Kimkim Trip Reviews

Jane did a wonderful job helping our group of five plan a three week trip to England that captured everyone's must see list and then some. Jane was very responsive, available and did everything we needed. The trip was fantastic and will be memories for a lifetime. Highly recommended!

Lea was very helpful with everything. Especially issues with had with one of the hotels. Everyone got back to me very quickly and handled the problem. This is our second trip through KimKim and I recommend your company to everyone. We really enjoyed our trip!

Hotel Reviews

Sofitel Athens Airport

Athens

Grecotel Eva Palace

Corfu

Beautiful place. However, we had suite and it smelled like mold. My allergies blew up.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lesante Blu Exclusive Beach Resort

Tragaki, Zakynthos

Had several issues with this hotel. The room was great. The food just soso. But they charged us when we got there, and Lea had to get involved and get that resolved. They told us when we checked in that we could stay in the room on check out day until our pickup but then called us that day to tell us we had to get out now. Had a ride with them to airport - verified this three times and they were still late.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Marblous Athens

Athens

Nice hotel and all the staff was very friendly and helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Paragliding Tandem Flight Over Corfu's Coast

Corfu

Very cool experience!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Jeep Safari Adventure in Corfu

Corfu

Great! Sakis gave us a great tour and personalized it. Highly recommend.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver was amazing.

Transport

Private Sea Trip to Kefalonia

Zakynthos

Our guide was unable to take us so he hired another company and they were fantastic. We started later than expected but they let us know well in advance and all worked out perfect.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Marathonisi, Turtle Spotting & Keri Caves

Zakynthos

Very nice just weather not the greatest.

Acropolis Beat-the-Crowds Discovery Walk

Athens

It was very nice and informative.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had a spectacular trip in Iceland thanks to the KimKim team, specifically Adam!!! Our itinerary, hotels, special tours, etc. were terrific and we can't wait to go back and/or to recommend our trip to our friends and family --working with KimKim! In particular, we loved The Cave tour and our guide, Gareth, the Spa Lagoon, and the Amphibian Glacier Boat tour. Each hike or walk from each and every waterfall to the geysers, etc was more breathtaking than the next. Also, each of our accommodations such as the Saga Hotel, the Selfoss Hotel, etc. were perfect for the four of us, including the breakfast buffets. We found terrific restaurants along the way -- really loved the arctic char, lamb, etc. We highly recommend The Viking restaurant that we found on our own, near Selfoss!! In the end, we cannot thank Adam enough and will use the KimKim team again.

All in all we had a great experience. Planning the trip with Yuliana was a stress free experience. She was very prompt with her replies and always very helpful. She was also easy to connect with over the phone. All our excursions were great. We had a slight issue with one of the excursions but Yuliana resolved the issue and we received a refund. I would highly recommend Yuliana and her team to anyone planning a trip to Costa Rica.

Hotel Reviews

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Parador Nature Resort & Spa

Manuel Antonio

Nice and clean hotel and great staff. Jordan and his waiting staff are wonderful. He remembered all our names and would greet us by our names every time he saw us. They make sure you have a customized wonderful experience and they tend to hear every need to ensure that things are just the way you like them. They will go above and beyond to make sure there’s a smile on your face and they were the bright part of my day every day when I went for a meal.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It is on top of a hill which is so cool. You definitely need a car if you are staying at this hotel.

Staff

The staff, especially Jordan was so sweet and friendly. He made sure to learn all our names and would greet us by our name every time he would see us.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Boating in Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge

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

Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar Cane Experience

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Guided Hike

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Night Excursion at the Wildlife Refuge in Monteverde

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wonderful trip. Joao did great job of lining up variety of activities and we very much appreciated the reservations and suggestions for activities along the way - suggesting parking locations took a lot of the "stress" of trying to figure out exactly where to go.

Starting the trip with private tours around Lisbon, Cascais & Sintra with Francisco was terrific way to gain better insight into Portugal's history and introduction to the country. We feel we were lucky to experience the freedom day marches and festivities in Lisbon - added a unique and interesting touch to our short time in Lisbon. The Fado dinner was a very enjoyable evening - host, cook, and server were all terrific; singers & musicians were delightful (the evening got long, especially when still adjusting to the time changes).

All the lodging arrangements were very nice - enjoyed the boutique hotels in Tomar, Douro, and Evora - all served as great locations to explore the surrounding area. And we very much appreciate that KimKim allowed us to select our own lodging in Lagos - we ended up at a very special and unique place that made a wonderful trip even more special and memorable.

Too many highlights to mention in a short review - Obidos, Nazere, Batalha were all terrific stops as we made our way to Tomar; we stopped at a grocery store as we neared Nazere and had the first of many picnic lunches on the rock cliffs looking over the beach and surfing waves.

In Tomar we explored Christ Convent and castle and then went for a hike in the castle gardens & woods to a large swing on a high overlook - during our hike the power went out in all of Portugal, Spain & France so when we came back down to town all the stores, museums, and restaurants were closed - we enjoyed a picnic & afternoon in the park by the river and when power came back around 7:00 we found an English pub that reopened; for us the power outage was just a slight detour / blip in the trip and a relaxing afternoon.

The Old Library and Chapel at Cambria were amazing and well worth visiting on the way to Douro Valley. We set google maps to "avoid highways" on the way to Douro and traveled some amazing back country roads and villages including a short stop to watch a heard of goats and their canine keepers move up the valley along a beautiful stream. National Road 222 to Duoro was breathtaking - after checking into the beautiful hotel, we set out to an overlook spot recommended by the receptionist. The nearby village had a single restaurant that we stopped at - the chicken and potatoes were absolutely terrific - we entertained and laughed along with the few locals in the restaurant as we communicated with the owner through google translate (and with their assistance). We had rain for much of our sunset cruise, so we were only "topside" for about a quarter of the time, but our captain was very interesting and entertaining as we got philosophical about the differences between our homelands - a very enjoyable evening.

We really enjoyed our time in Evora; highlights included the bones chapel, winery visit (it was raining that morning) and we really enjoyed the ceramic workshop. The cork tour was interesting and we really enjoyed learning about cork harvesting - very glad for the experience, but it was a rather long ride for a brief visit to a couple of cork trees and back - probably the only experience of the trip that was a little disappointing or underwhelming. While in Evora, we decided to take a short guided tour of one of the marble quarries (slight departure from the KimKim itinerary) - the enthusiastic guide shared a wealth of geological knowledge and information and the ability to visit the marble quarry and stand on a platform over the deep pit was a neat experience.

We finished our trip with several days in the Algarve. We stayed in a very unique and special airbnb that we selected - for us it was the "icing on the cake" that made a wonderful trip even more special and memorable. On the first afternoon there, we hiked the entire beach/coastline of Lagos from Meia Praia to the light house on Ponta da Piedade. The sailing tour the next morning was wonderful - captain Rob and first mate Anatoli were great - here is the review I left for them after the trip - My wife and I had a lovely morning sail with Rob and Anatoli on Ocean Breeze. Wonderful vessel, delightful company, informative and patient with all of our questions and musings. A great way to see the coast at a relaxed pace and from a different perspective. My wife and I are traveling Portugal in celebration of our 25th anniversary - this is one of the highlights of our trip. Other highlights in Algarve were the ebike tour (really wonderful way to see some of the back streets, smaller villages, and dirt paths at a really nice pace), kayaking in the sea caves, several hikes along the cliffs, and exploring several beaches (we enjoyed an afternoon sunning on the beach and lunch at one of the beach side restaurants down many flights of stairs).

On our final full day, we headed back to Lisbon by way of Sagres and made short stops at several wonderful beaches along the west coast including Praia da Arrifana, Odeceixe Mar Beach, and Farol Cabo Sardão. We arrived back in Lisbon, returned car and enjoyed a late supper along the river front - Joao's advice to return to Lisbon the night before our flight was a good recommendation as it gave us time to pack and have a good breakfast at the hotel before embarking to the airport for our flight home.

We really enjoyed our time in Portugal. The people were friendly and had a great sense of humor. The history is rich and fascinating (in the review I didn't mention much about the many castles and cathedrals that we visited and admired). There are many other countries we hope to travel to, but we wouldn't hesitate to visit Portugal again and would highly recommend it to others. KimKim (Joao) did a great job of putting together an itinerary with excellent mix of activities, suggestions & recommendations, and feel like he made reservations with outstanding guides and services (and relieved us from needing to do the research, reservations, etc.). We liked the freedom of mostly independent travel and occasionally departed from the itinerary, but it was nice to know Joao was only a whatsapp chat or call away if we needed assistance or had any difficulties. Thank you.

Wonderful trip.
Especially enjoyed Arenal Observatory Lodge and the Wilderness Resort Lodge at Drake Bay.
The food was fabulous and the service was splendid.
The La Paz Falls visit on the last day was a perfect ending before our late night departure.
I am already thinking of my next visit to Costa Rica and what new areas I would like to visit.
Thanks for all your suggestions and for making the arrangements.
Blessings,
Debbie from Alabama

The kimkim team was very helpful, easy to work with, readily responsive and flexible in setting up our trip.
The guides were very good. We thought some were exceptionally good - Ruth and Lorea in Barcelona, and Pete in Girona. They were personable, informative and able to keep us on track to see all they had planned.
The highlight was the day we spent with the local Basque guide (his name escapes me now) who took us into the Basque countryside. Being from the area for many generations he told us much about the local traditions, the way of life, small details that enriched our visit. We were served a simple authentic top quality lunch by the farmer herself in their 13 generation old farmhouse. A day to remember!
One thing that would have been helpful is to have had restaurant recommendations from a local specialist.
Great trip! Thank you.

Hotel Review

Hotel Villa Emilia

Barcelona

Authenticity & Character

Don’t know much about this subject - first visit.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private History, Legends & Monuments Walk

Girona

Guided Private Transfer with visits to Gaztelugatxe and Cantabrian Coast

Spain

He took us to a special spot to see a terrific view that I don’t think everyone would know about unless you were very local.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Basque Countryside Foodie Day Trip

San Sebastián

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We just returned from an amazing trip to Scotland. Pauline, from KimKim travel was very helpful, patient, flexible, and she listened to our wants. She helped us immensely to craft a plan that hit all the key spots we wanted, and also included open blocks of time on most days for us to just wander and explore. The hotels were all in perfect locations and were wonderful. We liked the suggestions for restaurants in each area and we enjoyed those a lot. Also helpful were suggestions on sites, hikes, and other places of interest to consider in each area… that turned out to be a nice pick list.
Of course we had a hitch in our trip, as our flight to Scotland arrived over 4 hours late. Not a problem to coordinate with Pauline for a revised airport pickup time, and she also was able to reschedule a time sensitive tour. Very much appreciated.
We gladly recommend KimKim, and of course Pauline or one of her colleagues.

An amazing trip from Tokyo to Kyoto to Osaka. Our trip involved a number of private or small group tours and each guide gave us a different perspective of Japan. Loved Ghibli, tried calligraphy and were shown many historical places. Lots of walking and good food.

Activity Review

Japanese Calligraphy Experience (Nara)

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Amsterdam was amazing . And the itinerary Kim Kim put together was perfect . Enables us to go and show up with minimal to no prior research . Hotel was prime location , central and close to all transport , walking distance to millions restaurants . The canal ride is a must , and we would not have known to do the evening sunset one , which was a real treat . The city food tour was a wonderful way to spend the day . We learned a lot , and saw the best of Amsterdam . Well laid out and paced . Just delightful . We had incredible weather , which made the days and flowers perfection . Ann Frank house is not to be missed . And very grateful Kim Kim facilitated as well as got us to get our act together , to be able to get the tickets . Museums , walking , shopping , markets . All great . The public transportation is amazing , and makes it so easy to get around ..

This was my third trip with Kim Kim , so I’m a big fan .
The only thing I would say , although the price of the trip seemed reasonable , as we were there and knew what things cost , it did seem like Kim Kim overcharged. All for them making money , but the distribution didn’t feel good . Which was a little disappointing .

We really enjoyed our Norway in a Nutshell tour. Beautiful scenery and great planning. We were blessed by no rain and the warm sun made an early May trip perfect. The schedule was about right, just enough down time or time to explore ourselves. The local guides were personable and unique.

Would recommend the tour to anyone.

Activity Review

Bergen Walking Tour With a Local Guide

Bergen

Very interesting and personable guide. Unique view on Bergen and surrounds.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

It was out first time in South America and we were not sure what to expect. It was great. Kimkim came up with a very good plan and the execution was flawless. Hotels were all excellent except one, guides were great, every pick up on time and communication through the Vamoos was good.
We thought Buenos Aires would be the high light, but Mendoza, Salta and Iguazu Falls were all better. Scenery was fantastic, wine was great and cheap, and the people were so friendly. Our one disappointment was the steak - sorry but Texas steak is better.

What an amazing trip!! Thank you for all of your help crafting such a memorable experience.

The Klotok boat in Borneo was really special. We had an amazing crew and cook, the food was so good! Our guide, Deka was so knowledgeable and fun 😊

In Bali, the canoe and trekking day was definitely a highlight! It was great to learn more about the organization and learn more about environmental efforts happening in Bali. Our guide, Ojan (I think that was his name?) was so good!! He packed an incredible, sustainable lunch that his auntie made us 😍 It was so fun to have a day where we got off the beaten path, we didn't see any other tourists during our adventure! So special.

The biking excursion was also really fun. Our guides took great care of us and it was really special to get to go back their home and learn more about the Bali culture after the ride. Loved the waterfall and canyon after the ride! A note: this biking was not good for beginner riders!

Our driver Made was also great!! He was very friendly and knew of great spots to show us along the way 😊

Hotel Reviews

Kejora Suites Sanur

Sanur

This was a great hotel! We only stayed here one night, so a bit difficult to compare. But the restaurant attached was nice, it was a quick 5 minute walk to the beach, and our room was nice.

Authenticity & Character

Location

5 minute walk to the beach

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Adiwana Suweta

Bali

This hotel was the definition of luxury. I loved our balcony to read in the afternoons between activities, the bathroom was luxurious, and the staff were incredibly accommodating. The free breakfast every morning was a great way to start the day!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Klotok Boat - Standard

Central Kalimantan

We had a great experience on the Klotok boat! We loved our entire crew and our guide was amazing. The food was delicious, exceeded expectations. We saw so many animals because we stayed on the boat! Definitely hot and buggy, but worth it for our incredible experience!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Jakarta Airport Hotel

Jakarta

A simple, convenient option! Nothing special, but made our early morning journey doable! Also, I got the in room massage after my flight and it was reasonably priced and a great quality!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right above the domestic terminal

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Experience Borneo Cruise Day 3

Indonesia

See first day review

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Experience Borneo Cruise Day 2

Indonesia

Same as first day

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cycling Tour through Tegallalang

Ubud, Bali

This was another great experience for us. The guides were incredibly eager to help make our experience the best it could be. Note: the biking is not great for beginners, it helps to be comfortable on a bike! The lunch at the waterfall and canyon was beautiful! We loved getting to enjoy dessert in their home. That was really special to be able to learn about their culture and way of life. I also loved being able to make my own offering basket!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Canoe & Trekking at Bratan Lake

Indonesia

Wow! This was a highlight for me. I loved the organization that we got to work with in this day. Our guide Ojan (I think?) was so sweet and knowledgeable about all of the plants. Loved that this truly felt off the beaten path, we hardly saw anyone else except for the people living in the village. Really great lunch we are in the forest, and a lovely canoe ride. The trek was really fun through the jungle.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Experience Taman Beji Griya - Purification Ritual

Indonesia

This was a really special cultural experience!! Our guide was great at the ceremony and the entire morning was amazing! I'm so grateful we got to experience this 💛

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Experience Borneo Cruise Day 1

Indonesia

So fun to go to the feeding stations! Deka, our guide, was amazing! He was so knowledgeable about the wildlife, the culture, and we really enjoyed getting to know him. Yuni was the best cook, every single meal was so delicious!! Our boat was clean and had everything we needed! It even had a flush toilet and a shower! The wildlife we got to see were truly amazing. 5 different kinds of primates and countless birds!! Deka was amazing in helping us identify the species for our species count 😊

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an amazing time in Morocco. The trip was full of highlights, but a few moments really stood out—exploring the old city in Fez (which we *loved*), watching the sunset in the Sahara, and soaking up all the local stories and history our guide shared along the way.

The local knowledge really made the trip. It helped us appreciate what we were seeing on a much deeper level, and we learned a lot without ever feeling like we were in a classroom.

One of the things we really appreciated was how flexible our guide was. We had an unexpected travel issue, and they were able to shift things around quickly so we could still fit in most of what we had planned. That kind of responsiveness made a big difference.

If we could do it again, we’d spend more time in Merzouga—it was absolutely stunning, and we wished we had an extra night there.

Overall, just a fantastic trip. Morocco is an incredible place, and we feel lucky to have experienced it the way we did.

We had an excellent trip to Crete and Athens. Working with KimKim was very easy, and everything went smoothly with transfers, tours, etc.

Hotel Reviews

Arcade Hotel Athens

Athens

This hotel is on a side street/alley, so feels quiet and secluded. One downside is that taxis cannot drive to the hotel entrance, so you will need to walk a short distance from the taxi to the hotel. The rooms are clean and comfortable. The decoration is a little spartan, so mine felt a bit like a dorm room, but it was cool, quiet, and dark (once I figured out how to turn off the display on the air conditioner). Breakfast was not as extensive as other hotels on this trip but was fine.

Location

short walk to the main sights of Athens. I liked that it was away from a busy street but others may not.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was immaculate, beds were comfortable, and the shower had good water pressure.

Samaria Hotel

Chania Town

In general a nice hotel with excellent service. There was a mistake with our reservation (said one person instead of two) but they worked with us to sort it out. The rooms are small by US standards, normal by European standards. Breakfast was excellent. They also helped us arrange a rental car for a day -- super easy and convenient.

Authenticity & Character

Location

short walk to the main tourist part of Chania

Staff

super helpful and kind

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Ancient Athens Acropolis & Mythology Walk

Athens

This was our least favorite of the tours we did. Our guide, Sophia, talked and moved VERY slowly, and so it felt like we spent most of the time sitting and listening to her, not seeing the sites. And I don't feel like I learned that much Athenian history from her.

Quality of Experience

Not sure if it was our guide or this tour in general, but I didn't learn or see as much as I had hoped.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Akrotiri Peninsula Visit & Boat Trip

Chania

This was an amazing day. Highly recommend. The boat ride (with snorkeling) and the trip to the monastery for wine and olive oil tastings were highlights.

Quality of Experience

Food

The wine and olive oil tasting at the monastery was fun. The dinner at the end of the day was ok, but the restaurant did not have great service (which our guide noticed, so I don't think he will take people there in the future). It did have a great view of Chania though.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Roussos was a great guide

Transport

Apokoronas Villages Day Trip with Tastings & Lunch

Chania

Enjoyable day, learned a lot about Cretan history.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

So my friend who was on the same trip - Stephen Woodward did an extensive review and we set the ratings up together. Basically it was a fantastic trip and i can only recommend it. If you want more details please look for his review

Overall a great experience once we got there. Some of it seemed too rushed. We should have selected a higher tier accommodation as the Tokyo and Osaka hotels were in less desirable areas, especially the Osaka Candeo Hotel, which was on a street strewn with garbage everywhere. The Tokyo hotel in Shinjuku was almost as bad. These were the only two areas in all of Japan that we visited where there was litter and garbage on the streets, but the Osaka one was by far the worst. It was disgusting.

Fantastic trip with the help of Raquel and her colleagues. We had many moving parts with friends joining and leaving our trip at different points. Everyone came together seamlessly!😊
There was a wonderfully informative walking tour of Lisbon with Alix. The driver from Lisbon to Porto included wonderful sights like the town of Obidos, the surfing museum at Nazarre, and a lovely and tasty lunch spot.

Porto was great, starting with a Port tasting our first night. The Douro Valley tour with Gustavo was amazing. We had a walking tour of vineyards and sights with Carlos who really made the area come alive. Gustavo made sure to learn what we like to eat and took us to just the right restaurant, and then on to a wonderful winery tour and tasting.

We had a wonderful tour of French Basque Country with Jaime, even getting to see the town in which he grew up. A walking tour with Geza in Madrid hit the highlights-there’s so much to see! And a guided tour of Toledo was incredible. Such an interesting city so near to Madrid nd so different. Plus our guide provided great shopping opportunities!

Rounding it all out was an amazing Flamenco show our last night. Our agent thought if so many experiences we would never have thought of ourselves. We have taken several other trips to Europe in the last few years. We often schedule excursions once we get there using various apps and websites. Kimkim’s variety and quality of experience far surpassed what we’ve put together ourselves.

Hotel Reviews

7 Islas Hotel

Madrid

This is right off the Gran Via but it doesn’t feel that way. It has the look of an old property that has been tastefully updated with flare. Rooms are good-sized. Very clean. Wonderful breakfast and good bar serving drinks and lights fare in the evening. A relaxed and sophisticated atmosphere.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Portugal Boutique City Hotel

Lisbon

This is a lovely boutique hotel on the edge of the Baixa and the Old City. The staff is very helpful and friendly. They made me feel special, and tracked me down in the breakfast room when I was late for an excursion pickup (my fault). The breakfast was delicious and very fresh. At night the bar was a good place to have a glass of wine and chat with other guests. I would definitely stay here again!

Authenticity & Character

It is hidden away near a neighborhood and close to a Plaza. The street is quiet and there are neighborhood shops and small restaurants. Not a touristy location.

Location

Staff

Very friendly. Knew me by sight my second day. Found me when I was late for an excursion pickup.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Get to Know Lisbon with a Local

Lisbon

The walking tour of Lisbon with Alex was fabulous. As a local, he clearly knew the area and had connections with other locals, which enriched the experience. His familiarity and rapport with the community made the tour feel intimate and authentic. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to truly understand Lisbon.

Toledo Highlights Day Excursion

Madrid

The day trip to Toledo was outstanding. Everything went smoothly, from the clean and timely train to the easy navigation of the train stations. Toledo was a charming city, and our guide, who was very knowledgeable having grown up there, enhanced the experience greatly. I would highly recommend a day tour to Toledo for anyone visiting Madrid.

Private Day Excursion: Sintra, Cascais & Estoril

Portugal

The excursion to Sintra was disappointing. The guide was not up to par and did not allow space for questions or interaction. The tour of Pena Palace was overcrowded, and the audio guide was ineffective due to guards rushing us through, so the audio did not match what we were looking at. The restaurant for lunch seemed to be a conflict of interest as it was owned by someone associated with the excursion company, and the meal was mediocre. Overall, I felt it could have been time better spent in Lisbon.

Day Excursion to Douro Valley: Wine Tasting & Hiking Routes

Porto

Gustavo was a great driver and made sure to take good care of us. He asked what we wanted to see, foods we liked so he could get the right lunch reservation, and told us about the valley, the river, villages, and more. He worked well with our hiking guide as far as timing and drop off and pickup. When we took a little long in the hike, he easily adjusted so we got to lunch in time. Our hike with Carlos was astounding. Hiking down from the top of a hill through vineyards hundreds of years old is an incredible experience. There are beautiful old stone walls, slate supports for the vines, twists of plant material to secure the vines,. These are things we would have missed completely from a car. We walked by shelters for the workers to take their siestas-which they need working from dawn to dark. We were so glad we did this. The vineyard visit at the end of the day was great. It’s one of the few that still crushes some grapes by foot. It was fun to see the granite vats where that’s done. And the wine, of course, was incomparable. This was one of those perfect days from beginning to end. At the restaurant we even ran into a group celebrating a 65th birthday. They shared champagne with us and we sang Happy Birthday to the birthday girl.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I am just returning from a ten day trip to Croatia with nine amazing women and a top notch tour leader, Antonia.
Antonia listened to all our wishes for this journey and went over and above to make sure we each had something from our list on our trip. She provided us with private transfer to and from the airport . Our accommodations at the Boutique Hotels were all beautiful, the restaurants she had made reservations at were wonderful and included local dishes that were so yummy! We traveled in a spacious, comfortable, clean, air conditioned private vehicle that transported us down the coast from Zagreb to Dubrovnik. We had a private walking tour with another of Antonia's guides through the enchanting Plitvice Lakes National Park region with its' glassy emerald green lakes. From there we traveled to Split where we had a private walking tour, tasted local wines and took a ferry catamaran to the Croation island of Hvar where we toured the island with yet another wonderful guide who also shared with us his family-owned vineyard. We sipped on wine from his vineyard and delighted in his wonderful lavendar oils his family makes. The next day we traveled to Ston where we stopped and had lunch, then to Dubrovnik. Each stop we were given private tours that included history and stories of this beautiful country. Each of our guides were filled with wonderful stories and memories that and included history of their country that they shared with great pride. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend using Kimkim for any trip you may want to make and especially Antonia and her guides. They were professional and tuned in and committed to providing you with the best experience for your personal trip!

Activity Reviews

Hvar Day Trip from Split

Croatia

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Walking Tour of Plitvice Lakes National Park

Croatia

spectacular! magical

Quality of Experience

great guides. engaging fun

Guides, Drivers and Staff

driver was awesome, guides were consistently wonderful. great stories very personable

Transport

I enjoyed exploring Amsterdam and Haarlem. The art, tulips, the atmosphere and the people were all quite enjoyable.