Kimkim Trip Reviews

We couldn’t have asked for a better experience for our once-in-a-lifetime mother-daughter trip than our Immersion Morocco tour. Our driver, Ahmed, was reliable, punctual, informative, funny, fun, and thoughtful. After 11 days and almost 2000 kilometers and many hours of sharing each other’s music and trading stories about families, sports, everyday customs and courtesies, it felt like we parted as friends who’d learned a lot about each other’s country.

Aside from some weather-related changes in itinerary, everything ran smoothly. All the hotels were lovely and in good locations for further exploration on our own. The city guides were professional and knowledgeable and added much to our understanding of what we were seeing, whether historical sites or architecture or everyday life in souks and villages. We really did feel “immersed” especially when we were welcomed into homes for home-cooked meals (always better than any restaurant) and a memorable excursion through a Rose Valley village.

We had tried to prepare for the trip by reading about Morocco but nothing came close to the detail and nuances we gained from Ahmed, our city guides, and just getting ourselves off the beaten path.

We highly recommend Morocco Immersion to anyone and will definitely use them again if we are lucky enough to return (which we DO plan to do someday!).

Our trip to Patagonia was all that we had hoped for and more. We not only took an amazing cruise but visited areas that others rarely get to see. Our trip to the Marble Caves stands out. It was a challenge to get there but well worth it. Luis, our driver, was excellent. 65Had basically came down to details from our original trip not being set up for our eventual trip. 2 times drivers were expected to pick us up and 2 times they had the wrong timing on their information and we were left stranded. Marcela however, always got the issue fixed. We had a few difficulties with drivers/guides unable to speak English, but we were always able to figure it out.
My favorite part of the trip was our 2 days Puma hunting. Our guide and driver did an outstanding job and we saw 2 Pumas.

Activity Review

Photo Safari Puma Tracking

Patagonia

I really enjoyed this portion of the trip. We spotted 2 Pumas on our 2nd day. They were very far away but it was thrilling nonetheless. It became a bit tedious when we travelled the same area over and over but I know they were looking in the best spots.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Eleanor was absolutely stellar. She planned an amazing trip for us that surpassed our widest expectations. She was responsive, helpful, and generous with ideas and suggestions. She is a star.
Our accommodations were all fabulous, particularly the Ryokan in Naishima, the hotel in Kyoto and in Wakka.
All of the guides were great, but our Hiroshima guide was truly outstanding.

Hotel Reviews

Naoshima Ryokan Roka

Naoshima

This ryokan is outstanding! It is probably the most amazing place I have ever had the pleasure of staying. The location is perfect for accessing art on the island, and the tranquil 8 room setting, replete with private baths in the room, is wonderful. The meals are exquisite, with perfectly prepared Japanese delicacies in artful presentation. A nice in a lifetime experience.

Authenticity & Character

This is a serene and sophisticated ryokan in a tranquil setting. Every need will be catered to.

Location

The hotel is in walking and biking distance to The New Museum and to the art houses in town. Complimentary electric bicycles and shuttle service are available on site.

Staff

The staff is courteous and will meet your every need.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Stunning, spacious rooms with private baths overlooking beautiful outdoor areas.

Wakka

Ehime

The location of this beautiful hotel is perfect. Located on the water, the views are stunning and the food is amazing. We stayed in one of the 8 private large separate units that included a hibachi dinner on the porch of the unit. It was one of the best meals f our trip.

Authenticity & Character

The tranquility of the location and the meticulous service are outstanding.

Location

This hotel is in an exquisite location on the water. The views are beautiful.

Staff

Lovely, helpful staff who go above and beyond to provide the guest with a comfortable experience.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kyoto Umekoji Kadensho - Private Bath Facility

This hotel provides an upscale and authentic experience. Tatami mats throughout the facility ensure cleanliness and tranquility. The baths are large and lovely, and the food is excellent.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Located across from a train station with a five minute ride to central Kyoto.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Full Day Miyajima Island and Memorial Park Tour

Hiroshima

This is a must-do experience for any visitor to Japan. The Peace Museum is a moving and profound experience. I will never forget it, and I believe every visitor should experience it in order to fully appreciate both history and human behavior.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was fantastic. She had a comprehensive understanding of Japanese history, culture, and Japan’s historical importance.

Transport

Pros: nice hotel, great driver (Reach) and guide Sen Soeu. Soeu had a very pleasant demeanor and knowledgeable.
Cons: we would have liked to know before that we were going in to really poor areas. Also it would have helped to know when and how much to tip at each stop.
Lastly we were not happy that you could have gotten us a Visa express back in Saigon.

I normally don't use a tour company, but I was so grateful for Eleanor's help guiding me. She was very patient, flexible and knowledgeable. She was great working with us to get the trip within our price point and she had really good suggestions about where to stay, what to see and what to do. She guided us every step of the way and our trip turned out to be great. We want to give a huge shout out to our tour guide Seiya Maegawa. He was awesome and really made Kyoto come alive.

We spent 3 nights in Tokyo and found the city exciting and generally easy to navigate. Our tour guide Toru was knowledgeable and helpful. The 1/2 day group was fun also. 2 nights in Hakone with a stay at Hakone Hotel Kajikaso, a vey nice place with in room pool or public onsen baths. The are is mountainous and very quiet. Quite crowded at lake Ashi but fantastic stroll on the old Tokaido trail to mountain side tea house. 2 nights in Takayama, a cute old city area and very nice compact old village area Hida in sato that is walkable from the hotel. 2 nights in Kanazawa with village visits Asako on the way there then a city tour with Nicola. Both guides were excellent and full of knowledge. 4 nights in Kyoto with a great second day tour with Yasuko. The old Gion area and Arashiyama area were very crowded, go early in the morning. The train station has a light show in the evening between the 4th and 10th floor that is near the food courts and exceptional. The day to KIX airport we stopped at Osaka castle and found that well worth the visit. Overall the trip was a great learning experience, Suica cards, subways, trains, buses and a great deal of walking. Have fun

Esteban was an exceptional guide! He was flexible, a wealth of knowledge and fun to be around. Esteban was professional and provided us a great experience in Guatemala!

I'd like to thank Mayra and the team she worked with to coordinate a very smooth experience on our Argentina trip. The coordination of hotels, domestic flights, transfers, guides, tours, etc all worked very well. I traveled with our two sons and they also enjoyed this trip. Thanks again

Hotel Reviews

Dazzler by Wyndham Polo Hotel Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires

Courteous staff, nice breakfast options, central to Buenos Aires

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rochester Bariloche

San Carlos de Bariloche

Breakfast delivered to the room; beautiful view of the lake. Staff very helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Northern Buenos Aires Exploration & Childhood Memories

Buenos Aires

Our guide, Valeria, was extremely knowledgeable. In a few hours, we covered a lot of sights in Buenos Aires. My thanks to her.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Navigation to Victoria Island with VIP Cabin

Bariloche

Knowledgeable staff; we highly recommend the VIP Cabin which made the trip extra special

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Majid did a phenomenal job planning our wonderful adventure in Morocco. He patiently listened to everything we wanted, thoughtfully refining the itinerary until we somehow managed to fit it all into our nine-day trip!

We were greeted at the airport by Hamid, our enthusiastic and amiable escort for the first few days as we explored Marrakech and the Agafay Desert. In Marrakech, we stayed at Riad Idra, an unbelievably beautiful and enchanting riad tucked inside the Medina and a fantastic home base for exploring the city. Our Marrakech guide, also named Hamid, was exceptionally knowledgeable and showed us all the highlights of the Medina, followed by an amazing evening food tour. We even ate snails!

Next, we headed to Alkamar Camp in the desert for a magical camel-riding and overnight glamping experience that was truly once in a lifetime.

From there, we were met by Ziad, who would be our driver for the majority of the trip. I cannot say enough wonderful things about him. Kind, attentive, and incredibly thoughtful, Ziad took care of us like an older brother every step of the way. He even came to pick us up from dinner one evening in Chefchaouen when I was simply too tired to tackle all the stairs!

Our next stop was Rabat, where we were guided by Osman, a native of the city who really brought it to life for us. He introduced us to all the major sights as well as some of his favorite hidden gems. We spent the night at The View Hotel, which was a luxurious and comfortable place to stay.

From Rabat, Ziad drove us to Fes, where we stayed at Palais Amani, another beautiful and charming riad. We especially enjoyed the hammam and the wonderful mint tea that greeted us upon arrival. Our one suggestion would be for kimkim to try to secure a larger room for two friends traveling together, as our room was a bit on the small side. Our guide in Fes took us to so many fascinating places, including workshops where local artisans create beautiful ceramics, which was a particular highlight.

Finally, we made our way to Chefchaouen, the enchanting Blue City. Our guide there was wonderful and introduced us to the many talented artisans and craftsmen who make the city so special. We stayed at the Taj Hotel, which was lovely, although it involved quite a climb up many stairs. If possible, we would recommend that future travelers be accommodated somewhere a little more centrally located within the Medina.

We were truly sad to say goodbye to Morocco after such an incredible adventure. Every destination offered something special, and the people who helped us along the way made the experience all the more memorable. From Majid's thoughtful planning to the wonderful guides, drivers, and accommodations, the entire trip was exceptional.

We would wholeheartedly recommend Majid and kimkim to anyone looking to plan a Moroccan adventure. You will be in wonderful hands!

Our driver Younesse Bouabid was outstanding. We can’t say enough good things about him. He shared insights and was always on call if we needed anything or had questions.

My wife and I have just completed an amazing trip to Portugal, using KimKim to help plan our 21 days there. Before I go any further, I want to say how invaluable the KimKim app was during the trip. Everyday’s itinerary was easily accessible, with the names of hotels, guides, drivers and their contact numbers.

We had many excellent guides and a few really stood out. Our Lisbon’s walking tour guide, Pedro A. impressed us with his historical and cultural knowledge of the city, plus it was exciting to have a shot of Ginjinha at 11 in the morning. In Porto, Carlotta guided us about and showed us the most important site in the city, the hospital she was born at. Carlotta also does food tours and directed us to a delicious dinner and a great evening of conversation with the owner. Our tour of the Douro Valley with Pedro was exceptional, with wine, port and olive oil tasting. Our tour guide to Peneda-Gerês National Park was a spunky woman named Inês. She joyfully led us on trails ending with beautiful waterfalls and a small village with a traditional lunch. On Madeira our rental car was waiting for us to explore the tropical island on our own. We hiked with Margarita through lush forests to beautiful waterfalls. Paulo, a professor of biology and geology, educated us about the world of cork production.
Hector and Espiritu Travel exceeded our expectations with the itinerary he designed from our initial thoughts for Portugal.
KimKim will be at the top of our list when planning our next trip

We had an incredible experience with the KimKim service. The personal touch, individual attention to our specific wants was much appreciated. Our tour guides were very experienced, friendly and very accommodating. We cannot thank you enough. Our trip to Hakone was exceptional, our Architectural Tour Guide in Gion was entertaining and filled us with a sense of awe. Our self-guided day that you planned for us in Arashiyama was the best experience.
I cannot thank you enough. I will not hesitate to use your services again on our next adventure.
I know you did not orchestrate our last impression of Mount Fuji as we flew away, but I kind of think you had a hand in it.

Activity Reviews

Kyoto’s Traditional Beauty & Samurai Heritage Experience

Japan

This was a great tour. We not only toured Kyoto and was awestruck with the temples and shrines but traveling via, trains and local buses was a lot of fun.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A Day in Tokyo: Tradition, Culture, and City Views with Tsukiji Outer Market

Tokyo

This particular tour was exhausting. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable but was very tired and less enthusiastic as the day went on.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hakone Exploration with Mt. Fuji Views & Volcano

Japan

Chun was over the top awesome. This day goes down as one of our favorite days ever.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tokyo Night Foodie Tour in Shinjuku

Tokyo

Our tour guide was a college student who was very friendly and personable but the attractions that he took us to was not appreciated. Having said that the two sites we went for dinner were very good, where we had dessert- was a miss.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ginza Architecture Walking Tour

Tokyo

This tour was exceptional. The explanations and history behind these iconic buildings in Gion was incredible. Our tour guide was incredible, he had an iPad to provide visuals and extra reading material if we were interested.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to Portugal was fantastic! Julia and Summer did a great job setting everything up and communicating throughout the process. Everything flowed smoothly, and we had the nicest people as tour guides and drivers. I have already highly recommended Kimkim’s to a few people, and will continue to do so. Thank you all for a wonderful experience.

We had a great trip to Greece. While planning the trip we worked with Gustavo who was very helpful in planning the details. We let him know the kinds of things we were interested in, and then iterated the ideas until we had a plan we liked.
While we were in the country the operations team Lea and Maria were very helpful. They would check on us from time to time to make sure everything was going smoothly. At one point, the local tour company had to cancel one of our tours because of the weather, and Kimkim worked with them to quickly get us a refund.
All of our local guides were great, and we felt that we really learned a lot about Greek history, and got to know some of the people there.
I felt that having a private tour customized for what we wanted to do was much nicer than doing a big packaged tour, and having the local guides gave us a lot of knowledge that we miss out on when doing self guided tours.

Hotel Reviews

Athens Manor Houses

Athens

A nice hotel centrally located in the old part of Athens near the acropolis, shops, and many restaurants. The breakfast buffet was good. The rooms were clean and comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Located right in the old part of Athens near the acropolis and many shops and restaurants.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Villa Vager Mani

Mani, Peloponnisos

This hotel is located in an old building outside Kalamata. The staff was great, and they had a great breakfast. The rooms were very large, but being old they lacked somewhat in warmth. The one downside of this hotel is that it is located a ways from Kalamata. There are two tavernas that you can walk to for dinner, but other than that you need a car or need to call a taxi.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sofitel Athens Airport

Athens

This is a big modern hotel, which is not really my style. The food is kind of expensive compared with what we had gotten used to. If you have any early morning flight the location is great. Otherwise why would you stay here.

Authenticity & Character

It’s a big modern hotel with no character.

Location

If you have any early morning flight this location can’t be beat. If you are doing anything else the location is not great.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kinsterna Hotel Monemvasia

Monemvasia Peloponnese

A large resort hotel. It was off season, so there were not many guests. It has a huge breakfast buffet with lots of choices.

Authenticity & Character

Location

I think that it is intended to be a self contained resort. They have activities on site, but if you want to do anything else (like visit Monemvasia) you need some kind of transportation.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

We had a Byzantine room in the old part of the hotel.

Leto Nuevo Hotel

Nafplio

This hotel was conveniently located in old town Nafplio. It had a nice breakfast buffet. Other than that the rooms were small, and I didn’t think it had much charm.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Located in old town Nafplio

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Small rooms and tiny bathrooms. When it rained hard water came in and got the floor wet.

Activity Reviews

Private Acropolis & Highlights Walk with Food Tastings

Athens

This was maybe my favorite activity. Our guide was great, and we learned a lot about Greek history.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Tour of the Villages of Mani (from Kalamata)

Kalamata

This tour was mostly riding in the van for a long time. The guide was interesting and informative, but I was expecting more time to actually explore some of the villages. We did have a little time to explore Areopolis on our own. This was probably my least favorite activity.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Cooking Class in Nafplio

Nafplio

This was a great experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Self-guided Tour of Monemvasia

Greece

Monemvasia was very interesting. We felt that it would have been nice to have a guide to learn more of its history and provide transport. We called the resort to call a taxi for us to get back.

Quality of Experience

Private Guided Trip to Mystras with Traditional Lunch

Monemvasia

A very interesting site. We had a great lunch after.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide seemed very knowledgeable.

Self-Guided Lycabettus Hill Visit

Athens

I didn’t do this activity. After a long morning I decided to rest.

Vineyard Hike with Lunch & Local Wine

Monemvasia

We learned a lot about different kinds of olives and grapes. We had a nice wine tasting, and then a great meal.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Coastal Hike with Picnic

Nafplio

This was just a long walk along an empty beach.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was ok, but he spent a lot of time on his phone. We had the same guide for a bike tour the day before, and he was a lot better for that.

Culinary Walk, Olive Oil Tasting & Lunch

Kalamata

The olive oil tasting was good, but by the time it was over we decided to skip the meal because it was getting so late.

Quality of Experience

Food

We ended up skipping the meal because it was getting so late.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

There was no transport back to Village Varga so we had to call a taxi.

Historic Highlights E-Bike Excursion

Athens

An interesting tour of the city. We had seen some of the sites the day before, but there were new sites as well.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We walked to the start, which was fine. The e-bikes they had were ok, but not great. Our other two e-bike tours had much nicer bikes.

E-Bike to Gialova, Voidokilia Beach & Kalamaris Waterfall

Greece

We didn’t actually go to the beach or the waterfall, but the alternative things we saw were great.

Authentic Athens Awaits: The Petralona Experience

Athens

This didn’t include any famous historical sites, but we met some interesting local people, and ended with a nice dinner.

Guided Hike Through Ridomo Gorge

Greece

The gorge was very impressive. It was harder than I expected.with some scrambling over large rocks.

PThe entire trip was well planned by Mieke, taking in my input and adding suggestions and advice along the way. The result was a well balanced adventure between hotel stays with day hikes , temples to visit, an amazing festival to attend, and then the trek itself. So I would break down the trip in 2 parts, hotels and the trek.
The hotels were amazing, in beauty, in hospitality, and comfort. We started with Pemako Thimphu, where we all dressed in traditional attire and danced to everyone’s mutual embarrassment. Thimphu visit included city tour and several hikes to local temples and an amazing festival. On to Punakha where the accommodation was one of the most unique I have ever experienced, starting with my butler , Kemcho! Truly wonderful experience and the nicest tent I have ever stayed in. We liked it so much that we skipped the Lake hike the next day and just stayed on the property, walked along the river, did archery , had a massage.. wonderful day,
Then back to Paro but not before a great hike above the pass to the Lungchutse temple and magnificent views of Himalayas . Uma Paro that night and , again, beautiful hotel and people ,
The trek began the next day, the trail was rustic but manageable and the pace appropriate. The crew horsemen,cook helpers, did all they could to keep us comfortable , and very well fed! The weather became an issue as we went over the Bhonte La pass, camped in snow that night , modified our route and hiked out the next day.
Back to Uma Paro for couple nights and finished with hike to the Tigers Nest, unforgettable!
The entire trip was everything I had hoped for, made an indelible impact on myself, my son, and son in law, and our friend Chris. A couple things need to be mentioned though. Our guide Namgay, bless his heart we loved him, but he was unintelligible! I would have gotten so much more out of the trip had he been more clear, very heavy accent. My hearing is impaired but even the others in our group found him extremely difficult to understand, like less than maybe 20 %.
Money exchange: ATMs were available and functioning fortunately since the Hotels would not exchange 100’s with older issue dates(as all mine had) may want to let people know this, dates on bills have to be newer than 2007
.

First of all, I would like to commend the logistics, which were absolutely flawless. Every single transfer between cities, airport pickups, drop-offs, and excursions happened exactly on time, as scheduled. The punctuality and coordination were highly professional, and we are very grateful for that.
However, we had mixed experiences with the accommodations and the itinerary layout:
Singapore: The hotel was listed as a 5-star property, but it definitely did not feel like one. It was centrally located, but during breakfast, the bread, pastries, and even the croissants felt stale and old. Furthermore, we realized its location wasn’t ideal compared to other options. When we were picked up for a city tour, we visited another 5-star hotel located right by the canal. The atmosphere there was beautiful, and it would have been much nicer to be able to step out in the evening and enjoy a pleasant walk along the water.
Melaka: Since it is a tiny town where we only spent one night, we have no complaints about the stay.
Kuala Lumpur: The hotel here was absolutely perfect. It was a wonderful, truly 5-star experience in every way.
Penang: This was the biggest disappointment of our trip. The hotel was terrible. The room had a foul, overwhelming smell coming from the carpet; it was so bad that all of our clothes and belongings ended up smelling like it. To make matters worse, there was thick dust everywhere.. While it was in the city center, the surrounding area was a massive construction zone. There were no proper sidewalks, and crossing the street was nearly impossible.
Cameron Highlands (Tea Plantations): We will not evaluate the original hotel planned for this stop, as we decided to change it ourselves. We truly appreciate the team's flexibility and support in allowing us to switch hotels at that stage.
Our main critique regarding the itinerary:
We feel that the time allocation between the cities was poorly balanced. We spent three days in Penang, where there was much less to see, but only a day and a half in Kuala Lumpur, which has so much more to offer. As travelers unfamiliar with the country, we completely relied on KimKim’s expertise. We assumed the advisor had a good reason to allocate more time to Penang, but in reality, three days was far too long for such a small town, especially given the state of the hotel.
Overall, while the transportation and service were perfect, we wish more care had been put into selecting the hotels and optimizing the itinerary.
On a final note, I have a direct question for KimKim: have your agents actually stayed at these hotels themselves? The main reason I relied on KimKim’s expertise was to ensure that the accommodations would be carefully vetted so we wouldn't end up disappointed.

Hotel Reviews

RuMa Hotel

The hotel here was absolutely perfect. It was a wonderful, truly 5-star experience in every way.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Amara Hotel Singapore

Singapore

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Baba House

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Zenith

Cameron Highlands

Cleanliness & Comfort

Royale Chulan Georgetown

George Town

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Gardens by the Bay Excursion

Singapore

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Singapore Half Day City Tour

Singapore

Walking City Tour Melaka

Melaka

Kuala Lumpur Walking City Tour

Kuala Lumpur

Penang (Island Exploration)

Penang

Mossy Forest & BOH Tea Plantation

Cameron Highlands

We are forever grateful for the wonderful experience we have had with KimKim from the beginning of the planning process to the end of our travels last week. We thank Hakim and the OrionTrek team in Morocco as well as the US counterparts team including Kimberly and Greg. We partnered with great guides, private drivers and accomodations staff throughout our stay in Morocco with utmost attention to detail and impressive customer service! We can't thank them enough and can't wait to work with KimKim again in the near future!

Hotel Reviews

Riad Jaaneman

Marrakech

Authenticity & Character

Location

Hidden down a little alleyway without a sign indicating location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The White Camel Lodge

Agafay, Marrakech

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Tour in Marrakech

Marrakesh

We loved the private guided tour. We started with the Marjorelle gardens self guided tour which was great followed by walking through the souks and market. They were very crowded but was neat to see. Unfortunately we couldnt see the Madrasa Ben Youssef due to long lines and Bahia palace was closed I believe.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-Day Hike in Imlil Village, Return to Marrakech

Morocco

Had a great hike this day. The lunch at the family home was wonderful and we enjoyed the views from the terrace where we had lunch which was very delicious. Very friendly home and great experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traditional Hammam & Massage

Morocco

Please mention in future that it is a couples massage. Didn't realize we had to take off bathing suits and only wear a disposable underwear instead and fully naked x 2 people in a room together. We also were split up in groups of 4 so the women went first and the men went last. Great exfoliation and massage with argan oil was very nice. The women just transferred back via driver to Riad where we showered and the men walked back to our Riad and showered there before we headed to dinner.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Little confusing with driver about dropoff and pickup times for 4 people followed by the other 4 people

Transport

Atlas Safari in Agafay and the High Atlas Mountains

Morocco

We loved this safari but wanted it to be shortened a litte bit so we can spend time at the White camel lodge before darkness fell.

Quality of Experience

Food

The lunch at the Berber house was very eye opening. Not like the one we had the day before. Much more rural and lot of flies were present.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cooking Workshop & Local Food

Morocco

It took us a while to walk to the location of the cooking workshop. We had a very long wait to get started and then once we did start it was fun! Afterwards however the burners were malfunctioning and it was indicated that the tagines would be ready in 30-40 minutes but it took 2.5 hours instead so everyone was a little frustrated about that as we wanted to have some open free time in the afternoon to go explore other places which we didn't have time for.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunset Camel Ride in Agafay

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Food Tour & Local Gastronomy

Morocco

Great food tour experiencing and tasting different items but very crowded in the souks/market.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Overnight in the Desert Stone in Agafay with a Camel Ride for the Sunset

Agafay

Great experience in Agafay. We wished we could've had an extra day here. Exceptional service and wonderful luxury camp.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We asked Greg to plan us a trip of a lifetime a boy, did he, and Cory, deliver. The itinerary was the perfect combination of site seeing, activities with locals, and relaxation. The pacing of each day was perfect and all the suggestions given for food and other things were phenomenal. Greg connected us with tour guides who made us feel like they wanted to spend the day with us and who we were genuinely sad to leave (shout out Karolina and Pam) and hotels that ticked every box. They gave specific instructions on transportation and we had zero problems navigating between cities. Overall, I would (and have) highly recommend this experience as well as KimKim and the Greg/Cory team. It was indeed the trip of a lifetime

Hotel Reviews

Hotel the Celestine Tokyo Shiba

Tokyo

Comfortable first place to get started but a bit removed

Authenticity & Character

Location

Just felt very far from everything. However close to the subways

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Kanazawa Zoushi

Kanazawa

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Marufukuro

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hakone Kowakien Ten-yu

Hakone

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Izakaya food tour in Shinjuku (14 small tastings)

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Food

The first spot was great, but I didn’t find myself feeling like anything else that we did was particularly something I needed a food tour for

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The tour guide was a lot of energy but not really in an endearing way

Transport

Lots of walking on already, tired feet

Fun ramen cooking class with gyoza

Tokyo

This was an amazing experience that set the tone for our trip. Really was super fun and the guides were phenomenal.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Greg gave us a picture of the building so we knew what we were looking for which was really helpful.

Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony with Kimono Wearing (Higashiyama)

Japan

Such a wonderful experience, and they let you keep the kimonos on until 6 o’clock. I wish I’d known that ahead of time because I definitely would’ve planned our day a little bit differently.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover the Art of Japanese Forging at a Historic Kyoto Smithy

Kyoto

This was such a fun experience! Plus, taking home your own knife that you foraged in Japan is pretty cool

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Greg and Cory gave very clear instructions on how to get to this place and it was super helpful

Discover the secret gems of Kanazawa - Omicho Market & Samurai District - Private Walking Tour

Kanazawa

Quality of Experience

It was a private tour with just the two of us and our guide and it made for really personalized experience which was great

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Karolina was really a wonderful guide.

Transport

Private Kyoto Temples & Gion Tour

Japan

I cannot say enough wonderful things about Pam! Plus, this is our first adventure into Kyoto and she made sure we saw everything even things we didn’t know we needed to see

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Pam is such a delight

Transport

Go-Kart Tour - Akihabara

Tokyo

This was super fun and a lot less anxiety producing than I thought it was gonna be. Only feedback here is I would’ve liked to have known a little bit more about what we were driving by

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Maki-e Experience: Lacquered Chopsticks or Japanese Bowls

Kanazawa

This was really cool and our host and the artist were really sweet. We had a great time talking to them and creating art.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kintsugi Experience at Shikata Urushi, A Centuries-Old Japanese-Urushi Shop in Kyoto

Kyoto

Highly recommend this experience. We really had a wonderful time.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

KimKim review

From the start of planning our 14 day expedition to Venice, Florence, and Rome, our experience with KimKim was outstanding. They listened to our wants and we didn't feel like we were being given a standard package. Throughout the preparation Valentina tailored our daily schedule and was always available to answer our questions. The experience of working with the KimKim and StoryWalking teams was seamless, we were never left guessing, and we are beyond pleased with their expertise.

Highlight of the trip -- our daytrip from Rome to the Amalfi coast.
Roberto was the most amazing driver and guide. From pickup (and walking us back into) the Naples train station, navigating the Almafi roads, drivers, and tourists, including stops at the local shops, calling out the key sights and their importance, and ensuring we had a cliffside table looking onto the Mediterrean for a delightful lunch, Roberto ensured we could focus on the breathtaking views and charm of Positano, Amalfi, Ravello and the various small towns between.

Above & Beyond mentions include:
Silvia who met 4 jet-lagged adults arriving in Venice for the first time went above and beyond by far. Guiding us (and even helping us tranport some of our luggage) onto the water taxi, onto the pier closest to our hotel, through the various streets, across the bridges, safely to the hotel and then repeating it all for our departure to for Florence, including getting us into the Venice train station and explaining the information boards and how to find the right car for boarding.

Chiara who quickly worked us when we missed our tour of the Pantheon to arrange a tour the following day.

Best Hotel: Grand Hotel Cavour in Florence. Location, staff, and the rooftop terrace/bar were amazing.

Recommendation to KimKim and alert to fellow travelers. The updated itineraries sent duringthe trip don't indicate when a change has occurred. It would be helpful to highlight in some small way in the message itself, e.g. a "!!" any adjustment to the schedule since prior plans were made using the information provided on the app.

This was our first time using a travel specialist. The KimKim team won our business and we are sure to be repeat clients in the future.

Hotel Reviews

Al Theatro Palace

Venice

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grand Hotel Cavour

Florence

Oasis in the heart of Florence. The views from the rooftop terrace are stunning!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel dei Borgognoni

Rome

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Positano, Amalfi and Ravello from Naples - Private Driver

Naples

Perfect day trip. Driver was wonderful

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Legendary Venice: St. Mark’s Basilica with Terraces & Doge’s Palace

Venice

Quality of Experience

I

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Siena and San Gimignano tour with dinner in Tuscany at a boutique winery

Florence

The bus left late from Florence. The guide in Siena was great. But the tour team didn’t have their act together. A couple didn’t arrive back to the meeting place in San Gimigiano at the stated time. The guide didn’t realize their absence until the van was loaded and ready to leave for the Winery. We waited over an hour while the tour operator tries to determine e who was missing - they had no idea which people were on the van. Missed the winery tour. Everyone was starved and Dinner was rushed. Definitely most frustrating part of our trip.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Venice Gondola Ride

Venice

Very much a touristy event. Will not repeat.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Best of Florence Walking Tour with David & the Duomo

Italy

Guide was good but felt a bit like reading from a script. Not as engaging as pther guides during the trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Colosseum & Ancient Rome Tour with Roman Forum

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Vatican Tour with Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica

Rome

Guide was top notch

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Castel Sant’Angelo Skip-the-Line - (only ticket)

Rome

Worth seeing

Quality of Experience

Pantheon Guided Tour

Rome

Outstanding. Guide was very well versed and thought provoking. Definitely brought deep knowledge of Ancient Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

My husband and I recently went on our Honeymoon - a dream vacation we'd talked about for years to Portugal, and KimKim travel, and our main contact Marisa at Across Portugal, helped make the trip truly unforgettable. From our first conversations with Marisa through the end of our trip, everyone was an absolute pleasure to work with. They planned a completely customized trip for us through Lisbon, Nazaré, Óbidos, Porto, Madeira, and São Miguel, and we loved every minute of it.

Everything they arranged for us was wonderful, including our hotels, restaurants, tours, drivers, and guides. Our drivers and guides were especially fantastic, incredibly knowledgeable about Portugal, friendly, and just genuinely nice people.

There were also so many thoughtful surprises throughout the trip, including welcome baskets, flowers on the bed, a private wine tasting, and an amazing luxury boat tour.

Most importantly, Marisa and the team were so incredibly helpful and kind, genuinely excited for us and our vacation, and they let us know they'd always be available when we needed them, both before and during our trip. We felt completely taken care of!

We fell in love with Portugal and definitely plan to return. We would use KimKim and Across Portugal again without hesitation! Highly recommended for a once in a lifetime experience!