Kimkim Trip Reviews

Fantastic trip, couldn't have done it without KimKim, and Justine and Fanny were terrific!
First two days in Dublin were great, loved Number 59, the food and drink tour was so fun and informative, and our guide, Collum was great. Guinness Factory is a must!
Don't let the car rental people talk you into a bigger car! As you know, when we arrived at the Maldron in Cork, my husband stood in a hotel parking spot while I went to get the car; the hotel only has like 10 spaces out front. As he stood there, a gentleman (local to Ireland) pulled in the spot, hitting my husband in the knees, demanding him to move, saying, 'we don't do that here". My husband moved but was very angry as was I when I returned seconds later with our rental. Anyway, the hotel was very busy and didn't give great directions to the parking garage 3 minutes away, I was flustered and drove down a very narrow street, hitting a concrete ballast on the left bumper as I was making a left turn. I finally made it back to the hotel and found a spot to park, but the damage was done. We ended up getting very drunk at the bar hotel and didn't do anything in Cork.
The next morning Europcar said they were bringing us a replacement car when I finally reached them to make the report, and I got a reference number. A tow truck came and picked up the wrecked rental. After several hours of waiting, I called Europcar and got passed around a phone chain, no one could find the reference number or report of my accident, and told me it would be 24 hours before I was given a replacement. Upset at this news, as we had already extended our check out time at the Maldron, we took a taxi to the airport. We were able to secure another rental after putting down a $2000 deposit with the threat that if ANYTHING happened to this car we would lose our money. This put quite the damper on the day and overall experience as the Europcar people were a nightmare to deal with.
Anyway, on to Killarney which we absolutely fell in love with. The Dromhall was really nice. It was such a pleasure to meet Richard and take the hike around the National Forest after our experience in Cork, and the weather was beautiful. Unfortunately because of the accident we were late arriving to Killarney and did not get to take our boat tour. In speaking with Richard, he recommended not driving the Ring of Kerry after hearing about our driving ordeal, as well as we really didn't have time. He recommended we just go to Kenmare, which I really wanted to do, but we again were a little shy of driving due to the threat of losing our money. We had a beautiful evening in Killarney at the Killarney Brewing Company and did some shopping.
On to Dingle, which was delightful. An Capall Dubh was a great place to stay, we went on a boat tour of the cliffs, had fish and chips at Harrington's, dinner at Paidi O Se's. The next morning was our anniversary and we lit a candle at St. Mary's and walked the labrynth. It was awesome to be on the coast. We stopped in Adare Village on our way to Doolin and had lunch at The Arches, which was delicious.
Doolin was gorgeous! Our accommodations were beautiful and Ceol na dTonnta was great.
We really enjoyed our talk with Peter Curtin. Such a fascinating man! However, his pubs are not open on Mondays and Tuesdays, and we almost missed him because his assistant changed the time but didn't tell him! We had him all to ourselves. After the talk we had a good dinner and some Irish music at McGann's pub.
The Cliffs of Moher are breathtaking and that was amazing. We did not hire a celebrant to renew our vows, that was really expensive! It was special nonetheless. We went back to Peter's Roadside Tavern that night for dinner and also heard some live music.
Galway was wonderful as well as the Hardiman Hotel, probably our favorite accommodation, They had valet parking too! Very helpful. I really enjoyed the shopping and we had a great meal in a pub around the corner.
When flying out of Dublin, you should probably start the morning there. The drive from Galway (and my planning) got us to the airport too late to make it through customs to catch our flight home on Friday; Delta said we needed to be there 3 hours in advance. We were lucky enough to get a room at the Camden Court Hotel and had another fun night in Dublin. We had lunch at the Bleeding Horse and dinner at the hotel restaurant Ivey, which was really nice for our last night!
No problems flying out the next day, Delta worked hard to get us home. Aer Lingus was striking so the airlines were busier than usual, which added to the long customs lines.
We had a wonderful adventure and will totally book our next trip through Kim Kim. Justine was awesome and Fanny was really kind and helpful with me during the car rental accident!

Wonderful trip! Alberto was excellent from KimKim. Couldn’t have been better! Marina, our walking tour guide in Venice was great and so was Chris in Rome and MBS Blu Charter boats was excellent in Sorrento. Hope to plan another trip again soon!

Nothing but a positive experience for us working with Marion and the team at KimKim! Her knowledge of the area on the front end helped plan a most wonderful vacation for our family! While on our trip, the team was very quickly responsive if we had any questions or needs. I highly recommend their services if you're planning your next dream vacation :)

Hotel Reviews

Park Plaza London Riverbank

London

Great location and service. Clean hotel with friendly and prompt staff. We enjoyed our stay here very much.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

River Ness Hotel, a member of Radisson Individuals

Inverness

Beautiful hotel in a central and historic area of town. Nice and quiet for resting, super clean as well.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Royal Hotel Portree

Portree

This hotel was "tired" and not the cleanest, BUT the location is perfect for your Portree visit and met our basic needs for sleeping there as we explored the Isle of Skye.

Authenticity & Character

Old hotel, tired, and could use a bit of an update. Floors looked and felt dirty, could probably use replacement.

Location

Located right on the water, and in the heart of everything you could want to do and see in Portree.

Staff

The morning breakfast manager was amazing, but the rest of the staff was short and definitely overworked. Their tiredness made you feel as if you were troubling them to give your food order, or mention something that needed to be cleaned in your room that was missed by the cleaning crew.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bed was comfortable, bathroom was clean, just tired fixtures, etc. The flooring could use updating as well.

The Whispering Pine Lodge

Loch Lochy, Spean Bridge, Scotland, PH34 4DZ

Amazing hotel right on the water! Quiet location, great food in the restaurant with a good variety and the rooms were spotless. Would stay there again!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lodge on Loch Lomond

Luss, Argyll & Bute

BEAUTIFUL hotel and location! Staff was friendly and efficient. We would go back, given the chance, and stay a few nights longer to really savor the grandeur of this location!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Eden Locke

Edinburgh

Beautiful place and location is perfect for exploring Edinburgh on foot, or by other transportation means.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

The Caledonian Sleeper Train (Scotland Version)

Scotland

LOVED, loved riding on and sleeping on the Caledonian Sleeper to London! The club car was fun and had massive windows for taking in the sites. Our room was comfortable and gets very dark when you're ready to sleep. Breakfast delivered to your room was tasty as well.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit the Kelpies

Scotland

GREAT site to see! Enjoyed it with our whole family :)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Changing of the Guard Guided Tour

London

We absolutely loved this tour! Our guide, Simon, was fun and knowledgable and kept our small group together through the crowds. We learned a TON and will always remember this activity.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Harry Potter Studio Tour from London (with transport)

London

AMAZING location and tour for Harry Potter fans! Exceeded our expectations by a mile! SO many props, costumes and sets... a great experience!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The bus transport was great - just a bit hard to find. Don't hesitate to ask other bus drivers where your specific bus is parked.

Hop-on, Hop-off Bus

London

A really fun activity to do while you wait for your hotel room to be available, like we did. Saw a lot of great sites around London from the comfort of our double decker bus top row seats :)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Two hour cruise on the Canal and Loch - Loch Ness

Inverness

This cruise was so nice! Very knowledgable speaker who gave the two hour tour. Loved seeing the Loch and learning all about it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This was a seamless and wonderful trip! It was easy to plan and communicate through KimKim. Catherina and all of Columbus Guatemala Travel was prompt at getting back to me and answered all my questions and were flexible with our interests. Our tour guide throughout the week as JJ. He was amazing! My Spanish is intermediate so I appreciated being able to practice speaking Spanish, but it was very comforting to have a bilingual local as our guide. My daughter and I were hesitant to travel alone, but having an excellent guide eased any anxiety we might have had. Even when we explored on our own, JJ gave us advice on where to go and checked in on us from time to time. We learned so much about the culture and history from talking with JJ, that we never would have learned on our own. He even helped teach me Spanish slang/phrases that were specific to Guatemala. Columbus Guatemala Travel even welcomed us with a small party so we could meet in person the people who had helped plan our trip!

All our locations we visited were wonderful as well as the hotels. Some highlights: Antigua is a beautiful and amazing city and we loved exploring it and the surrounding towns. We went out at night on our own and I went on a solo run through the city early one morning and never felt unsafe. I normally hate to shop, but I bought souvenirs from all the shops/artisans we visited because there were amazing items I wouldn't be able to find in the States, I wanted to support the local people, and everything was very affordable.

Lake Atitlan and the surrounding towns were amazing as well! Casa del Mundo was the absolute best and most unique hotel I'll probably ever see. It was an entire experience and I could see myself bringing the rest of my family just to see the lake and stay at Casa del Mundo again. Our hike to see the sunrise was the most beautiful view I've ever seen and was totally worth the struggle with the high altitude!

The locals were very friendly and would start conversations often! Knowing some Spanish was definitely helpful, but if you have a bilingual guide and use a translating app while alone, only speaking English would not be a huge problem. Seeing how people live off the land in a developing country is very worthwhile. I could go on and on about this trip, but I will end saying I'm grateful for JJ and the entire travel company. I'm a public school teacher and I have to save up for awhile before leaving the country, and I can definitely say this trip was worth every penny!

Hotel Reviews

Dos Mundos Monterrico

Monterrico

The grounds and buildings were beautiful. The pools were relaxing and clean. The food and service was excellent. The individual cabins were charming and relaxing. For spoiled Americans like myself, it's good to know that there is AC but not hot water. HOWEVER, I'm not complaining, because after learning about the area I understood that running water is hard to come by anyway, and it was very refreshing to take a cold shower because Monterrico is the warmest of all the places we visited. The beach has beautiful black sand, but was a little dirty. I'm not blaming this on the hotel but on people who litter. And it might have been dirtier because storms came through a few days before we did. It was very relaxing to lay by the pool or eat a wonderful meal and listen to the waves. We also booked relaxing massages and an early morning Mangrove tour, both of which were excellent.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It was a perfect location for relaxing, but not if you wanted to explore the area on foot.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel San Jorge

Antigua

This was a small, beautiful hotel that has a peaceful courtyard, excellent breakfast, nice views of the mountains from the balcony, and a perfect location for exploring Antigua. The staff was helpful and friendly and we felt safe enough to sleep with our window open. I appreciated all the filtered water throughout the hotel so I didn't have to buy plastic water bottles, and the availability of coffee throughout the day. Beautiful experience!

Authenticity & Character

The courtyard and decorations.

Location

Very easy to walk to everywhere in Antigua.

Staff

Friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa del Mundo

Lake Atitlán

This is a place like no other. Absolute paradise. If I could have brought my entire family, I would want to live there! The grounds and views were amazing, the staff was friendly and helpful. This was very valuable when trying to carry large bags up all those stairs when you aren't used to the altitude! The restaurant was wonderful. I loved explored all the gardens and seeing how environmentally conscious the owners are. The traditional Mayan decorations in the rooms and throughout the property were absolutely amazing. Anyone who is interested in this hotel should look at pictures and remember that it's even better in person. My only complaint is that I was only able to stay 2 nights. I almost cried when we left. My daughter and I are athletic and in good shape, but keep in mind if you are not, or have balance issues, getting around the hotel grounds might be a little difficult!

Authenticity & Character

The decorations were amazing!

Location

You have to take a boat to get to this hotel and the surrounding towns but it adds to the experience.

Staff

Very helpful and polite. I was amazed at how strong the young men were at carrying our bags up all those stairs.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Perfect

Activity Reviews

Hike Rostro Maya or Indian Nose

Guatemala

Indian Nose: This was a very early morning hike and absolutely worth the lost sleep! I'm very athletic but the hike was challenging, especially for those of us who live at sea level and aren't used to the altitude. But I love challenges and the view at the top was the best I've ever seen! Watching the sun rise over Lake Atitlan was an amazing experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Antigua Street Food Tour

Antigua

This was a walking tour, which is the best way to learn about Antigua! We learned about the food and culture and history of the area. We were so full of wonderful food that we didn't have to eat for quite awhile! JJ, as always was a great guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Thank you

Guatemala

JJ made sure we go to the airport on time and we were sad to leave!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit San Juan La Laguna

Guatemala

This is an absolutely beautiful city. We had a lovely and relaxing breakfast. We visited several shops in the area and saw demonstrations by Mayan women or locals. I was able to buy many things for my family and learn about the culture at the same time!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Villages Around Antigua By Chicken Bus

Antigua

This was fun and informative! JJ taught us a lot about the history and culture of the area. The land and weather was beautiful. And the people were friendly. I loved visiting the local shops/artisans and learning about how the different items were made!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Guatemala

Guatemala

JJ was our guide and picked us up on time and we immediately felt comfortable with him!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

JJ was an amazing guide!

Transport

Booking thru kimkim took the stress out of planning for an excellent trip. All arrangements were made and fulfilled without a hitch. Loved the flexibility of the local tour agency and the service provided by Mohamed.

Hotel Review

STEIGENBERGER Nile Palace Hotel Luxor

Luxor

Excellent location; rooms with terrace are of excellent value; Thai restaurant was great. Hotel offered us an excellent day rate because our tour finished early and our flight back to Cairo was late in the evening.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Sakkara, Dahshur, and The Grand Egyptian Museum

Egypt

Our favorite of this trip. Provides more context and origin for the Great Pyramids. Real desert and pyramid experience.

Quality of Experience

A

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Check out and Tour to The East & West Bank of the Nile

Luxor

All sites were breathtaking despite the extreme heat! More impressive than the GIZA PYRAMIDS.

Quality of Experience

Food

Questionable chicken

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pyramids and Cairo Sightseeing

Cairo

Our tour of the Pyramids seemed rushed it we end up not minding it too much because of the extreme heat.Lunch was mediocre.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This was our second trip booked with Kim Kim, and just as our first trip, it was amazing and even better. Mariliza planned a great trip for us that saw the highlights of Athens and a relaxing tour of the islands. All our hotels on the islands had amazing views from our rooms.

We started in Athens, driver picked us up and took us to our hotel was at Coco Mat near Plaka, which was prime location to activities, food, shopping, and acropolis. He had given us a print out of our itinerary that was a lamented booklet which was very helpful and a nice touch, we referred to the booklet many times. The mythology tour was great with our guide as we got all the highlights including the Parthenon and the Acropolis.

Next we took the ferry to Mykonos and stayed at Nimbus Hotel. This was our favorite hotel in terms of hotel staff. They were super friendly and helpful. Provided great recommendations for good food and beach clubs. We had a great time in Mykonos. We had a booked Yacht Sailing tour. This was our first time sailing. It was a good experience, but realized we are not boat people, and decided to cancel our Sail in Santorini, and Mariliza understood and issued us a refund. We instead applied that credit to a last minute Flying Dress photo shoot in Santorini that was arranged and it was an amazing experience for my wife.

Next we took ferry to Naxos. Naxos was amazing, our tour guide fore one of the days was Nasos with Naxos Tours, hes the man and very friendly. We did a Kitro tasting and Sophie was hilarious. Our room had a great view of the unfinished apollo temple and the beach. The breakfast made by the hotel owners every morning is so good. We rented a car, must have a car in Naxos, and went to the beach every day and visited some of the villages and ate delicious local food in Chalki. Nasos gave us an itinerary for day trip sightseeing which was great. Our time in Naxos was very romantic.

Last stop was Santorini. We stayed in an infinity pool suite with views of the Caldera. Since we got our beach fix on Mykonos and Naxos, we spent most of our days in the pool with the view. We visited Oia, did a self-guided hiking tour to Fira, a wine tour and island tour. Our last day was the Flying Dress photoshoot.

Overall, epic trip to Greece that we will remember. Definitely would like to go back and visit the the other islands. My wife and I have very busy work life, so we appreciate the planning of Kim Kim and just showing up for a vacation. If any hiccups, Mariliza was very prompt in her response and taking care of things.

Hotel Reviews

Astra Suites

Santorini

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cyano Suites

Naxos

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nimbus Mykonos

Mykonos

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Coco-Mat Athens BC

Athens

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Naxian Blend of History & Local Flavors

Naxos

Nasos is the best

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

⛵ Sailing Cruise to Delos archaeological site & Rhenia islet

Mykonos

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Athens Highlights / Mythology Tour

Athens

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Santorini

Santorini

Free day in Naxos

Naxos

Free afternoon in Athens

Athens

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Stunning Santorini Photoshoot

Santorini

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover Santorini, Semi-Private Tour

Santorini

The tour was fine, and our guide and driver was great. The winery stop at Art Space was mediocre. While paros gave us a good tour, the staff member at the winery was more interested in selling us art painting and wine bottles. Seemed a little too touristy. The Kitro experience in Naxos was much better and family owned.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our family of four recently had the pleasure of planning our Greek getaway through KimKim, with Hara as our dedicated travel planner. From the moment we arrived, Hara's thoughtful touch made our experience exceptional. She welcomed us at our hotel check-in with kind gifts unique to Greece, ensuring a warm introduction to the country's culture. Throughout our trip, Hara was attentive and accommodating, readily available by text to address any questions or last-minute arrangements.

Hara crafted an absolutely magnificent trip for us, spanning Athens, Naxos, and Santorini. Her meticulous planning struck a perfect balance between enriching private tours and ample free time for our own explorations.

Every detail of our journey was flawlessly executed, enhancing our experience at every turn. One of the standout moments was our unforgettable private cruises—a daytime catamaran adventure and a mesmerizing sunset cruise—that truly captured the essence of Greece's stunning coastal beauty.

Hara's expertise and attention to our preferences ensured that every aspect of our trip exceeded our expectations. Already, we're eagerly planning our next family adventure with KimKim, confident in their ability to create another unforgettable journey.

Hotel Reviews

18 Grapes Hotel Naxos

Naxos

Our stay at 18 Grapes Hotel was nothing short of exceptional. The attention to detail and genuine care extended to guests, both in the rooms and throughout the property, truly stood out. Located just a short stroll from one of Naxos's most stunning beaches, the hotel offers the perfect blend of luxury and convenience. One of the highlights was the delicious made-to-order breakfasts, which were a delightful start to each day. The dedicated staff ensured our comfort with their warm hospitality and attentive service, making our stay truly memorable. Additionally, the rooftop restaurant served delicious food with breathtaking views, adding an extra touch of luxury to our evenings.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

El Greco Resort Hotel Santorini

Santorini

Our recent stay at El Grecco hotel left us with mixed feelings. While the lobby was charming and the receptionists were friendly and helpful, there were some notable drawbacks. Accommodation: We booked two rooms, one of which had a mildew smell, and the other had stains on the furniture. However, the clerks were responsive and tried their best to address these issues promptly. Atmosphere: The hotel tends to host large groups, which meant a bustling atmosphere with frequent tour groups checking in and out. Dining Experience: There was a wide variety of breakfast options available, though the food itself was average in quality. Location: One aspect we found inconvenient was the hotel's location. While there were some decent restaurants within walking distance, we found ourselves spending most of our time in Oia, wishing we had chosen accommodation there or closer. Overall Impression: In summary, El Grecco offers a pleasant lobby and friendly reception staff. However, the issues with room conditions and the bustling nature of the hotel, combined with its location, left us feeling that it was an average choice for our stay in Santorini.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Elia Ermou Athens Hotel

Athens

The hotel was wonderful, and the location was superb! The roof top dining was such an amazing experience. The food was delicious, and the exquisite views of the Acropolis made it that much more special.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Catamaran Morning Private Cruise

Santorini

This excursion was undeniably one of the highlights of our trip! We enjoyed it so much, we added a sunset tour to our itinerary.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Island of Santorini - Private Tour

Santorini

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Island of Naxos

Naxos

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Magnificent Athens

Athens

Our tour guide as wonderful! He was incredibly knowledgeable and did an excellent job of providing a comprehensive and engaging tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

E-Bike Experience in Naxos

Naxos

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My wife and I just returned from thirteen days in Italy with our two kids, (ages 13 and 10) and had a trip that created memories for a lifetime.

I can’t say enough about Cecilia and how great she was in designing a trip for a family who had never been to Italy before and making sure that our itinerary met our needs. She found us great hotels that were both convenient location wise but also rooms that were comfortable for the whole family. Cecilia was very responsive leading up to our trip and made sure we were well educated on everything we needed to know before we left and provided us all of our necessary travel documents in one easy to use location that made our days travelling easy to follow. While on our trip Cecilia also made herself available for us to ask questions and was quick to respond if we weren’t sure if we were in a proper location for a tour or had a travel question as we moved from one place to the next.

We spent three days in Venice, three in Florence, four in Sorrento and ended with three days in Rome. Sorrento was the highlight destination for the whole family with our boat tour of the Amalfi Coast as our favourite day of the whole trip.

Thank you for everything Cecilia, your talent, your work and your dedication to our happiness is appreciated more than we can tell you!

Hotel Reviews

HOTEL CECIL

ROME

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Il Faro 3* Sorrento

Sorrento

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Paris

Florence

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Ca' Marinella

Venice

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Vatican & Sistine Chapel - Small Group Tour

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Colosseum, Roman Forums and Palatine Hill

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rome - 2h Gladiator School

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

GOLF CART TOUR ROME (Rome Highlights)

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pompeii Excavations half-day Tour

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

AMALFI AND POSITANO DISCOVERY BOAT TOUR - SEMI PRIVATE (max 12)

Sorrento

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day at leisure in Sorrento

Sorrento

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Truffle hunting and tasting in Valdichiana

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Accademia Gallery Tour

Florence

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half day tour Pisa and the leaning tower

Florence

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pizza and gelato making class

Florence

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Gondola Ride

Venice

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Murano, Burano and Torcello Excursion

Venice

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lize made our dream trip come true. We had been thinking about this special trip for 2 years and once I reached out to Kim Kim, Lize took time and patience to genuinely understand our needs and pull together the right itinerary. Communication was smooth, everything was as promised and more. Lize checked in on us during the trip as well and helped organise a last minute activity (hot air ballooning in Sossuvei). I would 100% recommend Lize to any one my friends planning a trip.

Hotel Review

Otjiwa Mountain Lodge

This unique, intimate and beautiful property will leave you speechless

Authenticity & Character

The elegance

Location

The position and view

Staff

Very professional and warm

Cleanliness & Comfort

Spotless and beautifully furnished

Activity Review

Etosha South to Okonjima

Namibia

We loved all the tips on the App. Where to stop, get fuel and the visit to the cheetah conservation fund

Very smooth organization by Ethel and great recommendations. Everything was booked ahead of time, which made the trip very seamless. We loved Bergen and the treehouse outside Oslo as well as the amazingly beautiful scenery throughout.

The trip in Cusco was well planned. We appreciated the logistical planning for transport and the guided tours in English. The travel agency in Cusco set up a what's app group and Jime was very prompt in her responses in the what's app chats. She was also very helpful and would provide exact and accurate instructions for each day's activities. In particular, we want to thank our tour guides (Edilberto Huamani in Sacred Valley and Cusco archeological sites tour, Fatima in Machu Picchu and Ketty in Rainbow Mountain tour) for giving us excellent overview of the history of Cusco. They were very kind and enthusiastic in sharing their knowledge with us. They spoke English very well and we could converse easily with them.

For the trip to Pisac, we had a Spanish speaking guide with a translator who seemed like an intern with the tour company. It was unfortunate that we realised the Spanish guide had a lot of information to share but the translator did not manage to translate the information accurately. For example, the Spanish guide spoke for 1 minute regarding the archeological sites in Pisac, and the translator followed up with 1-2 sentences which did not appear to represent what the guide had wanted to convey. The translator did not have very good command of the language as well. Although we enjoyed the sights in Pisac, we thought we would appreciate the sites further if there was a good English speaking guide with us.

The rainbow mountain tour allowed us to appreciate the beautiful scenery but I suffered from altitude sickness. It was also very cold in the mountain with strong wind, and we were unprepared for the weather. Jime had mentioned that it was very cold in the rainbow mountain the day before the trip, but we had not packed thick jackets for our entire trip in Cusco. I will suggest that the tour company should warn the participants regarding the weather and give the temperature ranges in the mountain, and also give warning regarding possible altitude sickness + give information regarding the altitude and how strenuous the activity may be, so that the participants can gauge if this tour is suitable for them.

Overall, we still enjoyed our trip and will recommend other tourists to consider booking the tour with this company, especially for English speaking visitors. The itinerary allowed us to experience many aspects of what Cusco has to offer, and we understood more of the Peruvian/Incan culture from our trip. Thank you Martina for planning this.

Faida organised a trip to Borneo for my family in collaboration. She was great at making changes or incorporating my wishlist. We absolutely loved it. I was a little hesitant to book as I had never gone via KimKim but the experience was incredible. They were able to organise details I would never have been able to figure out. From the moment we were picked up from the airport - every transfer was seamless and on time. It meant I was never thinking about "what next" or "how do we get a taxi?" as it was all done. It felt like I had a team behind the scenes running the holiday so all I had to do was enjoy it.

We spent a a few days in the jungle, then a few on the islands and it was an ideal mix (it was a one week holiday). We saw so many animals in the wild including probiscos monkeys, orangatangs, baby turtles, tarsiers (the big eyed cuties) and many many more. Our itinerary was a two half days / one night in Sepilok, 2 nights on the River Cruise (Wetlands Resort was great, as was Omar our guide) , a night on turtle island then a two nights at the Dive Resort in Lankayan Island. The diver resort was absolute paradise with incredible snorkelling (good for kids), swimming with turtles (they just graze the sea grass casually most of the time) and seeing baby turtles hatch and run on the beach. The set up is like Bora Bora - so luxurious. The staff were also wonderful.

I normally organise holidays myself but I am so glad I did it via Faida. She made everything work like clockwork and she set up a WhatsApp group so if I had any changes or questions while on holiday, they were able to answer them. I didn't realise but a lot of transfers are by boat and there was no way I would have known when they all leave and arrive. However, thanks to Faida - this was all sorted. I was also worried about the timings of everything as it seemed like a lot to fit in, but it worked very well and everything was timed perfectly.

This was a wonderful holiday for our whole family. I cannot recommend Faida highly enough.

Hotel Reviews

Lankayan Island Dive Resort

INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE! This place is magical. From the chalets that sit over the blue water, to being able to swim with turtles - it was one of the favourite experiences. Everything about this place was wonderful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Dreamy island. Ample fish to look at while snorkelling. Lovely accessible reef.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Luxurious!

Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort

Sandakan

Lovely hotel in the jungle. Very comfortable. Excellent staff and food. You fall asleep to the sounds of the rainforest.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Walai Penyu Resort Libaran

Sandakan

This doesn't promise to be a fancy experience - but even for "glamping" this was quite basic. However, that becomes part of the appeal - you get to see the village and the way villagers live (but again, this is very basic). The food and staff were great. It is very rustic - think table and chairs on the beach. The part that was oddly disappointing was the turtles. Compared to other islands, where I saw many adult turtles and babies live hatching - the island had about 3 nests only. I also worry that if they are holding turtles back for tourists to "release" - then it's not ideal for the baby turtles who must sit in a bucket. I would see this island for an off the beaten track tour of what village life is like.

Authenticity & Character

Location

it's an island

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

It is very basic but they tell you that - there is no air conditioning

Activity Review

Kinabatangan D1

Malaysia

Omar was an excellent guide - definitely worth doing. We saw so many animals in the jungle.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Morocco would have been a harder place to travel if it wasn’t for the help of KimKim. The driver, Khalid, is an exceptional human being and was the most accommodating driver I’ve ever experienced. He’s a 10! The guide in Fez, Khamal, is also a patient, kind professor who made the tour in Fez most special. His historical knowledge and command of English is truly exceptional. Our other guides both in Marrakech and the Atlas Mountains were very professional and helpful.
Morocco is truly a blend of modern and ancient. Its commitment to its history and religion is impressive. The people are warm. I can say with all sincerity that my cultural life experience is more enriched now that I’ve had a taste of Morocco. Thank you KimKim.

Hotel Reviews

Riad Maison Bleue And Spa

Fes

Beautiful authentic Moroccan style. Super close to the Medina. Fun staff. Great personality of place and staff. Lots of stairs but they have an elevator!

Authenticity & Character

So authentic. It was four houses remodeled together

Location

Close to Medina

Staff

Fun, kind and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

We saw other Riads inside the Medina that were more “elegant” (bigger) but this Riad is elegant and has a fun personality. I really liked.

Hotel Dar Mounir

Chefchaouen

Lots of winding stairs. Shower overflowed but they were quick to fix. It was ok

Authenticity & Character

Very Moroccan

Location

Right in the Medina

Staff

Very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Breakfast was poor

Barcelo Tanger

Tangier

Very modern and clean. Pool is shady though and was windy.

Authenticity & Character

More modern and new than Moroccan character

Location

Beautiful view of Mediterranean.

Staff

Not much interaction so that was fine. Means it runs well.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very very clean and comfortable

Es Saadi Marrakech Resort - Hotel

Marrakech

The staff is very very accommodating. It’s clean, colorful, and serves a great breakfast. Fantastic swimming pool. Great pool service. Quiet at night. Ac works well.

Authenticity & Character

It’s more modern with Moroccan details. It’s like a nice hotel in Hawaii with some Moroccan influence

Location

A bit of a walk to the Medina but since we had a driver that wasn’t a concern

Staff

Very helpful. Let us check out late. Let us hang around since we had a late flight out at night.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean yet does not smell of disinfectant!

The White Camel Lodge

Agafay, Marrakech

This is a special place that is well worth the awe inspiring sunset and sense of adventure.

Authenticity & Character

Uniqueness

Location

Had never experienced anything like this before.

Staff

Friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Great pool

Activity Review

Tour Fes with a Private Guide

Fes

Khamal is a professor who knows his stuff. Lots of energy, so knowledgeable. Speaks English like a natural speaker. Get him!!!

Quality of Experience

Nice accommodations and guides. Great driver Khalid.

Food

We searched for variety and found it. Food from vendors in the Medina was delicious and safe.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

People are warm and real

Transport

Khalid is the BEST

The guide was very good , guided us through the whole trip , from places to restaurants.
The country is beautiful and had a wonderful time driving around and seeing some stunning places .
My 4 star is based on few -
I could have planned it slightly better as felt one or two places were a repetition and could be avoided ( maybe Kritiansund )
Some hotels did not have any lift which meant we had to carry suitcases at least for 2-3 flights of stairs , not ideal when we have 2 suitcases close to 20kgs , avoidable .
Overall fantastic country and trip and our advisor / guide Mathia was very good

We toured through Spain as one part of several countries we visited on this vacation. Working with Marta, we were able to develop a plan that brought us to many cities in Spain and ended in Southern Spain, where we could take a ferry to Morocco. We had chosen to be on our own for much of the trip.
Marta arranged trains between cities as well as hotels that were comfortable, centrally located and included breakfast, which got our days started right! We took a Paella making class in Valencia, did a tapas tour and had a tour of La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, and saw a Flamenco show in Sevilla. We also had several city tours along the way with knowledgeable and interesting local tour guides. All were well-coordinated and gave us a flavor of each of the 6 cities we visited, while providing lots of free time for us as well.
Marta and her team were always available for questions, both before, during, and even after our trip. It was a fantastic 11-day experience.

We had an amazing experience in Iceland! The options for tours, accommodations, and random places to stop and see were great. We really appreciated the help and communication we received from Eric!

Machupicchu: The tour guide told us many stories in detail and helped us take many good photos.

Rainbow mountain：There are not too many people, so you can really revel in the beautiful scenery

In fact the whole trip was great and a very unique experience, I will recommend it to my friend KimKim

Wonderful! Thanks to Chris and our guide Joel for putting together a great itinerary and shepherding us through a phenomenal trip. I traveled to Guatemala with 4 teenagers...who thought this might have been our best adventure yet. Chris and the team suggested a great itinerary, matched the level of adventure + downtime our group was into, were collaborative with adjustments, helped manage within our budget, and communicated well throughout. If we return to Guatemala, we'll work with Chris again....and I'll recommend him to friends.

Valentine was the most wonderful and profesional travel specialist we have ever met. She made every single arrangement exactly as we wanted it to be. She chose the most wonderful hotels and places as she just had the best insight on France and the best instinct. She really was essential in making our trip an absolute joy.

Our family vacation to Japan was fantastic and Myaen was so thoughtful and did a great job of conceiving and preparing a trip that had the right balance of guides and self-exploration as well the right mix of contemporary / modern Japan and traditional sights.

Throughout the trip our guides (Junko, Haruki, Momoko and others) were quite amazing and did a great job of catering a tour to our needs that day.

Activity Reviews

Magnificent Views in Arashiyama - Guided w/ Private Car and Driver

Kyoto

Our guide Junko was quite phenomenal. It was unbearably hot in Kyoto the days we were there and Junko did a Teriffic job of adjusting the itinerary to accommodate for the heat. She offered up a new sequence of temple visits to be outdoors during the early AM and then offered some new indoor outings for us in the PM.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Junko was a fabulous guide.

Traditional Kyoto Tour

Japan

Our guide Junko was quite phenomenal. It was unbearably hot in Kyoto the days we were there and Junko did a Teriffic job of adjusting the itinerary to accommodate for the heat. She offered up a new sequence of temple visits to be outdoors during the early AM and then offered some new indoor outings for us in the PM.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Junko was a fabulous tour guode who accommodated my family when my son was not feeling well.

Tsukiji Fish Market Visit with Sushi Making Experience

Tokyo

An excellent tour of the “old” Tsukkiji fish market area. Sampling the fresh fish was quite amazing. But overall was a bit disappointed by the size of the market and how touristy the experience was.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sumo Practice Viewing in Tokyo

Tokyo

I thought we would be touring an actual sumo stable. Instead we got a fairly sanitized sumo exhibition with slapstick comedy. The show itself was fun but much less authentic than we were expecting. .

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Izakaya Food Tour

Tokyo

Our guide Haruki did a great job of creating a fun welcoming atmosphere and took us to some fantastic places in Kabukicho.

Quality of Experience

Our guide (Haruki?) was amazing and the food was fantastic! Exceeded my expectations.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Haruki was amazing.