Kimkim Trip Reviews

I had an amazing time in Chile and Marcela was the one that set up the trip for me. She was extremely helpful and patient with me setting the trip up for my preferences even with the short notice I gave. I had a once in a lifetime trip filled with amazing memories. From seeing the most stars I've ever seen with my eyes to riding a hot air balloon in San Pedro. To having unbelievable views from a volcanic hot spring near Santiago. And exploring the entirety of Easter Island with very friendly locals with a crystal clear beach! This trip was fantastic from start to finish and was made to be completely worry free for me, every pick up drop off and destination was set up was organized so I didn't have worry about it. Shout out to all the people that helped organized the trip. Manuel and Alex in San Pedro with their very funny and friendly ways of talking and explaining everything. Sebastian in Santiago who was unbelievably knowledgeable and was able to give loads of information about Santiago and Valparaíso and knew the hidden spots for the best stores and restaurants. Luis a local of Easter Island who gave an entire history of the people of the island. Finally Marcela who set up everything for me and was even available to meet up in person, going above and beyond!

Activity Reviews

Cajón del Maipo & Hot Springs

Santiago

If you are in Santiago this is one of the things you have to do. The views to and from the location itself are breath taking, let alone that you can see them while sitting in a a relaxing hot spring. There are seven pools with varying temperatures so you don't need to worry about any of them being too hot or cold.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Atacama Ballooning - Experience another world

San Pedro de Atacama

Never done a hot air balloon but seeing it as an option I had to try it. Even with having a bit of a love/hate relationship with heights it was an unbelievable experience. For anyone wondering the basket is very secure and solid feeling if you have any fear and it even has seats you can sit down in if you don't want to stand. The views and descriptions were very informative and the guide even let us control the fire for a little bit!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Stargazing Experience

San Pedro de Atacama

This was one of the things I especially wanted to do. Chile has a lot of other countries observatories in it because of how clear the sky is and the topography is perfect for it. Boy was I not disappointed being able to see the most stars i'll probably ever see with the naked eye. The guide was very informative and gave very cool descriptions and explanations of the various nebulas and stars we were seeing. It was really cool seeing Jupiter as well with its red stripes!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

emily was wonderful. made sure i had all the information in a timely fashion and kept me on task during the entire time. events were planned perfectly and all went on with no issues. a great trip!

Activity Review

Backroads of Cascais & Sintra on E-Bike

Cascais

this is a true bike ride. even with an e- bike- be prepared to work, navigate some interesting terrain and gates- and have the time of your life. it's a long trip with lots of hills, traffic and animals. not for the faint of heart. a great ride!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

more communication

Transport

picked up at hotel

Adrian is an excellent tour guide to work with, he is very knowledgeable of his country and shows his pride and love for Ireland through his meticulous and carefully curated work! He was very accommodating and was able to answer all of our questions (we had a lot of questions lol) to achieve our dream of doing a backpacking trip cycling County Claire, and enjoy everything this beautiful country has to offer. He also had great restaurant recommendations that were accommodating to various dietary needs!

We would certainly recommend him for anyone who wants to travel to Ireland and would love to work with him again in the future!!

Hotel Reviews

Cullinan's Guesthouse

Doolin

Kinvara Guesthouse

Kinvarra

Hazelwood Lodge

Ballyvaughan

The rooms were very well decorated and very clean. The breakfast offered were excellent, and the owners were super friendly and accommodating with helping us store our bicycles safely for our cycling trip. Would highly recommend staying here if you are visiting Ballyvaughan!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Westwinds B&B Guesthouse

Galway

This was a lovely bed-and-breakfast and the owner Shauna was very helpful with answering questions and even gave us great advice about where to eat and visit while we spent a few days in Galway. The breakfasts were excellent and there were many options to accommodate for gluten-free or dairy-free needs. Furthermore, the rooms were very clean the queen Neighbourhood of salt Hill in Galway is certainly a sight to see and would recommend this to anyone who wants to visit Galway!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Welcome to Doolin

Doolin

What to do in Ballyvaughan!

Ballyvaughan

Bus from Galway Bus Station to Shannon Airport

Ireland

Cliffs of Moher Visitor Center tickets

Ireland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bike Rental From Galway

Galway

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walk with Wolfhounds in Lisdoonvarna

Ireland

This experience with walking with Irish wolf hounds at the cliffs of Dune was very unique and something I will never forget! The owners Alan and Lisa were very friendly and knowledgeable of the history of the cliffs and it was interesting and educational to listen to. The dogs they brought were very friendly, majestic, and well-behaved and were certainly popular with everyone at the park lol (lots of pictures from other people, you feel like a celebrity!). I would highly recommend this to anyone who loves dogs and wants to learn more about the captivating history of the Irish Wolfhound and their importance in Ireland’s history!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I had a wonderful time on our trip. Alexia delivered the perfect combination of excursions and down time so that my daughter an I could explore on our own. Our Via Ferrata experience was beautiful and challenging and a definite highlight of our trip. The E bike tour of Marseille is a must and the guide was very knowledgeable and friendly, switching easily between French and English. Our only regret is that we could not stay longer! We look forward to visiting France and using Alexia again!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Florence Nice

Nice

This hotel was perfect for our stay in Nice. It was close to the old city and the waterfront and had a great petit dejunier.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa Ortega

Marseille

This little bed and breakfast is a gem. My room was sparkling clean and the bathroom was updated. The breakfast was good and had a typical selection. The owner of the hotel was as nice as she could be and was very helpful giving me directions and suggestions for my time in Marseille.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It is close to the train station which is perfect but is a slight hike through a few sketchy streets to the waterfront.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Riviera Discovery Cruise: Mala Cave to Villefranche

Nice

Aperitif Cruise with Champagne

Paris

This was a very crowded cruise and all drinks must be paid for. From the description it made it sound like there was a free drink but there was no. That said, it is always nice to take a trip along the Seine and this was a small thing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Via Ferrata Experience

France

Jordi our guide was calm and steady. He was very knowledgeable and comfortable in his guiding and made our experience wonderful. He always knew we could do it! This is a beautiful view and trip in nature for the day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Morning food and wine tour

France

Nadia, our guide, was lovely. She was so knowledgeable and made sure that we sampled every food that we were interested in. She was very tuned in to our personal needs ( need a coffee, or bathroom break) and we never felt rushed or that we were getting a "canned" experience. It felt fresh and new, just for us.

Quality of Experience

Food

Everywhere we went we had samples!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

City Excursion by E-Bike

Marseille

What a great family and cafe. The owner and his wife Helen were so friendly and helpful during my stay.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an amazing experience planning our Costa Rica trip with KimKim, and the trip itself was absolutely amazing! As far as planning, KimKim responded promptly to any questions and did an amazing job planning our destinations and trip activities based on what we were looking for. All transports to our hotels and planned activities went extremely smoothly, without any hiccups. We traveled to 3 different locations in Costa Rica: San Jose, La Fortuna, and Monteverde. Our favorite destination was La Fortuna. We spend the most time there (3 nights), and I'm so glad we did! The Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs resort was STUNNING and an amazing place to stay- I would definitely stay there again. We had a beautiful view of the Arenal volcano outside of our room, and the resort itself was beautiful- lots of amazing plants and wildlife. We sat outside very morning and enjoyed watching all the birds (the first morning a Toucan visited us!). A sloth also lived in a tree next door to our accommodation. The resort has two pools and several hot springs. It never felt crowded- it was very peaceful and relaxing when we had some down time. All of the activites we did on our trip were amazing. My personal favorite was the Coffee with a Sloth tour we did at the Toucan Rescue Center in San Jose. We had a private tour, got to meet 7 sloths, and we helped make their lunches and got to watch them eat! It was a once-in-a-lifetme, incredible experience we will never forget. Part of our travel from La Fortuna to Monteverde included a boat ride on the lake (I can't remember the name of the lake). This might have been my favorite part of the trip. The views were surreal- it was absolutely beautiful. Another memorable excursion was a hike to the La Fortuna Waterfall, where we hiked down to the waterful and swam at the fall. The hanging bridges tour in La Fortuna was also amazing- we spent a couple hours hiking through the lush rainforest and the guide was very knowledgeable and spotted some cool wildlife. We also did a river safari float near La Fortuna- we booked this one on our own sort of last-minute, but I highly recommend this experience. We saw a crocodile and a lot of howler monkeys. We had a short time in Monteverde, and this was the end of our trip so we were quite exhausted. We did a hike in the Santa Elena cloud forest, which was beautiful. The town of Santa Elana was very cute, with lots of shops and restaurants. The only thing I would have changed, is I honestly could have stayed in La Fortuna for the entire 2nd half of the trip- mainly because we loved the resort, and there are plenty of activities in that area. Overall, the trip was amazing, and we will defiitely be contacting KimKim for our next adventure.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel & Spa Poco a Poco

Monteverde

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very close to all the shops and restaurants

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

Absolutely stunning hotel. The grounds are lush and beautiful- so many plants and wildlife in the resort. Stunning views of the Arenal volcano. It never felt crowded. The pools and hot springs were fantastic, and the wait staff extremely friendly. Was also very clean. Wished we could have stayed longer!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Not close to downtown or any of the activities we did, but it was easy to get a taxi.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grano de Oro Hotel

San José

The hotel was very nice, quaint and small. They had really good food at their restaurant. Giving 4 stars only because we wished they had a pool. Overall great experience here. Great location- walking distance to downtown and close to many restaurants and shops.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve Guided Hike

Monteverde

The cloud forest was beautiful. We spent a lot of time waiting for Quetzal birds in a couple different spots, and when we were hiking, we moved a little fast. Would have liked to see a little more wildlife- our guide was very focused on finding the Quetzal birds. Still a beautiful hike with stunning scenery.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Hanging Bridges Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

Stunning scenery, saw and learned a lot about the wildlife. Highly recommend!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Self-Guided Hike to La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

The waterfall was beautiful... just be prepared to walk up and down a LOT of stairs. Definitely worth it.

Quality of Experience

Coffee with a Sloth at Toucan Rescue Center

San José

We had a private tour, and we got to meet the 7 sloths that live at the sanctuary. We also got to help make them lunch and watched them all eat. It was an incredible experience I will never forget!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The only complaint is there was too much commute time on this trip.

I cannot imagine a better series of memorable adventures than the ones planned for us by KimKim/France by Locals and our consultant Amandine ... nor can I imagine that I could have had the same results trying to plan on my own. I selected the town of St Jean PIed de Port just based on having seen a Rick Steves video about it, but their choice of Hotel des Pyrenees was ideally located, exceptionally appointed and comfortable, and featured a Michelin Guide restaurant where, on a rainy night, we enjoyed the best meal of our lives as the only guests. Yannick was our maitre'd, our waiter for dinner and breakfasts, and our guide to travel around the area. When we arrived on Saturday night, Sondrien helped us to find the parking garage and came out in the rain to assist with luggage. The hotel looks like a place Cervantes might have visited, but the rooms have all been redone and are modern, spacious and comfortable with wonderful baths.

I have a vivid imagination, but when I asked for a Bordeaux vineyard experience I could not have adequately envisioned the magical medieval town of St. Emilion, rising up in the middle of vineyards dotted with magnificent chateaux, nor that we would be staying in a former chateau turned comfortable and welcoming B&B LaGomerie, with host Jean-Francois and Jessica and the sweet beagle Paco to greet us and see to our every comfort. From there we walked through newly blooming vineyards to the town, enjoyed two fantastic dinners in restaurants there, but the real highlight was our 5-hour e-bike tour of the vineyards and wine tasting at two chateaux with Rustic Vines. Our guide, Pauline, a trained sommelier, became a friend as she led us on a sunny day I hope I'll never forget and tutored us in everything from vines to wines, answering our thousand questions with patience and charm. The picnic under the trees at Chateau Moncet was a pinnacle experience.

Then, Brittany! The whole point of returning to France was to see St. Malo and Mont St-Michele, and Amandine wisely lodged us in the magnificent Royal Emeraude Hotel in Dinard, just across the bay from St. Malo. We were steps to the sandy ocean beach, the fantastic shops, the market and restaurants, and a quick drive to St. Malo (or you can take a boat across). We loved St Malo, but agreed that Dinard was the better choice for exploring the region, and I would not have known that, but Amandine did.

I read the reviews from people who thought it was expensive to use local experts, but I disagree. I would have used up hours exploring the plethora of choices on the internet, and I would never have known to select the locations, or the properties, that made for a perfect experience. And once we landed we had support every step of the way, via text, whatsapp, and phone (and I used all 3). I had one chance to see the south and west of France, and I am so glad I found KimKim, and they found France by Locals. Merci beau coup, Amandine! A bientot!

Activity Review

Half-day wine and bike guided tour

Saint Emilion

Our visit to Japan was amazing from beginning to end. Our guides Nao and Yuki were wonderful. Nao was so happy for us to view Mt. Fuji and the beautiful cherry trees which were in peak form that day. She was happy to bring us shopping for some specific things and picked a great lunch spot on our Mt. Fuji day.
Yuki was especially concerned with us understanding him and even brought visual aids with him. He was constantly concerned with our comfort and happiness. He made time for us to stop for ice cream and shopping, brought us to my favorite lunch spot with the conveyor belts delivering our food and was very patient with our group of 8 women. He was a great translator during our tie dye experience and seemed to really enjoy showing us around.
We loved the first and last hotels, as they were a bit smaller and gave more personal service. The Kyoto Tokyu Hotel was very nice but maybe a little big and touristy for my liking, although they had a lovely gift shop.
I enjoyed Tokyo and Osaka as cities and also the surrounding areas. In Kyoto, maybe because of where we stayed I did not get a good feel for the city itself. However, we loved the tea ceremony, day in Miyama and the Philosopher’s Path, which we did from Kyoto.
All of our activities were so well planned and we enjoyed them all. Thanks to Sandy for the arrangements and for including everything we asked for.
Japan was so clean and beautiful. The people we met were gentle and polite. The food was delicious. The public transportation was easy to navigate. The bullet train was clean and comfortable. We even got lucky with the weather. Our only rain was during a travel day and our day at Mt. Fuji was sunny and clear.
Thank you, Sandy, for putting together a trip that I will remember fondly forever.
I will go to Kim.Kim again when planning my next adventure.
Marianne O’Shaughnessy

Hotel Reviews

The Royal Park Canvas Osaka Kitahama

I loved the size and location of this hotel. It was next to the subway stop and a short walk to the river.

Authenticity & Character

Breakfast was beautiful and delicious.

Location

Loved jumping on the subway and walking along the river.

Staff

Very friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was clean but a bit cramped for two of us.

Kyoto Tokyu Hotel

Kyoto

This hotel was a bit big for my liking. Too many big tour busses, a line up for breakfast in the morning and locates on a busy street. However, it was clean and beautiful inside and the gift shop is lovely.

Authenticity & Character

A bit too big and commercial

Location

I would have like to be in a quieter area where I could stroll to shopping and food.

Staff

Staff was friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were a bit cramped for 2 people but very clean. I didn’t love the step up to the bathroom.

Asakusa View Hotel Annex Rokku

Tokyo

The Asakusa View Hotel Annex was wonderful. I think being in the Annex and not in the larger hotel across the street was good. I like the feel of a boutique hotel and I got it here. The food was good, the staff friendly and helpful and the rooms were roomy and made the most out of the space. 2 of us were very comfortable here.

Authenticity & Character

The breakfast included traditional Japanese foods and the geisha show in the evening was enjoyable.

Location

On a pedestrian mall and easy to walk and shop any time of day.

Staff

The staff was friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were spotless and they made the best use of space so 2 people were very comfortable.

Activity Reviews

Learn the Secrets Behind Sushi in a Cooking Class

Osaka

The ladies teaching us today were wonderful. We really got to experience the art of making sushi.

Quality of Experience

Teachers were great! The kitchen was clean and organized.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

They were great teachers, organized and patient.

Transport

We took taxis here today and did well.

Osaka-Nara day trip with Osaka Castle

Osaka

I loved visiting the Nara deer park, the temple with the large Buddha as well as Osaka castle. However, the museum at Osaka castle was a bit overwhelming and there wasn’t time to read all the information. I enjoyed our stop for Ramen for lunch and our stop later for ice cream and shopping. We stopped at an observation tower late in the day and I could have skipped that. I know Yuki was doing his best to show us everything.

Quality of Experience

Yuki was forever trying to make us happy

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Yuki and Mr. Li were wonderful

Transport

Vehicle was comfortable and our driver great.

Full Day Miyama Village Tour From Kyoto

Japan

Our day began with a tie dying activity on our way into Mijama. It was fun learning about the indigo ink that is popular in the region. Then touring the village with the thatched roofs and visiting their small museums was very interesting.

Quality of Experience

Our tie dying activity!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Yuki was fun and informative, as always.

Transport

Driver was always there when we needed him.

Fushimi Inari Taisha and Kinkakuji Temple

Kyoto

This temple area in the city was beautiful. Mao taught us how to purify ourselves to approach the temple and hue to bow in front of the temple. It was interesting learning about the religions of Japan.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Bamboo Grove and Monkey Park Tour

Kyoto

Loved our walk around the monkey park. It was beautiful and the monkeys were sweet. I enjoyed feeding them and seeing the babies.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was great and so was our driver. The staff at the park were all very friendly.

Transport

Our driver was always there when we needed him

Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

Don’t miss this experience! It was so much fun picking out a kimono to wear and getting dressed up. The tea ceremony was wonderful, we learned a lot and had a great time.

Quality of Experience

The staff was great and the girl leading our ceremony was wonderful

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We were on our own today-took a taxi to the spot, had a little difficulty getting there. The staff at the tea ceremony was wonderful.

Transport

Had a hard time communicating with the taxi driver but it all worked out.

Full Day Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi Tour with Onsen experience

Tokyo

Knowing that Mt.Fuji isn’t always visible made our day so much more spectacular. We had a clear view of the mountain all day. To add to it, the cherry blossoms were at their best the day we visited. It was a magnificent day!

Quality of Experience

Our guide Nao did a great job. We made the decision not to climb higher on the path because it would be another 2 hours. I think it was a great decision as we had a wonderful view from where we were.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was wonderful today

Transport

Our driver was always there when we needed him.

Asakusa Sumo Club: Sumo Show Admission with Chankonabe in Tokyo

Tokyo

This was a fun activity. A great way to spend lunchtime. Probably the most touristy thing we did but I’m glad we included it.

Quality of Experience

The MC was knowledgeable and spoke both English and Japanese perfectly. The wrestlers were entertaining and fun to watch.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chase Cherry Blossom with Meiji Jingu in Tokyo

Tokyo

The wooded area we walked through was beautiful and I enjoyed the temple and museum.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The planning and service provided by Paola was excellent. She got us a fantastic trip and assisted during the trip with additional information and suggestions. She did a great job with the tours, pick ups, transportation, etc.
All of our guides on the trip were very good but Milton in Quito was excellent; he provided history , stories and insights to our tour.

Hotel Reviews

Holiday Inn Quito Airport, an IHG Hotel

Tababela

Nice rooms, pool, ping pong, fitness center, restaurant and bar.

Authenticity & Character

Location

near the airport and has a shuttle to the airport.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Volcano

Puerto Villamil

Of all the hotels on our trip this was the least favorite. It was clean and had a good breakfast. The windows in the room would rattle or open when the door to the room was opened or closed. We had to be careful to keep the wasps out of the room when we entered and existed the room. Compared to the other hotels on the trip we did not have a balcony but we did have a view of the beach and ocean.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Acacia Galápagos Boutique Hotel

Puerto Ayora

Very nice little hotel with a pool just off of the main road. Room was large. Staff was very nice. There is construction going on all around this hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Plaza Luna Suites

Puerto Ayora

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right in the heart of things

Staff

Wonderful staff, very accomadating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Go Quito Hotel

Quito

Very nice. Could have been a little closer to old town area.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Quito City Tour - Middle of the World

Quito

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Had the trip ended before the last few days our rating would be higher. While we learned early on in our travels that we were often overscheduled for our taste, we consign some of that fact to our inexperience as travelers on such a complicated and lengthy itinerary. But toward he end, scheduling of trains and advice about luggage that produced a very compressed day in beautiful Hakone, and that cut short our stay at a ryokan that kept us from fully enjoying what we'd paid handsomely for, really hurt our experience. That same scheduling issue rushed us to Tokyo so that we could sit around with nothing to do while we waited for our hotel room to become available. As noted, we're not experienced enough travelers to have picked up on these shortcomings before they happened but, to Cory's credit, in the times when we did request revisions to other trip plans she responded quickly and effectively.

I also give her credit for easing the concerns I felt about having received a diagnosis of gluten intolerance in the weeks before the trip began. Cory was very helpful in finding places that could accommodate my restrictions--something that isn't necessarily easy in Japan given the predominance in its cuisine of gluten-containing soy sauce.

All in, while we had a great time overall in lovely Japan we were disappointed by plans made toward the end of the trip that wasted our money and hurt our experience in what should have been a highlight of the experience.

Chris did a wonderful job planning our Greece vacation, as well as ensuring our trip was going as planned while we were enjoying it! We were in good hands and would recommend Chris for future trips!

Hotel Reviews

Blue Dolphins Hotels & Villas

Firostefani, Santorini

The views the views the views!! The room was great with the master bed facing out to the beautiful views! The staff was very friendly and the breakfast brought to your room was phenomenal!

Authenticity & Character

The hotel was exactly the feel I was looking for!

Location

Walkable to town and food, right on the cliff with amazing views

Staff

Very helpful and friendly!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Princess of Naxos

Naxos

The staff were very friendly and accommodating - they wanted to make sure we had a good trip and offered great suggestions and help if needed.

Authenticity & Character

Location

15-20 min walk to town, but right on the beach

Staff

Very helpful and engaging! Offered great suggestions for what to do including renting cars, driver service and booking tours.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Achilleas Hotel

Athens

It was within walking distance to all of the Athens adventures, shopping and food that we wanted.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Walkable to all the things we wanted to do - food, tours and shopping

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

All Time Classic Santorini

Santorini

I felt like we got to see so much on this tour!

Quality of Experience

Such a variety - different beaches, great views, amazing food adventure!

Food

Exceptional!!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Both our driver and guide were just as wonderful on day 2!

Transport

Perfect

We Guide You In The Past

Santorini

This was so cool and I knew nothing about this prior to coming! Our guide knew lots of great details

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Both the driver and guide were great!!

Transport

Perfect for our family

Naxos Old Town, Castle & Portara Sunset Tour

Naxos

I loved this tour because there was so much more to the city than I would have realized on my own! It was great to learn the history of the town and see the different architecture and history.

Quality of Experience

Tour guide was great and very knowledgeable

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was very friendly and knowledgeable

Transport

This was a walking tour and felt very doable even for my two kids - ages 6 &7

Naxos Villages Food Tour

Naxos

I loved that this tour went inland to the small villages, we got to see so much more than the “tourist” perspective, as well as meet great people and try delicious food!

Quality of Experience

Felt very authentic from the locations we went to, the information we were provided, the people we met and the food we ate.

Food

So great to try so many delicious things! A great variety!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver and guide were both great!

Transport

The transport van was perfect

Mythology for Families

Athens

Our tour guide was wonderful - she was so engaging with the kids and brought different activities for them to do too!

Quality of Experience

The tour guide! She was knowledgeable and very kid / cat friendly!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Best part was our guide

We had a wonderful time in Vietnam and will definitely be back to explore more of the beautiful country! Stephen Long was very attentive and made sure that everything was perfect. All of our tour guides were knowledgeable and professional & our drivers were prompt and courteous. Thank you for making our trip one that we will never forget!

Hotel Reviews

The Saga Hotel Hoi An

Hoi An

Staff was very attentive and offered to let us use the showers in the spa when he had to check out 7 hours before being picked up for our flight. We were able to spend the day at the beach.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

White Lotus Hue Hotel

Hue

This is a beautiful hotel in a great location

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

They do a great job with our laundry

Cleanliness & Comfort

Milalux Cruise

Ha Long

Authenticity & Character

I’m

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our boat was a bit run down. The a/c in our room was freezing (even when we turned it up) and made a loud noise when it kicked on

Hanoi Allure Hotel

They were very kind to hold our luggage when we checked out and were gone overnight on a Ha Long Bay cruise

Authenticity & Character

Location

We walked everywhere

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Onboarding Mila Cruise - Ha Long Bay

Ha Long Bay

I think this is just for the drive from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay.Very comfortable transportation

Quality of Experience

Food

There was no food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanoi Half Day History & Food Tour

Hanoi

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Both of our guides were good. One we were with shortly and was a more focused day of getting to many places. He did a good job of coming up with some additional day of options and a great lunch rec. Young we had for 4 days and we really liked her. She was a bit soft spoken /quiet but very nice and knowledgeable and we found if we asked lots of questions we got lots of history and current info about not only the places she took us but also modern Japan life. Really enhanced our trip to learn about the history, shrines and temples. Getting around by train /bus was great for us and she had to work harder than if we had driver to navigate public transport for sure. Hotels were all nice. It was great. The only note is to warn guides we will want lots of restaurant recs (as where we’ll be is not always areas they’ve eaten. We had good luck using tablelog and AI ) and the food at the Hakone onsen was not very good. But we went out for great meals nearby.

Our trip to Torres del Paine/Puerto Natales was spectacular! It was a VERY active trip, which is what we were looking for! It was fun to see our guides underestimate us (49 and 56 year old nurses!)!

Our planner was very responsive and helpful in picking activities that suited us! Trekking poles were provided for all the hikes which was great not to have to pack any.

We were a little disappointed that our Condor watching involved no Condors. Our guide had let us know that the time of year for them was not unusual to not see them. Such information would have been appreciated ahead of time. Nonetheless it was a beautiful day and our guide took spectacular pictures for us on a very vertical hike! He also brought tea and granola bars for a break at the summit. If your itinerary states that you will be getting a meal, be sure to verify what it will be.

We wanted to do the Torres Base hike and also the ferry on Pehoe Lake, which was a lot to do in one day, but our planners at Kim Kim made sure they worked it out for us. We left our hotel in Puerto Natales at 5am, snoozed during the two hour ride to the park and hiked the first section mostly in the dark with headlamps. The sunrise was a spectacular unexpected benefit of leaving so early. The hike was heart rate raising but very doable. Hiking boots, trekking poles, rain gear, water and layers are essential. We had rain, sleet, snow and sunshine throughout the day. I am dairy free and was glad to pack some dairy free snacks but options are available at the midpoint central Refugio too. Due to cloudy conditions we couldn’t see the peaks clearly so our guide recommended not to hike the last section and we did the alternative lookout instead because of our time crunch, but honestly we could have made it. Which brings us to our guide - he said he was going to the “natures bathroom” often because he was on blood pressure medication which caused this need. We actually figured out he was sneaking off to vape. I suspect he wanted to finish the hike to vape at the end because he was in a huge rush to get back and we had quite a bit of time to spare. He was not nearly as informative nor helpful as the guide we had our first day (Paulo Angel). We mentioned several times we wished he had been with us. Nonetheless, we had a spectacular day and Kim Kim did a great job planning the timing for us.

The ferry to Lake Pehoe provides amazing views, especially on a sunny day. The Refugio Grande was much better than we expected - the meals were buffet style and we had many options that were very well prepared!!

We very much enjoyed the Glacier Grey hike that we did on our own. It allowed for us to speak freely between ourselves, go at our own pace and stop for pictures and lunch (arranged by Kim Kim and provided by the Refugio) when we wanted. Relaxing at the Refugio before going back to PN via the ferry and a bus was easy and comfortable. Information from Kim Kim on the bus departure timing was incorrect, probably because of being the shoulder season, but I feel this could have been anticipated and communicated better. A taxi from the bus terminal to our hotel was $5ish. Kimkim arranged for our luggage to be transferred to our second hotel which was seamless! Hotel Vandaval was fantastic and very responsive.

After two days of active hiking we had a day of a boat ride to Serrano glacier and an estancia for lunch. It was a relaxing day, which was needed but it wasn’t a highlight of the trip.

The last day was THE BEST. As we were pretty tired from all our activity we considered skipping it and were so glad we didn’t!! Vincenzo was a top notch top tier tour guide - friendly, immensely knowledgeable and extremely positive and patient. It was a very gusty and windy day and his tips, attitude and assistance was the difference between a good day and an unforgettable one! To say we had fun would be an extreme understatement! He stopped on the way to Puerto Prat when we wanted to see the birds along the way or to take pictures of the breathtaking scenery. I cannot say enough good things about this young man!!! After our kayaking around the fjords we had lunch with a very sweet woman, Alicia, from Puerto Prat in her home, which we had no idea we were going to do - which was an extremely pleasant surprise! The hospitality of this day well represented Pantagonia hospitality and was the crown jewel of our trip!!!

All in all, our trip was well planned and the execution was great. Travelers to Pantagonia should be aware of the weather, rugged conditions and remoteness of Puerto Natales - which we were. With such an attitude, you are pleasantly surprised with the comforts and hospitality that do pop up.

A note about diet concerns: I have a severe intolerance to milk products and communicated this to KimKim. They did the best they could to communicate this need to all the vendors. I was amazed at the availability of vegan protein bars and food products in the park, at restaurants in town and at stores. Our favorite: Patagonia Dulce, which has amazing chocolate, coffees and pastries, as well as sandwiches. Soy and almond milk was available for all drinks.

We can’t wait to come back with our spouses on another trip!

Our Japan tour had something for everyone. We especially enjoyed the smaller places- Hakone, Koyasan and Nara. Food was excellent, kids stayed interested and we decided before we had even left that we will need to go back!

Hotel Reviews

Asakusa View Hotel Annex Rokku

Tokyo

Great location and big breakfast buffet.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right near station , shrine and restaurants in Asakusa

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

MIMARU Osaka Shinsaibashi West

Good for families, otherwise quite basic

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mimaru Kyoto Station

Kyoto

Close to Kyoto station. Fairly basic.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Not near many sights, but close to station.

Staff

Lo

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mt. Koya temple stay

Koyasan

Authentic Japanese temple stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to the center of town

Staff

Friendly and explained everything well

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Gracery Shinjuku

Tokyo

Gritty neighborhood, only dirty place we encountered in Japan. Inside the rooms were quite small, even by Japan standards. Didn’t find the novelty of the Godzilla to outweigh the vibe of the neighborhood that was not at all family friendly.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Good if you want that specific scene, but not our vibe.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Tokyo Discovery: From Traditional Landmarks to Akihabara’s Anime Haven

Tokyo

Samurai and Ninja Museum with Experience

Kyoto

Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

Excellent way to enjoy kimonos and participate in a tea ceremony

Quality of Experience

Full Day Osaka Discovery with Cup Noodles Museum

Osaka

The Cup Noodles museum was fun, but we didn’t need a guide here and she didn’t even help us by translating despite participating in the activity herself. She was hard to hear and kids thought she was mean

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Osaka-Nara Day Trip

Osaka

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was excellent and gave us some personalized tips.

Transport

A Hands-on Cooking Experience: Nigiri Sushi and More

Tokyo

A bit long for our group- more geared toward adults

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Asakusa Sumo Club: Sumo Show Admission with Chankonabe in Tokyo

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I had an absolutely outstanding experience with Kimkim Travels. From start to finish, every detail of our trip to Peru was thoughtfully planned and perfectly organized. Everything ran on time, transportation was smooth, and the entire itinerary felt seamless.

One thing that really impressed us was how attentive they were to our vegetarian diet. They selected fantastic restaurants throughout Peru where we could enjoy authentic food without worrying about our dietary needs. Every recommendation was spot-on.

Our tour guide was truly exceptional — a 10 out of 10. His passion for his country was obvious in everything he shared with us. You could feel how much he loved Peru, and that made the experience even more special. From the cooking class to the Rainbow Mountain tour and of course Machu Picchu, he took such great care of us the entire time.

At every step we felt safe, comfortable, and well looked after. Traveling in a new country can sometimes feel overwhelming, but with Kimkim everything was handled so professionally that we could simply relax and enjoy the experience.

This trip was truly perfect, and I’m incredibly grateful to Kimkim Travels for making it such a memorable journey. I would highly recommend them to anyone planning a trip to Peru.

I am so grateful to all of our guides and drivers, especially Alvaro Galdos in Lima and Guido Pereira (guide) and driver Joel. They were timely and welcoming and accommodating and flexible which made all the difference in providing the best, unique and meaningful experience. Of all my travels, this trip rose to one of the top vacations.

Hotel Reviews

Antigua Casona San Blas

Cusco

Beautiful hotel with friendly staff. Would have given 5 stars but the room was too hot. For 2 people, 5 stars. For 3 people, it was a bit crowded.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Had to request enough towels. Boxed breakfast was not very good. Requested coffee to go before our tour and never received.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa del Sol

Machu Picchu

Quaint. Didn’t have all the amenities. The bathrooms were small. We had the street side and it was very noisy. Would have been nice to have a river view.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tambo del Inka Luxury Collection Resort & Spa

Urubamba

Croissants were wonderful! Lovely rooms. Friendly and accommodating staff. Sauna quite small.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Paracas, a Luxury Collection Resort

Paracas

Gorgeous hotel and setting. Good food.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Souma Hotel, Vignette Collection by IHG

Lima

Good location. Lovely hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Cocalmayo Hotsprings & Coffee Experience

Aguas Calientes/ Machu Picchu

Again, the setting and experiences were delightful. The hot springs were so relaxing. The coffee experience was enlightening, insightful, purposeful and enriching. The family was warm and fun.

Quality of Experience

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transport

Exploring Machu Picchu aboard the Hiram Bingham Train

Peru

What an exceptional experience. The train is gorgeous. Staff friendly and helpful. The scenery divine.

Quality of Experience

Food

I was surprised with my corn allergy that they served corn ceviche. However, there was plenty of food to consume.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Morning Visit to Ollantaytambo

Peru

Charming UNESCO city. A must see. The people are so warm and friendly; learning about some of the history of Peru adds to the overall experience. Good exercise as well.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Perolniyoq Hike

Sacred Valley

This was a challenging hike as far as altitude and terrain. Having said that, it was a perfect hike with captivating views. Again, our driver and Guido we’re simply the best!!!!!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We can not say enough about how fantastic our driver and guide were!!!!!

Transport

Lunch at Hacienda Huayoccari

Sacred Valley

Stunning atmosphere! Interesting collection of artifacts. Lunch was good.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pass by Pisac Market & an Andean camelid Farms

Peru

Pisac Market was ok, but overwhelming. The camels farms was perfect! The retail store offered wonderful products. The staff were kind yet l didn’t feel l had enough space to think about a purchase so l didn’t purchase anything.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ballestas Islands from a private hotel pier

Paracas

Perfect day for this tour. Alvaro kindly walked us to the dock and the drivers were knowledgeable and entertaining.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Huacachina Adventure & Ica Wineyards Exploration

Peru

Beautiful and unique setting. Interesting artifacts.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Experience the cuisine of Peru & its cultural history

Lima

Bianca provided an interesting ands educational tour. The food was exquisite. I was disappointed that she hasn’t shared the pictures she took.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lisa was very quick to answer any questions that we had. Our trip was very well rounded and afforded us the opportunity to see many places that we wanted to see. I would highly recommend kimkim to anyone that are planning to travel.

⸻

Not knowing where to begin when planning our trip to Finland, I started by searching online for travel specialists who focus on the Lapland region—and that’s how I came across kimkim. After completing a quick questionnaire about the type of trip we were hoping for, we were connected with Emerson, who took care of every detail from that point on.

We scheduled a Zoom call to go over our wish list and discuss the level of accommodations we had in mind. Emerson’s personal experience in the Lapland region really stood out—he offered thoughtful suggestions on where to go, what to do, and even shared valuable insight on some of the stops we were considering. We truly appreciated his honest input.

Following our call, Emerson provided a detailed itinerary that outlined everything—from accommodations to excursions to transfers. We were able to adjust it several times to better suit our schedule and interests, and he was always responsive and helpful in answering our questions leading up to the trip. During the trip itself, he remained quick to respond whenever needed.

Everything unfolded exactly as planned. The accommodations met our expectations, and the tours and excursions were led by knowledgeable, professional guides. One guide was also a professional photographer who led us through a national park and sent us home with beautiful photos of our day!
The day-by-day itinerary made everything seamless and stress-free. A couple of our northern lights tours were unfortunately canceled due to cloudy weather, but we were pleasantly surprised to receive refunds for those experiences.

We’re already looking forward to planning our next adventure and would absolutely work with kimkim again. We can’t recommend Emerson and the company highly enough—thank you for an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime trip!

We can't say enough on how perfect and wonderful our trip was. Everything from the Hotels to the excursions and tours/classes were perfect. Melanie helped up start and plan our journey back last year, she transitioned to another role and we were put into the lovely hands of Clothide and Nathalie for the final touches and our trip. We we so happy with everything! Every hotel they picked for us was perfect for each leg and environment each with fantastic views and each hotel team knowing it was our honeymoon and set up sweet welcome surprises at each check in. We already cant wait to circle back and plan on Paris, Florence and Rome trip! Thank you again to our Kimkim team!

Hotel Reviews

AMERON Zürich Bellerive au Lac

Zürich

What a cute little hotel. Our room had a quant little balcony and its a short walking distance to the opera house and other little shops. Great spot that's away from the busyness but close enough to enjoy every it.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sunstar Hotel & SPA Grindelwald

Grindelwald

This hotel was great! right across from the Grindelwald first area it made access super convenient.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa

Interlaken

What a great central located hotel. Also very beautiful. The spa was a great place to spend the rainy afternoon we encounter. My husband enjoyed the cigar bar and the staff was so lovely.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Lucerne Private Cheese & Wine Tasting Walking Tour

Lucerne

Monika was AHMAZING! Such a sweet lady who taught up so much in our short time in Lucerne. The wine and cheese tasting was the perfect ending to a great afternoon!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chocolate workshop in Interlaken!

Switzerland

The ladies at Funky Chocolate were great! We had our own private class! We had a great time learning about chocolate and making our own chocolate bars!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Interlaken City Tour and Harder Mountain Excursion

Switzerland

Adrien was a wonderful guide and so personable. Our weather wasn't the best so we really couldn't see anything up on Harder Klum BUT we learned so much about the adorable city and learned our way around the area for our stay!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport