Kimkim Trip Reviews

This was our third time traveling with KimKim - each trip a little different but every experience with KimKim has been just what we wanted and beyond our expectations. The accommodations that were chosen for us on each adventure have been excellent -only one on this holiday in Paris was a little off the usual quality but maybe that’s just Paris?? All of our transportation was wonderful -the drivers contacted us as we were told they would to let us know where to meet them and everyone was professional. The guides for the 7 tours that we were on were very impressive, knowledgeable, accommodating (except for one at the Eiffel Tower - he basically gave us a quick rundown, took us up to the second level, showed us where to go down when we were ready to leave and he left)…we can’t say enough good things about them. We will definitely be using KimKim for our future travels!

Hotel Reviews

The Montague On The Gardens

London

We LOVED this hotel. The rooms were comfortable, the afternoon tea perfect, the breakfast outstanding, and everyone that worked there always had a smile on their face. The location was perfect for us as well.

Authenticity & Character

Cozy, welcoming, comfortable

Location

We were able to walk almost everywhere and the tube station was very close by. It was also a quiet area -not much traffic at all.

Staff

Always had a smile

Cleanliness & Comfort

The bed was great, the room was roomy, the shower was great

Hotel Jeanne D'Arc Le Marais

Paris

Great location! Very quaint hotel but our room was very small and the ‘courtyard’ that our windows opened to was a 4 walled area that only let in the smells of whatever the restaurant below was frying -ugh. Breakfast was fair.

Authenticity & Character

Quaint

Location

Love Les Marais

Staff

Didn’t interact too much with the staff. They were friendly but not overly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Small room, better ventilation. Said it opened to a courtyard but 4 walls is not my idea of a courtyard. Better pillows

Chateau de Bellefontaine

Bayeux

The grounds were beautiful. The rooms were very comfortable. Quiet. The breakfast was great

Authenticity & Character

Decent dinner at the hotel if you don’t want to walk into town. It’s quiet and the grounds are beautiful. The rooms are very comfortable as well.

Location

Quiet area just outside of the main part of town. The walk was nice-about 20 minutes to the center of town

Staff

They were friendly when you could find them. I think they multitask

Cleanliness & Comfort

Moxy Hotel Heathrow

Hounslow

Great vibe! Welcoming staff. Great location for being close to the airport and on the shuttle route (minimal fee)

Authenticity & Character

Fun vibe

Location

On the airport shuttle route but not on top of the airport

Staff

Very friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very comfortable room

Activity Reviews

Private Louvre Museum Visit

Paris

Our guide was incredible. So enthusiastic and engaging. Learned so much

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Uncovered Paris’ Treasures on a Private Tuk-Tuk Experience

Paris

A fun easy way to cover a large area of Paris. The guide was very knowledgeable and personable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The little cart can maneuver around all the traffic

Private Notre-Dame & Latin Quarter Walk

Paris

Learned so much!

Quality of Experience

Loved all the details and history about the Latin Quarter, Notre Dame , and all the other points of interest

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Self-Guided Day in Le Marais: Cheese Shop, Museums, & Market

Paris

We booked a cheese tasting and tried to do a couple of museums. We had done some larger museums before this day so we were getting tired. We also had a WWII Paris guided tour on this day in the morning that was not included in the tour list -it was wonderful! The guide was very enthusiastic about including everything that happened in Paris during WWII -I highly recommend this tour!

WWII Paris Uncovered – Private Experience

Paris

Excellent tour! The guide was very enthused about teaching us everything she knew which was a lot! And we were happy to learn from her.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Honfleur, Beuvron & Calvados Tasting Day Trip

Bayeux

A great tour of the area Honfleur is a beautiful town near the water. We first went to the inn where Monet would stay as well as other impressionist painters. It was nice driving around the country roads to the calvados tasting and Bevron was another very very old quaint countryside village.

Quality of Experience

Juliet was wonderful!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Eiffel Tower Summit Tickets

Paris

The Eiffel Tower is amazing but our tour guide was mediocre especially compared to other guides we heard all around us

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

He could have given us a lot more info

Private Mont Saint-Michel: History, Views & Hidden Corners

Bayeux

Our guide, Theo, was amazing!! Knew everything one could know about Mont Saint Michel!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Self-Guided Exploration of Bayeux

Bayeux

Quality of Experience

We had a great trip. Our drivers from the airport to various areas around the country were timely and nice. Some quieter than others. Our best driver was Gerry who drove us to the Cliffs of Moher. He was so delightful. We loved interacting with him. A lot of laughs.
The hotels in Dublin and Belfast had wonderful bellman and staff. When we were in Galway we would have preferred a different hotel. It was nice but not quite up to the Grafton Hotel and the Grand Central Hotel . All the tours arranged were fun and entertaining. I’m hoping to return one day to see Southern Ireland.

Kate did an amazing job!
She was knowledgeable and helpful, making suggestions as we refined our itinerary.
She was very responsive as we planned the trip and for minor questions that popped up while we were in England.
We really appreciated how the itinerary grouped nearby attractions together, and lodgings were unique and in great locations- we would not have been able to find them ourselves without stress and effort.

The Kim Kim team (Noga & Chinh) did a wonderful job planning our trip to Spain. Our guides, drivers, hotels were all 5 star.
Starting in Barcelona (4 days), Madrid (4 days) and finishing in Granada (2 days). It was a trip to remember.
Barcelona we had a walking tour of Casa Batllo, Casa Mila & Park Guell with Anna. 10/10 Amazing architecture and knowledgeable friendly guide.
Trip to Montsserat with Pol with driver Diego 10/10. Nice ride to Montsserat, an amazing holy place. Toured the cathedral and saw the Black Madonna. Visited its museum and climbed up one of the trails. We also went to a family run winery to sample their wines and Cava, in the Penedes region, had a nice lunch and toured their winery. In Barcelona we stayed at the lovely Mercer Hotel. The staff was amazing and helped us with anything we needed. Kim Kim arranged a car for us to the train station as well as train tickets on the speed train to Madrid.
Arrived in Madrid and a driver was waiting to take us to the hotel. We stayed at Palacio de los Duques Gran Melia. Beautiful hotel filled with museum quality artifacts. Located a block from the Royal Palace you could walk to many of the sites in Madrid. We enjoyed a tapas tour our first night with Nacho. 10/10 the food was amazing he took us to so many different places we tasted the best of Madrid. The next day we met our guide Ava and walked to the Prado museum she was so knowledgable about art history. 10/10 Later we met Enrique for a walking tour unfortunately the Royal Palace was closed but we pivoted and went all around the city sampling the best desserts and learning all about Raton Perez (Spains tooth fairy) and all his secret spots in the city. The next day we took a full day trip to Segovia and Avila with Geza 10/10. He was so personable and knowledgeable. First we drove to the medieval city Avila the birthplace of St. Theresa of Avila. We walked the ramparts of the walled city then visited its grand cathedral. We then drove to Segovia we enjoyed the traditional menu of the day at a lovely Spanish restaurant. The Roman aqueducts are a sight to see we walked all through the town and ended our tour at the Alcazar of Segovia an amazing castle. The next day we travelled to Granada on the speed train. Kim Kim had a driver waiting for us at the station that was worth it the taxi line was so long! We stayed at the Alhambra Palace . The hotel is beautiful, sits high on a hill it overlooks Granada and the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The decor resembles the famous Alhambra and is truly sumptuous. We me our guide Marcel in town went to an amazing flamenco show and did a food tour of local Granada. 10/10. The next day Marcel texted us a walking tour all around Granada, we bought cookies from the nuns, and had a delicious lunch in town. Later in the day we toured all the sites of the amazing Alhambra with Christian 10/10. He took us all around the sites and had so much information to share. Then it was back to Madrid to fly home. The Spanish people were so lovely and hospitable we had such a great trip!

Hotel Reviews

Mercer Hotel Barcelona

Barcelona

The staff is amazing, the rooms are so comfortable its in the heart of the Gothic Quarter.

Authenticity & Character

It has actual roman walls in its wine room

Location

Staff

Personally walking us to restaurants, atm etc

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palacio de los Duques Gran Meliá

Madrid

Located near the Royal Palace, easy walking to many sites

Authenticity & Character

Artwork and artifacts are amazing, restaurant garden in heart of the city

Location

Staff

helped us store luggage, found us a driver when we could not get a taxi

Cleanliness & Comfort

the beds

Hotel Alhambra Palace

Granada

architecturally beautiful

Authenticity & Character

Moorish design

Location

Right near the Alhambra

Staff

had a small problem in bathroom was addressed immediately

Cleanliness & Comfort

the room was huge and comfortable

Activity Reviews

Private Gaudí Experience with La Sagrada Família & Park Güell

Barcelona

so interesting our guide had to deal with large crowds and she managed it with ease

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

so knowlegeable

Private Montserrat & Penedès Wine Region Day Trip

Barcelona

Quality of Experience

Food

Cava, fuet, chorizo

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Day Trip to Ávila & Segovia

Madrid

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

friendliness

Transport

Private Alhambra & Generalife Gardens with a Historian

Granada

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Prado Museum Visit with an Art Historian

Madrid

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Evening Tapas Walk with a Local

Madrid

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Flamenco & Tapas Experience

Granada

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private City Walk & Royal Palace Experience

Madrid

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Self-Guided Beach Day in Barcelona

Barcelona

Quality of Experience

We had a fantastic experience planning our trip through Kimkim and Moroccan Immersion. Our local specialist, Nihad, was incredibly helpful, providing excellent suggestions and seamlessly incorporating our requested changes into the itinerary. Whenever we had questions during the trip, Nihad was easy to reach and offered clear guidance.

We also felt well-supported by our primary driver and tour manager, Omar. He was consistently professional, punctual, reliable, and caring. As two women over 60 traveling to Morocco for the first time, his expertise and safe driving were greatly appreciated; we felt secure and well-cared for throughout the entire journey. We also enjoyed our transfer from Marrakesh to the Casablanca airport with Omar Daoudi, who provided fascinating insights into local customs and daily life.

The trip highlights were undoubtedly Chefchaouen and Ait Benhaddou, and staying at Dar Al Miraaj in Rabat really set the tone for a wonderful vacation. If there is one area for improvement, we suggest that drivers keep complimentary water bottles in the car for passengers. Overall, we highly recommend this experience!

Hotel Reviews

Riad Hicham

Chefchaouen

Riad Hicham is perfectly situated in the heart of Chefchaouen, putting you right in the middle of all the main tourist activities. While the location is ideal, our room was a bit noisy at night as our window faced an adjacent restaurant terrace. Inside the room, there was no safe, and while robes were provided, they were unfortunately too small for most adults and no slippers were available. That said, the hotel has a very distinguished character and beautiful, unique fixtures that made for a memorable stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

DAR AL MIRAAJ

Rabat

Dar Al Miraaj is an exceptional riad. We were provided with wonderful ground-floor rooms, each unique in its craftsmanship, decor, and authenticity. The breakfast was excellent and served with great attention to detail. Additionally, the lovely rooftop terrace offers beautiful city views and a perfect space to relax. I highly recommend this hotel to anyone looking for an authentic Moroccan experience.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kasbah Rayane

Ait Benhaddou

Staying at Kasbah Rayane felt like being the only people in this beautiful landscape, with nothing but sweeping desert views from our window. We stayed in a room on the top floor, which was simple and basic, but the staff truly made our stay special. They were incredibly accommodating and served us a wonderful dinner, even going out of their way to prepare a special meal for my friend who wasn't feeling well and required a specific dietary alternative.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Al Makan

Fès

My stay at Riad Al Makan was defined by its truly unique authenticity and exquisite craftsmanship; the room decor is unlike anything else I've experienced. Breakfast was enjoyable, and the hotel's location is hard to beat. While the property could benefit from a bit more warmth and modern conveniences—such as better lighting and more accessible power outlets for charging devices—the stunning aesthetic and prime location make it a memorable place to stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sahara Stars Luxury Camp

Merzouga

Our tent was a pleasant surprise; it offered all the convenience of a traditional hotel room, featuring a private en-suite bathroom with a shower and comfortable beds.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Dar Ayur

Marrakech

We enjoyed our stay at Riad Dar Ayur. The staff was exceptionally helpful and accommodating, making us feel right at home each evening. They were incredibly thoughtful; for example, when we had to depart early on our final day, they served breakfast half an hour ahead of schedule just so we wouldn't have to leave hungry. We also loved the elegant and welcoming tea service upon our arrival. The only minor inconvenience was the acoustics, as sound travels easily through the walls; however, because the hotel was not crowded during our stay, it did not bother us much.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Orientation Walk & Free Afternoon in Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen is an absolutely beautiful and picturesque town—every turn offers a stunning photo opportunity. I highly recommend hiking up to the Spanish Mosque at sunset; you definitely won't regret the climb!

Fes to Merzouga via Ifraine and Azrou - Camel Trek to Desert Camp

Morocco

The drive from Fes to Merzouga is long, but the stops in Ifrane and Azrou made the journey much more enjoyable and scenic. We arrived perfectly on time for the camel trek, and watching the sunset during the ride to the camp was an unforgettable experience. The desert camp itself was very comfortable—our tent felt more like a hotel room, complete with a private bathroom, shower, Wi-Fi, and cozy beds. We also found the dinner and breakfast at the camp restaurant to be both delicious and satisfying.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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Morocco

Volubilis is definitely worth visiting. To get the most out of your time there, I highly recommend reading up on the history and development of the site in advance, as it complements the information provided by the local guide perfectly. We also had the chance to visit Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, a picturesque historic settlement on a nearby hilltop. It was fascinating to see that many of the oldest buildings in the village were constructed using materials repurposed from the ruins of Volubilis.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit to King Hassan Mosque II, Transfer to Rabat

Morocco

Visiting the Hassan II Mosque was a highlight, though keep in mind that since we arrived after 2:00 PM, we weren't able to tour the interior. Even from the outside, the experience was incredible; the sheer scale of the architecture, the intricate craftsmanship, and the stunning seaside location are truly impressive

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Afternoon Guided Tour of Rabat

Rabat

We enjoyed our guided tour of Rabat with Hasania, but we were hoping for more in-depth historical context. While she did a great job showing us all the major attractions and was very responsive to our specific questions, we felt the experience lacked the extensive, colorful narrative we were looking for. We ended up filling in the historical gaps ourselves through outside reading, which left us feeling that the tour was more of a logistical guide than an immersive historical deep dive. For future travelers: If you are looking for a deep historical perspective, I recommend doing some preliminary reading on Rabat before your tour so you can ask specific, pointed questions, as the guide is very helpful when prompted but may not provide a broad historical overview on her own.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Merzouga To Ait Ben Haddou

Morocco

We were incredibly impressed by how seamlessly our transportation to and from the Sahara luxury camp was organized. The journey involved several modes of transit—including our private car, a 4x4, and camels—yet everything was perfectly coordinated, with our next transfer always waiting for us upon arrival. The entire experience felt like a true, fun-filled adventure. On the drive to Ait Ben Haddou, we enjoyed observing local life in the passing towns from our window, which was a fascinating cultural glimpse. Ait Ben Haddou itself is breathtaking; while the climb to the top is a bit challenging, the panoramic views are well worth the effort. On our return trip, our local guide took us off the beaten path, providing a fantastic opportunity to take some unique, non-touristy photos.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rabat to Chefchaouen

Morocco

The drive from Rabat to Chefchaouen was a journey that offered a unique glimpse into Moroccan life. Watching the transition between rural villages and bustling cities was a highlight; I particularly enjoyed spotting the salt mines, observing the intricate irrigation systems, and seeing the many storks' nests along the route. We also enjoyed a pleasant coffee break in a lovely area that offered some good opportunities for shopping.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour of Fes

Fes

Our guided tour of Fes was both fascinating and intense. We felt incredibly lucky to have a guide, as we would have undoubtedly become lost in the labyrinthine alleys of the medina without one. I really appreciated that the experience felt authentic—rather than just a tourist attraction, it offered a genuine glimpse into a place where people live and work. The visits to the tannery, pottery factory, and madrasa were all highlights and provided such valuable insight into the local culture

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

Having already toured the medina and souks in Fes, the Marrakech tour felt somewhat familiar in those areas. However, the experience was still unique thanks to the visit to the Jemaa el-Fnaa square and the Bahia Palace. Our guide was exceptionally knowledgeable, and we thoroughly enjoyed his insightful commentary throughout the day On the next day we visited the Majorelle Garden which was wonderful, offering a refreshing and peaceful escape from the frantic energy of the medina. I highly recommend including this stop for anyone looking to balance the intensity of the city with a bit of tranquility.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We worked with Beatriz on our travel to Italy, with 5 different locations in mind. 3 of these locations were new to us (Perugia, Cinque Terre and Milan). Our trip began in Rome. We chose to explore the city on our own, but were still provided suggestions for an itinerary, which we greatly appreciated. From there we went to Perugia, where Bea identified stops in Spoleto, a winery for tasting and Spello. At each location we were provided specific recommendations for walking throughout the small villages. Next was Florence. Bea arranged a food tour, which was enjoyed by us both. We had not been to Cinque Terre. The 5 cities were fabulous! We loved our stay in Monterosso. It is the only relatively flat city, the only one with a beach and many restaurant and lodging choices. It was easy to use the trains to travel from city to city. In Milan, we had an aperitivo tour upon arrival. That was one of the highlights due to our guide Marco! He made the trip fun due to his lively personality and considerations for our personal tastes. We also took a city walking tour with Beatrice as our guide. She was very knowledgeable and personalized the locations we visited according to what she thought our interests might be.
Beatriz was easy to work with and flexible in changing itinerary and arranging transportation. We would highly recommend her services as a travel consultant on Italy!

Activity Reviews

Eat Like a Local: Florence Street Food & Market Experience

Italy

The food tour was exactly what we were looking for. We enjoyed the market and information on all the vendors and different foods related to the Florence and Tuscany area. We also experienced some street food and were given a definite option not to like, for example, tripe sandwich. Overall, this was a very worthwhile food tour.

The Best of Milan Guided Walk

Italy

Our guide Beatriz, provided an informative and interesting city tour, Instead of the usual city highlights, ventured into some of the lesser known areas and churches that provided a more meaningful tour.

Charlotte worked very closely with us in all the planning stages of our trip. She was knowledgeable, competent and very receptive to our ideas and needs. She scheduled various zoom meetings so we could discuss and fine tune our trip. She was pleasant, friendly, personable and always aimed to please.
Unfortunately, we had a medical emergency in Australia and never made it to New Zealand. During the medical emergency Charlotte provided us with incredible support 24/7 and helped us immensely. We were very fortunate to have had her as our resource person and advocate.

Coriama was lovely to work with. I communicated with her for months and she remained patient and arranged every detail to ensure that our trip was exceptional.! We absolutely loved the H10 Madison. It is a lovely hotel with exceptional customer service. We loved drinking red wine on the rooftop area overlooking the cathedral.

Hotel Reviews

H10 Madison Hotel

Barcelona

Authenticity & Character

The old times staircase, the lovely China and old books in one of the front rooms.

Location

The staff works hard to ensure that you have an exceptional experience.

Staff

The bartender, front desk staff and wait staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The bed and shower feel amazing.

Hotel Ercilla de Bilbao

Bilbao, Bizkaia

The staff and accommodations were great!

Authenticity & Character

Location

The rooftop area is a huge asset.

Staff

They are very attentive to meet all of your needs.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The bed was dreamy.

Hotel Arrizul Catedral

San Sebastián

This hotel was not up to par with the other two. The rooms are very small and there was not any conditioner. It had a great walkability factor.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Day Trip to Montserrat & Scenic Hike

Barcelona

Our guide took us on a rigorous hike which was exactly what we had asked for. The area is gorgeous and you can take whatever type of walk/hike that you want. The cathedral and monastery are impressive.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Park Güell & La Sagrada Família Experience

Barcelona

We were running late due to traffic issues and our guide waited for us

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guggenheim Visit with a Private Guide

Bilbao

Ava spent an hour and a half with us. She was highly knowledgeable and shared lots of cool tips with us.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Private Transfer with visits to Gaztelugatxe and Cantabrian Coast

Spain

Our driver shared interesting information with us throughout the entire trip. He took us to the bridge and lead us in caves. He taught us about how the cliffs were created.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Self-Guided Hiking Day near San Sebastián

San Sebastián

I had done exstensive research and discovered the San Sansabastian to Pasis hike. It took us through lovey wooded areas, along the coast , beside farms. We hiked beside cows, saw huge slugs and rare birds.

Quality of Experience

Quality of Experience

All our tour guides were exceptionally wonderful. They were very attentive to our needs and punctual.

Hotel Reviews

Semeli Hotel Mykonos

Mykonos Town, Cyclades

Pro: easy walking distance to town. Friendly staff, spacious room. Cons: Located near elementary school, so you can hear the children playing in the play ground. Drop off and pick up is on top of the hill from the hotel, approximately 50 yards

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Katikies Chromata Santorini - The Leading Hotels of the World

Santorini

Pros: AMAZING view Cons: air conditioner does not work well. no ventilation in the bathroom Note: stairs to climb from room to main street, so if you are out of shape this may not be the hotel for you

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pepi Boutique Hotel

Rethymnon

Pros: located in the heart of old town. easy access to restaurants, shops Cons: certain transport vans are not able to enter narrow street to pick you up in front of the hotel. No busboy which means you need to carry your own luggage.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa Delfino

Chania, Crete

GORGEOUS! Purchased by Venetian captain as his house, now transformed into a beautiful hotel. Passed on generation to generation. Hotel is run by 3rd generation granddaughter. In the heart of town. We loved it.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private White Mountains Excursion with Wine & Olive Oil Tastings

Chania

Private tour into the mountains of Crete. Lush, green, sheep and goat along the way. Grapes straight off the vine (soooo sweet). This island is very different from Santorini or Mykonos we've also visited.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Off-the-Beaten-Path Villages & Countryside Excursion

Santorini

I liked that our tour guide took us into a town where the locals live. He knew where all the good spots for photo were.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Yacht Caldera Cruise

Santorini

THIS was an awesome experience. We yachted around the island of Santorini. The best part?! The lunch. I was expecting a little bite, but NO! It was a spread. Salad, pasta, kabob, wine, dip, etc.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The experience planning and going on our trip to Peru utilizing KimKim and Andean Travel Experience was outstanding! LizKaren was our point of contact during the planning stages and she provided great recommendations, strong guidance, answered all our questions, and was extremely responsive. Once on the ground in Peru, Lisbeth took over as our primary contact and was always available whenever we needed to reach out via WhatsApp.

The trip itself was seamless. Our drivers and guides were always on time and communicated well. In addition to the obvious highlight of exploring Machu Picchu, other highlights included our ATV tour to Maras and Moray and our Michelin-quality lunch at Hacienda Sarapampa.

Thank you LizKaren and Lisbeth for all your help!

Albania is a fascinating country with a complicated history. It's also beautiful with friendly people. We were able to see a lot in our 10 days in country. Highlights include visiting the city of Berat, a wine tasting at Alpeta winery, relaxing time in Ksamil and the ruins at Butrint. We also were thrilled with the beautiful drive through the Llogara pass to Kruje. Our itinerary, which local agency agent, Violaine put together included lovely hotels. Our local guide and driver, Migan Avdullaj, was fabulous. He was very knowledgeable, a safe driver and easily directed us to some options when there was unscheduled time open.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Panorama Kruje

Krujë

Excellent dinner and breakfast, convenient location

Authenticity & Character

beautiful views

Location

convenient

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Faces & Places Boutique hotel

Tirana

This hotel was difficult to find, especially after being dropped off late at night. There is no elevator and our room was on the third floor. The breakfast was good and the bed was comfortable

Authenticity & Character

Location

better directions

Staff

Not much interaction, as there were limited staffing hours

Cleanliness & Comfort

Wait n sea

Himare

Lovely views from the room

Authenticity & Character

Location

There is a fabulous restaurant a minute's walk away.

Staff

The owner was very attentive

Cleanliness & Comfort

Great view from the shower!

Hotel Mangalemi

Berat

Loved the old-world character of this hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

we could walk to the center of town easily

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rose garden Hotel

Gjirokastra

The hotel is located within walking distance of the castle and the old town which invites wandering!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arameras Beach Resort

ksamil

Great place to relax

Authenticity & Character

Resort atmosphere, relaxing

Authenticity & Character

Resort atmosphere, relaxing

Location

Beautiful setting on the riviera

Location

Beautiful setting on the riviera

Staff

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bella Venezia Historic Boutique Hotel

Corfu

A very attentive staff made this stay lovely.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easy to walk to old town Corfu and explore

Staff

attentive

Cleanliness & Comfort

Great beds and nice bathroom

Activity Reviews

Welcome in Tirana

Tirana

The pick up from the airport was fine, getting to the hotel was difficult

Quality of Experience

friendlier driver

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver from the airport basically dropped us off in the middle of the street without showing us the wat to the hotel which was tucked away. This was near midnight.

Transport

See above

Discovering Corfu – guided exploration of the island

Corfu

Out guide in Corfu was great, I don't have her name though. We went to dinner with her and she helped us order traditional food and suggested things to do.

Wine tasting in Alpeta Winery

Berat

Very entertaining evening, great wine. Beautiful drive to get to the winery.

Quality of Experience

The master of ceremony was very fun!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private halfday boat tour in Corfou

Corfu

Unfortunately, this was canceled due to weather. Also it was unfortunate that there wasn't much of an alternative plan.

Sightseeing tour of Tirana

Tirana

This was a good introduction to Albania.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our 12-day trip across Vietnam was hands down one of the best travel experiences we have ever had, and it is entirely thanks to our Kimkim local specialist, Trang.

We packed an incredible amount into 12 days—covering Hanoi, Ninh Bình, Ha Long Bay, Hội An, and Ho Chi Minh City. While that itinerary sounds ambitious on paper, Trang organized every single detail so seamlessly that the entire vacation felt completely relaxed, unhurried, and genuinely luxurious rather than stressful.

Every destination brought something special, but Ninh Bình and Hội An were absolute standouts for us. The highlight of the entire trip was the "I Am a Farmer" tour in Tam Cốc—it was an unforgettable, authentic hands-on experience that we talk about constantly.

From the very beginning, Trang took the time to tailor the itinerary precisely to what we wanted. Her support on the ground during the trip was where she truly shined: whenever we needed to adjust excursion dates or times in real time, she handled everything immediately and effortlessly. We could never have pulled off this itinerary or enjoyed it to this level had we tried to coordinate it on our own.

A huge shoutout as well to Brian, our guide in Hanoi. He was incredible at getting us settled in right away and pointed us toward some of the best local food spots we experienced all trip.

This was our first time booking an organized trip like this, and our only regret is that we didn’t try it sooner. It completely changed the way we travel. Everyone should experience this style of seamless travel at least once—we will definitely be booking through Kimkim again!

overall a good itinerary, hotels were great and most transfers arranged. however, we did not have transfers for our trip to killarney but Alexandra did help up on what to do. we really expected all transfers and perhaps we didn't notice that one also the trip to Birr- DO NOT send anyone there on a trip. we had no transportation arranged, we contacted alex and she helped get us a taxi which you all paid, however, we should have been warned on this - taxi was around 350 euros so something we would have not done. there is nothing to do in Birr, there is a castle but one we got in we only had about an hour the castle was not open for tours effective in August. and the grounds closed at 5:30 we walked around the grounds. no restaurants in Birr except the hotel we stayed at and the hotel in town. it was really a waste of a good day and we could have stayed either one more day in Cork or Dublin. we expect you all to guide us on the locations.

This is my second trip with Kimkim - and I am about to book a third trip for my entire family. Kimkim took our site preferences and made them one of my best trips. Alfonso (their agent in Spain) provided extraordinary detail about guides, meeting points, excursions and accommodations. I cannot say enough about the quality of most of our guides or the excursions themselves (especially our cooking class)! When our party of five (and Kimkim) was surprised by ubiquitous construction at one of our hotels, Kimkim immediately arranged a substitute accommodation that was among our best. By the time we returned from our excursion, our luggage was moved and we were already checked in. Transfers in particular were seamless. If I had to do this trip again, I would rely on Kimkim to book all transfers - especially with a group of women who may find it difficult to manage larger pieces of luggage. I could not be more satisfied.

Activity Reviews

Private City Walk & Royal Palace Experience

Madrid

Our guide in particular was knowledgeable and flexible. She made this site one of the highlights of our visit.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Flamenco Experience

Spain

Kimkim and Alfonso arranged front-row seats for our party of five. The experience (and my photographs) wete amazing!

Quality of Experience

Cooking Class in Seville

Seville

I have attended several cooking classes - and this is one of my favorites. Our chef (Maria) and sous chef (Gaia) were knowledgeable and friendly. They interacted with guests and explained the uniqueness of Spanish cooking. I am a seasoned and knowledgeable cook myself, but I would return to attend this school as a student!

Prado Museum Private Visit with an Art Historian

Madrid

Once again, our guide was the “secret” to the success of this tour. The Prado is not to be missed!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The tour guides were very good! Most hotels were good: location and service.
The Spar Hotel Gårda (Gothenburg) location was too far from Center of town.
The Transportation arrangement was very good.
The wrong location was given to us for the food tour meeting point in Stockholm. We have to run around to get to the correct location. The phone assist team during the trip was very helpful.
Maria did a great job organizing the trip.
We had a very good time!

Hotel Reviews

Scandic Torget

Bergen

Hotell Bondeheimen

Oslo

Spar Hotel Gårda

Gothenburg

Location

Comfort Hotel Vesterbro

Copenhagen

Hotel Lilla Rådmannen

Stockholm

Activity Reviews

Luggage Transfer Service

Norway

Food & Culture Walk

Bergen

Private City Walk

Oslo

Private tour Copenhagen Walking Tour & Canal Cruise

Copenhagen

Archipelago Tour with Guide

Gothenburg

Food tour Stockholm

Stockholm

Walking Tour Stockholm

Stockholm

Mostraumen Fjord Cruise

Bergen

Private Viking Heritage Tour to Roskilde & Viking Ship Museum Experience

Copenhagen

Guided Gothenburg City Tour

Gothenburg

Fjord Cruise & Seafood Dining Experience

Bergen

Across the board, our adventure was a trip of a lifetime thanks in part to KimKim and Micaela! Thank you for putting us in the right places with the right people!

Hotel Reviews

La Masía Hotel Boutique

Chacras de Coria

The staff of this hotel is what makes this property a 5 STAR experience! Highly Recommend!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Union Hotel Cusco

Cusco

The service staff in the restaurant were so personable and made the experience even better. Also, Kiki was a joy to see roaming around the property.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa Andina Standard Miraflores Benavides

Lima

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Full-Day Cooking Class & Lunch at Lamadrid Winery (Lujan de Cuyo)

Chacras de Coria

This is one of my favorite highlights of a 14day trip to South America. The cooking class is what made it even more special. Leo was amazing!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I cannot explain how grateful we are for all of your help planning our trip to Japan.

We had the most magical time and wish we could have stayed longer. From Ellen helping me plan the perfect itinerary to our guides- Yuki, Tammy, Meri and Nao, and all of our drivers, we are so thankful for your knowledge and help and expertise in making sure that all of us enjoyed the tours- from my kids (ages 6 and up) to my mom. You all really helped to craft the trip of our dreams. I cannot thank you enough. Your country is filled with peace and culture that can only be truly appreciated when you walk the streets and meet the wonderfully kind people that Japan is filled with.

Thank you doesn’t really convey the appreciation that I have for you all. We will be back one day and would be honored to use your services again! We loved every moment.

Hotel Reviews

Asakusa View Hotel Annex Rokku

Tokyo

The location was PERFECTION! The staff was kind and accommodating. The rooms were comfortable and so clean! We loved the breakfast. This was perfect for our family. Arigatō gozaimasu

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easily walkable to amazing restaurants and sites

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms were spotless. Beds were comfortable.

Cross Hotel Kyoto

Kyoto

Beautiful hotel in a perfect location. Close to many things. Super comfortable and clean. Has a wonderful breakfast!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easily walkable to amazing things! Close to many restaurants.

Staff

Super nice and accommodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Comfortable beds. Rooms were spotless and comfortable.

Activity Reviews

*Private Samurai Swordsmanship and Katana Experience in Tokyo

Tokyo

What an amazing experience and a top highlight for my boys! Everyone was so helpful and knowledgeable and kind. We learned a lot about katanas and respect and fighting. My kids won’t stop talking about it! It was also so fun for adults. We loved every second! Thank you so much for this recommendation.

Quality of Experience

The expertise was unmatched and the passion behind it was contagious! Amazing!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Everyone was so passionate and patient.

Transport

We took a taxi here and it was easy to find.

*Private Guided Tour in Kyoto: Heritage and Timeless Paths

Kyoto

Tammy made this trip for us! She is a wealth of knowledge and expertise. We could not be more thankful for her and her time spent with us. We learned so much and visited life changing locations. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts! We want to come back so badly!

Quality of Experience

Tammy was the absolute best! We love her and the locations she helped choose to take us. Thank you!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tammy was like part of our family and knew exactly how to keep my 3 boys interested in everything we were doing.

Transport

Our driver was so nice and accommodating. Transport was easy and efficient.

*Group Exciting Sumo Live Performance with Traditional Hot Pot Meal

Tokyo

From Genki and Kao to the MC, this experience was so fun and entertaining. The Chanko Hot Pot prepared for us by Kao (one of the wrestlers) was delicious! We learned so much about sumo and had a blast!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Everyone was so kind and fun!

*Private Experience a Classic Japanese Game an Apprentice Geisha

Kyoto

This experience was really special. What a beautiful form of art and culture. We really enjoyed our time with the Maiko! She was eloquent, super sweet and knowledgeable. The fan tossing game was so fun and my kids want to buy a version of it now! :) We love our hand painted fans we got from the shop and feel very fortunate to have had this experience.

Quality of Experience

A beautiful experience and fun for all!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Maiko was a beautiful soul inside and out. We learned so much from everyone there. Thank you!

Transport

We walked with Tammy to the location and it was great!

*Private Guided Tour in Tokyo: Highlights and Hidden Gems

Tokyo

Yuki was amazing! She took us to great locations in Tokyo and we learned so much! We loved it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Everyone was so nice and patient!

Transport

We had so much help navigating the trains. The drivers were awesome too!

*Private Guided Tour in Hakone: Nature and Art Escape

Hakone

Although we didn’t get to see Mount Fuji due to the clouds, we had the best time riding the pirate ship, climbing up the mountain in a gondola and adding seven years to our lives by eating the infamous black eggs! We entered the day by going to the Hakone Open Air Art Museum, which was incredible for adults and children! The kids could run around and they were interactive art installations where they could climb and play.

Quality of Experience

Beautiful scenery and great food and tour

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Yuki was great and we had a blast. The drivers were so nice and even bought my children some snacks!

Transport

Amazing drivers! They were super sweet!!!

*Private Guided Tour in Nara: Temples, Deer and Sacred Traditions

Japan

Nara is quite the experience! The bowing deer are definitely a highlight of the trip. My children loved petting them and feeding them. We had no problems with them being aggressive, like some other reviews I read, and we had the best time. The temple was incredible. We went to an animal café afterwards, and held some amazing animals. Meri was super sweet and fun as a guide! Thank you so much!!!

Quality of Experience

Fun from the time you exit the train!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The train ride was pretty special! Meri was awesome and so sweet! She knows so much about the area too. :)

Transport

Beautiful train and train ride up to Nara!

*Private Hiking tour around a Hidden Route of Fushimi Inari Taisha with a Local Lunch

Kyoto

Nao was an amazing guide! We had the best hike up to the top of the mountain passing bamboo forests and shrines. What an incredible place and has to be my favorite shrine of the trip! It is beautiful there and we even had the opportunity to meet a wonderful and kind man who makes the torii gates by hand. He’s done this for 50 years. He even let my boys try his special tools! It was a special experience that we will never forget!

Quality of Experience

The hike, the special woodworking experience and the overall beauty of the shrines.

Food

Our soba lunch was excellent!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Nao was great and energetic and knowledgable!

Transport

We went by train and it was super easy.

*Group Postcard making with Washi traditional paper and pressed flowers

Kyoto

I never in my life imagined how much goes into making washi paper from start to finish. Wow! We learned a lot and had such a great time! Everyone there was super nice and talented. We all enjoyed making our paper and decorating it with the dried plants and flowers. We would love to come back and make other things one day!!!! Thank you so much for helping us and this experience! We loved it!

Quality of Experience

A unique and amazing experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The staff was the best! Everyone was so helpful and kind!

Transport

We walked there with no issues.

Planning our trip to Zambia with Anne-marie could not have been a better experience! She answered all of our questions and we were well prepared for a trip with many travel logistics. Everything went so seamlessly on the trip and we never felt stressed about getting from one camp to the next.

My favorite lodge/camp of our trip was Ila Lodge with our guide Ali. We had many memorable game drives, a surprise boat lunch cruise, a boat safari, and riverside sundowners with the most amazing sunset.

All of the lodges and camps through Green Safaris were amazing. There were surprises around every corner. We were not only able to see so many different animals. but we learned so much about the different national parks and Zambia. We had once in a lifetime experiences at each camp, including lunch in the river with elephants, a community dinner in the bush, and a community dinner complete with singing and dancing.

This trip was truly amazing from start to finish.

The Guides, who assisted us in each city were absolutely outstanding. The kimkim logistics of arranging hotels and notifying us who and where we would be met and transferred was terrible. We had to reach out to KimKim multiple times to receive answers. Our local agent was unresponsive during the trip... we had to reach out repeatedly. This was my 4th KimKim trip. We reserved western style rooms in hotels twice and received futon bedding laid directly on the floor and were told western beds would cost several hundred dollars per night additional. We deliberately arranged several nights of ryokan experience. Kimkim was unresponsive. Please understand we LOVED our Japan experience. Kim Kim was terrible! There will not be another KimKim experience.

My husband and I began planning a three-stop trip to Italy about a year ago with KimKim. (We are from the U.S. - Texas) We worked with two travel specialists, Elisa and Sabina who conducted a deep dive into what our goals were and our preferences. We wanted to experience Florence, Rome and the Amalfi Coast. They coordinated our hotels, private drivers (always in a mercedes), private tours, high-speed train tickets, ferries, tickets for excursions and more. Prior to departure, we were provided an App on our phone to download that made navigating the entire experience incredibly easy. Additionally, all of the tickets to anything were downloadable from the app. (so, no need to print out prior to departure, unless you really wanted a paper copy).

In Florence, we were met with a private walking tour of the city by Alicia, a local to Florence. We experienced local cafe food, a local jewelry artisan and a beautiful perfume store. Alicia shared information on Florence and was very lovely. The next day, we toured two wineries with a tour (Fun in Tuscany) with a great guide, Daniel. We were in a nice van with two other couples. We drove to San Gimignano and we would have to say that this was the highlight of our trip and our favorite excursion.

We took a high-speed train to Rome. When we checked in, we had a lovely note from Sabina and Elisa with a bottle of Prosecco in our room wishing me a happy birthday! (so sweet). Thereafter, we met with an art historian, AnnaMaria and took a 3.5 hour foot tour of Rome. The next day, we had a semi-private tour of Palatine Hill and the Colosseum. That evening, and for my birthday, they arranged for us to see an incredible opera performance on a Roof Top complete with wine and meats and cheeses. (it was spectacular)! The next day, we met with Pamela another art historian and was taken on a one-on-one tour of the Vatican and St.Peter's Basilica. (wow!)

The next day, we took a high-speed train to the Amalfi Coast. We were picked up and immediately shuttled to Pompeii where we met Eduardo and Professor and art historian and experienced Pompeii one-on-one with him. It was spectacular. Our driver waited for us while we toured and when finished, we drove up the absolutely stunning Amalfi Coast. We took a ferry the next day to Positano and KimKim had arranged for us to meet with a local artisan, Valentino and his wife Lalla and we made homemade Limoncello. The experience was a highlight and Valentino was so fun and engaging! (highly recommend). The next day, we took a ferry to Capri and then took a taxi to AnaCapri and took the chair lift to the top. The scenery from the top is one of the most beautiful sites I've ever seen, in my life!

Should you take a similar tour, I would recommend exchanging money prior to leaving and plan for tipping each tour guide and each driver. (this was about 20 Euros for each).

I can't recommend these folks enough! Our experience was top notch and very orchestrated and organized!

Kimmie Delaney and Dan Scheffler

Activity Reviews

Food & artisans tour of Florence

Italy

We loved our tour with Alicia! She was fun and engaging. We walked the streets of Florence, experienced local cafe food, toured a local jewelry artisan and a gorgeous perfumery. So fun and highly recommend!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Limoncello Experience & Tasting

Italy

This is a must-DO in Positano! This was a highlight of our trip to Italy. We met Valentino and his wife Lalla who are local artisans who make food items and have an adorable little shop. We made homemade limoncello and tasted chocolates. Valentino is a character - so so fun! He also walked us across the street and took our picture. This was so much fun!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Rooftop bar Opera show

Rome

This experience was a highlight for us in Rome! This was such a classy event and an incredible treat. The two opera singers were so entertaining. We were not sure what we were going to experience with this and it was such an unexpected 10 out of 10! Highly recommend!

Quality of Experience