Kimkim Trip Reviews

Bruno made our trip to Croatia “PERFECT”. The planning was flawless the hotels were outstanding in quality and location. He gave us a tour of Zagreb to kick off the trip and made us so comfortable and feel like friends. Also the extra touches of where to park, get gas, eat and sights to see made our nightly texts from him a highlight of our evenings. I cannot recommend Bruno more that enough to make your trip to Croatia truly special.

We really enjoyed our trip to Spain.
The hotels were awesome and in great locations. All of the guides were wonderful; we learned so much about the history and culture of Spain. I feel ike our local contacts could have checked in with us more, but, when we reached out to them they were very responsive.
The overall trip was great. Thank you!

I thoroughly enjoyed my time in France. Each of the excursions arranged by kimkim was excellent. I not only enjoyed them but felt I learned a great deal from each of the local guides who were knowledgeable and quick to answer questions pertaining to the tour but to also recommend further activities in the area. (This was especially true of Emma our guide for the Normandy Beaches excursion).
All of the drivers were also courteous, timely and accommodating.
I was very pleased with the location of our hotel(Hotel Lorette-Astotel) in Paris. Its proximity to several metro lines made it very convenient for reaching desired locations.

Sebastian/kimkim did a great job and we had a great trip.

Hotel Reviews

Jangle Courtyard by Marriott Paris Roissy Charles de Gaulle Airport

Le Mesnil-Amelot

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Best Western Plus Hotel Litteraire Gustave Flaubert

Rouen

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel le Dauphin Les Loges

Honfleur

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Le Bayeux

Bayeux

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Needs to be updated.

Hôtel Beaufort

Saint-Malo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Maison Rabelais

Amboise

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hôtel Lorette - Astotel

Paris

Excellent location and friendly staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to several metro lines which facilitated travel within Paris.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided visit of Rouen

Rouen

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Full-day Tour of D-Day Sites

Bayeux

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chenonceau & Chambord : A Low-Season Loire Getaway

Amboise

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Afternoon Tourraine Wine tour

France

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Monet's Giverny House & Gardens Small-Group Half Day Trip From Paris

Paris

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Paris: Illuminations Seine River Cruise

Paris

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to Iceland was great - the landscape & scenery were amazing. Our accommodations were very good and easy to get to with the help of the navigation system in the car rental. We thoroughly enjoyed not having a packed schedule to follow. Adam provided us with quite a few sights to consider visiting, giving tips about each site and some do's and don'ts. The roads were good and easy to travel. The only thing we weren't able to see was the northern lights, but we knew that it was a 50/50 chance of catching sight of them. The hot chocolate was delicious everywhere we purchased it!!!! We received warm hospitality from everyone we encountered.

The only thing that was a little bit of a negative was the ice cave tour. Adam had emailed us about some not so good reviews for the blue ice cave tour. We changed to one that left out of Vik. Our tour guide was not the most cordial nor informative - he acted like it was a chore to be there. The pace he set for the climb up was pretty brisk without too much consideration for those who were having trouble keeping up - especially with the shoe spikes on. My husband went about halfway up the hike and decided that he could not keep up, walked back down & caught a ride with the group that left the hotel before us. The size of the cave itself was rather anti-climatic being that the hike was pretty intense and at times intimidating crossing the "bridges" over the water rushing down from the glacier.

We have used kimkim twice now to help plan a vacation, we will use them again and have recommended them to others.

Thank you,
Larry & Sharon Goins

This is the second time we used KimKim. We used KimKim a second time because we had such a wonderful experience the first time! Sonia was very nice, helpful and knowledgeable. She accommodated all of our needs, changes and tweaks with grace and patience. We had such a wonderful trip to Italy! Our itinerary was perfectly balanced and there were no hiccups. WE LOVED EVERY PART OF OUR TRIP!! The private guided tours of the Florence art museums and Pompeii were exceptional. Our day trip to Sienna and to two vineyards in Chianti were beautiful and the perfect pace after busy Rome. Our VERY favorite parts of the trip were 1) the private golf cart tour in Rome with Emanuele!! He was the GREATEST guide we have ever had, and our tour was very special, intimate and provided great access to Rome in a way we never would have had on our own, and by foot, and 2) the private sunset boat cruise from Sorrento to Capri was a memory we will NEVER forget! It was so special and intimate and access up close and around Capri was spectacular. We can't wait to schedule our next trip. Thank you, Sonia! We love KimKim.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Cristina

Sorrento

Palazzo Castri 1874

Florence

CC Palace Hotel

Roma

Activity Reviews

Private sunset boat cruise to the Faraglioni from Sorrento

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-Day Private Excursion to Siena & Chianti Wine Region

Florence

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private guided tour of the Uffizi and Accademia Galleries (3 hours)

Florence

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private golf cart tour

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a great and memorable trip to Spain, visiting Barcelona, Granada, Ronda, Seville, Cordoba, and Madrid. The hotels chosen by Kimkim as well as the tour guides for each city were simply wonderful. A tapas tour in Barcelona, a wine tasting experience in Ronda, and a Tuktuk tour in Madrid were such fun and worthwhile additions recommended by Kimkim.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Principe Pio

Madrid

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Las Casas de la Judería

Seville

Such a unique experience to stay here. I highly recommend it.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Catalonia Ronda

Ronda

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Parador de Granada

Granada

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Gran Hotel Havana

Barcelona

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Day Trip to Ávila & Segovia

Madrid

Private History & Culture Walk

Seville

Private Electric Tuk-Tuk Adventure

Madrid

Private City Walk & Royal Palace Experience

Madrid

Private Day Trip to Córdoba from Seville

Seville

Private Visit to Seville’s Cathedral & Alcázar

Seville

Private Alhambra & Generalife Gardens with a Historian

Granada

Gothic Quarter Tapas Walk

Barcelona

Private Gaudí Experience with La Sagrada Família & Park Güell

Barcelona

Organic Wine Tasting

Ronda

Our experience working with Tomaz to plan the trip, and with Zala and Ester at Grand Cuvee Tours in finalizing details and during travel was outstanding. They listened to what we wanted for our trip, and adjusted to meet our needs while we were in the planning stages. They provided us with all the documents we needed in advance of our departure. The hotels were great in terms of accommodation and location. We received very timely responses to any questions, and were kept well informed of any details we needed to know.

Hotel Reviews

Heritage Hotel Santa Lucia

Split

The Heritage Hotel Santa Lucia in Split stood out for having incredibly helpful and friendly staff. Their service made our stay memorable, and I would definitely recommend it.

Hotel Rott

Prague

Hotel Rott in Prague was fantastic, and it might have been our favorite in terms of breakfast options. The breakfasts were so good, they sustained us through much of the day, which was a big plus for us.

The Posthouse Berlin Potsdamer Platz – Leonardo Limited Edition 4*

Berlin

I thought The Posthouse Berlin Potsdamer Platz was great. The staff at the front desk was incredibly helpful, especially since I had lost my luggage and needed to change trains. Their support during that time was much appreciated.

Hotel Zenit Budapest Palace

Budapest

The Hotel Zenit Budapest Palace was fine, but the staff was less warm compared to other places we stayed. The room itself was adequate, though I had some trouble figuring out how to turn on the lights initially, but that was resolved with some help.

Activity Reviews

Dubrovnik Old Town group tour

Dubrovnik

Guided tour of Prague

Prague

The guided tour of Prague was also a large group, but the communication from the guide was much better with the use of earbuds. It made the experience much more enjoyable.

Berlin Guided tour

Berlin

The Berlin Guided tour was very good. Although the group was large, the use of earbuds by the tour guide to communicate clearly with us made a positive difference.

Guided tour of Budapest

Budapest

The guided tour of Budapest was a highlight with a small group of just eight people, which made it a really great experience.

Thank you Siena for planning an amazing trip for us. This was my first time ever to Australia and I can’t wait to go back and see more. Everything worked out perfectly all our drivers were on time and accommodations were great.

Just wanted to give you guys a heads up on the day we arrived at Pinnacle, we did have an issue trying to check in because it was a holiday there. Our driver that day was amazing. My phone wouldn’t reach out to them, and he personally dialed the number, so I was able to upload what they needed and get into their key box. He also helped with our luggage. I can’t complement him enough. What would have been a stressful situation was resolved because of him.

The only other suggestion would be to not spend so much time in the airport. I think on three occasions we were there for three hours. Especially when it’s a small airport we couldn’t even check in at one until an hour before.

Thank you again sienna for an amazing experience. We would definitely use you again. Everything was so great.

We had a great time on our trip to Spain. The country and people were great. The guides and transportation were amazing.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Principe Pio

Madrid

Right near the action, staff and accommodations were excellent

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Las Casas de la Judería

Seville

This is far and away the most unique hotel we've ever stayed at. Character in spades and located right in the middle of the action.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Catalonia Ronda

Ronda

What can I say, Ronda is an amazing town and to have the hotel look out over the local bull fighting ring was great.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Parador de Granada

Granada

This hotel was top notch. The location and accommodations were a dream.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Gran Hotel Havana

Barcelona

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Day Trip to Ávila & Segovia

Madrid

Our guide (Fernando) and our driver (Andreas) were great. Both of them definitely contributed to the total experience which is not to be missed.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private City Walk & Royal Palace Experience

Madrid

Our guide (Pedro) was extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic. Definitely added magic to the tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Electric Tuk-Tuk Adventure

Madrid

This is a great introduction to what the city had to offer so we could then visit select sights later.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Day Trip to Córdoba from Seville

Seville

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Visit to Seville’s Cathedral & Alcázar

Seville

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private History & Culture Walk

Seville

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Gaudí Experience with La Sagrada Família & Park Güell

Barcelona

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Organic Wine Tasting

Ronda

The vineyard owner (Pedro) was great and the overall experience is not to be missed.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Alhambra & Generalife Gardens with a Historian

Granada

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Gothic Quarter Tapas Walk

Barcelona

This was a great experience and I highly recommend it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Trip was well planned and hit all the right spots for us. Othman was very knowledgeable and steered us in the right direction.
Also he was very responsive.
Guides on the ground were fun and we had a great experience at the various venues.

Emily from Kim Kim was fantastic with all our Requests!!!

It was great to work with Emerson. He was very aware of our likes/dislikes and developed an amazing experience for us. We always felt that he was as available if needed, he was very responsive. We felt that there was always someone out there looking out for us during the whole trip.
Our trip was quite long (30 days), involving many hotels, tours, rental cars, and train reservations. Emerson planned everything perfectly and our trip went smoothly due to his care and thoughtfulness.
Emerson was the perfect travel planner!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Lilla Roberts

Helsinki

Excellent location and beautiful suite with a small view of the water and park. The luxurious surroundings were comfortable and the suite was beautifully decorated with amenities. Our room had a lot of character with beautiful architectural details. We ate at the restaurant and the service and food were very good.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful architecture and character.

Location

Close to center of town, with many shops, restaurants, and sights. Close to everything.

Staff

Staff were very helpful (both hotel and restaurant).

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beautiful room and with a sitting area and dining table. The suite included amenities like Nespresso coffeemaker.

Arctic TreeHouse Hotel

Rovaniemi

A unique experience with a beautiful view. It felt like we were sleeping in the forest; a truly treehouse experience. Beautiful, modern decor and amenities. This was the smallest property we stayed at, but the room included a small sitting area. Our stay here was all about the view! Sleeping among the trees was amazing! We also ate at the restaurant and the service and food were outstanding.

Authenticity & Character

The hotel delivers 100% on the treehouse xperience with luxurious surroundings and view.

Location

Located away from town, but across Santa Village. The main attraction is the experience of feeling that you are in a tree house and sleeping among the trees. A once in a lifetime experience.

Staff

Staff were responsive and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms are small, but it is all about the view!!! There is a small sitting area were we could relax. The decor was beautiful and the bed very comfortable.

Iisakki Village

Ruka

We had a two bedroom villa and it was very spacious and comfortable. Modern decor and lots of amenities, including full kitchen and laundry machine (which was helpful as we had a long trip and it was convenient to do laundry during our stay). The villa also has a sauna which was nice to use, as it was private and convenient. The location of our villa was close to a lake. Beautiful surroundings. Breakfast was simple but adequate. The only minor negative was that we stayed outside the main season and the restaurant was not open for dinner. Because of the location, we needed to drive to find places to eat.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful woodsy location, providing an authentic forest experience.

Location

The location was beautiful if you want to be in the woods and experience the forest. We hiked from the property and it was very enjoyable.; we felt that we could get lost in the woods! The only minor negative was that because of the location and the closed restaurant during our stay (out of season in October), we needed to drive to eat dinner. But at the same time, the location offers a restful and peaceful stay.

Staff

Staff were helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Villa was simply decorated with all amenities needed, including separate bedroom, full kitchen, living room, sauna, and laundry facilities.

Arctic Light Hotel

Rovaniemi

The hotel and our suite room were beautiful. Nice decor modern decor, friendly staff, great amenities, and great breakfasts! Location was in the center of town with access to many shops and restaurants. We ate at the hotel restaurant and the food was amazing!

Authenticity & Character

Beautifully decorated and many amenities in our suite. Comfortable surroundings and roomy, with a sitting area.

Location

Center of town, close to river, shops, and restaurants.

Staff

Very friendly and helpful. Always greeted us with smiles and helpful if we needed anything.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very comfortable suite with sitting area and many amenities. Very nice decor.

Park Hotel Turku

Turku

The hotel was authentic and beautiful surroundings (across a park), but location was a bit far from the river area where most restaurants are located. Also, decor was a bit tired and the room didn’t have many amenities.

Authenticity & Character

It has character but decor was outdated.

Location

Would have liked a better location closer to the river

Staff

Staff were helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room didn’t have many amenities. Furniture and decor was outdated.

Hotel Haven

Helsinki

This was our first hotel in Finland and it was a dream. We loved the room, the breakfast, and the experiences we had at the bar. Staff were also very friendly. The view of our room was amazing and will recommend wholeheartedly for anyone who wants to have an amazing experience in Helsinki. Our room had a view of the water and the hotel was close to all the attractions. A five star experience…

Authenticity & Character

A great place to introduce us to Finland/Helsinki. The breakfast were delicious and they included many Finnish delicacies.

Location

Walking distance to shops, restaurants, and attractions.

Staff

Always greeted us with a smile and always willing to help, if needed.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The suite was amazing, roomy, beautifully decorated, comfortable with a sitting area, and the best view of the water.

Activity Reviews

Korouoma Canyon Wilderness Hike

Rovaniemi

We love this tour as it allowed us to be active an hike in the wilderness. The guide, Juhu, was excellent. We had great conversation throughout the hike, and enjoyed sausages around the fire during the hike. Juhu, our guide communicated with us before the tour to advise us on what to wear for the hike, as weather was rainy. We were ready for the weather and thoroughly enjoyed the hike despite the weather.

Quality of Experience

Juhu was knowledgeable and gave us a lot of information about the canyon and the forest. We were never rushed and enjoyed the beautiful hike. Sharing stories with each other.

Food

We shared sausages, with Juhu around a fire. The food was great and provided an authentic experience in the forest.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Juhu was a great guide. He provided a lot of useful information, while leading us through the hike. We highly recommend Juhu as a guide for this experience.

Transport

Very comfortable transport and convenient pickup from hotel.

Finnish Legends and Stories Around the Fire

Rovaniemi

This was a nice tour to learn about Finnish culture and legends. The tour met in downtown Rovaniemi, a short walk from our hotel. We were two couples in this experience. Because we were with another couple, we didn’t get to interact as much with the guides and get to know each other as with other private tours.

Quality of Experience

Because the weather was cloudy and rainy, we didn’t see the northern lights, but we still enjoyed the experience around the fire.

Food

Snacks (pancakes and jam) around the fire, were enjoyable.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Knowledgeable guides.

Transport

Transport from town to tour location was good.

Private Husky Visit & Cart-Ride in Autumn

Rovaniemi

This was an excellent tour, filled with excitement, joy, and warmth. Instead of a cart ride we opted for a hike with the huskies. What an experience in such beautiful setting. We got to know the huskies one by one in the kennel, and then we had an exhilarating hike with four of the huskies; the two of us and the couple who owns the farm. Our hosts were Antti and Aksana. Their welcoming and warm demeanor made our tour extraordinary!

Quality of Experience

This was an amazing experience. After our hike, we had snacks around the fire (homemade mustia pie and warm tea). We were blown away by their hospitality and authenticity. Of course we also loved the dogs!!!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Antii and Aksana were amazing guides/hosts and provided us with an unforgettable experience with their huskies.

Transport

Antti picked us up at the hotel to take us to the farm, which was very convenient.

Private Dinner in a Glass Igloo Under Northern Lights

Rovaniemi

The experience was awesome, despite the bad weather. Unfortunately we were not able to see the Northern lights, as it was cloudy and rainy. But the meal was excellent and authentic, and the tour was very enjoyable.

Quality of Experience

Beautiful location for a private dinner with authentic food prepared by the hosts.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

In addition to dinner, we had a tour of the forest thank you to Vadymir and the other hosts for the amazing tour and meal. It wwould have been even more amazing if we have seen the lights, but weather can’t be controlled. We still had a great time and enjoyed the delicious authentic dining experience.

Transport

Very convenient meeting at our hotel and very comfortable transport.

Private Reindeer Farm Visit

Rovaniemi

Enjoyed the authenticity of the tour. We learned a lot about the reindeers and the life of a reindeer farmer.

Quality of Experience

Authentic experience. Enjoyed our time learning about the reindeer farm.

Food

Great authentic snack prepared as part of the tour by the farm owner.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Juho and the farm owner were excellent in allowing us to have an authentic experience.

Transport

Excellent/comfortable transportation to the farm. The meeting location was also very convenient; across the street from our hotel. The tour guide also provided boots for us to ebable us to fully enjoy the farm without being worried about our shoes.

Tallinn Day Trip

Helsinki

We were very happy to add the day trip to Tallinn to our itinerary. Highly recommend to visit the beautiful old city and learn about its history. We took the ferry and had a great private tour of the city when we arrived. We were also lucky to meet our travel planner (Emerson) who lives in Estonia. After meeting with Emerson for a quick snack/lunch we had a private tour of the city. The guide (Christopher) was very knowledgeable and we learn a lot about Tallinn and its history.

Quality of Experience

It was a perfect day! Easy/convenient transport to Tallinn. We appreciated being able to meet our trip planner, Emerson. And the tour of the city was just perfect in terms of learning and allowing us some free time at the end to explore.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Christopher was very knowledgeable and we felt that we learned a lot during the half day tour.

Transport

We enjoyed taking the ferry/ cruise. The experience was unique and we enjoyed the time spent on the ship. The ship was very comfortable with plenty of areas to relax.

Private Tour of Finland's Nuuskio National Park

Helsinki

Amazing private tour with Jeff. The guide was very personable, we got to know a lot about the forest and we interacted a lot during the hike to get to know each other. The tour included a wonderful stew prepared by Jeff, including mushrooms that we gathered during our hike.m! This is a must to do!

Quality of Experience

An authentic hike and meal prepared by the guide.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Jeff was an amazing personable guide. We learned a lot about the forest, and appreciated his teachings about what to pick in the forest, especially ligonberries and bilberries. We appreciated the excellent meal he prepared for us. A memorable experience that we will never forget.

Transport

It was very convenient to meet at the hotel. Very comfortable transportation.

Private Food Tour of Helsinki's Culinary Highlights

Helsinki

Excellent guide (Jolentha). The private tour was perfect to experience the culinary delicacies of Finland. We learned a lot and the experience enhanced our overall culinary experiences during the rest of our trip. Very authentic and enjoyable experience. The Guide selected authentic experiences.

Quality of Experience

Authentic locations to enjoy Finnish delicacies and get to know more about the culture.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Amazing guide (Jolentha) providing an authentic experience. The guide was very friendly, asked us a lot of questions to get to know us, which added to the positive experience.

Transport

It was very convenient to meet at our hotel.

Helsinki and Suomenlinna Private Tour

Helsinki

Excellent private tour to give you a sense of the city and the significance of Suomenlinna Island. Perfect tour to do at the start of the trip. The guides were excellent and covered a lot of information in relatively short amount of time (as we requested). We wanted a shorter tour for both the city and the island and this tour was perfect .

Quality of Experience

Excellent guides (Katia and Veera)

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Excellent knowledge and interaction. This was a private tour, which allowed to ask questions and learn about the things that interested us the most. The guides were also very flexible and asked us questions to learn more about our interests.

Transport

Meeting at the hotel was very convenient.

Audrey created an outstanding itinerary for our trip to France, covering Paris, Marseille, Nice, and a wonderful day trip to Monaco. She took the time to truly understand our preferences and crafted a plan that exceeded our expectations. We were extremely pleased with every aspect of the trip—the duration was ideal, and the hotels were perfectly located, making it easy for us to explore the city centers on foot.

Audrey also suggested destinations we hadn’t originally considered, such as Monaco, Eze, and Monte Carlo, and included them as a day trip, which turned out to be one of the highlights of our vacation. The visit to the Luberon Villages was just the right length and absolutely delightful.

Overall, our experience was five stars. I highly recommend Kim Kim and Audrey to anyone planning a trip to France!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel de la Fontaine

Nice

Nice location and clean

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Escale Oceania Marseille Vieux Port

Marseille

This hotel was very old. It served us the purpose but staff can be a little friendly.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hôtel Queen Mary

Paris

Excellent location and clean!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Day excursion to Monaco, Monte-Carlo and Eze

Nice

Too good and perect day outing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Luberon markets and villages

Marseille

Excellent! Not to miss this day trip!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit of the Eiffel Tower with access to the summit

Paris

It was a 9 PM ticket and perfect for a greta night view of the city.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Everything happened flawlessly. Andrea Simone helped us set up a very customized experience. The travel between different cities was fantastic and occurred without a hitch. I liked having our train and driver reservations pre booked We went to 4 cities ( Milan, Verona, Venice, Rome). I must say that all the tour guides were so knowledgeable. Many times we did a private tour and we really got to know the local guides and their local experiences. I really enjoyed seeing the Last Supper and taking a day trip to Lake Como. Highlight in Verona was the arena. The tours of Murano and Burano in Venice were very special and should not be missed. Before entering the Sistine Chapel we had a 15 minute discussion with our tour guide Arianna that really helped understand all the various paintings. The Vamoos app was the best. All our tour and train tickets were could be found there. It was also so nice that Andrea checked in a few times to see how we were doing. I am so very happy that we used KimKim.

Activity Reviews

Colosseum & Roman Forum skip the line ticket

Rome

Mariapaola was a trained archeologist and was extremely knowledgeable

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel - private guide

Rome

Great experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rome Private Guided Walk

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Exclusive Murano & Burano islands visit (private service)

Venice

We had a private tour of glass factory and were able to spend about 2 hours with the owner. This tour was a real highlight

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Milan Duomo and Last Supper guided tour - Small Group

Milan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Jewels of Venice (St. Mark & Doge Palace)

Venice

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hidden Venice and cicchetti experience

Italy

It was wonderful to experience the local cuisine. Sebastiano was our guide and he was so nice to talk with

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Verona guided walk - private guide

Italy

Loved the arena

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Lake Como Guided Visit (Varenna, Bellagio and Villa Melzi Gardens)

Italy

Very relaxing train ride to the lake and such a beautiful place

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I liked having our train scheduled and tickets purchased

The Duomo Terraces in Milan (by lift)

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Pedro and his team from Across Portugal are an outstanding example of "professionalism , excellence in communication , and 5 star service " . Their attention to detail is superb .
We have traveled in 40 countries over the last 14 years , and as a result of Pedro's work , Portugal is right at the top of the list .
THANK YOU PEDRO !

I would concur with my husband. Pedro and his team were exceptional. The little surprises along the way added to our enjoyment. A charcuterie board at a wine tasting that others in the group did not get, a welcome box of goodies in our room, a daily note explaining the following days itinerary....the list goes on.

The holiday was seamless for us due to Pedro and his team's attention to detail.

A five star rating is the minimum I would give.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Cascais Miragem

Cascais

Facilities on a par with every deluxe hotel we have ever experienced .

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cascade Wellness Resort

Lagos

Superb service .

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

M'ar de Ar Aqueduto

Évora

Amazing facilities .

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

NH Collection Porto Batalha

Porto

Inconsistency of staff performance reduces this rating to 4 stars . One day great , next day average . Facilities are average .

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Heritage Avenida Liberdade

Lisboa

Excellent staff service and facilities .

Authenticity & Character

Location

In the heart of the city .

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Step Back in Time with a Private Guided Tour of Évora and the Bones Chapel!

Portugal

Excellent knowledge held by the guide !

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Indulge in Elegance on a Guided Winery Tour Infused with Tastings and a Delicious Lunch

Portugal

Quinta de Pacheca is not to be missed ! The luncheon was one of the finest culinary experiences of my 74 years .

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Scenic Voyage along the Douro River aboard an Exclusive Boat

Portugal

Our boat guide was great . I cannot say enough about his knowledge of the flora and fauna of the Valley , and of the many vineyards along the way .

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Seamless Discovery - The Ultimate Douro Valley Experience with Private Driver Service

Portugal

WOW ! An experience of a lifetime . Our boat guide was outstanding . Incredible knowledge far beyond just the Valley . Our driver for the day had a personal love for the Valley that he infused into every minute of the trip .

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Flavors of Port Wine - Sip & Discover

Porto

Sandeman Cellars is a wine lover's little piece of heaven .

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Porto's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour

Porto

Simply excellent !

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Unveil the Fairytale Villa of Sintra with a Private Driver Service

Portugal

Wonderful insight into Portuguese history .

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

See review of Marco under Belem .

Transport

Half-Day Private Driver to Belém***

Lisbon

Marco was our driver and guide for 3 days . He is one of the best guides I have ever experienced across 40 countries . You felt like you were talking with your best friend at all times . Knowledgeable , articulate , personable and , intelligent .

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Immerse Yourself in the Portuguese Culture by Experiencing a Fado Dinner

Lisbon

Outstanding meal . Restaurant staff passionate about faldo music and pleased to offer as much info about the performers as you could wish .

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lisbon's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour & Tastings

Lisbon

Hugo was a great guide ! Outstanding knowledge and very personable .

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a 12-night itinerary planned to include visits to Lisbon (5 nights), Evora (2 nights) and Algarve (5 nights). Hector, my travel agent, worked tirelessly with me to select the best itinerary patiently suggesting lodging and excursions that fit with my family interests which included biking, hiking, kayaking and experiencing the local culture.

Lisbon:
-Tuk-Tuk tour to learn about the neighborhoods and history of the city.
-Tile Museum - enjoyable and self-guided. Get timed tickets. We arrived for 10 AM tour (first tour of day) and there was a line of people waiting that had not purchased tickets.
-Restaurant Sancho - walking distance to our hotel. We ate here 3 times. Octopus is fabulous!
-Sintra - Loved this guided walking tour to Pena Castle...yes, walking tour! Honestly, it was not difficult. Paul, our awesome guide, had so much history to share which included history back to the 1100's through current day. He made a lunch of all local foods. At the beginning of the tour, he purchased pastries for us to try which were delicious! He tailored the speed of walking based on our needs. Although we had timed tickets, we opted not to tour the inside the rooms of the castle because we would have still had to wait in lines.
-Nazare - we returned to Lisbon prior to returning home so had a rental car. We went to Nazare the location of the tallest waves in the world. There is a small surfing museum at the Forte De S Miguel Arcanjo viewing site worth the euro to walk through. We also took beginner surf lessons at SURF4YOU school. Anna was our private (group of 3) guide for the 2-hour lesson. She successfully had us all riding the waves by the end of the lesson and has a bright and engaging personality. I highly recommend her.

Evora:
-Cork and Castle Tour - 3 hour private guided tour that I highly recommend. The tour guide, Joao Matos, a PhD student of history, was our guide for this tour. He was a wealth of knowledge including current and long ago history.

Lagos:
-Cascade Wellness Resort - great place to stay with a wonderful breakfast buffet. This was a 2 bedroom apartment living with washer/dryer which was perfect since our son joined us for the last week of the trip. They have several pools and gym and was a relaxing place to unwind in the late afternoons. It is within walking distance (~ 1 mile) to the historic town which we walked to and from for dinner each night.
-Lagos & Ponta da Piedade Bike Tour - We rented e-bikes and biked approximately 25 miles mostly away from traffic. Loved the ride and a nice change up from walking. Highly recommend. John was our guide and not only had fun in mind but safety. He would stop along the way and brief us on what was coming up in the next couple of miles insuring everyone was comfortable at the speed and distance of the trip.
-Algarve Kayaking Trip to Benagil Caves - Equally loved this trip, although more crowded. Once you are on the water you don't feel so overwhelmed with people. There are many tours going on at the same time. Raphael, our guide, was funny and engaging.
-Hiking - 1. Fisherman's Trail hikes above the Benagil Cave and along the coast. Many people do this hike. 2. Route of the Seven Hanging Valleys (All Trails App) was gorgeous and less traveled. The second trail was our favorite if you only have a choice of one.

Tips:
-Driving: Portugal is a right-side of the road driving. You need to get an International Driving License (which is easy to obtain). It would be best to review Portuguese road signs before traveling...while universal...there were many signs not frequently seen in the USA.

-Helpful to have Euros upon arrival: We primarily operated on credit cards but there are times you need small bills (5 euros and 1 and 2 euro coins for tipping). Review tipping guidelines in Portugal...they are very different from USA.

-MPC App - Mobil Passport Control App: this is worth downloading for your return to USA. It is an easily downloadable app that allows you to complete a short 6 question survey to get through customs into the USA. It allows you to add up to 11 people traveling in your party to expedite going through customs. It does not cost anything and there is a separate line when you enter customs area to fast-track you through customs.

-Trip Plans App: This was the first tour I have taken where my entire itinerary was at my finger tips in an app on my cell phone. It was amazing to have including phone numbers to contact the guides directly and a chat function that was invaluable to ask questions or communicate changes in the itinerary. For example: our surf lesson time was changes to coincide with low tide. The travel guides communicated this information in real time and immediately updated the itinerary on my phone to reflect the changes. It was perfect and reassuring to know I had someone to reach out to for guidance.

I highly recommend this company for travel plans to Portugal. They were great to work with. Thank you, Hector, and the team of people that supported us throughout our journey.

Activity Reviews

Surf the Big Waves of Nazaré

Portugal

Never did I think I would be able to stand on a surf board and ride a wave in at age 62 but this surfing outfitter succeeded in insuring the three of us taking a lesson did just that! The outfitter was well-organized moving a group of us to the beach, insuring we were warmed up, and knew the steps to standing on the board before we got on the water. Very organized while keeping it fun.

Quality of Experience

It was a first time attempt at surfing made fun by the instructor.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Anna was an amazing and encouraging guide. She successfully got all of us standing on the board and riding the wave to shore.

Algarve Kayaking Trip to Benagil Caves

Portugal

The tour operator was organized and had us set up for kayaking quickly. The beach launching the kayaks is a choke-point with numerous tour operators all negotiating getting their guests launched. It appears that each group going had a scheduled time of launch because although the operators were competing for clients, they all worked together to provide a good experience for all kayaking and enjoying their time on the water.

Quality of Experience

Raphael, our guide was great! He was funny but very attentive to safety which is important on the water.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Raphael was excellent and funny!

Scenic Algarve E-Bike Experience

Portugal

E-bike operator was organized and timely with getting the trip started. We biked ~25 miles that morning spaced with time for rest (if needed), stop for beverage and visit to beaches.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

John was kind and easy to converse with. We enjoyed riding along the beaches and cresting a hill to see 360 degree views of the area.

Évora Cork and Castle Tour

Évora

This was our second tour with Joao Matos and it was as interesting and engaging as the first. He is local to the area so adds in his personal experience growing up. His passion for the area is clearly felt as he speaks about the best aspects of Evora. It is obvious, Joao has experience with guiding as he seems to have great repoire with all the staff in the buildings we visited.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cannot say enough about Joao Matos. He was knowledgeable and attentive to our questions.

Transport

Our guide and driver had a very good repoire. We ended our trip on a hillside watching the sunset.

Guided Visit of Évora

Portugal

Joao Matos is a PhD student with the local university studying history. He utilizes his educational background to provide details of Portuguese history. He is kind and will tailor his speaking points to your interest. I found him to be open to discussion on topics both current and historical.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Joao Matos is amazing guide!

Sintra Heritage Hike: Hidden Secrets

Portugal

We chose to hike to the Pena Castle through a series of beautiful trails in park-like setting hidden from the crowds. Paul, our guide, was exceptional tailoring conversation and information to our interests. The lunch he prepared for the hike was made from all locally grown and prepared breads and vegetables and he even purchased pastries to sample on the trail.

Quality of Experience

Appropriate length of hike.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Paul was so knowledgeable, approachable and friendly.

Transport

Guided Tuk-Tuk Tour

Portugal

Picked us up at hotel and was a great way to begin our trip to Portugal.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an amazing honeymoon and really loved the entire experience, could not thank Greg more for all his help! He consistently helped throughout as we needed, responded quickly and went above and beyond with all the details and recommendations in the itinerary, everything went so smoothly! It was a pleasure for us to have him help make our honeymoon trip so great!

Activity Review

Private Kyoto Temples & Gion Tour

Japan

Pam was so amazing and we could not recommend her more! We had an incredible experience walking through Kyoto, eating great food, and learning about its history. Definitely enjoyed every minute of this tour and would recommend to anyone considering it!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The personal tours were great .In Madrid our guide was Enrique who took us to these great little intimate Tapas restaurants that are local favorites.His knowledge and passion about art was incredible,pointing out details we would not of noticed.In Toledo Mario was our guide took us to family owned shops and away from the tourist crowds and great restaurant.Our driver To Toledo Wilson was friendly knowledgeable and punctual.In Barcelona Diana took us to La Sagrada Familia and other Gaudi works.Having art history guides gives so much more perspective to the tour .Mierko took us around the local tapas restaurants then the Flamenco show. Beirnart took us Hilking to Costs brava and Tossa De Mare and had great patience and skill on the hike as we are not hikers.Craig took us to Monserrat which was amazing again his knowledge of the tour was incredible.He took us to a local restaurant for a Catalan breakfast which we will never forget.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel The Principal

Madrid

Great location in city center great rooftop restaurant with incredible views of the city

Authenticity & Character

Location

It is on the Gran Via a main avenue in city center near bars and restaurants but yet it was not loud

Staff

Leticia was great she went above and beyond to make sure our stay was excellent

Cleanliness & Comfort

Serras Barcelona

Barcelona

Beautiful hotel great location and staff loved the rooftop bar

Authenticity & Character

Our room was beautiful bathroom with whirlpool tub and incredible shower

Location

Near the popular neighborhoods easy to walk to places

Staff

Always friendly and gave us great advice on places and things to see

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our room was made up every day

Activity Reviews

Private El Born Walk with Flamenco & Tapas

Barcelona

Beautiful show definitely worth seeing

Quality of Experience

Mierko was knowledgeable told us about the area and best place to sit for the show

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We were able to walk to everything

Private Gaudí Experience with La Sagrada Família & Park Güell

Barcelona

Amazing location well worth it .Definitely take this private tour

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Diana is an art historian and incredibly knowledgeable.cant say it enough but a private tour with an art expert is the way to go

Transport

We took a local taxi

Private Costa Brava Hike & Tossa De Mar Day Trip

Barcelona

The hike was not as we imagined.I believe it is for intermediate level hikers

Quality of Experience

Beirnart our guide was great took time to help my wife navigate the trail and rest when needed

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Professional Passionate and knowledgeable

Transport

Clean comfortable vehicle on time

Private Toledo Day Trip

Madrid

Beautiful city and history and great views and restaurants

Quality of Experience

Old world charm

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Wilson was our driver and was friendly knowledgeable and punctual.Mario was great a true local fixture from Toledo and passionate and knowledgeable

Transport

Punctual clean comfortable vehicle

Private Prado Museum Visit with an Art Historian

Madrid

Enrique our guide has a degree in art history and is knowledgeable he pointed out details in the art master pieces we would have never appreciated

Quality of Experience

It was a private tour .so we did not have to strain to hear our guide or worry about keeping up with everyone

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Their passion for art and for their work.To be a great tour guide you must be a people person and all our guides were just that

Transport

We were able to walk to it

Private Montserrat Sunrise & Brunch

Barcelona

Definitely recommend this tour even though it starts very early in the morning it is well worth it

Quality of Experience

The location and views were incredible

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Can’t say it enough Craig was great

Transport

Craig our guide was our driver so along the way to our destination he pointed out other interesting places and gave us insight to how people in Barcelona live

Private City Highlights Walk

Madrid

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We were able to walk to everything

Private Evening Tapas Walk with a Local

Madrid

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

You walked to everything

The entire package was absolutely amazing. I lost count of the waterfalls - all of which were awesome.
Our tour of the Ice Cave was incredible and the hike on the glacier was a real high point of our journey.
The accommodation was excellent and in most cases the hotel meals were great.
Éric certainly put together a most memorable package.

Activity Reviews

Sky Lagoon

Iceland

A really nice way to finish our tour of Iceland.

Vatnshellir lava cave tour

Iceland

An interesting exploration.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Myvatn Nature Baths

Lake Mývatn

Thoroughly enjoyed a relax at the end the day here.

Quality of Experience

Skaftafell Glacier Hike

Iceland

An absolute highpoint. Probably my wife's favourite. An incredible feeling being p on a glacier.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Katla Ice Cave Superjeep tour

Iceland

Loved this tour and got some beautiful colourful shots of the cave. Stunning.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fontana Geothermal Baths

Iceland

Quality of Experience

This trip exceeded all of our expectations. I will use KimKim anytime I do a trip like this. And I will recommend you to my friends. The locations suggested to us by Anita were amazing. Her responsiveness and complete answers no matter what we asked were so appreciated. We particularly loved shopping, touring and eating in Porto, the challenging but gorgeous Sintra hike and our wonderful guide Felis, the great tour with our guide Telma of the Duro Valley and wineries. Breakfast at our Lisbon hotel, Heritage Avenida Liberdade was outstanding but our favorite hotel of the whole trip was the exquisite Eden Boutique Hotel in Boumaine Dades. The owner of the hotel gave us a personal tour of the property and we hope to come back some day. Alex of Lisbon Walker gave us a great tour of Lisbon-- we really felt like we understood the city, and Portugal, afterwards. Our hotel in Porto was great and Manuel gave us a comprehensive orientation and wide-ranging tour. Obidos wasn't that great a stop -- so crowded and our driver Nuno was a bit negative. Our hotel in the Algarve, the Lagos Avenida was so well located and beautiful, with a great rooftop pool and terrific breakfasts. We really enjoyed our 4x4 Algarve Sunset experience and our terrific guide, Carlos. We loved him. We also really enjoyed our Catamaran Excursion--it was a gorgeous day and very comfortable and fun ride. We hiked by ourselves to many beaches in the Algarve and had lots of fun shopping. We wouldn't have changed anything in Portugal really. We are very glad we got to Morocco and especially liked and appreciated Abdulla our guide for our multi-day trip to the desert. He was so interesting and fun to be with. He gave us a wonderful understanding of Berber culture and we will always be grateful for that. He became our friend. Our driver was also really wonderful --I'm sorry I can't remember his name but he was a great driver and very kind to us. As you know, we had an unfortunate incident on the way into our hotel in Marrakesh. My husband was pushed by a man in the alley lunging for his wallet who also hit my daughter. When we finally made it to the hotel they didn't seem to understand what had happened to us and took a very long time --almost an hour to get us into our rooms because hotel staff was busy with other guests. Also the riad we stayed at the first time didn't have the pool we had seen in the pictures and the breakfast service in the morning was terribly slow and the food not that great. We were never offered eggs but we overheard later that they were available. We probably should not have arrived that late into Marakesh and I wouldn't stay at that location again. They were very nice the second time we stayed there, moving us to better rooms than the first time but in general we wouldn't have stayed that close to the palace and the souk if it meant we had to walk that far down alleys from where the car dropped us to the hotel front door. We really appreciated the hands on support we got from Youssef who came with us on our last night shopping in the souk. He was very friendly and professional, and made us feel very safe. We enjoyed buying rugs from Omar in the rug collective but left thinking we probably didn't get that great a deal there. We're hoping the quality made the price worth buying there rather than from someone else in the souk. Our food tour with Morocccan Food Adventures in Marrakesh was probably the highlight of our time there. I can't remember our guide's name but he took us to such great places--it was delightful and we would recommend it to anyone. Our transfers between places were all great, everyone on time, and sending me texts the night before confirming. All the transfers were very professional and made everything happen so smoothly. I'm happy to say that early on my family wasn't sure it would be worth it to use a whole day in the car driving to the desert. But afterwards they said they couldn't believe they saw everything they saw and are so glad they went. It was stunning. The camel ride was longer than I understood it to be and was a little bit difficult and painful to stay on the saddle for some of the girls. But the ATV ride at sunset was beyond great. Our guides were terrific and the experience and views were spectacular. Thank you Anita, Espiritu, and KimKim for arranging such a memorable trip for the six of us!

Hotel Review

Eden Boutique Hotel

Boumalne Dades

this is one of the best hotels we've ever stayed at, anywhere in the world. Can't recommend it highly enough!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Boumalne Dades to Merzouga Sunset Camel Ride via Tinerhir & Rissani

Portugal

camel ride was much appreciated but a bit uncomfortable for the women. The ATV ride at sunset was much much better!

Marrakech to Boumalne Dades via Ouarzazate

Portugal

Beautiful drive and amazing hotel -- the Eden --at the end

Marrakech Unseen: A Street Food Adventure

Marrakesh

don't miss this! it's the perfect way to see the souk and try Moroccan food--such a good tour!

4X4 Algarve Sunset Experience

Spain

don't miss this -- the view at sunset is spectacular and our guide so fun!

Douro Valley Excursion with Wine & Olive Oil Tastings & River Cruise

Porto

Telma was so so great! Loved her and all that we learned at the places we stopped. And the Douro was so gorgeous!

Sintra Heritage Hike: Hidden Secrets

Portugal