Kimkim Trip Reviews

i've traveled before with kimkim to Bali and had an amazing experience. Every hotel was beautiful and unique. Every tour guide was fabulous and our overall experience and itinerary were amazing. On this trip, it was mostly positive. but there were a few issues and disappointments. Our hotel in Hanoi was really nothing special, but our Ha Long Bay trip was extraordinary.
Unfortunately, the next day we were supposed to leave for the airport flying out at 2 PM. We were done at 11:30 and if they had sent a driver to take us directly to the airport, we would have made our flight and been there mid afternoon. However, Kien arranged it so that we would return toward Hanoi with the other passengers and then meet another driver to take us to the airport. I was concerned about making the flight when we were waiting for more than half an hour for our first driver to leave then when we got to a stop along the way I found out our driver had no idea about meeting this other driver and he laughed when I told him that our flight was at too. He said there's no way you're going to make it. Kien had promised us it would be no problem. He ended up booking us on a later flight and we had several hours wait in the airport. And instead of reaching. Hoi A mid afternoon and exploring the town. We ended up getting there after 8 PM when it was dark and we had no idea where to go. I told.Kien my frustrations, thinking he was with kimkim and not exotic voyages, the local tour company, and he proceeded to get defensive. He blamed it on our budget and that it would cost more to put a driver in a hotel and pick us up directly as opposed to doing it the way he arranged it. I told him that made little sense and was poor planning because he could've hired a local driver to how long Bay and they could've taken us directly. But instead, we ended up traveling for over eight hours that day, and it could have been avoided. He then made more excuses in broken English before apologizing in Ai perfect English. It felt insincere and like he didn't take accountability for the huge inconvenience he'd created for us. We loved our Cambodian tour guides as well out Namgkok guide but even she had to admit our hotel was in b a random area that was not attractive and far from b everything. The hotel itself was move. Our Phuket hotel was beautiful but far from everything. It would have been nice to know that so we could have decided if that worked for us. Overall, we had a great trip but there were some bumpy patches and it didn't compare to our previous experience with Kimkim.

Hotel Reviews

My Beach Resort

This is a gorgeous hotel with beautiful jews. It is far away from everything though.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pranakorn Heritage Hotel

Bangkok

The hotel was very nice but the area was far away from everything and not so nice.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tara Angkor Hotel

Siem Reap

This was a big, very nice hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lantana Boutique Hoi An Hotel

Hoi An

The location was nice on the river and the hotel was pleasant. There were prettier spots though on b the river where the boats go and it would have seemed magical.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Indochine Grand Cruise

Quang Ninh

This was an excellent experience and the highlight of our trip. The surroundings were breathtaking.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The staff was young and didn't seem to take their jobs seriously.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Solaria Tesori Hanoi

Nothing special here.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Phuket Elephant Sanctuary Afternoon Visit (Joining Activity)

Phuket

We loved this.

Quality of Experience

Quality of Experience

Food

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transport

Railway Market & Floating Market

Bangkok

So interesting and fun.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Wat Po & Enjoy Foot Massage

Bangkok

loved our guide v Annie and the foot massage was awesome!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Finding The Lost Angkor Temples - Lunch at Srah Srang Village House

Siem Reap

We loved our guide Set. The tour was interesting and our guide was adaptable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Apsara Dinner Show

Siem Reap

beautiful.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Romantic Dining On Bamboo Raft

Hoi An

Loved our guide and dining on the river view from his home. Loved his mom who took us on a separate boat tour.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hoi An Town Walking Tour & Floating Lantern Release

Hoi An

We enjoyed the tour v and the wishes on the river but didn't like our pushy guide. He made people mad and caused our rickshaw drivers to refuse us. He also took us to a crafts place beforehand where there was high pressure sales on embroidery item. Felt like a cheap tour at that point where the guides profit by visiting certain shops. He also used a friend of his on the boat tour and he took us v away from all the other boats releasing wishes, which would have been magical. We topped the driver and then I saw our guide take his payment to the man back.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Morning Cruise and Return to Hanoi

Ha Long Bay

We spent eight hours of travel to get to Hoi An because of poor planning by Kien and Exotic Voyages.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lantern Making D.I.Y

Hoi An

This was not a great experience. it was my ourselves in a non impressive location. it felt dirty and impersonal. We would have enjoyed a group experience in a nicer location.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

our guide for the day was not good.

Transport

I don't have the words to say how much I enjoyed our trip through New Zealand. Yes, I could have booked everything myself and saved a little money. But Kathrin booked us into wonderful hotels I'd never have considered, and got us on interesting side trips. We were on the Marlborough wine tasting and cruise when we got a call letting us know our 9:30 ferry to Wellington had been canceled. Kathrin quickly got us on an earlier trip with a different cruise line. That alone was worth the extra having an agent cost. We had to get up early, but that was so much better than missing a day in Wellington and our trip to Weta Workshop. Another couple on the cruise were supposed to take the same ferry. They got no notification at all, and the last we saw of them, were still trying to book a ferry. So a big thumbs up to Kathrin.

You don't have to just accept kimkim's suggested itinerary. We swapped a trip to Willowbank Animal Sanctury for the suggested whale watching, and booked a suburban B&B near Zealandia instead of staying at a downtown Wellington hotel.

Highlights of the trip were seeing glow worms in Te Anau, the native birds on Kapiti Island, Weta Workshop, Zealandia, and the Hobbiton movie set. We came home with nearly 6,000 photos. We tried to photograph as many of the native birds as possible.

Don't let the no photography rule scare you away from the Te Anau glow worm cave. You can't get a good photo on a tour anyway. Just enjoy the view.

Milford and Doubtful Sound were pretty, but we didn't see them at their best. We hit a freak rainless period, so the smaller waterfalls and mist weren't there. If you like wildlife, stop at the Te Anau bird sanctuary. The DOC removed some of the birds, but they still have takehe. We took the path along the water and saw several small song birds.

Dunedin was the one bad spot. We got back from the overnight Doubtful Sound Cruise (where they treat you like royalty and the food is delicious and plentiful) about 12:30. By the time we battled the traffic and got to our downtown hotel, it was too late to see anything. On the plus side, we had a fabulous room with a washer and dryer.
We skipped the Otago Peninsula in favor of the Moeraki boulders, arriving about 7 am. We got all the photos we wanted before busloads of tourists arrived and climbed all over the rocks.

Christchurch was lovely. We rode the tram to the Botanic Gardens, where I regreted not taking a zoom lens to photograph the birds. The next day we took the train to Arthur's Pass. The food on the train was excellent, and we enjoyed hiking.

On the way to Blenheim, we visited Willowbanks. It's small but well designed, with a nice assortment of animals. They have heritage farm animals and native New Zealand animals. We didn't manage to see a kea in Fiordland, but saw several there, as well as 3 kiwis.

We did the aforementioned wine tasting and cruise in Blenheim.

I thoroughly enjoyed visiting the Weta Workshop in Wellington. Our second day we took the cable car up and walked back through the gardens. Since we were there at 7:30, parking was no problem. We arrived at Zealandia by 9:30. It's a large predator free park in the middle of Wellington. We were struck by the lack of birdsong in New Zealand. Imported predators have nearly wiped out the birds. Zealandia was full of song.

Kapiti Island was even better. The birds were almost deafening, and because they live on a predator free island and are never hunted, they were fairly easy to photograph. We spent the morning in the older reforested area. In midafternoon we moved to the other side, where the lodge and cabins are located. We made the mistake of hiking the Boulder Beach trail. It had just reopened, so maybe we saw it at its worst. The first part is easy. Then you hit rocks and driftwood, and no trail markers. We finally turned around and went back.
The people who run the lodge are so kind. The food was delicious.
That night we did a red light walk and saw two kiwis. We slept in a glamping tent with a fabulous view.

By Tongariro Park we were wearing out. Luckily we stayed at the River Lodge, a beautiful old hose out in the country. Daniel, the landlord, must be the busiest man on earth. He's very outgoing and cheerful, and makes a great breakfast.
We had a nice view of Mt. Ruapehu from the balcony, and walked along the river photographing birds. We did a little hiking to see waterfalls.

We went to the two Waitomo caves that allow photography. One is a small limestone cave with nice formations. The other, Ruakuri has a little of everything; formations, glow worms, and plain walls.

Our last stop was Hobbiton. Depending on what you prefer, the light is better for photography in early morning. We opted for the nightly banquet, where you get 4.5 hours instead of 2.5, and get to see the buildings lit up at night. The food is great, but try to sit at the end of a table. Most of the food is placed there, and at least at our table, nobody passed it around. We had to stay an extra day to get banquet tickets, and it was so worth it. The perfect end to a perfect trip.

This was my first trip to Chile, and thanks to kimkim's assistance, the experience far exceeded my expectations. Lorena helped us with the planning, and especially our local guide in Puerto Natales—Jose—was truly outstanding. Every single day's itinerary was excellent; the nature, the people, and the food in Chile were all even more magnificent than I had imagined.

This was a great trip for us and our 13 year old grandson. Kim Kim was so helpful in planning everything and all the details were taken care of with no glitches. The local guides were absolutely amazing. Roy who took us around the park at Arenal was very friendly and knowledgeable. Our grandson said how much he learned from him. Socio was absolutely the best at Manuel Antonio NP. He was so quick to locate and point out animals in the trees and on the ground. Numerous other guides we met that day all said that Socio was the best guide around, and we agree. The events we booked (white water rafting with Waves and zip lining at Sky Adventures) were exciting and conducted in a professional manner. This is the 4th trip that Kim Kim has put together for us and we will definitely keep using them in the future. We have recommended them to numerous people (and think we should be getting a finders fee!).

Hotel Reviews

Hotel La Mariposa

Manuel Antonio

Fantastic view of the bay and beach below. Very caring staff. Clean and well appointed. Very nice swimming pool. The cat in residence was a nice touch as well as the young sloth that slept above the veranda. They were also very accommodating with us hanging out at the pool till it was time to leave for our late night flight back to the US.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arenal Springs Resort

La Fortuna

Beautiful facilities and grounds. Very attentive staff. Great view of the volcano. Excellent pools.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Catamaran Tour with Meal

Costa Rica

We had a nice calm day. Were able to see dolphins close to the boat. The staff was very helpful when learning that our grandson has celiac disease and can't have gluten. The snorkeling was good and the food was too,

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike

Costa Rica

This was one of the highlights of the trip. The park is filled with many different kinds of animals. We wouldn't have seen many without the expertise of Andres Martin Socio, our guide. I can't say enough positive things about him and what he shared with us. He showed us sloths, igauanas, bats, land crabs, numerous birds, lizards, orchids, and all sorts of plants. The park is beautiful, and if you can request him as a guide, absolutely do so.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sky Tram, Sky Trek & Sky Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

I was impressed by the thoroughness of the staff in getting us ready and checking the equipment at each transfer point. There are 7 zip lines, one that is a half mile in length, so it was exciting! Definitely something we would do again,

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Whitewater Rafting Sarapiqui River (Class III-IV)

Costa Rica

Great fun in excellent weather. Our boatman, Antonio was skilled and gave us a terrific experience. The water level was a little low so we scrapped over some rocks, but had a very fun time.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Volcano Hike & La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

The hike was very interesting. Roy was a great guide. The walk down to the base of the waterfall was memorable because the 515 steps down and back up contributed to sore legs the next couple of days, but totally worth it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My family chose to work with KimKim after my daughter and I had already spent hours planning our winter trip to Iceland. We had concerns about the unpredictable weather and driving. We had trouble visualizing what activities and sites we could manage each day. We second guessed our lodging choices because we wanted to see the Northern Lights. We had lots of other questions. Our consultants, Noga, Maria and Nick took the stress out of all of it. Our trip was perfect! Thanks to KimKim we were able to see so much more than we would have had we planned it ourselves. I highly recommend KimKim and will use them for travel in the future.

Hotel Reviews

Eyja Guldsmeden Hotel

Reykjavik

We loved this hotel! It is beautiful. The decor is fabulous. I would definitely stay here again. The view of the waterfront from our room was amazing. We delighted in watching the boat traffic and seeing the mountains off in the distance. Thy do offer parking behind the hotel. The lounge was lovely. The staff was friendly and helpful. They do not include breakfast with the room but the cost did not seem unreasonable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Nice area to walk around. Close to restaurants. Beautiful view of the waterfront.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room and bathroom was squeaky clean and super comfy. The shower was great!

Hotel Katla by Keahotels

Vík

We mostly enjoyed this hotel but I have some mixed feelings about it. The rooms were dated and dark but comfortable. The surroundings were beautiful. The staff at the desk were competent and efficient. They were not rude. There were a couple of things that seemed more difficult and frustrating than they needed to be but nothing that wasn't manageable. For instance, the lock on our door was difficult to engage. It took us a minute to lock and unlock our door. It's not something I think about normally during hotel stays. Entering and exiting is normally effortless. This was a bit of a hassle and I still remember. Hotel parking was ample and convenient. The breakfast buffet was wonderful. It offered a wide variety of delicious food. One of the buffet staff from Romania talked with us comfortably. We liked her a lot. We did glimpse the Aurora Borealis here. There is a wonderful sauna and a huge hot tub which accommodates a lot of people. We met other tourists while taking a soak.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to Vik but still far enough away to avoid light pollution so we were able to see the Northern Lights.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hótel Grímsborgir by Keahotels

Ásborgir

Great location in the Golden Circle near Selfoss. Our hotel room was lovely and comfortable. The staff was very friendly and offered to call us if the Auroa Borealis appeared. Not all hotels will offer this amenity.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful surroundings.

Location

Outside of Selfoss in the country but still convenient to the city.

Staff

The staff was very friendly and helpful. They were very happy to ring us if the Aurora Borealis appeared. The breakfast was terrific. Recommend!

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room and bathroom were very comfortable. The shower was perfect.

Hótel Fransiskus Stykkishólmi

Stykkishólmur

Beautiful view of the harbor and the ferry that travels to the western fjords from our room. The clerk at the desk was the friendliest and most helpful clerk we encountered. The Hotel Fransiskus Stykkisholmi was one of our favorite hotels in Iceland. We loved the town, the restaurants, the waterfront, and the people. If I go back to Iceland I will definitely return to Stykkisholmi and the Hotel Fransiskus. Also, the breakfast buffet was so tastly. The hotel used to be a convent for Catholic Sisters. We were told the hotel preserved the original Chapel per the request of the town's residents as it held a special place in their hearts and in their history.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to the harbor. Beautiful view. Within walking distance to restaurants and other notable places

Staff

The hotel clerk was very helpful and kind.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Great shower. The beds were very comfortable.

Reykjavik Natura - Berjaya Hotel

Reykjavík

Great view. The room was very comfortable. The beds were comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

We had a great view of the local runway. The furnishings were Scandinavian / Nordic.

Location

It offered great, convenient parking. It was not far from the city center. Very safe and quiet

Staff

So friendly, kind and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Super clean and awesome bathroom.

Activity Reviews

Explore Vík

Iceland

the landscape around Vik is exceptional. The town itself is very small and depends on tourism.

Quality of Experience

Glacier Ice Cave Experience

Iceland

My husband and daughter participated in the Glacier Ice Cave Experience and loved it. This was a highlight for them. They loved their Guide, the hike, the glacier, everything.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Geysir Geothermal Area

Golden Circle

Geysir was another one of my favorite places to visit. I've been told it is like Yellowstone Natl Park. I loved seeing the steam escape from the ground and the holes filled with boiling water. The big geysir was fun to watch. I thought it was a really cool place.

Quality of Experience

Gullfoss Waterfall

Golden Circle

Breathtaking. A must see. If you could only see 1 waterfall in Iceland I recommend Gullfoss.

Quality of Experience

Dyrhólaey Arch and Cliffs

Iceland

Beautiful and stunning.

Quality of Experience

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach

Iceland

Stunning. So interesting. We also saw a herd of reindeer on our way there. They like to graze in the SE part of the country in winter. I wasn't expecting to see them so it was a treat. Diamond Beach and Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon were amongst our favorite places.

Quality of Experience

The dramatic landscape and icebergs added to the quality of this experience.

Þingvellir National Park

Iceland

Absolutely stunning. I recommend paying the fee to see the historical exhibit located in the visitors' center. Having that background knowledge made the experience more meaningful and memorable.

Quality of Experience

Laugarás Lagoon - Lerki

Iceland

Clean, new and sparkly. A little boring in the winter. I would pass.

Geothermal Bakery Experience

Golden Circle

Interesting and quick activity demonstrating geothermal power.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Seljalandsfoss & Gljúfrabúi Waterfalls

Iceland

We saw these waterfalls from the car due to time restraints. They were mostly frozen but still very beautiful

Explore Stykkishólmur

Snæfellsnes Peninsula

Cute little city. I would go back. There is a ferry to the western fjords. We didn't see whales because it was winter.

Quality of Experience

Djúpalónssandur Black Sand Beach

Snæfellsnes Peninsula

Quality of Experience

Cliff Walk from Arnarstapi to Hellnar

Snæfellsnes Peninsula

We loved the Cliff Walk in Arnarstapi. The landscape and ocean views were so beautiful. We planned to hike the entire trail to Hellnar but it was snowing pretty hard. We decided not to. Crampons are recommended in the winter.

Quality of Experience

Explore Reykjavík

Reykjavík

Clean, friendly, easily walkable city. Just a really sweet place. I would go back again even in the winter. The snow made the city look very quaint.

Quality of Experience

Sky Lagoon Experience - Saman

Reykjavík

We went to 3 lagoons and the Sky Lagoon was our favorite. The showers and changing rooms were clean and included a swimsuit dryer and plastic bags to transport your damp suit to the car. It was soooo beautiful and magical. To enter the lagoon one walks down a ramp to enter the warm water and then swim between what looks like small fjords to enter the main pool. There were plenty of rock benches to sit on to lounge. The waterfall cascading into the pool added a special element. One long side of the lagoon overlooks the ocean. We had dramatic views of the clouds rolling in. We stayed here about 3 hours. It snowed giant, fluffy snowflakes, then it sleeted before snowing some more!!! It did not seem crowded. We ate a delicious lunch in their cafe.

Quality of Experience

We had an amazing time on our trip to Greece and still think about it often to this day. Everything was planned perfectly and we had little to worry or think about besides enjoying our time. All transportation was seamless and the hotels were excellent. Sienna did an absolute amazing job based on my initial guidance and we made very small changes to her first itinerary. 6/5 stars!

Only comments we have just to assist future travelers:
1. The travel from the ferry to the hotel in Sifnos is very short and probably does not require a car.
2. It is recommended to tip 10% on all tours, but with everything being booked through KimKim we had no idea what 10% was. Maybe just include a note for recommended amount on each tour/excursion?

Hotel Reviews

SanSal Boutique Hotel

Chania

Great location and friendly staff

Authenticity & Character

Location

I

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

NLH Monastiraki

Athens

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Manili Boutique Suites & Villas

Archanes

Very Nice

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

We were only here for one night, but it was special nonetheless

Cleanliness & Comfort

Liana Beach Hotel & Spa

Naxos

Could have stayed here for the rest of my life and been happy!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Perfect spot on the island. Our room was a short walk to the private part of the beach. We could just relax and be served right in the chairs.

Staff

Very helpful. Coordinated a rental car to be dropped off for us right at the hotel.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sifnos House

Sifnos

Amazing location with great staff!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Short walk from the ferry and a really great spot on the island.

Staff

Awesome! Very helpful!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Sailing Trip to Balos Beach & Gramvousa Island

Chania

Another great boat day and a perfect way to end the trip. We once again had the boat to ourselves and a great crew to make us feel special.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Samaria Gorge Hiking Day Trip

Chania

A lot of work, but some of the most amazing views Ive ever seen! Drive back down was very windy, so if you get carsick just be prepared.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traditional Cretan Cooking Experience

Chania

Made to felt like part of the family and had some truly amazing food made by us!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Culture Walk with Food Tastings & Tavern Meal

Naxos

Best food of the trip! The culture we saw was amazing as well. Each island truly has its own history.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Private Boat Outing to South Naxos

Naxos

So great! We had the boat to ourselves and the captain truly made us feel special. Much better than the crowded catamarans we saw around. We were able to go place to place much faster.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Hike in South Sifnos

Sifnos

Very nice. Would like to have had a little more time to hangout, but amazing nontheless.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Taste of Sifnos: Food, Culture & Village Life

Sifnos

Delicious! Felt like a local!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Self-Guided Lycabettus Hill Visit

Athens

Ancient Athens Acropolis & Mythology Walk

Athens

Very fun and interesting.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Everything was perfect. Everything was well planned. Everything was punctual. The hotels were beautiful. The guides were great. Could not have asked for a better vacation.

Shona did a great job setting us up with some fantastic private guides through all of our stops in Malaysia. We believe excellent private guides are the single most important factor in having a memorable trip.. Shona also
made sure that our hotel bookings were set up in time, that our tours covered the places that we most wanted to see, and that the trip went off almost completely seamlessly. Even when there was one small pick hiccup, she made sure that the issue was addressed and the local tour guide was notified of the issue. So, this is our second trip planned with Shona, and we would highly recommend her to anyone else who is planning a trip to Japan or any of the surrounding Asian countries, like Malaysia. Thank you, Shona!

Our 5 day trip through Morocco was a whirlwind, expertly executed by our driver Karim. Having never booked a formal tour before, we were very pleased with the balance of structure and free time this itinerary gave us. Having a driver safely covering long distances from Fes to the desert and ending in Marrakech was far more relaxing than attempting to do this on our own. We learned from our city guides in Fes and Marrakech and so much more through conversation with Karim that went above and beyond anything from a guidebook. We especially loved Fes, but the highlight was our night in the desert. The journey to the camp by camel, delicious dinner, and traditional music around a campfire was spectacular. The 5 day option is an excellent introduction to a wonderful country but we highly recommend building in time on either end to extend the experience as we did. Or, book a longer tour!

We were in New Zealand for a month -- a lot of moving parts -- and everything Monica and KimKim provided was flawless. I will recommend them highly.

Doris was quick, efficient, and friendly in all our interactions in planning and executing our trip to SE Asia. When there were changes during the trip, she was very accommodating and continued to be available to us as needed. Doris was quick in responding to our quesitons. The accommodations were lovely and the tour beat all our expectations. I would book with KimKim again and if Doris was our agent, it would make us happy.

Activity Review

Bangkok - Railway market - Floating market

Bangkok

This was unique for us and we thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I had reduced mobility and it was no trouble having help getting in and out of the boat. We highly recommend putting this on everyone's list.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very alert to shoppers' needs and directed the boat to the wants of the travelers

Transport

The trip was amazing and everything was great, thanks for your help before and during our trip.
We loved all the places and activities, the hotels were very confortable and had nice bathrooms.
Hope to travel back to Island soon!

We had a wonderful planning experience with Giorgia. She had great recommendations for things to do, not only for planned activities but also for things to do in our free time. She also listened to our wishes for some free time and the kinds of tours we were interested in. All the arranged tours went smoothly - we had information on where to meet our guides and tickets for events were included in an app for our phone. We did two food tours which were both excellent. The guides for both were lovely, knowledgeable and passionate about their city. We were fortunate that for both tours we were the only two with our guide so we had a very personal experience. We also did a Catacombs tour with Marco that was equally wonderful. Our hotel was conveniently located near the Piazza Navona so we could walk most everywhere.
We would definitely recommend the Kimkim service.

I can't recommend Kim Kim enough!! Khawla was an amazing trip planner! Our guides were all great and the patience that Khawla showed while I was trying to plan (and change) our trip was wonderful. She always responded quickly - even with the time delay and really listened and helped us to craft a custom vacation at a good price.

Hotel Reviews

Palais des Remparts

Essaouira

Good location and nice front desk staff.

Authenticity & Character

A very authentic riad with a proper interior courtyard.

Location

Easy to walk around in

Staff

Front desk staff was nice - restaurant (breakfast) didn't even say good morning and house keeping was non existent.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our bed had blood in it, the pillow cases and sheets had obviously not been washed and there was hair and toenails in the bathroom upon arrival.

Inara Desert Camp

Marrakech

Beautiful camp with a delicious restaurant. and lovely grounds.

Authenticity & Character

Loads of character but not authentic- just a fun desert camp exerience.

Location

Not the Sahara - don't look for sand dunes but still lovely

Staff

Friendliness and activities - henna tattoo, bread baking, and a fire show at night

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable bed - there is a problem with the wild dogs coming into camp and howling at night. Did not sleep well.

Riad Jnane Imlil

Imlil, Asni Marrakech

Loved the fireplace and the painted woodwork - great location and very clean. Delicious meals too!

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful decor - painted wood - ceilings were extrodinary!

Location

We hiked the Atlas mountains and used this hotel as our departure base for day hikes - it was a wonderful place to leave and to return too.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Double blankets were needed and the tea brought up to our room was a lovely welcome

Riad La Croix Berbère

Marrakech

Wonderful hamman experience, kind and attentive staff - very clean and comfortable. It also served a delicious breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

We could walk everywhere!

Staff

Super kind and attentive

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Agafay to Essaouira

Morocco

Our drive Ahkmed (sp? ) was delightful. He was always timely and cheerful even though he wasn't eating during Ramadan - I think I would get grumpy... We were never concerned about our safety while traveling with him and even fell asleep a few times in the van.

Quality of Experience

We skipped the experience to have more time in Essouria.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our drive Ahkmed (sp? ) was delightful. He was always timely and cheerful even though he wasn't eating during Ramadan - I think I would get grumpy... We were never concerned about our safety while traveling with him and even fell asleep a few times in the van.

Transport

It was so nice NOT having to drive.

Hiking in and around Imlil

Imlil

Beautiful! Amazing Atlas Mountain hike - steep, but doable and blew me away with its beauty.

Quality of Experience

Beautiful views and lunch with a local

Food

The best food on the trip (IMO) was eating at the local's house. Delicious and such a unique experience.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was personable - there was a bit of a language barrier (that's on us) but he safely navigated us up and down the mountain, even though I brought the wrong shoes - hiking boots would have been better than tennis shoes.

Transport

Nothing beats walking from your hotel

Marrakech to Imlil via Ourika

Morocco

If hiking to you is walking directly behind someone else, this is for you. This stop was a tourist trap.Not worth it in my opinion. Lunch by the river was an instagram photo op - not worth it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Nice, personable - he took us on another walk, away from the crowds and let us have a bit longer time in nature.

Transport

walking butt to butt up to the waterfalls that were just okay -

Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

Informative - I didn't feel like I could stop at the souks but it was a good time.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We got to walk everywhere.

I feel lucky to have been paired with Adrian because he was incredibly communicative from day one. He listened to what I wanted, but also provided suggestions that made sense for me, my travel style, and the duration of the trip. I also appreciated him checking in on me during the trip as well!

Of the walking tours booked, I much preferred the guide and style of the one in Dublin. It felt more personalized as he reached out to each individual/traveler group to understand their interests and provide appropriate recommendations. The Cliffs of Moher tour was stunning, but only because we got very lucky with the weather. Unfortunately, we only got just under an hour at the Cliffs, which was not enough time.

Lodging was always in a safe and easily accessible location.

I hope to visit Ireland again and work with Adrian again!

Activity Reviews

Aran Island and Cliffs of Moher cruise from Galway

Galway

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Galway Walking Tour

Galway

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Dublin Highlights and Hidden Gems Walking Tour

Dublin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Morocco is a remarkable country, and we had an amazing adventure. The costs were reasonable, the communications before the trip easy and complete, the guides were fantastic. Specially, I greatly appreciate the guidance from our driver and trip manager, Ayoub. He was much more than a great driver. Ayoub was a fountain of information about Morocco and Moroccans. It was wonderful getting to know him and to spend many hours in the van with him. We were lucky to have him as our guide from beginning to end. The local guides were also all quite amazing. Hisham in Marrakesh, Omar in Imlil, and Rasheed in Fes were all superb guides. They were all so intimately connected to their communities, excellent at communicating with us, and deep sources of knowledge and understanding about the history, culture, contemporary society, and places to visit. I consider them teachers as well as guides.

When I travel, I want to learn about the country and the people. But, of course, one can learn only so much about a country in a little more than a week. Nevertheless, through their guidance, Nihad, Ayoub, and our local guides provided an experience that gave me a much better understanding of Morocco and Moroccans. I hope to return in the future.

We just returned from an incredible 11-day journey throughout the United Kingdom, planned by our KimKim agent Rachel. Everything was laid out for us to the tee, from wonderful accommodations, timed tickets, rental cars, most transportation, and guidance along the way. Rachel was accessible, answered questions, and took our travel needs to heart. Knowing all was taken care of gave our family such peace of mind for the whole trip. Working with KimKim was an excellent experience, and we will certainly use their services again.

Doreen in Baguio was so knowledgeable about the culture and area. Andrew was such a helpful guide on the island hopping tours that we asked for him on our second day along with the same speedboat captain and crew. They know the best time to go to each island to limit crowds and had so much patience when we wanted to stay longer in some locations. Ed was the best driver to Baguio and ended up being our driver to the airport on our last day. We were so happy to see him again. Our last hotel in El Nido was the best. We would ask for a different hotel in Puerto Princessa if we return. Aziza was old and needs updating. But the staff were very pleasant. All of the logistics worked flawlessly.

Hotel Reviews

Microtel by Wyndham Baguio

Great staff. Room was comfortable. Restaurant on property was not that great.

Authenticity & Character

Well kept landscaping.

Location

Located in the city and within walking distance to dining.

Staff

Very pleasant and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms and lobby were very clean.

Aziza paradise hotel

Puerto Princesa

Older hotel. Needs updating. Didn't see any pool tables (shown in picture above) limited seating by the pool.

Authenticity & Character

Lobby was open and clean. Some lighting was not working and not enough fans for the lobby.

Location

Close to airport.

Staff

Everyone was very nice and accommodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room did not have pleasant smell. Roosters right by room crowed during the night and kept us awake.

El Nido Coco Resort

El Nido

By far the best resort of our trip. Lived having our own bungalow right across from the pool and restaurant.

Authenticity & Character

Grounds were full of flowers and plants.

Location

Quiet, away from the town and streets.

Staff

The restaurant staff were so friendly and accommodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The resort was spotless and very well maintained.

City Garden Grand Hotel

Manila

Expansive breakfast buffet and amazing rooftop view of Manila.

Authenticity & Character

Fit into the financial district.

Location

Rooftop view

Staff

Recognized us from our multiple stays and our request for morning mimosas.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were cleaned and lobby was very nice.

Activity Reviews

Private: El Nido Island Hopping Tour B: Caves & Islands

El Nido

Loved spending extra time at one of the beaches.

Quality of Experience

Food

Variety and quality

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Andrew and the captain and crew of Seanorita

Transport

Private: El Nido Island Hopping Tour A: Lagoons and Beaches

El Nido

Kayaking was awesome.

Quality of Experience

Food

Didn't expect so much food for the four of us!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Andrew was helpful. Especially with our older aunt and uncle getting in and out of the kayak.

Transport

Puerto Princesa Underground River Tour

Puerto Princesa

Amazing view and depth of the river caves.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Puerto Princesa: Firefly Watching Bay Cruise with Dinner

Puerto Princesa

Seeing the fireflies was a great. But, seeing the amount of stars in the sky was really the highlight of the tour.

Quality of Experience

The your guide and boost crew were knowledgeable and very helpful.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Baguio Whole Day Tour with Lunch (Private Tour)

Baguio

Doreen fit a lot into one day. She even took us to a place tourist don't typically go. It was extra special.

Quality of Experience

Food

We were tired and ate at the hotel. Which was just ok. We probably would have had better if we felt up to going out.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Doreen, our tour guide and Ed, our driver.

Transport

Ed was great. Safe and on time.

My son and I had an incredible experience in Japan, enjoying a wonderful mix of history, culture and food! From start to finish, the service from Ben was excellent -- well planned, clear, insightful responsive. We stayed in great places and were at ease as we traveled to four cities in seven days, never once concerned about our safety or our next step. Our local guides, Peter and Ursula were delightful. Their English was great, and we really enjoyed all of time with them. For a first time visit to Japan, I really can't imagine a better way to see and enjoy Japan. Well done!

As a solo traveler, I was a bit nervous about traveling to Thailand with all the transfers, not to mention that I had very little idea of what to do or see. Bella was outstanding. She was understanding, knowledgeable and extremely responsive at all times. On the ground, she checked in almost daily, sending reminders and confirming details. She put together an amazing itinerary including the Grand Palace in Bangkok, the elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai and the John Gray Sea Canoes in Phuket. This was a an experience of a lifetime and I cannot recommend Bella and Kimkim more highly.

One more thing—The pricing was very reasonable and, when I overpaid, Bella found the error and refunded the difference. I would have never known.

Hotel Reviews

Namaka Resort Kamala

Phuket

The hotel is very tired. Apparently, there are renovated rooms, but I didn’t have one. The breakfast buffet was good enough. The restaurant was very basic, though I did have a good green curry there. The Kamala area, where the hotel is located, is about an hour from the Old Town and it was difficult to get a Grab to pick me up. A taxi would have cost about 700 baht each way. In truth, the hotel was fine, so let’s no as you don’t expect 4.5/5 stars as it is currently rated.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The shower was great. Everything was just old and tired.

Na Nirand Romantic Boutique Resort

Very high end. The staff is extremely attentive and the amenities outstanding. Great location. You almost don’t want to leave to see the sites!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room and the grounds were immaculate.

Ariyasom Villa

Bangkok

Charming old world hotel in great location. The owner and staff could not be nicer.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Traditional Thai Massage at Fah Lanna Spa

Chiang Mai

Do it!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Elephant Nature Park Visit

Chiang Mai

A highlight of my visit to Thailand. The Save the Elephants reserve is the largest elephant rescue in Asia. It is an ethical reserve (be sure to check if you go elsewhere). It was amazing to be so close to these magnificent creatures, though you cannot touch them.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day Doi Suthep Temple Tour

Chiang Mai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Bangkok

The shopping is meh, but seeing the train pass through the market and experiencing th floating market is definitely worth the hour and a half ride from Bangkok.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Enjoy Food Tasting in Chinatown!

Bangkok

Interesting and an experience to observe. I am it an adventurous eater and did not feel comfortable eating any of the street food by that time in the evening.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Thailand (Bangkok temple tour)

Bangkok

So interesting. I learned a lot about Thailand. The Reclining Buddha, Standing Buddha and Emerald Buddha are sights to check off your bucket list.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was knowledgeable and nice. She ( and most of the guides) were hard to understand.

Transport

The vans were clean and had water. Kimkim and the local agents confirmed every pickup.