Kimkim Trip Reviews

Please thank your whole team, US and Costa Rica, for taking such good care of our group of four when we had car trouble. Everything about the trip was FANTASTIC. Our favorites by far were the Manuel Antonio National Park tour and the Selvatura Hanging Bridges. The hotels were fabulous, esp. Issimo Suites, in the treetops! We plan to use KimKim for every trip out of the country! Thank you again!

Our trip to Bangkok and Phuket was a wonderful introduction to Thailand, and the KimKim team did a great job accommodating our timelines and preferences, while ensuring that we hit the highlights in both of those places. The guides we had in both places were energetic, knowledgeable, and a pleasure to spend time with. We spent several days with Monica in Bangkok, and she not only showed us the sights, but made sure to introduce us to a wealth of great, local Thai food. In both Bangkok and Phuket we were always in good hands. Minah was very responsive as the overall coordinator of the trip, and followed up with us right back to the airport on the way out. This is our second KimKim trip, and we're big fans!

Activity Reviews

Bangkok: Ayutthaya’s Glorious Ruins & Bang Pa-In Summer Palace

Bangkok

Another amazing day, highlighted by the summer palace. We also really enjoyed spending some time with some monks at one of the temples later in the day. Monica led us through another great day with great food.

Bangkok Spiritual Encounter

Bangkok

Amazing and serene temples, and mind-blowing palace grounds make this a must-do excursion. We loved the food as much as the sights.

Quality of Experience

Food

Our driver was an absolute wizard with the van, in spite of the lack of parking and tight roads in Bangkok

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The trip was incredible! A wonderful experience. The KIMKIM team were always there to answer any of our questions. We particularly enjoyed the Panorama glass lodge and were fortunate enough to see the Northern lights. The App is easy to use and a welcome addition. We highly recommend using them to plan unique one of a kind adventures.

Hotel Reviews

Silica Hotel

Grindavík

Extremely helpful and friendly staff.

Location

A unique site

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Panorama Glass Lodge West Iceland

Authenticity & Character

well thought out. beautiful setting

Cleanliness & Comfort

They thought of everything! Loved the heated floors

Activity Review

Reykjavík City Walk

Reykjavík

Lots of insight and friendly guide

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great job planning and putting together this very challenging trip. We had a lot of ‘moving parts’ to this journey and Erin, Samantha, and crew did a GREAT job putting all the pieces together. This was a long 4+ week trip with two people traveling on different schedules. Great experiences - I’d recommend this trip and this company to anybody really interested in exploring this area of the world!

Throughout our family's experience planning our trip to Portugal and Spain, Raquel our travel agent, and the teams at both Espiritu Travel and KimKim were so attentive and helpful! We first contacted KimKim in September, and even though we were slow to finalize plans due to the busyness of our personal lives, Raquel especially did a phenomenal job routinely checking in, updating our sample itinerary, and seeing if we had any remaining questions.

In terms of planning our itinerary they were incredibly receptive of our input regarding the types of activities people in our family enjoyed. Be it cultural excursions, museums, food recommendations, hotels and more, they were responsive and asked pertinent follow up questions to guarantee we got the most out of our trip. We highly encourage anyone booking to follow the travel agent's recommendations/bookings to guided tours. The walking tour in Madrid and guided excursion to Toledo were some of the best experiences my family talked about. The main reason my family planned this trip was to visit me in Galicia, and although I personally planned the itinerary on those days as someone that currently lives in the north even I found Raquel's restaurant recommendations in Santiago de Compostela incredibly helpful. If anyone stays in the city we also heartily recommend the Hostal de Reyes Catolico Paradores---it was the best hotel of the trip according to my family.

During the trip, the travel agency was also responsive to cancellations/last minute changes on our end to the itinerary. This was especially helpful because of the transport that they arranged for us. Additionally, they advised us on the appropriate travel insurance before the trip was booked and because of this my Mom was able to get some much needed medication from a doctor when she unexpectedly became sick. Overall we simply cannot recommend this service enough! They made our trip so much easier to enjoy, and relax. Thank you!

Hotel Reviews

Dear Hotel Madrid

Madrid

The staff was very attentive at this hotel and the rooms were pristine.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Parador de Santiago de Compostela

Santiago de Compostela

This was our family's favorite hotel! Between the comfort of the rooms, the quality of breakfast, and the history behind the building's construction it was an incredibly special stay. It is also conveniently located diagonally from the Cathedral of St. James---we loved hearing the pilgrims finish their walk in the square, especially with singing.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Riazor

A Coruña

The rooms were a bit small, but they had a gorgeous view of the beach and ocean! The staff of the hotel was attentive, and the laundry service was swift. We had a poor experience eating in the hotel restaurant (the meal took hours, and everyone in the restaurant went large portions of the night unattended). I believe this was because of low staffing, and we took it in stride in the moment, but something for the management to consider moving forward.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

BessaHotel Liberdade

Lisbon

This was a beautiful hotel, with spacious rooms and an incredibly welcoming, helpful staff. The breakfast selection was wonderful. The only frustration was the slow elevator, but we don't think that could be helped.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Fátima: A Spiritual Pilgrimage

Portugal

Our guide to Fatima was so eloquent, respectful of the spirituality of the experience and knowledgeable. Transport to and from Lisbon was also incredibly smooth.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Soul of Lisbon: Fado Dinner Experience

Portugal

The food was delicious, and came with very generous portions. There was also plenty of variety on the menu, and the waiter was attentive. The musicians were absolute showstoppers, and we felt like everyone who visits Lisbon must experience fado live.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Toledo Highlights Day Excursion

Madrid

The train journey to Toledo was easy, especially with the transport arranged by the team. The guide was again very knowledgeable and enjoyable to listen to.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walking Madrid’s Old Town

Madrid

The guide Geza was phenomenal! The tour was a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the history of Madrid, as well as information about current life in the city.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We were already happy with the excellent communication w/ActiveIndia before our trip to India Jan.-Feb. 2026. Our confidence was reinforced when we met our local guide in Mumbai, Mr. Suraj and driver, Mr. Sunder and checked into the Suba Palace hotel. Our half day tour of Mumbai, which included seeing the Gate of India, the Victoria Terminus Rail Station, the Gandhi Memorial Museum (Mani Bhavan) on Laburnam Rd. and beautiful city parks, was just enough for us. The Suba Palace hotel was comfortable and accommodating. The next day we were taken to the airport on time & efficiently for the next leg of our India trip, in Delhi. Our IndiGo flight (arranged by ActiveIndia) was also comfortable and efficient. At the Delhi airport we were met by the Delhi ActiveIndia office representative, Adarsh, and our driver for the next week, Mr. Rajesh. Both were friendly and accommodating. We met our local Delhi guide, Nadim Akhtar, at our Delhi hotel, The Colonel’s Retreat, for a quick tour of the Lodi Gardens. Due to the very heavy traffic & our limited time, it appeared we did not see all the planned Delhi highlights, but we did see the most impressive Mahatma Gandhi memorial. As a gardener, I was most touched by the beautiful pollinator gardens and the thousands of bees and butterflies as much as the monuments!
We liked that all our hotels provided a delicious breakfast and most had a restaurant on site. The Colonel’s Retreat was able to accommodate our request for dinner even tho’ we returned from sightseeing after 8 pm.
The next day we got to know our driver Mr. Rajesh, as the trip to Agra was long. We appreciated his skilled driving and he and ActiveIndia selected the perfect places for refreshing rest stops (often with fun shopping opportunities!) In fact, we appreciated the quality and atmosphere of all the places our ActiveIndia guides took us to shop.
In Agra we met our local guide, Mr. Ajay Gupta, there at the hotel, Da Bungalow. Da Bungalow was a quiet and relaxing place to stay, even tho’ we stayed only one night. Mr. Gupta took us to the impressive Agra Fort first, from which we got our first breathtaking glimpse of the Taj Mahal. Mr. Gupta was a premier guide, showing us the detail of the artwork & craftsmanship with local pride and insight. Thanks to him we got lovely “sunset” photos at the Taj to send home to friends & family.
After breakfast the next morning we left Agra for The Abhaneri Stepwell. There, Mr. Rajesh handed us off to a cheerful and knowledgeable local guide for about an hour and we were mesmerized by both the well and the Harshat Mata temple a few steps away. The well, also called the Chand Baori, it was truly a wonder to behold. Then we continued on to Jaipur! In Jaipur we stayed for 2 nights at the most charming Traditional Haveli, but as soon as wee checked in, our Jaipur guide, Mr. Sanjay Safaya, whisked us away to the Laxmi Narayan temple to witness the Aarti ceremony. It was well worth the the rush! In fact, everything Mr. Safaya showed us and introduced us to was marvelous. We especially loved the Jaipur Flower and Vegetable Market in the old part of Jaipur, as well as the City Palace and the Jantar Mantar solar observatory. At the end of a marvelous day of incredible sightseeing, we said a fond “good-by” to Mr. Safaya. We ended our day with a cooking class & dinner with Usha & IV Inder Vigi Singh, a local family. It was really special to learn about their family history and current life in Jaipur.
Our drive to Jodhpur was long, but Mr. Rajesh was very capable and guided us to a good place for lunch! In Jodhpur we enjoyed the lovely Pal Haveli even if only for one night. Our guide there, Mr. Raghunath, was also personable, knowledgeable and easy to communicate with.
The next day we set off for Udaipur and another day & a half of wonderful sightseeing. We stayed 2 nights at the beautiful Karohi Haveli near Lake Pichola, and met our Udaipur guide, Mr. Gajraj there late Sunday afternoon. He & Mr. Rajesh were able to get us to the 6pm show of the Dharohar Dance company at another haveli, Bagore Ki Haveli. That was colorful, but I would have liked to see more of the dancers & marionettes and less of tourists dancing with them! The highlight of our next day in Udaipur was their City Palace & Museum, plus the Courtyard of the Maidens garden . We also liked the Jagdish Temple, where we could take photos & record a short segment of the worship service.
Finishing off our 2nd day in Udaipur, we took a boat ride on beautiful Lake Pichola. It was wonderful to view the city’s skyline from the water.
All in all, we really appreciated all our guides and ESPECIALLY our driver Mr. Rajesh from Delhi to Udaipur (Mon. Feb. 2 through Tues. Feb. 17). We thought all our hotels were a very good value and the personnel at each place were kind and super-hospitable. I appreciated having the written materials ActiveIndia provided. The only negatives we experienced were the heavy traffic and VERY long distances between Delhi-Agra-Jaipur-Jodhpur-Udaipur. But that was our ignorance of India, not your agency’s fault. In fact, ActiveIndia provided us with a well-curated and sanitized journey overall. Please convey our appreciation to all your staff and participating businesses. We will refer our friends and family to ActiveIndia and hope to return to India someday, ourselves.

Activity Reviews

Explore Agra Fort in the afternoon and see sunset at the Taj Mahal.

Agra

We really loved seeing the Taj Mahal with a local guide who could take us to good spots for fantastic photos. His knowledge and pride in the workmanship was inspiring.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

AC & USB charging capacity.

New Delhi Sightseeing

India

I really liked the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial. The pollinator gardens there were a moving tribute to Gandhi’s work with rural honey production.

Quality of Experience

Getting to spend thoughtful time at the memorials.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ac & USB charging capacity.

Old Delhi Sightseeing

Delhi

We only wish we had more time to view monuments and less rime in traffic!

Cooking Class, and Dinner with Local Family

Jaipur

Very gracious welcome by a local family who shared both their home and family lore/history in Jaipur.

Quality of Experience

Listing to IV’s family stories!

Food

Really enjoyed watching Usha in her kitchen and asking her questions about the ingredients and cooking methods.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guided Half Day Tour of Mumbai

Mumbai

Standing on the balcony where Mahatma Gandhi stood, at his friend’s house on Laburnum Rd., was quite profound.

Quality of Experience

Great local guide. Very knowledgeable and fun.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Driver was skilled and made us comfortable.

Transport

Good AC!

Jaipur Sightseeing Tour

Jaipur

Really enjoyed the Jaipur Flower (& Vegetable) Market.

Quality of Experience

Local guide’s perspective, knowledge & warm enthusiasm.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very patient with heavy traffic. Selected great places for rest stops.

Transport

Comfortable car w/ AC and USB for charging our phones!

Doris was really wonderful. The overall planning and attention to detail was just amazing. She also checked in on us along the way to make sure everything was running smoothly (which it always was). There were so many things along the way that were so efficient that you might not even notice them. Getting picked up and driven all over Vietnam and Thailand, on time over a period of 30 days is really incredible.

The Giza Pyramids, Valley of the Kings tombs, Abu Simbel Temple and the other historical sites were just phenomenal. Anyone who is remotely interested in history or archeology will be filled with wonder and awe at the size and beauty of these structures, and marvel at how an ancient civilization was able to build them. We came to see the splendor of these structures, and our high expectations were more than met. Egypt’s monuments are unlike anything else in the world. The only existing Ancient World Wonder lived up to its billing. If you have the opportunity to visit the Seti I tomb at the Valley of the Kings, do it! We also very much enjoyed our visit to Hurghada on the Red Sea. Hurghada is a small, beautiful and calm city which offered a nice 2-day respite from the hustle and bustle of Cairo and the packed itinerary of the Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor.

Unfortunately, the very positive experience of the splendors of the sites was diminished by suboptimal planning and communication. This is our third international trip through KimKim and we had come to enjoy and expect detailed itineraries and useful and timely communications. This trip did not meet those expectations. While always pleasant and appropriate, our planner often required repeated prompting to answer what should be straightforward questions and made multiple errors of omission and commission in the itinerary. We agreed upon a draft itinerary and booked over 2 months before trip. We asked for a detailed itinerary at the 1-month mark and was told we would get the itinerary 1 week before departure. We got the PDF “final” version one day before our flight, which had us getting picked up at 12:10 PM. Since our flight arrives at 12:10 AM, that prompted a frantic series of messages to the local planner. Important details of tours of the Nile cruise were frequently lacking, and we often found out the departure time of specific tours the day before the tour. This is especially challenging when there is a late night tour followed by an early morning (4:30 AM departure) tour. I specifically asked during the booking process to NOT book a hotel room for our last day in the country as we had a late evening departure flight. When we checked into our final hotel of the trip, we were informed that the booking was for 2 nights instead of the 1 night we requested. So, we paid for an extra hotel day that we specifically requested to not book. While we ultimately got the transportation we needed and saw the sites we agreed upon, the whole process should have been done more smoothly and efficiently without evoking a level of anxiety that persisted throughout the trip.

Our Egyptologist expert guides were by and large knowledgeable and professional, with one notable exception. Hamid was very kind and worked with our preferences very well. Despite the Unfinished Obelisk in Aswan being a very minor site in our itinerary, I very much enjoyed the visit and Hamid’s explanations. We did have a guide who was not a good fit for our needs. My wife felt belittled by his comments and we did not appreciate being told to not take pictures of the monuments/temples until he finished his overly detailed presentation to lay the “proper foundation” for us. I recognize that he was knowledgeable and passionate about Egyptian history, but we are paying for the experience we want to have and we have a limited time frame to do so.

Our experiences with the guides were mixed. Youssef in Aswan was super attentive and helpful. He is warm, empathic and a very good listener. He worked hard with his Customer Service team to help arrange a new Eqyptologist guide for us. He is an excellent communicator and helped “fill in the blanks” on the itinerary that we should have had all along. He very much allayed our anxieties in our time of need. He is a 5+ star guide, and we wish we could have had someone like him the entire trip.

The counterbalance to Youssef was our guide on the trip to Hurghada. He clearly did not know our itinerary well, and needed me to tell him which hotel we were staying at. Another example is when a scheduled lunch was missed when the guide team was not aware.

A special acknowledgment of Amany at Sun Pyramids Customer Service is needed. Once we indicated our concerns about the guide, she stepped in and went above and beyond to try to maximize our trip experience. She checked in regularly with us throughout the remainder of our trip and likely intervened behind the scenes to make things as smooth as possible. She was able to get us an upgrade to our Nile Cruise cabin, and arranged a special romantic dinner at a rooftop restaurant overlooking the Giza Pyramids (spectacular view!!). She provided a level of service that showed competence, attention to detail and follow-through, and we very much appreciated her efforts in helping us.

We recognize that our tour guides are shaped by their culture and society. We came to sadly recognize that the tourism infrastructure in Egypt is below average compared to the rest of the world and that there are many systemic problems that make the job of the tour operators and tour guides difficult. Still, for the traveler looking for a great experience, the deficiencies in communication, attention to detail and interpersonal behavior (in a small but memorable select few) were disappointing.

In summary, we came to Egypt to be awed by its ancient past, and we were. We left with priceless memories. We just wished that the experience of getting to these amazing sites was more smooth and enjoyable.

Hotel Reviews

Nile Style Nile cruise

Aswan

The ship is dated. Lobby is 1970s bland. We had to walk through other cruise ships to get to port, and if the lobbies are a reflection of the cabins and service, other ships are 4 or 5 stars while ours is a 3-star. We had an upgraded suite which had the advantage of more space but did not feel like the amenities one expects in a suite. We were also woken up on several occasions by the crew's robust shouting as the ship landed in ports. Showerhead did not work well. Carpets were not well cleaned, and the door keycard entry system needed multiple swipes to work. Food was average. A couple of the meals were excellent, but most of the meals were only passable to the extent that we went to eat for sustenance rather than pleasure.

Authenticity & Character

Location

A ship sailing on the Nile River. What more to say?

Staff

Average service. For the dining services, when they saw that we were not ordering drinks (a la carte), they left us pretty much alone. The exception was when they wanted written feedback and kept interrupting our meal to ask if we completed the survey.

Cleanliness & Comfort

JAZ Elite Casa Del Mar Beach

hurghada

Beautiful grounds on the beach in Hurghada. Attentive service. Well appointed room. Fabulous view of the beach. This is an all-inclusive resort and provided everything we needed. Food was fabulous (loved the lox, which was the high quality smooth and fatty version). We enjoyed the evening shows in the pool area from our balcony. 5-star resort. Definitely a pick me up after the Nile Cruise experience. Would definitely stay here again.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Movenpick Aswan

Aswan

Beautiful property on an island on the Nile River in Aswan. Need a boat to get to. Expansive grounds with nice landscaping and multiple walkways to stroll. Very peaceful. 5-star amenities. Would definitely stay here again.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hyatt Centric Cairo West

cairo

Great location if wanting to stay closer to the Pyramids and avoid the chaos of downtown Cairo.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Located in Giza and closer to the Grand Egyptian Museum and Pyramids

Staff

There is no sign available to hang on the door for Do Not Disturb (stayed on two occasions during our trip and neither time had the sign...also never saw a sign on any of the other doors). We requested no service for our room only to come back and see the room serviced.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

kom Ombo, and edfu Temples

Egypt

The temples were very interesting and likely had more to offer than what we experienced. Our experience was significantly diminished by the massive crowds at both places. This is the product of poor tourism infrastructure -- all boats arriving at the same time with multiple tour groups descending on relatively small temples all at once. There was a fair amount of pushing and jostling as people tried to cram into small areas to catch short glimpses of interesting structures or hieroglyphics. Not really enough time or space to make these an enjoyable experience, which is a shame as I suspect the Temples themselves would have been a 4 or 5-star visit. This is a systemic problem that the Egyptian tourism ministry should regulate better.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hamid was excellent at Kom Ombo, again. He did a great job to hitting the highlights of the Temple and navigating to avoid the most dense concentrations of tourists.

Transport

We were able to walk to Kom Ombo from the Nile cruise ship. We took a horse carriage ride from the cruise ship to Edfu, which was a new and interesting experience for us. The only down side was that given the large numbers of tourists needing transport from multiple boats to Edfu, the horses were worked pretty hard.

Abu Simbel Temple

Aswan

A phenomenal structure that is well worth the 6-hour drive to visit.

Quality of Experience

Phenomenal temple built by Ramses II to celebrate himself. This is a structure that exudes power and grandeur, with an unapologetic air of narcissism. Look past the personality traits of the pharaoh and enjoy the splendor. Well worth the 6-hour round trip drive.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We asked for a new guide after our Aswan Dam experience. Hamid filled in on short notice and was excellent. He gave us a nice presentation on Abu Simbel with the right balance of historical detail, palace intrigue and interesting factoids and then gave us the freedom to roam through the Temple.

Transport

It was a 3-hour each way drive from Aswan to Abu Simbel. We were not looking forward to spending 6 hours in a car. Our driver had a car that was comfortable and designed for long trips. He also knew the road very well and took care to avoid the major dips and potholes and gravel portions. It was obvious that he took pride in providing a comfortable experience for his passengers.

Aswan full day tour

Aswan

The Aswan Dam and Philae Temple were great sites to visit. The story of how the Nile River was "tamed" was fascinating. The story of how the Philae Temple was moved to avoid being submerged by dam water was interesting and inspiring. Unfortunately, our interactions with the guide very much detracted from the overall experience.

Quality of Experience

The Aswan Dam and Philae Temple were both interesting and impressive sites to visit. We would have given this a 5-star experience if not for the guide.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide to Aswan Dam and the Philae Temple was inpatient with the crowds and hurried our visit. While at the Dam, he jumped from exhibit to exhibit out of order in order to avoid crowds. While that sounds good in principle, that tactic made for a confusing and discombobulated narrative. He also told us to not take pictures of the monuments/temples until after he finished his overly detailed presentation to lay the “proper foundation” for us, which led to several missed photo opportunities as multiple tour groups inundated the locations shortly afterwards. My wife felt belittled by some of his comments, and he displayed a lack of cultural and gender sensitivity.

Transport

Trip to Pyramids, Memphis, and Sakkara with riding a camel

Egypt

It was an amazing feeling to see the Giza Pyramids, and experience the rush of being in the presence of the only standing Ancient World Wonder. The views were phenomenal. We took the camel ride and really enjoyed that experience. We were very specific that we would cancel the camel tour if we felt the animals were abused. We were heartened to see the camels being appropriately cared for and looking healthy and relaxed. Memphis and Sakkara were interesting sites to visit, but the Pyramids were the highlight of the day.

Quality of Experience

Food

Went to a lunch buffet, which was excellent.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our driver Mary was excellent. The traffic in Cairo can be best described as chaotic, and she navigated the traffic challenges efficiently and was entirely in control the whole time.

Cairo food and walking tour 4 hours

Egypt

Got to experience the famous Khan El Khalili Bazaar and El Moez Street. Also saw how the local population lived.

Quality of Experience

Seeing Khan El Khali bazaar and El Moez Street, which are iconic parts of Old Cairo. Our guide took us to an authentic Egyptian restaurant and we tried and enjoyed several authentic local dishes. Food did take over 25 minutes to arrive and the guide had to keep reminding the restaurant staff. But once the food arrived, it was delicious!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We appreciated Mostafa taking us to experience the "real" Egypt, as we mingled with the locals in addition to seeing some of the more touristy areas.

Transport

Everyone we met, including our drivers were exceptionally friendly and helpful. We were driven around towards the end of the trip by Hamid from Afghanistan and he was a delight. Another driver that we had in Finland, who took us to Sena was I believe he spells his name TOME but I could be wrong. The activities that were set up for us were great and the people affiliated with each activity were also exceptional. All of us thoroughly enjoyed the food and meeting the local people in each destination. All of my family also recognizes that we did not plan this trip until only a few weeks before and I know that complicated Emerson‘s job trying to coordinate everything and lineup accommodations and activities so he deserves special credit. At the end of the trip, during our stay in Tromse there was apparently a mixup with our two rooms in the hotel that I had hoped would have been resolved differently, but other than that, no issues or problems during our two week adventure in Finland and in Norway. I would strongly recommend Emerson of Kim Kim for trip planning especially in Scandinavian countries. Thank you.

Rajat, thank you very much for the trip!
Everything was planned perfectly, making our India experience truly impeccable!
Your travel services were outstanding, and the entire team — including the guides, drivers, and support staff — was professional, responsive, flexible, and exceptionally polite throughout.
The overall level of service was exemplary!

Activity Reviews

Arrival at Mumbai Airport – Transfer to Hotel

Mumbai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer from Hotel to Goa Dabolim Airport

Goa

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arrival at Goa Dabolim Airport – Transfer to Hotel

Goa

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jaipur City Tour

Jaipur

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Amber Fort & Palace

Jaipur

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Agra Fort

Agra

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Mumbai City Orientation Tour

Mumbai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit to Taj Mahal at Sunrise

Agra

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mina was a crucial part of planning a week-long visit to Japan with my two teenage kids. She was responsive to feedback, made changes at our request and was extremely thorough going over all the details, especially in the days leading up to our trip. We particularly enjoyed her recommendation for a casual dinner on our first night after arriving at a wagyu beef-centered restaurant. Kudos as well to our guides Franziskus (Tokyo), Seika (a delicious Shibuya food tour) and Zef (Kyoto).

One note for U.S. travelers: a "double" room doesn't necessarily mean two beds in international hotels -- so if you definitely need a room with two beds, make sure you specify it clearly before booking.

Olman worked quickly following up on our initial inquiry to put ideas into a plan. The drivers we had were courteous and professional, getting us safely to and from destinations. Our initial drive from the airport to our lodging was a bit too long after a full day of travel and made more difficult by standstill traffic, dark and rain. In general, I was not prepared for some of the winding, bumpy roads and switchbacks and was grateful not to be trying to find our way driving a rental car. The lodging, restaurants and staff in Arenal all were excellent. The hike to the volcano was more challenging than the photos of the trail indicated but our guide was very patient and kind. All accommodations were very clean with attentive, polite staff. The river safari, coffee and chocolate plantation, organic farm and cooking class, swinging bridges and night hike were all great activities. If anyone could help us obtain the recipes from our cooking class, that would be much appreciated. Attempts to connect with them online have not been fruitful. Our guide at Manuel Antonio Park was very good but the park was very crowded and busy, taking away from the beauty somewhat. Some tourists in surrounding groups were excessively loud and as a result some of the wildlife were driven away by their noise unfortunately. It seemed to take awhile for groups to be connected with guides on the night walk, but once that happened we were pleased with the guide we had as well as the small group size. The beach in Guanacaste was beautiful and we enjoyed walking there. There were many roving "vendors" trying to sell their merchandise on the beach but we didn't encounter anyone being overly aggressive and most usually moved on quickly. Costa Rica is a beautiful country and the people we met were proud and happy to share the country with us. My hope is that development and commerce can be managed so the many beautiful spots we visited are preserved for the future.

We had an incredible time in the coast of Colombia. Our driver Edgar, tour guide Katherine and our chaperone in Baranquilla were top notch and amazing. We are sincerely grateful and appreciative of the attention they provided us and they made our trip extra special

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Isla del Encanto

Cartagena

Authenticity & Character

The room decor fit the location. It has the feel of a campsite which is something I like.

Location

Other than the hotel is in a private location and very difficult to get to without a boat. It was very secure and secluded so that was good.

Staff

Everyone was very friendly. Many staff members remembered my name and always inquired how we were doing.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was always cleaned every day and the hotel was always cleaned. The only thing was the room lacked more light or brighter lights.

Alfiz Hotel

Cartagena de Indias

Authenticity & Character

The room was really nice, hammock balcony and two bathrooms and two full bathrooms. The bathroom in the second level the shower had low pressure so we all showered in the other bathroom.

Location

The hotel is located in the center of the historical area. So many great historical sites are within walking distance plus some really good restaurants and street food. It does get noisy but that's part of being in the middle of a lively place.

Staff

The staff were super friendly and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was cleaned each morning and the hotel looked spotless.

Activity Reviews

Sunset Drum & Dance Safari at the Beach of La Boquilla

Colombia

The musicians and dancers were amazing. The attention and service provided was great. The tamboleros provided us with lessons on how to play the different types of tambores which I thought was great. They also were very welcoming and encouraged us to participate in both traditional dances and playing the tambores.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boquilla Mangrove Tour

Cartagena

We had an amazing time in the Boquilla Mangrove tour. It was educational, relaxing and beautiful experience.

Quality of Experience

One of a kind experience. Absolutely loved it.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Provided great detail regarding the preservation of the Mangrove trees and the natural habitat of the different birds found in the area.

Transport

Horseback-Riding on the Beach

Cartagena

We all enjoyed riding the horses, especially my children. This was my daughter's favorite activity of the trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Salsa Experience

Cartagena

We all had a wonderful time during this experience. My children enjoyed it so much, the salsa instructors were extremely nice and made this activity fun for all of us.

Quality of Experience

It was high energy and a lot of fun.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The salsa instructors were extremely friendly and fun.

Walking Tour & Street Food

Cartagena

Our guide Katherine was super friendly and had great explanations of the different places we visited. Very engaging and informative. She picked out some great places to eat.

Quality of Experience

Really appreciate our guides explanations of the historical sites and it's significance plus our guide bringing us to different street food places to try different foods.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was incredible, really enjoyed our time.

Carnival: Batalla de Flores

Barranquilla

It was an awesome experience. We met our guide in a mall where many go for the "pre game". That was a great meeting place because we saw many people who were going to attend and the traditional clothing they were wearing to the carnival. Once we arrived at the carnival we were at a lively location. Super appreciative that we were located where it was covered overhead so to block the sun/heat to a certain degree.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide and driver were really friendly and accommodating. It was challenging to navigate the closed streets and the driver did a great job navigating the closures.

Transport

The transportation was very comfortable and again happy how the driver navigated the closures.

Flawless trip! All the arrangements were perfect. Maria kept us informed every step of the way. She went above and beyond to add a side trip we requested at the last minute. She gave us such personal service. We felt confident Maria was always available to help if needed.

All tour guides were great, especially Sara in Venice for history, walking tour of city. The mask making class was a highlight! It far exceeded our expectations. The last minute addition of a trip and tour of Murano glass factory was Amazing!

The hotel Bembo and staff were wonderful. Perfect location, great breakfast, very attentive staff.

Kelly was not only knowledgeable, but personable as well. We were in contact for months creating the perfect package for Thailand that would fit my budget and Kelly managed to put together every activity I wanted. Not only that, each activity was unique and special and tailored just for us.

Kelly was readily available whenever I had a question or concern m, and if I needed to change something at the last minute, even while in Thailand, she made it happen.

Her service went far and beyond. For example, I requested a ride to the airport, not only was our driver early, but he also came with an escort who helped us navigate our way through the airport and VAT, making sure we were checked in and at the right gate. That is A+ service.

I’ve used Kimkim 3 times now for my trips to Nepal, Thailand, and soon Vietnam/Cambodia. This is an excellent company and Kelly for Thailand was simply exceptional.

Hotel Review

BYD Lofts Boutique Hotel & Services Apartments

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Morning/Afernoon Visit to Elephant Jungle Sanctuary (Join-in) (No Riding)

Phuket

Bucket list activity and it’s humane. Make sure to only visit places like this that rescue and save this beautiful creature.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private City Tour with Rum Tasting in Phuket

Thailand

Loved the tastings and especially the cocktail class. Don’t need the oral tour. Staff is amazing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The locations that were selected for our journey hit everything we were looking for: spectacular views, gorgeous waterfalls, incredible landscapes, lots of water, and of course - amazing views of the Northern Lights. All of the tours planned were fun and had knowledgeable, friendly guides that really set the tone. Our hotels and cottages were unique, had amazing views, and were in great locations. And the whole team at KimKim was really thoughtful and easy to work with.

Taylor worked with me to plan our trip to Norway. She was always available and was more than knowledgeable about the not only our wish list but other equally intriguing side trips.
I never waited more than 24 hours to get a response to any questions I had. Her recommendations rounded out our incredible itinerary.. while we were able to give her a sizable budget, she never deliberately exceeded or sought out activities and housing at the very top of the budget.
Overall, I enjoyed working with Taylor and have no suggestions for her performance.
My only recommendation relative to KimKim and this trip is to provide a less congested program for gathering and delivering information. This is relative to easier/clearer information regarding venues and for obtaining traveler information. Everything became clear once we could access the app. By the way, wonderful app!
We will use your agency again and will look forward to interacting with Taylor again.

Hotel Reviews

Scandic Ishavshotel

Tromsø

Authenticity & Character

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Thon Hotel Rosenkrantz

Bergen

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Northern Lights Hunt by Boat

Tromsø

Quality of Experience

Reindeer Feeding & Sámi Culture Experience

Tromsø

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lyngen Alps Snowmobile Excursion

Tromsø

Staff was extremely helpful. Scenery exceptional.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Northern Lights Dinner Cruise

Tromsø

Dinner was ok, not special but ample. Once the aurora showed up, we were outside. They offered a couple of related lectures inside that were interesting. Overall, well worth the price.

Quality of Experience

Kvaløya Husky Sledding Excursion

Tromsø

Staff know what they’re doing and will make you comfortable doing it. They assisted me in getting from the bus to the dog sled. Made my experience much easier. Our trip was 10 kilometers and the scenery was gorgeous.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Norway in a Nutshell Day Trip

Bergen

The highlight of our Bergen visit! Seamless transfer between bus, train and boat. The only way to see all the wonders of Norway! We had a bit of trepidation about not having a guide to assist in transfers. Totally not needed! Bring a camera.

Quality of Experience

Fløibanen Funicular Ticket

Bergen

Cultural Walk with a Local

Bergen

Guide was an excellent historian.

Self-Guided Bergen Exploration

Bergen

Poorly planned, and very last minute. We would get notified of schedule changes and cancellations the night before and we needed to be in constant communication. She was not a local, and she had no ability to troubleshoot or preemptively fix any issues that arose. I feel completely ripped off by paying way too much for nothing.

Olman and his team put together a trip that we could not have done ourselves. I had a pretty good idea of what we wanted and looked at doing it myself. But without the local knowledge and connections, it would have been difficult at worst and most likely impossible.

We wanted upscale hotels and they were in fact amazing. The excursions also were perfect - exactly what we hoped for. Local transfers were great. Everything was seamless and no stress.

The only negative is the destinations were rather far apart. Driving in Costa Rica is challenging. The roads are narrow and mostly two lane. Traffic is terrible. So perhaps it would have been possible to find venues closer together (or maybe not - hard for us to know).

Hotel Reviews

Makanda by The Sea Hotel Adults Only

Manuel Antonio

Fabulous. Wonderful views and pools.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to the national park. VERY far from the previous hotel and far from the airport.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

Our own pool! Volcano view! You'll love this place. Can't recommend highly enough.

Authenticity & Character

Location

This hotel was close to ziplining, coffee, and volcano. Set off by itself away from the crowd. In a perfect world it would be closer to the airport but what can you do.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hampton by Hilton San José Airport

Alajuela

This is exactly what you want. Five minutes from the airport. Reliable, easy to locate shuttle that goes every 15 minutes on the button. Free breakfast. No frills but very nice, clean, and US standard.

Authenticity & Character

You aren't looking for authenticy and character from an airport hotel.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sky Tram, Ziplines & Sky Walk Adventure

Arenal/La Fortuna

just what we hoped for

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

El Silencio Volcano Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

The hike we did was great. The second half fell through

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar Cane Farm Experience

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mostly good with a few rough spots

Planning our itinerary took quite a bit of back and forth, but we eventually got more or less what we wanted. With hindsight I would have planned a slightly different itinerary. We could have seen more within the allocated time, as we figured this out we added a few things and paid for it.

The tour company booked two of the hotels for us. One was excellent, one was substandard (this was changed after we paid for the trip, and our agent mentioned it without clearly stating that our hotel had changed).

We spent 5 nights on the boat. The boat staff were pleasant and service was very nice. The boat itself was a bit dated.

All our guides were good to excellent.