Kimkim Trip Reviews

We have never booked a trip like this with a travel agency before and I have to say it was an amazing experience. We were thrilled to find out KIMKIM operates in other places around the world. The attention to detail and quick responses by our travel agent Hien before and during the trip made us feel totally at ease. All our guides were so knowledgable, had a good command of English and were eager to have us get the most out of each excursion. However Victor in Vietnam and Wibol in Siem Reap went the "extra mile" for us. Although it is hard to pick our favourite excursions the top three would be our time in Pu Long Nature Reserve, Tam Coc river tour and the Vespa Food tour in Ho Chi Min City.

Mohammed , our driver, was outstanding. He did everything possible to make us feel comfortable, safe and taken care of. And he was fun to be with
Our guides were all different in how they interacted with us, some more formal than others. They were all knowledgeable and flexible. My favorite guide was Hanin in Marrakesh who was determined to feed us everything. Also our guide in Fes who knew so much and sang to us also

Very well planned trip in Portugal . We have spend a great 13 days with the organization of Raquel , trip plan had been well adapted to our needs and preferences.
Each guide in every single tour is very knowledgeable and amicable, they adapted extremely well to what we ask for . Raquel has been very attentive to our request , she is always in touch with us almost daily .
I highly recommended this tour and now looking forward to book next tour in South Korea !!!!!
Thank you Raquel , you are absolutely amazing !

Hotel Reviews

Pestana Vintage Porto

Porto

Very well located hotel, our room has river view and balcony . Staff is so kind , do all their best to make our stay the most pleasant .

Authenticity & Character

Big hotel with several buildings connected, nice room , good size , but still keep the character of old house

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Portugal Boutique City Hotel

Lisbon

Very nice boutique hotel , well situated

Authenticity & Character

Very modern boutique hotel, room very big with balcony , bed very comfortable

Location

Close to Main Streets, main squares, lots of restaurants around

Staff

All staff from reception to restaurant are very efficient, a bit cold though

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room big , bed comfortable, very nice

Vivenda Miranda

Lagos

Such a nice hotel and staff

Authenticity & Character

Every room has different set up make hotel very charming

Location

So close to beach , hotel is absolutely charming

Staff

Hotel has best staff from reception , restaurant to cleaning , everyone is so helpful and smiling

Cleanliness & Comfort

Évora Olive Hotel

Évora

Very modern reception area, room average size a bit stuffy

Authenticity & Character

Except reception area which is so modern , room is very average

Location

Close to all major sites, walkable

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Douro Valley Excursion with Wine & Olive Oil Tastings & River Cruise

Porto

The Douro Valley excursion was a lovely experience, but nothing too remarkable. We enjoyed the wine and olive oil tastings, as well as the relaxing river cruise. The scenery was beautiful, and it was a nice break from the city. Overall, it was a delightful day out.

Private Transfer {{start_location}} to {{end_location}} via Coimbra

Portugal

Everything was good, but we wish we had more time and someone with us to show us the oldest university. Unfortunately, we skipped that visit because we didn't know where to start from.

Dinner With Locals at a Local Home

Lisbon

This was the highlight of our trip. It was so interesting to taste the local cuisine from a lovely couple home. The food was delicious and something you wouldn't normally find in a restaurant.

Quality of Experience

Food

Discover Rural Algarve

Portugal

We spent three days in Lagos, and everything was lovely. I would do it again.

Private Excursion: Braga & Guimarães

Porto

All guides were high-quality and were very accommodating towards my husband. But Braga's guide was exceptionally awesome!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We organised a trip to Bolivia originally for 10 days and Camila responded very quickly and came up with an agenda.From our end it was all very last minute due to personal reasons so we were very happy with the quick and helpful responses from Camila as we refined our trip back to 9 days total.
Well what can we say. It was all amazing and difficult to pick out the highlights as our intent was to see as much as possible in our short time. This meant leaving out any viewing of the Amazon and northern areas other than a great trip to Lake Titicaca and the surrounds.We then had a few days in La Paz which were great. The altitude did affect us but not to the extent of spoiling our trip. The Inca Trail we walked I think should have been listed as moderate to difficult because of the uneven terrain.Once again we still managed it well but maybe a little slowly.
We have to say all our guides were attentive, professional and gave us their all. Orlando, William,Johnny and David and their respective drivers. a particular thumbs up for Paolino! our fantastic driver on the salt Flats.This guy really went the extra for us. If we've left anyone out it is not our intent. The staff that cared for us were all fantastic as was the programme drawn up by Camila. We travelled into Bolivia from San Pedro, Chile crossed the border which was a drawn out experience but then we were up and away. The accomodation was all very good. We guess the measure is " would we use this company agin or recommend it to family or friends. Most definitely YES! Micky and Robyn

we book 8 days for our honeymoon in Vietnam with this agency , in Vietnam basically we were by ourselves, just 2 days we had tour guides ( the one in the historical Vietnam was awesome ) the other days where we just had hotels and taxis and no other guide. we also covered most of the food apart from the free breakfast at the hotel.
Most of the hotels where amazing just one didnt meet our expectations , there was no restaurants , no shops to walk to, we where stuck in the bush with a poor maintence hotel , I think the agency didnt check the place before they send us there. that experience was not good at ALL , but Trang change us the next day after show her photos of how insane that place is.
in day 8 we found out we should buy our departure flight and actually the DEPARTURE FROM DANANG included in the itinerary was just a taxi to the Airport, that took us by surprise because we were in the middle of the country and we started the tour in Hanoi and Trang new that we had tickets book from Hanoi to Sydney, so that was a HUGE suprise that actually we didnt have departing flight , in the last minute we got tickets.
I guess Kim Kim is better planing for families , otherwise is not worth it, i wish i new this earlier.

Really great trip, thank you.

Hotel Reviews

Ocotea Boutique Hotel

Santa Elena

the stuff in this hotel must have been trained by the ritz carlton or 4 seasons. they are amazing.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

AC Hotel Heredia Belen

San Jose

good spot if travelling in costa rica and need to spend a night on the way in or out.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Mariposa Hotel

Manuel Antonio

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nayara Hotel Spa and Gardens

Fortuna

really beautiful place. not the cheapest thing I've ever done but they work hard to make sure everything is perfect.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Traditional Cooking Class with Dinner

Arenal/La Fortuna

Cathy was really great, if they offered other meals we would have done more.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Organic Spice Farm Experience

Manuel Antonio

really great experience with an excellent guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

El Tigre Waterfalls Exploration

Monteverde

its a moderate hike, really beautiful place. I would repeat. Guide was knowledgeable but did not seem interested in us or anything else.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

San Lucas Treetop Dining Experience

Monteverde

beautiful and romantic experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Arenal Hanging Bridges Guided Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

really great guide,

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

It was a great trip, well planned and coordinated by local guides , who had great information and added their personal touch ! Shout out to Brian in Hanoi , Jack on the River cruise and Ruby in Hoi An .

Activity Reviews

Hanoi Sightseeing & Street Food Tour

Hanoi

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hoi An - Ba Na Hills - Golden Bridge - Hoi An

Hoi An

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Claudia, the local specialist made a good job booking exactly what we wanted for tours at the falls (Argentinian and Brazilian sides), as well as our stay at the Iguazu Jungle Lodge Hotel. Tour guides for our two days were good, as well as drivers to/from airport and to parks. The Iguazu Falls are very beautiful, the hotel is beautiful, and we very much enjoyed the local food too.

Our flight from Buenos Aires was delayed by more than an hour, and I contacted Kim Kim staff to make them aware of potential issues. Kim Kim staff made sure that our driver in Iguazu would pick us up on time. We very much appreciated the follow up.

In summary, all of our guides and drivers were fantastic. They were all prompt, thoughtful, helpful and informative. We couldn't have had better people to work with.

Ashley was so incredible through the whole process including the planning, coordination, communication and delivery of our program. She checked with us almost daily when we were on our trip. Her instructions were clear and precise. She was the best.

The itinerary Ashley put together was phenomenal. Our tours which were fantastic, included visiting Buddha temples, seeing the elephant sanctuary, and taking a wild Vespa evening dinner ride, Everything was very special. We saw so many wonderful and unique places throughout Thailand and Vietnam. It felt like we got so see the best of the major cities we visited. We ate great street food most of the time, thanks to our guides, and our accommodations were almost all five-star, in our opinions.

So, even though we would give a five-star rating to everyone involved with our trip and everything we experienced, there are a couple of suggested changes we would incorporate into our itinerary if we were to do the same trip over.

The south coast of Thailand is beautiful, but we would try to experience it in a different location that Phuket. Phuket is overloaded with tourist. It was great seeing this area and the beautiful coastal waters, but it felt like Miami Beach during spring break. We would also eliminate the trip to Phi Phi Island. Again, Phi Phi is a major tourist draw, with little space to accommodate them.
We would also suggest spending more time in Ho Chi Minh City. We wanted to tour the American War museum, but didn't because our time in Ho Chi Minh City was limited. Lastly, we would probably exclude the trip to Trang An just because it is a long drive from Hanoi and is a heavy tourist attraction. Just some thoughts...

All in all, our trip far exceeded our expectations in many ways. We thoroughly enjoyed our guides, our accommodations, and the places we visited, and Ashley was wonderful. KimKim was recommended to us by our friends, and we will definitely recommend KimKim to others.

Hotel Review

Rimping Village Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai

It was very difficult to choose a hotel to review because they were all great. For the following reasons, we liked the Rimping Village Chiange Mai Hotel: - the room was very spacious and clean; -the pool was big enough for lap swimming; -the hotel was close to the market and shops; -the staff were great; -the hotel was more of a boutique type rather than a large commercial hotel; and -the breakfast were very nice.

Authenticity & Character

Very comfortable. It made you feel like you were in Thailand.

Location

very close to the street vendors and market.

Staff

always willing to help

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Bangkok Temple Sightseeing Full Day (KT)

Bangkok

We saw a large number of special sites, almost too many.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The Thai people were so very friendly.

Transport

Always on time and in a position to pick us up from the tours.

Chiang Mai full-day city tour by KT

Chiang Mai

Our Chiang Mai experiences were incredible. We loved this area and the tours we experienced. Our guide was great, very personable and knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience

Loved this area. Loved experiencing the elephant sanctuary.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

On time and very professional.

Half day Chiang Mai Elephant Jungle Sanctuary - Join tour

Chiang Mai

This was a wonderful experience. We will likely never get this close to elephants again.

Quality of Experience

Being able to interact with elephants was such an amazing experience.

Food

Almost all of it.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Thai massage at Oasis Spa

Phuket

This was a very professional spa. You were treated like you were a very special guest.

Quality of Experience

We both received incredible massages.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

On time and well coordinated.

Doi Inthanon National Park & Mae Klang Luang Nature Trail

Chiang Mai

Loved the trek and thoroughly enjoyed our Hmong guide. The coffee experience after the trek, was so rich with local culture.

Quality of Experience

Great setting and great guides.

Food

Everything.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guides made this tour extra special.

Transport

Phi Phi Island & Khai Island Tour (Join speedboat)

Phuket

The waters were incredible but the sites were overwhelmed with tourists. I would not go to, nor recommend, Phi Phi Island to future guests because of this.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Saigon By Night - Vintage Vespa Street Food Tour

Ho Chi Minh City

This was so much fun! Our tour guides knew where to go for great food and knew how to drive in the crazy traffic. This was one of our most memorable experiences of our entire trip.

Quality of Experience

Food

The street food was soooo good!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lan Ha Bay – Dark & Bright Cave – Disembark Cruise (Doris Cruise)

Ha Long Bay

We did not participate in this activity. We needed to take a break from tours plus the weather was no very pleasant.

Day Trip to the Mekong Delta (Ben Tre)

Ho Chi Minh City

We had a fantastic experience on this tour. The delta was so unique and the culture was so interesting.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Excellent guide.

Transport

Hoi An Half-Day Sightseeing

Hoi An

Hoi An was so much fun especially in the evenings.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide .was very good but not a five-star.

Transport

Cycling in Cam Thanh & Thanh Dong Organic Farm Visit

Vietnam

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the organic farm especially interacting with the staff.

Quality of Experience

We got to interact with beautiful staff at the farm.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boat Trip Exploring The Natural Beauty of Trang An & Visit Hoa Lu Ancient Capital

Vietnam

Great guide and a great experience but would probably not recommend it because it is such a long distance drive from Hanoi.

Quality of Experience

Food

Ate at a food cafeteria. The food was good but way too much and not high quality. The restaurant was quantity focused.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great guide who knew so much about the area and history.

Transport

Lan Ha Bay - Viet Hai Village - Kayaking

Ha Long Bay

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We knew we would have a great time in Norway, but this trip still exceeded all expectations - Kristiina helped to create an itinerary that suited our wishes and needs, and it played out to near perfection. Every tour and hotel was in a nearby location and easy to attend (not to mention really enjoyable)! I found the convenience was a huge relief. Some of our highlights that she created for us include our stay at the Hanseatic in Bergen, our Hurtigruten experiences, and all the Tromso tours. All the Tromso tour guides were amazing, especially Jorges on the Coastal Safari and Mark at the husky sledding experience. We felt that the fjord tour to Hardangerfjord was not what we hoped for and perhaps could have been replaced with something else, but this seems to be a limitation of the season. Fortunately we were able to book another amazing fjord cruise further north via Hurtigruten (we would have done only this one if we knew this was an option, to save some money), and enjoyed a Sami tour via the Hurtigruten also. We didn't know we would gain so much from the Hurtigruten voyage itself, so this was a pleasant surprise. I am so glad we incorporated this to our trip. We had some travel hiccups, but nothing within KimKim's control, yet they were all so helpful when I reached out for advice about our lost luggage. Julia, Fenne, and Kristiina did everything possible to support us and keep us in the loop. Lastly, they provided great(!) local recommendations for each main city we visited, which helped to make our time even better. Also, during this trip, my partner and I got engaged - KimKim helped to make this the ideal place and time for such a special thing. Planning the trip was made so much easier by going via KimKim, and I think it went brilliantly. At times we wished we had more insight into our tour options and alternatives, pricings, etc. But would definitely do this again regardless. Thank you so much for creating a beautiful holiday for us and being so present from start to end to make sure it went well. We are so pleased!

Activity Reviews

Fjord Cruise to Rosendal

Bergen

Whilst Rosendal and the natural beauty of the fjord was lovely, we didn't know most things in Rosendal would be closed at this time of year. So we arrived to a ghost town and didn't know what to do, and walked far to find closed places. It was nice but we could have skipped this in favour of another tour to save some money and time. Also the fjord cruise itself was more like a taxi service than a tour. I bet it is nicer in summer.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Free Day in Bergen - Board Hurtigruten

Hurtigruten

Hurtigruten is a great experience filled with amazing tour opportunities and some onboard fun, especially if you travel south to North- there is a big deal about crossing into the Arctic Circle. Really glad we did this.

Husky Sledding Excursion

Tromsø

Highly recommend! It was fun and we had heaps of time to play with the dogs. The tour guides are all so accommodating and eager for you to enjoy yourself. The lunch we had was delicious also!!

Coastal Safari with Local Tastings & Lunch

Tromsø

This was way better than we imagined. It was intimate, flexible and beautiful. Our tour guide, Jorges, was passionate and helpful. He made it a great day by choosing good spots to stop for photos and helping us to spot wildlife, etc. It was a great spot for lunch at the halfway point too. I enjoyed this so much. It was quite a relaxing and worthwhile taste of the Tromso islands and coast.

The trip was great Would like to mention the guide who took us hunting in rovaniemi Very focused and gave us a thrilling view of the northern lights Second I would like to mention the person incharge of our fat tyre bicycle ride at the ski resort,Wonderful human being As I could not go for the ride not only did he let me wait in the office he offered me tea and made conversation till the group returning I had read that the finnish are reserved people but I beg to differ,They are as Wonderful as their country is,Loved the country and loved its people,,

We had a unique unforgettable 8 day, 950 mile Moroccan experience. Below are the highlights.

TRIP PLANNING AND SUPPORT: We loved the initial questionnaire and user interface allowing you to let the travel agent know your favorite activities, and being able to comment on their suggestions to fine tune the experience. It was easy to pull up your trip summary from the email and their text messages and expand certain parts to view the details. Each day was clearly outlined with meeting place and what to bring and wear. In addition you could easily toggle back and forth between the Trip Summary and Trip Chat feature. Said responded to my text inquiries within the hour both while abroad and in Morocco.

TRANSPORTATION: Our itinerary required lots of driving and hours spent in the car. KimKim and their Morocco based travel specialists were very accommodating with the ambitious plan. Soufiane comes highly recommended as a driver. He was kind, knowledgeable, and courteous; answering questions without being intrusive or chatty. His English was good and he expertly navigated the new, clean SUV through sand, gravel, and snow during our traverse across the country.

HOTELS: All hotels Ali chose for us met our expectations. Unfortunately we could not stay two nights at the awesome Luxury Desert Camp in Erg Chebbi due to road closure from a snow storm. However, they found decent accommodations for us in Ifrane. The Riad Fes was beautiful and had the most wonderful rooftop bar. Dar Rihanna in the Dades Gorge area was quite out of the way, but close to hiking, and had excellent breakfast and dinners. La Maison Arabe was an historic old hotel with chic Jazz bar and cool rooftop bar in Marrakech. Initially we did not receive the room type we had requested at La Maison and the front desk was not helpful. We contacted Said and he was able to work things out to our satisfaction.

TOURS AND TOUR GUIDES: All in all, the tour guides chosen by the travel group were top notch. My husband did not like the guide in Fes as much as he was more inclined to take us to shops and less inclined to take us to see other cultural things. We liked our guide in Marrakech, Hanan, as she modified the tour based on our preferences and took us on a wonderful street food tour that evening. We had no food issues the entire trip and we tried a lot of different foods. The Moroccan cuisine is delicious with lots of flavorful meats and fresh fruits and vegetables. The only downside was the excursion to the Hammam. The scrub and massage were good but we were expecting a more quiet, serene ambiance and this place was definitely hustle/bustle.

RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. Do your homework and let the company and tour guides know what you really want to see and do so you will not be disappointed.
2. Moroccan is a tourist driven economy and tips are really appreciated as the tour guides and drivers work very hard. A private driver is a must to get around.
3. Purchase alcoholic beverages beforehand for travel to the gorges or desert camps.
4. Plan on staying at least 2 nights in the desert as snowstorms and sandstorms can limit activities and access.
5. Bring an extra carry on bag for all the stuff you will end up buying. We are in the downsizing phase of our lives, my husband is the anti-shopper and yet we still bought several items. Browsing the shops and haggling is integral to the Moroccan experience.

Overall, an unforgettable experience. We will recommend KimKim and their current local Moroccan tour company to all our friends and family.

Hotel Reviews

Riad Fès - Relais & Châteaux

Fès

The Riad Fes was beautiful and had the most wonderful rooftop bar.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dar Rihana Dades

Douar Aït Ouffi

Dar Rihanna in the Dades Gorge area was quite out of the way, but close to hiking, and had excellent breakfast and dinners.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Maison Arabe Hotel

Marrakech

La Maison Arabe was an historic old hotel with chic Jazz bar and cool rooftop bar in Marrakech

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Marrakesh Evening Food Tour

Marrakesh

This was one of the best cooking classes I have been too while traveling. They had all of the ingredients prepped for us so that we could focus on learning about the cuisine vs chopping the vegetables. Each table had a screen so you could hear and see the instructor in the front of the class. I highly recommend this class!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our tour started with a evening walking food tour with Ms. Hang. We had many delicious dishes and visited a local market. After leaving Hanoi we visited beautiful Ha Long Bay - Bai Tu Long. The Indochina Junk ship was really fun to stay on and had really comfortable rooms.
We were picked up after the boat trip by our guide Toun and driver Chien. We spent the next 6 days with them exploring Ninh Binh and Mai Chau. We did biking , trekking and visited Unesco world heritage sites. Tuon was very knowledgeable about the areas and new the best places to eat and see.
We were really impressed with the customer service, the transfers were always on time and Dat was always available to answer any questions we had while on the trip.
I recommend using KimKim for planning trips, especially to areas that are more remote.

Hotel Reviews

Mai Chau Ecolodge

This lodge was comfortable with all rooms having views of the rice paddies. The food was just alright and the pool area/bar is not that comfortable to relax at after a day of activities. I think I would consider looking into a homestay for this area. The staff at the lodge were incredible helpful and kind. The bikes could use an upgrade, many of the bikes were slightly to small.

Authenticity & Character

Each bungalow had a nice deck for sitting on , the chairs were somewhat uncomfortable.

Location

You border the main trail systems where you can ride or walk to enjoy the valley.

Staff

Very kind and helpful staff.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The property is nice but feels a little old. For those with any issues with walking it may be difficult to move around the property.

Prince Junk (from Indochina Junk)

The boat was fun, and the cabins were comfortable. The outside space is also great, but unfortunately the weather was not nice during our trip.

Authenticity & Character

It is a very authentic boat, one of their newer ones.

Location

It is a boat that cruises thru the bay.

Staff

Super helpful and kind.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The cabins were all spotless

Tam Coc Garden Resort

Ninh Binh

We did not stay here we stayed and Ninh Village resort which was incredible.

L’ Heritage

Hanoi

Nice hotel in the Old Quarter

Authenticity & Character

Classic hotel well maintained

Location

Good location for the Old Quarter, we later stayed near the Lake and found that location better.

Staff

Staff was attentive and kind

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hanoi Evening Walking Street Food Tour

Hanoi

We sampled many delicious and diverse foods. The problem with a food tour in Vietnam is that the portions of the dishes are large, so you get full quickly.

Quality of Experience

Food

The food was all great, when we did the evening food tour most stalls in the markets were closed.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had a great guide who was very knowledgeable about the foods and their history.

Transport

We walked, which I always enjoy

Mai Chau - Xa Linh Village trekking

Mai Chau

Unfortunately the air quality was poor and obscured all the views while trekking. It was fun going thru the village.

Mai Chau - Pu Luong - Trekking to Kho Muong and Uoi Villages

Vietnam

Pu Luong was a beautiful area. The villages were really interesting to walk thru, as where the water wheels and the terraced rice fields. Really beautiful.

Quality of Experience

Really beautiful area.

Food

Our guide always took us to good local spots

Guides, Drivers and Staff

They were excellent

Transport

Comfortable

Boat Trip Exploring The Natural Beauty of Trang An & Visit Hoa Lu Ancient Capital

Vietnam

Very beautiful boat ride thru a world heritage site. It is a popular trip so best to go in the morning.

Quality of Experience

Very pleasant in a boat with a village women doing the rowing. They are really skilled.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cycling in Mai Chau

Mai Chau

We really love to cycle and these paths were very cool. Very scenic.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boat trip to Thien Ha Cave & Thung Nham Bird Garden (Ninh Binh)

Ninh Binh

We ended up splitting this activity due to weather. We did the cave as part of a cycling portion. It was really great not as touristy as the other caves. We visited the Thun Nham Bird Garden, and it is a very busy place. I would recommend skipping this experience.

Quality of Experience

It is a really busy area

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ha Long Bay - Bai Tu Long - Thien Canh Son Cave (Indochina Junk)

Ha Long Bay

Great trip, just wish we would have had good weather. Still beautiful but couldn't enjoy all the activities.

Quality of Experience

Great company, great activities

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Loved the boat!

Cycling And Farming In Tho Ha Village And Boating To The Galaxy Groto

Vietnam

This was a fun day. Enjoyed the cycling thru the villages, very scenic. The farming activities were fun, I was a bit skeptical, but it is worth doing. Galaxy Groto was very cool, much better than the bird park.

Quality of Experience

Fun to get in the rice fields with some locals. It is hard work planting rice and hard work walking in the mud. Even caught some fish.

Food

A cooking class is part of the experience, it was alright.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mai Chau Cycling and Hiking Day

Vietnam

Loved the cycling in this area. Hiking is mostly in the jungle so not a lot of views. Most enjoyable day.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cap La - Vung Dang - Cong Dam (Indochina Junk)

Vietnam

We did not do this part of the trip due to weather

Vung Vieng Fishing Village - Halong Harbor (Indochina Junk)

Ha Long Bay

Loved the boating experience. The fishing village was interesting.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to Vietnam and Cambodia was an incredibly memorable experience. Hien, our travel specialist at Realistic Asia, was key to the success and enjoyment of our holiday. Hien helped us to plan a well organized and logical 26 day itinerary according to our travel preferences. She always responded promptly to any questions or requests, and anticipated our needs in a timely manner (e.g. providing e-visa links and reviewing our documentation). The recommended tours provided insights into Vietnamese and Cambodian history, culture, food, and way of life. We spent several days exploring northern Vietnam with our guide Junjun and driver Hie in northern Vietnam. Hie kept his van spotless and drove with our safety in mind. Junjun is a wonderfully kind soul who shared his knowledge and the beauty of Northern Vietnam’s landscape and people. Our favourite day was spent walking through the Thai villages and trails, and past the villagers planting rice in the fields. Such an experience we will never forget. Our guide in Siem Reap, Vesarey, was equally incredible. He offered his extensive knowledge on the history and significance of the temples of Angkor Wat, and tirelessly answered our never ending questions about life in Cambodia. We particularly enjoyed the mountain bike tour of Angkor Wat. Our driver Souvann was always prompt and courteous, and ensured we were topped up with cold water on those hot days.
But perhaps of the things we loved most about our experience was the warmth and kindness of both the Vietnamese and Cambodian people. This should not be underestimated. We would certainly consider a return in the future to explore new areas and we would absolutely request Hien!

.Alejandra and Tamar planned an excellent adventure for us. We loved all the lodgings, giving us a taste of the local culture and not just another American style hotel . The hacienda , farm station and Amazon lodge . were wonderful. Sebastian was our guide and driver and we couldn't ask for anyone better. He was extremely knowledgeable in all areas and never got tired from my husband's endless questions. He went above and beyond the call of duty altering our plan as needed when my husband had a foot problem and couldn't walk due to a foot injury. He and Alejandra stayed with us at the hospital until we insisted they go home after a very long day. It turned.out to be a not so serious condition and we were able to continue on our original plan. It was most comforting to know we had help when needed. Miguel at the Amazon lodge was terrific as well accomodationg our needs and still providing a wonderful Amaxon experience when plans had to change. Both these guides made us feel that nothing was too much to ask. Thankyou Kimkim for referring us to the excellent planners and exceptional guides. Thus is our 3rd Kimkim trip. Using Kimkim takes all the stress out of travel.

Activity Reviews

Rainforest Adventure (Huasquila Lodge)

Archidona

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Otavalo Market - Cuicocha Lagoon

Ecuador

We were at the market on a Wednesday which had handicrafts. I understand Saturdays have produce etc which would bring in the local people which is always interesting for us.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Otavalo - Cotopaxi National Park

Ecuador

Weather was foggy but there is ni control of that. It cleared when we walked the lagoon and we could see the volcano.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer to Baños via Quilotoa Lagoon

Ecuador

Beautiful spot

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Baños - Archidona (Huasquila Lodge)

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We just returned from our trip to Vietnam, Cambodia and Loas and had a fabulous time! For the trip planning, we worked with Trang to develop the core itinerary, such as the cities that we'd be visiting and the popular sites in each and then we adjusted and added activities to fit our preferences. Trang was very responsive to our requests and typically responded to our inquiries within the day which we appreciated. Having a private tour with only four people was so nice. We never had to wait for people or stand in long lines (which we appreciated since it was very hot) and it was easy as a group of five to get in and out of the sights. We had a local guide in every city who met us at the airport along with a driver. Everyone of our guides (Long, Dao, Sen, Bao and Loan) were very personable, and knowledgeable about all of the sites, the history of the area as well as introduced us to the culture and provided us with the local perspective. When our stay was done, the guide and driver dropped us at the airport or train station to head to our next destination. We felt that each guide was personally interested in making our visit fun and memorable. With the exception of a couple of unscheduled afternoons and evenings (which allowed us to explore the city on our own), Trang and KimKim made all of our arrangements, we just had to show up and be ready for the day's experiences.

Having Trang and the KimKim connection was a real 'bonus' when one person in our group had an issue with their VISA and the airline would not let them board the plan until it was resolved. With one call to Trang, she contacted the Vietnam Immigration Office and provided us with a letter that allowed the person to board the plane to Vietnam and a corrected VISA was waiting for them when we landed. It was stressful; however, Trang resolved the issue quickly. We were grateful to be able to call Trang, an experienced travel guide who lived in the same country to advocate on our behalf.

We would recommend KimKim to anyone for a fabulous time and just wants to show up and leave the trip planning and details to someone else. Thank you Trang and KimKim for the great time in Indochina,

Karen, Craig, Terri and Rod from Minnesota

Vickie put an enormously epic trip together for us with nary a flaw. From the first minute to the last everything was timed exactly right and the events and accommodations were perfect. She was available to us on a moment’s notice and always went the extra yard to provide yet another thoughtful gesture. You can hear the smile in her voice with every message. She showed us why NZ is a special country and she did magic to provide reasons (excuses) to return. She will go down in history with our memories of the holiday. Thank you!!

Hien helped us plan an epic SE Asia adventure. Throughout the planning process she had helpful suggestions and recommendations for unique tours based on our interests. All of the hotels recommended were excellent. The communication throughout our trip was prompt and she alerted us right away with any changes. This was the first time using a service like Kim Kim to plan our trip and having everything taken care of truly helped us enjoy our vacation to the fullest without having to worry about logistics. Thank you again Hien for everything!

We were disappointed that we did not receive the final details until after we arrived in Costa Rica, we were unable to print them out which made life more difficult than it need have been

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Balmoral

San José

Very disappointed, other than the location it was tired, our room had a window too high to see out of. Very dark and gloomy

Authenticity & Character

None

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Manatus Hotel

Tortuguero

Lovely location, very comfortable room, good food and the trips with memorable. We had to rely on the hotel for drinking water and think this may have been the initial cause of tummy issues.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

Lovely location and pools.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel & Spa Poco a Poco

Monteverde

Good location, the room did not have a balcony and was close to the road

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Manuel Antonio

Great location and views to the beach with a balcony The bedding and linen was tired and everything was minimalistic with no soap or shampoo provided.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

A Journey into the History and Culture of Tortuguero Village

Tortuguero

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transport to Tortuguero with Canal Tour En-Route

Costa Rica

Good journey, we enjoyed the view of the banana plantation. Lots of information and background to Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Motor Boat Tour Along the Tortuguero Canals

Tortuguero

Great guide and lovely views of wild life

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Volcano Hike & EcoTermales Hot Springs

Arenal/La Fortuna

Disappointing, unable to get close to the volcano, very busy path. Guide was informative and knowledgeable. The Spa was very busy.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee Experience and Nighttime Nature Walk

Monteverde

Very interesting and informative. The walk was very atmospheric.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanging Bridges

Monteverde

Self guided interesting walk and views.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sloth Sanctuary

Monteverde

Really enjoyed it

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cloud Forest Reserve Hike

Monteverde

The private guide was excellent the walk was enjoyable, lots of wildlife and information

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike

Manuel Antonio

Very busy rather disappointing, it was sold as a walk needing walking boots, it was more of an amble.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our visit through Southeast Asia was incredible, from the people we met,to the food we ate and the sites we saw, every experience was wonderful. I highly recommend visiting this beautiful part of our world!

Hotel Reviews

La Sinfonía del Rey Hotel & Spa

Hanoi

The location in the old quarter, just across the road from the lake and the promenade, is really great. The only place to get a drink at the hotel is at the sky terrace, which was unusable during our visit due to rain. We asked if we could order a glass of wine in the lobby, which they accommodated, but it seems they could better utilize their lobby seating and wet bar, especially during inclement weather. Breakfast buffet was very good.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was very small, with no drawers in which to unpack any clothing, nor space to leave an open suitcase. We had to remove our suitcases from the closet and open them on the bed each time we needed a change of clothing. Our room was directly under the dining room, so we began to hear movement and activity above us as early as 6:30 am each morning.

La Siesta Premium Sai Gon

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Anjali by Syphon

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Orchid Classic Cruise

Hai Phong

The ship was wonderful and our stateroom was spacious, clean, comfortable and quiet. All the meals were delicious.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The spa room was quite spartan, and there was no place to disrobe except right in front of the masseuse.

Allegro Hoian

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easy walk into the center of the old town.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Sukhothai Bangkok

Probably one of the most beautiful hotels we've ever stayed in in the world. They were also very kind to upgrade our room. The pool and terrace were wonderful and a welcome respite in the center of the city during very hot weather.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tamarind Village

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was quite small; no drawers or space to leave suitcases open, so we had to open our suitcases each time we needed a change of clothing and then re-store our luggage to get it out of the way. The whole hotel, while pretty in the setting among trees, seemed tired and could use an update of fixtures, paint, bathroom tiles, etc.

The Surin Phuket

Phuket

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hanoi Full Day City Exploration

Hanoi

Our guide, Bach, was very informative and had answers for all of our many questions. This is a great overview for anyone who has never been to Hanoi.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Hanoi!

Hanoi

We were met at the airport and then introduced to our guide and driver. Upon arrival at our hotel, we also met the kimkim rep who had helped us put together our trip. We had no set agenda for the day, but our guide stuck around and walked us through the old quarter of Hanoi to show us where things where and familiarize us with the area. It was a pleasant way to begin our trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hoi An Free Day

Hoi An

We loved exploring Hoi An on our own. It's very walkable and easy to navigate. We bought the city pass to visit temples and museums, explored the Central Market and had the best banh mi for lunch!

Quality of Experience

Food

The banh mi from Madam Khanh!

Angkor Complex Discovery

Siem Reap

Another amazing day. Once again, our guide was very knowledgable and informative.

Food

The restaurant we were taken to was just okay. And we were bombarded upon exiting by many children asking us to buy their trinkets. It was unexpected and uncomfortable.

Chiang Mai Off the Beaten Track by tuk tuk - joining activity (chauffer driven)

Chiang Mai

This was a super fun day. Our guides/drivers were pleasant and fun, and the variety of sites and activities was great.

Quality of Experience

Food

Loved that a home-cooked meal that we could eat outside near the elephants was prepared for us.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wat Umong & monk blessing

Chiang Mai

This was one of our favorite temple visits, in a beautiful, peaceful setting. Loved that it was so different from other temples we'd seen.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cu Chi Tunnels Half day

Ho Chi Minh City

This was one of our most memorable days. The tour was amazing and our guide was incredibly informative. Anyone visiting Saigon should add this to their list. The ambience and setting of the restaurant we visited for lunch was very nice. However, the food was all pre-cooked and the pre-set menu was basic. We ordered a couple beers and learned at the end of the meal that they only accept cash. Since it was our last day in Vietnam, we were low on cash. We worked it out, but would have liked to have known about the cash-only policy beforehand.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Orchid cruise 2 Day 1 Night Program - Day 1

Ha Long Bay

Beautiful experience and excellent staff. The rooms are very comfortable and the food at all meals was delicious!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ha Long - Hanoi by private car - Fly to Danang - Hoi An

Thailand

This was a long day. The drive from Ha Long to the Hanoi airport is unavoidably long, but we also stopped for a "rest" stop at a massive commercial location. It was full of tour busses and crowds of people and definitely not a place we would visit on our own.

Visit The Tumultuous Capital of The South

Ho Chi Minh City

Despite the incredible heat, our guide Harry gave us a great walking tour of the capital sites. He provided a very good overview of the political and cultural history.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Plenty of water in the car!

Night Street Food Tour After Dark by Tuk Tuk

Bangkok

This was a fun night. Our guide was very knowledgeable and engaging. The only disappointment was the rooftop bar. While it had a nice view of the capital sites, lit up at night, we had to walk through the lobby of a hostel, which had a horrible smell, to the back of the building and up six flight of stairs. The rooftop area was pretty rudimentary, with iron patio furniture and a limited drink menu. Service was spotty.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide, while easy to understand and very personable, explained that he wouldn't be with us for the next two days during our stay in Bangkok because he had to renew his tourist guide license. As a result, we had three different guides on three different days. He also promised to send us photos he took of us while on the night time food tour and check-in to see how things were going with the "substitute" guides, but we never heard from him again.

Ayutthaya: Glory Days of Old Siam

Bangkok

Our guide was wonderful. He decided to "rearrange" the order of temple visits, and include an air conditioned museum visit, to work around the intense heat, and it was all good. He really made all the difference in our day.

Quality of Experience

Food

Rather than channel us to a tourist location with pre-set menus, Tony took us to one of his favorite spots, and helped us select dishes that we were curious about plus a few he wanted us to try. It was one of the best lunches we had on the trip because it was not pre-cooked.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bangkok Symbolic Temples

Bangkok

We were glad to have seen this, but it was so incredibly hot. We would have welcomed the option to start earlier in the morning.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was kind and personable but difficult to understand and she didn't provide much backstory to the sites we were seeing. She very kindly, however, offered to come into the airport with us to get us checked in.

Transport

John Gray's sea canoe - Hong by Starlight - Joining excursion

Phuket

By far, one of the best days of our trip. This crew knows what they're doing and took great care of us all day. The food on board was delicious, the kayaking guides were amazing, and the whole day was a beautiful experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day 2: Halong Bay - Hanoi by private car - Orchid cruise

Ha Long Bay

See previous review