Kimkim Trip Reviews

We loved this trip!! I think looking back my only change would be to reduce the number of in-country flights because they eat up too much of the vacation time - flights get in very late and then ruin the next morning. If I do a trip like this again, I would spend more time at each place and see less places overall, but I know some people really like a busy itinerary (I don't).

We loved everything about this trip - it was our first time hang-gliding (in Rio), our first time on a helicopter (over Iguazu Falls), and of course our first time in Brazil. So many memories we made, from walking along Copacabana Beach to being rained on for two days straight around Iguazu Falls to swimming with a pink dolphin at Tupana Lodge in the Amazon to eating the (gross) piranha that we caught there for dinner to listening to the great local music on Ilha Grande and waking up to the kiskadees with their characteristic loud song. We saw amazing animals and met amazing people, and it was an overall AMAZING trip!!!!

Yesterday, still jetlagged, I began to write a very detailed review of this trip, but got sicktracked. When I went back this morning to complete it, I found it was not saved! So now you're getting the abbreviated version!

1. Flight over, and car pickup went smoothly. Got to Giverny, where you had no connections, but I think it's too bad you
didn't suggest I make reservations for Monet's house and gardens. Luckily, that occurred to me on my own , or we
would have been very disappointed to get there to find the size of the crowds. Likewise, you had no relationships
with hotels in that area, but I was able to find a very nice hotel in nearby Vernon and it worked out well.
2. Caroline had suggested driving directly to Bayeux but I chose, instead, to take a stop-off in Honfleur, which I had read
was one of the most beautiful little towns in France. If there hadn't been a circus and market day in town that day it
would have worked out better, but we at least had a brief opportunity to drive through the town, even if we couldn't
find a place to park and explore.
3. Upon reaching Bayeux, we parked and went to our hotel. Le Castel was a very nice place, but more of a guest house
than a hotel! We arrived on Saturday in time for 3:00 check-in only to find a sign on the door saying check-in was at
5:00! The place was locked up tight! We managed to spend a couple of hours finding lunch and wandering through
the cathedral but it was a surprise and disappointment to not have a place to cool off and relax. Bayeux is a terrific
town, and on day 3 we had a great guided tour of the town, but unfortunately I don't remember the name of the
wonderful woman in the green hat and scarf! She was very knowledgeable and we learned many new
things, and got a healthy dose of humor from her! By now the heatwave was fully upon us, so it was not much of a
relief to go back to our room! We understood that France does not offer much air conditioning but the temperatures
were WAY beyond anything we expected. The really fun thing about Sunday evening was that it was Fete de la
Musique! That was quite the unexpected bonus, and we enjoyed it very much.
4, Monday was our D-Day experience and it was everything, and more, than we expected. Our tour guide Lucas, and
driver Estephe were very professional and Lucas's presentations, with photos to support what he was telling us,
were top-notch! The group was a good size, about 12, and it made asking questions, and keeping up very manageable.
A huge bonus was at the American Cemetery, where, after Lucas' explanation and instructions of when and where to
meet, we walked the cemetery on our own. Suddenly we heard the national anthem, followed by taps. That was
extremely moving and Lucas told us later that that is an infrequent occurrence, when family of someone buried
there visits. My only criticism of the day was that where Lucas told us to meet ("back at the van") was pretty vague
and it made it hard to figure out which van was ours. It would have better had he had us meet back where we started
IN the cemetery, so no one was wandering the parking lot!
5. Tuesday was our full day trip to le Mont St-Michel. Our driver/guide Lu/Lou was just fantastic! She had a great
personality and was very outgoing. It was a long drive, but there were only 7 of us, plus Lou, and so conversation
flowed, and we really enjoyed our time together. Lou was very mindful of our age, and was very conscientious about
stopping for short breaks as we made our way up all those steps to the Abbey itself. Her tour was excellent and she
was very clear about using our free time for lunch and shopping and what time to be making our way back to the
welcome center for the trip back. Perhaps it was because we had more time with her, but I felt that Lou was the
outstanding guide of all!
6. Wednesday was the day I was most worried about, as Caroline's estimation of how long it would take to drive from
Bayeux to Versailles was different from what Google maps estimated. It turned out that Caroline's time frame was
better, as we opted not to take any Autoroutes, sticking instead to secondary highways. We were worried about
parking at Versailles, expecting be forced to park far away, but we were pleasantly surprised to find parking was easy
and very close to the gates. We did have some trouble figuring out where to meet our group but we managed in
plenty of time. Again, I don't know our guide's name - even with headsets it was hard to hear everything she said with
the crowds. The crowds and the heat really made the day less than it could have been but overall it was good to
finally see a place I have so longed to visit. The temperatures of 100+ made us reconsider the gardens, but
otherwise it was good. The car return and train into Paris were fine, and the cab ride to our hotel was short and
painless.
7. Thank God for cell phones! Diliana texted and called about the change of meeting time for the tour of Notre Dame,
and offered us options if we wanted, of either the Latin Quarter, or the Musee d'Orsay. We had not seen Notre Dame
for 28 years so we were anxious to see how it looked after the fire. We were worried about exactly where and how
we would meet up with Sylvanie but she found us, and she did a wonderful job of showing us both outside and in. It
was a terrific tour, and she, too, was very knowledgeable.
8. Le Jardin de Brea was just great - AC was SOOOO welcome by then, and the staff in the lobby was fantastic, friendly,
and ready with recommendations for nearby restaurants! I know it was not your original recommendation, but it
was perfect! The half hour walk to Notre Dame from the hotel, through Luxembourg Gardens would normally be
easy, were if not for the 104 temps!
9. Our driver to CDG on Friday morning was excellent, and he had bottles of water waiting for us in the back seat. He
got us there in 50 minutes, which should have been plenty, and it was, except that due to the heat passport control
was down, and the lines were exceptional as each passenger had to be processed manually, rather than electronically.
That was the most stressful part of the week, except that we were all in the same boat, and the plane was delayed.

Final thoughts: I think there were a couple of things that could be tightened up, with regard to suggestions, meeting places, etc, but overall it was a wonderful trip and Kimkim took good care of us. Diliana did say that due to our not being able to see Sainte Chappelle we would receive a cost adjustment so I will look forward to more information from you on that. Overall the trip was a very successful one and were we to need travel services again Kimkim would be our choice.

Hotel Reviews

Hôtel A La Villa des Artistes

Paris

This hotel was closed for renovations so this does not apply.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

AC was wonderful, breakfast was wonderful! This is a great hotel I would recommend you add to your list of recommendations

Hôtel Jardin le Bréa

Paris

Great hotel, excellent staff, clean, good location

Authenticity & Character

Charming

Location

A half hour walk to Notre Dame through Luxembourg Gardens. Lots of restaurants nearby!

Staff

The desk staff were very friendly, and had good recommendations for restaurants nearby

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lovely room, clean, great AC.

Le Castel & Au Loup

Bayeux

The hotel was very nice, the breakfast was good, the cleaning of the room from day to day was minimal, but Fred, our host was wonderful!

Authenticity & Character

A beautiful building!

Location

Within walking distance of everything

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Changed the towels but that was all

Activity Reviews

Self-Guided Exploration of Bayeux

Bayeux

The cathedral was gorgeous and we enjoyed visiting it. The high point there was going down into the crypt and encountering a quartet of what we can only assume were music students singing a cappella. That was exquisite!

Quality of Experience

Monet's Giverny House & Gardens self-guided day Trip (Tickets are not included)

France

I felt that Kimkim gave us nothing on this! We figured out that we needed reservations, we needed to find our own hotel.

Quality of Experience

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

Paris

I only give this 4 stars because we were not able to visit Sainte Chappelle

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sylvanie rushed to get back from another toup to give us a private tour!

Self-Guided Day in Le Marais: Cheese Shop, Museums, & Market

Paris

Did not do this due to weather

Quality of Experience

Palace of Versailles Day Trip with Priority Access – Half-Day Tour

Paris

It was simply too hot and to crowded to fully appreciate!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mont Saint Michel & The Abbey : The Enchanted Island

Bayeux

In spite of the heat, and all the steps, this is an amazing place!

Quality of Experience

Our guide was fantastic!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Omaha Beach & American Cemetery War History Day Trip

Bayeux

Even better than I could imagine it to be!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Walking Tour of Historic Bayeux

Bayeux

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Deedie and Anne did all of the trip planning with KimKim so I will let them speak about that.

The trip was beautiful and interesting and energetic. Norway is a series of engineering marvels with tunnels and hydropower and hairpin turns leading to glacial grandeur.
The Scandic Torget hotel in Bergen was average but the location was excellent. We did a hike from Ulriken, the top of the gondola, to Mt Floyen, the top of the funicular, along the ridge top which was spectacular (13 km on the Vidden trail). We ate dinner one night at the Daily Pot which was delicious, casual and inexpensive.

The other 3 hotels were great. All 4 of the hotels had excellent breakfasts and we made sandwiches for lunch (not encouraged by the staff).

The hike in the Aurlandsdalen was amazing and long, 19 km. We took a bus up to Osterbo and then were picked up in Vassbygdi. The hotel helped us with the bus tickets and details. The ride on the Flamsbana was beautiful and the walk down was wet, again beautiful, and interesting, stopped at an old church in Flam along the way.

Took the snow road to Geiranger, a must! Ride in the RIB was great, could have been longer. Hiked up above the Storsaeterfossen into the meadows which was glorious. Had a delicious dinner at the Westeras Farm, a short walk from the hotel.

Took the Trollstigen to Alesund, a must! Hiked the Storhornet on Godoya island, more remote than Sukertoppen and no people but much more difficult. We felt like explorers standing on the edge of the sea.

Hotel Review

Scandic Torget

Bergen

Small clean rooms, very small lobby, excellent breakfast

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hike up to Sukkertoppen

Ålesund

We decided to do a different hike. In retrospect, with 2 cruise ships in port, Sukkertoppen would have had a lot of people on it and Storhornet was a treat ( start from the Alnes lighthouse side)

Food & Culture Walk

Bergen

Self-Guided Waterfall Walk

Geiranger

If a cruise ship is in Geiranger, should start hike from hotel up to Storsaeterfossen and on up into meadows (trail continues) where there will be less people and an amazing view. We did not do the lower part of the hike as it is pretty "manufactured".

Geraingerfjord Safari by RIB

Geiranger

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hike in Aurlandsdalen Valley

Aurland

Hike was amazing,

Quality of Experience

Canyons are deep with raging river

Sebastian’s help in creating a perfect honeymoon itinerary was amazing! The travel book was clear and easy to use. We had a great time in France!

We had an amazing experience booking our trip to Tossa de Mar and Barcelona through Kimkim. From the very beginning, the planning process was seamless and stress-free. The itinerary was thoughtfully designed, giving us the perfect balance of sightseeing, relaxation, and local experiences.
Every recommendation—from our accommodations to activities and transportation—was well chosen and made our trip even more enjoyable. Exploring the beautiful coastal town of Tossa de Mar and the vibrant city of Barcelona was unforgettable, and everything went exactly as planned.
What impressed us most was Kimkim's excellent customer service. The team was responsive, attentive, and always available to answer questions before and during our trip, giving us confidence and peace of mind throughout our travels.
We highly recommend Kimkim to anyone looking for a personalized, well-organized travel experience. They made our vacation smooth, memorable, and truly enjoyable. We wouldn't hesitate to use Kimkim again for our next adventure!

Eleanor helped plan the trip so perfectly. We began at Mizumari, a Ryokan on the Izu Peninsula for 4 glorious, restful days. The food was amazing. We took walks to waterfalls and went to the beach. From there we traveled to Kyoto. The train station at Kyoto was incredibly confusing and we struggled to find the hotel which was right there. Finally, a cook at the hotel showed us where it was. Otherwise, the app that was provided gave us all the information we needed to find temples, museums, Saihoji and wander the city. One rainy day we went to the Kyocera museum and were awed by the work of Ida Shoichi. We were in Kyoto for a conference with Japanese Psychoanalysts and Eleanor found us a hotel right around the corner from the conference. The conference was a highlight of the trip. Getting to meet people who live and work in Japan--not just hit the tourist spots. Wandering around the area where the conference was, gave us an additional feel for the city. We found the wood block prints of Hokusai--the 36 views of Mount Fuji, a fabulous food market and incredibly friendly, open people to chat with. Our final meal was with in a teeny restaurant with a couple who made us noodle soup. We fell in love with Kyoto.

We really had a great time in Greece. We did not have any issues with transfers or tours that we set up through Eirini. We particularly enjoyed the cooking class that we participated in on the island of Crete. We also enjoyed our wine tour in Santorini. We would definitely use this service again.

Just got back from two fabulous weeks in beautiful Morocco and Kimkim was excellent to work with -- taking our request for a "calmer" itinerary and yet still getting the most bang for our buck. We never felt rushed and yet we covered a lot of territory, starting in Casablanca, down to Marrakesh, Ait Benhaddou, Boumaine Dades, Merzouga, and back through Agdz to Essaouira. Each area had its own uniqueness and beauty, and it was very special to see such diffefent landscapes -- from the bustling medinas to the gorgeous valley area. There were times we were "in the middle of nowhere" with no other tourists around. We had a local guide in each place and enjoyed experiencing their perspectives. One stands out: Mohamed, our guide in the valley, who led us on two hikes that were unforgettable. He told us, "Life in my hometown is simple but beautiful." For anyone looking to plan a trip like this, Majid did a great job putting things together for us. But our daily "fearless leader" :-) was our driver and new friend, Hamza, who took excellent care of us. He was very professional and friendly and fun. He was our liaison when we needed to add or tweak a little something on our itinerary. Whoever is reading this and planning to visit, we hope you ask for Hamza. He's just a super nice guy and was very patient and kind to our group, which consisted of two "older parents" traveling with three teenaged boys. ;-) (Btw Hamza can sure cut a rug. Ask him to show you his Ahidous dance moves ;-) Such a wonderful holiday.

Lucy was amazing! My dad got sick at the beginning of the trip and would up in the hospital for a couple days. But thanks to Lucy, I had a place to stay close to the hospital set up as soon as she knew I needed it and she checked in on my dad through out the trip. Being so far from home it was nice to have a local helping with all the little bumps in the road.

Leon was our guide in Cape Town and made the whole experience wonderful. He knew so much and was funny and friendly. My dad didn’t always feel up to walking and Leon stayed and was a great companion while we adventured a bit. Definitely made that portion of the trip special for our family. The Romney Park Luxury apartments were gorgeous! Their elevator was not working and they moved us to a ground floor apartment to make it easier for my dad, the ground floor was not nearly as nice of an apartment, but we appreciated the accommodation since their elevator was broken.

Marine Dynamics was greatly enjoyed by my husband and kid's. The shark diving was the highlight of the trip for my daughter. The Abalone hotel was lovely and they really enjoyed eating in town at The Chard- best milkshakes ever! Steaks, calamari and side dishes were also delicious!

Moditlo Lodge was my favorite stay. We were treated so well, every need anticipated, every staff member kind and attentive. They knew it was our anniversary and we were treated with hearts and champagne in our room. My dad’s birthday was also celebrated with all staff singing and a cake at lunch time. Kailey the check was phenomenal and our guide and tracker (Dumi and Derrick) were so knowledgeable and enthusiastic about making sure we had the best time. The game drives were the highlight of the trip for me, seeing hundreds of animals and my children getting to see all the ones they wanted to and more. The hot water bottles, lined ponchos and warm drinks made the chilly mornings and adventure and something to look forward too. My words don’t do the experience justice. I do wish we had know that the entire experience was outside the park, we would have asked to spend at least one day in Kruger.

Victoria Falls - the Shearwater was a real downgrade after Moditlo, no one cleaned our rooms or replaced amenities like coffee and water without a request and the staff wasn’t very responsive. More than once I stood in line waiting to be helped while watching staff gossip about guests, one night the kitchen staff got in a huge fight and you could hear them yelling at each other from the dining room. Definitely a place you kept all the doors locked every minute.

Kuda was a wonderful guide to the falls, full of local information and willing to share a lot about the culture and what it was like to grow up in Victoria Falls. The helicopter flight was the highlight of my dad’s trip and fell on his 82nd birthday. The view from above was spectacular! We also great enjoyed our tour of the Wildlife Trust, the work they do there is so important and fascinating. Kuda went on that trip with us as well and said he learned a lot himself.

Bamba train was fun. The Chobe day trip was my son’s favorite day and probably tied for one of my favorites as well. Our guides, Captain O, Terrance and Kenneth, were funny and obviously enjoyed showing us around on bus, boat and safari. We saw THOUSANDS of birds and animals that day, it was unreal and felt like the scenes you see in movies. Our fellow passengers were also very fun on this trip.

Our last experience was the Dusty Roads dinner and it was informative, colorful, whimsical and funny. We were able to try grubs - my daughter ate two!! And all kinds of different local foods while learning about what plants they came from and how they were prepared. The owner came to our table and chatted for quite awhile, it was interesting to learn about her family and time in Zimbabwe. We loved it!

We would encourage people to follow the travel agents advice and to not walk alone and keep valuables secure. I should have Ubered from my hotel to the hospital! Had to cancel my credit card and file a police report after an encounter in the street with a few young men.

AirLink was a very hit or miss airline to travel with about half the staff was polite, friendly and helpful, the other half was dismissive if not out and out rude at times.

All in all it was a trip of a lifetime and I would highly recommend working with Lucy. She was so helpful, kind and if she didn’t know the answer she said so and told you she would get it!

Hotel Reviews

Shearwater Explorers Village

Victoria Falls

Didn’t really feel safe or welcome hear

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Staff gossiping about guests in another language, we may not have understood the words but the eye rolls, faces and tone are universally disrespectful body language and when you do it in another language and think the people around are to dumb to notice it is even ruder

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms could be cleaned up daily and amenities, like coffee and water replaced without having to ask

Moditlo River Lodge

Hoedspruit

Treated like family and special guests all at the same time

Authenticity & Character

Location

Outside the park

Staff

Would give more stars if I could

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything, the food was amazing

Abalone Guest Lodge

Hermanus

Beautiful rooms with ocean views!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to cliff walks

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lovely place to stay

Romney Park Luxury Apartments

Cape Town

Staff was lovely and helpful. Breakfast was tasty and quick in the morning. Top floor apartments were so cute and probably the nicest apartment we stayed in. Such a nice place to stay with multiple family members and not have to go in and out of separate rooms with separate keys.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Thoughtful and kind

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was exquisitely neat and tidy

Activity Reviews

Ride the Bamba Tram – A Unique Journey Through Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls

Pretty view and another way to have people come and sell you stuff

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chobe Full Day Safari Trip

Victoria Falls

One of the best days of the whole trip!

Quality of Experience

Couldn’t imagine the amount of wildlife!

Food

Nona’s are the bomb

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Friendly and helpful

Transport

Going back and forth between two countries and changing vehicles so many times could have been confusing or difficult and they made it super smooth!

Flight of the angels

South Africa

Very efficient

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Views were fantastic and ride was smooth as glass

Dusty Road Dinner Experience

Victoria Falls

Awesome concept and execution

Quality of Experience

Great service and good

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust – High Care Rehabilitation & Lab Tour

Victoria Falls

Cool to see everything they were doing and meet their current guests

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very informative

Transport

Sunset Cruise - Signature Deck

Victoria Falls

We wound up on the dinner cruise instead of the dinner cruise. It was too late and cold for my 82 year old dad. Our itinerary said sunset cruise, but what was booked was the dinner cruise. It was nice, but not what we had planned.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Thoughtful and provided blankets for my cold dad

Transport

Tour Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls

Much better with a guide - Kuda had so much local knowledge about the plants, the river as an energy source and local history. Greatly added to the walk.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Local knowledge

Transport

On time and safe

Shark Cage Diving

South Africa

According to my daughter - the best day of her life!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The boat ride was exciting and fast

Full Day City Tour, Robben Island & Table Mountain

South Africa

Love the look at local history by those directly impacted by the Robben Island prison. Table Mountain was spectacular and we felt lucky to have such nice weather.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Helpful and thoughtful

Transport

On Safari

South Africa

Dumi and Derrick were the very best! It was so fun talking with them and learning from them.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guides and trackers are amazing and funny

Transport

Always felt safe and looked after

Cape Point & Penguins Tour

South Africa

This day was amazing!! Leon really helped make it memorable with his local historical knowledge.

Quality of Experience

Views and penguins

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Leon was awesome, lunch staff was okay

Transport

Safe and always early

Sara helped us plan a wonderful trip to Germany including stays in Cologne, Heidelberg and Munich. Every hotel was comfortable and conveniently located near the major attractions. The tours were informative, engaging, and a lot of fun. Sara took the time to understand our travel goals and created a personalized itinerary that exceeded our expectations. She was also readily available to help when we had some confusion with our train schedule, which gave us great peace of mind. We highly recommend KimKim to anyone looking for a well-organized personalized vacation experience.

We had an incredible well planned trip through South Korea and Japan. Jay was an excellent tour guide in Busan, she knew so much about Korean history and the out of the way places in and around Busan. Irene was an excellent guide in Jeju, she also had deep knowledge of the island and its history. She was also flexible with us in our itinerary when we got tired late in the day. Overall it was an excellent trip!

It was great to work with Shona on planning this trip. I was really glad for her help as I didn't have the knowledge to put together this trip myself, since I was trying to get "off the beaten track" for my trip. Everything went very well on my trip and I had the peace of mind that everything was prepared for me.

Hotel Review

Kirishima Momijidani Seiryuso

I highly recommend this ryokan. First, the staff are exceptionally friendly and helpful! I can't say enough about how wonderful everyone was across the board. Second, I loved how remote feeling this location was. It was right outside of a small town, but the whole hotel is surrounded by forest making it feel like you are really out in nature. Third, I loved the variety of hot springs. There were two indoor options plus an outdoor onsen that was magical to visit at night. It sits right next to the rushing river. Guests can reserve time in both the private indoor and private outdoor onsen each day. Finally, the meals are exceptionally well prepared. I was especially appreciative of the chef's work to create unique meals for each of my dinners that suit me as a vegetarian.

Authenticity & Character

The private outdoor onsen next to a roaring river was an enjoyable way to relax and connect with nature.

Location

I love how the hotel feels isolated, away from everything.

Staff

All of the staff was incredibly friendly and helpful. Several of the staff speak English.

Cleanliness & Comfort

My room was very clean, comfortable, and spacious. I had a second floor room with a nice balcony looking out into the forest.

Activity Review

Day Trip Ebino Kogen Plateau & Kirishima Shrine

Kagoshima

Both Kirishima Shrine and Ebino Kogen Plateau were unique locations that I'd encourage anyone in the area to experience. Walking around the Shrine was peaceful and relaxing. Ebino Plateau was a great way to experience a different landscape and connect with the volcanic natural history of the region. I highly recommend visiting the Ebino Eco-Museum Center, especially after a hike as it is a nice way to relax and learn about the region.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Christina was very helpful before our trip and always very responsive. Ran into a few questions while in Norway and she always got back to us within minutes. The app had everything we needed to get around and was very helpful with directions.
Would definitely use Christina and KimKim again!
Loved Norway went to Bergen, Balestrand, Aurland and Oslo. Wouldn’t change anything except to stay one more day in Bergen which was the only place we stayed 2 nights. All other places 3 nights were perfect. Don’t miss Balestrand it is magical!

I've used kimkim in the past for a trip with my best friend. This time I decided to use their services for a trip with my sister. Overall, the trip featured all the aspects we wanted to touch on on our trip. Every guide we had was great and the trip was paced out well. You can't really escape from walking too much in Japan but even with all the walking, we enjoyed the pace and all the activities. It's definitely pricier to experience Japan this way but since it was our first time, we wanted it to be hassle free so it was very convenient to have everything booked for us and to just enjoy the trip. The few times we had to get to places on our own, the instructions were clear and I knew my specialist was not far away if I needed them. I will definitely visit Japan again and may consider using Kimkim for it but perhaps be even more particular about where I want to go so that it would be most beneficial to pay for a service to plan for it.

Hotel Reviews

Richmond Hotel Premier Kyoto Ekimae

Kyoto

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Forza Osaka Kitahama

Osaka

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

It was clean and comfortable but our window faced a wall which was kinda sad.

Hakone Kowakien TEN-YU

Hakone

Would definitely visit again - location was stunning and food was amazing

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Knot Tokyo Shinjuku

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

So much fun! Learned a lot too.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Osaka Local Foodie Tour in Dotonbori and Shinsekai

Japan

Food was great and filling, our guide was awesome.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sushi & Home Cooking Class from Market to Table near Asakusa

Tokyo

One of my favorite parts of my trip. Alice was our guide and she was a lot of fun. Learned a lot and made the best sushi. Would love to have another class with her in future.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Enjoy Temples & Bamboo Grove in Kyoto

Kyoto

Asuka was our guide and she was awesome!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi with Oishi Park

Japan

Got lucky and could see mt Fuji

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Driver was great- she was super helpful, patient and overall just a great driver.

Transport

Tokyo Highlights: A Day of Tradional & Modern Culture with Local Life

Tokyo

Our guide was Yoshi and he was awesome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Yoshi! Highly recommend

Transport

We took public transit and it was a good experience

We had an amazing trip. Planning by Ivan was really good. We had really good guides too. Loved the country, the people & the food. It was a memorable trip for sure!

Our family of 12 very different personalities and ages all loved our trip. Margarita and Oscar supported us through every moment, and ensured we had a wonderful time. Each day was thoughtfully planned, and executed perfectly!

We had a fantastic trip. I really appreciated how much Krista was willing to go through all of our requests and the multiple changes (people arriving and departing on different days, lots of requests for very specific details) with patience and grace. The trip was super smooth, we never had any issues with transport, hotels, etc (I think Norway is a pretty organized country!). We loved our time in Ulvik and Kinsarvik especially, and feel like most agencies would not have picked up on our desire to be in smaller, more out of the way places. Several Norwegians were surprised to see Americans in Ulvik! The hiking was fantastic in both places. We loved our hiking guide, Andreas, in Bergen, along with the dinner cruise and the Greig house and concert. Can't wait to come back.

Hotel Review

Karl Johan Hotel

Oslo

Central location, comfortable, amazing breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Bergen’s Classic Trails – Private Hiking Experience

Bergen

Great hike, learned so much about Norway chatting with Andreas as we hiked.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cider tasting in Ulvik

Ulvik

lovely place to visit, great view and the food accompanying the cider was delicious

Quality of Experience

Everyone and every stop was amazing! It was truly so awesome to let the professionals do the planning- zero worries and so much fun! Our trip had so much that my husband and I, as well as my 82 year old mother enjoyed every part of it - truly a huge weight off my shoulders and I came back refreshed rather than exhausted. Alex and his team are gems and I plan to use them for our next trip!

Hotel Reviews

Thon Hotel Opera

Oslo

A great hotel - new and updated. Rooms were great and very modern. Food was awesome and it was right near a great food hall and places to visit.

Authenticity & Character

Great ascetic

Location

Easy to get to all sightseeing places

Staff

Helped my mom out when she had an issue fisninf us - so kind!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Other than the lack of aircon - fans were provided and the rooms were cool

Scandic Neptun

Bergen

This hotel was just ok. A little on the older side and need of renovation. The floor we were on also had some water damage, maybe - it smelled badly in the corridor at times. Otherwise it was clean and comfortable. Food was great - location was top notch.

Authenticity & Character

A little on the olderside6

Location

Easy to get to the warf.

Staff

Helpful and very friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our floor hallway smelled like mold or sweage.

The Dock 69 39 By Scandic

Tromsø

This hotel is right in the center of all things new in Tromso - new restaurants and cafes and shopping- but all the historic stuff also. The roof top bar and restaurant was a great place for my family to watch the Midnight Sun Marathon. Its a great new build- comfortable and modern rooms - and the food was top notch! Planning to go back and this will be where we stay-

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Helpful and quick

Cleanliness & Comfort

Brand spanking new and shiny

Activity Reviews

Fjord Cruise to Rosendal

Bergen

The ride to and from Rosendal was amazing, as was the ferry which was very comfy. But on Rosendal it is not very easy to get around unless you are planning to walk. There are also not a ton of shops near the warf - so it was a slow aftwrnoon.

Quality of Experience

Planning ahead more.

Self-Guided Tromsø Exploration

Norway

Tromso was so easy to navigate - walking most places was easy to do.

Quality of Experience

Our trip of six travelers with Memphis Tours via KimKim was exceptional. From Mohamed’s expertise, personalized travel planning, and incredible response time to Ahmed K.’s thoughtful hosting, recommendations, and coordination of every detail in Cairo and across each destination, the entire experience felt seamless and highly personalized. Mostafa, the Operations Manager, ensured everything was handled with care, while our tour leaders, Walid in Luxor and Mahmoud in Hurghada, provided wonderful recommendations and made us feel supported throughout the journey. Our Egyptologist guides, Hend and Noha, brought Egypt’s history to life with warmth, expertise, and incredible storytelling. Every transfer, tour, hotel detail, and special request was handled beautifully. It truly took a wonderful team to create such a memorable experience, and we are so grateful. Highly recommend!

Hotel Reviews

KaiSol Romance Sahl Hasheesh

Hurghada

Beautiful hotel and rooms with views of the gorgeous beach. Incredible property with several restaurants, evening, entertainment, and pools. Food was also wonderful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

On the beach

Staff

Hassan our room attendant

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa

Luxor, Luxor Governorate

Authenticity & Character

Location

Absolutely beautiful location on the water.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fairmont Nile City Hotel

cairo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hurghada Stay & Leisure Time 🏖️

Hurghada

Hurghada was the perfect complement to our time exploring Egypt’s ancient history. The crystal-clear waters of the Red Sea, beautiful beaches, and relaxed atmosphere made it easy to unwind. Whether snorkeling, enjoying the resort, or simply taking in the views, it was the ideal place to slow down and recharge before heading home.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Karnak Wonders & Evening at Luxor Temple.

Luxor

Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple at night were unforgettable. Exploring Karnak’s massive columns and ancient history, then seeing Luxor Temple beautifully illuminated after dark, offered two completely different but equally impressive experiences. The horse-drawn carriage ride through Luxor added a fun local touch to a wonderful evening. We also visited a local spice shop in the afternoon that was a very welcoming experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Dinner at Socrates was excellent.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Walid, our tour leader and Noha, our tour guide were exceptional.

Transport

Cairo Nile Dinner Cruise and Show 🍽️🎶

Cairo

The Nile dinner cruise was a fun way to experience Cairo at night. Cruising along the Nile while enjoying a traditional dinner, live music, belly dancing, and an energetic Tanoura performance made for a lively and memorable evening.

Quality of Experience

Quality of Experience

Food

Food was fine but not great.

Food

Food was fine but not great.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transport

Al Moez Street & Khan El Khalili.

Cairo

The historic architecture, local shops, and lively atmosphere offered a wonderful glimpse into Egypt’s culture and history. We also enjoyed an excellent local meal at Zeeyara, that rounded out the experience perfectly.

Quality of Experience

Quality of Experience

Food

Zeeyara Restaurant

Food

Zeeyara Restaurant

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our tour guide, Hend, was exceptional.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our tour guide, Hend, was exceptional.

Transport

Transport

Red Sea Resort 🏖️

Hurghada

Our stay at KaiSol Romance Resort on the Red Sea was the perfect way to unwind after touring Egypt. The resort was beautiful, the staff was warm and attentive, the food offered plenty of variety, and the crystal-clear water was ideal for swimming and snorkeling. A relaxing and memorable end to an incredible trip.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pyramids & Grand Egyptian Museum.

Cairo

This was a full but memorable day. Our Egyptologist guide, Hend, made the history feel rich and accessible. A highlight was the camel ride as well, and we also enjoyed stops at the Papyrus Institute and a jewelry store, where some of us bought cartouches. Lunch at 9 Pyramids was a beautiful break, with great food and stunning views.

Quality of Experience

Everything

Quality of Experience

Food

9 Pyramids Restaurant

Food

9 Pyramids Restaurant

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ahmed, our tour leader and Hend, our tour guide were exceptional.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ahmed, our tour leader and Hend, our tour guide were exceptional.

Transport

Our driver was amazing.

Transport

Our driver was amazing.

Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple & Sunset Felucca.

Luxor

This was one of our favorite experiences after pyramids. Noha, our tour guide was exceptional.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Walid, our tour leader and Noha, our tour guide were exceptional.

Transport

The driver and air conditioned van.

My husband and I just returned from Switzerland after spending 8 days there with a trip planned by KimKim. KimKim made the experience stress free as I didn't have to plan anything. We provided our interests and KimKim did the rest. With our busy schedules, it was nice to have KimKim do the heavy lifting.

We were impressed by their accommodation selections and recommendations for where we should travel in Switzerland. For example, we hadn't considered Montreaux, but were so happy we got to spend time there. The contrast of the Swiss German side to the Swiss French side of Switzerland was a fun way to see Switzerland. KimKim made the experience so easy with our vouchers for everything and the service providers were clearly vetted. We can not recommend KimKim enough for those that are looking for ease when planning a trip as you'll have the perfect balance of individual exploration time and planned activities.

Hotel Reviews

Mona Montreux Hotel

Montreux

The view from our room of Lake Geneva was absolutely breathtaking. The hotel was centrally located to the train station and bus station, for ease. We found Montreaux very walkable with a number of fun restaurants. The hotel buffet could have been a bit stronger (quality wise), but I think we had high standards after our stay in Geneva and Zermatt. We opted for a local coffee shop and keep our buffet selection pretty basic each morning as a result. We enjoyed the hotel's location to the Fairmont for delicious evening meals (with a view!).

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

An added bonus was the AC. We were in Switzerland during the European heat wave and thankful to cool off at night.

Matthiol Boutique Hotel

Zermatt

We liked the size of this hotel and the location of this hotel. We liked being far away from town as it was peaceful at night with the windows option and the centralized location to trails for hiking. The morning view of the Matterhorn was amazing. Additionally, the spa room with the sauna was heavenly.

Authenticity & Character

Location

While we felt this hotel was amazing, travelers might find it far away from town. The electric shuttle is only offered to/from the train station when you arrive and leave. You otherwise need to walk everywhere in Zermatt which is roughly 20 minutes to/from town. That wasn't an issue for us and the view was 10/10, but I wanted to mention it. There is a bus you can take, but we opted to walk.

Staff

The staff were very helpful in the morning with my food allergy and ensured I had plenty of gluten free options which I appreciated.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

The Chocolate Train

Montreux

The quality of coffee could have been a bit better on the train ride in the morning, but aside from that, we were impressed by the train ride. We were initially worried it may be a bit toursity, but we embraced it. The cheese and chocolate factory tour were very informative. Seeing the countryside from the train was also fun. It was a great way to remain cool during the European heatwave and we learned a lot.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

E-bike in Montreux / Lavaux !

Switzerland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Riffelsee and Riffelberg tour!

Zermatt

Mike was great! We appreciated his expertise on the trails to ensure we had a great hike. This includes where to stop for lunch before our return hike to Zermatt.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport