Kimkim Trip Reviews

Angel and his contacts were attentive and helpful. We are experienced travelers, but the logistics around getting from the airport in Puerto Natales to our various hikes and trips to and from the Torres del Paine were a bit overwhelming when planning on short notice. Everything went off without a hitch. We were able to message the local team and have them deliver trekking poles to our hotel last minute, our rides were on time, and generally everything was accounted for. I would definitely use Kim Kim for a future trip.

Wonderful trip to Greece in November. We were initially concerned about visiting Greece outside of the main tourist season, but November is the only month our schedules permit visiting. Our Kim Kim local specialist Angela immediately put our concerns to rest and crafted the perfect trip. The weather cooperated with sunny and warm days and temperate evenings. Our itinerary included Athens, Crete, and Santorini.

Athens was alive with people, but not overcrowded. Angela picked great accommodations that were clean, comfortable, and perfectly situated. We did the Mythology tour including the Acropolis, with Alternative Athens that was astonishing. The Plaka Sunset tour with Greek Cocktails was a particularly interesting as not only was our guide Vanessa charming and informative, she took us to areas with fascinating history and breathtaking views at sunset. Not to mention the cocktails she selected were unique and delicious!

If we had to pick a highlight of the trip it was Crete. We stayed in Rethymno which is a near perfectly preserved medieval town with an abundance of history and ancient alleyways lined with restaurants and shops. Angela arranged two tours highlighting the history of the island and civilization, combined with local experiences to gain an understanding of the historical significance of the island we barely knew existed. Our tour guides Joanna and Ioanna in company with Nikos our driver, are wonderful people who provided an abundance of fascinating history. We visited small villages, traveled winding roadways with panoramic vistas, and ate fabulous meals of local delicacies all at the recommendation of our incredible guides. We made memories that will last our lifetimes.

Our final stop was Santorini, which was the only destination where it was noticeable that it was not high season. However quiet, it did not detract from the natural beauty of the island. Our stay at Blue Dolphins was as comfortable as every other accommodation Angela booked us into. It was an absolute pleasure to take the All Time Classic Santorini tour with Elena without having to contend with summertime crowds. We visited the Akrotiri archeological site, red beach, black beach where we had a seaside lunch, wine tasting, then ending the day viewing a stunning sunset.

We travel frequently, and this is the first time we used a travel agency faced with the complexity of a visit to Greece. It was a great value and all we had to do was relax and enjoy not having been belabored with planning. We are tremendously satisfied customers and it will certainly not be our last experience with Kim Kim!

Hotel Reviews

Blend Hotel Athens

Athens

Now Bob W, the hotel was clean, roomy, and comfortable hotel in a terrific location. Unique in that there is no on site reception, the process worked flawlessly and the virtual staff was always available to help. Breakfast in the cafe was wonderful!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Restaurants and Cafe's just outside on a largely pedestrian only street leading to Monastiraki square

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cressa Suites - Adults Only Rethymno

Rethymno

Beautifully restored hotel in the medieval neighborhood of Rethymno. Just be forewarned that the rooms are up a spiral staircase and there is no staff to offer assistance with luggage. We found this aspect quite challenging.

Authenticity & Character

Location

A short walk from the main roadway nestled in the midst of the historic city.

Staff

The staff was kind, friendly and delivered a scrumptious breakfast to enjoy privately on out terrace.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our room featured a hot tub that was basically just an outdoor bathtub which was kind of gross and unusable. As I mentioned above getting luggage up a winding staircase is difficult.

Niche Hotel Athens

Athens

Everything was in line with a top quality hotel. Perfect location, large well appointed rooms, amazing breakfast in the restaurant with amazing views of the Acropolis.

Authenticity & Character

I would describe it as a luxury property.

Location

A block from the Plaka neighborhood in the shadow of the Acropolis.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bedding was very comfortable and they even offered a pillow selection!

Blue Dolphins Apartments & Suites

Firostefani, Santorini

Nicely maintained, clans and roomy hotel with absolutely astonishing views! The breakfast was incredible and delivered directly to your room each morning by a friendly staff member.

Authenticity & Character

Postcard hotel nestled in the hillside of iconic Santorini.

Location

Not only is the view amazing, it's situated just a short walk to Fira along charming walkways.

Staff

John was great and went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The entire property was spotlessly clean and the bed comfortable.

Activity Reviews

Plaka Sunset Tour with Greek Cocktails

Athens

The Plaka Sunset tour with Greek Cocktails was a particularly interesting as not only was our guide Vanessa charming and informative, she took us to areas with fascinating history and breathtaking views at sunset. Not to mention the cocktails she selected were unique and delicious!

Quality of Experience

Visiting "hidden" areas of Plaka with fascinating origins.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Vanessa was a great guide and lovely person.

Transport

It was a walking tour, but we were met at our hotel right on time.

Knossos Palace & Authentic Crete with Local Experiences from East P9

Greece

We learned so much about the history of Crete, the Minoan civilization, the Venetian and subsequent Ottoman occupations that were richly informative. We visited a small village occupied by generations of locals. We had a sumptuous lunch topped off with a wine tasting that all together made for a perfect day.

Quality of Experience

Every stop and every minute in between was filled with interesting detail.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Joanna our guide and Nikos our driver were passionate about Crete and genuinely interested in spending the day with us.

Transport

Nikos was like a guide himself and made the time spent richly rewarding. Plus he makes the best Raki on the island!

Luxuries of Mirabello with Spinalonga and Agios Nikolaos from East

Greece

Ioanna our tour guide is a true historian and kept us fully engaged with fascinating historical details as well as present day facts about Crete and its culture. We deviated a bit from the scheduled itinerary based upon her recommendation which turned into a truly memorable day. We learned about the history of Rethymno (where we were staying) which is a near perfectly preserved medieval town. Ioana brought the history of Crete and its civilizations to life with her extensive knowledge as we visited a bustling local village and traveled winding roadways with panoramic vistas. We toured a olive oil factory and enjoyed fabulous meals of local delicacies all at the recommendation of our incredible guide. Nikos was our driver again and brought even more charm (and Raki) to the experience than he did the day before.

Quality of Experience

The passion about the history of Crete combined with the knowledge of our guide made this a truly special day.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Ioanna and driver Nikos are genuinely caring and thoughtful people that were a pleasure to know.

Transport

Nikos was knowledgeable, funny, and an overall engaging individual.

Athens Highlights Mythology Tour

Greece

The tour was astonishing. We gently ascended the Acropolis until we reached the Parthenon while being entertained by stories of Greek gods and ancient history.

Quality of Experience

It was the Acropolis! What more needs to be said?

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was wonderful and caring.

All time classic Santorini 2023

Greece

Amazing day. We visited the Akrotiri archeological site, red beach, black beach where we had a seaside lunch, wine tasting, then ending the day viewing a stunning sunset.

Quality of Experience

Every aspect was great.

Food

Lunch was included and it was amazing!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Elena was great. She was passionate about us having a great experience.

Transport

Punctual and enjoyable ride in a luxury van.

The planning process with Felipe was very good. He was prompt in answering questions and providing information to customize the trip the way I wanted. The travel experience was excellent and the guides were great, especially Herman in the Amazon, who was very knowledgeable, friendly and accomodating.

The one big negative about kimkim is a lack of transparency when it comes to pricing. I requested for a breakdown of the amount that I was paying, which I was denied. You are charged a lumpsum and there is no clarity on how much of it is going towards the actual trip costs (e.g. how much of it was spent on flights. how much on accommodation etc.). As a paying customer, I have a right to know how my money is being used and if I am getting my money's worth.

I am happy with the planning process and the travel experience, but the lack of pricing transparency makes me hesitate to use the service for future travels or to recommend it to friends.

We really enjoyed the experience with Kimkim, and had everything planned before your trip, we just had time to enjoy the beautiful country. Everything was perfect, since the planning with Hue, our local guide in Hanoi, Mr Cau, and after in Hoi An, Ly. That’s perfect!!!

Hotel Review

Hanoi Pearl Hotel

Hanoi

Very well located, but it’s not exactly a 4 stars hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Immerse yourself in the Beauty of Ninh Binh (Hoa Lu - Trang An - Mua Cave)

Vietnam

It was really amazing this day. All the places we went is pretty beautiful nature.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ismail our guide was excellent, he was always early and very dependable as well as knowledgeable. He made the trip really good and I would highly recommend him.

Our trip to Morocco was our first time traveling with Kimkim, and I cannot recommend them enough.

Majid was responsive and helpful with everything we wanted to do and with all my questions about how kimkim worked, logistics of our trip, and locals customs. He was flexible with last minute changes (our incoming flight changed and our luggage was lost). He worked seamlessly with Zak (our driver and guide) to make sure we were comfortable and had what we needed.

With Majid’s help, my husband and I traveled through Morocco for 8 days. Zak was with us for the entire trip. Not only was he a safe driver, but he helped us learn some Arabic and Berber, took us to amazing viewpoints and lunch spots, and quickly became our friend. There are too many incredible moments to list out here, but some of our favorites were seeing the Hassan II mosque in Casablanca, seeing the Roman ruins in Volubilis, learning about the monarchy and current King in Rabat, exploring the Fes medina and food tour with Hakim (he was the best!), seeing the Jemaa el Fna square in Marrakech, experiencing hammam, and riding camels and stargazing in the Sahara. Zak put out the energy that we put in (when we were talkative, so was he; when we were quiet, he let us relax) and it was perfect for us! Zak, thank you!!

The riads and hotels we stayed in were beautiful, friendly, and the hospitality won us over instantly.

We will definitely use Kimkim again and recommend the company to our friends. And, when we are looking to go back to Morocco, I hope we will get to work with Majid and Zak again.

Our trip to Chitwan was fantastic! Sangita planned everything really well and the tiger tops resort was wonderful. There was one hiccup with the airport pickup but Sangita acted quickly to resolve it. The one major note to add was that if you fly to the nearest airport when coming to Chitwan, there is still an almost 2 hour drive to get to the park on an awful, bumpy road so be prepared!

Everything went so smoothly. We don’t speak any Korean but all of the guides and drivers were so helpful and made our trip so easy and low stress. We had a wonderful time.

Hotel Review

Grand Josun Busan

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full Day Bulguksa temple and National Museum Tour

Gyeongju

Our guides sang and James made all the difference. Great people overall and spent so much time making sure we were comfortable and having a good time.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Fantastic! Couldn’t ask them to do any better.

Transport

Very comfy new van.

Visit Haedong Yonggungsa and Haeundae Beach

Busan

Beautiful temple. Well worth the visit.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sang and James were fantastic. Great tips so we didn’t have to wait too long for anything. Also picked us up and dropped us off at the most convenient locations for parking etc.

Transport

Half Day Gamcheon Village and Jagalchi Market

Busan

Quality of Experience

Fun time checking out this unique village.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sang and James did a great job explaining everything to us about the history and how this place came about

Transport

Great van.

Both Fenne and Ellise were very informative, professional, responsive and knowledgeable in helping me plan our trip to Norway. I was able to change itinerary several times, easily and always got quick responses. It was comforting knowing if at any time I had a problem or needed to make a change I could call them for help. I would definitely recommend Kim Kim, especially for people traveling somewhere for the first time.

Johanna and Kristy have been awesome specialists helping us plan the trip and execute it.
They were prompt in replying on the portal before the trip and on WhatsApp during the trip.
We always felt we were in good hands.
Their advice was right on about the key things to see in the places we picked.
They were accomodative to the changes we made before the trip due to preferences, just before the trip due to airline schedule changes and during the trip due to weather issues.
Kristy also helped us get the flight changes we needed when Aerolineas was not being responsive.
She even helped us pick the restaurants that cater to our vegan preference.
Of the tour agents they picked for us, Piratour to Isla Martillo were the best.
Both Thomas the tour guide and the ladies at Haberton marine mammal museum were quite informative and awesome.
Sabrina was an excellent tour guide at Buenos Aires, very knowledgable, patient and took us to off-beat interesting spots in the San Telmo and La Boca neighborhoods
Visits on our own to the 3 places Kristy recommended were definitely worthwhile - Glaciarium at Calafate, Casa Botella and Tres Fronteras at Iguazu falls.
Word of caution to other vegans - Vegan restaurants are hard to find outside Buenos Aires - do your research ahead of time.
El Chalten has only 1 but it's awesome - Curcuma! Iguazu falls has only 1, and average at best, on the Argentina side.
There are more vegan choices on the Brazil side of Iguazu falls. The one recommended by our side, Gilderlei, Cantina de Bea was very good.
Another word to the wise: We wish our Spanish ability were better. While the tours were bilingual, we kept wondering if we were missing anything.
In the shops, restaurants and on the streets we found very few english speakers, even in the Buenos Aires Metropolis.
Google translate was quite inefficient at best and useless where there was no internet connection.

Dani was a excellent guide. As was every one else involved in the trip .

We had the best time. First time traveling oversees with 6 people. 4 young adults (15-21) and 2 adults. Eirini planned a wonderful trip that was interactive and she was always quick to respond. The Skywalker app was fantastic and I was able to share the entire trip with our friends. Our tickets, instructions, and itinerary were on there. Barbara was our life saver during this journey. On one excursion, I had our family walk instead of waiting for our ride (I didn't read the entire description again and forgot), Barbara called the hotel to let them know and the tour guide so they could meet us. Another hotel, we had a room key error, she called them late at night to help us get into our rooms. She followed up on all our rides, encounters and tours. Our kids would tell me to ask Barbara and the other day asked how she was doing. Her customer service and caring attitude kept me going through the hiccups. Our guides were wonderful. Manuela, Mario, and our favorite Francesca made learning a lot of fun. We did planes, trains, and automobiles and through it all we made lots of wonderful memories, lots of lessons, and a lot of beautiful experiences that we are forever grateful for. This is the second time we used Kim Kim. There will for sure be many more times. Thank you again.

Hotel Reviews

Kraft Hotel Florence

Florence

This is such a beautiful hotel. We had such a great stay and everyone was so accommodating. The rooms were perfect for us and the breakfast was their favorites.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful and comfy beds.

Location

Close to everything and easy to get around.

Staff

Everyone was so kind and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were clean and sheets were comfy and clean.

Rinuccini Relais Hotel

Naples

Loved staying here. It's a hidden gem in the middle of the square. We were able to walk everywhere and loved it. So much history. They were accommodating and they were able to help us get around. The rooms were nice and our Young adults (15-21) were in the rooms right next door to us.

Authenticity & Character

Love the character!

Location

The best location! You have to go through the main door/gate, then up an elevator, then get to entrance.

Staff

Absolutely Accommodating! We ran into some hiccups and they helped us through it .

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and very comfortable.

Parlamento Boutique Hotel

Rome

Love this hotel and very accommodating! It was clean and they were so helpful with us. We are grateful for them and wish we would have stayed longer.

Authenticity & Character

Lot's of character and charm.

Location

The perfect location! We were close to everything and walked to everything to eat and shop and visit some museums. 30 min walk to the colosseum.

Staff

They were very accommodating. We were exhausted and came very early. He offered us food, to leave our bags, and told us where to go. Then we left early about 5 min. before breakfast and he offered us a croissant for the road.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were great and clean. They are on the smaller side but we slept great! Our young adults (15-21) stayed in a room that fit all 4 of them. We were in another room that was perfect for us.

Activity Reviews

Naples Street Food Tour (food included)

Italy

We had the best experience and Michele was so accommodating and knowledgeable. This is one of their favorite tours and we are grateful to have met him. He made it fun for all ages and great food we would have never tried without someone guiding us. The pizza was absolutely our favorite !

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hotel was less than a block away so we met him at a starting point by hotel.

Learn how to make Pizza and Gelato

Florence

Lots of fun for the entire family. Great instructions and fun format to follow. The food, instructions, and time were perfect!

Quality of Experience

Explained everything really well. She helped when we needed help so we didn't feel left behind. There were about 12 in our group. Maybe next time have name tags so we could help learn who we were sitting next to.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We walked to location.

Transport

Private Walking Tour of Florence | City Highlights with David & Duomo

Italy

Manuela was absolutely amazing. It was personal, we learned so much and are grateful for her and her knowledge. The kids thought it was a great way to start our time in Florence.

Quality of Experience

She took her time, asked us questions, and involved us. She's very smart and knew a lot about the areas and history. Enjoyed listening and learning!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-day excursion to Pompei and Sorrento - PRIVATE

Naples

Pompeii was amazing. Our tour guide was so knowledgeable. We would want to use him again! We learned so much and it was a great private tour. The kids enjoyed it and so did we. It was a great drive and was nice for our large family to have a someone drive us. They were knowledgeable about the areas. We stopped and took pictures on the way to Sorrento. Our driver stopped and we had a frozen lemon dessert on the side or the road with a beautiful view and sweet dog. It was nice to look around then meet up afterwards.

Private Colosseum Tour Including Roman Forum

Rome

This was an amazing tour. Francesca was fantastic and we loved being with her. She was knowledgeable, engaging, and she helped us with all of our questions including getting a taxi. All of our tours were fantastic but we all enjoyed her stories the most. We were still tired and she helped us through that as well. We truly appreciate her!

Quality of Experience

Enthusiasm for her job and able to reach all age levels

Ina helped me plan a 3 week Greece trip Oct 2023. While I was in Crete (one week into my trip) the Israel war broke out. I was headed there with friends after my Greece trip. In the end my friends never left California and I texted Ina and she extended my Greece trip for another 3 weeks. It was fabulous. Greece was clean, it was gorgeous, my hiking and sunset cruise captains and chefs were top notch and knowledgeable and friendly. I felt as I’d made true friends. Those guides I would never have found without Ina and it made the day trips very special. Greece is safe and I was impressed with the safety as I am a solo traveler. I chose an excursion every 3 days or so, most of them I was picked up and they were half day hikes or all day cruises. I rented cars on 4 islands and Ina had the rental agency deliver the car to my hotel and 3-4 days later they arrived for me to return it. I had 4 flights and ?? FastJets maybe 5? And each time there was the driver waiting to take me to the hotel and take me to the port or airport. I have never used a travel agency before but I wanted to move around Greece for 6 weeks and a lot of flights or boats I read about in the Lonely Planet were no longer available or had changed. Plus I traveled in the shoulder season and early winter season some tours stop due to change of currents or winds. Ina knew this and everything went so very smooth for me. Yes, now that I’ve been there for 6 weeks I learned how things work but for my first trip and moving around as I did (to 8-9 islands and mainland) I would have been frustrated and lost a lot of time. Plus as we all know there is nothing worse than showing up somewhere and being disappointed. My weather was outstanding. High 70s to high 80s in Oct!! I would not have been happy with hotter summer weather and more cruise boats and crowds. It was simply wonderful. My favorite islands were Tinos for the village hike, Naxos for the beaches and Naplios 2 hours south of Athens for the high climbs and 5-10 mile ocean walkways. Next time I would skip Mykonos. I could have stayed another month easy as there is so much to see. I recommend using Kim Kim without hesitation especially if you want to see more than one or two places. Thanks also for their 24/7 text line as my very first plane from Seattle to Athens changed the day I left and I was going to arrive 3 hours earlier. I texted that line from the airplane on WhatsApp and The driver was right there waiting for me. I was thrilled as it was a 20 .5 hour flight and the ease of it all was non stressful. Thanks KimKim for a wonderful peek into Greece.

Activity Reviews

Saronic Islands Day Cruise

Athens

Kim Kim put me in VIP and as this was a 12 hour 3 island trip it was much more comfortable than the chairs up front with the crowds. I probably wouldn’t have known this signing up on my own.

Quality of Experience

VIP and having several hours to see these gorgeous islands.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Balos & Falassarna Beach Tour with Lunch

Chania

This is an all day trip from Chiana. My guide/driver Antonio was on time and very easy to talk to. We had 5 in our car plus the driver. We were all fast friends within an hour. Balos beach was a bumpy pot hole drive. We got out, fed the goats and took pics of the beach. It’s a very long steep climb down there which we did not do. We drove on to Falassarna where we had (included) comfortable lounge chairs and the swimming was divine. Shallow with sand bars and gorgeous clean ocean. Our guide ordered us a ridiculous large Greek lunch with varieties of Greek specialties which we all shared at a table under umbrella. We were from 3 different countries and we had a roaring chat which I adored as I was the only single. Then we all got dropped off at our hotels and I was last. Within minutes I realized I left my cell phone in the car and I was desperate but I knew Antonio knew it was mine. I couldn’t call anyone because all the information was in my phone. Within 30 min he made the extra trip back and delivered my phone to the hotel desk. That’s Greek hospitality!!

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Santorini Sunset Group Catamaran Cruise

Santorini

Ok. I went on this Santorini Sunset cruise mid October 2023. My boat was a catamaran with 6 passengers and captain and one crew. The captain was also a certified chef. The boat he had was HORIZON. HE SAID WE HAD 50 sunset cruises on our night. In the summer there are 150 boats. KimKim set this trip up for me and I loved it so much. I saw other boats that reminded me of Mexican booze cruises. Some had 100 drunks and barking dogs. Anyway we went swimming in 2 areas even though it was cold water. The boat was clean and we all became friends easily. The food he prepared fresh was one of my best meals in Greece. Of course Santorini was in the back ground and it was a gorgeous day. As we were returning to port I realized we were in one of the best boats. If you want alcohol and chips take a cheap boat. We had plenty of alcohol with a fabulous fresh prepared meal with bbq meat goat and chicken kabobs , mussels, 3 salads, shrimps, Greek goat cheeses, rice and I can’t remember the rest. We all felt fortunate we got our boat and our captain. I would not have known the difference if I was booking on my own. Thank you KimKim.

Quality of Experience

Food

See above

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I booked my Everest Three Pass Trip with Ngima Dorji Sherpa through the kimkim site. From the start Ngima was fast with providing answers to my questions and was clearly knowledgeable. I decided to chose his guiding company in large part because I wanted a local company and learned Ngima runs the only Sherpa owned guiding operation in Nepal. Once the trip started Ngima was fabulous with airport pick up and the tour of Kathmandu. He was generous enough to invite me and two other trekkers to a book launch party (Step by Step!) and we enjoyed an amazing night and dance party. Nigma somehow arranged me to fly to Lukla direct from the Kathmandu airport, saving the 4 hr transfer. He has fabulous connections and this came in handy a few times. Once in Lukla I met my guide Pemba and porter Dil. Both were super friendly and we got along right away. On trek I was impressed with Pemba's knowledge of the area and the people. He was quite connected to people in nearly every community and it meant some great access to the local culture including visits to schools, health centers and local Sherpa teahouses. Pemba was also great at adjusting our daily schedule when we were making great progress and also did his best to adjust to avoid the more overcrowded towns. On the harder pass crossings Pemba was great with pacing and ensuring we took enough breaks to keep our energy high. Towards the end of the trip I ended up picking up a parasite and both Pemba and Ngima were incredibly supportive to make some major adjustments in the plans and get me the medical treatment I needed. Getting sick is never fun but they did everything they could to ensure it was as smooth as possible. Overall it was an amazing visit to the Himalayas. I loved that the trek was a physical challenge with views that will stay in my memory forever. I cannot say enough great thinks about Ngima. As a guide company operator he does the perfect job in planning and communication. As a person Ngima is warm, generous and deeply connected to his community. It was a pleasure to meet him, Pemba and Dil and hope to get back to Nepal soon to share another adventure with them.

Angel did a fantastic job! Our trip had just the right amount of discovery on our own while having day to day details taken care of. We were able to successfully negotiate trains, buses, subways and even a ferry. We stayed at wonderful guest houses and onsens along the Kumano Kodo Trail. Our hosts were gracious and the food was terrific. The driver and guide were delightful and interesting people. Angel checked in with us daily which was nice to remind us of travel details for that day. I would definitely choose kimkim again for a self guided travel experience. And if anyone is considering Japan, I would highly recommend Angel.

Hotel Reviews

Ryokan Yunominesou 湯の峯荘

Yunomine Onsen

Really enjoyed this ryokan with it's outdoor baths and delicious food.

Authenticity & Character

classic tatami rooms

Location

Staff

Shibuya Excel Hotel Tokyu

Tokyo

I was worried the hotel was to big and impersonal but it turned out to be nicely located for Shibuya, catching trains and walking to the Palace. The views of Tokyo were also amazing.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Kanazawa Zoushi

Kanazawa

We loved this hotel!!! The staff were friendly and welcoming. The rooms were aesthetically beautiful. They had free drinks and made us udon noodles at night.

Authenticity & Character

Aesthetically beautiful

Location

Staff

very welcoming

Cleanliness & Comfort

Osaka Excel Hotel Tokyu

Osaka

We spent only one night. The staff seemed a little harried but was able to answer our questiosns.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

GUEST HOUSE Kumano Yasai

Takahara

What a find! Definitely worth the extra walk down from the trail to experience this delightful guesthouse.

Authenticity & Character

This is an 180 year old Japanese house that was redone beautifully in the inside with the original beams and glass. We had the whole place to ourselves

Location

Staff

Shino did the cooking for our dinner and breakfast. She runs a coffee shop and restaurant. Everything was delicious and the coffee was excellent.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hitotoki

Chikatsuyu

What makes this place exceptional is the two 75 year old hosts who coddled us with home cooking and amusing conversation.

Authenticity & Character

Typical Japanese home.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

A little cramped with bathroom space but all doable

Sansaro Cafe & Guesthouse

Koguchi

We were grateful this guesthouse was available. However, the owner wasn't aware that the onsen wasn't open so had to clean her own bathroom before we could get showers.

Authenticity & Character

Location

We would have chosen a place closer to the trail but again we were grateful for someplace to stay.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Urashima

Katsuura

What a quirky resort. The absulte BEST onsen with the hot springs in caves overlooking the ocean. It was a great place to relax after five days of treking.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Daiwa Roynet Hotel Kyoto ekimae PREMIER

Kyoto

Small rooms. If I were staying longer in Kyoto I would have chosen another place. However very close to the train station.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

The Kurobe Gorge Railway

Toyama

Delightful trip. Lovely hike. Beautiful gorge.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver turned out to be a music conductor. We had lots to talk about.

Transport

Full Day Tour of Arashiyama Bamboo Grove & Sagano Scenic Railway

Kyoto

Yoshi planned a beautiful day experiencing Arashiyama.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Yoshi was a great guide who answered all our questions the area and life as a Japanese woman.

Transport

Yoshi had everything planned so it all happened with little waiting.

Chile is a wonderful place to visit, and Jessie did a fantastic job accommodating our changing minds during the planning process and keeping up with us during our trip. I would recommend that if you’re doing back to back hikes in the park, do the Torres de Paine Massif first. (Strenuous) . Isla Magdalena was definitely magical.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Panamericana Providencia

Providencia

Many things to do in walking distance.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Costanera

Puerto Natales

Beautiful views and accommodating staff. Walls are a bit thin, though.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Carpa Manzano

Punta Arenas

Cute hotel with a sweet history. The owner was actually the one who checked us in, and SO very helpful with our needs. We only had 1.5 hours between check in and our excursion, we got our laundry and lunch dealt with, thanks to her assistance. We loved the feel of this place, and the bed was super comfy.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Boat Tour to Balmaceda & Serrano Glaciers

Chile

This was exactly what we wanted- lunch was amazing, the captain was great- maneuvered the boat so everyone could get a view.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Maipo Valley Wine Experience

Santiago

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trekking Torres del Paine Active

Chile

This was interesting because we didn’t know what to expect. First trek was fun and scenic, though the guide seemed to think it was a race. Second trek (waterfall, hike to horns) was beautiful, and we got left behind while taking pictures of the scenery that the guide seemed to take for granted. You can’t really get lost, though, as there’s 1 trail in and out. Third trek was more strenuous, but doable. Take a jacket, as that wind goes right to your bones.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Penguin Colony on Magdalena Island

Chile

Best part of the trip!!!! Penguins! So many, so cute.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

There are lots of areas that need improvement like the quality of guide service . There fluency in English and knowledge about the country etc . Also certain actions taken by them like putting me on a motor bike even though I was reluctant as I was dizzy . This would impact safety concerns( Sapa) . Also the quality of the hotel in Hoi An. Also removing the visit to the tunnels in Saigon from the itinerary. Thanks

Hotel Reviews

Bespoke Trendy Hotel Hanoi

The service at the breakfast buffet was amazing ! The staff was very kind and accommodating. The staff at the front desk was sloppy and never welcomed us with a welcome drink .

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Topas Ecolodge

sapa

The Topas lodge was literally heaven on earth ! Great staff , food service and cleanliness..

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Capella Cruise

Halong

We had a comfortable cruise ! Good staff

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Aira Boutique Hoi An Hotel & Villa

Hoi An

This place was a let down . We had a room up in the attic . The front lobby , passages smelts of food and oil . Not impressed!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Majestic Saigon

Ho Chi Minh

Perfect location in district one . Friendly staff , clean rooms .

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Activity Reviews

Hanoi Fullday City Tour with Train Track Coffee Enjoying

Hanoi

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanoi Street food walking tour (S)

Hanoi

Good street food tour .

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trek to Lech Dzao & Thanh Kim Villages

Sapa

The guide decide to put us on motorbikes without helmets . It was a safety concern

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Halong - Lan Ha Bay - Frog Lagoon Area (Capella)

Ha Long Bay

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dark & Bright Cave - Lan Ha Bay - Tuan Chau (Capella)

Ha Long Bay

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Local Market - Basket Boat - Fishing & Cooking Experience (N)

Vietnam

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ho Chi Minh City Highlights

Ho Chi Minh City

Major improvement needed ! Guide needs to be fluent in English and also have depth of knowledge of history . Also we were under the impression the tunnels were increased in the tour . However we never got to see them !

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to the Mekong Delta (Ben Tre)

Ho Chi Minh City

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My granddaughter, and I just had an awesome experience with KimKim.

Our travel agent, Lucie, selected places for us to go and things for us to see in Paris that were specific to our interests and fit within five day timeframe.

The Mythic 2CV 3-hour tour that opened our trip was wonderful! It gave us an overall picture of Paris so that we could add onto it throughout the week. Our 9 Hotel Opéra had a great location and was very clean!

We would never have missed making macarons, chocolate goodies, and the gourmet food tour. Believe it or not, our food tour guide was gluten-free just like my granddaughter. She even went out of her way to buy gluten-free bread for her to use as we sampled so many goodies.

Of course, we loved the Dali museum, the wonderful tour by Alouise a Montmartre, the Eiffel Tower at night, the boat tour on the Seine river, and the Saint Chapelle Stain-glass windows.

I would recommend Lucie as a travel agent to anyone who wants to go to France!

Hotel Review

Le 9Hotel Opera

Paris

Very clean! Daytime receptionist was very helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Great breakfast

Location

Near many restaurants and a beautiful park

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Visit of the chocolate museum with tastings

Paris

Besides, seeing the museum, we added on chocolate making. That made the experience 10 times more meaningful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Unveiling Masterpieces at the Louvre Museum

Paris

Too crowded

Trang's itinerary exceeded our expectation! It was our first time in Vietnam and Trang provided us an unforgettable trip, filled with memories that will last a life time. My favorite experience was the overnight cruise tour of Ha Long Bay. The limestone rocks were breathtaking and it was so romantic to the the sunset and the light of the moon on the rocks at night. We also enjoyed taking a Sampa through the caves, swimming in the bay and they even taught us how to make fresh spring rolls! We had two city tour guides on the trip (one for Hoi An and Ha Noi) and both were very friendly, talkative, willing to take our picture and explore things that caught our eye. Our favorite hotel was Palm Garden Resort where we had excellent service, food, a private beach and one of the best massages at the spa. Overall, we really enjoyed learning about the culture, history food and we can't wait to come back.

We travelled to Namibia as a family of 4 adults. I have an extremely busy life so to plan a trip like this is very difficult. Bianca planted the seeds of the adventure and have several iterations, we settled on a final plan. Bianca was very patient and responded quickly to any questions (we had plenty of them).
The trip was excellent. The accommodation she selected met the brief exactly....basic lodgings for the one nighters and more comfortable (upmarket) lodgings for the remainder. The car rental company were also top notch.
All in all, we had a very memorable adventure and would love to visit Namibia again (with the help of Bianca of course).

Activity Review

Windhoek day on leisure

Windhoek