Kimkim Trip Reviews

This was such an amazing trip. First of all, Lucy was incredible. Very responsive. Very helpful. She was always happy to answer my questions, even as I was trying to figure out packing. It was possible that with the storms going on we could have had major stress, but Lucy always was calm and informative, making us feel completely comfortable with all of our plans.
I usually plan my trips myself. Due to some stresses at home and work, I just wasn't in the mental space to try to figure out Vietnam. There just were so many options. So I reached out, hoping to get help. And I am so glad I did. I was able to just go with the flow. All of our local guides were super nice and kind. Our drivers were excellent. I learned so much about the history and culture of Vietnam. I definitely want to go back and would work with Lucy again.
My only advice when working with your KimKim guide - trust them. They are on the ground and see exactly what is going on. I could have cancelled and tried to rearrange our trip when there was the typhoon coming to Hoi An the first day we were supposed to be there (plus flooding earlier.) I was in constant contact with Lucy and she was able to give me the updates and we ended up keeping with the plans. And after a bit of high winds and rain the first day, everything cleared up. Trying to change the plan would have been really difficult and expensive, and when Lucy said she thought we'd be okay, we trusted her. And she was talking to Sam, our guide in the Hoi An region, who knew exactly what was going on. And so we kept with the plan and everything was great. Just having Lucy to help us navigate this whole thing was the most valuable part of the service.

We had a wonderful time in Rome, Naples, Sorrento and exploring the Amalfi Coast for our 1 year anniversary!
A big thank you to Melanie and her team for arranging reliable and friendly private transfers to each city as well as some very nice excursions!
Their communication via whatsapp was helpful and clear, and we didn't have any issues along the way except for a longer wait at the Salerno train station, but that was due to the transfer company advising we give extra time for the drive from Praiano due to traffic etc. So we were well taken care of and had an incredible vacation!

KimKim is Amazing! We just completed a multi-week trip in Spain and Portugal. We asked Adam, our local specialist, to plan a highlights tour for us through these countries, which we had never visited. He selected great hotels and terrific tours. We especially liked the transfers between airports, train stations, hotels, and other places. Adam listened to what we wanted and he delivered, big time!

During our trip, we had a few unexpected events, including rail and port worker strikes. The KimKim team, including Lea and Summer, were awesome. They responded incredibly fast to our messages and quickly made changes as necessary, including a last minute transfer between cities when the rail workers in Portugal went on strike.

We will definitely use KimKim for future travel needs.

Vicky was amazing. She planned such a spectacular trip with a great variety of adventures and just the right amount of free days. Her recommendations were helpful in finding relaxing walks and good food. Vicky even stepped in when one of our flights was canceled to reschedule a group tour to another day so that we could still attend.

Jessica created a wonderful tour for us in Korea. We were met at the airport and guided throughout our stay which made this so very easy and not the least bit stressful. This was our first time having a private tour and I highly recommend it. One guide we had, Michael was especially impressive. He took us to visit historical sights, villages and the must see street food markets in Seoul. Jessica arranged our transportation on the high speed train to Busan for a few nights and that was amazing as well. I would not hesitate to use Kimkim travel in the future, they truly make touring a seamless experience, well worth the cost!

Hassan helped put together a great trip! Accommodated to the things we cared about most for the short trip we had. There were a few things on the itinerary there wasn’t enough time to fit in based on the amount of driving, but that was ok our guide Moha was absolutely wonderful. He was knowledgeable, on time, and flexible to the itinerary. All details were handled so well between Hassan and Moha there was very little we had to be concerned with beyond enjoying the trip. Moha & Hassan enabled us to be extremely efficient with our time which is invaluable on an overseas trip. Will use KimKim again!

Overall we had a good time with highlight being Corcovado Wilderness Lodge. I gather a visit to Cocovado was not recommended by Kim Kim. While our friend Bob Stewart had the principal relationship with Kim Kim we were frustrated by the number of times we were asked for details such as passport numbers emergency contacts email addresses etc only to find we frequently had to supply them again at various destinations. The logistics of the trip were also frustrating with significant time wastage with 2 separate stays in San Jose.

Hotel Reviews

Casa Corcovado Jungle Lodge

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Presidente

San José

A great location but we were allocated a very small room. Again far from luxury

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sarapiquis Rainforest Lodge

Sarapiquí

Hotel was of a reasonable standard. But definitely not luxury as deal was said to be. Reception staff very poor.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa Turire

Turrialba

A lovely setting but facilities were very "tired" certainly not luxury.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Facilities were basic and tired.

Activity Reviews

Snorkeling at Caño Island Biological Reserve

Corcovado National Park

Excellent although poor weather affected the quality of the snorkelling.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Corcovado National Park - Sirena Station Tour

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private San José City Tour

San José

Very poor and certainly did not meet expectations based om itinerary

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private La Tirimbina Guided Hike

Sarapiquí

Nothing special or inspirimg.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sarapiqui River - Motor Boat Tour

Sarapiquí

Interesting but quite short.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Birdwatching Tour at CATIE Botanical Garden

Turrialba

Excellent guide and a great spot forbird watching

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Archaeological Tour of Guayabo National Monument

Turrialba

A great guide and very interesting. Good to learn about pre Columbian history.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We can't share enough compliments about the amazing experience we had with Kimkim travel and our specialist, Elena. We decided to visit Thailand for our 25th anniversary at the end of October. We had never been before, so we weren't sure what activities to do. Elena made it so easy, providing tons of great options. She arranged everything (air and ground transportation in country, gorgeous hotels, tickets, guides) -- we just needed to show up, and the rest was handled. She was so patient and helpful as we finalized our plans, communicating with us regularly and checking in during our trip.

All of our guides and transportation were outstanding! We absolutely adored our guide, Khun Ae, in Bangkok. She was with us for three days, and she showed us so many wonderful sites. She shared history and stories, and bought us little gifts and food that we would never think of trying. Wherever we went, tables magically became available for us. She knew the best spots for photos and the best menu items. She was tireless and so proud of her country. We are incredibly grateful to her for sharing her enthusiasm with us. My husband and I agreed it was the best trip we ever took, and we've taken many.

In Phuket, we went on John Gray's Ocean Canoe trip, and our guide, Wooddy was the absolute best! He went out of his way to show us all of the beautiful sites, taking photos of us, and helping us to create the most gorgeous Loy Krathong (a floating flower arrangement). We also had an amazing guide on our private longtail boat tour named Nut. He was so accommodating, making sure we were comfortable and setting out a wonderful beach picnic for us. It was such a special experience.

We expect to use Kimkim again for our next international trip -- we highly recommend them!

Hotel Reviews

The Slate Phuket

Phuket

This resort was gorgeous! We had a pool villa that was just fantastic. The grounds were well maintained with lots of tropical flowers. It was right on the beach and had plenty of restaurants within walking distance as well as on site. The Black Ginger restaurant was an amazing experience. We loved it!

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful -- very modern industrial decor with the right amount of authenticity.

Location

Right next to the beach with security at the property entrances

Staff

Everyone was so kind!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kudos to the housekeeping staff and the groundskeepers -- they made sure everything was immaculate.

Avani+ Riverside Bangkok Hotel

Bangkok

The Avani+ Riverside in Bangkok was a great location for those seeking a quieter experience in Bangkok (like us). It was right on the river and provided a free water taxi to three different stops close to Iconsiam Mall and public transportation. The room was comfortable -- we especially enjoyed the breakfast buffet, with just about any food you could want.

Authenticity & Character

No improvements needed -- it was a modern hotel.

Location

Love that it had a free water taxi to explore and take public transportation to other areas of Bangkok.

Staff

All staff were very kind and welcoming.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our housekeeping staff was outstanding!

Activity Reviews

Kai Islands Half-Day Luxury Longtail Boat Tour

Phuket

We loved this experience! It was a private tour, and we enjoyed spending time out on the water cruising around the islands.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide, Nut, was amazing! He made sure we had everything we needed. The boat was stocked with snacks and drinks. He even set up the best beach picnic for us and took tons of photos. Excellent excursion!

Transport

Blue Elephant Cooking class (Morning Session)

Phuket

We had THE BEST time at this class! We met four other tourists and learned how to cook four delicious Thai dishes (not the usual ones, like Pad Thai either). It was one of our favorite parts of the whole trip!

Quality of Experience

Food

So, so good!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Chef Paul was patient and showed us how to cook the best food. He gave us tips about each dish and provided a recipe book for us to take home. Fantastic experience!

Transport

Phuket Elephant Sanctuary Morning Visit (Joining Activity)

Phuket

Definitely one of our favorite experiences of our trip! I loved that the elephants were able to live at this sanctuary undisturbed. These gentle creatures were rescued from tourist shows where they were sick or injured. We were able to feed them and learn all about their behavior.

Quality of Experience

Food

A fantastic buffet!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide, Tour, was excellent...he clearly cared very much for all the elephants in the sanctuary.

Transport

Relaxing Time at Oasis Spa - Sukhumvit 31

Bangkok

This spa was absolutely phenomenal. We were greeting with cool towels, and our room had a shower so that we could get cleaned up after a day of tours before our massage. Afterward, we had tea. Just lovely!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Railway Market & Floating Market

Bangkok

This was probably one of our favorite excursions. We loved taking it all in. The train ride to the railway market was such an adventure...the train gets so close to the people and vendor booths!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Night Street Food Tour After Dark by Tuk Tuk

Bangkok

We happened to be here on the first night of the Chinese Vegetarian Festival, so there was a lot going on. Fun to watch the revelers!

Quality of Experience

Food

Outstanding food!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Kuhn Ae was our guide and helped us sample so many delicious dishes from the street vendors. We then took an exciting tuk tuk ride back to our hotel...it was an experience!

Transport

Our driver for the few days we were in Bangkok, Whit, was wonderful.

Bangkok Symbolic Temples

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

We saw several beautiful temples and learned so much about Buddhism.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Kuhn Ae was the absolute best guide -- so friendly and happy to share information about her country and its culture. We loved her!

Transport

Always comfortable and on time.

John Gray's sea canoe - Hong by Starlight - Joining excursion

Phuket

Quality of Experience

Very well organized with funny guides! The canoe trip into the limestone caves and the lagoons in the middle was breathtaking.

Food

Outstanding food -- amazing that they prepared it all on the boat!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Wooddy was great! He went above and beyond to show us beautiful sites. The Loy Krathong he helped us create was the most beautiful and artistic arrangement. He was just awesome!

Transport

Nice, clean, and comfortable

I would not recommend Kim Kim. Federico did minimal work and had to be prodded to respond. Twice I had to call the US office for help. He could not find a lodge (I ended of providing him names of lodges and he booked one of those), he was fairly helpful until the trip was booked then nothing. I had a work schedule change and he did not even make a serious effort to help me accommodate the schedule change. My guide was also frustrated because the itinerary Kim Kim gave her was different from the one they gave me. Federico did not really listen to me or help me create an itinerary that reflected my interests. The final itinerary I received (which I had to request numerous times) had errors in it. I would not use Kim Kim again.

Hotel Review

Amazon Premium Lodge

Manaus

First, note the lodge is in Careiro, a very rural area, not Manaus. The people are very kind. The food was fresh and lunch and dinner excellent—they went above and beyond to accommodate my vegetarian diet. There are many opportunities for wildlife viewing right at the lodge, which was fantastic. The drinking water is filtered and safe to drink. There is a trail through the forest which is lovely. My guide and boat captain were outstanding. The accommodations are as pictured. The lodge ran out of power once and water twice. That wasn’t the problem so much as the fact that there was not good communication about what had happened and when water would return. The toilet stopped working and it took about 14 hours before it was repaired. Again, those things happen, but I was not offered an alternative room (even though there were many empty rooms) or other alternative. The cleaning was uneven, some days fine, others not—returned one day to find a puddle of dirty water between the beds. I was offered use of “kayaks” but they were not well maintained flat-bottomed plastic boats, mismatched paddles in a pile, gear old. I opted to do the night in the jungle outing, which started out well with a delicious dinner cooked over open fire at the lodge’s campsite, which is accessible by boat. But again, the gear was not well maintained; there was a large hole in one of the hammock mosquito nets. That ended up being important because just as we were going to sleep, my guide, a native Brazilian who had grown up in the area, discovered a large spider on the inside of the net (next to her body). She said the spider was a venomous wandering spider, and she was clearly shaken. The thatched roof of the open air camp site was old, likely home to many such spiders. I asked that we return to the lodge for the evening for safety’s sake and we did. For English-speaking guests, you will need a guide. None of the lodge staff that I interacted with spoke any English. The lodge is not cheap, I would have expected fewer issues for the price.

Authenticity & Character

Warmth of the kitchen staff and local cuisine. Right in the forest, with many monkeys, birds, and lizards.

Location

In the Amazon jungle on a beautiful lake the locals call Turtle Lake.

Staff

See above.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Comfortable, could be cleaner.

Activity Review

Day 6/6 - Premium Amazon Lodge

Brazil

So for all of these supposed activities, this is what is annoying about Kim Kim. I can’t review these because no activity is actually listed. Kim Kim booked me for several activities I specifically told Federico, in writing, that I was not interested in. So I had to work all that out with the guide when I arrived. She was flexible and good about it but clearly didn’t have adequate time to plan alternatives, so I just did some stuff on my own for some of the time, which ended up being fine. But honestly, terrible service from Kim Kim.

Our recent trip to Morocco was an unforgettable adventure filled with beauty, culture, and moments that truly moved us. From the moment we arrived, everything flowed effortlessly and we owe much of that to our incredible driver and guide, Ismail.
Having a private driver made all the difference. Ismail not only drove with the utmost care and confidence (his vehicle was spacious and extremely comfortable), but more importantly, he made sure we felt safe and cared for every step of the way even when we were off on our own in the souks, museums, or restaurants. His calm presence, local knowledge, and attentiveness gave us the freedom to relax and enjoy the magic of Morocco without worry.
Each city offered something unique:
Rabat surprised us with its cleanliness, upscale vibe and historical richness. A highlight was unexpectedly bumping into the Prince at dinner, it was a surreal and delightful surprise!
Fes was a true cultural immersion from the ancient tanneries to the intricate artisan workshops. Walking the labyrinth of Fes el Bali with a guide felt like traveling back in time.
Marrakech was vibrant and alive, we soaked in the rhythm of the medina, savored exquisite meals, relaxed in lush gardens, and experienced unforgettable moments like a hot air balloon ride which was soul quenching! Not scary at all!
We’re incredibly grateful for every moment, every connection, and everyone who made this journey seamless and memorable.

We saw amazing scenes and wildlife every day! The local guides were all fantastic - very knowledgeable, helped us negotiate some of the tougher terrains, and kept us informed of travel arrangements. There were a couple of glitches with taxi pickups, but we knew who to contact to fix it. The hotels (Ikala on Santa Cruz, Isamar on Isabella, and Seaside on San Cristobal) were all really nice, especially the Ikala.
The speedboat transfer from Santa Cruz to Isabella was HORRIBLE! 2 hours of constant jostling and slamming down HARD on the water every few minutes was frightful and gave me a backache. The flight arrangements all worked fine.

Hotel Reviews

Wyndham Quito Airport

Quito

Nice modern hotel, clean comfortable rooms. Frequent shuttle to airport. Very good restaurant, although the service was slow one night.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Just a few minutes from airport

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

SeaSide Hotel

Galapagos

The room was large and clean and comfortable. The breakfasts were large and OK

Authenticity & Character

Location

Walking distance to town

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

There were some small creepy crawlies in the bathroom, other wise clean

Isamar Hotel

Puerto Villamil, Isla Isabela

Beautiful view of the beach.

Authenticity & Character

Small hotel with local flare

Location

Right on beach

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mostly clean and comfortable. The windows were not sealed well so we had little iguanas in the room.

Ikala Galapagos Hotel

Puerto Ayora

The rooms were large, clean, and very comfortable. The restaurant was fabulous!

Authenticity & Character

Tropical vibe beautifully landscaped

Location

Very close to downtown and ferry connections

Staff

They packed us a breakfast to go when we had early departures

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Transfer to the airport for your flight back home (Departure)

Galapagos Islands

Our guide and driver came on time and whisked us to the airport. Our guide helped us with our luggage into the airport and helped us check in.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Free morning on San Cristobal until Departure

Isla San Cristóbal

Not much was open so early in town, but watching the sea lions was fun.

Quality of Experience

Embracing Nature: Discovering Wildlife on Española Island

Isla San Cristóbal

We saw the Nazca boobies and the waves albatross here, very special wildlife and scenery. The trails were rocky and quite challenging.

Quality of Experience

Wonderful unique sights

Food

Chicken was dry and overcooked.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide helped us with the rugged terrain, even taking my phone to take lots of pictures when I had to concentrate on navigating the trails

Transport

The boat was small and fairly spartan. One engine failed during our return, but so we had to slow down and return to dock late.

Welcome to San Cristóbal Island! Visit the Interpretation Center, Tijeretas Hill, or La Lobería

Galapagos Islands

We didn’t do Tijereas Hillsince it was late in the day, but the Interpretation Center was interesting, and La Loberia with all the sea lions was cool.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very accommodating with bringing us a driver when the walking looked too far.

Transport

The restaurant recommended by our guide for dinner was great!

Isabela Island's Treasures: Exploring the Breeding Center & Wetlands

Galapagos Islands

The wetlands had some good bird sightings. The walk was quite long, but mostly the scenery was worth the hike.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover the Wonders of Tintoreras Islet: A Journey into Breathtaking Biodiversity

Puerto Villamil

We saw the elusive Galapagos penguins!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Experience the Pristine Beauty of Galápagos Islands: Discovering an Uninhabited Island

Puerto Ayora

The wildlife were fabulous, saw many new species. The trail got a too rugged for my sister and I so we were able to wait at a designated area and meet the group later. Lunch on the boat was fantastic. Getting in and out of the small dinghies to get to the boat and island were challenging for us, but the crew was great to steady us.

Quality of Experience

Seeing blue footed boobies and frigate birds and sea lions.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very helpful to us old ladies with some challenges.

Transport

Nice boat with good seats, nice bathroom

Welcome to Santa Cruz Island: Highlands (Plant a Tree) & Charles Darwin Research Station

Puerto Ayora

It was great to be met at the plane and taken for our afternoon activities. The giant tortoises were really cool. Lunch was good, and fun to be outside so we could watch the birds and tortoises.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Ecuador: Let Your Adventure Begin!

Galapagos Islands

It was nice after a long day of travel to be met by a driver with my name on a card.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an absolutely amazing experience in Morocco, thanks to Kimkim! It was such a relief to have someone help us curate the trip of our dreams. Every detail was thoughtfully planned, allowing us to sit back, relax, and truly get to know the country through local tour guides who brought a wonderful sense of authenticity to our journey.

Said was fantastic—always quick to respond and attentive to our needs throughout the trip. Our private driver, Tayebb, made our travels even more enjoyable. He was personable, courteous, and an absolute pleasure to spend time with. We could not have asked for a better driver.

Redouane was a fabulous guide through the markets of Marrakech, filling our ears with history and great stories. He was the ultimate professional and made the experience come alive. In Fes, Shariff did an amazing job helping us navigate the city’s intricate streets and hidden gems—his knowledge and enthusiasm made our visit truly special.

I look forward to utilizing Kimkim’s services for future travels. They are honest, responsive, and kind—everything you could hope for in a travel consulting agency. Thank you for helping us create such unforgettable memories!

We (group of six) had a fabulous vacation! Some highlights for me were the sushi class at Akemis Kitchen, the Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya, our Kyoto city tour especially Nijo Castle and Fushimi Inari Shrine, and Miyajima Island. Having tickets pre-purchased for many of the sites helped us avoid long lines and time spent navigating to entrances- a real plus when trying to see as much as possible in a few weeks.

All three of our city guides (Jack, Sunny, Masako) were wonderful, taking time to answer our questions and very knowledgeable of the sites. The drivers were excellent as well- communicated promptly and clearly and used translation apps when language could have been an issue.

Our hotels were comfortable and well located. Rooms were small as was expected but very clean and well maintained. I enjoyed the breakfast buffets everywhere as well!

There were one or two things we felt could be improved. First, if the detailed itinerary had been provided a bit earlier, it would have allowed us more time to plan our independent activities. As first time visitors to Japan we were overwhelmed when attempting to slot in activities for our free time at the last moment. The other area of confusion involved the train travel. While we managed to find our way eventually by asking folks along the way and in the stations, a bit more detail about ticketing processes and how the tickets would be dispersed would have saved us some worry.

To sum up, I will have no hesitation in recommending Kimkim or booking another trip through the company.

My husband and I used kimkim to book our honeymoon to Colombia. We had the most memorable trip, and the arcanto team made our vacation so organized and seamless! Our booking agent Margoth was thoughtful and organized with a careful and thoroughly written out itinerary. Every excursion was tailored to what my husband and I were looking for in our honeymoon - the perfect mix of site seeing, adventure, and relaxation! All the details were carefully planned and explained in a clear and concise way. The entire team was quick to respond to questions and the communication overall was excellent!
We started our trip in Medellín, where our driver and guide were patiently waiting for us! They were easy to find with our name visibly written on a sign right as we exited the airport.

Our guide in Medellin, Juan Carlos, was so wonderful. He was kind, hospitable, and so knowledgeable of the city we were visiting. He explained history of the city and answered all our questions and gave excellent recommendations. We always felt safe and comfortable in his care! It made us feel at ease to have guides that spoke English and Spanish to assist us while navigating the city. He introduced us to other guides along the way, to give us a diverse experience while touring locations including Communa 13, Campana waterfall hike, and our coffee farm tour. Every person we met along the way was a friend to us and made the trip that much more memorable!

In Cartagena we were delighted to be guided by Ana. She was so passionate about the city and shared her knowledge of the history in a fun and exciting way. In Cartagena we had more down time and she gave us excellent recommendations to explore for shopping, eating, and drinking. She showed us the best spot to watch the sunset with a delicious cocktail, and also knew the best photo opportunity spots. It was such a pleasure to get to know Ana and be guided by her through the Old City.

The hotels and dinners that Margoth booked for us were top of the line, luxurious and impressive. Every meal we ate was so delicious and throughout the week we experienced a great variety of places with live music, high end dining, and local eats.

Margoth and the Arcanto team made our honeymoon so wonderful, and we are so grateful for all the memories we have from the trip! They are truly experts and took out the stress of planning on top of booking the best places we would have never been able to figure out ourselves. Would definitely use this agency again for booking a vacation. Thank you Margoth, Kim Kim and Arcanto for the best vacation!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Casa San Agustín

Cartagena de Indias

Beautiful colonial hotel in the old city! The food is excellent and the staff were incredibly friendly and kind. We did not have time to book the spa although the tour of it looked sensational! Would return again

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

El Cielo Hotel

Medellin

El Cielo is luxurious, beautiful, and hospitable! Friendly staff, excellent food, and wonderful accommodations.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Las Islas

Barú

Overall I enjoyed my stay at Las Islas Hotel. My husband and I stayed for 1 full day and 2 nights. This was a good amount of time for this resort. We stayed in a tree top bungalow, which was a very unique experience. The view was beautiful and the bungalow offered privacy and comfort. There was an outdoor hot tub for private use, although the hot water did not work well so we were not able to get much use out of it. For couples that are looking to spend majority of their time in their rooms, this is a good resort for that, as the rooms are very quiet, relaxing, beautiful and spacious. There is good air conditioning in the rooms which was nice because it is very hot and humid outdoors. The resort itself does not offer much activity that is inclusive. There is a small beach and pool included in the stay. There are excursions to do throughout the day at an extra cost. We were able to do most in the day that we were there, and enjoyed the activities. The massage was excellent. I was able to tell that the therapists were very knowledgeable of the anatomy and well practiced. I was also impressed by the food. Each meal service offered a variety of selections with options for meat, fish, vegetable, and pasta. Each dish had excellent flavor and was prepared well. I had a difficult time navigating the island. The signs and map are misleading and often times were inaccurate or contradictory of each other. The staff was friendly and quick to offer help or rides on the golf cart to desired locations when requested. We were offered use of bicycles to navigate the resort however the tires were all flat and the bikes did not appear safe to use. There appeared to be poor communication between the staff for reception, excursions, and restaurants as we were told contradictory things regarding timing and locations of the activities. The descriptions of the excursions were misleading and often did not include everything that was described. The cost of all the excursions did add up, and without the extra activities not included in the stay there is not much to do on the resort. I enjoyed my time at the resort but would not pay the price again for the experience that we had.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Half-Day Coffee Farm Tour

Medellín

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chorro Campana Hike

Medellín

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

City Tour of Medellín Highlights (with Local Market and Comuna 13)

Medellín

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Colombia!

Colombia

The team made it so easy to find our guides! We felt welcomed, safe, and so excited to start our trip!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Thanks for everything, Greg. We got to see so many spots and stops and there were lots of good recommendations and specific instructions along the way to make everything go smoothly. Pam, our guide in Kyoto, was particularly helpful.

My husband and I recently visited Italy - our first trip to Rome and Florence. This is the second trip Marina has planned for us - and once again she did a fantastic job!! We were able to see everything you should on a first trip - plus a few extras!!! The sightseeing tours were informative and well-timed - including a golf cart overview of Rome upon arrival - with interesting and knowledgeable guides. The private and semi-private tours of the Vatican, the Colosseum (and the Roman Forum), and the highlights of Florence were exceptional. The food tours in Rome were terrific, and we were introduced to many of the local dishes.

We spent a morning in Pisa where we saw the Leaning Tower and also had a day trip to Tuscany which included a private tour of a winery and olive oil producer. The tour concluded with a very nice lunch looking out over the rolling hills and beautiful landscape of Tuscany. We tasted multiple wines and some olive oil. That afternoon our driver took us to the small town of Vinci - where Leonardo grew up. We saw his childhood home, the church where he was baptized and an interesting museum containing models of the machinery Leonardo drew in his books.

Our accommodations were wonderful - in Rome we stayed in a hotel across the street from Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore where Pope Francis is buried and our hotel in Florence stands on the land once belonging to Lorenzo the Magnificent and home to his art school where Michelangelo was trained.

Our thanks to Marina for again giving us a very memorable trip. Her attention to detail and efforts to accommodate our particular interests was superb!!!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Orto de' Medici

Florence

Loved this hotel and the historical significance of its location on the property where Lorenzo the Magnificent built the art school where Michelangelo received his training. The staff was helpful and our room was very comfortable. Great location!!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Doria Palace Boutique Hotel

Rome

Loved this hotel and the staff was wonderful. Conveniently located across from the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore (where Pope Francis is buried). Breakfast everyday was amazing and we enjoyed the rooftop bar in the evening.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

A Food Lover’s Rome: Campo de’ Fiori, Jewish Ghetto & Trastevere

Rome

Our guide, Lilly, was fantastic. The food was great and we enjoyed her company.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Rome Unearthed: Guided Walk of Colosseum & Ancient City

Rome

Terrific tour guide - very knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

From Fountains to Forums: Explore Rome by Golf Cart

Rome

Great introduction to Rome.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My daughter and I wanted to plan a trip to Scotland. We generally knew what we wanted to see but felt we needed some local expertise to help us plan and make sure we weren’t missing anything. Jane Davey through Kimkim was an absolute delight to work with. Her personal knowledge of Scotland and genuine interest in creating a memorable and personalized experience for us made for an outstanding mother/daughter adventure. Despite the online Kimkim model - there was a lot of personal interaction with Jane - including video calls with us to go over the details of our itinerary. She and her team built an online road book with every detail of our itinerary included that we were able to reference throughout the trip. Plus - she and her team were available by phone 24/7 to help with any questions.

We loved every aspect of our trip. Scotland is magical and her people are warm and welcoming. We especially enjoyed the historic city of Edinburgh and visiting the Isle of Skye and Lewis/Harris in the Hebrides. We saw gorgeous landscapes, hauntingly beautiful castle ruins, ancient landmarks and charming towns. We did a fair bit of driving - which was an adventure in itself since we weren’t used to left-side driving. We loved it all!

The trip was AMAZING! Every tour was so well organized and all the guides worked so hard to make sure the guests were safe, informed, and entertained. Jesse did a great job planning everything and did all the thinking for us so all we had to do was enjoy!

Hotel Reviews

Remota Patagonia Lodge

Puerto Natales

The hotel was beautiful and the food was delicious!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Boutique La Yegua Loca

Punta Arenas

This was such a unique spot. Cute rooms. Delicious food!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our Habitas Atacama

San Pedro de Atacama

The accommodations were very comfortable and the staff was so kind. The restaurant had delicious food and drinks.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Stargazing Experience

San Pedro de Atacama

Even though it was almost a full moon, we had an amazing experience! We got to see some really beautiful things. The people were so knowledgeable and friendly.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cejar Lagoon, Ojos del Salar & Tebenquiche

San Pedro de Atacama

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Superb trip planning and execution! Hotels were top notch - interesting properties and excellent food. All transfers were perfectly done. Communication clear and helpful.
Excursions and tours were excellent and professional.
Top notch service!

Hotel Reviews

Remota Patagonia Lodge

Puerto Natales

Interesting architecture. Great staff and food.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Quiet location. Spectacular views.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Boutique La Yegua Loca

Punta Arenas

Small property with something interesting in every corner. Each room is different- beautifully decorated with local items.

Authenticity & Character

Local character!!!

Location

Staff

Staff was super attentive and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Super comfortable beds. Heated towel racks. Wool slippers!!

Our Habitas Atacama

San Pedro de Atacama

Beautiful property and excellent staff. Food was very good - restaurant staff excellent. Great restful home base for Atacama desert experience.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Quiet area

Staff

Restaurant staff. Spa service.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full-Day Tour of Torres del Paine National Park

Patagonia

Great overview of the park. Guide was excellent.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Stargazing Experience

San Pedro de Atacama

Lots of great information and incredible sky views despite full moon.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Base Torres Hike

Patagonia

Amazing hike but at the top of my ability range. Stunning views. Guide was excellent.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This was the second time I used Kim Kim for travel. My first time when I went to Peru was beyond amazing and my specialist was absolutely incredible. I expected the same, but didn’t get that same level of service from Matt. Matt was a little harder to reach and slower with correspondence. It wasn’t bad, but I was expecting a different level, which is why I use a travel agency. Often times I will just do the travel itinerary myself so when I pay extra for an agency, I do expect a little bit more.

The excursions and the country of Guatemala more than made up for it though. Guatemala is absolutely beautiful and the people are so kind and amazing. The guides that I had unground were also incredible and very knowledgeable and went out of their way to make my trip a once in a lifetime.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel In & Out

Guateala

Not my favorite hotel but it did the trick. It didn’t smell great, but I did feel safe and there was a complementary breakfast in the morning. The best part about this is that it is two minutes from the airport.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Acatenango Campsite

Guatemala

Sleeping on top of volcano was absolutely amazing! Be prepared for it to be very cold and windy and I did not have self service. We got to the base camp around 1400 and there wasn’t a whole lot to do for the rest of the day until we went up to the top the following morning. But the guide and the experience and the beauty of the volcano was certainly an amazing experience and I would highly recommend. The tent was very basic but provided a flashlight inside and a sleeping bag and the sleeping bag was able to keep me warm when it was 38° outside.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Luis is awesome!!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa del Sol

antigua

Cute little hotel room in the center of the city. It has all the basic amenities that you need and is very clean. I also felt very safe as a single woman traveling in this hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Kayaking & Hiking Lake Atitlán

Guatemala

Joel was a fantastic tour, guide and kayaking for two hours on this beautiful lake was amazing! We went to San Marcos and jumped off the cliff and that was also an amazing experience! Joe was very flexible to make sure the day was how you wanted it. I would definitely recommend the excursion.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Joel is awesome!!!

Transport

Valley Ride - Bicycle Tour of Antigua's Villages, Farms, and Ruins

Antigua

This was an awesome activity and it was a very good workout. It’s a great way to see the beautiful country of Antigua!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunrise on Acatenango

Acatenango Volcano

Definitely the hardest part of the hike. We woke up at 3:30 AM to get to the top and that took us about an hour to climb. It was extremely cold and windy and we were not able to see the volcano, but I’m still so glad that we did it! It was definitely a great workout

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hike Acatenango Volcano & Camp Overnight

Guatemala

This was a challenging, but beautiful experience! I am an avid hiker and consider myself to be very fit, but my legs were still so sore for a few days afterwards! Luis was a phenomenal guide and the whole experience was just so amazing! This was the whole reason I went to Guatemala and I am so glad that I did this. It was a spiritual experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Luis was phenomenal!!

Transport