge was proximity to the airport meaning that without ear plugs, you had planes landing and taking off most of the day (early start)

Jungle Lodge Tikal

Peten

We had a really short stay -- arrived around 9 pm and departed for our morning tour at 0400. We came back for breakfast and were on the road by 10:30 am. Breakfast was quite tasty but they were out of a few things. We note there was a hostel there but didn't explore that area. Visited the pool for pictures, but didn't get in because it was rainy that day. Property is dark at night, and with the rain, the sidewalks were quite slippery. Our daughter slipped by the plantings at the main entrance and ended up with a significant number of thorns in her arm and back.

Authenticity & Character

Location

walking distance to the park entrance

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our group had two different rooms, one had great water pressure, the other did not. Hard to shower in that setting. See note about dark grounds.

Acatenango Campsite

Guatemala

Old Town Outfitters campsite on the side of Acatenango -- camping/glamping on the side of a mountain with unobstructed views of Fuego blowing its top. Meals provided by our guide, Rudy were excellent -- they were substantially better than what we saw the other families being served by their guides. Sleeping bags could have been a bit warmer.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

RUDY!!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Porta Hotel Antigua

Antigua Guatemala

Beautiful hotel, near -- but not too near -- the mix of things. Allowed us to have a walkable experience in Antigua. Rooms were comfortable, filtered water prevented us from needing to but bottled water. Breakfast was divine! Every day there was live music and great atmosphere. The lobby is nice and the public spaces are generally quite nice. All the staff are first rate. Warning -- they have a LOUD New Year's eve party with live and DJ music until 1:30 am and the rooms couldn't insulate against this kind of noise. Don't expect early check in to be an option.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Sunrise Tour of Tikal National Park

Guatemala

No question, it is a magical experience. You walk through the park in the dark, surrounded by nothing but darkness (and some jumping spiders). You climb to the top of temple IV and sit in the dark (others arrive, but it's pitch). Then around 5:38 am, the howler monkey's start up, and it's surreal. Unfortunately, no sunrise for us, just the lifting of the fog. Pictures at the top and then a descent and tour of the grounds.

Quality of Experience

Tikal is the star of the show.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our sunrise guide didn't discuss much of the ruins with us. He shared knowledge of the Mayan religion and rituals and the current experience of being Maya as well as some history. But he often pointed us to areas for us to go and waited for us to return. Other guides I saw walked with their group and explained the ruins in more detail.

Transport

Mini van to and from TIkal. Drivers were safe, however, Guatemalan roads (or maybe just in Peten) were terrible!!!

Sunrise on Acatenango & Descent

Guatemala

Again, our guide made this so amazing. Despite having to escort one of our party back to base camp, Rudy got the rest of us to the summit in plenty of time for sunrise. Unfortunately it was crowded, but there was plenty of space to see and get some pictures of the sunrise and the volcano. We met others on our way that were turning back and some didn't get to summit because of their party splitting up. Rudy was able to safely manage our group.

Hike Acatenango Volcano & Camp Overnight

Guatemala

Rudy, our guide was absolutely the reason for our enjoyable trip. He engaged with our kids and took care of our needs. He's a budding chef and made remarkably tasting and filling meals for us on the mountain. Even when we had one member have to turn back for altitude sickness, he made sure the rest of us had a stellar time.

Quality of Experience

Altogether an first rate experience -- stunning area of natural beauty. Unfortunately there were loads of people (holiday week) and loads of trash on the mountain. Another draw back -- no coffee on the morning of the summit.

Food

We had a great meal of build your own burritos when we arrived at base camp. Dinner was again outstanding. Breakfast was fruit and yogurt and granola! Only complaint was the lack of caffeine on the summit day. Caffeine is good for energy, headaches, and even to fight altitude sickness.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Again, Rudy was our guide and he was first rate. We had a nice crew up at the camp and our young porter was also good.

Transport

Different drivers on the way out and back from Antigua; minivans. Preferred the driver on the way out as we were fresh and feeling fine. The return ride was harder (we were tired and feeling less well) and the drive was slow, and hot, and uncomfortable. Not sure we could improve that other than driving faster ;-) Maybe A/C

Zipline Tour at Santo Domingo del Cerro

Antigua

Just do it. We had arranged for the full "superman" experience for the kids and we were planning to just enjoy ourselves at the cafe. But then Rudy and the kids encouraged us, and we said "why not?" Don't look down during the ladder climb. Do look down during the superman flight. Just amazing.

Quality of Experience

Beautiful grounds -- unexpected how enjoyable the sculpture garden and museum would be

My wife and I utilized KimKim to plan our trip to Greece in 2023, and by "plan" I mean input our preferences and let our specialist do all the work. Our local specialist, Amalia, was absolutely superb at turning our goals and interests into an unforgettable reality that took us all the way from the Acropolis in Athens, Delphi in Arachova, to the centuries old Eastern Orthodox monasteries in Meteora by the town of Kalambaka. The guides that she found for us were excellent; they were extremely knowledgeable, informative, and personable. The overnight locations were exactly what we asked for, and transportation setup was essentially flawless. Amalia managed all of this without ever taking us over-budget. The trip was phenomenal and one that my wife and I will never forget. Thank you KimKim team, especially you, Amalia, for helping us make our trip to Greece such a memorable experience. We look forward to using KimKim for more trips in the future.

Highly recommend! We just completed the trip of a lifetime, with the help of our wonderful travel planner Sara! Our itinerary was Bonito-Pantanal-Iguazu-Rio and I cannot say enough about the places we saw and the people who guided us. All of them were so deeply knowledgeable and gracious. We sought out the help because we knew we wanted to travel in the interior of the country and not knowing the language, we were not sure we could manage it on our own. It was the right call. Throughout the trip, Sara was always able to answer questions and provide reassurance.
Bonito: come for the snorkeling, stay for the lovely town. Our guide Gabby was fantastic, teaching us about the conservation efforts in the area and taking care of us like her own family members. She recommended the best restaurants and shopping. Turquesa is wonderful for vegetarians (and probably others as well!), as is Bonito Beer & Pizza. Udu Ceramica is a gem of a place -- if Bonito were our last stop rather than our first, I would have bought much more.
Pantanal: what a special place. Our guide Lillian is a naturalist extraordinaire, spotting birds and teaching us about the flora and fauna of the region. Pousada Aguape provided a unique experience we won't soon forget.
Iguazu: this place dwarfs anything you have ever seen. Our wonderful guide Diego took us past the long lines and right to the falls. You will appreciate not being in a large tour group! Stay at the Belmond (don't let anyone talk you out of it) and walk down to the falls in the evening. It is an unforgettable experience. Then treat yourself to dinner at Restaurant Y. You won't regret it.
Rio: an experienced guide makes all the difference! It was the end of our trip. We didn't want to deal with crowds, and Alberto knew just what to do. He took us to the Selaron steps first so the crowd was truly minimal, and then arranged for us to join a "Carnaval experience" tour, which taught us so much about this event (it's so much more than a parade!).

Hotel Reviews

Pousada Arte da Natureza

Bonito

Pousada Arte da Natureza in Bonito was the perfect blend of comfort and convenience. Right after arrival, we could unwind easily with an on-site restaurant offering delicious meals and drinks. This setup allowed us to relax without any hassle when we first got there. A short distance from the downtown area, it provided a sense of peaceful seclusion. Our guide, Gabby, was phenomenal! On our trips, especially during the snorkeling activity, she took care of us like family, making the entire experience even more special.

Belmond Hotel das Cataratas

Foz do Iguaçu

Staying at the Belmond Hotel das Cataratas was an extraordinary experience. It's the only hotel located inside the national park on the Brazilian side of Iguazu Falls. Despite the high cost, it was worth every penny for the convenience and the magical proximity to the falls. By residing here, we saved hours we would have spent commuting, avoiding lines and crowds. The ability to step out and walk the uninterrupted pathways directly to the falls was incomparable. Waking up and enjoying breakfast with the astonishing view from the hotel tower was an experience I'll never forget. It's definitely worth considering if you're planning a once-in-a-lifetime trip.

Activity Reviews

Photo safari from Pousada Aguape

South Pantanal

At Pousada Aguape, I had an amazing time on the photo safari. Initially, birds weren't a particular interest, but the experience was illuminating! Guided by an expert, we encountered a plethora of birds and other wildlife in their natural habitat. It became a beautiful and informative experience with unforgettable close encounters with nature in the Pantanal of South Pantanal region. We had a fantastic time with the friendly travelers we met there, making it truly memorable.

Rio in a Day: Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf, Selarón Steps and More*

Rio de Janeiro

Our experience was good because our guide tailored it to our needs and preferences on that day.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Alberto is wonderful -- so knowledgeable about the history of Rio and the people who have made it the city we see today.

Half-Day Tour – Brazilian Side of the Iguaçu Falls + Bird Park (Parque das Aves)*

Foz do Iguaçu

Parque des Aves is such a special place. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and appreciated the opportunity to learn more about the Atlantic rainforest.

Dinghy trip from the Argentinian side ´Gran Aventura´

Foz do Iguaçu

Fantastic! Not to be missed.

Full-Day Argentinian Side of the Falls*

Foz do Iguaçu

It made such a difference to have a personal guide. Diego knew where to take us so we could get the best views, and also enabled us to avoid crowds to the extent possible.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

how does the stay package work at Pousada Aguape in the south pantanal

South Pantanal

Beautiful place. Our guide Lillian is an amazing naturalist, so knowledgeable and a wonderful teacher.

Quality of Experience

Food

more veg options

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Lillian is amazing.

Transport

RIO DA PRATA - SNORKELING WITH LUNCH + BURACO DAS ARARAS

Bonito MS

Bonito is a lovely idyllic place! Our guide Gabby was absolutely fantastic, so knowledgeable about the flora and fauna, and the conservation efforts in the region. Buraco das Araras is not to be missed and the snorkeling is amazing!

Quality of Experience

Food

more veg options

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Knowledgeable, skilled, patient

Transport

We had a great time in Costa Rica! Despite vague instructions from us (we want a winter getaway - active, fun, and relaxing), Holden was able to put together an itinerary that suited us perfectly. Nancy and Wilman provided operational support, with Wilman checking with us several times during the trip to make sure we were satisfied. All the vendors used (transport, tours, hotels) were prompt, friendly, helpful. Thanks to the entire team at Serendipity Adventures for an awesome trip!

It's been almost a year since our honeymoon in Costa Rica, we've had an extremely hectic year and have been delayed in writing this review for many many months. But we still talk about how amazing our trip to Costa Rica was and all the amazing memories we made there. Our trip was very well planned, we loved all of our accommodations and excursions. We personally got a little zealous about how much we could do at a time, and didn't realize how much travel there would be to some of the excursions, but that was on us. We wish we would have spent some more down time at the amazing resorts, but other than that our trip was perfect and all the recommendations from Kim Kim were great! I would highly recommend their service to other people and we will definitely be using them again in the future. Every single shuttle/transportation service was excellent and every person we encountered on our trip was super friendly and welcoming. Everything was on time and all the tours and guides were super knowledgeable and fascinating. We saw all types of animals and wild life. KimKims flexibility in building your itinerary is great and it was the perfect level of assistance while also making it super personal to you. Thank you for a great trip!!!

Hotel Review

Arenas del Mar Resort

Manuel Antonio

This was our favorite hotel on our trip. I was blown away by the ocean views when we arrived and were taken up to the lobby. The property is stunning and cozy. The entire staff is amazing and by the time we left we were sad to go. They had great amenities, the food was excellent, the views were incredible, and they have their own private beach access. It was a perfect mix of luxury but also felt intimate and familiar. We saw so many wild animals on the property and the staff went out of their way to make sure we got a chance to witness the wild life. We did yoga which was amazing, and when we called for a ride, the response was almost immediate. We cannot recommend this property enough.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

People are absolutely incredible.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Guided Visit to Nauyaca Waterfall

Costa Rica

This was our favorite activity on our trip. Potentially because it was our first, however it's still stands out as one of the best experiences. Our tour guides were super friendly and knowledgeable and I felt with them the entire time. They made the experience personal and special and guided us to jump off the cliffs in a once in a lifetime experience. Cannot recommend enough.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

As always KimKim provides a valuable service with friendly guides and drivers . It makes for a flawless experience. This is my 5th trip using their services Too notch , beginning to end

Tina at KimKim did an excellent job in booking the exact vacation we wanted. Very professional and responsive.

The highlight of the trip was John Gray's Hong by Starlight in Phuking ... a superb outing with excellent tour guide (Mr. Eue?) and staff. Highly recommended and worth the trip by itself.

Another highlight was our trip to the elephant sanctuary. Bang (Pang?), our tour guide was great. with great communication skills and a wicked sense of humor. Loved this excursion. Loved interacting with the elephants and learning about the sanctuary.

Our trip to the national park outside of Chiang Mai was enjoyable. Patrick, our tour guide, was very nice and friendly but his communication skills were somewhat disappointing. We were eager to learn about the area but were frustrated by the language barrier.

The speed boat trip in Phuking was okay, but I suspect it was for a younger age group. My wife and I are seniors. The tour guide spent a lot of time barking orders and yelling but little time telling us about the area. It was loud and over crowded. Not a highlight.

All hotels were good but the best was the Heritage 99 in Chiang Mai. Great staff, great food, great service.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Hotel Reviews

Marriott Executive Apartments, Bangkok Townhall Sukhumvit

Bangkok

Convenient location, friendly and attentive staff, solid service.

Authenticity & Character

Very comfortable but a bit generic.

Location

In the midst of the metro with multiple excursion options.

Staff

Super friendly and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kitchenette was very convenient.

Novotel Phuket Kamala Beach

Phuket

Right on the beach. Walk to the ocean and take a swim.

Authenticity & Character

Comfortable but a bit generic.

Location

Ocean front but a relatively long drive to excursions.

Staff

Friendly but limited evening dining options.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nice, but mini bar was pretty limited.

99 Heritage Hotel

Chiang Mai

Excellent, serene environment in the heart of metro Chiang Mai. Thoughtful, friendly staff, great food, and a great location. Highly recommended.

Authenticity & Character

Charming decor.

Location

Right in the heart of the metro, close to everything.

Staff

Very friendly and attentive.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Spotless, comfortable accommodations.

Activity Reviews

Phi Phi island, Khai island, Pi Leh lagoon & Maya bay by speed boat

Phuket

This excursion is for a younger crowd who doesn't mind loud, overcrowded excursions. Not recommended for seniors.

Quality of Experience

Not recommended.

Food

So-so.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Driver was grumpy and very unfriendly. Guide yelled a lot.

Transport

Grumpy driver.

John Gray's - Hong by Starlight

Phuket

Easily the highlight of our trip to Thailand. Worth the trip if we did nothing else. Thrilling and informative, I'll never forget it.

Quality of Experience

Awe inspiring.

Food

Excellent.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Superb.

Transport

Elephant Jungle Sanctuary in Chiang Mai-Half Day

Chiang Mai

Loved this excursion. Great tour guide and loved interacting with the animals.

Quality of Experience

Great up close experience.

Food

Food was okay but not great.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Super knowledgeable and friendly.

Our family of four adults chose Serendipity for our first trip to Costa Rica, and it exceeded our expectations. The trip was well-organized, with a nice mix of activities that perfectly matched our interests. We especially loved our stay at Royal Corin in La Fortuna. Some of the highlights included the scenic float trip in Arenal, hiking in Arenal and Manuel Antonio, and the fascinating coffee and chocolate tour. Everything was thoughtfully paced and seamlessly planned. We highly recommend Serendipity for an unforgettable Costa Rica adventure!

Hien is the ultimate agent. She constantly was aware of our travel and continued to assist us in prompt fashion whether it was changing transportation, getting seat assignments, processing refunds, and ensuring we were happy with the choices of hotels and tours.
At each airport within SE Asia we were greeted and helped through customs, assisted with luggage, and checking into hotel. It was flawless. It is unimaginable to think what efforts we would have had to spend to accomplish what Hien planned and executed.]
Each hotel chosen was excellent and the tours selected were largely worthwhile. All guides with the exception of one were excellent.

Hotel Reviews

Chen Sea Resort & Spa

Phu quoc

This is a low key resort with easy walks to the pool and beach. The beach is quite nice and the water great to swim in.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Silavadee Pool Spa Resort

This hotel has great views of the sea from ocean villas. Ours had an amazing pool, giant bath tub and great deck with amazing views from everywhere in the villa. The villa was large and very comfortable. Service was excellent and the morning buffet may the best. The hotel has a few downsides, but still is a great boutique facility to stay. The first is that since it is on the side of steep hill getting to the pool or restaurants is a strenuous walk. They do have buggies which cart you around when easily requested and supplied. The other is that the beach is just adequate. However, the overall facility is great. In addition, they provide a shuttle service to a large mall about 29 minutes away. Otherwise restaurants require a cab ride.

Na Nirand Resort

Chiang Mai

This hotel has an amazing vibe and is highly stylistic. Staff is extremely helpful and courteous. Rooms are extremely comfortable and easy to live in. Great location to walk into numerous restaurants.

Chatrium Hotel Riverside Bangkok

Bangkok

Great place to stay along the river with shuttle boats available. Upper floor rooms with river view are spectacular. Rooms are very spacious, comfortable, and well equipped.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Caravelle Saigon

Excellent location, great service, and very comfortable room meticulously cared for.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rayavadee

This is the finest hotel in over 40 years of travel I have stayed. The service and friendliness of the staff couldn't be higher. They anticipated our needs and were ready to help in any way. The hotel's bungalows were spacious, well equipped with huge patios and the largest bed I have ever seen. They have the largest infinity pool I have ever seen with many chairs. They also have a premier beach with great service and comfortable chaises which are set up with multiple towels. They also have kayaks and other equipment free of charge. The included brunch was outstanding and overall the food was of the highest quality. It is a place I would like to return even though it is over 15k miles from my home. The resort is set on over 25 acres and in the jungle. We saw monkeys every day and a large monitor lizard. They have a great application that allows you to call for buggies to transport you if you wish around the facility and essentially accomplish anything you need. It is easy to easy to walk to local stores in Railey and to the pier for pickup for tours.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was perfect

Activity Reviews

VIP Fast Track Service

Vietnam

Full day of visiting Kanta Elephant Sanctuary - Orchid Farm & Doi Suthep Temple

Chiang Mai

Can't say enough about this. Loved the elephants and the people running the sanctuary who were informed and dedicated. Butterfly and orchid farm were outstanding.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Trekking at Doi Inthanon (RA)

Chiang Mai

Well worth the experience exploring the forest, rice fields, waterfall, and learning about the variety of plant life and trees and how it is incorporated into the lives of those living there. It is a special area.

Quality of Experience

Food

Was taken to very authentic local Thai restaurant

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bangkok City Tour Full Day (RA)

Bangkok

Visiting the Grand Palace and the various buildings surrounding it was excellent. There were many tourists but manageable. Also seeing it at night is a must. We would like to spend more time in Bangkok as there way too much to explore.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bangkok evening street food tour

Bangkok

The visit to China town, the best one I have ever been to, was exciting, delicious, and not to be missed. There is plenty of walking and we also got a chance to visit a local nightclub and the flower warehouse district. A great night.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

VIP Fast Track Services

Thailand

Full day Angkor sightseeing and Ta Prohm temple

Siem Reap

This is a must do and see experience. There is significant walking involved and climbing up stairs. Visiting Angkor Wat is one of the greatest experiences of my life. It is breathtaking in scope, scale, and detail. It is hard to imagine that is was created when it was.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

VIP Fast Track Visa On Arrival Service

Cambodia

Mekong Delta Full day by Speed Boat ( LR) - updated

Vietnam

Parts of the trip were great. Other parts were ho hum. It seemed like they added things to just take up time. There were lots of obvious explanations. There is plenty of walking and it was hot. While I got a sense of the delta I felt like I wanted to learn more. Also the trip by boat was quite annoying as the river is filled with floating plant material which constantly clogged the propeller and required stopping and reversing the engine to go forward again. The river is quite dirty.

Quality of Experience

Food

We were taken to a restaurant which allowed us to experience many types of well prepared food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the Cu Chi Tunnels

Ho Chi Minh City

This experience is not to be missed. The ingenuity of the Viet Cong and the guerilla tactics is scary. The dedication of the these guerilla fighters and how they lived is unimaginable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Evening Street Food Tour With Vespa Wanderers

Ho Chi Minh City

Couldn't be more fun, interesting, with delicious food and a great guide. Riding on the back of a moped where traffic is scary is awesome.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Halong Bay Day Trip (Jade Sails)

Hanoi

This is well worth the day on a comfortable boat with adequate space for the many passengers. The staff were excellent. The buffet lunch while extensive was not particularly tasty.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanoi Half Day City Tour & Train Street

Hanoi

The half day tour was excellent. The train experience was okay. I would have rather spent more time discovering Hanoi.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our short trip was amazing, we asked Doris for a relaxed yet adventurous trip around the Mekong Delta and the activities she planned for us were perfect. Also the hotels chosen were on point. Our guide and the driver were lovely, we got a lot of interesting local insights from them. 100% recommended!

Our Costa Rica trips involved visiting three areas; La Fortuna, Monteverde, and Manual Antonio. This is a good combination of the most interesting parts of the country.
The Najara Tented Camp in La Fortuna was one of the most amazing resort hotels we ever stayed at - right behind the Manadarin Oriental in Bodrum (Turkey) and the Four Seasons Sayan in Bali. There was a nice private thermal pool, access to five restaurants with very good food, and overall excellent service. We took three excursions - the Hanging Bridges and Butterfly Garden were both really good, but we would not recommend the Arena Volcano/La Fortuna Fall excursion, which was difficult and not worth seeing.
We stayed at the Monteverde Lodge and Gardens in Monteverde. The hotel was a little dated and can use an upgrade. However, the restaurant has unexpectedly good food and the staff there provided excellent service. After a while, we grew to enjoy the place. We took another Hanging Bridges tour, which turned out to be a self-guided tour instead of a guided tour as specified. But it was OK and we really enjoyed the excursion.
At Manual Antonio, we stayed at the Arenas del Mar Resort. Overall, this hotel was excellent, with the exception of the Beach Restaurant, which was terrible. We do not understand how the main restaurant served such good food especially the fish dishes) while the Beach Restaurant served such subpar food. The staff were very good, and even arranged a coffee bean roasting demonstration in the hotel and a tour of the hotel lab where ginger beer and beer were made. We had two excursions there - the Manual Antonio National Park walking tour and a waking tour of a Biological Reserve tour. We recommend both excursions.
Our Costa Rica tour was a custom private tour worked out with Kim Kim. Overall, it worked out well for us. There were several mishaps though. The first was that the detailed itinerary was sent to us very late, just 4-5 days before our departure. As a result, we were not aware of the early starting times of the local excursions. We are not early risers and the starting times have to be reworked, and some of the new starting times were not confirmed until the day of our departure. Tis caused lots of confusion. The second was not some of the local excursions were not the same as described in our itinerary, such as the Hanging Bridges in La Fortuna. It was actually better than the one described.
Kim Kim was good in making all the right hotel arrangements and private transfers.
Would we recommend using Kim Kim for Costa Rica trips? Yes, we would, but with the stipulation that the final detailed itinerary will be sent out no later than 2 weeks before departure, and the understanding that not everyone is an early riser. We have been in over 50 tours, and mot tours start at 9 am, and we consider a starting time of 6:45 am simply unacceptable for us.

We overall had an excellent time with KimKim and we loved how we could customize our itinerary to suit our needs. KimKim is a great in-between of planning our own trip with the highlights we want to do, but without the hassle of planning minute details or having to travel for weeks with a group without flexibility. We were able to add a few days on the front and tail end of our trip to explore on our own. Our favorite experiences were hiking in Torres del Paine and seeing Petito Moreno Glacier. The Latitud Ushaia team and Andrea from Buenos Aires went above and beyond to make our trip special. Overall the communication went well and we always had a source to contact. We did have some difficulty communicating with our local specialist, Carolina, at the beginning, but her communication overall was good and she ultimately ended up being a pleasant local specialist. I would recommend KimKim to others!

Jesse and Kim Kim made our trip a seamless, stress-free experience. She listened to our general needs and was able to put together a diverse itinerary that gave us a taste of all Atacama had to offer. She was attentive and accommodating to changes and gave us various options to meet the preferences of our group of 7. I'd use Jesse and Kim Kim again!

Hotel Review

Lodge Terrantai

San Pedro de Atacama

Loved this place. The service was impeccable and warm. I felt like I was returning home after every excursion and always had what I needed there, whether it was coffee, snacks, wine or water. The staff, from housekeeping to the front desk, were always so pleasant and friendly.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Cejar Lagoon, Ojos del Salar & Tebenquiche

San Pedro de Atacama

Valley of the Moon Tour

San Pedro de Atacama

Francisco was wonderful in helping us plan this trip, lots of great suggestions...and when he was away on work he had a colleague interact and she filled his show very nicely. Overall they made is a very easy, smooth sailing trip!

We thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Australia. Kim-Kim's local travel agent, Vicky Steinhardt, did a great job working with us and our traveling companions, over an extended period, to plan our trip. I love planning travel but in the cases that we have used Kim-Kim they did a far better job than I could have done on my own. In this case Vicky had good suggestions which we would not have thought about. We were traveling with a second couple who participated in the trip planning. From our perspective the itinerary came together fairly easily. The hotels that Vicky selected were all well located and were ones that I would consider staying at in the future. I liked getting private car service from and to each airport. I was pleasantly surprised at how seamless that worked out.

Our Melbourne hotel was well located for walking to Victoria Market, the Australian Open, a laundromat, and restaurants. We had two small group tour daytrips while we were in Melbourne. One was a drive along the Great Ocean Road to see the beaches and the 12 Apostles. It was a very long day and while the scenery is spectacular it similar to what we have in California. The second tour to Phillips Island, to see the penguins march ashore, was more fun.

Aside from seeing the Australian Open, snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef, was the other major highlight of our trip. The Crystalbook Flynn Hotel was great and really close to the Cairns marina. The Seastar dive boat was also really good. There are only about 45 passengers and the crew is very attentive and personable. The underwater scenery is, of course, great. We also took a worthwhile small van daytrip to Cape Tribulation and the Daintree Rain Forest.

Our Sydney hotel was conveniently located next to Chinatown and Darling Harbor. There are a lot of restaurants, and a shopping mall nearby and it's close to a tram stop. We enjoyed our full day daytrip to the Blue Mountains and Leura. We were skeptical of touring the Sydney Opera House but it turned out to be a good call by Vicky. Our wives also enjoyed shopping at the weekend market at the Rocks. I'm also glad we got a half day tour of the highlights of Sydney.

The only travel problems that we had were pretty trivial. We had gone through multiple itineraries before arriving at the final one. Before we arrived in Sydney, Vicky caught the fact that our itinerary listed the wrong hotel. One of our domestic flights was on Jetstar. I would try to avoid them if I was traveling within Australia. Their maximum luggage weight limit is less than that of the international carrier and their check-in and boarding are chaotic if you're flying with them for the first time. We were dinged with a $120 hit for having overweight bags, however their gate agents were so disorganized and harried that they let us fly without collecting it. We had breakfast included at each of our hotels. This worked out well in Melbourne and Cairns but not so well in the Sydney Darling Harbor Vibe Hotel. To catch our tours we had to be out the door before 7:30 AM but they don't open their dining area until 7 AM and they only serve prepared meals and not a buffet.

Overall a very good trip and we expect to use KimKim in the future.

Cami was great to work with. She did a wonderful job booking everything we needed.

Our tour guide, Rich, was so fun and told us all about the island of Palawan. He even bought different foods for us to try.

Ana, in Manila, was quieter, but still a great guide.
Our trip was really fun and everything ran smoothly

Hotel Review

The Funny Lion

Puerto Princesa

It was really quiet and no beach

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Staff was wonderful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Pangsanjan Falls & Tagaytay

Philippines

Loved this excursion

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Puerto Princesa Underground River Day Tour

Philippines

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I am a single man 60+ .
I traveled by myself for seven days and even though I am well traveled, I was slightly nervous about visiting Egypt as an American.
From the moment I arrived at Cairo airport until I
was dropped off for the return flight I was very well taken care of by the KimKim team
Each guide was a trained Egyptologist with extensive knowledge of history of the country
and the sites , the drivers were unfailingly
polite and they worked together as great teams.
My email contact was Mohammed who responded very quickly. Egypt is. welcoming country. If I could give a 7 star review I would do so as 5 star is insufficient.
to all wuestions
.

the retjrn flight
I was cery wcared for by the KimKim team.
Each tour guide was a trained Egyptologist and each sriver was polite and hard working. lllknowledg
able

Activity Review

Half Day Tour To The Grand Egyptian Museum “GEM”

Egypt

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

their knowledge and their friendliness

Transport

excellent helpful drivers

Incredible trip to Costa Rica with all its varied ecosystems and wildlife.

Our guide, Gustavo, really hooked it up. We were deeply impressed (and grateful) when he and the KimKim team arranged to get our passports couriered to us after we left them at our hotel. Top notch service!

Vicky put together a 33 day trip to Australia and Tasmania for us that went beyond our expectations. During the planning, she made time for 2 calls with us, and through a back and forth, created the ideal custom itinerary. The lodging included boutique hotels (we aren’t as fond of resort hotels), glamping, cottages and apartments. The activities were spaced enough that we could rest (we are an older couple), but each tour guide had grown up in the place we were touring, so the tours all felt very personal to each guide and helped get an authentic feel for the places. Vicky gave us many restaurant recommendations at our request, so we were able to make reservations early at some really great places. Apart from her skill in trip planning, Vicky was so easy with communication; prompt with her replies and clear with her recommendations (including the pros and cons of activities, etc.). We can’t recommend Vicky highly enough. She outdid herself with our trip. Thank you Vicky!

Hotel Reviews

The Henry Jones Art Hotel

Hobart

The Henry Jones Art Hotel in Hobart was an intriguing place with a rich history that was evident in its architecture, which we absolutely loved. However, the layout of our room with the bedroom upstairs and bathroom downstairs was a bit challenging for us in terms of accessibility.

Falls Mountain Retreat

Wentworth Falls

The location of Falls Mountain Retreat was convenient as we could walk to nearby trails in the Blue Mountains, which was great. However, our accommodation was quite disappointing. The apartment felt shabby, the carpet was dirty, and the bed was not comfortable. The kitchen was poorly stocked, making it difficult for us to prepare meals as we had hoped. Overall, the stay at this place did not meet our expectations.

Activity Reviews

Kayak Turtle Tour from Palm Cove

Palm Cove

The Kayak Turtle Tour from Palm Cove was enjoyable and well organized. Although we didn't see many turtles, the guide handled the group well and made the experience pleasant. It was nice that we could walk from our hotel to the meetup location. It was a lovely way to spend time out on the water.

Luxe Bus Great Ocean Road with Wildlife Wonders

Melbourne

The Great Ocean Road Luxe Bus tour was outstanding. The Twelve Apostles were a breathtaking sight, and the tour group was small, which made the experience much more personal and enjoyable. I can't imagine visiting Melbourne without taking this amazing tour.

Melbourne Highlights & Foodie Tour

Melbourne

The Melbourne Highlights & Foodie Tour was fantastic. Marty and Rob showed us the vibrant street art and introduced us to the city's highlights. They were personable and took us to a superb restaurant for lunch. This tour really helped us appreciate Melbourne's charm beyond its big-city feel.

Tasmanian Seafood Seduction

Hobart

The Tasmanian Seafood Seduction tour in Hobart was absolutely amazing! The guide dove into the water to collect fresh sea urchins and abalone, which were then prepared into a meal. It was an incredible experience having seafood that fresh, and it made for an unforgettable day.

It was wonderful that we were met by somebody at every airport and take to our hotels. The guides we had were knowledgeable and friendly.