Kimkim Trip Reviews

Monteverde was wonderful. Ficus is PERFECT in almost every way. I WILL go back there as soon as I can get there.
The guides, especally Juan Carlos at El Tigre, were wonderful.

Santa Teresa was a little ragged for our tastes. It looks perfect for 20-somethings who might be looking for surfing and meeting other young people, but it was somewhat hard to get around in and just not for us. The Fuego Lodge was nice and Candelaria was a huge help when I needed it, but after Ficus in Monteverde, anything else is hard to compare.

All drivers were courteous and extremely reliable.

Hotel Reviews

Hampton by Hilton San José Airport

Alajuela

A good overnighter.

Fuego Lodge

Cobano

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ficus Sunset Suites

Monteverde

Perfection!!!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

TreeTram, Hanging Bridges & Zipline Adventure

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

El Tigre Waterfalls Excursion

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tortuga Island Day Trip

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Thank you to KimKim for having organized a wonderful trip for my daughter and I. We were able to organize a trip that balanced our need for personal down time and for seeing the local sights. All of the activities and bookings had been taken care of in advance so everything went very smoothly. Our local guide, Ismael, was wonderfully attentive and professional. A wonderful trip, and I would recommend KimKim for anyone needing assistance to book a trip.

We had a truly enriching experience in this trip. The service level was of level we have never seen before. Our guide Dy met us at the airport and was with us for every single activity all the way to seeing us off at the airport. She was very very nice, knowledgeable and easy to converse with. Our itinerary was just right, although we really wish we had (at least) one more day in Siem Reap. Every single thing was taken care of in the package, the guide with the transport of the day would meet us at our hotel at exactly the scheduled time and drop us back for our free time when the scheduled part ended. The car (a Lexus SUV) was very nice and comfortable, and the tuktuk and the tuktuk driver we used on one of our days was also very nice. Dy is also an expert cyclist and guided us very gently on our cycling tour of the temples. The kayaking team was also super-nice and ensured we had an amazing day even when it was so hot. They think of everything - there's always cold water to drink, cold towels to freshen you up. Our 'dine with the locals' activity was truly special and we are so happy we could interact with a Cambodian family in their own home. Our driver 'Yaya' was also very sweet and would buy us different snacks while he waited.

The quality of rooms and the service at hotel Sokkhak Boutique was also beyond words. I have never had such warm and courteous and thoughtful service anywhere I have been.

Cambodia (Siem Reap/Angkor) as a destination itself was a whole other fabulous experience. I don't think I can write so much here. Only that everyone MUST VISIT and just do that with this travel agency.

All in all, we are simply out of words (other than a string of superlatives) to describe our experience.

Overall the trip planning and the trip itself went very smoothly. The whole experience went smoothly and all the reservations for hotels, activities, etc all went per plan. With our requests and Clare's expertise we really have a balanced and memorable family vacation. It was a nice blend of indoor and outdoor activities and the timing/spacing worked well except for one day where it wound up being a bit tight (Killarney to Cliff Walk to Ashford Castle Dinner). We were able to make it all work.
The guides for each of the activities turned out to be really great: John for the Guinness and Jameson tour, Hester and William for the Killarney Kayak, Eleanor for the Doolin Cliff walk, Conner for the Falcon walk at Ashford Castle and Kate for the Scones and bread making. We also enjoyed the Waterford Factory tour but cannot recall our guide's name for that.
Couple things I noted
- In Dublin, I liked the Jameson tour but felt the Guinness tour was bit too big/commercialized
- The tea at Waterford castle was a little off. They seemed to be some general confusion/delays going on and the sandwiches served were different than the menu which was an issue to do some food allergies. We got it straightened out and had a nice time, And the grounds were very beautiful to explore
- Killarney national park was very beautiful and the Kayak trip was a great way to see a large part of it.
- We went the clock-wise direction for the Ring Of Kerry and found we spent most of our time on the first few spots but that wound up being our favorites.
- The Doolin cliff walk was amazing and it did take the 3.5hrs. We did not account for the delay in getting the taxi back to our car which made the drive onto Ashford Castle in time for our dinner reservation very tight.
- Ashford Castle was our splurge but we really enjoyed the stay, touring the grounds, and the dinning. The falconry tour was a family favorite.
- Driving worked out well for the most part but seemed like on the west side, we encountered on our journey a lot of extremely narrow side roads (some sections where only one car could pass).

Hotel Reviews

Sheraton Athlone Hotel

Athlone

Hotel was fine, nothing remarkable but it was just a transit stay for us on the way to Dublin and so it served that purpose well.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Parking was a little challenging since you are in the city center. There is a garage but it was a little confusing.

Randles Hotel Killarney

Co. Kerry

This was very nice location for visiting Killarney national park and the rooms were really nice.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ashford Castle

cong

This was our splurge and we really enjoyed everything about it. The rooms, the grounds, our fine dinning.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clayton Hotel Cork City

cork

The hotel is really nice and in a great location and our room overlooked the water. But we just ran into an issue that impacted our sleep. Could not get the AC to work, so we opened the windows. But then we had to deal with loud late night partiers along the water and the smell of cigarette/cigar drifting up and into the room. They tried to help resolve and move us but nothing was available.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ashling Hotel Dublin

Dublin

We liked the location of this hotel and it served us well for the sites we wanted to see. Was a nice, clear, and a good breakfast. The staff was very helpful. It is right off the train line but we wound up walking most of the time.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Hawk Walk ( 1.5 Hours)

Ireland

Was not really sure what to expect from this, but we signed up to do the Falconry tour. Our tour guide Conner was incredible and amazing to see how he controls the falcons on the tour and help us send and receive the falcons. Plus it was really nice to see how the overall operation was run and the dedication to it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Doolin Cliff Walk experience

Doolin

The views of the Cliffs are really amazing to see in person. Eleanor did a really nice job of pacing the walk and taking breaks to share interesting facts and stories. She also did a good job of keeping us safe and proper guidance on where to go and not to go.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Killarney Lakes Discovery by Kayak

Killarney

This was a great experience. Our guides Hester and William did a really good job of taking through interesting places on the lake while also providing a lot of history and information. Doing the short live cave runs was also fun. It was a great way to see the national park.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Waterford Crystal Factory Tour

Waterford

Really fascinating to learn how the crystal pieces were made and was interesting to see work being done up close. The gift shop is a bit tempting, and we wound up making a few purchases while there :-)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Afternoon Tea at Waterford Castle

Waterford

Something seemed a bit off that day. There was some general issue going on and the staff were a little distracted. The sandwiches served were different than the menu which cause an issue due to food allergies. We caught it and explained to them, while they did not seem to be aware of the issue, they made some accommodations . I think it was just an off day. The grounds were very beautiful to walk around.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Johnny Fox's Hooley show + Dinner

Dublin

We really enjoyed the dinner, the singing, and the dancing. Very intimate setting and a great experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We tried to do a taxi for ease, should have stuck to the Bus

Guinness & Jameson Irish Experience Tour

Dublin

Really like the Jameson part of the tour. It was a small group with very interesting guides and we learned a lot. The Guinness tour is very popular in a huge building with a lot to see and a lot to do, to the point it was a little overwhelming. Though the view of Dublin from the observation level was really great, particularly while working on your pint.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Trinity College Library : The Book of Kells Experience

Dublin

This is a really interesting experience. It was a little hard to do on our first day due to jet lag

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Transfer/Taxi

Ireland

Were on time and it went smoothly

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traditional Irish Homemade Baking Scones and Bread (Kilcolgan)

Ireland

Kate is a really fun teacher. The experience is in the kitchen of her house so nice and intimate. We had a lot of fun and really like the different scones and breads. We each chose slightly different versions to make.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Afternoon Tea at ashford Castle

Cong Co Mayo

The teas and sandwiches were really good. The staff also helped us a lot of the tea selection as well as the preferred order to eat the different sandwiches and desserts. Of course the setting in the Castle only adds to the experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We recently had the pleasure of experiencing an incredible trip to Vietnam with the help of KimKim, and I can't recommend them highly enough! The itinerary was perfectly crafted, thanks to Huyen, blending breathtaking scenic bike rides through lush landscapes with the most delicious local cuisine. Our guides Hein and Mr. binh (our driver) in the North and Ha in the central part were so incredible, trustworthy and informative. Each meal was a delightful exploration of Vietnamese flavors, showcasing vibrant street food and authentic dishes that truly highlighted the region's culinary richness. The team's attention to detail, from selecting charming accommodations to ensuring seamless logistics, made the entire experience unforgettable. If you're looking to immerse yourself in the culture and beauty of Vietnam, KimKim is the way to go.

Hotel Review

Mai Chau Villas

The best and most amazing dreamy hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Dreamy, peaceful and lovely

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hanoi - Halong Bay, Explore Bai Tu Long Bay

Vietnam

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mai Chau - Cycling Through Local Villages

Mai Chau

The best

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanoi Culture & Walking Tour

Hanoi

Quality of Experience

M

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanoi - Ba Vi Eco Tour - Mai Chau

Vietnam

This was a highlight of our trip. Delicious food with kind host

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hue Street Food Tour

Hue

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hue - Tomb of Emperor Tu Duc - Tomb of Emperor Khai Dinh

Hue

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hue: Thuy Bieu Ecovillage, Cooking Class & Imperial Citadel

Hue

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dong Hoi - Hien Luong Bridge - Quang Tri Citadel - Hue

Vietnam

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dong Hoi - Phong Nha Cave - Paradise Cave

Vietnam

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bai Tu Long Bay - Hanoi - Night train to Dong Hoi

Vietnam

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ninh Binh - Cuc Phuong National Park - Ha Noi

Ninh Binh

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mai Chau - Ninh Binh - Hoa Lu, Ancient Capital - Tam Coc Boat Trip

Vietnam

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I loved the customized trip and personal service, it made everything so easy! The excursions and accommodations were amazing. All the drivers and guides were very good, but especially our guides in Cape Town and Amboseli, who treated us like family.

Andrea provided exceptional support in preparation as well as immediate assistance during our travels. His efforts made our trip much smoother and more comfortable. We are truly grateful for having him as our agent thus created wonderful memories in this beautiful country 💚🤍❤️

Our family of 4 (2 boys age 16 and 13) just returned from an amazing 13 day trip to Brazil. Bruno and his team at AAA Bahia crafted an unbelievably well thought out and perfectly executed itinerary which included eco-tourism, cultural sights, sporting events, and beach fun. Our trip started in the Amazon then Salvador and wrapped up in Rio. At every location the transportation was seamless and the bilingual guides were extremely knowledgeable, fun, and had great enthusiasm about sharing their homeland with us. Leading up to the trip Bruno and his team were so easy to work with, they always listened to what we wanted out of the trip and and provided great recommendations on sightseeing activities as well as dining and nightlife. The kimkim platform was a breeze to use and was invaluable for communication with Bruno as well as handling all payments. This is the second time we have used kimkim for an overseas trip (Colombia 2023) and both times the local travel companies they hooked us up with were perfect. If you plan to go to Brazil I highly recommend using the kimkim platform and AAA Bahia to craft the perfect vacation for you.

Our trip to Kenya, organized by Joseph from KimKim, was nothing short of a dream come true. My partner and I, now happily engaged, wanted to witness the Great Migration and experience a hot air balloon ride over the breathtaking landscapes of the Masaai Mara. Joseph meticulously planned every detail, making this a trip we will cherish forever.

During our stay in the Masaai Mara, we were fortunate to have Thomas as our private game driver. His kindness and extensive knowledge of the area truly enhanced our safari experience. We stayed at the Matira Bush Camp, which exceeded all our expectations. The service was exceptional, and the staff went above and beyond to make our stay special. Matira played a crucial role in organizing our engagement, arranging private cocktail drinks in the bush followed by a romantic private dinner. It was an unforgettable experience.

After the excitement of the safari, we transferred to Diani Beach for some relaxation. Our stay at the Diani Beach Resort was equally incredible, with top-notch service and a beautiful setting. We even had the opportunity to snorkel with the vibrant marine life, which was a perfect way to unwind after the adventure-packed days in the Mara.

In summary, this trip was a perfect blend of adventure, romance, and relaxation. I would highly recommend this experience to anyone looking for a memorable and personalized safari holiday in Kenya. Thank you, Joseph, and everyone who made this trip so special!

Hotel Reviews

Diani Sea Lodge

Diani Beach

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Matira Bush Camp

Nairobi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fair Acres Boutique Hotel

Karen, Nairobi. P. O Box 1121 – 00208 Nairobi.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Maasai Mara National Reserve

Masai Mara

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The car made a beeping noise constantly, it was frustrating.

Diani Beach Activities

Diani Beach

Quality of Experience

Food

Deserts can be improved. And for the buffet, a lot of flies. Need some kind of solution. (Eg: Maybe citronells scent / fly strips to catch them.. something.)

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Maasai Mara Game Drives & Hot Air Balloon Ride

Masai Mara

Quality of Experience

Food

Breakfast was incredible.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

David the pilot was incredible!

Transport

Was a very smooth, magical ride. We felt safe the entire time.

Maasai Mara National Reserve Game Drives

Masai Mara

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

same as previous answer

We had such a Wonderful time with our family of 9 in Paris. Thank you to our travel planner Lucie who hit on every highlight we wanted to see. Lucie was so so patient with us as it was a lot & she setup more than we could have asked for in 6 days. We took in a ride down the seine river, saw Eiffel Tower which was Amazing. Went to Versailles Museum & The Louvre so impressive & the art…Gorgeous! Took the kids to Disney which they enjoyed thoroughly. We went to Normandy for the day & there are no words how impactful it was. We had a great guide for the day who made our adventure great. On our last day we went to Montmartre…Beautiful
& went on a lovely tour with our guide as well as a food tour which we enjoyed immensely . Also took in the Arc de Triomphe. This trip was a vacation of a life time that we will never forget! Thank you to Lucie & the tour guides for making this such an Amazing trip!

Hotel Review

Le Basile Hôtel

Paris

The hotel was very accommodating & very nice. The night man at the desk one of the nights was abrupt with answering questions which we didn’t appreciate but overall Very good. The rooms were clean & comfortable. Breakfast was lovely with croissant, meats, cheeses, yogurts & fresh Orange juice.

Authenticity & Character

The Art decor & decorations

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Full-day excursion from Paris of D-day beaches - U.S. sector

Paris

Made such a difference having a tour guide & being it was a 2.5 hour ride we had a vehicle pick us up (9 people) & the ride was great & so glad we did noth

Quality of Experience

Lucie from KimKim

Guides, Drivers and Staff

They were very sociable & respectful

Transport

The driver

Rita collaborated with me and my family every step of the way and was very flexible. She found a trip itinerary that was pleasing to multiple age levels ranging from age 83 to age 11. Our time in the Azores was fabulous. It is heaven on earth. She arranged guided tours for two days, a beach tour, a sunset boat cruise, and a walking food and wine tour. She also helped with other suggestions throughout our time there and responded quickly to any questions or concerns. I found the process to be very smooth.

Activity Reviews

Adventure in Gruta do Carvão

São Miguel Island

We did not end up going here this was a free day

Volcano Cooking Experience

São Miguel Island

The Kim Kim description of this tour was not accurate. Was described as a hands on cooking class, going to market for ingredients, chopping and cooking etc. Luckily we asked for a specific detailed itinerary from the guide as it turns out it was a demonstration and presentation instead. It was also a total repeat of our full day furnas experience. Kim Kim gave us a partial refund and did not charge us for making last minute change. Ended up have the same drivers take us to a beach and some other stops.

Quality of Experience

Better understanding of what the guides are offering

Food

Best food at Bar Caloura which was picked by us.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Manuel was our driver, and valdamar. Neither spoke great English. Lovely people, they were passionate about their culture and wanted to show us a good time. Unfortunately, we kept saying we wanted to explore beaches and instead he took us to one beach and then drove us to see multiple beaches but never stopped at any. He also took us to the tea plantation even though we said we weren’t sure we wanted to go there. He was LOVELY, but he kind of had a plan of his own.

Transport

Cars were perfect

Azorean Culinary & Wine Experience

São Miguel Island

Hungry whales, Fred was our guide and we loved him! He was fun with the kids!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Na

Furnas & Lagoa do Fogo Full Day Experience

São Miguel Island

Loved seeing the fumaroles in furnas. Guides were excellent again, Natasha and Jose. We were supposed to go to a thermal baths but these were closed due to a bacteria. Lagoa do fogo was breathtaking. Lunch at alabote was delicious in ribiera grande, on the coast delicious seafood.

Quality of Experience

Just dissapointed about the baths but that was not in our control.

Food

Alabote.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunset Boat Experience

São Miguel Island

Great! They provided good food and wine, and the guides even let our kids try out their fishing poles for a while. We brought our own music. If I could do it again, I may have wanted to do this on our second night since we were tired from traveling but we all loved it!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sete Ciudades Jeep Adventure

São Miguel Island

Natasha and Jose our drivers were very knowledgeable. The sights were out of this world. I think that it might have been nice to give the young people in our group the option to do the hiking portion (boca do inferno) while the older group members just do the lookout point but we were not aware that this was an option. If I were doing it again, I would have asked to have us split up possibly for that portion. Also, our description from Kim Kim that day did not say anything about going swimming at termas de Ferraria. So on the day of our tour, Natasha had us go grab our things for swimming. It wasn’t a big deal, but I felt like the Kim Kim description and the detailed itinerary from our in country guide didn’t quite match. Better communication advised for this in the future for this excursion and for all of the excursions.

Quality of Experience

Good drivers with good knowledge and great English speaking

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We could maybe have used two larger vehicles for more leg room, or perhaps three smaller?

The RIB boat ride and goat cheese farm tour from Flåm was excellent, though our room at Fretheim hotel was very sub par and unfortunately KimKim was not able to do anything about it.

We loved everything about Lofoten Islands and especially the Reine Robeur hotel. We mainly did self guided hikes and ate really really well. Best part of the trip.

We also enjoyed Oslo and the Christiana Teatro hotel. I would not recommend the Hidden Gems tour…. Our guide brought along her 2 year old dog so the ‘tour’ was very much about keeping the dog under control the whole time.

Hotel Reviews

Thon Hotel Svolvær

Svolvær

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Reine Rorbuer

Reine

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

HATTVIKA LODGE

Ballstad

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Home Hotel Bryggen

Bergen

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fretheim Hotel

Flåm

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Christiania Teater

Oslo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Arctic Horseriding Trip

Norway

Horses were fun but our group was really big. They spent a lot of time asking about our experience with horses, only to walk them in a line for all but 6 minutes of the tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Summer Fjord Safari and Hike

Flåm

Our guide, Rose, was excellent and made the whole experience amazing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Summer Kayaking Excursion

Reine

Kayak tour was suppose to be 2-6 people but 10 were on our trip. We spent a ton of time just getting everyone in kayaks and on water. Our guide did not know much about the area we were touring.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hidden Gems City Walk

Oslo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our trip took us from Bologna, to Florence, to Rome over 10 days. The itinerary and accommodations provided by Lorenza went off with nothing more than two minor issues noted below, which I offer only as constructive advice. And "Thank You" to Andrea for his real-time support in Rome.
In Bologna, accommodations at Hotel Aemilia were excellent--our favorite place on the trip. The only minor issue in this leg of the trip -- not enough time to enjoy Museo Enzo between arriving by train at Modena Centrale, and catching the shuttle bus to Museo Ferrari (40 minutes total were allowed, including time to walk to/from the Museo and train station. Too short. I missed the shuttle bus and took a taxi from Modena to Maranello so I could enjoy the Enzo museum). We also had a day trip to tour and sample parmigiano/reggiano, prosciutto, and balsamic vinegar in Emilia-Romagna. A real treat to have a private tour guide (there, and in every city we visited)-- we HIGHLY recommend this format. All of our tour guides were super-knowledgeable, fun, patient, etc.
Florence was our favorite place--SO much history. One highlight was our tour of the Chianti region (the only group tour we had, and there were only 11 of us in total, so no issue). Drinking wine and eating great food makes for quick fun together! Would go back to Florence and the Tuscany region without any hesitation. Accommodations there were excellent at Hotel Garibaldi Blu--very quaint, right near the train station but very quiet inside.
Rome was a whirlwind. Accommodations at Hotel Navona Colors were comfortable but a notch down from the other places we stayed. Private tour guide was absolutely, positively worth it! The only concern on this leg was actually in Frankfurt, our one stop on the trip home. We had 1 hr 20 min between our scheduled arrival in Frankfurt, and departure from there to Raleigh/Durham. Rome flight was 20 min late arriving, and then the German border/passport control process was SLOW and CROWDED. We narrowly escaped missing our flight from Frankfurt to Raleigh/Durham, being the last two persons on board. For a transatlantic trip, we like to avoid cutting this so close!

I would recommend KimKim, and Lorenza, without hesitation. THANK YOU for making our first trip to Italy memorable, and we are certain to return there soon. Ciao!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Navona Colors

Rome

Not as endearing as other places we stayed. Not bad at all, but not a hotel that we'd put on the top of our list. The room itself was fine but the breakfast, and caffe area, were not as good as others.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Garibaldi Blu

Florence

Great location, friendly and informative staff, quiet. Breakfast was excellent. Clean and spacious bathroom.

Authenticity & Character

Neat decor, calm, some funky figures in the public spaces (batman, captain america, etc.)

Location

Close to everything.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Phi Hotel Emilia

Bologna

We stayed here due to business at the Department of Veterinary Sciences, which is within walking distance of the hotel. Breakfast was excellent! The two are located in Ozzano, just East of Bologna, which is a small town. When put into this context, Phi Hotel was fine. Ratings below reflect the context.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Some of the staff at the front desk were courteous--others, not so much.

Cleanliness & Comfort

No problems in this respect. Typical tiny Euro shower!

Activity Reviews

Colosseum & Roman Forum skip the line ticket

Rome

It would be crazy not to get a Skip the line ticket!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Accademia Gallery - skip the line entrance

Florence

Once you see for yourself the lines to get in without a Skip The Line ticket, you'll know!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Florence private guided walk including Accademia Gallery

Italy

Outstanding. Our private guide was native to Florence and was fantastic.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit to the Museum and Ferrari Factory

Italy

Fabulous, especially the Enzo museum. The two museums are complementary, not duplicative. A must-see for Ferrarista, car nuts and F1 fans.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rome Private Guided Walk

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Colosseum and Roman Forum - Private guide

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chianti Full Immersive Wine & Olive Oil Experience from Florence (small group)

Florence

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wine and food tour in Florence

Florence

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Food day including Balsamic Vinegar, Parma ham and Parmigiano Reggiano - from Bologna

Italy

Quality of Experience

Food

Everything.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private, guided tours are the way to go.

Transport

Booking our trip through Kimkim was incredibly easy. For many years now, I've wanted to go birdwatching in Colombia but knew so little about the country and where to go. Michael put together an amazing itinerary starting in Bogota, ending in Santa Marta, and including Manizales in the "coffee triangle". We saw over 200 species of birds, most of which were lifers, and stayed in some of the most beautiful places I think I've ever seen. Hacienda Venezia was a spectacular historic home on a coffee plantation; El Dorado had "glamorous" huts on the top of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, with panoramic views of the entire planet, it felt; and Senda Koguiwa felt like a luxurious tropical resort. Even the HAB hotel, where we stayed in Bogota, was chic, comfortable, and upscale. The guides were incredibly knowledgable and everyone was kind and attentive. There were some live changes to the itinerary, but that's par for the course.

There were just a few issues, all of which could be ironed out with a few adjustments:

1. The breakfast box supplied by Senda Koguiwa was awful: a dry bread roll with tasteless cheese and ham, and nothing else. It was clear to me that they don't usually put these together for guests.

2. The accommodations at El Dorado were beautiful but they were dangerous. The pathways that lead from the huts up to the main restaurant were loose, slippery, and muddy and didn't have any hand railing to help people stabilize themselves. The wooden boards that were used to create steps in the mud were rotting and collapsed when stepped on. Someone literally could break their leg hiking this path. They also haven't strung up any lights along these pathways and so when you walk back from the restaurant at night (it's a good 8-minute walk to the furthest cabins!) you essentially do that in the pitch blackness. We weren't prepared for this: no one told us to bring torches for the journey.

3. Our final guide for the trip (and I won't mention his name here) was extremely knowledgeable but he lacked experience actually GUIDING people, particularly larger groups. He didn't really look after us at all but rather walked ahead, birded, and told whoever was closest to him what they were seeing. He didn't explain anything, didn't make sure the whole group had seen the birds, and didn't wait for the stragglers to catch up. We had some older folks in our group and he never waited to help them up/down slippery slopes or difficult obstacles. He just forged ahead and if someone had dropped off the edge of the mountain, he probably wouldn't have noticed. I learned how to work with him—by sticking closely to his side and asking him relentless questions—but the rest of the group struggled. He also never explained what we were doing or what to expect so we were often ill-prepared for the activities we were doing. I'm able to say these things about him because the other guides we had were so wonderful with the group.

4. Finally, birding is a long and physical activity. It would be nice if all the guides kept a cooler in the back of the van with bottles of cold water, soft drinks, and perhaps some snacks (health bars / fruit or whatever) on trips that are longer than 3 hours. There were many early mornings we left to bird and weren't given any coffee or tea at all, and had to wait until mid-morning breakfast or lunch to eat or drink again. It would take so little to address this and it would have a major impact on the happiness of your future birders.

5. Recommendation for Senda Koguiwa: put up bird feeders! They have such a gorgeous property with so many birds already but with feeders, you'd attract birdwatchers by the thousands!

None of these are criticisms but rather intended as feedback to help Kimkim fine-tune its services for birders. Overall, we had the adventure of a lifetime and it was wonderful to sit back and enjoy the ride!

Amazing family vacation to Peru with our teenage children. Peruvian Soul did a great job, all activities and tours were booked, transportation was seamless, and guide Edwar was knowledgeable and friendly.

Hotel Reviews

Los Portales Cusco

Cusco

Good location. Rooms are small but clean. Excellent staff, responsive to concerns. No air-conditioning, and windows open to enclosure, not fresh air.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Across from Qorikancha, and close walk to main square

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

We had internal rooms with windows that opened to atrium, not fresh air. We were hit and there is no AC or temp control in the rooms.

Hatun Inti Boutique Machupicchu

Machu Picchu

Clean large rooms. Well situated at the bus stop for MP. Simple breakfast. Thin walls.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Rooms on the river are lovely

Staff

Receptionist should have kept our rooms together.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Loud with thin walls.

Sonesta Posadas del Inca Yucay

Urubamba

Beautiful hotel, large rooms. Generous breakfast. Coffee and ice cream shop at the hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close drive to urubamba and ollantaytambo

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Sandboarding in Chilca Dunes

Lima

Fun activity for active teenagers. Took longer than anticipated, so should have brought food.

Excellent experience with Kimkim. A pretty complicated trip, with lots of destinations, transfers, trains and planes and everything was seamless. Communication during the trip through WhatsApp was instantaneous.

Our travel specialist, Leny, was outstanding. She was able to suggest or modify activities on the fly, to suit the weather or teenage preferences. Her personalized recommendations on restaurants and shopping areas (Amerika-sura) were highlights of our trip. I will seek her out for any future trips to SE Asia.

Our trip was catered to our preferences. When we had suggestions or changes they were flexible and adjusted. Our accommodations and breakfasts were great. We were able to experience Finland how we wanted. We got to see four different cities and many different saunas. The agenda was clear and we were able to follow our transportation schedule. I would recommend Kim Kim to others.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Fabian

Helsinki

Only stayed one night. Good breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Walking distance to shops and restaurants.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Boutique Hotel Yöpuu

Jyväskylä

Cute hotel. We only stayed one night. Breakfast was good. They also gave us a welcome drink.

Authenticity & Character

Each room was decorated differently. Ours was based on Finnish fashion designers.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lillan Boutique Hotel & Kök

Tampere

Super cute hotel. They were so nice to provide a welcome drink. The breakfast was amazing. The sauna room was a surprise and so amazing.

Authenticity & Character

Location

A little away from things but the city bicycles were very helpful.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Hamburger Börs

Turku

Newer hotel in a great location. Wonderful breakfast. They have bikes you can borrow.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easy to walk to many things.

Staff

Super nice.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clarion Hotel Helsinki

Helsinki

Great breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

The pool and roof top bar were fun:

Location

A little ways from the main area…about a mile.

Staff

Very kind and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

One of our rooms was very hot. Air conditioning didn’t work. They did provide fans, which helped.

Activity Reviews

Evening Canoeing on Tourujoki

Jyväskylä

Beautiful lakes to canoe around. If it is windy, it can be challenging to paddle back.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Island Whispers: Archipelago Cruise

Turku

A lot of Finns do this as mini trip. Our group isn’t used to sitting so long. We would have liked to get out and explore some of the islands. It was great to see the area. On the way back we booked the spa/sauna. That was a fun experience on the boat. Then we had a fancy 3 course meat. The food may have been a little too fancy for most of our group but it was a fun experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Forum Sauna

Turku

Authentic sauna experience. Very historical. You get washed, sit in the sauna, foot soak, face mud, and rinse. Sauna momma gives you blueberries and currents along with blueberry juice.

Quality of Experience

Löyly Sauna visit

Helsinki

Great to have a variety of saunas and the opportunity to swim in the Baltic (Gulf of Finland).

Quality of Experience

Helsinki Walking Tour

Helsinki

Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and did a great job of giving facts and adding humor. The 4 hours went quickly even though it was warm and a lot of walking.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Harmony in Stone: Temppeliaukion Church

Helsinki

We did not do this experience because we didn’t realize that the tickets were only good for the day. We had too many things booked for one day with the walking tour and the trip to the island.

SkySauna: An Elevated Finnish Experience

Helsinki

Definitely a tourist attraction. So amazing to be in a sauna on a Ferris Wheel. The private hot tub and changing room was also a bonus. What a great way to start our vacation.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Wow.. what an amazing trip to Italy all thanks to Luca!! He helped plan an action-packed trip with just the right amount of relaxation. From Florence to Sorrento to Rome, Luca helped curate the perfect itinerary that included tours, a cooking class, and a boat ride to Capri. The private transfers to and from the airports/ train stations eased our minds so much in knowing there was a ride waiting for us. Luca was a DREAM to work with and answered all our silly questions, helped when we were in a bind, and gave some amazing recommendations. I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect, but can honestly say it exceeded my expectations and I will 100% use kimkim again.

Hotel Review

Palazzo Starace

Sorrento

The staff was AMAZING- so helpful, gave food recommendations and the best bubbly personalities. Was super clean and the location was everything. So easy to access the downtown and walk to the beach. Couldn’t speak highly enough!

Authenticity & Character

The staff!!! The yummy breakfast!!!

Location

Extremely central… perfect location for all ages

Staff

Some of the kindest people

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean, always smelt nice.

Activity Reviews

Capri and the Sorrentine Peninsula by boat

Italy

SO fun!! Get to jump into water, enjoy beverages, and see the island by water. It’s gorgeous and completely exceeded our expectations. The boat ride was a highlight of our trip!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tuscan Cooking class and S.Lorenzo Market

Florence

One of our FAVORITE activities. Step-by-step directions for how to make two different pasta dishes and homemade tiramisu. We are already buying the ingredients to re-create this activity for our families at home! Alice was the best teacher ever. Cannot speak highly enough.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Margoth and her team planned a wonderful trip for us to the coffee region, Medellin, and Cartagena. Every detail was thoughtfully planned. And, when we were traveling, they were extremely responsive to our needs and helped us make a few changes along the way. I would highly recommend a trip to beautiful Colombia. Be sure to use Margoth and Arcanto travel when you do!!

Everything was perfect. Our hotel in Rome was spectacular and the location was perfect. Valeria and IIaria were the best!! The transportation they arranged worked out perfectly and the tour in Rome was fantastic. Thank you so much for a perfect ending to our Mediterranean Cruise.

Hotel Review

47 Boutique Hotel

Rome

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Private Colosseum, Forum Tour & Palatine hill

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport