Kimkim Trip Reviews

Unfortunatley, we stayed at this over-priced hotel during a time it was undergoing dining room renovations. But, even with that, the hotel is EXTREMELY expensive. And I mean expensive. We paid $230.00 for an uncomfortable dinner in a bar that consisted of two sandwiches, a quesadilla, dinner salad, and dessert. No desert. Fortunately, the travel agency we worked with reimbursed us for some of that exorbitant cost. Breakfast is $30.00 a person. It is a VERY GOOD buffet breakfast, but pricey. It is not near any restaurants, so we used Uber Eats to have meals delivered. The hotel did its best to address our dissatisfaction by comping us with one free breakfast and a room "gift" of two bottles of sparkling water and apples... But, they were patient, kind, and opened doors for us. The room was beautiful, large, and the deep soaking bathtub divine.

What was amazing about this excurion was the Ku-ring-gai Chase Forest trip. The trip to the beaches was okay, but with rain, the experiences were "dampened." But the forest? Beautiful. Unusual, Interesting insight into the Aboriginal people who once populated the land.

The one hour tour covered a lot of territory about this incredible architectural and musical masterpiece.

The stop at the farm on the way to the mountains was fun. Not much food, just beverages and cookies, but the animals like goats, kangaroos, wombat and lizards. The mountains were beautiful! Sort of like a green Grand Canyon. The lunch was good.

Our travel agency booked us for a two-hour private tour of the zoo. We didn't see much of the entire zoo, but what we did see was phenomenal. Experiences we simply cannot have in the United States. We got up close and personal with koala bears, Kangaroos, dingos, wallabies, and bilbies, as well as Penguins, exotic birds, capybaras, and baby meerkats. Our senior guide was passionate and interesting. We were thrilled with our experience.

The driver did not take us back to our hotel as the reservations indicated....we had to spend $58.00 on a cab fare, for which our travel agency helped defray the cost. The tour itself was okay.

Beautiful hotel in a beautiful location.

Probably the most beautifully designed and maintained boutique hotel that I’ve stayed in. Loved everything about this place with the exception of it being located in town rather than on the outskirts with a little more property to explore. Would highly recommend a stay here.

Beautiful grounds and location for this hotel. The breakfast buffet was extensive and delicious as well.

We spent very little time here but it was beautiful, comfortable and clean with delicious breakfast.

The Semiramis III is an older Nile cruise ship that shows its age, but it was generally clean and comfortable. Our cabin was surprisingly spacious and one of the nicer aspects of the experience. The food was consistently good, and the housekeeping staff was kind and attentive—creating lovely towel sculptures each day that genuinely made us smile. That said, there were several drawbacks. The ship smelled strongly of cigarette smoke in many common areas. Wifi was repeatedly promised but never worked. While docked in Aswan and Luxor, dozens of ships were packed together, so our “river view” was directly into another cabin window. Once underway, the experience improved, but scheduling was unreliable. We were told departure and arrival times that turned out to be hours off, which caused us to miss anticipated evening temple visits. While sailing, vendors in small boats approached the ship and shouted into cabin windows—even while we were sleeping—which was jarring and disruptive. The sundeck itself was lovely, but swimming and sunbathing felt uncomfortable, as very few passengers used the pool and there was intense staring from men on staff, even while dressed conservatively. Despite these issues, cruising the Nile itself was genuinely special, and traveling together along the river was a highlight of our trip. With better communication, stricter policies around vendors, and improvements to onboard amenities, the experience could be much stronger.

The Great Pyramids Inn is a clean, basic hotel with an unbeatable rooftop view of the pyramids—but otherwise, it fell short for us. Our room was simple and comfortable enough, with very comfortable beds, but several things were broken, including the bathroom door and the shower waterproofing. Breakfast was disappointing and limited. The rooftop restaurant offered a stunning view and good food, but it was noticeably overpriced for what it was. The hotel’s location is also a drawback. It’s not in a walkable neighborhood, and there isn’t much to explore nearby on foot. It’s also very far from the airport, which made late-night and early-morning transfers especially tiring. Overall, it was fine for a short stay focused on pyramid views, but given the condition of the room, food quality, and location, I would likely choose a different hotel next time.

This was another excellent experience thanks to Mary. The Citadel offered fascinating insight into medieval Cairo, and learning about the Mamluk massacre was chilling and memorable. Touring Coptic Cairo—the churches and synagogue—was deeply interesting and meaningful. As an AP World History teacher, I especially appreciated Mary’s ability to connect these sites to broader historical themes. She handled sensitive topics with care and clarity. This tour felt thoughtful, educational, and well paced.

The food itself was delicious. Koshary Abu Tarek was a highlight, and wandering through the streets and Khan el-Khalili was colorful and lively. However, the tour was uncomfortable in several ways. The guide, Hani, made inappropriate and misogynistic comments, including comparing women to uncovered chocolate bars melting in the sun when explaining why women should cover themselves. When asked how men fit into this analogy, he laughed and refused to answer. He also showed us shirtless photos of himself and bragged about working out. He offered little explanation about the food or its cultural context. Aggressive sales tactics in the bazaar were relentless, and the overall experience felt more awkward than enjoyable.

The West Bank tour was incredible in terms of content. The Colossi of Memnon were striking, and the Valley of the Kings was unforgettable. The tomb artwork was astonishingly well preserved. Guides are not allowed inside the tombs, but Ahmed explained the history beforehand, which helped us appreciate what we were seeing. Seeing King Tut’s tomb—his mummy still inside—was a powerful experience, and we appreciated that the ticket was included. Lunch afterward at Oriental House was excellent and easily the best meal we had in Egypt. While the sites themselves carried the day, the guiding was competent but not especially engaging.

This was absolutely worth it. Despite the very early wake-up, the hot air balloon ride over the Valley of the Kings was flawlessly organized. The crew and pilot were professional, calm, and safety-focused, and we felt secure throughout. Floating above the temples and farmland at sunrise was breathtaking and one of the most awe-inspiring moments of the entire trip. This experience exceeded expectations and was a clear standout.

Karnak and Luxor temples were breathtaking in scale and preservation. Walking through these massive complexes gave a real sense of ancient grandeur. Unfortunately, we arrived much later than expected—after 8 p.m.—and missed the anticipated evening experience and light show because of delays earlier in the day. The sites themselves were extraordinary, but poor timing and communication diminished what could have been an even more memorable visit.

The concept of traveling the Nile between Aswan and Luxor was magical and a highlight of the trip. However, communication around timing was consistently inaccurate. We were told specific departure and arrival times that were hours off, which resulted in missed evening temple visits we had been looking forward to and super early wake up times. The promised "gym" did not exist, and sunbathing or swimming on deck was not appropriate or comfortable for women. While sailing, vendors in small boats pulled alongside the ship and shouted into cabin windows, even while we were sleeping. Despite the logistical frustrations, being on the Nile together was genuinely special and memorable.

Kom Ombo Temple was interesting and lovely to see in the dark. We especially enjoyed the crocodile mummy museum. Again, the visit felt rushed. Our guide, Ahmed, seemed frustrated by crowds and eager to finish quickly. On the walk back, vendors aggressively accosted us, throwing items at us as we said no. Edfu Temple was visually stunning and historically rich, but the experience was dampened by logistics. We were required to wake at 4:30 a.m. for a carriage ride, only to arrive with thousands of other visitors already present. Our guide again seemed impatient and disengaged. We stayed positive and enjoyed the site, but the guiding did little to elevate the experience.

Philae Temple was truly spectacular and one of the most beautiful sites we visited. Learning about its relocation and seeing it by boat was fascinating, and Ahmed provided helpful historical context once we were on-site. However, the overall day felt disengaged. After arriving in Aswan during a sandstorm, Ahmed was reluctant to help us plan alternative afternoon activities and instead lingered in the souk smoking. We were taken to a spice shop with extreme overpricing and very pushy sales tactics. While the sites themselves were impressive, the guiding felt uneven and lacked initiative.

This was an outstanding first day in Egypt, largely due to our guide, Mary. She was warm, knowledgeable, and consistently professional. She navigated the massive Giza complex smoothly, chose engaging stories that brought the pyramids and Sphinx to life, and never rushed us. The camel ride was touristy but fun, and Mary helped us avoid unnecessary hassle. The Grand Egyptian Museum was a highlight. Mary guided us through about 20 pristine galleries, helping us make sense of the scale and significance without overwhelming us. She also brought us to a papyrus “museum” where sales pressure was noticeably lower than elsewhere. This day set a very high bar and showed what excellent guiding in Egypt can be.

We had a great stay at Hotel Spadai in Florence. The location is excellent—very central and convenient for walking to major sights. The rooms were clean, well organized, and very comfortable. The staff were friendly and welcoming, and we really enjoyed the lounge area, especially the appetizers offered around happy hour along with good drinks. Overall, it was a very pleasant place to stay, and we would absolutely choose Hotel Spadai again on a return visit to Florence.

We had a wonderful stay at H10 Palazzo Galla in Rome. The hotel is excellent—beautiful rooms, very clean, well organized, and thoughtfully designed. The staff were consistently friendly, professional, and extremely helpful throughout our stay. The cocktail bar at the front of the hotel is inviting and well done, and the rooftop bar is beautiful and a great place to relax after a day of sightseeing. We really enjoyed our time here and would absolutely recommend this hotel to anyone visiting Rome.

Second stay here - highly recommend for family holiday

Highly recommend! The rooms were great - each family with our own bungalow was wonderful. The spring fed pools were very enjoyable. The food was good (in some cases a little pricey) but not having to leave resort to eat is a bonus. The Uber to La Fortuna was a great option. Definitely recommend Restaurante Fortuneno.....we spent New Years Eve with them for dinner and it was amazing! Tomahawk steak was a highlight.

The check in time was quite lengthy, but the accommodations were great

We went to the food truck area and enjoyed different meals before heading out on a nigh walk about. Friendly and safe town for the whole family

We used this as a free day and a couple went to town, 4 went deep sea fishing, and we took a estuary tour on a boat to see monkeys and crocodiles

We walked along the beach - it does go into Tamarindo that way, we did not go all the way this time, we had on a previous trip and it is great. Taking an Uber into Tamarindo was inexpensive and very convenient. There is much to see there

Our family enjoyed this very much!! Swimming at the bottom of the waterfall was unforgettable!

Amazing for 10 y/o to 60 y/o. Quite an adventure. The length and heights were thrilling!! Our granddaughter (15) was feeling ill at the beginning of the adventure. Light headed and faint (found out during holiday she had pneumonia)! The first aid care there was top notch. Our daughter is a nurse and she said they were absolutely professional and spot on with care. They took her aside, gave her juice and chocolate, and kept her until vitals were all regulated. She was an amazing trooper and was able to finish all of the ziplines and the walking tour after. They allowed us to carry on even though this made us a bit later than scheduled. The walking tour afterwards was supreme!! Our guide was so knowledgeable and we found many, many animals and plants. Eyebrow snakes, monkeys, tarantulas, bat falcon and more!

Adventurous and soo much fun! A treat from 10 y/o to 60 y/o

Interesting historical place

The Yala National Park jeep safari was very interesting, and seeing such a wide variety of animals was beyond our expectations. Unfortunately, we were not lucky enough to spot leopards. Their sighting did not seem realistic to us, as these cats are extremely cautious and naturally tend to move away when many jeeps gather together.

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage was an amazing place and well worth the long journey. Seeing the young elephants playing and watching dozens of elephants bathing and interacting with one another was a truly special and unforgettable experience

The experience was beyond expectations. We were fortunate to visit at a time when it was not crowded, yet a donation ceremony was taking place. Seeing a place of faith filled with people dressed in white and surrounded by flowers was truly moving and felt like a rare and special experience.

We could not go up due to a leg still recovering from injury, but our guide thoughtfully arranged a ride around by tuk-tuk.

We explored the village by tractor, continued by boat on the lake, and returned by tuk-tuk, as cycling was not possible due to a leg still recovering from an injury. Communication with the local guide was somewhat difficult, and we would have appreciated more explanations. It was also not entirely clear to us how the lake ride related to the rural village experience.

Amazing historical evidence. Unusual for a European culture tourist.

Very special place, great explanation about Buddhism.

Everything about this hotel, location, staff and room views simply spectacular. However, when we booked a two room villa we expected the 2nd room to be part of the villa which itself was AMAZING, it was a separate room with its own entrance on a lower level and lacked the same water view as the main suite.

Excellent location, impeccable staff, breakfast and afternoon tea were great. Amazing how tranquil and quiet the pool area is when just outside the front of the hotel is the busy street with locals and tourist visiting the temples directly across the street.

Great location without being in the heart of chaotic crowded areas but close enough to all. Spacious rooms, attentive staff and good food!

Our favourite hotel of our whole trip- and our last trip which is why we returned the hotel itself is beautiful, the breakfast and restaurant excellent and the concierge and staff couldn’t have been more helpful

The guide went out of his way to ensure we saw the lights and got fantastic photos and provided a general tour of different areas too

Enjoyable. Saw whales in distance

Loved the experience and the guides were great

Delightful, engaging guide who loved Bergen and was keen to share stories of its past and present.

Excellent tour with a very engaging, entertaining guide / great to see different part of Iceland

This was a godsend and allowed us to enjoy the various transport components of the Bergen to Flam to Oslo trip without worrying about dragging along excess luggage - highly recommended

Functional rooms, easy shuttle to airport, lousy onsite restaurant and service.

Nice rooms, great staff- they went above and beyond.

Nice rooms, proud owners, great meal.

Camel ride in was fun and dunes spectacular at night and sunrise. Tents were nice. Music at night was good but short (20 minutes?). Dinner was fine. They did not communicate the schedule: when music would start, when to meet for morning AV rides if interested, we were told there would be a camel ride out but there was not. It was a beautiful surrounding and glamping accommodations but the 'experience' was light.

Interesting building and location but a little older feeling. Paint was chipping off the ceiling, no hot water, toilet needed to be repaired twice, breakfast took 45 min to serve.

Nice rooms, great view, fun bar to watch the African Cup, incredible breakfast.

Committed host and great food.

Very interesting and good tour guide.

Interesting drive and stops- loved the snow in the Atlas Mountains

Interesting drive and stops

See notes under accommodations.

Excellent tour guide, fascinating medina. A highlight.

Interesting set of experiences, loved Fes tour and the stops along the way.

Chefchaouen was a favorite stop of the trip but there was chaos with the African Cup and no orientation. Figured things out because it is a small city (and beautiful!) but didn't realize we'd be on our own and rough for a disabled person to get to the hotel at the top of a hill and top floor room.

Very well done, excellent tour guide.

The Hassan II is not to be missed but not tons else to see compared to what we experienced elsewhere.

Convenient to the airport and readily accessible to the Sydney International terminal

I would definitely recommend this hotel! Clean, great amenities, close to restaurants, and excellent staff. If we have the opportunity to go back, I would choose this hotel!

Incredible stay and interesting experience. Very modern, clean, efficient and well worth staying there.

Well worth it

Incredible

This experience is like no other. The introduction by the camp manager was very informative and helped to understand the mission and purpose of Cardamom Camp Tent. Their attention to eco sustainability and conservation is felt all over the camp without taking away from the comforts of glamping. It was nice to have a special celebration on Christmas Day put on by staff. Staff were eager to accommodate our requests. The food was also VERY good and the drinks were reasonable in price.

The staff were so accommodating. The interior and exterior architecture of the hotel was so charming. We were only there a total of 2 nights but I felt that the staff took care of us and were eager to please us. They gave us recommendations on where to go and helped us with transportation, etc. On our return, they saved a lovely room for us with a large exterior porch so our family had more room to relax before our long journey home.

The security guard at the pool was VERY nice and helpful. The bellman who carried our very heavy luggage up the stairs were also very kind, attentive and professional. The dining room staff during dinner service were not as friendly compared to other hotel staff. There were a lot of bugs in the evening time in the interior and exterior dining areas. I don’t know what the solution could be but it made for an unpleasant evening dining experience. It took a long time for dinner and several dishes were not available and the food seemed over priced compared to all the other hotels.

The scenery was picturesque. The location was amazing for its walking distance to water market. The pool was very nice for adults and children. Unfortunately, the hot tub was drained on my last night so not able to use. The buffet breakfast was nice and on site massage was convenient and well priced. The rooms were SO SPACIOUS. The bathroom and soaking tub was amazing.

Great location. Our rooms were adjoining. The expansive buffet breakfast was my favorite during my entire 10day tour. Each room had toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, soap. The bathrooms were very clean and well sized. Staff were accommodating and friendly.

Our favorite hotel by far! The family pool party was the best! My kids had a blast! We also enjoyed the room service! Food was delivered quickly and there were plenty of options for all! My kids loved having their own room and the kitchen was perfectly stocked with dishes and pans if you needed. Overall we loved this hotel!

This was unlike anything we have ever seen before! We had a great time!

Gorgeous beaches!! Green water! Was better than we expected!

This experience was a dream come true! We couldn’t stop smiling! My kids will always remember how they wrestled an elephant for food!

This was a highlight for us! We enjoyed learning h pu w to cook the Thai dishes!

We enjoyed seeing the monks and talking with them!

Scotty was an incredible guide. Highly recommend him! We loved getting to learn about the practice of Buddhism and local beliefs.

Absolutely stunning experience.

We were able to see the beautiful landscape and countryside of Siem Reap. Our guide was personable and informative.

Tried lots of delicious foods, including soy sauce ice cream!

Bam gave us a personal experience of the city and we had a great time on this tour. We loved making the aluminum engravings and learning about the traditions and history of Chiang Mai.

Possibly the favorite part of the trip. Kind of wish we could've spent the whole day with the elephants.

We had an incredible time picking and learning about tea. Tasting the teas was delicious and the guides were very informative. The national park was gorgeous and we had an amazing time at the waterfall.