Kimkim Trip Reviews

I want to first thank Yuliana and the Kimkim team for all of your help in planning this trip for my wife and I. We are truly grateful for such an unforgettable experience.
Every guide from Julio in Tortuguero to Alex (our Pacuare River rafting guide) were amazing. Also every driver that helped transport us from place to place were very hospitable.
We absolutely loved the time that we spent in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, especially the gorgeous Punta de Uva Playa. One of our favorites was the serene Pacuare River Lodge. Next time we definitely have to spend more than one night there.
Well, until next time. Thank you for everything!!!

Hotel Reviews

Cariblue Beach & Jungle Resort

South Puerto Viejo

Staff and amenities were amazing! The monkeys were definitely entertaining. Location was great, with stunning beaches close by.

Authenticity & Character

We loved opening our front doors and having a stunning view of the jungle.

Location

Easy access to the beautiful beaches.

Staff

Very attentive to our needs and were very informative.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms and amenities were kept clean and in great condition.

Pacuare Lodge by Böëna

Pacuare

This place is truly unforgettable. It was so calming and soothing being here. Our only regret is not spending more time here.

Authenticity & Character

Our room had incredible views on 3 sides, and instead of having windows the walls were pretty much screens. This made us feel like we were spending the night in the jungle and of course hear all of natures noises.

Location

It's great to disconnect from the business of life. It is right on the bank of the Pacuare River.

Staff

Staff was very friendly and attentive.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very well maintained and clean. Extremely comfortable.

Activity Reviews

2-Day Rafting Trip on the Río Pacuare: Day 2

Costa Rica

The 2-Day Rafting Trip on the Río Pacuare was thrilling! Our guide, Alex, made the experience exciting and enjoyable. The rafting adventure was definitely one of the highlights of our trip, providing both excitement and breathtaking views.

Guided Hike in Cahuita National Park

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

The Guided Hike in Cahuita National Park was delightful. We got up close with the local wildlife, with monkeys being a definite highlight. The park's natural beauty and the variety of animals we saw made this a memorable part of our trip.

This trip was one of our best ever. The drivers were punctual 💯 % of the time. The guides Paulina, Daniela, Alejandro, Marcela, Valeria, Ana, Agustin all absolutely wonderful (especially Paulina!). Every hotel was comfortable and well located. Loved all the tours especially Perito Moreno, trekking El Pingo, the Estancia (Dario and Ana were great and the lunch was lovely). Jesse did an incredible job in making this trip flow smoothly and include so many beautiful sites. We loved the Chilean and Argentinian Patagonia and Buenos Aires was like visiting a European capital.

Hotel Reviews

Urban Suites Recoleta

Buenos Aires

Well located and super comfortable and clean. We had a lovely quiet room. Breakfast very nice. Definitely would recommend this hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Walkable to many restaurants, stores and sites to visit.

Staff

Both super attentive

Cleanliness & Comfort

Floors and bathroom

MadreTierra Patagonia

El Calafate, Santa Cruz

MadreTierra Patagonia was okay, but the owner was pushy and insisted on selling excursions despite our plans. The room was tiny, though the beds were comfortable and breakfast was nice. Rosa, who served breakfast, was lovely.

Hotel Lago Grey

Torres del Paine

Hotel Lago Grey was a fantastic stay with breathtaking views in a quiet location. The excursions there were well-managed by Daniella, who provided a lovely snack and tea during our hike.

Activity Reviews

Perito Moreno Glacier Tour

Argentina

The Perito Moreno Glacier Tour was an amazing experience. The guides were knowledgeable, and the views of the glacier were spectacular. This excursion was one of the highlights of my trip.

Boat Trip to Glacier Grey

Chile

The boat rides on the trip, particularly to Glacier Grey, were wonderful. The experience was well organized, and the scenic views were simply breathtaking. I thoroughly enjoyed this part of the adventure.

4WD Excursion with Dinner

El Calafate

The 4WD Excursion with Dinner was probably my least favorite part of the trip. The guide was nice, but the activity itself didn't feel as fantastic compared to others. It was a straightforward drive across the plain without much excitement.

Buenos Aires Walking Tour

Buenos Aires

The Buenos Aires Walking Tour was a bit too long at four hours of continuous walking. The guide, Valeria, was wonderful, but the heat made it hard to enjoy. A break in the middle for lunch would have improved the experience.

We had the best trip in Italy for our 10 year anniversary thanks to the help of Manuela and her team! She helped us find the perfect balance of exploration and rest for our 6 day trip, visiting Rome, Florence and Cinque Terra. All of our tour guides she arranged for us; Gabriella at the Colosseum, Valentina at the Vatican, Emmanuela in Florence, and Tony at Cinque Terra were all amazing and so passionate and knowledgable about the history of the sites.
The hotels Manuela recommended and booked for us were perfect and incredibly located in the heart of Rome and Florence. The itinerary was flawless!
The trip plans app was easy to use, and if we had a question or concern the team was very responsive. Don't hesitate, use KimKim for your trip, you won't regret it!

Hotel Reviews

47 Boutique Hotel

Rome

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grand Hotel Cavour

Florence

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Visit of Florence Including David and Duomo

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Visit of the Colosseum & Roman Forum

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Gabriella from LivTours was Amazing!

Transport

Wine & Food Tasting Delights

Rome

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guided Visit: Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Excursion to Cinque Terre

Florence

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The trip was really nice. I would not recommend using Chiang as a guide in Bergen as he is Taiwanese and has only lived in Bergen for a couple of years and his English was poor. Hotels were great. Cruises were great. Dinner at the island exceeded our expectations. For the cable car, you should let people know that they need to convert their ticket to a real ticket at the botton and not try to get through the automated gates with the paper ticket or phone QR code. I would definitely recommend first class car for train. About half the seats face backwards so if it is possible to get a train car layout we would have preferred facing forward.

We would definitely use you guys again for other trips and we have recommended you to a couple of our friends.

Hotel Reviews

Grand Hotel Oslo

Oslo

Great hotel in a great location. Restaurant was very good.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Opus XVI

Bergen

Great hotel in great location. Lots of history.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private City Walk

Oslo

The guide was very experienced and his English was excellent.

Mostraumen Fjord Cruise

Bergen

Enjoyed the cruise.

Oslofjord Dinner Cruise

Oslo

Nice way to spend our first night. Food was good for the circumstances of being on a boat where the food is pre prepared.

Cultural Walk with a Local

Bergen

Guides English was poor and he was relatively new to Bergen. I would not recommend using the same guide.

Ulriken Cable Car & Lunch with a View

Bergen

One of the highlights. Meal and cider tasting was very good and it was in an exclusive area that was quiet and great views.

Fjord Cruise & Seafood Dining Experience

Bergen

Food was excellent and the excursion exceeded our expectations. It was a nice way to end our stay in Bergen.

We had an extraordinary Moroccan adventure thanks to the terrific planning by kimkim.
When we were interacting with them and planning the trip, we had no idea that it would be so smooth and well organized. Our driver, Said Misser, was, in addition to being an outstanding driver, a tremendously engaging and interesting man who spoke near flawless English. We so completely enjoyed his company. He could not have been more accommodating and professional. The hotels selected, particularly the one in Marrakesh, were excellent. Our guides in Fez and Marrakesh were very good and we really enjoyed the tours of the Medina in Fez and the food tour in Marrakesh

Hotel Reviews

Les Jardins De La Medina

Marrakech

You were tired after a very long drive and when we walked into the hotel, enormous smiles lit up our faces. Then, when we spent some time there, we were even more delighted. This is one of the finest hotels that we've ever stayed at and we've stayed at a lot of them. Everything is so well thought out and beautifully executed. The rooms are spacious and beautifully appointed, there is a balcony and a sundeck. The public areas are gorgeous and the restaurant served us an excellent dinner and three wonderful breakfasts. My wife experienced her first hamman and a delightful massage. On Sunday night, while we're having a delicious dinner, we were treated to a magic show by an extremely talented slight of hand artist. It was so much fun.

Authenticity & Character

This was a palace for a woman who is part of the royal family. It has since been converted into a sensational luxury hotel

Location

The hotel is right at the edge of the Medina and just down the street from Cafe Clock

Staff

Everybody could not have been nicer.

Cleanliness & Comfort

It was very clean and I saw no sign of deferred maintenance

Riad Kalaa

Rabat

Lovely hotel with an excellent location. Because you can't drive directly to the front door of the hotel, be sure to let them know when you arrive so that they can unload and transport you luggage. Once there, you'll have an excellent stay. We had a comfortable room right by the rooftop pool.

Authenticity & Character

Old House turned into a boutique hotel

Location

Inside the walls

Staff

Really good service especially from Idahned Ayoub at reception

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dar Meziana

Chefchaouene

The hotel has a good location within the city but had a couple of flaws. The biggest flaw was the style of the bed. It was in a raised alcove. You had to climb up on a couch to get into bed. Once up to the bed, you had to crawl over your bed partner to get into bed. Also, our room had a badly ill sized bathroom door. It loudly scrapped every time it opened it closed.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Madu Luxury Camp

Merzouga

To put a really nice room and camp in the desert is quite an accomplishment. The room was spacious and well appointed. The bed was very hard but we slept very well. The lack of privacy for the toilet was lame. Really, hang some curtains.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kasbah Isfoula

Ait Ben Haddou

We loved our stay here. The owner, Stephani, was delightful. The public are was beautiful and the room was very clean and comfortable. There was a continual nasty smell in the water closet. Be sure to eat dinner in the dining room. It's terrific.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Exploring the Imperial City and Medieval Medina of Fes

Fes

Zahra was a tremendously knowledgeable and professional guide.

Quality of Experience

We visited several craftsman but never felt any pressure to buy. We did buy a beautiful tile table.

Food

We loved most of the Moroccan food we ate

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Zahra really knows her city

Transport

Our driver, Said Misser, was fantastic. His English was near perfect, he was a terrific driver and helped makes the tour so wonderful.

Meknes: Wine Tasting in Morocco's Wine Region

Morocco

We tasted the best Moroccan wines of the trip and had the best meal of the trip at the winery.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Overnight in the Sahara Desert

Morocco

It was great but we'll never need to ride a camel again. Ouch

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exploring the Medina and Historical Sites Of Marrakesh

Marrakesh

Abdul did a very good job showing us around the Medina

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Evening Food Tour in Marrakesh

Marrakesh

Our guide, Rasheed , did an excellent job showing us the market and crazy busy main square

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traditional Cooking Class

Morocco

This was one of the tour' s highlights. Under the direction of an excellent chef, we prepared a fantastic lunch.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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Aleksandra helped us craft a picture perfect trip to the UK countryside. From the earliest planning phases, she listened to understand the experience we wanted and created a customized itinerary that ticked every box.

We started and ended our trip in London, and while we enjoyed the city's bustle, our focus was the countryside.

We began in Castle Combe at The Manor House. Aleksandra planned a memorable afternoon tea - one of the trip's absolute highlights. The grounds were beautiful and staff incredibly kind.

Aleksandra arranged a day trip led by Matthias at Galahad Tours. We visited picturesque villages and appreciated the historical context from Matthias. We'll recommend his company to every friend visiting the Cotswolds. Other highlights included Hidcote Gardens and Warwick Castle. We explored public footpaths and encountered local sheep - magical.

We visited Hebden Bridge and Heptonstall in West Yorkshire, chatting with locals in pubs. In York, we absorbed the city's rich history. Aleksandra arranged another tour through the Yorkshire Dales with driver Rob, who proudly showcased his beloved region. Highlights included Bolton Castle (a must!) and the town where they film All Creatures Great and Small - during filming day!

Aleksandra's thoughtful planning made us feel cared for throughout the journey. I highly recommend working with her and booking her private transfers between locations, which made the trip more relaxing and enjoyable.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

We will most definitely be back. Thanks, Aleksandra!

We had truly wonderful experience. Planning and booking our trip was easy with quick and helpful feedback from the team throughout the process. We were able to customize our trip based on the number of days we had available and the places we wanted to go! Hakim was a pleasure to work with. We had the most wonderful driver - Mohammed - that was with us for our entire trip and made our travels around the country seamless. He helped coordinate with our tour guides in each location and offered us the flexibility and opportunity to stop and explore so many sites and experiences along the way.

Hotel Reviews

Riad El Yacout

Fès

We had a wonderful stay! Our room was wonderful. But of particular note was the Manager Marcos who was truly fabulous and very helpful. Dinner services was also incredible!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palais Zahia

Old Medina, Tangier

Our stay at the hotel in Tangier was great. Even though it wasn’t a luxury spot, it was very comfortable for a one-night stay. The hotel was small but cozy, and the service was excellent. The breakfast buffet was the best of our trip.

Imperial Glory Lodges

merzouga

The night in the desert at Imperial Glory Lodges was a great experience. The tent was comfortable and it was a nice touch to have dinner included. There was a slight issue with the hot water, but for a one-night stay, it was manageable.

Paradise of Silence

Ait Ben Haddou

Paradise of Silence was ironically not too silent due to dogs barking throughout the night. The hot water was the most inconsistent here, cutting off mid-shower. Despite these issues, the location and facilities were good.

Activity Review

Food Tour & Local Gastronomy

Morocco

The Food Tour & Local Gastronomy in Marrakesh was an absolute highlight of the trip. Our tour guide was amazing, knowledgeable, and engaging, making the experience memorable. I highly recommend this tour for anyone visiting Marrakesh.

The trip was perfectly planned with stops in many cities and towns to get a complete feeling for the many sides of Portugal. The hotels were beautiful and perfectly located central to the cities and towns. Everything was within walking distance. Our drivers were professional and provided local knowledge. During the power blackout, our driver Nuno kept us going even though shops were closed. He checked on us the following day to make sure we were OK. A special callout to our driver Diogo who went above and beyond to find us activities when one of our excursions cancelled at the last minute.

Hotel Reviews

Pousada Porto - Rua das Flores

Porto

A beautiful hotel in the heart of Porto. The breakfasts were amazing.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

PortoBay Marquês

Lisbon

A beautiful hotel in the heart of Lisbon right off Liberty Avenue. The staff were excellent and handled the Spain/Portugal power outage with grace and a smile.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lagos Avenida Hotel

Lagos

A beautiful boutique hotel across from the Marina. The restaurant was exceptional for breakfast and our Michelin star food and wine tasting was off the chain.

Authenticity & Character

Beach vibe.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Melia Lisbon Airport

Lisbon

This is an exceptional airport hotel. Not like the US airport hotels. I never heard a plane landing or taking off even though it is a 5-minute walk to Lisbon airport.

Authenticity & Character

Not your average airport hotel.

Location

You can walk to Terminal 1.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Day Excursion to Douro Valley: Wine Tasting & River Cruise

Porto

This was the most beautiful part of Portugal and is a must see. Our driver Nuno added an extra stop to a port tasting.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lisbon Fado Dinner Experience

Portugal

I was surprised at the quality of the food and wine. Excellent! The fado music was beautiful. Each group did 2 songs and then a break so it wasn’t like sitting through a whole concert. Perfect way to experience the music of Portugal with great food.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Wine Tasting & Lunch at a Portuguese Quinta

Portugal

The venue cancelled on us at the last minute due to a national holiday. This was not mentioned when we booked it almost 9 months prior.

Quality of Experience

Better communication

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Diogo found us a great local restaurant on our way back to Lisbon from Lagos.

Transport

Get to Know Lisbon with a Local

Lisbon

Our guide Alex was very knowledgeable in the history of Lisbon. The tour was a bit long but very well done!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Alex is excellent!

4X4 Algarve Sunset Experience

Portugal

Overall, I would not recommend. The coastal stops with beautiful beaches, surfers, and sheer cliffs were enjoyable, but the "Jeep" ride was brutal. St. Vincent Cape of Sagres is worth visiting, but it was a cloudy evening, so we were unable to witness the spectacular sunset.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Foodie Experience in Porto

Porto

A good overview of local and bar-type traditional food of Portugal. The guide (can't remember his name but he wore a hat) was entertaining and even ended the evening with some magic! The ending location was a bit disappointing (a restored pool hall). Overall, a good first tour in Porto.

Quality of Experience

A variety of local restaurants, not the touristy ones.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Privately Guided Visit of Porto

Porto

Our guide Celia did an excellent job of showing us the history and beauty of Porto.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Day Excursion: Sintra, Cascais & Estoril

Portugal

Our driver, Nuno, was excellent. He was very knowledgeable of the history of each town and showed us the best places to eat and shop. We were in Sintra when the power went out to all of Portugal, but Nuno did not miss a beat and continued the tour even though many of the shops were closed. He even checked on us the next day to make sure we were OK.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Nuno is the best!

Transport

Our trip to Portugal and Spain was incredible!! Marisa perfectly balanced the quality of each experience with the cost -- she found hotels that were both centrally-located and affordable, as well as tours that matched our desired interests in each city. We expressed to Marisa that we wanted to explore the local cuisine in each city, and she did an incredible job finding tours and shows that did exactly that! Marisa was also super responsive during the planning process and made it possible for us to plan this trip with only a few weeks notice. We are so grateful to Marisa for putting together our perfect trip!!

Hotel Reviews

AVANI Avenida da Liberdade

Lisbon

Excellent hotel!! It was centrally located in the shopping district and a quick 5-10 minute walk from most restaurants and the park. It was clean and had a very comfortable bed. Highly recommend!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

H10 Corregidor Boutique Hotel

Sevilla

Excellent hotel!! The location was absolutely perfect for exploring all of Seville. The bed was comfortable (though it was two twin beds pushed together, rather than one queen bed), and the hotel was very clean. Highly recommend!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cascade Wellness Resort

Lagos

Beautiful resort!! The hotel was clean, and the bed was super comfortable. The two pools were beautiful and perfect for lounging in the afternoon. The location was perfect -- it was a 15-minute walk to the beach (as most hotels are in Lagos), and a 30-minute walk from the downtown area (which was accessible via these peaceful walkways that connect to the piers and overlook the cliffs). Highly recommend!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Unveil the Fairytale Villa of Sintra with a Private Driver Service

Portugal

Incredible tour of Sintra and the surrounding area of Lisbon! Our driver was super knowledgeable about both Lisbon and Sintra, and he knew all of the best spots to take us throughout the day. In addition to our tour of Sintra, he took us to a fantastic seafood restaurant for lunch that overlooked the ocean, as well as took us to a nearby beach town to walk around. We were able to see so much more than we anticipated!! Highly recommend this tour!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lisbon's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour & Tastings

Lisbon

Great tour to learn more about Lisbon through a fairly quick walking tour. The tour ended with a short wine and cheese tasting that was lovely as well.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Premium Dinner Accompanied by Authentic Fado Performance

Lisbon

Wonderful dinner and Fado experience!! It was the perfect blend of high-quality Portuguese food with the traditional Fado music experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Flamenco Show in Seville

Seville

Great way to experience an authentic Flamenco show!

Quality of Experience

Savor the Flavors of Seville: An Authentic Tapas Tour

Seville

Absolutely amazing tapas tour!! Our guide, Fernando, was super knowledgeable about Seville and made this tour so much fun! We were able to enjoy so many different tapas and wine tastings, as well as explore many restaurants that we otherwise would not have known about. Highly recommend!!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very happy with Kim Kim thru the whole process. I spoke with Marta about what kind of trip we were looking for and she delivered. Can’t ask for more. Barcelona was lovely. Tapas tour with Boris was excellent. Ann Marie’s tour of history of city with personal tour of Familia Segrada was very enjoyable and informative.
We then trained to San Sebastián. My only complaint was the coach bookings. Yes, the first class seating doesn’t get you a lot more but you’re less likely to be surrounded by a family with young hyperactive children, none of which believed in the use of soap.
San Sebastián is a Jewel. Would like to return someday. Our guide there Jaime was excellent. Enthusiastically led us to multiple villages surrounding the area. Knows his history, geography and cuisine. Proud of his Basque heritage, Jaime has us convinced to return in the not too distant future. Will use Kim Kim!

Activity Reviews

Guided Visit of San Sebastian

San Sebastián

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transport wasn’t waiting for us at the train station on arrival to San Sebastián. Contact barely spoke English so communication difficult

Tapas Walk in Barcelona

Barcelona

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Visit of Barcelona & La Sagrada Familia

Barcelona

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exclusive Barcelona Sailboat Cruise

Barcelona

The young man who took us out was great. It’s a 2 hour tour and we had to get a train later that day. Possibly a little tight if running late. You don’t see much in two hours. If the weathers good it’s fun. If it’s cold and windy, not so much.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

San Sebastian Pintxo Experience

San Sebastián

Sara did a great job. Had lots of fun with the other guests.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Visit Traditional Basque Coastal Towns & a Txakolli Winery Visit

San Sebastián

Jaime was excellent. Highly recommended

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Flamenco Night

Barcelona

Wife and daughter enjoyed it. Was fine for one hour performance. They took other people’s advice and turned down the A/C. Was comfortable. You’re in Barcelona so you might as well see. There are many such establishments like this available

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Everything was perfectly organized—from Bruno, who was always accessible, to our fantastic guide in Rio, Luis (a perfect 10/10), and Edson in Iguazu. We truly had excellent guides throughout

Our schedule changed due to a delayed flight and Camila did a great job of rearranging our flights and itinerary. Our Buenos Aires guide, Cecilia was great. she was friendly, knowledgeable and very flexible if we want to see something. Medoza was also incredible and the Kim team arranged some incredible wineries to see.

Mike

This was our second KimKim adventure. Everything went smoothly from the moment Paulo gathered us at the Lisbon airport and on. The hotels were wonderful and the breakfasts had everything imaginable. Lisbon is a hilly city but we trekked on guided by Marina to learn a lot about the city and the country that we would not have without a guide. Also Marina showed us where to get the best Nata. Later we experienced a Fado music dinner which gave us a glimpse of local culture. We were back with Paulo the next day on a trip to Sintra to see the winter palace and there we bought sardines! On the way there we stopped in Obidos and sampled cherry liquor in a chocolate cup. Then on to Porto where we checked into another great hotel and another hilly walking tour culminating with a tour of the Sandeman Port winery. Fantastic! And the port tasting was splendid! The next day we had a driving tour around Porto with Ricardo. We experienced the Douro Valley and saw other towns and cites. We really liked Cascais. The next trip was from Porto to Lagos in the Algarve region stopping for lunch in Evora and the food was fantastic. I had not tried Vino Verde before and drank it at most meals! We were all amazed at the expanse of vineyards, some dating back to Roman times. Another wine tasting and a boat ride on the Douro completed the day. In Lagos, we were greeted at the hotel with beautiful views and learned we were at the most western point in continental Europe! We were there during the power outage but were still able to tour around and have a great dinner. Last trip, up to Cascais and driving along the coast through Estoril and Cascais to see the beautiful beaches. As "foodies" we ate a lot of incredible meals. Cataplana, whole dorado, octopus, a mountain of olives, Portuguese fish soups, and the list goes on. Go to dinner hungry and with an open mind!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Cascais Miragem

Cascais

The hotel itself is spectacular! The rooms are spacious and our only regret is that we did not have more time to spend there.

Location

An easy walk to town

Cleanliness & Comfort

Spacious rooms, well appointed bathroom, great breakfast buffet.

Hotel Britania Art Deco

Lisboa

Very nice accommodations. A good location to start walking tours. If you need a coffee and delightful pastry, try Bom Gusto around the corner.

Authenticity & Character

The old world character and history of this hotel was wonderful. The marble floors and the cork floors of the suites were something I had not seen. There was a decanter of port wine in the room for complimentary tasting!

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

NH Collection Porto Batalha

Porto

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cascade Wellness Resort

Lagos

Terrific views from nearly everywhere in the hotel. A nice pool although a bit cool. Will be nice in warmer weather.

Authenticity & Character

Very luxurious! A large building that keeps a cozy appearance.

Location

Close to the old town and to nice restaurants. Try O Antonio!

Staff

The front desk folks were very helpful. Our waiter Mario was excellent. Even during the crush of patrons during the power outage the service was uncrushed and the food was terrific!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was great! Carob candy on the pillow every night!

Activity Reviews

Unveil the Fairytale Villa of Sintra with a Private Driver Service

Portugal

We had fun looking at the sardine store! The palace was wonderful, the amount of workmanship and tile was extraordinary!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nice large comfy Mercedes van!

To Eat Suggestion: Brasão - Coliseu

Porto

We called to make reservations but nobody answers. Then we had the hotel call for reservations and nobody answered them either.

To Eat Suggestion: Terra Nova

Porto

After seeing the photo of the seats by the round window we were all excited to have dinner. We actually got that table!

Quality of Experience

Great food and wine!

Transport

Uber

Private Douro River Escape: 1-Hour Exclusive Cruise

Portugal

It was OK but not up to the rest of the trip. Half our up river, half hour back down river.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was a nice girl.

Transport

Indulge in Elegance on a Guided Winery Tour Infused with Tastings and a Delicious Lunch

Portugal

Very interesting tour of the vineyard area.

To Eat Suggestion: Cervejaria Trindade

Lisbon

We got there on the early side an were just about the only people there. By the time dinner was over the place was full and there was a waiting line out the door. We had cataplana, a seafood dish with shellfish and fin fish. Along with the crusty bread and olives it made for a memorable meal.

Quality of Experience

food quality

Transport

we took Uber and found it to be very easy to use

Exclusive Panoramic Boat Tour to the Ponta da Piedade Caves

Portugal

Weather prevented us from taking this tour. Sadly it would have been fun

Lisbon's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour & Tastings

Lisbon

Marina was terrific. She was very knowledgeable and covered a lot of topics.

Quality of Experience

Marina guides us to great sights and fresh Nata.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Marina was very easy to understand and she was very knowledgeable.

The Flavors of Port Wine - Sip & Discover

Porto

A very educational hour at the Sandeman port winery. We loved learning about the history and tasting the various types of port wine.

Quality of Experience

Small tour group

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The Gide inside the Sandeman was very good

Transport

we took Uber

Alex and Kim – our time in Ireland was wonderful. That was largely due to the trip planning and you guys were awesome as you navigated through our wish list and put together something that no standard tour could provide. I know we were probably more challenging – me with my photography habit and Ruth’s knee issues. Although she greatly surprised me with her mobility during this trip.
I must say that the self-driving was quite the challenge. I was mostly terrified during the first 2 or 3 days of the trip, but I gradually came to feel more confident. Part of it may be that North Ireland, where we spent the first part of the trip is more challenging with the lack of road signs and amazingly narrow and curvy roads. Once we got into Ireland, things were a lot easier – less curvy roads, a lot more road signs, and what not. The M and N designated roads were a joy to drive.
The details are already starting to blur a little, so many interactions with great Irish people who were kind and thoughtful to help us on our way. And just plain engaging and friendly enough to explain some of the more mystifying reasons for why some customs were the way they were.
And the hotels! All of them were so quaint and well cared for. We enjoyed all of them and for different reasons at each place. When we made the decision to self-drive, selecting the right hotels was one of the more challenging things for me and one I gladly turned over to you guys. And I must say, y’all hit it out of the park! We felt so pampered and the inclusive breakfasts were amazing at each location.
Ireland is beautiful. Personally, I struggled with the light – either too much sun or dreary clouds (mostly North Ireland), but that is how photography is. Finding the right light and conditions is largely dependent on luck when you are on a pre-planed trip and my luck was not with me when I needed it. But I did get some stuff that I think will come out nicely and when I find time to process my images from the trip, I will be sure to send y’all a link to them.
We saw a lot. And yet we now realize that we only scratched the surface. Much more to see. I don’t know what the future holds, but a return is not out of the question. Y’all will be number one on my short list.

The trip was perfect. It just kept getting better. The variety of activities and the guides were the real standouts. Most of the drivers were very good; one was a bit scary and it was obvious he smoked because the car would wreak a bit when we got in. One guide, Bobo (sp?) picked us up at the airport in Beijing because our guide was busy. We saw him the next day and said "hi," and he pretty much ignored us; same thing when we ran into him again the day after. Seems he could have been a little friendlier. The hotel in Shanghai was the best of the bunch. The hotel in Guilin was a good location, but the breakfast was a zoo. The elevators were so crowded it would take a long time just to get downstairs. Nina, Jacob and Li were awesome. We only spent one day w/ Roy. He was good too, but didn't have the same connection w/ him.

All-in-all, a great trip and I would highly recommend Kimkim.

Hotel Reviews

SSAW Garden Hotel Beijing

Beijing

Great location. Room and facilities were fine.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Great restaurants nearby.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hilton Garden Inn Xi'an Bell Tower

Good location and nice property. Breakfast was adequate.

Authenticity & Character

I don't really recall, but nothing noteworthy.

Location

Staff

Nothing great, nothing bad.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Guilin Lijiang Waterfall Hotel

I guess the location was good, but the elevators were so bad they are the most memorable part of the stay, and not in a good way. Breakfast was so-so; very crowded and avg. food.

Authenticity & Character

Big hotel, not so authentic and no character

Location

On the water

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Moondance Resort

Guilin

Nice countryside location, but no so convenient to the town. The room itself was nice w/ the balcony and large bathroom, but is dangerous, especially for older people who get up during the night. The bed on the floor doesn't help and the stairs down to the toilet are a fall hazard. Breakfast was the worst of all the properties. It was very small and boring.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sunrise On The Bund

Good location, good breakfast and nice toilet.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

The Shanghainese People's Secret Recipe

Shanghai

Didn't do this. Went to Jewish quarter instead. That was great.

Li River Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo

China

So beautiful

Quality of Experience

Food

Boat food is boat food.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bejing Train Station Private Transfer

Beijing

Didn't take the train.

Tiananmen Square

Beijing

Great being there.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Terracotta Warriors

Xi'an

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide Jacob was awesome; driver only gets an "ok."

Transport

Learn How to Make Terracotta Warriors from Local Artisans

Xi'an

This originally didn't sound so exciting, but I loved it. Our warriors are on our bookshelf and are a fond memory of the experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Jacob great, John so-so

Transport

Driver was a smoker so car wreaked a bit. He was not a good driver.

Full-Day Private Tour: Longji Terraced Rice Fields and Ethnic Minority Culture

China

The topography and scenery were amazing.

Quality of Experience

Li knows so much it was wonderful sharing this w/ him. The restaurant was in a great location and the food was good.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mr. Lee was a great driver.

Transport

Ancient City Wall

Xi'an

Wanted to ride bikes, but didn't have one small enough for my friend. We tried the tandem and then they couldn't raise the seat to accommodate me (and I'm only 5'5"). The bike rental people couldn't have cared less. We ended up walking and went to an adjacent park that was lovely. Jacob did a great pivot here.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Same as before; Jacob great, John so-so

Cooking dumplings

Xi'an

Just like making the warriors, didn't sound exciting, but enjoyed it a lot and the food was great. I really like that Jacob had so many good relationships w/ the people we met.

Quality of Experience

Yangshuo Chinese Cookery Class

Yangshuo

Jenny at Cloud Nine was great. She made it fun and the food was tasty.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Shanghai Tower

Shanghai

Loved it

We had an excellent trip. Lucy was always helpful and prompt in her support, changing and improving things for us in the planning stage. When we got here everything ran smoothly. Our guides were also excellent. Andy was very knowledgeable and keen to work with us. We especially loved our guide Bau in Sapa . She was very easy to talk to about life in northern Vietnam and even though our second scenic route was not very scenic because of mist she made it a pleasure to be walking with her.

The boat trip in Ha Long Bay also had many plus points. Our room was lovely and the food amazing. We were a bit disappointed that we didn’t get to see much of the bay being mostly in one spot rather than cruising. The swimming and kayaking were very strictly controlled- we didn’t get a second kayaking choice on the cave visit. These were the slight hiccups at the end of our trip.
We loved La Siesta Hotel in Hanoi. The staff were helpful and kind , the Skybar was amazing and the breakfast wonderful. We also loved Le Clos du Fil - a quieter and calmer hotel with a lovely pool and a perfect place to draw breath in our busy trip. Perhaps the hotel in Sapa was not quite up to the standard of the rest? It had great views but it was a bit tired looking in places.

These are small things which I hope you can use in future bookings. We did have an amazing time and we are very grateful to Lucy for putting this in place for us. We hope to be planning our next Kim Kim trip soon!

Janice and Alex

Our driver/guide Soufiane was AMAZING- so kind, caring, thoughtful, and safe. He anticipated our needs and was exceptionally knowledgeable. Marrakesh was great, our guide Hannan was superb, 11/10! The desert was a good experience, should’ve skipped Fed and stayed extra day in Sahara. Fes - interesting city with very cool sights. Our guide was knowledgeable and friendly. Unfortunately, we received the standard “tourist treatment” with most of the tour spent in the hustles of getting us to buy things after a short tour (tannery, tile) or explanation (carpet, cloth) shops. While interesting, it was all a preface to the hustle. I would have preferred hearing about architecture, history, culture, etc. IMO, paid guides should warn you it’s a hustle, not offer you up to them. That had been my beef with previous tours and I’d hoped that this one would be different. Alas, it was not.
Casablanca was not worth the time. Saw the mosque and that was it. Basically we had 1 day in tourist hustle and 1 with nothing to do. Overall a good trip but would make different choices and be more vocal about my desire for non-hustle options.

Sandy was very understanding and patient with me. This was a last minute trip and i have a tight budget, sandy happily assisted me to make my first Japan trip memorable! I was happy with the guide in Tokyo, the sumo experience was something i will never forget and the Tea ceremony in Kyoto was definitely an Ichigo Ichie experience. There was one activity which i originally liked but the final itinerary was showing differently. Sandy explained that there was no availability but it would be appreciated if it was brought to my attention before I finalized the trip. The guide in Kyoto was good but we did not connect that much. Overall, i still had a wonderful first Japan trip! Thank you so much Sandy!

Working with Kim Kim was the best experience ever. I completed their simple form and heard back from a local travel agent from Thailand within 24 hours. My experience after that was nothing less than perfect. Mint, my agent was spectacular. For a few weeks after my initial submission, Mint worked with me to customize the perfect itinerary for me and my family in Thailand. She would respond within 24 hours to my emails, she answered all my questions, calmed any concerns I would think of and supported us before, during and after the trip. My first night in Thailand, I reached out to Mint looking for kid friendly areas quite late in the night (Jet lag) to get food, Mint responded quickly and guided us to a safe area and helped us arrange transportation so we wouldn’t get ripped off. I reached out to Mint almost everyday of our trip and she always responded with helpful tips and went way above and beyond to ensure our trip was perfect. She would reach out to us to confirm we had our vouchers and confirmations. She reached out to the hotels and arranged for us to receive lunchboxes on the days we were departing before breakfast. For one of our excursions, we were unable to load the photos from our tour guide, Mint got in touch with them, got the photos and sent them to us. This was my first time working with Kim Kim and it was exceptional. I would highly recommend them if you are planning a trip to Thailand.

We had a wonderful family trip to Spain thanks to KimKim! Adam and Summer did a great job booking tours to match our varied interests. Every one of our guides was knowledgeable and welcomed questions. We particularly enjoyed our tour guide Miguel in Seville and Nacho who took us on a private tapas tour in Madrid. All of the travel arrangements went smoothly - we flew home just two days before the major power outage for which we are very grateful. This was our third trip with KimKim and we look forward to more in the future.

Hotel Reviews

Las Casas de la Judería

Seville

We enjoyed this unique, historic hotel and the walk from our room to the main building through corridors interspersed with fountains, flowers and patios. It was a nice, easy walk to the Alcazar and historic center.

Authenticity & Character

Quirky and fun.

Location

Close to major attractions

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room Mate Macarena

Madrid

Lovely breakfast room, good individual rooms located in dark hallways, prime location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Radisson Blu 1882 Hotel, Barcelona Sagrada Familia

Barcelona

Modern chain hotel with large rooms and very nice dining options. Located very close to La Sagrada Familia.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to La Sagrada Familia but a distance away from other major tourist areas in Barcelona.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Prado Museum Visit with an Art Historian

Madrid

Excellent way to see the amazing collection and learn about Spanish history.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private City Walk & Royal Palace Experience

Madrid

Complimented the Prado Museum tour that we did on the same day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Day Trip to Ávila & Segovia

Madrid

It was unseasonably cold and rainy the day of the trip which dampened our experience a bit. Interesting cities and sites explained well with a very good recommendation for a restaurant at lunch.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Evening Tapas Stroll with a Local

Madrid

Really excellent tour filled with local information and tips and delicious food. Wished this had been at the start of our trip but I’m sure scheduling was challenging because of the Easter holiday.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Nacho chose great food and restaurants and adapted flexibly to our interests.

Historic Landmarks Walk

Seville

Miguel was an excellent guide and covered a lot of really interesting sites and locales. The small group was a good size.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Park Güell & La Sagrada Família Experience

Barcelona

Beautiful, iconic, must see sites viewed as part of a larger group. The sites were very crowded but the guide did a good job navigating us along.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

So glad that transportation to La Sagrada Familia was included!

Costa Brava Day Trip

Barcelona

We really enjoyed all of the sites and wished there had been more time in Girona. We got a late start due to mechanical issues with the van. Not the tides fault at all.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mechanical issues delayed us by an hour and a half.

Private Visit to Seville’s Cathedral & Alcázar

Seville

Even though we saw these sites from the outside we learned a lot more about them by touring the interior.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff