Kimkim Trip Reviews

The whole trip turned out to be even better than expected. Megan was very responsive and made it easy to make adjustments to our itinerary that best fit our interests. Our driver Karim was there waiting for us at the airport and guided us throughout the whole trip. He got us everywhere safely and really made the trip more enjoyable. There were long stretches in the car getting to all the towns and he always made sure we were comfortable, had new water bottles everyday and answered all our questions about Moroccan culture and traditions during the drives. All our accommodations were very comfortable and ready for us when we arrived. Our reservations for hotels and guided tours were set up beforehand and we had no issues with them during the trip. Morocco was truly beautiful and so diverse going from dry desert, to mountains and forests. Better save extra room in the budget for all the amazing handmade goods you'll find throughout Morocco too. I would 100% go back and book with the same travel agency again.

Hotel Reviews

Radisson Blu Casablanca City Center

Casablanca

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lina Ryad & Spa

Chefchaouen

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Maison Bleue And Spa

Fes

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palais Sebban

Marrakech

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ksar Sultan Dades

El Hart

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Madu Luxury Camp

Merzouga

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hassan II Mosque

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Roman Ruins of Volubilis

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour Fes with a Private Guide

Fes

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Erg Chebbi to Fes by way of the Atlas Mountains

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Camel Trek into a Luxury Sahara Camp

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Hike in the Dades Valley

Boumalne Dades

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Marrakech to Boumalne Dades via Ouarzazate

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dinner with a local family

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour Marrakech with a private guide

Marrakesh

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We have recently returned from a wonderful trip to Thailand that was made possible in large measure by kimkim and Tina, in particular. We were a group of 8 adult family members and Tina helped us plan a fabulous itinerary for Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket. Tina was very patient and accommodated our preferences and made changes or adjustments when needed. The guides in Bangkok (Lena) and Chiang Mai (Tana) were extremely knowledgeable and helpful and provided wonderful information about history, temples and the general area. The hotels were all excellent and other activities (Bike tour in Bangkok; Elephant Sanctuary & Tea Plantation in Chiang Mai; Sea Kayaking in Phuket) all exceeded our expectations. We were very pleased with our experience and would not hesitate to use kimkim again for future travel. Highly recommend.

I will start this review by saying this was one of the best trips overall that we have experienced. We had never worked with Kim Kim before so let's just say we were a little nervous. Everything was well planned and organized starting with Gustavo all the way through the planning process but you never know how things will go until that very first interaction at the airport. Well let's just say our flights were delayed on both ends and that's certainly no fault of Kim Kim. We obviously let the driver service in San Jose know that we would be late and once we landed in San Jose we were already in communication with each other so very comforting. From the moment of that first transport at the airport to all of the other transport throughout our 8 days, we were very pleased with the promptness, cleanliness, professionalism and bilingual abilities of all of our drivers. Our hotels(Hotel Presidente in San Jose, Arenal Kioro and Parador in Manuel Antonio were all great with the latter two having exceptional views. Hotel Presidente is in an urban area in close proximity to a lot of nearby activities so of course we didn't care about the views. All hotels were very clean and had great breakfast buffets. We only ate two other meals at the hotels during our trip. One dinner at Arenal Kioro was a seafood medley for two that probably could have satisfied a family of four. Our other meal was a quick grab at Parador which was just fine before our next tour time. All hotel staffs were courteous and bilingual so easy to communicate with during our stays. The three hotels were all very different with Hotel Presidente being in an urban setting close to major attractions which is what we wanted there. Arenal Kioro was on beautiful grounds more in a rain forest setting with sweeping views of the volcano. Parador took advantage of beautiful ocean views and definitely had more of a resort feel. There were many families there and maybe someday we'll come back with our own extended family as it seemed like a great place for both adults and children. All hotels were safe with appropriate security at all gates.
Before I review our activities, I just want to make a comment about Greg and others that we worked with in planning this trip. They were all excellent about keeping us informed as we did have a couple of cancellation issues. Greg either found us a beyond expectations alternative or promptly refunded us money, One of our concerns going into this trip was that we would largely be on our own once we got to Costa Rica. Let's just say that to the contrary, we felt Kim Kim was there every step of our trip.
Starting with the two activities we did not get to experience through no fault of Kim Kim. The second day of our trip we were supposed to go on a Costa Rican Culture and Cuisine Walk in San Jose. Greg let us know well ahead that the operator cancelled but in doing so refunded our our money and also arranged for a phenomenal alternative beyond our expectations. The only other activity that cancelled on our trip was on our very last day. Regarding Kids Saving the Rainforest Wildlife Sanctuary-Our transport never showed and we called the organization several times that morning. Our hotel staff even tried on our behalf and they never answered the telephone. Being that this was our last day, there was nothing we could do about an alternative but our money was promptly refunded . We still don't know what happened but it is what it is or Pura Vida.
Review of Activities-
Self-guided activities(Kim Kim did not schedule for us)-Nature walk in Ecological Park and Butterfly Park Danaus-This park was a pleasant enough walk but would not recommend it without a guide. Fortunately, the park staff realized after we returned from a fairly short walk that we probably did not take full advantage of the activity. A staff member was kind enough to take us back out to see sloths, caimans, and toucans although not a formal tour so our trip there would be more memorable. The second self guided trip we did was to the La Fortuna Waterfall. Doing this self-guided was just fine as it was basically a walk down 500 steps to the falls and then a swim. There are lockers near the entry, to store dry clothes so assuming someone can make the 500 step walk, it was fairly easy to do on our own and worth the trip. The third self-guided piece of our tour was to visit Manuel Antonio Beaches after the guided Manuel Antonio Nature walk. We basically stayed a couple of hours in the National Park to enjoy the beautiful beach. We found a quieter side of the beach after our tour and it was well worth spending that time there.

Wildlife Rescue Center Tour-San Jose-We found this to be a very relaxing introduction to the wildlife we would see throughout the rest of our trip. We would recommend this as it was not only enjoyable with our guide but also gave us an opportunity to see a caring organization rehab and take care of wildlife that will never be able to be reintroduced into the wild. Well worth it to see and a wonderful cause.
Nocturnal Frog Excursion and Traditional Costa Rican Dinner-La Fortuna. The night walk was easy to navigate and the guide was enthusiastic but we did not see much in the way of wildlife. We do realize that this is not a zoo so every night-wildlife observation will be different. The Costa Rican Dinner was excellent and the family was very hard-working and hospitable. Even though if the walk itself was not that great, the dinner more than made up for it and made the trip out here well worth it.
Arenal Volcano and 1968 Reserve Guided Hike-La Fortuna This was a great hike with a wonderful guide that stopped and spoke with us a number of times. Half the trail was easy to walk and navigate. The other half as we ascended through more of lava flow-rocky areas was a little more challenging. We certainly enjoyed but those with younger children or seniors with mobility challenges may find the second half of this walk difficult. I will also say that our guide took the extra step not only to provide us with fruit in the end but lay it out on a table and table cloth that was above and beyond our expectations.

Rio Penas Blancas Safari Float-La Fortuna
This was a very relaxing float down the river in a six person raft perfect after our hike in the am. The guide was great and there was really not any work to do other than the occasional paddle. The current really did the work. Although the wildlife that day wasn't particularly abundant, we did see sloths, monkeys, and a number of birds. Enjoyed the scenery and nature and would recommend this for a relaxing afternoon.

Sky Tram, Ziplines, and Skywalk Adventure-La Fortuna
We had a great trip with a lot of enjoyable activities but this was our favorite excursion. My wife was a little hesitant about the zipline. We have done them a few times in the past but it had been several years since our last one. Let's just say we both loved this activity as it was extremely safe and well organized. The staff also was sensitive to taking care of the younger ones in our group and would either assist them across or have them go together. The guided walk through the rainforest and over hanging bridges was extraordinary as well. It was an easy enough walk and a great way to get us out of the rainforest.
Coffee, Chocolate, and Sugar Cane Tour-La Fortuna
This was exactly we we expected and what we wanted on this afternoon. An educational and easy walk through sugar cane, cacao and coffee fields along with tastings along the way. The coffee and chocolate tastings were well done as they showed those important products to Costa Rica in their various processing stages.
Manuel Antonio Jungle Night Walk-This was probably the one activity during the whole trip that I'm not sure we could recommend. We realize that every night could be different in terms of wildlife you could see. The setting was a little strange as it was literally outside of a busy restaurant parking lot. With that said, certainly every portion of rainforest could be fascinating. As we walked through the forest, we mostly saw insects and spiders and although we all had flashlights to help spot, I'm not sure that our guide was all that excited to be on our tour. The walk was simple enough to navigate but we left the forest without seeing much at all. I guess we had higher expectations after our volcano walk of the fruit served at end but even that seemed like a less organized and not well-thought out presentation.
Manuel Antonio Nature Walk-We didn't realize how busy this park was but we had a guide that really made this tour special. He was enthusiastic, willing to take the time with us to take excellent pictures and he was an excellent spotter. He also was extremely personable not only with us but with other guides who clearly were keeping each other informed about wildlife sitings. This was also an A+ experience and highly recommended.
Catamaran Adventure with Barbecue-This was the largest group activity that we did the whole trip and as such could have been really chaotic. It was everything but chaotic and very well organized from start to finish. It was the only time that rain interfered at all with our trip but was not that big of a deal since there was more than adequate covered space on the boat. The only downside was that the boat parked a fairly long way from the snorkeling opportunity. We have snorkeled in the past so were looking forward to it but once we got there, it didn't quite seem worth the swim on a rainy choppy sea day. With that said, we know this wasn't a snorkeling trip and certainly enjoyed everything else about it. There was no skimping on drinks and food was great and served in a very organized way and we were truly amazed at how quickly that all the people on the boat got served. Add to that we saw a whale and dolphins and you have a very enjoyable trip and highly recommended.
The last activity review is not one that was recommended by Kim Kim and I appreciated your staff professionally telling me they did not have a recommendation for this activity. We were originally wanting to do a Las Dumas Mangrove boat tour but because of the tides and our schedule it could not be accommodated. I booked a Night Mangrove Safari Tour through trip advisor/Costa Rica Jade Tours not knowing what to expect. They picked us up promptly and took us to a boat dock where we had a private tour. There were other boats on the mangrove (Las Dumas) river that night with more passengers but we were by ourselves. Let's just say this trip was truly fascinating and an adventure at the same time. The driver and guide were able to spot some incredible snakes, birds, insects and small mammals. While we thoroughly enjoyed this excursion, it was a little on the rougher side and none-the-less could potentially be seen as less professional than everything else Kim Kim recommended to us. We also had dinner as part of this excursion and had a quick stop at a cute little restaurant with our guide in Quepos. Personally, I would highly recommend this tour but leave that up to your expert trip planners.
Thanks for the opportunity to provide you with our tour insights. We truly enjoyed working with you.

Our other day two activity in San Jose was the Wildlife Rescue Center.This was a truly relaxing and enjoyable experience and a great introduction into the wildlife we would be experiencing throughout the remainder of our trip. This is also a caring organization that is focused on the wonderful cause of rehabbing animals and taking care of those animals that could not be released in the wild. Definitely worth a visit.

Day 3-We did two self-guided trips in the morning and afternoon so Kim Kim did not arrange. The first was a self-guided walk through Ecological Park and Butterfly Garden Danaus. This was a pleasant and easy trail walk but I would definitely do a guided tour here because otherwise you will miss much of it. We finished after a short time on the trail and I think the staff realized that we missed much of the experience. A staff member kindly took us back out to see caimans, sloths and toucans that we would have otherwise missed. We really appreciated their kindness towards us. We also did a self-guided tour of the La Fortuna Waterfall. Assuming that you can do the 500 steps, this was certainly worth it. They have lockers to store dry clothes if you want to swim at the base of the falls. This is something you can do self-guided.
Nocturnal Frog Excursion and Traditional Costa Rican Dinner-The frog excursion itself was little disappointing since we only saw two frogs on the hike. However, we know that this is not a zoo so some nights, I'm sure you would see more wildlife than others. The dinner afterward however was fantastic and the hosts were great so that in itself made this a worthwhile time investment.

João from Across Portugal did a fantastic job helping us plan our 12-day vacation in Portugal. In the planning stage he offered suggestions after listening to our needs and preferences. We emailed back and forth until we had the perfect trip for us. Then Across Portugal did all the booking and sent a detailed itinerary to review.
Once we were in Portugal, everything went like clockwork. We had a walking tour of Lisbon with Anna, who had lots of history and contemporary information to share with us. Our driver, Carlos, was with us several times during the trip and we had lots of opportunities to learn about his country from him. We felt safe in his hands and enjoyed his company. He also gave us good suggestions for places to eat.
Another highlight of the trip was our cooking lesson in Tavira with Inez and Mariana. We loved visiting their farm and learning to cook cataplana and other delicious traditional Portuguese dishes. We wished we had more time to explore Tavira. It is a much smaller town than the other places we stayed.
João checked in with us each day to tell us what to expect and make sure all was going well. He rebooked a cancelled boat excursion before we even knew it happened! The joys of having an in-country travel agent!
In sum, I highly recommend Across Portugal, João in particular, to help you plan and execute a magnificent vacation in beautiful Portugal!!!

Hotel Reviews

Estoril Vintage Hotel

Estoril

This gorgeous small hotel was the best of the best. The staff makes every effort to help you feel at home and every detail was considered in planning and decorating. Every where you look you find something beautiful. The restaurant was excellent and the location was convenient to everything we wanted. The terrace overlooking the water was unforgettable. Nothing better than sitting there, sipping a drink and watching the waves.

Authenticity & Character

Feels like a gorgeous, stately old home, which is what it was.

Location

We didn’t have a car and loved the short walk to the beach promenade which seemed to go for miles. Stunning neighborhood also.

Staff

Attentive and warm and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Perfectly maintained

Pousada Convento

Tavira

We were only here one night and wished it could have been longer.

Authenticity & Character

It survived the earthquake of 1755 and is a gorgeous building. Lots of space.

Location

Tavira seems like a cozy small town. The pousada is at the top of a hill next to a beautiful garden.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa Mãe Lagos

Lagos

This hotel is unusual for us. We stayed in the minimalist rooms and enjoyed the care with which they were furnished and decorated. The balcony was an enjoyable place to relax. We loved the restaurant and the wellness drinks on offer! Dinner was excellent as were the breakfasts. The beauty of Casa Mae is also outside of their buildings. The garden is a centerpiece, even in February and the pools look enchanting, although it wasn’t warm enough for us to be tempted.

Authenticity & Character

Quite unusual compound of buildings and gardens. All renovated with care and creativity.

Location

The hotel has a great location inside the historic wall on a hill above the center of town. It was an easy walk to the water, shops, and restaurants and it was very quiet at night.

Staff

Everyone was very friendly and helpful. Solange, Barbara and Candela stand out.

Cleanliness & Comfort

In a minimalist room a traveler must work a bit to keep things tidy. Each day the housekeeper would have everything in order for us!

Heritage Avenida Liberdade

Lisboa

Lovely boutique hotel located perfectly in historic Lisbon. Great staff, delicious breakfasts, beautiful decor. Everyone was friendly and helpful

Authenticity & Character

Warm and friendly

Location

Walk to shops, restaurants, historic sections of town and the metro.

Staff

Greeted us every time we came in the door with smiles and words expressing interest in us.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was clean and comfortable

Activity Reviews

Embark on a Flavorful Cooking Class with a Meal at the Farm

Portugal

This was our favorite experience of the whole trip. These families are working hard to create a sustainable organic farm, raise their children and earn a living. They are so proud of their home, their property and products. It was an inspiring evening. We had a great time cooking and chatting and eating.

Quality of Experience

Amazing farm and home.

Food

Traditional cataplana main course with fried goat cheese starter and light dessert I can’t remember the name of.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great chef Inez! She explained the chemistry of our cooking method.

Exclusive Panoramic Boat Tour to the Ponta da Piedade Caves

Portugal

We do a lot of personal boating, so we weren’t sure how much we would enjoy this. However, it was a lot of fun and really special to see the rocks and cliffs from the water side. The guides on the boat were safe and entertaining.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Unveil the Fairytale Villa of Sintra with a Private Driver Service

Portugal

This is a crowded tourist spot even in February. The drive up the mountain is interesting!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Carlos knew some tricks to avoid the crowds and make the best of the day’s experiences. We were glad we listened to him

Transport

When we weren’t walking or on a train, we were driven by Carlos in his immaculate Mercedes van. Smooth and quiet on the highway.

Immerse Yourself in the Portuguese Culture by Experiencing a Fado Dinner

Portugal

If you haven’t seen and heard fado, you must. The guitar playing is amazing but I can’t quite relate to the singing style.

Quality of Experience

Food

The food was really pretty good for a dinner theatre experience.

Lisbon's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour & Tastings

Lisbon

Anna was full of information. She tailored the walking experience to our needs. Answered all our questions and was fun to be with.

To Eat Suggestion: Cervejaria Trindade

Lisbon

Long was responsive only at the beginning of planning. We have a lot of confusion regarding meals included vs meals reserved. We had three full days in Cambodia but only one full day planned activity and two night activities. Fortunately the guide (Vibal ) and driver (Sofar) were excellent and they made themselves available to us the entire time and took us to places not included in the planning. We were anxious about our activities in Siem Reap and Vibal on the first meeting already reassured us he will take us to wherever we want to go. They gave us the best moments in our trip with excellent service and hospitality. Kudos to this team.
In Vietnam we were thankful to have the driver took us to the restaurant Gia because if we had to call taxi as suggested by Long it would have been a very nerve wrecking experience.
The recommendation of Gia restaurant was of questionable value. I would prefer a restaurant that serves classic Vietnamese meals that one that serves molecular gastronomy type of food. Also it would have been nice to be told that the meal will be 3-3.5 hours and that it will cost around $150 per person. It was presented as if the meal was included and caused confusion to all of us. Did the local tour group get a kick-back from this recommendation?

My trip to New Zealand was magical and everything I dreamed of! My local specialist Paula, and the others at Southern World, were helpful, professional, gave lots of attention to detail, and went above and beyond to make sure I was taken care of. I appreciated not only all the support, but the suggestions for itinerary and activities since it was my first time visiting New Zealand and I was traveling solo. Paula was also helpful in figuring out ways to stay within my budget. Overall a positive experience and I would definitely recommend Paula and/or Southern World to help with a trip to New Zealand or Australia.

Our trip to CR was amazing. Bryan at Kimkim and Nancy and Wilman at Serendipity Adventures did a great job planning and executing our trip.
The Zip line in La Fortuna was a real highlight. Our transfers were always on time, comfortable and we felt safe at all times. Our accommodations were wonderful and the food was excellent. The nature walk in Manuel Antonio park was amazing. Our guide had a telescope and knew all the right places to look for birds and animals.
Serendipity also arranged a side to Paos volcano at the end of our trip. It was amazing since the clouds lifted and we got to see the entire crater and lake!
We also thoroughly the rafting trip in La Fortuna and the cooking class in Manuel Antonio Park area.
We highly recommend a trip to Costa Rica and thank Kimkim and Serendipity for all their work to make our trip highly memorable.

Hotel Reviews

Studio Hotel

San José

This hotel is out of town near the airport. It is an excellent choice when travelling the next day to the airport. Good restaurants nearby and the decor (sculptures and paintings) are amazing. You will need a taxi to get to the big shopping mall - Multi- Plaza. Staff friendly and very knowledgeable about the surrounding area with things to do. Highly recommend.

Hotel Costa Verde

Manuel Antonio

the hotel is built into the side of a mountain that overlooks the Pacific Ocean. The views are amazing. Sunsets on the deck off the swimming pool are stunning. Enjoy a beverage and watch the sun go down over the Pacific ocean. The rooms are spacious and clean. staff friendly and accommodating to all our needs. Highly recommend. One other thing - there is a lot of steep walking on the property and down to the beach area. Use the local bus to manage the trip down and back from the beach.

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

The views from most everywhere on the property were stunning. The food especially the breakfasts were delicious and varied. We were there for 5 days. The staff were friendly and always accommodating. We highly recommend staying with them

Hotel Presidente

San José

This a great hotel in the heart of San Jose. great for walking around the City Centre. our rooms were spacious and the breakfasts were wonderful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Local Flavors Cooking Experience

Manuel Antonio

We had a great time and lots of laughs. The end result of chicken, vegetables and salsa was delicious. Knowledgeable instructors and a good group of people. Lots of fun.

Manuel Antonio National Park Nature Hike

Manuel Antonio

Our guide had a telescope and tripod and we were able to see more animals and birds than with the naked eye. The guides work together to point out different "sitings" of wild life. Excellent tour and we would highly recommend it. The walk is generally flat and easy to navigate.

Coffee & Chocolate Tour

Costa Rica

Learned a lot about the best way to make a great cup of coffee. Yen our guide made the tour interesting and informative. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the coffee and chocolate planation!

Río Peñas Blancas Safari Float Experience

Arenal/La Fortuna

Lots of fun. Our guide was very knowledgeable and pointed out lots of birds, animals and a few alligators during our ride.

Ecological Park & Butterfly Garden Nature Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

Arenal Hanging Bridges Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

Great walk through the rainforest. Lots of birds and animals. The hanging bridges are a fun walk!

Our drivers and our guides were all very polite and pleasant. I enjoyed all of our boat rides viewing wildlife and learning about the different species. We loved our little cabin at Mawamba lodge. We learned about the beautiful yellow tailed oropendulas and their interesting sound. They had nests right in our trees so we had their company all day long. Then we liked our little cabin at Mirades Arenal, really enjoyed the Arenal sunset cruise. We also loved the boat ride in Canó Negro. Then, staying at the Karahe by the ocean was very nice but very hot!! The capuchin monkeys hung around all the resort. It was so entertaining to watch them!! So it was a very memorable trip. We’re just home and it feels like it was all a dream!! What stands out the most to me was my beautiful birthday dinner with champagne on the Katonga, the floating restaurant going down the river, with soft music playing, seeing all the lights of Tortuguero. Your company gifted us with that and we won’t forget it. Thank you so much! And thank you Gustavo for being so patient and knowledgeable with me to plan this trip. We love you all! ♥️

As always with kimkim.com the planning and communication for our Chile trip was excellent. Tamer listened to what we wanted to see and do and made good suggestions for additions like fishing on the river. He took into account the limitations of our group and made sure our guides were well informed. We especially appreciated the responsiveness to our questions during the trip and the coordination for our transports and excursions.

Hotel Reviews

AKA Patagonia

Puerto Natales

We didn't stay at this hotel. I put the rating in just to get through the review. We stayed at the Best Western Patagonia. It was a very good choice.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Rio Serrano

Torres del Paine

This hotel is perfection, from the staff, to the views, to the meals and the common areas, it is first class. We were recommended to get the full board plan which was all inclusive breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks. It was excellent.

Authenticity & Character

It made you feel like you were in the middle of Patagonia with every view. Horses wandering through the property, riding available on site, birding from your chair!

Location

Perfect location in the park. Easy to get everywhere. Views of the mountains from everywhere in the hotel were breathtaking and ever changing.

Staff

Smiling, courteous service. Anticipating your every need.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Spotless everywhere including pool, spa, common areas.

Hotel Alma Sur

Punta Arenas

Comfortable, helpful staff and nice common areas with plenty of seating. Breakfast was good and the restaurant served 3 meals a day.

Authenticity & Character

Felt like a locally owned place, not a big US hotel!

Location

Just a 10 minute walk from town, near many restaurants and safe.

Staff

Super nice, helpful with storing luggage and answering questions

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were clean and well equipped, beds and pillow very comfy

Solace Puerto Varas

Puerto Varas

Conveniently located just up the hill from town. Walkable to the lake, many restaurants and shopping.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful location and property, could use better outdoor seating and make better use of their gardens. When the hotel was busy, there ae limited places to gather.

Location

Quiet and central

Staff

Always happy to make recommendations and reservations.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were nice size and comfortable. Carpets and bathroom could use upgrading.

ICON Hotel

Santiago

Excellent location, cool vibe, rooftop pool and restaurant with good food and live music. Service was top notch and rooms were comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Modern and filled with video and are of Chile

Location

Walkable to many restaurants, shopping and activities. We felt safe and connected to the city.

Staff

Very responsive when my luggage didn't arrive and I needed to be contacted while on an excursion. Service with a smile and excellent English speakers.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full Day Private tour - Visit Grey Glacier and Hike to Paine Grande

Chile

We did not end up taking this trip. The hike was going to be too difficult for us and the weather too rainy and cold. I had been advised by Tamer that because it was a private tour, we could customize the hike to meet our needs. I don't think he realized we would have been dropped off on an island and once the boat would have dropped us off, we would have had to stay on the island our in the elements for 8 hours until the boat came bak to get us. Our local coordinator Jose Luis made us aware of the situation, that there was not way to do a gentle hike and so we didn't get to go. I'm sure it's a great trip but it is difficult and remote with no flexibility to adjust for an easier trek. It never should have been recommended to us.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Torres del Paine National Park - Private Panoramic Tour

Chile

Joaquin gave us a comprehensive tour of the park, beyond all expectations.

Quality of Experience

Every changing weather and wind made Joaquin's experience as a guide so important. We had plenty of opportunity to walk and explore at a pace that was just right for our group.

Food

Provided by hotel in a box lunch

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Joaquin was driver and guide and did an excellent job of telling us stories, answering questions and keeping us safely on the road!

Transport

super comfy van w captains seats

Explore Punta Arenas

Punta Arenas

We learned a lot about the town, the history, the amazing cemetery and the explorers. Always a good way to be introduced to a new area.

Quality of Experience

Super windy day and the driver and Joaquín took very careful care of us

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Knowledgeable, clearly have a deep interest in history and culture, kind and helpful

Transport

Magdalena Island - Penguin Encounter Half Day Tour

Chile

An amazing adventure to experience magellanic penguins. Excellent boat ride with dolphins and sea lions.

Quality of Experience

On time, well guided and breathtaking closeness to the penguins and gulls

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fishing in Maullin River - Half-Day (October to May)

Puerto Varas

Mateo and Paulo were amazing guides and fishing instructors. We had a beautiful sunny day on the river, learned to fish for trout and loved the whole excursion.

Quality of Experience

Unique float boat with guide navigating the river while we fished. Beautiful river with jungle on both sides!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very patient teaching us and helping us catch fish! Provided us a yummy lunch and drinks. Know so much about the ecology, flora and fauna and fish

Transport

Safe and fun

Full Day Private Tour to Chiloe - The Island of the Legends

Puerto Varas

Chiloe is interesting with a few historical attractions to see but they are very spread out once you get to the island and it is a VERY long drive. We wouldn't recommend it for a day trip.

Quality of Experience

I'm not sure other and its too long in the car for a day trip. We had a wonderful lunch experience at Mercado Delcahue watching our meal be prepared by a local family. It was delicious.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide, driver and transport were great.

Transport

Very comfortable

Visit the Saltos del Petrohue - Todos Los Santos Lake & Osorno Volcano

Chile

Excellent group tour, great timing to visit each place and enjoy the scenery.

Quality of Experience

Javier was very good and I highly recommend this trip.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Javier was excellent, knowledgeable and a good communicator. Kept us to a good schedule.

Transport

It was a very nice van but The van was over crowded with 1 extra person jammed in the back seat. Those in the back couldn't understand Javier over the mic system.

Wine Tasting, Valparaiso and Viña del Mar- Private Tour

Santiago

Juanito was kind and knowledgeable about our location and the area we visited. He didn't seem to know that we were having a wine tasting in the afternoon and had to set it up on the fly. This is a very long day in the car with not enough time to get out and walk the city / town.

Quality of Experience

Juanito was a good guide but his van was not good. If using him again, have an another driver. Janet's English and knowledge was fine and he was helpful and fun.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

When he talked while driving he slowed down ALOT on the highway. On the way home. he drove very fast and in the right lane scared us with a swerving to miss a slow vehicle.

Transport

The van was old, uncomfortable and didn't feel very safe on the highway. Had a low tire and this wasn't the first time it was low.

Chilean Food Tour & Picnic with a View of Santiago

Santiago

Angel was an excellent guide. We enjoyed the walking through the market, tasting local foods and the grand finale wine and local snacks on the hill overlooking the city. We learned a lot about the culture and Santiago in our very first day.

Quality of Experience

Professional, knowledgeable and fun!

Food

Local, fresh and yummy

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Thoughtful and very interesting

Transport

Comfortable and safe

We decided to book our trip to Morocco with KimKim not knowing what to expect, and the result experience could not have been more wonderful. From the start, Hamza was able to guide us seamlessly through the itinerary after we stated the cities we wanted to visit. Hamza was able to change the itinerary several times to accommodate our needs. After arriving in Marrakesh, our in-country advisor, Said, was always available on WhatsApp to listen to our needs and concerns. The drivers, Soufian and Ibrahim, were always on time, professional, and extremely courteous. The vehicles were new and comfortable, and the accommodations in Riads (versus hotels) were fantastic. We did not hire tour guides because we wanted to tour the cities on our own schedule, which worked perfectly for us. I strongly recommend KimKim for booking your trip to Morocco and having a trouble-free, fantastic vacation experience.

Hotel Reviews

Riad Mokhtar Tanger

Tangier

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Taj Chefchoaune Luxury Hotel and Spa

Chefchaoun

Unbelievable. The views were spectacular.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Salam Fes

Fes

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Le Bedouin Agafay

Agafay

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palais Sebban

Marrakech

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Fes to Chefchaouen via Meknes & Volubilis

Morocco

Beautiful drive through changing landscapes

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

First I want to thank Raquel for planning this wonderful trip, everything went as planned. It was beyond our expectation. Very organized, sites are fantastic, the best! The hotels are superb within walking distance to anywhere. We were also able to experience to dine at a Michelin restaurant which is one block from our hotel in Madrid. The guides were amazing, very friendly, knowledgeable. Amara in m Madrid for the tapas tour, Gaza very informative, and helpful, Rocio in Alhambra knowledgeable as well. And of course Ramon who took us to El Caminito del del Rey which I been dreaming of hiking! We rate this trip 10 out of 10. Really fantastic, we are very satisfied.

Hotel Review

NH Málaga

Málaga

Beautiful modern, close to everything we need to be.

Authenticity & Character

Modern

Location

Location

Staff

made us feel welcome! Very nice, helpful!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything

Activity Reviews

A Free Day to Explore Málaga & Beyond

Málaga

Nice to walk around the city. Lots to explore. Again food are excellent

Private Transfer {{start_location}} to {{end_location}}, Hike the Caminito del Rey

Spain

Experience of a lifetime! If you like hiking, this is unique.

Discover Granada’s Iconic Alhambra & Generalife Gardens

Spain

An Afternoon of Flamenco in Granada’s Traditional Patio

Granada

Walking Madrid’s Old Town

Madrid

Tapas & Tradition: A Madrileño Evening

Madrid

The food & drinks are all delicious very authentic

Quality of Experience

Food choice!

Food

I like them all!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Amara is very informative and interacts well with us!

Transport

We took the metro from our hotel, easy and quick with some walking which is fine.

It was an incredible experience that really exceeded my expectations! The cultural immersion, the archaeological sites, and stunning natural wonders, it had everything I was looking for. The planning stage was really collaborative. Isa meticulously followed our preferences and requests and we loved all the places she recommended! All the drivers, tour guides, and local specialists were really friendly and helpful. One particular driver-Oscar, our driver in Valladolid, recommended a beautiful cenote that was not in our itinerary and we're so glad he did. It was so beautiful and serene and we had the place all to ourselves! Our Mexico trip definitely left a strong and lasting impression on us. Well worth the money!

Hotel Reviews

The Fives Oceanfront Puerto Morelos

Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

El Mesón del Marqués

Valladolid

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Ek Balam Archaeological Site & swim in a cenote

Mexico

I had an incredible trip to Japan. Stefaan was very responsive to me as we were organizing the trip and helped witha ll of my questions. Hiking the Kumano Kodo was an awesome experience in and of itself, but it was enhanced by the hotels and ryokan along the way that offered incredible food and hot spring baths to relax in after a hard day of walking. I particularly enjoyed the Keyaki Guest House and the lovely family that ran it.

The overall planning and organization was excellent. All arrangements worked as planned. Last minute changes were accommodated easily. Ashley was extermely responsive. Accomodations were exactly as expected.

This was my first time using Kim Kim, and I will definitely use them for all furure trips.

Our Australian specialist Vicky Steinhardt was great. We worked with Vicky for several months creating a perfect itinerary for both Australia and New Zealand. Vicky was always responsive and provided several options for both cities to visit and tours to take. Further, Vicky was able to modify our itinerary while we were traveling. She and KimKim provided an excellent travel experience that was seamless with no problems. I highly recommend both Vicky Steinhardt and KimKim.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel St. Moritz

Queenstown

Room was spacious. Well located and an easy walk to town center. Staff was excellent. Great breakfast buffet. Bar and restaurant overlooks the lake.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very easy walk to town center.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sudima

Christchurch

Relatively new hotel near town center but still a pretty long walk. Rooms were small

Authenticity & Character

New hotel with little character.

Location

Near city center but still a pretty far walk. A few restaurants in close proximity but not many.

Staff

Staff was very accommodating and knowledgeable

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Langham

Southbank

Great location, exceptional staff and great restaurant on site. But rooms are dated and need to be updated.

Authenticity & Character

Old world building but the rooms are in dire need of an update. Furniture and decor was very dated. But still comfortable.

Location

Easy walk to town center for sites and restaurants

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Peppers Beach Club

Port Douglas

Room was pretty small. Restaurant was very limited except for breakfast. Not great views. Staff was not very knowledgeable but friendly.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easy walk to town and restaurants

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

InterContinental Sydney by IHG

Sydney

Excellent accommodations and great location

Authenticity & Character

The hotel is a renovated old office building that retains it’s original charm but is modern in all other aspects.

Location

Easy walk to the Sydney Opera House, Botanical gardens and many great restaurants.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Milford Sound – One way small bus, nature cruise & flight back

Queenstown (NZ)

This is a really long day of about 10+ hours. Milford sound is great and a must see if you are in Queenstown. But it’s primarily seeing waterfalls while cruising the fjord..

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Akaroa Private Day Tour from Christchurch

Christchurch

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Great Ocean Road Full Day Private Experience

Melbourne

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Foodie Discovery Walking Tour

Melbourne

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Laneways of Melbourne

Melbourne

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Daintree Wanderer Tour

Australia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sydney Harbour Gold Penfolds Dinner Cruise

Sydney

Food was good. Not the highest level Penfolds wines but still good. Excellent way to experience the Sydney Harbour.

Quality of Experience

Food

Sydney City Small Group Walking Tour (Small Group Tour)

Sydney

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Blue Mountains Full Day - Private Tour

Sydney

Great stops along the way and well worth a full day trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sydney Opera House Tour

Sydney

Guide was very knowledgeable and was able to show us the important features and history in an hour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Vickie steinhardt was terrific. She planned a great trip and when we had a small logistic issue it was immediately addressed, perfectly. She always quickly responded to questions. Can’t say enough. Use Vickie and KimKim if you can for all your trips in this part of the world.

Our guide was excellent and very flexible. Planned well all the activities on time and helped us in exchange of our currency and loaning Rupea when we did not have local currency. The driver and the guide were very helpful and friendly.
Marc coordinated all our planning and his communication is excellent . We had an excellent trip. Thank you all .

Our trip to Iceland was absolutely amazing! We would have never been able to design a roadtrip like the one Eric did for us on our own. His expertise was invaluable when it came to seeing as many sights as we could within our 9 day window. His itinerary gave us the confidence to venture out on our own with a rented car, eliminating the need to go on any large group tour buses. The tours that he did book for us, like the glacier hike, ice cave tour, and walking tour of Reykjavik were small and the guides were engaging, accommodating, and knowledgable.

It was a seamless experience. We started at the blue lagoon right after picking up our rental car and then headed straight to the Snaefellsness Peninsula where we were able to see a spectacular glacier volcano, Snaefellsjokull, explore lava caves and endless lava fields, and walk on cliffs and black sand beaches. From there we spent a couple days in the Golden Circle seeing all the major sights like Thingvellar National Park, Geysir, Kerid Crater, and Gullfoss. We had a few days exploring the waterfalls, beaches, gorges, lava fields, and glaciers to be seen on the south coast before ending our trip in Reykjavik. All of the sights and driving instructions were in a logical order that kept us moving forwards, never wasting time backtracking.

We appreciate the time and care it took to design an itinerary specially made for us. We had told Eric that our main priorities were seeing the northern lights, soaking in hot springs, seeing nature, and learning some history. He booked us rooms at hotels with excellent views in case we might catch a glimpse of the northern lights; he fit 3 different lagoons into our itinerary (Sky Lagoon was the best); and we had a good balance of experiencing nature as well as making time for museums and history. We also tried some of the restaurants he recommended all of which were delicious! Thank you Eric for designing a trip we will never forget!

We had a bit of a problem receiving prompt responses from Camellia. But ultimately, when Thuy took over the administration of the trip while we were in-country, all went very smoothly.

Hotel Reviews

Eden Star Hotel & Spa

Ho Chi Minh City

Very dingy hotel. Our first room had a party room above it. As music was pounding above, we requested a new room, which they immediately provided. However, the new room was smaller and more worn that the first. If anything, when we encounter a problem with a room, we expect a room of equal if not better quality.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hoi An Historic

Hoi An

A hotel with Vietnamese character in a great location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Silk Path Grand Hue

A beautiful hotel. But it could have been in any country in the world and didn't have a Vietnamese feel to it.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Peony Cruise

The ship was nice with good food.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Unfortunately, Ha Long Bay is not being well protected from pollution and litter.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tirant Hotel

Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

We loved the location of this hotel and found it to be quite nice. We loved that it was authentically Vietnamese. We were able to walk to so much of interest from it's location in Old Town Hanoi.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Mekong Delta Day Trip (Cycling)

Ho Chi Minh City

We loved this biking trip. The Mekong area is delightful. The Trek bikes were excellent.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mr. Thong's English is quite difficult to understand.

Transport

HCM City - Cu Chi tunnels

Ho Chi Minh City

We enjoyed this tour very much. Mr. Thong was quite difficult to understand, but he was a delightful personality.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ho Chi Minh city - Vespa tour after dark

Ho Chi Minh City

Our guide, Heidi was fantastic. Very good English. Very delightful engaging personality. Again, our interaction was more like a conversation rather than a script.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fly to Ho Chi Minh City

Vietnam

Again, Thuy handled our experience beautifully and was very responsive.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Fishing Village & Tra Que village and basket boat

Hoi An

We loved the biking and learning to make and throw fishing nets. The basket boat tour was awful. Terribly touristy and fake. We would not recommend it for others.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hue to Hoi An Ancient town

Vietnam

Quyen did a great job escorting us from one city to another. He gave us a short orientation tour of Hoi An upon our arrival which helped us enjoy the city!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hue City Tour, Bike to Rural Villages

Hue

We loved our guide, Quyen. His English was easy to understand. Our interactions were more like a conversation and less like a script he had memorized. He answered all our questions and was very knowledgeable. The biking was fun and the visit to the organic farm and farm-to-table restaraunt was excellent.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

More cruise on the bay - transfer back Hanoi

Vietnam

Thuy did a good job getting us boarding passes and making sure all arrangements were made.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanoi - Ha Long Bay - Lan Ha Bay (Peony cruise)

Vietnam

We specifically asked for this experience. But we have concluded that Ha Long Bay is over-touristed and is not being protected from pollution and litter. We would not recommend this visit to others. However, if one does visit, Peony Cruise was a good service provider.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A full day explore the rural life in Hanoi

Hanoi

We enjoyed this day but were slightly disappointed with what was described as a 'village'. It turned out we stopped at a spot that was once a village and is now just set of buildings. The rest of the day tho, was great, with bike riding, market visit and a home visit with a war veteran.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had trouble understanding our guide, Daniel.

Transport

The bikes were barely usable.

Hanoi City Tour of Capital of Vietnam

Hanoi

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had trouble understanding our guide Daniel.

Transport

Hanoi and walking street food tour

Hanoi

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Free at your leisure in Hanoi

Hanoi

Old town Hanoi is delightful.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My trip to Ecuador was wonderful thanks to Kim Kim and their local partners. The guide they assigned to meet me at the designated airport in Quito was amazing, had no problems finding me, and/or need of further clarifications. The customized trip itinerary was seamless , clearly understood, required some last minute changes and easily modified as that took into consideration. The tour guides provided were highly skilled, knowledgeable, and personable in each of the areas of Ecuador I visited. I highly recommend using Kim Kim for all your travel needs/destinations.

Hotel Reviews

Hacienda El Porvenir

Machachi

So beautiful and charming. Highly recommend.

Casa Aliso Hotel Boutique

Quito

Hotel was beautiful and charming. The lobby hostess Michelle was amazing and helped me resolving a personal health issue.

Riviera Sucre

Otavalo

Authenticity & Character

Character and charm

Location

Central

Staff

Friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean

Activity Reviews

Hiking around Cuicocha Lagoon - Quito

Otavalo

My tour guide knew about local flora and birds. He was amazing and so much fun hike with.

Arrival and transfer to hotel in Otavalo

Ecuador