Kimkim Trip Reviews

Our recent trip to Italy, under Caterina at KimKim, was one of the best travel experiences we have ever had. Caterina was very flexible in helping us to tailor the trip to our specific needs and wants. As we know Rome quite well, we chose to start our trip with a self-planned stay in Rome. Day 2 is where the team at KimKim took over and it was seamless from start to finish. Everyone who met us along the way to take us to a station/hotel/restaurants/private tour/airport etc over the remaining 9 days of our trip, were all very professional, friendly and helpful. Because KimKim use local people, it was also wonderful to get a truly local tour with deep local knowledge of the area, even when we were just transferring from one hotel to another. In addition 2 of our guides were able to make great restaurants suggestions that meant we ended up lunching in very special places, that we would never have known about.

Italy is without doubt one of the world's most beautiful countries and Sorrento and the Amalfi coast did not disappoint - however it was the people that we met along the way that elevated the experience even further; So, a big thank you to Beatrice (Rome), Francesca (Naples), Pepe (driver Naples - Sorrento), Gianni (private tour of Pompeii), Manfredi (private speed boat for the day around Capri and islands), Massimmo (tour of local towns) and Carmine (driver to Naples airport).

The hotels that Catrina chose for us were also incredible: The 2nd leg of our trip was at the Grand Hotel Royal, Sorrento. It is the epitome of classic 'Italian Rivera' elegance, with amazing views from our room and all the terraces across the ocean to Mount Vesuvius, with the occasional cruise liner on view. The staff were very professional and courteous. The hotel is dressed beautifully, with classic Italian decor throughout, good food and great bar service. The hotel had a kind of magical quality with it's unique outdoor lift that descends through the rock to a private beach/pontoon area right on the water's edge. Whilst very quiet and you feel you are away from it all, it is also a short walk into Sorrento old town, where there are many shops, and great restaurants and bars.

The 3rd leg of our trip was at Fuore Grand Hotel, Amalfi Coast. WOW. A contemporary and exceptional hotel that made us feel that we were in a dream. All I can say is if you are looking for a base to explore the Amalfi coast and to feel that you have escaped the 'ordinary world', then stay here - you will not be disappointed! We didn't want to leave! Thank you to the team at FGH. We miss you!

Hotel Reviews

Furore Grand Hotel

Furore

Fuore Grand Hotel, Amalfi Coast. WOW. A contemporary and exceptional hotel that made us feel that we were in a dream. All I can say is if you are looking for a base to explore the Amalfi coast and to feel that you have escaped the 'ordinary world', then stay here - you will not be disappointed! We didn't want to leave! Thank you to the team at FGH. We miss you! The hotel is contemporary and chic, understated enough to allow the stunning valley, views and natural surroundings to sing. The decor throughout is simple and elegant with great attention to detail using local materials and patterns, bringing warmth to the experience. The food at FGH is also exceptional; the breakfast alone is a wonder but the jewel in the crown, is the fine-dining experience. It is not hard to understand why the hotel/chef was awarded a Michelin star within 3 months of the hotel opening.

Authenticity & Character

The hotel is contemporary and chic, understated enough to allow the stunning valley, views and natural surroundings to sing. The decor throughout is simple and elegant with great attention to detail using local materials and patterns, bringing warmth to the experience. The food and wine is authentic and local, but delivered with contemporary flair.

Location

The hotel is fairly remote which means you need to hire a private driver and / or take the hotel shuttle service - however this is one of the best bits about this hotel, as when you are there you feel that you have escaped it all, yet it is accessible to explore all the best towns and villages in the area.

Staff

The staff at FHG could not do enough for us!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Spotless, and well maintained throughout our stay.

Grand Hotel Royal Sorrento

Sorrento

The epitome of classic Italian Rivera elegance. The hotel, garden terraces and restaurants have amazing views across the ocean to Mount Vesuvius, with the occasional cruise ship on view in the bay. The hotel is beautifully dressed throughout in classic Italian decor. The rooms are classic, super comfy beds, very clean and well appointed with lots of storage and superb views. The hotel offers a good range of food, although somewhat limited but the food, especially breakfast and service was excellent and the bar staff very attentive. Overall the hotel has a magical/nostalgic quality, especially with it's outdoor lift that descends from the upper terraces down through the rock to a private beach/pontoon, right on the water's edge. Whilst the hotel is located on a road, it is quiet and you feel away 'from it all'. Yet the hotel is a short walk into Sorrento old town and so shopping and dining out for lunch and dinner is an easy option, with an abundance of local restaurants and bars offering authentic local cuisine. We loved staying here!

Authenticity & Character

The epitome of classic Italian Rivera elegance. The hotel is beautifully dressed throughout in classic Italian decor.

Location

Whilst the hotel is located centrally, it is quiet and you feel away 'from it all'. The hotel is a short walk into Sorrento old town and so shopping and dining out for lunch and dinner is an easy option, with an abundance of local restaurants and bars offering authentic local cuisine.

Staff

The bar staff (a young lady) was particularly good - however everyone at the hotel was professional and courteous.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms are classic, super comfy beds, very clean and well appointed with lots of storage and superb views.

Activity Reviews

Visit of The Amalfi coast Villages Full Day

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private boat tour to Capri

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Train transfer Rome/Sorrento with 2h guided tour in Pompeii

Italy

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Some issues with time zones, pricing, and feedback prevent me from giving this 5-stars. However, I would definitely use Kimkim again. The trip was fantastic and largely hassle free.

The local guides were particularly good, especially for the olive tasting and the trips to Sparta and the fortresses in the southwest. Everyone was on time, everyone was reliable. The hotels were good and as advertised. It was the easiest personalized trip I’ve ever had, and one of the best trips in my life.

Hotel Reviews

Belvedere Hotel Kalamata

Kalamata, Messinia

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Social Hotel, a member of Radisson Individuals

Athens

Small rooms and almost no amenities, but it was clean, well-run, and in a great location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Transfer & Self-Guided Trip to Ancient Olympia

Greece

The trip was great, but really it was the local driver/guide who made this special.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Transfer & Self-Guided Visits to Pylos & Methoni Castles

Greece

The trip was great, but really it was the local driver/guide who made this special. Thank you, Lia!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Culinary Walk, Olive Oil Tasting & Lunch

Kalamata

The guide was fantastic, the food was great, and it was easy for the family (13-year old twins) to have fun with it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Delphi & Meteora Day Trip with Dinner

Athens

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Car was damaged, causing travel to me much louder in the car than it should have been.

My recent trip to Morocco was an extraordinary adventure, filled with rich culture, breathtaking landscapes, and unforgettable experiences. From the vibrant streets of Marrakech to the tranquil Sahara Desert, every destination left a lasting impression.
I want to extend a heartfelt thanks to our guide Mustapha and our driver, Mohamed. Their knowledge, passion for Moroccan culture, and warm hospitality made our journey not only enjoyable but also deeply enriching. Mustapha’s storytelling brought the history and traditions of each place to life, while Mohamed expert driving ensured we traveled safely and comfortably through the stunning landscapes.
Also, I highly recommend the travel planner, Majid, to anyone looking to explore Morocco. He is very responsive and quick to act.
Thank you for making my trip unforgettable!

We planned and booked our trip with Doris who provided seamless end to end service with great care, attention to detail and thoughtfulness. She was always available and very prompt. Last minute issues were handled to our satisfaction.

Mr Hui in Hanoi was patient and kind. Our itinerary included city tour with food tasting. Banh Mi was the highlight as it was absolutely delicious.

We were booked on Elite of the Sea for our visit to Halong Bay. It was absolutely one of the best experiences of our trip. Cruise crew takes care of the smallest detail with a happy smile. Harry was funny , engaging and made us feel very special. It was difficult to say goodbye bye after our brief stay.

We did tour the pearl farm and bamboo/ silk center which was fine. The road trip to take us from Halong Bay back to airport in Hanoi had room for improvement.

Mr Loan in Ho Chi Minh was amiable , professional and very knowledgeable. His back ground in history was very helpful. We enjoyed the city tour to Post office and Cholon market. He was able to point out local highlights , explain the city district system and cultural nuances we observed. Cu Chi tunnels were a reminder of the resilience of the Vietnamese people against oppression and their efforts for freedom.

Our initial planned guide in Siem Reap was a poor fit and Doris quickly made arrangements to have Mr Sen replace him. Can I just say that Mr Sen was absolutely the best guide one can hope to have. He was very professional, engaging, knowledgeable and made us laugh with his humor. He took beautiful photos of our family on the tour as a bonus. Other visitors stopped to appreciate his commentary about the temples.
He was able to adjust the itinerary to maximize our tour for the brief time we had.

We feel fortunate to get a glimpse of the culture and history during our short visit and hope to come back for more in future.

Hotel Review

Elite of the Seas

What an absolute stellar experience with the crew of the Elite of the Sea who took great effort to ensure we were comfortable. Harry was the best and made us all feel at home. It’s a 5 star experience like no other.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Location where the yacht parked allowed us an unobstructed view of the Bay

Staff

They are absolutely fantastic at what they do.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Siem Reap: Banteay Srei - Pre Rup Temple - Fly to Ho Chi Minh City

Siem Reap

Quality of Experience

Food

We actually opted to skip the food in favor of seeing another temple.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mr Sen was the absolute best. Our driver was very nice and helpful.

Transport

Siem Reap - Explore Angkor Complex Temples

Siem Reap

Please make sure to book the sunrise tour of the Angkorwat as it was the best part of our trip. Our guide knew the exact location to be situated in for the best shots.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ho Chi Minh - Visit Cu Chi tunnels - Fly to Siem Reap

Ho Chi Minh City

Quality of Experience

Food

The food was not the highlight, enjoyed the tapioca and tea served.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ho Chi Minh City - Mekong Delta, Explore Ben Tre - Ho Chi Minh City

Vietnam

Loved it!!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sai Gon Sightseeing - XO Saigon by Night - Experience Vietnam on Two Wheels (Group tour)

Ho Chi Minh City

This was the best part of our tour in Ho Chi Minh. Our riders were professional, knowledgeable and very kind. It was the first time riding on a bike for myself and I did not feel afraid. I was exhilarated with the experience and strongly recommend it for everyone. It’s the best way to experience the city.

Quality of Experience

Our humble, kind and engaged riders.

Food

It was great. I was afraid to enjoy it given my personal fear about travel sickness.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

They were absolutely the best!!

Transport

Best way to experience the city

The trip and the organization of the trip was perfect. Starting with the pick up in Athens to the Plaka Hotel (the staff was great and helpful). Faye, our guide to the Acropolis and Museum was outstanding. Fun and personable, extremely knowledgeable and listened to us when we needed to take a few breaks. Would recommend her to everyone. Great dining at the rooftop restaurant at the Plaka hotel as well! The people in Athens were very open to sharing information and very kind. The trip to Naxos was great, boat ride was easy and fun! The driver was great and the Ippokampos hotel was lovely, rooms were very clean, they accommodated us since we arrived early. Aumetria, Ervis,V and LinLin all went out of their way to make sure we had what we needed and to educate us on loval lore, the women who cleaned our rooms every day was also amazing but did not catch her name. Katia was our tour guide who loved sharing the local customs and knowledge of all thing Naxos and how they tie into the other islands. Very amazing day and would recommend Katia to everyone! Loved the food to table experiences during the entire trip! Next was Santorini. Again, transportation arrangements were spot on! While there were alot of stairs it was good exercise for us, just took us a little longer 😁. The accommodations were beautiful and relaxing. Met great people at the hotel who will be long distance friends. Chris who manned the pool bar was outstanding, fun, kind, energetic and shared his island knowledge with us. The wine tour with Elsa was fun, relaxing and entertaining. Great tour and another amazing guide who shared her knowledge and love of the local wine industry. The Vanilla Restaurant also was a great place to dine with excellent food. This trip was truly amazing and the detail that you all put into the itinerary before our trip and during our trip was priceless to me. I didn’t have to plan or worry about a thing (which is my job when I am working! So I have some understanding of what goes into your detailed planning). This detail may be more than you were looking for and I just wanted to thank you and make sure you know you and the whole team is appreciated! I have passed on your name to a few of my colleagues who will be planning trips in the future to Greece and Italy.

Hotel Reviews

Agali Houses

Firostefani 00

Beautiful rooms. Modern vibe with the crisp white and light wood accents. Breakfast in the morning was delicious, pool was amazing and Chris at the poolside bar was fun, kind and always made sure we had what we needed! 120 stairs will help keep you in shape! Take your time and enjoy the view on your way up and on your way down as it is amazing!

Authenticity & Character

Blended in with the white outside of all the buildings and the bright blue domes and colorful doors and shutters. What you see in pictures is what you see in real life!

Location

Quiet and located near shopping and a taxi ride to wherever you wanted to go and if you enjoy walking or hiking, this is a great place to be!

Staff

From registration to the brothers yhat carried our luggage up and down to and from our rooms to breakfast and poolside everyone was happy, smiling, shaing their culture to give us the best experience! Well done!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean, comfortable rooms, entire area including breakfast area and pool all well kept even with all the people traffic!

Ippokampos Beachfront Hotel

Naxos

Charming rooms. Friendly and helpful staff that share their love of the island.

Authenticity & Character

Crisp white buildings and rooms with modern touches. Quaint door colors and shutters with families and neighbors chatting with each other and were kind enough to teach us a few words so we could greet people with a hello in their language!

Location

Centrally located, easy walk to shops and restaurants. Can walk right outside to the beach and swim in the Aegean Sea.

Staff

Friendly, super efficient, kind staff that makes you feel like you have no worry in the world! They were priceless!!!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean, comfortable, modern and charming all rolled into one and from the rooms to the restaurant to the lounge chais on the beach!

Plaka Hotel

Athens

Amazing staff, comfy rooms, excellent rooftop restaurant with spectacular view.

Authenticity & Character

Comfy like home!

Location

Centrally located and walkable to many sites.

Staff

Kind and knowledgeable

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean rooms and all bathroom accessories that you would need.

Activity Reviews

Santorini Highlights & Akrotiri

Santorini

The tour with Elsa was great. Learning about how advanced a “buried” city was is truly amazing and humbling at the same time. Leaning about the different areas was interesting and the way the circular close to the ground grape vines is very inventive and shows the tenacity and resilience of the people od Santorini.

Quality of Experience

The advanced nature of the buried city!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Their genuine nature and love of their country.

Transport

Getting to and from was comfortable and easy. And driver was great!

Food & Culture tour in Naxos town

Naxos

Katia is an amazing ambassador for Naxos. Her love os the island, the people and local businesses that are her neighbors was palpable during our tour. It felt like we were walking the neighborhoods visiting friends and stopping for a bite to eat or a cup of coffee as we winded our way through history. I highly recommend Katia to guide you through life and history in a fun and friendly way!

Quality of Experience

Each shop and restaurant we visited shared with us their history and wares. Nothing better than walking into a local place of business and getting recommendations from locals to take home with you. Friendly, cast of characters and truly love what they do!

Food

Everything! Greek scrambled eggs, olives and olive oil, local wine, local cheeses, Naxos potatoes, spanakopita , tiropitakia with local honey, greek salad and the list goes on.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Again, Katia is the best, we walked for the tour!

Transport

Private Acropolis Hill & Museum Tour

Athens

Faye was amazing and her knowledge and love of Greece that she shared with us made our experience truly amazing. Would recommend her to everyone!

Quality of Experience

Again, Faye made this a learning experience that rivals a semester of college!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Faye! Fun, friendly, knowledgeable, kind and listened to us when we needed to take a break! Faye is priceless!

Transport

We walked so helped keep us healthy!

We loved all the accomodations that Joe found for us. He reserved the perfect car for us and made several reservations for outings that was so helpful. The links to maps was so helpful, and the suggested activities and restaurants were very useful.

We had an amazing trip. Pedro our specialist listened to us when we initially spoke about our interests and what we enjoy doing when we travel. He tailor made a trip that incorporated the things that make a trip special for us. Throughout our trip he would check in on us to assure we we satisfied with all aspects of our travels and reminded us of our upcoming events. Very attentive to detail. Our trip started in Porto with Ivo our driver who was so much more then a driver as he shared so much about the areas we visited. Our time together generated a friendship which became part of our Portugal experience. Our guide in Porto, Sarah and in Lisbon, Margarette were awesome. They shared so much information about not only the sights but also the culture and history, we both enjoyed their insight and willingness to share. It helped us get a better understanding of Portugal.
When traveling from Algarve to Lisbon and Sintra Helios was much more then a driver but an excellent guide sharing his insights and pointing out sights and their significance.
The hotels that were booked for us were also well located and exceptional. The staff very attentive. All these aspects led to a great experience, a desire to return to Portugal and no reluctance to using Kim Kim again to book our next adventure.
Thank you

Hotel Review

Heritage Avenida Liberdade

Lisboa

Awesome location, beautiful building and great staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Private Transfer from Porto to Algarve

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ivo was just great, more then a driver

Transport

Our trip to Iceland was absolutely amazing, thanks to Adam and the KimKim team, who helped us plan the adventure of a lifetime. We embarked on a clockwise tour around Iceland, beginning with a few nights in Reykjavík. We enjoyed a fantastic food tour and a relaxing visit to the Sky Lagoon before setting off on our journey.

As we traveled north, we were in awe of Iceland's stunning landscapes—it's truly beyond words. One of the highlights was our Siberian Husky cart ride in Lake Mývatn with SnowDogs. Learning about the history of the area and the loving care given to these beautiful dogs was an incredible experience.

Continuing north, we loved our time at the Vök Baths and our stay at Hotel 1001 Nótt, which would be an ideal spot for viewing the Northern Lights—unfortunately, it was too overcast during our visit. Black Diamond Beach was an absolute must-see. Adam's recommendation to explore both the beach and the bay was invaluable, and seeing the icebergs on the shore was an unforgettable sight.

Hotel Vík was perfectly located and offered excellent amenities. Our final two excursions were incredible. The Katla Ice Cave Tour with our guide, Frederico, was fantastic—his knowledge of the ice caves, Iceland's history, and glaciers made us feel very comfortable and informed. The final highlight was snorkeling at Silfra. Wow—what a once-in-a-lifetime experience! It took a moment to adjust to the dry suits, but it was worth it.

We also spent a night at the Golden Circle Domes. While we expected a glamping experience, we forgot to inquire about heating and ran out of firewood in the middle of the night. Fortunately, the down comforters provided kept us warm, but if you stay there, be sure to grab extra firewood on your way.

Overall, this trip was a dream come true, and we highly recommend it!

We recently took a tour with Emerson and had an exceptional experience! The itinerary was thoughtfully planned, allowing us to explore both popular sights and hidden gems.

The accommodations were comfortable and well-located, making our stay enjoyable. I also appreciated the seamless transportation arrangements, which made getting around stress-free.

I highly recommend Emerson to anyone looking for a memorable travel experience!

Everything was well planned and seamlessly easy. We came across many people who were lost and couldn’t find their tour groups, but Irene’s detailed instructions got us where we needed to be on time. The hotels, drivers, tours, and tour guides were all phenomenal. The only misinformation we received was regarding the Florence highlights tour, where we saw the Duomo and the Galleria dell’Accademia. We were told we’d end the tour in the gallery and be able to spend additional time there after the tour, but we actually toured the gallery first, then the duomo, and ended by the Vecchio bridge. However, we had more than enough time in the gallery. We would definitely book with Irene and KimKim again.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Abruzzi

Rome

Pantheon view was amazing! Shower was sizable and lovely.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Lived being right next to the pantheon

Staff

Happy to help get bags up and down stairs, direct to requested locations using maps or gps, happy to take us to the cafe serving breakfast, happy to help game plan and address scheduling concerns. We needed breakfast before the cafe opened one morning and they arranged to get us bagged breakfasts the night before.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel della Signoria

Florence

Very centrally located and very helpful staff. Beautiful panoramic view at breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

5 minute walk from most attractions

Staff

Always greeted us with a smile when coming and going

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and organized

La Fenice et des Artistes

Venice

Very helpful staff and lovely rooms. We did run into a hot water issue when trying to shower in the morning, but overall a fantastic experience.

Authenticity & Character

Adorable rooms really make you feel like you’re in Italy

Location

Very centrally located and fun the hear opera music nearby

Staff

Helpful in every capacity. Helped us game plan finding a pharmacy on a Sunday, helpful coordinating with the water taxi picking us up for the train. Quick to give additional blankets.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and organized

Activity Reviews

Vatican Guided Tour

Rome

Very thorough and informative

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ravioli, Fettuccine & Tiramisu Cooking Class

Rome

The chef was so personable and helpful and fun

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Colosseum & Roman Forum Tour

Rome

So much fun to be some of the first people in the colosseum for the day. Beautiful to be there around sunrise.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Morning Florence Highlights Walking Tour

Florence

Beautiful and informative. It would have been nice to have fewer people. We had a group of about 10 and then 4 more were added because they messed up with their meeting place/time and missed their originally scheduled tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tuscany Day Trip from Florence with Chianti, Siena & San Gimignano

Florence

Well organized and highly informative. Good balance of walking and riding in a car.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Market & Cicchetti Food Tour

Venice

Lots of yummy food and fun to see more of the city. Very helpful and personable guide. My mom was knocked into and dropped her gelato, and Carlotta went back and got her more. It would have been nice to have time to purchase food from the outdoor markets.

Quality of Experience

Food

They offered alcohol free options and tried to accommodate food sensitivities

Guides, Drivers and Staff

My mom was knocked into and dropped her gelato, and Carlotta went back and got her more.

Doge's Palace & St. Mark's Basilica Tour

Venice

Lovely personable guide. Entertaining and great information.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Venice Highlights Walking Tour

Venice

Lovely guide and personalized tour. Very helpful and happy to answer any questions and customize tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I expect something to go wrong on any overseas trip; it seems impossible that with so much ground to cover that something would fall through or go sideways. Amazingly, nothing went wrong on this trip. Every detail was covered and Irene answered every possible question before it came up. We met every driver at the exact time they were scheduled to be there and every guide was excellent. The only thing we would have changed is having a driver meet us in Florence and drive us to the hotel, since the hotel was literally across the street from the station. It would have been easier to walk to the hotel; there was no need for a driver. We loved the itinerary in every city. Our cooking class in Florence was one of the highlights of our trip. The instructor provided excellent directions and advice on how to make and cook the dishes and she was quite funny as well, which added to the fun. The sights, smells, and tastes of each destination made for an unforgettable experience. I would recommend kimkim to anyone--especially our planner, Irene. Thank you!!!

Hotel Reviews

Tritone Best Western Hotel Mestre

Mestre

This was the largest hotel we stayed in while we were in Italy, and it is lovely. The rooms are comfortable, and there is a little more room to move around than in some other hotels. The train station is across the street, making it very convenient to travel to Venice. As with our other hotels, the breakfast buffet was remarkable--many delicious options to get the day started.

Hotel Palazzo Vecchio

Firenze

This hotel is directly across from the train station, which is nice. However, it was quite dark and cramped, and the shower had barely any water or water pressure, so it was not our favorite hotel by any means. One of the lights in the room was out, and it took over a day to get it replaced, so the room was even darker than normal. The breakfast buffet, however, was delicious.

Hotel Modigliani

Roma

This hotel is quiet, centrally located, and comfortable. The rooms are small but adequate, and the breakfast buffet had a lot of variety and many delicious options.

Oasi Boutique Hotel

Levanto

This is a quirky, fun, and very comfortable hotel in Levanto. They provide a whole panoply of extras that add to the appeal: a delicious and unique breakfast bar, an assortment of bikes to borrow for free, Netflix (in case of a rainy evening that you want to spend in rather than going out), a few jars of cookies available at any time, a piano and guitar in the reception area for anyone to play, and very friendly and helpful staff. A great place to hang out!

Authenticity & Character

Lovely, comfortable rooms with balconies.

Location

Quiet neighborhood

Staff

Helpful and friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Morning Florence Highlights Walking Tour

Florence

One of the best tours we took! The tourists hung out at the Duomo, which was spectacular, but our guide took us to the less-crowded, but historically significant places in Florence, including smaller churches, streets full of the most fashionable brands, and palaces that were not full of tourists.

Early Morning Vatican Tour

Rome

As with our other tours, we had a fabulous guide to the Vatican. It was stunning to see the many treasures that the Vatican museums hold--statues, paintings, and of course, the majesty of the Sistine Chapel. Given the massive collection of masterpieces that the Vatican Museums hold, it would take months to fully explore the galleries, so we only saw a tiny fraction. The only downside was that there was no place to rest after hours on our feet, and the huge numbers of other tourists sharing the experience with us. Our guide, Alex, explained everything beautifully and was a great photographer to boot--offering to take our picture with impressive backgrounds around every corner. St Peter's Basilica is enormous, vast, immense--it's hard to process how big the space is; the piazza outside the cathedral is also gigantic. What an amazing place!

Colosseum & Roman Forum Tour

Rome

As with any of the large tourist attractions in Italy, the guide is the key to full enjoyment. All of our guides were exceptional, and Matteo was no different. He was knowledgeable, friendly, and obviously knew all the ins and outs of the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and the Roman Forum. Rome is a large, modern city, so it's a bit shocking to have the Colosseum and other Roman ruins pop up in the middle of all the accoutrements of modern life. The ruins are very crowded, so we had to adjust our expectations a bit, but although we were shoulder to shoulder with several thousand other tourists, it was fascinating to learn the history of ancient Rome.

Pasta and Gelato Making Class in Florence

Florence

Super fun! Our instructor was excellent! We got to eat the food we made, and it was one of the best meals we had during out whole trip.

Venice Highlights Walking Tour

Venice

Venice is an incredible place, but if you stick to St Mark's square, you have no idea of what Venice is all about. We had a guide who was from Venice and knew her way around the tiny streets and quiet piazzas, as well as informing us about the history of Venice and how it came to be built (on a swamp!) and what is happening now with the city and its inhabitants. The real Venice is outside of the heavily-trafficked tourist areas, and it is beautiful and quiet and utterly amazing.

Private Pompeii Tour & Mount Vesuvius visit with light lunch

Pompeii

Mount Vesuvius provides some incredible views of Napoli and the surrounding countryside. Pompeii is much bigger than I could imagine and our guide was so knowledgable about the history of the place and people who once inhabited the city. It's a stunning site that should not be missed, but the one thing that made it such a fantastic adventure was our guide. He added so much value to our experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had a private guide that was an expert in the history of the people who had lived in Pompeii, and he really made it all some to life for us.

Local transfer in Amalfi Coast

Italy

The Amalfi Coast, due to its popularity, is now bumper to bumper traffic, so the best way (in my opinion) to see it is on foot, hiking the Path of the Gods. It is utterly gorgeous scenery the whole way, and the trip is accompanied musically by grazing brown goats adorned with bells that echo throughout the mountains. The path is not difficult, although it is often rocky and alternates from climbing to descents the whole way. At the end, there are somewhere between 1500 to 1700 steps to get down to the road that leads to the incredible town of Positano. Once you get to Positano, the climbing is not done--you have to go down to get to the beach, and up to get anywhere else. I'm convinced that anyone who lives in Positano has remarkable glutes and quads.

Kimkim planned the perfect trip for us based on our interests. All of the excursions and guides were excellent and informative. Accommodations were close to everywhere we needed to be. We would definitely recommend using this company

Erin was so great to work with in planning. She listened to our requests and made recommendations and adjustments/tweaks along the way. We had an unfortunate snag with one booking a few days before it was scheduled and Erin took care of the last minute change to ensure we could still see penguins in Ushuaia. Cami was an amazing guide on our private tour of Torres del Paine, which was easily our favorite part of our trip!

Activity Reviews

Trip Briefing at Dittmar Adventures

Puerto Natales

We didn't have any specific questions, so having someone walk through the itinerary we were already provided and had read through was not the best use of time.

Visit the Penguin Colony on Martillo Island by Catamaran

Ushuaia

Seeing the sea lions, elephant seal, and penguins was truly an experience!

Quality of Experience

Transport

Visit the Fishing Village of Puerto Almanza

Ushuaia

Our original itinerary had this included with a trip to the boat trip to the penguins, so this wasn't what we originally planned for (so please take my review with a grain of salt). Our guide was knowledgable and shared a lot of info, but we had two other individuals with us, cramped into a car, so the drive was uncomfortable. We would have enjoyed this more as a private tour where we were on our own timeline and had more space in the car. It also didn't help that this was after a full 12 hour day the day before (again due to an unexpected, last minute change). The hike to and from the waterfall was only about 30 minutes total, so not as much hiking as we were expecting. The food was delicious, but due to it being an Argentine holiday, we had to wait almost an hour to be seated, which extended the day longer than planned.

Quality of Experience

Food

Delicious!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Uri was super knowledgeable and share lot of info with us throughout the trip.

Transport

Cramped. Having three adults sit three-across on leather seats meant we were sliding or trying not to slide into strangers for the 3+ hours in the car.

Perito Moreno Boat & Walking Tour

El Calafate

On the boat tour, we got super close to the glacier, which was a very cool experience. The walking tour was on our own, which we liked.

Torres del Paine Full Day Private Tour

Chile

This was our favorite activity on the trip! The private tour is now the way we will book on future trips. Cami was an AMAZING guide, shared tons of information throughout the day, and was great with the kids. We did two longer hikes that ended with beautiful/picturesque views. In hindsight, I wish we stayed longer (more days) in Torres del Paine.

Quality of Experience

Food

We enjoyed the box lunch.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cami was the best guide!

Transport

Clean and spacious

Train at the End of the World (premium class)

Ushuaia

While the premium class was definitely a treat yourself experience, I'm so glad we did it. We ended up having entire car to ourselves and the time of our train was noon, so having lunch on the train was perfect after a morning in the national park. We also learned a lot during the ride using the provided earphones.

Quality of Experience

Food

Delicous dishes for the adults and kid-friendly dishes (pizza) for the kids.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Horseback Riding at Laguna Sofia

Puerto Natales

Estancia Laguna Sofia was absolutely stunning and being able to view the laguna and beautiful ranch from horseback was truly an experience the family will never forget. The staff was great with the kids and tailored to our riding levels (none to very little).

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Excursion in Tierra del Fuego National Park

Ushuaia

We learned a lot from our tour guide, Lucas; however, we were expecting to do more hiking and this was more of a guided tour. We did hike for maybe 30 minutes to a lookout, but the rest was being driven from location to location for pictures. It was a packed 18 person van and we were the last pick-up, so my husband didn't have a seat with a window and missed most of the scenery while were were in the van.

Quality of Experience

Just not what we were expecting, since we were expecting more hiking

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

It was a packed 18 person van and we were the last pick-up, so my husband didn't have a seat with a window and missed most of the scenery while were were in the van.

Everything went according to schedule. Communication was excellent and all arrangements were according to our expectations. Great selection of accommodation choices and the best guide to drive us to the national parks and explain everything about Tanzanian wildlife.

Hotel Review

Arusha Planet Lodge

Arusha

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Serengeti National Park Game Drives

Serengeti National Park

Serengeti National Park

Serengeti National Park

Ngorongoro Conservancy & Crater Tour

Ngorongoro

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kimkim did a great job of finding us rooms that were very centrally located for walking and getting to the places we wanted to go to. All of the guides were exceptional. The pick ups were always on time and easy to locate. Maria hooked us up with Storywalking in Sicily and they did a great job and were very responsive This was my second trip using Kimkim and I have referred many people to them and plan on using their services again in the future.

We had a fantastic time. The choices made by Irene our agent were well matched to what we wanted. The tours were also excellent. The transfers were on time and friendly. We were very very pleased. Traveling by train was fine though one was cancelled last minute while the last one was quite late getting in. Nonetheless it was a good way to get to a lot of locations. I would say if I had to be critical that 1) City tours in both Rome and Sorrento would have given us a "grand view" we would have appreciated to have then struck off to the areas we liked the most. However, I know time was short. 2) The hotel in Venice while clean and comfortable, was overlooking the bus depot which was a bit of a buzz kill. 3) Because both trains were later heading to Rome and Venice, we had more free time in the previous cities which we thoroughly enjoyed. Felt like a bonus. The crowds were the worst part of this trip ( yes I know.. we added 2 more tourists to the mix ) and had I known it was going to be that crowded, I might have opted to move this trip to a later time, i.e., early Nov or late Nov. weather permitting.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Olimpia

Venice

Our hotel room had the view of the bus depot so it was a little less charming than otherwise had expected. Room was very clean and staff was friendly. Breakfast was not great compared to the other 3 hotels and it was very crowded always. It was a 27 minute walk to the main square which was a bit long after an entire day of walking. We had gone back and forth on where to stay in Venice. Staying on the Grand Canal would have been too expensive I believe?

Authenticity & Character

The room was nicely decorated and looked very Venetian.

Location

A bit far from the main square and our room overlooked the bus depot.

Staff

They were friendly just busy a lot.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was very clean and neat.

Hotel della Signoria

Florence

Loved the chic and boutiquey feel of this hotel. It was super clean and very convenient for walking the city. The breakfast was great and staff were all friendly. The elevator was not always convenient to use (often busy) but we didn't mind walking the stairs.

Authenticity & Character

character was boutiquey, authentic to area. probably not so much. We didn't mind for all the other amenities.

Location

Perfectly located.

Staff

all good

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and room was comfortable albeit small.

Hotel Le Clarisse al Pantheon

Rome

Very very clean. Room was strange in that it was L shaped and the a/c was in the furthest location from the bedroom so it took a long time to cool down. It was clean, however, and the staff were all friendly and helpful. Breakfast was good, too. Location was great!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

A/C unit far from bed area so took a long time to cool off room.

Palazzo Guardati Hotel Sorrento

Sorrento

The room was clean and comfortable. The breakfast was good. The desk staff was business only, not particularly friendly. The location was great!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Able to walk everywhere easily.

Staff

Friendlier and more engaging with guests.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Venice Highlights Walking Tour

Venice

We had a wonderful guide. There was only ONE other couple of this tour ( possibly due to weather ) which made it more personal.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Prosecco Wine Tour from Venice

Venice

LOVED LOVED our guide Sebastian. He was fabulous and even took us on the less traveled path to our locations where the scenery and the lack of crowds was greatly appreciated. The wineries were wonderful too.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Morning Florence Highlights Walking Tour

Florence

The guide was wonderful. We were only 2 couples which was fantastic.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tuscany Day Trip from Florence with Chianti, Siena & San Gimignano

Florence

This tour was also excellent. Our guide was fabulous and the areas she took us to were well worth it. Sienna was a disappointment as I had been there 26 years ago.. no real crowds then.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trastevere Afternoon Food Tour & Wine Experience

Rome

This tour was excellent. We had a fabulous guide and the locations she took us to were fabulous.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Colosseum & Roman Forum Tour

Rome

Again huge crowds at this time of year but our guide helped steer us away from them. He was excellent.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Local transfer in Rome

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vatican Guided Tour

Rome

Our guide was great. The crowds were horrific though.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Amalfi Coast Boat Tour From Sorrento

Italy

This was cancelled so we had a private driver. It was expensive but excellent.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver was excellent.

Transport

Mariliza planned the perfect trip for us and made the entire process (from planning to arrival through departure) absolutely seamless! We had the same drivers helping us with pickup/drop off and it was so nice to not think at all about calling taxis or Ubers. Each of the tours felt like ones we would have chosen ourselves but without having to do all the research to make sure they were well reviewed and up to our standards. We had a great balance of guided tours/learning about local culture and relaxation/free time. During the trip Mariliza was so helpful with adjusting times if we wanted to leave a little earlier or later for activities. This was our first time leaving our trip planning up to a travel agent and we would absolutely do it again. We had a great trip - thank you so much!

Hotel Reviews

Cove Paros

Paros

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very walkable to Naoussa

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Athens Capital Center Hotel-MGallery Collection

Athens

This hotel is great value, 5 star service and amenities but much lower nightly rate than some other nearby hotels

Authenticity & Character

Tasteful decor and clean, very modern

Location

Walkable to everything, awesome rooftop

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Paros Highlights Tour

Paros

We didnt know this was the same tour/agency as our Antiparos/boat tours but were so pleased to learn it was the same driver and tour guide! Nicole and Athanassios were great company, very knowledgeable, provided bottles of water, and because we were the only ones on the tour, took a stop to find some fun snacks and dropped us off at their recommendation for lunch, rather than returning to our hotel!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Antiparos & boat tour around coast line of Despotiko

Paros

This was such a great tour - our guide, Nicole, was so knowledgeable and it was great to have the driver so we could see so much more of the island in a short time

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

It was so easy being able to just stay in the van while on the ferry!!

Our tour guides were wonderful! All were professional, knowledgeable, and very informative. We all learned so much about the islands and the creatures that inhabitate them.
It was truly a fabulous trip for my dear friend's birthday!

Trip was well paced, interesting and enjoyable.

We had an amazing Moroccan experience with KimKim and Original Travels. We had originally planned our trip for October of 2023, but the earthquake had hit Marrakech just weeks before our arrival. Abdel was very kind and flexible and allowed us to reschedule at anytime within the next year.
Our trip started in Casablanca and looped through Rabat, Fes, the desert, and ended in Marrakech. Our driver Samir was excellent - always available and timely. He shared information about Morocco, made activity and restaurants suggestions, and was very flexible with us-and kept us on a good schedule to see everything on our list.
The local guides that KimKim used were outstanding! Very informative and fun.
KimKim/Original Travels put together a seamless experience. I would definitely recommend them to anyone considering Morocco.

Hotel Reviews

Riad Ksar Ighnda

Ait Benhaddou

Beautiful hotel, room was nice

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Braya

Fes Medina

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Desert Luxury Camp Erg Chebbi

Merzouga

Amazing desert experience. Rooms are much more luxurious than I expected in the desert. Food was delicious and staff very friendly

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Half-Day Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

Great half day with local guide Hanna - she shared personal experiences that enriched our tour

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ait Benhaddou to Marrakech via Tizi N'Tichka pass

Morocco

Beautiful landmark. A little crowded

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Local guide was not as friendly as all of our other guides

Transport

From Merzouga Desert to Aït Benhaddou

Morocco

Another long drive - but walking in the Gorge made it all worth it,

Quality of Experience

Food

Good lunch at small, authentic restaurant

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

ATV Ride in the Dunes of Merzouga

Merzouga

ATV in the dunes was a blast. Guides were fun and safe. Highly recommend!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Morocco Last Nomads Experience: Tea, Tales & Desert Adventures

Merzouga

Our local guide was excellent- he really gave us an in depth look at the Nomadic life

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer from Fes to Merzouga via Erfoud & Camel Ride

Morocco

Long drive but our driver/guide Samir made stops at various sights in this beautiful landscape

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day Guided Sightseeing in Fes: Morocco's Spiritual Heart

Fes

Our guide Shareif was great. Spent a full day showing all of the sites in Fes. Tastes foods on the street, shopping - lots of fun

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport