Kimkim Trip Reviews

Our trip was amazing from start to finish. The whole team helped make our dream vacation come true. We ran into unforeseen circumstances before our scheduled departure and everyone did everything they could to help us move things around so we could still do the trip. Once in Costa Rica every transfer was on time and every hotel was perfect. rideCR drivers were particularly great, they were more like tour guides than transfer drivers. The agent recommended tours were the highlights of each location. Would definitely recommend using KimKim!

Hotel Reviews

Volcano Lodge, Hotel & Thermal Experience

San Carlos, Alajuela

This hotel had a lot to offer. The hot springs pools were incredible and the included breakfast was the best we had anywhere in Costa Rica! The only downfall was the lack of activity, we never saw anyone else in the hot springs pools or at the bar.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Karahé Beach Hotel

Manuel Antonio

We loved Karahe! We saw more wildlife on the property of this hotel than in the national park. We stayed on the beach side of the property and I would recommend that. The beach was incredible and the staff were very helpful and friendly. Would 100% stay here again if we ever come back to Manuel Antonio!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Only steps from a perfect beach!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Lost Canyon Waterfalls & Rappelling Adventure

Arenal/La Fortuna

This was the highlight of our trip! The guides were so much fun and super helpful. Rappelling was incredible and the journey traveling between waterfalls was just as action packed. We didn’t stop smiling the whole time!

Quality of Experience

Better than expected!

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had no idea where to go but wanted to see Vietnam and Laos in a limited time frame. In that regard, KimKim did a fabulous job and we wish we had more time to see more of the country.

KimKim did a good job planning our itinerary and we didn’t once have to wait to meet up with our guides who were always on time. Our last guide, Richard, also the youngest, had the best English. He had also researched the history of Vietnam and the wars throughout their history and had prepared his own material to show us, further explaining them.

All our guides were knowledgeable but they were all also sometimes hard to understand as their pronunciation was often challenging to us. None of them really understood our questions when we strayed from the subject.

Our final excursion to the floating market was interesting to see but I’m not sure it was worth the long drive and it was one we would have skipped, especially given how bad our driver was.

Hotel Reviews

Can Tho Ecolodge

Can Tho

Location is away from anything but it is an eco-hotel. Quiet, large rooms, mediocre food. Pretty grounds.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Eden Star Hotel & Spa

Ho Chi Minh City

Nice rooms, clean, ok food. Last two nights the pool and rooftop bar were off limits due to private parties but they did arrange access to a neighbouring hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hoi An Delicacy Hotel & Spa

Hoi An

Hotel was nice and certainly clean. Location was a little out of town but an easy enough walk. Quiet…/

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Paradise Sails

Cabin was good and food basic except for lunch the first day. One day trip and we did not go very far. Activities were basic and a little too crammed together. The bay is full of other tourist boats and the water is filthy although the landscape is pretty.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lalita Boutique & Spa Ninh Binh

Too far from town and not that nice of a hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

There were other hotels in same price range in town. This location required walking on a long, dusty and busy road to go anywhere.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hanoi Pearl Hotel

Hanoi

Great location in the heart of Hanoi but the room was basic.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Souphattra Hotel Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang

Comfortable hotel with large room and rating only suffered due to the location which is about 1.2 km from anything. Staff was great - food mediocre.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Sadly, can’t relocate the hotel.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Can Tho - Cai Rang Floating Market - Biking to Explore Local Villages and Orchards - Ho Chi Minh city

Can Tho

We had to travel too far with a lousy driver only to have a mediocre experience. This was part of the trip we would have been happy to skip. The floating market was interesting but not overwhelming and the bike ride was also lacking much interest.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a great one week winter get-a-way to Puerto Rico. We knew we wanted to visit the islands of Culebra and Vieques but didn't know anything about either one. After just a brief conversation with our agent, Harry, at KimKim we knew we had the right person to create a memorable trip for us. Harry fully understood our travel preferences and delivered transportation, lodging, and excursion options that absolutely hit our sweet spots. Everything was great and the entire trip transpired very smoothly. Besides the excellent trip plan, we were very pleasantly surprised with how our travel team stayed in touch with us during the trip. They made themselves available to answer any questions we had. The trip went so smoothly that we didn't need much help, but it was nice to know they were always available. This was our second trip to Puerto Rico and we really enjoyed it. It is an easy place to travel, the Puerto Ricans are super friendly, and the scenery is beautiful. We really enjoyed Vieques. It has a super laid back vibe but with all the amenities and services you could need. The beaches were great and easy to access. And the snorkeling was good. We would definitely consider another vacation to Vieques. Thanks to the team of travel experts for putting our vacation together and for the excellence service they provided during our time in Puerto Rico.

Hotel Review

El Blok

Vieques,

El Blok is a very nice hotel in a great location in Esperanza on Vieques. We loved the vibe of Esperanza. The staff at El Blok were super friendly and helpful and could answer any questions we had about Vieques. We rented a 4-wheeler right across the street from the hotel and Banana's Restaurant just down the block was one of our favorites. There is a nice beach right across the street from the hotel and it is a perfect place to watch sunsets. Would definitely go back to El Blok.

Authenticity & Character

It seems like a newer hotel. It has a cool layout and very well maintained. Nice restaurant that was also open for morning coffee and breakfast.

Location

Right across the street from a nice beach and close to many restaurants and food trucks.

Staff

The front desk staff were all very personable and helpful and seemed like they liked their job. The make the hotel a very friendly place.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Seems like a new hotel. Super clean, great beds, the rooms were well appointed and everything was completely up to date.

Activity Review

Mosquito- Vieques Bio Bay

Vieques

The year before we visited a different bio-bay on the main island near Fajardo that we found absolutely amazing. So we were very excited about visiting the Vieques bio-bay. Although the bay itself was very cool, the overall experience was a little disappointing. First off, the long road in and out of this bio-bay is extremely rough. As in "what in the hell are you thinking" rough. Holy moly, smooth the road out! Also, I get the profit motive, but once at the bio-bay we felt like cattle being processed. The different venders were absolutely speeding people off the buses to the kayaks and then out of the kayaks back to the buses. The Fajardo bio-bay was a way more relaxed experience and in our opinion a much better experience. I would recommend the bio-bay but shame on the vendors for the crappy road and the rushed experience. But, I must also add that it was our anniversary the day we went. And somehow the KimKim team told the Bio-bay provider. So, a very sweet woman named Mayra (or maybe Maya?) who worked for the vendor actually made us a Wedding Anniversary cake and gave it to us on the excursion. That was amazing and delicious! So, thank you thank you thank you Mayra, you are an amazing baker. (Tell your boss to convince the powers that be to smooth the road into the bay)

Quality of Experience

Transport

Felipe helped us plan and replan our trip again and again with the utmost professionalism, patience and great responsiveness and in the end it was the perfect trip. Having a local person who knew the best places to see and experiences to have and then set us up with the best guides and drivers you could imagine. Then Felipe and his team including Fabian and Margot stayed in touch with us throughout our entire trip. Making schedule changes when we needed or wanted, it feels like they are part of our family. Our guide Hugo was the best ever, simply cannot say enough good things about him, he took such great care of us and made sure our time was the most enjoyable and safe it could be. Our driver Hader seems to know everyone everywhere we went. In the village of Minka it was like being with the President. Being our first trip to Colombia and not speaking Spanish we were a bit nervous but Felipe and Hugo and Hader made us look and feel like locals and right at home. It was worth every penny and peso and we cannot recommend Aracanto Colombia enough.

Activity Review

Welcome to Colombia!

Colombia

No trip to Colombia is complete without a visit to Santa Marta, a lovely seaside vacation town within driving distance of Tayrona National Park, Minka and more. Great dining and beaches and snorkeling and diving.

Quality of Experience

We were greeted with warmth by our guide Hugo and felt instantly at home

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hugo was the greatest guide and Hader was our all time favorite driver an the Aracanto Colombia Team of Felipe, Fabian and Margot were amazing!

Transport

Hader had a great car and was a pro

We enjoyed our recent trip to Japan. Olivia, our local specialist was a big factor in the success of our trip. The language barrier in Japan was more challenging than we expected so we were grateful to have transfers, tours, and excellent tour guides organized by KimKim. These details ensured that our short time in Tokyo and Fukikawaguchiko was efficient and enjoyable. We had a nice balance of culture, history and local food mixed with glimpses of modern life in the busy cosmopolitan city of Tokyo, as well as a smaller town experience near mount Fuji by lake Kawajuchiko. We were fortunate to have a clear day with excellent views of Mount Fuji. We enjoyed the brave experience of bathing in the Onsen within the hotel supplied by a natural hot spring near the mountain.
Olivia checked up on us frequently and kept us up to date with timing of pickups and meetings with guides. Our trip was seamless.

We really had an excellent experience. The guides were terrific. Full of knowledge and often went beyond to make everything went well and everyone had a good time.
The only time we had an issue was one guide was delayed due to other people in the group being late. We weren’t contacted and thought they forgot to pick us up because we were waiting over a half hour.
I would just recommend to please contact the guests if guide is running late. Other than that everything was really good.
Juan was so helpful and responsive. Thank you for planning a wonderful birthday trip for me !!!
We loved visiting Argentina 🇦🇷 !!!

Johanna was wonderful helping plan our trip. However, she abandoned our account before our trip and her associate, Kristy, did not deliver. Our documents were slow to be delivered, she mishandled our plane tickets, and created increased anxiety over every aspect of our trip. Our hotel reservations were also made in the nsmes of travelers eho were no longer part of the trip. All information was given to her in advance of the trip but the errors in booking and communication were innumerable. We will never trust Kimkim again

Hotel Reviews

Palacio del Inka Cusco

Cusco

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Only complaint is size of the room

Tambo del Inka Luxury Collection Resort & Spa

Urubamba

Beautiful, amazing service, convenient

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Half Day Cusco Tour

Peru

Again Simon was excellent in adapting this tour to our needs.

Quality of Experience

K

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

1-Day Machu Picchu Tour from the Sacred Valley

Peru

The train ride from Tambo del Inka was agonizingly slow. It would have preferable to drive to Ollantaytambo and catch the train there. The travel agents also failed to purchase the macchu picchu tickets that were promised( they were not timely in purchasing them on the day they were offered). The guide Roy was kind and informative but he was challenged to communicate in English. Still enjoyable

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fly to Cusco, and transfer to the Sacred Valley

Peru

Despite our agents knowing ee were transferring from a cruise with baggage we were booked on the lowest economy level and sat crammed on the back of the plane and had to pay 190 dollars to cover our luggage. Fail

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sacred Valley Tour: Chinchero - Maras - Moray - Lunch at MV

Peru

Simon was an amazing guide

Quality of Experience

J

Food

Authentic, slow service but surprisingly delicious

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The entire team was helpful, responsive and knowledgeable. From Jessica to Athaya, our guide and driver were just wonderful. I especially enjoyed the purification ritual, the temple on the water visit Bodyworks Spa, lunch at the Beach Resort Cub, the coffee farm visit and the Happy Swing. It was a most memorable trip thanks to the KimKim team from start to finish. I will definitely recommend KimKim to friends and family.

Hotel Reviews

Pondok Mekar Villas

I was surprised to first see trash and trash barrels upon arrival at the driveway. This could be mitigated with a little gated trash stand which I saw on a short walk. It negatively colored my first impression of the place. Because of very loud night creatures it was impossible to sleep without earplugs. I only got into the pool after heavy rain. Before that the water looked a little murky.

Authenticity & Character

It is a more traditional Bali experience.

Location

It was just a little removed from shopping, but the services and restaurants were very affordable.

Staff

More detail to cleaning during the stay.

Cleanliness & Comfort

I was disappointed that my bathroom floor that obviously needed a sweep and this was not done.

Villa GoodFellas by Bali Superhost

Bali

It was really cool having a swimming pool in the living room! Loved the bathroom in my room as well. I do suggest that KimKim advise visitors to wear pool shoes or flip flops upon immediately leaving the pool. The tile floor is very slippery. The location was great for nearby shopping and services. We did inform the house staff that we found rat droppings on the stairs and upstairs hallway. Also, two times a kitchen garbage can was knocked over, probably by the squirrel we saw. Even with this our stay was enjoyable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very close to great shopping, spa services and restaurants.

Staff

The staff was very responsive to our cold water issue in the downstairs bathroom and quickly advised us of the internet outage and kept us updated on the progress to restore the damaged cable. Also, Putu quickly put out traps to address the rodent issue.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Farm to Table Cooking Class

Indonesia

This was a real threat from start to finish. I enjoyed trying the exotic fruits at the market and later the cooking class. I highly recommend this activity to others.

Quality of Experience

Our teacher was delightful, patient and expertly guided our class with humor and grace.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Safety, knowledge, kindness and responsiveness.

Transport

We felt safe with our driver as he maneuvered through the traffic of Bali.

Isabel was strong with knowledge, communication, and responsiveness. She was our "eye in the sky" throughout the trip guiding us through a wonderfully varied trip of discovery in Panama

Hotel Reviews

Palmar Beach Lodge

Isla Bastimentos

No cars. No crowds. Jungle. Private beach. Great staff. Good food. Loved it!

Authenticity & Character

500 meter walk on a jungle path leads to the hotel located on an isolated beach on Bastimentos. Covered, outdoor dining. The sounds of monkeys and birds throughout.

Location

No crowds. Easy boat taxi to other beaches, snorkeling, and Bocas Town.

Staff

Very helpful and responsive. Once minor hiccup upon check in was no safe. One was installed within 20 minutes. Water taxi coordination was very helpful. They even checked in with us one evening we were in Bocas Town to coordinate pickup convenience during a rain shower. Above and beyond!

Cleanliness & Comfort

With a cabin in the middle of the jungle, we expected bugs, lizards etc. Outside yes, but none in the cabin!

Boquete Tree Trek Mountain Resort

Boquete

Loved the hotel's unique "off the grid" feel with cabins and "pods". Lots of activities (canopy zip lining, hiking etc.) make this an ideal spot if seeking that experience.

Authenticity & Character

Isolated at higher elevation. Beautiful views. Unique within the context of our experience as travelers

Location

Beautiful, isolated location with spectacular views. Off the beaten path and about a 20 minute ride ($15 taxi)up the mountain from Boquete. There is a free shuttle that runs throughout the day. Also note that there was a marked difference in temperature due to higher elevation. Include layers and pajamas in your planning if staying here.

Staff

The staff was friendly and responsive. They knew our names and our cabin number making us feel at home during our two nights there

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our cabin was very tidy and well-appointed.

Central Hotel Panama

Panama City

Location, location, location! Walk to all sites and restaurants within Casco Viejo. Plus and easy $4 Uber ride to Amador for a bike rental to ride the causeway. We spent 4 nights here in total and it was the perfect location. Breakfast was very good. We had snacks and drinks on the rooftop on our first night arrival. Very good, though we found some better value around town during the week.

Authenticity & Character

100+ year old hotel that has modernized without losing old world feeling

Location

see above

Staff

Friendly, helpful, efficient

Cleanliness & Comfort

Well appointed rooms with plenty of space. Very clean

Activity Reviews

Isla Colón Unveiled: A Boat Journey Through Bocas’ Best-Kept Secrets

Bocas del Toro

Starfish Beach, Bird island, lunch on the water. Another super day on the water!

Food

A restaurant on the beach after visiting bird island. I asked Mikey what he liked, and he said he always orders the fish soup. it was good, just know they use all of the fish parts...lol. We also got the snails which were very good. The Balboa was cold, and Everything was fresh of course!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mikey was captain with his first mate, Jordan. They are a lot of fun. Terrific sloth spotters, they were able to find one that we watched and filmed for probably 45 minutes. Mikey also prepared a wonderful pineapple treat served on a platter of fresh cut banana leaves and adorned with gathered hibiscus. Another birthday treat, and a kind touch.

Transport

transport was the same boat we had been using all week, just a different captain (they all work together). It was fun getting to meat so many different people each day.

Cultural Immersion: The Chocolate Traditions of Bocas Del Toro

Panama

Green Acres Cacao Farm. Included a nature walk with Gary, the owner/conservationalist, where we met sloths, monkeys, and poison green frogs while learning about the flora and fauna of the area. Sampled raw cacao, as well as the various finished product. Took some home of course. Highly recommend

Quality of Experience

We knew we would be learning about Cacao and the process. The bonus was the nature walk that included so much more than the theme of cacao.

Food

A different waterfront restaurant that was at least as good, maybe better than the previous! Family run, they tie your boat up to their dock, see you to your table and cook the food on a grill right there on the dock. Loved it!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

-Alejandro was our boat captain on this trip. He was a lot of fun, and took additional pictures which he shared with us. -Gary is the owner of Green Acres. He is passionate about his mission, and makes the tour interesting and fun

Transport

Alejandro took good care of us throughout the day and we had a blast. Cooler stocked with water and Balboa. Upon departure, he helped us with luggage from the boat to meet the taxi that he arranged to take us to the airport.

Cayo Zapatilla: Snorkel, Savor & Soar in Bocas del Toro

Bocas del Toro

Blue water, pristine beaches, lovely scenery. Found a sloth, saw dolphins. Plenty of snorkeling, and beach time on Zapatista.

Quality of Experience

Zapatilla was beautiful. Our captain dropped us on one side of the island. We explored the trails, then lounged on the beach on the other side of the island where a captain picked us up a couple of hours later

Food

Great vibe dock restaurant on the water (Restaurante Jasmin). Can only get there by boat. Try the whole red snapper if they have it!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Alejandro Robert was born and raised in Bocas. Knowlegeable, fun, and knew how to handle a boat. Cooler full of H20 and Balboa (Panama's National Beer) was a nice touch

Transport

On time. Well kept boat. Experienced and knowledgeable captain

Hiking Adventure in Boquete and Scenic Transfer to Bocas del Toro

Panama

Pipeline Trail was a good experience. Not a difficult hike for us novices. An area for bird watching, particularly the Quetzal, though not this time of year. Did cross some lovely mountain streams and saw a 1000 year old tree, which was cool!

Quality of Experience

As advertised

Food

A homemade picnic lunch prepared by Plinio was enhanced with a piece of cake, fresh strawberries, and local rum to celebrate a birthday. A surprising and kind gesture that is truly appreciated.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

It was fun to meet Plinio's son Sebastian during the hike. Uncle Pepe was back in the drivers seat. he was much more animated on the trip to the seaport, and it was a unique and fun time hearing his descriptions of the damn, lake and pipeline...all in Spanish, mind you (which we know very little) but he got the points across (along with some translation from the passenger seat. It was funny and fun, we had a great time!

Transport

Beautiful drive. We got to the ferry port safely and in plenty of time

A Sunrise Adventure at Volcán Barú: Witness the Dawn from Panama's Highest Peak

Boquete

Stunning with views of Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, as well as Costa Rica. A must

Quality of Experience

Needs to be seen

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The park only allows specifically licensed drivers to go to the peak. Plinio set us up with a driver who was experienced and had top notch equipment. While others were racing to the top, Elmer (sp?) just took his time and got us there in plenty of time. All of the vehicle drivers seemed to look after one another, which was reassuring.

Transport

On time, which is especially important at 330am. Elmer(sp?) knows what he is doing and has the right equipment to get it done.

Nature, Coffee, and Highlands in Boquete

Boquete

We are now big fans of Boquete! Plinio was a terrific guide. He started our visit at the visitors center which was a great way to get an overview of the area and set the expectation for the trip. Guided us through the local public park discussing history and pointing out flora and fauna. Butterfly House and Honey Tasting, then Coffee Farm tour and tasting. Full day, learned a ton, met a lot of nice people. Entirely enjoyable!

Quality of Experience

-The personalized coffee experience at Milagrosa with Plinio was a standout. Plinio knows the owner and is permitted to give a personal tour and tasting experience. Much different than a farm that has in house guides and schedule -the butterfly house and honey tasting was very interesting and relaxing. Lisa was our host there, and she spent much time teaching us about butterflies (and then honey). Liked this much more than we expected -We lucked out that the Boquete Flower Festival was occurring during our visit. Beautiful!

Food

Lunch in Boquete with Plinio and Uncle Pepe. Not a place would have found on our own, another reason to have a local guide. So good! He also recommended a restaurant (La Cueva del Pitufo) that he frequents with his family. Very good, and easy on the pocketbook!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Plinio is awesome! It was obvious that he is a popular/active citizen of the Boquete/Chiquiri. Everywhere we went, people waved, shouted, and greeted. He rode shotgun as his retired Uncle Pepe drove. Uncle Pepe spoke very little English, though he was a delight!

Transport

Plinio met us at the airport in David, and we were driven to Boquete (about 60 minutes). No hiccups and enjoyed the area overview as we rode.

Discover Panama: A Day of Culture, History, and Engineering

Panama City

Our guide Jean was essential in efficiently moving us through the canal experience at the Miraflores locks. We got there early to beat the crowds, and he had an app that showed us the ships that were scheduled to move through the locks while we were there. After the lock experience, he took us to a unique view of the American Bridge at the entrance to the canal from the Pacific. We were the only "tourists" at that spot and would never have thought to go there without Jean. The day also included canal zone history, a trip to Amador, lunch, and a walking tour of Casco Viejo

Quality of Experience

The Panama Canal is one of those "wonders of the world" bucket list items for us and it was thrill to see it in person. An added bonus was seeing it from the air on our flight back later in the week from Bocas del Toro. We were able to comtemplate what we were viewing much better after our on the ground tour. Jean brought the day to live with his local knowledge and fun personality

Food

Lunch in Amador. It was fine, but felt a bit touristy for our preference. Not a complaint, just one things we would change in retrospect.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Jean is a terrific guide. Knowledgeable, friendly, and fun. Made us feel right at home, and removed the stress that can come from navigating an unfamiliar city while on vacation.

Transport

Easy and on time.

A Gastronomic Journey Through Casco Antiguo Panama

Panama City

We thoroughly enjoyed this experience of flavors from the area. Every plate was unique (at lease to us) and the wine well matched. All items were chosen for us, which was absolutely fine! One suggestion would be to provide a sheet describing each plate and noting the wine chosen for the pairing.

Quality of Experience

Well organized, great food. Glad Jean (our guide) joined us so that we could continue to pick his brain about the area.

Food

Fresh, well-presented, delicious!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Friendly and fun. Great job pacing the plate presentation

Transport

Easy walk from our hotel. Jean, our guide, joined us and had everthing set up

My only regret was not adding a few more days. ...

We started working with Sebastian back in October, telling him the must see places for a 10 day January trip in Paris and the surrounding areas. We basically told him the places we wanted to see-Chateau country, Chartres, Mont Saint-Michel, Bayeux , and Reims and he put together the itinerary which included trains, car, and truly lovely hotels, all perfectly placed to be close to the historical sites we wanted to see. La Maison Rabelais in Amboise, Le Boeuf Couronee in Chartres, and the Grand Hotel Luxembourg in Bayeux . In Paris, where we explored Notre Dame de Paris, Ste Chapelle, the entire Left Bank from Shakespeare and Company out to St. Germain de Pre, (didn't have time for the Invalides, Musee de Cluny, or the Rodin) the Central sites and we stayed with hotels from the Astotel Group, my personal favorite was the Astoria near the Pigalle area of Paris.

Speaking of guides, Veronique (Vero), our full day guide in Chateau country for Chambord and Chenonceau, was a walking professor of history, she knew not just events and dates, but all the fun stories that go behind the dates, as did Stephanie for le Mont Saint-Michel. Nico for Paris and Gwen for Normandy rounded out our local guides.

France By Locals/Sebastian was immediately responsive each and every time we had a question on this trip, like when we couldn't find a guide or forgot where to return something. All resolved swiftly.

Hotel Reviews

L'Auberge de la Mère Poulard

Le Mont-Saint-Michel

I loved it. Mere Poulard is right at the beginning of the main street of Mont Saint Michel in the walls of the city. so bring your overnight clothes in a backpack because you don't want to be rolling any kind of suitcase on the cobbles. From where we were located, you could walk up another set of stairs and have amazing views of the Ramparts and the city, which I did just before dawn and it was stupendous. The only thing I would say is there was a strong odor of cat, not in the room at all, but in the staircase going up to the room. If they could remove that, this would be a 10.

Authenticity & Character

built into the rock that is the base of the Abbey.

Location

Hotel Astoria - Astotel

Paris

Has a great vibe which you can feel as soon as you walk through the front door, bright, cheerful, lots of French travelers, so the Petit Dejeuner breakfast room is always hopping. Comfortable rooms and main sitting room, close to Pigalle and Montmartre.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Chateaux de Chambord et Chenonceau (winter version)

France

Veronique the guide was truly fabulous. knew everything about what we were seeing and answers to the most obscure questions.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We visited Finland in January 26. Our trip advisor Emerson was on the top of everything. From trip planning to help in Finland. The hotels were amazing and unique. The Glass resort in Santa Clause village and Haave in Rovaniemi were absolutely the best. Very personal and well thought. We had everything we might need and more. The adventures were great (husky sledding, reindeer safari, and very authentic sauna). Walking tours in Helsinki (tour guide Ruslan) and in Tallinn were fun and very informative. Transfers were easy and very timely. The overnight train from Helsinki to Rovaniemi was fun. We would highly recommend Emerson and KimKim for travel. They have many destinations and we will use them again in the future.

Hotel Reviews

Haawe Boutique Apart Hotel

Rovaniemi

Located in the heart of Rovaniemi the hotel had everything. With well stocked refrigerator and hygiene necessities to unique design of each room. The hotel has very private touch. Highly efficient high tech .

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Glass resort

Rovaniemi

It was the most beautiful resort located in the magical forest. Amenities were amazing from the private hot tub to sauna to the dinner and breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Overnight Train

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Fabian

Helsinki

Authenticity & Character

Location

Walking distance to everything

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Resort - City Center Private Transfer

Finland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Finnish Sauna Experience

Rovaniemi

Very unique and authentic. We got to see aurora at the lake as the bonus

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Adults Only Husky Adventure

Finland

So much fun The dogs were so happy and well kept

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Group Reindeer Safari and Farm Visit

Rovaniemi

Lots of fun

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Flexible Northern Lights Hunting

Finland

We didn't see aurora but it was our guide fault. He was very helpful and knowledgeable

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tallinn Day Trip

Helsinki

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Helsinki City Walking Tour (3h)

Helsinki

Ruslan, tour guide, is very knowledgeable and passionate about the city. Tour was very well planned

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Going to the Galápagos Islands was the trip of a lifetime! We would have been lost without our travel agent, Paul Cisneros from Kim Kim. Paul arranged excellent accommodations for us. He arranged for drivers to pick us up and take us to where we needed to go every step of the way. Paul arranged all of our tours and tour guides. We felt safe and reassured by his planning and expertise. Paul even helped to troubleshoot when we experienced translation problems and website glitches with the TCT cards. Everything ran so smoothly because of the planning and arrangements that Paul made.

As for the trip itself, we were in awe of the wildlife experiences that we had. Both land and sea adventures were unique, informative and amazing. Land animals that we saw in the Galápagos Islands included sea lions (not seals as we learned!), Galapagos and Saddleback tortoises (many sightings!), blue footed boobies, frigate birds, many other birds, Sally Lightfoot crabs, lava lizards, land iguanas (lots of them!). Marine animals included sea turtles (my personal favourite!), a sea horse, different kinds of rays (eagle rays, sting rays, maybe a marble ray), sharks, puffer fish, and so, so many colourful fish (like in Finding Nemo). On the mainland, our cultural tour of Quito felt like we were stepping back in time to an older world from days gone by. The Middle of the Earth tour was fun and interesting. We love our pictures from standing on the line of the equator.

We loved each and every hotel that we stayed at. The Ikala Quito Hotel had well appointed rooms and the staff were lovely. Hotel Fiesta in Puerto Ayora was spectacular! The pool area with bar was so nice to relax at and the gardens were gorgeous! We were travelling as an adult family and our room had a main room with a king size bed and a side room with two single beds. It was quite spacious. The Albemarle in Puerto Villamil was right on the beach and had a roof top terrace looking east, south and west. You could catch both the sunrise and the sunset. It even had a communal clothesline on the roof where you could dry your swimsuits (a small thing but something I really appreciated!). Lastly, we stayed at the Wyndham Airport Hotel in Quito on our last night. It is in the shape of a condor, which makes it an interesting piece of architecture. It is quite a posh hotel and the restaurant there is excellent. The shuttle service is under 5 minutes to the airport.

In summary, this was the trip of a lifetime for us and was everything we had hoped for. We are so grateful for the experience!

P.S. The following people were excellent as tour guides/coordinators (in no particular order): Robert, Ricardo, Michael, Alexis, Diego, Salome, Julio. There were others along the way who played a more minor role in our trip but each one was competent, friendly and helpful. In fact, my husband and I commented that Ecuadorians cultivate a culture of excellence not always seen in other parts of the world.

Hotel Reviews

Wyndham Quito Airport

Quito

This hotel is quite interesting architecturally because it is in the shape of a condor. It is only minutes from the airport by shuttle and you have a beautiful view of the mountains. The restaurant is excellent and there is a nice gym/hottub/sauna area.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Albemarle

Puerto Villamil

We loved this hotel. It's right on the beach in Puerta Villamil. There is a courtyard inside with a small pool and lovely garden. The walkways to the room overlook the courtyard. Besides being on the beach, what we loved most was the roof top terrace. We spent lovely evenings up there watching the gorgeous sunsets. There are tables and chairs there to relax and have a beer. One small thing that I really liked was that there was a communal clothes line on the rooftop terrace so you could hang your wet swimsuits there to dry. A small thing but I really appreciated it.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very attentive to our needs.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Fiesta

Puerto Ayora

We loved this hotel! We felt like we were staying in a tropical paradise. We booked a family room and had a spacious room with a king bed with a smaller room off to the side with two single beds. Outdoors, there are beautiful gardens, a lovely pool and hot tub area and even a bar attended by a staff member. The availability of cervases were much appreciated! They even had ping pong tables. Breakfast was delicious. Staff were friendly. Overall, we loved it!

Authenticity & Character

Location

The hotel is close to the main street.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ikala Quito Hotel

Quito

This was an excellent hotel to stay at. The rooms were unique and spacious. Breakfast was delicious and staff were excellent!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Excursion to an uninhabited island

Galapagos Islands

The land tour of the island was very interesting. We saw land iguanas, frigate birds (and many other birds), sea lions, sally lightfoot crabs, lava lizards. The terrain was very rocky and the vegetation was desert like. For 3 of the 5 of us, snorkelling was a new experience. Ricardo, our guide was very knowledgeable and helpful. We saw so many beautiful fish! Sea turtles swam by us and we even saw reef sharks (which we were glad to hear are not interested in humans because they have plenty of fish to keep them happy). In were in awe of our experience.

Quality of Experience

The flora and fauna were amazing!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ricardo was engaging and very knowledgeable.

Visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station

Puerto Ayora

This was really interesting. Glad we visited. Quite amazing how they continue to ensure the existence of the tortoises through their breeding program. Salome was an excellent guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer to Quito Airport, Arrival to Galapagos & Highlands of Santa Cruz

Galapagos Islands

Everything ran very smoothly. We really enjoyed seeing the tortoises at the "ranch." We even saw one put the moves on his girlfriend but she was playing coy. Quite hilarious at tortoise speed, lol. The lava tunnel was cool, as was the sinkhole.

Quality of Experience

It's just awesome to see animals that live nowhere else on earth!

Food

We enjoyed our meal at the "ranch."

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Salome was knowledgeable and helpful.

Transport

Visit the "Middle of the World"

Galapagos Islands

This was so much fun and very interesting. We learned a lot about the unique features of being on the equator.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Quito City Tour

Galapagos Islands

Our guide Robert was very knowledgeable. He gave us an excellent tour of the city, and in particular, the historical parts of the town and churches. We also stopped in at an Ecuadorian candy maker with "surprising" candies and a chocolate maker where we had a chocolate tasting experience. Quite delicious! Continuing on to the Middle of the World was exciting and fun. We thoroughly enjoyed our experiences there. Robert speaks excellent English and by the time we were done, we considered him to be a friend.

Quality of Experience

Very unique!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Robert was an excellent guide and we felt safe with our driver Guillermo.

Transport

We had an excellent experience working with KimKim Travel as our travel consultants for our Costa Rica trip. From start to finish, their team was incredibly responsive and flexible, crafting a thoughtful one-week itinerary that was well suited overall for our family of three—traveling with a 24-week pregnant wife and a one-year-old is no small task. All on-the-ground logistics were seamless, including airport transfers and daily tours, which made the trip feel very stress-free. Highlights included the Sloth and Chocolate tours in La Fortuna, where we loved seeing sloths, snakes, butterflies, and frogs, and our time in Monteverde, which was beautiful despite some limitations. As constructive feedback for the future, while certain activities may technically be labeled as infant-friendly, we would caution against recommending experiences like the Hanging Bridges in the Cloud Forest and Treetopia to families with pregnant travelers or babies—weather conditions, lack of stroller-compliant paths, and wind made these activities challenging and, in the case of Treetopia, distressing for our baby. We don’t hold this against KimKim, but hope it’s helpful guidance going forward. We’re especially grateful that they were able to move our trip up by an entire month due to unforeseen circumstances, with special recognition to Bryan and Nancy for their support and flexibility. We also appreciated Adrian from Serendipity Adventures, who proactively reached out via WhatsApp before our arrival and was extremely responsive in managing and adjusting logistics while we were in Costa Rica. Overall, it was an excellent trip, and we would absolutely work with KimKim Travel again.

Monika at Kim Kim did a wonderful job putting together a vacation with the places and experiences we had prioritized. She was available when we had questions. She also placed us in great hotels. The cities we went to included Queenstown, Wanaka, Auckland, Christchurch, and we spent time hiking and boating at the Franz Josef Glacier and hiking in Arthur's Pass. Milford Sound is a must see and flying over it is spectacular. I would recommend time in all of these places. We were only in Auckland 1 day b/c our plane landed there. The countryside in New Zealand is diverse and beautiful. Our outfitters and guides were universally excellent. We also visited the glow worm caves which is a unique and wonderful experience. You need to be able to kayak to do this. Wanaka winery tours gave us a wine tasting experience we will never forget. I would also recommend the Trans Pine train ride across country. Be aware if you want to hike Arthur's Pass the trailheads are between 10-12 kilometers away. We ended up hitching to get there and back. Our visit was 2 weeks and we spent time on both North and South Islands which I would recommend with their unique aspects.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Perfectly Planned, Stress-Free Family Adventure

We just returned from an incredible family trip to the Philippines that Cami planned for us, and it was one of the most seamless travel experiences we’ve ever had.

We’re from the United States, and flying halfway around the world with a 9-year-old and a 21-year-old felt overwhelming at first. But Cami provided clear, step-by-step instructions for the entire trip, which made everything feel easy. All we had to do was follow the plan and enjoy the adventure.

Cami’s communication while building the itinerary over several months was fantastic. She really listened to what we wanted — an action-packed trip — and offered great recommendations that fit our travel style perfectly.

While I handled the international and inter-island flights myself, every other detail was flawlessly arranged. Every airport pickup, hotel transfer, and excursion transport was perfectly timed and waiting for us. We never had to guess what to do or where to go.

Once we arrived, Ana from Uncharted Philippines became our in-country contact and was amazing. She responded quickly anytime I had a question. It truly felt like we had a personal vacation coordinator in our pocket the entire trip.

The itinerary was full of unforgettable experiences that worked wonderfully for both kids despite the age gap. If you want a perfectly planned, stress-free trip where you can just show up and enjoy, I can’t recommend Cami enough.

Activity Review

Canyoneering in Kawasan Falls

Philippines

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazing and Safe Family Adventure Canyoneering at Kawasan Falls was unforgettable! We each had our own guide, which made us feel very safe and well taken care of the entire time. They helped us navigate slippery rocks, encouraged us through every jump and swim, and made the whole experience fun and stress-free. A perfect mix of adventure and safety — highly recommend!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hi Bella,
We often find ourselves saying that this was truly the best trip of our 19 years of enduring friendship. Our group had an absolutely wonderful time, and we can genuinely call it a magical journey.
One of the most memorable experiences was our stay at the Koh Yao Island Paradise Hotel, along with the island hopping excursions. Each day brought new levels of fun and excitement. The train market and floating market experiences were unique, enriching, and unforgettable. Visit to Ayutthaya Temples was also a unique experience.
Your hotel recommendations were excellent, Seashell Krabi and Paradise Hotel exceeded our expectations. The entire trip was thoughtfully curated to match our preferences, and we sincerely appreciate your patience in answering every query and accommodating all our requests.
The transportation arrangements were seamless, and the team was outstanding. Mr. Tee in Krabi took exceptional care of us. The boat transfer to Koh Yao Island and the island hopping crew ensured our comfort and safety at every step. In Bangkok, Mr. Leo (Our guide) was exceptional—he felt like a part of our group and made sure we were comfortable and enjoying every moment. His communication skills were excellent, and we especially appreciated his efforts to speak in our local language on several occasions. He also had a good sense of humor.
All credit goes to you for organizing such a memorable and perfectly executed trip. Thank you once again for giving us memories that we will cherish forever.

Hotel Reviews

The Quarter Hua Lamphong by UHG

Bangkok

The hotel location is good. Overall service and ambience is OK. The hotel need renovation.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The hotel rooms need renovation.

Paradise Koh Yao Resort

One of the most memorable experiences was our stay at the Koh Yao Island Paradise Hotel, along with the island hopping excursions. The staff in restaurant took good care of us.

Authenticity & Character

Location

The location is magical

Staff

Special thanks to Mr. Oz for giving good suggestions for food

Cleanliness & Comfort

The ShellSea Krabi I Luxury Beach Resort & Pool Villas

Krabi

One of the most memorable experiences was our stay at the ShellSea Krabi resort, the location is wonderful and the beach is awesome.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Car disposal for before your international Departure

Bangkok

Visit to Ayutthaya Temples was a different experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day Bangkok City Tour

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A visit to Mae Klong Railway market and Damnoen Saduak Floating Market!

Bangkok

The train market and floating market experiences were unique, enriching, and unforgettable. Thanks to Mr. Leo our guide and Driver Chin for reaching on time for train market. Guide Leo is very knowledgeable, friendly and has excellent communication skills.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Phuket and visit Phuket highlight Half-Day City Tour

Phuket

This visit was OK experience. Instead of visiting the Cashew factory we should have visited beach. For shopping the guide (Ben)suggested us a private big shop instead of main market. The shopping experience in the shop was not great.

Quality of Experience

The guide (Ben) was rushing us for all activities.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wandering aournd Ko Yao Noi by private transportation

Ko Yao Noi

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Islands Hopping and Snorkeling around Ko Yao Noi

Ko Yao Noi

Island hopping was the most exiting and memorable experience for our friends.

Quality of Experience

Food

The arrangement of food and specially veg food. The location ( a small beach) was perfect.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day Krabi Greetings Tour

Thailand

Hike to the top of the mountain was a thrilling experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This is one of those trips that will forever stay with me. The beauty of the land, the vast differences in experience from one place to the next, the cleanliness and consciousness in environment, and the kindness of the people everywhere is what really made this trip stand out. Our guides, as well as our drivers were fantastic! Highlights: Mulford Sound (beautiful waterfalls, seal and dolphin sightings), and a highly recommended plane ride over the mountains when returning to Queenstown. FYI, -The drive is long (winding roads that could impact a weak stomach), but well worth the trip. Also, Mt. Cook, the Tasman Glacier Cruise, the Glowworm Caves (near Rotorua), Wai-O Tapu’s geothermal activity/mud pool, and the very scenic TranzAlpine train ride from Christchurch to Arthur’s Pass, are all well worth seeing. If you like hiking, Arthur’s Pass has some great trails, but beware, the distance from the train station to any of the well known trails is quite a hike in itself (and not too scenic by the main road), so plan on getting a ride to the trail if possible.

Kudos to KimKim (and more specifically, Monika), for customizing this trip in a way that hit all of our specifications and needs. If NZ is on your bucket list, go for it while you can. You won’t be disappointed!

My family said that this trip was a fantastic experience.

Had a wonderful time in Costa Rica. Grateful for the local guides who set us up with seamless transportation to and from every location and exploring some adventures, we wouldn’t have thought of otherwise like Whitewater wrapping for six hours hikes to waterfalls and birdwatching in the cloud for us. Would highly recommend.

I can’t thank Kat, Kate and the rest of the great team at Kimkim enough for the incredible job they did creating our Costa Rica vacation! From the fabulous hotels to creative adventures to all the minute details each day involved, they did the best job imaginable, always available to answer questions, even on weekends and at night! Each location they booked for us was amazing, from La Fortuna (volcano! Frogs!) to Montverde (Santa Elena cloud forest! Coffee, chocolate and sugar cane tour!) to Nosara (swimming in the Pacific! Private kayak tour! Sibu Wildlife Sanctuary!). The hotels were all wonderful, with excellent food, friendly and helpful staff, and lots to do. Every driver was on time, every tour guide friendly and knowledgeable. I could never have created this amazing trip without Kimkim! Thanks to you all!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Boutique Lagarta Lodge

Nosara

We had a lovely suite, with separate bedrooms for my son and me. The view from the main bedroom was of the ocean and the rain forest, and the sound of birds was a delight. There are two infinity pools on the property, and the ocean is a short walk away - swim in the Pacific! They also offer night tours, kayak tours, and other fun adventures. They have two restaurants, both with great menus, even for vegetarians. The front desk staff was always there to help with transportation, to set up a tour, or to answer our questions.

Authenticity & Character

It felt comfortable from the moment we arrived. It is a fun property to explore, and there are hiking trails right there.

Location

Right on the beach, amazing sunsets every night!

Staff

We were treated so well by all the staff, from the front desk to the wait staff to all of the drivers and tour operators.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and so comfortable! They make their own toiletries, so no need to bring shampoo, conditioner or body soap!

Cloud Forest Lodge

Monteverde

Lovely grounds, great views, a friendly and helpful staff, and our room as comfortable (and large!) Also, the food is gourmet-quality, just fabulous, and the chef deserves kudos for his creativity!

Authenticity & Character

The main building has character, with its indoor, patio and outdoor seating, allowing diners to watch the two hummingbird feeders and the bird feeder, to get great views of lovely tropical birds.

Location

We wanted to explore the cloud forest, and this hotel is perfect for that.

Staff

Everyone went out of their way to be helpful, and the dining room staff were all very attentive.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our room was large and comfortable, the bathroom too, and all very clean, with toiletries provided - you can leave your shampoo, conditioner and body soap at home! Theirs is made with local products and is terrific.

Lomas del Volcán

Fortuna

Individual, private bungalows were a plus, as well as the friendly and helpful staff. The grounds are gorgeous, and the pool was lovely. We enjoyed the food at both restaurants, as well as the hiking trail on the property. I would stay there again!

Authenticity & Character

The attention to detail was notable - everything is very clean and inviting.

Location

Located in a rain forest, where we could take a night tour to see amazing frogs and other animals.

Staff

A huge thank you to Alejandro and Joseph! You were so helpful, and so friendly! Thank you both! ♥️

Cleanliness & Comfort

The whole place was spotless, the beds were very comfortable and the shower was great!

Activity Reviews

Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar Cane Experience

Monteverde

What a fun tour! Our guide, Mario, was funny, friendly and very knowledgeable. We got to see first-hand how coffee beans grow, the process for roasting them, and the various kinds of coffee produced (I did not know that espresso has less caffeine than regular coffee! (Well, quantity plays a role.) We got to taste seeds of the cacao pods, watch them turned into paste after roasting, and learned that chocolate is literally the blending of cocoa and milk: choco-latte! Sugar cane was also fun to learn about, and you can help press the cane to express the liquid if you’re strong enough! Getting to see coffee beans, cacao pods and sugar cane as they’re grown on the farm was so educational - and delicious.

Quality of Experience

Couldn’t have had a better guide!

Mangrove Kayak & Standup Paddle Board Adventure

Nosara

What a wonderful kayak adventure! Just us and our guide, David, who was knowledgable, funny and patient. He pointed out gorgeous birds we might have missed, provided us with a snack of ripe pineapple and coconut water during our break on the beach, and made us feel comfortable in our surroundings. Thanks so much for a great kayak tour, David! ♥️