Kimkim Trip Reviews

Everything went so smoothly. From the initial planning stage, we enjoyed working with Sonia and collaborating together to get the perfect month long trip to Italy. Sonia was always very responsive to my emails and had great suggestions for the flow of the trip and our accommodations. One of the highlights Sonia arranged was a private cooking class in Tuscany. Throughout our trip, we had excellent help/guides: 1) Our private concierge, Barbara, was outstanding. She met us in Milan and helped secure our rental car and then checked in with us periodically to confirm our arrangements. She was very responsive to any requests we had. 2) In Venice, we were met by (another) Barbara who helped us get to/from our hotel. It really allowed us to enjoy the whole experience. 3) We had a 4 hour private tour in Venice with Silvia and she was fabulous. She was so knowledgeable and fun to be with. 4) We had a 4 hour private tour in Florence with Simona and she, too, was fabulous. She gave us a great overall view of Florence and its history (including art) which really added to our stay.
This is the second time we have worked with KimKim (first time in Norway) and, although we are independent travelers, their expertise and attention to detail allows you to fully experience your trip without having to worry about all the details such as transfers, rental car arrangements, and tours. We highly recommend their services.

Hotel Reviews

Forestis Dolomites

Bressanone BZ

An amazing place to stay in the Dolomites. Great service, great food and the location is unbeatable.

Authenticity & Character

It was very elegant in a simple, refined way. The spa was beautiful and the swimming pool was great.

Location

The view of the Dolomites.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Antica Corte Pallavicina

Polesine Parmense

A wonderful place in the countryside outside of Parma.

Authenticity & Character

A wonderfully restored castle. There were two restaurants to eat at with amazing food.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grand Hotel Cavour

Florence

You cannot beat the location of this hotel, right in the heart of Florence. Our room was on the smaller side but was modern, clean and comfortable. Unfortunately it rained so we couldn't enjoy the rooftop terrace. Breakfast was very nice.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Corte di Gabriela

Venice

An intimate, charming hotel in a great location in Venice.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It was close to everything we wanted to see, but in a side alley so it was quiet.

Staff

Wonderful breakfasts!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Venice walking tour

Italy

Our guide, Silvia, was outstanding. She was so knowledgeable and fun to be with. She made all the reservations for our visit to San Marco basilica and Dogo's Palace so we skipped the lines. And she showed us some hidden treasures throughout the city. It was a great way to get to know Venice so that we could explore on our own the remaining days.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Venice Gondola Ride

Venice

I wouldn't say this was a highlight as it felt a little touristy. But then, when in Venice ..... it was interesting to get to see all the buildings in the canals so the sightseeing did make it a worthwhile experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We arrived early and they were able to accommodate us without us waiting.

Transport

Gondola was beautiful.

Private cooking class at Podere il Casale in Pienza (self-drive)

Italy

This was one of the highlights of our trip. The Podere il Casale is a beautiful farm in the Tuscan countryside and Sandra, one of the owners, was our cooking instructor. Her hospitality was incredible and we had so much fun together. The food was delicious and the ingredients were farm fresh. In addition to the food we prepared during the class, we tasted the cheese they make on the farm and sampled their freshly pressed olive oil along with their homemade bread. We enjoyed this great lunch while sitting on the lovely terrace overlooking the rolling hills of Tuscany. It was one of the best meals of our entire trip and such a wonderful experience.

Quality of Experience

Sandra really showed us the essence of Italian country cooking.

Food

Everything!

Private transfer from Rental Car office at Florence airport to hotel

Florence

Our driver, Maurilio, showed up early so we didn't have any wait time. He was courteous, friendly and gave us information as he drove us into Florence.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private guided tour of the Uffizi and Accademia Galleries (4 hours)

Florence

Our guided tour with Simona was the best way to get introduced to Florence. She was so knowledgeable about Florence and gave us a great overview of the city's history. And her knowledge of art and art history were amazing. We could never have learned so much by ourselves as we did in 4 hours with Simona. She secured reservations to the Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia Gallery so it made it a breeze to visit both. We were very impressed with Simona and the personalized guided tour that she gave us.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide, Simona, was the best.

I highly recommend KimKim and the local company they connected us to for a trip to Patagonia. Erin and Nara were amazing! Their expert itinerary took our wishlist, budget, and interests into account and created a trip of a lifetime! (also their patience with all of my questions was greatly appreciated)

Our hotels, guides, excursions and restaurants exceeded expectations and despite some unfortunate weather we able to do most of the things we planned on. The Singular hotel was a highlight of the trip for all of us and the guides we had at every destination were wonderful!

We will definitely be using KimKim again and will recommend to all our friends and family!!

Hotel Review

The Singular Patagonia

Puerto Natales

This was a truly amazing place to stay. The balance of luxury and comfort was just right. We stayed here for two nights initially and then returned for another night.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Trip Briefing at Dittmar Adventures

Puerto Natales

The briefing turned out to be really helpful. Nara, who we met there, had a whole map spread out and explained why we were doing what we were doing. It was nice to meet someone from the company in person.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Torres del Paine Full Day Private Tour

Chile

This was just the right amount of hiking and sightseeing. We really liked our guide.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kayak Lago & Rio Grey, Return to Puerto Natales

Chile

Even though the weather wasn't great, we had a fun time. We ended up cutting it a bit short due to the weather, but it didn't impact our enjoyment. The lunch served was delicious, even though we had to eat it in the van.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to a Patagonian Estancia

Chile

Due to wind, we had to go to a different Estancia than initially planned. However, it turned out to be one of our favorite days. The people were so nice, and the food was so delicious.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I enjoyed this trip . A trip with varieties. Our two drivers/main guides were both good. They were friendly and helpful. The highlights for this trip for me are the Mount Bromo sunrise trip and the blue flame hike the following morning. But for the blue flame hike, too bad I did not walk fast enough . By the time when I got to the spot, the blue flame burnt out already. If we started 30 minutes earlier or if we skipped that morning refreshment, I would be able to see the blue flame. Hopefully the tour organizer would consider this point so that other tourists who love to see the blue flame would not miss it.

The 3 cruise days trip to Komodo National Park was interesting too. I enjoyed the beautiful coral reefs, sunrise and sunset there. The cruise crews were good.

For the day trip to Nusa Penida, I wish they could provide us big towel so that we could have it to cover our body when we were going to our next snorkelling spot. It was a bit cold after we got out from the water after snorkelling. Or they told us before so that we could bring our big towel.

Overall the trip was great. I enjoyed it. Thanks.
Ling

Our trip to Patagonia in October 2023 could not have been better. I had a basic idea of where we wanted to go and what we wanted to do from the recommendations of some friends, but I contacted kimkim because I was intimidated by trying to book accommodations on the W hike, and because I figured a local agent would know which excursion providers were the best. Kimkim connected me with Dittmar Travel in Puerto Natales, and I was pleased to work with Laura, Erin and Nara. The whole trip went off without a hitch. Hotels were expecting us, drivers and guides showed up on time, bus tickets were easy to use (and exchange when desired), and suggestions for restaurants and free time were all great. We especially enjoyed our guided hike in El Chalten with Julie from Walk Patagonia. Best hotel breakfast was the amazing spread at the Kau Yatun Hotel and Estancia in El Calafate, though all were good and offered a variety of foods. The best view from a hotel room probably goes to the Andino Sur in Ushuaia with the Alma Sur in El Chalten a close second. Of course, the very best views were from the refugios on the W trek, but those require some serious hiking to get to! Erin and Nara were available to answer even the most basic questions (should we bring sleeping bag liners? how about microspikes?) and I felt very comfortable asking them. I highly recommend visiting Patagonia with the help of Dittmar Travel.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Alma Sur

Punta Arenas

The Alma Sur is a nice hotel convenient to the Bus Sur station and the attractions of downtown Punta Arenas. The rooms are spacious and comfortable, the staff is very friendly and provides good recommendations, and the breakfast was ample and delicious.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

NOI Indigo Patagonia

Puerto Natales

nice hotel right on the waterfront. walking distance to good restaurants and shops of downtown Puerto Natales. staff were very helpful in getting us an early breakfast to go and storing our lunch in the restaurant cooler.

Authenticity & Character

Location

stunning views across the water to snow capped peaks!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Refugio Torre Central

Parque Nacional Torres del Paine Pedro Montt

A great place to rest up after the big hike to the base of the Torres. Rooms and bathrooms were neat and clean. Check in process was easy Restaurant and bar staff were friendly and efficient.

Refugio Frances

The ecodomes at Frances are spacious and generally clean and comfortable. Our heater ran out of gas in the night, so it got chilly, but the sleeping bags provided were warm enough. The small dining room and bar were great for convivial meals and chats. Staff was friendly and efficient.

Refugio Paine Grande

Puerto Natales, Chile

This is a large refugio serving many overnight and day guests. The check in process was a little slow because many guests were coming and going and asking questions, and I think they were short staffed as the check in staff had to show everyone to their rooms. The common areas are warm and comfortable and the dining room was well organized. The food was good and plentiful.

Refugio Grey

Torres del Paine National Park

This is a beautiful refugio with a lovely dining room and bar. It feels a little more calm than the other ones we stayed in. We enjoyed the communal meals here and look forward to checking out some of the destinations recommended by fellow guests.

Hotel Lago Grey

Torres del Paine

This is a lovely hotel with enormous windows overlooking Lago Grey. We were ready for a comfortable private room after four nights of shared bedrooms and bathrooms on the W. The restaurant has a large and varied menu and the service staff were professional and friendly.

Destino Sur Hotel

El Chalten

This is a large-ish new (?) hotel in El Chalten, just off the main street. It was clean and comfortable and staff were friendly and helpful in exchanging money, arranging meals to go, and getting laundry done. Breakfast was good and the dining room was comfortable. The room was nice and the bed was comfortable. The views of the town and surrounding mountains were lovely. There was a little noise from the hallway, but nothing that kept us awake too late. The hotel is very convenient to the trails accessing Los Glaciares NP and also to a number of restaurants and breweries.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kau Yatun Hotel Boutique & Estancia

El Calafate

The Kau Yatun is located outside of the main commercial district of El Calafate which is nice because it's noisy down there. We enjoyed the walk through the neighborhood to the main street. The lobby and lounge area are very comfortable with lovely views of the surrounding estancia. The room was large and comfortable and the breakfast was fabulous. The staff were helpful in arranging luggage storage and transit to the bus station.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Alto Andino Hotel

Ushuaia

The Alto Andino is a couple of blocks uphill from the waterfront in Ushuaia, which means wonderful views from the room and breakfast room. Our room was huge and comfortable with a great shower. We appreciated the small kitchenette for making tea and coffee.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Trip Briefing at Dittmar Adventures

Puerto Natales

We appreciated the opportunity to sit down with Nara and go over the remaining days of our itinerary and ask questions.

Guided Hike to Laguna de los Tres

El Chaltén

It was nice to hike with our guide, Julie, from Walk Patagonia. She actually suggested a modification to our itinerary because I was suffering from a sore knee after our W trek. It was great to hike with someone who knows the natural history of the park and could answer any question we might come up with.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Overall an excellent trip.

Hotels were excellent - except for the Sheraton at Mahlpensa. The room was beat up and furniture did not match.

The Siena tour was fabulous - guide Kathleen was great.

All the wine tastings were fantastic, especially Alfieri.

We would not recommend the luncheon after the wine tasting. The truffles were tasteless and the rest of the food unremarkable.

The Hazelnut farm was somewhat interesting but the location is hard to get to.

The country roads with many sharp turns were challenging. They etracted from our experience, but the travel agent had nothing to do with that.

The rental car was excellent.

The only request we would have is more guidance on how to reach parking in the various towns.. especially when the towns are crowded.

We (two couples) had a great time in Greece. Spending time in five different hotels during our two week stay was a little hectic at times but it did give us a wonderful overview of Greece. Dimos worked with us to customize our trip , four versions, adding excursions, upgrading hotels and revising schedules as we looked at options and the best times to travel. He coordinated all our lodging, in country transportation and guides. It was a seamless experience. Every pickup was right on time and all our guides were knowledgable, friendly and spoke excellent English. The one time we were dropped off in the wrong location, a quick call to Dimos and the problem was resolved in less than fifteen minutes. A clear case of why having a local contact is so vital. Also, in general we chose to use private guides as opposed to group tours. It helped make the experiences seem more personal and allowed some flexibility on each days excursion.

Our travel at the end of October turned out to be the perfect time to be in Greece this year. The weather was warm and dry and the crowds had begun to thin out. Another comment on timing - in Crete, some restaurants had already begun to close for the season which seems to end on November 1. Still plenty of choices but fewer than during the main season.

Our travels took us to the Athens (Parthenon, Acropolis Museum and city tour), Temple of Poseidon and Olympia while we were in Athens. Some longer day trips but worth it to see the Greek countryside. Alway has a nice van or minibus for travel. The on to Meteora for an overnight. While it is accessible by train, I would recommend a private transfer. It offered better scheduling and allowed us almost two full days there. Our guide the first day offered us some suggestions for activities on the second day. Then on to Santorini for two nights and finally to Crete for four nights. Might have opted for another night in Santorini but the four nights in Crete was perfect. The nights before we had early morning flights in Athens, we opted to stat at an airport hotel instead of an early morning shuttle from Athens. The hotel was very nice. I would recommend this as a possibility.

Overall, our time in Greece was one we will always remember and we all look forward to our next travel experience.

Hotel Reviews

COCO-MAT Athens BC

Athens

Great location, walking distance to Parthenon, Acropolis Museum, and other historical sites. Lovely rooftop restaurant with to die for views of the Acropolis.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sofitel Athens Airport

Athens

For any hotel is was excellent, for an airport hotel it was outstanding. Walk to terminal, good food, helpful staff.

Cresanto Luxury Suites

Santorini

Small botique hotel with great service and privacy. Food was OK but not as exciting as we would have expected given the rest of the facility. Most rooms have a private pool/hot tub. It is not that close to tourist activities so need a car or transportation. About ten minute walk to closest off site restaurant.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

I Resort Beach Hotel & Spa

Stalis

This is a large beach resort hotel geared to an all inclusive clientele. It was very nice and as we were there at the end of the season, not too crowded. Most meals are buffet style, lots of choices, but not personalized. Hotel was right on the beach, had a beautiful pool, beach lounges, a spa and was within easy walking distance of many restaurants. Generally our preference is for smaller scale facilities but if you are looking for an easy one stop hotel, it was very nice

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Acropolis Temples, Ruins & Museum Visit

Athens

A must do experience on Athens. We were on a large bus tour, that started with a city driver through and a stop at the Acropolis Museum before going to the Parthenon. We prefer smaller groups but given the crowds at the Parthenon, even a private tour would seem to just be part of the masses. A wonderful experience, but be prepared for crowds. If possible go the the museum first.

Private Daily Tour to Olympia archaeological site

Athens

A long day trip from Athens, but well worth it. Beautiful country side en route. There is a museum adjacent to the archeological site. Go to the museum first if you can. We had expected to have a private guide at the site, but after we got there our driver told us there was no guide available due to the large number of cruise ship passengers needing guides. We would still have gone, but wish we had known about the guide problem before we arrived. Our driver, while not a licensed guide was very informative as were drove from Athens to Olympia and back.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Drive was fine, but no guide available.

Transport

Private Half-Day Exploration

Meteora

An incredible experience. The views and history make this unforgettable. Our guide was knowledgeable and very helpful. We visited two monasteries in the afternoon. Be prepared for a fair amount of walking, in some cases uphill to get to each monastery . There are enough other activities in Meteora to fill about half a day of independent sight seeing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Both guide and driver were local so had great knowledge of both the historical and current aspects of the area.

Transport

Local transport was a regular taxi. Perfectly fine, but a little crowded for four adults.

Private Panoramic Views Experience

Santorini

A good way to see Santorini in a short period of time. Even at end of season, Santorini was very busy. There were two cruise ships in port. It would be most unpleasant if there were four or five, a common occurrence during the peak season. We did not know before we got to Santorini that there is an archeological site on Santorini that we would probably have preferred to the Panoramic views tour but it was not offered as an option and we did not have time to add it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cooking like a Cretan on the Lassithi Mountains!

Heraklion

Birthplace of Zeus was amazing as was authentic lunch in a Greek Taverna

Explore the Palace of Knossos and Heraklion City

Heraklion

Palace of Knossos was most unexpected. The extent of the archeological site and the history that goes with it were a great surprise to us all. Definitely a must see if you are on Crete. If you don't have a guide, go to the museum first. Lunch on the waterfront was with lots of locals was fun!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I wouldn't plan a trip through KimKim again. About a week before we were set to go to Morocco, the terrible earthwake happened. The news was dire - so - to go or not. I waited for five days to hear from Megan at Wanderlust, to tell me what she thought. She didn't get in touch with me, so I emailed her. She said we could talk with zoom at the end of the week - never heard from her. We decided to go.
There were several scheduling changes we found when given the the schedule - Megan didn't talk those over with us. Scheduled a hotel change, a driver change. The changes were fine, but, again, I would expect more communication.
The KasbahOurika is a fabulous hotel. Food is ok, but atmosphere is unrivaled. The White Camel was fun, the tent great, the sunset lovely.
I wouldn't bother going up to the atlas Mts. to see the Morocco'a Hollywood -- way too much driving to see very touristy
sight. A few days in that trip, I got sick, it was covid, I spent the last two, three days, exhausted, stayed in my hotel room in Marrekech. Stayed at Jnane Tamsna - this was really a disappoinment! The buildings, decor etc were great, but the ganden and landscapingf was a real shock - the videos show a different picture! It was dusty, the "gardens" were parched and dry. We were not given a map of the hotel grounds, we had no reference of where we were compared to other areas. The food was so so. It isn't your fault, of course, I picked that hotel.
In general I think Morocco's cities are interesting, but tourists are guided to every little thing, a lot isn't interesting, or not to some people. I'm sorry to give such a mixed review, but I think you want to know the truth. I need more communicatrion from a travel expert in general. including phone calls etc, so I would seek out a different expert next time. Molly Power

Said (holiday specialist/coordinator) and Tayeb (driver/guide) throughout the trip were exceptional. They made our holiday in Morocco a memorable experience. They were extremely courteous and ever obliging. Nothing was a problem for them. A big thank you to both of you.
Our local guides Mouna in Rabat, Charif in Fes and Moushine in Marrakesh were very knowledgable and explained the history extremely well.

The trip was amazing. Long did such a fabulous job on every level. There was not one part of the trip that wasn't fabulous. The people of Vietnam are friendly, hard working, funny and just a joy to be around. The culture, history and determination of Vietnam's people should not be missed. We had several great guides and drivers. Special thanks to

Alex
Willie
Jackie
Mr Wee

Our guides saw to every detail and ensure we had a blast. I loved the entire trip but you absolutely must take a vespa tour around Hanoi. We visited small villages, ate with friendly amazing people, visited cities and so many wonderful places. It is definitely a return destination.

A special thanks to Kimkim and Long. He did such an amazing job setting this up. He put up with tons of questions and made sure it was perfect (which it was). I will continue to use Kimkim for any adventure. Thank you Long! You are the best!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel de l'Opera Hanoi - MGallery

Perfect location in the old quarter! breakfast was amazing and the staff incredible.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Silk Path Grand Resort & Spa Sapa

Lao Cai

I wish I could have spent more time here. The hotel is amazing and the spa and pool were awesome!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pu Luong Retreat

Thanh Hoa

This is a great place surrounded by rice fields and friendly people. We did a 10 mile hike around small villages and it was simply amazing. This was a great place.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tam Coc Garden Resort

Hoa Lu District, Ninh Binh Province

This is a gem of the wild.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Capella Cruise

Halong

This was a great adventure. I enjoyed the Kayaking the most. The schedule is tight and timely but it was an amazing experience.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pilgrimage Village Hue

Hue

Hue was probably my favorite place on the trip and this hotel and staff were by far my favorite. Everyone was good but this hotel was in a perfect location and a perfect staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Anantara Hoi An Resort

Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province

great spot for visiting the downtown and getting clothes made. The hotel is awesome and the people amazing. if you want to walk to the market and boats this is the place to go.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Halong Bay Exploration on Cruise

Ha Long Bay

Do the Kayaking

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Disembarking the cruise

Ha Long Bay

Imperial City Tour - Boat & Bike Ride to Rural Villages

Hue

Amazing!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanoi Vespa Tour

Hanoi

Alex was awesome! you absolutely have to do this. It was a highlight of my life.

Quality of Experience

Food

All of it. Alex took us to the most special place (Obama restaurant).

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanoi Afternoon City Exploration and Street Food Tour

Hanoi

Did Vespa all day! It was amazing

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Cam Thanh Village

Hoi An

This was a lot of tourists but so fun. It is worth the trip

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hidden Trails of Pù Luông

Pu Luong Nature Reserve

Jackie and the group did an amazing 10M hike. So fun to see the culture and talk to the local people

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hoi An Sightseeing Tour

Hoi An

Got to visit the ancient places in Hoi An. it was a great morning and then we bought to many lanterns.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the Remote Villages of Ban Khoang & Ta Giang Phin

Sapa

This is why I went to Vietnam. The people were amazing. yes they want you to buy a few small things but it was well worth it.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trek to Lech Dzao & Thanh Kim Villages

Sapa

Loved the local culture and crafts

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ma Tra - Ta Phin

Sapa

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hue - halfday city tour with lunch

Hue

Hue was my favorite place. The bike ride was awesome and we loved the citadel

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hiking and rafting in Pu Luong

Pu Luong Nature Reserve

This was awesome! Out in country but you can just explore local villages on your own if you wish.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hoa Lu - Tam Coc (Half Day)

Vietnam

All of the guides were knowledgeable and professional. The ones that were the best were Gabriella in Granada, Diego in San Sebastián, Theresa in Sevilla and Gemma and Anna in Barcelona

Ashley is 5 star!

She is a detail oriented consultant who worked with us closely to build an amazing experience on a short visit to Saigon. I would highly recommend Ashley to anyone considering a visit to SE Asia.

Hotel Review

La Siesta Premium Sai Gon

This is an upscale, boutique hotel in the heart of Saigon, within walking distance of top historic sights and neighborhoods. The staff is very accommodating and attentive to guests needs. I recommend anyone considering a stay in Saigon for business or pleasure consider La Siesta Premium.

Location

Activity Review

Saigon By Night - Vintage Vespa Street Food Tour

Ho Chi Minh City

This was the highlight of our stay. The sights, sounds, and smells of Saigon at night, in the cooler night air, is the best experience. I'll do this again when I return. The only suggestion would be to adjust the final stop of the evening to a bar or club appropriate to the age of the guest. Jazz club perhaps for the older ladies and gentlemen. The louder, more pop/rap bar for younger set.

Maria was excellent to work with - she helped us to plan an amazing 3 week honeymoon to Italy! She and the team at Storywalking were friendly, organized and easy to reach. All of our scheduled activities were fantastic and we were able to optimize our time together instead of waiting in lineups for attractions and tours. We have many special memories from our travels. Thanks again for everything!!

Activity Reviews

Naples Street Food Tour (food included)

Italy

This was excellent!! Not only was the food amazing, but our guide, Alessandro, was very knowledgeable and fun. It was a highlight of our trip!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Gnocchi cooking class in the heart of Verona

Verona

Aurora and Francesca were great to work with!! They were very friendly and ensured that we had a great meal and learning experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Typical Dining Experience with Aperitivo & Cooking Demo

Rome

Roberta and her daughter were so welcoming to us and the food was amazing! We are very glad that we were able to join them in their home for this experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The plan was set and we were told that there would be a king sized bed and a twin bed in every room. Three of the five places we stayed did not have this and we had to make arrangements. We also confirmed that there would be a child seat in the car - confirming 3 days before our arrival - and when we arrived, the local guide had not been told at all. Also, there was a lot of confusion as to what breakfasts were included.

Otherwise our trip was great.

I do wish there was a place to review our local guide, Karim. He was incredible. He was very accommodating and a lot of fun with our daughter. If we are back in Morocco, I would try to have him be our guide again. He was the perfect driver/ guide.

Our guides Ahmed and Yassine were knowledgeable, very personable, and amazing. Our driver Jalil was fantastic. He took care of even things we didn't think about! So glad we booked travel with KimKim. Couldn't have planned such an awesome trip with so many adventures.

Hotel Reviews

Elegancia Riad Boutique & SPA

Marrakech

Staff was so friendly and service was amazing. The room was small, but extremely comfortable and classic! The rooftop pool, restaurant and bar were a plus.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Caravan by Habitas Agafay

Agafay Desert

Wish we could have stayed longer! Loved the setting of the camp. Eco-conscious. Very friendly. So peaceful and quiet!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Heure Bleue Palais - Relais & Châteaux

Essaouira

Top notch hotel! Rooftop pool and lounge were amazing. We got upgraded to a suite and loved it! The location close to the Scala and beach was ideal. The restaurant within the hotel was very good and service was fanstastic.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Surfing in Essaouira

Essaouira

Our guides were so friendly and encouraging! Took some great pictures for us while surfing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Royal Hammam and Spa treatment at La Maison Arabe SPA

Marrakesh

An absolute must have for this trip! So relaxing. An amazing experience.

Quality of Experience

Vintage Sidecar Tour of the city

Marrakesh

Felt like Indiana Jones racing through the souks and desert. Our drivers/guides were fantastic and we learned so much.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

ATVs by the beach

Essaouira

Really exceed my expectations. The views were breathtaking.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tagine Cooking class with Lunch/ Dinner

Marrakesh

Enjoyed the cooking lesson and made some new friends from Canada during the class and enjoying the meal afterwards.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Such a wonderful time….our trip to Bali & beyond! As 2 couples, our first time there, & for 3 weeks total, the experience was unforgettable! Kimkim & our travel expert Marc Urban were extremely helpful in making it happen harmoniously & with attention to every detail. The recommendations, coordination, responsiveness, and professionalism were spot on. Marc checked up on us throughout the process and provided active support while we were there, answering questions and making adjustments in the moment, all while being polite, caring & on it!
Adventurous, yet selective in our pacing, vibe & style of travel, we were able to gear things as we desired & felt no pressure to do things otherwise. As friends in our 60’s/70’s, we had plenty of time to relax and enjoy our wonderful accommodations together (some in shared villas & others separate) and still fit in the activities we wanted…. a cooking class (in a multigenerational & self-sustained home) and bike ride through rice paddies in Ubud, a hike & canoe ride at Tamblingan Lake & excursion to Sekumpul waterfalls in Munduk, as well as snorkeling & kayaking on the nearby island of Nusa Lembongan, and visiting Jimbaran & Ulu Watu (watch out for those monkeys!) just before flying home. Seeing temples & waterfalls throughout, having massages & great meals, being treated so graciously by the Balinese people….all was amazing!
The transfers, including boats, hotels, airport, & a wonderful driver that we bonded with so well throughout the trip (thank you Renda!) were beyond helpful. Can’t imagine doing it all without Marc/kimkim’s guidance. Thank you guys so much for all you do! 🙏❤️🙌

Hotel Review

Kappa Senses Ubud

Ubud

This was a wonderful place to stay with no complaints. The only downside is that the town was a bit too touristy and chaotic with lots of motorcycles. However, the people and the hotel itself were great.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Cycling from Kintamani to Ubud

Indonesia

This was an incredible bike ride that was really great, though it was longer than I had anticipated, lasting for around 6 hours. The views were amazing and the overall experience was fantastic.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Munduk & Tamblingan Lake Exploration

Indonesia

This was a wonderful experience. I was initially worried because the location seemed pretty isolated, but the activities turned out to be fantastic. It was really worthwhile and the tour guides were excellent.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sekumpul Waterfalls

Indonesia

This tour was awesome. The guides were really good and the waterfall was breathtaking. It's a must-visit if you're in the area.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We just got back from our dream trip to Greece. Working with Rebecca at KimKim was a pleasure and all her suggestions and bookings were fabulous. We loved the places she picked for us to stay. We started our trip in Athens after getting off a 10 day cruise. We spent 2 nights in Athens then our rental car was delivered to the hotel and we started our next adventure. While in Athens we did two wonderful tours. First was going to Private Cape Sounion & the Temple of Poseidon Sunset Tour. This was a great chance to get out of the city with our guide and to see a beautiful sunset at a magical historic site. The second day we did Athens - Myths & Tales and Acropolis Walking Tour (Private Tour). Having an Archaeologist walk you through the Acropolis is a bonus. He realized I was having walking issues with my knee and was able to have me take an elevator to the top of the Acropolis! I would never have thought that was an option but it was and it was a glass elevator that faced the entire city. Once we left Athens, the plan was exactly what we wanted and having everything set up and prepared for us worked exactly as planned. Our favorite place to stay was Mazaraki Guesthouse. It was an unexpected gem that we loved! Also on our last night, I requested staying in a place with an Acropolis view from our room and we were not disappointed staying at Herodion Hotel. We were able to sit in the hot tub on the roof and enjoy looking at the Acropolis above. It was amazing. The only thing I regretted, and this was my decision, was to not have a guide at each historic site. We only used the Archaeologist on some of the sites and skipped others to save some money. That was a big mistake. I highly recommend having a guide at each site so you learn the rich culture and insight rather than feeling like this is just another castle or ruins. I highly recommend using the experience and knowledge KimKim offers. We did rent a car and drove ourselves around. It was easy to drive and follow our maps app. Drivers in Greece are a little risk takers when passing on the highways but nothing that we couldn't handle. There were a few times going up to the different sites was a bit scary as there was no shoulder or barrier on the cliff side but all in all I would recommend driving yourself to have the added freedom to stop along the way.

My husband and I spent our 14-day honeymoon traveling to Mykonos, Santorini, Crete, and Athens. Effie (our Kimkim local specialist) helped us organize an absolutely incredible and seamless trip. From transportation within each place, accommodations, and travel tickets to excursions and restaurant recommendations, we got to experience the best of what Greece has to offer with absolutely zero stress. We also appreciated that the travel agency staff at Be a Greek had their hand in every step of our trip. They reached out to us via WhatsApp every day with the schedule and all the important information we needed to know for the next day, being available via WhatsApp to answer any questions we had and even meeting us at the airport when we first got to Athens to help us navigate getting to our next destination. We would highly recommend Be a Greek if you are looking to experience Greece in the best way possible. We also will definitely be utilizing Kimkim for any future international travel!

Hotel Reviews

Anax Resort & Spa

Mykonos

Anax was a breathtaking 5-star resort with phenomenal accommodations, staff, and great food. Located close to everything on the island. We felt extremely relaxed and taken care of during our stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Akra Suites

Santorini - Greece

Clean hotel, located in a great spot on the island with unbelievable sunset views! Not a large hotel with a lot of accommodations but great if you are planning to be on the go during your stay in Santorini.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Domes Noruz Chania

Agioi Apostoloi Chania-Crete

The most beautiful hotel that is the epitome of luxury with unmatched customer service. This was by far our favorite hotel. The food was incredible, and the staff was friendly and helpful. Our travel agency forgot to mention that it was our honeymoon, so when it was mentioned when we first got to the hotel, the next day, they surprised us with the whole room decorated with rose petals, wine, and desserts.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Altar Suites Athens

Athens

Nice, new boutique hotel with phenomenal views of the Acropolis.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Santorini Wine Roads Small-group Sunset Tour

Santorini

Savas, our guide, was great and so knowledgeable! We loved each of the wineries we visited and would highly recommend this company to anyone who wants to do a winery tour!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Santorini Caldera Small-group Sunset Cruise with BBQ on board and Open Bar

Santorini

Such a relaxing day on the water with great food and views!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Authentic Cretan Cooking Small Group Experience

Greece

This was one of the best activities we did on our Greece trip by far. Not only we’re the views spectacular and the food delicious and easy to make, but the guides and hosts were so knowledgeable, friendly, and fun. It was such a special way to experience Crete, and it’s history.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chania Old Town Private Walking Tour with Food & Wines Tastings

Greece

It's an awesome way to experience Cretan culture through the old city! Our guide, Dina, was so knowledgeable and compelling!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Acropolis & Acropolis Museum Private Guided Tour

Athens

Such a cool way to experience the Acropolis and the history of Athens/Greece. Our guide, Dimitris, was awesome! Super knowledgeable and knew all the great spots to take pictures. He even recommended a great spot for us to go to lunch after the tour!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to Morocco was absolutely amazing. From start to finish we kept exclaiming how special this was. Megan was so good in helping us decide on the itinerary and answering our questions. Hamid, our driver, couldn't have been nicer. He felt like family by the end of the trip. Morocco is a beautiful country and its people are delightful. We learned so much and felt privileged to experience the culture there. The local guides that KimKim arranged for us were excellent both in the information they shared and how they shared themselves with us. We have since recommended KimKim to other travelers we know and plan on using them again for other trips.

Cartagena was amazing! Michael was very communicative and made everything so easy. I loved the trip to Palenque and learning about the culture there. Juan our guide and Edgardo our drivers too such good care of us. Juan had great recommendations for dinner and all our tours were great. I would definitely come back!!

Like some, I can be skeptical about using travel specialists to plan my trips. Some of my questions include; Will I pay too much? Will they understand my expectations regarding the quality of my desired experience? Will they be responsive and help manage issues and make adjustments if needed? And finally, will I feel like I received a good value? All of these questions disappeared as we began our journey with KimKim in Portugal. Our local specialist and her team took amazing care of us throughout our entire trip. The hotel selections were perfect as were all of the tours and excursions. We received an email each afternoon checking in on us and giving us the itinerary for the next day. we had nothing to worry about but having a great time and we did. During our trip, we needed to make some adjustments in our schedule and Marisa and her team responded quickly and helped us every step along the way. We will absolutely be using KimKim on future trips!!!