Kimkim Trip Reviews

We absolutely loved Samir. He took such good care of us. I will see him again for future trips. He was our driver for 9 days.. AMAZING

The planning of the trip with Nicholas to the entire experience in Ecuador exceeded all expectations. Nicholas was responsive and dedicated to be sure we had a wonderful trip even coming to welome us to his city and checking throughout the trip to be sure all was going well and making a change to our trip on the Gallapagos. The guide Sebastian, for the majority of our time in the Andes region, was fanastic. His compassion, his knowledge in so many areas, his dedication to point out and explain, his English, his joy of life and enthusiam, his patience, his driving ability was top notch. He was the BEST. Seeing so much like Quito, the equator museum, the cooking class, hiking to the base camp of Cotapaxi and staying at the Hacienda near the park there, Mindu and the chocolate factory, Otavala and the Hacienda there, Cocachi, Banos and the waterfalls were incredible. Staying at the Wyndham by the aiport and being able to enjoy their marvelous breakfast before our flight to the Yunisani Napa cultural center in the Amazon and the again from Gallopagos was convenient and top notch. Although each island in the Gallapogos had its own charm and beauty and all of the excursions and guides were amazing and superb my personal favorite hotel was the Cassa playa Mann in San Cristobal. The family owners Jose and Lucy and hammocks on the patio and the breakfast were great. Wilson our guide of the town and museum was enthusiastic to share his love for his island. In Santa Cruz Felipe our guide for Seymore island was great pointing out and telling so much about the plants and wildlife and our guide for the Darwin Center and El Chato tortoise reserve was a pleasure and made sure we enjoyed all parts including a great coffee at 1835 before we started. Having a liesure day and exploring Tortuuga Bay was so incredible and enjoying the pool at the hotel La Fiesta was wonderful , but realized their is still more to explore on this island. On San Isabel it was amazing to be staying right on the beach at the Albermarle and loved the quiet of the island. I think my favorite tour with guide Luis on Los Tuneles was one of my favorites. Luis took such care of every person on the tour and made sure that everyone saw the animals and then sent us pictures and videos he took. An amazing memory. Tintoreras and the Volcano were super tours as well and renting bikes to go the the Wall of Tears was a wonderful way to spend our last day seeing black marine iguanas, land tortoise, pink flamingos, sea lions, and many birds along the way. Thank you Nicholas for creating a unforgetable memory for us.

Hotel Reviews

Ikala Quito Hotel

Quito

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa Playa Mann

Puerto Baquerizo Moreno

The decor and hospitality are superb of this family owned hotel. Lucy and Jose are great. The breakfast is good. The hammocks on the balcony in our room was awesome and relaxing overlooking the ocean. The beds are comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Family owned and charming authenticity

Location

Though not right on the beach it is close and the view is great which made it perfect. Very close walk to a swimming beach.

Staff

Kindness, attentive, spoke great English,

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Colonial City Tour, Cooking Class & the Middle of the World Monument

Quito

Great chef and excellent food. So much fun and a great way to experience the food of Quito.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wildlife Encounter at Los Tuneles (Cabo Rosa)

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Luis the guide with Luis the captain and Eduardo the first mate were top notch. Luis made sure everyone got to see all the animals during the snorkel, and took some great pictures. Luis the captain cpuld really navigate the boat allowing us great views of the blue footed boobies on unity rock.

Transport

This was the second epic trip that we booked through KimKim and could not speak higher of the knowledge, professionalism and dedicated support we received once again on this two week trip through Kenya. Both Melvin and Stephen took care of every detail of accommodations, tours, side trips and dedicated drivers. They really listened to what our goals were for the trip - both adventure and budget wise - and customized a trip that we could never have put yigether on our own.

The safaris were all memorable as were the hotels and provided meals. They were also wonderful to work with in terms of answering questions and really picking our brains to find things to see that were attuned to our ideals of fun stuff to do.

Most impressive was their availability while on the trip. Whenever we had a question or perhaps hit a small snag, they were immediately available to right any wrong or perhaps instant ways to make quick changes to the itinerary. When we wanted to add a visit to a museum that wasn’t on the original plan, they immediately made it happen.

It was also clutch to have our own driver, Peter, for the entirety of the trip who was friendly and always open to our whims of stopping at a roadside attraction or taking us to a specific spot for lunch. He was so nice and so pleasant to let us just wallow in the beauty of the countryside without always feeling the need to create conversation.

Can’t speak highly enough about KimKim’s partners that they chose to work with. They take the headache out of travel and let you just sit back and enjoy the wonders of your trek.

Can’t wait for our next adventure and working with another top notch team!

KimKim was amazing from start to finish - Mariliza created a Greece itinerary that met all our family’s needs / interests and the trip surpassed our expectations. From the seamless airport/ferry transfers and car rental to the lovely, centrally located hotels and memorable top notch tours (sea kayaking, cooking class, guided hike, historical tours, village food tour) - everything was wonderful! The trip planning was so easy and saved me hours of time. We appreciated how responsive Mariliza was throughout the process, including occasional check-ins during the trip. Thank you for helping us to create wonderful memories!

Hotel Reviews

SanSal Boutique Hotel

Chania

Beautiful modern suite, rooftop pool and great service.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sophia Luxury Suites

Santorini

Stunning suite, incredible view, so spacious and beautifully decorated.

Authenticity & Character

Huge cave-like suite with a private rooftop plunge pool.

Location

Staff

Staff carried our heavy luggage down narrow paths/stairs. They also delivered breakfast to our door and were available through What’s App.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Galaxy Hotel Naxos

Naxos

Great location, perfect family room, nice pool facilities and food service. Close to the beach!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pension Dafni

Nafplio

Lovely inn - perfect location, comfortable room, breakfast included.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Golden Age Hotel Athens

Athens

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Europa Hotel Olympia

Olympia

Beautiful pool and perfect family room for 4.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Food Tour of Chania Villages

Chania

Perfect way to see the Crete countryside and learn about the people, food, history.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Caldera Hike

Santorini

Amazing walk from Imerovigli to Oia. We could have done it on our own but learned so much from the guide about Santorini - definitely worth it! Picnic lunch at a nearby farm was a surprise - delicious and unique experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

⛵ Naxos Sailing Cruise

Naxos

Beautiful way to see the Naxos shoreline. Good food, company, 3 stops for swimming/snorkelling.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Discover eternal Olympia

Greece

Our guide was superb - really brought ancient Olympia to life.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

🍴 Private Nafplio Cooking Class

Nafplio

Fantastic evening! Amazing food and wine. Wonderful hosts / chef.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Kayaking Trip Along the Argolis Gulf

Nafplio

Great way to learn about the history of Nafplio and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Quality of Experience

Snorkelling experience, fruit and homemade cake snack on a private beach, beautiful views from the water.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Amazing guide (Oscar)

Transport

Athens Highlights Mythology Tour

Athens

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Some challenges understanding the guide - he was very knowledgeable and passionate but was sometimes difficult to understand his English.

Our recent journey through South Africa was an experience we’ll cherish forever. The breathtaking landscapes, incredible wildlife, and rich cultural experiences made this trip truly unforgettable. While every moment was special, a few highlights, along with the exceptional support of our tour planner, Nadia, stood out.

The safari at Aquila Private Game Reserve was a highlight of our trip. Witnessing elephants, lions, and rhinos up close in their natural habitat was thrilling. The early morning safari, with the sun rising over the vast reserve, was particularly magical—something we’ll remember forever.

Another standout was our visit to Boulders Beach to see the penguins. Watching these charming creatures waddle along the beach and swim in the clear waters was both adorable and awe-inspiring. The drive along Chapman’s Peak to get there was equally stunning, offering dramatic coastal views that took our breath away.

Our hike up Lion's Head was the perfect way to soak in the beauty of Cape Town. The panoramic views from the summit were breathtaking, with sweeping vistas of the city, the Atlantic Ocean, and Table Mountain. The hike was challenging but incredibly rewarding.

Throughout our trip, Nadia, our tour planner, was an absolute lifesaver. She meticulously organized every detail, ensuring that our journey was seamless from start to finish. She was always available to answer our questions via text, book cars when needed, and even helped us in a pinch with a car. Her dedication and attention to detail made our trip stress-free and allowed us to fully enjoy every moment. Thanks to Nadia’s expert planning and the incredible experiences we had, this trip to South Africa was truly one for the books.

Hotel Review

The Winchester Hotel

Western Cape

Beautiful hotel right on the beach where we walked in the morning. The breakfast selection was great and staff super friendly.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full day penguin safari - Cape Peninsula

South Africa

A highlight of the trip

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full day driver guide and transfer/day tour

South Africa

We fully enjoyed our day with Kegan, including wine, tea, chocolate, gin and beer tastings. The views were spectacular.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Kegan was a very fun tour guide and I would be happy to be on any trip guided by him again.

Transport

The weather is so unpredictable in Norway. But the sights and experiences are of very high quality so it isn’t that important to have just sunny days.

The people are very lovely. Whether they are Norwegians or seasonal workers from other European countries. We had a lot of questions and people were very open to conversation.

Our focus for this trip was to get to know the major cities Oslo and Bergen and see some fjords and nature on the way.

The tours and experiences booked by our planner, Mar, were a great introduction to Norway.

Kim Kim is a great service because they deliver a great experience without the headache of figuring out logistics for those new to the country. It definitely made me more at ease and allowed me to just enjoy the vacation and focus on learning about the culture, language and people.

Clem was patient and knowledgeable with planning for our trip to Budapest, Vienna and Prague. All events were planned well and clearly marked. We spoke a few times and made sure that our trip included both cultural activities and activities involving nature as well as time for my family to explore on our own. Hotel locations were great. One hotel was in need of renovation and when I told Andrew ( he took care of us while we were abroad and he works w Clem) he apologized, gave our feedback to the hotel and made sure our subsequent rooms in different cities were lovely.
I was in touch with Andrew for advice a few times along our journey and he was always available and answered promptly. I wouldn’t hesitate to use Kim Kim again to have a knowledgeable guide help with planning and logistics and to lend ground support when needed, while you are abroad. Robyn

Antonia and Sarah were spectacularly awesome and a real joy to work with. They were remarkable and exceptional with the entire process from planning to updates during the trip. I visited three countries, Slovenia, Croatia, and Montenegro and everything was perfectly executed. There were no hitches. I could really tell that they went above and beyond to ensure that I had a memorable time. Simply put they did a fabulous job.
I want to thank Antonia and Sarah again for all their work planning this trip. I would not hesitate to plan another trip with them. I won’t hesitate to recommend their exceptional services to friends and families.

It was truly the trip of a lifetime. I am already wanting to plan my next adventure with Antonio and Sarah. Thank you.

Initially Benedict was the one guiding my trip to kimkim . Everything seems to be going well, him working out on my budget,etc.
All of the sudden I started working with a different planner, Clemens, he was good but I didn’t like the fact when he started telling me that Benedict quoted me wrong hence the price is so low
Everything was arranged but wouldn’t recommend Kimkim as they are too expensive,this would be the last time I will be using kimkim

Wonderful trip. Mar made sure that everything we wanted to be included in the trip was included. She was always very quick to respond to any questions we had. She recommended hotels that were very nice and convenient. Our local tour guides were very good. Joanna in Copenhagen was very informative and spent extra time with us taking us back to our hotel. Ian for our day trip to Kronborg and Frederiksborg was also very good. Our driver for the day went above and beyond having cold water for us when we returned to the car. I am sorry I forgot his name. We enoyed our guide Marja in Stockholm and our guide for Sigtuna and Upsala, Karoline. Our driver for those two days Olga was really wonderful. I had forgotten my phone (camera) in the hotel and she let me use hers for the day and sent me the pictures. She was really a lifesaver. In Oslo, Bjorn our tour guide was nice as was the driver Morton. Our favorite part of the trip was our last part in Flam, Bergen and Alesund. In Flam our waterfall and culture tour was suppose to be a group tour but we were the only ones on the mini bus so we had a private tour with the driver/guide that was really friendly and informative. I am sorry again that I do not remember his name. Bergen was our favorite city. It was really beautiful and Mar had selected a hotel perfect for walking around and seeing the sights. Alesund was our last stop and it was a very pleasant surprise. I was not aware of it before Mar suggested it and it was beautiful. Our hotel room that Mar had selected was the best room of the trip. We had large windows with a sitting area that overlooked the water. Beautiful view from the bed and the sitting area. Our driver with the transfer service from the airport, Lene was unbelievably nice and went way beyond to help us. When I mentioned to her that we wanted to go to the Fjellstua Viewpoint but it had 418 steps so I wasn't sure my 82 year old husband could make it. She offered free of charge to take us before dropping us at the hotel. She also drove us around a few streets in the town and told us what was there. When she dropped us back at the airport she helped us with our luggage into the airport. I can't say enough good things about her. Overall a very enjoyable trip.

Hotel Reviews

Quality Hotel Waterfront

Ålesund

This hotel has a beautiful view of the water and very comfortable rooms.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful view of the water from our room and from the breakfast area.

Location

Very walkable to things around town.

Staff

Very helpful. Gave ice when asked and gave items for an early breakfast when we had an early flight.

Cleanliness & Comfort

We had a beautiful view of the water from our room and there was also the same view from the breakfast area.

Clarion Hotel Admiral

Bergen

Had a great location, very close to the sights.

Authenticity & Character

Has a beautiful view across the water to the historic wharf.

Location

Very close to walk to everything.

Staff

All staff were very helpful with questions.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was clean and comfortable.

Fretheim Hotel

Flåm

Nice views and very close to walk around the town.

Authenticity & Character

Our room had a very nice view. I would recommend staying in the American Wing of the hotel. We had a bacony with a nice view.

Location

Close to walk to train and around town.

Staff

Most were helpful but was unhappy that we had to wait until the last minute of check in at 4 to get our room.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Things were clean and confortable.

Clarion Hotel The Hub

Oslo

Nice hotel and pretty convenient to sights and very convenient to the train station.

Authenticity & Character

Very nice rooms.

Location

Most things not too far to walk.

Staff

Most were helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was very clean.

Scandic Grand Central

Stockholm

Nice hotel and room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Pretty close to walk for sightseeing and to the train.

Staff

Most were friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was very clean.

Axel Guldsmeden

Copenhagen

This hotel is really nice with a outside garden area and also a glassed in area for breakfast or other meals. They were extremely accomodating to us. We had booked a room with two single beds and when we got there the elevator was broken and these rooms were only on the 5th floor. So they upgraded us free of charge to a family suite that had two bed rooms, 1 and a half baths and a sitting area. Very nice place to stay and very convenient for sightseeing and to take the train.

Authenticity & Character

The beautiful garden area.

Location

Easy for sightseeing and to get to the train.

Staff

The young girl that checked us in was great but I don't remember her name.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was very clean and comfortable.

Activity Reviews

Tesla Taxi Scenic Tour

Geiranger

Tesla Taxi Scenic Ride was nice but wouldn't have really missed anything if we skipped it.

Quality of Experience

Some nice views but didn't leave any time in Geiranger.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Driver was nice.

Transport

Car was comfortable.

Geirangerfjord Cruise & Day Trip

Norway

The ferry ride was beautiful.

Quality of Experience

Ferry ride was beautiful.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ferry personal were nice.

Transport

Ferry was comfortable going but completely full coming back so not ideal.

Fjord Cruise to Rosendal

Bergen

This would probably have been alright but it rained all day so couldn't take pictures from the ferry. Not much to do in Rosendal.

Quality of Experience

Since it is public transport. Not really geared up for tourist.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ferry workers were nice.

Transport

Ferry was nice enough but weather did not cooperate the day we went.

Ulriken643 (Ulriken Cable car) and short walk

Bergen

Nice views but not much to do unless you want to hike.

Quality of Experience

Beautiful views.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

People in the cafe at the top were nice.

Transport

Cable car was a nice ride.

Fløibanen Funicular Ticket

Bergen

Beautiful view and nice place to walk around.

Quality of Experience

Beautiful views and great place to spend time.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The Floibanen was very comfortable.

Transport

There was a very long line so we had to wait for a while which wasn't ideal.

Stegastein Viewpoint by Bus

Norway

Beautiful view.

Quality of Experience

It was a beautiful view that shouldn't be missed.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

She was a great driver on very curvy and steep roads.

Transport

Comfortable bus.

Culture & Nature Excursion by Electric Minibus

Flåm

Really enjoyed seeing outside the town of Flam.

Quality of Experience

Our group tour ended up being a private tour which we enjoyed.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide and driver was very informative and we enjoyed his company.

Transport

Very comfortable.

Luggage Transfer Service

Norway

Everything arrived as it was suppose to.

Quality of Experience

Everything worked as it was suppose to.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The luggage was at the hotel when we arrived.

Transport

No problem with the transfer.

Oslo Private City Tour with Fram & Open-Air Museum Experience

Oslo

Bjorn our guide was good as was our driver Morton. We enjoyed the Vigeland Sculpture Park and the view from the Opera house the best.

Quality of Experience

Vigeland Sculpture Park and Opera House view was our favorite.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ian was a good tour guide.

Transport

Morton was a good driver.

Private Day Trip to Sigtuna & Uppsala

Stockholm

This was a nice trip outside the city of Stockholm.

Quality of Experience

Enjoyed seeing the countryside towns.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Karoline was very nice and helpful. She arranged so we could go straight to the Vasa Museum when our tour was over so we only had to walk back to the hotel instead of both ways.

Transport

Our driver Olga we had for two days. She was great. She heard me complaining that I forgot my phone (camera) in the hotel so I wouldn't be able to take any pictures and she offered her phone to me to use and sent me the pictures. She really saved the day. She also dropped us at the VASA museum when the tour was over so we didn't have to walk there from the hotel.

Stockholm Private Highlights & Drottningholm Palace Tour

Stockholm

We really enjoyed the Drottningholm Palace, Garden and Chinese Pavilion. Our tour guide Marja was great.

Quality of Experience

Drottningholm Palace and Gardens was our favorite part.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Marja was a great guide and wonderful person to meet and talk to. She even helped us buy tickets for the Royal Palace which we saw once our tour was finished.

Transport

Our driver Olga was great. She was very friendly and helpful.

Northern Zealand Private Day Trip with Kronborg & Frederiksborg Castle Visit

Copenhagen

We enjoyed visiting Kronborg and Frederiksborg Castle. Our tour guide Ian and our driver were very good.

Quality of Experience

I was nice to get out of the city and see some of the countryside towns.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ian our guide was very good and we enjoyed his company. He and our driver even went out of their way to take us by the Little Mermaid statue so we could take a picture from the front. We had only seen it from the back of the statue on the Canal Cruise.

Transport

Our driver was great. He had cold water for us when we returned to the van. I am sorry I don't remember his name. But it was nice meeting him.

Copenhagen Card

Copenhagen

We enjoyed using the Copenhagen Card. We were able to see lots of the sights with no extra charge.

Quality of Experience

Practically all sights to be seen in Copenhagen are included on the card.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had no drivers or guides but the staff at all the places we visited were very friendly.

Transport

Our card allowed us to use the metro free of charge which we did to get to some of the further places from our hotel.

Private tour Copenhagen Walking Tour & Canal Cruise

Copenhagen

Joanna our tour guide was wonderful. She was very informative and went the extra mile to walk us back to our hotel even though it was past our allotted time for the tour. We really enjoyed the Canal Cruise.

Quality of Experience

Great tour guide who was very knowledgeable.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Joanna was very nice to talk to and very informative.

Transport

Guide on the canal cruise was enjoyable.

We took a family trip to Barcelona and Costa Brava. The itinerary was great in terms of the variety and nature of the day trips. The planning process was fairly straightforward and interaction with the Kim Kim team was good. We did need to touch base with KimKim a couple of times during the trip. On one occasion, they were very quick to respond to a request for a transportation time change due to a modified check-in time. Unfortunately, on another occasion, the time zone difference/response speed meant that we missed out on part of a selected activity due to a booking error on KimKim's part. For the most part, we greatly enjoyed the trip, but a few issues detracted from the experience.

Our first full day activity was a trip to Montserrat, which was described: "After a private transfer from Barcelona to a charming farm, meet your host and the horse you'll befriend for the day. Enjoy a guided ride through Montserrat Natural Park to the monastery, with the tour culminating in a traditional lunch on the ranch". The ride was perhaps 30 minutes along a trail and then 30 minutes back to the start again before taking a taxi to the monastery. The local tour company advised me the day before that lunch was not part of the tour, and I did contact KimKim about the discrepancy but did not hear back before our tour started. En route to the horseriding, we were offered an upgrade option of lunch for extra money. Discussions with one of the guides and the local tour company by phone indicated that KimKim had not booked this. Despite attempting to resolve this with KimKim, the guide and the local tour company, we were unable to clarify the situation and did not hear back before boarding the return bus. There was no further mention of the lunch option from our (underwhelming) guide, but when we brought it up again were told we would need to get off the bus, wait for another guide, pay the extra money and take a different bus home. We gave up and returned to Barcelona. This was the only real excursion disappointment, but as the first full day activity did not set us up well. It was also an indication of the problem of booking a trip with an intermediary in another timezone. The inaccurate description of the tour may be more due to the tour operator than KimKim, but we had presumed that KimKim had a solid understanding of the nature of the excursions that they are booking. A much more accurate description of the tour appears to be in place now when we search the local tour operator's tours online. KimKim did subsequently get back to us about the booking error and apologised and have since refunded us for the difference.

A minor nuisance on another day was a discrepancy in the meeting point location between the Itinerary document (Park Guell) and the detailed activity description (which described the tour as finishing at Park Guell and starting at Passeig de Gracia). We realised the discrepancy too late in the evening prior to clarify, which did make for a bit of a scramble the next morning to ensure we were in the right place in time. However, this tour was wonderful.

Our last criticism would be the lack of transparency over pricing. KimKim provided a service and deserve an appropriate payment for it, but I would have expected a breakdown of the pricing (per hotel, per excursion and per transport) that was available both before and after booking. Despite a detailed itinerary, the details of our choices (breakfast selected or not), were not apparent after booking, and neither was KimKim's charge. This has been flagged by other travellers and could be easily rectified.

Overall, the experience was good and the vacation was very fun. However, I suspect we would not book with KimKim again due to the added challenge of dealing with an intermediary in another timezone, when both hotels, excursions and local transportation can all be easily booked in Spain. I would also encourage travellers to perhaps leave more open time in their schedules. We booked activities on every day except our travel day. There is so much to do in Barcelona, that leaving an open day or more later in the week would allow the opportunity to fit in extra activities as desired (but skip-the-line tickets need to be booked in advance for the busy activities).

Hotel Reviews

Park Hotel San Jorge & Spa

Calonge

Very comfortable rooms, with beautiful sea view. Rooms and grounds were kept very clean. Staff were friendly. The food situation was a bit unclear, with multiple dining areas but which menu and hours of service were not readily apparent for the different options. We did not try the fine dining option or full breakfast. The cafe breakfast was good, but a tapas meal was very bland and was inferior to all other meals/tapas on our trip. After sampling the tapas, we gave up trying to eat their and walked into town (1.5 km) for breakfast and dinner the next day.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sonder Casa Luz

Barcelona

We stayed in a family room, which was generously sized and very comfortable. Beautiful bathroom. The room was kept very clean. The location is good and right next to a metro station. There is a very small reception area where the main desk is located, but no real lobby as such. Reception staff had perfect English, although we did try to use our limited Spanish! Staff were generally friendly although we didn't feel this at the breakfast. We tried breakfast once and found the food very nice, but there was nobody else there and staff were not at all forthcoming about the nature of the buffet or options for drinks. El Arbol nearby is highly recommended for breakfast, however.

Authenticity & Character

Between the absence of a proper lobby and view only to nearby buildings from the room it did feel a little soulless.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Costa Brava & Medieval Villages Day Trip

Spain

A really great day exploring several pretty villages along the coast. The guide was easygoing and the itinerary worked well. The only snag with this trip was that we would have rather eaten at almost any of the restaurants we walked past, but went to a restaurant that the guide hadn't previously tried and found virtually nothing on the menu we wanted to eat. The food was sufficiently expensive that it should have been excellent, but we were underwhelmed.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Driver was really smooth and safe.

Private El Born Walk with Flamenco & Tapas

Barcelona

We went with Bosco - an informative and engaging tour guide. He was happy to deliver the tour in English and still have some Spanish interaction so we could try and work on our Spanish. We learned plenty on the tour and had a good introduction to the city. Good food choices with plenty of good food at the couple of places we stopped. Bosco was great about ensuring that there was some food for our vegetarian kids at his choice of food stops. The flamenco concert was fun to see, but I confess I have no idea what the show was about...

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Montserrat Monastery Visit & Horseback Riding in Natural Park

Barcelona

This tour promised much but totally failed to deliver. The KimKim description of the tour was inaccurate compared with the description currently provided by the actual tour operator. A KimKim booking error also meant that we did not get the lunch that was supposed to be included in the tour. The horse ride was fine, but was a 30 minute ride along a trail before returning the exact same way back the ranch and then taking a taxi ride to Montserrat. In fairness, the guide and staff for the horseriding were very good, and the horses were well-looked after. Our guide at Montserrat provided a pretty brief amount of guidance before giving us time to further explore the grounds. The farm lunch sounded good but we will never know what that part of the experience would have been like.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guided Montserrat tour part of this was pretty minimal. There was some good information on the bus ride up, but the Montserrat tour itself was rather limited. Horse-riding instruction was good.

Transport

Self-Guided Beach Day in Costa Brava

Spain

We just chilled on the nearby beach. Pleasant enough, but we didn't have it in us to bother taxiing further away to explore other options.

Quality of Experience

Boating, Hiking & Kayaking in Tossa de Mar

Costa Brava

We went with guide Stepan. He was probably the most professional and competent guide we have encountered on any trip. He was knowledgeable, informative and engaging. We learnt about local flora and fauna as well as local history. Stepan was well-organised and took great care to ensure we were safe, confident and comfortable. He works with the capability of the group. It's obviously not the Caribbean, but we saw many fish as well as starfish, anemones and an eel. One of our party developed a particularly severe case of seasickness after snorkelling and Stepan handled this with grace, reassurance and compassion.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Stepan is the best. I would consider trying any tour that he was involved with.

Transport

Sailing Trip with Winery Visit & Tasting

Barcelona

Enjoyable and informative winery tour and tasting. Really enjoyable sail along the coast.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Gaudí Experience with La Sagrada Família & Park Güell

Barcelona

This was a great trip with Mari, who was a wonderful and informative guide. Happy to mix English and Spanish as we continued to try and improve. All of the locations were worth seeing, and the skip-the-line tickets were absolutely essential.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Barcelona by e-Bike, Boat & Cable Car

Barcelona

This was a fantastic tour. We saw plenty of the city during the bike ride, and the ebikes made it easy to get around. We saw views and locations that were less busy than many of the typical tourist locations and were great to see. We had feared that the combination of activities would not give enough time to properly do any one activity, but it was perfect. The tour guide was great (Elizabeth I think). The boat trip was unexpectedly brilliant due to the arrival of the America's Cup racing boats, which were out practicing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Overall, A Wonderful Trip Exploring Spain!

We have a family of 5; the three kids are 15, 14, and 11.

Madrid tapas culinary experience. Grade A+. It was in the Salanca area in the evening starting around 6 pm. It was our family of five and two other guests. We stopped at 4 places and had a great blend of tapas and drinks. Not too much walking, perfect amount of food and very interesting. Definitely recommend.

The Madrid for Kids Tour. Grade B. I think it would have been better had it not been in July when it's so hot. There was a bit more walking, the history and insight was great. Old Town, cathedrals, etc. It was a morning tour (starting around 9 am). It was just so darn hot!

Day Trip to Toledo. Grade A-. It's fun taking the train as we don't train often. The city is definitely a must visit and the tour guide shared great insight and took us to some really cool places. One time, we had access to an underground water tank that others could not visit. Very cool tour. Ended around 12:30 pm and we ate. We should have gotten tickets back to Madrid for the 3 pm train instead of the 5 pm train. In cooler weather, I think we would have explored more and the 5 pm train would have worked.

Spanish Cooking Class in Mallorca. Grade A+. The host was excellent, taught us how to make several dishes, the kids really enjoyed it, my wife and I were able to just watch and have wine. It was a great way to spend about 4 hours and the time flew by!

Luxury Catamaran Tour with tapas and swimming (Mallorca). Grade B-. We did a 4 hour tour which isn't really enough time to get somewhere remote. We anchored near a pretty busy area and not far from a busy beach. The food and service were great. However, it was as remote as I would have liked. I think a longer tour allows you to get further away from the populated areas. You may need a speed boat also.

Coastal Hike, Kayaking, and Lagoon Dipping in Costa Brava. Grade A. This was a delightful daytrip for my family. It's absolutely gorgeous scenery and we had a small group of 10 (so 5 duo kayaks). We hiked, kayaked, cliff jumped, snorkeled, etc. While they say it's 8 hours in Costa Brava, the trip itself is like 5.5 hours and you have 2.5 hours to explore Costa Brava by foot. That information would have been helpful.

The lodging:

Slow Suites Bellas Artes was great for us and very centrally located. It was easy to walk anywhere from there. Only downside was during our stay, they were doing repair on the road outside. That should be complete by now.

Melia Calvia Beach. It's a nice, higher end resort beach. Though our check in process was painful (room key didn't work, when it did, someone was in room already, moved to a different room, ugh), the overall stay was great. Their pools are beautiful, great breakfast buffet, and immediate access to the beach. The parking situation does suck though and we had rented a car.

Val Barcelona Apartments. This was a last minute change. It was a great place. It was spacious, quaint, and cozy. The location allowed you to walk anywhere you needed with plenty of restaraunts and sights nearby. Only drawback was you check in at Hotel Claris, information that was not shared prior to our arrival.

Overall, we had a blast. There were some hiccups along the way but with a 10 day trip, you'll have those. I would highly recommend this itinerary to others!

Activity Review

Spanish Cooking Class in Mallorca

Spain

This was a fantastic activity for our family of five. It was fun, engaging, intimate, and relaxing. Thank you!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The trip we took to Peru was very special and something I never could have organized without the expertise of our Kim Kim local specialist. Johanna was thoughtful in her suggestions and made an extra effort to ensure all four members of our family would enjoy each day.

I would use this service again no questions asked. Many thanks to the team.

Activity Reviews

Discovering the Treasures of Machu Picchu

Aguas Calientes/ Machu Picchu

This truly is a wondrous place. While it is a major tourist attraction, the walk up to the sun gate made it feel much less crowded. The Sumaq hotel is exquisite. Our guide, Claudio, was also so passionate and knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Via Ferrata & Ziplining

Peru

The most terrifying thing I have ever done and would do it again in a second! The guides were exceptional. Very fun for teens.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sacred Valley Tour: Chinchero - Maras - Moray - Lunch at MV

Peru

We spent a wonderful discovering many sites wishing the sacred valley. The mountain view lunch was fabulous with the spectacular views and lamas/alpacas roaming around. The salt mines were surprisingly interesting as well!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Activities-a-la-carte - Refugio Amazonas

Peru

This is a very special place with tons to see. A must do for birders and wildlife enthusiasts!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lima Food Tour

Peru

This food tour was a great introduction to Peru. The guide not only shared knowledge about the country’s food culture, but also its rich history.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an incredible experience during our recent trip to Colombia. From start to finish, every aspect of the journey exceeded our expectations.

Hotel Reviews

BH Bicentenario

Bogotá

The location of this hotel was superb. Within walking distance from the main attractions, shopping and promenades. Security was very tight and overall service was excellent.

Authenticity & Character

Very comfortable stay and well attended to every details.

Location

Great location.

Staff

Super friendly and helpful. The staff at the reception helped us book Uber and their suggestions about places to eat was super helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean and comfortable. The housekeeping was very efficient and attentive.

Bh El Poblado

Medellín

Excellent location, close to malls and shops .

Authenticity & Character

We flew from Santa Marta early in the morning, and reached the hotel a few hours early before the check in time. We would appreciate if we could get our rooms a bit early and not wait until 4 pm.

Location

Excellent location, close to shopping and accessibility to bus, metro and train stations is very convenient.

Staff

Fairly friendly staff. The staff at the restaurant were amazing though.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable

Villa Maria Tayrona, a Kali Hotels

Los Naranjos

Great experience in staying in the log cabins in this resort.

Authenticity & Character

Although the resort is in the deep forest, we never felt short of any supplies. The kitchen offered various choices of meals and breakfast was sooo amazing.

Location

Very comfortable and luxurious amidst the wilderness of the dense forest. Easily accessible and close to hiking places.

Staff

Very very friendly staff. It felt like returning home every time after the day out.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds and blankets were clean and comfortable.

GHL Hotel Armería Real

Cartagena

Comfortable and local charm

Authenticity & Character

Very comfortable stay reflecting local culture and very friendly and helpful staff

Location

Staff

Eager to help with finding local places to eat and very cooperative.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The property maintained its local decor with much hygiene and cleanliness.

Activity Reviews

Medellín Transformation Tour (Public Transportation)

Medellín

Amazing and very motivating. Our journey to Comuna 13 in Medellín, a neighborhood known for its transformation from violence to vibrancy. The guided tour showcased the community's resilience and creativity through street art and local stories. The colorful murals depicted themes of hope and renewal, and we were inspired by the community's spirit. The visit also included a ride on the famous escalators, which have made the area more accessible.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Claudia was our tour guide in Medellín. She was exceptional and her knowledge of the history and local customs truly enriched our experience.

Transport

Awesome and comfortable

Visit the Silletera Culture & The Flowers of Santa Elena

Medellín

Amazing experience. Carlos the owner of the farm was a very humorous person. He showed us how the flowers were arranged and millions of flowers carried on the backs of silletas ,for the show . He also took pictures with us that we will cherish later in our memories.

Quality of Experience

The vibrant flower displays, showcasing the beauty and creativity of Colombian culture.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Claudia was our tour guide and she was simply amazing. Carlos the guide of the Silletas was very humorous and fascinating.

Transport

Comfortable vehicle was provided to us .

The country of so many world records was very interesting! We had a blast doing the X Line Zipline (which we added to our itinerary a couple of days before we arrived)! Definitely recommend for those on the more adventurous side!

We would also recommend going up to the top of the Burj Khalifa! Great views from that high!

We also really enjoyed the desert safari and paid extra for a more adventurous ride on the quad bikes which was worth the experience! Our guide for the evening was great! And the desert dinner and entertainment was enjoyable.

While the canal luxury cruise offered us awesome views of Dubai and great photos, we thought the food was just average, and was expecting a little better quality.
Our hotel, the Revier Dubai Hotel, was great! Very nice room and amenities. Loved to fitness center and the breakfast buffet was awesome! Wide variety and very good!

For things we felt needed improvement, real time communication had been a little difficult. Responses to questions or communication regarding pickup times came in when we were sleeping and because of that, we didn’t receive the change of plans/timing until the morning which threw us off a bit. Also, confirmation on adding additional itinerary items (example: adding the zip line) was a little slow. And, there seemed to be issues between the drivers and the tour office on pickup times, etc. We also arrived way too early in the evening for the dinner cruise, and had to just walk around in the heat which we did not enjoy. I would have preferred to be dropped off closer to our departure time. Finally, while a lot of things were air-conditioned, if we had had flexibility in our travel dates, I would have not wanted to visit in the middle of August when the temperatures were extremely high and made our trip more exhausting. I would definitely recommend visiting when it’s cooler! Unfortunately for this trip we didn’t have that flexibility.

All in all, our experiences in Dubai made it a memorable trip!

Hotel Review

Revier Dubai Hotel

Dubai

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Dubai Luxury Canal Dinner Cruise

Dubai

Awesome views of the city at night. Relaxing. Food could have been better.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Food Tour

Dubai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Desert Safari

Dubai

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zip Line across the Marina

Dubai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dubai full day tour with Entry ticket to Burj Khalifa at the Top

Dubai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Incredible trip to Italy!! Valeria helped me plan the perfect vacation for six people. She thought of every detail and her team was outstanding! Beatrice was our faithful and delightful guide throughout the entire 10 day trip. Our drivers were prompt, professional and lovely. The tour guides we had for the historical sites were PHD level and so interesting and informative. Francesco’s tour of the Vatican even produced the Pope on our visit. Just a magical trip where I didn’t have to be the expert and waste my time figuring out the logistics. It was all done for me and as a result I really was able to enjoy. I will absolutely utilize Kim Kim again! Thank you so very much Valeria and Beatrice!

Hotel Reviews

47 Boutique Hotel

Rome

Cosmopolitan and modern hotel close to everything. Amazing view of ruins outside our room. Beautiful hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Modern and quaint at the same time.

Location

You can walk to the major sites. Tons of restaurants and shopping. .

Staff

So helpful from the rooftop restaurant to the hotel front desk to the bellmen. Everyone greeted us with warmth

Cleanliness & Comfort

Impeccable

Hotel Corallo

Sorrento

Amazing location with amazing views! Hotel was just gorgeous with amazing service.

Authenticity & Character

Eclectic and lovely boutique hotel

Location

Gorgeous sea views and close to great Sorrento restaurants

Staff

Friendly staff that was helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean rooms with nice terraces.

Hotel Porto Roca

Monterosso

Quiet gem up on the hill in Montarossa. Eclectic and quaint hotel. Beautiful pool. Definitely get a room overlooking the sea! Breakfast was outstanding!

Authenticity & Character

Adorable and relaxing place her amazing views.

Location

Off the beaten path. Nice escape from the crowds.

Staff

Helpful and personally walked us to our rooms.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our room lovely with a comfortable bed.

Ai Reali Hotel Venice

Venice

We were brought to the hotel by boat from the airport and it was my favorite memory of the trip. Upon arrival the hotel staff was attentive and kind. The location is fabulous. Our room was decorated in ornate Venetian style and it was so fun! This hotel is close to everything!

Authenticity & Character

Water entrance is lovely. It is tucked away in a quiet corner in an area that has everything.

Location

Close to shopping restaurants and at marks square. Walk everywhere.

Staff

Extremely attentive.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our linens were crisp and clean.

Activity Reviews

Venice walking tour

Italy

Absolutely fantastic!! So much knowledge and history. Our guide answered so many of our questions and made it such a fun experience. The tide was up and we had to take our shoes off on st marks square.

Quality of Experience

Our guide was brilliant!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Knowledge and warmth

Transport

Our guide met us at the hotel and led us on the oat amazing h walking tour.

Venice Gondola Ride

Venice

If you go with a group of couples it is best for each couple to get their own boat. The gondola guide was super grumpy and because of the balance of the boat my husband and my friends husband had to squeeze together and they were hot and uncomfortable and it just felt weird with the guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The views were great but my husband was miserable.

What. A. Trip!!! Absolutely loved every moment I had in the country, what made it better was the quality of service and hospitality of our local specialist Pedro, our driver Carlos who had many amazing stories, and our tour guide Mariana who was amazing and so much fun. It was so much fun to visit Portugal, we loved it so much.

We had an incredible family trip to Peru! From the moment we landed, everything was perfectly organized. Our travel consultant Johanna & local guides Miguel and several others who supported were amazing - they were knowledgeable friendly and went the extra mile to help. At each destination on our travel, the inputs from the local guides on history and culture made it even more memorable. Our best memories include exploring food in Lima, wandering through the vibrant streets of Cusco, the breathtaking Machu Picchu and the serene beauty of the Sacred Valley. Every detail was so well taken care of, allowing us to fully immerse ourselves in the experience. Thank you kimkim & highly recommend this tour for anyone looking to discover the wonders of Peru!

My husband and I recently returned from a road trip to Iceland and it could not have been better!

KimKim Travel and Adam, our tour designer, took care of everything from start to finish. Adam tailored the trip to our timeframe and interests. He patiently answered all of our questions. The itinerary included well known stops, as well as “hidden gems.” We ate at local restaurants and stayed at amazing hotels, with delicious breakfasts.

KimKim (Adam) made travel planning simple and stress-free. They made us feel like we had relatives in Iceland! Thank you!!

I would 100% recommend travelling with Kimkim! I travelled to Morocco with a friend and both of us are used to organising everything ourselves, so weren’t sure if going through a company was a good idea for us. After our Kimkim experience there is no way we would go back! Everything went incredibly smoothly. Yassine was patient with our endless questions and tailored the trip perfectly for us. Younes was our driver, and made us feel welcome and safe the entire time. He had the world’s best recommendations for restaurants and cafes! Our favourite experiences were the cooking class in the Fes Medina (particularly thanks to Souad, who was awesome!!), the visit to Volubilis (again with an amazing guide who was funny and incredibly knowledgeable) and the day in Chefchaouen just wandering and taking photos.
This has been one of the major highlights of my travelling life :)