Kimkim Trip Reviews

Cannon was incredibly on top of things from start to finish. Recommending activities and places we hadn’t even thought of. Originally we had a list of places we wanted to go and he tried his best to make it work before he kindly explained that our plan was physically impossible. This trip would not have gone as smooth or as well without Cannons help, I genuinely wish he could book everything I do.

My first interaction with kimkim was with Shalindra. From the very first communication and throughout the trip planning process, Shalindra was fantastic. He was quick to respond to every message I sent and answering all of my questions. The 10 day trip to Sri Lanka exceeded my expectations. However, my biggest thank you goes to my tour guide, Pramith. He was so on top of things with the schedule and when we had time while driving from one place to the next, he made suggestions of other places to go that were not part of the itinerary. I think we learned a lot from each other, had many laughs along the way and had such a varied itinerary from history, culture and education to hikes, nature walks and views of some magnificent scenery. The food did not disappoint either. Having a food allergy, Pramith made sure I was able to eat safely and took good care of me. Lastly, I must mention about the people of Sri Lanka. They are among some of the most friendly people I have met in my travel experiences. My observation and interaction with many people during the trip, I could tell that their smiles and friendliness was not an act just for tourists, but is their way of life. Overall, an amazing and unforgettable experience thanks to Pramith and Shalindra.

Hotel Reviews

Sofia Colombo City Hotel

Colombo

Definitely a higher-end hotel with some fantastic views and a comfortable room. Large, varied breakfast. Also ate a buffet dinner at this hotel. While eating on the later side (about 8:30) there were several items not refilled and service was a bit spotty however the manager recognizing a couple of missteps from her staff quickly made everything right.

Athgira River Camp

Udawalawe

Great hotel and fantastic location being in close proximity to the entrance to the Udawalawe National Park. Enjoyed a tasty dinner at this hotel with an incredible server.

Heaven Seven Hotel Kandy

Kandy

A nice hotel with fantastic views. Large breakfast area and a great staff.

Kevans Casa

Mahiyangana

Beautiful, modern property with a friendly staff and great breakfast. Lovely swimming pool/bar area. Traveling solo, the room was fine but for a couple traveling together, the room was very small and would be impossible for two people to move around each other.

Athena Lake

Dambulla

Large room, friendly staff and tasty breakfast overlooking the beautiful property. A walk each morning down a short path to the lake was a peaceful way to start the day.

The Covanro

Veyangoda

Great breakfast and good size room. Friendly service and next to a neighborhood to walk the streets for some exercise. Older hotel in need of some maintenance and renovations

Activity Reviews

Galle Dutch Fort Visit

Sri Lanka

Be sure to explore this ancient fort and viewing three different bastions. It’s quite a large fort and after walking along the ramp parts, be sure to walk up and down some of the streets in the ancient city. It has a good vibe and some great architecture.

Udawalawa Village Walk - 04

Udawalawe

The best way to experience the locals and their generosity and kindness is by visiting with them. A tasting of some coconut sap paired with cassava and sambol makes this activity worth doing. Also, observe a local mining for some gems. Quite interesting the way this is done.

Rathna Ella Combined Village Experience

Mahiyanganaya

Don’t miss this walk to the waterfalls. It’s mostly flat, shaded and quite enjoyable. Not much wildlife to see but it’s a peaceful and serene walk. Be sure to check out the pottery making afterwards. It’s a fun experience with the locals to witness.

Safari in Udawalawa National Park

Sri Lanka

A great way to experience the Udawalawe National Park. Prathapa was my guide and his knowledge of the animals and birds was outstanding. He drove to some locations other vehicles did not go to which was perfect for spotting some lesser seen wildlife.

On the way city tour around Ella attractions

Sri Lanka

Ella town has a good vibe. My guide and I ate a tasty lunch at the Chill Restaurant. Great, friendly staff who were helpful with the menu.

Discover Ella

Sri Lanka

A hike to Ella Rock provides some magnificent views. Totally worth the entrance fee. Be sure to take a bottled water with you but if you forget, there are a couple of stands along the trail that sell crackers, candy, soft drinks/juices and water. Additionally, be sure not to miss a spectacular sunrise at Lipton Seat. You won’t be disappointed that you woke up early with such a beautiful sight. Just be sure to take warmer clothing and wear pants as it is quite windy and chilly at this location.

Discover Ancient Polonnaruwa

Sri Lanka

An amazing experience with so many different locations. Highly recommend hiring a guide to be sure not to miss any of the sites. I had an 80+ year old man guide me through this place. His knowledge was absolutely incredible as he was a former archaeological professor at the university and had been providing tours for over 30 years. I could tell by the interactions of other guides that my guide was well respected.

Visit Sigiriya Rock Fortress

Sri Lanka

This place is absolutely incredible and highly recommend using a guide for this activity…totally worth it for an enriched experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cannon was very clear an communicative, answered and question we could throw at him. Was very knowledgeable and accommodating of our needs and wants. Our two tour guides were also excellent and i would highly recommend them to anyone!

BRAVO! BRAVO! BRAVO!

This was my 1st time booking with KIMKIM and I must say they are one of the best in the industry! From start to to finish the entire process was seamless and awesome! Gustavo was also incredible! He was available for myself & my clients whenever we needed him or had questions.

I look forward to working with KIMKIM as much as possible and creating happy clients all the way!!!!!

Our trip to Cambodia was absolutely exceptional. Everything about the trip exceeded my expectations. We stayed at 3 properties (Palace Gate Hotel in Phnom Penh, Maisons Wat in Battanbang and Templation in Siem Riep); all wereabsolutely wonderful. They were beautiful and extremely comfortable, without being ostentatious or out of place. The staffs at each hotel were helpful and welcoming.

The activities were amazing -- In Phnom Penh, we loved the impressive National museum and perfect Royal Palace. In Battambang, we loved seeing the great artisans (especially the pottery making) and experiences like rice paper making. And, of course, it was unbelievable to be in Siem Reap with the extraordinary temples, including Ankor Wat, but also such gems as Banteay Srei.

We had some fabulous meals and are now big fans of Khmer food. We would especially call out the world-class meal we had at the Embassy (Siem Reap) with chef Kimsan Pol and her all female team. We also had a great meal at the sister restaurant in Phnom Penh, Sombok. We had the requisite cocktail at the Elephant Bar (Raffles), which had great cocktails, but even more enjoyed the Le Moon Rooftop Bar in PHnom Penh.

Our guides were excellent -- knowledgeable, pleasant, and helpful. Pikh in Phnom Penh was one of the best guides ever. She had great knowledge, was very flexible about incorporating our needs, and just a pleasure to know. Arn was also excellent. Steve, our local specialist, did a great job of accommodating our needs and adjusting to the things we wanted to spend time doing. He found us great places to stay, arranged all of our activities, as well as our great guides. He was super responsive.

The people of Cambodia are especially warm and welcoming. This would be worth noting at any time, but given the very difficult history of Cambodia, and even some of the current bombing at the border, this is extraordinary. We felt welcome everywhere we went and loved meeting the people there.

Thank you for an absolutely wonderful holiday. Cambodia has become a place that is near and dear to my heart. Come visit. You won't be disappointed!

Hotel Reviews

Palace Gate Hotel & Resort

Phnom Penh

This hotel is perfectly situated and the just the right amount of luxury! It feels like it belongs here and yet is so comfortable, with great food, a wonderful breakfast every day, and incredibly helpful Staff. Also, the pool is absolutely exquisite and a lovely thing to have in such a hot climate.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Maisons Wat Kor

Maisons Wat Kor is an amzingly beautiful hotel. The staff are incredibly helpful and welcoming. The common areas are beautiful with amazing plantings. The rooms are spacious, comfortable and so pretty. Everything was perfect.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Banteay Srei

Siem Reap

I don't think that many people go to Banteay Srei, but it was absolutely beautiful and incredible. We loved the place, the intricate and exquisite carvings, the small number of toursists. And the drive there went through some nice villages. It was great!

Quality of Experience

Transport

Destination dining at Villa Chandara

Siem Reap

Awkward concept -- we were not comfortable during this entire event. Going through an impoverished village and then riding an oxcart, while locals zoom by on the motorbikes. Getting off a boat (when the ride was not necessary or appealing) and being offered champagne in a dirt patch by the river in the middle of the afternoon). I could go on from there. But, this was the only low point of the trip.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Apopo Landmine detecting rats

Siem Reap

Surprisingly, we loved this. Super interesting. Great tour.

Dinner at Jaan Bai

Battambang

Not super special -- food was mediocre, atmosphere not local, people all tourists, room very hot without ventilation (many had fans, but we did not!)

Quality of Experience

Food

Half day countryside local industries by remork

Battambang

Loved spending the day going to these different places. The family who made pottery was especially great!

Quality of Experience

Phare Ponleu Selpak in Battambang

Battambang

Wow! The circus was truly extraordinary. We loved seeing these young people perform!

Quality of Experience

Tuol Sleng, Russian Market & Killing Fields in the morning

Phnom Penh

Not to be missed. So very sad, but essential to understanding the history.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sunset cruise with tapas and wine, Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh

We loved cruising on the river, seeing the city at sunset and just relaxing after a day of touring. Fabulous!

Quality of Experience

Sosoro Museum

Phnom Penh

This is an incredible museum. We learned a ton about the history of Cambodia and needed lots more time for our visit.

Quality of Experience

Royal Palace

Phnom Penh

The Royal Palace was absolutely gorgeous and impeccably kept up. Great visit!

Quality of Experience

National Museum

Phnom Penh

Extraordinary museum. Great artifacts, beautiful buildings, wonderful experience.

Quality of Experience

Short Phnom Penh orientation tour by cyclo

Phnom Penh

Great way to see the city! So much fun!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Getting though Immigration/Customs was lengthy, and traffic made the trip from landing to our 1st lodging a 6 hour ordeal.
Volcano Lodge: Room was adequate, but the grounds were amazing - gardens and thermal pools.
Cloud Forest Lodge: Room was large and comfortable. Restaurant and staff were great
Hotel La Mariposa: Room was large and comfortable, great view of the ocean from the balcony. Dinner menu was lacking. Easy short walk to La Milagro for excellent dinners.
All 3 had great breakfasts
Both Kimkim and Serendipity kept us informed as we traveled. All transfers and pick-ups for activities were on-time.
Mariano led a nice hike through Arenal 1968, pointing out interesting features (although the clouds never let us see the volcano). We were never rushed, and enjoyed the waterfall. He was a trouper after his very long day getting us from the airport.
Moisses (Moi) was an enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide on the river float. He took the effort to separate us from the crowds of other rafts on the river - it was like we had the place to ourselves. Saw monkeys and a crocodile.
The Coffee and Chocolate (and sugar cane) Tour was interesting and tasty.
The Night Walk was a disappointment. Martin spoke very softly, especially for a group of 8-10 people. We never saw anything larger than a finger. Likewise, the Santa Elena hike never produced anything other than insects and plants. At least we could see the forest around us, unlike the Night Walk. I would suggest 1 or the other; not both - too similar.
Andres was an amazing guide at Manual Antonio. Seems like he knows every guide there and kept getting (and giving) tips on what to see and where. Very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. Birds, monkeys and sloths
The Catamaran Tour was fun, and we got to see dolphins and whales. Unfortunately, recent rains meant limited visibility and not good snorkeling conditions. Good meal and very friendly crew.
RideCR had the most comfortable vans. We were pleasantly amazed at how courteous the drivers are in CR, especially given the narrow roads.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel La Mariposa

Manuel Antonio

Nice large corner room with balcony and views on 2 sides. Nice views to the ocean. Easy to get to other restaurants and shops by a short walk or the local bus ($1 per passenger, every 15-20 minutes). Very good breakfast. Did not seem like dinner choices were authentic/local.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cloud Forest Lodge

Monteverde

Pleasant and welcoming staff. Large room. Emphasis on sustainability. Nice dining room. Good menu with varied, authentic options.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Volcano Lodge, Hotel & Thermal Experience

San Carlos, Alajuela

Adequate, small room. Beautiful grounds. Thermal pools were very enjoyable. Great breakfasts and enough choices of local dinner options.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Catamaran Tour with Meal

Costa Rica

Saw whales and dolphins. Surprisingly good meal.

Private Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike

Costa Rica

We had a great guide and saw lots of wildlife.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve Guided Hike**

Monteverde

Night Walk at Children's Eternal Forest

Monteverde

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Coffee & Chocolate Tour

Costa Rica

Safari Float on the Peñas Blancas River

Arenal/La Fortuna

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Arenal Volcano Hike & La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

Spain Trip over 12 days, Madrid, Seville, Granada, Cordoba, Toledo. The scheduling and guided tours were very good. The local guides were generally very knowledgeable.
Make sure your mobile phone is connected to cellular, one would be completely lost without it!! Any changes or updates are communicated thru the KimKim App, and your travel advisors keep it well updated.
During our trip, the train system in the whole of Southern Spain was shut down due to train derailment. All our train travels from one city to another were cancelled. KimKim arranged for private car transportation so not to interrupt our schedule. Although they could have asked us to reimburse the much higher cost of chauffeured private transportation, using the excuse of Force Majeure or Act of God, they did not, and they absorbed the costs, and I give them lots of credit for that.
Overall, very satisfied with the service I got on this trip. Special thanks mostly to Summer, but also to Adam, Alejandra, Olivia.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Abad Toledo

Toledo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Balcón de Córdoba Hotel

Córdoba

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Parador de Granada

Granada

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Boutique Casa del Poeta Sevilla

Sevilla

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Only YOU Boutique Hotel

Madrid

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Highlights of Toledo Walk

Toledo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Old Town Walking Tour

Córdoba

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Hands-On Cooking Class in Córdoba: Master Paella and Salmorejo

Córdoba

Quality of Experience

Transport

Taste of Granada Walking Food Tour

Granada

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Alhambra & Generalife Gardens with a Historian

Granada

Really amazing!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Visit to Seville’s Cathedral & Alcázar

Seville

Unfortunately, we were booked with a Spanish only guide, so could not understand the tour. KimKim corrected the problem by re-booking it the next day with an English speaker guide. Delayed our travel. Otherwise tour and guide were very good.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Flamenco Show & Museum Visit

Seville

Not a good experience, worse activity of the whole trip. Too loud (almost 100 Decibels by my Apple Watch, can be damaging to your hearing, had to plug my ears!) the place too crowded, very touristy, would have easily skipped, plus not sure about the artistic quality. Had seen much better performances on YouTube!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Historic Landmarks Walk

Seville

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private City Walk & Royal Palace Experience

Madrid

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Short Prado Museum Visit with Skip-the-Line Ticket

Madrid

Excellent guide, art historian, very knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Day 1: Picked up from the airport by Alex.  Very informative about the country during the 3.5hour drive to La Fortuna.  He was also very caring and patient when two of our travelers became motion sick.  He took his time and did everything possible to minimize the impact of bumps and curves - well done, Alex!!
Arenal Springs Resort accommodations were beautiful and the staff was helpful and kind.  Food at the restaurants was excellent; however, prices were much higher than anticipated and, as the resort is rather remote, alternative dining options were not practical.  We opted for private transfers during our vacation so did not have a rental car and an uber for 6-people proved challenging so we stayed on property for meals.  Our breakfast was included, the buffet was full of great options ... nothing lacking.  There are two rooms per building; if occupants of both rooms are showering at the same time, hot water can be sketchy.  The property is well kept, clean and beautiful.

Day 2: Coffee/Chocolate/Sugar Cane tour led by Valerie was informative and fun.  She shared stories about her family as well as the country's history and future with each of these three crops as well as how each is processed.  The sampling was wonderful with sugar juice and sugar alcohol (WOW);  various types and roasts of coffee and the chocolate - dark to milk was DELICIOUS.  I would highly recommend this tour and Valerie.

In the afternoon, we enjoyed a beautiful hike through the Arenal Hanging Bridges with Mariano.  A gorgeous walk with several hanging bridges to test our stability - LOL.  Mariano was an excellent guide: informative, fun and really patient.  A great afternoon that was relaxing, not strenuous.

Day 3: Big Arenal Mundo Aventura Zipline.  For those of us who could participate, this was wonderful.  After watching the video and seeing the warnings we discovered that half of our group (3 people) could not go.  We were super disappointed in finding this out after we had paid.  The zipline itself was not the problem, but rather the very difficult hike from the tractor drop-off point to the first zipline ... that hike was a beast, even for those who are fit.  IMO, this absolutely should have been included in the description as we would have made different selections or, at a minimum, reduced the number of participants for the activity.  I don't know how alternative zipline options are set up but this was a non-starter for ANYONE with health challenges and there is no practical way to stop once you have started.  For the 3 who partook in the adventure, the 12 lines were fun with varying lengths (from 660ft - 3800+ft) and various avg speeds (21mps-34mph)

In the afternoon, we relaxed and enjoyed an educational experience on a farm learning of various medicinal and edible plants wrapping up with a dinner made from those ingredients.  Mary was GREAT and has a true love of the environment and nature ready, willing and able to answer all of our questions.  While we participated by chopping ingredients, the whole group was disappointed in the fact that this was positioned as a "Cooking Class" but neither did we cook nor get the recipe for the dinner that was served ... both of which have been our experiences at other classes around the world.  This was a 4* experience that could have been 5* had those two items been included.
Day 4: The day was spent with a Private Transfer from Arenal to Monteverde.  Our driver, Andrea, was delightful.  The 3.5 hour drive was the worst drive any of our group had ever experienced ... a non-stop winding road that was paved, but rougher than many gravel roads with abundant potholes.  Again, this should have been mentioned as two of our passengers suffered from extreme motion sickness.  We discovered, later, when visiting with another traveler to Costa Rica that there is an alternative way to transfer between these two points - by a 1.5 hour ferry.  This is likely the option we would have selected had we known just how poor the roads were.  Honestly, the terrible road condition is unacceptable given the amount of time you have to be one it - a portion of the drive would have been tolerable, but not the entire 3.5 hours.  There is nothing that Andrea could have done to make this better.    
The Cloud Forest Lodge was spectacular.  Secluded and quiet with one of the largest room/bathroom/balcony combinations I have ever experienced while traveling!  Once again, the food was delicious.  Breakfast was included here, with a full menu.  Ingredients were fresh and service impeccable.  In the evenings, as the temperatures dropped, there is a lovely area with a fireplace where many guests gathered and visited.  It was cozy and comfortable - a real addition to the visit.  There are three  rugged trails on property that are all worth exploring.  As with Arenal Springs,  the resort is rather remote making alternative dining options impractical.  Food was not out of line expensive here.
Day 5: Cloud Forest Reserve Privately Guided Hike with Sergio was wonderful.  Sergio is passionate about the environment and his enthusiasm is contagious.  We were lucky enough to see a male Quetzal, the most beautiful bird in the world for good reason - GORGEOUS.  Sergio explained the various trees and plants along with the life cycle of the Cloud Forest.  This walk was conducted at our pace and Sergio was thoughtful and thorough when answering our questions.  He made this hike memorable for all of us.
Day 6: Our Private Transfer from Monteverde to Tamarindo was pleasant as we had been advised of the poor road conditions, once again, and took dramamine to prevent motion sickness during the 3.5 hour transfer.  We were so happy to see Alex again!
The Cala Luna Boutique Hotel and Villas was spectacular!  The rooms were the best of our trip and the property is stunning.  Every area of the property felt private.  On the other hand, the food here was the worst of our visit.  Some of the items were good, but for the most part the menus offered little to no options for people who are picky eaters and the prices are high. The good news is that this property is not as secluded as the first two so you could easily get into town where there is an abundance of restaurant options.  The included buffet breakfast was very disappointing with little selection and warm items were always cold.  The food is not at all on par with the property ... so disappointing.

Day 7: Was a Sunset Catamaran tour that was out of this world wonderful.  A beautiful catamaran, a fun group of guests and a crew that took excellent care of us with food and drink.  We anchored for about 90 minutes for snorkeling/kayaking/swimming/staying on the boat; it was perfect.  The sunrise didn't disappoint.  The drive to the harbor was longer than expected (45 minutes) and well worth it, a mention of the length would have been beneficial.  Our itin said that this activity would be from 12:45 to 4:45 however we did not return to the property until 7:00; the only challenge we had is that only two of the three couples went on the catamaran so the coordination of our evening activity did not work as planned due to an arrival 2+ hours later than anticipated.  I wouldn't change the activity, just the timing shared as part of the itin.
Day 8: Private transfer to airport was smooth and efficient.
Communication during the trip was prompt and efficient - thank you.  It made everything so stress-free.  The Kimkim App worked perfectly and communicating with WhatsApp worked great.  

Hotel Reviews

Cala Luna Boutique Hotel & Villas

Guanacaste

The Cala Luna Boutique Hotel and Villas was spectacular! The rooms were the best of our trip and the property is stunning. Every area of the property felt private. On the other hand, the food here was the worst of our visit. Some of the items were good, but for the most part the menus offered little to no options for people who are picky eaters and the prices are high. The good news is that this property is not as secluded as the first two so you could easily get into town where there is an abundance of restaurant options. The included buffet breakfast was very disappointing with little selection and warm items were always cold. The food is not at all on par with the property ... so disappointing.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cloud Forest Lodge

Monteverde

The Cloud Forest Lodge was spectacular.  Secluded and quiet with one of the largest room/bathroom/balcony combinations I have ever experienced while traveling!  Once again, the food was delicious.  Breakfast was included here, with a full menu.  Ingredients were fresh and service impeccable.  In the evenings, as the temperatures dropped, there is a lovely area with a fireplace where many guests gathered and visited.  It was cozy and comfortable - a real addition to the visit.  There are three  rugged trails on property that are all worth exploring.  As with Arenal Springs,  the resort is rather remote making alternative dining options impractical.  Food was not out of line expensive here.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Arenal Springs Resort

La Fortuna

Arenal Springs Resort accommodations were beautiful and the staff was helpful and kind. Food at the restaurants was excellent; however, prices were much higher than anticipated and, as the resort is rather remote, alternative dining options were not practical. We opted for private transfers during our vacation so did not have a rental car and an uber for 6-people proved challenging so we stayed on property for meals. Our breakfast was included, the buffet was full of great options ... nothing lacking. There are two rooms per building; if occupants of both rooms are showering at the same time, hot water can be sketchy. The property is well kept, clean and beautiful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

view of volcano and grounds

Staff

Loved the daily "towel art"

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Sunset Catamaran Tour

Costa Rica

Sunset Catamaran tour that was out of this world wonderful. A beautiful catamaran, a fun group of guests and a crew that took excellent care of us with food and drink. We anchored for about 90 minutes for snorkeling/kayaking/swimming/staying on the boat; it was perfect. The sunrise didn't disappoint. The drive to the harbor was longer than expected (45 minutes) and well worth it, a mention of the length would have been beneficial. Our itin said that this activity would be from 12:45 to 4:45 however we did not return to the property until 7:00; the only challenge we had is that only two of the three couples went on the catamaran so the coordination of our evening activity did not work as planned due to an arrival 2+ hours later than anticipated. I wouldn't change the activity, just the timing shared as part of the itin.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cloud Forest Reserve Privately Guided Hike

Monteverde

loud Forest Reserve Privately Guided Hike with Sergio was wonderful. Sergio is passionate about the environment and his enthusiasm is contagious. We were lucky enough to see a male Quetzal, the most beautiful bird in the world for good reason - GORGEOUS. Sergio explained the various trees and plants along with the life cycle of the Cloud Forest. This walk was conducted at our pace and Sergio was thoughtful and thorough when answering our questions. He made this hike memorable for all of us.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Organic Cooking Class

Arenal/La Fortuna

In the afternoon, we relaxed and enjoyed an educational experience on a farm learning of various medicinal and edible plants wrapping up with a dinner made from those ingredients. Mary was GREAT and has a true love of the environment and nature ready, willing and able to answer all of our questions. While we participated by chopping ingredients, the whole group was disappointed in the fact that this was positioned as a "Cooking Class" but neither did we cook nor get the recipe for the dinner that was served ... both of which have been our experiences at other classes around the world. This was a 4* experience that could have been 5* had those two items been included.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Big Arenal Mundo Aventura Zipline

Arenal/La Fortuna

Big Arenal Mundo Aventura Zipline. For those of us who could participate, this was wonderful. After watching the video and seeing the warnings we discovered that half of our group (3 people) could not go. We were super disappointed in finding this out after we had paid. The zipline itself was not the problem, but rather the very difficult hike from the tractor drop-off point to the first zipline ... that hike was a beast, even for those who are fit. IMO, this absolutely should have been included in the description as we would have made different selections or, at a minimum, reduced the number of participants for the activity. I don't know how alternative zipline options are set up but this was a non-starter for ANYONE with health challenges and there is no practical way to stop once you have started. For the 3 who partook in the adventure, the 12 lines were fun with varying lengths (from 660ft - 3800+ft) and various avg speeds (21mps-34mph)

Quality of Experience

more information about the activity BEFORE you zipline ... the hike is impossible for people with health challenges

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Hanging Bridges Guided Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

In the afternoon, we enjoyed a beautiful hike through the Arenal Hanging Bridges with Mariano. A gorgeous walk with several hanging bridges to test our stability - LOL. Mariano was an excellent guide: informative, fun and really patient. A great afternoon that was relaxing, not strenuous.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee, Chocolate and Sugar Cane Farm Tour

Arenal/La Fortuna

Coffee/Chocolate/Sugar Cane tour led by Valerie was informative and fun. She shared stories about her family as well as the country's history and future with each of these three crops as well as how each is processed. The sampling was wonderful with sugar juice and sugar alcohol (WOW); various types and roasts of coffee and the chocolate - dark to milk was DELICIOUS. I would highly recommend this tour and Valerie.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our local travel company, Gapa Travel was outstanding! All the guides and drivers were courteous and punctual. The vehicles they drove were also very nice. We always felt like we were in good hands. All 3 hotels we stayed in were fabulous!! The locations of each were perfect and really highlighted the key aspects of each area we explored.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Island Plantation

Isla Colon, Bocas del Toro

This was truly an amazing place! Our cabana was large with several intimate spaces to escape to. The pool was wonderful and everything felt so quiet and private with only 8 rooms and adults-only. The access to the beach and the restaurant/bar on the beach was extremely convenient and also very quiet.

Authenticity & Character

Location

While the ride in from Bocas Town was rough and long (30 min each way), the seclusion and quietness of the location made it worth it.

Staff

Juan Carlos was a delight as were all the restaurant/bar staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Coffee Estate Inn

Jaramillo

This is beautiful, boutique hotel nestled on the mountainside. Each casita was a stand alone accomodation with a porch facing the mountains. We were greeted warmly by the office manager. The breakfast was outstanding!

Authenticity & Character

separate casitas! the views! We didn't see another guest so it was very private.

Location

Nestled on a mountainside; only 1.2 km from town centre.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Central Hotel Panama

Panama

The location is perfect! We were within walking distance of all the key sights in Casco Viejo and the hotel itself was beautiful, very comfortable and with great on-site amenities.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right in the heart of Casco Viejo; right on the Plaza Catedral.

Staff

very pleasant and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Boca del Drago & Playa de las Estrellas

Bocas del Toro

Due to the rough surf, we were not able to go to Isla de Pajaros. Instead, they took us through the Snyder Canal on the mainland north of Almirante. Our guide knew we liked to photograph wildlife, so they chose this as an alternative for us. It was nice. We also enjoyed hiking from Playa del Drago to Playa de Estrellas, having lunch on the beach and swimming to see the starfish.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coral Cay and Red Frog Beach

Bocas del Toro

We were very pleasantly surprised to have a private boat tour.... just us, the boat driver, and our guide. We had so much room to photograph and they spent whatever amount of time we wanted when a special wildlife sighting occurred.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee Experience

Boquete

It was awesome to see this small, family-run coffee plantation. We got a very intimate tour and enjoyed tasting the different coffees. I was excited to be able to try the Geisha coffee that is so famous.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nature Walk

Boquete

We went on a shorter hike on Sendero Culebra trail, chosen by our guide due to the fact that he was determined to find us a quetzal.... so endearing! We didn't enjoy the hike itself as much as Los Quetzales and after about 1.5 hrs, I asked to turn around. I think I would have preferred hiking to the Three Waterfalls instead, but frankly, the Los Quetzales trail was so awesome I could have really foregone the 2nd day of hiking.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hike Los Quetzales

Boquete

I shared details on the previous question

Welcome to Boquete

Boquete

We loved this mountainous, rainforest region of Panama. We loved our full one-way hike on Los Quetzales trail. Our guide, Elvis was awesome and such a gentleman who tried so hard to find a quetzal for us. The hike was beautiful and a bit challenging, but it was comfortable knowing we had a guide who did not push the pace too hard. We were happy that we started the hike in Cerro Punta which was supposed to be a bit easier than starting in Boquete. The 2-hr. drive the trailhead was beautiful and gave us an appreciation of the landscape.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

patient and diligent

Transport

City Tour - Casco Viejo & Panama Canal

Panama

It was great to see some of the new part of the city and the original Panama City ruins. We enjoyed seeing the IMAX movie at the Miraflores VC, but we could see nothing on the observation deck due to the crowds. I'm not sure if there was anything else to see at the VC. Overall, due to the fact that we experienced the full transit of the canal, we could have skipped the VC. We had little time for our tour of Casco Viejo and would have preferred more time for that. Due to being short on time, we had to drive through the crowded streets instead of walking. Luckily, we had scheduled some extra time into our trip on both ends so we could do some exploring on our own.

Quality of Experience

Transport

Panama Canal Full Transit Tour

Panama City

This was amazing and everything I had imagined. We are so glad we booked a full transit as it gave us a full picture of this engineering marvel. The only glitch we had was the pick up time was confusing. Gapa gave us a pick up time of 6:30 and between 6:00 and 6:15, the hotel staff were hunting us down at breakfast to inform us someone was waiting for us. We quickly finished our meal and met our driver who seemed to be in a hurry. We arrived at the ticket office/line for embarkation around 7 and were nearly the last to board the boat. If we had been picked up at the agreed upon time, we might have missed the boat.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very courteous and punctual

Transport

Panameña Night

Panama City

We loved the overall concept of this and there were parts of it we really enjoyed: sampling ceviche at the Fish Market and having cocktails on the Lazotea rooftop bar. There were 2 things we were disappointed about, however. The restaurant choice, Canal House was not a good choice. While it was located near the canal, it was dark when we were there, so we couldn't see anything. We were only given 2 choices for our meal and we really disliked the option we chose. Also, it took a very long time to be served. We sat with nothing (no drinks even) for over 30 minutes. The atmosphere was extremely loud (live band playing) and it was very hard to hear our guide talking to us. Also, we had just met our guide, Victor and we thought it was sort of strange that he sat and ate with us. He was hard to understand with the loud environment so it was stressful. We enjoyed meeting Victor and sharing ceviche and cocktails after dinner, but an improvement for the future would be to leave us alone for dinner. Also, I would recommend that the dinner location also be in Casco Viejo. Overall, it would be much more time in between events and we could even walk to each venue and explore Casco Viejo at the same time.

Quality of Experience

see above

Guides, Drivers and Staff

See above

Transport

Our drivers for the entire trip did an excellent job!

Vicky was extremely helpful and proactive at getting us the information we needed before and during the trip.

Activity Review

SEIT Uluru & BBQ Dinner

Uluru

We had a wonderful day touring Uluru and learning the history and significance of the people who have lived here.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I traveled on an 8 day trip in Madrid, Malaga and Seville. All of my guides were incredible. Sergio, Carlos, Bena (sp?), Sasha...I may have forgotten some. The drivers were also fabulous as were all the hotels. Everything went very smoothly. It could not have been better. I would definitely recommend KimKim. Thank you so much!!!

Great trip. Guides were terrific. Hanging bridges and volcano tour led by Mariano. Sloth tour(where we actually saw them)
led by Manuel and Ernesto. Monteverde led by Andres. All made the tours very special.
Worked with Holden from Serendipity Adventures to plan the trip. Again excellent. Last but not least was Adrian who answered all our questions as they came up. All in all an excellent adventure.
By the way we chose to rent a car and drive. We loved it but I wouldn’t recommend it unless you are comfortable with small roads and sometimes challenging driving conditions.

Hotel Reviews

The Coast Beachfront Hotel

Tamarindo, Guanacaste Province

This was our least favorite of the hotels. Good location for the beach. Average rooms. Small crowded pool. No restaurant or services. Would not choose it again. Would look for a more self contained resort outside of town.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cloud Forest Lodge

Monteverde

This was the most dramatic hotel on our trip. Amazing location. Not easy to get to if you are driving but worth the trip. Good food and nice rooms and terrific staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lomas del Volcán

Fortuna

This was our favorite hotel of the trip. Peaceful. Wonderful rooms in separate little cottages. Great pool, good food and excellent staff. Would be happy staying there for a week.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to town but very private and peaceful

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hilton Garden Inn Guanacaste Airport

Liberia

Fine airport hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Next to airport

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Tamarindo Mangrove & Estuary Boat Tour

Costa Rica

Skipped this one as I was not feeling well. Plus Tamarindo is extremely hot.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private: Half-day Birdwatching Hike in Curi-Cancha Reserve

Monteverde

Again the guide makes the trip. Andres was terrific.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Guided Hike in Arenal Volcano Park 1968

Arenal/La Fortuna

Wonderful excursion. Again the guide makes the trip. Andres was extremely knowledgeable and a pleasure to spend time with.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sloth Observation - Day or Night Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

We actually got to see sloths. The guides have a familiar route they take. Good chance of seeing sloths since they know where they are and obviously the sloths are not moving very quickly. Easy trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Arenal Hanging Bridges Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

Great trip made special by our guide Mariano.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mariano

We had a fantastic vacation in Morocco, thanks in large part to KimKim! Our family thought this was one of our favorite trips. We like to plan a lot of a vacation ourselves and appreciated that KimKim let us book our own hotels and some tours, while arranging transportation and other tours themselves. The tours KimKim arranged were some of our favorites- the guides were very hands-on, informative, and flexible as needed with our family (we traveled with two kids, ages 1.5 & 6). Our driver, Yassine, was the highlight of our trip! He was with us for the whole week and was so kind and helpful. We were able to contact our local guide at any point during the trip, which was reassuring. We even changed something the night before (traveling to Casablanca earlier than planned) and they were able to accommodate. I cannot recommend enough!

Camila was our planner and we loved working with her. Great suggestions and local insights, very communicative, and answered our many questions. Helped us build an incredible trip.

Our guides were invaluable and made traveling comfortable and smooth. This was especially helpful since our Spanish is limited and basic. From airport arrival to drop off to everything in between we felt completely taken care of.

Hotels were amazing with one exception- did not care for the Novotel Buenos Aires but it was only for our last night after we arrived back from Antartica and were flying home the next day.

We loved Buenos Aires and all the activities from neighborhood tours to food tours to the incredible Tango show Camila set up (others we talked to about the shows they went to that they coordinated through their hotels had lesser experiences so we were lucky to have an insider like Camila).

We also flew to Mendoza for an incredible 4 days - Camila set everything up and even adjusted our schedule back in BA when a flight was changed. In Mendoza we once again had an outstanding experience with our Guide Lucia and driver Gozalvo- wine tastings, an incredible lunch at Zonda, horseback riding, a cooking class where we made and ate empanadas! We loved all of it.

Then we connected with our separately planned cruise to Antarctica.

The handoff and return were seamless. When the inevitable bumps, delays and curveballs came, we had a local agency we could WhatsApp with and Flora was amazing. Everything flowed smoothly. I can’t emphasize enough how helpful it was to have this service. It made all the difference for us having an incredible bucket list trip that flowed smoothly.

We absolutely loved it!

Hotel Reviews

Novotel Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires

Location is the best thing going for this place. Room was hot and AC weak. Seems like a previously top notch hotel that is frayed around the edges and a bit run down. Staff was good but not the standard of other places we stayed. Would not come back

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Posada Verde Oliva

Coquimbito, Maipú

Perfect place to stay in Mendoza! Room was quaint and comfortable, breakfast was awesome, coffee was great, staff was amazing, pool was a nice refuge on hot days. Will stay here again when we come back.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palladio Hotel Buenos Aires—MGallery

Buenos Aires

Incredible experience- would stay here again without hesitation. Felt like an oasis. Great breakfast, very comfortable room, nice bar, great location. Loved it

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Palermo Food Tour

Buenos Aires

Very cool tour of a hip part of Buenos Aires with Freddy. Also got some fun facts about the neighborhood while there. Every place we went was great. Loved the insight into great little restaurants and would go back to many of them when back in Buenos Aires. Ate too much but really enjoyed it.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cooking Time at Casa del Visitante in Santa Julia Winery

Mendoza

What a fun experience! We did it with another couple and had a blast. Made empanadas and bread and a dessert I can’t remember the name of. Delicious. Then we walked over for a tour of the winery. This is a bigger, more industrial type winery but fascinating and the tour guide was great! Very informative and we loved the young wines and the tasting (but was not a fan of the sweeter wines). Then back for an incredible lunch. But the portions were huge and we were so full we couldn’t really enjoy it fully. Very fun and would do it again for sure!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lujan de Cuyo Wine Experience

Mendoza

We had the most incredible day. We started at the Alta Vista Winery and it was incredible. Great tour, super informative and great wines. Then onto Bodega Vistalba - beautiful winery with excellent wines. Finally a lunch and wine at Zonda. Absolutely incredible meal! Wines were excellent. Toured the organic garden. As Big foodies, this was one of the highlights of our trip to Mendoza. Love the whole day and our love for Argentine wines is redoubled. Again, our guide Lucy and driver Gonzalvo we fantastic. We were chauffeured around so comfortably and loved talking to them and getting to know more about their home and the region

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunset Horseback Riding in Mendoza

Mendoza

The best part was the ride and sunset. Our guide was great and explained some of the flora and fauna of the region. We are horse people and really enjoyed it although the riding was very “trail ride” oriented. The BBQ afterwards was mediocre and a bit too long. Enjoyed it for the experience of being out there and seeing the landscape, horses and sunset

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tango Show & Dinner at La Ventana

Buenos Aires

Loved this show. Meal was great. Waiters and staff were brusque but efficient. Dancers were incredible. We sat with another couple we’d just met and had a great time. We felt lucky we went to this show as other tourists we met went to other shows through their hotels that were mediocre. This one was excellent

Quality of Experience

Food

Buenos Aires Barrios Tour

Buenos Aires

Very cool to see the different neighborhoods and to see some of the highlights of each. Loved the insider perspective. We were able to hit the Changing of the Guard at the Metropolitan Cathedral just right and learned a lot about the history of Argentina while driving. Enjoyed Choripan in La Boca and many other experiences. Just wish we could have had more time.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Despite a few health concerns that caused us to cancel a few excursions, we had a wonderful trip and learned a lot about the Mayan culture and history, which was our objective. Everyone was especially helpful with Robin as she had difficulty walking after she fell a couple of times. Julio, our private driver, was kind and pleasant, always smiling. The guides were all very informative and helpful as well. We did experience bites from bed bugs somewhere along the way, and I learned I was allergic to mosquito bites. But I guess that comes with the territory, so not a complaint. The planning for the trip with Charlotte was exceptional, and for that reason we would use kimkim again in the future.

Hotel Reviews

IKAL Tulum Hotel

This hotel is good for anyone looking for a more rustic Mayan experience. The room was like a Hobbitt's hut, with curved ceilings and cave-like interior, with very little light. I had to use the light on my camera to see inside my suitcase, even in daytime. If you have back problems or walking difficulty, this is not the place for you. We did like the fenced privacy and the outside private pool with jetted water. We experienced some bed bug problems here, though. The restaurant overlooking the beach was good, and the staff was very helpful. Would be an excellent choice if you are young with no health issues.

Authenticity & Character

Location

You have to pay a fee to get into the area every time you leave.

Staff

When one of us had a mobility problem, a staff member came to our hut and helped her walk out to catch our van.

Cleanliness & Comfort

We had bites from bed bugs here.

Hotel boutique Saastah

Valladolid

beautiful, peaceful hotel, excellent staff

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Staff in restaurant and front desk were very helpful. They helped us find a source for laundry and offered to arrange for a doctor when one of our party was ill.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room needed a more comfortable chair to sit in.

Hacienda Mérida

Mérida

Loved the old colonial feel of this hotel. Good location. Staff very helpful. Wish they had more comfortable chairs in the room, though.

Authenticity & Character

authenticity of chairs did not make them comfortable for anyone with a back problem

Location

in historic section of town

Staff

everyone was very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

at least one comfortable chair to sit in, some attention to clear out possibility of bed bugs

Activity Reviews

Boat tour in the Natural Reserve of Sian Ka'an

Mexico

This was our favorite tour. The guides were all helpful and accommodating. The area is beautiful with many birds to see. Very relaxing.

Quality of Experience

The area is beautiful, and there were many birds to see.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guides were very attentive and helpful. One of us had trouble with mobility, and they made sure she was safe as she got in and out of the van and also the boat.

Transport

Punta Laguna

Mexico

The guide was very helpful and knowledgeable. The Mayan ceremony was meaningful. We did not see any wildlife though.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Uxmal site with an English speaking guide

Mexico

The guide was very knowledgeable and helpful. He was very accommodating when one of us had some difficulty walking. He found shady spots to sit when the heat became too much. We learned a lot about the Mayans.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Boat tour in Celestun

Mexico

This was wonderful. We saw many beautiful flamingoes.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walking tour in Mérida with an English speaking guide

Mérida

The guide was very informative. We learned a lot about the Mayans and their history. He altered the route when we asked and accommodated our slow walking.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Everything from start to finish was seamless. Michaels communication was the most appreciated, with quick responses and flexibility.
From the Safety and communication to the drivers and guides, everything was top notch

Hotel Reviews

Sofitel Baru Calablanca

Cartagena

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nacar Hotel Cartagena, Curio Collection by Hilton

Cartagena

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Senda Watapuy

Santa Marta

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

York Luxury Suites Medellín

El Poblado, Medellin

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Boutique Sazagua

Pereira

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hike Tayrona National Park

Colombia

Not easy, but not too difficult. Beautiful, peaceful. We loved how passionate our guide was!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Medellín Transformation Tour

Medellín

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Market Visit & Cooking Class

Cartagena

This was our favorite day, but I genuinely LOVE markets. This is a real locals market, very authentic. Shopping with purpose, and supporting the locals was the additional bonus!! Cooking was an assisted treat for my teenagers

Pop-Up Dinner (Envigado)

Medellín

It was wonderful, however I think we expected to be eating with the family. Still a really neat experience to enter the locals home. Our hosts were fantastic, energetic, welcoming. The food was incredible as well. For timing purposes, and how tired we were that day.. this is the only thing we would have skipped. …but if you have time, it’s worth it!!

Food

Transport

Charming Villages and Special Coffees

Colombia

Filandia, Salento and Valle del Cocora

Colombia

One of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our two-week journey through Morocco with KimKim was nothing short of extraordinary, and a huge part of that was thanks to our incredible driver and guide, Kalid. From day one, Kalid was patient, knowledgeable, and wonderfully accommodating, always making sure we felt comfortable, informed, and cared for throughout the trip.

Morocco itself completely captured our hearts. We experienced a fascinating culture, unforgettable cuisine, and some of the warmest, most welcoming people we’ve ever met. This trip is an absolute must for anyone who truly enjoys immersing themselves in other cultures rather than just visiting a destination.

The itinerary was perfectly balanced—taking us from the high-energy, colorful chaos of Marrakech to the peaceful, calming beauty of Chefchaouen. We watched the sun rise and set over the Sahara Desert, experienced the deep-rooted traditions of Fez, and shared unforgettable meals during a cooking class in a local family’s home, as well as lunch with a welcoming Berber family. These moments felt authentic, intimate, and incredibly special.

Standing inside the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca was breathtaking—the sheer scale and beauty of it left us in awe. And in true Morocco fashion, the diversity amazed us: we went from snow in the Atlas Mountains to the Sahara Desert in just 12 hours.

This trip was rich, diverse, thoughtfully planned, and truly exceeded our expectations in every way. We would highly recommend KimKim to anyone considering Morocco—especially travelers who want depth, authenticity, and unforgettable experiences.

There was so much more we explored and experienced. 2 weeks was a great length of time to experience what Morocco has to offer. Anything shorter I think you would be missing out.

We’ll be sharing a full travel video series from this journey on our YouTube channel, Travel With The Hales – The Curious Travelers, and can’t wait to relive and share the magic.
👉 https://www.youtube.com/@travelwiththehales

Doris did an exceptional job helping me before and during this lengthy trip to Vietnam. There were a ton of moving parts, lots of logistics and planning needed, and it couldn’t have went more smoothly. She picked out great places for me to stay, catering to the types of places I wanted to be around. She handled booking all the tours making it hassle free for everything I wanted to do, all I had to do was show up. All of the tour guides she used (the trip was across multiple cities) were incredible (especially Destiny in Hoi An/Ba Na Hills). I couldn’t have had a better time in such an amazing country, and Doris made it so easy. Highly recommend!

Day 1: airport shuttle from San Jose to LaFortuna: Ride Cr, driver, Christopher. He was waiting for us with a sign, barely spoke English, did not offer water, did not explain what the drive would be , minimal comments on the 3 1/2 hour drive, we had to ask to stop for a break.
ROyal Corin REsort was EXCELLENT!! Extremely clean, very helpful staff, most spoke English, Daily breakfast was a huge buffett with many items, food was delicious. room was large, comfortable and clean. thermal pools offered a variety of temps. However, there was no hydro massage, the jets were weak. restaurant up stairs has fabulous service and food. lower level, main restaurant was closed, but offered gthe menu on top floor restaurant

Day 2: sloth & bird hike in La Fortuna, La Jacamar Natural Tours, Rodney. HE WAS FABULOUS! spoke English, truly an expert guide, spent extra time with us, provided a scope to see the animals, shared photos. offered additional information about the area and Costa Rica.

Eco Termales Hot Springs,Jacamar driver was great. The Springs staff was not friendly or welcoming and did not offer explanation of the facilities, offered minimal comments, there was nice variety of springs and all appeared to be clean. Nice that drinks were offered at the springs, the food was medium quality and variety.

Day 3: safari float, Jacamar driver and guides spoke English and offered much information. the boat itself was uncomfortable. I would suggest a stop along the way for a small break. the guides were helpful and well informed of the area and the river.

Lake Arenal sunset cruise, Jacamar Tours, guide was good, cheese, snacks & drinks were good. they pointed out several birds and offered a lot of information about the area. It was a little boring and lasted a little long for us. I understand it was designed to be that way and relaxing, but it is my personal choice, I woul not do it again or recommend it.

Day 4: sky tram, sky adventures. zipline experience was excellent, guides gave very good instruction, views were amazing. sky adventures scheduled too much time between the zipline and the hike. Therefore, we had to shorten the hike in order to get back to the bus for the return. Maria, our hike guide was fabulous. offered much information and spoke English.

Day 5: shuttle from La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio, Interbus Costa Rica. Larger more comfortable bus, was full of passengers (approx. 12) David was our driver, he did speak minimal English and did not comment or point out much on the drive. There were 2, 20 minute stops which made the trip more comfortable. He did not offer water.

arrived as Issimo, If I knew it was such a small seculed hotel, I would have nt chosen it. Angie, our travel agent, indicated she thought it was within walking distance to attractions & town.
the Jr. Suite was very disappointing. extremely small, not place to put away clothes, had to walk down several very steep steps to get to the room. the room smelled, ac wasn't working properly, sink area super tiny, shower floor was slippery. I spoke with Olivia from Kimkim and requested to be moved to another hotel. She said this could not be done. We spoke with hotel manager about being moved to another, possible larger & more comfortable room. Gustavo did reply on Jan 26th and was able to confirm us moving to a different room. The new room was much more comfortable, smelled better and was larger. Fortunately, we were able to taxi into the nearby town. AGain, if we knew it's location and the size of the room in advance, we would have asked for a different hotel before traveling. The staff at Issimo were fabulous, most spoke English, the breakfast every morning was delightful. Our new room was clean as well as all the facilities. I will say though, that I did see a spider and ants in our room. The view, was the best part about the hotel. The did offer complimentary hotel golf cart shuttle to very nearby beaches or bank, pharmacy.

day 6: national park nature hike, Paddle 9: Korry, our guide was definitely a 10 our of 10. He took much time to explain a lot of things alonge the way, pointed out many animals, birds, etc. He spent extra time with us, shared much information about the country and the town. and shared his photos with us. he provided binoculars and the scope to see animals. small group was best, as only 4 of us with Korry. He spoke fabulous English.

day 7: catamaran adventure, Tucanes Tours. comfortable boat, drinks included were poor quality, had to buy our own beer. I called Tucanes tours in advance and was told beer & cocktails were included. Only the poor quality cocktails were included. (watered down) great views, offered snorkeling, swimming and waterslides. The guide who did the talking to the entire boat, spoke mostly in spanish and very little in English. The quaity of the bbq, was medium. pre-cooked skewers of fish and peppers & onions. the views were amazing, saw whales. sunset was amazing and the ride was impressive.

Day 8: transfer to San Jose, Ride CR: david was our driver, he did a great job with a nice stop and break along the way. AGain, they did nor provide water, but I prepared and took my own.
He poited out points of interest, his English was minimal, but we managed to communicate well.

summary, we loved Costa Rica and learned so much from the locals and guides. I will go back, and now that I know more, will plan a little differently. Gustavo, I geatly appreciate your assistance. We always felt safe, hotels were so welcoming.

John & Susan Boggess

Hotel Reviews

Issimo Suites Boutique Hotel & Spa—Adults Only

Manuel Antonio

somewhat seculed, had to shuttle or taxi everywhere, very quiet & small. would be perfect for those who want quite, calm. no entertainment, staff was extremely friendly and helpful.Don't get a Jr suite, pool was 5 ft deep, then a large drop off to deeper water. No shallow area.

Authenticity & Character

Location

views were amazing,

Cleanliness & Comfort

spider and ants in my room

The Royal Corin Thermal Water Spa & Resort - Adults Only

Fortuna

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Morning Catamaran Adventure with Barbecue

Manuel Antonio

the main guide spoke mostly in Spanish, minimal communication in English, The quality of the food was medium, only watered down cocktails were offered. We had to buy the beer, even though I called ahead and was told beer was included. HOwever, the experience, the views, the activities were great. Sunset was amazing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Manuel Antonio National Park Nature Hike

Manuel Antonio

our guide was fabulous, spent extra time with us and offered so much information about the coungtry and the town. pointed out many animals, offered the scope to see better and shared his photos.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sky Tram, Ziplines & Sky Walk Adventure

Arenal/La Fortuna

a must do in Costa Rica, guides were excellent in giving information and instruction.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lake Arenal Sunset Cruise with Wine & Cheese

Arenal/La Fortuna

views were amazing and guides were very informative. it was a bit long, we thought it would be a small groupl

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Río Peñas Blancas Safari Float Experience

Arenal/La Fortuna

boat was uncomfortable, suggest a short break

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

EcoTermales Hot Springs Experience with Meal

Arenal/La Fortuna

staff was not welcoming and did not tell us what the experience would be, food was medium quality, the springs were a good experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

better communication by the staff at the facility.

Transport

Sloth & Bird Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

guide was fabulous, saw so many animals

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our family just spent two weeks in Morocco. We’ve used Kimkim before to arrange other trips and used them again for this one (wouldn’t do an international trip without them)! Said was extremely easy to work with as we planned the itinerary, which was jam packed with so many amazing adventures (as we like it)! We did walking tours, a food tour, sunrise hot air balloon ride, camped in the Sahara, rode camels, sand boarded, met Nomad families, took a cooking class (so happy I now know how to make Tangine), spent an afternoon in a hammam, shopped in the souks, ate amazing food, made stops at argan, saffron and rose co-ops, learned about making rugs (and bought several), hiked in the mountains, toured Atlas Studios, visited Ait Ben Haddou, and ended at the Atlantic Ocean.

Said made sure our accommodations were top notch and every detail was covered. But what really made the trip all pull together was our driver Karim. He was with us for the whole two weeks, which we loved! He became a part of our family and really made our trip safe, comfortable and fun. It was so helpful to have his help for translations when needed. He recommended, and arranged for great lunches on the road, and when our itinerary needed to change due to a closed mountain pass, he arranged a new route and found us a different hotel. This all flowed so seamlessly and we never had to worry about a thing. Karim was phenomenal!

This trip exceeded all of our expectations. All of our accommodations and activities were perfect. We especially loved staying at La Maison Arabe in Marrakesh, along with Tiziri Luxury Camp in Merzougha. And don’t miss dinner at Dardar Rooftop (Marrakesh). Go for the sunset!

Hotel Reviews

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

How fun to stay in comfortable tents in the middle of the Sahara! We were there in January which was a bit chilly. We so appreciated the heaters in the tents and electric blankets. Evening music around the fire was a special treat!

Authenticity & Character

Location

It’s a long haul to get here from Marrrakesh, where we started, but worth every minute!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Maison Arabe

Marrakech

Loved everything about this hotel! The staff were so attentive and accommodating, and the breakfast each morning was phenomenal. The decor was beautiful and location was within walking distance to great restaurants, the Souks, and the main square. Would highly recommend staying here!

Authenticity & Character

Gorgeous decor.

Location

Can easily walk to all the fun things

Staff

Attentive and welcoming

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Tour of Essaouira

Essaouira

It was good to have someone show us around the town. Afterwards, we felt comfortable navigating g on our own. Said was our guide, who was kind and personable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Cooking Class

Essaouira

One of the best things we did on our vacation. Isaac opened up his home. This was a fantastic experience!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Isaac was awesome!

Transport

Visit of Atlas cinema studios in Ouarzazate

Ouarzazate

It was a pretty quiet day when we visited which was kind of fun. We basically had the place to ourselves. There were a couple of opportunities to dress up and “act” which was a blast.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Marrakech Evening Food Tour

Marrakesh

We were reluctant to eat food from street vendors prior to this tour. Our guide was able to put us at ease and we felt comfortable to try everything. We even went back to these same vendors later in our trip for great food.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our driver drove us to the meeting spot with our guide which was great

A Relaxing Hammam Experience: The Art of Moroccan Wellness

Morocco

Doing a hammam while in Morocco is a great idea. But I didn’t feel that our particular hammam was ready for us. They were unorganized. We prepaid through Kimkim but they still were asking for payment. This hammam took our whole family at one time and the five us were bathed at one time. I would have been more comfortable doing males and females separately.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver was great. Staff at the hammam was not very friendly

Transport

Karim brought us both ways and walked us right to the door.

Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride in Marrakech

Marrakesh

This was our first hot air balloon ride. We were picked up at our hotel and driven out to the starting point. We all felt safe and enjoyed this thoroughly! The sunrise over the mountains was breathtaking.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day trip from Marrakech to Amizmiz Valley

Marrakesh

What an experience!! Our driver took us to the valley where we picked up our guide Latifa. She led us through small villages and was able to translate for us. We ended up having lunch with a family and it was the best meal of our whole trip. The village kids liked to follow us as we passed through their village, and we ended up playing soccer with them. A day we’ll never forget!

Quality of Experience

Food

Best food we had all trip!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Latifa was great!

Transport

Karin drove us to the valley.

Half-Day Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

Chafik was our guide and he was super knowledgeable and fun. He was flexible and patient with us as we had many questions. Once we hit the souls, he helped us navigate the streets and taught us the art of Haggling. A perfect way to start our trip!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our guide met us at our hotel lobby and we could walk right from there.