Kimkim Trip Reviews

Another great trip planned by Olivia and the team at KimKim; it was a true winter adventure. The prefecture of Hokkaido is not to be missed in winter. The Sapporo snow festival and visit to Otaru were my cultural highlights of this trip and would have been missed without Olivia’s guidance! Thank you ensuring we experienced those.
And of course was the snowboarding! The japow! Unforgettable experience again with true ski in/ski out facilities.
Thanks again and can’t wait for the next one!

Hotel Reviews

Hilton Niseko Village

True ski in/ski out!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mitsui Garden Hotel Sapporo West

Sapporo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Shiba Park Hotel

Tokyo

Activity Reviews

2026 Sapporo Snow Festival

Sapporo

Otaru Winter Stroll: Canals, Lights, and Love

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tokyo Bar Hopping Night Tour in Shinjuku

Tokyo

Our guide was great - knowledgeable and great energy!

I have to say that my and my wife’s trip to Vietnam was amazing. We both have traveled a fair bit, sometimes curating trips ourselves and sometimes using fairly high end travel companies. Our 10 day Vietnam experience ranks equal to the best we have done.

I worked with our local specialist Trang for five months ensuring everything was exactly the way we wanted. Trang was incredible. She was knowledgeable, organized, helpful with ideas and patient!! Our trip went perfectly. Trang checked in throughout and helped with a couple of modifications during the trip based on our whims. We cannot thank her enough.

As for Vietnam. Well it’s everything our friends have told us. Highly recommend putting on anyone’s list.

An absolute 10/10 trip. My time in Japan was 2 weeks, next time it’ll be a month, and I’ll probably work with kimkim. Li, Mie and Satoko were all friendly, copacetic, and wonderful one on one. As part of a group, you will feel informed and with your friends. My trip was solo, so if you work one on one, you’ll have made a friend. Thank you for the best trip I’ve ever had, and I’ll definitely be coming back. Ja matta!

Hotel Reviews

the b asakusa

Tokyo

Great location! Asakusa has everything Tokyo had to offer, but you should still visit the rest of Tokyo. Great staff, great breakfast! Thank you

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Miyako City Osaka Hommachi

Osaka

Good breakfast. Overall great experience. I like the lounge

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Vischio Kyoto by GRANVIA

Kyoto

Excelllent! Liked the robot! Came in handy

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ryokan Aura Tachibana

Hakone

Excellent stay. Lovely onsen

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi & Oishi Park

Japan

Beautiful experience I’ll never forget

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Overall the trip was good in that it combined hiking and biking, as well as some beach time at the end. The Bike Borneo guys (Christian & Hakeem) were great and they had sorted out some nice bike routes and a nice homestay.
The 3 day hike with Rosli (and Andy and Jackie who were friendly but I'm not sure why they were there) was not what we expected. It would have been best characterized as a 3 day hike where we camp in villages on wood floors and have outdoor squat toilets rather than being described as homestays. The "homestays" were much more primitive than any of our other homestays in Borneo (which had mattresses and indoor flush toilets). If we knew we'd be sleeping on wood floors we would have brought or requested padded sleeping mats. The trails were narrow and slippery with many creek crossings and the leeches were incredibly numerous. We ended up walking out on a dirt road on the third day which made for better travelling but it cost us an extra 250 ringitt for the transport out.

It is going to be hard to fit all of the great times we had in this review. Stephan was amazing in helping plan. Meeting him was a great time and I am glad we got to. Truly Swahili and Stephan did an absolutely perfect job. I so appreciate them.

The trip started with us getting picked up at the hotel by John (our driver, guide and now friend). He was absolutely the best guide I have had on any trip. He knew everything (but we will get into that). I found out that he really enjoys peanut butter cups as we found out with the candy we brought for the trip.

We started in Amboseli National Park and stayed at Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge, This was my favorite place we stayed during our trip. The animals and accommodations were great but the people were incredible. We felt so at home there. We met Roger, a security guard, who talked about saving these places for future generations. We met Gerald who was a self taught guitar player and singer and Vincent who helped us during our meals in the dinning room. He was awesome and so friendly. The entire staff was really wonderful. We also saw so many animals but I wont list them all here :)

Next, John drove us to Giraffe Manor....this place lives up to its reputation. From the moment you pull up you will be treated like family. The food and drinks are amazing. Cynthia took care of us for meals and she was also great! Walter the bartender was a great guy and made amazing drinks while have some really good conversation. The place is expensive but if you are traveling all the way there and can stay a night (2 would be perfect) you should. It was a magical lifetime experience and worth the money if you can afford it.

Next, John drove us to the Ark which was absolutely my friend Cindy's greatest place to stay. If you are in love with elephants this is the most amazing place. They have an elephant blind and you are able to watch them from ground level as they interact. The sounds they make.....so cool. She was in heaven. Julia helped us with meals and drinks here and she was so cool. She would find me downstairs to make sure I didn't need anything. She really was great. We also met David who worked there and went and got eggs to get the serval cat to come up the stairs. If you have never seen one of these they are very cool. Cindy loved it and it was kind of him to do. Also, on safari here you will see elephants on road and other animals. The Ark is a great place for what it is. It is not the most fancy place but the food and service were very good and the animal viewing from so many places in the hotel make it amazing. There are so many levels of viewing.

Next, John took us to Samburu Sopa Lodge. We saw so many animals and birds here. John knew the name of every bird. We are the type of people to stop and see everything (even a turtle and small birds). John was loving it and at one point I asked him if he was making these bird names up. He actually had a book that him and Cindy would look together at and start to mark down what we saw. We saw a cheetah as well which was very cool. The entire staff was friendly and great place to stay. We were gone a lot of the time there but the place was really a great place to stay

Next we went to Sweetwaters Serena Camp. This was a great place. David was our dinning person and he was great. he has such a great smile that you couldn't help but smile when you saw him. We again saw all kinds of incredible animals but the people here made the trip. The entire staff here really went the extra mile for each guest. The chef came out and was serving as we went. He was proud of the food and we enjoyed talking to him. We also had the end tent so we got to really enjoy the animals and the quiet at the end of the property. bush bucks were out there and we could watch animals just walk past the property. We also got to visit the Ol Pejeta. This place is home to the last two remaining northern white rhinos (Najin and Fatu). This was a highlight of the trip. You can get up close and really learn about the efforts going on at this conservation place.

Finally in Kenya we stayed at Sarova Mara Game Camp. We visited the Maasai village and we were the only 2 there. We got to interact on a wonderful level visiting houses, talking to all the folks, purchasing items from them and just learning about their way of life. It was really a great couple hours. I got to dance with them and appreciated that (for an old guy I can jump pretty high) LOL. Everyone is aware of the animals in Maasai Mara so I won't spend a ton of time on that but we did see a Leopard that left a kill in a tree and lions stalking prey. When we saw the lions we were practically alone. It was amazing. Buffalo, Crocodile, Hippos, etc...We visited the border with Tanzania as well. We had lunch under a tree in the park with John and talked about his mom, wife and son. Just an amazing experience. The hotel was wonderful and friendly and the staff went out of the way to make you feel welcomed. This is the place to come if you want to see animals in layers like you always dream it will be. Also, we got to see the black rocks and the black rock boys...you can view it on Youtube.

Next we had to say goodbye to John. This was a bitter sweet moment as I knew we would be friends for a long time. I cannot tell you how much he enhanced our trip. We laughed so much over so many things. We ate ice cream, I paid to much for sodas and we just had the best time. I cannot thank him enough for the time he spent with us. I know he missed his son but we truly enjoyed the time with him. Now on to Uganda

In Uganda we stayed at Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla lodge. This is probably the most complete place I have ever stayed. The view, the staff, the food, the environment were incredible. The road getting there is long and rough but it is absolutely worth it. The next morning we hiked in to see the mountain gorillas. They were amazing. Truly incredible. James our porter was so good and attentive. We learned a lot about his family and living in Uganda and I appreciate his openness. The gorilla experience itself really leaves you speechless. They are such powerful, gentle and wonderful creatures. The silverback is huge. He is not like you see in the zoo.

We also went on a canoe ride and got to visit the Rwanda border both of which were great. We did spend a lot of down time at the lodge. It was that good. the view, food and just place is somewhere only in your dreams. Amos was our room attendant and he did a great job and really was fabulous for anything we could have needed. Isaac was our dinning person and he was absolutely perfect as well. We missed him on the day we left so I hope everything is ok but it was great to get to know him. Isaac gave us Gorilla key chains with our names and I thought that was very nice. The first day here we were the only people in the lodge (we went during slow time and there are not many rooms). I made good friends with Beno and Edward at the bar. i sat in the beautiful bar area and had a few beers and just learned about their culture and country. It was perfect. The entire time it was never crowded. Cindy got massages and I relaxed. The place is truly incredible. Thanks to Rogers the manager as well. He runs a great place and it is truly one of a kind.

To sum this trip up I would say...you guessed it INCREDIBLE truly Swahili did an absolute wonderful job. When I take these trips I want to be able to learn about local culture and immerse myself in their lives as much as possible. This was the trip of a lifetime and every person at every stop had a role to play. I have been to 37 countries and this is probably the most incredible trip I have taken.....thank you to everyone. Ed and Cindy

Caro was very helpful in planning our trip to Santiago and Patagonia. She kept us well informed and was very good at communication. Unfortunately, at the last minute, my friend's father became very ill and she had to cancel the trip which meant I was traveling alone. It was reassuring to know that KimKim and TripsSouthAmerica was aware of this and I had someone to pick me up from the airport and transport me during the trip. I also had another situation with an approaching winter storm in my area require me to change my plans and leave a day earlier than planned. Caro made the arrangements to accommodate me with an additional hotel night and change in pick up schedule.

The hotel in Santiago was less than I hoped - rooms were sparse and dated, very limitied English spoken, and not in the most favorable area of the city even though it was located in walking distance to the cultural center and museum. On the other hand, I loved Westkar in Puerto Natalas and the MR hotel in the Provincia neighborhood in Santiago upon my return were great options. EcoCamp Patagonia was 5 star eco-resort and I would highly recommend it if visiting Torres del Paine.

I wish I could have visited Punta Arenas while in Patagonia

Hotel Reviews

MR Hotel

Santiago

Loved the location and feel of this hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Weskar Lodge

Puerto Natales

A very nice hotel located about a mile from town along the water.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Camping Paine Grande

Puerto Natales, Chile

Lots of tents but the tents and pillows were clean and comfortable. Food was good.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Camping Frances

For a camping experience it was very comfortable. The food was very good at the refugio.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

EcoCamp Patagonia

Torres del Paine

Loved everything about this eco-resort! The accommodations were very nice and the food superb. I loved they offered a welcome drink every night and wine was included with dinner.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Fundador

Santiago, Región Metropolitana

The hotel was dark and dank. After flying over night, I was not able to check in early and so had to find a couch to nap. I checked about getting a to-go breakfast on the morning of my departure and was told that had been arranged but when i checked out they acted like they didn't know anything about that. The room was sparse and dated with a lot of rust in the bath. The neighborhood where the hotel was located was in the financial district with older buildings and apartments but no convenient cafes or inviting restaurants.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Maipo Valley - Concha y Toro & Santa Rita Wineries

Santiago

I think visiting the wineries could be fun to do with a group but by myself it wasn't that enjoyable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Eberhard Fjord Kayaking Tour

Puerto Natales

The kayaking trip was nice but nothing spectacular.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

EcoCamp W Trek 7D/6N - Day 7- Enjoy the lanscapes and let's return to Puerto Natales or Punta Arenas 💕⛰️

Torres del Paine

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

EcoCamp W Trek 7D/6N - Day 6 - Eastern Lakes 💕⛰️

Torres del Paine

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

EcoCamp W Trek 7D/6N - Day 5 - The Big Challenge: Torres del Paine 💕⛰️

Torres del Paine

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

EcoCamp W Trek 7D/6N - Day 4 - Grey Glacier Trek & Boat Ride 💕⛰️

Torres del Paine

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

EcoCamp W Trek 7D/6N - Day 3 - The Paine Massif's Heart: French Valley 💕⛰️

Torres del Paine

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Eco Camp W Trek 7D/6N - Day 2 - Los Cuernos Trek 💕⛰️

Torres del Paine

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Eco Camp W Trek 7D/6N - Day 1 - Welcome to Torres del Paine 💕⛰️

Torres del Paine

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Santiago Markets City Bike Tour

Santiago

The bike tour was very enjoyable and informative.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The driver was late picking me up and returning me after the bike tour. He had a womas hiding in the back of the van which made me feel very uncomfortable and was very unprofessional

The tour itself was well organized, with many interesting sites and activities. Guatemala is a fascinating country, where everyone was extremely friendly. The hotels were very comfortable and accommodating.

The cooking class was delightful and fun. I don’t think I’ll ever have the wherewithal to recreate the delicious meal! The hike up the Takaya volcano was a good challenge and a thrill, with great views when we finally arrived at the summit. Seeing the Maya ruins at Tikal National Park was unforgettable; hard to know that an entire civilization has disappeared but left monuments only one can imagine what went on there.

The day hike to the Volcano Chicabal on the last day before we left to return to the U.S. was unrealistic, as it meant about 8-10 hours driving along with a 2-4 hour hike. If it had been a day earlier it could have worked, but once we realized the problem it couldn't be changed due to the guide’s schedule and we chose to return directly to Guatemala City.

Safety was an issue that had been mentioned. The KimKim drivers were very careful. Our representative at Outdoor Adventures, Alex, took extra precaution when he heard of a political disturbance in the country. We much appreciated this precaution.

All told, the guides were very pleasant.

The trip would have been greatly enhanced if the guides had better proficiency in English and had provided more information about the sites, the history and all the land we covered. There were times when one of our guides seemed to stray way ahead of us that left us a bit confused, if not deserted. That said, he did return but it didn't always feel like he was there for us. It would have helped if the guides paid more attention to our safety and paid more attention to where we were on the trails and among the ruins, rather than lead and not look back to where we were.

Thank you for a memorable experience in your loving Guatemala.

All best,
Judith and Barbara

We had an amazing trip and Denise was very thorough and engaged throughout our trip. We had some cancellations due to weather and Denise was very involved in figuring out a plan B. I can not say enough about the KimKim model of putting a trip together. They can customize a trip or put together a planned itinerary. We have used KimKim for a number of big trips now and can say this is, by far, the best way to efficiently organize a trip. I highly recommend them and Denise is the Bomb putting a New Zealand trip to fruition. Thank you so much for your professionalism and expertise in making our dream trips a reality!
Rhonda McCoy

Hotel Reviews

Grand Suites Lake Tekapo

Lake tekapo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Rees Hotel

Queenstown

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Awesome

The Cinema Suites

Te Anau

Authenticity & Character

Location

O

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

PRIVATE BOUTIQUE WINE TOUR

Queenstown (NZ)

Ben was an amazing driver/guide. He was knowledgeable and charming, loved this tour!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Te Anau Glow Worm Caves

Te Anau

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fiordland Pure Wilderness Jet

Te Anau

Alex was the best driver and hostess EVER!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a terrific time in New Zealand recently and it was in large part to the arrangements that Vicky at KimKim made for us. She recommended and booked hotels in both Aukland and Queenstown; activities in both cities and worked with us to help us create the adventure we wanted in New Zealand. The hotels (Hotel Britomart in Aukland and Sofitel in Queenstown) were beautiful and catered to our every need. The staffs were attentive and engaging. Vicky planned a trip that allowed us time for curated activities but also time for us to explore and experience New Zealand. The Waiheke Island gourmet wine and food tour was everything we hoped it would be. We had a terrific time with guide Grant and small group of fellow travelers. The real surprise of the trip was how enjoyable the Milford Sound tour was. The views were amazing and Katy, the tour guide did a fantastic job explaining the region, the wildlife and the sights we saw. All around -- this New Zealand trip was an experience we will never forget. We are so grateful for Vicky's care and attention throughout the process. She even spent time with us just prior to travel to go over each day and last minute considerations and suggestions.

Hotel Review

The Hotel Britomart

Auckland

Perfect in every respect. Great staff, terrific room, great restaurant and in the very heart of city by the docks. Wonderful experience!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Boutique Wine Tour

Queenstown (NZ)

Phil was a great guide. We enjoyed the day with him. We thoroughly enjoyed our lunch at the vineyard -- the views and ambiance as well as the amazing charcuterie platter that the winery prepared. The tastings were all good. The final tasting at Kinross with Brian was by far the best. Brian was skilled as well as knowledgable on the wine he was sharing.

Quality of Experience

Food

Excellent lunch at the winery's bistro.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Milford Sound Scenic Tour & Cruise – Ex Queenstown

Queenstown (NZ)

Breathtaking views and scenery. Katy our guide and driver was exceptional.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Katy was excellent -- knowledgeable and safe.

Transport

Large, Comfortable Mercedes Van w/Wi-Fi and comfortable seats.

Waiheke Island - The Gourmet Food & Wine

Auckland

Exactly what we had in mind. Grant the guide was perfect for the role. The entire day flew by.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip was planned with careful attention to our goals and the driver and guides that we had were excellent. Youssef was our driver from start to finish and he was not only a punctual and excellent driver, but he also made a point of checking in with us when he wasn't driving to make sure everything was going well.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel le Doge Casablanca

Casablanca

Riad Farouzi Fes

Fes

This was a lovely Riad with the most friendly and helpful staff ever! Very comfortable. Highly recommended!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The staff went out of their way to be helpful. When we were eating dinner at a different location, a heavy rainfall started and we had forgotten our umbrellas. The staff from the Riad came over to bring our umbrellas so we wouldn't get drenched on the way back. Super nice!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Evening in Casablanca with your driver/guide.

Casablanca

Our driver, Youssef, continued to be excellent. The tour guide in Casablance was the one guide who was not particularly good.

Fes to Casablanca via Rabat

Morocco

Ibraham, our guide in Rabat was very, very good. In a short period of time, we toured several areas of Rabat and learned very much about the city and its history. The information provided to us by Ibraham was absolutely excellent!

Guided Tour of Fes' Jewish Quarter and Medina

Fes

Feta continued to provide excellent information and navigation through the Medina of Fes.

Fes walking guided tour : No drive

Fes

Our guide, Feta, was excellent at guiding us through the Medina of Fes.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Youssef was an absolutely excellent driver, who checked in with us on regular basis to make sure everything was going well. I would highly recommend him for any travel through Morocco.

Truly nothing was left to chance. It was a lot but I have all week to recover! EVERY guide was incredible! Knowledgeable, engaging, fun!! No better way to experience ALL the things ! I can’t thank them enough!!

Dear Camila

Peggy and I want to express our sincere gratitude for your hard work and professionalism on our travel arrangements. You went above and beyond to ensure our trip was smooth and stress-free. 
Your attention to detail and professionalism was evident throughout every step of the process. I’ve traveled for over 40 years for work and pleasure (about 4 million miles) and about 20 years ago I stopped using travel agents because they didn’t seem to get the details right, nor value of bookings they were offering. They didn’t seem to care about anything but finalizing the paperwork and moving on to the next booking.

Then a family member used Kimkim and I decided to contact the company. From day one you listened, asked good questions, and helped immensely with changes to the itinerary. We particularly enjoyed the Vamoos app and the fact that every local agent you coordinated with was prompt, friendly, and very caring. This allowed us to relax and fully immerse ourselves in the experience. 
I would like the contact name of a supervisor or office owner where you work so we can tell them how elated we are with you and the team of professionals that your company has assembled with what seems to be the sole purpose of making our traveling life superb. We have honestly never experienced anything like it and will tell others to reach out to Kimkim when they want an exceptional travel experience.
Best regards,
Joe Veltri
Ps. You may think we’ve overused the word “professional” but we cannot think of a better word to describe the dedication and commitment to excellence that characterizes your work.

Had a wonderful week in the Placencia area, staying at UMaya resort which is lovely. Kim Kim arranged several excursions for us and they went without a hitch. We felt so well cared for by the Kim Kim team who were watching weather and juggling options for us that best fit. Couldn’t be happier with Kim Kim as our travel agents.

We had an exceptional experience with KimKim during our trip to Morocco, which included Casablanca, Fes, Chefchaouen, and Marrakesh. From start to finish, the entire journey was thoughtfully designed, extremely well organized, and remarkably low-stress for us as travelers.

Every single day was well planned, with a perfect balance of sightseeing, cultural immersion, and downtime. The itinerary flowed smoothly, logistics were seamless, and we always felt well taken care of. It was clear that a great deal of expertise and care went into planning this trip.

A very special thank you to our guide and driver Ismail, who was outstanding. He was professional, knowledgeable, courteous, and always attentive to our needs. He made long drives comfortable, explained local history and culture with depth, and ensured we felt safe and relaxed throughout the trip.

We also want to commend all the other tour guides we met along the way. They were extremely well qualified, well educated, articulate, and highly mannered. Their passion for Moroccan history, architecture, and culture truly enhanced our experience in each city.

Overall, this was a beautifully executed trip that exceeded our expectations. If you are looking for a well-organized, culturally rich, and stress-free experience in Morocco, we highly recommend KimKim without hesitation.

Hotel Reviews

La Maison Arabe Hotel

Marrakech

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palais Faraj Suites & Spa

Fès

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Taj Chefchoaune Luxury Hotel and Spa

Chefchaoun

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hôtel & Spa Le Doge

Casablanca

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Transfer Casablanc to Chefchaouen via Rabat

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer to Fes, Volubilis & Meknes

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hot Air Balloon Ride

Marrakesh

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walking tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fes walking guided tour : No drive

Fes

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hammam & Spa Session 5 Pm at your Riad Accommodation .

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the Blue City

Chefchaouen

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hammam Spa & Massage in Marrakech 3 PM Session

Marrakesh

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Architectural Elegance: A Journey through the Hassan II Mosque

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My travel agent, Jeab, set up an amazing trip to Singapore, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam over one month. I had no idea of exactly where I wanted to visit and what I wanted to see, but Jeab and I discussed my interests and the types of things I wanted to see and do.

Jeab set up an amazing month-long trip to a variety of different locations, including Singapore, Phuket, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Pakbeng, Luang Prabang, Siem Reap, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City.

I toured many different Buddhist temples, took a two-day cruise down the Mekong River, took walking and floating food tours, learned how to plant and harvest sticky rice, took tours on electric bicycles and motor scooters, stayed in a 5-star resort, and generally had an exceptional trip!

I cannot emphasize enough that Jeab hit the mark with setting up flights and rides to and from airports, all of the tours, and all of the information necessary to obtain online Visas for all of the countries.

Jeab, KimKim, and Vio Travel made my trip to Southeast Asia an experience that I’ll never forget. I highly recommend their services!

Brian Grumbling
Virginia Beach, VA
USA

Hotel Reviews

L'Hôtel du LAC Hanoi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Laluna Hotel & Resort

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

De Lanna Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

4 Monkeys Hotels Bangkok

Bangkok

Located in the middle of Bangkok, it was conveniently located near many tours

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

My Dream Boutique Resort

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Luang Say Lodge

Pakbeng

I had my own separate room, which was a “hut” with all the amenities

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bella Nara Phuket Naiyang Beach

PHUKET

Love the breakfast

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Odys Boutique hotel

Ho Chi Minh City

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Borei Angkor Resort & Spa

Siem Reap

This resort is amazing! I rarely stay at 5-star hotels, but this is definitely one I recommend!

Authenticity & Character

Amenities galore

Location

It’s located in the middle of town

Staff

They took great care of me from the moment that I arrived

Cleanliness & Comfort

Plush bedding

Activity Reviews

Phare Circus

Siem Reap

The Phare Circus was a unique cultural experience. It was made even better by getting the VIP treatment in that we were able to keep the aluminum water bottle as a memory of the event.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Michelin Guide Street Food by Tuk Tuk

Bangkok

This was a memorable tour of Chinatown, while getting a chance to taste different foods. Make sure you’re hungry, because the food is filling.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Surin and The Moken Village

Thailand

This was an amazing visit to an island of “gypsies”. Very interesting tour.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

After a lot of back and forth with Amr , we got the trip we wanted and it was good. The guides were amazing : Hesham with his knowledge was very thorough in Cairo and Mohammed in Upper Egypt was very very flexible . We changed our itinerary daily to avoid the crowds ( especially on the cruise part ) and he was always accommodating and ready to suggest alternatives and we managed to have some temples ( Karnak and Abu Simbel ) almost devoid of crowds . I wouldn’t do the cruise again because all the tourists from the boats go to the sights at the same time so maybe with a car and driver you can change the timings.
The problem was at Fayoum , where the driver that took us into the desert had a very rundown 4x4 and was driving like a madman . We didn’t feel safe with his driving and thinking that the car would stop in the middle of the desert where there was no cell reception and no one in sight for miles .

Hotel Reviews

Dahabiya IRIS

Luxor

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa

Luxor, Luxor Governorate

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fairmont Nile city

cairo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Cairo Walking Food Tour

Cairo

The Cairo Walking Food Tour was delightful. Conducted by Samara, who was also responsible for our airport pickups, it felt personal and enjoyable. He took us to a famous restaurant in Cairo, and the whole experience was wonderful.

Hot air balloon

Luxor

The hot air balloon experience was just okay for me, possibly because it wasn't my first time. Our friends, for whom it was a first, thoroughly enjoyed it. You don't see much of Luxor city since the balloons operate over the tombs on the West Bank. If you're new to hot air balloons, it's worth it and cheaper compared to other locations.

Visit Valley of the Kings & Hatshepsut temple

Luxor

The Valley of the Kings was impressive, particularly since we opted for the additional tickets to explore the lesser-known tombs, which weren’t crowded at all. While the main tombs were quite busy, paying extra for those additional tomb visits was well worth it for a more calm and relaxed exploration.

Visit Luxor temple

Egypt

Visiting Luxor Temple at night was a unique and beautiful experience. Seeing everything lit up offers a distinct and surreal ambiance. Our guide recommended visiting at night, and I'm glad we did because it was indeed a sight to behold.

Day Tour to Pyramids, Sphinx & Sakkara and Dahshour

Cairo

The tour to the Pyramids, Sphinx, Sakkara, and Dahshour was incredible. Sakkara in particular stood out for me. There was no one else around when we visited in the morning, and it's set beautifully in the desert, unlike the Giza pyramids which are in the city. It provided a wonderfully intimate introduction to the area's history. We were even able to enter one of the pyramids without the usual crowd. Truly a fantastic experience!

We had a great experience working with Lorena and her team. Our trip was amazing. Patagonia was stunning and to have a perfect, flawless itinerary was the cherry on top. Everything was planned out for us and there was always help available for questions or concerns. Any issues were solved almost immediately. We especially loved our private guide through Torres del Paine José. He made the trip that much more special. An unforgettable time.

I had a wonderful experience and fell in love with Costa Rica!

Hotel Review

Casa del Sol

Manuel Antonio

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Chef Service

Manuel Antonio

Very professional and talented chef

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunset Catamaran Adventure with Meal

Manuel Antonio

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Villa Vanilla Spice Tour

Manuel Antonio

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

El Santuario Canopy Adventure Tour

Manuel Antonio

All of the tour operators were kind and helpful

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Río Savegre Whitewater Rafting Adventure

Manuel Antonio

We had wonderful raft captains

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Loved the tour guide

-Private Chef Service-

Manuel Antonio

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ocean Kayaking Adventure

Manuel Antonio

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Camila was excellent: consistently responsive AND informed/connected in designing a trip to Patagonia that exceeded our expectations. In short, she listened well and curated an excellent trip based on our wants/needs. Her contacts/selection of local guides in Bariloche, Calafate, and El Chalten were excellent, especially that of Julian in El Chalten!

One piece of feedback: the booking of flight travel and transport to/from airport pick up times could have been improved. Specifically, (1) when we decided to extend our KimKim Argentine travels with a new trip to Iguazu Falls at the end of our travels from Patagonia, a new ticket should have been issued for a flight from Bariloche to Iguazu, with a stop in Buenos Aires. Instead, a second round trip ticket was added for the travel from Buenos Aires to Iguazu. This necessitated a stressful dash thru BA airport to pick up our luggage and recheck our bags to Iguazu. (2) While all drivers were excellent and always punctual, pick up times should have been better coordinated in the transports between Calafate and El Chalten, and again from El Chalten back to Calafate. Both times had 7:00 AM pickups which created slack time in El Chalten without access to hotel room (from 9-3) and at the airport in Calafate (from 9-2).

Hotel Reviews

Gran Meliá Iguazú

Iguazú National Park

This hotel is a world-class gem showcasing a piece of the breathtaking beauty of Iguazu Falls directly from its infinity pool.

Authenticity & Character

It’s worth every penny! To really experience the falls, stay a minimum of two nights.

Location

The location of the hotel with its connectivity to the trails in the park that lead directly to the falls is its key attribute. It’s also a 5 star luxury hotel that delivers on all fronts: rooms, amenities, dining, grounds and staff.

Staff

To a person, the staff is superb!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Splurge: Book a room with the view of the falls. You won’t be sorry.

Mercure Iguazu Hotel Iru

Puerto Iguazú

Exceptional linens and bed quality! Lovely setting among lush jungle plants. Excellent breakfast and sold dining in restaurant.

Authenticity & Character

Lush jungle setting

Location

About a 30 minute drive to falls

Staff

Staff seemed inattentive and not particularly happy…Of all hotel staff of our 19 nights of stays in Argentina, this staff was the most UNINSPIRED.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bed and linens were exceptionally comfortable/high-end

Hotel Lunajuim

El Chalten

There are not of good choices in this town so this one, which was mediocre, might have been the only option But the rooms were of poor quality, very noisy, lacking any kind of decoration. Purely functional

Authenticity & Character

Location

One night at a local bar there was a very noisy band playing very late.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Try to make the rooms look better?

Xelena Hotel & Suites

El Calafate, Santa Cruz

This is a premium hotel with air conditioning that is geared to large groups. Excellent accommodations and staff, as well as excellent restaurant for breakfast, lunch, dinner and bar. It’s not readily accessible to town, but does provide a reliable hotel bus service.

Authenticity & Character

Great views of lake!

Location

Reliable and comfortable hotel bus service into town!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Design Suites Bariloche

San Carlos de Bariloche

Hotel rooms are spacious and restaurant provides excellent breakfast and dinner! However, the location is not walkable into the city (and doesn’t have AC).

Authenticity & Character

Location

Not walkable to city

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palladio Hotel Buenos Aires—MGallery

Buenos Aires

Excellent location with exceptional rooms, breakfasts and welcoming staff!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Laguna Torre Hike

El Chaltén

SAME AS LAGUNA DE LOS TRES and LOS HUEMELES: EXCEPTIONAL ! The guide, Julian, was the best guide of all our guides in Argentina. His command of English, historical context for explanations and knowledge of science/flora/native birds was unparalleled! Also, he had excellent customer service or really, “people skills”: Ensuring we had sufficient water, checking our physical stamina throughout the hikes, and even sharing his tea during daily lunch. In addition, being able to see/touch icebergs was quite a memory-making moment! The raw and diverse beauty of hiking thru forest, rock, and flat plains added to the exceptional experience. Finally, the lunch prepared for all three days was SUPERB: Varied, fresh, filling and very tasty!

Quality of Experience

See above

Food

SUPERB: Varied, fresh, filling and very tasty!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

See above

Transport

Always punctual!

Reserva Los Huemules

El Chaltén

SAME AS LAGUNA DE LOS TRES: EXCEPTIONAL ! The guide, Julian, was the best guide of all our guides in Argentina. His command of English, historical context for explanations and knowledge of science/flora/native birds was unparalleled! Also, he had excellent customer service or really, “people skills”: Ensuring we had sufficient water, checking our physical stamina throughout the hikes, and even sharing his tea during daily lunch. In addition, the raw and diverse beauty of hiking in Laguna de Los Tres added to the exceptional experience. Finally, the lunch prepared for all three days was SUPERB: Varied, fresh, filling and very tasty!

Trek to Laguna de los Tres

El Chaltén

All three guided tour days in El Chalten were EXCEPTIONAL ! The guide, Julian, was the best guide of all our guides in Argentina. His command of English, historical context for explanations and knowledge of science/flora/native birds was unparalleled! Also, he had excellent customer service or really, “people skills”: Ensuring we had sufficient water, checking our physical stamina throughout the hikes, and even sharing his tea during daily lunch. In addition, the raw and diverse beauty of hiking in Laguna de Los Tres added to the exceptional experience. Finally, the lunch prepared for all three days was SUPERB: Varied, fresh, filling and very tasty!

Quality of Experience

See above

Guides, Drivers and Staff

See above

Transport

ALWAYS punctual

Blest Port & Cantaros Waterfalls

Bariloche

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Brazil Falls

Argentina

While viewing the falls in their entirety from the Brazilian side was remarkable, this was the least favorite part of our travels. The time to transition thru customs between Argentina and Brazil, plus the actual travel time to/from the hotel to the falls (about 4 hrs total) , coupled with the crowds on the Brazilian side diminished the experience. The Brazilian falls felt very commercialized when contrasted to the Argentinian side and less well maintained.

Quality of Experience

See above

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was most gracious/kind/informed, but his English skills were not as solid as all other guides.

Transport

Prompt, polite driver who had a car with strong air conditioning!

Estancia Cristina Discovery Trek

El Calafate

EXCEPTIONAL! Hard to describe the contrast of landscapes and climates experienced during this trip…Often, it felt as if we were hiking between differing planets; at other times, it was as if we were in a movie setting where a dinosaur or caveman might make an appearance! Also, the packed lunch and the location for lunch: EXCELLENT ! In addition, the boat was a magnificent vessel and the captain took extraordinary care to provide multiple viewing access points to the icebergs.

Quality of Experience

This was an unusual, robust and absolutely SPECTACULAR experience. Definitely 5 star/high quality, from the design of the boat, to the national park hiking guide, to the well maintained and pristine setting. landscape.

Food

Excelente sandwiches and snacks well suited for a long hike!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Blue Safari

El Calafate

This was one of the most impactful and stunning experiences of our entire Patagonia trip! The boat trip to view the glaciers up close and to experience the floating icebergs is difficult to describe: the beauty, the clarity of the ice/waters, the contrast of sea and sky yielded innumerable pictures and memories for a lifetime. We had an exceptional guide with solid scientific grounding peppered with humor !

Tronador Hill Trekking

Bariloche

Black glacier and calving in real time were spectacular! Our guide also provided pics that showed the changing face of the glacier from various viewing points we visited. That was eye opening/sad.

Quality of Experience

This was our first viewing of a glacier. The scale and the floating icebergs were impressive! (NOTE: However, the impact of viewing Tronador would not be as impressive if a traveler has already visited Perito Moreno .

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Patricia was excellent, sharing historical context that framed what we were viewing. Also, she shared a lovely less traveled hike to a waterfall.

Transport

Panoramic Hike

Bariloche

This a great first day must do activity. It provides visual perspective to the vastness of Patagonia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nativo Experience - Lakes and Caverns

El Calafate

Good to get a cultural oversight of Patagonia

Quality of Experience

Loved the dinner in the cave and seeing/learning about the cave pics

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tango Show & Dinner at La Ventana

Buenos Aires

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Iguazu Falls Great Adventure

Puerto Iguazú

This is a MUST DO!

Quality of Experience

Great guides

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I really enjoyed all of the guides very much.
They were knowledgeable and friendly and made our tours very engaging and entertaining.
My favourite place and guide was Carcassonne (Natalie) as it felt like a lengthy conversation with great scenery 😊

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Florence Nice

Nice

Centrally located and a pillow menu!

Authenticity & Character

Focus on eco friendly solutions

Location

Not far from the sea, old town, dining

Staff

Front desk worked hard to ensure our comfort Breakfast area was very crowded, despite being there in the quiet season. Staff worked hard to keep the area clean and stocked

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel de Cambis

Avignon

Beautiful room in the centre of everything!

Authenticity & Character

Classy and comfortable

Location

On the main drag, so easy to find dining and attractions

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Aragon

Carcassonne

Off season requires more direction and help than what was provided by the front desk

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very close to the fortress

Staff

Offers to help find open places to eat during the day and for dinner. We were left to wander around

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full-day excursion to Monaco, Monte-Carlo & Eze

France

So many different experiences on this tour!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

As a local resident he provided us with historical information as well as personal anecdotes. Very informative!

Transport

Nice Evening Food Tour

France

Every stop allowed us to sample (and purchase if we wished)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Leo was quiet but very friendly and knowledgeable

Transport

N/A foot tour

Châteauneuf du Pape wine tour

Avignon

The two wineries were so different! They both provided an interesting perspective on wine making in the region

Quality of Experience

Seeing the oldest winery was very interesting

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Emile’s family experience in the wine industry made this tour very informative

Transport

Safe comfortable travel

Guided tour of Carassonne

France

The site is incredible. I definitely recommend having a guide as there is so much to see and learn about

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Natalie was very informative and allowed us to ask questions nonstop

Transport

It was a foot tour (an N/A would have worked best here)