Kimkim Trip Reviews

I did not stay in this hotel. It was changed from my original itinerary

good location and nice room

Good location but the room is small with no window

I paid for my own lunch on the Quito Local Street Food Adventure. The guide is helpful, but I don’t think he has the experience for a food tour. He does not have a fixed itinerary and seems to be planning “on the go”.

Seems there were some miscommunication between Kim2 and the local dive company but Alvaro and Veronica sorted it out. It would be better to provide a local contact number for me so I can sort things out locally.

I took a later flight to GPS and missed the tree planting activity. It would be better to remind the next traveler, so they book an earlier flight to GPS,

Spent half a day with the son of one of the Maori tribes chief. He shared many aspects of his culture, including historical information as well as current information. This included taking us to one of his tribe's Wharenui and then teaching us what this for. We had many questions, and he took time to answer each. Near the end of our time together, he made a "tea time" for us at a small tea house he had built on his family's land - it was on top of a hill, and the view was beautiful. When I explained to Paula what type of cultural experience we wanted, she suggested this, and it was perfect.

Hotel room smelled very musty the entire time, was missing basics like a coffee machine/tea and phone, and no outlets by the bed. The breakfast was good quality though minimal compared to some other stays. The overall best feature was location beach side, and the private beach seating with shade cover - this part was 5/5 in addition to very nice and accommodating staff.

Good breakfast and nice touch to have welcome beverages. Cleaning staff were a little pushy. Clean and comfortable. Missing outlets near the bed. Portable air conditioner required regular emptying (roughly every 8hr) to be used.

Great breakfast. Fun having individual bungalows. Amazing heated pool!! Helpful staff. Great to have outlets near the bed on both sides.

Excellent option to be nearby the airport. The 24/7 shuttle was super convenient as was the option to pick up and drop off the car rental.

Ended up with private tour! Our guide was truly excellent in terms of knowledge, having a great monocular, and taking super pictures on our phones through it. Also by far the experience with most wildlife seen which was very cool.

Fun experience, cool ship, really awesome to get to swim in the amazing water, sunset views were amazing, food was excellent, crew was very nice. On the whole it was great! Only downside was not enough seating in shade.

We ended up having a private guided tour which was awesome. Our guide Chris was super knowledgeable especially about birds and plants which was great! We got to see some neat wildlife and plants. It was an odd time because there were no clouds but that couldn't be helped!

Our experience and guide was excellent! Cesar was funny and very knowledgeable. We had a great time learning about the coffee, sugar and chocolate production process and tasting along the way. Clever set up with stations throughout the property.

Overall very nice and relaxing pools with excellent food. Had a good experience on the whole. There was a different expectation issue where we were told we could enter at any time after 5pm by the tour company but when we arrived at 530 we were told we had to wait until 6, at which point we had to first eat dinner then could go to the pools.

This was a nice walk where we got to see great views of the Volcano and learn a bit about its history inclduing past eruption. Took a lot less time than allotted and appreciated the bit of fresh fruit at the end.

This was so great, one of the highlights of our trip. Our guide was super knowledgeable of the local floral and fauna. He also asked if there was anything we wanted to see explicitly and he found them for us! Namely a sloth (saw two!). He also took pictures for us and shared them afterwards. The guides were very collaborative so found more things for us to see throughout the walk.

Very fun! Felt very safe as well, which was a concern for one of our party :)

The Quarter Hua Lamphong in Bangkok was nice overall. The main downside was that only one elevator was operational during our stay due to construction, which caused delays. Other than that, we were happy with the place.

The accommodation at De Chai The Deco Hotel in Chiang Mai was absolutely fantastic. It was the only place that was part of the original plan, and we loved it. Everything met our expectations, and there were no issues at all.

Another super touristy event. I would skip the majority of it, and just go snorkeling. We woke up super early (which was fine) to be the first on the tour before the beaches got over crowded... but they were overcrowded from the moment you arrived. also Sunrise happened before we even got on the boat so it was nothing spectacular. Visiting the beach where they filmed the movie "The Beach" is just a beach and not that exciting. go figure. Snorkeling was cool, otherwise the motorboating around was just a waste of time.

Or guide, Yee, made this a fun and exciting experience. Riding on the scooters was fun (and felt very safe), the information provided, and food we tasted was great. Another good event.

THE BEST THING WE DID AND ATE IN Thailand! So, full disclosure, I'm a professional chef, and wife is pretty adept as well. The cooking instructor meet us and took us to the market. She had a plan, but I opened it by telling her what I wanted to learn. And she said "Game On!". Okay, she didn't say that, but she would have. She revised her cooking class for us to make the things I wanted to learn and she killed it! The food we made was So good, and because it was only my wife and I, we got super hands on personal lessons. I also had a couple of beers while we cooked and ate, and it just made for the best experience. Beginning to end, from the ride to the market, to shopping, to cooking, then eating, 11 out of 10 experience. THANK YOU!!

I applaud and support the effort of protecting the elephants. Everyone seemed to enjoy this activity, but wasn't my thing. But that's a "me" problem.

This was not bad. Beautiful national Park, but nothing too special. The temples built by the Airforce were grand but also very... contrived?

don't miss this. very cultural and immersive. Or guide, Ms. Anita explained so much to us. she was incredible!

Not worth the hype. I asked for our tour guide to take us down the side streets through the local markets behind the railway. That was more interesting than the main attraction.

The full experience was perfect! Even when we were the only guest, they did everthing as intense as if the camp was full.

The staff was very kind and helpful. The breakfeast was very good also.

Except for the visit of the palace, we only visited the medina with the market (souk). Because we already had this kif of visit in Fès, we would have appreciated to visit more quickly the medina and focus on other specificities of Marrakech.

We only did sand board on a small dune close to the camp. We didn't have the chance to go on bigger one because there was nobody to come with us, even if we had time to do it.

Good trip in the desert. We learned a lot of things.

Even if we had 8 hours of drive, our driver Karim made it look quicker! We did interesting stops: Ifrane, forest and Monkeys, restaurant, snowball fight in the Atlas, and multiples views. The end of our day was perfect and fluid with the camels in the desert for the sunset.

The different sites visited were great: outside and inside the medina. Keep this as it is.

We did not do this activity, we went directly to the Mosque.

Accomodations were wonderful and we took full advantage of the Spa. The food at the restaurant was excellent.

Beautiful riad located in the Medina in a great location. Food amazing.

Despite do rain we loved our tour and our time in Rabat.

The ship was pleasant with clean, comfortable rooms. The cruise itself was disappointing. We would have liked to spend much more time underway to see the stunning scenery go by. Instead we spent too much time at anchor, for kayaking and a land excursion to a cave. Those two stops were interesting but not worth the time that could have otherwise been spent underway. Most of the sailing time happened during the night, when it was too dark to see the scenery. The staff was great, especially Ducky, our waiter, and Jasmine, the cruise director.

Fantastic location right on the river and within easy walking distance of town, vendors, street food, etc. We upgraded to premium deluxe rooms, which were great.

Fantastic location in the Old Quarter and within easy walking distance of the water puppet theatre and Hoan Kiem Lake. Rooms were clean but rather plain and ordinary.

Very nice hotel with lush gardens that create an oasis in the middle of Siem Reap.

The hotel was clean and comfortable in a great location. The gym and pool were quite nice.

A great experience. The chef who conducted our class was very personable; he made the class fun and interesting. It was more of a cooking demonstration than an actual class, but he did give us some tasks to do. The tour of the local market to buy produce and other supplies was great. The meal we (mostly the chef) prepared ended up being one of the most delicious meals of our trip. Highly recommended.

The cave was interesting but not particularly special. We would have preferred to skip the excursion altogether and spend more time underway to see the beautiful scenery and natural rock formations of Ha Long Bay.

The ship was clean and comfortable, and the staff was great. The best part of the cruise was when we were underway, so we could see the beautiful scenery going by. Unfortunately, we did not spend that much time underway, which was disappointing. Much of the daytime was spent at anchor, for kayaking or a land excursion to visit a cave. Sailing seemed to mostly happen overnight, when people were sleeping and it was too dark to see the scenery anyway. I would definitely recommend a different cruise that skips land excursions, spends more time underway, and takes in more of the amazing scenery of Ha Long Bay.

We enjoyed our visit to the primate rescue center, and it was great to see the important work being done there. The turtle rescue center was less interesting. The hike through the jungle was a good way to get an up-close experience of the jungle but otherwise was unexceptional. This was a good outing, but I wouldn't do it again and don't necessarily recommend it.

Bich Dong Pagoda, which is built into the mountainside was well worth the hike up to see it. The Hang Mua Viewpoint has good views but was too crowded with tourists. The boat ride along the river was incredible, with rice fields on either side and mountains rising straight up out of the fields. That experience was definitely one of the best parts of our trip and featured some of the most unique and beautiful scenery we've ever seen.

One of the highlights of the trip. Our guide Bach took us to some amazing spots and vendors and was willing to keep going for as long as we were able to keep eating!

Amazing show. We were a bit skeptical about it ahead of time but were so glad we did it. Don't miss this fantastic show!

Great visit to the Temple of Literature and the Ho Chi Minh complex: well worth doing. It was great to see these two sites, but I wish we had seen more of Hanoi. A full-day tour probably would have been better for us.

Interesting experience. We were amazed by the vastness of Tonle Sap. This excursion has limited impact in the dry season, which is when we visited, but may be better in the rainy season. The houses do not actually float; they are built on stilts. In the dry season, you see the stilts rise dozens of feet above the water, because the lake level is so low. In the rainy season, the houses probably appear to float.

Somewhat interesting and fun to go by Jeep, but probably not worth an extra day in Siem Reap.

Absolutely worth seeing. Despite knowing that we were visiting ruins of great temples, it was still a bit shocking and disappointing to see the state of disrepair that the ruins have fallen into. We hope that over time Cambodia will be able to invest more into preservation and restoration. Ta Prohm, with trees growing directly out of the ruins, was amazing.

Good cultural experience, but some dances were more interesting than others. It would have been helpful to have a detailed program to explain the origin and meaning of the various dances. The food was unexceptional.

Super fun with lots of great food.

Amazing places: very interesting and well worth doing.

Our group loved experiencing the Patagonia ranch and lunch was a unique opportunity. The boat ride to the edge of the glacier was absolutely breathtaking. Pablo is one of the best guides I’ve ever experienced. He is patient, wise, knowledgeable and witty.

Consider yourself lucky if you have Nacho as your guide for this activity. His enthusiasm is contagious and his knowledge educational. It’s a lovely evening on the lake.

Wonderful accommodation, staff & location.

The Lodge Terrantai was like a small oasis in bustling San Pedro de Atacama - very comfortable rooms and nice public spaces, good breakfasts plus lunchtime snacks, afternoon snacks and evening wine tastings, which might better be described as wine drinking over the course of 2 hours. From the moment I walked through the front door until when I left three days later, the friendly staff made me feel at home.

I had a particular interest in Chilean history leading up to and following the military coup in 1973, and my guide Hernan Rivas Diaz was aware of this beforehand. The day spent with him was like walking through the pages of a history book, not just about the 1970's but ranging back as far as the Pleistocene and through to today. He also found me a good place to exchange money and we enjoyed a pleasant lunch of empanadas at an outdoor restaurant. He is one of the finest guides that I have ever encountered in all of my travels.

Great relaxing break within a busy holiday. Location right on the beach, facilities excellent and food and service 5*

The Arena Copacabana Hotel had its pros and cons, making it an overall "just okay" stay for our group. The biggest selling point was definitely the location—right in the heart of the action and directly across from the beach, making it super convenient for exploring and soaking in Rio's vibrant atmosphere. Pros: ✅ Prime Location – Perfect for those who want to be in the center of it all, with the beach just steps away. ✅ Great Breakfast – A solid variety of food, fresh fruit, and Brazilian staples, which was a nice way to start the day. ✅ Good Drinks & Nice Views – The bar served well-made cocktails, and the rooftop and beach-facing areas had stunning views, adding to the experience. Cons: ❌ Safety Concern – Unfortunately, two of our travelers had their wallets stolen from their room while housekeeping was cleaning, which was a major disappointment and something that shouldn't happen in a hotel of this level. ❌ Not the Best Value – While the location is excellent, the hotel itself didn’t feel like the best bang for the buck. The rooms and service didn’t quite match the price point. ❌ Mediocre Roof Bar Service – While the views were great, the service at the rooftop bar was slow and inconsistent, making it less enjoyable than expected. Final Verdict: While the Copacabana Hotel worked well for its location and convenience, the safety issue, service inconsistencies, and overall value left something to be desired. If you’re looking for easy beach access and a lively setting, it’s a solid option—but travelers should be extra mindful of their belongings. Would we stay here again? Maybe, but we’d explore other options first.

Our Farewell Dinner & Game Night was the perfect way to wrap up an unforgettable trip to Rio! It was a night filled with great food, laughter, and meaningful moments, making it a truly special send-off. The Picture Signing Activity – A Thoughtful Touch One of the most memorable parts of the evening was the picture signing activity. It was such a creative and heartfelt way to reflect on our journey together. Everyone had the chance to share personal notes, inside jokes, and words of appreciation, creating a keepsake that we’ll all treasure. The Food – A Delicious Farewell Feast The dinner itself was fantastic! We enjoyed a delicious meal with flavorful Brazilian dishes that left everyone satisfied. The relaxed atmosphere made it the perfect setting to share stories, relive highlights from the trip, and simply enjoy each other’s company one last time before heading home. Damiana – The Guide Who Felt Like Family Once again, Damiana from Rio Queer was an amazing presence. She wasn’t just a guide—by the end of the trip, she felt like family. She kept the energy light and fun while making sure everything flowed smoothly. Final Verdict This Farewell Dinner & Game Night was the perfect combination of sentimental, fun, and delicious. It gave us a chance to celebrate the friendships formed, the memories made, and the incredible experiences we shared in Brazil. Would we do it again? Without a doubt! A must-do for ending any group trip on a high note.

Our Full-Day Rio Queer Tour with Damiana and Rio Queer was an absolute highlight of our trip! This experience gave us a deep dive into Afro-Brazilian and LGBTQ+ history, blending cultural education with fun, great food, and a welcoming atmosphere. Damiana – An Outstanding Guide Damiana was knowledgeable, engaging, and truly passionate about sharing Rio’s queer and Afro-Brazilian history. She took us through important landmarks, sharing stories that are often left out of mainstream narratives. Her ability to connect past and present made the experience meaningful and thought-provoking. The Lesbian-Operated Restaurant One of the standout moments was our visit to a lesbian-owned restaurant, where we enjoyed an amazing meal in a space that felt warm, inclusive, and community-driven. The food was delicious, and the fact that it was run by members of the LGBTQ+ community made it all the more special. A Minor Challenge – The Traffic The only downside (which was out of anyone’s control) was the heavy traffic, which limited how much we could see in one day. While we still got to experience a lot, we would have loved more time to explore additional sites. Final Verdict This tour is a must for LGBTQ+ travelers who want to experience Rio through a queer and historical lens. Despite the traffic, the experience was incredibly enriching, and we left with a deeper appreciation for the city’s culture and activism. Would we recommend it? Absolutely! And next time, we’d carve out even more time to explore.

Our Rio de Janeiro Carnival experience was nothing short of spectacular! This was the highlight of our trip—full of energy, music, dazzling costumes, and an electric atmosphere that truly brought the city to life. The Experience From the moment we arrived at the Sambadrome, we were immersed in the heart of Brazilian culture. The energy was infectious—the samba dancers, extravagant floats, and pulsating rhythms made it impossible not to get swept up in the excitement. Watching the samba schools perform up close was mesmerizing, and you could feel the passion and dedication behind every performance. A Few Challenges While the experience itself was phenomenal, having a guide or clearer instructions would have been helpful. Navigating the event, understanding the schedule, and knowing the best way to experience Carnival as first-time visitors required some guesswork on our part. A bit more direction beforehand would have made the logistics smoother. Our Driver, Maximo We absolutely loved our driver, Maximo—he was punctual, kind, and got us where we needed to be safely. However, the language barrier made communication a bit tricky, which added a little challenge to coordinating our pickup and drop-off plans. That said, he had a great spirit, and we appreciated his hospitality. Final Verdict Despite the minor logistical hurdles, Carnival in Rio was an absolutely magical experience that exceeded all expectations. The energy, music, and sheer spectacle made it one of the most memorable moments of our trip. Would we do it again? In a heartbeat! Next time, we’d just bring a guide or ensure we had clearer instructions ahead of time.

Our Christ the Redeemer & Sugarloaf Mountain Tour was an incredible experience, offering some of the most breathtaking views in Rio de Janeiro. The itinerary was well-paced, allowing us to fully appreciate these iconic landmarks without feeling rushed. Christ the Redeemer Visiting one of the New Seven Wonders of the World was nothing short of spectacular. The journey up Corcovado Mountain was smooth, and once we reached the top, we were rewarded with stunning panoramic views of Rio. The statue itself was even more awe-inspiring in person, and we had ample time to take photos and soak in the experience. Sugarloaf Mountain The cable car ride up to Sugarloaf was an adventure in itself, offering unforgettable aerial views of the coastline and city skyline. Once at the top, we had a moment to relax, take in the scenery, and enjoy a refreshing drink. The visibility was excellent, making for some of the best photo opportunities of the trip. Our Guide, Luis Luis was extremely knowledgeable and professional, providing a wealth of historical and cultural insights throughout the tour. However, he had a tendency to be a bit too chatty and directed most of his commentary toward the trip leader rather than engaging the entire group. While his passion for Rio was clear, his English was sometimes difficult to understand, which made it challenging for some group members to follow along. Final Verdict This tour is a must-do in Rio and delivered on its promise of unforgettable views and rich cultural context. Despite some communication challenges with our guide, the overall experience was well-organized, enjoyable, and absolutely worth it. Would we recommend it? Yes! Just be prepared for a lot of talking and some moments where the guide’s English may be a bit tough to follow.

Our Welcome Dinner in Rio de Janeiro was the perfect way to kick off our trip! From the moment we arrived, we were greeted with warm hospitality, stunning views, and an atmosphere that set the tone for an incredible week ahead. The Setting & Ambiance The restaurant was a beautiful blend of elegance and vibrancy, capturing the spirit of Rio. Whether it was the open-air seating with a view of the city or the lively energy of the space, it immediately made us feel immersed in Brazilian culture. The ambiance struck the perfect balance—upscale yet comfortable, lively but not overwhelming. The Food & Drinks The menu was a fantastic introduction to Brazilian cuisine. We started with delicious pão de queijo (cheese bread) and pastéis (crispy pastries filled with cheese and meat), which were absolutely mouthwatering. The main courses showcased the richness of local flavors—whether it was the perfectly grilled picanha steak, fresh seafood, or the classic moqueca (Brazilian fish stew), every dish was flavorful and well-prepared. Of course, no welcome dinner would be complete without caipirinhas, and they did not disappoint! Fresh, strong, and perfectly balanced, they quickly became a group favorite. The Experience One of the highlights of the evening was the attentive and knowledgeable staff. They were friendly, accommodating, and took the time to explain the dishes, making it an educational and enjoyable culinary experience. The pacing of the meal was just right—giving us time to savor each course while catching up with each other and soaking in the excitement of being in Rio. Final Thoughts This Welcome Dinner exceeded our expectations and was the perfect way to bring our group together. The combination of authentic Brazilian flavors, great service, and a vibrant setting made it a memorable and enjoyable start to our adventure. Would we recommend this experience to others? Absolutely! A must-do for anyone visiting Rio.

We have stayed at many lovely resorts but this one is in a class by itself. The Amanpuri effortlessly and graciously exudes elegance. We were picked up at the Phuket airport and dropped off at the hotel's open-air lobby; the setting is breathtaking and set the promising vibe for our entire stay. The staff were so attentive and polite, seemingly with only one objective in mind...ensuring that our visit was amazing. And thanks to them it was. The physical setting is out of a storybook...stunning buildings, spectacular amenities (especially the restaurants...the food is so darned good), incredible rooms and beachfront location that can't be beat. For all of the resort's physical attributes, they pale in comparison to the men and women who made the place tick, from the General Manager (who personally greeted us when we arrived) to the restaurant wait staff to the team on the beach attendants who adjusted our towels and umbrellas and made sure that all of our needs were taken care of. And best of all, this service was discreet, seamless and elegant. We will definitely be back...even though our flight to Phuket took 25 hours in each direction!!!