Kimkim Trip Reviews

Overall, the trip exceeded our high expectations. Mieke was great and responsive and flexible.

Our guide Yonten and our driver Dawa were superb, five stars! They could not have been better in any way.

We could have used more explanation beforehand from Kim Kim about the home stay, to have a better appreciation of the simplicity of the lodgings and the economic benefit it brings to rural Bhutan.

My husband and I had an absolutely delightful trip to Brazil in December 2023. Renata helped us out really well. The local team were very responsive and all the tours we had booked were well coordinated and flawless. We went to the Amazon, Rio and Iguazu Falls. Renata made us a perfect and well rounded itinerary for the entire duration of our stay. We are glad we booked through our Brazil trip through Kim Kim.

We felt that 2 things could have been different and can be improved :
1) Since I had many questions and clarifications needed from Renata, I wish we had more phone calls instead of to and fro messaging on the Kim Kim app which lead to some delays for us( We did have couple of short calls later). It would have helped us to communicate faster and better.
2) I wish we were informed about carrying less luggage to the Amazon, as it was a challenging task for us to carry multiple bags that was meant for the entire duration of the trip.

Overall, it was an amazing trip to Brazil and we are happy that we booked through KimKim.

Liz did an amazing job in planning our family trip to New Zealand and Australia! The only thing I wish is that we could have stayed for longer! Queenstown (New Zealand) was amazing...the most adorable small town with many great restaurants and shops. Milford Sound was simply stunning! The e-bike tour through the vineyards was so much fun! Sydney was wonderful as well. We climbed the Sydney Harbor Bridge at night with the beautiful skyline and Sydney Opera House in full view - awesome (Anna, our guide, was amazing)! Not only did we tour the Opera House, but we were able to squeeze in a play while we were there (RBG: Of Many, One). The tour of Sydney was great and we took the ferry over to Manly Beach, which was fun and nice to get out onto the harbor! Auckland was nice (Sky Tower visit was neat) and Rotorua provided great insight on indigenous people with the Matai Maori Village show. Glow Worm Kayak tour at night was great (Jess was an amazing guide) and we saw the Southern Cross and Orion constellations. Stunning!! I wish we had more time in Australia and we will definitely be using Liz again when we head back to Australia. I would also definitely go back to the southern island of New Zealand again as well!

Hotel Reviews

Copthorne Hotel & Resort Queenstown Lakefront

Queenstown

Great location close to town. Friendly front desk personnel.

Location

Easy walk to town

Cleanliness & Comfort

Regal Palms Resort

Rotorua

My least favorite accommodation of the trip. The resort was a couple of miles out of town and lacked amenities due to changes from COVID. The restaurant had been closed for a couple of years, and even basic services like housekeeping and access to water were limited. Not the best experience.

Location

Crowne Plaza Auckland

Auckland

I stayed at Crowne Plaza Auckland for one night. The location was pretty good, there was a lot of construction nearby. Overall, it was fine for a short stay.

Location

PARKROYAL Darling Harbour

Sydney

Our stay at PARKROYAL Darling Harbour was great. The location was fantastic, and we had a pleasant experience overall.

Location

Activity Reviews

Twilight Glow Worm Kayak Experience - 3 hour guided

Rotorua

Jess did an amazing job in taking us through tunnels and caves to see the glow worms...stunning! She also showed us the southern cross and orion constellations - very knowledgable!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

TE Puia: Te Ra (Day Pass) Guided tour (90 minutes)

Rotorua

Cool to see the geothermal mud pools, geysers and boiling pools at this location.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Coud be more informative about the history. Guide was OK, but did not answer questions in a meaningful way.

Garden Onsen Outdoor Soak - 1 hour

Queenstown (NZ)

Our originally-scheduled time slot of 4:30 had to be changed due to a flight cancellation. Onsen was able to move our time slot to the following day at 9:30pm - which happens to be sunset this time of year. It was stunning. The glass of champagne and chocolates was perfect and 1 hour was a perfect way to end our busy day!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sydney Opera House Tour

Sydney

Super interesting to learn about the design, construction and operations of Sydney Opera House. We enjoyed it so much that we squeezed in a trip back to see a play while we were there (FYI - there are several venues in the Opera House in addition to the Concert Hall).

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Auckland to Rotorua visiting Hobbiton with lunch

Auckland

While I've never seen any Lord of the Rings movies, this was a very interesting and beautiful tour.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mitai Cultural Experience & Dinner

Rotorua

Wonderful exposure to Maori culture with the dinner and show. Great job!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Milford Sound Glass Roof Van/CruiseVan

Queenstown (NZ)

The weather the day of our visit was PERFECTION, which I hear is not normal for Milford Sound since it rains there 180+ days a year. We had perfect blue skies and the scenery was gorgeous! The boat tour was awesome! Highly recommend!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sydney Bridge Climb at Night

Sydney

One of the highlights of our trip! Anna did an amazing job in leading us to the summit of the bridge - perfectly clear night so we could see the Opera House, Sydney Skyline and wonderful views of boats in the harbor! Definitely recommend!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Anna was great!

Skyline Gondola Ride

Queenstown (NZ)

Great overlook for Queenstown! Would highly recommend!

Quality of Experience

Morning Panoramic Sydney Sights

Sydney

Great overview of Sydney! Seeing Bondi Beach and the Sydney Opera House and Harbor Bridge was very cool, among other sights!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I don’t even know where to begin. What an amazing trip! We planned without 6 weeks notice, which felt short, but Cami provided us with excellent communication in the planning and connected us with the loveliest guides and drivers throughout our trip. Eduardo drove and Valeria was our guide through beautiful Buenos Aires. The neighborhood tour was my favorite, but I can’t forget the stroll through Recoleta cemetery. In Iguazu we colored the Brazilian and Argentinian parks over two days with Gisela. The Hotel Melia was the loveliest I’ve ever seen. I’ll never forget the days at the falls. In Mendoza we were connected with our itinerary with Marco, another knowledgeable and friendly host. We have never traveled in this concierge style guided luxury, but I can’t imagine doing it differently. I certainly wouldn’t have enjoyed it as much trying to make it happen all on my own or just rambling through unfamiliar towns and wondering what to do. Everything the service connected us to was high-quality, and while some of it was on this side of “touristy,” it was all an elevated level of hospitality and comfort and enjoyment.

Hotel Reviews

Grand Brizo

Buenos Aires

The hotel is very centrally located for driving and walking activities. It was very clean. The linens particularly were very comfortable. Was a little loud in the evenings and mornings as we were on the side of the street. The breakfast was beautiful and ample. The staff was very formal and professional, more informative than friendly.

Authenticity & Character

It was a comfortable branded hotel but didn’t offer any local charm.

Location

Central to so many locations. Great placement for walking, easy pick up spot for Uber.

Staff

Professional and helpful but not overtly friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Such a comfortable bed and sheets!

Gran Meliá Iguazú

Iguazú National Park

From the welcome drink and towel to the breakfast buffet this hotel was the must luxurious of the trip. The proximity to the national park was second to none. The monkeys, while a nuisance to the staff, we’re an absolute delight to the guests. We particularly enjoyed the other visitors to this hotel. Lots of lovely families and couples. Pricey but worth it if you can swing it. I’ll dream of that breakfast buffet for ever!!

Authenticity & Character

The lobby was next level

Location

View of the falls, location on the walking trails. Just amazing

Staff

While I am here, I found myself sick and required medicine from in town. The staff was incredibly helpful in getting me what I needed through the delivery service provided by the pharmacy at a very reasonable cost.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Top notch

Posada Borravino

Chacras de Coria

30 min outside of Mendoza city, and a 30 min walk to the small town’s centrum made the location of this guest house questionable. The room was basic. The hotel itself could’ve had lovely ambience and a family or homey feel however, we never saw the same staff members twice so I felt like we could never connect with the place. Dinner service was spotty in the restaurant so each night we had to make the long walk into the village to find something to eat. Breakfast was limited and very basic bread and jam and fruit.

Authenticity & Character

Quaint and cozy but we felt a bit like we were intruding rather than guests.

Location

Too far to be without a car

Staff

Nice enough but never saw the same people twice. And since the whole idea of a Posada is to feel like you’re in someone’s home, it rather had the opposite effect.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fresher breakfast items, better coffee

Activity Reviews

Tour Southern Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires

Loved this!

Quality of Experience

Valeria was so knowledgeable

Food

Amazing dinners!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Eduardo was like and old friend by the end!

Transport

He went above and beyond

Asado Dinner at El Fogón

Buenos Aires

I will recommend this to anyone I know who is visiting.

Quality of Experience

Food

Literally everything

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Brazil Falls

Argentina

I’m so glad we added this. A visit to the falls just isn’t the same without visiting both sides.

Quality of Experience

Food

No food was part of this tour. However, when we were hungry, our guide was more than happy to stop and assist us.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Iguazu Falls Great Adventure

Iguazú Falls

I did not feel like we really needed a guide for the Argentinian side of the falls. Walking the trails was included in our hotel and as long as we had the right information, we could’ve made it to the boat trip without any problem on our own

Quality of Experience

Food

No food provided or necessary

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Lovely people just not necessary for enjoyment of the Argentinian side of the falls

Transport

Lujan de Cuyo Wine Experience

Mendoza

Loved it all! Marco and driver were a great pair. I love how excited Marco got introducing us to each new winery. His energy was contagious. I loved when he joined us in conversation with the Vineyard employees.

Quality of Experience

Food

The lunch was incredibly good

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Uco Valley Wine Country

Mendoza

It was really special getting to visit so many different vineyards . It really makes you appreciate the differences in the wine. Again, it was delightful having Marcos join us at several of the sites. His knowledge added to the conversation and his, delightful humor, and personality.

Quality of Experience

Food

Another delicious lunch!!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tango Show & Dinner at La Ventana

Buenos Aires

A little” kitche”, but a charming “must do” when in Buenos Aries

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walking Retiro & Recoleta (North Buenos Aires)

Buenos Aires

I loved this walking tour so much. I’ll recommend Valeria to our friends who make similar trips

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Not really applicable

I booked for the first time with Kim Kim .
First the good :
all the bookings of my daily tours, cars and accommodations were in place. Had no problems anywhere .
We had one person from their contracting company which had one person available on what’s up sending us reminders and directions and we could occasionally get some recommendations.

Not so good :
1. The overall experience , the accommodations, tours were just about an average . Nothing which kind of wow’d us.
2. went by their recommendations for accommodations and felt that we were forced to stay in remote hotels , that included lot of driving around
3. Lack of transparency in terms of the individual cost, we were given 1 price for overall trip. So it was hard to decide which activities we can keep or remove. Whenever we asked for a change, the trip prices fluctuated a lot , and I got tired . So went ahead with their recommendations.

They were already charging a price for the service , so I was expecting a little more transparency.

Erin did a great job iterating the itinerary to lower the overall cost to fit my budget.
We did enjoy most the day at the estancia La Peninsula, which was not the most attractive option at first on the paper. However, the location is fantastic, the landscape breathtaking, the personnel was excellent, the food tasty and the drinks options very diverse. Particular mention to Alejandro, the guide and Donald Mac Leod, the captain / horse rider / sheep sheerer.
It was very pleasant to have a private tour for the Torres del Paine. Camila and Juan, the driver, were very attentive to us, answering all the questions from the kids. I obviously liked the detail with a cake on my birthday. Also having a drink at my leisure in front of the cuernas de las Torres was spectacular.
We liked the dolphins afternoon a lot. The dolphins were jumping everywhere and the snack after the tour was very welcome in the dining room with chimney. Also, Benjamin, let us drive the zodiac at the end. It was a hit with my boy!
On the less positive note, I still believe it was very confusing to write in the itinerary that the Pinguins tour at the isla Magdalena departs at 7:00 from Punta Arena. In fact it departed even earlier than 6:30am from Solo Expedition. Fortunately, Solo expedition could book us for the 10:00am tour and we managed to change our bus ticket also, so the inconvenience was very reduced, as we did not have additional cost and only arrived in Puerto Natales 2hr later than plan.
I think it helps a lot that I speak very well Spanish as I could handle all sort of situation to reprogram and to book taxi, talk to hotel staff etc...
It was also very easy with the bus to / from Punta Arenas / Puerto Natales.
Overall was very good vacation.
Thanks for the suggestions and the planning.

Activity Reviews

Dolphin Watching on the Magellan Strait

Punta Arenas

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit the Isla Magdalena Penguin Colony

Punta Arenas

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Torres del Paine Full Day Private Tour

Patagonia

The overall rating is not excellent because the weather did not allow to see the full landscape. However, the guide and driver did a very good job accompanying us.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to a Patagonian Estancia

Patagonia

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vickie was amazing! She was very helpful in planning a great honeymoon. She was able to provide us with advice on logistics of travelling in New Zealand along with great recommendations on activities. Our honeymoon went smoothly and had us arriving to New Zealand ready to just enjoy our trip knowing everything has been taken care of.

Overall I am rating our Moroccan trip 4 Stars, and I’ll get to why a little later. We do have two five star reviews, one for our driver, guide, teacher and new found friend, Oussama ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ who made sure we had a proper introduction to the Moroccan people and their culture. The information he provided was essential to our enjoyment of the trip - he is terrific! If you are planning a trip to Morocco through KimKim and are going to need a car and driver, ask for Oussama specifically, you will be glad you did. Our other five star review is for our local guide in Fes who took us through both old and new cities Sharif ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ He knows the Fes Medina like the back of his hand and is extremely knowledgeable about Fes and its history as well as all of Morocco’s history. We had a fascinating day with him, enjoying and learning from his stories. These two gentlemen reflect well upon their country and KinKim.
As for the overall 4 star rating, something unexpected, and unnecessarily so, happened upon our arrival in Tangier. Fortunately for us, our driver Oussama was able to handle the immediate situation with aplomb, but the larger situation, which needed addressing by senior KimKim personnel took 4 days to acceptably resolve. The resolution was appropriate but should not have taken longer than 24 hrs to resolve.
Our Tour was Tangier, then Chefchaouen, then Fes. It was a decent introduction to the beauty of Morocco, but we do wish we had more time and could have seen the dessert, Casablanca, Marrakesh, and Rabat also. Well, there’s always next time. And next time we will ensure we have Oussama ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ back as our driver.

Hotel Reviews

Hilton Garden Inn Tanger City Centre

Tangier

Would love to review this hotel properly, but our reservation for 2 rooms ended up being only 1 room available. If you can’t get the little things right …

Hotel Dar Mounir

Chefchaouen

Nice old hotel in the Medina of Chefchaouen

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Ghita

Fes

A lovely Riad, built in 1600. The staff is welcoming and friendly and their cook is amazing.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Tales of Tangier: Unveiling the Charms of Morocco's Gateway City

Tangier

Our driver Oussama ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ was great at showing us Tangier, which was our entrance to Morocco. He even went out of his way to make sure we got a camel ride, and to help me find some locations I needed for research on a former well-known person who had lived in Tangier. We also saw Hercules Cave, which was phenomenal and were left to our own devices to play in the Medina.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver/guide Oussama ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ was always with us when we needed him and at a (very slight) distance when he knew we wanted to be alone. Full of information and good humor he made Tangier a fun experience for us

Transport

Our driver Oussama - see above comment.

Journey of Colours: Roman Ruins of Volubilis, Moulay Idriss & Meknes

Morocco

Quite unexpectedly on our drive from Chefchaouen to Fes we came upon the Roman Ruins of Volubilis. I had not been expecting this stop, and it was amazing! You can walk right into the ruins, with access to almost all of it - some if the original mosaic floors are roped off, but pretty much everything else is fair game to explore.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

There was one of the groundsmen we encountered who was very helpful in explaining certain thingsto us about the remains and what events are believed to have taken place and where.

Transport

Our driver Oussama ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Fes Unveiled: Unravel the Riches of Morocco's Ancient City

Fes

Quality of Experience

The oldest Medina in Morocco

Food

My stomach was a bit off this day, do no food would get higher than 3 stars. It helps if you like street meat

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Shariff ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ very knowledgeable and helpful

Transport

Our driver Oussama ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was my first time working with a travel agent and I'm now a convert. My sons (9 and 11 years old), mother and I had a wonderful time in Lisbon, Sintra and Tomar! Rita was very responsive when planning our trip (she even made multiple versions of the trip for us when we weren't sure if my mother and/or father might be joining us) and very helpful when during the trip there a problem with one of the reservations (not Rita's fault). It was nice to have someone on the ground to deal with the problem, make changes to our plans and process refunds for us (so I didn't have to spend my vacation making phone calls and adjustments). The accommodations (My Suite Lisbon) that Rita recommended were perfect for us. Having more space (two bathrooms, a bedroom, a living room with bunkbeds, a kitchenette and a small outdoor patio) made the trip relaxing, gave my sons some space to stretch out and allowed us to have a leisurely in-room breakfast every morning and a take out dinner one night. The location was in a wonderful, cobble-stoned neighborhood (Barrio Alto) within easy walking distance of sites, bars and restaurants while being away from the noise of the bars (and so making it easy for my sons to fall asleep). The activities and day trips Rita arranged for us were wonderful. The day trip to Sintra with Little Lisbon was a particular stand out. The trip was tailored for families with children and our guide really made the trip interesting and interactive for all three generations. In Lisbon, Rita provided some suggestions of places we wouldn't have found on our own (including a family-friendly bar with rooms decorated with old toys). Our day trip to Almoural Castle (including approaching it via boat and getting to explore inside) and Tomar and the Convent of Christ (former Knights Templar strong hold) was a wonderful way to end to our trip. Working with Rita and KimKim was well worth it!

Hotel Review

My Suite Lisbon

Lisbon

This small hotel on a cobble-stoned side street with a wonderful location close to sites, restaurants and bars is perfect for families. It is very close to many sites while being quiet at night (so your kids can sleep). The kitchenette and living room in our suite gave us extra space to spread out a little and the daily breakfast in our room allowed us to have a leisurely morning.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Tuk-Tuk Tour

Portugal

Our Tuk Tuk driver was an amazing guide and made sure to take us to her favorite pastel de nata cart on the tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Excursion to Sintra for Young Explorers

Lisbon

The tour guide was amazing! She made the trip interactive and interesting for all three generations of our family. She even got us the local pastries to try during lunch.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Portuguese Cooking Class in Lisbon

Lisbon

The cooking school mishandled our reservation and did not change it (as they had confirmed via email) which led to us having to reschedule the class itself and cancel a different activity. That being said the class itself was a lot of fun and both my sons (9 and 11) enjoyed being part of making the 9 (delicious) dishes we then ate for lunch. Since the class does take a full three hours, I would recommend doing it at night so that you can spend a full day seeing the sights before cooking.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Day trip to Tomar: Knights Templar

Lisbon

Our guide for this trip was more of a private driver than a guide. She didn't offer information or historical context on the places we were seeing and didn't seem to know much about the history and interesting stories of the areas we visited but was otherwise nice. She is definitely much more of an adult-only guide. She didn't really talk to or engage with my sons (9 and 11). Perhaps I was spoiled by the previous guide from Little Lisbon (who took us to Sintra) as she proactively offered the history of the area and interesting stories about the inhabitants of the people we were seeing. The trip to Almoural castle via boat and exploring inside it were a great start to the trip. We all really enjoyed the view from the water and then exploring the castle on our own. My mother was not able to access some parts of the castle due to steep treacherous stairs but she enjoyed the parts she could see. Our driver recommended a delicious small restaurant for lunch and then (when I mentioned my older son wanted to try as many Portuguese pastries as possible) took us to a pastry shop specializing in three pastries only made locally for dessert. Our driver did not come into the Convent of Christ with us (She said the signs inside were self-explanatory and offered only a very general overview of how the site was named) but we loved the convent itself and my sons enjoyed finding "secret" small passageways, stairs and rooms through out it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a wonderful family trip to Colombia thanks to the assistance of Michael!
We traveled as a family of 5, 2 adults and 3 children (ages 12, 10 and 3). Michael arranged all of our tours and transfers for us. Every guide we had was absolutely lovely and we enjoyed learning about their country and culture through the eyes of locals.
Our car transfers were all seamless. They arrived on time and in clean and spacious vehicles, even equipped with a car seat for our 3yo. The drivers were accommodating and stopped when we needed for groceries, ATM or bathroom breaks. We especially appreciated Christian who was our driver on 3 separate occasions and went out of his way to meet all of our needs.

Robert was a fantastic host who lives in the area. He took us to local favorites we would have missed otherwise and adjusted the trip as we went to cater to our interests. Goran guided us for several days and was equally great! There both provided local insight to the culture and history of the area and were both a pleasure to tour with. Highly recommended and looking forward to coming back for a bike trip!

Our holiday in Chile and Patagonia was outstanding. It started in Santiago, we then went down to Punta Arenas. Punta Arenas is the gateway to Patagonia. The trip to Tierra Del Fuego to see the King Penguins was one of the highlights of the trip. Our guide throughout the day long visit was professional and kept us informed all through the journey. It was well organized. We then went to Puerto Natales to visit Torres Del Paine. The hike to the base of Torres Del Paine though arduous was certainly well worth the effort. Key pointers hike up the mountain with water snacks and I phone. Limit the load that you carry up the mountain. Our guides Vicente and Marcos were outstanding. Visiting the Balmaceda and Serrano glaciers was once again one of the highlights of the trip. The final leg of our trip was in Atacama. One of kind place. Lots to see there. We would need at least a week to explore Atacama. The hotels picked by Florencia were quite good. We had a great time. Would definitely do this trip again.

Caty , Esteban and JJ with Columbus Guatemala Travel were amazing!

They made us feel so welcome and shared so much knowledge of Guatemala. All the tours that they arranged were excellent, with great accommodations and transportation and wonderfully knowledgeable and friendly guides.

Our lunch and private tour of Uaxactún with Danilo was a particularly memorable tour they arranged for us.

The whole experience from reaching out, going back and forth with ideas and dates, to landing and communicating on the ground was a pleasure.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Biltmore

Ciudad de Guatemala

Exactly the right hotel to transit between flights. Nice and clean, super helpful staff and close to so much (including the airport(.

Authenticity & Character

Great travel hotel... all you needed

Location

we had a quick (early morning) flight turn around so this hotel was perfect

Staff

Very easy to communicate with and always there to assist

Cleanliness & Comfort

Jungle Lodge Tikal

Peten

What a location! Right in the national park with all the explorations of the area within walking distance. The rooms, food, service and amenities were top notch! My only complaint is we didnt stay long enough!

Authenticity & Character

A lovely "rustic/natural" feeling without feeling like you are ruffing it.

Location

A beautiful lodge in the jungle! what else is there to say

Staff

Always willing to help. From holding baggage while you explore to getting you great food and drinks

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable

Isla de Flores

Ciudad Flores Petén-Flores

Very cosy hotel that has a lot to offer!

Authenticity & Character

A wonderful ambiance. Just know that there are stairs

Location

Right in the center of things close to shopping and dinner. Or you can just hang out in the bar, restaurant or pool on site

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Welcome to Guatemala

Guatemala

Whats to say? We arrived around midnight and were quickly met and ushered to our hotel for the night.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

JJ was a wonderful guide who shared a lot of information.

Transport

Uaxactún

Guatemala

This experience was by far the hilight of our visit. An incredible private tour of pre-classic Mayan site with an excellent and knowledgeable guide PLUS a wonderful and delicious lunch on site prepared by local village. It was only our guide and the two of use the whole time we were exploring! (Not counting the monkeys)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Danilo and his driver were fantastic. All the people at the village were very warm and inviting.

Transport

A great driver on a bumpy road. He knew the best way to get there!

Tikal Maya Ruin

Guatemala

What a place! so much to see and explore. This was a group tour and everyone was super!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Flores Island

Guatemala

A very lovely boat ride to the nature preserve and a wonderful look out over the lake.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guatemala City Tour

Guatemala

The tour and guide were great. Esteban showed as much of Guatemala as time and traffic would allow.

Quality of Experience

Traffic and time constraints impacted the enjoyment of this tour.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

It was my second time to Costa Rica, but I traveled with my friend who had never visited it before, and it was so fun!
Phil, our specialist, was great. It was very easy to communicate with him, he made the trip perfect for us. He was very present and responsive even while we were traveling.
We loved everything, from the accommodations to the activities!

Hotel Reviews

Arenal Roca Lodge

La Fortuna

Authenticity & Character

The lodge bungalows were rustic in appearance, but were very spacious and had all the comforts for home (AC, hot water, comfy beds and an on-site restaurant)

Location

For traveler's with a rental car, getting to/from town to explore restaurants, shops, etc is easy. For traveler's without a rental, there were a few places within easy walking distance but for most a cab would be required.

Staff

The staff were very friendly. They all went the extra mile to make our stay a happy one.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Locanda Samara Beach

Samara

Hotel Locanda Samara Beach in Sámara was a great choice for a stay. The hotel's location allowed for easy access to various attractions, shops, and restaurants, making it convenient for exploring the area on foot.

Authenticity & Character

The bungalows, with the bamboo and thatched roofs added a local flair to the hotel.

Location

The hotel is right on the beach and easy walking distance to all amenities in Samara.

Staff

The staff were all very friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

The cleaning staff kept the entire hotel spotless

Activity Reviews

Guided Nature Walk at Ecological Park & Butterfly Garden Danaus

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sky Adventures Zip Lines & Hanging Bridges Guided Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

The zip lines and hanging bridges tour was thrilling and suitable for travelers of all ages. It may not be ideal for those afraid of heights, but overall, it was a fun and exciting experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ocean Kayak & Snorkel at Isla Chora (Seasonal)

Sámara

The ocean kayak and snorkeling tour at Isla Chora was a fun and exciting experience. Despite windy conditions, seeing a turtle underwater made the excursion memorable. The two-seater kayak was beneficial for less experienced kayakers, adding to the enjoyment of the activity.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Horseback Ride to La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Horseback Sunset Tour

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rio Celeste Hiking - Tenorio Volcano National Park

Costa Rica

The hike at Tenorio National Park was challenging but rewarding. The guide was excellent, and despite the rain, the lush surroundings and the unique blue waters of Rio Celeste made the hike a memorable experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guatil Tour

Costa Rica

The Guatil pottery tour was a hidden gem and a fascinating cultural experience. The guided tour provided insight into local pottery-making techniques and traditions, making it a unique and enjoyable activity for those interested in learning about the local culture.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

It's unfortunate that Charlotte is noted as our local specialist, since she most certainly was not. Our trip was booked through an initial agent, Sergio, and once we had paid for the tour he immediately disappeared. We were directed to Charlotte who was unresponsive and difficult to get details from. After repeated requests, she finally assigned our file to a new rep, Wilman, who was very helpful in sorting out the many details of our trip. As we worked through it, it became clear that much of what we were sold did not line up clearly with the operational details required to make it work. Working 1:1 with Wilman we were able to sort it out and the trip was enjoyable and relatively seamless for our family, but it wasn't without significant effort and an exceptional amount of back and forth to ensure that the trip was in order. We credit Wilman with saving this trip for us, and aren't sure of the role which Charlotte played.

Hotel Reviews

Maquenque Ecolodge

Boca Tapada

This was a unique and interesting property and we really enjoyed our stay. The property is full of amazing wildlife, and the staff were friendly and accomodating. The accomodations were clean and inviting and we loved the feeling of sleeping in the treetops with the animals. The one drawback here was the remoteness of some of the treehouses. We had 4 across our large group, and the distance between them was significant. Walking back to the rooms at night alone was a little unnerving given the animals we'd seen roaming the property earlier in the day! Would highly recommend Maquenque lodge

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Congo Bongo EcoVillage Costa Rica

Manzanillo, Limon

This was a unique property, though a little more rustic than we'd imagined. A number of the reviews note that this is more of a 'glamping property' which felt accurate. The rooms were creatively designed, and very open to the elements. As such, it was hard for them to feel (or be) clean. The kitchenwares were often freshly covered with animal feces and the bedroom area was always damp feeling, particularly at night. The walk to the beach was long, but well marked. And from there it was an easy walk to the town of Manzanillo. The staff at the property were very willing to assist and acomodate.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, San Jose Aeropuerto

San José

Good option near the airport. There was also a grocery store and a handful of restaurants to walk to nearby.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Birdwatching Tour in Maquenque

Boca Tapada

This activity was a bit underwhelming. It was planned as a very early morning after a very long travel day. By the time we got going, there wasn't as much to see. We did see a Tapir which was awesome, but the birds and guide weren't otherwise noteworthy.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Safari Kayak in Tres Amigos River

Boca Tapada

This was a great trip, though longer than our group was prepared for. The guides were very good and pointed out notable sights and animals as we passed them.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

San Carlos River Boat Tour

Boca Tapada

we enjoyed abut 50% of this tour. Our guide was excellent, and the driver had a sharp eye for finding animals by the shoreline. Outside of that, the tour got a little long and boring. And on the way back, the guide was on his phone and we weren't able to stop for animal spottings, which made it a bit of a lackluster end to what was an otherwise decent tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boca Tapada Night Tour

Boca Tapada

This was a great experience with a good guide. We enjoyed the tour and saw a number of interesting frogs, birds, snakes and other creatures.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Transfer from Boca Tapada to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca with En-route Rafting on the Sarapiquí River

Costa Rica

Our rafting tour was a highlight on our trip! The group of guides were phenomenal in engaging our full group and making our participants of all different levels feel confident and safe out on the water. We had a great time and would highly recommend this to others. The lunch following the rafting was great too!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I am not able to comment on the planning, as it was not part of my role with the trip.

Robert is an exceptional guide, who is knowledgeable about the history of Croatia and the area of Zagreb. He continuously checked in with me and my colleague to ensure that it was the best experience for Mohawk College students. He always had an alternative plan in case of weather etc. By the end of the second day, he knew everyone's name and remembered things about each individual in the party. Based on feedback from the students, this was important to them. He was inclusive and wanted to make sure the experiences aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. By the end of the trip, we were having sing-alongs, telling jokes, etc. which is what the students remember. It is about relationship development.

Hotel Review

Hotel Dubrovnik

Zagreb

Hotel Dubrovnik, Zagreb is in a central location to enjoy all that Zagreb has to offer, bakeries, markets, shopping, history. The dining room was spotless and the food was delicious. The rooms were clean and spacious.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Zagreb - Arrival

Zagreb

We were picked up from the airport on time and delivered safely to the hotel. Check in was easy.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zagreb City tour

Croatia

Robert shared the history of Croatia before we departed on the tour. While on the tour, he integrated the history with the specific locations.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Plitvice Lakes National Park.

Croatia

Robert picked the perfect day to visit Plitivice. The students were enthralled and amazed. National parks are an important part of most countries and preserving these areas is important for climate change and the environment.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trakošćan Castle and City of Varaždin

Zagreb

Our first full day was a visit to Varazdin and Trakoscan Castle. The history of both venues was important for the students to experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day in ZAGREB- University visit

Zagreb

This component of the trip was self-organized, however, Robert and his team provided exceptional transportation services.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zagreb- Ljubljana- Bled - Zagreb

Zagreb

We did not go to this venue. Instead, Robert took us to an Art Museum and afterward an authentic experience at a rural restaurant.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Rijeka

Croatia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zagreb - Departure

Zagreb

We were picked up early and in plenty of time to go through security at the airport.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

When choosing someone you don’t know personally there is always a danger. Will they do the planning correctly will the person be there to pick us up will the hotels and trips be booked. We changed our minds many times and Dhanuska was also very accommodating and fast to respond to our requests.

As promised our driver Malinda was waiting for us at 11:30pm to pick us up and drive us for 3 hours to our first hotel.

Everything that we had been promised was delivered. The food was amazing the hotels great and our driver Malinda just a joy. He drove us with care and professionalism and knew his country so well.

Would I recommend Dhanushka to anyone else. In a heart beat. During the tour we had messages from him as well as phone calls. He exuded professionalism.

We had such a wonderful time that we are already planning when we might go to Sri Lanka again and we will definitely use Dhanushka to plan our itinerary and request Malinda as our driver.

A big thank you to kimkim site for bringing together professional travel agents. I will certainly use the site again when travelling to any country in the world.

Activity Reviews

Visit Sigiriya Rock Fortress

Sri Lanka

We enjoyed the experience make sure you take a guide and a guided assistant it will be very helpful. This climb is not for the faint here but it gives the most amazing views during the climb and when you reach the top. Make sure you include a trip to the elephant national park

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Helped us climb and were very knowledgeable about the site.

Transport

We booked our own driver who was amazing

Explore Nuwara Eliya

Sri Lanka

Unfortunately the weather conspired against us on the day but it was still a wonderful hike even though the last 1km was really hard work.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour a Sri Lankan Tea Plantation

Sri Lanka

We were taken to a small plantation and factory. It was fascinating and we got to try about 15 different types of tea. We also purchased a lot of great quality tea.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

It was spectacular from start to finish with meticulous planning and excellent recommendations. We particularly enjoyed our stay at Villa Tony in Corvara, which has a warm, friendly feel. I don’t know the Ladin word, but it is Gemütlichkeit in German. The dining room staff was wonderful and the food, amazing.
Experiencing the skiing, including the Sellaronda and the Hut food is something you can not find in the US. Well worth the trip.

Although we only had 1 day in Venice, our guide Daniela made the most of it and it was such a treat to have such a knowledgeable local guide navigating us through the canals, alleys and history of Venice.

Most of all, we must thank Martina for planning such a spectacular trip and being there every step of the way on the rare occasion we needed help. Thank you! Having this type of well planned and thoughtful excursions made the trip hassle free from start to finish. Surrender your planning to Kimkim, you will be happy!!

We were so impressed with everything Martina lined up for our trip. Staying at Villa Tony in Corvara was the perfect accommodations! The slopeside hotel with gourmet meals in a warm and inviting small chalet was perfect. The friendly and professional staff such a treat. All of our connections were flawless and eliminated so much stress when traveling. So thankful and appreciative for Kim Kim‘s help.

My wife and I just returned from a 9-10 day tour of Columbia. The tour was quite ambitious as we visited Bogota (one full day), Amazonia (2 full days), the Coffee region (3 full days), and even a quick one night stopover in Cartagena (one day). This involved a lot of flights as all flights connect through Bogota. So it was quite tiring and rather head spinning. The good thing though was that we got to see an amazing diversity of peoples and places in one tour.
What we saw of Bogota, on an e-bike tour!, we found to be both beautiful and interesting, and Monserrate and the views of Bogota from it, were amazing (but buy a pass that gets you to the head of the line if you can).
Amazonia was, for us the greatest highlight of the tour. We found it, as lovers of wild life, birds, and peoples/cultures with dignity, a simply charming, magical place. We were based out of Punto Nariño, and travelled everywhere by small boat, except on our return trip to Leticia on a river "bus". Every boat trip was a guided natural history adventure, stopping to see the dolphins at Leticia, and on both banks of the river to photograph birds, monkeys, or to have some other curiosity pointed out. We navigated lakes with water lily pads and flooded forests. We visited two different indigenous communities and a monkey rehabilitation sanctuary, and photographed humming birds, Macaws and Toucans, birds hiding in the trees or in flocks, and butterflies. I did a night walk in the rain forest and photographed frogs and sleeping morpho butterflies. We visited a indigenous cultures museum and shopped for unique crafts in Leticia.
We also loved the Coffee Region. This is a mountainous or hilly, moderate temperature, rain forest region with coffee, fruit orchards, avocados, etc., as well as national forest. It is beautiful and the climate is very pleasant when we visited (February). We visited a beautiful hillside farm, where we were shown a fabulous orchid collection and treated to a delicious lunch, and the farmhouse, where we watched many colorful birds and humming bird feed. We visited two very beautiful rural towns, Filandia and Salento, where we visited a basketry workshop/studio and were taught by a craftsman to weave small baskets. We stayed in a charming hotel at a farm in a national park in the Corcora valley and did an early morning birding exploration in the hills. And we visited a botanical garden, where we learned about the local ecology, with a large enclosed butterfly habitat where we could view native butterflies up close. Our last night was spent in Cartagena, in a fabulous hotel just adjacent to the old city. This is also very beautiful, historical, with a lot of shopping and fine dining, quite different from our previous experiences. (We didn't have time to investigate the beaches, but not our thing anyway.)
In almost all of our adventures we were accompanied by a driver and a guide. We have very little Spanish, but the guides spoke English, and all were super knowledgeable about birds and could identify them by their calls and spot them in the trees, as well as being knowledgeable about the local cultures and history. Though it is hard to single any out, Sergio Leones in Amazonia and Juan Camilo in the Coffee Region were truly outstanding, and we learned so much from them. But even the drivers seemed to have a great knowledge of their natural history and be able to spot the birds. Our small boat trip from Leticia to Punto Nariño to Leticia on our day of arrival was a fascinating adventure as our Spanish-only speaking boat driver made many stops to point out birds and other things along the way and we had a great time trying to communicate in hand waving, my tiny amount of Spanish, and an iPhone app.
Our accommodations were outstanding, although in Amazonia they were, as you would expect, a little less refined. All were beautiful and full of character. Particularly of note were Sazagua (in Pereira) and Sazagua Boutique (in Corcora), being beautiful and having great food, and our hotel in Cartagena.
Indeed, everywhere we went, the food was outstanding, and, as you would expect given our itinerary, of a great variety.
Did we feel safe in Colombia? Yes, certainly anywhere we went we had no concerns at all (although we were with guides most of the time). Indeed I found the Columbians we met to most generous, and, especially, to be extremely pleased to be able to share their beautiful country with us, along with its natural wonders.
Would we go back again? - YES. But, probably with a more relaxed schedule, doubling down on the things we liked the most, and with some new twist.
Last, but not least, many thanks to Margarita, our Kim-Kim local specialist, who suggested the itinerary, modified to our satisfaction, worked out all the details, hired the guides, made all the bookings, watched out for us throughput the trip, and was a model of efficiency and courtesy.