Kimkim Trip Reviews

For years I have wanted to visit The Netherlands to see the tulips but could never get the timing or became exhausted looking online for the where/how/who of planning a trip. This year we decided, "let's do it" and luckily found Mieke, who was nothing short of wonderful. She took our wishes and needs, asked questions and understood what we were looking for, then organized things to fit just perfectly in our time frame. She put together not just a great itinerary but wonderful activities we would not have found on our own. The private driver was amazing - so helpful and personable, we left feeling like we'd made a good friend. The private canal cruise in Hoorn with a very kind and informative captain was so enjoyable, as was the Tulip Train, and the other activities she organized for us. We had a fabulous trip and it was all down to Mieke's expertise and piecing it all together so seamlessly!

Hotel Reviews

Ysbrantsz Boutique Hotel

Hoorn

We enjoyed the town and this hotel, right at the heart, was a great fit for us. The room was well-done and had a sort of "upscale" feel, staff was accommodating and nice, and the restaurant there is excellent. Focus seems to be on the restaurant as it was always very busy with locals and travelers, but the rooms were nicely done and very clean. The garden side is quiet and nice and the other side opens onto the main square.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ambassador City Centre Hotel

Haarlem

This hotel turned out to be a great location for us - right in the center and easy to walk to everything we needed. Room was comfortable and looked at the church. We loved hearing the bells chime and watching the people parade as they met up for drinks at the many cafes along the street (and of course participating ourselves in that activity!) The breakfast was well-done, restaurant meal was good, staff was very helpful and friendly. We had a great stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Explore Hoorn

The Netherlands

First, the hotel that Mieke set up for us was perfect - great location, lovely rooms, nice staff, very good restaurant and easy to get around. We enjoyed seeing Hoorn, which was a pretty town and lively; sitting on the square for a beer, watching the people parade, looking in the shops, watching sunset over the water...it was quite nice. Second, my main review is for the private driver that was organized for us. Robert was absolutely top-notch. He picked us up at the airport, assisted my husband, who has a disability, was personable and interesting while also professional. He took us to Hoorn by the backroads as requested, to allow us to visit some of the private tulip farms and see them up-close. He came back to Hoorn at an early hour to take us to the airport at the end of our trip, again going above and beyond for us and by the end of our time with him we felt like we'd made a new friend. We are so grateful to him for the help and the good time he showed us, that really helped make the trip special.

Hoorn - Tulip tram

Hoorn

An old-time steam train with antique wooden rail cars that took us amidst the tulip fields - what's not to love? While there was some confusion at the station and the train was late departing, therefore not leaving us time in Medemblik to walk around, the experience of riding through the tulip fields was just lovely. It would have been nice to be able to walk between rail cars, but it being an antique train, I guess that wasn't possible. Having a beverage car would have enhanced the experience as there was little time at the stop in Wognum, barely enough to queue up at the tiny restroom and get back onboard, much less get something to drink or snack. I'd hoped they'd slow down more as we passed the tulips (they slowed more going through unused stations!) but I think it may have been due to the delayed departure and needing to get back in time. Medemblik was supposed to be "a tulip station" but didn't have any flowers on display as in Wognum. Despite the somewhat disorganized situation, we did enjoy the trip.

Quality of Experience

Signage to reach the train, timing, better facilities (more than one or two toilets at the stop would be beneficial), slower passage through the tulips, time to explore Medemblik. Could be better organized.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The antique train and wooden cars were well-preserved and a nice "old time" experience

Haarlem - Canal cruise

The Netherlands

The cruise was smooth and had an audioguide in a couple of languages as it took us among the canals of Haarlem. Overall the process of easy and user-friendly and gave us a glimpse of the city from the water and some details we would have missed walking around town. Haarlem felt sort of like a "mini Amsterdam" and this experience enhanced that impression while allowing us to get off the streets and onto the famous canals to see things from a different perspective. It was more "commercial" than our canal cruise in Hoorn (but that one was a private cruise) though the staff in the canalside shop were helpful and friendly here.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hoorn - Private boat tour historic harbor

The Netherlands

Our captain was so sweet and informative - we learned a lot about the town, history, architectural details, and had a great time ducking down under the bridges, seeing the canals, and seeing the town from a different perspective. The private tour let us really talk to the boat captain, ask questions and hear his insights. He included a lovely surprise of drinks and snacks, and we were so glad we did this outing. It was perfect.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Valentine was very thorough in her planning and understanding of what we wanted to accomplish on our trip. The yacht tour to Cap Taillat was very special with our captain and assistant very accommodating. The selection of the vineyards Valentine planned was exceptional.

Activity Reviews

Full-Day Wine Tour at Chateau d'Esclans & Gulf of St Tropez vineyards

Saint-Tropez

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A day on a Luxury Boat: Cap Taillat & Pampelonne

Saint-Tropez

The captain and his assistant were very accommodating and friendly. The yacht was exceptional and seemed to be brand new.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Giulia was wonderful to work with!! She helped really make the trip what we wanted it to be. We especially enjoyed our time in Bologna. The cooking class with Veronica and the tours with Riccardo were highlights!

Hotel Reviews

Antica Locanda Leonardo

Milan

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Locanda Alberti

Mandello del Lario

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

R&B Santo Stefano

Bologna

We enjoyed the apartment-style accommodation and the access to a washing machine mid-trip. The place was clean and comfortable. Our only complaint was the shower; it has very low water pressure, which makes rinsing shampoo and conditioner out of hair more difficult.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable. The only challenge is the low water pressure in the shower.

Carlo Felice Boutique Hotel

Torino

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided visit of Bellagio and Villa Melzi Gardens

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cooking Class *****

Italy

We often take cooking classes in different countries/cities when we travel. This one has been the best so far. Veronica made us feel very welcome; it felt like learning an old family recipe and sharing a delicious meal with a good friend.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Food day (half-day) including Parmigiano Reggiano and Balsamic Vinegar - from Bologna

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bologna private guided walk and Food Tastings (3h)

Italy

We love Riccardo!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Turin guided walk (private guide)

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The Langhe hills wine tasting (1 winery)

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full day in The Langhe with driver assistance (from Turin)

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The car smelled strongly of cigarette smoke, which irritates my allergies a bit.

Our Kim Kim Team did a terrific job in working with us prior to the trip to drill down and figure out fun activities that my wife and I would enjoy during a 12 day trip to Florence, Rome and the Amalfi coast in Italy and then stayed in constant contact throughout the trip to respond to questions and handle unexpected issues. They had great recommendations for dining and also for "fill the gap" activities during our free time. Right off the bat, they were helpful as our departing flight was delayed which necessitated rebooking tickets for the connecting train from Rome to Florence. Using their very convenient app, i messaged Kim Kim about the delay before we left the US. When we arrived in Rome, the rebooking had already occurred and the pdf tickets were attached in the app. They also reached out just to touch base through the trip and the time difference was not an issue. When we had a miscommunication on a 9:00 meeting in Rome, i got a immediate response in my app within five minutes of sending a text. Very impressive monitoring of messages from their clients and really convenient app with a detailed itinerary that i referred to often throughout the trip. . And while i am comfortable finding my own transportation overseas i have to admit, having a driver arranged for transportation from the train station in Naples to our Sorrento hotel was well worth the cost. Kim Kim was also very helpful in canceling a few of our activities we had previously signed up for when we encountered an unexpected issue (broken toe!) and were great about recommending suitable alternative activities Both my wife and i appreciated the "hands-on" approach from the entire Kim Kim team and we both felt they were invested in making my wife's 70th birthday trip a memorable one.

We had a very enjoyable and a deep dive into the fascinating history of Turkey. We appreciated experiencing the iconic sites of Istanbul: Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace (Harem), Haghia Sophia and Hippodrome. In Cappadocia to experience the Goreme Valley Monastery, Derinkuyu Underground city and the unique geological formations and balloon ride. In the Aegean region Urlice Vineyards, Ephesus, Aphrodisiacs, Hierapolis and Pamukiale. Experiencing the port city of Fethiye and while on the boat to visit Butterfly Valley, Oludeniz (Blue Lagoon), St Nicholas Island, Kas, Sunken City and Kekova. Around Antalya to visit Myra, Phaselis, Perge and the incredible theater in Aspendos. We enjoyed staying in the old town of Antalya.
Zehra, our travel consultant, was very knowledgeable and helpful in putting together the trip we wanted and getting us off the beaten path. Despite a few delays on flights the entire trip went smoothly, and we were in contact with Zehra at each phase of the trip. The trip was more costly than I anticipated but when you consider it was a private tour for 3 weeks, the vehicle travel and the days we were with guides, the cost is understandable.
All the guides were very knowledgeable and professional. I would point out that guides Uraz Nehir and Mustafa Sahun were exceptional. Good safe drivers are essential. Most of the drivers were very careful. The drivers in Istanbul were too fast for our liking and the one on arrival in Antalya was replaced after the first day because of his driving habits. Ahmed, our driver from Izmir to Fethiye, was exceptional. He was professional, very careful on the road and was very mindful of our well-being. He was also the only driver which spoke some English.
The accommodations were mostly lovely boutique hotels with hotel reception staff which were very friendly and helpful. The Richmond Pamukkale Thermal was the exception in being a massive tourist hotel that was not as pleasant as our other hotels.
The boat trip was great despite the occasionally cool and windy conditions. It was about the right number of days. The beauty and history of the coast was impressive. Something that we appreciated very much was the flexibility of the daily activities to meet our preferences. For example, Judi saw a poster with the cliff tombs of Myra. Our guide was receptive to seeing Myra and Phaselis when we disembarked from our boat trip on the way to Antalya.

Hotel Reviews

Ruin Adalia

Antalya

The location and layout in the middle of old town Antalya is impressive with the ruins under the courtyard. Rooms are large. Staff very helpful. The rooms are in need of some maintenance.

Authenticity & Character

Very impressive courtyard and ruins underneath it

Location

In the old town of Antalya

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very helpful

Marina Boutique Hotel

Mugla

An interesting but strange location in the middle of a ship yard

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Staff was very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Richmond Pamukkale Thermal

Denizli

Too big and impersonal

Authenticity & Character

Everything except the hot springs

Location

Next to Pamukkale

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

LaVista Boutique Hotel & Spa - Boutique Class

Kusadasi

Authenticity & Character

Location

The hotel was on a hill overlooking the ocean on the edge of the city.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fresco Cave Suites & Mansions - Special Class

Urgup

Very helpful staff, excellent breakfast, very interesting and unique hotel architecture.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sirkeci Mansion Hotel

Istanbul

Great location, very helpful staff

Authenticity & Character

Interior and exterior of the hotel

Location

Staff

Very helpful on answering any questions

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Exploring Antalya & Historical Sites

Antalya

Sites were amazing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Impressive guide

Transport

Fethiye to Olympos Blue Cruise - Day 4

Turkey

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide is very impressive, driver was not

Fethiye to Olympos Blue Cruise - Day 2

Turkey

Cold and windy during the night

Quality of Experience

Good day visit

Food

Fethiye to Olympos Blue Cruise - Day 1

Turkey

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Boat staff was great, very professional and helpful

Transport

Boat was beautiful

Explore Hierapolis & Visit Travertines in Pamukkale

Pamukkale

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Drive to Pamukkale via Aphrodisias Ancient City

Turkey

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Very Safe driver

Full Day Tour of Ephesus and Region

Turkey

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was good but not as experienced as other guides

Transport

Visit Urlice Vineyards at Urla including lunch

Turkey

Great to talk to the owner and experience the wines with food

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exceptional driver

Visit to Derinkuyu Underground City & Explore area

Cappadocia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Explore The Landmarks of Cappadocia

Cappadocia

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was very impressive and knowledgeable

Transport

Safe driver

Cooking Class & Dinner in Cappadocia

Cappadocia

Nice to be with a family

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Istanbul Walking Tour

İstanbul

Quality of Experience

Iconic sites

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was very knowledgeable

Father- daughter Iceland trip

We had a wonderful time experiencing the geologic wonders and friendliness of Iceland.

Noga was our primary contact in preparing our trip.
She did an amazing job and was in regular communication with us for our father-daughter trip to Iceland.
Noga was flexible in rearranging 2 travel days to better utilize our time.

Nick was our contact while we were in Iceland and was quite helpful when events beyond his control occurred. - cancellation of glacier snowmobile trip.
- we were disappointed in this cancellation and were surprised that the snowmobile outfitter would cancel because " the number of reservations for that day were not enough". I would suggest using a different snowmobile outfitter.
My prior experience with snowmobile adventures had been that the excursion took place whether all reservations were filled or not.

The accommodations were quite nice and very comfortable.

Some special highlights included the breakfast convenience, hikes through Skaftafell and Svartifoss, Reynisfjara black sand beach, Reykjavik, and Myavtn geologic wonders.

We would highly recommend Kimkim for Iceland trip planning.

Tom Tulisiak
Leann Tulisiak

Hotel Reviews

Skuggi Hotel by Keahotels

Reykjavík

Berjaya Hotel Akureyri

Akureyri

Vogafjós Farm Resort

Myvatn

Hotel 1001 Nott

Egilsstadir

Hali Country Hotel

Hali

Hotel Katla by Keahotels

Vík

The Greenhouse Hotel

Hveragerdi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Explore Reykjavík

Reykjavík

Icelandic Food Walk

Reykjavík

Explore Akureyri

Iceland

Husavik

Iceland

Geological Wonders of Lake Myvatn

Iceland

GeoSea Geothermal Sea Baths Experience

Iceland

Whale Watching Safari by Traditional Boat

Iceland

Explore Djúpivogur

Iceland

Vestrahorn Mountain

Iceland

Explore Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon by Zodiac Boat

Iceland

zodiac boat excursion canceled due to high winds

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach

Iceland

Hike from Skaftafell to Svartifoss Waterfall

Iceland

Explore Vík

Iceland

Reynisfjara Beach & Reynisdrangar Columns

Iceland

Dyrhólaey Arch and Cliffs

Iceland

Skogafoss Waterfall

Iceland

Seljalandsfoss & Gljúfrabúi Waterfalls

Iceland

Gullfoss Waterfall

Golden Circle

Geysir Geothermal Area

Golden Circle

Hike to Reykjadalur Hot Springs

Iceland

Þingvellir National Park

Iceland

Blue Lagoon Premium Admission

Iceland

Vök Baths Experience

Iceland

We had the most wonderful trip to Portugal thanks to Kim Kim and our planner Hector!!
He did a great job by giving us plenty of time in three different locations and a wide range of experiences. Probably our favorite was a winery that ended up being so much more than we could have guessed! The hotels were nice and all very different from each other. Check in processes were seamless. The only thing I would have changed was to go with his original hotel recommendation in Evora (we chose to downgraded for pricing). I have used other travel planning services in the past and was not nearly as impressed. You even get an app to keep you on target! We’ll use them again and again!

Hotel Reviews

Lagos Avenida Hotel

Lagos

Our room was spacious by European standards and very comfortable. The patio was nice and the rooftop pool was awesome, beautiful views! The restaurant was also very good and this hotel has an amazing included breakfast; not just a buffet but menu ordering. A very easy walk to the harbor.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Évora Olive Hotel

Évora

Our room was very tiny and I didn’t love the concrete floors. It was very clean though and had a mini fridge. The lobby is beautiful and the restaurant is quite good. If we had an upgraded room I think I would have enjoyed it more

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Lisboa Plaza

Lisbon

Our room was very big for European standards and included a mini fridge. The hotel is a bit older but comfortable and everyone was very nice. The fifth floor terrace to hang out on was spacious and beautiful. An easy walk to all the riverfront activities and restaurants.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Wine Tasting & Lunch at a Portuguese Quinta

Portugal

You will not leave hungry! Multiple courses paired with wine and all very good. A small tour after

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wine and Gourmet Experience in Alentejo

Portugal

This was such an incredible experience, probably our favorite of the trip. Without giving away too much this is far more than a normal winery visit

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Lisbon with a Local

Lisbon

Very informative way to get to know the city

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The Soul of Lisbon: Fado Dinner Experience

Portugal

Wow! What a welcome to Portugal. The food was amazing, the music was magical, and you got unlimited wine; can’t beat it!!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We could not have been happier with our trip to Peru. We worked with Anne and Jesus in planning the perfect trip which included multiple hikes and interesting tours. We loved Blanca who took us on a walking food and art tour in the Barranco district in Lima that was incredible. The best ceviche we have ever tasted. And we can't say enough about our guide Edwar who guided us through Cusco's history, the Sacred Valley, the short Inca trail and Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain. He was knowledgeable, upbeat and took great care of us. He felt like family by the end of our 8 days touring with him. Peru was so beautiful and we hope to make it back.

Adam provided me with a tailored experience featuring everything I told him I wanted to see. He made reservations and the most adorable and comfortable hotels which had incredibly friendly staff. He provided detailed maps each day for me to follow and offered many optional sites tailored to my interests. I feel like I truly immersed myself in Iceland and was able to experience everything it has to offer.

I was very pleased with the effort given by Gormunder and the Kimkim team to not only plan a very organized and thoughtful trip but they also adjusted to last minute flight changes to re-set portions of the schedule. The restaurant recommendations were excellent, the hotels selected offered a wonderful experience, the itinerary and time of driving was super helpful, and insight of where to park and what activities you could do after the main stops was insightful and added dimensional joy to the trip. I would certainly book with them again. Shoutout to Gormunder for being present and available with any questions we had. His responses were very timely and helpful.

Loved the hotel and its location to really cool places in France! The pickups were also great and weather was beautiful!

A few suggestions for others:

The walk to Tower from Latin quarter was more like 1hr-30 minutes, we took uber back. We’re in great physical shape to do it except we almost missed our scheduled time slot.

Also, meet up with our guide for Luve tour was a miss and could’ve been improved. Another tour-guide saved the day and got on the phone to help us get to proper location.

We did not get to tour the steps up to Notre Dame towers, this could’ve been arranged if we had been more informed of our options.

Perfect hotel, perfect location, more casual “local” restaurants recommendations next time. We loved ARTABAN restaurant just steps away from hotel.

The City Tour was the highlight of our trip- we loved it! Finally, the drivers from train station and to Airport were excellent!

We will use Kimkim again!

Thank You,
Mike/Cathy

We had very few ideas of what we could or should visit in Colombia. Margoth, the local specialist, helped us work out a most satisfactory experience and even made it easy to visit a friend in her home outside Medellin. We had a great time, felt well taken care of always and enjoyed getting to know more about this beautiful and friendly country. We had a specific driver and guide for each area we visited and each was knowledgeable and helpful. The trip could not have gone more smoothly!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Capellan de Getsemani

Cartagena de Indias

There was a lot of city road work going on while we were there, but Hotel Capellan served as an oasis from that, cool, comfortable, right in the heart of the city.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Senda Watapuy

Santa Marta

A piece of paradise right outside Tayrona National Park. A pleasure to visit in its own right.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

El Cielo Hotel

Medellin

Beautiful hotel in the heart of a beautiful city - clean and attentive!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Depart Colombia

Colombia

Walking Tour of Cartagena Highlights (Old City)

Colombia

Tayrona National Park Tour

Colombia

Welcome to Colombia!

Colombia

Rum Tasting with Chocolate Pairing

Cartagena

Half-Day Coffee Farm Tour

Medellín

The Best of Medellín City Tour Highlights (with Comuna 13)

Colombia

Minca Tour with Local Cacao Farm and Marinka waterfalls

Colombia

Loved getting to see the farm and the view was spectacular. A true gem.

We enjoyed our interactions and the service provided by KimKim and our local specialist, Kathrin for our New Zealand adventure. Kathrin was able to plan a great trip for us, within our budget, and was very responsive when we needed to contact her before and during our trip. KimKim kept us notified of how to contact them during the time their offices would be closed due to a national holiday during our stay.
Highlights of our three week trip were the Newton Heights B & B in Akaroa, where we were treated very well by hosts Gail and Brendan in their beautiful and well appointed B & B, The Starlight Gourmet Kayak Tour - Glowworm Caves - our guide, Aaron, was knowledgeable, friendly and helpful, and the time we spent in Aoraki, which included the Tasman glacier terminal lake cruise - the Glacier Explorer staff were all professional, friendly. informative and helpful.
The longest time we stayed in any one place was two nights. We wanted to see as much of the country as we could during the time we had. The only thing we would do differently would be to stay longer in a few of the locations.

After using Anita to help us book our Portugal/Spain trip last year, I knew we had to use her again for our Italy trip this year. I told her the different cities that we wanted to visit and she made a customized itinerary to fit our trip. This was especially difficult since we had four families and one infant. After a few iterations, she was able to put the perfect trip together. The app was extremely helpful because it told us where we needed to be, at what time, and who was going to pick us up. I don’t think we will be booking another trip without KimKim and Anita.

Hotel Reviews

Be Mate Apartments

Rome

Really beautiful apartment with plenty of amenities. The only thing that took away from this place was that they are building a metro station right outside and they were doing construction around 6 am every morning besides the weekend.

Authenticity & Character

Location

A lot of construction happening across the street. Woke us up at 6 am every morning.

Staff

Very responsive host

Cleanliness & Comfort

Horto Convento Florence

Firenze

This was a great location. We could get to every place within 15-20 minutes of walking.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Away from the crowded parts but close enough that we could walk to wherever we needed to go

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Canada Urban & Chic

Cozy and close to the airport which is what we needed for our quick stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hands-On Roman Pasta Cooking Class in the Historic Jewish Quarter

Rome

This was such a fun class! Our instructor was amazing and we loved all of the food we made. I would highly recommend this tour.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Beneath the Eternal City: A Journey Through Rome’s Catacombs & San Clemente

Rome

The most surprising tour for me. I didn’t know about the catacombs and it was such an interesting tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rome Unearthed: Guided Walk of Colosseum & Ancient City

Rome

One of the most impressive tours we did in all of Italy. It is truly incredible how big the colosseum is. The ancient city was also a great addition to this tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover the Vatican: From the Museums to the Sistine Chapel

Italy

This was another tour that could have easily been a whole day. There were so many pieces to see and there were rooms upon rooms of amazing artwork.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Masters of the Renaissance: A Journey Through the Uffizi

Florence

I wish we had more time on this tour. It was so good and there are so many things to see.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Excursion to Tuscany: Chianti Winery Visit & San Gimignano

Florence

Such a fun trip. One of my family’s favorites. We had two stops which was plenty. We learned a lot about the vineyards and sampled so many types of wines.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Ligurian Excursion: A Full-Day Escape to Cinque Terre

Florence

It was worth the trip but it is about two hours away. We felt a little pressed for time in each town. I think it would be better if we only visited two places instead of three

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Florence on Foot: Michelangelo’s David & Duomo

Italy

The best tour you can do in Florence!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Best of Milan Guided Walk

Italy

This was perfect for us since we only had an an afternoon in Milan.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We hit the ground with enthusiasm and excitement and were not disappointed. The accommodations were perfect for us with The Niche in Athens being our favorite. The reception and staff at all of our stays made us feel warmly welcomed and well supported. Hiking the Imbros Gorge on Crete was a stunning experience and we enjoyed eating, shopping and exploring the charming town of Chania. On to Santorini! We loved Hotel Keti and the staff. The many steps kept us in shape for our long walk from Fira to Oia. It was a challenge but we would to it again! Santorini Sea Kayak provided us with a wonderful and entertaining day of paddling and spectacular views along the coast. Adonis and Nolan were the best guides ever! We were also treated to a homemade lunch.

Naxos was a treasure and a sweet change of pace. Although the winds were gusty and it was a bit chilly we stilled loved the island. One of our favorite tours was with Natural Cultural Tours. Our guide Christos was over the top fun, knowledgeable, and entertaining. Sadly we said goodbye the Greek Islands as we headed back to Athens and our long journey home. Thank you Kim Kim for giving us this opportunity!

Activity Review

Private Countryside Walk: Naxian Villages & Local Food

Naxos

I can’t say enough about how incredible our trip to Greece was — and a huge part of that was thanks to Siena and the entire team at KimKim. From start to finish, everything felt seamless, thoughtful, and so well planned.

Even the rainy weather during our Acropolis & Mythology Walk in Athens couldn’t dampen the experience. Our guide, Michael, was hilarious, engaging, and incredibly knowledgeable. Our Delphi day trip was equally memorable, and the lunch stop on the drive home — arranged by our driver Chris — ended up being one of the highlights of the entire trip.

In Chania, our History & Foodie Tour was absolutely delicious (and VERY filling), and our guide Aria was genuinely lovely. We were also lucky enough to have Nikos as our guide for both the Milia Mountain wine & olive oil tasting and the Balos Lagoon/Falassarna Beach tour — and he was truly exceptional. He had such a warm, welcoming energy that he made both excursions feel relaxed and personal. We also met wonderful people on each of our small group tours, which made the experience even more special.

Eva at the Alcanea Boutique Hotel was beyond kind and accommodating. The suite was beautiful, and the location honestly couldn't have been more perfect.

One thing I especially appreciated was how supported we felt the entire time. Having contacts for every transfer and knowing KimKim was available if anything went wrong made traveling abroad feel easy and stress-free.

I would HIGHLY recommend KimKim to anyone planning a trip. We made memories we’ll never forget — and I know we’ll absolutely use them again in the future.

Laurent set up the most incredible trip for us! All of the accommodations he booked were top tier. He put together a trip that was truly tailored to our interests and what we wanted to do, all while staying within budget and still providing luxury experiences. We loved the private tours that were set up for us to learn about history and cultures of the towns we were in. We also had the best time at our glamping experience in Lake Bled. Truly the best trip!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel R Palazzo

Dobrota, Kotor

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Lapad

Dubrovnik

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ribno Alpine Resort - Luxury Glamping

Bled

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Sanje ob Soči

Bovec

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Mrak 4*

Ljubljana

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Boat trip in Kotor's Bay

Slovenia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Walking Tour of Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Planning a pilgrimage as meaningful and complex as the 88 Temple Pilgrimage in Japan requires extraordinary coordination, care, and expertise — and our travel specialist Angel, exceeded every expectation.

From the very beginning, every logistical detail was handled with precision and professionalism. The itinerary was thoughtfully organized, transportation was seamless, hotel arrangements were comfortable and perfectly located, and every reservation — from temple visits to dinners — was flawlessly executed. The timing throughout the journey was exceptional, allowing our group to experience the pilgrimage deeply without ever feeling rushed or overwhelmed.

What truly made this experience unforgettable was the incredible team assigned to accompany us. Every member of the support staff was attentive, knowledgeable, kind, and deeply committed to ensuring our group felt supported throughout the pilgrimage. Their cultural understanding, patience, and ability to anticipate our needs created a sense of ease and trust that allowed us to fully immerse ourselves in the spiritual and personal aspects of the journey.

The dinner experiences were another highlight — beautifully selected venues that introduced us to authentic Japanese cuisine while also accommodating the needs of our group with care and thoughtfulness. Every day reflected an extraordinary level of preparation and attention to detail.

Coordinating a large group on a pilgrimage of this scale is no small task, yet everything felt effortless because of the dedication and excellence behind the scenes. We are profoundly grateful for the care, professionalism, and heart that went into creating this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

I would recommend this agency and Angel as the best team without hesitation to anyone considering a pilgrimage or group journey in Japan. Their expertise transformed an already meaningful trip into something truly extraordinary.

we had a great trip to Guatemala and Belize. What two lovely countries with som much culture. Definitely worth a trip. Antigua (with the various day tours), Tikal and also Xunantunich and Caye Caulker in Belize.

The local travel agents, did a fantastic job, were always available and responded to our needs and requests. When we didnt like a hotel (as it just didnt look as advertised) they found an alternative..

If there is one thing i would wish for it is that there were better hotels - which were never offered to us (we had originally said we prefer 4 star but ended up largely with what i would call mid to lower end 3 star. We did on our own when there see better hotels and would have loved to book them (some were the same price eg., in caye caulker) or at least have the option.

Everything from start to finish was wonderful. Ariel helped us plan our trip and he was very responsive to our questions and requests! His communication with us throughout our trip was excellent. We began our trip in Quito. Our driver, Cristobal, was very helpful. He gave us suggestions for things to do in the city, and types of Ecuadorian foods to eat. More significantly, he walked us through the airport to get us to the Galapagos - customs, check in, and location of the security gate for our flight. Once in the Galapagos we had outstanding guides and Kimkim boots on the ground help. In San Cristobal, Ian made sure we were at the right places and on time. In Santa Cruz, Viviana gave us an outstanding Highland Tour. We’d highly recommend this tour as you can get up close to the giant tortoises in their natural environment. Scuba Iguana was an outstanding dive outfit. Our dive guides, Gabby and Kike, were awesome. We’ve dove in multiple places around the world and we’d say that Scuba Iguana was the best thus far - and we thought the others were good too! Staff is friendly and fun. They make a point of knowing your name, comfort level, and help every step of the way. We felt spoiled. While in Santa Cruz, my husband came down with a bad bacterial and viral infection that left him very dehydrated. We couldn’t have navigated this issue without the help of Kimkim boots on the ground. Many thanks to Diego, Veronica, and Tatiana for helping with Spanish translation, rearranging our stay, and ensuring we were well taken care of throughout a stressful situation. I will definitely work with Kimkim again on future trips.

Hotel Reviews

La Isla Hotel

Puerto Ayora

Clean and comfortable. Breakfast each morning was very good. Centrally located with many attractions within walking distance. Staff was very helpful and friendly. Loved the shower - it’s huge!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Galapagos Sunset Hotel

Puerto Baquerizo Moreno

Centrally located and close to many attractions

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Casona de La Ronda

Quito

Small boutique hotel with outstanding service. Clean and comfortable, friendly staff. We had a great breakfast at the hotel and dinners were wonderful too!

Authenticity & Character

Loved the architecture

Location

In the heart of the historic district and walking distance to many sights.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Discover Isla Pinzón & Playa La Fé

Puerto Ayora

Scuba Diving - Another day to dive in Santa Cruz

Galapagos Islands

Scuba Diving - Another day to dive in Santa Cruz

Galapagos Islands

Hammerheads!!

Scuba Diving - Day Trip from Santa Cruz

Galapagos Islands

Scuba Iguana is a top notch dive outfit. Highly recommended!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Gabby and Kike were super! The captain of the boat, Enrique, was very good. Jose helped out with dive gear, snacks and lunch- outstanding.

Excursion to an uninhabited island

Galapagos Islands

Highlands of Santa Cruz Island

Galapagos Islands

Fun to see the giant tortoises in their natural environment.

Quality of Experience

Food

Outstanding!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Viviana was very knowledgeable.

Transport

Snorkel at Kicker Rock (Leon Dormido)

Galapagos Islands

Quality of Experience

Certainly not the fault of the guides - visibility was not great. Make sure you don’t go when there’s a full moon. Apparently it impacts what you can see.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport