Kimkim Trip Reviews

Thank you for an amazing trip. Dani was an excellent guide with a great combination of knowledge on wildlife and all things Costa Rican. Plus he possessed the enthusiasm and people skills to give us all a really great experience. A big thank you also to Josue who was also excellent in every respect and provided us with the support to enjoy and complete the Coast to Coast.

Hotel Review

Alma de Luna

Orosi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Naranjillo - Photos on the beach and we’re off! Biking 19km/12mi + Trekking 14km/9mi

Naranjito

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Quality of bikes, poor brakes.

Pacuare River – Rafting 20km/12mi

Siquirres

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Santa Maria – Pacific slopes Trekking 12km/7mi + Biking 14km/9mi

Santa Maria de Dota

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Humo – Through the valley to the Tapanti area Biking 9km/6mi + Trekking 17km/10.5mi

Humo

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pacuare Valley – Free day in the rainforest - hike to waterfall, play in a rapid, and relax in a hammock

Río Pacuare

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ok

Transport

Caribbean coast – Biking 26km + Kayaking 12km

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pacuare River – Biking 43km/27mi + Rafting 10km/6mi

Río Pacuare

Excellent river guides.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Orosi Valley – Up and over the Continental Divide – Biking 49km/30mi

Orosi

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This is our first trip to South America / Patagonia. Usually I plan all my trips on my own. However, for this trip.. I found it difficult to imagine the journey -- the places, the logistics, and the watch-outs that we need to know. Thank goodness, we found Kimkim.

Erin was our contact person. I took 6 months of deciding, researching, and going back and forth changing my mind. Throughout that time, Erin was super patient with me. She answered all my concerns, built on the wants that I have, and help customize the experience so that each of us can have the trip we all want -- ie, me and my sis on adventures vs mom taking a more relaxing approach.

The plan was 12-days in Patagonia. We ended up enjoying every moment of it. The activities were memorable; accommodation clean and convenient; transportation logistics all accounted for. Throughout our trip in Patagonia, Erin and Nara were contactable in case of last minute questions or changes -- which we did have, and they were so nice to help accommodate us.

Highly recommend working with them. We started with Relaxing Patagonia plan, and then built customization from there.

Thx again!

I had an incredible 9-day experience exploring Morocco with Kimkim, guided by Saïd, Ayub, and Noorudin. Their dedication was exceptional. They went above and beyond, even getting us medicine and arranging for our forgotten luggage to be returned, with Saïd waiting until 3am. Every concern was promptly addressed, and their extensive knowledge of Morocco's history was impressive. They made us feel like part of their family, and I couldn't have asked for better guides. Highly recommended!

Mery did a superb job of putting together an amazing trip on very short notice. The guides were almost all very excellent. The drivers were prompt and willingly waited when we were delayed. The level of service provided for al aspects of thsi trip was excellent.

Activity Reviews

Half-Day Buenos Aires City Tour

Buenos Aires

We were to meet the driver for this tour at a specific time in front of our hotel. We were there early. A van arrived and we asked the driver if this was the city tour. He said that it was the city tour so we boarded the van along with six other people. No one asked us our names but the same circumstance had occurred the previous night. Unfortunately we were on the wrong van and so missed the city tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dinner & Tango Show

Buenos Aires

Very athletic dancing. The show was a great introduction to Argentina.

Quality of Experience

Food

Advance notice that an excellent meal could be had but that an additional cost would be involved.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day The Argentine Experience Cocktail & Dinner

Buenos Aires

The meal preparation and dining experience was great. The staff who coordinated the event were very good. We were told to arrive no later than 7:00 pm so we made sure to arrive 5 minutes early. We were not told that the cocktail teaching experience required us to be there by 6:15 pm so we missed out on that part.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We were able to walk from our hotel.

Full-Day Estancia Day - San Antonio de Areco - El Ombu -

Buenos Aires

The horseback riding was not very exciting as the horses moved slowly along a predetermined path in an open field. The barbecue and the wine were both excellent and made the day a pleasurable experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-Day Iguazú Falls Argentine side

Puerto Iguazú

Astounding views of the falls. The guide did a wonderful job of showing us around and explaining everything.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Brazilian Falls tour

Argentina

The Argentinian side of the falls was amazing. The Brazilian side of the falls was ten times as wonderful. I tell everyone that they must put this natural wonder of the world on their bucket list. Our guide was very conscious of the fact that we were arriving on a Brazilian holiday and that the falls would be crowded by the afternoon so he wisely switched the order of our day's itinerary so that we had an even better experience.

Quality of Experience

A great guide and a stupendous sight.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was very knowledgable and did is best to make sure we had the best experience.

Transport

Visit to Parque Das Aves

Puerto Iguazú

An memorable park that allowed close observation of the various birds and other animals.

Quality of Experience

Close encounters with exotic birds.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

A very knowledgeable guide.

Transport

Half-Day City Tour Santiago de Chile

Santiago

The guide did not seem interested in showing us the highlights of the city. My impression was that she was doing the minimum to get through what she had to do and no more.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide seemed bored and disinterested.

Transport

Full-Day Rafting & Trekking

Mendoza

A fun day rafting and trekking in the Andes. The trekking included rappelling which could be a lot of fun. However, the guides had trouble explaining the steps. When I observed from the bottom as others were beginning their descent it was clear that the instructor missed explaining a fundamental point that would have made it easier for everyone. The rafting was fun. A better explanation of what was required of us and what would be provided wold have been helpful. For instance, we did not know if wet suits were provided or what footwear we needed etc.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Better information by a person fluent in English early.

Transport

Full-Day High Andes with trekking to Durazno Gorge

Mendoza

The sights while hiking in the Andes were great. The hike was not too long or to difficult.

Quality of Experience

Food

Transport

I am not sure how to improve the transport but travellers should be aware that it is a 3 hour drive each way (6 hours total) for a 2 hour hike

Full-Day Cacheuta Hot Springs

Mendoza

A half day at the spa would be sufficient. Sitting in pools of water at various temperatures loses its appeal after a few hours. The spa could add additional services such as massages, facials, manicures and pedicures to make a full day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Valparaiso & Viña del Mar Tour

Santiago

A good day seeing an historical city.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Visit to two wineries in the Colchagua Valley

Santiago

Very informative trip to the one winery. The second winery was a fascinating place but the guide spoke very little English so it was difficult to benefit from the tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-Day Red Rocks

San Pedro de Atacama

A great experience. We did not expect to be treated to two picnics in the desert along with visiting the National Flamingo Park as well as the Red Rocks with their lagoons. The guide was very helpful and knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience

Food

I was very pleased to be treated to two picnics in teh desert.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

A superb guide who made a clear effort o make everyone feel welcome and relaxed and enjoy the day.

Transport

Half Day Tatio Geysers

San Pedro de Atacama

An amazing place. The hot springs and geysers are a highlight of the trip.

Quality of Experience

Tremendous sights.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was knowledgeable and able to answer all of my questions.

Transport

It is a very bouncy ride up the mountain.

Half-Day Moon Valley Tour

San Pedro de Atacama

A hike in the desert hills with stunning views al around. Wonderful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide knew the best time to go and took us to a great location to watch the sunset.

Transport

Pedro and team were completely involved from beginning to end. Prior to the trip, he formed a WhatsApp group and provided daily updates and information for the following day. They were incredibly attentive and responded almost immediately!

Hotel Review

Hotel Britania Art Deco

Lisboa

We loved everything about the hotel, with the exception of its location. While the hotel was located close to all the luxury shops, we typically prefer to stay closer to city center where the restaurants and bars are walkable! Regardless, if this hotel was located in city center, it would have been perfect!

Authenticity & Character

You could tell it was old luxury right from the front door. Everything felt authentic and the free port in the lobby was a nice touch.

Location

Distance to city center.

Staff

The staff were incredibly friendly and cheerful. We stayed up late one night and the staff allowed us to hangout without us feeling like a bother.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was large and the sheets were amazing!!

Activity Reviews

Exclusive Panoramic Boat Tour to the Ponta da Piedade Caves

Portugal

The grottos was a magical place. We loved this tour so much, especially watching the skill of our captain maneuvering through the grotto with the uncontrollable waves surrounding us!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The boat was quite large for just the 2 of us, and because of this we didn’t go into a few of the grottos!

Unveil the Fairytale Villa of Sintra with a Private Driver Service

Portugal

Our driver, Paulo, was amazing! As he drove us around, he pinpointed landmarks and was truly giving us a guided tour of the city, all while heading to Peña Palace. The Palace itself was breathtaking. It was truly lovely to be able to imagine how life was living in a palace.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Overall, I'd say the trip was a success. Morocco was a unique destination with lots of history. The itinerary with pros and cons is below:

Some high level detailed about the trip and our experience with KimKim's user interface:

11 days starting and ending in Casablanca. We took Royal Air Maroc from Montreal to Casablanca and back. If you have an option to take another airline, I would highly recommend it. Royal Air Maroc has bad customer service and is generally not a friendly business. If you need further proof, just look at Royal Air Maroc's reviews on TripAdvisor...it's bad.

KimKim's user interface is pretty slick, especially with the chat feature. I like the ease of communication. A con I have is that when you finalize trip updates and a new itinerary is created in the chat, it doesn't necessarily update the trip itinerary tab on the website. Those two items should really be synced so the customer doesn't get confused with all of the changes that take place while planning a large trip.

The first day we landed in Casablanca and our private driver picked us up from the airport and transported us straight to Marrakech. Our driver was very great and spoke good English. He was friendly and chatted with us throughout our trip. The driver really worked hard as our itinerary required lots of driving.

Marrakech: The most tourist friendly city of our trip. It was easy and safe to walk around. We liked our guide a lot. I'd recommend the food tour as that was a good experience to try local food.

Essaouira: This coastal town was about 2.5 hours east of Marrakech and provided a relaxed feel with a pretty neat local fishing culture. Lots of fresh catches in the medina which was fun to observe. A good look into non-tourist Moroccan culture. We enjoyed our guide here as well. Very relaxed and informative.

Ait Benhadou: You can probably skip the Kasbah and Ait Benhaddou if you plan on going to the desert. There really isn't much to see unless you like movie props from Game of Thrones or Gladiator. This town has just gotten hype from Hollywood and isn't worth seeing. The trip to the desert is very long. We spent 2 days traveling for about 6 hours both days just to get there. If we had spent more time driving instead of stopping and staying in Ait Benhaddou, this part of the trip would have been much better. I'd recommend you keep driving and stay somewhere around the Todha Gorge.

Sahara Desert: Cool spot/experience that I would highly recommend. Riding the camels was definitely my highlight. Beautiful views and our Desert Luxury Camp was great! NOTE: You can buy and bring your own wine to the desert camp and save some money. A big con here is that there was little information for how we were supposed to get to/from the desert camp. KimKim needs to provide a much more detailed itinerary of when guests can arrive at the desert camp headquarters for transport out into the desert to the campground. The lack of information on timing and what exactly we could bring out to the camp misguided us and was rather inconvenient.

Fes: Overall a really cool place with the exception of some locals in the medina trying to misdirect you and get you lost so they can lead you out for tip money. Definitely something I found bothersome, but Fes is a really unique experience. The medina is so maze like, it's something I've never experienced before. We also really enjoyed the food in Fes. Our guide in Fes, Sherrif, was the best guide we had all trip. We went against the hotel advice of KimKim and chose our own hotel in Fes which was rather deep in the medina. I wouldn't recommend this due to how easy it is to get lost going to and from your hotel and how many of the locals tried to misdirect us during our travels to/from our hotel. If I could do it again, I'd take KimKim's hotel advice and stay more on the fringe of the medina closer to a main street so I didn't have to deal with the navigation stress, especially at night. I would also recommend that KimKim in the future please explain to guests why the recommend the hotels that they do. Some explanation of guest safety would have been very helpful here.

Chefchaouen: Relaxing city with good views and art but overhyped by Instagram. No need to go here if you're tight on timeline. Our guide here was very nice but hard to understand. We felt as though we walked out without really learning much about the history/culture of the city.

Rabat: A bigger modern city, not much else to say. Definitely not the reason you travel to Morocco. We only passed through and it was enough.

Casablanca: I had the exact same thought about Casablanca as I did about Rabat. Not the reason you travel to Morocco, although the Hassan II Mosque is worth seeing if you find time while flying in/out of Casablanca. It was massive and gorgeous! NOTE: The Hassan II Mosque allows tourist to enter but you must enter at one of the designated times. We were NOT told this by KimKim as the inside tour wasn't part of our itinerary and we missed the opportunity to go inside. This was a big letdown when we found out we were too late to see the inside. If the customer is having a tour of Casablanca, a tour of the inside of the Hassan II Mosque should be obligatory and times of entry should be clearly stated to the customer. Unclear minor details and trip logistics made for some frustration through the entire trip. Although it didn't lead to any major setbacks, this type of detailed planning is what we paid for when using a guide service, and we feel as though we didn't receive the local expertise and guidance at certain times. The Hassan II Mosque visit is an example of this logistics issue. Another negative about our trip to Casablanca was that KimKim recommended the Movenpick and it was not very nice. It felt dated and unclean. I'd recommend KimKim find a different hotel to work with.

Activity Review

Hammam & Spa Experience Marrakech

Morocco

The cultural experience was interesting but this Hammam wasn't the right fit. We were looking for something much more luxurious and we thought that would have been built into our itinerary, but this place just wan't nice. It felt very hustle bustle and the business model was to move tourist - there was nothing relaxing about this experience. There are many nice Hammams in Marrakech, but this wasn't one of them. The bad part was that KimKim never told us which Hammam we were booked at. We trusted them and they let us down on this experience.

Quality of Experience

We had such a great experience from start to finish! Yassine was able to help us create a trip that was just exactly what we wanted and nothing we didn't - from where we went, what we did and even the level of luxury of hotels from city to city. Our driver was friendly, attentive and a wonderful ambassador to Morocco, helping us understand the culture and history and people of Morocco. We were so well taken care of throughout that even when I left my new smart watch at the tent camp in the Sahara, our driver, Said, was able to arrange for it to be brought to Marrakesh where we were.

We will use kim kim again and we WILL be back to visit Morocco again. Thank you for a memorable and wonderful experience.

Hotel Reviews

La Petite Chefchaouen

Chefchaouene

Rooms are more modern than traditional, the place was very comfortable with nothing lacking. The building is part inside, part outside which was really cool. Food was delicious and the staff were very welcoming.

Authenticity & Character

Location

loved being in the older part of the city

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dar Korsan

Rabat

This is a sweet little Riad that had a beautiful view of the river and city below from the terrace. The host was very nice, rooms were comfortable and well equipped. The food was delicious. We loved making our way through the medina to Dar Korsan. Would absolutely stay there again!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Mazar Fes

Fes

This riad is incredibly beautiful. The owner has created a place that is not only exquisite in appearance but warm and welcoming. We wish we could have stayed longer!

Authenticity & Character

stunning

Location

right on the edge of the medina so you could walk to the medina but be driven up to the front door of the riad

Staff

Very very nice and attentive

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Ksar Ighnda

Asfalou

The setting of the hotel and the grounds are very beautiful. The dining experience feels more like a cafeteria than a dining room. The rooms we had were nice but not as nice at the hotel itself.

Riad Jona

Marrakesh

Loved the beautiful hotel with its amazing terrace, great staff who made us feel welcome and supported, location was fantastic as we were able to walk to most places we wanted to go. The rooms were beautifully decorated and very comfortable.

Riad Chbanate

Essaouira

This place is incredible. The attention to the design in the rooms and common areas is amazing. So beautiful we didn't want to leave our room! The terrace was small but very comfortable. Staff is so warm and friendly. food great. Would absolutely love to come back again and stay here.

Barceló Casablanca

Casablanca

Very modern hotel with all of the comforts needed.

Luxury Camp Chebbi

Merzouga

Lovely tents with full bathrooms in each one. Sunrise and sunsets beyond description.

Location

beautifully situated among the dunes

Staff

Very friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Odyssee Center

Casablanca

Clean and modern. Staff are amiable. Location was ok.

Activity Review

Evening Food Tour in Marrakesh

Marrakesh

This was one of my favorite activities we did in Morocco. We were guided by Rachid, who was not only professional and knowledgeable but a lovely human being. Had we not had to run off to retrieve a lost item, our conversation with him would have continued despite our tour being officially over. Of course there was more food than we could consume. The food was delicious and we revisited some of the places he took us for more of the same later during our stay in Marrakesh. But Rachid was the best part by far!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Rachid was the best

We wanted to visit Morocco for a long time and the soccer semi-final entry pushed up to go ahead with the trip :-) Honestly, I had never heard of Kimkim before and once I started engaging with different tour operators, I started loving it. Right from the start (earlier this year), I have been working with Abdellah on the details, tours and costs. He is extremely helpful, communicated really well and is quick to get back to you with answers to your questions.
We were very lucky to have Faissal as our driver. He is very humble, respectful and a very safe driver. He was with us for a week from our Marrakesh airport pickup all the way to our departure from Casablanca airport. His English communication skills is excellent and he responds fast over Whatsapp. We always felt safe with him on our side. Very lucky to have him as our driver. Our English guide in Marrakesh was Hanan. She was awesome in every respect. She took the time to explain in detail the different sites we visited in Marrakesh. She also has excellent English communication skills. She never rushed us anywhere and let us take our time to absorb the local vibes. We even had her join us for lunch. Pray you get Hanan as your English guide :-) . The same goes with Abdel who was our guide in Fez. He walked us around and gave detailed explanations of everything in the never ending souk streets. He was very patient and treated us with deep respect. Overall, we had an amazing trip and miss it so much. We will definitely visit Tangier and Chefchaouen the next time as we fell short of days in this trip. Our best night was at the Luxury camp in Sahara desert. What a night! The breakfast and dinner served there was fabulous. On top of all, we enjoyed some good Berber music over campfire.

There were only 2 irritating issues which I am sure can be smoothened our for future visitors. The first one was the visit to the Berber carpet factory which we think was hard sell marketing of carpets. For a tourists, there is nothing to see but a store where you are shown different rugs. We love animals and have no animal products at home so it was a little awkward for us to be sold rugs made of animal fur/skin :-) The second issue was the 2 nights stay at Fez. We were supposed to stay 2 nights at Riad Ghita but the first night after waiting for long time we were told to stay at Riad Soleildor. There were no bathroom doors, enough toilet paper there. The next day we were shifted back to Riad Ghita.

Overall we left with a very warm opinion about Morocco and her people. Moroccans are proud of their culture and love to show it to the world. In turn, they have respect for people from other cultures and backgrounds no matter where you come from.

We would definitely be engaging Original Travels for our next Morocco trip. We would be recommending them to our friends here in the US and also to our friends and family in India.

Thank you Original travels, Faissal, Hanan and Abdel for making our vacation a very memorable one.

Ana helped me to develop a packed itinerary for the short amount of time I had in the Patagonia region. Within 6 days I was able to depart Buenos Aires and go to El Calafate, then Puerto Natales to see two stunning locations and she packed in several activities! Kayaking, glacier mini-trekking, a full day tour/ safari, and a low key hike. I even saw two pumas! and much other Patagonia flora and fauna. It was a VERY busy itinerary, but was amazing.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Big Sur

Puerto Natales

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kalenshen Hotel Cerro Calafate (NO USAR)

El Calafate

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full day Hike Porteria Lago Sarmiento - 6/7 km approx

Puerto Natales

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Perito Moreno Kayak Experience (Half Day)

El Calafate

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full day tour to Parque Nacional Los Glaciares and Minitrekking

El Calafate

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Panoramic excursion to the Torres del Paine National Park (with Box Lunch)

Puerto Natales

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The local specialist Lorena did an amazing job organizing the trip, she was always very responsive, provided great insights and helped a lot with her knowledge of Chile. All local guides were very nice and on time too. The experiences and accommodations felt very specific to what I wanted to see and I particularly loved the Torres Del Paine area. Thanks a lot!

This was the best experience we have ever had! Our planning and booking experience was seamless and the kimkim team ensured we did everything we wanted - and even made suggestions! Our driver, Lahcen, was amazing from start to finish. He was extremely knowledgeable, and made sure we saw and did everything we wanted to. All of the other day guides were equally knowledgeable and amazing. I cannot recommend this trip more.

Hotel Reviews

Dar Jasmine

Chefchaouen

Authenticity & Character

It was breathtaking

Location

Amazing view of the city!

Staff

Everyone was so helpful and nice

Cleanliness & Comfort

Extremely clean and comfortable

Riad Ghita

Fes

Authenticity & Character

Authentic riad right in the Medina!

Location

Right inside the Medina! Great location!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Akabar luxury desert camp

Merdane

Authenticity & Character

Location

In the desert, need I say more.

Staff

Over and above amazing!!!!!!!!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Extremely clean and comfortable for being a "camp"

Kasbah Titrit

Ait Ben Haddou

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Bayti

Marrakech

Authenticity & Character

Location

The BEST location! You can walk anywhere very easily!

Staff

So amazing, helpful! Always made sure we had our rides in order even at 4 am.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Quick Tour of Casablanca with your Driver-guide

Morocco

This was a great way to start our trip, the mosque was breathtaking and the guide was extremely knowledgeable. Highly recommend.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chefchaoeun to Fez via Volubilis, Moulay Idriss & Meknes

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day Guided Sightseeing in Fes

Fes

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was incredible!

Transport

Transfer from Fes to Merzouga via Erfoud & Camel Ride

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

From Merzouga Desert to Aït Benhaddou

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ait Benhaddou to Marrakech via Tizi N'Tichka pass

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Marrakesh Evening Food Tour

Marrakesh

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was so amazing! She made sure we tried a myriad of amazing traditional food.

Transport

We decided to squeeze in as much variety as possible in our 9 days in Thailand, hitting city, beach and jungle! In Bangkok, our awesome guide Mr Sam was very experienced and knowledgeable as he took us around the city and ensured all our activities went smoothly. We loved our Bangkok bike tour - great way to adjust to jet lag by getting outside and moving. The Floating market was fun and we also loved visiting a coconut farm and seeing the beautiful temples and Thai palace. In Phuket, we had a fun day island hopping. We stayed at Patong Beach, which was fine, although maybe not particularly “family-friendly” (nothing crazy it just seems Patong Beach was more of a party beach) - that said, we spent most of our time out on a speedboat and were happy with our island excursions. The highlight of the week was our jungle experience - so amazing to stay in a treetop lodge followed by a raft house lodge! Khao Sok National Park was beautiful. Our guide, “O” was so upbeat, flexible and just great with our family. We felt so lucky to have him! In retrospect, I probably could have upgraded our accommodations a bit in Khao Sok, but the setting was so beautiful that we spent most time outside anyway. Our kimkim travel specialist - Ha - just absolutely nailed this trip planning for our family (2 adults, then 17 and 12 year old children). Thank you Ha for putting together and amazing experience and for ensuring it went so smoothly! Thailand was worth the 21 hour flight time from the US and we made memories to last a lifetime.

Hotel Reviews

The Laguna Chiewlarn

Surat Thani

This was the first raft house stay for our family of 4 (2 adults, 2 teens). The raft house experience and location were incredible and the highlight of our week in Thailand. The food was great at this location. However, if I were to return I would stay at a different property. It may be that we should have adjusted our expectations for a raft house stay - but the bedding was very minimal/basic, and the bathrooms somewhat rustic. If I compare it to camping, I’d consider it “glamping” but if I compare it to a hotel, it was a bit more rustic than we expected. Our guide said this property is “middle” in terms of raft houses on Cheow Larn Lake - if I went back I’d go with the higher grade ones. That said, amazing experience!

Authenticity & Character

Very cool to be ON the lake in every direction - lovely at night

Location

Beautiful!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bedding and bathrooms were more basic

Novotel Bangkok Ploenchit Sukhumvit

Our family of 4 (2 adults and 2 teens) stayed here. Overall, we were pleased with the hotel. Gym was well-equipped, breakfast was good, and services (laundry, etc) were fine. It is near some shops, a metro stop, and a 7-11 which is useful.

Authenticity & Character

It is a modern hotel so has all the amenities but no particularly notable character

Location

Near metro and 7-11

Staff

They were responsive and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cleanliness was good and as expected.

Novotel Phuket Resort

Patong

Our family of 4 (2 adults, 2 teens) enjoyed this resort. Location is convenient to Patong Beach - within walking distance although down a reel hill and maybe 200 yards to walk along the street. We appreciated the onsite restaurants. We didn’t have time to use the pool but it looked nice. The gym was adequate.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Near Patong Beach and walking distance to restaurants etc

Staff

Very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Damnern Saduak Floating Market Tour Grand Palace and Wat Po

Bangkok

Very cool - didn’t really understand this experience until we did it! But so glad we did it. The market was crowded but amazing images to see how canal life works.

Quality of Experience

Very unusual!

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mr Sam was great!

Transport

Bangkok bike tour 5 hours - Joint in tour

Bangkok

Perfect first activity for our family of 4 after arrival. The pace intensity was fine for our 12 yo and the guides easily helped us navigate all the nooks and crannies of Bangkok!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

They helped us navigate small areas and arranged for fun snacks and a great lunch.

Transport

Swimming & Snorkeling on the Phi Phi Islands (Join speedboat)

Phuket

We enjoyed the snorkeling and swimming the best! We had sufficient time at each stop and a great lunch.

Quality of Experience

Food

Lunch buffet was lovely and the setting on the beach was beautiful

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our boat guide Cooper was great!

Transport

Jungle Trekking - Cheow Larn Lake Visiting by long tail boat

Khao Sok National Park

Our Jungle Trek was so cool - our guide spotted lots of animals and plants along the way.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our trek guide (Aim?) was terrific. Our overall guide “O” was wonderful!

Transport

Experience Elephant Bathing Program & Canoe in Khao Sok River

Khao Sok National Park

Seeing the elephants was a trip highlight - we had read a lot about responsible elephant tourism and this location seemed, overall, humane and respectful, with the “retired” elephants well-cared for. The canoing was great fun - we wore bathing suits and had fun swimming along the way!

Quality of Experience

Incredible scenery, easy to navigate, fun to swim! Our kids loved the Monkey Temple visit too!

Food

They made us coffee and tea in bamboo cups to keep!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chadya was efficient and provided an ideal itinerary, taking in all our preferences and trip needs.
In Paraty, guide Danielle was especially good, also Luis in Rio de Janeiro, and Marcos in Iguacu.
All our places to stay were exactly as described, and the drivers were on time, and connections by boat and plane were as described. We have seen the most amazing places and enjoyed great food and company.
We particularly like the Pousada d’Ouro in Paraty, also the Pousada Naturalia in Ilha Grande
As older travellers, we would have liked more written information of our flight details before we got the boarding passes by email the day before the flight. I am a bit of a worrier, and this was perhaps the only detail I could mention in a superbly managed trip.

Activity Reviews

Full Day Paraty Tour

Paraty

Guide Danielle excellent, good historical knowledge

Quality of Experience

Golden Trail Tour

Paraty

The two waterfall stops were good, but the distillery not much to see.

Half Day Boat Tour of Ilha Grande

Ilha Grande

Lots of swimming

Christ the Redeemer & Sugar Loaf Mountain

Rio de Janeiro

We did Christ the Redeemer visit and Sugar Loaf trips on different days, and I would recommend that, as they are the two most amazing experiences and needed time to appreciate. So the old town could be added on one of those days

Full-Day Private Tour through the Old Rio

Rio de Janeiro

Luis guide recommended. He showed us the old library, go and see. Also craft shops and painters studio

Iguaçu Falls - Brazilian Side

Foz do Iguaçu

Guide Marcos very helpful. Has to be seen to be believed

Iguaçu Falls - Argentinean side

Foz do Iguaçu

Guide Marcos very helpful We also visited the dam instead of the bird park. We found that very interesting. Marcos arranged the change, thank you.

We just got back from the most vibrant and culturally engaging week long trip from Morocco.
This is our first time using Kimkim to book an experience and it has been absolutely seamless, flexible and a very assuring experience. We were a bit nervous about traveling with two young kids but Mohammed and the entire team went above and beyond to ensure that they clarified all our questions promptly, provided many options to choose from and took care of everything behind the scenes right from planning through execution to our dietary and accommodation needs.
We were also so lucky to have Karim as our friend and local guide throughout the week. He is one of the warmest persons we have engaged with - always smiling , excited about the day and always pleasant. It was a long trip and never once did he lose his enthusiasm or smile! He was very knowledgeable and shared a lot about the history and culture of both the Arabs and the Berbers and his own story - which was so inspirational! He took care of all our needs through out the trip and made it so comfortable for us that we could thoroughly enjoy the experience. The kids loved him and at the end of the week, he was like family to us!

We also enjoyed our day with Hennan who was one of the kindest and most people we have met. Despite a delayed start the first day, she patiently walked us through the streets of Marrakech and helped us with all of our shopping.

Overall, an absolute smooth and enjoyable experience. Thanks Kimkim for nailing it!

We were a party of 4 and had KimKim (Angel was the person helping us) arrange for a trip that included visits to Kanazawa, Osaka, Kyoto, with most of our visit walking the Kumado Kodo for 6 days. Angel was wonderful in providing a wonderful assortment of places to stay during our walk, with detailed instructions for the various busses and trains that we took during our visit. She also checked in each day, and was very responsive to various questions as they emerged--which not only helped with logistics, but greatly reduced our concerns. In preparation, we were able to look at various options, and thus make the trip better suited to our interests. As our first trip to Japan, we didn't know what to expect, and were really happy with the wide variety of places we stayed, and with the selective guide service (e.g. for a visit to Arashima bamboo garden). This trip was great at introducing us to ryokan, minshuku and onsen experiences, and we also stayed at more urban hotels and one totally wonderful boutique hotel in Kanazawa. We had great service and of course fantastic food throughout the trip, and really credit Angel for this as she worked with us and found overall such great places to visit and stay. We will definitely return to Japan, and look forward to working with Angel again to help with exploring new places.

Hotel Reviews

Sansaro Cafe & Guesthouse

Koguchi

At Sansaro, we had limited interaction with our host, and sadly, the community onsen was closed for that day. We had walked a moderate day, but then rather than wait for a bus (few scheduled) we walked the additional 3 miles so arrived tired. The guest house has a nice central area and a series of small rooms which were small but comfortable. Dinner was modest, and we got very nice lunch bento boxes.

Authenticity & Character

It was nice to stay in this family home and get a feeling for rural life in Japan.

Location

If walking the Kumano Kodo trail, this place is away from the trail, so requires a bus to and from the trail. Since there are few buses, this is awkward. We opted to walk to get there. The bus back to the trail the next day was fine and right across from the hotel.

Staff

Our host was very busy so our interaction was limited, but we enjoyed our visit. She even passed along a beautiful Japanese 'coat' that a friend had given our host to pass along--a very nice gift.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our room was quite small, and once the futon was down, there wasn't much room for luggage or even sitting. But, there was a common area to use and that was sufficient. The room was comfortable and quiet.

Shibuya Excel Hotel Tokyu

Tokyo

The hotel was very good, with good food and very clean room. It is more like a business hotel, which is logical in Tokyo, and it was conveniently located. We enjoyed our stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Kanazawa Zoushi

Kanazawa

This was perhaps the best hotel we stayed in for a variety of reasons. First, it was lovely--beautiful woodwork, lovely rooms and a pleasant small hotel atmosphere. The staff were absolutely wonderful--and treated us like family. We could have stayed many more days and been delighted. We walked to the temple being renovated, and would have loved to have seen more of the old part of Kanazawa, but didn't have time. We had the hotel's udon noodles which were wonderful, as was the breakfast. It was easy to move about town from the hotel, and easy to get to from the amazing Kanazawa train station (we walked). We would highly recommend this hotel!

Authenticity & Character

One of the most beautiful small hotels I've seen with beautiful woodwork, and wonderful ambiance.

Location

Easy walk from the train station, which itself is amazing. We walked around town easily.

Staff

So helpful and welcoming, wonderful food, and even a small gift at the end of our 2 day stay--which we would have loved to be longer.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms are immaculate and very comfortable and quiet. We loved the attention to detail.

GUEST HOUSE Kumano Yasai

Takahara

We had walked a long day to get here, and initially couldn't find it. A neighbor pointed the way, but still, there was no one there. The outside is unassuming, but...we slid open the door and the interior is absolutely beautiful. It has a large living/sleeping room with futons all ready; a smaller area for eating, a small kitchen and a lovely bath. Shino (who did all this lovely work) brought a delicious dinner, breakfast, and provided a bento box lunch for us for our trail walk the next day. We reconnected with her at her cafe after a few hours walk and had a great coffee. Her place was so welcoming it made you want to stay longer--and think carefully about how to incorporate her lovely design in one's own house!

Authenticity & Character

The building is (I believe) 140 years old, with a beautiful renovation preserving the original glass windows, and classic Japanese style house. We loved the character of the house, which was so comfortable and well crafted.

Location

Just off the Kumono Kodo trail, and took a few minutes to find. We didn't have the time (or energy) to explore the village, but Shino's place was quiet and delightful.

Staff

We hope Shino will come visit us in Montana! (We are worried she works too hard--given the fantastic food she prepared for us)

Cleanliness & Comfort

Such attention to detail, so comfortable--just a space to relax and enjoy. One of our favorite places.

Hitotoki

Chikatsuyu

Hideo san and his wife were wonderful hosts, and the meal she prepared was unbelievable--complete with special saki and plum brandy! It was very special to get to know this family just a bit for our one night stay while walking the Kumono Kodo trail. Our hosts were so kind and gracious--we only wished our Japanese was better so we could have learned more about them. Hideo san does this as his 'hobby' (though he admits his wife shoulders much of the burden). We really enjoyed meeting the family and our stay. We were worried about our next day (a long one, where we needed to catch an early bus)--but we were treated to a delightful early breakfast, and a ride to the bus stop which made our day much easier. We are so grateful to Hideo san and his wife for their hospitality.

Authenticity & Character

It was really nice to stay with a family and get a feeling for Japanese life. Our hosts went way overboard with our dinner--one of our most amazing dinners in Japan.

Location

For walkers, the place is a bit off the trail, which is awkward as the next day is long, and really requires a bus ride to make it more reasonable--but the family helped by driving us to the bus stop so it all worked out well.

Staff

Hideo san was wonderful, and with our paltry Japanese we were able to chat about many things. Such a lovely visit.

Cleanliness & Comfort

We were a party of 4 and each had a room that was clean and comfy. We shared the bath with the family and were very comfortable for the visit.

Ryokan Yunominesou 湯の峯荘

Yunomine Onsen

After a long walking day, we arrived for our first ryokan experience, and it was wonderful. The staff were so welcoming, the onsen lovely, and the dinner very special. We would have been delighted to stay longer at this ryokan.

Authenticity & Character

There are several onsens in this area, and this one was very nice with a lovely outside bath. The rooms were great (quite large, with a great balcony) and our dinner was amazing--many courses and directions for sequence for eating each course.

Location

On the trail, so an easy stay on the Kumano Kodo trail. We had a bus section the next day and the hotel took us a short distance so we would be assured a seat on the bus!

Staff

Very welcoming and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable

Hotel Urashima

Katsuura

We didn't know what to expect of this resort hotel, and stayed 2 nights here after our Kumano Kodo walk. The cave onsens were truly wonderful, and when we used them, the were not crowded at all. You sit in delightful hot water overlooking the coast--and I even saw fish jumping amidst the surf. The buffet style dinner and breakfast was great, and the place has its own 'Lawsons' (convenience store) with wonderful snacks and lunch food. Our rooms were great with balconies overlooking the bay, and largish rooms that were great. We decided to stay at the hotel (after an early look at the tuna auction) and lounge around in our Japanese coats provided by the hotel. It was a perfect way to end our walk.

Authenticity & Character

We didn't fully understand this resort hotel, which wasn't that busy--though we might have been there off-season (November). We explored the upper hotel section, which had few people, but a lovely walk out along the peninsula with great views. On the lower level, one part of the the hotel appeared to be unused--perhaps slated for renovation. The cave onsens were delightful, and we visited them many times during our stay.

Location

Easy bus ride from the end of the Kumano Kodo trail, a delightful seaside town, and lovely hotel overlooking the town, on a peninsula.

Staff

A large hotel, but front desk staff very helpful and welcoming.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our rooms were large, comfortable, clean, and a perfect way to relax after our walk.

Daiwa Roynet Hotel Kyoto ekimae PREMIER

Kyoto

More a business hotel, which is understandable in Kyoto. Very nice staff, great buffet breakfast, good location next to train station. We walked to several of the main Kyoto attractions.

Authenticity & Character

Fine for a business hotel, though we usually prefer smaller more intimate hotels. This one was very convenient and clean and comfortable

Location

5 min. walk to Kyoto train station. Walked to major temples, Nichi market and Gion area. Great food in area (and in train station!)

Staff

Very helpful for logistics, directions etc.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable, great breakfast buffet

Activity Reviews

The Kurobe Gorge Railway

Toyama

Quite unique to ride this old railway. The gorge is very steep but wooded, so interesting. We walked a few miles up the trail at the end. Cold on the way down (November)

Quality of Experience

Everyone was so nice--

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We drove up from Kanazawa and our driver was quiet but very friendly and helpful.

Transport

Easy for us, on time, convenient

Full Day Tour of Arashiyama Bamboo Grove & Sagano Scenic Railway

Kyoto

We had walked the Kumano Kodo trail, so the forest wasn't spectacular--and fall colors were late. But we had a wonderful guide for this day and we learned alot about the place, but also about Japan and current life there.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Yoshi was wonderful--felt like a friend immediately, and one you could ask any questions of--and we did. Our time with her was just delightful

Transport

Yoshi met us at the hotel, ushered us through the train station (with pre purchased cards) guided us around Arashima and the temple, and back to the hotel--all so easy and relaxing!

First time we have used a travel agency and guides for the entire trip and it was great way to fit a lot in 2 weeks. Really enjoyed the locations and the guides & drivers who supported our holiday. The guides were from different backgrounds and ages which really was great to see the different perspectives on the country of Vietnam. as we moved from North to South.
We really enjoyed SaPa and the landscape which was incredible. The mix of organised and free time was very good so we could chill out or hire a scooter to see more sites if we wanted.
Communication was excellent and always willing to share insights and other aspects once the guides got to know our interests.

Alessandro was the best local guide we could dream of. He was very patient with us right from the beginning to understand our desires and after numerous discussions came up with the perfect 14 day itinerary. It included the breathtaking coastline of southern Italy to the historical sites of Rome and wine country in Tuscany and Torino, all of this would not have been possible without his meticulous planning. All the car chauffeurs were were extremely courteous and informative. The hotels he booked were all very charming. Thank you Alessandro and KimKim.

I really don’t know where to start!

EVERYTHING was so amazing! Ana helped us curate such an awesome itinerary that included so many varied experiences that we still can’t believe we fit so much in two weeks! I kept pushing Ana for more and more and not once did she say “no”! She made our dream Indonesia wishlist come true!

The fun orangutan trekking was the highlight in Sumatra.

The ancient temples and melding of religions and cultures (namely Muslim Hindu and Buddhist) was heart warming in Central Java.

Hot smoking volcanoes were breathtaking in East Java. The once in a life time experience of blue flames at Mt Ijen will always stay with us.

Bali was the hub of so much colorful activity … bike rides, rice terraces, cooking classes and we even made time to be pampered in spas.

Cruising through the waters of Komodo national park gave us the opportunity to see nature at its best… thousands of flying bats, hissing Komodo dragons, dazzling coral and the calm underwater sea life!

At the end of every trip we try to pin down our favorite experience but honestly there were too many in this one to point out just one.
Many of our family members and friends have asked for our travel consultant and our itinerary!!
Very happy to share!

Stephanie did a wonderful job in mapping my itinerary and coordinating all the points of contacts. Before my journey I was a bit nervous about how the trip would go. Honestly it went so smoothly that one can expect. She was thorough, up to the task and pleasant to communicate . She was always prompt to respond when I needed. I have enjoyed the company of my guide come tracker Mr Tebogo at Kruger Chalati and the driver Sam of Voomba transport. I would strongly recommend to use KIMKIM for any trip to South Africa.

Hotel Reviews

Tangala Safari Camp

Hoedspruit

The accommodation was less than my expectations. The managerial Team - Jannette and Chris were nice and friendly. The room was clean but definitely needs an upgrade. Particularly floor, water faucets, and shower area, and toiletries. While the driver and the tracker are pleasant to interact with but the lack of professionalism and depth of knowledge are very much evident. The game drive vehicle needs a replacement. The cook was nice and showed eagerness to cater your needs. It is in a nice location just right at the heart of the bush where you are more accessible to the animals.

Authenticity & Character

See above

Location

Perfect location to explore the big five’s

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kruger Shalati Bridge House Suites

This house suites lived up to its name indeed. Situated in a beautiful landscape over the Sabi river. The staff, cooks, waiters, receptionists, and the guide come game driver - all are amazing, and professionals. , They were always eager to help and made every effort to get me comfortable. My guide Tebogo is knowledgeable, friendly, and respectful. He is one of the best guide I had in my trip. He has answered all the questions I had about the animal behavior and the jungle. His explanation regarding eco system balance between nature and species were noteworthy. Receptionist Mr Lucky and waitress Angela was delightful and pleasant. The both chefs came and see me in every meal I had there. They would inquire about the quality of the food and what I would like in my next meal. Overall I had a memorable experience in Chalati.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

528 Victoria Falls Guest House

Victoria Falls

The host family- Meredith, Paul and their son William are amazing people. They made me comfortable in every way possible. William helped me arrange Taxi for Boma Dinner and Drum Show. Meredith was eager to help me with my dinner preference and the cook she know well. Paul made sure that my river cruise dinner was booked properly. Their daughter made sure my ride is on schedule to get me to the airport and said good bye before I left.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Sunset Cruise - Signature Deck

Victoria Falls

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kruger Shalati Experiences

South Africa

Pls check the comment made in the Chalati House Suites section.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls

The guide was very informal and passive and not feel like enjoying his job. He only talks when you ask questions. Minimal information. No enthusiasm. Reluctant to be helpful. Did the bare minimum. We had only 3 people in the group.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

On Safari

South Africa

Quality of Experience

The guide and tracker lacks knowledge on their subject matters and professionalism. It Explanation of the rules and expectations before the game drive would have been appreciated..

Guides, Drivers and Staff

They needs proper training on professionalism, and the deliverable knowledge of the subject. Not joking consistently when relevant questions being asked. Can clearly feel the insensitivity and knowledge gap.

Transport

The vehicle 🚗 s uncomfortable and rundown

The trip planned by Francisco was excellent. Each of the outings (adventures) was exactly what we wanted. In many ways it was like taking a graduate course in biology, botany and zoology. We particularly enjoyed the morning birdwatching with Josee. He was extremely well informed and gracious. Our driver, Alex, to and from airport/hotel, was superb. The roads were terrible. On arrival, we met Alex around 11pm as our flight had been delayed. He drove the difficult mountain roads to LaFortuna in fog and rain. Tip for the future, have your clients arrive at SJO in the afternoon to avoid the drive in the dark. We arrived at hotel at 2am and were picked up that morning for horseback riding at 8am (not much sleep). The hotel El Silencio was fine, not special. The Danus outing was good. The butterfly garden was not special. The transfer to Monteverde was fine and a nice boat ride with an attempt to find shorebirds. The hotel Fonda Vela was fine, not special; but the location was far from the activities because of terrible roads. It took about 45 minutes to go 5 miles. The sky walk adventure was worth the time; and the tram not particularly interesting. The Curicancha hike was very interesting with a wonderful guide. The night walk in the cloud forest was a highlight of the trip with a superb guide, Oscar. We took all our meals at the two hotels. The food was OK but nothing special or memorable. I forgot to ask Francisco about tipping. We did tip each guide $20 and also Alex. At meals, we tipped 20%. The drive from Monteverde to JSO was long and difficult but Alex did a great job. The daytime scenery as very interesting. Unfortunately the trip home took 16 hours -door to door- due to delays and long waits at airports. Not your fault. In all, we enjoyed being in Costa Rica and will surely recommend your agency and Francisco to our family and friends. Thanks for all you did for us. These are just my thoughts. My wife, Jan, will send her own review.
Donald Hamburg