Kimkim Trip Reviews

I'm a Kimkim staff member, and I was on a work trip to Nice, Marseille, Aix-En-Provonce, Lyon, and Paris. I stayed in wonderful hotels; my favorite was Globe et Cecil Hôtel in the heart of Lyon, the Inwood La Bourdonnais, where I was in close proximity to the Eiffel Tower, and Hotel Des Grands Hommes in Paris, where I looked directly at the Pantheon and was blocks away from the Luxembourg Gardens. The hotels each left their personal touch on my stay and made sure every need was met.

I enjoyed the day trip from Aix-en-Provence to the beach village Cassis, where I took a boat to see the cliffs (falaises) and the sheltered inlets called calanques. The bike tour through the Luberon Valley, where we visited villages and vineyards, was beautiful, with the most enjoyable Caesar salad in Ménerbes at Bistrot le 5 overlooking the grape vines in the valley below. In Paris, Les Caves du Louvre wine and cheese tasting was very informative and a great sampling of the cheeses and wines that were available at the time of year I was there. I enjoyed the Pastry and Chocolate tour of the Sainte Germain the Chocolate, where we walked in the Sainte Germain neighborhood and visited shops specializing in all the desserts and breads I could have dreamed about. The guide also provided a great deal of information about the history of the neighborhood, France, and the contemporary Parisian culture.

The various tours I took were a perfect mix of activity, culture, and visiting key landmarks. I left feeling very fulfilled and wishing I had more time to explore the other regions of France. Until next time..... Au revoir! 🇫🇷🥖🥂🙌🏼

Hotel Reviews

Hôtel des Grands Hommes

Paris

This hotel has a spectacular view of the Pantheon, which is right across the street. The location is close to Notre Dame and Sainte Germain and has a great view of Sacre Cure across the city. I would recommend the top-floor suites, which include a balcony with a spectacular view and a nice sitting area. When you leave the hotel and turn the corner, the Eiffel Tower is in plain view. If you climb the Pantheon Tower, you'll see one of the city's best views.

Authenticity & Character

The room had a lovely sitting room with a desk and a small couch and another room with a bed. The decor was charming and offered an authentic feel to complete our stay.

Location

It's an excellent location for the landmarks on the eastern side of the city. It's close to Disneyland Paris while still being close to the city center attractions. There's a good creperie right around the corner, and the best Croque Madame is at the Comptoir Du Pantheon, one block away. It's also three blocks from the Luxembourg Gardens.

Staff

The staff was very aware of each guest, and the night before I left, they asked if they could help me with my departure the following morning.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was clean and comfortable.

Hotel La Bourdonnais - Tour Eiffel

Paris

This hotel allowed me to leave my bags at 6:00 am the day I checked in so I could go on a tour. When I arrived, my bags were in my room with a personalized note followed up by a phone call once I was settled in my room, making sure I had everything I needed.

Authenticity & Character

The decor was functional as the couch was a pull-out if needed in the junior suite, and the room had plenty of space. The bathroom was in its own closet, separate from the shower and vanity, so numerous people could use the facilities.

Location

This hotel is 10 minutes from the Eiffel Tower. It made it easy to come back after touring all day to freshen up, head back out for dinner, and see the Eiffel Tower light up at night. There are plenty of restaurants and shops right around the hotel.

Staff

The staff did a great job meeting my needs and went above and beyond to get me a Coke even though the bar was closed.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nothing was left un attended to, great hotel.

Hôtel Bastille Spéria

Paris

This hotel is located right off the Bastille Monument. The decor was nice, with a cozy lobby and a large bathroom. The breakfast was fulfilling, and the staff even provided fruit for me when I was leaving before the breakfast was open.

Authenticity & Character

This hotel felt very authentic, with an excellent selection of color combinations in the wallpaper decorations. The bathroom was large.

Location

This hotel is located right off the Bastille monument, surrounded by restaurants and shopping. It is a 20-minute walk from the Louvre and the Seine River.

Staff

The staff went above and beyond to fulfill our needs and was welcoming and kind.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was clean and comfortable.

Globe et Cecil Hotel

Lyon

This hotel was a boutique hotel with lots of character and a location in the city center. Excellent access to shopping, old town, and landmark

Authenticity & Character

Very cozy rooms.

Location

Located in the city center of Lyon, close to the old town, the river, and the funicular to the Notre Dame Church overlooking the city.

Staff

Tended to every need I had and provided a substantial breakfast.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Due to the age of the building, the bath tub had some marks on it but it was not dirty just indicative of it's age, it was part of the charm.

The Originals Résidence Aix Schuman

Aix-en-Provence

This hotel offers a kitchenette for travelers who would like to eat in their rooms. A hot breakfast is also provided in the lobby restaurant.

Authenticity & Character

The character was a little stoic but provided the functional needs for me.

Location

It's a 10-15 minute walk from the city center.

Staff

I didn't interact much with the staff, but my needs were met.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The hotels and space were well maintained and clean.

NH Collection Marseille

Marseille

I am a kimkim staff member, and I was on a work trip when I stayed at the NH Collection Marseille is a very nice hotel with great staff members.

Authenticity & Character

Welcoming lobby with a bar and restaurant offering a nice breakfast.

Location

Situated right along the Rue De La Republique and a quick taxi ride from the train station.

Staff

Very helpful and attentive.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was of reasonable size with an up-to-date bathroom.

Hotel Florence Nice

Nice

I am a kimkim staff member, and I was on a work trip when I stayed at the Hotel Florence in Nice. This hotel has 2 restaurants below it and is close to the main shopping street of Av. Jean Medecin, which also leads directly to the promenade and Plague Beau Rivage Beach. Accommodations were cozy and functional.

Authenticity & Character

The dinning room is a little dated but offered a nice breakfast.

Location

Close to everything.

Staff

The staff made baggage storage easy and secure.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nice clean bathroom.

Activity Reviews

Burgundy Wine Tasting Day Trip

Paris

This was a day well spent in Chablis. Our guide did a great job taking us to three different wineries to taste the wines each location produced. We learned about the numerous ways to make wines. It was nice to meander through Chablis, pick a restaurant of our choice for lunch, and, of course, a bakery for dessert.

Quality of Experience

Beautiful scenerey

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was Italian and had a great sense of humor and lots of information regarding wine.

Transport

Private Montmartre Art and Culture Walk

Paris

This tour will take you up the hill step by step to where the Sacre Cure is located. It's interesting to hear the cultural stories of the artists who have lived here in the past. The final stop is the highlight of the tour. It's either the Cathedral or the view of Paris- probably both!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Giverny & Versailles: Art, Royalty & Gardens

Paris

Monet's paintings come alive when you visit his gardens. I highly recommend this tour to see the flowers and other inspirations in his paintings. The guide did a great job sharing his life story on the bus ride to Giverny. Lunch and the Palace of Versailles were great stops. The guide did well keeping the group on time and ensuring we saw everything necessary.

Quality of Experience

The prime time to go to Givery would be July and August, but it is still well worth the visit through September to see all the flowers in bloom. The house is interesting to see at all times of the year, and the souvenir shop, his workshop, was full of Monet items for everyone. Versaille is amazing to visit any time of the year, but the gardens and fountains are spectacular when in bloom, and the water is flowing.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide used the time on the way to Giverny to provide us with his life story so we knew his history before arriving.

Transport

It is well worth it to get to visit these top locations in one day.

Latin Quarter Gourmet Food Walk

Paris

It was fun to stop at different shops and pick up items for our picnic in the park. We visited a fromagerie, a market for fresh produce, a pâtisserie, a charcuterie, and a wine shop with red and white wine ready to sample.

Quality of Experience

Excellent food products with history mixed in.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide knew much about the food, the neighborhood's history, and the Notre Dame Cathedral. She did a great job providing up-to-date information on the rebuilding of Notre Dame.

Saint-Germain-des-Prés Pastry & Chocolate Walk

Paris

This was a great tour, introducing me to the essential things about the chocolates and pastries in France. The Guide did a great job leading us to all the different locations to taste the other foods. He included things about history, guided us through a church, and shared historical information about the area.

Quality of Experience

He was a great guide and great food.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Wine and cheese tasting in Paris

Paris

This was one of my favorite activities in Paris. The sommelier explained why the wines and cheese come from the different regions in France.

Quality of Experience

The wine and cheese was excellent.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The sommelier shared so much information with us while we enjoyed the pairings.

Private Louvre Museum Visit

Paris

Our guide led us through the Sully and Denon wings, seeing all the masterpiece artwork.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Seine River Gourmet Dinner Cruise with Live Music

Paris

The experience on the boat provided a great vantage point to see all the buildings along the shore of the Seine River lite up. The food was good, and the live singer created a nice ambience.

Quality of Experience

Food

The food was good and paired with flavorful wine.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Gones Tour, 2-hour e-bike Guided Tour

Lyon

Biking along the Rhône's banks was a treat. This path took the tour along the Rhône River to the Golden Head Park, where there's a free zoo and open space for city dwellers to enjoy.

Quality of Experience

The guide added history and pointed out key points of the city.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide did a great job of explaining how to use the e-bike and setting expectations for how to ride safely as a group.

Private War History & Traboules Walk

Lyon

The guide was knowledgeable, showed me all the passages or Traboules that made up the city of Lyon, and earned it the UNESCO classification. We talked little about World War II but focused more on the city and the silk industry.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cassis Day Trip with Calanques Boat Cruise (Ticket not included)

Aix-en-Provence

This half-day tour went too fast; if I were to say anything, it would be to allow yourself the full-day tour so you can enjoy all that Cassis has to offer. We took the boat to see the Parc National des Calanques. The blue water was so striking. The village had a great market and neat eateries. We were also taken to the Cap Canaille overlook to see the cove and city and admire the steep drop-off.

Quality of Experience

The natural environment and village were memorable and a place I would like to go back to.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private City Walk Aix-en-Provence

Aix-en-Provence

Erin Jordan, the guide in Aix-En-Provence, was excellent! She was knowledgeable and provided history, information on architecture, and insight into the city's economic evolution. She did a wonderful job.

Quality of Experience

She provided information on food, where to get the best pastries and chocolates, and great restaurant options.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Full Day Luberon E-Bike Adventure

France

I loved riding bikes through the Luberon Valley and visiting the little villages. The e-bikes made the trip easy and fun.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide made sure everyone was ok on the bike ride and told us a bit of history on the drive there.

Transport

The minivan was clean and well-maintained.

Morning City Discovery Walk : Panier & Notre-Dame de la Garde

Marseille

This tour was informative and enjoyable to see Le Panier neighborhood, the old port, and the Bonne Mère.

Quality of Experience

I enjoyed seeing the fish market and the old mills in Le Panier.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was knowledgeable.

Taste of Old Nice: Market Stroll, Local Bites & Seaside Picnic

Nice

This is a very informative tour and would be a great activity upon arrival. The socca that we got to eat was great, and the guide did a great job sharing historical and cultural information.

Quality of Experience

The guide did a great job connecting with me and sharing information I was interested in.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Knowledgable guide.

Transport

No transport was needed

Monaco Day Trip via Èze & La Turbie with Optional Beach Time

France

This tour takes travelers to the coast of the French Riviera, Monaco, a perfume factory, and the village ofÈzee. Beach time was not an option, and we were not gone for 10 hours, but still worth it.

Quality of Experience

It's nice to see all the sites at each location.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was knowledgeable and got us to all the sites.

Transport

Pick up and drop off at the hotel in an excellent vehicle.

Explore Nice by E-Bike

Nice

This activity took riders to spectacular views that are not easily accessible and around town for a city tour.

Quality of Experience

Nice way to see a lot of the city in a short amount of time.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was knowledgeable and took care of the group.

Transport

The bikes were in good working condition.

Boat tour Nice/Monaco (Speedboat)

Nice

The description of this activity isn't accurate. It isn't meant for travelers with physical sensitivities or who have endured recent or ongoing injuries due to the possibility of rough seas on a boat going at a high rate of speed. The excursion takes you to Monocao and lets travelers see super yachts from the water level. Travelers can swim in a cove with a cave and drive past other villages along the French Riviera. Things you see are spectacular, but the possible harm to one's body needs to be considered when booking this trip. The tour operators did not go out of their way to interact with guests or solve problems.

Quality of Experience

Communication about the possibilities of rough pounding seas in the write up for travelers.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

No effort to solve problems or desire to interact with guests. The language barrier was ever present, and no effort was put into trying to decipher what guests were trying to say in French.

Transport

Nice new boat.

Nathalie did a great job planning out our trip. The river cruise our first night in Paris was an exceptional suggestion and the tour guide for the Louvre was amazing.

The team was very accommodating as we had to make some very last minute adjustments to the schedule - while we were in France. They happily worked everything out for us.

Hotel Reviews

Pullman Paris Roissy CDG Airport

Roissy-en-France

Aquabella Hotel & Spa

Aix en Provence

This is a great hotel - location is perfect, staff are amazing and it has everything you would need.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hôtel Parc Saint Séverin

Paris

The hotel was clean and the location was great but there are very few amenities and seems to attract older clientele. The rooms and bathrooms are very small.

Authenticity & Character

Location

You could walk to everything!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very small rooms and bathrooms.

Activity Reviews

Wine tour in Cezanne countryside

Aix-en-Provence

Our guide was very good. She really knew the area and understood vineyards and winemaking.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Eiffel Tower Summit Ticket

Paris

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Le Louvre Private Tour

Paris

Victor was amazing. Very passionate about The Louvre and his knowledge was through the roof. Very, very good guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Montmartre & Sacré-Coeur walking tour

Paris

The guide did not appear all that interested in giving a tour and did not appear to be very knowledgeable which was disappointing. It is such a neat area.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Dinner show at the Moulin Rouge

Paris

Nighttime Seine River Cruise with Dining Experience

Paris

This was a great introduction to Paris and was a great event on the first day we arrived in Paris.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The trip was great from beginning to end. Pedro was excellent!!! Stayed in touch with us daily with information and updates. Had the best time. Portugal was amazing

Hotel Reviews

NEXT - by Savoy Signature

Funchal

Great location and amenities. Very modern with young hip vibe

Authenticity & Character

Modern

Location

On the water and could walk to restaurants and shops

Staff

Friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable

Condes de Azevedo Palace

Porto

This was a 2 bed, 2.5 bath apartment in a great location. Beautiful old palace updated with all modern amenities. Would definitely stay again on my return to Porto ❤️

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

So friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Apartment was spotless

PortoBay Marquês

Lisbon

The staff was so friendly and helpful. Location was perfect

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Unveil the Western landscapes of Madeira Island on a Small Group Tour

Madeira

What an adventure. We had a great time. Small fishing village, off roading in beautiful forests that smelt like eucalyptus, swimming in volcanic pool, visiting a black sand beach and waterfalls. And that wasn’t everything ❤️

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Pedro was fantastic, friendly, helpful, knowledgeable and a great driver

Transport

4 wheel drive jeep

Indulge in Elegance on a Guided Winery Tour Infused with Tastings and a Delicious Lunch

Portugal

Beautiful vineyard. The tour so interesting

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Victor was so much fun and very knowledgeable

Transport

Porto's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour

Porto

Had a wonderful walking tour in Porto. A stunning city. Even in the rain

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sara was wonderful. Knew everything thing about the history of Porto and the architecture. Really rnjoyed

Transport

Walking in the rain

Scenic Voyage along the Douro River aboard an Exclusive Boat

Portugal

Stunning!!!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Nonu was a great captain

Transport

Seamless Discovery - The Ultimate Douro Valley Experience with Private Driver Service

Portugal

Wonderful day in the beautiful Douro valley. Ivo was a great driver and tour guide. Had so much fun

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Unveil the Fairytale Villa of Sintra with a Private Driver Service

Portugal

Beautiful Sintra. Great dsy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Viviana was awesome. Knowledgeable, helpful and friendly

Transport

Comfortable car

Immerse Yourself in the Portuguese Culture by Experiencing a Fado Dinner

Portugal

Food was great. Music beautiful ❤️

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Lisbon

Had a great time with Ana. Very knowledgeable and sweet.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ana is fantastic

Transport

Walking

Memorable adventure

We were in Ireland for three weeks, from Aug 28 to Sept 17. This was our first trip to Ireland, and everything went well. We mostly followed the itinerary Justine had set up for us, though we did skip a couple of items when we found other things we chose to do instead. Among the highlights, actually, were two stops we added on our own — the medieval town of Athenry and its castle (which we learned about when we just happened to tune in to a TV program on the town on one of our first nights in Ireland) and the ruins of Sligo abbey, which were spectacular. We'd recommend both to other travelers to Ireland. We spent a little over four days in Dublin (for logistics reasons, we chose to put Dublin at the end of our trip, rather than the start), but we could have spent our whole three weeks there and not seen all the things there are to see and learn there. We skipped the Guinness brewery tour Justine had set up in favor of a visit to the Irish National Archaeology Museum. Fascinating! That's another thing we'd recommend to other travelers. Think: bog bodies!

And, while we skipped the Guinness tour, we did sample plenty of Guinness on the trip. We also skipped a 2.5-hour walking tour of Dublin. We did plenty of walking without the tour! :-) We did make use of three-day passes we bought for one of the hop-on/hop-off bus companies in Dublin. On previous trips to big cities in Europe, we’ve found those buses make good, cheap alternatives to taxis and they also allow you to take a load off your feet and see a bit of the city in comfort.

The driving on the “wrong” side of the road/car was no big deal after the second day. We had a car for the first two weeks. Driving on some of the "L" roads -- one-lane but two-way -- could become pretty interesting, we found.

We would recommend skipping Peter Curtin’s storytelling session in Lisdoonvarna, were we to set up a trip for other travelers. That was really the only experience we thought wasn’t worth the effort. His stories weren’t really stories or of much interest, honestly. Nice enough guy, but … meh.

We drove through much of Ireland, from Dublin airport through Cork, Galway, Kinsale, Kenmare, Dingle, Westport, Doolin and all along the south and west coasts and up as far as Donegal, before our days in Dublin. The Aran Islands tour to Inisheer was great, as were the Cliffs of Moher, Slea Head Drive, Achill Island, etc. There were no stops on our trip that I would suggest skipping. The Blasket Islands Centre was really interesting. The EPIC museum was different and interesting, but it took a bit to figure out what they were doing. Essentially, the museum recounts how people of Irish heritage -- we lucky few -- have basically taken over the planet! :-)

We’d love to go back for more of Ireland. We’d like to find more castles and more ring forts to explore if we ever go back, and a full week in Dublin wouldn’t be too much. But we wanted to pack as much of Ireland into our three weeks as we could, and so we had a busy three weeks — but very enjoyable.

My ancestry on my father's side is Irish, and we are relatively certain that the family sprang from County Donegal, in the far NW corner of Ireland. As we got our tickets to see Donegal castle, the man behind the desk asked if either my wife or I had Irish ancestry. When I told him I did, he said there were lots of people in the area who had the same last name as mine or the recognized spelling variations of the name. And just as he said that, a van went by bearing the name of a plumbing company with one of the spelling variations of our last name!

This was our second trip through Kimkim (you arranged Greece for us a couple of years ago) and we’ve been happy with both trips. We are pretty independent travelers who prefer a sort of loose itinerary and a set of car keys to getting on a bus with 50 other people each morning for a package tour. Justine took good care of us and checked in by phone when we were in Ireland.

Hotel Reviews

Greenmount House Luxury B&B

Beautiful spot right on edge of Dingle. Great rooms and lots of lounge areas for relaxing. And Dingle town is terrific! Attended a trad music concert in St. James Church that was very, very good. Would highly recommend that experience to folks traveling to Dingle in summer.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Castle Hotel

Dublin

Smallish room with water stain on ceiling, but otherwise clean and comfortable. Nicely located near O’Connell Street and only about 1/2 block from stop for hop-on/hop-off and city buses. Fairly good restaurant and good breakfasts. Hotel is in several old Georgian buildings that have been connected into one hotel, making the corridors kind of interesting.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Gateway Lodge

Donegal

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Wyatt Hotel Westport

Westport

Small room but located right in downtown Westport. Great breakfast!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Knockaguilla House Bed & Breakfast

Doolin

We ended up cancelling our reservation at this hotel and making one at a hotel closer to town. Simply too far outside town, and we didn’t want to be driving one-lane roads after dark.

Harbour Hotel

Galway

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Happy Pig

Kenmare, Co. Kerry

Loved this one. Irma, the owner, had tons of great suggestions for us, and she was a delight to talk to. Highly recommend! And the breakfasts were terrific!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Kinsale & Spa

Kinsale

Beautiful hotel, but too far out of town. Would have much preferred something in Kinsale proper.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

King Sitric Guesthouse

Howth

Breakfasts were terrific. We only stayed here one night, but we ate dinner in their restaurant that night. I had crab claws that were out of this world!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Trinity Trails & Book of Kells Guided Tour

Dublin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Aran Island Tour - Day Trip to Inisheer from Doolin

Ireland

The island was fantastic. Our guide was great and we spent about a half hour chatting with Gail, the daughter of a shop owner on the island. She was very interesting. Only downside: the driver of our van on the island dropped us at the foot of a steep hill leading to the island’s castle, then told us we’d have to walk back to town because he had to go meet another ferry coming from the mainland. “It’s only 5 minutes,” he told us. Forty minutes later, we trudged into town. Not impressed. But Ollie’s guide service refunded the cost of that part of our trip. The driver also wouldn’t stop at the shipwreck on the island because he was worried about getting stuck behind the horse-drawn buggies. Ferry on way back to mainland took us past Cliffs of Moher, which are spectacular. Dolphins played in our ferry’s wake for much of the trip back to mainland. Great day, except for that bus driver’s actions.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mixed. Our guide on the ferry ride and for part of the island visit (I think his name was Phil)?was terrific. Van driver, not so much.

Transport

Entry into the Emigration Museum EPIC

Dublin

This is a different kind of museum, a largely audio-video experience. Basically, it’s the story of how those of us of Irish ancestry — we lucky few — have taken over the planet!

Newgrange and Knowth Day Tour from Dublin

Dublin

Guides were great, and the archaeology was fascinating. One of the highlights of the trip!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tickets for St Patrick Cathedral, Dublin

Dublin

Kylemore Abbey

Ireland

Beautiful drive to and beyond the abbey. Also, make sure to stop at grave of WB Yeats about five miles beyond abbey. All very interesting. Setting of the abbey is spectacular and the drive thru Connemara is incomparably beautiful — until you get to County Donegal, which is drop-dead beautiful in a whole different way. We saw lots of Ireland, and virtually all of it was gorgeous, but Connemara and Donegal are in a class by themselves.

Quality of Experience

Cliffs of Moher Visitor Center tickets

Ireland

The cliffs are beautiful and spectacular, whether seen from sea or land, and the visitor center is very well done. Our tickets were for somewhere around 11 or 11:30 am, but we got there shortly after they opened and got right in.

Quality of Experience

Storytelling experience in Doolin/Lisdoonvarna

Ireland

Not a total waste of time, but not one of the trip’s highlights, either. Peter’s stories of the Burren were not terribly interesting or informative. Nice enough guy but not an experience we’d rate anywhere near the top of our Irish experiences. And we'd recommend not including it on other travelers' itineraries.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Kenmare Heritage Walking Tour

Kenmare

Passed on this one in favor of just strolling on our own, seeing stone circle, etc.

Don & Barry's Kinsale Historic Stroll Walking tour

Kinsale

Good and interesting Irish history lesson.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cork City History Tour

Cork

We passed on this one.

Jameson Experience Tour Premium Whiskey Tasting

Cork

Really enjoyed the premium whiskey tasting presentation.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I would have to say that we were entirely happy with our trip to Greece! Angela (Aggeliki) did an awesome job of setting up our trip! Everything was so well planned and she was always available for help and questions. Her suggestions for tours were spot on! The guide in Athens for the Acropolis (Alex) was one the very best I ever had, so knowledgeable and energetic. Elizabeth was great for the neighborhood tour also, loved it. Manos in Naxos for the e-bike was a true joy all the way around, the bikes and trip to the farm. Then of course, the catamaran tours on Milos and Santorini were so much fun, swimming, food, seeing the beaches and cliffs and meeting others. I would highly recommend KimKim for a Greek vacation!

Hotel Reviews

Imera Vista Suites

Imerovigli

The hotel in Santorini was great as well. We appreciated being between Fira and another town, which allowed us to enjoy a quieter area with lots to do.

Crystal Mare Suites

Naxos, Greece

The accommodation in Naxos was excellent. The owner was a retired pathologist who provided amazing service. The location was close to Saint George Beach, and although it was a bit of a walk to town, it was worth it. The owner even gave us a ride into town one day, which was very kind.

Santa Maria Village Resort and Spa

Milos

The hotel we stayed in Milos was very nice. It had a pool and a hot tub, and everything about it was great. It was a bit of a walk to the main town, but it was manageable with a car. The concierge service was extremely helpful and gave us great advice on restaurants and what to do in the area.

Activity Reviews

Full Day Sailing Tour Around Milos (Catamaran from Adamas)

Greece

The full-day sailing tour around Milos was a little long, especially due to the wind, but the stops were great, and the food was really outstanding. We loved being able to swim off the boat in the beautiful spots that they picked. The catamaran was not too crowded, providing a good opportunity to engage with other travelers.

Aegean Lush Bike tour

Naxos

Manos and the e-bike tour was one of the best trips on Naxos!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Unexpected Athens Orientation Tour

Greece

Elizabeth was great on this tour! Loved it!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Athens Highlights Mythology Tour

Greece

One of the best with one of the best guides ever! Alex!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to Morocco was fantastic - Majid was an excellent help in planning the trip - so responsive to our questions, so flexible when we had to change details and dates and was always there to ask a question.
Mouad - our driver - the best ever - he was the nicest guy, so kind, so responsive to our needs and very knowledgeable about the country - travelling in a small group with a driver meant we learnt so much about the Moroccan people and culture. He was always there when we needed him, organized everything so well and cannot recommend him more.

Guides in other cities:
Youseff - in Rabat - he was excellent too - great English and knowledgeable
Hakim - Fes - the best guide ever - so nice, so helpful and great English
Abdul - Kasbah Amridil (?) - he was great, we learnt so much!
Ali - city tour in Marrakech - he was good, maybe a little too detailed and slow but nice guy
Hamid - food tour in Marrakech - we liked him and the food was great!

Everything was great - the only comment I would make is that we did a LOT of driving and in retrospect maybe another day in the desert would have been good and one less in Marrakech?

Hotel Reviews

Elegancia Riad Boutique & SPA

Marrakech

Beautiful hotel, rooms were do nice with everything you could need! Rooftop was excellent and the food was so good. Beds confortable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

So helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dar Rihana Dades

Douar Aït Ouffi

Nice location, beautiful rooms and the food was absolutely incredible! Staff were so attentive and nice and funny!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The best staff!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

This camp is amazing - the tents were so awesome, beds comfy and the location, well you could not beat it. Staff were lovely and the food excellent.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Salam Fes

Fes

Hotel was in a good location near the medina, rooms were very varied, ours was noisy and close to the reception. Also the AC did not work. Breakfast was good.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

AC did not work

Lina Ryad & Spa

Chefchaouen

Very cute hotel and the rooms were great. Staff seemed OK but the breakfast was excellent!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mövenpick Hotel Casablanca

Casablanca

Seemed fine, we did not spend much time there.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Marrakech Food Tour

Marrakesh

Very good - food at the last restaurant was amazing!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hiking & Cultural Immersion in the Atlas Mountains

Boumalne Dades

We did not hike - could not fit that in with all the driving

Hammam Spa & Massage in Marrakech 3 PM Session

Marrakesh

Very different experience but very relaxing!

Erg Chebbi – Tinejdad – Todra Gorges – Tinerir – Dades Gorge( 4 Hours)

Morocco

Scenery was excellent but the drive was very long...

Quality of Experience

Transport

Camel trek to your luxury camp

Merzouga

This was one of the best experiences of my life - a total bucket list item. We saw the sunset from the camels and they were easy to ride! Food at the camp was amazing too

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer to Merzouga: Middle Atlas Mountains to the Sahara

Morocco

A long day of driving

Fes: Exploring the Imperial City

Fes

This was an excellent day and our guide Hakim was the absolute best

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour of Volubilis

Volubilis

Execellent ruins, so well preserved and able to access it all ! Our guide was very good too!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer to Fes via Moulay Idriss, Volubilis & Meknes

Morocco

It was a lot of driving

Explore the Blue City

Chefchaouen

Its a beautiful city and so photogenic - worth the long drive!

Quality of Experience

Half-Day Private Sightseeing Tour in Rabat

Rabat

Great guide and great tour of Rabat. Worth seeing for half a day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Casablanca to Chefchaouen via Rabat

Morocco

Long drive but Rabat is spotless!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

An outstanding two weeks seeing the highlights of Morocco. Majid did a wonderful job tailoring the trip to our needs and ensuring we had many wonderful and unique experiences such as a night in the Sahara, a cooking class and hot air balloon ride. All of the local guides were fabulous but it was Ismael our driver and guide for the trip who made our time in Morocco so special. The history he shared, his knowledge of the people and the customs and most of all his humour and endless kindness made our trip so special. Thank you!

Chris took care of every detail for us. Every luxury hotel, every private tour, every limo. ride, every meal - was beyond our expectations.

Because of Chris’s patience, guidance, and knowledge, my wife, my two teen daughters and I had the best vacation we have ever been on,’m. We traveled, toured and ate our way thru 5 star accommodations throughout Italy with ease and kind interactions with all the people that Chris connected us with.

We cant wait to plan our trip to Paris in April with him.

Evening bicycle tour of Rome was incredible. The trip was very well planned and organized. The drivers that were scheduled were always courteous and and on time. Giulia is extremely knowledgeable and responsive.

Our hotel accommodations were good for the most part. We loved the hotel in Rome and the villa in Tuscany was more than acceptable. The Cinque Terre hotel location was excellent, especially the view we had from our room. I would have enjoyed a 4 star facility but believe one was not avalable.

Overall, Giulia and Kimkim did an outstanding job. We will not only use them again but will recommend them to friends.

Activity Reviews

Rome: E-Bike Evening Tour with Italian Dinner

Rome

The view of Rome in the evening provides a different perspective of the historic sites. It was absolutely beautiful and our guide was not only knowledgeable, but extremely friendly and courteous.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vatican & Sistine Chapel Tour

Rome

Very crowded and the "front of the line pass" didn't appear to do much good. Sistine Chapple was so crowded you could hardly move.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Visit to the Colosseum & Roman Forum

Rome

Heavy rain hindered our tour but that wasn't the fault of the guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We recently did an amazing two week vacation in Italy. To say Andrea did a wonderful job is an understatement-every last detail was covered and the most stress free experience. Every driver, tour guide, experience was top notch! We recommend Kim Kim and Andrea to everyone we tell about our trip to. Thank you for the trip of a life time, we will certainly be using Kim Kim for all of our future trips. If you are hesitating about using a travel agency, have reservations because of not hearing about Kim Kim, or are skeptical, I assure you please give them a try-you will not be disappointed!!

Hotel Reviews

Antico Albergo del Sole al Pantheon

Rome

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palazzo Veneziano Venice

Venice

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Palazzo Murat Positano

Positano

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Santa Maria Novella

Florence

Wonderful location, very authentic hotel. Beautiful!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very central located and easy to get to shops, food, etc

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Castello La Leccia

Castellina in Chianti

Wonderful relaxing grounds. Best massages we have ever experienced. Truly an amazing piece of Tuscany.

Authenticity & Character

Rooms were gorgeous and grounds were something out of a book!

Location

Scenic views

Staff

Massage was fantastic at spa-probably the best we’ve had!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Spacious rooms, lots of natural light

Activity Reviews

Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel skip the line ticket

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel - private guide

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Colosseum & Roman Forum skip the line ticket

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Colosseum and Roman Forum - Private guide

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rome Private Guided Walk

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day trip to Capri Island from The Amalfi Coast - small group

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pompeii ruin visit with a private guide

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Winery visit with wine tasting and light lunch

Italy

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Florence private guided walk including Accademia Gallery

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Accademia Gallery - skip the line entrance

Florence

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Jewels of Venice (St. Mark & Doge Palace)

Venice

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exclusive Murano & Burano islands visit (private service)

Venice

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hidden Venice and cicchetti experience

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nikola came up with an amazing trip for my husband and I and our friends. We never worried about anything - it was all taken care of and Nikola was quick to respond with any questions we had. Our hotel accommodations were incredible and even more luxurious than I expected. He set up unique tours for us-the culinary experience in the Konavle region of Croatia (near Dubrovnik)being one of the most memorable. I would highly recommend Kimkim for your next vacation.

We had a wonderful trip through Indonesia recommended by Marc. I found Kimkim with an AI tool, and I started by finding which destination was better in September. Indonesia was the choice and after that Marc was extremely helpful through our planning process, defining a fabulous itinerary for the 16 days in Indonesia, with adventure, culture and leisure. It was very difficult to choose where to go because Indonesia has around 17 000 islands, but Marc made it easy, trying to show us the advantages of each place. At the end it was amazing! We started our journey in Sumatra to see the orangutans. Then we went to Yogyakarta to go to the temples (Borobudur and Prambanan), after that we went by train to Surabaya (East Java) and then we had 3 days at the volcanoes (Mount Bromo and Mount Ijen) which was unforgettable! After that we went by ferry to Bali (Pemuteran, Ubud and Nusa Dua) and we finished with a cruise to see the Komodo dragons.
Marc made us a wonderful trip, and everything was booked and on time! All accommodations were amazing, specially Plataran in Mount Bromo, Menjangan Dynasty Resort in Pemuteran and Tejaprana Resort in Ubud and the food in Ijen Resort and Villas was incredible. All of our tour guides, representatives, and drivers gave us very good service and made us feel comfortable. Our only regret was not having more opportunities to dive, as we only got to do it in Pemuteran and the underwater is amazing to explore. The entire journey was incredible!

We loved all the hotels where we stayed and the small group guides were excellent
Overall it was a wonderful vacation
We were able to do a lot and see a great variety of what Ireland has to offer

Athens was amazing and we had a very knowledgeable tour guide. Mykonos was actually less “party atmosphere” than I expected. I don’t know if it was because it was during the week or because it was after the summer. Paros was a little disappointing as there was not much to see or do there. Santorini was great, especially the Sunset Oia cruise. The dinner they cooked was delicious. And Natasha was an excellent photographer as well!

Kudos! To all the team members of Columbus Guatemala travel! They are always there from the beginning of our journey til the end it was perfect! I will recommend this travel agency to al travellers they are very reliable, and trustful. All the team effort they did makes you feel comfortable in every way of the journey. They will create our journey memorable! I would like to thank all the team members from the drivers, tour guides and especially the group of the Columbus Guatemala travel. I really wanted to give you all 10 stars!!! Till we meet again , Muchos Gracia’s!!!

Hotel Reviews

Naif Boutique Hotel

Antigua

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Utzjay Hotel

Panajachel

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

El Recreo

Lanquin

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Maya Internacional

Flores

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Thank you

Guatemala

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pacaya Volcano visit

Guatemala

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Semuc Champey

Guatemala

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Villages Around Lake Atitlán by Boat (San Juan & Santiago)

Guatemala

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tikal Mayan Civilization

Guatemala

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer from San Ignacio to Tikal National Park

Belize

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Guatemala

Guatemala

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hi Kimkim, I received your text and my apologies for not being as punctual as I should have been but we were having too much of a good time. The itinerary your team put together was perfect for seeing County Mayo. We met some of my wife’s relation that live in Mayo. We also saw the family homestead which was just as my wife’s grandfather always said, you could sit on the front porch and gaze out at Clew Bay.

We had no idea that Mayo was so large, the counties in Ireland are much bigger than in Ohio. As Dean assured us, driving was no problem but getting used to the narrow roads was a bit of a challenge. The Hertz car we rented was the perfect size. We went to several beautiful beaches (Silver Strand in the Lost Valley, Keem and Keel beaches.). Croagh Patrick proved too much of a challenge but we did walk part of it. Gorgeous views!

Clew Bay Hotel was great but it was unseasonably hot, no air conditioning or fans in the room which may have helped. Westport was a fun city and Westport House was very interesting. We didn’t make Clare Island because of illness (a bad head cold.) Achill Island is beautiful, Stella Maris was good. We had dinner at Brevie which was exceptional. We went to the Deserted Village, interesting. Went to Ceide Fields, again beautiful views and very interesting. Down Patrick was closed for road repairs. Ballina was also a nice city, Ballina Manor Hotel was good. They gave us a fan for our room which helped with the unseasonable hotter weather.

Our kudos to Dean Garrison, he planned a wonderful trip for us.

Overall a very enjoyable experience.

Ken & Chris Tabellion

Out of Laura, Queensland we arranged a 3 night bush camp rock art excursion with Jarramali Rock Art Tours & the owner Johnny. An aboriginal young man who shares his culture & some cave paintings with those interested in learning. Marty & I visited Carnarvon National Park & stayed at their Wilderness Lodge. Carnarvon Gorge is a steep, narrow gorge in a wet, dense forest. Fantastic hiking there. We also enjoyed visiting the Blue Mts., Mt.Grenfell Historic Site, out of Cobar, Gundabooka N.P., Mutawintji Cultural Tour out of Broken Hill, Grampians NP our of Murray Bridge, Cape Range NP out of Exmouth, a Turtle Ecotour in a glass bottom boat to see Green turtles, rays, coral reef, out of Coral Bay. Out of Denham we did a 4X4 tour to Francois Peron NP, & in Kalbarri we did several hikes in Kalbarri NP. Wonderful red rock gorge with the Murchison River running through it. The Kings Park & Botanical Gardens with an assortment of colorful Australian fauna/flowers to feast the eyes on. A must for any one visiting Perth. The hotels KimKim chose were near many of the places we wanted to visit & we did rent a car so we could go explore on our own. Tia at KimKim did a wonderful job working with us to make our 65 day Australian trip a trip of a lifetime.

Hotel Review

Kalbarri Edge Resort

Kalbarri

The Kalbarri Edge Resort was within 5 to 10 minutes walking distance to the waterfront to see the daily feeding of the Australian pelicans & lots of restaurants & take away foods to choose from. And a delicious ice cream place. The living room was very adequate size as was the kitchen & a separate bedroom.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Arrive Cairns

Cairns

Easy small town to drive in especially if you are not use to driving on the left side of the road. Getting to & from the airport was also easy. Beautiful explanade to walk just a few blocks from our hotel.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Prado guide, Stefanie, was very knowledgeable. Tapas tour was great fun.
Barcelona vineyard guide was delightful.
Toledo guide was incredible.

Hotel Reviews

Petit Palace Posada del Peine

Madrid

Petit Palace Posada del Peine in Madrid is over 400 years old and we loved it. The front desk upgraded us, which was great even though we were only there for about twelve hours. The room was gorgeous, and the staff was wonderful.

Sonder Casa Luz

Barcelona

Very pleased with Sonder Casa Luz in Barcelona. The staff was incredible, and when I needed a doctor for my husband, they arranged one in an hour. The rooftop restaurant was excellent, and the manager was lovely. Overall, it was a lot of fun.

Pestana Plaza Mayor Madrid

Madrid

The Pestana Plaza Mayor Madrid is incredible! I would stay there again in a heartbeat. The people at the front desk were exceptionally helpful with suggestions on dining and more. The restaurant at the hotel was excellent.

Activity Review

Park Güell & La Sagrada Família Experience

Barcelona

The Park Güell & La Sagrada Família tour in Barcelona was a bit challenging because the guide, though knowledgeable, was hard to understand due to his accent. It made the experience less enjoyable.

Solon is the best tour guide I have ever worked with, he went well beyond my expectations. I have traveled globally more than 50 times and worked with many travel agencies .Maria, Micheal and Sonia were very well received by the team, funny, knowledgeable and accommodating.
I will recommend KimKim to everyone.

Andrea in São Paulo, Diana in Foz do Iguazu and Patricia in Rio. All the 3 of them with the drivers did an excellent job. They did their job above and beyond. I can recommend them to anybody especially to my family and friends. The entire trip was amazing. My hats off to Renata who did a wonderful planning, coordinating in smooth fashion. Thank you KimKim team!
Regina Estorninos

Hotel Reviews

Windsor Palace

Rio de Janeiro

Love the location most. Excellent service.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nadai Confort Hotel

Foz do Iguacu

Excellent service, Great location

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Estanplaza Paulista Hotel

São Paulo

Excellent service

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Experience the Carioca Lifestyle

Rio de Janeiro

Just enjoyed everything

Quality of Experience

K

Transport

Day Tour of Sugarloaf Mountain (walking trail) and Christ the Redeemer Statue

Rio de Janeiro

Everywhere we went was incredible, amazing

Quality of Experience

Standing right at foot of Christ the Redeemer Statue. Was able to attend mass at 3:00 pm at Chapel of Our Lady of Aparecida at the the back pedestal of the statue. We met Fr. Raphael

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro

All I can say, I love Rio, the place and people. I wanna go back one day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Iguaçu Falls Hike on the Argentina Side

Foz do Iguaçu

Oh my God, tell me about it , the Garganta do Diablo is nothing comparison to the other falls I have seen. Just amazing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Safe divers

Exploring the Brazilian Falls & Bird Park

Foz do Iguaçu

Another dream fulfilled visiting and seeing in my own eyes God’s amazing creation the Iguazu Fall. also discovered different kinds of birds and species that i have never seen before.

Quality of Experience

Full-Day Aparecida do Norte City Tour

São Paulo

So blessed, at least to fulfill my dreams to visit Our Lady of Aparecida. Brought my family and friends, everyone were amazed and touched by our Lady. It was the highlight of our pilgrimage. I can share my experiences to the world

Full-Day Catholic Tour

São Paulo

Love visiting religious site, places and learning history

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport