Kimkim Trip Reviews

The most memorable place was Veranasi and Udaipur. We were really happy with our driver Mr. Puran. He was really reliable and quite knowledgeable of all the places we went to with him.

Activity Review

Bathe, Paint and Feed - (Un-forgettable - experience with elephants!)

Jaipur

It was really special to connect with this amazing creatures. They seems to be treating the animal with dignity and respect.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sarah did an amazing job planning our 2 week trip in Croatia. We customized a KimKim itinerary and it was perfect for us. We visited Zagreb, Rovinj, Plitvicka National Park, Split, Havar and Dubrovnik with a stop in Pula to see the amphitheater. Highlights were: 2 wine tastings in Plesivica at small family owned wineries, truffle hunting (with dogs) at the Karlić family complex with great food afterwards, a walking tour of Ravinj with Dina, the Pula tour with Mariam, a food tour in Split with Kristina, Hvar island tour with Grgo (he and his family were terrific), a private boat tour around the islands between Spilt and Hvar, a walking tour in Dubrovnik, a little stop in Cavtat with Dora (she was very fun) then a private peka ("under the bell") lunch in the countryside. We had very nice drivers all throughout who picked us up on time and it was great to hear their stories of growing up and living in Croatia (thanks, Damir). Sarah and Ivan were available continually on WhatsApp and were quick to answer questions.
We ate well, saw so much of the country, met great people, and were impressed with everyone's pride in their country. I'd highly recommend using Sarah for your trip to Croatia, and anywhere else she plans!

Activity Reviews

Private Day Trip to Cavtat & Family Farm Day for Traditional Lunch or Dinner

Croatia

Dora drove us and she was fun to spend 4 hours with. Another local, she knew the area well. Cavtat was very cute, and we grabbed a coffee by the port. The Croatian meal was delicious, fresh and filling. The host didn't speak English very well, but Dora did. We got a tour of the kitchen and farmhouse which was nice.

Quality of Experience

Dora was great, the luncheon was delicious.

Quality of Experience

Dora was great, the luncheon was delicious.

Food

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Comfortable, personal.

Transport

Comfortable, personal.

Tour Dubrovnik's Old Town

Croatia

Djana took us around the Old Town for 2 hours. She knew the city well and had grown up there too. She helped us plan for the evening and the next day when we had some free time.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We walked.

Hvar Island Tour With lunch

Hvar

Grgo picked us up and took us all around the island. We went to his home for wine tasting and a charcuterie board. We met his family, which made us feel like old friends. We visited Jelsa, a little port town, then to an amazing outdoor restaurant called Dionis in the UNESCO farm fields and had a great dinner, meeting the owners. The food was wood oven prepared. Last we drove back to Hvar.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Grgo and the team in Hvar.

Transport

Comfortable van.

Private Motor Boat Excursion to Brač & the Pakleni Islands (end in Hvar)

Split

We had a lovely day on the boat. We met our skipper Nikola at the port, and traveled to the Pakleni Islands and Hvar. We brought cheese, bread and wine as weren't expecting to stop for lunch. That was great, but didn't leave much to do. The water was too cool for swimming, so we dropped anchor in a cute little port (with lots of sailboats) and had lunch on the boat. We ended early.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Split Walking Food Tour

Split

Kristina was a great guide. Another local, she knew the city well, too us around to shops and vendors, and shared a delicious meal.

Quality of Experience

Kristina made if fun, she was warm and personable.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We walked

Privately Guided Tour of Rovinj

Rovinj

Dina was lovely, knowledgeable and friendly. We learned a lot about Rovinj and history of the Istria.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We walked!

Truffle hunting experience in Istria

Croatia

Patrick was our truffle hunter and he did a great job explaining the process, how the dogs are raised, the family story, all of it. Ivana (second generation owner) cooked for us. She was quite entertaining and the food was great.

Quality of Experience

Beautiful facility, wonderful food, small group.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Zoran was a great driver. The staff at Karlic were amazing.

Transport

Zagreb wine tasting in the countryside with lunch

Zagreb

We went to the Jagunič and Braye wineries. They were different and wonderful. Both were family owned and we were hosted by the owners. At Jagunič we had a fabulous charcuterie board and at Braye we had another charcuterie board (oh my), duck confit with pasta, and a cherry dessert to die for. So good. The wine pours were generous.

Quality of Experience

Hearing from local owners, tasting wines we can't get in the US, the food!

Food

Fresh, local, unique

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zagreb Private Guided Walking Tour

Zagreb

Ned was a local and knew the city well. It was raining which made the tour a little less fun, but that wasn't his fault!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The trip to Denmark and Norway was incredible. The Kim Kim team did a great job organizing the hotels, tours and transfers. They were very responsive to any issues that came up. Tour guides Stig and John in Oslo and Bergen were wonderful.

Wonderful trip with my sister and 83 year old mother. Josse went over and beyond to make this a once in a lifetime trip. Our sincere Thank You!

Angela did an incredible job planning this trip with us. She really listened to our interests and developed a wonderful itinerary beginning in Athens with a mythological small group tour of Acropolis and other ancient sites with Kristina.We did a private half day walking food tour of neighborhoods in Athens with Elena. She was so knowledgeable about history, culture and of course food.
We moved on to Naxos and did a walking tour of old city with Katya. She had a wealth of information about architecture, history and cuisine of Naxos.
The following day we toured villages of Naxos. We sampled foods and climbed to ancient ruins, monasteries and other sites.
The last leg of trip was In Santorini. We spent a day away from caldera exploring other parts of Santorini and had a fabulous lunch with wine tasting in a garden. The final day was spent on a catamaran seeing the caldera from the water, swimming at different places along the caldera and ended with grilled dinner on the boat. Only 10 people and verycompetent crew.
It is hard to name each and every tour guide but I would say across the board, they were very knowledgeable, paced the day well and encouraged us to keep our steps up! There is a lot of walking and climbing. We are in our mid 70sand in good health. We felt challenged but not overwhelmed.

Hotel Reviews

Niche Hotel

Athens

Well located near major visiting sites. Built with archeological excavations visible from lobby. Fabulous rooftop restaurant. Perfect view of Acropolis. Attentive staff. Excellent breakfast served at rooftop restaurant.

Authenticity & Character

Seeing excavation sites as you walk in.

Location

Close to major sites

Staff

Very friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Immaculate

Above Blue Suites

Santorini

Highest point on caldera. Did not have to go anywhere to experience gorgeous sunsets. All could be seen from terrace.

Authenticity & Character

Rooms built into caldera itself.

Location

Top of caldera. Short walk to restaurants in town

Staff

Always there to help. They carried luggage up and down stairs, making easy check in and out

Cleanliness & Comfort

Well cared for.

Antony Suites

Naxos

Lovely quiet apartment steps from Aegean Sea and main part of Old town.

Authenticity & Character

Minimalist decor, relaxing

Location

Quick walk to Old town. Steps from beach

Staff

Anna greeted us and helped orient us with directions, restaurants etc

Cleanliness & Comfort

Utterly spotless and very quiet

Activity Reviews

HS Catamaran Sunset Cruise MD

Santorini

So special to see caldera from the water and get close up to volcanic rocks.

Quality of Experience

Extremely clean and comfortable vessel

Food

Well prepared food on board

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Crew members friendly and knowledgeable Cooked great dinner on board

Transport

Driver negotiated impossible roads. Comfortable vehicle

All time classic Santorini 2024

Greece

Excellent way to experience life in Santorini outside of caldera.

Quality of Experience

Variety of stops, red rock beach, museum, vineyard etc

Food

Great wine tasting with 3 course lunch in a beautiful garden setting

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very attentive to interests and pace of climbing

Transport

Comfortable and able to navigate impossibly narrow streets

Villages of Naxos and Beyond!

Naxos

So good to get outside of Ild town and experience village life beyond.

Quality of Experience

Visiting different villages and getting feel for local people and culture

Guides, Drivers and Staff

our our guide was very warm and knew so many of people we visited.

Transport

Very comfortable way to get around

Naxos Old Town, Castle & Portara Walking Tour

Naxos

Katya helped us understand both ancient and contemporary history of Naxos.

Quality of Experience

Ended with wine and cheese tasting!!!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Katya made day so interesting. Easy to get lost in maze of Castle. She gave us useful landmarks

The City Streets & Great Eats of Athens Tour

Greece

Excellent way to explore Athens. Visited neighborhoods we might not have found.

Quality of Experience

Fun and informative

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide Elena knew so many of people we met along the food tour. This made it very personal

Athens Highlights Mythology Tour

Greece

Excellent information. Well paced given lots of walking. Very knowledgeable guide

Quality of Experience

Excellent orientation to city

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very knowledgeable in terms of art, architecture and history

Our group of 4 had a magical encounter with Morocco. Our tour guide, Omar Daoudi, set the tone: welcoming, hospitable, knowledgeable, a fabulous driver, full of pride for Morocco - particularly Berber - culture. We quickly became a group of 5. All of our accommodations were excellent; Riad El Amine and Kasbah Tiziri were standouts. Maryem put together a balanced itinerary of urban and rural. We learned a lot about local history and culture from our many tour guides, yet it was Omar who was able to pull the local particulars into a broader context and level of understanding. Morocco has a rich and varied culture…there’s a lot to process! It was a special treat to meet Sharon and Maryem from Morocco Immersion. The woman who took us to the market, had us in her home in Marrakech, and prepared the most delicious meal of our trip is especially memorable. There were so many highlights. I loved the desert camel ride!

Hotel Reviews

Riad Madu Premium Camp

Merzouga

The desert camp near Merzouga was a beautiful location, providing a peaceful camel ride experience under clear blue skies. However, one employee's demeanor was off-putting, lacking hospitality. The camp was smaller and offered a more intimate desert atmosphere compared to some larger camps we passed.

Kasbah Tiziri

Kelaat Mgouna

The owner purchased this kasbah in bad condition and spent 7 years restoring it to magnificent condition. The owners are super hospitable; the rooms are beautiful, with Berber rugs; the outdoor courtyard has many features, including a beautiful fountain, garden and dining area; there is great detail to indoor and outdoor architectural elements; the food is delicious!

Authenticity & Character

It gave us a sense of the importance of a kasbah in a small rural village.

Location

Very much tucked away. It was a surprise to find it in a small rural village.

Staff

Very hospitable and welcoming. Offered to do some laundry, which was a special treat.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Immaculate, both in and outdoors. Very comfortable, beautifully decorated room.

Riad El Amine Fès

Fes

A gorgeous read with outstanding service.

Authenticity & Character

Everything about its architecture and decor was sumptuous.

Location

It was easy to get to from our parking.

Staff

Welcoming, attentive, respectful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Immaculate, spacious, elegant

Activity Reviews

Private Cooking Class w/ Souk Tour

Morocco

It was lovely being in a private home with a master chef of Moroccan cooking. Her college-age daughter helped with cooking, spoke good English, and added to the experience.

Quality of Experience

Every aspect of this, from market to being in the kitchen helping a bit, to eating in a private home, was wonderful.

Food

Amazing! The best meal of the trip.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The hostess is an amazing cook and in particular focused on the spices.

Transport

Omar knew the neighborhood well, so it was easy. It was nice to have an experience outside the Medina.

Merzouga to Dades Valley Via Todgha Gorge

Morocco

We had beautiful accommodations at the Desert Camp, but the lead staff person was a bit snarly.

Quality of Experience

We arrived at the desert camp a bit late, which may have compromised the hospitality of our arrival.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The staff who checked our passports and was our dinner and breakfast server was unfriendly, truly the only unfriendly person of our entire trip.

Transport

We had pretty wild 4-wheel drive rides to the desert. It was rough but good-spirited.

Fes to Merzouga via Ifraine and Azrou - Camel Trek to Desert Camp

Morocco

We had beautiful weather for our camel ride so we didn’t need any scarves, but still it was fun to wear a scarf Berber style. The camels were docile and obedient to our leader. I loved the beauty and peacefulness of the desert. I thoroughly enjoyed the camel ride.

Quality of Experience

Well-trained camels and a perfect day to be in the desert.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

A sweet young man.

Transport

I loved the camel ride.

Guided Tour of Fes

Fes

I enjoyed both the pottery and leather/fabrics tours. Fès-Meknès is rightly proud of its work in these fields.

Quality of Experience

Fes is a very large city with a lot to see.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Omar knows all of the local guides used by Morocco Immersion, so there are easy handoffs. Our tour guide was a lifelong resident of Fes. He shared a lot of information about the Islamic faith.

Transport

Our time in Fes was mostly on foot. No vehicles are allowed in the Medina.

Hike to Cascade d'Akchour

Chefchaouen

The ride to and from the hike was scenic and we got to see lots of traditional wood burning bread ovens along the way.

Quality of Experience

The many stops along the hike where there are sitting areas beside small waterfalls and get food and drinks. There is no need to go to the top of the trail to enjoy the hike.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Omar was our guide…the best!

Transport

It was a fairly long ride to and from Chefchaouen, but it was lovely, green scenery.

Morning Guided Tour of Rabat

Rabat

Omar said our tour guide was not Morocco Immersion’s regular tour guide, but I would rate him as our best local tour guide. The gardens and museums inside the kasbah were wonderful.

Quality of Experience

Our riad was in a convenient location, and we got our first glimpse of the royal life of the King.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Outstanding local guide.

Transport

Omar navigated the varied stops and traffic effortlessly.

We discovered Scotland to be its own brand of magnificence, from city to rural and windswept scapes over the Isle of Skye. Not sure we have ever enjoyed seeing a country as much as this and the help from our KimKim team made that possible as they catered an itinerary unique to what we wished to see and do and where to travel. We especially loved the daily itinerary with maps downloaded and vouchers already paid and available for some of the sights (Edinburgh castle and Uruguart Castle along Loch Ness) and our arranged hiking guide, Mark, who took us to the Hidden Valley near Glencoe was terrific. Among our main criticisms was that, over the course of our making arrangements there were four separate people supporting the plans as several 'left' the company and that made coordination a confusion. We also were very disappointed with some of the accommodations (in fact, one was simply unacceptable: dirty, six flights of stairs, cold and paint peeling off walls in a town far from our stop in Inverness) so had to book our own en route. I would definitely use KimKim for the many details of arranging a visit as broad as ours but would only book accommodations on one's own. A second stay, rated as four stars, was the equivalent of a motel travelodge in the States and a third, in Isle of Skye, had a room we could barely both stand at once with our luggage!
Overall, it was a remarkable visit and many of the arrangements were satisfactory (car rental easy, arrangements for afternoon tea in Edinburgh on a rainy afternoon delightful) but often rather jam-packed (we like to wander to discover) and the lodging was sub-standard but for our own arranged hotels. The change in hands before and then during the trip made it rather challenging to know who was actually in charge but, in the end, Jane made good on our expressed disappointments and displeasure with accommodations at our final stay in Glasgow and escalated the concerns to ensure our trip went well overall. We would probably not be inclined to use KimKim again as a result of these concerns but are quite satisfied with the visit in general and would recommend Scotland to anyone curious to see a country of beauty, tranquility, castles, tea and whiskey and landscapes broad as the sky.

We booked our honeymoon through Rutopia via the KimKim platform. It was the worst decision that we made during the entire wedding planning experience. Rutopia claim to be in-country experts who know the towns and indigenous communities of Mexico. That couldn't have been LESS true.

Almost all of the activities that we did were subcontracted through one, if not two, other companies. No wonder they charged us so much to do so little. Every single thing that Rutopia booked went wrong. I wish that was an exaggeration. Here are just a few examples:

- The hotel they had booked for us in Oaxaca was a glorified hostel that they had sold as a 4-star, luxury hotel with a pool. When we sent Rutopia photos of the water damage in the room and the hostel-like bathroom complete with torn shower curtain, they told us there were no other hotels in Oaxaca. A quick search showed it was in fact low season and most hotels were not only fully available, but discounted. We had to find and book our own hotel as Rutopia refused to offer any help or advice. When we asked if anyone from their team had ever actually been to the hotels they booked, they never replied. We were given a refund for the original hotel but this only emphasized how little of the over $10,000 that we had paid was being used to pay for our accommodation.

- On our first day trip (which started with a 3-hour drive (which we expected)), the driver wasn't given cash to pay for the toll road so we had to drive along the backroads over potholes and about a million speed bumps. It was only when we asked the driver why he was ignoring the instructions that his Google maps was giving him to get on the highway that he revealed that he didn't have the cash to pay the toll. We paid for it on the return trip and we were eventually reimbursed but, again, only after having to raise the issue with Rutopia. A $20 toll should be included in a $10,000 holiday.

- All of our transfers to the airport were booked 4 hours prior to the flight, leaving us more than 2 hours to kill at the gate, including for a 7 am flight. When we told them we don't need nearly that much time, the reply was that the transport company was busy and had to fit us in when it worked for them. We chose to cancel the remaining transfer and pay the $7 Uber to the airport instead.

- They even messed up the logistics on the experiences that are designed specifically by Rutopia (not subcontracted). On one day trip, they set the start time too late and we missed two-thirds of the activity. It was supposed to be an immersive amaranth experience starting with a nature hike followed by an amaranth cooking class and lunch. When we asked the hosts about the hike, they told us we'd arrived too late. The day trip turned out to be an hour drive, a "cooking class" that was about 20 minutes of mixing puffed amaranth with honey and making it into shapes with cookie cutters and then a homemade lunch of meatballs with amaranth as a thickener. The drive was longer than the "experience".

Every time something went wrong, Rutopia offered no help. We were completely on our own and had to foot the bill for their mistakes.

We decided to work with a travel agent for our honeymoon so we could relax and not have to deal with any potential issues. Sadly the only issue we had to deal with was a horribly incompetent travel agency who sold us a shoestring budget holiday for the price of a luxury vacation. Our initial experience was positive, we had a number of calls with a representative and we described what kind of trip we were looking for and the type of activities and hotels that we hoped for. Sadly it seems that this was just a front. Almost none of what we had spoken about was taken into account and a trip of a lifetime for 2 honeymooners who have travelled extensively before and are food lovers became more akin to a first time traveler's poorly planned budget holiday.

Hotel Reviews

Zócalo Central

Mexico City

Gorgeous location right in the heart of Mexico City. The view from the rooftop restaurant is incredible. Breakfast is spectacular. The rooms are full of character and very comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Real Maestranza

Guadalajara

The hotel is quite old and a bit run down. It is right in the heart of Guadalajara but in an area that is abandoned after dark. The reception said it was not safe to walk out of the hotel after dark and insisted we take taxis or Ubers from the door of the hotel. Would not stay here again and definitely would not recommend it.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Fives Oceanfront

Quintana Roo

Beautiful hotel with a fabulous rooftop pool overlooking the sea! Great snorkeling trips leaving right from the beach. Easy walk to incredible local restaurants! Breakfast is fabulous. Rooms are big and very comfortable. The travel planner we worked with did not want us to stay at this hotel and we had to specifically request it.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Oaxaca Real Hotel

Oaxaca

If you are travelling on a budget, this is likely a good choice instead of a hostel. If you are looking for a nice place to stay, definitely look elsewhere.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

The ultimate Taco Crawl of Mexico City

Mexico City

We went to three different taco places throughout downtown Mexico City and tried 1-2 tacos at each. Drinks were not offered. The whole experience lasted about an hour and a half. The tacos were all fantastic and I doubt we would have found the places on our own! It would have been nice to learn a bit more about the different tacos and the history of the places.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Chef's Table Experiencie

Mexico City

We loved this!! It was so cool to sit right at the kitchen and see each of the dishes being made while the chefs themselves explained how they were cooking them and told us about the ingredients they were using. The food was FANTASTIC!! Rutopia booked the vegetarian menu for us which was a bit odd as we are not vegetarians. But we love vegetables so it was delicious!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Shared biking experience through Teotihuacan "The City of the Gods"

Mexico City

Teotihuacan is definitely worth visiting! And cycling was the best way to see as much as we could in one day. Unfortunately our guide was not very good. He didn't seem to know much about the site and constantly contradicted himself. It felt a bit like he was making it all up as he went along. He was not very friendly and didn't give much information about what was going on or where we were going or what was going to happen.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Forest Benefits Trail & Huautli Experience: Knowing Amaranth

San Pablo Etla

This might have been a cool experience but Rutopia mismanaged it. We didn't get to do the forest benefits trail or hike. The "cooking class" was pretty disappointing. We didn't get to see amaranth growing or what the plant looks like. The hosts of the experience were very nice but this is really oversold.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day trip to Tequila and Tlaquepaque - Custom experience for Amy and Sam

Guadalajara

This experience was subcontracted through a local company called Sensaciones Turisticas. Our guide, Ada, was fantastic! We loved the horseback riding through the agave fields!! It would have been nice to visit the actual town of Tequila. We started with a visit to the distillery Cofradia. It was very cool to see the process of how tequila is made! Unfortunately our guide for the visit didn't know very much about the process and wasn't able to answer any of our questions. I was still very cool to see the distillery! We then did a tequila tasting followed by a very tasty lunch. After that we left the tequila area and went to Tlaquepaque, an artist town just outside of Guadalajara. It was very cool! But I wish this had been two separate days. One of the main reasons we chose to go to Mexico on our honeymoon was to learn more about tequila. This was front and center of all of our conversations with our travel planner. It would have been nice to spend the whole day in Tequila. The highlight of the day (tied with riding through the agave fields) was a surprise Mariachi serenade at dinner! It was so special. Thank you Ada!!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit a peaceful cenote and enjoy traditional mayan food

Yokdzonot

The cenote was very cool. We came here after a long (and very hot!) morning at Chichen Itza. We had about 30 minutes to swim before lunch. It was very refreshing! The food was fine but nothing special. No one explained anything about the food or why it was traditional. This is just a self-led swim followed by a set menu at a restaurant.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Chichén Itzá: A Wonder of the Mayan World

Mexico

Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and we learned so much! The drive was long (which is fine!) but our driver took the backroads to avoid paying the toll. The toll road is a new, sleek highway. The backroads go through all the little villages on a road that is plagued with potholes and speedbumps. Neither of us usually get carsick but were both green by the time we arrived.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide at Chichen Itza was hugely knowledgeable. He wasn't friendly, but he really knew his stuff which allowed us to appreciate so much more this incredible site.

Transport

Dining recommendations in Puerto Morelos

Puerto Morelos

We were given 3 restaurant recommendations and they were the most touristy spots in the whole area. We ended up not going to them as they didn't have any of the local foods on the menu and were about twice the price of everywhere else in town.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jay has been fantastic booking our Infia trip . We are a group of 4 and he managed to satisfy all of our differing requests

We had an amazing family trip to Europe and could not have pulled it off myself without the help of Mathilde! She had ideas for activities that I never would have known existed or come up with on my own. I was also very nervous about booking a trip for 6 people ranging in ages from 7 to 70, traveling to three countries I was not familiar with. Mathilde took care of everything and the entire trip went smoothly. She was very responsive and followed up in a timely manner.

In Paris, the macaron cooking class with Marthe in her apartment was incredible. She taught us how to make the amazing macarons and gave us the recipes to try making them at home. It was a fun activity to do together as a family and everyone participated in making the macarons.

Our private guided bike ride through Paris with Thibeau was so much fun! We had fun activities to do, got to hear interesting facts and history directly from him, and was able to see so much. The bikes were comfortable to ride for everyone and the tandem attachment worked out well for our 7 year old (both to keep her from running into other bikers/cars and to make sure she wouldn't get tired).

When our trains cancelled from Amsterdam to Ahaus, Germany, Mathilde quickly responded with other options. We ended up renting a vehicle from Amsterdam to Ahaus, which worked out perfectly (even better than the trains would have).

In Amsterdam, we started with a canal boat ride, which was a great way to see different parts of the city and learn about them. We all had an amazing time on the Zaanse Schans tour. The tour guide, Bianca, was fabulous. We had more fun then we expected seeing how the wooden shoes were made, sampling the different types of Gouda cheese, and seeing the windmills in operation. We could have spent several more hours there. We also enjoyed the Van Gogh museum. It was an easy city to navigate and everything was in walking distance.

Overall, it was an amazing trip that everyone will remember. I will definitely use kimkim again for our big travel needs!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel NH City Center Amsterdam

Amsterdam

Super nice hotel in a great location! The rooms were very nice, the hotel was clean in the rooms and public spaces, and the breakfast was phenomenal. It was nice that it had a bar with food for other hours of the day as well for those that were tired and didn't feel like venturing out. The hotel staff was also very friendly.

Authenticity & Character

Right in the heart of everything.

Location

All of the main attractions that we wanted to visit were no more than a 20-25 minute walk. Plenty of cafes nearby and we were right by one of the canals.

Staff

Super friendly staff at the front desk and at the hotel bar/breakfast area.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was clean. The beds were a bit firm compared to other places we stayed at so that would be the only thing I didn't like (but willing to overlook due to all the other great amenities).

Hôtel Lorette - Astotel

Paris

Nice, clean and quiet hotel. There were several cafes nearby and very close to the metro. The breakfasts were amazing and everyone enjoyed the daily snacks that they had to offer. I would highly recommend.

Authenticity & Character

Modern with nice decor.

Location

Nearby to many cafes and the metro.

Staff

The front desk staff was very nice and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Comfortable beds and the public areas of the hotel were very clean as well.

Activity Reviews

Van Gogh Museum: skip-the-line entrance ticket

Amsterdam

If you like art, this is a great place to visit! My husband is a huge Van Gogh fan so this was one of his must do activities in Amsterdam. I wasn't as excited to go here but I was very impressed with the museum. The audio guides made it much more interesting and I enjoyed learning his story and the background on his paintings. I now have a much bigger appreciation for Van Gogh and his artwork than I did before this visit. There was an activity for younger kids (kind of like a scavenger hunt) that made it more engaging for our 7 year old. She turned in her completed booklet at the end as was able to pick a postcard of her favorite painting!

Quality of Experience

Great museum that tells the story of Van Gogh.

Zaanse Schans Small-Group Half-Day Tour from Amsterdam

Amsterdam

This turned out to be more fun than we imagined. It was a small village with a lot to see and do. Everyone in our group enjoyed it. It's about a half hour drive from the city so you only spend about two hours there. Those two hours went fast as we watched how wooden clogs are made, got a demo on how they make Gouda cheese (and then sampled all the different kinds!), and then visited one of the working windmills. The time we were there went really fast and we could have easily spent another couple of hours there.

Quality of Experience

It was so fun to see all of these traditional and famous activities.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was very friendly and did a good job getting us from place to place so we could see as much as possible.

Transport

The bus was comfortable and had seat belts for everyone.

Amsterdam Canal Cruise

The Netherlands

This was a great way to see and hear about the different places along the canals. It is such a beautiful city and is even more beautiful from the canals. We enjoyed a glass of wine/beer while listening to the audio and taking in the sights.

Quality of Experience

Great way to learn about the different places in Amsterdam.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The boat driver was friendly and interesting to listen to.

Transport

The boat was nice and clean.

Private Family Bike Trip

Paris

I was looking forward to this before we arrived but it turned out to be even more fun than I expected. Our guide, Thibeau, was fantastic and made it a lot of fun. We saw so many great sights and learned a lot from T on our tour. The stop at the market for lunch was also very nice. Another 15 minutes in the market would have been great (but that might have been cut short because we arrived late to start the tour). The bikes were really nice and comfortable to ride all day. They all looked new and in great condition. We used a tandem attachment for our 7 year old, which worked out great and prevented her from wandering into other bike/car traffic and gave her an easy way to rest if she got tired. The fun activities and challenges along the ride made it even more memorable. My kids really got into it. There were medals at the end that will be a great souvenir for them! One of the bikes got a flat tire during the tour because we ran over a screw. It was not an issue and our guide immediately sprang into action and repaired the tire quickly and got us back on our way.

Quality of Experience

Great bikes and a well planned tour!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was very friendly, knowledgeable, and interacted well with our family.

Macaron Cooking Class

Paris

This was a super fun activity that was enjoyed by all! Marthe was great and was definitely an expert at making macarons. She shared all of the tips to make perfect macarons that you will not find in the cookbooks. Everyone in our party, ranging in ages from 7-70, were able to participate and help. She shared all of the recipes with us at the end so we can try to make them at home on our own. They were definitely some of the best macarons that I have ever had! She even gave us recommendations of places to eat for afterwards!

Quality of Experience

Marthe had everything ready to go and it was a very smooth process.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Marthe was exceptionally knowledgeable.

Louvre Museum in Paris: entrance tickets & audioguides

Paris

No trip to Paris is complete without a visit to the Louvre to see the famous works of art and an incredible building. It is nearly impossible to see it all because it is so big. The audio guides were helpful to learn more about the art.

Quality of Experience

Seine River Cruise with Audio Guide

Paris

Great activity for the end of the first day, when everyone was tried from traveling and walking. It was a great way to see the big attractions that were along the Seine River and to learn a little about them. The audio guides were a little more difficult to figure out how to use and some of them did not seem to work well.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Arc de Triomphe - Skip the line ticket

Paris

This was a great place to visit upon arriving to Paris. Great views of the city and a lot of things to do in the area.

Quality of Experience

Nice to have the tickets and not have to stand in line to buy them!

Our trip to the Parthenon was SPECTACULAR & our guide was beyond knowledgeable. Learned many new & interesting facts about this guided tour. Our guide in Naxos was so very friendly & just fun to be around. She didn’t rush us through the tour & the lunch/dinner with her was informative & so very interesting . Our guide in Santorini was also friendly & very informative. We felt she really enjoyed being with us & sharing her knowledge of the wine tour. Our day trip on the catamaran was over the top enjoyable & definitely FUN!!! This was a wonderful experience touring just a small part of your exhilarating country. Thank you for this trip of a lifetime 🤩

Hotel Review

Ippokampos Beachfront Hotel

Naxos

The accommodations were FANTASTIC!! The view was SPECTACULAR! The service at the restaurant was EXCELLENT! The beach and sunset views were AMAZING! Couldn’t ask for anything better.

Authenticity & Character

The cleanliness & friendly staff.

Location

The view….

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The entire hotel!!

Activity Review

Premium Sunset Catamaran Cruise in the Caldera lagoon

Santorini

The staff on board was accommodating & informative .

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Always there at the designated time & location.

This was such a beautiful and memorable trip. Eirini included some wonderful ideas like the winery dinner, the cooking class, a food tour in Bologna with Darren etc. Our guide Marta was wonderful in Monterregioni and San G, we loved her! We had a driver that same day Paulo that was so wonderful, we adored him. Torciano Winery took great care of us!
Overrall lovely trip! The only thing we would consider is that the accommodation in Chianti was so beautiful but unfortunately not anything to do at the hotel itself. The staff was very kind but they weren't well versed in things to do, how to get around or anything to recommend in the nearby area or town (Colle). We had some extra days to ourselves but due to limited food options at hotel we would walk to the nearby town as it was too difficult to get a car at that time.
Also, we arranged through Barbara a last minute driver for Modena (lamborghini & ferrari factories). This was so fun! Thankfully the last minute request was fulfilled and that is the best part of KimKim -- you guys are available to help like this when we need!
Thank you again! Perhaps next time we will try another part of Italy! And I am sure we will continue to book through you!

Hotel Reviews

Relais Della Rovere

Colle di Val d'Elsa

Extremely enchanting hotel in Chianti. Large, spacious rooms. The staff was quite nice -- the kitchen/bar/restaurant staff Chef Luca and the other two gentlemen - the Italian person and the Moroccan man were wonderful too (sorry forgot their names). The ladies at breakfast were also great. Their heating/AC is on one system so unfortunately they turned the AC on to accommodate guests that were cold and wanted heat. This was a little uncomfortable for me but they provided a fan when I asked them why heat was on. The place was always clean and pleasant. A little activity would be nice -- perhaps a happy hour special with treats for guests or something else to give it a little oomph as it was very quiet with not a lot of activity so if you did not have things arranged with a car there was not much to do at this hotel (it was too cold for swimming). Amazing place!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Orto de' Medici

Florence

Great staff, beautiful rooms!! Wonderful location too Just wish their bar was open beyond 830pm (That's early for a hotel bar!)

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Brun

Bologna

Beautiful hotel, perfect location & great staff!! LOVED the rooms!!! Also loved that minibar was free. THANK YOU!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Bologna Market & Food Tour

Italy

Great tour with Chef Darren. He accommodated the vegetarians which was nice. He was informative. He did walk very fast. He was great though. Hope to see him again there!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Secret Side of Florence Walking Tour

Florence

This was a great tour. The city was still quite full so it was hard to maneuver through everything but our guide did a good job,

Quality of Experience

Cooking Class in Chianti

Chianti

This was a fun experience. We loved Chef Luca! The one thing we would change is that after the class, the food was taken away, later cooked and then served to us at the restaurant. It would be nice to eat right after and have a special place to sit after to enjoy. Or perhaps maybe eat the antipasti first while the sauce and pasta are being cooked for us. We waited quite a bit to eat after as the restaurant was busy. I would probably take away the panzanella recipe for next time. We all used our hands and then when the food was taken away, we got it back later and it was served to us...it felt a little odd.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Winery Cave Dinner & Tasting

Italy

Torciano Winery is so fun & amazing! I would recommend and also go there again. Letizia was very engaging through our cave dinner and so kind! Michela on the staff was also such a sweetheart and accommodating. We LOVED it!! The food was also delicious --- the truffle pasta and the LASAGNA!! WOW

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Tour of San Gimignano & Monteriggioni

Italy

We love Marta! She was smart, charismatic, patient and felt like a natural part of our group in fact! We recommend her again and again. She knew so much about wine too and we appreciated her!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Driver at disposal in Tuscany

Italy

This was Paulo! He was wonderful! So sweet and patient!! We tried to book him another day but his company then cancelled on us after we booked it. Too bad.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Amazing tours and tour guides! My close friend and I really had a wonderful time in Peru due to the great planning of Liz Karen, the tour operator Lisabeth, and the tour guides. The food tour in Lima with Sue was full of great food and lots of laughs. The tour from Cusco to Ollantaytambo and the Cusco city tours with Manuel was full of interesting information, great food, and he was such a friendly guy with a lot of knowledge. The highlight was Macchu Picchu with Javier - a kind, caring, and friendly tour guide who answered all our questions and made sure we had a great experience. All around just a great time. Thank you!!

Hotel Reviews

Holiday Inn Lima Airport

Lima

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Antigua Casona San Blas

Cusco

Authenticity & Character

Location

I

Staff

Very friendly staff - very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

El Mapi by Inkaterra

Cusco

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

El Albergue Ollantaytambo Boutique Hotel

Cusco

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pullman Lima Miraflores

Miraflores, Lima

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Walking tour to The Pre-Columbian Art Museum & Qoricancha

Cusco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Machu Picchu & Return to Cusco (Private Guided tour in Machu Picchu) SV

Peru

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Ollantaytambo, Pachamanca Farm Tour & Observatory train to Machu Picchu town

Peru

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

NVFlight & transfer to The {{end_location}}: Private tour & Lunch with views

Peru

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Shared Lima Dining Experience: Culture, Flavor & Style (PM)

Lima

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

In a word, this trip for four friends was "wow." First thanks need to go to Maryem, who graciously revised reservations both when we changed the number of folks traveling and also when our airline cancelled our original flight, and all riads and tours had to be rebooked. Maryem was also great at answering questions and helping us prepare for the trip.

General observations. Our timing (late September-early October) was perfect. Weather was sunny and hot, but not unbearable. We packed rather modest clothing (legs and shoulders covered) but saw that for many tourists, anything goes. Nevertheless, we felt we were being respectful of our host country. We were vigilant about keeping bottled water with us. Most, but not all, accommodations provided it. There was a lot of time spent in the car whenever we were between cities. But there was also much to see. The architecture and landscapes were fascinating to watch, and we had many short stops. You want to have coins and toilet paper handy at those stops!

Best of the Best. Our local guide in Rabat (and I'm sorry I can't remember his name) was so personable and knowledgeable
and got us off to a great start with not just the local but also the country's history and political setting. The riad in Fès (Riad El Amine Fès) was so gorgeous and had such wonderful service that we were tempted to spend the rest of our tour, if not our lives, there. Learning about the ancient irrigation system in Toudgha El Oulia was one of just many great geographic experiences. We really did get into the geography of Morocco in general.

And the top award goes to our "tour manager", Omar, who was superb at navigating our car through all kinds of traffic, including donkey carts and the gendarmerie. Omar was responsible, caring, personable, funny, and always on the lookout to take advantage of serendipity. For instance, we stopped at a "fantasia" at the Ouezzane Airport, getting to experience a local festival that probably few tourists see. His sharing of Berber culture, Moroccan history, and his family's story all helped to make those car trips speed along. It was hard to say goodbye!

Hotel Reviews

Riad La Croix Berbère Luxe

Marrakech

Great rooms! Wonderful location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The person welcoming us decided to focus on me and make a fuss over me. I think he was trying to be teasing, but I was tired and not in the mood to engage, and he wouldn't quit. That was the only unpleasant experience. In general, the staff was were helpful, particularly in making sure we knew how to get to and from the riad.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad El Palacio

Chefchaouen

This hotel was in a good location but not in really good shape. Our closet had no pole for hanging clothing. Water was not provided. (The host told us the drinking water was safe; our tour guide went out and got water for us.) There were no towels in our room, nor in the room of one of our companions. When we returned from dinner, we were given terry cloth spa robes that had just been laundered and were still a bit damp to take to our rooms. I probably would rather not stay there again.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad El Amine Fès

Fes

This place was just fantastic! The public areas were sumptuous, the rooms were lovely, the service was superb. We gladly ate dinner there both nights we stayed.

Authenticity & Character

The central garden/public area is full of daylight and charm. And all around are smaller rooms for dining or relaxing.

Location

Staff

The wait staff was attentive and personable. The hotel host (a woman) was attentive to us and our desires. We really felt like we were important company.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Morning Guided Tour of Rabat

Rabat

The morning guided tour of Rabat was excellent. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable, particularly about history, and it really enhanced our understanding and enjoyment of Rabat and Morocco in general. This was the best local tour we had during our trip, and I highly recommend it.

Hike to Cascade d'Akchour

Chefchaouen

The hike to Cascade d'Akchour turned out to be a wonderful experience, far better than its description suggested. We were hesitant at first due to concerns about the distance (10 miles round trip), but the actual walk was full of beautiful sights, local interactions, and peaceful places to rest and enjoy freshly squeezed orange juice. The drive to the hiking start point was equally fascinating, with insights into local bread ovens.

Yassine and Said (Driver) were amazing!

Yassine provided great information with short turnaround times before and during our trip.

Said, our driver in Morocco, exceeded my expectations! Said is one of the most kind and thoughtful people I have ever met in my life. I felt very safe and comfortable during my two week trip, and it was really because of Said and his exceptional service and personality. His English is also great - his pronunciation and grammar were exceptional! It was very easy to understand him. I felt like I was talking to an American. Said is also really more than just a driver; he is now a lifelong friend, and he should really be a tour guide because he provided us with great information about his country and shared many personal stories to share about Moroccan culture and history. My friends and I cried when we had to part ways with Said because we enjoyed his company so much. The only complaint I have is that Said's boss assigned him to another job for our last day. Therefore, we got assigned a different driver our last day, and Said was not able to drop us off at the airport. I wish we just had Said the entire trip. Anyone would be lucky to work with Said! I am also hoping you can forward this review to Said and Said's boss. Said deserves all the great recognition in the world because he really went above and beyond to make sure we were taken care of during our trip! If not, please let me know who I can contact to make sure this information gets passed along to Said and his boss. Thank you!

All the guides in Croatia were great, to include Dubrovnik, Hvar, Split, Montenegro, Mostar, and Rovinj.
There was one lady guide for city tour in (Kotor), who was very distracted and on her phone quite a bit
Overall, our 6 people group had a great time.
I do suggest preparing folks regarding lot and lot of walking on cobblestone pathways, that are very tiring. We were walking at least 15-20,000 steps a day, every single day we were in Croatia, and this included climbing high stone steps and uphill walks.
I highly recommend this tour as it is gorgeous, but with days of rest in between

Hotel Reviews

Grand Hotel Union

Ljubljana

Great Hotel in downtown. Lovely hotel with easy access to all sites and food

Authenticity & Character

Old hotel, but very well maintained

Location

Downtown

Staff

Everyone were amazing

Cleanliness & Comfort

Good comfortable beds but not the best breakfast

Hotel Angelo d'Oro

Rovinj

Not a great curb appeal with no elevator

Authenticity & Character

It is an old style nice place with good decor but with no elevators

Location

Cobblestone path to downtown is hard to walk on and carry luggage

Staff

Staff was reasonable, but did not accommodate my request for a larger room, when our rooms were booked way ahead in advance

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were clean and tidy, but bathroom was also very small

Cornaro Hotel

Split

Beautiful Hotel. Great in and out

Authenticity & Character

Great appeal

Location

Close to downtown and very approachable to various sites

Staff

Very helpful and caring staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Comfortable bed with clean sheets and good breakfast

Amfora Hvar Grand Beach Resort

Hvar

Good Hotel, but very tiny rooms for a 4****.

Authenticity & Character

Good location and outside appeal

Location

Close to downtown with walking distance to eating places

Staff

Very nice and dedicated team

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was good except too small rooms

Hotel Neptun Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik

Good comfortable rooms and great staff

Authenticity & Character

Clean rooms. Good breakfast

Location

Close to downtown that helps reach various sites easier

Staff

Respectful and caring

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds were comfortable with clean sheets. Bathroom could be better as water spills out a lot

Activity Reviews

Day Trip to the Caves & Beaches of Vis Island by boat

Croatia

Green cave was awesome, but due to high tide could not visit blue caves

Quality of Experience

Lovely experience as the boat guide was awesome

Guides, Drivers and Staff

All of them were great

Transport

Very comfortable Mercedes 6 seater

Day Trip to Montenegro

Dubrovnik

Quality of Experience

Beautiful little island, worth visiting if visiting Croatia

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Driver was one of the best and very accommodating

Transport

Comfortable Mercedes Van

Tour Dubrovnik's Old Town

Croatia

Quality of Experience

Beautiful sarroundings

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Easy to deal with and caring

Transport

Good Mercedes Van

It was my first solo trip, and I chose Korea (Seoul, Busan, and Jeju Island) as my destination. The trip lasted two weeks. It was my first time working with the KimKim agency, and Jessica was my travel agent. She did an amazing job planning and suggesting activities that I would not have thought of doing if I had planned it on my own. She was quick to respond to my needs, especially within the three months’ notice before my departure. Jessica was very accommodating and made changes to the schedule as needed. I liked how the itinerary included a little bit of everything. She organized a variety of activities, from popular tourist attractions like Bukchon Hanok Village, Haeundae Sky Capsule, and Nami Island, to outdoor adventures such as paragliding near Busan, hiking at Bukhansan National Park (highly recommend), and fishing on Jeju Island. All the drivers and guides were punctual and accommodating, ensuring that I was taken to and from the airport, hotel, and my planned activities. Before leaving for my trip, Jessica provided a thorough outline not only of my itinerary but also a mini cheat sheet with what to expect in Korea and useful phrases to learn. Learning these phrases was very helpful, and I used them daily at restaurants and cafes.

Our family recently returned from an unforgettable trip to Japan. We were fortunate to have Angel, our host from Kim Kim, who was nothing short of exceptional. Her attention to detail, thoughtful planning, and excellent communication ensured that every part of our trip was seamless. Angels’ involvement played a huge role in making our family trip, a group of 10 people, very smooth.

Our local tour guides, Yumi and Hiroko, were friendly, knowledgeable, flexible and they cared about our experience. They were always ready to adjust the itinerary to suit our preferences, which made the experience even more enjoyable for everyone.

The sites we visited in Japan far exceeded our expectations. Mt Fuji, Tokyo at night, Shrines, Temples, traditional Kyoto and modern Osaka; each destination was a perfect blend of modern and traditional Japan.

Overall, we couldn’t recommend Kim Kim and our host Angel enough for anyone considering a trip to Japan. The combination of personalized service, insightful guides and expert planning made our family vacation a truly exceptional experience.

Our trip went very smoothly; all accommodations were excellent. Abdellah, our local specialist was very responsive, answering our questions very promptly. Illyach, our driver was amazing.! He always was on time and was friendly and engaging. He also was very patient with all of our questions. All and all we had a great time. Thanks again!

Clothide helped us put together a memorable two week Fall trip to Switzerland. We were a party of 8 - ranging from mid-thirties to early 70’s. She was incredibly patient and helpful, as it took us some time to decide what we wanted to do/see.
The final itinerary worked out perfectly. The guides for the tours she arranged were all fabulous (LaVaux Vineyards, Thun Castle, Lauterbrunnen walking tour, Lucerne evening city tour). The advance purchase of the tickets for Gornergrat, Matterhorn, Jungfraujoch and Mount Pilatus made these excursions seamless.
She also arranged for the use of AlpTransfer for most of our transfers from hotel to train to airport and also for longer travels (e.g. getting from Zermatt to Montreux). Our experiences with AlpTransfer were excellent – the drivers were on time/early, courteous, helpful and the vehicles comfortable.
She notified us promptly of any changes in the itinerary and provided options for resolution, including a refund for the difference when there was a change in the type of hotel room. We had some reservations issues with a couple of hotels, but these were resolved in a timely fashion. She or a colleague was always available to help resolve any issues.
We enjoyed working with Clothilde and she helped us put together an incredible family trip.