Kimkim Trip Reviews

Our trip to France was great!!! I am giving the planning and service four stars primarily because of me. I learned a lot on this trip about things I should have paid more attention to - like trip timing and event planning - and I now know better questions to ask going forward. Despite that, I am grateful for the recommendations made and the experiences we had because of the work Liz and her team put into this. While we have been to Paris before - and we enjoyed the things that we did - Normandy was life changing and that was due to Malcolm. I was initially concerned that two days on Normandy was one day too many but it absolutely was not. Malcolm was knowledgeable and very personable. We learned so much and have a much greater appreciation for the leadership involved in planning and executing D-Day and the soldiers who bravely carried out the mission.

One of the things I should have discussed in more detail was the timing of the trip. While no one could have predicted the protestors in Paris - and that caused only minimal inconvenience - the weather was not great. It rained most everyday - sometimes all day - and that was unfortunate. Mont St. Michel was great but it would have been better if it had not rained. We had to cancel our Paris food tour at the last minute because when we left the hotel the rain was coming down in sheets and there were 40 mile an hour winds. Further, I should have paid more attention to the timing of some events - most notably having tickets to Moulen Rouge the night before we left with a car originally scheduled the next morning for 6:15 AM. (The team did get that moved back a bit and that was very helpful.)

Overall, the trip was great, all our guides were knowledgeable, the accommodations were very nice and we enjoyed our time. Thank you so much for all you did for us. A.

Activity Reviews

Private British Sector D-Day Experience with Local Guide Malcom

Bayeux

Cannot say enough about this tour!!! Malcolm is an expert guide and he really brought the entire experience of D-Day to life for us. His stories were interesting and engaging and his knowledge of specific events was deep. We came away from the experience with great appreciation for the leadership that executed the mission and the brave soldiers who carried it out. This was a tour that we will never forget. It was truly life-changing. Thank you so much, Malcolm!!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Exploration of the Opera Garnier

Paris

Our guide was knowledgeable and friendly. We enjoyed her stories and the tour immensely.

Quality of Experience

Private Exploration of Orsay Museum

Paris

Our guide was knowledgeable and friendly. Having read up on the museum before arriving, I had an idea of the the highlights and we saw them all plus some!!

Quality of Experience

Mont-Saint-Michel: A Journey Into a Living Legend

Bayeux

Despite the rain, we had a good tour and our guide kept things light and interesting. We enjoyed her stories!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Exterior Notre-Dame & Sainte-Chapelle Visit with Priority Access

Paris

Our guide, Daniel, was interesting with great insights. He pointed out interesting spots in both buildings that we would have missed on our own. Thank you, Daniel!!!

Quality of Experience

My wife and I have journeyed widely but had never used a travel service before. We may never again travel without relying on KimKim. They designed a 16 day trip that took our group of eight from ancient Athens to the white-clad cliff edge villages of Santorini. We learned to cook Greek cuisine, sampled wines to be found nowhere else in the world, kayaked the volcanic shoreline, snorkeled through a sea cave, climbed the highest summit in the Cyclade islands, were treated to al fresco breakfasts overlooking the sparkling blue Aegean, and sailed the sea at sunset. We stayed at unique and beautiful hotels, walked the quaint streets of a small fishing enclave and relaxed in a spa large enough for us all. We enjoyed fish fresh from the sea and ate from the very olive trees that had fed locals since the time of Christ.

Reviewing the chats over the course of the past 18 months, I am awestruck by the KimKim team's attention to detail, suggestions on itineraries, willingness to make changes, care in making all arrangements, and saving our collective trip in the face of unforeseen weather delays. Special thanks to Siena for planning it all, Lea for insuring the transportation and hotels were in order and scrambling to make changes when weather interrupted our plans. Kate, Chinh, and Wanjaria for stepping in to answer our questions and the group as a whole for allowing us all to enjoy our time in Greece carefree while they did all the work on our behalf.

Most of our guides were exceptional, especially Helen, our Athens Historian guide, who provided a very informative walk through the Acropolis. On Santorini, Hercules explained the wine culture unique to this island. We explored Milos with Daphne, from the hillside where the Venus de Milo (Aphrodite of Milos) was discovered, to the catacombs and small fishing village below. David led a windy hike up Mt. Zeus one day, then returned the next to lead us through sea caves by kayak.

Travel with the help of KimKim was unlike any travel we have ever done before. We were pampered, watched after, and cared for so well we can't imagine ever vacationing without their help again.

We never heard from mery except through one person even though we all asked to be copied. Many confusing issues with the hotel not gettting booked and having to relocate. The guides were wonderful and the places we went to were wonderful. We spent an awful lot of time driving/traveling vs what we expected.

Hotel Reviews

Centro by Casa Andina Cusco Saphi

Cusco

It was very nice. The staff was nice.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Heura Petit Hotel

Chacras de Coria

This was a jewel to find. The location suited us perfectly because we could walk the neighborhood and speak to locals. The hotel was amazing and the staff was very attentive. The rooms were lovely including both tea and coffee.

Authenticity & Character

A beautiful home. It was perfect for our group since we were the only ones there.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fauna Hotel

Valparaíso

Great location. Beautiful rooftop bar for us to dine at. A lot of steps to and from our room to the street level or the bar.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full-Day Visit to three Wineries in the North Uco Valley English-speaking guide.

Chacras de Coria

Great choice of wineries and beautiful scenery. We also learned a lot about the country. Our driver and guide were awesome.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day Walking Tour Valparaiso English-speaking guide

Valparaíso

Unfortunately some of our travelers had trouble with the altitude to weren’t able to enjoy the day. It was an interesting tour but sometimes we spent too long in the same area types. Loved the huge cathedral and the Saqsay woman.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-Day Pisac Market & Ruins and Ollantaytambo with English-Speaking guide.

Cusco

Our guide was quite knowledgeable and very well Spoken. I learned a lot about culture and history and the country

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer Cusco Airport / Cusco Hotel with English-speaking guide

Cusco

Way too long. If we would have understood that we would be flying for the entire day we could have changed itinerary

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Judy helped us plan a 14 day Japan holiday for a family of 7 with ages 11 , 16, 26, 47, 50 , 57 yr old
It was a 4 centre holiday Tokyo , Hakone , Kyoto and Osaka
We booked our own hotels separately but Judy arranged transfers and guides and booked some events for us - e.g. Samurai stable , Gyoza cooking lesson , Shibuya Skytree, Samurai museum - that we had to make our own way to via public transport or walking but with the Suica card that was manageable . All the things she booked for us were excellent
Before the trip Judy was very quick with her responses to our many detailed questions and very quick to advise and adapt the itinerary when we changed from a 17 day trip to a 14 day trip . We felt very confident in her hands
When we got to Japan everything was seamless . Judy continued to be very quick to respond . The various guides and drivers she’d arranged WhatsApped us the day before we were meeting them with times and other details . We felt very well looked after .
The Kyoto guide (Yuki ) and driver ( Shu ) were particularly good . Yuki’s English was very good and she really enhanced our 3 days of Kyoto sightseeing . Shu San the driver was very very courteous - he was always dressed smartly and got out to open the door and shelter us with his umbrella every time we left the car!
It is difficult to pick a favourite moments from the trip as I I enjoyed every minute from start to end but the following I really enjoyed but didn’t expect to as much as I did
- Teamlab planets - so much more interactive than I expected
- Tsukiji food market - one of the best food markets I’ve ever been to . The sushi restaurant recommended to us by our guide Yoshi was fantastic .
- Hakone Kowakien Tenyu hotel with private bath , particularly good for those of us who weren’t comfortable with the hotels open onsen , which btw were excellent too .
- Hakone - open air art museum . Quite a few famous artists work there including Picasso , Anthony Gorman , Henry Moore
I would highly recommend using Judy at KimKim to plan a Japan trip . The service was provided was very tailored and flexible e.g. we were allowed to book our own hotels but I’m sure Kimkim would have booked those for us too if we’d asked

George was an attentive, thoughtful professional. He listened, researched and created the perfect mix of activities for us.

Hotel Review

Anantara Chiang Mai Resort

Chiang Mai

The highest quality service I have experienced at a hotel! Excellent location as well. The river suite was stunning and a great escape from the outside world.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very knowledgeable, resourceful and courteous

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Bangkok Cultural Tour

Bangkok

Sasha was a great guide. Very flexible and sensitive to our needs and wants.

Quality of Experience

Food

The high end restaurants were great

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Food Tour by E-Tuk Tuk:

Bangkok

The guide was great but we were leery of eating street food early in our trip. May consider a little more controlled experience for first time travelers to Bangkok. It wasn’t clear what choices were exceptional versus just there.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Food

We didn’t try much food due to a full breakfast.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mama noi Thai Cookery School

Chiang Mai

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Morning Chang Chill Elephant Sanctuary

Chiang Mai

It was fine but a little contrived. The trail walking was a Bit more challenging than anticipated and our shoes got quite muddy

Quality of Experience

Food

Transport

Dinner on the Manohra River Cruise!

Bangkok

High quality food and smooth ride

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Late Afternoon: Temples, Markets & Food Tour:

Chiang Mai

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cheeva Spa - The Tranquility Package

Chiang Mai

Quality of Experience

Transport

Evening: B Samcook Home16

Chiang Mai

Probably the highlight of the trip. Great food, owner engagement and celebratory atmosphere!

Quality of Experience

Food

Exceptional dining experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

MIA Dining Experience (Michelin Star)

Bangkok

High service quality and innovative food experience

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Christine was very helpful in helping us create an itinerary that accommodated our needs. She took all our ideas into consideration and helped us plan the perfect trip!

Hotel Reviews

ENA Suite Hotel Namdaemun

Seoul

This hotel was great. The staff was very kind and helpful and the room was perfect.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Shilla Stay Busan Haeundae

This hotel was beautiful! The room was a little small, but overall a great experience.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Explore Seoul Highlights

Seoul

This was such a fun day! Seeing the palace was especially wonderful. We loved learning about the culture of Seoul from our amazing tour guide, Jung.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Jung was amazing. She was so knowledgeable and catered to our needs, which at times was hard because we traveled with our 3 month old. Jung was so accommodating and kind! Our driver was also very kind and transported us safely.

Transport

Discovery of Gangnam: K-Star Road, Garosu-gil, and COEX Mall

Seoul

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Busan Highlights: Culture, Nature, Local Life & Cafe

Busan

We loved our time in Busan! We had an amazing tour guide, Sunni, who helped us see so many incredible things in the short time we had there. She was so knowledgeable and very accommodating to our needs.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Family Felxible Day in Seoul with Seoul Forest

Seoul

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Relaxing & Flexible Time with Seoul Korea Temple (with 8-hour Private Car & Driver Service)

Seoul

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip was amazing and we loved the people and all of the places we visited. We had some minor glitches with checking in, including the wrong hotel name and address on the Kim Kim platform and differences in the checking in names on the reservations. We would have like more transparency in the room size; especially for the 3 nights or more in some of the cities we stayed in. Couple of hotels in the big cities, Tokyo and Osaka, the rooms were really tiny and it was difficult to walk around in the room with our suitcases and no closets to hang our clothes or put away our suitcases. Perhaps this could have been discussed with the perspective clients. The locations of the hotels in the 3 big cities were great and we were close to the metro stations. It was a bit difficult getting around on our own and we were glad to have a guide from the first day who bought our ticket and helped us navigate. For any tourists who isn't use to mass transportation, it is definitely worth hiring an English speaking guide to help get around. Taxis are pretty expensive so if you have a lot of suitcases, it's worth pre arranging transfers from the airport, and train station to the hotel. We had a couple of outstanding guides. Anna in Hong Kong and Hiro our guide for Osaka. Both were excellent and really made the tour extra special. We loved our Hakone stay, wonderful Ryokan and Japanese Teppanki dinner as well as the Buddhist monastery. If your guests can afford it, one more night stay would be recommended for either place. The weather was lovely in Mt Koya so we really enjoyed easy walks throughout the area. There were some nice cafes and restaurants in case your guests don't like vegetarian meals. We loved the Osaka aquarium which we found out later is the largest aquarium in the world. I would recommend that as an alternative to Nara. I heard from some of my friends who have been to Nara that they weren't crazy about Nara. However, we had bad weather so Nara that day was not an option. Food was very reasonable in Japan and even in the big cities. The best breakfast was the one in Ten-yu and the hotel in Kyoto. The breakfast in Osaka and Tokyo were ok. If any of your guests are going to H.K, I would highly recommend the Langham at Tsimsha Tsui . The hotel is a 5 star hotel and very reasonable for what you get. The breakfast is very expensive...38.00 usd per day, but we went to a local coffee shop and had breakfast there. Do not recommend Macau if your guests aren't interested in gambling. It was disappointment and the lunch at the casino wasn't great. However Lantau island is very relaxing and well worth it.
In all it was a great trip and Shona did a great job!!

Hotel Reviews

Karaksa hotel grande Shin-Osaka Tower

Osaka

The rooms were a bit small. But location was about a 5 minute walk from the train station.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Great location. Close to the train station and shopping

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

莲华定院 (Ren'gejo-in Temple (Pilgrim's Lodging))

Beautiful decor! Amazing room. Bedding very comfortable considering we slept on the floor.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Keisei Richmond Hotel Tokyo Oshiage

Great location, but rooms were small. We wish we had upgraded to a slightly bigger room. Having no closets made it difficult to maneuver in our rooms. Many of the staff did not speak English; however some had a portable translator. Across the street at their sister hotel, above was an amazing grocery store. We bought snacks and some Japanese Sake.

Authenticity & Character

The hotel staff were very nice and we loved the Onsen.

Location

We were across from the Sky tower metro. We went to the top one evening to see the night skyline.

Cleanliness & Comfort

All of the Japanese hotels were very clean. I think we had one problem with the Kyoto hotel only.

Hakone Kowakien TEN-YU

Hakone

Amazing 5 star hotel or Ryokan. Not sure which it was. But very authentic and wonderful Onsen. It was so relaxing. We didn't see much of the area since we didn't check in until 3pm and the weather was terrible, cold and rainy but perfect for the Onsen.

Location

Great location. Beautiful decor, excellent staff.

Staff

They were all nice and very professional.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and we only had one problem in that there was a stain on the sheets and they came right away and changed the bed.

Sakura Terrace -Adult Only

We loved their welcome cocktail. I had the best plum wine there. The room was very small only 19 sq. meters. We asked to upgrade and Shona did that right away at her expense. I highly recommend this hotel if you can upgrade to a larger room.

Authenticity & Character

Great location and wonderful amenities. Free cocktail welcome drink, nice Onsen.

Location

It's close to the train station. However it was difficult to find the hotel. Especially for an older couple, it would be worth hiring someone to meet them at the train station and helping them with their suitcase. It's worth the extra costs and probably a lot cheaper than a taxi.

Staff

The Japanese staff were so polite and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

We upgraded to a bigger room. Our bathroom had a bit of a musty smell but I think it just needed a room deodorant.

Mitsui Garden hotel Gotanda Tokyo

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

Location

My least favorite of all the hotels. However it was close to the airport.

Staff

Activity Reviews

Hong Kong Island Half-Day Classic Tour by Public Transportation

Hong Kong

We enjoyed Anna. She was great and very easy going and informative.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kowloon Classic Half-Day Tour by MTR

Hong Kong

It was very enjoyable seeing the shrine and how the Buddhist worshiped.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Anna our guide for both the half day tour of Hong Kong and Kowloon was wonderful.

Transport

We loved the size and quality of the vans for our pick up.

The Chacras de Coria Hotel in Mendoza, Argentina, was a slice of paradise. Pristine peaceful accomodations with highly-skilled staff and welcoming amenities!

Adrian was very helpful with planning our trip to Ireland. Everything went very smoothly and having everything booked and arranged in advanced made the whole vacation very easy and relaxing. Overall would recommend both Kimkim and Ireland.

Hotel Reviews

Randles Hotel Killarney

Co. Kerry

Great room and vibe, staff were great, breakfast was delicious. Only downside was the wifi.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Trinity City Hotel

Dublin 2

Great service, nice room, good breakfast, ok wifi.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Hyde Hotel

Galway

Once again great staff and room, finally had half decent wifi. Only downside was the limited breakfast menu.

Authenticity & Character

This place has a great vibe.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Stauntons on the Green

Dublin

Authenticity & Character

Location

Depends. For us it was a bit of a hike from our car drop off location.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Didn't care for the bed here, only place I didn't sleep well.

Activity Reviews

Dublin Private Walking Tour

Dublin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Galway Food Tour

Galway

Excellent food tour, more food than expected, skip breakfast.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ferry to Inis Mór (Ferry Only - Return Trip)

Ireland

On the off season for tourists the island was pretty dead. Very scenic but difficult to make a full day out of.

Quality of Experience

Transport

Jameson Experience Tour Premium Whiskey Tasting

Ireland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guinness Storehouse Connoisseur Experience

Dublin

Way more interesting than expected

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Halloween in Galway (Macnas + City Atmosphere)

Galway

Quality of Experience

Cliffs of Moher Visitor Center tickets

Ireland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Walk with Wolfhounds

Ireland

Probably one of our favorite experiences of the whole trip. Guides were great. Dogs were great. More history and interesting than I expected.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Visit to Kyteler’s Inn: Medieval Pub with a Witchy Past!

Kilkenny

Sounds very interesting on paper, really just a good pub to stop at for some fish and chips, still good, just not as spooky as we'd hoped.

Quality of Experience

The trip was wonderful. Just what we wanted. Kudos to Hector.

All guides were interesting, informative, and gracious. This included tapas tours, city tours, and museum tours.

All drivers were pleasant, helpful, and on time. They all arrived a few minutes early to insure we left at the appropriate time and this was especially helpful.

The hotel was perfectly situated in the heart of Madrid. It was very "Spanish", which is what we wanted. We were able to walk almost everywhere.

We had a last minute canceled train reservation due to a transit strike, the day of our trip to Toledo. Kim Kim was with us all the way by text. When it became clear that the train was finally going to be cancelled, they arranged for a driver to take us back and forth to Toledo. He arrived within an hour of the cancelation. They coordinated with our guide in Toledo. The transition was seamless. We had a wonderful day.

How a travel agency responds to challenges is the true test of the quality of the agency. Kim Kim performed like a champ. They exceeded expectations. We will definitely use them again and recommend them to our friends.

Activity Reviews

Walking Madrid’s Old Town

Madrid

Guide was interesting, informative, and friendly.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We started the tour right from the hotel. That was awesome.

An Excursion to Toledo by Train, Guided Walk

Madrid

The tour was wonderful and the guides lunch recommendation was excellent.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The driver was flexible. We wanted to leave an hour early and he obliged. He was also very willing to pull over for photos.

Masterpieces of the Prado Museum: A Private Experience From Velázquez to Goya

Madrid

The guide was very knowledgeable and gave us exactly the tour we wanted. We asked for the highlights of the museum and she delivered with great enthusiasm and interesting insights and details.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

N/A

Tapas & Tradition: A Madrileño Evening

Madrid

We especially enjoyed the small size, and the enthusiasm and knowledge of the guide. We experienced a wide range of tapas and Spanish beverages.

Quality of Experience

Food

My favorite was the tapas at the first restaurant and trying the Spanish Vermouth that was served on tap.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

N/A

When I began making plans for a trip to the Philippines, I began looking on the Internet for options, Since our visit would be limited to one week, it seemed we could divide our visit between two places. Kimkim offered a private tour and our contact, Angela, suggested ideas that were suited to our interests and our ability (since we are 80+ years of age!). What Angela made it easy and we have been very happy with the tour. She followed through each day too to be sure everything was going well.
All the guides (Anthony, Jonathan, Kat) were on time meeting us and did great jobs of answering question. Our drivers also did a good job of navigation the traffic! They were knowledgeable and incredibly thoughtful to plan all the details for our tour. We felt we were very well cared for!
Manila was interesting for the history and the Fairmont Hotel was excellent! They even offered so many choices of pillows! Everyone was friendly and helpful. The breakfasts were excellent!
The Shangri-la was excellent and offered so much -- also excellent breakfasts!
This has been an excellent trip! We have traveled the world and the Philippines has the friendliest and most helpful people!

Hotel Reviews

Fairmont Makati

The pillows were wonderful -- so many choices! Breakfasts were excellent and the rooms were so thoughtfully furnished.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Shangri-La Mactan

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Cultural Dance Show with Dinner in Manila

Manila

This show began at 7:00 PM but we were told to come at 7:00 PM -- and dinner was served at 6:00 PM! We had to eat while watching the show.

Food

Transport

Margoth and the entire team at Alcantaro (the local travel agency) were fantastic from start to finish. My family of four (me and my wife, 16 y/o daughter, 13 y/o son) spent 4 days and 3 nights in Cartagena at the start of November.

- Planning and booking our trip was easy. We quickly agreed on the activities we wanted to do within our budget - and our hotel was in a perfect location in the Old City.
- We had two different experiences at El Arsenal in Getsemani - they were among the highlights of our trip. We made (and ate) ceviche. And then we came back another day to sample exotic fruit and then make (and eat) ice cream. The staff was so kind that we also got to learn how they make chocolate - and sample plenty of it too. Plus, my wife and I sampled some rum at the end.
- We spent a day in the Rosario Islands. The boat trip was as advertised (just over an hour each way), and the snorkeling was fun - very pretty coral reef.
- We also really enjoyed our visit to the castillo and La Popa (at the top of the hill).
- Every meal that Margoth arranged was great. Some of our favorites include: (1) Crepes & Waffles, (2) Cande, (3) Alma, and (4) Juan del Mar.

Review notes from Karen (other travelers may add opinions and/or have different feedback):
Let me first say that having the pre-trip planning support from Marii was extremely helpful and the 'real-time' availability of support from the KimKim team was invaluable at critical points in our travels! Many Thanks!

It was frustrating at times when the itinerary in the KimKim app was not updated with changes. Also, trying to find specific information between the app and WhatsApp was often confusing for me. It would be optimal if there was one platform to access for updated information as we travel.

We had some spectacular guides! In particular, we appreciated Mario on our first full day in Tokyo as he helped navigate the first full day of getting around the big city. How quickly I forget the names of other guides - but in Tokyo, they were very good. Sumo Stables and Wagyu Beef tasting were fun!

My favorite guide was in the Mt. Fuji area, Lewis, who was quite knowledgeable of the area and very relatable. Both accommodations in the area were wonderful; especially with the private onsens.

On the other hand, we found the Geisha District Walk tour disappointing and the guide ineffective in sharing any information of interest. For the Nara & Kyoto tours, Kazu was attentive and knowledgeable.

I was a bit disappointed with the Miyako Hotel in Kyoto. Although in a good location, it was really busy, crowded and not so comfortable for four nights.

A highlight for all of us was the Kimono Tea Ceremony. Despite a very rainy day, we enjoyed dressing in kimonos and learning about the traditional tea ceremony.

Yuka, our guide in Osaka, was efficient - perhaps walking a bit fast for our pace.
The bullet train to Hiroshima was a great experience!
My time touring the war memorials was a bit difficult for me due to personal reasons but I'm glad to have visited there.
The guide, Hasshi, was pleasant and helpful with train tickets but less effective in relating about the history of the area.

And finally, we would not recommend repeating the Cooking Class - at least, not with the person leading ours. We enjoyed seeing the market but it went downhill from there. The young man was clearly not a chef nor had much cooking experience.

Overall, we had a terrific and memorable visit to the wonderful Japanese culture. We could not have organized and experienced it without the much-appreciated assistance of KimKim. Arigato gozaimasu

We are new this year to organized tours and this trip is by far our best ever. Planning from the start through the end of the trip was a personally tailored and very professional experience. All of the details were handled by Erin with Dittmar Adventurers, and during the trip additionally by Dania. We loved that on each travel day all of the transfers happened smoothly. The excursions were all perfect for us!!! The Rapa Nui history of the Moai and the beauty of the island, and laid back vibe was a perfect start to our vacation. In Puerto Varas our guide Juan, so knowledgeable about the local area and a lovely person to spend 3 days with-hiking the Osorno volcano, the forest, biking around the lake, and an amazing day at a local farm and restaurant with Cornelia. The farm to table experience was definitely a highlight. In Punta Arenas we had a kayaking and boat excursion with dolphins that was so awesome. Claudia and Nicolas and their team are so fun. Hiking with our guides Diego and Josefa in Torres del Paine was an adventure and so beautiful, the views are stunning. We had a second day in the park with Andres and Juan, and did a big loop all around with a focus on wildlife- Condors, Guanaco, an Armadillo even!!! and so many different birds, short hikes to waterfalls, glaciers and icebergs!! We got back to Puerto Natales and had dinner at El Guanaco, a special mention because this was an amazing meal. The Octopus (the sauce it is plated on is memorable) and ribeye were perfect. All of the recommended restaurants we tried were delicious, included in our itinerary. We had a day at a Patagonian Ranch, Estancia, with Tomaś…another not to be missed. We ended in Santiago and had asked to do food and wine things here…we visited 4 wineries, with Casa Lapostolle being the absolute don’t miss. Their red wines, at every price point are amazing. Next we really enjoyed Montes- the Icon wine experience is worth it!! and the lunch at Fuego de Apalta is excellent.
Part of the wonderfulness of this vacation were all of the experiences we had. An even bigger part of it was the really wonderful guides and people we met doing all of the fun stuff. I’m guessing that is one of the reasons to plan a trip with someone like Erin who knows the local area and people.
Overall an exceptional experience. I think that the extensive questionnaire in the beginning is very helpful for the them to tailor the trip to places and experiences that you will love.
This trip made us fall in love with Chilé…the people, the country, the food and wine. We will return to visit more areas💝

This is our 4th trip with kimkim, and you have always been our first choice whenever we plan a holiday. We genuinely love the service you provide, especially the quality of hotels and the excellent network of local tour guides you have.

Regarding our Japan trip, Winnie was very patient and supportive throughout the planning process. It took a little time for her to fully understand our requirements and for us to get familiar with her working style, but overall, it was a really good experience.

One area where I feel there could have been improvement is in suggesting more experiences and activities proactively. We were hoping for more unique and exciting options beyond the usual sightseeing, rather than having to research and request additional experiences ourselves. A few more personalised recommendations and suggestions from Winnie would have made the trip even more memorable. Nevertheless, I would still give her a 5-star rating for her patience, dedication and willingness to accommodate our requests.

A special thanks to Winnie and kimkim team for arranging the complimentary Sagano Romantic Train ride as a birthday treat. That was a lovely gesture and much appreciated!

The hotels provided were good, and the tour guides were knowledgeable, energetic and dedicated.

Overall, it was a wonderful trip, and we truly appreciate the efforts of the entire kimkim team. Thank you for continuing to make our holidays memorable. We look forward to choosing kimkim for our future travels as well!

Hotel Reviews

Mitsui Garden Hotel Ginza Premier

Tokyo

The hotel was peaceful and comfortable, with a lovely city-view room. The staff were very friendly and supportive. The only drawback was the limited halal, vegan and vegetarian options at breakfast. Even the omelettes were prepared using the same pan as ham and other ingredients, making it difficult for Muslim and vegetarian travellers. A separate pan and a few more dietary-friendly options would have made the stay even better.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Walkable distance to ginza shopping streets.

Staff

Very decent and helpful staff ,listened patiently to our queries.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bed liner are changed after 3 days

La Vista Fuji Kawaguchiko

Hakone

We loved the vegetarian dinner, the beautiful views and the convenient location. The staff were polite and well-behaved, and the rooms were clean. However, we did find a cockroach on the balcony. It would also be helpful to clearly label vegan, vegetarian and halal food options, as most dishes contained pork or beef. Better dietary labelling and more suitable options would greatly improve the experience.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Rooms with Fuji views are amazing

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mitsui Garden Hotel Nagoya Premier

Nagoya

Felt the rooms n bathroom very too tiny n the breakfast spread was not that great.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Vischio Kyoto by GRANVIA

Kyoto

Loved the breakfast spread, with plenty of options! It would be even better if halal and Muslim-friendly food items were clearly labelled and available . The room was comfortable, although the toilet was a little too small. The location was excellent, close to malls and the train station. Taxi travel can be slightly expensive due to the distance, but public transport is very convenient. Overall, a great stay, especially for the breakfast and location!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cross Hotel Osaka

Osaka

The location was perfect, just next to Dotonbori, and the ambience was lovely. However, the room was quite small and noisy due to its location on the main street. Breakfast had very limited options, especially for halal, vegan and vegetarian preferences. While the location and ambience were excellent, the noise and limited breakfast choices affected the overall experience.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Asakusa, Harajuku & Shinjuku Highlights

Tokyo

Though this trip was helpful coz it helped us know about the train system in Japan it was a tiring journey as a lot of walking is required and we felt we could have added Shibuya also to it but time was not sufficient which was a little disappointing.

Quality of Experience

Felt we should have taken private tour rather than train as too much of walking on the first day itself of the tour.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was very patient, kind, and helpful. He assisted us with the train details and was very decent and supportive throughout.

Transport

Confusing n tiring

Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi, Oishi Park and Shiraito Falls

Japan

Our guide n the driver were very good..especially the driver she drove so smooth n nice we were very comfortable guide also was very helpful n did help us with buying local farmer grapes

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

1-Day Tour from Nagoya: Kamikochi Guided Hike in the Japanese Alps

Japan

This was our dream destination,again we wish we would have got some more time here though it was tiring we enjoyed it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Fushimi Inari & Arashiyama

Kyoto

This day had a lot of activities packed in enjoyed all of it

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Special thanks to the driver he was very proactive with helping us with umbrellas while entering and leaving the car as it was raining and even the guide even though he was very old he was so energetic and kind

Transport

Special thanks and appreciation to the driver very decent and helpful.

Private Transfer from Kyoto to Osaka via Nara with Osaka Castle

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ada did an absolutely amazing job with planning our 12 day Japan trip. We loved all the activities - sumo wresting match, sake tasting (although could use less time learning the history), TeamLabs, food tours, and all the small group and private tours. Kimiko was absolutely amazing - we had her as our guide for both Tokyo and Hakone - she was thoughtful, informative, and truly felt like we were with a friend taking us on tours in their home country. We had a great time exploring Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, and Osaka - all of the food was delicious, we did not have a bad meal. We did more private tours, which allowed us to customize how much time we wanted to spend at different areas ex. we loved Nara and were able to spend more time there and less time at Osaka Castle, which we enjoyed simply taking pictures of. We loved our hotel in Tokyo, away from the touristy areas. Kyoto and Osaka were in the tourist areas, which made it easier to walk everywhere, but felt more chaotic. Overall, would recommend KimKim (second trip with them) to plan and coordinate the trips - we didn't have to worry about anything before, during, or after the trip.

Activity Reviews

Lake Ashinoko Tour with Mt. Fuji Views

Japan

This was the highlight of our trip - we loved the ropeways to the top of the mountain, amazing views of Mt Fuji and the pirate ship across the waterway.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Kimiko was absolutely amazing! Our driver was great as well.

Transport

Loved the Alfard - comfortable car and drive into the mountains.

Asakusa Sumo Club: Sumo Show Admission with Chankonabe in Tokyo

Tokyo

This was surprisingly a great addition to our trip. We had a fun time learning and watching the match. It was very entertaining.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Bella was amazing! She planned a detailed itinerary for us in less than two weeks. We added complexity with a lot of changes to the plan, and she adjusted the itinerary quickly, usually within 24 hours. Communication with her via the portal was easy, and she got back to us quickly on changes and questions we had. The trip gave us a varied view of Japan. She filled our days with a variety of tours including cultural, historical, and market visits. We would highly recommend Bella and Kimkim to anyone planning a trip to Japan. The knowledge she provided in terms of locations, hotel selection, and places to visit was invaluable.

Activity Reviews

Guided Tour in Tokyo: Temple, Sumo Show and Anime Adventure

Tokyo

Sky Tree and Temple were amazing. Sumo show was hit or miss - half the group loved it, other half felt it was a little cheesy. Electronics market was cool, but most in the group had no interest in Anime.

Explore Tokyo's Rich Heritage: Tsukiji Outer Market,Imperial palace,Sushi Making Class, Shibuya crossing & Michelin Tempura by public transport

Tokyo

Great day. Sushi making was better than expected and enjoyed by all.

Discover Kyoto's Timeless Treasures by public transport: A Guided Tour of Culture, Cuisine, and Charm

Kyoto

Amanda was a great guide. Sake tour was interesting, but a long travel for a relatively short visit. Great opportunity to taste a variety of Sakes. Temples were fantastic and lunch was great. Group was very tired by the time we hit Gion, so didn't enjoy it as much as we should have - but beautiful.

Hakone Adventure: Exploring Mt. Owakudani and Majestic Landscapes in Public Transportation

Hakone

Great tour. Enjoyed all parts of this - train, boat, gondola, and eating our egg.

Refined Kanazawa & Shirakawa-go Day Tour: Market Flavors & Iconic Thatched Farmhouses (Private Guide & Public Transportation)

Japan

Kenji was great, best guide of the trip. Views from Shirakawa were amazing, and the thatched farmhouses were interesting to learn about. Shirakawa was a quite a bit more commercial than we expected but we had a great lunch at one of the restaurants

Afternoon Culinary Adventure at Nishiki Market and Tea ceremony

Kyoto

Tea ceremony was really cool. We all really enjoyed dressing up in Kimono's and the presentation was great.

My daughter's Sweet 16 trip was amazing thanks to KimKim.

First off, I did not expect all that received. Our driver picking us up in a luxury van and made us feel like queens. He was helpful, kind, and polite. A great first impression.

I was pleasantly surprised when our tour guide, Christina arrived and purchased a cake for my daughter as a gift from KimKim. That was such a beautiful surprise and we were so appreciative.

I have so much to say about our tour guide, but I will try to keep it brief. Christine and her husband, Young were truly the best. Christine not only showed us around, and planned a perfect tour, but also educated us so well. We were not sure we wanted to the Hanbok dress up, but Christine suggested we both do it, and we were so happy she did. Not only did she guide us around the area, but the amount of details she knew about Korean and other Asian history was beyond impressive.

I try to make sure my daughter learns during her experiences, but we both learned so much from Christine in that two days. Not just about history, but about trends, cultural norms, and we even discussed places we all attended in the U.S.

Christine and Young made sure we were able to do everything we wanted, and more. She gave us appropriate time alone, as well. It was perfectly balanced.

Honestly, I was disappointed with the kpop dance experience. I don't see that as a fault on KimKim. I see it as a fault on the dance company. They had reached out to me months before my trip and asked which song we wanted to dance to, I told them one of my daughter's favorite k-pop songs. They never responded. Then when we arrived, they somehow had no clue we were coming. They started late, and of course ended on time. Luckily, Christine and Young did handle the situation and kept reassuring us throughout this terrible experience. And while the instructor was very sweet, I was so upset that it was clearly just thrown together. And of all the amazing kpop songs and groups, they chose a song/group my daughter dislikes instead of the song I requested. This was the one disappointment, but it was a big one as my daughter knows so many kpop dances so this was to be a highlight of her trip, but it was a major failure.

But back to KimKim. This was such a seamless experience outside of the dance studio making it less than stellar. My daughter now wants to study abroad in Seoul thanks to the amazing experience this agency put together. I must also give special thanks to the others who provided assistance including the driver that took us to the airport. And last, but not least, Jessica, my local specialist. Jessica communicated so well. She was so flexible during this entire process. And everyone I have communicated with at KimKim provided customer service very timely. Thank you so much!

Hotel Review

voco Seoul Myeongdong By IHG

Seoul

The hotel was so clean and the staff was so nice. They greeted us whenever we walked by. They were so helpful. At checkin, they gave us each boxes of treats to celebrate my daughter's birthday. As someone that only speaks English, I had no problem communicating with the staff. They were so helpful whenever I needed them. The included breakfast was great. There were so many options for us. The wifi was a good speed. I had no issues connecting. Since I am a status member of the hotel, they did allow me late checkout which was perfect timing to keep my room later before heading back to the airport. I am beyond happy with my stay.

Authenticity & Character

It almost felt like a home away from home.

Location

Right near transportation

Staff

Everyone was so nice and communicated well.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The bedding was very comfortable and the room was clean.

Activity Reviews

Full Day Gyeongbokgung Hanbok Dressing & Namsan Tower

Seoul

My daughter and I felt like princesses! The dress rental was so easy. And we learned so much.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Seoul Modern Culture Day: Han River Cruise & K-Pop Experience

Seoul

We got lots of pictures! My daughter so much of her kpop idols and was able to get merch which was at the top of her list. The cruise was so peaceful and beautiful that it made my daughter want to study abroad.

Quality of Experience

It was a calm day, yet full of things to see.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guides, Christine and Young, are amazing.

Transport

Our guides had transportation. One stayed in the car for fast and easy pick up and drop off. It was so convenient and saved a lot of time.

K-Pop Dance Class & Short Video Shooting

Seoul

I was very disappointed. They clearly had not planned for us to show up despite having contacted me and asking which song my daughter wanted to dance to. When I told them, they never responded. And were obviously unprepared. They finally got everything situated thanks to my tour guide. But we started late and ended on time. So we lost time we paid for. And the dance almost thrown together at the last second. Long story short, we danced to a song/group my daughter dislikes when this was supposed to the best part of her trip. She loves plenty of kpop artists, but we had to dance to something we weren't feeling at all. While the choreographer was sweet and the camera experience was cool, I was highly upset at this experience. We were not feeling this music, or this experience as a whole.

Quality of Experience

Follow up to find out if the customer is showing up.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The choreographer was nice. But the experience would be better if the staff was prepared for us to show up.

Transport

Christine and Young did great getting us in and out of there. They even came in to translate and get the matter of the studio not expecting us handled. They also came in and cheered us on at the end.

What a trip!! It was my first visit to Morocco. We started with a cooking class in a home after we landed, and it was a fabulous warm welcome. We had a local celebrity provide our Marrakesh tour and we learned so much!!! Our fabulous driver answered every single question we had as he took us to the Atlas Mountains, the desert and our surfing destination on the coast. Morocco is gorgeous. What was the best part of the trip? The people!!! I hope to go again. Thanks for the planning that made it so great.

Our 30th anniversary trip was a magical 12 days in the northern half of Italy. We started by experiencing the best of the art, food and historic sights of Rome and Florence with incredible guides. We sampled and prepared fabulous food and wine in Tuscany/Chianti areas and met some special local people and guides. We proceeded on to the vine-filled hills of Piedmont. We hunted for truffle, ate at a Michelin star restaurant, and toured some incredible Borolo wineries. From there, we traveled to Lake Como and had a few days of R&R and shopping. Finally, we wrapped up with a few days at Milan and an incredible tour of the Last Supper and shopping and dining at the Galleria.
This was an incredible trip that was made extra special as a result of Kimkim’s attention to detail. The logistics were extra special. Our tour guides were incredibly knowledgeable and our drivers and attendants were on time and professional. This was a trip that will be tough to beat!

Hotel Reviews

Umiltà 36

Rome

This hotel is a sleeper. It looks like any hotel from the outside. But the location is awesome and the rooms are incredible. They staff was very professional.

Authenticity & Character

They had a great breakfast and fabulous rooms

Location

Close proximity to the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Stairs.

Staff

Very professional

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was perfectly appointed and the turndown service was a nice treat

Hotel Balestri

Florence

The location of this was excellent. I would have paid a bit more to get a hotel that’s a little fancier. The room was small and the bathroom was below expectations. The elevators were small and slow. The breakfast was adequate.

Authenticity & Character

There wasn’t much character, the bathroom was small and the shower was poorly designed and old.

Location

This is a great location.

Staff

The staff was decent, and acceptable

Cleanliness & Comfort

The hotel was clean. There weren’t any turndown services. I think the interior and facility is a bit old.

Palazzo Venezia

Como

The staff was impeccable trained and the location was the best. Our room was on the lake! A beautiful view.

Authenticity & Character

A beautiful property with high end service and staff

Location

We watched the boat races and the finish to the Lombardi Bicycle race from the open window of our hotel room. Incredible

Staff

Extremely helpful employees from the bar, butler, to the restaurant staff!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Just modern, clean and tastefully decorated

Hotel Relais Montemarino

Borgomale (CN)

We loved this hotel stay. It’s a beautiful retreat in the mountains.

Authenticity & Character

This is a beautifully updated property with incredible views

Location

The hotel was close to amenities of the city as well as the many vineyards.

Staff

I can’t say enough about the staff. The washed and folded out laundry, helped us with directions, and the food/bar staff were friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

This is a very clean and tidy property.

Hotel The Square Milano Duomo

Milan

We were only in Milan for one night. The hotel is pretty big and very busy. It’s a bit of a walk to the Galleria area but the hotel was functional and did the job.

Authenticity & Character

There isn’t much character to this property. It’s a large hotel without many amenities and an ok location

Location

I wish we were closer to the Galleria.

Staff

The staff was adequate. Not stellar but I have no complaints.

Cleanliness & Comfort

It was average to above average cleanliness

Activity Reviews

Private Colosseum, Forum Tour & Palatine hill

Rome

We had a great tour guide, we got into the property before everyone else. We basically had the Colosseum to ourselves for an hour. Our guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. We loved the tour

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

On time, courteous, bi-lingual, and professional guides and drivers

Brunelleschi Pass- Access to all monuments of Piazza del Duomo Florence

Italy

This was a good pass. The directions to the access points with the pass were difficult to find. We struggled to know which museums and churches were accessible with the pass. I think a summary with directions in English from kimkim would help. The pass itself was tough to decipher.

Grape Stomping and Wine Tasting

Italy

This was a great experience. We toured the winery, stomped grapes, tasted wine and ate an incredible homemade meal.

Quality of Experience

Food

The homemade paste and the wines produced on premise were fabulous

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was an incredible interface with the lovely family/owners of the winery.

Transport

Our guide was also the driver. She also toured us through Castellina in Chianti. A gorgeous old village!

Private tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine chapel and Saint Peter's Basilica

Rome

Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and personable. I would recommend her to anyone. We got right into St Peter’s quickly and efficiently. This was a wonderful experience.

Quality of Experience

The knowledge of our guide and her familiarity of the property and its contents was incredible.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

O just an incredible experience!

Transport

Professional driver and a nice clean vehicle.

Private Tour of Legendary CRU in 4wd car and Barolo Experience with Lunch

Italy

We went to the Giovani Rosso Winery for a personal tour and tasting. We also had an incredible meal with the tasting. The wine is superb and the guides and chef (Frederico) were so personable. We loved them all (and the wine).

Quality of Experience

The chef and tour guide were excellent. The wine was superb

Evening Aperitivo Tour

Rome

We didn’t have high expectations for this tour but it was an incredible experience. We loved our tour guide! She brought us to a small suburb of Rome on the other side of the river. We met some wonderful shop owners, we ate at small bakeries and eateries, and had some great local wines from the Rome area. The Rome version of arancini was unbelieveable. Best I ever had!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Florence and Accademia City Tour

Italy

We loved this tour. Visiting Michelangelo’s David statue was the highlight of our trip. We were excited to see this sculpture and our guide was incredibly helpful to us. We got a tour of Academmia City first and finished with David. A splendid tour that I will never forget.

Quality of Experience

Michelangelo’s works are simply fabulous

Guides, Drivers and Staff

What a knowledgeable guide!

Transport

Shared cooking class in Pienza

Italy

We really loved this cooking class. We had 2 couples that made pasta and biscotti with our instructor. We cooked, toured the farm, ate our meal and had some wine. A great cultural experience. We met so many nice people, learned to make real Italian pasta, and enjoyed a mountainside meal with wine. What’s not to like

Quality of Experience

An intimate cooking and rural Italian farm experience.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver was a real pro. He had a beautiful Mercedes sedan and I felt safe at all times. We were with him for many hours and he was a great driver

Transport

Truffle visit experience

Italy

My wife is a dog lover and we wanted to experience truffle hunting first hand. Our tour was fabulous. What a great time.

Quality of Experience

We got the insights of truffle hunting

Guides, Drivers and Staff

A real professional young woman! She had excellent control of her dog(s)

Express Milan Last Supper Tour

Milan

Seeing Divinci’s Last Supper is a special activity. Well worth it!

Quality of Experience

It was a good group tour with headphones

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The tour guide was very knowledgable