Kimkim Trip Reviews

It’s a typical cruise with pandemonium because of the large crowds and a la carte service and upselling of services throughout the trip. The executive lounge dining included in the executive suite price was excellent as the second floor dining room was overcrowded. The included excursions were not remarkable but Ghost City and Feng Du Show that night were good values. The food was just okay even with the upgrade to the 6th floor dining area.

The main problem was that the hotel had disengaged the cooling system in all the rooms. They offered an upgrade but it also had no cooling. The provision of a self serve laundry was exquisite. The location was excellent

The hotel is out of date and was a 3.9 star rating at best. The Guilin Shangri La was reviewed highly by some fellow travelers

To fill out the charm of the experience, our guide took us into several homes, which had been converted to museums before getting us onto the wonderful boat ride experience. She gave us a lot of history about the customs of the region. It was a quieter, more laid-back rural experience than we had had in other places.

We had a wonderful cultural experience in a restaurant on the road. At the end of this three week tour, it was a little bit redundant unavoidably because there are so many roads and hutongs and Muslim quarter places that are very similar packed with food vendors and hawkers.

The guide expertly picked a friend of hers that she has used for years to provide a unique China culture experience riding through the alleys of the town.

It was very crowded and our guide was not lingering for pictures.

It was a unique lifetime experience.

It was a delightful experience with an excellent guide.

Honestly, it was a little boring and felt like it was something that the government wanted to make sure that we saw so that we noted how wonderful they were. It is outstanding that they provided mass transportation with escalators to the top of the hill. Without that, the whole trip would not have been worth it.

We were glad that we chose the option to visit ghost city, and hear the stories from our guide. I noticed that you did not give the option for reviewing the show that night, which was a mistake on your part. That show in the evening about the three kings was probably the most outstanding theatrical performance I have seen in my many years of life. It was very exciting and was not to be missed by other future visitors.

Our guide went above and beyond her assigned duty to help us be comfortable, experiencing the brief time we had there and getting some dinner before helping negotiate the arrival onto the cruise ship. She was helpful with communicating with the cruise ship people who were adamant about things which they were wrong about.

The crowds were overwhelming, and everyone was pushing to get a good photograph of the charming pandas. Our guide was adequate, but not outstanding. I don’t believe that there is anything that he could have done to help us get closer to the pandas for good photographs. I think that arriving early as we did probably helped us to see the pandas during their most active feeding time of the day.

Our guide bravely accompanied two ancient and decrepit seniors on scooters which probably added years to her life, but subtracted years from ours. It was a delightful, fun and unique experience.

Our guide enthusiastically and patiently pointed out each point of interest that she felt that we would not want to miss including the view of the hills on the 20 Yuan Bill and interjected stories about each of those points of interest.

Our guide was patient and wonderful and lovingly presented this visual gift of the people and lifestyle of the area that is not usually seen by China tourists. The stories that the guide inserted were charming.

The colors, architectural design, and the historical stories were intriguing.

This was a delightful and unexpected highlight of our experiences in Xi’an. The guide knew the woman who lived in the place where we made the dumplings and noodles and the whole cultural experience was joyful and wholesome.

Because of our age, we both have mobility restrictions so we chose to not do the bicycle tour. We did climb the steps successfully and were able to experience enough of the wall to be understanding the history and the architecture.

Despite the presence of the crowd and our early arrival, our guide was able to successfully direct us to a visual access of the warriors that we had not anticipated. We had hoped to get closer to them on the ground level, but that access was restricted many years ago.

The access to the upper area was closed because it was a Monday, but this did not detract from the overall enjoyment of the palace grounds.

The offer of the cable car was a game changer! Thank you very much. The distance away from the city also helped to mitigate the crowd.

We had gone to the most popular hutong Street the day before our tour so our guide took us to a different hutong area with a lake that was much nicer than the most popular street which was so packed with shops and food vendors. I would recommend that you take that Area as your first choice in the future.

The crowd was overwhelming on the day that we went, but our friend who went the next day found it almost empty.

The crowd was overwhelming on the day we traveled, but the pictures from a friend who traveled the next day showed a much lower number of people.

the hotel was located in the central area of Sorrento very easy to find food and drink

was located in a safe area of Rome.

breakfast and the breakfast staff were excellent

good location great breakfast. Very clean.

the Vatican was beautiful and the Saint Peter‘s Basilica was beautiful, but we did not get to go to the dome or see the Sistine Chapel .

every transfer was on time and precisely to the point we wanted to see

It was fine -- we'd been staying at 5 star hotels our whole trip -- this one was noticeably older and less great. Little things missing like access to an outlet for both sides of the bed. The beds were ROCK hard. The buffet food wasn't very good -- didn't feel very fresh or delicious. I liked the idea of the morning coffee service, but in practice, the coffee was weak. They also charge $40 USD for late checkout, even though we'd booked a suite.

Beautiful hotel, really great amenities for suite level bookings, very kid-friendly

Really pretty hotel, lovely location. Their shuttle service was helpful, but they should add more shuttle pick up spots. The room had a bit of a musty smell, but probably due to people walking in it with wet feet from the onsen on the balcony. The buffet was huge and a bit intimidating, but I felt like most of the food was pretty good.

Great service and breakfast

The deer are wild and pretty aggressive but very cute, and the temple was magnificent -- the Buddha is huge!

The Bamboo Grove and Tenryuji Temple were so cool to see! The Temple was our favorite we saw on our trip -- a beautiful Japanese garden and pond, lots of places to walk barefoot. It felt super cool -- and we loved learning that it used to be a villa! The Bamboo Grove was so crazy crowded though -- glad we went to see it and take photos, but it wasn't a relaxing experience

We didn't have a sake tasting, and we actually didn't want one since we have a baby with us. But we loved seeing the Golden Pagoda and Fushimi Inari Shrine this day! Teresia our guide was great.

We did not do the Whisky Tasting because it was actually not available the day we were there (regularly closed on that day). This is something Shona our local specialist should have researched before offering it to us as an option when we booked. We didn't actually see Mt. Fuji, and Lake Kawaguchi isn't really that exciting without the view.

Not kid-friendly. They didn't have any high chairs so our toddler was running around the whole class. They had another couple there, so they were teaching at a fast pace while my husband and I were trying to take turns learning and taking care of the baby. They didn't provide her with any entertainment or really anything, so she picked up their broom and started sweeping and pulling things off of shelves. We thought they'd give her something like rice and seaweed to touch and play with and also that they'd go slowly and make sure we understood the steps before moving on, but they didn't and we felt rushed. Also they wouldn't allow us to take any of the sushi we made home with us, and our baby was ready to go about 3/4 of the way through the 2 hour class, so we didn't get to eat much of what we made.

Gorgeous views and the room was spacious. The restaurant was wonderful and everyone was sooooooooo kind.

My husband and son went on this adventure. They said it was the best snorkeling they did on the entire trip.

It was a lovely boat trip over! My son and husband enjoyed diving. I was welcomed to the top of the boat, to take pictures of birds! Then the walk to Punta Pitt was incredible. Red-footed Boobies with young in nests. A bird photographers dream!

This was our favourite day! The boat trip was a bit rough, but that was to be expected. Birds! Birds! Birds! And Nicholas could help us identify birds on the ocean.

It's a tricky walk, but worth it! Alexis, our guide was informative and kind!

This hotel was located in the Main Street of Sorrento. We could walk down to the beach. We could walk one block and we were at the best restaurants and bars. Shopping was a toss the street

Desk clerks were wonderful. There was a lovely garden in the center of the hotel. We could gather there and drink wine. Easy access to walk for our sights and shopping

We had a large upstairs room. Shower was outside of bathroom. Was nice so we could both get ready for the day quickly. Breakfast was upstairs on Top floor. The service there was superb. Omelets and coffee were made to order. Desk clerks were helpful

Breakfasts were so so good. Service was amazing There was a beautiful garden area. Could drink wine out there. Lovely atmosphere.

Our guide Barbara knew that King Charles visit would keep us from seeing the Sistene chapel. That was a disappointment that couldn’t been avoided. But she made the most of our time. We stayed after she needed to leave. We had a perfect day in the Vatican. Attended Mass and received communion.

Mateo was very good. Took us around a fun neighborhood and we tried soupli and pig jowls. All at different places where he actually knew every owner personally.

Everything about this day was absolutely amazing! Our driver was very attentive. We got off at the wrong train station. Driver made the extra effort and came to retrieve us. Unbelievable! We made the climb to the top of the volcano. Our guide Natalya at Pompeii was superb. So knowledgeable and patient. The vineyard was historic with 45 acres. Tour of the barrels and vats. Lovely tasting experience!!!

Big disappointment. Didn’t get to do this because supposedly the water was too rough

Lucy fave a good tour. Interesting info

Every transfer was excellent. All drivers were skilled. Very helpful. We could never have found all of this transportation on our own. We loved having every tour and train and transport planned. We loved being picked up at our hotels. Or at least close by.

The young man that guided us was from America but married an Italian and is raising his family in Italy. He was such a good guide. He really showed us many different things in Rome.

This was so fun to see the countryside and get into the heart of a vineyard and we so enjoyed the historic atmosphere of the place where we ate and drank. Our guide was good and the vineyard provided a great young man that explained a lot about wine. And olive oil.

Tour guide explained David Statue and was knowledgeable about the square and the art we saw

Our guide knew the area and took us to some small pja es that she personally knew the people. Awesome little walking tour. She gave a lot of history of Italy.

Great tour with Lucia. She was very knowledgeable. Very attentive

Great location, nice room, nice lobby and very nice staff

What’s to say —- it’s a 5 star hotel and worthy of it

Felt like staying in a private home. Spacious rooms and keyless entry made for a very nice stay.

OMG-the staff! Really charming hotel with animated and accommodating staff! We had a lovely time & would definitely return!

So nice to be met at the ferry by Iwo (sp?) We learned a great deal about the conflict endured by Croatia in the ‘90’s and it’s history.

I was hesitant to book this tour-just sounded a bit corny and not a great fit. Boy, was I wrong!!!!! This was a highlight of our trip! So fun and exciting, we felt like kids! Branco & Ana were delightful & charming. We loved visiting their home after a very exciting drive. Ana made the best bread and orange peels I have ever eaten!

An excellent hotel in a very good location! Staff was excellent, and the breakfast was fantastic!

Wonderful hotel in a great location! Breakfast was terrific, and the staff was excellent.

This was our first experience staying in an Onsen. Definitely something one should try at least once when they visit Japan! From leaving your shoes at the front door to picking out a kimono to wear while on-site, each experience was new. Dinner was served over several courses in your own private space in the dining area. Breakfast was in the same space, with many dishes offered. The beds were comfortable and the room was spacious and comfortable.

We weren't sure when we were first presented with the idea to stay in a hotel located within the train station in Hiroshima, but it turned out to be one of the best stays! The room was on the smaller side (bed right up against the wall), but we didn't spend much time there, as we were out seeing the historical sites. Breakfast in the on-site restaurant was outstanding with many local and western items to choose from. We caught the streetcar steps from the hotel door, and when we were leaving to head back to Tokyo, the Shinkansen platform was just at the other end of the train station. Easy Peasy!

We really enjoyed our 5 night stay at this hotel. The room was a nice size with a comfortable bed, and a relaxing shower that was separate from the sink and toilet (which was in it's own space!). The breakfast was outstanding, with many different dishes to try. The location was near a laundromat, restaurants and public transportation. The Nijo Castle was a short walk away and well worth the visit!

We stayed two nights in this hotel. The room was large enough to have space on both sides of the bed!! On-site restaurant offered a delicious breakfast with something for everyone. The location was walking distance to many sites and public transportation.

We enjoyed 4 nights at this hotel. The room was a bit smaller than we were thinking it would be (bed was against the wall and one of us had to crawl over the bed each night to sleep. The view from the room however, was amazing! We were on the 17th floor and had a city view with gorgeous sunsets. The on-site restaurant had an outstanding breakfast with many local and western dishes to try! The location was excellent being close to many subway stations and temples. We went to a 6:00 a.m. Buddhist service that was a 10 min walk from the hotel. We would definitely stay here again!

We've been on many food tours, and this one was pretty good. We had a small group of 6 for this tour, which was a good size. Our guide, Yuma, was nice and showed us some local history and a small temple where you wouldn't have expected to see one!. The local food was good.

We were fortunate to have Pam once again as our guide! She met us at our hotel and we took a taxi to the train station to catch a local express from Kyoto to Osaka for the day. Dotonbori and Shinsekai were short subway rides away from Osaka Castle. There were so many shops to explore in these districts! The castle was beautiful, though we didn't go inside as there was a huge line.

When this experience was first presented, I didn't think we would appreciate it as much as we did. Hisae and her mother were excellent, patient teachers. Japanese Calligraphy is very different from English calligraphy. For this class, we used a thicker brush to write out different symbols. Who knew a couple downward strokes and cross bars were a word! The brush strokes are performed in a style unique to Japanese Calligraphy. Hisae's mother was very gracious and wrote out our grandchildren's names in Japanese calligraphy for us to present to them as something special from Japan.

Our guide, Pam, was the best! She walked us down some back roads to see some off the radar temples before heading to the bamboo grove. The bamboo is never cut in this area, so it's quite dense and beautiful!

What a fun experience! It's like getting ready for the prom. You pick out your kimono and the ladies help you get it wrapped the correct way. Then they do your hair and add accessories to your hair to make you shine! Then it's off to take pictures in the garden. Once you're done, you are led to the tea room where a lovely lady explains and demonstrates how to make Matcha tea. This experience was something even my husband enjoyed. There is also an option to wear your kimono all day as you wander around the Gion area.

Akira was our guide for this half-day tour. We toured around the Rokuharamitsu-ji and Kiyomizu-dera temple. What amazing buildings! Our next stop was in the Gion area of Kyoto. So much history and streets to wander down!

We had a lot of fun with the guest artist decorating Japanese bowls to keep - we were pleasantly surprised how well our bowls turned out! The location was close to where we were staying and was in a one room building, which is also used for other activities. Lots of light and a welcoming location.

Our guide, Rimiko, took us all around the Omicho Market where we tried some raw oysters, Crab and pork croquettes, local Wagyu beef freshly grilled as well as some favorite desserts of Rimiko that she introduced us to. We stopped at the Oyama Shrine on the way to the Samurai district and saw where the Samurai lived at one time, though the area has been gentrified.

This actually turned out to be a fun experience. The retired sumo wrestlers had a good rapport with the audience and knew how to work the crowd!

This was a small group tour with 7 of us (an Australian family of 5 and my husband and myself). The guide spoke very good English - she had lived in Australia for a time, which was very helpful as we had lots of questions. The tour actually took place in parts of the red light district of Tokyo. What an eye-opening experience that was. Often food tours will inundate you with 7-10 stops .This tour was nice in that we only went to 3 spots. The first stop was to a restaurant where we had tempeh and sushi. The second stop was the best - Korean barbeque wagyu beef we grilled at the table - delicious! Last stop was to see the lights over the city and have some gelato. The tour guide was fun and the group had a good time!

We thoroughly enjoyed our time with Masa-san, our guide the first full day in Tokyo! Masa-san was very knowledgeable about both the Buddhist and Shinto temples we explored. He was enormously helpful in showing us how to navigate the subway system and using our Suica card.

We truly cannot express how much we loved everything about this hotel. Every detail, from the warm hospitality to the breathtaking views, made our stay extraordinary.

The hotel was nice in terms of accommodations, but the lack of concierge service was a major disappointment for us. Personalized service and assistance are very important elements of our travel experience. While the hotel staff were friendly and welcoming, the absence of a concierge made it difficult to navigate the area and arrange activities smoothly.

The local company we worked with was outstanding. Their kindness, professionalism, and attention to detail made a lasting impression on us.

We absolutely loved our guide! Her kindness, knowledge, and thoughtfulness stood out. She made sure we took plenty of pictures and helped us create memories we’ll cherish forever.

Experiencing the rich history and culture firsthand felt like stepping back in time — it was absolutely spectacular.

I loved seeing the Capuchin and squirrel monkeys!

Absolutely gorgeous!! The food was fantastic!!

Our guided hike through Manuel Antonio National Park was an unforgettable experience! The park is absolutely stunning — lush, vibrant, and full of wildlife at every turn. Our guide was fantastic, helping us spot so many animals we would have easily missed on our own. We saw several sloths, along with a variety of other fascinating creatures, from colorful birds to playful monkeys. The trails led us to some truly beautiful beach areas, where we could relax and take in the breathtaking coastal views. Travel tips: bring plenty of water, comfortable walking shoes, binoculars if you have them, and an extra couple of dollars. We purchased ice-cold coconuts on our way out, and they were perfect for the occasion! This tour was the perfect combination of nature, wildlife, and relaxation — highly recommend it to anyone visiting Costa Rica!

We started our day at Selvatura Park with a guided nature walk, and it was such a fascinating experience! Our guide was incredible — he pointed out animals and creatures we never would have noticed on our own, like bats resting inside a hollow tree and orange-knee spiders hidden among the plants. Note to future travelers: this walk is quite long and can be challenging for those who aren’t used to a lot of walking or uphill terrain. It’s absolutely worth it, but it helps to build up your stamina beforehand so you can fully enjoy the experience. After the nature walk, we continued to the zip line adventure with Sebastian and Carlitos, and it was amazing from start to finish! They were so patient and kind, especially with my 80-year-old mom, who needed a few walking breaks along the way. They never made us feel rushed — instead, they turned each stop into part of the adventure, pointing out the scenery and keeping everything fun and relaxed. I’m usually afraid of heights, but both Sebastian and Carlitos helped me feel safe and confident the entire time. Their encouragement made the adventure unforgettable — full of excitement, laughter, and stunning views. And don’t miss the Tarzan Swing at the end — it’s the perfect way to wrap up an incredible day at Selvatura Park!

Our whitewater rafting adventure with Jiro was an absolute highlight of our trip! He took excellent care of us from start to finish — making sure we were safe, comfortable, and having a great time throughout the entire experience. Jiro’s energy and expertise made the trip both exciting and enjoyable. He explained everything clearly, kept the group laughing, and made even the more challenging rapids feel fun and manageable. If you’re considering this excursion, don’t miss it — it’s an unforgettable experience and Jiro is fantastic!

It was a great experience.

Great location and very beautiful decor

Fabulous breakfast. Good location

Beautiful Hotel!

Super view from our room!

Super hotel. The people here were so helpful and kind.

Best way to go from Split to Hvar. The only problem was our weather that day was not great. But you cannot predict that.

Super informative and great host. Learned so much.