Kimkim Trip Reviews

Ana and her team were excellent in helping us plan and complete our awesome trip to Chilean and Argentinan Patagonia. I appreciate how proactive and attentive to detail they were in every phase, including helping us stay on budget. At one point our flight was cancelled because of a nationwide airline strike and they quickly arranged for a new itinerary and helped us file a travel insurance claim with a third party. I highly recommend kimkim for their professional service.

My local specialist was Sofia. I enjoyed the planning process with her. The local support person, Mariana was an excellent communicator and always responsive. The tours were excellent. Most were private tours. We would have enjoyed more group tours to have the chance to interact with others. The guides were very knowledgeable and fun to be with.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Casa Eva

Colonia San Pedro Cholula, Puebla

The Hotel Casa Eva was a very comfortable hotel, with easy access to the city centre. Hotel staff were friendly and responsive. The room was spacious with a great bed and linens.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful courtyard, delicious breakfasts

Location

Easy access to city centre

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Oaxaca Real Hotel

Oaxaca

The hotel was beautiful and well maintained. We especially enjoyed the gift of a water bottle. The pool was excellent and we really enjoyed it after a day of touring.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Parador Margarita

San Cristobal de las Casas

The hotel has a lot of charm and character. Very spacious room with a good courtyard view. Breakfast was good and staff were helpful and friendly.

Authenticity & Character

The decor of this hotel is unique and beautiful.

Location

The walk to the center of town was okay

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel La Aldea del Halach Huinic

Palenque

The hotel is peaceful and serene. The pool was beautiful and surrounded by plants and trees. The rooms were a bit dated, but clean and comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

The jungle location of this hotel was unique. However, it was far from town and without a car, few dining options

Staff

No help with bags to room which was located down 2 flights of stairs.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Comfortable bed, pleasant patio outside the room, good restaurant

Hotel Boutique Casa Piedad

Campeche

This hotel did not meet our needs. The room was advertised as 20 sq meters, but was only 13 sq meters. There was no room for luggage and the bathroom was tiny. We did not stay a second night.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Not close to the centre of town

Staff

No greeting, not friendly. There was no breakfast and we were not given any suggestions for breakfast restaurants.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was clean but not comfortable

Kuka y Naranjo

Mérida

This is a unique hotel, with a beautiful patio sitting area. The room was comfortable with minimalist decor.

Authenticity & Character

A vegan restaurant on site had an interesting menu

Location

Not far from the city centre but not the best part of town

Staff

Friendly, helpful and attentive

Cleanliness & Comfort

The concrete floor had crack that should be filled for hygienic reasons.

Casa Quetzal Hotel Boutique

Valladolid, Yucatán

The hotel is lovely with a beautiful courtyard and pool. Very close to amazing restaurants, this hotel was the perfect place to stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

No help with the luggage to our room on the second floor.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Fives Oceanfront

Quintana Roo

Authenticity & Character

The lobby is amazing with a view of the ocean and pool. Check in was organized. We were encouraged to use the pool and beach until our room was ready.

Location

A very quiet and peaceful resort

Staff

Every staff member we met was friendly, helpful and attentive. Enjoyed yoga and bike riding with Will. The gym was well equipped and clean

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was spacious, clean and modern. Exceptionally comfortable bed and linens. Large balcony, unfortunately on the street side of the hotel.

Activity Reviews

Free Afternoon in Puebla

Mexico

We actually stayed in Cholula and did not get to see Puebla. It was disappointing as I was interested in seeing Talavera pottery.

Between markets and corn in the magical town of Cholula

Mexico

We had a fantastic time at the market in Cholula. The food tasting was diverse and delicious. Our guide was very attentive to our interests. The experience at Mili was very interesting. We enjoyed tasting all of the food products made from corn.

Quality of Experience

We enjoyed the variety of food on the tour

Food

The foaming chocolate drink was delicious

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The pace of the tour was very good.

Get to know the history of Mole Poblano through the streets of Puebla

San Andrés Cholula

We had a great cooking experience making and eating mole. The class took place in the home of the guide, making it a very comfortable experience. The mole was excellent.

Quality of Experience

The instructor was very good.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

This company was great in planning around our preferences and making sure that everything ran smoothly. I appreciate Lucia's help in coordinating the trip and making our dreams come true! Fantastic experience!

I usually try to book our trips on my own, but I stumbled across KimKim while searching online and the rest was easy! Our special thanks to Huyen for putting together a few different options to choose from. Every step of the way there was communication to keep us posted as to who was picking us up and when. Always clean air-conditioned private cars with friendly drivers, guides, and water waiting for us. One of the highlights was the Saigon by Night street food tour. We spent 3 1/2 hours touring around and enjoying the local food, our guides were friendly, knowledgeable, and informative. I would recommend this tour to everyone who visits. The rooftop pool at La Vela Saigon was beautiful day and night! If you are staying at, or even close to La Vela you MUST try the seafood buffet, it was incredible. Bamboo Village in MuiNe was fantastic. The staff were very helpful and attentive and the grounds were beautifully kept. At any time during the trip, if we had a question or even just wanted a restaurant suggestion, Huyen was quick to reply. Thanks again, we will be back next year to try the northern part of your beautiful country.

Jon was very patient in helping us plan the trip and called us several times for in depth discussions. He was conscious of our budget and time constraints. He promptly replied to our emails and even phoned us in Cairns when there was a glitch in our plans. We really loved using the app Jon provided us with, it was very easy to keep track of all the steps of the trips.

Hotel Reviews

Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne

Melbourne

Good location. Hallways and rooftop were not clean. Rooms and bath were small but comfortable

Authenticity & Character

Location

Near city

Staff

Everyone was very nice and helpfuk

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooftop, halls and elevator needed attention

Pacific Hotel Cairns

Cairns

Great location. Had the all basics and a pool. Not luxurious but clean and comfortable

Authenticity & Character

Nothing unusual about the hotel. Bar was never open

Location

Very Close to wharf, tour locations and restaurants

Staff

Helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms attended every other day. Had to bring towels down and pick up new ones in the opposite days

Rendezvous Hotel Sydney The Rocks

The Rocks

Very large room with kitchen. Location was excellent. Some deferred maintenance needed...peeling paint on ceiling and around sliding door; rust on hinged glass over bathtub

Authenticity & Character

Lovely exterior that fit into neighborhood

Location

Central to everything

Staff

Helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Great towels

Activity Reviews

Reef Magic outer reef cruise

Australia

We had a fantastic experience on the Reef Magic outer reef cruise. All of our trips were excellent, and this one was no exception. The tour was well-organized, and we got to explore the beautiful outer reef. The entire experience was smooth and enjoyable.

Quality of Experience

Skyrail Rainforest Cableway + Kuranda Scenic Railway

Cairns

Our day with the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and Kuranda Scenic Railway was mostly great. We had a funny incident with the train, but our guide, Jon, handled it brilliantly. Despite a small hiccup, we were impressed by how well everything was managed. The scenic views were breathtaking, and we thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Great Ocean Road Day Tour

Melbourne

The Great Ocean Road Day Tour was a memorable experience, although it was quite a long day. The tour guides worked hard to ensure we saw everything, and the sights like the kangaroos were amazing. We felt the tour could have been condensed a bit as it was a full day excursion, but overall, we were happy with the experience.

Morocco exceeded all our expectations, thanks to the impeccable planning by Original Travels. Our 10-day adventure took us through the enchanting cities of Chefchaouen, Fes, Ait Benhaddou, Merzouga, and Marrakech, each stop offering its own unique charm and beauty.

Our journey was made even more memorable by our exceptional driver, Tariq. From the moment he greeted us at Casablanca airport, his warmth and humor set the tone for an unforgettable trip. Tariq's safe and comfortable driving, coupled with his infectious love for Bollywood, especially Shah Rukh Khan, added an extra layer of joy to our travels. He went above and beyond to accommodate our requests, making every moment on the road a delight.

In Fes, we were guided by Sharif, whose deep knowledge of the city's history and culture provided invaluable insights. His passion for the town shone through, enriching our experience and leaving us with a deeper appreciation for Fes's treasures.

Said, our guide in Marrakech, was equally impressive. His expertise and enthusiasm brought the city's vibrant streets and bustling markets to life. From the iconic Bahia Palace to the majestic Koutoubia Mosque, Said ensured we didn't miss a single highlight.

The riads and desert camp we stayed in were a perfect blend of luxury and authenticity, providing a comfortable retreat after days filled with exploration. Camping in the Sahara under the starlit sky was a truly magical experience, leaving us in awe of Morocco's natural beauty.

Overall, our trip was nothing short of epic. Every day was filled with unforgettable moments, thanks to the seamless planning by Original Travels, the expertise of our guides, and the exceptional service of Tariq. Morocco has left an indelible mark on us, and we're already dreaming of our next adventure in this captivating country.

This was an incredible trip!

The KimKim team helped us organize a logistically complicated trip and it went flawlessly. The local cooking class in Buenos Aires was excellent and the time in each city was perfect for what we wanted to see.

Hotel Review

Rochester Calafate

El Calafate

I loved this hotel. The location was close to the main town (walking distance or accessible by shuttle). I loved watching the birds in the lawn in the morning and looking out my window at the beautiful view.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Experiencia Boedo, an evening with a porteñian family

Buenos Aires

this was one of our favorite parts of the trip. We learned so much and were really able to appreciate the culture of Buenos Aires

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tango & cena show at El Viejo Almacen

Buenos Aires

This show is very long and ends late at night (there is then a bus ride back to the hotel that takes a while). You do learn a lot about the development of the tango

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trekking on Perito Moreno glacier

El Calafate

One of the highlights of the trip. The guides were amazing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bike tour: Palermo & Recoleta

Buenos Aires

it normally would have scared me to bike in a big city, but Buenos Aires has good bike lanes and the guide is good. This is a rigorous day we biked just under 12 miles and were out for about 4 hours.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Gran Aventura Navigation tour

Puerto Iguazú

this trip helped you really understand the power of the waterfalls and see them from a different perspective. I also really liked the trip in the 4-wheeler type vehicle through the jungle to get to the boat.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tamer was an excellent local specialist. The itinerary he put together was action packed. It's included hiking, volcanoes, waterfalls, culture, local cooking class, and ultimately a 10 days Galápagos Islands cruise. We enjoyed everything.
The cruise experience was unforgettable. So much wildlife and beautiful landscapes.
Tamer followed up with us on a daily basis to ensure that we were having a great time, and if we needed anything, he assisted on a timely manner.
Sebastian Alejandro, our local guide was kind, knowledgeable, attentive to our needs. Without him, I would not make it to the Cotopaxi National Park Refugio. It was a tough and challenging hike, but Sebastian guided me every step of the way.
He was patient and funny at the same time.
I highly recommend the local specialist Tamer and the local guide Sebastian, for Ecuador's travel experience.

Hotel Reviews

Ikala Quito Hotel

Quito

Clean, friendly staff, especially the hotel manager Eulalia, who gave us tips on local sightseeing in Quito. Safe and good location, walking distance from El Mariscal Artesanias Mercado (marketplace).

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The overall hotel lobby, surroundings and rooms

Hacienda Pinsaqui

Otavalo

Old historical hacienda, beautiful gardens and surroundings

Authenticity & Character

Old history behind.

Location

Remote and quiet

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cuello de Luna Mountain Lodge

El Chasqui - Pastocalle

Rustic and remote location, quiet.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Too much dog's poops on the area, easy to step on by accident

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Spa Miramelindo

Baños

Location needs ceiling fans or AC, the room was pretty warm. Surroundings gardens and general atmosphere nice and beautiful. Good food at the restaurant.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ceiling fans or AC installation for better room temperature

M/Y Monserrat

Quito

We recommend replacement of blue and yellow life jackets. Some of them look pretty worn out and some yellow ones, not working properly at all. Also for the amount of people, having extra kayaks available would be a good asset as well, less waiting time for usage. We recommend hand sanitizers station near all stairways, to avoid transmitting germs between passengers.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Fernando the bartender and waiter, portrays excellent customer service. Always smiling and attentive. Javier, the guide was very knowledgeable about wildlife in general and landscaping. Very encouraging when I was scared to do snorkeling, since I don't know how to swim.

Cleanliness & Comfort

We enjoyed the cabin maid towel special decorations.

Wyndham Quito Airport

Quito

We were happy that hotel staff allowed us to come back to our room after checkout because our flight got delayed. We were able to take a nap, breakfast and later shuttle to the airport. We truly appreciated it.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

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

Quito

We really enjoyed the cooking class, although it took longer than we expected, so we got a bit late for the Mitad del Mundo monument tour. We saw the new one, but the original monument site was closed, so we saw it from the distance.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cuicocha Lagoon - Cotacachi - Otavalo Hacienda

Galapagos Islands

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trek to Laguna de la Mica: Exploring Antisana Ecological Reserve

Galapagos Islands

I was affected by the altitude so I was not able to complete the whole hike, but I was able to enjoy the beautiful landscape. We saw numerous birds, white-tip deer and condors.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Quito - Cotopaxi National Park

Galapagos Islands

Tough hike to the Refugio with heavy winds, rain and hail. Sebastian encouraged me to complete it all to the way to the top. Without his assistance, I don't think I would been able to do it. The Cotopaxi Volcano view was spectacular. Here we saw the Andean wolf, deer and more birds.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cotopaxi National Park - Quilotoa Lagoon - Baños

Galapagos Islands

Tough hike to the bottom to the Lagoon, but totally worthy. The experience of riding a horse up to the beginning of the trail was unforgettable. Beautiful Lagoon.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Reconnecting with Nature: Embrace Serenity and Adventure in Baños de Agua Santa

Baños

Another moderately strenuous hike, but totally worthy to experience the beautiful waterfall.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arrival to Baltra Airport - Transfer to Cruise Ship & Santa Cruz Highlands

Galapagos Islands

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The airport transfer to the cruise ship was disorganized.

Transport

Rabida Island - Bartolomé Island

Cruise Ship

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

South Plaza - Santa Fe Island

Cruise Ship

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Punta Pitt - Witch Hill (San Cristobal Island)

Galapagos Islands

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Española: Gardner Bay - Suarez Point

Galapagos Islands

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Charles Darwin Station - Eden Islet/Ballena Bay

Cruise Ship

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dragon Hill (Santa Cruz Island) - Chinese Hat

Cruise Ship

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lobos Island - Tijeretas Hill & Interpretation Center (San Cristobal Island)

Galapagos Islands

Watching wildlife was amazing. Hiking would been a better choice, but we understand the changes in the itinerary due to the Avian flu situation.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cormorant Point - Post Office Bay (Floreana Island)

Galapagos Islands

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Black Turtle Cove (Santa Cruz Island) – Baltra Island Airport

Cruise Ship

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer to the airport for your flight back home (Departure)

Galapagos Islands

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This is the first time using a service like this (my fiend and I always plan our own trips) we were so happy with everything!

We told Moonika the kind of artic trip we wanted and she planned everything to a T! The hotels she picked and the tour groups were all exceptional.

We have already recommended Moonika to friends for a Finland or Norway trip!

Liz was incredible! This was the first time we’ve worked with a travel agent and I think we will be using them for all big trips moving forward. Liz really listened to our needs and what we were hoping to see and do while in New Zealand. We had the most amazing trip, saw the best sites, and experienced as much as we possibly could. Liz helped make the trip go off without any issues. She even went above and beyond to help us out with transportation when our flight was delayed upon arrive. Liz also checked in with us a few times while we were in New Zealand to see if we needed anything! I hope we can work with Liz again because any other travel agent we work with will have some very big shoes to fill :)

Hotel Reviews

M Social

Auckland

We loved this hotel!! The breakfast was great, the staff was wonderful, and it was in the best location. We wished we could have put this hotel in our suitcase and brought it with us the entire trip.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right across the street from the boardwalk and tons of restaurants and shops

Staff

They were all so kind and willing to help

Cleanliness & Comfort

PurePod Port Levy, Banks Peninsula (Pohue)

Pohue

We loved this bnb type experience. It’s remote-ness made for the perfect middle stop on our trip to just spend time together and reconnect. Absolutely stunning views as well. We also ordered the breakfast and dinner package and that was the best decision!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Novotel Rotorua Lakeside

Rotorua

This hotel was pretty old. I think we just had a bad room because they were hosting a large conference at the same time, so those attendees seemed to get the staffs attention and best rooms. The location was great, right by the lake and city center!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

I think the room could have been cleaner. Part of that is due to an older hotel, but some of the sheets and towels had stains on them and the floor wasn’t clean either. When we got room service it took a long time to get it and then the tray in the hallway wasn’t picked up for more than 24 hours.

Scenic Suites Queenstown

Queenstown

We were in the suites and it was a bit weird to open our door and have a random person in one door and then we were in the next. Didn’t love that, but would be great if you were with a group and got both rooms

Authenticity & Character

Location

Nice and close to everything

Staff

Friendly and attentive

Cleanliness & Comfort

Crowne Plaza Christchurch

Christchurch Central

Great location! It was a fancy place for us which was a treat

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very friendly!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Half Day Mt Tarawera Crater Walk Experience

Rotorua

The guides we had really made this experience. We have never done a hike like this, it was so unique, put us out of our comfort zone, and was a lot of fun.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Fantastic

Transport

Welcome to Pohue Pure Pod

New Zealand

This is what I was most looking forward to on our trip and it didn’t disappoint

Quality of Experience

Full Day Famous Routeburn Trail

Queenstown (NZ)

This was a tough hike, but we loved it! We hiked the entire day, which was about 12-13 miles. The views were incredible

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide walked so fast that our group was separated frequently. Made me feel like I couldn’t totally enjoy the experience because I had to keep up. Thankfully the trail is very well marked and easy to follow. He was very knowledgeable though so it was interesting to learn about the area, plants, etc.

Transport

Auckland to Rotorua visiting Hobbiton with lunch

Auckland

Such a fun experience, even if you haven’t seen the lord of the rings movies (definitely helps to have seen the though)

Quality of Experience

Food

The buffet was so good!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Alex did an exceptional job creating our Guatemala and Belize itinerary. He was very responsive, had great suggestions, was patient and polite throughout the process. Our trip started with pick up from the airport. The driver patiently waited a couple of hours for two different flights to arrive so our whole party could depart together. We spent the first 3 nights in San Ignacio. It was a great introduction to Belize and Guatemala - with a clean, safe hotel, amazing food, and really fun (and informative) trips to two different Mayan ruins.

I really enjoyed the water tubing excursion we took while transitioning from interior Belize to the coast in the middle of our trip. We had the same drive as before - and he was friendly, punctual, and ensured a safe delivery.

On the coast, we stayed in San Pedro. The scenery is like a postcard. Alex selected an ideal snorkeling excursion that totally made our trip.

Overall, I cannot wait to return to Belize and Guatemala and will definitely enlist Alex's help to plan our next adventure.

Activity Reviews

Explore Tikal National Park

San Ignacio

William (I think), the guide was friendly and knowledgeable. He paced the tour so a range of fitness levels could learn, explore, and adventure. I really enjoyed walking to each structure, checking out nature, and glimpsing a few fun animals. It was an active but not exhausting day - the perfect amount of time. Also, the restaurant we went to for lunch at the end was fantastic!!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

On time, safe, polite.

Horse Backriding Tour of the Xunantunich Maya Ruins

Belize

I really appreciated the knowledge of the tour operators at St. Leonards tours. And, the gentleman who rode horses with us was outstanding - he stopped to check in on everyone, kept conversation going, and ensured a safe ride.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer from San Ignacio to Belize City with Cave Tubing Tour en Route

Belize

Derrick, our driver, was so nice and helpful. He waited with our belongings the whole time we were tubing. Tubing was wonderful - perfect temperature (air and water), right amount of time, our guide was great and I especially liked just floating outside of the tube to look at the trees, etc. The lunch, on premise, was delicious!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half day Snorkeling at Hol Chan and Shark Ray Alley from Caribe Resort

Belize

This was a perfect adventure. The boat transport was fun, our captain/dive leader was funny, the water was ideal. We say plenty of fish and sea life.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our Patagonia trip organized by KimKim (Erin and Nara) was wonderful . All our connections and transfers were spot on. It was absolutely peace of mind knowing all the details behind the scene were taken care of from lunches to excursions. All of the hiking was spectacular and we would highly recommend all the areas and trips we did. We hiked the W trek, Perito Moreno Glacier, Via Ferrata to a glacier and finally to the spectacular Fitz Roy range. Truly a trip of a lifetime and KimKim’s Erin and Nara made all the details come together and were so helpful when we added an excursion or needed assistance along the way. I highly highly recommend them.

We booked with original travels through kimkim and had a great time. Our specialist was Said and our Driver was Lahcen. We had Hinan as our food and history tour guide in Marrakech. Badr was our local guide in Skoura (not sure if he works for original travels). Youssef and Mustafa took great care of us at Tiziri Camp in Merzouga. IT ended in Fez with out guide Sharief.

The guides were all amazing and friendly. They tolerated my constant questions and inquiries. We had a great time bonding with them, learning about the culture, country, music, food, daily life, education, careers, Berber culture, language.

All of the guides did their best to accommodate me with my gluten allergy. The car was comfortable and spacious/clean. Our Driver took great care to follow the law and rules when it came to driving, safety and seat belts. He also did his best to communicate any needs/changes and requests and make the appropriate arrangements while we were on excursions. He was easily available by whatsapp and so was Siad. Our driver was available to us anytime if we needed to get a ride somewhere though we were so well taken care of, we did not end up needing to utilize this privilege. Lahcen also made plenty of spots for pictures along our long drives. He was aware of all the drives, routes, alternate options and restaurants/bathrooms/picture spots along the way. He also made sure to only stop at reputable looking clean places for restroom and snack breaks.

Getting our food tour on the first day of our trip really set us up for success because food is a big part of life so we knew what we wanted to ask for when we would eat and what I would specifically need to avoid due to my allergy. It was nice to get a background.

When I first contacted them about my requests for a tour, they were able to modify the trip to our likes/dislikes and needs.

If I were to give a suggestion to future guests and redoing this specific tour, I would recommend not to spend more than a few hours in Casablanca (definitely visit the Hassan II mosque and go on their tour). I would not spend time in Fes except to visit the tannery and ceramics workshop so maybe I would stay for one day and night but if you don't care for it then I would cut out Fes. I would spend majority of my time in South Morocco which encompasses Marrakech, the desert, Skoura and surrounding areas. Rabat was a capital city like every other city in the world. It is definitely beautiful and gave us Los Angeles feels with the beach.

All in all, we would love to go back to Morocco and use this company again.

Hotel Reviews

Le Casablanca Hotel

Casablanca

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Maison Arabe Hotel

Marrakech

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

Love love love! Do not skip this experience. The people make this camp. They are so kind, and hard working and they do everything in their power to make your stay comfortable. Remember it gets realllly cold at night. Your excursion from here to the nomads, camel rides, atv, berber village, garden, music performance at another tribe, nighttime music and "hangout" by the fire are all worth it. Remember it is a desert and they try their best to be eco friendly so you will have to be mindful not to be wasteful. You can charge your phone and small electronics and use them but NOT a hair dryer. Bring shoes that area easy to clean after being out in the sand and avoid walking on the carpets with them. Some people break up their night stay and do 1 - 2 nights in the tent and another night or two at the hotel nearby to be able to get their regular comforts and thorough showers in, use a hair dryer etc.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palais Amani

Fès

It is literally a palace! The garden is breathtaking! Good amenities and quality. The staff is very friendly. It is located right in the medina. The walk up to it was cool because it looks like you are lost in a tight labyrinth until you suddenly face the large door and walk in.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ksar El Kabbaba

Skoura

My favorite hotel in the entire trip because it was so personalized. It was small and intimate, romantic. Had avilability of all amenities. We did not use the pool or spa but love the garden and room. The room was beautiful and spacious. the tub in the bathroom drained too slow so water would stay stagnant while showering. The chef and food was so amazing. They accomadated my gluten free allergy and made me moroccan breads that were gluten free so I could experience true moroccan cuisine

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Marrakesh Evening Food Tour

Marrakesh

A variety of tasting. Go hungry! She knows a lot about the foods

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

All of our guides were very friendly, accommodating and went above and beyond in helping Paula Olsen, who had leg issues from breaking her leg 9 weeks ago. They went above and beyond for me also. Enjoyed all the excursions and enjoyed the lunches also. Amazing experiences that couldn’t have been Better!

Loved the authenticity of Coban.
Semuc Champey was great but we would have liked more warning/info about what the "water cave" experience was going to involve. This was complicated by the fact that the guide's English was inadequate.
Flores was lovely.
LOVED Yaxha - Guide Oliveiro was superb. Tikal also great.
Really enjoyed Rio Dulce, the hotel we stayed at (Tixal?) and the whole river experience. Livingston was very interesting. Great guide too - Fernando.
Best was the hot springs!! Great experience!
Chichicastanango was absolutely fantastic - the market! and the cemetary.
Lake Atitlan was beautiful. We loved the kayaking & hiking experience. The towns we visited were tourist-y (San Juan, San Pedro, Santiago) but the things we visited (chocolate factory, weaving cooperative, shaman house) were really! interesting.
We really, really enjoyed this trip - it exceeded our expectations.

I would like to thank Franck for helping us plan a magical trip to New Zealand! Going to NZ is like going back in time. The country is beautiful and so clean, the people genuinely friendly and the food and wine delicious. We absolutely loved the places where we stayed and overall the tours we took were great. We travelled from Auckland to Queenstown and in each place had wonderful experiences. Highlights included: wine touring on Waiheke Island, nighttime kayaking to see glowworms and exploring the Waimangu Volcanic Valley in Rotorua, boat tour to Apawapa blue pearl farm, whale watching in Kaikōura, staying in the remote and very private Scrubby Bay at Annadale, 2 different 4WD tours one with Micheal on “The Road to Mesopotamia and Christine on the Cass Valley Backcountry Tour, our fabulous stay at Azure in Queenstown and finally our private wine tour with Kate from BlackZNQ.
There were a couple of things that stopped me from giving this trip a 5 star. Franck, overall, did a wonderful job organizing the trip but we found his Travel Book somewhat confusing and sometimes lacking in detail. One situation in particular we ran into difficulty when flying from Rotoura to Blenheim. We did not have detailed flight information and when we showed up at airport we found our flight had been delayed and we were not on the flight we expected. If it wasn’t for the amazing Air New Zealand staff we would have lost a whole day of travel. As well, I was disappointed with our Marlborough wine tour. We were happy Franck had arranged a private guide but unfortunately the guide knew nothing about wine and the vineyards we visited for tastings gave little information about region or wines. I would recommend asking for an experienced guide with in-depth knowledge of wine and region and request to talk with the guide to plan the day. Luckily we had very knowledgeable guides for our other 2 wine tours but it still would have been helpful to discuss expectations before hand. We loved our trip to New Zealand and appreciated the service KimKim provides!

Hotel Reviews

Park Hyatt Auckland

1010

Location fantastic, rooms clean and beautiful with great amenities and breakfast fantastic!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Black Swan Lakeside Boutique Hotel

Rotorua

The Black Swan was lovely, clean and comfortable. We enjoyed wine and cheese by the pool and the breakfast was good. We also enjoyed our dinner in the restaurant. We were disappointed the morning we had to leave early when we understood breakfast was served from 7 and no one was there. Overall, we enjoyed our stay and would recommend this hotel.

The Marlborough Boutique Hotel and Vineyard

Marlborough

We loved this hotel! The property is spectacular and staying there feels like you have gone back in time. We loved our room, it was spacious, beautifully decorated and filled with extra goodies, the delicious breakfasts we had each morning and the creative canapés and cocktails we had each evening were memorable. The heated pool area was a favourite place to drink wine, swim and enjoy the summer weather at the end of our busy days. All the staff were friendly and helpful but want to give a special thank you to Chris for her outstanding service. We can’t wait to return!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hapuku Lodge & Tree Houses

Kaikoura

It was a pleasure to stay in this unique hotel. Loved everything about it. Only wish our stay was longer

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Annandale

Pigeon Bay

Wow, this place is exceptional! From the personalized thrilling cliff hugging drive to the secluded private bay with Caroline leading the way, to the beautiful, fully stocked home with floor to ceiling windows across the front, to the gourmet meals provided daily by the chef, this place exceeded all our expectations. The food was abundant and delicious, the hot tub spa provided a fabulous place to star gaze and soak sore muscles after climbing the cliffs on both sides of the bay. We loved our stay at Scrubby Bay, Annadale and can’t wait to plan our next visit.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Vicarage Geraldine

Geraldine

We enjoyed staying at the Vicarage, Geraldine. We stayed here one night on route to Queenstown and found it clean and comfortable and located right in heart of Geraldine.

Azur Lodge

Queenstown

This place is amazing. The staff were so professional, friendly and helpful. We enjoyed the delicious breakfasts and canapés with cocktails and appreciated the shuttle to and from the Azure. Thanks for the great stay!

Authenticity & Character

The private villa had amazing views of the mountains, was beautifully decorated with natural woods and neutral luxurious fabrics and colours.

Location

This was a secluded enclave of a number of private villas outside of Queenstown.

Staff

Everyone was friendly and helpful. Special thanks to Linda for the excellent restaurant recommendations!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lakestone Lodge

Lake Pukaki

The Lakestone Lodge is a great place to stay if wanting to explore Mount Cook but not stay in the village. The lodge had great service and the staff were friendly and helpful. The lodge is situated at one end of Lake Pukaki and looks up towards Mount Cook. We arrived late in afternoon on a gloomy day. Following a delicious dinner the weather had cleared so we climbed up the hill behind lodge. The panoramic view was spectacular but Mount Cook remained hidden. After sleeping in a clean, comfortable but smaller sized room with a private outdoor sitting area we awoke to a spectacular view of Mount Cook. It was a perfect sunny day without a cloud in the sky and this view was memorable. I will never forget the stunning blue of the lake and the distant snow peaked Mount Cook. Thank you for a wonderful stay.

Activity Reviews

Ahi Restaurant - 4 snacks and 4 courses

Auckland

The creative menu and variety of unique foods was memorable. We enjoyed meeting Christian one of the owners of restaurant and particularly appreciated when he realized one of our party was not eating much and brought her a lamb dinner which she loved! Thanks so much for the exciting journey through NZ foods.

Waiheke Wine tour exclusive

New Zealand

We loved the island, our guide and learning about the wine produced on this paradise!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Glowworm Paddle Board Tour

Rotorua

Such a memorable experience. Imagine paddling along in a tandem kayak with your husband on a star lit warm night. Then imagine gliding into small caves with glowing worms on the sides and ceiling. Magical!

National Hatchery

Rotorua

It was very educational to learn about the endangered kiwis and how NZ and volunteers are making a remarkable difference in their survival! Well done!

Whale Watch Kaikoura by boat

Kaikōura

The VIP Captain Cabin feature was well worth it! The spacious comfortable seating, the top level viewing deck and the friendly and knowledgeable staff made the experience of viewing the male sperm whales memorable!

Our trip was terrific and exceeded our expectations. With the itinerary that was created for us, we saw many different areas of the country. What we hope to have, on a trip like this, is a wide variety of activities and experiences. This trip delivered. We were in cities and villages; we saw nightlife and wildlife; we were on lakes, in mountains and in jungles; we hiked, walked, swam, motor-boated and kayaked ; we visited wide open plazas and packed markets; we explored centuries-old pyramids and temples and modern churches; we learned ancient customs and current practices. Our local guides, lined up by Eduardo, were knowledgeable, personable and flexible. And the people of Guatemala were friendly and welcoming. Definitely a great trip overall.

This was the best service I have ever received for trip planning and follow thru. Tom Christer did a wonderful job in helping us plan a great itinerary, and then keeping up with this during our trip. We couldn't have asked for better service and we have been referring our friends to your company.
Thanks, again to Tom.

Activity Review

Full Day Ice Dome visit with Activities and Dinner

Tromsø

This was a fabulous day. Everyone was very friendly and extremely helpful

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wow! New Zealand is BEAUTIFUL!

I am so glad we planned our honeymoon with Kimkim because I guarantee we would not have experienced as much as we did without it. Our itinerary was very well thought out by Carly, making sure that we did not drive too much on any particular day and getting to experience so many of New Zealand's beautiful towns. Each town had it's own unique attractions and the drives between them had stunning views!

Some of our favorite places/activities were the Mount Cook region, where you are surrounded by majestic mountains, and the Doubtful Sound overnight cruise. Waking up in the Doubtful Sound with dolphins swimming next to the ship was truly magical! Getting to learn more about the Maori culture everywhere we went was another highlight that I will remember forever.

Thank you for everything!!

We had blast. Our tour guy for first few days was amazing. Mr. Betty taught some much in the small amount of time we had with him. Drivers were nice and helpful as well. Phuket was an amazing escape from the city of Bangkok. That’s not to say Bangkok wasn’t, but both places had a beauty to them that’s hard to describe. You just have to see for yourself. We loved the activities that were planned for us. For my first trip out the country since I was 15, it was nice experience. Thank you so much.

Activity Reviews

John Gray's Sea Canoe - Hong by Starlight

Phuket

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Scuba diving around Phuket!

Phuket

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day Bangkok City Tour

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport