Kimkim Trip Reviews

Oh my goodness!! My husband and I had the most wonderful trip to Morroco for 10 days, due to, first of Ali, our fabulous trip planner at Original Travels which works locally with KimKim.com. We began with a basic itinerary which was one of the many offered for Morocco. Then Ali helped me to personalize the trip for some of my interests: We were able to visit a stable of Arabian and Berber horses which was amazing! We also visited a ceramic factory and a rug cooperative that benefits women weavers.

Our driver, Sufian, was just terrific, and we didn't realize how incredibly helpful he would be! He knows at least Arabic, Berber, English, French and some Spanish! Sufian was so personable and helpful in any way he could be. One of the most pleasurable parts of our trip was getting to know him and exchanging information and perspectives on each of our cultures - such a great learning experience! We will definitely stay in touch.

We also met many knowledgeable local guides which added immeasurably to our understanding of the Muslim culture and places of interest: Abdoul; Said; Mohammed and so many others.

The accommodations were also beautiful and comfortable - couldn't have asked for more. I could go on but suffice it to say that I would absolutely recommend KimKim.com and Original Travels!

P.S. I would love to add a profile photo however my computer disk is full and I cannot seem to transfer an image from the 10,000 photos I took in Morocco!

Organization by Bea was great - great hotels and guides. Morocco was wonderful although the local operator did not seem to know parts of our itinerary.

Hotel Reviews

Lina Ryad & Spa

Chefchaouen

Favorite hotel of the trip - beautiful room and very helpful staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mövenpick Hotel Casablanca

Casablanca

Hotel was almost on top of major roads and even with double windows it was loud (especially trying to go to bed early for 3 am wake up)

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Cádiz Guided Visit

Cádiz

The Guided Tour of Hassan II Mosque wasn't as expected. The itinerary mentioned a private tour, but we ended up joining the public English tour with around thirty people. It was about forty minutes long and the guide was adequate, but it wasn't a private experience as described.

Tapas Culinary Experience

Madrid

awesome - learned so much and ate amazing food. Tried so many new things.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guided Visit: Alhambra & Generalife Gardens

Granada

group was very large so hard to follow at times - would have been better with a smaller group

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Fes: Exploring the Imperial City

Fes

local guide Omar was fabulous. Went out of his way to be sure we say everything we wanted and help my son go back to riad when he did not feel well

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guided Tour of Hassan II Mosque

Casablanca

Was a group tour and guide did not have great English. Only about 40 minutes long

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Evening Marrakech Street Food Tour

Marrakesh

Best tour of trip - we ate so much and had so much fun. Tried tons of food I would have never tried and had the most amazing couscous ever. Do not miss this?

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Flamenco Show in a Sacromonte Cave

Granada

The Flamenco Show was quite enjoyable and struck the right balance in terms of length. It wasn't overly long, making it a good introduction to flamenco. The performance was engaging and gave a nice cultural touch to our evening. Overall, it was a nice experience.

Visit an Andalusian Olive Oil Estate

Seville

The olive oil estate visit was fine but not overly impressive. It was a short visit, less than an hour, where we saw different kinds of olives, the machinery used, and tasted three olive oils. It was informative but not a must-do activity.

An Excursion & Night at the Agafay Desert

Spain

The overnight stay in the Agafay Desert was fun and a unique experience. The lodge was nice, the food was good, and the accommodations were comfortable despite finding a scorpion in the shower. They promptly took care of it, so it wasn't a major issue.

We loved our trip. The guides were amazing and very knowledgeable. kimKim was available when we needed help and responded quickly. Overall our experience was great.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Metropole Suisse

Como

Very run down. Needs to be renovated.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Uptown Palace Milan

Milan

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

CHC Continental, BW Premier Collection

Venice

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Bergamo Private Upper Town City Visit

Bergamo

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Visit Bergamo on the E-bike

Bergamo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Gondola Ride with Cicchetti & Wine

Venice

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Bellagio E-Bike Experience & Food tasting

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I asked Irene (KimKim's Travel 12 partner), for a trip with a fair amount of twists and turns and accommodations for my companion and myself. We traveled from Nice to the Italian Riviera, then on our way to Venice, made stops in Milan and Verona. Yes, a travel-packed route. In Nice, Irene fulfilled my request for a hotel in Old Town Nice with exactly what I wanted, ie, a hotel, The Hotel Rivage, that was perfectly located in Old Town and close to the Promenade and the Rue Massena, a more upscale area in Nice. In short, all the areas we wanted. From there, we went to the Italian Riviera, and Irene suggested that we stay in Camogli, a city we'd never heard of. That suggestion was golden. I wanted originally to stay in Genoa, and Irene, knowing I was looking for beauty and not a working port town, guided me to Camogli, which was gorgeous. The hotel there, The Cenobli dei Dogi was the best hotel we've ever stayed at. Yes, it's not easy to get to (I mean, it's high on the southern coast), but the superior level of service there, and the exquisite room and view were unmatched by any hotel we've ever been to. It was VERY impressive. Katarina, Izabella and Claudia took great care of us there! When we asked for a taxi ride to Portofino (an enclave dripping with money and beauty), they had it arranged promptly. And the food at the Cenobli! Really, really good! Irene also arranged a day tip to Genoa, where we were treated by Paola, a Genoa native, to a food tour of authentic Italian food at Genoa's most popular open market. Paola was friendly with us and the various food shop owners, all of whom seemed to know her. This familiarity lead to quite a few "samples" for us, all delicious. Thank you, Paola! At the end of our stay in Camogli, we were then driven by Stephano, a sweet, wonderful, very patient man, who took us on our complicated, illogical trip from Camogli to stop for an hour in Milan, then stop again in Verona where we spent a few hours before boarding a train (all the train and limo rides were arranged by Irene. I'm sure this trip wasn't easy to arrange, but she did it!), and then we were off to Venice. In Venice, we were met by Barbara at the train station, then escorted to a water taxi to our hotel. (Note: Barbara communicated with me often while on the train, due to the train's arrival delay, but she guided us to the right station, and grabbed us immediately upon arrival. It was appreciated). In Venice, I asked for a hotel close to the Rialto Bridge on the Gran Canal, and that's exactly what Irene arranged for us. We stayed at EGO Residence, and the location was priceless. The room was a bit smaller than we had previously enjoyed (but hey, Venice is a tight little area), and the wifi here was a bit challenging. But EGO's Eldor and Simone were very accommodating. Eldor booked us a spot at a nice, local restaurant on the canal, which I'm sure he scored due to his connections, given this was a very, very busy Saturday night, and everyone was looking for a spot at that restaurant. And the breakfast room where we were spoiled by excellent food and service by EGO's Crystal, was really delightful. We enjoyed our time here! Upon departing from Venice for San Francisco, a water taxi collected us, then a limo took us to the Venetian Airport, where we were dropped off in plenty of time to negotiate all the ticketing, baggage drop and numerous passport checks before departure. All in all, Irene and Travel 12 and KimKim did an excellent job of providing a wonderful trip to Nice and the many Italian cities. We were never left wondering where our drivers or tour guides were, and the selection of cities and activities are all well chosen. This is my second trip with KimKim (the first was Singapore, also excellent) and I'll not hesitate to partner with KimKim and Travel 12 again!

Just completed a lovely tour of both Scotland and Ireland. Visited many castles and saw some beautiful scenery. The collaboration with, and flexibility of our guide Kateryna was splendid. She facilitated a mid-trip “audible” at our request with ease. The itinerary and guides were all great and the accommodations were top notch! Only regret, 12 days was not enough to see all these countries have to offer….,, the hospitality and friendliness of the Scottish and Irish is King!

Activity Review

Outlander Castle Tour

Edinburgh

A great tour with an awesome and hard working guide Rafal! The tour took us to the filming locations but was much more than “Hollywood” which we enjoyed hearing the real history behind these settings……cannot saw enough about our guide Rafal!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Out trip was so well organized by Mar and supported thereafter by Fenne and the result was a seamless and totally enjoyable trip to Norway including all the sights that we wanted to see. The hotels were excellent and very well placed to the city centers. The excursions were all very enjoyable and without problems. Personally this was my first time using KimKim but I am already working on another trip for next year with a new KimKim agent who already has shown the same qualities.

Sarah was terrific! Her knowledge of the area combined with listening to my interests; she planned some fun e-biking, kayaking and cultural events tailored to my personal likes. All my hotels were lovely and well located. .Sarah worked the logistics so well. Travelled solo and used drivers trains and ferries for a charming and memorable trip.
Would wholeheartedly recommend this service!

Trip was very well planned by Jaoa. All details were well thought out. Ivo and Carlos did a great job in driving us everywhere and providing detailed information about each site including all historical facts. The best part of the trip was cultural immersion by visiting a local fishing village, a small time wine maker, and participating in a cooking class!

The trip was amazing that Ethel put together She extremely patient with my many changes to our travel plans. It would have taken me months to pull a trip like we experienced together. I really appreciated how she listened what we were interested in dining on our trip.

Hotel Reviews

Scandic Byporten

Oslo

Really liked the close proximity to everything. The staff was extremely friendly and breakfast was great.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to museums shopping and public transportation

Staff

Helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

European rooms are always a bit small

Heimly Pensjonat

Flåm

Best view of the fjord from our room. The evening meal was excellent.

Authenticity & Character

Has a boutique feeling

Location

Close to everything

Staff

Answered all of our questions

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean

Kviknes Hotel

Balestrand

Best breakfast! Rooms were standard European rooms. Staff was excellent.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to everything

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Bergen city

Bergen

We had a nice sized room compared to others we stayed at. Staff was helpful in providing guidance in the city.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to many attractions

Staff

Provided excellent directions

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Food and Culture walk in Bergen

Bergen

Loved learning about the food and culture of the area with someone who grew up there.

Quality of Experience

Good food

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Local!

Boat cruise Bergen - Rosendal (round-trip) on The Hardangerfjord Express

Bergen

Thankfully the weather was good otherwise I am not sure it was worth the 2 hour ferry ride

Quality of Experience

Transport

Fjord Cruise & Seafood Dining Experince

Bergen

I wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone. The owner was very sexist and the food was bland and the worst meal we had In Norway. We would have preferred to stay in Bergen that night instead of spending 5 hours on this trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ægir Brew Pub Beer Tasting

Flåm

Really enjoyed learning about how they got started and how the beer is made

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Manager was knowledgeable.

Transport

Summer Kayaking Excursion

Flåm

Sunny day, calm waters, waterfalls what more can one ask for.

Quality of Experience

It was informative and the scenery was amazing

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was knowledgeable.

Day trip to Fjærland

Norway

Beautiful fjord and glacier!

Quality of Experience

The views

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Excellent explanation of the area

Transport

Overall the trip was amazing. I wish I had some better guidance on making flights arrangements. My connections in Heathrow were very tight. The executive car travel in Edinburgh was excellent. The Hotel du Vin was lovely. Food was very good. The rooms face the courtyard so it can be noisy. Timberbush is the best tour group. Mercat and Raabies were ok too but Timberbush guides were very polite and engaging. The hotel in Inverness was ok. Food and staff not so good. Location excellent. Train ride to and from Inverness were great but KimKim needs to remember that not all tourists know the rail system and it can be tricky. Glen Afric, Cava Cairns, Culloden, Eilaen Donan Castle, St. Andrews are a must. The most incredible journey was the Isle of Skye. We had a beautiful day and the guides were amazing. Our return to Edinburgh on train was lovely but we were asked to get our own taxi. That was difficult since no taxis are allowed at Waverly and must be prebooked. We had to haul our luggage a couple blocks to where the taxis were. The Tiger Lily was an incredible hotel. Did not eat there. This part of the city looked amazing. We called KimKim on check-in to Tiger Lily that we missed our Whiskey tour since we could not get a taxi. We were told someone would reach out on Monday. We have not heard anything. Overall, I would recommend KimKim but the travel advisors need to remember that we are not all European travelers and need additional assistance.

Activity Reviews

Private transfer in town

Scotland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Isle of Skye & Eilean Donan Castle

Inverness

Excellent!

Quality of Experience

Jack our guide

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Best ever, we were able to drive around the entire Island and see all that we wanted. We had a great mix of tour guided adventures and hikes, exploring on our own. We really enjoyed the geo-thermal baths, and we ended up booking a few of our own along the way to relax each night. Gumi, was super organized and everything was perfectly planned. We stayed a nice places and the food suggestions were great. Loved our time and will forever cherish it.

Our concierge was to meet us at 3pm at our hotel however didn’t get there until 5pm which left us a little in the lurch. However when we did catch up he was very nice and helpful. Our guides were fantastic and very informative. The only thing I would let you know is that each guide repeated much of the same stories which was a little repetitive. Loved the places suggested however by the end of the trip we were glad not to see any more churches or relics. The number of days suggested in some of the cities were spot on. I most probably would have added one extra day in Syracuse/Ortigia. Driving should really be done from midday as everything is closed so when they arrive at hotel people can walk around when shops are opened.

Hotel Reviews

Palazzo Natoli Boutique Hotel

Palermo

Really beautiful boutique hotel in the heart of the old city close to everything.

Authenticity & Character

Decor was lovely and so clean. Breakfast for me was a little hit and miss. You tick your breakfast order a little like a hospital menu. I think they could do it different.

Location

It’s slam dunk in the Main Street. You can walk to everything.

Staff

The girls on reception were amazing and so helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was very spacious with balcony

Viacolvento Boutique Hotel

Marsala

Nice hotel just if the main road. Very nicely kept. Staff were excellent. Recommended a fantastic restaurant. Very obliging. Room was upgraded so that was excellent.

Authenticity & Character

Lovely clean hotel with exposed brick. Really nice.

Location

Marsala for us was just a pit stop. Didn’t venture out

Staff

Limited English but was really helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Breakfast was continental and plenty to choose from.

Boutique Hotel Re Federico

Ortigia

Quaint Boutique Hotel right next to the sea. Loved Ortigia would have stayed one more night.

Authenticity & Character

Upgraded to a much bigger room which had separate bathroom and kitchenette

Location

Just a short walk across the street if you want a dip in the sea. You do however have to swim out quite a bit. Rocky.

Staff

Staff were very pleasant

Cleanliness & Comfort

Air conditioner needed a part to reduce the fan blowing very loudly which was fixed the following day

Hotel Foresteria Baglio della Luna

Agrigento

Outside of Agrigento but in a perfect location if you don’t want to walk the city. Otherwise it’s around 4Km to city. We preferred were we stayed as it was all inclusive beautiful grounds lovely restaurant close to beach

Authenticity & Character

It has a Tower as well as the hotel rooms surrounded by a lovely courtyard with beautiful gardens. Dinner was served outside overlooking the Temples. Gorgeous

Location

Lovely hotel get the room overlooking the Valley of the Temples.

Staff

Head waiter was superb

Cleanliness & Comfort

Had a small issue with shower overflowing on bathroom floor. But it was rectified immediately

Boutique Hotel Villa Fiorita

Taormina

Beautiful hotel in fantastic location just a couple of minutes away from all the hustle and bustle. The hotel had 6 floors. Rooms were well appointed but a little smaller than some of the other hotels we stayed in. I think we were upgraded to a balcony classic room which was very much appreciated. Breakfast was amazing. They don’t have a restaurant but they do a lovely lunch and afternoon sandwiches until 6pm. Hotel had a nice small pool which was nice to relax. I believe they are building a bigger one.

Authenticity & Character

Very well appointed. Loved it

Location

Just down the road from the main drag of Taormina

Staff

The staff were extremely attentive and very friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean hotel.

Activity Reviews

Piazza Armerina and Villa Romana del Casale

Italy

Guide was a history professor 82yrs old fantastic information. The Mosaics were unbelievable. Loved this so much.

Quality of Experience

Awesome mosaics. Unbelievable

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Onofrio was so expressive and informative.

Palermo Street Food Tour

Palermo

Georgio our guide was great and very informative we had a great day with him. We went to Monreal first then we walked all the way around Palermo. Really enjoyed our tasting lunch. Yum. He was lots of fun and bubbly with great history knowledge.

Quality of Experience

Excellent

Food

Street food at the fish markets

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very informative

Transport

Self Drive with Georgio directing the traffic.

Full Day Guided Tour of Palermo - Visit Monreale

Palermo

Day Trip to Segesta & Erice

Palermo

Relics to Remember absolutely fascinating.

Quality of Experience

So interesting

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Lara was truly exuberant and was so excited to tell us all about the temples

Transport

Self drive

Guided tour of Valley of the Temples

Agrigento

What a massive area of all 4 Temples from Juno to Concordia Hercules and Zeus and the statue absolutely one of a kind

Quality of Experience

Surreal

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Simona was an excellent guide who explained all the stories about each Temple

Transport

Self drive

Cooking Class in Taormina

Taormina

Chef made the day. He was funny and hands on with everyone. Meet some lovely people. We all had fun.

Quality of Experience

It would have been nice to cook small individual dishes and taste your own stuff. It was all mixed up so you weren’t judging your own sample.

Food

Mostly all of it. We made way too much

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The chefs were very involved

Transport

Self drive

Etna Wine tasting

Italy

Unfortunately this was cancelled the day prior

Esther was great to us through the whole planning of our trip. She would answer questions quickly and effectively. She made the process smooth and easy. She would check in with us throughout our trip to make sure things were seamless. I cannot recommend her enough, thanks to her we had a great trip.

Just back from a very memorable trip to Rome. Valeria set up the entire trip and it really couldn't have been better. She is a pleasure to work with and we are already looking forward to working with her for our next trip.

Esther was more than helpful from start to finish with helping us plan our trip months in advance and also being very accommodating while we were in South Africa so that we make sure we are on the right track. The Shalati Train on the Bridge was by far the most amazing all inclusive everyone in our group has been to. From the views you had to the top of the line food and drinks provided. We also had a kind knowledgeable game driver and waiter that the Shalati pairs your group with while we were there. Would definitely stay again and recommend to anyone going to Kruger.

Overall I was very pleased with the accommodations except the place in Sintra. We wee in the basement and the smell of mildew was overpowering. I got sick there and i think the dampness and mold didn’t help. The guiding in Sintra was excellent. I was impressed with all the guides knowledge and education regarding history and sites. When we arrived in Porto after a long, long day I was exhausted and had no energy for walking around. Aviero was a delight and Coimbro was fascinating for the Knights Templar history. I loved exploring the churches, particularly the very old one and seeing the signs of the original templars. I also loved the recreation of Solomon’s temple. Boggles the mind it could be so beautiful. The lodgings again were beautiful. I loved the history of the castle we stayed inn in Coimbro and also loved the hotel in Evora as it had a. Living suite. That makes it so much nicer when traveling.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Quinta das Lágrimas

Coimbra

This is visually the most beautiful place we stayed. Our room was small but we were only there one night and really didn’t have time to enjoy any of the grounds. The decorations inside the building are fabulous and the story associated with it is so interesting. Quite lovely and the staff are lovely also.

Authenticity & Character

Well, I wasn’t in love with it. We had a guide/driver so it was okay but we love to be able to walk into town

Location

Well, i

Staff

Very accommodating and pleasant, especially the reception area and the bartender.

Cleanliness & Comfort

These bathtubs all over Portugal are death traps for older people especially as there are no grab bars and are so slippery. This was true for all but one place we stayed where there was a walk in shower. Don’t remember which one but that is a real hazard and not just for really old people like me

Heritage Avenida Liberdade

Lisboa

Decor fabulous and staff very nice and accommodating

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful hotel and location

Location

Loved it. We could walk out the door and were right in the middle of things.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Again, bathtub is dangerous

Chalet Saudade

Sintra

Our stay at Chalet Saudade in Sintra had its ups and downs. We were put in the basement, which had an overwhelming smell of mold and was quite damp. I complained to the landlady, but her solution to keep the doors open wasn't practical since we were out during the day. However, the receptionist was exceptionally kind and helpful, and our room setup with a living room and big bedroom was nice. The location was good for walking into town.

Activity Reviews

Porto Douro Cruise

Porto

This wasn’t really a big deal and I could have skipped it without missing anything

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I was impressed with the level of education, all graduates of college and post graduate work.

Transport

The cars were fine.

Half-Day Walking Guided Tour of Porto

Porto

On the day we arrived in Porto, I was pretty exhausted and hungry. Our guide was really nice and took me to a market where I found something delicious to eat, a breaded dome with chicken inside. Unfortunately, I didn't have much energy for the walking tour itself.

Tomar - the Military and Religious Base of the Knights Templar

Portugal

I absolutely loved visiting the Military and Religious Base of the Knights Templar in Tomar. I'm a big history buff, and this place was a highlight for me. The guide even found a book on the Knights Templar for me that I took home to my grandson. Reading it opened up a whole new world for me to explore.

Discover Magical Sintra

Portugal

Sintra was wonderful and I particularly liked our guide for his temperament and humor. I would definitely recommend it to anyone!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had a great and memorable trip and want to thank Adam for arranging it. In particular, he and Michele were very quick to respond when an airline flight cancellation delayed our arrival by one day. All of our reservations in Iceland worked out perfectly, and the recommended stops were well chosen.

The car rental was also trouble free and comfortable (Kia Sportage). We actually never used the WiFi device because we had continuous cell coverage everywhere (ATT). We did struggle a bit with the driving plans as rendered through Google and Apple Carplay. This combination got easily confused in its sequencing if we deviated slightly from the plan, requiring frequent reloading of the map. Having a map point for each of the suggested stops would help a lot to simplify things.

We also have a few specific highlights and suggestions for future consideration:

Landmannalaugar: We followed the Google drive plan to road F26, which is well travelled, and then were told to make a sharp right onto F208, which at that point appears rarely travelled and likely impassable without a high-clearance vehicle. The Google course line also followed F225 for part of the drive ,which our plans says to avoid. It was getting late in the day and rather than risk getting stuck we chose to backtrack to Highway 1. A much better solution in this area would be to include a series of GPS turn points, rather than depend on Google.

Hella to Vik: we really enjoyed Gluggafoss, which had hardly any other tourists. In contrast, Seljalandffoss was mobbed with people, and was in shadow when we arrived. However there is an equally nice waterfall facing Highway 1 just a few km to the east, with hardly any people (on a small pull-out). We also stopped at Eyjafjallajokul Bakery on the highway for lunch; they have good sandwiches and plenty of parking and a WC.

Vik to Hofn: closer to Vik we found the “moss heath” very interesting (thick moss growing on basalt). We also liked the glacial lagoon and Diamond Beach. Hofn may once have been the lobster capital of Iceland it’s not anymore. Harvesting was recently prohibited due to over-fishing. We had a nice dinner at Otto’s but lobster was not on the menu.The hotel in Hofn was fine but oddly configured–no elevator, and you have to carry your bags up one flight of stairs and then down another, even if your room is on the ground floor. The staff does offer to do it for you however.

Hofn to Egilsstadir: As a geologist I found the Blabjorg green ignimbrite very interesting. I would suggest a slight modification of the descriptive text, to emphasize its origin from glowing hot clouds of ash, broken rock fragments, and gases that rushed down the slope of a volcano. This is similar to what covered Pompei in 79 AD. Petra’s stone museum was also interesting for its very large and diverse collection.

Some of the recommended restaurants in Egilsstadir were closed, but the hotel restaurant was quite good. We also visited the Hallormsstadur forest south of town. This was a nice contrast to the other areas, and we enjoyed taking a short hike on the trails through the trees.

Egilsstadir to Lake Myvatn: This was our favorite area due to the varied volcanic landscape. You might add to the description of the Grjotagj spring that it is inside a lava tube! We also liked the Krafla geothermal area and crater and the Dimmuborgir lava towers. Hotel Laxa was our favorite hotel of the trip; we had beautiful picture-window views of the surrounding landscape from our room. We were also lucky to see a nice display of Northern Lights.

The private volcanic tour near Husavik was excellent; our guide Gunnar was extremely knowledgeable and pleasant. He is a local native and we liked getting to know a real Icelander! We also visited Dettifoss but the water was very muddy, making for a less appealing brown waterfall.

Lake Myvatn to Laugarbakki: Godafoss waterfall was one of our favorites. This drive also crossed a lot of very dramatic glacial landforms such as U-shaped valleys in the mountains. Hotel Laugarbakki looks a bit run-down from the outside but the interior looked like it has been freshly renovated. We had a very nice 2-room suite. Our second-favorite hotel.

Laugarbakki to Reykjavik: The hotel was fine aside from some traffic noise (room facing the street). Its location was perfect however, and we had a nice dinner a block away at Garazie Trattoria. The helicopter tour was fantastic! We also visited Sky Lagoon and enjoyed it despite the cold 65 kph wind gusting over the water. A nice end-point to the trip and a chance to relax before the flight home.

FANTASTIC
Accommodations were all good; Hofsstadir Country Hotel was excellent.
Daily itineraries were very helpful; optional activities were great so we could pick and choose.
Map points were super helpful.
We added a hike at Hallormsstadur Forest - turned out to be one of our favorite things.
Ferry ride was interesting/fun and the zodiac boat tour was a big hit.
We would absolutely return to Iceland and use Rinolda as our travel specialist.

Activity Review

Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon zodiac boat tour

Iceland

Guide patiently waited in one spot until a piece of glacier fell off!

Overall, we had a fabulous trip.

Our driver and guide, Lenka in Prague is amazing. I wish she could have stayed with us for the entire trip!!
Our hotels in Prague (Rott) and in Budapest (Moments) were both fantastic. We didn't like our hotel in Vienna as much. It wasn't as convenient as the other two and the rooms were not as nice. Our drivers in Budapest were great. (Gergo and Gyula) and tour guide (Tibi) was fabulous as well.

Kimkim made the process very easy and I would use them again.

Hotel Review

Hotel Rott

Prague

We loved staying at the Hotel Rott, Prague. The location is fabulous! Rooms are very clean and comfortable and the breakfasts are great! I would stay there again!

Location

Perfect location in Prague!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided tour of Prague

Prague

Lenka was fabulous! We don't have any recommendations, just wish we had more time in Prague!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trip to UNESCO Kutna Hora

Prague

This is worth the trip when you go to Prague! Again, Lenka was fabulous!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided tour of Cesky Krumlov

Cesky Krumlov

If you go, have lunch at Papa's! I wish we had more time here, but worth the time we spent. Very beautiful!! Lenka was the perfect tour guide and driver!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Danube bend day trip from Budapest

Budapest

The Danube is beautiful and this day trip is a must when you go to Budapest. Ask for Tibi!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mathia paid attention to our desires for our visit to Noway and planned an amazing trip tailor-made for us. He was helpful in the initial planning stages, the pre-trip last-minute details, and all along the way during our travels in Norway. We could not have been more pleased with our adventure and the services of Mathia and KimKim. Highly recommend this firm for anyone wanting to plan a trip that includes the things you want to see and experience.

Hotel Reviews

The Tide Rorbuer

Sørvågen

Staying at The Tide Rorbuer in Reine was lovely. It was a great location right on the water, and the accommodations were beautiful. We really enjoyed our time there.

Scandic Nidelven

Trondheim

Scandic Nidelven in Trondheim was fine, but parking was a bit of a hassle. We had to park a distance away and pay quite a bit for it. However, the hotel itself was downtown and convenient for exploring the area.

Wangen Apartments by Fjord Resort

Aurland

Our stay at Wangen Apartments by Fjord Resort in Aurland was amazing. It was a really nice place, and being right on the fjord made for a picturesque setting.

Zander K Hotel

Bergen

The Zander K Hotel in Bergen was another great accommodation. Everything was lovely, and the breakfast was excellent.

Activity Reviews

Private Lofoten Tour

Norway

The Lofoten Islands tour was probably my favorite part of the trip. We had a tour guide for the whole day, and it was just wonderful. The scenery was breathtaking, and we were able to explore so much. It was a full day of adventure and beauty that I won’t forget anytime soon.

Short Hike with a Local in Bergen

Bergen

The hike in Bergen was a highlight of the trip as well. Our guide was very accommodating. We realized the initial hike planned might have been beyond our abilities, so he adjusted it for us. The new route was still challenging and offered great views, making the experience memorable.

Loen Skylift

Norway

The Loen Skylift was an exhilarating experience. The views from the top were simply breathtaking and worth every moment. A must-do if you're in the area!