Kimkim Trip Reviews

We had never used KimKim previously and this was a test run for my husband and me. I hired KimKim because I did not have the time to devote to planning a trip. My understanding was that we were paying a premium to an agent so that they could do the hard work of planning our trip and we could rely on our agent to create an itinerary, provide vetted hotels, guides etc., answer questions and provide detailed information so that I would not have to devote too much time to the planning process. This did not work out exactly as I thought it would - details below.

Overall I thought KimKim was good, but it was too expensive for the amount of service that was provided and the ultimate result should have been great rather than just good given the price we paid. Let me start with what they did well - the web portal was easy enough to learn to use and our specialist Aleksandra was responsive to changes in our itinerary and to follow up questions. Aleksandra was also polite and professional. KimKim did a good job with providing good guides. Our guide for the City of Edinburgh and for a day trip to St. Andrews were both very good, and I would recommend them to others. The bookings for hotels and guides were organized and we had no problem with the hotels saying they didn't have our room, or guides not showing up on time, etc. The hotels where we stayed in Edinburgh, Inverlochy and on the Isle of Skye were all very good choices.

KimKim did not do a good job with some things. For instance, they were not great with booking restaurants - the places they recommended were quite touristy and we were clear that wasn't what we wanted - we ended up booking nearly all of our restaurant reservations ourselves. A much bigger issue is that they did not mention anywhere in our itinerary or in any correspondence with us that we needed to advance book the ferry from Mallaig to the Isle of Skye. This was an important detail as the ferry books up in advance during the high season, and we could not get onto the ferry and therefore ended up driving an extra 80 miles, missing the ability to sightsee on parts of the Isle of Skye that we had been planning to do that day. Needless to say, this was hugely disappointing and I think is a basic job of our booking company where they dropped the ball. This made me think that our agent was not a local and clearly did not know this and did not think to ask anyone with more local knowledge. Our expectation was that we were getting advice from a local and clearly that was not the case. The other thing that was spectacularly badly was that the last hotel we stayed in was absolutely atrocious. It clearly hadn't been renovated in a very long time and smelled musty and was just plain disgusting frankly, and the dining options were beyond awful. It was not a place where anybody would want to stay, and I have absolutely no idea why Aleksandra booked us there. Most of the trip was wonderful, but that was a terrible way to end and unfortunately it is the last thing we took away from our time in Scotland.

My recommendation is to be very hands on: (1) make sure to independently review the hotels to make sure that they meet your satisfaction, and provide detailed guidance as to what you're looking for, (2) make sure to doublecheck your itinerary and ask the questions that you would ask if you were planning the entire trip yourself. This of course means that you're putting in much more time in the planning process, which kind of defeats the purpose of hiring KimKim in the first place. I might be willing to try the service again, but in a much more active manner.

Duncan arranged a very comprehensive/detailed wonderful plan for us to complete Iceland’s ring road! We loved the route, sites, and unique lodging/breakfasts. The car rental process was very efficient and loved the onboard wifi capability. This was our 3rd KimKim trip and we are going to use again!

Hotel Reviews

Fosshotel Hellnar

Hellnar

Very pleasant place to rest/refuel! Restaurant and staff were great!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fosshótel Reykholt

Reykholt

Modern lodging with great restaurant/breakfast and staff! Our room was very spacious and included a small table with comfy chairs to enjoy.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Katla by Keahotels

Vík

Very comfortable lodging with access to lovely dining facility/hot tub/sauna.

Hotel Hallormsstadur

Egilsstadir

Very lovely and large space ‘in the forest’! The hotel had just opened for the season so not many people there yet or lots of staff. But breakfast was grand and staff were very pleasant & helpful!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Abit out of the main town but lovely setting. We loved having access to out doors to sit in the evening!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Litli Geysir Hotel

Haukadalur

We were early in their season and at their non-connected hotel. It met our needs for 3 people well.

Authenticity & Character

The main hotel/restaurant were very top notch! Right across from the geysers…

Location

Staff

I had misplaced my phone and called after leaving to have them check space. Given lower staffing this took abit of time & a few call backs. But I appreciated their efforts!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Árnanes Country Hotel

Höfn

Really liked the cabin like lodging! Could get a glacier brewed beer when checked in (price reasonable)! Staff lovely and breakfast was tasty/adequate.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Vogafjós Farm Resort

Myvatn

Very sweet farm setting and decor of ‘cabin’/dining area. Dinner and breakfast were fabulous! Vista of sheep grazing plus seeing their dairy cows get milked/tended to—while overlooking the acreage was very cool (for this ‘farm girl’)!

Authenticity & Character

Lodging was across the road from the dining/reception area. But very pleasant stroll to access or to walk in the eve on paved off road trails.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Laugarbakki

Laugarbakki

The hotel is very remotely located and was just getting started with this season. Staff were fine. Breakfast was great—(dinner was OK just not the caliber have been having). We had them move us to a room with 3 separate beds which they did accommodate. It was in a building that did not seem to have others in—so felt abit more isolated.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

22 Hill Hotel

Reykjavík

This was very proximal to walking to sites downtown but we came early and without central reception on site—it was more challenging to call ‘home’. This was one hotel we also were not able to get our 3 ‘separate beds’ but all was very feasible. They were doing major renovations so lots of construction activity in the ‘lobby’. This will be nicer when all renovations are done!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Vidgelmir cave guided tour

Iceland

This was a great educational and physical experience! Guide did a great job preparing us and leading us through activity.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Rye Bread tour (Geothermal bakery)

Iceland

Great job by seasonal staff! Lovely space to wait in (by geothermal spa)…

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

i’m

The Geothermal Vok Baths

Iceland

Loved the non-sulfur hot bath! Also enjoyed being able to dip in cold lake water from one of the hot baths. Very cool building/shower rooms etc. Only comment for possible improvement—is that some of the equipment getting in/out of baths were kind of green/slimy/slippery. It may be tough for them to impact this—but seems like they could have been cleaned.

Quality of Experience

Katla Ice Cave

Iceland

Very fun activity! It was fun to get into the ‘back country’ with big vehicle and then to explore on glacier trails that staff keep having to affirm are safe for walking on (with crampons). The caves and sites were glorious to take in!

Quality of Experience

Note to anyone who may have challenges with balance or endurance—this could be abit much for some. We really enjoyed but are used to walking with crampons on ice & in good shape!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide/driver was very well versed on the area and entertaining/informative.

Transport

During the trip we had to making some changes and Vicky was readily available and putting the effort forth that created an amazing experience with little hiccups. She was extremely attentive to changes, and ensured that we were abelk to complete everything we wanted to do at all the different locations we went to thorughout the tirp. There was maintenance on one of the items that caused her to have to reorganize our trip pretty last minute. She did amazing handling these changes!

She managed to fit everything we wanted to do and add suggestions for us in a 12 day trip to Australia which was already amazing and allowed us to enjoy our trip stress free!

Hotel Reviews

Pullman Port Douglas Sea Temple Resort & Spa

Port Douglas

Off the beaten path, really good for someone seeking a quiet vacation full of poolside relaxing. The hotel was amazing, the room was bueatiful and guest service was amazing. However the breakfast was the same everyday, and for us it was a bit to far off the path.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rhapsody Resort

Surfers Paradise

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Premium Guided Dive Trip - Outer Great Barrier Reef

Port Douglas

The dive instructor only handles small dive groups of around 4 people max, it ended up being just myself and partner on our introductory dive. It was phenomnial and everyone was amazing.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This was my fourth trip with Kimkim. While Audrey was responsive and ensured our bookings were confirmed, we did not receive as thorough of services as previously obtained by other specialists. Our other Kimkim specialists would check in with us before and throughout the trip, provide contact information (with the specialist and not just the company hosting the excursion) in case of any issues, and provide critical information for navigating the destination. We did not receive any of this for our trip to Paris and had to do much more research to ensure a safe and comprehensive experience. Audrey did provide us with the essential information, but we feel we did not receive the great Kimkim experience we're accustomed to.

Nadine is exceptional! I have used Kimkim for several trips, and this was, by far, the best experience with a specialist. Nadine was responsive and knowledgeable, ensuring we had all the information needed for a safe and fun trip. I truly appreciated all of the additional tips, recommendations, and the welcome package at the hotel. Finally, our airport transfer driver, Robert, and the hotel hostess, Lisa, were phenomenal. I am genuinely grateful for Nadine and her helping curate an unforgettable experience!

Full disclosure, I am a Kimkim employee, but the experience with the team helping me plan my trip to Spain was incredible as always and it was so easy booking everything through them and knowing I have a team supporting me as a travel in case anything were to go wrong! Thank you!

We are experienced and demanding senior travellers and Bianca was very responsive to our specific needs and responding to our questions in a timely fashion. We had to change our plan and she was able to make the appropriate changes. She proved to be knowledgeable and experienced as a travel advisor and planner.
We had an interesting and informative visit to Johannesburg based on travel guides recommended by Bianca. Victoria Fall was breathtaking and the accomodation at the Phezulu Guest Lodge was very enjoyable. Chobe and staying at the Chobe Bush Lodge with morning safari outings and the afternoon boat trips were amazing. Okavango swamp and Pom Pom Camp was outstanding with very personal service and staying among the animals with knowledgeable guides we found all the animal we wanted to see. The Pom Pom Camp was a very special experience.

Hotel Reviews

Premier OR Tambo Hotel

We liked the spacious rooms, the location next to the airport was perfect and the staff were helpful and professional

Authenticity & Character

Not sure what to say about character, but the staff were friendly and helpful

Location

next to the airport

Staff

Very helpful staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Phezulu Guest Lodge

Victoria Falls

As small hotel near Vic Falls and all that we needed for our stay. Staff were very helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Chobe Bush Lodge

Kasane

The rooms were very spacious and modern with large bathroom area and balconies. Location near the Chobe river was great. Very helpful staff that were very responsive when we needed their help. I would say that the food was a bit disappointing.

Authenticity & Character

Large thatched building that was very spacious.

Location

On the Chobe River

Cleanliness & Comfort

Great rooms

Pom Pom Camp

United Kingdom

Very personal service with a limited number of guests. We had safari outing to our selves most of the time. The food was good. The tent accomodations with open bathing areas was spacious but a bit warm in the afternoons. Staying among the animals was unique and watching them from the balcony was captivating. This was the peak experince of the trip and Ryder our guide knew where to find the animals including leopards, wild dogs as well as lions, elephants and giraffes . A magical experience with outings in the morning and late afternoons.

Authenticity & Character

Definitely a lot of character and the personal attention of the staff

Location

Isolated and staying among the animals next to a watering hole

Staff

Always address by name, our guide ate meals with us and the service was great

Cleanliness & Comfort

The tent rooms were spotless, just two small issues, the rooms were very hot in the afternoon and the need to be careful about the use of lights at night to avoid invasion by the insects

Activity Reviews

Chobe Safari Day

Botswana

The safari drives were nice but the best was the boat outing on the water since all the animals are drawn to the water. Seeing the elephants swim/walk through the water was great and the wallowing hippos.

Quality of Experience

Great sightings of animals on land and from the water.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Some of the drivers were a bit fast. They need to clean the area where they stop for morning tea as there seemed to be a lot of used toilet paper around the area.

Transport

Keep the speed down

Okavango Delta Safari

Okavango Delta

The morning and afternoon safari outings were amazing. Ryder our driver and guide was very professional and knowledgeable and we found all the animals that we wanted to see plus a few surprises

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very personal and friendly service and when one of our party was a bit sick they when out of their way to help him feel better

Transport

You have to be ready to be shaken a bit during the game drives

All of our guides and experiences were top notch. We were clearly communicated with throughout the trip the entire team was helpful in making sure we had a great time. We will definitely be using Kimkim again next time we travel.

Our trip to Greece was a trip we will never forget! Overall, the experience was fantastic. We had one issue where there was a miscommunication with the date we were arriving and leaving, Angela quickly jumped to action accommodating us with a hotel for us to stay at that first night in Athens and adjusting our stay in Santorini. The taxi for us to get to the port in Athens never showed up to pick us up to the hotel, we had to get a cab and Angela made sure we were reimbursed. She made sure everything was fixed and checked in to make sure our trip ran smoothly.

The excursions Angela selected were absolutely amazing and were catered to what we were interested. There was a perfect mixture between "touristy" attractions and tours that took us through how the locals live. It was all so informative about the history of Greece.

Naxos was hands down our favorite island we visited. I WILL BE RETURNING THERE! It was not full of people and felt very traditional. We loved the scenery, the food, and the people we encountered on Naxos. We went on a fishing tour with Evan with Naxos Fishing Experience and had the best time. He ended up giving us a good bit of fish to take and one of the restaurants cooked it for us! A truly unforgettable experience.

Overall an amazing trip! :)

Our trip consisted of Sossusvlei (2 nights), Swakopmund (2 nights) and Damaraland (3 nights)
We opted for a driver and guide and this was a significant part of the enjoyment of our trip. Vincent Taylor is not just a driver and guide but a senior person with in-depth knowledge and experience in Namibia and the region which provided us with deeper insight into Namibia and visiting places that other might miss. I would encourage others visiting Namibia to consider having a driver and guide since 80% of the roads we travelled on were not paved and distances between gas stations and facilities are far, driving around 5 hours every other days is tiring even as a passenger and if something happens having a local expert is helpful. Travelling on your own would be a completely different experience and much less interesting. The dunes of Sossusvlei are like a gigantic art installation with the changing light and shadows on the dunes with the unique vegetation and salt pans. The accommodations at the Desert Homestead Lodge were super with the roomy individual cabins. Swakopmund with its cooler temperatures was a relief from the heat, the Swakopmund Luxury Suites were comfortable and a good location. We would encourage visitors to do the combination cruise on the bay in the morning and the Sandwich Bay dune ride in the afternoon, both were memorable. Damaraland was unique to be staying among the boulders and going out one morning for tracking the desert elephants which we found and appreciated. Afternoons were too hot to do very much. We could have done with a less fancy accommodations at Camp Kipwe but it was very unique and beautiful. Travelling the roads and experiencing the vastness of Namibia was an experience in itself. The final accomodation at the Windhoek Luxury Suites was fine with a restaurant in a courtyard mall in the Spanish style was quite unique and enjoyable. The staff at all the accommodations were very helpful, friendly and professional.
The CapeTown portion of the trip was totally different. Staying at the Commodore next to the wharf was very handy for restaurants and shopping. Hotel staff were helpful and friendly was we were able to do most of the things that CapeTown is famous for. A great final stop on our very memorable trip.

Hotel Reviews

Premier OR Tambo Hotel

Great for being near the airport. Helpful and friendly staff. Nice rooms and a good restaurant.

Authenticity & Character

Friendly staff

Location

Near the airport

Staff

Very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Desert Homestead Lodge

The setting of the hotel, the main building with a thatched roof and tasteful design and facilities. The rooms were large and very nicely done in a rustic way

Authenticity & Character

Unique design

Location

Beautiful setting

Staff

Very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Swakopmund Luxury Suites

Swakopmund

Good location and helpful staff

Authenticity & Character

Nice place, very modern design

Location

Near the beach and restaurants

Staff

Staff were very helpful when we had some problems

Cleanliness & Comfort

Camp Kipwe

Windhoek

This is a top end hotel set among boulders on a hill in the desert and barely visible from a distance. Each hut has a outdoor bathroom that we liked. Bar at the top of the hill for sunsets. Food was great and staff were friendly and helpful.

Authenticity & Character

The hotel is part of the landscape, very unique and special

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Windhoek Luxury Suites

Windhoek

Quite and peaceful.

Authenticity & Character

The restaurant neary by in a Spanish style mall was quite unique

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Commodore Hotel

Cape Town

Our room overlooked the city and Table Mountain.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Being next to the wharf is probably the best location in Capetown because of the mall and the restaurants and bars near by

Staff

Very helpful with a few issues and needs that we had

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Twyfelfontein Tour

Damaraland

Tracking the desert elephants was a great experience in a dry river bed. We did find the elephants and a few giraffe. The cultural center experience was interesting. The petroglyphs were interesting though the trail is a bit difficult. The organ pipes and black mountain were interesting but not as much as the other activities

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We will press repeat in capital letters

Every guide and every place was amazing. The trip was so well organized that it felt stress free. It felt like a trip of a lifetime. We already have given several friends, family and even complete strangers your name and recommended you highly..

Hotel Reviews

24 Royal Terrace

Edinburgh

Very clean and unique.

Authenticity & Character

Location accessible to most sites.

Location

Great breakfast and great location.

Staff

Very accommodating. Karen needed a charger and they supplied one to borrow.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean- room tidied everyday.

The Stirling Highland Hotel

Stirling

Clean, comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Garrison

Fort William

Clean, with everything we needed very handy and accessible.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bluebell House B&B

Inverness

Ken was friendly, organized and a great cook. Too bad he got sick the next morning and we missed breakfast but the place was pristine.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Coolin View

Portree

Loived everything.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Oban Bay Hotel

Oban

Clean, beautiful views, friendly and accommodating staff.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tigh Grianach Bed and Breakfast

Barra

This definitely earns the title of 5-star. Spotless, comfortable. Jackie is an amazing cook, gifted hostess and kind and friendly. Rob our tour guide was over the top. He was very knowledgeable, personable and accommodating. He took interest in researching information about Donna’s family even after the tour was over. When he finds info he emails me and we will keep in touch. Wow.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

One way to Mallaig on the Jacobite Train (of Harry Potter fame)

Scotland

Was extremely hot.

Quality of Experience

The tour guide was great. Told us about sites along the way in time to take pictures.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Edinburgh Castle Tickets

Edinburgh

Good- informative. But short. Didn’t take us in to anything. Was just an introduction.

Quality of Experience

Longer more detail

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

It was a pleasure working with Emerson. He gave us a framework from which we planned our trip, made suggestions of things we wouldn’t have done, especially our day trip to Tallinn,
Estonia. The guides he found for us were all very good. Logistics were easy. The whole trip went smoothly and was great fun.

Hotel Review

Hotel F6

Helsinki

Hotel F6 was wonderful. The room was great, service was excellent, and the people were nice. The breakfast was fantastic, and the hotel's location was very convenient. We stayed there for four nights and had no complaints.

Location

Activity Reviews

Canoe Tour on Lake Näsijärvi

Tampere

Initially apprehensive about the canoe tour, it turned out to be a great experience. We were all in one canoe with our guide, who was fascinating and knowledgeable about his business, which included plowing a skating route on the lake in winter. The lake was beautiful, and the weather was perfect.

Tallinn Day Trip

Helsinki

The Tallinn day trip was a big plus and not something we had originally planned. The ferry ride was fine, and our guide was knowledgeable and proud of his country. We learned a lot about the old city of Tallinn and Estonia. It was a fun and unexpected addition to our trip.

Guided Hike in the Archipelago Sea

Helsinki

The guided hike was in a beautiful location, although it was a beginner-level hike. Since we are pretty big hikers, we probably would have enjoyed a more challenging route. The people we went with were very nice, and the guide was excellent. It was a good experience overall.

Sauna Tour

Tampere

You can’t go to Finland without going to sauna. Our guide, Matti, is a sauna expert. He took us to a beautiful place, taught us how to “do” sauna, and made the afternoon very special.

The trip checked all the boxes. The food tour was good (the guide was pretty soft-spoken and there were 14 in the group.). The hotel was perfect for the location - it could not have been more convenient. However, because of the child safety closures on the windows, they only opened a few centimeters so there was no airflow and it was especially warm weather. I can't imagine staying there in the summer with no AC. Additionally, the windows for our room were over the back alley so we heard the midnight glass recycle dump from the nearby restaurants when they closed. I felt quite poorly on Sunday, so that may impact this next comment, but I would send people to Rosendal first, then to Flam. We went to Flam on Saturday and Sunday to Rosendal. After 5 hours on the boat Saturday, in the "King of the Fjords," the Roesndal trip was slightly disappointing in comparison. It was still lovely, but one's mind naturally compares to prior similar events. But like I said, I was feeling quite poorly Sunday, so it might have just been my mood. We had great food and really enjoyed our time. My husband had never been and enjoyed the Sognefjord the most. I usually plan all our trips and appreciated being able to just "show up" for this without having done much work.

Hotel Review

Scandic Torget

Bergen

The location can not be beat. It has got to be the most convenient location in old town Bergen. The breakfast was fabulous. They said they started serving at 0730 but when we went down around 0700 to get coffee, they let us get started early since we had an early ferry. However, I can't recommend it for summer travel. The windows have child locks on them to keep kids from falling out (good thing) but they restrict air flow so significantly, that we baked all night long without airflow or air conditioning. And our room faced the alley so we heard the midnight glass recycle from the nearby restaurants. If you're going in the cooler weather, stay here. If not, find a place that might be cooler for sleeping.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Food and Culture walk in Bergen

Bergen

Great tour to local eating/drinking establishments. The guide was great, if a bit soft spoken. I recommended this tour to others we met later in our trip.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Fløibanen Funicular Experience

Bergen

You need to do this while in Bergen. Then walk down - that was one of our favorite parts of the trip.

Quality of Experience

Bergen to Flåm "The King of Fjords" Sognefjord in a Nutshell Day trip

Bergen

We loved this experience. It's such a lovely day on the boat (in good weather).

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fjord Cruise to Rosendal

Bergen

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tina did an exceptional job of putting together an amazing adventure for a family of 4 (2 adult sons). The activities were wonderful, the hiking guides were superb. The actual rental units were fantastic and unique. The locations were perfect. We enjoyed especially amazing views in Hvar and Dubrovnik. The central locations in Rovign, Split, and Zadar were perfect. We managed 3 beautiful hikes, 2 day long boat rides, river kayaking, truffle hunting, mountain biking, national park visits, a rental car, multiple ferries all without even a hiccup. Well done Tina. Well done Kimkim. Thank you.

We recently had the most amazing trip thanks to Nadine, and we can't thank her enough for the incredible experience. From the moment we told her what we were looking for this trip, and met her in person, it was clear how kind and thoughtful she is. Nadine accompanied us throughout the journey, ensuring that every detail was perfect.

What truly stood out was her remarkable attention to detail. On May 19th, she surprised us by booking a stunning hotel in Belgium to celebrate our anniversary. Her thoughtful gesture made our special day even more memorable.

Nadine went above and beyond, making sure everything was perfectly organized. She patiently taught us how to navigate each mode of transportation, making the entire trip smooth and stress-free.

Her warmth and dedication transformed our trip into an unforgettable adventure. We felt so cared for and looked after. Thank you, Nadine, for your incredible service and making our journey so magical. We can't wait to travel with you again!

We even got the chance to meet in person Nadine, and Emma; who also did a wonderful job making our special trip :)
A big shout to the kimkim team and Beat the Dutch!

Suki, Daniel, and Julian

When thinking of the best trip imaginable, I had nothing but ideas and no direction. Thats where the travel team came in ! They brought to action all my Irish dreams. This trip was full of adventure and beautiful sights, and it was coordinated beautifully by Claire. From the pick up at the airport to every nights stay, all accommodations were book, confirmed, and enjoyed without problem. The places we visited were beautiful and the drive around the country was filled with spectacular views. The first few days were spent in Dublin, and the local rail system was well utilized. It was advised that we go to a small fishing village Howth, and while there I wish we would have known to do the cliff walk.... this was a missed opportunity. We also visited Malahide (not on our itinerary) and we wish we could have spent an entire day here. There is a castle worth seeing with paid admission, adding this to the itinerary would have been a great addition. The hotel in Dublin was comfortable with great breakfast options. We did partake in the cocktail tour at Roe and Co distillery, and this by far was the most fun part of Dublin. Next stop was Galway, and this was wonderful. Highly recommend we-wheels electric bike tour, and the authentic Italian restaurant "Osteria". Next stop, Cliffs of Moher. I would reccomend seeing the cliffs from a more local point of view, and booking a Doolin cliff walk tour. This would have been about a 5 mile walk but really worth it. This night we were supposed to stay in Doolin but our hotel was actually in Ennistymon. We stayed at "Falls House Hotel and Spa" and I would not recommend this town or hotel for a stay. The bed was not comfortable and the dining was less than impressive. Next stop, Dingle. We loved dingle and exploring the town, next trip I would love to stay multiple days here. Slea Head drive is the most beautiful of the country and highly recommend taking your time driving it. The cliffs of Kilkee, which start and end at a coffee shop, were absolutely stunning. Defiantly recommend! Kenmare was a cute town, but would have rather stayed in Killarney or had a few nights stay in kenmore to drive to surrounding towns. We did hear of a night time kayak on a bioluminescent lake which would have been an amazing addition that we did not get. There are also nightly shows in Killarney of Irish dancing, which I would have liked to pay, book, and watch. Last stop, Waterford. Highly recommend a private tour of the factory. Overall, we really enjoyed the trip and the travel team !

Hotel Reviews

The Fleet

Dublin

Great room with comfortable beds and large breakfast selection. This hotel is great location for walking the city.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easily walkable

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Hyde Hotel

Galway

Breakfast here is great, hotel was clean and comfortable, staff is wonderful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

There is no onsite or free parking.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Falls House Hotel and Spa

Co Clare

This Hotel is not in a great location. While the surrounding is pretty, the town does not have much to offer. The beds were very uncomfortable and the room temperature was too warm. The food was available, but was not tasty for the price.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Stay in Doolin and not here.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean but not comfortable.

Dingle Bay Hotel

Dingle

Loved this hotel. Staff very friendly, and easily walked to dinner and shopping. Also, parking is available.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Happy Pig

Kenmare, Co. Kerry

Lovely bed and breakfast ! The owner was friendly and cooked an amazing breakfast. The rooms were clean and very comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Cute and quaint, can drive to town for dinner or shopping.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Butler Townhouse Kilkenny

Great hotel, Breakfast was tasty. Easily walk to the castle.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Roe and Co Distillery FLAVOURS Experience

Dublin

This was the most fun experience in Dublin. I am not particularly fond of whiskey, that being said this experience was exceeding expectations and served delicious cocktails. Our tour guide and bar master was not only charming, but knowledgeable. I would highly recommend this activity.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

uber/taxi to location

Guided E-bike Tour Of Galway City

Galway

Electric bike tour is highly recommended. Our tour guide was great and the bike was easy to operate.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dingle Food Tour

Ireland

I don't think this tour was worth it. The food was not impressive. I was expecting more of a local flare to the offered food, that was not what was provided. However, we did enjoy the guide and the stop at the local brewery to learn more about irelands beer market and his local business.

Quality of Experience

We did not enjoy the stops on the tour and food offered.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very nice tour guide

Transport

Walked the town, easily walked.

Waterford Crystal Factory Tour Private Tour

Waterford

I would highly recommend this activity. The factory was very interesting and intimate.

Quality of Experience

Being alone with the tour guide allowed us to ask questions and take time with each stage of the process.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Kilkenny Castle

Kilkenny

This was a nice experience, I would not spend a whole day at the castle but I would spend a whole day in Kilkenny exploring other things. I wanted the castle to show more history or to tell a story, but many of the rooms were empty from character.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had a fantastic time in Costa Rica and this is the second consecutive international trip we have used KimKim to make the arrangements. It saves considerable time doing research and hoping you are choosing the right hotels and experiences. Websites for vendors can be highly deceptive and using someone like KimKim who knows the country and various locations, resorts/hotels and excursion experiences is incredibly helpful. And never having to worry about transportation between locations, airport, etc. is a huge relief when traveling in a foreign country. I would highly recommend KimKim.

Hotel Reviews

Arenal Springs Resort & Spa

La Fortuna

This hotel was beautiful, the grounds were amazing and close to La Fortuna and the Arenal volcano. The villas were great and the staff was extremely friendly. We saw several other hotels in the area but I doubt any were nicer than Arenal Springs Resort.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tamarindo Diria Beach Resort

Tamarindo

Excellent location with plenty of dining options on the premises and close to other shops and restaurants. The facilities were great and staff was very friendly. Highly recommend the hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Hike in Arenal Volcano Park 1968

Arenal/La Fortuna

The walk through the park was fine, nothing super special but a relaxing couple of hour nature walk.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tamarindo Horseback Riding to Conchal Beach

Costa Rica

A very fun morning ride on some beautiful beaches of Costa Rica. Very enjoyable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zip Lining - Hanging Bridges & Aerial Tram

Arenal/La Fortuna

Very cool experience. The views from the gondola, zip lines and walking bridges were amazing. Our guide for the bridge and country tour was incredibly knowledgeable about both wildlife and the fauna and made it an enjoyable experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Snorkeling to Catalina Islands

Costa Rica

This snorkeling trip was one of the weaker ones we have been on. The company used caters principally to divers so a lot of time was spent dropping them off and picking them up. Our snorkel guides were very nice, no issues at all but the underwater snorkeling wasn't that great. And it took quite a while to get to the boat since you have about a 30 minute drive from Tamarindo Beach with the traffic, then stop at the dive shop to get fins, then shuttle to the beach where you have to go in groups out to the boat on small tender barge since the dive boat is not in a marina. And then all in reverse at the end. And no cocktails and limited snacks at the end. All of our other snorkeling trips have been on better boats and for snorkelers with nice amenities.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to Morocco exceeded all our expectations. It was an excellent agenda. All the tours and tour guides were excellent, but Younes our driver, really made the experience exceptional. He was always very professional, and offered us so many great tips. He was always ready with very good meal recommendations and would book the reservation. He even helped us get laundry done. Younes made the whole trip very seemless. All the individual guides were very good and each one was special in their own way. We will always remember this special trip.

Hotel Reviews

Luxury Camp Chebbi

Merzouga

We had a wonderful time staying in such comfortable accommodations in the desert. The staff was very welcoming and endearing. Our room was beautifully appointed and was a very fancy tent for being in the desert. The staff did a wonderful job with music entertainment in the evening and worked hard to make sure everyone had a good time. In the morning, we went for a sunrise camel ride. This was a very special experience and the guide was very patient and knowledgeable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Kalaa 2

Rabat

This was a beautiful Riad. Our room had 2 bedrooms and was beautifully decorated. It felt very Moroccan and was a special treat. The staff was very warm and welcoming. This was one of our favorite Riad’s in Morocco.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

RIAD NILA

Chefchaouen

This Riad was right inside the Medina and was beautifully decorated on the inside. Like many of the Riad’s it was very modest on the outside and opened up into a beautiful courtyard. The room was spotless and unique. The staff was warm and very welcoming. We enjoyed out stay very much.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palais Faraj Suites & Spa

Fès

We really enjoyed how this was multiple Riad’s combined into a single Palais. Each separate Riad had a unique character and the overall Palais was beautiful. Our room was very nice and spacious. The breakfast was particularly good with lots of options.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Caravane

Ouarzazate

Another beautiful Riad. The room was very nicely decorated and we had a very nice dinner at the Riad. The staff was very accommodating, warm and welcoming.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Les Jardins De La Medina

Marrakech

Wow - This was an amazing oasis, right in the Medina of Marrakesh. It looked very modest on the outside, but inside was a tropical paradise. We found we just wanted to spend time at the hotel and lounge by the pool. I also used the spa for a manicure and Hammam treatment (both were wonderful). The breakfast had a wonderful variety and the dinner was also excellent. This was our favorite hotel in Morocco and I hope to return someday.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Traditional Cooking Class

Morocco

We absolutely loved this experience. It was very fun to shop in the market for the ingredients and then to make each course. The chef was such a wonderful person. She was very warm, knowledgeable and just a delight. I can’t recommend this enough. And her foods were better than most of the foods we got in the restaurants.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hammam Visit: Traditional Body Scrub

Morocco

This was a very unique experience. We all enjoyed the traditional body scrub. This included a sauna, followed by a full body scrub and rinse. Afterward we were all ready to just fall asleep. I would highly recommend this experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Meknes: The Versaille of Morocco & Wine Country

Morocco

While we enjoyed this activity, we would have liked to have had more choices over the wines we tasted. Generally they were giving us very generous pours, but we would have preferred more tastings with smaller pours. The wine and appetizers were all very good, but after doing price comparisons later, the prices for wines at the winery were expensive. But the setting for the tasting was absolutely beautiful.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Overnight in the Sahara Desert

Morocco

While it was a long drive for this activity, it is a very unique experience. It was wonderful to be in the desert and to ride the camels out to the sunrise.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exploring the Medina and Historical Sites Of Marrakesh

Marrakesh

We enjoyed all the historical information. The only downside is the chaos of the Marrakesh Medina (beyond the guides control).

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exploring the Imperial City and Medieval Medina of Fez

Fes

Zara was a very knowledgeable guide and we really enjoyed both the tour and shopping in Fez.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Evening Food Tour in Marrakesh

Marrakesh

We loved having food from small local favorites. All the food was delicious. We enjoyed the donuts, the harissa soup and walking across the square for the main course. I would caution vegetarians, that the main course is a meat dish without an option for vegetarians (even though the guide knew there was a vegetarian). But it was still a great experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Ourika Valley: Hike to a Waterfall

Morocco

This was a beautiful hike. We initially hiked up to the waterfall and then Mohammad adjusted to do a hike around the Atlas Mountains (there was an option to hike up to more waterfalls, but it involved a lot of scramblings). We absolutely loved the scenery and getting to better understand the Berber culture. This was one of our favorite activities. Mohammad was an excellent guide and even welcomed us into his home for tea. He and his family were very endearing and we felt very honored to have tea in his home.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Switzerland was beautiful and the trip was great. Overall we enjoyed using the Swiss Pass and traveling by train. The trip felt a bit rushed and may have been my fault as I worked with Valentine to set it up. We got to Montreaux too late to see the castle or anything else, so it would have been nice to bypass Montreaux and spent the night in Zermatt. It was a little confusing when we were trying to check in to ride the train to the Matterhorn. We didn't realize there were two sets of tickets per person and the operator was getting a little flustered with us. We had a great time once we were able to get on the Matterhorn Railway. Grindelwald was beautiful and amazing. We loved, loved the Schilthorn-Piz Gloria. So beautiful! We loved riding the cable cars. The little village of Thun was okay but we could have skipped this visit. It would have been nice to visit Jungfraujoch as well, now that I know more about this area. Also, we missed seeing the Trummelbach Falls because of all the excitement of Schilthorn. Maybe the Falls could have been part of the trip details when going to/from Schilthorn. Luzern was nice but we were there less than 18 hours. Our tour guide (Adrian) was very enjoyable, likable, and knew the city. He was an okay guide. Lugano was beautiful and our tour guide (Patricia) was amazing and incredible. She recommended a small village, Ascona, for us to visit on the second day and it was perfect! We loved Patricia! Zurich was nice but we were there less than 14 hours. It would have been nice to spend an extra night there. Our tour guide was nice and had interesting facts about the city. Also, Valentine put together a nice trip for our family. She was very responsive on all our questions. If she was not available someone else assisted us.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Excelsior

Zermatt

Quaint hotel with a view of the Matterhorn.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Great view of the Matterhorn.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Hirschen - Grindelwald

Grindelwald

Beautiful, quaint hotel. Loved our room! Beautiful view of the mountains from our balcony.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Wonderful location. Beautiful view of the mountains.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean.

Hotel Felix

Zürich

Very nice, but the rooms were just a little too small.

Authenticity & Character

Felt like a hotel in America.

Location

Location was good; 5 or so minutes from the train and close to cute stores and shops.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Rebstock

Luzern

Did not care for this hotel. It was confusing to find the room, the room felt dark and victorian, and had to use an actual key to lock and unlock the door.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Walking Tour - History & Mystery of Zurich

Zürich

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Swiss Travel Pass

Switzerland

Gornergrat panoramic train (return day-ticket & Priority boarding)

Switzerland

Schilthorn - Piz Gloria

Switzerland

Bellinzona – Castelgrande, Montebello, Sasso Corbaro (private tour)

Lugano

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Luzern City Tour Private Walking Tour with Lake Cruise

Lucerne

Boat Cruise to Gandria & return by walking

Lugano

Good morning Arianna,
This is Alfredo Vichot writing to you about the fabulous trip that you tailored for us. It was a wonderful experience on all counts. Hotels, selections of villas and drivers were outstanding. The guides were superb. All three gave us a lot of information. Even the free time we had matched perfectly to discover more of Milan and Lake Como.
Valeria picked us on time and talked not only about the Lugano region and sites we visited, but added history and anecdotes which made her a jewel when you put all her knowledge together.
Both Katerina and Barbara gave us an excellent tour touching on certain points of interest and also history. Both spoke with intensity and emotion in their voices proud of their heritage and Italy.
The drivers were courteous and on time. Tino was very good in handling curves and avoiding possible accidents on our way to Monte Bre. I must mention Stefano, who was our driver from Milan to Como and back. He was engaging, pleasant and time flew by fast.
The Hotels were perfect. The Palace Hotel was centrally located--walking distance to the ferry boats piers, Plaza Cavour, restaurants and the Duomo. The staff was friendly and helpful. The breakfast room was outstanding, as well as, the breakfast selections.
The Lancaster hotel was located in a very nice neighborhood. It was clean and the staff was always willing to help. The young man at the front desk in the am, who speaks Spanish, was exceptional. He managed to get us a taxi when an unsuspected taxi strike was declared the morning we were supposed to see The Last Supper. Thanks to him we were able to get there on time. Kudos to him.
The Lancaster hotel was also 20 minutes away through a pleasant walk to the Duomo, going through the Arco, Parco Sempione and the Castello Sforziano. There were excellent restaurants a few blocks away on Corso Sempione. We would definitely will stay again at the Lancaster.
Finally, we would like to thank you for making our vacation an unforgettable experience. We are planning a trip to Puglia in a not so distant future and we hope to enjoy that trip with the same intensity that we enjoyed this adventure.
Grazie mille!

Hotel Reviews

Palace Hotel Lake Como

Como

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lancaster Hotel

Milan

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Villas of the Lake Boat Tour with departure from Como - ONLY TICKETS

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lugano and Monte Bre' Day - Trip from Lake Como

Lake Como

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Express Milan Duomo Tour with Terrace Access

Milan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Milan Last Supper Tour with City Highlights

Milan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport